One of my favorite bands is looking for your help. Gospel Claws, like so many indie bands nowadays, is asking fans to donate money via Kickstarter to help fund their sophomore LP. The quintet needs a total of $12,000 to record the album and only need $4,000 more to cover the costs.
“If you don’t know us, we’re from Tempe, Arizona and have been playing music together since 2007,” they write on their Kickstarter, “Our record label, Common Wall Media, has helped us release a self-titled EP (2008) and a debut full length album, C-L-A-W-S (2010). Last year we were fortunate enough to be selected as an official showcasing act for SXSW as a result of our first album.”
Here’s a video of them recording at Flying Blanket (Mesa, Ariz.) where they are recording the album with the legendary Bob Hoag.
Gospel Claw’s goal is to raise the funds by the first week of June and they are offering an array of packages for pledgers. Check the project out to see a breakdown of recording costs and a funny video of them introducing themselves and explaining the project.
I talked to Richard Edwards, frontman of Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s quite a bit over the past couple of months at places like Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta and at DeLuna Fest in Florida as well as multiple phone conversations for a feature that will go live in tomorrow’s (March 20) Paste Magazine mPlayer.
At the tail end of one lengthy conversation I asked him to discuss his favorite songs he had written for each album and which one he’d like to change. It was more of a fanboy moment than a journalist moment, but I wanted to share part of the transcript. This particular interview took place on January 30 via a phone call.
On favorite tracks written for each album:
Dust of Retreat – The only one on there that I can still listen to without cringing – I think “Skeleton Key” is a really interestingly laid out song. I get why people like it. I wish the lyrics were different – but the one whole song on there that I still think is pretty good is “Bookworm.” I know it’s probably not most people’s favorite, but that one sounds a little bit mature, I guess, than any of the other stuff on there.
Not Animal – I don’t think it’s the best song on there necessarily, but I really like that “Shivers” thing. I just like listening to it and it was always fun to play. It never seemed to go over that well; that’s why I think we quit playing it. I don’t think that’s the best song on that record. That record has some songs that are pretty good, but that’s definitely one of my favorites.
Animal! – It’s not quite as easy. “O’ What a Nightmare!” is always kind of up there for me. I really like that “Mariel” song. I still think “My Baby Shoots Her Mouth Off” is a creepy, cool song. If I had to pick out of all of them I’d probably say “O’ What a Nightmare!”
Buzzard – It’s tough. I still like quite a bit of those a lot. Probably “Birds.” It’s probably the best song I’ve written in general. It’s number one on there. I think “New York City Hotel Blues” and “Claws” are pretty good songs. I really like “Tiny Vampire Robots” a lot. It feels really cool when I listen to it.
Rot Gut, Domestic – My favorite song on there is probably a song called “Fisher of Men.” It’s kind of another rock song. It’s another one that I don’t really know if it’s the best song on there technically, but I like it the best.
On the song he would want to change the most:
I can’t get into Dust of Retreat that much and I’m happy for people who can. I was still very young and didn’t quite have my voice as a singer. It’s hard to listen to it without wishing I could have discovered my voice which I guess I have found since that record. That whole record is kind of difficult to listen to.
I really, really, really wish “I Am a Lightning Rod” was not recorded the way it fucking is. And “A Love Song For Schuba’s Bartender.” Those are the only two major regrets that I have as far as recordings and they are kind of huge major regrets. I think “Love Song” was a nice kind of funny ballad and it got worked over to where it sounded – I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like us. It sounds like a band trying to record a song that they feel self conscious about being a ballad. “Lightning Rod” was one of my favorite songs and I kind of thought of it as sort of – I don’t know. Forget what I thought it was, but what it ended up being I really, really have a problem with some of the guitar stuff on it. I think it kind of Radioheaded it up. It’s another one that I listen to that when those moments come up it kind of bums me out because I feel less like naturally what comes to us and a little bit more like it’s trying a bit too hard to mess with something as opposed to playing it pretty naturally like we would. I wish that song was a lot more sparkly. I wish I would have just recorded by myself with an acoustic guitar. Then it, at the very least, it will sound like us and not like a stretch.
After those songs specifically I became a lot stricter and proactive about making sure that nothing was happening on tunes that didn’t feel like it came from me or us naturally. I like the songs and that’s the bummer; I just wish that they were done with a bit more whatever-who-gives-a-fuck mentality.
Made another playlist. This one really didn’t have much thought to it and I’m not sure about the flow yet. There’s a lot of slower jams (what else is new?) and some artists I’ve never included in a 15 song set. I’m also too lazy to link all of the bands, so you’ll have to Google them yourself.
The title of it comes from one of the first lines from the first song. Enjoy.
