Here at THE VINYL DISTRICTwe're good consumers. All Mp3's are posted to promote and give exposure to the music and are linked for a limited time. Please download to preview, then head promptly to your local vinyl vendor (or - OK, CD store too) and fork over your hard earned cash. You'll appreciate the piece of mind.
Got something you think we should be listening to or reading? thevinyldistrict (at) gmail.com
For a while there I had a front row seat for Fire’s unique brand of transcendence. Or perhaps I should say ‘back seat,’ behind the drum kit for a number of months with Fire as he prepped new material at the Donkey Palace years back.
From that vantage point alone I can tell you--Fire Dean is one hell of a songwriter, performer, and story teller, and as TVD was growing I kept saying to him, “We gotta’ do a feature...we gotta’ do a feature...” ...until I think I caught him at the right time recently when boom...in-box: full of stuff.
Make certain you check that vid too.
"Elton John...Madman Across The Water. Jimmy Arlis, the coolest kid on my dead end street had played it for me. I was 10 or 11 yrs old. The back cover was the ass end of a pair of blue jeans with the song titles embroidered over....'Rotten Peaches' .... 'Levon' ... 'Indian Sunset'... Clearly this guy Elton was the Grizzly Adams sort I could hang around with. He'd come down from the Black Mountains after his tribe had been slaughtered and sat down at the piano, just really pissed off "...I heard from passing Renegades..." Holy Shit! My sister understood. She gave me a pair of jeans for Xmas with the embroidery done just like the cover. But my older brother was a problem. He saw me lying in front of the turntable mesmerized with Elton Madman John, and sneered. I was distressed. What did he mean by this? What did he know that I didn't? He'd been listening to Renaissance, Ashes Are Burning ALOT..I liked the girl's voice from the pic of her on the inside sleeve, she was nearly hot as Farah Fawcett only she seemed accessible. My bro told me live he'd almost seen her breasts at a concert in Red Bank, NJ. Woah, I was right. Access unlimited. Still, I knew in order to do this correctly I needed to make a bold, independent decision. Annie Haslam was out and Bowie had his chance. 'Diamond Dogs' was a shot in the dark based on some magnificent pre-Photoshop imagery, I had never heard the music, any of it. I bought it at Jacks' Records, also in Red Bank. At home I pretended I knew all about this record I'd just bought and after I'd listened once invited my brother to check it out. This time his sneer became more like a muted smirk. He hurriedly explained his condescension. "David Bowie has a better record...you got the wrong one," he said. "Really?" I said and needled up 'Rebel Rebel.' "Better than this?" "Oh yeah." He tried again. But I could tell he was lying."
Fire Dean - Up at Ericas/Motorcycle Sled-Pull (Mp3) Wrote this last month. Title is a reference to a game I played as a kid. Gravity wasn't enough apparently. We tied our sleds to dirt bikes and then raced around a horse field out in the woods. The idea was to pull next to the other guy and knock him off, a la Ben Hur.
Fire Dean - Irrational Exhuberance1 (Mp3) Also new. Inspired by an imposing old Hungarian from Queens. He had dream, my job was to build it. A half million dollars and anything I needed.
Fire Dean - In A Way (Mp3) One beat fits all. My friend Roger wrote this beat to a guitar riff I came up with 5 years ago. Its since been repackaged into 3 songs. This is the latest.
Fire Dean/Big Black Nun - Burnin' Lucy...(followed by 'Honeymoon In Niagra') (Mp3) A two-fer. Recorded to 45 vinyl in '94 as a single released by my old band, Big Black Nun. First up is 'Burnin' Lucy' with Riley McMahon on big slide gtar. That's me of course contemplating the pros and cons of honor killing. Of course 'Honeymoon...' is the sentimental flip to my metallic slaying.
I can’t JUST be me who misses the free-wheeling radio days of yore, now can it? We’d like to publish YOUR radio recollections right here, next week, TVD reader. No matter where you turned it on, or when you tuned it in, we’d like to hear what or who informed your tastes for better or for worse.
Shoot TVD a note (email address lower left) and with any luck we’ll post ‘em throughout the week to come.
"...With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver! The Lone Ranger rides again!"
ANNOUNCER: Cramel Hair Tonic and Cramel Shampoo present the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, and Tom Conway as Sherlock Holmes.
(MUSIC UP AND UNDER)
ANNOUNCER: Now once again it's time to keep that weekly appointment with our good friend and host, Dr. Watson. Good evening, Dr. Watson.
