Mmmhmmm Sandwich

Here's my DJ set from the Killa B's 3 Hour Radiohour last night:

0:00 - 3:47 - Mmmhmm (Flying Lotus)
3:40 - 4:08 - Let's Get it On (Marvin Gaye)
4:08 - 5:41 - Time: Donut of the Heart (J Dilla)
5:31 -12:38- Untitled (D'Angelo)
12:25 -15:53 - Electric Relaxation (A Tribe Called Quest)
15:05 - 20:55 - Windowlicker (Aphex Twin)
20:45 - 34:38 - Miles Runs the Voodoo Down (Miles Davis)
34:31 -39:14 - Mmmhmm (Vijay Iyer)

Mind Your Manners...

OK...so I don't usually use this blog as a space to bash music I don't like...but the new single from Pearl Jam made me want to stick shards of glass is my ears.  It's literally the biggest shit sandwich I've ever tasted.   It's dumbfounding how terrible this hook is.  Rhythmically it's awkward and doesn't groove at all.  Lyrically it sounds forced and pretentious.  And the guitar solo is absolutely hilarious.  And look how stupid this artwork is!!!  A blood splattered table setting with a gun and a crucifix?!?!?!

Don't get me wrong - Pearl Jam were the first band that I fell in love with - they are the reason I started playing guitar.  But it's been 10 years since they put out a halfway decent album.  Their last record "Backspacer" was a train wreck, and from this single it looks like their new record "Lightening Bolt" might even somehow manage to be worse.  It's mind boggling that this is the same band that put out classic albums like "Vs." and "Vitology".  I can only hope that DJ Just Barth's theory is true: that they are planning the greatest comeback album EVER - and first they need to make the biggest pieces of shit possible.

Summer Shows 2013

We Avalanche: July 18th - the ICA

I'll actually be out of town for this show unfortunately...but you should seriously go to this. 

Infinity Girl: July 23rd - TT the Bears
(http://infinitygirl.bandcamp.com/)

Beck:  August 2nd - Boston Pavilion

Newport Jazz Festival: August 3rd-4th (Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci & Brian Blade plus special guest Herbie Hancock, Robert Glassper Experiment, Chick Corea, Joshua Redman, Steve Coleman, Jim Hall...)

Jonathan Kreisberg: August 7th - Bar Next Door (New York City)

Q-Tip: August 8th - Stage 48 (New York City)

Explosions in the Sky: August 9th - Willard's Field (Devens MA)

DJ Shadow: August 10th - the Sinclare (Cambridge)

Killer Mike & El-P - August 13th - the Paradise Rock Club (Boston)

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba: September 18th - Johnny D'(Somerville)

Volume IV of the Killa B's Acoustic Pop Re-Imagining Adventure Series: Genie in a Bottle

In the words of William P. Barry:  Behold the long-awaited installment of a controversial series that has elicited reactions such "verily, this is the spark that will start a revolution" as well as "I can't believe they're letting us do this on FM radio at 11:30 pm"

Featuring Just Barth on spoken word verses, DJ B twice, and DJ Sandwich Special on acoustic guitar.

Check it out, as well as the first three installments of the Acoustic Pop Re-Imagining Adventure series, through Bill's Soundcloud: 

Hip Hop Block For Killa B's - 7/10/13

Last night I once again had the honor of being a guest DJ on the Killa B's 3 hour radio hour.  I played a block of some of my favorite hip hop that I've been digging lately - If you missed it you can check it out on my soundcloud: 

1-The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Gill Scott Heron - 1970)
2-Release Pt. 2 (Saul Williams/Blackalicious - 2002)
3-Free Press & Curl (Shabazz Palaces - 2011)
4-Blue Flowers (Dr. Octagon - 1996)
5-7th Chamber (Wu Tang Clan 1993)
6-Check the Rhyme (A Tribe Called Quest 1991)
7-Rigamortus (Kendrick Lamar - 2011)
8-Accordion (Madvillain 2004)
9-Last Donut of the Night (J Dilla 2006)

We also played a heart-wrenching acoustic reimagining of Christina Aguilera's "Genie in the Bottle" live in the studio, which may or may not be available to listen to in the near future.  

RI House Show - Massicure & Mike Simonelli

On the 12th I'll be playing a show at my parent's place in RI and am pumped that Massicure, a hip-hop duo from Rhode Island - who are both former bandmates and good friends of mine, will also be playing a set.  We'll be grilling and chilling probably around 6:00 PM and music will start a little before 8.  There may be another group added to the night and if that's the case we'll probably start earlier.  

If you're coming up from the Boston area and want to stay the night it shouldn't be a problem providing you with a couch or something to crash on - just give me a heads up if that's your plan.  If you need directions or more details feel free to contact me.

Massicure: https://soundcloud.com/massicure

Mike Simonelli: http://mikesimonelli.bandcamp.com/

The National - Lupos June 4th

The National show last night was much more intense and cathartic than last time I saw them.  They had a much higher level of energy and Bryce Dessner's guitar tones were way gnarlier.  It was great hearing him let loose a lot more than he does on the records.  And I'm very glad I got to enjoy the experience with so many great friends as well as my brother and Dad.  

If you haven't checked out their new record, "Trouble Will Find Me", I'd definitely recommend it.  It's probably their most subdued record so far, and lyrically their strongest in my opinion.  The lyrics are really dark, but at times truly funny.  And some pretty cool things going on with time as always.  Here's one of my favorites from the album that that Nico Muhly orchestrated, "Don't Swallow the Cap".  The National are a band that the more I listen to them, the more I hear and appreciate in their music - it's extremely accesible, emotionally charged, subtly very intricate, and often very meditative  - very much looking forward to hearing where these guys go next. 

(photo courtesy of Ben Falvey)