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Win Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s New Live CD/DVD

brmc Win Black Rebel Motorcycle Clubs New Live CD/DVD

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is known for two things: 1) being called “hippies” by Brian Jonestown’s Joel Gion in Dig, and 2) very strong live shows. So considering the latter, it’s fitting the group is set to drop a 2 DVD and CD live package, poignantly titled Live. The package spans a number of European shows on their Baby 81 tour. The jam hive hits shelves next Tuesday, November 10th. Wanna win a copy? Cool… well I have two to give away.

Just shoot an email over to kb@thedecibeltolls.com and tell me what you’d like to see more of on the blog. We’ve had a lot of discussions on how to better serve you, the smarmy blog reader. This way, we get something, and you get something awesome. Contest closes on Friday at 5 p.m.

You can peep the track listing and pre-order info here. Good luck.

MP3 :::
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Spread Your Love [Live]

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Seasonal Hybrids Real Estate to Drop Debut Full-Length

real estate

Is it safe to say that Woodsist may have the greatest batting average of any record label this year? Looking to put one more trophy in the cabinet, they plan to release the debut full-length from Real Estate next month. The garden state group uses phased surf guitar working in cahoots with autumnal acoustic overtones to produce something along the lines of a slacker Yo La Tengo. A dejected tropical palette forged by guitarist Matt Mondanile of Ducktails (although this is closer sounding to his recent work with Parasails), and vocalist/guitarist Martin Courtney, whose singing evokes a folkier Doug Martsch. This new self-titled album is largely a collection of rerecorded tracks from previous EP’s and 7″s . The changes are mostly on the mixing/mastering end, and while it’s usually a polarizing venture to polish up a band’s style, the smoother production more than suits Real Estate’s gossamer melodies. You can find all the dates for their current fall tour here.

The self-titled debut will be out on Woodsist November 17th.

For Fans of:  Yo La Tengo, Ducktails/Parasails, Best Coast

MP3 :::
Real Estate – Fake Blues
Real Estate – Snow Days

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Blues Control and Sapat Play Lisa’s Oak Street Lounge in Louisville – 10/23

bluescontrol Blues Control and Sapat Play Lisas Oak Street Lounge in Louisville - 10/23

Fuck! I just reported today how The For Carnation is playing their first show in, what, seven years or so at the Speed Museum’s Art After Dark event, then I realized that’s also the same night that Siltbreeze patriots Blues Control and locals Sapat bust brains across town. OMG MULTITASKING LOL.

Ya know, it is possible that The For Carnation will play a lot earlier than the general 10 p.m. start times at Lisa’s, so you may be able to do both. But then again, perhaps you might want to show up to the Blues Control/Sapat gig early, considering that Lisa’s is small, Sapat draws a fairly large crowd locally, and Blues Control spent a chunk of this year supporting Animal Collective on tour and probably picked up lots of fresh fans along the way. Good gravy, ya’ll, don’t know what to tell you. I’mma try to do both.

I submit for your consideration some previous write-ups I’ve done on both bands:

Blues Control (from the Puff EP write-up) – “Always on Time” is straight from space.  It’s the sound emitting from the SETI experiments.  Large, cavernous waves of radiation and solar wind flush around a simple, rarely changing Neu-esque piano melody with the reverb turned up all the way and dripping in condensation for 12 big minutes. The harmonica on “Behind the Skies” is the only indication that Blues Control is going to attempt to live up to its name, a mid-tempo, fuzzed-out burner reminiscent of Lightning Bolt on purple drank (perhaps there’s a connection between Ride the Skies and Behind the Skies?).  R-O-C-K in the U-S-A.

Sapat (from the Jana Hunter/Crazy Dreams Band preview) – Sapat is a local collective that features between eight and one million people (depending on the type of show), all of whom have a like-minded approach to fringe music. Sapat is a pulsating orb of eclecticism and mysticism – never cateogorizable, but always freaky, funky, and brain splattering. Sapat’s expansive beauty and unwavering experimentation is what makes Louisville amazing. They are truly a breath of fresh air. Remember that part in Amistad when they’re in the court room and the bro is all ike “give us… free!”? Sapat gives you free with every show.

