Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Video: QOTSA - "Paranoid" (Sabbath Cover)


There are few frontmen in the world that I fear and admire as much as Josh Homme. Here he is shredding through Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" while maintaining vocal duties. QOTSA + my favorite Sabbath track = pretty fucking awesome. Almost everything else on VH1 Rock Honors was a combination of lukewarm and tame.

Here I was thinking that Queens were going to "honor" ZZ Top (Top's Billy Gibbons makes a guest appearance on Lullabies). I didn't even contemplate the possibilities of Queens covering Sabbath. You can imagine my surprise...

Ian Curtis Biopic: Control


I began tracking the development of Control when I learned that Anton Corbijn was attached to the project. Corbijn has directed videos from a diverse range of bands: from Henry Rollins to At the Drive-in to Echo & the Bunnymen to Depeche Mode and even Metallica. Even more interesting is the fact that Corbijn's trajectory paralleled that of Joy Division. He rose to prominence photographing Joy Division and other post-punk bands, going on to photograph for Spin, Details, Vogue and Rolling Stone, and eventually parlayed his visual and artistic talents into music videos. While I am a fan of Joy Division's music, I'm not a rabid fan by any stretch of the imagination. But I've found it hard not to become increasingly interested and fascinated by the life and death of Ian Curtis. After watching the trailer above I cannot wait to see Corbijn's interpretation of Curtis' life and times on the big screen. Via RS, I found out that the film recently won the Prix Regards Jeunes (Young Eyes Prize) at Cannes, resulting in heavy buzz and the Weinstein Company winning the rights to the film. I think it's safe to agree with RS on this film's potential as "a passionate labor of love", after all, Corbijn financed half of the film's budget out of his own pocket.

MP3: Joy Division - "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
MP3: José González - "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

Video: The Strokes - "You Only Live Once"

I just found the second best video of the year thus far. All the hipster trash is getting their tight black jeans in a bunch over at Stereogum because they have no love for Julian and Co. "Media hype!" "Production on First Impressions sucked!" "Julian sucks!" "I live for comment threads!" But once they wipe their Carlos D. bangs out of their face and watch the fucking video...and fucking relax...I think they'll see that the video - in all of its Kubrick glory - is quite awesome.

Me personally, I was sold on the Strokes when I saw Julian perform all of "Reptilia" in the crowd at DAR. Actually, I was sold long before that...but, that was the moment I realized that The Strokes were more than just a guaranteed CD purchase. They were a live guarantee, as well. Oh, and, uh, I've got nothing but love for Carlos D. and the boys at Interpol.

The National @ Bowery Ballroom, 5/28/7

What else is left to say about this band? To all who will listen, I'm fully convinced that The National are leading the pack of American indies right now. Boxer is not only my favorite album of the year, I think it's better than anything I heard last year too. Last night's show, the first of their 5 night residency at Bowery, did not disappoint. Mr. November absolutely kills. Hearing "Ada" live, one of my favorites on the album, was also a highlight.

Setlist:
"Start a War"
"Brainy"
"Secret Meeting"
"Mistaken for Strangers"
"Slow Show"
"Baby, We'll Be Fine"
"Squalor Victoria"
"Apartment Story"
"All the Wine"
"Murder Me Rachael"
"Racing Like a Pro"
"Ada"
"Daughters of the Soho Riots"
"Mr. November"
"Fake Empire"
--------
"About Today"
"Abel"

Monday, May 28, 2007

My Only Issue With the Bonnaroo Schedule...

Is this chunk of time on Saturday night.
I mean, there's no doubt who I am catching...I just wanted to catch the other guys, too.

I never miss an opportunity with Ben.

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez: Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo

[Photo Credit]

Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo the new solo album from Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez will hit iTunes tomorrow via Gold Standard Laboratories. You can find it here (or by clicking on the buffalo below). Among the 10 tracks on the new album is the TMV staple from the last tour, "Rapid Fire Tollbooth", and (new?) version of "Please Heat This Eventually" (originally on Omar's album with Damo Suzuki).

