Time to ring the new year with the first Kuestionnaire of 2009. Michael Zapruder! This San Francisco singer-songwriter is becoming increasingly well known due to his hypnotizing and extremely enjoyable new record, Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope. The record itself is similar to what you would happen if Leonard Cohen was born 30 years later. Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope is a brilliantly arranged and the eleven songs are filled with exceptional melodic structure, incomparably beautiful harmonies, and poetic lyrics.
You can buy the special edition of the album here. It includes a t-shirt, buttons, stickers, posters, and signed nude picture of himself *
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is
your most cherished?
Tough one. I guess maybe it’s a vinyl version of a Brahms piano piece called
Intermezzo in Eb. It’s a great piece and a great performance, but mainly I
cherish it because I had to really search the web for it. A second choice
would by Cat Stevens’ Greatest Hits - the vinyl copy I had in high school.
2. What have you been listening to lately?
The Road to Perdition soundtrack, Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea by Silver
Jews, Bee Gees First, Construcao by Chico Buarque.
4. What was the last show you attended?
I saw Conor Oberst and the Mystic River band a little while back and it was
pretty great.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
It’s a toss-up between Cornelius at Bimbos, Os Mutantes at the Fillmore, and
Boris at SxSW a few years ago. If I had to choose, I’d go with the Os
Mutantes show.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
Andrew Bird at the Fillmore.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
I think the best living songwriter is David Berman of Silver Jews. That
would be interesting.
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
Remain in Light by Talking Heads, The Best of Leonard Cohen, In a Silent Way
by Miles Davis, and Goldberg Variations by Glenn Gould (#1)
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
I might well do that.
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
I like Jandek on Corwood. I have that.
11. What’s the last book you read?
Bob Woodward’s “Plan of Attack”
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
They both have great things about them - I suppose if I had to choose one,
I’d keep making recordings.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
I once told a rabid crowd of Tennessee Volunteers fans the score of a
7-overtime game that was in progress, then confessed that I didn’t really
care. They turned on us then. Also, we played an all-ages show in Southern
California on election night this past November, and I had the honor of
announcing that Obama had been declared the winner - to our utter shock and
dismay, nearly every kid in the crowd booed. I was not embarrassed, but I
feel that they should have been.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
I like lots of places we go, but I guess Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Tucson,
New York, Washington DC, and of course Oakland and San Francisco stand out.
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
I took out the recycling.
Michael Zapruder - Happy New Year
Scott Pinkmountain & The Golden Bolts Of Tone - You Gave Me This
There isn’t much to be said that hasn’t already been said about Gregg Gillis’ mash-up monstrosityFeed the Animals. Going by the stage name, Girl Talk, Gregg has burst into the modern dance scene like the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. At least that’s what it feels like after you attend one of his out-of-this world, whacked out, dance parties. I guess you could say that this mash-up wizard has had himself quite a full year. Oh and he’s not done yet. Girl Talk has set up a slew of tour dates for this winter and just put out a new line of t-shirts.
Well here’s our last Kuestionnaire of the year, Mr. Gregg Gillis himself. Enjoy!
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
My favorite band is Nirvana.
2. What have you been listening to lately?
I watched the Beyonce “Single Ladies” video about ten times last night.
That’s my favorite song right now, and I think the video is perfect.
4. What was the last show you attended?
I’ve been playing shows non-stop for the past two months, so I haven’t
really gone to anything outside of that. I think the last thing that I
went to see was Grand Buffet in Reno on one of the off nights on tour.
They were on tour with me, but I wasn’t playing a show that day and they
had their own thing booked.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
Lollapalooza ‘95 in Pittsburgh was standout moment from my early days of
going to shows. Sonic Youth, the Jesus Lizard, Redman, Cypress Hill,
Pavement, Beck, wow, so much more too.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
I’m pumped that Fleetwood Mac are coming to town in March.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
E-40
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
Beethoven’s Greatest Hits
Nirvana - In Utero
Bel Biv Devoe - Poison
Beyonce - Single Ladies CD single
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
Sure
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
Nirvana - Live Tonight Sold Out
11. What’s the last book you read?
I can’t remember.
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
It’s two very different things for me. Live performances are instant
pay-offs but working on music at home is more like a long-term
relationship.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
At the very beginning of my set at Bonnaroo 2006, I was a few drinks deep
and screamed “What’s up Coachella!” I didn’t even realize it until I saw a
YouTube later.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
Morgantown, WV
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
I drove home from a show at Penn State with some friends. I sat in the
backseat. We ate dinner at some spot 40 minutes outside of Pittsburgh. I
got a pasta dish with shrimp. When I got home, I relaxed and watched
“Gremlins.”
