J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 26th January 2011

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. Tonight's episode was underscored by a bit of sadness as the country legend Charlie Louvin died Wednesday at the age of 83 from complications of pancreatic cancer. I got the opportunity to interview Louvin in 2009 for Aquarium Drunkard and he was one of the more fascinating interviews I've had the chance of conducting in my years with AD. I celebrated his memory in the second half of the show, so I hope you enjoy that.

Tonight was also the debut of the new J's Indie/Rock Roundtable, a new monthly feature where I discuss and critique new releases with Ryan Snyder, music editor at YES Weekly. We discussed the new Destroyer album, Kaputt and the self-titled debut from Black Pistol Fire. We also talked about the upcoming festival season with a focus on the Coachella Festival. We'll be doing this the last Wednedsay of each month. I'd love to hear your feedback on this feature, so if you have any suggestions about the segment and how we can improve it, leave your thoughts in the comments or feel free to email me.

Now, while Satan is real, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 26th January 2011 show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Apex Manor - "Under the Gun" [from the year of magical drinking which i reviewed over at aquarium drunkard this week. i really can't speak highly enough of this record, so the real question is: when are the east coast tour dates, ross? and how can we get you to greensboro?]
Brian Eno - "Burning Airlines Gives You So Much More" [from taking tiger mountain (by strategy), still one of the most original and awe inspiring records of modern music. if you've never dipped your toe in eno, you could do much worse than to start here.]
the Smith Westerns - "All Die Young" [from dye it blonde. i'll tell you, this could be the little record that could this year. these boys have some seriously fun songwriting chops on board here. it's nothing new, but how well they do it is really awesome.]
Jim White - "Handcuffed to a Fence in Mississippi" [from no such place. jim's going to be at the southeastern center for contemporary art (SECCA) in winston-salem on saturday, february 19th as part of the new crossroads series. we'll be hearing more and i really can't wait. it's been far too long since i've seen jim.]

[So here's where we began the inaugural J's Indie/Rock Roundtable with Ryan Snyder of YES Weekly. The pattern for the segment is this: introduce the record, play a song, discuss the album some, play another, wrap up discussion and give our final up or down, yea or nay. Repeat. We also discussed the upcoming festival season and the things we're excited to see, so all in all it was a good experience. I'd appreciate feedback on the section: too much talking, too little, too vague, too specific? Leave your thoughts in the comments.]

Destroyer - "Chinatown" [from kaputt which i also reviewed at aquarium drunkard this week. all in all i really like this record, and i was happy that ryan and i came at this record from two different perspectives: one of us a fan, one of us decidedly not a fan.]
Destroyer - "Song for America" [also from kaputt.]
Black Pistol Fire - "Suffocation Blues" [from their self-titled debut due out in mid-february. an austin-by-way-of-canada duo that has put a nice little stamp on some bluesy rock and roll. take a listen to our conversation and see what you think.]
Black Pistol Fire - "Jezebel Stomp" [from their self-titled album.]
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the Veils - "The Stars Came Out When the Lights Went Out" [from the new troubles of the brain EP. i do so love the veils and it makes me quite happy that they've released this new EP. but where's the full length, finn? don't tease us.]
the Afghan Whigs - "Uptown Again" [from 1965. i'm licking my chops in anticipation of the new twilight singers record as well. february is going to be a good month for new releases.]
Lucinda Williams - "Convince Me" [from the forthcoming blessed. it looks like i'm going to get a chance to interview ms. williams. stay tuned.]
Josh Ritter - "Right Moves" [from the historical conquests of josh ritter. you know, it's been too long since i've seen messr. ritter and band live. i need to fix that, posthaste.]
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Caleb Caudle and the Bayonets feat. Caitlin Cary - "I Don't Think Heaven Would Take Us (If It Couldn't Have Us Both)" [a new single from the bayonet boys featuring a duet between caleb and caitlin cary! really awesome, guys. caleb and the boys will be at krankies in winston-salem this saturday, january 29th.]
Dirty Gold - "California Sunrise" [from the forthcoming roar EP being released on autumn tone records. check out the video at AD and you can pick up the single on iTunes now.]
Birds of Avalon - "Invasion" [from their self-titled record. seriously, this might be one of the great rock and roll records of this year.]
the Jayhawks - "The Man Who Loved Life" [from sound of lies, one of my favorite jayhawks records. one of my first pieces for AD was about that album.]
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the Louvin Brothers - "Satan is Real" [the title track from one of the greatest records in country music. the harmonies between charlie and ira are just otherworldly at times and this song is one of countless examples of it.]
the Byrds - "The Christian Life" [from sweetheart of the rodeo. gram parsons-era byrds covered this louvin classic. it wouldn't be the last time parsons would dip his toe in the louvin's inspirational river, but it certainly ranks as one of the finest moments.]
Uncle Tupelo - "Great Atomic Power" [from march 16-20, 1992. this might have been my introduction to the louvins, but i think that's probably the case for a lot of younger country fans who got into the music via alt-country. of it's time and yet transcending it.]
Charlie Louvin - "Ira" [from his 2007 self-titled record. a touching, beautiful song about his late brother, some 42 years after his death. the aged and still powerful voice of charlie louvin is simply magical. it still gives me chills listening to this song.]
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Filthybird - "Gravity" [from songs for other people. great greensboro rock and roll.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back next week with a normal, two-hour extravaganza of new and classic music. Until then, take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 19th January 2011

