Kansas City Music Blog

Two things we love that are all too rare in this world: local zines and Murderbots.

Get both tomorrow night at Balanca's (1809 Grand) when Chrissy Murderbot returns home from Chicago to beatslap KC in the face in honor of the Fall/Winter issue of hip-hop/DJ-scene 'zine Demencha Magazine.​

Demencha founder Chris Milbourn, who used to write the Spin Cycle column for The Pitch, has always been a Murderbot champion, so it's fitting that he booked the eclectic electronic killer for the show. Chrissy (short for Christopher Shively) is a prolific producer and label owner who's constantly releasing mixtapes, but it's his latest self-titled solo album that really gets the party going for us.

Murderbot is a master at taking bizarre, off-kilter ragga, drum-n-bass and depth-charge dubstep and mixing into sharp and deliciously funky jams that are easy to dance to -- if you have three legs. Which we do.

Case in point:

MP3: Chrissy Murderbot, "Red Bone (The Yoshi Track feat. Don P & Tha Basix)" off Chrissy Muderbot (SleazeTone)

Cover is $5. Dirty D and the Galactic Soul Tribe featuring Z-Sonic will get the dancefloor greasy before Murderbot goes on.

​Remember that flurry of hip-hop shows last weekend? It's surprising that more multimedia didn't wash up from that (or maybe we just missed it), but here's a nice slice. It's a live MP3 of MC Reach performing Mouth, the band which, you'll remember, set up a night of live-instrument-backed hip-hop at the Scion Lab last Friday -- and did a good job promoting it. Before and after.

MP3: Reach, "Radio Love (feat. Mouth)" Live

Sounds like Mouth is on some Medeski, Martin & Wood + wah-guitar shit. Not sure how I feel about that, but it does sound good with a top-caliber rapper like Reach on board.

Not only did we get some Robot Koch yesterday (say it out loud, and then it's funny), we also have some Party Robots, courtesy of Idle Warship -- more popularly known by its individual members Talib Kweli, Res, and Graph Nobel.
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Idle Warship welcomes you to our first full length offering, Party Robot. This started out as a path to musical freedom. When we established Idle Warship, we did it for us. Now that we are giving you this music, Idle Warship no longer belongs to us, it belongs to the world. We don't believe in labels for music. Labels may stop you from hearing something before you listen to it. We appreciate those who have taken this journey with us without judgment and enjoyed the ride. To everyone who purchased our music on iTunes and anyone who has bought a ticket to an Idle Warship show, this is for you. All my party robots stand up!

Damn, Talib -- a successful solo career and Black Star isn't enough? You need another musical endeavor? Whatever the case, you can download the Party Robot mixtape, put together by Mick Boogie via Usershare (left click).

When it gets cold and dreary outside (Oh, hey, look -- it is!), I like nothing more than chill music once the sun goes down. Electronic music does a fine job of providing music that soothes as I curl up on my couch with a stack of books and a large mug of warming beverage.

​Robot Koch's newest release is also his first official LP, and it's called Death Star Droid. The label calls it

A Dubstep and Wonky Hip Hop infused affair, but the introduction of live acoustic instruments and heartfelt melodies is what sets it apart from the rest in the loosely defined genre. It's a sincere musical statement made in the tradition of his mixtapes. Expect to be surprised - this is music made for true music lovers.

The album is out now on Robots Don't Sleep. If you order it here, you get a free pair of sunglasses.

MP3: Robert Koch, "Away From"

The compilation this tune is from, Kansas City Jazz - 20s, was put out by Audio Book & Music Company, also known as ABM. It's one of those companies that puts together compilations of songs with obscure copyright statuses. George E. Lee died in 1958 in San Diego, where he'd moved after retiring from music in 1940, so I imagine that the copyright on this tune is long-gone.

​"Merritt Stomp" was recorded for the Merritt label in 1927. It's interesting, as the band is billed as the "Novelty Singing Orchestra," and you hear not a whit of human voice anywhere on it. Still, the banjo and clarinet on this hot jazz tune give it a bit more of an edge than the rest of the songs on the compilation on which it's found.

