watch: Beirut - The Akara in Chicago

On Monday night, I saw Beirut perform at Congress theatre. It was beyond spectacular. Zach Condon is literally perfect. I took some videos on my phone, and I'll upload them as soon as I figure out how. In the meanwhile, watch this:

set list:

Ryan Adams announces a new tour

Tour Dates:
10/11 – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theater
10/13 – Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library
10/14 – San Francisco, CA @ Herbst Theater
10/15 – Napa, CA @ Uptown Theater
10/17 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Rio
10/18 – Sacramento, CA @ Crest Theatre
10/20 – Eugene, OR @ The Shedd
10/21 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya (City Arts Festival)
10/27 – London, UK @ Union Chapel
10/28 – York, UK @ York Grand Opera House
10/30 – Edinburgh, UK @ Edinburgh Festival Theatre
11/02 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon Hall
11/05 – Brussels, BE @ Cirque Royale
12/02 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music
12/04 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Opera House
12/06 – New York, NY @ Carnegie Hall
12/08 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
12/10 – Toronto, ON @ Winter Garden Theatre
12/11 – Chicago, IL @ Cadillac Place
12/13 – Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre

Sunday Morning Covers

Telekinesis make television debut on Fallon with "Please Ask for Help"

The band, which is now a confirmed three piece with Cody Votolato and Jason Narducy, played a song from 12 Desperate Straight Lines last night. Watch it below:



The band will support Death Cab for Cutie on their new tour

Girls to play a free in-store in Chicago next Thursday

Girls will visit the Broadway Reckless location on Thursday, September 29th at 2PM to warm up for their sold-out Lincoln Hall show that night. Deep dish pizza is involved, although I'm unsure how...

on a sidenote, the Reckless on Broadway has the biggest selection of records out of the three Chicago locations. The clearance section is fantastic...I found the first AC/DC album there for 25 cents. Make sure you browse through those bins if you go.

stream: Dum Dum Girls- Only in Dreams

Only in Dreams is the followup to their debut, I Will Be. It's cleaner, less angry, and sounds more like LA. Maybe they've been watching Glee? I like the first album better, but by all means, listen away and make your own decision.

Dum Dum Girls - Only in Dreams by subpop

new video: Girls - Honey Bunny

I love how they always film their videos in San Francisco.

Thom Yorke announces new Atoms for Peace LP + Radiohead tour in 2012

via CoS

Atoms for Peace have made an album together. The band, composed of Thom Yorke, Flea, Nigel Godirch, Joey Waronker, and Mauro Refosco originally toured with Thom for The Eraser. The record is being wrapped up by Godirch. A release date is forthcoming.

Radiohead will finally begin a proper tour for King of Limbs early next year. I'll post info as it comes

Radiohead to play Roseland Ballroom in NY + SNL + The Colbert Report

Road trip?
Radiohead will play two nights at New York’s Roseland Ballroom, on September 28 and 29. Tickets on sale September 26th at 10AM via Ticketmaster

The band will also play on the season premiere of SNL on September 24th.

Better yet, Radiohead will visit The Colbert Report on September 26th where Stephen will honor them by devoting a full hour to the band. We can expect four songs from The King Of Limbs as well as their new song, “The Daily Mail.”

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how Thom reacts to Colbert's...humour.

video: Arcade Fire at Austin City Limits

I always liked Arcade Fire, but after The Suburbs, I began to love them. my infatuation with them runs deep, for personal reasons. but holy wow, are they an epic live band. this video includes "Ready to Start", "Keep the Car Running" "No Cars Go" and "Haiti". enjoy.

Sunday Morning Covers

MGMT - All we ever wanted was everything (Bauhaus cover) [mp3]

The Morning Benders - Fools Rush In (Elvis Cover)

Spoon - I Am the Key (The La's Cover) [mp3]

Arcade Fire - All The Umbrellas in London (Magnetic Fields cover) [mp3]

watch: Telekinesis + Chris Walla perform two songs for SPIN

Michael Benjamin Lerner performs "50 Ways" and "You Turn Clear in the Sun" from his sophomore album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines. His voice cracks a little, but that's okay. Walla joins in on guitar.

BONUS:

interview:

new video: Arctic Monkeys - "Suck it and See"

the 7" drops on Halloween

finally, the lyrics to Machu Picchu

as much as I adore Angles, I can't stand the fact that there are no liner notes in the album. this makes my life better:

presale password: The National at the Aragon (+more)

The National will visit Chicago on December 6th at The Aragon. Local Natives and Wyk Oak will open.

presale tickets will be available on Friday at 10AM. presale password: VIOLET
buy tickets HERE

look below for more on-sale times and passwords and visit The National's website to find links to buy them

November 2011:
15: ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / THEBARTON THEATRE // w/ THE WALKMEN // TICKETS ON-SALE 14 SEPTEMBER

