Perhaps I was just young, but there seemingly was a time when Tori Amos felt edgy and just a little brash. Over the years, though, she has mellowed considerably and I’ve filed her in the “artists I used to like whose new albums I check out out of politeness only but I doubt I’ll ever actually like anything they ever do again” folder.
Enter KRISTEENYOUNG.
I think the opening paragraph of their bio tells you everything you need to know about this band:
“What’s black and white and can crush you like a bug? A piano. These monsters weigh anywhere from 300 lbs for a small upright, to four or even five times that for a concert grand. So why do artists let them sound so wimpy? KRISTEENYOUNG wants the piano to kick your ass. Their new album, Music for Strippers, Hookers, and the Odd On-Looker, feels like it was born in the boxing ring, not some sun-dappled Laurel Canyon living room.”
Posted by Leilani Polk on Jun. 5, 2009, at 2:14 pm
Several days ago, while watching Marco Benevento fire up his piano on a YouTube video, I got to thinking — who are some of the best keyboardists around right now, the ones who truly bring chops to the table, either via instrumental compositions, or songwriting, or both? I’ve tried to go less obvious — no one’s questioning the skills of Gregg Allman, or Keith Emerson, or Count Basie, or Richard Wright, or George Duke, or Dr. John, or interchangeable piano men Billy Joel and Elton John, or even the wondrous Stevie Wonder. We all already know those dudes are at the top. But what about some of the less obvious, but no less great? In the vein of Ivan’s Top 5 Bass Players Ever — except that, despite the title of my post, I’m not really claiming these are the best key players ever, just my favorites — I’ve put together the following list, in no particular order, and with video.
Marco Benevento
He’s among the most talented keyboardists around right now, in my humble opinion. He’s pretty hip to current technology and usually incorporates it into his compositions. I’ve seen him play in his main band with drummer Joe Russo, the Benevento/Russo Duo, I’ve seen him perform as part of a Led Zeppelin tribute, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, I’ve seen him tear it up with Russo, Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio during the GRAB tour, and I’ve seen him in his solo project, a trio with badass bassist Reed Mathis and drummer Matt Chamberlain. The following video Marco with his trio playing “Twin Killers” from a May 13 show in Philly.
Posted by Leilani Polk on May. 25, 2009, at 11:41 am
Vinyl Fever is not only open today, but hosts a Memorial Day listening party of Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear’s third and latest album (due out tomorrow, May 26). In honor of the listening occasion, the store also offers a sale of used CDs and records, and gives away lithos with the purchase of new Green Day, Tori Amos and/or Grizzly Bear albums. Buy enough music stuff and put it all in a Record Store Day tote (while supplies last). The listening party begins at 2 p.m. Regular store hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m.. Vinly Fever is located at 4110 Henderson Blvd., Tampa.
On that note, I’d just like to say that David Letterman has jumped the shark. Grizzly Bear’s appearance last week got bumped for — get this — GM’s Bob Lutz, who talked so much that there wasn’t time for a string quartet-assisted Bear to perform “Ready, Able.” Yeah, bumped for Lutz, and I watched the whole damn episode, and boring Lutz (who gave away a car or some such bullshit) just to find out I’d wasted an hour (well, less than an hour as I DVR’d it and fast-forwarded through the commercials and Letterman’s routine). So, for your viewing pleasure, here’s the Bear on Letterman from last July playing “Two Weeks.” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Leilani Polk on May. 15, 2009, at 4:31 pm
Just got a news release announcing the premiere of six albums on MySpace over the course of the weekend, before the albums hit stores. Here’s more info (click the links to hear the albums): Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Leilani Polk on Mar. 23, 2009, at 1:40 pm
As part of our upcoming Urban Explorer’s Handbook, we mapped out the Bay area’s own Internet community and spotlighted a variety of blogs and websites that cover local arts, news, politics, film, music and food. Here is a profile I wrote about Bryan Childs, a Tampa Calling contributor and the man behind ninebullets.net.
Bryan Childs, aka Autopsy IV, isn’t trying to be a music writer or a critic or even a go-to source for music news and information. But the 35-year-old electrical designer has single-handedly become all three. The St. Petersburg-based owner and operator of ninebullets.net brings so much knowledge and raw talent to the table that Creative Loafing recruited him as a contributor to our own music blog, Tampa Calling, last year.
