I just got an email from Chippy B with a link to some guitar heroics that you’ve got to see for yourself. Here’s Chippy’s email:
I thought it was pretty cool this morning when I found this here blog was getting referrals from the U.K.’s Guardian popular music blog, who are linking to my post from way back in November regarding Sparks’ upcoming 21 albums in 21 nights tour. I guess I’m a legitimate news source now. HA!
The link to NewmRadio is in the text ’20 studio albums over 20 nights‘ right under Ron Mael’s picture. Check it out here…
Whilst I was there I read a fun piece about genre-naming and Vampire Weekend, the band who once opened for our buddies, Frances, and who are blowing up, full-stop. Have you guys heard them yet? What do you think? Read about them here… and the review is here…
Btw, anyone see any good shows lately?
So what’s been going on? Round 8 of RT is really draggin’ on, innit? I’ve been turned on to another great band, the Streetwalkers, which features a couple ‘chaps’ from the band Family, who actually I’ll be exposing to the Nights With Alice Cooper radio audience in the next few weeks. Some other cool shit I’ve heard lately…speaking of street walkers (zing!), Amy Winehouse doing Toots and the Maytals’ ‘Monkey Man’ (magnificent!), and Cat Power covering Dylan’s ‘I Believe in You’ is hot!
Let’s see…I think I have some other shit to show you. Here it is…
I love the last sentence of this Amazon description of an upcoming (very good and catchy) album, because haven’t I been saying this for a while now?:
Product Description
This NY four-piece draw on their diverse backgrounds and interests, experimenting with African guitar music, the Western classical canon, hazy memories of Cape Cod summers, winters in upper Manhattan, and reggaeton. “Equal parts shruggy New York indie strumming and groovy Afro-pop, Vampire Weekend’s organ-and-drum runs highlight narratives about relationships, punctuation, and sometimes both” – Spin. Named “Hot New Kids” in Rolling Stone’s “Hot” issue. Vinyl contains MP3 coupon.
You absolutely MUST see this video of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology over at the Star-Room!
Did you miss Jimmy Page’s Birthday?
Grab this rare Earth & Fire album (notice: no Wind) over at Chris Goes Rock.
Let NGOoTB turn you on to the amazing music of Henry Kaiser.
Check out new NYC local band Hospitality. They play Piano’s on Saturday 1/19 at 8:30 and Frances’ Paul Hogan at 9:30.
What do you think of these Best Bands You’ve Never Heard In Your Life?
Fight the Good Fight, ya’ll…for Triumph has just reunited! Not sure how excited I am, if at all. It’d be funny if they hit Bonnaroo though!
And how do you all like the new NewmRadio look?
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I found this on Ween’s website in their ‘Waste’ section and found it thoroughly entertaining…and insightful. And you get to see what Deaner’s wife and mom and dad look like. The recipe he shares for his Sunday Sauce looks awesome. I can almost taste the waste… (click on ‘Waste’ when you get there)…
Well, let’s start with something truly cool and original that I am just currently listening to for the first time and currently digging. These guys called We’re Late For Class make drug-induced stoner imprahv jahms and give them away for free on their blog. They just compiled this collection of their ‘best’ jams and you’ll definitely dig it if you’re into trippy, jammy stuff (i.e.- the first track is the Faust classic “It’s A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl”…and I say, what a great choice!) And how cool is that album art?!
Anyway, I bet you these guys never thought they’d be included in a same post with the likes of the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Thin Lizzy, and Conan O’ Brien! If you ask me, their shit is worthy. Go get it…and don’t feel guilty about it…
And MUSICNEWS brings you a deluxe Sgt. Pepper’s 6-CD bootleg of tasty outtakes and commentary…Get it!
Need more Classic-ness? Your wish is Recessed Filter‘s command…the Alternate Blood On the Tracks takes, known as the New York Sessions. Wow!