17: PERTH, AUSTRALIA / METRO CITY // w/ THE WALKMEN // TICKETS ON-SALE 14 SEPTEMBER

29: VANCOUVER, BC CANADA / ORPHEUM THEATRE // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 10AM

30: SEATTLE, WA / NEPTUNE THEATRE // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/15 @ 10AM - 9/16 @ 10PM Password: STG / ON-SALE: 9/17 @ 10AM

December 2011:
01: SEATTLE, WA / NEPTUNE THEATRE // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/15 @ 10AM - 9/16 @ 10PM Password: STG / ON-SALE: 9/17 @ 10AM

03: SAN FRANCISCO, CA / BILL GRAHAM CIVIC AUDITORIUM // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/15 @ 10AM Password: VIOLET / ON-SALE: 9/18 @ 10AM

04: AUSTIN, TX / AUSTIN MUSIC HALL // w/ LOCAL NATIVES // C3 Concerts PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 10AM Password: NATIONALLOCAL / KROX PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 10AM-10PM Password: 101x / KGSR PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 10AM-10PM Password: 933KGSR / ON-SALE: 9/23 @ 10AM

08: TORONTO, ON CANADA / AIR CANADA CENTRE // w/ NEKO CASE + WYE OAK
ACC PRE-SALE: 9/12 @ 130PM - 9/13 @ 5PM / COLLECTIVE PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 2PM - 9/15 @ 10PM Password: fakeempire / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

09: MONTREAL, QC CANADA / CENTRE BELL // w/ NEKO CASE + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 9AM-6PM / ON-SALE: 9/23 @ 12PM

12: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ THE WAR ON DRUGS // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

13: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ SHARON VAN ETTEN // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

14: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ SO PERCUSSION // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

15: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ WYE OAK // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

must watch video: The Strokes - New York City Cops (ft Josh Homme)

stream: Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost (highly recommended!)

I was planning on listening to this over the weekend but I got caught up doing other stuff...I only just listened to it today

this album is really spectacular, and it shows much progression from their debut, Album

stream it HERE

the record officially drops tomorrow. review forthcoming.

The National announce a new tour, fans rejoice

well, I rejoiced.

11-06 Singapore – Esplanade Concert Hall
11-09 Tokyo, Japan – Duo
11-12 Melbourne, Australia – Harvest Festival
11-13 Sydney, Australia – Harvest Festival
11-15 Adelaide, Australia – Thebarton Theatre *
11-17 Perth, Australia – Metro City *
11-19 Brisbane, Australia – Harvest Festival
11-29 Vancouver, British Columbia – Orpheum Theatre #
11-30 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre #
12-01 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre #
12-03 San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium #
12-04 Austin, TX – Austin Music Hall !
12-06 Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom #
12-08 Toronto, Ontario – Air Canada Centre ^
12-09 Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre ^
12-12 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre &
12-13 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre %
12-15 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre $
12-16 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre @

* with the Walkmen
# with Local Natives and Wye Oak
! with Local Natives
^ with Neko Case and Wye Oak
& with the War on Drugs
% with Sharon Van Etten
$ with So Percussion
@ with Wye Oak

Chicagoland Record Collector's show this Sunday

via TVD

$3 gets you into "the midwest's largest vinyl show"

50-60 dealers that manage to fill 80 tables with vintage albums, 45’s and more. The overwhelming stock spans a range of genres including, Rock, Jazz, Soul, R & B, Country, Folk, Alternative and Metal.

The Chicagoland Record Collectors Show is this Sunday, September 18, at the Best Western Hotel Chicago in Hillside – 4400 Frontage Road Hillside, IL 60162. The show runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

visit the official website HERE

video: Beirut - Santa Fe

this is depressing but gorgeous:

Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, Beck, Eddie Vedder, and Neil Young to play at Bridge School Benefit

The annual charity festival held in Mountain View, CA (halfway between San Francisco and San Jose...and home of the Google headquarters) will feature an impressive lineup this year (big surprise). The full lineup includes:

Arcade Fire

Beck

Dave Matthews

Diana Krall

Eddie Vedder

Foo Fighters

Jenny Lewis

Los Invisibles (Carlos Santana etc)

Mumford & Sons

Neil Young

Tony Bennett

all of whom will be performing acoustic sets for charity. The festival will be at Shoreline Amphitheatre on October 22-23rd. Tickets go on sale via livenation on Fri September 16 at 10AM PST

OFFICIAL SITE

video: The Strokes - Juicebox (ft Eddie Vedder)

I went to Wisconsin yesterday to see The Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age and Pearl Jam. And it was fucking grand. Eddie Vedder pointed out that Julian and Jesus have the same initials. Good man. There was plenty of man-love around; Julian joined QOTSA for "Sick Sick Sick", Josh Homme played guitar during "NYCC", Eddie came on for "Juicebox" and Julian sang "Red Mosquito" with his heroes.

I can't find any decent video from yesterday, but the video below (from Saturday night) is fucking awesome and is exactly what they sounded like yesterday.

