Cure for the Mondays: Best Coast - "The Only Place"

Best Coast - "The Only Place"

Summertime dreams for the better weather.



The Southern California duo Best Coast have been in a perpetual state of movement since their 2010 debut release of Crazy For You. With the highly praised follow up album The Only Place in 2012 and endless touring including a recent stent with Green Day, they continue to build an amazingly faithful fan base. In their continuous mission to spread their infectious energy this spring and summer hold a headlining tour and the release of an EP with all new material.  Right now they don't have any shows scheduled in the NW but we can only hope that the summer months might still hold a show for us.

Cure for the Mondays: They Might Be Giants - "Icky"

They Might Be Giants - "Icky"
Gamma-radiated hipsters, God help us all.



The kings of catchy pop gems, They Might Be Giants are at it again, with the recent release of their 16th studio album Nanobots. Just as fun and twice as wise this band is sure to make it fun to listen to music again.  Lucky for us, a new album means a tour this spring which will include a night at or own Crystal Ballroom in mid-June. So keep your eyes peeled because the tickets are sure to go fast.  

10 Queations: Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons

Photo By Toby Amies

The UK based garage-punk psychoabilly band Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons will catch your ears and eyes. Mixing a glam theatrics to their live performance that effortlessly translates on to CD and vinyl this band makes some fun and wildly gritty music. Having just released their sophomore album Dirty Rocknroll and signed to STP Records, this band is making some awesome strides, so we're thankful that they could take the time to answer some of BLS's questions.
    
BLS: For those people that are unfamiliar with Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons, why don’t you tell us a little bit about your sound?

PDJ: We get called Punk, Psychobilly, Garage, etc but we've always described ourselves as Dirty Rock'n'Roll, which I guess has elements of all of the above.

BLS: You’ve recently completed your new album Dirty Rocknroll. What do we have to look forward to on the new record?

PDJ: There's lots to look forward to! Something a bit more diverse, but it still sounds like us. Phil Polecat guests on a couple of tracks playing double bass. The rest of the album was recorded as a 3 piece, which we're having a lot of fun being.

BLS: What’s different about this new album compared to Exercise Your Demons? How has the band and your sound evolved or gown in the time between albums?

PDJ: It's evolved on it's own really, unconsciously.. just by the nature of the new songs. And the fact that we are a 3 piece now, so most of the songs are just one guitar, drums, and vocals, although I play guitar on 3 songs. We still make a bloody racket though! And the majority of listeners said they didn't miss the bass, a lot of them didn't even notice there wasn't one!

BLS: You have found a way to have fun with your music without losing this assertive punk energy or coming off as cheesy. Is this element of play important to you as a band and will we see it in the new album?

PDJ: I think when we're on stage we are having fun, except on occasions when the sound is bad, but if the audience are enjoying it we really feed off them and it doesn't matter. I can never force myself to write songs, they just come out naturally when I feel inspired. So I don't think we really ever try to do anything.. the music just is what it is. I am fond of the odd pastiche though, Vampire Sugar from the first album was a tongue in cheek nod to The Rolling Stones, and there's a punk track on the new album which is a shamelessly blatant amalgamation of a few classic punk rock songs, and a bit of Bowie.. it's a fun one to do live as people catch on and sing along. And the song is about being of a certain age and still living with your mum and dad, which isn't very punk... or is it?!

BLS: You are known for the wild pageantry of your live show. What techniques did you use to capture that element of your music in your studio recording?

PDJ: We recorded live and then re-did the vocals, just like last time.. the room we record in at Space Eko Studios is a great space, lots of atmosphere. I think there's something about that place that just makes stuff sound big and lively, and of course Alex McGowan did an ace job recording and producing it with us. It's a great shame that the studio is moving, as the building is being made into posh flats.

BLS: What were some of the highpoints of 2012? What doses 2013 have in store for the band?

PDJ: Playing at Miss Peapod in Cornwall was a highlight for me, very unexpected reaction from the crowd, most of whom didn't know us. Peapod is a small cafe that turns into a venue at night, it was sold out and the people just went nuts. It was a proper, sweaty, mental gig. That is my bag. I hope 2013 will see us traveling across the pond to play gigs abroad. We've just been signed to a small Manchester label called STP Records, so I think this will be an exciting year for us.

PDJ: Pussycat, as the female lead of a punk band you seem to have been able to find a way to balance the aggression of the music with a feminine sensuality. Who are other female leads from which you’ve gained inspiration?

