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This one is coming to you hot from KC. I’m embedded in my mother’s office, doing work, drinking coffee from the Roasterie (it’s really got me prairie doggin’), watching the rain lash down. So, without further ado, a little easy, cerebral listening for you on Friday. Grab a cup of coffee, throw on the head phones and ease your hangover off. These gentle men and women understand your self loathing.
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Tony lives in San Francisco with his girlfriend and his brother. He enjoys music and fresh-baked cookies. He will not apologize for being a fan of Crowded House. Follow him at twitter.com/tonyvontz . Greatest hits thus far include: Latest Dope Show pieces include: Me & Bruce Playlist, Kowloon at Dusk, RIP Alex Chilton, A Lil Bit of Country, Winter Beard Playlist and Best Music of 2009 List
THE PLAYLIST OF Me & Bruce.
Bruce Vilanch has long been a great friend and mentor of mine. You see, my dad was a key grip on “Hollywood Squares” in the mid ’80s. I used to accompany him to the set a few times a week when my mom was working as a camera operator on “My Two Dads” and couldn’t look after me. I would look forward to those days with great anticipation. I would spend hours backstage eating chocolate and Jimmy Dean’s sausages with Bruce, listening to him and Jim J. Bullock crack wise about one thing or another, hoping that some day I could breath their rarefied air.
Bruce and I still keep in touch to this very day, meeting for drinks when I am in LA, and always exchanging hilarious tee shirts. I’m wearing one right now. It says “You’re The Reason I’m Medicated.” Major LOLs! I think the real reason that Bruce and I have kept in touch after all these years is a shared love of music and the fact that he is one funny bitch.
Bruce was way into the college radio scene of the late 80s and he exposed that love to me very early on. Without Bruce I would have never listened to REM or The Replacements. Bruce has always been a huge indie rock and power pop fan too. His love rubbed off on me, and nary a day goes by when I don’t stop and think of what an impact his taste has had on my music collection. I thought today I would honor Bruce by posting a playlist of songs he loves. So, hats off to you Bruce. And thanks for dinner at Dantanna’s last week!
TV
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Tony lives in San Francisco with his girlfriend and his brother. He enjoys music and fresh-baked cookies. He will not apologize for being a fan of Crowded House. Follow him at twitter.com/tonyvontz .
Latest Dope Show pieces include: Kowloon at Dusk, RIP Alex Chilton, A Lil Bit of Country, Winter Beard Playlist and Best Music of 2009 List
This is a playlist (LISTEN LISTEN!) I had originally created during a work trip to Asia in late 2008. I would listen to it on the ferry ride to and from our office in Hong Kong to my hotel on Kowloon. Although I recalled going through a very intense Bob Dylan phase during that time period, the playlist served as the perfect background to a boat ride staring at a real life version of “Blade Runner” for 45 minutes everyday. The Bard just wouldn’t have cut it. I revisited it recently after hearing some new tunes that I thought would slot in nicely. I’ve also discovered that it kind of reminds me of trying on clothes at Banana Republic. Oh well, I enjoy it anyways. I hope you do too.
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Tony lives in San Francisco with his girlfriend and his brother. He enjoys music and fresh-baked cookies. He will not apologize for being a fan of Crowded House. Follow him at twitter.com/tonyvontz . His other pieces are NOT to be missed, including RIP Alex Chilton, A Lil Bit of Country, Winter Beard Playlist and Best Music of 2009 List.
Please have your listen HERE.
I had planned on making a super shit kicking country rock mix for this Friday, but then Alex Chilton died and the plans changed. Alex Chilton has had a profound impact on your musical life even if you have no idea who he is. If you have no idea who he is, shame on you. Go to iTunes, type in Big Star and buy every song that comes up. Without Big Star, Chilton’s seminal early 70s rock band, we may have never gotten to hear REM, The Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, or the Hold Steady. The music genealogy of most of my favorite music of the past twenty years leads straight back to Chilton and Big Star. Yes, the dude was that big of a deal. It is sad to think that his early death adds yet another grim chapter to the Big Star story that began with so much beautiful, soaring pop rock music.
While I’ve kept a few of my favorite country rock chestnuts on the list, I kick off the mix with one of my favorite Chilton Big Star compositions, as well as sprinkle in some songs from bands that never would have happened without his genius. I hope you enjoy, and I hope the publicity surrounding Chilton’s early death will only serve to further expose the gifts he gave to the world.
