The Static Boom

The Beatles Explain Why Music Matters

2011-08-19T08:51:00.003-05:00

Well, really it's the Why Music Matters organization USING The Beatles to explain why music matters, and they did a really good job. The organization, which focuses on anti-piracy, made this almost 2-minute long segment filled with great music, fun artwork, and a good message. Check it out below.

Another Playlist for You

2011-05-05T12:47:00.002-05:00

Because I love you, and music.

A Playlist for You

2011-05-02T12:18:00.005-05:00

Some awesome music for you to check out. Enjoy!

Stream the New Of Montreal EP!

2011-04-28T10:33:00.004-05:00

I LOVE Of Montreal, and they have a new EP out thecontrollersphere, which is comprised of songs written for False Priest that didn't make the cut. The musical direction varies completely between the albums, with thecontrollersphere much darker and heavier. The stream is available on Rolling Stone, so click HERE to check it out.

Show Preview: Adam Arcuragi 4/29 at Schubas

2011-04-26T21:24:00.012-05:00

While I did attend SXSW for the first time this year, I spent most of it with Chicago's amazing Verona Red, and therefore only had time to "discover" a few new wonderful bands. Adam Arcuragi was one of them.

To be honest, I only caught Adam Arcuragi and The Lupine Chorale Society because I got to Arms early, and the showcase was running behind. Thank goodness for that coincidence of events, because I stumbled across an amazing show. Without sounding like either, his music definitely had elements of Edward Sharpe and Delta Spirit - two of my favorites. Lucky for all us Chicagoans, they'll be playing this Friday at Schubas, opening for Cameron McGill and What Army. The show starts at 10, so if this post does its job and informs/convinces you of the fabulous music Adam will be providing, be sure to get there early and check them out!

Adam Arcuragi's set created such a fluster of wonderful feelings within me that I contacted him shortly after SXSW to see if he'd agree to do an interview with me. He did, and it's included below, along with some music. Give the tracks a listen and the conversation a read through, and hopefully I'll see you on Friday.
Bottom of the River
Lunch in Field Four

TSB: How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard it?

It is a mix of southern traditional gospel, soul, and golden-era country music with a little rock and roll thrown in; you know, for the kids.

TSB: Can you give us a quick recap of what you've been up to lately?

Well, we finished the latest record and are currently talking with labels and trying to find a nice home for it. I'm really proud of this record in particular because it was done live in the studio with a great bunch of people in Lexington Kentucky.

So whilst that is going on we've been fortunate enough to have the opportunities to travel and play. SXSW was great, and this tour with Cameron McGill is the latest of good fortune for us.

TSB: I first discovered you when I went to see Arms at SXSW, on the recommendation of some friends, and got there early enough to catch your set. From the beginning of the show to the end, you transformed me from a person completely oblivious to the music of Adam Arcuragi to a fan. I was drawn to your sound, impressed by the energy and romanced by the passion from everyone on stage. What truly topped off my experience was you and your band's response to some technical difficulties while performing your encore. Will you explain to the readers the situation you found yourself in, and how you guys handled it?

First of all let me say 'aw shucks'. That is a very flattering description. They are a good looking bunch and talented to boot; so I'm right there with you in terms of being easily romanced by the band.

When we played that day, there was a circuit breaker in the restaurant that popped. Or was it a short in the board? I forget the technical thing, but we lost power to half the stage. I unplugged my guitar and walked to the edge of the stage, on top of the speakers, and we got in a half-moon and finished the song with stomps, claps, tambourine and singing.

It worked though and that is really my favorite way to hear the band. They all have such a sweet mix of vocal timbres with a lot of really good power in their chests. Two of my favorite recordings are of a vocal ensemble being accompanied by one guitar. "There Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down" by Brother Claude Ely and "Death in the Morning" by Rev. Anderson Johnson are just about as delightful a pair of recordings are I've ever heard. Nothing quite like them. There is so much gentle, evocative power in the human voice so that's what I secretly always want to do. I'm lucky enough to have a band that is so talented that they can be thrown a curveball like that and roll with it so well.

TSB: What’s the proudest moment of your musical career thus far?

There was a show we played in Texas that was sublime. The venue was overflowing with people, the band was totally dialed in with each other and the songs, some of our dearest friends were in the audience and we just had a blast playing. Every time I turned around everyone in the band was smiling; and not like 'stage smiles' for to be all show business and razzle-dazzle but they seemed really filled with the spirit. The set was the perfect length. I did a good job of talking between the songs (which normally I am not apt to do). Then the crowd asked for one more song and the festival folks let us do one. I mean, if I am just a brain in a vat being fed simulations they must have fed the good stuff into the computer that day.

TSB: Is there any instrument you don't play, but wish you did?

I would love to be able to play the piano again. When I was in elementary school I took piano lessons for a few years and I just wish I could play. I know the keyboard now as just a map or periodic table of music now for practical purposes. But I would just love to be able to get down and learn to play some Sergei Rachmaninoff and Ray Charles numbers.

I'd also love to be able to play the Glass Armonica. I'm a huge Franklin fan and was lucky enough to hear one played live when I was twelve years old. That sound stuck in my brain as sheer joy. It wouldn't so much be an issue of learning to play so far as you'd simply have to get the feel of how much pressure to apply to the spinning glass bowls. The real hard part is getting one. It is one of those do it yourself jobbers and, from what I'm told by glass blowers, to tune a glass piece and get the silica molecules to arrange evenly is somewhat difficult.

TSB: What is your favorite thing about being a musician?

The playing music part. Goodness that answer looks silly written down. But it is true. For me, sitting and making music with other people is very satisfying. Much like building something out of wood, there is a natural and ancient thing built in that just elicits a manifest thing in your body that is worth chasing.

TSB: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

I love carpentry. I'd be a carpenter in a heart beat. I also love books and talking a lot so I would also enjoy being a college professor. A history class about the systematic replacement and erasure from the historical record of the pre-Hellenic egalitarian matriarchies around the Mediterranean. Oh or a class called "The Real Cain and Abel: Historical Analysis of the displacement and extinction of the Neanderthal as caused by the encroachment of early modern humans".

What would be most fun though, in my mind, would be to live out my days as a pilot taking people on wilderness adventure packages in my pontoon plane. Oh, to be able to take rich folks out in to the untamed wilderness for hiking and camping and survival training. Oh my beard would be so bang'n.

TSB: Who is on your playlist today?

Today or on any typical day:

-"Feeling Good" Nina Simone

-"Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down" Brother Claude Ely

-"Run Chicken Run" The Felice Brothers

-"Maybellene" Chuck Berry

-"Evil Will Prevail" The Flaming Lips

-"Death in the Morning" Rev Anderson Johnson

-"Star Witness" Neko Case

-"That Teenage Feeling" Neko Case

-"John Saw the Number" Neko Case

-"Grand Canyon" The Magnetic Fields

-"All the Umbrellas in London" The Magnetic Fields

-"Center of Gravity" Yo La Tengo

-"This Is The One" The Stone Roses

-"Farewell Transmission" Songs: Ohia

TSB: How does the music you listen to today differ from what you grew up with?

I guess just exposure to new stuff is the only real difference. I still feel the same about music I think I've just grown in my appreciation for it and all the many, many pieces of music that have been composed over time. I mean when I go through there are albums I don't listen to as much anymore but then again I didn't think my Milli Vanilli phase was going to be a life-long one at the time anyway.

TSB: Have you discovered any independent artists lately, while on tour or from a recommendation, whose music you'd like to help spread?

-Vandaveer: killer songwriting and the kind of duet singing that made Conway and Loretta so precious.

-Jack Carter and The Subterranean Bums (youtube search Subterranean Bums 'Fare Thee Well'). If this guy doesn't knock you on your butt then I can't help you.

-Cameron McGill and What Army. My new favorite awesomeness.

-Fabian Simon. Fabian is one of my favorite lyricists, and he isn't a native speaker.

-Bats In The Belfry. Get on it. Nick Drake doesn't have to get famous after he's gone this time.

-Spirit Family Reunion. Can't get enough of the power. Their live show is phenomenal.

TSB: You're music has graced many things I love, including Paste Magazine, NPR, SXSW, and more. In a note directed towards smaller musicians working hard to get heard, can you provide any advice? Has any one medium, concept or opportunity made a greater impact on your career than the others?

I'm not one to give advice like that. I don't think there are any good or direct answers to make sense of what's going on. The democratizing effects of things like the internet are balanced on the other side by the fallout from some of the crazier things that happened in music at the end of the twentieth century. It's a little like the wild west right now.

Be nice to everyone. Music is a glorious gift that is just for us here on Earth. Sound in any other capacity, for as far as we know, would be manifestly different anywhere else in the universe. It is fun and makes people happy. But sometimes folks get a little to serious about themselves and music (myself included) but the best thing that everyone can do is be nice to everyone.

That's right kids, we're all in this together.

TSB: If you could work with one person in the music industry, who would it be and why?

You're making me pick one? Land sakes. I'm torn, because each project would be different depending on who was working on it...gosh...

I'd love to have an album produced by Brian Eno and/or Stephen Merrit.

I'd die to do a quartet with Neko Case, Gillian Welch and Stuart Murdock.

I am also really into being a producer/svengali for Jack Carter's record if he'll let me work with him.

TSB: What are some of your favorite cities/venues to play? Are there any places you haven’t played yet that you’d love to play?

-Hot Springs Arkansas, Maxine's:

The city is amazingly gorgeous, the water is the best water for miles around and the two folks that own and run Maxine's just do it right. I love playing there and I enjoy listening to music there. The room is a really wonderful sounding room

-Bryan Texas, Stafford Main Street:

Charmingly haunted Bryan offers a rich tradition of ghosts and this awesome venue which used to be a burlesque house.

-A community center in Muenster Germany:

I can't recall the name, but it was so magical and the space itself was near-perfect.

-The Brillo Box, Pittsburg PA:

Just so swell. A magnificent layout in a killer building and the owners and staff are just fantastic.

TSB: What are your plans for your music in the next year?

We're traveling a whole bunch and playing a lot. Wherever the record lands will really shape the coming year in terms of specifics. We have been blessed with the van, so we're going to be having a good time playing and meeting the good folks of the world.

Stream The Asteroid Galaxy Tour's New EP

2011-04-26T21:19:00.005-05:00

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour have a new EP out, The Golden Age EP, and you can check it out in its entirety below. Fun stuff, fo sho!

