Portland

Band of the Month Nominee Spotlight: Tu Fawning

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To put it mildly, Tu Fawning is a force of nature – a pulsing, bubbling, organic quartet of able-bodied musical sponges wading in the suds of Portland’s post-rock puddles. To get serious about prodding their muses and defining their sound would take the combined efforts of a self-writing quill, an encyclopedic understanding of synergy and the language of trees, and the tears of a Cherokee raindancer. So I’ll try to keep it mild.

Tu Fawning is the spawn of Portland musical luminaries Corrina Repp (of Corrina Repp and Viva Voce fame) and Joel Haege (the explosive force behind art-punk-funk trio 31 Knots). The duo recently became a foursome, inviting in the key-tinklin’ talents of Liza Rietz (also a popular PDX fashion designer), and multi-instrumentalist/mostly brass-ist Toussaint Perrault. The quartet unhinges a fluid, tribal, melancholy melange using tambourines, samples, shadowy percussion, modest guitar, trumpets, layered vocals and more to stitch together a hollow, holistic version of minimalist orchestral rock. It’s hypnotic, to say the least; and a goddamn religious experience live. 

Here, Haege’s spastic, choppy guitar squalls – so patented within the carnival realm of 31 Knots – are replaced by plaintive, subtle notation. His secondary presence is due foremost to the equally engaging aura of Repp, whose fluffy-gruff vocal melodies drive the songs to parts unknown, while Perrault’s brass and percussive elements mix with the shaky-hands of Rietz and her generous key contributions.

"Multiply A House" sounds like a neo-Squanto day trip recorded in an empty jail cell with Glenn Miller’s Orchestra tripping on LSD and playing the same, echoing lines forever and ever. For clarification: This is amazing.

Go see this band right now. Even if they’re not playing. And vote for them in our Band of the Month poll to the top right of this blog if you dig.

– Ryan J. Prado

San Francisco

Switchboard Music Festival 2010 announced featuring Zoe Keating and miRthkon

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If, in the coming months, you realize that the availible selections on your ipod have become cumbersome or uninteresting, consider giving some of the artists from the upcoming 3rd annual Switchboard Music Festival a listen. Since 2007, the Switchboard Music Festival has aimed to create a "marathon concert featuring artists, primarily from the San Francisco Bay Area, whose music challenges traditional genre distinctions."  At this years 8 hour marathon concert you’ll experience such Bay Area artists as the black metal bossa nova fusion band Thorny Brocky, the experimental cello arrangements of Zoe Keating [above], and the prog rock classical thrash metal of miRthkon.

If you can find a Bay Area music festival with a more eccentric lineup, tell me about it and I’ll give you $5 dollars from my own pocket*.

The Switchboard Music Festival takes place on March 28th and tickets range from $10-40.

-Nicole Leigh
photo by Lane Hartwell

*5 (five) United States Dollars will be awarded to 1 (one), only 1 (one) winner who can give me the name of a Bay Area music festival with a lineup in greater anomalus nature to the Switchboard Music Festival. This contest is in no way sponsored by the Switchboard Music Festival and is void where prohibited by law. Ps, the $5 bill I just pulled out of my wallet and set aside for this contest reads "I love you Jesus!! Thank you for provisions!!" – consider that a bonus.

Portland

Eluvium Releases New Video from Forthcoming Album “Similes”

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Portland composer and musician Eluvium, also known as Mathew Cooper, has unveiled a new video directed by Matt McCormick for the tune "The Motion Makes Me Last." The video seamlessly edits together shots from the taller examples of Portland’s architecture, as they float by in a way that mysteriously matches the track.

The song will be featured on the upcoming album Similes, to be released February 23rd on Temporary Residence. I would describe what I’ve heard from Eluvium’s previous work as both ambient and minimalist, specifically with regard to the piano work, which I’ve very much enjoyed.

The new song is beautiful and will hopefully be consistent with the new album. It has the opportunity to appeal to a larger spectrum of listeners, while still remaining close to the dreamy and atmospheric roots that Cooper has been perfecting over his four previous albums.

Check the video out and if you like what you hear, you can snag the song as a free download from Pitchfork.

– Joel Sommer

L.A.

Nicole Simone to release debut EP, featuring Jason Schwartzman

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Nicole Simone | "Melt"
Dir. by Abazar Khayami

Having always been fascinated with old films and nostalgic art, singer/songwriter Nicole Simone‘s sound dates back to a time where vocals were the sexiest part of the show. One can only wonder how Jason Schwartzman, local raconteur of the pop rock sort, will fit drum and banjo parts into Simone’s self-titled debut EP, due March 5th.

Nicole Simone plays The Bootleg Theatre on February 24.

L.A.

Best of LA 2009 – #30 Afternoons, live at Spaceland on Friday

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Formerly known as Afternoons, Shadow Shadow Shade grew frustrated sharing a nearly identical name with a Welsh band and recently decided to set themselves apart from it (when the internet is the predominant launching pad for emerging bands, it would not suffice to share a Google results page.) What you will find now is a sound both refreshingly current and comfortingly nostalgic. The seven-piece, conceived in 2006 by Brian Canning and Steven Scott from the band Irving, are slowly delving into the importance of the live performance with a string of shows set in coming weeks. The operatic vocals of Claire McKeown set them apart from the others attempting to instill a charming ’70s quality to a new-folk sound. Shadow Shadow Shade play Spaceland this Friday. –Kate Proto

Every week, The Deli LA will be checking in with those who broke onto the Best of 2009 poll.  View the full list of artists here.

