November 14, 2008
Dave Alvin -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Dave Alvin Free In-store Performance
Wednesday, December 3rd - 7:00pm
If you've been listening, you'll recall that every time I get the chance, I talk about how great it was the last time Dave stopped in to play a set for us. I'm sure I've stuck with my assertion that it was one of the best in-stores we've ever had, and I'll say it again; if I only had 3 quarters to put in the "I wanna hear it again" jukebox, at least one of them would be spent listening to Dave's in-store.
Grammy award winning singer/songwriter/bar-room guitar player Dave Alvin has been a constant force in traditional American roots music, both electric and acoustic, for over 25 years. From his earliest days with roots pioneers The Blasters through his stints with punk rock/folkies X and The Knitters through his various solo releases, Dave has mixed blues, folk, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, country, surf, cajun and even doo wop into his own unique brand of American Music. His songs have been recorded by Los Lobos, Buckwheat Zydeco, Robert Earl Kean, Dwight Yoakam, Kelly Willis, James McMurtry, Joe Ely and Little Milton to name a few, and have been heard in tv shows like The Sopranos. Most recently, he's released The Best of the Hightone Years, an overview of his early solo releases and including 3 unreleased tracks.
Dave will be stopping in for his second Fingerprints in-store and we're opening the pre-order guest list right...now. Either give us a ring or stop in and pick up The Best of the Hightone Years, or any other Dave Alvin release and we'll throw your name onto our guest list. If you want to wait it out, we'll open the first come, first served (didn't want to buy an album) list a day or two before show-time.
Dave says, "There are two types of folk music: quiet folk music and loud folk music. I play both." We're not sure which of these two he'll be delivering when he plays the store, but the part left out is that he kicks serious ass at both.
Check his Myspace page here, or click here to download a couple of NPR features.
Click here to sample/buy The Best of the Hightone Years
November 05, 2008
Jam Session With Rivers!
File Under: News
Jam Session With Rivers!
Tuesday November 25th - 7:00pm
** SORRY, THIS EVENT IS FULL--
There will be no entry without RSVP **
Fingerprints is ecstatic to announce an album release event straight from the imagination of Rivers Cuomo. It's a bit different for us, so read all the way through, including the details at the bottom about how you can join us for this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Rivers talked about the event in a recent interview with Pitchfork... here's how he explained what will be happening on our humble little stage on Tuesday, November 25th:
"I am doing a really cool event to promote Alone II on the day of release. It's basically another Hootenanny, but it's a little different. Anyone can be a part of it, you don't have to bring an instrument. But if you do bring an instrument, you will be part of the team that gets to pick the songs we play. It can be any song, in some cases, it might just be one person who says, like, "Oh! Let's play this obscure B-side!", and he may be the only person in the room who knows it, besides me, and then it will just be me and that person giving a concert to the rest of the room. And then the next song, there might be 20 people who know it. So that will be a very dynamic event and very fun for me. And I won't have to bring a guitar [laughs]."
- Rivers Cuomo
We will be opening the guest list at 11:00am on Thursday, November 6th. The list will be open to people who pre-order Rivers' new album, Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, with a limit of two spots per person. We are looking for both musicians and non-musicians and will be managing the list to make sure we have enough of both, please don't buffalo us by saying you'll play if you won't. Space will be more limited than usual, as we're leaving a bit of extra room to move around with instruments.
** Please note that we will be accepting RSVP pre-orders for this performance via phone and in-person, but purchasing through the website will not get you in to see the performance.
Click here for tracks/more info on Alone II (due out 11/25)
October 21, 2008
Lisa Hannigan -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Lisa Hannigan Free In-store Performance
Saturday, November 1st – Noon
While she's best known for the years she's spent sharing a stage and a studio with Damien Rice, for the past several years Lisa has been branching out by guesting on albums by The Frames and Herbie Hancock as well as contributing to a couple of different benefit albums (the Irish comps Ceol 06 and Cake Sale, where she shared vocal duties with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol). Now, Lisa's finished her debut solo album and she's brought a few of her old friends along with her, namely Tomo, Shane, and Vyvienne from Damien's band and several others from the Dublin music scene, including Lucy Wilkins who's played with Brian Ferry and Roxy Music, songwriters Donagh Molloy and Gavin Glass and Cathy Davey, who's worked with Elbow and the Sneaker Pimps.
