Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Ra Ra Riot, Smashing Pumpkins, Kings of Leon, sufjan stevens, Grizzly Bear, Brand New, nyc, Stereogum, Beach House, Kurt Cobain, The Rural Alberta Advantage, New York City, Pitchfork, Princeton, muse, Air, subpop, Matt Bellamy, Two Dancers, Wild Beasts, Joe's Pub, Billy Corgan, White Lies, Jennifer's Body, Courtney Love, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Guitar Hero 5
Muse decided to stream their new album The Resistance for 24 hours
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Muse’s “United States of Eurasia” MP3
Hype for The Resistance has practically reached the point of parody. Filter reported on how Muse streamed The Resistance in full, for a full 24 hours. The fact that they had fans piece together a song before they could hear it just goes to show that this band will stage any stunt get more exposure — redundant when you’re in one of the biggest acts in the world. What else can you do, Matt Bellamy, streak in a performance art display singing the lyrics to “Uprising”? [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor's Pick #157: Muse's United States of Eurasia]
As many probably knew, Jay-Z is going all out to promote his latest effort, The Blueprint 3, which dropped Tuesday. To kick off the world tour, he played a secret show at NYC’s Gramercy Theater last night which apparently also included a fire alarm. SPIN’s got photos and additional details for those so inclined. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #173: Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” (Alicia Keys, Blueprint 3), 20 Watts Reviews Jay-Z's Blueprint 3]
Stereogum reported on Wild Beasts‘ live NYC debut, held two nights ago downtown at Joe’s Pub. Considering the quality of Wild Beasts’ two albums, particularly the recent Two Dancers, one would expect them to play in a dedicated rock venue. Not the case with this sit-down establishment, but that’s all right when you take into account that many popular indie acts — including Brand New, Sufjan Stevens, and The Rural Alberta Advantage — prefer smaller venues. Rock club or not, Wild Beasts played a great show by all accounts. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Two Dancers]
NME.com reports that British alternative rock band White Lies released a rare track for download today. The song “Taxidermy” is a live favorite and was only available before on the band’s 7″ single “To Lose My Life.” White Lies will be touring the U.S. soon along with shows supporting Kings of Leon from September 25 through October 16. Close dates include New York City and Toronto on September 25 and September 26 respectively. White Lies also have their track “Death” on the Jennifer’s Body soundtrack. The film, starring Megan Fox, hits theatres September 18. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Lykke Li Covers Kings Of Leon ]
In preparation for their latest album Air have released a music video for the song “Sing Sang Sung,” and it’s featured on Pitchfork today. ”Sing Sang Sung” is the first single off the French electropopper’s forthcoming album Love 2. The album, which drops October 6, was entirely produced at the band’s own studio.[Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Air Releases a Studio Recording of "Do the Joy"]
Pitchfork also reports that Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan has launched a website today called Everything From Here to There. According to the site, which is likely to be a blog about Corgan’s personal beliefs, “If you are drawn to the Hidden Truths, drawn to God as something beyond limitation, and drawn to Love as the greatest force in the Universe, then you have come to the right place at the right time. This is a place of Love.” [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Industry News, Week 4]
Subpop has just added Beach House to it’s already unrivaled indie roster. Beach House are the gorgeous, sleepy, dream-pop duo that brought you Beach House and Devotion, and they announced their move to the Seattle-based label today. They’ll release their third album in early 2010 after completing a tour with Grizzly Bear. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Jay-Z Endorses Indie Rock, Grizzly Bear's "While You Wait for the Other"]
Filed under: Features | Tags: The Hold Steady, playlist, americana, The Rural Alberta Advantage, positive jam, ithaca, the felice brothers, deer tick, central new york, Stewart Park, photos, podcast
Filed under: Features | Tags: The Hold Steady, The Rural Alberta Advantage, positive jam, ithaca, the felice brothers, deer tick, central new york, Stewart Park, podcast
The 20 Watts Positive Jam Podcast features onsite coverage of the bands present
DOWNLOAD: The 20 Watts Positive Jam Podcast
STREAM IT at 20 WATTS’ TUMBLR
20 Watts brings you yet another of our awesome podcasts — this one straight from the Positive Jam! Showcasing commentary from Irina Dvalidze and clips from the acts at the festival, the PositiveCast brings you as close to the show as you could get without actually being there. So lay on the grass, put a shirt over your head and let 20 Watts take you to Stewart Park. We gotta stay positive!
– Irina Dvalidze and Eric Vilas-Boas
Filed under: Positive Jam Reviews | Tags: The Hold Steady, americana, The Rural Alberta Advantage, the felice brothers, deer tick, Cayuga Lake, Nils Edenloff, Billy Corgan, Craig Finn, John Joseph McCauley, Greg farley, james Felice
Deer Tick stole the show at Positive Jam this past weekend
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Deer Tick’s “Houston, TX” MP3
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Positive Jam: Exclusive Coverage on 20 Watts
The glistening water from Cayuga Lake reflected The Rural Alberta Advantage’s Amy Cole’s black shades as the band got on stage, kicking Positive Jam off with a nice cup of Ithaca Beer’s microbrew. Despite the audience being burnt out in more ways than one on the sunny Sunday afternoon, The Rural Alberta Advantage pulled off a show with class as an opening act. The Canadian threesome gave the term power trio new meaning with frontman Nils Edenloff singing like a mellower, folkier Billy Corgan, while Amy Cole played an eclectic mix of instruments from the glockenspiel to a tambourine.
