Cursive's Mercury Lounge Show Sold Out????

Just days ago I found out that Cursive would be playing a one off show at Manhattan's Mercury Lounge (tickets were on sale here). Only to find out about a half hour ago that tickets appear to have sold out....or I'm an idiot that can't work the web. I don't know maybe Ticket Master just doesn't like me...Anyone else have the same problem?

Bloc Party Anounce Tour Dates

England's Bloc Party have confirmed a handful of US dates this summer. The tour will go on sale to the general public on the 2nd of May, though members of Marshals can buy tickets on pre-sale now. They only have a couple of shows in California and NYC/Philly outside of a few festivals. Then they're heading of to Europe and the UK before heading back to North America.

The full summer schedule (including festival appearances) is below:

July
28 - The Glass House, Pomona CA ( pre-sale available) +
29 - Mayan Theatre, Los Angeles CA ( pre-sale available) +
30 - Fillmore, San Francisco CA ( pre-sale available) +

August
01 - Lollapalooza, Chicago IL
05 - Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia PA ( pre-sale available) +
06 - Webster Hall, New York NY ( pre-sale available) +
07 - Webster Hall, New York NY ( pre-sale available)
09 - V Festival, Baltimore MD
15 - Highfield Festival, Hohenfelden DE
21 - Marlay Park, Dublin IE
23 - Reading Festival, Reading UK
24 - Leeds Festival, Leeds UK

September
06 - V Festival, Toronto CA

+ support from Does It Offend You, Yeah? (get a free download of 'We Are Rockstars' here).

I Got 5 Helicopters - Bloc Party vs. The Luniz (DJ Lobsterdust)

Lordy Lordy Sub Pop's errr...20

Its sad to think that I'm 6 years old then Sub Pop...I didn't get anything worth mentioning on my 20th birthday, but who am I?

Sub Pop on the other hand is throwing itself a 2-day festival at King County's Marymoor Park July 12th and 13th and a comedy show at The Moore Theatre on July 11th. Tickets are on sale on Sub Pop's Website. 50 clams for a 2 day pass and 20 for the comedy show.

The line-up so far looks a little something like this...

SP20 Festival - Saturday, July 12th

Fleet Foxes
Flight of the Conchords
The Fluid
The Helio Sequence
Iron and Wine
Low
Mudhoney
Pissed Jeans
Seaweed

SP20 Festival - Sunday, July 13th

Beachwood Sparks
Comets on Fire
Foals
Grand Archives
Green River
Kinski
No Age
Red Red Meat
The Ruby Suns
Wolf Parade

SP20 Comedy Show - Friday, July 11th

Patton Oswalt
Eugene Mirman
Todd Barry



Tickets are also available through Ticket Master.


Alas, I won't be able to make it out to Washington for the festivties but I'm sure anyone who is there will be part of one of the best 20th birthday parties this side of the Thriller 20th anniversary spectacular.

CSS New Track, New Album This Summer

Brazil's CSS has release the first track off their follow up album, Donkey, due out mid-summer. Rat Is Dead doesn't follow the typical electro-based dance pop that has been synonymous with CSS and their last album. Still upbeat and funky. The now 5 piece band's newest song has more melodic guitar lines at the front instead of layered in between loads of distortion and beats. This song is definitely a step in a new direction for CSS. Rat, itself holds up very well but with the possible departure from the bands sound it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the album turns out.



CSS - Rat Is Dead (Rage)

Jean Grae: To Retire or Not, That is The Question

A few days ago Hip Hop DX reported about a Myspace Blog on New York based artists Jean Grae's page talking about her disenchantment with the music industry. And while never actually mentioning the words retire she does expound on the idea of leaving and thanks her fans for their support through out the years. Needless to say I was a bit upset upon hearing this speculation, especially since her album has been a few years in the making. Then this morning AllHipHop.com posted a rebuttal from friend, manager, label exec, Corey Smyth stating that although Jean is clearly not happy with the state of Hip Hop and music in general, she has not mentioned any plans on retiring. He continued on further to say that the 9th Wonder collab, Jeanius, and her solo album, Prom Night, were still scheduled for a June 2008 release. Here's to hoping....

My Dilemma

OR....








I'm torn between the two...

My home town is hosting the Popped Festival with favorites like, O' Death, Gogol Bordello, Daniel Johnston & The Capitol Years and Dan Deacon on the same date as close friends and NYC charity blog After The Jump Fest is throwing their summer party with XXXchange, Wakey Wakey, The Antlers and Pattern is Movement.


