Photos: ATP New York – Day 1 (9-19-08) in Monticello, NY

Tortoise performing Millions Now Living Will Never Die

Thurston Moore performing Psychic Hearts


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All Tomorrow’s Parties NY Day 1 (Friday): Don’t Look Back, There are 3000 Hipsters Standing Behind You

After a great week in NYC (of which I will have more reports on when I get back), we headed to the Catskills for ATP. The event is taking place at a resort called Kutshers, but we were staying at the other official resort called The Raleigh. I overheard someone describe The Raleigh as “straight out of The Shining”, and that pretty much nailed it. This has got to be the weirdest place I have ever stayed.

We then headed up to the festival after checking in and had to wait in a very long line to exchange our tickets for wristbands. Festivals being marred in logistics issues always seems to be the case, and ATP was no exception, but nothing I haven’t come to expect. After getting my press pass secured and grabbing some grub from their “food court” consisting of two food booths, we headed right down in front of the main stage, and Atlanta’s greatest music fan, Kenny Crucial, was holding down the rail right next to us most of the night. I made it down there a few songs into the Meat Puppets doing their II album just in time to hear one of my favs, “Plateau”. The Meat Puppets were really good, and since this was pretty much their only album that I knew well, it was a greatest hits show for me. The guitarist was shredding hard and their bassist had such a goofy on stage persona.

Next up was Tortoise doing Millions Now Living Will Never Die. I made a point to not really listen to any of these albums before heading up here so they would feel fresh, and for some reason I hadn’t really listened to any Tortoise in forever despite them being one of my “entry bands” into good music so long ago. As they did their set beautifully, I realized that I still knew this album frontwards and back, and it was so enjoyable to listen to. I know I haven’t really mentioned this band much around Ohmpark since I started it, but there is no doubt in mind that these guys are some of the best of the best.

After that it was time for Thurston Moore doing his Psychic Hearts album. As much as I am obsessed with Sonic Youth, I really never got into this album the few times I had listened to it before. Now, I will take listening to Thurston any time, any day, and the set was great, with Steve Shelley on drums again, but I have to say that Psychic Hearts is not exactly in my upper stratosphere of SY related music. But regardless of my hang ups, it was certainly a crowd pleaser with the older hipster crowd that populated this thing. While there were a few “pubesters” rolling around, the audience for this festival has been pretty damn cool so far.

Finally, it was time for the event I was most excited about, Built To Spill performing Perfect From Now On. There is probably no album that has more personal meaning to me than this one, and my highest of expectations were not disappointed. I had seen them play abridged versions of songs from PFNO many times, but for this one, they played the most loyal versions of the songs I have ever heard, only adding a few extended jams here and there. After they finished out the album, they did a stunning rendition of “Goin’ Against Your Mind” to close out the set. They did an encore consisting of one my favs, “Stab” and closed with “Car” complete with a 15 minute jammout at the end. There is just no way i can describe accurately how great this set was for me.

Anyways, I have to run and catch some more music. More updates coming, and Biggie C is taking some gorgeous photos we will have for you next week.

Photos: SXSW Day 3 – 3-13-08 in Austin, TX

Bowerbirds


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Videos: Ecstatic Peace Party at SXSW (3/14/2008) Thurston Moore, J Mascis (at Mohawk Patio)

I did my review of the party here. I’ve been having a myriad of problems getting my SXSW videos uploaded, but I managed to punch these through. The first is of J Mascis’ final 10 minute jam session of his set. I had to go guerrilla style to get the video, so the visuals are not so great, but the audio is pretty good for a youtube vid, so check it out:

Here’s a better vid someone else got:

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SXSW 2008 Day 3: Friday

I started out my Friday trying to catch Bon Iver again because my camera ran out of batteries the night before right after they started and I wanted to get some videos, but I arrived at Emo’s too late to get anywhere near the front, so i just enjoyed some more of their stuff and moved on to the next venue. I caught the end of another Kaki King set, wich was cool because I missed the very end of the set i caught Wednesday night.

After that it was time to catch Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. One of the guitarists had broken his amp, so they played as a 3 piece instead, and it really sounded to me like something was missing, so I left after a few songs.

After getting a great steak and brie sandwich at some weird biker bar, I went to see Evangelicals again. It was hard to hear the vocals in the particular spot I was in the night before, plus I really love this album, so I was very happy to catch them do another stunning show. That is another cool thing about this festival; If I want to see a band I love multiple times, it is no problem. Here is some live videos:

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Humpday Randomnimity

Tonight is for this:

Radiohead is coming to Atlanta! Also, In Rainbows debuts those chart things at number one.

The Mars Volta have made an adventure game called Goliath The Soothsayer to promote the new album out in a few weeks (I can’t wait!). Check it out.