Tracklisting:

1. "The Lukewarm"
2. "Luxury of Infancy"
3. "Rapid Fire Tollbooth"
4. "Thermometer Drinking the Bussness of Turnstiles"
5. "Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo"
6. "If Gravity Lulls, I Can Hear the World Pant"
7. "Please Heat This Eventually"
8. "Lurking About in a Cold Sweat (Held Together by Venom)"
9. "Boiling Death Request a Body to Rest Its Head On"
10. "La Tirania de la Tradicion"
Amazon.com lists the band name as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet and, naturally, has samples of each track. You can also preview six tracks at Omar's MySpace page, which also references the quintet. You may notice John Frusciante in the photo portion of the MySpace page, John guests on the track "If Gravity Lulls, I Can Hear the World Panting". Surprisingly, Jon Theodore (ex-drummer, The Mars Volta) also guests on one of the tracks (10).

Wikipedia has other info on the album:
It is one of four albums written and recorded by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez whilst living in Amsterdam in 2005. Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo was conceived simultaneously to The Mars Volta's Amputechture and Omar’s soundtrack to the forthcoming Jorge Hernandez Aldana film, El Búfalo de la Noche; which is where the title for Se Dice originates. Omar expressed that this record is a response and expression of his feelings of the film, the soundtrack of which will feature The Mars Volta contributions.
El Búfalo de la Noche is a film directed by Jorge Hernandez Aldana and written by Guillermo Arriaga (based on his novel). You recognize Arriaga's name because he wrote Alejandro González Iñárritu's first three feature films: Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and last year's Babel. All of this sounds familiar because we talked about it way back when...

From the liner notes (via Wiki):
"This album was recorded in Amsterdam in November 2005 partially at my then home studio but mostly at 10 Catharina Can Renneslaan. It was engineered by Jon Debaun and myself and processed though the E-Clat Portable Morgue Disaster Unit with final overdubs done at Greg Ginn's warehouse in Long Beach. Robert Carranza mixed and prepared it for mastering, which was done by Pete Lyman at 5076 1/2 Alhambra Ave., Los Angeles. Longtime friend and collaborator Damon Locks created the artwork (everything but the photo on the back cover) and the ever-present Sonny Kay is once again responsible for the layout and design. I wrote these songs in reaction to working with maestros Guillermo Arriaca Jordan and Jorge Hernandez on their film and soundtrack album El Búfalo de la Noche. This album is for them."
 

MP3: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - "Boiling Death Request a Body to Rest Its Head On"
MP3: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - "If Gravity Lulls, I Can Hear the World Pant"

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Video: The White Stripes - "Icky Thump"

This is possibly the best song I have heard all year. "Fake Empire" included. It is also the best video I have seen in a long, long time. My head is literally going to spin off of my neck and careen through the Manchester, TN air until it explodes when this sweet track hits the atmosphere Sunday the 17th. Gorgeous.

And while we are on the topic, how fucking sexy is Meg White? Smooth, steady and seductive.

Bonnaroo Schedule

Thursday

Friday [12:30 PM - 8:00 PM]

Friday [9:00 PM - 3:00 AM]

Saturday [12:30 PM - 11:00 PM]

Saturday [11:30 PM - 3:30 AM]

Sunday

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Once

I caught the trailer for an Irish film Once this past weekend (before seeing Waitress) and noticed the familiar voice of The Frames without making any connection to the actor himself. Somewhat surprisingly I soon found out that the actor is, in fact, The Frames lead singer Glen Hansard. The film was also directed by former Frames bassist and now full-time director, John Carney. The film has received some excellent reviews thus far including the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance. Should be worth a look.

The lead song is the excellent "Falling Slowly" which existed in its original form on their last album, The Cost. I never really got into this album, unfortunately, but their previous effort Burn the Maps was excellent and very underrated.

