Get licked! With Juliette Lewis & The Licks!

Juliette & The Licks
Thurs. November 01, 2007
The Drunken Unicorn
Atlanta, GA
and
Thurs., November 08, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.

Who knew Academy Award and Emmy-nominated actress Juliette Lewis was also a punk rock star? Juding by the ticket sales, apparently we are just the last to find out. Singing brashly and confidently about feminisism and activism, Lewis is known for her emotional and commanding performances on the rock stage. Get up-close with some serious star power as Lewis tours intimate rock clubs this fall!

http://www.julietteandthelicks.com/

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Halloween weekend!

With Halloween falling on a a week night, the festivities will begin this weekend. Here's what Ticket Alternative has going on!

In Atlanta:
Sat. October 27, 2007

• Old School "Trick of Treat Halloween Costume Party
  The View @ King Plow Arts Center
  Find Tickets


• Halloween Party w/ The Breakfast Club
  Andrews Upstairs
  Find Tickets

Wed. October 31, 2007

• Hallowen Party w/ Carl Cox
  Opera Nightclub
  Find Tickets


• The Black Angels
  The EARL
  Find Tickets


• Armada Halloween Bash w/ DJ Scribble
  Andrews Upstairs
  Find Tickets


• Devlin and Dark (Spank Rock DJs)
  MJQ Concourse
  Find Tickets


• Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers w/ Tyrone Wells
  Vinyl
  Find Tickets


• Shout Out Louds
  The Loft
  Find Tickets

In Little Rock:
Sat. October 27, 2007

• Blues Traveler, "Great Spookedy Doo"
  Revolution Music Room
  Find Tickets

Wed. October 31, 2007

• Jason Boland & The Stragglers (costumes encouraged!)
  Revolution Music Room
  Find Tickets

In Washington, D.C.
Wed October 31, 2007

• The Bravery after party with Be Your Own Pet
  (The Warriors theme Costume Party!)
  Rock and Roll Hotel
  Find Tickets
  

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Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! Add Third D.C. date

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Mon November 19, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.


Due to overwhelming response, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! have added a third date in D.C. at the Rock and Roll Hotel. The two previous dates are SOLD OUT. Tickets for the Monday November 19th show go on sale at 10:00am on Friday October 12th!

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Secret Machines: On tour and working with Bono?

Secret Machines
Wed October 10, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.



The latest news from the Secret Machines' camp is pretty huge. The band contributed several tracks to the upcoming Beatles-themed film "Across the Universe."One of which just happens to be "I Am The Walrus" featuring Bono on vocals! Not a bad collaboration for an indie band to score!

This isn't The Secret Machines first run in with the pop legends, either. In February 2006 they got to open for U2 during their Vertigo tour in Mexico. The Edge is also a big fan of the band, quoted in the August 2007 issue of Uncute magazine saying Secret Machines' record Now Here is Nowhere is the "last record he fell in love with."

It's good to hear the band is still doing well after a hectic year. Benjamin Curtis, one of the two brothers that founded Secret Machines, left the band earlier this year to pursue another project. The remaining members, Brandon Curtis and Josh Garza have kept the band going strong into 2007. In fact, they recently debuted a set of brand new tunes during their residency at The Annex in New York City.
If you are curious to hear what the band has been up to since working with Bono and rearranging their lineup, definitely grab tickets to the upcoming tour!

http://www.thesecretmachines.com/

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Black Angels on the road again!

The Black Angels
Oct 31, 2007 in Atlanta
Nov 04, 2007 in Washington, D.C.


Psychedelic drone machines Black Angels are back on the road this fall. We had a chat with singer Alex Maas back in March, and he had some great stories to tell about his haunted house, playing almost a million shows at SXSW (we are just barely exaggerating), and what it means to be psychedelic. We are working on getting the podcast up and running once again, and in the meantime I'll work on a transcript of the interview for your reading pleasure. Check back later today or tomorrow!

Here you go!
Black Angels Podcast

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Featured Venue: Rock and Roll Hotel

Rock and Roll Hotel
1353 H Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
http://www.rockandrollhoteldc.com/


You can check out any time you like, but you won’t want to leave!

Let’s just get this straight right from the beginning. Yes, you can rent a room at the Rock and Roll Hotel. No, it is not really a hotel. Still confused? We’ll explain.

While you can’t get a bed for the night, Rock and Roll Hotel does offer 2 themed party suites & 3 recording suites for rent. You can get a taste of what’s available by browsing the list of room names, which range from “The Led Zeppelin Suite” to “The My Bloody Valentine Suite.”