All information and images regarding George Lee come courtesy of Club Kaycee.

MP3: George E. Lee & His Novelty Singing Orchestra, "Merritt Stomp"

Luxury Wafers is similar to Daytrotter, but there are some notable differences. Luxury Wafters offers up video, but the site isn't nearly as easy to navigate as Daytrotter's. Both sites are providing some great exclusive content, however, and I'm glad that nobody exclusively holds the title to "free live recordings."

luxurywafers.net

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Luxury Wafers have also completed their first iTunes exclusive recording, and it's from Japanese Motors. You can hear the first track from the Costa Mesa garage rockers below.

MP3: Japanese Motors, "Whatever" (Luxury Wafers session)

Mike TV is a pop-punk act from England. Their bio reads like it might have been written by members of Monty Python:
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In the summer they encountered a major bummer as drummer Riff Reynolds left the band to pursue a career as a sous-chef. He was replaced by a Welsh school-girl from Stoke called Glyn Mellor. Tours with CJ RAMONE (he was in a band called The Ramones) and Fat Wreck band THE FLATLINERS followed with Glyn Mellor now firmly ensconced behind the drum stool. The band then decided to record a new E.P in order to finally embrace the new era of download music. The aforementioned E.P now named 'Stopgap' with three new songs and a RAMONES cover (they used to have a member called CJ) was made available for one of those trendy 'pay what you want' downloads. Mike TV will endure their last headline tour of the year in order to promote this half baked idea throughout December.

The music isn't nearly as amusing as their bio, but they do a cover of the Ramones' "Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)" off of Too Tough to Die, and I have to give them credit for doing something that's not "Blitzkrieg Bop" or "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker."

Pay what you like for Mike TV's Stopgap EP at Bandcamp.

This one's not so much a remix as a mashup. ​

In a fit of what could only be described as cartoonish inspiration, Soul Server and Losers' Clubber Deuce Fontane has taken the vocal off Milk Drop's "Dirty Ls" and laid it over the famous '80s bloop-reel "Axel F," with a bit of Family Guy mixed in at the end.

The original D/Will-produced track, which is on Milk's Falling Back to Earth LP, is definitely of higher musical value (no disrespect to Deuce), but, hey, this is good for some fun.

Go ahead an air out both the remix and original below.

MP3: Milk Drop, "Dirty Ls (remix w/ Peter Griffin)" by Deuce Fontane
MP3: Milk Drop, "Dirty Ls," from Falling Back to Earth

Digital Leather is dark, almost evil synthpunk. The first thing I heard from Shawn Foree was the single he release on Goner, "She Has A Cameltoe," which has made heads perk up every time I've played it somewhere.

​"Who's this?" is the usual response, with head cocked to the side like the RCA dog. It's good stuff -- dark, but not too dark; synthy, but with enough rock to keep the punk kids interested.

Digital Leather is touring in support of Warm Brother, their first studio album. Everything else has been recording live on on four-track (or both, in the case of their last album, Sorcerer). It's out now on Fat Possum. They hit the Jackpot for an early show on Sunday, November 22 with fellow Nebraskans the Dinks.

Watch the video for "Hurts So Bad" below.

MP3: Digital Leather, "Dead Sound" (Raveonettes cover)

If you saw WHY?'s show at the Jackpot last week and just couldn't get enough, here's a little something extra for you: a remix of WHY?'s "One Rose" by Alias.
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WHY?'s original "One Rose" is a quiet, well-crafted, singer-songwriter-type of tune. Just like Yoni Wolf said-it's not hip-hop, you guys. But those missing the beat of yore get a break as hip-hop producer Alias (Aesop Rock, Sage Francis) matches Wolf's folksy bleating to Casio beeps in this swimmy little rework. It claps, it crests, it sways. And then, the Autotune kicks in!

Hop over to RCRD LBL and download the remix.

