FINE PRINT: Times New Viking, JB’s Last Night [Photo by TIFFANY YOON] BY SIMONE SECCI FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT I have to admit that I was suckered at this one. Fooled as many people by a fake press release, that displayed Times New Viking as a supergroup including former Pavement bass player Mark Ibold, I went to Johnny Brenda’s thinking that I would find a bunch of aged indie rockers in front of me. Instead I found this heterogeneous trio of twenty somethings from Columbus, Ohio. But Let’s start from the beginning: First on stage Fnu Ronnies local band I believe, devoted […]
EARLY WORD: Pretty On The Inside
Due to health issues, Public Record has canceled. Doors and DJ’s at 9, Novenas on at 11, Rarebirds on at 11:45. Cover is now just $5.
DEVOLUTION FOR DUMMIES: Q&A With Mark Mothersbaugh, Composer, Painter, DEVO-lutionist
[As told to JONATHAN VALANIA/Illustration by Alex Fine] Phawker: Let’s start with ancient history, I want to know about the evolution of the Devo idea, I’ve read conflicting things — that it was started sort of as a joke in the late 60s and then the shootings at Kent State radicalized you guys, tell me about that whole time. Mark Mothersbaugh: OK, I don’t know what you read, but I’m sure there’s plenty of people putting false information out there and this is the true story: The band happened, when I met Gerald Casale at Kent State, we were both […]
LISTEN LIKE THIEVES: New Beck Teaser
ON THE DOWNLOAD: Three Tracks From Modern Guilt [Now playing on Phawker Radio!]
HEAR YE: Dr. Dog Fate
Now playing on Phawker Radio! Why? Because WE let the Dog out!
IN 1987: I Saw An X-Ray Of A Girl Passing Gas
BY JONATHAN VALANIA First thing you should know is that what I am about to tell you violates a solemn pact that was made by all involved: Whatever happens in 1987 stays in 1987. I grew up in Pennsyltucky — Allentown, PA, to be exact — and by the time I was getting to the be the age where you just WANNA GET THE FUCK OUT OF DODGE, a shiny new superhighway literally appeared out of thin air, connecting the hinterlands of the Keystone State to New York City with a directness and efficiency that was heretofore unimaginable. You could […]
BURAKA SOM SISTEMA: Sound of Kuduro
This is badass. Don’t miss the MIA cameo. Play loud. No…LOUDER!
RADIOHEAD: From A Basement On The Hill
Radiohead has released ten live performance videos recorded at The Hospital studio in Covent Garden with the team from the band’s longtime producer Nigel Godrich’s ‘From the Basement’ TV show. The collection is now available exclusively through iTunes. The videos feature live renditions of songs from ‘In Rainbows’ and the bonus CD included in its deluxe discbox edition. The full track listing of video performances is:
BREAKING: Acquittal In Winehouse Hubbo Trial
ASSOCIATED PRESS: LONDON – A British court on Wednesday acquitted a former pub manager of taking a bribe to drop assault charges against Amy Winehouse’s husband. A jury deliberated for three hours before finding James King not guilty of trying to pervert the course of justice (the equivalent of obstruction of justice in the U.S.). The singer-songwriter’s husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, has admitted beating up King in a barroom fight in 2006 and then offering him $400,000 to keep quiet about it. King, who suffered a broken cheekbone, said he was intimidated into withdrawing the assault claim. Three other men also […]
LISTEN LIKE THIEVES: My Bloody Valentine
DOWNLOAD: My Bloody Valentine (2008) Live @ ICA London 13/06/2008 SOME GUY ON THE INTERNET: They just reformed after 16 years out. I went to see them on Sunday, on the 3rd of a 5 night residency at a really great venue in London. My ears are still ringing – man, that was by far and away the loudest gig i ever saw in 20 years of gig-going – tons of people were walking out holding their ears looking utterly bewildered…… SOME OTHER GUY ON THE INTERNET: Glad to hear they haven’t toned it down. I remember seeing them open […]
NEWS CLUES: Like A Pregnancy Pact With The Truth
Pregger Teen Denies Pregnancy Pact, Calls 17 Pregnant Friends A ‘Coincidence’ One of the pregnant teenage girls at a Massachusetts high school denied that 17 students had entered a pact in an effort to get pregnant and called the high rate of pregnancies “unlucky” and a “coincidence.” “There was definitely no pact,” Lindsey Oliver, 17, [NOT pictured] who became pregnant when she was a junior, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” today. “There was a group of girls already pregnant that decided they were going to help each other to finish school and raise their kids together. I think it was […]
ADAM ACURAGI: The Bottom Of The River
One Take New York filmed Adam Arcuragi at an underground flea market. Each Saturday, two levels of a standard, dingy parking garage turns into a full-blown Chelsea flea market.When Adam Arcuragi and band rolled in with instruments, wary vendors objected, reasoning – apparently – that the delightful, stompy sing-along “Bottom of the River” might distract customers from spending their cash on a stack of vintage post cards or a maybe-working Tupac Shakur clock. But Arcuragi and company charmed ’em and a woman with an infectious smile actually emptied a trash tub to provide the band a bass drum. Oh, and […]
We Know It’s Only Rock N’ Roll But We Like It
HOW ARE YOU: Daniel Johnston, Popped Fest, WCL, Sunday Night BY SIMONE SECCI FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT Popped festival 2008: same graphics, same format, fancier names (Gogol Bordello, Daniel Johnston) and locations such as World Café Live and there was where your favorite Philadelphia-adopted Italian reporter was last night to delight his ears. Sunday night there were two stages, with the upstairs more oriented to a dancier, hip and more uncommitted entertainment and a downstairs where a various bunch of more or less underground rock acts gather the attendance. First on stage Gildon Works offered a really great live show of indie […]