5 posts tagged “pb&j”

Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks Peter Bjorn & John 2 comments Tour Dates 11/11/09 Phoenix Theatre* Toronto 11/12/09 Metro* Chicago, IL 11/13/09 Gargoyle Club* St. Louis, MO 11/14/09 House of Blues* Dallas, TX 11/15/09 La Zona Rosa* Austin, TX 11/17/09 Rialto Theater* Tucson, AZ 11/18/09 House of Blues* San Diego, CA 11/19/09 Great American Music Hall* SF, CA 11/20/09 Great American Music Hall* SF, CA 11/21/09 Club Nokia* LA, CA with El Perro Del Mar Read More Peter, Bjorn and John http://weheartmus... Speaking of solo album, Peter Morén (you know him as Peter from Peter, Bjorn and John) will also...

PB&J and El Perro del Mar ♥ photograph by Michelle

At Webster Hall, the perils of sitting in the VIP balcony often outweigh the perks. True, it’s the ideal place for a certified midget like me, and there’s a private bar and quasi-comfortable seating – but one must also put up with being asphyxiated by the many fog machines, the not-so-subtle orgies taking place on the couches, and that one skeezy guy who keeps trying to offer you a flask full of absinthe. (“It’s the nectar of Satan!”)

But last night the VIP balcony was the place to be since it was the location of a historic fist bump between me and Andrew W.K.

I already knew he was set to make a cameo during PB&J’s set, along with a slew of others, but I did not expect our paths to cross. I don’t know what compelled me to lamely offer him my fist the moment I saw him, but all that matters is that he returned it and all was right in the world. Then he left, and I immediately texted my 13 year-old brother, who soon lapsed into an envy-induced coma.

El Perro Del Mar - Gotta Get Smart

Anyway: PB&J. I have to admit, I was really there for opener, El Perro del Mar. I’ve become obsessed with her latest LP, Love is Not Pop, as it is the perfect soundtrack for long nights of procrastination. Although the crowd didn’t seem too familiar with her work, she won them over with her peculiar brand of melancholy dream pop. She stuck to songs mostly from her new album, including her mind-numbingly lovely version of Lou Reed’s “Heavenly Arms.” The absinthe guy next to us dismissed her as “vagina music,” but I was too distracted by my estrogen-fueled state of euphoria to care.

Swede-fest ’09 continued with PB&J, who announced that this was their 10^th anniversary tour. It was easy to distinguish who was who, as Peter was the one in the pink shirt, Bjorn was the one not in the pink shirt, and John was the drummer. It only got slightly confusing during the smorgasbord of cameos that took place throughout their set. Some made perfect sense (El Perro del Mar on “Young Folks,”), some not so much (an L.A. rap duo who remixed an unrecognizable song off of Living Thing). The final cameo was Spank Rock, who seemed like a solid addition to “Nothing to Worry About” but his appearance was much too brief and almost abrupt.

Obviously the most dramatic cameo of the night was Andrew W.K.’s “interpretive” dancing during “It Don’t Move Me.” He didn’t utter a single word the whole time, yet he left the audience virtually speechless. It was spastic and random but ultimately the best moment of the night.

As for the band themselves, they were in top form as usual. Since the last time I saw them in March, people have warmed up considerably towards their newer material and seemed to enjoy it equally as much as anything off Writer’s Block. The band eschewed slower stand-bys for faster, upbeat songs from their first two albums, and they ended the night with the infectious “Objects of My Affection.” I was kind of hoping they’d play the slow burning track, “Up Against the Wall,” but my friend told me not to be greedy. After all, one paradigm-shifting fist bump was good enough for one night.

PB&J ♥ photograph by Michelle

Peter ♥ photograph by Michelle

Andrew W.K. ♥ photograph by Michelle

PB&J ♥ photograph by Michelle

 11/10/2009 02:13:56 ♥ kateg () ♥ peterbjornandjohn.com ♥ myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn 

It's been a year since I briefly mention Anna Ternheim, but I am very excited to let you know that the Swedish singer's latest album, Leaving on a mayday will be available in the US, finally, on August 11th (I think the album is already available in her home country). In the meantime, there is an exclusive bundle of "What Have I Done", the music video for "What Have I Done", and "What Have I Done" (El Perro Del Mar remix) available last Tuesday via iTunes.

Anna Ternheim-Girl Laying Down Anna Ternheim Tour Dates 06/18/09 Bell House Brooklyn, NY 06/22/09 Joe’s Pub New York City 06/27/09 Peace & Love Fest Borlänge 07/02/09 Trädgårdsföreningen Göteborg 07/03/09 Långholmsparken Stockholm 07/04/09 Arvika Festival Arvika 07/05/09 Freluga Trädgårdsscen Freluga 07/08/09 Sofiero Slott Helsingborg 07/10/09 Hultsfreds Festival Hultsfred 07/14/09 Slussens Pensionat Orust 07/15/09 Slussens Pensionat Orust 07/18/09 Melt Festival 07/25/09 Varberg Fästning Varberg 07/29/09 Olafs Fest @ Blaest Trondheim 07/30/09 Storsjöyran Östersund 07/31/09 Putte i Parken Karlskoga 08/01/09 Luleåkalaset Luleå

Expect to be hearing a lot about the new album, Leaving on a mayday, as this album won the 2009 Swedish Grammy for Best Female Artist and Album of the Year. The album was produced by Bjorn Yttling of PB&J and will be available via Universal Music in August.

