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New Music, New York

TAS Interview: Anna Calvi

Posted 5-6-11 by

Tags: Anna Calvi

The decidedly dramatic Anna Calvi launches her long-overdue North American tour later this month, arriving at New York's Bowery Ballroom on May 25. The British chanteuse's bluesy, near-operatic vocals, bruising guitar and lusty flair for flamenco has made her a fast-rising star in the UK, with a flurry of comparisons to PJ Harvey; coincidentally, Harvey's longtime drummer, Rob Ellis, produced Calvi's debut. The Alternate Side caught up with Calvi and asked her about her inspirations, her unique vision and her very impressive advocate, Brian Eno.

TAS Interview: Elbow

Posted 4-16-11 by

Tags: Elbow

There's no shortage of good bands playing Coachella this weekend, but one of the best - and a quintet on the brink of a long-overdue Stateside breakthrough - is Manchester's emotionally eloquent rockers, Elbow. Their fifth album, build a rocket boys!, is easily one of the strongest releases of this still-young year, harboring songs like the tender meditation "Lippy Kids" and the big-hearted anthem "Open Arms." Earlier this week The Alternate Side caught up with frontman Guy Garvey and bassist Pete Turner at an East Village hotel to not only talk about the new album, but the profound brotherhood that has bound these five friends for over twenty years.

TAS Interview: Noah and the Whale

Posted 4-5-11 by

Tags: Noah and the Whale

The trajectory of Noah and the Whale's career has been carefully crafted over three albums, from the deceptively sunny insouciance of their 2008 debut, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, to the personal heartbreak (and rebound) of 2009's The First Days of Spring, to the brighter, more observant spirit of their new album, Last Night On Earth. The Alternate Side caught up with singer and songwriter Charlie Fink and violinist Tom Hobden to chat about the band's subtle and smart new album, the eclectic influences that guided them and what SXSW really means to young bands.

TAS Interview: Erland & the Carnival

Posted 3-31-11 by

Tags: Erland & the Carnival

The far-ranging, catholic tastes of Erland & the Carnival were evident on their self-titled debut, which galloped from near-madrigals to mind-bending psychedelic rockers. On their second album, Nightingale, they've managed to push the envelope even further. The Alternate Side reached out to Erland & the Carnival's David Nock and Simon Tong about the new record and as Tong describes it, "The second album is more like a married couple going to marriage guidance, swearing and throwing saucepans at each other."

TAS Interview: Holy Ghost!

Posted 3-29-11 by

Tags: Holy Ghost!

LCD Soundsystem might be saying adieu this week, but Holy Ghost!, a New York band that boasts a DFA Records pedigree and James Murphy's mentorship, are on the ascent. The duo of Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser, who drop their euphoric debut on April 5 on iTunes and physically on April 12, play two shows this week at Terminal 5, one poignantly conflicting with LCD Soundsystem's last show. The Alternate Side caught up with Millhiser and chatted about the new record, five of Holy Ghost!'s essential albums and what it means to say farewell to LCD Soundsystem ... for now. Plus, a free download of "Wait & See" from the album.

Thao Nguyen' s SXSW Blog

Posted 3-24-11 by

Tags: Mirah, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Thao Nguyen

Singer and social advocate Thao Nguyen had a hectic SXSW schedule, juggling gigs with her band Thao and The Get Down Stay Down and participating in a panel on music and post-Katrina New Orleans. Intrigued by her many obligations - she's also releasing a collaborative album with Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn of Mirah on April 26 - The Alternate Side asked Thao if she'd blog about her Austin escapades.

Withered Hand's SXSW Photo Blog

Posted 3-23-11 by

Tags: Withered Hand

Scottish singer and songwriter Dan Willson, who plays as Withered Hand, learned about a week before he was to depart for SXSW that his visa application had been rejected by U.S. immigration officials. Stunned, he appealed and reached out to his label, friends and fans for help. International press, radio personalities and other musicians took up his cause. Hours before he was to depart for the States, Willson's visa was approved. Given his stressful escapades, The Alternate Side thought that Dan would have an especially poignant perspective on SXSW and we asked him to do a blog for us ... and he kindly agreed.