MP3: The Frames - "Falling Slowly" (from The Cost)
MP3: The Frames - "Dream Awake" (from Burn the Maps)

Free Live EP from The Black Keys

The Black Keys are offering a free Live EP on their MySpace page. The four songs were recorded at various venues across 2006. If you're seeing them at Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza, I am jealous.



01. "No Trust" Recorded at Troubadour, Los Angeles 09.13.06
02. "Elevator" Recorded at Mercy Lounge, Nashville 12.15.06
03. "Girl Is On My Mind" Recorded at Troubadour, Los Angeles 09.13.06
04. "10AM Automatic" Recorded at Mercy Lounge, Nashville 12.15.06

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Smashed Pumpkins

Holy fucking opening night setlist. Paris, France:

"United States"
"Today"
"Stand Inside Your Love"
"Orchid"
"Doomsday Clock"
"Home"
"Hummer"
"Starz"
"Tarantula"
"Bullet"
"Gossamer"
"God and Country"
"33"
"Rocket"
"Winterlong"
"To Sheila"
"Glass and the Ghost"
"Cherub Rock"
"1979"
"Tonight"
"Neverlost"
"That's the Way"
"Disarm"
"Zero"
"Untitled"
"Shame"
"Silverfuck"
"Annie Dog"
"Muzzle"
Random live blog here with fan boys and girls cuckoo for Corgan puffs in the comment area.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Okkervil River: New Album in August

From Jagjaguwar, via PrefixMag:

Written on the beds and beat-up couches of hotels, guest-rooms, and fourth-floor walk-ups during the itinerant Sheff’s travels around the United States and tenure in New York City, recorded in Austin with longtime Okkervil River co-producer Brian Beattie, and mixed with Jim Eno of Spoon at his Public Hi-Fi studio, The Stage Names eschews outsider guests to focus on the core lineup of a backing band made tight and road-weary in rock clubs around the world. These songs give members of this usually shambolic troupe (keyboardist Jonathan Meiburg, drummer Travis Nelsen, electric guitarist Brian Cassidy, bassist Patrick Pestorius, and coronet player Scott Brackett) the occasion to turn in bravura performances as Sheff’s distinctively heated vocals, never more assured or in control, sail on top of them. The music soars, the lyrics cut, chaos is skirted, mystery is courted, and it all looks easy. This is the sound of a band at the height of their powers, effortlessly making good on their earlier promise long after the point where they remember or care that they even made that promise in the first place.

TRACK LISTING:
1. "Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe"
2. "Unless It’s Kicks"
3. "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene"
4. "Savannah Smiles"
5. "Plus Ones"
6. "A Girl in Port"
7. "You Can’t Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man"
8. "Title Track"
9. "John Allyn Smith Sails"

Boxer Reviews

Was just sending this email to InMyTree but figured it was worth sharing anyway...

Early returns on Boxer are understandably well deserved. 4 stars from RS, Best New Music and an 8.6 from P4K, and a 9 from Popmatters. Couldn't be happier for these guys. Such a great band and album.

Boxer is out tomorrow. [Buy]

Sunday, May 20, 2007

QOTSA: Live, VH1 Honors, Pre-Order & A Love of All Things Elevated

Queens of the Stone Age - "3's and 7's" | [Transmission, Ch 4, UK]


Queens of the Stone Age - "Sick, Sick, Sick" | [Transmission, Ch 4, UK]


Josh Homme Interview | [Transmission, Ch 4, UK]


Queens of the Stone Age - "Sick, Sick, Sick" [Official Video]


QOTSA on VH1 Honors
That's right. Time to settle in to the couch and muscle through a performance by Nickleback, another by Gretchen Wilson, but the payoff will be big: Alice In Chains, Heart and Queens of the Stone Age. This year, VH1 Honors is honoring Genesis, Heart, ZZ Top and Ozzy Ozbourne. Hopefully the good will outweigh the bad on this...if not the power of DVR can always hook it up. May 24th. Check yo local listings.

