TVD Shuffle Bored | April 4, 2008

Five for Friday:
Beirut - Elephant Gun (Mp3)
Small Amp - Sisters and Brothers (Mp3)
Ringo Starr - You're Sixteen (Mp3)
The Grays - Same Thing (Mp3)
Rickie Lee Jones - Chuck E's In Love (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

Despite the odd compilation or two or the recent 'Anthology' releases, I wasn't a member of the buying public when there actually was a NEW Beatles record. It was all out there by the time I got to it. And I chipped away...one LP at a time and largely out of sequence which gives me a broad appreciation for their career--from the Cavern to the Rooftop. The latter era informs today's bootleg 'The Auction Tapes' which are 'Let it Be' and subsequently 'Abby Road' rehearsals. And actually, when I listen to these...I'm truly hearing a few things that really are, well...new.

The Beatles - All Things Must Pass/Mean Mr. Mustard/Don't Let Me Down/All Things Must Pass/Fools Like Me/You Can Win Again (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Be Cruel/Costa Del Sol/My One And Only Prayer/My Baby Left Me (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying/Sexy Sadie/Blue Suede Shoes (Mp3)
The Beatles - If Tomorrow Ever Comes/What Do You Wanna Make Those Eyes At Me For (Mp3)
The Beatles - She Came Into The Bathroom Window/Sausages and French Fries/Hi Ho Silver/Stand By Me (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

Aside from the ticks in my head when these tracks deviate from the versions burned in all of our brains, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to add to these -- which makes for some easy blogging. Classics in progress:

The Beatles - I Am The Walrus (Basic Tracks) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Penny Lane (Unedited Rough Mix) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever (Overdub Session) (Mp3)
The Beatles - The Fool On The Hill (Demo Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Aerial Tour Instrumental (Take 8 RM 4) (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

A first few takes at genius:
The Beatles - Day Tripper (Take 3) (Mp3)
The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You (Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (Take 4) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Paperback Writer (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out (Rough Mix) (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

All in all, a pretty interesting vinyl-related weekend at ol' TVD HQ. For starters, in regard to the aforementioned trip to Orpheus records on Saturday, it turns out that Ms. TVD actually purchased more LP's than yours truly. (What th'?) And, after staring down the task for QUITE some time now, TVD HQ today sports a fully alphabetized LP collection--which is far easier typed than done, I assure you. And as such, I realized I had quite a few Beatle Bootlegs among the newly organized archives--and thus, an informal theme week was born...

The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (Take 3) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - If You've Got Trouble (Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Leave My Kitten Alone (Mp3)
The Beatles - One After 909 (Take 2) (Mp3)

The reports of Orpheus Records' demise have been exaggerated.

Rick Carlisle at Orpheus Records in Clarendon. (Photo by John Mcdonnell)

Well, by a month.
Owner Rick Carlisle tells TVD that the lease on the Clarendon location has been extended a month and that they will remain open until the end of April--while the used vinyl is STILL 50% off. We were by yesterday and got our hands on this 30-year Yep Rock reissue...and while this spanking new, 180-gram, 2LP set itself wasn't 50% off, the $20 was well spent for this gem. See ya on April 19th?

TVD's Weekend Shots

A TVD Ten from 1980:
Wah! - Seven Minutes to Midnight (Mp3)
Nightmares in Wax - Birth of a Nation (Mp3)
Woodhead Munro - Mumbo Jumbo (Mp3)
Spizz Energi - Where's Captain Kirk? (Mp3)
Associates - The Affectionate Punch (Mp3)
Frantic Elevators - You Know What You Told Me (Mp3)
Fad Gadget - Ricky's Hand (Mp3)
The Tea Set - Parry Thomas (Mp3)
Swell Maps - Let's Build a Car (Mp3)
The Normil Hawaiians - The Beat Goes On (Mp3)

TVD invites you--the informed TVD reader--to participate and DJ the Weekend Shots each week. What should we be listenin' to?

