Paleface Interview Before Florida Tour

Photo by Staton Carter

As the North Carolina-based duo begins its five-date Florida tour, Paleface, the duo and its namesake guitarist, continues its push from the perimeter of the music scene to a spotlight.  

Probably best known for his associations - such as learning songwriting from Daniel Johnston, influencing Beck and Kimya Dawson, helping create the anti-folk scene and writing for the Avett Brothers -  the high-energy Paleface with drummer/partner Monica "Mo" Samalot is drawing well-deserved attention with their latest album, One Big Party. The album is joyous neo-folk being drawn through a classic rock filter.  The catchy-as-hell shuffle, "Rock N Roll' (featured below) will leave you blithely humming for days.  

Before heading to Florida, Paleface gave After Hours a few moments to discuss music, touring and the popularity of duos:

AFTER HOURS: You have been most closely associated with the “anti-folk” label, what does that term mean to you?  How would you classify your music?

PALEFACE: Anti-folk was a term jokingly used by folk musicians in New York who were into punk and couldn't get gigs at the established folk clubs in the city who just wanted Baez and Seeger re-runs. Because it was the new folk music, it ended up taking over and those old clubs that didn't adapt closed. I see that music everywhere - its really just folk music that knows the past but wants to do something itself that's new. M

y music is just my art so I don't really need to classify it in general. If people can feel something or be moved by it then I'm happy.

How your approach to music or the music business changes with the digitalization of music?  Has touring become more important during this time when the music business is in such upheaval?

Touring is the most important thing. It's the only way to earn a living doing music at the moment. Some are lucky enough to get money from advertisers which can really help supplement.  20 years ago that would have been unthinkable - the kiss of death for any band or "serious" artist. Now it's commonplace. 

It's weird when something you grew up with disappears in front of your eyes.The rock star dream is still out there but its pretty limited to the american idol wanna-be types now. Probably not anymore Kurt Cobains to be heard from. And not too many people underneath that make a great living either. It's kinda all or nothing these days - like the rest of the country - fewer and fewer people are getting the pot of gold. But things could change when you least expect them to so- Who Knows!?!

Your new album is more upbeat, having more of a classic rock foundation with pop overtones, than your previous work.  What brought about this direction

I thought of the last 3 records as kind of a trilogy. A Different Story was kinda of like an indie-americana album and The Show Is On The Road  was like a DIY folk record....One Big Party just kinda happened that way - an american classic rock goodbye if you will - i tried to picture the songs going out over a large audience and how they would sound to the person in the parking lot. Would they be able to recognize the song from there? Would it travel that far? I think that's one of the reasons classic rock has lasted so long - it traveled through the air well. 

With your second album as a duo, do you have an explanation on the current popularity of man/woman duets  such as She & Him, Jenny and Johnny, Mates of State, etc.?

ECONOMICS! 

You have been on tour since October in support of One Big Party, do you travel well together?

We are both thankful to be doing what we are doing. It gets hard sometimes with the long drives but it comes with the territory - its accepted and expected that its not all going to be roses and parade rides.

Thank you for coming to Florida.  At times, we feel like we are off the beaten path with regards to seeing quality bands live. What can people expect when they come out to see you in Florida?

We'll try to have as much fun as possible playing and hopefully people will join in with us. 

2011 Florida Tour

Joining Paleface through the Sunshine State will be After Hours favorite Lauris Vidal.

Feb. 17: DeLand, FL @ Nest

Feb. 18: Gainesville, FL @ Durty Nelly's

Feb. 19: Tampa, FL @ Ella's Folk Art Cafe 

Feb. 20: Orlando, FL @ Will's Pub

Feb. 24: Delray Beach, FL @ Dada

Feb. 25: Fort Lauderdale, FL @ The Monterey Club

Paleface - "Rock N Roll" from DUKE STREET on Vimeo.

“Rock N Roll” by Paleface (mp3)(iTunes)(Paleface Online)

South Florida Concert Outlook: Bright Eyes Return to Miami

In one of the more anticipated concerts at After Hours HQ, Bright Eyes returns to Miami this spring in what may be Conor Oberst's last turn with the ocular moniker.  The prolific songwriter has indicated that this may be the last going around for this musical formation.

Bright Eyes and Oberst have been a favorite since I saw the band in 2003 in a theater in Little Havana, Miami. The show was a revelation.  Oberst sang his clever and heart-breaking lyrics with his trademark lament.  Also, the boy could rock.  Simply, a great show.