Pre-Order Era Vulgaris
Pre-Order Era Vulgaris at Insound and receive a free CD Single with the track "The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died".

Friday, May 18, 2007

Smashing Pumpkins Single Debuts on KROQ

Deaf Indie Elephants has a radio rip of the first Smashing Pumpkins single, "Tarantula." The song debuted today on future-InMyTree-radio-preset KROQ. Is that the only decent rock radio station left in this country? Anyway, the song is definitely better than I thought it'd be but not at a level that gets me completely pumped for the album (read: "Icky Thump" or "3's and 7's"). Then again, what were we really expecting?

UPDATE: Ok, I've listened it about 5 times now and I'm changing my tune a bit - I'm really digging it. Perhaps there's life in this Corgan yet.

Tickets back on sale for The National @ Bowery Ballroom on 5/28

I was just browsing the Craigslist postings for any extra tickets (it's a sellers market right now) for The National during their 5-night run at Bowery (the lady is now completely hooked and wanted in). I decided to give it a shot on ticketweb and as luck would have it, the only date with more tickets available was the same date I had for the show.

5/28. Probably very limited.

Ticketweb

New York-Based Band News

The National and The Bravery both have new records coming out next Tuesday, 5/22 (as well as an excellent album from Handsome Furs). Right now, I think Boxer is my favorite album of the year. It's a serious grower and at this point, nothing else sounds better. I think this may be their opportunity to step up into the American indie rock big leagues along with Wilco, Spoon, The Shins, and the Black Keys. My money is on The National as the best of the bunch right now.

They'll be performing on MTV tonight. From the band:

We will play in the MTV studios in New York City as part of a 24-hour Human Giant marathon at roughly 1:30 am. If you want to come see us (PLEASE DO!), the arrival time is 12:45 am on 45th street and Broadway. THIS IS A FREE EVENT! The only requirement is that you be at least 18yrs old. To get free tickets, send an e-mail ASAP to battleofthebands@mtvstaff.com and please include the following:

-Name
-Age
-Phone number
As InMyTree mentioned Monday, you can stream their album on AOL or MySpace.

You can also stream the new album, The Sun and the Moon, from The Bravery on their MySpace page. I'm 5 songs in and while I'm not sure what this means but it's not horrible. Although the 5th song, "Bad Sun" is definitely the worst I've heard thus far.

In other news, although not an NYC band, Franz Ferdinand just announced that they'll be doing an "intimate show" here in the next few weeks. No details on where this will be but I have a feeling it will be a tough ticket.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

BFD 2007

I don't know about you, but I think $30 is a small price to pay to catch Bloc Party, Social D, Interpol, QOTSA, Kaiser Chiefs, Cold War Kids and Silversun Pickups. Of course Sum 41 is on that bill, too. Pitchfork has their jokes (don't they always?), but let's be honest, this is a solid bill at a solid price. Shoreline Ampitheatre is a great venue, as well. But, maybe that's just me getting nostalgiac...

Bob Marley USB Madness

From Uncut:

"Island Records are to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s Exodus by releasing it on two pioneering new formats; on USB Memory Stick and Micro SD Memory Card.

"The album recorded during Marley's exile in Britain at the beginning of '77, will become the first artist album released on these new computer readable formats, both of which will be available on May 28.

"The USB memory stick version will be limited to 4000 copies, produced in the Rastafarian colours of red, green and gold. It also contains three video tracks recorded at London’s Rainbow Theatre in June 1977.

"The Micro SD Memory Card will also be made as a limited edition collectors’ item of 2000 copies. The Micro SD is a small, removable flash memory card – the size of a fingernail – that can be used in mobile phones, portable audio players and PCs.

