Notes from the Back

Posted in Hip hop, Indie, Mack Brown, Murs, Music, Notes from the Back, SXSW, Wilco with tags , , , , , , , , on February 3, 2010 by backlineshow

What is going on? I have been busy. Some of you may not know I am also in graduate school, so it has taken me a week or so to get situated this semester. I am working on a new Backline Show for next week…I promise, Rios!

1. SXSW line up is looking fantastic! I am so excited about it all. Some groups and people to check out and get to know…Breakestra (ridiculous funk orchestra from LA), Murs (the kind of indie hip hop), Elizabeth and the Catapult (great songwriting for this indie pop with a bit of gospel in it), 9th Wonder (beat maker and producer God!), Rosi Golan (beautiful voice) and the list goes on and on! I will start featuring artists in the show!

2. Phil Selway has a solo album and is going on tour!!! His band includes Wilco members, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone. Those two drummers on one album…I am speechless!

3. So some of you may know about UT closing down the Cactus Cafe. It’s the best listening room in Austin. It’s world famous and it is a travesty for it to close. I love that place! So I had a thought and I am just throwing it out there. The answer is …. Mack Brown! Hear me out and whoever his publicist is maybe…think it through. Mack took a lot of heat recently for getting a big raise. It is his money and I understand that he earned it. He is a CEO of UT Athletics and he should be rewarded. However, the Cactus Cafe needs 60K a year to survive. If he were to donate $300,000, that would give the Cactus Cafe 5 more years of life. It’s sports and arts coming together. It’s Mack Brown showing he is part of the UT community beyond athletics. Make it the Mack Brown stage at the Cactus Cafe! It’s a PR gold mine!!!! It’s just an idea. I am not volunteering Mack Brown’s money; he can do what he wants with it. It would just be an awesome thing to happen, in my opinion!

Looks like Kelso reads my blog.

1/20/2010 Playlist

Posted in Hip hop, Indie, Music, internet radio, playlist, unreleased album with tags , , , , , , , , , , on January 21, 2010 by backlineshow

This Backline Show is all over the place. We got some dope hip hop, some really good songwriters and some classical goodness! The first interview is with musicians and composers Peter Stopschinski and Graham Reynolds. When they join forces, they become the Golden Hornet Project. They talk about the upcoming symphonies they are performing in Austin, but also talk about an upcoming project with DJ Spooky. I also got a chance to chat with Jonny Burke, who was a Dedringer, but is now doing his own thing. He is touring all over the country this year! So take a listen or grab it off iTunes.

1. U-N-Me – The Watson Twins
2. Blood Red Beats – Bob Barney
3. Dsch – Golden Arm Trio
4. 2009 Rap Up – Skillz
5. Forget Me Not – Wu-Tang vs. The Beatles
6. El Paso – Jonny Burke
7. Laredo - Jon Dee Graham
8. Romeo – Dawn Landes

1/14/2010 Playlist

Posted in Beats Broke, Hip hop, Music, internet radio, playlist, unreleased album with tags , , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2010 by backlineshow

Happy New Year!!! What’s happening? Here is this year’s first Backline Show! Great interviews with Dana Falconberry, who is releasing a new album this week, and an interview with Martin Crane of Brazos!!! Lots of good music and of course I leave you with a sad bastard song! Sorry…..old habits are hard to change! Take a listen at Backline Show or grab it off of Itunes!

Also, thanks to everyone who has enjoyed my show! Without you I would not have been nominated for a Statesman award and for those who check out what I do, I would love for you to comment on my show for the nomination! You don’t need to be from Austin to tell them what you think! Here’s the nomination!

1. Steppin’ On My Rhyme – Skiggy Rapz
2. The Observer – Brazos
3. Who Needs Who More – The Strange Boys
4. Loves Not Logical – Kate Schutt
5. Singing Lullabies – Dana Falconberry
6. Dead End Kids – Joe Purdy

Backline Show update!!

Posted in Uncategorized on January 7, 2010 by backlineshow

What is happening? Sorry for the lack of blogging and podcasting the past few weeks, but I am back at it. It was the holiday season and all that. I am currently doing interviews for the first Backline Shows of 2010. Also, SXSW is coming up so if you are a musician coming through Austin…get at me…let’s chat!!! You can always email me at thebacklineshow (at) gmail.com

Here’s to a great 2010…I know we all need it!

