scottmcdonald's Journals on Buzznet http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/ en-us <![CDATA[Two People Died at Rothbury Festival]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2652901/ Read more here!
]]> rothbury festival Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-07-09T11:01:00Z <![CDATA[|||||Pressed for Sound|||||]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2361121/

For daily music news, new MP3s, video and photos, go check out our new indie blog: Pressed for Sound.

pressedforsound.com or pressed-for-sound.com
]]> indie pressed for sound Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-15T14:57:00Z <![CDATA[Stereolab to Bring 'Chemical Chords' to the U.S.]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2328501/ Lab partners Tim Gane and Laetitia Sadier are hitting the road this fall in support of their forthcoming Stereolab release, Chemical Chords. As usual, the group will kick off its North American tour at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, California — Stereolab were the first band to ever play the renovated club.

Sadier will work overtime on this trek. Monade, her other project, will open during the second leg of the tour.

(Download "Three Women," the first single from Chemical Chords, then watch the video.)


Stereolab tour dates:

6.15: Athens, GR @ Synch Festival
7.19: Tonsberg, NO @ Slottsfjell Festival
9.20: Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
9.21: Pomona, CA @ Glass House
9.24: Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa
9.26: Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
9.27: Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
9.29: Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
9.30: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
10.1: Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
10.2: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10.3: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10.4: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10.6: Boston, MA @ Paradise *
10.7: Montreal, QC @ Club Soda *
10.8: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre *
10.9: Detroit, MI @ The Crofoot *
10.10: Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre *
10.12: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
10.14: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre *
10.17: Seattle, WA @ Showbox *
10.18: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
10.19: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom *
10.21: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *
10.22: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *
10.23: Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre *
10.24: Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern *

* with Monade
]]> chemical chords indie laetitia sadier monade music stereolab three women Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-09T00:00:00Z <![CDATA[Stephen Malkmus, Broken Social Scene and More Do Siren Fest]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2318101/ Village Voice has announced the initial lineup for its eighth annual Siren Music Festival. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Broken Social Scene and The Helio Sequence will lead a pack of exciting indie acts at Coney Island on July 19. [cut=Who else is on the bill?]



Also featured on the initial lineup are: Beach House, Times New Viking, Jaguar Love, The Dodos, Annuals, Film School, Parts & Labor, Dragons of Zynth and These Are Powers.

Siren is a free, all-ages music festival that will feature international, national and local bands and DJs performing on two outdoor stages. The annual fest has made a name for itself over the years by gathering over 100,000 music fans to watch some of indie's top veterans, as well as up-and-coming talent.

Check out pictures of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at Coachella by clicking on the image below:



[/cut]]]> broken social scene film school indie music siren festival stephen malkmus and the jicks the dodos the helio sequence times new viking village voice Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-07T10:48:00Z <![CDATA[Enter Shikari Say They Have No Idea What They're Doing Next]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2314731/

Of all the big names that played at Coachella a couple of weekends ago – Prince, Portishead, Jack Johnson, you name it – only one band could claim itself to be part techno, part punk, part rave, part hardcore ... and part British. Hertfordshire's Enter Shikari played a headlining set on Saturday, thrilling the masses with their barrage of guitar and synthesized sounds.

The band's Rob Rolfe and Rou Reynolds – two of the humblest musicians you'll ever meet – caught up with Buzznet while resting up for their set. The two lads talked about how they started their band in a supermarket, why it's OK to live in the moment – and you, Buzznet reader!

Buzznet: Who have you guys seen so far?

Rob Rolfe: Aphex Twin was awesome. Wicked.

Buzznet: I'm not sure if you knew this, but your band has a strong following on Buzznet. What is it about your music that translates to our readers?

Rou Reynolds: I guess the energy that young people have. Our music has [a] feeling [that] you can get down to [and] dance. There are all sorts of ways you can get into it. It's also very lighthearted, easy to listen to – you don't really have to concentrate to appreciate it. We're not like Dream Theater, where it gets complicated.

