Sacramento Mythologically Glaciated

My business trip to Sacramento California last week ended up being one of the better field events I have attended.  That being because of several reasons:

1. California has no idea what humidity is.  You can give me 110 F on the tarmac any day, as long as the breeze and shade is going to cool me off!  It was very very pleasant, even in the July heat.  I would take the exposure of the desert to the miserable heat and humidity of the New Jersey fen or the Maryland estuary.  Californians complain if there are clouds in the sky...

2. UC Davis has one of the best free-form radio stations, with an FM reach that went from Yuba City, to the Eldorado National Forest.  How do I know this?  I took an amazing drive/loop up to Chico for the Sierra Nevada Brewery, and then drove and did mini hikes around the Tahoe National Forest, Lake Tahoe area and the Eldorado National Forest.  The vistas are great, and the shade/altitude provide a  nice respite from the dry heat, replaced with even more pleasant breezes.

3. Emma's Tamales along with good sushi and a good Persian restaurant have made my gastronomic stay top notch compared to other areas I've been to.

This blog is about how awesome KDVS is...cause I'm done singing Sacramento's praises. Not only is the radio station top notch, with extremely diverse programming, where I've heard everything from pitchfork-indie rock, to  psych-out, noise, drone and freak-folk, to old school punk, to modern classical, to traditional songs of Brittany, to...  Pretty much one of the best stations I've heard.  Plus they get Pacifica Radio and Free Speech Radio Network news feeds.  These are so in depth that I got asked several times if I was listening to a podcast...nope, just "extremely liberal," well thought out and written radio news.  Not to mention they organize shows in normal venues, and have a strong network of house-show venues, that all seem networked and passed-on generationally to KDVS DJs, like the DAM-HAUS.  From this great network of people and venues also springs a well-kept, updated and loved listing of all shows in the sacramento metro area called undietacos.  Undietacos is to sacramento DIY music scene as to what Pheer.com was to DC.  Of course, because the DC music scene is what it is..Pheer is no longer in existence.  And it seems all the good house shows are word-of mouth only...and I seem to have lost touch with the house-show clique that would organize any of this anyway :(

Aside from the fact that many sacramento residents hate it here, especially in the south with apparent reports of bad schools and high crime, or at least...that seems to be the perception.  I have to say I really enjoyed my time here...especially if you can escape to the Sierra Nevadas for a little RnR.

Sacramento's "Ziggurat"

Along with all this, I just want to name drop two bands I got turned onto because of KDVR.  Sadly, their stuff is only on tape/CD-R/Myspace cause I guess they're just starting out...not even grooveshark can help here...

GLACIER SAINT

First is Glacier Saint out of Seattle, Washington.  The group really needs to put out a release.  I enjoyed the genre smashing and mutli-textured production of this group.  First blush, reminded me of Cocorosie, but the lead singer is a bit more ethereal.  Apparently what got played on the radio was a Tape produced at a house-show.  The sound was really nice.  Unfortunately the sessions I heard on youtube from "Carousel-Fest" weren't as good.  Singer sounded nervous...and of course, you're not going to hear all the textures if the sound-guy isn't balancing the electronic and acoustic instruments well...partially due to bringing in your own amps and recording off mics.  Definitely a group to look out for, if they want to to take it anywhere that is...  I recommend starting with Synthsete.

MYTHS

Next is Myths out of Vancouver, Brittish Columbia.  Granted, I may a little obsessed with noise-dance currently...But I really enjoyed the likes of Adult and Dandi-Wind back in the death-throws of electroclash in the early 2000s.  I recommend starting with  Deadlights.  Both myspace songs are pretty similar in quality though.

I have to wonder...where's all the buzz.  Sounds like these guys have it going on, at least as far as the zeitgeist is concerned.  I guess they need to promote to Pitchfork to get themselves out there.  Then again, could be a West Coast vs. East Coast style of doing music...that seems to avoid all the "east" venues.  Maybe the Myth's show via "Death by Audio" will get them some exposure...or maybe people will pass them off as poseurs, just copying a sound that's done and gone.

Time will tell...  In the meantime, I will just daydream of awesome weather, and beautiful lakes and mountains waiting for my flight back to DC...did I mention that Sacramento Airport has free Wi-Fi?

Blue Hawaii - Chill-wave Crash, or Overstimulated Recession?

Also, if you want some free & legit dayglo/chillwave, goto:

http://www.arbutusrecords.com/

I don't think it's past it's prime as an art-form...but I wonder if the dayglo noisefilter has gone over people's ears nowadays...



Just give it a whirl!  I don't think you'll be disappointed.  I like this track...and I may catch them on tour...

