Bright Eyes & Kurt Vile at Soma, 9.21.2011

Wednesday night was the Bright Eyes show at SOMA. I took my friend Nick who has done work with Conor and played in Neva Denova and is all tied into that little Saddle Creek circle, so I was a little surprised that Conor was back to his reclusive ways and wasn't backstage at all before or after his set. Bummer. It was still an awesome show, especially when during their final song, he requested someone on timpani and that someone ended up being Tim Pyles. I was by the soundboard and Matt made sure I caught Tim on video. These are some of my shakiest videos ever...the further from the subject, the more dramatic any movement on my little handheld, but hopefully you enjoy them nonetheless.

See Photos of Kurt Vile and Bright Eyes here

Click the "next" button to see all six videos.

Adam H Stephens Free Download

I have been a long time fan of Two Gallants, and though it's hard, I've accepted that Adam and Tyson needed to part. Tyson is doing amazing things on his own, and as I've mentioned before, I've loved seeing Adam H Stephens twice and hearing his new material.
Now, instead of just counting on my videos, you can actually download the first single off of his forthcoming solo debut, We Live On Cliffs. The record drops on my birthday (!!!), September 28, on Saddle Creek (a terrific label full of incredible talent). On top of all that, Adam Haworth Stephens has an eight date tour to road-test the new material (some with new arrangements, I imagine). He'll be at the Casbah on August 15 and you can buy tickets now and they're only $8!

Video: The Mynabirds "Let The Record Go"

I got a delivery of music this week and one of those CDs was The Mynabirds. Lo and behold, I also got an email that the band has a video. Everyone's loving the girl pop lately, right?
They'll be at the Soda Bar on September 6. Mark your calendars.

The Mynabirds - Let The Record Go from Saddle Creek on Vimeo.

Two Gallants "Despite What You've Been Told"

Here's an actual "music video" from Saddle Creek. Who knew bands still made videos?

Two Gallants "Despite What You've Been Told"

Two Gallants Ticket Giveaway

press photo credit: Paul Scheik
On occasion, I get press info and stuff from record labels and PR companies for bands. Not often, but I tend to shy away much of the time, because if a band isn't touring through San Diego, I feel like covering them isn't really valuable to the goal of this particular website.

On other occasions, however, I get these releases and want to do somersaults through my living room because they are from a band that I already adore and the labels/PR people want me (little ol' me!) to spread the word that they are coming to town.

In this case, the band is Two Gallants. I've seen them a handful of times over the last few years, and they are faithful to San Diego, always including us on their tours. In fact, if you were lucky enough to be there, they were the headliners last year when everyone was wowed by a little opening band called Cold War Kids.

The band is made up of two members, but if you listen to their music you might not believe it. Their aggressive folk takes you to another place- perhaps imagery of a hobo jumping trains with a stick over his shoulder holding a bundle of his possessions, meeting heartbreak and disappointment along the way.

They have not only been touring like madmen, but in just a few years have put out albums and EPs, including The Throes (2004) and What The Toll Tells (2006), and are touring in support of their latest efforts, an EP called The Scenery of Farewell and a self-titled album released on Saddle Creek just last week.

The band will be at the Casbah on October 17th. Blitzen Trapper is their tour support, and if you caught them with the Hold Steady at Cane's, you know they're amazing as well. Tickets are only $12 (click here for the Casbah), but through the magic of the Internets, I have TWO PAIR of tickets to give away. But you gotta work for them (just a little).

Answer the following two questions and I will randomly select and notify the winners on Friday.

1. Where are Two Gallants from?

2. There was a scuffle between Tyson and some cops at a show last fall. Where did the incident take place? (name the club and city)

Send answers to the email in my profile (include first and last name, and a contact phone number to confirm the tickets). In the meantime, do yourself a favor and buy the new albums.

Click here for clues and for an mp3 of "Seems Like Home To Me" from the latest EP (on Stereogum)