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Mash-ups with extra gravy, please
Posted on June 30, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under deelicious, electronic, indie, mash-up, mp3, music, rad, remix, tropical pop, vampire weekend | Leave a Comment
Lots of new music out there, including a brand new track from The Very Best, featuring Vampire Weekend. The Very Best is a collaboration between Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya and Euro DJ Radioclit. Here’s “Warm Heart of Africa” http://gvsbchris.com/01%20Warm%20Heart%20Of%20Africa%20feat%20Ezra%20Koenig.mp3
Next up is Sweden’s Air France, which likes to call its music tropical pop. Here’s a new track, “Belongs to Us.” It’s here: http://gvsbchris.com/GBG%20Belongs%20To%20Us.mp3 Check out the band’s 2008 EP, No Way Down. Excellent “tropical pop.”
If you’ve got Sirius Satellite Radio or XM Radio, you may have heard STV SLV of The Hood Internet http://www.thehoodinternet.com/ talk about his mash-ups. Go to his site, they’re crazy insane. Weezer vs. Drake, Beyonce vs. Fleet Foxes, Matt and Kim vs. The Beastie Boys. And you can download the files for freeeeeeee 
that’s all for today, folks.
peace
The Wood
Poco, yes, Poco playing Boston area
Posted on June 26, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under Uncategorized, live shows | Leave a Comment
If you’re still in Massachusetts, let’s say on … Saturday, July 18 at 8 p.m., head over to The Center for the Arts in Natick to catch Poco. That’s right my friends, Poco. Legends. No, it’s not the original lineup, but founding member, vocalist/guitarist Rusty Young and longtime Poco guitarist Paul Cotton comprise the now four-man band. For more info about the show and to buy tix, call 508-647-0097.
I’ve been slacking, so to make it up to you …
Posted on June 22, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under The NYC, deelicious, indie, mp3, music, music news, rad, vids | Leave a Comment
Before we get to the goodies … my new favorite site is NPR Music, particularly because they like the exact same music I’m into. Just today, I logged on to find an interview with Natasha Khan (a.k.a. Bat for Lashes), a new track from Regina Spektor, a preview of Bjork’s new album, and Metric live in concert.
OK, thanks for being so patient. Atlanta garage rockers Black Lips teamed up with GZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame and put together a ridiculous track, The Drop I Hold. White Arrows, one of the best indie bands out right now, cover Bruce Springsteen here: White Arrows I’m On Fire (Springsteen Cover).
Alrite, I’m off to bed. I’ll leave you with a video……30 years ago, one of the last live performances of Joy Division
Asher Roth outtakes
Posted on May 29, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under hip-hop, interview, rad | Leave a Comment
Hip-hop’s current buzz comes off the streets of the Philly suburbs. I caught up with Asher Roth for an interview that ran the gamut from the Boston Red Sox to radio stations wanting him to change lyrics.
While in Boston last month to play a couple college shows, Roth took some time out and brought a few friends over to Fenway Park to catch the Sox take on the Yankees. “Every now and then you have to enjoy what’s going on. It can’t all be work, so I decided to treat myself and a few friends. I’ve never been to Fenway before, and I’m a big baseball fan, and obviously there’s no better game than a Red Sox/Yankees game.”
Asher caught a bit of history when Jacoby Ellsbury stole home, a rarity in Major League Baseball. “Yeah, I actually sent him home. I told him to steal.”
After talking about college life, how his album has shot up the charts, and a chance he had to become a school teacher, Asher talked about his single, “I Love College,” which has gone mainstream despite its risque lyrics (risque as far as something Top 40 stations would play). Radio stations asked Asher to change some of the lyrics. “They all wanted me to go around and turn every city into, for example ‘I love Miami,’ and really push the fact that it’s a novelty song. That wasn’t the case. I wrote this song in retrospect of being in college. I was there, I left. I moved to Atlanta, left the world that I knew, and missed (college). I loved the irresponsibility and simplicity of that life. It wasn’t like, ‘Yo, I’m going to write a song about college that I know nothing about so I can make a bunch of money off of it.’ I wrote the song for me. Some people try to compromise the integrity of the record because it hit the mainstream and was almost a pop record. If people don’t get the satire in it, then they don’t get it.”
