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
Brit-indie stalwarts and NME mainstays, Ash have been hard at work over the past number of months on their A-Z series—a series of 26 singles released individually as digital downloads and 7" singles, released and pressed as the band writes and records them.
In a NME interview vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler opined "We wanted to be the first people to do it like this. I think it'll be great for our fans waiting every two weeks knowing they're going to get a song and wondering what it'll be like. It'll be fun."
Bassist Mark Hamilton also spoke of the merits of releasing in an alternative way, "We thought we’d come up with a different model where we never really had to be actually be away, that might work better. That was one of the reasons. We had the freedom when launching our own label as well, to try something different, so we’re going to give it a go. I think if it works, a lot of people might copy it."
Out today (4/20) arrives the fruit of Ash's 'A-Z Series' to date compiled on one CD for the first time. It's the singles A-M, plus the first track released, “Return of White Rabbit,” and also four bonus tracks.
But this being the ye olde Vinyl District, we knew you'd want to get your hands on some vinyl to herald the release of the CD compilation, so we set about rummaging for something special to offer—and we've come up with a one-of-a-kind,signed7" test pressing of the newest single, 'Dare to Dream' — Single N. (That's it up there in the photo.)
Want the one-of-a-kind Ash 7" mailed directly to your place of residence? Get creative ala Ash's A-Z series in the comments to this post (with contact info!) and tell us why you deserve to be the bearer of this special signed item.
One grand prize winner will get the 7" and a free subscription to the digital A-Z Series. You'll get the first 14 singles (A-N) now and will receive singles O-Z as they're released, plus receive free exclusive bonus tracks. One runner up will receive the subscription to the the A-Z Series alone.
You've got until Tuesday, 4/27 to suitably impress us - now go get creative!
We heard from our friend Will Simpson of Dangerósa earlier this week:
"...This weekend is the first Amnesty International Human Rights Arts Festival, curated by Norman Lear, the television producer and founder of People for the American Way.There will be a multitude of events, with dance, film, visual arts, and music from around the world being celebrated all weekend at varying venues in Silver Spring.
Dangerósa and Tigertronic are playing Saturday night, in the old Ceviche space above Austin Grill in downtown Silver Spring. It will be a cool place to see a show, and we have just gotten our liquor license set up for our portion of the event, with all proceeds from the door and bar going to Amnesty International. We certainly hope that people will come out and have a great time, knowing that their presence is helping to bolster the mission of Amnesty International across the globe.
In addition, admission is FREE and bar proceeds will benefit Amnesty International..."
There's a couple things you need to know if you ever find yourself record shopping with Thurston Moore: Drink plenty of fluids beforehand, wear comfortable shoes, and block out the whole damn day, because this dude is relentless. I don't care how much you think you love record stores. This man will wear you out. And gawd help you if Coley's along for the ride.
The upside is, whatever piece of vinyl you whip out, he'll be able to give you a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, because he's seen it, and will know instantly whether it's overpriced, etc. The downside is that you will need to, again, plan nothing else for the day. Once I actually peeled away, got something to eat - like, sat down and got something to eat - and went back to the same store and he was still going at it.
Naturally, it was necessary to get him on the phone for this thing.
There is, I just found out literally 10 minutes ago, a Record Store Day youtube (below) which, uh, plows some of the same territory. Like the obvious "Dewar's profile" what-was-the-first-record-you-bought question. But whatever. This one's way better. Here at the Vinyl District NYC Bureau, we've surgically whittled 40 minutes of mobile phone blurt down to 12 tight minutes of more-or-less germane discussion. It took forever, and I can no longer stand the sound of my own voice, or make the CTRL+X gesture. But here ya go. ++cg
So, yesterday I'm G-chatting with Michael Kentoff, singer for The Caribbean, and he's bellyaching about...well. ...Let's let him tell it... —Ed.
As anyone who knows me can readily report, I am a control freak. Acts of God should be manageable by some decent planning, iron will, and, if necessary, a tantrum of some kind. The Icelandic Volcanic Cloud epic has pierced every vulnerable space in my troubleshooting, problem-solving armor (or, if you'd rather, armour). If I get through this, I pledge to work diligently on conquering the elements, altering weather patterns, and manipulating time and space in a way that serves mankind and relieves me of stress (not necessarily in that order). Needless to say (perhaps), being stranded anywhere -- even a city as fabulous as London -- would test my me-ness and, I'm here to report, it's an interesting test that I have both failed and passed. Interesting to me, anyway -- I'm stranded an ocean away from home and have lost my barometer of time, mood, and entertainment value.
