Marshall’s Mixtape: Live Music Tonight, Sean Rowe Continues Ascent, Radiohead’s Latest, Odd Future and More

ALTA MIRA & MORE, TONIGHT AT VALENTINE’S

A reminder that tonight at Valentine’s is Alta Mira with supporting acts Holly & Evan, Ben Karis-Nix, and the Ashley Pond Band. Downstairs, 8pm, $7. Pretty eccentric mix of stuff.

On Sunday, Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned play with The Loom, Life Among Trees, and Wailing Walls supporting.

More info at ValentinesAlbany.com.

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SEAN ROWE

In 2010, Sean Rowe joined the likes of Tom Waits, Neko Case, and others when he was signed by the world renowned Anti- records. Being lumped in with artists of that caliber can be daunting, but if early reaction to his forthcoming Anti- Records release “Magic” is any indication, he’ll be considered a peer in no time. American Songwriter magazine named Sean their Songwriter of the Week, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Nippertown has more.

Local music fans may have some familiarity with “Magic” – it was put out initially by Collar City Records a couple years back. In a move that speaks to the high quality of our local label, the re-release from Anti- is untouched and unmodified. Kudos to the folks at Collar City.

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ODD FUTURE

I honestly hadn’t heard of this group until everyone and their cross-eyed Uncle started posting video of their performance from earlier this week on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Insane, intense, and charismatic, Odd Future made the perfect network debut. For all my hesitations regarding him as a host, Fallon continues to have the best musical acts.

More music & recommendations after the jump…

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RADIOHEAD

Radiohead’s latest, “The King of Limbs,” drops on Saturday.

The material that Yorke and company put out is incredibly brave considering their stature; few other acts with that kind of money and notoriety would experiment and challenge listeners and the industry as much as they have.

I admire their gumption, if not the music universally. I enjoyed, but did not love, “In Rainbows.” There were a handful of tracks I really dug, but I didn’t feel any great sense of attachment towards the work as a whole. It also suffered the same fate of everything they’ve put out since “Kid A” – I played the Hell out of it for a few weeks, examined it, then put it on the shelf, not to be touched again.

I’m cautiously optimistic. We’ll see.

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FOO FIGHTERS

FINALLY.

I don’t mean “finally, there’s a new Foo Fighters song out.” They’re one of those bands I wouldn’t turn off if they came on the radio – and may even turn up – but not one who I actively sought out or got excited about.

This new direction changes things, and it’s a direction I’ve been wanting Grohl to take the band into for years. It’s clear from the work he’s done both with them and the all-star side project Probot that he carries a deep love and appreciation for metal.

Well, now he’s doing what he really loves, and I freaking love it almost as much as Grohl probably loved doing it. The video gets bonus points for featuring Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister.

Grohl’s made his money and put in the time, so he’s earned the right to start doing the kind of music he really wants to do. That said, it’ll be interesting the see the reaction from the Foo faithful. If the ones I know personally are any indication, they might not respond well to this.

But who cares? It kicks.

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WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO INCESSANTLY THIS WEEK:

• The Smith Westerns – “Dye it Blonde”
• Talib Kweli – “Gutter Rainbows”
• The Decemberists – “The King is Dead”
• Celeste – “More(s) Nee(s)” – this one isn’t a new release, but my brother introduced me to the French ambient hardcore outfit and I think I’m in love. Go download it and their other LPs for free at their website.