It's Spring ... And Tracey Thorn Answers The Alternate Side's Gardening Questions

Posted 3-22-11 by

Tags: Tracey Thorn

Tracey Thorn released one of the most beautiful albums of 2010, the wistful and wry Love and Its Opposite, but when The Alternate Side had the chance several days ago to send her a handful of random questions, we decided, in honor of spring, to stray from music and query Tracey about one of her personal passions: gardening. Not only did Tracey give beginning gardeners a few handy tips and revealed her nightmarish blackfly issues with beans, but she generously threw in an excellent pasta recipe.

Apex Manor's SXSW Blog

Posted 3-22-11 by

Tags: Apex Manor

Apex Manor, founded by former Broken West frontman Ross Flournoy, survived SXSW with dignity intact and had a chance to turn on a fresh batch of fans to their slyly-named debut album, The Year of Magical Drinking. The Alternate Side asked the guys if they'd keep a blog of their Austin triumphs and travails and keyboardist Adam Vine happily complied. Apex Manor play New York's Bowery Ballroom, tonight, March 22, opening for Noah and the Whale, and Mercury Lounge on March 26.

The Boxer Rebellion's SXSW Blog: Part Two

Posted 3-21-11 by

Tags: Hanson, Michael Stipe, North Mississippi Allstars, The Boxer Rebellion, The Joy Formidable

The Boxer Rebellion, who have been blogging for The Alternate Side at SXSW, not only made it through music festival madness, but they also had the chance to transcend Austin fun with a more globally-relevant concern - the SXSW4Japan telethon benefitting survivors of Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, Hanson, North Mississippi Allstars and more. Part two of drummer Piers Hewitt's SXSW blog after the jump.

Esben and the Witch SXSW Blog: Day Four

Posted 3-19-11 by

Tags: Esben and the Witch

Esben and the Witch's indefatigable trio of Daniel Copeman, Thomas Fisher and Rachel Davies has been poetically and visually documenting their SXSW experiences - the good, the bad and the ugly - for The Alternate Side. The powerful Goth-touched band, which recently released their startling debut Violet Cries on Matador Records, play their last SXSW show today, March 19, the all-star Mess With Texas party.

The Boxer Rebellion's SXSW Blog: Part One

Posted 3-19-11 by

Tags: The Boxer Rebellion

Anglo-American anthemic rockers The Boxer Rebellion are gearing up for a North American tour this April, but first they made a return trip to SXSW, supporting their new album The Cold Still which dropped last month. Despite heavy-duty SXSW stress - the band plays their last Austin showcase tonight, March 19 - drummer Piers Hewitt found time to send on a blog for The Alternate Side.

Generationals' SXSW Blog: Part One

Posted 3-18-11 by

Tags: Generationals

New Orleans' gutsy rock duo Generationals, the team of Grant Widmer and Ted Joyner, release their sophomore album Actor Caster on March 29 and they're debuting much of that terrific new material at SXSW this week, including two gigs tonight, March 18 and another on Saturday, March 19. We're pretty pleased that they're blogging about their Austin adventures for The Alternate Side too. Check out part one - with photos - after the jump.

Esben and the Witch SXSW Blog: Day Three

Posted 3-18-11 by

Tags: Esben and the Witch

British rockers Esben and the Witch - Daniel Copeman, Thomas Fisher and Rachel Davies - have been documenting their SXSW experiences for The Alternate Side. The trio, who recently released their debut Violet Cries on Matador Records, plays Latitude 30 in Austin tonight, March 18, at midnight.