My wife Maureen and I had planned a quick UK trip around an academic conference she was attending and speaking at in Liverpool. I'm very busy at work, so it had to be quick. 3 days of time out of the office is what I allowed myself. It bummed us out a little because we really wanted more time to explore London, but work is work and we could always visit another time.
When we arrived at Immigration at Heathrow on Thursday, we were told we were one of the last flights in, which mystified us until it was explained that some Icelandic volcano (I will call her Bjork) spewed so much ash into the air that all UK airspace was closed. We figured it would have no bearing on our return trip the following Monday. Went to Liverpool. Slept on the train, drank beer and ate some crisps. Liverpool is a GREAT city and, meeting up with my friend Peter Cruttenden (attending University of Nottingham), we checked the old place out and had a few pints (of beer). Peter & I ran into a hen party at the Cavern, which involved about 30 girls and women wearing rabbit ears, matching black t-shirts, getting drunk, and dancing around drunker men who were happy to tear off their shirts and roll around on a grime-covered floor.
The next day, he & I toured The Beatles' childhoods and learned about the history of Liverpool (dirty secret: the money came from the slave trade -- Mr. Penny was among the most successful people merchants of his day). Had a drink with our wonderous guide Danny, made good friends with the Verger of St. Peters (where Eleanor Rigby is buried and Paul met John). Turns out he's a Redskins fan and his father is one of the legendary coaches in all of English football history (Liverpool FC). I have a new friend in the Anglican Church, although I had to look up what a verger was.
When we arrived in London for our one day tease of the town, we soon discovered that we might have a little more time here than we'd planned. Our Monday flight was soon canceled and the soonest we could fly back is ... this Saturday! That's the best case scenario. Being prone to mania, I flipped out. Short on medicine. Trapped. Do we have a place to stay? Then I realized (with help from my wife) that the situation was beyond our control and we were in one of the coolest cities in the world. So: fucking deal with it. I re-filled my meds, which involved visiting a Doctor's office, talking to the receptionist for 5 minutes, and promptly receiving prescription slips (without ever seeing a Doctor or showing any ID) for 25 pounds. Socialized medicine kicks ass! I WANT IT!
We watch Caps games on laptop from midnight-to-3pm and basically wander around London (magnificent weather) getting lost, alone and together. Might see some bands (Broadcast, Beak, our Hometapes labelmates Bear in Heaven). Maureen has talked me into seeing the new production of Hair. Important Important Important: We discovered that fish and chips is fucking worthless without mushy peas. What else? Our cab driver yelled "Go You Spurs!" out the window today. Why? "That was Noel Gallagher, 'e's a City fan. Tottenham and Man City are up for 4th on the table, so I gave him one. 'e lives right around here." I wanted him to stop the cab so I could slap Gallagher in the face (I am bigger than he is and make better records, so I have the right). I've spent much of my time here tweeting (michaelcarib) and buying records (naturally). The following is an Act of God/No Fly Playlist made up of the various odds and ends I've bought to keep the ADHD, anxiety-laden traveler even-keeled.
1. Brigas nunca mais - Joao Gilberto 2. You Belong to Me - Jim Reeves 3. Curves of the Needle - Field Music 4. Lily Pond - Vashti Bunyan 5. If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up - Betty Davis 6. BBC 1+2 - John Baker 7. Carpet Crawlers - Genesis 8. Aaja Re Pardesi - Lata Mangeshkar 9. The Dynamites - King Tubby's City Dub 10. Salisbury Plain - Shirley & Dolly Collins 11. Do You Remember Walter - The Kinks 12. Has He Got a Friend For Me - Richard & Linda Thompson 13. Set Phazer to Stun - The Time and Space Machine 14. Lover of Mine - Beach House
I have a full-on British accent and call everyone Loov. It's frightening to be stranded, but I've always held that The Caribbean is an English group who happened to have grown up in the States, so I feel strangely at home. But, really, I'm dying to come home. I love and miss DC. Mo and I miss our friends, our cats, even our jobs. So, while we suffer terribly here in London, gather the above songs anyway you can, close your eyes, and say a prayer for us. Try to think of us eating Indian food, fish and chips with proper mushy peas, Thai noodle boxes, drinking pints of bitters, and pray for us. Hard.
Your Grounded Correspondent, Michael Kentoff of The Caribbean
Reggae legends Toots and The Maytals are happy to announce the release of the band’s latest record 'Flip & Twist', released yesterday (4/20) digitally and in stores May 18.
