Today marks the 4th Anniversary of Muzzleofbees.com. Thanks to all the wonderful contributors, readers, and communities of Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago.

If you want to come out and celebrate with us, you can do so with the fantastic FREE double bill of Los Campesinos! and Titus Andronicus at the University of Wisconsin’s Der Rathskeller on Friday, February 6th.

Here are ten tracks currently in heavy rotation.

Download/Listen:
MP3: M. Ward – “Never Had Nobody Like You”
MP3: Dirty Projectors & David Byrne – “Knotty Pine”
MP3: Telekinesis – “Coast of Carolina”
MP3: Alela Diane – “White As Diamonds”
MP3: Strand Of Oaks – “End In Flames”
MP3: Elvis Perkins in Dearland – “Shampoo”
MP3: Handsome Furs – “I’m Confused”
MP3: Pale Young Gentlemen – “Paper Planes” (M.I.A. Cover)
MP3: The Tallest Man On Earth – “Honey Won’t You Let Me In”
MP3: Vetiver – “Everyday”

Lots of good stuff heading our direction in 2009. Here’s a taste of what’s shaping up to be a good year.

2/25 – The Appleseed Cast – High Noon Saloon, Madison
3/5 – Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
3/18 – Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
3/26 – Clem Snide – High Noon Saloon, Madison
4/8 – Le Loup/Mt St Helens Vietnam Band – The Frequency, Madison
4/9 – Alejandro Escovedo – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
4/17 – The Handsome Family/Marissa Nadler – High Noon Saloon, Madison
4/30 – The Killers – Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee
6/20 – Phish – Alpine Valley, East Troy
6/21 – Phish – Alpine Valley, East Troy

+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

Walking into Schuba’s Tavern at approximately 9:15 PM, the temperature read as -8 degrees on the bank across the street’s digital screen. Walking out a few hours later, the same screen noted -23 degrees. It is COLD in Chicago. The frigid, dry conditions did little to keep fans at bay, however, from Schuba’s 2nd night of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival. Following three semi-local groups, the full house was treated to an incredible set by the one and only Department of Eagles.

In Ear Park has been a staple to my iTunes rotation since its release this past fall. The hauntingly beautiful melodies to “Around the Bay” and “No One Does it Like You” have possessed me to push the Grizzly Bearsish side project onto everyone I’ve discussed music with since last October. The duo can make some pretty amazing music, and those in attendance of last night’s Chicago set were not disappointed.

Daniel Rossen, Fred Nicolaus and crew took to the cozy, snug stage around the midnight mark. Rossen, sporting a red pullover hoodie, opened up the set, remarking on the “pretty interesting” weather, taking swigs simultaneously of coffee and Goose Islands.

Kicking things off, Department of Eagles started off with an acoustic, hushed version of “Phantom Other.” Rossen later commented that the group rarely performs live, but listening to the seamless, gorgeous and delicate live renditions of “Around the Bay,” and “Waves of Rye” you would never guess it. Rossen also busted out an older JoJo cover, as well as two new songs which titles I didn’t catch and another older gem from their first album that Rossen commented was a track they “never really share, but is fun to play—but is never played,” because, like I said, they “don’t play concerts.”

Well, last night was proof enough for me that these guys need to stick around on the road for a while. While “No One Does it Like You” was stripped of the album’s layered samples and percussion, the combined raw vulnerability of simple guitars and Rossen’s vocals was more than enough to blow the crowd away. This song alone was more than worth the hike down Southport Ave, yet my only disappointment is that they didn’t play “Teenagers.” The show as a whole was an hour full of warmth and intimacy—the polar opposite of the frozen hellacious tundra awaiting Chicagoans beyond the confinement of the venue.

Did anyone else catch this show? What were your highlights? Anyone checking the other Tomorrow Never Knows sets?

Buy: Department Of Eagles
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Myspace: Department of Eagles
MP3: Department of Eagles – “No One Does It Like You Do”

As a long-time fan of the Jayhawks as well as the solo output of both Mark Olson and Gary Louris, the below interview sits as one of my favorites pieces to grace space on MoB. I’ve already lauded their great new record, Ready For The Flood, and now get under the hood for a look at it’s creation and what comes next.

Could you lend some information on the recording process of Ready For The Flood? Where and how was it recorded, and were there any lessons learned that you’ll apply towards future recording sessions?

Gary Louris: Lessons learned, no….lessons incorporated, yes. I am very very proud of the early Jayhawks recordings. I believe that Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow The Green Grass were to some of the high points of the Jayhawks career. But artistically, whenever one can record the performance live it is more of an aural ‘photo’ of the moment, and I have always been drawn to the moment. For me it was Sound Of Lies that introduced me to the magic of live vocals. On Rainy Day Music I finally bought into the reality that while playing live one sings around one’s guitar playing and plays guitar around one’s singing. I know for a fact that Mark loved this method and it was one of the elements that drew him to the homegrown quality of The Creekdippers. On Ready For The Flood Mark and I sang and played face to face, sans headphones, imperfections and all…..a moment, a day frozen in time. I believe when an artist can record in that way…i.e…as simply and as live as possible it is the ultimate emotional experience. I will never forget those days in the studio, and people may dissect it and criticize it, but for me it was what it should be…two people in a room making music with and off each other and having it captured in all it’s imperfect splendor.