The goal here is to capture the feeling of glamour and luxury celebrated in famous hotels like The Savoy in London or The Chelsea in New York City. The vibe is just right for the burgeoning H Street Corridor surrounding the venue. This neighborhood has gone through major renovations in recent years, and is quickly being recognized as the premiere arts and entertainment district in DC.

In addition to the rental suites, Rock and Roll Hotel operates as a full service rock club, hosting a top-notch selection of rising rock acts. Upcoming concert highlights include psychedlic legends The Silver Apples on September 1st, Sonic Youth founder Thurston Moore on September 29th, and two nights with indie darlings Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in November, among countless others. All shows in the Main Hall are open to ALL AGES!

DC residents that use the Metro to get around will find transportation to Rock and Roll Hotel is now easier than ever! If you are heading down on a Friday or Saturday night, just call up Atlas Courtsey Shuttle for FREE service from Union Station to H Street. The shuttle is available from 10:00PM to 2:30AM each week. Please call (202) 906-0697 for pick up!

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Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth releases first solo record in over 10 years! Tour to follow!

Thurston Moore
Sat September 29, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.



We didn't think you'd believe us, so here is the official release from Ecstatic Peace!:

"September 2007 and the summer shall wane and the leaves will glow their death state and school bells will peal forth dream desires and wild wishes and oh yeh:

ECSTATIC PEACE releases thurston "trees outside the academy”

It’s Thurston’s first solo outing since 1995’s Psychic Hearts. Of course, Thurston’s been releasing records here, there and everywhere mostly in the context of rowdy and rambunctious noise/improv escapades but this new one is killer diller SONGS! Unlike Psychic Hearts’ skeletal trio rock, this new jammer, 12 years post, has a far fuller bouquet of sonic depth and proves this Sonic dude to have a very real songwriting life outside of the legendary Sonic Youth (of which he is a founding figure, duh).

This newborn disc is 12 songs long. Thurston recorded primarily on acoustic guitar and bass, laying down the core of the tunes with drummer compatriot Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelly and violinist Samara Lubelski, a noted player from MV/EE and The Golden Road, Hall of Fame and other awesome gatherings as well as solo artiste.

Thurston grabbed John Agnello to record and mix the sucker after having a helluva good time with the bro from working on Sonic Youth’s 2006 killer Rather Ripped. They decided to work in Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis’ Bisquiteen studio (the top floor in J’s Amherst house actually) where Dino did their Beyond album. This worked out very nicely as it allowed Thurston to yell down the stairs every time he needed a shredding guitar solo and J would trundle up, plug in and BURN. Other guests on “trees outside...” are Christina Carter, she of Charalambides, and she of the most beatific, beautific voice on land, sea and air.

One track called Honest James has Thurston and Christina singing duet against a single acoustic guitar and it is a naked groove. The otherworldly Canadian musician Andrew Macgregor aka “Gown” plays some spectacularly understated and incredible guitar and Sunburned Hand of The Man’s John Moloney takes over the drum stool to absolutely flail on the pit snarling Wonderful Witches. And then there’s the 20 seconds or so of primal noise wave courtesy of American noise underground genius Leslie Keffer on Off Work.

Most of the tunes are lyric driven but there are a couple of majestic instrumentals like Trees Outside The Academy, which brings the album to a musical and breathless close. There’s also some weird cassette tape that Thurston found at his mom’s of him at 13 years old in the early 70s making some kind of sound-theatre. It’s kinda nuts, and it’s the last “hidden” track. Tracks like Frozen Gtr, The Shape Is In A Trance, Silver>Blue, Never Day and Fri/end (a theme song to the hippest TV show yet to be broadcast) will lead you in to a sparkling and heavy new world of Thurston’s heart, mind and soul.

Thurston Moore, for those of you just visiting planet Earth, has been playing music and liberating whatever ossifying standards rock n’ roll becomes threatened by since the late 70s when he walked the downtown jungle of punk/post-punk/no wave NYC and started the band Sonic Youth. Ever since he and the band have consistently stayed true to the authenticity and creativity of radical rock n roll idealism. From the experience of a life touring, writing, having a magical daughter with his amazing wife and partner Kim Gordon, Thurston has poured a heady brew into whatever speakers this new CD flows from. Take a sip, and pass it around. "

http://www.ecstaticpeace.com/

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The Ataris

The Ataris
On Tour Now!
Sept. 19, 2007 in Little Rock
Sept. 28, 2007 in Washington, D.C.




