Sweet Pictures

Jawbreaker Reflect on Debut “Unfun”: Get a Free Download and an Update on the Band’s Future

In 1990, Jawbreaker — a Bay Area pop-punk trio featuring Blake Schwarzenbach (guitars/vocals), Adam Pfahler (drums) and Chirs Bauermeister (bass) — released their debut album, Unfun. Their mix of deceptively sweet melodies, unrelenting power and Schwarzenbach’s punk-Bukowsi lyricism made them one of the most influential groups of the ’90s, and their fingerprints are all over much of the rock that took over mainstream radio in the mid-2000s. We talked to Schwarzenbach and Pfahler about the reissu

Published: 2010-04-02 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Hype Monitor: Celeste, Jean on Jean, La Roux

The Band: Celeste The Buzz: Grim, grinding French metal band releases latest album for free, giving unlimited darkness and doom to all. Listen If: You consider Dillinger Escape Plan “soft rock.” Key Track: “Que Des Yeux Vides et Seches,” a knot of razor-wire guitars and seared-larynx vocals, the sound of an elevator ride to the underworld. The Band: Jean on Jean The Buzz: The inverse of Celeste: sweet, soft, female-fronted pop that blend shoegaze vocals with starry-eyed strumming. Listen If: You’re excited about the return of lo-fi, but wish some of the melodies were a bit stronger and a lot warmer. Key Track: “Cold Horse,” which sounds like it was rescued from the dusty archives of forgotten dreampoppers Lush. The Band: La Roux The Buzz: Dance dance revolution! Big beats and bright synths make for perky, catchy electropop. Listen If: You’re DJing a dance night in Berlin and you’ve run out of MGMT remixes Key Track: “In for the Kill,” where breathy female vocals float over morse code synths like cotton balls over a bed of nails.

Published: 2009-02-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Breaking

Discontinued Ben & Jerry’s Flavors or MySpace Bands?

Ben & Jerry’s loves band-related ice cream flavor names (you got your Dave Matthews Band-inspired One Sweet Whirled, Phish Food and the classic Cherry Garcia, of course). MySpace loves bands — in fact, new groups’ names seem to be getting increasingly bizarre, perhaps in an attempt to nab a /bandname url on the site that hasn’t already been taken. Pop Candy has kindly guided us to a clever little quiz that poses the question “Discontinued Ben & Jerry’s Flavor OR Band I Found on MySpace?” The ten examples are harder to figure out than they look, but give it a shot here. Post your scores in the comments, but please respect the rights of others to guess the pedigree of Caramel Sunspot and keep your answers to yourself.

Published: 2007-10-25 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Smiths Fans Ride Bikes To Save Manchester Landmark

Manchester’s loyal Smiths fans are coming to the rescue of the Salford Lad’s Club, which is featured on the cover of the Smith’s 1986 opus The Queen is Dead. The club is currently undergoing an expensive renovation, which has been threatened by a band of (neither sweet nor tender) hooligans who made off with expensive roofing materials. When word spread that the renovation might not proceed as a result, local fans decided to organize a bike tour of iconic Smiths-related Manchester area spots in order to raise awareness of the club’s plight and inspire people to contribute money for replacement materials. The bike ride is scheduled for September 30, pending police approval.

Published: 2007-08-07 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Perez Hilton, “Idol” Creator Plan Boy Band Search TV Show

Photo: Lacroix/WireImageDiddy tried to form a guy group on Making the Band 4 and failed. Now Perez Hilton wants to give it a go: the gossip maven announced on his Website today that he’s working with former American Idol creator Simon Fuller and Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour director Jamie King on a new show that will search for the next great boy band. It remains to be seen when and what channel Boy Band will air, but if you’re interested in auditioning and meet the show’s age requirement (13 t

Published: 2010-01-14 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Grammy nods are sweet rewards for Dave Matthews Band

Music & nightlifeAn interview with musician Dave Matthews, who has a home in Seattle, about the nomination of the album "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King" for the Recording Academy's most prestigious award. It's a particularly sweet milestone for a band that's weathered its share of misfortune over the past couple of years, including the loss of founding member LeRoi Moore.

Published: 2010-01-13 Provider: Seattle Times

Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown Set To Perform At Vienna Jackson Tribute

Photo: Sweet/FilmMagic Jermaine Jackson hosted a press conference earlier today to finally reveal part of the lineup for the Michael Jackson tribute he’s hosting in Vienna later this month: Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Akon and Natalie Cole will take the stage in Austria on September 26th. Sister Sledge, German boy band US5 and actress Angela Bassett, who portrayed Katherine Jackson in the film The Jacksons: An American Dream, will also appear at the tribute concert at Vienna’s Palace of Schönbru

Published: 2009-09-08 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Michael Jackson

Random Notes & The Week’s Best Live Shots: Madonna, Dead, More

Photo: Mazur/WireImage Madonna got Sticky & Sweet in Paris (after paying tribute to the King of Pop the night prior in London), the Dead rocked Rothbury, and the E Street Band headed to Denmark. Plus, Robert Plant became a Commander of the British Empire, Britney Spears stepped out with her kids (drama-free!) and a host of stars flocked to L.A. for Michael Jackson’s public memorial). Check all out those shots and many more: • The Week in Live Shots: Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, The Dead and More

Published: 2009-07-10 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Hype Monitor: Lacrosse, Personal & the Pizzas, Oddisee

Personal & the Pizzas Every week, Hype Monitor wades through the most buzzed-about bands all across the Internet to find the ones you need to hear now. The Band: Lacrosse The Buzz: You cannot stop Sweden. Adorable, boy/girl vocals bound over banging piano and bouncing percussion. Listen If: You do not want to stop Sweden. Sticky-sweet and irresistible, Lacrosse are a straight shot of summertime pop. Key Track: “We Are Kids,” a breathless shot of energy tied up by a big, silvery riff. The Band: P

Published: 2009-05-21 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Breaking

Hype Monitor: Amesoeurs, Ha Ha Tonka, Funeral Mist

Photo: Metastazis.com The Band: Amesoeurs The Buzz: French band blends post-punk with black metal to jarring, fascinating results. Listen If: You like Joy Division, you just wish they were familiar with the concept of distortion. Key Track: “Heurt,” a meteor shower of riffs hammering Neige’s wispy, wistful vocals The Band: Ha Ha Tonka The Buzz: Occupies the sweet spot between country and indie, writing ornery songs with big hooks. Listen If: You want your alt. country to be heavy on the alt. Key

Published: 2009-04-23 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Breaking

Concert review | Fleet Foxes sweet harmonies shine in confident Moore show

Music & nightlifeConcert review: Fleet Foxes, the latest Seattle band to reach international stardom, brought their harmonizing, Crosby, Stills & Nash-influenced sound home for a concert at the Moore on Oct. 19.

Published: 2008-10-20 Provider: Seattle Times

Seattle's Earshot Jazz Festival: The sweet sounds of independence

Music & nightlifeEarshot Jazz Festival, Seattle's largest and most ambitious jazz series, includes concerts by Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra featuring Carla Bley, the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band with Sean Jones, the young, lead trumpeter for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and kora player Toumani Diabate from Mali.

Published: 2008-10-14 Provider: Seattle Times