Although he's perhaps most well-known for his heart-moving sets at music festivals (Bonnaroo, Sasquatch, now Coachella), Brett Dennen's been playing to a different kind of crowd lately. Fresh from a performance on the 'Jimmy Kimmel Show,' Dennen rolled into Park City, UT this past weekend for a showcase at the Sundance Film Festival. He wasn't there to plug a film, and although it was his second Sundance, he still has yet to see a film at the festival.
"It's not as if you can just stumble into a movie with a beer," Dennen tells Spinner. "It's a little more highly respected and guarded. A little more formal."
As for his set, which he performed at the ASCAP Music Café, the crowd was also a little more formal than normal. "Here at Sundance, a lot of the music is under consideration for film, or any networking possibilities, so I think people take it a little more seriously in terms of listening and analyzing and comparing," Dennen says. "Whereas at an outdoor music festival, it's more about getting drunk, dancing and having a good time."
Brett Dennen Finds a New Crowd at Sundance
Jack Johnson, 'If I Had Eyes' - Video Premiere
In preparation for the release of 'Sleep Through the Static,' Jack Johnson prepared a back to basics video for the album's first single 'If I Had Eyes.' Keeping it in the Brushfire family, Johnson turned the directorial duties to the Malloys, who shot the video inside Brushfire's solar-powered studio. The video contains animated layered images of the album's artwork. Have an exclusive look at the video and learn more about learn more about Green Because You Can.
The Mountain Goats, 'Sax Rohmer #1' - Video Premiere
John Darnielle and the Mountain Goats teamed with directors Ace Norton for their 'Sax Rohmer #1' video. The lead single from their forthcoming 'Heretic Pride' is a creative lyric driven look at the tune is a modern day on Dylan's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues.'
"John's a fantastic lyricist. He's one of those few artists where you really pay attention to what he's saying when listening to his music," Norton tells Spinner. The video features hand painted sets all captured in one shot. Get your Mountain Goats karaoke on 'Sax Rohmer #1,'
Ryan Adams Heckles Heckling Fan
Songwriting superhero Ryan Adams is fond of telling the music press lately that he plans on making the Cardinals' current line-up his permanent band and he's even uncomfortable still being called a solo artist. But last night at the Marin Center in San Rafael, Calif., all eyes were clearly on him as he "led" the Cardinals through two sets of original material, before kicking off the encore with a solo piano version of 'Sylvia Plath.'
Still, Adams refused to be seen in the spotlight -- quite literally. The musicians were all backlit and shrouded in an ever-changing mosaic of mood lighting. When a heckling fan complained that she couldn't see Adams' face, he held up a lighter and suggested she "go see Coldplay" instead. She stayed. It was the right decision. The Cardinals "featuring Ryan Adams" jammed out, slaying song after song like one unified beast of rock 'n' roll. Yeah, keep them, Ryan.
The DL: Prog in One Minute
For all of you who think Genesis broke on the music scene with 'I Can't Dance,' consider this your wake-up call. Welcome to the world of Prog(ressive) Rock, where dragons, wizards and whales are channeled through 90-minute mellotron solos and egos are the size of a Pink Floyd inflatable pig. Put on your space suit and shine up your broadsword because its time to get acquainted with the rock subgenre with more chops then a Benny Hanna chef on speed.
Dap-Kings Flying to L.A. for Winehouse Grammy Performance
Despite Amy Winehouse's personal turmoil, the Grammy-nominated soulstress might actually make an appearance in Los Angeles for music's biggest night on February 10. While word on the street earlier this week was that Winehouse would be a no-show, members her Dap-Kings band are have heard otherwise and are planning to make their way West for the performance.
"Where it stands now is we [the Dap-Kings] are booked to play with her," Dap-King Tommy Brenneck tells Spinner. "She's bailed on us before so it wouldn't be a surprise, but I'm hoping for the best. Also, because Ronson is trying to put that after party together with everyone: the Dap-kings -- with both Amy and Sharon Jones -- the Budos Band with Wale and the Menahan Street Band with Jay-Z. Let's just hope the Grammys don't get canceled because of the writers strike."
Soulive Guitarist Leads Fans to Mayan Ruins
As the guitarist in Soulive, Eric Krasno has opened for the Rolling Stones, recorded with Dave Matthews and helped inspire the revival of Stax Records. But he's never been to the Mayan ruins. That is, until last week when he led a group of fans -- camp counselor style -- in Cozumel, Mexico, to the ancient grounds, followed by an afternoon of snorkeling. The expedition was part of Jam Cruise, a five day "floating music festival" which also had a port stop in Honduras before the ship disembarked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
"I've always wanted to see the Mayan ruins and I love snorkeling," Krasno tells Spinner. "It's a cool opportunity to see some cool stuff."
