Thursday, December 15th, 2005

Catch A Collapsing Star

I swear, I’d totally intended to go see The Mendoza Line at the Rivoli last night along with Picastro and Great Lake Swimmers, but some personal stuff came up and I was unable to make it out after all. Alas. Sometimes real life seeps into blog life and things get all higgeldy piggeldy. And it’s a shame, because I’ve really been enjoying their latest highly regarded album, Full Of Fire And Full Of Light. Shannon McArdle’s voice is stronger than ever while Tim Bracy’s vocals are less Dylan-nasal and have more character of their own, and the songwriting is super-sharp and the music a terrific blend of country twang and pop hooks. I really am sorry to not be reporting back on the show but as consolation, I offer up this interview with the band courtesy of Aversion and these MP3s… which I’ve posted before, yes.

MP3: The Mendoza Line – “Catch A Collapsing Star”
MP3: The Mendoza Line – “Mysterious In Black”

They have a few Canadian dates left so if you get a chance, go see them. Hopefully (for me), they’ll be back sooner rather than later. Also check out Shannon and Timothy’s side project, Slow Dazzle.

Archive.org has My Morning Jacket’s Toronto show from this past October available for your downloading and listening pleasure. Last week, MMJ had to cancel their upcoming European tour while Jim James recovers from pneumonia. Best wishes to James for a quick recovery.

Torq Campbell of Stars gives eye a very quick preview of what to expect from their six sold-out shows at Lee’s Palace this weekend. That’s right, SIX.

Magnet catches up with Mark Gardener, who gives his seal of approval to their shoegazing feature story a few years ago.

Rolling Stone finds out why Rhett Miller is The Believer, his second solo album due February 28.

So here is some news – I leave it to you to decide if it’s good or bad. For The Records reports that The New Pornographers will be back on the road in early ’06 in support of Belle & Sebastian. This is indubitably good news. However, this info synchs up with some hush-hush info that I recently received that, if true, will leave the indie kids howling for the booking police. Me, I’ll be looking for comfortable shoes and calling a cab. Do with that info what you will.

Check it out – another award nomination for yours truly. This one is for LiveDaily’s “Best Music Weblog” category, with some other very worthy nominees. I don’t know what to say about their other categories, though… Update: Well it looks like the contest/voting is only open to Americans. That’s my chances fucked right up, then. Update 2: Okay, it looks like anyone can enter, but only Americans can win…

More lists – The AV Club’s music writers take a swing at the best of 2005 and Stylus picks their best movies of 2005. And for a good one-stop year-end list resource, check out Fimoculous.

np – David Bowie / Low

By : Frank Yang at 8:48 am
Category: Uncategorized
RSS Feed for this postNo Responses.
  1. machismo says:

    "Looking for comfortable shoes and calling a cab."

    Need… more… info…

  2. newpolluter says:

    that’s a bill I may actually ‘Dock it up’ for!

  3. suckingalemon says:

    it’s either at the docks or arrow hall?
    as much as we all like to complain about the docks id see that lineup there in a heartbeat. it’s really not such a horrible venue to get to – just a small walk and you’re at the streetcar.
    arrow hall would be harder but i got a ride to the pixies i could do the same for this.

    unless it’s neither but i cannot think of anything else anyone would complain about.

    cheers

  4. daniel says:

    Maybe Massey Hall like last time B&S played in Toronto (it was such an amazing show), but it may be expensive.

  5. Thierry says:

    You don’t need comfortable shoes and a cab for Massey Hall. The Docks…*sigh*

    Hey, Frank, I know it’s too late for your year-end list, but you should check out the record that Johnny Irion and Sara Lee (daughter of Arlo) Guthrie put out this year, Exploration – good songs, nice warm and earthy production by Gary Louris, beautiful ragged harmonies…Johnny Irion’s first record (which I found at Refried Beats for 99 cents) shows that this wasn’t a fluke. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next…

  6. Quinn says:

    this "Docks" place may be terrible, but at least you Toronto folk get a date on every "North American Tour"…

    even when "North American" means NYC, LA, Chicago, Toronto

  7. brian. says:

    ugh.
    i don’t think i could go back there again so soon.
    it will probably be $30 too.
    although, the only time i’ve seen B+S was at the Kool Haus, which is no better.

  8. daniel says:

    The Massey Hall show was about $50 last time B&S played there…but I didnt mind paying that much to be in a great sounding/comfy venue (and I was in the third row!!)