Spiritual Sunday #17: The Angel in the Desert

For more Spiritual Sunday posts, I recommend that you wander over to the website of Charlotte and Ginger, who host the Spiritual Sunday meme.

Because I do not blog on Sundays -- keeping it as the sabbath -- I use older posts (forgotten perhaps but hopefully still interesting) from one or another of my blogs that seem appropriate for this meme. It seems to work to bring out the older posts that many have not read before or ones from other blogs I maintain that readers of 100th Lamb may not know about. The one I chose for today is one that perhaps I needed to remind myself about. It is an Islamic story, translated into English from the original Arabic by my good friend, Dr. Omar Imady. It is a good reminder that we can always trust God to take care of us, and when we try to take care of yourselves we do not do nearly as good a job: The Angel in the Desert. I hope you will enjoy the story.

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday!

The Untitled Interview #64 – SXSW Edition: Starring Ben Fox (Dinosaur Bones)

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.

I've had the pleasure of visiting Toronto a couple times over the past few years. I even toyed with the idea of moving there a while back, but it's just too cold there in Winter for my delicate constitution. If you haven't been, it's a great place. Oh yeah, and it's got a killer music scene, too. Dinosaur Bones is a part of that scene, and they'll doubtlessly be slaying all and sundry down there in Austin. To me, their music is the sonic equivalent of venturing up to the very top of the CN Tower in downtown Toronto, and spending some breathless, beautiful moments in the observation area with the glass bottomed floor. They're highly recommended, y'all, so make sure not to miss Dinosaur Bones. Below, Bones singer Ben Fox gets his SXSW musings on.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Ben Fox: Vanomobile. We're all about the road trip. As Toronto guys, we love the 2-3 day road trip through the States, right down to Texas. It’s a really cool way to see the U.S., especially the parts of it you wouldn't necessarily pass through on a tour.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
BF: Cell phone charger, adequate underwear, you name it. Although I always remember to pack my toothbrush, the most easily replaced item of all...

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
BF: Last year I think we played 5, so that's the bar. If we top that I'll be happy. I think we're locked into 4 or so thus far, so I think we're in good shape.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
BF: I try to plan as little as possible for festivals like this, and kinda just roll with it and see where I end up. With so many deadly bands playing, it usually works out pretty well.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
BF: Finding the nearest BBQ and eating 'til I black out.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
BF: When I was in high school I went to the first Olympic Island festival on the Toronto Island. Got a chance to see a bunch of great Canadian bands before they blew up internationally (Death From Above 1979 and Arcade Fire were the first two bands of the day). That still holds up as one of my favourite festival experiences, from an audience perspective.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
BF: I'd say one of my favourite things is running into friends from home who are also playing the festival, and being able to soak in how amazing it is that we get to do what we're doing. Oh, and I guess getting day-drunk four days in a row and watching a bunch of my favourite bands in one weekend is pretty good too.

mp3: Royalty (Dinosaur Bones from My Divider)

[photo by Brittany Lucas]

The Untitled Interview #63 – SXSW Edition: Starring Jake Waitzman (Vulture Whale)

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.

What did I tell y'all about me and Alabama? Pretty much automatic love. Guess where Vulture Whale is from? Alabama's very own Steel City, Birmingham. Their music is sassy and snarky, and their proclivity towards singing in British accents is rather endearing. Below, drummer type Jake Waitzman brings the snark to SXSW.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Jake Waitzman: Van. Affectionately known as "Vanessa."

