Gilberto Gil & Tropicalia

Interesting experiment yesterday...

I went ahead and hit the message board over at Coachella's website, announcing the existence of the Blog-achella, just to see what would happen. The results?

- Over 450 pageviews... wow! Let's just say that on a good day I've been getting a tenth of that.

- Some folks liked it.

- Most did not. Apparently the Indie kids are a sensitive and humorless lot. A couple of my favorite comments received...

"Whoaaa who do you think you are giving TPC a bad review, have you actually taken anytime to listen to thier tracks, get your infromatiuon straight."

Umm... who do I think I am? I'm Tone, dammit! That's all you need to know! And I'd also like you to know that my infromatiuon is always solid! My spelling, too!

"Wow, you are a total douche drinker. You hate all of the good stuff but you like a cover of Britany Spears. You should be banned from listening to music."

I can safely say that this is the first time I've ever been called a "douche drinker"... I'll have to add that to the list! And if you can't appreciate "Baby One More Time", you're kind of all cold and dead inside, if you ask me.

So you get the idea... Coachella - Feel The Love!

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Anyhoo, time to move past that, and into my music collection. No more curmudgeonly comments from me, because from here on out, it's ALL good! I have set my iTunes to shuffle, and here is the first thing it has spit out:



Brazil, you may think, is all bossa nova and supermodels, but in the late 60s the country was in quite a state of turmoil, as there was a coup and the military took over the government and imposed an iron-handed rule for the next 20 years or so. Right after the coup, artists and musicians started a movement called Tropicalia, which was all about incorporating other cultures into their art and also had a socially and politically conscious voice previously unheard of in Brazil. Gilberto Gil was one of the leaders of the movement, and what did he get for his trouble? Arrested and exiled, of course! Those military dictatorships are even more humorless than the Indie kids! But it all worked out for him though... he's still recording and playing and he's even the Brazilian government's Minister of Culture now. This song here is one of the biggest Tropicalia hits:

Gilberto Gil - Bat Macumba

Buy It!

The lyrics however, are not political. They're not even real words... it's just all nonsense... but they look cool when printed out!

batmacumbaiéié batmacumbaobá
batmacumbaiéié batmacumbao
batmacumbaiéié batmacumba
batmacumbaiéié batmacum
batmacumbaiéié batman
batmacumbaiéié bat
batmacumbaiéié ba
batmacumbaiéié
batmacumba
batmacum
batman
bat
ba
bat
batman
batmacum
batmacumba
batmacumbaié
batmacumbaiéié
batmacumbaiéié ba
batmacumbaiéié bat
batmacumbaiéié batman
batmacumbaiéié batmacum
batmacumbaiéié batmacumbao
batmacumbaiéié batmacumbaobá

See, it makes shapes! Shapes are fun!

And I'll end the day by pointing you over to the blog list on the right and the most bad-ass Brazilian music blog in the world, Loronix. It's just an amazing amount of amazing music, and it is run by a talking parrot. Prepare to spend some time ;)

Blog-achella '07 - Amy Winehouse (Fri.) / Yeva (Sat.) / The Chuck Dukowski Sextet (Sat.)

You know, I got a bug up my butt. I don't wanna wait for tomorrow... let's finish this today. So now, without further ado, the final 3 acts of Blog-achella '07 (barring any last minute additions)!

Amy Winehouse

Who she is: How is it that some British, Jewish gal becomes the most bad-ass R&B singer to come down the pipe in years? Plus, she's an unrepentant drunk! What's not to love?

What she sounds like: The music... so retro. The lyrics... so now!

Amy Winehouse - Addicted

What I think: Amy Winehouse rules!

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Yeva

Who they are: All I can tell is that they're from Puerto Rico, and that one dude is reeeeeeeallly old.

What they sound like: Seems to be some kinda Rock En Espanol deal... but I can't find a song of theirs anywhere. You can listen on their Myspace up there though.

