Soundwave

We had a great time this year at the Soundwave Music Festival a couple weeks ago on Vancouver Island. Big thanks to the organizers and everyone involved including all the dancers. Aside from our two night-time sets on the beach with the ocean and moon as a backdrop - one of the highlights was getting to play an afternoon set at the Meadow stage - check out this video:



In General it was a great crowd and great vibe all weekend. Thanks again Soundwave!

Sounds of Summer

MALENTE - SOUND OF SUMMER MEGAMIX

Our good mate from Munster, Germany - Malente has done an out of character mix which gets away from his usual heavy electric dance sound. It turned out awesome. As he says it's done in the spirit of late 80's Ibiza Megamixes. He even managed to squeeze in Smalltown's Paul Simon re-edit. Anyways - enjoy summer and enjoy Malente.

Blogs j'adore: This Wheel's on Fire

Starting now, I'll be doing a little segment called "Blogs j'adore". With this segment, I will spotlight individual bloggers whom I find endearing, and have them answer this set of questions -- which is clearly ALL you need to know about a person. First up is This Wheel's on Fire. One of my daily reads, each day she mashes up a collection of amazing photos ranging from classic and modern style icons, musical heroes, and delightful actors and actresses. As she was perhaps my first blogger supporter, she was the given choice for the premiere segment. Enjoy!

Name: I'll never tell ;)

Blog: This Wheel's on Fire

Location: San Francisco

Occupation: Student

What to expect upon viewing your blog: I post photos of people I admire for various reasons including style, musical background, acting talent, etc. Sometimes I share my rants with you...

Three favorite artists that started their recording career before 1980: By now they seem overrated, but to me The Who, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles were vital in shaping who I am today.

Three favorite artists that are actively recording: Death Cab for Cutie, Prince (who I realize started before 1980, but he is still recording today so...), and U2.

Five favorite songs of the moment, any era (Title, artist, album, and year of release):"Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta" -- Sarah Brightman's version kills me every time. It's just about as gorgeous as songs can be. It's even better when you've seen A Room With A View, which also happens to be a favorite film of mine. It's from Puccini's La rondine; "L'Amoureuse" -- Carla Bruni from her 2008 album Comme si de rien n'était; "Water" -- The Who. This live version is from their most famous album from 1971, Who's Next; " My Way" -- Sid Vicious. His kickass version is from 1978; "Don't Let Me Down" -- The Beatles. This song always has a way of breaking my heart. It's from the Get Back/Let It Be 1969 sessions, but was not released on an album until 2003's Let It Be...Naked.

Five favorite albums of all time, off the cuff (Album, artist, year of release): Simon & Garfunkel's 1981 reunion live album: The Concert in Central Park. The Rolling Stones' 1972 album: Exile on Main St. Wings' mighty fine album from 1973: Band on the Run. For all of Pete's honesty and nakedness The Who By Numbers from 1975. 1970's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

Five favorite films of all time (Title, director, year of release): These are not necessarily the best films I've ever seen, but I would classify as some of my favorites. The Big Chill, Lawrence Kasdan, 1983. Annie Hall, Woody Allen, 1977. Dazed and Confused, Richard Linklater, 1993. American Beauty, Sam Mendes, 1999. Il Postino, Michael Radford, 1994.

Three favorite books of all time (Title, author, year of release): Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut, 1973. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, 1960. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera, 1984.

Top two female style icons: Anita Pallenberg & Anna Karina

Number one male style icon: I'd choose a mash-up of all of the Rolling Stones, but if I had to pick one it's Keith Richards without a doubt.

Top five crushes of all time, off the cuff: I'd like to start by saying that Pete Townshend has been a crush for far too long, so he is more like my unknowing husband (or something).... Daniel Day-Lewis, George Harrison, Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman, Mick Jagger.

One deceased person you'd love to have a drink with: George Carlin!

That person in three words: Brilliant, original, and timeless.

Last album you listened to in it's entirety (Title, artist, year of release): Volume One, She & Him, 2008. Zooey must be from another planet, right? To be that gorgeous, talented, and stylish should be illegal. It just makes the rest of us look bad ;)

Favorite blog you'd like to share with the world: As a political junkie I read more than just fashion blogs, so I'll recommend Joan Walsh's blog at Salon.com.