The Ataris' big break came in 1997 when Kris Roe passed his demo to a roadie for the band The Vandals. At the time, Kris was just looking for a drummer, but he ended up with a record deal. A few weeks after the fateful encounter, Kris got a call from The Vandal's own label, Kung Fu Records, and The Ataris were off.

Although the band enjoyed a dedicated underground following for many years, it wasn't until 2003 that The Ataris achieved widespread success. The polished tracks on So Long, Astoria came out radio ready, and mainstream audiences raved overThe Ataris cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer."

Since then, the band has come full circle, leaving Columbia Records to start their own label, Isola Recordings. In February of this year they released the follow-up to So Long, Astoria entitled Welcome the Night.

The record debuted at 85 on Billboard has sold over 10,000 copies so far.

http://www.theataris.com/

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"The Aliens" aren't from another planet; they're just English.

The Aliens

Fri September 21, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.

UK's The Aliens seem to be invading music magazines across the globe, grabbing slots on prestigious compilations and garnering glowing reviews across the board.

It feels like this band has literally come out of nowhere, but its origins are less mysterious than they seem. The Aliens is actually comprised of Gordon Anderson, Robin Jones, and John Maclean who are all former members of The Beta Band. So, between their big moment in the movie High Fidelity and opening for Radiohead, these are seasoned musicians to say the least.

The Aliens' debut release "Astronomy for Dogs," is filled with glorious, modern pop. This is what The Beatles would of sounded like if they formed in 2000 and reached their psychedelic apex now in 2007, the whole of electronica at their disposal. The Aliens back narrative, melodic lyrics with layers and layers of keyboards, guitars, and sparkling keyboards.

It's not too late to make this your summer record!

Listen: The Aliens - "Robot Man"

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Rock and Roll Hotel On Sales Friday at 10am!: Ataris, The Fold, 1990s

Hey D.C.! No sleeping in tomorrow. We've got a some big on sales at 10:00am:

The Fold
Monday September 24
Rock and Roll Hotel
On Sale Friday at 10AM!

The Ataris
Friday September 28
Rock and Roll Hotel
On sale Friday at 10AM!



1990s
Wednesday October 17
Rock and Roll Hotel
On sale Friday at 10AM

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Saves the Day Acoustic Tour Announced

Saves the Day
October 14, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington. D.C.

October 22, 2007
The Loft
Atlanta, GA



After 10 years together and nearly as many lineup changes, Saves the Day has announced the forthcoming release of its new record, “‘Under The Boards.” Early listens suggest a dancier, pop direction for a band that has gone from hardcore to punk pop and beyond in the past. There are a couple tracks posted on Myspace, but the full-length will be on Vagrant Records October 30th.

Hey, did anyone in Atlanta run into Saves the Day singer Chris Conley at Perimeter Mall back in May? Apparently he popped in the Apple Store to show the kids how to record a podcast. Pretty sweet! It also looks like he took his new technology skills to heart, as the band created, and continue to maintain, their very own Web site. You'd think Vagrant would of helped them out, but the amateur web skills are kind of endearing. Don't you think so? Gotta love that "DIY" spirit!

Speaking of acronyms, Saves the Day sure have an unfortunate one. It took me way too long to figure out why the band was promoting "STD videos" on their myspace...but that's just me.

To celebrate the new record, Saves the Day are embarking on an acoustic tour. See the flyer below!

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Shows that are hard to google for: plus/minus, chk chk chk

It's sad to say this as a blog writer, but seriously, words are totally overrated. I mean, how many bands can there be with like, "names" with, you know, "letters." It's boring, frankly.

That's why we are excited that not one but two of our favorite symbol-happy artists are on tour! The down side of this is that yes, searching for symbols online is a chore. So along with the band info we've got some hints on what to search for to track these artists down on the web.

+/-
September 27, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.


+/- was formed by members of '90s Merge Records alternative band Versus. James Baluyut and Patrick Ramos provide traditional instrumentation such as vocal, guitars, and drum, while third non-Versus member Chris Deaner mans the drum machine, sampler, and other surprises (from clarinet to banjo!)

If you see the name of the band and really want to label to +/- "math rock," you wouldn't be too far off. Like bands in that experimental genre, +/- love to use non-traditional time signatures and rhythms. But +/- are even more far-reaching in their experimentation, and they're not afraid of taking on a samba or using looping guitars and drums.

