Pearl Jam @ MSG II, 6/25/08

Pearl Jam have the best fans in the world, no questions asked. What an amazing experience, I don't think I can say which night was better. There were 11 song repeats from the previous night so there is certainly something to be said for hearing them the first time but then again, I had better seats last night. Highlights, aside from the obvious, included leading off with "Release," "Garden" and of course, the lady appreciated the "Wishlist" and "Last Kiss" inclusions. And come to think of it, Ace Frehley (KISS) owned "Black Diamond."

Set 1
Release, World Wide Suicide, Severed Hand, Corduroy, All Night, Cropduster, Garden, Marker In The Sand, I'm Open, Wishlist, State Of Love And Trust, Even Flow, Who You Are, Rats, Given To Fly, Do The Evolution, Go
Encore 1
Inside Job, W.M.A., Lukin, I Believe In Miracles (w/ CJ Ramone on bass), Better Man(Save it for Later), Rearviewmirror
Encore 2
No More, Last Kiss, Why Go, Black Diamond (w/ Ace Frehley on lead guitar), Alive, Yellow Ledbetter/Star Spangled Banner

Pearl Jam @ MSG I, 6/24/08

Really, how many bands exist today where you can truly say after each show that it might be your favorite? For as long as I've been a die hard PJ fan, I've been looking forward to the chance of seeing them in the Garden. This one didn't disappoint. You always expect a little more with a show at the Garden and Pearl Jam delivered. "Present Tense" alone makes this show's download worth buying. See you guys again at MSG II (fingers crossed that my meeting happens on the early side tonight).

Set 1
Hard To Imagine, Save You, Why Go, All Night, Corduroy, Faithfull, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Down, Unemployable, Given To Fly, Who You Are, Whipping, 1/2 Full, Even Flow, Present Tense, Daughter, Do The Evolution

Encore 1
Love Reign O'er Me, W.M.A., Leash, Spin The Black Circle, Wasted Reprise, Porch

Encore 2
No More, Crazy Mary, Comatose, I Believe In Miracles w/ CJ Ramone, Alive

Encore 3
All Along The Watchtower, Indifference

Cloud Cult on Last Call Tonight

Cloud Cult will be performing on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight (Thursday). This will likely be the only reason I'll ever watch this show but hey, they booked one of my favorite bands so that says something right?

The performance will feature live painting (let's hope it's a long song) and rather than auction it off after the show, it will be available on eBay starting this Saturday. No word on weather Craig's stuff will also be available. Cue "Journey for the Featherless."

New Franz Ferdinand (sort of)

Head over to the Franz site for a streaming loop of what I'm guessing is a song called "Trigger 8." No vocal layers yet but I like what I'm hearing thus far.

Miscellaneous

~ Coldplay has sold over 30 million records which is a pretty staggering number in this day and age. EMI/Capitol would have you believe that they carry the weight of the world on the shoulders with this upcoming release. Of course it's going to be a let down in some way. That said, I think they've done a solid job with the new album. It seems to lack those big sing-a-long choruses which may turn off their casual fans and the lyrics are still terrible but there's quite a bit of quality in the music to be found here. The new album will be streaming on their MySpace page later today.

~ Despite the critical acclaim, I've really had very little interest in any of Deerhunter's recorded material. However, the two songs now playing on their MySpace page show a very different direction and both are damn good. It seems their new album Microcastle has leaked without, I believe, a release date.

~ I really dislike the NBA (Kobe especially) but how can you not watch the Finals? I'm in.

~ Not surprisingly, Pitchfork has given the Fleet Foxes s/t debut a Best New Music tag and a 9.0. I know I've mentioned this before but for all of the terrible things that Pitchfork is known for (e.g., never read one of their reviews of a band you like - you'll only be disappointed, Amy Phillips, etc.), I still count on them to find new bands. Fleet Foxes was one of them. The Sun Giant EP is awesome. I don't think the s/t is better but I've got tickets to see them next month and am really looking forward to it.

~ If this iPhone 2.0 is anything like the rumors suggest, Verizon and I will be parting ways after 9 good years.

WuChess

This cracked me up. You, too, can play for an annual fee of $48.