"Other formats for the re-release of the album include a standard CD, which comes with a hardback case, and a deluxe CD which also includes 12 live tracks as a DVD of Marleys Rainbow gigs of '77."
I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have outrageous stacks of CDs than a pile of USB devices. Because they like, don't stack and shit. Rolling Stone seems to think this could be the beginning of something.

Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist Cover Art

Smashing Pumpkins handed the album art reigns over to Shepard Fairey (of Mission of Burma, Interpol and Black Eyed Peas fame). Nicely done. Album drops on July 10 and you can read about Fairey's inspiration and intent over at Billboard. For a more overpowering view of the album art, head to SmashingPumpkins.com. Here is the tracklisting:

"Doomsday Clock" - 3:41
"7 Shades of Black" - 3:15
"Bleeding the Orchid" - 3:58
"That's the Way (My Love Is)" - 3:44
"Tarantula" - 3:47
"Starz" - 3:41
"United States" - 9:50
"Neverlost" - 4:13
"Bring the Light" - 3:35
"(Come On) Let's Go!" - 3:15
"For God and Country" - 4:51
"Pomp and Circumstances" - 4:18

Cloud Cult on MTV

Good piece on Cloud Cult, Craig Minowa and Earthology Records over at MTV Overdrive. John Norris is still getting it done over there. I have this strange feeling he will be our Dick Clark.

Dinosaur Jr. Tour Dates

Pitchfork has more dates (Europe, Canada). Dinosaur Jr.'s Beyond might be the best album I have heard this year.

05-29 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock *
05-30 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock *
05-31 Chicago, IL - The Abbey Pub *
06-01 Chicago, IL - The Abbey Pub *
06-02 Chicago, IL - The Abbey Pub *#
06-03 Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig *
06-04 Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig *
06-06 New York, NY - Irving Plaza *
06-07 New York, NY - Irving Plaza *
06-08 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre *%
06-09 Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda *
06-10 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground #
06-11 Cambridge, MA - Harvard Square
06-15 Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theater
06-16 Denver, CO - Westworld Music Showcase
06-17 Aspen, CO - Belly Up

* w. Awesome Color
# w. Lou Barlow
% w. Uncut

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

More Ted Leo Dates

When he gets back from Europe:

08-01 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
08-03 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-05 Covington, KY - Madison Theater (Sonic Muse Festival)
08-06 Nashville, TN - Exit/In #
08-07 Birmingham, AL - The Bottle Tree Lounge #
08-08 Roswell, GA - WhirlyBall Atlanta #
08-09 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club (Athens Popfest) #
08-11 Towson, MD - Recher Theatre #%

* with the Jai-Alai Savant
# with Birds of Avalon
% with Georgie James

Monday, May 14, 2007

The National. 9:30 Club. Tickets.

Tickets to the June 20 show at 9:30 Club are now on sale. Go here. And yeah, that's about the fiftieth picture I've used from their site. I just can't seem to get enough. You can stream all of Boxer at their other site or on AOL Spinner. It hits stores on the 22nd.

Shapes & Sizes [MySpace] and Talkdemonic [MySpace] are opening.

MP3: Shapes & Sizes - "Island's Gone Bad"
MP3: Shapes & Sizes - "Wilderness"

Chris Cornell Performed on The Henry Rollins Show

May 4 performance of "No Such Thing"

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

The Arcade Fire & The National @ Radio City Music Hall, 5/9/07

No, David Bowie did not make an appearance during the first night of his Highline Festival. I think only about 2% of me is disappointed. It was a great show. The National stuck to the same 10 songs but this time in a different order. Matt Berninger hurt his leg or ankle during "Abel" and despite limping through the rest of the set it definitely didn't affect the quality.

The crowd was pretty dull for the most part but it's understandably tough for a band to slay RCMH throughout an entire set. The place just feels huge (and really is with over 5K capacity). TAF let it all out, as always, and "Power Out" and "Rebellion (Lies)" were more than enough to wake a sleeping giant.

