by Klaus Kinski

Doug Gillard @ Irving Plaza NYE (more by Chris Gersbeck)

I got heavily obsessed with Guided By Voices after the demise of the "classic '93 - '96 line-up" which featured Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, and Greg Demos (a line-up that reunited in 2010 and has been blazing a sweaty, beer soaked trail across the US since) (this past weekend's Sasquatch Festival included).

I've now seen the classic line-up twice thanks to the reunion, but prior to that my live experience was always delivered by Robert Pollard, Nate Farley, Doug Gillard, Kevin March, Tim Tobias and, later on, Chris Slusarenko. I often had to be rolled out of those shows in a wheelbarrow, and memories of those shows are muddied and schizophrenic, but two things I always took away from a GBV experience was A) that I had had the time of my life and B) that lead guitarist Doug Gillard was, and is, easily one of the most agile guitar gods in rock 'n roll. I mean, forget about shredding and other wanky guitar-athleticism bullshit. What Doug brings to the table is a prodigal level of rock-solid, rock guitar purity and proficiency. Doug is an absolute master of his craft, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone out there these days who can get such a thunderous onslaught from his Les Paul and his amps. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to find that your man Klaus has been following Doug's solo career with great interest and it is because of non-GBV-related Gillard news that I write to you fine people today.

On Saturday June 4th, Doug will be part of an ensemble of musicians paying tribute to Captain Beefheart at Bowery Poetry Club.

Gary Lucas (Beefheart alumni, Jeff Buckley), Nona Hendryx (Labelle, Talking Heads), Nina Persson (The Cardigans), Nathan Larson (Shudder To Think), Cynthia Sley (Bush Tetras), Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices), Eric Slick (Dr. Dog), & Weasel Walter (Behold The Arctopus), will be joined by musicians from the rock, jazz, metal, progressive, blues, experimental, & classical worlds to perform faithful and interpretive versions of songs from Beefheart's entire catalog, from his 1966 debut "Safe As Milk" to his final record "Ice Cream For Crow", released in 1982.

Captain Beefheart died on December 17, 2010 from complications from multiple sclerosis, so it's fitting that ALL PROCEEDS from this show (a reasonable $10) will go directly to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you can't make it to the show, watch the live stream. And consider donating to the MS Society.

Besides the MS/Beefheart show, there are many more opportunities to catch Doug live. Speaking of beef, on Saturday June 11th, get your non-vegan ass to the Big Apple BBQ in Madison Square Park at 1:00pm on Saturday June 11th. While you're feasting on various forms of carrion with gristle and BBQ sauce dribbling from your lips (editor's note: Klaus!), the band Bambi Kino will be performing. Bambi Kino features Mark Rozzo (Maplewood), Ira Elliot (Nada Surf), Doug Gillard (Ex Guided By Voices), Erik Paparazzi (Cat Power) and were formed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles' first concerts in Hamburg Germany. Back in those days, the Beatles were essentially a cover band themselves, and Bambi Kino's setlist is culled from the Beatles' set list from back in those days. So it's like a cover band covering a cover band who were doing their own versions of the whole blues thing. And it's free! More about who's playing the Big Apple BBQ, HERE.

You can also catch Doug when he goes on tour with Tommy Keene and Sally Crewe and the Sudden Moves. Doug recently wrote and recorded songs on Sally's upcoming 5-song EP "Transmit/Receive". Tommy is touring in support of his new LP, and Doug Gillard will have a new vinyl 7" he'll be promoting. The tour lands at the Rock Shop on September 10th, 2011. Complete tour dates below.

Oh, and before I forget... Doug is recording tons of guitar for the upcoming Nada Surf LP, which is due out in Fall of 2011. Look out for that as well as a tour in support of said LP. Nada Surf's Matthew Caws joined Doug on stage at Irving Plaza on New Years Eve when he opened for GBV.

Catch Guided By Voices, Wavves, and Surfer Blood during the Northside Festival on June 18th, yo.

Catch Bush Tetras (Cynthia Sley is also playing the Beefheart show) at Le Poisson Rouge on Friday, June 10th.

Gary Lucas's other upcoming shows include a July 3rd appearance at Iridium Jazz Club and a July 9th show at the Rubin Museum of Art.

Doug tour dates and the Beefheart flyer below...

Continue reading "Doug Gillard is doing stuff (Captain Beefheart show w/ Gary Lucas, Beatles band, Tommy Keene tour, Nada Surf LP)"

photos by Matthew Taplinger

It's A Trap: What does the name "A Camp" actually refer to?

Niclas Frisk: We just decided that we would go up to the woods and do some songs, do some drawings, bake some bread and record some music. At some point Nina said that we were having a camp in the woods. And at the same time we were shopping in a supermarket and saw this maple syrup with the name "Camp" on it and on the logo there is a small wooden house on it. It wasn't more than that, we decided; let's call it "A Camp".

It's A Trap: How come James Iha is appearing on your album?

Nathan Larson: He's an old friend. A great guy and a great supporter. He owns the studio were we recorded most of the record. And Niclas independently came to know him and worked with him.

Niclas Frisk: He is a mutual friend to all of us and in some way sort of a remote band member.

It's A Trap: Why did you choose Nicolai Dunger to make a duet with?

Nina Persson: Nicolai is one of my old favourite male singers and I like his music a lot.