WuChess.com is the worlds first online chess and Hip-Hop community. You can create and share profiles with your friends and triumph over enemies on the 64 squares. Not just against people in your neighborhood but from all over the world.

Play live chess with people from all over the world and get your learn on.

WuChess.com lets you get knowledge from REAL chess masters online, or train in chambers against the computer to refine your skills.

Create your own chess clans to see who can build the highest ranking. Play in tournaments for prizes, or just for the joy of flexin' ya mentals.

At Wuchess.com you can log-on to watch chess clans do battle on and check out exhibition matches with Rza, other Wu-Tang members and stars from across the planet.

via

Pearl Jam Charity Show @ the Beacon Theatre

Crap. Crap. Crap. I really can't be too mad since I'm going to both MSG shows but it's the Beacon, it's one block from my apt., it's for charity, and I have a pretty good feeling it's going to be amazing. Not sure how I missed this.

UPDATE: Apparently, tickets weren't sold out because I got through just now and purchased one.

The National @ Summerstage Tickets

Tickets for The National at Central Park Summerstage go on sale tomorrow. I'm going out on a limb here by saying that this may be the best line-up I attend all year. Plants and Animals debut album Parc Avenue caught me by surprise and really is quite good (review here). I've been waiting to see Yeasayer for awhile now and although I'm not sure Summerstage is necessarily the best venue for them, I'll take it. The National, of course, need no introduction.

MP3: Plants and Animals - "Bye Bye Bye"
MP3: Yeasayer - "Wait for the Wintertime"
MP3: The National - "Rest of Years" (demo)

DCFC Takes No. 1 on Billboard

Even in an age when SoundScan numbers mean very little, this is still a very impressive feat for Death Cab. I've always admired Death Cab's work, never a huge fan nor a hater. The truth of the matter is that this band is still making high quality music on LP7 and lots of people have obviously taken notice over the years (as evidenced by platinum selling albums with The Postal Service and Plans). Narrow Stairs is another solid album with some exceptional tracks. I say, good for them.
____

As a side note, this new Beck track is insanely good. Can't wait for that album. Between The Black Keys and Beck, this Danger Mouse guy may have a future in this business.........

I Don't Miss Nissan Pavillion

What a mess. I think fans are right to question Radiohead management's selection to play at Nissan - a venue that really is in the middle of nowhere (no offense to the good folks of Gainesville, VA). That makes zero sense from a transportation standpoint. Man, I really hated going to Nissan for shows. Sorry but I think both NF and I can be thankful that we've since moved away from this mess.

The setlist, however, looks pretty amazing.

1.All I Need
2.Jigsaw
3.Lucky
4.15 Step
5.Nude
6.Pyramid Song
7.Arpeggi
8.Myxomatosis
9.Idioteque
10.Faust Arp
11.Videotape
12.Paranoid Android
13. Just
14.Reckoner
15.Everything in it's Right Place
16.Bangers n' Mash
17.Bodysnatchers

----Encore 1----
18.Like Spinning Plates
19.Optimistic
20.Karma Police
21.Go Slowly
22.Planet Telex

---Encore 2---
23.Fake Plastic Trees
24. The National Anthem
25. House of Cards

Cloud Cult Tonight

Doors at 8. [Knitting Factory]

Rosebuds, British Sea Power @ Bowery Ballroom, 5/10/08

This was my first time seeing Rosebuds or BSP, the latter of which I consider to be one of the finer rock bands in the UK at the moment. Rosebuds impressed. I listened to their second album quite a bit when it came out and I think that I need to look into their latest. BSP played loud and tight, sticking mostly to the studio version of their songs (until the end). "No Lucifer" and "Carrion" were the stand-outs. I admit though, I was a little bit disappointed by the lack of theatrics that I had read so much about. No foliage on stage or military regalia. This time they claimed to be old tennis stars, or something to that effect. Overall, it was good rock n roll but I'd give the live edge to last month's Constantines show at Mercury (which, unfortunately, I failed to write-up).

