Big Harp - Talk To The Beard

Big Harp are set to release their debut album White Hat via Saddle Creek on September 13th 2011. Tasty Ears caught up with the very talented couple in L.A. to ask them a few questions.

TE - It seems that you spend a lot of time in both L.A and Omaha, where are you now? Do you find it difficult to balance the two, rather different, places (especially with kids in tow)? And do you prefer one to the other?
 
BH - We love both places, but right now L.A. is definitely our home.  We have family here, which is huge when you have kids.  Balancing the two has actually been pretty painless -- we do spend a lot of time traveling, but the kids take to it really well.

TE -  Saddle Creek seems like such a natural fit for Big Harp, was there ever any doubt that you would be working with them on this project?

BH - When we made the record, we didn't know what we were gonna do with it.  We sent it to Saddle Creek hoping they'd be interested, and they were.  We're really happy to be working with them -- they're like family to us.
 
TE - If you were to be stranded on a desert island with a record player (I know, what is a record player doing on a desert island, right?) and could only bring three albums what would they be?  

BH - Ha ha!  Those desert islands have everything, don't they?
 
Stefanie -- Van Morrison, Astral Weeks
 
Chris -- Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street
 
Stefanie and Chris -- Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Sings Newman

TE -  Do your kids have a favourite song off of your album? (or do they request you to play any songs in particular?)

BH - We thought Hank (our son), liked Steady Hand Behind the Wheel until he started to refer to everything as crazy city.  Like if somebody drops somthing and it makes a loud noise, he might say, "Whoa!  That's crazy city!".  So I guess Goodbye Crazy City made some kind of impact on him.  Twila (our daughter) doesn't really talk yet, but she seems to be more into Willie Nelson than us right now.
 
TE - In the past three years you've been married, had two kids, started a band and now you're about to release your first album, this is quite a pace you have set for yourselves. What would be your idea of the perfect holiday? and have these events changed the way you create (songs/music)?

BH - Our perfect holiday?  A week in bed playing Donkey Kong Country on Super Nintendo and watching mindless horror movies with a cooler of Pacifico in reach.  And margaritas. 
 
Having kids does change the way we create.  Writing and practicing has to be more scheduled obviously.  If you have an idea for a song, you can't necessarily just go off by yourself and work it out.  You have to kind of store things away and then pull them out when the opportunity presents itself.  It's been good, though -- it teaches you to be a little more in control of your creativity.
 
TE - Would you rather take only cold showers or never get enough sleep?

Stef -- Never get enough sleep.  Nothing is worse than a cold shower!
 
Chris -- Cold showers, definitely.  I barely remember what enough sleep feels like, but I remember I liked it.

Thanks again for taking time out of your busy day to answer a few questions. All the best with the release of the excellent new album and we hope you make it up to Vancouver soon.

Public Records - Beta Launch

A new record company is about to launch here in Vancouver called Public Records. Not only do they have a great name but the concept is rather unique as well. We asked Public Records Director of Communications Ashleigh Schafer about their model "The Public Records concept will provide the ultimate platform for independent artists to effectively promote their music and connect with the industry, all within a progressive nonprofit business model. Our aim is to fill the traditional roles of a record label using non-traditional means: production assistance, through artist grants; distribution, through our online network, and promotion, through community-based tours, events, and festivals."

Last year The Root did an article and graph that traces the money trail in a typical major label recording contract and ended up with the above chart. Public Records alternate methods work more like this continues Schafer "Unlike other platforms, all profits generated through advertising revenues through the site are reinvested back into the new music community in the form of artist grants and network enhancements. The reality is that if you’re good enough for a label, you’re good enough to be eligible for our grants.  Leaving the question, why not take control of your music’s future?" Similar to the very successful Kickstarter model (where the general public can pledge funds towards a proposed project) Public Records have grants available to artists but unlike Kickstarter they will not take 5% for themselves but rather reinvest any surplus in future projects. 


For more information on Public Records come to the Beta Launch (including performances by Guilty About Girls and Behind Sapphire) August 11, 2011 at The Waldorf in Vancouver or visit Public Records.org now.

Beirut "Santa Fe" (new track)

Beirut - Santa Fe by Revolver USA
Beirut are set to release Rip Tide via Condon's very own Pompeii Records on August 30th. Today he has released a second single "Santa Fe" from the upcoming LP. The rather pop-ee track is an ode to the town where Beirut singer/songwriter Zach Condon spent some of his more youthful years. You can stream the album in it's entirety over at NPR.  Beirut is in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom both August 9th and 10th (sold out). See you there.

