Despite gimmicks galore, the album’s got oodles of substance. “Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant” may reference moo goo gai pan and “Feliz Navidad”, but its sparse instrumentation and chilly vibe, courtesy of McCauley’s lonely-yet-resolved vocals, bring to life a sense of yuletide hopelessness. “Call Girl Blues” is a clichéd celebration of a working girl with a heart of gold. Add in filthy-sounding ’70s R&B horns alongside lines like “She’ll slip a $20 in your pocket just for holding the door,” and you’ve got something shinier than gold. The gimmicky piece de resistance, however, is “Hungover and Horny”; a fusion of tight-knit garage guitar and a Georgia Satellites-inspired sense of rollicking are a powerful start. It’s McCauley’s vocals, brimming with sexual desperation, that thrust the goof into the realm of true blues-ian lament.

Sans gimmicks, the LP picks up even more momentum. “Hightail” is seemingly another “my woman done left me” jam (albeit with a raucous psych-garage guitar); it’s the subtext that paints a picture of a man ready for more heartache. “Big God” accomplishes a similar feat, offering up an explosive ’60s garage thud and even more insight into the man’s romantic failings (“I was blind to time as time can be/Open eyes don’t always mean to see”). The Calypso-tinged “I Took Note” is a defining statement, brimming with arena rock-ready grandiosity, with lyrics that are evocative and yet heavy with the group’s trademark sensibility (“I changed my diet, I slept under stars/And my long hair still stayed bloody”). It’s the perfect synthesis of regality and rambunctiousness, the kind of tune this all-star ensemble could easy craft.

Even if this act is Deer Tick 2.0, this is still an album of infectious, ultra-grimy blues-rock tunes from dudes who’ve mastered the equation and then some. Now shotgun a brew and get to listening, dudes and dudettes.

Essential Tracks: “Call Girl Blues”, “Hungover and Horny”, “Hightail”, and “I Took Note”

John McCauley and Robbie Crowell of Deer Tick, Ian Saint Pé of Black Lips, Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate, and Bryan Dufresne of Six Finger Satellite have come together to form Diamond Rugs, as The AV Club points out. The drunk-punk super group will perform their first gig on December 29th in Atlanta, GA (ticket info here), with their debut album scheduled to drop sometime this spring via Partisan Records.

To preview what yuletide magic these six men can make together, the band has debuted the cheer-inducing “Christmas In A Chinese Restaurant”. Powered by a distinctly sharp piano and very little else, the track would be hilarious if the man’s tale of being lonely on Xmas wasn’t so darn believable and gut-wrenching in a black comedy sort of way. Plus, McCauley’s vocals are at their most emotionally vulnerable and cynical, which only worsens our guilt. Check it out below.

McCauley also recently performed a solo rendition of the song for Rollo & Grady , which you can watch below.

Greetings readers and viewers! Wow, it’s good to be back at (the hypothetical) Cluster 1 headquarters. As Media Specialist, sometimes it is required to go to the source and create some of that media ourselves. After a journey to Sasquatch! with our staff, I have returned from shooting videos to finding and posting them here for your viewing pleasure. So, it’s good to be back, but make sure you check out all our footage from Sasquatch! as well.

Without further adieu…here’s what’s new.

Premieres:

W-H-I-T-E – “Liquid Skull” – If you think the song title is cool, wait until you hear it and see the video; soothing overtones while old-school CGI plays of a body floating over the landscape (think Toonami’s Reboot).

Original Series:

No Cover Episode 1: Start Me Up – Our new “dramedy” series starring the Bay Area’s Trevor Marcotte and Kevin Waldvogel depicts the story of Randy and Marshall, two music obsessed buddies with a low budget, but a big appreciation of rocking. Watch as the two try to get their band lifted off the ground….if they don’t kill each other first.

No Cover Episode 2: My Band – In this week’s episode, Randy decks out the garage and plots out the band’s strategy to reaching the top, but Marshall seems to have other plans.

Animation:

MUTO – In this wall-painted animation, you combine wonky photography with insanely trippy animation, as this painting slowly takes over the city streets.

Pixels – 8-bit video game characters invade New York. I’ve always wanted to see what a game of Pacman would look like in Manhattan.

Documentary:

Free Beats – 48 hours after Obama won the election, this guy went out and shared his beats with the world, only to get a plethora of interesting MCs, poets, musicians and children to get up and take the mic. Specialist’s Note: This video is amazing…..do watch.

Interviews:

As chronic festival junkies,we’re always heading out into the festival market to see what’s new. Two weeks ago, our team journeyed down to Alabama’s Hangout Festival, and here’s who we spoke to:

Girl Talk – The king (or queen) of mash-ups discusses why a DJ won’t open for him, the artists he’d like to see in mash-ups, and what the future holds.

Portugal. The Man – The band talks about non-stop touring, their new album, and idea of a vacation.

Dead Confederate – Hardy Morris chats about the logistics of playing a beach festival and their new album.

Widespread Panic – The jam legends get deep in discussing the finer differences between festival and headlining sets, as well as the development of music in Athens, GA.

Music Videos:

Justice – “Civilization” – Buffalo stampede through humanity’s ancient monuments.

Boxer Rebellion – “The Runner” – One whole day compressed into four minutes; watch as some girls come home from a party and experience the aftermath.

