Not long after we started working together, Angela and I discovered that we share very similar musical interests. Generally, we both appreciate the envelope-pushing elements of post-punk and the folksy, down-home delivery of traditional country. But, especially, we adore that dark, little, smoky corner of the rock and roll arena where these two genres collide in a pleasantly peculiar mishmash of musical styles. Since they often are hiding out in the underground, these types of bands aren’t always so easy to uncover. Grab your DIY Music to Check Out Journal and get together with a fellow fanatic, though, and digging up new discoveries couldn’t have been made any easier!
And that’s exactly what Angela and I did one night after work to pass some time before heading out to an indie show we had our sights on. We both brought stacks of LP’s and 45′s for the other to leaf through and examined each other’s DIY Music to Check Out Journal to compare notes and favorite playlists. I was so enthralled by her collection of vinyl, and mesmerized by the musty smell of vintage cardboard record sleeves, that I lost track of time.
“Hey, Richard! Don’t forget: The She-Riffs are set to hit the stage at 9:00, then the Kinky Bangs go on after,” Angela pointed out as she smoothed her unique Darling Deetz Dress, which she so daringly donned over the brazen Ultraviolet Tights. “Can you believe that they’re both opening up for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang? This is amazing. We gotta get going!”
So Angela jammed her journal into her Head Out on the Highway Bag and set foot out the door on the soles of her iconoclastic New York, 1976 Heels, whose heavy metal hardware reverberated in the Chain Mail Bangle. I tucked my journal into the inner pocket of my jean jacket then followed after in my cowboy boots and ensemble of black that I accessorized with a bolo tie styled as a necklace.
After a quick jaunt, we arrived at the joint just in time to catch the electrifying licks of the She-Riffs show-opening ode to country cuisine, “Staked Out in the Steakhouse.” We stood there in awe of their sizzling set and then listened enthusiastically to the Kinky Bangs bang out out their frenzied series of songs. But the real highlight of the night was when the lead singer of Kitty Kitty Bang Bang caught sight of Angela’s Haute Handlebar Ring and stopped the band mid-song to sing praises over her choice of accessories. What a night we had!
How about you, ModReaders? What bands would we find in your DIY Music to Check Out Journal?
15 loves 
Not only do you guys look adorable, but that was such a fun read! Can I borrow the She-Riffs album? I really need to hear, “Staked Out in the Steakhouse!”
Well….. I Really REALLY have a HUGE crush on David Bowie so I’d have to say anything Bowie i haven’t listened to yet, any They Might Be Giants I haven’t listened to…. Blur, Queen, Never Shout Never, HeyHiHello, Genesis, The Beatles, Depeche Mode, Owl City, Jonathan Coulton. Here is some of my absoulute fave music! http://www.actionext.com/playlist_125430.html
I just picked up the Death Proof soundtrack by Quentin Tarantino and there’s this one singer called April March on it. She sings in French and English and is all retro and indie. I love it! I still need to listen to the entire soundtrack, but I’m stuck on the song “Chick Habit.”
Rebecca, that’s a great song!
As a college student learning French and trying to use pop music to get the structure of the language, I would have to say “Ca M’enerve” by Helmut Fritz. Apparently, it’s sort of a song that everyone involved with pop culture in France knows. Even if you don’t understand any French, give it a listen ;D
I’m definitely loving Viola right now.
Right now all I really listen to I’m really listen to is The Smiths and God Help the Girl.
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Conor Oberst – One of My Kind (not released yet =( )
Yelle – Ce Jeu
Vampire Weekend – Contra
Animal Collective – Fall Be Kind Ep
Lou Barlow – Take Advantage and Day Kitty
The Ballet – House On Fire
and pretty much every band now and once on Saddle Creek but I’m bias =P
Dark Dark Dark
The Decemberists
Neco Case
Faded Paper Figures
Computer Vs. Banjo
The Pierces
The Weepies
Tegan & Sarah
Voltaire
Sufjan Stevens
The Fleet Foxes
I could go on for days, so I’ll stop there.
Good list Jacky.
Animal Collective and Hot Chip has to be on there, for sure!
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (particularly Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!)
Spoon. How could you not?
Grizzly Bear, very quirky, very cool.
Lisa Mitchell. A too cute little Aussie songstress.
Tom Ugly and Andrew Bird.
Sarah Blasko and Clare Bowditch, they’re both just too amazing for words.
I really could go on and on and on and on.
Yeasayer
Harlem
Little Joy
Animal Collective
Yacht
The Growlers
Music Go Music
Beirut
Fever Ray
The Knife
Boy Crisis
……………..
Marissa Nadler
Seawolf
El May
Grayson Capps
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Camille
Marina and the Diamonds
I wish more bands came to perform in my little town!
Hilary, I’m a huge Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds fan, but I haven’t bought Dig, Lazarus, Dig! yet because I didn’t care for the title track. Is there a particular song on that album that you suggest I listen to in order to change my opinion?
