The Brazilian Girls took to the stage at the House of Blues on Friday October 3rd, fusing the sounds of Kingston, New York, Stockholm, Paris, and Berlin for the swaying heads and respectful lap drumming of a Chicago audience. “What the fuck is she saying?” a young man clad in a Cubs t-shirt and newsboy cap asked. The brunette standing to his side said nothing but instead continued, eyes closed, to gyrate in place to the internationally guided rhythms.

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Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo wrote and directed the 74 minute robot epic, Electroma, as a conceptual complement to the duo’s 2005 album Human After All (Virgin). Composed of five set-pieces and shot on 35 mm film stock in the California deserts, the film follows the leather clad avatars of Daft Punk, Hero Robots #1 and #2, down perpetual highways and endless deserts in the pursuit of humanity. Devoid of dialogue and anything from the Daft Punk catalogue, the film floats on the potency of lingering camera sequences and stark cinematography. (more…)

Though 2005’s Body Of Song ushered in the sea change away from electronica that Bob Mould’s guitar devotees had hoped for, this year’s District Line provides the fluke test to ensure that yes, Mould really is jamming with a backing band that’s armed with strings and sticks. This latest Mould album places the punk rock veteran in a very comfortable position of being able to tap into his back catalog and not only find inspiration by his past, but actually use material that’s nearly two decades old. (more…)

The Raveonettes have always been an ambitious band. The Danish duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner (guitar/vocals) and Sharin Foo (bass/vocals), broke into the international music scene in 2003, scoring a major label contract as soon as they could get a band together to play shows. After releasing two full-lengths with the help of a major label, their newest record, Lust Lust Lust, is their first to be released independently (Vice). This time around, they are taking a new approach to their minimalist, nostalgic rock sound, by ridding themselves of their mid-century image and focusing on what matters most to them, the music. (more…)

You know the theory about light and distant stars? That it takes so long for light to travel to Earth that some stars appear to be shining when they have actually burned out long ago? That’s how artists should be thinking about major-label record deals. The industry has burned so long on the fossil fuel of major-label cash, they still appear to be relevant. Are they?

New so-called “360 deals” on major labels want a piece of everything the artist makes. They get their name because they take revenue from all sides of the pie—sales, touring, licensing, publishing, acting, modeling, merchandise—you name it. (more…)

Dave Sweetapple, bassist for the Vermont rock band Witch, apologizes for being a little late for our phone interview. Cyril, his Scottish Deerhound turned unofficial band mascot, had to step outside. A friendly but physically imposing canine, his presence in early Witch promotional photos had many fans wondering how the band found such a menacing creature for a stage prop. Basically retired from his mascot duties, Cyril sits in on the band’s practice sessions and is one of their top friends on MySpace. (more…)

Tonight in Santa Fe, it is frigid and damp. A storm passed through earlier and snowclouds are forming to the west. Outside the Lensic Theatre, located in the maze of downtown streets among khaki-colored adobe buildings, stand well-dressed and anxious concertgoers in line for tickets. The half-full lobby smells like leather and perfume. The band inside is a group of turbaned, robed Saharans called Tinariwen. (more…)

The queen of revitalized old school soul music has a busy tour schedule this summer. Sharon Jones and her cohorts, The Dap Kings , visit some early summer tours stateside at Bonnaroo in Tennessee, and the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. Then its off to Europe for a ring around France, Sweeden, Denmark, England, and Greece. Once they’re back in the states, the funk collective rounds off the US festival circuit with Lollapalooza in Chicago, Summerstage in New York, and Austin City Limits in Texas. (more…)

Hopefully, by the time you read this, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike will be over and television will be back to the business of making new, scripted programs. As I’m writing this, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) has already secured a deal with the producers, and the writers are headed back to the negotiating table. Really, I don’t see how much longer we can go with “American Gladiators” being one of the only “new” shows on television. (more…)

Chicago’s Dianogah have spent the last twelve years crafting unique compositions primarily from their two basses and drums, incorporating minimal guitar or keyboards when the situation called for it. On their first album in six years (still untitled at press time), bassists Jay Ryan and Jason Harvey and drummer Kip McCabe branch into new territory, using their bass-centric background in exciting new ways.

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