Jakob Dylan: New Album, Song with Neko Case

Stream "Nothing but the Whole Wide World"

Have you listened to that old Wallflowers record Bringing Down the Horse recently? Probably not. But besides being a huge fixture of 90s FM radio, it was also, quite excellent. It was. Give it another shot. After some time away from the spotlight, Jakob Dylan returns with a new record Women and Country due April 6th on Columbia. As with the aforementioned Wallflowers' record, the guru of American music T-Bone Burnett is once again behind the board producing this record.

Today, Spinner debuted the new track "Nothing but the Whole Wide World" which features Neko Case on backing vocals. While Neko adds little more than her name to this track, Dylan's voice sounds weathered and mature, with a tinge of melancholy. The production is very Plant/Krauss, but it's clear that Dylan has worked on his songwriting, and the project will lock into a solid folk/country feel. Jakob also looks a helluva lot like his dad on that cover. Creepy.

See, we're not indie nerds, we're AAA nerds too, and we're definitely looking forward to this record.

MGMT: 'Congratulations' Cover Art

MGMT reveals the cover art for their admittedly single-less (read: good song-less) new album Congratulations due April 13th on Columbia. It was designed by the band and artist Anthony Ausgang, which fails to make it any less terrible.

New Avett Brothers mp3

[mp3] Avett Brothers: "I and Love and You"

The Avett Brothers just released the title track from their up-coming Rick Rubin produced Columbia debut, I and Love and You which is available for you above. The album is due out on Columbia Sept. 29, a month that is gearing up to be quite boisterous, rollicking and heavily saturated by great music. Go forth and download.
VIA

Tour dates exist after the jump.

THE AVETT BROTHERS
headline dates
6/23/2009 LEXINGTON, KY KENTUCKY THEATRE
6/25/2009 ST. LOUIS, MO THE PAGEANT
6/26/2009 DES MOINES, IA HOYT SHERMAN THEATER
6/27/2009 APPLE VALLEY , MN MINNESOTA ZOO
6/28/2009 CHICAGO, IL HOUSE OF BLUES
7/2/2009 DETROIT, MI COMERICA CITYFEST
7/9/2009 NORFOLK, VA HARRISON OPERA HOUSE
7/10/2009 RICHMOND, VA THE NATIONAL
7/11/2009 ROANOKE-LYNCHBURG, VA ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER - PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE
7/12/2009 LOUISVILLE, KY FORECASTLE FESTIVAL
7/16/2009 SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL CROSS & SWORD AMPHITHEATER OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
7/17/2009 ORLANDO, FL HOUSE OF BLUES
7/18/2009 TAMPA, FL THE CUBAN CLUB
7/19/2009 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL PARKER PLAYHOUSE, THEATRE
7/24/2009 N. MYRTLE BCH, SC HOUSE OF BLUES
7/25/2009 N. MYRTLE BCH, SC HOUSE OF BLUES
7/30/2009 BUFFALO, NY THURSDAY AT THE SQUARE
7/31/2009 SYRACUSE, NY WESTCOTT THEATER
8/1/2009 NEWPORT, RI FOLK AT FIFTY
8/2/2009 NORTHAMPTON, MA CALVIN THEATER
8/4/2009 DEWEY BEACH, DE BOTTLE AND CORK
8/8/2009 CHARLOTTE, NC BOJANGLES' COLISEUM (FORMERLY CRICKET ARENA)
8/14/2009 OZARK, AR MULBERRY MOUNTAIN HARVEST MUSIC
8/15/2009 KANSAS CITY, MO CROSSROADS KC
8/16/2009 OMAHA, NE SOKOL AUDITORIUM
8/19/2009 TELLURIDE, CO SUNSET CONCERT SERIES
8/21/2009 DENVER, CO BOULDER THEATER
8/22/2009 DENVER, CO OGDEN THEATRE
8/25/2009 SALT LAKE CITY, UT RED BUTTE GARDEN
8/26/2009 BOISE, ID KNITTING FACTORY CONCERT HOUSE

Featured Releases 4/28

Artist: Crocodiles

Album: Summer of Hate (Fat Possum)
Mp3: "Neon Jesus"
Mp3: "Summer of Hate"

This record blindsided us the week before SXSW. Then, Crocodiles went down south and blindsided the entire festival. Garnering wide-sweeping praise for their live show, on this blog and elsewhere, Crocodiles have just released their debut Summer of Hate today on Fat Possum. While the latter half of the record has lost some of it's luster over the past few weeks (a little long on noise and short on songs), there are gems on this album that make it absolutely worth the purchase -- notably the standout track "I Want to Kill." If Crocodiles can keep the momentum going they have potential to be one of the breakout bands on the indie scene in 2009.

Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: Together Through Life (Columbia)
Stream the Record @ Paste Magazine

Yeah, so - the new Bob record. Ok. Heard it was bad. From a few reputable sources. Contributor Mike Bailey said it was his weakest batch of songs since the 80s. Rolling Stone liked it, but they're hero mongering baby-boomers who will never give anything Bob does until he dies less than 4 stars. In fact, they will go back and give every Dylan record they panned 5 stars retrospectively. Apparently, there is more accordion on this record than a bad night in Venice. You know what? We're cool with that. I like Southwestern stuff, like chipotle. And belt buckles. Look, it's Bob, we love Bob, we sometimes even love bad Bob. So there you have it. Thanks to Microphone Memory Emotion for pointing out a great list of Dylan covers posted at Paste. She also posted a nice mp3 of Nanci Griffith covering "Boots of Spanish Leather." Click here for it. Damn you Suze Rotolo and your stupid trip to Europe. (Kidding, we still think you're awesome.)

Avett Brothers to Release New Album + Tour Dates

Here is a, at times, blurred YouTube video of the Avett's title track, "I and Love and You." Pretty good sound though. You get the picture.

Brother face-off round one:

Avett Brothers vs. Felice Brothers.
North Carolina vs. New York City
I and Love and You (American/Columbia) vs. Yonder is the Clock (Team Love)
______

We envision a Lawson vs. Hill boys-style rumble (see: Drive By Truckers' "Decoration Day") if these two were to ever meet.

The Avett Brothers are scheduled on a 48 show tour promoting their newest release, I and Love and You which drops August 11 on American/Columbia; this will be the band's 10th studio release. At the production helm, who else, but Rick Rubin.

See tour dates after the jump.
THE AVETT BROTHERS ON TOUR:
4/16 Indianapolis, INThe Vogue
4/18 Chattanooga, TNTivoli Theatre
4/19 Orange Beach, ALThe Warf w/ Widespread Panic
4/22 Raleigh, NCTWC Music Pavilion w/ DMB
4/24 Charlotte, NCVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre w/ DMB
4/25 Birmingham, ALSloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
4/26 New Orleans, LANew Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
4/28 Alpharetta, GAVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre w/ DMB
4/29 Alpharetta, GAVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre w/ DMB
5/01 The Woodlands, TXThe Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion w/ DMB
5/02 Dallas, TXSuperpages.com Center w/ DMB
5/05 Albuquerque, NMJournal Pavilion w/ DMB
5/06 Phoenix, AZCricket Wireless Pavilion w/ DMB
5/07 Tucson, AZRialto Theatre
5/09 Los Angeles, CAHenry Fonda Theatre
5/10 Solana Beach, CABelly Up Tavern
5/12 Hanford, CAHanford Fox Theatre
5/14 Santa Cruz, CARio Theatre
5/15 San Francisco, CAThe Fillmore
5/16 San Francisco, CAThe Fillmore
5/20 Eugene, ORMcDonald Theatre
5/22 Portland, ORCrystal Ballroom
5/23 Portland, ORCrystal Ballroom
5/24 George, WASasquatch! Music Festival
5/30 Philadelphia, PATrocadero Theatre
6/11 Washington, DCLisner Auditorium
6/12 New York, NYFillmore @ Irving Plaza
6/13 New York, NYFillmore @ Irving Plaza
6/14 Rochester, NYWater Street Music Hall
6/16 Pittsburgh, PACarnegie Music Hall of Homestead
6/19 Akron, OHAkron Civic Theatre
6/20 Columbus, OHNewport Music Hall
6/21 Covington, KYThe Madison Theater
6/23 Lexington, KYKentucky Theatre
6/25 St. Louis, MOThe Pageant
6/26 Des Moines, IAHoyt Sherman Theatre
6/27 Minneapolis, MNMinnesota Zoo Amphitheater
6/28 Chicago, ILHouse of Blues
7/09 Norfolk, VAHarrison Opera House
7/10 Richmond, VAThe National
7/11 Roanoke, VARoanoke Performing Arts Theatre
7/12 Louisville, KYForecastle Festival
7/16 St. Augustine, FLSt. Augustine Amphitheater
7/17 Lake Buena Vista, FLHouse of Blues
7/18 Tampa, FLThe Cuban Club
7/19 Ft. Lauderdale, FLThe Parker Playhouse
7/24 Myrtle Beach, SCHouse of Blues
7/25 Myrtle Beach, SCHouse of Blues

Get the New Bob Dylan MP3 Now, Before it's Too Late

Bob Dylan's 46th career release, Together Through Life, drops April 28 on Columbia. From now until midnight tomorrow, an exclusive first track MP3 for the album is available HERE, on Bob Dylan's homepage. The tune titled, "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'," rollicks with the blues-infused power of previous efforts such as 2006's Modern Times. Highlighting a subdued brass section, accordion and vivacious guitar lines, Dylan jangles along in typical, modern day fashion. There isn't much departure from the newer, more grizzled sound of Dylan's vocals; we weren't expecting another life chapter here, but there is no lack in musical quality either... it's Bob fucking Dylan.*
Pre-order the album here.

* As the rock myth goes, there have been three Bob Dylans: the first died in the infamous motorcycle crash in Woodstock, and the next was so bad, Columbia had him killed. We are living through the third Dylan currently, and Together Through Life doesn't seem to be a mythical, posthumous release.

New Bob Dylan In April

We're not really sure where this came from, but Bob Dylan will have a record of 10 original songs coming out in late April on Columbia. Dylan's yet untitled effort comes quickly on the back of his truly amazing Tell Tale Signs --the eighth installment of the Bootleg Series. This will be his first collection of new material since 2006's Modern Times. According to Rolling Stone's description, the record sounds damn fine, and right up our alley. Some great surprise news for a Thursday.

The disc has the live-in-the-studio feel of Dylan's last two studio records, 2001's Love and Theft and 2006's Modern Times, but with a seductive border-cafe feel (courtesy of the accordion on every track) and an emphasis on struggling-love songs. The effect — in the opening shuffle, "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'," the Texas-dancehall jump of "If You Ever Go to Houston" and the waltz "This Dream of You" — is a gnarly turn on early-1970s records like New Morning and Planet Waves.

Photograph by Matthew Rolston

Ben Nichols Solo Album - Lucero Tour Dates

Yesterday, we received our first taste of Ben Nichols' (of Lucero) mini-LP The Last Pale Light in the West. Pale Light is based around stories culled from Cormac McCarthy's blood-filled, epic Blood Meridian. There are few out there whose gruff intensity could match the rawness and desperation found in most McCarthy novels, but for the most part, Nichols hits it right on the head. Sam Baker does a damn good job of it as well. Using a stripped-down band set-up (Accordion, Guitar, Pedal Steel, Cowboy boots and floor) Nichols attempts to conjure the desert landscapes, violence, and lonesome Mexican villages McCarthy describes in his novel. Oh yeah, don't forget about the ear necklace - that's in there too.

For big news about Nichols' band Lucero and to see when they are coming to your town - click that little continue reading button right below this sentence.



Good things do happen to small bands. Yet, for bands like Lucero it takes a LONG time. Lucero, through relentless rocking, has managed to score themselves a record deal with Universal Music. For all the cred being on an indie gets you, you can't deny the power of a major label's marketing campaign. (See Black Kids and My Morning Jacket). So I say, godspeed Lucero go forth and bring your rock to the people. Speaking of that: Lucero is opening for The Black Keys, see tour dates below. They play two nights in NY at Terminal 5 Feb. 6 & 7 and a show at the Mercury Lounge Feb. 8. The last time we saw Lucero at the Bowery, we left covered in spilled (and thrown) beer and did whiskey shots with Nichols at the bar downstairs. Trust us, they are worth the $10. Lucero's Universal debut is scheduled for summer '09.

Lucero - 2009 Tour Dates
Jan 23 - George's Majestic Lounge (18+) Fayetteville, Arkansas
Jan 24 - Brickhouse Grill Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jan 29 - The Lyric Theatre (18+) Oxford, Mississippi
Jan 30 - Mercy Lounge (21+) Nashville, Tennessee
Jan 31 - Mercy Lounge (21+) Nashville, Tennessee
Feb 5 - Ottobar (All Ages) Baltimore, Maryland
Feb 6 - Terminal 5 (w/ The Black Keys) NYC
Feb 7 - Terminal 5 (w/ The Black Keys) NYC
Feb 8 - Mercury Lounge, NYC
Feb 20 - Bottletree Cafe (18+) Birmingham, Alabama
Feb 21 - Barleys Taproom Knoxville, Tennessee
Mar 4 - Sluggos Pensacola, Florida
Mar 5 - Big Daddys Tallahassee, Florida
Mar 6 - New World Brewery (21+) Tampa, Florida
Mar 7 - Langerado Music Festival Miami, Florida
Mar 8 - Harvest of Hope Festival Elkton, Florida
Mar 10 - The Social (18+) Orlando, Florida
Mar 11 - The Pour House Charleston, South Carolina
Mar 12 - Rhythm and Brews Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mar 13 - Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia

2009: The Year of the Boss

Photo by Danny Clinch

Bruce Springsteen has got a hell of a year coming up in 2009. Already on cloud nine following the victory of his candidate of choice, President-Elect Barack Obama, and gearing up for a halftime performance on the world's biggest stage in Super Bowl 43, the Boss added another item to his agenda: the release of a brand new album. While already rumored for a few weeks, this morning the folks at Columbia made it official: Working on a Dream has been set for release on Jaunary 27 via the label.

Recorded with Brendan O'Brien and the E-Street band on the heels of last year's superb Magic, the twelve-song set features the rousing title track, a song the band has been playing live for the last month at campaign rallies. Says Springsteen: "All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end." Consider us stoked.

We've got the full track list and live video of "Working On A Dream" after the jump.


"Working on a Dream"

1. Outlaw Pete
2. My Lucky Day
3. Working on a Dream
4. Queen of the Supermarket
5. What Love Can Do
6. This Life
7. Good Eye
8. Tomorrow Never Knows
9. Life Itself
10. Kingdom of Days
11. Surprise, Surprise
12. The Last Carnival

Bonus tracks:
The Wrestler
A Night with the Jersey Devil


via YouTube

New Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 8 - "Tell Tale Signs"

Usually a widely celebrated event, the Bob Dylan camp announced today the release of the 8th installment of the Bootleg Series entitled Tell Tale Signs. This collection draws from the later era of Dylan's career ranging from albums Oh Mercy to 2006's Modern Times and features numerous outtakes and live versions of the songs contained therein. If you head to BobDylan.com and sign up, you can download the previously unreleased "Dreamin' of You" for free. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Columbia releases the three disc Tell Tale Signs on October 7th. Track listing after the jump...

Disc one:
"Mississippi" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"Most of the Time" (Alternate version, "Oh Mercy")
"Dignity" (Piano demo, "Oh Mercy")
"Someday Baby" (Alternate version, "Modern Times")
"Red River Shore" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"Tell 'Ole Bill" (Alternate version, "North Country" soundtrack)
"Born in Time" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"Can't Wait" (Alternate version, "Time Out of Mind")
"Everything is Broken" (Alternate version, "Oh Mercy")
"Dreamin' of You" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"Huck's Tune" (From "Lucky You" soundtrack)
"Marching to the City" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"High Water (For Charley Patton)" (Live, Niagara, 2003)

Disc two:
"Mississippi" (Unreleased version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"32-20 Blues" (Unreleased, "World Gone Wrong")
"Series of Dreams" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"God Knows" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"Can't Escape From You" (Unreleased, December 2005)
"Dignity" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"Ring Them Bells" (Live at the Supper Club, 1993)
"Cocaine Blue" (Live, Vienna, Va., 1997)
"Ain't Talkin'" (Alternate version, "Modern Times")
"The Girl On The Greenbriar Shore" (Live, 1992)
"Lonesome Day Blues" (Live, Sunrise, Fla., 2002)
"Miss the Mississippi" (Unreleased, 1992)
"The Lonesome River" (With Ralph Stanley, from "Clinch Mountain Country")
"'Cross The Green Mountain" (From "Gods and Generals" soundtrack)