Watching The Felice Brothers — “America’s Greatest Subway Band” — perform was like watching a great Americana musical with farm animals and drums of whiskey. Although he’s not technically part of the family, washboard and fiddle player, Greg Farley is practically a one-man show. Acting out the lyrics and playing his seemingly secondary instruments with the gusto of a lead guitarist. That’s why these cool, relatable guys are so likeable, and if you don’t believe me, check out our interview with James Felice.
While chilling out between sets in scenery reminiscent of John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band cover, the sound of a tribal bass drum hypnotized some audience members to return to the stage. Deer Tick walked onstage to this dramatic buildup. After their first song, lead singer John Joseph McCauley held up his beer bottle and announced, “I haven’t had breakfast yet but a porter is like a meal and a beer” and took another swig before they broke into “Houston, TX,” a song inspired by an ex who dumped him on Valentine’s Day. For a band looking and acting more like frat brothers than talented musicians, they had their Dylan impressions down pat — in both McCauley’s rough, folky voice and their new guitarist’s wild hair and tiny frame. The high point of the set was ”La Bamba,” and although the closing song choice was surprising at first, it ended a fun and crazy set perfectly.
Sadly, after a day full of exciting music, the show’s headliner, The Hold Steady, failed to surpass the greatness of the supporting acts. Craig Finn’s voice was as distinctively nasal as expected, and while his nerdy excitement was endearing, something was definitely amiss. Following such young, high-energy acts, the band seemed washed-up and comparatively family-friendly. We in the crowd questioned their title as “America’s Greatest Bar Band.” They played favorites like “Magazines,” “Southtown Girls,” and “You Can Make Him Like You” along with a few new songs, but the only memorable performance was the sing-along “Massive Nights.”
– Charlie Weeks and Carly Wolkoff
Filed under: Features | Tags: The Hold Steady, The Rural Alberta Advantage, positive jam, ithaca, the felice brothers, deer tick, Stewart Park, festival, photos
Deer Tick
From chain-smoking hippies to multi-band bro-downs, last Sunday’s Positive Jam offered quite a visual feast for Americana fans. Check out all of 20 Watts’ zany photos after the jump, and — while you’re at it — see an exclusive podcast, video and review from the festival, only on 20 Watts.
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Filed under: XCLUS!VES | Tags: Brooklyn, The Antlers, Music Hall of Williamsburg, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Neutral Milk Hotel, Saddle Creek, Nils Edenloff, Seagull, Alberta, Toronto, In the Aeroplane over the Sea, Casio
Nils Edenloff (right) of The RAA talks to 20 Watts
PREVIEW: Download The RAA’s “The Deathbridge in Lethbridge” MP3
RELATED COVERAGE: Positive Jam: Exclusive Coverage on 20 Watts, 20 Watts Reviews The Rural Alberta Advantage’s Hometowns
Signing to Saddle Creek, releasing an acclaimed debut, and touring extensively have made this a pretty banner year for The Rural Alberta Advantage. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Nils Edenloff talked to 20 Watts just the other day about his experiences, the band’s origins, and our mutual affinity for The Antlers and Neutral Milk Hotel. The RAA’s Hometowns was re-released by Saddle Creek earlier this year and you can catch The Rural Alberta Advantage playing the Positive Jam at Stewart Park, on the beautiful shores of Cayuga Lake, at 1:30pm, on Sunday, Sept. 6!
20W: So to start off, why do you call yourselves The Rural Alberta Advantage? What’s the origin of the name? Did you guys ever go by any other name?
Edenloff: It’s the only name we’ve ever used. It has to do with looking back on Alberta — where I grew up — and we make a lot of references to it. The name actually comes from a play on a provincial slogan, which is now defunct, called “The Alberta Advantage,” championing the oil sands industry. My brother once emailed me the suggestion, and it stuck.
20W: How long have you guys known each other? How did you meet?
Edenloff: We’ve known each other for a long time. Paul [Banwatt], Amy [Cole] and a friend of mine used to play in another band called Clementine. Eventually Paul and I started co-hosting open-mic nights. The first year, there was kind of a fluctuating line-up, with nothing really set in stone. I think when the three of us started playing together — Paul, Amy and myself — that was when the band really started, in February, 2006.
20W: The RAA signed to Saddle Creek earlier this year after Hometowns took off. Has the experience of being signed to a major indie label changed your approach to music at all? (more…)
Filed under: XCLUS!VES | Tags: americana, Associated Press, Bob Dylan, Brewfest, Cayuga Lake, Dave Matthews Band, deer tick, festival, ithaca, Ithaca Beer Company, lo-fi, Neutral Milk Hotel, positive jam, Stewart Park, the felice brothers, The Hold Steady, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Ticketmaster
Positive Jam: a weekend of good beer and great music
Check out the rest of 20 Watts’ exclusive coverage of Positive Jam here!
