Music on the Make: The National

I haven't done one of these in a while because I've been waiting for a good one and believe me, this is IT. The National's forthcoming album Boxer leaked a couple of weeks back and it is going to be a huge breakthrough for them. Their previous effort, Alligator, was also amazing and well received, but this new thing is all there. The gritty video for "Mistaken for Strangers" is at MTV (of all places) and there are some other really nice vids at their website here. Fake Empire, the haunting first track, is also up. Lead singer Matt Berniger's baritone is so timeless and weathered, it sounds like a softer, more even-keeled version of Tom Waits sometimes.
Boxer is out 5/22 and The National are opening for The Arcade Fire, but not in Boston where I am seeing them THIS THURSDAY!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA: Daddy Make the Bad Man Stop

In a follow up to an earlier story: Bob Dylan Still Alive, Scares Little Kids

Dems About to Grow A Pair?

This may be premature, but I've seen hints of impeachment.

Is Bob Dylan Dead?

We read Chronicles for one of my classes today and a freshman actually asked if Bob Dylan is dead. Clearly he doesn't look too good, but c'mon people. Someone else said they assumed (not having read) he was a shitty writer and that he's "just OK, I mean clearly he can kick out the jams, but he's not the greatest." Who are these kids?!

Bob Dylan: living legend, one of the greatest American poets ever, amazing singer-songwriter, hilarious heckler, musical genius. Dylan is still alive and well, see Modern Times or any number of young and diverse acts who are drawing on his inspiration and reinterpreting his songs themselves. You don't need to go any farther than the music itself:

• Boots of Spanish Leather by the man himself, one of my all time favorites.

• Girl From the North Country a fantastic cover by the Secret Machines that got me hooked on that band.

A few days ago the amazing Roots came for our Spring Weekend shit-show extravaganza and did a cover of "Masters of War" that began in the tune/melody of the "Star Spangled Banner" and broke down "When the Saints Go Marching" in the middle. Absolutely crazy, moving and genius. And completely their own.

• JuneBugJenkins has a version here from the Dylan tribute show a while back.

So there! Bobby D: still kicking.

Blogging for Class

Hey! My new blog Is This Thing Still On? is up and running, check it out! It's about the future of radio in podcasts, blogs, and internet radio for a class at Brown. This blog right here was originally supposed to be that, but as you can see, I got a little off track. Enjoy!

Just What I Need

Shopping via Text Message:
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Soulmates

Calvin found a buddy his size in little 18-month old Ella. They played for about 15 minutes, following each other around and then posed for pictures.

Norah Jones + M. Ward = Oh So Pretty Tunes

So I saw the lovely Norah Jones and M. Ward last night at Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) and it was gorgeous as expected. First of all, PPAC is this crazy old building with lush red curtains and tons of ornate gold detailing and the like--kind of like an opera house, so it was a great venue to see this particularly cozy show on an icky Providence evening.

My only complaint was that the pricey tickets (we were the youngest people there probably so she knows her audience $$) had us pretty far from the stage and packed in like sardines.

Anyway, M. Ward is really wonderful but I want to like him more than I actually do. He's clearly a very talented guitar player and he has a very unique and pleasant voice but his songs are very meandering and relaxed which can alternately be chill and boring. I like him best as an addition to other artists I love: he played with Bright Eyes when I saw them at Somerville and was a really fantastic addition and came and dueted on a couple of songs last night with Jones which was really great. P.S.: M. Ward guests on Bright Eyes' new Casadaga, out now (but I haven't had a chance to spend any time with it yet).

Norah Jones and her band were fantastic. They gave just the highest quality performances, she has an absolutely breathtaking voice, the lighting and set were really complementary and the band is so tight--sometimes jazzy (for the older stuff), but not in a way that would turn me off(somebody needs to teach me about good jazz) and sometimes old-time string bandy (from her new stuff). She is really adorable too--she wore a flirty little dress like the one on the cover of her album and these sparkly Dorthy shoes and told nice little anecdotes to the audience. Apparently she went to the mall (the highlight of all Providence) and as somebody was trying to sell her something, he said, "Hey, you look like Norah Jones," to which she replied, "Yeah I get that a lot." The guy then said, "Yeah, i don't like her that much." And then he realized it was her: "You're are her, aren't you?" Norah: "I'm afraid so." Oops.