Enjoy.

Sunday Morning Covers

The Strokes ft Jarvis Cocker - Just What I Needed (The Cars cover)[mp3]
everything you ever dreamed of, and more. I love it when Julian is happy and smiley. "The Jarv" sounds like a dance from the 50's. I like this a helluva lot more than "Two Kinds of Happiness". sorry, Julian. but that's probably the worst song you've ever written. download a zip file of the entire Reading performance HERE





Lightouts – “All I Want / Heroes” (LCD Soundsystem / David Bowie Cover) [mp3]
this sounds like The Killers in their early years.

The Morning Benders - Outlaw Blues (Bob Dylan cover) [mp3]
Chris really nails Bobby's nasally undertones

Grand Lake - The Tourist (Radiohead cover) [mp3]
it's an ambitious move, covering a band like RH, but Grand Lake bring a new meaning to the lyric "slow down"

Editors - Road to Nowhere (Talking Heads cover) [mp3]
I just love this one

Elliott Smith - Big Sky (The Kinks cover) [mp3]

this is so funky and psychedelic. I love it.

BONUS:

Tokyo Police Club covering "Under Control" by The Strokes and reggae-fying the hell out of it:

Under Control by TokyoPoliceClub

watch: rare short Smiths documentary from 1992

The following documentary, which was made in 1992 but never got a proper release, has currently resurfaced in light of the new Smiths box set due for an October release (pricey, too...250 British pounds)

it's seventeen minutes long but has some cool clips and info and context into what The Smiths really did to the world of music. watch below:

watch: trailer for Martin Scorsese's "George Harrison: Living In The Material World"

the documentary is set for a release via HBO and dvd in October

The Dodos give away free live album + tour dates

enter your email below to receive a free live album from The Dodos

Tour Dates:
08/26 – Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library #
08/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Heritage Court at The Autry
08/28 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar #
08/31 – Norman, OK @ Oklahoma Memorial Union #
09/01 – Dallas, TX @ The Loft #
09/02 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s #
09/03 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s #
09/04 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks #
09/06 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder #
09/07 – Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree #
09/08 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre !%
09/09 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Festival
09/10 – Harrisonburg, VA @ Clementine #
09/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar #
09/12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg #
09/15 – Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome #
09/16 – Quebec City, QC @ Le Cercle #
09/17 – Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks #
09/18 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah #
09/20 – Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig #
09/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theate *
09/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ MidPoint Music Festival
09/23 – Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Music Festival
09/24 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway #
09/25 – Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck #
09/27 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre #
12/09-11 – Minehead, UK @ ATP’s Nightmare Before Christmas

# = w/ The Luyas
! = w/ Times New Viking
% = w/ Superchunk
* = w/ The Felice Brothers

visit their WEBSITE

Sunday Morning Covers

Nirvana - Lake of Fire (Meat Puppets cover) [mp3]
you know when you meet someone new and they have great taste in music and they make you listen to brilliant things you never knew existed? that's how I heard this Nirvana track.

Vampire Weekend - I'm Going Down (Bruce Springsteen cover) [mp3]

BONUS:

Beirut - Untitled

I was listening to Beirut on shuffle today and a song came on from Zach Condon's early project, The Joys of Losing Weight. Mega fans are well aware that all of the songs on the album are untitled, this one happened to strike me as Elliott Smith-esque but also quite like Explosions in the Sky. A quieter Explosions in the Sky. I thought I'd share it.

Beirut - Untitled [mp3]

video: The Strokes - Hard to Explain at Paleo

This might be the greatest song ever written.

I've been binging on Phrazes more than The Strokes lately but when I listen to this song, I remember the early days of becoming obsessed with this band, watching youtube for hours on end and just being filled with so much happiness.

I feel exactly the same way when I watch Strokes videos now. Everything in this stupid world is fleeting but "Hard to Explain" is eternal.

Sunday Morning Covers

this is brilliant:

Delta Spirit - She's Not There (The Zombies Cover) [mp3]

Queens of the Stone Age - Never Say Never (Romeo Void cover) [mp3]

Julian Casablancas - Rave On (Buddy Holly cover) [mp3]

Death Cab for Cutie - Timeless Melody w/Eddie Vedder (The La's cover) [mp3]

record review: Beirut - The Rip Tide

When Sufjan Stevens started making music, he proposed that he would devote an album to each of our great country’s fifty states. And while Michigan and Come on Feel the Illinoise are stunning and gorgeous albums, there wasn’t much of a chance (from a time-constriction point of view) for Mr. Stevens to complete his task—unless he grouped states together.

On the other hand, Zach Condon—the heartthrob prodigy behind Santa Fe-based Beirut presented an equally compelling yet much more doable task. Since his breathtaking debut, Gulag Orkestar, Condon’s musical vision has been to fuse world music with indie sensibility and plenty of lush, layered sounds—horns, percussion, strings—one country or world region at a time. Gulag was inspired by the music of the Balkans; The Flying Club Cup nodded toward France; the double EP March of the Zapotec/Holland simultaneously tackled Mexican music and the Netherlands.

