First major-label offering from Feist delivers

Originally published July 12, 2007 in Chico News & Review.
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Feist
The Reminder
Cherry Tree

Feist’s third solo album starts where 2004’s Let It Die left off. The Reminder is a cozy album with the warmth and security of a baby blanket, blending handclaps and a mix of low-fi indie-rock with elements of jazz. Leslie Feist, who has a history of working with successful indie bands Broken Social Scene and Apostle of Hustle, reaffirms that she can hold her own by showing different sides of her personality. Feist perfects the art of changing moods while keeping the album coherent. The album opens with “I’m Sorry,” a mellow, stripped-down track that sets a charming and sincere mood before jumping into the more upbeat and cheerful “I Feel It All.” And intertwining piano segments in songs like “The Water,” along with Feist’s tender voice—at times reminiscent of a singer at a swanky jazz club—make her sound vulnerable, yet powerful. While The Reminder may remind listeners of Feist’s previous album, it is nothing to complain about. This album will buy Feist some time to expand her audience while receiving play on VH1, gaining the attention she deserves.

The very American LCD Soundsystem continues its indie-dance prowess

Originally published June 21, 2007 in Chico News & Review.
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LCD Soundsystem
Sound of Silver
Capitol

Shame on you if you think LCD Soundsystem is from England. The outfit is headed by New Yorker James Murphy, who assures that he is from North America in “Northern American Scum,” the first single from Sound of Silver. However, the confusion is not unwarranted. LCD Soundsystem’s funky beats are heaven in any English club. Sound of Silver is not any ordinary dance-punk record. While dance music runs the risk of being accompanied by obnoxious, juvenile lyrics, Murphy overcomes this by including themes that range from relationships to politics. On “New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down,” Murphy comments on a well-known political figure without losing the infectious beat: “Your mild billionaire mayor’s now convinced he’s a king.” Every song is different. One minute you’re listening to what sounds like rhythmic pounding of pots and pans, and the next you’re listening to the ocean through a seashell. Murphy’s voice goes from soft and suave to excited and boastful. The great thing about this album is that it is fulfilling whether you’re taking it easy at home or out at a party.

Electric Canyon: Making musical masterpieces

Originally published April 05, 2007 in The Buzz.

Away from city noise, up in the canyons that surround Chico, is Electric Canyon Studios, which successfully makes its own musical masterpieces.

The ears behind the preponderance of Chico’s recorded gems belong to owner and founder Dale Price, who has worked with hundreds of Chico musicians over the past decade.

Price moved to Chico from San Carlos in the 1980s to attend Chico State University. In a program that is now impacted, he graduated with a degree in music with an option in recording arts. Price was one of the first to graduate from the program and has been using those skills ever since.

Price’s love for music started well before he attended school in Chico.

“My sister says some of my first words were ‘tape recorder,’” he said.

Music was always around while Price was growing up, he said. Both of his parents were musicians and one of his grandparents was a bandleader in the Big Band era.

He learned how to play drums at a young age and was in numerous bands throughout high school, Price said. When the four-track recorder was invented, he began recording his friends’ bands.

Once in college, Price started another band in Chico. As the band played more and more shows, the need of owning a PA sound system grew.

In 1988, Price started a live sound company, ProSound, which he still operates.

A year later, he graduated from college and had the option to move to any of the musical capitals of the world in attempt to further his recording career, he said. But instead of moving to fast-paced cities like Los Angeles, New York City or Nashville, Price decided to stay in Chico and provide a unique service to the small community. He prefers the more relaxed and close-knit lifestyle that Chico has to offer.

However, just because Electric Canyon is located in a smaller city, does not mean it cannot offer the quality of a big-city studio. Price has worked hard over the years to acquire top-notch equipment and to create a good working atmosphere for musicians.

For about eight years, Price recorded bands at his home on Glenn Street, but in 2001 he moved up to Butte Creek Canyon, where he hired a designer to construct the aesthetically pleasing studio.

Price wanted to build a studio where a full band could comfortably spread out all their equipment to record, he said. Not only did he want the rooms to sound good, but also look good. The studio has one huge room to accommodate a full band and four isolations booths. The rooms look out into the beautiful canyons, in case musicians are ever lacking inspiration.

The scenery and quiet environment sets Electric Canyon apart from any of the studios in large cities. The location is also beneficial for Chico musicians who cannot afford to go out of town to record their music.

Musicians can save money and spend more time on the creative process by recording a project over several months, Price said. Several small recording sessions can be booked when the studio is close by as opposed to traveling to spend just one weekend recording.

