Tagged: triumphantlyjenny

It's very hard for me to focus solely on the death of Lux Interior; the lead singer of The Cramps passed away earlier this week due to a heart condition at age 62. The Cramps were one of several bands from the CBGB punk era of the '70s who seem legendary, and they had their own garage-punk style which added to the patchwork collection of punks and new-wavers who frequented the club. While Interior took an Iggy Pop style of punk showmanship, the band also mixed their sound with rockabilly and a whole lot of camp to [...]

I don't want to give away my girlfriend's gift when she reads this blog, so let's just say it's entertainment-related-somethin g you could find in any electronics store such as Circuit City, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy . I checked out the giant red box store to no success. Same with a few local stores. Nothing. I've encountered this problem with specialty items before. I go to a store and they tell me while they don't have it, they could order it on the internet for me. What's the point of going to a store if [...]

Detroit often oscillates between the butt of a joke and a classic example of what frightens people about cities. Every few years though, the indie scene there comes back to life with musicians who claim that Detroit's going to be known for music again like it was in the Motown era. Of course, a lot of moneyed musicians called Detroit their home: Eminem, Kid Rock, Kiss, the White Stripes and Madonna. And when a few bands sprung up from around The White Stripes, I'll admit I was skeptical of a true "movement." But the sheer number of awesome [...]

If you like indie rock you may have noticed a trend. Every musician on the planet has lived in Portland. Okay that's an exaggeration, but it seems like a huge number of indie bands and icons are Stumptown alumni. From Elliott Smith to the Decemberists to the Dandy Warhols, Portland is bringing the indie rock heavies. Some musicians move here from elsewhere, like Sleater-Kinney or the The Shins. Others, like Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, are Portlanders who go elsewhere to rock. Even "Louie, Louie" was written there. While you are surely familiar with Stephen Malkmus, there are [...]

If you like indie rock you may have noticed a trend. Every musician on the planet has lived in Portland. Okay that's an exaggeration, but it seems like a huge number of indie bands and icons are Stumptown alumni. From Elliott Smith to the Decemberists to the Dandy Warhols, Portland is bringing the indie rock heavies. Some musicians move here from elsewhere, like Sleater-Kinney or the The Shins. Others, like Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, are Portlanders who go elsewhere to rock. Even "Louie, Louie" was written there. While you are surely familiar with Stephen Malkmus, there are [...]

Man, if there's a city you don't think is indie, it's probably Vegas. The place shouts corporate in big bright blinky letters. But that's not the only side of Vegas! There's another side, but you might need a bus to get there, according to Doug Levitt: Doug Levitt : The Light and Dark Side Of Vegas . The city for "outsourcing hedonism" has recently put out some very popular indie bands though. Most famously The Killers , whose second album, Sam's [...]

When I listen to music, the first thing I am listening to is vocals and lyrics. Which is why, when I see a show, I am often disappointed with the mix. Oh you can hear the guitars just fine and dandy, but who knows what that amazing singer songwriter might be saying? Lately this has been evident in albums as well. The latest Hold Steady and Beck, artists whose lyrics and singing MAKE the band for me, are completely inaudible in the mix on their latest records. I'd just assumed everyone hated this but have come to realize [...]

(Or....insert witty McCain pun here. I don't know one.) Hopefully by the time you read this you'll have voted and this whole business will all be decided. Because frankly, I am a little sick of election news all the time. I mean, can we get back to the whole Jennifer Aniston might be marrying John Mayer thing already? Or Lindsay Lohan having a lesbian baby? Because seriously, those stories might have photographs of people not wearing underwear, and that's what America wants. I mean with all this election coverage, Britney's had time to sober up and fly right. [...]

There are many great things about New York City. And there are a few things naysayers say are bad about the city. But there is one thing that no one tells you about moving to New York. The Mexican food here sucks. Now I know what you're saying-New York is the most diverse city in America with hundreds of thousands of Mexicans. I know. There's no sense to this. It's just true. New Yorkers do not know the wonderful goodness that is an excellent burrito. Hymns : What NYC Really Needs [...]

How many CMJ bands are going to threaten you while their pants are undone? Well, I can give you one example. Robbie from Looker's coming out of the closet-pants undone-to tell you to come see them at CMJ. Or perhaps to kick your ass. Probably the latter. But Looker is still one of my favorite UI-Approved, Must-See CMJ Marathon Artists. And it might have something to do with their lack of pants. Looker : That's What Belts Are For . Make sure to [...]

