J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 24th March 2010

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. Tonight's show is dedicated to the memory of the late Alex Chilton who died last Wednesday at the age of 59.

As a founding member of Big Star, Chilton's work has had as an enormous impact on the shaping of power-pop, indie-rock and the indie aesthetic in general with his uncompromising vision of the art that pop could create. His loss is incredibly sad and even two hours isn't enough to truly convey the reach and scope of his brilliance. All the music on tonight's show is written by or shaped by Chilton in really important ways and I hope you enjoy this look back at his work.

Now, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 24th March 2010 show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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the Box Tops - "The Letter" [alex's first (and only) number one hit - recorded at the age of 16 for a band that would sire another top ten hit and then be ground up by the record industry. it's an experience that would shape his entire recorded output and his decisions about artistic integrity, no doubt. still, it's a great song.]
Alex Chilton - "Every Day as We Grow Closer" [recorded for alex's debut solo record after leaving the box tops, it wouldn't be released for over 25 years. it gives insight into his growing sense of melody and pop mastery.]
Big Star - "Feel" [the first track from #1 record, their debut album. most of the songs on this album are co-credited to chilton and founding member chris bell, another great, late songwriter.]
the Box Tops - "Cry Like a Baby" [the other top ten hit for the box tops. another fun, catchy piece of late 60s pop.]
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Big Star - "In the Street" (alternate mix) [from keep an eye on the sky. sometimes i let things bother me that shouldn't, and while i should've been happy for the additional attention landing this song as the theme to that 70's show, i initially recoiled at it. mostly because it wasn't the original version. all the same, a lot more people know, indirectly, who big star was as a result of that.]
Big Star - "Don't Lie to Me" (live) [from keep an eye on the sky. a nice live run through of one of the more raucous numbers from one of the first records.]
Big Star - "Thirteen" [from #1 record. this is one of the best known big star songs and for good reason - it's beautiful and melancholic. sweet and wistful and longing.]
Big Star - "When My Baby's Beside Me" [from #1 record. this set was, mostly, full of some of the more rockin' songs from the first album. this song's no exception. jason isbell recorded a cover of this - check it out over at aquarium drunkard.]
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Rock City - "Try Again" (early version) [from keep an eye on the sky. an early version of a song that would end up on #1 record. rock city was the first band formed by chilton and chris bell. big star would be their second.]
Big Star - "The Ballad of El Goodo" [from #1 record. "well there ain't no one going to turn me around." a truer motto for the artistic life of chilton i've yet to hear.]
Big Star - "O My Soul" [from radio city. i've always enjoyed this song a lot - it also clocks in as one of the band's longest. here's where we shift to the band as dominated by chilton.]
Big Star - "She's a Mover" (live) [from keep an eye on the sky. another lovely live track from the new box set.]
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Big Star - "You Get What You Deserve" [from radio city. i've often had a hard time thinking of radio city and #1 record as separate albums thanks to the rykodisc 2-in-1 CD of the two records, but they are quite different beasts in a lot of ways. both equally great.]
Big Star - "Life is White" [from radio city. another gloriously gorgeous song from the second record.]
Big Star - "I'm In Love With a Girl" [from radio city. this is the last song on that second album and it's as simple, forlorn and perfect a song like this can be.]
Big Star - "September Gurls" [from radio city. in a lot of ways the quintessential big star song. perfect from note to note, front to back.]
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Big Star - "Thank You Friends" [from third / sister lovers. one of the songs I always think of when i think of this album's despairing, resolved tone. the way the song just sort of falls to a close rather than wrapping up gives the whole record a desperate feel.]
Big Star - "Stroke It Noel" [from third / sister lovers. every song on the album has a classic quality to it that gets subverted by jabs of noise or seemingly chaotic instrumentation. the stately waltz of this one sounds like it's being performed by very unsure, but knowledgeable hands.]
Big Star - "Nightime" [by request. from third / sister lovers. i heard evan dando really nailed this one at the alex chilton tribute show at south by southwest last saturday.]
Big Star - "Take Care" [from third / sister lovers. this one sort of speaks for itself in the light of everything.]
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Big Star - "Kizza Me" [from third / sister lovers. the chaotic album's first track - it seems to portend something 'modern,' and interestingly it becomes one of the record's more dated sounding tracks.]
Big Star - "Kanga Roo" [from third / sister lovers. the late jeff buckley took stabs at this one live and it became a powerful weapon in his hands. the original was no slouch either and where buckley's voice leant it a stately, forlorn air, chilton's is cracked, dissolving, a dying fall.]
Alex Chilton - "My Rival" [from like flies on sherbert. chilton's solo work, especially this album recorded later in the 70s, picked up where third / sister lovers left off, but with an even more chaotic feel.]
Big Star - "Holocaust" (demo) [from keep an eye on the sky. the album version of this classic adds strings and everything else, but this demo, with just alex at a piano, is one of the most haunting versions of this song in existance.]
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the Replacements - "Alex Chilton" [from pleased to meet me. right before this i read paul westerberg's remembrance of alex chilton from the new york times. it's a great piece if you haven't read it. and then played the replacements' famous song tribute to chilton.]
Big Star - "O Dana" [from third / sister lovers and a little big star. the line in "alex chilton" about "i never travel far / without a little big star" is used here as a pun, playing a track from the collection of the same name.]
the Replacements - "Nowhere Is My Home" [from boink!! an outtake from sessions recorded around the time of the tim album - chilton produced this particular song.]
the Replacements - "Left of the Dial" [from tim. a fitting going away song for any one of the indie rock persuasion, but chilton also sings back up vocals on the song as credited on the tim album.]
Big Star - "September Gurls" (live) [from big star live. one more run through of my personal favorite big star song, this is a great live version from the 1992 ryko live release from a 70s radio appearance.]

