The Walkmen Interview: Who does Ham have the hots for?

The Walkmen
Sun. March 09, 2008
The EARL
Atlanta, GA


We haven't heard much from The Walkmen since their prolific 2006 year when they released a note-for-note cover of the Harry Nilson/John Lennon record "Pussy Cats" AND original full-length "A Hundred Miles Off." But now the New York band is back on the road, and they've got a record in the works for a Spring release. We swapped e-mails with the band's singer and webmaster Hamilton Leithauser as the band makes its way down to Atlanta for a show at The EARL with Vampire Weekend.

TAlive: I love the "reviews" section on yours site! Who usually writes those, and what inspired you to post reviews of restaurants and movies? Any plans on expanding that section to include, for example, hotels or even other bands?
Hamilton: Thanks. I write a bunch of them, and Walt usually writes the rest. I once wrote a review of a jail. I've thought about hotels and books. I wrote some book reviews for my friend's website www.themillionsblog.com which was actually more fun than I'd imagined. Maybe I'll do music but that's probably not a good way to make friends.

TAlive: Speaking of hotels, what kind of accommodations do The Walkmen usually end up at? Are you crashing on couches and floors or booking rooms in hotels/motels? Have you ever been stuck somewhere particularly abysmal while on the road?
Hamilton: Walt has a knack for choosing the room with bed bugs. It's happened only to him, and maybe four times. One time we travelled from Beaumont, Texas to Austin...usually a three to four hour ride...in 27 hours because of the Hurricane Rita evacuation. On the radio people were crying, and they kept playing a version of The Beatles "Lovely Rita" with the chorus "Lovely Riiiiita Hurr-rricane." I slept on the roof of the van for about 4 hours.

TAlive: When you do have time to actually explore the city when you're on tour, how do you figure out where to go? Do you read up beforehand, stumble across things by accident, ask people around you?
Hamilton: Honestly, we usually ask each other, and we usually don't get very far, and we never seem to learn better.

TAlive: How did you prepare for the Pussy Cats recording? Was it just a lot of listening to the record over and over? Was a substantial amount of boozing necessary to get your mind in the right place?
Hamilton: Prepare? We didn't even know what the hell was going on at the time.

TAlive: Do you play any of the Pussycats covers live?
Hamilton: A few. Honestly our versions live are not very inspired so we avoid it.


TAlive: I've seen The Walkmen live twice, and I'm always impressed with how much more aggressive the vocals sound. Is this a sign of things to come for The Walkmen? Does your next album have more of a punk rock edge?
Hamilton: Actually I'd say the punk is sort of phasing out. We still have tons of juice up there, but it's a different flavor of juice. Like carrot juice.

TAlive: When I first heard Vampire Weekend a couple months ago, I immediately thought there was something Walkmen-esque in their music I couldn't quite put my finger on... now you're paired up for a few tour dates. How did your bands come together?
Hamilton: A guy in their band named "Ezra" used to be our intern at Marcata. I think what that meant was that Walt, Paul, and Matt interviewed and hired him as an intern and then realized they had absolutely no idea why, and they never got it together to work with him. They all talk fondly about him though. I've heard the name for years. I've never met the guy or heard the tunes though.

TAlive: If you could tour with any band out there now, who would you pick?
Hamilton: I'd like to tour with Neil Hamburger the comedian.

TAlive: We've got an Emma in the office, and she would like to know why exactly she should bring you a lemon...or any fruit for that matter. [note: see MP3 below...]
Hamilton: Because I have the hots for her.

TAlive: What is the story of Marcata? Is it just a studio space or do you have management based there?
Hamilton: It was just a studio. But man, what a studio!! We used to say "the hiss is free". It is gone now. I believe it's a Columbia art-student dorm. So now all those pampered pretentious pricks can rest their precious little heads on our dead dream. Ooooh wee!!

