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"DEER GOD RADIO 151: PJ HARVEY" NOW AVAILABLE

1/13/2022

parodies by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO celebrating the music of BRITISH singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist PJ HARVEY!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO are available here at the DEER GOD website as well as in the MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC archives.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | POW!

1/7/2022

photo manipulation & text by nacrowe

i just love how SAN FRANCISCO INDIE ROCK band POW! takes the best the nervous, skittish rhythms of POST PUNK and marries them with the synth-ed out madness of classic NEW WAVE. it is such a refreshing sound that doesnt attempt to hid its experimental nature without sacrificing melodic pop hooks. it is quite the balance and really quite an achievement.

POW! is most definitely worth checking out.

"DEER GOD RADIO 154: DISCHORD RECORDS" LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

1/2/2022

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join us TONIGHT at 8PM EST for an all new episode of DEER GOD RADIO on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC with a playlist celebrating the fiercely independent record label DISCHORD RECORDS!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO are available here at the DEER GOD website as well as in the MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC archives.

and if you haven't done so already, make sure and download the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

RECORD REVIEW | "WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY" BY THE SHINS

1/1/2022

photo & text by nacrowe

i should start by saying im not a fan of ZACH BRAFF and i've never seen the film GARDEN STATE (FOX SEARCHLIGHT, 2004).

i know for many that reference seems to be a starting point when discussing OREGON-by-way-of-NEW MEXICO INDIE ROCK band THE SHINS. my introduction was randomly coming across their "PHANTOM LIMB" video years ago online and being blown away by the soaring melody and pure tone of singer JAMES MERCER. and to me that BRIAN WILSON-esque bittersweet way with a melody whereby it sounds dually celebratory and melancholy is what defines the band and especially their WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY (SUB POP, 2007) record. especially on tracks such as "SLEEPING LESSON," "AUSTRALIA," "TURN ON ME," "RED RABBITS," "SEA LEGS" and the aforementioned "PHANTOM LIMB."

what makes the vocals work is a LUSH, ORCHESTRATED sound that often has a SWIRLING, CINEMATIC quality as if the lyrics are merely actors playing in an overly SACCHARINE, MELODRAMATIC film from yesteryear. ive listened to this record as a soundbed alongside DOUGLAS SIRK films like WRITTEN ON THE WIND (UNIVERSAL, 1956) and ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS (UNIVERSAL, 1956) on mute and it compliments it exceedingly well. MERCER's songs often utilize tight structures and MINIMAL INSTRUMENTATION that make effective selective use of SPACE and SILENCE. the minimal nature of the music puts heavy emphasis on MERCER's singing voice which often comes across as earnest and confessional while the lyrics are often IMPRESSIONISTIC and OPAQUE. its a compelling juxtaposition and that makes these haunting have a decidedly haunting and emotive dynamic.

when i think of THE SHINS and the creative output of MERCER writ large (BROKEN BELLS) i think of cleverly constructed pop songs with soaring weightless melodies in the best tradition of BRITISH INVASION bands like THE BEATLES and THE KINKS as well as later POWER POP standouts like CHEAP TRICK and BIG STAR among others. with such a seductive sound im not concerned in the least that i havent the foggiest what the band is actually singing about.

WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY is definitely worth checking out and giving a repeat listen. enjoy.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | LOW HUM

12/17/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

LOW HUM is the INDIE POP outlet of LOS ANGELES-by-way-of-HAWAII songwriter COLLIN DESHA. what i love about his sound are the relaxed, rolling waves of overlapping grooves that lull you into visions of sunsets and the beauty of nature. you get the sense that these songs would work particularly well while becoming lost on an extended road trip or in your imagination.

the evocative music of LOW HUM is most definitely worth checking out.

