It sounds crazy but Paul McMcartney’s never performed on Letterman before. Here he gets his chance with a run-through of The Beatles classic, “Get Back” last night. The performance had some nostalgic echoes to The Beatles last performance on the Apple’s headquarters roof, as Paul and his crew jammed from atop the Ed Sullivan theater marquee. After the very faithful live performance of “Get Back,” the band also played The Fireman cut “Sing the Changes,” from his latest electronic project with Killing Joke‘s Martin Glover (née Youth). Understandbly, a very large crowd gathered on the streets of New York for the short performance. “Coming Up,” “Band On the Run,” “Let Me Roll It”/“Purple Haze,” “Helter Skelter,” and “Back In the USSR” were also played but weren’t broadcasted.
Fruit Bats
“The Ruminant Band” MP3
Jul 16, 2009
On August 4th Fruit Bats release their fourth album, The Ruminant Band, on their longtime label home Sub Pop. This title track makes good on frontman Eric D. Johnson’s recent message board promise: “We are going to choogle for you.” “The Ruminant Band” is certainly a raucous good time for the bluesy folk-rockers. And yes I had to look up ‘choogle’ on Urban Dictionary.
Kurt Vile
“Overnite Religion” MP3
Jul 16, 2009
Former War on Drugs leader Kurt Vile signed to Matador earlier this year and he’s got big plans. His sophomore solo release, Childish Prodigy, is dropping October 6th. For those that can’t wait, Matador is offering the first echo-y track today, “Overnite Religion.” Kurt’s treated vocals float over a coiling guitar riff.
Amadou & Mariam
“Ce N’est Pas Bon (Bullion Remix)” MP3
Jul 16, 2009
Amadou & Mariam‘s “Ce N’est Pas Bon” gets the remix tuneup from Bullion, the West Londoner who mashed up J Dilla‘s neo soul/rap beats with Pet Sounds. The Malian blues-rock duo are on a summer U.S. tour with Coldplay.
Northern California electro-pop trio Rubies directed the homemade video for “Diamonds On Fire,” a dance-y song from their recently released debut Explode From the Center. The main songwriting nucleus of Rubies is Simone Rubi (vocals, electric piano/synths and sometimes guitar) and bassist/vocalist Terri Loewenthal. Guitarist Nicolas Dobbratz, and various hired drummers fill out the live group. On Explode they also received assistance from Kings Of Convenience’s Eirik Glambek Bøe (not of Kommode), Feist, Lykke Li collaborator Lars Skoglund, Karl-Jonas Winqvist (aka Blood Music) and Dan Judd (aka Sorcerer). Despite Rubies’ penchant for Nordic collaborations, it’s just Rubi and Loewenthal in this forest video. The gals run under the evergreens, find a colorful cloth and dance underneath it.
LA indie-rock acts Fool’s Gold and Foreign Born both employ the township music of Africa in some shape or form and occasionally share band members. FB is the more traditional of the two but this danceable video for “Winter Games” doesn’t really bear that argument out. While they’ve shown their cosmopolitan side on some of the tracks off their recent Secretly Canadian LP, Person to Person, the shuffling two-step of “Games” merges the denizens of West Mali with LA’s sprawl. After all, everyone looks the same on the dancefloor.
Os Mutantes
“Teclar” MP3
Jul 15, 2009
The O.G. Brazilian crew Os Mutantes are getting ready to release Haih September 8, their first album in 35 years. If anyone thought the originators of Tropicália would sound rusty after all these years, “Teclar” proves us mostly wrong. The sun-dappled track opens with what sounds like castanets, but slowly reforms into a pastoral affair with hints of Eastern melodies and sawing percussion. Sergio Dias Baptista’s light lead vocals show his age in a good way. (via Pitchfork)
Wilco
Feist
“You & I” (Live on Late Show with David Letterman) Video
Wilco fans in LA and New York City already caught an eye and earful of Leslie Feist and Jeff Tweedy recreating their Wilco (The Album) vocal duet. Last night’s Letterman performance was for the rest of the world. Jeff and Leslie revel in their obvious camaraderie and their onstange grinning meshes well with the even keel vibe of the folk-rock track. Before settling into listening, Dave is quite tickled with his jokes about (The Album)‘s camel party cover art.
