French Letter's music is the result of long periods of random experimentation and the use of loop pedals for composition and performance - especially in "Chester", which begins in a loop-filled swell of instrumentation. Behind everything is an appreciation for oddities in music, whether in little nods to math-rock but set in a pop context, or unusual covers. But the core group of French Letter, the bass, drums, and guitar, have been playing together for five years, through four band-iterations, and have found a certain understanding on understanding. 
In college, they bonded over Pavement and Andrew Bird and being transplanted New Jerseyans, hence two songs on the EP named after small towns in northern New Jersey. And it has taken time - starting with six people, slimming down to three, expanding to four, to get to where they are.And where they are? Openers for Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie and Olivia Mancini this Saturday night (3/27) at Comet Ping Pong. We'll see you there, right?French Letter - Chester (Mp3)French Letter - Short Hills (Mp3)
It's the last day of our Daptone Records Record Store Day 2010 Label Showcase and we're going straight to the top. Gabriel Roth, aka Bosco Mann, is Daptone's co-owner, engineer, producer, arranger as well as bass player for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.I never pass through Austin without a jaunt over to Breakaway Records. Proprietor Gabe Vaughn maintains an extraordinary depth of stock ranging from Jazz to Rock with a particularly heavy focus on Rhythm and Blues. Every time I'm there I leave with a teetering tower of sevens (sweet soul, R&B, blues, gospel...) and a mountain of choice LP's. 
Notably, I picked up Little Willie John's "Talk To Me" Lp on my last visit (one of my favorite all time albums of which I had previously owned only a ratty strange pressing,) as well as Carolyn Franklin's "Chain Reaction" (an album by Aretha's sister containing the superb "You Really Didin't Mean It".) I found "Good Things" 45 by the Five Royales there, and Art Neville's "You Won't Do Right" 45 the time before.The condition of the records tends to be strong for the most part, and most remarkable are the fair prices. Though Vaughn is an incredible DJ and prolific collector (whose enthusiasm and penchant for New Orleans R&B inspired him to name his store after an Irma Thomas song,) he somehow does not sink to the ebay-driven mentality that has lead too many record store owners to over-price every single record based on some mythical Japanese collector who once paid something ridiculous in an online auction. 
Breakaway has a mellow vibe and two welcoming listening tables (with WORKING headphones!) which invite you to listen not only to the well sorted nuggets filed under "King" or "Stax", but also dig fearlessly into the undiscovered troughs of "Misc." and "New Arrivals". Next time you're in Austin, head over to Breakaway for a quality afternoon of vinyl digging. Tell 'em the other Gabe sent you.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way (Mp3)
I arrived on Tuesday, March 16th - a day early in an effort to learn my way around before the Music portion of the festival started. This seemed like a great idea in October when I booked my flight, but it turned out to be a terrible idea.Free Margaritas + Music Badge = DisasterLong story short, I lost my music badge the first night I was there. Note to self for next year: Do not wear your badge at any unofficial event prior to the beginning of the festival.I lucked out the next day. First, a friend of mine hooked me up with a day pass. Second, I went by the help desk three times. The first two times I went by, there was a very bored looking girl who was keeping tally of the losers, like myself, and their emotional responses. Four had cried. I was not one of them (but I probably would have had she not told me about the tally). The third time I went by, it was almost closing time, and there was a big, burly guy who after making fun of me and my obvious stupidity, gave me an "artist's" wristband, which is basically the same as having a badge. And he did it for free. FREE. Whew!Anyway, I am going to give you a brief synopsis each day this week of one of the days last week. The highlights, the lowlights, the absurdity of it all.Keep in mind, I am only 20, so I wasn't supposed to be in most of these venues anyway, so I'm not going to name them here. Also, I don't have a fake ID, I used my military ID, and most places didn't seem to notice that my birthday isn't until November. And it is because of their carelessness that I am able to bring you this report.
