J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 28th May 2008

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. It's our second week of training for the summer session, so I had the pleasure of having Deb and John join me as trainees this evening. Keep your ears peeled for their show this summer. Tonight was also the broadcast of my interview with Jim White. More on that below.

Congratulations to Michael who answered tonight's trivia question based on the interview with Jim White. He won himself a $15 gift certificate to BB's New and Used CDs and DVDs over in the Quaker Village shopping center. We give that away each week at the beginning of the third set, right around 6:30 PM, so tune in for your chance to win.

Now, while we can, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 28th May 2008 Show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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the Black Angels - "Mission District" [from directions to see a ghost which, frankly, could be my new favorite album of this year. time will tell how much i really like it, but if you read my review this week, you know how i feel.]
the Clash - "Safe European Home" [from give 'em enough rope. this is a staple of my "second slot" songs, which are always older, classic songs that ramp up the tempo for the show. it works oh, so well.]
Hayden - "Where and When" [from in field & town. hayden is coming to local 506 in chapel hill on tuesday, june 10th. exciting also since, knock on wood, i have an interview set up with him for that night which you will hear here on the show.]
At the Drive-In - "Pattern Against User" [from relationship of command. i forget sometimes just how enjoyable this record is, especially since i've found little reason to stick around for in the splinter projects of at the drive-in. but it is good stuff.]
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Travel by Sea - "Let It All Die Down" [from days of my escape, a gorgeous record which we'll be hearing more of.]
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - "Into the Mystic" (live) [from the live at twist and shout live EP. one of many great covers that isbell and his band have been pulling out live. go catch 'em and see what they do next.]
the Rain Parade - "You Are My Friend" [from explosions in the glass palace. this was the rain parade's second release and their first without founding member dave roback. it's almost exactly on par with their dynamic debut, though, and is a great furthering of the paisley underground sound.]
the Replacements - "You're Getting Married" [from the re-issue of stink. this is one of paul westerberg's solo home demos - songs that he thought were a bit too soft or unlike the replacements' sound to bring to the band - but man, seriously, this song is on par with some of the best westerberg has ever written. and you can really hear the future sound of some of his solo material - most notably his more recent records.]

[Here is my interview with Jim White. If you'd like to read the transcript, head on over to Aquarium Drunkard. The audio that played tonight is only the first half of the interview. The second half will be in transcript only on Aquarium Drunkard later this week. Jim and his guitarist, Pat Hargon, talked about the writing process, what it means, where ideas come from and where they go and why Jim never wants to serve Tom Waits a quiche. It's a great interview and I hope you enjoy.]

Interview - Jim White : Click to listen.

Jim White - "Jailbird" and "A Town Called Amen" [both from jim's latest, transnormal skiperoo.]
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the Whitsundays - "Loralee" [from their self-titled debut. new band from canada that shares members with the band shout out out out out. i liked what i heard here - great pop influences, so despite my being distracted by 'training' people, we'll hear more of this.]
the Db's - "A Spy in the House of Love" [from ride the wild tom tom, a collection of early demos and recordings from when chris stamey was still in the db's. this song wouldn't end up on a db's album until 1984's like this, which was after stamey left. i actually like this demo version more. but it's a great, great song regardless.]
Pepi Ginsberg - "In My Bones" [from red. i liked what i heard. a bit, vocally, like the subdued patti smith, maybe? i don't get to pay as much attention to music when i have others in the studio, sadly, but i liked this.]
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Plant Life - "Sun Shines Through Your Love" [from time traveler. i wasn't feeling this. it isn't my kind of thing really, though it incorporates some interesting r&b/funk sounds. you probably won't hear more of this on the show.]
French Kicks - "Abandon" [the lead track off of their fourth album, swimming. i liked what i heard, though admittedly i haven't followed this band at all, despite knowing their name.]
Blair - "Kamakazee" [i'm quite into blair's music, and you can check out more of it at her myspace. she's working on a new full length, so hopefully we'll hear that before the year's out.]
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the Pierces - "Lies" [from thirteen tales of love and revenge. i'm not sure what i thought of this and i feel like my entries here are becoming rather pointless. that is all.]
Dolly Parton - "Stairway to Heaven" [from halos and horns. i'd never actually heard dolly's version of the zep classic, but i had heard about it. and it's not bad, i'll say that much. dolly is a legend for a reason, afterall.]
Slim Cessna's Auto Club - "All About the Bullfrog" [from cipher. i'm really, really enjoying the tracks i've heard off of the new album from this band. i was lucky enough to get turned onto them last year and they haven't disappointed in the least. like a rustic, gothic country version of the pogues.]
Tim Buckley - "Dream Letter" [from happy sad which i reviewed last week. tim buckley's music isn't always as immediately approachable as his son's was, but it's well worth the effort.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back on Friday with Notes From Underground and until then, take care.