WATSON: Good evening, Mr. Bell. As usual you're punctual to the minute. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable.
BELL: Thank you.
WATSON: That's it.
BELL: I see that you have the old black, tin dispatch box out again, Dr. Watson. I deduce that you were going over your notes on tonight's case.
WATSON: Elementary my, dear boy. Among the records I came across some notes of some cases that I'd almost forgotten. The shocking death of Crosby the banker, the Adeltine tragedy, and some darter on the unusual contents of the ancient British pharaoh.
BELL: Those stories sound pretty intriguing, Dr. Watson.
WATSON: I shall tell them to you some other evening, Mr. Bell. Tonight, I'm going to recount an adventure that took place in the heart of the beautiful English countryside. I call it, "The Adventure of the Tolling Bell." (NARRATING) Well that story began in a small country village of Conforth. Holmes had recently brought to a successful conclusion the affair of the Barrow and Furnace Wheelchair Murders. And we decided a few days rest in nearby Conforth would do us good before returning to our arduous life on Baker Street. We were staying in a small, but comfortable Inn. Only on the morning of the third day, I remember, Holmes and I were in our bedroom waiting for those two essentials without which an English country gentleman could not start his day -- an early morning cup of tea and a jug of hot water for shaving. As we sat there at the open window a nearby church bell was tolling a funeral nell.
It’s easy to forget that prior to television, radio was not just a music and information source. Radio was an all encompassing entertainment medium--one which, like vinyl, demands listener participation to be enjoyed to its fullest.
So, this week we’ll remember a hey-day long before our days. (...and bonus! Verrry SFW...)
So, you're saying to yourself, Record Store Day 2009 is quickly approaching--but whatever will I wear?
Well, TVD's one step ahead of you.
In celebration of RSD09, TVD has partnered with Worn Free -- purveyors of a ridiculously cool line of shirts that indeed rock -- to wheedle you out of your wardrobe dilemma. Here's the schpiel:
"Worn Free reproduces original tees famously worn by such rock legends as John Lennon, Joey Ramone, Frank Zappa, Blondie’s Debbie Harry, Gram Parsons, Johnny Ramone and Joan Jett, among others – and regularly adds fantastic new images (of fantastic old shirts) to its catalog.
Celebrating punk fury, hippie utopianism, psychedelic excess and art-pop whimsy – not to mention the eye-popping graphics of celebrated artists like John Van Hamersveld – Worn Free shirts express the insurrectionary spirit of rock and roll in all its forms.
We’ve spent more than a decade combing worldwide photo archives of music and style icons, learning what they’ve been wearing and bringing it straight to you.
The tag inside each shirt is a sticker resembling a backstage pass, featuring either a photo of a rock star wearing the original shirt or a rendering of the design, with information documenting its initial date, artist and venue.
But despite their stellar images, these are no museum pieces. Made of fine, luxuriously soft cotton, Worn Free shirts are also decadently comfortable – and fit like your old favorites the first time you slip them on."
...and they come with the TVD stamp of approval. How can ya go wrong?
So, in a blatant attempt to get you to visit the site and peruse the T's, TVD and Worn Free will award two winners one shirt a piece! All you need to do is choose the design you wish to sport from their selection and post a comment as to why we should have your back on this one. Wordy, insightful, or damn funny comments appreciated.
We're also fully aware that TVD's readership is pretty darn global, so no matter where you're tuning us in, we'll send you the shirt for your effervescent commentary. Got that?
We'll choose two winners this coming Monday (4/6) so check out the site and get to commenting! You'll see some really cool designs from some pretty unexpected sources...
I like to think that one underlying, yet recurring theme here at TVD, is that vinyl in all of its various formats is a contemporary medium--perhaps even more so than CDs at the moment.
In tandem with this notion is our constant search for new artists or bands with an affinity for vinyl, who are releasing new product on vinyl, and who go so far as to have a record literally tattooed on their person. (Ahem...)
It is with this in mind ladies and gents, TVD's Record Store Day Vinyl Giveaway Week #10 is most proud to present: Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles' new release 'The Stars Are Out!'