Black Lips are doing a free show:

Black Lips ” Veni Vidi Vici”:


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Ohmpark’s Top 50 Best Albums Of 2007

2007 was an incredible year of music and there were so many albums I really liked that didn’t make this list. I noticed that most of the lists I pay attention to were very similar to one another this year as opposed to last year. Also, I’ve found myself in more of a disagreeance with those lists than last year. If there is any theme to be taken out of this list, I think it’s that I feel like too many great albums were underrated by the blogosphere elites, and that they were way in love with some albums I think are overrated. This list represents my personal assertions more so than the rest of the Ohmpark crew, but I worked hard to get every one’s opinions and influences in this thing. Feel free to comment on how much you hate or love it. I feel like every album on this is an essential one from last year, so go listen to some new music:

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Video Of The Day: Thurston Moore

We heart Thurston:

Torrent Of The Day: Thurston Moore (9/29/2007)

Thurston Moore aka 1/2 old SY 2007-09-29 Rock and Roll Hotel Washington DC (16-bit) (FLAC)

Thurston moore band
Sept 29 2007
Rock and roll hotel
Washington dc
Mics>dat dat>aes/ebu>cd cd>eac>sf6>flac>td>you

Review by a member of the now defunct Q And Not U in the washington post:

Tuesday, October 2, 2007; Page C05
Thurston Moore
“I don’t shut up, I grow up. And when I look at you, I throw up.” you might remember that classic playground taunt from the ’80s coming-of-age flick “Stand by Me,” but it’s also an apt description of Thurston Moore’s performance at Rock & Roll Hotel Saturday night. Almost 30 years after forming legendary rock outfit Sonic Youth, the 49-year-old singer-guitarist is still making a racket, unfurling cuts from his new solo disc, “Trees Outside the Academy.”

And then there’s the “throw up” part: Moore discreetly puked on his guitar during “Off Work” — a grungy new instrumental reminiscent of Sonic Youth’s 1992 alterna-hit “100%.” Thankfully, the illness was only momentary and the poor guy laughed it off, dedicating his next tune, “Fri/End,” to “my friends” at a certain local eatery where he’d dined earlier that day.
Moore may have been strumming an acoustic guitar, but things got plenty noisy thanks to a backing troupe that featured Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, No Neck Blues Band bassist Matt Heyner, violinist Samara Lubelski and guitarist Chris Brokaw. The four players added grit, but without overpowering those evocative melodies that perpetually reside beneath Sonic Youth’s distortion-happy outer crust.
The set’s highlight came early with “The Shape Is in a Trance,” as Moore’s guitar work evoked both classic Sonic Youth and the weathered melancholy of Neil Young. Forgive the expression, Thurston, but that jam is totally sick.
– Chris Richards

1. Frozen Gtr
2. The Shape Is In a Trance
3. Silver > Blue
4. Off Work
5. Fri/End
6. Wonderful Witches
7. Never Day
8. Honest James
9. Trees Outside The Academy
10. Queen Bee & Her Pals
11. Feathers
12. Staring Statues
13. Patti Smith Math Scratch
14. Psychic Hearts

What The Hell (Hottness) Am I Listening To?!?

Since rarely do I discover two albums that totally amaze me at the same time, I’ve decided to combine two of my regular segments to convince you to check these albums out:

Akron/Family

The Akron/Family show i caught at the Earl early this year blew my mind and is still one of my top 3 favourite shows of the year. Ever since catching them live, I’ve searched out as much of their material as possible. While i did find some really good stuff, none of their previous studio work felt anywhere near the intensity level their live show was at, and I had pretty much assumed that they were just a band that was much better live. Their newest release, Love Is Simple, has totally changed my mind. In addition to every song being a stand alone hit, the album takes you on a journey through every emotion and dimension this band has mastered. They are anchored in conservative musicology like The Beatles and Grateful Dead but find extremely interesting places to go with that foundation. I consider these guys the greatest jamband going right now, and i doubt most of the wooks and bro-skies have ever heard of these guys. Check them out:

Don’t Be Afraid, You’re Already Dead

Of All The Things

Buy Love Is Simple Here

Akron/Family Myspace

Thurston Moore

Thurston‘s latest solo offering might be the most accessable Sonic Youth related release ever. While the masses of SY followers are making experiment and noise more mainstream every day, Thurston and Company have spent most of this decade crafting stunning pop songs, and Trees Outside The Academy is no exception. For a huge fan like me, this album feels like a greatest hits of Moore‘s riffs and sound effects stripped down and scultped into a completely unique and original piece of work. Don’t miss this one:

Silver>Blue

Trees Outside The Academy

Buy Trees Outside The Academy Here

Sonic Youth Myspace

Torrent Of The Day: Thurston Moore at SXSW

Thurston performing songs from an upcoming solo album. Drogging with an acoustic:

Thurston Moore and Friends (sonic youth) 2007-03-xx sxsw – austin – tx (16-bit) (FLAC)

Thurston moore w/
Steve Shelley on drums and Sumara Lubelski on violin
03-16-07
Mohawk patio
Sxsw
Austin tx
Trks 1-7

03-17-06
End of an ear
Sxsw
Austin tx
Trks 8-14

Mics>dat>cd>eac>sf6>flac>td>you

i think moore did 6 shows at sxsw. here are two. good quality. end of ear is real good quality. fits on 1 cd. i have been to alot of festivals and sxsw is THE best. plus i only spent $3 on music.