Day 1: Wednesday, March 17 - St. Patrick's DayI didn't leave the hotel until the afternoon as a result of the previous evening. Please forgive me.Sets:1. The Middle East - Brooklyn Vegan ShowcaseThis Australian band, is more than a band, they're a miniature orchestra. Seven people, and at least fourteen instruments. Each member maintained a certain ambiguity, no one seemed more prominent than the person behind them, everyone contributed both vocally and instrumentally. Looking around the room, everyone seemed very focused on what was happening on stage, not just the music, but the feeling. Each person was taking part in the song being sung. This was especially apparent during "Hunger Song" early in their set - as I looked around the majority of the crowd were moving their lips. With each song a new singer sang, or would change from verse to verse. They maintained a humility that was scarce at the festival. "Thank you all for coming to this crazy, hectic, madhouse, and thanks to our friends at Brooklyn Vegan," the tall, lanky one standing in the middle said while raising his hands as to "raise the roof." As they started the introduction to "Blood" an audience member broke the calm silence and shouted "Best song ever!" This could have been distracting, but instead an applause ripped in agreement. Despite being possibly the saddest song I heard last week, "Blood" was also perhaps the most beautiful.2. Frightened Rabbit - Scottish Arts CouncilOne of the problems at SXSW is the lines. I mean, it's to be expected, but is frustrating when you dash across town to see another band. I didn't see as many bands as I could have because of this.I stood in line for at least half an hour to get into the Frightened Rabbit show. Scott Hutchinson, the lead singer of this Scottish band, has managed to turn out hit after hit of melancholy pop anthems. They played songs from both Midnight Organ Fight and The Winter of Mixed Drinks - mostly the singles. It was a fast paced set, and the audience was alive during their latest hit "Nothing Like You," a quintessential "F**K You!" to whomever you previously loved. They closed with the bitter "Keep Yourself Warm" while leaving the stage, and trashing it, one by one until only the drummer, Grant, was left.3. Serena-Maneesh - Brooklyn Vegan Showcase
I had heard a lot about that "psychedelic rock band from Norway" and wanted to hear it myself. I am not a huge fan of "psychedelic" anything (I never claimed to be cool) and was hoping that I could be enlightened. I was wrong. While they look really cool, like, all the cool kids will be wearing glittery ponchos and mismatched headbands next year after seeing this band a la Emil Nikolaisen. Unless they decide to bleach their hair and take quaaludes, because that is exactly what the bassist looked like. They have a sound that would have worked well in the seventies, but they missed by thirty years and even now seem more glam than rock.On my way back to my hotel I found a lost Irishman sitting on a wall. He was in a band (duh) and had been walking in the wrong direction for an hour. I walked him to my hotel's lobby where the clerk called him a cab. And off he went, and I to bed, thankful to not be inebriated.
Our Record Store Day 2010 Label Showcase—The Daptone Week—continues today with Mikey “Custodian of Soul.” Mikey's the drummer for Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens as well as a Daptone Soul DJ.When I was asked to pick my two favorite record stores about 15 from the New York area came to mind. Instead of taking the easy route I decided to pick one store for the home team, and one for the away. If you are going to buy records in New York you must take a trip out to Massapequa Park (on Long Island) and check out Infinity Records. They are always well stocked in Northern Soul, Funk, and Garage 45’s – many times one of a kind acetates will pop up. If you’re into obscure Swedish Psych Lp’s (like TAGES), well they got that too. 
One time when I was playing records at a club a guy came over and looked at what I was spinning - the record happened to be “Could It Be You” by Sharon Scott (on RCA) - “Wow, where did you get that, eBay?” I simply replied, “Nope, Long Island.” Naturally he rolled his eyes and walked away, but the truth is, most of the “BIG” records I have in my box came out of Infinity, and for a small fraction of the dough it would take to buy the same records online. If it wasn’t for Infinity Records I certainly wouldn’t have the collection I do today. It is truly a world class record store.For the away team I’d have to pick This Way Out. It’s the small record/vintage clothes shop underneath The Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland Ohio. 
For me there is nothing better than digging for records on the road, and when you can do so twenty feet from sound check - ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! They are always well stocked with quality Soul and Garage 45’s, as well as an eclectic selection of LP’s. It’s the perfect store for the kind of scratchy gem at a monster value. Personally, I like my records to have a little wear on them – it gives them character. Anyplace where I can pull out The Music Machine “Double Yellow Line” (on Original Sound) and The Showmen “The Wrong Girl” (on MINIT—and for $5 BUCKS!!!) on the same visit and then head up stairs for a frosty tallboy of Genesee Cream Ale, is gold to me. Do yourself a favor - CHECK OUT “THIS WAY OUT”!Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens - What Have You Done (Mp3)Sharon Scott - Could It Be You (Mp3)The Showman - The Wrong Girl (Mp3)Tages - You're Too Incomprehensible (Mp3)
The Velvet Lounge and Bored of Trade present Tooth and Nail—a craft fair for noble savages young and old, Saturday, March 27, 11:00am - 7:00pm at the Velvet Lounge.Vendors: Bored of Trade | Daisy Lacy | Bkao | Treasury Vintage and new designs! | Murai Vintage | Manatea Party (and Project Dispatch) | DC Conspiracy Comics | Chris Zwart Designs | Laruen Pezzullo Repurposed Vintage | Off The Record bowls by Sheri Mattes | Kari Nye Baked Goods and Jewelry | Phil Barbato Plushes | Crooked Beat Records | Smash! Records | Windian Records | Alison Stout ElectronicsDJs: Adrian Parsons | Andrew Buckette | DJ Naraku | Lucas Smudge | DJ Mayo Burn
FREE ADMISSION, bring CASH for shopping.DRINK SPECIALS: $5 mimosas until 4 | $3 PBR tallboys until 7
Over the course of the past few weeks and in the weeks to come, we've been blessed with whip-smart, take-charge coordinators at each label we've highlighted who've helped us put together and navigate our Record Store Day 2010 Label Showcases.The odd this is though, we've yet to hear from one on the blog—until today as we're joined by The Honeydripper, Daptone’s right hand (wo)man and Soul DJ.Big City Records is responsible for a huge portion of my record collection. Run by the previous owners of the original “The Sound Library” which was located on 13th street in the LES…Big City Records is just around the corner and opened in 2006. They are the place to go for Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul/Funk and Latin LP’s and 45’s, and they also carry a good amount of our catalog. 