No, I’m not talking about the Zappa Family Trust. It’s the fan-type of Zappa Nazis which have, of late, taken notice of firstly, my old post featuring a couple YouTube vids that Gail squashed. Check it out at Kill Ugly Radio!
And one of our clan, Red David, has been quoted in Zappadom from a comment he left about my squashed YouTube post and his squashed Joe’s Garage production idea. Zappa fans can be pretty annoyingly judgmental, I guess since Frank is the same way. The difference is that the fans’ music isn’t as good! A Zappa fan with the moniker ‘Trendmonger’ considers Red David a lucky guy….
Btw, is Trendmonger really Warren Cuccurullo or does he just link to Warren’s site?
After all the Zep hullabaloo, we are all settling down a little today and wondering if we’ll be seeing Zep on tour in 2008. I hope so. Whilst we speculate, here’s some Zep-related and also some non Zep-related links that are sure to amaze and amuse you.
The Sun reviews Zep’s big comeback (good video there too), RS’s David Fricke‘s take on the show, and some vids that Hidden Track found…TSRTS, Whole Lotta Love, Stairway To Heaven, Kashmir
Hugh Hefner interviews Jerry Garcia and plays ‘Mountains of the Moon’ on Playboy After Dark 1969
Meg’s anxiety might end the White Stripes touring
Brian Wilson’s rap song from the late 80′s via WFMU’s blog. Thanks to Mo for this treat!
Hidden Track revisits Neil Young’s “Odd” Period with a great video from Trans tour
Happy Hannukah!
These amazing Zep pics just went up on RollingStone.com…
Wow. Look at what Sparks is up to! What a way to premiere a new album! Makes me wanna make my first trip to London… Click through below for full story….
Blender recently revealed their Top 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums and I’m curious what you think about the list. Of course, it looks a little strange to me but so did their Worst Lyricists list a couple months back which included some of my favorites like Donovan, Sting, and Jon Anderson. Of course their favorite lyricist is probably the guy from Maroon 5. Please let me stop seeing that man wherever I look.
So what I want you to do for homework is list either a) 5 things wrong with this list b) 5 things right about this list, c) YOUR top 5 Indie Rock albums, or d) 5 things. Click through to see mine and post yers…
Well…what a week! Matt McCarthy‘s 40th birthday was on Saturday, Led Zeppelin‘s music finally became available through online digital services such as iTunes, I did my first volunteer project for NY Cares (which was planting bulbs in Ft. Greene Park), my brother’s birthday is Thursday (11/15) and my sister’s is Sunday (11/18), Paul and Jamie returned home from their long stay in L.A., the Bengals won a game on Sunday, I learned about the band Exmagma, I’m going to see the amazing Gabrielle Stravelli sing on Saturday night, and Cymbeline on Sunday afternoon. This is one of the gifts that Matt got on his birthday….
Indie Rock may not be so hip and underground as it thought it was. Or does this make it even hipper? I don’t know how these things work anymore.
Seen the new NPR music site?
Or the great NPR sub-blog, Monitor Mix, written by ex-Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein?
More on the state of the music industry at The Week Daily.
Super-cool douche, Thom Yorke snubs Paul McCartney. More reason for me to dislike Radiohead. If a Beatle wants to work with you…DO IT! Jeez! Come on…you gotta agree here.
Whoa! Just saw this on Hidden Track. The self-tuning Gibson guitar introduced.
More Van Halen shows coming in 2008!
And for you Phish geeks, Hidden Track also commemorates the 10-year anniversary of Phish Destroying America. You can download some killer cow-funk shows there too. I’m listening to Dayton 12-07-97 now!
The great slur-off. Winehouse vs. Dylan.
What else is up, ya’ll?
I have a few good links to share with ya’s today, and it seems that a couple of them are related to music consumer ethics. This is an ongoing conversation these days what with the demise of record companies, the degradation of the actual product, and the popularity of file-sharing.
