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Groovefest lineup promises musical surprises

Matthew Montgomery

The Packway Handle Band at Groovefest 2007 / Matthew Montgomery

After a multitude of revisions by Tim and Lisa Cretsinger, the lineup for the 2010 Groovefest American Music Festival has been released. Tim and Lisa own Groovacious Records in Cedar City, Utah, and have been organizing Groovefest for nine years. Groovefest is free to the public, and the main event — two full days of music — will take place at the Cedar City Main Street Park on June 25 and 26. Further events are being planned from Wednesday, June 23 to Sunday, June 27.

Friday, June 25

  • 1:00 – 1:45 John Sotter
  • 2:00 – 2:45 Molly Venter
  • 3:00 – 4:00 Kort McCumber Band
  • 4:15 – 5:15 Karling Abbeygate
  • 5:30 – 6:30 Oakhurst
  • 6:45 – 7:45 John Lisi & Delta Funk
  • 8:00 – 9:15 Great American Taxi
  • 9:30 – 11:00 Traveler

Saturday, June 26

  • 11:30 – 12:15 John Batdorf
  • 12:30 – 1:15 Joe Baker & His Barefoot Brakemen
  • 1:30 – 2:30 The Gabrielle Louise Show
  • 2:45 – 3:45 Trevor Green
  • 4:00 – 5:00 The Henhouse Prowlers
  • 5:15 – 6:15 Chris Laterzo & Buffalo Robe
  • 6:30 – 7:30 The New Familiars
  • 7:45 – 9:15 The Scott Holt Band
  • 9:30 – 11:00 Lubriphonic

March 6, 2010 Posted in News, Southern Utah No Comments »

David Lynch, Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse project rumored for summer release

Scott Mathews

Dark Night of the Soul is an album written by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse that was planned for release with a book of photos by David Lynch. The book of photos was released in early 2009. Due to disputes with the record label, though, the album was not released with the book of photos — instead a blank CD-R labeled: “For legal reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.”

The album is now rumored for release for Summer 2010. From what we’ve heard of the album so far, this is nothing like the Broken Bells collaboration of Danger Mouse and James Mercer. It has a dark, surreal feeling — full of complex layers of mind-bending sounds and faraway vocals, all quite fitting for a David Lynch art project.

The album features a wide range of artists, including James Mercer, The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Frank Black of the Pixies, Iggy Pop, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chesnutt, David Lynch, Scott Spillane of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Gerbils. (NPR)

The book, Dark Night of the Soul is available for purchase on their official website, www.dnots.com. You can also listen to the entire album at NPR.org/music.

Posted in News, Playlists, Video No Comments »

People Eating People, Nouela Johnston’s jazzy new solo project, is catching fire

Scott Mathews

Nouela and Brian at The Sunset (credit: Christen Shaw)

People Eating People is the solo piano pop project of Seattle artist Nouela Johnston, and it is absolutely astounding. Johnston has gone through much turbulence to arrive at her current position. In 2007, Johnston was locked into a contract with Mon Frere, the band who won the SoundOff! Battle of the Bands in 2007, which she immediately regretted. Johnston dropped from the band which caused her “[…] a shit-ton of legal messes,” as she explained to The Stranger earlier this week. Unable to release her own music until, among other things, the sum of $5,000 be paid to Cake Records, and she played and toured for-hire with three other bands: Say Hi, Fall of Troy, and Creature Feature. All the while, Johnston was recording a demo which eventually reached the hands of Nabil Ayers, current label manager for 4AD, who offered to release her full-length album.

Her self-titled album, People Eating People, released in November 2009, is an emotional outpouring of jazzy vocals and piano. Johnston is classically trained in jazz piano — she began performing recitals by the age of 4. Being that she is classically trained, her music is technically masterful and complex — her vocals are to match. Her lyrics are personal and emotionally driven; we can see such in “I Hate All My Friends.” Pounding and fast jazz keys supplement her apparent anger as she sings a tale of lies and deceit. With “All The Hospitals,” Johnston shows her flexibility as a jazz pianist. Fluctuating, complex rhythms, all the while delivering the similarly fluctuating jazz-style vocals. A highly emotional tale of depression, making references to suicide amongst other things; “don’t cut too deep, take all those pills…don’t swallow… everyone you love is on your side.”

People Eating People — “All the Hospitals,” from People Eating People (2009) | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/PeopleEatingPeople.mp3]

See below for upcoming shows, live videos, and a video interview.

