7 Silly Questions w/ Parachute Musical

Impossibly upbeat, Nashville's Parachute Musical make some of the most entertaining, high energy piano based pop in the country. Not since The Muppets parody of Dr. John has there been such charming interplay between melody and manic muscial mayhem. Parachute Musical represents pop craftsmanship at it's finest. Most of 2008, they have been on tour promoting their release Everything Is Working Out Fine in Some Town. We caught up with them while they were resting up for their Winter tour and asked them a few questions!

Viva: What was the first album you bought as a kid?
Josh Foster: Al Green - Greatest Hits
Tom Gilbert: Kris Kross - Totally Krossed Out
Ben Jacoby: La Bumba / MJ's Thriller

Viva: What other band names did you seriously consider before going with Parachute Musical?
Josh Foster: "Mathias Ringstrom"

Viva: Who has the worst van etiquette on tour?
Josh Foster: We're all pretty good... But if naked hairy men offend you then I'd say Ben. He gets down to his man panties and sleeps on the first bench seat. But he cleans regularly so it's all good. Tom has shitting problems on the road and gets pretty backed up. His gas in the van can be pretty outrageous.
Tom Gilbert:Depends on who has and who hasn't been eating Taco Bell
Ben Jacoby: Depends on the amount of cameras verse cigarettes

Viva: Aside from your home city, where's your favorite place to play?
Josh Foster: I really liked playing the 40 watt club in Athens GA. We played there with Modern Skirts and it was awesome. I also really like Headliners in Columbia SC.
Tom Gilbert: Nashville and D.C. are kind of both home cities, and are equally awesome. Other than that, I like Athens, GA
Ben Jacoby: Coastal bat mitzvahs

Viva: A wise man told me never trust a keyboard player. Is this true?
Josh Foster: Fuck yeah... turn your back for one second and the next thing you know I'm peeing on your leg.
Tom Gilbert:If he uses the "choir" sound on his keyboard then you can trust him
Ben Jacoby: They've got more buttons, so I guess so

Viva: Who's in heavy rotation on your iPod?
Josh Foster: Cold War Kids... SIKE!
Tom Gilbert: My iPod is broken and I haven't been able to update it since 2004. So whatever the hit music of 2004 was- The first Maroon 5 cd , Kelly Clarkson, that Eminem "Lose Yourself!" song, JoJo, Usher "Confessions Pt II"

Viva: What was the worst fight over nothing that you got into with each other after being road weary and exhausted?
Josh Foster: Ben eating my fuckin' chips. But I got him.... tore one of that bastards eyes out. Ben Jacoby: After the road is one of the most peacefully times, as everyone just goes to bed

Visit Parachute Musical Online Here: Parachute Musical


Dear Jacksonville Live!

Great Mini-Doc on Orchestrating Everything Is Working Out Fine In Some Town!

Blackout Beach - Skin of Evil

Carey Mercer, the genius behind Frog Eyes, is releasing his second solo album using the alias Blackout Beach on Dec 2nd. Skin of Evil is a semi-concept album following the life of "Donna" as seen through both her eyes and the eyes of her various lovers. Composed, played and recorded entirely by Mercer alone, Skin of Evil is one of the most compelling records I have heard this year. It's fascinating. The mood set in each of these songs is filled with such emotional complexity that it becomes mesmerizing and even a bit haunting. It's engaging. It's unique. And, I think when everything is said and done, this album will come across as one of the best records of this decade. Buy this record.

***After this was posted, the release date got pushed back to Jan 20, 2009.

Blackout Beach

Beloved Binge - Blender Theory

A few months ago Rob & Eleni, the husband and wife team of Beloved Binge, packed up their 1982 Westfalia camper van, grabbed their dog Syba, and embarked on a year long tour to help promote their album Blender Theory as well as Eleni's documentary Seeing Through the Fence. According to an email we got from Eleni, the van has only broken down 4 times thus far! Not too bad for a vehicle older than most of the people that go to indie rock clubs to see shows. Beloved Binge have their own approach to music. It's intelligent, inventive, and amusing without relying on the silly shtick routine that a lot of guitar/drum duo's tend to fall back on. Check out the songs "Sunday Stopped Honking" and "Recall". I really admire these guys for living out every musicians romantic fantasy of making music with the person you love and traveling around the country having new adventures.

Beloved Binge Myspace

Live Video of of Vacuum!
(Got)Married on Myspace Live!
Seeing Through the Fence Trailer

Headlights Remixes Album Due Out Dec. 9th!

If you haven't checked out Headlights, I strongly urge you to do so! On December 9th, Polyvinyl is releasing a remix album that covers tracks from both Headlights albums - Kill Them With Kindness & Some Racing, Some Stopping.

