Where the hell have I been?

The Devil

The Devil


The Middle of the Map Festival is where I’ve been. Thursday through Saturday in Westport — something like 80 bands, of which I saw a quarter. Then, the band for which I yell played its first show Sunday night, so it’s been four straight days of holy fuck. Don’t expect much this week, as we’re kind of in a holding pattern until the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo this weekend. That’s right, kids — Rock Star Journalist is covering C2E2. Look for lots and lots of pictures, stories, and the like Friday and Saturday and Sunday. In the meantime, hold tight and check out my coverage of Middle of the Map over at Wayward Blog: the kick-off party, day one, and day two.

Wherein I talk with some people you might know

Over at the Pitch‘s Wayward Blog, I get to use the nature of a major metropolitan free weekly to speak with all kinds of people who are slightly more well-known than the people with whom I speak over here. That’s not to say that anyone’s better than the next person – just that the people whom I interview for the Pitch are probably gonna garner a few more hits than the indie bands and label heads here at Rock Star Journalist. In the interest of making my writing work for me twice, here’s a brief compendium of folks from the past few months.

* Valient Thorr’s Valient Himself on politics, bad flicks, and Thorriors.
* Director Gorman Bechard on his Replacements documentary, Color Me Obsessed.
* Bryan Cox talks up Soft Lighting’s debut, Slow Motion Silhouettes.
* The State‘s Kevin Allison takes a Risk with his podcast.
* The Pharmacy want you to Dig Your Grave.
* Omaha’s Conchance on the trials and travails of indie hip-hop.
* KU’s Paul Laird addresses the racial and gender politics of South Pacific.
* Alive Records founder Patrick Boissel on his label’s new compilation, Where is Parker Griggs?

Where am I?

My editor’s been really busy lately, so I’ve been knocking out a lot of stuff for Wayward Blog this week. You should go read it. Surprisingly, there’s vinyl-related news in there.

I did an interview with Lawrence garage rockers Mouthbreathers for last week’s print edition. They’re on tour right fucking now, and you should go so see them. They’ll hopefully have their new single In the Red’s releasing in the near future. I’ll try and get back on the ball here with something new and special once I get done with the money gigs.

Podcast #42, “Spring Twang Thang”

Certainly, a beer with twang.

Certainly, a beer with twang.

This podcast was recorded in fits and starts as the boys (Things 1 and 2) came home and I had to cook dinner, as well as break for regular pee breaks and whatnot. Thus, the whole thing seems a bit disjointed, at least to my ears.

Musically, it fits together much better. There’s a lot of country and rockabilly, fit together with a lot of surf and exotica / lounge instrumentals in the middle of each set. This is a very nice set of tunes to bust out while you’re on the porch, enjoying the advent of spring and the newly refound ability to go on walks and bike rides without first dropping eighteen layers of clothes on your frame.

Apologies for the title. I was on my second bottle of the quite potently strong Myrcenary Double IPA from O’Dell Brewing. It seemed clever at the time. In other country news, if you’re not familiar with Lydia Loveless, make yourself so, courtesy my recent interview with the new Bloodshot signee. She’ll be big soon, and you can say you knew of her early on. As soon as there’s vinyl available, she’ll be on the podcast, or certainly on the next “I wish this were on wax” episode.

Podcast #42, “Spring Twang Thang”
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Where has Nick been?

Sorry for the lack of updates. I’m doing three interviews this week, and my time isn’t my own.

My interview with Joey Santiago of the Pixies went up on Wayward Blog today, and you can listen to it over there. I’m also speaking with the Randy Rogers Band before their free performance at Kansas City’s Power & Light District on Thursday night. Friday night is Sam North, for next week’s Sunglasses After Dark, which will have the entire podcast devoted to his label, Traffic Street Records.

Whew. I’m also doing this new feature for Wayward Blog called “Imaginary Movie Soundtracks.” Check out the first installment, entitled “How to kill a drifter.” A new one will go up tomorrow.