And since I asked you all to share you playlists, I suppose I should share mine, too, which contains a number of Aussie bands:
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Beasts of Bourbon
The Cruel Sea
The Scientists
Kim Salmon and the Surrealists
The Triffids
The Gun Club
Neko Case (good choice, Melissa!)
Kid Congo and the Pink Monkeybirds
16 Horsepower
Bob Dylan
Johnny Cash
PJ Harvey
Black Heart Procession
The Cramps
Can you guys do a post on good Valentines Day gifts to get your boyfriend?
Ooo, well here’s what I’ve been listening to lately…
-Neko Case (always my top lady. Right on Melissa!)
-Kelly Hogan (Ms. Case’s current backup singer, who has a past solo career I am just finding)
-The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
-My Bloody Valentine
-The Cocteau Twins
-The Smiths
-Pixies
-Lady Gaga!
-Feufollet – a Cajun inspired band that sings in French- Natalie, maybe you’d like them if you don’t know them yet
-Siouxsie and the Banshees
-The Flaming Lips
-Lily Allen
-Outkast
Nice lists, everyone! I’ll have to check some of this out.
Love this post, and love the music recs in the comments! Definitely going to have to check some of these bands out over the weekend!
The Most Serene Republic!
You guys look great! Sign me up for Mariah Carey’s Greatest Hits!
I think me and Hilary have the same taste, I love your list as well. and add Fever Ray from sweden! a kaboodle friend just turned me on to her quirky lovely music. listen to “When I grow up”
awesome music that i’m addicted to:
phosphorescent
okkervil river
king charles
creature feature
deer tick
andrew jackson jihad
dr. acula
foot village
old time relijun
kind of like spitting
japancakes
evan dando
the liars
mirah
soltero
the morning benders
galaxie 500
the pains of being pure at heart
hank and lily
vermillion lies
sexy sushi
songs: ohia
wolf eyes
glasvegas
the raveonettes
thunderbirds are now!
i’d better stop there or i’ll be here forever.
i love music :).
oh! and port o’brien.
ok, i’m stopping now.
April, good call on Okkervil River and Songs:Ohia!
the wailin’ jennys
yelle
the high kings
richard thompson
lady gaga
nickel creek
i’m in kind of a folk mood. i think it’s the winter.
LYMBYC SYSTYM!! (fave and warrants all caps)
Do Make Say Think
Sonic Youth
The Octopus Project
Tipsy
Panda Bear
Soul Coughing
Below the Sea
The Roots
Thelonius Monk
Buffalo Daughter
Dimitri From Paris
New Order
Dagha
Boards of Canada
Caribou
Beulah
The Breeders
anything the Dust brothers touch!
Fourtet
I need to stop now before I have a convulsion…thanks for incorporating music :)
prefuse73 which I’m shocked I forgot!
oh and a very local milwaukee band: Worrier….amazing..give em a listen.I’m done I swear but music, fashion, interior design are my obsessions!
fink, bon iver, jeff buckley, phoenix, timber timbre, the antlers, … i’ll stop now :)
Well I personally loved the title track, so don’t know if I’m the best guide. ‘Today’s Lesson’ is a bit more upbeat, or perhaps ‘Moondance’? Good call with all the Aussie music, we seem to be producing some great stuff at the moment.
Nice to find a music ‘soul mate’ in you Jacky! Shall certainly check out some of your recommendations.
Umm also can suggest Florence and the Machine. Lovely little British Singer.
Oh and Damien Rice (just a whole lot of Love right there), and Whitley for my region on Australia, so should give him some Love too!
And the song ‘River’ by Akron Family.
Uh Oh! I’m ranting on far too much.
Funny you mention Akron Family, too. Growing up, I went to the same schools as a couple of the band’s members, Seth and Dana. In fact, Seth and I were on the same Little League baseball team at one point!
Wow, crazy. They did a gig over here a couple of months ago and Seth was encouraging people to bring some Pugs along to the gig. I was tempted to head along to give them my ModCloth: Winston sticker. Silly work got in the way.
Just a few that have climbed up my playlist!
Passion Pit – Manners Album (fave song, The Reeling)
Basement Jaxx – Scars
Kid Sister – Ultraviolet
Lady Gaga – Fame Monster
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
Noisettes – Never Forget You
I love the comment about the record sleeves. I personally prefer all my music to be on vinyl. A few songs that would be on my playlist are:
Sunny Afternoon by the Kinks
Living Room by Tegan and Sara
Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes
Superstar by Sonic Youth
The Execution of All Things by Rilo Kiley
Just to name a few :D
Los Campesinos! (top of my list because their new album is absolutely brilliant)
Mumford & Sons
Phoenix
Throw Me the Statue
Cat Stevens (always!)
Noah and the Whale