In honor of today’s national holiday, Toots is releasing a special, 4/20-themed limited edition package, which includes a joint-shaped USB drive loaded with Flip & Twist, a Toots Stash Box, the physical CD of the album, and a variety of other gifts. The package is available via the band’s website along with digital copies of the album.
To extrapolate further from yesterday’s discussion in regard to Google summarily axing blogs with perceived copyright violations, has anyone stopped to consider the one dollar bins all across the globe that were rifled through this past weekend for Record Store Day?
Do you think any of those artists will see a fraction of that one dollar bill in a residual check in their mailbox? Not a chance.
But what that particular vendor made possible was the availability and enhanced awareness of the music to the energized record buying public who just might turn around and purchase a current physical or digital product.
Because it was put under their nose in an environment where more can be bought.
TVD: doing the thinking for corporate morons everywhere.
I sat on the roof, sunbathing in the strong signal that this smartass phone says it has. On the phone was Mike Hall of Sick Sick Birds, a Baltimore pop-punk band with a semi-new album out onToxic Pop Records. "Our first 7 inch was on that label," Hall says. "And then we came out with this 12 inch last year called Heavy Manners. It's 8 songs and it's definitely a big departure for us because we did a lot of it ourselves at the warehouse."
"It was fun. We were able to take our time a little bit more and get everything we really wanted done before we put it out. There was really no deadline. It's more of a thought out record than any record I've been a part of." Hall sounds stoked on this record, and the next one as well. "I think the next batch of songs will be a lot more collaborative. It's a different lineup than what we've had in the past ... it's almost like being in the band you were in in high school, everyone's just at practice goofing around and writing stuff together."
Speaking of high school, I ask what he likes about playing music in this region. "It's where I grew up. It's just a lot of fun to play shows around here because you're almost becoming part of the history that we grew up with. So it's an honor. As songwriters, we're defiantly shaped by the area we grow up in. I grew up with Dischord, and old DC hardcore stuff. That kind of shines through a little bit."
But you live in.... "I love Baltimore. As we got older we realized that its a lot cheaper to live up in Baltimore. We're sort of old people that are coming to terms with being old people. And having families and mortgages and stuff but still wanting to play punk rock... not being in a touring band anymore, its kind of a struggle sometimes... we find ourselves being more selective of the shows we play.. we're played New York a couple weeks ago, we're getting up to Philly, and go down to Richmond... were doing five shows in California this summer. So we're doing what we can to get out of town a little bit, and balancing that with being family people. BUT IT'S FUN."
Comment below with your email for a chance to win two tickets to see them, and a copy of the new album! YES, FREE! Hurry, this offer ends Wednesday morning at 7:00 A.M.
Feels a little like the morning after the prom around here to be honest.
The 3rd Annual Record Store Day is in the books and by all of the accounts I’ve witnessed and read, ‘twas quite a success indeed. We’ve got the last batch of RSD2010 vinyl from our giveaways lined up to ship and with that, we’ll have dispatched our duties for another year.
But we’re not going anywhere—we’ll still be bringing you what you’ve grown accustomed to over the close to 3 (!) years now. But we’re also mindful of what brought many of you here in the first place – free shit.
And it’s not just the vinyl we toss out at you each week – it’s the Mp3s from the archives which was an early TVD carrot and stick. And frankly, while we’ve developed quite the speedy and handy way of regurgitating the new tracks that land in our email daily, the ones from the archives have the most appeal. Well, for me anyway.
The conundrum has been...well, Google and their silent and speedy way of axing the blogs of copyright offenders and and even perceived offenders. This has happened often without legitimate cause or merit, never mind a warning or discussion. BOOM. Gone.
So we’ve cowtowed a bit to Google’s hammer because, with all transparency, we made commitments to the Record Store Day folks, the labels featured over the past month, and the advertisers splattered over there to the left — to just be here. It’s been a responsibility that we’ve welcomed with open arms which also meant we sorta had to play along.
So, it’s the morning after prom. My mascara’s running and there’s sand in my shorts and there’s old-style TVD read meat awaiting for the wolves at the downloading door.
Under wraps that is. We like to play by the rules.
Record Store Day may have come and gone this weekend but that's not stopping us from waxing on a little while longer. —Ed.
"We ... know a lot of other people who are really kind of weird, heavy-duty collectors. When we get together, it's just horrible."