The interview is referencing A Camp's 2009 album "Colonia which contains guest appearances by ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Joan As Police Woman and Swedish singer/songwriter Nicolai Dunger." That is of course in addition to core band members Nina Persson (Cardigans) and her husband Nathan Larson (Shudder To Think).

Colonia was released in April. Since then A Camp also put out a 5-song digital-only Covers EP.

On Tuesday night (11/17), A Camp played a sold out show at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC. James Iha was there and joined them on stage. More pictures from the gig below...

Continue reading "A Camp (w/ guest James Iha) @ Le Poisson Rouge, NYC -pics "

photos by Justina Villanueva

Shudder to Think had many different lineups while they were active from 1986-1998. Staying consistent with that, they've had varying lineups during this 2007-2009 reunion period as well. Frontman Craig Wedren has also has had many different musical projects since 1998, projects that maybe better represent where he is now than the one he just got back together. One of those solo-like projects, which he has performed with at Le Poisson Rouge and Joe's Pub in recent times, is a collaboration with the mini orchestra ACME.

With that background in mind, maybe last night's show wasn't actually too peculiar. First, Shudder to Think guitarist Nathan Larson wasn't at the show. The official reason was that he was busy with his other band (and wife in) A Camp. Oddly, A Camp doesn't/didn't have any shows scheduled, and Nathan has been a part of the reunion since the start. Second, after a first set of Shudder to Think songs, Craig switched the format of last night's show and actually did bring out, and perform with, ACME. Craig explained that he actually wrote the songs with Jefferson Friedman while STT was still together, so it still counted. None of this made it a bad, possibly final, show... just sayin'.

Shudder's last drummer Kevin March was the drummer last night (as he has been for the whole part of the reunion), and Shudder bassist Stuart Hill was nowhere to be found (same for the whole reunion). The show opened with old songs like A Vampire's Proposal, Lies About the Sky, and About Three Dreams and then seemed to segue into Pony Express material (still no Nathan).

But then came a surprise. Chris Matthews who was the original Shudder guitar player even before Nathan joined the band, came on stage for two songs, one being Red House, the other being Day Ditty (both songs he originally played in). The other guitarist in last night's band is the new guy who has been there since 2007. After the ACME bit they came back to rock again.... Overall they played for around two hours. Other songs included Gang of $, Lies About the Sky, Nine Fingers, She's A Skull, No Rm. 9 Kentucky, Love Catastrophe, X-French T-Shirt, and Hit Liquor... full setlist in the comments.

Hit Liquor is one of many songs that appears on the new Shudder To Think live album being released by Team Love soon. You can grab that track for free HERE.

Pattern is Movement and Blame the Patient opened the Bowery show. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Shudder to Think (sort of), Pattern is Movement & Blame the Patient @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - pics & setlist "

by Andrew Frisicano

A Camp, the trio fronted by Cardigans singer Nina Persson, has announced a full European tour and (so far) one US date in support of its second album, Colonia, out April 28th via Nettwerk. The band will be playing the Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, May 26 (on sale Friday at noon, Am Ex presale on Wednesday) - which will be a hometown show of sorts for Persson and husband/ex-Shudder to Think member Nathan Larson (who, with ex-Atomic Swing musician Niclas Frisk, make up A Camp).

An article in the UK's Independent discusses Persson's life, The Cardigans, and the move:

[After recording The Cardigans reunion album Super Extra Gravity,] Persson finally spread her wings, moving to New York with Larson. "I was feeling positive, strong," she says. "It was a nice sensation."

Eighteen months ago, Persson and her husband decided to get on to Manhattan's property ladder. They couldn't afford much by themselves, so decided to go in with Larson's parents. They now share a four-storey brownstone in a part of Harlem that has yet to undergo full gentrification.

"We've been burgled three times in 18 months," Persson notes, "but that's just something that happens. And besides, the police are really helpful. They know us by name now..."

The band, which won four Swedish Grammys for its 2001 self-titled debut, performed at this year's ceremony, video below. One of A Camp last NYC shows was at Union Hall in August 2007.

All tour dates, plus a live video/interview, below...

Continue reading "A Camp (Nina Persson of the Cardigans) - new album & 2009 tour dates (Bowery Ballroom)"

Craig Wedren @ Pianos, NYC (BV CMJ), NYC - Oct 20, 2007 (Bao)

Craig Wedren helped put together this "Get Up And Vote" show at Bowery Ballroom on February 4th. All his friends from Stella will be there, his former bandmate Nathan Larson, Nathan's wife Nina Persson, Joan as Policewoman, AND: OK GO (of YouTube fame) are headlining. More details below.....

Continue reading "Barack Obama "Get up and Vote" show @ Bowery Ballroom"

I would have loved to have been at this....

Craig Wedren & Nathan Larson @ Mercury Lounge, NYC - Sep 17, 2007 (CRED)

This show seeks to reunite half the most popular (read: light MTV rotation) iteration of Shudder to Think, Craig’s D.C. glam-punk band, which evolved from arty Dischord intrigue to even artier light MTV rotation via the 1994 quasi-hit “X-French Tee Shirt.” [Village Voice]

AND

Larson appeared midway through Wedren's solo set and performed six Shudder songs with the latter's band, which includes late-period Shudder drummer Kevin March. The artists played "X-French Tee Shirt," "Red House," "Lies About the Sky," "No Rm. 9, Kentucky," "Day Ditty" and "Appalachian Lullaby," which featured vocals from Larson's wife, Cardigans frontwoman Nina Persson. Their group, A Camp, also played a set last night. [Billboard]