The Milk Carton - News

Live Review: Kendrick Lamar w/ Chance the Rapper

Jeremy — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:49:44 GMT

Live Review: Kendrick Lamar / Chance the Rapper
IMU Main Ballroom, Iowa City, IA - 5.06.13

Several years ago, Snoop Dogg was scheduled to play a show here at the University of Iowa. If memory serves (and it might not), the show was scheduled for one of the larger venues around, if not the sprawling Hubbard Park, then certainly the spacious Main Ballroom inside the Union. I�m surely getting the specific details mixed up in the fog of time, but the show WAS cancelled. While the University never came out and said it (if I remember correctly), the show was cancelled due to the desire to keep �Undesirables� out that may or may not be associated with Mr. Dogg. Now, outside of being super messed up and the fact that Snoop Dogg is and has been a cartoon for a while, the cancellation put the kibosh on rap shows in town for a while. SCOPE along with Mission Creek have slowly brought big mainstream acts such as Killer Mike, GZA, Ghostface Killah, and Childish Gambino back to the area. While those acts are nothing to sneeze at, SCOPE�s last show of the semester upped the ante by bringing the red-hot Kendrick Lamar to the IMU.

Chicago�s Chance the Rapper has been making massive amounts of waves as of late. His latest mixtape Acid Rap is scratching the itches of all the pertinent tastemakers of the day, he�s guest rapping on all of the big names of the day, and his SXSW performance has people all hot and bothered for his upcoming Lollapalooza slot. His onstage presence more than justified the hype - from the moment he stepped on stage, Chance was a barely contained bundle of energy, spending almost as much time maniacally dancing about the stage as he did rapping. I can�t even fake a passing knowledge of Chance�s music, but the intensity saved the set.

The set suffered from both muddy sound and some poor pacing. Chance�s DJ began the set with a confusing display of his admirable skills - if this was intended to amp up the crowd, the constant switching of music to hype killed any flow, and this pre-set went on for an interminably long time before Chance actually came out. Once onstage, the show picked up exponentially, but Chance�s microphone was too low to actually make out what was going on. The problem only increased after both the house sound techs as well as the DJ tried to remedy the issues, leading to massive amounts of crunching in the sound. Still, Chance�s charisma, energy, and the crowd�s devotion to the set kept the show above water.

Kendrick Lamar�s explosion this past year was one of the most heartening things I�ve seen in the music scene as of late. Too often, popular music, especially rap, it�s far too easy to rely on a hook to get an audience, be it �Oh man, what crazy slut!� or �Did you hear how much Drank he drank?!�. With good kid, M.A.A.D. City, Kendrick Lamar did the old fashioned way. He made a truly original album without relying on tired stereotypes or hopping on a bandwagon. The show sold out almost immediately, and the crowd maintained the level of enthusiasm shown at the box office. The sound issues were resolved in the interim, and the crowd made sure to go ballistic at every song, whether it was known or not. Tracks like �P&P� got the crowd singing along early in the set, but the real reactions came once Kendrick broke into the good kid material. The crowd had largely smoked and drank themselves limbless, and the slightest push was able to topple them into a frenzy.

It�s a good thing the crowd was in such high spirits and willing to roll with anything, because Kendrick�s performance was sub-par. While the nature of the songs and the amped crowd lend themselves to a call-and-response interaction with the crowd, Kendrick spending well over half of his time on stage letting the crowd take the baton and run was inexcusable. It became even more disappointing during the times he actually did rap full verses as he did on �M.A.A.D. City�. In those rare moments, he managed to show why he�s made himself a gold standard of sorts for modern rap, and it made the laziness all the more disappointing. Still, those moments alongside a bananas crowd during those INCREDIBLE songs made Kendrick Lamar a winner overall. Kendrick Lamar claimed to be genuinely surprised at the reaction got here in the middle of nowhere and that he would back - here�s hoping he�s not hungover the next time.

Thanks to Mack Sheehy and everyone at SCOPE for another great year, and thanks to Zak Neumann for the photos and keeping his remarks about Barack Obama to himself for once.