Setlist:

"Keep the Car Running"
"No Cars Go"
"Haiti"
"Black Mirror"
"Neighboorhood #2 (Laika)"
"In the Back Seat"
"My Body is a Cage"
"The Well and the Lighthouse"
"Ocean of Noise"
"Neighboorhood #1 (Tunnels)"
"(Antichrist Television Blues)"
"Neighboorhood #3 (Power Out)"
"Rebellion (Lies)"
-----
"Intervention"
"Wake Up"

Interpol Our Love To Admire Cover Art, Deluxe CD?

Random? Yes.
Amazon has both the cover art and a mysterious listing for a Deluxe 2x CD (in fact, it's their only listing at the moment).

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Wolf Parade Presale @ Black Cat, Other Locations

From BV: Wolf Parade announced a handful of summer shows. There is a presale starting at noon today for their 8/21 show at Black Cat.

Welcome to the Wolf Parade Fan Community. This site is password protected. To purchase tickets, you must first create an account and become a registered member of the Wolf Parade Fan Community by entering in your email address, name, and phone number.

Immediately after registration, you will receive an email with your password. Use the password provided to access pre-sale tickets with reduced service charges as well as get the latest Wolf Parade updates, contests, and special fan community extras. There is no fee to join. Each customer must have his/her own account. Thanks!
Tour Dates
Aug 11 Wolf Island Festival Kingston, Ontario
Aug 19 Warsaw Brooklyn, NY [Presale]
Aug 20 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA [Presale]
Aug 21 Black Cat Washington, DC [Presale]
Aug 22 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC [Presale]
Aug 24 La Sala Rossa Monteal, QC
Aug 25 La Sala Rossa Monteal, QC
Aug 26 La Sala Rossa Monteal, QC

[More Info]

Monday, May 07, 2007

The Arcade Fire & The National @ United Palace, 5/7/07

I don't think I've ever seen a better 1-2 punch. See you guys again at Radio City on Wednesday.

The National were on at 8pm sharp.
Setlist (same as DC):

"Start a War"
"Mistaken for Strangers"
"Slow Show"
"Secret Meeting"
"Abel"
"Squalor Victoria"
"Apartment Story"
"Fake Empire"
"Mr. November"
"About Today"
The Arcade Fire came on around 9:15.
Setlist:
"Black Mirror"
"No Cars Go"
"Neighboorhood #2 (Laika)"
"Haiti"
"Black Wave/Bad Vibrations"
"Neon Bible"
"Windowsill"
"The Well and the Lighthouse"
"Ocean of Noise"
"Keep the Car Running"
(Antichrist Television Blues)
"Neighboorhood #3 (Power Out)"
"Rebellion (Lies)"
-----
"Neighboorhood #1 (Tunnels)"
"Intervention"

Sunday, May 06, 2007

We Don't Want This Hoser, Anyway

Clemens signs minor league contract with sub-.500 team from New York.
[ESPN.com]

The second video on this page (via a link) shows Curt Schilling saying that "we didn't need him". For once, Curt and I agree.
[Boston.com]

From Boston.com's Extra Bases:

The Sox, according to early indications, only learned of Clemens's decision to go to the Bombers a couple of hours earlier, which was also the case in Houston, where Astros GM Tim Purpura received a call earlier this afternoon from Randy Hendricks, one of Clemens's agents, informing him that the Rocket was not returning to his hometown.

The Sox, according to club sources, had made a bid for Clemens, but had been told by his agents that Clemens would make a decision in a timely manner. That timetable and process was accelerated far beyond what the Sox expected when Clemens, during the seventh-inning stretch, announced he was back with the Bombers after a two-year hiatus.
In related news, Brady is going to get a free pass on this fashion faux pas, because, well, we are going to win another Super Bowl next year. Ridiculous arm candy negates Evil Empire attire, anyway.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Quick Hits.

* Great article and comment thread on John McClane at The Hater.