TVD's Daily Wax | Meat Loaf "Bat Out of Hell"

Well, sure - I grew up on the Jersey Shore...but I was nothing close to a Springsteen fan. It took me until my thirties to actually get The Boss, and much of that is purely nostalgia. (I'm on board now, but still...) This Meat Loaf record...with all of its bluster and blather filled the gap just fine, thank you. Motorcycles belching out from the grave, tenuous moments in the back seats of cars, hot summer nights on the beach...this was the soundtrack to that road map. Smell the ocean? I do.

Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell LP (Mp3)
This is the whole LP...reordered for maximum effect. And the last of the guilty pleasures for now. (Until I can find my Culture Club LP...it's here SOMEplace....)

TVD Shuffle Bored | March 28, 2008

OK, that's it. I'm pitching the Nano. Too many recurring themes among the randomness...but here you have it:
ABC - Date Stamp (Mp3)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy - The Sun Goes Down (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - Aberdeen (Mp3)
The Turtles - Elenore (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Journey "Greatest Hits"

It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? I'm sure a third of you are wondering to what level of depravity TVD will sink this week, another third saw this round-house punch coming since Monday when this sick salad began to be tossed--and the rest of you are making that infamous Lee Harvey Oswald face as TVD loads this morning...But fight it, I can't--these songs kill in their 1970's FM radio, AOR way. (That is, permanently downloaded and cached.)

Once while taking a late night cab from the airport into downtown San Francisco, "Lights" came on the radio in the taxi as I'm looking out the window at the literal lights. The cab driver leaned over the seat to me and said, "Yea, man, great song, huh?" And it was. (And is.)

Journey - Any Way You Want It (Mp3)
Journey - Lights (Mp3)
Journey - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' (Mp3)
Journey - Wheel In The Sky (Mp3)
Journey - Who's Crying Now (Mp3)

(Yea, that's the face.)

TVD's Daily Wax | Yes "Drama"

Despite the volume of whiskey and other things ingested at the prompting of my high school pal Noel to better "get" Yes -- it just never happened. He became a Yes-aholic, and me? Well, I preferred tunes that weren't 8 minutes long -- or a whole album side long. Sheezus. What torture. Make mine punk or new wave. But a funny thing happened -- Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman left Yes and the Buggles - the f'n BUGGLES - joined! What th'? I was in clover and Noel was in--censed. And you guys get guilty pleasure/embarrassing post #3!

Yes - Machine Messiah (Mp3)
Yes - Does It Really Happen (Mp3)
Yes - Into The Lens (Mp3)
Yes - Run Through The Light (Mp3)
Yes - Tempus Fugit (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Darkness "One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back"

Maybe it's because I miss Queen so much. Or the quality of the Roy Thomas Baker production with those sonic flourishes that have been marinating in my brain since childhood. Or maybe it's the cool--albeit corny--cover art. Or maybe it's because, while waiting with Big Andy for The Darkness to hit the stage at the 9:30, they played nothing but Thin Lizzy to warm up the crowd. Then Dan Hawkins comes out wearing a classic Thin Lizzy t-shirt. That could be it. But I tell you one thing, it's not the falsetto. Certainly not the falsetto.

The Darkness - One Way Ticket (Mp3)
The Darkness - Is It Just Me (Mp3)
The Darkness - Dinner Lady Arms (Mp3)
The Darkness - Bald (Mp3)
The Darkness - Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Genesis "Duke"

It's a tough life over here at TVD, what with having to conjure up some fine, fine music each week--rummaging through the archives to find the killer overlooked tracks and the hidden gems amidst the vinyl stacks. Yet, there's a deep, dark underbelly to this pursuit: the guilty pleasure. They're LP's or bands you might not admit to liking in public conversation, but at home, squirreled away, you're tapping your toe and singing along to some seriously suspect selections. So, in the name of transparency and candor, we'll pull back the curtain a bit and reveal a few dark, dark secrets this week...and we hope you'll forgive us.

Now, I can already hear the gasps of horror and disgust from my blog brethren Mick and Davy - but dammit, this is a fine record. I'm no Genesis or Phil FAN, but from first track to last (and at age 13) I was hooked. Tuneful, NOT ponderous nor fey (Hi Pete!) this release has some fine sequential moments they were to never repeat again. (Abacab has a moment or two - but naah.) Let fly with the barbs!

Genesis - Duchess (Mp3)
Genesis - Misunderstanding (Mp3)
Genesis - Turn It On Again (Mp3)
Genesis - Alone Tonight (Mp3)
Genesis - Please Don't Ask (Mp3)

TVD's Weekend Shots

Marissa over at The Anti DC has been responsible for more morning coffee through the nose than I can count--and this Friday, she's been turned loose here at TVD to DJ your Weekend Shots:

Hello, e-friends! Fancy finding, well, me here! Yes, my slow but
steady takeover of the World Wide Web has finally begun. And you're
welcome.

But enough about my diabolical e-plans! It's time to take care of some
business, and by "business," I mean I will force my musical opinions
on you. Again, you're welcome.

Anyhow, so here we are. I must admit, despite my introductory bravado, I'm a little bit nervous here over at The Vinyl District. See, unlike most of my retardulous musings at The Anti DC, music has always been a very personal thing to me. Not only has it been the basis of many a great friendship, but it's also been a bit of an obsession. At one point, I even toyed with the idea of becoming a rock star myself...

I was living in Moscow, Russia, when a couple of acquaintances
approached me at a party and asked if I'd like to join their new band.
I gladly accepted (as I love making an ass out of myself) and
immediately began preparing for our first gig. After days of outfit
planning, I showed up at our show dressed as my alter ego, Babette the French Whore, which instantly became the name of the band. It was at that point that I knew history was about to be made. However, since I'm largely an idiot, the only history made in this instance was me being kicked out of my namesake band. Yeah.

But I'm not bitter. I mean, I was clearly the Gwen Stefani to their No
Doubt. What band wouldn't get a little jealous over that? So
naturally, they had to squash me before I could blow up and leave them in the proverbial dust, er, borscht (hey, we're talking about the Eastern Bloc here!). Or maybe it was because the only preparation I did for the show was invent an outfit, which took up so much time that I couldn't really learn the lyrics. Moot point, in my opinion.

Anyway, the point is, I love music. Singing it, dancing to it,
listening to it, and yes, sometimes even dressing for it. And while
I've finally come to accept that I'll never be a rock star (I'm
apparently not enough of a multi-tasker for that), I still love great
music and those who make it.

And so, without further ado (i.e., me telling any more ridiculous
stories about my equally ridiculous past), I invite you to take a
listen to some of the most influential, inspiring, fun, irreverent,
beautiful, sentimental, memorable, dance-worthy and/or just plain
awesome songs that I would put on any mixtape for a good friend or, in this case, e-friend. Enjoy!

The Faint - I Disappeaer (Mp3)
Bams - Please, Tends L'oreille (Mp3)
Elliott Smith - Let's Get Lost (Mp3)
Fugazi - Merchandise (Mp3)
Thom Yorke - The Clock (Mp3)
At The Drive-In - Initiation (Mp3)
Dismemberment Plan - You Are Invited (Mp3)
Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp (Mp3)
Blonde Redhead - Water (Mp3)
Bright Eyes - Pull My Hair (Mp3)

One last one...

...for my pop. In a "hey you got your rock in my classical/no you got your classical in my rock" way, dad and I always found common ground with ELO and this LP in particular when it was new...blasting 'Mr. Blue Sky' on the car radio, tooling around the town while coming up with weirder and funnier band names than Electric Light Orchestra.

Mr. Blue Sky, I'll remember you this way.

ELO - Mr. Blue Sky (Mp3)

New Costello Album: Vinyl, Digital, No CD

Elvis Costello's next solo studio album, curiously dubbed "Momofuku," will arrive April 22 via Lost Highway. For the time being, the set will be released only on vinyl, with a digital download code included in the package.

