GHOSTFACE KILLAH Live in Bloomington

Ghostface and cult reading…

The master of metaphor, the Nostradamus of non-sequitars, the story-telling-est Apollo Kid, the real Tony Stark: the Ghostface Killah tore it up at the Bluebird last night. Our very own Okie-Texan, by way of Shanghai, Surfwaco delegate, Zachary Carlisle Davidson was on the scene. Below are some of the photos of the show which involved an entire dramatic aspect to the performance. I’m glad to see contemporary rappers taking it beyond just the music. Makes me think of Seattle’s Shabazz Palaces (new remix below) and Fever Ray (1/2 of Sweden’s The Knife–one of the best releases of 2009 by far–also a video below–arguably her best–). Below is Killah & Adrian’s racy video for new track, Rise of the Ghostface Killah, from their new album Twelve Reasons to Die available everywhere.

Rise of the Ghostface Killah – Ghostface Killahg & Adrian Younge

Ghostface & Adrian narrating the story before Ghost dies and comes back after an interlude by Adrian and Delfonics. Adrian switches from bass to keyboards.

Adrian Younge

Ghost and Delfonics

Killa Priest. This was towards the end, everyone was wild by then.

New Town Burnout – Animal Collective (Shabazz Palaces RMX). This will be on a remix release, Monkey Been to Burn Town out May 28th via Domino.

When I Grow Up – Fever Ray

Filed under: Concerts, Music, Adrian Younge, Bluebird, Fever Ray, Ghostface Killah, Shabazz Palaces, Twleve Reasons to Die, When I Grow Up

Dont Look Back

One of the advantages of being at a “RESEARCH ONE INSTITUTION” are amazing on campus resources like a dedicated cinema that shows rare, indie and international films. I caught “Dont Look Back” a docudrama about Bob Dylan’s 1965 tour of London. The film was gorgeous, partially because of the film grain and high contrast. It gave you an honest perspective of his life during the tour (stressed/constantly under questioning and ridiculing). The typography at the beginning of the movie was excellent. A big bold black title rested in the corner of the screen which was barely readable near Dylan’s wiry frame dressed in all black. The director’s name followed, stretched across the screen and completely unreadable. This all happened shortly after a quick snippet of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” that featured a cameo by Allen Ginsberg. If you haven’t seen this video, watch it below. If you have, watch it again!

A lecture preceded the film which mentioned Dylan being in a state of complete mental and physical dissolution by the time he left London. It was also mentioned that Dylan was convinced he would abandon songwriting all together after the experience in favor of a career in prose. However, after discovering one of his songs covered electrically by a British group hit #1 on the pop charts, wrote and recorded “Like a Rolling Stone” within 2 weeks of his return State-side and the rest is history.

One of the funny aspects of the film was this ongoing rivalry with an English singer songwriter by the moniker “Donovan.” He plays a great song while hanging with Dylan and his compatriots (he is obviously borrowing “a little” from Dylan’s songwriting style and presentation, regardless it’s a catchy well-written song). Watch a video of the track below.

Overall, if you like Dylan, see this film! It has been released in all the chrome on blu-ray. My favorite parts: a raging Dylan over the behavior of his hotel room guests surrounding throwing of glass bottles out of the window to the streets, Dylan’s exceptional one liners (“Give the ‘Anarchist’ a cigarette!”), anytime Joan Baez sang and Dylan’s irritating conversation with a “science student” who is a total gimp with no social skills (this guy actually grows up to be a big whig in the music industry who discovers Blondie).

Filed under: Movies, Music, Bob Dylan, D.A. Pennebaker, Donovan, Dont Look Back, Joan Baez, Subterranean Homesick Blues, To Sing for You

Angel Eyes

Lately, I’ve been addicted to Angel Eyes, a moniker adopted by Melbourne based lo-fi guru, Andrew Cowie. I love the way he uses his voice amongst the clashing and clamoring of digital noise. This is some of the only music I feel I can meditate to. I envision an alternate universe of pyramids and sunsets in a ancient world long forgotten. Buy Cowie’s first release, Dire Dish, over on iTunes, highly recommended. His new release, Vice to Vice is out on cassette via Moon Glyph. Grab it here. Listen to some select tracks via YouTube/Soundcloud below.

“Flicked Bottle Tops”

“Do Away With”

 

Filed under: Music, Angel Eyes, Dire Dish, Moon Glyph, Vice to Vice

Killer Covers: Black & White

As a designer, interesting and exciting album covers are an important part of the music experience for me. Here’s some great cds that go hard using only black and white.

