Really enjoyed last night’s Volcano Choir show in Milwaukee. We got a new song, “Blue Ni Ni” (video above) as well as an encore version of Bon Iver’s “Woods.” Thanks to Craig for the video.

Update: Video: Volcano Choir – “Still” (Live From Turner Hall Ballroom)

Tonight, Volcano Choir play their second US show ever at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee. I’m told tickets are running thin, so make sure to get yours now. The band features members of Bon Iver, Collections of Colonies of Bees, and All Tiny Creatures. If you caught the video footage from their Japan tour, you know this is one show that can’t be missed.

MP3: Volcano Choir – “Island, IS”
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Buy: Volcano Choir – Unmap

(Sad Songs & Waltzes is a recurring feature on Muzzle of Bees, where artists share their favorite sad songs. Previous contributors include Megafaun, Delta Spirit, Damien Jurado, Conrad Plymouth, Frontier Ruckus, and Roadside Graves.)

The Moondoggies come to Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee tonight supporting Dawes. We’ve been quite fond of their album, Tidelands, and look forward to seeing them live for the first time. I got in touch with Kevin Murphy who offered four of his favorite sad songs for our continuing exploration into the favorite sad songs from our favorite artists.

Camper Van Beethoven – “Sad Lovers Waltz” (listen)
Camper Van Beethoven has written many songs that hold sentimental significance to me. Any opportunity to turn people on to them I’ll take.

Tom Waits – “Looks Like I’m Up Shit Creek Again” (listen)
It was a tossup between this and “Ponchos Lament, “also from The Early Years Vol. 1. Sad songs are something he does well, and I’m a sucker for them.

The Journeymen – “500 Miles” (listen)
I’m on tour right now so it’s an appropriate song. Not that I don’t enjoy it, but sometimes the mind wanders to home.

Dave Van Ronk – “He Was a Friend of Mine” (listen)
One of a hundred people to play this song; I like his throaty bellow.

MP3: Moondoggies – “It’s A Shame, It’s a Pity”
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Buy: Moondoggies – Tidelands

We couldn’t be more excited for the Gayngs tour to start up this week. For those unaware, the band features members of Bon Iver, Solid Gold, Megafaun and The Rosebuds. The collaboration has played exactly once before and Prince was there.

We’ve been given four (4) pairs of tickets to their Milwaukee (Turner Hall Ballroom, 9/29) and Chicago (The Metro, 9/30) dates on their tour to giveaway. Drop a comment with a valid e-mail address to throw your name into the hat. Please specify “Milwaukee” or “Chicago” in your comment. We’ll draw four winners for each show tomorrow afternoon. Winners have been notified by e-mail.

MP3: Gayngs – “The Gaudy Side of Town”
MP3: Gayngs – “Faded High”
Video: Gayngs – “The Last Prom on Earth (filmed at the Last Prom on Earth)”
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Buy: Gayngs – Relayted

The weekend is so close. I’ve been looking forward to Saturday night for a long time. Our good friends The Daredevil Christopher Wright are in town opening for Trampled By Turtles at Turner Hall Ballroom. I would highly recommend any fan of The Avett Brothers, Charlie Parr, Megafaun, or Mumford and Sons to find a way to catch these guys on tour. Their new album, Palomino is supremely solid from start to finish. Take a listen/watch to the video for “Wait So Long” above. I spoke to Dave Simonett of Trampled By Turtles about the new album, his favorite sad songs, touring Alaska, and what to do in Duluth, MN. Check it out below and don’t miss their show.

Congrats on Palomino, it’s a very fine record. Can you share a little insight on where/how it was recorded? Did you learn anything during this process that you’ll apply towards future recording sessions?

We recorded Palomino in several different locations, but the bulk of it was recorded at Realphonic Studio in Minneapolis. We also did some tracking at Devil’s Workshop in Minneapolis, Sparta Sound in Sparta, MN and one song was recorded in a hotel room.

I think we learned about the relationship between the song and the room in which it’s being recorded. We tried the same tunes in different places and for whatever reason, they just worked better for us in one place more than another. Environment is such an important part of the recording process.

We do this feature on our website called “Sad Songs & Waltzes” where artists share some of the saddest songs they know by other artists. Got any favorite sad songs?

Sure. A few I love are: “Buckskin Stallion” by Townes Van Zandt, “How to Disappear Completely” by Radiohead, “These Days I Barely Get By” by George Jones, and “When I Go Deaf” by Low.

I was pretty intrigued by your tour of Alaska. I’ve always felt that a lot of groups never made that trek, and I would imagine those people are pretty excited about having bands come through. How was your experience there, what kind of places were you playing and what was the reaction?

Alaska was absolutely fantastic. The people were great, the scenery was amazing, and we got a very warm reception at the shows. We played a couple clubs, a couple bigger halls, and the SE Alaska State Fair.

I follow you guys on twitter. I recently saw that you were working on some new material in studio. Are you already laying down ideas for the next record?

I’m always working on new material. Nothing as specific as a new album quite yet, just trying to get some songs down.

If we rode along on tour with you guys what kind of music would we find you listening too? Do you all share the same musical tastes?

You’d get a pretty wide variety of music in our van on tour. I think all of our musical tastes overlap in certain areas but each one of us definitely has a few records that no one else in the band owns. It’s not unheard of to have Wilco followed immediately by 50 Cent into some traditional Scandinavian instrumental music. We tend to listen to a lot of Minnesota music as well.

Are you guys still calling Duluth, MN home? Where would you recommend visitors check out if they’re making a pass through for the first time?

We’ve spread out a bit around MN in the last few years. I’m in Minneapolis, Ryan’s in St. Paul, Tim’s in Grand Rapids, Dave Carroll is in Duluth, and Erik is in the country outside of Duluth a little ways. Duluth will always be the bands metaphysical home though and it feels nothing short of that every time I go there. It’s one of those places (I found a similar thing in Alaska, actually) that people deeply love. Most of the people I know in Duluth don’t live there because it’s a convenient commute or cause they got a better job offer, or for the weather, but because there is a beautiful community of musicians and artists layered on top of beautiful natural surroundings. It’s also a bit dusty if you know what I mean. Duluth is a great place to write songs. For a first time visitor I’d recommend Pizza Luce, Fitger’s Brewhouse, The Electric Fetus, and to try swimming in the lake

Buy: Trampled By Turtles – Palomino

Last year the Heartless Bastards were good to us. They delivered one of our favorite albums and concerts of the year. This year, we’ve got our fingers crossed for a new record. Regardless if that pans out, we’re excited to hear the band will swing through Milwaukee on Monday, July 26th at Turner Hall Ballroom. Nice to see Peter Wolf Crier opening things up too.

Previously: 5 Questions with The Heartless Bastards

Buy: Heartless Bastards – The Mountain
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Myspace: The Heartless Bastards