Like Ghosts Under Rocks

I hadn't visited Ra Ra Riot(my favorite band from SXSW 07)'s myspace page in ages, but they're in The Virgins' Top 8, so after I had listened to the new Virgins album a few times, I decided to see if Ra Ra Riot had any new music up. And they did! I can't get enough of "Ghosts Under Rocks", which I'd only ever heard live before. Speaking of which, the only video I have of them performing this is like 15 seconds long! But here's a nice video of them performing it live at the Bowery this year.



I don't know what it is about this song, or this band in general. But I'm not surprised that they've listed their myspace profile under the categories "Healing" and "Easy Listening". Cheesy as it sounds, there's something in their music (and especially their live performances) that seriously just reaches deep into my soul. Like every song is a spiritual reawakening.

I was super sad that this is all I got to see of them at SXSW this year.



Mind you, this is with the zoom. Big tears.

P.S. Their debut full-length "The Rhumb Line" (recorded and mixed by Ryan Hadlock) is due out August 19. So forget yoga, fasting, whatever and just go out and buy the album this summer!

SXSW Countdown: 2 Weeks Till Texas!

Monday I got the eagerly-anticipated email that I got a wristband, so my week luckily didn't start out so manic! (Oh, and apparently only 3,500 people entered the drawing, so there's an extra 500 available for all you outta-towners!) And the other day I got the invite for this year's American Rag / Filter party:



Last year was fantastic (see photos from the Ra Ra Riot set in last week's countdown post and some from the Architecture in Helsinki set below), but I'm even more excited about this year's lineup! I especially can't wait to see The Duke Spirit (saw them at South By in 2005 and I can't believe I still haven't bough their new album!), Lightspeed Champion (I was sehr triste when Test Icicles broke up, but at least I got to experience their awesomeness in Magnet before the split) and the Shout Out Louds (who Liz flew to Sweden to see and keeps raving about).

So at any rate, I HIGHLY recommend RSVPing to this party. But even with an invite, make sure you get there early!

sxsw countdown: 3 weeks till texas!

Less than three weeks to go! And yesterday the drawing started for the 4,000 wristbands available for Austin residents. Luckily, I still have a debit card with an Austin address. Cause after they're divvied up, there'll only be a handful up for grabs the week of. I swear, it gets more and more annoying each year to get a wristband! And if I don't get one, I'm sure there'll be plenty of fun unofficial day and night parties. In fact, Liz has already given me two funtastic party tips:

GORILLA VS. BOOZE II feat. the Cool Kids, Holy Fuck, Bodies of Water, White Denim, Ghosthustler, White Williams, DJ Sets by The Party, + FREE BEER

HOT FREAKS! feat. Jens Lekman, British Sea Power, Crystal Castles, Cadence Weapon, Islands, Peter Moren (from Peter Bjorn & John), Lykke Li, Keving Barnes (from Of Montreal) and many more

Last year I first heard and saw Ra Ra Riot at the American Rag/Filter Magazine Party at Cedar Street. I had missed their official showcase the night before, and they turned out to be my favorite band of the festival (hands down!). In fact, I went up to the front of the stage only a few verses into their first song (their energy and on-stage chemistry was THAT magnetic). They seriously gave me goosebumps all over (especially with their Kate Bush "Hounds of Love" cover--I think even The Futureheads would tip their hats)! AND I even ended up "south-by-stalking" them to their next unofficial gig at Emo's Annex because I just couldn't get enough. Even after the death of their drummer John Pike (RIP), they've kept on making music and will be back at SXSW this year. Since they haven't made it all the way to Germany yet, I'm very much looking forward to seeing them again in Austin.