That'll do it for this week - we'll be back next week with the regular line up of new and awesome music. Until then, as Alex said, take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 17th March 2010

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. As I was working on typing up tonight's show, extremely sad news came out over the internet - Alex Chilton, founding member of Big Star, has died at the age of 59. The Onion AV Club posted this great obituary.

It's really hard to even say how devastating Chilton's death is - especially since it happened on the eve of the first true Big Star reunion in 35 years. Chilton was scheduled to take the stage with not only long-time drummer Jody Stephens on Saturday, but also bassist Andy Hummel, who left the band after their second album and had not played with Chilton since.

Expect to see Chilton get the full treatment next week here on the show - with at least an hour, if not the entire show, devoted to looking back at his career. Until then, rest in peace, Alex.

Now, while there ain't no one going to turn me around, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 17th March 2010 show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Frightened Rabbit - "Nothing Like You" [from the excellent winter of mixed drinks which came out last week. can't wait for these guys at the cat's cradle on april 25th.]
Crooked Fingers - "Call to Love" [from dignity and shame, my personal favorite crooked fingers album. this song came up in between questions at trivia at the lindley park filling station last night, so it prompted me to play it. naturally.]
Decoration Ghost - "Father's Fists" [from the awesome the haze of wine and age. they're playing a few shows in the near future here in town - monday, march 22nd at westerwood tavern and friday, march 26th at CFBG's.]
Matthew Sweet - "Sick of Myself" [from 100% fun. this is the song that got me into this man and his genius guitar pop. long may he create.]
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Lake Inferior - "Addressing Parents" [from pegasaur EP. they're playing in greensboro this saturday night at the green bean! huzzah! can't wait for that fantastic show.]
Midnight Oil - "Blue Sky Mine" [from blue sky mining. i think midnight oil is a band that has never really gotten their due for being an amazing rock act for the nearly two decades they were around. just sayin'.]
the Whigs - "Kill Me Carolyne" [from the awesome new in the dark. this is one of my absolute favorite tracks on the album and for good reason. listen to it. man.]
Pulp - "Sorted for E's and Whizz" [from different class. a really late request fulfilled from weeks ago, but something felt right about this song tonight. one of my favorite deep album cuts from pulp.]
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Drive-by Truckers - "Drag the Lake Charlie" [from the big to-do. which finally touched down this week. one of the old-school shaggy dog patterson songs - a welcome return to an earlier form that i hadn't heard as much from hood in recent years.]
the Undertones - "Here Comes the Summer" [from their self-titled debut. one of the two irish bands i played tonight. i failed on this holiday theme, eh? great song. great band.]
Susu - "Calling" [from r and r and r. such a fantastic, thick, awesome record. these guys ought to come down and play with free electric state. i think that'd be a fantastic pairing, actually.]
the Roots - "Long Time" [from game theory. this is one of my favorite roots albums and this song is full of infectious word play. that's always a winner in my book.]