On his third full length album, the one thing that ties each of Condon's songs together is that they all give you the unshakable feeling that you are at a beach. It all starts with the lyrics in opener “A Candle’s Fire” that mention the allure of campfires. Indeed, the lyrics found on The Rip Tide are the strongest and clearest that Condon’s ever written. This is especially striking in light of the fact that Condon has insisted time and time again that his lyrics are more a mode of vocal delivery than anything else—he used to mumble because he wanted his voice to be heard as an instrument rather than a way to deliver poetry.

Perhaps the most striking thing about this record is Condon’s vocals. They’re clearer and more precise, and they really set the mood for the entire album. As always, Condon’s songwriting is simply superb; “East Harlem” and “Port of Call” are two of the strongest things he’s ever released (although “East Harlem” has been kicking around for a while, creeping to the surface for air every so often at concerts). All in all, The Rip Tide is an unquestionably wonderful album, and irritatingly listenable. It’s also much more accessible than his previous albums, because he leaves the baroque-elements to the music and adopts a more normative approach to singing. Yet, it still sounds like Beirut.

That being said, Condon’s musical evolution on The Rip Tide is both swift and natural; he sounds as he always has—at ease and in control, yet the musical progression that he’s made here is vast. Condon is no longer only experimenting with what makes a country’s folk music interesting—he’s actually emulating nature. The Rip Tide is the perfect way to encompass the ocean. The Rip Tide—therefore, isn’t simply the reflection of a certain ethnic group’s music: it harmoniously blends together all of the wonderful elements which contribute to the unparalleled happiness we gain on those weekends at the coast. And for a person who misses the Pacific Ocean like a junkie misses their needle, it’s a much needed source of comfort and joy.

4.7/5

The Rip Tide is now available for purchase digitally on itunes. You can stream the entire thing HERE. It hits your local record store on August 30th.

Beirut - East Harlem [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

Garage Voice - Blood on The Door Post

from: Seattle

signed to: Upbeat Child Records

sounds like: a slightly more refined, slightly more complex take on the garage-blues revival heralded by bands like The Black Keys and The White Stripes

Blood on The Door Post from Garage Voice on Vimeo.

if you're in San Francisco, they'll be stopping by Rickshaw with Cannons and Clouds. ten bucks will get you in. more details HERE

here's their WEBSITE and MYSPACE

Andrew Bird tour documentary to be released this fall

Andrew Bird is a stunning live performer. He's also one of those musicians who powers through seemingly never-ending tours without complaining (the last time I saw him, it was his birthday. who works on their birthday?!)

Anyhow, this fall, a movie will be released chronicling Mr. Bird's musical triumphs on stage and how they affected him personally. It's called Fever Year and will debut at the Vancouver Film Festival sometime between the September 29th and October 14th. I'll post more info as I get it.

Is This It?

via

band of the week: The Amarylas

This is awesome. My Spoonful says they're for fans of T-Rex, The Libertines and of Montreal. I couldn't have put it better.

The Amarylas - Sadie [mp3, highly recommended!]

Just listen. This British band is going to get big.

They have a couple of London shows lined up. Click HERE for more info

The Amarylas on MYSPACE

watch: Delta Spirit perform "Trashcan" + new album details

If you thought Delta Spirit sounded like a barn-yard band before, you're in for a doozy. Watch them perform "Trashcan" for Rolling Stone at Lollapalooza below:

Last week, I was lucky enough to see Delta Spirit perform four new songs at a sold out gig at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.

"Empty House", "Tear It Up", "Idaho" (my favourite) and "Otherside" will appear on the band's third album, which will feature new guitarist William McLaren (who previously played with Cults).

The album will be wrapped up in NY this year and will consist of the ten best songs chosen by the band from the thirty they wrote. Drummer Brandon Young describes the album as "the most exciting thing we've ever done". Delta Spirit are hoping for a February release, but nothing is set in stone yet.

More details in the video below:

watch: Foo Fighters at Lollapalooza

Last night, Foo Fighters wrapped up the weekend of music in Chicago with an intense, storm-defying set spanning their sixteen year discography. Dave Grohl was absolutely incendiary, getting the audience riled up and excited throughout the Foo's two hour set. Watching it, I couldn't help but be awed by Dave's enthusiasm, because it was more befitting to a local hero than to a mega-star. But that's just how Grohl is--modest, brilliant, and absolutely badass. At the end of the night, Perry Farrell from Jane's Addiction (who founded Lolla back in 1991 as a farewell tour for his band), came out and hugged Grohl. If you missed out being there or watching the stream, I very much suggest that you devote two hours to watching the following video. It embodies the freedom and energy of rock n roll that is otherwise lacking in hipster indifference.

