Beck w/ MGMT @ United Palace, Wednesday, Oct. 8th
Beck could have been a more engaging performer at Wednesday’s United Palace show, but what he lacked in personality on stage, he made up for in song. The show was the opener of a three-day stand at the Washington Heights venue, and it was hard to tell whether he was tired from touring or simply...
Fleet Foxes @ Webster Hall, Sunday, Oct. 6th
It’s easy enough to say that live performance is the true test of a band. But there’s something that goes beyond that. Will a show that’s great once be great 10 times? In a culture prone to fanaticism, there should be things that interest the audience member who’s seen the band on every tour for...
Recess
If things seem a little quiet here at T-Sides lately, that’s because we’re moving! Not the website, it’ll still be right here, just our base of operations. We’re cookin’ up some great features for you, though, as always, so please stay tuned. In the meantime, here’s a little something in the spirit of relocating for...
T-Sides B-Sides: Preservation Hall Jazz Band
My friend Clay Franks is a true Louisianan. I’ve been hounding him to write something ever since he finished his ethereal urban prose set to My Bloody Valentine. So, he recently wrote a lovely piece on New Orleans and the Preservation Hall Jazz band, and what with New Orleans being the center of attention during...
On Turning 24
Not to take an overly narcissistic turn here, but today is your blogmaster’s 24th birthday. As it just so happens, one of my favorite bands – I’m sure you can guess who – has a song that mentions being 24, which also happens to be the only song that immediately comes to mind that sings...
Lost MP3 of the Week: The Doors, “The Crystal Ship”
It’s horribly cliche, but over the past couple summers, the moment the temperatures move towards 80 degrees, I reach for my Doors’ collection. I always start out more or less listening to everything of theirs I own, then as the summer progresses, I cling to a particular song, usually one I hadn’t paid much attention...
T-Sides Exclusive: New Two Gallants Song (Live Recording)
Image courtesy flickr user FXR I’ve acquired a very good quality live recording of Two Gallants performing a new song at Bonnaroo. Yes, Bonnaroo was back in June. I must admit I’ve been sitting on it awhile because I’ve been trying to decipher the lyrics. I’m not sure of the title, but this particular unreleased...
T-Sides B-Sides: The Unbearable Lightness of Ween
It is with great delight that I welcome back Vincent “V-Sides” Rendoni to educate us on a band yours truly admits to knowing little to nothing about: Ween. Focusing on their magnum opus, The Mollusk, he presents a solid case on why they matter — sure to leave the unfamiliar and even some skeptics with...
Lost MP3 of the Week: Huey Lewis & the News, “I Never Think About You”
During the spring of my junior year of college, I listened to Huey Lewis nonstop. One day, while working on the campus newspaper, I was sorting through the shared music of the local club offices and put on “I Want A New Drug.” The song was an apt anthem for how I felt about the...
T-Sides Elsewhere, August 7th Edition
I know what you’re thinking. “But Taylor, you just did one of these!” And… you’re right. But there’s a lot happening in T-Sides land right now, such as: I attended the Yeasayer/The National SummerStage on Monday night and wrote about it for my friends over at EarFarm. And remember that Wolf Parade concert review? Well,...
Wolf Parade @ Terminal 5, Thursday, July 31st
The first time I saw Wolf Parade, they were opening a secret Modest Mouse show at Webster Hall in 2004. I knew nothing about them, but they impressed me just as much as Modest Mouse had. Four years later, they’re still impressive: probably moreso than the band that fostered them into the spotlight. Terminal 5...
Lost MP3 of the Week: De La Soul, “Rock Co. Kane Flow (Feat. MF Doom)”
In 2004, I managed to land an internship at the Grammys. More specifically, the Seattle branch of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the professional organization responsible for the Grammys. Four or five internships later, it’s still one of my top two favorites, because I felt like I was making a difference...
Soapbox