Arcade Fire – MSG Concert Webcast Promo

Frank YangEven though it barely counted as a half-slate of acts, day one of the Pitchfork Music Festival had left me feeling more worn than it should have. Chalk it up to not having done a proper outdoor festival in a few years, and having forgotten what it was to deal with the crowds and the heat. Oh, the heat.

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it yet, but this past weekend in Chicago was hot. Damn hot. Maybe technical heat wave hot. And while it was enough to make most North Americans melt, one gets the sense that Barcelona’s Delorean felt right at home. Not only do they hail from warmer climes, but the electro-euro, get-naked party anthems from their debut Subiza are tailor-made to celebrate it. The quartet did their best to turn hipsterfest into Ibiza and while they succeeded in getting some of the crowd moving, most could only muster the energy to sway.

Photos: Delorean @ Aluminum Stage – July 17, 2010
MP3: Delorean – “Stay Close”
Video: Delorean – “Stay Close”

Over at the Balance Stage, set a little ways from the main stages and more importantly in a shady grove of trees, Kurt Vile was turning in a set of ’70s-ish art-punk/pop that wasn’t much to look at, with Vile generally keeping his face hidden under a heavy head of hair, but was great to listen to. I think I still have a copy of his 2009 release Childish Prodigy kicking around somewhere – I should get better acquainted with it.

Photos: Kurt Vile @ Balance Stage – July 17, 2010
MP3: Kurt Vile – “Overnite Religion”
MP3: Kurt Vile – “Hunchback”
Video: Kurt Vile – “Freak Train”
MySpace: Kurt Vile

I’d mentioned that a lot of the acts at Pitchfork were performing in a setting far larger than they were accustomed to, and that it shouldn’t be a surprise if what works in a small club doesn’t translate onto an outdoor stage. Such was not the case for Titus Andronicus. Maybe more than any other band still living on the club circuit, the New Jersey punks not only rose to the occasion but used it as a launching pad for even greater things. Tearing through material from their excellent album The Monitor, they had the undivided attention of thousands who were more than up for screaming “you will always be a loser!” at the tops of their lungs. Though guest spots from tourmates Hallelujah The Hills on horns helped classy up the proceedings a bit, it was still all about the fury of Patrick Stickles’ grand and angry anthems. The first truly epic set of the weekend.

Photos: Titus Andronicus @ Connector Stage – July 17, 2010
MP3: Titus Andronicus – “A More Perfect Union”
MP3: Titus Andronicus – “Four Score And Seven” (Part One)
MP3: Titus Andronicus – “Four Score And Seven” (Part Two)

Read more at Chromewaves →

Y La Bamba - “Monster”
MP3: Herbcraft - “No Hope for Mankind” Did you find this note? Did you find it tied with string and dried from rain? Did you find it and does it look old? Did it crack when you unfurled it? Does it unfurl like it should? Are these questions still at the top or have the years shaken up the order? Are you still the way you used to be? Have you changed? Are you taller, do you have a beard, bad breath, a baby? Are you over that heartbreak yet? Has it changed you, are you scarred? Does the scar bump out the back of your shoulder blade? Are you self-conscious now when you wear tank tops? Are you scared it'll happen again? Are you dumber for it or smarter for it? Do you see them around? Did they ever apologize? Do you still sit down in the shower? Do you still cut your chin when you shave? Have you eaten fruit today? Does your neck still sweat two packs a day? Do you still cough hellfire in the morning? Does the morning still feel like it'll kill you with its weight? Are the same people still running your life? Have you told any of them to fuck off yet? Have you done any of the things you said you'd do? Can you still dance? Do you still dance like you're gonna kill someone, punching the air and with wild serious eyes? Are you still a lazy soul? Do you still swim treading water and not with a stroke? Do you still talk to those old friends you used to have? Do you keep note of all the things that interest you, do you collect them or do they run across you like rain? Do you save anything? Do you trade 'tidy' for time? Have you reached that point where the days can click like seconds? Do you still eat grass? Do people still call you that nickname? Are you ever going to get help? Aren't you going to get some help? Can't you tell when you need all the help you can get? Click, click, click.