“Lunatic, Lunatic, Lunatic” – Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s
“second wind” – yellowbirddd
“Dane to Another Tune” – First Aid Kit
“Yellow Brick Road” – Angus & Julia Stone
“Missing Things” – JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound
“That’s My Baby” – Sleeper Agent
“Dead Sea” – The Lumineers
“Sloom” – Of Monsters and Men
“Cheerleader” – St. Vincent
“Hold You Down” – Childish Gambino
“I Know Places” – Lykke Li
“Prehistoric” – Now, Now
“Gold Mountain” – Slow Club
“Won’t Back Down” (acoustic Tom Petty cover) – Company of Thieves
I’m at a standstill on Roseanne. I’m mere episodes away from Dan’s heart attack and the end of season eight, which means forcing myself to watch the terrible final season. But since I have already seen so many classic series (Brady Bunch, Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, etc) I find myself having the urge to watch series from the 1990s. Here’s a list of shows that have tickled my curiosity.
They appear in order of premiere year.
Twin Peaks (1990-1991) I hear it’s a lot like The Killing, in the sense that it’s the original series that focused on one specific murder. Sure, I’ve been told that the second (and last) season is awful, but I feel I can bust out one season pretty quickly.
Blossom (1991-1995) I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a handful of episodes, but don’t feel I know anything about this other than a girl who wears funny hats, a perky friend and Joey Lawrence yelling “WHOA!” I’ve often said I’d love to live in the early 1990s and feel Roseanne is one aspect of that era, but think this will give me a different viewpoint.
Mad About You (1992-1999) I know what it’s about. I know Lisa Kudrow had a small bit role as a waitress and that Helen Hunt’s character appears on Friends for a split second confusing Phoebe with Ursula. But have I seen any episodes about a newlywed couple living in the Big Apple? Nope. Maybe I should change that.
Chicago Hope (1994-2000) I was never a fan of ER, but my recent obsession with trying new things (a la a hospital drama [okay, I watched House, but that doesn’t count]) makes me want to check out a drama that wasn’t necessarily the best thing on television.
Ally McBeal (1997-2002) I’ve seen a handful of this law/romance dramedy because I remember my father watching it (it’s okay to tell people you liked the show, right Dad?). If there’s one thing I love about television is when there’s a solid female lead and, from what I can remember, Ally was that. I don’t remember much, but I remember balling during Billy’s funeral.
Every day (or as often as I remember/have time for) I will select song of the day and post some commentary.
Today’s song of the day is brought to you by a two sisters who were featured on my most anticipated album list for 2012 and a playlist I created a while back. First Aid Kit’s “Emmylou” is the iTunes track of the week and you can download it here for free.
Why should you download it?
Well, it’s a terrific Americana folk track about Stockholm. Wait, what? Yeah, that’s right. It’s about the bitter winter air consuming the singer and her desire for summer to come save her. There are great lines referencing classic American couples like the Parsons and Cashes.
“I’ll be you’re Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Graham and my Johnny, too”
It’s a terrific love song that harkens some of the most fundamental folk traditions. Be sure to download it. Remember: it’s free!
Paste recently posted our 25 albums that the staff is looking forward to. My main man Tyler compiled the list and I had a hand in writing two write ups. One was my most anticipated album of the year (which is Paste’s 13th) and the other was just because I’ve been doing a lot of write-ups on the band.
Anyway, I’ve decided that I need to give you my five albums I’m most looking forward to.
5. TBA Mixtape – Childish Gambino (TBA)
Donald Glover recently posted a blog saying that a mixtape was coming soon. While it’s still up in the air about when this would happen, it sent me into a frenzy. I’m trying to get a hold of his publicist so that I can get confirmation. Needless to say, a follow up to my favorite album of 2011 so soon would be the ultimate gift.
4. TBA – David Wax Museum (TBA)
I recently interviewed David Wax and Suz Slezak, and they told me their ideal release for the follow up to last year’s Everything Is Saved would be September. Their last album was one of my favorites from 2011 and I’m excited they want to make a more concise sound so quickly and are pushing to get another set of songs out by year’s end.
3. The Lion’s Roar – First Aid Kit (Jan. 24)
You won’t have to wait long for this album. These Swedish sisters sound like they’ve been playing Americana since birth and have nearly perfected the folk singer-songwriter skills. What makes the album special is that it takes classic American folk, but uses Swedish influences that put a unique spin on what you’d expect.
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers (March)
I’ve already obtained an advanced copy, and can promise you this will be a favorite for many of you. Think Edward Sharpe, but less kitschy and more solid. It takes an autobiographical approach to a mixture of emotions and adds layers of fun sounds that have become quite popular in recent years. I can already count four possible singles off of it, but the rest of the album is just as solid.
1. Rot Gut, Domestic – Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s (March)
When wouldn’t a Margot album be my most anticipated album of a year? I was shown the album cover during an interview (which will turn into a feature in March) with Richard Edwards a few months ago and he told me I was the first person outside of the band and close friends to see it. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this and loved the acoustic versions I witness Edwards play in Florida of “Prozac Rock” and “Coonskin Cap.” It took me a bit to get used to Buzzard, but now that I know what to expect…boy, oh, boy! March can’t get here fast enough
A year ago today I was a few weeks into my stint as a student teacher. It was a Friday and I was looking forward to a three day weekend to just unwind and relax. As usual I was on my phone checking Facebook at lunch and saw Jeffrey Kotula post something similar to “RIP Jamie” (his younger brother).
