Good Music Videos

Hey Champ- Cold Dust Girl

Good Music Videos

Amazing Baby- Headdress

Amazing Baby - Headdress - Uncensored from Shangri-La Music on Vimeo.

Best Songs Of The First Half Of 2009 (5 Songs I Am Into Right Now)

Silversun Pickups- Surrounded (And Spiraling)

“Surrounded.

Let's romanticize our beloved memories

Surrounded

Let's demonize our softest injuries

Surrounded

Can we get behind distortion and liberties

Surrounded

We're surrounded, spiraling”

At first I wasn’t crazy about the latest Silversun Pickups record, Swoon. After I gave it another chance, I realized I was wrong. This song actually has the sounds of both where the band came from as well as where they are going with their own sound.

Metric- Satellite Mind

“coming home 'cause i want to

hang out with the starlet

stare up at the ceiling

preview of a screening

flashback of a feeling

sick sense of a calling

heard you fuck through the wall

I heard you fuck when I'm bored”

This song seems to grow on my more every time I hear it. Fantasies may be my favorite record of the year so far, as I have mentioned before. This tack is oozing with everything that is Metric, its rocking and its sexy as hell.

White Rabbits- Percussion Gun

“All your time

well crawl dignifed

And now it seems to be cut & dry

So I know which way to run

You're tired my love

I feel the same”

This song isn’t as much about the lyrics but I had to keep this posting uniform. This song is based completely on the drums. The drums are easily the most catchy part of the song making this the catchiest tune of the year (by far).

The Horrors- Sea Within A Sea

“Marching to the sea
their dreams stay in the shadows

their dreams stay firmly rooted in the shallows

See the scraping sky

See my destination there tonight”

This song isn’t much about they lyrics either. Frankly, I lot of the time you can’t even understand what the hell Faris Rotter is even saying. This song is like two really good dance tracks in one.

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s- Heads Will Roll

"Dripping with alchemy

shiver stop shivering

The glitter's all wet

You're all chrome
The men cry out

The Girls cry out

The men cry out

Oh no”

I’ve never been a huge YYY’s fan, but they made this song just at the right time. I have been on an electric/dance kick as you have seen lately. This is certainly one of the better songs to fit that category this year.

Attack! Attack! UK, Boobies (Good Music Videos)

Front Magazine does it again...

Here is a video from our friends Attack! Attack! UK, featuring some of the gorgeous girls from the pages of Front Magazine. This link will take you to Front Magazine's website and this video is not safe for work.

You And Me


VID: SUPER-SEXY FRONT GIRLS

Shows This Past Week

Metric/Sebastien Grainger
Terminal 5
http://www.myspace.com/metricband
http://www.myspace.com/sebastiengrainger

Its not often that a show bill is exciting enough that you feel the need to get there as early as possible. When one of your all time favorites is headlining and one your new favorites is opening, you have to do just that. Both bands were great. This was actually Metric’s best show I have seen in a few years. Emily and the gang were on, and I mean very on. The performance was great and they were working with the crowd keeping everyone engaged the whole time. The NYC crowd was slow to warm up to Sebastien Grainger but seemed to get into it as the night went on. He finished with his dance track with was probably smart. The only problem with finishing they way he did, was a drunk girl in front of us managed to get so drunk before they finished that she placed a pile of thick red liquid on the floor that resembled a Jamba Juice smoothie. It is very impressive when people throw up before the headlining band even starts. The crowd seemed to make a circle around the honk pile so they didn't step in it butby the time Metric came out to do there thing, people seemed to not care anymore and dozens of people were standing in it...yum.

Non Music Related High Point
The DJ between sets was on point! Playing stuff MSTRKRFT to The Horrors to Silversun Pickups

A Place To Bury Strangers/Secret Machines
Santos Party House
http://www.myspace.com/aplacetoburystragers
http://www.myspace.com/secretmachines

I have seen A Place To Bury Strangers before. This was the smallest room I had seen them in. It was loud. It was really loud. It was really fucking loud. I still really dug it though. It was cool seeing a band that plays such big sounds in as intimate setting as Santos Party House. If you have never seend A Place To Bury Strangers before, it kind of resembles a fight with sound and flashing lights. It is very high energy (considering the guys don't move and neither does most of the crowd). Secret Machines were the headliners but I couldn’t stay as long as I would have liked to. I have seen them before and they are always a good show.

Non Music Related High Point
An old friend of mine is now a member of the Secret Machines so it was good hang with him for a little bit before they went on.

Psychostick Wants You To Win Stuff...

So go do it, fucker.

You can win an iPod dock from Altec Lansing.

Check out the "Girl Directions" contest and Sandwich, which is not the first album form Psychostick.

http://www.rockridgemusic.com/sandwichcontest/ 

Good Music Videos

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Heads Will Roll

Good Music Videos

Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains- Who Do We Care For?

Good Music Videos

The Horrors- Sea Within A Sea

FRONT GIRLS: THE MEGAMIX PART ONE (Good Music Videos)

Here is a video from Front Magazine from our friends Attack! Attack! UK, featuring some of the gorgous girls from the pages of Front Magazine. This link will take you to Front Magazine's website and this video is not safe for work.

You And Me

FRONT GIRLS: THE MEGAMIX PART ONE

Posted using ShareThis

Good Music Videos

Metric gives us two new videos from Fantasies.

Sick Muse

Gimmie Sympathy

Good Music Videos

I know this is a repost, but last time Universal Music Group decided to pull the plug, but i found it from another source... enjoy one of my favorite videos ever.

Queens of The Stone Age- Go With The Flow

Queens Of The Stone Age - Go With The Flow
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup. - Explore more music videos.

Good Music Videos

Silversun Pickups- Panic Switch

Good Music Videos

White Rabbits- Percussion Gun

Win A Free Pair Of Earphones

Our friends from HalfDown Thomas along with Alternative Addiction are giving away 3 sets of earphones from Altec Lansing.

Check it out if you want to win stuff for doing nothing! All you have to do is go to the link below fill in your name and address where you want your prize to be sent, and hope that you win. You have until 6/15 but you might as well get this done now so you don't forget.

http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/win/giveaways/halfdownthomas.asp

Beautifully Strange from HaflDown Thomas is available now and was produced by 3 Doors Down's Chris Henderson. Check'em out at:

http://www.myspace.com/halfdownthomas

Good Music Video

Kutiman-Thru-you - 01 - Mother of All Funk Chords

Sandwich "To Go" Free Downloads

As I mentioned earlier this month, Psychostick has returned with their second album. I also mentioned its called Sandwich.

This week it will be on sale for $7.99 at Best Buy so go get it...

Here is a link for a Sandwich "To Go" from Psychostick... enjoy, jerks.

PSYCHOSTICK SANDWICH "TO-GO" CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: http://www.rockridgemusic.com/assets/psychostick_sandwich.zip

Another Classic Shot For My Wall

What was a solitary photo of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed by Mick Rock is now part of a collection.

I added this above piece. This of course is Tom Waits by Henry Diltz in 1980. Looks damn good if you ask me... I should know, its in my living room.

This came courtesy of the Morrison Hotel. I got it for free for the purchase of the other one. Thanks guys.

I likely will have to look elsewhere but I think Ian Curtis is next...