RECORD REVIEW | "KISS MY ASS: CLASSIC KISS REGROOVED" BY VARIOUS ARTISTS

12/4/2021

photo & text by nacrowe

KISS is a bit of a joke.

or at least that is what i grew up hearing and reading from people around me and national music publications. they are unapologetically from the "more is more" school of entertainment and are universally derided for supposedly being all style and no substance. in fact they are regarded by many tastemakers as the epitome of INAUTHENTICITY.

which is all pretty much missing the point because in essence all musicians are in the KISS business of entertaining audiences, whether they be BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, NEIL YOUNG, PATTI SMITH, DAVID BOWIE or BOB DYLAN. they all carry an image that is sold to the masses, some more consciously than others. when i consider the actual legacy of KISS, i think of what bands they influenced, which conveniently enough include members of DINOSAUR JR, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, TOOL, ANTHRAX, FAITH NO MORE (and even STEVIE WONDER) found on the KISS MY ASS: CLASSIC KISS REGROOVED (MERCURY, 1994) tribute compilation. other vocal KISS proponents not featured on this MERCURY RECORDS-initiated compilation famously include the likes of THE MELVINS, PANTERA, THE REPLACEMENTS, ALICE IN CHAINS, HUSKER DU, SOUNDGARDEN, PEARL JAM and THE MINUTEMEN.

my sense is that for kids in the 1970s, KISS represented an escapist fantasy where a fan could transcend their daily existence. this feels very much like the very credo of ROCK N ROLL itself. and it goes beyond that since the band was an economic entity unto itself, foreshadowing the DIY HARDCORE / INDIE ROCK ethic that followed in the 1980s. economic independence goes hand in hand with freedom of speech. it should come as no surprise then that these bands are are consciously challenging the political, economic, cultural and gender normative culture of what a ROCK N ROLL is and can be.

critical respect is nice, but clearing the way for such a disparate set of quality bands is a legacy i'd argue better worth having. the KISS MY ASS tribute compilation is evidence of that.

CHECK OUT THIS ARTIST | LIAM FINN

11/26/2021

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years ago i was in and out of the orbit of my cousin's former BROOKLYN recording studio called [the end] since i was living and working overseas. during that period i was made aware of various experimental INDIE ROCK artists that recorded there including UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA, YEASAYER and NEW ZEALAND singer-songwriter LIAM FINN.

i was not around when these artists were recording and heard there music out of context in disparate places like VENEZUELA, JAPAN, ALBANIA and MYANMAR. so when i first heard his THE NIHILIST (YEP ROC, 2014) album i was initially taken by the cinematic scale of its sonic textures and addictive catchiness of his melodies. as a listening experience it worked especially well in foreign territories where i felt like an outsider by definition. this can be seen in songs like "HELENA BONHAM CARTER," "SNUG AS FUCK" and "BURN UP THE ROAD" off of THE NIHILIST where there is a palpable world-weariness and deep antipathy for the hollow and facile nature of the entertainment industry. i can only imagine how jarring and disorientating being a musician can be, with the self-reflection and soul-searching involved before presenting a public face. and he would know about that struggle for an identity. it is obligatory at this point to mention that his father is NEIL FINN of CROWDED HOUSE fame, which is relevant in that it provides another layer to his songwriting as that family connection provides a sense of preordained identity that provides some creative friction. not that dissimilar to other gifted progeny of famous musicians like SEAN LENNON, NATALIE COLE, ARLO GUTHRIE, NORAH JONES or RUFUS WAINWRIGHT. its an interesting dynamic.

i've long held that this FINN is a criminally underrated songwriter and recommend his discography wholeheartedly to anyone interested in thoughtful, sophisticated ROCK music with a cinematic flair for big memorable sonic moments. definitely worth checking out.

"DEER GOD RADIO 143: KIM DEAL" NOW AVAILABLE

11/14/2021

parodies by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO celebrating the music of INDIE ROCK icon KIM DEAL!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO are available here at the DEER GOD website as well as in the MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC archives.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

SPOTLIGHT | WOMEN OF ROCK ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

11/4/2021

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i love the idea of long-form interviews as the basis of a research project.

in fact i've made no secret, writing before (linked HERE, HERE and HERE) about my experience as a PEACE CORPS volunteer in ALBANIA where i spearheaded an oral history project aimed at the impact of the KOSOVO conflict on how both sides of the border dealt with the influx of refugees in 1999. it was a taboo subject internally but i thought it was information worth pursuing from the older generation (along with other unrelated topics such as life under the communist ENVER HOXHA regime) so that there was a record for future generations. similarly the questions themselves werent mine but my students at the UNIVERSITY OF VLORA where i was stationed at. my prompt to them was what questions they thought their grand-children would would want to ask their great-great-grandparents. talk about epic, a four generation question! it got them thinking in that scale and those were the questions i asked, not mine as an AMERICAN, i was just the conduit.