No other details have been released about the follow-up to 2004's "The Delivery Man," Costello's Lost Highway debut with his band the Imposters. Since then, Costello recorded "The River in Reverse" with pianist Allen Toussaint and supervised the first wave of his back catalog reissues through Universal. The most recent of those, "This Year's Model," arrived March 4. (Via billboard.com)

TVD Shuffle Bored | March 21, 2008

Good Friday fodder:
Radiohead - Nude (Mp3)
KISS - Black Diamond (Mp3)
The Auteurs - Lenny Valentino (Mp3)
Stereophonics - Last Of The Big Time Drinkers (Mp3)
The Faces - Devotion (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Aztec Camera "High Land, Hard Rain"

...reminds me that the smallest, most innocuous of events--in this case, a rainy afternoon, mid-Fall trip to another record store (Record World in Seaview Square Mall--where yours truly would ultimately find employment)...could pay the largest dividends many years on. So, you parents out there, pull your kids away from Guitar Hero for one afternoon and take them to an honest-to-goodness, brick-and-mortar record store. Many years down the line they might find themselves eternally grateful--and who knows--they may even blog about it some day...

Aztec Camera - Back On Board (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - Down The Dip (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - Haywire (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - Orchid Girl (Mp3)
Aztec Camera - We Could Send Letters (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Pretenders "Pretenders"

Talking with Ms. TVD last night, I was reminded that my dad once toured with the Ringling Brothers Circus -- not as a performer but as someone hired to film the goings-on from the performances to the backstage stuff. She was kinda surprised to hear that and I guess I hadn't thought about it in quite a while. But often when I was a kid, the rough, uncut footage would come out and dad would narrate through the soundless portions. I had seen the footage pretty darn often and became pretty disinterested when he'd roll through the nostalgia AGAIN after setting up the projector and the slide screen for the umpteenth time.

So, it was in June 1980 when my folks thought they'd throw me a surprise birthday party. Of course I didn't know that at the time and I'm sure I jumped at the offer to again hit the Two Guys for a record (that Pretenders LP up there...) and other stops along the way to keep me out of the house while the invited classmates and friends came over. Standard stuff - I'm out on a mini-shopping birthday spree, distracted and return to the house and everyone whoops and hollers. Pretty surprising and a rather cool memory until my dad thought the timing would be juuust right to break out the circus footage AGAIN. Kinda mortified in a 13-year old way.

Twenty-seven years on from that, I reconnected with a friend who was actually at that surprise birthday party and, as we were reminiscing about this and that, the party came up and he's all about "the awesomely cool circus footage" he recalls from that day. And now--who knew?--I'm all about it too.

Pretenders - Kid (Mp3)
Pretenders - Mystery Achievement (Mp3)
Pretenders - Precious (Mp3)
Pretenders - Stop Your Sobbing (Mp3)
Pretenders - The Wait (Mp3)

Metallica to take part in 'Record Store Day'

Metal giants announce intimate signing session
Metallica will celebrate this year’s 'Record Store Day' with an intimate signing session on April 19. The band will appear at Rasputin Music Store in Mountain View, California, to mark the day, which celebrates independent record stores. Approximately 400 wristbands will be issued for the event - queuing can begin at 8am, and the store will open at 10am.

Speaking on their official website Metallica.com the band said: "Come on down to the store, say 'Hi,' bring some stuff for us to sign, and in the spirit of supporting your local independent record store maybe you'll want to do a little shopping while you're there." (Via NME)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Cars "Candy-O"

I was 11 and obsessed with "Let's Go." Played it over and over again. Finally, I get my hands on the LP and I'm standing in the kitchen with my dad after dinner, just having returned from Two Guys with the record. My mom's looking at the cover like, "Reallly?" with one eyebrow raised. My dad says, "Honey, it's a VARGAS." Nothing ever mentioned again.