PDJ: Ooh spank you! I have always just felt around what I'm doing, the performance is just a product of the music really, I've always seen it as quite an organic thing. Disappointingly for some, I don't really have any obvious female influences, I know people expect me to say Patti Smith, Polly Styrene, Siouxsie Sue, etc but while I like some of their stuff, for the most part it doesn't really do it for me. I have to say I'm pretty much one of the boys when it comes to music, Iggy Pop, Jon Spencer, Nick Cave, Captain Beefheart, Bowie, James Brown, Small Faces, to name a few.. I'm not against female artists in any way (I am one!) I just personally haven't fallen in love with any, yet. Actually female fronted band DragSTER, who are also on STP, they really float my boat I have to say, Fi (the singer) is wild and really doesn't give a fuck when she's performing, I love that. And 100% Beefcock And The Tits Burster - a 2 piece female band (bass and drums), they're fantastic too, so much noise from just two people!

BLS: What tools (i.e. social networking, internet video, etc.) have you found worked the best to reach and build your audience?

PDJ: Facebook probably, it used to be Myspace but now that's pretty much a deadzone.. I don't know how the new Facebook rules will effect things in the near future, I know not as many people see our posts which is very annoying. If you sign up to something you wanna hear about it, right?!

BLS: One of the greatest challenges for bands in the US is the enormous amount of geographical space in which they have to conquer in the order to establish a following. Do you find that there are benefits to having a smaller geographical area to develop your notoriety? On the other end, are there any obvious draw backs?

PDJ: I find it tough, I don't sleep much on the road.. and even when I'm not! Most of the time I lie awake all night in the hotel room after the shows because I'm too wired and it's a strange place so I can't sleep. At the moment we only spend about 3 nights away at a time on a tour as we can get home after some of the other gigs. I feel stir crazy by the end, even though it's fun and I love doing it. So I can't imagine what it would be like to tour the US and not go home for weeks.. I would probably die, but what a way to go!

BLS: Name 5 bands you love but who few people have heard of?

PDJ:

Heavy Trash

Atomic Suplex

DragSTER

Blurt

100% Beefcock And The Tits Burster

Quick Pick: King Dude @ Mississippi Studios 03/27

Wednesday, March 27th
King Dude
Of The Wand And The Moon / A Story of Rats
Mississippi Studios
3939 N. Mississippi
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $8 / Day Of: $10
21 & Over

Channeling elements of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, the tombstone country folk of King Dude is a darkly mournful sound filled with the ache of train whistles and ghost tow wails. A purely organic musical form this is rock'n'roll before it found its danceable rhythm.  Fresh on the heels of his latest album Burning Daylight he is playing a few limited west coast dates including a show this Wednesday evening at Mississippi Studios. Joining him on stage will be Of The Wand And The Moon and A Story Of Rats, two equally dark acts. So if you're like the rest of us and the idea of spring break is a distant memory buried under a 9 to 5 job and responsibility, take this opportunity to rebel against the system with a late night and some live music. 

Cure for the Mondays: Hanni El Khatib - "Family"

Hanni El Khatib - "Family"

Part Sons of Anarchy, part Japanese game show; this one might not be safe for young viewers.


The bare bones esthetics of Hanni El Khatib's blues-punk has an unpolished greatness to it. With speed and abandonment his latest album Head in the Dirt, set to release next month, is sure to blow the hings off. Make sure you save the date because he'll be coming to Portland to play the Wonder Ballroom on May 15th.

Tuesday Double Feature: Citizens! "Caroline" & Calvin Harris "Sweet Nothing"

Exploring the light and dark of UK music, this weeks Tuesday Double Feature has videos by two amazing bands. The subject and style of these two videos provides an awesome look at the contrast between the soft curves of light to the gritty edges of the dark and the place between the two where human nature dwells.

Citizens! - "Caroline"



London based band Citizens! are masterful architecs of pop that puts a organicly modern twist to a post punk new wave sound. Currently touring North America in support of their latest release Here We Are the band is making stops at all the hot spots. After a stint at SXSW the band will be coming to Portland for a March 24th show at the Doug Fir Lounge. Make sure you get your tickets.

Calvin Harris - "Sweet Nothing" feat. Florence Welch



Scottish DJ, songwriter, and overall music extrodinare Calvin Harris has releaseed numerous track of distinction and has put his midus touch on the music of countless artists. His latest release 18 Months is yet again filled with hits in waiting including this gem with Florence Welch of Florence + The Machines.

Cure for the Mondays: Wavves - "Demon to Lean On"

Wavves - "Demon to Lean On"

A Lord of the Flies for the Road Warrior Generation.


LA bassed duo the Wavves are dregging up the most boldly powerful and brash musical chaotic lovliness to date. The band's forthcoming Afraid Of Heights LP,is due to launch March 26th via Mom + Pop/Warner Bros. The band will be touring North America in support of their album along with FIDLAR and Cheatahs throughout March and April.