A sort of double-header today. Mr Kevin Devine and Ms Jennifer O’Connor are playing an evening of singer-songwriter-y fare straight outta Brooklyn at Lee’s Palace on Monday, January 29 and I’ve got three pairs of passes to give away, courtesy of Against The Grain.

But wait! There’s more! I also have ten – TEN – copies of Kevin Devine’s new CD, Put Your Ghost To Rest, to give away. That’s like a baker’s dozen except not. The only catch with this one is that to get your prize, you have to be able to go pick it up at the front bar of the Horseshoe (if you don’t know where that is, it’s probably going to be too much trouble for you to get it) within a week of the contest’s closing. If that’s simply not doable, we’ll work something out.

So anyways. To enter, send me an email at contests@chromewaves.net with “I want the Kevin Devine stuff” in the subject line. I’ll draw ten winners – the first three will get the passes and the CD, the next seven will just get the CD. Clear as mud? Good. Contest closes at midnight, January 25.

MP3: Kevin Devine – “Holland 1945”
MP3: Jennifer O’Connor – “Today”
MP3: Jennifer O’Connor – “Exeter, Rhode Island”
MySpace: Kevin Devine
MySpace: Jennifer O’Connor

Last night the El Mocambo played host to a ridiculous ten bands as some sort of all-ages showcase that felt more than a little like a high school coffee house. And though the combo was relatively value-priced, I went in a la carte interested only in seeing The Vulcan Dub Squad.

Not Vulcans nor playing dub or even having enough members to fully constitute a US army squad, the Vulcans were playing their first show in a year, having taken the time off to record a new album (The New Designers, out very soon) and shuffle the roster around a bit (newly expanded to a five-piece). They also shed their old stage uniforms in favour of some dapper suits which, while less original, sure look a hell of a lot better.

Describing the Vulcans isn’t the easiest task – stylistically they run the gamut from gently jangling pop to hyperkinetic riffery, often within the same song. The high level of musicianship is obvious but they thankfully don’t let that overwhelm their attention to songcraft. Instead they thread the needle, crafting energetic, danceable rock that’s still hooky and really interesting to listen to – there’s definitely no shortage of musical ideas in their collective heads. They could probably be a jam band if they wanted but instead choose to be a pop band and the world is a better place for it (for having one less jam band in it, that is).

Their stage show was also tight and impactful, especially considering the time off, with frontman Ranbir Gundu alternately leaping around or lounging on a old-style telephone bench sipping a glass of Scotch. If there was a complaint, it was that Gundu’s expletive-laced between-song banter was overlong, pointless and most egregiously, not funny. There was enough of an adolescent vibe in the room without him adding to it but on the other hand, when in Rome, right?

Photos: The Vulcan Dub Squad @ The El Mocambo, January 19 2007
MySpace: The Vulcan Dub Squad

Harp talks to The Hold Steady after declaring Boys And Girls In America their best album of 2006.

Murray Lightburn of The Dears talks to The GW Hatchet, The NY Daily News, PopMatters, Broward-Palm Beach New Times and The Miami New Times while on tour in the US for Gang Of Losers.

Drowned In Sound asks Colin Meloy of The Decemberists random questions. Meloy gives random answers.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne gives Billboard a Traffic And Weather weather forecast for April 3.

Here’s the second part of yesterday’s Suede post, covering all things Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler that aren’t actually Suede.

You may recall that Butler walked out of the sessions for Dog Man Star before their completion but he wasn’t inactive for long, soon partnering with UK soul singer David McAlmont. Together, they produced two singles – “Yes” and “You Do” – that blended Butler’s penchant for heavily orchestrated guitar rock with McAlmont’s three-octave R&B range for astonishing results. Though the chemistry was undeniable, it was also highly volatile and the duo split after recording just enough material for an album – The Sound Of McAlmont & Butler which while decent, doesn’t come near to reaching the heights of the two singles.

Once again left to his own devices, Butler briefly joined The Verve while Nick McCabe was in a snit but later began teasing the UK press with hints as to the next singer he was going work with, saying only that it was someone “already famous, but with a reputation for being extremely difficult to work with”. As it turns out, that someone was himself – his solo debut People Move On was released in 1998 and was surprisingly solid. His voice, though a bit thin and reedy compared to Anderson or McAlmont, was more than passable and fit well with his more singer-songwritery material. He hadn’t gone totally folky, however, as there were still more than a few elaborate and ornate guitar workouts present. The follow-up however, Friends & Lovers, didn’t manage to keep the standard up and was a generally dull and forgettable record. But still, Butler had proven that he could stand on his own and didn’t need to work with a diva-ish singer to produce compelling music. And so he went right out and did just that.