The Golden Age EP 2011 by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

Show Preview: Gobble Gobble TONIGHT

2011-04-26T21:03:00.005-05:00

If you're a fan of Passion Pit, Justice, Animal Collective, or any other good music that makes you dance, you may very well love Gobble Gobble. A friend recommended them to me, and once I got my hands on their music they've been a constant presence in my headphones. They're playing tonight at Schubas, and I'm VERY excited to see them. I plan on dancing enough to burn all the Easter-candy calories I've been consuming. If you're free and looking for a good time, I recommend checking them out.

End of Days
Lawn Knives
Becoming Legion

Show Review: Village at Schubas

2011-04-26T20:31:00.004-05:00

On April 14 I headed to Schubas to check out Chicago's Village. In March I caught their set at The Whistler by happenstance, and I really enjoyed it. A friend described them as almost a more rock and roll Girls, which not only fits their sound really well, but also equates to audible deliciousness in my world. After seeing them in March, I got my hands on their album and it's been in regular rotation since. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to see them at Schubas.

Their set made me feel good all over. Like a lot of bands I love, their album is pretty solid, and I enjoy it, but their live show brings forth an extra level of awesomeness. Village combine enough beat to dance to with enough guitar to rock out to, creating an overall wonderful live show experience. Below are a few pics from the show, as well as a few tracks off their album Local Moves.

Love on a Whim
The Days are Gifts
Close in an Instant

Song I Recommend

2011-04-26T20:20:00.003-05:00

I don't recall where I first heard of Locksley, or who I should accredit for sending them my way, but I thank you random blogger. These NY rockers, by way of Wisconsin, describe their sound as "Doo-Wop Punk." I describe it as fun. I recommend checking out "The Whip" by clicking on the pic below, and while you're there stick around for "Oh, Wisconsin!"

Magical Little Music Machine

2011-04-26T20:16:00.004-05:00

Found this the other day and I think it's absolutely wonderful. It's a little gizmo that allows you to make music by clicking on the squares. I've spent far too much time playing with it, and even created noise that sounds like music! Click the pic below to check it out and make some tunes of your own. Enjoy!

Lyric Love: Royal Bangs' "Maniverse"

2011-04-12T23:56:00.006-05:00

If you love something, you should fight for it.
If it fights you back, you should conquer it.
If it conquers you, you might not come back,
but at least you tried to get your love back.
-Royal Bangs, "Maniverse"

Check out the song here: Maniverse

They're playing Chicago's Empty Bottle this Saturday, April 16.

Lyric Love

2011-04-10T19:59:00.008-05:00

As always, I've been listening to a lot of music throughout my day. Since I pretty much always have my headphones in, often the music becomes a background soundtrack to my day, as I'm usually focused on something else. I love good lyrics, and I find it especially impressive when a lyric is so well-written that my subconscious catches my attention to point it out. It's happened a few times over the last week, where I'm working on something and my brain says, "hey, you, what they just said was pretty awesome," and I rewind a bit to check it out. I thought I'd share these catches with you, with the hopes of spreading good music your way. Not declaring these to be THE BEST lyrics ever, but I enjoy them. :)

I just recently got these two albums, so they've been on rotation pretty frequently this week.

Adam Arcuragi

"If it's true that hell has better music, then can the devil really be all that bad?" and "My poor human heart works so well sometimes I wish it'd never worked at all." -We Steal People's Medicine

Middle Brother

"I know my days are numbered, but I'm bad at math. I got a dick so hard that a cat couldn't scratch" -Middle Brother

"Am I killing time, or is it killing me?" -Blood and Guts

I Find this to be Incredibly Hilarious

2011-04-10T19:51:00.004-05:00

Definitely one of the funniest videos I've seen in a while. The title of the video pretty much sums it up "Drunkest Guy Ever Goes for More Beer - Jamiroquai Mash Up." This video not only made me laugh, out loud, several times, but it also made me want to get really drunk. Maybe not THIS drunk, but drunk nonetheless. Enjoy!

Props to Tom for sending this my way.

The Real Life Sounds of Mario Bros

2011-03-24T17:22:00.003-05:00

I saw this today and thought it was kind of funny. Someone threw real life sound effects over Mario Bros. While it is pretty entertaining, and I might be tempted to play a level or two with this soundtrack, the original effects still hold favor in my heart.

Charlie Sheen = Rockstar Vatican Assassin = My Hero

2011-03-11T00:26:00.004-06:00

A lot of people are worried about Charlie Sheen. Don't get me wrong, I don't want him to die or anything, but I also don't want this golden-era of Sheen to ever end. Have you seen his Funny or Die video yet? If not, check it out below.

Charlie Sheen's Winning Recipes from Charlie Sheen

Also, a FANTABULOUSLY wonderful Sheen-ism resource was created by the DC radio station DC101. It's a sound board of all sorts of gems Charlie's recently spewed. Check it out HERE. I just can't love this guy enough. :)

Thom Getting Down to "Single Ladies"

2011-02-19T12:01:00.000-06:00

Awesome.

Thank You Radiohead, Sorry Friends

2011-02-19T00:10:00.002-06:00

Thank you Radiohead, for the new music and this sweet new catalog of dance moves. Sorry in advance, dear friends, for all the times I'll bust these out in public. It will surely happen, and I'll likely be drunk enough to think I look cool. I hope you'll still be friends with me, and maybe even dance along.

If you haven't already seen Radiohead's new music video, for "Lotus Flower" off The King of Limbs, check it out below.

New Florence and the Machine LP Coming Soonish

2011-02-18T23:59:00.003-06:00

Word on the street is F+TM have finished writing their next album, and are looking to book Abbey Road in April/May. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited to hear what's next from them.

Here's what guitarist Rob Ackroyd said about the new album:

"Florence's and my taste in music often overlap in harmonious fashion;
we're both big fans of hip-hop and American indie. But she's also a big fan of
unadulterated pop music, which cuts through me like a knife."

New Video from Delta Spirit Makes Me More Sad I'm Not a Rock Star

2011-02-18T01:44:00.005-06:00

I LOVE me some Delta Spirit. Their latest album, History from Below, was one of my top albums from 2010, and will forever be a favorite of mine. I first saw them at Lollapalooza 2009 and I thought they put on a great show, and then I saw them last fall at Chicago's Metro and I KNOW they put on an AMAZING show. LOVE.

Their newest music video, for "Golden State" off HFB, is shot documentary-style of life on the road and playing shows. And as if I didn't want to be a rock star before this, this just made it worse. Rock stardom looks like so much fun. Since I have no musical talents, I'll have to settle for being an appreciator. Aw, shucks.

If you = rock star, me = jealous of you.

A Flashback to My Youth... Minus All the Dick Suckin'

2011-02-17T20:27:00.002-06:00

A tribute to all things wonderful from the 90s. And a whole lot of dick suckin'. Enjoy!

Haters Gonna Hate

2011-02-16T22:57:00.008-06:00

While I was rejoicing the fact that ARCADE FIRE WON best album of the year at Sunday's Grammy Awards, a crap load of angry people took to twitter and facebook. Angry that Arcade Fire, some nobody band that nobody cares about and nobody has heard of with a stupid name, WON. Well, some awesomely awesome person decided to create a tumblr blog called "Who is Arcade Fire?" that compiles all that online hate mail. It's pretty hilarious. I included a few samples below, but you can browse the site yourself HERE.

HAHAHAHAHA

An Open Letter to Lollapalooza

2011-02-15T23:29:00.003-06:00

Dear Lollapalooza,

Bonnaroo just announced their line-up for 2011, and they did SO many things right. I hope your organizers stumble upon this blog and take this plea to heart, and steal Bonnaroo's line-up! Ok, so maybe not the WHOLE thing, but if you would please extend an invitation to the following artists, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thankyouverymuch!

Arcade Fire
The Black Keys
Neil Young
Mumford & Sons
The Decemberists
Iron & Wine
Florence & the Machine
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
!!!

Song I Recommend

2011-02-14T18:52:00.003-06:00

If you haven't had a chance to check out Iron & Wine's new album, Kiss Each Other Clean, I highly recommend it. Definitely some really good stuff. You can hear most of the album HERE, and below is one of the tracks I love, called "Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me." Enjoy!

New Radiohead Album Available THIS Saturday

2011-02-14T17:18:00.005-06:00

Whaaa? Yeah, THIS Saturday. Actually, the album, entitled The King of Limbs, isn't officially released in America until March 29, but if you pre-order the album you can get your digital download on Saturday. No track information has been released yet (that I've seen) but you can pre-order the album HERE if you can't wait 'til March.

There are two versions of the album available. For $48 (mp3) or $53 (WAV) you will receive a complete "Newspaper Album" package, which includes:

Two clear 10" vinyl records in a purpose-built record sleeve.
A compact disc.
Many large sheets of artwork, 625 tiny pieces of artwork and a full-colour piece of oxo-degradeable plastic to hold it all together.
The Newspaper Album comes with a digital download that is compatible with all good digital media players.
The Newspaper Album will be shipped on Monday 9th May 2011 you can, however, enjoy the download on Saturday 19th February 2011.
Shipping is included.
One lucky owner of the digital version of The King of Limbs, purchased from this website, will receive a signed 2 track 12" vinyl.

Or, if you're broke or not IN LOVE with Radiohead, you can purchase the plain-Jane version for $9 (mp3) or $14 (WAV).

A Compilation of the Ever-So-Dramatic "Noooooooooooo!"

2011-02-11T09:13:00.003-06:00

Whether you're a general yes-man or a natural pessimist, I recommend wasting a good 11 minutes of your life checking out this sweet compilation of "Nooooooooooooooo!" I find this eerily familiar to my natural soundscape each morning as the alarm starts going off, minus the cameos from classic TV/movie moments. Me = not a morning person.

Enjoy!

R.I.P. Guitar Hero

2011-02-09T21:38:00.004-06:00

It seems like only yesterday I could list off dozens of friends and family members that seemed eternally strapped to a plastic guitar with five colored buttons. Guitar Hero was everywhere, and nearly everyone was playing it. I didn't own the game then, but that didn't stop me from mooching off my brother's when I was home, or even leaving bars with guys to go back to their place to play Guitar Hero (which is actually what I did, likely to their disappointment). And now, after economic troubles and an increasingly over-saturated music-themed video game market, Activision announced they're disbanding their Guitar Hero business unit and halting development on its game for 2011. In only a few years, this game went BOOM in a big way, and then died as most fads do.

Ah well, Beatles Rock Band > Guitar Hero anyway.

Three Lolla 2011 Headliners Announced

2011-02-08T17:56:00.005-06:00

Apparently The Tribune's Greg Kot announced three of this year's Lolla headliners. In order of excitement, they are Foo Fighters, Eminem, and MUSE!!!

MUSE! MUSE! MUSE!
YES! YES! YES!

