New Kurt Vile LP out, Vile plays Conan

September 25, 2015 / Greg Franklin

The new Kurt Vile album (b'lieve i'm goin' down) is out today via Matador, and first spins showcase an album full of Vile's penchant for finger-picked crystalline lazy Sunday jams mixed with moments of spine-tingling anthemic bliss. He stopped by Conan O'Brien's show to play the first single ("Pretty Pimpin'") and do a stripped down version of "Wild Imagination". This iteration of Vile's band appears to be loaded for bear, featuring (amongst others) Farmer Dave Scher (Beachwood Sparks) on keys and backing vocals.

Kurt Vile plays the Showbox in Seattle with Cass McCombs on October 18, 2015.

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categories / music, music news, new music, seattle music, the royal pick, video of the day
tags / kurt vile, seattle, conan o'brien, tv appearances, matador records, b'lieve i'm goin' down, philadelphia

KURT VILE RELEASES "PRETTY PIMPIN" VIDEO, ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM

July 21, 2015 / Greg Franklin

Philadelphia's Kurt Vile recently announced his new album (b'lieve i'm goin down, out September 25 on Matador), but today finds him sharing the first single and video off of the record. It follows along in Vile's tradition of writing meandering, melancholy songs that center around finger-picking guitar loops, but something about this seems a lot more concise. His songs have a tendency to be built around this restless loop, perpetually moving without settling, but the extra glossy layers (and fantastic guitar textures) on top of the already crystal clear production really help make the song shine and invite multiple listens. (It's currently hitting earworm status for me.)

Vile is hitting the road in October and November to support the album. Dates behind the jump.

The Royal Basement Podcast #9: Eric Slick (Dr. Dog) is up!

February 25, 2015 / Greg Franklin

Philadelphia's Dr. Dog are easily one of the finest, most consistent bands working today. Their live shows (documented beautifully on their new double live LP Live At A Flamingo Hotel) showcase a band with an incredible quality control over their own songs , who constantly push the boundaries and growth of even their oldest material, teetering precariously at times on the precipice of jam band territory without ever falling into the noodles. I had a chance to chat with drummer Eric Slick when the band came through Seattle recently, and just put it up (along with his lovingly curated playlist) for your listening pleasure over on the podcast page.

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categories / interview, music, podcast
tags / dr. dog, podcast, eric slick, philadelphia, the royal basement podcast, seattle, showbox

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Dr. Dog Announce Live Album Release

December 01, 2014 / Greg Franklin

I've been clamoring for Dr. Dog to make a live record for quite some time. (Well, clamoring sounds pretty strong, like I've been partaking in a letter writing campaign to various congressfolk or picketing a lot. It's not that strong, but STILL.) I've seen Dr. Dog at least 10 times now (words about those experiences here), and they manage to always deliver their set in a convincingly powerful manner, while pushing the development of songs that have been documented on album into fresh, developing territory; loud rockers find space to air out and breathe, and quiet strummers are reinvented as noisy, raucous anthems . Add their rough-but-polished theatrical presentations to the mix, and you've got one of the finest live bands on the planet right now. (Also, note some of the footage from their last trip through the Neptune Theatre here in Seattle!)

Live At A Flamingo Hotel is out January 13th on ANTI- Records.

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categories / music, new music, video of the day
tags / new music, dr. dog, philadelphia, live record, ANTI-

The Royal Pick for Nov. 1, 2014: PISSED JEANS at Barboza

November 01, 2014 / Greg Franklin

As you get older, you can glide comfortably (or acceptingly) into the adult world, accepting the tedium and monotony that life often gives you when you accept that comfy office job. Pissed Jeans is an embracing of those jittery voices of daily dissent, celebrating those moments of dark discomfort and adult awkwardness while occasionally tossing a gladly-welcomed splashing and screaming trantrum in the kiddie pool. The four piece from Pennsylvania come from a background full of East Coast hoodie-hardcore, but piece those frenetic elements into concise, well-structured blasts of chuggy, chaos ridden sludge pop. Add frontman Matt Korvette's manic personality and self-effacing observational lyrics and half-serious/half-sarcastic Iggy Pop-isms into the mix, and you have one of the most compelling live bands on the planet right now. Given that the band has embraced the office/family life, they don't tour much, so any chance to see Pissed Jeans (especially on the West Coast) is a "do not miss" affair.

Pissed Jeans plays at Barboza tonight. Stickers and Vexx open. Show is at 7pm. Tickets are $15.