Madvillian–Madvilliany

Tokyo Police Club–Smith EP

The Shins–Port of Morrow

Filed under: Design, Music

Video for Matthew Dear’s “Her Fantasy”

Psyched about Matthew Dear’s new LP coming out next month (Beams). 2010′s Black City was incredible. Buy it if you don’t have a copy. Below is the video for new single “Her Fantasy.” Strange but amazing…just like his music.

(Via Ghostly International…)

“Her Fantasy,” the highly praised lead single––and dare we say summer anthem––gets a very fitting video treatment. Director Tommy O’Haver’s video takes us on a journey through bizarre sequences of debauchery and seduction with a hint of humor, as he pays homage to Avant Garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger in a self-described “mash-up”. Tommy brings out the dark side of the psychedelic pop synth track by using pulsing lights, dim colors and exotic subjects. Featuring a pink-haired geisha, a slow-moving harlequin clown, and a smiling lady with a cage over her head, “Her Fantasy” is a very weird trip. Also, check out the Australian producer Tornado Wallace’s remix of said single. Beams is available August 27th & 28th. Pre-order now.

Filed under: Music, Video, Beams, Ghostly International, Her Fantasy, Matthew Dear

Happy Independence Day!

Follow me on Instagram (@surfwaco)

Happy Birthday America! Just watched Act of Valor, so the patriotic juices are pumpin’. Cheers to freedom, ROCK N’ ROLL and ALIEN MOVIES starring WILL SMITH!

Jimi Hendrix plays The Star Spangled Banner at 9:00 in the morning at Woodstock (1969):

Amazing Independence Day president’s speech:

Happy 4th all! I hope you spend the holiday doing whatever you want, whenever you want with people you what to do it with. ‘MERICA!!!

Filed under: Movies, Music, Act of Valor, Independence Day, Jimi Hendrix, The Star Spangled Banner, Woodstock

Surfwaco PL6

–> Listen on Soundcloud <–

Surfwaco Playlist 6 is finally here!! This one is a long time coming and features warm, summery tracks to groove to on your way to the beach or the grill. It might have a Moonrise Kingdom track on there…(hint: see yesterdays Moonrise post). Stream/download the entire playlist below via my Soundcloud page. View the full tracklist after the jump. Let me know what your favorite summer songs are in the comments!

Filed under: Music

Ghost

Surfwaco presents a cheery new playlist that tells the story of the forthcoming undead conquest of the earth in three parts. Start preparing!

 

Prologue

The Sublime is Disappointingly Elusive – The Caretaker

Part I:  Regret (In which the dead reflect on the living)

Unmarked Grave – David Thomas Broughton
I Saw You in the Wild – Great Lake Swimmers
Suicide Dream 2 – How to Dress Well
Marked – EMA

Part II:  Night Terrors (In which the dead rise from their graves)

Into the Depths – Soft Moon
I Am Made of Chalk - Crystal Castles
Rattling Cage – Forest Swords
In D#5 – Arandel

Interlude

Miserere – [anonymous]

Part III: Empty Streets (In which the sun rises on a land where none but the dead walk the streets)

In the Cold I’m Standing - M83
Yr Love - Holy Other
Distant Lights – Sand Circles
Keep the Streets Empty for Me – Fever Ray

Epilogue

So Run Down - The Caretaker

Filed under: Music

Surfwaco presents FACTORY

 

Surfwaco proudly presents: FACTORY, a celebration of art, music and life at the historic LL Sams furniture factory. The event will feature a live display and sale of artwork, swimming, live DJ sets by Surfwaco and a special performance by progressive, ambient guitarist, Dan Padgett. BYOB and food. 5pm-9pm(ish). The event will be held in the poolside warehouse.

If you are an artist and would like to show/sell work or items, please contact me (seth.daulton@gmail.com). An original woodcut print featuring the event will be on sale for only $5 as a memorable souvenir of your experience! Come one, come all, experience the FACTORY!

Filed under: Art, Misc., Music, FACTORY, LL Sams

Recommended: Chromatics’ “Kill for Love”

We’re really enjoying the new LP from Portland’s Chromatics. Kill for Love is a sprawling, glittery double album full of hushed lyrics, cool guitar lines and shimmery reverb. Perfect for a long night drive. Stream the album in full below. Watch the video for “Candy” below that. Then go ahead and pick it up a copy today via iTunes or Itlaians Do It Better.

Kill for Love (Complete album stream via Johnny Jewel)

“Candy”

Watch more cuts from the album here.

Filed under: Music, Video, Candy, Chromatics, Johnny Jewel, Kill for Love