The Cars - Candy-O (Mp3)
The Cars - Dangerous Type (Mp3)
The Cars - Double Life (Mp3)
The Cars - It's All I Can Do (Mp3)
The Cars - Let's Go (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatles "The White Album"

Any comics geek over say 30, will tell you there's something to the smell of the comic's pages themselves--the ink on the paper that takes you right back to the proverbial simpler time and place. We all do it--crack open a comic and with one whiff you're twelve and it's 7am some Saturday morning and before there's any stirring in the house, you've already been to the Negative Zone with the Fantastic Four or fighting the Hellfire Club alongside the X-Men. It's pretty amazing stuff the memory bookmarks in seemingly innocuous ways.

As a kid I collected not only records but comics too and poured over every page. The records stayed forever hip...but the comics? Well, not so much. By about 16 or 17 they had run their course with me (and honestly themselves!) but records were ever present. Scratch that - MUSIC was ever present and the medium was vinyl. So, I was about 16 or 17 when my dad gave me a lift to some comics store (I truly forget where) and I traded all of my comics in for about...75 bucks, I'm thinking. Not much--but I had moved on, casting my lot with the teen years that certainly wouldn't include any more trips to the Negative Zone or what have you. In the meantime though, I lugged my records around with me for YEARS--to college and maybe about ten residences thereafter.

But a funny thing happened around 2000 or so...ebay. Why, all of these comics I came to truly miss over the years could be had for a song, along with some of those records that were "borrowed" and went missing forever. I started to recollect everything I owned as a kid...it became an addiction and one that's certainly in its advanced Winehouse-like stages to this day WITH a rather nice ebay score, thank you. But I have a confession...I can't honestly say whether this addiction is fueled by the comics themselves or the memories that reignite. These really are placeholders and bookmarks of some very wonderful times I'd have forgotten if it wasn't for their (re)purchase.

And the same is true with the vinyl--placeholders and bookmarks. Little triggers set off the synapses and there I am, recalling the place and time of their arrival in my consciousness, be them gifts or personal purchases. And as some long-time readers might recall, my dad--that wonderful guy--spent more time than any other, giving me lifts to the record store most every week--at first for 45's (which are LONG gone) and then later LP's. And when I flip through the stacks, pull them out of their sleeves, drop the needle...I'm almost there again with my dad, riding shotgun, and tearing off the plastic on a new purchase right there in the car.

My dad would have been 78 this Friday and to remember him ever so fondly, this week we'll ride shotgun with some of my memories of hitting the record stores in Neptune, NJ with him. And of course, they'll be some fine music along the way.

This Beatles 'White Album' was purchased with KISS' 'Hotter than Hell' -- a coup it seemed, cuz well, the back of the KISS LP actually had a bit of nudity. But where WAS my brain that I'd want to purchase the 'White Album' along with 'Hotter Than Hell?' Well, I guess it was in the head of a 10 year old, downstairs in his play room--dad's in the garage tinkering, mom's up in the kitchen drinking coffee and screaming for me to lower the volume, on a sunny, early summer afternoon I fucking miss like you have no idea.

The Beatles - Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey (Mp3)
The Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Mp3)
The Beatles - I'm So Tired (Mp3)
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Mp3)
The Beatles - Yer Blues (Mp3)

TVD's Weekend Shots

Long-time friend Shamus DJ's your Weekend Shots all the way from:

"Aloha From sunny Honolulu. First of all a big,"thank you" to Jon for letting me guest DJ. I thought that I would mix this just as Jon and I would waaay back when on our radio show: just songs that I thought were great and that sounded good one after the other. Starting out is the super-cool Supergrass with an acoustic version of their mighty debut single, and we end with another debut single from The Field Mice. In between are pop odds and ends.

All these tunes are sourced from yours truly's 7" singles- a format I still love and hunt for everywhere I go in the world, so if you hear some scratches... Finally, if you all have any feedback or questions about the bands or songs please throw them in the comments section and we'll get them answered. Until next time, --Shamus"

Supergrass - Caught by the Fuzz (Mp3)
East River Pipe - Axl or Iggy (Mp3)
The Moles - What's the New Maryjane (Mp3)
Black Tamburine - By Tomorrow (Mp3)
Sugarplastic - Liar Over Winchester (Mp3)
The Harvest Ministers - You do my World a World of Good (Mp3)
Wire - Ourdoor Miner (Mp3)
The Delgados - Everybody Come Down (Mp3)
The Field Mice - Sensitive (Mp3)

Ten songs and a dream? TVD's looking for guest DJs each and every Friday. What's spinning on YOUR turntable?

