Bootleg Series: Radiohead @ Bonnaroo 2006

Sometime next week Bonnaroo will announce their 2013 lineup and I thought it was a perfect time to post another show in my ongoing bootleg series. If you recall in July I posted about the five year anniversary of The White Stripes at Madison Square Garden. This time around I want to talk about a truly legendary Radiohead concert. Many Radiohead bootleg completists argue that this is the best show they have ever done. The year was 2006, their classic in the making In Rainbows hadn't been released yet, in fact this was the debut for most of their new material. They were so excited to play the In Rainbows songs that they brought out a few rarely played songs to round out their setlist, making it truly special. Radiohead were about to turn the music industry on its head with the unique pay-what-you-want system for In Rainbows. What makes this bootleg even more special is it's a soundboard recording that was leaked by Radiohead's own sound-engineer making for a tremendous quality of recording. This is a new essential for any Radiohead fan. Listen to a sample track and if you're craving more I have uploaded both parts of the concert below.




Download via Megaupload
Radiohead live at Bonnaroo 2006 Part 1
Radiohead live at Bonnaroo 2006 Part 2

Mischmasch: January 2013

 Drawing by Lewis Carroll

In a better effort to integrate Spotify into ST&SP I present the new monthly series called Mischmasch. Mischmasch was the name of a periodical that Lewis Carroll once wrote where he introduced sketches and ideas that would later become Through The Looking Glass. It's also German for a disorderly mix of things. I thought it was an appropriate title because that is exactly what this playlist is going to be. A once a month post of everything I've been listening to that previous month. There won't be any rhyme or reason, but hopefully you'll discover something new that you enjoy. Please SUBSCRIBE to the playlist on Spotify that way every month you'll be alerted that the playlist has been updated.

A Few Tracks of Note. 

The Clash - Overpowered by Funk

I made a promise to myself this year that I would finally get around to listening to some classic bands and albums that I never have given a listen to. The Clash were on top of my list. I'm still getting used to them but I really was taken by this song off of Combat Rock. I love it when punk meets new-wave. This song has a very Talking Heads 80s feel to it, a very infectious groove. 

The Smiths - Shakespeare's Sister

For the longest time I hated Morrissey. I hadn't even listened to much of The Smiths but I just remembered growing up reading about his tantrums and always thinking he was an asshole. I have really been digging The Smiths discography, mainly for Johnny Marr. That guy can skate through a guitar riff like he's an Olympic skater. I still think Morrissey is a prick but at least I now know how well The Smiths could groove. 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Up Jumped The Devil

Never really gave Nick Cave a listen though I have always respected the idea of him. He is one of the last sort of mythic figures in rock music. These days the only way to make it is to be constantly engaging your fanbase through social media or what not. Cave appears through the ether once and awhile and drops murder ballads and other sort of sinister acts. He's like Tom Waits meets the wild west. Some of his stuff can be schmaltzy but for the most part I think he's brilliant. Expect more Nick Cave posts as the year goes on. 

Yo La Tengo - Ohm

The first great new record of the new year has to be Yo La Tengo's Fade. It's one of their shortest records but it's very well put together and sounds like a culmination of everything they have done for the past decade. Yo La Tengo has been the most surefooted band in indie rock for a long time now and here's hoping that will stay for a long time to come. 

The Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant

I always find that I listen to harsher sounding music during the winter season. This winter has been dominated by classic punk hence The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, Misfits and Iggy Pop. I have never listened to Nevermind The Bullocks before this and I can easily see why it's regarded as a classic. For the time I'm sure it seemed like such a punk anarchistic statement. 

Cheap Trick - Dream Police 

Why this was the first song I listened to in 2013 is beyond me. I feel bad for Cheap Trick I feel like they get lumped in with all the other bands who made their heyday in the 70s and are still trucking today. I always saw them as a punk-ELO. Most people know them for "I Want You To Want Me" or "Surrender" but I always felt like there was a lot more to Cheap Trick than what is generally perceived. I hope the general public rediscovers them one of these days. 

Donald Fagen - Out of the Ghetto

One of my many overlooked records of 2012 was the new solo record from Steely Dan's own Donald Fagen. "Out of the Ghetto" is the album highlight for me. It shows Fagen still is making the same jazzy-funk that has made Steely Dan a success. 

Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z - Suit & Tie

Yeah, I'm talking about the new Justin Timberlake. If you don't like it, eat a dick hipsters. There are a lot of pop stars out there but only a few pop titans. Timberlake is one of them. He takes his time with his music. He's only released two records and in 2013 he'll drop number three. I'm sure it'll be a great and it'll get a ton of radioplay and deservedly so. The man knows how to make catchy music. "Suit & Tie" has multiple sections and layers to it which I think shows his growth and maturity as an artist. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album. 

Enjoy the Mischmasch and please subscribe!

ST&SP The Formative Years Pt. 3: College & Beyond

Awhile ago I made the announcement that this site would no longer be a weekly update on current musical trends and instead turn to more introspective periodicals. This week I continue to deliver that promise with a three part introspective about the music that shaped my life through key stages of growing up starting with "Elementary School-Middle School" through "High School" and ending with "College and Beyond." Today we conclude with Part Three: College & Beyond. 