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Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - "The Mighty Sparrow" [from the brutalist bricks. ted was on the inaugural edition of the av club's undercover series covering "everybody wants to rule the world." go check it out.]
the Emergency - "Breakdown A Go-Go" [from the excellent how can you move?, one of the true surprise records for me this past decade. snuck up on me and was so awesome. still is.]
Free Electric State - "Six is One" [from the forthcoming caress. played an awesome show with them last friday night at the westerwood tavern. what? you didn't know i played? or that i was playing that night? better subscribe to my twitter feed then, shouldn't you?]
the Smithereens - "House We Used to Live In" [from green thoughts. some smithereens for my friend, patrick malboeuf's birthday. happy birthday!]
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Pearl and the Beard - "Voice in My Throat" [from the excellent god bless your weary soul, amanda richardson. saw these guys for the first time last saturday night at a monkeywhale sponsored show. was amazing. seriously. go check them out if they come through your town.]
the Pogues - "Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six" [from if i should fall from grace with god. the second irish band of the night! now it's officially a st. patrick's day party.]
Charlotte Gainsbourg - "Heaven Can Wait" [from IRM. i do enjoy this song quite a bit. she's going to be doing her first north american tour here soon. here's hoping she'll get down this way.]
the Replacements - "Darlin' One" [from don't tell a soul. not sure why this song got in my head this week, but it definitely did. consider it exercised. woo!]
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the Morning Benders - "All Day Daylight" [from big echo. man, i'm loving this record more and more the more i listen to it. can i use the word 'more' any more in these sentences? more.]
Wooden Birds - "Sugar" [by request. from magnolia. this record is a slow burner as i remember it not really grabbing me when i gave it a listen last year, but this is a nice little song, no question.]
Futurebirds - "Dirty D" [from their self-titled EP, by twitter request! i'm really digging on this band. if you're a fan of fleet foxes and that kind of hazy, southern-tinged folk rock, this is right up your alley.]
Portugal the Man - "60 Years" [from american ghetto. this makes two really winning singles off this record so far. how many more are on this thing? we're going to find out. awesome.]
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Dr. Dog - "Stranger" [from the forthcoming shame shame which will be out very soon. always love new music from the best band with the worst name.]
Titus Andronicus - "A More Perfect Union" [from the monitor. i've been reading review after review of good stuff about this album and i have to say - this is one of the best records of this year so far, i do believe. more to come.]
Andrew Bird - "Fiery Crash" [by request. from armchair apocrypha. a favorite of mine by the bird-ster.]
Massive Attack - "Safe From Harm" [from blue lines. one of those albums that just sort of sets a tone for a whole period of music. if you've never listened to it, you probably didn't or don't understand a big chunk of early 90s british indie. just sayin'. i was late to the party, too, don't worry.]

That'll do it for this week. Until next time, take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 10th March 2010

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. Tonight's show is dedicated to the memory of Sparklehorse founder and creative force, Mark Linkous. Mark killed himself on Saturday, March 6th. He was 47 years old.

