Radio Free Berry 2.08.06
Posted by Brian Berry on 02.08.2006
Ted Leo & other bands find new homes, Cat Power cancels tour, a Cars reunion(?), and tons of tour info all in issue #11
IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS…
Salutations and welcome to the eleventh edition of Radio Free Berry. You can look to RFB for the freshest indie/college rock reviews, up to the minute news, tour and new release dates, and a stomach full of disorganized running-at-the-mouth on music related issues.
Get pumped people! The 411 Music Zone writers are creating their Top 100 Albums of all-time list. I just finished mine yesterday, with a little bit of place swapping and miscellaneous tinkering every few minutes or so. Look for hints on what made my list in this column, as well as a complete list in the near future. The hardest part was eliminating albums by At the Drive-In, Fugazi, Bob Dylan, Slayer, Black Flag, Radio Birdman, Blondie, Mr. Bungle, The Butthole Surfers, Donovan, The Band, David Bowie, and [fill in kick ass band here] to get my list down to a mere 100. It ain't that easy kids.
If you get a chance, check out the film Be Here To Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt. I checked it out Saturday night, followed by a Q & A session by the director, Margaret Brown. It was one of the best music documentary's I've ever seen (up there with Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back), providing a three-dimensional, honest depiction at one of the greatest songwriters of all time. The movie balances candid interviews with Van Zandt's friends including Guy Clark, Steve Earle, and Willie Nelson with rare performance footage of songs, such as "Waitin' Around To Die." This is a must see for all music fans. Showtimes and movie info can be found by clicking here.
*TED LEO/PHARMACISTS: Oakland, California's Lookout Records, former home to Green Day, Operation Ivy, and a plethora of pop-punk bands has a long history of poor business practices including mismanagement of finances that lead to bands not being paid royalties for their albums. (see: Green Day, Avail) (Ted Leo/Pharmacists. Ted Leo, center)
Lookout's biggest selling active musician is, or should I say, was Ted Leo up until he announced yesterday that he's jumping ship for the more eclectic Touch & Go Records (home of TV On the Radio, Calexico, and !!!). In a press release, Leo said, "As sad as I am that circumstances have forced a move from Lookout! Records, I'm insanely happy and thankful to be able to make that move over to Touch & Go. T&G is a label that has provided me, personally, with amazing music for 25 years; over those years, I have become friends with many of their artists and staff, and it's an honor to now be a real part of their ongoing ruling-ness."
Leo is currently on tour. Click here for tour dates. This may sound like an oxymoron but Ted Leo is the best pop-punk lyricist working today. If you haven't heard him I suggest you go to his site and check his music out. Fans of The Clash and Elvis Costello won't be disappointed.
*CAT POWER: DO NOT SELL YOUR LIVER FOR CAT POWER TICKETS! I REPEAT, DO NOT SELL YOUR LIVER FOR CAT POWER TICKETS! Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall), like, totally bailed on her tour. What was to be a promising tour with Marshall backed by some of Southern soul's strongest musicians, is now a file in the "what would have been" folder. So, what gives? We, the fans, demand an answer. Her label, Matador, could only tell us this:
"Out of respect for Chan's privacy, we can't give more detailed information, but we hope and assume that you'll respect her privacy during this time as well. There will be information about refunds available imminently, and the tour will be rescheduled as soon as possible." Was this unexpected? No. Will she still sell a shitload of copies for The Greatest? Without a doubt. This writer sleeps soundly he didn't shell out $35 for a ticket.
*THE CARS: For the love of Ric Ocasek's adam's apple! Are The Cars going on tour? Maybe they're banking on their debut album's inclusion in my Top 100 of All-Time tore-ignite interest with the general public. Click on this cryptic message> then check out the even more cryptic trailer. Concerts have been a bit of a drag for a while; maybe this "Magic" Cars reunion will be "Just What I Needed." (any chance for a pun, and I'll jump at it)
*MARY TIMONY/ERASE ERRATA: In other label jumping news, two of my favorite artists with women on the microphone, Mary Timony (ex-Helium vocalist) and Erase Errata joined Kill Rock Stars records this week. Timony, like Ted Leo, was a member of the Lookout! roster (and formerly on Matador). Erase Errata, an all-girl, trumpet blaring, noise punking Bay Area band who released albums on Troubleman in the past. Kill Rock Stars is home to other bands the kids enjoy spazzing out to, such as Deerhoof and The Gossip.