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem and boy, howdy, what a night. We were lucky enough to have the fantastic Megafaun drop by to talk and play some music and it was an incredibly fun time as it always is with those guys. Read more about it below and check out the live performances.

Next week will mark the debut of the Indie/Rock Roundtable on the show as Ryan Snyder of YES Weekly and I start our monthly discussion about new releases. Ought to be a lot of fun, so get ready for that next week as well. Plus, I was featured in YES Weekly this week in their Triad DJ profile. Check it out!

Now, while it's still good, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 19th January 2011 show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Apex Manor - "Teenage Blood" [from the forthcoming the year of magical drinkingwhich will be out next week. this is a must grab for power-pop fans. it's ridiculously good.]
The The - "Dogs of Lust" [from dusk. this is probably my personal favorite the the album, though i know people love them some mind bomb.]
MYTY KONKEROR - "Whitewash" [from i miss the future. really great noisy rock and roll and a great opening set song.]
the Feelies - "Fa Ci-La" [from crazy rhythms. it was announced today that the first new feelies record in two decades, here before, is coming out in march. revel in the indie goodness.]
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the Decemberists - "Don't Carry It All" [the opening track from the king is dead which is really, really quite good. i've missed the singles-oriented version of the decemberists and it's back in fine form here.]
Fountains of Wayne - "Hey Julie" [from welcome interstate managers. when are they dropping a new album again? sometime this year? 'bout time.]
James - "Crazy" [from the night before and the morning after. really still digging this song, no matter how many times i've played it.]
Wipers - "Is This Real?" [the title track from one of the earliest wipers albums. this is one of those bands that is more a legend, in some ways, than a band, but seriously, the first three albums are just classic post-punk.]

[Here's where I interviewed the guys from Megafaun. We talked about their busy year in 2010, a new album, how Heretofore was made, upcoming shows and whether Conrad Plymouth members should grow bangs and get flu shots. This was so much fun. Talking with Joe, Brad and Phil is always like sitting down with three people you've known a long time already and are just shooting the enthusiastic breeze with. Check out the live performances below.]

Megafaun - "Bonnie's Song" (live) [a song from heretofore performed in studio. click here to listen.]
Megafaun - "Volunteers" (live) [another heretofore song performed live. click here to listen.]
Megafaun - "Carolina Days" (live) [the last of the live performances; one of my favorite songs from heretofore. click here to listen.]
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Megafaun - "Heretofore" [the title track from their latest. we used it to play them out. they're playing shows this friday and saturday at the new kings barcade in raleigh. going to be amazing.]
the Smith Westerns - "Weekend" [from the new dye it blonde. we're going to be hearing a lot more of this. man.]
Destroyer - "Savage Night at the Opera" [from kaputt which is out next week. going to cover this on the roundtable next week as well.]
Broadcast - "Unchanging Window" [from the noise made by people. founding member and lead singer trish keenan died this week at the age of 42 from pneumonia complications. rest in peace.]
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Telekinesis - "Car Crash" [from the forthcoming 12 desperate straight lines. so excited to finally hear the sophomore album from michael learner. what a guy.]
Yo La Tengo - "Mr. Tough" [from i am not afraid of you.... playing two shows this weekend - saturday and sunday nights at the cat's cradle in carborro, north carolina. they're doing their spin-the-wheel-and-we'll-play-that game. sounds awesome.]
Now You See Them - "It Could Be Worse" [from things change in a day. they'll be at the green bean in greensboro on friday, january 28th.]
Filthybird - "Pick You Up" [from songs for other people. this is without question one of my favorite songs from this album.]
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Masters of the Hemisphere - "Volcano" [thanks to the fine folks at you ain't no picasso, the first song off the new album by the newly reunited masters of the hemisphere has been leaked. very, very exciting.]
Lovett - "The Fear" [from their self-titled record. we might be hearing more. good stuff.]
Wire - "Please Take" [from the new red barked tree. can wire come to north carolina already, please?]
Archers of Loaf - "Web In Front" [our original 7" single. in celebration of their first show together in 13 years or so this past weekend. man, i wish i'd been there.]

