VIDEO: E*Rock Interview on XLR8R

I'm a big fan of the various projects E*Rock is involved with (see here, here, here), so this interview on XLR8R is a treat. It's part of the Portland-centric issue, and there's more interviews/clips/etc over on their website. Anyhow, dude is talented.

[E*Rock official website.]
[E*Rock on myspace.]
[Audio Dregs official website.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

Tags: erock, interview, portland, video, xlr8r

MUSIC: Panther (new song!)

It's officially time to begin the countdown to Panther's new full-length album. The now-duo, recently signed to Kill Rock Stars, will drop 14 KT GOD on February 22nd. Although this track was just posted on a blog with a heavier readership, I thought I'd pass it along to the infinitely smaller (but infinitely better looking) readers of macktronic. Enjoy the complex danceable stylings of these brilliant guys.

::: Panther - Puerto Rican Jukebox

You can buy Panther's debut LP through Fryk Beat. It's fantastic. Also, get your hands on the limited edition vinyl-only single released by Gold Robot Records. It includes an alternate version of the album track "How Well Can You Swim" and the unreleased track "Burning". Do check it out.

[Panther on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; free 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to puhitos.]

Tags: kill rock stars, mp3, music, panther, portland

MUSIC: Glass Candy

Last Thursday I was at The Fillmore in SF to catch Panther (always awesome) open for Architecture in Helsinki (who were great), but what I didn't know was that I'd walk away with a new musical obsession. Glass Candy (Ida No and Johnny Jewel) hit me square in the face with death/disco/electronica; their show sounded amazing, their stage presence looked perfect. They've got 4 songs for free download over at their myspace page, here are the first two.

::: Glass Candy - Beautific (f/ 2007 Beatbox Tour CD)
::: Glass Candy - Digital Versicolor (f/ 2007 Beatbox Tour CD)

There is an absolute wealth of free downloads from previous Tour CDR's, sold-out 7-inch releases, and demos over at Glass Candy's official website. It's an absolute joy to see the songs take on new lives, following the growth and progression of a band. This website provided me with all kinds of excitement (I love the presentation and free distribution). Here are a couple sample tracks from an old tour CDR.

::: Glass Candy - Nite Nurses (f/ 2005 Tour CDR)
::: Glass Candy - Sugar & Whitebread (f/ 2005 Tour CDR)

As a thank you to the band for providing all those free tracks, you should buy a 7" single or CD, they've got a fantastic back catalog available. They've also got a new 12" out on Italians Do It Better, which you can pick up here. I would also suggest catching up with them on their current tour, which hits up most of the western states soon.

Nov 6 (Los Angeles @ The Troubador)
Nov 7 (Los Angeles @ The Troubador)
Nov 9 (Tucson @ Realto Theatre)
Nov 10 (Santa Fe @ The Moon)
Nov 12 (Norman @ Opolis)
Nov 13 (Denton @ Hailey's)
Nov 14 (Austin @ Emo's)
Nov 15 (New Orleans @ Republic)
Nov 17 (Houston @ The Backroom)
Nov 23 (Los Angeles @ Weekend Warriors)
Nov 24 (San Francisco @ Frisco Disco)
Nov 29 (Seattle @ Chop Suey)
Nov 30 (Portland @ Rotture)
Dec 7 (Miami @ Art Basel)

The most recent list will be up on their myspace page.

[Glass Candy official website.]
[Glass Candy on myspace.]
[Current Macktronic Contest.]
[Download Music from eMusic; free 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to dearestchloe.]

Tags: mp3, music, glass candy, portland, panther, tour, electronica, death disco

COVER: The Thermals on Elliott Smith

Even though I mistakenly thought Elliott Smith recently had a birthday (I'm going to blame it on bad internet information), I still recently revisited his entire catalog. Just an amazingly missed artist. I really would love to visit the mural shown in the picture above in Portland. A tribute album from Portland artists as released last year, including this track by The Thermals. It's a straightforward cover of the original, but they do the song proper justice.

::: The Thermals - Ballad of Big Nothing (Elliott Smith cover)

You can buy the whole tribute album here.

[The Thermals on myspace.]
[Gold Robot Records on myspace.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to idiot-kid.]

Tags: mp3, music, portland, elliott smith, thermals, cover

MUSIC: Main Sequence

I posted a while back on a project out of Portland called Bridgetown Breaks. Out of the same crew comes a new album by Main Sequence called The Ownership Society. Instead of drum beats intended for sampling, this album is fully constructed of samples, sound bites, and cuts. The end result is arresting and involved; you can virtually hear the amount of effort and thought that went into the process. Two tracks on the album feature original vocals by Loc Thiese, one of which is provided below. It's my favorite on the album.

::: Main Sequence - Pay to Play (feat. Loc Thiese)

You can also check out more tracks at the websites for Main Sequence linked below.

[Main Sequence official website.]
[Main Sequence on myspace.]
[Current Macktronic Contest = Free Stuff.]
[Gold Robot Records on myspace.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to placeinsun.]

Tags: mp3, music, main sequence, portland

LAUNCH: Gold Robot Records

So there's been some changes around here at Macktronic. The focus and design have slowly been evolving, and probably will continue to do so throughout the history of this project. One offshoot of the endeavor is that I've decided to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, and start a record label...... Gold Robot Records. The focus of GRR is small run vinyl releases with a focus on independent musicians, artists, printmakers, and designers. It's a non-profit project, with all proceeds going to the making of the next release.

We've got two 7 inch releases this month. GRR001 is by Oakland's Roman Ruins, an electro/pop/rock artist that crafts intricate and powerful songs. GRR002 features Portland's Panther and all of his dance/funk talent. Both musicians are extremely talented with full-length releases on other labels in the works. Check out the A-side tracks here, and buy an album afterwords.

::: Roman Ruins - Releasing Me [from GRR001]
::: Panther - How Well Can You Swim [from GRR002]

Order a seven inch of both artists, support the creative folks who make independent music, and spread the word.

For those of you in the Bay Area, we've got a launch party for GRR001 on Friday Feb 16 at Space Gallery in San Francisco. Music sets by Roman Ruins, Jones + Height (Baltimore), and The Parish (Oakland) plus many local artists including Rhea Fontaine, Marlon Ingram, Bruk Dunbar, Andrew Venell, Hunter Mack, Kerri Johnson, and Jason Byers. Music starts at 10PM.

Panther is dropping his full-length album on Fryk Beat in early March, titled Secret Lawns. Roman Ruins debut full-length is due out later this year on Daly City Records. Hear more music from both artists on their myspace sites linked below, and be GRR's friend as well.

[Gold Robot Records official website.]
[Gold Robot Records on myspace.]
[Roman Ruins on myspace.]
[Panther on myspace.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to tubes.]

Tags: mp3, music, macktronic, panther, roman ruins, san francisco, bay area, oakland, portland, independent, the parish, jones, height, elctronica, rock, space gallery, vinyl, record label, new, awesome