Via ninebullets.net, Childs shines a light on Americana, bluegrass, newgrass, psychobilly, alt-country, folk, deep blues and any other genre with a downhome, rootsy feel, though you’re as likely to find posts about Tori Amos or Slayer as you will Old Crow Medicine Show and The Black Keys. His site includes interviews, MP3s, live show previews and reviews, commentary on CDs and DVDs, music news, and posts about Childs’ own whisky-soaked adventures. He also has a few guest bloggers to help spread the flavor.
Childs has no professional experience writing or playing music, though he dabbled in both while growing up in Plant City. His formative years were spent exploring the Bay area’s goth industrial music scene, where he became a regular at The Castle and joined its online community message board, Underground Tampa.
Then he discovered the Drive-By Truckers. “I heard them and I was done,” Childs says of his love-at-first-listen awakening. Soon enough, he was digging up more alterna-twang artists and contacting local radio DJs for recommendations. Read the rest of this entry »
No. This isn’t just me passing along some press release I got. Yes, I genuinely like Tori Amos. I see you shaking your head in disgust and to that I say “feh!”. Admittedly, I’m not that big on the material she’s released post-2000, but I love(d) every album she released in the ’90s and I love this track as well.
It’s from her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, set to be released in May. I hope this track is indicative of the whole album.
Posted by Leilani Polk on Jan. 2, 2009, at 3:13 am
Pitchfork recently ran a comprehensive guide to releases coming up in 2009. I’ve scaled it down to the highlights (no box sets, re-issues, vinyl, 7″ or overseas releases) and added a few as well. Click here to see Pitchfork’s complete guide.
JANUARY
06 *The Brighton Port Authority, I Think We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat (Southern Fried) Glasvegas, Glasvegas (Columbia) The Gourds, Haymaker! (Yep Roc)
13 Late of the Pier, Fantasy Black Channel (Astralwerks) Lymbyc System, Carved by Glaciers (Magic Bullet) My Dear Disco, Dancethink (Dancethink) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Greatest Hits (Columbia Wal-Mart exclusive) This Will Destroy You & Lymbyc System, Field Studies (Magic Bullet) *Derek Trucks Band, Already Free (Sony Legacy)
20 *Andrew Bird, Noble Beast (Fat Possum) *Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino) Antony and the Johnsons, The Crying Light (Secretly Canadian) *Bon Iver,Blood Bank EP (Jagjaguwar) Calexico, Live From Austin, TX (New West DVD) John Frusciante, The Empyrean (Adrenaline Music) Ice-T, Live in Montreux 1995 (MVD DVD) Matt and Kim, Grand (FADER) *The Modern Skirts, All of Us in Our Night (Modern Skirts Recordings) A.C. Newman, Get Guilty (Matador) Ben Nichols, The Last Pale Light in the West (The Rebel Group) Or, The Whale, Light Poles and Pines (Seany) Public Enemy, Revolverlution Tour 2003 (MVD DVD) *Squarepusher, Numbers Lucent EP (Warp) *Umphrey’s McGee, Mantis (Sci Fidelity)
27
*The Bird and the Bee, Ray Guns Are Not the Future (Blue Note) Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun (Capitol DVD) Circlesquare, Songs About Dancing and Drugs (!K7) *Cotton Jones, Paranoid Cocoon (Suicide Squeeze) *Dan Deacon/Adventure, Split 12″ (Carpark) *Franz Ferdinand, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino/Epic) Hot Chip With Robert Wyatt and Geese EP (Astralwerks) Kylie Minogue, Boombox: The Remix Album (Parlophone) of Montreal, Jon Brion Remix EP (Polyvinyl) Owen, (the ep) (Polyvinyl)
Rush, Retrospective 3 (Atlantic CD/DVD)
*RZA, Afro Samurai: The Resurrection (Wu Music Group)
Duncan Sheik, Whisper House (Victor) Bruce Springsteen, Working on a Dream (Columbia)
*The Sway Machinery, Hidden Melodies Revealed (JDub) Read the rest of this entry »
Perhaps I was just young, but there seemingly was a time when Tori Amos felt edgy and just a little brash. Over the years, though, she has mellowed considerably and I’ve filed her in the “artists I used to like whose new albums I check out out of politeness only but I doubt I’ll ever actually like anything they ever do again” folder.