This is a space where I celebrate music in all its misshapen glory, but I have to confess that Linkous' death, along with the December suicide of Vic Chesnutt, and the tragic OD death of Jay Reatard, has me pretty sad. Chesnutt's death has lingered with me in ways I would never have expected, and now Linkous' death is echoing this sentiment. Around the midway point of the show, I took some time to share a set of Sparklehorse songs and then a few Sparklehorse related ones in the later part of the show. Rest in peace, Mark.

Now, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 10th March 2010

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Frightened Rabbit - "Swim Until You Can't See Land" [from the winter of mixed drinks which dropped this week. really great record from a really awesome band. can't wait to see them at cat's cradle on sunday, april 25th.]
Brian Eno - "Burning Airlines Gives You So Much More" [from taking tiger mountain (by strategy), his second album. been revisiting a lot of my eno lately thanks to going back to the trainspotting soundtrack. so expect to hear more over the coming weeks.]
the New Pornographers - "Your Hands (Together)" [from their forthcoming album together. this song is pretty righteous, so i'm excited to hear the whole album, no question.]
Rilo Kiley - "With Arms Outstretched" [by request. from the execution of all things. this was a request from weeks ago that i just kept blanking on. so there you go, coulton.]
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the Morning Benders - "Promises" [from the excellent big echo which came out this week. you can read my review of it over at aquarium drunkard. it's a must-hear. they're playing this friday, march 12th at local 506 in chapel hill.]
Social Distortion - "So Far Away" [from their self-titled album. this is a staple of my 'i need a rocker here' songs. this and the clash's "safe european home." great stuff.]
Robert Pollard - "I Can See" [from we all got out of the army. bob's on a roll these past couple of years. GBV fans really have something to sink their teeth into here.]
the Lemonheads - "The Great Big No" [from come on feel the lemonheads. one of my favorite alltime lemonheads songs. i've been really caught up in listening to them lately. can you tell?]
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Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - "I Learned the Hard Way" [the title track from her forthcoming album. they'll be at the cat's cradle on tuesday, may 11th. oh, god. choices. josh ritter is at the carolina theatre in durham on the same night. argh! cruel fate!]
Harlem - "Goodbye Horses" [yes, a cover of the q lazarus classic. hey, patrick. you're good at hunting down musicians who go off the radar. how 'bout tracking down q lazarus and doing an interview?]
Decoration Ghost - "Camera Bag and a Back Pack" [from the lovely the haze of wine and age. see these guys while you can because they are no joke live. really great rock and roll.]
Son Volt - "Tear Stained Eye" [from trace. almost played a jay farrar solo acoustic version of this that i picked up off of an EP the other week, but decided to go with the classic studio version. i can see myself starting to listen to it all over again soon.]
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Sparklehorse - "Someday I Will Treat You Good" [from vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. i mistakenly credited this album to 1996 a few times in the podcast, but it's from 1995. this song was for me, and a lot of others, i'd imagine, the introduction to the work of mark linkous. i remember watching this video on 120 minutes on mtv and then promptly writing the word 'sparklehorse' on my chuck taylors alongside the other band names i had on them.]
Sparklehorse - "It's a Wonderful Life" [the title track from the 2001 album. a commenter over at aquarium drunkard talked about this being one of his favorite songs, so i thought i'd throw it on as well.]