What I think: Yick. As much as I love almost all Latin music, Rock En Espanol doesn't do it for me. And no, I don't count Kinky as rock. Kinky is awesome.

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The Chuck Dukowski Sextet

Who they are: One of the scariest looking groups of people I've ever seen. Chuck was the bassist for legendary punk group Black Flag.

What they sound like: Sloppy psychedelic rock with some surf and punk influences. Or to some it up in one word... crap. So here's an old Black Flag song instead.

Black Flag - You Bet We've Got A Problem With You

What I think: So this is the only add they've made since the original announcement. Alas, we shall refer to 2007 as the year Coachella stopped trying... sigh.

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And so, there you have it! I hope this little guide helps y'all to maximize your Coachella experience to the point of supreme awesomeness. I'll go through the daily line-ups and make recommendations when the set times come out, and tomorrow this blog will resume it's true direction, delving into my 37,000 song iTunes library and sharing my favorite music with ya. Until then, here's a little bonus track...

Amy Winehouse - Rehab (Hot Chip Remix)

See you tomorrow. Blog-achella '07... over and out!

Blog-achella '07 - Rufus Wainwright (Fri.) / Gillian Welch (Fri.)

I hope you're wearing clean underwear today, because Coachella is about to rock your pants off!!!

Okay, not really.

Rufus Wainwright

Who he is: Sensitive Canadian-American singer/songwriter... so that means he gets both a hyphen and a slash, which is a lot of damn punctuation.

What he sounds like: I would like to see the Canadian side come out more, and hear beautiful odes he has penned to snowshoes, Gordie Howe and the city of Moose Jaw, but alas, 'tis not to be.

Rufus Wainwright - Going To A Town

What I think: He qualifies for both Canuck-achella AND MellowChella, so how's about that! Bonus points for being a white guy named Rufus.

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Gillian Welch

Who she is: Folk singer gal from Nashville. Plays a mean banjo. Needs better publicity photos.

What she sounds like: Makes our boy Rufus sound like Megadeth.

Gillian Welch - Revelator

What I think: Very nice voice, but seriously... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... not that I have anything against quiet, mellow music, but seriously, MellowChella is just out of control. I'm pretty sure you could go the entire weekend without seeing an act capable of getting your heart rate over 80. Unless you're fat. 'Cuz then the heat and all the walking will make your heart explode. You ever seen a fat person at Coachella? Me neither.

Tomorrow, we finish!

Blog-achella '07 - Julieta Venegas (Fri.) / VNV Nation (Sun.)

So, you find all the eggs the Easter Bunny left at your house? Make sure you check in the sock drawer... all the way in the back... I always forget that one...

Julieta Venegas

Who she is: Mexican singer/songwriter reppin' the LBC!

What she sounds like: Sunny pop en Espanol.

Julieta Venegas - Eres Para Mi

What I think: While nothing groundbreaking, this would certainly go over well on a warm Coachella afternoon with a cold Tecate in your hand. Now, if you could only take your beer away from those little holding pens they make you drink in...

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VNV Nation

Who they are: English & Irish dude based in Germany, which makes sense once you hear them. I would imagine zee Germanz love this shit.

What they sound like: Like a new version of Front 242, perhaps? Trancey/industrial beats with the deep and uber-serious male goth vocals.

VNV Nation - The Farthest Star

What I think: They can't find better electronic acts than this? Try harder next year, please.

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And finally, a little something to while away the hours while you punch the clock. A little game called Serf's Up over at Grab.com. You're a knight, and you use a variety of instruments (baseball bat, mace, pink flamingo) to launch a Serf through the air and see how far he flies as he bounces off various shit that speeds him up or slows him down. That's really all there is to it, but it has proven to be insanely addictive. My personal record so far is over 2000 feet... I am easily entertained.

Memories of EEEEEEEEEEaster!

Actually, you kinda had to be there...

Tonegent - Big Chocolate Bunny (of infinite sorrow)

Blog-achella '07 - Travis (Sat.) / Paul Van Dyk (Sun.)

