Grant Manship

Interpol - The Heinrich Maneuver

The Heartless Bastards to play Free Show in OTR

I read over at Spill It that the The Heartless Bastards will be playing a "Block Party" this Friday, June 29.  The free show is going to be on 14th Street in Over-the-Rhine right outside the Lightborne video production building, who are hosting the event. Lightborne were the creators of the excellent video for the band's song, "All This Time," found below.  The event will be from 7 to 11 p.m. so don't miss it!

The Smashing Pumpkins Nine Night Residency

I've finally arrived in the beautiful city of Asheville, NC for the Smashing Pumpkins first shows in the US since 2000.  A closure of I-75 couldn't stop me, although it did slow me down for about 5 hours.  In case you haven't heard, Billy & Co. are playing nine sold out shows to celebrate their return and prepare for the release of their new album Zeitgeist.  I was lucky enough to get tickets to a few of the shows before Ticketweb imploded when the tickets went onsale.

To say I'm excited is a gross understatement.  I walked out of the Metro on December 2, 2000 after the band's final show thinking I'd never hear my favorite band play their music again.  While some might argue that this isn't the Smashing Pumpkins, I could care less.  Billy and Jimmy have always been the driving force behind the band and they're back so I couldn't be happier.

I'll try and get some pictures up as well as my thoughts on the shows at some point.  For now, watch the video for "Today".

Opening Night - What can I say?  The band was amazing.  First things first, Ginger Reyes and Jeff Schroeder more than make up for the members they're replacing.  I was on Jeff's side and all I can say is he has some serious chops.  At one point Billy and Jeff were soloing/dueling as Billy appeared to challenge him and Jeff more than stood up to the challenge.  While we're on the subject of guitar playing, Billy Corgan is an absolute guitar god.  He has to be one of the most underrated guitar players on the planet.  I think this because so many people focus on his persona, voice, etc...  Regardless, he's amazing. 

The new material is very strong.  I had tried to avoid listening to too many bootlegs from the European shows to reserve judgment on how the songs sounded live.  New songs that stood out as exceptionally good, aside from Tarantula, were Starz and Come On (Let's Go).  Also, the epic Gossamer is an experience all unto itself.      

I can't really say much more right now.  The classics were just that.  That Orange Peel is an excellent venue.  The staff was definitely prepared to prevent any scalping and the process of checking IDs/orders, getting wristbands, and having hands stamped was very efficient.  Finally, the band played Translucent for the first time ever and then went right into Starla.  That alone was worth the drive and price of admission all by itself.

P.S.  Here are a couple stories and some pictures that were snapped on Saturday night.

Menomena - Rotten Hell

Favorite New Release of the Week - Jun. 19th, 2007

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

I was only able to give this record a quick once-through before heading into work this morning but it sounds incredible.  I'll try to have a more formal review up later tonight.

Buy Icky Thump at:  iTunes | Amazon | Insound

Coyote Bones - Living Breathing Demons

The following video for the Coyote Bones song "Living Breathing Demons" stars Dev Hynes of the now defunct Test Icicles, Craig D and Kianna Alarid of Tilly and The Wall, and Joe Knapp of Son Ambulance dancing and partying alongside other friends of the Coyote Bones-run CoCo Art collective.

The clip was created by frequent Saddle Creek collaborator Nik Fackler for a paltry $18.  The budget was spent on spray paint for the video's graffiti extravaganza, courtesy of Bright Eyes visual collaborator Joey Lynch, and some box wine to loosen up the cast.  Enjoy!

Daytrotter Sessions - Bill Baird

I'm a big fan of Sound Team as well as band member Bill Baird's solo work.  He was featured on Daytrotter today so be sure to check out the interview and free songs.

Spoon - The Underdog

For those of you who want to pretend that you haven't already downloaded Spoon's new record, here is the first single from the upcoming release:

• Spoon - "The Underdog" from Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Sufjan Stevens - The Lakes of Canada

La Blogothèque and their video podcast off-shoot The Take-Away Shows are, hands down, two of the best sites on the Internet.  Every week, The Take-Away Shows give away a session, shot with a band, performing in an unusual urban setting.  Much to my surprise, the 50th installment in the series was filmed right here in our fair city of Cincinnati.  The session was filmed during April's second annual MusicNOW festival that took place at Memorial Hall.  To celebrate the 50th installment, the creators went above and beyond the call of duty to release a 30 minute film that features Havlovi, Sufjan Stevens, David Cossin, Pedro Soler, Clogs & Shara Worden, Osso Quartet, and Amiina performing in and around the historic hall.  You can read more about the session, it's participants, and also view the film here. 

Another performance that the masterminds behind La Blogothèque were able to capture during their visit to the Queen City was that of Sufjan, on the roof of Memorial Hall, doing a gorgeous cover of The Innocence Mission's, "The Lakes of Canada."  Check out the video below:

(via The Take-Away Shows)

Blur Planning Return to Studio

Yesterday's news brought word that the original members of Blur are planning to head into the studio for a week in October.  They're doing so to see if there are any creative sparks and if there are, they might make a new album.  I've always loved Blur and to celebrate why not post the video for one of my favorite songs, "Coffee & TV."  After all, the video deals with the search for a missing band member so I'd say it's pretty fitting considering how much I've been missing them!

Win Tickets to See Black Moth Super Rainbow at Irving Plaza

Any of you New Yorkers, or readers with frequent flyer miles, want to win a pair of tickets to see Black Moth Super Rainbow live in NYC with Architecture In Helsinki at Irving Plaza on June 8th?  If so, you're in luck!!!

Fanatic, SCTAS.com, and Graveface Records Present: The Black Moth Super Rainbow Dandelion Gum Bubblegum Blowing Rumble!

It's easy to enter! Contestants must simply document the biggest bubblegum bubble they can blow in a photograph. Submit your entry to bmsrgum@fanaticpromotion.com. Entrants MUST be listening to BMSR's "Sun Lips" while bubble blowing.  Check out the track below:

• Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Sun Lips" from Dandelion Gum

The winners will be chosen by a crack team of judges. Extra consideration will go for those who document and submit the post bubble explosion.

The Grand Prize:

1. Two tickets to see Black Moth Super Rainbow Live at Irving Plaza on June 8th in NYC opening for Architecture In Helsinki.
2. A CD and Vinyl copy of the now out-of print Black Moth Super Rainbow Lost Picking Flowers EP on Graveface Records.
3. A Black Moth Super Rainbow T-shirt.
4. A Black Moth Super Rainbow Poster.
5. A CD copy of Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Dandelion Gum.

Five runners-up will receive:

1. A CD copy of Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Dandelion Gum.
2. A Black Moth Super Rainbow T-shirt.

Wooden Wand

Wooden Wand, a.k.a. James Jackson Toth, was recently signed to Thurston Moore's label Ecstatic Peace and will serve up his debut release for the label on June 12th.  In order to transcend the ‘psychedelic’ labels that have been placed on him since his days fronting Wooden Wand & The Vanishing Voice James was very specific in wanting to make, "an un-weird record."  The resulting album, which will be Toth's last under the Wooden Wand moniker, is James & The Quiet.  Fans of Wooden Wand will find that this album is much darker experience than Toth’s previous album Second Attention.  That being said, the results are very good from what I've heard so far, un-weird or not.  Check out a track from the album below.

• Wooden Wand - "Delia" from James & The Quiet