My take on the whole matter is that record companies have not embraced the notion of changing with the times, to keep themselves relevant in music. They are handling the situation in a way that seems perfectly in line with what has become ‘the NEW American Way‘. Not only have they made their artists their enemies, they’ve also brought their consumer into battle. And now they are on their way to extinction. At least the way we’ve always known them.
So here’s some links that should keep the conversation open… but first, Zappa Plays Zappa on Conan from October 30th…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uidV8ku3aM]
File Sharing Is Good For Music Biz?! Of course this study and story are Canadian.
And how American is it to report on things before all the facts are in? E Online posts a story about consumers shortchanging Radiohead on their new pay-as-you-see-fit model for In Rainbows. Oh my, some people downloaded it for FREE!? Well, I say what about the percentage of people that wanted to download the album for the time-being while they waited for the actual CD hard-copy to be released? Should they pay twice or have to wait for the physical CD to hear the music? Or the cats that are buying the $80 mega-box that Radiohead will release in the next few weeks? No, they probably downloaded it for free till they can get their hands on their physical product. Ohhhhhhhhhh!
This is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard of! A new drug. Whatever happened to the pot?
A Blind Faith reunion? Next Clapton is gonna get back together with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends.
Download of the week… Todd Rundgren’s The Nazz.
Yes, Dylan can pretty much do whatever he wants. Read after the jump to see…
That’s right! It was just announced last night that Jimmy Page has fractured a finger and Led Zeppelin must postpone their long-awaited reunion for another 3-4 weeks. That must suck for people who already bought their flights and made hotel reservations. Oh well…we’re still jealous! There has been more and more rumor chatter that this reunion will turn into a full-blown tour though.
This Rolling Stone picture is pretty hilarious (Page is looking good though otherwise)…
Rolling Stone also presents us with the Illustrated Guide to Indie Rock.
The Whites Think Too Much: Modern Indie Rock has been having to defend itself against some scrutiny lately, warranted or unwarranted, and of course Indie Rock has to fight back in the most intelligent and rational way (yawn). And Will Butler of Arcade Fire over-intellectualizes his band’s percentage of blackness. Indie Rock has always seem to just assume its own self-importance, and these days as it becomes a more popular form, due in part to dorky white bloggers in Brooklyn, like myself, it’s going to find itself naturally under more criticism. What I’m trying to say here is…could Indie Rockers please earn my respect and simply say “FUCK OFF!” when someone criticizes the music that they make? Your hearts look better INSIDE your sleeves (and tucked behind your protective rib cages).
Anyone got the new Leopard OS yet? Looks tasty.
Who knows Neil Young’s Time Fades Away live album? I have the record but I just found online that it has yet to be re-released on CD. The speculation is that Neil was going through rough times then, especially with the death of good friend and Crazy Horsian, Danny Whitten, and therefore would rather bury the album. That said, this is one of THE best live albums I’ve heard…and RockRula has the mp3s for you ripped from the vinyl. So go get ‘em!
Cool new Comfy in Nautica video from Panda Bear.
The new Case for Collins examines the possibly under-appreciated Bob Weir.
A Halloween audio treat from me, Alice, and Frank.
What else is up in the world of music? Tell me one thing…or else, EELS!
Hola senores y senoras, I have some cool Halloween weekend music news and stuff for you before you get all dressed up like Paula Abdul and go Halloween partying. Btw, bats are fuckin’ scary…
New Pink Floyd mega-box coming out with all of their studio albums with original artwork and everything, but much smaller to fit a CD box. Have I mentioned that CDs suck?! They should be releasing this on vinyl and then just include the digital tracks on a data disc inside.
CBGB’s now an upscale designer store. Same thing, I guess.
‘Member Creem Magazine? Well, they’re steadily working their way back as an online presence and hopefully the magazine will also be back soon, for all us rockers out there. Meanwhile, you totally should enter this contest on their site to win their new massive book full of rock pictures and stories, Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine. I’ve seen it and it is awesome. Enter the contest here.
