Philip Selway’s first solo album, Familial, will be in stores next week. So what does music by the drummer of Radiohead sound like? Selway’s made a few songs available to check out to give you an idea and I’m not at all surprised by the sounds. More early Radiohead than experimental Radiohead, the drummer’s just not going to be able to shake the Radiohead comparisons even though this is all just something that he’s doing on his own. I actually think – based on these tracks – that I’m going to enjoy this album more than Radiohead’s most recent releases.
Asides
An open letter to John Mayer
Dear John –
My kids listen to the local pop radio station. Every time I hear the very opening of “Half of My Heart”, my heart does a quick skip and jump … Now, I know that you are far too big of a rock star to listen to unknown bands and, let’s face it, there are only so many strings on a guitar and only so many notes you can play so you’re bound to play something at some point that sounds an awful lot like another band. I’m cool with that and I’m not even accusing you of lifting the opening of “Half of My Heart” from the opening of The Damnwells “Everything”. It’s just one of those lucky coincidences.
That being said, John, since there are some similarities between “Half of My Heart” and “Everything” which, after you hear, I’m sure you’ll admit to, I think you should download The Damnwells 2009 release, One Last Century. The band, being in that tough spot of not having a record deal, made the release – which features “Everything” – available for free to their fans in exchange for nothing more than an e-mail address. Don’t worry John, if you’re afraid of giving them your personal e-mail address, I’m sure you can find somebody who doesn’t mind sharing their e-mail address with you. Personally, I’d recommend you check out “Like It Is” which I think would make a great song for the Dixie Chicks to sing vocals on. Maybe you can pass it along to the girls and see if they’d be interested (note: The Damnwells opened 2 or 3 Dixie Chicks shows in Canada a few years back).
I promise you’ll like One Last Century and after you’ve fallen in love, make sure to pick up Bastards of the Beat and Air Stereo as a way to prepare for The Damnwells new CD which hopefully will be out by the end of the year.
You don’t owe The Damnwells anything. It’s just a coincidence. But, hey, why don’t you throw the guys a bone and take them out on the road with you and let them play music that your fans will undoubtedly dig?
Thanks, John.
-Chip
In My Ear – Week of August 8
1. Azure Ray
Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink haven’t made a record together since 2004 but after a one-off reunion performance in 2008 decided maybe it would be worth working together on new material. Azure Ray’s new album, Drawing Down the Moon, will be released in September and I’m not sure you’ll find more beautiful female vocals (x 2!) on any other CD this year. If September feels too far away, you can pick up a preview 3-song EP now to tide you over.
2. Blonde Redhead
I have to admit that I’ve never listened to Blonde Redhead before. Penny Sparkle, the band’s eighth album, is due out in September and it sounds like I’ve got a discography to catch up on! Blonde Redhead’s giving away a free track from the new album and it sounds gorgeous. Check the trio out on tour this September and October.
DOWNLOAD: Blonde Redhead – “Here Sometimes”
3. Filter
Rumor has it the new Filter CD, The Trouble with Angels, finds Richard Patrick revisiting the post-industrial sound of Filter’s earliest material (think “Hey Man Nice Shot” more than “Take a Picture”). The album is available in stores today so make up your own mind. In the meantime, check out the title track.
4. The Wackers
Read about this ’70s Canadian pop band on a few different blogs and thought the description, which read something like “the harmonies of The Beach Boys with the pop elements of The Beatles”, made this something worth seeking out. Sadly, like so many bands of that time period, The Wackers never achieved much commercial success and are now just the type of band that bloggers occasionally mention in passing.
5. We Are Scientists
Made the choice to see Warrant this weekend instead of We Are Scientists and I’m sure that I made the right decision – the Warrant show was great. But, it was a tough decision considering how much I’ve been playing WAS’s latest album, Barbara, on my iPod. There’s a strong ’80s new wave flavor to many of the songs and at times I’m reminded of Duran Duran, which is never a bad thing, right?
The Sheila Divine is ready to record, needs our help
Aaron Perrino has always been one of my favorite people to interview. I first met Aaron when he was fronting The Sheila Divine, a Boston-based indie band that somehow ended up on a primarily metal label (Roadrunner). The band made a few stops in Columbus in the late ’90s as both headliners and as support on tours with bands like Our Lady Peace.
As was par for the course for many of the bands that formed during that time period, the economics of a rock n’ roll lifestyle didn’t work out and The Sheila Divine quietly disbanded (at least I think it was quietly). Perrino formed Dear Leader which has been pumping out new music on a pretty regular basis and that band’s music is very much in the same vein as The Sheila Divine’s stuff.
Well, here we are 8 years after The Sheila Divine last recorded new material and they’ve made the announcement that they are getting back together (Perrino on vocals and guitar, Jim Gilbert on bass, and Shawn Sears on drums) to record a new album. That’s where you (and I) can help out. Here’s an excerpt from the band:
“Since the age of record labels is over we are looking to our fans and friends to help us fund this exciting new project. In return for your participation and generosity we want to offer many unique experiences, opportunities, and gifts.
Whether you donate a dollar or many more we are excited to share the making of this album with you. We want to stream live feeds, have conversations, and collaborate with the Internet to make something extra special.”
Want more info? Want to help finance the new record? Here are all the details.
Interview that I did with the band (for Swizzle-Stick) from 1999 after the jump.
Continue reading “The Sheila Divine is ready to record, needs our help”
Interview: Joey Allen (Warrant)
With new singer Robert Mason (Cry of Love, Lynch Mob) in tow, ’80s hair metal giants Warrant show no signs of hanging things up anytime soon. Currently doing shows on weekends at both clubs and as part of festivals, Warrant’s working on new material which they hope to release sometime in early 2011. Of course, it’s the hits the fans want to hear as the band makes stops across the U.S. and Warrant doesn’t disappoint, playing songs from their first 3 albums (the only 3 to feature guitarists Erik Turner & Joey Allen, bassist Jerry Dixon, drummer Steven Sweet, and singer Jani Lane) – Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinkin’ Rich, Cherry Pie, and Dog Eat Dog.
There is no doubt that there have been highs and lows during the history of Warrant, the most recent low coming in 2008 when the band tried to reunite with Jani Lane (this coming after a 4-year stint with ex-Black N’ Blue singer Jamie St. James leading the helm and producing an album called Born Again). Booking a short tour to see how things would go, Jani had a tough time keeping his demons in check and it resulted in what probably is his final chance ever playing live with Warrant. But Joey Allen isn’t looking back when it comes to that brief reunion. Instead, he, and the rest of the guys, are still happy to be out there doing what they love to do – playing in front of fans.
Judging by your tour dates through the end of the year, it looks like you’re continuing to do the Weekend Warrior thing. Is this a good lifestyle for you – getting to go out and play with the boys on the weekend or does it ever wear on you?
The travel schedule is brutal but the shows more than make up for that. We are so “on” right now, the band hasn’t sounded this good since I can remember!
Had I asked this in 1989, you probably would have answered, “Hell yeah.” Had I asked in this in 1999, you probably would have answered, “Hell no.” Let’s see how you answer it now. Would you have ever believed that in 2010 that bands like the Scorpions, Warrant, Great White, Ratt, Cinderella, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, Trixter, LA Guns, Bang Tango, Danger Danger, the Bulletboys, etc. would be touring?
For the most part, yes. Most of these bands are out kicking ass and it is good for the fans that they are.
I remember seeing LA Guns years ago at the Alrosa Villa. These two dudes positioned themselves right in front of the stage before the band went on. They asked one of the roadies if they were standing on Tracii’s side of the stage and the roadie said, “Tracii hasn’t been in the band in years. Keri Kelli is LA Guns’ guitar player.” These guys turned around and walked out of the club, not even stopping to ask for a refund. Are there still people showing up to Warrant gigs expecting to see Jani Lane? Have you ever had to deal with upset fans who want their money back?
That hasn’t happened since we attempted the reunion and Jani decided it was more important to get blind drunk at 9 out of 11 shows then it was to put on a professional show. He has NEVER made a public apology to the fans and has certainly never taken responsibility for his actions in any way, shape or form with the band. Maybe he feels no remorse!?! I think that Warrant fans see we tried with him, he took a different path. Robert Mason is a pro and delivers an A+ show night after night.
I know it’s probably not in your nature to slag Jani and I’m not trying to stir anything up. But, I’m curious, when he rejoined the band and you booked a tour with him, how confident were you that the tour was going to run through to completion? I’m guessing that – because, if I remember correctly, you had Robert waiting in the wings – had you had to bet on Jani making it through the tour, you would have bet against it.
We have made a point in not slandering Jani since we let him go in 2008, no one in this band wishes him bad will. In fact, it is the opposite. We let him go so he didn’t have the temptation of being on the road. When we did tour with him we removed all alcohol from our rider, keep it out of backstage all together. We hired a highly regarded “sober coach” at a high price to shadow him 24/7. There’s so much to that story no one knows, it is really no one’s business but ours.
I recently read an interview that Jani did and he admitted that being on the road is not healthy for him but that he’d like to continue to someday team back up with Warrant and write songs. Is this something you personally would be open to? Is this something that, as a band, Warrant would be open to?
Plain and simple, we already tried that. We have moved on and are very happy with the band as it is.