None of us should have an excuse good enough to be anywhere other than the Silent Movie Theater on Tuesday night.
Of course, if you are say working, in the hospital, not currently residing in Los Angeles, or have any other valid excuse for not being able to attend the live premiere of Dublab's new project VisionVersion PLEASE be sure to check it out here!
The first three artists featured on the site will be Ariel Pink, WHY?, and Tom Brosseau. Stay tuned for updates on the next round of artists.
I know everyone involved with Team Dublab has been working non-stop to make sure that this project comes together smashingly, and all of the artists and filmmakers have really outdone themselves. Please do give it a look either virtually or in person.
For those who do want to see it in person, all of the details are listed below:
TUESDAY, August 5th
dublab presents the premiere of....VisionVersion
VisionVersion is a new film project from the far-out minds at dublab.com. We're focused on sharing elevated music moments through motion picture magic. Our collective of wide-eyed directors are filming amazing artists performing live in exciting locations around Los Angeles.
We're excited to unveil these creative efforts for the first time at Cinefamily. To make this special screening even more memorable we'll be filming a live VisionVersion episode with the always amazing HECUBA immediately following the films. They will be accompanied by far-out film projections from Chandler McWilliams. This will be an incredible VisionVersion within a VisionVersion!
doors & cocktails: 8pm vision version films: 8:30pm free cocktail intermission courtesy of Bacardi & IZZE: 9:30pm HECUBA live performance: 10pm dublab djs: 10:30-Midnight
$13 general or $9 members / ALL AGES
Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre 611 N Fairfax Avenue Los Angeles, 90036 323.655.2510
Last night was FUN. This morning at Dublab was FUN. It's probably due to this extraordinarily high level of fun that I am just getting around to writing a re-cap post at 10pm tonight. Every band played to the height of their ability. Well, I'm guessing, it was my first time seeing three out of the four bands that played last night. Still, everyone sounded pretty great.
It was certainly one of those nights where I stood and watched the performances taking place, and thought something along the lines of, "I can't believe I get to be a part of something this exciting." AND Squaregirl Kristen deserves so much credit, I don't even know where to begin. She rallied with turntables and her mixer at around 8:15 last night. It should be noted that doors for this particular show were at eight. Therefore, we had an insanely fun dance party that was ONLY possible because of her.
Then BOAT did a session for Dublab this morning. Since I kind of helped to set it up, I went over to the station to watch and was drafted into backing vocals, tambourine handclaps, and SLEIGH BELLS. I've always adored sleigh bells, and have secretly dreamed of playing along with someone's band so... maybe the highlight of my year so far?
We'll see how the rest of it unfolds.
I will link to that session here as soon as it appears in the Dubstream.
Brian and Yvonne of Tartans fame have a set in there right now though so you should go listen to it. Because it's great.
Speaking of the Tartans, and things that I have promised to post here once I saw that they were online, here they are performing "Lee Remick" with Phil Wilson at the Summershine Popfest a couple of weekends ago.
AND
Phil Wilson, and Frank Sweeny performing "Every Conversation" because it is simply one of the most wonderful pop songs that I know.
Enjoy!
I'll leave you with this thought. Probably on my mind because it pertains to my next column for Web In Front. I was listening to the Orchids while on a walk this past weekend. I was listening more intently than usual to the song "Apologies." It's my favorite Orchids song, and I know the lyrics pretty well so I don't tend to pay all that much attention to them anymore. However, the line that has always been my favorite in that song for some reason struck me with a new sense of freshness on this most recent listen.
"You're just a lover, a timetable friend."
Wow. I've never been in love, but I've seen many a friendship slowly dissolve due to the involvement of romantic feelings. Clever Scots...
Hey! Us Squaregirls are presenting a show tonight, and we would really love to see all of you there.
BOAT are in town all the way from Seattle, and I hear that they are ready to rock. I've also heard from a very reliable source that they always deliver on this promise. Speaking of good reports from reliable sources, I can't imagine that so many smart local bloggers could be wrong about how good the live show of Pizza! is. The Tartans are also playing this one. I think that I am out of descriptive words for how much I adore the Tartans, and you're probably all sick of hearing me go on about them anyway so please just come out tonight and watch the show!
There will of course be a dance party involved, before, after, and in between sets from each band. Not just us, but from a few of the fine folks from Club Substance will be spinning as well. These guys are some of the best DJs that I know, and if you visit their Myspace page you get the added bonus of hearing the undeniably fabulous Bodines song "Therese."
