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

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. I had a certifiable blast with Ryan Snyder of YES Weekly this week doing our Indie/Rock Roundtable. We did our first hip-hop album, which ought to be good. I know my dalliances with hip-hop on the show are few and far between, but that's only because I don't play as much on the show as I actually enjoy listening to myself. We'll have one more Roundtable next month and then we'll have to find a way to have Ryan contribute to our best-of shows at the end of the year. Ought to be fun.

Next week will be a normal show, but two weeks from this week we'll have the fantastic Bombadil live on the show. They'll be coming down from Durham on the week of the release of their new record, All That the Rain Promises. I'm super excited to have those guys on the show, so it ought to be a good time.

Sadly, again this year, my show is a little too far out from Halloween to warrant the true Halloween treatment. Next year the show will be on Halloween which will, obviously, be awesome, but until then, you can revisit my Halloween mixtape/podcast from last year to get you in the Halloween spirit. Have a safe and fun time this year!

Now, while we can, onward.]

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

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Guided by Voices - "The Unsinkable Fats Domino" [from the forthcoming let's go eat the factory. i'll admit to being confused. i thought that the classic lineup's performance at the hopscotch festival this year was their last. and now that lineup is releasing a record in january? are they not touring behind it? i'm curious.]
Supergrass - "Richard III" [from in it for the money. oh, how i adore this record and wish more people remembered how awesome supergrass was.]
Blitzen Trapper - "Fletcher" [from american goldwing. this is a solid record, but it does sound a bit like the band on cruise control.]
Future of the Left - "Small Bones, Small Bodies" [from curses. they finally have a new album coming out later this year and the first single is floating around. we'll see about getting it for next week.]

[Here's where we spoke with Ryan Snyder about this month's records: Future Island's On the Water and Phonte's Charity Starts At Home. Ryan and I gave double thumbs up to both albums. Both are really good, especially the Future Islands record. Check out the songs in the podcast.]

Future Islands - "Balance" [from on the water.]
Future Islands - "Where I Found You" [from on the water.]
Phonte - "The Good Fight" [from charity starts at home.]
Phonte - "Eternally" [from charity starts at home.]
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Surfer Blood - "Miranda" [from the new tarot classics EP. they'll be opening for the pixies at the war memorial auditorium on tuesday, november 8th. pretty exciting.]
St. Vincent - "Northern Lights" [from strange mercy. i'm really liking this new record - annie clark is on a roll.]
M83 - "New Map" [from hurry up, we're dreaming. i'm feeling a little silly for not having listened to m83 before because this record is superb.]
Matthew Sweet - "I Wanted to Tell You" [by request. from girlfriend which turned 20 years old on the day of my show. pretty exciting. if you didn't check out my interview with matthew sweet at aquarium drunkard last month, check it out.]
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Tom Waits - "Get Lost" [from the new bad as me. it's really, really good. you can check out my review over at aquarium drunkard.]
Sleeper - "Inbetweener" [from smart. sleeper is another one of those bands that i feel was sadly overlooked during the britpop era. good, good songs.]
Estrangers - "Sprague" [from the forthcoming black ballroom which i mistitled "black balloon" on the show. whoops. they're playing tonight at the weatherspoon gallery at uncg and also at the green bean on saturday, november 19th along with adam thorn and jenny besetzt. can't wait to finally catch them live.]
Son Volt - "Medicine Hat" [from wide swing tremolo. i've always been a huge fan of this record, but i know it's not always a fav of son volt fants. any other wide-swing defenders out there?]
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Big Troubles - "You'll Be Laughing" [from romantic comedy which, frankly, is fantastic. year-end best-of bound, for sure.]
the Byrds - "Lazy Days" [from the expanded edition of sweetheart of the rodeo. i've been reading twenty thousand roads: the ballad of gram parsons and his cosmic americana music by david n. meyer (a great read, by the way) and you'll probably be hearing a ton more of parsons related stuff the next few weeks. this is a song that saw a great (and in my opinion, superior) recording by the flying burrito brothers as well.]
the New Pornographers - "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras" [from twin cinema. one of my all time favorite new pornos songs.]
Ryan Adams - "Dirty Rain" [the lead track from the new fire and ashes. pretty good, all in all. i'm liking this record.]
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Caithlin De Marrais - "Belong" [from the forthcoming red coats. i know there's no way i pronounced her name correctly on the show, but she's the former singer/guitarist for the excellent rainer maria. hopefully we'll hear more in the near future.]
Teenage Fanclub - "When I Still Have Thee" [from shadows. one of my absolutely favorite songs of this year. oh, teenage fanclub. why didn't you come to north carolina to tour this record?]

