It's a TVD/Bluebrain Interactive Contest!

Ryan from Bluebrain kicks it off:

"In the run-up to our free show at The Fridge this Saturday (1/16) and to our first album release, 'Soft Power' next month, The Vinyl District has asked us to do something a little different.

Some of you may have taken part in our boombox performance in October...in short, we wrote a piece of music called 'Cakeblood' and bounced each track onto a different cassette tape, over 30 in all. Each of those were placed in one of the provided boomboxes.

We did a countdown, pressed play at the same time, and walked around the city as the piece played in (relative) synchronicity. The Vinyl District has requested that we do something similar that readers could try at home or in their office. So we've put together a short piece called 'The Last Place You Look'.

It's a little over 4 minutes long and only contains 4 distinct parts. All you need is a few computers with internet connection and the ability to download and play sound from each of them. So when your boss is out to lunch, you and three coworkers in neighboring cubicles can fill the office with an unexpected musical interlude.

It's very easy. Each person should download one of the 4 links below, load in iTunes, and press pause when it's at the beginning. Designate a member of your group to do a countdown and, on 'Go', everyone clicks play. Remember, if your computer is not playing music right away, fret not. Not every track starts right out of the gate.

Thank you and enjoy!"

Bluebrain - The Last Place You Look [Track 1] (Mp3)
Bluebrain - The Last Place You Look [Track 2] (Mp3)
Bluebrain - The Last Place You Look [Track 3] (Mp3)
Bluebrain - The Last Place You Look [Track 4] (Mp3)

Oh, riiight. The contest.

Any one of you who can prove you pulled this off—at work, or at home, or at Tryst, even - YouTube video or what have you—will get an autographed copy of the debut CD and a shit ton of bragging rights. (The show is free, after all.)

You have 'til Friday and we needn't say it but, ...'em—make it great.


...and we have a winner!

It's The Submarines' Vinyl District!

The Submarines Blog Takeover, Day 4! Blake's back and she's got plenty to cover:

As you likely know, Haiti was hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake Tuesday, devastating much of the country. Donations can be made to help with the relief effort through a number of organizations, including Wyclef Jean's, Yéle Haiti. The Yéle Haiti site has been temporarily overwhelmed, but you can donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501.

This year, restored audio recordings and a number of short films made by Alan Lomax in Haiti in 1936 have been made available in the amazing box set, "Alan Lomax in Haiti." Here is a beautiful sacred song, called 'Gede Nibo, yo fè rayi mwen' from Volume 7, sung by Francilia, who worked for Lomax, and whom he recorded singing many traditional tunes.

Francilia - Gede Nibo, yo fè rayi mwen (Mp3)

While I'd love to devote this post to the music of Haiti and the Caribbean (including more contemporary artists) in tribute to those effected by this tragic event, I'm no expert and would be making a pretty amateur attempt. Thus...I'll now return to Subs-love-records blogging...

We, The Submarines, reside in a sleepy pocket of Northeast Los Angeles, in close proximity to many fine independently owned record-selling establishments, including these two lovely ones: Origami Vinyl is a shop and label in the heart of Echo Park, near our beloved venue, The Echo.

Territory Barbeque and Records is a hybrid BBQ restaurant and vinyl shop in Virgil Village in Silverlake, and has one of the grooviest looking bright-green storefronts around.

Another great vinyl-oriented establishment in the Echo Park area is the revamped former Ranchero bar, El Prado, which boasts 'beer, snacks and records' and is very pretty, indeed, with albums stacked up above the mirrored bar:


To close this post, I'd like to mention an album which came out the other day called 1%: the Music, Volume 1, which includes a Submarines song called, 'The Tide.' 1% is a non-profit which works to support environmental programs. We're really happy for them that this compilation has reached the iTunes alternative top ten this week.

And finally, here are a few things I'm rocking out to this week whilst running (training for the Boston Marathon in April):

Major Lazer - Pon de Floor (Mp3)
David Byrne and Dirty Projectors - Knotty Pine (Mp3)
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - 40 Day Dream (Mp3)

TVD Fresh Pick | New Brian Jonestown Massacre

Press Release!

The Brian Jonestown Massacre is back and set to release their tenth studio album, Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? on February 23rd. The 13-track album was recorded throughout 2009 in Iceland and Berlin and features Spaceman 3 legend Will Carruthers on bass, vocalist Unnur Andrea Einarsdottir and a variety of international musicians contributing textures not previously heard on a BJM album. It is to be released on bandleader Anton Newcombe’s own label, “a recordings LTD”, distributed though Red Eye.

The album marks the return of guitarist/vocalist Matt Hollywood, an original member/co-founder of the band who helped write some of the BJM’s classic material from their early albums (Strung Out In Heaven, Their Satanic Majesties Second Request, Take It From The Man, Spacegirl & Other Oddities, Give It Back) as well as penning the infamous dig at the Dandy Warhols, “Not If You Were The Last Dandy on Earth”.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Let’s Go Fucking Mental (Mp3)

TVD Sunday Hangover | Mr. Casablancas Visits the 9:30 Club

If you want to go to a rock show and be home in time to watch Leno (wait… what time is Leno on?!) Julian Casablancas is your man.

The Strokes frontman, 31 year-old Julian Casablancas, dropped by the 9:30 club last night (Tues) to play his entire first first solo LP, ‘Phrazes for the Young’ to a sold-out show consisting mainly of mid-twenties Baltimorians. The entire LP (including the bonus track) is a only 43 minutes long and even by throwing in a new song and a Strokes cover (I’ll Try Anything Once) the show was over by 10:30pm.

Despite the brevity, however, Casablancas was able to bring his cigarette-raspy, super-sexy and unmistakable Strokes voice to the legendary club along with his new-found 70’s analog synth sound. When writing for The Strokes, Casablancas has mentioned that he’s always written songs first on the keyboard then translated these into guitar tunes whereas with ‘Phrazes’, it seems he never made it to the guitar (which, by no means, is a bad thing).


Julian was quite the funny-man, cracking jokes and singing improvised DC jingles while his drummers kick-drum was fixed. Mr. C even jumped into the crowd several times to the delight of many a young professional who got to touch the legendary icon. The show, although super short, was fantastic indeed.

As you probably know, the Strokes album “Is This It” was named the number one album of the entire decade by NME magazine! Quite the achievement. Although the band has not officially broken up they have been ‘on-hiatus’ since their third album, ‘First Impressions of Earth’ in 2006. Based on several interviews it seems the possibility of a fourth album remains…

Apparently Julian was rockin a way-cool 80’s-esque leather jacket too… but unfortunately I was too fricken short to see!

Julian Casablancas – Out of the Blue (Mp3)
Julian Casablancas – 30 Minute Boyfriend (Bonus Track) (Mp3)
Dangermouse and Sparklehorse (feat. J. Casablancas) – Little Girl (Mp3)
Courtney Love – But Julian, I’m a Little Older Than You (Mp3)