Blues Control and Sapat
Friday, October 23
Lisa’ Oak Street Lounge
1004 E. Oak St., Louisville (map that shizz)
9 p.m.-ish
21+

Blues Control Unleash the Dragon World Tour 2K9*
*= not actually the name of the tour, though that might’ve been the name of an Aerosmith tour

10.12.09 – Princeton, NJ – WPRB – in-studio 3pm EST
10.16.09 – Philadelphia, PA – Pilam
10.18.09 – New Haven, CT – Bar
10.19.09 – Ithaca, NY – The Shop
10.20.09 – Scranton, PA – The Bog
10.21.09 – Pittsburgh, PA – Garfield Artworks $
10.22.09 – Cincinnati, OH – Art Damage Lodge $
10.23.09 – Louisville, KY – Lisa’s Oak Street Lounge %
10.24.09 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle – early show @
10.25.09 – Madison, WI – Good Style Shop
10.26.09 – St Paul, MN – Turf Club
10.27.09 – Kansas, City MO – Record Bar
10.29.09 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court – early show
10.29.09 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge – late show
10.30.09 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
10.31.09 – Olympia, WA – The Northern – Halloween &!
11.01.09 – Seattle, WA – Funhouse &
11.02.09 – Vancouver, BC – Little Mountain Studios
11.03.09 – Portland, OR – Someday Lounge
11.05.09 – San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern =
11.06.09 – Oakland, CA – Continental Club +
11.07.09 – Sacramento, CA – Luigi’s Slice <
11.08.09 – Santa Cruz, CA – CREPE PLACE >
11.09.09 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Crossroads
11.10.09 – Irvine, CA – UC Irvine ^
11.11.09 – Los Angeles, CA – Synchrocity ^
11.12.09 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
11.13.09 – Phoenix, AZ – Trunk Space
11.16.09 – Denton, TX – J&J’s Pizza
11.17.09 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
11.18.09 – Houston, TX – Mango’s
11.19.09 – New Orleans, LA – Allways Lounge
11.21.09 – Nashville, TN – Dino’s
11.22.09 – Asheville, NC – Harvest Records
11.23.09 – Chapel Hill, NC – Nightlight

$ Puffy Areolas
# Kurt Vile
! Tyvek
% Sapat
@ Ga’an
Chinese Stars
& Little Claw
+ Sic Alps
= Hank IV
^ Pocahaunted
< The Duchess and the Duke
> Lucky Dragons

MP3 :::
Blues Control – Behind the Skies
Sapat – Dark Silver

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R.I.P. Dickie Peterson of Blue Cheer

bluecheer79b R.I.P. Dickie Peterson of Blue Cheer

Dickie Peterson, co-founder of pioneering San Francisco based heavy-as-fuck psych stoner metal juggernaut Blue Cheer passed away this morning in Germany. He was 61. Fuck Columbus Day, I’m bumping their 1968 LP Outsideinside all day in commemeration of Peterson and Blue Cheer (who I saw two years ago at The Dame in Lexington and felt the pain in my ears for weeks afterwards).

MP3 :::
Blue Cheer – Sun Cycle

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The For Carnation Quietly Returns… in Two Weeks!

77-1 The For Carnation Quietly Returns... in Two Weeks!

I’m not sure if the Slint/Tortoise/Shipping News supergroup The For Carnation ever officially broke up. Hence, we can’t call their return a “reunion” necessarily. So we’ll referred to this event as their triumphant return. While we haven’t heard new material since 2000’s eponymous record (not counting the 2007 Touch and Go reissue of Promised Works) and there are no rumors that they may be recording again soon, it does seem The For Carnation has been officially reignited when they agreed to make their first public appearance in years at All Tomorrows Parties’ Ten Years of ATP festival this December in the UK. That is, until last week… when it was quietly, almost nonchalantly announced that The For Carnation will be playing Art After Dark at the University of Louisville’s Speed Art Museum on October 23. Like out of nowhere. I just silently mouthed “holy shit” reading that.