June / July

So this weekend we were blessed to have Tommy and DeAnne come visit. We also were able to spend time with Aunt Linda this weekend. It is always nice to hang out with family that we don’t get to see too often. We are heading over to Linda’s house this afternoon and we hope to find out if Tozer can swim. We are having fun house hunting and we think we may have found one, although sometimes discouraging. We are trying not to get out hopes up yet because at this point there is no guarantee. Emily is enjoying the piano and she is working on Claire de Lune. She is so amazing. I am continually in awe of my wife and it is still a little unbelievable that she is mine forever. I truly feel like the most blessed person in the world. We went to EA over the 4th of July and had a great time seeing all of our friends. I miss Gonzales, Texas a lot which is something I never thought that I would hear myself say. My new position at work is going well and I am enjoying it. Emily has also been working on building up clientele for piano lessons. We are hoping that she will be able to get in with a private school and give lessons. Her website is up. Check it out. http://www.hammersandstrings.com/

We also went to see Ben Kweller last month. It was a great show and he played both of the songs that we tweetquested.
Tweetquest – requests made through twitter by @mentions to @benkweller.

Hope Everyone is well.

I hope to convince my wife to start updating our blog again. I know everyone would rather read her updates than mine, including me.


Shawn

"Tom forced people to find the best they had in them. He was the best producer, bar none, that rock & roll has ever seen or will see." - Butch Trucks.

A handful of weeks ago, I was skimming the television guide, when I came across a film by the name of Tom Dowd and the Language of Music. I immediately tuned in, as I recognized Tom Dowd as the producer of Layla by Derek and the Dominos, and I also knew of his work with the Allman Brothers. I pride myself on knowing a bit about music history, but even I had no idea that Tom Dowd was so influential. It's actually rather difficult to think of anyone more important to the history of record production. Tom Dowd is like the unsung George Martin, except George Martin's list of musical conquests pales in comparison. Tom Dowd was born on October 20, 1925 in Manhattan, New York City. Born to an opera singer of a mother, and a concertmaster father, Dowd grew up playing piano, violin, tuba, and string bass. Graduating from high school at the age of sixteen, Dowd went on to continue his musical education at City College of New York. He also played in and conducted a band at Columbia University, as well as working in their physics laboratory. After a stint in the army and work on the Manhattan Project, Dowd took a job at a classical music recording studio, until finally being employed by Atlantic Records. His extensive scientific knowledge helped him quickly become the label's go-to engineer, and along with his own formal musicality and contagious enthusiasm, he became a favorite of artists and executives. Producing such legends like Dizzy Gillespie in the 1940's, Dowd came into his own during the 1950's. Helping to craft such classics like The Coasters "Yakety Yak" and Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" during the day, by night Dowd nurtured the talent of jazz greats like Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus, and perhaps most importantly John Coltrane. The partnership of Dowd and Coltrane resulted in legendary recordings like "Giant Steps", "Central Park West", and "My Favorite Things". These landmark sessions helped turn Coltrane into a world-renowned genius, and Dowd into an esteemed engineer. Dowd also worked extensively with Ray Charles, including "What'd I Say"; Dowd even made the decision to split the track in half and release it as a single -- one half on each side. Starting during the Kennedy years and into the Johnson era, Dowd and friend Phil Ramone mixed sound for White House functions. From there, Dowd found himself working with soul legends like Booker T. and the MG's, Otis Redding (the stunning Otis Blue), and Aretha Franklin. He then became immersed in 60's rock and roll, producing Cream's legendary Disraeli Gears and the equally momentous Wheels of Fire. Dowd began new endeavors, like building Criteria Studios in Miami, and further immersing himself in the raunchy rock and roll he had begun producing. He heard the Allman Brothers Band and knew immediately that they were what he needed. He went on to have a lengthy relationship with the Allmans, producing their best records, like At Fillmore East. Soon Dowd took on his most remembered endeavor, producing Eric Clapton's latest group, Derek and the Dominos, and their sensational record Layla. In the film, the footage of Tom Dowd revisiting the tracks on "Layla" is deliciously inspiring. His remarkable thrill of something he must have heard a million times is admirable. Dowd went on to produce the best solo albums of Clapton's career, and they remained friends throughout the years. During this period, he also produced many an album for Rod Stewart, as well as Lynyrd Skynyrd, including their remarkable Street Survivors. In addition to having an incredible list of clientele under his belt, Dowd is credited with popularizing multiple track recording (making Atlantic the first record company to use an eight-track recorder) and commercializing the use of stereo sound. Dowd remained an in-demand producer until his dying day, and I'm sure the list of those who wish they could use him now is mind-boggling. But alas, Dowd passed away due to emphysema on October 27, 2002; just seven days after his seventy-seventh birthday. Luckily, his phenomenal contribution to a plethora of musical genres lives on. Tom Dowd's entire musical discography can be found here. Tom Dowd and the Language of Music can be found on Amazon. It's well worth the money, as it documents all of the activities mentioned, told by Tom Dowd himself and the others who lived it with him.

Serge

Check out this video of Serge Gainsbourg and Whitney Houston having a joint interview in France. Serge you were a glorious dirty old man.

Whitney Houston with Serge Gainsbourg
by melodynelson1972

Deep Space Rock

Fans of space, acid and rock 'n roll I highly recommend you check out the BBC4 documentary on Hawkwind to learn all there is to know about the band.

Also watch live footage of Hawkwind performing 'Silver Machine' live. So good!

Also check Hawkwind cover art by Barney Bubbles.

Philadelphia Flyer

Shawn Brackbill photo

I've trumpeted about this guy before and I'm happy to do it again. Believe the music blog hype, Philly psych popster Kurt Vile is the real deal. Recently signed to Matador, Vile's new record on the venerated indie imprint is due in October. Here's the first single, a nice little slice of fuzzed-out pop.

Kurt Vile - Overnite Religion (via Stereogum)

Cosmo Baker's Michael Jackson Tribute Set

COSMO BAKER MJ TRIBUTE - LIVE AT THE HIFI CLUB JUNE 25th (via Mad Decent)



On June 25th Cosmo was in Calgary to play with us at the Hifi Club. When we heard the news of MJ's death it hit us pretty hard and we started compiling all our favorite MJ joints. Then that night at the club Cosmo put together a set which was an unbelievable tribute to Mike. RIP.

Rose Royce

Norman Whitfield (RIP) teamed up with LA funk band Rose Royce in the 70's to make some incredible music. Here's a couple tunes I can listen and relisten to.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND PEOPLE BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!!

BLOG UPDATE

I have made 3 changes to my blog.

I have now Posted the FULL version of The Muppet Show Cast Album.

The FULL version of The Muppet Show Cast Album 2.

And finally Official version of The Muppets Take Manhattan Soundtrack without all of the sound effects and background talking.

YES.

1. Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for your own joy

2. Submissive to everything, open, listening

3. Try never get drunk outside your own house

4. Be in love with your life

5. Something that you feel will find its own form

6. Be crazy dumbsaint of the mind

7. Blow as deep as you want to blow

8. Write what you want bottomless from bottom of the mind

9. The unspeakable visions of the individual

10. No time for poetry but exactly what is

11. Visionary tics shivering in the chest

12. In tranced fixation dreaming upon object before you

13. Remove literary, grammatical and syntactical inhibition

14. Like Proust be an old teahead of time

15. Telling the true story of the world in interior monolog

16. The jewel center of interest is the eye within the eye

17. Write in recollection and amazement for yourself

18. Work from pithy middle eye out, swimming in language sea

19. Accept loss forever

20. Believe in the holy contour of life

21. Struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind

22. Don't think of words when you stop but to see picture better

23. Keep track of every day the date emblazoned in yr morning

24. No fear or shame in the dignity of yr experience, language & knowledge

25. Write for the world to read and see yr exact pictures of it

26. Bookmovie is the movie in words, the visual American form

27. In praise of Character in the Bleak inhuman Loneliness

28. Composing wild, undisciplined, pure, coming in from under, crazier the better

29. You're a Genius all the time

30. Writer-Director of Earthly movies Sponsored & Angeled in Heaven

SAMMY BANANAS

Our main dude Sammy just did a mix for Jaymo & Andy George's show on BBC RADIO 1, and he started his set with the Smalltown Romeo Remix of Party Pushers by FK5. The tracklist and link to the mix are both below.