Can you describe the process/decision of making another record with Gary?

Mark Olson: Gary and I did a tour together in the spring of 06 and we really liked the sound of the two of us singing with two acoustic guitars. We said, if we’re gonna do this again, let’s make a new record in a similar vein.

Did you each bring songs to the first sessions or were a lot of the songs written together?

Mark Olson: We got together in the summer of 06 in Gary’s garage and worked for one week straight; we basically build the songs up together part by part. There were some lyrical and melodic ideas we both had coming in, but the final cd is a tandem effort.

How did Chris Robinson come to produce the new record?

Mark Olson: He is a friend from our days of touring with the Black Crowes back in the 90s. He always treated us well on the road and has great knowledge of folk and where it meets country, soul and rock ‘n’ roll. He happened to be in Minneapolis by chance and met up with us there when we were writing the songs for the record.

What approach or view did he bring to the project that is reflected on the final product

Mark Olson: He encouraged us to really go for the two guitars and the singing live in the studio approach. Gary and I had never made a record this way, where we sang everything live together. Now that we have I’ve found that I really enjoyed doing it this way.

I’ve read that you and Mark wrote songs for a film around 2001 that were never used. Are any of the songs on this record resuscitated from those sessions? If not, will those songs ever be heard?

Gary Louris: That is not entirely true….on that day in the desert in 2001 we wrote two songs….one is mostly forgettable and the other was in our minds the start towards our new relationship…Say You’ll Be Mine, which ended up on Mark’s magnificent December’s Child.

My favorite track on the new record is “Bicycle.” Can you shed some light on that song in particular? What inspired it and when was it written?

Mark Olson: It was written in Gary’s garage during our session there. The song is about what it is like to be dependent on bicycle transportation in America where everything is geared towards the car, and how that feels to be riding when you probably ought to be driving.

2008 just came to an end. We saw a lot of great concerts and heard a lot of great records. Anything from last year that really stood out for you?

Mark Olson: Yes, I thought that Devon Sproule both live and on cd was exceptional. I saw her at the Maverick Music Festival in the UK where we both played last summer.

Gary Louris: I must say that I had a great night seeing The Black Crowes with Vetiver in Minneapolis at First Avenue in December of 2008….great friends just kicking it…I have to be a bit of a fan and mention how much I love Vetiver and The Sadies……otherwise, no….to be honest I don’t get out much. I am not particularly proud of that fact, but it takes a lot more to wow me nowadays…..but I am ready to be wowed….

The internet has dramatically altered the way artists can reach an audience. With things like blogs/myspace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping (or hurting) your music?

Mark Olson: I like Myspace and Facebook in the sense that it gives the audience a chance to catch up on tour dates and practical stuff like that. I usually use the internet for catching up on the news and reading my emails, mostly it’s about schedules and logistics. I hope this doesn’t sound too old fashioned but I still prefer the records too!!!

Gary Louris: I truly believe that computers and the Internet are like alcohol or drugs…in moderation they can be helpful in certain situations, in excess harmful. I embrace technology to a point, but I always go back to what is elemental to existence…what has made life worth living for thousands of years? Technology has not done what it was intended to do….it was supposed to make life easier and give people more leisure time to explore themselves and the world. What has happened is that now people are expected to do more, and work wherever they may be. People seem to have less time to ponder and think and appreciate. On the other hand one cannot deny the beauty of being able to call up any subject and reference any lateral tributaries…..This leads to endless dispersions which in the end leave one at a loss….in the end it is pure OVERLOAD. There are too many options, too many possibilities and sometimes it is just better to focus the brain on a few…In fact peoples brains and brain patterns are being changed and not necessarily for the good…You are asking the wrong person if you are asking if the world is getting better. What was the question again? Oh yes……I prefer when people had to work to seek out things, to be rewarded for real discovery instead of a clink on a link. I will never EVER justify people getting music for free…maybe if you are built to tour or are like Radiohead and can afford to give music away…..Maybe words of a bitter old man but I miss the old days before things got reduced to a google and a download….the quest, the road of discovery is as important as the end result….I think it hurts….any short cut is detrimental..period…

In February you’ll hit the road in support of Ready For The Flood. Will this tour be just yourself and Mark? Outside of the songs that make up the ones on the new record, where will (if any) other live material draw from?

