prsntd by fmly and frnds
NY:
prsntd by the knitting factory, with support and love from fmly
Tobacco – Hairy Candy
The Hood Internet – Tambourine Reckoning
Pizza! – Bird Dreams
Evan Voytas – ASTRO
WAMPIRE – Orchards
Philip Seymour Hoffman – duckfangs tickle my ankles
ticket giveaways and more info coming soon
Every show we take on we make sure we have pride for the bands that play. They are not just bands, but they are our friends and a part of theFMLY, McWorld has been the best example of this. We’ve had the privileged of sharing our shows with some incredible musicians, formal and informal. Sometimes a show will come together with some of FMLY’s closest members and that’s exactly what will happen on March 25th at McWorld. If you haven’t seen any of these bands live, you are in for a great surprise. Time to bring the party. Thanks to Geoff Geis for the great flier as usual.
: Tobacco
:: The Hood Internet
::: Evan Voytas
:::: Pizza!
::::: Wampire
:::::: Battlehooch
Tobacco – Sing Sang Sung (Air remix)
The Hood Internet – The Next Collarbone (Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre vs Fujiya and Miyagi)
Evan Voytas – I Run With You, Spirit Animal
Pizza! – Bound by a Love
WAMPIRE – Orchards
Thanks Baby Birds Drink Milk for phoning into the show. You can catch them in LA today at Women house with Insects vs. Robots, The Pharmacy and So Many Wizards. You can find all the info here.
Salem – Red Lights
Ty Seagall – It #1
Fanfarlo – Finish Line
Cold Cave – Life Magazine
Active Child – Voice of an Old Friend
Big Whup – BONIZ HEART
The Spinto Band – Oh Mandy (Daytrotter Session)
years – the assassination of dow jones
Efterklang – Modern Drift
Nobody Wave – Fast Asleep
WEAVE! – Mouthpiece Hysteria
Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk – Picnic at Zug Island
Tempo No Tempo – The Rat (Part One)
Da Bears – Sword In Hand
60 Watt Kid – We Come From the Bright Side
Geneva Jacuzzi – Group Dynamic
Jet Horns – Indian Eagle Hair
Cop Magnet – I’m Higher State of Mind (Jay-Z remix w/ Philip Seymour Hoffman)
Tobacco – Sing Sang Sung (Air remix)
DJDT – A Gaye DJDT remix
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Birds & Batteries – Out In The Woods
Cloud Nothings – Can’t Stay Awake
Diet Cola – Anything Poisonous
Breakfast Mountain – Just Jamm
Railcars – Life of St. Edmund (ponds) + CASTLES
Matmos – The Rose Bud Opens
Philip Seymour Hoffman – the lighthouse itself is the rocket
Sophie Madeleine – The Stars
So with our beloved Black Moth Super Rainbow in a coma and a rumored release from Tobacco on the way it only makes too beautiful sense to see an official release from Seven Fields of Aphelion on the Graveface label. A twelve track release, Periphery will hit the ground running on February 16 and if this little gem is dealt right I’m crossing my fingers for some heavy 2010 Wendy Carlos appreciation…not like I just listened to a bit of the original Tron soundtrack after bumpin’ “Mountain Mary.”
Exploiting the most delicate flower petals, “Mountain Mary” breathes a heavy breath that causes morning dew to weep. The all encompassing mist, the ever fascinating fog…bring it on Periphery, we’re glad to finally have met you. If you missed it, we interviewed Black Moth earlier this year.
cred: parisgraphics
To quote J Arthur Keenes for the umpteenth time, “The saw wave’s cutting through me, but I do not mind. It’s the pulse when my heart beats, sharp and refined.” Giving hi’s and lo’s back to the mp3, Tobacco delivers a Space Invaders journey of a remix in the rainbow vomit vein of Black Moth Super Rainbow. I’d keep up with quip references, but I’m trying to listen to Professor Calculus interview Moses Campbell on FMLY’s Public Education right now (listen here).
Air – Sing Sang Sung (Black Moth Super Rainbow remix)
bns
J. Arthur Keenes – Low Tide
another impose winner
It’s 4am and I thought that I was about to go to bed…then this “Die Slow” remix by Tobacco pops up. Standing somewhere between what a “Die Slow” remix should encompass and “Feel The Drip” Tobacco once again delivers an impressive interpretation of a difficult to dissect arrangement. Imagine walking into a 1980s themed club in the year 2300; the smell of stiff clothes, the way which your shoes slide across the floor and the novelty that has become a simulated memory. Tobacco has captured that discomfort, that subconscious dis-ease, and given it a sound.