Riotfest 2013 Announces Fall Out Boy, Blink 182, Motorhead, Rancid, FLAG & Many More

Jeremy — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:51:39 GMT

I went to Riotfest's first iteration as an outdoor festival last year, and it was an incredibly well run festival, stacked front to back with acts to pay homage to the old school (Iggy & The Stooges) as well as the current day (Rise Against). Over the course of the weekend, I had precisely forty-five minutes where there was not a band I HAD to see. I thought I had missed out on the days of seeing shows made specifically for me when Warped Tour started booking screamo bands, but Riotfest proved me wrong. I did not think such a show was possible.

Not only was it done, it was done well, and with their 2013 announcement this evening, Chicago's Riotfest has made one of the most perfect lineup announcements I have ever seen. Headlining the September 13-15 festival in Humboldt Park will Be Fall Out Boy, Blink 182 and an as-of-yet unnamed third act. The ridiculous undercard features Violent Femmes, Motorhead, Rancid, Against Me!, FLAG, AFI, X, Taking Back Sunday, Public Enemy, Brand New, GWAR, Glassjaw, and countless others. This is a batshit insane lineup, and tickets are only $69.98 for now. More acts are on the way, so get them now at www.riotfest.org. I'll see you there.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs & My Bloody Valentine to Headline LA's FYF Fest

Jeremy — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:32:03 GMT

It's been a while, but My Bloody Valentine are continuing the resurrection in the wake of MBV with a headlining spot at Los Angeles's FYF Fest. The festival will take place August 24th & 25th at L.A. State Historic Park. Yeah Yeah Yeahs will also close out a night, and they'll be joined by groups like TV on the Radio, FLAG, Yo La Tengo, Kurt Vile & The Violators, and and many more. All information can be found at www.fyffest.com, and the lineup is as follows:

Saturday, August 24th

Yeah Yeah Yeahs
TV on the Radio
FLAG
Deerhunter
Devendra Banhart
The Breeders (Performing Last Splash)
Toro Y Moi
Death Grips
Roky Erickson
STRFKR
Thee Oh Sees
Simian Mobile Disco B2B Bicep
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Ty Segall
Dan Deacon
Nosaj Thing
Title Fight
Delorean
Omar Souleyman
Eleanor Friedberger
Joyce Manor
Foxygen
Horse Meat Disco
Metz
Crystal Antlers
The Underachievers
Waxahatchee

Sunday, August 25th:

My Bloody Valentine
MGMT
Beach House
Solange
Yo La Tengo
Washed Out
Holy Ghost
The Melvins
Les Savy Fav
Shlomo
Kurt Vile & The Violators
Flume
!!!
Jonathan Richman
Baroness (Ed. Note: HOLY SHIT)
Poolside
Touche Amore
Mac Demarco
Glasser
How to Dress Well
Chelsea Wolfe
The Orwells
Classixx
Mikal Cronin
Guards
Pional
Fear of Men
Lemuria
Antwon

+ More & Comedians

80/35 2013 Adds Menomena, H.D. Harmsen, Gloom Balloon & More

Jeremy — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:53:47 GMT

2013's 80/35 has already had a great initial batch of artists ranging from David Byrne & St. Vincent, Wu-Tang Clan, and Wavves alongside locals like Trouble Lights and Mumford's, and they've continued the trend with their latest announcement. Menomena and Detroit rappers Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson will bring their particular brands of ruckus to the festival along side our boys in Gloom Balloon and H.D. Harmsen. The whole list of new acts can be found below, and all pertinent information regarding the festival can be found at 80/35's website. You've got less than a week to obtain tickets at the lower price - the price will rise to $65/$39 on May 14th. Don't be dumb - get your ass to Des Moines.

Menomena
Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson
Escondido
The Pines
Water Liars
Maxilla Blue
Prissy Clerks
H.D. Harmsen
SP3
Gloom Balloon
Mighty Shady

Justin Timberlake Announces 2013 '20/20' Tour

Jeremy — Wed, 08 May 2013 01:28:55 GMT

Justin Timberlake just doesn't seem to get any breaks, does he? Successful albums, hilarious stints on SNL, movie star status? It's a wonder the man can sleep. Also adding to the ills is the success of The 20/20 Experience, and now come the perils and trappings of a sure-to-be successful tour. If you want to commiserate with the man, check out the following dates:

Tour Dates

10/31 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
11/13 - Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
11/15 - Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
11/16 - Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
11/18 - Memphis, TN @ Fedex Forum
11/19 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
11/21 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
11/29 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
12/2 - Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center
12/4 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
12/5 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
12/11 - Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
12/12 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
12/14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Consol Energy Center
12/15 - Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
12/17 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
12/19 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
1/13 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
1/17 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
1/22 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
2/7 - Fargo, ND @ FARGODOME
2/9 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
2/10 - Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center

The National and Frightened Rabbit to Hit the Road This Summer

Jeremy — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:04:31 GMT

Much like Jaws creeping upon Amity Island, The National are on their way to devour all in their way this summer. Trouble Will Find Me is slated for release in just a few more weeks, and they've now joined forces with their sad-sack brothers in arms Frightened Rabbit for a North American tour. There's not too many dates on this tour, so...hopefully more are coming? Until then, make plans now:

Tour Dates:

9/8 � Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
9/9 � Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Centre
9/11 � Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
9/12 � Asheville, NC @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
9/13 � Louisville, KY @ Iroquois Amphitheater
9/15 � Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theatre
9/17 � Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9/21 � Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield Winery
9/22 � Vancouver, BC @ PNE Amphitheatre

Asheville's Mountain Oasis Gets Nine Inch Nails, Bassnectar, Neutral Milk Hotel

Danny Perkins — Sun, 05 May 2013 17:19:27 GMT

Asheville, North Carolina's Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit have released their initial 2013 lineup starring the rebirth of Nine Inch Nails and electro superstars Bassnectar and Pretty Lights as headliners and the excitement continues right down the artist roster. Crowd pleasers Animal Collective, Trent Reznor's other band How To Destroy Angels, the just-reunited Neutral Milk Hotel, recent comeback kids Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and old school wonder Gary Numan are next on the marquee followed by TMC favorites like Chromatics, Tricky, Zola Jesus, Rustie, Jessie Ware, Disclosure, and many more.

The event takes place on October 25-27 just ahead of Halloween in many venues across downtown Asheville including the ExploreAsheville.com Arena, the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Diana Wortham Theatre, the Orange Peel, and Asheville Music Hall. The festival is produced by AC Entertainment, who have put on some of our favorite shows over the years. This is a must-see. Tickets are now on sale over at the Mountain Oasis website.

Live Review: Best Coast / Emperor's Club

Jeremy — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:54:19 GMT

Live Review: Best Coast / Emperor�s Club
4.27.13 - First United Methodist Church - Iowa City, IA

You read that right.

The First United Methodist Church in Iowa City was the venue for this past week�s Best Coast stop in Iowa City. To say that seeing any sort of rock concert in a church is a bit unusual is an massive understatement. Regardless of one�s religious views, the mere act of walking into a church bestows a sense of reverence and, most oddly, a sense of quiet. It�s not the usual dingy, beer-soaked rock club or historic theaters that we�re used to seeing rock music in, but it�s not without its advantages. First and foremost, churches are among the most acoustically sound buildings one can find. Priests, preachers and reverends of all stripes had to be heard somehow before the advent of amplified sound, and the shapes of the buildings did the heavy lifting on that end, and that adds an amazing depth to any band�s sound. Oddball venues like this provide a memorable experience for all involved, and for those in attendance at Best Coast, this certainly held true.

Iowa City�s Emperor�s Club has ramped up their live schedule as of late in support of the recently released Killer Companion, and their live show reflects this immensely. We just caught up with the group supporting Divine Fits at a jam-packed night of Mission Creek, and even in the few scant weeks since that show, the group has shown growth. At that last show, I lamented a small lack of a spark given the band�s stellar Iowa City Song Project track �Strings�. While I highly doubt I have the pull to effect any change (and God, I hope I don�t), the band seemed to have caught the vibes I was sending their way. The band took to the challenge of winning over a seemingly immobilized crowd with some of the spunkier tracks in their back catalogue amongst the more lush tracks from Killer Companion. That increase in energy didn�t result in a sloppier performance, as the band managed to keep the carefully-arranged melodies and harmonies well in check alongside the surging guitars of the more energetic tunes. Really, the only complaint I can lodge is that the keyboards that figure so prominently into the recorded tracks seemed drowned out in the mix, but given the fact that they were playing as the opening act in a church, such offenses are easily forgotten. Emperor�s Club have had a hell of a run in the past few weeks with slots supporting Best Coast, Divine Fits, and Akron/Family, and it seems like they�re only beginning.

By the time Best Coast arrived on stage (Promptly, I might add - another plus to having such a highly regimented show), the crowd had piled themselves as close to the altar / stage as humanly possible. The four-piece touring version of the band seemed game to be playing in such a weird venue, and the music benefitted from both the venue and the good spirits of the group. Normally the reverb-heavy sort of indie rock that made Best Coast irritates the living hell out of me, but the venue�s natural reverberating acoustics made it feel like an organic extension of the sound rather than a mask of a tired sound. For the entirety of the band�s set, new tracks from The Only Place earned just as much rapturous applause as the fan-favorites from Crazy for You. The band didn�t try to jazz up its simplistic take on their frothy surf-rock romances, and their fans ate up each and every one of the songs. Bethany Cosentino�s cheery stage presence and shit-talking of local shithole bars put them even more in the crowd�s good graces.

So why was this one of my least favorite sets I may have ever seen?

I�d like to think that after seeing shows for nearly half of my life, I can determine when a band is actually performing poorly and when the band is just not my cup of tea. I love me some Brand New, but their set at Lollapalooza was objectively one of the worst sets I�ve ever seen due to the shitty sound and Jesse Lacey�s piss-poor attitude. On the flip side, I�ve had as little fun at Best Coast as I have at my least favorite shows. It�s no commentary on their skills - the hundred of people that rushed the stage and roared at every song would beg to differ with me. To me, every song the band played seemed a slight variation on the same *Boom CHK CHK Boom CHK� at the exact same pace with the exact same lame lyrics about boys and weed and the sun and oh my god guys isn�t this twee. Three songs were enough for me to get my fill of Best Coast, but that didn�t matter. The fans ate it up, and that�s the inherent difficulty in writing something like this. I was miserable, but the crowd loved it, and they loved the bizarre venue in which it was held. I can�t completely dismiss a show in which the target demo is pleased as punch, but for me, this show was a non-starter.

Thanks to SCOPE for putting on the show and all the others that have come / are coming this semester, and thanks to Zak Neumann for taking photos and keeping his hands out of his pants in a church. Catch more of his photos here, and yell at him to put more up.

RIP Jeff Hanneman of Slayer (1964-2013)

Jeremy — Sat, 04 May 2013 00:05:53 GMT

Jeff Hanneman, co-founder and guitarist of the legendary Slayer, has passed away at the age of 49 due to liver failure. Hanneman had been off the road since 2011 due to a case of necrotizing fasciitis, most likely contracted from a spider bite. Hanneman's sudden passing has come as quite a shock to the metal community, and his contributions to the band will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Along with guitarist Kerry King, Hanneman founded Slayer in 1981. Within five short years of their inception, Slayer had released what is now considered one of the best and most influential thrash metal albums in Reign in Blood. The band's relentless assault, anchored by the truly unique and hellish guitars of King and Hanneman, has proven to be timeless in the twenty-seven years since its release. Many have imitated Hanneman's style of performance, but few, if any, have matched the intensity of the originators.

Reign on, Jeff.

"Slayer - "War Ensemble" (Live)" via YouTube
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Jason Isbell Returns with 'Southeastern', Summer Tour Dates

Jeremy — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:47:05 GMT

During his brief stint in Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell showed himself to be an unbelievably strong songwriter. His solo albums have continued the maturation of an incredible musician, and June 11th will see the continuation of that growth with Southeastern. Not content with just another album under his belt, Isbell's also announced a massive summer tour. He won the hearts of damn near everyone at last year's 80/35, and you can find out for yourself at one of the following tour dates.

Tour Dates:

5/4 - Huntsville, AL - Crossroads Cafe
5/17 - Tulsa, OK - Tulsa Mayfest
5/19 - Gulf Shores, AL - Hangout Fest
5/22-23 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
6/6 - Bowling Green, KY - The Warehouse at Mt. Victor
6/7 - Louisville, KY - Iroquois Ampitheater
6/13-15 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
6/16 - Croton-on-Hudson, NY - Clearwater Festival
6/19 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
6/20 - Kansas City, MO - Crossroads
6/22 - Monterey, CA - Monterey Americana Music Fest
6/25 - Akron, OH - Musica
6/26 - Columbus, OH - Skully's
6/27 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
6/30 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage
7/1 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere Bandstand
7/2 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
7/3 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre
7/5 - Charleston, SC - Pour House
7/26 - Floyd, VA - FloydFest 13
7/27 - Newport Folk Festival
8/9 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Kirby Center

A Wilhelm Scream Return with Summer Dates

Jeremy — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:56:29 GMT

A Wilhelm Scream put on a show-stopping performance at Chicago's Riot Fest last year, and that 40 minute show reminded me why the band is one of the best at what they do. The band is allegedly gearing up for a new album sometime this year, but in the meantime, check out the band's immolating live show when they hit the road with The Flatliners. You won't be sad.

Tour Dates

14 JUN Cleveland, OH - Now That's Class
15 JUN Indianapolis, IN - Hoosier Dom
16 JUN St. Louis, MO - Fubar
w/ THE FLATLINERS
18 JUN Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre
19 JUN Albuquerque, NM - Gasworks
20 JUN Scottsdale, AZ - Pub Rock
21 JUN Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
22 JUN Camarillo, CA - New Rock City Studios
23 JUN San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside
24 JUN Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
25 JUN Seattle, WA - El Corazon
26 JUN Vancouver, BC - The Rickshaw
27 JUN Off
28 JUN Edmonton, AB - Ritchie Hall
29 JUN Calgary, AB - Republik
30 JUN Regina, SK - The Exchange
01 JUL Off
02 JUL Winnipeg, MB - WECC
03 JUL Off
04 JUL Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
05 JUL Chicago, IL - Reggie's
06 JUL Detroit, MI - Magic Stick

Black Sabbath Line Up North American Tour

Jeremy — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:48:07 GMT

The improbable continues. Ozzy's off the wagon and Bill Ward seemingly wants nothing to do with the band, but metal must carry on. After seeing a rapturous response for their new single "God is Dead?", our Lords and Masters in Black Sabbath have announced a full-scale twenty date summer tour. 13 comes out on June 11th, and the tickets for the tour go on sale May 3rd. Check out "God is Dead?" (Stick around for the whole thing...), and find the date nearest you:

"God is Dead?" via YouTube
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Tour Dates:

07/25 � Houston, Texas - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
07/27 � Austin, Texas - Frank Erwin Center
07/29 � Tampa, Fla. - Live Nation Amphitheatre
07/31 � W. Palm Beach, Fla - Cruzan Amphitheatre
08/02 � Bristow, Va. - Jiffy Lube Live
08/04 � Holmdel, N.J. - PNC Bank Arts Center
08/06 � Detroit, Mich. - DTE Energy Music Theatre
08/08 � Uncasville, Conn. - Mohegan Sun Arena
08/10 � Philadelphia, Pa. - Wells Fargo Center
08/12 � Boston, Mass. - Comcast Center
08/14 � Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
08/16 � Tinley Park, Ill. - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
08/18 � Indianapolis, Ind. - Klipsch Music Center
08/22 � Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
08/24 � Seattle, Wash. - Gorge Amphitheatre
08/26 � San Francisco, Calif. - Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
08/28 � Irvine, Calif. - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
08/30 � Phoenix, Ariz. - US Airways Center
09/01 � Las Vegas, Nev. - MGM Grand Garden Arena
09/03 � Los Angeles, Calif. - Los Angeles Sports Arena