Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Here are a few shots from the first day on Wednesday. Mostly street shots and one of Cut Copy, the best live act I’ve seen so far.
Cut Copy at Karma Lounge
It’s no secret that Joy Division is one of my serious crushes and over the past few years I’ve collected a bunch of covers done by all sorts of different bands since the early 80s.
The ten tracks below represent some of my favorite covers, with my pick of the lot being the hazy laid-back Galaxie 500 rendering of “Ceremony.” I actually prefer the song to the Joy Division and New Order versions, it’s slowed down but still retains the elegiac feeling of the original. Another highlight is Skog’s (a previous incarnation of Kings of Convenience) folky-acoustic take on “The Eternal.” Also, note that Starchildren were a Smashing Pumpkins side-project.
Joy Division Central has a listing of all the Joy Division songs performed by other groups, be sure to check it out, the website itself is a great resource for Joy Division enthusiasts. Also, today in Joy Division history, March 13th, the band played live at Band On The Wall in Manchester (1979).
[MP3]: Galaxie 500 ”Ceremony”
On Fire, Rough Trade; 1989
[MP3]: Skog ”The Eternal”
Balance, Ego Development; 1997
[MP3]: LCD Soundsystem ”No Love Lost”
All My Friends, EMI; 2007
[MP3]: Starchildren ”Isolation”
A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division, Virgin; 1995
[MP3]: Squarepusher ”Love Will Tear Us Apart”
Do You Know Squarepusher, Warp; 2002
[MP3]: Nine Inch Nails ”Dead Souls”
The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Atlantic/Wea; 1994
[MP3]: New Order ”Atmosphere (Live)”
Peel Tribute – Oct. 12, 2005 – Royal Festival Hall, London
[MP3]: Low ”Transmission”
A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division, Virgin; 1995
[MP3]: Ola Podrida ”Atmosphere”
The Signal Soundtrack, Lakeshore; 2008
[MP3]: Tortoise ”As You Said”
A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division, Virgin; 1995
I had a chance to check out favorites The Cribs in Houston the night before I head to Austin for SXSW. The guys played a raucously fun, but at times sloppy hour and fifteen minute set. They play many more shows at SXSW and are definitely worth seeing again and again. More pics on Flickr.
We were going to do one of those mixtapes we typically do on this site to welcome Spring, but with fellow contributors out climbing mountains, moving, having kids, and getting all important at work, it’s been tough to pull something together this month. Every year there seems to be a certain track that wakes me up from the cold and darkness of winter and thanks to “springing forward” on Sunday I’ve been getting even more excited for warmer weather. On my walk home yesterday, I noticed trees budding, the sun shining, and even a group of little crocus’ growing by the sidewalk, and I had that perfect track playing to welcome Spring.
This year’s song? “Good Lies,” the lead-off track from The Notwist‘s forthcoming full-length, The Devil, You + Me, their first since 2002′s electro pop gem Neon Golden. In true Notwist form, the German quartet merges electronica, ambient, and guitar-based rock seamlessly, throw in some ethereal background vocals, a solid bassline, and Markus Acher’s innocent voice and you have yourself an epic and uplifting song, perfect for welcoming sunnier skies.
The Devil, You + Me is out via City Slang in Europe in late May and Domino in North America in early June.
[MP3]: The Notwist ”Good Lies”
The Devil, You + Me, City Slang/Domino; 2008
Awesome instrumental 8===D/metal rock is how I would categorize Chicago’s Russian Circles. These guys are on the top of my list of the many bands I am anticipating to check out during SXSW. They sound like the bullying elephant that marches in the room and pisses these huge and heavy drums and basslines with a shake of big-ass riffs on you. If you didn’t get that, how about; this would be the perfect soundtrack for one of those action flicks where the good guys strap on their guns or swords to go blast and hack away the bad guys to bloody hell.
The 6 song Station LP comes out May 6th on Suicide Squeeze Records.