"The ten selections of 'The Stars Are Out'—five new originals, and five covers—winnowed down by Sarah, band mates—guitarist Lyle Brewer, bassist Binky, and drummer Rob Dulaney—and producers Paul Q. Kolderie (the Pixies, Lemonheads, Radiohead) and Adam Taylor, include tunes attributed to Smokey Robinson (a radically reworked “Being With You”), Stiff Records act Any Trouble (“Yesterday'sLove,” penned by Clive Gregson), and the Magnetic Fields' “No One Will Ever Love You.”
The results of 'The Stars Are Out' include the slinky, '60s stroll of “Me and Your Ghost”; the flirtatious, guitar-driven kickoff, “Do It For Free”; and “It Comes To Me Naturally,” a hip-shaking tale of a girl-about-town, originally recorded by bar band supreme NRBQ."
We'll have three winners for this particular giveaway. Sarah's given TVD a highly limited clear orange vinyl copy of 'The Stars Are Out' and the 7" single from her previous LP, 'The Day We Met' for one grand prize winner. Two runners up will receive 'The Day We Met' 7" and a CD copy of 'The Stars Are Out.'
The drill is the same, grab our attention in the comments (WITH your email address--important!) gushing over TVD's Record Store Day Vinyl Giveaway Week #10. (Or, you can comment and forward your email address in an email to us. We're not picky.) And remember - each entry into our vinyl contest is an automatic entry to win the Stanton T.90 USB turntable on Record Store Day 2009!
Just make it funny. Or make it smart. About record stores. Or Record Store Day. Or vinyl. About us or you. Or something else all together. Just make it before next Monday (4/6) when we'll choose our winner. (AND launch our LAST RSD09 vinyl giveaway -- #11 of 11!)
Each time I pick up the phone to check in with my mom who’s afflicted with Alzheimer’s, she's more and more distant, more gone, more out there--while maintaining the sharp tongue and her wicked way with words which made her a particular favorite with my friends along the way.
Last night I caught up with the very current going’s on with her mom and dad, her sister, and her brother-in-law, all of whom have been dead for many, many years now. They had just been by the house, they say hello, etc.
But alas, now her sister isn’t talking to her for some reason mom couldn’t quite put her finger on. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it’s because she’s been gone for oh, 15 years now?
Having been adopted myself, my sister long gone, my dad having passed away, and mom in her condition, it suddenly hit me that I’m the sole bearer of the life and times.
And having been adopted, despite the love from very real and involved parents, I/you/we long for the twinge of any semblance of self reflected in someone’s face or gestures. The genetic twist that reveals--you’re FROM someplace.
We have some sad and disappointing news to share with you. Dj Hut can no longer battle the dual headwind of the demise of the music retail industry and the economic downturn. As a result, we are forced to shut down the store and go strictly online at the end of April. Effective immediately, all vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and books will be liquidated at the rate of 20% off the regular price.
We would like to thank you for your support over the last 7 years at the store and we look forward to your continued support in the future online.
Know where you’re more likely to hear the radio than not? That’d be in a taxi cab, such as the one I was in last night.
The rain had begun to fall a bit, tapping out a groove on the hood of the car in sync with the selection on the dial. The windshield wipers wound a twisty bass line below the rain as the bleating of car horns accented on the downbeat. My rum and coke soaked fingers tapped out 8th notes after writing KISS on the humid window with the sharp SS’s per the actual logo.
And the soundtrack? 80’s synthpop, way out of context.
I paid the driver at my door, his head not once stopping its bobbing to the tinny groove. Smiled, waved, drove off.
I lugged my drum kit around DC for years. Playing here and there, trying out for this and that--until I was hit with an epiphany: futility. I just wasn’t going to make a career of it despite my blistered hands.
As such, I’ve often wondered how the karmic happenstance takes shape where unique talents gel into a cohesive whole. (Which eluded me, frankly.)
So, enough about vinyl just this once. This week we chat with Pree’s May Tabol about the long road taken — from being ON the road to developing a community of collaborators — that’s lead to the band’s brand new release ‘A Chopping Block’ out now on DC’s very own Kora Records.
"Pree started out as a collaboration between my friend John Thayer (from Exit Clov) and I after I had gotten back from touring with Le Loup last spring. I had written several songs in the back of the van during the long stretches across the states, and, being unemployed when I got back to DC, decided that that summer would be the perfect time to record. Exit Clov had set up a studio in the basement of their house in Arlington, and John and I decided to put together an EP there. We enlisted the help of Susan Hsu (also from Exit Clov) for violin, Tom Hnatow of These United States for bass and dobro, and Vanessa Degrassi of Frau Eva for flute, and by the end of August we had something we were quite happy with.