i came across the WOMEN OF ROCK ORAL HISTORY project recently online and i thought it was the coolest thing. the contributions of women to the cultural achievements surrounding ROCK N ROLL cannot be understated but are often overlooked.

i feel that i am guilty of this as well. when i look at past playlists for my DEER GOD RADIO show on nonprofit radio station MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC i am often confronted with a list of male artists. while there have been past shows specifically on the RIOT GRRRL movement and prominent artists such as BJORK, KIM DEAL and LADYTRON, as well as other shows that prominently investigate female musicians and artists within wider constructs (example: CAROLE KAYE contributions with THE WRECKING CREW), there is a lack of balance that i recognize. that is something i am working on. in the future i plan to add shows focused on PJ HARVEY, COURTNEY LOVE, KRISTIN GUNDRED, LUSCIOUS JACKSON, NO DOUBT, CHARLI XCX, PATTI SMITH, JOAN JETT, BLONDIE and producer SYLVIA MASSY (MELVINS, TOOL) to the mix. it is a work in progress.

these filmed interviews with the likes of PUNK ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ROCK / NO WAVE / INDIE ROCK luminaries like ALICE BAG (THE BAGS), LYDIA LUNCH, GAIL ANN DORSEY (DAVID BOWIE), KATE SCHELLENBACH (LUSCIOUS JACKSON, BEASTIE BOYS), EXENE CERVENKA (X), DONITA SPARKS (L7), MELISSA AUF DER MAUR (HOLE, SMASHING PUMPKINS), AMANDA PALMER (THE DRESDEN DOLLS), KRISTIN HERSCH (THROWING MUSES) and SHIRLEY MANSON (GARBAGE) among many others are a great resource for all musicians to receive a fuller understanding of the real history of ROCK N ROLL. its pretty exciting since this project is still very much a current operation especially in recent months with the advent of effective COVID-19 vaccines providing an opportunity for in-person, on-camera interviews again.

the WOMEN OF ROCK ORAL HISTORY is definitely worth checking out and revisiting. what a gift to music fans.

"DEER GOD RADIO 145: FOOL'S GOLD RECORDS" LIVE TONIGHT AT 10PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

10/24/2021

parodies by nacrowe

join us TONIGHT at 10PM EST for an all new episode of DEER GOD RADIO on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC with a playlist celebrating the eclectic BROOKLYN independent label FOOL'S GOLD RECORDS!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO are available here at the DEER GOD website as well as in the MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC archives.

and if you haven't done so already, make sure and download the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

SPOTLIGHT | SONGS AT THE SHOP

10/21/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

theres a fine line between art and advertisement, and guitar pedal manufacturer WALRUS AUDIO walks it here with its discontinued SONGS AT THE SHOP series of live performances from its YOUTUBE channel. it finds established and up-and-coming talent of varying genres (INDIE ROCK, POST HARDCORE, POST ROCK) playing at their headquarters in OKLAHOMA.

what might at first glance appear like a ploy for absolutely shameless product placement instead puts the focus on the artist (where it should) and gives you a sense of how these products enable musicians. the fact that the talent straddles so many different genres only furthers that point. its an interesting concept that has been utilized and co-opted now by bigger companies like ERNIE BALL and GIBSON with more established legacy artists, which is fine but there appears to be a purity here with these performances. a symbiosis between the product and the art.

definitely check out some these performances.

SPOTLIGHT | BLIND BLIND TIGER SPEAKEASY

10/17/2021

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i am a fan of online series of live performance by bands. i make no secret that we here at DEER GOD made a few of our own at various NYC locations in pre-pandemic times. BLIND BLIND TIGER SPEAKEASY from what i could gather is a downtown LOS ANGELES bar where some genius filmed and recorded upcoming area bands in front of a green screen. i just love the creative anarchy and bold weirdness of these performances and their presentation.

lord knows if id seen this when it was still happening years ago, i'd have thought long and hard about following suit and experimenting with different FX elements. maybe once (or if) everything goes back to normal that could be a possibility.

either way, these videos from BLIND BLIND TIGER SPEAKEASY are just fun to watch. enjoy.