And I'm pretty stoked to see Eminem too, I'm not gonna lie.

Also, "according to several industry sources," Best Coast, Girl Talk, Crystal Castles and Lykke Li are expected to be on the line-up. I'll check out Lykke Li and Girl Talk if I'm there, sure, but they're no incentive for me to buy a ticket. However, because MUSE is on the bill, Lollapalooza will have my money. SO excited.

Coachella vs. Brochella... Decisions, Decisions

2011-01-21T13:50:00.004-06:00

Coachella recently announced their 2011 line-up, and as usual, it set the blog world abuzz. I posted the line-up below, which you can also check out HERE. Some of the acts I'd love to see there include (in no particular order) !!!, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Moving Units, Black Keys, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, Cage the Elephant, Delta Spirit, Francis and the Lights, Here We Go Magic, Mumford & Sons, Chromeo, Delorean, Kanye, and Menomena. I SO hope acts like Cage the Elephant, Delta Spirit, Mumford & Sons and Menomena show up on Lolla's roster.

I also spotted in the blogosphere what seems to be Coachella's sister festival, or maybe brother festival, Brochella. Man oh man! Nickelback! Creed! High School Musical on Ice! DMB! Fergie! Dane Cook! Brooke Hogan! hahahaha Although, I wouldn't honestly mind seeing Clap Your Hands Say Yeah...

Hear Iron & Wine's New Album

2011-01-19T18:05:00.005-06:00

Iron & Wine's new album, Kiss Each Other Clean, is stream in its entirety on Conan O'Brien's website. I'm only mid-way through it, but I can say he's stayed true to I&W's sound, while adding more texture and energy throughout. Good stuff! Check it out HERE.

*Update: I think one of my favorite tracks off the album (on first listen) is the last one, "Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me." LOVE it.

Song I Recommend

2011-01-19T00:07:00.007-06:00

This song had me very literally from the first note. As a clarinet player, any song that starts with clarinet awesomeness gets my attention.

Doomtree, her label, claims her sound introduced "a unique sensibility to underground hip-hop: literary, bitter-sweet, and wry," and that across the her album, False Hopes, she alternates between "a clever, droll persona as an emcee and her earnest, unaffected delivery as a singer with a low, clear alto voice." That pretty much sums her up, and I'm definitely a fan.

Check it out below, and as always, click the pic to head to her MySpace.

Great Online Radio Resources

2011-01-18T23:22:00.017-06:00

So, I tend to listen to a lot of music. Much of it comes from friend recommendations, bloggers, album reviews and mix tapes, but a lot of it also comes from some great online radio stations. As an avid encourager of sharing good music, I thought I'd share some of my favorite resources with you. If you know of another great one, please send it my way!

Let's start local with CHIRP: The Chicago Independent Radio Project. According to their website, "CHIRP was formed to bring a truly independent music- and arts-focused community radio station to Chicago." And that's exactly what they do. They provide a great mix of small, local and national acts, all well within good taste. Definitely worth a listen.

The last 20 artists played at the time I'm writing this include The Greenhorns, Wavves, Wolf Parade, The Mary Onettes, New Young Pony Club, LCD Soundsystem, Branches, Matt & Kim, David Byrne & Fatboy Slim, Boy King Islands, Botany, Oh My God, The Crayon Fields, Gangrene, Destroyer, The Black Keys, Neko Case, Scott Walker with Rick Guest and Orchestra, Beach House and The National.

Another favorite is The Current, from Minnesota Public Radio. I absolutely love this station. According to their website, "The Current brings listeners the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it, from local to legendary, indie to influential, new to nostalgic." I highly encourage you to give this station a try.

The last 20 artists played at the time I'm writing this include The Black Keys, Jimi Hendrix, Cloud Cult, The Dears, The White Stripes, Wye Oak, My Morning Jacket, Grouplove, Ramones, Stars, The National, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Graham Parker, Lucinda Williams, Of Montreal, Deerhunter, Janelle Monae, Dessa, The Replacements and The Prodigy.

Future Perfect Radio is another great idea. This site has 35 different channels, and the channels are what's especially great about this station. While they have some "classic" stations to choose from, including New Music, Staff Picks, Best of the Decade, Indie 101 and Best of 2010, their more specific channels are where I usually head. These include festival specific channels, like Lollapalooza, SXSW, Coachella, Pitchfork and Austin City Limits, and also city specific stations like Chicago, NY, Austin, LA and Portland. I LOVE hearing what sounds are coming out in the different markets, and what acts were playing each festival. In addition to all these fabulous options, they also offer genres focused stations, including Femme Fatales, Lo-Fi, Indie Roots, and Post-Rock. Have I convinced you yet of the awesomeness of FPR?

Indie Shuffle is my only blog-based recommendation. Indie Shuffle offers reviews on a lot of great music, with a simple and consistent format of "Sounds Like" and "What's so Good?" And while the reading material is wonderful, what makes this a great music resource is that they include at least one song for each review, and have built a very simple and sleek music player that shuffles all the music on the blog. A GREAT way to hear new music.

The last 20 songs reviewed were by artists including The Magnetic Fields, The Radio Dept., Cake, Tennis, Stealing Sheep, Ducktails, Braids, Wild Nothing, When Saints Go Machine, The Plastics, Kodomo, Glasser, Alex Ebert, Million Young, M.I.A., Smith Westerns, Weezer, Voxtrot, Mr. Oizo and Gaspard Auge, and Midnight Juggernauts.

I know a lot of people use The Hype Machine and Last.fm, but I haven't ever really given them a go. Should I? I started out on Pandora, but once they started charging past 40 hours a week and when I started hearing the same song/artists pretty often, I began searching elsewhere. I'm glad I did, because I found the sites I just mentioned. I hope you check the above out, and enjoy the new music!

Song I Recommend

2011-01-18T11:27:00.005-06:00

"When My Time Comes" by Dawes

I saw this video on another blog forever ago, and I really enjoyed it, but I didn't LOVE it as much as that blogger predicted I would. Then, just yesterday I heard it on The Current, and I was like "what is this?!" Maybe the video distracted me from how wonderful this song is, I don't know. It's a good video, but maybe consider pushing play then shutting your eyes.

If you like the song, you can download it for FREE on RCRDLBL. If you're in Chicago, Dawes is playing The Metro on March 12 with Deer Tick and Middle Brother (MB is a supergroup of members from Dawes, Deer Tick and Delta Spirit).

A Super Bowl Pool to Help Musicians

2011-01-17T23:40:00.006-06:00

My kind of charity: gambling to help musicians! An awesome blog, We Listen For You, posted all these details, and I think it's great!

For $5, and blogger can enter the pool. After the final two teams are decided, each blogger will pick the score of the Super Bowl and the final score of each team. To win, the first step is you have to pick the winner. The second tie breaker is who is closest to the score. The final tie-breaker will be guessing the closest to the total amount of offensive yards.

Here's what's especially great though, each blogger has to submit which band they're "playing for" when they enter the pool, a la celebrity jeopardy and their selected charities. After the winner is determined, each blogger then sends $5 to selected band's paypal account. It's semi-based on the honor system; however, if you don't actually pay the $5 you'll be shamefully called out on We Listen For You as "a blogger who didn't pay, went back on the honor system, and who hates supporting music."

If you're a blogger and you'd like to submit, just e-mail: welistenforyoublog@gmail.com with the following in this order:

SUBJECT: The Ultimate Music Blogger Super Bowl Pool
NAME/ BLOG NAME/ URL
BAND/ARTIST you will be playing for with link to one of their pages
I agree to pay $5 to the winning band/artist

The deadline for entry is Jan 25th.

Buffy Returns to TV!!!

2011-01-17T21:42:00.003-06:00

Sarah Michelle Gellar will be returning to TV!

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

SMG will star in a new CBS drama, 'Ringer,' as a troubled young woman who hides out from the mob by inhabiting the life of her wealthy twin sister. The show is a creation of 'Supernatural' writer-producers Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder.

Oh happy day. :)

Free Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros Download

2011-01-10T11:06:00.003-06:00

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros rerecorded some tracks off Up from Below, and you can download the title track for free below. Thanks to XRT for spreading the music. Enjoy!

Favorite Albums of 2010

2011-01-06T03:06:00.023-06:00

I never listen to as many albums as I'd like, but I definitely found some favorites in 2010. Check them out below, and if any are new to you, I recommend giving them a listen.

Of Montreal's False Priest

Big fan of Of Montreal, and this album is no exception. I absolutely love it, and you can read my full review of the album HERE.

“Our Riotous Defects” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, have a listen below.
Delta Spirit's History from Below

LOTS of great songs on this album, which has been on heavy rotation since I first discovered its release in June. One of the many songs I love on this album is "White Table," which I included below.

LCD Soundsystem's This is Happening

Absolutely love this album. One of my favorite tracks is "Pow Pow," which I wrote my love for HERE. Check it out below.

Menomena's Mines

LOVE this album (LOVE = an obvious trend on my favorite albums of 2010 list). I posted my love for this album HERE, which includes several songs you can listen to. For your convenience, here's a favorite track off the album, "Five Little Rooms."

Maximum Balloon's Maximum Balloon

LOVE this album. Love. One of my favorite tracks on the album is "Apartment Wrestling," which I blogged my love for HERE. Check out the track below. Love.

Arcade Fire's The Suburbs

Definitely a great addition to my life soundtrack. Truly a solid album. Check out "Month of May" below and enjoy. :)

Foxy Shazam's Foxy Shazam

SUCH a fun album. These guys have attitude and sass like no other. Energetic rock and roll, fo sho. "Oh Lord" is just one of the many songs I rock out to.

The Constellations' Southern Gothic

Definitely a fun album. LOVE the song "We're Here to Save the Day" with Asher Roth, which I posted below. Check it out!

Gorillaz's Plastic Beach

Lots of good tracks on this album. Me = a fan. Check out one of my favorites, "Some Kind of Nature."

And in addition to these 2010 releases, there were a few albums that were released prior to 2010 that were on constant rotation this year.

Mumford & Son's Sigh No More (09)

I was definitely a fan of this album last year, but I completely fell IN LOVE with it this year. Absolutely a favorite. If for some reason you have yet to discover Mumford & Sons, do yourself a favor and check out "The Cave" below. Awesomeness.

!!!'s Louden Up Now (04)

Just got this album this year, and I LOVE it. Especially "Pardon My Freedom." Enjoy!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros' Up From Below (09)

Definitely late to this train, but super glad I finally caught up. Great album! LOVE "40 Day Dream." Love.

Who am I missing?