I'm sure both will be spectacular...but it doesn't help me having to make a choice between them. I have to make a decision soon in case tickets for either one sell out. Be sure to stay tuned as I hash out my plan over the next month and keep looking at both ATJ and Popped! for more updates as they come along.

Matador Records Spring Sampler '08

Hey everyone that doesn't subscribe to and/or read Matador Records blog!

The men and women of our favorite record label have done some spring cleaning and put together a 12 track spring sampler of some of their featured artists.


Track listing:

1. Jay Reatard - Always Wanting More (from 7" #3 due, out June 17)
2. Times New Viking - DROP-OUT (from Rip It Off)
3. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Cold Son (from Real Emotional Trash)
4. Shearwater Leviathan - Bound (from Rook, due out June 3)
5. Cat Power - Metal Heart (from Jukebox)
6. Matmos - Polychords (from Supreme Balloon, due out May 6)
7. Mission Of Burma - That s How I Escaped My Certain Fate (from Vs.:The Definitive Edition)
8. Jaguar Love - Bats Over The Pacific Ocean (from Take Me To The Sea, due out this summer)
9. The Cave Singers - Helen (from Invitation Songs)
10. Dead Meadow - I m Gone (from Old Growth)
11. The New Pornographers All The Things That Go To Make Heaven And Earth (live) (from Live From Soho (iTunes Exclusive))
12. Earles & Jensen Bleachy Is Back In Town, Look Out (from Just Farr A Laugh Vols. 1 & 2: The Greatest Prank Phone Calls Ever!)

Intended Play 2008 (zip file)

McCarren Pool Parties

Last summer's pool parties were quite memorable. Yeah everyone says the year before was better but isn't that what we always say? There has be a lot of interdweeb chatter about the first show (M.I.A w/ Holy Fuck ), but there hasn't been any sort of official schedule posted anywhere. Until Impose Magazine threw up a few tentative shows scheduled and then it all want up from there with more shows being announced the summer line up looks a little something like this....


McCarren Park Pool 2008 "Schedule"

06/06/08 M.I.A., Holy Fuck *Sold Out
06/10/08 Death Cab for Cutie - Tickets
06/20/08 Gogol Bordello - Tickets
06/26/08 Devo with Tom Tom Club, Dan Deacon - Tickets
06/29/08 The Hold Steady, White Denim
07/17/08 DJ Shadow / Cut Chemist - Tickets
07/25/08 Ween - Tickets
07/20/08 Liars
07/27/08 MGMT, Black Moth Super Rainbow
08/03/08 Black Lips, Deerhunter, King Khan
08/07/08 The Black Keys, Rogue Wave - Tickets)
08/13/08 Wilco - Tickets


*Note:

JellyNYC has (finally) confirmed a lot of artists for this years Pool Parties including (with more to come soon): MGMT, Aesop Rock, Hold Steady, Team Robespierre, Liars, The Breeders, Matt + Kim, Fuck Buttons, The Black Lips, Deerhunter

Circulatory System + NPR = New Olivia Tremor Control

Way back in the days before Indie rock was a real genre? Well I do, and one of the bands that shaped a lot of my tastes was Elephant 6 band Olivia Tremor Control. It was bands like them and Neutral Milk Hotel that started me down the road to musical snobdom. But I digress...


NPR's All Songs Considered featured a new untitled song by the current reincarnation of the OTC, Circulatory System. Its got all the free form experimentalism that made OTC such an important piece in Elephant 6 and all of Indie rock's roots. Circulatory System will hopefully be putting out a new record this fall.

Tokyo Police Club @ Soundfix 23 April 2008

After 3 shows in NYC this past week, Singer Dave Monk of Tokyo Police Club played a short set at Brooklyn's Sound Fix. Dave's voice was hoarse from the obvious number of shows he and the other members of the band have been playing in support of their album Elephant Shell. Sound Fix filled up and overheated quickly. And after a couple songs Dave said goodnight. Not the most thrilling show but hopefully they get through their tour and get some much needed rest.