Capps Mourns Loss of Evans But Vows To Carry On

EVANSCAPPS, the side project of Ean Evans (bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Bobby Capps (keyboardist for .38 Special), released its album, “Last Time,” today, May 12th, via Rock Ridge Music. As has been widely reported in the media, Evans passed away on May 6th after losing his battle with cancer. He was 48. Rock Ridge Music plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the album in Evans’ name to Lyrics For Life (http://www.lyricsforlife.org/), a charity founded by labelmates Sister Hazel that benefits children with cancer and their families

The album is available f.y.e. For your entertainment stores nationwide and at fye.com, as well as via online music download portals. “Last Time” features eleven songs of “Southern alternative metal,” as Evans dubbed their sound. Capps provides the lead vocals with Evans on guitar on an album that allowed each artist to showcase their talents in a harder rock vein than either has played in their other bands.

Says Capps about Evans: “Although I am having a hard time with all of this, I made a promise to Ean, and I intend to see it through. I have consulted with Ean's family, and we have all agreed that we should carry the torch that he ignited three years ago when we started this CD. One of his biggest dreams was to have this music heard. He was so proud when the project was finally signed and the record was going to get the distribution it so well deserved. I know in my heart of hearts that he is smiling down on us today, proud that our efforts will finally have a chance to be heard. He always said, ‘This music will do the talking if we can just get people to hear it.’”

Prior to his passing, Evans said about the record: “A lot of time, energy, and the love of many friends went into this album. The music is new with a heavy edge and a deep meaning. It has been in our hearts for a long time and finally we can share it with the world. This journey has been a roller coaster, but the timing of everything is perfect. My hope is that everyone who hears this album will be moved to change something that is wrong into something that is right for the sake of all mankind.”

“This CD is one of my greatest personal achievements,” Capps says, “and it would not have been possible without one of the greatest musicians I've ever met, Ean Evans. He believed in me like no one else has. His guitar work on this CD rivals some of the best in the world. A few weeks ago he asked me to carry on. I will do everything in my power to keep his memory, spirit, and music alive. I will carry on for you, brother.”

The duo of Evans and Capps met when .38 Special opened for Lynryd Skynyrd on tour in 2003. Within several months of meeting, the two were already hard at work on the music that would become the basis for “Last Time.” The album was originally released via digital download in 2006, but the current version was rerecorded and remixed. Joining Capps and Evans in the recording studio were: session drummer Greg Morrow; Todd Harrell (3 Doors Down) and Todde Lawton (Toby Mac), (both contributed some bass parts); Rickey Medlocke (Lynryd Skynyrd, Blackfoot) (who was involved on the guitar front). Some additional friends helped out as well: John Simpson (keyboards), Hoyt Allen (background vocals), Tim Cabe (guitar), and Gordon Mote (organ/strings).

http://www.myspace.com/evanscapps

"Hell If I Know" –
http://vista.streamguys.com/jspiewak/ec_hell.wma

"Follow The Morning Sun" -
http://vista.streamguys.com/jspiewak/ec_follow.wma

The Dead Weather Announce Release Date & Tour

So it turns out that "one and only show" at Bowery Ballroom was far from, well, that. The Dead Weather have announced a tour to support their debut album called, Horehound.

The record will be out 7/14 on Third Man (Jack White's new studio/label in Nashville).

The Dead Weather Tour Dates:
06.11.09 - Louisville, KY (City Block)
07.13.09 - Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
07.14.09 - Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
07.16.09 - New York, NY (Terminal 5)
07.18.09 - Boston, MA (House Of Blues)
07.19.09 - Ottawa, Canada (Ottawa Blues Festival)
07.21.09 - Montreal, Canada (Olympia De Montreal)
07.22.09 - Toronto, Canada (Kool Haus)
07.24.09 - Detroit, MI (The Fillmore)
07.25.09 - Columbus, OH (The LC Pavillion)
07.27.09 - Minneapolis, MN (First Avenue)
07.28.09 - Chicago, IL (Vic Theatre)
07.29.09 - Chicago, IL (Vic Theatre)
07.30.09 - Nashville, TN (War Memorial Auditorium)
08.17.09 - Denver, CO (Ogden Theatre)
08.18.09 - Salt Lake City, UT (The Depot)
08.20.09 - Seattle, WA (Paramount Theatre)
08.21.09 - Vancouver, Canada (Commodore Ballroom)
08.22.09 - Vancouver, Canada (Commodore Ballroom)
08.23.09 - Portland, OR (Roseland Theater)
08.25.09 - Los Angeles, CA (Wiltern Theatre)
08.27.09 - Pomona, CA (Glasshouse)
08.29.09 - San Diego, CA (San Diego Street Scene)
08.30.09 - San Francisco, CA (Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival)
10.04.09 - Austin, TX (Austin City Limits Festival – Zilker Park)

Trent Reznor Has Never Gotten Advice From Thumper's Mom (Though I Again Agree With Him)

Trent Reznor turns his attention from Chris Cornell to Prince and Rivers Cuomo.

“I’m not Prince or Rivers Cuomo who brags about having hundreds of great songs, and to that I would say, Prince, if you have a hundred great songs or a thousand, how about picking a few and putting them on your record that you’ve put out because your last several have sucked. Same for you, Rivers. I say that constructively, you know.” - Trent Reznor

Early Nomination For Best Record Of 2009

I wasn't planning on doing my first half wrap up until after next month, but sometimes a certain record finds its way into regular rotation when its only a month old. Sometimes its a record that you can't see yourself getting sick of.

If you are regular here are Rebelde Radio, you know how I feel about Metric. Their new record Fantasies (released on April 7th by Last Gang). Granted, I have yet to be disappointed in anything this band has done yet, but this record is both vintage Metric and totally new at the same time. My personal two stand out tracks are "Help I'm Alive" and "Satellite Mind." Both songs create a heavier more dancey vibe than we are usually used too yet are still perfectly complimented by Emily's softer, sexy voice.

If you haven't checked this record out yet, do yourself a favor and check out at least the two songs that I mentioned. You won't be disappointed.

1) "Help I'm Alive" – 4:46
2) "Sick Muse" - 4:17
3) "Satellite Mind" - 3:42
4) "Twilight Galaxy" - 4:53
5) "Gold Guns Girls" - 4:05
6) "Gimme Sympathy" – 3:54
7) "Collect Call" - 4:46
8) "Front Row" - 3:34
9) "Blindness" - 4:26
10)"Stadium Love" - 4:13

http://www.myspace.com/metricband

Psychostick- Sandwich

From the guys who first brought us such classics as “Beer,” “Orgasm = Love,” “Prozac Milkshake,” “ABCDEath,” “Scrotal Torment” and “Jagermeister Love Song” comes the brand new release Sandwich. Its easy to see the Arizona natives haven’t lost a step with a tracklist that includes “P Is The Best Letter,” “Minimum Rage,” “The Hunger Within,” “This IS Not A Song, It’s A Sandwich,” “Beer pt. 2, “Girl Directions” and “Vah-jay-jay.”

The guys have a pretty grueling schedule of shows coming up, so be sure to check out when they are prepared to defecate on your city.

Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/psychostick

Here We Go Again...

From the Tripwire

------

Chris Martin and co. seem to have mastered the art of the generic pop-rock song when they wrote the title track for their last album Viva La Vida. Why else would the British alt-rockers keep finding themselves under scrutiny from other musicians accusing Coldplay of ripping them off? First it was Joe Satriani, claiming the foursome stole the melody for “Viva la Vida” from his song “If I Could Fly”, but now Cat Stevens has joined in on the drama, claiming the band actually ripped off the melody from his song, “Foreigner Suite”.