Looking forward to seeing the boys again 8 years later and possibly for the last time. Although Conor will continue recording with his own name and with other groupings of musicians, it will be nice to see Oberst's original sobriquet one more time.  Bright Eyes is touring to support their album, "The People's Key" which is a return to Oberst's original weird folk-punk sound.  The album is currently streaming on NPR.

“Shell Games” by Bright Eyes (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

The concert schedule for the first half of 2011 is looking better than many recent months in SoFla.  We are seeing some After Hours favs, such Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, play larger venues as their careers move forward.  Others are happy there is a casino nearby.

Whatever your preference, go see a show.  It is definitely worth it.

2/10 - Zach Deputy - Culture Room
2/11 - Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers - Revolution
2/12 - Broken Social Scene - Revolution
2/12 - Flogging Molly - The Fillmore
2/12 - Indigo Girls - Culture Room
2/18 - Sister Hazel - Revolution
2/19 - Johnny Winter - Culture Room
2/20 - Ozzy Osbourne - BankAtlantic Center
2/24 - Paleface and Lauris Vidal - Dada, Delray Beach
2/25 - Keller Williams - Revolution
2/25 - Paleface and Lauris Vidal - The Monterey Club, Fort Lauderdale
2/26 - Miami Blues Festival (Bobby "Blue" Bland) - James L. Knight Center
2/26 - Leon Russell - Culture Room
2/28 - Gipsy Kings - Hard Rock Live
3/2 - The Expendables - Culture Room
3/2 - Bright Eyes with Cursive - The Fillmore
3/3 - John Mellencamp - Broward Center for Performing Arts
3/4 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Hard Rock Live
3/5 - Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Culture Room
3/7 - Ra Ra Riot - Culture Room
3/8 - Kid Rock - Hard Rock Live
3/9 - Streetlight Manifesto - Culture Room
3/17 - Corey Smith - Culture Room
3/17 - Kiss - Hard Rock Live
3/18 - Colin Hay - Broward Center for Performing Arts
3/20 - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - The Fillmore
3/24 - Citizen Cope - Culture Room
3/27 - Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) - Culture Room
3/31 - Rush - BankAtlantic Center
4/5 - moe. - Culture Room
4/6 - FURTHER with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir - Mizner Park Amphitheater
4/8 & 4/9 - The Radiators - Revolution Live
4/9 - Robert Cray Band - Parker Playhouse
4/10 - Jerry Garcia Band - Revolution
4/13 - Boz Scaggs - Kravis Center
4/13 - Lady Gaga - AmericanAirlines Arena
4/14 - Robert Plant - Hard Rock Live
4/16 - Bill Frisell - Colony Theater, Miami Beach
4/23 - Jimmy Buffet - Cruzan Amphitheater

4/29 - Interpol - The Fillmore
5/17 - My Chemical Romance - Revolution (Sold Out)
6/11 - Katy Perry - BankAtlantic Center
6/29 - U2 - Sun Life Stadium
7/15 - Sade - BankAtlantic Center

Lauris Vidal's Cross-Country Adventure

There is an incredible purity with Lauris Vidal.  A purity in his passion for music and his commitment to music made in Florida.  

Then there is the pure jubilance that emanates from the Florida local and After Hours hero Vidal when he plays.  He is frantic, soulful and extremely talented. He is also full of joy.  You can feel it when you meet the man.  

It was that evident joy which turned the WMNF studio in Tampa into a great living room party.  Vidal closed out the final Wednesday Sonic Detour with AH contributor Duncan Strauss with five rollicking in-studio songs from his latest EP, Better Part.  It was a musical highlight of the year.

As part of his commitment to the great music being made in the Sunshine State, Vidal is taking his annual Citrus Circuit Tour on the road through Florida before heading across the deep south and across the country and back.  Vidal will be sharing the bill with Ricky Kendall and Michael Claytor, both veterans of Gainesville's growing scene.  All three are playing in support of new albums.

After the rapid fire tour through the country, Vidal and his good friend and musician Kelley McRae will be performing at Talking Animals festival on April 3rd in Lowry Park in Tampa. 

Do yourself a favor and go and see Lauris Vidal.  Good times are guaranteed.   