JAYMO & ANDY GEORGE - In New Music We Trust on BBC Radio 1- Jul 3, 2009

Tracklist:

Lil Bo Tweak & Art Bleak- Back Again [Loungin' Recordings]
Ducksauce - You’re Nasty
Thunderheist - Nothing 2 Step 2 (Sammy Banana’s Remix)
Magistrates - Gold Lover (JakWob Remix)
Damn Arms - Destination (Der Die Das Remix) [Bang Gang]
Funkin’ Matt - Sweat (Jaymo & Andy George Edit) [CDR]
Tee Ski & Shab Ruffcut - Iran (His Majesty Andre Remix) [ESP Recordings]

What Went Off At The Weekend
Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend (Fake Blood Remix)
Chew Lips - Salt Air [Kitsune]
Boy 8-Bit - Baltic Pine [This Is Music]
Sonic C - Stickin’ [CDR]
Jack Beats - Get Down (VIP Mix) [Cheap Thrills]
Eleze - Teardrop (Ryan Riback’s On The Fire Remix) [CDR]
Little Boots - Remedy (Rusko’s Big Trainers’ Remix) [CDR]
Detboi - Get Low [Cheap Thrills]
Charlie Fan Club - Salome[CDR]
Urchins feat. Spoek - Tickets[CDR]

Surkin Mix
Jamie Fanatic - What’s Happening To Ya (Way Wut’s Zpping Remix) [ Mad Decent]
Planet Patrol - Play at your own Risk [Drum Loop]
Bobmo - Turn on Cop Out [Institubes]
Renaissance Man - What is Guru (Rivastarr Remix) [Sound Pellegrino]
The Juan MacLean - One Day (Surkin Remix)
Mike Dunn - Deep Down (Afrojack Remix)
Plastique de Reve - Resist ft Radical Cheerleader [DFA]
Bobo - Back from the Grave [Institubes]
Armand Van Helden - Hear My Name
Boys Noize - Starter [Boysnoise Records]
Laidback Luke - Need Your Loving [Mixmash]
Life Like - Disco Machine [Drum Loop]
Devone - Energy (Surkin Edit)
Toadally Krossed Out - Toads Theme (Surkin Edit) [Mad Decent]
Surkin - Untitled
Discotheque - I Love to Floss [CDR]
Shake Aleti - Digital Connection [Free Download]
Empire of the Sun - Walking on the Sun (Bowski Remix) [CDR]
Chairlift - Evident Utensil (Sinden Remix) [CDR]
Ridney - Le Funk Supernova [CDR]
Dmerit -Stuck on you (Phantoms Revenge Remix)
Tom Staar - Erm [Unsigned]

Sammy Bananas Mix
Fort Knox Five - The Party Pushers (Smalltown Romeo Mix)
Kid Sister - Get Fresh (Alex Gopher Remix)
DJ Gant-Man - Juke Dat Girl (Greenmoney Mix)
Telephoned - Dancing On Me (Ft Jahdan Blakkamoore)
DK - Go Bananas
Sammy Bananas - Move Ya Body
Duck Sauce - Anyway
The Juan Maclean - One Day (Surkin Remix)
Bag Raiders vs. Sammy Bananas - Fun Punch ft. Ms. Wilds

THIZZ DISCO

Our homie Nick Thayer just put out the latest installment in his Thizz Disco Mixtape series, this one features the Smalltown Romeo tune Necromanic. Nice one Nick.

NICK THAYER - THIZZ DISCO VOL. 3


Tracklist:

Party Like Us - AC Slater (Palms Out Sounds)
This tune sounds like a truckload of airhorns crashed into a truckload of sirens whilst DJ Kool shouts about it. How can you not like that?

Be My Baby - Haggstrom (Flat Out Records)
Man this guy is killing it. This tune is the phatness. The remix he has just done for Drumattic Twins is tits too. This tune makes me think of a guy doing yo-yo tricks.

Freaky Ho (Acapella) - The Bodysnatchers (Passenger)

Quit Touchin (Nick Thayer Edit) - Bird Peterson (CDR)
Bird Peterson is like some hit making machine. The groove on this is so tasty. How can you not put your head down and run straight to party town when you hear this?

Necromaniac - Smalltown Romeo (CDR)
Smalltown Romeo OWNS shit all over Canada and they are spreading. The way the bassline moves around the beat is killer and the 'Gettin hiiiiigh, up to the skyyyyy' vocal?! Daym.

Bill Cosby Sweater (Kazey & Bulldog Mix) - Oh Snap! (Sweat It Out)
Kazey & Bulldog make music that could give your grandma ants in her pants. Their 'Big Truck' joint is another. Plus any vocal about 'being fresh'? How can you lose.

Pick It Up - Nick Thayer & MatCant (http://www.the-late-show.blogspot.com)
Always loved the original Faith Evans tune, and then of course the AV8 version that I think was on Deadly Avengers' label too?

Back To Beat - Loveys & Yusef (Tragic Magic)
This is what awesome sounds like. If you load the tune into Serato or any computer program you can see what awesome looks like too.