RIP Gerry Rafferty

2011-01-05T04:05:00.002-06:00

The man behind the voice of Steelers Wheel, Gerry Rafferty, died today. I've always loved "Stuck In The Middle With You," and if I ever get married, this is definitely a top contender for that special "first dance." Is that weird?

Josh Groban Sings Kanye's Tweets

2011-01-05T03:53:00.003-06:00

Hilarious. I wish he actually sang more of them. Check it out below, yo.

Words of Wisdom for 2011

2011-01-03T20:04:00.001-06:00

My God I Love The Mighty Boosh

2010-12-30T03:54:00.005-06:00

Reason #967
If you call me and I don't answer, it's probably 'cause I'm dancing to my sweet "Eels Up Inside Ya" ringtone.

50 Cent Ups His Awesome-Factor in My Book

2010-12-28T23:17:00.004-06:00

Props to you, 50 Cent, for being random in a funny and productive way. While in NY during the snow storms, 50 tweeted "I'm going out to shovel snow and see if I can make me a few extra dollars today. I'm charging more if they want to take pictures." And that's exactly what he did. Here's a pic of him working hard for his money.

He followed up that tweet with "I want a hundred dollars per house. I bet anybody ill make a grand moving snow today. Lol" Making money, working the abs, and garnering free publicity = genius.

Enjoy 50's "Patiently Waiting" below, featuring the wonderfulness that is Eminem.

Usher's Hilarious Inspiration

2010-12-28T23:07:00.005-06:00

I saw this on Verona Red's blog, and it's too hilarious to not share. Who knew Homer was so hip, or that Usher's well of inspiration includes Sunday night cartoons?

Wolf Parade Announces Indefinite Hiatus on Stage

2010-11-29T12:08:00.004-06:00

They released an album earlier this year, played P4K, and as far as I was aware, were on tour right now. But, according to some fans at their Toronto show last night, singer/keyboardist Spencer Krug stated “this is the last show we’ll play for a long time,” and singer/guitarist Dan Boeckner announced, “this is the last song we’re ever gonna play.” While we may not be hearing any more fabulous music from Wolf Parade, I suspect there may be more activity in some of their side projects, including Handsome Furs, Sunset Rubdown, and Frog Eyes.

Click their pic to visit their MySpace, and you can check out "What Did My Lover Say" below.

props to COS

New Music from Michael Jackson!

2010-11-08T10:04:00.005-06:00

Whether you agree or not that his previously unreleased music should now be released, I bet you want to hear it. ;) Well, now you can! A track called "Breaking News" is now streaming on his website, which you can hear HERE. The track is off "his" upcoming album, Michael, due out December 14. I love me some MJ, as evidenced by my sweet Halloween costume below. Happy Monday!

New Music from The Decemberists

2010-11-02T12:54:00.002-05:00

The Decemberists posted a new song called "Down by the Water" on their website, and you can download it below in exchange for your email address. I saw it confirmed on Pitchfork that their new album is called The King is Dead, and it's scheduled to be released on January 18, 2011. :)

Lyric Love: Maximum Balloon's "Apartment Wrestling"

2010-10-30T13:53:00.002-05:00

In a world so full of emotional garbage
It’s no wonder some folks go it alone
You can pile that shit from here to Alaska
That’s the reason I’ll be dancing at home
-Maximum Balloon's "Apartment Wrestling"

I LOVE this album. It's freaking wonderful. As I previously mentioned, Maximum Balloon is TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek's solo project. I highly recommend you click his pic below and head to his MySpace to listen to more. It's awesome = you're welcome.

"Apartment Wrestling" is one of my favorite tracks off the album, but "Tiger," "Groove Me" and "Communion" are also fab. "Apartment Wrestling" features David Byrne, and despite how awesome I think it is, it's super hard to find online. I couldn't find anything to embed below, but you can hear the song HERE, and check out its full lyrics HERE. Enjoy!

New Music from Garbage

2010-10-29T11:04:00.005-05:00

New music from Garbage is just around the river bend! Awesome. Shirley Manson recently said the following:

"I'm working on a record right now with the band.
We've recorded quite a lot but it's difficult to quantify."

"It's the first one in a long time. I took about five years off.
I'd like to do some touring next year."

When asked about the musical direction of the new album, Shirley replied "we're just winging it right now." No word yet on the release date.

I'm curious to see how involved her new husband will be with the album. In May, Shirley married producer Billy Bush, who's worked with artists including Green Day, Limp Bizkit, Korn and Muse.

Hope to hear the new stuff soon!

New Lykke Li for FREE

2010-10-25T10:24:00.008-05:00

Big fan of Lykke Li's album Youth Novels, so I was excited when I saw on Pitchfork that her latest tracks, "Get Some" and "Paris Blue," are available for FREE download on her website. Check out the tracks HERE, and if you like them she's willing to trade you for your email address. As always, click the pic for more.

Happy Monday!

Lyric Love: LCD Soundsystem's "Pow Pow"

2010-10-24T18:54:00.006-05:00

So times have been tough, and times have been tough
You have been put down, washed up, erased out
But honestly, and be honest with yourself, how much time do you waste?
How much time do you blow every day?
-LCD Soundsystem's "Pow Pow"

I LOVE LCD Soundsystem. I saw their set at Pitchfork this year, and it was fabulous. My only complaint was that there wasn't more dancing in the crowd. I'm going to see 'em tomorrow night at the Aragon with Hot Chip (another amazing show), and there damn well better be more dancing. I'm just sayin'...

I love how much his music makes me want to get my groove on. He always starts with a beat that makes you feel, regardless of how simple some of the beats are, and then he adds layers and layers of pure genius. I'm a fan of LCD Soundsystem and Sound of Silver, but have probably listened to This is Happening the most. One of my favorite tracks off the album on first listen was "Pow Pow." Like many of his songs, "Pow Pow" starts small and escalates into a multi-layered pile of wonder. I love the elongated climaxes he so often creates. Plus, the lyrics are simple and awesome = simply awesome. The first time I heard him say, "be honest with yourself, how much time do you waste? How much time do you blow every day?" I felt the shame often felt in toddlers when their parents simply look at them when they've done something wrong. It's so true, I waste so much time everyday. Damn facebook...

Thankfully, "Pow Pow" was played during his P4K set, and it was awesome. For such a new track, a lot of the crowd was screaming "advantages!" along with me. These are the moments I live for. Last I heard, "Pow Pow" is the next video LCD's releasing off the album, so I suspect it'll be on tomorrow's set list as well. SO excited. :)

I heard an interview with James Murphy on NPR where he talked about how he was always attracted to music, and how he originally started on guitar. But he didn't feel especially connected to the guitar, so he moved to drums and then DJing. Thank God he decided to venture, because I'm not sure we'd have all these LCD Soundsystem goodies if he didn't.

Check out "Pow Pow" below, the full lyrics HERE, and as always, click the pic for more.

Target Makes Printing Embarrassing Facebook Photos Easier than Ever!

2010-10-23T11:11:00.008-05:00

Yay? Target's installing new KODAK kiosks featuring Social Network Connectivity, which allows you to log-in to your facebook account and select pictures from the site for printing. It's a new way for Target to offer a convenience to its social-media-bound demographic, and it sounds like a smart idea!

Lyric Love: The Black Keys' "Sinister Kid"

2010-10-22T10:18:00.006-05:00

I got a tortured mind
And my blade is sharp
A bad combination In the dark
-The Black Keys, "Sinister Kid"

My God I love The Black Keys. Their music is the exact kind of soulful rock and roll I live for. I'm a sucker for a good beat, and The Black Keys have an uncanny ability to create a beat so fierce that I can't help but picture myself having some misguided sexual moments while wearing some fabulous shoes. I knew I wasn't the only one with this reaction to their music, but nonetheless I was surprised to read in a recent SPIN that the "oddest" place The Black Keys heard their music was in a strip club, prompting this piece of dialogue:

"It's not obvious stripper music," says Auerbach.
"We make music for hipster strippers."

Amen to you, The Black Keys.

I only caught a bit of their set at Lollapalooza, but I'm seeing their NYE show and I can't imagine a better way to start 2011. Last year I was at Lincoln Hall catching The Fiery Furnaces, and I wasn't especially satisfied with their set. Not taking that chance this year, and will be undoubtedly living the good times as I ring in the next 365-day cycle.

Check out "Sinister Kid" below, its full lyrics HERE, and as always, click their pic for more.

Props to Rome from Bellum Pax for bringing this lyrical beauty to my attention.

Lyric Love: Eminem's "Till I Collapse"

2010-10-21T12:19:00.006-05:00

'Cause sometimes you feel tired, feel weak,
And when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up.
But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength
And just pull that shit out of you and get that motivation to not give up.
-Eminem, "Till I Collapse"

Check out "Till I Collapse" below, its full lyrics HERE, and as always, click the pic for more.

In Another Life, I Would be an Archaeologist

2010-10-21T10:35:00.006-05:00

I hate mortality, and I wish I could live a million lives. I have way too many goals and interests for just one life, but alas, no elixir of life has yet been discovered (or more likely it exists, but it's a part of a secret magical society or depends on acquiring a specific possession). I think this is why I love reading and history and museums - they all provide a little way to live another life. It's these thoughts that make stories like this give me a full-on nerd boner.

Swiss archaeologists in Zurich unearthed a 5,000-year-old door that may be one of the oldest ever found in Europe. Based on tree rings in the door, they date it back to the year 3,063 B.C. -- which is about when construction on Stonehenge began. How awesome is this?! Apparently they found it while building an underground parking lot for Zurich's opera house.

If I ever have lots of money, beyond just traveling the world to see all its beauty, I will for sure be visiting sites like this. I get all goose-bumpy when I'm at a location where I KNOW a part of its past, and I also get sad thinking about all the moments lost forever... which is likely why I'm a pack rat with a house full of old things from dead relatives.

Check out the full story HERE.

Dance Music for Your Halloween Party

2010-10-20T13:12:00.004-05:00

If you're wondering what to add to your Halloween party's soundtrack besides "Thriller," here's an addition for you. Producer and DJ Bird Peterson! created a spooky-themed dance track just for such an occasion. Thanks to VEOBA for sharing. Check it out below.

Song I Recommend

2010-10-20T12:20:00.003-05:00

Thanks to loudlooppress, I recently discovered Antony Ablan's newest track, "Gold Rush." It has a big-beat bluegrass feel to it, and I love it. Like me, while he resides in Chicago now, he's a Wisconsin native. :) Check it out HERE, and as always, click his pic to visit his MySpace.