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
JW: Enough bandanas. You really can't have enough of them around your neck and/or about the head and face. What else keeps the vocal cords at optimum temperature, says "you couldn't possibly fathom my level of cool," and has the word "band" already built-in? I challenge you.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
JW: Official showcase plus 2 or 3 parties so far. "Showcases" and "parties" are such odd words. We prefer "hey look at me's" and "ass-slayings" respectively.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
JW: That band with the two lanky dudes up front with perfect cheekbones, the hot chick on the side, and that stalwart, scruffy drummer.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
JW: Ring up the capitol or the chamber of commerce to see about getting Austin's autograph. Since AT&T's 3G probably won't work, we'll just have to go around on foot, getting as many Austin locals' autographs as possible.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
JW: Birmingham, AL used to have a music festival called City Stages which we all grew up attending and eventually playing. I think it failed because the first word rhymes with "shitty,” and that's what people started calling it almost immediately.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
JW: Waffle cone.

mp3: Tote It To Cleveland, AL (Vulture Whale from Vulture Whale)

The Untitled Interview #62 – SXSW Edition: Starring Justin Webb (We Were The States)

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.

My friends, I'm really starting to like me some We Were The States. They're rather raucous, and they bring a bombastic sonic swagger to the 2011 installment of SXSW. Singer Justin Webb anchors the band with his fiery wail, at times reminiscent of the spandex-clad mouthpieces of the early 80s (a good thing for sure). We Were The States is unapologetic in their rocking, and I for one wouldn't have it any other way. Read on to see what Webb had to say about the upcoming SXSW-ness for these boisterous Murfreesboro boys.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Justin Webb: Automobile.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
JW: Socks and smokes...and probably the charger for my phone.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
JW: So far two...but probably a few more before it's over.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
JW: I can't speak for all the guys...but I'll be looking forward to Deer Tick and Surfer Blood again...

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
JW: Grab a few drinks and find the hotel.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
JW: Ozzfest...the year they had the Black Sabbath reunion...I think it was 1997?

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
JW: SXSW is my favorite...hanging out with all your friends and other bands down there...wandering from show to show with great live music in every direction...can't beat that.

mp3: Gold (We Were The States from Rasa)

[photo by JT Sumner]

The Untitled Interview #61 – SXSW Edition: Starring Matt Hines (The Eastern Sea)

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.

Part of what makes SXSW so awesome, in my humble opinion, is the sheer volume of local (or general Texan) bands that get on the bill. Let's face it, Austin is just one of those places that is swimming in talented bands. And The Eastern Sea is one of those such talented Austin bands. They call themselves Folk & Roll, and that's a pretty good way of describing their purty, purty sound. They bring the folk, they bring the roll, and when you put those two together, my loves, great things tend to happen. Here's Matt Hines, opining on what the SXSW experience is like for a local.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Matt Hines: Bicycle/Car. It’s twenty minutes by bike, five by car. Sometimes I'll just walk. The festival will be all around me. And oh my, we're even throwing an after-party show in the workout room of my apartment complex. Can't beat that kind of convenience.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
MH: Everything...that’s the one perk of living in Austin during SXSW. All my stuff is already here!

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
MH: Many. Last year we did around seven. We may break ten this year. Fingers crossed. It’s exhausting but really worth it.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
MH: Well there are a bunch of bands I really want to see, can I list a few? Is that breaking the rules? Here goes: Twin Shadow, Fat Tony, Freddie Gibbs, Givers, Hospital Ships, The Strange Boys, Surfer Blood, UME, Voxhaul Broadcast, etc...

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
MH: If I take this question too seriously I think my head will spin, so let me be unnecessarily abstract about answering it: The first thing I'll do upon arriving in Austin is walk around downtown acting like a stranger. That’s my traditional way of ringing in the SXSW week, I ride my bike all the way down South Congress and watch people flex their credentials and secretly hate that I've become invisible in my own home.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
MH: I really can't remember the first music festival I ever attended. I believe I should count the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo because it’s a staple of Texas' musical roots. The first festival The Eastern Sea ever played was the Free Press Houston Summer Fest in 2009. That was insane.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
MH: My favorite thing about festivals is that you never know who you'll run into. I like seeing old friends, so it’s nice to have an excuse to bump into them.

mp3: The Snow (The Eastern Sea - Buy Stuffs!) (cheers, Sucka Pants)

The Untitled Interview #60 – SXSW Edition: Starring Sam Denniston (Ice Black Birds)

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.