She's currently on tour opening for Jason Mraz (the local date is at the Greek later the same night as the in-store) and at some point her debut will be worldwide, but so far Sea Sew is not available anywhere except her shows and through her website, so aside from being excited to host Lisa's first in-store, we're also very happy to say we'll be the first store in the country to have this incredible album.
We've opened the guest list to all who pre-order Sea Sew and the early interest has been good so please stop in or call us to place your order, as we haven't gotten all the info to get it loaded to our website yet. If there is still space available, we will be opening the guest list, first come, first served on October 31st, but if you want to be sure to join us, pre-ordering is the way to go. Due to Lisa's show at the Greek later the same night, we will be trying as hard as possible to have this start at noon, so please plan accordingly.
You can hear some of Lisa's songs at her site or on her myspace page and you can watch the homemade video to the very playful demo of "My Pirate Disco" with a simple click on those blue words.
October 20, 2008
The Kooks & The Whigs - FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
The Kooks & The Whigs Free Acoustic In-store Performances
Sunday, October 26th - **SOLD OUT**
** THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED **
We can't think of anyone better than bands called the Kooks and the Whigs to spend Halloween weekend with, I mean really, could it be more perfect? The last time the Kooks came to town they sold out the Troubadour in minutes, this time they are playing their full band, electric shows at both The Palladium and the OC HOB (you can see all of the tour dates at The Kooks' myspace page.)
We've gotten them both to agree to stop in for an acoustic set, since they're touring together, this will be a great way to get a taste of one of this season's hottest tours. Since we're thinking some of you might have one of these records already, we're just gonna open the list, first come - first served, to everyone in our Live Music Club. **SORRY, THIS IS SOLD OUT**
You can sample a few of The Kooks' songs at their myspace page. Same deal if you want to sample The Whigs.
Click here to buy/sample The Kooks' Konk and The Whigs' Mission Control.
Brett Dennen -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Brett Dennen Free In-store Performance
Friday, October 24th - 7:00pm
The last time Brett played here it was our biggest turnout for a lunchtime event ever; and now we've got him back for another appearance, at the much more friendly 7:00pm on a Friday evening. Translation: This will be a capacity show. The list is definitely filling up, if you want to be sure to get in you should grab a copy of Brett's excellent new CD Hope for the Hopeless and guarantee yourself a spot. The word is that Brett will be playing a bit longer than a regular in-store, so it's gonna be good. Also, just so you know, we will be recording this show for future release (so if everything goes as planned, you'll be able to say "I was there" when you hear it in your friend's car).
You can sample a few songs at Brett's Myspace page.
Click to buy Hope for the Hopeless.
October 05, 2008
Daniel Martin Moore -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Daniel Martin Moore Free In-store Performance
Sunday, October 19th - 4:00pm
Daniel hails from the thriving metropolis of Cold Spring, Kentucky and he makes gorgeously sparse, acoustic indie folk music that is sure to appeal to fans Jose Gonzalez, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, and Iron & Wine. Daniel's story is the indie rock equivalent of feel-good sports films like Rudy; he sent an unsolicited (read: unlikely to get listened to any time soon) demo to the Sub Pop offices, and after months of dusting off his phone, he moved to Costa Rica to work at a bed & breakfast. In the meantime, Sub Pop got through a couple of their tubs of mail, and started looking for this great new artist they'd found. Fast-forward about a year and Daniel now has his debut album finished (it's out this week), with a little help from Joe Chicarelli (who produced the Shins, U2, and The White Stripes) and a handful of new friends, including Jesca Hoop and Petra Haden.
By way of introduction, Sub Pop says, "...as simply as Daniel Martin Moore thinks of Stray Age, it's rich with understated complexities that take you to places that people like Nick Drake and Neil Halstead have been cited as doing. There's a soft swing in the vocals reminiscent of Chet Baker. But the one thing with Moore, that we like to think of as separating him from the pack, is he's looking forward. He wants to go places, he wants you to come with him, and we're finding him right in that moment." Here's a little downloadable Daniel Martin Moore that you can carry with you, until you get in to pick up your copy.
