Wild Nothing (and other things)

Before the Wild Nothing show on Friday, The D Man snagged the entire and elusive Red House Painters catalog on vinyl.  With Stark the Vinyl Shark's expert eye and advice, it was a thrilling trip to the record store.

• Wild Nothing capped a great evening with a run of "Paradise," "Reichpop," and "Shadow."  "This is usually where we end things," Jack Tatum said before the final three-songs.  "But we are feeling so good tonight, we will keep playing."  When Tatum and his mates lock into a new wave groove, it taps into a vein of pure nostalgic bliss for The D Man.  Though the venue was absolutely pathetic--looking at you, The Loading Dock--the band made the best of it by playing hard and tight, weaving their melodic guitars over the top of dreamy bass lines and keyboards.  Other highlights included "Only Heather" and Gemini standouts "Live in Dreams" and "Summer Holiday," which surprisingly rocked throughout the chorus oohs and aahs.  Stark the Vinyl Shark stayed strong throughout the night, while Rip, Ryan, Mr. Diddles, and Rizzo all made solid cameo appearances.  Good vibes all around.
• Whitney opened for Wild Nothing and confirmed, once again, the standing premise: if it has horns, it is usually good.  "No Woman" has been getting plenty of Sirius XM love and for good reason: it is an excellent throwback to hazy folk magic.
• Band of Horses will be releasing a new album this summer.  Check out "Casual Party," a fun new single from Ben Bridwell and company.
• Night Moves really do sound like a cross between the Bee Gees and My Morning Jacket.  Enjoy "Carl Sagan," the opening track from their new album Pennied Days.
• And then there is this.