Too Soon To Name Best Album of 2024?? Here Are Four Early Contenders! (VIDEO)

I know it's only Spring, folks, but 2024 has already been a pretty epic year for new music -- and there's still more than half the year to go! Fully understanding where we are on the calendar, I have already found what I consider to be four strong possibilities for Best Album of 2024.

10 Artists to Celebrate Women's History Month (VIDEO)

Hey! It's Women's History Month. And who better to chime in with a list of "10 Artists to Celebrate Women's History Month" than a 53 year old white guy! Sarcasm aside, these are just 10 of the many artists from which I could have chosen. I've been celebrating women in music my entire life. Pretty much.

I have chosen a few from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s - solo artists and bands - and all of them have played an important role in my musical evolution.

My Interview with St. Vincent (VIDEO)

This week's video is an audio and video upgrade of my 2014 interview with St. Vincent. The audio quality is substantially better, and the video now features original photos and live videos that I have shot of her dating back to 2009.

Top 20 Albums of 2014 Part Two (10-1)

St. Vincent To Lead Seth Myers 8G Band Next Week

Annie Clark aka St. Vincent will fill in for Fred Armisen next week for two nights as leader of Late Night with Seth Myers' 8G Band. Clark will fill in on Monday and Tuesday, August 11-12.

Make sure to check out my interview with St. Vincent from The Dark Stuff Podcast:

Those Two St. Vincent Videos I Mentioned

During the St. Vincent podcast, I mentioned two Youtube videos that were my favorite St. Vincent videos. There was one where she performed Big Black songs, and another where she talks guitars with Matt Sweeney. Here are those videos.

Here is St. Vincent performing "Kerosene" by Big Black:
 
This video is from an online show called Guitar Moves, hosted by Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Skunk, Zwan).
 

St. Vincent on 'Saturday Night Live'

For some bizarre reason, St. Vincent's performance last Saturday night has been deemed "controversial" or "disturbing" to the twitterverse. I guess no one has ever seen a performance with choreography that didn't include big booty chicks shaking their asses. Anyway, for anyone who has never seen a performance by someone like, say, Talking Heads, David Bowie, Bjork, or Devo, here are the two songs St. Vincent performed last Saturday. They are fantastic. In case you haven't listened to it yet, make sure to check out my podcast on St. Vincent.

Digital Witness:
Birth in Reverse:

The Dark Stuff Podcast 106: St. Vincent

The Dark Stuff Podcast #106 features an interview with Annie Clark aka St. Vincent. St. Vincent appeared recently in Omaha on her current Digital Witness Tour. Before the show, I sat down with Annie to discuss the state of St. Vincent.

We discussed a number of things including her recent change in record label, the current state of the music business, whether or not it's okay to be a "rock star," her collaboration with David Byrne of Talking Heads, her "emotional" meeting with Eddie Vedder, and that if she could be any other person on earth, it would be Pat Smear (Nirvana, The Germs).

Annie Clark became St. Vincent in 2007 with the release of her debut LP, Marry Me. Since then, she has released four other albums and toured around the world repeatedly. With the release of her newest, self-titled album, St. Vincent is positioned to conquer the mainstream. She recently performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony fronting Nirvana, and she just appeared as the musical guest on the season finale of Saturday Night Live.

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 ©2014 The Dark Stuff Podcast

Upcoming Podcasts

Hopefully, you are keeping up with the re-launch of the podcast (I have links posted below, if you haven't). It has been going well, I think. Last night, episode #104 was posted. It was part two of my interview with Josh Haden, best known for his work with the group, Spain.

Next up is an interview with guitar legend, Ace Frehley. Besides being one of the most famous rock stars of all-time due to his time in KISS, Ace is also an accomplished solo artist, and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Following the Ace interview with be my interview with Annie Clark aka St. Vincent. I conducted this one in person with Annie when St. Vincent was recently in Omaha on her "Digital Witness" tour. It is a really great interview.