The first 40 people to pick up a copy of Stray Age will also get a bonus CDR featuring four songs currently unavailable anywhere else.
You should set your clicker for his myspace page and keep hitting play until you realize that missing this in-store would be a mistake, then call us and we'll add you to the guest list, no purchase required (though one is certainly encouraged).
Click here to buy Stray Age
September 22, 2008
Greg Laswell - Blue Cafe & Live at Fingerprints
File Under: News
Greg Laswell - Blue Cafe & Live at Fingerprints
Hopefully you were lucky enough to catch Greg Laswell's record release in-store last July, it was fantastic; if you weren't able to join us, we have a double dose of good news; first Greg is playing a special Schooled in Song/University by the Sea Festival kick-off show Saturday night at the Blue Cafe, with an appearance by local faves One F. Second, not only do we have advance tickets available at the store, but the first 200 people who buy a ticket (either at the store or at the door) will get a free copy of a handful of tracks from Greg's July in-store. Advance tickets are $10 and at the door they're $12, so we shouldn't have to tell you where the smart money is going to be. If you can't make it to the show, we will also be offering the Live at Fingerprints disc free with the purchase of either Three Flights from Alto Nido or Through Toledo. Good stuff and only available while they last.
September 17, 2008
Schooled in Song -- FREE BENEFIT CONCERT
File Under: News
Schooled in Song -
Free Benefit Concert
for Long Beach
Music Programing
Sunday, October 5th - 10am-10pm
You may remember last year when we presented Schooled in Song at the Carpenter Center. It was an evening of fantastic music created by a veritable who's who of Long Beach musicians and the proceeds went to funding after-school music programing. Well, this year the Schooled in Song gang has joined forces with the folks putting on University by the Sea for a full day of art, education, lectures, and killer live music. Due to a few generous donors the event is free, fun for the whole family and, once again, it's on track to raise some much needed funding for school music programs and scholarships for area songwriters and musicians.
The live music is coming courtesy of Grand Ole Party, Dengue Fever, Crystal Antlers, Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, Pawn Shop Kings, The New Fidelity, Molly Jensen, Blank Blue, Brett Bixby, Shave, The Year Zero, Chris Hanlin, Jay Buchanan, forcefieldon, Deccatree, Jameson, Leldon, Greater California, Loie Fuller, Marliese, CPO, One F, George Fryer Combo, and others still to be announced. It's a pretty great line-up for a free event with way more artists than we can include here, so check the myspace page for the full list, and put a big circle around October 5th and plan on spending at least part of the day at the corner of First St & Linden in Downtown Long Beach.
September 16, 2008
People Under the Stairs -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
People Under the Stairs In-store Performance
Friday, October 3rd - 5:00pm (yes, we're sure)
The word seems to be spreading, so if you'd like to catch one of the hottest underground hip-hop acts out there, this is your opportunity. We don't do too many hip-hop in-stores, because quite frankly there aren't that many hip-hop artists who want to come in that we have any interest in having play for you. Sure, call us gatekeepers if you must, we prefer to think of ourselves as bodyguards, keeping your life free of bad hip-hop. People Under the Stairs are a whole different ball of wax, they mix jazzy samples, danceable beats, intricate rhyming skills, and laid-back humor that recalls hip-hop heavyweights like De La Soul, J-5, Ugly Ducklings, and Ming & FS. Their new release, the cleverly titled Fun DMC came out this week (9/30) and we're opening up the guest list to music Club Members who buy a copy. We'll also include a free event poster so you can gussie up your place with some signed schwag.
You can check some of their songs on their myspace page.
We wouldn't ask you down for no bogus beats, this will be the real deal. Please join us if you can.