Girl Talk - Give and Go
Girl Talk - Let Me See You
Donnie Iris and The Cruisers - Ode To Jane (Immortal Beloved)
Don’t hurt yourself trying to explain to someone what Gang Gang Dance sounds like. However, you can safely say that their latest album, Saint Dymphna, is probably one of the most highly praised records of 2008. Gang Gang Dance is that kind of band you’d expect from the NYC experimental dance scene; futuristic, vibrant, chaotic, tribal, and totally fun. It’s no surprise that they’ve been getting all this critical acclaim for Saint Dymphna, which is as bizarre as it is danceable. The band is will be playing at Santos Party House in downtown Manhattan on New Years Eve, then they’ll be off to Europe in February.
Gang Gang’s Brian DeGraw answers this week’s Kuestionnaire and shares a different (yet hilarious) kind of embarrassing stage moment.
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
Currently a mix cd compiled by Jimmy Hey and a cd by Bazaardvark.
2. What have you been listening to lately?
Jimmy Heys mix cd, Silver Apples, and the first Burial album.
4. What was the last show you attended?
Just went to see Violens and Deerhunter the other night in brooklyn,
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
Probably either an early Animal Collective show or possibly No Neck Blues Band in Minneapolis when they just started cutting themselves with bottles and throwing shit at the audience.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
Guest Species in the Conference House/Butthole Surfers/Black Dice tomorrow night.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
Brian Eno without a doubt.
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
I dunno….probably a bunch of faceless new age music…just background sound.
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
No.
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
A Bubble Jug live video and all of of the footage ive ever filmed on tour.
11. What’s the last book you read?
“To the King of Thailand” by Matthias Connor
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
Live for sure. I like both but i find it much easier to get into my preferred state of mind while playing live.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
When i as 15 i dove onto the stage at a Morrissey concert and the bouncers grabbed me by the pantlegs and my pants came down in front of 5,000 people. Actually it wasn’t even very embarrassing…its just the type of scenario that is supposed to be emabarrasing but i just remember laughing and getting thrown out.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
All of Japan, Lisbon, and Los Angeles…LA not so much for the show but more for the weather and the friends and the tacos.
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
Bought some basil and talked to my spider.
There weren’t many albums released this year that even resembled the badshit insane sound coming from The Mae Shi’s Hlllyh. Well ladies and gentlemen, this internet age has found it’s marching band. The LA band has been rocking their brand of fuck-you-sideways electro-spazz for the past six years and from the looks of it, aren’t going anywhere but up. They have already secured themselves on a few top 10 records of 2008 lists (mine included) and have become very well known for their frantic and energetic live shows. We’ll see what the new year holds for this bizarre and super fun band.
Upcoming Shows
Dec 11 2008 8:00P
NYU (Kimmel Center’s Eisner & Lubin Auditorium)
New York City, New York
Dec 12 2008 8:00P
Silent Barn
Brooklyn, New York
Dec 21 2008 8:00P
Echoplex w/ Daedelus, Busdriver, Rumpringa, and Fool’s Gold
Los Angeles, California
The Mae Shi’s Jacob Alonzo Cooper answers this week’s Kuestionnaire…
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
2. What have you been listening to lately?
Lil Wayne, Metronomy, These New Puritans, and other things i find on tour.
3. What’s your favorite local band?
Abe Vigoda
4. What was the last show you attended?
The Dodos. i was really drunk and went with my friend Jax who is good friends with them. I saw the end of it. Does that kind of count?
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
Well, The first show i ever went to was Korn and Rob Zombie in 1999. i feel like that is unbeatable in so many shitty ways.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
Abe Vigoda, Finally Punk (members of The Carrots from Austin/Portland/Providence/LA), Bobb Bruno (member of Polar Goldie Cats and Goliath Bird Eater)
at the smell on Dec 30
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
Henry Rollins, though he would remind me of my vet father.
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island? I’m not sure, but they would probably all be sad sounding records.
9. Would you call yourself a music geek? Yes. It’s trivial stuff.
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own? Fuck DVD. I have blue-ray.
11. What’s the last book you read? I don’t really read a lot but I was just starting Our Band Could Be Your Life in the van on tour. I didn’t really get too far into it but the Minutemen chapter is DEPRESSSINGGGG.
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio? I prefer that they both differ. Two different ballparks there. I prefer playing live though.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share? We sometimes get yelled at. That’s always fun.
14. Any favorite tour locations? London. Barcelona, Spain is also crazy.
15. Lastly, what have you done today? Got up. Sat around. Ate something. Checked my e-mail. Ate something again. I am visiting family in Arizona for Thanksgiving. I miss Los Angeles.