The skinny:

Art After Dark: Remix (the first of three museum-wide events held throughout the year, each with a different theme) will tie together a lineup of music, visual spectacle, creating art, and fun. Remix will feature the premiere of a multimedia art collaboration between classically trained American cellist Ben Sollee (an NPR Top 10 Unknown Artist of the Year) and multimedia Louisville artist, Valerie Sullivan Fuchs. Also featured will be the uniquely dynamic, minimalist-informed, yet R&B inspired music of “The For Carnation,” a post rock band from Louisville formed by Brian McMahan (formerly of the legendary band “Slint”), as well as theatrical interpretations of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies created by the wacky minds of LePetomane Theatre Ensemble, and fire dancing performances from The Phoenix Collective on the museum’s front lawn. Visitors will also want to keep an eye out for break dancers, a critic at large, “un-tours” of the collection and films from Louisville Film Society.

The For Carnation is R&B inspired? Eh, I buy that. They’re dynamic dudes. I’m totally there, brah.

The For Carnation @ Art After Dark
Friday, October 23 @ 7 p.m.
The Speed Art Museum
2035 S. 2nd St., Louisville (map that shizz)
All Ages

MP3 :::
The For Carnation – Tales

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[Reminder] Rachel Grimes Tomorrow Night @ 21C, Louisville

boltiles_01 [Reminder] Rachel Grimes Tomorrow Night @ 21C, Louisville

Rachel Grimes, formerly of folklore-evoking Louisville chamber post rock collective Rachel’s (whose founder Jason Noble is the reason for the Shellac-headlining benefit show announced this week), celebrates the release of her new album Book of Leaves tomorrow night (Thursday) at the 21C. The show will be the first in 21C’s Hear + Now multimedia A/V series. Seeing as it’s been a while since Rachel or Rachel’s have surfaced, and this new record is her first solo outing, you shouldn’t in good conscience miss this show.

Backseat Sandbar writes: “The show will also feature works by Daniel Gilliam, Lou Moseson and Sara Maclean.  The Series will feature newly composed works by regional creators and performed by regional creators for all of us to experience.  I’ve even heard that there will be a baby grand piano placed in the center of the room with seating in a theatre in the round style.  21c always pulls out all the stops and this series looks to be very exciting.”

Book of Leaves mixes modern composition with field recordings, and remains one of the more intriguing releases that has graced these ears. The album is available on vinyl and digital release via hometown heroes Karate Body. Grip it here.

Rachel Grimes Record Release
Thursday, October 8
21C Museum
700 W. Main St., Louisville (map that shizz)
7 p.m doors
All ages

MP3 :::
Rachel Grimes – Every Morning

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Shellac to Play Rare, Intimate Show at Louisville’s 930 Listening Room

shellac500 Shellac to Play Rare, Intimate Show at Louisvilles 930 Listening Room

Jason Noble of Shipping News, Rodan, Rachel’s, and other Louisville royalty was recently diagnosed with cancer. Word is that he’s doing okay, but the medical bills are piling up. When Steve Albini got word of this, he put down the cards, left the poker table, and got Shellac together to do a one-off at Louisville’s very intimate 930 Listening Room. Proceeds will benefit Jason and his family during this difficult time, and all the good vibes will probably benefit them as well. This show will be insane! Steve Albini’s flat top in real life will also be insane!

Thanks to Buzzgrinder and Backseat Sandbar for the heads-up!

Shellac w/ Support TBA
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The 930 Listening Room (map that shizz)
7:30 p.m. doors
8 p.m. show
$17 advance
$20 at the door
Tickets on sale Friday, October 9 at 10 a.m. at ear X-tacy and the930.org

MP3 :::
Shellac – The Admiral

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