That'll do it for next week. I'll be back next week with more fantastic new music, so until then, take care and go, Cardinals! Win that Game 7! The 6 year-old inside me who was very, very upset about y'all losing game 7 to the Twins in 1987 needs redemption!

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

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. I was lucky enough to be joined by the members of Asheville, North Carolina's Now You See Them in the studio this week. They played at the Green Bean on Wednesday night and are down our way at least a few times per year. They're working on finishing a new full-length LP as well and graced us with three live performances of songs off of that upcoming release. It was a great interview and a great show all in all.

Next week, we'll finally be back on track with Ryan Snyder of YES Weekly and our monthly Indie/Rock Roundtable. Looks like we're going to be talking about new records from Phonte (of Little Brother/Foreign Exchange fame) and Future Islands. Ought to be a great time.

Now, while we can, onward.]

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

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Dum Dum Girls - "Bedroom Eyes" [from only in dreams. really a super strong record that is well worth picking up. almost certainly bound for the best-of list at the end of the year. coming up sooner than i think, too!]
Flashing Lights - "High School" [from where the change is. great canadian power-pop from the late 90s.]
Girls - "Honey Bunny" [the lead track from the father, son and holy ghost, the fantastic new album from this band. really, really good.]

[Here's where I was joined by Jason, Dulci and Shane of Now You See Them. We talked about their origins as a band, influences, life as touring musicians and they played a few songs for us as well. You can download the individual performances below. Enjoy.]

Now You See Them - "I Won't Go Away (The Turtle Song)" [the first of three songs from their forthcoming LP. click here to download.]
Now You See Them - "We Will Never Be Young Again" [another from the forthcoming album. click here to download.]
Now You See Them - "Talking Truth" [one more from the upcoming record. click here to download.]
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Now You See Them - "It Could Be Worse" [from last year's EP, things change in a day.]
Big Troubles - "Misery" [from the excellent new romantic comedy. anyone else had their ears on this album? it's quite good.]
Fountains of Wayne - "Sink to the Bottom" [from their self-titled debut. i couldn't help myself. there are these passages in the big troubles song that remind me so heavily of this fountains of wayne song, i had to play them back to back. so there you go.]
the Stone Roses - "I Am the Resurrection" [from their self-titled debut. so it was announced this week that the boys are back together and are doing a world tour and a new record. chalk me up as quite excited.]
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Real Estate - "Out of Tune" [from the new days which came out this week. some seriously great stuff here. we'll hear a lot more.]
Pixies - "Dig for Fire" [from bossanova. getting excited to see the pixies here in november playing doolittle.]
Wild Flag - "Romance" [the lead track from their self-titled record. rock. and. roll. playing tonight at the cat's cradle in carborro.]
the Del Fuegos - "I Should Be The One" [from the longest day. classic boston rock and roll.]
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the Jayhawks - "Stand Out in the Rain" [from mockingbird time. they'll be at the durham performing arts center next week with tift merit opening. pretty great line up.]
the Suburbs - "Rattle My Bones" [from 1984's love is the law. one of my favorite overlooked minneapolis bands.]
Veronica Falls - "Right Side of My Brain" [from their self-titled record. another contender for best of this year, maybe.]
Blur - "No Distance Left to Run" [from 13. the break-up song to end all break-up songs. sigh.]
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M83 - "Reunion" [from the new double album, hurry up, we're dreaming. pretty dancey and fun stuff.]
Spacehog - "Almond Kisses" [from the chinese album. one of my favorite spacehog joints.]
Bombadil - "Leather Belt" [from the forthcoming all that the rain promises. looks like these cats are going to be a guest on the show on november 9th. can't wait to have them up. keep your ears tuned for more on that.]
the Morning Clouds - "Ends" [from the wasted youth blues EP. got hipped to this through aquarium drunkard, and man, it's a great album. get on it.]
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Ryan Adams - "Lucky Now" [from the new ashes and fire. i'm liking this so far. other adams fans? what do you think?]
Kathleen Edwards - "Change the Sheets" [from her forthcoming voyageur which won't be out until early next year. i'm too excited for it, though.]
Crooked Fingers - "Your Apocalypse" [from breaks in the armor. really liking this new one from bachman and crew.]
the Stone Roses - "Love Spreads" [from second coming. i'm too excited about the stone roses reunion not to play them twice on the show. so there you go.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back next week with the Indie/Rock Roundtable and a lot more great new music. Until then, take care.