For the rest of my interview with Asher Roth, go visit www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/lifestyle/entertainment.
Bray’s back … this time taking on NOFX
Posted on May 22, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under music, punk, vids | Leave a Comment
By Ryan Bray of the music blog Drowned in Sound (http://drownedsound.blogspot.com/)
Growing up means letting go and moving on.
I get that, and for the most part I can accept the fact that sometimes the things you once loved becomes, well, lame or uncool. Fire engines and tonka trucks rocked when I was a little kid, but needless to say I cant find much use for them at the ripe old age of 25. But it’s cool. I’ve found a way to sleep at night without them.
But music, at least for me, has always been a little bit harder to let go of. For some reason it’s difficult me to leave behind certain bands, even if conventional wisdom says i should. Here I am, a college graduate with a good job etc. etc. and I still have a fond preference for loud, fast and perpetually adolescent music I should have left to collect dust a long time ago. Sure I’m big into Wilco, Talking Heads and hosts of other bands I would have scoffed at mercilessly when I was in high school, but I’d be lying if i said I didn’t still get a charge out the Descendents, Bad Religion, No Use For a Name and the bratty skate punk I grew up with as a kid.
But what about the bands you can’t shake loose even if the torch you once carried for them continues to grow dimmer with each passing record? Do you stomach the bad out of reverence for all the good times you had listening a band when you were younger, or do you just cut bait? Does a band’s former greatness make up for its latter day sins?
Maybe the appropriate response to this admittedly heady line of questioning is “Who cares,” and I can’t say I thought much about any of this at all until maybe two weeks ago. It was then that I picked up “Coaster,” the new and regrettably meh record by NOFX. The record’s flagrant mediocrity didn’t exactly surprise me, especialy following an album that was far and away the worst of their long career. And yet I still bought, knowing that it would at least halfway suck, because I almost felt an obligation to follow through with one of my all time favorite bands.
A little backstory: In the mid 90s, a halcyon time when punk rock slowly began taken over every fiber of my being, there was NOFX, who alongside bands like Rancid, Green Day, Pennywise and Bad Religion were putting out the best punk music of my generation. In fact, everything NOFX did from 1990-2002 or so was borderline untouchable, from underground classics like “Punk In Drublic” and “White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean” to the ironically titled “I Heard They suck Live.” Hell, even “Heavy Petting Zoo,” which with its slower tempos and overall grungier sound felt like a deliberate stab at alienating its own fan base, was still pretty good. For a while it really felt like the band could do no wrong.
And that was exactly what I was thinking when I bought “Coaster.” It didn’t matter that “Wolves In Wolves Clothing” was terrible, or that “War on Errorism,” felt too preachy and lacked the punch of the band’s earlier output. Everytime I hold a new NOFX record, I have fleeting hope that it will recapture the bite and smartass swagger of those 90s records.
To be fair, “Coaster” has flashes of the irreverant skate punk style the band rests its cult hero status on, but in the end that’s all they were. Flashes. At 10 tracks and just over a half an hour, the album felt less like a record and more like an afterthought. If I didn’t know any better, i would have even gone as far to say lazy.
Would have that is, until i read this exerpt from an interview frontman Fat Mike did with Bay Area Decider a few weeks back:
“We’re lazier,” he said. “We’re not as hungry now. We kind of take it easy. Around 1994, we reached a high point in our music.”
Had this been said 10 years ago, it probably would have been funny, but instead it now feels strangely true. The band’s famously sloppy, couldn’t give a fuck attitude has long been it’s trademark, but rarely has that attitude translated so clearly on record. “Coaster” does sound like they pushed it through and tried to beat the clock. Part of me gets it. These guys have been around longer than I’ve been alive (literally), so maybe they are fatiguing. And if they want to take it easy maybe that’s their right, even if it occasionally comes at expense to fans like me. It would be hard to argue they don’t deserve it.
But I’ll go down with the ship. The next time they want to mail it in with a less than stellar batch of tunes, I’ll be right there ready to buy, hoping against hope that it’s the second coming of “So Long And Thanks For All the Shoes.” It’s like a drug you just can’t kick, but like Fatty says, “Drugs Are Good.”
