Magnetic Fields @ Fox Theater tonight

Magnetic Fields @ Fox Theater tonight

Read more / Permalink

Vivian Girls

Gallery is here. VIVIAN GIRLS photos here taken by Angel Ceballos in Seattle.

Vivian Girls

Read more / Permalink

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives

The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Interview by Alexander Laurence

Fredrik Sandsten (Drums)
Martin Hederos (Keyboards)
Ebbot Lundberg (Vocals)
Mattias Bärjed (Guitar, vocals)
Åke Karl Kalle Gustafsson (Bass, violin, vocals)
Ian Person (Guitar, percussion, vocals)

The Soundtrack of Our Lives is a major Swedish psychedelic rock band that started in 1995. They have produced five albums and have toured worldwide. I got to chat with keyboardist Martin Hederos this week. They are playing one of the shows at Noise Pop 2010. They will be at the Independent on February 27th. They will also play two shows in the LA area: at the Glasshouse on the 25th, and the El Rey on the 26th. Look forward to the shows.

AL: How are you doing today?

(Martin) Great, I’m really looking forward to play some Swedish psychedelia on your continent again and planning outfits...

AL: What do you think of Facebook and Twitter?

(Martin) Personally I’m not active on any of them but I realize the value of them as a platform to reach out. I’m still a fan though of the ol´ fashioned feel that you do not know everything about your favorite artist and you fantasize over the music lyrics and the covers and not knowing what they had for lunch.

AL: All your albums have done well in Sweden? Does it feel weird to go to other parts of the world where you are not as well known?

(Martin) In North America we have some of our most loyal fans, even if we’re not massive, so that doesn’t feel weird at all. To go to new countries were peoples ears are totally unused to our music, like China for example, is very exciting and gives us new energy and to see new faces that gets our grooves makes us want to travel more and spread the gospel.

AL: Does anyone in the band have a hobby?

(Martin) Yes! All of us actually.
Fredrik is a expert in old cars, soon to be a collector.
Mattias is a passionate fisherman.
Ian and me are foodies and spend a lot of time in markets
and always fantasize about new slowcooking recipes to make us relax off tour.
Kalle is always looking on Internet for new art pieces for his studio in Gothenburg.
Ebbot is the king of fleamarkets and can spot a rare 7-inch in a pile of lousy records anytime.

AL: Communion has been out for a while. Do you tour the UK and Europe first and then wait for the USA?

(Martin) We did a short tour in USA in March. We know after 15 years that everything has its time and that it’s no need to rush.
You will get the perfected set, as a result of 15 month of playing Communion!

AL: Does anyone in the band read novels? Any suggestions?

(Martin) Yes, I’m a big fan of Don DeLillo, I think Underworld is one of my top 3 novels.
Right now I’m reading "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz and It’s really reading as well. Not sure what the other guys have on their bedside table...

AL: How does it feel to have your songs on video games?
(Martin) I’m not playing them so much myself but as long as it’s not crappy games with lots of violence, the stuff I’m trying to keep my 9 year old from, I think it’s a great way of reach out. I like the NHL game. And really looking forward to see how we blend in with the 2010 MLB game

AL: Bjorn Olsson has left the band. When did that happen?

(Martin) It’s very long time ago...
He likes to write and produce music but was not fond of the touring bit.
Everyone in the band is still good friends with him and I think everyone should check out his instrumental solo albums, You could find them on Parasol records I think..

AL: Have you produced records by other bands and have you participated in collaborations?

(Martin) Yes, there are a few...
Many Swedish acts, English singing acts. There is for example my duo Hederos/Hellberg (also on Parasol),
The Hellacopters, Ane Brun and right now I’m a member of Tonbruket, an instrumental group with the former member of e.s.t, Dan Berglund, there is an album out on Act in Europe right now.
It’s some kind of psychedelia with a lot of improvisation but still with the energy of rock and the melodies of pop.

AL: How do you write songs in the band and where do you record them?

(Martin) Everyone write songs but the guitar players are the most productive makers of demos.
Then we all put them together and Ebbot does the lyrics and produces them together with Kalle usually in Kalle’s studio Svenska Grammofonstudion. It is actually the biggest studio in Sweden right now.

AL: It’s 2010. What is the plan to tour this year? Would you like to come to America more?

(Martin) We do want to play in America, especially the festivals, we’ve done Coachella and Austin city limits before, amazing festivals both of them, and we would love to play there again. Heard a lot about Bonnaroo as well, we’re open for suggestions!
We haven’t been to South America yet, that’s a plan as well. Apart from that I think we will play a lot in Europe before
we’re going back in the creative cave again for the next album.

AL: How is the band TSOOL different now from when you started in 1995?

(Martin) We’re better friends, have some more grey hairs and have our own kids now! We’ve released over 100 good songs since then and that’s a fact that makes us proud and gives us a fair amount of pondus if you ask me.

AL: What new bands do you like?

(Martin) Arcade Fire, Feist, PJ Harvey, Bon Iver, Silverbullit and Nina Kinert are a few of them.

AL: What is the most exciting thing about music?

(Martin) It makes you forget your everyday struggles, both as a performer and as listener.
" When music hits you, you feel no pain" Bob Marley

AL: Are there any spiritual interests in the band?

