J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 30th September 2009

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - an interview heavy edition! I was lucky enough to have both 2/3rds (or 4/6ths) of Holy Ghost Tent Revival with me and then, to continue the Save the Monkeywhale Fest theme, Monkeywhale.com founder Harvey Robinson and Monkeywhale.com contributor and Eating the Invaders member Matty Sheets. Tons of great Monkeywhale related talk and good music all around.

Don't forget that I'm MCing nights 1 and 2 of the Monkeywhale fest - Night 1 is at Solaris downtown and kicks off around 9; Night 2 is at the Blind Tiger (along with night 3) on Friday and starts around 9 also. Saturday night (night 3) starts at 6, with an extra big lineup. All three nights are $7 each and well worth it. Go check out the lineup!

I won't be up here next week as I'll be off to Durham to see the hilarious David Cross performing. I'm not sure who'll be filling in for me yet, but they'll be amazing, no doubt. I'll be back on Wednesday, October 14th for the normal hullabaloo.

Now, before Delhomme throws another interception, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 30th September 2009 Show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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the Clientele - "I Wonder Who We Are" [from the forthcoming bonfires on the heath, due out next tuesday, october 6th, on merge records. i love this opening track. i've been enjoying the r&b textures the band has been inserting more frequently into their stylized retro-pop. it's gorgeous stuff.]
the Tragically Hip - "Poets" [from phantom power. my favorite hip record and, whether you remember it or not, this song actually got some play on american alt-rock radio stations when the album was out. interesting that this was the single, but really, listen to the album and you probably won't find a better single.]
Passion Pit - "Little Secrets" [from manners. when it comes to the best singles of this year, i probably won't put "sleepyhead" on the list since it came out last year on an EP, but i'll certainly pile this song in there. it's a gem and a half.]
Paul Westerberg - "Drop Them Gloves" [from the pw & the ghost gloves cat wing joy boys EP. this is the rocker of the bunch and it's a doozy.]

[Here's where Holy Ghost Tent Revival joined me in studio. Ross, Steven, Hank and Patrick (sans Matt and Mike) were terribly fun to talk to as we alternated talk about their origins, musical foundations and interests with mentions of their opening night headliner for the Save the Monkeywhale festival on Thursday at Solaris downtown. We took a listen to a good chunk of their forthcoming Family EP. Unfortunately, since I was busy talking shop with those guys, I didn't get a chance to really listen to the songs enough to comment, but what I heard was great. Here's the run-down.]

Holy Ghost Tent Revival - "Alcohol" [from the family EP. as are all the others. while you're at it, check out the band's monkeywhale video for a nice slice of their personality and music.]
Holy Ghost Tent Revival - "Someone Too"
Holy Ghost Tent Revival - "Goodbye or Goodnight"
Holy Ghost Tent Revival - "Cardinal Directions"

[Next, I was joined in studio by Monkeywhale.com founder Harvey Robinson and Monkeywhale.com contributor Matty Sheets. Matty's band, Eating the Invaders, will be playing the opening night of the festival along with Holy Ghost Tent Revival, at Solaris. I talked with Harvey about his origins in film, where the idea of Monkeywhale came from, how $3.33 is a year's profit (sort of), the genesis of the festival and where the site goes from here. Matty jumped in with some commentary about the site, his work on it as a blogger, his work with Harvey on some short films and some other things as well. All in all a really awesome interview. I played some Monkeywhale/Monkeywhale Fest related artists in between chunks of the interview.]

Filthybird - "Warm Womb" [from southern skies. click here to check out their monkeywhale video.]
Citified - "Pencil Me In" [from the fantastic absence. click here for their monkeywhale video - one of the early ones!]
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Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers - "Scissor Tales" [from her fantastic songs in the night album. sadly, she won't be at monkeywhale fest, but that won't keep you from checking out their video.]
Birdmonster - "Forever Gone" [from blood memory. i really want to see these guys live sometime, 'cause I get the feeling they'd be rather awesome.]
the Breeders - "Divine Hammer" [from last splash. i love all things breeders, but this song is in my top 3, without a doubt. perfect.]
the Mountain Goats - "Psalms 40:2" [from the forthcoming the life of the world to come due out next tuesday. it's a really strong record, though not as full-banded as his last few. still strong. i'm loving hi-fi darnielle.]
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Girls - "Lust for Life" [from their self-titled album. this one snuck up on me, but it's every bit as good as people say it is. we'll be hearing a lot more. probably top 25 bound.]
the Flaming Lips - "Kim's Watermelon Gun" [from clouds taste metallic. there'll be a review of this going up on drunkard soon. i'm hearing the new lips record is really good. anyone else heard it yet?]
Times New Viking - "Half Day in Hell" [from born again revisited. i'm still not sure what i think of times new viking's approach to burying their pop songs, but it's unique, i'll give them that. you almost strain to hear the melody. keeps ears pinned in.]
Polvo - "Right the Relation" [from in prism which i reviewed over at aquarium drunkard this week. it's a really sharp record and way better than i expected it to be. seriously, folks. get your ears on it.]
A.A. Bondy - "A Slow Parade" [from when the devil's loose. one of my favorites from his latest. make sure you catch him live when he comes through your town.]

That'll do it for this week. See you out at Save the Monkeywhale Festival the next three nights! I'll be back in two weeks. In the meantime, my happy wishes to Matt (of Tiger Bear Wolf; #3 album of 2005) and Kristina (of my friends; #1 in awesomeness, every year) who are getting married this Saturday. I'll be at the wedding, but they deserve a public huzzah. Huzzah! See you at Monkeywhale, Go Panthers! and take care.