I’ve been in a fog for the last five days, one both literal and figurative, so I missed the sad news that Austin fave Jon Dee Graham was in a serious car accident. Many wishes for a peaceful recovery to Jon and his family. I saw him perform I don’t know how many years ago, and it was one of the best solo shows I’ve ever seen. Please enjoy this footage of the man at work.

In other local-ish news, it doesn’t sound like The Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes has mellowed out much if their recent performance at New York’s Webster hall is any indication. Rawk.

C3 has permanently scrapped plans for the Vineland festival due to the sudden popularity of… New Jersey.

And finally, we’re taking a break here at the SXSW Music Blog ’til the middle of next week as the SXSW 2009 site launches tomorrow. Can’t wait to see the new look, and we’ll have plenty of blogtastic postings for you to start your August off right. The RSS song will remain the same, and you can continue to (not) email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Farewell beautiful ‘08. It’s time to move on.

Tchussie for now, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 31st, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

For those that braved the traffic, the dust, Suicide Hill, and more… you were rewarded with Teletubbies courtesy of The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, The Tragically Hip playing over their allotted set length, two members of N.E.R.D arriving late (see above mentioned traffic), Jay-Z and Tom Petty. So, a mixed bag, methinks.

It took us two and a half hours to get to the Pemberton Festival… usually a 35 minute drive. Our intrepid driver took it upon herself to play chicken with oncoming traffic so we could jump the line. That was an adventure. Thank God for the police escort that finally arrived or we might still be sitting on the road with several already drunk (I saw a guy lift a girl in a move reminiscent of Dirty Dancing as we sat in a long line of parked traffic) festival goers.

The site, nestled in a valley in the Coast Mountains, was beautiful, but I think the organizers need to find some secret road to the protected potato field if they want smoother sailing next year. On the flip side, we did go to the top of a mountain yesterday which was not bad at all.

I recommend Whistler to anyone looking for some mountain adventures and excellent cuisine. As for Pemberton… it has potential, but they have some big hurdles to clear if they want to make it a premier festival. And I never even saw Chris and Gwynnie!

Did you go to Pemby? What’d you think? Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com

It’s nice to be home, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 30th, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

For those that braved the traffic, the dust, Suicide Hill, and more… you were rewarded with Teletubbies courtesy of The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, The Tragically Hip playing over their allotted set length, two members of N.E.R.D arriving late (see above mentioned traffic), Jay-Z and Tom Petty. So, a mixed bag, methinks.

It took us two and a half hours to get to the Pemberton Festival… usually a 35 minute drive. Our intrepid driver took it upon herself to play chicken with oncoming cars so we could jump the line. That was an adventure. Thank God for the police escort that finally arrived or we might still be sitting on the Sea to Sky with several already drunk (I saw a guy lift a girl in a move reminiscent of Dirty Dancing on the side of the road) festival goers.

The site, nestled in a valley in the Coast Mountains, was beautiful, but I think the organizers need to find some secret road to the protected potato field (and running out of parking wasn’t so great, either) if they want smoother sailing next year. On the flip side, we did go to the top of a mountain yesterday, which was not bad at all.

I recommend Whistler to anyone looking for some outdoor adventures and excellent cuisine. As for Pemberton… it has potential, but it seems like they have some big hurdles to clear if they want to make it a premier festival. And I never even saw Chris and Gwynnie!

Did you go to Pemby? What’d you think? Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com

It’s nice to be home, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 30th, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

What’s going on in the world these days…

I’m glad to see that Nas’ protest of Fox News and Bill O’Reilly isn’t hurting his record sales as he debuted this week at #1 with sales of 187,000. Did anyone else The Colbert Report last night? If not, you can see a clip of his interview here and performance here.

50 Cent is suing Taco Bell for devaluing his good name. Did they make some sort of “Get Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes or Die Tryin’” commercial or something? I love 50 Cent, but I also love 7-layer burritos so it’s hard to know who to root for on this one.

Kanye West’s visits with returning veterans are being filmed for an MTV Choose or Lose documentary entitled Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming. Said West, “I teamed up with MTV and took the opportunity to share the spotlight with these veterans and hear their stories. I went to their homes to listen and get their firsthand experiences. I wanted to hear their stories.” Each veteran will receive a financial gift on behalf of MTV and the Dr. Donda West Foundation.

Slayer are considering retirement after their final record on their contract is released. Sad to hear that perhaps it will rain blood no more as soon they may be haunting the retirement home. In honor of Slayer, please enjoy this video of their “Born to be Wild” cover. Steppenwolf never sounded so good.