Each Jam Cruise features a different itinerary to mostly Caribbean locations, and Krasno is a veteran of the festival. In addition to Soulive's two performances on this year's venture, Krasno became a usual suspect in the informal all-night jams that took place in one of the vessel's lounges. "It's a dream to be on the ship," he says. "My girlfriend loves to do the excursions and I dig it too. It's like a cool vacation."
Jay-Z Riffs Off Brooklyn's Mehanan Street Band
Tommy "TNT" Brenneck has been trotting the globe with the likes of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Amy Winehouse and the Budos Band, and as if that weren't enough, Brenneck and some fellow soul purists took their lo-fi aesthetics to another level with a new venture: the Mehanan Street Band. Brenneck's production deep soul debut is merely a 7" -- titled 'Make the Road By Walking' -- recorded modestly in his bedroom on Mehanan Street in Bushwick -- which is what the band is all about. And then Jay-Z came knocking.
"It was a fluke," Brenneck explains to Spinner Jigga's use of 'Making' for the rapper's 2007 smash, 'Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)' from the 'American Gangster' album. "Diddy's production team the Hitmen picked up the 45 at Big City Records and Diddy and pitched it to Jay-Z."
Scissor Sisters Hit the Studio to Work on New Album
It's only early days, but the Scissor Sisters are back in their studio, working on the follow up to 2006's 'Ta-Dah!' "Just started," frontman Jake Shears tells Spinner. "We took a month or two [off] -- kind of getting back into the city, moved into a new place. And now, we're kind of going on this Scissor stuff."
The flashy New York City five-piece are currently forcing themselves to hit the studio on a daily basis, to pen a host of new tunes. So far, Shears said they've come up with a handful of new "really dancy" pop numbers and at least one sparkling rendition of someone else's song.
"We've started out with a really cool cover, which I'm not even gonna say what it is," Shears says coyly. "I mean, no one would know anyway. It's a pretty obscure song."
One song Shears was willing to hint at was a track he and guitarist Baby Daddy wrote with Aussie pop star Kylie Minogue. Originally written for Minogue's album, Shears said the Sisters might take it back for their own effort. "There's a great song that we wrote together that is definitely in the experimental vein," he says. "It's a song that I love and I think Scissors might record it."
Warren Haynes Gets a Little Help From His Sea-Bound Friends
True to the name Jam Cruise, when Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule, Allman Bros.) performed twice on a cruise vessel en route to Honduras from Fort Lauderdale last week, he welcomed several of the other passengers to the stage, including rock princess Grace Potter, funk royalty Ivan Neville and saxophone extraordinaire Karl Denson (Lenny Kravitz, Greyboy Allstars). The rockers teamed for a batch of covers that included the Rolling Stones' 'Wild Horses' and Van Morrison's 'Into the Mystic.' Fittingly, Potter elevated Haynes' encore with a version of Fleetwood Mac's 'Gold Dust Woman' a day before she partnered with Sharon Jones for a panel discussion on 'Women in Rock.' The panel was part of Jam Cruise's extracurricular activities.
Speaking to Spinner from one of the ship's buffet-style restaurants, while signing posters for fans, Haynes reflected on the sea-bound adventure. "It's a very unique experience because everyone on the entire ship is here for the same reason and for the same experience," he said. "It's a rare opportunity that you get audience and musicians all in one place with the same spirit. And of course, you're out at sea, so there are no distractions. It's been really fun."
The DL: Spank Rock Presents Songs to Get It On
The DL is always in the mood and looking for the right music for the right moment. With the help of Spank Rock, we might have created the perfect soundtrack for those dirty birds trying to get their beaks wet. But be warned -- this is not for the limp at heart.
Louis XIV, 'Air Traffic Control' - Video Exclusive
In preparation for their latest album 'Slick Dogs and Ponies,' due later this month, Louis XIV took to the studio for bare-bones performance of the new tune, 'Air Traffic Control.' The garage rockers swapped their drum kit for some violins to showcase what's coming in 2008. Get a sneak peak, exclusively on Spinner.
Meanwhile, Louis XIV will embark on a tour with Hot Hot Heat and the Editors, beginning today in Norfolk, Virginia. Keep reading for the full list of dates.
Steve Earle Talks Through 'The Wire'
Rebel folk-fusion pioneer Steve Earle can be heard performing this year's theme for the acclaimed HBO drama 'The Wire,' with his twangy take on Tom Waits' 1987 classic, 'Way Down in the Hole.' Earle is no stranger to the show, having starred as Waylon, a recovering drug addict who leads a 12-step program. "I didn't have to act," Earle, a recovering addict, tells Spinner. "Playing Waylon is like going to a 12 step meeting and getting paid for it."
