Inbox: Tobacco

Sure, we’re always curious to know about an artist’s upcoming release, most recent tour, or arsenal of analog gear, but XLR8R‘s also got a curiosity for quirk. Thus, each week, we sit down with a different artist and find out what makes them tick, in the studio and in life. First up: He’s got a thing for Wisconsin and miniature golf and gets the grade school teachers hot and bothered. We shot Black Moth Super Rainbow’s head honcho, Tobacco, an email to get the inside scoop.

What are you listening to right now?

I’m back on Fugazi’s End Hits after a 10 year hiatus. Lone’s Lemurian, and a Lunar Testing Lab CDR.

What’s the weirdest story you’ve ever heard about yourself?

I’ve heard that I’m in Boards of Canada. Also, someone was calling me out for ripping off Black Moth Super Rainbow.

What band did you want to be in when you were 15?

Butthole Surfers.

Worst live show experience?

In Austin, at Emo’s, the guys who take your stuff off stage put my amp in a pile of hummus-looking barf. It was the first time I’ve ever yelled at anyone.

Favorite city to play in?

SLC is calling for me–it gives me the weirdest feeling. Kansas City had the most excited kids and I always love Chicago because all of our people are there.

Would you consider the music you made for Fucked Up Friends to be sinister?

Haha, I hope so! I just don’t want it bordering on hippy music like Dandelion Gum.

What is your favorite thing you own?

My hair.

Name one item of clothing you can’t live without.

Underwears.

What’s cuter: Kittens, penguins, or Scarlett Johansson?

Oh man.

What did you always get in trouble for when you were little?

Unconsciously turning my teachers on.

Which pop star would you most like to work with?

Randy Savage.

What’s the last thing you read?

Michael Feldman’s Wisconsin Oddities.

Complete this sentence: In the future…

I’d like to be satisfied with what I’ve done and do something else.

Stupidest thing you’ve done in the last 12 months?

Stacked a bunch of t-shirt boxes in front of my face and walked off the steps at the Vice show at SXSW. I had a twisted mushy ankle for the whole tour.

What’s next?

Seven Fields, me, and our friend Flaherty started a mini-golf league called Awesome Balls and we’re gonna be working on lowering our scores this year. Summer tournament has begun.

Tobacco’s debut full-length, Fucked Up Friends, is out October 14 on anticon.

Madlib Readies Beat Generation Comp

The ever-prolific beatsmith Madlib will join the ranks of Pete Rock, Jazzy Jeff, and the late J Dilla on September 30, when he drops the latest Beat Generation compilation. WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip also marks the final installment of BBE‘s acclaimed series. Hip-hop and R&B rule here, with plenty of samples, vocal snippets, and beats from the likes of Guilty Simpson, Prince Po, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and, of course The Beat Konducta himself.

King of Wigflip
01 The Beat Konducta “The New Resident”
02 Guilty Simpson “Blow the Horns on ‘Em”
03 Georgia Anne Muldrow “The Plan Pt. 1”
04 The Beat Konducta “Tension”
05 Defari “Gample on Ya Boy”
06 MED “The Ox (805) feat. Poke”
07 The Beat Konducta “All Virtue”
08 J-Rocc “Blindfold Test #10 (He Don’t Play)”
09 Prince Po “The Thang-Thang
10 Madlib “Heat”
11 The Beat Konducta “Smoke Break”
12 The Beat Konducta “The Plan (Reprise)”
13 Karriem Riggins “Life”
14 The Beat Konducta “Parklight”
15 Frezna “Yo Yo Affair Pt. 1 & 2”
16 The Professionals (Oh No & Madlib) “I Want it Back”
17 The Beat Konducta “Disco Dance”
18 Liberation (Talib Kweli & Madlib) “What it Do”
19 Roc C “Take that Money feat. Oh No”
20 Frank N Dank “Drinks Up!”
21 Stacy Epps “The Way that I Live”
22 Murs “Ratrace”
23 Guilty Simpson “Go!”
24 The Beat Konducta “Stop”

Photo by Christopher Woodcock.