Hmmm... yesterday was the lowest number of visitors I've had on the blog ever! You mean people aren't lined up to get those hot, hot Tilly and the Wall and Tokyo Police Club mp3s?!?!? Man, what do I have to do, people? That's like Christmas and your birthday all wrapped up into one, for fuck's sake! :P

Don't worry, it's almost done. And one of today's bands is quite good... this one, in fact:

Travis

Who they are: Brit-rock veterans from Glasgow, which might explain why their publicity photo looks like the Trainspotting poster.

What they sound like: They're pretty mellow compared to some of the Brit Rock groups, but then again, the lead singer's name is Fran, and I really can't see a guy named Fran being all that loud and aggro. They have a new one out, but I'm gonna give you a classic.

Travis - Sing

What I think: You know about the Tone and the Brit Rock, so 'nuff said. I have a couple of their albums. Good stuff. Hunt out their cover of Britney's "Baby One More Time"... it's quite genius.

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Paul Van Dyk

Who he is: "I shall stand here at the wall. I shall glance at you over my shoulder. Feel my sexy gaze. You are powerless against it. With my hand pressed against the wall, I can feel your footsteps as you approach me... wanting me..."

What he sounds like: "I will make the sexy music for you. Feel the trance. Let the rhythm and the arpeggios and the nondescript female vocal and the snare rolls and the vaguely uplifting title move you. I shall now raise my hands into the air, and you shall worship me..."

Paul Van Dyk - Another Way

What I think: "What do you mean I'm playing this tent, when that little Dutch twat Tiesto got to play the Main Stage? Do you know who I am? I'm Paul Van Dyk! I am the world's number one DJ! It says so on my website! What do you mean it says that on his website, too? Oh, it's on now, bitch! Slap fight at the Tesla Coil at midnight!"

I would pay to see that, btw... have a great Easter weekend!

Blog-achella '07 - Tilly And The Wall (Fri.) / Tokyo Police Club (Fri.)

Google Analytics is the coolest thing ever, if you're a Blogger geek like me. It's just some invisible code you put in, and the amount of stats and info it gives you on who visits your blog is just awesome, and sometimes hella entertaining. Without it, I would not know that people have visited this week from new countries like The Netherlands, Chile, Israel and freakin' China! That is pretty awesome... but not as awesome as the fact that more than one person has happened across my blog by Googling "Kim Kardashian Watersports". Mention something once... :P

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Two bands I had absolutely never heard of today. How will they rate?

Tilly And The Wall

Who they are: A girls + boys group from Omaha. Considering this is the home of Bright Eyes and that ilk, I am wary!

What they sound like: Sugary pop with harmonized vocals.

Tilly And The Wall - Black And Blue

What I think: They're cute. They've got potential. With a little better songwriting, they might be on to something (there's some weird changes in the hook on that song, no?). All-in-all "meh", but they might be able to sucker me in, if I could be arsed to actually pursue a full investigation.

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Tokyo Police Club

Who they are: Yet. More. Canadians. Let's just move this thing to Saskatoon and get it over with.

What they sound like: Massively uninteresting Indie Rock..

Tokyo Police Club - Cut Cut Paste

What I think: I think they should be playing at 8 pm on Monday night at the free showcase at the Whiskey, not taking up valuable time at Coachella that could be used to bolster the meager hip-hop representation for instance. This is crap. Your buddy who's in a band - his band is way better than these guys. Tell him I said that and get me +1 at the door ;)

Blog-achella '07 - Teddybears (Sun.) / Tiesto (Sat.)

I can't think of a good lead-in today, so let's get right to it.

Teddybears

Who they are: Swedish dudes who used to be a heavy metal band...

What they sound like: ... but now sound kinda exactly like Fatboy Slim... not that there's anything wrong with that.

