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On September 28th…drum roll…Soundgarden releases it’s retrospective album, Telephantasm. This is their first release since 1996!

Also, they are partnering with Activision to release the album inside 1 million copies of the new videogame Guitar Hero®: Warriors of Rock. They entire album will be downloadable for song content on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. I hope there is a Kim Thayil avatar.

Black Rain is the new single from “Telephantasm” however it was originally written/recordered for Badmotorfinger.

Black Rain by soundgardenworld

AND the new album artwork features wolves. That’s pretty metal…I think.

READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »

Two words:

GARCIA TORTILLA!

That was a clip from my recent mockumentary discovery, Electric Apricot: The Quest for Festeroo. The film shows the journey of jam band, Electric Apricot, and their quest to perform at Festeroo, a huge hippie-filled music festival in Oregon.

WHAT’S A JAM BAND? WHO YOU CALLIN’ A “DEAD HEAD”? CLICK HERE NOW!

Festeroo is (or was as of 2005) a real music festival. Here is the event’s description from the Festeroo website:

“Festeroo is a three-day, multi-stage camping festival held on a beautiful 9000-acre Indian burial ground Northwest of Portland, Oregon every August. Festeroo brings together some of the best and worst performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, bee-bop, ree-bok, goth, fusion, hard-core, Inter-racial, electronica, and just about any contemporary music that ever has or will ever be invented.

In addition to dozens of epic performances, the festival’s 1000-acre Porta-Mall buzzes around the clock with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, roller disco, strip club, comedy club, circus performers, Internet cafe, a nail salon, a beer festival, a glory hole, a 72 hour drum circle and a music technology village. For its peaceful vibe, swampy camping, flawed logistics, amazing traffic jams and unrivaled entertainment options, Relix magazine named this revolutionary entertainment lobotomy as one of the 50 moments that changed the history of the world.”

You don’t have to sell grilled cheese sandwiches in parking lots and wear patchwork clothes to enjoy this film. It’s entertaining, funny, and has great one-liners that will make music nerds chuckle. My favorite fact about the film is that it was created by and stars Les Claypool, the voice and bass playing phenom of Primus. Did you see Les Claypool in the Garcia Tortilla clip??? You should recognize him by his voice at minimum. (Note: I saw Primus play three times in the 90′s; I also saw Claypool’s side project “Sausage” open for Helmet and Henry Rollins at Metropol; Did not see his Frog Brigade…yet.)

Remember Primus? I loved them and remember “mosh-pitting” to “Jerry was a Race Car Driver” at a basement party (that we crashed) in high school…I had this album on “tape”.

Finally…here’s “Electric Apricot’s” trailer:

Ok, now you have the knowledge of Electric Apricot..so you must go watch this movie! It’s available on instant-view with Netflix! I’ve already seen it 2.5 times. After you watch this film, leave a comment on this post with your thoughts.

For some reason, this movie kept making me hungry for a bean burrito.

There’s kind of a lot of awesome going on here
(check out the background halfway through):

So, this past Saturday a case of an upset stomach transformed into a day of rest and watching music-minded films. My music filled Saturday happened quite by accident, but was actually very enjoyable. I had so many great finds that I had to share them on geekstar!

I started the day with a short film by Michel Gondry from the film compilation, Tokyo. Gondry is best known for his creative films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and music videos for artists such as Bjork.

I absolutely love Bjork’s video for Hyperballad which Gondry directed. It’s so digital and eery and cool and hip all at the same time. I really love that. It’s so unique…and Bjork is just so…Bjork.

Tokyo! is a film consisting of three short films by directors, Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon-ho. Each film is inspired by and filmed in…well, Tokyo. I decided to watch this film for a few reasons. Tokyo has always been at the top of my travel wish-list. I’ve always been intrigued by Tokyo’s lights, signs, and congestion of people. This city constantly provides new fashion trends, tech, and kitschy toys such as the neon green hamster that I just bought at the Japanese toy store in the mall (Ross Park Mall).

So, far I’ve only watched Gondry’s contribution to the film. I enjoyed getting lost in the Tokyo experienced by a few Japanese 20-somethings. This film had already captivated me when it well…took a turn. You will just have to see it to understand. Gondry’s stamp is all over this short film.
(Note: this movie is available on instant view with Netflix)

Trailer for TOKYO!:

Next, I opened up my new Netflix DVD delivery. It was the 2007 Joy Division biopic, Control, directed by Anton Corbijn. Corbijn is best known for his videos and photography of bands such as U2 and Depeche Mode. I originally saw Control when it first came out a few years back. However, I recently desired to see it again. I am attributing this to recently listening to music by the Editors, White Lies, and Interpol. These bands are obviously influenced by Joy Division to some capacity.

Corbijn successfully tells the story of Ian Curtis, the singer of Joy Division, who is best known for his baritone vocals which overlay his band’s dark rock songs. If you are a fan of 80′s night, you will know Joy Division from that one song that always plays at the end of the night…”Love, Love will tear us apart again…” Corbijn films the entire film in black and white which adds to the film’s dreary UK backdrop. This is where a new form of rock music begins to emerge as the youth follows bands such as the Sex Pistols and David Bowie. If you aren’t familiar with the story of Joy Division, I’m not going to ruin it for you here. All I can say, is watch…this…movie…now. The casting is superb. The actors playing Joy Division are all actual musicians performing all of the music in the film. They do an excellent job.

Control Official Movie Trailer:

“She’s Lost Control” from the movie Control (2007):

Joy Division Performing “She’s Lost Control” in 1979:

Boom Chick w/ Wreckids & Nik Westman and The Central Plains
Friday, August 13, 2010 9:00 PM
THUNDERBIRD CAFE
4023 Butler St, Pittsburgh PA 15201

www.boomchickboomchick.com

Boom Chick was born when songwriter Frank Hoier invited girlfriend Moselle Spiller to sit at a drum kit. Despite it being her first time, a simple suggestion of 1 2 3 4 on the hit hat, with a boom chick boom chick, and Moselle was naturally drumming.

Through countless sweaty Brooklyn loft dance parties, constant rehearsal and performing, & in less than a year Boom Chick has captured it’s living breathing sounds in a 2 inch tape. Recorded mostly live with minimal overdubs, “Show Pony” has all the energy, love and bones you can pack into 20 minutes.

Boom Chick’s sound and influences come from their shared love of that ‘atomic’ energy of 50′s Rock n’ Roll, electrified slide Delta & Chicago Blues, and Surf Rock guitar. You will definitely hear traces of Chess & Sun Records, and the early 60′s girl groups.

The energy that Moselle brings to the drums is thunderous, charging and forcibly danceable. You’ll find no broken hearted ‘indie rock’ here. Just the sharing of celebration and joy as early Rock n’ Roll expressed.

Experience Boom Chick Friday, August 13 with the Wreckids and local favorites Nik Westman and The Central Plains.