Crib Notes

MAKING WAVVES: Nathan Williams loves the attention.

As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad press, and Nathan Williams, the guitarist/vocalist behind San Diego’s noise-pop duo Wavves, has learned it’s true. After an onstage temper tantrum at the Primavera Sound Fest in Barcelona last May, Williams became the man that bloggers love to hate. He even took a public lashing from Black Lips singer/bassist Jared Swilley, who suggested he stop playing music altogether. (See more on their ongoing beef.)

“It has legitimately helped,” Williams humbly admits regarding the criticism. “I’m new to this, so it’s a trip to see how these things work.”

Williams’ hissy fit caught the music world’s eye, but his sloppy California pop melodies and distorted coos have kept people’s attention. He is by no means a virtuoso, but his songs are fun, hypermanic, no wave dust devils that unwind in loose, chaotic motion, usually alongside drummer Ryan Ulsh (who will play with Wavves in Atlanta), or more recently Zach Hill of Hella.

Wavves “Cool Jumper” mp3

“Continue reading “Wavves’ Nathan Williams just wants to have fun”

(Photo courtesy Shore Fire Media)

Bookmark to:

Ecstasy, Valium and Xanax seem to be the new drug cocktail of choice these days. Well, at least for lead singer Nathan Williams of Wavves. Is it any wonder he doesn’t even remember what Pitchfork has called, “the most epic onstage meltdown a band of their small size could conjure“?

In his latest Pitchfork interview, he sets the record straight, sort of:

“I can’t fuck up once? If people think that I’m not going to fuck up, there’s no reason to even come and watch me.”

Note to Nathan: Leave the big boy drugs to Motley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses.

Bookmark to:

The phone call interrupts dinner around 6 p.m. on a Thursday. It’s my girlfriend’s birthday and our meals have just been served up at her favorite Italian restaurant. Normally, I wouldn’t answer at a time like this, not even for my own mother. But the picture of B Jay pops up on my phone’s screen, his arms outstretched like Mr. Bill when he’s about to get squashed. I have to answer.

For the last nine months, Benjamin Jay Womack has been soldiering through terminal lung cancer that has spread to his brain, liver and God knows where else — at the age of 34. I answer, expecting to hear his voice on the other end asking for a ride to get something to eat or a pack of cigarettes. But it’s his roommate Jessica. “I had to put B Jay into hospice care today,” she deadpans. “His hips gave out and he’s having a hard time walking. We’re filling out paperwork with a social worker right now and B Jay wants to know if he can put you down for power of attorney.” I answer yes, envisioning the worst-case scenario as a wave of denial sweeps over me.

One year ago, the man best known by his stage name Bobby Ubangi was a rebel without a pause, partying like a rock star and working as the grouchy door guy at the Drunken Unicorn off Ponce de Leon Avenue. Long considered a mascot of sorts for the Atlanta music scene that nurtured such bands as Deerhunter, Black Lips and Gentleman Jesse, B Jay was a founding member of Carbonas before he got kicked out because he didn’t like to practice. He went on to play guitar and sing in such local garage-punk outfits as the Lids, the Gaye Blades, and Bobby and the Soft Spots. “B Jay is omnipresent around here,” says Jared Swilley of the Black Lips. “He’s been around forever.”

Continue reading “The life and times of Bobby Ubangi”

(Photo by Chad Radford)

Bookmark to:

1. Atlanta-based bands repped our city at Bonnaroo. (via Metromix)

2. So now we know how T-Pain wooed Taylor Swift into recording a duet. He showed her his BIG ASS CHAIN. (via Concrete Loop)

3. And we thought Usher was boo’d up for life. (via Billboard)

4. Last week Jared Swilley was dishing it out. But can he take it? He might have to after this cutesy film soundtrack drops featuring a song (”Bad Kids”) from the Black Lips. (via Paste)

5. Still beating yourself up for missing Weezy earlier this year? Well, Christmas comes early for you my friend. He’s back in Atlanta this summer with Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy and Drake. (via Billboard)

Bookmark to:

1. Spaceships, “Oblivion” and heavy metal? Only in the world of Mastodon. (video via Rolling Stone)

2. Jay-Z’s got 99 problems but Auto-Tune ain’t one — Atlanta rappers beware! (via Spin)

3. Poor Wavves lead Nathan Willams. You know your career is on shaky ground when Jared Swilley of the Black Lips calls you out for being a dick onstage. (via Pitchfork)

4. Danger Mouse refuses to compromise creativity of Dark Night of the Soul, despite dispute with EMI. (via New York Times)

5. Dear Chris Brown, we’re not scared of someone who does Doublemint commercials, we just like Rihanna more than you. (Listen to Brown and rapper Maino’s new, oddly-timed release, “Don’t Be Scared” via Spin)

Bookmark to:

VBS.TV has posted a teaser trailer for an upcoming short film that chronicles the Black Lips’ shenanigans in India and their desperate flight out of the country to avoid being detained by the police.

The Black Lips’ album 200 Million Thousand hits the streets via Vice Records on Feb. 24th.

We managed to get the embed working, it’s after the jump, but we can’t seem to override the auto start.

Click below to watch the trailer. Warning, Cole shows his ass!

(more…)

Bookmark to: