Giant Robot Store and GR2 News – Tagged "Music"– Page 60 – GiantRobotStore

Music · News · Tame Impala · Yuck · May 09, 2011

Yuck / Tame Impala – Lincoln Hall, Chicago

May 04, 2011 – Yuck / Tame Impala @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago When my friend Rhea told me she had an extra ticket (thanks Rhea!) to the sold out Tame Impala show, i‘ll admit I ran to my laptop to try and find out who they were. But once I saw that Yuck was opening for them I didn’t care who they were and said yes. I’ve been digging Yuck’s self titled debut album since it came out at the end of Feb and was hoping to catch them live at Pitchfork Music Festival this summer. London based, Yuck features Daniel Blumberg, Max Bloom (both formerly played in Cajun Dance Party) along with bassist Mariko Doi and drummer Jonny Rogoff and captures the frayed noise and hooky, guitar-driven melodies of the late 80’s early 90’s rock of bands like Dinosaur Jr., Jesus and Mary Chain, and Sonic Youth. The comparisons are easy to make but with the live set I saw, their sound easily stood on it’s own. Having toured with Modest Mouse, Dum Dum Girls and Teenage Fanclub, on stage they were confident, poised and assured from the start with the blistering Holing Out to the sonic epic guitar droning set closer Rubber, look for them to be headlining soon! [youtube]Kz7vyrFhFE8[/youtube] Not ever hearing Tame Impala I asked a few people in the audience what they sounded like. The most common response that I got was “Beatles-eque” – 70’s psychedelic with John Lennon-like vocals. Maybe that’s the impression you get on record, but live I barely heard hints of it, maybe it was the mix, but for me it was more of a groove driven trip-hoppy feel. Not that it was bad, but more so not what I was expecting. This four-piece band from Australia, features Kevin Parker (lead guitar and vocals), Dominic Simper (guitar), Nick Allbrook (bass) and Jay Watson (drums) and have built a huge fan base around the world playing outdoor festivals and stadium shows with bands like Muse, The Black Keys, and MGMT. Live, the rhythm section of the band was amazing. The thick fat bass lines along with the tempo driven drumming kept me going, along with the youthful energy of the crowd who were totally into it. The vocals were cold and mechincal feeling, not the hints of “John Lennon” that I was promised, but overall a fun time, and the band seemed to deliver to anyone who was in the know. To me, the Stone Roses would be my ultimate psychedelic stoner band, but Tame Impala could be the one for the cooler, younger skinny jean crowd. [youtube]zfcHq0hhFWg[/youtube] If you get the chance, check out both worthy bands – Yuck in a small club would be amazing and Tame Impala in an outdoor festival is where I think they would really shine, plus the crowd could really participate with their party style of rock, oh and where mood enhancers might be more available…

corin tucker · corin tucker band · jicks · mike clark · Music · MW · News · sara lund · seth lorinczi · sleater-kinney · unwound · May 09, 2011

The Corin Tucker Band at The Satellite

Corin Tucker with Sara Lund at The Satellite

The Satellite was shockingly uncrowded on Thursday night, but Corin Tucker’s new group proceeded to rip it apart anyway. Just like the Crazy Band (ex-Mika Miko) ripped up newspapers and scattered crumpled bits all over the stage as if it were a giant hamster cage beforehand–although I arrived only in time to watch the group and its friends clean up the carnage.

Corin Tucker Band at the Satellite (May 5, 2011)

While it would be easy to compare the gig to any of the great Sleater-Kinney shows I’ve attended, seeing the band for the first time reminded me most of “solo” Paul Weller. Although their music isn’t super similar, she and the ex-leader of The Jam and The Style Council left hugely influential and amazing bands and proceeded to play subtler but just as intense and powerful music. Even moreso, while fans of the old band may go out to see its ex-singer do his or her thing, they will be blown away by the new unit’s intelligent chops and tightness.

acoustic · big phony · Events · giant robot · goh nakamura · GR2 · jane lui · Music · May 06, 2011

GR2 5/11 7-10pm Music Rock Quietly Sessions – Goh Nakamura, Jane Lui, Big Phony

We don’t need to say much more, but this will be fun. It takes place at Giant Robot 2. The shop will be open. Yes, support us by coming out. Pick up something, listen to great music. May 11, 7-10pm. Goh Nakamura, Jane Lui, and Big Phony.

goh nakamura · guitar · guitar pedals · Music · News · May 03, 2011

Pedal Pusher

Hi. As my first blog post for Giant Robot, I thought it’d be fun to share an audio clip of something different from what I usually do as “Goh Nakamura: Sensitive Singer Songwriter dude w. Acoustic Guitar” Here’s a little ditty that I came up while experimenting with some effect pedals… was trying to make an audio painting of a lonely robot floating aimlessly in space. Effect Pedals are sort of like drugs for your guitar. I don’t do drugs, but can sort of live vicariously through my guitar by plugging it into a series of strange pedals and riding the snake. Here’s your Guitar Here’s your Guitar on Drugs (2nd clip filmed at GRNY right before it closed. Gary Wang on bass) I learned it from watching you, dad. I learned it from watching YOU! Edit: Here’s a pic of the pedals I used for the audio example, and the 2nd video (at GRNY)

attention please · boris · damon & naomi · false beats and true hearts · Features · heavy rocks · kurihara · Music · MW · News · May 03, 2011

Damon & Naomi and Boris (old tour pics, new albums)

In the van with Damon & Naomi (and Helena and Bhob)

When I was selling T-shirts for Damon & Naomi on tour with Boris back in 2007, a lot of the audience didn’t understand the pairing. Especially fans of the latter band. Why would the red-hot heroes of stony, noisy doom rock from Japan hit the road with the acid-folk offshoot of slowcore pioneers Galaxie 500? I told the black-shirted vinyl freaks that the answer wasn’t exactly right before them, but rather on the side of the stage.

Michio Kurihara with Boris

Guest guitarist Michio Kurihara would stand in the shadowy outskirts during either band’s set and add his mostly understated but always intense flourishes and effects, adding nuances to the Tokyo rockers’ explosive set and noise to the Cambridge duo’s understated arrangements. In fact, both Boris and D&N had released albums in conjunction with the insanely talented shredder from Ghost and Stars. And they’re also all just plain friends. Coincidentally, both Damon & Naomi and Boris are releasing new music this month–with Kurihara.