How would you say this in Spanish? Tenemos Yo La Tengo? Which would then translate to "we got I got it?" Que pasa?

Anyway, Yo La Tengo is launching a tour behind it's latest, the actually rather poppin' Popular Songs, and the Hoboken indie amigos y amiga are running a pretty cool deal. Via Matador Records:​

Though Yo La Tengo have hit many of the world's most cosmopolitan cities while touring in support of the monumentally great 'Popular Songs', there are a number of Mid-American locales that haven't thrilled to Ira, Georgia and James at the height of their performing powers. Not until January, that is, at which time Yo La Tengo return to the domestic touring circuit, but this time, with a twist.

For each of the (reasonably priced) concert dates below, tickets are available with no additional surcharge from area record stores and/or directly from the venues. Yo La Tengo, their booking agency and local promoters have put a fair bit of time into these arrangements, and here's our contribution to the effort ; a Google Map that will help you find the outlets listed individually below.

Though the band played Springfield last time it came through our area, this time Yo La's hitting Lawrence: January 26 at the Granada. Tickets are $17 and not a penny more. Buy them at the Granada box office or at Love Garden Sounds.

MP3: Yo La Tengo, "Periodically Double or Triple"

Odelay!

Homegrown Buzz favorites Thieves recently sent us this track from their new Divider EP to share in hopes of promoting their CD-release party.

Erin Hiser

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Unfortunately, that party took place last weekend (with Cowboy Indian Bear and Sailor Sequence, so you know it had to've been good). Hey, we get backed up here sometimes at the Wayward Blog.

But it's never too late for a dope jam, and that's just what "Swan Song" is. The live/digital drum combo and minor-key atmospherics and strangled vocals on the bridge are out of the Radiohead playbook, while the big, gothic-cathedral production evokes Britpop balladeers like South and Stereophics.

Take it away, Thieves. And please, book another show soon. We'll be there. Probably.

MP3: Thieves, "Swan Song"

When a drummer decides to step out from behind the kit and make music as a solo artist, it can go poorly -- let us never forget the terrible lesson learned with Phil Collins. However, let us remember that for every Collins and Don Henley, we occasionally get a Dave Grohl.

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It is in this hopeful spirit that we present the first song from Rilo Kiley drummer Jason Boesel's solo debut, a charming, laid-back alt country tune entitled "Hand of God." The album, Hustler's Son, is due out on Team Love on January 12, with a tour coming in February.

MP3: Jason Boesel, "Hand of God"

Resident INnatesounds producer and turntablist Leonard DStroy has been living up to his adopted surname this year, destructing the decks on his own solo album, Game Over, as well as on CES Cru's celebrated Playground.

Most recently, he's returned to his brainy cradle as beat helmsman for MC Brother of Moses on the Deep Thinkers' brand-new release, Make It Quake. Snag a track on the house.

MP3: Deep Thinkers, "Mid-West Flambay"

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The Thinkers are a household name in the conscious hip-hop scene in KC, and this, their fourth album (and first since 2007's Reprogram) is sure to further establish their progressive rep. Make It Quake is being released by INnatesounds and LA's Wilshire Records, a label founded by KC native Brian Hanis, aka DJ Ice.

A release party is scheduled for this Saturday, November 14, at the Riot Room, featuring performances by Lenny D and BroMo (of course), Reggie B with Miles Bonny, and Reach.

Adding historic significance to the lineup, comedic hip-hop legend
Chief Rocker Busy Bee is buzzing into town to host the show. If you're not familiar with Busy, check out this 10-minute doc on "hip-hop's first solo MC."

Bonus listening: The DTs recently teamed up with electronics company VTech to produce an exclusive podcast.

Coalesce not only released the amazing OX earlier this year, they planned the followup OXEP as a continuation of the full-length's brutal roar.

