Previously: Andrew Bird :: Luther’s Blues, Madison (11/2/2002)
Previously: Andrew Bird :: Noble Beast / Useless Creatures

Buy: Noble Beast / Useless Creatures (Deluxe Edition)
Myspace: Andrew Bird

I have never pre-ordered an album. I broke tradition today by ordering the upcoming Grizzly Bear album, Veckatimest on vinyl. I did this knowing that it will almost certainly leak early and I’ll have heard the album in full long before the vinyl arrives at my doorstep “on or before the May 26 release date.”

If you want to anxiously await the new record on wax, get your pre-order on here.

Previously: Review: Grizzly Bear @ The Pabst

Myspace: Grizzly Bear
MP3: Grizzly Bear – “Two Weeks” (Live on Letterman)

By Jodi Root

Ever since I caught word that my beloved Yeah Yeah Yeahs were back in the studio with plans for a third album, I’ve been drooling in anticipation with every slight blog posting update. Album title? It’s Blitz! Alright! Album artwork? Manicured hand crunching egg yolk stop motion? YES! First track “Zero?” Synthed up glamour pop nightmare! (Sure, I noticed an absence of guitars, but the 80’s John Hughes-ish keywork was undeniably catchy dance party). Second track shortly after by way of Kanye University, “Heads Will Roll?” OMG. OMG. OMG. So dark and seductive, dance floor anthem!!!! Jodi was very, very pleased.

But then the full album leaked.

Since then, everyone’s thrown in their two cents of yay/nay. And at first, all I could focus on was what I had previously heard—the two singles, which are, let’s face it thrashtastic hipster dance delight. But then when my excitement of finally copping mp3 versions of these two addicting tracks wore out, I finally managed to flip through the remaining 8 tracks. And what were my thoughts? Well. . . I think my friend Arlo summed it up best when he posted on my Facebook wall, “Have you heard the new YYY record yet? I think I like it. I think you’ll like.” This was my first impression—“thinking” I liked it. Because, well, it’s the Yeah Yeah Yeahs! And I’ve adored every and anything they’ve recorded. I’ve been enamored with the grittiness of both the Machine and Self-Titled EPs, the impeccable debut Fever to Tell the more recent tightass rock factory EP Is Is, and of course, the last studio attempt, Show Your Bones.

But first full listen of It’s Blitz!? Ehhhh . . . Like back with Show Your Bones, I knew enough not to trust my first impression just yet. I remember the day I picked up SYB clearly, and it was a very special day indeed. But shortly after popping the yellow disc in my stereo, I quickly caught onto YYY’s transitional style—where was the shrieking? Grinding guitars? Thrashing, inaudible rock madness? Well, it certainly wasn’t on that album. Ehhh . . . But after enough listens and attentive patience, I grew to love the album in its own and it remains in regular rotation to this day. I discovered that after the two synth pop intro tracks on It’s Blitz!, the remainder of the record is significantly slowed down and a much more intimate collection of tracks than what we YYY fans are accustomed to.

CONTINUE READING THIS REVIEW HERE —> (more…)

By Jodi Root

I’ve had the joy of catching indie/alt-rock/hip-hop hybrid mastermind Tim Fite everywhere from New York and Austin to Chicago (well, actually that about sums it up), multiple times in the past few years—last night being my fourth encounter in the past year alone. Fite, who’s been touring seemingly non-stop in support of Anti Records’ “Fair Ain’t Fair,” since its release last spring, was back in Chi for the umpteenth time in the past six months –but this time around he was in charge—headlining. I had been getting used to watching Fite’s endearing attempts to win over various crowds as the forever opening act, whether it was Les Claypool, the Watson Twins, or as part of this last year’s Hideout Block Party—but this was the first time the spotlight truly belonged to him and his partner in crime, Dr. Leisure.

The infamous duo took to Schuba’s stage around 11:00; minutes after Fite had brushed past me sporting a navy jumpsuit, stating matter-of-factly to no one in particular, “I gotta pee.” Upon his return, the now bib overall/suit jacket gentleman got the crowd whistling and roaring in approval with the opening “Gone Ain’t Gone” number “I Hope You’re There.” Fite and Leisure kept the masses on their toes, with the forever colorful AV presentations, various crowd interactions and group exercises (literally—“Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” as well as the grunting remix of “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” were just a couple of several examples), and everyone was laughing, singing, stomping and cheering. Good vibes were aplenty.

The set itself lasted roughly an hour, staying consistent with every other set list I’ve caught the past year with the exception of a few additions including a new animated short featuring a not so cuddly finger eating koala bear as well as a track I hadn’t heard before, “Take your medicine, take your daughter to work day, it’s her birthday. . .” Catchy, whatever it was. Other regular staples included: “JoJo Bobby, Stab a Motherfucker,” “Big Mistake”—(which received huge crowd appreciation), “The Garden,” “Clothes,” “Line by Line,” and the super catchy “Burn it Down” (see vid above, you may like, dude on the right side of the cam sure did.) Fans swarmed to Fite and Leisure immediately following the set, and the forever humble gentlemen hung around, posing for photos and saying hi to new friends. It was a spectacular evening and I can’t send enough praises or thank-you’s to Fite for the forever good times.

Previously: Tim Fite Interview
Previously: Review: Tim Fite – Lakeshore Theatre, Chicago
Previously: 5 Questions with Tim Fite

Buy: Tim Fite
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Myspace: Tim Fite
MP3: Tim Fite – “I Called For You”

Great news today! Rolling Stone announced that we can expect the new Wilco long-player in June. Here’s some info with track names:

“Tuesday morning we flew to Chicago, hopped in a cab and headed straight for the Loft, the band’s studio on the North Side. We listened to seven tracks, all of which are slated for the new album (no title as of yet), including “Wilco, The Song,” “Deeper Down,” “My Country Has Disappeared” and “Sunny Feeling.”

I’m sure my invitation to The Loft for a listen is right around the corner…..I wish.

Previously: Jeff Tweedy – Fake Plastic Trees (Champaign, IL 1/31/09)
Previously: Wilco – Ashes of American Flags (DVD)
Previously: Review: Wilco – Lyric Opera House, Baltimore
Previously: Review: Wilco – Concert For Change, Madison
Previously: Review: Wilco – The Riveria Theater, Chicago (2/16/08)

Myspace: Wilco

Wilco’s Ashes of American Flags DVD will be released April 18 2009 via Nonesuch Records. That many of you probably already knew. Today, we got the track list of songs culled from their performances at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK, Tipitina’s in New Orleans, LA, The Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, AL, The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN and the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C.

Track Listing:

Ashes of American Flags, Side with the Seeds, Handshake Drugs, The Late Greats, Kingpin, Wishful Thinking, Impossible Germany, Via Chicago, Shot in the Arm, Monday, You are my Face, Heavy Metal Drummer, War on War

Wilco will play two shows at Milwaukee’s historic Pabst Theater on April 14th & 15th.

Myspace: Wilco