The News Review:
- Back in the GDR
- … New LP Accelerate Looks Forward – News Story | Music…
- A Svengali tends the red-hot Matches’ flame
- Perils of Joining the iPod Nation
- Music video games rock on … and on and on
- Austin keeps a music lover’s dream alive
- Concerts this weekend: Tempe Music Fest Limbeck . . .
Back in the GDR
Prague Post – Mar 26, 2008
Makarios Oley recalls “In Leipzig there was a store for Czech culture and there I bought some records by bands such as Blue Effect and Jazz Q. It was much more interesting than the official GDR youth music though this was not the music for my punk heart. ”Instead Oley and his bandmates took an interest in the independent post-punk bands of England. Such a thirst given the state-dominated music market at the time was not easy to quench. But as Oley explains “We had our ways. At first the radio — we could receive some West German radio stations. Later in the ’70s and ’80s on state radio there were a few special programs.
… New LP Accelerate Looks Forward – News Story | Music…
MTV.com – Mar 26, 2008
back in 1980 — youthful optimism the belief that music could bring people together — and the way those ideals translated into being a band in 2008 a time when everything feels fractious and chaotic and pretty much irrevocably broken. Speaking or thinking in the future tense (”We will overcome” “We must continue”) he reasoned seemed rather naive. On the other hand he also found himself writing about the current state of our nation — about the mess in Iraq the. Bush will leave behind when he exits the White House in January… And it will be tense. “There’s an energy and an urgency to the record” said Stipe. “To me it references a memory of punk rock and the spirit of that and what we all came out of and what inspired us to start a band. It’s not specific to the late ’70s or anything like that it’s more of an imagined memory of that energy and that urgency. Couple that with the fact that I’m a very sentimental person but I’m not necessarily nostalgic. And how memories affect me now and in the future is something that I find really interesting. And it’s something I try to explore and exploit in my contributions to this band.
A Svengali tends the red-hot Matches’ flame
San Francisco Chronicle – Mar 26, 2008
They’ve watched the entire careers of other bands come and go while the Matches slug it out as opening act for flavors of the week like Yellowcard (”You can only baby-sit so long” says Harris). Tireless self-promotersOn the local scene the Matches were known as the most tireless self-promoters in club land. They ruled Oakland’s now defunct all-ages punk emporium iMusicast and promoted their own popular shows L3 (Live Loud and Local) in Oakland featuring many other bands on the scene. At last year’s sold-out Slim’s show packed with the band’s fervent following easily half the house sang along with the songs. The Matches put a lot of effort into fan relations. Band members come out after the show to meet audience members. Sometimes they take their acoustic guitars and busk the crowd leaving the club… “He made what we were doing seem more important and relevant. Subtly at first and then more and more that set us apart from the other bands in the genre we play in. Hurwitz tried playing music in college but gave it up long ago for a career in journalism covering the Bay Area rock scene as assistant publisher of BAM Magazine a successful free tabloid probably best remembered as sponsors of the annual Bay Area Music Awards – the Bammies. “I was an OK writer” he says “but I was a better editor or mentor. He made some money on the sale of MicroTimes a computer industry newspaper in which he was one of the founding partners and makes a living as a consultant working with small businesses such as real estate developers and contractors. He has yet to make any money on the Matches. “There’s no training for bands” says Hurwitz who counsels the band on diverse matters from showing Harris how to enunciate carefully when speaking to the crowd between songs or facilitating communication on group dynamics (”offering grounding advice on what it means to be four guys two crew trying to get along on the road”).
Perils of Joining the iPod Nation
Wired News – Mar 26, 2008
You and Me soundtrack? Let’s treat you to a few minutes of Alan Alda singing about estrogen and then it’s time for the Star Trek sound effects!Party Shuffle is dangerous unless you like throwing parties where the attendees get to listen to the sex-chat MP3 you downloaded eight months ago and forgot about. I also looked into Smart Playlists. Some people get really intense about these things creating multiple nested playlists that can automatically select songs based on criteria like “Punk songs from the 1940s” “Children’s songs by Kraftwerk” and “Music I’ve already listened to today. ” I wanted this power for myself. Most guides to Smart Playlists suggest you start by rating your own music. This makes me uncomfortable. Telling myself how much I like the music I chose and bought seems a little narcissistic… Most guides to Smart Playlists suggest you start by rating your own music. This makes me uncomfortable. Telling myself how much I like the music I chose and bought seems a little narcissistic. Normally I’m so self-absorbed that if you hug me hard you’re likely to get ego all over your sweater but this is a bit much even for me. I feel as self-obsessed as a teenage ouroboros on Twitter. Rating my music does not make me feel good about myself. Beethoven? Eh three stars.
Music video games rock on … and on and on
Globe and Mail – Mar 26, 2008
creators of Rock Band and for Activision Inc. which launched Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock last October Mr. Brochet – and the friends he gathers around to play bass drums and vocals to his lead guitar – is precisely the target audience they seek. But the relationship that has now been forged runs deeper than the unlocking of a newfound love of Pete Townshend… Brochet the Rock Band experience has meant customizing his band and creating a self-profile. The game allows players to identify with a variety of musical genres – punk metal rock – and to choose attributes from hair colour and style to weight and height and clothing sense. It sounds as though Mr.
Austin keeps a music lover’s dream alive
San Diego Union Tribune – Mar 26, 2008
DATE>March 26 2008. CONTENT>A favorite annual tradition of mine at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin Texas is eavesdropping as old-school industry types talk about how the large gathering “isn't what it used to be. ” It's not as interesting. Bands don't get signed out of Austin anymore. It's too big and unmanageable… Musicians come in from all over the world as do fans and the energy charging through the streets is unique. Here are 10 of my favorite bands from this year's festival keeping it on the fresh side. Sure X's West Coast punk rock is still furious and tremendous and Clipse tore the house down with its hotly produced Virginia Beach hip-hop anthems but SXSW is all about unearthing the new. And so in the name of discovery here are some of this year's hottest bands. gif> Bodies of Water. Did the Flaming Lips invent freak-pop as a quirky subversive subgenre? No but they are certainly the poster children of the movement.
Concerts this weekend: Tempe Music Fest Limbeck . . .
AZ Central.com – Mar 26, 2008
480-970-0500 martiniranchaz. TEMPE MUSIC FESTIVAL My Chemical Romance headlines Friday night in continued support of 2006’s justifiably acclaimed The Black Parade while promising a “return to punk rock” on what’s sure to be a less ambitious follow-up. And while we’re talking less ambitious that leads nicely into Fergie who headlines a Saturday bill that also features local desert-punk legends the Meat Puppets. Friday’s lineup also features Puddle of Mudd Billy Talent Dear and the Headlights the Summer Set Dorsey Nonpoint and Peachcake while Saturday’s lineup promises the Gin Blossoms Cowboy Mouth Eve 6 Seconds to Breathe the Loveblisters Drew Alexander Jeds a Millionaire and What Laura Says Thinks and Feels… 480-970-3378 tempemusicfestival. TOKYO POLICE CLUBThere are parts of Cheer It On the lead-off track on Tokyo Police Club’s A Lesson in Crime that could just about pass for the single the Strokes have been needing to write since Is This It? – except the Strokes would never let themselves sound this excited to be making music. There’s a lust for life at work on 2006’s glorious 16-minute debut and they’re finally ready to follow it up on April 22 with a proper full-length effort. Saturday March 29 with Eagle Seagull and We Barbarians.