New Delta Spirit

New Yearz - Pt. I

This is going to be there short version of my decade/year. The longer detailed version can be read in Pt. II.

I am just going to start naming things off that meant something to me, ready, set, go...
Music, internetz, Hema, junior high, work, Datsun, hair, rock n roll, punks, surf, folk, Annie, Stu, Justin+Katie, sports, rap, hip-hop, hippies, design, Stu, Jake, parents, high school, Idaho, aunt Vangie/uncle Kim, TBS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adobe, Mac, tight jeans, Mitzi, Barbie, Mason, B.Flow, The Killers, Los Lopez, Heimuli's, stuff, blah, blah, blah,...

I give up, just finish reading my long post in Pt. II.

kthxbye.

New Yearz - Pt. II

Its a new decade, yet I feel as if yesterdays tomorrow is here. To go over the top high lights of the past decade would be cliche and typical. So I will briefly do something along those lines. The fact that 10 years ago I was only in 6th grade and just learning how to work the internetz and a computer for that fact, I have learned to love certain things. So these certain things can be related to music and what type of music I was into at the time. I swear, every year I changed what type of music I listened to, which makes me appreciate what music I listen to these days. To start off with the early years of the past decade; I would always watch the box growing up, so the fake MTV wannabe sold out and left me music less. I started out by loving the Californication album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. So great, made me love alternative music. Then insert my best friend, Hema, he brought something in my life that made my junior high years so weird. He brought rap music into my life, along with the hip hop lifestyle and break dancing. Yes, confession, I took break dancing lessons for 2 years and listened to rap. wow. Along with junior high came, wait for it, sports. Yes I liked sports, wow times two. I played basketball for the junior high team and thought I was on top of the world. Now to high school where I thought I knew who I was. Trying to find myself, I again turned to Hema as he introduced me to one of my saving graces, Taking Back Sunday. I went from listening to Nelly and 2Pac to the emo/punk scene of TBS. Along with this new outlook on music/life I grew my hair out and tried to become the rockstar I've always wanted to be while trying to continue what I started by playing all 3 years of high school football. Gross. The next stage/music scene in my life I came to appreciate the acoustic surf scene with acts like Jack Johnson, Tristan Prettyman and such. I dreamed about being in an alternate life of dealing with the ocean everyday. Obviously, didn't happen. Whatevs. But I'm over it, So on to the next stage of my life, after high school, I worked one of my most favorite jobs for Anderson Tile. I learned a lot about myself that year and a half of being away from my family and friends and just working. My iPod was prolly my bestest friend with out a doubt. After that ended I called up my favorite immigrant, mi amigo, Benjamin Lopez and we took on Salt Lake Community College and conquered what was ours for the taking. Community college education will always have a place in my heart foreverz. Now insert Delta Spirit, the indie music scene was what I needed. So great. During my appreciation for the folk music and SLCC I took the best class of my life, Decade of the 60s. The more I went to school trying to figure out what interested me, I kept falling back on one thing, Design. Art. Freedom. Which leads me to where I am right now, sitting here trying to blog and say something interesting to read. Along with these 10 years of life and music under my belt, I look to the next 10 years of whatever. Who knows, maybe I'll try to grow up or something.

Other things, worth knowing about me: Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, Slash, skateboarding, LA, college, biographies, surf, Andy Irons, pirates, RVCA, Japanese Motors, Alex Knost, design, art, Bob Dylan, twitter, blackberry, blogging, blonde hair, flannel shirts, Chuck Bass, Ata, the office, tv, internetz, DJ Skeet Skeet, Shwayze, Whitestarr, Cisco Adler, rock n roll, stupid facebook, Gossip GIrl, the OC, helvetica, Sarah Morrison, Katie, Justin, Jake, Kirk, Cindy, Kyl, Kyle, Annie, Jodi, Stu, cousins, Hema, Purdie's, Delta Spirit, 2pac, Run DMC, Anthony Kiedis, PR, mandration, kelzone, Mason, Ben, RedBull, whoppsycakes....blah, blah, blah, lubs.

kbye.

