Coldplay is offering a free download of their live EP LeftRightLeftRightLeft @ coldplay.com – (click here).

Floating Action is the moniker of North Carolina native singer, songwriter and producer Seth Kauffman. His self-titled album is one of the few refreshingly unique albums of the year. And, for that matter, the past couple of years.

Kauffman infuses rock, country, dub, Bossa Nova, soul and folk cohesively without having his songs sound like a jumbled mess. There’s a method to his madness. When listening to the album you wouldn’t believe one guy is responsible for writing, performing, recording and producing the entire album, on which he plays drums, bass, sitar, guitar, violin and keyboards.

R&G: Where are you right now?

Seth: Black Mountain, North Carolina.

R&G: So you’re done with your tour, or your mini-tour?

Seth: Yeah.

R&G: How was it?

Seth: It was great. We played D.C., Philly, New York City, Scranton, Pennsylvania, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then we did a Daytrotter session in Rock Island, Illinois. We played a gig there and then Indianapolis.

R&G: What’s the origin behind the Floating Action moniker?

Seth: Well, the newest record was going to be called that. I was just calling myself Seth Kauffman and then I realized Floating Action was a good name for a band. I’ve always wanted to have a band name instead of just my name. I decided to make the switch, so now the album’s self-titled.

R&G: Is that a fishing reference?

Seth: No. My bass drum pedal is an old ‘50s Gretsch. In the model description it’s called “floating action.” That’s where I got the name.

R&G: Is it true that you began violin lessons at the age of four?

Seth: Yeah.

R&G: Can you talk a little bit about your training on the violin?

Seth: It was called the Suzuki method. Have you ever heard of that?

R&G: I have not.

Seth: It’s a Japanese program based a lot on memorization and ear-training. My sisters and I both took that, and I took it all the way up until I was 15 or so.

R&G: When did you start experimenting with other instruments?

Seth: I picked up a guitar when I was 15. My mom had an old nylon string Kingston guitar that she had in the ‘60s when everybody wanted to be a folk musician.

Amoeba Records – Hollywood

1.) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
2.) Conor Oberst – Outer South
3.) St. Vincent – Actor
4.) Katie Melua – Pictures
5.) Bob Dylan – Together Through Life
6.) Peaches – I Feel Cream (Buy)
7.) Silversun Pickups – Swoon
8.) Mika Miko – We Be Xuxa
9.) Soundtrack – Star Trek
10.) Bat for Lashes – Two Suns
**Week Ending – 5/10/2009

Other Music – New York
1.) St. Vincent – Actor
2.) Death – For the Whole World to See
3.) The Vaselines – Enter the Vaselines
4.) Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free
5.) Joyce – Together Through Life
6.) The Fly Girlz – Da Brats from Da Ville
7.) Thee Oh Sees – Help (Buy)
8.) Kenge Kenge – Introducing Kenge Kenge
9.) Jim Ford – Big Mouth USA
10.) Jim Ford – Unissued Capitol Album
**Week Ending – 5/10/2009

MP3: Thee Oh Sees – Enemy Destruct
MP3: Peaches – Trick Or Treat

MP3: Jeff Tweedy – Fake Plastic Trees [Radiohead Cover]
MP3: We The Living – Black Swan [Thom Yorke Cover]

KCRW – Morning Becomes Eclectic
Santa Monica, California
December 3, 2008
Wired For Light
Chain
Conjurr
Caldo
Half Asleep
White Elephant Coat
My Cabal

Download:
School of Seven Bells – Alpinisms (iTunes)

School of Seven Bells @ The Troubadour May 29th (More Info)

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