Last month, HEALTH filmed their music video for “Die Slow” in FMLY’s Out Of Asia warehouse. The video hasn’t been released yet, but take a sneak peek at these photos.
HEALTH – Die Slow (Tobacco remix)
BNS
HEALTH – Die Slow
Height with Friends – Baltimore Highlands (Tobacco remix)
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Just For the Night (Laura Burhenn BMSR Remix)
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Feel The Drip
FMLY first heard about Height late last year when Tobacco gave us (via XLR8R) his mixtape of Songs To Get Killed In The Woods To. Months later, we blogged about a Tobacco remix of Height that I’ve still been jamming out to on the daily.
Fortunately, Dan Keech aka Height contacted us about checking out the rest of his album, Baltimore Highlands (Carpark Records), and every day when I give this vinyl some rotations I find myself growing closer to its sounds. The album was composed by Keech along with friends Mickey Free, Jones, King Rhythm, Nasty Millionaire, Shields, Al Lover, PT Burnem, Emily Slaughter and Wye Oak hinting that what’s in store certainly isn’t traditional. Keech’s vocals mingle not only with obscure timing, but with the dynamics of the instrumentals layered with samples layered with phat beats layered with whatever is going on around you. Of a peculiar nature, Keech disconnects his words from his phrases from his sentences which makes the tracks difficult to follow as a narrative and instead place an emphasis on sound play. The record spans only 26 minutes, and every track complements the next resulting in a really dope, single-sitting, listening experience. I’ve also gotta point out the radical difference from Height’s tunes to hip-hop music in the Baltimore area. I don’t think there is a single “bad word” on this entire album, now go listen to any Spank Rock song…
Rather than go through a play-by-play of the tracks, here are a few that I particularly dig. Purchase Baltimore Highlands here, highly recommended.
Height With Friends – Jackson Whites
Height With Friends – Baltimore Highlands
Height with Friends – The Woods
BONUS
Height with Friends – Baltimore Highlands (Tobacco remix)
It’s an honor to present an interview with Tobacco covering the dichotomy between Tobacco and Black Moth Super Rainbow, as well as touching upon earlier works and hinting towards the future. As satanstompingcaterpillars, an introduction to lo-fi synth-pop was made and as Black Moth Super Rainbow grew from the ashes, several good men and women stronger, the music has not only gained in appreciators but taken on a unique form of production different from any other music being made today. Without spilling our collective hearts out and continuing with words which do no justice, lets get on with this.
FMLY: I’d like to begin by clearing the fog. Thanks to Impose magazine it’s acknowledged that you, Tobacco, are Black Moth Super Rainbow (outside of live settings). During the time of satanstompingcaterpillars, when was it decided with Power Pill Fist that you would take composition and recording duties? If it wasn’t decided, and you feel comfortable doing so, I’d like to know about the transition into BMSR and what provoked it.
Tobacco: It’s just sort of how it always was. I’m bad at collaborating with people, and I thought it was always easier to work alone. I think I get most inspired alone, and less self conscious of what I’m doing. We’ve written a few songs together as a band back in all the different bands, and it always feels great when it happens, but I never push it to keep happening. I had started off really noisy and abstract with Allegheny White Fish. We were all so happy with ourselves for coming up with that name in 10th grade, but it wasn’t too funny 4 years later. Then ssc [satanstompingcaterpillars] was like my way to be more melodic all the time, and a little more serious. Then when it started to shift again into something I might be a little more comfortable performing live, I brought in the rest of the band and we changed over again. I’ve always felt like these ideas shouldn’t outstay their welcome. 3 or 4 records is enough, because I get really bored, and I like to keep these bands and ideas as pure as I can, in their places in time, until it seems like I’ve finally gotten it right.
FMLY: Your sound evolved tremendously with Falling Through A Field. Was this due to new software, new instruments, new friends to play with, an acid trip or just a new vision of swampy pink meadows and multicolored waterfalls? Do you and PPF continue to make music together on the side? I’m a big fan of his Atari work, were you two into video games when you were young or is it only appreciated as an instrument? Related, why the decision to use many tracks from satanstompingcaterpillars?