New Delta Spirit Pictures

In an interview with National Public Radio’s Scott Simon, [Brandon] Young and [Matt] Vasquez recount how things came together for Delta Spirit. Young happened to hear Vasquez singing near the trolly tracks in downtown San Diego.They exchanged phone numbers and kept in touch.

Four years went by and Young’s band broke up. He called Vasquez and asked him if he was interested in putting something together. Vasquez told him that he would call back in 30 minutes. True to his word, Vasquez called saying he just fired his whole band and was ready to try something new.

Delta Spirit on the Run

This is amazing. These videos capture what I love so much about Delta Spirit. They have so much raw power and energy that it makes you love music for what it is. Inspiring.


Delta Spirit - Trashcan from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.


Delta Spirit - People Turn Around from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.


Delta Spirit - Strange Vine from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Daytrotter x Delta Spirit

Without really understanding all of the fine print and the allocation of the government’s stimulus package, our suggestion is that some of it – a nice healthy chunk of those Benjamins and Franklins and Lincolns – should be put into an inconspicuous manila envelope and given to, slid across the table to Delta Spirit. It could be considered a grant or an endowment, just something to ensure that they will keep doing what they’re doing forever. It’s a promissory note that makes for certain the guarantee that the band will never feel the sting of hardship.

The San Diego-based group doesn’t necessarily need the monetary support as it’s been selling out venues left and right, touring with the splendid support acts of Dawes and Other Lives, but Delta Spirit could literally be considered America and it makes the kind of music that the country should want to support more and be prouder of than an automobile manufacturing company based in the Motor City. It’s got the heart and soul of a Motown and a passionate passion for everything that it puts to tape, for everyone it reduces to blubbering, awestruck chills when it’s seen live and in person. It, they (these five guys) deserve everything and more, simply for the way that they make a person rethink what they knew or understood about electricity. They find multiple ways of exciting a person – whether that excitement leads them to move about uncontrollably or to have more conviction for the compassion that they might show toward their fellow man. It’s music and it’s so much more as you learn with Delta Spirit. So, this is the calling that these five guys have answered in their lives, but the music is just half of the equation, maybe less, for the lives that they lead both on and off the stage are in direct correlation to the words of activism that they put to their music. Matt Vasquez unquestionably has one of the best rock and roll voices going these days and his messages of loyalty, caring, concern and mental struggle with being the best person one can be are not at all placeholders or bookends, but the honest to goodness beliefs of all five members. When seen live or known personally, or listened to on record, there’s no hiding the fact that there is a desire to leave this world a less turbulent and more livable place that doesn’t have to go to hell in a hand basket or be written off as a lost cause. Vasquez has the shine of a whiskey bottle and the sound of both the contents and its shattered remains at times, bringing to the mood a countenance that recalls both the heart and the soul, the epitome of what it means to live uncertainly – in uncertain times and without two solid feet on the ground, just a wishful need. There’s an exceptional texture to everything this band does on its excellent debut full-length Ode To Sunshine, one of worn out eyes and resilient need for an epiphany. Sometimes those epiphanies come in, stamping and loud, during the middle section of a song, where there’s no use trying to pretend that they don’t exist. This is the most inspiring music for fellow men and women, made by men who can’t help themselves. This session, featuring the band recording four songs by their peers, was recorded into the wee hours of a night that had them driving straight through from Salt Lake City, Utah to Rock Island, Ill., not just to make a trip and to play a last minute show in front of a dozen people, but to share themselves in the form of music that can’t be taken lightly, that shouldn’t be heard as anything short of being autobiographical to all – the most exact form of unison that exists.

DELTA SPIRIT DAYTROTTER SESSION WITH FREE DOWNLOADS!