A Festival I May Go To This Year and Not Spend $1000

SHAME ON ME!

I'm a terrible Baltimorean music lover...

I did just get a record player from True Vine in Hampden.  When I first went there a week ago, I was disheartened to see that the storefront it once occupied was empty...but Oh! it moved!  But it lost Ian Nagoski...but still has a part of Leprechaun Catering.

But I totally forgot to keep in touch with Wham City...the fine purveyors of Floristree...the place that gave birth to the first time I saw Beach House & Dan Deacon...and many more less known acts like Nautical Almanac, Prurient, Sun City Girls and Double Leopards.

Yes, it's been about 4 years since I've been to a show there...

And they're having this amazing festival called WhartScape in about 3 weeks.  (July 22-25)

All I gotta say is that a line up including (so many good Vidyas!):
Lighning Bolt

Xiu Xiu

Health

Wye Oak

Dan Deacon

and No Age


Along with tons of local acts and other artists...I would highly recommend going...that is if you have time and money...I'm hoping to get a little of both for something...

Of course Sleigh Bells sold out that same weekend at both their Baltimore & DC locations :P

Well...if I can't make this...gotta try to get to High Zero 2010!

Anybody going?

Nearly Half through 2010...

...and I've totally missed this release:

CocoRosie - Lemonade

Always pretty original.  Always very recommended, but only to those that can tolerate their eccentricity.  Grey Oceans is pretty nifty.  Nearly all tracks are on youtube, so I'd check it out there and see what you think.  I really enjoy how they just do their thing, no holding back, just making their music and keeping their genuine and positive vibe.

And as predicted, Sleighbells sold out.  According to something I may or may not have read on Ilxor.com, they sold out the Rock and Roll Hotel in 2 days of the tix going on sale.  It's kinda predictable...but sad.  I guess I can wait until next year for a festival.  I wonder if "mother indie" is being kind...or is this truly, a man-made indie disaster.

Keeping it on a re-cap of the year so far, I'd have to say some of my heavy rotation currently from 2010 are, in format Artist - Album:

Anais Mitchell - Hadestown
Beach House - Teen Dream
Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me
Vampire Weekend - Contra

and of course

Sleigh Bells - Treats



But there have been a lot of fantastic releases so far that either I don't know about...or I haven't listened to on heavy rotation, or I just haven't gotten around to it (like I'm pretty excited about Golden Filter).

What do you recommend so far from this year?  ...so I stop missing things...Like the Klaxon's new joint...this pic just CRACKS me UP!  And yes...I frequent i can has cheezburger a little more than any sane person should!

E.D.M. Then and Now

Just short and sweet this time...

I tried to wrack my brain a little bit to understand what has happened to the beloved genre of electronic dance music.

Traditionally, this movement out of the experimentation, disco, pop and anti-pop-counterculture of the 80s bred this strain of music that was compelling and demanded the most personal and intimate of dance.

There wasn't an emphasis on the coordination and choreography, rather it was your personal interpretation, enjoyment and exploration of yourself through the music and it's associated dance.  I believe, fundamentally, that's what rave culture was initially about.

Fundamental 90s EDM sample: of Prodigy's "Out of Space"

Well that and taking ecstasy...(The Shamen)

However, in the later years of the 90s came the reverence of the superstar DJ.  Keoki, Oakenfold, Tiesto, Benasi, Darude and the like became more and more stylized, and more and more hyped.  The music was very similar to the roots, but stylized to incorporate more overt sexuality, and electronic dance music was now oriented towards the DJ, spinning in a club.  Nightclubs, of course being places for people to check each other out.  

But not only was it the social aspect...this came with it an aire of exclusivity and fashionability.  Dress-codes enforced, and sometimes, hotness-codes too, where you have to line up on the velvet rope whether in Miami or Mayorca to experience the hottest show in lights, 4-on-the-floor and of course sexiness.

Example of the 00s club culture: Tiesto's "Elements of Life"

Maybe it's just me...but I really get annoyed by how electronic dance music pushes this.  It pushes this sexist and sexual agenda of a hyper-sexed aesthetic, of exclusives of airbrush make-up models with the greatest bodies need only apply.  Whatever happened to enjoying the music?

Which is why I suppose Basshunter went from amazing trance-based songs about nerd-life to re-hashing his shit to front about girls, sex and clubs.

Basshunter's "Now You're Gone" from 2009.

Maybe I'm just jaded and should just go back into a dark room and listen to Dub Step on headphones...as it's the perfect music to express isolation and loneliness...or at least getting snubbed.

The dub-step scene, brought to you by London's Hyperdub label, Burial's "Ghost Hardware".