                                                                             Loyola Marymount University

I think part of the reason why I never really got into techno was that I already had LCD Soundsystem in my life, and they made my feet move more than any dubstep artist ever could. To me they are the ultimate dance band, ever. I started listening to them in high school, I remember listening to LCD Soundsystem with my dad as we were driving through a blizzard in Montana. For some reason the mix of James Murphy's infectious grooves and the fact that we couldn't see ten feet in front of us created such a vivid and exhilarating experience in my head. However, it was not until recently when I look back and see how much they dominated my college years. I saw them three times during college, more than I saw any other artist during those years. I saw them upstage Arcade Fire at The Hollywood Bowl, I saw them get the vast Empire Polo Fields to shake ass during Coachella and I saw them lastly at The Hollywood Palladium where they absolutely burnt the motherfucker to the ground. LCD are a band that humbly takes all the influence from their predecessors and channel it into something brand new and exciting. By the time LCD Soundsystem broke up they were immensely popular, even headlining Madison Square Garden for their now historic four hour long farewell. It was such a joy to follow them from their humble beginnings to where they ended up. Mark my words, LCD Soundsystem will be seen as one of the most influential bands that were active during the '00s.

Is this really a surprise to anyone? Arguably the most important rock band for more than a decade, I hold a high esteem for Radiohead. They are able to shed their skin and present a varied sound with each LP all while maintaining a familiar aesthetic. If you were to look at my Last.fm charts you would notice that I listen to Radiohead a few hundred plays less than The White Stripes. I listened to them during High School as well but not with the same frequency as I did during college. I remember buying In Rainbows for a cent off of their website thinking how wonderful it was and how big of a "fuck you" it was to record labels.

I saw Modest Mouse open for R.E.M at The Hollywood Bowl a few years ago and I thought they sucked. Sure seeing Johnny Marr was fun but they lacked any sort of stage presence or fire about their performance. I hadn't listened to much of them before than other than their hits like "Float On" and "Dashboard." However, something happened I decided to give them another shot and gave their discography another try. I still have Lonesome Crowded West in my car and can say with confidence it's one of my top ten favorite records. Something about Modest Mouse clicked for me in college that hadn't in previous attempts. I couldn't get enough of their raw erratic take on rock. Issac Brock's voice is like a rat under duress and I wouldn't want it any other way. Since then I haven't been able to go a few weeks without listening to Good News For People Who Love Bad News, The Moon & Antartica, Lonesome Crowded West, or We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. 

Wilco is a group that my younger self would have slapped me for liking. Their mid-tempo "dad" rock is definitely for a more mature audience. However, that's what I love about Wilco. They have been through a lot as a band, through breakups and even death yet they still manage to record some of the most beautiful folk-rock around. Tweedy is an extremely gifted songwriter and he pairs quite well with guitar virtuoso Nels Cline. They also put on quite a solid show and I was fortunate to see them a few times during college. They know how to kick out the jams occasionally, check out "Art of Almost" and "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" for examples of that. However, I appreciate Wilco for the mix of different kinds of songs they manage to put together. Any Wilco record will do, but I highly recommend Being There as a prime example of their range.

My Morning Jacket is another band that I couldn't get into during high school yet has grown into being one of my current favorite bands during college. People who get to witness Jim James' voice in person tend to have an out of body experience. His voice is a chameleon, it can be the sweetest falsetto that quickly becomes a banshee's scream. I have enjoyed all of their releases although At Dawn is easily my favorite, especially the title track.

Dr. Dog are a group that slowly grew on me and now Shame Shame is one of my most heavily rotated records. They just know how to create a really good hook, they remind me of The Beatles in that regard. They harmonize very well and can craft a memorable song. All of their records are immediately accessible and are great for singing. That is one element I don't feel enough critics give enough credence to, the ability to make a song that makes someone else want to sing along to is an incredibly hard yet rewarding thing to accomplish, and Dr. Dog make it look easy.

The Magnetic Fields helped me get through a really rough breakup. I feel like we all tend to lean on music during rough times, and Stephin Merritt was my buddy during that time. I recommend 69 Love Songs for anyone. It's really a huge achievement for a songwriter to write an a triple album about one topic. Yet Merritt did and showed the vast and wide varieties of love. The highs, the lows, the little insignificant things "Papa Was A Rodeo" and even big picture ideas like "Grand Canyon." I can't thank The Magnetic Fields enough and next time they're in town I will be front and center.

Sufjan Stevens was the soundtrack to my summers during my college years. During roadtrips home Illinois would be playing with the windows down through the California desert. I regrettably haven't listened to any of his other stuff that often because that one record is so important to me. There was a study done once that showed people who listened to Sufjan Stevens were the smartest music listeners. It's no surprise to me, his orchestral chamber-pop is so complicated and takes the listener down so many different paths that it really takes a dedicated listener to really enjoy him. That being said "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." is the most hauntingly beautiful song I have ever heard.