Unlike Satriani, Stevens has not said he will take legal action against the group, but the musician told The Sun that he is the real inspiration behind Coldplay’s music. Though this claim might seem a bit more plausible than the Satriani case, (can’t you envision Chris Martin rocking out to Cat Stevens over Joe Satriani any day?) we have to say, it is probably one more instance in pop song writing, where a generic melody takes the shape and sound of some other melody that was already written. It is the risk you run when in pursuit of writing a three-chord hit, too bad Coldplay just found a bit more success than their accusers while doing so.

This is not the first time Stevens has been a victim of song writing copy cats. In 2003, Stevens and The Flaming Lips agreed to split the royalties from the Lips’ song, “Fight Test” after it was said to be too similar to Stevens’ 1970 song, “Father and Son”. Even though Stevens doesn’t seem interested in pushing legal action against Coldplay, let this be a note to Chris Martin while in the studio: Just let Jon Hopkins and Brian Eno write all of your songs.

Lollapalooza 2009 Linuep Announced

Check out this link for the latest linuep from Lollapalooza. They usually add more as the summer comes so check early and often.

http://2009.lollapalooza.com/

Pharrell Williams Goes To McDonald's In Paris

So I just got back from a week in Paris and I heard about this so I thought I would throw it up here.

75 Most Heard Songs In The UK In The Past 75 Years

According to BBC and the people of hte UK, these are the most heard songs in the UK in the past 75 years. You go through the lise and you have to feel a little bad for the Brits with a few of these choices.


1 Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale 8/6/67
2 Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody 29/11/75
3 Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream 4/7/58
4 Wet Wet Wet - Love Is All Around 4/6/94
5 Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You 13/7/91
6 Robbie Williams - Angels 1/12/97
7 Elvis Presley - All Shook Up 12/7/57
8 Abba - Dancing Queen 4/9/76
9 Perry Como - Magic Moments 28/2/58
10 Harry Lillis Crosby - White Christmas 01/01/1942
11 Beatles - Hello Goodbye 6/12/67
12 Rod Stewart - Maggie May 9/10/71
13 Beatles - Get Back 23/4/69
14 All Saints - Pure Shores 14/2/00
15 Cristiano Spiller - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) 14/8/00
16 Robbie Williams - Rock DJ 31/7/00
17 Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You 5/12/92
18 George Harrison - My Sweet Lord 30/1/71
19 Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women 23/7/69
20 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U 3/2/90
21 The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony 16/6/97
22 Natalie Imbruglia - Torn 27/10/97
23 Elton John & Kiki Dee - Don't Go Breaking My Heart 24/7/76
24 T Rex - Hot Love 20/3/71
25 Madonna - Vogue 14/4/90

26 Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You 10/8/98
27 Doris Day - Whatever Will Be Will Be 10/8/56
28 Al Martino - Here In My Heart 14/11/52
29 Paul Anka - Diana 30/8/57
30 Harry Lillis Crosby - Santa Claus...01/01/1943
31 Freda Payne - Band Of Gold 19/9/70
32 John Lennon - Imagine 10/1/81
33 Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free 1/1/76
34 Glenn Miller - In The Mood 01/01/1939
35 Elton John - Sacrifice 23/6/90
36 Texas - Say What You Want 1/1/97
37 Frankie Goes To Hollywood -Two Tribes 16/6/84
38 New Radicals - You Get What You Give 20/4/99
39 Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown 5/5/60
40 John Travolta & Olivia Newton John - You're The One That I Want 17/6/78
41 David Whitfield - Cara Mia 2/7/54
42 Archies - Sugar Sugar 25/10/69
43 Elvis Presley - It's Now Or Never 3/11/60
44 Cliff Richard - The Young Ones 11/1/62
45 Human League - Don't You Want Me 12/12/81
46 Judy Garland - The Trolley Song 01/01/1944
47 Slim Whitman - Rose Marie 29/7/55
48 Celine Dion - Think Twice 4/2/95
49 Macy Gray - I Try 27/9/99
50 Nilsson - Without You 11/3/72

51 Beatles - From Me To You 2/5/63
52 Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas 15/12/84
53 Les Brown And His Orchestra - Sentimental Journey 01/01/1944
54 Harry Belafonte - Mary's Boy Child 22/11/57
55 Cher - Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) 4/5/91
56 Robbie Williams - Strong 8/3/99
57 Billy Joel - Uptown Girl 5/11/83
58 Frankie Laine - I Believe 24/4/53
59 Gerry & The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone 31/10/63
60 Outkast - Hey Ya 10/11/03
61 Tony Christie - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo 1/11/71
62 Shadows - Wonderful Land 22/3/62
63 Barry White - You're The First, The Last, My Everything 7/12/74
64 East 17 - Stay Another Day 10/12/94
65 No Doubt - Don't Speak 22/2/97
66 Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive 13/12/77
67 Sean "Puffy" Combs - I'll Be Missing You 28/6/97
68 Tom Jones - Green Green Grass Of Home 1/12/66
69 The Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything 26/6/76
70 John Travolta & Olivia Newton John - Summer Nights 30/9/78
71 Ella Fitzgerald - It'S Only A Paper Moon 01/01/1945
72 Wings - Mull Of Kintyre 3/12/77
73 Eddie Calvert - Oh Mein Papa 8/1/54
74 The Police - Every Breath You Take 4/6/83
75 Snap - Rhythm Is A Dancer 8/8/92

Shows This Past Week (slash past 4 months)

I know I haven't done this in forever but I will get back to is soon. Since it has been so long and there are so many, I am going to keep these very brief.

Rock Boat Niner
Floating music festival on a Carnival Cruise ship. Acts included Sister Hazel, Hanson, David Ryan Harris, Pat McGee, Ernie Halter, Tyronne Wells, Curtis Peoples, Michael Tolcher, Gaelic Storm, Cowboy Mouth, Blackberry Smoke, Green River Ordinance, Tonic, Stephen Kellog & the Sixers, Zac Brown Band, The Kin, Aslyn, Wideawake and Graham Colton.

Mean Creek/These United States
Knitting Factory
http://www.myspace.com/meancreek-- Think of Joy Division were to add a shoegaze element and were more contemporary.
http://www.myspace.com/theseunited-- Think Wilco + the first Kings of Leon (circa Youth & Young Manhood)

Sebastien Grainger & the Mountains/Twin Tigers
Mercury Lounge
http://www.myspace.com/sebastiengrainger-- Take DFA1979 give a more pop related indie sound almost like the Strokes with balls...
http://www.myspace.com/thetwintigers-- two words. Sonic Youth

The Gay Blades/Scott Weiland
Irving Plaza
Not even going to tell you where to hear Scott Weiland's solo stuff... it was god awful.
http://www.myspace.com/gayblades-- total show stealers. Again, pop music with twist of hard rock and indie... def worth checking out live.

Metallica
Prudential Center
www.myspace.com/metallica-- Metal legends played one of the best shows I have ever seen in my life... I had no voice for days from singing. Truly memorable.

Rosewood Thieves
Piano's
http://www.myspace.com/therosewoodthieves-- Rebelde Radio favorites need little intro to their folk rock sounds.

Cold War Kids
Mercury Lounge
www.myspace.com/coldwarkids-- going to see them tonight at a bigger venue but this was a very special show... it was really small and they played mostly Loyalty to Loyalty plus the "hits."

Sam Roberts Band
Bowery Ballroom
www.myspace.com/samrobertsband-- Canada's best straight forward rock band proves at yet another show why they live show is way better than the records.

MRNORTH
Ulysses
www.myspace.com/mrnorthmusic-- some of my best friends in the business playing a fun high energy show.

