All posts by j. walkos

listen, san diego, video

Watchlist vol. 6: Phantogram

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Once in a great while you hear music that just makes you feel cool.

Every time it comes on, you feel like you should be walking in slow motion, dark shades on, gliding into a room as all eyes fix on you. Maybe you’re wearing an old, black, leather jacket and flicking a cigarette as smoke billows from your mouth.

There are only a handful of groups in recent memory that have given me that feeling: Autolux, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Leonard Cohen, to name a few. And now, thanks to their new album, Eyelid Movies, Phantogram have joined those hallowed ranks. Continue reading…

reviews

Review: Girls with Dum Dum Girls; April 5, 2010; Mr. Smalls Theater, Pittsburgh, PA

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Photo credit: J. Walkos

By now I’m sure you’ve heard the legendary back-story of Christopher Owens, the frontman for Girls. It’s full of cults and intrigue, heartbreak and redemption, and as soon as I heard it I had to hear the music it inspired. My first introduction to Girls was their video for the sprawling, nostalgic “Hellhole Ratrace.” The clip follows the band and their friends around San Francisco for a night of boozing that culminates in a picturesque sunrise over the bay. It’s one of those rare instances when the imagery and music match up perfectly, elevating the art to a whole new level. Continue reading →

interviews, listen, san diego

Interview: RJD2

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Photo credit: Dan McMahon

RJD2 knows how to get the bodies in the crowd moving, and tonight’s show at the Casbah promises to be no different.

The multi-instrumentalist/turntablist extraordinaire’s live show is a multimedia experience that combines interesting samples, pop culture imagery, and head-bobbing beats. Before seeing him in action, I’d never witnessed a DJ step away from the 1’s and 2’s, pick up a guitar, and start playing a frantic punk song, let alone do it believably. It takes some serious cojones to pull that one off.

That sort of confidence has embodied RJD2’s career. From signing to legendary hip hop label Definitive Jux to creating his own — RJ’s Electrical Connections — it’s always been on his terms. I’ve been a fan of his for almost nine years now, and during that time his production skills have continued to be some of the best in the business. So when I had the opportunity to ask RJD2 a few questions, I jumped at the chance.

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interviews

Interview: Darwin Deez

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Between songs on stage, Darwin Deez and his band have been known to break out in choreographed dance routines. To some, that alone would be worth the price of admission. But Deez is much more than just loose feet: his saccharine pop bounces around in your head and leaves you with a dizzying sugar high.

His self-titled debut is set for release in April on Lucky Number Music, and it’s a winner. We caught up with Deez as he prepared to embark on an opening gig for the 2010 NME Radar Tour with Hurts and Everything, Everything. Continue reading →

interviews

Poetic Memory: Generationals (List)

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Generationals‘ 2009 album Con Law made our Best of 2009 list. For me, it’s the perfect example of everything I look for in a good pop-rock album: upbeat, catchy, light-hearted, and above all, fun. What made it exceed my expectations, however, were the varying styles from song to song. One minute I’m hearing Motown or Gary Numan, and the next I’m listening to…arena rock? Generationals’ unabashed experimentation with different sounds has helped to set them apart from the rest of the indie pack.

In addition to releasing great albums, they’ve been gallivanting around the U.S. spreading the rock-and-roll cheer nonstop. So, needless to say, I’m extra pleased that Grant Widmer took some time out of his busy schedule to send us a list of his influences. His Poetic Memory is below. Continue reading…