Blitzen Trapper "Love The Way You Walk Away" (new track)

Blitzen Trapper are set to release American Goldwing on September 13th via Sub Pop records. Below you'll find the second single "Love The Way You Walk Away" off of the upcoming album. Blitzen Trapper are also heading out on a co-headlining tour with Dawes that will find the pair in Vancouver on November 10th at The Rickshaw Theatre. I'll see you there. Go!
Blitzen Trapper - Love The Way You Walk Away by subpop

Girls "Vomit" (video)

Father, Son, Holy Ghost the upcoming LP from Girls will be released via True Panther on September 13th (pre-order the album here). Austin Rhodes directs this video for the first single "Vomit" (above). So rock n' roll.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra "Little Blu House" (video)

Pitchfork recently premiered this video for "Little Blu House" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra. The band recently played an amazing set here in Vancouver, in complete darkness much to the dismay of the photographers who came to catch a glimpse of the band. Their debut, self-titled LP is available now from Fat Possum. I recommend you get it before they're called the Very Well Known Immortal Orchestra and you lose all that hipster cred you've gained from playing bicycle polo.

Hypocrite In A Hippy Crypt - Talk To The Beard

We recently posted "The Town Crazies" by the mysterious Hypocrite In A Hippy Crypt and you asked for more so this week we decided to track him down and ask some questions, one enigma to another. The Beard caught up with him in Bloomington, Indiana to shed some light on what's behind the curtain.

TE - What's the story behind the name Hypocrite In A Hippy Crypt?


HIAHC - "Hypocrite in a hippy crypt" came from Kurt Cobain's diary. The concept  invokes very comical imagery in my mind. I also knew that people would either hate it, or love it. People mostly hate it, but I expected it really. It's funny for me.

TE - Desert Island: 3 albums only, go! 

HIAHC - Hmmmmmm

Nick drake-Pink Moon
Weezer- The Blue album
Beach Boys- Smiley Smile

TE - How did you meet your recorder/mixer Zach Anselm? How has he helped your career? And are you still working together?

HIAHC - Zack and me go way back, I think I met him early in high school when I joined a band he was in. He has offered me free recording through his label Tree Machine Records, so he has helped me unfathomably. I recorded the album on his suggestion, kind of. I was helping him record some songs for a music school application he was making, he suggested doing an album after finishing a few of the songs, and that's how it started. I have a good number of songs I plan on recording with him in a few weeks for a possible EP or album. I really like the sound of them. I feel the next album will have a very complete feel to it.

TE - What's your favourite piece of gear?

HIAHC - My amp might have to be my favorite piece of gear. Its a Vox Tube amp, the sound is incredible, tube amps are the only way to get sounds that are not blood wrenching to the ears. Its like a polygamist marriage of me and two of the finest Mexican princesses in my ears. I have used some other amps and nothing can beat the sound of a tube amp, especially with a bit of reverb on it. You can really get a 60s guitar vibe with one, especially when I combine it with my telecaster.

TE - You said your parents are "the least artful people in the world" how do they feel about your success as a musician? 

HIAHC - Haha.........they  don't know about any of it. My dad heard a song i did on the internet once some how and kinda laughed at me about it. I see no need to tell them, and i don't think i really ever will. I don't think they know I write songs really. They would not understand it I guess.

TE - You are at University now, how do you find balancing both music and school?

HIAHC - Balancing both music and school is tough. Most of my writing takes place at 2 in the morning, whispering into a microphone in fear of waking those around me . Recording takes place over the weekend in 4 or 5 hour sessions to get it all in. I am  always reminded that I am a student though. I do school for 5 or 6 hours.... then maybe play guitar for one hour. My guitar skills have gone down, its kinda sad, but i still manage to get in an hour a day. I feel my song writing has improved though, don't know if that came with college or with time.

TE - Would you rather? Have marshmallows for teeth or a tongue of stone?

HIAHC - Marshmallows for teeth would be cool. I guess girls would like it, but so would small children around halloween, so that would weird me out. Tongue of stone.. would get me no where so, marshmallow teeth win.

TE - Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. We're really digging the latest album and best of luck with recording the next one. Please keep us posted on how it's all going.

I'll leave you readers with one more track from HIAHC's latest Tweaker In The Park titled "Funeral Playlist" enjoy.

Gardens & Villa "Spacetime" (video)

"Spacetime" by Gardens & Villa from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.
I have been stoked on this band since I first posted about them on April 14th and I'm even more amped on them now. The entire self-titled album (from Secretly Canadian) is solid and is certain to make at least one of Tasty Ears end of year lists. Check out their latest video directed by David South for "Spacetime" now. Go on... get lifted!