I have interviews currently scheduled with one of the founders of the MAHA Music Festival, and bands See Through Dresses and Drakes Hotel. They are two my fave local bands, and I can't wait for you to hear them.

Here are the links for the podcast:

itunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dark-stuff/id201997514?mt=2

Stitcher: stitcher.com/s?fid=48412&refid=stpr

Spreaker: spreaker.com/show/the-dark-stuff

Podomatic: thedarkstuff.podomatic.com/

Youtube: youtube.com/user/howard0213/

Please rate, comment, etc at these sites. It helps in the ratings. Thanks.

The Dark Stuff Podcast 100: Madder Rose

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am re-starting my old podcast. Before I start uploading my brand new stuff, I am re-posting some of the episodes of the old show. All of the original 36 shows have been taken down. I am only going to re-post the episodes that feature interviews. Those podcasts will be re-edited to remove any music, so I don't get my ass sued.

I decided to begin the new series at episode 100. This episode (formerly #24) was originally published in 2008. The show features my interview former Madder Rose drummer, Rick Kubic (aka Johnny Kick). Here's the blurb:

For this episode, the spotlight is on a great 90s band from New York called Madder Rose.The band existed from roughly 1992-1999. Based on its debut album, Bring It Down, Madder Rose was heralded as the "next Velvet Underground" in the British press. I interviewed former Madder Rose drummer, Johnny Kick for the podcast, and he tells the story of the band's fast rise and slow decline. Madder Rose is one of the best unsung bands of the 90s, and they deserve more accolades and posthumous discovery than they are getting.  

To subscribe to the podcast through itunes (totally free) please click here.

If you don't like itunes, you can listen to the show with this player:
  
 I have also posted it on Youtube:
 

Please subscribe to avoid missing new episodes. Upcoming shows will feature: Ace Frehley, Overwhelming Colorfast, St. Vincent, and many more.

The Return of the Dark Stuff Podcast?

Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) signed my LP

Ever since I ended my podcast, The Dark Stuff, a few years back, I have been plotting its return. Initially, the idea was to make it similar to my weekly radio show. I would play music and offer commentary or insights about said music. That worked for a little while until I realized how non-unique the format was. There were a million podcasts just like it. 

So, I decided to change it a little bit by bringing in a co-host who had different musical taste than I do. That worked okay for a little while, but still left me unsatisfied. Next, I decided to add a new wrinkle to the show by focusing on obscure or under-appreciated bands from 1990s. I would interview someone from the band; and through their storytelling and my observations (as well as the music), these bands would be introduced to a whole new audience. It worked pretty well. I interviewed members of Swervedriver, Madder Rose, The Meices, Overwhelming Colorfast, and some others. The format worked well until my computer crashed and I lost the software I was using at the time.

The Dark Stuff podcast ceased to exist at that point.

Now, years later, I am in the early stages of bringing it back. I don't want to just repeat what I did in the past. That would be boring. Furthermore, it is very difficult nowadays to play music on a podcast without going through official channels and paying tens of thousands of dollars. So, I want to do an interview show.

I know what you're thinking....there are a million interview podcasts! That's practically all there is. Yes. This is true. But, in my mind, the key to hosting a successful interview show comes down to two things: the interviewer and the guests.

I think I am good interviewer. And I recently had this confirmed when I did an interview last week with Annie Clark (who records and performs under the name St. Vincent). I was supposed to get 5-10 minutes with her, but the interview ended up going on over 20. That is always a good sign. Later on that evening, I was told that Annie was pleased with the interview and had a good time with me. Great. This is someone who is interviewed multiple times a day and has a very low tolerance for stupid/boring questions. If I passed her test, maybe that is a sign that this whole concept is a solid one for me.

To keep the show fresh and to have a wider audience, I am planning on interviewing people from a number of professions and walks of life: entertainers, business people, religious people, restaurateurs, political figures, bands, whatever. I know all sorts of people, and most would be comfortable being interviewed by someone they know. Having a mix of "celebrities" and "regular" people would be unique, I think. Kickstarting the show with someone as high profile as St. Vincent would really get the name out there.

Anyway, this has been my long-winded of telling you keep on the lookout for the return of the Dark Stuff Podcast.

New St. Vincent Video "Digital Witness"

I love, love, love St. Vincent. I'm super-psyched about the new album coming out next month. Not sure what to think about this white hair action on Annie Clark. She's gorgeous no matter her hair color, but still. I loved that black hair. New song is great, as usual.

 

New St. Vincent Video "Cheerleader"

St. Vincent on Conan

Love love love! the little tribute to Elvis Costello she does before starting her song, "Cheerleader."

Looking For A Safe Investment? Then Buy the New Deer Tick CD

I have been playing the new Deer Tick CD, Divine Providence, virtually non-stop for the last few weeks. When I eventually make my list of the best albums of 2011, I think the choice will be between this and St. Vincent's Strange Mercy for the top spot.

What does Deer Tick sound like? Imagine Paul Westerberg singing for Uncle Tupelo. 

I know, right?

St. Vincent Is About To Hit the Big Time!

Pretty much my favorite artist of the last 3-4 years is St. Vincent. I first saw her as the opening act for The National at the Slowdown in Omaha. I had heard cuts from her debut album, Marry Me, and thought they were good. I did not become a borderline obsessed fan until after that concert.

That show changed a few things for me, actually. After St. Vincent's amazing performance - alone on stage with just her guitar and digital gadgetry - I really "got" her record, and realized that there was no one out there in the vast indie rock universe that doing anything remotely similar to what she was doing. Beyond that, my opinion of The National was forever changed. They seemed so boring and predictable after St. Vincent's opening set, and I don't think I've liked them as much since that night. Sorry, guys.

St. Vincent performing "Paris Is Burning" July 2007.

I saw St. Vincent twice on tour in support of her second album, Actor. This time, she had a band in tow. The band was excellent, and the shows were even more exciting. The crowds, I had noticed, were getting larger each time I saw her. Without having to focus on so many things at once, Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) was able to focus more on her guitar playing. It was obvious that she was talented that first night I saw her, but in this context, her playing seemed to go another level.

St. Vincent on Austin City Limits performing "Marrow."

St. Vincent is on the verge of releasing her third album, Strange Mercy. The first single, "Surgeon," is available for free at strangemercy.com. I think this may be the one that puts her over the top. Though her audience has primarily come from the indie world, St. Vincent's music has as much mainstream appeal as bands like Talking Heads did in their day. The eclectic mix of sounds and styles can put off less adventurous mainstream music listeners, when you add in her looks (sorry, I stated the obvious - she is a beautiful woman) and her tenacity, I think she will be one of those rare indie artists that crosses over.

September 13 is the official release date for Strange Mercy. I command you to buy this record as soon as humanly possible.

St. Vincent Finishes Third Album

The thoroughly unique pop stylings of St. Vincent will be making a return to record stores, concert halls, and radio airwaves this Fall when she releases her third album, Strange Mercy, on September 13.

Tour dates in support of the new album have just been announced, as well. The dates begin in earnest October 2 in Minneapolis. See the rest of the dates here.

Here is St. Vincent's video for "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood" from the previous album, Actor.

Today's Must See Music Video: St. Vincent

Just saw these videos for the first time today. Three acoustic performances from St. Vincent, including one with the previously promo-only track, "Oh My God."

Cool St. Vincent Video - Just Felt Like Sharing

St. Vincent's Amazing Performance on Letterman

St. Vincent's performance on Letterman the other night was amazing. The Youtube treatment simply does not do it justice. She performed the song "Marrow" from the new CD, Actor. I hope you're not too broken up over MJ to appreciate this.