The Pharcyde “Passin’ By Me (Hot Chip Remix)”

The last time we heard from The Pharcyde, they were being remixed by Echo Park’s Philippians. Now, the hip-hop powerhouse gets a reworking by Hot Chip, for “Passin’ Me By.” The track is one of the many on Delicious Vinyl’s recently released RMXXOLOGY compilation, which pairs contemporary dance artists with timeless hip-hop names. Here, the Britain-based five-piece outfit adds some dreamy synths, choruses, and organs to the original cut.

The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By (Hot Chip Remix)

M83, Vladislav Delay Play DEAF Festival

Not to be confused with Detroit’s DEMF festival, over and done with for the year, DEAF electronic music festival is revving up for its seventh year running. The Dublin, Ireland-based party, whose 2008 edition takes place October 22 – 27, is an event independently run by Irish lable D1, and features music, art, and film into one place for five days.

Besides a film festival and art gallery, this year’s festival also sees a music lineup that features the likes of M83, Juan Atkins, Luke Vibert, Fuck Buttons, Trans Am, and many other artists. Additionally, festival organizers are compiling a 32-track double CD that will showcase up-and-coming electronic music artists from Ireland, which will be inserted into the festivals program. Meanwhile, check the lineup info below for further artists involved with the festivities.

Check the event’s blog for further additions to the lineup, ticket info, and more.

Confirmed Lineup
Model 500 (Juan Atkins live w/ UR guys)
Mortiz Von Oswald Trio (Maurizio, Max Louderbauer, Vladislav Delay)
Laurent Garnier
Nurse with Wound
M83
Chrome Hoof
Fuck Buttons
Trans AM
ZZZ
Autechre
Ultradyne
Mark Broom
Luke Vibert
White Noise
Broadcast
Annette Krebs
Andreas Schneider
Dave Vorhaus

Photo of M83 by Anouck Bertin.

Don Rimini “Nervous Breakdown”

Synths, snares, and computer-generated mayhem. Such is the music on Don Rimini‘s Kick’n Run EP. The Paris-based producer’s work has been labeled everything from “an education in the ghetto clubs” to “gutter rave at its best,” and drawn the attention of Aaron LaCrate and Delicious Vinyl founder Rick Ross. “Nervous Breakdown” features screaming synths and jittery drum programming, and could quite possibly induce the state its name suggests. Photo by Bastien Lattanzi.

Don Rimini – Nervous Breakdown

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno Death of a Revolution

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno is yet another nom de plume of Will Holland–a Colombia-based DJ and musician of many guises (and instruments) who’s been a rhythmic globetrotter in the world music realm for years. On Death of a Revolution, Holland advances beyond his studies as a seasoned virtuoso in bossa nova, salsa, and jazz, and dials in to the dub and reggae resources of the Caribbean, unleashing an inner tropical beast in the process that’s yields mixed results. While Holland is an ace at bleeding one genre into the next, his instrumentation from the strings down to the percussion sounds too programmed to be authentic, as if Muzak factored into some of his newfound inspiration.

Opio “To The People”

“To the People” marks the latest track from Opio‘s sophomore solo album, Vulture’s Wisdom Volume 1. And while many members of the esteemed Hiero Impreium crew have, admirably, played with and changed their signature sound over the years, Opio’s music much of what he recorded 15 years ago–in the best possible way. The golden era of hip-hop still informs his work, and the entire new album is a tribute to the art form. Lyrics-wise, the MC covers a range of topics familiar to his body of music, from politics to Clear Channel to mediocre MCs. Props for the Brian Austin Green mention in this track.

Opio – To The People

The Sunburst Band “Fashion”

Taken from the album Moving With the Shakers, DJ Joey Negro’s Sunburst Band project unleashes its new single, a cover of David Bowie’s 1980 hit “Fashion,” which comes in both vocal and dub varieties. The dub, with only a smattering of vocal, is my personal preference, whilst others will favor the full song, delivered in a distinctively soulful style.