+/- recently announced a handful of tour dates in the Northeast with Japan's Moools. These are the first +/- shows in the States since their extensive European tour earlier this year.

In addition to touring back at home, +/- are also looking forward to the release of their debut DVD! Appropriately titled "+/- Self-Titled Debut Digital Video Disc," the DVD will feature 12 videos by various directors plus as of yet unspecified bonus material. It's all wrapped up beautifully in a Mark Robinson designed package. No word if the band will have the DVDs on hand at the upcoming shows, but you can definitely grab a copy at your local record store or online at Teenbeat.

Google search tip: This band also goes by "plus/minus" so try writing out the words! Their official site is written as: http://www.plusmin.us

Listen! plus/minus- "Steal the Blueprints"


!!!
October 3, 2007
Revolution Music Room
Little Rock, AR


Believe it or not, !!! actually have a story behind their name besides just trying to confuse people. The name was in fact inspired by the '80s comedy flick "The Gods Must Be Crazy" where The Bushmen's clicking language is represented with exclamation marks in the subtitles.

To understand !!!'s sound, you have to know where the band comes from. !!! was founded by members of Black Liquorice and Popesmashers after the two bands went on tour together. If you are familiar with these early sounds, you'll be able to hear the funky dance rhythms of Black Liquorice and punk rock delivery of Popsmashers in !!!.

This is dance music with an attitude. Full of intense energy, pounding basslines, and layers and layers of electronics.

Google search tip: The band's name is typically pronounced "chk chk chk," although they say any mono-syllabic sound could work. Anyway, "chk chk chk" is most common and you can usually find this band online by searching for that phrase. Man, "!!!" doesn't even work as a label on blogger. That is so hip.

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Here's your ticket to The Good Life

The Good Life
On Tour Now!

Find tickets in D.C.

Find tickets in Atlanta

Saddle Creek's The Good Life have announced a Fall tour, including dates at Rock and Roll Hotel in D.C. and Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta!

The Good Life was founded by Cursive's frontman Tim Kasher. Although it was originally intended as a solo project, The Good Life has since evolved into a solid group. Kasher used The Good Life to showcase his "softer rock" creations. Although the music doesn't have the punk edge of Cursive, The Good Life is heavy with emotion . Kasher's riveting stories of troubled relationships, heartbreak and hope are sung sweetly over subtle synth, inspired by the likes of The Cure.

www.saddle-creek.com/bands/goodlife

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The legendary Silver Apples return!

The Silver Apples
Mon September 10, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.
Find Tickets!

The Silver Apples created electronic music decades before the dawn of the commercial synthesizer. Band founder Simeon fashioned his own synth sound in the late ‘60s scrapping together 12 oscillators, an assortment of sound filters, telegraph keys, radio parts, and other junk electronics. His creation was later referred to as "The Simeon." With Dan Taylor joining him on drums, the duo released their first record in 1968 on KAPP Records. The self-titled debut made it to Billboard’s Top 100 for 10 weeks, and The Silver Apples were heralded as New York’s leading underground explosion.

Following a national tour and a second release, KAPP Records eventually folded in 1970. Although an occasional bootleg surfaced from time to time, the band’s career seemed to be over. It was not until 1994 that a German label called TRC re-released The Silver Apples’ first two records on double CD. Although the label had no license to do so, the re-release was essential in the resurrection of the band. A number of modern bands discovered The Silver Apples thanks to TRC, and they began to cover the songs and release tribute records in honor of these inspiring innovators. Motivated by the renewed interest in his work, Simeon reformed Silver Apples in 1996. “Fractal Flow,” the first new Silver Apples single released in 26 years, was extremely well received. Their comeback show at The Knitting factory the following year was equally praised. The Village Voice celebrated the return of a “technorock genius” and New York Post was dazzled by what seemed to be “pop rock from outer space.”

In some way the upcoming Fall tour dates mark a second resurrection for The Silver Apples. In 1999 The Silver Apples tour van was forced off the road, and Simeon, who was behind the wheel, suffered a broken neck. Although he has mostly recovered, he has lost some mobility in his hands, making keyboard playing difficult. In 2005 tragedy struck again when founding member Dan Taylor passed away.

Despite these enormous obstacles, Simeon has never stopped dreaming and creating. Fans of psychedliec and electronic music are eagerly awaiting his return to the stage this fall. D.C. fans – don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a living legend!

www.silverapples.com

Listen! Silver Apples - "Lovefingers"

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Clap Your Hands Say Sold Out

Wake up D.C.! Tickets to the Nov 17th CYHSY show are already sold out. There are still some remaining for Nov 18th, but you're going to want to grab those quick!