Buzznet: How young were you when you decided you wanted to make music for a living?

Rolfe: I was about 12. I remember, actually: I was with my mom shopping at a supermarket, and I ran into [Reynolds] with his dad. I was like, "Do you want to be a band with me and [fellow bandmember] Chris [Batten]?"

Reynolds: We started playing covers like Oasis, Led Zeppelin, Blur, Stereophonics – lots of stuff from the late-1990s. It wasn't until later on, when [bandmate] Rory [Clewlow] joined the band, that we changed our name to Enter Shikari.


[Click the image above to view a gallery's worth of Shikari pics from Coachella.]

Buzznet: What does that name refer to?

Reynolds: It means "The Hunter" in Indian. The first time I heard about the name was from my uncle. Later, I saw the word in that video game "Shikari Warriors," and it just stuck.

Buzznet: Any particular bands you want to see?

Rolfe: Pendulum was pretty awesome last night, and I'm glad I got to watch Goldfrapp as well. Not too sure about later. Yesterday was the best day – well, apart from us headlining tonight. [He laughs.]



Buzznet: What direction do you see your music heading toward, and where will your songs be in the next five years?

Rolfe: We've never pronounced ourselves in any particular genre, so I just tell people to make their own minds up. I just think music should be positive rather than go in a [specific] direction. It can be bad when people specifically write music to get on charts.

I've got no idea where we'll be in five years, but we are writing our next album, and we'll be doing a lot of touring next year. Other than that, sometimes it's just hard to figure out what we'll be doing next week.
]]> aphex twin coachella coachella 2008 enter shikari goldfrapp music rob rolfe rou reynolds Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-06T17:25:00Z <![CDATA[My Bloody Valentine Add North American Tour Dates]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2313361/ My Bloody Valentine North American tour dates. Is this for real? Are my contacts scratched? No. [cut=Get bloody.]

The legendary quartet has announced dates in addition to the previously reported All Tomorrow's Parties festival – you should see the look on my face right now.


[My Bloody Valentine frontman Kevin Shields]

After several festival performances, and shattered eardrums, My Bloody Valentine will rock the shoes off cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles – lucky fans in Toronto will get to catch MBV as well. The miasma begins September 22 in New York, but you've probably already etched the dates onto your apartment wall.

In other news, All Tomorrow's Parties' New York installment has added more mind-blowing talent to its roster. The festival is co-curated by MBV and has tacked on Yo La Tengo, Dinosaur Jr., Mercury Rev, Harmonia, Lilys and Growing to the already impressive lineup.

MBV tour dates:

6.20: London, United Kingdom @ The Roundhouse
6.21: London, United Kingdom @ The Roundhouse
6.22: London, United Kingdom @ The Roundhouse
6.23: London, United Kingdom @ The Roundhouse
6.24: London, United Kingdom @ The Roundhouse
6.28: Manchester, United Kingdom @ Apollo
6.29: Manchester, United Kingdom @ Apollo
7.2: Glasgow, United Kingdom @ Barrowland
7.3: Glasgow, United Kingdom @ Barrowland
7.3-6: Roskilde, Denmark @ Roskilde Festival
7.9: Paris, France @ Zenith
7.17-20: Benicàssim, Spain @ Festival Internacional de Benicàssim
7.25: Naeba, Japan @ Fuji Rock festival
8.8: Oslo, Norway @ Øya Festival
9.5: Isle of Wight, United Kingdom @ Bestival
9.19-21: Monticello, NY @ Kutsher's Country Club (ATP)
9.22: New York, NY @ Roseland
9.23: New York, NY @ Roseland
9.25: Toronto, ON @ Ricoh
9.27: Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
9.30: San Francisco, CA @ The Concourse
10.1: Santa Monica, CA @ Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
10.2: Santa Monica, CA @ Santa Monica Civic Auditorium [/cut]
]]> all tomorrow's parties dinosaur jr. indie kevin shields lilys mercury rev music my bloody valentine shoegaze yo la tengo Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-06T13:40:00Z <![CDATA[Coachella '08: Metric Interview]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2307531/