Disc three:
"Duncan And Brady" (Unreleased, 1992)
Cold Irons Bound" (Live, Bonnaroo, June 2004)
"Mississippi" (Unreleased version #3, "Time Out of Mind")
"Most Of The Time" (Alternate version #2, "Oh Mercy")
"Ring Them Bells" (Alternate version, "Oh Mercy")
"Things Have Changed" (Live, Portland, Oregon, 2000)
"Red River Shore" (Unreleased version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"Born In Time" (Unreleased version #2, "Oh Mercy")
"Tryin' To Get To Heaven" (Live, London, 2000)
"Marchin' To The City" (Unreleased version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"Can't Wait" (Alternate version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"Mary And The Soldier" (Unreleased, "World Gone Wrong")

Kevin Snow Interview

STARK vs. KEVIN SNOW of THE BLACK KIDS 

Black Kids - "I'm not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend..." - mp3
Black Kids - "Hit the Heartbreaks" - mp3
Stark caught up with Black Kids drummer Kevin Snow at a monumental time in his musical career. For Snow and a bunch of twenty-somethings hailing from Jacksonville, Fl., signing to Columbia, touring Europe, playing Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and releasing their first full-length LP seemed phantasmal. Yet this seemingly unattainable reality takes shape as the Black Kids begin their tour of the world behind their debut LP Partie Traumatic. The blitzkrieg of fame hit the band as they struggled to find themselves, maturing from show-to-show. The Black Kids' rapidly successful evolution mirrors that of a new, emerging music-market place, where a five-song EP can get you signed.

The Black Kids epitomize new-media marketing and promotion. Remember when this quintet was staggering for shows, giving away their EP Wizard of Ahhhs for free, all while trying to mature as a cohesive band? Well you should because it was about a year ago. Today, it can happen that quickly. In speaking with Snow, he traces the band's immediate fruition point to one moment in time — one moment where the right person, with the right blog, began to create the whirlwind buzz that would soon envelope the Black Kids. From a free EP, to a Pitchfork rating of 8.4, to a signing with a major, Stark joins Snow as he recounts the band's aspirations and musical maturation of necessity.

Here, Snow remembers that single quintessential moment in the band's career as he spoke to us via phone:

"It was our first time playing outside of Jacksonville as Black Kids. We played Athens Pop Fest in Athens, Ga. It was a really small show — I guess it was last August. That was the first time we had given away any demos, so from there I guess there were a few bloggers in the crowd and they started writing about us. It sort of snowballed pretty quickly. You know there were certain key interviews like I think Vice was the first one to contact us to do an interview —it kind of happened very quickly through the Internet."

More Q&A with Kevin Snow of the Black Kids after the jump...

________

(Questions not in sequential order)

Stark: So the bulk of the band is from Jacksonville is that correct?

Kevin: Yeah. I think some of us were born if different places, but we all grew up there.

Stark: It was funny when I heard that I was like, ‘ there are not many bands with a sound such as yours coming out of Central Florida.’ I was wondering if there is some sort of kick ass underground music scene there we don’t know about.

Kevin: (Laughs) It's sort of like the least likely city for us to have come from. There is not much of a music scene there — it’s pretty small. It's pretty hard to support other bands. I guess it is the biggest city, land-wise in the continental U.S. It's hard to travel across town to see a band.

Stark: So where did you guys get most of your success? I know you played CMJ, and you released Wizard of Ahhhs for free on your website. Did you get a lot of press from that? I know Pitchfork did a review on you guys. Where do you think the bulk the success of Wizard of Ahhhs came from?

Kevin: Well there was a specific moment actually. It was our first time playing outside of Jacksonville as Black Kids. We played Athens Pop Fest in Athens, Ga. It was a really small show — I guess it was last August. That was the first time we had given away any demos, so from there I guess there were a few bloggers in the crowd and they started writing about us. It sort of snowballed pretty quickly. You know there were certain key interviews like I think Vice was the first one to contact us to do an interview — it kind of happened very quickly through the Internet.