Both Chico musicians and nationally known musicians have taken advantage of the location and expertise at Electric Canyon. Price’s Web site lists over 100 projects, including recordings for the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s television series, “Sierra Center Stage.” Artists who were part of that series include The Brubeck Brothers, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones and Marcia Ball, who was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.

The list of Chico musicians that Price has worked with is endless, but includes Electric Circus, Mystic Roots and Mother Hips.

Even with the growth of technology and ability for musicians to record themselves at home, Price is constantly guiding musicians. Even if a band records the music on its own, the group will turn to Price to master the project. He is more than happy to help any musicians at any point of the process.

“I want all the recordings to come out of Chico to sound good,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who records it.”

Price’s willingness to share his knowledge shows his commitment to the Chico community. The only thing he looks for in return is a simple “thank you.”

“Rock and roll doesn’t have a lot of thank yous,” Price said.

AFI expected to draw 1,800

Originally published March 01, 2007 in The Buzz

AFI's show in Chico on Tuesday will not be the band's first in town, but they hope the support from local music fans has not changed since its last visit, even though the band has changed quite a bit.

AFI, which stand for A Fire Inside, has played shows in Chico throughout the last decade at small, now defunct venues, like the Brickworks and the Zocalo Room, but lead singer Davey Havok does not know what to expect from the crowd at their JMax Production show at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, he said in a phone interview. However, Chico shows have always been a good experience.

"I hope nothing has changed that much," he said.

The support from concert-goers is sure to be as strong as any show the band has played in Chico, but there are many more fans thanks to AFI's chart topping albums.

The band hails from Ukiah and has seen many changes since it formed in 1991, while all its members were still in high school, Havok said. Growing up in a small town, detached from large music scenes, forced the band to reach out to other cities.

"We were very hungry for music," he said.

The band looked to music scenes in San Francisco and Berkeley for its early punk and hardcore influences, Havok said. Now the band is able to reach out to cities nationwide and internationally.

The band's upcoming string of tour dates was originally planned to lead up to a show in Mexico City, Havok said. Although that date has changed, the West Coast dates including Chico, Davis and Eureka were kept.

In April, the band will tour Europe, where fans are just as passionate as in North America, Havok siad. He does not see a difference in the fans, only quantity. The quality of the fans is all that matters. Playing to 300 people is the same as to playing to 3,000 people. The Silver Dollar Fairgrounds concert, which is to take place in the Commerical Building, has a capacity of about 1,800, according to Jonny Starkey of JMax Productions.

An international tour is not the only thing that has changed.

Since 2003, the band has been able to travel in a bus rather than a van, which allows the guys to do more during the long drives in between cities, Havok said. The members of the band are able to sleep and have more personal space, which allows for a better performance each night. A bus is also equipped with a kitchen, which the band does not use often, but they appreiciate the option to cook on the road.

The band may not be found cooking on the bus, but there are four things the are likely to be doing, Havok said. Guitarist Jade Puget and bassist Hunter Burgan spend most of their time on the computer, while Havok and drummer Adam Carson use their T-Moble Sidekics. They all also watch cartoons and read.

The change in the band's career that allows a luxurious bus is its growing popularity and signing to a major label.

Prior to 2003, AFI released records on independent label Nitro Records. In 2000, it released "The Art of Drowning" on Nitro, reaching No. 174 on Billboard's Top 200. Three years later, "Sing the Sorrow," was released on major label DreamWorks, reaching No. 5 on the same chart. The latest release, "Decemberunderground," hit No. 1.

Despite its growing popularity, the band has not changed the way it views its fans, Havok said. The members continue to appreciate their fans and try to connect with them through blog updates and meet-and-greets before all their shows.

The band also tries to stay loyal to its pioneering fans by releasing music on vinyl, he said. While many people believe it is antiquated, the band knows a subgroup of its fans like to collect vinyl. It also connects the band to its hardcore and punk roots, genres often associated with vinyl.

Any fan, new and old, will be able to connect with the band on Tuesday. hHile the band is expected to mostly play songs from its last two albums the passionate and energetic performances remain the same.

Battle of the titans: Elvis vs Elvis at the 1078

Originally published Feb. 22, 2007 in The Buzz

Music lovers crowded 1078 Gallery in downtown Chico Friday in hopes of reuniting their lost love of the Elvises, as 17 Chico bands covered songs by Elvis Presley and Elvis Costello.

