AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH NATALIE MERCHANT

I had followed the career of the 10,000 Maniacs since their first album release with their 1985's "The Wishing Chair". My aunt and uncle introduced me to her, by playing her loudly whenever I would visit their house, and that is where I think I get my love and understanding of music. 10,000 Maniacs had a highly successful and consistent career throughout the 80's and well in to the 90's until frontwoman Natalie Merchant departed from the band and released her first solo album in 1998, and she did not lose her popularity or her fans, and certainly not me.

I never had the opportunity to see her live, whether solo or with the band, until last week while she was on a two-day stop in LA; one night at the Getty Center and a very close engagement at the Public Library, downtown. There were about 300 or so audience members at this very special event, anxiously awaiting to see her perform on her limited tour performing songs from her latest album, "Leave Your Sleep", her first in seven years.

She came out dressed in a plain black skirt and suit coat, with a button up shit, and joked that she looked like a librarian. Fitting, that she was performing....for the library. She, in her expected Natalie Merchant way, explained this lasted double album that she has been working on since 2003. This album is comprised of songs that she has adapted from the works of 58 of her favorite poets, which I think is a great concept, and was beautifully composed and created, both on my speakers and live.

She primarily performed songs off of her latest, but also gave us some nostalgia singing tracks from "Tigerlilly" and "Ophelia". This was truly an amazing experience, one that was definitely worth waiting for.

WHEN MUSICBLEEP MET THE TEMPER TRAP...

Last March while I was vacationing in Australia, I was on my way to Bondi Beach and a song came on the radio that made me stop and take notice. I didn't have my phone, so there was no Shazaming the song to find out what it was or who the band was. Finally, after a few songs, the DJ listed off the artists that he had recently played, none of which I recognized. I was immediately obsessed with that one particular song, so when I got back to the where I was staying, I did some research. Moments later I finally figured out it was The Temper Trap, a band from Melbourne, Australia.

Now a year later, I feel like I'm having a full circle moment. Last week we had the opportunity to not only watch The Temper Trap perform, but was also lucky enough to be given chance to meet Dougie from the band.

Earlier in the day I received an email from my friend Kristen that works at Yahoo. She told me that I might be able to get an interview with the band and for me to stand by. First of all, I was super excited just to see the band, but to be given the opportunity to meet & interview was a whole other story. About an hour before the show, I got the call from Kristen letting me know that she got me the interview. I rushed home, prepped a bit & then began to get ready to for the show.

After dinner, we headed over to the Fonda. We went backstage, met up with Dougie (lead vocals) and began the interview. What a cool guy! It was such a laid back interview...it was like talking with one of my friends. We talked about The Temper Trap's quick success, especially with all the help from their music featured in some of today's top TV shows & commercials, from the bands that influence their sound to life on the road. It was a nice little peek backstage before their SOLD OUT show in Los Angeles.

After talking with Dougie, we made our way onto the floor to wait for their unforgettable performance. As a live band, they definitely exceeded any and all expectations that I had, but that came at no surprise. I want to thank Kristen Jower-Ho & Gina Juliano at Yahoo Music for making this happen. Also, a BIG shout out to Jen & Dougie for allowing this opportunity and taking the time to meet with us.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/temper-trap/ www.myspace.com/thetempertrap

Video & Editing: Cory Radke
Photos: Kristen Jower-Ho
Interview & Review: Tony Crago
Additional Photos: Zak Schaffer

EDWARD AND THE MAG-NET-IC ZEROS!

Last week we had the fortunate pleasure of seeing Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros not only once, but TWICE! If you are not familiar with this latest and greatest ensemble, please keep reading, but before that I would like to give a mention to the wonderful women who opened for these great talents: The LA Girls Choir. They sound just like they look, like a choir of angelic voices, with innocence and grace closely resembling a church camp chorus. I felt as if I had stepped into a venue where all the sisters from the film 'The Virgin Suicides' multiplied and went on tour. They sang familiar tunes, but a favorite of mine, and by the reaction from the SOLD OUT crowd, they did an amazing cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah', which was breathtaking. This was a very mild introduction to what we were about to witness.

Edward Sharpe, alter ego of Ima Robots frontman Alex Ebert, and his Magnetic Zeros, created the most amazing atmosphere that I have experienced in a very long time. They have put together something that is not that common these days, and completely blew me out of the water. I have been listening to them for quite some time now, watching online performances from the Hammer Museum and in studio performances on KCRW, but was still flabbergasted from the second they hit the stage.