She told us she didn't cry herself to sleep or anything and the crowd gave her lots of love so she'll be alright.
Providence Place, the site of the crime. Gotta love that gaudy monstrosity, don't you?

Cold War Kids on MTV?

I like the Cold War Kids quite a lot and apparently so do the dudes (and dudettes) who conspire to bring you Date My Mom, My Super Sweet 16, The Hillz (*ok i watch this one) and other quality programming on MTV. Really? You think that this song and video really fits in between that God awful Gwen Stefani thing that I can't get out of my head and the Fergalicious monstrosity? Really? OK....I don't get it at all. But good for them, I think. Here's the video.

And this is true. I know because as I was leaving the gym, one of the few times I see MTV, there it was, a 20 sec. clip of this video right between re-runs of The Real World and Next or some bullshit. Maybe that's what they mean by heavy rotation now? 20 seconds in between TV shows while credits are rolling?
CWK Myspace

Elvis Perkins and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Rock the New Lupos

Elvis Perkins w/ Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands

One week ago (sorry for the delay), I saw Elvis Perkins in Dearland and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at the new and greatly improved Lupos Heartbreak Hotel. Elvis Perkins and his long-time friends are AMAZING! They are fantastic performers, musicians, and seem like genuinely nice dudes. It was kind of like a homecoming for them because all of them (I think) went to Brown at some point and in the recent months they have been touring with hot bands like Cold War Kids (awesome) and now CYHSY. Elvis' songs are alternately sad, rollicking, fun, and always beautiful. If you are depressed about the state of music today (like many of us are) and look for something that echoes the classic singer-songwriters, this is the band for you. They have a rich, timeless sound that reverberated through the hall of the newly classed-up Lupos (*I have seen so many shows at Lupos during my years at Brown and it is so much better now that they took the pole-dancing cages out and added lots of chandeliers and loungey couches). Bringham Brough's upright bass sounds so wonderful and full and there's lots of harmonica, acoustic guitar, keys and a cool old accordion type thingy. Nick Kinsey is also really fun on the drums.

Elvis (whose Dad was Norman Bates) has a voice that sounds haunted and strong at the same time and there's a sweet variety in his songs (i.e. they're not all sleepy singer-songwritery types--some are up-tempo and really fun sing-alongs).



Clap Your Hands was also really fun but in a totally different way. After Elvis Perkins I knew the show would be all downhill because they were so freaking good. CYHSY were great though. They're an uber-indie band w/lots of whiny singing and affected rocking out--I had a great time dancing my ass off and so did everyone else. When you can understand what Alec Ounsworth is singing like in "Satan Said Dance" (what a perfect indie anthem title) they're great to sing along to.


Check out their songs on MySpace:
Elvis Perkins
Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Some videos I took of Elvis Perkins:
While You Were Sleeping:


All Night Without Love:

Jamming(sorry the sound sucks, but you get the idea):





Tonight, I'm off to see M Ward and Norah Jones! I live a charmed musical life ( :

JL on Imus

My Dad wrote an excellent article on Imus' racist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team for the Huffington Post. It's a direct assessment of the controversy that gets to the heart of the matter: racism. It is reprinted here and you can see it on HuffPo here.

Imus' Words: Recognizing Real Racism
The Imus controversy is obviously a surrogate for the current discussion of race. In essence, in America the accusation that someone is playing the "race card" is taken much more seriously than any charge of "racism" itself. Racism is considered in some quarters as the bogus slogan of so called "race hustlers." So pervasive has this approach and its variants become, that even "centrists" refuse to recognize real and vicious racism when it is staring them in the face--or at the other end of the telephone.

