Daily Loaf

The Swell Season was originally the name of Irish vocalist/guitarist Glen Hansard and Czech vocalist/pianist Markéta Irglová’s first album, released in 2006.  The duo now refers to themselves as The Swell Season, the name taken from humanist Josef škvorecký’s 1975 novel of the same name — Glen’s favorite novel.

The initial success of the one-time romantically linked couple (they split in 2009) came after they co-starred in the 2007 Irish film, Once. Glen played a Dublin street performer to Markéta’s immigrant street vendor.  The film was shown at Sundance in 2007 where it won the World Cinema Audience Award. Incidentally, Once was written and directed by John Carney, former bass player in Glen’s old band, The Frames.  It’s a beautiful film; you should check it out. Read the rest of this entry »

Stockholm’s Taken By Trees is the name of Victoria Bergsman’s latest solo project, who, for 11 years (until 2006), was lead singer of The Concretes. You may recognize The Concretes’ song “Say Something New” from the Target commercial. Or maybe not, I don’t know how much TV you watch.

Before creating Taken By Trees, she collaborated with Peter, Bjorn and John on their infectious, whistle-heavy single, “Young Folks,” which also you may recognize. Anyway, Bjorn then returned the favor by producing and performing in her 2007 debut L.P., The Stark and Gentle Open Field, a beautiful album recorded in only six days. Read the rest of this entry »

London-based Noah and the Whale has been dishing out their wistfully gentle indie/anti/nu/pop-folk for a mere three years. The band, Charlie Fink (vocals, guitar, harmonica, ukulele), Tom Hobden (fiddle), Urby Whale (harmonium, bass), and Doug Fink (drums), say that in addition to folk, they are influenced and inspired by punk rock. (But then again, who isn’t?) Critics have compared Noah and the Whale to Belle & Sebastian, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Bonnie Prince Billy. Read the rest of this entry »

The super group Monsters of Folk is made up of actual “monsters of folk” Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), M. Ward (of late, the “him” of She and Him), and producer Mike Mogis (Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley, Sea Wolf, Cursive, etc).

The foursome first came together as a result of a 2004 one-off gig in Chicago,”An Evening with Bright Eyes, Jim James and M Ward.” Oberst later explained that the unnecessarily long name wasn’t very catchy. Read the rest of this entry »

Brooklyn-based Grizzly Bear is made up of Daniel Rossen (songwriting/guitar), Ed Droste (songwriting/guitar), Chris Taylor (bass/woodwinds/electronics/vocals) and Christopher Bear (drums/vocals). All four members of the acid-folk/neo-psychedelic quintet contribute vocals.

Grizzly Bear connected while students at New York University. During freshman year, Daniel met Chris Taylor in the dorm. Sophomore year, Chris Taylor met Christopher Bear through “jazz stuff” they were playing. Upon meeting Bear, Daniel realized that as teenagers, they went to jazz camp together. Ed met Bear while he was working on a documentary at NYU. Read the rest of this entry »

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Get your very first taste of what is expected to be the beginning of some great changes in St.Petersburg. The newest party, G.L.A.S.S, begins 9.9.09 and will run every Wednesday night from 10-2 a.m. at Vintage Ultra lounge. The party will feature a variety of entertainment and interaction, and of course, most importantly, great dance-able music all night.

Two really exciting elements: Designer Go-Go Statues, in which two go-go-dancers/models will be outfitted weekly by local designers, and a Performance Art Cabaret showcasing local talent from around the bay. There will be ongoing drink specials, in addition to a “Wheel-O-Specials,” which will determine a new drink special every 30 minutes, and there will be giveaways from local businesses.
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Dirty Projectors are led by former Yale student, current “musical director” and one of the most unique/eccentric indie singer/songwriters of the early 2000’s, Dave Longstreth, who is accompanied by a shifting cast of band members. In fact, there have been 17 different band members in total, but no more than six at a time (including Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend).

Dave deconstructs his own music and others’ (like Black Flag — more on that later) and reassembles it using his own instrumentals and vocals. Read the rest of this entry »

We (CL) opened up our doors Wednesday night for about 50 potential new contributors. There was wine, beer, pizza and a micro-symposium on 21st-century community journalism. We got a chance to recruit some new voices and our guests got to feel out our site editors. Look for their contributions in the coming days.

One of our newbies, Robin Miller, captured the whole thing on video, which you can see below the jump:

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Well one thing is for sure, Chick-Fil-A isn’t being shy about promoting their Chicken Biscuit for Breakfast.

On New Year’s Day they gave away coupons for a free chicken biscuit with a purchase to every guest in the restaurant, all day. If you got a coupon they are good through the end of March.

If you didn’t get a coupon and you still want free chicken for breakfast it looks like you’ll have the opportunity again. Read the rest of this entry »