TVD Shuffle Bored | March 14, 2008

......hello? Is this thing on...? *check...check* Ok....wow - well, I'm not used to having to actually WRITE this blog any longer after the atypical week just passed here at TVD. There've been new artists, news, and even some SXSW coverage from Kieran of Delorentos - who I'd like to thank immensely for reporting from Austin. Between pints, broken guitars, and getting tossed from Coyote Ugly, it's been quite a ride and I'm indebted to them for having taken us along. (Pints on me boys if you ever get to DC!) I'd also like to thank all of the artists who were featured last week for just saying hello and sending their stuff along. It's been a pleasure and I'm sorry we couldn't get to everybody. And for those of you who have missed the normal goings-on here at TVD--don't worry--next week things get back to normal and get back to the personal. (Very personal.) 'Til then your Friday randomness awaits:

Marshall Crenshaw - Mary Anne.mp3
T-Rex - Metal Guru.mp3
Suede - My Dark Star.mp3
Real Life - Catch Me I'm Falling.mp3
The Babys - Sweet 17.mp3

delorentos | SXSW Tour Diary | Day Four

After a few beers in Stubbs, where we bumped into our driver Cathal, we headed back to the venue and watched the band before us play and set up the gear. I scanned the crowd trying to work out who was here from who. When AM Syndicate finished their punky set Cathal gave us a hand moving Nashville band November's gear onto the stage. They'd very kindly leant us their gear for the gig, and we manouvered the massive Marshall stacks onstage and set up our pedals. We had 15 mins change-over and a 35 minute set. With 5 minutes to go, I realised the guitar amp wasn't working. The guitarist from November came over to help out, and it became apparent that the amp was broken. Of course! Come midnight, the rest of the band were scratching their heads and I was down the street begging AM Syndicate to unpack their guitar amp and allow me to use it. They relented, and very kindly allowed me to use it. I plugged it in, made sure it worked and the sound was fine, and ran backstage to change my clothes and get myself ready. If I was nervous before, it was twice as much now.

Ten minutes late, we got onstage and started. Within a song or two I'd adjusted the amps and it began to click. Excitingly, we played a great set. It all seemed to work out, and despite all the messing that went before, we got a great reaction and played every song perfectly. The venue was full by the time we were finished, and when we got off stage we handed out all the cd's we had and got very cool compliments of lots of nice people. We packed up and went outside and had a smoke, delighted with ourselves. Then we got the news, no-one we'd asked down showed up. It was tough to hear. We consoled ourselves that it felt good and people had enjoyed it, and resolved to do the same tomorrow. I couldn't help wishing someone that we'd asked had arrived, but no matter. I was shattered and hoarse so I went home straight away, leaving the lads to go out and have another night on the beer.

All through this tour I've been missing nights out, only imagining the debauchery that is probably going on. When they came back in I was still awake so I asked them what they did. The amazing night out? They had a beer and went to Wendy's...

When we got up at around 11 we booked a taxi to get us into the venue for the Music from Ireland showcase for 1. At half one the taxi hadn't arrived so our host Amber dropped us in and we got there late. The venue was packed and Cathy Davey was in the middle of a great set. We watched her for a while and then brought the gear in the back and set ourselves up for the gig, tuning guitars and drums and checking all the various equipment. There's a lot of bands on at this showcase so when the band finished we quickly arranged ourselves and started into the first song, which thankfully sounded good. i began to settle, and then, at the worst time (during a first song) i broke a string. Pulling the string off in frustration caused a whale of feedback and i felt like just throwing the guitar out the window and going for a lie down. When the song finished i picked my spare, which I'd forgot to tune. The next song started and i tried to tune and sing to no avail, so I couldn't play guitar at all. In line with the rest of this tour, this gig had to be a rollercoaster, so after i tuned up, things started clicking again, and it began to feel good, and i relaxed. Phew. After the gig, it was clear that the people that didn't come last night were here today, and i spent a bit of time chatting to various people all the while trying to sneak a glance at their laminate to see who they were. They were friendly anyway, so it was ok.