The Zombats kicked off the night with Presley's "Trouble." With lyrics like, "If you're looking for trouble, you came to the right place," it was the perfect way to start the gruesome battle. The Zombats' moody sound seemed to in fact, bring Presley back from the dead.

Following The Zombats' one-song argument in defense of Presley, a red record player was turned on to spin both Presley and Costello records.

The faint volume and hiss of the record player gave an eerie feeling of lost love. It was as if the room transcended everyone decades into the past.

Up next was Rev. Junkyard Moondog with his rebuttal in defense of Costello. Before playing "Pump It Up," Moondog proclaimed he was going to prove that while "real rock comes from the heart, real heart comes from the rock."

He took the rocks suspended form his neck, tied with strings, and literally rocked out, inspiring the first crowd sing-along of the night.

Chico State University student Martin Svec cited Moondog as his favorite performance of the night.

Although Svec attended the show in support of Costello, the Gorgeous Armada's Presley performance also ranked high in his book, he said.

The Gorgeous Armada took the stage and welcomed everyone to "the memorial," calling its performance an interpretive dance.

The band gathered around one microphone and hummed "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)."

Band member Handsome Gorgeous, dressed in boxers and a bathrobe, placed a chair, labeled "toilet," in front of the stage. He took a drink out of a bottle in hand and choked down some pills. As legend says, he proceeded to die on the toilet.

The audience cheered in disbelief.

every move of the dance was like watching a suspense movie. You knew what was going to happen next, but you did not believe it would actually happen.

The Gorgeous Armada proved that a lot can be said without even saying a word.

On the other hand, words can get a point across as well. The Shankers made it clear whose side they were on.

"I think Mr. Costello sucks," said lead singer Johnny Shanker.

The Shankers' fast-paced renditions of Presley's "That's All Right" and "Heartbreak Hotel" got the audience on its feet and asking for more.

Following with the same opening song, Gruk gave Presley's' "That's All Right" and "Jailhouse Rock" a faster-paced punk spin.

Lead singer Rachel Loveless began each song with melodic vocals, but quickly changed the pace with aggressive screaming, switching back and forth.

While Gruk made each Presley song its own, it was not hard to choose between Presley and Costello, said drummer Sean Cummins.

"Presley is slight more punk rock," he said.

To prepare for the performance, the band listened to original songs repeatedly and searched for guitar tabs on the Internet, Cummins said. While they wanted to play the songs as close to the original, the had fun practicing them at different speeds.

Gruk's aggressive performance made a solid case for Presley, but by the end of the night Costello won 9 to 8. However, that is based on the number of bands who chose a side.

No winner was officially announced.

The only clear winners where 1078 Gallery and the Suburban American Tract Home compilation, which raised $600 from the door.

The night proved that Chico has respect for rock's forefathers and talent of eclectic styles of music. Each band brought its own style to the table, but it would have been nice to see no repeated songs.

While Jessica O'Donnell attended the show to support Costello, she would have liked to seen a band perform Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes," she said.

O'Donnell and others will just have to wait for the next time Presley and Costello cross paths. Judging by the night's close race, a rematch might come sooner than later.

Chico’s Secret Stolen: Rock ‘n’ Roll, a working van fuel DIY tours

Originally published Feb. 01, 2007 in The Buzz.

While most people spent their winter vacation sleeping in, four young Chico musicians drove across California on a “do it yourself” tour.

Relying on networking skills over the Internet, The Secret Stolen booked shows in more than 10 California cities for a three-week tour in January. The band kicked off the tour January 2 in Chico and embarked on a search for ears willing to listen to their high-energy, mind-bending brand of alternative rock.

Besides, the members being young, ages range from 20 to 25, the band itself is also fairly young.

Childhood friends, Billy DiBono (drums), John Wold (bass, vocals), and brothers Cameron Ford (guitar, vocals) and Nolan Ford (guitar) played in bands throughout high school, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2005 that The Secret Stolen was born, DiBono said.

Previous to that summer, Cameron Ford was attending college in Santa Barbara, but kept in contact with DiBono, he said. Cameron Ford sent DiBono songs he had been working on while in Santa Barbara. When Cameron Ford made a visit to Chico for the summer, the idea of starting a new band sparked.

As soon as they heard about the idea, Nolan Ford and Wold became interested in joining the band. The Secret Stolen was born June 2005 and Cameron Ford did not return to Santa Barbara.

Cameron Ford joined DiBono at Chico State University and the Chico workforce with Nolan Ford and Wold. They all soon found out how difficult it is to play in a band while juggling school and work.