Sparklehorse - "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" [from dreamt for light years in the belly of a mountain, the last released sparklhorse only full length. a great, great album. saw them at the cat's cradle on this tour and it was a dynamic, lovely show.]
Sparklehorse/Danger Mouse - "Revenge" [by request. from the forthcoming dark night of the soul. got this request via email this week and am really into the song. this song also features wayne coyne from the flaming lips. when this album finally drops later this year, it'll be a marvel to behold.]
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Free Electric State - "Matching Scars" [from caress. this excellent durham band is going to be at westerwood tavern here in greensboro on friday night along with greensboro bands citified and mutant league. i've heard amazing things about mutuant league, but haven't heard them yet. citified is always awesome and the new free electric state album is awesome. should be a great night of rock.]
the Strugglers - "Limerece" [from the latest rights. one of my favorite songs from this awesome record from raleigh, north carolina's the strugglers. a severely slept on album.]
Citified - "Overseas" [from their self-titled debut. they'll be at westerwood tavern on friday night, as previously mentioned. going to be an awesome show.]
Lake Inferior - "Spiders" [from their self-titled EP. oh, yes! finally playing in greensboro at the green bean on saturday, march 20th. i can't wait!]
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Portugal the Man - "The Dead Dog" [from american ghetto. admittedly i've known of this guy, but haven't listened to any of his stuff until now, but if the rest of this album is as good as this track, get set for a end-of-year-list run.]
the Duke Spirit - "Lassoo" [by request. from neptune. forgot how much i enjoyed this record back when it was in rotation. glad to be reminded of how much it rocks.]
Blair - "Die Young" [the title track from her debut LP. blair is playing down in athens, georgia tonight. that's the closest she's coming. for now. she and i still have a date here in the WQFS studio at some point.]
Radiohead - "15 Step" [by request. from in rainbows. caller wanted to hear "pyramid song" but it would make sense that the only one of their albums that hasn't been stolen from our stacks would be the one they gave away for free.]
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Johnny Cash - "I Corinthians 15:55" [from american VI: ain't no grave. this is the only original song on the record, but it's a doozy. ]
Ryan Adams - "Political Scientists" [from love is hell. pitchforkmedia picked up on greensboro's sticks and stones restaurant and its ryan adams themed menu this week. so, just randomly, here's one of my favorite tunes from this album. what would a "political scientist" pizza have on it?]
Travel by Sea - "Return to Me" [from that horse yonder. from a sparklehorse tribute album, the lovely travel by sea take a great run through this song originally from dreamt for light years in the belly of a mountain. gorgeous.]
Vic Chesnutt - "Flirted With You All My Life" [from at the cut. there's an odd feel about the fact that vic, too recently a suicide as well, is on the forthcoming sparklehorse/danger mouse album as a contributing vocalist. this song, so quickly turned from a triumph over suicide into a losing battle hymn, feels appropriate in the case of mark linkous' death as well. both men were musicians of depth and sensitivity in their craft and it makes their unbearable struggle with depression all the more saddening.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back with more great stuff next week including a chunk of Irish related things for St. Patrick's Day. Until then, Go Quakers!, and take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem -3rd March 2010