Click to sample/buy Fun DMC
September 09, 2008
Cabritos de la Guerra Fría -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Cabritos de la Guerra - Fría Libre Desempeño en la Tienda
de Sept. el 23 - 7:00pm
We've been hinting around about a couple of big in-stores and well... It's time to announce Numero Uno: On September 23rd Downtown Records will release Loyalty to Loyalty, the second full-length by the only band in Long Beach that could make just about anything else you might have planned into a difficult choice - The Cold War Kids. That's right, the little band that could is coming in for their second album kick off with an acoustic performance right here on our humblest of humble little stages. We'll be opening the guest list to everyone who's in our live music club (and if you're reading this, you're in the club) with those who pre-order the album getting first shot at the spots. The pre-order starts/guest list opens on Thursday, Sept 11th at 10:00am for folks who come down and 11:00am for those who want to let your fingers do the walking (that's old-school for using the phone, our number is down at the bottom.) There are three versions available, a regular edition, an LP, and a deluxe including a bonus DVD. We will not be accepting online orders for the show, but since all the pre-orders will include an event poster, we will include one with online orders, while they last.
You can hear a couple of versions of the new single "Something Is Not Right With Me" at their myspace page.
You can also catch the boys recording an Outdoor Stage performance on Jimmy Kimmel on the 19th, at the San Diego Street Scene on the 20th, and in their full-set, big show at the Henry Fonda on the 24th. We very well may be at all of them within an hours drive, hopefully we'll see you there (and here).
August 26, 2008
Love You Moon -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Love You Moon Free In-store Performance
Wednesday, Sept. 10th
7:00pm
Love You Moon is the acoustic-oriented side project of Matt Embree of RX Bandits and The Sound of Animals Fighting, his influences for this project fit nicely into our favorite artists list; Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, and Elliott Smith. RX Bandits are known for rock with strong socio-political lyrics, and while Love You Moon trade the signature keys, horns, and electrics for an acoustic guitar, they keep the political thread running strong, while managing to hold on to the energy that's made RX Bandits such a compelling live band.
Love you Moon's debut release, Waxwane is due out on Sept 9th and the guest list is now open to Live Music Club folks who pre-order a copy. Any remaining spots still available on 9/07 will open up first come first served. If you want to guarantee your place at this event, pre-ordering Waxwane is the only way to pull it off. Pre-order price is $11.99 and it includes one of our free event posters. Drop by the store or give us a call (562.433.4996) to pre-order.
Matt Embree playing "Why Pop Stars Sell Silicon" acoustic and playing "Masters of War" live.
Some recent press:
"Waxwane features 10 songs that span a variety of styles and paces, ranging from Embree's patented upbeat socio-political diatribes ("Screams In A Vacuum" and "The Last Words Of Nicholas Berg"), to more unexpected Billy Joel-esque jams ("David's Birthday") and Elliott Smith-inspired poetry ("Brown Shingle Berkeley")...4/5 stars"
- Alternative Press
"Combining influences from multiple genres, including acoustic, folk, and sometimes jazz, Love You Moon has put Waxwane together beautifully, and has produced an album to rival the best releases of 2008 to date."
- Absolutepunk.net
"It takes a special kind of person to single handedly spark a thunderous clapping session in a dark room full of too cool twenty-somethings. But by the end of Love You Moon's acoustic set at Koo's Art Center in Long Beach, any worries of judgment or anxiety had been sucked out of the front doors of the paint slathered gallery to freeze in the midnight air. Huddled together in the darkness, unity and power spread like a fever in the crowd."
- OC Weekly
Click here to buy Waxwane
August 25, 2008
Birdmonster -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Birdmonster Free In-store Performance
Monday, September 1st - 7:00pm
(Free for Live Music Club Members - Guest list open now)
Every few minutes it seems like another band catches on blog-fire, most of them flash like a flare and burn out quickly, but the really good ones just keep on going. Birdmonster is just such a band. Their sound combines a new wave jangle with an early Greenwich Village folk meets very cool back-porch instrumentation; banjo, melodica, and cello sitting nicely alongside a Fender Rhodes and the usual blog-fire band instrumentation. This time out, the organic side takes the driver's seat and makes for the much richer, resonant, and more mature sound of a band finding their own voice.
The guys have slipped us an mp3 of the track "Born To Be Your Man", which is one of my favorites.
Check their myspace page for a few of their other/older tracks. You can also click on over to youtube for a nice version of "Only One" recorded in the studios of "The Current" from Minnesota Public Radio.