Visual Craziness with MJ, Spanking, Booze and Bacon

2010-10-05T19:52:00.010-05:00

Have you ever just image searched Michael Jackson? No, most people probably haven't, but I did recently and was pleasantly surprised by the number of hilarious pictures available. I don't know why some of these exist, I'm just glad they do. Check them out below.

I also recently came across a collection of ads from back in the day, and wow. Wow. Hilarious AND disturbing. Check them out below.

This one, however, is FABULOUS. I'm going to try this as soon as I can, and I suspect it will change my life forever.

Check Out Sufjan Steven's New Album

2010-09-26T23:34:00.003-05:00

Sufjan Steven's newest album, The Age of Adz, is streaming on NPR's First Listen! I included a player below, but you should visit NPR to see what they had to say about the new release, including "Stevens replaces delicately plucked banjo lines, wispy vocals and sentimental melodies with glitchy soundscapes, hip-hop beats and heavily filtered vocals." <-- How exciting is that?! The stream is available for FREE until the album is released on October 12, on Asthmatic Kitty. Enjoy!

Foals' New Video is Kind of Creepy

2010-09-24T12:45:00.005-05:00

Foals released the video below for their song "2 Trees," and it's kind of creepy. It features a group of paper mache puppets singing and playing the song, but the whole vibe is kind of surreal. I was definitely intrigued throughout it, so props there, but I'm sure these puppets will at some point appear in a bad dream. So thanks for that Foals...

Nevertheless, REALLY looking forward to seeing them tonight at Lincoln Hall!

Shoe Love. It's What I Do.

2010-09-23T14:45:00.005-05:00

Someone please buy me these. Thank you in advance.

Muse to Headline Lollapalooza 2011?! Please Lord, Yes.

2010-09-23T14:25:00.003-05:00

Rumors of 2011's Lollapalooza line-up probably started August 9, but I'm happy to report I'm in full support of this idea coming to fruition! According to THIS Consequence of Sound article, an article recently published in Kerrang! Magazine indicated the band was offered a headlining slot at next year's fest. No official word from Lollapalooza of course, and we probably won't hear for sure until April, but until then I'm going to pencil them in.

Dear Lollapalooza,

If this isn't real, now's your chance to make it real. Please do so.

With love,
Tracy

Menomena is Amazing

2010-09-22T11:17:00.007-05:00

I absolutely love Menomena's album Mines. I'm constantly impressed with their songs' unique sound, energy, and style. I just officially declared them worthy of a full day's listening, and wanted to make sure you all knew about them. Definitely check out the songs below, and if you don't already have tickets to see Of Montreal this Saturday (I do) I HIGHLY recommend checking these guys out live at the Metro. Someone please explain to me why they must play on the same day!? ugh.

Deli Magazine Shares Tips on Booking in NY

2010-09-20T22:15:00.005-05:00

Hello to all my band and promoter readers, this is especially for you! I came across an article by The Deli Magazine that's meant to explain to 900+ bands that submitted to their CMJ showcase why they likely weren't picked, and in the process drops a few pieces of advice on booking in the NY market. I listed some highlights below, but I recommend you check out the full article HERE.

The best places to play in NY, in order of importance, are venues in the Lower East Side, East Village, Williamsburg, and the West Village.

NOT promoting a show – any show – is always a mistake. It’s all about your friends/early fans getting the word out about your band.

Chose the right venue for your music and deliver the packed house 3-4 times a year!

The Living Room and Rockwood Music Hall are places that favor singer songwriters and acoustic instrumentation over more or less noisy rock.
Cake Shop and Glasslands are staples of the DIY/Post Punk and Noise scenes.
Arlene's Grocery of the Alt Rock and Prog scenes.
Pianos, The Mercury Lounge and The Delancey seem to like pretty much anything that rocks the house.

New Video from OK Go

2010-09-20T19:51:00.003-05:00

OK Go created this music video with the hopes of yet another viral champion. I feel like I watched this one through mostly because of their past videos. Although it was interesting and I may have given another band more credit for its creativity, I think some of their past videos were better. It's for the song "White Knuckles," which is out October 11. Check it out below, yo.

Preview of Kanye's New Movie, Runaway

2010-09-20T19:27:00.004-05:00

I'm not his HUGEST fan, but I do love me some Kanye! I just came across a preview of his film, Runaway, and I'm definitely more inclined to check it out now.

Gwen Talks New No Doubt

2010-09-20T18:06:00.001-05:00

Sounds like we may get some new No Doubt in 2011!

Random Fun Things

2010-09-20T10:58:00.005-05:00

I came across both of these on Trend Hunter and I think they're pretty awesome.

Wand-Controlled Lighting! An immediate addition to every Potter-nerd's wish list. Read more HERE.

"You Killed Kenny" Door Stopper! They also have a witch's foot a la Wizard of Oz, which you can check out HERE.

New Music from Fleet Foxes Coming Soon!

2010-09-17T11:31:00.003-05:00

According to a message from the band's lead singer on their facebook page, Fleet Foxes' follow-up album to 2008's debut release is done being recorded! Mixing and mastering are up next, and he hints that a song or two may drop relatively soon. How exciting is that?! Looking forward to hearing the new tunes. Thanks for the heads up, Pitchfork.

Pitchfork 2010 was Two Months Ago! Here's my Recap:

2010-09-17T09:11:00.018-05:00

Time has flown by! I found some pictures and videos from my Pitchfork 2010 experience, and I thought I'd share them all with you. They can serve as your Friday distraction. :)

I had an amazing time this year! I LOVED LCD Soundsystem, Modest Mouse, Local Natives and Girls. The heat was amazing, even though at moments it was a bit intense. What I would give to be back at day 2 right now...

Day 1

Liars had a great sound, but I was mostly impressed by the lead singer's energy. He put on a great show!

Modest Mouse was SO fun! I was a little disappointed in the crowd though. There was more dancing when I saw them at The Aragon, and it was hot as balls there too, so the heat was no excuse. Either way, it was a good time. Enjoy a video of "Education" below.

Day 2

Wolf Parade put on a great set. Only, I regrettably found myself standing next to a group of people who found it appropriate to discuss their love for Wolf Parade very loudly the whole set. I don't know, but in my opinion, if you really LOVE Wolf Parade, maybe shut up and listen to them. I'm just sayin...

LCD Soundsystem was AMAZING. This was my first P4K act that I camped out to see up close, and I was happy with the view. I really wanted to hear "Pow Pow," which he played secondish, and he also threw in "Drunk Girls," "Daft Punk," "All My Friends," and lots of other favorites. Definitely a top show of my summer and year, and probably up there on my "top concerts of forever" list too. REALLY excited to see him again with Hot Chip on October 25 at The Aragon. Check out a few pics and a video of "Drunk Girls" below. You can also check out a quick video of "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" HERE if you'd like.
Day 3

Girls was absolutely one of my favorites of P4K 2010 too. I LOVED their set. I'm pretty much also in love with the lead singer. I will have your babies even if you want to go back to the cult... talent is so attractive. They played new songs (which were really good), my favorites off Album, and rocked out beyond my expectations. Here's a pic of my potential future babydaddy, and below is a video of "Ghost Mouth."

Local Natives were another favorite of the fest. I knew I was a fan going into the show, and I thoroughly enjoyed their live set. The crowd was really into it too, which always makes it better. I've since played Gorilla Manor about 672 times. It's rather enjoyable. :)

Not a huge fan of Sleigh Bells, before or after their set, but a LOT of people were. To me, this is proof that a band can go far based heavily on their live show. They were having technical difficulties during this set, but I can see how in a smaller venue it would be incredibly memorable.

Other acts that I remember liking include Delorean and Here We Go Magic.

Hope you all had a wonderful Pitchfork experience too!

Delta Spirit Coming Back to Chicago!

2010-09-16T10:27:00.005-05:00

Thank God. Last time they played Chicago I missed them because of a bad headache and unexplainable laziness. Sometimes I suck at life... However, on December 4 I will be at the Metro enjoying one of my absolute favorites. I'm so excited! Thanks so much to BrooklynVegan for pointing this out.

Tour dates through December:
November 15 Jackpot Music Hall Lawrence, KS
November 16 Mojo's Columbia, MO
November 18 High Noon Saloon Madison, WI
November 19 Turner Hall Milwaukee, WI
November 20 Legends of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
November 22 Tralf Music Hall Buffalo, NY
November 23 Webster Hall New York, NY
November 26 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA
November 27 The Med Pawtucket, RI
November 29 OttoBar Baltimore, MD
November 30 Brillobox Pittsburgh, PA
December 1 The Mad Hatter Covington, KY
December 2 Grey Eagle Asheville, NC
December 3 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN
December 4 Metro Chicago, IL
December 7 Fillmore San Francisco, CA
December 8 The Music Box Hollywood, CA
December 9 Soho Santa Barbara, CA
December 10 House of Blues San Diego, CA

A Few Things I Love from NY's Fashion Week

2010-09-15T09:23:00.012-05:00

New York hosts two fashion weeks each year, one in February and one in September. September's is taking place now, and my time-crunched self is experiencing it mostly through photos on The Daily Beast. A few caught my eye, so I'm sharing them with you here so that those of you even too time-crunched to venture to The Daily Beast can see a bit of what's going down. If you like what you see, I encourage you to head to The Daily Beast or NY Fashion Week's site to check out more.

Vera Wang - with all her wedding dresses and Kohl's lines, I sometimes forget how fabulous she is. I love this.

Diane von Furstenberg is another favorite, and I love the hoods!

Donna Karan said she was going for a natural, weed and seed influenced, affect. I think this look is fabulous.

Beautiful Doo.Ri shoes.

Two looks from Marc Jacobs. I like them both, but what really caught my eye was the parallel angles on the left model of the shoe strap and the dress. Was that planned? I think it's stunning.

I don't especially love this look, by Mulberry, I just wonder if Florence was his muse.

Album Review: Of Montreal's False Priest

2010-09-14T13:15:00.016-05:00

False Priest, Of Montreal’s follow-up album to 2007’s Skeletal Lamping, is officially out today, although I’ve been voraciously listening to it since it appeared on NPR’s First Listen last week. I find this album to feel less light and flutteringly-chaotic than Skeletal Lamping, although it thankfully contains an acceptable amount of the clever lyrics, abstract instrumentation and danceable beats I’ve come to expect from Mr. Barnes.

The songs on False Priest deliver a tighter and cleaner version of pandemonium than I anticipated, and word on the street is that’s due to producer Jon Brion’s involvement (Kanye, Spoon, Rufus, etc). I’m certainly not disappointed by this. The juxtaposition of sounds I loved so much on Skeletal Lamping (because they soothed my A.D.D.) are still present, they’re just not as frequent or backed by a full a-day-in-the-life-esque orchestra.