Holiday Show Playlist

Posted in Christmas, Hip hop, Indie, Music, internet radio, playlist with tags , , , , , , , , on December 17, 2009 by backlineshow

So this is a music only Backline Show this week and it’s all Christmas music that you may have never heard before. I didn’t want to play the typical stuff so take a listen. Jam out to it while you do your festive things! Happy Holidays everyone and thanks for a great year!

1. Come On! Let’s Boogie to the Elf Dance! – Sufjan Stevens
2. Christmas Song – Chris Garneau
3. Christmas Must Be Tonight – The Band
4. Carol of the Bells – The Bird and the Bee
5. Man With All the Toys – The Beach Boys
6. The First Song – Band of Horses
7. If I Was Santa Claus – Atmosphere
8. Merry Christmas, Baby – Otis Redding
9. December 24th – Rex Moroux
10. Breakable – Kacy Crowley
11. Zat You Santa Claus – Louis Armstrong
12. Christmas – Steve Poltz
13. Soulful Christmas – James Brown

Best of 2009…Playlist 12/9/2009

Posted in ACL Fest, Adrian Quesada, Hip hop, Indie, Jon Dee Graham, Music, T-Bird and the Breaks, Wilco, internet radio, playlist, top albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 9, 2009 by backlineshow

So here it is…my list of the top albums of 2009. This week's Backline Show has songs and interviews from this list!!!

10.The Best: See and Hear Otis Redding! The Best: See and Hear is an amazing release from Shout! It’s a two disc set that has your Redding jams, but also has 12 DVD tracks of great performance footage, including Booker T. and the MG’s backing up Redding and Sam and Dave. This album is just good stuff.

9.It's Not As Bad As It Looks It’s Not as Bad as it Looks is one remarkable album not just because it might not have happened, but because it is some of the best song writing from Jon Dee Graham in a great while. In the fall of 2008, Graham was found on the side of the road by a Texas State Trooper thirty minutes after Graham’s near fatal car accident. Blood everywhere and hanging from a barbed wire fence, Graham popped out of shock as the trooper tapped him on the shoulder and Graham instantly shouted, “it’s not as bad as it looks!” Graham was right and it turned out a perfect title for this prolific piece. Produced by Stuart Sullivan, Michael Hardwick and Jon Dee Graham, the album chronicles Graham’s dive into human imperfection, the journey towards an emotional center and a realization that things will somehow and always work out.

8. Coconut RockIt’s hard to have a killer band. I can’t imagine how Adrian Quesada can have THREE! Besides Brownout and Grupo Fantasma, Quesada’s group, Ocote Soul Sounds, is outstanding. Coconut Rock is a great combo of latin music and some awesome electro/downtempo sounds. It flew under the radar this year and I can’t figure out why. This is a must have for you fans of the alt. latin scene.

7. The Go RoundI found this album flipping through CDs at End of an Ear. It was a total chance I took. Most listeners know me as a Dilla disciple. I like that organic, creative, sonically colorful hip hop beat. Inf did just that this year with The Go Round. This is an amazing album with just a good smooth, solid, understated sound. If you want to know more about the album and the artist, read up on Inf with the Q and A on Time to B.S.

6.The Mountain The Mountain is one good indie rock record by Heartless Bastards. Behind some rockin, hauntin vocals there is this great, subtle alt. country sound the slowly drifts through it all. The Mike McCarthy produced album spotlights how much of a rock star Erika Wennerstrom really is. If you want to hear more from Erika Wennerstrom and more about the album, check out the archive at The Backline Show.

5.T-Bird and the Breaks It’s soul. It’s dirty. It’s jammin. It’s raw. It grooves. Learn About It. That’s all you really need to know. The self produced record embodies some real lovers of soul and r&b just doing what they love. The arrangements are super tight and the horn line kills it in a raw soul kinda way.T-Bird and the Breaks was one of the bright spots in the Austin music scene this past year!

4. Wilco released Wilco this year. But they also released one hell of a live performance DVD/Documentary. Ashes of American Flags is beautiful. Plain and simple. The DVD wasn’t planned, it was off-the-cuff and gave some really interesting insight into Wilco, but also examined the changing American landscape. Wilco was filmed in five quintessentially American venues: Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK; Tipitina’s in New Orleans, LA; The Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, AL; The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN; and the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. Along with the DVD you can download 20 of the live tracks. It is a must get for the Wilco fan.

3. The Bird and the BeeThis is jazz/electro pop goodness. The Bird and the Bee released Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future at the beginning of 2009 and I haven’t stopped listening to it all year. The songs are sophisticated, tad quirky and down right sexy…part Scarlett Johansen part Nellie NcKay…oh..and everything has a groove. I still say that “Polite Dance Song” could have been the hit that would have put Britney Spears back on top.