If you needed someone to tell you which indie band you should be listening to, you'd be hard pressed to find a better arbiter of taste than Debbie Harry. Talk about indie cred! In addition to being a prolifically amazing musician, style icon and singing one of the first popular rap songs, according to a new article in New York Magazine Harry isn't familiar with the word hipster. That might be her most stunning accomplishment. In the article she also mentions a few of her favorite bands. One of the indie bands [...]

Sure, a lot of bands have a guitarist, a singer, a drummer and/or a bassist. And a few indie bands are changing it up-harpists, accordionists, even ukelele players have cropped up in recent years. But how many Uncensored Interview-Approved, Must-See CMJ Marathon Artists are dedicated to the lofty kazoo? Only one. One awesome one. See The Two Man Gentlemen Band extoll the virtues of this maligned instrument before you check out their sweet kazoo solos at CMJ: Make sure to come back to blog.UncensoredInterview.com [...]

Taking Poingly's lead, I am also going to confess some guilty pleasures. Although no one can outdo the Dave Matthews Band, I, like Bodies of Water, love me some Venga Boys: In fact, any poppy Euro house is totally my guilty pleasure. I grew up in Chicago, a city with more Polish people than anywhere except Warsaw. They love this stuff. Because of this experience I know some of the more popular DJs of Euro house and I can correctly order a Żywiec beer. My second guilty pleasure is the Bee Gees. I love [...]

A friend of mine found a hilarious video on YouTube when searching for an example of a Baltimore accent. It's some musician in Baltimore who is frustrated at not being able to find a decent drummer . It leads one to believe there is no decent music to be found in the Maryland area. I also used to think that all there was to do in Baltimore is get drunk, watch the Ravens and murder people (Baltimore has the 2nd highest murder rate per 100,000 in the US) [...]

There are bands whose interviews only pop if you know and love their music. If there is one band for who that is not true, one band whose persona is riveting and compelling even without knowing their music, it is the Gay Blades. You may not agree with what they have to say (In fact, I'd be surprised if you did agree 100 percent), but you will definitely be amused, interested, angered or at least thought-provoked when you listen to them. And on top of that their music's great too! In true Gay Blades style, their videos are [...]

So, I like country music, especially the more gospel-inspired old tymey music. But a major problem with liking this music (for me) is that it's mainly about one guy. Jesus. And I am not Christian. But I am hard pressed to not sing along to fire and brimstone song about how the time is coming when the sinner must die. It's kind of like white rich frat boys singing "Straight Out of Compton..." I guess. This is why it warmed my heart that the Two Man Gentlemen Band, who take the old tyme to heart, wish they had written [...]

In case you aren't chosen, we're coming up on the heels of the Jewish New Year. Unlike in other arty fields, like being a writer or comedian, rock music isn't a field known for its Jews. I mean, of course there's Bob Dylan, but a lot of rock stars are hiding their Judaism with stage names. Some rockin' Jews who you might have thought were goyim: Neil Diamond Paula Abdul Babydaddy of the Scissor Sisters (aka Scott Hoffman) Ike Turner Sammy Davis, Jr. Scott Ian of Anthrax [...]

Around this time every year Beloit College releases an email about the things incoming college class of the current year have always known or never known . Generally, I find the list to be an oversimplified generalization, but every year there are one or two which hit home about the ever-widening age gap between me and college students (this year: "There has always been Pearl Jam.") Nothing, though, has made me feel quite so old as Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's discussion of what music must have been like before the Internet [...]

It's still warm out, but the first inklings of fall say one thing to me: Excellent TV is back! While some people were riveted by the Olympics, it kept me away from the TV to enjoy the last dregs of summer. But now, there's way too much to watch! Will I ever go see a concert again? Along with the multi-hour reintroduction to Heroes , and another addictive J.J. Abrams franchise, I am excited to actually watch Californication now that I know it's a documentary about the life of David Duchovny and [...]

In looking through a lot of our videos lately, it's struck me how quickly people are to point fingers and shout, loudly, "NOT INDIE!" or "BLASPHEMY!" when an indie artist changes something. If you play Guitar Hero, depending on the interview, that' awesome and totally indie rock, or horrible and ruining music. If you shop at Walmart, you're destroying the fabric of our society and screwing over indie business, or, you're doing what thousands of poor indie musicians do every day on the road. If you become popular, suddenly your music sucks, because it is more accessible. If you make [...]