Kim Stattuck has gracefully accepted the news that her time with the Pixies is ending after only about 3 months. I had a feeling this was going to happen.
About 5 days ago I heard a Tom Baker interview with Black Francis, David Lovering and Joey Santiago about the Pixies headlining Field Day next June 2014 and Black Francis did say that they would be in London on June 10th to celebrate Kim Deal's and Joey's Birthday. It was a kind of off the cuff, matter of fact statement that didn't raise any question with Tom Baker but if I would of been the interviewer I would of chimed in on this bit of information. In the least, it meant that things were pretty hunky dory between Black Francis and Kim but it also gave me that in the gut feeling that Kim Deal was coming back to the Pixies. This was not exactly a psychic feeling, I mean in mid October there were rumors that it might, it could happen.... that the Pixies had left the door wide open for her to come back. To me, it felt like more of an invitation than a public statement that there were no hard feelings.
I have always sensed that Black Francis while being a pragmatist is also very keenly aware of what feels right and what is right when it comes to the Pixies legacy. In interviews he had seemed reticent about doing songs like "Gigantic" because they were so identified with Kim Deal. If she does come back into the fray I can only imagine that there will be a certain sense of relief to be able to present the iconic songs as they should be. While Kim and Black Francis have clashed in the past I can imagine that they all will rally like a family. I mean family is family whether dysfunctional or not. I can only cross my fingers that Kim Deal will re-join and dive in fully as the Pixies are poised to continue to put out new music (most likely in the form of a few more EPs).
- Robb Donker
Canyons from Fullerton, California have been on my musical radar screen since the summer of 2010. I remember being stunned a bit by their jagged compositions, shifting time signature and how damn hard Nicholas Nadel hits his drum kit (sometimes breaking it). While their music is not always easy to describe, to me, it has an art rock sensibility with alternative rock thrusts. In my mind they sound a bit like Smashing Pumpkins, MGMT, Modest Mouse and the Dresden Dolls all rolled into one.
Their 2010 self titled EP, still one of my favorite collections of music, was recently re-issued on Tape Cassette and is currently available for FREE DNLD at their Bandcamp page here. At that time they were Jeremy Leasure on Vocals and Guitar, Nicholas Nadel on Drums, Maegen Chaplin on Piano, Jared VanRamshorst on Guitar and vocals and Brandon Ralph on bass. Their sound often times hinged on lead lines playing off each other and Jared's backing vocals. In 2011 Jared and Brandon parted ways with Canyons leaving a hole of sorts. In an AP interview with the band (since the inclusion of bassist Garrett La Bonte) Jeremy said, "This is a completely different band from the old EP... we're still getting adjusted to being this instead of 5 people... It made me step up. Actually all of us had to step up a lot. She had to sing (pointing to Maegen), I had to play more on guitar. We made it work."
And make it work they did. "Human Pyramid", one of the songs off of an upcoming single is the first recorded look at their new sound. It is a moody, brooding piece crawling along like someone traversing an unknown area. It is built on slow languid sliding guitar and piano rhythms. The spartan production with the heavy handed drumming and graceful bass lines build an emotional framework to contain the lyrical content that is sung by Jeremy and Maegen trading off verses and only verses. "Human Pyramid" contains no chorus. The 4 verses emotionally spill out sounding like mournful questions possibly about a personal relationship or maybe our relationship with the universe at large. After the 4 verses the music does the emoting becoming quite large, tumultuous and in the end, beautiful.
Pixies will headline Field Day (London) - Sunday June 8th 2014 following a 33 date North American Tour in the spring. Check out the interview (actual interview starts at roughly 25 minutes in).
Calling Brooklyn their stomping grounds, Whiskey Bitches are Emily Madge (vocals and guitar), Kate Black (bass) and various awesome friends on the drums including Laura Jordan, Lora-Faye and Alicia Angeles. When I first pushed play on their song "Money Gone Drinking" I thought of Bikini Kill and oddly enough, Fidlar's Cheap Beer. Bikini Kill because the attitude felt the same at first though deeper in, Whiskey Bitches feels more hardcore. And why did I think of Fidlar?? I guess because both songs "Cheap Beer" and "Money Gone Drinking" feel like punk odes to lost weekends. Sonically, Whiskey Bitches ode beats Fidlar's to a bloody pulp. The girls just sound so fucking bad ass. Madge spits out the words with a bitchy flair and the shifty drum breaks are killer. So kick back, open a brew in the safe confines of your abode, crank up your computer speakers or headphones and push play.