Click to preorder From The Mountain To The Sea (out 9/2)
Neil Halstead -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Neil Halstead Free In-store Performance
Saturday, August 30th - 5:00pm
(Free for Live Music Club members)
Through his work with Mojave 3, Slowdive, and as a solo artist, Neil has secured himself not only a spot by our campfire, but also a fair amount of space on our CD shelves. With Oh! Mighty Engine Neil continues his musical evolution, where once there was a wall of sound, Neil has distilled his music down to its essence. Choosing a nylon stringed guitar and simple shakers for accompaniment, Neil is relying on his voice and his collection of highly personal songs to get his message across. He makes his point, quiet and clear. Do to expected high demand, we are opening the guest list to those who order Oh! Mighty Engine, until we open it to all who'd like to attend (at a much later date). If you want to be sure to see this world-class artist on our small stage buying it now is the only way to guarantee yourself a spot. ** Please note the 4:00 time listed on Neil's site is incorrect; the event begins at 5:00pm. **
Here is some press about Neil's previous solo album, Sleeping on Roads:
"The same drifting mood is maintained from start to finish, all nine songs being gently eclectic acoustic musings with occasional electronic decorations."
- Mojo
"A gentle tremble of an album."
- Nude as the News
Listen to a couple of Neil's new songs, plus a couple from Sleeping on Roads on Neil's myspace page.
If you'd like a little of Neil's music to carry around on your journeys, click here for a free mp3 of "Paint a Face", from the new album.
Click here to buy Oh! Mighty Engine.
July 25, 2008
Delta Spirit -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Delta Spirit Free In-store Performance
Tuesday, August 26th 7:00pm
(Free for Live Music Club members)
Guest list now open without purchase required
We hate to judge a band by the company they keep, but surely it’s as indicative of where they’re coming from as a box of “they sound likes”; a quick look at Delta Spirit’s myspace shows a top line made up of a lot of Fingerprints in-store alumni – Cold War Kids, Port O’Brien, Richard Swift, & Dr, Dog. Aside from a turn on our stage, and a top line friendship on Delta Spirit’s myspace page, these bands all share an all too rare ability to put a fresh face on classic influenced rock & roll. All of their music has a current, yet somehow timeless, quality. Whether full out rocking or quietly introspective, this is a list of innovative young bands making incredibly vital music and Delta Spirit is absolutely among peers.
Musically, Delta Spirit is appropriately named. They combine a spirit that recalls Britain’s Northern Soul movement with a very American, rural charismatic, roots rock sound and a spirituality that will satisfy your deepest need for real revival tent rockin’ and rollin’. Please note: there will be no snake passing at this event, it’s not that kind of thing.
Some recent press:
"Delta Spirit should be required listening." (#9 on Top 15 of 2007)
- Daytrotter
(Check out a live Delta Spirit session here.)
"A hybrid of Americana rock and Northern Soul with boundless energy." - mp3.com
Delta Spirit’s Myspace page is loaded up with more samples, check them out here.
Or, if you’re more of the visual type, you can watch a video right here.
Click to pre-buy/sample Ode to Sunshine (due 8/26)
July 24, 2008
The Airborne Toxic Event -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
The Airborne Toxic Event Free In-store Performance
Tuesday, August 5th - 7:00pm
** SORRY, SOLD OUT **
The Airborne Toxic Event is many things, but none more than they are an anomaly; a band that came together organically, recorded a few songs, played a few shows, built a huge audience over a couple of weeks time, then grabbed the attention of both KROQ and Indie 103.1 within the span of a couple of days - it's a story that repeats in the hearts and minds of every kid stepping off a cross country bus at the downtown Greyhound station, yet rarely ever happens beyond those Midwestern hearts and minds. Those who stay up all night making comparisons have mumbled a virtual who's who of cool bands, including Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire, The Clash, and U2. I hear a little Psychedelic Furs and the Killers, either way it's grand in scope, literary in the right places (their name comes from a Don DeLillo book), and white hot at the moment. Their self-titled debut is one of the hottest new releases of the year and they've agreed to drop in to play a very special, stripped down, street-date release party with us. It's going to be cool and it's going to fill up quickly. RSVP is free, but limited.
RSVP ASAP, or end up SOL. (562)433-4996
Please note: You must come by the store or call to RSVP for this event. We cannot take responses via email or web.