Another unique addition to this album are the collaborations with Solange Knowles (“Sex Karma”) and Janelle Monae (“Enemy Gene”). Both females add a wonderful touch to their respective tracks without really leaving their mark. I felt they both fit nicely within the songs, serving more as another layer of instrumentation rather than a distracting force to Kevin’s vision. I was hoping for something a bit more badass from Solange though.

(Here's a picture of Solange wearing the fabulous shoes I posted about here. Add those shoes to the fact that she's Beyonce's sister + Jay-Z's sister-in-law + has collaborated with Of Montreal = I'm so jealous)

I was an early fan of “Coquet Coquette,” but some of my other favorite tracks include:

“I Feel Ya' Strutter” – a great opener. It’s upbeat and classic Of Montreal. I love it.
“Our Riotous Defects” – contains a superbly hilarious little monologue regarding the crazy girl he’s dating that makes me chuckle every time I hear she killed his betta fish: “My god, I should have realized on our second date when you dragged me into the bathroom at Tenika’s house and screamed at me for like 20 minutes because I contradicted you in front of your friends. I was like, oh. And then later that night at my apartment as punishment you killed my betta fish. Just threw it out the window.” Hahaha. As of right now, my favorite song on the album.
“Hydra Fancies” – ridiculously catchy, and definitely a more doo-wop feel with this track. I love the way the song feels at 1:12 and 2:17, when the sound progression drops for an instant and is restarted with an almost humorously distorted bass sound. It’s these little things that get me…
Directly following “Hydra Fancies” is “Like a Tourist,” which has an immediately more fierce and defined sound. This song definitely displays a lot more of the seemingly random song transitions I loved on Skeletal Lamping.
“Girl Named Hello” – definitely a driving beat with great lyrics: “If I treated someone else the way I treat myself, I’d be in jail.” An easy one to find yourself dancing too and singing along with on first listen.
I think “Around the Way” is the song I’d vote “most likely to be heard on Skeletal Lamping.” A larger sound with more layers of instrumentation and more dramatic phrasing; however, I found it to be one of the sharpest and angriest songs on the album too.
“You Do Mutiliate?” – Woah. Hey, Of Montreal, way to be deep and inspirational through a scary voice manipulator thingy. Some great points and interesting statements in this song, but I don’t think it’s for your Mom or some first-time Of Montreal listener. They’d both think you’re a little crazy for recommending it. I love it. Check it out and be prepared for such thought provoking statements like “Everybody’s searching for a cause, a reason to blow themselves up.” “When will certain people realize an afterlife is nothing to live for, nothing to die for, nothing to fight for?” “If you think God is more important than your neighbor, you’re capable of terrible evil.”

I love this album. I love Polyvinyl. I love Of Montreal. I love Kevin Barnes. I LOVE that I’m seeing Of Montreal on September 25 at the Aragon. I loved seeing them at Lollapalooza in 2009. I love Skeletal Lamping. And Hissing Fauna. And Sunlandic Twins. …just so you know.

Shoe Love

2010-09-11T11:41:00.003-05:00

Rag & Bone

Jen Kao

New Harry Potter Trailer Released!

2010-09-10T14:16:00.004-05:00

I absolutely cannot wait! I'm going to see it in 3-D at the IMAX, and it's going to be AMAZING. Although, I can already tell that when part 1 ends and "to be continued" appears on the screen, I'm going to be pissed. How dare they make us wait? ugh.

Champaign Music News: Elsinore & Verona Red

2010-09-09T23:46:00.015-05:00

Elsinore, a four-piece band from Champaign, release their second album August 17, and I only just discovered it. The album, called Yes Yes Yes, is available to stream and buy below. If you're a fan of Local Natives and Arcade Fire, I recommend you check it out.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://elsinoreparasol.bandcamp.com/album/yes-yes-yes"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Yes Yes Yes by Elsinore&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
Speaking of Champaign...
If you're in the area this Saturday, September 11, I HIGHLY recommend you check out Chicago's Verona Red at Mike 'N Molly's. They're a band worth seeing live, since in addition to their great music they actually bring ENERGY to the stage. My goodness I hate being bored at a live show, which is something that just absolutely does not happen when seeing Verona Red (hence this endorsement). Bring your dancing shoes on Saturday and thank me later. :)

New Iron and Wine Album Coming Soon!

2010-09-09T23:33:00.005-05:00

This news makes me happy. I loved Iron & Wine's 2007 album The Shepherd's Dog, and I'm really excited to see how he follows it up. Apparently, there's a new album called Kiss Each Other Clean due out in early 2011, although I haven't seen a specific date for its release. Until this new music is available, if you live in Milwaukee, Iowa City or Columbus you can get your I&W fix when he visits you in October. Check out the specific dates and venues below.

10/12 Iowa City, IA - IMU Main Lounge
10/13 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
10/14 Columbus, OH - Ohio State University

Here's the video for one of my favorite Iron and Wine tracks, "Boy with a Coin."

Kudos to Christian Siriano and Capitalism

2010-09-09T23:19:00.006-05:00

I absolutely cannot believe that these FABulous pieces of footwear are going to be sold at Payless. Clearly, this is one of the best benefits of capitalism. If Payless didn't need to compete, they wouldn't have partnered with such an amazing designer and these shoes would not be available to us for such a reasonable price. I love America. I love shoes. Today is a good day.

Love this New Sufjan Stevens Song

2010-09-09T11:07:00.004-05:00

The new track from Sufjan Stevens, "Too Much," is great. It's fuller and heavier than some of my favorites on Come on! Feel the Illinoise! The track is off of his upcoming album, The Age of Adz, due for release on October 12. You can check out the track below. Enjoy!

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/track/too-much"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Too Much by Sufjan Stevens&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

A Few Things...

2010-09-08T11:02:00.004-05:00

1. Pluots are amazing. Apparently they're a cross-breed of a plum and apricot (70% plum, 30% apricot). It's a juicy, orgasmic sensation for your mouth. Do yourself a favor and purchase some next time you see them.
2. The Blow is playing The Empty Bottle on November 13! SUPER excited about this, since Paper Television is one of my favorite albums.

3. Of Montreal's new album, False Priest, is streaming on NPR until the album's release on September 14. I've had a few listens, and I LOVE it. LOVE. For your convenience, you can check it out below. Enjoy! :)

PS I love you NPR's First Listen. I think you're awesome. I have a crush on you. Peace be with you.

It's Not Too Late for a New Summer Jam

2010-08-31T10:13:00.006-05:00

Apparently this track came out in June, but I completely missed it. If that's the case for you too, then you're welcome. If you knew about this song earlier, you should have sent it my way. Shame on you.

Dave Sitek, from TV on the Radio, has a solo project called Maximum Balloon. Apparently MB's debut album was released in August, and I'll be checking that out asap. Until then, enjoy his fiercely fabulous track "Tiger," which features Aku from Dragons of Zynth, HERE.

Thanks to Dave for making music, and to Spin for giving it to me for free. I love you both. Amen.

UPDATE: Maximum Balloon's debut album is out on September 21, which explains why I can't find it. Until then, feast yourself visually on the artwork. Oooh. Aaah.

Great Foxy Shazam Pics

2010-08-30T05:59:00.003-05:00

I absolutely love Foxy Shazam, and just came across this live review on The Music Fix from a show at London's Flowerpot. Most especially loved all the great pics of the show, and wanted to share them with you as encouragement to check out their next set in Chicago. I have no idea when that is, but I'll be there fo sho. Click HERE to read the review and see more pics.

How Do I Make This My Ringtone?

2010-08-24T22:49:00.002-05:00

Click HERE to see the original.

New Of Montreal Album Soon!

2010-08-24T22:12:00.005-05:00

A new Of Montrea l album, False Priest, is due out on September 14 (Polyvinyl).

I am SO excited.

The album, which I'm sure will be as fabulous as their last three, includes appearances by Janelle Monae and Solange Knowles and the help of famed producer and film-music composer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Punch Drunk Love, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). According to Spin, the new album mentions zombies, Bowflex home gym machines, particle-wave duality, burnt irises, the tongues of dragons, and female erections. Awesome.

Check out their video for "Coquet Coquette" below, and mark your calendars for T-21 days til the new album.

ALSO, note that Of Montreal is playing at The Riviera on Saturday, September 25. I will be there, of course.

Lollapalooza 2010: I LOVED You :)

2010-08-18T13:51:00.016-05:00

I had a GREAT time at Lollapalooza. It seems every year is so much better than the last. And while I wish Of Montreal could be there every year, I had a pretty great time without them. Here are some random comments and clips from my weekend.

Top 5 Shows:
1. Green Day - I was thoroughly impressed with Green Day's live show. It was entertaining, involved the fans at a level I've never seen before, and Billie Joe has an amazing voice live! You put all this with the fact that I was addicted to Nimrod for at least a year or two of my youth, and the fact that my brother was there, and it just couldn't be topped. GREAT time.

Here's a clip of "Basket Case"

At many points throughout the show, Green Day invited fans up on stage. One such instance was when he asked "who here knows all the words to this song?" as "Longview" was starting in the background. He grabbed a guy from the crowd who said he did, and BJ gave him the mic and the guy ran with it! He had a freakin' blast! Not only did he know all the words, but he screamed it out while running across the stage, totally living it up. At the end, BJ gave him the guitar he was playing. Here's a clip of that:

Click HERE to see "King for a Day" and HERE for "Holiday"

2. Arcade Fire - Arcade Fire was AMAZING. I had high expectations for their show, as I've heard nothing but great things about it AND I love their new album. Needless to say, I was NOT disappointed. Here's a clip of "Neighborhood #2." I have another video, but YouTube is giving me the business about it, so oh well.

3. Mumford & Sons - I really liked their album Sigh No More before I saw them, and since the show I've only grown to love it more. These guys make amazing music. They incorporate great harmonies, beautiful lyrics, and an energy that either makes you want to cry or dance. I absolutely LOVE them, and their performance was impressive. I WILL definitely go see them again. Here's a clip from "Roll Away Your Stone"

4. Foxy Shazam - I discovered these guys while researching music in Ohio, and I was immediately struck by their music. I have a thing for good rock and roll, especially rock and roll with a live show that just doesn't give a fuck. I heard that's what these guys were all about, and I totally missed their Beat Kitchen performance earlier this year. When the line-up was posted, these guys were one of the first "must sees" I noted. My God, am I glad I prioritized them. LOVE LOVE LOVE them. In a move that rarely happens, but thankfully it did a few times this year at Lolla, my high expectations were met and exceeded.

