Monday, August 31, 2009

Casiotone + New Ruins Preview

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone / New Ruins
Friday September 4th
Illini Union Courtyard Cafe
7 pm Doors... means show at... 9? Who knows.

One my most anticipated shows of the fall. Here's some youtube clips of a few of their songs.

Casiotone: Mostly one man electronic band (Owen Ashworth). Kind of like if Dan Deacon was trying to be a mumbling Elliott Smith.

Scattered Pearls: (Live, this will be song by Owen)

Calloused Fingers...:

Killers:


New Ruins needs no introduction. My favorite local band. Kinda shoegazey, kinda americana.

Friday, August 28, 2009

book this show for me please

http://citycenternyc.blogspot.com/2009/08/calling-all-kids.html

City Center is Fred Thomas, from Saturday Looks Good To Me, Flashpapr, and Lovesick. If anyone has a house, I'd be happy to help set up this show.

Times New Viking

My inaugural post was going to be something better. Perhaps I would have shared some words of wisdom from my years in Chambana; perhaps I would have lamented the lack of shows at Paradiso.

No.

Fucking Times New Viking is coming back. From the matablog:

Fri-Oct-16 Urbana, IL Canopy Club

Hopefully they'll play more than a 25 minute set this time.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Preview: Ellnora

Ellnora guitar fest (formerly known as Wall to Wall) returns to C-U in just three weeks. Check out the list of performances not to miss below...

9/10 - Opening Night Party: Derek Trucks Band, Junior Brown, Chicha Libre (Lobby, 7 pm)
While this will probably take place at the less-than-ideal Stage 5, the cheap cover ($5) and terrific lineup make it well worth it. Opening is NYC-based Chicha Libre, whose lo-fi pop sounds like what I imagine would happen if High Places and a Mariachi Band had a child. The middle of the bill goes to country journeyman Junior Brown, whose twangy guitar gives him a sound surprisingly close to modern alt-country. However, the real draw (for me, anyways) is the incendiary blues guitar of Derek Trucks. This guy has been playing with the Allman Brothers since he was ten, and he's easily the best slide player since Duane.

9/11 - The Long Count (Colwell Playhouse, 7 pm)
What's the best part about this? Aaron, Bryce, and Matt (The National)? Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders)? Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond)? Baseball meeting apocalyptic Mayan mythology? Pitchfork hype? Ten dollar tickets for students? I can't decide. Pitchfork has been hyping this for a while, but somehow managed to miss the Krannert Performance, which gives you double hipster cred for seeing it first.

9/11 - A Story of Floating Weeds (Amphitheater, 8:30 pm)
Continuing the film-soundtrack theme, Alex de Grassi will be soundtracking Japanese silent films from the 1930s in whats sure to be a relaxing performance in the amphitheater. Plus, guy can fingerpick like its nobody's business, and the show is free.

9/12 - The National (Tryon, 10 pm)
Not a whole lot to say about this one, other than its gonna shred. I wonder if Matt will make it into the balcony during Mr. November? Only $14 for students as well.

Also check out: Jerry Douglas (9/11, 5pm, Lobby, free), Jake Hertzog (9/12, 1 pm, Lobby, free)

9/12 - The National (Tryon, 10 pm

Monday, August 24, 2009

Upcoming reviews calendar

Expect reviews (and possibly recordings) of the following, and look for Ellnora and Pygmalion writeups soon:

8/27 - Throw Me the Statue
8/29 - Vivian Girls
9/4 - Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
9/10 - Ellnora Opening Night: Derek Trucks, Junior Brown, Chicha Libre
9/11 - Ellnora: The Long Count/Alex de Grassi
9/11 - Sharon Van Etten
9/12 - Ellnora: The National
9/13 - Matt & Kim
9/14 - Hoots & Hellmouth
9/16 - Pygmalion: Headlights, Japandroids, Owen, Mt St Helens Vietnam Band, Common Loon
9/17 - Pygmalion: Lucero, Maserati, Margot & Nuclear So and So's, Decibully, Joe Pug, Early Day Miners, Post Historic, Brooke Waggoner, Ohtis
9/18 - Pygmalion: Wavves, Autolux, The Antlers, Pomegranates, Low, Pet Lions, Ganglians
9/19 - Pygmalion: RJD2, Gazelle, YACHT, Princeton, Iron & Wine, The Books, Lymbyc Systym, Parasol Day Party
9/23 - Rural Alberta Advantage
10/3 - Vertebrats
10/22 - Avett Brothers
10/24 - Maltross
10/30 - Batrider
11/03 - The Toasters (Springfield--Black Sheep Cafe)*
11/05 - Generationals
11/06 - Neko Case*
11/14 - Heavy Trash*

(* = maybe)

Best Bets: August

8/27 - Throw me the Statue with Nurses, Brunettes, WFFM at Courtyard

Aside from being free and featuring the band behind the best pop song in years (Throw Me the Statue's "Lolita"), this show features Portland-based Nurses, The Brunettes, and local group World's First Flying Machine, who put on one of the best sets I've ever seen opening for Headlights last spring.

8/28 - Dubstep Massacre 7 with DZ, Substr8, Lincoln Jones, Mobius, DJ Belly, Mordechai in the Mirror at Cowboy Monkey

DM is always a party (and one of the few dance nights worth attending in this town). This month DZ headlines, with an excellent supporting lineup (especially Lincoln Jones and Mordechai)

8/29 - Vivian Girls

Eh, whats to say about this show really? Pitchfork darlings, etc. Certainly worth checking out for $5, especially if SSLYBY are as anemic as their January show

Hello

So, here's a blog I started. I'm looking to cover new show announcements, reviews, the local scene, and occasional live recordings.
questions/comments/corrections to transluscent at gmail dot com
or message me at last.fm