Kyle Gilkeson 
Minneapolis-based photographer Dan Monick just released a book called Seven Years with Atmosphere & Rhymesayers, which catalogs his travels with the venerable Midwest hip-hop crew. The book features 200 color and black-and-white photographs of live shows, behind-the-scenes action, and more, and will retail for $45.00. You can pre-order the book right now on Rhymesayers.com.
Legendary turntablist DJ Shadow and indie rapper Pigeon John performed recently at Park West in Chicago. Shadow, who is touring in support of two new singles from his unnamed upcoming album, deejayed from an open-faced orb whose surface acted as a screen for projections. And behind the pulsating command center, there were even more projections flashing upon a massive screen. Pigeon John is currently touring in support of his second album for Quannum Projects, Dragon Slayer.
Contributing photographer David Sampson captured these images at the show.
Each Tuesday, Behind the Counter speaks to an independent record store to ask about its recent favorites, best sellers, and noteworthy trends.
This week, we spoke with Neal Becton, owner of Som Records in Washington, DC. The small, well-curated record store is a staple in the DC community, and Becton is the force behind a number of events like the annual DC Record Fair and the monthly Brazilian Rhythms party. Having made three trips to Brazil primarily for the purpose of digging crates, there’s no question that Becton is committed to his craft, and Som’s diverse selection reflects his unequaled passion for music.
What can someone expect when visiting Som for the first time?
A small but tight shop with the best selection of used vinyl in DC. Being fairly small forces me to curate instead of just throwing everything out in the bins. I dig for records four to five days a week, so there’s always new stuff in here. I do sell new releases and touch a few genres that the other local stores don’t touch.
Dream-pop duo Beach House has been touring nonstop since releasing its acclaimed album Teen Dream in early 2010. In February of 2011, the band will return to the USA to play the last of its Teen Dream shows; get your presale tickets and limited-edition sweatshirt here. ALARM foreign correspondent / contributing photographer Wallo Villacorta recently captured these appropriately hazy images at the band’s show at Kaufleuten in Zurich, Switzerland.
Though her music might not immediately suggest it, adventuresome pop singer Liz Janes has a particular fondness for noise and drone music.
Janes entrenched herself in the vibrant Olympia music scene before joining Sufjan Stevens and Asthmatic Kitty for albums like Done Gone Fire (2002) and Poison & Snakes (2004). Those albums put a unique spin on classic Americana and blues, but her upcoming album, Say Goodbye (Asthmatic Kitty, 12/7/10), is a pop/soul record built on Janes’ inescapably experimental roots.
Here, in a personal recount of her musical history, her songwriting theory rings especially true: “You can choose any two points to be A and B, and there is always a way to connect the two.”
Liz Janes: “I Don’t Believe” (Say Goodbye, Asthmatic Kitty, 12/7/10)
Liz Janes: “I Don’t Believe” (Say Goodbye, Asthmatic Kitty, 12/7/10)
Drones Are Forever
by Liz Janes
I was a hippy living in a trailer in the coniferous rain forest of Olympia, Washington. Eventually, my endless meandering through the woods brought me into the little downtown. It was there that I stumbled upon the gentle and brilliant rock-poet solo performances of Mirah, Phil Elvrum, and Karl Blau; the kinder-pop of Jenny Jenkins and Super Duo; the pop punk of The Need; the hot, spastic, urgent noise of The Nervous System; and the shrieking, sexy soul of Old Time Relijun.
This sparked for me a new interest in culture. This K Records / Olympia scene was really vibrant and producing truly original and interesting art. So as I was drawn further into culture, and out of the woods, it just got better and better.