Springfield, Missouri’s ownSomeone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin(SSLYBY) are pooped. I mean c’mon, they played their hearts out this past year with a full US tour and recently wrapped up a two month long Euro-tour. You’ve got to hand it to them, they deserve a break. However, they’re not slowing down just yet. They’ve already began writing their next record and have lined up a couple shows for next year. You can probably expect the same super fun indie-pop sound that their last record, Pershing, brought. You can catch SSLYBY at…
01/25/09 - Sun
Courtyard Cafe
Urbana, IL
01/27/09 - Tue
Billiken Club
with The Radical Sons
St Louis, MO
01/28/09 - Wed
Mojo’s
Columbia, MO
01/29/09 - Thu
Jackpot Saloon
with The Daemons
Lawrence, KS
01/30/09 - Fri
Box Awesome
with UUVVWWZ and Tie These Hands
Lincoln, NE
Drummer/guitarist/vocalist Phil Dickey was nice enough to answer this week’s Kuestionnaire and share his love for sibling rock!
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
A mix tape my grandpa made me a long time ago for sentimental reasons.
2. What have you been listening to lately?
Bob Dylan’s “Desire” a little bit. Some Weezer stuff. And my sister’s band.
3. What’s your favorite local band?
My sister’s band.
4. What was the last show you attended?
Michael Holt at the Outland.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
It’s a huge tie.
Jonathan Richman
Michael Holt
Michael W. Smith
The Mommyheads
6. What show are you looking forward to?
Via Audio is coming to Springfield in December.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
My sister
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
Pinkerton, Kurt Cobain, Erik Satie, and The Beatles
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
maniac
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
I like the Beatles Anthology but I mostly just look stuff up on Youtube.
11. What’s the last book you read?
Walk Two Moons.
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
Both!
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
I fell off a stage once. I tried to jump and I tripped on something and almost stabbed someone with my guitar.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
Beloit, Wisconsin. Northfield, Minnesota. Not kidding.
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
I woke up, I walked a puppy, I tried to watch Last of the Mohegans, I tried to go back to sleep, I made french toast and two eggs, I rode my bike to the library to get some work done, and I did this. I did it!
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Think I Wanna Die
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Oregon Girl
It’s great to be a singer-songwriter these days. There is so much elbow room in the genre to pretty much do whatever you like. You aren’t constricted by labels or limited to a certain crowd. Plus it’s prefered among music lovers that you take advantage of your freedom as a singer-songwriter. Well that is exactly what Drew Danburry has done. Much like Jens Lekman and Ben Kweller, Drew has mixed his hilariously unique lyrics with a charming and sweet style that can disarm anyone willing to let their guard down. Drew’s latest album, “This Could Mean Trouble, You Don’t Speak For The Club“, is a fun filled folk-pop extravaganza that is a delightful slice of musical integrity.
Drew Danburry was kind enough to take time off from doing his thing to answer the Kuestionnaire…
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
Picking favorites is just not possible.
2. What have you been listening to lately?
Nothing, actually. My wife and I have been just talking to each other the whole day drive when we’re on the road. We get really sick of music when we listen to it all day and every night. We like the sound of each other’s voice better.
3. What’s your favorite local band?
Local band? In Utah? It seems like with any decent band they tend to overstep the realm of “local” rather quickly due to the easy ability for anyone to tour and the internet opening the door to fans pretty much anywhere in the world. It’s hard to draw a line as to who’s local anymore. Is Seve vs. Evan still considered local? I’d pick them.
4. What was the last show you attended?
I’m about to attend a show at Kilby Court tonight with Bishop Allen and An Horse…does it not count if I’m playing as well?
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
Jason Anderson, September 2004 at Muse Music.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
None, my goodness have you any idea how much I hate going to shows? It’s like being asked to go into work for overtime without getting paid. It’s horrible. If Whispertown2000 didn’t just cancel their trip to Utah I’d be excited to play with them. Or maybe if Deertick we’re coming this way.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
jeff lynne or eric bachmann
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
how would I play albums on a deserted island?
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
I’ve never thought to ask that question. I wouldn’t know really. Other people can decide for me.
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
Nothing comes to mind. Does The Graduate count?
11. What’s the last book you read?
Frankenstein. But I’m about to start “The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary” by Simon Winchester
Pretty cool huh? I’m excited.
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
They’re incomparable. Two different things. Apples and Oranges.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
Breaking down and getting frustrated in Logan, Utah when I was lied to straightfaced from the promoter about what kind of show I was playing up until I got there and pretty much feeling taken advantage of…I didn’t play an encore. I should have walked out before playing period, but I felt bad because people had driven up from Provo for it.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
France.
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
Woken up, eaten a bowl of cereal because I was too lazy to make a decent breakfast and responded to your email.
Kata Rokkar is a place where you can download free mp3 from artists and bands that I currently love and listen to. They are only for sampling purposes and to influence you to go out and support these artists by purchasing their records and going to their concerts. If you are a record company or an artist that is displeased with a song being displayed, feel free to contact me and I will remove it ASAP. Thank you and enjoy!
Michael Zapruder - Happy New Year