Their show is littered with random moments, including dramatic dialog, perverse dancing, and shit talking. At one point, Foxy asked the crowd for a cigarette. The stage was soon flooded with full cartons. He grabbed one, opened it and put all the cigarettes in his mouth. Asked next for a lighter, and again received dozens. He grabbed one, lit all the cigarettes, smoked them all in two massive drags, then turned them around and ATE them. With the crowd in a confusing state of shock, disgust and love, he then offered anyone there $20 if they could kill him after the show. Then they went right back into rock and roll, and I fell in love. I've pretty much had their self-titled album on repeat since. Here's a clip from "Wanna Be Angel," which should give you an idea of their show, but doesn't do the whole set justice.

5. Semi Precious Weapons - I've loved Semi Precious Weapons for a few years now for the same reason as Foxy Shazam = great rock and roll with an exceptional live show. I saw these guys for the first time for free on a Thursday at Cobra Lounge, and I've since followed them to Double Door, Bottom Lounge, Subterranean, the Metro, and even at Minneapolis' The Fine Line Music Cafe. I'm so happy that they played Lollapalooza this year! (which I'm sure is because I voted for them to play this year and not because they're touring with Lady Gaga) I didn't get a video of them here, but believe me when I tell you they were just as fabulous as ever. Lady Gaga even joined them on stage and stage-dived with Justin. Delicious.

Other acts that definitely deserve a mention:

The Constellations -Their album Southern Gothic is pretty fun, definitely an eccentric rock vibe that's very danceable. Their live show was energetic and really entertaining. I definitely recommend checking them out HERE.
Hot Chip - I saw the first handful of songs by Hot Chip, and luckily they were most of my favorites. It was awesome seeing them live. I'm a big fan of some of their stuff, and if The Black Keys weren't playing opposite of them, I definitely would have invested in a better spot and danced the whole set.
The Black Keys - Did anyone even doubt that their set would be awesome? It was. I really enjoyed them, and I would love to see them again.
Blitzen Trapper - I swear I've looked into these guys in the past, and didn't really find them to be anything exceptional. I really liked their live set though, so I'm dedicated to opening them back up. Let me know if you have any song/album recommendations I should start with.

Also, I saw Spoon, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Metric, Skybox, Royal Bangs, The Strokes, Lady Gaga, Hockey, Yeasayer, Frightened Rabbit, MGMT, and The Temper Trap. They were all enjoyable. :)

Hope you had a GREAT Lollapalooza!

Two Local Shows Worth Seeing this Weekend

2010-08-18T12:46:00.004-05:00

I think by now you all know my love for Chicago's Verona Red. They make some amazing rock and roll, and always bring the good times. They just announced they're playing a show THIS Friday, August 20, at Cubby Bear with Model Stranger and Greek Fire. Verona Red and Model Stranger were both up for Chicago Deli's Band of the Month in June, and Model Stranger won, so now is your chance to check out both bands and see if you agree with the outcome... I guess a Q101 DJ will also be there spinning between bands. Seems like a no-brainer for your Friday night plans.

For all you folks who don't stop the rocking just because it's Sunday, you should definitely head to Schubas. The Ivorys are putting on a great show there with The Clergymen and The Rails.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Have You Checked Out My Blip.fm Station?

2010-08-17T15:54:00.003-05:00

The Static Boom has a Blip.fm station, which you can check out by clicking HERE or clicking on the Blip.fm logo at the top of the blog.

What is this Blip.fm thing? It basically allows me to create a free, public playlist of songs I recommend. I'm the "DJ" of my Blip.fm station, and anyone can check it out online. So, if you head over there now, I have a 236 song playlist available to you, from around 200 different artists.

Check it out when you're looking for something new to listen to, and let me know your DJ name if you have a station.

As always, if you have any music recommendations, please send them my way at tracy@groundwm.com.

Blip.fm is for auditory pleasure.
For visual stimulation, here are some shoes.

Joaquin Phoenix's 'I'm Still Here' Trailor

2010-08-17T14:46:00.003-05:00

Have you seen this yet? I feel like we've been waiting forever to see what this mockumentary project is all about, and it looks like the time has finally come upon us. Seems like it could be hilarious!

Pictures from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2010-08-17T14:31:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited.

click here for more pics

Battles Breaks Up

2010-08-13T09:57:00.004-05:00

I remember discovering Battles on my iPod on a flight from Minneapolis to Chicago. They make fabulous music. It was a unique brand of art-rock that I fell in love with. And now, according to Village Voice, the lead singer and the band have come to an amicable split. The band says they're going to try and keep playing without him and complete the band's follow-up album to 2007's Mirrored, but they're not sure how that's going to happen. I hope to hear some music from them soon. RIP Battles-as-we-know-it

Wicker Park Fest 2010 - Oh My God

2010-08-01T20:23:00.013-05:00

I only attended part of Sunday's events, but I had an amazing time! By far, the hands-down best performance I saw was Chicago's own Oh My God. I've heard of them before, and even liked their music enough to try and book them with Verona Red, but was not aware of their full degree of awesomeness. I found myself constantly saying, "oh my God," and of course now their name makes so much more sense.

Their live show had me smiling and dancing and making shocked-looking faces the whole time. It was wonderful. AND, beyond the big, hairy, sweaty, nearly-naked, pigtail rockin' lead singer for entertainment (Billy O'Neill), their music is really good. I think I can safely say this is the first Chicago band (since Verona Red) that I've seen live and immediately want to know when they play next (Double Door on October 2).

I included a few photos of their performance below, and luckily got one of their songs on video for you ("Mother's Nightgown"); however, I encourage you to check out their MySpace HERE and listen to some of their other music including "Volatile" and "Baby Dream."

Some of the other shows I checked out, in order of fabulousness, include:

Happy Birthday, a completely new band for me, hails from Vermont, and they were the first act I saw. I was pleasantly surprised! Click the pic below to check out their MySpace.
I also saw The Hard Lessons from Michigan, and they brought some good rockage to the fest. Again, click their pic to hear more.
Two other Chicago acts I caught pieces of include Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and Van Ghost. They both made my list of "acts to see," but didn't really hold a candle to Oh My God.
Lastly, there were DJ sets on the center stage between bands, and my goodness can Chicago get rowdy to house music in 85 degree weather in mid-daylight. I tried to capture the good times, but the picture doesn't do it justice.

Wicker Park Fest is This Weekend

2010-07-28T08:06:00.009-05:00

I know it's only Wednesday, but I want to remind everyone that Wicker Park Fest is this weekend! Located on Milwaukee between North Ave and Wood Street, music starts at 1pm each day and runs til 10pm. For admission, the fest requests a $5 donation. Check out the full line-up below, with the ones I hope to catch ENLARGED.

SATURDAY, JULY 31

South Stage
8:45 PM >> Holy F_ck
7:15 PM >> BoomBox
5:50 PM >> Auto Body
4:40 PM >> Gaslamp Killer
3:30 PM >> Signal Path
2:30 PM >> Tokimonsta
1:30 PM >> Prepschool
Tweener Sets >> Alex B (Tweener DJ Sets)

North Stage
9:00 PM >> Cap'n Jazz
7:30 PM >> Mission Of Burma
6:15 PM >> Native
5:15 PM >> Morning Teleportation
4:15 PM >> Pinebender
3:15 PM >> Indian
2:15 PM >> Big Science

Center Stage
9:00 PM >> LA Riots
8:00 PM >> Moneypenny
7:00 PM >> Team Bayside High
6:00 PM >> Hollywood Holt
5:00 PM >> Only Children
4:00 PM >> Gemini Club
3:00 PM >> Kid Color
2:00 PM >> Blah Blah Blah
1:00 PM >> Mad Dog 20/20 & Cheap Champagne

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

South Stage
9:00 PM >> Fun.
7:30 PM >> Plants And Animals
6:10 PM >> Van Ghost
5:10 PM >> Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
4:10 PM >> Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
3:10 PM >> JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
2:10 PM >> B.S. Brass Band
1:10 PM >> Save the Clocktower
Tweener Sets >> DJ Lou Dooben (Tweener DJ Sets)

North Stage
9:00 PM >> Baroness
7:30 PM >> Torche
6:00 PM >> Yakuza Arkestra
5:00 PM >> The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
4:00 PM >> Gringo Star
3:00 PM >> Happy Birthday
2:15 PM >> Residual Echoes
1:30 PM >> Beings

Center Stage
8:30 PM >> Local H
7:00 PM >> The Hood Internet
6:15 PM >> The Hard Lessons
5:15 PM >> Zebo
4:30 PM >> Oh My God
3:45 PM >> Matt Roan
3:00 PM >> Shapers
2:00 PM >> John Simmons
1:00 PM >> California Wives

Download Cut Copy's New Song FREE

2010-07-27T16:20:00.003-05:00

Cut Copy's new song, "Where I'm Going," is available to download for FREE on RCDLBL. It has a very familiar, classic rock sound. I definitely hear some Beach Boys, Beatles, and The Who in there.

Lollapalooza Research: Mavis Staples, American Bang, Jukebox the Ghost and Raphael Saadiq

2010-07-27T08:11:00.005-05:00

Today I took a look at the 2pm time slot on Day 1, which consists of Mavis Staples, American Bang, Jukebox the Ghost and Raphael Saadiq. This proves to be a difficult decision, but not because I really like several of them, as I did in the previous post, but because I'm pretty indifferent about most of them. I think I figured it out, though.

The first act I checked out was Mavis Staples. Man, this woman has a voice. Not only does she sound great, but she has such emotion and attitude in her performance, there's no doubt I want to see this woman live. However, her live show seems like something I'd want to see in a smaller setting, sitting down with some red wine. In the Lollapalooza heat and crowd? Not so much. But, just because the setting seems off, doesn't mean I still may not love it. She made my list of one of two acts I'm going to stop by.

Mavis Staples
Playing Lolla on Day 1, Budweiser stage at 2:00pm

The next act I listened to was American Bang. I instinctively thought these would be the guys for me, since their name implies rock and roll, and I LOVE rock and roll. And they are rock and roll, but more Kings of Leon (eh) than Zeppelin or White Stripes or Black Keys (awesomeness). Seriously, if you're a Kings of Leon fan, click their pic below and listen to the first song on their MySpace, "Wild and Young." You'll love it. I like the second song posted better, but since they only give me two songs to sample, I'm not sold. This is the other act that made my list of shows to stop by.

American Bang
Playing Lolla on Day 1, Sony stage at 2:15pm

I've heard of Jukebox the Ghost plenty, but never ventured to their site and listened to their music. They create a very pop, upbeat, singer/songwriter sound, and it's enjoyable. It reminds me a bit of Ben Folds meets Eric Hutchinson. I like both of these folks, but nothing from JtG really got me excited. I think I'm going to sacrifice these happy tunes to see what Mavis and AB can do for me.