​In other words, these aren't b-sides or leftovers that were released yesterday. This is an honest-to-goodness new release. As the band puts it:

These songs are not cuts that didn't make ox. We wrote and recorded these songs specifically for an ep release after ox was already done and delivered to Relapse for production. We continued our americana theme and expanded them on these songs, therefore wanted them to be considered part of the 2009 ox sessions.

OXEP came out yesterday on Relapse.

MP3: Coalesce, "Absent In Death"

MP3 via Stereogum.

Via 2dopeboyz, this is the second leaked track off Stik Figa and D/Will's upcoming release, hellogoodbye, which will arrive December 1. Contrasting the first leaked track, the restless, banging "Seasons," "Knowwhere" is more laidback and funky, an easy ride over a popping bass-guitar and laden with crackly vinyl static. Still with the catchy chorus, though.

MP3: Stik Figa & D/Will: "Knowwhere"
Left-clicky: Usershare or Mediafire

iknowdwill.com

​ On a related note, D/Will and Stik are setting examples in the scene by taking advantage of new media and not just relying on MySpace to get their music out. In fact, Stik Figa has left MySpace completely, migrating over to the cleaner interface of Imeem, where he's joined by the likes of Greg Enemy and Izmore.

Looks like I'll to have add Imeem to my list of social music sites, which, at last count, already includes Lala, iLike, Blip.fm, Pandora, Last.fm. Hell, I may even have an Imeem account and just forgot. So many sites, so little time.

D/Will, meanwhile, maintains a sharp blog at iknowdwill.com.

Lord, there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss BR5-49. Now, to be fair, the world's greatest hillbilly band wasn't really local. Chuck Mead had fronted Lawrence's Homestead Grays, and was in fact from Lawrence, but BR5-49 was really based out of Nashville.

​The band's first release, the Live From Robert's EP, has a fairly fantastic story. The band got their start at the western wear store, playing for nothing but tips every night for years. When it was released back in 1996, Rolling Stone listed the band in its "Hot issue," giving them a high profile.

BR5-49 released a full length live album later in their career, but their debut was probably the high point. Featuring covers of songs by Doc Watson and the Stanley Brothers alongside the band's originals, as well as a healthy dollop of clever stage banter ("plugs" abound, both for tips and to get people to buy some boots), Live From Robert's is one of those albums that leaves the listener wanting more, and whet my appetite for the band's full-length.

My favorite number on the EP is "Me n' Opie (Down by the Duck Pond)," a true story of "drug abuse and sexual deviance," also known as the untold story from the Andy Griffith Show. Led by its military cadence, it certainly bears more than a little musical resemblence to Jimmie Driftwood's "The Battle of New Orleans" -- although the lyrical content is more akin to Homer & Jethro's "Battle of Kookamonga."

Interesting fact: 1/3 of the writing credit goes to Kief's Downtown Music's (and former member of Ricky Dean Sinatra) Mark Roseberry.

MP3: BR5-49, "Me 'n' Opie (Down By the Duck Pond)"

St. Louis' Earthworms hip-hop crew, winners of this year's Riverfront Times "Best Hip-Hop Group" award, drop their new album Midnight at the Capricorn the day after Christmas.

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To hold you over until then, they've made the lead-off single, "Circles," available for download. The track was produced by Ben Bounce and features Raashan Ahmad of Crown City Rockers. The download includes the album version, radio edit, acapella and instrumental. If you head over to the group's website, you can pre-order Midnight at the Capricorn, as well.

Download the "Circles" digital 12-inch.

​It had been awhile since we'd heard from our pal Andy Graham of the fabulous, late A. Graham and the Moment Band. And, frankly, we did not expect to hear from him in conjunction with something called Spaniel, but the world is full of little surprises, idn'tit?

Fronted by Graham with ex-Moment guitarist Mark Weinberg and variously referred to as "Time Spaniel" or "Liquor Spaniel," Spaniel is playing tonight at the Record Bar with San Diego rawk threesome Marasol and the deliciously jagged Little Murders.

