"What You Gonna Say When The Creek Run Dry, I'm Thinking 'Bout Crawdad, Thinkin' On Time..."

My feature in this week's issue of Crawdaddy! magazine!!

Crawdaddy! Magazine is a rock magazine that was established by Paul Williams in 1966, preceding both Rolling Stone and Creem. It was the first U.S. magazine to focus solely on intelligent and literate rock journalism, and has featured contributions from Richard Meltzer, Cameron Crowe, John Lennon, William S Burroughs and Jon Landau, to name a few.

After changing its name to Feature, it ceased production in 1979. It then reclaimed its original name in 1993, and published several issues until financial pressures forced it to end its run in 2003. The rights were sold in 2006 and in May 2007, Crawdaddy! was re-launched as an online publication.

This week, a slightly new version of Crawdaddy! was launched along with a new photography showcase and they actually approached me to be their first feature. (wot the...?) The photographic contributors are sure to only get better from here, but every day this week a new photo of mine is going to be featured on the front page (OK, you gotta scroll down a bit.) I am officially flattered to be included in the online pages of such an influential and historic rock magazine.

You can check it out here:
http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/

Above photo is on myspace.
The lyrics quoted above are from the song Hey Crawdaddy by The Rolling Stones.

Other stuff:

The new Brandon Canning Travolta mimicking video for Love Is New, which I mentioned briefly a few days ago, is now online. Watch it on Pitchfork TV. Hilarious. [Myspace: Brendan Canning]

Despite his cheerful disposition, The Cure's Robert Smith exposes his grumpy side when topics such as iTunes or Radiohead come up. You can read about it on Pitchfork and Stereogum. [Myspace: The Cure]

TV On The Radio express disappointment over the crappy sound situation on their Saturday Night Live performance. The article is up on The Canadian Press. If bad sound quality is a sore spot for TVOTR, then they had better prepare themselves for when they play The Sound Academy on June 2nd. [Myspace: TV On The Radio]

Emmy The Great's live session for Channel M in Manchester is being video streamed at the Von Pip Express. [Myspaces: Emmy The Great, Von Pip Express]

This NME article is a couple of weeks old, and I came across it via Natalia Yanchak's Blog, but Death Cab For Cutie is apparently taking a stand against autotuning, which is the process that enables a so-so singer to sound like a vocal maestro by means of computer enhancement. The fact that they made their statement at this years' Grammies is kinda funny. And cool. [Myspace: Death Cab For Cutie]

Pete Doherty took a break from being your typical havok wreaking rock star to film a video for his new song entitled Last Of The English Roses. The song is from his upcoming solo album, entitled Grace / Wastelands, which is due out in March. The video is on youtube. [Myspace: Pete Doherty]

Blitzen Trapper - Furr

There are some bands that I love for no other reason than the simple fact that they make me happy. Blitzen Trapper is one of those bands. Last years' Wild Mountain Nation was a spastic mix of good old fashioned Southern rock and good old fashioned Southern raunch, and their show earlier this year was likewise, a hyperactive display of controlled chaos that ranks amongst the best shows I've seen. Furr is their fourth release, but their first on the highly influential Sub Pop label, and it once again brings a smile to my face and puts me in a positive state of mind.

Their unashamed love for 70's arena rock is showcased in full force on Gold For Bread, which contains some solid Stones riffage and a hooky chorus that forces you to sing along and play air guitar, as the song suggests. It even ends with a bit of the slightest flute playing to put you in the mood. Fire and Fast Bullets is equally infectious, a full out rocker that makes good use of keyboard verses fuzz guitar interplay. Saturday Nite owes its existence to Ray Davies as it definitely delivers a playfully jumpy beat that would fit right in with any outdated 70's flick. Finally, just as you think that the band has decided to set aside the raunch this time around, Love U is a bluesy number that is presented with a heavy metal rasp that would've made Nazareth's Dan McCafferty proud. The album's highlights however are the folksier ones, namely the title track Furr, Stolen Shoes and a Rifle and the album closer Lady On The Water, which are all beautifully laid back numbers, suitable for any summertime campfire.

Overall I feel that the album may not quite reach the heights of their last one, but if you can set the comparisons aside, it's still a release of the highest quality that stands on its own.

On what is probably one of the most bizarre bills of the year, the truly hyperactive Blitzen Trapper will be opening for the truly not hyperactive at all Iron And Wine at The Phoenix on Thursday November 13th. I won't be there but it should be interesting. Tix are $25.

Photo by Jade Harris
Myspace: Blitzen Trapper
Download: Furr mp3


Download: Gold For Bread mp3


More news:
After a brief absence, Fox Jaws are playing their last show in Toronto before the new year at the El Mocambo this Saturday October 18th. Wish I could be there but sadly, I cannot. They're playing with The Hots and Brett Caswell.

Myspace: Fox Jaws
Myspace: The Hots
Myspace: Brett Caswell

It seems that instore performances are becoming more and more frequent these days, and a cool one that is coming up involves Jay Reatard at Sonic Boom. This is at 7pm on Thursday October 16th.

Myspace: Jay Reatard

As you probably already know, Broken Social Scene has clearly heard my pleas and booked a second show at The Sound Academy for Friday November 28th. It's been two years since I've seen them last and I am sooo there!

Myspace: Broken Social Scene

The Cure is in the process of releasing their 13th studio album entitled 4:13 Dream, and they apparently played the whole thing live in Rome at Piazza San Giovanni on the weekend. Stereogum gives us their (mainly underwhelming) thoughts on what they heard, as well as providing 13 videos for all 13 new songs.

Myspace: The Cure

And finally, have you ever heard of a Kazookeylele? Go here to see this bizarre instrument in action, resulting in the greatest cover in the history of the world ever!