Imus' references to the Rutgers team as "nappy headed hos" is the real thing, pure racism--and Imus, as intelligent as he can be about many things, including the war--is a racist. The past reference to the estimable Gwen Ifill as a "cleaning lady" is an Imus "classic." His producer, Bernard McGuirk, makes clear his distaste for black people with his constant sneers and asides, his ugly sarcasm and his outright viciousness. Racist talk is, in the end, generally the product of racist minds. (And the "everybody does it" whine, even black people, does not make Imus and McGuirk's racism any less immoral.)
While trying to make sense of this incident, here are four points to keep in mind:

1. For some reason, people who make no secret of the fact that they despise Al Sharpton feel that they are doing something meaningful by engaging with him at times of crisis on racial issues. In going to him, they are seeking out someone who they think is disliked by large portions of the white audience, which they think puts them at an advantage. In the long run it doesn't. But instead of this knee jerk move, how about for once agreeing to talk to a professional news person like Tavis Smiley, an exceptional broadcaster, Errol Lewis of the New York Daily News, a terrific writer and broadcaster, the under appreciated Bob Herbert of the New York Times, or for that matter, Clarence Page, who challenged Imus on race many years ago, and was never heard from again on his airwaves. (Tom Oliphant, perhaps Mr. Page was more deserving of your solidarity than Imus is.) The assumption that the only place one has to go to make "media peace" is with Sharpton is in its own way subtly racist. And the MSM encourages it.

2. There is nothing like authentic truth tellers to cut across media gamesmanship. In this case, the eloquence of the Rutgers teammates and coach were so refreshingly genuine and heartfelt--and morally clear-- that it should shame not only Imus but his high profile defenders. This was a nasty, bullying attack by an incredibly powerful broadcaster on these excellent young women who showed more class and grace than anyone else in this saga.

3. I remain astounded by the defenses of Imus' racism by people who obviously know better, starting with the usually excellent Tom Oliphant, as well as Howard Fineman (who seemed to lose sight of the fact that this is a moral issue, not a damage control, tactical issue.). And by the way, Imus is not being attacked for the good things he has done, which appear to be numerous, but for his racism, which appears to be pervasive. Al Roker's response today is so much more forthright and direct than anything coming from Imus' gang.

4. Finally, its hard to believe that much of the media is trivializing the whole thing by going with the "Can Imus Hang On" (CNN) line. I have no idea if he will lose his job or not. And I have no interest in the armchair issue of what strategy and media management techniques he should use next. I do know that if he and McGuirk keep their jobs, not one of the friends of Imus should go on his show again without taking him on relentlessly on the issue of his racism--and this should include Doris Kearns Goodwin, Frank Rich, Michael Beschloss, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, John Kerry, Craig Crawford, Joe LIeberman, Tom Friedman and all the rest. Because it is perfectly clear that he and McGuirk don't get it yet and I suspect (although I can't know) that they don't really want to.

Jon Landau,

Former rock critic and current artist manager

Imus' original comments:


The original lame apology:


With Al Sharpton:


On the Today Show:


Al Roker's response.

Oh man.....

I can't believe I missed this!!!!!

These are my guys right here! That's Craig Finn, leader of THE HOLD STEADY fulfilling his dream of singing with the Boss man himself at the Bruce Springsteen Tribute at Carnegie Hall last Thursday. This was at the end of the show when everyone who had performed came out to sing "Rosalita." It seems like such a joyous moment, I'm sad I missed so many great young singers with someone they look up to.

