Marrying the folksy populism of Woody Guthrie and early Dylan with the righteous indignation of The Clash, Billy Bragg has been writing and recording songs championing underdogs of various sorts for thirty years now. In the two and a half decades since his debut EP, Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy, Bragg has recorded with everyone from Johnny Marr to Wilco to Less Than Jake, consistently producing music that prods and provokes while it entertains. Mr. Love & Justice, his first release of new material in six years and first for the Anti label, is set for release on Tuesday, and in many ways the subjects it tackles provide a microcosm of his career catalog, with songs like "O' Freedom," and "Sing Their Souls Back Home," covering the Justice side of things, while "You Make Me Brave," and "If You Ever Leave," take care of the Love. In short, it's Bragg as he's always been, covering human relationships inside and out of the political world.
Much to take in this week in the area, including The Raconteurs at the Wonder Ballroom on Tuesday night. Fresh off the from-out-of-nowhere release of the classic rock-idolizing Consolers of the Lonely, Jack White, Brendan Benson and Co. return to Portland no doubt buoyed by the positive reception it's received. Let's just hope White doesn't fall prey to that dreaded Rolling Stone cover curse since he's on the current one alongside Mick and Keef (unless, of course, I'm getting it mixed up with some other magazine that has about as much to do with music).
Also this week, performances from Caribou (Monday, Doug Fir), MGMT (Tuesday, Doug Fir), Hot Chip (Wednesday, Crystal Ballroom), Mirah with Danbert Nobacon and Spectratone International (Wednesday, Mission Theater), David Dondero (Thursday, Holocene and Friday, Iovino's in Corvallis), The Minus 5 with The Dimes and the Heavenly States (Friday, Doug Fir), and more; plus new releases out from Anna Ternheim (Halfway to Five Points), The Cat Empire (So Many Nights), Flight of the Conchords (s/t), Kris Delmhorst (Shotgun Singer), and more. The thread is open-- what's on your minds?
opbmusic in-studio sessions: David Dondero::::::The Dimes
MP3: Danbert Nobacon with the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, from Library Book of the World- "Straight Talk (Meet Frank)"
MP3: Anna Ternheim, from Halfway to Five Points- "To Be Gone"
MP3: The Heavenly States, from Delayer- "The Race"
MP3: Flight of the Conchords, from Flight of the Conchords- "Ladies of the World"
MP3: MGMT, from Time to Pretend- "Destrokk"
April 20, 2008 at 2:17pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
An interesting start tonight, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks song is messy but interesting, Amee Mann I can leave, but then a classic from the Go Betweens - I reveiwed the Ruby suns recently and there were hints of Go Betweens sound.
Btw - when does your Goergie James interview air?
April 20, 2008 at 2:28pm by Jeremy Petersen
I heard that Go-Betweens in the Ruby Suns, too! (But then I'm always hearing them in someone or another....)
Probably won't hear the GJ for a while, but I'll keep you posted. I'll let slip that it includes a very choice Zombies cover!
April 20, 2008 at 2:42pm by steve
Hey, Danbert Nobacon's name is not pronounced as if it (almost) rhymed with Rubicon, the way you said it -- it's pronounced just like it's written -- no bacon -- he's making a political (vegetarian) point.
And on the Go-Betweens front -- the first Robert Forster record since the death of Grant McLennan (titled "The Evangelist") comes out in Australia next week. No idea if it's coming out here, but it includes his recordings of the last songs Grant wrote. See http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/04/17/1208025386344.html for an interview with RF.
Regards, Steve
April 20, 2008 at 2:55pm by Jeremy Petersen
Thanks for setting me straight, Steve. Not my first mispronunciation, or, regrettably, my last. Point taken, Danbert.
From what I understand, The Evangelist will, indeed, be out in the US next week on yep roc. We've been playing "Pandanus" a bit so far, and I'm anxious to hear the rest of the album.
April 20, 2008 at 3:41pm by patrick
Hi Jeremy. Looking forward to the Billy Bragg tonight. I can't say how much I have been digging your show. As of late I bought Helio Sequence's " Keep your Eyes Ahead" and have been telling all my friends about it. It reminds me a bit of "Laid" by James which was produced by Brian Eno. Helio Sequence has an Eno air in their sound. Great Northern sounded good a few minutes ago. Talking about the Go-Betweens. I have a nice Grant McLennan album with a good song called "Black Mule" I believe the album is called Watershead. Keep sending out the good music.
April 20, 2008 at 3:53pm by Jeremy Petersen
Hey Patrick-- glad you're hearing some new things you're liking. I was/am/will be a huge fan of Laid-- we should get something from that on the air, speaking of it. I definitely hear that sound in the new HS, now that you mention it.
It makes me sad all over again thinking about McLennan a couple of years on now. The Go-Betweens had really been hitting a stride in their second wave. I'll have to check out that McLennan-- I've heard some other things I liked, but I'm not familiar with that particular song.
Always really great to hear the feedback-- thanks for the continued listening.
April 20, 2008 at 4:30pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Boy! Girl! That DeVotchka track has to be one of the best of the last year.
On Georgie Jones - you might like to read the interview at nonstarvingartists (dot) com - click on the green face if it's not front page.
April 20, 2008 at 4:37pm by Jeremy Petersen
I'm really loving the new DeVotchka. Going to see them on the 30th? Or maybe the 29th in Eugene?
I'll check out the interview, thanks.
April 21, 2008 at 5:10pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Hoping to review DeVotchka on the weds, but so much music going on, reviewing Loch Lomand on Sat, and Siberians are in town and scheduled...
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