SXSW:
Mar 15 2008 SXSW – Sargent House Official Show Austin, Texas
Mar 16 2008 SXSW @ Red 7 Austin, Texasw/ Red Sparowes
March 20 2008 – Seattle at Neumo’s
March 21 2008 – Vancouver at Richard’s on Richards
March 22 2008 – Portland at Berbati’s
March 26 2008 – San Francisco at Bottom of the Hill
March 27 2008 – Los Angeles at Echoplex
March 28 2008 – San Diego at Casbah
March 29 2008 – Phoenix at the Brickhouse
Aw shit! Better pack up those earplugs, Immodium, and Emergen-C’s because the 2008 SXSW Music Festival is just 2 days away. I’m pussing out for the second year in a row, but in classic form, Nghia, Paul, and Theo will be representing FRICTION NYC down in Austin this year. I think this is Nghia’s like umpteenth year in a row or something, seems like the fool has been going since he was a toddler. Anyway, insead of highlighting the typical buzzed acts this year, I decided to pick five R&B bands that I would certainly like to check out. These five acts including Darondo, Barbara Mason, Black Joe Lewis, Eli Reed, and The Aggrolites represent everything from soul to afrobeat to dirty reggae. Check ‘em out if you have the chance.
DARONDO
Saturday, 3/15/08 @ Club de Ville (900 Red River St)
[MP3]: “Didn’t I”
Darondo (pictured) released three singles during the 70s and then mysteriously dissappeared from the music scene for over 30 years. The legendary R&B performer who once opened for James Brown will be making the trek to Austin this week from his home in the San Francisco Bay Area. His three singles released in 2006 via Ubiquity along with an appearance on Giles Peterson’s BBC 1 Radio showcase created enough buzz to land Darondo an appearance at this year’s SXSW. His album, Let My People Go, is a mixture jazz-infused afrobeat and funk, containing the A and B sides from his three 45s as well as three re-worked demos.
BARBARA MASON
Friday, 3/14/08 @ Continental Club (1315 S Congress Ave
[MP3]: “Yes I’m Ready”
Philadelphia’s First Lady of Soul, Barbara Mason, is credited as the originator of Philly soul. Her classic ballad, “Yes, I’m Ready” laid the groundwork for the smooth sweet sounds of Philly soul and established Mason as as an influential female soul artist.
BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEY BEARS
Wednesday, 3/12/08 @ Emo’s Main Room (601-603 Red River St)
[MP3]: “Gunpowder”
J.J. Lewis, aka Black Joe, in his mid-20s and full of spunk, stands tall and strong onstage with his band of gentlemen. He howls into the mic, half James Brown, half his own man, and he splays blood and heart all over the guitar. It’s imperfect yet beautiful. Reinventing his roots of Lighting Hopkins and Sam Cooke, Lewis adds a Red River vibe to the true blues of generations past. In 2007, he formed the Honey Bears, releasing an EP of the same name that summer [Austin Chronicle].
ELI PAPERBOY REED & THE TRUE LOVES
Thursday, 3/13/08 @ Club de Ville (900 Red River St)
[MP3]: “Take My Love With You”
We’ve already sang our praise about Allston, MA’s Eli Reed and his band The True Loves last month. The band plays a slew of dates at this year’s SXSW including the show listed above.
THE AGGROLITES
Wednesday, 3/12/08 @ Flamingo Cantina (515 E 6th St)
[MP3]: “Free Time”
Los Angeles’ The Aggrolites take pleasure in tradition, meshing old-school reggae and ska with rock, soul, and funk to create a sound called “dirty reggae.” Think Otis Redding fronting Toots & the Maytals. The five-piece embarks on an extensive U.S. tour following the festival.
New York City playboy and FRICTION contributor/photographer, Pat, recently came back from a trip to Africa. While he was there the crazy fool decided it would be a good idea to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Luckily, he made it and is back at home in Queens in one piece. In his own words, Pat describes his feelings at Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.
Despite my smile, I was terribly unhappy at the peak. My body shutdown due to the lack of oxygen. I wouldn’t have cared if the Playboy Mansion were up there with free tits and taco salad. I wanted to get the fuck out of there.
Ha! In all seriousness, it’s pretty impressive, climbing to and elevation 19,340-ft is no joke – but y’all DO know that Ray’s now probably scheduling a trip to Nepal to climb Mount Everest or something even more extreme.
This track’s for you Pat. Congrats! Nice suit by the way.
[MP3]: Erasure ”Stop!”
7″ Single, Mute; 1989
UPDATE: Check out Pat’s pics from the trip. Here
