Ok, so I’ve been on a tear lately. With all of my daily communication I’ve been trying to streamline, and in the process I discovered menubar apps for mac. Those are the little applications that show up next to your batter indicator and the time. So far, there’s one for facebook, one for chat and a few various others. Now i’m trying twit menulet. A twitter client. I’ll report back later on what I think…in the meantime here’s a link:

Twit Menulet is a wonderful Mac Twitter client!

There are times when I walk into a show and know its going to be exciting. Something is in the air, some intangible magic pulling people together, forcing smiles onto their faces. We arrived to see the XX at the Tribeca Grand in the rain, half-expecting to sit outside in one of those “hotel-venue-lines.” It wasn’t to be, we were quickly ushered in and made our way to the basement. A sharply appointed, mysterious and darkened room, this wasn’t what I was expected. To me CMJ has become synonymous with grimy clubs, free shows in odd venues and venues with charmingly rough edges. A few people had already gathered on the dancefloor and more than a few were already staking out their stage spots, 4 hours early!

The DJs played a refreshing mix of new-wave, 90s house and techno re-rubs and proceeded to destroy the dancefloor. I’d been bored by the DJ format for sometime. The music seems stale and the performance completely predictable, but for record after record last night I was surprised and my butt was moved.

The XX arrived, sound-checked while the DJs were still playing (my condolences to the sound guy and the band.) Unfortunately, all the magic the DJs and crowd had built evaporated with the first note. Someone decided not to use the hefty sound system the DJs had been playing through all night, and now instead of being surrounded by the XX’s luscious guitars and grainy, haunting vocals, the crowd strained to hear. Death by sound system, I tried to pay attention, but the din of conversation in the room was louder than the music. That said, I could tell the band had something special and I will be back for another show.

I’m switching paces here (and tenses, sorry,) but I want to make my point as I see it and hear it now. Their music is delicate and intimate, and I know seeing them under different circumstances those qualities will pull me in and serenade.

Also, big shout out to Myles from Sneak Attack Media for turning me on to the XX in the first place, and for letting us know about the show. He’s the man for sure. Here’s my favorite for the moment, and buy link (please support the artists):

the XX – Shelter

the XX – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)

For more on CMJ and POSR’s perspective on the conference check out Wilson’s first day write-up on weareposr.com

Crisp air the sounds of summer’s last hurrah. We’re simultaneously giving up and celebrating winter’s arrival. I’ve been lucky to find myself in the company of so many talented people. Here is where dreams are thunder and life barrels down the tracks, subway style.

This year it feels smaller more intimate, more visceral. Maybe it’s the friends I’ve made or the personal triumpths of the past year that have made the difference. No matter how I look at it, it’s exciting. Bring on the music.

CMJ Music Marathon 2009

Tony Humphries, Little Louie Vega, David Morales and Barbara Tucker – Holy House Music

The CD release party for Thomas Hultén’s album Slide Side was an amazing success. Many people came together at Tierra Studios from 6:00 pm until almost 10:00 pm on Monday, October 19th. There was music, mingling, food, and a few drinks floating around, as we celebrated the second release in Tierra Studios’ jazz series. We would like to extend a very special thanks to Kathryn Sherman, Jim Sherman, Traey Hatch, Glenn Wheeler, Dr. Robert Linder, Thomas Hultén, Dan Kramlich, Lana Smith, Andrea Sedeno, all the FMI staff, and everyone else that was involved in this project from start to finish. We couldn’t have done it without each and everyone of you!!!!

Back from one place, on to another. Were beginning work with opera diva Aprile Millo

More on this as it develops.

Headed to U2 with the while crew. First and only time on the Houston light rail (we have public transportation?) looking forward to the show. Thanks to Hello Entertainment and Anne Tanaka for hooking it all up for us.

Hey Tierra Studios Visitors. We’ve been in the process of revamping the site so we can put up more content faster, and I’d like to know what topics you’d like to see up here. We’ve been discussing some how-to’s, some rough mixes and some more behind the scenes type features. Are there any topics you’d like to see on our site?

Comment below and let us know.

UPDATE – Blown fuse on the main line was the issue. Lightning does some serious damage, check out the pics for some melted copper action.

At least the transformer didn’t blow. Waiting on centerpoint. Here’s a look inside our transformer. Smelled like burning electronics, whoops.

In a book of photos put together after the band’s debut record was finished, Honey Claws member Traey Hatch wrote a hyper-excited, love-filled intro saying, “Ninjas. Pimps. Crash Cymbals. Couch trips. Bus rides. A hot studio. Yelling, screaming, laughing. Too much beer, too little sleep. Overtime, overworked, overcoming adversity. Racquetball, running and Honey, claws that is. Hyena Scowl, yeah clowns, that’s right. Fuck it, we had fun and made some killer music!”

And therein lies the essence of the Austin-based band’s self-titled debut record. Its 14 tracks are based on that brand of playful, creative, wild-eyed, stream-of-consciousness energy. Multi-instrumentalists every one, the four-piece group moves through 49 minutes of innovative experimental hip-hop psychedelia that’s equal parts Panda Bear as it is Madlib.

The record is, at its very heart, an electronic animal, and when its heart beats you feel the floor shaking from sixty-six blocks away. Sexed-up beats pulse thick with electro bass while a whole pile of robotic trippiness blankets the sound in a way that recalls likeminded souls Daft Punk, Odelay-era Beck, and Kraftwerk. Still, the sound is all their own. Without Honey Claws there would be no Honey Claws music. Without Honey Claws music there would be no Honey Claws. It is a unique and new creature unto itself. American musical evolution incarnate.

According to a 3hive.com write-up, “Honey Claws is just the sort of thing I’d hope to run into at 1 am, my feet weary from the walking, my head hurting from all the rocking, but these grooves would buoy me up for another couple hours.”

Put on Honey Claws’ debut and consider yourself buoyed. Band-mates Thomas Sahs, Ben Wah, and Traey Hatch lay down the tapestry of summer love trip-out jam funk while Jon Von Letscher drops beats alongside his half-lovelorn/half-crunked-up rhymes with all the power of the Oxford English Dictionary dosed up on E.

Here’s your invitation to the sickest party of the summer.

Honey Claws – Healer EP

Four track CD

Retail price: $9

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PURCHASE

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Order CD for $9

BUY ON ITUNES