So these way more in-the-know non-music sites sound like they are pretty into Terror Pigeon. We suggest you check them out live because the best bands are not studio bands but can rock the stage.
NY Times:
“It used to be that Moby was the artist people thought of when the words innovative and hip were applied to a musician who had sprung from the corridors of SUNY Purchase. But Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! — a revolving band of musical party-throwers signed to David Byrne’s Luaka Bop record label — are racking up a string of much-hyped shows around Manhattan and Brooklyn.”
New York Mag:
“It’s nearly impossible to stand on the sidelines of a Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! Show. Well it’s possible, but you’d be missing the very reason people come: to be part of the sweaty disco pileup.”
Pitchfork:
“The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! have caused a stir closer to home with their high-energy gigs and ridiculous costuming”
Pop Matters:
“These guys were concerned with nothing but a positive message and having a good time; a massive amount of relief of bands taking themselves extremely seriously.”
Vice:
“…everything worthy of a band known for memorable performance-art-led, costume-fuelled, all-singing-all-dancing extravaganzas”
US Tour Dates
2/27 – Terrace F Club – Princeton, NJ
2/28 – The Ox Warehouse – Philadelphia, PA
3/1 – Golden West Club – Baltimore, MD
3/2 – DC9 – Washington, DC
3/3 – The Pinhook – Durham, NC
3/4 – The Milestone – Charlotte, NC
3/5 – The Village Tavern – Mt Pleasant, SC
3/6 – Crowbar – Tampa, FL
3/7 – Backbooth – Orlando, FL
3/8 – The Engine Room – Tallahassee, FL
3/10 – 529 – Atlanta, GA
3/12 – The StarLight – Little Rock, AR
3/30 – The Loft – La Jolla, CA
4/1 – The Biko House – Isla Vista, CA
4/2 – Amnesia Bar – San Francisco, CA
4/5 – The Vera Project – Seattle, WA
4/6 – Visual Arts Collective – Garden City, ID
4/7 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT
4/9 – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE
4/11 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL
4/13 – Cafe Bourbon St – Columbus, OH
4/14 – Brillobox – Pittsburgh, PA
4/24 – The Friendship Cove – Montreal, QC
Top 10 Australia albums of 2009:
I’m going to fly the Australian flag and pick my top ten Aussie releases from the past year. I picked these for a range of reasons and these are far too many to list here. But I guess primarily you should know that I have given these goodies many spins in ‘09…
Top 5 EPs of 2009:
I chose my top five EPs for the year because I think these are sadly a dying art. Has anyone else ever experienced the sheer thrill that is hearing an awesome b-side? If not, you can check these out because they’re pretty amazing.
1. Liam Finn and Eliza-Jane Barnes – Champagne In Seashells
CD:
1. Cayman Tongue
2. Retina Sees Rewind
3. The Redtrail
4. Air Escapes
DVD:
1. Luminance
2. Retina Sees Rewind
3. Moral Eclipse
4. Juggernaut
5. Dark Driving
6. The Red Trail
7. Cayman Tongue
8. Trepanning
9. Air Escapes
10. Summit Fever
11. Vicious Circles
12. Big Riff
13. Inflatable Dream
Cave In Live!
w/ Trap Them and Narrows
November 19th The Knitting Factory Brooklyn, NY
November 20 First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA
November 21 Club Hell Providence, RI
November 22 The Middle East Downstairs Cambridge, MA
OK. You got me. I was a ska kid in high school. I skanked, I wore two tone suits to 102 degree ska shows and I even thought Reel Big Fish was a credible musical act. But since I was also into punk rock, skacore bands were my drug of choice back in those days (along with pot). So, when Stza from one of my all time favorite bands, Choking Victim (and more notably, Leftover Crack) started a new band, Star Fucking Hipsters, naturally I was stoked. Imagine my sadness when I pre-ordered and bought their debut album and HATED it. It seemed unfocused and immature, and really made me step back and ponder if Stza still had it in him anymore.
Let me just start with this: STZA CRACK STILL HAS “IT” IN HIM. SORRY FOR DOUBTING YOU, DUDE.
