Category: Vinyl Video
SXSW with PEACE
You’ve probably heard of PEACE by now. This British quartet are making serious waves in the music world, and we can’t get enough of them. They’ve been called the future of indie rock – although, as you’ll see in this interview, they don’t consider themselves to be “indie.” Either way, they are “the future of something.”
I was able to catch up with them for a few minutes after a morning showcase at South by Southwest to talk a little bit about what drives the music, their boredom, and who they enjoyed most at SXSW.
They are men of few words, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. They are the perfect caricatures of true rockstars- they give the impression that they genuinely don’t care, and it’s not a facade. They prefer to let their music speak for them. PEACE is a group of musicians, and they don’t feel the need to be anything else.
Their album, In Love, just dropped yesterday, and we’ve already run through it several times. Be sure to check it out right after you check out this interview.
SXSW with Ginger & The Ghost
Ginger & The Ghost is one of my absolute favorite South by Southwest finds.
Not only were they some of the most friendly, personable people I’ve gotten to talk to, but they are also enormously talented. Seeing them perform live feels like a privilege, almost as if the audience is being granted an exclusive chance to view them in their natural habitat. Usually I feel the overwhelming urge to sing along when I see a live show – this is one of the only ones I have seen that made me want to hush and unblinkingly observe the artists in front of me.
Missy (“Ginger”)’s voice is not of this world, and as you listen to her, you can’t help but think that she was made for this…actually hand crafted to be doing exactly what you see and hear. Her talent is real.
Dan, “The Ghost,” manifests himself in a way that perfectly befits his title. He stands beside Missy with a ghostlike omnipresence, but that by no means implies that he fades into the background. He seems to be haunting the stage as he plays, and he is undeniably felt.
Only Ginger & The Ghost could make an audience forget that they are in a small, unassuming bar in the middle of 6th Street in Austin, Texas and transport them into an otherworldly galaxy (one that I’m eager to return to).
So there you have it. Amazing band. Awesome people. So before you bolt off and scoop up their EP (which came out March 15!!), go ahead and check out this interview first!
SXSW with Charli XCX
We’re hearing about her everywhere. She collaborated with Icona Pop on “I Love It” (which we became obsessed with after seeing it featured on that episode of Girls…you know the one we mean…). She has opened for Coldplay. She’s just finished up a handful of shows at South by Southwest, and now she’s gearing up for her tours with Ellie Goulding and Marina & the Diamonds.
Charli is a badass. I think that’s pretty apparent. And she’s absolutely a true pop artist – but not a manufactured, formulaic clone popster like the ones dominating the radio (too many names…I cannot pick). I got to see her twice at South by Southwest this year, and I can’t emphasize this enough- she’s the real deal.
So, in honor of my newfound Charli-love, I scored an interview with her so we could talk about her name, our mutual obsession with Girls, her collaboration with Icona Pop and her tour plans!
Enjoy, and then be sure to snag her upcoming album, True Romance (coming in April) and catch her on her upcoming tour!
CHARLI XCX
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2013
May 6th-29th w/Marina & The Diamonds
MAY
6 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
7 Santa Ana, CA Observatory
10 San Diego, CA House of Blues
11 Los Angeles, CA Shrine Exposition Center
13 Salt Lake City, UT Club Sound
14 Englewood, CO The Gothic Theatre
16 Lawrence, KS The Granada
17 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
19 Minneapolis, MN Skyway Theater
20 Chicago, IL Riviera Theater
22 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
23 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
24 Montreal, QC Metropolis
28 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
29 New York, NY Central Park SummerStage @ Rumsey Playfield
31 Brooklyn, NY Glasslands
JUNE
1 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
3 Washington, DC U Street Music Hall
4 Norfolk, VA The NorVa
6 Orlando, FL The Social
8 Miami, FL Grand Central Miami
10 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre
12 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe @ Old National Centre
13-16 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Backstage with The Used
So I just got to chill backstage at Tabernacle in Atlanta with Jeph Howard from The Used. Jealous?
Don’t fret. I filmed our little hang out session for you, so you get to listen to us talk about the evolution of The Used, the Take Action Tour, and what’s next for the band. Have at it.
Backstage with Diarrhea Planet
Diarrhea Planet came to the Caledonia Lounge in Athens. I got to hang out in the “backstage” van area with them. We’re bros now.
Watch us talk about their sound, their goals, the right way to be a rockstar, and magic…among other things. Enjoy.
Backstage at the 40 Watt with Nate Brenner of Naytronix
Got to hang out backstage with Nate Brenner (you may know him as the bassist for tUnE-yArDs) to talk about his solo project, Naytronix and his first tour on his own. The band is opening for WHY? on this US tour and plans to continue touring. Definitely should not be missed.
While you’re buying your tickets online, go ahead and check out the interview below!
Tour Dates
11/05 – St Louis, MO – The Luminary Center for the Arts
11/29 – Utrecht, Holland – Le Guess Who? festival
12/3 – Birthdays – London, UK
INTERVIEW: Crashing practice with Tumbleweed Stampede
Hanging out in the practice room with Athens-based Tumbleweed Stampede. If you don’t know these guys, you should really learn how to use the internet and look them up. In the meantime, enjoy the interview- these gents are lovely.