You can watch the end of Explosions in the Sky first or skip to 16:44 to dive right into Foo Fighters. By far my favourite part of the night was Dave's banter at 1:45:54, before he renders a heartfelt version of "Times Like These". It's bound to make you laugh out loud.

Sunday Morning Covers

Albert Hammond Jr - Well...All Right (Buddy Holly cover) [mp3]

Elliott Smith - When I Paint My Masterpiece (Bob Dylan cover) [mp3]

MGMT - This Must Be The Place (Talking Heads Cover) [mp3]

Foo Fighters - Keep the Car Running (Arcade Fire cover) [mp3]

Jay Reatard - Gamma Ray (Beck cover) [mp3]

Lollapalooza 2011 Webcast

Much in the same vein as Coachella, Bonnaroo and other music fests this year, the organizers of Lollapalooza have decided to post a webcast of much of the weekend's exciting events for those unable to attend this year. If you have an internet connection, you can tune into the fun HERE

The sets include:

Friday, August 5th:
01:30 – The Vaccines
01:45 – TAB the Band
02:15 – Delta Spirit
02:30 – Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
03:00 – Foster the People
03:30 – Smith Westerns
04:00 – White Lies
05:00 – Two Door Cinema Club
05:30 – The Mountain Goats
06:30 – Bright Eyes
07:15 – The Kills
08:30 – Coldplay

Saturday, August 6th:
01:45 – J. Roddy Watson & The Business
02:15 – Walk the Moon
02:30 – Fitz & the Tantrums
03:00 – Black Lips
03:30 – Mayer Hawthrone & The Country
04:00 – Death From Above 1979
04:30 – Big Audio Dynamite
05:30 – Local Natives
06:00 – Ween
07:30 – Beats Antique
08:00 – My Morning Jacket

Sunday, August 7th:
01:30 – Imelda May
02:15 – Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses
02:30 – Noah and the Whale
03:00 – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
04:00 – The Cars
04:15 – Flogging Molly
05:00 – Portugal. the Man
05:15 – Cage the Elephant
06:00 – Arctic Monkeys
06:15 – Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley & Nas
07:00 – Explosions in the Sky
08:00 – Foo Fighters

video: Best Coast - Our Deal (directed by Drew Barrymore)

ah, forbidden love

yes, that is the kid sister from 500 Days of Summer

and yes, that is Maeby from Arrested Development

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast

behind the scenes:

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast

must watch video: Foo Fighters - Garage Tour

I love Foo Fighters. I love how real they are, and how genuine they've remained throughout all of their success.

The following video is a forty minute compilation of the Foos playing in actual garages of a handful of incredibly lucky contest winners. Fans were asked to submit a short answer as to why Grohl and co should grace their garage. Here's what happened:

Sunday Morning Covers

Telekinesis - On a Plain (Nirvana cover) [mp3]

Eddie Vedder - Blackbird (Beatles cover) [mp3]

Beck - Diamond Dogs (Bowie cover) [mp3]

Nickel Eye - Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye (Leonard Cohen cover) [mp3]

The Strokes - Is This It: a decade of perfection

today marks the tenth anniversary of the greatest album ever released.
the world might be a mess but you can always seek refuge in this record and this band.

























write about what Is This It means to you and enter HERE for a chance to win a vinyl copy of the album. here's my two cents.

Classic Track Thursday

The Kinks - State of Confusion [mp3]

the title track from State of Confusion (1983)

video: Slash joins The Strokes for "New York City Cops"

this video, which is seven years old, is awesome:

Scorsese to release new George Harrison biopic

according to Spinner.com, the film will

trace the late Beatle's life using rare photographs, video footage and even "unreleased Beatles footage," and is complemented with a coffee table book by Harrison's widow Olivia -- will air on HBO in North America over two nights (Oct. 5-6), with a British DVD release date of Oct. 10.

you can preorder the book on AMAZON

Grand Lake to collaborate with Rogue Wave's Zach Rogue

from the HAD press release:

Fresh from a spring of recording in their home studio in San Luis Obispo, California natives Grand Lake have been selected by Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave to join him on the live incarnation of his latest project, Release The Sunbird. The band will join Rogue on bass, drums, and lead guitar, with the lineup rounded out by Caitlin Gutenberger of Sacramento's Two Sheds. The ensemble will be in place through the end of the year, in support of Release The Sunbird's first full length, Come Back To Us, which drops this Tuesday, July 26th.

In addition to their role as a backing band, Grand Lake will also be opening for Release The Sunbird at select dates. This includes this week's shows at Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe, and San Francisco's Swedish American Music Hall. The shows will find Grand Lake in their latest lineup, featuring Jameson Swanagon on guitar, Josh Barnhart on drums and Caleb Nichols on guitar and vocal. In addition to their already prolific back catalog, the band will also be making the live debut of a selection of new material written in recent months.

Tickets to both shows are available now:

7/26 - Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles

7/28 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco

Grand Lake - Which Days Were Those Days? [mp3]

watch: Arcade Fire - Scenes from the Suburbs

watch: The Strokes at Paleo

thank the heavens, they're bringing "Alone, Together" back

The Strokes, Paléo Festival Nyon 2011 (concert... by paleo

watching Strokes concerts makes me forget everything else in the world.

Sunday Morning Covers

Ryan Adams - Mansard Roof (Vampire Weekend cover) [mp3]

darling. absolutely darling.

Ryan Adams - Oxford Comma (VW cover)[mp3]

David Bowie - Across the Universe (Beatles cover) [mp3]

Alex Turner - Colour Of The Trap (Miles Kane Cover) [mp3]

Bon Iver - Who is it (Bjork cover) [mp3]

new songs: The Dead Trees - "Back to LA" and "Older"

the songs sound more like Little Joy than their own debut. "Older" also has a very Velvet Underground vibe. I like it. The Dead Trees played these tracks in frontman Michael Cummings' Los Angeles backyard for Fader Magazine

Back to LA:

Older:

must watch video: Zach Condon of Beirut joins The National for "Fake Empire" at Paleo

when I first watched this video via the live stream a few days ago, I literally screamed out loud when Zach Condon came out. his addition to the song is beyond breathtaking, and very much worth a view (or ten)

I've uploaded the entire concert on youtube, and it's a spectacular set. they even played "Secret Meeting" and a couple of really old tracks from their second album, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers

set list:

set list:

Start A War

Anyone's Ghost

Secret Meeting

Conversation 16

Slow Show

Squalor Victoria

Afraid Of Everyone

Bloodbuzz Ohio

Sorrow

Available

Lucky You

England

Abel

Fake Empire

Mr. November

Terrible Love

Beirut - Port of Call

I am obsessed with this song.

Beirut - Port of Call [mp3]

that is all.

video: The Strokes - Trying Your Luck (ACL 2010)

this might be the best song Julian Casablancas has ever written

Girls - Vomit

Girls - Vomit (click to stream or enter your email below for a free download)

listen to the whole song through. trust me.

at first, it begins soft and slow, then it gets a bit feistier. finally, it ends in a 60's soul feel that is absolutely divine.

SF based Girls will release their third album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost on September 12th.

must watch videos: Arcade Fire at Bonnaroo

having seen this band in concert and having watched many, many YT videos of them on stage, I can attest to the fact that they generally kick a lot of ass. however, their set at Bonnaroo is something different all together. such intensity, such passion, such perspiration.

band of the week: Bare Wires

Bare Wires make music like a raunchy, punk rock Kinks. They're from Oakland. The songs speak for themselves.

tour:

Aug 6th: SF, San Frandelic Summer Fest
Sept 5th: Vancouver, w/Thee Oh Sees
Sept 6th: Vancouver, Lucky Bar
Sept 7th-11th: Portland, Music Fest NW
Sept 9th: Portland, w/Thee Oh Sees

Bare Wires- Ready to Go [mp3]

Wicker Park Fest this weekend in Chicago

Bummed about missing Lolla this year? Head on over to Milwaukee Ave (from North Ave to Wood St) this weekend and enjoy a weekend of fun and music. A mere $5 gives you admission and tons of bands to see, including Everest, Ha Ha Tonka, Wavves, Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, Blitzen Trapper and El Ten Eleven, a nifty little thing I found in my inbox today

Saturday:

Sunday:

preview the music HERE

book review: David Bowie: Starman by Paul Trynka

“He was unique. The only singer I ever worked with where virtually every take was a master.” -Ken Scott, record producer

David Bowie’s real name was David Jones, he took the name Bowie at an early age after becoming obsessed with Jim Bowie from the film The Alamo. From then on, it seemed evident that David would transform into a million different things, each more interesting than the last.

Former editor of Mojo magazine Paul Trynka has compiled a definitive biography of Ziggy Stardust entitled David Bowie: Starman. In it, he follows the rise of one of the most interesting figures of rock n roll history. In the prologue, Trynka describes a Bowie performance as a “spectacle of not-belonging”. And thus the mood is set for the entire book, which is devoted to unearthing the secrets behind the man who hid behind so many guises.

David Bowie: Starman begins with a brief familial biography, tracing Bowie’s self-identification with alienation and schizophrenia to his mother’s family, many of whom suffered from mental illness. The book then chronicles Bowie’s first exposures to music. In 1955, when he was eight years old, the young David heard Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” for the first time. He says that “my heart nearly burst with excitement. I’d never heard anything even resembling this. It filled the room with energy and colour and outrageous defiance…I always wanted to be Little Richard—he was my idol.” And so our journey begins.

This biography is very interesting and extremely well written. It explains little details about Bowie’s life, like the incident that resulted in him having two differently coloured eyes (it has to do with a love triangle, and a fist fight with a friend.)