After John moved up to New York in September, I started playing with Chris Dewitt (Sweet Teeth/Fever/Wild Fictions), and then David Barker (Cobra Collective), and Vanessa joined up shortly thereafter. It's been great to be a part of such a close-knit music scene here in DC. It's certainly an interesting town to be making music in.. the Capitol casts tall shadow, but underneath there are a lot of creative people running around giving this city its own culture, something independent of the political climate everyone recognizes from the outside."
...a strong low pressure system over the Great Lakes drags a cold front across region today. Expect some light rain this morning with a better chance of showers through the afternoon. With gray skies, temperatures will be held in the mid 50s. Overnight scattered rain tapers with some patchy fog and lows in the 40s.
Heard from our pal Noah this morning on the request line. Seems he’s got a hankering for a little bit more of what we spun last week and we’re quite happy to oblige. So, got a request? Dial us up on the request line.
'Ashes Of American Flags'—the new concert DVD from Wilco will be available at participating Record Store Day retailers on April 18. And now there’s a special treat for those of you cool cats who pick it up on Record Store Day. You’ll be able to download ONE COMPLETE CONCERT, parts of which appear in the film. You’ll only get this special added feature if you pick up the DVD on Record Store Day. Yet one more reason to check out a real live record store on April 18!
FINE PRINT: Not all stores will have this DVD in stock on Record Store Day. Check the store nearest you and find out if they’ll have Ashes of American Flags in stock on Record Store Day.
This may be the best time of the year. This is the winter/spring transition, when you can walk around in early morning sunshine, still wear your coolest jacket and call in sick because the pollen in the air is fucking up your sinuses (True or not, still very believable.)
True story. Last week I went to see the Weakends, a wonderfully trashy, reverbed-out garage band from Broudeux, France. Think in the vein of Demons Claws (another great French-Canadian garage band) with less of the country western influence, and add more a post-apoc blues touch.)
Unfortunately, the man with the drumkit never showed up. So, being the resourceful foreigners that they were (I mean, only one of them could drive, it was their first time in America, no GPS, no cellphone, just drove from Atlanta to New Orleans to Austin to here with no complaints) a junk drum kit was McGuyvered using a snare drum, paint bucket, tambourine, and maybe a plastic case or something. It took only a little coaxing and a few swigs of bourbon to convince them to play to a room of... one really drunk dude cussing everyone out in Spanish, two bleary professionals (fading fast), the sound guy, and yours truly.
And I'm not full of hyperbole when I declare that it sounded completely raw, it was loud and it was beautiful. In the spirit of DC, and street drummers everywhere, this was truely one of the finer moments I've had at a show recently.
So, this is what you should know. Their self-titled LP is out on Rob's House Records. Mailorder that! (Note: also Digitally available on iTunes, but that's not why we're here..)
"By day and night, fancy electronic dishes are trained on the heavens. They are listening for smudged echoes of the moment of creation. They are listening for the ghost of a chance. They may help us make sense of who we are and where we came from; and, as a compassionate side effect, teach us that nothing is ever lost.
So... I rake the sky. I listen hard. I trawl the megahertz. But the net isn't fine enough, and I miss you - a swan sailing between two continents, a ghost immune to radar.
Still, my eyes are fixed upon the place I last saw you, your signal urgent but breaking, before you became cotton in a blizzard, a plane coming down behind enemy lines."
Would it surprise anyone to hear how much I’m enjoying JUST DJing the blog and having free reign to program TVD Radio without the encumbrances of a playlist?
Unlike corporate radio beholden to a genre or theme, it’s really quite liberating go beyond the tired box of records that fit any (often my) self-imposed restrictions for the TVD week or theme at hand. And I think it’s a lesson the corporate suits might want to heed if they’re to ever draw back the listenership that’s abandoned the dial long ago.
What to do with all of those email alerts we get that we simply can't do justice throughout the week? Why, it's condense them right here in our now monthly bulletin board, 'plugs.'
This wonderwall of events info is yours to scrawl upon no matter where you're reading TVD. Have something we should be hearing, reading, or attending? Let us know each week, right here in the comments box to this post. And keep checking back to see who's clued you into what. Or where. And when.
For a while there I had a front row seat for Fire’s unique brand of transcendence. Or perhaps I should say ‘back seat,’ behind the drum kit for a number of months with Fire as he prepped new material at the Donkey Palace years back.