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Tony lives in San Francisco with his girlfriend and his brother. He enjoys music and fresh-baked cookies. He will not apologize for being a fan of Crowded House. Follow him at twitter.com/tonyvontz.
You are quite silly to miss his latest spinout entitled March Madness Playlist and other crits including Winter Beard Playlist and Best Music of 2009 List.
(image: Classic Four Piece)
Once again, it’s hard not to consider the sheer power of B-related power players and scenarios who play cool but lack any smarts….errrrr talent. It’s all about dopey street scenes and living out of an Escalade. You know, just sheer cool-ness in the form of a purple velvet jacket.
Boys and girls of downtown New York: that is *(note: was) Paul Sevs. Shrouded in his bleach job and shades (see photo above) sits a man behind a keyboard who presses buttons while his cohorts, the A.R.E Weapons, walk around Spring Street like zombies, hating on everyone and ripping on the “Yeah Yeah Who’s?” and singing such songs as Bumps (Oh wait, that’s the Secret Weapons) and I’m Not Scared. Bostonites. Red Sox Fans. Player HATERS. Listen peeps, be scared. Your image is your everything and it ain’t that anymore.
Props to Paul Sevs to set himself free (A.R.E members claimed they canned him)…hum-bug. He simply got sick of “kicking around” all those years and set himself free. Free to the world of “speakeasy” lounge life and better DJ music (courtesy of upgraded buttons). Free to drink his own beer and not worry if his rock star cohort was dating his sister. Repeat, he doesn’t have to share his sister.
Bottom line: Sev’s doesn’t need some old strung down rock STARS turned yuppie Lacoste (wait A.R.E. man; was that a Polo shirt I saw behind the bar?) coupled with short crew cuts. You boys look so clean now; maybe your trusti parents finally take ownership (or you just need their money because the dream is dying). No, Sev’s no longer needs his tilted KC hat, bike messenger gloves and track suit. This brother has style now. He’s a bone fide hustler in his fitted suits. Free to his bumps and free not to Wear Lacoste (and Pitchfork’s amazingly insane review of the A.R.E. album with perhaps the best few sentences ever to be strung together: “Kicking around New York for fucking ever, Paul’s finally put together a scam that’s paying off: holding down three keys on an old Casio.”) He’s free of those Casio shackles. The girls are better and so is the equipment. He can light a cig in his own new trendy spot.
Damn; that is living.
(image 1: V Magazine)
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Kitty Bawler is back…finally. After a five-year stint of silence, the hip have once again spoken. Having been around the block, she’s studied the trends and inner-workings of all the uber-pretentious, black labeled culture of the downtown New York crowd. She’s cynical and a bit jaded. She detests aviators. She’s patient and doesn’t mind writing about, you know, cool people.
The New York Magazine in conjunction with critics and musicians from the Vulture Staff threw down The Ultimate New York Playlist. I was thrilled (and hardly surprised) to learn Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York was the sure-fire numero uno and even more thrilled to learn Jay Z’s overly cocksure Empire State of Mind was number nineteen.
Other winners (in my humble oculars) include: LCD Soundsystem’s New York, I Love You But You’re Brining Me Down, the Velvet Underground I’m Waiting for the Man, Luna’s Going Home and the Dolls’ Subway Train.
Spoon’s ‘Transference’ has been playing non stop in the car, on the ipod, and in the apartment since its release. As if I ever doubted that this would deliver in spades. Spoon again prove to be the most consistent and interesting bands of the aught aughts. Transference is full of hooky songs, fried out grooves, and super interesting textures. Yes, some how they make music you can actually feel with your hands. Don’t ask me how. It is an early front runner for the best of ’10 list. If you want to start a dance off at your next house party throw “Who Makes Your Money” on repeat, drop the mic and start boogieing. Speaking of dance parties, I have fond memories of marching through the streets of San Francisco during Bay To Breakers 2008 with a boom box strapped around my neck pumping Tigercity’s debut EP ‘Pretend Not To Love,’ inciting dance riots at every turn. This unheralded deep Brooklyn quartet returned to the fold in late 2009 with their first full length ‘Ancient Lover’. It was released to (tragically) little acclaim. In another world their songs are blaring out of car stereos and dance club speakers every Saturday night. While the album as a whole does not deliver the promise of their debut EP, its standout tracks (Mallory, Fake Gold, & James Iha) certainly do. With all of the nostalgia for the 80s in pop culture right now I am flat out amazed that they not been able to float above the garbage. They are the rare 80s revivalists who get it right, writing instantly danceable songs with big fat meaty falsetto laden choruses that will have you reaching for the ceiling. Fans of Chromeo, Passion Pit, and Phoenix will not be disappointed. Do yourself a favor and grab the EP and the album and prepare to cut rug.
