Blind Surprise of the Week: Moon Duo

What's that? A Sacred Bones artist NOT playing at the Waldorf? It's true: San Fran psych-rockers Moon Duo will descend upon Vancouver once again, this time at the Biltmore on Dec. 7.

I hate drum machines and keyboards/synths live, but Moon Duo is just. Too. Hypnotic, with dark, entrancing, Jesus and Mary Chain/Joy Division/Frank Alpine danceability (swayability?). And I like Ripley Johnson's guitar-work. Time to get lost!

Between the Men (whose show at the Waldorf this past Wednesday I still have to recap), Nice Face, Amen Dunes and Moon Duo, Sacred Bones is quickly becoming one of my favourite new labels.

Check out "Motorcycle, I Love You" and the more upbeat "Mazes" below, just two selections from the eight great videos of Moon Duo's two KEXP sessions:

My Favourite Hole Song

Say what you will about Courtney Love, but there’s a reason why Live Through This is considered a classic of alternative rock:

Hole = Youth

Listening to an album for the first time and recognizing one of the songs from your childhood, after having forgotten the song existed:

Ian MacKaye, Calvin Johnson, Nü Sensae and the Evaporators, and I'm Missing Most Or All of Them

Talk about missing the opportunity of a lifetime. I am missing this FREE workshop because I only found out about it yesterday when I ran into someone at the grocery store I recognized from the Calvin Johnson house-show a couple of months ago. I would give anything to see Ian MacKaye speak and Calvin, Nü Sensae and the Evaporators play ... Can't afford anymore sick days at work, unfortunately, and registration for the workshop closed yesterday, though there's an ever-so-slight chance I may be able to catch Calvin's set at the very least. It took me until this morning to be able to bring myself to read the full event description. The relevant parts highlighted below:

A Free Weekend of Workshops led by Local Experts in a Variety of Indie-Music-Related Fields!!!

with Keynote Speaker: Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat)!!!

and a Saturday Night Rock Show Featuring: Calvin Johnson, Thee Evaporators, Nu Sensae, and The Bank Dogs!!! Doors open at 7pm! Show at 7:30!

Come learn about all aspects of D.I.Y. music-making , including production, promotion, organization, and networking. Ever wanted to book a tour? Make your own t-shirts? Build a distortion pedal? Shoot a video? Whether you're a musician, artist, organizer, music-lover, or just an overall cool cat: meet new people! Learn from THE BEST! Witness history in the making! And rock hard!

- Find out how record labels work from the staff of K Records, Mint Records, Student Loan Records, Hockey Dad Records and more!
- Get interview tips from Nardwuar the Human Serviette
- Learn about music theory from members of the SSRIs
- Discuss the perils of ageism with members of Safe Amp and the Vera Project
- Discover how to make effects pedals with Julian Marrs of Marrs Pedals

Nothing To Do This Friday Night?

Go see THE WHITE STRIPES!!!!! ... cover band White Blood Cells, $10 at the Fairview Pub.

Free Concert Tickets = As Easy As Joining Twitter? Apparently So.

I still don't know how to use or read Twitter, but despite my social media illiteracy, I was still able to win two tickets to the Men with White Lung and Sex Church at the Waldorf tonight by retweeting @justshowsVAN. How lucky, as retweeting is all I know how to do on Twitter. That's like, 50% of Twitter anyway, isn't it? And to think, I was going to buy my ticket today ...

Twitter has also already begun paying dividends in other ways. Check out American Snakeskin, awesome New Orleans psychy-pop fuzz-punk-rock, at http://soundcloud.com/janitors_closet. Thanks, @myszkaway (Mish Way, lead-singer of Vancouver punk band White Lung and writer for Vice and hearty magazines).

Frank Sinatra Night