Mr. Graham was kind enough to share an exclusive rough mix from his new-old band (he and Weinberg have been putting on the dog off and on since the '90s), and it sounds promising: a sort of dreamy, quirky "Ziggy Stardust"-referencing ballad about a dogsledder. Dogsledsman? Whatever. It's nice.

MP3: Spaniel, "Skyhawk"

Skyhawk!

Nebraska's kings of garage, Brimstone Howl, release Big Deal. What's He Done Lately? on Alive Records in two weeks. However, to get your juices flowing, and raise the anticipation level for this release, we've got a brand-new song off that record for you all to listen to.

​The album -- the title of which references a quote from Johnny Ramone about Phil Spector -- is the band's fourth for Alive, and features a couple of older songs, such as "Elation" and "M60" rerecorded from their debut album and first 45, which are all of three or four years old. Their last release, the "Mammon/Solitary Man" single on Rob's House, was absolutely gripping. Each release from these guys just gets better and better.

The band tours relentlessly, and they hit the Replay about once a year. Considering they're from Lincoln, we could probably call them a regional act without too much of a stretch. Keep an eye out for their next stop.

MP3: Brimstone Howl, "Suicide Blues"

If you, too, were sideswiped by the Homosexuals' no longer being the openers for Pinback at the Granada this past Thursday, you probably also unaware that they'd been replaced by Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen.

​Since I'd seen Pinback a couple times before, and I'd also seen the Homosexuals several times in the past year and a half, I'd passed on the Granada show in favor of Old Crow Medicine Show at Liberty Hall. However, I've been wanting to see the Dead Milkmen ever since they started playing reunion tours the past year or so.

Joe Jack was about as close as I was going to get, dammit. Thank heavens for bootlegs. Talcum's website features a bootleg every month, and November's bootleg of the month is the Dead Milkmen's show from October 30 at Crash Bang Boom in Philadelphia.

This recording was made from the audience by Brian Sprenger using a Zoom H2 flash drive stereo digital recorder at a show The Dead Milkmen played acoustically, no electric amplification (except for a small keyboard that Rodney played in a couple songs) at a punk clothing and accessories store in Philadelphia called Crash Bang Boom. This store was originally called Zipperhead and was located on South Street. It changed name and location a few years, now just around the corner on 4th Street. It was an intimate crowd, mostly seated on the floor, and fun little show in which some new songs were debuted.

MP3: Dead Milkmen (Unplugged), Live at Crash Bang Boom, October 30, 2009

In what might have to be the craziest way to introduce a DJ mix to the world, we have the website The Beatles Never Broke Up. Alternate universes are involved, as are head injuries to the man who found the tape, James Richards (or so he wishes to be called). In the alternate reality to which Richards traveled, the Beatles never broke up, and are in fact still together and performing. As the front page explains:
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On Sept. 9, 2009 I experienced something that I still am having trouble believing happened to me. I came into the possession of a cassette tape containing a Beatles album that was never released.

I don't expect you to believe what happened to me, I sure wouldn't, but thats why I grabbed the tape as proof that my experience was real.

You can piece together the actual story from the site's FAQ, namely that this is "a collection of previous Beatles and post break up albums from this dimension mixed into new songs."

The music's pretty good, and put together with the story, it's a fairly entertaining way to kill an hour or so. Well played, Mr. Richards...well played.

Download Everyday Chemistry.

When Brad Hodgson told me, on a recent First Friday night, that he had left his position as frontman for In the Pines, one my favorite Kansas City bands ever, I would've sliced off his ear with a sword cane. But (a) I had no sword cane and (b) I had heard tracks from his awesome new project, Biarchy.

Matt Naquin

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Launched in early October, Biarchy is a two-man project conceived by Hodgson and fellow former ITP member Mike Myers (who drummed for the band, which, by the way, is forging on toward album two with new members). The duo's radiant, electronic-steeped music is warm and etheric; it filters into the brain's auditory cortex as if through electroencephalography.