Black White & Grey

DAWES

The Dawes. Lets see here, as I said before, they opened for Delta Spirit. There music was like the good times, yet in a different form of awesomeness. After the show I really should have bought their album, little did I know, that would be the only place to get it. I went searching the internet up and down looking for it, I went to record stores looking for it, and so basically iTunes won this round. Their record label doesn't even have it for sell on their website. srs. In the end I am now listening and enjoying. I would throw up a picture of what their album artwork looks like, but the problem is, I can't find the dang thing. How am I supposed to support someone when they aren't out there.

You Spell it L.O.G.A.N.

I think I would be lying if I said that Delta Spirit is just ok. They killed it the other night at Kilby Court. Too bad I'm not 21 and couldn't catch the second show at Urban Lounge with the FURS. But never the less, I got to see the band that has recently changed the way I look at things in so many ways. Slip and Slide was my right hand man that night, and to top it off, a shout out to him as he is going to be serving in MEXICO. Anyways, the below picture is just some random one of from facebook of Matthew Logan Vasquez, and the other one was taken by Slip and Slid himself at the show. The opening bands were DAWES and OTHER LIVES. They really were a great opening for what was a memorable night. Thanks.

My iPod was a disappointment, Kind of.

As I make my rounds wasting my time on just about everything that is stupid, I came across a game/questionnaire, I did it, did it, did it again, again, and again, thats right 5 times, and I was only half satisfied in the final result with all 5 rounds. Some were right on, some scared me, and others I really asked WTF. So here are my results. If you question it, that means you are disappointed in my iPod as well.

Directions:
1. Put your iPod, iTunes, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer and put down what song is playing for that answer.

------------------

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Round 1 - All Of This – Blink 182
Round 2 – The Tragedy – The Color Fred
Round 3 – These Arms – Donavon Frankenreiter
Round 4 – Symbol In My Driveway – Jack Johnson
Round 5 – The Lightning Strikes: (i) What If… - Snow Patrol

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Round 1 - Positive Tension – Bloc Party
Round 2 – Stuck At The Airport – Money Mark
Round 3 – Bleeding Bells – Delta Spirit
Round 4 – She’s Only 18 – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 5 – Cliffdiving - +44

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
Round 1 - Black Balloon – The Kills
Round 2 – You Could Be Mine – Guns N’ Roses
Round 3 – Epic – Faith No More
Round 4 – Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 5 – Downfall – Matt Costa

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Round 1 - Kings of Leon - 17
Round 2 – Holler Till You Pass Out – 3OH!3
Round 3 – Hell Yes - Beck
Round 4 – Our Love – Donavon Franenreiter
Round 5 – Since I Don’t Have You – Guns N’ Roses

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?
Round 1 - Soco Amaretto Lim – Brand New
Round 2 – Inaudible Melodies
Round 3 – Merry Christmas – The Ramones
Round 4 – Buzzin’ – Shwayze
Round 5 – Cemeteries Of London – Cold Play

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Round 1 - Listen Up – The Beastie Boys
Round 2 – I Never Told You What I Do For A Living – My Chemical Romance
Round 3 – Borrowed Time – John Lennon
Round 4 – Limousine (ms rebridge) – Brand New
Round 5 – Rescue – Cipes And The People

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Round 1 - D.A.N.C.E. (MASTRKRFT Remix) – Justice
Round 2 – Cardiff-By-The-Sea – The Ataris
Round 3 – Plastic Jesus – Jack Johnson
Round 4 – Do You Remember – Jack Johnson
Round 5 – Spores – Say Anything

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Round 1 - The Pioneers – Bloc Party
Round 2 – Just A Friend – Biz Markie
Round 3 – Welcome To Malibu - Whitestarr
Round 4 – How Do I Fix My Head – Straylight Run
Round 5 – Superhero Girl – Eve 6