The latest installment of the Happy Happy Birthday singles club appeared in my mailbox last week. It's funny how sometimes something will arrive, and you will manage to wait to listen to it until the exact moment that you need to hear it. I listened to Tullycraft's rendition of "On Tape" just before I left the West side about four hours later than I was planning to, and just after I had learned that poor Kristen was stuck at work and would not be able to help me DJ My Little Underground. Incidentally this was also the exact moment that I had given up on trying to complete a fanzine article in a way that made any kind of sense. As you might imagine I was a bit stressed at that point. From the second that I heard the snappily drummed intro, and the words "I've got Long Vermont Roads (Long Vermont Roads, Long Vermont Roads) the original Harriett version..." filled the room that I was in I was too busy grinning from ear to ear to be worried about that night's show. I've always thought of Tullycraft and the Pooh Sticks as bands that are similar in their ability to make ultra-obscure references sound charming and relate-able as opposed to pretentious. Check out the original "On Tape," and Tullycraft's "Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid Too Know About" for the ultimate examples of this. Though the original version of "On Tape" might be poking good natured fun at record geeks like... um me, it doesn't matter. In fact that is a huge part of what makes it so great. After all, it's having an actual appreciation of the thing that you are kind of skewering that tends to yield the most humorous results. And at any rate, both versions of the song are pop heaven. Tullycraft's cover may not quite compare to the original. In all fairness though, it would be nearly impossible to top those anxious, jangling guitars leading into "I've got Falling and Laughing (Falling and Laughing, Falling and Laughing) the original Postcard version..." Their update on both lyrics and arrangement was a very clever route to take. Of course the best part may very well be the googling that I was led into by Tullycraft's version. Googling obscure references in Tullycraft songs is somewhere on my top ten list of favorite pass-times, and this one provided a good twenty minutes or so of that.
I'm fairly certain that the only way to own this song is to have pre-ordered the Happy Happy Birthday to Me singles club last year. Maybe just maybe it will find it's way onto Tullycraft's myspace page in the future. With any luck at all a picture of the fantastic cover art will show up there as well. If I notice that either of these things have happened, believe me, you'll be among the first to know.
Gosh, I hope that everyone's 4th of July Weekend was as great as mine was and that you are all still just as exhausted as I am by 11 AM on Tuesday. I still can't get past the fact that I spent both weekend nights watching Phil Wilson perform "Sunday to Saturday," "Every Conversation," "This Town," "In the Rain..."
Everything really. The sound was incredible, and the level of enthusiasm from both Phil, and violinist Frank Sweeney was thoroughly endearing. The pre-recorded backing tracks that were used for most of the songs were quite impressive. Though the addition of full band support from the Tartans on Saturday, and the Tyde on Sunday for the last two songs of each night did provide a nice touch. Both bands helped out with "Lee Remick" and "In the Rain" in case you were wondering.
It should also be noted that Phil Wilson is maybe one of the nicest people that I've ever met. He insisted upon hugs from all the attending members of the Tartans and Summershine fest organizer/YAY! label founder Eric Bello as we all left the Echo on Sunday night. I'm fairly certain that he couldn't quite figure out exactly what my relationship was to that group, or what my role was in the proceedings of the previous day's show. He gave me a hug goodbye anyway.
His lovely wife was taking video the entire time so as soon as those videos make their way onto YouTube, I will most certainly post a few here.
Alright, time to leave the fantastic ultra-indiepop saturated weekend in the past and move onto the next event.
Both Squaregirls are DJ-ing this thing tonight:
I know that both Web in Front, and Classical Geek Theater have worked really hard to make sure that you will see a great show tonight. We're happy to be along for the ride, and since it's called "My Little Underground" it's pretty safe to say that one of us will have to play that song at some point tonight...
I REALLY should have been running a countdown to this weekend, a real one that is, published here...
Of course, the countdown in my mind has been going on for longer than I can remember.
How the two have not yet been able to coincide is completely beyond me.
Here it is now though. If you have been wondering just exactly you will recover from all of your various 4th of July festivities then you really need to look no furtherthan the flier above for Ventura County's Summershine Pop Fest. Replace that ringing in your ears left by the pretty fire works with the far prettier ringing that can only be brought about by exuberant sounding popmusic.
First, foremost, and the thing that should provide all of the incentive that you need to make a drive of any lenghth: PHIL WILSON is playing this show along with two other original members of the June Brides. Violinist Frank Sweeny, and trumpet player Jon Hunter in case you were wondering. Yes, that's right, Phil Wilson with the original voilinist, and original trumpet player of the June Brides! I could go on and on about the importance of the June Brides in the history of jangle pop, and how key they were in establishing the sound that would come to be known as "C-86," but videos explain this concept far more clearly. Please pay close attention to exactly how good the trumpet work is on this song!
Of course there are many more bands as well as several DJs involved with this lovely event, and the YAY! label (which had a MAJOR part in putting this whole thing together) has listed and explained each band in a far more concise manner than I ever could:
"MARIA: YAY! Records flagship band. The group is currently working on material for a debut full-length album.
APPLE ORCHARD: Originally from the Philippines the groups has released tracks on comilations as well as eps on Humblebee Recordings and Cloudberry Records. A full-length album was released 2008 on Haymarket Recordings.