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Robb Donker
Video for Wampire's - "The Hearse" channels schloky 80's slasher movies with some downright creepy results with a stunning little twist (of the knife) finale. Director Raphael Pfeiffer so expertly follows the mood of the song that it actually feels like Wampire scored the music to the imagery.
The Cali Ruta Latin / American Fusion Tour brought to fruition by Goldenvoice (in association with Lifeboxset, the leading independent content platform in Mexico and Latin America) kicked off it's first show at the Glasshouse in Pomona, California. It was wonderful to experience the very first Cali Ruta show with the knowledge or at least the feeling deep down inside that I was witnessing the birth of an ongoing social and musical movement, of a festival that has the chance to grow each and every year into something unimaginable (at this point) and ever far reaching.
Every new baby has to find it's way and Cali Ruta had some wobbling moments like slated Puerto Rico's AJ Davila y Terror Amor unable to attend and as much as I looked forward to seeing them, the replacement band Celofan from Tijuana Mexico ended up being one of my favorite acts of the night. Celofan's 4 piece indie rock encompassed beautiful melodies with rhythms and lead lines that often times strayed into dissonance. Vocalist and guitarist, Luis Aguilar would keep the wang bar in constant flex to bend the sounds into interesting 8th steps for micro seconds only making the shoegazey sounds feel like ripples in water. Their were hints of 90's Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth sprinkled in their evocative sounds. I really loved the imagery, the feelings their songs created in my head.
Bad Suns from the LA area create solid indie pop songs. Chris Bowman's vocal performance transitions from clear belting out to a potent falsetto effortlessly. There sound lays down grooves with dynamic tones in between the lush parts. There is a decidedly 80's romantic wave sound in there somewhere along with a post punk sound all the while having a strong pop sensibility. I flashed on The Cure, The Bravery for some reason though Bad Suns have their own sound. I like their set a lot, the swelling guitar sounds, totally heavy base lines and solid beats. The indie rock sense with doses of funk too.
While the crowd grew steadily throughout the night, the numbers seem to grow exponentially as Fmlybnd took the stage. Even though front man Mac was ailing a really sore throat and seemed under the weather, he pushed through with a killer performance. This 6 piece band crank out upbeat electro-synth-pop in the vein of M83 but with a more down to earth organic feel. While some of their songs seem to borrow heavily from each other you cannot help but get caught up in their stirring sound of beats and sonic wall of guitar and electronica. It is infectious fun and even uplifting. Swimming in a fog tinged bath of colored lights, Fmlybnd put on a great show. The crowd was totally immersed. It was a sea of movement, dancing and screams from them to play more when their set ended.
The last band to take the stage was Kiev from Orange, California. This 5 piece band fuses indie rock, jazz, progressive sounds and more into this mix of songs that happily seem to descend into jammy almost chaotic interplays of music. Their wide set up with keyboards as bookends with Andy Stavas (keys / saxophones) stage left and Alex wright (piano, keys, guitars) stage right promised some epic music and the band obliged. The opening number started slowly with Robert Brinkerhoff's plaintiff vocals and guitar picking that would veer into interesting half steps until band members slowly fell into place. This opening gave way to a heavy song full of dramatic down beats and swirling beautiful noise. The crowd was fully into, the complexities of Kiev's sounds and cheered every time Andy reached for his sax. When he wasn't using his instrument to deliver fluttery dressing and insane fills, he would provide this awesome drone that blended so well with Robert's vocals. Kiev's ability to go from a spartan sound to a cavernous chaotic wall of sound is so utterly engaging. I think the audience felt spent after their set and they showed their appreciation with their applause and hoots.
The maiden voyage of Cali-Ruta at the Glasshouse was (by all accounts) a total success. The musical diversity displayed made for a different experience that your typical indie rock show. The next stop is in Santa Barbara, Ca. (Velvet Jones Nov. 12th), then San Diego, Ca. (The Griffin) and then Tijuana, Mexico (Moustache - Nov. 15th).