Colourmusic – “Beard” – Zoomed in to a near-microscopic level

The Get Up Kids – “Regent’s Court” – A young boy imagines what it’s like to kick it with Mikhail Gorbachev, and as a result, has an awesome day in his mind.

Chad VanGaalen – “Peace on the Rise” – Remember when Beavis eats peyote in Do America? Mix that with the concept of space exploration and blue flames, then you will know what you are in for with “Peace on the Rise”.

Jump into the Gospel – “Humvee Mansion” -Music synced up with an old-school animated version of The Pied Piper. It actually looks like the animation is singing along with the track at points.

Short Films:

Carrot vs. Ninja – A man sets out into the desert to find his opponent. Whether he is the carrot or the ninja is beyond me.

Link to the Future – It’s Link (from Zelda) and Doc (from Back to the Future)….this is our youth compiled into one awesome fan film.

Don’t Forget…

– Want a constant stream of musical goodness? Check out our Channel, featuring over 30 music videos, several short films, and other nifty clips, all crammed together in one non-stop barrage of visual and aural stimulation.

- Social networking is a way of life, so follow us at @cluster1tv and on Facebook

A Cluster 1 Exclusive!

You’ve seen the words and photos, of Consequence of Sound‘s Hangout Music Festival 2011 coverage – now see the video!  Four intimate interviews with some of the Fest’s biggest acts. In the above feature, Scott Greenberg had a quick chat with Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate to talk topics such as his songwriting process, the band’s next album, and what it’s like playing a beach festival.

Directed by: Max Blau
Audio by: Jaz Dixon
Edited by: Colin Peterson

Along with words and photos, Consequence of Sound covered the 2011 edition of the Hangout Music Festival from a video perspective. Our video channel, Cluster 1, had the opportunity to sit down with four of the festival’s hottest artists: Girl Talk, Widespread Panic, Portugal. the Man, and Dead Confederate.

Available above is a clip of our discussion with Girl Talk mastermind Greg Gillis, which was conducted by Scott Greenberg. Among the topics discussed were which live bands he would like to see reinterpret his mash-ups, why he would never have a DJ open for him, and what the immediate future holds.

Below, you’ll find Denton Poteet’s interview with Widespread Panic. The legendary jam band discussed their love of festivals, the differences between playing a headlining set and a festival set, the evolution of the Athens, Georgia music scene, and more.

After that, watch Laura Medina chat with Portugal. the Man about their non-stop touring, their new album, working with legendary producer Andy Wallace, and the prospects of a vacation.

And all the way down, there’s a clip of Scott Greenberg’s discussion with Dead Confederate‘s Hardy Morris, which includes topics such as his songwriting process, the band’s next album, and what it’s like playing a beach festival.

Fears about viability mostly vanished once this year’s lineup was unannounced. Last year’s lineup was primarily a mix of mainstream acts like John Legend and jam-band heroes like Trey Anastasio. This year’s group of names was more consistent and more eclectic, resulting in a list that could stand toe-to-toe with other major American music festivals. The top six acts were especially strong: Paul Simon, Widespread Panic, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, The Flaming Lips, and My Morning Jacket would all be respectable large print names at any of the “Big 4” festivals. In fact, most of them are headlining other major festivals later this summer. Tickets sold quickly once the lineup was announced, and Hangout was able to hit capacity in just its second year.

Once the festival sold out, the question became whether or not they could handle 35,000 people. The answer was mostly yes. There were a couple of logistical problems that will need to be addressed next year: some people waited in line nearly two hours after gates opened on Friday, and shuttle lines were absurdly long all three nights. It would have also been nice to have more volume from the Surf Style stage, which needed to be louder to reach the back of the massive crowds that formed for My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips, and The Black Keys. But those were relatively minor hiccups. There were plenty of conveniently placed bathrooms and concession stands. All of the stages stayed on schedule. There were no technical failures of note. The biggest hiccup came when Cee Lo Green showed up late in a repeat of his Coachella fiasco, but a surprise set of covers from the Foo Fighters was a more than adequate substitute.

One of the surest signs that Hangout is here to stay? The musicians had a blast. Nearly every performance included some mention of how great the setting was, and most of the remarks sounded genuine. Dave Grohl pointed out that it’s the only festival where you can go for a swim in the ocean after your sound check. It’s as unique for the artists as it is for the attendees, and it shouldn’t be hard to attract top talent in the future.

Overall, it was an excellent three days on the beach. The atmosphere was laid back enough that families with children could relax on a blanket without getting in the way of the sketchier types that show up at festivals, but it was still raucous enough that it felt more like a beach party than it did Disneyland. If they iron out the few remaining wrinkles next year and deliver another equally strong lineup, Hangout is bound to earn a reputation as one the best festivals in the country.