TAlive: Finally, the "FAQ" page on your site suggests to me that you're tired of dealing with the same questions over and over...and maybe you're not a big fan of interviews really at all. Was this a total pain in the ass? If so, how would you describe that pain? More of a throbbing pain or a sharp sting?
Hamilton: I didn't mean it that way at all. I just thought it was kind of funny to have a FAQ on our dumb little website. I think maybe I should put up more navigational questions. Like "How do I get from the "Music" section back to the "News" section...and the answer will be "Click on the "News" button, you will then see the "News" page displayed on your computer screen."

TAlive: Cheers! See you at The EARL! Have a meal there before your show...they have excellent food, and I’m sure it’ll get a 5-star review from the band.
Hamilton: Yeah, I do like the food there. Positive marks all around. See you there.

www.marcata.net/walkmen

Listen! "Emma, Get Me A Lemon"- The Walkmen

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Manchester Orchestra: We love 'em...Pitchfork doesn't

Manchester Orchestra
January 25, 2008
The Loft
Atlanta, GA


Manchester is gonna rock the box this Friday at the Loft. We love those dudes. They've been on the grind for the past two years plus promoting their record "Im Like A Virgin Losing A Child." Pitchfork finally decided to review the record and they enlisted a retarded high school student to do it. Read it here:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/47830-im-like-a-virgin-losing-a-child

Check out Andy from an in-studio Sunday School session he did last year:

"Wolves at Night" - Manchester Orchestra
"Where Have You Been"- Manchester Orchestra

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Party with the Stars from Dancing with the Stars!

Dancing with the Stars Party
w/ Almost Amy
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Andrews Upstairs
Atlanta, Georgia


Can't get enough of Dancing with the Stars? Before the high profile tour hits the stage at Gwinnett Arena on Friday, Andrews Upstairs will be hosting a pre-party...and you're invited!

Music will be provided by Derek Hough's band Almost Amy. Don't recognize the name? Well, you're probably more familiar with Derek's sister, Julianne Hough. She was the gorgeous dancer paired with Dancing with the Stars winner Helio Castroneves! You'll also recognize the other member of Almost Amy: ballroom dancer Mark Ballas!

You'll even get a chance to say "hello" to Mark and Derek at the meet and greet after the show. This is a great opportunity for super fans who want to get pumped up for the show on Friday.

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This is gonna be crazy! Janelle Monae at Sinners Ball

99X Sinner's Ball Featuring The Black Lips
with special guest Janelle Monae
Fri. February 01, 2008
Opera Nightclub
Atlanta, GA

99X just added local superstar in the making Janelle Monae to the Sinners Ball on February 1st. Janelle will be joining the Black Lips for this very unique performance.

The Black Lips and Janelle Monae at Opera is gonna be hella crazy, especially in light of all the stuff that's been going down with the station. You'll definitely want to come out and pour one out for your dead homies.

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Liars latest experiment: Writing actual songs. Liars at The EARL Feb. 14th

You'd be hard pressed to find a t-shirt or bumper sticker declaring that "Liars are for Lovers," but that's what Atlanta is getting on Valentine's Day. Three-piece experimental rock outfit Liars are coming to The EARL in support of their latest, self-titled release. While Liars' previous records have been largely conceptional, "Liars" has shocked critics with its relatively straightforward approach.

TA live gave Liars singer Angus Andrew a ring in Los Angeles to learn more about his unique development as a songwriter and what we can expect on this upcoming tour.

TAlive: Hey Angus how are you?
Angus: I’m good. How are you?

TAlive: Excellent. Where are you right now?
Angus: I’m in downtown Los Angeles. Where are you?

TAlive: We’re in Atlanta, and we’re looking forward to having you back here soon.
Angus: Oh yeah! It’s going to be fun.

TAlive: Last time you came down here you ended up stealing away one of our bands. You grabbed Deerhunter and took them off on tour with you.
Angus: That’s right.

TAlive: Was that the first time you had seen them [opening for Liars at Drunken Unicorn] or had you heard them before? What drew you to their music? How did the tour go?
Angus: Oh it went awesome! I forget how we knew them. I think we knew them from them playing a show in L.A. But yeah, we took them on that tour of The States and then right after that we took them to Europe as well. That was really fun because they had never played Europe before.

