First, listen:
Now, some background on how I happened upon them:
I happened upon Chin Xaou Ti Won, when they opened for Tanlines at Rudyard's this past November.
I thought Chin Xaou Ti Won's music was much for interesting and fascinating!
I was even more thrilled (and shocked) when I found out they were from Houston.
Like I always say, you should always go listen to the opening band(s)!
I can't wait to see their gig at Fitzgerald's on January 31, 2013. More details here.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Listen: New Release From Grouper
Gorilla vs. Bear shared this latest song from the upcoming Grouper album of unreleased material on Blog Radio on XM U this past noon hour and I found it via kranky on Soundcloud. I love new music and this is a nice mellow, ambient tune to listen to as I focus into the next few hours of the work day.
Grouper's, the man who died in his boat, album will be released on 2/4/13. Read more on the album here.
Love it? Download it via self-titled mag and share it with the world.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
To Do In Houston This Wknd - Visual Art, Dance, Music
Oh, heck, yes!!! It is almost the weekend. Technically, only the second weekend of the new year. Does it not feel like the year has been longer? I totally mean that in a good way...I hope.
Houston has a lot going on and I cannot wait for the following three things this weekend:
Friday, January 11, 2012
Art Opening: Mie Olise - Crystal Bites of Dust
Barbara Davis Gallery
Artist reception: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
$Free
I first encountered Danish artist, Mie Olise's work during a 2010 exhibition, Mie Olise: A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks - Departure, at Barbara Davis Gallery. The landscape of paintings and installations were breathtaking and the whole exhibition drew upon being in a similar state of desire of departure of leaving it all behind all that you know in search of a world better than the one you left. A world, at the time, that I wanted to be in.
This new body of work focuses on a particular part of Brooklyn. Brooklyn, as a whole, is a current love of mine. Check out Mie Olise's blog for more words from the artist. It can't come from a better place than there.
The exhibition runs through March 9, 2013. Barbara Davis Gallery is at 4411 Montrose. barbaradavisgallery.com.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Dance Performance: Stephen Petronio Dance Company - Underland
*Special Offer for Young Professionals below
*Special Offer for Young Professionals below
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center
8 p.m.
I love SPA. I love the variety & quality they bring to the art scene of Houston.
Other things I know: I love dance, fun costumes and music.
What I don't know: whom Stephen Petronio is (although I'm about to find out through research) and whether or not I will like his dance.
Being in a world where emails come whipping past you like a deluge of hard rain, I do hope that SPA is also promoting and reaching out to audiences with the fact that the ballet is inspired by the bittersweet songs of pop balladeer Nick Cave.
I'm not sure what that totally means but you had me at NICK CAVE. Yes, the Nick Cave that just had a third night go on sale at the Beacon Theatre. Yes, the Nick Cave of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
If I had seen that first, I wouldn't have cared who was on the stage. OK, not really, BUT, it definitely helps sell it to me than with someone I don't know.
Oh, and Adult Content helps, too. Get tickets at http://spahouston.org.
>> Young Professionals can join SPA, Houston Young People for the Arts and Houston Ballet Barre for a night of adult merriment and culture. Get more info here.
>> Young Professionals can join SPA, Houston Young People for the Arts and Houston Ballet Barre for a night of adult merriment and culture. Get more info here.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Music: DJ Jonathan Toubin and New York Night Train Soul Clap and Dance Off
Fitzgerald's, 8 pm
$9
If you love Houston's monthly Fistful of Soul, then meet your maker. Yes, FoS, DJ Jonathan Toubin (originally from Houston, heyyy) is your father and he brings his incredibly popular Soul Clap and Dance Off to Houston for one-night-only.
Let him take you back to feeling like you're going back in time when all music was really good. He's armed with 45s of songs you've never heard but you'll wish you had.
You're only going to be able to hear it here. Plus, enter the dance off and win $100 at midnight.
I made it to the finals in Austin a few months ago. Think you have what it takes? Bring it to the dance floor.
Get the Clap! The SOUL CLAP! Jonathan Toubin's FREE New York Night Train SOUL CLAP CLASSICS VOL. 1 mix (http://soundcloud.com/nynt/01-soul-clap-classics-1-wav).
Monday, January 7, 2013
Have you heard these?
I missed the mark on favourite albums for 2012 before the year ended but it's not too late to do a little revisiting, is it?
The prerequisites for this list were a) that I could listen to the entire album and love it all. Every.single.song. More points for seamless transitions.
That's it. And, granted, I probably have a few more to listen to but those are the listed at the bottom.
It's rare to find an album that you can listen to all the way through and be able to go back again to it nearly a year later (i.e. this past weekend) and fall in love with it all over again. These made the top 3 of 2012. Comment below if you have ones of your own to share.
In particular order, top 3 albums for 2012. If you have an addition, add it to the comments!
#1. Kishi Bashi, 151a
I first heard about Kishi Bashi via NPR's All Things Considered in February 2012 and immediately fell in love with 'Bright Whites'. I didn't really know anyone could write such good, pop music. I was able to drag a friend of mine to his gig when we had about 3 other commitments that evening and it was one of the best gigs I went to EVER.