That'll do it for this week. Thanks again to Megafaun for coming by the show - hopefully they'll come back when their new album drops in the fall. Until next week, take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 12th January 2011

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. And the podcast is fixed! Thank goodness. So get ready to enjoy the goodness if you missed the live webcast. Still, I ended up at the station tonight until 9 which means if you were listening to the webcast, you could have heard an additional hour of music curated by yours truly. Shame on you for not catching it if you didn't.

There are going to be some awesome live interviews on the show in the coming weeks. Greensboro's Cold Water Shave will be joining us on February 9th and then Charlotte, NC's Illicitizen will be with us on March 9th. But, I won't say anything so I don't jinx it, we have another band most likely joining us next week. Here's keeping our fingers crossed that it comes together. Follow me on Twitter and you'll know the moment anything is confirmed. Plus you'll hear my awesome ramblings. A win-win situation!

Now, while we can, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 12th January 2011 show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Crocodiles - "Hollow Hollow Eyes" [from sleep forever. though this came out last year, it still seems appropriate for opening the show. love this record.]
the Replacements - "I Will Dare" [from let it be. over at aquarium drunkard i wrote a piece about the album cover for this album, so head on over and check it out.]
Wavves - "King of the Beach" [the title track from their latest. they're going to be at the cat's cradle in carborro, nc on saturday, january 29th along with best coast. we hosted them last year here at guilford and it was quite a show.]
the Flashing Lights - "High School" [from where the change is. for my friend, rae, who tuned in this evening via the streaming webcast. a great song i dig out from time to time.]
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Birds of Avalon - "Xarardheere" [from their self-titled record that dropped this week. this song is ridiculously good and we'll be hearing more. this is a band i've heard a lot about, but haven't put my ears on until now.]
Fugazi - "Smallpox Champion" [from in on the kill taker. i did a scratch the surface piece on aquarium drunkard for this album awhile back, and i think it's worth checking out as well.]
Adam Thorn and the Top Buttons - "Life's a Bummer" [from their self-titled sophomore album. one of my favorite tracks of last year from quite a good record as well.]
Gene Clark - "In a Misty Morning" [from roadmaster. a friend gave me a copy of this album for christmas - he's been slowly opening me up to more and more of gene clark's solo work and i'm ever so grateful when songs like this land in my lap.]
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Apex Manor - "The Party Line" [from the year of magical drinking. this is already probably bound for my year-end best of list - probably top ten. it's so ridiculously good. it drops january 25th on merge records and you should buy it. now.]
the Lemonheads - "The Outdoor Type" [from car button cloth. one of my favorite lemonheads songs, even if evan dando didn't write it. just full of so many great lines.]
Caleb Caudle and the Bayonets - "So Gone" [from the excellent snake river canyon. caleb and the boys will be at krankies, the old werehouse, in winston-salem on saturday, january 29th.]
Jim White - "Rambler" [from jim white presents sounds of the americans. this is a new side-project collection of songs that jim white did in conjunction with some other musicians. not an official follow-up to transnormal skiperoo, but i imagine he might play some of this at his upcoming show at SECCA in winston-salem on saturday, february 19th. i'm super excited to see jim again. it's been too long.]
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Obits - "You Gotta Lose" [from the forthcoming moody, standard and poor. so exciting to hear new music from obits. their debut was truly exceptionally good. i love the title of this record. quite cheeky. can't wait to hear the full thing.]
Kathleen Edwards - "Good Things" [from back to me, still probably my favorite kathleen edwards album. and this song especially. sigh. it just gets to you.]
Filthybird - "Stephen Dedalus" [from songs for other people. really excellent music from another excellent greensboro band. even if they have moved to mebane or wherever.]
Lower Dens - "Completely Golden" [from twin-hand movement. they played tonight with the walkmen at the cat's cradle. catch them out on tour because they're fantastic.]
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Now You See Them - "It's Worth It" [from things change in a day. great asheville band whom i love quite a bit, especially live. they'll be at the green bean here in greensboro on friday, january 28th.]
Grant Hart - "Twenty-Five Forty-One" [from intolerance. grant hart will be at the garage in winston-salem on saturday, january 15th. yeah, that's this friday. and yes it's that grant hart.]
Twin Shadow - "Tyrant Destroyed" [from forget. another upcoming WQFS sponsored show at studio b here in greensboro on february 25th. stay tuned.]
the Hoodoo Gurus - "(Let's All) Turn On" [from stoneage romeos. the vagabond saints society, who do cover shows twice every year over in winston-salem, are doing the first two hoodoo gurus albums on saturday, january 22nd at the garage.]
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the Veils - "Bloom" [from the forthcoming troubles of the brain EP. so exciting to hear new music from these guys. it's been far too long.]
Teenage Fanclub - "Sparky's Dream" [from grand prix. the first teenage fanclub song i ever heard on alternative rock radio back in the 90s. it stuck in my head for years until i finally hunted them down. thank goodness.]
Kurt Wagner and Courtney Tidwell - "Incredibly Lonely" [from KORT. really gorgeous music from this pair. we'll be hearing a lot more from this album.]
Toro y Moi - "Still Sound" [from underneath the pine. i missed this record last year, but check this song out and then kick yourself for being like me and having missed it.]
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Wire - "Red Barked Trees" [from red barked tree, which just came out this week. pretty exciting to hear new music from wire, no matter when it happens.]
Chris Bell - "I Am the Cosmos" [the title track from his posthumous solo album. today would have been chris' 60th birthday - in memory of a great, great songwriter. continue to rest in peace.]