Tobacco: Falling Through A Field was like a weird best-of record at the time. Some of my favorite stuff that I thought was still relevant from ssc, mixed with where it was going with the vocoders and analog synths and beats. It was all fueled by the idea that these synths were available and we were figuring out what they did, plus the idea of the vocoder was really appealing because I didn’t have to be so self-conscious about my voice anymore. PPF and I haven’t made anything in awhile, but like I said, I’m just not much of a team player. I think he’s taking the Atari stuff somewhere really interesting for his next record. I’ve only heard one song, but it was definitely different.
FMLY: After speaking with The Octopus Project I was surprised to find out that The House of Apples and Eyeballs was an online project and that you hadn’t actually met before recording. Had you listened to tOP before this collaboration and who initiated the process? Do you still maintain a relationship with them and was the rest of BMSR involved during the recording process or only at your live performance of the album at SXSW?
Tobacco: I had the cd with the mannequins on the cover, and I had no idea how much they’d changed since then. I didn’t know they were more of a rock band, so that was a good surprise. I think Ryan from Graveface just went to a couple shows of theirs and had the idea on his own to put it together. We see them like once a year now, because we usually stay with Toto when we play in Austin.
I had all these random parts recorded with everyone from BMSR over a couple years that we were able to incorporate into that album. The whole point of it was trying to make something out of stuff both bands had lying around and didn’t know what to do with, so it ended up being kind of a good exercise for me in listening to some of the garbage I make and figuring out how to make it work on some level. I think everyone makes at least one appearance.
FMLY: There’s no denying the role that your music has played in many people’s lives, but more specifically those who dabble with acid, shrooms and other mind -altering drugs…or just straight up weed. What you may consider to be a subtle portion of a track could influence one’s entire trip. Do you take this into consideration when crafting an album?
Tobacco: I’m sort of learning this more and more over time, but everything I make is pop to me, and it’s the only way I know how to make it. So drugs have absolutely nothing to do with it for me – it’s just what I think sounds good at the time. I’m not much of a psychedelic music fan, and I’ve never aspired to be psychedelic. I think it’s just my ear being wrong. I really think I’m making hooky pop music, but then it comes out, and everyone’s like, “no, it’s this…”
satanstompingcaterpillars – Goodbye Method (from Flower Slides)
satanstompingcaterpillars – The Autumn Kaleidoscope Now Has Hips (from The Autumn Kaleidoscope Got Changed)
satanstompingcaterpillars – Black Snow (from The Most Wonderfulest Thing)
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Boxphones (from Falling Through A Field)
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Smile Heavy (from Start A People)
Black Moth Super Rainbow + The Octopus Project – Spiracle (from The House Of Apples & Eyeballs)
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Sun Lips (from Dandelion Gum
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Just For The Night (Laura Burhenn, BMSR remix) (from Drippers)
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us medley
I’m not talking about the new world flavors of Bali Shag, but NEW Tobacco to hold us over until the release of Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Eating Us in May.
Height, the hip-hop pseudonym for Dan Keech, worked with nine producers for his new album, Baltimore Highlands. The 12-track album was released in 12-inch vinyl record form this week on Wham City Records, and the CD release party is tomorrow at the Zodiac on Charles Street.
But the collaboration doesn’t end there. A dozen local and national indie musicians, including Video Hippos, Dan Deacon, Future Islands, Cex and Trey Told ‘Em, remixed tracks from Baltimore Highlands. Starting this week, the record label is releasing them two at a time for free download on its Web site.
Height toured around with Dan Deacon’s Round Robin extravaganza late last year and has become Wham City’s darling. The remix certainly takes on its own context in a way that Tobacco did for Laura Burhenn’s “Just For The Night” which can be found on BMSR’s Drippers. If this means that Tobacco is going to continue on a hip-hop path, I have great hope for the future. Enough with my early morning words, the tunes speak for themselves.