Here was the Setlist:
01 "Nebraska" (Steve Earle)
02 "Streets Of Philadelphia" (The Bacon Brothers)
03 "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" (Elysian Fields)
04 "The River" (Josh Ritter"
05 "Because The Night" (Patti Smith)
06 "The Rising" (Marah)
07 "My City's In Ruins" (The Holmes Brothers w/ Young Peoples Chorus)
08 "Brilliant Disguise" (Robin Holcombe)
09 "Spirit In The Night" (North Mississippi All-Stars)
10 "New York Serenade" (Uri Cane)
11 "Cover Me" (Juliana Hatfield)
12 "One Step Up" (Low Stars)
13 "Thunder Road" (Badly Drawn Boy)
14 "Born In The U.S.A." (Joseph Arthur)
15 "Dancin' In The Dark" (Pete Yorn)
16 "Hungry Heart" (Jesse Malin & Ronnie Spector)
17 "I'm Going Down" (M. Ward)
18. "57 Channels" (Odetta)
19 "Atlantic City" (The Hold Steady)
20 "The Promised Land" (The Boss)
21 "Rosalita" (The Boss)
22 "Rosalita" (Bruce Springsteen And The Finn Street Band)

I am dying to hear/see the Hold Steady's version of "Atlantic City" and Joseph Arthur's "Born in the USA"--really the whole thing. I'm not sure if they are going to be putting an album out, but I hope somebody posts some of these!

Quick Hold Steady aside: Paste put the them on the cover this month--good call guys. I like that mag, it has pretty pictures and you usually get a CD when you buy the print version so that's a bonus.


Here's the new video for Stuck Between Stations, one of the finest tracks off Boys and Girls in America. STUCK BETWEEN STATIONS - The Hold Steady


Pete Yorn also played his beautiful version of "Dancing in the Dark" which I kind sorta like better than the original (sorry dad).


Joseph Arthur, "Born in the U.S.A."

My dad said this was particularly excellent.

Odetta with her funny, half-spoken, half-sung version of "57 Channels:"


I'm desperately hoping some better YouTube videos and audio's of this come out, but until then, Stereogum has a list of vids here.

All these pics are from Fresh Bread who was there.

There's also a great NYT write-up here.

I would sigh and say, I'll be there next time, but this seemed like a once in a lifetime kinda deal. No matter, I've had plenty of my own share of amazing Bruce experiences, like these 2 songs here:
Valentines Day
Real World

On that note, Happy Easter and goodnight.

The Old Jew

A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time.

So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was walking slowly up to the holy site.

She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane in a very slow fashion , she approached him for an interview.

"Pardon me Sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN, What's your name?"

"Maury Fishbein" he replied.

"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?

"For about 60 years."

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims. I pray for all the Wars and hatred to stop, I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man."

"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"

"Like I'm talking to a fuckin' wall."

Kings of Leon Rock My World

“People call us renegades, we like living crazy. We like taking on this town, some people’s getting lazy. I don’t’ care what nobody says, no I’m going to be her lover. Always mad and usually drunk but I love her like no other…”

These lines from Because of the Times’ opening track “Knocked Up” pretty much sum up the Kings of Leon: drunken outlaws driving around, chasing a good time and bad women. On their huge third album, out today, the Kings add something else a little unexpected given their penchant for those aforementioned pastimes: musical maturity.

One of the best things about this band is that each album has shown marked development and improvement from the previous one without losing the essence of their sound. The first album Youth and Young Manhood has “Trani” which is probably still my favorite song and Aha Shake is underrated and excellent. Here’s “Trani” from Bonnaroo 2004 (I wasn’t there but I’ve seen it live and this song is a sick way to close a set).


Because of the Times, however, is the biggest jump for them: you can actually understand most of what brother Caleb sings, the instruments are given much more space to show off and sound big but not cheesy (like, say, the Killers), and Nathan Followill is driving on the drums--really interesting and clean. They experiment with new sounds without losing the nasty southern rocking soul that brought them a devoted following in the first place. Here’s one of my favorite tracks, the first single off the record called “On Call:”


The opening chords off “Knocked Up” and several other songs sound like something epic off a U2 track. Perhaps during their stint opening for that biggest band in the world, the Tennessee-based Kings set their sights a little higher than trying to one up southern fried rock bands like the Black Crowes: on their ambitious and brilliantly produced third album it shows. U2 isn’t the only new influence that can be heard in the Kings’ new and enriched sound: Red Hot Chili Peppers (“McFearless”), the Mars Volta, and the requisite Bob Dylan (check out their quotation of the beautiful “ 4th Time Around” on “The Runner”—Kings of Leon also opened for Dylan who loves them) also have made their impression on the young Followill boys. Zeppelin and Skynard still remain one of their biggest points of reference, but the last track “Arizona” even takes a complete 180 and sounds a little bit like really amazing, weirdly tripped out 80’s power pop to me.