“Killing Fields (Live)” by Lauris Vidal, live at the WMNF studio, 12/29/10 (mp3)

CITRUS CIRCUIT TOUR DATES

**with DEVON STUART of the TAKERS

FRI 1/14** ORLANDO, FL      MCRANEY’S TAVERN

SAT 1/15** TAMPA, FL      NEW WORLD BREWERY

SUN 1/16 VALDOSTA, GA      TBA

MON 1/17 TALLAHASSEE,FL     MOCKINGBIRD CAFE

TUE 1/18 BILOXI, MS      TBA

WED 1/19 NEW ORLEANS,LA    REDEEMER HOUSE CONCERT

THU 1/ 20 BATON ROUGE, LA   THE HAVEN ART GALLERY

FRI 1/ 21 HOUSTON, TX       SUPER HAPPY FUN LAND

SAT 1/22 AUSTIN, TX     ROBBIE CARROLL’S HOUSE PARTY PARTII

SUN 1/23 SAN ANTONIO, TX     TBA

MON 1/24 SAN ANTONIO,TX      TBA

TUE 1/25 AUSTIN, TX                CAROUSEL LOUNGE

WED 1/26 AUSTIN, TX       CHEER UP CHARLIE’S

THU 1/27 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK  THE BLUE NOTE

FRI 1/28 LITTLE ROCK, AR     TBA

SAT 1/29 LAMAR, MO       CURLESS HOUSE CONCERT

SUN 1/30 KANSAS CITY,MO   TBA

MON 1/31 TBA                     TBA

TUE 2/1 GREENVILLE, MO    GREENVILLE COLLEGE- THE BLACK ROOM

WED 2/2 ST LOUIS, MO     TBA

LAURIS VIDAL & RICKY KENDALL

THU 2/3  INDIANAPOLIS, IN  HOUSE SHOW TBA

FRI 2/4  CHICAGO, IL  TBA

SAT 2/5  ANN ARBOR, MI TBA

SUN 2/6 YOUNGSTOWN, OH  LEMON GROVE CAFE

MON 2/7 BALTIMORE, MD HOUSE SHOW TBA

TUE 2/8 NEW YORK, NY  ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL

WED 2/9 BROOKLYN, NY ROOTS CAFE

THU 2/10 WASHINGTON, DC KAUFMAN HOUSE SHOW

FRI 2/11       SAVANNAH, GA SWEET MELISSA’S

SAT 2/12 ORLANDO, FL BACKBOOTH

Looking Back on 2010

As this year ends it's time to look back and see the good and the bad.

Best Album of the Year

Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Well Kanye sure showed us. Not only was he the laughing stock of pop culture for most of the year, his tweets throughout only furthered his descent into the butt of every joke. Then he released Fantasy and everything changed. All at once the world remembered why we kept Kanye around, he makes some of the best music in the rap community. Fantasy took the next step, combing amazing piano solos, great strings and some kick ass beats of course to make one of the most diverse and appealing albums of the year. Sure Kanye may be crazy, but he's just the right kind.

Best New Band of the Year

Earth Program- Invade!

Earth Program's first album Invade was almost my album of the year. It's so well done and so well thought out it seems like it was made by a much older band who has been experimenting for years. It's great to know that there's good smart odd rockers still out there ready to take over the mantle bands like Oingo Boingo or the Talking Heads dropped back in the 80s. Earth Program is not only a shining light for Chicago music, but music in general.

Most Disappointing Album

Weezer- Hurley

Oh Weezer, what happened to you. It seems like the once saviors of alt rock have abandoned the church of the geeky to party with frat boys. Repetitive guitar solos and even worse lyrics make this the final nail in Weezer's coffin.

Best Album Coming Out Next Year

Pogo- Remix The World

Amazing remixer Pogo, best know for his Disney remixes is about to release his first legal to sell album. Not just okay with the normal beats and boops most techno artists use he has decided to travel to some distant country, record sounds from there, and then remix them into music. It's all based off his amazing Gardyn song. I wait with baited breath for what may be the most innovative album of 2011.

Radio Is The Sound Salvation

For a year-end wrap up, After Hours contributors Duncan Strauss and marty will be appearing live on WMNF Radio on Wednesday, December 29th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Listen to us online here.  Or if you are tooling around the Tampa Bay area (you lucky dog), check us out at 88.5 FM.   We will be playing some of our favorite songs from the past year and years past.  In the second hour of the show, we will have AH favorite Lauris Vidal in the studio for music and questions. 

Feel free to call in at 813-239-9663 or email us during the show with your requests.  

As always with WMNF, this will be radio as it was meant to be - eclectic, fun and full of passion. Plus, it will rock your bones. 