-Denton Poteet
Contributing Writer

Friday, May 20th

Brandi Carlile – Surf Style Stage – 2:15 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

As she told past stories to the Hangout crowd about being an opener in the past, Brandi Carlile fondly recalled memories of traveling down the West Coast in a small van, performing at places like Dukes Chowder House and opening for oddly-paired bands like Hanson. Even though she was once again an opening act on the first day of the festival, her avid fans crowded the beach and sang most of the songs along with her. It’s easy to not believe that such a powerful sound can come from such a small woman, but when Carlile bent her knee behind her guitar and tilted her head back to let a growling note pierce though the air, fans howled with approval. Just as in her live album, Live at Benaroya Hall with The Seattle Symphony, she also taught three-part harmony to “turpentine” on the beach. -Laura Medina

My Morning Jacket – Surf Style Stage – 7:00 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

The beginning of the My Morning Jacket show felt more like some mystic tribal ritual as the opening notes of “Victory Dance” rolled over frontman Jim James’ tongue, complimenting the stage’s foggy haze back dropped against the setting sun. James wasted no time getting into his setting, as he belted out on while pointing to the crowd, “Power, hey do you know how it works.” The band’s movements throughout their set were fluid and transitioned seamlessly from the eerie feel of the opening two songs into the familiar rock ballad of “Off The Record”. During the band’s set, James told stories of coming to Gulf Shores as a Senior in High School and getting kicked out of Technotronic’s show from retrieving a sweat towel from the pool they were playing around. “I hope you have as much fun as I did, “ he told fans. By the time the band broke into their standout Circuital track, “Holdin’ on to Black Metal”, many of the people in the crowd looked as though they were fulfilling his hopes for the night. -Laura Medina

Widespread Panic – Hangout Stage – 8:30p.m.

While Hangout took pains in year two to make it clear that they are more than just a jam band festival, there was still plenty of noodling on deck to keep those ticket-buying hippies happy. Plus, that kind of music is a natural fit for the beach anyway. Friday was probably the jammiest of the three days, so it was fitting that Friday night’s headliner was long running jam juggurnaut Widespread Panic. The band’s set might have been more focused on their more straightforward rock material than expected, but there were still enough solos and exploratory digressions to keep the faithful happy. The band is currently celebrating its 25^th year together, but they still seem enthusiastic about what they’re doing. They might not be for everyone, but it isn’t difficult to see the appeal. -Denton Poteet

Saturday, May 21st

Dead Confederate – Grooveshark Stage – 2:30 p.m.

Hailing from Athens and showing it, Dead Confederate intelligently combined ambient delays and reverbs to fill the outdoor air of the Hangout Music Fest on the Grooveshark stage. A big success of Dead Confederate is in the dark and sustained vocal melodies with big drums and guitar that rings out from measure to measure. The hard rockers played a daytime set at the peak of Saturday’s heat, but entranced the audience with the mood of their modern rock sound. It’s a tough feat to turn an open aired music festival into a dark, smoky Athens bar, but Dead Confederate did the stage justice. -Scott Greenberg

Minus The Bear – Surf Style Stage – 2:30 p.m.

When Minus The Bear plays a set like they did at the Hangout Music Fest, audience members leave feeling proud to share their experience with the band. With equal parts Menos el Oso, OMNI, and Planet of Ice, the band made mathrock sexy. Heads bobbed, partners danced, and hands clapped hard. The band really focused on their consistent energy, having seamless transitions from song to song, paying attention to specific midi triggers in songs like “Into The Mirror”. It was a pleasure to see a well rehearsed band with so much style and stage comfort. Keep it up, boys. -Scott Greenberg

Cee Lo Green – Hangout Stage – 3:30 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

Certain moments in concert festivals become ingrained in rock history, and Cee Lo Green‘s time slot this past weekend was easily etched in. As audience members waited…and waited, people began to wonder what was happening. All of a sudden, Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters came running onto the stage, explained that Cee Lo never showed (using colorful language), and surprised everyone with news of an extra, exclusive Foo Fighters set. Crowds in the distance ran up, and audience members up close made sure they got even closer.

It was a covers set – which makes sense given their recent Record Store Day exclusive, Medium Rare, which comprises itself of all the band’s covers to date. However, Dave Grohl & Co. picked their favorites, and even added a few new ones to the bunch. Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out For Summer” and Tom Petty’s “Break Down” brought much applause from the crowd who realized how rare of an occasion this was for them.

However, four covers in, the band jumped into their radio-favorite cover “Darling Nikki”. Question marks popped up above peoples’ heads, recalling that Cee Lo and Foo Fighters had played the song once live on the MTV Video Music Awards. Sure enough, at the tail end of the song, the band looped to the beginning and Cee Lo ran onto the stage. He made it!

Cee Lo only had time for a few songs after showing up late, but he tagged his most popular (or most obvious?) tracks like “Fuck You” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”, along with his SNL performance song, “Bright Lights Bigger City”. Soon after, Cee Lo wrapped up his expedited set, but fans were satisfied to see the moment in history created by Foo Fighters and Cee Lo Green. -Scott Greenberg

Primus – Surf Style Stage – 4:30p.m.

Primus was one of the heaviest bands in the Hangout lineup, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell it based on the first half of their set. They pursued a mellower form of eccentricity rather than the oddball funk-metal sound that made them (kind of) famous. It suited the afternoon beach environment, but it probably should have been a little louder–they were maybe the greatest casualty of the Surf Style Stage’s curiously-low volume. But that’s no fault of the band, who were airtight throughout their set. They made the audience stick around for the hits, though, playing two new songs and messing around with both a dobro and a whamola before delivering big guns like “My Name is Mud” and “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver” late in the set. -Denton Poteet

The Avett Brothers – Hangout Stage – 5:45 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