Philadelphia

Interview with The Deli’s Label of the Year: Punk Rock Payroll

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We figured since the city was basically shut down we might as well join the rest of the crazies yesterday at the bar for a little social lubrication and random body-sledding on the way home. Well, we’re back with The Deli’s Label of the Year, Punk Rock Payroll. We had a chance to catch up with PRP’s godfather Frede Zimmer to toss him a few questions that you should definitely check out.
 
Frede Zimmer: First of all, everyone involved with Punk Rock Payroll would like to thank everyone who voted for PRP, it is truly an honor to be voted The Deli’s Label of the Year in Philadelphia.
 
The Deli: What are your feelings about the Philly music scene?
 
FZ: I love it! I think that at this point we have all the right components to become bigger and better. Recently I was tour manager for The Extraordinaires for a few dates with Gogol Bordello, and everyone we met on the road was telling us how much they love bands from Philly and how nice everyone from Philly is. It made me realize that the reputation Philadelphia bands are carving out for themselves outside of Philly is a very positive and innovative one, and I’m happy to be a part of it.  
 
TD: Will your headquarters always remain in South Philly?
 
FZ: I can’t say that it will always remain in South Philly. After 5 years of Punk Rock Payroll functioning out of a cramped two bedroom apartment at 9th and Jackson, we just moved in to our new, much more spacious headquarters at 18th and Moore about a year ago, and we have no intentions of going anywhere. Now we’re located in a section of South Philly called Newbold that’s South of Washington and West of Broad. Everyone at the label, and the bands that are signed to the label, pretty much live around this area now, so we definitely feel a sense of community. The area south of Washington is completely malleable right now. It’s a new frontier for artists and musicians to start to shape into a brand new area that’s not already defined by established venues and pre-conceived notions about what kind of music or art comes from the area.     
 
TD: We love your innovative packaging/marketing ideas. Any cool things that we should be looking out for? Any releases that you are excited about, or new artists that you have or are planning to sign?
 
FZ: Thank you. There are definitely some new packaging designs and new artists and releases that we are very excited about at the moment, but it would be a bit premature to let the cat out of the bag at this point. We’ll be making a few big announcements on the Punk Rock Payroll website very soon.
 
TD: Your history is well-documented on your website. What’s been your proudest moment so far?
 
FZ: I’m constantly proud of Punk Rock Payroll and all of the people behind the scenes who keep it running: the interns, the people who work at the label and of course the bands on the label. I feel really lucky to be surrounded by so many gifted people. It feels like I have a "proudest moment" just about every other day.
 
TD: Besides artists on Punk Rock Payroll, what local performers do you enjoy listening to?
 
FZ: I have to admit I am generally listening to the bands on the label, but I really enjoy The Armchairs, Sweatheart, Need New Body, Sun Ra, and a few more that we currently have our eyes on.
 
TD: What national/international acts do you currently listen to now?
 
FZ: The Roots, Against Me, Gogol Bordello.
 
TD: What’s your favorite thing about Philly?
 
FZ: The energy you feel just from walking down the street. Philadelphia is the birthplace of America, and I truly believe it lends itself to be the birthplace for many new and groundbreaking artistic undertakings. 
 
TD: What annoys you the most about Philly?
 
FZ: The disrespect for the city some people voice by throwing their trash all over the streets and the violence, especially the gun violence…we really shouldn’t have to watch our backs when we’re walking or riding over to a friend’s house to hang out. At some point, this behavior became the norm, and that definitely annoys me.   
 
TD: What’s your poison?
 
FZ: BRUNIC’S ! It’s my favorite diner hang out, and it happens to be at 17th and McKean, which is only a few blocks from our new spot. It seems to be the underground hub for all things South Philly.
 
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
 
FZ: Hmm…it definitely changes from day to day, but today I would have to say veggie/cheese hoagie. 
 
– The Deli Staff

 

 
NYC

Michael Leviton back in style with video + new band: The New Jerk Times

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Michael Leviton – who managed to play with the sexiest (now defunct) NYC band of the mid 2000 (La Laque) and tour with the least sexy NYC duo of all times (They Might Be Giants – which we dig by the way) – is back with what he calls "a single for singles" to help "emotionally prepare you for Valentine’s Day". The song is aptly titled "You’re Somebody Even If Nobody Loves You". The man sure has sense of humor, as also testified by the name of his new band: The New Jerk Times. Don’t miss their upcoming shows at Zebulon on 02.16 (258 Wythe at N. 3rd in Williamsburg) and Sway on 02.17 ((305 Spring at Greenwich).

NYC

News from Elika: limited edition EP ready, LP on its way

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Ethereal duo Elika must have kept pretty busy in the recording and CD manufacturing departments lately. The band announced at once the release of their hand made "There Was No Summer" EP (available through Chat Blanc Records,) and the completion of the upcoming full length album, scheduled to see the light later this year. The EP (in the picture), limited to 111 copies, handsewn on dark gray cardboard, could become a collector’s item. The actual CD is NOT handsewn nor made of cardboard – more info about it here.

Nashville

La Paz Late Night, This Friday

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Come and support local electronic artists DJ Potamus with Special Guest DJ Hands Off Sam (of 12th and Porter Saturday Night fame) this Friday at La Paz Restaurant on Elliston Place across from The End. Enjoy cheap drinks, syncopated lights, phat beats and beautiful people. Who knows how much longer this even will keep truckin’, so hurry and catch the action. See you there!