As Mr. Elvis says, "Radio is a Sound Salvation"

“Radio Radio” by Elvis Costello, live at the Cleveland Agora, 12/5/77

Avett Brothers To Open SunFest 2011?

In an email blast to its members, concert database Jambase reported that those sweet-sounding folk rockers, The Avett Brothers, will open the 2011 SunFest in West Palm on Wednesday, April 27th.  

This encouraging information about the favored festival appears to be premature.  SunFest isn't saying a word.  The Jambase page has been scrubbed.  But that doesn't mean it is not true. 

Such a booking makes sense and is a welcome look for the upcoming SunFest.  I believe it - just sayin'.  Can't wait. 

“Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise” by The Avett Brothers (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Fame Is Now Injectable

My Chemical Romance has gotten a bad rap. The first single off their last album "The Black Parade" has been mocked endlessly, they've been lumped into the genre of emo which they are none to happy with and they've been going through drummers like Grateful Dead going through keyboardists. So with all these image problems My Chemical Romance has thought long and hard and come up with an answer to all of it.

"F them all."

Their new album Danger Days is brash, loud and unreserved, it's straight up punk from an unlikely source. Masquerading as a radio broadcast from the wasteland as a energetic DJ gives cryptic comments and fortune cookie type phrases like "louder then god's revolver and twice as shiny." It's kinda weird, but it sets the stage for the album great.

The album is a collection of hits and misses. Songs like "Na Na Na" really set the tone for the album, somewhat anarchistic, somewhat silly, and absolutely no feeling sorry for yourself. Any resemblance of deep thought is replaced by pure fun, which I think is a wise move. After three albums of trying to be deep and only succeeding once these guys are much better when they let loose. Another highlight is "Party Poison" a great rock song that I can see taking radio by storm and I'm sure you'll be seeing it in a whole lot of movie trailers for years to come. It just has an immediately recognizable sound that you keep going back too.

"SING" is the ballad on this album and it's reminiscent of the rock ballads of the 80's and I'm sure it'll feel right at home at the amphitheatres the band usually plays in. "Planatary (GO)" is probably my favorite song on the album, from the slow, paranoia inducing opening to the heavy hitting chorus it's just a great song and one I hope isn't ignored.

Like I said there's misses too, "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W" will probably win my award for most skipped song of the year. It's boring, meandering and it can't decide what it wants to be. In fact the three song after it suffer from just not being too memorable, you may enjoy them while listening to them, but after that you'll probably never hear them again. They're not bad, they just bring nothing new to the table.

Despite the misses, this album is great. It's not going down in history as revolutionary or as a look into the human soul. It'll be remembered as a album that rocks hard and that's good enough for me.

Second Opinion

"Danger Days" is the bastard child of an 80s hair band and a 90s pop/punk band (i.e. Blink 182). It is good-time "aggressive rock." High harmonies and grinding guitars. The album's high points rocked a car stereo of a sunny day. The rest was forgettable.

“Planetary (GO!) by My chemical Romance (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Modern Sounds in New Psychedelica

photo by joe capozzi

The Flaming Lips played one of the most expansive, outrageous shows 500 people will ever see.  With a visual assault geared for thousands, the Lips ended their current U.S. tour with this sparsely-attended show in western Boca Raton last night. 

If there was a show to "phone one in,"  this one was it.  An add-on show, a make-up date from the last minute cancellation from May's SunFest show. But the Lips are wonderfully weird professionals and it was easy to tell why these guys have been blowing people's minds for the past 27 years.

Quite appropriate for a band legendary in their visual prowess, the Lips entered the amphitheater stage through, let's be frank here, a glowing vagina on a 25-foot high video screen.  The image, obviously tied to the band's latest album, Embryonic, was randy and unsettling - just like all good rock shows.

The video screen and the surrounding proscenium of lights created the atmosphere for frontman Wayne Coyne's tight and bombastic brand of psychedelic rock.  The band was tight, with a special nod to guitarist Steven Drozd, and appealing. 

Coyne exhibited his chops as an ultimate showman.  There were balloons, confetti cannons and Wayne's bubble ride across the crowd - despite its small size. 

Despite the thrilling psychedelic journey with the Lips, the biggest surprise of the night was opening band, Morning Teleportation.  The five-piece band from Portland played a fun and trippy psychedelic rock.  The young men have been gaining some notice during their year of opening for http://www.cagetheelephant.com/ and the Lips.  

No album yet - there is talk about a spring release. I can imagine that they will score some prime slots in next summer's festivals.  

“I Can Be a Frog” by The Flaming Lips (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)