In the heat of Saturday afternoon, fans packed beach in front of the main stage. Some were there to catch the soul-stirring sounds of Cee Lo Green, while others had camped out to see Foo Fighters. Sandwiched between a surprise Foo Fighters set (in the wake of Cee Lo’s late arrival) and the headlining set were The Avett Brothers. While their set time initially felt like somewhat of an odd fit, the group played an extended set to a captivated crowed with people pushing to the front as they heard the stage performance. After all, the nature of these North Carolinian’s music is as close as a folk rock band can come to having a punk aesthetic. Hands waved in the air as the band stomped their feet to “Kick Drum Heart” as people swayed and sung along to the convincing words of “January Wedding”. All in all, the brothers play with a fluidity and reckless abandonment that makes their live show something to behold. -Laura Medina

The Flaming Lips – Surf Style Stage – 7:15p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

Most discussion of The Flaming Lips‘ live show tends to focus on the spectacle instead of the music, but there’s still a real band underneath all that confetti. The band’s Saturday set acted as an affirmation of that. Instead of an extended instrumental introduction and hamster ball theatrics, they took the stage with relatively little fuss and quickly launched into a warm, loose performance of signature song “Do You Realize?” that was met with cheers of recognition from the crowded beach. The rest of their set stuck to the more popular songs from the latter half of their discography (plus the obligatory “She Don’t Use Jelly”), and Wayne Coyne seemed to enjoy playing the part of beach party emcee for 90 minutes. The Lips are scheduled to play a ton more festivals this year, but as Coyne pointed out onstage, Hangout was the only chance to catch them on a beach during sunset. -Denton Poteet

Foo Fighters – Hangout Stage – Saturday, 8:45 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

When asked the question, “So who was the best set at The Hangout Music Fest?” people have to always respond, “You mean, besides Foo Fighters?” Foo Fighters are a band at the next level, breeding positive lyrics with rock music you are proud to get speeding tickets to. When a band can play a 25 song set, and all of them have been hits, then you know you have seen a good show.

Hangout attendees were treated to new tracks like “Bridge Burning” and “Rope” and solid Foo Fighters classics like “Stacked Actors” or “All My Life”. Pat Smear smiled through every upbeat song, and drummer Taylor Hawkins resembled Sesame Street‘s Animal when doing full speed drum fills.

Another classic part of a Foo Fighters set is the banter that Dave Grohl has with the audience. His fireside chats are a fun way to give Hawkins a chance to breathe. While talking about his day, Grohl had no problem getting 35,000 people to cheer on the fact that he took a nap after swimming in the ocean earlier that day.

“Everlong” closed the Saturday festivities, and audience members were treated to a heavy amount of fireworks launching from directly behind the stage. The combination of soothing distortion, the visual beauty of fireworks, and the positivity and joy of a Foo Fighters set made The Hangout a top-notch festival experience. -Scott Greenberg

Sunday, May 22nd

Portugal. The Man – Surf Style Stage – 11:30 a.m.

Photo by Max Blau

When the gates were opened on Sunday morning, fans rushed to the front of the stage to see Portugal. The Man. Moments after sound checking, the band rolled onto the stage in bare feet and mussed hair, playing continuously while only stopping for a few brief moments while John Gourley tuned his guitar and Zachary Carothers said “thanks for coming out so early to see us.” They easily captured their essence as a traveling band, both physically because of their extensive touring, but also their navigation through so many sounds and genres. During their set, the band hinted that their new album, In the Mountain in the Cloud, might stand among their best of the six albums they previously released. -Laura Medina

Girl Talk – Boom Boom Room – 6:00 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

Gregg Gillis is a mad scientist. Originally with a background in biomedical engineering, Girl Talk melds together his sampled sounds with the precisest of measurements. The big difference, however, is that onstage he’s using confetti, balloons and toilet paper instead of beakers and graduated cylinders. Fans packed the Boom Boom Room on Sunday afternoon, causing the Gulf Shores Fire Marshall’s heart to race as security beckoned dancing girls to climb down from the supports of the tents. The wave of people screamed at each new mash up, bouncing up and down with blow-up alligators and pool noodles alike. While the essence of his music is a genius compilation of old and new sounds cohesively mixed into one, his live shows are a sweaty mess rivaling any dance party. Each are unique in and of themselves, and each are awesome in their own right. -Laura Medina

The Black Keys – Surf and Style Stage – 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

As with any large festival, logistical problems will always turn up somewhere throughout the weekend. This was made apparent at the Surf and Style stage, where flatscreens projecting the videography of The Black Keys set were located only about 10 feet off of the ground. In a crowd of 35,000 standing on level ground, only the front 20% are going to be able to see the sweat of Dan Auerbach or the soft floor tom hits of Patrick Carney. The others had to just find a comfy spot in the sand and listen to the band that made dirty blues cool again.

Despite most of the crowds inability to physically “see” the Black Keys, the set was a die hard Black Keys dream. On the Kings of Leon tour, The Black Keys stuck to a structured setlist, making sure to burn through their singles and popular tracks. At The Hangout Music Fest, it was the opposite. Medleys of antique soulful blues songs were mixed into their set in clever ways. A good indication of how the Black Keys sounded at the fest can be heard in the first 30 seconds of “Ten Cent Pistol”. Quiet guitar string plucks build and build until the duo, 10 minutes later, would be trading energy back and forth in crunchy distortion solos.

Photo by Max Blau

If you were looking forward to hearing an album played live, this was not the set for you. If you were looking forward to a band playing music live, independent of recorded sound structure, then The Black Keys were a huge check mark on your Hangout Music Fest list. -Scott Greenberg

Justin Townes Earle – Shaka Island Stage – 7:45 p.m.