Badass download of the week…Dr. John’s Babylon at The Heat Warps.
Have you seen the limited-edition White Stripes lomography cameras? Cool?
Duh. Enter to win Zep concert tickets through an iTunes contest. It would suck to win that! (What I mean really, is that it wouldn’t suck at all…it would be good).
Check out Quinn Walker mp3‘s over here on this Voodoo-Eros press release page. Very cool new music!
I gotta go, yo…but what’s going on with yous?
I’m busy wasting time on my new addiction, Facebook, so let’s get straight to the business. I didn’t expect Facebook to be much more than another version of Myspace, but I’ve learned that it is quite different and now I can’t wait to see if someone attacked my vampire or received my song dedication…original “Baker Street”, not Foo Fighters!
Rock Trivia board game’s original creator seeking some help to update the game.
New Cat Power Jukebox album set for January. Cool covers and a cool cover.
Bob Weir celebrated his 60th birthday last week, but more importantly, if you haven’t seen this footage of his famous rock-star deep knee bend…watch it now! Classic Bobby.
And for some more uncomfortable music video action, here’s the very young and very sweetly-voiced Vashti Bunyan singing the Jagger/Richards-penned “Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind”. God love her.
Chime in with your list of bands you just don’t understand.
The state of Indie Rock according to a piece Sasha Frere-Jones wrote for the New Yorker. And Carl Wilson’s defense on Slate. The truth seems to me to be somewhere in between. Thoughts?
Download of the week…The Kink Kontroversy on Chris Goes Rock! Dig it.
Not a whole lot shakin’ in these parts, although the Fam and I did some pumpkin-pickin’ upstate for the benefit of young Kaydence (my niece, seen below). Good times! Other than that, just going to work, trying to be a good citizen and ignoring the voices in my head what tell me to do wrong. Here’s some cool shit though, which shouldn’t be harmful to anyone…
First of all, you definitely need to listen to Ween’s new album stream at their Myspace page. The new album La Cucaracha, drops next Tuesday…and sounds deliciously brown! Be sure to listen to the last song…’Your Party’ with smooth-ass David Sanborn on sax.
And for more brown-ocity, Ween has posted a free download of the Mollusk sessions on their website. It has songs that didn’t make it to the album too. Go get it! When you get there, navigate to the ‘Waste’ page.
And in non-Ween related music news, the Arcade Fire came onstage with Springsteen a couple nights ago and played ‘Keep the Car Running‘ and ‘State Trooper‘ with the Boss. Gosh, Springsteen is actually hip these days!
Led Zeppelin’s music will soon be very downloadable. Finally!
Hidden Track celebrates Bob Weir’s 60th birthday (see, not everyone hates Bobby) and also their one-year anniversary with Glide Magazine. Cheers, Hidden Track!
Kick-ass download of the week…Funkadelic’s Cosmic Slop over at Lost-In-Tyme.
And one more Ween thing. Check out Deaner’s new blog.
What’s up with ya’ll?
All right, as someone who never really caught on to the whole Radiohead phenomenon, one thing I can safely deduce is that they certainly can’t possibly live up to all the super-hype that constantly surrounds them and that they also must be a magically fantastic band which I’ll probably listen to a lot somewhere down the road. I must say that this new “choose your own price” technique for selling the new album, In Rainbows, is revolutionary. It makes me wonder what it means for smaller bands though. I think that people are generally okay with paying $10 for an album, but start feeling like they’re being ripped by a record company when it costs more. And it seems like it may be the case that when we buy a CD, we get an inferior product then we got when we bought records, and we pay much more. I know, some of that’s inflation, but some of it is bullshit too. Have you been to a used music store lately and seen how unsexy used CDs are? And how super-hot records STILL are? Anyway, I think we’re gonna see the return of the good old record album here in the very near future. Shit, buy the record and receive a code to download the digital files. Sound good?
