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March 10, 2006
Shorties
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reviews past buzz band SXSW experiences.
Who: Kaiser Chiefs
Year: 2005
SXSW Buzz Factor: 9. The line to get into this showcase stretched to Houston.
Background: English quintet, named after a South African football team, which almost made 1977 cool again with the memorable retro punk anthem I Predict a Riot, a big hit in the U.K. Enough momentum came out of England to push some U.S. modern-rock stations to add the track.
Hot or Hype?: Hype. It's better to have one good song than none at all. But it's even better to have two, or maybe even a few. That's something the Chiefs seem to have forgotten.
The Chicago Sun Times interviews Carl Newman of the New Pornographers.
Q. "Twin Cinema" has been the New Pornographers' most successful album. Was there a feeling in the studio that you'd done something special?
A. I felt that way about the first two records, but in the end, I was kind of unhappy with them. But I felt with this one that it finally came out the way I wanted it to. I was worried that I would become one of those deluded people who thought their worst album was their best album! [Laughs]
The Chicago Tribune previews the city's summer music festivals.
Dose gets music blog recommendations from Scott Lapatine, Byron Crawford, and Simon Reynolds.
David Nunez offers the "unofficial (last-minute) geek guide to SXSW-Interactive 2006."
Stream Wednesday night's Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Washington show, courtesy of NPR.
The Bat Segundo Show returns with two podcasts, episode #23 features authors Dan Wickett and Kristin Allio, and #24 has author Liz Perle.
Pinback announced a spring US tour:
April 20: Santa Barbara, Calif. (the Hub)
April 21: San Francisco (Bimbo's 365)
April 22: Portland, Ore. (Berbati's Pan)
April 23: Seattle (Showbox)
April 24: Vancouver (Plaza Club)
April 25: Moscow, Idaho (Sub Ballroom)
April 28: Denver (Bluebird Theatre)
April 29: Lawrence, Kan. (Granada Theatre)
April 30: Chicago (Logan Square Auditorium)
May 2: Newport, Ky. (Southgate House)
May 3: Detroit (Magic Stick)
May 4: Toronto (Lee's Palace)
May 5: Montreal (Plaza St. Hubert)
May 6: Boston (Paradise)
May 7: Burlington, Vt. (Higher Ground)
May 9: Brooklyn, N.Y. (North Six)
May 10: New York (Irving Plaza)
May 12: Washington, D.C. (Black Cat)
May 13: Carrboro, N.C. (Cat's Cradle)
Chan Marshall talks to the Independent about her album, The Greatest.
"When this record was mastered, the guy said, 'This won't go on the radio because it's not going to be loud enough for the signal on the compact disc'. So I had to get it remastered. It still won't be played on the radio, but now it sounds like it's supposed to - because I pushed everything up, made everything loud, made it sound like - an advertisement, or something? That's the energy, the noise that the music industry's created, like we're all pushing towards the future. It has to fit in with the programme, you know?"
Synthesis interviews Isobel Campbell about her album with Mark Lanegan, Ballad of the Broken Seas.
Do you think that affected the final product, working over such a long distance?
No—I’ve thought about this because I’ve been interviewed a few times, but I think that it helped really. I think it sounds like we’re both in the same room anyway, but because of the emotions I wanted to express in this album, it kind of works. Also, I think in a way, because I couldn’t say that he’s like my best buddy, or that he’s like a brother, or something like that, it was like, we don’t know each other so well, but it’s a quite personal record, so the distance was maybe easier for both of us to sing about personal things.
British Footballer Wayne Rooney has signed a 5 million pound advance for a five volume autobiography spaced out over twelve years (keep in mind that Rooney wil only be 20 years old when the first volume appear).
MAKE: Blog offers poster screen printing instructions.
The finalists for the 2006 Blooker Prize (books based on blogs) have been named.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has added three reader blogs, including a music blog, Ear Candy.
The longlist for the 2006 Aventis prize (best UK science book) has been announced.
Drowned in Sound lists must-see SXSW bands.
Depravedfangirls.org offers their unique guide to SXSW 2006.
How to handle not being able to see every band you want to see: If you're a seasoned SXSW attendee, you're already aware that plan B, C, and possibly D, and maybe even E or F is needed for any evening, even if you have a badge. Do not get your heart set any showcase. If there is a band you absolutely must see, try to catch them at a day show or off-festival evening party. For information on who, when, and where, check Showlist, donewaiting.com, or Oh My Rockness!.