Justin Townes Earle was in the unenviable position of playing at the same time as both festival mainstays Galactic and white-hot sub-headliners The Black Keys, but he still managed to draw a respectable crowd to the Hangout Festival’s smallest stage. He owned that stage, too. Equal parts singer-songwriter and showman, Earle is a confident performer that knows how to connect with an audience. His gospel-tinged tunes were a good warm up for Paul Simon and a breath of fresh air for festival goers who had been baking in the sun for three days. -Denton Poteet

Paul Simon – Hangout Stage – 9:00 p.m.

Even if you’re not a student of his discography, odds are high that you probably like at least one song written by Paul Simon. You probably even like a few of them. That’s a strength in a festival headliner – it heightens the shared experience between thousands of strangers. Simon’s music is familiar and rhythmic and light as a feather. Who better to close out three days of music on the beach?

For two hours, Simon and his band moved seamlessly between Simon & Garfunkel staples, Graceland-era classics, and selections from the recently released So Beautiful or So What. The setlist perfectly balanced the new songs with the iconic ones, of which there were no shortage; there were appearances from “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”, “Mother and Child Reunion”, and “The Only Living Boy in New York”, among others. It also helped that the new tracks sounded every bit as vital as the classics, with “The Afterlife” and “So Beautiful or So What” sounding especially strong.

This was a huge coup for Hangout. Simon is a living legend touring behind a very good new album, but Hangout is his only summer festival date. This was a special set and it felt like it. The crowd erupted when that familiar horn line announced the arrival of “You Can Call Me Al”, and they fell into a respectful hush when Simon took the stage alone during the encore to play a solo acoustic rendition of “The Sound of Silence”. The latter was flat out amazing, with a nuanced vocal performance from Simon that conveys less urgency and more reflection than the original Simon & Garfunkel recording. He’s more thoughtful now, not quite as earnest, but still committed to the sentiment at the song’s core. He’s gained experience and perspective since he wrote it, and you can hear it in his voice. It was the high water mark of an excellent festival. -Denton Poteet

Gallery by Max Blau

[nggallery id=210]

After performing with The Head & The Heart for their hometown audience August 27th, MSHVB will begin a stretch of six dates with support from David Bazan. The tour then continues through the midwest and along the east coast with psych-rockers Dead Confederate. On October 5th, MSHVB’s longtime friends Portugal. The Man will replace Dead Confederate for the southern leg of the tour (odd given the band’s perfect southern moniker). The tour winds down with stops in Birmingham, Athens, Asheville, Nashville, and Lawrence, KS. Look at the complete list of stops below to discover where you can meet the messengers.

Check out a preview of Portugal. The Man’s newest video below for “Guns and Dogs”; it actually stars MSHVB’s Traci Eggelston.

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band 2010 Tour Dates:
08/27 – Seattle, WA @ KEXP Mural Summer Concerts at Mural Ampitheatre #
09/08 – Spokane, WA @ Empyrean Coffee House %
09/10 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux %
09/11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge %
09/12 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge %
09/14 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room %
09/15 – Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s %
09/16 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
09/23 – Akron, OH @ Music ^
09/24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater ^
09/28 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg ^
09/29 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel ^
09/30 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ^
10/01 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor ^
10/05 – Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club *
10/07 – Fayetville, AR @ George’s Majesitc Lounge *
10/08 – Forth Worth, TX @ Aaardvark
10/11 -Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
10/14 – Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Stage *
10/15 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club *
10/16 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *
10/17 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
10/20 – Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck *

# = w / The Head & The Heart
% = w / David Bazan
^ = w / Dead Confederate
* = w/ Portugal. The Man

Though the album’s title may reflect a certain sweetness that could only be associated with pop music, Dead Confederate did what it does best: wrote solid rock songs. On “In the Dark”, Hardy Morris stands out with solid vocals and equally impressive guitar solos, with a guitar sound reminiscent of vintage Neil Young—think Live Rust. It’s a little more stripped down when compared to the group’s 2008 release, Wrecking Ball.

Recorded in Athens with acclaimed producer John Agnello (The Hold Steady, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth), every song packs a certain punch. “Father Figure” is one standout track, eerily reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins. Take notice to Jason Scarboro’s intense drumming as it carries most of the instrumentation on the track.

“Giving It All Away” is a Southern rocker with an alternative edge, featuring a guest appearance by Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis, which could have been partially due to Agnello’s presence as producer. This is one of the better tracks on the album. The tempo builds throughout, culminating with a great guitar solo and vocals that show some intriguing range.

As cool as it is to see J. Mascis on this album, the highlight of the album is the slower, acoustic-driven, “Run from the Gun”. The song is quite a contrast from the rest of the album. Morris’ vocals have the lo-fi charm that would make Daniel Johnston jealous. However, the band really takes a chance here by straying from its grungy comfort zone. In fact, for the first time on the album, the band reveals what had people talking about them in the first place. By harnessing its songwriting and taking risks, as they do here, the band could make the leap to the next level in the rock pantheon, a level that would allow it to be brought up in the same conversation as its influences.

Overall, Sugar is oozing potential. Dead Confederate’s songs show a greater composure and a maturity that cannot be overstated. Is this album reinventing the band’s genre? No. But, if you want an album that’s simply a rocker, and you want to be on board with a band that has great potential to be a fixture on your car’s radio, then Sugar is for you. Believe it or not, if the band’s collective songwriting can make the jump, then they have the potential to be the next big thing from Athens. But that’s a big if.