Setlist:
"Lights Out For Darker Skies"
"Atom"
"Remember Me"
"Down on the Ground"
"Leaving Here"
"A Trip Out"
"Canvey Island"
"Waving Flags"
"The Great Skua"
"Oh Larsen B"
"No Lucifer
"True Adventures"
"The Spirit of St. Louis"
"Carrion"
"Rock in A"

For those interested, nyctaper recorded the show in typical fine fashion.

MMJ on SNL

I've become fully immersed in all things My Morning Jacket at the moment. Their new album is ambitious, ballsy, and nothing short of excellent. They performed "I'm Amazed" and "Evil Urges" on Saturday Night Live. Not surprisingly, it was also phenomenal.
"I'm Amazed"

"Evil Urges"

Welcome Back Brendan

Chalk this one up in the good news department:

Pearl Jam has started recording its ninth studio album with producer Brendan O'Brien...The new effort, a follow-up to its self-titled 2006 album, finds Pearl Jam reteaming with longtime producer Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against the Machine) for the first time since 1998's "Yield." O'Brien has also produced Pearl Jam's "Vs." (1993), "Vitalogy" (1994) and "No Code."
More

June cannot come soon enough.

Virgin Festival Line-up Announced

This looks pretty damn good to me. And how about that Bob Dylan sighting? Sunday kind of owns it. August 9-10.

Coachella Rumors: Eddie Vedder

This weekend's Coachella line-up may be a bit lacking when compared to the other big festivals this summer but the two "Sean Penn" time slots on Sunday are leading some to believe that could include Eddie Vedder (one time slot precedes My Morning Jacket). I have no idea where this started but here are some call outs.

Product Shop NYC
Merry Swankster
Red Mosquito

Buzznet Scooping up Music Blogs

Buzznet, a social community and media site, has been in the tech press quite a bit lately with their recent purchase of Stereogum and Idolator. Traditionalists will most likely have issues with this. Personally, I think it's a great success story for Stereogum (even if I'm not a fan of the blog). However, the latest news is sure to raise even more red flags. A $25 million investment from Universal Music Group? How can that not create issues with their reader base? Time will tell, I guess. Wired chimed in as well.

Eddie Vedder @ The Wiltern, 4.13.08

JQ's back from Iraq, healthy and out of his fucking mind. These are all good things. He was out in LA for a few days and while we were driving home from the madness of the most attended baseball game in history at the Coliseum (Sox-Dodgers) we passed by the Wiltern and Eddie's name was in black beaming down Wilshire. I told him about the Ten Club feeding frenzy, the same thing at Ticketmaster and then let him know that as a student I'm not in a spot to start dropping StubHub prices for a gig. Even if it is a rare solo gig from the frontman of my favorite band. Fast forward past some empty bottles of wine, crushed cases of beer and obscene storytelling that went each night into the next morning and JQ was off to LAX and back into the abyss of out-processing the Army. The next day a package arrives in the mail addressed to my fiancee and underneath are the three magic words: "Get Hot Time". Inside? Two tickets to Eddie's second night at the Wiltern. These are my friends. What more can I say? I call JQ and get this response: "You didn't think I was gonna get you a fucking toaster for your wedding, did you?"

***

He was still in his lab coat then. His guests retired off stage. The lights dimmed and Eddie leaned down into a suitcase and began howling into one of the mics. He set a loop, then grabbed another mic and began belting an accompanying vocal track. I was frozen there, in the back row of the Wiltern completely fucking mesmerized. I haven't heard "Arc" in several years. He took his time, and it might be the memory of the whole thing fucking with me...but I think we witnessed him twisting his vocal chords for a good four or five minutes. The voice of a generation. The voice of my youth. The memories of a dozen shows from Camden, NJ to Mountain View, CA.

And I would have been good right there.

But, I had the feeling, as he walked to the front of the stage, the curtains closing behind him, and shook hands with members of the crowd ("Arc" still careening about the room on a loop) that something was going on behind him.

When they opened the curtain up Jack Irons was sitting on the drums, Eddie introduced him and noted the next one would be a "big sing-a-long". They kicked off "Last Kiss", with the crowd chanting every word and then I thought...if it ends here, I am very, very good with all of it. Guests have made the rounds on the tour, Jerry Hannan helped out in Berkeley on the first night, while Mike McCready and Sean Penn jammed out on "All Along the Watchtower" on night two at Berkeley. So, we score some Jack Irons on drums and to be honest, I'm fucking overwhelmed.