Teddybears - Cobrastyle (ft. Mad Cobra)

What I think: Well, they certainly followed the Fatboy's footsteps, because this song was everywhere, and rightly so... just a great fun jammy. Others I've heard of theirs are very similar, so I'm guessing a fun live act. Bonus points if they play the whole show with the bear heads on. I'm still amazed by Daft Punk's robot helmets from last year!

This song also has a really great video:



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Tiesto

Who he is: Mr. Tijs Verwest of The Netherlands, aka "The World's Number One DJ"!!!! Whatever. Is it just me or does he look really gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that either... just sayin'...

What he sounds like: Oh-so-predictable big-room progressive house.

Tiesto - Everything

What I think: While I don't have the same amount of bile and vitriol stored up against this guy that I do for Oakensuck, he's not too far away from it. Tiesto can blow me, and having him on the Main Stage is a joke, especially when the tickets this year were swallowed up by KROQ listeners and their ilk. I imagine it will be just like when Assenfold played there and nobody gave a shit. I hope the wind blows his records off the decks. Yeah, I'm catty like that.

Blog-achella '07 - Regina Spektor (Sat.) / Tapes 'n' Tapes (Sun.)

All the indie rock kids are sure gonna find me on their search doo-dads today... and probably hate me :P

Regina Spektor

Who she is: A Russian-born (hence the hotness) singer based in the Big Apple.

What she sounds like: They (being, you know, "they") call it anti-folk. I'm not even gonna start...

Regina Spektor - Fidelity

What I think: I like her voice well enough, but... is it wrong to give a hot Russian girl the "meh"? I think it might be, so I'm not gonna do it... even though I kinda want to :P

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Tapes 'n' Tapes

Who they are: Indie blog darling band from Minneapolis.

What they sound like: Messy Indie rock.

Tapes 'n' Tapes - Cowbell

What I think: These guys suck big time. They would have been better off if they were hot Russian girls. Let that be a lesson to all you Indie rockers. Be hot Russian girls or feel my wrath!

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And, well, everyone else is posting it, so I will too. Because hell, this is genius enough that I'm almost willing to forgive her for that dumb "Ironic" song and that naked subway video... almost.

Blog-achella '07 - Spank Rock (Sun.) / Sparklehorse (Sat.)

Ah, Monday and back to work after a two-week hiatus. Yuck. Maybe some tunes will cheer me up...

Spank Rock

Who they are: Some raunchy mofos representing Baltimore, the new raunchy mofo hotspot.

What they sound like: Hip hop with electro beats, lotsa fun.

Spank Rock - Lindsay Lohan

What I think: Gotta love that song, and it gives you a pretty good idea of where these guys are coming from, with humor and nasty sex talk being the top lyrical priorities. Works for me!

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Sparklehorse

Who they are: In studio, actually, it's just one guy, a Mr. Mark Linkous of Richmond, Va. I've been to Richmond. My brother lives there. The fact that any even remotely interesting music comes from that dumphole is a miracle unto itself. Seriously, though, the place is a never-ending procession of mini-malls and chain restaurants. It was the capitol of the Confederacy, there's a whole avenue dedicated to monuments of Rebel Civil War generals, and I saw some of the nastiest, white-pawr! style rednecks ever when I was there. I love how my brother and some folks he knows who also moved from more civilized climes (aka above the Mason/Dixon line) refer to the rednecks as "Southerns". Ha!

What they sound like: Spacy, mellow rock with electronic accoutrements (a word I doubt many people in Richmond use regularly).

Sparklehorse - Knives Of Summertime

What I think: Quite nice, actually. I think the (now ubiquitous) Danger Mouse helped on production with this album, which is kind of odd, but dude is eclectic. Worth checking out, especially for those attending Mellow-chella.

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I gotta tell you, I saw the scariest movie I've seen in years yesterday, and it might not be what you think:



Holy fucking shit! (pun intended) You think you know just how crazy the religious/political right is? Not until you see this movie, you don't. I don't even have words for it. If you really wanna know what we're up against, this is required viewing. It will blow your mind. No joke.

Jesus is my homeboy!