MP3: Charlotte Gainsbourg – 5:55 (Metronomy Remix)
MP3: The Doors – The End (Riva Starr Remix)

Providence, Rhode Island native John Joseph McCauley, III – frontman for Deer Tick – is a popular guy these days. His band was recently chosen by Rolling Stone tastemaker David Fricke as the “#1 breaking band” at this year’s South By Southwest, and NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams is a big fan too.

John’s raw, distinctive, howling voice and strong storytelling skills on his 2007 debut War Elephant put him on the radar as an artist to watch. Even more impressive, he played all of the instruments on the album himself. John didn’t envision Deer Tick as a solo effort, so Andy Tobiassen, Dennis Ryan and Chris Ryan have now joined the band. The four-man ensemble are set to release the highly anticipated Born On Flag Day on June 23rd via Partisan Records.

I spoke to John last week and discussed touring, Lil’ Wayne and breakfast cocktails.

R&G: I read somewhere that you mentioned Born on Flag Day sounds nothing like War Elephant. Can you discuss the differences?

John: It’s just the way it was recorded and how we all came together to work on it. I didn’t really know what I was doing when I was recording War Elephant, and I had a really good idea of what I was doing this time around. I just think recording-wise I had no thoughts or expectations of what I wanted it to sound like. I just kind of let it go. It’s a pretty easy-going record and I was actually working with the band, which was cool. I’m really excited about this record.

R&G: What was the experience like recording with a full band instead of by yourself?

John: It was a little more stressful because everybody needs their own amount of time to work, and I generally work pretty quickly in the studio. I feel like we’re wasting money or something, waiting around for somebody to do their thing. The band at that point, Chris and Dennis, have been touring with me for close to two years, so they were good to go. They knew all the songs inside and out. Andy had just joined a month before we recorded the record, so that was stressful, but he pulled it together and kicked ass on it.

R&G: Did the other guys write any songs or are you the primary songwriter?

John: I’m the primary songwriter. There is one co-written song on Born on Flag Day, but it’s not with a band member.

R&G: On War Elephant your songs are about your struggles with the ideas of faith and love. Are there similar themes on Born on Flag Day?

John: Born on Flag Day is more about people. It’s not about me. There are some songs that I’m actually writing from my point of view, but it’s not about questioning faith or terrible break-ups, but more about people.

R&G: What do you mean by ‘people?’

John: Like the people you watch walking down the street, trying to imagine what their lives are like.

R&G: Rolling Stone magazine’s David Fricke picked you guys as the number one band to catch at this year’s South by Southwest festival, and NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams says you’re his favorite new band. Does that blow your mind?

John: My mind has been completely blown. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I had a dream last night that John F. Kennedy was a fan, even though our music is way after his time. Somehow, somebody went into the past.

R&G: Was it a vivid dream?

John: Not really. It all happened at Logan Airport in Boston – in the dream. I was coming back from a Red Sox game with my mother but we were going to fly back even though it’s forty minutes away from Providence. It was a really confusing, but yeah, somehow John F. Kennedy was a big fan.

R&G: Did he hear your music over the speakers in the airport?

John: No. I got a call from my manager.

The Wooden Birds

Rollo & Grady Recommended New Releases – Tuesday, May 12th:
Casey Driessen – Oog (Buy)
The Dexateens – Singlewide (Buy)
Graham Coxon – Spinning Top (Buy)
Marcio Local – Says Don Day Don Dree Don Don (Buy)
Mark Kozelek – Lost Verses Live (Buy)
Meanderthals – Desire Lines (Buy)
Mokira – Persona (Buy)
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Buy)
Steve Earle – Townes (Buy)
The Wooden Birds – Magnolia (Buy)


Steve Earle

MP3: The Wooden Birds – Sugar
MP3: Meanderthals – Desire Lines
MP3: Casey Driessen – Conversation With Death
MP3: Mark Kozelek – Lucky Man
MP3: Mokira – Ode to the Ode to the Street Hassle
MP3: The Dexateens – Missionary Blues

KEXP Studio Session
Seattle, Washington
January 31, 2008
Metanoia
The Handshake
Weekend Wars
Pieces of What

Download:
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular (iTunes)
MGMT – Tour Dates (Click Here)

Rik Myslewski from The Register Reports:
French politicians have handed the international music and video industries a victory against online media pirates with legislation to punish offenders. The bill, backed by pro-business president Nicolas Sarkozy, slipped comfortably through the National Assembly with a 296-to-233 margin. It’s set for a vote in the Senate on Wednesday. The bill will carve into French law the much discussed “three strikes” warn-then-disconnect policy that the Assembly had rejected only last month. Under the three-strikes law, a new government agency will first send media pirates an email warning. If the piracy persists, a more-stern letter will be sent. If that doesn’t stop the illegal file-sharing, the government will have the power to cut off the pirate’s internet access for one year. Continue Reading

MP3: Adele – Last Nite [The Strokes Cover]
MP3: Phoenix – Playground Love [Air Cover]

Black Joe Lewis – Image Rollo & Grady

Rollo & Grady Recommended Los Angeles Shows for w/o May 11th

Monday, May 11th
Golden Animals @ Silverlake Lounge
Gangi & Free Moral Agents @ Spaceland

Tuesday, May 12th
The Eye The Ear and The Arm @ Silverlake Lounge
The Meat Puppets @ The Mint

Wednesday, May 13th
Extra Golden @ The Echoplex
Curanderos @ The Troubadour

Thursday, May 14th
Restavrant @ Silverlake Lounge
Scout Niblett @ Spaceland
Mos Def – HOB on Sunset

O+S

The White Stripes are set to begin work on a new album later this year, after Jack White finishes touring duties with his side-project The Dead Weather. He and Meg White have already been working on new material. The album is due out next year.