From the beginning, Bowie was determined to be a star. He wanted to be an entertainer, a singer, famous. “He boasted a bright eyed teenage confidence and reacted to every break as if it were his by right.”

When he first became a fad in the local scene at age seventeen, he was influenced by the Beat novels of the time and thus adopted a nomadic lifestyle. Many of his early performances had to do with showmanship, and often lacked any singing at all. David Bowie, therefore, has always been determined to be a performer and entertainer above all else. Therefore, his artistic expression was never limited to music, but rather embodied a vast spectrum of experimentation, from his pansexual nature to his glamourized multi-media dance performances.

Bowie would charm woman after woman and in true hippie fashion, explore the world without being anchored by a job or having to worry about paying rent. He was a delightful addition to all social circles, and his peers would seek his presence without expecting anything in return but the pleasure of his company.

This book is thorough and detailed with respects to the intricate relationships which drove Bowie’s career, from Calvin Lee to Iggy Pop to Mick Ronson to Lou Reed. Trynka delves into these relationships through extensive narratives from the people closest to Bowie during all periods of his life, exploring not only his musical career but the accompanying drug addictions, sexual experimentation and his unparalleled influence on his fans and the entire music industry.

Bowie himself attributes his multi-faceted musical career to the fact that he was not naturally talented. He says “I forced myself to become a good songwriter. I had no natural talents whatsoever. I made a job of work at getting good.” Trynka cleverly analyzes this by stating “having built up a technique from scratch once, he could do it again”.

Even in his early years, image was everything. When he was a little boy, mothers admired how clean and well-kept he always was; as a teenager, his peers both adored and envied his unique sense of style and glamour. According to Scott Richardson, for Bowie, being a performer was “I’ll do anything, play anything, say anything, wear anything to become a star, and there’s nothing wrong with that. And there was a tremendous hunger on the part of the audience for it too.”

For any devoted fan of David Bowie’s music, this book is a must read. It brings much needed perspective to the man who has fascinated generation after generation of young kids and adults alike, and influenced bands in every genre.

David Bowie: Starman was released today. Buy it on AMAZON

Beirut announce Chicago show (+tour dates)

Beirut will play Congress Theatre on Monday September 26. Tickets on sale Wednesday at 10AM. Get them HERE

Tour Dates:

07/05 – Ferrara, Italy @ Costello PIazza
07/07 – Republic of Serbia @ Exit Festival
07/09 – Slovakia @ Pohoda
07/12 – Arles, France @ Arles Fest
07/14 – Meco, Portugal @ Super Bock Super Rock
07/16 – Valencia, Spain @ Benicassim Festival
07/18 – Lyon, France @ Les Nuits de Fourviere
07/20 – Nyon, Switzerland @ Paleo Festival
07/29 – Portland, ME @ State Theater
07/31 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga
08/02 – Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix
08/04 – Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix w/ Owen Pallett
08/05 – Sun. Aug. 7 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore
08/12 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
08/14 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
09/02 – Dorset, UK @ End of Road Festival
09/04 – Stradbally, Ireland @ Electric Picnic
09/06 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
09/08 – Amsterdamn, Netherlands @ Paradiso
09/12 – Paris, France @ Olympia
09/14 – Brussels, Belgium @ AB
09/16 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
09/21 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
09/22 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
09/28 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
10/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
10/09 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
10/11 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Hall
10/25 – Richmond, VA @ The National
10/27 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
10/29 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs Waller Creek
11/11 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
11/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory

The new album, The Rip Tide will be released on August 30 but snag a taste below:

Beirut - A Candle's Fire [mp3]
review forthcoming.

Watch: Radiohead's entire Glastonbury 2011 set

As Thom says, the band plays "King of Limbs and shit"

set list:

Lotus Flower
15 Step
Morning Mr Magpie
Little By Little
All I Need
Separator
Give Up The Ghost
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Staircase
I Might Be Wrong
Bloom
Reckoner
The Daily Mail

Street Spirit (Fade Out)

Arctic Monkeys News

To all people familiar with The Strokes News, I am currently writing a similar website called Arctic Monkeys News. I'll be posting all new AM information there, so subscribe via RSS feed or follow the twitter. As always, thanks to all of my readers for their continued support.

Sunday Morning Covers

Arctic Monkeys - Take it or Leave It (The Strokes cover) [mp3]

Franz Ferdinand - What You Waiting For? (Gwen Stefani cover) [mp3]

Phoenix - Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (Bob Dylan cover) [mp3]

Arcade Fire - This Must Be the Place (Talking Heads cover) [mp3]

Andrew Bird - The Giant of Illinois (The Handsome Family cover) [mp3]

video: James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream (Jimmy Fallon)

this is the UK singer's first US television performance:

Blake will hit the blue stage at Chicago's Pitchfork Festival at 7:30 tonight.