Good Music Videos

I usually don't do this, but I just saw it and it was pretty much the funniest thing I have seen all day (I would say best thing I have seen all day, but that would be Cutler and Pace going to the Bears).

Trent Reznor is funny... like a clown? He amuses you?

Trent Reznor decided to enjoy this April Fools Day by making fun of Chris Cornell for working with Timbaland... if you don't believe me... look at this!

To download NIN's new full-length album Strobe Light, PRODUCED BY TIMBALAND, enter a valid email address in the fields below. A download link will be sent to you immediately. Your credit card will be charged $18.98 plus a $10 digital delivery convenience fee. Your files will arrive as windows media files playable on quite a few players with your name embedded all over them just in case you lose them. You will also receive an exclusive photo and a free email account with our partner Google's Gmail service.

Your email will be kept confidential and will not be used for spam, unless we can make some money selling it.

1. intro skit
2. everybody's doing it (featuring chris martin, jay-z AND bono)
3. black t-shirt
4. pussygrinder (featuring sheryl crow)
5. coffin on the dancefloor
6. this rhythm is infected
7. slide to the dark side
8. even closer (featuring justin timberlake and maynard james keenan)
9. on the list (she's not)
10.clap trap crack slap
11.laid, paid and played (featuring fergie of the black eyed peas and al jourgensen)
12.feel like being dead again
13.still hurts (featuring alicia keys)
14.outro skit

http://www.nin.com/pub/strobelight/

All Points West Returns to New Jersey

Here is what the lineup is looking like.

Friday July 31
Beastie Boys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, The National, Fleet Foxes, MSTRKRFT, Q-Tip, The Pharcyde, Organized Konfusion, The Knux, Ra Ra Riot, Seasick Steve, Telepathe, Shearwater, Heartless Bastards, Flying Lotus, College Humor Live, Arj Barker, Eugene Mirman and Bo Burnham.

Saturday, August 1
Tool, My Bloody Valentine, Gogol Bordello, Arctic Monkeys, Neko Case, The Ting Tings, Yelle, Crystal Castles, St. Vincent, Tokyo Police Club, The Cool Kids, Kool Keith, Cage the Elephant, Chairlift, White Rabbits, Electric Touch, The Postelles, Black Gold, College Humor Live, Tim & Eric, Judah Friedlander and Jim Jeffries.

Sunday, August 2
Coldplay, Echo & The Bunnymen, MGMT, The Black Keys, Elbow, Silversun Pickups, Mogwai, We Are Scientists, Ghostland Observatory, The Gaslight Anthem, Etienne De Crecy, Lykke Li, Akron/Family, Steel Train, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, College Humor Live, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Showalter and Todd Barry.

Lollapalooza Roster 2009 Get Bigger

According to Time Out Chicago, the latest acts to be announced for Lollapalooza 2009 include the following (along with Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon, Jane's Addiction, and Depeche Mode):

Tool
The Killers

Rumored Confirmations:
Lou Reed (makes this gentleman very happy)
The Decemberists
Neko Case
Andrew Bird

Good Music Videos

Tiger Army- Rose In The Devil's Garden

Beat Our Meat Contest

Here is a contest from everyone's favorite Beer loving, and never serious metal band Psychostick.

Jack White Has Another New Band

Well with Spring on its way and the Earth really getting ready to wake up for the new year, its seems Jack White is ready for a new beginning, again, as well.

I introduce to you, The Dead Weather. The Dead Weather is yet another supergroup, but instead of White coming through with his friends he grabbed a Allison Mosshart aka W from .The Kills. White is borrowing Dean Fertita from Queens of The Stone Age. He also grabbed fellow Raconteur Jack Lawrence.

The band has a record called Horehound coming in June. The record will be released on The Third Man. White's brand spanking new label headquartered in Nashville.

Lollapalooza Early Rumors

Billboard has announced the headliners for Lollapalooza 2009. Of course, these are still just rumors and have yet to be confirmed on the official website. The headliners listed were Depeche Mode, Beastie Boys and Jane's Addiction.

Depeche Mode has a new record coming out a two weeks after Lollapalooza.

Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell is the founder and head honcho over at Lollapalooza.

Beastie Boys are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Paul's Boutique.

Also mentioned was Kings of Leon who are headlining Austin City Limits (both festivals are produced by C3 Productions).

Clearly these all make sense.

5 Songs I Am Into Right Now (actually 7, American Hardcore Edition)

Minor Threat- Straight Edge
From the EP Minor Threat (1981)
The first time I ever heard the term "Straight Edge" was from this song. When I learned it meant to abstain from drugs and alcohol, it didn't even occur to me that this was the same exact idea in this song (which came out the year I was born). I then learned that Ian MacKaye was credited as having invented the term. Though this is not a lifestyle I live, the song is pretty damn rocking.

Suicidal Tendencies- I Want More
From the album Suicidal Tendencies (1983)
A song that always made me think of being bored in my hometown. Pretty much every angry teenager can relate with this song. Musically the coolest part about this is song is that is a prime example of the changes in tempo and sound that Suicidal Tendencies usually like in one album but not as often in one song.


Social Distortion- All The Answers
From the album Mommy's Little Monster (1983)
Before Social Distortion was a punk/rockabilly outfit, they were a hardcore punk band from Orange County, CA. Mike Ness wrote this song about the kids that he hung with as a teenager and saw at his shows every night. The kids who were the misfits and didn't mind being that way.

Dead Kennedys-Police Truck
From the B Side of the single of "Holiday in Cambodia" (1980), also on the album Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (1987)
A lovely quick melody about people getting drunk, driving into San Francisco, beating up the homeless and kidnapping prostitutes. Jello Biafra's vocals are unmistakable in this one. This was the first song I ever heard by the Dead Kennedys as it is the lead song on Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death. I struggled choosing this song over "To Drunk To Fuck" another lovely DK classic.

Misfits- Hybrid Moments
From the album Static Age (recorded in 1978 fully released in 1997)
Probably my favorite Misfits song ever. Its classic Danzig led Misfits. Distorted guitars with Danzig's almost Elvis-esque vocals singing of hiding scars, crying and something about creatures raping someones face yet, somehow almost keeps a semi romantic edge.

Adolescents- Kids of the Black Hole
From the album The Adolescents (1981)
The subjects of this song are a whole bunch kids in the OC punk scene and the black hole refers to Mike Ness's apartment where everyone would go to drink or just flop for a little. It was considered a place for homeless punk kids to go. This is by far the longest song on the list at nearly five and half minutes long (very long for a hardcore song). I had trouble choosing between this and "Amoeba."

Bad Brains- I Against I
From the album I Against I (1986)
Probably the most unlikely of all pioneers for any musical genre. They prefer not to be called hardcore (though every elements would tell you they are). They also, play tracks are undoubtedly reggae with songs about "Jah." In a genre of music that has often has been tied to white supremecy (this is a fair claim in some cases and with several bands is unfounded) here is a band of all African Americans teaching all the white kids how to do it and do it loud.

Woodstock 40th Anny (The Tripwire)

Let's not forget what a disaster was last time but it looks like they want to comeback.

------

With all of the festivals going on in 2009, it’s starting to seem like the market is getting a bit over-saturated. But lest we forget the one that started them all turns 40 this year, and Woodstock organizers are hoping to land some of the original participants that performed at Yasgur’s Farm back in ‘69, including Santana, the Who, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, Neil Young and the once-again reformed Grateful Dead.