My initial instinct was that Jeff beat Jamie in a video game or something insignificant like that and it was just brothers being brothers. Then I scrolled further down and saw more details. Jamie had passed away in a tragic car accident back in Pennsylvania.
There was still some time left until my last class of the day started so I walked to the staff bathroom and openly sobbed. I leaned against the wall and just went limp. I hadn’t seen Jamie in years and he was 16, so when I was lucky enough to know him it wasn’t as the young man he grew to be.
John and Jeff were like my brothers growing up, and even though we talked few and far between, I always considered them family. I was devastated and could barely get through class. I rushed to my mother’s, where I was living at the time, and she instantly asked me what was wrong.
We were shocked. I barely had any money, but I texted Jeff and told him I was coming back to Scranton for the funeral, which was to take place that weekend – Martin Luther King weekend.
I’m not writing this to show how good of a person I am; on the contrary. When I was back in Scranton I saw how much the world will miss a truly great man. The wake had to be held at our cathedral instead of a funeral parlor. Lines longer than I can even describe formed as people waited to say goodbye to Jamie. He was treated like a king. And deservedly so.
From what I gathered he lived his life to the fullest every day; however, he honestly did unlike how so many of us say we do. Jamie did everything he could have possibly done to make himself happy. But about all else he did everything that was humanly possible to make everyone around him happy.
Like I said, I hadn’t seen or talked to the family in years, but by the end of the weekend it was like I never left. We were brothers again, and though we haven’t talked that often in the past year, I know we always will be.
Jamie’s untimely death changed me forever and I want to pay tribute to him and this is the only way I can think: in words.
He showed me that I wasn’t living life to the fullest; that I was settling and that I needed to chase my wildest dreams. I took so many things for granted and never once put anybody I loved ahead of my needs. I used to say that I did, but I knew I believed in an egocentric way of life.
In the past year I can’t say I did as much good in the world as Jamie would have done, but I started to pursue things I never thought I was. I’m writing this in a magazine office in Atlanta instead of as a teacher in a school in Arizona. Sure, I’m not getting paid, but the experiences that I’ve lived since August have been some of the greatest in my lifetime. I know that I wouldn’t have chased this dream if it weren’t for that earth shattering trip back to Pennsylvania.
I can guarantee that I didn’t express myself as clearly as I wanted to, but I tried. It’s hard to put this into words, but I knew I had to try because if I learned one thing it’s that trying is everything. And up until this point last year I never tried for anything.
To Jamie’s family: I know it has been the toughest year possible, but Jamie’s presence still lives on. I know without a doubt that he has affected more people than me and his life will live on in all of us. My love and prayers will always be with you.
To Jamie: the world misses you dearly, but you will never be forgotten.
In Memory of Jamie Kotula January 26, 1994 – January 14, 2011
Below is “Timshel” by Mumford & Sons. John and Jeff performed it for Jamie during the funeral:
Lately I’ve relied on the good nature of friends to allow me to stay at their places while I lead what I’ve been calling a “homeless chic” lifestyle. I’ve been on the search for income, but that’s another story for another day. Needless to say my sleep pattern has been off because of a lot of aspects of my life have been pulling me in all sorts of directions and crashing.
But I digress.
Last night I got the three and a half best hours of sleep that I’ve had in a long time and I guess my body decided that four a.m. was an appropriate time to wake up. Throughout that time I thought of a new mix I wanted to create and just finished it up. I tried to pick out lyrics that helped explain my search of a home and a better understanding about where I’m going in life.
I’ve accompanied the track listing with lyrics I pulled out. It’s weird, looking back on them I realized that I think a lot of the “you’s” that are mentioned are some sort of home, or in some cases they’re me.
Everyday (or as often as I remember/have time for) I will put my iPod on shuffle and the first song that comes on will be song of the day and receive a a post chock full of commentary.
Welcome to the first installment of SotD. Today’s track is “Low Shoulder” of of my good friend Liam McCormack’s (who goes under the moniker yellowbirddd) latest album, missing. Considering this was his first LP with a full band, I’m suprised by how good it was.
“Low Shoulder” is a great jam filled with a catchy acoustic riff and backing music reminiscent of good ol’ ’90s rock. And that’s not a bad thing.
McCormack has a keen ear for a sing-song melody. His vocals have an ere of innocence, especially when he crows, “and I got a low shoulder / you should come over / rest your head right next to me .”
Here’s a video of him performing “Low Shoulder” way back in 2010 (and the day after I officially met him the first time).
My favorite band, Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, released their first single off of Rot Gut, Domestic (out in March) on New Year’s Eve.
I saw Richard Edwards play “Prozac Rock” live, solo and acoustic while sitting on a beach in Florida, but the full band track is completely different.
When he met with label executives he said they told him it sounded like a #1 hit from 1994. When I talked to him a few weeks later he said that was an exaggeration, but it honestly has that sound that came from the tail end of the grunge era.
ADAM VITCAVAGE 