The Airborne Toxic Event comes out on August 5th. Purchases made at the in-store will receive a free custom in-store event poster that can be signed at the event.
Sample your little heart out at their myspace page.
Some recent press:
"In a just and fair world, The Airborne Toxic Event would be indie rock favorites of critics and fans the world over. Maybe, just for a moment, the world will get it right for a change."
- Popmatters
"A hip-swinging return. Jarvis would be proud of the lyrics and Johnny Marr of the guitars."
- NME
"Airborne Toxic Event were a knock out, with their LA art-pop, placing them firmly in the Arcade Fire, Franz camp with more than enough of their own 'angular view' on life to ensure the need for such comparison is short lived."
- The Fly U.K.
Click here to sample The Airborne Toxic Event
July 23, 2008
The Virgins - FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
The Virgins Free In-store Performance
Tuesday, July 29th - 7:00pm
(Free for Live Music Club members)
This one is filling up fast. We're hearing the folks at Indie 103.1 are about to go very big on this record and as soon as that happens, we're going to be full, so if you're dangling you're going to get left outside.
We are pretty happy with ourselves for scoring this little band out of New York City. You see, The Virgins sound like nothing else as much as they sound like 1978 - and you have to admit, that was a pretty great year to sound like, especially if you factor in the New York thing. Their formative years were spent sneaking into their local 80's night and boy did it stick, these guys would have been a great double bill with The Velvet Underground, Blondie, Jonathan Richman (when he was a Modern Lover), or the Talking Heads, and that doesn't even touch on their swagger and strut that recalls an early Costello. With all the love they are getting from Indie 103, this will be a big deal. The guest list is open now, but it won't be for long. Since we don't recommend googling them, we've included some pertinent info below.
Check their myspace here.
Some recent press:
"4 Stars"
- Rolling Stone Magazine
"The Virgins have had the kind of out-of-thin ether rise that causes bloggers to gush and their peers to curse."
- Spin Magazine
"We're jealous of their futures, basically."
- Vice Magazine
Here's their official site.
Click to sample/buy The Virgins
July 10, 2008
The Submarines -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
The Submarines Free In-store Performance
Friday, July 18th - 7:00pm
The Submarines are a husband & wife duo, comprised of Jack Dragonetti (who's released album under the name Jack Drag) and Blake Hazard (who is the great- granddaughter of F. Scott Fitzgerald). First, how cool are those names? I mean I'm not thinking about a name change, but damn, if I was, either would be wicked cool, as they say in Boston. But I digress... Jack and Blake make sunny pop music that is at once literate and intimate, delicate and sweet, it's got a nice groove that makes it a perfect soundtrack for a cool summer evening with friends but lyrically it's weighty enough to make for great introspective listening. A couple of touchstones, if you're looking for musical kinship, would be Dean & Britta, Rilo Kiley, and Hem. Their songs have had major TV placement, including Grey's Anatomy, a version of "Little Boxes" for Weeds, and their song "Brighter Discontent" being used as the dialogue for the last 4 minutes of the season finale of Nip/Tuck's fourth season. They are currently on tour with Aimee Mann.
This is a free event for Live Music Club members, but you'll need to call us to get on the guest list.
Some recent press:
"(The song 'You, Me and the Bourgeoisie') has the feel of an instant anthem, a personal manifesto so plainspoken and forceful ('Every day we wake up/We choose love, we choose light'), it could be characterized as defiantly positive. It is also something of a rarity in indie pop: an earnest song about happiness."
- Toronto Star
"Honeysuckle Weeks is a glorious collage of the duo's wide-ranging influences, from old-school dub to intricately layered electronica (as in the psychedelic-classical 'Submarine Symphonika') to vintage pop."
- Pop Culture Madness
You can sample tunes on their myspace page.
