Augie March played their second of three sold-out shows in Sydney last night. I saw them do a short promo show back in February and was relatively impressed. It’s odd…I know quite a few people who just ADORE this band and they seem like the kind of band I should enjoy a lot (I’m a sucker for literary lyricists) but I can’t seem to really get into them as much as I think I should.

So tonight’s gig. Lead singer Glenn Richards was plagued by out-of-tune guitars for much of the night which led to one fatal error. The band started ‘Little Wonder’ from Strange Bird (which Richards later labeled his favourite Augie album) but Richards quickly got pissed at his misbehaving guitar. The band abandoned the song but Richards assured the crowd they’d play it later.

They didn’t.

And just like I won’t forgive Echo for abandoning ‘Bring on the Dancing Horses’ in Seattle in 2004 and not playing it later (as he promised the Bunnymen would) Glenn Richards goes on my shitlist. That said, when things were going well on stage the band was tight. Their bass player really holds the band together I think. His basslines are often subtle but they really add to the mood of each song. Much of the set was drawn from Moo, You Bloody Choir and most of the songs came off slightly better live than on record. ‘Clockwork’ was a total beast live. I’ll try and track down a setlist soon.

The show closed with opening act Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males joining Augie March on stage to cover Neil Young’s ‘Don’t Cry No Tears.’ Not sure if this was a slight nod to Young’s new album, but it certainly was a nice way to end the night. I shot some video of this…so watch away.

A few more photos of the gig here

You can now stream the much-talked about Neil Young album, Living With War.

Click here

I only made it 5 tracks in before I accidentally closed the browser window…so watch out, you can’t skip ahead tracks. But it sounds pretty good so far…except the line about diarrhoea. Hopefully that doesn’t get me any hits from weirdos.

Thanks to Muzzle of Bees for the link.

Ickmusic has a Clash show from ’81 for download (I LOVE the Clash…just thought I’d mention that).

Marathonpacks has Talking Heads demos from 1975 for download

Dirty Three @ (@) Newtown, June 23
Dirty Three @ The Metro, June 24
Death Cab for Cutie @ Home, July 15
Jose Gonzalez @ The Enmore, July 25
Sonic Youth @ The Enmore, July 26

In addition, Pearl Jam will be announcing their Australian tour on May 4.

…and Thom on drums. Crapping hell I’m excited.

So the Splendour in the Grass line-up was revealed today. If you were paying attention to the rumours there aren’t too many surprises. There will be more announcements at a later date I believe. But if this batch of bands isn’t enough to get you to Byron I don’t know who else you need.

SATURDAY JULY 22ND

Sonic Youth (!!), Grinspoon, DJ Shadow (!!!), The Grates (!), Death Cab for Cutie, TV on the Radio (!!), Augie March (!), The Avalanches (DJ set) (!), Youth Group, Brittle Fex, Atmosphere and Paul Mac

SUNDAY JULY 23RD

Brian Wilson (!!), Wolfmother, Scissor Sisters (!), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (!!!), Jose Gonzalez (!!!), Snow Patrol, You Am I, Decoder Ring (!), The Presets (!), Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (!), The Zutons, Matisyahu and Clare Bowditch & Feeding Set

In a week Radiohead begin their highly anticipated summer tour. I will do my best to have setlists and mp3s of the new songs up here as quickly as possible…so consider yourself warned. This blog will go a little Radiohead crazy in just over a week. With this in mind I figured I’d explain the name of this blog (for those who don’t know).

A Reminder is a Radiohead song. It was a b-side released on the Paranoid Android single in May 1997. I can safely say that had it not been for the release of OK Computer the following month this blog would not be here. I was 17 at the time and nearly a decade later OK Computer remains my favourite album ever. This song, recorded during the sessions for OKC, is one I have always loved…mainly due to the lyrics. They don’t need much explaining, but Thom said this:

I had this idea of someone writing a song, sending it to someone and saying, ‘If I ever lose it, you just pick up the phone and play me this song back to remind me.’ (Green Plastic)

A Reminder then. If I get old and start to listen to shit, someone remind me of this blog.

The song was only played live four times but I have included a live version to download as well. The quality sucks, but I think it’s the only time the song was captured live.

Download: A Reminder (live)

If I get old I will not give in
But if I do remind me of this
Remind me that once I was free
Once I was cool, once I was me

If I get old, remind me of this
That we kissed and I really meant it
Whatever happens if we’re still speaking
Pick up the phone, play me this song

Buy the Paranoid Android single here.

Colin posted some new photos of the band rehearsing for the tour on Dead Air Space today

In other Radiohead-related blog news…Plank – one of Radiohead’s guitar techs – has started a site dedicated to returning stolen gear back to musicians. In addition, once the Radiohead tour starts, Plank may be posting updates from the road as well. This comes just days after Graeme (Radiohead’s monitor engineer) has a myspace blog up somewhere documenting the rehearsals for the tour. But I don’t have a myspace account so can’t link to it. Meh.