With all of this gloomy weather in the Bay Area (fuck you El Nino), it has definitely not all been dancing and fist pumping, as much as The Situation may have had me convincing myself otherwise. The majority of 2010 has seen me growing a winter beard, getting fat and listening to winterized music. So in honor of the lashing rain and the lack of sunlight, I leave you with my 10 song Winter Beard 2010 Playlist:
1. Lissie-Little Lovin
2. Jim O’Rourke-Ghost Ship In A Storm
3. Palace Music-West Palm Beach
4. Teenage Fanclub-Empty Space
5. The Bees-Punchbag
6. Gerry Rafferty-Right Down The Line
7. Sam Prekop-Between Outside
8. Starling Electric-Camp Fire
9. John Cale-Please
10. The Low Anthem-To Ohio
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Tony lives in San Francisco with his girlfriend and his brother. He enjoys music and fresh-baked cookies. He will not apologize for being a fan of Crowded House. Follow him at twitter.com/tonyvontz .
Because I’m working on my music literacy; I must recommend a very chill band passed along to me by a Pacific Northwesterner…Beach House. While it’s been some time since the album has been out and yes, they are touring but not in my woods. Still, it’s a must for a post work wind (wine) down.
Random note: I must say the guy in the band looks my brother a la his post bohemian Paris days circa, 1998. Hey, Racks. Como?
The XX (pronounced ”ex ex”) is a very cool, exciting band…which I rarely stretch in conversation these days. As I mentioned, the sound is a like that of the Beach House, Black Box Recorder with a touch of early Cure (and I do mean a touch). Am I just immune about new bands (perhaps naive) these days. Perhaps. However, I like these London fours.
I just need my English sister-in-law’s official stamp. Donna?
In my world, it’s xx radio on Pandora. All the time. Not to mention; I like that overly-chill, gentle, borderline pretentious sound of a woman crooning…
Yes, I love Eddie Vedder but even he must take a rest.
Rock and roll.
Long before the trendiness and the updated interiors, there were a few places in the hood. The Lotus Cafe, the Jamaican hairstylists with the concrete parking polls in full Rasta colours, a couple Latino hardware stores and Wylie Dufresne on his way. Caught between the lettered avenues and the (future) new world sat (and still sits) the Parkside Lounge.
There was a little hole on the wall on the corner of whatever and whatever. Literally, you may find someone from just about any part of the city. You are at the corner of everything. When you walk inside you have a pool table and lots of 1980s legit retro gear. But once inside, the back music room; the jewel of the crown inside the lounge. You just may be transported into another world. I would say the music runs from reggae, rock steady sca to new age jazz. Let the Jamieson flow. Definitely a place you can light up a spliff mate…even in today’s world.
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Rasta J is old New Yorker, an East Village legend, and LES spliff master.
| One Night in Harlem
The first time I discovered Fela Kuti, I remember feeling like I struck gold. I hit the music jackpot by uncovering the Afrobeat pioneer. It didn’t take long to understand that he is a massive legend and that I was hardly unique in being a fan. But he was new to me and I was thrilled. Then I learned that he had a son named Femi, who was playing at the famed Apollo Theater. Although Femi was an established artist independent of his father’s legacy, I felt awestruck by the possibility of seeing Fela’s son. One quick call to my friend in the music industry and I had a pair of tickets. Before the show, I dined with Katie – my companion (and I Loved NY scribe) at Amy Ruths on 116th Street. A true southern restaurant with all the fixings: catfish, collard greens, okra, candied yams and chicken and waffles. Come to think of it, waffles with anything – rib eye steak, shrimp or fried chicken wings. Salty and sweet does make sense. I ordered an ice tea to start and automatically added a packet of sugar. Upon first sip, I realized the tea was already sweetened and that my teeth might just fall out. I drank the entire glass. After the fried food and sweet tea, we welcomed the 9 block walk north to the Apollo. Entering the building, it was easy to feel that you were in a special place. Knowing the talent that preformed in the music hall – Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, James Brown and Marvin Gaye, was magical. I was a little fidgety through the opening acts because I was so excited for Femi to perform. And then suddenly he appeared on stage like a force and I was on my feet. The energy that radiated from that man was incredible. Backed up by a 17-person band known as the Positive Force, the entire Apollo was under his spell. Shirtless, he was strong, confident and sexual. His lyrics told the same tale: She said, love me now [beng beng beng] But mostly it was Femi’s dancers that demanded my attention; I couldn’t take my eyes off them. Their moves were fluid, fast and beautiful and they oozed erotic seductiveness. Their thick, fit bodies, outfitted in bright, colorful, African costumes were mesmerizing. They didn’t stop dancing the entire show. That evening – much like any New York evening, worlds converged in Harlem. Amy Ruth from Alabama, Femi Kuti from Nigeria and two Midwest transplants experiencing all the city has to offer. It was truly an unforgettable evening. ——————- Robin Zakoura, A Midwest friend, New Yorker, Bumble & bumble Vet, wine enthusiast, herbal food chick + author of the brilliant lifestyle blog entitled; lateblooms. |
I got my one wish; a music man to digress on bands and lists. Thank you GUEST WRITER: TONY VONTZ. And, proof those California types do know their music.
