Far be it for me to suggest that Hall of Famer (well, Long Island Music Hall Of Famer) Dee Snider’s new career turn is the worst idea in the entire history of civilization. For instance, it’s not nearly as bad an idea as Ft. Worth’s Complete playing a tiny club instead of the hockey arenas they were destined to headline. And there’s New Coke. Or the soundtrack to ‘Brain Candy’ the Bay Of Pigs Invasion. I could probably go on for at least another two or three minutes, but I think you have the idea. Some people are gonna give Dee Snider a lot of grief over this, but I bet it’s not even in the top 20 worst ideas of all time.
Pasta e fagioli, or pasta bazoo as Chris’s father called it when he was growing up.
The beans are borlottis from Rancho Gordo. Recipe was a combination of this austere New York Times rendition with a baroque version from the Dean & Deluca cookbook. The latter differs mainly in starting with a mirepoix and using a rind of Reggiano (which fortunately I’d had sitting in my fridge for over two years) in the sauce.
The dish is a strange combination of a pasta, a soup and a stew, and is deeply rich and satisfying.
We’re very excited to report that The Young will soon be hitting the road around the release of June 12′s Dub Egg. This includes a run of Texas dates leading up to release (including Chaos In Tejas), an ATX release show at 29th Street Ballroom and a full on tour beginning June 21. See below for the full run including co-headline dates with Purling Hiss.
The Young. On Tour…
Friday, May 25 – Denton, TX – the Lion’s Den
Saturday, May 26 – Houston,TX – Walter’s on Washington with Balaclavas and slngs
Sunday, May 27 – Beaumont,TX – the Victoria House (2110 Victoria 77701) with Coma in Algiers and Cussins
Friday, June 1 – Austin, TX – Beauty Ballroom with No Age, Ceremony, Screaming Females, Gun Outfit and Joyce Manor – Tickets
Well, actually – I got this from Metal Sucks, but still – I have my fingers crossed that this is their real rider and that they manage to get “Hand satanizer”, “50,000 live bees for Dave” and a “Whetstone for battle axes” as they’ve supposedly requested…
Giving the incomparable ‘Hood’ video a run for its money (which I guess makes it comparable?), we’re really proud to present the second video from Perfume Genius’ Put Your Back N 2 It (buy the album here), ‘Dark Parts’. Winston H. Case returns to direct the video, which co-stars Carmen Hadreas-Boggs, mother of Perfume Genius’ Mike Hadreas (video credits below):
Perfume Genius hits the road in the UK and Europe this summer:
07/05/12 Sheffield, UK – The Lantern Theatre – SOLD OUT
08/05/12 Glasgow, UK – Captains Rest – SOLD OUT
09/05/12 Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
10/05/12 London, UK – St Pancras Old Church – SOLD OUT
12/05/12 Brighton, UK – Uterian Church
13/05/12 Bath, UK – Chapel Arts
14/05/12 London, UK – St Pancras Old Church – SOLD OUT
16/05/12 Brussels, Belgium – Botanique – SOLD OUT
17/05/12 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Amstelkerk
19/05/12 Rotterdam, Netherlands – Paradijskerk
20/05/12 Cologne,Germany -Gebaude 9
21/05/12 Hamburg, Germany – Prinzebar
22/05/12 Berlin, Germany – PrivatClub
24/05/12 Paris, France – Divan Du Monde
Video credits:
Featuring Carmen Hadreas-Boggs
Director / Editor – Winston H. Case
Directory of Photography – Sam Heesen
Producer – Greg Finch
Post FX – Stephen McNally
Those of you with some sort of long-term memory will hopefully remember the previously announced Lee Ranaldo dates, but now we can reveal The Men will join to support at the London show happening this June. The Men of course have a 7″ single out on the Singles Going Home Alone series, whilst Lee is out in support of his latest album. He recently played a stripped back set for The New Yorker, performing “Off The Wall” and “Hammer Blows” (which follow the dizzying over zealous multi-camera angle interview edit).
Lee Ranaldo tour dates
(all US dates below supporting M. Ward except those marked*)
5/5 Portland, ME – State Theatre – on sale now
5/6 Burlington, VT – Higher Ground – on sale now
5/7 New Haven, CT – Toads Place – on sale now
5/8 Boston, MA – House Of Blues – on sale
5/11 New York, NY – Webster Hall
5/12 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer – on sale now
5/13 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club – on sale now
5/15 Durham, NC – Duke Performances
5/16 Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre – on sale now
5/17 Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre – on sale now
5/18 Nashville TN – Mercy Lounge*
5/19 Louisville KY – Zanzabar*
5/20 Nelsonville OH – Nelsonville Music Festival*
5/22 Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
UPDATE: Tanlines will now be playing live TOMORROW, April 25, at 3:00PM EDT/noon PDT.
Dear faithful radio listener,
Today on Seattle’s KEXP, available on the radio dial at 90.3FM or online at KEXP.org, we have a dynamic duo of artists performing for your edification and enlightenment.
In just under half an hour, Rohnert Park, CA’s Ceremony, fresh off opening for Refused and playing an UNPRECEDENTED 16+ show at Mercury Lounge last night, will be rocking and rolling the airwaves with soothing sounds from their latest opus, Zoo (available for purchase here). Tune in at 12:30PM EDT/9:30AM PDT.