PREVIEW: Get the 20 Watts Positive Jam Mix here!
Music festivals and beer go together like ice cream and Grey’s Anatomy.
That was presumably on Ithaca concert promoter Dan Smalls’ mind as he began to organize the first Positive Jam Festival, featuring The Hold Steady, in conjunction with Ithaca Beer’s annual Brewfest at Stewart Park.
On Saturday, Sept. 5, beer lovers in Ithaca’s Stewart Park will indulge in the Ithaca Beer Company’s brews (alongside those of other small breweries across New York State) while enjoying the scenery of Cayuga Lake. The next day is all about the music — but both days will involve plenty of beer, with little corporate intervention to spoil the mood.
“It’s not just a big corporate moneymaking event, it’s about the city [of Ithaca],” Smalls told 20 Watts in a telephone interview. “There’s so many beautiful parks here, and Ithaca is just such a great summer location that it would make sense to have a summer venue like this. I think two successful years of putting on the Brewfest allowed us the leeway with the city to take a chance on something like this.” (more…)
Filed under: XCLUS!VES | Tags: The Hold Steady, The Rural Alberta Advantage, positive jam, ithaca, the felice brothers, deer tick, Stewart Park
Charlie Weeks & Blake Rong dish the dirt on Positive Jam.
Albums you should check out before hitting Stewart Park.
20Ws’ favorite songs from the festival; download the mix here.
Irina Dvaldize brings you the bands and news to know.
Filed under: Positive Jam Reviews | Tags: Arcade Fire, Brand New, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Colin Meloy, Jeff Mangum, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Decemberists, the Get Up Kids, The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Shins
As far as debuts go, this could well be the standard-bearer for 2009.
PREVIEW: Download The Rural Alberta Advantage’s “Luciana” MP3
WE GIVE IT: 18/20 Watts
This review is part of 20 Watts’ exclusive Positive Jam coverage. Check out the rest here!
When I sat down to listen to The Rural Alberta Advantage for the first time, I had no idea what to expect. I’d read the hype and seen the countless comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel, but as someone who is skeptical of lofty expectations, I had to investigate for myself. Ten seconds into the band’s full-length debut, Hometowns, I was convinced it was all true. For a band that’s only existed for about four years, and has lived in virtual obscurity for three and a half, it’s quite a feat.
A myriad of things struck me about Hometowns, even on the first listen. Lead singer Nils Edenloff’s voice sounds incredibly like that of Jeff Mangum, of NMH fame. This was to be expected as I’d read similar comments in a review or two beforehand. However, what the commentary I’d read beforehand failed to address was the diversity of sounds on this record, including boatloads of energy reminiscent of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and crushing blows that can evoke Colin Meloy of The Decemberists. For a band I’d never heard before, it all seemed so strangely, and pleasantly, familiar.
What’s most intriguing, if not baffling, to me is how they’re able to fit it all in. The descriptions above are simply of one song! The list could continue to include elements from bands such as Arcade Fire, The Shins, The Get Up Kids and even Brand New. It’s jarring to see this many sounds in one place, though not for an instant do you feel unsettled by its presentation. On this album, rarely does a track’s end even remotely resemble its beginning, making shifts like indie pop to post-punk, and noise to ambient electronic, in a matter of seconds.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: central new york, deer tick, ithaca, positive jam, the felice brothers, The Hold Steady, The Rural Alberta Advantage
20 Watts is giving three lucky readers a pair of tickets to the Positive Jam, in Ithaca's Stewart Park on September 6!
Ah, the first weekend of the school year: classes haven’t quite started up, freshman haven’t yet learned their limits, but Ithaca’s Positive Jam festival is already bringing the Hold Steady, the Felice Brothers, Deer Tick and the Rural Alberta Advantage to the shores of Cayuga Lake for a phenomenal all-day event.
Sure, the $25 tickets might strain some back-to-school budgets. But THREE lucky 20 Watts readers will win a pair of tickets to Positive Jam — so you and a friend can see the festival for free!
Its easy to enter the drawing: just comment on any blog post between now at September 2 and write “POSITIVE JAM” at the end of your comment. Make sure to leave a current e-mail address in the e-mail box, too! We’ll draw the winners on September 2nd at 8:00 p.m. and post the winners’ names on the 20 Watts blog, as well as e-mail them with details on claiming their prizes. Positive Jam is on Sunday, September 5, in Ithaca’s Stewart Park — about an hour from SU’s campus. Doors open at noon. You don’t have to be an SU student to win.
Even if you can’t make it, keep your eye on 20watts.wordpress.com: this Wednesday, we’re dropping a package of Positive Jam content, complete with interviews, editor playlists, and reviews of all the bands’ latest albums. Plus, we’ll have full coverage of the festival as it happens!
Get commenting, y’all — we doubt Juice Jam will be this sweet.
Love,
20 Watts