That'll do it for J's Indie/Rock Mayhem this week. Hopefully we'll have an awesome interview live next week, but until then, be safe, and take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 5th January 2011

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. I have bad news again in that the recorder, again, wasn't functioning, so there is no formal podcast again this week. I can only apologize. I may try and recreate this show, but honestly, it's such a tedious endeavor to do so, I just doubt that I'll get around to it. Hopefully things will be back to normal next week.

Some awesome interviews coming down the pipe for the show, but one of the things I'm most looking forward to is the beginning of a new, monthly feature. I haven't given it an official name yet, but Ryan Snyder from Yes! Weekly is going to start joining me on the last Wednesday of each month to do a little album critiquing. We're going to look at a couple or a few records a month, play some tracks, give our thoughts, give it the up or down, yea or nay, and just have a good time talking music. I'm really looking forward to it. More details as we get closer.

Also, I didn't learn this until tonight, so I didn't play anything on my show to promote it. Oddly, I thought about playing this band earlier this week, out of the blue, for no reason, but that's hindsight. Jason and the Scorchers will bring their legendary cowpunk to the Garage in Winston-Salem this Friday, January 7th. I will definitely try to be there.

Now, onward.]

MYTY KONKEROR - "'sus Envy" [from i miss the future. one of two bands on the show tonight that got here via cold email submissions. it's hard to get me to pay attention to those random emails, i know, but hey, sometimes it works. this is some good stuff and we'll hear more.]
Radiohead - "Let Down" [from ok computer. i was talking with someone who had never really heard radiohead (i rescued them from a cave) and was telling them about this album. so naturally i dug it out and went through a few days of singing along to every song. so, here we are.]
Gang of Four - "Never Pay for the Farm" [from content. the new album drops later this month. this first month is an embarrassment of riches for new releases. seriously.]
Let's Active - "Every Word Means No" [from afoot. was going to play something off of cypress, but i put that off for next week in favor of this rip-roaring classic. also, puppies and indie-rock!]
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the Veils - "The Stars Came Out When the Lights Went Out" [from the forthcoming troubles of the brain EP. i was just thinking the other day how long it'd been since the last veils record and how i missed them so. prayers answered.]
Megafaun - "Carolina Days" [from heretofore. so, it's not official, so i probably shouldn't say anything and jinx it. but, let's put it this way. don't be surprised if this band is live on the show in two weeks. just sayin'.]
Cold Water Shave - "One Horse Blues" [from the grand ol' uproar. and, this is toally official, so don't be surprised at all when these guys drop by the show on february 9th to talk about their new EP. snuzz is coming with 'em, too! can't wait.]
Teenage Fanclub - "Ain't That Enough" [from songs from northern britain. i was all set to play "verisimilitude" from grand prix when i saw our copy of this album and remembered how note perfect this song is. you're welcome.]
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Dirty Gold - "California Sunrise" [from their self-titled EP. this is a brotherly duo from san diego that haven't graduated high school yet. and sheesh. their EP is coming out on autumn tone records later this spring, so get ready for it. check it out.]
the Tallest Man on Earth - "The Wild Hunt" [the title track from his latest. for melissa who actually liked him when i played him last week.]