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Robb Donker
It feels like a punch in the stomach when
something like this happens. Nature can turn deadly in a wink of an eye.
It is hard to reconcile the precariousness of our own situations. Why
some are dealt with unfathomably horrible situations and
others are not. It is at times like this when the others need to step
up. If you are religious it is time to pray. If you are not maybe it is
time to think about how precious life it and how you must live life
fully everyday. And for all of us others, it is time to dig deep in our
pockets and give what monetary donations you can to relief agencies that
are on the front lines. - Robb Donker
Some relief agencies as reported by the Associated Press and CNN
The U.S. and other governments and agencies are mounting a major relief effort to help victims of the Philippine typhoon.
Brian Goldbeck, acting ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, issued a
disaster declaration to provide an immediate $100,000 for relief
efforts. Officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development
are deployed around the country to monitor the damage.
Other charities working to provide relief in the Philippines include:
———
UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
The United Nations World Food Programme said it has allocated $2 million
for the disaster response and officials joined an assessment mission to
survey damage in Leyte and Samar provinces.
WFP said it will send more than 40 tons of high energy biscuits and work
with the Filipino government to help with logistics and emergency
communications systems. It asks for donations at www.wfpusa.org or by
texting the word AID to 27722 to instantly donate $10.
———
UNICEF
UNICEF said its staff in the Philippines is being repositioned to help
in relief efforts and 66 tons of emergency supplies are being sent from
Copenhagen. An airlift set to arrive on Tuesday will include water
purification systems, storage equipment and sanitation supplies.
Donations can be made to UNICEF at unicef.org/support.
———
RED CROSS
The American Red Cross said it has deployed two people to assist with
assessments in the Philippines and activated its family tracing
services. It asked those who want to support relief efforts to mail a
check to their local American Red Cross chapter, with "Philippines
Typhoons and Flood" in the memo line. Go to redcross.org for local
chapter information or redcross.org.ph to donate directly to the
Philippine Red Cross.
——
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations on its website,
emergencies.crs.org, as it begins moving supplies and staff to respond
to the typhoon.
———
WORLD VISION
World Vision said it is putting together resources to assist 1.2 million
people, including food, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and protection.
It asked for one-time donations to be made at worldvision.org.
———
AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has begun collecting
donations for relief efforts. To contribute, go to www.jdc.org or call
212-687-6200.
———
MERCY CORPS
Mercy Corps said it has launched emergency response efforts to provide
food, water, shelter and basic supplies to typhoon survivors. To
contribute, go to www.mercycorps.org/typhoon or call (800) 292-3355.
———
AMERICARES
AmeriCares is preparing to deploy an emergency response team to the
Philippines. To donate go to http://americares.org or call (800)
486-4357.
(CNN) -- The stories coming out of the Philippines
are unimaginable. Rushing water and wind tearing children away from
their parents' arms. A death toll that may be over 10,000. A city of
200,000 in which no buildings appear to have survived intact.
One of the most intense typhoons on record, Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) left catastrophic destruction behind.
If you're looking for
someone missing in the Philippines, or if you have information about
someone there, Google.org has launched the Typhoon Yolanda Person Finder. A Google crisis map has also been added to detail evacuation centers and areas designated for relief.
Charities and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world are
responding to this disaster. Many are detailed below with how they're
providing aid and how you can help them make a difference.
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
(JDC) is working with local authorities, the Filipino Jewish community
and their global partners to assist in providing for survivors'
immediate needs. You can support their efforts online or by phone at 1-212-687-6200.
CARE's
emergency response teams are coordinating with local partners in the
Philippines to provide food, water, shelter and health care for those in
need. Their teams in Vietnam are preparing for the potential need there
as Typhoon Haiyan continues its devastation. You can support CARE's
efforts on their website, or by phone at 1-800-521-2273 within the United States or +1-404-681-2252 outside the U.S.
Catholic Relief Services,
the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic
community in the U.S., is on the ground helping with water purification,
shelter materials and essential living supplies. You can donate to the
organization's efforts online
or you can call 1-877-435-7277. You can also type in your phone number
on the website and a representative will call you back to take your
donation.