That’s all she wrote for today. I’m off to Whistler tomorrow to hang with the mooses whilst watching Jay-Z at Pemberton.

As always you can email us at musicblog@sxsw. Subscribe to the feeder here and get all your good time SXSW blogposts delivered straightaway.

Toodles, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 24th, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

In honor of Mamma Mia! opening (it’s totally uneven but pretty joy inducing, not despite but because of its kooky awfulness), here’s a truckload of Abba.

SOS

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

SUPER TROUPER

FERNANDO

KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU

It’s 3 am. I apologize for the not overly informative post, but then again, I’ve gifted you with Abba. No apology needed, right?!

I’m off to the Pemberton Festival in Canada on Friday. Are you? Death Cab for Cutie! The Flaming Lips! My Morning Jacket! Jay-Z! Canadians! I once saw some bears frolicking on the side of the highway en route to Edmonton!

What’s your favorite Abba song? The band your most looking forward to seeing at Pemberton? Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Aprapo of nothing, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 23rd, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

So what’s slightly new and noteworthy, I wonder…

Crosby, Stills and Nash have asked Rick Rubin to produce a record of covers for them. Idolator suggests “All Apologies.” I’d like to hear them do “Enter Sandman.” Please enjoy this montage of ships and remember C,S,and N in olden days.

All hail the the return of Eminem. Apparently he’s in the studio and “has a lot to get off his chest,” according to Bishop Lamont. He should play SXSW next year. I’d like to start lobbying for that right now, thanks. This video of Weird Al and Eminem is like, you know what I’m sayin’, and involves a lot of Weird Al screaming. Whatever happened to Al TV?

Wow, wowee, wow! Jimmy Grumbles, I hope you’re reading this… British Lords of the Anthem, James, are headed out on tour for the first time since 2001. Of course they’re not coming to Louisville. Of course I’m leaving LA a week before they play the El Rey. Curses! Here’s the video for “Seven,” but it’s just one of their many kickass tunes.

Jarvis Cocker is writing songs for Wes Anderson’s upcoming kids movie. That all sounds rather perverse yet fashionable and twee but delightful. Doesn’t seem a stretch, that pairing. I feel like I must give you some “Common People” in honor of.

And lastly, can I just say that I love the fact that Billy Ray Cyrus credits David Lynch for starting his acting career? Awesome sauce.

Alright, I hope you’ve enjoyed this late night You Tubing silly news reporting of mine. News reporting? News regurgitating?

Either way… you can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

I’ll see what I can do, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 17th, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

Exciting news today that the Jayhawks will do a new record with Mark Olson. I still remember their seminal SXSW show at The Austin Music Hall where I chaperoned a drunk to remain nameless actor who exclaimed, “I came all the way from Austin just to see this show!” Please enjoy their video for “Blue.” Mark Olson was just so cute!

Who else is super excited that Rush will perform on The Colbert Report tomorrow night? Who else finds it amusing that it was originally reported as Rush Limbaugh and not Geddy Lee and Co.? Please enjoy the video for “Subdivisions.” Everyone has an awesome teenage listening to Rush memory, don’t they?

This is old news, but I confess I’m fascinated by the re-emergence of Fred Durst as… a creepy mountain man? Has he been living in the woods? Did he drop LSD every day for a year? One might deduce either of those things after watching this clip, BUT… it turns out Fred has been directing a film called The Longshots, an inspirational tale about the first African-American girl to play in the Pop Warner Football tournament. The movie stars Ice Cube and Keke Palmer. I read about this in Seventeen magazine. I was never fond of Limp Bizkit, but this new Fred seems kind of alright.

And finally, yesterday that Beck guy announced some US Tour dates. I haven’t heard his new record yet, but I will soon thanks to the kindness of strangers. I’m sure it’s perfectly swell as most things Beck does are delightful (including an impersonation of a Rammstein show that I once saw him do. Hilarious!). Please enjoy the “Deadweight” video, a song far better than the film it appeared in. Michel Gondry is so awesome.

Okay, that is all for today. Or nearly tomorrow, as it were.

Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com. Subscribe to that feedie thing here and get all our scrumdiddlyicious posts delivered to your rss maker.

The music drags, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 15th, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

Ah, what can I say about the glorious Butthole Surfers and their very kind and interesting drummer, King Coffey? The band is on the road again with their original lineup, and if you’re in England, hopefully you can catch one of their shows. In New York? Webster Hall, 7.29. The Surfers live can be a life changing experience. I even met Mr. Peppermint once!

