Kevin Bronson on November 7th, 2008

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[Lots and lots of things I noticed in between trying to teach myself InDesign …]

‣ Some of my favorite transplanted Midwesterners, the Vacation [pictured], are giving their new album away. Well, kinda. The quartet’s “Get Used,” originally self-released in May, is now available free through TrueAnthem. The release is sponsored by Playboy, though, and in between songs on the free recordings Ben Tegel reminds everybody of that. Rock Insider has a cogent discussion of the business side of this deal. Me, I used GarageBand to edit out the “commercials” in the tracks I wanted.
‣ Billy Corgan takes digs at some boobirds and the Yankees at the Smashing Pumpkins’ NYC show. Reviews are mixed. That video on Fluxblog is worth the time.
‣ I remember the original Koo’s. Now it’s headed back to Santa Ana.
‣ The Would-Be Hipster has released “Plastic Snow,” a very cool holiday compilation featuring songs by 16 local luminaries — and the proceeds benefit the Midnight Mission. Brilliant idea. Will physical copies be available in any local shops? (No PayPal for me, ever again.) Maybe someplace like this (opening Nov. 15)?
‣ And the Kinks are writing new material?
‣ Good interviewage: Aquarium Drunkard with DeVotchKa … OC Weekly with DJ Charles Feelgood … and from back in September, the Scenestar with Henry Evans of Spindrift, whose new album “The West” comes out Tuesday.
‣ Daytrotter has recently had some great downloadables from L.A. favorites, too. Last week it was Earlimart, and this week it was the Weather Underground — just in time for the band’s name change to Red Cortez.
‣ Groupee.com continues its series of live sessions, many with L.A. bands, including some good segments with Honeyhoney (artist of the month) and the Western States Motel. (The site has an oldie with the Weather Underground too, before its name change.) Raucous L.A. rockers Spider Problem did a Groupee session too — and, as they often do at the quartet’s live shows, things got broken:

‣ So, Buddyhead, how about that “Chinese Democracy?”
‣ Sune Rose Wagner of the Raveonettes is working on a solo record.
‣ Two local bands that each sent me sprinting from the club when I saw them are signing to major-label deals. Congratulations, I’m sorry.
‣ One final thought: You know, Long Beach needs a Spaceland.