TAlive: Right, I know they were really excited about that opportunity.
Angus: Yeah, man. It’s totally cool to see someone’s face when they see Europe for the first time.

TAlive: So, when you come back to Atlanta it’s going to Valentine’s Day!
Angus: No way!

TAlive: Do you think Liars would be a good date night show?
Angus: Oh well, I’m definitely going to try and make it now that I know it’s going to be Valentine’s Day. We’ll play only love songs. So, everyone should come with their dates.

TAlive: If you had to pick, do you think there is a Liars song that has a bit of romance in it? A little bit of love?
Angus: Yeah, it would probably “The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack,” I guess.

TAlive: With this new record, “Liars,” you recorded your parts in Berlin. What drew you to Berlin?
Angus: It’s like escapism, really. When I first went to Berlin, it was mostly because I was freaked out about living in America. I wanted to go somewhere in Europe, and preferably where I didn’t speak the language, so that I would be like an alien and nobody would talk to me, and I could get some work done. The history of the place is amazing.Berlin particularly because they are so aware of their history there. They’re extremely on the other end now, you know. It’s all about individual’s rights, and I’m really down for that.

TAlive: Did you feel like the city inspired your song writing at all?
Angus: In a way. It’s kind of more to do with how much solitude I could get. In that way, it helped a lot. Because, like I said, I don’t speak German. It meant that just going to get the milk in the morning was a big ordeal. That makes it fun and interesting. And, Berlin is just so full of historical bits and pieces, you know? There’s still bullet holes in the walls. You can be inspired just by going out and getting the milk. I think it does help any kind of creativity, really, by putting yourself in a position that you’re not used to. It helps you to redefine yourself.

TAlive: It seems that that need to be challenged by new places and new things is reflected in your lifestyle as much as your music. You’re moving around constantly, and your albums each have their own identity.
Angus: Yeah, that’s just how I was brought up. We were always moving around. I was born in The Philippines and I lived in Australia for a while. I always got a sense that there were so many opportunities for different types of lifestyles around the world, and I guess I’m interested in trying as many of them as possible. I think that any time you make some sort of drastic change like that it gives you the rare chance for reevaluation. And, it helps to redefine yourself each time, I suppose. That’s what’s fun about it. I think the music can only benefit from that, in a sense. I find it difficult to imagine sort of staying in one spot forever just as I imagine it difficult making the same type of music for every record. It just comes naturally, I think.

TAlive: When you approach a new record, is the goal of the record premeditated or do you just start writing and end up piecing together the concept later?
Angus: Well, each of the records that we did before this album we would sit down and discuss it a lot and make sure that there was sort of a thread, at least, that we could tie up the whole album with and make it neat and have a bow on it.

But, this album was completely different in that way. We began writing without any kind of discussion and just went off and had fun with it, really; just going in any direction we wanted. Aaron [Hemphill] and I did end up coming together on one idea, which was that we just wanted to concentrate on writing songs rather than being concerned about the album as a whole. We began to think of songs in particular that we appreciate because of what they are and what they talk about. Particularly, what it’s like to be younger and to appreciate music and how, when we were younger, it was more about like, the guitar solo, rather than where the record was made or who made. So, we just tried to think about music as a more visceral thing rather than a conceptual, mental process. We were going for the gut rather than the head sort of thing.

TAlive: That’s interesting because it seems like the opposite direction of most bands’ growth. Usually they start out with a more straightforward, simple approach and then later in their career they feel they need to be more challenging and go for a concept record. Whereas, with Liars, you seem to have deconstructed instead.
Angus: Yeah, I know...I think we began with sound rather than notes and pieces rather than songs. It’s just been this sort of backward progression towards a more traditional approach and a more basic sort of appreciation of song. It’s interesting because it’s valid to say that this album is an extreme commercial album. In the end, it’s really our most experimental because we’ve never gone so far as to try and make real songs!

