Caddywhompus

June 30th at Project Lodge

What would someone with ADD and a strong passion for life sound like musically? I’m guessing a lot like the band Caddywhompus. Combining high energy noise/math rock music and strong passionate vocals, Caddywhompus never sticks with one type of sound. Instead, they decide to take people through a range of music from loud, raucous punk to minimalist introspection and they accomplish this all within one song after another. It will be amazing to see them do this live at the Project Lodge this Wednesday, June 30th.

Caddywhompus is made up of Chris Rehm and Sean Hart from New Orleans. They had just released a new album this year. Their new album, Remainder has such an immense feeling and energy to it. At times, it feels like that emotional power has a youthful drive that knows what it eventually wants the listener to feel but doesn’t quite know how it’s going to get him or her there. You become so caught up in their furious pace that when a song does finally slow down and you can catch your breath you realized how much fun it all had been.

Check out my interview of them on Dane101.

You can get both of Caddywhompus’s albums, EPs and Remainder for FREE, if you register at Community Records, a DIY album distributor.

Songs I recommend

Let the Water Hit the Floor (Amazing song!)

... But Not Before a Show

Great New Music: Washed Out

Life of Leisure - Coming out July 6th

I've been listening to this guy's song, "You and I" nonstop since I got it.  Ernest Greene from South Carolina has a way with minimalistic syth sounds that provides the feeling of taking a very relaxing and amazing drug experience.  I mean, what I would guess would be equivalent to an awesome and relaxing drug experience.  You can hear similarities to the band Air in his songs especially with some similar synth sounds he shoots out. His voice is perfect for his music and it just enhances the journey his songs tend to lead you on.  I love when an artist is able to match his voice perfectly to the music, creating some beautiful songs.  I would be extremely happy if this guy makes a stop in our town but the way he seems to be blowing up, I might have to make a trip to Milwaukee to catch him.

Life of Leisure

You and I

Feel It All Around

Summerfest hopefuls

I can't tell you how difficult it has been wading through so many really crappy sounding bands that will be playing at Summerfest this year.  I don't mean crappy like they can't play their instruments or the guys voice isn't on pitch.  No, I mean if you can stand 11 days of forumlaic and boring music with whiney whispering/breathy male vocals , then you would be set.  I do have to say that I mainly checked out bands that I thought I would like, those that are playing the "emerging artists"/ indie/emo stage.  I'm not big into country and rap music has to be pretty damn good for me to care.  But the cover bands for some really great classical rock bands has got me interested and I am pretty excited that Rush is performing though I wonder if they are still as good as they were.  Either way, I compiled by day some bands I think you may like/already enjoy.  If you have other gems among dirt type of bands I might have missed, Please let me know in comments.

June 24th

Kool and the Gang (How can you go wrong there)
Tokyo Police Club
Passion Pit
Sheryl Crow (Not really my thing, but she is playing with General admissions.  And isn't she banging some   hot guy?)

Side Note:  The Cellular Stage where Passion Pit will be headlining will be the official bad emo stage.  Mechanical Kids really sounds and looks like a Justin Bieber led kind of band. LOL.  Looking at their band photo on their Myspace is good for a laugh.

June 25th
 Surgeons in Heat (Wisconsin Band you may see outside Summerfest, but seriously one of the better bands there)
Pink Floyd USA (I don't care if they are a cover band.  IT'S FUCKING PINK FLOYD!  'nough said)

June 26th

Hey, I really like the lineup on the Cellular Stage this day

Cage The Elephant - (Straight up Rock and Roll)
The London Souls (R N B, Rock N Roll)
The Ferocious Few - (Rockabilly, Old Country/Bob Dylan sounding)
Violent Soho - (90's Grunge) 

and for something different T

Thievery Corporation (Jazz/Electronic/DJ)
Hey Champ (Dance/Electronic/Indie)

June 27th

Civil Twilight (possibly good) Don't stick around for Neon Trees unless you like radio rock
B.B King - Come on, A LEGEND. 

 

Upcoming Shows

Hey all,

I created this list of upcoming shows that I want to see in Madison and thought I would share it to all you wonderful, music loving people.  Please comment of bands that I missed that I should probably, definitely go see.

6/26 Woodsman - Project Lodge
6/26  Zola Jesus w/ Dada Trash Collage - The Frequency
6/29 Thao and Mirah w/ The Most of All - High Noon
6/29 Chaos Revolution Theory (Madison band) - Frequency
6/30 Caddywhompus w/ Crane Your Swan Neck (Caddywhompus is amazing!!) - Project Lodge
7/1 Earl Greyhound - Memorial Terrace
7/7 The Ataris (LOL!)
7/10 Islands - Memorial Terrace
7/14 Liars w/ Fol Chen - High Noon Saloon
7/16 Fort Wilson Riot - Project Lodge
7/19 Bear in Heaven (Yeah!) w/ Twin Sister & Mountain Man (Yeah!) - High Noon Saloon (This is going to be an amazing show!)
7/24 Tapes N Tapes - Majestic Theater
7/28 Mahjongg (minimalist, experimental) - Memorial Terrace
8/11 Rooney - High Noon Saloon
8/21 Robbers - High Noon Saloon
9/21 Built to Spill - High Noon Saloon
9/24 Menomena (Yeah!) - High Noon Saloon
9/18 School of Seven Bells (Yeah!) - Majestic Theater

Menomena in Madison!

Friday September 24 at High Noon Saloon.

Thanks to the heads up from Muzzle of Bees about this.  I've been a huge fan of Menomena since my friend Ryan hooked me up with their music.  These guys are really amazing.  Their music is interesting and unique and they sound amazing whether they are harmonizing together or when one of them takes a vocal lead.  They utilize some interesting instruments including bells, a glockenspiel, saxophones and the now widely used loop machine. 

Why I love these guys?  Their music is never boring or repetitious.  I really don't care for a constant drum beat especially if it is an extremely simple sounding one.  Unless the song is meant to be low key and droning on purpose.  Menomena has a talent in utilizing silence in their songs.  In one song the percussion will suddenly pause, then a sax will spurt some notes out, then a guitar will play a riff and the percussion will come back in for a short time before pausing again.  Their vocals become the overarching element of the song that keeps it tight.  The vocals traverse over the cacophany of sound, forming a melody that the rest of the instruments just seem to emphasize without being overbearing.   Really interesting stuff.  Listening to a lot of music, to hear something that stands out and is unique like this is a real pleasure. Check out their stuff for yourself!

 Dirty Cartoons
Weird

Black Mountain

Wednesday, June 30 at High Noon Saloon

Black Mountain is a psychedelic rock band from British Columbia that is part of a sort of collective of musicians in Vancouver.  I'm guessing it's kind of like the Elephant Six collective from Athens, Georgia.  Here's a few of their songs off their newest album

In The Future (2008)

Tyrants

Stormy High