Yap That Fool - A Skillz & Nick Thayer (Insane Bangers)
We had a lot of fun making this. Did you know those horns are from an old Sam & Dave tune? The flip to 'Soul Man' actually. Adam had it on 7".

Whut (Nick Thayer Rmx) - TNT (CDR)
Dynamite pretending to be Lil Jon! Whaaat!?!?

Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson (Big Wave)
I used to clear dancefloors with my dancing to this joint. I paid $57 for my copy on vinyl too.

Lights Out (Nick Thayer Rmx) - The Cuban Brothers (CDR)
I love the Cuban Brothers. I was rapt when they asked me to remix this. How could you not utilize that Chuck D line. I tried to encapsulate ensuing nudity (if you seen them live you know what I'm talking bout), but not sure how successful I was.

Let It Go feat Nfa - Nick Thayer (Passenger)
Nfa is my boy. This track went through at least 19 versions before we got there. Remixes coming from Scottie B & Fort Knox 5 too.

The Champ (Nick Thayer vs Herve Rmx) - The Mohawks (CDR)
I made a little edit of this to DJ with, and then Herve did his. Like a sort of civil ceremony or something.

Cocaine & Coffee - Nick Thayer feat Will Styles (Passenger)
This is a showcase for my FutureRetro 'Revolution', which is basically a model of the Roland TB303. It went through the irreplacable Prunes & Custard pedal too.

State Of Ghetto Jackin (Dave Nada Remix) - Baobinga (Trouble & Bass)
Dave Nada gets all over. Between this shit and his Nadastrom project seems like he is trying to corner the market. He is like the McDonalds of club music. In a good way.

Rockin It - Black Noise feat Nick Thayer (Southern Fried)
Wobbly wompy stuff. The waveform for this on Serato looks really strange. It has holes in the middle. I would take a screen shot but I am not that savvy.

I Am Here - Heavyfeet (Passenger)
These guys are in a league of their own. I pretty much play everything they do.

$pend My Money (Nick Thayer Rmx Instrumental) - Bass Kleph (Vacation)
Remixing Bass Kleph is always pretty easy as he gives you such nice parts to work with. I was making a lot of edits of those kinda bassline tunes (like that Agent X rmx of
Dizzee Rascal etc) so I just wanted to kinda throw all that into one pot when I did this.

The Fly Bi (Acapella) - Sparks & Kie (White)
A classic. Always loved this acapella. I used to run it over Soul Of Man's 'Acid Punch'. I was cleaning out my hard drive the other day and stumbled across it and it is now firmly entrenched in my sets.

Warrior's Dance (Benga Rmx) - The Prodigy (TMTTH)
I love the hook on this tune, and Benga's remix is like jumping into a vat of jam. Very sticky.

Adachigahara's Theme - Shock One (Viper)
Shock One's drum and bass stuff is lethal too, but how insane is the production on this joint?! The subs on that first drop feel like you're doing one of those anti-g drop things at a theme park.

The Blank - Skism (Wicky Lindows)
And this one! The edits are mad. Let's hope dubstep doesn't go TOO edit crazy. We all saw what happened with BT. But this is just the right amount of nerdling around.

Gangsters (Muffler Rmx) - Rico Tubbs (Menu Music)
That Gangsters vocal sounds better in the half time jump up mould.

Timewarp - Sub Focus (Ram)
This is so bubbly. If they were to remake Macbeth a la Baz's Romeo & Juliet this is what would be playing during the three witches scene at the start whilst they did that 'Bubble bubble toil and trouble' bit.

Swagga Like Us (Nick Thayer Rmx) - The Rap Pack (CDR)
Got rid of the rubbish auto tune and just let Jay Z's verse smash it. Is there a better rapper alive?

Rock It - Sub Focus (Ram)
Didn't actually mean to include two Sub Focus tunes, but it just kinda happened. This is what happens when drum and bass wears spandex. And it is aaaallllllll good. More please.

Creator (Acapella) - Santogold (Downtown Music)
Never really gelled with the Santogold album, but she has attitude by the bollock load.

Vox Mark IV Bass

Note the teardrop-shaped bass Saxon's playing in the Seeds vid posted below. It's a Vox Mark IV, famously endorsed by Bill Wyman of the Stones, who reportedly thought it sucked but played it for the money anyway.

Sky Saxon

Seems like alot of entertainers died on June 25, 2009. These guys were baller.

Muppet Hits Take 2

Thanks to RedSpy from the Power Records Yahoo Group for sending me this album.



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