See Anna & Bjorn performing "What Have I Done":

 06/11/2009 10:57:44 ♥ vu () ♥ annaternheim.com ♥ myspace.com/annaternheim 

Peter Bjorn & John ♥ photo by Jason Tour Dates 05/02/09 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club 07/24/09 Toronto, ON Molson Amph* 07/25/09 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre* 07/28/09 Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion* 07/31/09 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center* 08/01/09 Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata* 08/03/09 New York, NY @ MSG* 08/04/09 New York, NY @ MSG* 08/10/09 Seattle, WA @ Key Arena* 08/12/09 Mtn View, CA Shoreline Amph* 08/14/09 Chula Vista, CA @ Cricket Wireless 08/16/09 LA, CA @ Hollywood Bowl* 08/17/09 LA, CA @ Hollywood Bowl* 08/20/09 Santa Barbara County Bow, CA* 08/22/09 Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl* 08/23/09 Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Ctr* 08/25/09 Salt Lake City, UT @ E Center* 08/27/09 Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Pav* 08/29/09 Dallas, TX @ Superpages Ctr* 08/30/09 Woodlands Pavilion, TX * 09/01/09 Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amp* 09/04/09 Tampa, FL @ Ford Amp* 09/05/09 Sunrise, FL @ Bank Atlantic Ctr* *with Depeche Mode Read More Peter, Bjorn and John http://weheartmus... Speaking of solo album, Peter Morén (you know him as Peter from Peter, Bjorn and John) will also...

Two bands, two synonymous songs. First up, there was Chairlift with their “iPod Nano song” opening for Peter Bjorn & John, the band that brought you the “whistling song.” Were it not for these two songs, I doubt this show would have been a sold-out Ticketmaster event. Despite this, PB&J proved their chops – and in pastel-colored shorts, no less.

Chairlift - Bruises 2 comments

Chairlift ♥ photo by Jason

PB&J ♥ photo by Jason

PB&J ♥ photo by Jason

Chairlift played to a half-filled venue, and for the most part, the audience seemed half there mentally as well. Perhaps it was the dreary weather or the slow playlist, but there was very little movement among the crowd, save for the occasional headbob or tipsy-girl-in-heels faceplant. Naturally, the audience got excited during their bubbly hit, “Bruises,” but from then on, the band stuck to their mellow, 80’s-revival pop. Lead singer, Caroline Polachek, showed off clear, hypnotizing vocals, but coupled with droning synths and sparse drums, it got lost somewhere in the muddle.

Excitement for PB&J was buzzing even before they took the stage, as the crew unveiled their straightforward, neon-lit backdrop (complete with word, “backdrop” repeated several times). They opened with the slow-burning “Just the Past,” from their latest album, Living Thing, which had just the right amount of energy to slowly awaken the crowd from their reverie.

The popularity of their breakthrough album, Writer’s Block, was palpable, as favorites like “Amsterdam” and “Objects of My Affection” were greeted with instant cheers and dancing. The audience didn’t seem too familiar with songs from Living Thing, but quickly warmed up to catchier tracks like “The Feeling” and “Nothing to Worry About.”

Much of this was attributed to the band’s infectious, sometimes corny enthusiasm. In his powder blue suit, Peter Morén, flaunted Bowie-inspired dance moves while guitarist Björn Yttling had no problem assuming cheesy rock god poses. Amid the flurry of blog-induced hysteria surrounding the band, such unassuming eagerness was endearing. Besides, how can you hate a band with a drummer who hula hoops?

Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks

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When they left the stage, an encore was obvious – they hadn’t even played “Young Folks” yet. Unlike the last time I saw them, they didn’t rely on a pre-recorded whistle. I suppose it wasn’t even necessary, as the whole audience took it upon themselves to whistle the all-too familiar melody. After the group whistle, PB&J ended the show with their obligatory make out/break up song, “Up Against the Wall.” Despite the somber nature of the song, the band seemed entirely joyful, jumping around, dancing, and inviting audience members to hula hoop on stage (and failing miserably).

Such enthusiasm made it easy to overlook all the online hype and Twitter-testimonials, claiming Peter was an asshole. Instead, they were just a band glad to have made it this far. And if they wanted to celebrate such success by playing the bongos in tiny pastel shorts, why stop them?

 05/02/2009 03:58:28 ♥ kateg () ♥ peterbjornandjohn.com ♥ myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn 

Just as there were a ton of album releases yesterday, there was also a ton of news. Here's your roundup:

Face to Face Announce Plan for Reunion

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Los Angeles, CA – After announcing their break-up in 2003 FACE TO FACE has revealed plans to reu...