With about 13 or so members (including some of the LA Girls Choir and whomever else wanted to join, invited up by Edward himself), they created a sound unlike anything giving off an enormous amount of positive energy. I felt as if I was so far out of the LA/Hollywood element and it was a nice musical vacation; by the end of the show I was dripping sweat from dancing and my face hurt from smiling the whole time. Not only were they inviting people up on stage to sing, dance, or to play an instrument, they often came down onto the floor and performed right in the mix of the highly energized crowd.

They sang "40 Day Dream", "Janglin", "Carries On", and my personal favorite "Home" accompanied by 'Jade', one of the Magnetic Zeros. They all have this undying kind of chemistry, but those two conduct magic on that stage. Their album, "Up From Below", was just released on July 7th of this year and they have already gathered quite the following. A sold out show at the El Rey (where they performed for almost 2 hours) and on Sunday at the Abbott Kinney Festival fans came in droves and packed the streets to see a FREE live performance as the sun set that day, of which Musicbleep trekked our way through the streets of Venice and waited to see them once again, as Tuesday was just not enough, we wanted more. And this is just the kick off, as they have many tour dates spreading all over the US and Canada. If they are in city near you, go check them out, you will not be disappointed!!

You can download their album on iTunes and check them out at http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/edwardsharpe You will hear and see a band not of this world, but of a world all their own. To give you a little taste, below is their performance of my favorite, 'Home', from the El Rey last Tuesday, I love it!!

GREG LASWELL

It seems as almost every other week we have a review of a Greg Laswell show or an update, as he is a resident artist of Musicbleep and we frequent his shows as much as we possibly can. However, last Saturday's show, a last before he hits a summer long tour, my close friends all gathered at the Hotel Cafe to not only check out his performance, but to celebrate my date of birth. So I would like to thank my friends, AJC, NMIT (ILYG), and to Greg himself (thank you for the dedication).

The show was sold out, per usual, and packed in my favorite venue. He had all of his "teammates" on stage to perform with him, which created a familiar, yet rare dynamic (he played solo the previous night). As you all know from previous posts we have seen Greg at various venues, playing with varies acts, and on the Hotel Cafe tour; it never gets old. I would also like to congratulate him on the single that he wrote especially for the season finale of Grey's Anatomy, 'Off I Go'. If you knew what was best for you, after reading this blog, go to iTunes and download this song, it's amazing! Check him out... www.myspace.com/greglaswell.com and www.greglaswell.com

4 NIGHTS ONLY...SUN KIL MOON

Sun Kil Moon LIVE at The Rey in Los Angeles.

Last Tuesday, I had the rare opportunity to see only of of 4 west coast performances from Mark Kozelek and friends, Sun Kil Moon. Mr. Kozelek is a singer/songwriter all in his own category, from solo projects, front-man of The Red House Painters, to SKM. His sound his dreary and soothing, with his flawless, angelic voice, and incredibly written lyrics. This was their second to last show coming from Portland, Seattle, then ending their west coast set in San Fransisco, where I first saw Kozelek in 1994.

Give 'em a look at http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/sunkilmoon

THE HAZARDS OF LOVE

Last Tuesday at the newly renovated Hollywood Palladium, the Decemberists demonstrated an amazing variety of extreme talent. Portland based extraordinaries: Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee,Nate Querey, and John Moen plus special guests Becky Stark of 'Lavender Diamond' and Shara Worden of 'My Brightest Diamond' completely rocked the stage playing one continuous, non-stop live version of their latest album 'The Hazards of Love'.

It was no surprise to me that the Decemberists was going to be an amazing show, but I was not expecting the experience they gave me that evening. From the very beginning with 'Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle in the Thistles Undone' all the way through to 'The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned), they not once stopped playing an instrument, transitioning from one song to the next, without a glitch. It was breathtaking and glorious.

If you have yet to have a listen to "The Hazards of Love' do so on iTunes. It has to be one of the best conceptual albums in the past ten years, and is a definite treat!

Take a peek at one of the highlights of the show below:

IN THE ROUND WITH CARINA....