Metric has spent most of the past year recording the follow-up to 2005's Live it Out and recently released the Live at Metropolis EP, but that didn't stop the quartet from making the trek out to Coachella 2008. I caught up with Emily Haines, solo-artist and Broken Social Scene member, Josh, James and Joules before their fierce set of electro-rock on Sunday. We talked about the new record, preparing for the heat and why Neil Young rules.


Buzznet: Have you been here at Coachella the entire weekend? When did you arrive in Los Angeles?

Emily: Since about 3 a.m., we flew in from Guadalajara, Mexico. 

Josh: We were in Mexico City playing a show -- it was incredibly hot and humid.

Buzznet: Did you encounter any of the anti-emo violence? Have you heard about that?

James: No, that wasn't happening. But, the last time we were in Mexico there was some kind of protest going on.





Buzznet: So, what's your new album going to sound like?

Metric: Sounds like Fleetwood Mac playing dance-rock. It's going to be in your CD player, or your eight-track.

Buzznet: At a hot festival like Coachella how do you prepare yourselves for the heat?

Josh: We just came from Mexico City, so that's how we prepare. It's sooo hot there – that's how we prepare.

James: Our recommendation is to go spend four days in Mexico, then come out here and you'll feel fine. This place feels like a water park right now.

Buzznet: So, did you approach your upcoming album differently with any specific ideas in mind?

Emily: Well, we're always changing. This record is going to integrate all those aspects of what we've become, which is why we've been taking our time. We wanted to use this upcoming record to grow as musicians instead of capturing where we're actually at right now. It's more expansive, uplifting and positive.

Buzznet: Do you have anything special lined up for fans today?

Emily: Rocking their faces off -- we actually can't tell you.





Buzznet: What other bands are looking forward to seeing today?

Emily: We saw that Black Mountain and Autolux are playing. Both of those bands are in our pre-set CD. Holy F--- are awesome too.
 
Josh: I'd go see Does it Offend You, Yeah? That is, if their set wasn't a minute before we played.

Buzznet: How has the restructuring of major labels affected how you're going to market your new album?

Josh: Well, we've been doing our own thing from the beginning anyway. No one wanted us then, or now, but we're here. You just have to pay attention to what you're doing.

Buzznet: If you had three CDs to live with for the rest of your life which ones would they be?

Josh: We'll let Joules handle this one, he speaks for all of us.

Joules: I'd blindly reach into anything Neil Young has ever done and pick three.

]]> autolux black mountain coachella 2008 electro holy f--- indie metric Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-05T10:36:00Z <![CDATA[Forget Starbucks, Drink Midlake's Fair Trade Coffee]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2300231/
Midlake-1.jpgStart your morning right with a cup of indie-infused, fair-trade coffee. Midlake's guitarist is expanding his palette with a completely new genre. Find out more ...

Midlake guitarist Eric Pulido is usually busy crafting Fleetwood Mac-inspired indie-rock, but now he's got other plans. Pulido recently launched the Cappulido Coffee Company, a brand that offers six blends of caffeinated bliss and, according to the company's Web site, is a fairly traded bean. Indulge in flavors like Sumatra, Eastern African and good old House Blend, or subscribe to the coffee and have it delivered to your home every month.

No news yet on the follow-up to 2006's The Trials of Van Occupanther, but here's the video for "Young Bride" to tide you over



]]> cappulido coffee eric pulido indie midlake starbucks the trials of van occupanther young bride Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-02T10:49:00Z <![CDATA[Coachella '08: Midnight Juggernauts Interview]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2287421/

Aussies Midnight Juggernauts were relatively unheard of when they toured North America with Justice last fall, but you wouldn't have guessed it on Friday. Their Coachella set fused indie-rock bombast with pulsating dance rhythms and synthesizers. The crowd looked overjoyed, sweaty and would have stayed for another hour given the chance. Midnight Juggernauts came across like a twenty-first century version of Xanadu, minus the roller skates of course.