I don’t have Bring It Back, the second album from the unexpectedly reunited McAlmont & Butler, but will happily agree with Thierry in yesterday’s comments that “Falling”, the first single from said album, is again an absolute gem. By the magic of eBay I should have a copy of the record winding its way to me in a day or so – I hope it maintains that level of quality. Work began on a third album in 2004 but they were shelved – only a single, “Speed”, was released – as Butler found himself working with another former collaborator who had recently found himself band-less: Brett Anderson.

It may have taken a decade, but the hatchet was buried and what had seemed like only a fantasy to Suede fans of old was actually happening – Bernard Butler and Brett Anderson were actually working together again. Forging a new identity as The Tears (as in to cry, not to rip), they released Here Come The Tears in Summer of 2005. While it disappointed some who rather unfairly hoped that stepping into a studio together might somehow de-age the pair by 10 years, I found it to be better than I probably had any right to expect. Lyrically, Anderson shelved the sleaziness and seductiveness of Suede for a more optimistic and, despite the negative connotations of the word, mature tact. Butler continued to do what it he does but is also more restrained than he’s been in the past. It was like they were consciously trying to avoid the sonic trappings of Suede even if that was what they were undeniably best at. To me, it sounds like not unlike Coming Up if Butler had played on it rather than Oakes.

But Tears don’t last and in Spring of 2006, after a fair bit of worldwide touring in support of the record (though not in North America), Anderson announced that the band was going on hiatus while he worked on a solo record. This time the split was entirely drama-free, however, and there’s no reason to think that there won’t be another Tears record someday – just not right now. Butler has been busy doing production work and planning a third solo record (what about that third McAlmont & Butler album, hmm?) while Anderson’s imaginatively-titled Brett Anderson will see the inside of stores on March 26 and it’s safe to say that people are still interested – he sold out three London shows in under five minutes. He had been premiering demos of his new material on YouTube but only one of them is still available – guess we’ll just have to wait until March to hear how it all turns out. Update: The album version of “Scorpio Rising” is posted on his MySpace, link below.

And I would be remiss if I let these posts go by without mentioning that Bernard Butler is quite possibly/probably my favourite guitarist around. I spent more time than I care to admit back in the day trying to cop his riffs, his tone, everything. Wholly unsuccessfully, I should add, but it was something to aspire to. And even though I don’t really play much at all these days, I still occasionally dream of owning a Gibson ES-355 plugged into a Vox AC-30. Le sigh.

MP3: McAlmont & Butler – “Yes”
MP3: The Tears – “Autograph” (live on BBC2)
Video: McAlmont & Butler – “Yes” (YouTube)
Video: McAlmont & Butler – “You Do” (YouTube)
Video: McAlmont & Butler – “Falling” (YouTube)
Video: Bernard Butler – “Stay” (YouTube)
Video: Bernard Butler – “A Change Of Heart” (YouTube)
Video: Bernard Butler – “Not Alone” (YouTube)
Video: The Tears – “Refugees” (YouTube)
Video: The Tears – “Lovers” (YouTube)
Video: Brett Anderson – “Love Is Dead” (YouTube)
MySpace: McAlmont & Butler
MySpace: Bernard Butler
MySpace: The Tears
MySpace: Brett Anderson

Pitchfork reports that Echo & The Bunnymen’s old best-of comp, Songs To Learn & Sing, will be getting a makeover next week and be rereleased with nine additional tracks covering both eras (original and reunion) and a live DVD as More Songs To Learn And Sing : The Very Best Of. I had been on a mission to acquire the original Bunnymen releases on vinyl (I only need Crocodile) but if I’m being honest, it’s the Songs compilation that I listen to most when I need some Echo action – I’ll be happy to replace it with this expanded, younger and sportier model.

Maria Taylor will make up her canceled show at the El Mocambo from Summer 2005 with a Winter show at the El Mocambo. She’s there March 21. Her new record Lynn Teeter Flower is out March 6.

Dean & Britta tell Harp about the albums that changed their lives. The Feelies, Dean? Wow, I’m shocked. Shocked, I say.

So Much Silence is currently offering up a vinyl-only b-side from M Ward, a different version of “Magic Trick” featuring vocals from My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. M Ward is at the Mod Club next Saturday.

Daytrotter has posted a studio session with Headlights.