“Kurt Vile” (Used 4 times)

Leading up to the launch of freemusicarchive.org, we released two FMA samplers featuring Ariel Pink, Vivian Girls, Dan Deacon, Big Blood, Alan Vega/Oneida, The Ex/Getatchew Mekuria, Lucky Dragons and many more (v1 | v2).

The second volume opened up with this anthem by Kurt Vile, Philly's "Constant Hitmaker," from the album of the same name. It's hard to fathom anyone hearing this song and not being hooked on Kurt Vile. Originally released by Gulcher, the LP was reissued by Woodsist, and KV went on to sign with Matador. This has helped KV more than live up to his nickame with a string of albums and EPs that are consistantly full hits. Check 'em out here, along with upcoming tourdates in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, US, Germany, Sweden and beyond! / -Jason

Gary War is a New York based artist who might be best known as a former member in Ariel Pink's band, but his solo career, which includes several albums that are up for download here on the Free Music Archive, is a truly unique spectacle. His songs phase in and out, with warped filters and dreamy keyboards, making a feeling of nostalgia similar to that of the music of Ariel Pink, although it is in a much more psychedelic context than Pink's music. The great thing about War's form of psychedelia is that no two listens to a song will be the same, as with each listen different layers and melodies bubble and pop, creating a new experience each time. This is great stuff!

I interviewed Gary War via email.

Let's start off with the typical "interview" questions... who is Gary War? When did you start playing music? Who are your influences?

I created the pseudonym in the mid-90's while hanging around some heavy metal guys. Its better than my real name! Around the same time, I started recording experimental cassettes under that name... I started off doing backing vocals in an Armenian dance band when I was a small kid...These days I mainly listen to Rap and watch Trailer Park Boys.

So you could not make it to this year's All Tomorrow's Party festival in New York that is happening this weekend?  Well the good news is that WFMU is broadcasting a good portion of the event today at 3:00 PM ET.  Live sets by Iggy and the Stooges (performing Raw Power), the Scientists (performing Blood Red River), Mudhoney (performing Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Other Singles), Sonic Youth and many more will be broadcast today! Full schedule here and tune in live at wfmu.org

To get you psyched I thought I would post some live tracks by some of the bands that you will be hearing from today.  Enjoy!