Smoking Section by Austin Scaggs

May 2009 Archives

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Meet the Mets

May 8, 2009 12:15 PM

On Tuesday night we were watching the Mets game, dreaming about when we'd make our first trip out to their new CitiField stadium in Queens, when we got a text from the Strokes' Julian Casablancas -- a fellow Met lover -- inviting us to Wednesday's series-opener against the Phillies.

Julian had scored prime seats -- directly atop the Mets dugout -- through his management. We couldn't believe it! We had the best seats in the house! (By the way, the hot dogs are amazing, with a plethora of delicious condiments.) If you happened to watch that game, you would have seen plenty of Strokes sightings -- every time a left-handed hitter stepped up to the plate, we were on TV! 

And the game was awesome. Our ace Johan Santana threw a gem and the Mets snuck out with a 1-0 victory.

Anyway, the point of this post is this: If any of our readers out there ever have extra tickets to a Mets game, let's go! 

Front row or back row, we're not picky.


Exclusive

Franz Ferdinand Take Manhattan

May 8, 2009 11:58 AM

Photo: Alban/WireImage

Last night we saw a killer Franz Ferdinand show at Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom. Their latest album, Tonight, is one of our favorite records of '09, and the boys sure as shit delivered it onstage. "Ulysses" was sick, as were "Twilight Omens" and "No You Girls." The best, though, was the ten-minute electro-funk riot of "Lucid Dreams."

Franz guitarist Nick McCarthy hobbled onstage on crutches, and we wondered what happened to him.

Well, after the show, we went to our favorite NYC speakeasy, and invited the Franz dudes to join us. Frontman Alex Kapranos obliged, and sipped on vodka and Cokes. We got to meet his charming and talented girlfriend, Eleanor Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces, for the first time, too.

Alex told us that Nick hurt his leg in Seattle, attempting a ten-mile jog. "He usually just jogs for three miles or so," Alex said. But in pushing himself to the limits of his endurance, Nick tore up some tendons. Alex told us that Nick was healing up just fine.

And there you have it.  


Concerts

Dylan Fest '09 Just Two Weeks Away!!!

May 7, 2009 12:03 PM

We are getting pretty psyched up for DylanFest '09. It's two weeks from today!

Rehearsals have been amazing, and we hope to see y'all there. (Yes, the show's sold out, but stay tuned to the S.S. for a chance to score some tix.)

And for the third DylanFest in a row, we'll be serenaded by the lovely and talented duo, the Pierces.

Please check out their awesome new video for "Turn On Billie," below.

We love them very much. 

 


Elvis Perkins In Dearland Enters the S.S.

May 7, 2009 11:38 AM

Elvis Perkins In Dearland - "Shampoo" 

[Video: Pete Maiden/Eric Helton; Editing by Pete Maiden]

We were beyond stoked to have folk singer Elvis Perkins and his band, Dearland, swing by S.S. headquarters to play us a killer version of "Shampoo" from their March release, Elvis Perkins In Dearland. The album is truly amazing.

Behind Perkins is Brigham Brough on bass, Wyndham Boylan-Garnett on harmonium and Nick Kinsey on drums.

Elvis Perkins in Dearland (as they are known) are currently on tour, so if you like what you hear, make sure you check out their tour dates and ticket info here. Also, they'll be playing the Newport Folk Festival 50 in Rhode Island this August alongside acts such as Pete Seeger, Fleet Foxes, Arlo Guthrie, Deer Tick, Tom Morello and more.  


Dylan and McCartney? Yes, Please!

May 7, 2009 11:09 AM

If you haven't picked it up yet, we highly recommend you get yourself a copy of the new issue of Rolling Stone. The cover story on Bob Dylan is so good -- his commentary on the state of the union, and the state of the planet, is so incisive. 

In the piece Dylan tells writer Douglas Brinkley he's interested in working on a project with Paul McCartney.

"That would be exciting - to do something with Paul," says Dylan. "But, you know, your paths have to cross for something like that to make sense." 