"DEER GOD RADIO 139: MATADOR RECORDS" NOW AVAILABLE

10/14/2021

parodies by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO focused on the eclectic AMERICAN independent label MATADOR RECORDS!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO are available here at the DEER GOD website as well as in the MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC archives.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD RADIO 143: KIM DEAL" LIVE TONIGHT AT 10PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

10/10/2021

parodies by nacrowe

join us TONIGHT at 8PM EST for an all new episode of DEER GOD RADIO on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC with a playlist celebrating the amazing INDIE ROCK music of KIM DEAL!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO are available here at the DEER GOD website as well as in the MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC archives.

and if you haven't done so already, make sure and download the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

SPOTLIGHT | LIVE @ 885FM

10/3/2021

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i am always on the hunt for live music series online. it probably comes from attempting to initiate one myself. i recently came across LIVE @ 885FM which showcases live performances by upcoming as well as established INDIE ROCK acts in their studio out of CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. notable participants during pre-pandemic times include that of JOHNNY MARR, BOB MOULD, NADA SURF, BEST COAST, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER, JENNY LEWIS, INARA GEORGE (of BIRD & THE BEE), KURT VILE, BLITZEN TRAPPER and FIRST AID KIT.

obviously this is a take on the model spearheaded and popularized by the longstanding live performance series out of KEXP in SEATTLE, but honestly who cares? i love the fact that there are a multitude of radio stations (including KCRW in SANTA MONICA) providing quality, professionally recorded and mixed content of bands playing live.

we all win. especially when legacy radio stations have the pull to draw in first-rate talent, as is the case with 88.5FM.

enjoy.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | THE HOLY KNIVES

10/1/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

THE HOLY KNIVES are a noirish LOS ANGELES-by-way-of-SAN ANTONIO INDIE ROCK outfit and the musical creative outlet of brothers KYLE and KODY VALENTINE. we had the pleasure during pre-pandemic times of filming and recording them play "STRAY DOG" and "SWITCHBLADE HEART" as part of our KREISCHER MANSION SESSIONS live performance series.

from the start their sparse, reverb-drenched, plodding sound gave me DAVID LYNCH vibes, as if they these songs were written with TWIN PEAKS and BLUE VELVET on repeat in the background while muted. the deep baritone of KODY and the angular, haunting guitar lead lines of KYLE is quite the combination, giving them a unique cinematic sound. it all kind of makes sense when you know that their name is partially derived from the transgressive art film HOLY MOUNTAIN by ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY. in my mind's eye, their music evokes a complex narrative. if only in my imagination.

we had nothing but a pleasure collaborating with the VALENTINE brothers and we wish them nothing but the best as they are currently recording their new record in LOS ANGELES. we are looking forward to hearing what they cook up.

THE HOLY KNIVES are definitely worth checking out, specifically their previous YEAR OF THE BLACK DOG record.

FILM REVIEW | WHEN NIRVANA CAME TO BRITAIN

9/28/2021

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its funny how there is the psychic cultural connection between the UNITED STATES and the UNITED KINGDOM, whereby both influence the other in and out of context. it is a dynamic that i have found endlessly fascinating. you can see it in all the great BRITISH INVASION bands taking CHICAGO and DELTA BLUES and making it there own, or in PUNK ROCK initiating a mutual admiration society of artists turn musicians that flourished on both sides in POST PUNK, HARDCORE and INDIE ROCK of the 1980s and ALTERNATIVE ROCK in the 1990s.

so NIRVANA was a continuation of that push and pull across the pond. what is interesting about the recent WHEN NIRVANA CAME TO BRITAIN (BBC, 2021) documentary is that it focuses on the influence of NIRVANA by those who roadied, booked and attended those early shows. also interviewed are surviving members KRIST NOVOSELIC and DAVE GROHL as well as members of the BRITISH music press and members of THE RAINCOATS and THE VASELINES, whom KURT COBAIN famously championed.

what comes across is the organic embrace of the band pre-fame by the BRITISH public as well as an open-minded set of outsider and working-class booking agents and support staff. NIRVANA to these people represented a conscious break from the austere conservatism of THATCHERISM and a peak into a more inclusive and freeing future. NOVOSELIC makes the point that NIRVANA was a "feminized" band that consciously rejected the hollow machismo and outright misogyny of ROCK N ROLL during that period. COBAIN is the very archetype of a more enlightened, progressive and ultimately inclusive form of a modern-day MASCULINITY. the fact that within a BRITISH context he cultivated that sort of reaction by an outsider culture he so deeply felt aligned with is heartwarming. because i dont believe he ever felt that way stateside at any point during his life, pre or post-fame.

the narrative of NIRVANA and COBAIN has been retread so many times in books, tv shows, documentaries and articles since his passing 27 years ago that the topic itself seems completely barren of surprise or insight. i think the BBC here did an interesting job of presenting a new angle on NIRVANA by focusing on their work ethic, determination and innocence and how that touched a nerve with a small public and working-class support staff at a formative stage in their career.