We hung around afterwards and watched great sets by the other bands and then went back and got burgers in the same place as yesterday. We split up and I went off to watch some bands. Popup from Glasgow were really good, but couldn't understand them as the singer talked so fast. I saw another band called Pete & the Pirates but they weren't great. The venue was packed though, so lots of others seemed to like them. The streets were packed and all manner of folks were wandering around, some selling, some singing, and lots just looking. Tomorrow is our last gig in Austin and it only feels like we're getting used to it now...

TVD SX(NW) | Day Four | Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

I hear The Shins...others have said Cat Power or Decemberists. Whatever. DC's Thao with The Get Down Stay Down are making some fine, fine music.

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Beat (Mp3)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers (Mp3)



Website: www.thaomusic.com/
Myspace: www.myspace.com/thaomusic

DC's DJ Hut Launches Online Music Store

We've long felt that preserving the vinyl medium depends on a strong marriage of the traditional format with new media, so we were happy to see this press release from DC's DJ Hut in our mailbox this morning with the header “Preserving While Progressing". (And after two fires that forced the brick-and-mortar store to close for periods of time, this move makes clear sense.) TVD wishes Sina and the rest of the crew at DJ Hut (where we bought our Stanton turntable!) all the best as they promote the sale of fresh vinyl along with their new on-line media presence.

DJ HUT DIGITAL MUSIC SHOP NOW OPEN
“Preserving While Progressing”
For several years now DJ Hut has been Washington DC’s primary outlet for vinyl records. And now after two years of research and creation of a digital business model, DJ Hut has brought to fruition one of its major goals by pushing forward in the new music industry. DJ Hut will no longer be known just for vinyl, as they have now launched an online digital music shop. The website is extremely user-friendly with an impressive search engine and browsing features which allow users to find and sort music by genre, label, artist, song title or release date. The new online shop is fully functional and currently offers MP3 downloads in 320-bit rate. However, expect improved features and a substantially larger catalog to be available in the immediate future as major deals are underway with digital distributors and labels.

DJ Hut is in the first phase of launching the site and wants to interact with its customers and the industry at large to get feedback. DJ Hut wants to hear suggestions and comments on how to improve the site. They know there are always more ways to tailor the digital shop to the specific needs of digital DJs and music lovers. So please send them an email at info@djhut.com after your visit. DJ Hut is committed to “preserving while progressing” and will always stay on top of new developments in technology and the music industry. The vision of DJ Hut, independently owned and operated since 2002, is to provide DJs with cutting edge music and support to make their careers thrive.

DJ Hut Digital Music Shop is online at http://mp3.djhut.com

TVD SX(NW) | Day Four | See-I

DC based roots reggae rockers SEE-I follow up their "Dinner of Herb" EP with a solid release on Brooklyn's Bastard Jazz Recordings. "The King" was released earlier this month on limited edition 10" vinyl and features the original and dub versions produced by DC's own Thomas Blondet. On the flip side is a funky remix done by The Magic Fly from the UK. Featured throughout are the conscious vocal stylings of SEE-I bredren Rootz and Zeebo. You may have heard Rootz and Zeebo on countless Thievery Corporation tracks or performing live with the band as well. The entire SEE-I team is hard at work on a new album to be released later this year on Fort Knox Recordings.

See-I - The King.mp3
See-I - The King (Dub).mp3
SEE I - The King (Magic Fly Remix).mp3

From the 'Dinner of Herb' EP:
See-I - Dinner of Herb.mp3
See-I - Why Not Tonight.mp3

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/seei