* BVegan has an interesting read and series of linkage that follows a brewing feud between Pitchfork, Cocorosie (not familiar) and John Darnielle (of Mountain Goats). One of the most interesting links in the post was one that sent me in the direction of the Pumpsta scene. It turned out to be one of the weirder experiences (artists writing Pitchfork, then posting their letters, the Pumpsta scene in general, etc.) that I've had over at the Vegan, but interesting nonetheless.

* Over at the AV Club, Scott Tobias asks Could Spider-Man 3 be the Heaven's Gate of the Blockbuster Era? This Heaven's Gate. Not this Heaven's Gate or this Heaven's Gate or this Heaven's Gate.

* Concert promoter Michael Cohl recently referred to Barbara Streisand as the "greatest female performer of all time". Hmmm. I don't know if she's in my Top Twenty. Fifty. Hundred. To each his/her own. She sold out the O2 Arena (formerly Millennium Dome) in 20 minutes.

* The last three posts over at KinoSport are fantastic.

Lefsetz on Festivals

All things considered, Lefsetz has a very neutral stance. Not that one takes a "stance" in regards to festivals, but if you've read this guy before you know that he can be very opinionated. Turning his focus on festivals, he makes the point that the promoters are the new sheriffs in town. Taking the vacancy left by the "the label guys". Interesting read:

"So, if you flew all the way to Palm Springs are you a he-man of the universe or a laughable loser? If you went to have a good time, and did, more power to you. But your attendance at Coachella is no longer a badge of honor. Because there no longer are any badges of honor. The scene’s been democratized, it’s positively niche. If you expect those new acts that played at Coachella to break out, I’m laughing. But that’s not what it’s about. It’s just one person’s vision/scene, Paul Tollett’s. Nothing more, nothing less. Despite the hype in the major media, Coachella is not representative of the country at large, never mind the world, it’s not where you break acts, it’s just a scene."
[Lefsetz Letter]

Video: The National - "Mistaken for Strangers"

[American Mary]

Over at MTV Overdrive. I know, I know. That's what I said.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Arcade Fire @ D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 05.04.07

The first lady is hooked. They made a fan out of her. Tons of energy on that stage tonight. I will provide more later. Nibble on the setlist:

"Black Mirror"
"No Cars Go"
"Neighboorhood #2 (Laika)"
"Haiti"
"Black Wave/Bad Vibrations"
"Neon Bible"
"Windowsill"
"The Well and the Lighthouse"
"Ocean of Noise"
"Neighboorhood #1 (Tunnels)"
"Neighboorhood #3 (Power Out)"
"Rebellion (Lies)"
"Keep the Car Running"
-----
"Intervention"
"Wake Up"

The National @ D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 05.04.07

More later. They were fantastic. Setlist:

"Start a War"
"Mistaken for Strangers"
"Slow Show"
"Secret Meeting"
"Abel"
"Squalor Victoria"
"Apartment Story"
"Fake Empire"
"Mr. November"
"About Today"

Austin City Limits: Lineup Rumors

Via Austinist, via Brooklyn Vegan:

The White Stripes, The Decemberists, Peter, Bjorn, and John, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Robert Earl Keen, Joss Stone, Andrew Bird, Rose Hill Drive, Gotan Project, Indigo Girls, Heartless Bastards, Augustana, Beau Soleil, and Andy Palacio, Kings Of Leon, Raul Malo, Stephen Marley, Ben Kweller, Rev. Horton Heat, Asleep At The Wheel, The Little Ones, Charlie Musselwhite, The Jellydots, Sara Hickman, Blonde Redhead, Björk
More at, you guessed it, Ultra8201.