The guys running the place are DJ’s themselves and have an incredible taste and knowledge in music, nothing more important when running a record shop right? They are also very out-going and are known to pay attention to the stuff you like to buy and make sure to throw stuff your way to check out next time you’re in which is exactly what I hope to do when I’m record shopping…find new records that are up my alley and in great condition. If you have a record you’ve been after, mention it won’t be forgotten until one comes in.
They are located on a quiet street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. But don’t let the small size of the shop fool you, there are no fillers, you won’t find a bad record in there making it a favorite stop for many hi-profile producers as well. The LES is home to two other record shops you should absolutely hit up after Big City Records and that’s Academy Records (415 East 12th St. - They also have a Brooklyn location) and Good Records (218 East 5th Street ). Big City Records is located on 521 East 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B and below are some of my favorite purchases made there, all for a whole lot less then I would have paid had I gone to ebay.The Four Puzzles “Especially For You Baby”Deniece Chandler & Lee Sain “Hey Baby”Carl Carlton “I Can Feel It”The Harvey Averne Dozen “You’re No Good”O’Jays “Shattered Man”
The Four Puzzles - Especially For You Baby (Mp3)Carl Carlton - I Can Feel It (Mp3)The Harvey Averne Dozen - You’re No Good (Mp3)
It's no understatement—we're hooked on Imperial China's latest, 'Phosphenes' which our friends over at Aural States championed with, "Phosphenes is a testament to Imperial China’s distinct sound, meticulously alloying innumerable flavors of rock and pop into something both fresh and familiar. . .overall the album is a confident, well-developed debut of a unique and vibrant voice in a somewhat stagnant scene. A sign of a fertile future for both artist and label, and if we’re lucky, one of the first major volleys in a bonafide new movement.No faint praise there, hm?The band is fresh off the road and ready to rally the locals this Friday night at Velvet Lounge and they're bringing along Cephalopods, (including Hugh McElroy, Fiona Griffin, and Wells Bennett), Busses, and Lo Moda (from Baltimore).Now, typically this is where I announce that we've got a pair of tickets to give away - and we do. But the band's also tossed in the new 'Phosphenes' CD and your choice of one of the two tee shirts shown below in the: Mother of All Imperial China Giveaways.
You know you want to be there Friday night with the tee shirt on your back and the CD in your pocket. Let us know just how much the Mother of All Imperial China Giveaways would complete your weekend and the most over the top of you with your plea in the comments to this post—with contact email info!—takes it all home.You've got til Friday (3/26) at 3PM!Imperial China - Invincible (Mp3)Imperial China - Go Where Airplanes Go (Mp3)
"Other people write about the bling and the booty. I write about the pus and the gnats. To me, that's beautiful," the late Vic Chesnutt told an interviewer in 2005.Does more need to be said, really?Vic's last gorgeous LP is Week 7's Record Store Day Vinyl Giveaway...
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The rules can't be any simpler for our RSD2010 Vinyl Giveaways. All you need to do to enter to win is to leave a comment in the comments section to that week's giveaway letting us know why you deserve to win that week's LP.Be creative, funny, incisive—whatever it takes to grab our attention to deem you the winner. Most important however is to leave us a contact email address! You can be brilliant as hell, but if we can't track ya' down, you're out of the running.All winners will all be notified on Monday (3/29) upon the launch of the next RSD2010 Vinyl Giveaway!Vic Chesnutt - Sewing Machine (Mp3)
Our Record Store Day 2010 Label Showcase with Daptone Records continues, and today we're joined by Thomas “TNT” Brenneck, one of the guitar players for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, The Budos Band, and Menahan Street Band.“TNT” Brenneck also founded Dunham Records with Homer Steinweiss who joined us yesterday with our first Daptone installment. Their latest project is a hip hop 45 by three 9 year olds—The 3 Titans—rapping about going to college! Rooky Ricardos's
San Francisco, CAAround about a year ago I drove along Route 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco. No doubt I was high on some pot brownies some girls had given to me the night before at a Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings concert. Sure enough, it was a great road trip. With the beautiful Becca Bernard as my co-pilot, we charged up the west coast in a black Dodge Charger. Why were we going to San Francisco? "Rooky Ricardo's Record Shop" also known as "Rooky's." 
