BAMM.tv Presents: Jarrod Gorbel

BAMM.tv is happy to welcome Jarrod Gorbel, formerly of The Honorary Title, to the studio this afternoon for a live performance of five songs off of his brand new album, Devil's Made a New Friend. A short interview will follow. Gorbel has seen many sides of the music industry during the unprecedented transitional period of the last several years, both as a indie artist and as a major label artist.

However interesting his insights may be, we realize that it's his music you want. His music you shall have. Enjoy, folks.

Details:
Who: Jarrod Gorbel
What: Live stream performance of the new album Devil's Made a New Friend
Where: http://www.bamm.tv/live
When: Today (Wednesday, October 27) 12 PM (PST)

BAMM.tv in Chicago: Erin McKeown

Somehow, someway, I am writing this post from the Presidential Suite at the Belden-Stratford Hotel in Chicago (great view, crappy continental breakfast...is there any other kind?). The weather has been picturesque and post-card autumnal. The city is no less than cinematic. It reminds me of when folks come to visit us in San Francisco this time of year. The weather is perfect and the city has its best foot forward. Our visitors remind us how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful city, which is true, but we know--oh, how we know--that SF soup fog is rolling in approximately three minutes after dropping our guests off at SFO. In other words, Chicago is about to get cold, and it's important to remember this simple fact when romanticizing to such extremes.

Allow me to get to the topic at hand--why is BAMM.tv in Chicago? We are here working with our friends at web.illish.us on a live stream concert by Erin McKeown. As some of you know, we've done our share of streams from our studios in San Francisco, but tonight we are streaming a live concert from the beautiful Lincoln Hall. If all goes well, you might be seeing a bit more of BAMM.tv on the road. We are also testing out a pay-per-view concert model.



Full disclosure--I hadn't heard of Erin McKeown until this project came up. It didn't take long to realize she's an immensely talented songwriter that challenges the very notion of categorizing. More impressive to me, she's been at this music thing for over ten years. Perhaps my appreciation for persistence and longevity serves as proof of my own aging, but it takes balls to commit to a music career for that long. It really does. Tonight marks the ten year anniversary of McKeown's first studio album Distillation (Signature Sound), and to celebrate she will play Distillation in full. The second set of the night will feature requests from the online audience. I know--a lot of variables in play tonight, but it should be interesting to see how the whole online audience impacts the show in the venue. Definitely worth checking out here.

Miscellaneous:
--Jeff, Jamie, and I got up close and personal with a tiger. Although lame to see in a zoo, still pretty cool to see.



--Went to the Alder Planetarium to see a 3D show. I know space is cool. I know. I just wish I cared.



--Unos deep dish pizza for lunch. Birthplace of deep dish pizza. The crust is where the magic happens.
--Lincoln Park is a really cool area of Chicago. Close to Wrigley, lots of cool bars and restaurants.
--Went to the Apple Store to grab a hard drive. Really cool store to go to when you get to snicker at the people waiting in line for their iPhone-related issues. I want to feel bad for them.

BAMM.tv Presents: Adam Haworth Stephens

Let’s just address the elephant in the room right off the bat: Adam Haworth Stephens is a part of Two Gallants, and Two Gallants is a part of Stephens, but neither are defined nor paint the entire picture of the other. Moreover, neither should limit the other. With that said, on September 28, 2010, Saddle Creek Records will release Stephens’ solo effort, We Live On Cliffs. Tonight (9/24), Stephens will give a preview of the new tunes as a part of a video stream and private performance from BAMM.tv studios.

It’s unknown whether the album marks a new direction for Stephens’ songwriting or just a sabbatical from the sparseness for which Two Gallants has gained critical acclaim. Either way, there is much to relish on We Live On Cliffs. Although full, warm, and even at times cozy, a sense of urgency remains at the heart of the songs.

Pre-order We Live On Cliffs, bundles and all, here.

Who: Adam Haworth Stephens
What: video stream performance of We Live On Cliffs
Where: BAMM.tv Studios (San Francisco), streamed on BAMM.tv/live
When: Friday, September 24, 8 PM (PST)

BAMM.tv presents: Ha Ha Tonka

Ha Ha Tonka (Springfield, MO) are road dogs that are anything but jaded, and their harmony-laden Southern Rock that brings out the foot-stomper in all of us. That said, don't bother looking for cliched songwriting. You won't find it here.

Ha Ha Tonka will take a few hours out of the West Coast leg of their latest tour to return to BAMM.tv this afternoon to perform for a live stream starting at 3 PM (PST). Tune in at BAMM.tv and head down to Elbo Room tonight at 9 PM to catch them in the flesh and blood.

BAMM.tv presents: Miho Wada

We’ve all been stuck. More specifically--more interestingly--we’ve all been stuck musically. We resort back to the same artists. The same songs. The same five minute guitar solo. We hear the same ideas, and they are comforting. An old t-shirt. We crap on radio stations for playing their same 100 songs, then we do the same thing with our iPod.

I’ve yet to meet Miho Wada, BAMM.tv’s artist featured on our live stream today at 3 PM (Pacific Time), but I am impressed with her for the simple fact that she’s not a stuck musician. She’s a severely talented, classically trained flutist. She’s traveled the world--Cuba, New Zealand, London, Japan--incorporating different theory into her playing and composition. She is what I want to think of when I hear the term “World Music” instead of Timothy Robbins’ character in the film High Fidelity.

Whether her music feels like an old t-shirt or not, I encourage you to try it on today. Your old music has pit stains anyway.

-Phil Lang

Details:
Who: Miho Wada
What: Live video stream (HD)
Whent: 3 PM (Pacific Time)
Where: BAMM.tv

Allofasudden in studio

Allofasudden (San Francisco, CA) serves as a great reminder of the versatile power of the almighty guitar. There are a lot of elements to like in this slightly psychedelic band, but it's their refusal to be content with one sound that makes them a band to come back to. Although "Appear," their 2008 album, succeeds in capturing the signature of the band, they are indeed a band that must be seen live to fully appreciate their jam and improvisational prowess. BAMM.tv is excited to have them performing a live stream on Wednesday. Details below.

Who: Allofasudden
What: Live performance video stream
Where: justin.tv
When: Wednesday, June 9 at 8PM

Ash Reiter to Perform on BAMM.tv

Ash Reiter (San Francisco, CA) has been roundly praised for many elements of her songwriting and performing. Whether it's her crooning voice, her lyrics, or her vintage pop sensibility—the point is you want to hear more from her. Her songs have a wit and ease about them that can't be faked.

Reiter and her band will come by the Bricks and Mortar studio tomorrow (Wednesday, May 26) to perform for a live stream starting at 8 PM. Tune in here and be sure to check out tracks from her new album. You can see her live Thursday night (May 27) at Milk Bar.