Later today, at 4:30PM EDT/1:30PM PDT, Tanlines, who did not open for Refused last night but surely would have killed it if they had, will be performing live in the KEXP studios. Due to border issues (thanks a lot, Canada), Tanlines must needs reschedule their KEXP session. They will now take to the live airwaves tomorrow, April 25, at 3:00PM EDT/noon PDT. Their new album is called Mixed Emotions, the video for the song “All Of Me” is above, and you should make a point of purchasing the former and enjoying the latter.
There are a few more chances to catch Tanlines on tour, don’t sleep:
4/24/12 Seattle, WA @ Barboza
4/25/12 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
4/27/12 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
4/29/12 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
4/30/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo
We’re very excited to announce that Kurt Vile And The Violators will be playing Central Park SummerStage on Saturday, June 16 (with Dawes). This will be a FREE show (first come, first served) so mark your calendar and get yourself out to Central Park on June 16. Further show information here. We guarantee beautiful weather!
And don’t forget, Kurt Vile And The Violators are playing many more spring/summertime shows in the US and abroad. Here they are:
Thursday, May 17 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Friday, May 18 – Nelsonville, OH – Nelsonville Music Festival – Tickets
Saturday, May 19 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Sunday, May 20 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Monday, May 21 – Madison, WI – High Noon (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Tuesday, May 22 – Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Wednesday, May 23 – Fargo, ND – Aquarium (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Friday, May 25 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore – Tickets
Saturday, May 26 – George, WA – Sasquatch Festival – Tickets
Sunday, May 27 – Portland, OR – Star Theater (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Wednesday, May 30 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore (with Black Bananas) – Tickets
Sunday, June 10 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Tickets
Saturday, June 16 – New York, NY – Central Park SummerStage (with Dawes) – FREE SHOW
Friday, June 22 – Scheessel, Germany – Hurricane Festival
Saturday, June 23 – Neuhausen Ob Eck, Germany – Southside Festival
Tuesday, June 26 – Stockholm, Sweden – WWDIS Summer Festival
Wednesday, June 27 – Borlange, Sweden – Peace And Love Festival
Sunday, July 08 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
Thursday, July 12 – Benicàssim, Spain – Benicàssim Festival
Friday, August 03 – Katowice, Poland – OFF Festival
In a city that is known for its music, surely there has to be some absolutely amazing places to find some great records. Well in Seattle there are many of thoseplaces but the only one who responded to our query about being profiled in our epic webseries about record stores was Easy Street Records. I spoke with owner Matt Vaughan about his love of discovering new records and getting drunk in bars.
1. Tell us briefly about your store.
2 stores, 1st store opened in ‘87 when I was 19 yrs old, moved it to bigger location in ‘89. With Seattle music booming, we opened our doors the same year as Sub Pop, if that gives you an idea of what was in the air. By ‘97 we took over space next door, held after-hour shows/instores (Mudhoney, Rocket From Crypt, Luna). In ‘99 we converted it to a full service café and diner. Three years later we opened 2nd store, our downtown location (6,000) sq feet, 3 blocks away from Tower Records. Grand Opening Week featured instores by Paul Westerberg, Elvis Costello, Jack Johnson. We’ve gone on to host over 500 instores at this location. We were recognized for some cool award winning displays and our huge 20 foot hand-painted murals outside and the 10 foot billboards inside the stores. We like to help break and develop new bands, that’s what we do. For 10 years we’ve been the onsite retailer at the annual Sasquatch Festival.
2. What got you into the independent record store business?
My mother was an independent radio promoter in late 70’s-80’s, working with labels such as Casablanca, Arista, MCA. Also, my mom’s husband at the time had 12,000 records (out of order). I took it upon myself one summer when I was 12 years old to alphabetize them. I became a record junkie at a young age, worked at two different stores, from age 13-18. Both stores went out of business around same time, I put the owners together, I assumed the debt and consolidated the two stores into one.
4. How have things been going from a business perspective?
We can’t go deep into new catalog anymore, something we once prided ourselves on. The titles are either unavailable, one way, or they sit for too long. Margins are getting better, but the volume of sales are down. On huge titles, what once would’ve sold 3,000 copies in a year, now sells 1,000.
5. What do you think spells the survival for an independent record store today?
Small, niche, community involvement, store design/aesthetic, quick used turns, more than fair prices, tech savvy and progressive, buying power.
6. What are some of the coolest thing labels have done with you? Instores? Promotions? Sales?
Street date instores; Cave Singers, Shins, Band of Horses, Head and the Heart, Brandi Carlisle.
7. Why do we need record stores?
Gathering place for like minded people, instinct, awareness, community support. We need healthy places like this, otherwise we’ll all be getting drunk at bars talking about the good ol’ days of when a record store was in this space.
8. What kind of taco is your favorite?
Fish tacos
9. Who are your top 3 favorite bands right now?
Real Estate, Viva Voce, Pickwick
10. What is your favorite thing about your store? And you can’t say the customers. That’s like saying Einstein or Ghandi when asked “If you could meet one person, living or dead…”
Riding my bike in, grabbing a coffee from our coffee bar, looking at new release wall, pricing some used vinyl, being surprised by a new record.
11. What are your goals for the future of your store? Long term and short.
More collaboration with like minded businesses. More vinyl bins.