Animal Collective on Conan. Awesome.
Black Lips on Conan. Also awesome.
Check out the great packaging for Rhino’s new Heavy Metal Box Set. Be sure to watch the related video. Sweet!
David Byrne’s cross-country adventure is a fun read.
Funniest headline I saw this week.
Stevie Wonder plays MSG on November 17th!
Cool-ass download of the week…Darker Than Blue soul-reggae compilation at Acorde Final.
Pictures from where I was last weekend.
What’s going on with you suckas?! Let us know below…
Me, Franny and Gabbi are headed to Boston this weekend for a hippie-style wedding at a venue called “Earthdance”. I guess I can leave my facial hair alone and leave my deodorant at home (especially since homeland security prohibits us from bringing grooming products in rental cars). I will also bring a bevy of live Grateful Dead jams on my iPod. I have been known to embrace hippyism, so it should be far out. So here’s a few things for you to check out over the weekend….
Perfect fodder for hippie wedding weekend, check out thursdayborn’s Awesome Tapes from Africa. There’s tons of killer authentic African jams there!
Pitchfork tells us how the Animal Collective are corrupting our children!
The new epic Neil Young song is B.A. Baracas. Listen to it now at the awesome Recessed Filter blog.
Never Get Out of the Boat serves up some killer early Dead, brah…. and that chronological George Harrison’s Beatles compilation from a few days ago. Willard’s the man!
Latest Indie Rock band with an animal name….Bald Eagle. There’s also We Are Wolves (since there weren’t enough ‘wolf’ band names).
The RIAA starts making folks pay for their god-awful crimes.
Van Halen really ‘hit the ground running’ with this tour…no Police-style warm-up for these boys! These recordings make the case. Thanks to Hidden Track.
And read on for proof that the Flaming Lips actually played on Beverly Hills 90210…
New York’s bestest street fair which caps off the summer, Brooklyn’s Atlantic Antic, took place on Sunday and was once again a tremendous success and ferocious blast. Year after year, Magnetic Field does the best job of putting some awesome music on the street out in front of their bar. This year I missed everything except Mary Weiss (of Shagri-La’s fame), who I was intent on seeing…and she did not let the crowd down.
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And here’s a clip of Mary doing the Shangri-Las hit “Remember (Walking in the Sand)”…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNQ1FWyWEAE]
Awesome!
As usual, there was a bevy of delicious food, drinks, and people at the Antic…enough to make my head spin. I drank several craft beers, ate soul food for lunch and a free meatstick for snack (as they were giving them away when the booths were shutting down), and scored some BA records that you’re already familiar with. And I got to hang with cool people all day, even later when our party spilled into Pacifico and later, The Boat…
Click through the jump for some more pics from the day…
Well, the first show of the long-anticipated Van Halen reunion tour started last night in Charlotte, NC and God said “It was good”! The reports on Wolfgang have been positive too, although it would be that much cooler with Mikey in the reunion. The setlist looks amazing and the boys are in top form. Maybe I’ll end up getting a chance to see ‘em when they add some more NY/NJ dates. The MSG and Nassau Coliseum shows sold out immediately. Get all the info below… (picture and video from their last ‘invited rehearsal’, not the Charlotte show)…
* Picture brought to you by the good folks over at www.2dorks.com
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGapAkq89-I]
Looks good to me. Check out Hidden Track’s VH tour inauguration coverage. There’s a setlist over there, so be warned, Senor Surprise. And be sure to check out Rolling Stone’s story and awesome pictures.
All right, enough about Van Halen already! How about the ATLANTIC ANTIC festival this Sunday on Atlantic Ave. in my ‘hood. The best of all the street fairs in NY. Eating, drinking, and must-see music down by Hicks outside Magnetic Field! You really should see Mary Weiss and the Black Hollies (and I’m sure the others are great too… Lee knows how to pick ‘em)! Check it…
That’s all for now. See you at the Antic.
