DOM Live @ Iron Horse

This past Thursday I had the privilege of seeing DOM open for Suckers at The Iron Horse in Northampton Mass. My friends and I were excited for a good dance party...but the hipsters of Northampton would not allow it. There were only about 30 people inside around 10:30 when DOM was using up their drink tickets in the back bar. They took stage around 10:45. 'Lots of room up front here on the dance floor' Dom said. The only people standing near the front of the stage seemed like hometown friends. I wanted to stand, but didn't want to piss off everyone that was sitting...fuck 'em, we stood right in front. DOM is tight live, much more so then I thought they would be. They reminded me of The Strokes to be honest. They were not flashy at all, which is the polar opposite of the music they make. They stood in place, jammed hard and played all their hits off the 'Sun Bronded Greek Gods' EP, plus a rockin surf instrumental...then a Pete&Pete cover to end the set. I was very impressed. They also use a video projector for some really trippy added effects to their live show.

This EP is a vinyl I have been wanted to get my hands on for a while now. DOM didn't have a merch table but I did catch them outside having a cig, and they had some in their van. We chatted around the van for a bit about the show and lack of audience participation, then decided a blunt was in order. We burned one down, oddly right in front of the Northampton Police Dept. The entire band is chill, it seemed like they would have been down to hang out all night if we didn't have to get back to CT. I have read some mixed reviews about DOM and how they act, but these dudes are cool in my book. They even gave us two more free vinyls for coming out to see them. I would also like to add this is the best put together vinyl in my collection. Everything is so well done. From the vinyl itself which is a marble purple color, to the lyrics sheet and even the sleeve for the record is nice... plus it sounds fucking awesome. Can't wait to catch these guys again, if you guys don't get drink tickets, i'l buy ya one.

Cloud Nothings - Didn't You 7''

Garage rock wonders Cloud Nothings blew me away with their Record Store Day Performance. They are true rock n rollers. Their album 'Turning On' has been in OA's Albums Always Spinning column almost since this blog came out. It's irresistibly catchy and innocent. They are putting out a new 7'' on Old Flame Records. 'Didn't You' and 'Even If It Worked Out' is the groups best work to date (except for Cant Stay Awake). They use the same successful formula of hooking you in with catchy as fuck riffs and lyrics, jangly guitars, reverb soaked vocals, and killer drums. Their drummer is a bad ass mother who don't give an F about nothin. And wouldn't you know it, you can download the entire thing once your done reading this sentence....butttttt you should own the vinyl.
Cloud Nothings - Didn't You by berman1125
Cloud Nothings - Even If It Worked Out by berman1125

Record Store Day

So today was the day. The one and only Record Store Day. I made it down to Wallingford for noon to get to Red Scroll Records...apparently people showed up at 845. I was able to grab a bunch of great limited edition Record Store Day vinyl, as well as a few other must haves. I also visited Phoenix Records in Litchfield. Both great shops, make sure you support your local music shops and artists! Check out what I got yo!!!!!

Record Store Day Item: Plants and Animals released their second full album, 'La La' a few days early on vinyl. They are a post classic rock group from the popular music area of Montreal, Canada. They mix jumpy pianos, steely brass, and classic rock guitar riffs to give you a very easy enjoyable listening experience.

Record Store Day Item: One of my favorite records of the decade Modest Mouse 'Moons and Antarcitca' is being reissued on vinyl for Record Store Day. It has been remastered using the band's preferred 2004 master, but it contains the original tracklisting, without the extras found on the expanded edition. It also features the original artwork and contains the locked groove found at the end of the first side.

 Record Store Day Item: LCD Soundsystem - Pow Pow 12'' Single - The new single from LCD's album 'This Is Happening'...it leaked on the internet the other day, no doubt it will be one of my dance albums for the summer to come...a great album!

 Record Store Day Item: A Surfer Blood/Holiday Shores split 7''. Surfer Blood's live version of "Take It Easy" features Marnie Stern. Both tracks are ferocious fuzzy indie rock songs

 Record Store Day Item: Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 7'' Live @ Las Vegas. Two of the better tracks off of DMB's latest release 'Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King'. 'Lying in the Hands of God' is a beautiful diddy that really showcases the way Tim can layer with the acoustic guitar.

 Record Store Day Item: A split 7" of Daytrotter Session performances from The Antlers and White Rabbits. The Antlers released my favorite album of 2009 and the song 'Shiva' was one of my favorite tracks off that album. Daytrotter is also one of the best websites for finding striped down versions of my favorite groups

Record Store Day Item: Fucked Up Daytrotter 7'' - The single includes three songs from Fucked Up's Daytrotter Session "Magic Word" "David Comes to Life" as well as "Crooked Head" were the songs chosen. But the real selling point here is the cover art. Fucked Up picked 10 different record stores to honor, those record stores sent the band pictures, and now those pictures are 10 of the 11 single covers. There's also a generic cover.

Ducktails is the one-man psychedelic pop project of Matthew Mondanile, guitarest for Real Estate. The album cover and title are perfect. This album is tropical lo-fi, a soundtrack to growing up in the late 80's. Most of the tracks are instrumental that feature misty synths and drum machines. Not a record store day item, but a must have.

 The Morning Benders 'Big Echo' I shouldn't have to explain why I bought this. What a great album. It really feels like the first album by this band that works together as an entire album vs. a bunch of tracks just thrown together. 'Excuses' is one of my favorite tracks for 2010. 

Modest Mouse Hitting The Road

With the announcment of Modest Mouse playing the Pitchfork Music Festival, they will also be touring around the country & across the pond this summer. Modest Mouse has always been one of my favorite bands that I have never seen, so you bet your ass I will be attending the HOB show in Boston. The band is also going to reissue their, in my opinion, best album 'The Moon & Antarctica' for Record Store Day. I'm buyin that fasho! Here are the summer tour dates:

07-01 Broomfield, CO - 1st Bank Center
07-02 Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Theater
07-06 Kansas City, MO - Crossroads
07-09 Santa Fe, NM - Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre
07-12 Sioux Falls, ND - Ramkota Exhibit Hall
07-13 Fargo, ND - Hub at the Venue
07-14 Minneapolis, MN - The Orpheum Theatre
07-16 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival
07-17 St. Louis, MO - Pageant Theatre
07-18 Knoxville, TN - The Valarium
07-19 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
07-20 Charleston, SC - Music Farm
07-22 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
07-23 Brooklyn, NY - Williamsburg Waterfront
07-24 Boston, MA - House of Blues
08-27 Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
08-28 Reading, England - Reading Festival
08-31 Newcastle, England - O2 Academy
09-01 Liverpool, England - O2 Academy
09-03 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic Festival