40 posts tagged “ryan”
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Sorry this week's episode is an outtakes show because I was out all all weekend. I'm finally home, chillaxing with pajamapants and going to put on Messenger 2: The Scarecrow on the TV.
The good news is that we actually have enough material to last for a few weeks (!!), so I don't actually have to do any real work as it's all recorded and processed (I just need to copy and paste it into a 10 minute show).
So, in order of appearance on the first outtakes: Ryan, Goodnight, States, Graeme K, Kate and Lara. Bonus: Devi.
Hopefully next week, we can bring on Raconteurs expert Christopher.
08/23/2009 21:49:04 ♥ vu (
) ♥weheartmusic.com♥twitter.com/weheartmusic♥news.weheartmusic.com
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The show is long, split into two parts: the organized topics section and the random "just two guys talking" segment. The long run time also means extra large file size, so I had to compressed the file to just mono and at 64kps. It sounds OK to me - but if you want a higher stereo quality, send me an email and we'll have to do a file-transfer or a yousendit kind of thing. The stereo file is over 70mb, the mono file is 36mb.
Ryan compiled is a list of musicians/music-related websites on Twitter:
08/10/2009 09:16:30 ♥ vu () ♥weheartmusic.com♥twitter.com/weheartmusic♥news.weheartmusic.com
I’ve been told that I like a certain type of music; quirky, offbeat vocals, jangly guitars and reflective, out-there lyrics. In the two years I’ve been writing for W♥M, I can honestly say I have never been more excited by an album.
If you are looking for a laid back collection of summer tracks then I suggest you look no further than The Ruminant Band by the Fruit Bats. Eric D. Johnson, singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist, led me on a journey to the heart of the summer. It is only fitting that I write this review with the sun beating on my back as this album radiates a fuzzy warmth and joy. If you are suffering from the recession blues, down on your luck then maybe you have just stumbled upon your cure.
The Fruit Bats began life as a side-project for Eric D. Johnson, and while band members have come and go, he has remained at the heart of the band. This album is very much about the band. While I haven’t yet been able to land an interview with the band for the podcast, you’ll have to settle for a quotation lifted from a recent interview with Reverb magazine:
“Previously, when I did those other albums, I think I set rules for myself. This time I didn’t try to go by the book so much… I played very little on this record – I wrote the songs and the vocal arrangements, and played some piano, but for the most part everything else is the band. That trust is something that comes with time… My band is really talented, so I wanted their voices to be heard.”
- Eric Johnson, Reverb Magazine Interview, August 4, 2009.
I hate comparisons but they have a similar vibe to Vetiver and, understandably, The Shins (Eric Johnson is a member of The Shins). In my opinion, two great bands to sound like. What makes the Fruit Bats stand out in my Songbird library is the fact their sound remains, without a doubt, uniquely the Fruit Bats.
Like most modern bands. the Fruit Bats have a website, they have a myspace page, they tweet, they blog and, for the photography geeks, they have some pretty amazing photos (by Annie Beedy).
The tracks to own are ‘The Ruminant Band’, ‘Singing Joy To The World’ and ‘Hobo Girl’.
The album is already available in the USA and is due out in the UK on 24th August 2009. The Fruit Bats have supported Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine and others. There is a chance you may already know them. Before this week, I did not, so I am enjoying my discovery. Their North American tour is listed above. Their UK tour is due to been announced any day now. Guaranteed, if they are in Manchester, I’ll be there.
What do others think? Uncut described the album as 'Delicately constructed an skillfully executed' and Mojo said 'The best love songs are those where the end is nigh. Fruit Bats frontman Eric Johnson evidentially knows this, even his sunniest, most hopeful sounding songs have an implied sense of loss. Lovely though' 4/5.
This isn’t deep philosophical music; it is easy and care-free folk pop and I love it! Enjoy your summer, enjoy the Fruit Bats.
Sincerely,
Ryan
08/09/2009 15:09:42 ♥ ryan (
)
♥ fruitbatsmusic.com ♥ myspace.com/thefruitbats ♥ twitter.com
I am aware there are a lot of Radiohead fans on W♥M, so I thought I'd mention a recent release by Radiohead called 'Harry Patch (In Memory Of)'.
