Javelin: into loving, not fighting. but maybe "rumbling"

Javelin is on tour with Yeasayer. No Más, their new album, just came out this week!


So in honor of that occasion we had a quick chat about hypothetical gangs, challenging those in your debt to T&F competitions, and people with cool names who aren't really all that cool.

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ELECTROBITCHES: I read in another recent interview with you guys that at this point in the tour you're pretty sure Yeasayer owes you some money. Who else owes $$ right now?

JAVELIN: Everybody's paid up. Lucky them...

EB: Yeah, seriously. But what if somebody did? Would you ever consider hiring a hitman/hitwoman to take care of business like this? In general, would you consider hiring either a hitwoman or a hitman?

J: Hitwoman. But it would be a fake out- she'd turn out to be hilarious and use her charms to get what's ours.

EB: Do you think you'd use a javelin as some sort of threatening device to get your $$$ back or would that be too clichéd what with the band name and all?

J: We're not threatening people. We might switch it up and put it to a track and field test of ability, though. Either way,[still] too clichéd. Maybe we should just talk things out. It's getting warm in here.

EB: Have you ever considered being a band/slash/gang that uses javelins as weapons? Or maybe doesn't use weapons... what kind of gang would you be?

J: The gang in [the movie] The Warriors with the overalls and skates is the scariest ever. Gangs that "rumble" are pretty good. Pre-guns, "Leader of The Pack" stuff...

EB: The Shangri-Las would've made for a deceptively great gang. Ok, last question is very important--Is Juice Newton quite possibly the most disappointing musical artist of all time because she has such an awesome name and such lame-ass songs like "Angel of the Morning"?

J: Yeah, she could have been an electro power house. We're continually disappointed by the lack of 808s in her jams.


Watch juice newton lame it up in "angel of the morning" here:
(btw does it NOT sound like she's saying 'just brush my teeth before you leave'?????!!)


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This is my favorite track off No Más. Great for the playlist you have on your ipod that you listen to when you're walking around in public and you feel like walk-dancing. or dance-walking. (Really great for head-bopping and/or other kinds of mild dancing on escalators in the metro, for example).

Visit From Flo.

Florence and the Machine. Last night.

Their show at the 930 club was so good and I was so excited and happy my jaw hurt from grinning like an idiot all night. Also, my friend happily pointed out I managed to fog up my glasses because I was sweating so much. Gross.

But seriously, Florence Welch rocked that show. Opened with my personal favorite Howl, and killed it. Followed with her punk(ish) Kiss With a Fist, and ended the night with Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up). Killed it, hit every god damn note.

Great show. Filled with strong percussion, and an even stronger voice. Go see them. If anything, go to see Florence command a stage with no pants on with that flaming red hair. Everyone loves a good ginge.

So I'm just excited. Watch the video. It is fucking awesome.

Retro Wednesday: A Flock Of Seagulls

Why are we calling this Retro Wednesdays when really we should be calling it MidWeek 80's.

Post name change bitches because I only post 80's music. Deal with it. It's the best of the worst.

A Flock of Seagulls: I RAN

HAHAHA Typical 80's soundtrack and montage. Anyone want to get in a LeBaron with me and cruise around town listening to this? I think Mattie would.




Seriously, though I wouldn't mind wearing a leather dress, dramatic make up and freaking out in a room of mirrors. One time I was in Elvis Presley's house and he has these stairs leading down to the basement that have mirrors to both the left and right of you. So all you see, on the left and on the right, are hundreds of yourself. I would imagine stumbling home on a late Tuesday night (we've all had one) and seeing a hundred of myself, freaking out, and falling down the stairs.
That is what this video reminds me of.

Terrible Story. But at least these fools enjoyed it.

All About Laura (of Miami)

Found this list of Top 25 Bad DJ Names. Most are real bad. I have mixed feelings about "DJ Scratchatory Rape".

"Laura (Of Miami)" would not be a name on this list. It's clear, concise, not-too-braggy, and yet still gives off a vibe of importance. I'm thinking that if this whole blogging thing works out for me I might change to Katie (of the Weblogs). **********

(Laura-- j/k. Will not ripoff your name).

Anyway, it's a pretty great name, which is convenient, because Laura is a pretty great DJ.

Ever been out driving in an unfamiliar vehicle in an unfamiliar city and been all like, 'Damn, I'm so glad i can't listen to my ipod in here'? Yeah, probz not.

But that happened to me!! And this, my friends, my anyone-who-is-actually-reading-this, is how I discovered Laura (Of Miami). In addition to her impressive spinning skills, she's the music & programming director at University of Miami's WVUM 90.5FM .

Vamos A La Playa, Laura's monday night show, absolutely kills it. Listen here . Laura's shows specialize in a very fluid mix of disco, freestyle, boogie and 80s rarities (as the blog's tagline so aptly describes) from past and present. Set lists are published on Laura's blog as well.

So dudes, I don't know a lot about DJing. But I'd certainly like to.

(For instance, can anyone answer this question?
Referring to turntables as "the wheels of steel" will make me sound
A) Like a moron
B) Cool
C) Cool in a funny/ironic sort of way
D) Like a moron in a funny/ironic sort of way

*answers will not be graded)

Laura's been at this for ten years, so she was nice enough to answer a couple questions I thought our readers (namely, me) might be curious about.

ELECTROBITCHES: How'd you get into DJing?

LAURA (OF MIAMI): I've always been obsessed with collecting music. I used to make mixes for friends when I was doing my undergrad degree in Boston . Someone suggested I learn how to DJ so I did. I ended up as everyone's house party DJ until I got a residency at a club. When I moved to Miami I kept going.