Alberta Cross has announced new co-headlining dates (including two in Arizona) with Athens, Ga.-based Dead Confederate for what they’re calling the “DC/AC” tour. It starts in Portland, Ore. On September 6th and makes it’s way as far south as Solona Beach, Calif. The journey then takes the bands west for two dates in the desert before sending up them up the Colorado Rockies and the through the Midwest before wrapping up in Bean Town almost three weeks later.

Despite it’s brevity, the tour finds the bands joining forces at the most opportune time. Dead Confederate wraps up tours with Deer Tick and Surfer Blood on August 5th, and the short, 15-date-expedition also begins one night after Alberta Cross’ three-night stand at the Gorge Amphitheatre supporting Dave Matthews Band.

While Alberta Cross is still touring behind their debut full-length, Broken Side of Time, the lads from The Peach State will be celebrating the release of their new, John Angello produced, J.Mascis-featuring album, Sugar (out August 24th via TAO Recordings). In a recent video, the band joked that the new set of songs would, “cure every disease, and grant every possible wish you may have.”

Make your wish come true at one of the stops below. Tickets for select dates are available via Ticketmaster.com.

Alberta Cross 2010 Tour Dates:
07/22 – Torrensville, AU @ Thebarton Theatre ^
07/24 – Annadale, AU @ Annadale Hotel
07/25 – Newcastle, AU @ Cambridge Hotel
07/27 – Melbourne, AU @ The Corner Hotel
07/28 – Melbourne, AU @ The Palace ^
07/29 – Melbourne, AU @ The Palace ^
08/01 – Niigata, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
08/20 – Bodo, NO @ Parkenfestivalen
08/27 – Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival
08/28 – Reading, UK @ Reading Festival
08/31 – Boise, ID @ Taco Bell Arena #
09/03 – George, WA @ The Gorge # &
09/04 – George, WA @ The Gorge # &
09/05 – George, WA @ The Gorge # &
09/06 – Portland, Or @ Doug Fir Lounge *
09/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
09/09 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SOHO *
09/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubador
09/12 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern *
09/14 – Tucson, AZ @ Plush *
09/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rhythm Room *
09/17 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Blues & Brews at the Sheridan Opera House *
09/18 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
09/19 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre *
09/21 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird *
09/22 – Chicago, IL @ Double Door *
09/24 – Lincoln, NE @ Nor’Easter Festival *
09/25 – West Chester, PA @ The Note *
09/26 – Boston, MA @ The Middle East *

^ = w/ Mumford & Sons
# = w/ Dave Matthews Band
& = w/ Ben Harper & The Relentless 7
* = w/ Dead Confederate

Recorded by producer John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.), the album was created in New Jersey during this past winter’s mega-blizzards. Dead Confederate’s progression to its new sound was influenced by recent supporting tours for Dinosaur Jr. and Meat Puppets, which reportedly gave the group an increased appreciation for the underground bands of the ’80s and ’90s.

Singer/guitarist Hardy Morris and bassist Brantly Senn split songwriting duties and picked their favorite of the other’s contributions. The result should be an interesting collection of songs, headed by the single “Giving It All Away”. And given all the aforementioned Dinosaur Jr. related elements on the album (note its producer and influence), it’s only appropriate that the band’s frontman, J. Mascis, makes a guest appearance on the track.

So far, there’s been no word on a tracklist or artwork, so stay tuned for more info. Check the band out on tour with Deer Tick this summer.

Dead Confederate 2010 Tour Dates:
07/09 – Louisvillle, KY @ Forecastle Festival
07/25 – Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre
07/27 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
07/28 – Miami, FL @ TBD
07/29 – Ybor City, FL @ Crowbar
07/30 – Tallahassee, FL @ Engine Room
07/31 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
08/01 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In
08/03 – Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s
08/04 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone
08/05 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway

Highlights for the much-hyped foursome include a headlining slot at New York’s Webster Hall and a spot on the always-star-studded Lollapalooza line-up. (Dear Lord, is this what happens after a band pops Brian Williams’ music-blogging cherry?)

Their quest kicks off in Richmond, Va., and the 23-date voyage will take John J. McCauley’s throwback rasp as far south as Miami. Along the way, the band will also treat Cleveland to new-guitarist Ian O’Neil’s Skynrd-esque shredding at a free show at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on August 11th.

Openers for all dates haven’t been announced, but Georgia’s Dead Confederate will play support on ten dates. Fellow Northeasterners Wye Oak clock in for shows in Philly and D.C, and there’s still no word on whether a one-off Baltimore gig with Dawes will see one-half of McCauley’s super group – MG&V – take the stage.

Tickets for the Webster Hall show are available via Ticketmaster.com. Also be sure to check out this blurry video of McCauley swaying (and sounding) eerily like Kurt Cobain on an electric version of The Black Dirt Sessions’ piano-driven closer, “Christ Jesus”.