Gary Louris: This tour will be primarily Mark and myself….I love the person and the playing of Mark’s girlfriend Ingunn and she will be playing djembe and other assorted percussion on a number of shows on this tour. I can’t say enough good things about her. I would be interested in adding people who played on the record, such as the amazing Jason Yates on organ and the incredible and undeniable force George Reiff who played bass on our record, along with the intriguing and unaffordable Ben Peeler and Jimmie Hey on assorted string instruments and drums respectively, but whenever we add players it begs the question…why not the Jayhawks? That is a tough one …The Jayhawks to me were so amazing that it almost seems sacrilegious to try and make that happen again…maybe in once-in-a-while setting but as a day-to-day this is what i do thing it might take away from what it was…..anyway…I am babbling…We will always perform old Jayhawks songs…we are proud of them and for Mark and I they are still exciting to perform…..We feel like our career was cut short prematurely, by our own hands, and we really never have performed them in a live setting like we wrote them…two guys with acoustic guitars…We may tap into our own solo records but mostly it will come from what Mark and I have done TOGETHER.

Previously: From The Crowd | Mark Olson – “Blue”
Previously: Review: Mark Olson/Ben Kyle @ Cafe Montmartre

Amazon: Ready For The Flood
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Myspace: Mark Olson & Gary Louris
MP3: Mark Olson & Gary Louris – “Doves & Stones”

In addition to the hard working kids at the Wisconsin Union Directorate, Muzzle of Bees is proud to help present the fantastic double bill of Los Campesinos! and Titus Andronicus.

The show is free and takes place at the University of Wisconsin’s Der Rathskeller on Friday, February 6th. We’ll have some great giveaways in the coming days in add

You released two records last year. Could you lend some information on the recording process of Hold on Now, Youngster and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed?

Both were recorded in North America and both involved the large consumptions of illegal drugs, questionable sex with groupies and cardigan burning. But in all seriousness they were glorious, we got to work with two very different and amazing producers and push our musical abilities in a lot of unexpected directions (I played the feet of a organ, who would have thought?) Also the studio assistant in Seattle made the most amazing lattes.

Who did the artwork for Hold on Now, Youngster… and how did that come to be?

Sarah Lippett (www.crayonlegs.com) is her name and she is a friend of Gareth’s from Brighton whose work he glimpsed and fell in love with. She wears amazing glasses and is extremely talented. Go look at her website and send her butter milk muffins.

The internet has dramatically altered the way artists can reach an audience. With things like blogs/myspace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping (or hurting) your music?

We realize that the internet is obviously mostly the reason why we are in the position we are in now, (although I am a bit hungry and I don’t think it is responsible for that, I asked my boyfriend to get me a Kinder egg from the shop and he forgot, so this is mostly his fault.) Without this wonderful cube of fun in front of me, people would never have heard our demos in the first place, and foolishly given us the chance to impress/disappoint them, and we may have had to actually work a lot harder for what we have achieved (like the bands did in the 1960′s.) It does spoil us, but it also can mean there is so much choice that you get a little bit overwhelmed and scared…. well, at least I do. The leaking of records thing is annoying though, it’s like premature ejaculation. Disappointing. It is best to wait and then download it.

2008 just came to an end. We saw a lot of great concerts and heard a lot of great records. Anything from last year that really stood out for you?

Amanda Palmer’s solo album/tour was a highlight, as was being on tour with Parenthetical Girls and No Age and Times New Viking. We were privileged to be able to watch these amazing bands every night, and wonder why the hell we were not supporting them. I also discovered Venetian Snares, which would be amazing to see live, if not trippy and mind boggling.

Can fans expect a resuscitated Los Campesinos! blog once you being your US tour with Titus Andronicus?

Yes! Myself and Alek are warming up our nimble fingers as we speak…. we have had a bit of time off to prepare ourselves for this tour (so forgive us if we are old on and rusty onstage) so haven’t had a lot to write about.

I did want to post a special entry when I got all four series of Battlestar Gallatica, but realized this did not really qualify as “news.”

I will also be writing a rival blog for venuszine, and by rival I mean as rambling and self involved as my contributions to our blog. Also myself and Alek are genuinely shocked/touched (in a sexy manner) when people actually read or ask about our blog, so thank you for caring.

Buy: Los Campesinos!
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Myspace: Los Campesinos!
MP3: Los Campesinos! – “We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed”

There’s plenty of great videos of The Tallest Man On Earth on YouTube, but I chose my (current) favorite song from Shallow Grave.

It comes across great in the above video, but also seems like a fitting enough tune to keep you warm during the cold.

First Verse: “Now the snow will fall and the lover’s call / Will be drenched out by the shatterin’ of verse / As the seasoned shifts lonely minds will drift / On the ocean in a build above its lore / As I knock your door from inside once more / How I wish a soothin’ breeze would let me in / Shake my tambourine at your glowing dreams /So honey won’t you let me in”

Buy: Shallow Grave
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Myspace: The Tallest Man On Earth
MP3: The Tallest Man On Earth – “Honey Won’t You Let Me In”