If Zach Braff were still making mix CDs of his favorite artists to soundtrack his movies, I imagine Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin filling the spots once reserved for the Shins. Like a more cumbersomely named cousin, the band's hook-laden indie pop songs are in the same extended family. But at Skully's on Sunday night, SSLYBY couldn't recreate its super-clean, catchy sound effectively. The Springfield, Missouri, band came off as young and inexperienced, replacing boyish exuberance with bland stiffness. On Pershing , the band's latest and mostly solid album, even songs like "Think I [...]
My world was rocked Monday night. Beforehand, I was pumped about seeing The Seedy Seeds and Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin . While they were both as good as I'd expected (as was opening act Wake the Bear ), someone else stole the show for me that night: Ha Ha Tonka . Maybe it was because I wasn't expecting much, not being familiar with the band and all. These guys had some of the sweetest southern harmonies I've heard [...]
Greetings, music lovers! I'm Dean from snuhthing/anything and I was invited to be your guest blogger for the day. You might also know me from Star Maker Machine , the group music blog that both Boyhowdy and I participate in. I was excited by the invitation because it gives me a chance to discuss a song that's been part of music's collective memory for hundreds of years, the story the ballad's based on stretches back to 438 BC with Euripides' Alkestis. There's literately hundreds of versions, some titles you might be familar with: The Golden Ball, Maid [...]
The mercury is going to be high as is the humidity this weekend. Don't let that deter you from getting out a checking out some shows. A couple of festivals are happening this weekend. In Baltimore, the all weekend party known as Whartscape is going on with the likes of Celebration , The Mae Shi , Black Dice and Beach House , just to name a small few. Elsewhere, in Arden, Delware is a more laid back festival, [...]
Buckle in the Bible Belt was re-released by Bloodshot Records way back in September. At the time, the record came out to what could be considered an avalanche of press for the whole Americana/alt.country scene, so I decided there was nothing for me to add and I never mentioned it. Recently the album has managed to find its way back into heavy rotation around my house and since the Ha HaTonka drums have quieted a bit in the 6 or so months since the albums release, I decided to drop a few lines to remind [...]
Ha Ha Tonka - This is Not a Cure for the Common Cold from the 2007 album Buckle in the Bible Belt on Bloodshot. Originally from KEXP Song of the Day on December 31, 1969, 4:59pm
Ha Ha Tonka with Cheryl Waters, live in Chicago on KEXP photo by Susana Meza Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today's featured selection, chosen by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is This Is Not a Cure for the Common Cold by Ha Ha Tonka from the 2007 album Buckle in the Bible Belt [...]
Behind all the hyperbole and nonsense we mp3 blogs create, there is always our version of the truth and a genuine excitement. It's hard to balance the feelings sometimes. After seeing Ha Ha Tonka open for The Meat Puppets the other night and having them in to record an MOKB SIRIUS Blog Radio / 91.7 WEEM session, I have that giddy feeling. That shout it from the rooftops that this band is so amazing and you better check them out or [...]
Ha Ha Tonka made their way into our studio a couple weeks back on a beautiful, Indian Summer day. I arrived late and walked in on the band setting up. After the usual introductions and pleasantries, we just started shooting the shit. I asked them about their previous name Amsterband and what led to the name change to Ha Ha Tonka, a state park in the Ozarks near their hometown. Basically they said, Amsterband was leading to some confusion on a couple of fronts: 1) that they were jamband set and 2) that they weren't serious musicians. While [...]
Well, it's another month and that means the Lucero message board will put together another compilation. Some of the folks on the message board are deeming this THE BEST LUCERO MESSAGE BOARD COMPILATION EVAR-VAR-VAR-VAR-R-R-R-R-R . I will not take a position on said declaration. I will just say it's another month and another wonderful collection of songs by one of the coolest message boards on the internets. Below is the track listing including a sentence explaining why that track was submitted by the user that submitted it: Hayseed Dixie [...]
Some good stuff this week. Nice of the fine folks at Nettwerk to give away a 5-song live EP by Great Lake Swimmers. New Andrew WK??? Soft revisits shoegazing rock from the early '90s while Weedeater's stoner rock is sure to get you high. I only wish I was as wild about Ha Ha Tonka's name as I was their music. And then you've got Billy Corgan' s favorite new band, Celebration. See, good stuff indeed. Great Lake Swimmers - Live From the Church of the Redeemer EP (5 songs, .ZIP file ) [...]
I originally put off listening to Ha Ha Tonka because of their name. It screamed scene!!! and reeked of dance beats, jarring guitar and atonal vocals. After a trusted blog posted about them, I finally gave in and fed the track "Caney Mountain" through my headphones. Apparently, rather than referencing the famous yellow metal Tonka truck [...]
The Missouri four-piece, Ha Ha Tonka, who's name derives from a state park in Missouri, are getting set to release their debut on Bloodshot this month. Buckle In The Bible Belt was initially released under their previous name of Amsterband. Personally, I dig the Ha Ha Tonka moniker more. Fits the band much better. Enough about the name. It's the music that matters and it's the music that delivers. Ha Ha Tonka combines the alt-country feel that Bloodshot is renowned for along with gospel-tinged, four-piece harmonies that help separate them from the rest of the pack. [...]
Ha Ha Tonka is Amersterband renamed. The band is re-releasing their 2006 self-released record this September 11 on Bloodshot. Seems like there is a slight trend at the ol' Bloodshot homestead lately away from alt-country by-the-numbers and towards some kind of heartland meets southern rock thang. I could be wrong about that, although it wouldn't surprise me if these new breed of Bloodshot bands with a little more rock edge sell through better and cross over to the indie rock kids more than the twangy bands of the label's youth. As I continue to listen to [...]
Here's some of the mp3's we talked about and posted this week: Exclusive: Cracklin Moth - Eulogy for Bashu Exclusive: Cracklin Moth - My Suicide Exclusive: Cracklin Moth - Walking the Cow Exclusive: Cracklin Moth - Extragalactic Dead Heart Bloom - Who Will You Love Dead Heart Bloom - Chelsea Song #2 Dead Heart Bloom - New York City Heat [...]
Don't just do something, stand there
BUZZGRINDER
Cover Lay Down
Instrumental Analysis
Nine Bullets
Clearview Avenue
Raised on Indie
KEXP Blog
My Old Kentucky Blog
HearYa: An Indie Music Blog
Atomic Ned
The Ministry of Sound
songsillinois
The Ruskettes - Tell Me Why Review
Knickers - My Baby's Just A Baby EP review
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SF-Popfest 2012 mix