Convoy of Hope's
Global Disaster Response Team has shipping containers full of food and
supplies on the way to the Philippines. The organization is preparing
more supplies to be sent like canned goods, hygiene kits and water
filtration units. You can visit Convoy of Hope's website to donate funds to their efforts or call 1-417-823-8998.
Mercy Corps
is preparing to deliver food, water, temporary shelter and other basic
supplies to devastated areas throughout the Philippines. You can support
the organization by donating through their website, PayPal, or by calling 1-888-747-7440.
Oxfam America
aid teams are on the ground in northern Cebu, northern and eastern
Samar and Leyte, in the Eastern Visayas region in the Philippines.
They're working to provide immediate access to water and sanitation
materials. You can support this effort by donating online to their Typhoon Haiyan Relief and Recovery Fund, or by phone at 1-800-776-9326.
Adventist Development and Relief Agency's
(ADRA) emergency response team is working in Manila and in the province
of Bohol to provide food, emergency relief and medical aid to those in
need. They have launched an emergency appeal that you can support online or by phone at 1-800-424-2372.
Food and water
The World Food Programme
was already providing emergency food assistance in the Philippines
following the October earthquake. With these emergency food stocks
stretched thin, they're now mobilizing additional supplies and are
flying in 40 tons of fortified biscuits in the coming days. Additional
food supplies are needed. You can help these efforts by donating online or by calling 1-202-747-0722 domestically or +39-06-65131 for international calls.
Samaritan's Purse
has sent disaster relief specialists, including water and nutrition
experts, to the Philippines to deliver immediate aid. They have launched
the Philippines Emergency Relief fund for this disaster, which you can
support online or by phone at 1-828-262-1980.
World Vision
is responding in the Philippines by first providing emergency food and
clean water. They will also work to create child-friendly spaces and
help families rebuild from this disaster. They have launched a Philippines Disaster Response Fund that you can support online or by calling 1-888-511-6443.
Action Against Hunger
is on the ground providing drinking water and survival kits containing
buckets, soap and chlorine tablets. They're also working to distribute
sanitation equipment to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
They're requesting assistance and you can help by donating online or by calling 1-877-777-1420.
Shelter
ShelterBox
was already in the Philippines providing shelter after the 7.2
earthquake that hit Bohol on October 15. They are now expanding their
operations to provide tents and essential equipment for families left
homeless after Typhoon Haiyan. You can support their work in the
Philippines either online or by calling 1-941-907-6036.
Habitat for Humanity
is already providing help to 30,000 families with shelter repair kits
to rebuild their damaged homes. You can support this work by donating
from the Philippines to their Re-Build Philippines Fund or from the U.S. by contributing to their Disaster Response Fund. You can also make a donation by phone at 1-800-HABITAT.
Architecture for Humanity
is mobilizing to assist with post-disaster reconstruction and the
organization's working with local architects to identify the most
critical rebuilding needs. You can support their Super Typhoon Haiyan
Response online, by calling 1-415-963-3511 or by texting REBUILD to 85944 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone.
Medical assistance
Americares
has an emergency shipment on the way to the Philippines with enough
medical aid for 20,000 survivors, including antibiotics, wound care
supplies and pain relievers. You can support Americares with an online donation or by calling 1-800-486-4357.
International Medical Corps
has pre-positioned medical supplies and their team is on the ground
coordinating with their partners in the Philippines to distribute and
provide medical aid. You can support their Typhoon Haiyan Emergency
Response fund online or by calling 1-800-481-4462.
More than 1.5 tons of emergency medicine and medical supplies are en route to the Philippines from Direct Relief.
The supplies include antibiotics, pain relievers, nutritional
supplements, antifungal medications, wound dressings and chronic disease
medicines. You can call in your donation by dialing 1-805-964-4767 or
you can go online to support the organization.
Helping children
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF
is helping children and their families in the Philippines receive
shelter, clean water, nutrition and vaccines. Their emergency response
can be supported online or by calling 1-800-367-5437. You can also donate directly to UNICEF in the Philippines here.
Emergency response teams from ChildFund International
prepositioned supplies, including emergency kits and tents, and made
arrangements with local suppliers to access food and non-food relief
supplies. The organization is also preparing to setup child- centered
spaces where kids can feel safe. Donate to ChildFund online to help children cope and recover confidence after this disaster.