According to The Daily Swarm, citing The Rock Radio and the Austrian Times, chief Woodstock promoter Michael Lang is planning two free Woodstock concerts in Berlin, Germany and in New York to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original 1969 festival. According to the press release, the New York show still doesn’t have a venue, but will take place on the actual 40th anniversary of August 15 and 16.

The Berlin show will take place at the now-closed Tempelhof Airport on August 22 and August 23.Ironically, Berlin’s Tempelhof airport was a Nazi stronghold and used regularly by Adolf Hitler and his cohorts, leaving many to wonder how much peace and love can be found at the site.

Emily Haines Discusses The New Metric Record

Emily Haines comentary on the new Metric record coming April 14th.

Need A New Phone Number (The Tripwire)

When Tommy Tutone recorded his Top 10 hit “867-5309/Jenny” in 1982 — temporarily lessening the skank-factor for girls whose names and numbers randomly end up on bathroom stalls — he turned those seven unassuming digits into one of the most-dialed numbers in the country, because Americans can’t seem to resist the power of suggestion. That explains why a guy in Weehawken, N.J. is trying to get rid of the number through an eBay auction, but doesn’t quite explain why someone is willing to pay more than $400,000 for it.

Our friends at The Daily Swarm found this one on CNN.com, who reported that as of Monday morning the bidding for the famous telephone digits had reached $5,100. At the time of this story, bidding stands at an unbelievable $434,744.44.

Spencer Potter, the lucky bastard who currently holds the number, told CNN.com that 867-5309 is “one of the last cultural remnants of the ’80s pop culture era” besides the mullet. He’s had the number for five years, and it’s attached to his DJ business, which is part of the eBay auction. It’s necessary to get around the fact that you’re technically not allowed to sell your phone number. Because you don’t actually own it. The phone company does. (A 2004 eBay auction of the 212 area code version of the number was shut down for this reason.)

But this Potter kid was on top of all that, probably because of the amazing lawyers he goes on and on about on the auction page. He said he gets between 8 and 10,000 calls every year, around 40 each day. A guy in Philadelphia who holds the two toll-free versions — 800 and 888 — said he values his numbers in the millions of dollars. He licenses them out for advertiser use. And who knows, by the time Potter’s auction ends on February 9, he could very well hit that million-dollar mark.

Did we call him a bastard yet? Oh, right. We did.

Good Music Videos

Reel Big Fish- Nothin' But A Good Time.

Favorite Christmas Present Ever...

...came courtesy of my dad this year. We went down to Morrison Hotel in SOHO and he purchased the following picture for me. The shot was taken by Mick Rock and it will look lovely on the wall in my apartment...

Good Music Videos

A Place To Bury Strangers- I Know I'll See You

Bhutto's daughter sings of pain in hip-hop tribute

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The elder daughter of Pakistan's assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has written a rap song expressing her anguish over her mother's death.

The song, entitled "I Would Take the Pain Away," and a five-minute video of clips and photographs of Benazir Bhutto has been broadcast on the state-run Pakistani television and posted on the video-sharing website YouTube.

"My mother was murdered. I don't even comprehend. Was it worth dying for? I'm walking through screened doors," Bakhtawar, 18, sings in English on the lilting hip-hop song.

"No comfort or ease. I'm begging you please God bless the deceased," Bakhtawar sings.

Information Minister Sherry Rehman, for years an aide to Bhutto, said Bakhtawar, a student at Britain's Edinburgh University, wrote the lyrics and music.

"It's a tribute of a grieving daughter to her iconic and loving mother," Rehman told Reuters on Monday.

Music was a hobby for Bakhtawar and she had no plan to pursue it as a career, Rehman said.

Bhutto, 54, was murdered in a suicide gun-and-bomb attack in the city of Rawalpindi in December 2007. The then government, led by former president Pervez Musharraf, blamed the attack on Islamist militants.

Bhutto's widower and Bakhtawar's father, Asif Ali Zardari, become president in September.

Their son, Bilawal, 20, studies at Oxford University in Britain and another daughter, Aseefa, 15, also studies abroad.

Led Zep Plantless Plans... LAME!

A Led Zeppelin album and tour without Robert Plant?

Well that seems to be what’s on the agenda. While Jimmy Page is ready to go, Plant has no interest. So, the boys have decided to move on without him. Well personally I have lost interest in all of this… this doesn’t do it for me at all!

Will I check out that album… likely not. Will I check out the show, I’m not sure. Everything in my head thinks that it sounds pretty lame… especially at the prices that you know they are going to come with.

Ron Asheton Dies.(The Tripwire)

According to a Police report today in the Ann Arbor News, famed rock-and-roll guitarist of The Stooges, Ronald “Ron” Asheton was found dead in his home this morning. He was 60 years old.

Asheton, 60, was an original member of The Stooges, a garage-rock band headlined by Iggy Pop and formed in Ann Arbor in 1967. Asheton was a long-time resident of the Michigan city.

According to the Ann Arbor News, Asheton’s personal assistant contacted police late Monday night after being unable to reach Asheton for days, Detective Bill Stanford said.

Officers went to the home on Highlake Avenue at around midnight and discovered Asheton’s body on a living-room couch. He appeared to have been dead for at least several days, Stanford said.

Detective Sgt. Jim Stephenson said the cause of death is undetermined but investigators do not suspect foul play. Autopsy and toxicology results are pending.

Asheton was born in Washington, D.C. His brother, Scott, who lives in Florida, is the band’s drummer.

In 2007, The Stooges reunited and released “The Weirdness,” their first album in three decades.

Asked how it felt to be back with The Stooges, Asheton told The News in an interview that year that it was “great to be back on the road.”

2008 In Review

Favorite Record of 2008:
The Raconteurs- Consolers of the Lonely

Honorable Mentions:
MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
Portishead- Third
Cold War Kids- Loyalty to Loyalty
Does If Offend You, Yeah?- You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into

Favorite Single of 2008:
Death Cab For Cutie- I Will Possess Your Heart

Honrable Mentions:
The Kills- Cheap & Cheerful
The Presets- Together
Cold War Kids- Something Is Not Right With Me
Santogold- L.E.S. Artistes

Least Favorite Single of 2008:
Leona Lewis- Bleeding Love

Favorite Show of 2008:
Justice (WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden)

Honrorable Mentions:
My Bloody Valentine (Roseland Ballroom)
Neil Young/Wilco (Madison Square Garden)
Stone Temple Pilots (Mohegan Sun)
Lou Reed (Highline Ballroom)
Metric (Highline Ballroom)
Iggy & The Stooges (Terminal 5)
Tegan & Sara (Terminal 5)

Least Favorite Show of 2008:
Scott Weiland (Irving Plaza)

Albums to look forward to in 2009:
Metric
Wilco
Blur
Built to Spill
Silversun Pickups
Muse?

Tours To Look Forward to in 2009:
Metallica
Guns N Roses?
Social Distortion?
Smashing Pumpkins at Lollaplooza?

Have a safe and happy new year!

See y'all in 2009!

someecards

Do you guys know someecards (http://www.someecards.com/) ... its a funny site where you send people sarcastic cards often about sex but here are a few that have been floating around the office today.

5 Songs I Am Into Right Now

MUSE- Starlight
From the album Black Holes & Revelations (2006)
One of the more romantic songs from the English trio. You have never really heard or experienced Muse until you see them live. The songs are extremely complicated and never really have dull moments.

Metric- IOU
From the album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now (2003)
You know my feelings on Emily Haines and the boys... well you also know my feelings on Emily Haines. This is their opening songs from their 2003 album and the album is named after the first line!

