PRESS
-
Larkin Grimm/Interview popmatters
()
popmatters.com/by popmatters staffThe eclectic and restless Larkin Grimm, a folk singer with a burgeoning career, talks to PopMatters 20 Questions about her inspiration, chainsaw art, and sex outdoors. www.popmatters.com http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/70089-larkin-grimm/ Larkin Grimm 20 Questions [23 February 2009] The eclectic and restless Larkin Grimm, a folk singer with a burgeoning career, talks to PopMatters 20 Questions about her inspiration, chainsaw art, and sex outdoors. by PopMatters Staff In reviewing Larkin Grimm’s latest release, Parplar, last year, Matthew Fiander wrote that “it’s probably easiest to call Larkin Grimm a folk singer, but doing that fails to capture just how difficult she is to pin down. She can play the solitary, sad ballad like any good folk singer. But once she lets out that sadness, she seems to cut free of it, and the rest of Parplar is a fiery and energetic challenge to the listener.” 1. The latest book or movie that made you cry? I’ve only cried for two movies: Winnie the Pooh and Dancer in the Dark. The last book that made me cry was written by my record producer, Michael Gira. It’s called The Consumer and is about apocalyptic sexual fantasy. 2. The fictional character most like you? Probably......
-
larkin grimm / live review
()
Madison Decider / by Joel ShanahanDecider applauds anyone who was successfully guided to a “spirit orgasmâ€Madison Decider http://madison.decider.com/articles/recap-larkin-grimm-at-the-frequency,2397 7/ By Joel Shanahan February 18, 2009 Decider applauds anyone who was successfully guided to a “spirit orgasm” by folk-transient Larkin Grimm during Tuesday night’s show at The Frequency. While Grimm’s stated metaphysical goal for the audience may have proved too lofty for some, that didn’t make her set of Appalachian-gone-psychedelic tunes any less powerful. Grimm took the stage with a dulcimer in her lap, opening with a droning rendition of “The Last Tree,” and then picked up her acoustic guitar for the organ-centric folk of “Anger In Your Liver.” With the exception of “The Last Tree,” Grimm’s set was largely centered on her 2008 album Parplar. After a few tunes Grimm was joined by a young-looking kid with messy hair by the name of John Houx. Throughout the performance, Houx offered rich vocal harmonies and throat-singing, and plucked sparse melodies from a huge Asian stringed instrument called a gu-zheng. At one particularly fun, if slightly weird, moment, Grimm insisted that audience members close their eyes and take their souls on a “psychedelic journey past the pink pyramids” to find a “spiritual......
-
James Blackshaw / Live Preview
()
LA Weekly / Randall RobertsThat more people don’t know about 12-string guitarist James Blackshaw is one of the great failures of the Information Age. Hyperbole, sure, considering he’s only 28. Still, over the course of six albums of solo instrumental recordings, the British-born Blackshaw has crafted some of the deepest, most durable acoustic music since John Fahey and Sandy Bull.http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-19/music/music-picks-thurston-moore-james-bl ackshaw-lisa-hannigan-modest-mouse/ LA Weekly Live Preview February 18, 2009 James Blackshaw, Grails at Spaceland By Randall Roberts That more people don’t know about 12-string guitarist James Blackshaw is one of the great failures of the Information Age. Hyperbole, sure, considering he’s only 28. Still, over the course of six albums of solo instrumental recordings, the British-born Blackshaw has crafted some of the deepest, most durable acoustic music since John Fahey and Sandy Bull. Like those twin giants of late-20th-century instrumental guitar, Blackshaw’s fingers contain multitudes. Melody lines swirl as the 12 strings create chiming overtones that Blackshaw seems to bend and twist as they float through the air; it’s hard to believe it’s all happening simultaneously, this gilded palace of notes. But the best thing about Blackshaw’s work — besides its simple beauty, of course — is that the artist isn’t......
-
James Blackshaw / Live Preview
()
LA Weekly / Randall RobertsThat more people don’t know about 12-string guitarist James Blackshaw is one of the great failures of the Information Age. Hyperbole, sure, considering he’s only 28. Still, over the course of six albums of solo instrumental recordings, the British-born Blackshaw has crafted some of the deepest, most durable acoustic music since John Fahey and Sandy Bull.http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-19/music/music-picks-thurston-moore-james-bl ackshaw-lisa-hannigan-modest-mouse/ LA Weekly Live Preview February 18, 2009 James Blackshaw, Grails at Spaceland By Randall Roberts That more people don’t know about 12-string guitarist James Blackshaw is one of the great failures of the Information Age. Hyperbole, sure, considering he’s only 28. Still, over the course of six albums of solo instrumental recordings, the British-born Blackshaw has crafted some of the deepest, most durable acoustic music since John Fahey and Sandy Bull. Like those twin giants of late-20th-century instrumental guitar, Blackshaw’s fingers contain multitudes. Melody lines swirl as the 12 strings create chiming overtones that Blackshaw seems to bend and twist as they float through the air; it’s hard to believe it’s all happening simultaneously, this gilded palace of notes. But the best thing about Blackshaw’s work — besides its simple beauty, of course — is that the artist isn’t......
-
Michael Gira / Big Ears Music Festival review
()
Grayson Currin | Pitchfork Michael Gira hit such a despondent nadir Sunday night that he seemed to startle even himself. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/149063-report-big-ears-festival-knoxville-tn-02-06-02-08-09 During his hour-long solo set, which served as the finale for Knoxville, Tennessee's inaugural Big Ears Festival, the former Swans frontman followed his old band's tune "Failure" ("Some people live in hell/ Many bastards succeed/ But I've learned nothing/ I can't even elegantly bleed") with Angels of Light's "My Brother's Man. "No, God will never understand/ I'll crush him in my brother's hand," he screamed, locks of slick gray hair falling to the side of his face as he stomped his black leather boot against the worn black stage of Knoxville's Bijou Theatre. "I am the god of this fucking land/ I am the god of this fucking land." Michael Gira "Oh, the gentle folk stylings of M. Gira," he said when the song was over, cracking a coy smile for the cheering audience. "I'm the kind of guy you invite over to your house to babysit your two-year-old daughter." As expected, Gira's set had been stern and scowling, full of references to miscreant politicians and crucifixion offerings. But after those two songs, he eased off, taking a sip......