Also be sure to check out their show tonight at the 40 Watt if you’re in/next to/around Athens. Gonna be a good one.
Backstage Beers with Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf
The Album Leaf just came to the Georgia Theatre (if you’re from Athens and you didn’t go, just…seriously?) on their tour with Tycho. And guess who got to interview them? Damn straight. Me. And it was awesome.
This was another big one for me. I have been a mad fan of TAL since some forgotten-but-much-appreciated friend of mine introduced me to In a Safe Place back when I was 14 years old.
The interview took place after their set (which was crazy good—they put so much into their shows, and experiencing it is extremely rewarding). My videographer and I headed backstage to wait for them immediately after they finished up. While we were waiting, we may have run into Scott Hansen (Tycho). NBD.
So, Jimmy LaValle- nicest, most patient guy. He was perfectly happy to let us wait around backstage and chat while Tycho and everyone got ready to go on. There was no sense of “let’s get this over with” from him, which would have been totally understandable considering that he had come straight from giving a killer performance.
I could seriously go on about this for another couple of pages, but I’m just going to let the interview speak for itself. Go ahead and check it out, and be sure to hit up The Album Leaf and Tycho on their tour if you haven’t already!
Being able to hear Tycho in the background during this interview really sets the mood
Photography/videography by Amy Anderson
Tour Dates
Sep 21 Black Cat Washington, DC
Sep 22 The Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
Sep 23 ATP “I’ll Be Your Mirror” New York, NY
Sep 25 The Waiting Room w/ Mono, Chris Brokaw Omaha, NE
Sep 26 Fox Theatre Boulder, CO
Sep 28 Artiface * VENUE CHANGE w/ Drew Andrews Las Vegas, NV
Sep 29 The Satellite Los Angeles, CA
Sep 30 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA
Hanging out poolside with Astronautalis
Charles Andrew Bothwell- a.k.a. Astronautalis- is one of the most interesting people in the world (right up there with the Dos Equis guy). He is one of those people that always has something to say, and it is always something you want to listen to and know more about. Really makes interviewing him effortless and downright enjoyable.
Andy was in Athens this past weekend performing and MC-ing for the Team Clermont 15th Anniversary Summer Showcase & Prom. While he was in town, I got the chance to reunite with him for the first time since our first interview.
After meeting up at his hotel and getting hooked watching Olympic women’s archery (really intense stuff, people), we headed over to the pool to chill out and get our interview on.
So here it is! Astronautalis talking about what’s been going on since our last interview, new collaborations, musings on Eastern Europe, getting robbed in Atlanta, and his upcoming tour and album (I also think it’s important to note that this is his first ever shirtless interview. Proud.). Enjoy! I know I did…
Exclusive interview- Joe Michelini from River City Extension
Got to sit down (Indian style) with Joe Michelini (writer/guitarist/vocalist for the band) from River City Extension. Such a nice guy! I love when I am able to talk to people who really have something to say, especially when it is interesting.
River City Extension is an eight-member “lyrical folk” band from Toms River, New Jersey. They recently released their new full-length album, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger, a record inspired by a darker time in Michelini’s life. Check out my exclusive interview with him below! And be sure to catch them on their current tour!
Tour Dates
July 25 — Toronto, ON — The Opera House *
July 26 — Montreal, QC — Corona Theatre *
July 27 — Portland, ME — Port City Music Hall *
July 28 –Cambridge, MA — TT The Bear’s*
July 30 — Buffalo, NY — Tralf Music Hall *
July 31 — Columbus, OH — Newport Music Hall *
Aug 1 — Cincinnati, OH — MOTR Pub/FREE SHOW*
Aug 2 — Indianapolis, IN — Deluxe @ Old National Centre *
Aug 3– Chicago, IL — House of Blues
Aug 4 — Milwaukee, WI — The Pabst Theater
Aug 5 — Madison, WI — The Frequency
Aug 7 — Lincoln, NE — Rye Room @ The Bourbon Theatre
Aug 9 — Telluride, CO — Sheridan Opera House
Aug 10 — Denver, CO — Hi-Dive
Aug 11 — Boulder, CO — Chautauqua Auditorium
Aug 12 — Bellvue, CO — Mishawaka Auditorium
Aug 14 — Columbia, Mo — Mojo’s
Aug 22 — Athens, GA — Georgia Theatre Rooftop
Aug 23 — Gainesville, FL — Double Down w/ Manchester Orchestra
Aug 24 — Orlando, FL — The Social w/ Mancheter Orchestra
Aug 25 — St. Petersburg, FL — State Theatre w/ Manchester Orchestra
Aug 26 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Culture Room w/ Manchester Orchestra
Aug 28 — West Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
Aug 29 — Richmond, VA — The Camel
Aug 30 — Baltimore, MD — Ottobar
Sep 14 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom