All photos by David Greenwald

Much like Wilco, I was supposed to see John Vanderslice for the first time back in 2004, but events (and rain) conspired to get in the way. So last night was my first jaunt with JV, and also like Wilco, he was worth the wait. John’s latest album, Romanian Names, is heavier on the keyboards, but his five-piece band offered a thorough overview of the sounds of his formidable discography. New songs such as “Tremble and Tear” and “D.I.A.L.O.” fit snugly next to past triumphs like “Tablespoon of Codeine” and “When It Hits My Blood,” and throughout, the songs surged with a rawness often absent from the musician’s meticulous recordings. He closed the set by bringing his band down to the floor and playing among the crowd — the sort of fan hug that continued when he walked to the merch table and, unprompted, offered to sign my girlfriend’s just-purchased vinyl.

Previously: First Look: John Vanderslice – Romanian Names

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Photo by David Greenwald

More like the Sweatiest Man on Earth — it was pretty hot in the Troubadour last night, but guy had to towel off after every song. He certainly gave himself a vocal workout, pushing his affected yowl deep into feline territory. I’m a fan, but The Tallest Man stands up better on record, at least musically, where his impressive guitar picking holds its own against his sometimes painfully showy voice. Either way, he drew quite the crowd as John Vanderslice’s opener — a good chunk of it went home after he left the stage. Probably the same chunk that was going to listen to Bon Iver in the car on the way. Sigh.

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(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post first appeared in August 2007.) The late Jay Bennett (pictured at left) was so forcibly and publicly removed from Wilco that it almost seems wrong to remember he was once an essential part of the band. But though the cameras of I Am Trying Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco (a truly great rock doc, by the way) captured his unceremonious firing, they also captured his contributions to the band as he shredded through guitar solos and hit tight harmonies. This Summerteeth-era performance by Jay and Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy is an acoustic one so Bennett doesn’t get to jam on his beloved “easy rockers,” but in retrospect, and especially in light of Jay’s tragic death earlier this year, it’s an historic gig: the apex of the two songwriters’ partnership, demonstrated in 20 catalog-spanning songs. While I’m glad Wilco ultimately went in another direction, there’s no denying the charms that Bennett brought to the group. Read the rest of this entry »

Pledge Week: Help the Rawking continue refusing to stop! Today’s the last day — donate here.

Best of 2008: I ran down the best albums and songs of last year. Next week: This year. Phew!

News: Michael Jackson died and I shared a personal story; Radiohead are in the studio (and in black and white); Wilco & Feist were on stage in LA.

Bootlegs: Elliott Smith in New York City, February 22, 2000 — on video.

Live: Wilco (pictured at left) at the Wiltern (spoiler: they killed it!); Grizzly Bear at the Troubadour.

Photo by David Greenwald

Well, gentle rawkers, it’s the end of Pledge Week — and I’m happy to say that many of you have opened your hearts (and your wallets) to support this little blog. Today is the last day I’ll be asking, so if you can, please, please make a donation. Click here and remember: There are prizes. You know you want to see your favorite blogger doing Animal Collective songs on YouTube. Thanks again, for reading and for everything.

Thom Yorke in Los Angeles above and Jonny Greenwood in the studio after the jump, via Dead Air Space. Radiohead is currently in the studio with longtime producer Nigel Godrich recording its follow-up to 2007′s In Rainbows, an album you might remember me mentioning. Nigel’s also been involved in Beck’s recent Record Club studio sessions, so maybe dudes are all in L.A. having epic bro downs? A blogger can dream. Read the rest of this entry »

As she does on record, Ms. Leslie Feist joined Wilco last night at their third and final Wiltern show on Wilco (The Album) winner “You and I” — the duet’s live debut. Sounds great and looks even better — where were you on Monday, Leslie? [Via Stereogum] Video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

In 1985, Michael Jackson was at the peak of his powers. He’d won eight Grammy awards for “Thriller,” the most successful album of all time – a ‘90s Eagles greatest hits collection be damned – and had just released “We Are The World,” a charity single with almost every major name in pop that sold in the double-digit millions.

He was also on the verge of the long, incomprehensible fall from grace that would color the next two and a half decades of his life. But that was still to come. In 1985, he was an untainted superstar, the world’s most electric performer – and a philanthropist who gave generously to medical centers in the wake of a burning incident a year earlier on the set of a Pepsi commercial.

I was born on May 8, 1985, and spent nine days shortly thereafter in the intensive care unit of a Santa Monica hospital. Jackson happened to come visit.  Read the rest of this entry »