Here we are - America's favorite stunt-reviewer, musicologist, and record-collector: Byron Coley. The interview's long - about a half-hour - but well worth it, if I do say so myself.
One note, for clarity's sake: The "Bruce" mentioned around the 25-minute mark (during the Glenn Jones Destroys The Only Known Copy of A Shaggs 7" Anecdote) is our dear friend, Bruce Milne, who founded and ran the Au Go Go label and who now runs the Infidelity label in Melbourne, Australia. He is also fond of hot sauces, large haunches of lamb, and Martin & Lewis memorabilia. He has a want list that will break your Internet.
If you find any of this interesting or entertaining, it's certainly not due to my interviewing skills. No, it's probably because I was minimally bright enough to hit the big red "record" button and stay the hell out of Byron's way.
Kicks! is thrilled to be partnering up with The Vinyl District to be the Official Afterparty on Record Store Day! So once you pick up some vinyl jewels on the 17th, swing by the Black Cat backstage from 10 pm to 2am for Kicks! As an added bonus, John Davis of Title Tracks will be joining regular DJs Sara and Kim that night.
Kicks! is a monthly dance party held in the Black Cat backstage geared to providing a hullabaloo of a good time. We throw a mix of garage, punk, powerpop, girl groups, and psych into our cauldron to whip you up a dance night of sing-along fun and tail-feather shaking. And the best part about it – it’s free! For the last two years, Kicks! has been happily holding down a monthly spot at the Black Cat, one of our favorite places to see bands or hang out. The goal of Kicks! is to provide a fun, low key dance night to hear songs you love or to discover new bands. The Washington Post may have said it best:
"Kicks is one of the more user-friendly DJ nights on the Black Cat's monthly calendar. From Queen to the Cold War Kids, Cheap Trick to the Vivian Girls, the Ramones to the Rolling Stones, it's a night of pure fun rock and roll, mainly from the '70s and '80s, that begs you to have a couple of beers and jump around on the backstage. Just when you think you're ready to leave, DJs Kim and Sara drop "Rebel Rebel" or "Teenage Kicks" and you find yourself saying, "Okay, one more song," and then the next thing you know the lights are coming up and it's time to go home, even though you meant to leave 45 minutes ago. Whoops."
Kicks! began its inception as a night called Pow Wow held weekly at Felix in Adams Morgan and for a time monthly at Rock and Roll Hotel. Adam, who started Pow Wow, left DC for Los Angeles, and now runs the Pow Wow Podcast. The Podcast is free and updated weekly, and much like Kicks!, features a range of music depending on the week – expect to hear everything cool from the 60’s on. One week may feature krautrock from La Dusseldorf and Faust, the next a sampling of shoegaze from My Bloody Valentine, Moose, and the Boo Radleys, or it may be all new bands like Grass Widow, Young Prisms, and Brilliant Colors.
We hope to see some new faces on the 17th!
Here are some sample tracks of some of the bands we like to play: Teenage Head – Picture My Face | The Only Ones – Another Girl, Another Planet | The Human Beinz – Nobody But Me | The Real Kids – All Kindsa Girls | Flamin’ Groovies – Shake Some Action
Y'know, we really don't ask you guys to come out for much. Oh sure, there's been four Record Fairs to date and some event here or there we were high on, but beyond these we typically leave it to the other blogs to shoulder that burden.
This time however, we've got a good cause that we'd like you to leave the comfort of your turntable for. Just for a few hours. You can do it. Be strong.
Saturday, April 17, 2010 is Record Store Day as any reader of this blog knows. It's a day set aside to promote the history and longevity of DC's—and the nation's—indie record stores.
Tickets are just $10.00 with all proceeds going toward the overhead for Fort Reno's Summer 2010 Season.
Those of you who patronize one of our local independent record stores on Record Store Day will receive half off the price of admission with the presentation of a store receipt dated Saturday,April 17, 2010.
(A reminder: this is a dry event. Please join us as you would any Fort Reno concert.)
Ok, so...back awaaayyy from the turntable now...c'mon...and join us.
UPDATE: ...we've extended the entry date to this Friday, 4/23!
You've been sufficiently brainwashed, right? You hear and obey and will be hitting up your local independent music shops tomorrow in celebration of Record Store Day 2010...right?
We thought so.
I'd say our work is done here for one year, but the rest is up to you, friends. I don't care what corner of the globe you're tuning us in, you've got a mom and pop shop on some corner whose doors are wide open for your arrival tomorrow and they're flush with a myriad of exclusive RSD2010 vinyl releases for you to take home and slather with affection.