“Christ Jesus” at Chicago’s Empty Bottle (Feb. 20, 2009)

Deer Tick 2010 Tour Dates:
06/18 – Richmond, VA @ Brown’s Island
07/17 – Providence, RI @ Jerky’s
07/19 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s
07/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
07/21 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar #
07/22 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel *
07/23 – Floyd, VA @ Floyd Fest
07/25 – Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre %
07/27 – Orlando, FL @ The Social %
07/28 – Miami, FL @ TBD %
07/29 – Ybor City, FL @ Crowbar %
07/30 – Tallahassee, FL @ Engine Room %
07/31 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre %
08/01 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In %
08/03 – Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s %
08/04 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone %
08/05 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway %
08/06-08 –  Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza (Exact date TBD)
08/09 – Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn’s
08/10 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
08/11 – Cleveland, OH @ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Free Show)
08/12 – York, PA @ Capitol Theater
08/13 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/09 – Isle of Wright, UK @ Bestival
09/10 – North Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival

* = w/ Wye Oak
# = w/ Dawes
% = w/ Dead Confederate

This year’s lineup once again again showcases a diverse roster of national and international acts, including alt-rock legend Billy Bragg, acclaimed folk-rock outfit The Mountain Goats, psychedelic rockers Dr. Dog, indie sensations Rogue Wave, UK punk band Leatherface, and the hardcore group Senses Fail. And that’s just getting started.

Man Man, Delta Spirit, Anti-Flag, The Moldy Peaches’ Kimya Dawson, Torche, High on Fire, Anvil, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Portugal. the Man, Danielson, Of Montreal’s James Husband, Past Lives, Bear In Heaven, Freelance Whales, Dead Confederate, Fruit Bats, and Dr. Octagon (aka Kool Keith) are also confirmed participants. The full list of notables can be found here.

Three-day tickets are on sale now and still incredibly cheap, however, they will rise in price as the festival draws closer. From January 14th through February 11th, tickets will be available at the early-bird price of $39.50. From February 12th to March 11th, they will jump to $49.50. Walk-up 3-day tickets will be $60.00. Single day tickets will be available for $25.00/day in advance and $35.00/day weekend of. Three-day camping passes are also now available at $19.50/person. A small number of VIP passes are available at $99.50 per person. The VIP pass includes access to the VIP camping area, a three-day festival pass, and extra goodies. Find all the info here.

Of course, we’d be remiss not to note that Harvest of Hope serves to raise awareness and provide financial support for the Harvest of Hope Foundation, a charity organization that aids migrant farm workers across the country. Check out our recent interview with co-founder Ryan Murphy for the complete story.

The Jesus Lizard, Of Montreal, Mission of Burma, Ratatat, The Pharcyde, and Destroyer head the recently unveiled 2009 bill. Other acts of note include Danzig, Yeasayer, Fucked Up, The Cool Kids, Wu Tang’s GZA performing Liquid Swords, The King Khan & BBQ Show, Lucero, Why?, and No Age.

As it stands, the Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 currently looks something like this:

7 Seconds, Alaska in Winter, All Leather, Astronautalis, Atlas Sound, Bankrupt and the Borrowers, Betaplayer, The Black and White Years, Brendon Walsh, Brian Posehn, Broadcast, Buraka Son Sistema, Car Stereo (Wars), Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm, Chelsea Peretti, MC Chris, Coalesce, Coliseum, The Cool Kids, Crystal Antlers, Crystal Castles, D.R.I., Danzig, Dead Confederate, Death, Destroyer, The DJ Melee, Face to Face, Flipper, Foot Patrol, Fuck Buttons, Fucked Up, Gorilla Biscuits, Growing, GZA performing Liquid Swords, Hannibal Burress, Harlem, HEALTH, James Husband (Of Montreal), The Jesus Lizard,  Josh Fadem, Kid Sister, King Khan & BBQ Show, The Laughing, LAX, Les Savy Fav, Low Line Caller, Lucero, Melt Banana, Metallagher, Mika Miko, Mission of Burma, Moonlight Towers, Neon Indian, The New Movement, Nick Thune, No Age, DJ Numark, Of Montreal, Off With Their Heads, Pack of Wolves, Peligrosa DJs, The Pharcyde, Rat King, Ratatat, Red Sparowes, Reign Supreme, Riverboat Gamblers, The Roller, Royal Bangs, Russian Circles, Shearwater, Shonen Knife, Ssion, The Strange Boys, Street Dogs, Sugar & Gold, This Will Destroy You, Times New Viking, Todd Barry, The Underground Railroad to Candyland, VEGA, White Kids You Know, Why?, Yeasayer, Young Widows, Youth Brigade

Early bird weekend ($67.50) and VIP ($135) are now available via funfunfunfest.com.

The brothers Kirkwood, both nearing 50, will start slow with a dozen gigs in September, break for much of October (unless they decide to further destroy themselves with a slew of other dates), and slam through nearly a show a day for November. Of course, all of this will be in support of the recently released Sewn Together.

Those looking for a Meat Puppets fix until then should check out ABC’s Amplified web show. While logic dictates ABC is anything but a purveyor of music, anchor/indie music fan Dan Harris interviewed the band and delved deep into their abusive past and then, like many of us, began looking forward with fanboy ferocity to their bright future.

Tickets for select dates will be available via Ticketmaster.com.

