Pitchfork Music Festival 2015

The following is a bit of notes I took on Saturday afternoon. An existential/Wallace Shawn style exploration on identity and creation. 

Attention. That's what's on my mind right now, sitting in the grass in Union Park at the Pitchfork Music Festival. What am I here to devote my attention to? How do I decide how to use my attention? Is attention the most important thing at an environment like this? Or is it best to have divided attention?

Are we here for art or diversion? Or other? (commerce)

Bully from Nashville starts. I'm still sitting. There's a decent crowd for the early side of the day on the smaller stage. Various forms of attention are around me. People totally focused, me with divided attention, as my attention is primarily on my thoughts. But I'm also processing the music.

If what and how we consume is dictated by marketing, is what and how we create also a product of that same marketing? Does the "I" ever have a say in creation? Is creation just an expression of consumption?, ie, what am I doing here? Is there an "I" here? Or is my "I" just someone else's creations that I've consumed? And if I've never decided what I've consumed, then how can I say I've created anything? And what have I consumed to have made me think these thoughts?

So why am I here? What's the difference between habit and ritual? There's supposed to be something sacred about ritual, right? (I may just be thinking that because a church is looking down at me) But what if you hold nothing sacred? Can that be true though, literature, the Clash, the simple act of helping someone up off the ground.

Ear Relevant: 03.31.14 - 04.04.14

Here's what's good for your ears this week. Music festivals, singles, albums, tributes, and music videos ahead!

Hozac Records announced the first details for Blackout Fest, May 15-17 at the Empty Bottle. Already announced are the Boys (yes, these Boys), the Dictators (yes, these Dictators), Shocked Minds, A Giant Dog, Rainbow Gun Show, First Base, 999999999, the Man, Counter Intuits, Nones, and Toupee.

Netherfriends released a new single featuring Black Matt called 'Seasons.' It's off the forthcoming Netherfriends Goes West album, featuring songs that sample Kanye West. Check it out on soundcloud here.

My friend John Serafin hosts a radio show on CHIRP Sunday nights / Monday mornings, midnight til 3 am. Here's the full three hours on mixcloud. This week features Warpaint, Herbert, Warm Soda, Martin L Gore, Will Phalen, the New Pornographers, Onra, She Speaks in Tongues, Archers of Loaf, and a billion others.

Massive Ego became just Ego last night with their record release show at the Owl. Besides making great album art, they make great music; check it out on their bandcamp.

Tacocat released an awesome video for their anti-streetcall song, 'Hey Girl.'

Sadly, Frankie Knuckles, "Godfather of House Music," passed away this week from issues related to diabetes. I've never listened to much of his music myself and never saw him spin, but have much respect for what he did. Nicky Siano, friend for forty years, wrote a fitting tribute to him. Here's his remix of 'Blind' by Hercules and the Love Affair which never fails to make a party playlist of mine.

Netherfriends

Anyone who follows me on social media already has seen me post a bunch about Netherfriends, but what the hell, why not one more?

I probably met Shawn Rosenblatt, sole member of the band, sometime at Columbia College when we both attended, though we didn't really know each other until I interviewed first in 2010 (I interviewed him again last year as well). I've since seen him play with a band and solo, in bars and basements, and in various states of inebriation (myself that is, although probably him too). I took this video of him at Subterranean, a show which I borrowed a friend's van to drive Shawn to after his was stolen.

Now, he's released his newest album P3ACE (pronounced "Three Peace"). It's got hip-hop beats, looping guitar and keys, and some of the catchiest hooks you'll hear this year. It's more than worth your time, and odds are if you're reading this, you've already heard it. If not, click below:

Sunday Funday (#fuckyourgrammys Edition)

It is raining outside. I ate a sandwich earlier from a Mexican restaurant. I finished reading A Moveable Feast last week (yes I know it's by Hemingway; no, I'm not including it in my 52 books). I have a hangover today. What that means is I rewatched multiple Arrested Development episodes and prowled the Internet for new music. So here's some musical treats for you:

Beck. Covers David Bowie. With a 167 piece orchestra. Some stupid car company had something to do with it, so I can't embed, but I promise it's worth the extra click. SOUND AND VISION. Stupid car company actually had a cool idea though; this is the first in a series. Consequence of Sound has full details.

Netherfriends x Fess Grandiose. Hot jams, funny opening, and a silly little video.




I didn't post this Jamaican Queens video last week, so here you go:



Three and a half years ago, I stumbled across a bizarre and surreal singer/songwriter named Natti Vogel at a venue in Beijing. Weird mix of Amanda Palmer, Fiona Apple and Oscar Wilde. It was just him and a keyboard, and was exactly what I needed at that point in my life. Having rediscovered him, I found out he is a part of something called the Bushwick Book Club, which writes albums based on books. Their most recent session was about Slaughterhouse Five, my first favorite book. Natti is featured on the compilation.





And oh, some guy named Nick Cave is releasing a new album. It's streaming on NPR right now.