Teenage Fanclub's "On This Good Night"

Here's my weekly reminder to listen to Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) on Little Radio tomorrow from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PST. Tomorrow their guest will be Brian from the Little Ones. The Little Ones recently released a single in the UK and they're headed down to SXSW next week for a couple of shows.

Each week I pick a song, Todd and Sylvia play it, and I eventually write about it here. On February 7th, they did a 7" show and my pick was Teenage Fanclub's "On This Good Night." The song was released in 2000 as the B-side to the "I Need Direction" single.

I first got into Teenage Fanclub around 1991 when Spin magazine named Bandwagonesque their album of the year. I assumed the album must be incredible if Spin put it ahead of Nirvana and R.E.M. At the time, I thought Spin was crazy (and not for the reasons you might think that today). It was 1991 and I hadn't embraced Teenage Fanclub's main influences: the Byrds, Beach Boys or Big Star. I immediately liked "Star Sign" but most of the songs were lost on me. Back then, when you bought a CD it was a bit of an investment (not completely disposable MP3 files like it is today). So fortunately I kept listening, it sunk in and I'm a lifelong fan.

Teenage Fanclub is one of those unique bands with three songwriters/vocalists who are pretty much equal. Norman, Gerard and Raymond are all incredibly consistent and I enjoy all their records from Bandwagonesque on. The fact that a song as great as "On This Good Night" was only a B-side shows the breadth of their talents. Unfortunately I don't have an MP3 burn of it, so you'll have to take my word for it (or hunt down the single).

Download a podcast of the 2/7/08 show.

Ticket Giveaway - Big Business @ Spaceland on Sunday

I have two pairs of tickets to give away for the Big Business show at Spaceland on Sunday. Big Business is a local duo, by way of Seattle. Jared, the singer and bass player, used to be in Karp. Coady plays the drums and used to be in Murder City Devils. These days they both play in the Melvins too. Anyway, I haven't ever seen them, but I hear they're explosive. Red Fang and the Cops support.

To win these tickets, send me an email [dukeufo at hotmail] with your all time favorite Seattle band. The contest closes Friday at Noon.

Ticket Giveaway - Division Day @ Spaceland Friday

I've got two pairs of tickets to give away for the Division Day show at Spaceland on Friday. They will be supported by Philly's the A-sides and Santa Barbara's the Coral Sea. If you're planning on attending South by Southwest, you have multiples chances to see them. They're playing the KCRW showcase next Wednesday, the Donewaiting party earlier in the day, Spaceland's party next Thursday and the fantastic Waterloo Records next Friday. Also, check out their channel on Youtube.

To win a pair of tickets, email me [dukeufo at hotmail] and tell me your favorite Elliott Smith song. The contest closes Thursday at 4:00 PM.

Photos From Spaceland's 13th Anniversary

Here are some photos from Spaceland's 13th Anniversary show last Sunday. I think Sylvia took all these pictures. I took some of the Broken West photos and some of the Radar Bros. photos on the Flickr account but she took most of them.

Live Music Options 3/3/08 - 3/9/08

Spaceland's 13th Anniversary party was a lot of fun. The Broken West played a couple of new songs that made me excited to hear the new material that they're working on. The Radar Bros. revealed their new lineup. The drumming was a little harder and faster which isn't a bad thing for a live show. I hadn't seen the Little Ones in over a year and they were just as good and infectious as I remembered. Wiskey Biscuit played a classic Wiskey Biscuit set that reminded of the days when they'd pack Spaceland and have everybody moving. It was the first time I'd seen 400 Blows with the new lineup and it might be even more intense than the old lineup (which I didn't think was possible). The breadth of talent in the LA scene is pretty fantastic. I was working on a DJ playlist with Sylvia and it wasn't hard to come up with 60-70 local bands from the past decade that I wanted to hear.

This week's another good week with local and touring bands that are worth seeing every day....

Monday 3/3/08
[Recommended] Airborne Toxic Event / The Henry Clay People @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – I caught the Henry Clay People’s show at the Echo last Monday. They’re so much fun to see.
Voxhaul Broadcast / Cavil at Rest / Saint Motel / Working for a Nuclear Free City @ Spaceland (Free) – WFaNFC is a buzzy band from Manchester who are in the States for a few pre-SXSW shows. They’ve gotten positive write-ups in Pitchfork, Spin, Stylus and Under the Radar. If you’re dying to see them, I’d recommend Spaceland tonight over Cinespace tomorrow. Voxhaul Broadcast is doing the Monday night residency.
Warpaint / Eagle Winged Palace @ Bordello ($5) – Warpaint is Shannyn Sossamon’s band. Eagle Winged Palace is Cashew’s (The Prix) new band. I haven’t heard them yet.
The Chapin Sisters @ the Echo (Free) – They sing pretty harmonies and they’re doing the Monday night residency at the Echo this month.
Magnetic Fields @ the Fonda (Sold Out)
Fair to Midland @ El Rey ($14) – Serj from System of a Down signed them and they’ve toured with him.
Rickie Lee Jones featuring Petra Hayden @ the Echoplex ($27 seated / $22)
Moving Picture Show @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Ima Gymnist / The Chinese Stars @ the Smell ($5) – Make sure to pick up Ima Fucking Gymnist’s new 7” at the show tonight.