The Vizsla loving Coffey has logged hundreds of miles this year taking his dog Norman to dog shows across Texas (that’s Enid in the picture, though, if you were wondering). He (King, not Norman) wrote Hüsker Dü their first fan letter and roadied for them when they came through Texas.

King told me he can identify the colors of an M&M by taste. “Brown is the easiest. Yellow and green are the hardest as they are similar.”

He has an extensive Patty Hearst collection.

I was lucky enough to get KC to do The LP Questionnaire, so without further ado…

Name: King Coffey
Pro Wrestling name: The Cerebral Slate.

1. Pretend you’re 15 (and tell us what year it is, if you don’t mind). Name three songs you’d put on a mix tape for your girlfriend/boyfriend. 1979. It was an exciting time in music, but most of my classmates were oblivious to it. So I made a bunch of mix tapes to try to recruit anyone who might get into punk / new wave. Nothing too heavy, I didn’t want to scare anyone away:

“Human Fly” - The Cramps
“Do the Strand” - Roxy Music
“Lucky Number” - Lene Lovich

2. Which evil villain would make the best president? Eartha Kitt as the Catwoman. She could steal every jewel in every museum as far as I care, as long as she wears her catsuit and purrs her way through the State of the Union address.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? Maybe the Jetsons. The Flintstones
always seemed to be depressed, but the Jetsons acted like they were having a blast. It made the future seem like something to look forward too.

I also liked Davey and Goliath. It honestly creeped me out a little, but I loved Goliath. I’m still looking for a talking dog.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? As a kid I used to pretend I was Plasticman, stretching my arms with great drama to reach the glass of milk on the other side of the table.

At this point in my life, tho, I would be happy with the not so superhuman ability to grow hair on my head.

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? A Whiter Shade of Pale: My Life as an Albino in the World of Rock

We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of The LP Questionnaire. Feel free to check out other LP?s here.

You can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

More bloggy goodness coming your way soon! lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 14th, 2008 under LP Questionnaire, Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

Intrepid Boston Phoenix editor Lance Gould sent me a link to their collection of the 50 Best Bands, Solo Artists and New Acts from each state.

You can check out the groovy clickable map here.

And have a gander at Wyoming (because Wyoming?! Awesome! I love that they’re rocking out in Cheney country) and Kentucky’s Best New Acts - and SXSW 2008 alums - Teenage Bottle Rocket and Wax Fang.

TEENAGE BOTTLE ROCKET - “IN THE BASEMENT”

WAX FANG - “THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW”

That’s all she wrote for today, my friends. Please send emailies to musicblog@sxsw.com. Subscribe to our delicious RSS feed here.

I’m watching The Dreamers. This movie is so bizarre. I think I like Eva Green better as Vesper Lynd, thanks.

And on that note, goodnight! lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 10th, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none

Hello everyone… let’s see what news hit my inbox today.

Academy Award winners Three 6 Mafia are doing a free show for their MySpace friends in Miami on July 11 at Sobe Live. Juicy J and DJ Paul remain focused with their eyes on the prize. The prize, in this case, being a show to promote their new album The Last 2 Walk.

Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin dabbles in heaven and hell this fall as he releases two new albums on Tompkins Square Records. September’s Steps to Heaven, a collection of ten traditional gospel classics (including two Louvin Brothers songs) precedes the December release of Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs. It’s lovely to see the 80-year old Louvin still going strong.

If you’re looking for a bit of rock and roll highbrow, the East Village Opera Company has a new record coming out next month called Olde School. The group re-imagines arias from the world’s great operas as rock epics including “Help Me (Jove, In Pity),” inspired by George Frideric Handel’s 1744 work Semele. I’m particularly enchanted by versions of “Nessun Dorma” and “Habanera” from their debut album.

And last, but certainly not least, the Scorpions return to the US as part of their Humanity Tour 2008. I’m so psyched that Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs are still rocking out. Pity no Francis Buchholz, though. You can see all dates here. In honor of one of my favorite bands when I was 13, please enjoy this video for “I’m Leaving You.” Truly hilarious.

Thanks, as ever, for dropping by. Email your favorite Scorpions song to musicblog@sxsw.com.

Ooh, James MacAvoy’s on The Daily Show! lp

Original post by LP

Posted: July 9th, 2008 under Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none