♥ ryan () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ myspace.com What's on my playlist is Eddie Murphy and Peter Murphy, because of that Tale of Two Murphys article I wrote earlier this week. I just find the Eddie Murphy song, "Party All The Time" to be too hiliarious for its own good. I mean, check out that cover of the single, it says "I'm hawt sh**!".
In the mid-80s, Murphy wanted a career in music, unfortunately it never quite happened for him.... but this single, written and produced by "I'm Rick James, b****" Rick James & Kevin Johnston, was a sure hit for the comic actor-turn musician.
Ryan will be the special guest for the colossal episode #50 of W♥M Radio, we're taping tomorrow, Saturday, and the show will be made available for download that Sunday - pending if I can sort it all out with the recording and editing software. We will be talking about the early days (yes, all six months ago...) as well as what's going with the state of music. Will be fascinating, tune in!
Ceji will be covering the San Diego "Music Thing", you can read about it on sandiegomusicfoundation.org, or news.weheartmusic.com, or if you happened to spot this post. You can hear Ceji talk about the secret origin of her name on W♥M039: Ceji.
The complete two-day schedule is available here.
10-16 Fri - New York, NY - Santos Party House
10-17 Sat - Ithaca, NY - Cornell University
10-18 Sun - Toronto, Canada - Horseshoe Tavern
10-19 Mon - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
10-20 Tue - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
10-21 Wed - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
10-23 Fri - Missoula, MT - The Badlander
10-24 Sat - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
10-25 Sun - Vancouver, Canada - Biltmore Cabaret
10-26 Mon - Bellingham, WA - The Nightlight
10-27 Tue - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
10-29 Thu - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop *
10-30 Fri - San Jose - Blank Club *
10-31 Sat - Visalia, CA - The Cellar Door *
11-01 Sun - Oakland, CA - Uptown *
11-02 Mon - Los Angeles, CA - Echo *
11-03 Tue - San Diego, CA - Casbah *
11-04 Wed - Tucson, AZ - Plush
11-06 Fri - San Antonio, TX - Sam's Burger Joint
11-07 Sat - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Festival
11-08 Sun - Houston, TX - Numbers Nightclub
11-10 Tue - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon ^
11-11 Wed - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone ^
11-12 Thu - Atlanta, GA - E.A.R.L. ^
11-13 Fri - Richmond, VA - Plaza Bowl ^
11-14 Sat - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwells ^
11-15 Sun - Allston, MA - Great Scotts ^
11-16 Mon - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church ^
11-17 Tue - Brookyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl ^%
11-18 Wed - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place ^
* with Ty Segall
^ with JEFF the brotherhood
% with Golden Triangle
08/07/2009 19:00:38 ♥ vu () ♥weheartmusic.com♥twitter.com/weheartmusic♥news.weheartmusic.com
Once upon a time there was a British Citizen named Gary McKinnon. He had a great talent for hacking into computers; he also believed that the US Government was keeping secrets. He believed that the US Government had information about UFOs and he wanted it. Instead of switching on the television and watching the X-Files, he switched on his computer and hacked into various US agencies. In doing so, he has earned himself a place in the unofficial record books, by "committing the biggest military computer hack of all time". I do not seek to excuse his actions; hacking is wrong and he shouldn't have done it. Did he endanger lives? No. Did he highlight vulnerabilities in the US Government's computer systems? Yes. We can only be grateful that it was Gary McKinnon and not a terrorist or unfriendly government.
Don't worry though, if you are a US Citizen then the British Government still needs to make a case against you, with evidence, before you win your free trip. Apparently, you are protected by your government and constitution...
Now Gary McKinnon isn't just a UFO-obsessed computer hacker, he also suffers from a form of autism known as 'Asperger's Syndrome'. This goes some way to explain his obsessive behaviour. It also means he is a vulnerable person; if he is extradited, tried, convicted and imprisoned in the US, his mental health may decline and be permanently damaged. The extradition alone could trigger psychosis or suicide.