Being tied down to school and work makes it hard for a band to leave town for a tour. That is why The Secret Stolen has taken advantage of semester breaks and uses them for touring.

Their January tour marked their third touring adventure. Instead of relying on a booking agent, the band researched venues and booked the tour.

For some shows they used contacts at the same venues they played on their last tour, DiBono said. Other shows were booked through networking done by DiBono and Nolan Ford on www.myspace.com.

While the Internet is helpful for networking, the band still encountered some obstacles while planning the tour, DiBono said. Planning a convenient route was not an option. Relying on their van for full support, the band had to take any shows that came up, regardless if they required long drives in between dates. Luckily, their van, named Jean-Claude Band Van by friend Kiel Kennedy, had no problems.

The group searched for bands in other cities that play music similar to The Secret Stolen and asked if they could play a show with them, said Cameron Ford. Playing a show with a band that already has a following in a city gives The Secret Stolen security that they will not be playing to an empty venue.

“Hopefully, we can strike a nerve with their fans,” he said.

Yet, all shows on the tour did not attract large audiences, DiBono said. The band played a few shows that had a 21-age restriction. Those shows were not nearly as fun or successful as shows that had no age restriction.

Other shows did not happen at all, DiBono said. The band had booked two shows in San Diego, but both were cancelled due to other bands on the bill breaking up. Canceled shows, however, did not halt the tour. As soon as the band found out about the canceled San Diego shows, they got back on the Internet and acquired a show in Long Beach.

Proving that everything happens for a reason, the band’s most memorable show was also unplanned, said Cameron Ford. The band had yet to book a show for Jan. 19, but while on the road Cameron Ford was able to book a show in Reno. However, the band had a show in Monterey Jan. 18 and another in Morgan Hill Jan. 20.

After deciding that the drive to Reno would have been too strenuous, the band was able to find a show in Turlock, Cameron Ford said. The show was all-ages, but the band was not expecting much.

“There’s nothing in Turlock,” he said.

To the band’s surprise, more than 100 people attended the show.

“It was the first time on the tour we played for genuine people who cared about our music,” Cameron Ford said.

Meeting genuine people makes all the hard work worthwhile, he said. The benefit of doing a DIY tour is being able to improve and have people take notice. Eventually, someone in a higher position will see the band’s constant tour dates and will want to help out the band.

The tour dates keep coming for The Secret Stolen, he said. The band is ready to leave California and tour more days out of the year.

Learning from stressful experiences, the band is now able to tour anytime of the year, Cameron Ford said. He and DiBono are now solely taking online classes at Chico State University.

After a short break in Chico, the band will leave in March for their first tour of the Northwest, hitting cities like Portland and Seattle, DiBono said. They hope to be well received in the Northwest and not encounter the same obstacles as before.

Either way, they will enjoy the creativity that new surroundings bring.

“Tour is trial and error,” DiBono said.

Cafe Coda: Age is not an issue

Originally published Jan. 18, 2007 in The Buzz

Chico's Cafe Coda specializes in small-plate dining with a large side order of live music.

With just seven weeks under its belt, Cafe Coda is proving to be the child prodigy of Chico cafes and a promising all-ages music venue.

The venue, which opened its doors Nov. 29, shares its home with Humboldt Studios at 265 Humboldt Ave. It is no surprise the cafe took on a musical theme, being in a building that has so much music within.

The menu includes "sweet melodies" such as French toast and pancakes, "masterpieces" such as eggs benedict and wraps and single orders of "improvisations and solos."

Owner Eric Danielli, from Paradise, is also no stranger to music. Danielli, 26, was in a band called Phoenix Down, which included members of Chico's La Fin du Monde.

Originally, Danielli wanted the cafe to only operate in the mornings and focus on a breakfast menu, he said. He wanted to stay away from the bar crowd.

Thankfully, Cafe Coda is more than a place for breakfast.

Danielli decided to host music events because music is a big part of his life, he said. Besides, live music is a positive addition to the cafe atmosphere.

"It's not a dinner house, more of a gathering," he said. "Have your senses entertained."

The food takes care of the taste buds, live music comfort the ears and art on the walls please the eyes. The dim lighting and soft maroon and tan painted walls draw you to the tables, which are already set up with plates and glasses. There is also bar seating if that is your style.

To the far right lays the stage. Speakers are suspended from the ceiling, waiting to spread the love of music. Soft lights accompany the speakers, ready to shine on the next musical sensation.

