In the streets we were running free, like it's only You and Me

I cannot wait for September. Moving to a new CLEAN apartment building a block away from one of my boyfriend's favorite people, watching two of my close friends get married in Maine and heading to Seattle for a mini-vaca. All of these things will be a great beginning to my favorite time of year, Fall in New York. Watching Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's visit to NPR this morning awakened the butterflies in my stomach who have been resting up for Bumbershoot. I freaked out when I saw them with Fool's Gold at Williamsburg Music Hall. There are too few truly magical places like the NPR offices left in the industry. KEXP offices, my co-worker Nicole's den, the displays at Seattle's East Street Records...that is half of what makes the video so wonderful. A ten piece collective of musical inguenines packed into a room stocked full with magazines, vinyl and cds is pure happiness to someone who still believes the music industry is a good place to be. Thank you NPR and thank you Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. You made my rainy Wednesday morning full of sunshine.

I am yours now...

"You used to have all the answers
And you still have the too.
And we, we live half in the daytime.
And we, we live half at night."

Tonight the streets of Williamsburg were dark by 4:5o PM as winter creeps closer and closer. It is almost December. The month where everyone will roll out their best of lists for 2009. Since I barely wrote at all this year I am at least trying to get a head start on putting some concrete thoughts down about artists, records and songs that I loved. Similar in formation to the title of their hit single "Crystalized" The XX infiltrated their way into the ears of listeners across the globe and proceeded to conquer with their slow, suffocating, humid, liquid melodies that enclose you in a cave of overwhelming emotion and sound. If it is your sort of thing. I caught their first show of CMJ (except for their KEXP in studio session at The Cutting Room Studios in NYC) at the Mercury Lounge to a sold out crowd.

When I arrived at the venue there was a line around the corner. One of my favorite local bands, Javelin opened with their own sincere style of electronic beats, lashes and whips. They are stellar in every way and I highly recommend seeing them. They are crisp, bright and energetic---full of talent and fire-so keep an eye on them.

The XX slid onto the stage, silently moving through the crowd and assembling themselves with a nervous energy in the air. Cracking the empty breath of the waiting audience with "Intro" they entered their set with the same stealth and cunning perfection as their record. Granted it might not be for everyone. Their music has a quiet strength to it and their live show did not have much going on besides watching them play their songs. For me...all of this works beautifully. Almost to a fault. Their record is so good---each song is loaded with such naked lyrics that it tends to either effect you immediately---or you are at a loss for the understanding of what it is that they do so well. My clever and beyond talented friend Louis captured them on video for their song "Crystalized" below. My favorite thing about this clip is it captures how young and innocent they are. I sincerely hope to keep the honestly and innocence of their songs that they stay this way. They are perfection.

*For more videos from CMJ visit Electric Tweed
*The XX are currently touring check dates here. They will be back in nYc at Webster Hall on December 5th with The Friendly Fires

Because I Am Putting Up With Your Constant Way

When I saw that my favorite tastemaker started his own video blog session as well I was so happy it was like a little "indie rock christmas." Laundromatinee sessions are beautifully recorded and shot and are holding the empty place in my heart until I can finally start something like this on my own...that is CONSTANT in NYC. For now helping KEXP will have to do and my friend Louis does an amazing job, so please check out all of his work here.

Moving along I have been obsessed with the Scottish band the Twilight Sad for a few years now. I have seen them every time they come through the city, most recently opening for Mogwai at Williamsburg Music Hall. At home on Fat Cat Records along with We Were Promised Jetpacks (also love) and Frightened Rabbit they have received more blog coverage with their new album than ever before and for good measure. Their live shows are some of the most passionate and piercing performances that I have witnessed to date. Not much movement is happening but the delivery is hauntingly other-wordly. Lead singer, James Graham is a presence unto himself. I recommend checking them out as often as possible. Their talent it something people will be talking about more frequently as they grow with each song they record. For now, check out their Laundromatinee session from this summer's Monolith Festival at Red Rocks.

*The Twilight Sad's 2009 release, Forget The Night Ahead is out now and can be purchased here.
*Twilight Sad Tags.

They line up in row after row...