EB: Can you remember the first time you ever DJed?

L(of M): I was pretty nervous and wrecked a few trains. We all pay our dues.

EB: I'm not hip to this 'train-wreck' lingo yet, but I like it. So what's up with all these different kinds of disco? The difference between Italo and Nu Disco is not clear to me.

L(of M): Italo Disco [is generally] 70s/80s European disco. [It's pretty] synth heavy, [often with] non-sequitur lyrics, [and has a] certain cheese factor to it. Nu disco is made by new electronica artists influenced by disco classics.

EB: True/False- The DJing world is dominated by dudes.

L(of M): I do think guys tend to dominate the DJ world, but that just makes the legit DJ girls stand out more. There are some really amazing female DJs out there that have worked hard to make a name for themselves. I like to encourage aspiring female DJs as long as they take it seriously and make themselves be taken seriously. I've seen all kinds of gimmicks girls use to get gigs, toplessness, costumes, ubermakeup, all you need is good track selection and technical skills. I also love spinning with other chicks, I think it brings an interesting element to a party.

EB: Word. Tell me about some music you're into.

L(of M): I'm kind of obsessed with Metronomy lately and I also like Fever Ray. Classic favorites (off the top of my head) would include everything from Grace Jones to Kraftwerk, Stereo Total, and even cheesy Latin power ballads.

--

Here's a fun track I discovered from one of Laura's sets. The video was made by a fan who really should be recognized for his inspired utilization of primitive iMovie special effects.

Nite Jewel : Weak for Me

Until next time, friends.

Mah, We did not get a VCR so you could watch dirty movies.

Some weirdo out there is going to destroy my favorite show. With porn.

Yes, rumor has it a Golden Girls porn parody is going to be made by porn company New Sensations. Dlisted has the names of the porn stars, but I don't really want to know the name of someone who will be playing a dirty Rose. Ugh.

My question is: What will they do with the cheesecake??

So below is a clip of the Golden Girls watching porn. Classic.

Yeah yeah, this isn't music related. But Betty White is possibly the greatest bitch of the all so deal with it.

via

Can this be more amazing?

Or gay? I hope not. Because this post combined with last week's and the one below definitely means we're deep into Gay Territory and there's no way back out. Let's get deeper! (I feel like there's some sexual innuendo in that statement and I'm OK with it.)

Anyway: Tegan & Sara. They are so cool. They are so gay. They are so popular right now. I'm on T&S overload and I love it.

Their newest single "Alligator" has been remixed by big artists like Holy Fuck, Passion Pit, Ra Ra Riot, and Toro y Moi. And. And! You can buy all of their contributions on iTunes for the low, low price of $12. Personally, I'd rather just listen to the free stuff. So without further ado, check out this Passion Pit video:

And also this

Alligator - Tegan and Sara (Toro y Moi Remix).

I think I'm in love

I'm all hot and bothered. There's just something about a girl who plays drums...and has a British accent...and also makes good music while she's at it. Here's Florrie with "Call 911 (Fred Falke Remix)."

Call 911 (Fred Falke Remix) - Florrie

Fall in love with me. Or maybe just dance. Or both.

Kisses (and Subsequent Hugs)

Greetings. I am new in this part of town (the town of Blog-o-sphere). My name is Katie.

So you like music with attitude and electronics, you say? (You say yes, of course, otherwise I wouldn't be here at this blog called "Electrobitches" -- you might even say that you like your music with attitude so much that you've overlooked the typically pejorative word in the title, "bitch", knowing that some people employ this word not in an attempt to keep females oppressed, but rather to suggest a kind of spiciness that may or may not even relate to females at all. You smile to yourself, thinking about how ironically tolerant you are. You may or may not have very many friends).

Well, then CHECK THIS OUT! An LA two-piece band called Kisses. They first appeared on the 'netz a little over a month ago.

Sounds like The Style Council + the city of Miami had a baby (this song would be the baby), no?
Unsubstantiated internet reports suggest something is coming out April 27th, but this single can already be found on iTunes.


You can check out their currently minimalist website here

See you 'round town.

The 80's Are Back. Forever.

No, it's not Retro Wednesday, but it is time yet again to pay tribute to the 80's.

Let's start with Sally Shapiro's My Guily Pleasure: Remixes. Its synthesized dance beats are undeniably influenced by the 80's. The soft, Madonna-esque voice of the lead singer lends to that illusion. Seems like the decade is enjoying a popular resurgence. Forever.

My Guilty Pleasure: Remixes - Sally Shapiro.

Meanwhile, across the pond - or rather, the strait? - international acts are following the trend. A case in point: Javiera Mena. Javiera is an up and coming Chilean artist; in fact, she may already have arrived. She infuses her girlish voice with low technology keyboard riffs. Here is her most popular song "Yo no te pido la luna":

Beth = Winona?

A new interview with Beth Ditto just came out with PaperMag where Beth admits to shoplifting and calling herself the new Winona.

Attitude? Or crazy? Ditto claims that most of her shoplifting came while she has been at Goodwill, that the "line's too long. Put in in your purse".

Ummmm ok.

My favorite quote comes on page three - "I can talk to anybody. I can talk to a lamppost and make it talk back".

The interview is candid and interesting, nothing short I would expect from Ditto and co.

Below is Gossip covering Aaliyah's Are You That Somebody? I highly, highly recommend it. Not only is Ditto's voice a power house that she can carry that bass line on her own, its just a great song from the 90's that I know we all used to sing along to.

Sorry the video is so weird - the live performance I wanted to post was disabled to embed. All the other live performances were shot by something like an iPhone.