Here's the whole track list:
1. Cherry Tulips - TJ Lipple remix
2. Owl Eyes - The Buddy System remix
3. Market Girl - The Album Leaf remix
4. School Boys - Cale Parks remix
5. Towers - Uzi & Ari remix
6. Everybody Needs a Fence to Lean On - Via Satellite remix
7. So Much for the Afternoon - Casiotone for the Painfully Alone remix
8. TV - Son Lux remix
9. Put Us Back Together Right - Ruby Isle remix
10. On April 2 - Jason Caddell remix
11. Your Old Street - Spinnerty remix
12. Get Your Head Around It - The Show is the Rainbow remix
13. Tokyo - Brett Sanderson remix

Here's one of my favorite Headlights songs "Cherry Tulips" in both it's original and remixed form!

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HEADLIGHTS MYSPACE

7 Silly Questions With Cars Can Be Blue

Despite what you may think to the contrary, Nate Mitchell and Becky Brooks of Cars Can Be Blue are not possessed by horny little demons hell bent on making sodomy and bitterness an every day part of the indie rock dialect. Rather, they are veteran road warriors who sacrifice so much of their lives to bring joy and happiness into the hearts of every audience they meet. Their latest album Doubly Unbeatable is full of catchy melodies, clever lyrics, and tackles some highly amusing subject matter that few other bands could even begin to approach with such honesty and humility. There is such heart and sincerity behind all of their music that they completely transcend the realm of indie rock labels and have created a genre that is entirely their own.

We caught up with Becky & Nate during the middle of their Fall tour and they very generously agreed to answer a few questions:

Viva: What's the most embarrassing band you loved as a kid?
Becky: I don't know... I was more embarrassed about my body odor.... and I was an ugly kid... that sucked.
Nate: My first cassette purchase was Quiet Riot's "Metal Health" which is pretty embarrassing, even for a third-grader.

Viva: Your songs delve head first into the taboo abyss of sex, vengeance, and bitterness. Is there any subject that is off limits?
Becky: Anything I consider personal to me... I can't tell you what those topics are.... but it has nothing to do with my tits, anus or vagina.
Nate: We have tapes and tapes of improvised song ideas, some of which get turned into "real" songs, some of which are deemed too racist/homophobic/retarded for general consumption.

Viva: Aside from your home city, where's your favorite place to play?
Becky: Anywhere people give us money.... I hate when we don't make money.
Nate: I personally have enjoyed playing shows in Chattanooga, TN, as well as Brattleboro, VT and Florence, SC. We have been paid decently at all of those places, so I'll have to agree with Becky's answer.

Viva: What's the funniest thing that has happened to you on tour?
Becky: Tour is one big constant spit take.... just kidding. we fight a lot and I want to go home now.
Nate: We've only come to physical blows a small handful of times and I know that when Becky wishes that I get "cancer and A.I.D.S." I know she's just messin' around. Most of the time I'm just screaming "leave me alone!" or "shut the fuck up", so it's great. touring is great.

Viva:A wise man told me never to print anything the drummer says. Is this true?
Becky: I wish he didn't even get a microphone sometimes...
Nate: If it wasn't for me Becky would probably still be suckin' off her manager at Pizza Hut. Actually, maybe you shouldn't print that.

Viva: Who's in heavy rotation on your iPod?
Becky: I haven't had a chance to steal some ones I pod yet... I guess I would need to steal someones computer first...
Nate: Apparently you have the misconception that we are millionaires. We do have Shabba Ranks, Sam Kinison and the soundtrack to "Some Kind of Wonderful" in heavy rotation on the tape deck.

Viva: What was the worst fight over nothing that you got into with each other after being road weary and exhausted?
Becky: All of our fights are really important. I am usually right, and then Nate yells or hits someone.
Nate: Actually one of our worst fights ever was about me stealing Becky's french fries. I'm totally serious. They were her fries, though.



For more info on Cars Can Be Blue, you can visit their myspace here: Cars Can Be Blue Myspace ! Check out this great live video!


I Hope You're Hurting Now At Athens PopFest!

TalkDemonic Unveils "Duality of Deathening" Video!

This week, Portland's amazing duo TalkDemonic debuted the first video from their Eyes At Half Mast album (released Sept 2008). Directed by Orie Weeks, the "Duality of Deathening" video is a remarkably sweet look at a robot learning what it means to be human. It's a great companion piece to a fantastic album. Watch the video below and take a minute to listen to a couple of songs from the record. TalkDemonic is a special band. They deserve a more than few moments of your time.

TalkDemonic Myspace




Duality of Deathening