It features Gerardo Meza of The Mezcal Brothers!
Category: News
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Catch the Latest Episode of Kibler’s Corner Right Here
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Get Some Dark Satellites and Mars Lights On Your Calendars
Updated again 15 March with additional bands and details
Updated 14 March 2015 with an additional DS show!
2015 March 18, Wednesday – Kansas City, MO – Dark Satellites at The Brick w/ Drew Black, Medicine Theory. $???, ??? ages, 9 PM, FB event page.
2015 March 24, Tuesday – Lawrence, KS – Mars Lights at The Jackpot w/ Blue Dream, Braingea. $???, ALL AGES, 8 PM.
2015 April 12, Sunday – Kansas City, MO – Mars Lights at The Riot Room w/ Drag Me To Safe Harbour. $5-10, ages 21+, 8 PM, FB event page.
2015 April 19, Sunday – Lawrence, KS – Dark Satellites at 8th St Taproom w/ Deerpeople, TBA. $3, ??? ages, 10 PM.
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Clinch Mob Compilation
I’ve supported the Clinch Mob Compilation for Lincoln musician Pat Clinch’s medical expenses, and I hope you’ll check it out and participate, too. Pat’s a veteran of Strawberry Burns and was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The comp includes b-sides, unreleased, and new tracks from bands like Ideal Cleaners, Tangelo, Mezcal Brothers, Panda Face, Shacker, and more.
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Mixing on a Console for the First Time
A couple months ago Drew and I went in together on a late 1970s Soundtracs FME mixing console, based on Duane’s recommendation. We scored a good deal on eBay, carefully dragged the 225-pound unit (console + road case) down to the basement, and this past Monday I got to work with it for the first time.
First I tested each channel with one signal, listening and compensating for any differences among them. These circuits are 35+ years old, and have drifted a bit; to get each channel to sound the same I used preamp gain settings as much as 11 dB apart, EQ adjustments of -1.5 dB to +3 dB, and levels as much 4.5 dB apart. That took all morning, and while we’ll tweak it as we continue to use the board, those settings will be a foundation we can start mixes from in the future.
Then I actually mixed a five-song project for upcoming release on MFR. I’d already gotten the mixes to a state I was happy with in ProTools, so I was just routing those tracks through the console and back into ProTools in stereo, making fine adjustments.
Mixing on the Soundtracs was brilliant; revelatory, really. Even at levels below clipping, the preamps subtly compress and add harmonics in a beautiful way. The EQ was the best part, though. In ProTools, I’ll spend weeks on a mix agonizing over tiny changes in EQ, trying to get things to sound their best. On the console it’s simple and natural to turn up the level, sweep the frequency for the range I want to affect, and bring the level back down until I’ve achieved what I want to hear.
It wasn’t cheap, but even so this piece of gear was well worth it for us, and offers good bang-for-buck in that it will substantially improve every mix we do (think: new Mars Lights LP, new Dark Satelliets LP, Cory’s solo project, and more) from now on. And it’s fun to use.
As a bonus, here are some pics of Drew pole-dancing in Wichita Friday night, then deciding to sit on the floor and enjoy the music, at the Mars Lights / Vehicles / Admirals show.
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Mars Lights Feb 20/21, Dark Satellites March 18
2015 February 20, Friday – Wichita, KS – Mars Lights at The Lizard Lounge (*note venue change!*) w/ Vehicles, $Badger, Admirals. $5, 9:30 PM, Facebook event.
2015 February 21, Saturday – Lawrence, KS – Mars Lights at The Jackpot w/ Vehicles, 88er. $???, ??? PM.
2015 March 18, Wednesday – Kansas City, MO – Dark Satellites at The Brick w/ Medicine Theory. $???, ??? PM.
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Albums That Never Were by soniclovenoize
Pete Townshend’s episode of Behind The Music introduced me to The Who’s Lifehouse project, the ambitious post-Tommy rock opera that fell apart and was never released. Some of its best songs ended up on Who’s Next, including “Baba O’Riley,” “Getting In Tune,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
Off and on I’ve worked on a playlist of Lifehouse as it might have been, cobbling it together from Who’s Next, Odds & Sods, Who Are You, and various b-sides and bonus tracks. It’s pretty fun to listen to.
Having done things of this sort*, I was predisposed favorably toward the brilliant Albums That Never Were blog (discovered this morning via The AV Club). In soniclovenoize’s own words:
because i have too much time on my hands, i waste it by reconstructing famous unreleased albums. here are some of them. enjoy.
I’ve only been able to scan the blog so far, but I’m already looking forward to:
- Weezer’s Songs From The Black Hole
- Smashing Pumpkins’ Glass and The Machines of God
- The Clash’s Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg
- Neil Young’s Chrome Dreams
- and of course, soniclovenoize’s version of Lifehouse
Not only are these lost albums reconstructed with careful attention to audio quality and source material, there are extensive notes and background reading on each one. I’m amped about this find, and will thoroughly enjoy exploring the blog; thanks, soniclovenoize!
* See also re-arranging Springsteen’s Live 1975-85, Ken Burns’ Jazz box set, and Numero Group’s Eccentric Soul: The Forte Label into chronological order, enjoying Radiohead’s 01 10, reversing The Roots’ Undun, etc.