Height with Friends – Baltimore Highlands (Tobacco remix)
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Just For The Night (Laura Burhenn, BMSR remix)
Height with Friends – The Woods
Coming from Los Angeles the ’snow day’ is nothing but a mythical being that I could only one day wish to experience. Well, March 2, I just want to wish you and the world a happy snow day! Classes here in New York are cancelled leaving me with nothing to do but catch a few more z’s and present a mini-mixtape of relevant tunes that I really enjoy. A special track in here is from one of FMLY’s closest FRNDS, Timothy Rabbit, who you may know at the bassist of The Morning Benders. We’ve known Tim since ‘05 and are so proud of him, keep it up, wherever you are on tour! Also of note is satanstompingcaterpillars, lasting from 2000-’03 consisting of Tobacco and Power Pill Fist, three albums were released – the last of which contains several songs that would go on to become Black Moth Super Rainbow. Explosions In The Sky’s “Snow and Lights” would have been a great addition, but I take it you all have those notes tattoo’d by now, crazy kids…
Electric President – Snow On Dead Neighborhoods
Timothy Rabbit – It’s Always Snowing In Iceland
Grouper – Wind and Snow
satanstompingcaterpillars – Black Snow (pre-Black Moth Super Rainbow)
We’re really excited about this new Black Moth album, so much that I’m even willing to listen to some hopeful imitations to pass the time.
Creeping out from the dark woods of Pennsylvania into the perhaps-even-darker clubs and showplaces of America, Black Moth Super Rainbow act as a singular rhythmic unit to a backdrop of off-key lighting, original schizoid animation and thoroughly screwed video pieces, for no one in particular, but just for the pure, instinctual need to take the show on the road and feed that unique muse of theirs. With Tobacco, Seven Fields, Power Pill Fist, Ryan Graveface, D. Kyler and Father Hummingbird, Black Moth Super Rainbow’s communal live show is a truly bizarre cocktail of visual and aural oddness.
Daydreamers School of Seven Bells co-headline this tour.
As previously announced, Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Eating Us is out 5/26 on Graveface Records.
Wed. May 20 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
Thu. May 21 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Fri. May 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
Mon. May 25 – Quincy, WA @ Sasquatch Festival
Tue. May 26 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
Thu. May 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Fri. May 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
Sat. May 30 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
Sun. May 31 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
Tue. Jun. 2 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
Wed. Jun. 3 – Denton, TX @ Hailey’s
Thu. Jun. 4 – Little Rock, AR @ Sticky Fingerz
Fri. Jun. 5 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
Sat. Jun. 6 – Columbus, OH @ Circusmessage from tobacco
you might have noticed by now that we have a new record coming out in north america on may 26. we’re gonna try to have some really special things in store for the summer.
this is the first time we’ve worked with a producer. dave fridmann (flaming lips, weezer, mercury rev), the mann, got us out of the grossness that i usually make, and into the fridmann zone. the fridmann zone is bigger and more spacious than the tobacco zone.
we’re working really hard on a special hand-numbered package for the first bunch of people who buy the cd – it’s gonna be really hairy. not real animal fur, but it looks real enough to fool me. pictures coming eventually.
there’s also gonna be a full art booklet of all the potential covers for ‘eating us.’ 16 pages, and it should feel pretty nice.
for now, there’s a medley in our myspace player of a few of the new songs, so here’s the tracklisting:
1. Born On A Day The Sun Didn’t Rise 2. Dark Bubbles 3. Twin Of Myself 4. Gold Splatter 5. Iron Lemonade 6. Tooth Decay 7. Fields Are Breathing 8. Smile The Day After Today 9. The Sticky 10. Bubblegum Animals 11. American Face Dust
xo,
tobaxxxo
Got all that? Sweet. Download a medley of the new album below as well as a “Lake Feet” cover by Milieu. Tobacco has some east coast shows coming up if you have a car, refer to his MySpace for info. Lastly, I interviewed School of Seven Bells’ labelmate, Michna (ex-DJ Egg Foo Young), last week. Check it out here if you missed it.
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us medley
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Lake Feet (covered by Milieu)
I’ll admit that I get pretty excited when I’m stumped, a good challenge is always exhilarating. Huge thanks goes out to Japanese Muscles for sending this video to Cameron and I.
What we see here is a video from a Youtube account created last week. The video itself has no name, only numbers, but related videos appear to be “Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club” and other music related vids in “Black” standing. The quality is definitely VHS, hence the account name ‘vhsknife’ and the sound is classic Tobacco, who as you know IS Black Moth Super Rainbow when it comes to composition and recording. The rest…well, you can watch the video yourself. It is not from the Fucked Up Friends film released just over a year ago, so I ask if this is an older unreleased track matched to video or is this what the future of Black Moth will sound like? Either way, I’m pleased. It is also possible that this is just uber-fan made, but I highly doubt it.
Happy Obama-eve everyone!