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Round 1 - Good Arms vs. Bad Arms – Frightened Rabbit
Round 2 – Take It Or Leave It – Jet
Round 3 – Amber - 311
Round 4 – The Word You Wield – Say Anything
Round 5 – Let It Happen – Jimmy Eat World

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Round 1 - One Ray Of Sunlight – Phantom Planet
Round 2 – The Ripper – The Used
Round 3 – Bonafied Lovin’ (Tough Guys) - Chromeo
Round 4 – Times Like These – Jack Johnson
Round 5 – Placer Culpable (Guilty Pleasure) – Cobra Starship

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Round 1 - Seventy Times Seven – Brand New
Round 2 – Ladies and Gentlemen – Hot Hot Heat
Round 3 – Losing Hope – Jack Johnson
Round 4 – Showdown – Valient Thorr
Round 5 – Sympathy For The Devil – Guns N’ Roses

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Round 1 - Permutation – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 2 – She So Fly - Whitestarr
Round 3 – A Dustland Fairytale – The Killers
Round 4 – Set Me Free – Velvet Revolver
Round 5 – The Ballad Of Miss Kate – Matt Costa

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Round 1 - DVNO - Justice
Round 2 – Bad Kids – Black Lips
Round 3 – Trouble Maker - Weezer
Round 4 – How Deep Is That River – Mason Jennings
Round 5 – My List – The Killers

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Round 1 - Kick Out The Jams – Rage Against The Machine
Round 2 – Listening – The Used
Round 3 – Savior – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 4 – Positively 4th Street – Bob Dylan
Round 5 – About A Girl - Nirvana

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Round 1 - Little Devotional – Taking Back Sunday
Round 2 – Sugar Baby – The Kills
Round 3 – Better Trends – Japanese Motors
Round 4 – Jet Airliner – Steve Miller Band
Round 5 – About Failing – Say Anything

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Round 1 - Carry You – Jimmy Eat World
Round 2 – Maggie May – Rod Stewart
Round 3 – Start The Show - Common
Round 4 – This Aint Living – G. Love
Round 5 – Kid Nothing vs. The Echo Factor – Gym Class Heroes

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Round 1 - Shell Shock – Gym Class Heroes
Round 2 – Blow Up The Pyramid – Valient Thorr
Round 3 – Rainy Day Women – Bob Dylan
Round 4 – A Decade Under The Influence – Taking Back Sunday
Round 5 – Details In The Fabric – Jason Mraz

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Round 1 - Spidersong – Say Anything
Round 2 – All Over Again – Phantom Planet
Round 3 – Hotel California – The Eagles
Round 4 – Come On Come On – Jet
Round 5 – Ode To Sunshine – Delta Spirit

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Round 1 - I Believe In A Thing Called Love – The Darkness
Round 2 – Little Devotional – Taking Back Sunday
Round 3 – My Back Pages – Bob Dylan
Round 4 – House Built For Two – Delta Spirit
Round 5 – Woman - Wolfmother

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Round 1 - Desecration Smile – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 2 – I Am Fred Astaire – Taking Back Sunday
Round 3 – Banquet – Bloc Party
Round 4 – Love Song - 311
Round 5 – For Reason’s Unknown – The Killers

SONG THEY WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Round 1 - Lucifer – Jay Z
Round 2 – Scenopath - Emanuel
Round 3 – Pennyroyal Tea - Nirvana
Round 4 – The Dynamo Of Volition – Jason Mraz
Round 5 – Lithium - Nirvana

The bold ones are the ones I agree with in some way or another. As I said, some were solid and right on, others were way off.

The ones I am proud of in no order, except for the first three, Japanese Motors - Better Trends, Whitestarr - She So Fly, Brand New - Soco Amaretto Lime, Nirvana - Lithium, Cobra Starship - Placer Culpable (Guilty Pleasure), Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin, Rod Stewart - Maggie May, Delta Spirit - Bleeding Bells, The Killers - Dustland Fairytales, Taking Back Sunday - Little Devotional.