WHEN NIRVANA CAME TO BRITAIN is a very touching and ultimately productive documentary worthy of investigation.

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | MEN I TRUST

9/24/2021

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when i listen to the music of MONTREAL DREAM POP/INDIE ROCK band MEN I TRUST i catch glimpses of MAZZY STAR, THE CARPENTERS, FEIST and maybe even a little THIEVERY CORPORATION thrown in the mix. they have a hazy bed of light keyboards and gentle guitar chords that breathe in and out of one another that provides the perfect sonic bed for singer JESSY CARON's whispered and softly sung incantations.

its an intoxicating mix and i recommend it to anyone interested in modern INDIE POP. definitely worth checking out.

FILM REVIEW | BREADCRUMB TRAIL

9/21/2021

photo manipulation by nacrowe

when i first came across SLINT's second record SPIDERLAND (TOUCH AND GO, 1991) record years ago, i remember how it had a visceral and immediate quality yet somehow simultaneously seemed opaque and inaccessible, almost like MARK ROTHKO painting. ROTHKO paintings hit you on an emotional level, for me at least, and leave you attempt to meet it on an intellectual level before you give up and just acquiesce to the art itself. that was how i felt about that album in general. much like JAZZ, it is a sublime moment in time with no discernible narrative or entry point other than the seduction of the music itself.

in the intervening years since its release the album and the band have manifest a cult following and a certain mystique, probably because by the time of its release the band had broken up and never toured it. BREADCRUMB TRAIL (2014) is a film that attempts to explore the band , the HARDCORE scene they came out of in KENTUCKY and of course the record itself. interviews with peers such as DAVID YOW (THE JESUS LIZARD), IAN MCKAYE (MINOR THREAT / FUGAZI) and JAMES MURPHY (LCD SOUNDSYSTEM), producers STEVE ALBINI and BRIAN PAULSON as well as TOUCH AND GO RECORD founder COREY RUSK and the band members themselves (BRITT WALFORD, BRIAN MCMAHAN, DAVID PAJO, TODD BRASHEAR and ETHAN BUCKLER.

as much as these interviews are conducted with an eye towards transparency, its interesting to hear the band members discuss the creative process. if anything, the process is in-keeping with the dual DIY ethic of being prepared and putting your time into the craft while also recognizing the importance of being in the moment. there is a looseness to the record that comes with establishing a chemistry between players. again, it is almost like a great JAZZ combo, that unspoken connection. it was interesting listening to the members struggle to identify the spark or reason behind the record coming out the way it did. it just did. they had a weekend to record, they were prepared and just went for it. lightning in a bottle.

and then just left it, purity intact.

for me this documentary doesnt really affect my appreciation for the record. it just provides context to scene that helped influence it, bands such as KILLDOZER, BIG BLACK and THE JESUS LIZARD. that SPIDERLAND sounds nothing like such only further cements its uniqueness. that members of SLINT previously played in a straight-up METAL band as teenagers who opened for SAMHAIN on tour of all things was a pretty unexpected surprise as well.

if you are a fan of INDIE ROCK or appreciate its influence on 90s ALTERNATIVE ROCK, then this documentary is well worth your time.

CHECK OUT THIS ARTIST | KING KRULE

9/17/2021

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sometimes you come across a musician that is hard to pin down on first listen and seem wholly original yet strangely an extension of what you are familiar with beforehand. im thinking of songwriters and performers like BJORK and TRICKY who had antecedents in experimental ELECTRONIC MUSIC and HIP HOP, but took such influences to another new terrain.

thats kind of how i feel about KING KRULE, the creative project of ARCHY IVAN MARSHALL, that incorporates everything from TRIP HOP and INDIE ROCK to JAZZ FUSION and POST PUNK. its a heady eclectic mix but is cohesive through his unique persona and reflective yet opaque lyrics.

KING KRULE is definitely worth check out.