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Just A Sec by Fally Afani of I Heart Local Music
Congratulations to Fally, who was featured by Buzzfeed this past week for her year-in-the-life video “Just a Sec.” It’s no surprise that the creator of I Heart Local Music saw a ton of shows in 2014 along with hanging out with her family, driving around Lawrence, and more.
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Mars Lights recordBar Setlist Links
After our show the other week Megan asked for direct links to the songs we played in the set. In sequence, if you missed it, or want to relive it:
Radio Edit – http://marslights.bandcamp.com/track/radio-edit
Straight Shots – http://marslights.bandcamp.com/track/straight-talking-straight-shots
Nukular – http://marslights.bandcamp.com/track/nukular-ft-s-morris
Ghost You Out – http://marslights.bandcamp.com/track/ghost-you-out
No Witnesses – (unreleased; already recorded for the next LP. This is a heavy, kind of 90s-sounding one that Drew sings, and has a huge weird guitar solo, but the chorus is kind of quieter.)
Nein – http://marslights.bandcamp.com/track/nein
All Tied Up – http://marslights.bandcamp.com/track/all-tied-up-ft-t-scahill
Stars Above – (unreleased; slotted for the next next LP. This has a kind of stompy Zeppelin main riff, and I sing/shout lyrics derived from the plot of Alien)
Stangray – (unreleased; already recorded for the next LP. Starts and ends with this kind of circular guitar lead of Drew’s, catchy with a half-time chorus inbetween the circular leads.)
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Mars Lights Shows Starting January 7!
SEE YOU
“ONLY BANG IS BANG” EP & “RADIO EDIT” VIDEO OUT TUESDAY 1/6
2015 January 7, Wednesday – Kansas City, MO – Mars LIghts at the recordBar w/ Scammers. $5, 18+, 9:30 PM.
2015 February 20, Friday – Wichita, KS – Mars Lights at The Elbow Room w/ Vehicles. $???, ??? PM.
2015 February 21, Saturday – Lawrence, KS – Mars Lights at The Jackpot w/ Vehicles, 88er. $???, ??? PM.
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The Best Music We Heard in 2014
Here is the best music we heard in the past year. Most, but not all, was also released in 2014. “I had a sparse year for new music” says Cory. “I wish I could say that I fell in love with more tunes this year. But, I have a deep, deep fondness for the records I did discover this year.”
Top 8 (in random order)
The War On Drugs, “Lost in the Dream” (2014) – The lyrics’ genuine heartache is held in tension with the mid-80s Bruce Hornsby-style production to pitch-perfect effect throughout this masterpiece. Brilliant and beautiful. -h 
Haim, “Days are Gone” (2013) – I saw them perform “The Wire” on SNL and was surprised at how immediately catchy it was. Then, I got on the bandwagon. How can classic-sounding rock sound so new and fresh and young? The whole record is filled with killer guitar hooks, ’80s glam-rock production, catchy (uniquely delivered) melodies, and bitchin’ lyrics. They grabbed rock by the junk and tore it a new junk. -Cory 
The Hold Steady, “Teeth Dreams” (2014) – I thought this was a pretty OK Hold Steady record. Then I thought it was good. Now, there are days I’d say it’s their best. Their arm’s-distance classic rock chops twist into poignant anthems of love, lonliness and getting by. -h 
Floor, “Oblation” (2014) – Steve Brooks puts the pre-Torche band back together for this set that mixes Floor’s bombed-out noise and Torche’s heavy major-key rippers. Hopefully they’ll stay together for another! -h 
Kacey Musgraves, “Same Trailer, Different Park” (2013) – Last year, I heard “Merry-Go-Round,” which was the first official country song I’d ever loved. I put it on my Spotify playlist last year, and at the beginning of this year, I decided to give the whole album a shot. Ho-lee SH!T, is this one amazing. This is my favorite record in years. “I Miss You” goes on any and every playlist I make now, and the rest of the album is just masterfully written folk song after another. And on these songs, the country twang sounds genuine, rather than sounding like something the producers added to mediocre people to make it country-radio-ready. -Cory 
Yob, “Clearing the Path to Ascend” (2014) – This would have been the best metal album (and maybe the best album) of the year if it stopped halfway through “Marrow.” But it doesn’t, and you’ll have to listen for yourself to find out why it’s my song of the year. Yeah, they nail a modern-but-classically-rooted, slightly progressive doom sound, but “Clearing the Path to Ascend” is so much more than its genre or the sum of its parts. -h 
Taylor Swift, “1989” (2014) – This album is my latest pop obsession. She hasn’t been a real country artist for a long time (if ever), which is fine. She’s always been more of a folk-pop lady. This is her first full-on pop record (synths, dance beats, songs about New York), and she wears it well. “Shake it Off” and “Blank Space” are obvious winners, and “Style” and “Welcome to New York” are just as catchy. I am a Taylor Swift fan. -Cory 
Wye Oak, “Shriek” (2014) – Unlike many fans, I trusted Wye Oak in their turn from guitars to synths. (Everybody, do what you got to do to keep it fresh!) It took me a few listens, but with “Glory” as my gateway, “Shriek” has taken its rightful place in the Wye Oak pantheon next to “Civilian.” -h Next 13 (also in random order)