And we have two of those exclusive platters of vinyl on offer as our very last giveaway of ourTen Weeks of Record Store Day Giveaways.
First up, One AM Radio's 'Credible Threats' limited edition (500 hand-numbered copies) 7" on colored vinyl.
“I’m never sleeping, I’m too busy keeping track of all the ways they say I might die.” That’s how Credible Threats opens: from the perspective of a fraught narrator tuned into his daily fears and nightly news. Caught somewhere between wry self-deprecation and full nervous breakdown, this is a dance song for Marshall McLuhan, or a pop anthem for Jack Gladney and his family in Delillo’s “White Noise.”
The 7” comes with a 3D music video directed by Andrew Huang, and old-school 3D glasses to watch it. The vinyl’s B-side is a remix by the Mae Shi, who slow the song’s frenetic pace down and re-create it with the gang vocals of a disorganized mob. The video and both tracks also come digitally, along with a bonus remix by Jogger. The limited-edition, hand-numbered 7“s include a code and a link to download all of the files.
The song’s second verse begins, “I’m never sleeping, I’m too busy keeping track of all the things that could go wrong.” But this isn’t a song to go to sleep to. When the apocalypse comes, at least you’ll be dancing.
Next we have Chuck Ragan's Daytrotter Session on 10" vinyl. These songs were recorded in the summer of 2009 at The Horseshack studio in downtown Rock Island, IL by the fine folks at Daytrotter. They were the featured Daytrotter Session on August 25, 2009.
The rules can't be any simpler for our last week of RSD2010 Giveaways. All you need to do to enter to win is to leave a comment in the comments section to this giveaway letting us know why you deserve to win this week's vinyl.
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.
Record Store Daydream |With half-damp eyes I stared to the room / Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon / Where we together weathered many a storm / Laughin' and singing 'till the early hours of the morn'.
This afternoon I went to Records LA, a record shop located on an unlikely block in south LA. The joint is owned and run by a cool guy from Detroit named Scott. He sells only vinyl collectibles with a preference towards funk, soul and anything obscure preferably on 45. Heavenly!
Vinyl records, for me, are like old out of touch friend that I’m glad to see. They bring back memories and inspire me to chat about rock n roll days gone by. And why not, Record Store Day is upon us and really nothing much else is making me the happier!
I left with a warm heart and a copy of Jethro Tull’s “A Passion Play”— it was calling me to take her home at 5 bucks.
Appropriately with record shop memories in mind I created this week’s Idelic Hour mix. There are a number of new artists who press vinyl but only a small crop who I would call “vinyl worthy.” Of course anything with Jack White playing guitar, keys or even drums would be worth adding to a cool collection. I like the new Deer Tick, Beach House, and Best Coast while still digesting MGMT’s latest. Simon from Bella Union in London sent me a new album by offbeat, songwriter, John Grant which I will also gladly add to my collection of “old friends”.
The reggae vibe in Washington, DC is currently in full effect. With the recent addition of Patty Boom Boom, you can always find a true reggae spot in the District to get your rocksteady on.
See-I at Eighteenth Street Lounge has become a true staple of this scene, filling in all the gaps in these never-ending 9-5 workweeks with just a little bit of zen happiness, and for just a few hours, letting us forget all the other bullshit in this world.
For the past 4 years, brothers Rootz and Zee (aka See-I) have been bringing down the house once a week, aggregating the most eclectic mix of DMV party people to the three-floor Dupont venue to groove in unison to the funkiest of reggae vibes. The occasion has become a weekly necessity for many people, nearly a religion, that provides us worn-out Districtonian’s the outlet we need to get past that Wednesday hump and closer to the weekend. Friends are made, Red Stripes are drunk, and people get very, very… happy.
See-I has been making music for 20 nears now, living in the Caribbean and moving to DC in the 80's when the sound of Dancehall was booming in the District. Joining forces with Eric Hilton, the brothers toured with Thievery Corporation which took them internationally and now to DC, where everyone couldn’t be happier.
4/20:See-I will be twisting their way through the Rock n’ Roll Hotel with Fort Knox Five and Nappy Riddem to celebrate the new Chinatown location of Capitol Hemp.
Yes! That is correct, located at 13th and H in Gallery Place / Chinatown, the new Captitol Hemp location shall be very sweet indeed... some of the truly finest hemp products to be had.
So JOIN US, ROCK WITH US, GET HAPPY WITH US; enjoy a bit of zen happiness, and forget all the bullshit with us. We will get our reggae on, and laugh/boogie like fools.