Also, this is a perfect opportunity to remind you about our SMS alerts. "SMS" is tech talk for "text messages," and we can send you one when tickets for a sold out show become available! So, just in case they release additional tickets for Nov 17th, you'll be notified right away right on your phone! Sign up for SMS alerts here.

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Jon Spencer goes "Way Out" with Heavy Trash!

Heavy Trash
Wed September 19, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.
Find Tickets!

As Blues Explosion fans eagerly await the new release due out this Fall, Jon Spencer has been busy rockin' and boppin' along with his rockabilly side project Heavy Trash.

Formed with friend and guitarist Matt Verta-Ray, Heavy Trash offers everything you'd expect from two blues-obsessed musicians with slicked back pompadours, hollow-bodied guitars, and a stand-up bass.

Once again Spencer proves his skill at taking classic Americana and giving it a swift kick in the pants with punk energy and garage edge. While every jangly guitar riff echoes with warm tube amp tones, his snarling vocals and bursts of distortion take us on a more soulful journey than any Stray Cat Strut.
So if you like your rock ‘n’ roll served up like a greasy diner platter, pick up “Way Out,” the Heavy Trash record out now on Yep Rock Records. If you need more convincing, check out the kitsch-tastic “promos” they have streaming on their official myspace page!

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Noisettes Tickets On Sale!

Noisettes
Sept 11, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.
Find Tickets

We saw this band open for TV on the Radio a few months back it was a great show! Their description on Myspace really says it all:

"Noisettes are fronted by the supremely talented and beautiful Shingai Shoniwa, a vocalist and instrumentalist who sings like Billie Holiday on PCP while patrolling the stage like an Amazonian Warrior with an eye for fashion. Shingai howls and soothes, gives you goose bumps and shoots soul into your main arteries. "

Listen: Noistettes - Scratch Your Name

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CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY TICKETS!

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Nov 17-18, 2007
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, D.C.
Find Tickets!

ON SALE NOW. Seriously, right this second.

I know we say this a lot, but tickets are seriously going fast. This band's popularity is getting so out of control they are playing multiple dates in almost every city on the tour this Fall-- including three nights in LA, two in Seattle, two in Minneapolis, and of course two nights in our favorite D.C venue: Rock and Roll Hotel!

"Why don't they just play a bigger venue?" Because, cynical reader, they are too cool and indie for that. Plus, wouldn't you much rather be able to get up close and personal? We would!

For those of you who haven't had Internet access for the past two years, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! is famed for rising to stardom based solely on exposure through MP3 blogs and social network sites. The result is international acclaim, claiming the likes of David Bowie and David Bryne as fans. Man, Bowie is so hip. Remember how he discovered Arcade Fire, too? Anyways...

If you are fan of bands like Violent Femmes and enjoy irreverant lyrics and danceable beats, check out CYHSY!

wwww.clapyourhandssayyeah.com

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Tokyo Police Club Interview

Tokyo Police Club
ON TOUR NOW!
Find Tickets for D.C. and Atlanta
http://www.tokyopoliceclub.com
MP3: "Citizens of Tomorrow"

Tokyo Police Club has proven that you can get more than 15 minutes of fame with just 16 minutes of music. These young Canadian rockers have taken their EP “A Lesson in Crime” all around the world. They’ve played Coachella, Letterman, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza is lined up next. After a few stints around the country with Cold War Kids and Art Brut, TPC is finally ready for its first headlining tour in the US. We had a chat with guitarist Josh Hook as the band prepares to invade America.

TALive: Hey Josh! How are you? What are you up to now?
Josh Hook: Hey, not too bad. Right now we just pulled up…. We are doing a Sirius satellite radio session in I think it's called Pendleton, Indiana. And right now the band Dappled Cities is doing one before us so we are just waiting outside. Some of us are reading, unloading equipment.

TALive: Oh, very cool that’s actually how I first heard your music. We have Sirius in the office and your music pops up quite a bit.
JH: Oh, sweet. That's good to know!

TALive: So you’ve got a pretty insane tour coming up. Is this your first headlining tour?
JH: This is our first headlining tour of the States, yeah. So we’re really looking forward to it. We’ve done a couple tours like, a few days with Art Brut, a big tour with Cold War Kids. Although it's great sometimes to support bands, nothing is like headlining your show. You get to (it sounds boring but) connect to YOUR fans instead of being swept off the stage right after you play.