2. Matt the ElectricianThis album begins with a fanfare and then a cover of Journey’s song, “Faithfully.” Makes no sense until you hear it…and no other song would do. Animal Boy is Matt the Electrician’s best songwriting album. And Matt may be the best songwriter in Austin right now. Every song is a tight, original, curious narrative that glides along. If you want to hear more from Matt check out the interview in the archive at The Backline Show.

1. The Telephone GameThe Telephone Game is sleek, seductive and crushing. Kate Schutt has put together a jazz vocal album with that touch of heartbroken rock. Compared by some as being a a cross between Blossom Dearie and Bonnie Raitt, Schutt has written some incredible lyrics that are only highlighted with the terrific arrangments. Nothing is heavy, everything floats along and the use of dynamic playing is classic. If you want to hear more from Kate Schutt….check out the interview in the archive section of The Backline Show.

Time to B.S. with Inf

Posted in Beats Broke, Hip hop, Indie, Inf, Music, Time to B.S., top albums with tags , , , , , , , on November 19, 2009 by backlineshow

Because I can’t interview everyone face to face, I have decided to do some blog spotlights of artists that should be getting a lot more love than they do, but I just can’t get to them!

For the last few months, I keep returning to a particular album, The Go Round, by Inf. Inf is a Dutch beat maker and producer who might be better known back in the day as the emcee, Infinite. No longer an emcee, Inf has created a wonderful instrumental album that was released this year by Austin label, Beats Broke. Inf was gracious enough to be part of this Q&A.

The Backline Show: What is your musical history? Did you start playing an instrument at an early age?

Inf: My musical history concerning musical lessons is pretty poor. I was never educated musically, two lessons of playing a recorder (flute) at school is the closest thing when it comes to education, hahaha. Everything I know was either self taught or passed on to me by friends who studied music. I’m known in Holland for digging up weird records and finding samples. I used to write a column for a Dutch hiphop e-mag about cratedigging. So I guess I just learned from listening to other music as well.

I started as an emcee (20 years back or so). Started making beats when I was 14 (16 years ago). I quit emceeing couple years ago to focus
on producing. Along the road I did 2 solo albums (as producer/emcee), 2 group album as an emcee, and 2 albums for Dutch emcee’s – Kapabel & PerC. I also did Sneaky Pete’s single last year and some remixes here and there.

The B.S.: What are your biggest influences to your sound?

Inf: My biggest influences are now probably old library records like stock music for movies in the 70s or whatever else. But I also like new stuff like Menahan Street Band, Shawn Lee, The Natural Yogurt Band, Budos Band, Lee Fields, Jesse D, Amy Winehouse, Eli ‘paperboy’ Reed. Basically anything that is good and has a pure, raw and honest emotion.

My addiction to collecting vinyl has somewhat been tempered. Perhaps it has something to do with becoming a dad, ha. But my new craving is
collecting and playing or at least trying to play real instruments instead of using samples. Our house, to great grief of my girlfriend, is crammed
with pianos, organs, synths, brass instruments, percussion and guitars. Basically everthing to start a large band with is here…except for a drumkit!

The creative tools!
Keyboards in the studio

The B.S.: What got you started with instrumental hiphop?

Inf: After doing several productions, I wanted to explore boundaries. So an instrumental album felt like the most logical step forward. Every album and project I did was different than the former one, either with the setup and the approach or the feeling and the mood. I like challenges and exploring new things.

The B.S.: Let’s talk about your 2009 release, The Go Round,…what was this process like?

Inf: After deciding to make an instrumental album, I dug through all the beats I had done in the past two years. I selected the ones I felt were instrumental worthy, added instrumentation and tried to make little stories and mood settings of the beats. The sketches and ideas were not all made for this album so I added instruments, layers, voices and whatever else to all tracks after I decided to make
The Go Round. I felt that if I didn’t do this the cohesion would not be there. Some tracks however were built from the ground up during the process of crafting this album. Some moods and vibes were not represented, so i felt I had to add those.

The B.S.: So tell me…where are some of these samples from?

Inf: I can not answer that question :) But look for black plates…and you will find gold.

The B.S.: In your bio it said you had a seizure making this album, is that true? What happened?

Inf: The story on the CD walks a thin line between fact and fiction. A seizure…no. But I do suffer from panic attacks and during the period of crafting the album I had a period of the worst attacks in 8 years. So mentally and physically I was ‘out of the running’ and put on prescription pills. That’s a true fact in the story.