Stark: Do you think that sort of “blogger buzz” that was created by that EP made the songwriting and recording of your newest album, Partie Traumatic a little easier?

Kevin: The bulk of the songs had already been written by that time. Actually, I remember at the Athens Pop Fest most of the tracks that were on the album, we played that day. That wasn’t really an issue at that point for the album. One thing we aren’t sure about yet, is writing the next album. For this album, it was written as we were just kicking about in Jacksonville.

Stark: Was it one of those albums where once it was released you were sort of past those songs and ready to move on?

Kevin: No I don’t think we have that feeling so much. The album just came out this month so I think we are fine just playing these songs for now. (Laughs.) Ask me again in a couple months.

Stark: Do you think about playing a song live when you are writing it and recording it?

Kevin: Yeah I think we are more of a live minded band, as opposed to ‘what kind of tricks can we do in the studio.’ It is very much like ‘OK we are five people behind our instruments. Like OK let’s build a song based on that.’ Where as a lot of albums are made with one guy sitting behind a computer. We may end up evolving into something like that at some point.

Stark: So you guys are getting ready for that big tour you are going on. That’s an insane amount of dates you are playing. You’re going from about now until November playing in and out of Europe and the States.

Kevin: Yeah. This entire year from January to the end of the year has been pretty much non-stop touring, which has been great for us. Much needed because we had just played like once or twice a month back home in Jacksonville. It has just been like developing our live show and of course playing in front of fans. That’s why we are here you know?

Stark: When you’re on tour do you ever get that feeling like ‘ wow we finally made it?’ You know, breathe a little sigh of relief when you step on stage sometimes or do you feel like you still have a lot of work to do?

Kevin: I think we still visualize ourselves kind of like looking ahead. I don’t think we have sat back and said ‘alright we finally made it.’ There still is a lot to do and as a band we are constantly trying to improve and get better at our instruments and be a tighter unit. Every night it’s a challenge and an opportunity to be like ‘ oh how can we work the crowd?’ It’s a different experience every night. I really hope we never become a band where it’s like the same every night. Where is becomes almost job and boring — at that point it’s like you might as well hang it up.

Stark: So you are finding hard to sustain on this tour? Do you guys think you are pretty prepared to go on the road like this?

Kevin: There are definitely times where it feels a bit overwhelming. We’ve learned that the most important thing is to take care of ourselves physically. Get a lot of sleep, or get a good amount of sleep and eat well. There’s been moments where we have just felt like physically exhausted. But yeah it is all for a good cause. We’re willing to sacrifice our well-beings.

Stark: So, you don’t feel like the band was unprepared in anyway for the sort of sudden influx of press you received after the EP was really picked up on the blogs and Pitchfork gave it such a great rating of 8.4. Did it hit you guys kind of hard or was it like ‘let’s step back and attack this thing head on?’

Kevin: It was funny — it was the thing we were always working towards, but we kind of expected it to be much longer. You know, sign to a smaller indie label, tour the U.S. for two or three years before anyone started caring. (Laughs.) So we didn’t expect it at that level of intensity, but all five of us were in it for the long haul.

Stark: That’s what you strive for.

Kevin: (Laughs.) We were like you know ‘bring it on.’ (Laughs.) We would rather take on everything we can.

Stark: So what was the experience like signing to Sony? Did it live up to your expectations, signing to a major record label?

Kevin: Of course coming from, you know being fans of indie labels, there was that certain amount of skepticism. But after talking with the guys at Columbia and Sony, we felt real good about…we had the impression that they were actively trying to combat the bad reputation the labels have had over the past 50 years (laughs.) Seems in recent history that they have been signing more exciting acts and have been involved with the Internet and what not. But it felt like a good match.

Stark: Well you guys are perfect for them then.

Kevin: (Laughs.) Well thank you. Ultimately we're not interested in being a ‘small indie rock band.’ We write pop songs that we want people to hear.

Stark: What’s the pulse like in the UK for you guys? Is there a real strong draw maybe more so there than in the States, or vice versa?

