Pontiak
The Talking Head
Baltimore, MD
June 4, 2008

Band:
Van Carney-guitar, vocals
Jennings Carney-bass, keyboards
Lain Carney-drums

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck4(card)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)
http://baltimore-taper.blogspot.com

Download full set as ZIP archive in the following formats: MP3 or FLAC
Stream or download individual tracks below.
Arbouretum’s set here.

Read the rest…

I’ve seen the Presets twice before. Once, at RnR Hotel in DC, was a fantastic sweaty orgy of dance and fun. Do yourself a favor and get down to DC for this show tomorrow. It will be quite a good time. And if you’ve seen Cut Copy recently, it may provide a good comparison point for Aussie dance bands.

Get pumped with our interview and BYT’s interview.

Notice to reader: you are far from Hollywood’s portrayal of banjo players. Throw out the image of that porch-dwelling, uncultured farmer chewing on a sliver of hay.

Béla Fleck (Wiki) is an accomplished, virtuoso-level instrumentalist who I can’t wait to see with Abigail Washburn at Bonnaroo next week. Fleck is New York city native named after famed composer Béla Bartok and has played the banjo since age 15.

Forming the Flecktones in 1989, Fleck and his crew are known for “raging eclecticism,” dwelling on a multitude of genres including jazz, be-bop, bluegrass, country, classical…nearly every genre befitting an advanced instrumentalist and then some. Add in the fact that every member of the Flecktones is renowned in their own right, most notably monster bassist Victor Wooten, and you have some powerhouse music-makers.

Fleck is often attributed as a major force in changing the perception, sound and musicality of the banjo, a flag-bearer simultaneously promoting and validating his instrument of choice in non-traditional circles. With such a massive one-sheet, it’s no surprise that Fleck has become massively influential and an inspiration to innumerable instrumentalists.

I can barely stand the anticipation.

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MP3: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones – Kaleidoscope from Béla Fleck and the Flecktones Live at B.B. King’s on 2006-04-21 (April 21, 2006) @ Live Music Archive

Arbouretum’s Long Live the Well-Doer starts off with some stereotypically new-age string plucking accented by wind chimes. I immediately came up with an image of some hemp-pushing, mandala-worshipping yoga lover and almost chucked the disc in the trash.

But thankfully, I gave it a spin. And I never looked back.

Filled with wanderlust, Arbouretum’s brand of folk is among the best kind. Seemingly free-associative, but all the while guiding you on a lush journey through vast soundscapes that evolve from protoplasmic pieces to a brilliantly-shining, complex whole before your very ears.

Their music really speaks for itself. They front a spectacular bill tonight at the Talking Head, supported by Kodiak PONTIAK, among others. Check out this track and then come on out and bask in their hard-to-come-by live show tonight.

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MP3: Arbouretum – I am a Somnambulist from Long Live the Well-Doer

I’m not gonna lie, These New Puritans are scratching an itch. One I never realized I had until I heard their debut Beat Pyramid a few weeks ago and it suddenly stopped bothering me…this venn-diagram-intersection-shaped gap between dub, electronic, dancehall, post-punk, balls-out indie rock, hip-hop and a dozen other genres of music.

This was originally going to be a Sound Off! piece, with an interview exclusive to us. But instead, as their show this Thursday is in DC at DC9, I decided to cover this show with BYT. So check out what I’ve got to say about TNPS here along with my interview with lead singer/mastermind Jack Barnett.

And definitely consider making the trek with me to DC9 for the show, opened by another favorite around the A.S. offices, DC’s own Imperial China.

Stick around here for this download of the track “Elvis” off their debut.

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MP3: These New Puritans – Elvis

All photos: Josh Sisk

Dan Deacon is a showman.  If you have ever seen him live, you know he fucking kills it.  But what I find remarkable about him, and unique to just a very few other individuals, is his ability to completely control the crowd.  Performing on the floor amongst a rowdy crowd draws the apt comparison to a lion tamer with his head down the big cat’s throat-what a show, but he’s really putting it all out there, and it could all go wrong quickly.

In both cases, absolute confidence is needed.

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The first in my series of planned daily artist features, highlighting artists I absolutely can’t wait to see at Bonnaroo 2008. First up, those caterwauling, reverbed-out Kentuckyian jamsters My Morning Jacket.

Look no farther than this download of the title track from their upcoming LP Evil Urges (drops 6/10):

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MP3: My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

Need more? Check out their transcendent Black Cab Session after the jump!

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Thrushes just released a new vid for the song “The Hardest Part.” Catch them live at the Big Art Show the weekend of June 13 at Load of Fun Studios.

Last chance for the delicious Presets prize package. Entries will not be accepted after 5PM EST today. Email us here with your name and contact info to be entered into this contest and notified of future ones.

As a reminder, the winner nets this swag by mail:

• A Presets-autographed poster
• A copy of Apocalypso (CD)
• KIM 12″ vinyl
• Assorted stickers

Now check out these tracks and read our interview with Julian.

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The Presets – Are You The One (Van She Remix)

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The Presets – This Boy’s In Love (LifeLike Remix)