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March 4, 2010 Tags: , , ,
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Seattle, Washington No Comments »

Minus the Bear debut track “My Time” for their upcoming album

Scott Mathews

Minus the Bear

Today Minus the Bear have premiered “My Time,” the first track from their upcoming album, Omni, due May 4, 2010. Immediately noticeable is the lack of guitar playing from Dave Knudson which we hear none of on the first track. Instead, Knudson has integrated a new instrument into their arrangement: the Omnichord. With the introduction of the Omnichord and lack of guitar, Knudson brings a much stronger pop sound to the track than ever before. We’re unsure of what to expect for the rest of the album, but it is likely that we will still hear the guitar on the other tracks based on Dave Knudson’s chat with Spinner.

Minus the Bear will be performing songs from their new album at SXSW Music Festival, as well as Sasquatch! Music Festival. They will also begin their tour starting in April. Tour dates have yet to be announced, but you can keep an eye out for updates on their website, minusthebear.com/tour

March 3, 2010 Tags: ,
Posted in News No Comments »

Matt Pond PA’s “The Dark Leaves” is a musically mature, folk influenced, indie-pop/rock masterpiece

Scott Mathews

Matt Pond PA (credit: Jacob Pritchard)

With their upcoming release, The Dark Leaves, Matt Pond PA has made some positive adjustments to their usual indie-rock-influenced style. Matt Pond PA, while retaining their notable pop sound, seem to be floating into folk territory with this album with the soft-spoken lyrics, acoustic guitar, mandolin, and accompanying strings — dropping much of the electronics heard in their previous album, Several Arrows Later.

The first track, “Starting,” sets us off in the right direction — poppy, flowing lyrics, strings, and keys provide us a genuinely delightful music listening experience that begs the listener to snap right along with the music. “Starting” is done in a style mostly reminiscent of their previous album, Several Arrows Later, unlike the rest of the album which gives us a new and unique style.

Matt Pond PA — “Starting,” from The Dark Leaves (2010)
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Matt-Pond-PA-Starting.mp3]

March 2, 2010 Posted in Album Reviews, MusicGeek.org No Comments »

Vampire Weekend’s new album “Contra” is just as awesome as you hoped it would be

Belén Mata

Vampire Weekend's Contra

Vampire Weekend's Contra

Vampire Weekend’s Contra really isn’t new news, since it was released last month on Jan. 11. However, the album has recently spiked in popularity due to their celebrity-filled video for “Giving Up the Gun” being released last week. Featuring Joe Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil’ John and RZA, the video is a perfect blend of band members vs. actors. “Giving Up the Gun” isn’t as tropical sounding as their songs tend to be, but other tracks such as “Diplomat’s Son”, “Run” and the bonus track “Giant” make up for that.

Thankfully, their second album raised my lowered-expectations. They managed to pull off almost a completely different feel without leaving their old sound behind. They’ve also included a free download of “Horchata”, the first track on the album, on their website. But if that’s not enough for you, the album is available for purchase at $9.99 on iTunes.

Sit back, listen to Contra and go on, go on, go on.

March 1, 2010 Posted in Album Reviews, Albums in Brief No Comments »

Koji Kondo’s Ocarina of Time breaks from video game soundtrack mold

Jared Montgomery

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was an industry changing video game released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, and with it, it brought in a wave of 3D action adventure games. Since its release, Ocarina of Time has been praised for its ability to work new aspects into a beloved franchise — by changing from a top-down adventure to a fully 3D environment while staying true to the core gameplay.

Not only has it remained in gamers’ hearts for the last 12 years, but the music is still one of the most popular video game scores ever released. Koji Kondo has composed some of the most recognizable video game music, including every game in the Legend of Zelda series as well as every Super Mario game released to date. The game is notable as being one of the first games to incorporate music as a main function without being a rhythm or beat game.

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February 27, 2010 Tags: ,
Posted in Video, Video Game Music No Comments »

Red Sparowes announce tour, release album preview

Matthew Montgomery

Red Sparowes

Red Sparowes, Los Angeles post-rock (or, if you will, post-metal) group, have announced plans to set out on tour at the end of March through the first half of May in support of their forthcoming release, The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer, set to be released April 6, 2010.

 

Red Sparowes — “Giving Birth To Imagined Saviors,” from The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer

[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Giving_Birth_To_Imagined_Saviors.mp3]

In anticipation of their third album, the band has released “Giving Birth to Imagined Saviors” for public consumption. Featuring a more nuanced approach than their previous efforts — but lacking none of the bombastic fervor they’ve set out as their own, the latest effort from Red Sparowes is one to watch for.

(more…)

February 26, 2010 Posted in Downloads, News, Video No Comments »

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