Drive-By Truckers & The Hold Steady Tour Kicks Off Tonight

So, two of my all time favorite rock bands around right now are teaming up for the Fall tour most likely to completely melt your face off. Of course, they are coming nowhere near me but, alas, if you live in or near most major cities you'll have the opportunity to see two of the best live bands around in one night. The tour kicks off tonight in Louisville, Kentucky and you can find the rest of the dates below.

10-30 Louisville, KY - Coyote's at City Block *
10-31 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium !
11-01 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle !
11-02 Tallahassee, FL - The Moon *
11-03 Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre !
11-05 State College, PA - The State Theatre *
11-06 New York, NY - Terminal 5 !
11-07 New York, NY - Terminal 5 *
11-08 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory !
11-09 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre *
11-11 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Theatre !
11-12 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall *
11-13 Bloomington, IN - Bluebird !
11-13 Chicago, IL - Riviera *
11-15 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue !
11-16 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
11-19 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory !
11-20 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo *
11-21 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo !
11-22 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
11-23 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore !
11-24 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore *
11-25 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern *

* the Hold Steady closing
! Drive-By Truckers closing

-Matt

Wilco & Fleet Foxes cover Dylan

I've been meaning to throw this up here for quite a while but keep forgetting. Here are two JoC favorites, Wilco & Fleet Foxes, covering Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released' live in Spokane, Washington. Also, if you click HERE and promise to vote next Tuesday November 4th, Wilco will give you a copy of the mp3 of the performance.




-Matt

Elliott Smith

It was five years ago today that Elliott Smith took his own life. I've heard many others say this as well but Elliott was the first musician that died that really affected me. The saddest part about it is that his suicide didn't surprise me at all. Elliott had a well known struggle with drug addition and depression and if you don't know his story you can read it HERE. That pain and emotion came through in his music and lyrics like no one i've ever heard, or probably ever will. Just about everything that's ever been released of his is worth getting, with both Either/Or and XO being near perfect albums. Here are a few Elliott Smith videos...the first is especially notable because the footage is all from the tribute to him found in Hollywood.





Elliott Smith - Between the Bars




Elliott Smith - Angeles




Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 (XO)




-Matt

Albums You Should Buy: Blitzen Trapper & Horse Feathers

Horse Feathers - House With No Home

A lot of times the mellow singer-songwriter fare can bore the crap out of me. Unless the lyrics are especially notable or the singer has a fantastic voice, I'll usually give a listen and then move on. However ever once in a while I'll find something that hits the mark on all points and just feels like home. Mark Kozelek's Sun Kil Moon and Justin Vernon's Bon Iver are two such musicians and now add Justin Ringle's Horse Feathers to that list. Justin's voice is soft and understated while partner Peter Broderick is the real mastermind here layout out gentle melodies which come together perfectly. With it just now getting cold, I would recommend picking this up soon, because it's perfect music for the Fall.


Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Fellow Portlanders (Horse Feather's hail from there as well) Blitzen Trapper have been on our radar for a while. Their last album Wild Mountain Nation was pretty hit or miss with the hit's being some of the best stuff of the year. The title track in particular may be one of the best songs of last year. On Furr, their first album on Sub Pop, the decided proceeded to leave out any misses and put out a consistently great album. Once again the title track may be the best song of this year so far. This is another album that reminds me of many things (particularly early AM-era Wilco) but still sounds like no one else. If you like your indie rock on the Americana side, this is your album. You can catch Blitzen Trapper when they open for Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks at Liberty Hall in Lawrence on November 5th.


Blitzen Trapper Myspace
Horse Feathers Myspace

-Matt

All-Star Tribute for De La Soul @ VH1's Hip-Hop Honors

This is pretty nice. I honestly think that De La Soul may be the greatest Hip-Hop group of all time. Not too many cats that were around when they were are still doing it just as well today. Don't believe me, go get their last record 2004's The Grind Date and try and find a better Hip-Hop album from that year. Here Public Enemy, Cee-Lo, Mos Def, Q-Tip and more pay tribute to De La Soul at VH1's Hip Hop Honors show. The best part is definitely EPMD doing my personal favorite De La Soul song, 'Ego Trippin' (Pt. 2)'.

-Matt