Lou Reed- Rock Minuet
From the album Ecstasy (2000)
This song is even sleazy by Lou Reed standards! Stories of sex, bars, dancing, whores, murder and the neighborhood I just move to are pretty much the reason I have been listening to this one lately.

Wilco- Walken
From the album Sky Blue Sky (2007)
Every now and then I have to give some love to bands from Chicago. I kind of slept on the record for a while, however, once I did finally check it out, this was my instant favorite. I lucked out when they played on Saturday Night Live that I attended (hosted by Ellen Page) and they played this song as the final part of the night.

Cold War Kids- Something Is Not Right With Me
From the album Loyalty To Loyalty (2008)
Ok, ok I know its the single of an album that came out this fall and I know its doing well on the satellites, but, can you look me in the eye and tell me this song isn't catchy as hell? I know that its a safe call when I hear this song in the Murray Hill bars.

Good Music Videos

MSTRKRFT - Easy Love

My favorite song by half of Death From Above 1979.

*Warning, there is no nudity, but this video is pretty sexual*

MSTRKRFT Easy Love
Uploaded by modularpeople

Did Coldplay rip off Joe Satriani?

This has been pretty popular in my office and in a few other websites that I look at... clearly this video is swayed in one direction, but take a listen and decide for yourself.

did coldplay really copy joe satriani
Cargado por thrashcopycats

Good Music Videos

Stone Roses- I Wanna Be Adored

One of my all time favorite songs.

Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored
Uploaded by jesus_lizard

5 Songs I Am Into Right Now

The Presets- Together
From the album Apocalypso (2008)
The Australian electronic duo comes back with one of the most underrated dance songs of the year. For the longest time I couldn't figure out who the song was by. Think Interpol making a song with MSTRKRFT.

Sound Team- Your Eyes Are Liars
From the album Movie Monster (2006)
Six buddies from Austin, TX create an album using electronic sounds mixed with run of the mill 80s and indie rock. A great track to listen to before, during and after going out for the night. This was always my favorite part of their live show, unfortunately, they broke up shortly after the record was finally released.

The Ponys- Turn The Lights Out
From the album Turn The Lights Out (2007)
So I had to show a little love to the Chicago boys for a second. Chicago's version of the garage band/indie rocker. If you are unsure of what their sound is like or what their "cred" is like, this was their first album that they released with Matador.

Tegan and Sara- Time Running
From the album If It Was You (2002)
My love for the sisters Quin is far from a new idea. I am a huge fan of their work. This is one of their more rocking songs that I have ever heard. Tegan takes the lead in this one that seems to get played more than once everytime it comes up on my ipod.

Death From Above 1979- Do It (Live)
From the EP Heads Up (2002)
Canada's duo of Sabastien Grainger (Sabastien Grainger & the Mountains) and Jesse F Keller (MSTRKRFT) kick out another raucous jam. In this effort, the normal shouting vocals from Grainger turn into a synth voice half way through the song and end with the cheers of a crowd... one of the better songs the duo did before calling it quits.

A Cross The Universe -- Justice DVD Trailer

Click the link to see the trailer for the new live Justice DVD/Documentary.... warning, the this video is NOT SAFE FOR WORK.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1885460481/bctid1885486209

Good Music Videos

The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution

Classic Albums In The Form Of Legos...

Amazingly nerdy... so I dig it.

Some kids decided to recreate 20 Album Covers... check it.

Shows This Past Week

NOFX

Irving Plaza

http://www.myspace.com/nofx

This was my second time seeing these guys in the past few years. As you may guess when you go to their shows, its half a punk show, half a comedy act (and a little bit of an anti-Bush/anti-Republican rally). The show was great though it was little light on White Trash Two Heebs and A Bean, my personal favorite by the SF punk outlet. Fat Mike is a showman in his own regard... in the lets get drunk and look like jerks sorta way. But that is why everyone is there. Their opening act was The Dillinger 4 who were up to the challenge of comedy punk as well. Their lead man told the crowd, "we don't like when you cheer after songs. If you want us to know you like it, just chant NOFX after each song."

Non-Music Related High Point.

The bouncers at Irving Plaza told me how to spot fake tickets even if the print on it is flawless.

JJ Grey & Mofro

Highline Ballroom

http://www.myspace.com/mofroband

In 24 hours I couldn't think of two different shows. The Jacksonville, FL "front porch soul" and Country Ghetto is second to none. If you like the blues, soul, the use of organs, slide guitars, a horn section and/or harmonicas, look no further. The banter between songs both southern and whiskey infused was surprisingly welcome. This is a band who's shows that I will never miss and its been that way for about 3 years now. The best song in my opinion that they played the down tempo version of Circles, of course Lochloosa is always a fan favorite. The horn section moves in unison, the drummer smiles the whole time and JJ Grey gives the whole band their time to shine.

Non- Music Related High Point:

Went to the show with a friend who I hadn't spent time with in a long while and no one appreciates the band as much as she does.

Do you think Sarah Palin is a crazy person?

Check this out

be sure to click around.

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

Good Music Videos

Echo & the Bunnymen- The Killing Moon

Good Music Videos

Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart

classic.

Good Music Videos

The Methadones- Say Goodbye To Your Generation

Shows This Week/Check'em Out

Pete & J
Nokia Theater
http://www.myspace.com/peteandj

This is a band that I have been talking to for a little bit and I have seen countless times. They are a cross of Hall and Oates and 70s folk. Though the band is named after the two front men, there are 4 guys in the band. They are really great guys and they put on a great show. This past week I saw them open for Rusted Root. It took the fans a second to warm up to Pete and J since they were there to see a jam band and they got two singers instead, but once they got into it, it was fantastic. They are doing some northeast dates for a while and they play a ton in New York City, so if you ever have a chance, their show is highly recommended.

Check out a video from them on Philly's NBC 10.




Non Music Related High Point.

I have been trying to get my girlfriend to come to one of their shows for weeks and we finally got it done!

Final Baseball Article For The Year, I Promise.

Scot Moore (of Wheaton, IL now living in Minnesota) is auction off his allegiance to the Chicago Cubs via, eBay. I heard this this morning while listening to Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio. Apparently this is how it would work. He would burn all of his belogings that have anything to do with the Chicago Cubs. The winning bidder would get the video of him doing so. According to the Huffington Post on Tuesday night the bid was up to $455. His idea is to "hex the Cubs for another 100 years for the poor treatment of their fans."

Poor treatment of their fans? Bringing in big name free agents the past few years, winning 2 division titles in a row? Keeping their stadium when everyone else is getting rid of theirs (sometimes for no real reason)?

You Mr. Moore are an idiot.

I'm back...

The computer is fixed... since the last time I was able to update everything, I went to see a great Pete & J show and my Cubbies officially made it 100 years of being World Series-less... but the computer is back so there will be more updates soon.

Sorry...

my computer fried!  its currently getting fixed by some nice Eastern European guy... hopefully we'll be back running soon.

yeah yeah, i miss you too!

Shows This Past Week

My Bloody Valentine

Roseland Ballroom

http://www.myspace.com/mybloodyvalentine

The single best word to describe this show is LOUD. It was definitely louder than the Mission of Burma show at Irving Plaza and that says something. Roseland Ballroom is noticeably larger than Irving Plaza. This show was so loud, that there was a sign on the merch booth written on a piece of cardboard (like a lunatic with a "The End Is Near" sign) that said, "MBV recommends you wear earplugs." That was a first for me. They were handing them out but I decided to bring my own pair based on what I had heard. I went a few songs without them and I couldn't do it. Even with the plugs in, they sounded amazing. It would have been easy for them to totally bleed all the distortion together to the point where it sounded like white noise but they didn't. Of course the highlight for me was "Only Shallow." To be honest, as excited as I was, I really only know a handful of their songs in a way to differentiate them from the rest. They never really stopped for longer than 3 seconds between songs. They just kept playing and playing. Then Kevin Shields said, "thanks for coming." Those were they only words of the night.