Kevin: It’s a different atmosphere for us. It’s strange, like over there we’re actually on the pop charts. Our first single the “Boyfriend” single was number 11 on the charts over there. And “Hurricane Jane” was top 40. So it’s weird — we still feel like this kind of small band, but I guess more people have heard of us over there. We play these festivals and there are these big crowds and people know the words. (Laughs.) It’s a very strange feeling for us. Coming back to the U.S. it's just different. We are hoping that of course people will get the album and like it and learn the words — as time will tell.

Stark: So sort of a stock question but how did the name Black Kids come about?

Kevin: You know there is the initial challenge of course when forming a band for coming up with a good band name. The majority of good band names have been taken up already. That one was suggested when we were talking about potential names and we weren’t sure about it at first, but it sort of kept popping up in different places —in a song that we had heard by this band called Hefner — it was in the chorus — in a couple conversations. We’re not really superstitious, but…

Stark: Everything kept circling back around to it.

Kevin: Yeah, yeah in a Freaky Friday sort of way. So we decided to take a hint from the universe and just got with it.

Stark: It has worked out pretty well for you guys.

Stark: So, what have you been listening to lately? Anything good come across your way?

Kevin: New stuff?

Stark: Anything you have been listening to on tour, or anybody you think is of note.

Kevin: I typically draw a blank when I am asked that question (laughs.)

Stark: Yeah me too. I am a music writer and people ask me what I am listening to and I'm like ‘ you know what I don’t know.’

Kevin: (Laughs) That’s a great question. For me I tend to go through cycles where I’ll listen to a lot of newer bands for a few weeks and then I’ll just kind of stop and listen to nothing but like ‘60s music. Right now I think I am still in a phase where I am just listening to…I don’t know Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits. (Laughs.) Just like random stuff. Lately I have been listening to Magnetic Fields a lot. We went to a show of theirs while we were in London a couple weeks back. I mean I was a fan before that, but that was the first time I had seen them live so that caused me to pull out a lot of my Magnetic Fields records... sort of been listening to that a lot. Also Jens Lekman — I am a huge fan of his.

Stark: What are you looking forward to the most in these upcoming weeks? What are you most excited about coming up?

Kevin: We're excited to be back in the U.S. after being overseas for so long. I think all of us…we just love it here. I mean going across country is a great way to spend most of your time. Also we have been doing a lot of those festivals in the U.K. and Europe and those have been fabulous and we love doing those.

Stark: Do you have anything else you want to add? Anything about the album? Anything on the album that you are most proud of?

Kevin: Our album in general, is one that we purposefully didn’t want any filler on it. I mean I doubt any band trys to put filler on their album, but we approached it with a mind set of we wanted ten solid songs where each one could be a single potentially. We're very proud of it.

Stark: You think you definitely achieved that?

Kevin: Yeah. We are proud of it. But we are already thinking about the next album. We’ll probably never feel like ‘OK we’re done,’ maybe a couple years from now. We're very proud of this album, but we’re excited about what we can do with the next album you know.

Stark: You guys have already started doing a little writing probably. Is it tough to write on the road? Is it easier?

Kevin: It’s tough. There is actually no time for us to get together as a band and you know write. We're just constantly busy. We aren’t really sure yet how that is going to pan out. We're wondering like ‘when are we going to write the next record?’

Stark: Thanks a lot for speaking with me and I really dig the album.

Kevin: Well thanks a lot. Play it really loudly.

***S***

The Avett Brothers Go Major

The Avett Brothers, everyone's favorite bluegrass punks, have ditched their long-time home, Ramseur Records, in favor of greener pastures (read: makin' dem duckets) In a surprising move, the North Carolina act has signed to American Recordings/Columbia. A letter to fans via their Web site also reveals that the Avett boys are recording their next full length with none other than this man:

Rick Rubin.

The choice is appropriate in the sense that Rubin is the big kahuna at Columbia, but I hope their music doesn't suffer because of it. Look, the dude's a legend, and he's done some brilliant things (revitalize Johnny Cash, help bring the world hip hop) but he also has a knack for sometimes ruining records (here's looking at you, Weezer.) Let's hope this all works out, because The Avetts' raw Emotionalism was in my top five of last year, and the follow-up is on my shortlist for most anticipated. I'm trusting you, Rick. Leave the banjos be, and please, no breakbeats.

Meanwhile, the band's new EP, The Second Gleam, will be their last release for Ramseur and is in stores July 22.

-Andrew Daniels