We've got really sweet limited edition Fort Knox Five official Bob Marley 7" remixes and tickets to the Capitol Hemp Anniversary Party …. that two of you could win.
Comment and tell us, why you love Earth Day so much (earth day = 4/22). The very best Earth Day tradition will receive word on 4/20 and a copy of this grand 45 in the mail soon after. Ready set GROW. I mean GO.
The Vinyl District is delighted to announce that our partnership with Ardent Studios is extending well beyond our Record Store Day Week spotlight with a weekly The Ardent Sessions Presents feature.
Each Friday Ardent will be handpicking for TVD a live session from the bands that swing through their studios AND in tandem with the live set, we'll have a giveaway each week, and of course vinyl when possible.
Kicking off TVD's very first Ardent Sessions Presents are one of our favorites, New Jersey's The Black Hollies.
Like a child left alone inside of an eggshell colored room, armed with only an assortment of poster paints, my journey to Ardent Studios begins with the echoes of yesterday decorating the walls of my mind. Collectively, we can all agree that it was one great big buffet table, with every visible inch of the surface area filled with sterno fueled aluminum trays. When the trays were opened, The Black Hollies were quite more than pleased to see the contents inside contained genuine enthusiasm and most importantly, sincerity and LOVE.
Ever since that first visit back in the Summer of 2008, Memphis, TN has solidified its status as being the band's second home. When you're traveling the way our tiny little band does, time passes by rather quickly and memories are sewn into one's heart, but on those rare occasions, magical moments carve out their place within you and bury themselves deeply inside your soul. A dear close personal friend of mine, Eric Christ, always spoke to me in high school about the Box Tops and Big Star. Little did I know that one day I would find myself positioned inside the embryo. I speak on behalf of the four of us when I say how grateful we are for the staff making our time at Ardent a hospitable and enjoyable one.
P.S. Thank you for not only showing me the velvet cloak Jimmy Page wore throughout the mastering of Led Zeppelin III and the now bronzed bottle of queso dip Billy Gibbons used to dip his Mexican peso in for that solo on "La Grange" but for taking me on the blindfolded path to the secret Echo-Chamber. —Justin Angelo Morey
(To be read in ones best Elvis accent...) Hell, if Memphis 'aint The Black Hollies' favorite city then my baby's Montgomery glands aren't protected by pink areola. We like peanut butter, bananas, and karate too man. When The Black Hollies arrived to cut our Ardent Sessions, two things were on MY mind, the year 1988 and the Cocktail Soundtrack. I was always a huge Fabulous Thunderbirds fan ever since "Tuff Enuff" was featured alongside Michael Keaton's struggle as Hunt Stevenson in the 1986 hit film, "Gung Ho." Yeah, I know all about YY Bottom, Hookey B and the No MSG's, Mickey "Mouse" Funn, and Reve Bopper. Man, it's even rumored that Gilly Bibbons from Bottom used to bring in special lighting rigs to illuminate the live room at Ardent in order to capture that perfect feel for when he was tracking. And what about them tones captured on Zep III? But something about Jimmie Vaughan's playin' always spoke to me. For me "Powerful Stuff" was not just a clever title for a Fab T-Birds record. It really rang true with its namesake. For me, that record was, and still is, VERY powerful stuff. I wonder if any of it was recorded at Ardent. It had to be. Anyone? With much respect, gratitude, and love to all our friends, the beautiful people of Memphis, and everyone who works at Ardent, the Black Hollies are much obliged for all you have done to support our little band. —Jon Gonnelli
The Ardent Sessions were a joy. We were plied with as much Red Bull as we could drink then banged out a set, complete with our requisite comedic interludes, in Studio B (I think?). Everyone who works there is friendly, profesh, and totally used to dealing with a band on tour. Their hospitality is staggering. We were able to wander the hauls of the studio agape at all the amazing records that were created there, as well as annoy the staff by constantly entering rooms we weren't supposed to be in. Staring at the covers of Tres Hombres, Led Zeppelin III, and the Soundtrack from Cocktail got me super-psyched to beat the shit out of some drums and it was awesome to play a set in such an amazing studio for some of our best friends in Memphis, including the guys from The Bulletproof Vests (great band!) —Nick Ferrante
Enter to win The Black Hollies' 'Softly Towards the Light' on vinyl by simply leaving a comment, your name, and a contact email address in the comments to this post. We'll choose one winner each Friday for that week's giveaway!
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