McFearless:


Here are 2 of my faves:
Fans
Ragoo
I know I included a lot of video today and that's not just because the Kings of Leon are fun to look at, though they really are. It's just easier.

This is the kind of album you want to turn up and speed around too. Because of the Times is out today. I suggest you buy it.

Take Me Out to the Twins Game

My favorite rockers The Hold Steady have recorded a version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" for Craig Finn's favorite hometown team, the Twins.

The song is here, and a video of them recording is here.

I like this band. They have a funny name.

It is Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin.
They look kind of like babies, except the dude on the left. I wonder how old they are.


They have a new song here.

Hypocrite says what?

Potential Presidential nominee (oh god) calls Spanish language the language of the ghetto. Dumbass.

Among Newt's other credentials for President is his opposition to the 1st Amendment. Here's a great Keith Olbermann ass-whopping of the guy.

And, lest we forget, the leader of Clinton's inquisition was having an affair at the same freaking time:

What does it all mean?

Today I'm starting a new section of posts entitled "What does it all mean?" in which I post music-industry news and think about....what it all means.

First up: From a couple of weeks back, the Big Four record labels settled with the FCC for $12.5 million (not billion, million, which is chump change for them) for their most recent payola lawsuit. They also voluntarily made a deal with the American Association of Independent Music to set aside a bunch of half-hour blocks for independent music on the radio. So, stay tuned to terrestrial radio at around 4am for a fleeting block of music that isn't Nickleback or terrible. More here and here.

And today's news: EMI will be the first major to lift the DRM (digital rights management) copy-protection anti-piracy system currently in place on the label’s online catalogue. Play songs wherever you want, whenever you want, in better quality. The catch? 30 cents more, so not for cheapskates. (via Rockdaily)

And now for something completely different...

From the sometimes obnoxiously repetitive throbbing bass, drums and synths of house music to the sometimes sappy singer-songwriters, I found something pretty for this yucky Monday morning...err afternoon. Here's Ray LaMontagne, a guy I used to love, who now I like a lot, sometimes, with Damien Rice (ditto). They're on a french music show doing the Bee Gee's song "To Love Somebody."

Go to I am Fuel, You are Friends to DL.

House Music Please

And now after that moment of silence, we can move onto more uplifting pastures like the fields of the Ultra Music Festival. I was just in Florida on my Spring Break where I caught Ultra and the Winter Music Conference in Miami--home of big fake boobs, trashy Euros, guys jacked up on steroids and more party people in one place
than I've ever seen before. It was crazy--unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Case in point:
This was just one of many serious getups (or lack thereof) we saw at Ultra--the foremost festival event in the U.S. for DJ's and electronic music of all sorts--house, techno, hip-hop, and lots of other genres I couldn't even begin to recognize. The festival was complemented by a constant cluterfuck of pool parties, club events, panels, showcases, expos and more. At any given time you could wander into a party and bump into the next big thing. We were followed by lots of heavy bass and drums wherever we went--day and night to help us keep the party flowing.

The night we got in we saw DJ Sasha and John Digweed at the monster club Mansion. They are both amazing--so much energy, power, and emotion.
Towards the end of the night, one of the several writhing, mostly-naked dancers these DJ's like to have on stage since they can't do much but pound their fists behind the boards walked into the massive crowd with some fire. Delightful:

Check out Sasha remixing Thom Yorke's The Eraser: That's the kind of energy I'm talking about!