“3000 Miles Away” kick starts the album in classic CV/LoC style and the male/female shared vocal duties are great. This album has heaps of the “focus” I felt was missing from the first Star Fucking Hipsters album, and even the last Leftover Crack Album. The songwriting is tight, and it sounds like all the old songs we used to mosh to with our stupid eight-inch Mohawks and leather jackets in people’s basements. The nostalgia factor is there, but even without it I feel this would still be a solid listen.
“The Civilization Show” came on I smiled like a big dumb kid. In a world where ska feels as dead as ever, this song grabbed me in the gut and I almost started a one man skank pit in my living room until I remembered I was a grown-ass man and my girlfriend was asleep. But I was standing, ready to go. That’s how good this song is; even the obligatory “pick it up pick it up pick it up!” sounded earnest and most importantly, fun. Stza’s lyrical content is so bleak it’s good to know that he still might be having a good time somehow.
Let me say this: In a world where artists are expected to deliver work that is consistently in the same vein as their previous work yet still contain some sort of intangible progression, Stza and Star Fucking Hipsters have succeeded by going back to what works best. The best little parts of all his previous bands are evident, and the song writing is just plain good. You don’t have to be a crust punk or a ska kid to get into this, but it sure helps.
Notes: Ponytail playlist and notes put together by Dustin Wong. Much thanks go out to Dustin and Ponytail for shows that are awesome to witness and music that entertains!
Dustin – This is an on-the-go playlist I made while we were on the way to a show on this tour!
“Dancing in my Head” by The Raincoats Notes by Dustin: I love how this song has a mixture of reggae and celtic flavors.\’a0 The mixture of these sounds and the esoteric lyrics give me a really warm feeling in my soul.
“Lanca Perfume” by Rita Lee Notes by Dustin: Sung by the singer of Os Mutantes, the song has a beautiful/cheezy piano intro and a wonderful lounge vibe that make me want to move my head side to side and eat cheese cake with a tiny fork.
“Secondo Coro Delle Lavandale” by Roberto de Simone Notes by Dustin: OOIOO covered this song on their album Taiga, they called it UMO, its uncanny to hear how identical it sounds.\’a0 Really interesting when artists finds work that just suits them so perfectly.\’a0 As if it was written for them.
“Summer Wine” by Nancy Sinatra Notes by Dustin: Ah, I feel seduced by Nancy…She is getting me drunk yo!
“Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” by\’a0 Delfonics Notes by Dustin: Molly and I love this song, Jackie Brown is such a great movie.
“Sultan of Swing” by Dire Straits Notes by Dustin: One of my favorite guitar solos ever in this song.\’a0 Mark Knopfler is incredible.\’a0 Makes me feel like an adult listening to this song.\’a0
“Bermuda Triangle” by Gonzales Notes by Dustin: Ponytail has a song with the same title but they’re nothing a like. Gonzales’ subtle piano work and poetic expressions are so delicate and warm it makes me feel aristocratic.
“Little Gray Cat” by Grouper Notes by Dustin: That low pass sound makes me feel so snugly, like a bunch of pillows.\’a0
“Bon Voyage” by Haruomi Hosono Notes by Dustin:Probably one of the most eclectic songs I’ve ever heard, sounds of jazz, gamelan, calypso, and exotica sounds like martin denny and arthur lyman come through like a multi-national passport!
“Lucky Bugs Win a Prize” by Hassle Hound Notes by Dustin: A wonderfully cute, whimsical and pleasant song.
Introduction: La Brea has been one of those rare musical finds that leaves you feeling remarkably happy you are a human being and in love with music. The bands front man J.P. Singletary leads the way in what could be one of my favorite instrumental album – or any type of album – of the year. La Brea captures imagery and details and offers them up to their audience to put into their own words what La Brea does for them. We had a nice sit down chat with the band not too long ago about the inner workings of their music.
A band this young should have no right to be this good! So take my word, for what it is worth, and listen to their debut album while you read J.P.’s interview that he so kindly did with I.R.R. Read the full story
Introduction: La Brea has been one of those rare musical finds that leaves you feeling remarkably happy you are a human being and in love with music. The bands front man J.P. Singletary leads the way in what could be one of my favorite instrumental album – or any type of album – of the year. La Brea captures imagery and details and offers them up to their audience to put into their own words what La Brea does for them. We had a nice sit down chat with the band not too long ago about the inner workings of their music.