Tokyo Police Club on tour now

Apr 24 2008 8:00P	Paradise Rock Club	Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 26 2008 8:00P	Pearl Street Night Club	Northampton, Massachusetts
Apr 28 2008 8:00P	First Unitarian Church	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 29 2008 8:00P	Black Cat	Washington, DC, Washington DC
Apr 30 2008 8:00P	Big Orbit’s Soundlab	Buffalo, New York
May 2 2008 8:00P	Opera House (SOLD OUT)	Toronto, Ontario
May 3 2008 8:00P	Opera House (SOLD OUT)	Toronto, Ontario
May 4 2008 8:00P	Magic Stick	Detroit, Michigan
May 5 2008 8:00P	Metro	Chicago, Illinois
May 6 2008 8:00P	Varsity Theatre	Minneapolis, Minneso

more dates available via myspace

All Tomorrow's Parties Launches In New York

UK-based All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) is pleased to announce ATP New York, its first east coast festival set for September 19-21 at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, NY

The Three Day Festival curated by both My Bloody Valentine and ATP, will be headlined by the band...their first performance in America since their hiatus in the early 90's.

For more information about the other bands that ATP have already confirmed just head to the website http://www.atpfestival.com. Some tickets go on sale this Friday April 25th @ 10AM EST. There's only going to be about 3000 tickets available so get them while their hot. You don't want to miss this historic event.

Kria Bekkan & Hex Message @ The New Museum 17 April 2008

Last Thursday was the premiere of the New Museum's Get Weird showcase. Which highlights the sometimes over looked "experimental" acts from across the universe. The shows lineup originally consisted of Fakey the (White Williams, Deerhunter, Ecstatic Sunshine ) super group and Hex Message. Unfortunately as the doors were opening we were all informed that Fakey was a last minute cancellation. But to my delight they had been replaced by Icelandic songstress Kria Brekkan.

I had never seen Kria perform live before but I have become a fan of her work over the past few years. Kristin's set was very serene and fluid. Never overwhelming the crowd with peaks of static and feedback. She worked quickly with a variety of instruments and odds & ends, and spoke softly to a small child on the floor stage left in between songs. The dim light room seemed to suit the mellow rushKria's music and posturing very well as she let the playback fade out as she said good night.


Next up was Hex Message. Another band I had yet to see live. I don't know if it was a sound issue or the migraine building in the back of my head, but they just didn't connect for me. Theirindividual instruments kept getting lost in swells upon swells of pain and sonance in me ears. I would like to give them a second chance though because this time, honestly, wasn't a fair one and I did enjoy what I heard.

The first installment of The New Museum's Get Weird 'exhibit' was definitely an experience. I look forward to the next one...which should be every third Thusrday of each month.




Below is a video I shot of Kristin performing at The New Museum. The lights were dim so it was hard to see.

New album from Tilly and the Wall

Omaha natives and Team Love's start-up act Tilly and the Wall are set to release the tenatively titled "O" this June. The album seems to be much more percussion based then previous efforts, evident on their electro pop 7" single Beat Control. The track Cacophony from their upcoming release has a very The Mamas and The Papas feel with the melodies and harmonies, while still using tap driving beats that has help Tilly stand out amongst its peers. With all these styles coming together "O" has the potential to be a groundbreaking success for the band.


Beat Control Music Video


Tilly and the Wall - Cacophony

Got Milk?

Out of the blue, or should I say white...comes the latest Got Milk campaign.


White gold is white gold is the best marketing campaign I have ever laid eyes on...It's catch, its witty, and just the website alone has enough to keep anyone occupied for hours a day. With White Gold and the Calcium twins here to save the day...I don't think there's anything to worry about.





Words just can't describe how amazing the whole thing is...Its a shame that I don't like milk at all. So watch the video, then go to the myspace and download there hit single One Gallon Axe. And if you can take any more of it. Go to whitegoldiswhitegold.com and navigate your way through the pages until you find what you're looking for...it will be there trust me.

Tim Kasher's Big Screen Debut

Cursive /The Good Life front man took some time to sit down with the LA Times. to discuss his new screen play. Yes, he has written a movie which has been picked up byindependent production company Parts & Labor. Mr. Kasher also talks about life in Los Angeles since recently moving there. You can read all about it here.

But what I really want to talk about is Tim and Cursive's first band, Slowdown Virginia.

I was talking to a friend from Nebraska few weeks before the interview about Slowdown Virgina. I lost the only copy of the album I had (it was a burned copy and was badly scratched but it still played) during my move to New York City, and the few mp3s on my computer just isn't cutting it...

My friend and I both agree that Slowdown's sound, style and aesthetic was the foundation for all the original Saddle Creek bands.