TAlive: It’s all relative, I guess, to the artist.
Angus: It’s all relative in a sort of reverse dynamic. (Laughs)

TAlivE: Along the same lines, you had said in a previous interview that you never felt like a songwriter until this album. How did you view yourself as a musician earlier?
Angus: Just piecing ideas together. I came into music on the backend of visual arts. It seemed like another medium, you know? Using sound and instruments together to create, I found it relatively easy to create pieces or songs with lyrics and things like that. And slowly I learned to make those things more and more cohesive. I never really ever felt I could, I don’t know, sit down and just play and sing a song to anyone. Like, a really musician guy. I think that’s where people start! But, that’s not where I began. So, it’s only recently that I’ve come to be able to do that sort of thing, and I have a real appreciation for being able to do that sort of thing.

TAlive: Do you still find time for photography?
Angus: No. When I finished art school and actually a bit earlier, I sort of stopped taking photographs all together. I came to some sort of theoretical crisis about how many photographs have been taken by so many people in the world. It’s just a point I reached at school where I found the limitations of a two-dimensional image to be too much. I first began to work with video and computer animation and sound. That was just the final link before I started making songs. So, no, I haven’t taken photographs in a long time. But, still video I love to make, and I still do computer graphic stuff.

TAlive: What can we expect as far as a set list for the upcoming tour?
Angus: It’s funny you should mention that. It’s been interesting to look and recognize that we have a bit of a back catalog. I love that statement, “back catalog.” Haha! So, there’s a lot of songs to choose from actually, and it’s a lot of fun to put together a set list in an interesting way. It won’t just be from our new album, but certainly the new album stuff is meant to be live and we do concentrate on that. It’s fun, though, to pull out some stuff from years past. You can expect a lot of….stuff.

TAlive: Is it too early to determine what’s next for Liars after this supporting tour?
Angus: We’re going to try to take a little bit of time, a little bit longer to make the next record. I intend to live in Los Angeles with the other guys, so I suppose one thing is we’re going to try to work together which we’ve never really done before.

TAlive: That makes me wonder if you ever compose while on tour since that’s one of those rare opportunities when you all have instruments and you’re all together.
Angus: It’s not from a lack of being together that we don’t write together. It’s more the idea that.. it just doesn’t work. We’ve certainly tried it; just stand together and play. But for some reason, it’s just not the most productive way for us. I just sort of think we can go around that somehow. But no, we don’t write anything on tour. I find it difficult enough to just… tour! (laughs)

TAlive: Well, from what you’ve said about your time in Berlin, it sounds like you are the kind of person who prefers to just work alone with your creativity.
Angus: Yeah, very much so. I appreciate any kind of solitude at all. It’s really good for me. I almost find that the process of writing together in a group is almost illogical. To me, it seems like if we’re going to do a painting, and we all decided to paint at the same time on a board as opposed to one of us taking initiative to map it all out. I think the latter always works for a better song, but I certainly am aware that the majority of great songs have been written in band format.. so there must be something to it!

TAlive: I guess if you are following the laws of music a little more closely as far as playing in a certain key, than you can improvise together more smoothly.
Angus: I know, but you gotta know notes and keys, don’t you?

TAlive: It’s a more technical approach, but maybe a little more boring because you become limited within that box.
Angus: That’s certainly the way I’ve been thinking…but as you know I’m slightly on this revised mode, leaning more and more towards the norm or traditional.. and whether or not I’ll allow that to happen is another question. It’s certainly something new for us, and, therefore, interesting and worth the challenge.

For the weird romantics and the dateless alike, Liars tickets are on sale now!

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The Curious Case of Matt C & the Albums of 2007

(ed. note: TALive welcome's our new contributor: Matt C from 99X in Atlanta!)

Hi. My name is Matt. Friends from high school call me Corduroy (because my
last name is Courtoy and it's kind of similar). College friends call me
Crouton (thanks to an unfortunate typo). Now everyone pretty much calls me
Matt C. I have a radio show every night from 7 p.m. to Midnight on 99X. Of
all the things above, I assume the last one is why they asked me to write a
series of music essays for TALive.