Fans of Thom Yorke's The Eraser, Moby's more somber moments, Sparklehorse and/or late-'70s instrumental art-rock compositions in the vein of Brian Eno and David Bowie (see: "Warszawa") will find a lot to sway to in Biarchy. On songs like "Informed" (streaming now on MySpace.com/biarchy) there's even a delightful sprinkling of Sea & Cake.

And of course, this is still a Hodgson project, so you'll traces of that evocative, shoegaze-folk sound that has marked his songwriting. In fact, a Hodgson solo tune I first noticed back in late 2006 has been beautifully repurposed by Biarchy.

MP3: Biarchy, "Runs on Blood"

But music is only half of what Biarchy's about. Hodgson and Myers hope that visual artists -- filmmakers, videogame makers, animators, etc. -- will use Biarchy's sounds to soundtrack their projects. And to that end, they're giving away their entire 12-track album free. Download it at Biarchy.com.

They've already had a couple of video submissions, including this one, by Jordan Kerfeld, set to "The Coldest." View more at Biarchy's Vimeo profile.

The Coldest from biarchy on Vimeo.

There's not a lot I can say here that trumps what Saby Reyes-Kulkarni said about Valient Thorr in his show preview:
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Valient Thorr kicks ass far beyond the dreams of any of those psychedelic-stoner-garage-riff-'n'-rollers who make careers out of copying Sabbath or Iggy Pop and get drooled on by forgiving fans.

However, it's certainly worth bringing up that the Architects will make a rare appearance in Lawrence as openers for this show. We'd like to see some more rock 'n' roll in Lawrence, but it sadly seems to be, for the most part, exclusive to Kansas City, which is a shame -- mainly because those of us who live in Lawrence and don't suckle at the teat of indie rock or jam bands have to make 80 mile round trips.

So, if you live in Lawrence, please come out and support the rare Friday night rock 'n' roll show. Showing up early and giving the Phillips brothers and Mr. Liggatt a little love wouldn't be unappreciated, either.

MP3: Valient Thorr, "I Hope the Ghosts of the Dead Haunt Yr Soul Forever"

Well, we're a little behind on this news, but it bears mentioning nonetheless: Kansas City pop-dance act Queens Club signed to Tooth & Nail, home to MxPx and Underoath, among others.

​And, not only did Queens Club sign to Tooth & Nail, they just released their debut recording for the label, the Nightmarer EP, which dropped back in September. They've also recently tapped Record Machine recording artist Max Justus to remix the title track, and the label has made that available on their blog as November's "Song of the Month."

Download it below, and hear how "Max brings his signature dark vibe to the track giving it a pulsing electronic rhythm through out [and] finds a way to bend and warp the original track into something all together new."

MP3: Queens Club, "Nightmarer" (Max Justus Remix)

Philadelphia's A Sunny Day In Glasgow -- that phrase is just as cumbersome to type as it is to say aloud, trust you me -- are touring in support of their new release, Ashes Grammar, on Mis Ojos Discos.

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They bring their sunny pop to the Replay on November 24. Burger Kingdom opens.

MP3: A Sunny Day In Glasgow, "Ashes Grammar"

Q&A BY DANNY R. PHILLIPS

Since the early 1980s, the Meat Puppets have been confusing critics and influencing followers with their acid-fueled, psychedelic, country-punk freakouts. Few bands in the history of rock have so openly challenged existing boundaries like the Pups. Any given album (or song, even) features elements of punk, bluegrass, straight -ahead rock and beat poetry style lyrics.

​Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, and now based in Austin, the band was formed by twin brothers Curt and Cris Kirkwood on guitar and bass, respectively, plus drummer Derek Bostrom. Slightly ahead of the '90s grunge movement, the trio became a benchmark to bands like Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., the Lemonheads, Built to Spill and Mudhoney. The fact that the band has only had one hit single (1993's "Backwater") only adds to its fringe, counterculture mythology.

The Wayward Blog caught up with Curt Kirkwood by phone from his Austin, Texas home as he recovered from an opening slot on Stone Temple Pilots latest tour in support of the Meat Puppets' new album, Sewn Together (Megaforce).