Meat Puppets 2009 Tour Dates:
09/05 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
09/16 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater *
09/17 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern *
09/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater *
09/19 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s *
09/20 – Sebastopol, CA @ Hopmonk Tavern *
09/22 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
09/23 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey *
09/24 – Boise, ID @ Grizzly Rose *
09/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge*
09/26 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre *
10/31 – Houston, TX @ Rudyard’s
11/01 – New Orleans, LA @ Voodoo Music Experience
11/03 – Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s
11/04 – Little Rock, AK @ Revolution Room
11/05 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ball Room
11/06 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
11/07 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
11/08 – Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
11/10 – Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s
11/11 – DeKalb, IL @ Otto’s
11/12 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
11/13 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
11/14 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
11/15 – Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio
11/17 – Louisville, KY @ Headliner’s
11/18 – Cleveland, OH @ The Grog
11/19 – Ithaca, NY @ Castaways
11/20 – Albany, NY @ Valentines
11/21 – Teaneck, NJ @ Mexacali Live
11/25 – New York City, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
11/27 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
11/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live

* = w/ Dead Confederate

“The original idea,” says vocalist/guitarist Oliver Ackermann, “was to create the craziest, most f’ed-up recording ever.”

On October 20th, we’ll hear what the New York outfit came up with when it releases Exploding Head via Mute Records. The followup to the band’s 2007 self-titled debut is billed as “43 mesmerizing minutes of pain as pleasure,” the result of “paranoid android pop,” “gorgeous gate-crashing melodies,” “Chinese water torture chords” and all the other over-the-top ways of describing sounds that are ear-bleedingly loud.

A Place to Bury Strangers will look to live up to its album’s title when the band hits the road this fall. The month-long trek will pair the noise rockers up with the likes of Dead Confederate, All the Saints and Darker My Love.

Cherish the silence while you have the chance.

Exploding Head Tracklist:
01. It Is Nothing
02. In Your Heart
03. Lost Feeling
04. Deadbeat
05. Keep Slipping Away
06. Ego Death
07. Smile When You Smile
08 Everything Always Goes Wrong
09. Exploding Head
10. I Live My Life To Stand In The Shadow Of Your Heart

A Place To Bury Strangers 2009 Tour Dates:
10/04 -  Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s ^#
10/05 -  Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel ^#
10/06 -  Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 ^#
10/07 -  Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn ^#
10/08 -  Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder ^#
10/09 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks ^#
10/10 -  Dallas, TX @ Club Dada ^#
10/11 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk ^#
10/13 -  Tucson, AZ @ Plush ^#
10/15 -  San Diego, CA @ Casbah ^#
10/16 -  Los Angeles, CA @ Echo ^#
10/17 -  San Francisco, CA @ The Independent #
10/18 -  Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge #
10/19 -  Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café #
10/20 -  Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret #
10/22 -  Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge #
10/23 -  Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge #
10/25 -  St. Louis, MO @ Firebird #
10/26 -  Chicago, IL @ Double Door &#
10/27 -  Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club &#
10/28 -  Montreal, QC @ Il Motore &#
10/29 – New York, NYC @ Bowery Ballroom &#
10/30 -  Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs &#

^ = w/ Darker My Love
# = w/ All the Saints
& = w/ Dead Confederate

Back in October of this year, Dead Confederate stopped in New York to perform on Late Night With Conan O’Brien.Needless to say, their performance flat out rocked and there’s lots of potential for this young Athens group. With the release of Wrecking Ball, the Georgia quintet are currently blazing pathways on tour with their Georgia counterparts Manchester Orchestra at the moment. For now, check out the performance and check them out on tour!

Check Out:

Dead Confederate – The Rat (live on Conan O’Brien)

Tour Dates:
12/16 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt*
12/17 – Orlando, FL @ The Social*
12/18 – Ybor City, FL @ The Orpheum*
12/19 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jackrabbits*
12/20 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse*
12/23 – Augusta, GA @ Sky City**

*  w/ Manchester Orchestra
** w/Gift Horse

Remember this name, Dead Confederate, when you are strumming through your local record store’s collection or merely searching the internet for new bands to fill your musical void. These boys from Athens, Georgia, bring the musical goods to satisfy the pickiest of music lovers. Clearly a skilled bunch, Dead Confederate focuses its music towards a progressive melodic style. Imagine Kurt Cobain as a member of Pink Floyd, but on a lesser scale of course.

Judging by its latest release, Wrecking Ball, Dead Confederate isfollowing the right path to success. Excellent melodies, a wicked drummer, and tight live performances are the obvious characteristics of any successful band, and these boys represent all three. Jason Scarboro, on the drum kit, is fantastic throughout the whole debut album. From the first two tracks, “Heavy Petting” and “The Rat”, Scarboro’s drums carry the entire band. Not to take anything away from Hardy Morris-vocals, Brantley Senn-bass, Walker Howe-lead guitar, and John Watkins-keyboards, but Scarboro is a freak with the sticks. If you are a drummer, or really appreciate a great drummer, then you should listen to this fantastic album.

Dead Confederate’s influences are obvious (e.g. Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Neil Young), yet the band still manages to create its own unique sound. It’s tough to not think of these influences when listening to its debut album, but at the same time, imagine these three bands combined into one musical hurricane. Picture that and you will find Dead Confederate. Aside from their influences, one must remember that these modern day Athenians do have Southern roots embedded in their brains. While these roots are subtle, they are still evident in their music. Long soft guitar chords from Howe and Scarboro’s lightning snare on “Yer Circus” create a marching off to war theme which stands out.

After hitting up the Voodoo Experience last weekend, Dead Confederate now finds itself in the midst of a rather extensive North American tour. I’m positive that you will enjoy them live, and if that’s not in your itinerary, try giving Wrecking Ball a listen. It will drag you away from those bands that are worn out in your music collection.

Check Out: