Floating Away

The 4 Band Night

Whats up with the 4 band nights? Why do venues book 4 good bands in a row? Do they not realize its very hard for an audience to stand there and listen to all 4 bands in row?

There are several great shows coming up.  Yes, they happen to be booked very heavily, but these two shows contain great music that is not to be missed. 

Nov 16: Matt Pond PA, Straylight Run, Street to Nowhere and Kevin Devine at the Roxy
Matt Pond PA is great.  While every other indie rock act got a female to play the keyboards, he went ahead and got one to play the cello.  Also, the last time I saw them (granted it was more than a year ago), they did a cover of R. Kelly's Sex in the Kitchen. Kevin Devine is a NYer who plays all the time.  He is a great songwriter who should be written about a lot more.

Dec 2: Sea Wolf, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Ferraby Lionheart, Patrick Park at the Troubadour
This was ranking up there to be a great LA show, but then they went ahead and added Austin's What Made Milaukee Famous and now, its just a great show.  If you missed Sea Wolf during their Spaceland residency, don't miss them here.  Ferraby Lionheart is a fantastic combination of Rufus Wainwright and Jon Brion.  We will look past the fact that his band is made up of teenagers.  Patrick Park is one of the best singer-songwriters in this town.  Wear comfortable shoes.
 
Also of note:
Lets Go Sailing start their November residency at Spaceland. Based on what has happened to the last couple of Spaceland residents (The Little Ones signed to Astralwerks, Sea Wolf was immediately booked at the Troubadour), great things should come of this band too.

The Pernice Brothers / Elvis Perkins show on Nov 22nd at Spaceland will be a great show.  If you haven't seen Elvis Perkins yet, don't miss out.  He is great.  Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite albums of the year. 

I am currently very into James Hunter's People Gonna Talk.  Its not of this era and its wonderful.  Its Van Morrison.  Its early Ray Charles.  Its a white guy doing soul like he was playing 40 years ago.  He is playing the Roxy this Thursday, Nov. 2.

Back in LA

Sorry for the lack of content recently.  I have been extremely busy at work and also took an extended weekend vacation back to Ann Arbor.  Minus the monsoon that we were in during the Michigan - Northwestern game, it was a great time.

Aside from all the great highlights of the weekend, nothing beats flying home and reading the SkyMall catalog and finding this:

Yes, its toilet paper holder / ipod player and charger.  You can buy it here.

Anyway, I am back in LA and will have lots of great content all week.  Stay tuned!

The New 100% Touch Screen iPod: Initial Pics

This story broke a few days ago, but some of you may not have seen the drawings.  Apple submitted a new patent filing on June 23rd, that just recently became public.  In this filing, Apple details exact uses for the device including a digital media player, picture frame, pda, cell phone, and handheld gaming device.

The new iPod Touch will have no physical buttons.  Instead, all controls will dynamically appear.  A beveled border that sits around the perimeter of the screen contains the actual "touch mechanics."

For complete details, check out AppleInsider.

Floating Away Presents

I am very, very, very excited to announce:

Floating Away Presents
The Submarines
The Minor Canon
The Black Pine

Thursday, November 16th
Little Pedros
$7

I want to thank Little Pedro's for giving me the opportunity to do something like this.  I will have a fancy poster up soon.  Until then, save this date and get pumped for what will definitely be a fun night!

LA Scavenger Hunt II

Sign up here.

Amos Lee Presale Now

Amos Lee is coming to the El Rey on Wed, 12/6.  Tickets go on sale to the public on 10/21.  But if you've got an AMEX card, or know someone who does, you can buy tix now.  I saw him over a year ago @ Southpaw in Brooklyn and it was a great show.

Hopefully he'll play lots of songs from his self-titled debut, because the new one isn't as good.  Check it out for yourself and stream new songs from Supply and Demand.

From my AMEX cardmember email:

The Letdown of Sony Bravia's "Paint"

I know, I've been hyping this for a long time.  I'm sorry.  You've got to understand though, the stunning  beauty of "balls," combined with the surreal sounds of José Gonzaléz is a dramatic piece of visual art.  [As a reminder, those are REAL bouncy balls.  25,000+ balls were let loose in San Francisco.  It's not CGI.]  With that as background, you can understand how excited I was to see the follow up, "Paint."

Unfortunately, "Paint" just doesn't deliver.  First, the decision to go with a rudimentary classical piece as score was a huge mistake.  We've all heard this piece before in other TV spots.  For me, it brings memories of dancing mops and talking vacuums.

Overall, the most interesting thing for me, is that the still images are far more stunning and dramatic than the video.  The still photography of the paint suspended in air is much more powerful than the liquid fireworks.  Granted, much of the film is really unique and fun to watch (better when you mute the audio).  With a better director, break-though music, and a different selection of visuals (it does get better at the end when it starts to rain paint), this spot could pack more punch.

And the clown?  Don't get me started.

Take a look at the still photography, don't you like it much better?!

Ferraby Lionheart, Jaymay @ Silverlake Lounge

After hearing so much about Ferraby Lionheart, I finally made it out to one of his shows.  Last night's show, presented by Jax of Rock Insider, featured a great line up of music. 

Ferraby Lionheart has been getting some serious attention at the aforementioned Rock Insider and for good reason.  He reminds me a lot of super star producer and master of the pop song Jon Brion.  Very similar voice and very similar instrumentation. He knows how to write a good pop song and can back it up with some great lyrics.

I got there just in time to see Jaymay's set.  I saw Jaymay once just before leaving NY at a small club called the Living Room with a full band. Tonight's show (which could have been her LA debut) was just her on her grandmother's old guitar.  Jaymay is incredibly talented.  She has a great voice, a great ability to write songs about relationships and heartbreak.  My favorite song of hers "Gray or Blue" is a saga of a relationship told beautifully: "you havent written to me in a week im wonderin why that is / are you too nervous to be lovers-- friendships ruined with just one kiss / i watched you very closely i saw you look away / your eyes are either gray or blue im never close enough to say"

That song appears on the Sea Green, Sea Blue EP which came out at the end of 2005 to very little fanfare.  She deserves a lot more buzz than she is getting.  Once she hooks up with a great producer who can maximize her voice and her songwriting ability, she will be set.

MP3: Tickets to Crickets - Ferraby Lionheart
MP3: Gray or Blue - Jaymay

Will Oldham Must Like LA

Will Oldham or Bonnie Prince Billy or Palace or Palace Brothers or Superwolf or whatever else he wants to be called is coming and staying for a little while. He will be here all next week in support of his latest album, "The Letting Go".

10-22 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's Guitar Shop
10-23 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
10-24 Los Angeles, CA - Smell
10-25 Malibu, CA - Malibu Performing Arts Center

Also, if that wasn't enough, he is also starring in Old Joy, which is currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills and Laemmle's Playhouse in Pasadena.

MP3: New Partner - Palace Brothers (from Viva Last Blues)
MP3: I am Still What I Meant to Be - Will Oldham (from Joya)
MP3: Maundering - Bonnie "Prince" Billy (from Master and Everyone)

Get Ready for "Paint"

The follow up commerical to my favorite spot of all time is about to drop.

Get ready!