UNUSUAL ANIMALS IN VINYL AND REAL LIFE
March 12th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Unusual Animals is appearing in two forms over the next few weeks. Last Tuesday, we released the second volume in vinyl, which features Castanets on one side and the Dirty Projectors on the other. The album is available for purchase and has a full, free stream here. But for those who don’t have a device that translates grooves in vinyl to sound, Asthmatic Kitty and KTRU Radio are presenting the Unusual Animals show at SXSW on Saturday, March 17th at Okay Mountain Gallery (1312 E Cesar Chavez) from 1-8PM.
With a stellar music line-up curated by Nick Hennies of The Weird Weeds, the show celebrates Texas music and businesses reminding us why Austin is such a great place the other 51 weeks of the year. This completely free daytime show features a stellar music lineup with Texas bands Peter & the Wolf, The Weird Weeds, The Theater Fire, W-S Burn, and The Field Guides along with some very special guests from New York City, The Shivers (first time performing outside of NYC) and Asthmatic Kitty recording artist Castanets. As if that weren’t enough, local Austin/Houston businesses Goodflow Juice, Saint Arnold’s Root Beer, and Miles of Chocolate Chocolatiers will be providing complimentary beverages and sweets for all to enjoy. This is a truly unique event among the seemingly endless number of events during SXSW that should not be missed!
Full schedule:
1:00pm – The Field Guides
2:00pm – W-S Burn
3:00pm – The Theater Fire
4:00pm – The Weird Weeds
5:00pm – The Shivers
6:00pm – Peter & the Wolf
7:00pm – Castanets
Jared Chapman, the illustrator behind the cover art of the albums, has also done the promotional poster, viewable here.
A HALF-WEEK OF MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND
March 10th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Last month we ran a Half-Week of Rafter Love to celebrate Valentine’s Day and the release of his new album, Music for Total Chickens. Due to the half-week’s wild success, we thought we’d turn a gimmick into a legacy! This week, My Brightest Diamond’s remix album Tear it Down, hits the stands worldwide. So, all this half-week (beginning Wednesday March 7 to Saturday March 10) we’ll run a veritable cornucopia of My Brightest Diamond related content: interviews, pictures, AKRadio playlists, videos – surprises all around!
AKRADIO GETS SHINY
March 9th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Thanks to My Brightest Diamond, AKRadio now has a bit more class. Shara Worden has added two sets of tracks. The first, from her performance at Session Planet Claire, demonstrates that the magic in her voice has nothing to do with a soundboard in a studio. The second set predates My Brightest Diamond to her previous work in AwRY. A small intrepid band of New York DJs took to remixing some AwRY cuts, and Shara has released them into the Great Internet Stream, which just happens to pass right through AKRadio central. Click on the "akradio" just beneath our banner to launch.
SHARA PLAYS IN THE FOREST AND SOMEONE HEARS IT
March 9th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Ok, this isn’t so much Tear it Down material as it is Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond doing what she does best: being awesome. But that’s ok, because it’s beautiful and haunting all in one nice little YouTubed package. See the original feature and a better quality video at La Blogotheque.
CHRIS ANDERSON VISUALIZES A MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND REMIX
March 8th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Video by Chris Anderson to an excerpt of Kenny Mitchell’s remix of "Freak Out" from the album Tear It Down.
MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND IS A DANCING CRIME FIGHTER
March 7th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Video directed by Vaj Potenza to an excerpt of Gold Chain’s remix of "Freak Out" from the album Tear It Down.
HAPPY CASIMIR PULASKI DAY!
March 5th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Put on your Polka dots and broil a few sausages! It’s Casimir Pulaski Day! Who was this Polish American War General and why do we have so many bridges and tunnels named after him? Good questions. Outdated biographies and internet history sites tells us this much:
Born into a wealthy family in Poland in 1747, Casimir Pulaski, as a young man, fought for freedom from Russia in his homeland until 1771, when he was exiled to France. In Paris he met American envoy Benjamin Franklin, who influenced him to help Americans fight for their independence. Washington was so impressed with Pulaski’s abilities during the Battle of Brandywine Creek that he recommended the Continental Congress appoint Pulaski as general of the American cavalry. In 1778, Pulaski organized an independent corps of cavalry and light infantry known as the Pulaski Legion. It is reported that he spent $50,000 of his own money to help train and equip his troops.
"I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it," wrote Casimir Pulaski to George Washington in a letter in which he offered his military services to America during the Revolutionary War. He proved true to his word. At age 32, his heroic death at the Battle of Savannah on October 11, 1779 was received with sorrow across the land. General Pulaski’s life represents the dedication of countless Americans of Polish and other ethnic origins to the principles of personal liberty and independence, which have always defined the spirit of the United States of America.
Amen, brother!
Fast Fact: Illinois is the only state to officially recognize Casimir Pulaski Day, which falls on the first Monday of March. School is out!
In celebration, we’ve decided to post an early home demo of the song “Casimir Pulaski Day,” from Sufjan’s Illinois album, with clumsy banjo and slightly different lyrics. Q. What does the speaker consider doing “when your father found out what we did that night?" A. Pulling his hair and kicking him in the face! Woah. We’re not condoling violence in any way. But perhaps Casimir Pulakski, a remarkable fighter, would approve.
RAFTER: STILL LOVING IT
March 3rd, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Just over two weeks ago, we particpated in the great experiment that was the Rafter Half-Week of Love. To celebrate the release of his Music for Total Chickens, and St. Valentine’s Day, we posted some kind of content each day, be it a song, video, or sidebar. Lost At Sea Magazine even interviewed him!
The half-week ended – too quickly, as half-weeks often do – but that doesn’t mean Rafter has stopped his loving! He sent this sidebar that is half invitation, half exhortation, treatise, and all love! Love on, Rafter. Love on.
AKRADIO: NOW WITH MORE SXSW THAN EVER
March 1st, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
A couple of weeks ago we launched AKRadio, our new internet music player accessible via the link you see just below our logo. We started with a few Rafter cuts, but promised more content. We love to follow up on promises, and so, without further ado, here is a new playlist stocked with SXSW goodness. This carefully crafted playlist features artists from our upcoming Austin, TX showcase, who have generously provided some exclusive content accessible only on AKRadio.
We are also pleased to announce that our showcase is now sponsored by both Daytrotter and KTRU Houston. KTRU Houston will also be sponsoring our Unusual Animals Day Party. See the tour page for more details.
The playlist includes:
- Performances from My Brightest Diamond and Castanets for Daytrotter, a sponsor of our showcase (thanks Daytrotter!)
- A Castanets cover of “Like a Pen” by the ever-popular Scandinavaian band The Knife
- Shapes and Sizes provide an outtake from their forthcoming album “Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner,” due May 22nd
- Rafter offers up the previously unreleased track "Yum Yum”
- A cover of a Baby Dee song from Austin’s Weird Weeds
- "Daemon Meeting," a previously unreleased track by K-Records artists Old Time Relijun
- A two song introduction to the up-and-coming Austin band The Field Guides (they’ve even penned a recent sidebar entry, which you can read here)
KATIE JUNG: SHAPES AND SIZES
February 23rd, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
The video of Shapes and Sizes’ "Jinker/That Fat Hand" is crafted by Katie Jung. The song is available on the Unusual Animals Shapes and Sizes Vinyl Series Volume 1. This exclusive 7 inch is only available in two places: from our mail-order, or from Shapes and Sizes themselves! Hey, they’re stocked with exclusives; they also have a limited print tour EP somewhere in those merchandise boxes. Catch them, this 7 inch, and the exclusive EP on their tour with the Castanets.