In short...I can't wait until I can listen to Dead Space again.

Gnarls Barkley Reversed

This afternoon Rolling Stone put up an article about Gnarls Barkley's latest marketing ploy. The dynamic duo are giving away their 2008 sophmore release The Odd Couple, but the entire album is backwards. Its one long mp3 so you can't skip tracks but it plays nicely (surprisingly). You can go here enter some info download and enjoy.

Myspace MySpace MYSPACE

First came Myspace. We all joined. Our favorite local bands were already well established there. The larger indie bands were soon to follow and finally the major label bands focused their attention towards the Myspace generation. Within 2 1/2 years Myspace had become the biggest networking opportunity on the web. In the following months we were introduced to a Myspace record label and Myspace TV. By last year myspace had become a cultural phenomenon. The truth behind eUniverses hand in the creation of Myspace was out and the Fox Network had purchased the site...but none of this mattered. Fox's newly acquired website made networking for bands, filmmakers, comedians, writers, non-profit organizations so simple that no one even cared that Myspace had literally gone corporate.

Myspace TV recently made a deal with the London based Shine group for international distribution and "air time" for its online shows like Roommates and more notably Quarter-Life, which made it to prime time on NBC during the writer's strike this winter. Myspace was also making headlines in recent week inking deals with Universal Music Group, SongBMG, and Warner Music Group to sell DRM-Free mp3's of their artists on the website.

Myspace records on the the other hand seems to be the weak link (I use weak very loosely) in this power circuit. I remember their first compilation being a poor first effort at best. And their phenom Tila Tequila'a Myspace Records Debut didn't fair as well as someone with 3,018,099 friends and a marketing team as adept as Myspace's. That's why I was intrigued by message I got from Myspace records about getting the new Pennywise album, Reason To Believe, for free.

Now I'm not claiming to be the biggest Pennywise fan. I don't think I even own an entire album by the band. Reason to Believe isn't the best I've heard from them, but it's still a solid effort from the California punk troop. It reminds me of the pre/post Gurewitz Bad Religion of the early mid 90's without the harmonies and a more obvious attempt at broad social commentary. If I was going to give it some sort of rating, I'd have to say 3 out of 5 stars (or what ever grading system you want to use). It won't find its way onto any of my best of lists but I don't think I'd skip over the album/songs if they came up randomly in myiTunes . The more interesting part of all this is that more than 600,000 people registered to download the album. An impressive number for a band ofPennywise's size. Now if they could just turn those downloads into actual sales...

Pennywise will be on tour from May until this summer and then you can catch them on stage for Warped tour.


(tour dates via their myspace)

Apr 19 2008 6:00P	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach	Long Beach, California
May 6 2008 7:00P	The Great Salt Air	Salt Lake City, Utah
May 7 2008 7:00P	Fillmore Auditorium	Denver, Colorado
May 9 2008 8:00P	Granada Theatre	Dallas, Texas
May 10 2008 8:00P	Warehouse Live	Houston, Texas
May 11 2008 7:30P	Emo’s Alternative Lounge	Austin, Texas
May 13 2008 7:00P	Sunshine Theatre	Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 18 2008 2:00P	KJEE @ Santa Barbara County Bowl	Santa Barbara, California
May 22 2008 6:30P	The Masquerade	Atlanta, Georgia
May 23 2008 7:30P	Jannus Landing	Saint Petersburg, Florida
May 24 2008 7:30P	House of Blues	Lake Buena Vista, Florida
May 25 2008 7:30P	Mojo Room	Port Saint Lucie, Florida
May 26 2008 6:00P	Plush	Jacksonville, Florida
May 28 2008 6:00P	House of Blues	N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
May 29 2008 6:00P	The National	Richmond, Virginia
May 30 2008 8:00P	Fillmore @ TLA	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 31 2008 8:00P	Fillmore @ Irving Plaza	New York, New York
Jun 1 2008 8:00P	WBCN "River Rave" @ Tweeter Center	Mansfield, Massachusetts
Jun 6 2008 8:00P	KWOD @ Pavillion at The A.R.C	Davis, California
Jun 7 2008 8:00P	Live 105 BFD @ Shoreline	Mountain View,

Myspace is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the 21st century. Its only a matter of time before everyone in the world has a mandatory Myspace page.