Ok someone who shall remain nameless may or may not of been up way too late and had one or two too many Vodka Slushes (sooo good) but for whatever reason- what you see above is the very worst event poster ever made, ever published by American Pancake. PLEASE do not let this photoshop monstrosity dissuade you from heading out to the amazing Glasshouse in Pomona TONIGHT. This is the first leg of the Cali Ruta tour. I will be there shooting video and making friends!
You got the electro synth pop of FMLYBND (from Isla Vista, Ca.) - the post punk, funk, jazz, progressive, afrobeat amalgam that is KIEV (from Orange, Ca.) - the pop punk indie alternative tones of Puerto Rico native, AJ. Davila Y Terror Amor - and the purely wrought indie rock of Bad Suns ( Woodland Hills, Ca) and bring them all together and you have Cali-Ruta!
Brought to life by Goldenvoice, the producers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, in association with Lifeboxset, the leading independent content platform in Mexico and Latin America, Cali-Ruta, a border transcending Latin American Fusion Tour starts off in Pomona California and then snakes it's way up to Santa Barbara, CA. then back down to San Diego, CA. ultimately making it's final stop in Tijuana, Mexico.
See you at in Pomona- tonight at the Glasshouse - All Ages- $10 - $13
Philadelphia based Mumblr's "Ape" is the single off of their upcoming album entitled White Jesus / Black God. Starting like a punk emo song and sung with all the forlorn sadness of an after school special:
"There's adults selling bones outside of my home and I think it's wrong but I believe I belong but not for too long because tht's when their kids come by... Now they're all getting stoned outside of my home and I think it's wrong but I can't leave it alone, oh leave em alone, I watch them run by, hiiiiiiiiii (high?)" - the song quickly descends into a shifty potent blend of punk and metal. It is balls out with the vocals attacking in this wonderfully cool head banging staccato delivery mirroring the guitar lines. Then the chorus ascends into a pretty lush prog rock feel that is Mars Volta-ish epic.
The twists and turns in this song all work and keep you guessing. Mumblr is able to shift tones, musical genres effortlessly making "Ape" feel like a dramatic prog post punk opera of sorts. This is my first introduction to this band and they have peaked my interest.
-
Robb Donker
Michelle Zauner, Deven Craige, Kevin O'Halloran and Ian Dykstra collectively known as "Little Big League" can't skate worth a shit but they make sounds with beautiful sharp edges and soft insides. My Very Own You is the kind of indie rock song that can sweetly percolate one second and then burst into this kind of joyful exuberance the next and when it does it feels like the closest thing to feeling young, hopelessly unencumbered and free.
So this guy who has this awesome twitter name posts up about The Lovely Bad Things and Diarrhea Planet who both always have great LIVE show buzz about them. Wikipedia Brown is "speechless" about the stunner show The Lovely Bad Things pulled off and makes the following awesome audacious statement "Holy shit, Diarrhea Planet may very well be the best live band on EARTH". Now that is a pretty incredible compliment which could only be topped by "is" instead of "may very well be" or replacing "Earth" with " the universe." American Pancake can easily vouch for Wiki Brown's opinion on AP fav's The Lovely Bad Things but I have not had the pleasure to see DP live so now I MUST see this band-!!
There are bands that kick ass on albums but can underwhelm live- Diarrhea Planet and the Lovely Bad Things are not one of them--
Take the electro synth pop of FMLYBND (from Isla Vista, Ca.) - the post punk, funk, jazz, progressive, afrobeat amalgam that is KIEV (from Orange, Ca.) - the pop punk indie alternative tones of Puerto Rico native, AJ. Davila Y Terror Amor - and the purely wrought indie rock of Bad Suns ( Woodland Hills, Ca) and bring them all together and you have Cali-Ruta!
Brought to life by Goldenvoice, the producers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, in association with Lifeboxset, the leading independent content platform in Mexico and Latin America, Cali-Ruta, a border transcending Latin American Fusion Tour starts off in Pomona California and then snakes it's way up to Santa Barbara, CA. then back down to San Diego, CA. ultimately making it's final stop in Tijuana, Mexico.
See you at the first show in Pomona- Saturday November 9th at the Glasshouse - All Ages- $10 - $13 Get tickets - HERE.