Click here to buy Honeysuckle Weeks
Joe Strummer Future Is Unwritten Release Party
File Under: News
Joe Strummer - Release party for the DVD of The Future is Unwritten
Wednesday, July 23rd - 7:00pm
** THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. STAY TUNED FOR A RESCHEDULED DATE.
Joe Strummer should need no introduction, he was the lead singer and songwriter for "the only band that matters": The Clash. Joe powerfully mixed politics, passion, punk rock, and world music - and he came closer to changing the world with his music than anyone since Dylan. In a world light on heroes, Strummer was larger than life. To help draw attention to the release of Julien Temple's celebration of Joe's life, we're going to open up our stage for you to come in and do your best version of one of Joe's songs.
Continue reading "Joe Strummer Future Is Unwritten Release Party"
Shearwater -- FREE INSTORE
File Under: News
Shearwater Free In-store Performance
Wednesday, July 16th - 7:00pm
Shearwater returns with the hugely ambitious follow-up to their last album, Palo Santo, which was picked as NPR's best album of 2006. Rook meditates on man's intersection with the natural world: the hunter and the prey; the extinction of species; the world after human beings are gone. On a wider level, the vivid images of animals and landscapes act as a metaphor for human relationships, a dark fairy tale encased in a cycle of songs. Jonathan Meiburg's bold, soaring voice, occasionally falsetto, still anchors the songs, which broaden his pastoral prog-folk chaotic celestial mindbuggery into new realms. Beyond the continuing touchstones of late Talk Talk, Nico and John Cale, there are now allusions to Van Morrison, hints of Joni Mitchell. All this is set in a newly lush sonic gorgeousness of harp, strings and woodwinds atop the magnificent rhythm section of Thor Harris and Kim Burke.
Shearwater is currently opening dates for Coldplay, including July 15th and 16th at the Forum (so make sure you arrive early, if you're going to the show.)
This is a free event for Live Music Club members, but you'll need to call us to get on the guest list.
Check out a couple of their songs on their myspace page.
Here is some recent press:
"Shearwater has magnificently outdone itself. Not only is Rook destined to be named one of 2008's favorites, but it could be one of the best albums for years to come...Rook is among the most achingly beautiful things ever recorded."
- Pop Matters
"A quiet ferocity belied by gorgeous, soaring melodies"
- Entertainment Weekly
"A rich, occasionally macabre, fantasy world...ornately orchestrated mini-epics...beautiful tragedies where dead swallows serve as a metaphor for the human condition."
- Blender
"Meiburg has delivered the album of his life...an impeccable ambiance that's both spooky and glistening....While earlier albums hinted at the kind of open-air pastorals that the band was capable of, Rook delivers on all the promise."
- Prefix
"The kind of music people fall in love with."
- Under The Radar
"With Rook they have fashioned an album that is melodic, tender, outstanding but above all, captivating. One thing is for sure, this is one of the best albums of the year."
- Delusions of Adequacy
"This record is too good to be kept a secret, and whether the general public pick up on it, only time will tell... This is a record you will want to live with and savour for a very long time."
- 17 Seconds
"Shearwater continues the tradition of detailed, reflective songwriting set by classic artists like Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen and contemporary indie rock songwriters such as Bill Callahan and Will Oldham.”
- All Music Guide
Click here to sample/buy Rook
Matt Nathanson Live CD
File Under: News
Matt Nathanson -
Left & Right:
Live at Fingerprints,
Live at Park Ave
New CD Release
Hopefully you made it out to our in-store a few months ago with a solo and acoustic Matt Nathanson; it was a wonderful blend of humor and excellent song-craft. Well, happily, Matt thought enough of his stop to agree to let us release a good little chunk of it. This release is made up of songs and banter from our in-store and another he did at Park Ave. in Orlando FL. Matt picked an extra track from our in-store (mostly to chap the hide of my friends in Orlando, I think) and chose to include his riffing on Bret Michaels' "Rock of Love" and "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and his cover of Springsteen's "No Surrender" all from our little event, plus "Car Crash", "Come on Get Higher", "Gone", "Bent", "All We Are", and little extra chatter. It's a testament on how to do an in- store right; keep everyone wrapped up in your songs, until just the right moment, then drop a little science on them with some sharp observational humor. Including the chatter, it's nine tracks and it's available as a pre-order for $6.99. After it hits the shelves, on August 5th, it will move up to $7.99. Everyone who pre-orders a copy will be entered in a drawing to win an original press signed poster from our in-store, designed by Dan Madison.