Imagine how you feel at the beginning of a new love relationship and that's how I feel about this album. Love (heck, why not life?) should feel like a Kishi Bashi song. Whimsical sounds and musical joy exuding everywhere. I didn't even realize that the album had re-started after the last track but I didn't care. It was like listening to it for the first time all over again.
Kishi Bashi returns to Fitzgerald's on March 8. I highly suggest you get your tickets. And, get the album, of course!
Download the Manchester mp3 for free at kishibashi.com.
2. Lower Dens, Nootropics
Somehow I came upon the video for Brains. Once I got beyond the video and digged more into this band, I was curious of her musical past in Houston and feel badly for not making it to a gig when she was a solo artist in Houston. Needless to say, I'm so happy she continued to pursue music especially with the lineup right now.
They say this is a great album to drive long distances to...or in my case, listen to whilst drinking an entire bottle of wine whilst gazing at the cracks in the 25-foot cement ceiling caused by 100+ years of existence. I was an advocate for this album to many people and it was the first band in maybe 15 years that I really jarred me in a good way. The last time I felt that way was with The Cure.
And, you know what happened with that. (If you don't, I started an international fan club for them and ran it for about 5 years).
Don't worry, I won't be starting a fan club for Lower Dens. I am excited to see them play live again (probably my 2nd favourite gig this year) and see what comes next.
Buy Nootropics here.
3. Exitmusic, Passage
NPR agrees with me on this one.
Little did I know that when I went to see School of Seven Bells that I would end up entranced with the opening band and leave during the middle of the set for the headliner. Sorry, it was a school night.
This emotional set had reverberating vocals of Aleksa Palladino combined with a perfectly intense percussion set. You could feel those drums and the rawness of her voice all at the same time creating a lush, haunting cacophony.
I always say to not miss the opening bands. They truly are like a box of chocolates but so far, each one has been devoid of those gross orange flavours nestled between cheap milk chocolate. They've been creamy truffles.
Honorable Mentions: Tennis, Beach House, Grizzly Bear.
Check 'em out if you haven't yet.
These are some I still need to sit down and listen to all the way through but definitely have a wealth of good ditties: Alabama Shakes, Alt-J, Cat Power, Dirty Projectors, Sharon Van Etten, Tame Impala, Ty Segall.
On it!
The prerequisites for this list were a) that I could listen to the entire album and love it all. Every.single.song. More points for seamless transitions.
That's it. And, granted, I probably have a few more to listen to but those are the listed at the bottom.
It's rare to find an album that you can listen to all the way through and be able to go back again to it nearly a year later (i.e. this past weekend) and fall in love with it all over again. These made the top 3 of 2012. Comment below if you have ones of your own to share.
In particular order, top 3 albums for 2012. If you have an addition, add it to the comments!
#1. Kishi Bashi, 151a
I first heard about Kishi Bashi via NPR's All Things Considered in February 2012 and immediately fell in love with 'Bright Whites'. I didn't really know anyone could write such good, pop music. I was able to drag a friend of mine to his gig when we had about 3 other commitments that evening and it was one of the best gigs I went to EVER.
Imagine how you feel at the beginning of a new love relationship and that's how I feel about this album. Love (heck, why not life?) should feel like a Kishi Bashi song. Whimsical sounds and musical joy exuding everywhere. I didn't even realize that the album had re-started after the last track but I didn't care. It was like listening to it for the first time all over again.
Kishi Bashi returns to Fitzgerald's on March 8. I highly suggest you get your tickets. And, get the album, of course!
Download the Manchester mp3 for free at kishibashi.com.
2. Lower Dens, Nootropics
Somehow I came upon the video for Brains. Once I got beyond the video and digged more into this band, I was curious of her musical past in Houston and feel badly for not making it to a gig when she was a solo artist in Houston. Needless to say, I'm so happy she continued to pursue music especially with the lineup right now.
They say this is a great album to drive long distances to...or in my case, listen to whilst drinking an entire bottle of wine whilst gazing at the cracks in the 25-foot cement ceiling caused by 100+ years of existence. I was an advocate for this album to many people and it was the first band in maybe 15 years that I really jarred me in a good way. The last time I felt that way was with The Cure.
And, you know what happened with that. (If you don't, I started an international fan club for them and ran it for about 5 years).
Don't worry, I won't be starting a fan club for Lower Dens. I am excited to see them play live again (probably my 2nd favourite gig this year) and see what comes next.
Buy Nootropics here.
3. Exitmusic, Passage
NPR agrees with me on this one.
Little did I know that when I went to see School of Seven Bells that I would end up entranced with the opening band and leave during the middle of the set for the headliner. Sorry, it was a school night.
This emotional set had reverberating vocals of Aleksa Palladino combined with a perfectly intense percussion set. You could feel those drums and the rawness of her voice all at the same time creating a lush, haunting cacophony.
I always say to not miss the opening bands. They truly are like a box of chocolates but so far, each one has been devoid of those gross orange flavours nestled between cheap milk chocolate. They've been creamy truffles.
Honorable Mentions: Tennis, Beach House, Grizzly Bear.
Check 'em out if you haven't yet.
These are some I still need to sit down and listen to all the way through but definitely have a wealth of good ditties: Alabama Shakes, Alt-J, Cat Power, Dirty Projectors, Sharon Van Etten, Tame Impala, Ty Segall.
On it!
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