Dan Auerbach’s new solo LP, Keep It Hid is sounding pretty solid. It’s a lot more mellow than what Black Keys fans might be expecting, but I absolutely dig his sound. My favorite tune (right now) is definitely “Whispered Words.” The video (above) is an unofficial clip of Dan performing with his Uncle James “Trouble Weighs A Ton,” which is the first single from Keep It Hid. Definitely a must watch, plus you get a glimpse of Dan’s Akron Recording Studio where I’m sure he lays down sick tracks on the reg.
Lead track “I Want Some More” off Dan Auerbach’s (The Black Keys) new album Keep It Hid is a grimy, bluesy down-and-dirty love/lust song. Auerbach produced the album by himself in his Akron Analog studio mentioning he wanted a live, organic sound. Nothing was too plotted or planned, just a lot of spontaneity. Keep It Hid drops on February 10, 2009 via Nonesuch Records. Dan will begin a national tour with performances in New York City, Boston, and Washington, DC, with opening acts Those Darlins and Hacienda, the latter also lending support as Auerbach’s backing band.
This album was recorded over a two-year span in Dan Auerbach’s home studio in Akron. With Blasphemy So Heartfelt features Mayfield on acoustic guitar and vocals, Auerbach on a variety of instrumentation and Mayfield’s brother (David) on upright bass. Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken and Frank McElroy provide vocal harmonies on the track “I’m Not Lonely Anymore.” Says Auerbach of the recording experience, “I think she’s dark and moody in a mysterious way, not unlike Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.” He adds, “I’m just always really excited to make music with her.”
The 18-year old first performed with her family band One Way Rider at the age of eight. In 2007, Mayfield lent her voice to the track “Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be” on The Black Keys’ album, Attack & Release, making her the first guest vocalist to appear on any record released by The Black Keys.
The Black Keys Live at the Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR was produced and directed by Lance Bangs. This new concert DVD reflects the no-frills genius of the drums-and-guitar duo’s studio sound: It’s a refreshingly straightforward, beautifully rendered, high-definition video document of their April 4, 2008 sold-out gig at Portland, Oregon’s Crystal Ballroom, featuring seventeen songs culled from all five of the pair’s albums.
DVD Track Listing:
Same Old Thing
Girl Is On My Mind
Set You Free
Thickfreakness
Stack Shot Billy
Busted
You’re the 0ne
Remember When
Your Touch
Oceans and Stream
Strange Times
Psychotic Girl
10 AM Automatic
No Trust
I’ve Got Mine
The Black Keys, West Akron blues/rock duo and professed lifelong Devo fans, will be the opening act for Devo’s upcoming Duty for the Future benefit concert October 17 at the Akron Civic Theatre.
The concert, a benefit for the Summit County Democratic Party, will be Devo’s first performance in Akron in 30 years.
Additionally, according to Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, fellow Akronite and Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde may also make an appearance at the show.
Akron new wave legend Devo will be making a very rare concert appearance in the band members’ hometown October 17 in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Proceeds will benefit the Summit County Democratic Party. The “Duty Now for the Future” concert, which will be the band’s first performance in Akron in more than a decade, will be at the Akron Civic Theatre. Tickets go on sale today via Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com or 330-945-9400) and at the Civic box office.
Ticket prices will range from $25 for the upper balcony, to $150 for VIP seating and an after-party with the band.
Delicious Vinyl is an American independent record label founded by Matt Dike and Michael Ross in 1987 and based in Los Angeles. Throughout its history, the label has had distribution deals with PolyGram, Warner Music Group, EMI, Red Ant, Rhino and Universal Music Group. UCLA student Michael Ross met New York City transplant Matt Dike while Dike was DJing at a Hollywood club called Rhythm Lounge in the mid 1980s. The pair discovered they were both members of Impact Record Pool, a service that provided new 12″ records to club DJs, and that they shared a taste in soul, funk, and hip-hop. Soon Dike became the top DJ at the legendary downtown Los Angeles club Power Tools and Ross followed suit. In 1987 they founded their own independent record label Delicious Vinyl and the rest is history.
Here is Akron’s own, LeBron James, sporting a Delicious Vinyl T-Shirt ($20)during the USA Men’s Basketball Team’s Olympic preparation sessions in Beijing, China.
Visit Delicious Vinyl’s Website and brush up on the legendary artists of DV from Tone Loc to J Dilla to The Pharcyde to Masta Ace.
BoomBoxis producer/DJ Russ Randolph and singer/songwriter/guitarist Zion Rock Godchaux. This pair of dynamic artists uses their rich musical history and their vision of music and popular culture to deliver a style of music distinctly different from anything heard or seen in music today. This signature sound and show brings live music to a new, elevated level. BoomBox evolved through the common visualization of a pair of forward thinking artists from diverse musical backgrounds. Raised by supportive and musically inclined parents, both Godchaux and Randolph had an obsession with music at very young ages. Godchaux, who grew up with deeply embedded rock and roll roots, began playing drums at the age of two, and played guitar and wrote his own songs as a teen. During the 90s, Godchaux was a well-received touring DJ based out of the San Francisco area. Randolph began as a young drummer, but it’s what was happening behinds the scenes that attracted him most. As much producers as they are musicians, it is Randolph’s understanding of soundscape and Godchaux’s knack for songwriting that keeps BoomBox resonating at higher levels.
Check Out BoomBox Live This Weekend @ Gratefulfest on (8/31/2008) in Garrettsville, OH!
For Amelia Zupke, Photography is simply a way of life. Inspired by the color green, Zupke’s artistic journey began here in Akron, OH at King Elementary. This is where Zupke found her fascination with the effortless concept of taking pictures.
Her first toy was an outlandish green, yellow and red M&M’s plastic camera that took film resembling a funky pair of WeSC Headphones. An avid Zupke brought that silly ‘toy‘ everywhere and it eventually paid off after graduating from Firestone High School in 2004. A determined Zupke then pursued Photography at Ohio University in Athens. Zupke graduated four years later with a B.S. in Visual Communication with concentrations in Commercial Photography, Advertising and Design. Photography is Zupke’s foremost passion in the way she creatively captures rare visions for others to see. Her work ranges from Commercial to Fine Art; Travel to Portrait; and Vivid Color to Black and White. Zupke’s artistic views and abilities are infinite as she crosses boundaries in the world of Photography daily.
Amy’s second passion is traveling. Her most significant experience was living in Brisbane, OZ where she studied Photography and Art at Griffith University: Queensland College of Art. Zupke never let school get in the way of exploring Australia’s east coast and various parts of New Zealand. In her free time she was occupied with surfing, playing with kangaroos, exploring new cities, and meeting people from around the world. Zupke’s dream job is a sky diving instructor by day, food critic by night, while traveling the world taking pictures with her ‘toy‘. Who knows where Zupke’s organic presence will take her, but one thing’s certain: this girl will be always down with the 330. Check out more of Amelia Zupke’s Photography BELOW.