There are two serious injustices in this case. The Extradition Treaty is flawed. It was entered into after September 11, without any real Parliamentary debate, on the pretext of assisting with the extradition of terrorists to the USA. Gary McKinnon is not a terrorist. Moreover there is no reason why Gary McKinnon couldn't be tried and imprisoned in the UK. In terms of his mental health, it means his family will be close to him. His mum should be credited for organising the campaign against his extradition.
Why am I posting this on a musical review website? There is a protest song! Well, to be more precise, there is a cover of a protest song ('Chicago - We can change the world' by Grahman Nash). And it isn't the greatest protest song in the world. We are not talking Bob Dylan's Hurricane, but then I cannot remember the last time I heard a decent protest song. It features David Gilmour, Bob Geldof, Chrissie Hynde & Gary McKinnon. You can buy it at Free Gary McKinnon. The song is 'a plea to Barack Obama to come from Chicago, to help Change the World and to allow Gary McKinnon to have his life back'. You decide how much you are willing to pay for the song and the money is then donated to the Free Gary Campaign.
I know most of the readers of W♥M are based in the USA and by now you be thinking either 'Vu stop Ryan from posting on this site' or 'What can I do?'. Well, there is something you can do! Complain to Vu (about me) or complain to Obama (about Gary's extradition).
Gary McKinnon has lost of all hope of the British Government stopping this and now needs your help. He needs you to write to your President, your congressman or your senator. He needs you to campaign for the extradition proceedings to be halted and for him to be tried in the UK. If you are minded to take such an action then check out his website.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Ryan
August 1, 2009 14:00
Ryan
my♥posts
freegary.org.uk
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Sometimes bands are so good you just have to see them twice; in fact you have to see them on a Wednesday and then the following Thursday, which is exactly what I did this May when I saw the Young Republic in Barfly in Liverpool and then the small little folk bar at the end of my road in Manchester
It is a decision I do not regret because I am fairly confident that The Young Republic are a band of great talent and skill. By all accounts, they are still surprisingly young! The voice of lead singer, Julians, is misleading. His voice suggested warily old-timer, or at least somebody in his early thirties. However his physically appearance led me to conclude that I should never judge a voice by it's singer...or something along those lines.
The Young Republic have it all; skilled musicians, great lyrics and the ability to perform. I will never forget the amazing Tom Waits cover I bore witness too (two nights in a row). I do not exaggerated. It was very impressive.
Having heard their debut album I was expecting to enjoy a night of good music but in the end I just had to settle for two nights of awesome entertainment.
The Liverpool show was a shared event. I went to see the excellent Port O'Brien, however I was humming The Young Republic as I left the venue. It was their heavier, plugged in set.
The Manchester show was in a folk bar, which The Young Republic didn't realise until the night. Quick on their feet, they decided to play their Paris set. It was supposedly played in a lower key, but it remained an impressive performance.
The only disappointing news was the absence of their new and irreplaceable drummer, Dustin Jensen.
Do not despair if you are worried about missing their May tour as a reliable source informs me that The Young Republic are due to return to the UK this September for gigs that included the ever wonderful End of the Road festival (Once again, the best line up of the UK Summer Festivals). This time they should have their band too!
More excitingly, I am told they are working on their follow up album. If they capture the energy they display on stage then rest assured this album will be something very special indeed; it may even solve the global energy crisis!
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Tour
20 Jan Mac Arts - Birmingham, UK 25 Jan London Roundhouse - London, UK 27 Jan The Cabaret Voltaire - Edinburgh 28 Jan Night & Day - Manchester, UK 29 Jan Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, UK 30 Jan Bodega - Nottingham, UK 01 Feb Soundhaus - Northampton 03 Feb The Cellars - Portsmouth 04 Feb Phoenix - Exeter, UK 05 Feb Louisiana - Bristol, UK Albums
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In keeping with this tradition of releasing Christmas music, Jacob put a wonderful tune called 'Feeling Like Christmas (Again)' on his myspace as a free download. As a special treat, I have included it in this post (Apologies for my lame attempt at album art) but it is definitely worth heading over to his myspace page and grabbing a copy for yourself.