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. Let's cut to the chase.

So we can announce this week a date for the WQFeSt 40th Anniversary show - Saturday, April 24th. Details will be announced slowly, but keep an eye here for bands that will be appearing and other things going on. Hey, at the bare minimum you'll have a chance to meet yours truly. What more could you ask for? Naught, I say. Naught more.

Now, before my ego explodes, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 3rd March 2010 show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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OK Go - "This Too Shall Pass" [from out of the blue colour of the sky. i honestly wrote these guys off a few years ago as a gimmick, but their new album has been getting great reviews and, honestly, the songs are good. i'm now not only forced to give them credit as a band, but as possibly the best promoters of the thought-dead art of the music video. check out the two versions of this song on video.]
Killing Joke - "The Wait" [from their self-titled 1980 debut. quasi-metal industrial dance music to choreograph your next post-apocalyptic uprising. a great, great band.]
Arctic Monkeys - "Crying Lightning" [from last year's humbug. they'll be at disco rodeo in raleigh, north carolina on tuesday, april 6th. better get your hands on some tickets and check what i think is one of the best british bands of the 00s.]
Ron Wood - "Mystifies Me" [from i've got my own album to do. i first heard this song as covered by son volt on trace, but the original is an excellent piece of languid, mid-70s blues-influenced trad rock.]
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Frightened Rabbit - "Nothing Like You" [from the forthcoming the winter of mixed drinks. seriously, y'all. this record is amazing and so is this band. can't wait to see them on sunday, april 25th at the cat's cradle.]
Pavement - "Range Life" [originally from crooked rain, crooked rain but also from the forthcoming best-of, quarantine the past. they played their first reunion show in australia this week and from all reports, it was awesome. check out some footage.]
the Tallest Man on Earth - "King of Spain" [from his forthcoming the wild hunt. he'll be headlining the upcoming WQFeSt, our 40th Anniversary Festival on Saturday, April 24th along with Nurses, Future Islands and more. Stay tuned for more information - you won't want to miss this.]
Iggy Pop - "Nightclubbing" [from the idiot, but also from the amazing soundtrack to the film trainspotting which i talked about this week over at aquarium drunkard. i love that soundtrack so, so much.]
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Free Electric State - "Six is One" [from their forthcoming album caress. free electric state is from durham and i hadn't heard them until this week. wow is all i can say. they're at the pour house in raleigh this friday night along with decoration ghost and a rooster for the masses.]
Adam Daniel - "Her Shake" [from blue pop. i will never stop thinking this is one of the finest pop songs ever written. adam daniel, wherever you've disappeared to, i salute you.]
Caribou - "Odessa" [from the forthcoming swim. a pretty funky little song with a video that attracted some attention because some freudian watchers could've sworn they saw a penis in it. just a girl in a hoodie. oh, well.]
Malcolm McLaren - "Buffalo Gals" [from malcolm's first solo record, duck talk. it's an interesting document of hip-hop and mash culture of the time and, honestly, it's a lot of fun even if it sounds horribly dated now.]
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Drive-by Truckers - "Daddy Learned to Fly" [the lead track from the big to-do which is out next week. i'm still trying to decide what i think of it. those of you who've heard it - thoughts?]
Josh Ritter - "Snow is Gone" [from hello starling. since, well, after our freak snow storm last evening, hopefully the snow is gone for the year. he'll be at the carolina theatre in durham on may 11th supporting his forthcoming album. great live show.]
Futurebirds - "Red Top Girl" [from their self-titled EP. a great athens, georgia band that we'll be hearing a lot more of in the near future.]
Guadalcanal Diary - "Always Saturday" [from flip-flop. one of my favorite songs by this band - a winning, slightly goofy and catchy piece of jangle rock.]
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Robert Pollard - "Silk Rotor" [from we all got out of the army. another really solid solo record from pollard. he got off to a bit of a rough start following his retirement of the guided by voices moniker, but he's been tearing it up in the last year or so. another winner.]
Bear in Heaven - "Lovesick Teenager" [from beast rest forth mouth. they'll be at local 506 on sunday night along with cymbals eat guitars. i cannot wait to see them.]
Happy Hollows - "Under the Milky Way" [their cover of the church's classic. not from their new album spells, but a great take of a song by one of my favorite bands of all time. still, i wish people would cover some other church songs from time to time. i've heard this song done quite a few times.]
Minus the Bear - "Knights" [by request from planet of ice.]
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Brilliant Colors - "I Searched" [from introducing. another great addition to the slumberland records roster. we'll be hearing more.]
Clem Snide - "Denver" [from the meat of life. a follower on twitter was raving about this song the other week and she's right: it's sadly gorgeous. we'll be hearing more from their new one in the coming weeks.]
Caleb Caudle and the Bayonets - "So Gone" [from snake river canyon. best production of any of caudle's records i've heard so far and this song is, as D.L. put it, epic. yes, yes. we'll be hearing more. going to have him up on the show in april around the record's release.]
Best Coast - "Make You Mine" [the title track from their EP. another one of the many awesome lo-fi pop bands to surface in the last few years. i love this aesthetic. i'm glad so many bands are running with it and creating such gorgeous stuff.]
Lambchop - "Give It (Once in a Lifetime)" (live) [from live at XXmerge. the closing track from lambchop's stunning and revelatory performance from last summer. check out the video and yes, that's a quote from my review of the show at the beginning. it really was a show for the ages.]

That'll do it for this week. See you Sunday night at Bear in Heaven/Cymbals Eat Guitars and until next week, take care.