But no one moves. Eddie remains seated, Irons exits stage right. Eddie starts talking about how lucky he feels to know some of the people he knows and he's not sure if these people are "smart because they are talented, or talented because they are smart". And all of the sneaking suspicions I had leading up to the show start to unravel. He has to be talking about Ben. He hasn't played "No More" yet, and Ben helps him out with the same track on the Body of War soundtrack, courtesy of PJ's Lolla performance last year. And. And. And. "I'd like to welcome to the stage Mr. Ben Harper".

Out of my fucking mind.

I'm in the last row at the Wiltern going completely fucking apeshit as my lady is jumping up and down in the same frenetic fashion. Ben dealt some crushing blows last year at Bonnaroo: SuperJam with John Paul Jones & ?uestlove, bringing out Ziggy for "Get Up, Stand Up" and then tearing through "Dazed and Confused" with Jones again during his own set. And here he is. Sauntering out with a lab coat of his own. Taking a seat and giving Eddie an unbelievable vocal accompaniment during "No More". I can barely take it.

And if you thought they were done there. You're wrong. A backdrop is revealed with a beautiful sunset and the entire gang comes back for "Hard Sun" as Eddie fired up a recording of the studio version and added violent riffs on his guitar while bouncing around the stage in an epic little sing-a-long that included two pipes on both sides of the stage gushing dry ice.

Eddie thanks the crowd and still the set isn't going anywhere. It's just getting adjusted by more people in lab coats. Two seats. A drumset. Eddie is bouncing around in his famous half-buzzed-possibly-cocked-bebop, towards the corner, then back to the mic. "I'd like to re-introduce Mr. Ben Harper and Mr. Jack Irons. One more." Hell yes.

Ben walks out with the Weissenborn and I am all kinds of ballistic because whatever is coming he's got the fucking Weissenborn...Eddie rips into the opening bars of "All Along the Watchtower" acoustic and as I'm tearing up, Ben hovers in gently with the lead and I swear...I swear...I'm lost...they repeat "two riders were approaching..." a number of times just to get enough opportunity to let Ben crush us...and then all together "the wind began to howl..."

Main Set
"Walking the Cow" (Daniel Johnson)
"Around the Bend"
"I Am Mine"
"Dead Man"
"Thumbing My Way"
"Man of the Hour"
"Setting Forth"
"Guaranteed"
"No Ceiling"
"Far Behind"
"Rise Up"
"Millworker" (James Taylor)
"Goodbye"
"Soon Forget"
"Drifting"
"You´ve Got to Hide Your Love Away" (Beatles)
"Picture in a Frame" (Tom Waits)
"Trouble" (Cat Stevens)
"Happy Birthday" for his Grandmother Margaret
"Porch"

Encore 1
"Society" (Jerry Hannan; w. Liam Finn)
"Throw Your Arms Around Me" (Marc Seymour; w. Liam Finn)
"Lukin"
"Arc"

Encore 2
"Last Kiss" (Wayne Cochran; w. Jack Irons)
"No More" (w. Ben Harper)
"Hard Sun" (Gordon Peterson; w. Ben Harper, Jack Irons, Eliza-Jane Barnes & Liam Finn)
"All Along The Watchtower" (Bob Dylan; w. Ben Harper & Jack Irons)

Lollapalooza Lineup

Radiohead Summer Tour Dates

When they get back from Europe, it will go something like this. (I still haven't stopped listening to In Rainbows...)

8-01 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
8-03 Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center #
8-04 Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center #
8-06 Montreal, Quebec - Parc Jean-Drapeau #
8-08 Jersey City, NJ - Liberty State Park (All Points West)
8-09 Jersey City, NJ - Liberty State Park (All Points West)
8-12 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center #
8-13 Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center #
8-15 Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre #
8-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Thunderbird Stadium *
8-20 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre *
8-22 San Francisco, CA - Golden Gate Park (Outside Lands)
8-24 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl *
8-25 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl *
8-27 Chula Vista, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre *
8-28 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl *

* with Liars
# with Grizzly Bear