So Happy New Year!! Initially I had envisioned an entirely different first
article, but unfortunately I came down with what's known in the business as
"writer's block." Instead you get MY list of the best albums of 2007. I know
I know... another list. But who knows? This list may the one that provides
you with that much needed closure you can't live without..

10) Kanye West - GRADUATION

This year I finally figured Kanye out. Kanye West is a hip-hop FAMILY GUY -
throwing various pop culture references at his listeners at high speed. Some
("I'm like a fly Malcolm X/ Buy any jeans necessary") work and some ("Whipped
it out/ She said I never seen 'Snakes on a Plane'") don't. No COLLEGE
DROPOUT, but better than LATE REGISTRATION.

9) Arcade Fire - NEON BIBLE

I ignored this album for six months, but now I'm a believer. "Keep the Car
Running" is one of the best songs so far of this young century.

8) Radiohead - IN RAINBOWS

Good album. GREAT marketing strategy.

Q: Will I listen it to it more than HAIL TO THE THIEF?
A: Yes.
Q: Is it as good as THE BENDS?
A: No.

7) Against Me! - NEW WAVE

Some people called this record their sell-out. I disagree. I think it's a
fine mix of pop and punk that suits frontman Tom Gabel's raw vocals. Check
out "Up the Cuts" if you don't believe me. (buy tickets to Against Me! in Little Rock)

6) Jay-Z - AMERICAN GANGSTER

A fine return to form for HOV. Skip the first two Diddy (over)produced tracks
and head straight to "Hello Brooklyn 2.0." This album stands just fine on its own, but really shines after viewing its inspiration - the Ridley Scott profile of mob boss Frank Lucas (coincidentally titled AMERICAN GANGSTER).

5) Foo Fighters - ECHOES SILENCE PATIENCE AND GRACE

There aren't many bands from the 90s still around. And there certainly aren't any making better music than the Foos. Don't be misled by the predictable first single, "The Pretender," this album is an incredible record that draws influence from every genre imaginable. 50 years from now bands will site the Foos, not Nirvana, as their biggest influence.

4) The Hives - THE BLACK AND WHITE ALBUM

I often wonder if bands log on to music forums anonymously and see where they stand with their fans. Something tells me that The Hives did, and after seeing the umpteenth post that read "All Hives records sound alike," they crafted this mind melting record. Slowed only by a misplaced instrumental track, this album has a little new wave, a little hip-hop, a little pop and a LOT of rock. Check out "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S" to get a little taste of ALL of them...at the same time.

3) Spoon - GA GA GA GA GA

Our country's at war. I can't afford to buy gas. But this album debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 - so maybe there is hope for our society. Check out tracks like "Black Like Me" and "Don't You Evah" and you'll see why Spoon is one of the all-time best American bands.

2) The White Stripes - ICKY THUMP

Just how many different sounds can a two person band possibly make?? If you're the White Stripes - A LOT. Thankfully this one has a way better jamming-to-wacky ratio than GET BEHIND ME SATAN.

1) The Shins - WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY

This album was released in January and set the bar so high for other 2007 releases that none, in my opinon, even compared. The Shins are incredible in the fact that they can change their sound between albums and actually improve and enrich their signature style. They reached perfection with their previous release (CHUTES TOO NARROW) and almost do so again with WINCING.

So there you go. I hope this essay is the beginning of a beautiful writer/reader relationship for us. If you have any desire to contact me, feel free to drop me a line at mattc@99x.com. Don't bother spamming me, I have a Spam Filter called Barracuda, and, let me tell you, it is a BEAST. And check
out my radio show every night from 7 p.m. to Midnight on 99X (99.7 FM in the Atlanta area and 99x.com WORLDWIDE) if you're so inclined. Until next time...