TALive: How do you prepare for a headlining tour differently than an opening slot?
JH: We don’t have that many songs. Normally it would be a question of length, but our opening set is normally, your given half an hour 40 minutes, and our headlining set is somewhere in the range of 45, maybe 50 if we talk a lot.

TALive: I’ve spent a lot of time in Toronto actually, and something that really struck me was that Canada has a government-enforced policy to ensure that a certain percentage of programming on radio and TV is Canadian in origin.
JH: Right, CANCON.

TALive: How do you feel about that policy as a Canadian artist? Do you feel like it helps you gain exposure? Do even notice the regulation in effect?
JH: Yeah, you can definitely notice it. There’s a radio station here called The EDGE, and on their Thursday 30 countdown, if you see it on their Web site, you can see all the Canadian flags. Most of the time, it’s about 30 per cent that you’re supposed to play, and most of the time it’s almost exactly 10 artists on there. Luckily we are one of those most of the time. As a Canadian artist, it’s always great, getting a little extra help. I can totally understand, too, “oh they don’t work as hard” or whatever because they have these Canadian content laws. I don’t know. I think it’s a matter of, and not sounding arrogant, but just making good music. If you make good music it will find its fans regardless of how much the government says to play on the radio.

TALive: Right, well you don’t get played on the radio just because you are Canadian. There are still certain standards you have to achieve.
JH: Yeah, there’s a lot of terrible Canadian music, and just because we have to play 30 per cent we don’t play that!

Click to read the rest of our interview!

TALive: Back to the tour you have lined up, it looks like a lot of hours on the road. You are still young guys, I am sure you get bored easily. What do you do to entertain yourselves when you’re stuck in a van for hours?
JH: When we’re stuck in a van, normally one of us always has to drive. In the States two of us are able to drive. So, one of us is always doing that which can be a little entertaining. The rest of us we all have laptops so you’ll normally see three of us shut off in the back watching TV shows or something. It’s pretty anti-social when we’re in the van. But when we get out at a rest stop or whatever to fill up on gas, we like to try to keep ourselves in tip-top shape. So we have a hackeysack that we normally kick around and that’s about it.

TALive: I saw on your blog that you were planning on bringing some hockey sticks along on this tour. JH: Yeah, I think that blog was premature. We’re still very rusty, and challenging other people to come play us isn’t a great idea at this point.

TALive: Oh, I don’t know about that. In the States anyway you might still have an edge.
JH: Yeah, that’s true. We’ll just intimidate them with our…um…nothing. I don’t know where that was going.

TALive: Ha, your Canadian heritage.
JH: Yeah! Haha, we have hockey on our five-dollar bill that should be good enough.

TALive: You guys have already accomplished so much in terms of festivals, and Letterman…all those landmark events that bands work toward. What do you still hope to accomplish?
JH: I think we just hope to keep up with the pace we’ve set for ourselves. I don’t think anybody is planning to be huge or the biggest band in the world or anything. This is just sort of a step-by-step thing and we’ll take thing things as they are given to us and we’ll work really hard. And whatever comes of our hard work we’ll do. Personally, I hope we get to play Conan because I’ve been a huge fan for so long. That would make my career. I could quit then and be happy.

TALive: As a band coming out of the Myspace generation, how have you utilized those online networks to help promote your music and get it out there?
JH: Well actually, a lot of us were kind of oblivious to the whole Myspace thing when it first started. We just heard the words thrown around at school. Eventually we decided to get one, not really as a joke, but a “let’s just see what this is. Maybe it’ll be fun.” Then it just really took off on its own. I guess we really underestimated at the beginning how powerful that tool could be. It has definitely become our most…and I think for any band that has a Myspace, even though it’s just a user community it’s still a huge market and a huge promotional tool. We get infinitely more hits on our Myspace, and more questions coming through our Myspace than we do through our Web site.

TALive: Are there certain dates you are especially looking forward to this summer?
JH: This summer I’m really looking forward to playing lollapalooza. That should be fun.

TALive: Very cool, any other bands playing Lollapalooza you want to check out?
JH: Um, actually this is kind of weird one, but I was watching TV and I saw this girl, I think she’s called Kid Sister. It’s really cool kind of rap-ish stuff. Anyway, I’m going to go check her out I don’t know how many people are going to come with me. Besides that, I think we are playing before Silverchair. We all grew up with “Frogstomp,” so that might be cool to see.