I agree with you, Mr. Bray. I miss these days:
Bonne Fete! Buon Compleanno! Take Me to Your Music … it’s your birthday!!!
Posted on May 7, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
That’s right … Take Me to Your Music’s 1st birthday is May 8, 2009. Heck yes. Many thanks to everyone who wished me a happy first birthday - Luke from The Kooks, who invited me out for a beer. Umm, yeah I’ll just hop a flight from Boston to Heathrow and catch you in London June 26 for Hard Rock Calling. Save me a seat. Thanks for the well-wishes, my friend.
To celebrate, I threw a bash, which led to some drama. Thankfully someone caught it on video.
In search of … the next big thing
Posted on April 20, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under UK scene, demo, hip-hop, indie, local scene, music, rad, synthpop | 1 Comment
Yeah, boring title, I know. Deal with it for now and hear me out. I’m going Lily Allen on y’all. No, I’m not gonna tweet every time I take a step, buy new clothes, or eat bad food. I’m gonna do what Lily Allen did for Kate Nash. (Long story short: Allen was checking out bands on MySpace, found this London singer Kate Nash, blogged about her, promoted her, and basically after all was said and done, helped her land a record deal. Yeah, you might not like Nash, but some people do - she’s sold a few million albums in the last year and a half). She’s gotten some decent press. (Shameless on my part, yes).
So, I’ve been scoping out some bands. Some have been brought to my attention. Others, I’ve stumbled upon. After swimming through all the rubbish, here are four bands/artists that have my backing. There will be more to follow. Then I’ll whittle it down to two or three and do what I can to sell this band to an agent. (Alrite, I don’t have that much pull, but I’ll try something).
First, right out of the box is Swimming in Speakers, an electro-acoustic foursome from New York. They self-released an EP in March. With a lot (maybe too much) synthpop infiltrating the industry this year, this is a bit of a relief. The singer, Meadow, has a voice that’s instant heroin. It honestly took me one note and I was hooked. I’m not even about to pigeonhole her, saying she sounds like this or that artist. She’s unique. Add everything (but the kitchen sink) that the band throws into each track, and the tracks are ace. Check them out, for real. I’m dead serious. Stop what you’re doing and take a listen. http://www.myspace.com/swimminginspeakers.
Next up, representing my homebase Boston, is undead., a trio that sews witty rhymes through filthy underground beats. The Boston hip-hop scene has constantly been overshadowed by anything that comes out of NYC, especially on the indie/underground circuit. Emcees like Akrobatik and Mr. Lif have put Boston on the map. These undead. kids have a little ways to go to reach Ak’s and Lif’s level, but they’re on the right path. It’s 2009 underground Boston hip-hop. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/hiphopisundead. If you want to see them live, which I heard you probably should because they put on an insane show, they’re in Lexington April 25, in Brockton May 2, and at the Middle East May 9. Check their site for a list of dates.
Switching gears like a transmission drop, we go from hip-hop to hipsters, a group of indie kids from just outside of Boston. Best part about this band is … not only are they unsigned, they’re unnamed, well, sorta. For now, they’re going by Kevin G. Think late-90s Pavement meets Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst not solo Conor Oberst at a Sonic Youth show. Check out (insert band name here) at http://www.myspace.com/tinypupils. Very good stuff here.
And … finally … this is my, I think I may have went too far off the limb to find a good band attempt … In reality, I can’t take any credit for discovering this band, and I didn’t go out on a limb. My writing mates at Noize Makes Enemies turned me on to this band. The boys call themselves the small print, and they’re an indie/punk/garage rock band from Southwest London. I’m tired, it’s late, they’re good, go listen. http://www.myspace.com/tspuk.
Web Jams semifinals
Posted on April 15, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under awards, best of the best, local scene, music news | Leave a Comment
The clock is ticking - Web Jams 1 is now down to its final four bands. New Son Rising, Easy Access, The Jackson Wetherbee Band, and Sick Kitty are competing. Visit www.wickedlocal.com/bridgewater/fun/entertainment/x2138487501/Final-four-face-off-in-Wicked-Local-Web-Jams-semi-finals for more info.