Matt C

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Interview with The Whigs! Athens' rising stars look forward to CD release and a big '08

I first stumbled across The Whigs at a packed show in Athens’ intimate Tasty World bar about five years ago. I was in awe of the frenzied crowd supporting this young band, and my first impression was that “damn, these guys must have a lot of friends in town.” I don’t know for sure if The Whigs had any formal fraternal connections, but it certainly felt that way at the show; a crowded room of drunk, dancing fanatics all raising their beers in appreciation of The Whigs’ rollicking, energetic performance. Sure, it’s a good time now, but where will these fans be in four years once everyone’s graduated?

Turns out, The Whigs had a lot more than a local following. Their debut release, “Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip” made a connection with listeners and media critics across the nation. The homemade recording was enough for Rolling Stone to herald The Whigs as one of the top artists to watch, and the accolades kept coming. Before long, they were picked up by the prestigious ATO label, and now the boys are gearing up for the release of “Mission Control,” their highly anticipated sophomore record.

TA live had a chat with singer Parker Gispert about the upcoming release and the band’s big plans for 2008.

TAlive: Hey Parker! So, this looks like a huge year for The Whigs. It’s amazing I saw you back at Tasty World and now… Letterman?
Parker: Yeah, Letterman is going to be insane! It’s going to be great.

TAlive: Is that something ATO hooked up for you? How did that happen?
Parker: I’m not really sure. Our manager Josh [Rifkind] just called us up and said, “Hey, you’re playing on Letterman in three weeks on January 28th.” And we’re like, “Hell yeah!”

TAlive: Do you feel like there was a specific turning point in your career when you knew that, yes, this band is going places? A time when you realized that things were really going to happen for this band?
Parker: Not really. Everything has been gradually positive for us since the beginning. Not in any crazy quick fashion. Just sort of slowly but surely been going well for us. We always had high hopes in terms of wanting to make a lot of records, and have this be what we do with our time.

TAlive: When did you first get connected with you manager Josh? Was it by winning his battle of the bands contest Open Mic Madness or did he know you before?
Parker: No no, we met him through Open Mic Madness. And, if you win his competition, you go on this cruise ship with him; play a show on it [The Rock Boat]. So, we drove down to Florida in a car with him for eight hours which was pretty eye opening if you've never met Josh before. Haha! But yeah, we just got along with him very well, and I think about a year later he started managing us.

TAlive: Athens is such a transient town with students coming and going all the time. Does it still feel like the hometown crowd when you return, even though many of the people that were there when you got started have since graduated or moved out?
Parker: Yeah, it’s actually really cool like that. It’s nice to go home, and, you know, it is home. You have your bedroom…But like you said, it’s just always a different town even six months later. It seems like all the time your friends will just be gone. Have you ever spent a summer in Athens? Like for summer school or something?

TAlive: Yeah, it’s pretty dead…it’s a totally different place.
Paker: Yeah, it’s kind of like you get home and there’s different people back home, and you kind of end up hanging out with people that you might not have hung out with if everybody always stayed in town. So, it’s kind of cool to be at home but to always be meeting new people. It’s a really cool place to live.

TAlive: On the last record you went over to L.A. to record. What was it like in that very professional studio environment? Did you feel uncomfortable at first, or was it just exciting
Parker: It actually felt really comfortable going from recording the first album in a house…Before, we were doing a lot of the micing ourselves and with a friend of ours. When you can just go into a place where they’ve made thousands of records and work with a producer whose made a bunch of albums you love, you can just relax and worry about playing guitar and singing. You know it’s going to sound really good. There was never a doubt about the quality of the producer or the studio we’re in. It just allows you to have your head in the right place and just focus on having a good performance and that kind of stuff. So it was really comfortable and really relaxing, actually.

TAlive: Besides the quality of the recording, what other differences do you see between this album and your first? Has your approach to songwriting changed at all?
Parker: Yeah, hopefully we’ve learned some things from the first record. You know, you always set those personal goals for yourself. Hopefully the lyrics are a little better and hopefully the songwriting is a little more focused. There’s definitely an effort to not really change a ton of the things that were important to us on the first go ‘round. It wasn’t like we set out to make a completely different record. We knew that sonically it was going to sound different. It being two years later, there were going to be changes that we probably couldn’t even see that were going to be happening to the music, you know?