Here we have another set of winners who, in case you needed help figuring out what they were on, wrote "XTC" on their legs:

Also caught the end of Miss Kittin, who sounded pretty gorgeous, although I wasn't thrilled about the stuff I heard on her website and Myspace.
Deep Dish and their dancers really got the crowd going: You might recognize them from "Say Hello" which they started with and segued into a sweet remix of "The Kids Aren't Alright" which was a popular track all weekend.


On day 2 we escaped a downpour to catch Fatboy Slim in the big tent--it was so steamy because of the rain and everyone dancing their asses off but awesome!






By the by, sorry for the extended hiatus! This blogging thing is hard to do every day...I wonder how so many of the pros do this all day now. The big blogs update like every 10 minutes, but I guess they employ people and pour all their time and energy into it. Anyway, more for me, the non-pro tomorrow!

I'm baaaaack....

...but sadly my trusty Chucks, pictured at our last meeting above, did not make it. We were inseparable for so long, but their soles were wearing thin because I wore them pretty much every day. The downpour on Day 2 of our journey into rave-world in Miami was what finally did them in--cracked and soggy, I decided to leave them behind. You will be missed, shiny gold shoes. You will be missed.

Stay tuned to see where my shoes took me on Spring Break before they met their match.

Weekend Wrap-Up

How was everyone's weekend? Good, good. My friend Eliot visited and a rollicking great time was had by all. Here he is, making a deal, perhaps? I like how he is secure enough in his manliness to swill that fruity pink cocktail. Well played, my friend. I know they were delicious. Dan, with the flowing red locks in the background there, also made an appearance this weekend and to my great delight, he is now sporting a porn-star style handlebar moustache (unfortunately I was unable to document it but I'm sure he will, so maybe I can put it up in the future...) Again, well played, my boys.
In other news, I've had the Arcade Fire song,"Neon Bible" stuck in my head pretty much for the past 72 hours and I think I've infected several other people. It's really hypnotic--almost like a trance, and the symbolism is so original(well actually I think it comes from a John Kennedy Toole novel and there was also a movie) and poignant, it's hard to shake. Our culture is dictated by the neon signs of mega stores like Wal-Mart and the glow of computer screens, cell phones, etc. and we're all going to burn!

A vial of hope and a vial of pain,/in the light they both looked the same./Poured them out on into the world/on every boy and every girl./ It's in the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible/Not much chance for survival, if the Neon Bible is right."
Yikes...

We also saw Zodiac and despite it being like 5928340928734092387 hours long, it was pretty interesting and kind of creepy. This is a complaint I have about just about every movie I see--why give an audience what you can accomplish in 1.5 hours in 3? It doesn't take crack-squad of marketing geniuses to figure out that we all have A.D.D...Why else would we sit in front of the TV, texting our friends, while IMing on the computer and skimming our homework? I understand that at $10 a pop, film makers want to make sure the audience is getting what they paid for but, like in most things, being concise is key and also a lot more difficult. Anyway, the main point being, Zodiac, good film, even though it is too long. Excellent acting by Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. in the very fitting role of mad, drunken crime beat reporter.

Saw The Hold Steady in the Sunday Styles section--there's something to wrap your head around: The bar band, out at the bar, talking about how they still have to work their day jobs (at the bar) when they're not on tour...I don't know why I was surprised considering how the music industry works today, but I was.


Also, Wolf Parade might have new material sometime in the near future, according to Pitchfork. I love this band a lot, though you may not...It's really a love 'em or hate 'em kinda deal because the singers' voices can be kind of abrasive but I just think they're quirky and fun. 3 great songs from Apologies to the Queen Mary (via Subpop):
My Father's Son
Shine a Light
I'll Believe In Anything (Video)

Ok, off to radio class. Big post about the pioneering all black radio station, WDIA is forthcoming so people get ready!

This is amazing.

I love this band Menomena (great name...) and you will too, especially if you are of the Broken Social Scene persuasion: lots of atmospheric sounds, originality, diversity....Their new video is so freaking funny. In it, the Grim Reaper visits the band at practice and they proceed to reveal their dying wishes(Kanye will produce their final album, farewell tour on zepplin, etc), and do everything they've ever wanted to: what life would be complete without skateboarding on trampolines? Check it out here.