TALL TALES: Fronted by Franklin For Short bassist Trevor Beld, they have an album on Beehouse Records as well as a new ep, The Earthling.
THE TARTANS: This bicycle loving quartet from LA has a couple upcoming singles, one on YAY! Records and the other on Cloudberry Records.
SWAY: Ventura's My Bloody Valentine, Sway has been shoegaze fixture for years. The first single was out in 2001, followed by their fabulous ep, The Milla Pink and Green in 2003 and their most recent released- the Winter Heart ep (2005).
SILVERSCREEN: Airy pop fronted by Chris Miller, an debut album came out in 2005 on Claire Records as well as a great ep Cloudberry Records (2007). They will be playing their first show ever at Summershine.
PAM & TERI: Fillmore lovable sibling duo, they have a single out on YAY! Records and continue to charm listeners with increasing live appearances.
WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS: YAY! Records newest sibling duo, the group has released cassette tapes on Pop Monster Records and Lost Sound Tapes. Future releases on YAY! Records are coming soon.
BANK HOLIDAY: Another LA group, they have an album on Best Kept Secret Records as well as an upcoming album on Black Hand Records.
DEW WATS RT: A graduate of Brooks Institute in photography; originally from Michigan.
In addtition to BBQ and beverages there will be some fantastic DJs spinning for your pleasure:
JEFF GRIMES: Local music laurete, Grimes also fronts two bands: The Broken Strings and The Bad Trips.
MARION HODGES: Writer for blogsite/promotion group Squaregirls
GRADY RUNYAN: Owner of Ventura record store Grady's Record Refuge, also plays with Jeff Grime in The Bad Trips and The Broken Strings.
BRIAN CUNNINGHAM: Member of YAY! group, The Tartans, Cunningham is veteran of LA clubs and DJ team Substance.
JOSH REDMAN: KCSB general manager and host of radio show 5...4...3...2...Fun!, also plays in Watercolor Paintings
ERIC KAYSER: Owner of Ventura record shop, Buffalo Records; previously ran record label.
RICH YVARRA: First put together the Summer Pop Festival last year, also in the mix this year."
Oh yeah, if you happened to notice my name in the list of DJs, yes that is a real thing that is really happening. I'm kind of in shock over the fact that I'm included in such awesome company. Seriously, wow. I've been thinking it over all week and trying to pull out my very best indiepop/indiepop related records for the event. Hopefully I'll see some of you there! Please say hi if you make it!
Of course that's just Saturday. For those of you that simply can't make the drive, but will be in the L.A. area on Sunday you do have a second chance to catch Phil Wilson and company. He'll be playing the Echo on Sunday night for Part Time Punks along with the Tyde. Mike Shulman, founder of Slumberland Records (and member of one of my all time favorite bands Black Tambourine!!!) will be the special guest DJ! Can you imagine how good his record collection must be? I'm already preparing to spend most of the night marveling over how severe my lack of indiepop knowledge actually is. Yep, that's right, I'll be at both shows. I know I'm not the only one either. Please join us in the highly worthwhile exhaustion that will likely ensue!
By the way, I can't say for certain that Phil Wilson will perform the following cover song at both shows, but wouldn't it be amazing if he did?
So here I sit having just read a new email update from Geographic Music, and as is ALWAYS the case after reading these updates I'm left feeling very sad over the fact that I do not currently live in Glasgow. I'll let the email explain this feeling for me:
"The Pastels are very pleased to announce that we are opening for My Bloody Valentine this Wednesday 2nd July at the Barrowland Ballroom. The last time we played with My Bloody Valentine was sometime in 1988 at Fulham Greyhound and they were completely amazing then. We're all fans of their music and we've stayed in touch with Kevin through the years - in fact he played with us on our last John Peel session and did a couple of mixes for us which we loved. We were rehearsing today, taking bets on number of pedals which will be on display and just looking forward. It's the Barrowland so we'll be playing early, maybe around 7.30 pm or so."
I suppose that all I can do now is hope that this particular show will go so well that My Bloody Valentine will just have to bring the Pastels with them when they tour later this year...
Seriously, sometime soon surely one of these bands that everybody else loves and can fill big arenas who've been working with/ been friends with the Pastels for years will insist upon bringing them along for a tour. Right? Right? Please...
On a lighter note both Squaregirls contributor Eliza and I have our picks for some of the best releases of 2008 so far listed along with picks from other local artists and bloggers. You can read all about it right here. With my picks they are streaming The Bridal Shop song "Violation." Please go listen to it, as I really do think that it will turn out to be my favorite song of the year.
The Squaregirls don't have a regular club night any more, but we still want to DJ lot's of shows. Maybe your show...
Contact us at myspace.com/squaregirls, or squaregirls@gmail.com.
Oh yeah, and we still like to write things about bands...