Coachella Recaps @ Ultra8201

For Coachella recaps that don't talk about Paris Hilton sightings, how superior the author's music taste is to the readers' and/or how Kimberly Stewart looked like a crack-whore, look no further than our blogger-in-arms, Ultra 8201. Here's his breakdown:

Coachella Is Here
Phoenix
Day 1 (Sort Of)
Rage Against The Machine - Setlist
The Battle of Coachella

Interpol Tour Dates

05-19 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (KROQ Weenie)
05-27 George, WA - The Gorge (Sasquatch!)
05-31 Dallas, TX - The Palladium
06-02 Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre (99X Big Day Out)
06-03 Chicago, IL - Metro
06-07 Toronto, Ontario - The Guverment
06-09 San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre (Live 105 BFD 07)
06-10 San Diego, CA - Devore Stadium (94/9 Independence Jam)
08-04 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)

Ultra8201 with the hookup.

Top 50 Indie Anthems @ NME

Lists are funny because they always create mobscene comment threads. Lists by NME are funny because they completely lack long-term memory and have a gigantic hard-on for The Libertines. Here's their Top Ten Indie Anthems:

1. Oasis - "Live Forever"
2. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
3. Pulp - "Common People"
4. The Smiths - "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
5. The Libertines - "Don't Look Back Into The Sun"
6. The Libertines - "Time For Heroes"
7. The Smiths - "How Soon Is Now?"
8. The Stone Roses - "I Am The Resurrection"
9. The Strokes - "Last Nite"
10. Arctic Monkeys - "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor"
[NME: 11-30 | 31-50]

Arcade Fire: Next Single, Tonight

Arcade Fire's next single will be "Intervention" and is set for release on May 21 as a download and on 7-inch vinyl. [NME]

Arcade Fire is playing D.A.R. Constitution Hall tonight. The National is opening. Doors are at 8 PM. [DAR]

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Pearl Jam: Pearl Jam Live @ the Gorge 05/06

From Ten Club:

Pearl Jam has just announced the release of "Pearl Jam Live at the Gorge 05/06", a limited-edition 7-disc box set of the band's three scorching, sold-out shows. Special member pre-sale on now!

Pre-Order the exclusive Ten Club version of "Live at the Gorge 05/06" from TenClub.net for $34.99 (plus shipping) and receive a limited edition postcard set, featuring 3 concert poster images and the box set cover art image, while supplies last. This is an exclusive offer for active members only! The pre-sale will open to the general public beginning May 9.

Please understand this offer is a pre-order of the product. Packages will ship after June 20th via USPS First Class. The Ten Club will aim to deliver this package to you on the release date of June 26th, but the delivery date is not guaranteed. [International residents - delivery of the product can take up to 4-6 weeks.]

Enjoy over 7.5 hours of Pearl Jam concert performances from three spectacular shows. The pre-sale lasts until June 20th or while supplies last, so pre-order your box set today!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

House Keeping

* I was blown away yesterday when Tripwire "broke" the news that Muse and Cold War Kids were playing the Garden. Not the theater but the damn arena. I didn't believe it until I just saw it confirmed on Brooklyn Vegan; so now I know it's legit. I love Muse and I am all over this if I'm in town but MSG?!?!?! Wow. August 6th.

* As InMyTree mentioned recently, The White Stripes are also playing the Garden. He'll be at Bonnaroo. I'll do my best to make this show at the Garden. July 24th.

* White Stripes tickets on sale Friday at 9am. Muse tickets on sale Sunday at 11am (from BV). I haven't seen anything on prices yet. UPDATE: The White Stripes tickets are $49.50 without fees (GA). Muse tickets are $45 and $39.50.

* I may be getting ahead of myself but "Icky Thump" is one of the best song's I've heard in awhile. I can't get enough of it.

* "Recommended" vs "Best New Music." I have no idea how Pitchfork makes this distinction but Dinosaur Jr's Beyond was reviewed today and received a "Recommended" 8.4. I wholeheartedly agree with this review/score (agreement with P4K, of course, is rare). This album is ridicuously good and a must for any of the younger folks out there who may not be familiar with their older work. It will certainly go down as one of my favorites of the year. Can't wait to catch them next month.