2. SELL YOUR LIVER FOR TICKETS TO…
Check out the new format. There are now links to the artist's home pages so you can just click on the band name and pull up tour dates. All tours are Radio Free Berry stamped and approved for a good night's rock show or the beer's on me (must be 21 years of age or older to accept offer).
Animal Collective will be a good show for people who like to trip out (on life) and get mind numbingly high (on life). Ariel Pink will be good for people who are totally fried (from a day out in the sun). Belle and Sebastian/New Pornographers will be a great double bill for sensitive boys and well read ladies. Expect New Pornographers to out perform B&S, causing them to wet their pants and go crying home to their native Scotland. Waaaaaahhhh! Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will be great for young people who spent too much time reading Spin for fashion cues on how to dress like The Strokes. Dinosaur Jr. will be a good show for heshers who insist that "they just don't make rock music like this anymore." If J Mascis and Lou Barlow fist fight on stage, and you get a good photo, I'll pay top dollar. Bring flannel. Robert Pollard will be great for whiskey drinkers and fans of Guided By Voices. GBV tunes will be covered. Sigur Ros will be a good show if you own a soul, good or evil. Rocky Votolato will be a good show for dudes looking for a performance where they're outnumbered by the ladies.
3. COLLEGE MUSIC CHARTS
The Dusted Magazine chart makes its return this week, following a six week hiatus, with some monster shake-ups on their chart.
Cat Power's The Greatest is in command on both charts, but will the college kids continue to support Ms. Chan Marshall after canceling her world tour? Tune in next week to find out if the reigning queen of blue eyed soul can maintain radio domination.
In other news Clap Your Hands Say Yeah continues to go strong, remaining in the top 10 despite releasing their eponymous debut in mid-2005. Look for Robert Pollard to make a move forward on both charts next week while San Francisco's Film School could very well crack the top 10 of both charts with their new, self-titled album. Check in next week for more charts!
Dusted Magazine (January 31)
1. Cat Power- The Greatest (Matador)
2. The Delta 5- Singles and Sessions (Kill Rock Stars)
3. The Gossip- Standing in the Way of Control (Kill Rock Stars)
4. Arab Strap- Last Romance (Transdreamer)
5. Caribou- Marino Audio (Domino)
6. Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy- The Brave and the Bold (Overcoat)
7. The Advantage- Elf Titled (5 Rue Christine)
8. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (self-released)
9. Robert Pollard- From A Compound Eye (Merge)
10. Bell Orchestra- Recording A Tape the Colour of the Light (Rough Trade)
College Music Journal (Issue 948)
1. CAT POWER- The Greatest (Matador)
2. STROKES- First Impressions Of Earth (RCA)
3. WE ARE SCIENTISTS- With Love And Squalor (Virgin)
4. CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (self-released)
5. ARAB STRAP- Last Romance (Transdreamer)
6. TEST ICICLES- For Screening Purposes Only (Domino)
7. JENNY LEWIS AND THE WATSON TWINS- Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
8. ACTION ACTION- An Army Of Shapes Between Wars (Victory)
9. WILCO- Kicking Television: Live In Chicago (Nonesuch)
10. GOSSIP- Standing In The Way Of Control (Kill Rock Stars) Credit: College Music Journal
Again, a good rule of thumb for differentiating these two publication's charts is as follows: Dusted Magazine is a non-commercial website, free of charge for radio stations. They collect playlists from stations pushing underground/indie music almost exclusively (about 50 stations). College Music Journal collects data from any station willing to pay for a subscription to their service (about 200 stations).
4. PARTING THOUGHTS/PLUGS
· If you liked Radio Free Berry, you'll love:
- "Dancing About Architecture" dishes news on Modest Mouse, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Plug Awards, and Smashing Pumpkins. If pizza shows up at my house I'll make damned sure that I get your personal info and call in a huge plate of corned beef and cabbage sent to you, Mr. Wright. Mark my words.
- Guns ‘N Roses are covered in part 2 of Stephen Mogan's "The Untouchables" this week.
-Cat Power "The Greatest" album review by Morgan Marx. Check out his past reviews for the skinny on albums by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Dresden Dolls, and Tool along with several concert reviews. Links to each writers past efforts are at the bottom of each column.
-Flightplan DVD review by BRIAN BERRY! Yeah, I put on my film reviewer hat last week for a review of this piece of, well, uh, I guess you'll just have to read the review.
· Let me know what you think of Radio Free Berry. While Pablo Picasso may have been asshole, rest assured that I'm a nice guy and welcome praise and criticism equally.
(Ted Leo/Pharmacists. Ted Leo, center) 