Paul Westerberg - "Silent Film Star" [from the mono disc of the stereo/mono album from 2002. apparently they did a second run of the "mr. f" 7 inch singles and i, again, missed out. anyone have one they want to sell me?]
Adam Thorn and the Top Buttons - "Through That Hallway" [by request. from the new self-titled album. adam will be at CFBG's tomorrow night, thursday, january 6th, along with pinche gringo and ghost beach. rock and roll, GSO.]
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the Twilight Singers - "Blackbird and the Fox" [from their forthcoming album dynamite steps which is due out on february 15th. you can stream another of the new songs, "on the corner," over at spin's website.]
Jolie Holland - "Your Big Hands" [from the living and the dead. speaking of people who need a new album. maybe she's got one coming since she's going out with alejandro escovedo on tour. and kyp malone. oddest and most awesome concert pairing i've seen in some time. thursday, january 27th at the cat's cradle.]
Japan - "Don't Rain on My Parade" [from adolescent sex. mick karn, bassist of japan, died this week at the age of 52. i've never played japan on my show before, and honestly haven't heard much of their stuff, but obviously i have some listening to do. rest in peace.]
Stealers Wheel - "Stuck In the Middle With You" [same for gerry rafferty who died this week. aside from recording the most famous saxophone solo in history, he also sang on this little number. rest in peace.]
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the Love Language - "Blue Angel" [from libraries. two chances to see this awesome band soon. saturday, january 15th at the cat's cradle in chapel hill and then saturday, january 22nd at the blind tiger in greensboro with holy ghost tent revival. get out and rock.]
Lake Isle - "Anodyne" [from wake up. they're playing this saturday, january 8th, at CFBGs along with come hell or high water.]
the Walkmen - "Blue as Your Blood" [from lisbon. playing next wednesday, january 12th at the cat's cradle in chapel hill.]
Alejandro Escovedo - "Anchor" [from street songs of love. playing at the cat's cradle on thursday, january 27th, as i mentioned with jolie holland and kyp malone.]
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the Spruce Campbells - "With You" [from the lessons we learned from ghosts. the other cold contact email band this week. parts of this band remind me of the male/female singing dynamic of velocity girl, even in the music. though i'm not crazy about the guy's voice. i went with this song because it's pretty much all the female singer. i'm digging it.]
Tiger Bear Wolf - "Bed Down" [from their eardrum obliteratin' self-titled album. rock and roll really doesn't get much better than this.]
Destroyer - "Chinatown" [from the forthcoming kaputt. out january 25th on merge records and, well, we'll be talking about it on the new record review feature on the show on the 26th.]
Pavement - "Carrot Rope" [from terror twilight. i don't know why this song launched into my head today, but it did. i think i was heating my lunch at the time. were there carrots invovled? i don't believe so.]
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the Damnwells - "Werewolves" [from the forthcoming no one listens to the band anymore. well, yeah. another great song from what will probably be another great record. don't the damnwells ever get tired of writing great songs? check out the video and song.]
the Flying Burrito Brothers - "Sin City" [from the gilded palace of sin. saw adam thorn cover this back in the fall and felt like it was time to break out the original. anyone have a copy of the cover version beck did on that parson's tribute record back in the early-early 00s?]

That'll do it for this week. Until next week, when hopefully the podcast will be back up, take care.