Punk rock band Face to Face announced that they are reforming.

We miss playing these songs live. That's the only reason. We don't plan on writing any new material or releasing new records as FACE TO FACE, but we are looking forward to getting out there and playing for people. The live shows have always been the best part of this band so why not continue to do something we love to do.

- Trever Keith (singer/founder)

Although Face to Face will not be recording new material, Keith's recorded a solo album. The press material points to www.treverkeith.com, but at of this writing, there was practically nothing on that page.

Peter Bjorn And John - Teen Love

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Peter Bjorn and John's Peter Morén Releases Debut Solo Album on April 8!

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On April 8, 2008, Quarterstick Records will release the highly anticipated solo album from Peter...

Speaking of solo album, Peter Morén (you know him as Peter from Peter, Bjorn and John) will also be releasing a solo album through Quarterstick Records.

Apparently the album was "several years in the making". I suppose, because PB&J exploded last year and they were constantly touring and promoting Writer's Block that it's no wonder his solo album was set on the backburner until now.

According to the press release, the acoustic, low-key album is called The Last Tycoon and will be available on April 8, 2008.

Tour 02/12/08 Chicago, IL - The Co-Prosperity Sphere 02/14/08 New York, NY - NY University 02/15/08 Cambridge, MA - The Lily Pad 02/16/08 Providence, RI - Underground 02/17/08 New York, NY - Bowery Poetry Club 02/18/08 Brooklyn, NY - Lutheran Church 02/23/08 Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College 02/24/08 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room 02/26/08 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge 02/27/08 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court 02/28/08 Boise, ID - Neurolux 02/29/08 Seattle, WA - The Vera Project 03/02/08 Olympia, WA - Capitol Theater Calvin Johnson on US tour Febuary 2008! http://weheartmus... Calvin Johnson - I'm Down from weheartmusic.vox.com Calvin Johnson sets out into the world, acous...

Calvin Johnson - I'm Down

Calvin Johnson announces his tour dates with fellow K Records artist, Mahjongg.

I did check out Johnson's biography page which allows two free songs for download (which I'll include one of them here).

Apparently when not hanging out with Beat Happening, The Go Team, Dub Narcotic Sound System, and The Halo Benders, he founded and runs K Records since 1982!

Random Trivia: There is a football player also named Calvin Johnson.

Bonus Random Trivia: Kurt Cobain has a tattoo of the K logo on his arm.

Story of the Year Unleash The Black Swan

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St. Louis alternative rock heavyweights Story of the Year will release their hotly anticipated n...

Story of the Year's third studio album is called The Black Swan, to be release on April 22nd through Epitaph (the band was previously on Maverick).

Not much to add to the announcement, except that you can hear the new single, "Wake Up" on armyoftheblackswan.com, where fans are encouraged to sign up for "updates and exclusive opportunities."

Musically, we've grown so much. We have some very unique, timeless, face melting guitar riffs and solos that have come to define our sound, without compromising the idea of a classic song.

- guitarist Ryan Phillips.

The Donnas Head on the Road with The Hives

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After a headbanging European tour this fall and a memorable, crowd-pleasing performance during t...

The Donnas teams up with The Hives for a major tour, per their press release.

Their promise of "quality, ass-kicking performances" made me smile... and the two bands would compliment each other as their sound are similar.

I always think these girls are a lot of fun, with a lot of humor. Remember when they were underage and when they finally became adults, they released The Donnas Turn 21 in 2001.

They've been in the music industry for 15 years now - something about the rock n roll that keeps these girls going!

 01/30/2008 06:52:46  vu my♥posts www.weheartmusic.com

ALBUMS [2005] Verses of Comfort, Assurance and Salvation [2005] Verses of Comfort, Assurance and Salvation (Reissue) [2005] Verses of Comfort, Assurance and Salvation (Deluxe) [2005] Verses of Comfort, Assurance and Salvation (Triple Keyboard Action) [2007] The Bird of Music [2007] The Bird of Music (Japan)

Au Revoir Simone - Stars

Heather, Erika, and Annie, are Au Revoir Simone. (joke)Looking at their photographs, I can only speculate that they bathe together and sleeps together. Well, at least, we can only hope, because these are three very gorgeous ladies.(/joke)*

They are from Brooklyn, New York, and their music is nothing more than sweet harmonic vocals between Heather & Erika, with a backbeat of sound loops and synth-noise created by their three (yes, three) keyboards.

They're currently going to be in the UK on their extended tour, so check them out if they're in your area. I believe they're coming back to Minnesota with Voxtrot, so I may see them again next month.

Au Revoir Simone - Through the Backyards

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"Stars" is from their advance CD (it's not officially released until a few weeks from now) and "Through the Backyards" was used in the television show "Grey's Anatomy".

See also: Sotd 009: Fallen Snow

Trivia: They've been on tour with Peter, Bjorn, and John, so usually Heather comes on stage to sing with Peter during that whistling song, "Young Folks".

*May be offensive.

Au Revoir Simone

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vu Links: www.aurevoirsimone.com | myspace.com/aurevoirsimone