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

[Welcome to another edition of J’s Indie/Rock Mayhem. Another great show this past week – sorry for the long delay in posting. Eric Moye, one of the chief fundraisers for the ongoing Lungs for Lee campaign stopped in to talk about their upcoming events and we had a good time. Plus tons of new stuff. The fall is so ridiculously chock full of new, good stuff. We’ll be hearing tons as the season continues.

Now, while we can, onward.]

J’s Indie/Rock Podcast: 12th October 2011 show

Theme Song – Peaches - “Rock Show”
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Wilco - “Art of Almost” [the lead track from their latest, the whole love. a really great song and, as a friend said, possibly the hardest they’ve rocked in some time.]
Richard Hell and the Voidoids - “Blank Generation” [the title track from their 1978 debut. still one of the most aggressively caustic and yet so traditional lead guitar lines in all of punk.]
St. Vincent - “Cheerleader” [from the new strange mercy. i’m really enjoying this album and, frankly, so should you.]
the Church - “Metropolis” [from gold afternoon fix. i’ve always enjoyed this song a lot and it ranks among my favorite songs by the band.]

[Here’s where we talked with Eric Moye about the Lungs for Lee campaign and talked about their upcoming fundraising show at the Blind Tiger this past Sunday. They’ll be doing a number of other events throughout the fall to help raise money for Greensboro musician and all-around amazing guy, Lee Wallace, and his double lung transplant to deal with his pulmonary fibrosis. Take a listen and take action if you can.]

Filthybird - “Stephen Dedalus” [from songs for other people. they played at the fundraising show this past sunday.]
Snuzz - “Lemonade” [originally from his self-titled 1997 record, but this is also a standard for his new band, the numbers, who played the fundraiser.]
Jews and Catholics - “Thank God I Don’t Live In Your Eyes” (live) [recorded live on j’s indie/rock mayhem last year as they were promoting their newest LP. another performer at the show.]
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Lee Wallace - “All the World Is Green” [a cover of the tom waits classic from his album the sea, the sea.]
Tom Waits - “Bad As Me” [the title track from his forthcoming album which is out next week. can’t wait to hear more.]
Girls Against Boys - “Tucked In” [from cruise yourself. i know i say this most anytime i play these guys, but they really are one of the most ill-overlooked bands of the 90s indie-rock scene.]
Megafaun - “State/Meant” [from their newest, self-titled LP. really one of the best albums of this year. no question.]
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Futurebirds - “Wild Heart” [from the via flamina EP. a great cover of the stevie nicks classic. they tore it up at the blind tiger this past wednesday night.]
Mary Lou Lord - “Lights Are Changing” [from her album got no shadow. this has long been one of my favorite covers of hers.]
Girls - “Die” [from father, son and holy ghost. i really like the new girls record. thoughts?]
Caravan - “If I Could Do It All Over, I’d Do It All Over You” [from canterbury tales: the best of caravan. a great prog band that is well worth digging up stuff by if you can.]
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Veronica Falls - “Misery” [from their self-titled new album. frank (he of the excellent sunday nights at 8pm show) tipped me to these guys and he was right. we’ll hear more.]
Pulp - “Disco 2000” [by request from a very excellent caller who wanted to hear some pulp. good call.]
A.A. Bondy - “The Heart Is Willing” [from his latest, believers. i’m really enjoying this record a lot.]
Dion - “Now” [from his album .]
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Future Islands - “Balance” [from on the water. these guys originally surfaced here in the cackalack, so good on them for their awesome success.]
Placebo - “Scared of Girls” [also by request. from without you i’m nothing, still my favorite album of theirs.]
Big Troubles - “She Smiles For Pictures” [from their excellent new album romantic comedy. i’m really digging this record a lot.]
Arctic Monkeys - “Mardy Bum” [from whatever people say i am, that’s what i am not. they were playing up in raleigh last wednesday night as well, so did anyone go check it out?]

That’ll do it for this week. We’ll be back next week with tons of new music and a lot more good stuff. Until then, take care.