Rooky's is conveniently located in the Lower Haight, right across the street from the hell storm of a bar, "Toronados" (great sausages next door.) Rooky's is my favorite record store in the USA. Why? because it's right across the street from Groove Merchant Records? Nope. Because Dick is the man. A gay man who owns this fantastic record store and loves soul music (especially girl groups.)
Anyway, we arrive. Crash at a friends. Breakfast. Roll over to Rookie's.
No Dick. Where's Dick? I drove from LA! No Dick? "Dick doesn't work on Tuesdays" says dude. Great. So I shop at my favorite record store without saying hello to my favorite record store owner, but got great records regardless:The Fabulous Impressions - LP 4.00$!!
The Dells - Hey Sugar (Don't Get Serious) 45 (Vee-Jay)
King Floyd - Walkin' and Thinkin' 45 (Original Sound)
Little Richard - I Don't Know What You've Got (But It Sure's Got me) Vee-Jay 45 featuring a young Jimi Hendrix copping a young Curtis Mayfield. Top that!Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (Mp3)Menahan Street Band - Make the Road by Walking (Mp3)
The most cherished band of their generation, Teenage Fanclub return in May 2010 with a brand new album (yes, out on vinyl) entitled 'Shadows,' a headline slot at Camden Crawl, and a UK tour. It has been 5 long years since their last album, 'Man-Made', was released to universal acclaim, so it is no overstatement to say the new album is keenly anticipated. While most bands are lucky to have one great songwriter, Teenage Fanclub are blessed with three, hence 'Shadows' is overflowing with the kind of gorgeous, harmony driven classics you'd expect to find on a greatest hits album....and we've got the debut of the first single, 'Baby Lee.'
Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee (Mp3)
If there's one label who are most proud of their vinyl output, it's Daptone Records. Never mind that they're responsible for some of the tastiest Soul, Funk, Gospel and Afrobeat discs out there.I mean, how's this for a mission statement?"Hand-made and heart-stirred, our records are manufactured from the highest quality vinyl available. Our limited pressings can be purchased directly from us or from your local distributor at reasonable prices. Each record is carefully recorded and mixed by the illustrious Bosco Mann to ensure only the hardest, truest sound found this side of the Atlantic."This week, we're hanging out with the funky denizens of Daptone—as we have previously with the bands and artists from Sarathan Records and Vanguard Records—to get a beat on their most favorite record stores as we continue to beat the drum for Record Store Day 2010.And beat the drum we shall. Kicking us off and counting us in this week is the drummer for none other than Sharon Jones & The Dap-kings, Homer Steinweiss:"It is mid-March in Austin, and the cacophony known as South by Southwest is in full effect. I take a break from the madness to visit one of my favorite record stores, Friends of Sound Records at 1704 S. Congress Street. This place is not too big but it has a great selection and lots of new inventory coming through all the time.Walking in, you are greeted by a nice collection of soul, funk, and reggae 45's. I go through the 45's first and continue on to a well-categorized LP section. The store deals mostly, if not all, inused records. It's got a listening station (key when digging for records), the prices are reasonable, and the staff is always kind. The overall vibe in this place is great, not mention the fact that it is around the corner from Guero's for delicious Tex-Mex and Allen's Boots for all your western outfitting needs.Unfortunately, this time around I only have a half hour to dig as I have to get back to 6th street for a show—still enough time to pick up 3 good finds. First off is "Irma Thomas Sings," a great compilation of Irma Thomas classics released on the Bandy label. It's hard to find most of these great tunes, so this album is a real gem. 
Next is "Pillow Talk" by Sylvia. As the title suggests, this is a record for lovers. Its smooth soul from New Jersey and it doesn't disappoint. Finally, I got Hank Ballard's 45, "How You Gonna Get Respect (when you haven't cut your process yet)." This song is a riff on the James Brown Classic "Licking Stick" with a more political message. I have always loved this song for its quirky arrangement and powerful vocals and I finally found the original 45. Thank you Friends of Sound Records!"
Sharon Jones & The Dap-kings - Nobody's Baby (Mp3)
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