I am unabashedly, totally, completely, terribly in smit with Ice Black Birds, as I think, dearhearts, you've noticed by my lovey-dovey previous posts on them. This is a band that makes good old fashioned scuzzy rock, leaning heavily on the 60s and 70s for influences (think, perhaps, The Yardbirds meets The Faces meets Mott The Hoople [seriously, listen to "22:22" and I promise you'll hear that saucy sleaze of "Sucker"]). They make a beautiful noise indeed, and you lucky people down at SXSW best take advantage of any opportunity to see Ice Black Birds in the flesh. One of these days, they'll humor me and come to DC...in the meantime, Sam Denniston (he of the blistering, howling vocals) had the following to say about all things SXSW:

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Sam Denniston: We are all flying from Heathrow airport at nine in the morning, however I don't think we will be sleeping much the night before, one never does before big things like SXSW. I know that a few members of the band are not great flyers, so that might be their reason for lack of sleep!

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
SD: A converter. We have played in quite a few different countries and we never remember to bring a converter, luckily there is always some kind person to lend us one but it makes charging 4 phones very difficult with just the one.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
SD: Well, we are doing one official showcase and then the plan is to play as many times as possible during the festival. I know there are a few parties that we are really keen to play, but we will announce all our dates and times closer to the time.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
SD: We are big fans of The Strange Boys and so will most definitely be checking them out. White Denim don't seem to be on the line up but as it is their home town, I would imagine they will be there and that's something we wouldn't miss for the world, they are a huge inspiration to us.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
SD: That's a good question, I am not sure really, I suppose just wander round and take it all in, none of us have ever been there so we don't really know what to expect. Some hot weather would be nice and lots of BBQs.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
SD: The first festival I ever went to was a festival on the Isle of Wight called Bestival. This was about 5 years ago and it was still a very underground festival at the point and so there weren't too many people there. I had one of the best weekends of my adult life! We had all just finished school and decided to go to Bestival to celebrate, it was a group of about 10 of us and we were all really close friends. It was just one amazing weekend. I remember being blown away by The Chemical Brothers and Primal Scream.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
SD: Well I suppose the music, if there's a good lineup, but also the atmosphere and surroundings play a key part in whether a festival is good or not. I have heard from so many people that SXSW is amazing and we are all very excited for March to come around!

mp3: 22:22 (Ice Black Birds from 22:22)

The Untitled Interview #59 – SXSW Edition: Starring Ritzy Bryan (The Joy Formidable)

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.

I quite like The Joy Formidable. They're Welsh, which is pretty nifty on its own. They now live in London, which makes me quite envious. And the music they make is pretty dang loud, all churning swells of big guitar and rather pummeled drums. Oh, and not to leave out that huge voice of Ritzy Bryan. Somehow, they keep it pretty, though, this roar of theirs. Mizz Bryan was kind enough to ponder the questions here, read on friends. Read on. And if you're heading down to Austin, you might want to bring the band a new mascot. Just in case the bronze greyhound doesn't make it.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Ritzy Bryan: Hopefully on an Airbus A380 , nice and roomy , nice and quiet. Then in a van of some sorts. SXSW marks the beginning of our U.S tour, so the van will also become our home for 5 weeks.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
RB: A couple of our tour mascots. We often travel with a miniature bronze greyhound, but it looks like a gun on the airport x-ray system.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
RB: Still confirming, but we're looking very busy. Happily busy.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
RB: So many. When we're not playing, we'll be running around watching shows. Edwyn Collins, The Boxer Rebellion, Endless Hallway, Goldheart Assembly, The Dodos, The Twilight Sad, We Are Animal, Ron Sexsmith ...lots.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
RB: We're going to get a martini and check out the Cathedral of Junk. We have a lot of junk, so we could do with some inspiration.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
RB: Glastonbury Festival. Full on fantastic-ness. Like losing your virginity to John Holmes.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
RB: The people and their new crazy selves.

mp3: Whirring (The Joy Formidable from The Big Roar)