And I’ve been meaning to mention this site for ages. All Things Feist is a fantastic new site dedicated to Miss Leslie Feist. Tons of live shows, videos, and photos for you to download and enjoy. I can personally recommend this show in Chicago and this session in Paris. The sound on both is fantastic and both shows feature some new songs that should show up on Feist’s new album later this year. Also be sure to pick up Open Season – Feist’s b-sides/remixes/etc album out…nowish.

OK, I promise, the last time I will write about Sigur Ros for a while. After being so desperate to hear just one song (and then hearing it) I have been on a bit of a Sigur Ros obsession for the past 10 days.

First off, The Mill worked with the band to create their new video for upcoming single Sæglópur (the EP will be released in a couple months with three new b-sides). Click here for the video.

Secondly, I know I mentioned it before but I’ll mention it again mainly for the Sydney people. You can download the mp3s of the recent show at the Enmore here. If you prefer torrents, there are two seperate recordings (one includes the opening set by Amiina) here.

Finally, I’ve uploaded one of the first shows (actually the fourth I think) of the current Takk tour. The sound quality is pretty good and it features some songs the band seem to play a little less now. LINKS REMOVED

Sigur Ros
The Paradiso, Amsterdam
July 13, 2005

1. Takk
2. Glósóli
3. Ný Batterí
4. Svefn-g-englar
5. Sæglópur
6. Sé lest
7. Mílanó
8. Gong
9. Andvari
10. Vaka
11. Viðrar vel til Loftárása
12. Hafssól
13. Popplagið

So it seems Radiohead’s North American tour is finally starting to take shape. In addition to the confirmed dates in Boston on June 4/5, the Chicago show is now confirmed for June 19/20 at the Auditorium Theatre.

Tickets on sale May 6. (Ticketmaster took down the link, but I’m assuming tickets will still be on sale May 6)

(Thanks GreenPlastic)

Those dates again (NOT ALL CONFIRMED)

Jun 01 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater NOT CONFIRMED
Jun 02 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater NOT CONFIRMED
Jun 04 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
Jun 05 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
Jun 16 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Jun 19 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
Jun 20 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
Jun 22 Berkeley, CA Greek Theater NOT CONFIRMED
Jun 23 Berkeley, CA Greek Theater NOT CONFIRMED
Jun 29 L.A., CA Greek Theater NOT CONFIRMED
Jun 30 L.A., CA Greek Theater NOT CONFIRMED

Expect 2 shows in New York City, Toronto, Montreal, and L.A for sure. Hopefully Vancouver and Seattle will get some shows on this theatre tour as well.

Édith Piaf is one of France’s most beloved singers and ‘Je N’en Connais Pas Le Fin’ (also known as My Lost Melody) my favourite song of hers. It’s certainly not her most famous song, but everytime I hear it I am instantly taken back to a world I used to know. Maybe it’s being far from home right now I don’t know, but lately when I listen to Piaf sing about the little square she knew when she was small I recall the comforts of my childhood when things were blissfully simple. This sense of simplicity also comes across in the playful carnivalesque sounds that fix the song in some bygone era. So while the song may be unmistakably “old,” Piaf’s voice is so full of emotion that the song becomes incredibly present and current. For me this song embodies what great music should be about: the ability to transport listeners across time, through emotions, and ultimately remain incredibly powerful 60 years later. Everytime I hear this song, I wish I was sitting on those swings listening to that merry go-round.

I came across this song through Jeff Buckley’s version about ten years ago. Buckely was a huge Piaf fan and often covered this song in concert – particularly when he toured France. Here is a live version of ‘Je N’en Connais Pas Le Fin’ from the Olympia in Paris, the venue that Piaf herself became famous for playing.

LINKS REMOVED

Photo courtesy of here

With The Grates (< --- new site!) much ballyhooed Australian tour kicking off tomorrow in the thriving metropolis of Bunbury (is there an Oscar Wilde reference there?) I figured it was time I checked out these opening acts for the tour.

First up, I Heart Hiroshima. I know nothing about them. They have yet to release their debut album but they have released an EP called A Three Letter Word For Candy.

Download: London In Love

The other act on the bill for the tour is The Panda Band. Two opening acts with great names. The Panda Band will release their debut album later this year but for now you can…

Download: Mohawk (demo)

I think I’ll be showing up early enough to catch both acts at the Metro in a couple weeks.

Sydney’s independent radio station FBI will begin streaming online this Friday. I love the station and I really hope some of you will check it out every now and then, especially on Sundays (in Australia anyway) when you can listen to Stuart from Fat Planet do his weekly radio program (check his site for previous playlists).

Radiohead will be playing the Bank of America Pavilion (God I miss the idea of the Tent Tour) in Boston on June 4th and 5th. Tickets on sale May 6th. Good luck.

Quinn has uploaded an acoustic Metric session

Kwaya na Kisser is hosting the recent concert Belle and Sebastian did for NPR. Part One here and Part Two here.