Amendment:

I just saw this on The Daily Swarm

Wired: MySpace Music Won't Give Equity to Indie Bands

Wired Listening Post | Read Full Story >

In an interview with Wired.com, MySpace Co-founder and CEO Chris DeWolfe (pictured right) said that while MySpace is open to offering an equity deal similar to what the majors got to “the right partners,” indie bands who are unaffiliated with an agreggator like The Orchard or a major label like Universal will not receive any the general revenue generated by MySpace Music.

They will, of course, receive a healthy share of their own song and merchandise sales, but none of the money generated by advertisements on their profile pages. That money will go to MySpace owner News Corp., the major labels and any indie music aggregators that manage to sign equity deals with MySpace…

This is ridiculous. I don't know how they can justify cutting off revnue to indie bands when its their fans clicking on the advertisments. I realise its a shank or be shanked world, but really? Come on Myspace, you can do a little better than that.

"Inside Straight Edge"

TGIF. I've been sick this week so I'm slow moving, but still an improvement over the past few months.



Yuppie Punk and Punk News ran a news piece on this new National Geographic TV documentary on the Straight Edge lifestyle. Focusing mainly on Boston Straight Edge group "Friends Stand United", or as they are more ominously known "Fuck Shit Up". I don't have cable and have yet to watch anything further then the clip that NG had up, but I'm already familiar with the story. I have straight edge friends and some friends that belong to FSU. I also have friends who are openly gay, and African American. I also had friends that were in skin-head gangs...The point I'm trying to state is even if I don't agree with some of your beliefs I don't judge one person on their click (unless forced to choice my ideals over theirs).

Its too bad my roommates and I are to poor to get cable. I would be very interested to watch the documentary. I guess I'll have to wait until it becomes available to buy or download or stream.

Yuppie Punk has a great link to answer all of your sXe questions


And a clip:

Fresh Out, Philadelphia Slick

The beginning of every year is always the same, slow moving. The resolutions you made aren't coming to fruition as fast as you'd hope. Work is just getting back up to speed after the holidays, and the music industry is no different. Releases drop off and we're all stuck waiting for the next round of releases to come out. This year was no different, but lucky for me a small 10-piece band from the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia Slick, was just what I needed to kick myself out of the funk that I was in.

I first heard about Philadelphia Slick in a small piece in the current issue of Under the Radar which sparked my interest. A quick search lead me to a myspace and a website with streaming music and a few downloads to wet my whistle. But that wasn't good enough...on my next visit to Philly I quickly searched out 'Culture Industry', their 2007 debut release and made it a point to listen to it until I got sick of it but that hasn't happened.


Philadelphia Slick is reminiscent at first of another Philadelphia band, The Roots, but the "live hip-hop act" is where all my comparisons of the two bands stop. Principal composer and keyboardist, Zach Reilly, brings an old school pop sensibility and then weaves in a classic soul sound with touches of funk and 60's RnB to make retro sound fresh and new. While emcees Noesis and Mike Tjader share duties on the mic, voicing their opinions on the current political climate one second and dropping pop culture references the look next. What really sold me on Philadelphia Slick was the incorporation of live horns and a string section. The live instrumentation adds definition and a familiarity to the music that dates back to before I was born.


Check out Philadelphia Slick performing on DigPhilly, then go to philadelphiaslick.com and grab a copy of 2007's Culture Industry why you still can.

Radiohead remixes and live recordings

I know its been a while folks, but I sometimes get distracted by loud noises and bright lights. But I'm back, focused (for the time being) and ready to start updating this page more frequently.


I decided to start off with a new twist on an old favorite. Radiohead, whose new album In Rainbows has been the talk of the town of late, is preparing to go on tour in support of said album. But thats not all there is to mention today.


I couldn't talk about Radiohead today without mentioning their remix project where they're asking 'fans' to remix their single Nude. As of right now Holy Fuck's remix is my favorite but there maybe another one I haven't discovered yet that I may love equally. And on the topics of remixes and Radiohead...for anyone not aware yet...Bay area producer/dj/mc act Amplive put out a few remixes of songs from In Rainbows songs a couple months ago.


And the last little piece of fun for today...Radiohead was on Radio 2 yesterday for 2 live performances to kick off their tour. Recording of the show is apparently available in th UK only, but I stumble across a fantastic UK blog To Die By Your Side who posted the entire evening set for download. So go grab it, the quality is excellent and its an amazing mix of new songs and a few classics. Enjoy!