Get out there and ROCK the vote!
Also, as of right now, this very second, there is one spot left on the Wicked Local Web Jams 2 bracket, which is set to launch in May. E-mail your band bio, photo and MP3 files to Alice Coyle or Seth Jacobson. For more information call 508-967-3505.
This magic moment …
Posted on April 10, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
I feel like we should call in a wedding DJ for this one … Take me to your music is approaching its one-year anniversary. Hold the applause please. I don’t know where I was going with this one. So, here’s some music. First, Dizzee Rascal covering The Ting Tings’ “That’s Not My Name.” Then check out a track from the Dark Was the Night compilation. It’s Arcade Fire with “Lenin.”
Catching up with indie rockers Wild Light
Posted on April 7, 2009 by Ryan Wood
Filed Under indie, interview, music, music news, vids | Leave a Comment
Take Me to Your Music welcomes a new contributing writer, Tyler Ferreira. He recently caught up with Seth Pitman of Wild Light. The two talked about everything from Arcade Fire to touring with The Killers to South by Southwest.
New Hampshire shines a new light on the music scene
Indie rock foursome generating quite a buzz
By Tyler Ferreira
You don’t hear a lot of bands coming out of New Hampshire, but Wild Light has changed that.
“There is no rock scene in New Hampshire,” bassist/singer Seth Pitman said Monday afternoon via telephone.
These Granite State indie rockers have toured nonstop since recording their debut album, Adult Nights, in Los Angeles. This group of multi-instrumentalists includes Pitman, who sings, plays guitar, bass, and the keyboard, Timothy Kyle who also sings, plays bass and keys, Jordan Alexander on guitar, and Seth Kasper behind the drum kit.
Through Alexander, Kyle met Arcade Fire singer Win Butler (then, a student at Philips Exeter Academy). Kyle briefly played in an early version of Arcade Fire, but left shortly thereafter. Then Wild Light officially formed. Pitman said that a half-awake Kyle chose Wild Light as the band’s name and that it just came to him. The guys played a gig with that name, and it just stuck. Since then, the switch has been flicked on, and Wild Light has been burning up the stage. Critics and bloggers have taken notice.
Four years after forming, far away from their first gig at T.T. the Bear’s in Boston, the band has made more than a name for itself, traveling around in their van, playing tunes from their CD. Wild Light has a tour schedule that will keep them busy until mid-May. The guys just found out they will open for The Killers.
“We’re psyched,” Pitman said.
Wild Light have previously shared the stage with bands like MGMT, Glasvegas, and Handsome Furs. The guys played South by Southwest - the annual, epic Austin, Texas showcase for rising signed and unsigned indie bands - two years in a row.
“It’s been exciting, but a lot of hard work,” Pitman said. “We’re still not there yet. We have been fortunate, but we still aren’t at the stage of making money.”
The band met and formed in high school, which helps the guys play so tightly together and makes them able to feel each other’s next move. Very rarely does a band stumble across instant fame, and this young group acknowledges the dedication required to move ahead.
Just a year ago, they practiced in an apartment that had no heat, and now they approach the point of becoming self-sufficient with their music, still living in New Hampshire. The band also has the right attitude about the music they make. Influenced by a large variety of styles, Wild Light was inspired by punk rock’s attitude, which Pitman described as, “Do what you want to do, and don’t settle for anything else.”
It seems as if Wild Light has had its dream start to become a reality. The band has earned praises from two of the top music magazines - Rolling Stone and Spin.
“Realities aren’t the same as dreams,” Pitman cautioned. “We just got to keep pushing through.”
Seeing that he started playing in high school and has now become part of a group that has generated buzz from New Hampshire to London, Pitman offered advice to aspiring musicians.
“Keep playing,” he said. “Don’t force it, it won’t be fun.”
Tyler Ferreira is a senior at Plymouth North High School and the entertainment editor for The Eagle. On the side, he plays drums for The Glasstronauts (http://www.myspace.com/theglasstronauts).
Enjoy the video for their single, “California on My Mind.” (Yes, you will hear a couple swears, get over it).