(Martin) Yes, come to one of our shows and you’ll see....

AL: What is favorite part of being in America?
(Martin) For me, apart from the part of being where rock´n roll actually started and play at clubs where there’s magic and history in the walls, it’s the food. The Mexican street food, for example, that you find in Texas and California is something that you never could find in Sweden.

AL: What bands would you like to play with, that you haven’t played with?

(Martin) I think we would make a really good match with My Morning Jacket.

AL: Does music affect people politically?

(Martin) Yes, if you look at the Jamaican and the African history for example, that’s obvious that people can find strength in music in difficult times.

AL: Do you have any pets?

(Martin) No. Ebbot is the Pet king in the band with 3 dogs and 2 cats.

Website: www.tsool.net

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives

Read more / Permalink

Noise Pop 2010

Noise Pop 2010 Takes Over San Francisco In Two Weeks
Final Additions Thao, Har Mar Superstar, + More
Free Happy Hour Shows!
Giant Pre-Party at the California Academy of Science The Art Of Noise

Just announced additions to the already stellar Noise Pop 2010 lineup include Har Mar Superstar making a special appearance at the Diesel/ Live 105 Happy Hour at Benders on February 23rd, Thao Nguyen will join Mirah on stage at the Swedish American Hall for a first ever collaborative performance, Citay joins Scout Niblett at Cafe du Nord and a second screening of Blood into Wine has been added by popular demand. These artists join Noise Pop’s already impressive list that includes Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Magnetic Fields, YOKO ONO AND PLASTIC ONO BAND (with Cornelius, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon), The Ghost of a Saber Toothed Tiger (Sean Lennon, Charlotte Kemp Muhl with Cornelius), The Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative performance, !!!, Harlem, John Vanderslice, We Were Promised Jetpacks and many more. Along with it's music, film, Industry Noise and Pop N' Shop, Noise Pop Festival is hosting a laundry list of other exciting (and many free!) events throughout San Francisco. There is pre-party, happy hours, and art shows. Noise Pop truly does take over San Francisco the last week of February. Here are just some of the exciting events being offered – NOISE POP PRE-PARTY Noise Pop is taking over the California Academy of Science on Thursday February 18th at 6pm Featuring BROOKHAVEN / THE FRAIL/ DJ SLEAZEMORE, DISCO SHAWN (BERSA DISCOS, ICEE HOT, POPSCENE) BENDERS HAPPY HOURS From Tuesday through Saturday, Noise Pop is teaming up with sponsor Fernet Branca and a different host every night to deliver great music and cheap drinks at Benders Bar. All shows are FREE - 2.23 Diesel and Live 105 present Har Mar Superstar (must Buy a Badge or RSVP to attend - all information at www.noisepop.com)

Noise Pop 2010

Read more / Permalink

The Walkmen

The Walkmen Sign To Fat Possum Records
Perform MOMA Benefit March 3rd / Play NPR SXSW Showcase Stubb's In Austin March 17th
Play Brooklyn's The Bell House April 1st



Pitchfork : http://pitchfork.com/news/37857-the-walkmen-sign-to-fat-possum/

Esteemed indie rock act, The Walkmen, announce their signing to Fat Possum Records. The band is currently in the studio with Chris Zane recording the follow-up to 2008's widely-acclaimed LP You & Me. The band kicks off 2010 with a couple New York City plays including MOMA's Opening Night Armory Show benefit on March 3rd and an intimate engagement at Brooklyn's The Bell House on April 1st where they'll showcase songs from the upcoming album. A 24-hour pre-sale begins tomorrow (more details below). The band also travels to Austin, TX to play NPR's South By Southwest Showcase March 17th at Stubbs. For the third year running, NPR Music will present, broadcast, and webcast the opening night showcase which features performances by The Walkmen, Spoon, and soon to be named acts. The Bell House pre-sale begins at noon EST on Thursday, February 11th. Public onsale will take place on Friday, February 12th. More details can be found at http://www.thewalkmen.com.

The Walkmen

Read more / Permalink

Nouvelle Vague: tonight at henry fonda

Gallery is here. All Nouvelle Vague photos here taken by Angel Ceballos in Seattle.

Nouvelle Vague: tonight at henry fonda

Read more / Permalink

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

COLLECTORS EDITIONS OF CLASSIC ALBUMS

Tender Prey, The Good Son and Henry's Dream

5.1 Re-masters – March 30^th, 2010

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Mute announce the next installment in a series of releases that will ultimately see the band’s entire studio album catalogue digitally re-mastered and remixed for 5.1 Surround Sound for the first time since their original release. Tender Prey, The Good Son and Henry's Dream (their fifth, sixth and seventh albums) will come out March 30^th, 2010, each as a separate deluxe double-disc collectors edition.

Each deluxe edition contains the re-mastered stereo album, the new surround mix, a specially commissioned short film by UK artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard plus the b-sides from the singles, videos and exclusive sleeve notes.

Last year, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds first four consecutive albums in the re-mastered deluxe edition series -- From Her to Eternity, The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against the Pricks, and Your Funeral…My Trial – were all met with excited critical welcomes.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Read more / Permalink