TALive: Well, you mention growing up with Silverchair and your bio talks about how you grew up, like so many kids, dreaming of one day being in a band. When you were young playing air guitar or whatever, what were you listening to? What inspired you start playing?
JH: We all lived in Newmarket, so whenever there’s a concert it always goes to Toronto. So we’d always have giant fieldtrips together. And our first concert with Radiohead… and that was a really dumb move because every concert was nowhere near as good. But that was really a turning point: August 3, 2001. We just kind of left that we didn’t even talk on the hour drive home. Nobody talked. And the next day we’re just like “alright, let’s do this,” and we formed a band before anybody knew how to play instruments just based on that.

TALive: There was a lot of talk in your early interviews about parents being frustrated that you had to quit school to do the band thing. Now that you are touring the world and playing Letterman, has the disapproval diminished?
JH: Yeah, it was different for everybody’s parents. My parents were always really supportive. I guess the most opposed were Greg’s parents just because he was two years older and he was half-way through University, so he had a little bit more to drop out of. I had just come out of high school. I’m the young one. But it’s interesting, when we played Letterman his parents actually made the drive down one day to see it. So that was a reassurance that they know it’s not a complete waste of time…. that their son is actually doing something.

TALive: Maybe you were finally playing a medium that they were familiar with.
Yeah! We can say things like “we’re playing Coachella” and nothing. But then when you say “Letterman” it’s like “oh yeah, funny man on TV.”

TALive: Well good luck on the tour and we are looking forward to having you back this summer!
JH: Yeah we are looking forward to coming back! We were there with ENON two times before and it was much fun so we are looking forward to it.>

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VHS or BETA interview!

This is a big year for Louisville’s VHS or BETA. After nearly a year and a half off the stage, they are returning on tour with a brand new album under their belts. “Bring on the Comets,” due out on Astralwerks this August, offers a massive, lush soundscape of swirling guitars and soaring melodies. The sound is a slight departure from their dance roots, with acoustic drums outweighing electronic for first perhaps the first time in their 12-year career.

This release, and the tour dates to come, also mark the band’s first without former guitarist Zeke. It’s always nerve-wracking to present a new lineup and a new record to old fans, but bassist Mark Palgy sounded upbeat and optimistic when we talked with him on the road. It’s clear how proud the band is of “Bring on the Comets” and they are both anxious and eager to get the record out!

TALive: Hey Mark, how are you? I know you are on the road now, where to next?
Mark Palgy: Nashville, we are almost there.

TALive: Great, how’s it been going so far? Have you been touring much yet, I know you have quite a few dates scheduled for this fall.
MP: Well, we actually just did our first show last night—first show in about a year and a half.
TALive: Wow!
MP: Yeah, in Murfreesboro. It was a lot of fun.

TALive: Have you played already with the revised lineup, since Zeke’s left?
MP: No! Last night was the first night of our new formation.

TALive: Was there a lot that needed to be changed in order to perform some of the older tracks?
MP: You know, we had to rehearse a whole bunch. There was a lot of singing that he had to learn and guitar stuff. It just took a lot of rehearsing, as I guess any band has to do. Judging by the crowd’s response I think they really dug it. I was really pleased with out how it went last night.

TALive: Well, I got an advance copy of “Bring on the Comets” this week which I am really excited about. It sounds huge; really love it. What is it like for you as a band to have this record, be excited about it, but you have this lag time before everybody gets the record in their hands.
MP: Yeah, it kind of sucks! I mean, it just takes so long for a record to get out and we have to sort of wait it out. We’re really anxious for everyone to hear the new material! We’re out on the road just sort of practicing it every night. Yeah, we’re playing a lot of stuff people haven’t heard yet and they are responding to it pretty nicely.

TALive: Is there still some anxiety there about what the reaction will be? I know you’ve gone in a new direction as a band…
MP: Yeah, you know there’s always a little bit of anxiety about that, but we are just so pleased with how everything came out. I think once people actually have the record in their possession for a while and then come see us it will really be a lot better.

TALive: The initial reactions I’ve seen suggest that it’s more rock than dance than the older material. Was that a conscientious effort? I mean, it seems like you guys have always been a little ahead of your time and now the market is saturated with bands that sound like you did two records ago. Was there a conscious effort to move away from that sound now, or was it more of a natural progression?
MP: Um, it wasn’t really conscious. We just felt like Le Funk came out a little too early and Night On Fire came out a little too late. And this time around it was just “let’s just make good song,” that’s the bottom line. People can sing along with them, still have a good time, it still sounds like us even if it’s more rock.