Last Wednesday at the Hotel Cafe, Musicbleep and many, many others, had the opportunity to celebrate the release of Carina Round's brand new, self released EP "Things You Should Know." We have followed Carina for quite some time, whether it be a a show at the Viper Room backed up by her band, or a quiet, intimate solo performance at Mountain Bar. She is a true artist with passion, energy, and grace. Now that she is self releasing her music, she has an endless horizon of creative opportunities, to be self indulgent and the freedom to express herself the way she wants to. This night also marked the start of her residency at the Hotel Cafe, playing every Wednesday until June 3rd, SO GO AND SEE HER! That night, not only did we get to see a truly outstanding performance, we got to sit down with this British beauty and talk with her about "Things You Should Know", The UK, and deep-sea diving.


MB: Do you prefer playing by yourself or with a band?

Carina: I prefer both, it’s like two different things

MB:Anything you miss being on a label?

CR: NO! well…free CD’s (laughs)

MB: Do you ever get nervous before performing?

CR:Yeah, I’m kinda nervous now, actually

MB: Is your family musical?

CR: Not in my immediate family are at all musical, but, um, my grandfather was very musical, and I heard that my great, great grandmother used to play the piano in silent movie theaters.

MB:Are you close to your family?

CR:Um, im really close to my mother, as close as one can be

MB: Is she really supportive of what you are doing?

CR: Yeah, ridiculously. Too much!

MB: You went home for a while, you were here in LA for a while and then did you move back to the UK and came back?

CR: No I just went home for 6 weeks and I thought about moving back, then I was like ‘what am I thinking?” I love the uK, but in small doses. It’s the same with anywhere really. If I stay anywhere long enough, I’ll start to get panic attacks (laughs) LA can get under your skin as well even though it’s really accommodating, so it’s really hard to let go once you’ve bitten the apple.

MB: What was the first instrument that you learned how to play?

CR: I never really learned how to play properly, but guitar

MB: So what was the first song you learned to play?

CR: I think I learned Neil Young’s “Like a Hurricane”

MB: Other than powedering your beautiful face, like you are doing now, do you have any pre-show “rituals” that you do before performing?

CR: It used to be drink as much as I can before I go on stage so I don’t get nervous (laughs), it was a key essential (laughs). Now, not really. I just like everyone to be in a serious mind space, not take themselves too seriously, but take the music seriously and just be focused, um, it’s a really important moment for me, being on stage.

MB: We’ve heard the EP, but how would you compare your new sound to your last album, ‘Slow Motion Addict’?

CR: I don’t know, a lot of people have said ‘that new sound thing’ but I feel that my lyrics are a lot better now. I’ve gotten a chance to express myself without answering to certain things that I don’t feel that need or should be painted into music. The whole thing to me is the journey. It was important for me to create the dynamics that I wanted to create with the music. I think that it’s no secret that I felt a little constrained by the situation when I was doing “Slow Motion Addict” as much as I appreciate who I was, what I learned, and what I gained out of it, but I really wanted it to be distilled, pure expression.

MB: What artists do you admire or are influenced by or inspire you?

CR: I mean it’s really cliché to say these days, but Radiohead is like the best band ever. They are really inspiring, really, every time I hear them, no matter what state of mind I’m in, completely sober, wasted, stoned, devastated, full of joy, anything, it just reaches me, and it’s incredible. Also early stuff like early Roxy Music, Nina Simone, Aretha Frankln, Tom Waits, Leornard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Kate Bush. They are all my favorites. I dunno I get inspired a lot.

MB:Who are you listening to right now?

CR: The new Neko Case album is amazing, it blew my mind. And the new Decemberists is amazing too. I love that it’s an opera, and the girl from My Brightest Diamond just kills it.

MB: What was your songwriting process for you EP and also your new album?

CR: I think for this EP, it was triggered by certain experiences that were so meaningful to me that I just needed to talked about it. And that is why I made it an EP, it’s like a little snapshot of that whole thing, you know?

MB: So will you be holding a residency at the Hotel Café?

CR: Yes, every Wednesday until the 3rd of June. I love it, pretty lucky to have it.

MB: Thank God you are a musician, but if you we not, what would you be doing?

CR: A cook. Or a deep sea diver, or something like that. (Laughs)

MB: Is there anything else that you would like to share to your fans?

CR: Fast once a week, you’ll live longer. (Laughs)

PHOTOS: JOSH SHAEDELL
STORY: CORY RADKE
INTERVIEW: CORY RADKE & TONY CRAGO