Matthew Logan Vasquez

These next few pictures are of Matthew Logan Vasquez. He is the amazing voice that graces over the band we know as Delta Spirit. Just by looking at these pictures, and especially the last one, you can tell how much emotion is felt when he sings and the connection that you pick up while watching him fronting the band during live performances. The pictures do the justice. I wish you only knew.








Delta Spirit: This SoCal quintet delivered their rambunctious, southern-tinged rock music to a few thousand mildly drunk, dehydrated, and slightly sunburned listeners, which would explain why it took a few songs before the crowd really got involved. When the band kicked into their third song, "People C'mon," singer Matthew Vasquez shook everyone awake with his near-scream vocals, shouting, "All you soul-searching people, c'mon!" The crowd rose from their sun-induced sleepiness and began clapping, dancing, and crying out with him. Throughout the rest of the show, Vasquez's vocals were delivered with such conviction and intensity that I wouldn't be surprised if he was spitting up blood for a few hours after leaving the stage. -SPIN


Between the very last pic and what SPIN just described is exactly how it happened for me.

SPIN / Delta Spirit

DELTA SPIRIT'S - 'Ode to Sunshine' gets four(4) stars in SPIN Magazine.




From SPIN Magazine - -

"****"

Whether it's a happy accident or a painstaking work of art, the rousing debut of this San Diego quintet impresses mightily. Despite passing echoes of Spoon and Violent Femmes, Delta Spirit's rough barroom pop is its own creature, with jangly pianos, rattling drums, and scruffy acoustic guitars making a thrilling ruckus. Sounding just a day away from a sore throat, singer Matt Vasquez possesses the energy of a hustling televangelist, issuing irony-free invitations to a better life. When he shouts, "All you soul-searching people, c'mon!" don't hesitate to join the rally.

Ode To Sunshine

Tomorrow! DELTA SPIRIT/Ode to Sunshine hits shelves. (August 26) If you're down for some good ol' rock music with some soul blues with roots, then this music is for you.

History

Delta Spirit formed in 2005 when Jonathan Jameson and Brandon Young, who had played with each other for years, and their new friend Sean Walker decided that they wanted to start a band that they really loved. Jameson, Young and Walker (who had just begun playing guitar) needed a vocalist; Young first spotted Vasquez busking loudly on a bench at two in the morning and the two exchanged information. It was later realized that Jameson had also recently met Vasquez similarly. Kelly Winrich started as the band's producer but they soon realized that they didn't sound half as good without him. He joined the band within the first year and now sings and plays an assortment of instruments and percussive devices. The band got its name from Jonathan's great uncle, "Uncle Red", who was a flight control operator near Birmingham, AL. He also had a certain hobby that eventually turned into a thriving business. He called his newfound company "Delta Spirit Taxidermy Station of North Central Alabama". The band took the idea and shortened it a bit. The band released their debut EP, I Think I've Found It, on Monarchy Music in 2006, after which they toured alongside Cold War Kids, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Dr. Dog. Delta Spirit decided to self produce and record their debut full length album, Ode To Sunshine, in a cabin in the San Diego mountains. It is set to be re-released with new artwork (featuring Kelly's uncle Dr. Thomas Payne on the cover) on August 26th, 2008 by Rounder Records.

