Battle: Los Angeles and Johann Johannsson

I am not the biggest movie fan. I prefer to focus my limited time and effort on  music as media goes (well, this blogging thing is eating up time too..)

But I was watching G4 TV back a couple of months ago and this trailer for Battle: Los Angeles came on. I was mesmerized. A movie advertisement featuring one of my most favorite composers, Johann Johannsson? For a kewl apocalyptic movie!?! Not that apocalyptic movies really do it for me.  I was downright disturbed by "28 Days Later" and "28 Weeks Later". I was downright traumatized by "The Omega Man" as a child. "Mars Attacks!" was ok.

The song is "The Sun´s Gone Dim and the Sky´s Turned Black". The version shown in the background during the concert performance is here .(clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return). Sorry, the song for some reason ends two minutes early, but I like the visuals better than the other official version.

I've seen him perform twice. The first time around, I even got a chance to work the door and hang out with the ensemble and promoter.

The last couple of commercials for the film have not featured Johann. The track listing for the soundtrack does not seem to include Johann.  I hope he gets the recognition he deserves somehow.

It looks like release date is 3/11/11. Who wants to go? What apocalyptic movie was your favorite?

Music Ramblings

I got to see Johann Johannsson last Sunday.  The show was at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA.  Turnout was light.  I think Crash Arts did a pretty poor job promoting the show.

The show itself was great.  (Disclosure: I was given free tickets by the tour manager for my work at last years show at the Cambridge YMCA.)  Material was off  his last four releases.

Tuesday, I also saw John Doe and Exene Cervenka at the Paradise with my friend FreeEye2. Seating was cabaret style which is very unusual for a Paradise show.  FreeEye2 and I got front row seats in front of John Doe despite getting there a half an hour after doors opened.  The music was a great mix of X and Knitters stuff with a new song written by Exene.  There was nothing off any of John's solo stuff.

PIL played in Boston at Royale (used to be the Roxy) Tuesday and Wednesday.  I was off on a long travel day on Wednesday.  To make up for it, I had dinner with my friends SurGGGe and Surge.  SurGGGe made a wonderful risotto.  PIL will be in Providence on Sunday and in Northhampton later.  I may try to make one of those shows.

All photos from the repective artists websites.