Crib Notes

It was Woody’s birthday yesterday and the Balkans celebrated it on stage at the Littlefield performance and art space in Brooklyn. It was not the best music of the tour, but it tops my list as the most fun. You can definitely see a change in their comfort level with their stage presence and with the audience. I lost count of the number of times Frankie told the audience that it was Woody’s birthday. Most of their set was spent tuning and having fun. Stanley ran off stage after almost every song, and at one point during a song — Woody took over and played the high hat with the neck of his bass. At one point Frankie received a text message and started to read it out loud to the audience, but Stanly called Frankie from the drums and they had a conversation on stage. Frankie unsuccessfully attempted to hold his phone to the mic.

Despite their merrymaking, when they committed themselves to a song they played it wholeheartedly and it sounded great. A month ago aside from the fact that Woody is my brother, I would have seen the Balkans because I enjoy their music and they’re good musicians. After last night and the show in Richmond, I will go see the Balkans for all the above reasons and because they put on a fun show.

We’re in the home stretch now, leaving New York for Ohio. And the Balkan posse has grown to eight (the four boys and now four girls)! Check out the the Balkans’ Myspace for more.

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We headed out of New York for a “short” two hour drive to Philadelphia for a gig at the Danger Danger Gallery.  Massive rain storms, again, and just plain congestion turned our 90 mile trip into a five hour drive each way. We will not have happy memories of the New Jersey Turnpike. Despite the traffic and the warnings that the venue was in a very bad neighborhood, it was overall the best gig yet.

The neighborhood was sketchy, but I found shelter in the Dock Street Brewery with some local friends while the Balkans missed out and ate vegan wraps next door. People actually turned-out for the gig. The Balkans put on a strong show and were dripping with sweat by the end. Stanley did his customary dramatic finish where he abruptly stands up and throws away his drumsticks. The basement had flooded out because of the earlier rain, but the bands were still able to play. The main room hosted three rock bands and the other room had two electronic acts, which seemed to get more of the crowd’s approval. Maybe the Balkans will make it back to the city of brotherly love someday…

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Chad Radford: Tell me about your new free Burdwurld digital EP?
Well, it was largely experimental given that it was my first time ever recording myself for serious, first time using Pro-Tools. I recorded and mixed everything by myself, which was a huge challenge and I play all of the instruments except for drums, bass and marimba on “Timid Young Ones,” so it came out very personal. It’s all pretty much pure, un-fucked with Adron inspo-tainment.

Who plays drums, bass and marimba on that song?
Drums – Jason Trammel. Bass – Jorgen Jorgensen-Briggs. Marimba – Simon Boyar.

Do you have a favorite song on the EP?
Hard to say. Maybe “You Could Be Anywhere.” But I’m also really happy about “Little Face.” Honestly, I’m really happy with the whole thing given that I really didn’t know what I was doing. It was an incredibly challenging and educational experience. I’m really proud of the electric guitar parts, especially on “Little Face.” I’m still kind of learning to wield electric guitar, it doesn’t come very naturally to me, but the sound is such a good vibe.

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I recently flew to New York City to catch the Black Lips, Deerhunter, and King Khan & the Shrines play a free show August 3, at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn.

It was worth the trip. The bands played to an insanely packed crowd of thousands of kids, young and old. It was so surreal standing onstage looking out at the wave of people covering the pool so thick you could barely see the cement floor.

The show was sweaty, loud, unpredictable, and a little bit chaotic — sounds like an Atlanta show to me.

I spent ten days in the city. This is what I saw:

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