Fresh Loaf

It’s time once again for the highly coveted annual Creative Loafing music issue. This year we’re offering up an honest-to-goodness old fashioned 12-inch vinyl LP compilation that features cuts from several of our favorite local artists.

Dubbed The Mixt A Vol. 1, the record includes 10 songs from the likes of Predator, Grip Playaz, the Balkans, the N.E.C., A. Leon Craft, Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause, Mums F.P., Stanza, Carnivores and Zoroaster featuring Brent Hinds from Mastodon.

The record is strictly limited to 500 copies that will be available at not one, but two record release shows. The first show happens at Eyedrum on Thurs., May 7. The $10 cover gets you into the show as well as a copy of the record. The N.E.C., Grip Playaz, the Balkans and A.Leon Craft are all scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m. Music starts at 8 p.m.

The second record release party goes down at Criminal Records on the afternoon of Sun., May 10. The Carnivores, Stanza, Mums F.P. and Predator are on the bill. There is no cover charge to attend the show. LPs will be on sale at the store for $10 and the music starts at 3:30 p.m.

In addition to the 10 songs on the LP, dozens of bonus tracks will be included in a free online download that includes songs by Abby Go Go, All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, Batata Doce, the 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, the Coathangers, Danny!, Pill and many more.

Go to clatl.com/music for more info.

Bookmark It

1) Band of Horses plays Variety Playhouse.

2) Lil Wayne performs at Philips Arena.

3) The Rent Boys play the Earl.

4) Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause play Star Bar.

5) Zoroaster invades the Clermont Lounge.

And there’s so much more in our New Year’s Eve Guide …

(Photo courtesy Sub Pop Records)

Bookmark It

ANNA KRAMER AT CRIMINAL RECORDS: Another left-leaning musician

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

Even if you don’t write for the music section, when you work at CL people sometimes feel compelled to give you CDs. Sometimes it’s annoying – not because I’m looking a gift horse in the mouth, but people often give you really shitty music then ask what you think next time you see them.

A couple of years ago, while reading-but-not-buying magazines at Criminal Records in Little Five Points, Shannon Mulvaney handed me a copy of the Selmanaires‘ debut album, Here Come the Selmanaires (released on Mulvaney’s record label, International Hits).

A love affair was born – not between me and Mulvaney, he’s too tall and male for me, but with the group’s music: melodic, exuberant garage rock that drew inspiration from my favorite guitar bands of the ’60s (the Kinks, the Rolling Stones) without being retro, derivative or fake-English. I hate fake-English.

On Tuesday, the band celebrated the release of its second album, The Air Salesman, with an in-store gig at Criminal Records. Since its last outing, the band’s gotten stranger and more rhythmic – both good things.

Sharing the bill with it was Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause, labelmates celebrating the simultaneous release of their CD, The Rustic, Contemporary Sounds of Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause. I think another love affair may have just started – not between me and Anna Kramer, I’m engaged and I think she’s seeing someone, but with her music.

If you care to investigate, the links above will take you to samples of their music. The two groups are playing at the Earl Saturday night as well.

Bookmark It