TALive: What was your connection with My Morning Jacket? I know they helped out a good bit with this record.
MP: They’re just really good buddies of ours. They’re from Louisville and we’re from Louisville so I mean… we’ve been seeing those guys out and about for years and years and years. And over the years, we’ve become a lot closer to them just as buddies, you know? Having a band that we can sort of relate to as far as being gone for long stretches of time, playing shows, and all that stuff…they just know what’s going on. And in all honesty, we don’t really even talk about music that much with them they’re just more buddies than anything. When we were in North Carolina, we wanted to get Bo [Koster] in to do some piano work, because he is just so, so, so, so great. And Jim [James] happened to be in the area so we got both of them!

TALive: And Jim lends vocals to the record, right?
MP: Yeah, he did some backing, some oohs and ahhs.

TALive: Did you meet producer Brandon Mason through them, is that right?
MP: No! We did a tour with the Secret Machine, and we got their album “Ten Silver Drops” and we’re like “Wow! This record sounds really good, who did it?” and Brandon Mason did it. So, we got in touch with him and Brandon expressed so much interest and passion in wanting to work with us, and we were just flattered by him. He’s a spectacular person. We had a really, really, really great time with him!

TALive: Do you think that his input made this album more distinctive?
MP: Umm, to an extent. I mean, he just knows what he’s doing. He’s a wizard in the studio. He wants to talk about a sound you want to make. Ultimately he leaves it up to the band to say how we want to sound, and he achieves it. He puts the ball in the band’s court, you know? He’s not trying to put his stamp on anything, really. He’s a really hard worker, and he’s really gifted at what he does.

TALive: How long have you been with Astralwerks? I was excited when I heard about that—seems like such a perfect match, they’ve got Radio 4..
MP: Yeah! I think we signed with them in ’03, so it’s been a few years.

TALive: And they’ve helped you quite a bit. I’ve seen some amazing tour slots from Reading Festival to opening for Duran Duran. What have been some of the highlights for you on tour?
MP: One time we played Bogotá, Columbia and it was spectacular. It was a three day festival they have in the park, and the government puts it on so its free. There was a curtain on stage, and it opens up and we are playing in front of like 80,000 people in Columbia. It was really awesome, we felt like Queen or something.

TALive: Wow, who were the headlining acts for that festival?
MP: A bunch of people you haven’t heard of. A bunch of South American acts. I hadn’t really heard of a many groups that were playing, but they were huge down there.

TALive: And they responded well to your music?
MP: Yeah! It was really overwhelming. We still get e-mails from Columbian fans like, “when are you coming back?!”

TALive: I have noticed that South American fans tend to be extremely enthusiastic about any band they are fans of.
MP: Yeah. I mean it’s getting better for them, but I think in the States we have bands coming in and out of every city every night of the week. There, I don’t think it’s as common. So when they get to see a band come in from London, or New York, or…Kentucky.. they get pretty excited about it!

TALive: Do you know who is going to be joining you on tour this fall?
MP: Yeah, we are taking a band called Walter Meego. I think they’re from Chicago, I’m not exactly sure. It’s kind of a poppy electronic thing, they’re cool.

TALive: I also read about a 12inch you are going to be releasing with a few remixes from the record? I guess later this year?
MP: Yeah, we’re gonna do a teaser, like a white label 12 inch of “Burn It All Down” with some remixes by some folks. And that is going to be like a teaser single, and shortly after we are going to release “Can’t Believe a Word” as a proper single…like, the main single.

TALive: Do you know who is going to be on board to do those remixes or is that a surprise?
MP: Yeah, for “Burn it All Down “ we got this Surkin from France. And we got the Midnight Juggernauts from Australia who are really cool. And we got a guy named Fred Faulk whose French also.

TALive: Very nice, is that harking back to your earlier days of French house music?
MP: Yeah, definitely. We still love that stuff. I think “Burn it all Down” is a single that fans who enjoyed “Night on Fire” can still dig it. Even if the record is going in a little bit of a different direction, they can still know we aren’t totally abandoning anybody.

TALive: Great, well we are definitely looking forward to having you back in Atlanta.
MP: Yeah! We can’t wait! We love The EARL, it’s going to be fun!

Featured shows:

Rock and Roll Hotel

Washington, D.C.
Sat September 1, 2007
Find Tickets!

The EARL
Atlanta, GA
Mon September 24, 2007
Find tickets!

MP3: VHS or Beta - "Heaven"

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