While Cafe Coda has been appealing to the post-college age group, ranging from 25 to 55, the variety of live music is inviting for people of all ages, Danielli said. He is striving to make the cafe a stable music venue where age is not an issue. Considering the difficulty of sustaining an all-ages music venue in Chico and the fact that Cafe Coda sells alcohol, Danielli is aware of the tough position he could possibly be in, he said. If all goes well, underage drinking will never arise, as staff is diligent about checking IDs.

Danielli hopes the community realizes that he is simply trying to give back by making all music events open to all ages, h esaid.

"I don't want to exclude anyone," he said.

So far events have been successful and well received by the community, Danielli said. People who have stopped by for music have also been good about making food and drink purchases, which allows the cafe to make all events free from a cover charge.

The most successful shows to date featured Chico's The Yule Logs and The Secret Stolen, which show the variety of music that can be heard on any given night.

While Danielli is trying to stay away from metal and punk bands, he is open to any ideas, he said. Events will not only feature Chico bands, but also state and nationally recognized acts . However, bigger shows may call for a small cover charge.

Cafe Coda is also proving that live music is not only for night owls. Early birds can also enjoy love music on a few selected mornings.

Lukily for Cafe Coda and music lovers in Chico, music is oh so sweet at any time of the day.

New CD finds Danny Cohen at his primal, analytical best

Originally published Jan. 11, 2007 in The Buzz

Musician Danny Cohen wants you to meet his many alter egos and see the shades of Dorian Gray.

Cohen, who resides in Paradise, has different personas that take care of different aspects of his music, he said. There is one entity that writes the songs, one that performs them, one that produces them and another that does the artwork. Each entity has different qualities that are essential for making a solid album.

The performer is primal, the producer is analytical, while the writer is intuitive, Cohen said. When trying to create a unique sound, it is important for the writer to rely on intuition and not worry about rules of music theory.

Unique is an understatement when describing Cohen's new album titled "Shades of Dorian Gray," schedule for a Feb. 6 release on ANTI-Records.

The layering sounds and sense of character development throughout the album is not surprising, considering Cohen was an English literature major. The themes are complex, yet organic. Even the title of the record is drawn from literature, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde.

The story line in Wilde's novel is similar to the mood of the album, Cohen said. The music evokes shades of gray and absorbs time as in the novel where the picture ages rather than the artist.

"The music seemed to be old sounding, like it had cobwebs," he said.

The album was recorded on different formats in order to evoke the different moods, Cohen said. Some songs were recorded on Alesis digital audio tape with half-inch reel to reel to give a warm sound. Other songs were recorded straight to a computer at Chico's Humboldt Studios to give a dense sound.

Cohen, who grew up in Hollywood during the 1950s, describes his music as '60s British invasion pop music with classical, jazz and folk influence. He wrote most of the album on a keyboard similar to a theater organ. The process was a change from writing songs on a guitar, which explains the more gothic aound on the album.

"It is kind of like 'Phantom of the Opera,'" Cohen said.

Cohen's record label, ANTI-Records, was not expecting the more organ-based music, he said. The label, home to artist such as Neko Case, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Tom Waits, prefers simple three-chord songs that are more blues based.

However, Cohen was not afraid to write complex songs when he saw that his listeners enjoyed that more.

"Shades of Dorian Gray" will be Cohen's third release on ANTI-Records, but he has also released three albums on a smaller label, called Tzadik. The number of releases is impressive considering Cohen decided to make music his career only eight years ago.

Cohen started playing guitar at age 9 and was in his first band at age 11, but it was always just for fun, he said. His band, Charleston Grotto, never took its career very seriously. His mother played the classical guitar; therefore, he learned to play the guitar simply for the fact that there was a guitar in his house while growing up.

Cohen is content with just playing music with friends in a garage, which he often does, he said. "Shades of Dorian Gray" features a wide array of Butte County musicians who have been playing with Cohen for seven years. The album is dedicated to John LaPado who played lap steel guitar on the record, but recently passed away.

Cohen describes his bohemian outlook on his music career as a Catch-22. Lables usually lose more money than make money when releasing music like Cohen's. However, labels still release it because they truly enjoy the music and have confidence in the artist.

In the spring, Cohen hopes to do a tour in Europe, he said. In additions, Charleston Grotto is planning a reunion in Los Angeles in February.

As for the release of "Shades of Dorian Gray," Cohen wants to play at small venues in San Francisco and Los Angeles, he said. One of this favorite places to perform is the Theatre of Note in Los Angeles, which has a 46-person capacity.

In the meantime, Cohen is happy playing music with his friends, regardless if anyone is willing to listen.