Jukebox the Ghost
Playing Lolla on Day 1, BMI stage at 1:45pm

Raphael Saadiq makes me want to snap my fingers. Another singer/songwriter, but definitely more reminiscent of Mayer Hawthorne and the Jackson 5. Upbeat grooves in songs with titles like "Love that Girl," "Staying in Love," and "Oh Girl." Again, it's enjoyable, but nothing that excites me. I'm sitting this one out too.

Raphael Saadiq
Playing Lolla on Day 1, Parkways stage at 2:00pm

So, the Day 1 trek looks like this so far: These United States --> Foxy Shazam --> The Constellations --> the end of Los Amigos Invisibles --> Mavis Staples --> American Bang. I have a feeling I'll be at Drive By Truckers after American Bang, but I haven't fully researched this so I can't be positive. I'll let you know soon.

Les Savy Fav Offer Thieves Redemption for Money

2010-07-26T13:20:00.003-05:00

A band I've heard a lot about, but never really heard a lot of, Les Savy Fav, has a new album called Root for Ruin coming out September 14. A leaked version of the album hit the web recently, and the band is taking this sucker punch with hilarious grace.

They launched a website called "I "stole" Root for Ruin" where guilty fans can make a donation to the band. The band encourages you to donate generously, and if you do, promises the forgiveness of sex sins and a personal request to Jesus to send you cookies. AND, on top of all of that, if you did download the leaked version, the band created a special version of their album artwork just for you.

Since the album was leaked, the band is giving away one of the new tracks called "Let's Get Out of Here," which you can download HERE.

Lollapalooza Research: Los Amigos Invisibles, The Ettes, The Constellations and Balkan Beat Box

2010-07-26T08:14:00.015-05:00

As I continue researching my way through Day 1, I've checked out who I should see AFTER Foxy Shazam.

As you can see from below, I have many options. I can quickly rule out Wavves cause I don't like their music. And The Walkmen are out because they bothered me when they were at Pitchfork. Everyone knows The Walkmen's song "We've Been Had," which is likely what put them on Pitchfork and everyone else's radar, and yet they didn't play it during their set. I think it was a little too early for them to pull that artistic crap, and shove the rest of their album down our throats. I even liked some of their other songs, but come on. You can play your big hit? Sheesha.

This leaves my options as The Ettes, Balkan Beat Box, Los Amigos Invisibles and The Constellations.

I checked out the Ettes first, and they don't do anything for me. While I can concur with Lollapalooza's statement that you can hear some of The Gossip and The Black Keys within The Ettes, I don't really dig it. It reminds me of Matt & Kim and Sleigh Bells, and I don't really LOVE either of these bands. If you do, I suggest you check them out HERE. That narrows it down to three options for me.

The Ettes
Playing Lolla on Day 1, BMI state at 12:30pm

The next band I checked out was Los Amigos Invisibles. Despite my two semesters of Spanish one, I understand almost none of their songs, as they're all in Spanish. But, I do understand the awesomeness OF their songs. My initial thought was, "awesome, even if all the other bands suck, I can have a fun time dancing to these guys for an hour." I definitely encourage you to visit their MySpace and check them out.

Los Amigos Invisibles
Playing Lolla on Day 1, PlayStation state at 1:00pm

The next band I checked out was Balkan Beat Box. Yet another band I can dance to! My immediate thought was, "this is awesome, but now I don't know who to dance to, Los Amigos or these guys!?" While the Balkan Beat Box is more rap focused, they still use trumpets and trombones and saxes and provide the good times. Another thing to consider, is they're at the other end of the part from Foxy Shazam. I should note here, this distance does not scare me. I'll go back and forth all day long if I want to, so there! :) Definitely check these guys out by, as always, clicking their pic.

Balkan Beat Box
Playing Lolla on Day 1, Parkways stage at 12:15pm

Last but not least was The Constellations. Before I checked them out, I did consider if I even should. I mean, I'm already struggling to decide between Los Amigos and Balkan BB, do I need another contender? However, I'm glad I did! I mean, any band whose MySpace descriptors include Psychedelic / Ghettotech / Showtunes, I'm interested. I was pretty convinced with the first song that played on their MySpace, "Felicia," that these guys were also really freakin' awesome. Starts out with some hand claps and tambourines, then brings in a good bass line. It's like they wrote the song just for me. Even the vocals are that deep, somewhat hard to understand style I love. All this, AND they're also danceable! AND they post pictures like this on their MySpace.

Ok, these guys win.
The Constellations, if you're reading this, way to be awesome. Also, please email me, I'd like to bring you back to Chicago with Verona Red.

The Constellations
Playing Lolla on Day 1, Sony stage at 1:00pm

So, the Day 1 trek looks like this so far: These United States --> Foxy Shazam --> The Constellations --> the end of Los Amigos Invisibles. I would love to check out Balkan Beat Box between Foxy and Constellations, but there's only a 30 minute gap between the two and that would likely give me just enough time to walk there and back, so I'll use that time to apply sunscreen and such.

The next band I KNOW I want to see is Semi Precious Weapons at 4:15, so I there's plenty more research to come.

Lollapalooza Research: These United States

2010-07-25T19:13:00.004-05:00

So, there are definitely several bands I KNOW I want to see at Lollapalooza this year, but there are certainly a lot of bands I don't know the slightest. I'm starting to check out all the bands in the gaps of my schedule to see where I should invest my time. Starting with day one, bright and early, I know for sure I want to see Foxy Shazam at noon, but who should I check out beforehand? I started my research with These United States.

These United States

Playing Lolla on Day 1, BMI stage at 11:15am

These United States are from Washington DC and Lexington, KY, and they provide an alt-country sound that's energetic and catchy. I like a lot of the songs on their MySpace, including some of the newer tracks like "One You Believe" and "Dug Him in the Dirt." These new tracks are off their latest release, What Lasts, out July 20, 2010. Click the band's pic to visit their MySpace and check them out. These guys are definitely a contender!

Have You Heard About Artistshouse Music?

2010-07-22T15:07:00.004-05:00

I haven't invested an insane amount of time navigating all the topics on this site yet, but I wanted to share it with all the musicians and music industry folks out there. Artistshouse Music is a site that, by their own word, is dedicated to "helping musicians and music entrepreneurs create sustainable careers."

The site is filled with interviews, articles and discussions regarding marketing, production, musicians' strategies, legal advice, music careers and more. I definitely plan on spending more time on the site. Check it out HERE, and if you learn anything let me know.

My Pitchfork Plan

2010-07-15T19:13:00.029-05:00

I'm SO excited. :)
Pitchfork, Lollapalooza, and Christmas = my favorite times of the year.
SO excited.

I thought I'd share with you all my plan for this weekend. If you think I'm missing out on someone fabulous, please let me know before it's too late! (remember, click their pic for music)

Friday

The Tallest Man on Earth, 4:00 (c)

Liars, 5:30 (c)

Broken Social Scene, 7:20 (c)

Modest Mouse, 8:30 (a) - LOVED their show at the Aragon

I'd also like to check out some of the comedians scheduled, but I'm not sure who I'll make it to. Any suggestions?

Saturday

Netherfriends, 1:00 (b) - I'm tempted to see what Free Energy can do live, but I like Netherfriends' music more, so we'll see if I catch a bit of both.

Real Estate, 1:45 (c) or Sonny & the Sunsets, 1:55 (b) = I'm not sure yet.

Delorean, 2:30 (a)

Titus Andronicus, 3:20 (c)

The Smith Westerns, 4:45 (b) - Not entirely sure why these guys are such a big deal, but I'm hoping to understand better after their live show.

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, 5:15 (c)

Wolf Parade, 6:15 (a)

LCD Soundsystem, 8:30 (a) - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd like to sneak around and catch Bear in Heaven and Panda Bear between Wolf Parade and LCD, but I probably won't. I'm likely going to try and get a decent spot for LCD Soundsystem, which is likely to be one of my top favorite moments of 2010. LOVE This is Happening, and so much of his previous work, that I'm going to sacrifice the other bands.

Sunday

Cave, 1:00 (b) - Awesome rock and roll.

Here We Go Magic, 1:45 (c)

Girls, 2:30 (a) - Really liked Album, and pretty interested to see how it translates live.

Local Natives, 3:45 (b)

Surfer Blood, 4:45 (b)

St. Vincent, 5:15 (c)

Neon Indian, 6:45 (b)

Sleigh Bells, 7:40 (b)

Pavement, 8:30 (a)

Also, I know there's a slew of after-parties. I'm not planning those out, since I may be old and tired after the fest. But, I am going to try and head to the Beauty Bar tomorrow for a FREE first-come-first-serve after-party hosted by Venus Zine featuring DJ sets from Delorean, Real Estate, and Headlights.

A happy Pitchfork to you all!

Vampire Weekend Sued by Model

2010-07-15T19:11:00.001-05:00

The model used on the cover of Vampire Weekend's latest album, Contra, is suing the band for using her image without her permission. Apparently, the band purchased the photo from the photographer, who took the shot back in 1983. The photographer has the model's signature to release the rights, but she claims that the signature is fake. Now, she's suing the band for $2 million... I don't know. Part of me says, sure, maybe this chick deserves SOME money (NOT $2 million), but can't she just be happy that her mug made it a successful band's album cover? What else was this photo doing before, besides sitting in a drawer?

Chicago Art to Take Over the L in August

2010-07-09T14:42:00.004-05:00

I had no idea this existed, but I think it's fabulous! On Saturday, August 7, from 5pm - 10pm, an eight-car L train will be circling the loop all dressed up! These eight cars of art are brought to us all by the non-profit organization SALVO, with the intention to "bring more awareness to creativity and imagination." I'll be at Lollapalooza during this, but for all you non-Lolla-ers, here's something fun to do. For more information, click HERE.

Paul Joins Ringo On-stage for his 70th Birthday

2010-07-08T17:28:00.003-05:00

Today is Ringo's 70th birthday, and they threw quite the party for him last night at Radio City Music Hall. Throughout the night, everyone from Yoko Ono, Joe Walsh, Steve Van Zant, Jeff Lynne, Nils Lofgren, Max Weinberg, Gary Brooker, Peter Asher, Dave Stewart, and Ringo’s son Zak joined him on stage. However, my favorite part would have to be when Paul closed out the night with Ringo playing the Beatles' "Birthday." Check out the video below, and click HERE to read more Ringo bday details.

Happy Birthday Ringo!