If you like it, you can also stream all of Friend and Foe, their new album at Barsuk.

Rock and Roll Bands

I saw this great review of the Thermals' show at the Bowery Ballroom on Sunday night and remembered how awesome they are. The Thermals open for The Hold Steady sometimes, who are sooooooo awesome. These two bands are very similar in a couple of ways: they both rock out way hard, lots of punk and garage rock influences, lots of fucked up songs about religion, and they both have um, "unorthodox singers." Download "Here's to Your Future" and "A Pillar of Salt" FREE here. These tracks will get you jumping around your room. Also great for driving.

We went on a rock and roll pilgrimage over Christmas break in a blizzard (!) to see The Hold Steady at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. The band, who has been compared to Springsteen more times than those other bands these days (i.e. The Killers--bleh), deserve it. They packed them in and it was, obviously, a high point:
Then, I got closer, and blurrier apparently.



















And closer still...









The Hold Steady are not what you might call a "pretty" rock band (for that, go back to Kings of Leon), but they rock so hard and they are so earnest and funny. They make me excited about music again. Great night. Great bands.

The Hold Steady Stuck Between Stations

Liar Liar Pants on Fire!

Sweet justice

"Arty" Horror Movies

I saw Pan's Labyrinth last night and it was so heavy and disturbing and gratuitously violent that I felt sick to my stomach upon leaving the theater. I had been meaning to see the film and when it won all the Oscars, I figured it had to be as great as everyone said it was(brilliant logic, I know). Well, on the 3 fronts the Academy judged it to be the best (Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup) it was, in fact, fantastic. The acting was pretty strong and the sound effects and production were incredible, as well. But the story was so gruesomely dark and unrelenting I had a hard time focusing on these aspects.

Against the backdrop of Franco's Spain, an innocent little girl tries to enter a fantastical world where she can escape. Aside from that, I really didn't know what I was getting into before seeing this movie--I had read a little blurb and the NYT review that mentioned fairy tales--but this is definitely not what fairy tales conjure up in my mind. The movie succeeds in capturing the darkness and fear of the historical time period, but it falls way short of providing the hopeful message I think it ultimately aims for.

Music on the Make

My friend Sean, who just became a daddy (!!), sent me the link for a video of his brother Tash' band, The London Souls rocking out at Sin-E in NYC. They are a super-talented young band with lots of 60's rock influences . They can jam with the best and they've got a ton of personality. As one poster wrote, "Like the best of Cream joins Led Zep live to jam with the Dead. Give us more!" My thoughts exactly. Here's the vid.

Bright Eyes....the entertainer?

On Wednesday night at the old and intimate Somerville Theatre just outside of Boston, Bright Eyes played perhaps the most awkward show I have ever been to. And it was awesome. At one point early in the show frontman Conor Oberst goes, "Somebody told me the other day that I wasn't a good entertainer. So I'm trying harder to entertain. How am I doing?" And then he did a weird little jig followed by some kind of ballet twirl to a confused smattering of applause from about half the audience. Oh Conor. You're such an uncomfortable, pale and skinny indie kid, but you're so endearing. All the little girls thought so, too.

The band, enriched immensely by the presence of M. Ward , was really tight and Conor was really loose, as in, he actually talked to the crowd and seemed like he was enjoying himself. The last time I saw them, Oberst was wasted and kind of hostile to anyone who yelled anything so this was definitely different. The 27 year old singer, who's been recording since he was 13, has definitely grown up. The show had a decidedly country-twang bent that only M Ward lightened. He's great. His voice really transports you to some other place--I'm not sure exactly where but it's eerie and trippy. The set drew heavily on 2005's I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and new material from Four Winds and Cassadaga. Conor's "beautiful band" included Rachel Blumberg rocking out on drums, long-time Bright Eyes members Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott and others. When M. Ward came out about half-way through, the sound immediately became richer and more interesting. We missed his opening set because I always get lost driving in Boston and we were hungry, but we got to hear some of his new songs towards the end of the Bright Eyes set when they did some beautiful collaborations. I liked some of M Ward's hypnotic, critically acclaimed Post-War, but ultimately found it a little boring and repetitive. With Bright Eyes (who he previously joined on the Vote for Change shows), however, M. Ward is a perfect addition.