The Black Keys talk about their new "raw" album: "the fastest we've ever played"

The garage-blues duo are planning to shift their sound for their forthcoming seventh album, which is due out later this year

from the SPIN interview:

"It's the fastest we've ever played," singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach says of the LP's new songs, which he says were inspired by the Clash, the Cramps, and old rock'n'roll, rockabilly, and garage rock records. "The new album doesn't sound like Brothers. It doesn't have that open soul feel to it. It's way more driving and the tempos are really fast."

"Pat's never played drums like this before -- he's never played this fast," Auerbach says of his bandmate. "He's definitely worried about being able to play some of these songs live."

Ryan Adams - Shine Through the Dark

If you ever catch yourself wishing Ryan Adams never went electric, this track is for you.

The previously unreleased song was the first one Ryan wrote after he "quit" music

Ryan Adams: Shine Through the Dark by Under the Radar magazine

the song can be found on the upcoming charity compilation album, Live from Nowhere Near You: Vol II (which hits stores on July 19). you can view the whole tracklist and preorder the album HERE

Radiohead - The Daily Mail (from the basement)

watch the band perform The King of Limbs HERE

an ode to the greatest.

Some people are always surprised when certain types of people get angry or upset if their favourite bands release subpar music. If they sell out or lose their artistic vision, certain music snobs take it very personally.

What most people don't understand is the terribly primal relationship some people have with their favourite bands.

This is due to the fact that listening to music, for the most part, is a very solitary activity. Be it an ipod or a record collection, a lot of people have a certain--very specific--set of music that they like to listen to. It might overlap with others' but for the most part, it's as unique as our very DNA.

Music, then, becomes something consistent for these types of people. You know to expect greatness from your favourite songwriters, because that's what they've delivered so far and that's the very magic you fell in love with in the first place.
When you're sad, music doesn't kick you down. It comforts you and helps you sleep and forget the pain. When you're happy, music sounds a million times more vibrant, like a drug intensifies sensual pleasure. When you're angry, music is there to calm you down. When you're lonely, music keeps you company. When you need some inspiration for writing poetry or training at the gym, music is always there.

Music doesn't judge us. It can become our very best friend in the world. This is why it hurts so deeply when musicians forget that very relationship which they cultivated in their youth, and instead try to please the toxic radio.

Let us take a moment and appreciate certain artists who never disappoint.

Because in a world where absolutely nothing is what it seems like at first glance, Julian Casablancas' magic is still as true as it was when I heard "Is This It" for the very first time.

music video: Arctic Monkeys - The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala

music video: The Strokes - Taken for a Fool

it's only a matter of time before all the cool kids start wearing American flag tank tops...

Arctic Death - Bathe My Heart

more HERE

Rare Velvet Underground Bootleg: Scepter Studios, 1966

via WFMU

The following bootleg contains mp3s ripped from a super rare piece of vinyl a guy found in NYC for seventy five cents and ended up selling on Ebay for twenty five grand. Some of the songs are strikingly different from the versions on the Velvet Underground's celebrated debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. Download the zip file HERE or grab a taste below:

The Velvet Underground - Waiting For My Man (April 1966 Scepter Studios) [mp3]

tracklisting:

1. European Son
2. Black Angel's Death Song
3. All Tomorrow's Parties
4. I'll Be Your Mirror
5. Heroin
6. Femme Fatale
7. Venus in Furs
8. Waiting For My Man
9. Run Run Run

video: The Black Keys Live at Melkweg 2006 (plus new album details)

In this recent interview, Patrick Carney revealed that a new Black Keys album could see the light of day by the end of this year:

“We’re hoping (the album) comes out later this year,” Carney said. “Working in Nashville is cool. It’s a great city. Dan’s studio is amazing as well. But it took us a little bit longer to make this record than it did to make Brothers and that’s partly because we made it in the town we’re living in. We knew going into making this record that it’s not a good idea to do that because you can get distracted easily, but we’d been travelling so much we needed to be home.”

Stephen Colbert presents a rock odyssey with Jack White (part 3/3)

I love it when Colbert wears red on red.



BONUS:

The Lonely Island ft Akon - I Just Had Seeeeeeex

this song makes me laugh so much:

Akon: "if you've had sex in the last thirty minutes, then you're qualified to sing with me!"

Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle

The London band have just released one of their most ambitious songs to date. The song demands attention--big time-- and combines an energetic piano loop with house beats. It's a far stride from their morose debut I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose, however the band still retains their star gazing sensibilities.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle by Bombay Bicycle Club

A Different Kind Of Fix is out 29th August.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue

this is how I woke up feeling

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue [mp3]

Classic Track Thursday

Stephen Colbert presents a rock odyssey with Jack White (part 2/3)

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

watch: epic Paranoid Android mashup

this video takes various portions from thirty five youtube covers of the Radiohead epic and brings them together to perfect, mesmerizing harmony

the distorted part in the middle is spectacular.