That was also when the shit hit the fan! They then went on into the loudest part of the night. A literal 15 minute distortion fest that sound like nothing but jet engines. It was so loud i had to see what it sounded like. I took out my earplugs and lasted maybe 10 seconds. They finished the sounds of engines with a 10 second melodic riff and walked of the stage. It was amazing.

Non Music Related High Point.

I had never experienced anything that loud and it had become apparent by looking around (so i know I wasn't the only weirdo there), you could feel your inner organs and bones vibrating to the music. It was intense!

Congrats to a Friend

For Immediate Release: Acey Slade featured in Rock Band 2 and Releasing new E.P. this Fall!

This September Harmoix Music and Mtv are releasing Rock Band 2, the premier interactive music video game. Rock Band 1 received widespread critical acclaim and has sold over 3.5 million bundled units over all platforms. Players have also downloaded over 21 million songs since Rock Band's release. The game's success has prompted the development of a sequel, Rock Band 2, due to be released on Xbox 360 in September 2008 and on other consoles in the following months. With this kind of success Harmoix Music could have cast any notable celebrity to model their characters after, who they chose for 2 of the biggest roles was Acey Slade. All the moves, style and motion for the Male singer of the ‘Punk’ band and the male guitarist for the ‘Rock’ band were ‘Mocap’ed’ (Motion captured) at Curious Pictures in New York in January of this past year before Acey headed out on a U.S. and European tour where he rejoined is former band mate Wednesday 13 (Murderdolls) who was sidelined from guitar duties due to a broken collar bone.

Focused solely on his solo album, Acey will release an EP featuring Re-Mixes from Skinny Kangur of Deathstars, Piggy D of Rob Zombie, Loopy from Hanzel Und Gretyl and DJ Speedranch. The E.P. will be a limited release and some of the remixes will be exclusive to the E.P. only! It will also include stickers and patch exclusive to this E.P.

A full-length album is 90% completed and should be released later this year or early next. The album and the EP are collaboration between Acey and Producer Shaun ‘Stakka’ Morris, a legend in the Drum and Bass scene. The album blends guitars with electronica, and pop with darkness hence the tentative title ‘Dark Party’. Shaun handled the programming, while Acey played bass, guitar and lead vocals. Andee, who will be a part of the live band, added additional guitars.
One new song is available for streaming at http://www.myspace.com/aceyslademusic

Good Music Videos

Ok... this time we aren't presenting the official video. This time the Chemical Brothers had their fans make their own videos that were compiled and made into a really cool video while hoping around on Google Earth, to show where the videos were made.

The Chemical Brothers- Midnight Madness

Shows This Past Week

GZA

Irving Plaza

http://www.myspace.com/gza

We went to see my favorite member of the Wu Tang Clan perform his classic album Liquid Swords. I am usually not a huge fan of hip hop shows as it usually doesn't translate live. However, Irving Plaza is a pretty decent venue for it. Again, it wasn't the best show I have ever been too, but they handled the sound well. The show wasn't sold out, but it was pretty packed and we had to watch from the upstairs. Had the show not been in celebration of Liquid Swords, I am not sure we would have been there. It was a great time though, as he performed an album that we all loved and are able to get down with. I just wish hip hop still sounded like this. RZA Masta Killa, and Raekwon were there as well, which was a nice bonus.

Non Music Related High Point.

Being able to be a teenager with 10 of my closest friends for an hour an a half. It was more of an event than a show.

Good Music Videos (a double dip)

I prefer the Tegan & Sara version of the song, but I will let you decide for yourself.

Tegan and Sara- Walking With A Ghost

The White Stripes- Walking With A Ghost

Congrats Big Z!

Last night Carlos Zambrano (my favorite member of the Chicago Cubs) pitched a no hitter against the Houston Astros. It was the first time I have seen a no hitter as a Cubs fan (the last was Milt Pappas in 1972, my dad was 19!).

To add to the enjoyment, it was done in the Brewers home and on ESPN, they interrupted a White Sox game to show the final inning.

'The Twist' is top song of Billboard Hot 100 era (Yahoo and Billboard)

09/11/2008 5:00 AM, AP
Nekesa Mumbi Moody

How's this for a twist: Of all the No. 1 songs in the 50 years of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Chubby Checker's "The Twist" ranks as the most popular single.

Elvis and the Beatles didn't even make the top five.

Checker's ranking may come as a surprise to some, but not to the classic rocker.

"I'm glad they've finally recognized it," said Checker of his early 1960s hit.

He compared "The Twist" — named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock 'n' roll — to the creation of the telephone as a groundbreaking moment because he said it was the first time people were dancing "apart to the beat."

"Anyplace on the planet, when someone has a song that has a beat, they're on the floor dancing apart to the beat, and before Chubby Checker, it wasn't here, and I think that has a lot to do with me being on the charts," he said.

Santana's "Smooth," featuring Rob Thomas, is the No. 2 most popular, followed by Bobby Darin's "Mack the Knife," Leann Rimes' "How Do I Live" and "The Macarena" by Los Del Rio.

The Beatles did make the top 10, coming it at No. 8 with "Hey Jude." But Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" and Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" are ahead of that hit. Rounding out the top 10: Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" at No. 9 and Toni Braxton's "Un-break My Heart" at No. 10.

Geoff Mayfield, director of charts at Billboard magazine, acknowledged that the list might not jibe with some fans' personal thoughts of the most popular songs of the past 50 years.

"This is simply a chronicle of how each of these songs performed in their era on the Hot 100. We're not saying these are the most memorable songs of your life. That would be something that's almost impossible to determine," said Mayfield. "Everyone has a subjective frame of reference."

The Beatles do top Billboard's all-time Hot 100 artists, followed by Madonna, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and the Rolling Stones. Billboard.com is breaking out some of the other chart achievements (the list of most No. 1 singles by an act is topped by the Beatles) on its Web site.

The Billboard Hot 100 chart measures airplay and sales information (and more recently digital downloads) in determining the nation's most popular songs. To determine the most popular song of the Hot 100 era, Billboard used a formula to determine the top song — not always relying on weeks at No. 1 since the data was reported differently in its early days.

Initially, Billboard relied on stations to report the most popular songs, and got sales surveys from record stores. But Mayfield said stations often stopped reporting on a song's popularity if it was no longer a priority for record labels. And in 1991, Billboard began relying on sales data from Nielsen SoundScan and airplay data from Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. So Billboard weighted certain songs from different eras to make sure all songs were on an even playing field.

"We went through each era, and we looked through the rate of turnover. The rate of turnover was very high in the late '50s and early '60s, and we had to put a weight on that to make the chart runs of that era equal to the chart runs that can be accomplished since 1991," he said.

Checker's "The Twist" spent a total of only three weeks at the top of the charts, but did so twice in two separate runs more than a year apart.

"It's the only song that was ever No. 1 in two different chart runs," he said.

Checker said he was gratified that Billboard noted the popularity of "The Twist," and lamented that both the song and his career have been at times overlooked.

"My music is less played that any performer that has been a No. 1 chart man on the planet," said Checker, who also had hits with "Pony Time," "The Fly" and "Let's Twist Again," which earned him a Grammy. "I don't get the respect that Rod Stewart gets, or the Rolling Stones, or Frankie Valli. ... But I have to deal with it."