I know you all have been eagerly awaiting it all holiday season. You’ve been on pins and needles. Finally, my best music of 2009 list. A chance for me to bloviate about what mattered the most to my ears. This year the songs/albums are listed in no particular order.
Dirty Projectors (thanks go to Crumbs for making sure this one didn’t pass me by) may have made my favorite “Brooklyn” album of the past decade. It is a completely original creation, as adept at a party as it is on the headphones and does not have a bad or boring moment on it. Phoenix added to its already impressive catalog with the most fun record of the year. It’s awesome to see them getting the success they have long deserved. Girls proved to be a grower, not a shower. I shelved it initially only to be completely swept away by it late in the year. AC Newman, Dan Auerbach and M. Ward make the cut despite getting very few kudos in the mainstream. I thought the Newman record was the best, most consistent work he has ever done and I really, really dig the production. “Hold Time” is the most even, consistently rewarding and fully realized album of M. Ward’s career. He’s not reinventing the wheel, he’s perfecting it.
Dan Auerbach was a mainstay during the second quarter of this year. If you’re not a huge fan of the Black Keys (I’m in that boat), but they pull you in a little bit, this is the album for you. It’s full of catchy tunes, crunchy rhythms, fleshed out instrumentation and kick ass songs. Gary Louris & Mark Olson reunited for the first time in eons and have not lost a step. That record slipped under the radar, but it is essentially a stripped down, haunting, midlife crisis Jayhawks album. As good as anything either of them have ever done. Bill Callahan drops the best album title and artwork of the year, as well as one of the year’s best songs. His music makes me want to move to a ranch in Wyoming and contemplate my navel. Not exactly party music, but just as thrilling. Vetiver deliver a sun drenched set of green triangle California folk music on their semi-major label debut that would have been a hit record in 1974. It is the best road trip album of the year. Wilco make another “adult” album that threatens to be immediately derailed by one of the weakest songs Tweedy has ever written. Fortunately Wilco the song proves to be a minor aberration as the rest of the album flows as smoothly as room temperature butter over a piece of bread. Or as smoothly as “Katy Lied” era Steely Dan. You can take your pick.
It was a great year for music. Vinyl is making a big comeback and bands are responding with complete albums. I think of this as music’s answer to the Slow Food movement. I feel lucky to still have two ears.
10 BEST ALBUMS
Dirty Projectors-Bitte Orca
Bill Callahan-Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Gary Louris & Mark Olson-Ready For The Flood
AC Newman-Get Guilty
Vetiver-Tight Knit
Wilco-The Album
M. Ward-Hold Time
Dan Auerbach-Keep It hid
Phoenix-Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Girls-Album
20 BEST SONGS
Kurt Vile-Blackberry Song
Le Loup-Morning Song
Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard-One Fast Move Or I’m Gone
The Juan Maclean-Accusations
Animal Collecitve-What I Want? Sky
Monsters of Folk-Ahead of The Curve
Bill Callahan-Jim Cain
Grizzly Bear-Southern Point
Dan Auerbach-Real Desire
Neko Case-Magpie To The Morning
Akron Family-Set ‘Em Free
Cave Singes-Beach House
Kurt Vile-Freak Train
Big Pink-Dominos
Girls-Headache
Bonnie Prince Billy-I Won’t Ask Again
Phoenix-Lisztomania
Vetiver-Rolling Sea
Bear In Heaven-Lovesick Teenagers
Wilco-One Wing
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Tony lives in San Francisco with his girlfriend and his brother. He enjoys music and fresh-baked cookies. He will not apologize for being a fan of Crowded House. Follow him at twitter.com/tonyvontz .
