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Elise Nordling's top indie pop and indie rock picks
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I never thought that I would find myself
In bed amongst the stones
The columns are all men
Begging to crush me
No shapes sail on the dark deep lakes
And no flags wave me home
– from "All Cats are Grey"
by the Cure
Faith (1981, Elektra / Wea)
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San Francisco: Elise Nordling
So long, and thanks for all the fish
photo by Julie Schuchard
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I'm sorry to let you know that rightround is officially closing its doors. This will most likely be the last site update.
It's been a great year – hell, it's hard to believe it's been a whole year since we launched – with our first feature story on Say Hi To Your Mom (who have since moved from Brooklyn to Seattle, had another line-up change, and are sounding better than ever). We gained momentum quickly, and added bloggers from Montreal, Sydney, Toyko, and Austin. Each blogger added a fresh voice, good stories, and wisdom about how the music industry works. Ken M. in Tokyo told us about booking super-cute J-pop bands in Japan, Andrew Rose in Montreal told us about working for Pop Montreal and bands from Montreal, Annette Loudon told us how to find all the amazing underground spots, bands, and festivals in Sydney, Dana Jae patiently went over how to choose microphones, and Kim Roche told us funny stories about her epiphanies regarding life and music.
We wrote lots of articles to help our musician friends and readers out, including stories on how to build the perfect pedalboard and what to do when the club sound sucks, advice columns on band problems, and...
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Press Kit Dos and Don'ts
Keep your band's press kit out of the recycle bin
photo by Rich Leeds
illustration by Elise Malmberg
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Congratulations! Your new self-produced CD is back from manufacturing. You have big plans: Radio airplay. Press coverage in the local entertainment weekly, not to mention national music magazines and websites. Bigger and better gigs, perhaps even a tour. Maybe a deal with an indie label.
But global domination doesn't just happen by itself. For starters, you need a press kit.
Assembling a press kit is less daunting than it sounds. You don't need an elaborate folder of glossy media materials. Most indie bands should send out only three things: a personalized cover letter, a "one-sheet" about the band, and...
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Austin: Kim Roche
Cultural Rigidity Syndrome
I don't know when they're planning on updating the DSM, the big book of mental health diagnoses. But when they do, I want to propose a new brand of crazy.
We all know someone who suffers from this heretofore unnamed disease — let's call it Cultural Rigidity Syndrome. Perhaps the afflicted person is preoccupied with books or art. It could be food, or modes of dress, or even cartoons. Sufferers are often obsessed with music, and assign a moral value to certain musicians or genres.
Let's define this disease together, starting with the...
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Photo by Debra Zeller
Who:
Loquat
www.loquatmusic.com
Kylee Swenson: vocals/guitar
Earl Otsuka: guitar
Anthony Gordon: bass/bass synth
Ryan Manley: keyboards
Christopher Lautz: drums/backing vocals
What:
Pop songs that bridge the gap between electronic and organic sounds.
Where:
San Francisco, CA
Featured song:
"Swingset Chain"
It’s Yours to Keep (2005, Jackpine Social Club)
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True tales of gigs gone strange...
OK Go
Years ago, before our first record, we played at the launch party for a Dodge pickup truck in a Chicago hotel conference room. There was no question about taking the gig — we were broke, and it was far and away the most...
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