Posts Tagged ‘Deastro’

new sam billen: covers & such

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Headphones & Cellphones, the album by Sam Billen is not like his previous band, The Billions. A soulful and basic encounter that is a welcome departure from the indie-pop flow of his last band. This seems for comfortable for him.

buy it here.

Retranslating seems to be his forte though, as he covers both Deastro and Republic Tigers from the cover EP, Removers. Release date is still unknown but these new songs have my attention.

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Sam Billen – Different Lives from Headphones and Cellphones (2009)

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Sam Billen – Made Concrete (Republic Tigers) from Removers (2009)

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Sam Billen – Spritle (Deastro Cover) from Removers (2009)

Tags: Deastro, Headphones & Cellphones, Removers, Republic Tigers, Sam Billen, The Billions
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Kuestionnaire: Deastro

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Electro-genius singer-songwriter Randolph Chabot AKA Deastro’s 2009 album, ‘Moondagger’ expands upon the positive electro-pop of ‘Keepers’, his home-recorded opus from 2008, with the addition of a full band. Thankfully, the mercurial, prolific Chabot still seems blissfully unaware of his music’s genreless-ness. 14 tracks of pure bliss pierce through any kind of meaningless genre specificity. Whether it’s with what sounds like a coked up 8-bit Nintendo game soundtrack or a less pretencious Postal Service, Deastro makes ‘Moondagger’ one of the most diverse and exciting records of the year.

Randolph Chabot was cool enough to answer this week’s Kuestionnaire and give probably the best answer for Question #15 in Kata Rokkar history…

1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?

My Copy of Remain In Light by the talking heads that I found unopened at a garage sale for 3 dollars

2. What have you been listening to lately?

Women, Ducktails, John Maus, Stravinsky, tobacco,

3. What’s your favorite local band?

I would have to say it is a toss up between Gardens, and this kid who makes music in his basement called Sacred Space.

4. What was the last show you attended?

Mahjongg about a week ago and Flying lotus this past weekend at DEMF

5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?

George Strait World tour at the Walmart Pavilion in Arkansas, all my ex’s live in texas those words make up the meet and cheese of my existence and hearing steve reich practice with his orchestra in the basement of the venue we were playing the first time we played in New York. tears were streaming down my face like hot lead. I hid in a dark corner of the room and listened for hours. I really do believe that there is something special holding the universe together, I can’t describe the lack of boundaries I felt in that moment with everyone around me.

6. What show are you looking forward to?

I want to see women live and Nico Muhly.

7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?

La Monte Young

8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?

Pet Sounds, Daniel Variations, Collected Works of Erik Satie, Seven Swans

9. Would you call yourself a music geek?

Yes.

10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?

I actually only own one about Devo and I like it!

11. What’s the last book you read?

2666 by Roberto Bolano, and the Long Emergency by James Kunstler

12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?

Both

13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?

I don’t have any on stage but I did throw a chair at my guitar player after a show once. We are ok now though.

14. Any favorite tour locations?

Iowa

15. Lastly, what have you done today?

I finished a remix for Asobi Seksu, took back my recycling, at a salad, thought about the impeding energy crisis we are going to have in the next 30 yrs and what I can do about it. Wondered why I have so many gadgets even though I hate most technology. thought about never wanting to leave Michigan and what it would take to set up an electric train network in the US because we will have to really more on Nuclear and renewable energy more and more in the upcoming years even if we continue our war for oil.

Deastro – Parallelogram

Tags: bottom of the hill, Deastro, gardens, kuestion, kuestionnaire, sacred space
Posted in Kuestionnaires, Music | No Comments »

This Is Week In Bay Area Live Shows: June 21st – 27th

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

I’m seeing Grizzly Bear Today!

If you haven’t already immersed yourself in their newest album, Veckatimest, you need to do that right now. I’m serious, this is no joke, Veckatimest is one of the better albums released this year. If you’re already on the Grizzly-train and in the Bay area, you probably already have ticket to their Sunday and Monday shows at The Fillmore. It’s going to be a special night. Oh and I’m hearing great things about the opening act, Here We Go Magic. So show up early.

If you’re not attending the GB show tomorrow night, check out post-metal giants Isis and Helms Alee at The Blank Club in San Jose or at The Great American Music Hall on Tuesday. Also going on Monday is an early performance by non-other than Elvis Costello at Amoeba Record in San Francisco. It’s at noon, so those of you who don’t have to work, you’re in luck!

Tuesday brings post-rock spoken word act mewithoutYou with prog-rockers The Dear Hunter (no, not that one) at Slim’s and electro-pop band Starfucker hits up the Bottom of the Hill.

Wednesday has folk artists Papercuts and Port O’Brien at The Independent, Canadian indie rocks Sunset Rubdown at the Rickshaw Stop, and synth-pop act Deastro (Kuestionnaire on Tuesday) and Tempo No Tempo at Bottom of the Hill.

Yanni in Oakland at the Oracle Arena on Thursday!!! I didn’t even know he was still around. You can also check out noise-pop act Sugar and Gold, Castledoor, and Music For Animals at the Rickshaw Stop and The Karriem Riggins Virtuoso Experience Tour with special guest DJ Pete Rock.

I will be in NY for this but …

…if it’s not already sold out (probably is though), The Grand Ballroom At the Regency Center is hosting Phoenix, Boys Noize, DJ Vadim, Diplo, Amazing Baby, and a monsterload of Bay area DJs for this year’s Spectrum Festival on Friday. Meanwhile, David Byrne and DeVotchKa brighten up the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, funk-trnoica act Major Lazer hit up San Francisco’s Amoeba Records at 6pm, and Wilco and Okkervil River will be at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga as well as the Greek Theatre on Saturday.

Saturday also bring one of the most soulsucking tours in recent memory, Vans Warped Tour 2009. What used to be a celebration of individuality for young kids quickly turned into a Monster Energy Drink sponsored shitfest. There are (very) few exceptions though. Prog-metal act Thrice, indie rockers Dear and the Headlights, and brutal hip-hop artist P.O.S. light up the line-up…but only a little.

If I were not in NY on Saturday, I would see Cursive and Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band at the Great American Music Hall or the heavy metal onslaught of YOB and Will Haven at Slim’s. But I won’t…oh well.

See you out there!

Sunset Rubdown – Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – Cheer For Fate

Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader

Dear and the Headlights – Talk About

Major Lazer – Hold The Line (DJ Edit)

Tags: amazing baby, Boys Noize, Castledoor, Cursive, David Byrne, Dear and the Headlights, Deastro, Diplo, DJ Vadim, Elvis Costello, Grizzly Bear, Here We Go Magic, Isis, Major Lazer, mewithoutyou, p.o.s., Phoenix, Starfucker, Sugar and Gold, The Dear Hunter, The Fillmore, The Karriem Riggins Virtuoso Experience Tour, This Week In Bay Area Live Shows, Thrice, wilco
Posted in Concerts, Music, This Week In Bay Area Live Shows | 1 Comment »

I Am Hungry / a mixtape

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

from http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Yes my friends, that is In-N-Out Burger’s Animal Style French Fries; french fries covered in American cheese, sauteed onions, and thousand island dressing. Fuckin’ A right it’s gross! I have no desire to try it…ever. However, I am in the mood for some take-out tonight. Should I order from Sol Food, Napoli Pizza, or Falafel Hut? Who cares?!!? Just as long as I’m not eating that mound of shloop that looks as if someone vomited curdled milk.

You hungry? Curb your appetite with this mix. Enjoy.