The B.S.: How did a label in Austin, Texas find you?

Inf: I met Ryan, the owner of Beats Broke via emcee, Max Fischer, a couple years back. Things clicked between us and signing to Beats Broke just felt right. It’s basically like family now.

The B.S.: What goals do you have with your music?

Inf: Apart from world domination, and world peace, in that particular order. Having fun, making tunes, meeting people, collaborating and exploring.

The B.S.: What is next for you? What are your plans for 2010?

Inf: I’m juggling around 5 or 6 projects now. So there will be a release in 2010 for sure. One thing on my list is a release with a singer; it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Also, there may be a new episode of the Infstrumentals, a rap album with Max Fischer. Dutch emcee Kapabel is working on a follow up of The Adventures Of and his solo release. I’m also doing a remix album for the Dutch Beluga Recordings label (all their albums are free downloads. Check Black Gold 360 – Suite 17 out!). With some luck there will be a small Inf release as a free download on Beats Broke soon. But i don’t want to ruin the suprise…so stay tuned!

The B.S.: Any chance you will tour the US in 2010?

Inf: No, since I now play 90 percent of the instruments myself…a live show is not an option. Plus the panic attacks keep me close to home, which is a good thing in a way…because I will be in the lab working hard.

11/13/09 Playlist

Posted in Fun Fun Fun Fest, Indie, Music, internet radio, playlist, unreleased album with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 14, 2009 by backlineshow

In this week’s Backline Show, I got a chance to catch up with some musicians that were part of Fun Fun Fun Fest, plus I got chat with Alex Aponte of The Almost about their new release, Monster Monster. It was a rainy Sunday during FFF Fest so inbetween rain showers I got a chance to talk with Lightnin’ Malcolm, the Peligrosa All-Stars and Ryan Sambol of The Strange Boys! Take a listen!

1. Let Go of Her Hand – Right The Stars
2. This Girl Taught Me a Dance – The Strange Boys
3. Stay Here In Your Arms – Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm
4. Vampires – Ocote Soul Sounds
5. The Closing – Inf
6. Monster Monster -The Almost
7. I’d Be Lying – Greg Laswell

Notes From the Back…

Posted in Doug Sahm, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Indie, Jon Dee Graham, Music, Notes from the Back, internet radio, unreleased album with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 6, 2009 by backlineshow

It’s the end of the week and I wanted to make mention of a couple things coming up…

1. Fun Fun Fun Fest is this weekend in Austin, Texas. It’s a ridiculously great music festival and I will be bringing you some interviews from it for next week’s Backline Show. A quick note for those who are making it to the FFF Fest, Bankrupt and the Borrowers will be playing the yellow stage at 1pm on Sunday. There had been rumors they wouldn’t be playing due to the unfortunate passing of one of their members, Jon Pettis. They will be playing a tribute to Jon with many of their musician friends.
2. If you are in Austin tonight or your want to feel like the Austin of old, a tribute and benefit show is going on tonight in honor of Doug Sahm at Antone’s. I interviewed Shandon Sahm a few months ago about his late father.
3. SPOON! In the news section of their website, they announce the release of Transference, their new LP on January 26, 2010!
4. If you haven’t checked out this week’s Backline Show, please do! I think the interview with Jon Dee Graham might be one of the best I have done this year.

If you see me at Fun Fun Fun Fest, come say hi!

11/4/09 Playlist

Posted in Indie, Jon Dee Graham, Music, Nina Simone, internet radio, playlist, unreleased album with tags , , , , , , , , on November 4, 2009 by backlineshow

There are some times when I feel completely lucky to do what I do. This week’s Backline Show has a completely candid interview with Jon Dee Graham. He survived a near-fatal car crash a year ago and is now releasing his first album since the wreck. We sat in the front yard and had a wonderful, intense conversation. I hope you enjoy it, because it was an amazing experience. Along with the Jon Dee Graham interview, I got a chance to chat with Emily Arin, a singer-songwriter from New York, who just writes some damn good songs! Plenty of great music in the hour as well. Take a listen and if you are new to the Backline Show, you can subscribe to it through Itunes!

1. Big Easy – Rapheal Saadiq
2. While It’s There – Jon Dee Graham
3. I Will Be Happy Again – Jon Dee Graham
4. Several Thousand -The Resentments
5. When You Knew Me When – Emily Arin
6. This Year’s Kisses – Nina Simone