TAlive: And as of fairly recently you have become labelmates with Radiohead!
Parker: That’s true. Pretty awesome!

TAlive: What was your reaction to the way they handled their last release?
Parker: They’re one of the only bands that really has the power to do that and to really make it work. I don’t really understand why a lot of bands that are where they are wouldn’t do that. For instance, Pearl Jam on their last record. They were in the same exact scenario and they actually signed with RCA, with J Records, and I thought they were going to do what Radiohead did, and they didn’t. It was cool to see Radiohead actually do it and then even cooler to see, once they did, decide to go with the label that they went with. The ATO guys, having worked with them, I know what they are all about it. It just made sense that Radiohead would see all the great things about the label and want to work with them.

TAlive: You guys were fairly selective in going with ATO. A lot of other labels had approached you before you finally settled with them.
Parker: Right.

TAlive: So, there must have been something special that you saw in ATO as well.
Parker: They were just straightforward people which is not always the case in this business. There wasn’t a lot of talk or, for lack of a better term, bullshit. They just said, “We really like your band. We like your album. We don’t want to re-record it. We don’t want to do anything weird. We just want to make it so more people can hear it, and we want to help you in any way we can for the next record.” There wasn’t really a lot of courting or anything. They said they were interested and they showed that they were interested by offering us a deal, which was much appreciated.

TAlive: I noticed that at the Flagpole Music Awards in Athens this past year, Of Montreal won a ton of stuff and the audience’s reaction a little…bitter? Cynical? I don’t know, it definitely didn’t feel like enthusiastic support for a local success story. The Whigs are another one of the few Athens bands that has really achieved a great deal of national exposure… have you felt any sense of resentment from the other bands in Athens?
Parker: That’s a good question. We’re not really home that much, so, I don’t know if we could really get a sense of that resentment if there was that kind of thing. Flagpole thrashed our first album pretty hard... I don’t know. It seems like people have been really supportive. I think it helps that we’ve toured a lot, and we’re known for being a hard working band; not just someone who just tours a little bit and got really lucky or something like that. So, I think that helps and I think Of Montreal is kind of the same way.

There are just so many bands in Athens and there are so many great bands, so it wouldn’t surprise me if people were feeling that way about us. You can’t help but identify with that mindset because there are probably lots of bands who are equally deserving of maybe some of the accolades that we’ve been given. For me personally, I can’t really worry about anybody’s resentment or any of that kind of stuff. We’re proud of what we’re doing and we’re working hard.

Tickets to The Whigs CD release at The EARL on Jan. 25th are almost sold out! Buy your tickets now.

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’08…lets do this.

Hey this is Elliott from 99X’s Sunday School. I’m gonna be posting stuff on this blog. Wow big deal….I know, right? Well, deal with it. I wanted to drop this first post to say "hey" and highlight some stuff that’s gonna be rad this year. I’m not one for rambling prose and over pontificating, so let get to this:

(In no particular order)

Vampire Weekend:
These dudes like vampires and weekends…sounds good to me. Check them out at The EARL on March 9th with The Walkmen (buy tickets). This album is gonna own you this year.
Vampire Weekend - "A Punk"

The Selmanaires:
Album numero dos "The Air Salesman" drops on January 22nd…it’s awesome. It’s like if the Talking Heads didn’t have all that annoying world music, and they were super rad and from Atlanta. Album release party at The EARL on January 26th (along with Anna Kramer and the Lost Cause whose album slays, too) (buy tickets).
The Selmanaires- "Broken Mirrors In The Mud"

The Whigs:
Apparently January 22nd is killer album release day. "Mission Control" hits stores that day, and they’ll be doing an album release show that Friday at The EARL (buy tickets). Their drummer has 6 arms and is Dave Grohl pt. 2...Esquire magazine said it, so believe it. Check out “Right Hand On My Heart”….it sounds like “Scentless Apprentice,” which means it’s better than everything your little sister likes.
The Whigs - "Right Hand On My Heart"

MGMT:
Some folks have compared these folks to Muse and Mew...Sure, I guess. All I know is that "Oracular Spectacular" sounds good to my ears. That’s all I care about. Check them out with Yeasayer January 18th at The EARL (buy tickets).

