Mister Heavenly

There are a few indie rock types that I'm genuinely fond of...one of them is Ryan Kattner, aka Honus Honus from Man Man. I wrote one of the first reviews of Man Man's first album and caught them playing in front of about 20 people, early on, at the Flywheel. (They practically burnt the place down.) Now they're a lot bigger, but Ryan's always been really nice to me...I've interviewed him twice so far, and I'd do it again any time.

I also have to say that I don't get the hostility that this band seems to generate, among certain kinds of music fans (I believe I'm the only one at Dusted who doesn't hate them fiercely). Sure Man Man is theatrical, and I think that riles up some people who think they like genuine-ness over artifice. But, holy shit, all music is theater. Man Man just takes it a little further, and anyway, it's fun to watch.

Man Man has fallen somewhat off my radar lately, mostly due to success (they're on Anti-, whose people have never been very impressed with my credentials, such as they are). I still haven't heard the new one. However, I do have a copy of the new Mister Heavenly, a side project of Kattner's with Nick Thornburn from Islands (and, if you want to go back a little further, Unicorns) and Joe Plummer from Modest Mouse. It's a bit more indie and less frenetic than Man Man, but not so terribly different. The new record, called Out of Love is coming in late August on Sub Pop.

Here's "Bronx Sniper"

Haven’t got a clue

At least I hadn’t until someone sent me this link to a couple of MP3s from this Constellation Records band…Constellation, you may know, is the Montreal-based experimental label of choice for Godspeed! offshoots and other magnificently drone-y, multi-parted instrumental overtures, musique concrete and generally non-commercial excesses – in other words, when they’re pitching, pay attention.

Clues is a joint project of Alden Penner (of Unicorns) and Brendan Reed (of Les Angles Mort), with some of the strung out sweetness of Penner’s band, filtered through a haze of rackety distortion and clatter

Here’s “Remember Severed Head”

And “Perfect Fit”


You might also be able to catch them live, if you’re so inclined. Dates:

May-09 Montreal QC Ukranian Federation Hall w/ Elfin Saddle
21-May-09 Toronto ON Sneaky Dees
22-May-09 Chicago IL Schubas
23-May-09 Minneapolis MN Triple Rock Social Club
25-May-09 Winnipeg MB Pyramid Cabaret
26-May-09 Saskatoon SK Amigos
27-May-09 Calgary AB Marquee
28-May-09 Edmonton AB Brixx
30-May-09 Vancouver BC Biltmore Cabaret
31-May-09 Victoria BC Lucky Bar
1-Jun-09 Seattle WA Neumos
2-Jun-09 Portland OR Backspace
4-Jun-09 San Francisco CA Rickshaw Shop
5-Jun-09 Los Angeles CA Echo
6-Jun-09 Costa Mesa CA Detroit
9-Jun-09 Dallas TX The Loft
10-Jun-09 Austin TX The Independent
11-Jun-09 New Orleans LA One-Eyed Jacks
12-Jun-09 Atlanta GA Drunken Unicorn
15-Jun-09 Washington DC Rock N Roll Hotel
16-Jun-09 Philadelphia PA The Barbary
17-Jun-09 New York NY Santos Playhouse
18-Jun-09 Montreal QC La Sala Rossa w/ The Dead Science