'Music is my saviour / I was maimed by rock'n'roll'

good Wilco related story over at Aquarium Drunkard

Tarantino's Jukebox!

A two part radio 4 documentary starts tomorrow at 10.30am. QT and his use of music was definitely one of the inspirations for Hang the DJ, so i'll be tuning in for sure.

The Best Festival in the world!

I'm off to see The Duke & the King at the Borderline tonight, and i just noticed that they've been added to the bill for this year's End of the Road Festival, at Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset. I went two years ago, and trust me when i say it's the most brilliant and beautifully run festival you can imagine - 5000 people capacity, gorgeous surroundings, great bands and no corporate sponsorship. And it's almost a dream line up this year, including Steve Earle, Richmond Fontaine, Vetiver, Neko Case, Fleet Foxes and others, see the official website for more
(If i hadn't just had a baby girl i'd be there this year too!)

Wilco (the response)

there's a great, strident, response to the album over at Aquarium Drunkard here that's well worth a read

While I may not be quite as glowing, yet, i'm enjoying the album (after a couple of shrugged shoulder listens). Unlike most reviewers though i find Nels Cline a problem, and it's particularly striking on this album, coming in late and over-filling songs with his j**z-like guitar (and he often sounds like Mike Oldfield for god's sake!). That said, there are some great songs on here, 'I'll Fight', 'You & I' (with Feist), 'Solitaire' and 'Sonny Feeling' (the latter two of which would have comfortably fit on Summerteeth - their most underrated album)

Anyway, Tweedy's voice and melodies are, as ever, great and it's a marked step-up lyrically from Sky Blue Sky, so definitely recommended.

Nick & Norah's Infinite playlist

This got a pretty hard time, but hell, i liked it



other indie/music based films that get a hard time (but i like):

Singles
Reality Bites
Heavy
Dazed & Confused
School of Rock
All the Real Girls
Garden State
Death Proof
Juno

Hey, Hey, My, My...

fantastic gig indeed (and i dodged the rain) - by far the best i've seen him live (once before with Crazy Horse, once with Booker T), with a great band and Ben Keith, in particular, starring on second guitar and pedal steel.
It was also a near perfect set list for me, with 'Are you Ready for the Country', 'Unknown Legend', 'Old Man', Everbody Knows...' alongside the classic rockers 'Down by the River', 'Mansion on the Hill' and 'Cinnamon Girl'.
And yes, Macca did come out to join him for the encore of 'A Day in the Life'. Superb!

My,My, Hey, Hey

off to see Neil Young tonight... can't wait.

Muscle Shoals

crops up more than once in the pages of Hang the DJ - as it should in any self-respecting book on good music! Here's ex Drive-By Trucker and local man Jason Isbell in today's Guardian with a very fine selection of classics recorded there at FAME studios - ten greats

And Jason played a great gig at the Luminaire here on tuesday night. Accompanied by the excellent guitar player from his new band, the 400 Unit, he played a fine set, inlcuding great versions of 'Outfit', 'Goddamn Lonely Love' and 'Dress Blues', in particular.

Check out their new record

J, Lou and Murph

are back, again. And after 2007's Beyond, I'm pretty excited!



Also out in June is the Lemonheads new album, a collection of covers called (cleverly) Varshons, so it's a bit of dream month for me. And coming soon to a blog like this will be my list of favourite covers, as performed by Evan Dando and the Lemonheads...

All Hail... the Duke & the King!

fantastic gig at Bush Hall on tuesday night, check out Allan Jones/Uncut's (spot on) review of a fascinating night here
And look out for their album in July, Nothing Gold Can Stay, see the loose website for more info