Silence

Takka Takka‘s Migration has been rotating heavily on our speakers in recent weeks, with this track being one of our favorites on the album. With its jangling guitars, gentle flute melodies, and minor chords, “Silence” is a number that’s made to cry to. For the video, however, the band enlisted Amy Finkel to direct, gathered an arsenal of plastic tanks, soldiers, and farm animals, then sent them off to war–all played out on arms, legs, feet, and other body parts.

Atmosphere Adds Tour Dates

Slug, Ant, and their live band are in high demand, it seems. Atmosphere‘s Paint the Nation tour was already extensive when we announced it earlier this month, but the group has tacked on several more U.S. dates that will keep them traveling through the month of November, before heading to Australia for a few post-Christmas shows. Check the full set of dates here:

08/09 Reykjavik, Iceland: Tunglid
08/12 Berlin, Germany: Cassiopeia
08/13 Cologne, Germany: Stadtgarten
08/14 Hamburg, Germany: Waagenbau
08/15 Zurich, Switzerland: Tonimolkerei
08/16 Munich, Germany: Ampere
08/20 Oslo, Norway: Bla
08/21 Stockholm, Sweden: Nalen
08/22 Copenhagen, Denmark: Little Vega
08/23 Prague, Czech Republic: Hip Hop Kemp Festival
08/23 Helsinki, Finland: Tavastia
09/10 Fargo, ND: The Venue*
09/11 Sioux Falls, SD: Sioux Empire Expo Center*
09/12 Omaha, NE: Slowdown*
09/13 Denver, CO: Monolith Festival
09/15 Boise, ID: Knitting Factory*
09/16 Missoula, MT: Wilma Theater*
09/18 Eugene, OR: McDonald Theater
09/19 Sacramento, CA: Empire*
09/20 San Diego, CA: Street Scene
09/21 Bakersfield, CA: The Dome*
09/22 Santa Cruz, CA: Catalyst*
09/25 Los Angeles, CA: Wiltern*
09/26 Las Vegas, NV: House of Blues*
09/27 Phoenix, AZ: Edge Fest
09/28 Tucson, AZ: KFMA Fall Ball
09/30 Houston, TX: Warehouse Live*
10/01 New Orleans, LA: Tipitina’s*
10/03 Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Revolution*
10/04 Orlando, FL: Firestone*
10/06 Atlanta, GA: Masquerade*
10/07 Ashville, NC: Orange Peel*
10/08 Richmond, VA: Toad’s Place*
10/10 Baltimore, MD: Ram’s Head*
10/11 New Haven, CT: Toad’s Place*
10/13 Brooklyn, NY: Music Hall of Williamsburg *
10/14 New York, NY: Irving Plaza*
10/15 Providence, RI: Lupo’s*
10/17 Portland, ME: The Station*
10/18 Burlington, VT: Higher Ground*
10/20 Pittsburgh, PA: Mr. Small’s*
10/21 Cleveland, OH: Beachland Ballroom*
10/22 Columbus, OH: Newport Music Hall*
10/24 Cincinnati, OH: Scribble Jam @ Annie’s*
10/25 Nashville, TN: Wildhorse Saloon*
10/27 Royal Oak, MI: Royal Oak Theatre*
10/28 Grand Rapids, MI: Intersection*
10/29 Urbana, IL: Canopy Club*
10/31 Madison, WI: Orpheum Theatre*
11/01 Milwaukee, WI: Riverside Theater*
11/02 Minneapolis, MN: First Avenue*
11/05 Iowa City, IA: Englert Theatre*
11/06 Lawrence, KS: The Granada*
11/07 Tulsa, OK: Cain’s Ballroom*
11/08 Austin, TX: Fun Fun Fun Fest
11/09 Dallas, TX: House of Blues*
11/11 El Paso, TX: Club 10*
11/12 Albuquerque, NM: Albuquerque Convention Center*
11/15 Columbia, MO: The Blue Note*
11/16 Chicago, IL: The Vic Theatre*
12/30 Lorne, Australia: The Falls Festival
12/31 Marion Bay, Australia: The Falls Festival
01/09 Busselton, Australia: Southbound Festival

* = w/ Blueprint, Abstract Rude, and DJ Rare Groove.

MP3: “Shoulda Known”

Image by Mike Davis.

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