Oberst mixed a little bit of politics into the newly mature show, introducing "Old Soul Song" as "Mission Accomplished," playing on the song's lyrics about the huge anti-war protest in New York in 2004. Mostly though, it was about the music. Four Winds and some of the other new tunes sounded particularly rich. Sadly, though, the crowd in this amazing venue was pretty lame, lame, lamo...Oberst was alternately kind of patronizing and then really earnest and sincere. At one point he asked, "Are you guys bored? You guys are bored. I can tell. See, whenever I go to shows or something, I'll get bored. But then when I get home, I'll want to be there again because I'll be bored. So you guys remember that when you're at home tonight, bored, and looking at a boyfriend you don't like anymore." The crowd sat through the whole show until the encore, responded weakly to great performances and weird banter from the stage and yelled the stupidest shit: lots of "I lovvvvvvvveeeeeeeee you, CONOR!!!", and song requests included "Happy Birthday to Chris" and "Girl From North County Fair" (which actually would have been fitting and cool since it's my favorite Dylan song ever).

When the band came back on for the encore, Oberst said, "You guys are the best. You make me feel like Dolly Parton. Or Willie Nelson. Or somebody legitimate, at least." This statement gives you some insight into where Bright Eyes is drawing their inspiration these days. The highlights were a cover of John Prine's "Crazy As a Loon" and the finale when Conor came out into the crowd singing "Laura Laurent." He was mobbed by the teenie-boppers as he sang out of breath and out of key and then let the girls take over. It was pretty funny watching the tech guys trying to keep up with the band moving all over the stage, knocking down mic stands and getting tangled in wires. I guess they haven't grown up all that much.

A brief rant about "Genius"

So my computer has been on the fritz for the past week and now it is in the Mac hospital with those "Geniuses" getting the hard drive or something scary called the logic board replaced. First off, those "Geniuses" kinda bug me. I was in the Providence store 3 times in 5 days trying to get the same problem fixed and these dudes, while they certainly know more than me, seem kind of clueless and also really slow. One of them thought a simple software update was the cause of my troubles but nooo, as soon as I get home my computer freezes again and comes back on with a big fat ? and then an ominous



Then there's this other thing. Were you aware that all it takes to become a genius is a 2 week training course? I also did some impromptu investigative reporting and learned that there is not a single female genius in all of Providence Place (the mall). Granted, there are only 4 Geniuses total, but still, I don't think I'm comfortable with this definition they seem to be working with.

Then, Google had the nerve to disable my fledgling blog because they thought it was spam! Ugh. I was so sad. So sad. And this is when I realized I am completely and totally addicted to my computer and the internets. So much so that I am in the library now, writing this, instead of doing something productive so I won't have to do it after I see BRIGHT EYES tonight. OK, enough ranting.

On the upside, I am seeing Bright Eyes tonight and I also want to thank that special someone who hooked me up with the brand, spanking new Kings of Leon (not out for a month) after reading the blog...Review and tidbits will be forthcoming cuz you know I'll be rocking out to it on the way to the show tonight.

Lauren's here!!!

My best friend Lauren was here visiting for the weekend...we had a great time, ate my favorite--sushi and spaghetti (not together), and played with my dog Calvin. That's her bowling in my friend's crazy jacket at my birthday this year--it was so fun!

But not as fun as big 21 last year...















Yes, my cake was a Reese's peanut butter cup I-Pod cake. It was the best thing ever.


That's my wonderful boyfriend Phil. He's the sweetest...














And of course, it will be hard to ever beat taking shots of Patron with the Boss:

On that note...back to the books. Boo.