Paramore, “Paramore” (2013) – You got me again, pop-punk. I don’t really have much to say except that well-written pop songs are well-written pop songs, and Hayley Williams’ voice does it for me. “Still Into You” is incredible. -Cory 
The New Pornographers, “Brill Bruisers” (2014) – A worthy addition to the Pornos’ discography, this time pumping up the neon synths a bit. The title track, “Champions of Red Wine,” and “You Tell Me Where” are highlights, but like their other albums this one continues to reveal new favorites the more I listen. -h 
St. Vincent, “St. Vincent” (2014) – Annie Clark goes so far down the hole of absolute control over her music that she circles back around to bare expression like a trip through a time portal. She’s a master songwriter and incredibly creative guitarist; there are reasons this is on everybody’s list. -h 
Derek Jennings, “Bummertown” (2014) – This is a no-brainer. Derek (THE RETURN, The Ashtray Life, Sexual Jedi, full disclosure: MFR’s own D-Rockets) releases a long-awaited concise acoustically driven batch of songs that were instantly lovable, and that will soon grow on me like literally everything else he’s ever done. This guy is incapable of releasing bad (or even so-so) music. Do yourself a huge favor: Head on over to iTunes and pick this EP up for a measly $3.96. You can’t afford not to. -Cory 
Run The Jewels, “Run The Jewels 2” (2014) – ABSOLUTELY UNFUCKWITHABLE. -h 
Peter and Gordon, “A World Without Love” (1964) – I’ve been listening to “A World Without Love” by Peter and Gordon (1964) on repeat for weeks. It’s my “Never My Love” by The Association of 2014: an old, sad-sounding song that hits me right in the heart. “A World Without Love” was written by Paul McCartney when he was 16 (!!!!!) and he eventually passed it on to Peter and Gordon because Paul didn’t think it was good enough for The Beatles. Oh my goodness. -Cory 
Pallbearer, “Foundations of Burden” (2014) – Devastating and dense; it’s taken me many (cathartic) listens to just get to the point where I feel I have a grip on this album, and there’s still much to explore. Weighed-down and cavernous, these Arkansas guys are on their own trip and I’m ready to follow wherever it leads. -h 
Jessie Ware, “Tough Love” (2014) – Ware’s sophomore effort skews slightly poppier and more varied than her debut, but doesn’t disappoint. If “Cruel” doesn’t break your heart and win you over, check your pulse. -h 
Spoon, “They Want My Soul” (2014) – Listeners seemed to sleep on 2010’s “Transference” (though I didn’t, and now it’s getting a critical re-evaluation), but not the latest from Spoon. It gets catchy, gets weird, gets real, and gets specific in all the right places. -h 
D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Black Messiah” (2014) – Time – months or weeks, not years – will almost certainly put “Black Messiah” among the top releases of 2014. Eminently worth the wait since “VooDoo,” somehow speaking directly to the moment (#blacklivesmatter) though it’s been years in the making, “Black Messiah” is must-hear. 
Electric Wizard, “Black Masses” (2010) – I’m naming this 2010 album, and not the new “Time To Die,” because it was my gateway into the Wizard this year, and it’s a hole I’ve fallen deeply down. -h 
Fugazi, “Lincoln, NE USA 4.17.01 – FLS0992” (2014) – My sole Fugazi show was finally released via their Fugazi Live Series this year. If you go to this show’s page at their site, you’ll see *my* ticket! -h 
Juliana Barwick, “Nepenthe” (2013) – I was one year late on this looped, spacious, gossamer gem. It still stuns. -h -
Derek Jennings, “Bummertown” EP
This past week Cory alerted me that Derek Jennings’ (known as D-Rockets on MFR) excellent EP “Bummertown” was available on iTunes. I’d known it was streaming on Bandcamp but didn’t know it was for sale, so I snagged it immediately and I encourage you to check it out below and do the same.
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Freewheelin’
I’m hardly, but it’s the title of the Truckfighters song that’s on right now. If you like early Queens of the Stone Age, check out Truckfighters; debut Gravity embedded below, more at Fuzzorama Records Bandcamp page.
Keeping it short; my Mac (the personal one, not the studio PC) had a huge, weird, unexpected node problem Friday night and I’ve spent a bunch of time recovering from that. At this point it looks like I have everything, but it’s going to take a bunch of time to get it all back where it belongs, including my iTunes library (gigantic), Thunderbird (email, plus it functions as my to-do list), GIMP (MFR artwork), and more.I’ve started recording instrumental leads for Cory’s long-awaited solo jawn; two tracks of keys and one of harmonica (!) are down. That leaves four leads, probably all electric guitar and assorted effects, background vocals, and whatever little guitar texture bits are needed after the other stuff is in place. It’s a lot of fun to do, and going to sound really, really cool.
Mars Lights EP release is scheduled for January 13. We just finished mastering, and figure everyone’s busy for the next couple weeks.
