The second splendid day of Splendour in the Grass 2009. We catch Kram, Jack Ladder, Bob Evans, The Gutter Twins, White Lies, The Doves, The Flaming Lips and er, Grinspoon.
Okkervil River The Zoo, Brisbane 3rd May 2009 “No one wants to hear about your 97th tear” offers Will Sheff, he of red beard, bookish glasses and shaggy hair, during tonight’s opening rhyme heavy “Plus Ones”. Oh but we do. We want to hear ninety odd minutes of heartbreak and loss, songs about self harm, [...]
We shan’t be coy: We’ve adored Okkervil River ever since Black Sheep Boy crept up on us almost four years ago. 2007′s The Stage Names was named one of our favourite albums of that year and likewise last year’s The Stand In’s also received a coverted placing in our top 25 poll. The fabulous Austin [...]
Andrew Bird takes flight with his latest album Noble Beast. Thankfully it’s nothing at all like a Flock of Seagulls.
Jagjaguwar, 2008 The Austin boys in Okkervil River are back with another album and like always it’s filled with surprising stories, dense lyrics and great tunes that stick with you. The Stand Ins sees the band explore the issue of stardom and fame from different perspectives including those of groupies, porn stars, ex-boyfriends and ageing [...]
Rough Trade, 2008 Never has a record so wrong-footed me like Evil Urges has. Louisville’s My Morning Jacket were always a band with broad influences in their sound. 2005′s Z was the strongest indication that their fret-tapping southern rock roots had run their course. Playing a solo show in London to promote the album, singer [...]
Spoon Centre Stage, Atlanta, GA 14th April 2008 It’s Britt Daniel’s birthday but you wouldn’t know it. There’s no cake and candles, no rambunctious behaviour or jokes. You’d be expecting the band to be soused and swaying, playing covers and celebrating the occasion, using the opportunity to cut loose. In fact Daniel looks embarrassed as [...]
Legendary indie rock band Spoon ventured down to Australia earlier this year for the Big Day Out. Static’s Chris Berkley caught up with razor tight drummer Jim Eno about 2007′s superb Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, the art of recording, Britt Daniel’s soundtrack work and getting remixed by Diplo. Chris: Joining us on the phone [...]
Austin post-rockers Explosions in the Sky have been weaving their instrumental magic for almost ten years now, releasing four revered albums and one soundtrack over that time. During their recent Australian tour Static’s Chris Berkley talked to Chris Hrasky drummer with the band about creating their last disc, All of a Sudden I miss Everyone, [...]
Merge, 2007 It’s almost an established fact that once a band hits album number 4 or 5 they’re practically running on empty. Creative juices have all but dried up, different directions are attempted, band friction comes to the fore and as the years go by each new release just isn’t a patch on former glories. [...]
You couldn’t pair a better band with a better song with New York’s The Walkmen taking on the R.E.M. classic “Driver 8″ as part of the AV Club’s Undercover series. With the list of 25 songs narrowed down to just one, The Walkmen were left with the track nobody else wanted. Regardless, they take “Driver 8″ and transform into their own inimitable style, albeit a little rough and ready, with vocalist Hamilton Leithauser sounding as if he’s never heard the song in his life. It’s worth remembering that the new Walkmen album Lisbon is due for release on September 13 through Bella Union, and coincidently, the deluxe edition of R.E.M.’s Fables Of The Reconstruction in which “Driver 8″ sits proudly on, was released a month or so ago. Webcuts favourite R.E.M. album of all time, you say? Well, yes, indeed it is.