Esben and the Witch SXSW Blog: Day Two

Posted 3-17-11 by

Tags:

British rockers Esben and the Witch - Daniel Copeman, Thomas Fisher and Rachel Davies - have been documenting their SXSW experiences for The Alternate Side. The trio, who recently released their debut Violet Cries on Matador Records, plays the Fader Fort at Pine Street Station in Austin tonight, March 17, at 6:45 p.m. CDT

Esben and the Witch SXSW Blog: Day One

Posted 3-15-11 by

Tags: Esben and the Witch

British rockers Esben and the Witch have made a dramatic splash with their darkly emotive, haunting debut, Violet Cries, out now Matador. The Brighton-based trio is making their first trip to SXSW this week and The Alternate Side asked the talented threesome of Daniel Copeman, Thomas Fisher and Rachel Davies if they'd mind blogging about their experiences. Happily, they agreed. Here's their first day ... with photos.

TAS Interview: Mountain Goats

Posted 3-1-11 by , Russ Borris

Tags: John Darnielle, The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and his bandmates have sold out all three nights of their upcoming Bowery Ballroom gigs, from March 24-26, just days before the trio release their new album, All Eternals Deck, on March 29. Darnielle dropped by Studio A last week and chatted with The Alternate Side's Russ Borris and the conversation veered from songwriting, to Hank Aaron to the trailer for the 70s horror flick, "It's Alive." Mountain Goats also performed a few songs from the new record - after the jump, check out exclusive audio of the Mountain Goats playing "Liza Forever Minnelli."

TAS SXSW Preview: Tennis

Posted 2-25-11 by

Tags: Holiday Shores, La Sera, Tennis, The Walkmen

Tennis, the married duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore, are in the midst of a headlining tour supporting their breezy, buoyant debut album, Cape Dory. The much buzzed-over band play two gigs in New York next week, on March 2 and 3, and make their SXSW debut in a few weeks. The Alternate Side caught up with Riley, who emailed us at a roadside stop as the couple traveled by van to a Kansas gig, and he told us about the stress of SXSW, sailing and the accidental birth of their beautiful record.

Federal Funding For Public Broadcasting - Like TAS And WFUV - Threatened

Posted 2-24-11 by

Tags: 170millionamericans.org

Legislators in the House of Representatives are now poised to vote on H.R. 1, a bill that would zero out all dollars to CPB and all of public broadcasting, including WFUV and The Alternate Side.

TAS SXSW Preview: Sharon Van Etten

Posted 2-18-11 by

Tags: Sharon Van Etten, The National

Singer and songwriter Sharon Van Etten quietly released one of the more extraordinary albums of the last year, the mutable and deeply moving Epic. Currently opening for The National in Europe and preparing for a lengthy North American tour beginning this March, an admittedly jet-lagged Van Etten chatted with The Alternate Side over email while in London and updated us on her road trip, her work with The National's Aaron Dessner on her next album and how she plans on surviving SXSW in a month.

The Alternate Side is a proud part of WFUV Public Radio from Fordham University,
90.7 FM on your New York dial and online at wfuv.org.

TAS Top 20

1. James Blake
Overgrown

2. Palma Violets
180

3. Shout Out Louds
Optica

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Mosquito

5. Kurt Vile
Wakin on a Pretty Daze

6. Chvrches
Recover EP

7. My Bloody Valentine
m b v

8. Savages
Silence Yourself

9. Depeche Mode
Delta Machine

10. Phosphorescent
Muchacho

11. Atoms For Peace
Amok

12. Yo La Tengo
Fade

13. Foals
Holy Fire

14. Chelsea Light Moving
Chelsea Light Moving

15. Phoenix
Bankrupt!

16. Guards
In Guards We Trust

17. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
We the Common

18. Daughter
If You Leave

19. Vampire Weekend
Modern Vampires of the City

20. Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell

Crawling into the light of day, Vampire Weekend's Modern Vampires of the City debuts on the TAS Top 20 while James Blake remains atop the album chart.

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