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

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. Big thanks to Zach for filling in for me last week. You can catch his show on Tuesday mornings at 8 AM here on WQFS, so make sure to check it out. Tonight I was joined in studio by Baeden Buckner, member of the Quiet Brace and also Vice President of the Official Beard and Moustache Club of North Carolina. Their annual Beardtoberfest is coming up next Thursday, October 13th, at the Blind Tiger here in Greensboro and all of the proceeds from the concert and facial hair competitions are going to the Down Syndrome Network of Greater Greensboro. Check us out talking about that during the show as well as his band and hearing some of their stuff.

Now, while we can, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 5th October 2011 show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Dum Dum Girls - "Always Looking" [from the new only in dreams which is quite stellar. we'll be hearing plenty.]
the Afghan Whigs - "Going to Town" [from black love. i still don't understand why people are down on this record. if you like gentlemen, there's no way you shouldn't like this record.]
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - "Stick Figures in Love" [from mirror traffic. anyone catch them up at the haw river ballroom this past weekend?]
Sixteen Horsepower - "Brimstone Rock" [from low estate. i just have to pull this song out from time to time because, seriously, amazing.]

[Here's where I talked with Baeden Buckner about the upcoming Beardtoberfest. We also took a listen to some of his band, the Quiet Brace, that will be playing at the fest along with Another Roadside Attraction and the Lake Isle on October 13th. Come out to benefit the Down Syndrome Network of Greater Greensboro.]

the Quiet Brace - "Young 'uns" [from their new self-titled EP.]
the Quiet Brace - "Empty Corners" [also from their new self-titled EP.]
Matthew Sweet - "Modern Art" [the title track from his latest. pretty good song, i think. reminds me of in reverse a good bit.]
Elf Power - "The Naughty Villain" [from the winter is coming. one of my favorite elf power songs and, in fact, maybe the first one i ever heard by them.]
Black Grape - "In the Name of the Father" [from it's great when you're straight, yeah. a really, really good record that has gotten buried over time unfortunately.]
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Wilco - "Born Alone" [from the whole love. really liking the new wilco. i wouldn't put it up there with a ghost is born, which i really love, but it definitely trumps the last album. sky blue sky has grown on me a lot in recent years though. good stuff. and the lyrics reminded me of..]
the Ramones - "Born to Die in Berlin" [from adios amigos!. the last song on their last album. great stuff.]
Times New Viking - "Ever Falling In Love" [from dancer equired. i would like to catch these guys live some day.]
the Lover Speaks - "No More 'I Love You''s" [from their self-titled 1986 album. of course annie lennox would cover this and make it massive, but the original is a great piece of work, too.]
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Wild Flag - "Glass Tambourine" [from their self-titled record. really enjoying this one so far.]
the Dead Boys - "Sonic Reducer" [from young loud and snotty. i wanted to play monster magnet's "negasonic teenage warhead," but someone had put a kmfdm album in that case. i hate you, whoever you are.]
A.A. Bondy - "The Twist" [from believers. really digging on this album, too.]
Maffitt / Davies - "Landscape Grown Cold" [from the rise and fall of honest which was written about over on aquarium drunkard this past week. wow, what a great record.]
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John Doe - "Never Enough" [from his latest, keeper. thanks for the request, frank.]
Sleeper - "What Do I Do Now" [from the it girl. sleeper didn't get nearly enough credit in their day, but i really enjoy this song and this album a lot.]
the Jayhawks - "She Walks In So Many Ways" [from mockingbird time, their first album in almost ten years and their first with the 'classic' lineup in 16. it's good.]
Charles Bradley - "Stay Away" (live) [yeah. a cover of the nirvana classic and wow, this things kills. swamp blues take on it is just amazing. take a listen.]
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Twin Sister - "Stop" [from the new in heaven. nothing to rival "lady daydream" for me just yet, but the album is pretty solid. we'll hear more.]
Robert Ellis - "Graceland" [a cover of the paul simon classic from the lagniappe series over at aquarium drunkard. really awesome. go check it out.]
Kathleen Edwards - "Wapusk" [the b-side to her new "change the sheets" single from her forthcoming album. this song won't be on the album, but it's really good and has that justin vernon touch as well.]

That'll do it for this week. Tune in next week for a hopefully special live guest and a lot of great new music. Until then, take care.