Quick–name your favorite band from Utah.
That’s a not-so-original way of saying that The Beehive State isn’t exactly like Seattle, or LA when it comes to producing well-known musicians. Not yet.
L’anarchiste is looking to change that, and quickly. The name translates to “the anarchist” — not because this band is a collection of wing nuts with a shed stocked with gas masks and RPGs — but because founder and songwriter Rob LeCheminant feels his music has no specific place.
“I really hate to admit it, but I’m one of those snobs that has every song in iTunes listed as ‘music’ for the genre,” said LeCheminant, in a very good interview with Choose My Music. “I guess I’ll let the listeners decide what they think it is.”
When it comes down to it, LeCheminant is a tinkerer, and one of those people who finds inspiration faster than he can translate it into music. But music is being made.
While we have a strong distaste for comparisons (and it seems entirely anti-L’anarchiste), it feels a bit necessary here. We’ll be quick about it: Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird (minus the whistling), and Bon Iver all apply here.
So far, L’anarchiste has released just their first EP (recorded in LeCheminant’s basement, naturally) but new songs are already being written and recorded. We can’t wait for more. This is a very new band, and few such fledgling groups accomplish such depth and complexity so quickly.
Below, you’ll get a taste with “Stony.” You can hear the rest of the EP on bandcamp.
Let the rumors begin! The 2009 Lollapalooza lineup is starting to make its way onto the Web. Several credible sources have already reported some of the larger acts that will be making an appearance including, The Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction, The Killers and Kings of Leon all but officially confirmed.
Now to the rumor mill – it’s looking like Lou Reed will play a set, as well as Chicago’s own Neko Case and Andrew Bird. Tool is being thrown into the conversation also, along with The Decemberists, fresh of their new record Hazards of Love, which is looking like one of the early breakout albums of the year.
Then there’s a blog called Faronheit, who claims to have insider knowledge of other bands making the trip to Chicago including, Animal Collective, Band of Horses, Ben Harper, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, The Raveonettes, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend and Yeah Yeah Yeah’s among many others. If any of this is true, it’s looking like one of the best Lolla lineups in some time.
The Black Cab Sessions is one of the coolest music websites I’ve ever seen. In its second year, renowned artists play a quick gig while riding around London in those famous bulbous black taxi cabs.
Perhaps because of the shape of the taxis, the sound is surprisingly good and the lineup is impressive – Bon Iver, Brian Williams, Ryan Adams, Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, The Kooks and many others including, of course, Death Cab for Cutie. One of the remarkable things about this series is that the cab drivers are the real deal, not part of the production crew. The artists and film crew actually stand on the street with their instruments and flag a cab.
And it turns out the artists are enjoying themselves too. Apparently the site has come to the point where they are turning down artists these days. Another interesting note is the cost of “production” – about £15, or $30.
Sign up for their newsletter on the Black Cab Sessions website to get updates, London music news and alerts of new sessions.
Also, check out The Londonist for an interview with the website’s creators.
Below is a double session from The Kooks.