[Y La Bamba]
[Herbcraft]

RIP Andy Hummel of Big Star

NPR is streaming the new Menomena album, Mines (out July 27th).

Forbes lists the top-earning musicians of 2010.

Paste lists musical action figures.

Flavorwire shares a rock 'n roll baby name dictionary.

Stream Amanda Palmer's Radiohead covers album, or buy it for the low price of 84 cents.

The finalists for the UK's 2010 Mercury Prize have been named.

Clash lists current bookmaker's odds:

5/2 The xx - xx
4/1 Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
7/1 Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
7/1 Foals - Total Life Forever
7/1 Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
12/1 Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea
12/1 I Am Kloot - Sky At Night
16/1 Paul Weller - Wake Up The Nation
14/1 Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N' Cheek
20/1 Kit Downes Trio - Golden
25/1 Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
25/1 Villagers - Becoming A Jackal

NPR is interviewing female artists about being a woman musician today.

The Books – The Way Out
MP3: The Books – “Beautiful People”

The Coathangers – 143 (Dan Deacon Remix)

Dangermouse + Sparklehorse – Dark Night of the Soul

Delorean – Ayrton Senna EP

Department of Eagles – Archive 2003-2006

Daniel Johnston – Story of an Artist Box Set

Fabulous Diamonds – Fabulous Diamonds II

Francis & the Lights – It’ll Be Better

JEFF the Brotherhood – Mellow Out

Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement
MP3: Lower Dens – “Tea Lights”

Mahjongg – The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger
MP3: Mahjongg – “Miami Knights”

Manowar & Friends – MAGIC – A Tribute to Ronnie James Dio

MIA – XXXO Remixes EP

Mountain Man – Made the Harbor
MP3: Mountain Man – “Soft Skin”

Nirvana – Live on Air

Norfolk & Western – Dinero Severo

Nouvelle Vague – Best Of: Limited Edition

Piebald – Volume III

Portland Cello Project – Volume III

Max Richter – Infra

Dan Sartain – Lives

Secret Cities – Pink Graffiti
MP3: Secret Cities – “Pink Graffiti Pt. I”

Shannon Stephens – s/t
MP3: Shannon Stephens – “Catch the Morning Line”

Vinyl/Vinyl Reissues

Big Boi – Sire Luscious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty

Big Troubles – Drastic and Difficult
MP3: Big Troubles – “Drastic and Difficult”

Cheatahs / Dignan Porch / Colours / Not Cool – Split 7″

Devo – Something for Everybody

Dirty Three – She Has No Strings Apollo

Gogol Bordello – Trans-Continental Hustle

Hanoi Janes – Specks Ho!

Japandroids – Younger Us
MP3: Japandroids – “Younger Us”

LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

Jamie Lidell – Wanna Be Your Telephone

Majeure – Timespan Remixes

The Mantles – Pink Information
MP3: The Mantles – “Lily Never Married”

Minks – Ophelia

Mirah – Don’t

The National – s/t

The National – Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers

Pelican/These Arms Are Snakes – Split

Pigeons – Si Faustine

Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month – Your Wicked Man

Rachel’s – Selenography

Samps – s/t
MP3: The Samps – “Peppergood”

Dan Sartain – Doin’ Anything I Say

Sally Shapiro – Jackie Jackie

Shellac – Terraform

Sleigh Bells – Treats
MP3: Sleigh Bells – “Infinity Guitars”

Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space

Spur – Of the Moments
MP3: Spur – “Mr. Creep”

Toro Y Moi – Leave Everywhere
MP3: Toro Y Moi – “Leave Everywhere”

V/A – Saigon Rock & Soul: Vietnamese Classic Tracks 1968-1974

TK Webb – s/t

Wire – Send Ultimate

Woom – Muu’s Way
MP3: Woom – “Quetzalcoatl’s Ship”

Matthew Young – Traveler’s Advisory

Richard Youngs – 20 Years

Richard Youngs – Beyond the Valley of the Ultrahits
MP3: Richard Youngs – “Love in the Great Outdoors”