There's a scene in Murray Lerner's film ("Festival"), about the 1963 Newport Music Festival, where Peter, Paul and Mary are shown obliging a resounding call for an encore with the protest song, "If I Had A Hammer." Peter and Paul face each other from the sides and Mary faces the audience of tens of thousands, shaking her blonde hair and bearing down on a song about making change. She would, they would hammer out danger and a warning all over the land. Delta Spirit have five hammers and they swing them the way Mary bobbled her head back in '63 for her close-ups, the way Mary sang as if her knees were on fire and her mouth was brimming with more ire laced with optimism than she knew what to do with. These Californians have more in common with the dirty haired, dirty fingernailed folk groups of the nascent years than they do any of their contemporaries. They're suited for reminiscent hopefulness and the gracefully youthful fusion of hostility and all-encompassing passion for all things that can set a smile ablaze or turn the hairs on arms and backs of necks into little beds of nails at the flick of a switch. They make lists of things they like, including all of the people they love, their home, pretty girls, desserts, bodies of water, justice and America. They believe there's still hope for it and in all of the rooms contained within the hallways of the band's newest offering, "Ode To Sunshine," they make you understand that, when it's all boiled down, what we all ultimately live for is catharsis and a fulfillment of body meeting land, air and sea harmoniously. They're about bodies meeting bodies, pressing skins to skins. They're about reminding you to listen more than you talk. They're about urging you to put stock in the happiness of others, not just your own. They make it obvious that we have to go somewhere to be somewhere. We have to feel something to really live. They sing of the soul searchers. They sing for the soul searchers. They are the soul searchers.

Delta Spirit

Remember, I told you about my rude awakening when I was told about Delta Spirit, yet I didn't realize the magic until I saw them live? Here is the interview with Delta Spirit from SURFING Magazine.
Enjoy.

SURFING MAGAZINE: How did you guys all come together?
BRANDON YOUNG: The second song on the new album, “Trashcans,” is actually about how we got together as a band. About four years ago, I was in downtown San Diego getting a pack of smokes at 2:30 in the morning and I see this guy playing guitar in the trolley station. A lot of homeless people play guitars down there, but this guy actually sounded pretty good. So, I walked over there and this kid — Matt [Vasquez], our singer — was jamming. I got his number and then the band that me and John were in broke up, so I called Matt, the guy I just met on the train tracks. He’d just recorded a solo record and he was like, screw it, I’m throwing this away and playing with you guys.

How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before?
We’re heavily influenced by a lot of old soul and Americana music. We’re probably going to have to pay royalties to Richard Swift, this amazing artist and friend of ours, ’cause it’s pretty questionable as to if we’re ripping him off or not. He’s absolutely genius.

Aside from the Swift rip-offs, where do most of your songs come from?
I guess our biggest inspiration is just hanging out and jamming. We’ll go out to a bar and hang out, then come back to our studio and start trading off on the drums and stuff. We don’t sit down and write, it all comes from jam sessions. It starts with a cool lick or a couple chords, and then the lyrics of the song come from Matt or Kelly [Winrich, keyboards].

What sorta stuff do they write about?
Well, the song Ode to Sunshine is about the struggle of making this record, everything that was going on through our lives, from drinking to girls to god, just thrown it into this one melting pot. We write about some serious issues, because that’s more important to us than just getting up there and getting hammered or whatever. Not to say we don’t do that sometimes, too.

What’s been the biggest highlight for the band, so far?
When we started playing together, it was just jamming and playing some songs together. After the first or second show, we went back to our practice space and said, “Do we want to do this?” And we all said, “Yeah, let’s do it.” We literally just quit everything else — all our jobs and everything — and just started making music. Just knowing that we all really wanted to do this, that was huge.

Viva la Delta

OMFG, On Wednesday I went to Matt Costa. Awesome show, considering the fact that last time I saw him play he was opening up for Jack Johnson and nobody knew who the eff he was... but the Avalon was packed... And the last time I was at the Avalon, I bet not even 50 people showed up to see Valient Thorr and The Riverboat Gamblers. ...



Butttt... thats not all, opening bands were Everest and Delta Spirit... Can I just say that I was told about 6 months ago that Delta Spirit would be the next big thing, so I listened to them a little and thought nothing of it, then it was just like I was slapped in the face, and a "I told you so." I should have listened to these them when I was told. These guys freaking put on an awesome show, dead serious Becky. So don't have a rude awakening like myself, start listening to Delta Spirit.....



... and a thanks to Seth for the tickets and Abbie for telling Seth....x