Good Music Videos

Death From Above 1979- Romantic Rights

100 Years...

Please check this out from ESPN...

Made my eyes water up a few times.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cubs100

Which franchise rules your city? I know the answer. (ESPN the Magazine)

Here is an interesting read from Rick Reilly in ESPN The Magazine.
------------------

Which franchise rules your city? I know the answer.

If your town could save one sports team—college or pro—and the others had to relocate to Vladivostok, Russia, which one would stay?

In Denver, for instance, the fans would keep the Broncos and happily drive all other teams to the airport. Proof: If you added your name to the season-ticket waiting list now, it'd be nearly 190 years before you got a call.

Some cities are easy that way. St. Louis is a Cards town. The Skins own DC, lock, stock and pork barrel. Dallas belongs to the Cowboys, and if you don't believe it you better be wearing steel-toed boots. The rest of America? Glad you asked:

ATLANTA Georgia football. Every SEC grad gets a job in Atlanta. The Braves can't even sell out playoff games. Everybody thinks the Hawks moved to Calgary years ago.

BALTIMORE Ravens, in a squeaker over Michael Phelps.

BOSTON Red Sox. Once, Boston was a hockey town, and Orr's Bruins ruled. It's never been a Celtics town—despite Russell and Bird—partly because of the finally fading racism. Patriots? Pssshhht. They're not even in Boston. The Red Sox, though, sell out a cramped, rusted ballpark as though there were Hope Diamonds under every seat. Says longtime Boston sports yakker Eddie Andelman: "Who can have a decent conversation about anything else?"

CHARLOTTE NASCAR. Bobcats players could give fans halftime mani-pedis and still not draw.
CHICAGO Bears. The Cubbies are the Windy City's cute Labradoodle pets, but the Bears are in the blood. "Everybody in Chicago loves the Bears," admits Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot. Pro football is to Chicago what airplanes are to Dayton. In third, the Bulls. Fourth, Notre Dame football.

CLEVELAND Browns. Name one other city that lost a team and had the league give it back! Name, uniforms, everything! If the Cavaliers left, two janitors might look up.

DETROIT Red Wings. It's called Hockeytown, not Basketballtown.

HOUSTON Yesterday. Everything in Houston was better in the old days—Luv Ya Blue, Hakeem the Dream, the Ryan Express. Now everything is an Applebee's opening.

INDIANAPOLIS Colts, which is funny. Four years ago, they couldn't even sell out the RCA Dome, smallest venue in the league. Now they've got brand-new digs.

LOS ANGELES Lakers. The real folks in town—bus drivers, gardeners, school-teachers—own Lakers jerseys. Dodgertown is in Florida. "There's a radio guy here with 'I Slept with Shaq' tattooed on his forehead," marvels Laker Derek Fisher. Think anyone's got "I Slept with Chris Kaman" tattooed on his forehead?

MIAMI Dolphins. Second: U. of Miami football. Third: Miami spring football. Last: Marlins, once again the C-SPAN of MLB attendance.

MINNEAPOLIS Vikings. The Twins get no love. Once, they were playing a Saturday afternoon game in the HumpDome, and it went extra innings. The game was stopped so the stadium crew could get the field ready for a football game that night. Ouch.

NEW YORK You see more Yankees hats in NYC than all other teams combined. Win 26 titles, that happens. Then there's this: MoviesUnlimited.com lists 21 flicks about the Yanks, four on the Giants and Mets each, two on the Knicks and one on the Rangers.

PHILADELPHIA Used to be Eagles, now it's Phillies. This is partly because of the Phils' young stars and partly because the Iggles owner has handed it to them. Jeffrey Lurie is a Boston guy who's made $800 million so far on his Eagles purchase but not many friends. You always get the feeling that his jet bound for his beloved Beantown is double-parked.

PHOENIX The Suns are hanging on, with Arizona State closing fast. Suns owner Robert "Foam Finger" Sarver has turned off so many fans while the ASU AD, Lisa Love, has turned so many on. Cardinals? Worst ownership in the history of owning things.

SAN FRANCISCO Says San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler: "A second-string 49er having his chakras aligned is bigger news than any other team's top player winning the MVP, a Nobel Prize and dying, all on the same day."

SEATTLE Seahawks, but that's new. "When I first got here," says Matt Hasselbeck, "we'd play at Husky Stadium. They'd get 72,000 on Saturdays. We'd get 25,000 the next day, and 10,000 would be there for the Raiders."

TAMPA Bucs. "How can the Rays be ahead of two of the top franchises in baseball history and still get only 14,000 some nights?" asks Bucs corner Ronde Barber.

So there you have it. Meanwhile, I'm getting a time-share in Vladivostok. It's going to have some sick teams.



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Good Music Videos

My Bloody Valentine- Only Shallow

5 Songs I Am Into Right Now

Magazine- Shot By Both Sides
From the album Real Life (1978)
Post punk classic proves that sometimes a catchy hook is possible without a lot of production work. The guitar riff in this song makes it a classic.

Velvet Underground- Sweet Jane
From the album Loaded (1970)
The most popular song from New York's most influential band. Sometimes keeping it basic is all you need.

Cracker- Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)
From the album Cracker (1992)
A song about being selfish, smug, horny, full of angst and needing a drink is all you need. When you listen to the lyrics I bet you were able to at some point.

My Bloody Valentine- Only Shallow
From the album Loveless (1991)
This is one of those songs that you have no idea what the lyrics are by listening, but they become a part of the music. The ethereal shoegazing sound get stuck in your head on repeat.

Santogold- L.E.S. Artistes
From the album Santogold (2008)
Former Stiffed front woman, moves to New York and decides that the Lower East Side is really pretentious, but explains this using a New York hipness.

Ghidrah (9/5/08) -- Pat McGee Band, Steve Wynn, War Stories

To hear the music on this week's Ghidrah, click on each head of the three headed dragon on the right side of the screen.

These songs get updated each week. The Ghidrah is part of Rock Ridge Music's song of the week program. If you would like to get your band involved, email Rebelde Radio at illorange[at]gmail.com.

Rage Against The Machine Performs At The RNC... Kinda... (The Tripwire)

Here is an article I thought was interesting from The Tripwire (http://www.thetripwire.com/).

And notice the headwear.

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Rage Against The Machine Performs Acapella At The RNC

Making an unscheduled appearance at a rally yesterday on the grounds of the Minnesota State Capital, Rage Against The Machine set forth to headline the rally concert on the same stage where Anti Flag had just wrapped up their set. But when it came time for the band to perform, officials shut off the electricity and the Minnesota State Police formed a barricade around the band refusing to let them on stage.

As reported by Above The Fold, after 20 minutes of the crowd chanting "Let Them Play," "Music is not a Crime," "We'll be good, we promise," and a riveting rendition of the national anthem, the band came into the crowd and performed two songs acapella. Armed with only a megaphone, and thousands of fans, RATM played a 10min "set" of "Bulls On Parade" and "Killing In The Name Of".

By Derek Evers Sep 03, 2008

MPR News: Rage Against the Machine at the Minnesota State Capitol

New For The NFL Season (Ladies Locker Room)

My good friends at Ladies Locker Room decided to invite a guy in... me!

Each week the Ladies of LLR ft. IO will be posting our picks.

Be sure to check it out before each weeks games and as always feel free to tell us how bad we suck.

http://www.ladieslockerroom.blogspot.com/