December 23, 2007 21:00
Ryan
my♥posts
jacobgolden.com
I hate jumping on to bandwagons (or should I say bandsleighs?) but we live in dire times. Lapland is on the brink of civil war, terrorists are disguised as children's toys and another factory-line squeaky clean vomit-inducing single is about to make it to number one in the UK charts. Where's President Bush when there is a real crisis? Why he is training his babies to be junior park rangers...of course (If you follow the link there is some free Christmas tunes courtesy of the Whitehouse website).
Malcolm Middleton's odds on winning the 'Christmas Number One' have risen faster than Father Christmas' sleigh in the winter skies. But now is not the time to be complacent! The result of the nationwide musical talent contest, the X Factor, was announced last night. Almost instantly winner Leon Jackson's single appeared on the front page of the iTunes store.
Having never paid any intention to the Christmas Charts, I was shocked to discover that the X Factor winner has seized the 'Christmas Number One' chart position too many times. Leon Jackson is evil. He is charming, he is dashing, he is Scottish, he is pretty much everything I am not. He must be stopped.
On the other hand, Middleton has produced the musical equivalent of Bad Santa, a working man's 'Do You Realize?'. He has captured spirit of the microwave meal for one Christmas. A track to unite all of those people who have ever enjoyed a Christmas glass of Gin and Tonic without the Tonic. A tune for those folks who find themselves taking advantage of themselves under the mistletoe. A ballad of such proportion...oh you get it, I hate Christmas.
Actually I am not too fussed about who gets the 'Christmas Number One' but I needed to pad out this writeup in order to share the Middleton video with you.
Another lovely little video is Sufjan Stevens's Put The Lights On The Tree. This is included as a bonus feature in his Songs For Christmas boxset along with a comic book and other little goodies. I offer this video as Sufjan's Christmas spirit is the yin to Middleton's yan.
Finally in the spirit of Christmas, Okkervil River are offering a free Christmas Mixtape EP on their website. Check it out. It's quite good and it's free. If you see any more free Christmas goodies on offer, let me know!
Merry Christmas!!
December 16, 2007 16:20
Ryan
my posts
wereallgoingtodie.co.uk
Hey, just a reminder that Ryan is really endorsing Malcolm Middleton's "We're All Going to Die" on our latest Pod♥Cast.
We also discuss iMeem, MySpace, Facebook, Universal and my first reaction to Stereo Total's Discothèque (which having listened to it more, I rather like it now! 3.5 ♥!)
I'm working on some great articles for you. Look for some good old Christmas/Holiday songs and stories coming soon.... and I'm also going to be compiling a Top 7 song and articles for 2007, so you can nominate your favorite articles here or privately send me an email (listed below).
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I just got a press release announcing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Add 2008 Tour Dates, and since we just mentioned Sharon Jones (see related links), I wanted to post the news here.
Here's an excerpt::
Renowned Soul and Funk maestros Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings jumpstart 2008 the only way they know how: with a series of blistering live shows. The 2008 tour--which supports their newest album, 100 Days, 100 Nights, on Daptone Records--promises to continue the sonic fireworks the band ignited last October at a sold-out Apollo Theater and maintained throughout the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast as 2007 drew to a close. The standing-room only concerts have thus only added to the burgeoning worldwide following Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have hooked over the years.
Here's the entire 2008 Tour Dates so far:
- Jan 03 Ft. Lauderdale FL - Culture Room
Jan 17 Washington DC - Black Cat
Jan 18 Charlottesville VA - Satellite Ballroom
Jan 19 Atlanta GA - Variety Playhouse
Jan 21 Orlando FL - The Social
Jan 22 Tampa FL - Skipper's Smokehouse
Jan 23 Tallahassee FL - Club Down Under
Jan 24 New Orleans LA - House of Blues
Jan 25 Houston TX - Walters
Jan 26 Austin TX - Antone's
Jan 27 Dallas TX - Granada Theatre
Jan 29 Lawrence KS - Granada Theatre
Jan 30 St Louis MO - Duck Room
Jan 31 Cincinnati OH - Bogarts
Feb 01 Louisville KY - Headliners
Feb 02 Nashville TN - Mercy Lounge
12/14/2007 20:04:33
vu
my♥posts
daptonerecords.com
malcolmmiddleton.co.uk
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