No Age:
One of the biggest buzz bands of ’07 hits town with Liars February 14th at The EARL (buy tickets). They recently signed with Sub Pop, so catch them now before your 60-year-old uncle who reads Paste starts asking you about them, and you feel like a loser 'cause your 60-year-old uncle is more on top of his shit than you.

Black Mountain:
Their self-titled album was easily my favorite album of ’05 or ’06...whatever year it came out. They’ve never played Atlanta….'bout times, dudes. The new record "In The Future" is coming out on January 22nd (see, I told you), and if you go to here you can get it early. Thanks, Jagjaguar! Check them out February 15th at the Earl with Blood on the Wall (A+ band name) or in D.C. on February 19th (buy tickets). Here’s a track….it’s like 14 minutes long.
Black Mountain - "Tyrants"

Kate Nash:
OK, so I’m gonna go ahead and say I’ve got a soft spot for attractive British female artists…I mean who the f*ck doesn’t? Her new album "Made of Bricks" just came out and, yeah yeah, she’s on MTV now and all that. So what? She’s cute and writes good songs, and your girlfriend like her, too. No harm no foul.
Kate Nash- "Foundations"

Atlas Sound:
Deerhunter pretty much ruled the school last year. They’re takin’ a little breaky time, which they certainly deserve. Bradford’s not loungin’ in Acapulco, though. He’s got a solo record coming out on Kranky soon, and is playing the Drunken Unicorn on February 19th (buy tickets). Check out his blog there’s a bagillion mp3’s you can download there. No rest for the wicked.

The EARL (buy tickets):
Damn folks, just realized that The EARL has like 10,000 amazing shows over the next few months.
Such as:
High On Fire
Dead Meadow
Bech House
Sons & Daughters
Nicole Atkins
Acid Mothers Temple
Fu Manchu
Clinic
And a ton of local shows that rule the school

Their food is not half bad either.

99X Sinner’s Ball w/ the Black Lips:
Yeah, I know I work there, but this show is gonna be off the rocker. They’re playing at Opera (WTF!?) on February 1st (buy tickets). Sounds like a rager! You can throw beads at the band and hope they don’t swallow them.

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Introducing...the new TA live bloggers!

Exciting news from TAlive! We have three new writers on board that will start posting this week! Sharp readers might have already spotted the new contributors' names posted on the right-hand side of the screen, but we think they're deserving of more formal introductions.

Atlanta radio listeners will already be familiar with two of our writers: Matt C and Elliott from 99X! Matt will be entertaining us with weekly-ish essays and musings while Elliott will be filling us in on the most exciting new music coming to Ticket Alternative venues.

Up in D.C., we have Joe of music blog Instrumental Analysis! Joe's an experienced blogger with his eyes and ears on the Baltimore and D.C. area.

Do you want to be a TAlive contributor? Let us know! We are always looking for new writers who love the arts and entertainment. We are particularly looking for writers in Little Rock, AR....

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Just added! 99X Sinner's Ball

99X Sinner's Ball feat.....The Black Lips!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Opera Nightclub
Atlanta, Georgia


What band will provide the soundtrack to your annual debauchry in Atlanta this February? We've got the answer, but we're not telling...yet. Check back tomorrow morning and we'll have tickets available for Atlanta's premier Mardi Gras party!

Psst...tickets go on sale today (Jan. 9th) at 5:00 p.m.!

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Against Me! add Little Rock date

Against Me!
Juanitas
Little Rock, AR

January 24, 2008

Against Me! have just added a date in Little Rock to their extensive upcoming tour. While the show hasn't even been added to the band's site yet, we have tickets on sale now!

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