It seems as I look back that there has always been one stand out hip-hop artist that defined certain periods of my life. Elementary school it was Eminem, high school the Beastie Boys and college it was without a doubt Hova. Jay-Z is the Elvis of our generation like it or not. What I love most about him is his confidence as a performer. He knows he's the best and doesn't have to do a goddamn thing except keep on being himself. He was the most electrifying performer when I was at Coachella. However the one memory I will never forget is going for an early morning jog in New York City listening to Jay-Z, it just felt so right.

I unfortunately just missed Sleater-Kinney when I first began to listen to them. I have a vivid moment of hearing "The Fox" on the radio for the first time and stopping in my tracks. These three ladies from Portland created some of the feistiest rock I have ever heard. They are in my mind the best of the feminist Riot Grrrl scene that started in the 90s and has continued today most notably with Pussy Riot in Russia. I also have a mad crush on Carrie Brownstein. She is in my mind the perfect woman. She's not only one of the best guitarists alive (go see a Wild Flag concert and prove me wrong) but she's also one of the funniest, as a main cast member of Portlandia. In fact it wasn't until Sleater-Kinney went on their indefinite hiatus for Brownstein to come out of her shell as a well known individual artist. So on one hand I'm sad they're not around, but if they hadn't broken up I probably would have never found my one true love.

Fugazi are a 90s D.C. punk band that I completely missed until my college years. They are now my favorite punk band. Their music isn't necessarily the fastest of their brethren but in my mind they are the most intense and formidable band of that era. They just did it right. They would rather play in high school gymnasiums or in some basement and charge their fans $8 rather than some big concert hall that costs an arm and a leg. Fugazi hasn't done anything for about a decade but they still say they are together. Here's hoping they come roaring back to life soon.

There's a bar on the outskirts of Culver City in Los Angeles called the Cinema Bar that I used to go to during college. It was a completely unpretentious place, a diamond in the rough of all the douche bars in Los Angeles. It's a total dive filled with nightly regulars that pile in to drink and listen to some of the best live music around. At that time I was already a bluegrass fan, but hadn't yet given Country-Western a try. This bar is what won me over to the genre. Country is like every genre, the shit artists float on the top while the really good stuff seems to be at the bottom of the barrel. There are some great country and southern rock artists out there today, you just have to dig a little deeper. The one band that has been pointing the light in the right direction for quite some time now is Drive-by Truckers. These guys have been steadily on the road since the early 90s. They are the ultimate bar band, and some even say they are the saviors of the entire southern rock genre. I have never been to the south, though I desperately want to so Drive-by Truckers are sort of like a window for me to see into that world.

I say "College & Beyond" because I'm still actively seeking out new music even after college. Case in point, Ty Segall. If you haven't heard of Ty Segall this year you've been living under a rock. He is the poster boy of the San Francisco slime-garage rock scene. This year he's released three albums and has done two world tours. The guy is a machine that churns out some of the most exciting rock I have heard in a long time. I'm seeing him in December and cannot wait.

Finally, we come to Reggie Watts. Whenever someone asks me for new music recommendations he is at the top of my list. I respect him on so many levels, as a musician, as a comedian and as an improviser. He improvises all of his songs! He loops his own beatboxing as percussion and uses occasional keyboards for added effect. The man is able to improvise on a whim better pop hooks than most pop bands can make. In my mind he is the most creative, innovative and inspiring artist currently working today and it's baffling why he isn't a household name. Listening to him doesn't do the man justice. You have to see to believe.


So this concludes this trip down memory lane. It's always fun to look back and see how far you've come as a person and I believe music is a good way of staying connected to one's past. Still, the main question I have is, what was the music of the day that you listened to when you were in College?

Below is a Spotify playlist where you can listen to all of these songs uninterrupted.

CLICK HERE FOR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Who Should Play The Super Bowl

(I had typed this all out, but a formatting error rendered it useless, tired, I present to you a much more stripped down version of the post)

In conjunction with my previous post about the lackluster performance by The Who, I present to you a list of ten artists that I believe would put on a rewarding show at The Super Bowl. There are some giants that I left off this list (Dave Matthews Band) on purpose simply because their sound wouldn't work in the atmosphere of The Super Bowl. The fact is, there aren't many classic artists left that are still performing at the top of their game. Sooner or later the half-time show committee is going to have to take a chance and give the spotlight to younger juggernauts.

1) Foo Fighters

Having witnessed the sheer power of a Foo Fighters concert, I can attest that this band would be perfect for The Super Bowl. These guys give it their all every single time they perform. They're loud and raucous enough to have every head in the room banging, while at the same time can play sing song-y sweet songs, "Everlong" is the kind of song where you can pumps your fist  and hold your girl at the same time. What really sold the Foos as a stadium juggernaut was during their performance at Wembley Stadium in London during the Live Earth concert series in 2007. Dave Grohl had every single person in attendance in the palm of his hand. I am thoroughly convinced that they have enough recognizable hits to create a stellar Super Bowl half-time performance. Take that chance Super Bowl people and you will be rewarded!

Judge for yourself:

2) Metallica

3) Neil Young

4) Pearl Jam

5) Jay-Z

6) Muse

7) Paul McCartney

8) Kings of Leon

9) Radiohead

10) Justin Timberlake