Obviously, McCartney's camp got wind and have been in touch about a possible collaboration!

A McCartney spokesperson told the Independent, "We heard the offer this morning," the spokesperson said. "It would be a pretty major thing if it went ahead."

No shit!


Ben Harper & Relentless7 Enter the S.S.

May 5, 2009 3:10 PM

Ben Harper & Relentless 7 - "Shimmer & Shine" [Video: Pete Maiden/Tim Tregonig; Editing by Pete Maiden]

We've been digging Ben Harper's new band, Ben Harper & Relentless7, since  Smoking Section first reported on the band in October. Harper, guitarist Jason Mozersky, drummer Jordan Richardson and bassist Jesse Ingalls released their first album today, White Lies for Dark Times, and it definitely brings out Harper's heavy side, with tunes that channel Jimi Hendrix and the Stones

A few months ago, the S.S. was invited to the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York to watch Relentless7 perform in front of a few lucky fans at a WFUV-sponsored event. Check out the single "Shimmer & Shine" above, and click the jump for "Number With No Name," "Lay There & Hate Me," and a badass cover of Queen's "Under Pressure."

Also, we just sat down with our good buddy Ben for a Q&A for the recent issue of Rolling Stone (with Dylan on the cover), and he told us how much the new band has influenced his playing. "It felt like putting the training wheels back on and connecting with music at the core," he tells us. "I've relearned my instrument through this band. I'm practicing again, and woodshedding in my hotel room. I've been practicing scales!"

Dig Ben Harper & Relentless7? Send us an email explaining why you deserve to win an autographed, limited edition poster! Your deadline is May 15th. Good luck!

(more...)


Nickelback Singer Sued!

May 5, 2009 12:27 PM

Photo: McCay/WireImage

Back in 2007, Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger allegedly busted the face of furniture sales representative Noah Morse outside of a Vancouver bar. Morse is now suing Kroeger for loss of income and medical expenses.

Apparently Kroeger packs a punch. Morse claims he got a concussion, was knocked out cold and suffered "one deadened front tooth, dislodged upper front teeth and permanent discoloration of more front teeth."

(If we got beat up by a member of Nickelback we'd probably keep it to ourselves.) 

In other news, the Kings of Leon ought to sue Nickelback for their shit-laden cover, "Use Somebody."

Just try to watch the clip below of guitarist Ryan Peake butchering the tune! We dare you!

It's so awful. Do they even rehearse?


We Like Deer Tick

May 5, 2009 12:10 PM

Photo: Kendall Pavan

We've been digging this Deer Tick track, "Easy," off their upcoming album, Born on Flag Day

Deer Tick are fronted by John Joseph McCauley III, and currently reside in Brooklyn. Born on Flag day is the follow up to excellent 2007 debut, War Elephant.

In June, the band will open a handful of dates with Jenny Lewis.

Check their site for more info.

Deer Tick - "Easy"


New Tracks

Wayne Coyne to Arcade Fire: I'm Sorry!

May 5, 2009 12:02 PM

Photo: Ostertag/Getty

Entertainment Weekly interviewed Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne on the recent honor of having their tune "Do You Realize?" named the official rock song for the state of Oklahoma. During the interview, Coyne was questioned on the disparaging remarks he made to the Smoking Section about the dudes in Arcade Fire. You know, when Coyne told us, "They really treat people like shit. Whenever I've been around them, I've found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They're pricks, so fuck 'em."

The feud started an all out war between fans and bloggers prompting Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler to post his own response to Coyne on his band's website.

Now, Coyne wants to clarify and apologize.

"I wish that had never happened," Coyne said. "I didn’t necessarily mean it about the people in the Arcade Fire. I meant it about the guys that were running their stages at a couple of festivals. I wish whatever had been said wouldn’t have been taken as such a defiant statement from the Flaming Lips, because it wasn’t.

"I really feel bad about it. I like enough of their music. The idea that I’m somehow against them… I’m not!"


Drama
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