What was the music scene like around Phoenix when you formed the Meat Puppets?

Kirkwood: Well, I had been in some bar bands then started playing for myself with Derek Bostrom and my brother Cris. There were others that had their punk bands, at least that's what they called them. Some were punk and others were just weird. After a while, it all just kind of dissipated. I don't really know what happened. We mostly just did our own thing.

Your first couple records were on SST, a punk label. Do you think the Puppets were a punk band at the beginning?

We were a bedroom, backyard band when we started out. We always just thought we were a rock band. That's more of a broad term and many things can fit into it. We found a place in the punk scene were we could play original music. We kinda showed our colors on the first two records. We just wanted to show we could play fast or slow and that we were interested in playing live.

There's a touch of country and bluegrass throughout your music. Were you always interested in those styles or did you pick it up later?

I was around it quite a bit. We moved to Phoenix when our mom married a guy that had race horses for a profession, so I spent a lot of time at the racetrack, and he always had the country station on. We watched The Johnny Cash Show, Hee Haw, so I got a huge dose of it. I didn't know from genres growing up, though. I loved the Beatles, the Monkees. I bought Anne Murray's "Snow Bird." I really liked when the Dillards were on Andy Griffith.

Since Athens-based psych rockers Twin Tigers started their tour with Minus the Bear and the Antlers this week, they've decided to give away some music to entice you to show up early and catch their set.

​It stands to reason that if you get to hear some music, you're more apt to see a band live. I'm certainly more likely to listen to music that I can throw on my iPod than something I'm required to hear via MySpace, as well, so the idea of something that resides on my hard drive is a nice incentive to sign up for a band's mailing list.

The Twin Tigers open for the Antlers and Minus the Bear at the Granada on Monday, November 23. Their debut album, Grey Waves, comes out in January on Old Flame Records.

Sign up for their mailing list, and get the Automatic EP for free.

As a journalist, one of the most validating experiences one can have is being quoted by someone else. It indicates that someone finds your words to be worthwhile enough to bear repeating elsewhere. There are exceptions to this, of course. Someone could be using your work as an example of bad journalism, holding you up as the Uwe Boll of writing. ("Seriously, I don't care what the fuck you do. Just don't do this. Please. For the love of God.") Another way to have that validation slapped right the hell down?

When someone dies.

My mom called me five years ago to say that the Star had quoted me in an article about the death of "some kid who was in a ska band." She then asked, "Do you know a kid named Richie Restivo?"

I had to search my brain, and I realized he was a kid whom I'd interviewed via e-mail the previous year regarding his ska band, the Uprights. He'd been nice, and incredibly enthusiastic about ska, and El Torreon, and pretty much everything we'd talked about. He ended up getting stabbed in the throat and dying, the result of a high school parking lot encounter gone terribly wrong.

​The terrible thing is...I never actually saw the Uprights when Restivo fronted the band. I later saw them opening for someone at the Bottleneck, a couple of years later, but they'd become a full-bore reggae act, completely lacking all the 2-Tone influences they sported on their one and only release, the Going Somewhere EP.

This is the song I've always associated with the band. It's a tribute to the all-ages club the band often played, and whether you're a ska kid, someone who hung out at El Torreon or not, you'll recognize the exuberance that comes with having a place where you're welcome and comfortable.

MP3: the Uprights, "31st & Gillham"

Oh, how much does Tigercity love you? Not only does their new album, Ancient Lover, drop today via your major digital retailers, but they're offering up the single off it for free. And not only that, but they're offering "Fake Gold" as a free download, they're offering up the video and a remix of the song by Only Children (the Chicago duo, not the Lawrence act with the Berwangers).

Casimir Krupinksy

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And I guess that wasn't enough, because they're bringing their smooth grooves to the Brick this Saturday, November 7. You've got four days to memorize all the words. Go!

MP3: Tigercity, "Fake Gold"
MP3: Tigercity, "Fake Gold" (Only Children remix)