I caught up with drummer Daniel Stricker for a quick interview:


Buzznet: That was an amazing set, where did all those people come from? What do you think it is about your music that people are connecting with?

Midnight Juggernauts: Well … it's the first U.S. festival we've ever played. When we finished our first run of the U.S. with Justice last year we had gotten great responses as the tour went forward, so most of these kids must have actually heard of us.

Buzznet: So how does the band prepare for a festival like Coachella?

Midnight Juggernauts: Well, we started off sort of mellow and just built it up throughout the set, so it's climactic. Normally, in a theater, we play more atmospheric songs. At a festival, the crowd wants to dance, so it's hot no matter what we do.





Buzznet: Do you feel like your music is more tied-in with the younger dance-rock crowd, than say a band like The Breeders?

Midnight Juggernauts: I think in some ways, definitely yes — we want people to have fun. I think it's important as a musician to make music for you, but at the same time we have such a broad range of influences. That's just one aspect.
 
Buzznet: You're album, Dystopia, has been out since the fall of last year, but won't be released until next month in North America. How does that factor into the equation?

Midnight Juggernauts: That's why it's crazy. I couldn't believe how many people were there because we don't have a physical release out yet in the U.S. I mean, you can get it online — or for free — but we didn't expect the tent to be filled like that.





Buzznet: You guys are done for the weekend. Are there any other bands you're looking forward to seeing?

Midnight Juggernauts: Yeah, we have some friends' bands playing: Cut Copy, Architecture in Helsinki and Justice. I REALLY want to see Portishead. Have you heard the record yet? It's so good. And obviously, I'd love to catch Prince.

Buzznet: If you had to pick three albums to live with for the rest of your life which would they be?

Midnight Juggernauts: The Pixies' Surfer Rosa, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and … either a My Bloody Valentine record or Nirvana's Nevermind.

 
-Scott McDonald
 ]]> architecture in helsinki coachella 2008 cut copy dance dystopia indie justice midnight juggernauts portishead prince Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-05-01T11:39:00Z <![CDATA[Coachella 2008 Spotlight: Autolux]]> http://scottmcdonald.buzznet.com/user/journal/2277431/
Autolux
Autolux destroyed the Outdoor Stage at Coachella with a batch of new songs -- turning our 'Turnstile Blues' into Sunday smiles.

It's been three and a half years since the release of Autolux's debut album, Future Perfect. Since then, the trio has toured with Nine Inch Nails, played the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the U.K. and were recently asked to open for PJ Harvey in Russia this summer. Not a bad resume.

After the band's set at Coachella on Sunday the band revealed a handful of new songs that sound even more deconstructed and melodic than anything off their debut, and it sounded brilliant. "Headless Sky," "Audience No. 2," "The Science of Imaginary Solutions" and "Supertoys" gave fans a glimpse into album number two.


(Click here to see the Autolux in action.)


No one knows what the forthcoming album will be called, or the release date for that matter, but it turns out we're getting closer to a new Autolux full-length. In a MySpace bulletin last week, the trio revealed a message that its first single, "Audience No. 2," would be coming out shortly. Until then, you might want to check out Autolux on this bill.


Schedule:

5.4: Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar
5.30: Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound festival
6.5: Moscow, RA @ MKhat  (with PJ Harvey)
6.7: St Petersburg, RU @ St. Petersburg Music Hall (with PJ Harvey)    
9.19: Catskills, NY @ All Tomorrow's Parties (MBV - curated)
]]> all tomorrow's parties audience no. 2 autolux coachella 2008 experimental indie noise-pop pj harvey rock Buzznet scottmcdonald 2008-04-29T16:22:00Z