the pixies – Audiofemme

Apple Gets Rid of the Headphone Jack

I am practically attached to my earbuds, yet I misplace them a million times a day. So it was with absolute dread that I learned that with the iPhone 7, Apple is trying to phase out normal headphone jacks (unless you want to buy an adapter). Instead, we’ll wear AirPods, which don’t attach to the phone, or to each other. It’s a change that seems to bring few, if any benefits, and a major drawback which is you’ll probably lose one or both or the pods and have to shell out $159 to replace them. Change is good, but sometimes this adage only applies to doing laundry.
Watch The New, Creepy Pixies Video

What do you think of the new, Kim Deal-less Pixies? On the one hand, they seem more mature, and tamer, not always in a good way – you might find yourself switching it off to listen to Surfer Rosa instead. On the other hand, they’ve been around a long time and there’s probably few things more annoying than an old band getting flak for deviating from their old sound. Whatever your opinion is, the video for “Tenement Song” is worth a watch:

First Round of SXSW Artists Announced

It’s only the first round, but it’s a pretty long list that includes Brooklyn bands such as Yoke Lore, Pastel Ghost, Lazyeyes and San Fermin. Check out the full list here.
Listen to “Ten Year Tenure” by halfsour

The frantic, catchy song is about the difficulties of being an artist when your home is a big city, specifically the band’s, Boston. Their upcoming Charm School comes out 10/14 via Disposable America and Too Far Gone. Check out “Ten Year Tenure” below:

Courtney Barnett Debuts Video For “Elevator Operator”

“Elevator Operator” tells the story a protagonist who dreams of leaving a boring office job- one where he’s “idling insignificantly”- for what he considers to be a more fulfilling life as an elevator operator. In the video, Courtney Barnett plays a bored elevator attendant who encounters a wide variety of characters during her work day: Sleater-Kinney, Jeff Tweedy, dancing nuns, vampires, wacky scientists and more. It ends with a rooftop concert à la The Beatles. Check it out:

The Pixies Announce New Album, Single

The Pixies have announced a new 12 song album, Head Carrier, and released its first single, “Um Chagga Lagga.” The sound is a little darker than what you expect from their previous work, but still full of the same frantic energy. After parting with Kim Deal in 2013, and then Kim Shattuck(The Muffs), the Pixies’ current bassist is Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle, Zwan, and the Entrance Band). What is an Um Chagga Lagga? Why is it on the side of the road? Listen below to find out.

Do Cell Phones & Live Music Mix?

You’re one of two people in this world: Person A, who spends every second of a concert taking selfies, filming the band that, snapping pictures and only interacting with their environment if it’s filtered through an iPhone lens. Or, you’re Person B, who is cursing Person A, because Person A insists on blocking their view by raising their phone-cradling arms above their head to capture every moment. I guess there’s also a Person C, who might snap a picture or two during crucial moments but isn’t as obsessed, but they probably don’t care about the current cell phone controversy: do artists, or others, have the right to force you to put the phone away during their performance?

As NPR notes, Apple was granted a patent to create technology to “use infrared signals to forcibly disable cell phone cameras at specific locations, ie. concert venues and theaters.” Yondr is also developing a method, in the form of a pouch that would restrict access to phones for the duration of a performance. Good idea, or bad idea? Cast your vote here.

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