Tuesday 3/4/08
[Recommended] The Raveonettes / Be Your Own Pet @ El Rey ($16.50) – I think the new Raveonettes is pretty good.
[Recommended] Nyles Lannon / Everest (acoustic) / Daniel Ahearn / Frankel @ Hotel Café – Good lineup. Nyles Lannon used to be in Film School.
[Recommended] Amnion / Luke Top @ Spaceland – Amnion is Aaron Embry’s new band. Aaron toured with Elliott Smith on that same tour when Wiskey Biscuit toured as the opener. I’ve heard good things about this new band.
Linkin Park / Coheed and Cambria @ Staples Center (Sold Out)
These are Powers / Bobb Bruno @ the Echo ($8)
[Recommended] Dead Ponies @ the Scene – I like seeing these guys live.
[Recommended] Mountain Goats / Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters @ Troubadour ($16) – The new album is good.
Working for a Nuclear Free City @ Cinespace
Thee Emergency / The Vacation / Thee LA Gentleman Callers @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Bad Religion @ House of Blues

Wednesday 3/5/08
[Recommended] Club NME: Howlin Rain / The Moon Upstairs / The High Society @ Spaceland ($10) – Howlin Rain is Ethan Miller’s (Comets on Fire) other band. The Moon Upstairs put out one of my favorite local releases last year. The High Society is Jason Moore’s southern rock band. Download “Dancers at the End of Time”
The Duke Spirit / Afternoons @ the Echo ($12) – I just got the new Duke Spirit record. Bluesy, brash British rock ‘n’ roll from a blonde.
[Recommended] Mountain Goats / Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters @ Troubadour ($16) – Night two.
[Recommended] Buddy @ Hotel Café
These are Powers @ the Smell
Foo Fighters / Serj Tankian / Against Me @ The Forum (Sold Out)
Hackensaw Boys / Restaurant @ Tangier ($10) – Old tymey bluegrass.
Hello Dragon / Shiloe @ Silverlake Lounge ($7)
Thee Emergency @ the Scene
Bad Religion @ House of Blues
Jeremy Jay @ 3 of Clubs

Mike Stinson @ Cinema Bar

Thursday 3/6/08

Howlin Rain @ Amoeba (Free) - 7:00 PM.
Junior Boys (DJ Set) @ Spaceland ($12) – Their last album was good indie electronica.
Twilight Sleep / Restaurant / Karin Tatoyan @ the Echo (Free) – Tracy from Twilight Sleep was on Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) last week. Karin Tatoyan’s getting a lot of attention right now. She’s one of those love her or hate her ladies along the lines of Joanna Newsom and/or Bjork.
Correatown @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Nicole Atkins / Let’s Go Sailing / Parlor Mob @ Troubadour ($12)
Foo Fighters / Serj Tankian / Against Me @ The Forum ($36)
The Good Listeners @ Silverlake Lounge ($10)
Benefit for Brandon Schantz: Rooney / Brett Dennen @ Roxy ($25)
Anavan / Monotonix / Bad Dudes / David Scott Stone @ the Smell ($5)

Die Princess Die / Tweak Bird / A Thousand Knives @ 6th Street Warehouse ($5)

Friday 3/7/08
[Recommended] Why? / Yacht @ Natural History Museum ($9 for non-members)
[Recommended] Division Day / The A-Sides / The Coral Sea @ Spaceland ($8) – Division Day are back in town after a mini tour with the A-sides. I’ll be giving away tickets to this show later in the week.
[Recommended] Rademacher / The Hectors / Birdmonster / Tigers Can Bite You @ Pehrspace ($5 donation) – Good lineup.
Balkan Beat Box @ El Rey ($15)
The Blind Boys of Alabama @ Knitting Factory ($35)
New York Dolls / We Are the Fury @ the Fonda ($28)
Delta Spirit / The Virgins / Port O’Brien @ Troubadour ($12)
Lesly & the Lys / Devon Williams @ Echoplex ($14)
Die! Die! Die! @ the Echo ($8)
Amateurs (acoustic) / The Monolators / The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra @ Mr. T’s Bowl

Tweak Bird / Earthless @ Volcom Store (Free)

Saturday 3/8/08
[Recommended] The Mae Shi / Old Time Relijun / Clipd Beaks @ The Smell ($7) – The Mae Shi have six shows lined up for SXSW. I’ve only seen them a couple of times since Ezra left the band, but they’re definitely on new wave of hype.
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream / Mahjonng @ the Echo ($10)
The Heavenly States / Liam Finn @ Spaceland ($8) – Pela cancelled due to a torn tendon. The Features are listed on Spaceland’s site, but don’t have it listed on their Myspace page (and have a show in Atlanta listed the day before).
Whispertown 2000 @ El Cid ($8)
Lovelikefire / Light FM @ Bordello ($10)
[Recommended] Jax Pizza Birthday Show: The Crystal Antlers / The Dodos / Thee Ohsees / Unnatural Helpers @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) – Early show at 4:30 PM

The Transmissions / Spirit Vine / The Health Club / Vaudeville @ the Scene

Sunday 3/9/08
POSTPONED - HEALTH @ Roxy Theatre (POSTPONED) - UPDATE - Crystal Castles had to postpone the date. The lead singer was in a car accident.
[Recommended] Big Business / Red Fang / The Cops @ Spaceland ($8) – These days, the guys in Big Business make up the rhythm section in the Melvins. But Big Business is an intense, heavy band well worth checking out too. Seattle’s the Cops have four dates lineup up at SXSW.
New Bloods / Softboiled Eggies @ Echo ($5)
Alex and Sam / Liz Pappademas @ Tangier ($10)
Hotel Café Tour: Ingrid Michaelson / Priscilla Ahn @ Hotel Café (Sold Out)
Goliath Bird Eater @ the Smell ($5)