There is a major reason why i do not read Pitchfork. I do not like the idea of one website making or breaking a band. All those months of hard work writing melodies let alone lyrics. When was the last time you tried to write a song P-fiddle...or try a letter to a friend- or even a thank you card for that matter. None of this can be researched and I am sure they are all incredibly lovely people at heart. They write their opinions about things just as I do. The MAIN reason I do not read Pitchfork is because they are snobs. SNOBS to the core. They ignore a lot of good bands until they are popular enough for their standards. This usually comes about only after the band has been written about a million times by the 'smaller blogs' and Pitchfork is forced to pay attention due to sold out shows or NYC buzz. This is true. This can be statistically proven. Take for instance my beloved Fanfarlo. They are going to be huge. They sold out Mercury Lounge and had their show moved to Bowery Ballroom before they even had their single released. (*check-sold out show). They have the interesting indie details: the little girl in the bird mask on the cover of the album is Jonsi from Sigur Ros' sister---which is how the band got it's name. (*check-hipster cred) They have attracted the attention of writers who I do read and highly respect such as Culture Bully and I Am Fuel, You Are Friends. (*check-blog buzz from people who do their own research) All of this could mean nothing except for the fact that their music is fiercely beautiful and their album, "Reservoir" will be one of the best of the year. It will beat Grizzly Bear's latest and Deer Tick on my list. Before the band had the official video for their first single, "The Walls" they had four or five home made videos from their backyards which were just as classy and blog worthy as any Vincent Moon story. Still Pitchfork has ignored them. They played showcase after showcase at SXSW and over the month of September have a session scheduled with KEXP. Still...not good enough for Pitchfork. But crap bands like the Drums are? Seriously people. This is why I do not read Pitchfork. Because if you hold your breath and wait for them to decide whether or not something will receive enough hits you----my dear reader----are the ones who miss out. You will be late to loving an album that you could have been excited about for weeks, or a show that will already be sold out by the time it is posted. Which is why baby blogs matter-because after all if no one else is reading this but myself--I will still feel satisfied that I at least loved Fanfarlo from the very beginning. Who needs a 9.2 review?

"I demand you get into Fanfarlo as soon as humanly possible, assuming you haven't already."-Personal Sauna
Fanfarlo's Reservoir is due out October 6th.

FANFARLO TOUR DATES
Sep 14*Chop Suey*Seattle
Sep 15*Troubadour*West Hollywood
Sep 17*Popscene*San Francisco
Sep 20*Kungfu Necktie*Philadelphia
Sep 21*Bowery Ballroom*New York
Sep 22*The Bell House*New York

Bang Bang Eche---Warning HIGHLY ADDICTIVE

Don't you love when you let your Itunes do its' thing and it comes across some of your favorite songs and you realize you never blogged about--which is like never talking about it in the first place! I have been loving Bang Bang Eche since October. They are from New Zealand, they are incredibly young and they are the shit. If you like amazingly fierce drummers that while they play you can see them innocently counting out their beats in between beaming like a happy little clam, then this is the band for you. Their lyrics are stacked and solid as well. Supported by KEXP they performed an in studio performance during CMJ that I sadly missed as I was running my own shows at the time. After my friends in the audience recovered and their jaws returned to normal facial expression positions my mobile wouldn't stop flickering like a lightening bug captured in a jar. I knew they were going to be many a good thing within the first few seconds of seeing them. Ranging in age from 16-20 they are better than most of the bands being tossed and toted around NME as of late. (cough...glasvegas...what?!) I am hoping that this year brings big things for them. They are LOUD and lovable. Precious.

BANG BANG ECHE-Time Mismanagement.mp3
BANG BANG ECHE-(You & Me) Thick as Thieves.mp3

It's Friday Morning...the last Friday before it becomes winter

And while I am helping volunteer for KEXP John happened to pick Hyperballad by Bjork, my absolute favorite of all of her songs. Loveeeee it. Now bring on the snow Northeastern storm system, us New Yorkers are ready! :)

East Village Stroll

Yesterday I discovered a New York band that is so blisteringly unique and solid I was blown away and couldn't stop talking about them last night. I Led 3 Lives is comprised of three fiercely talented and greedily crafty musicians who have already comfortably established themselves in the trenches of the New York music scene. Ilhan Ersahin on keys and saxophone, Jochen Rueckert on drums and Juini Booth on bass together combine their individual creative backgrounds and leave their audience stunned with sounds ranging from psychedelic breakdowns to house beats and chirps and clicks that would make even the stingiest of Battles fans proud to be at one of their live sets. For more information on the band and a download of their song, House of Ahmet head over to the KEXP blog, for they are the being featured as the song of the day! I also highly recommend taking time to listen to all of the songs they have offered up on their myspace page, East Village Stroll is my own personal favorite. Their album, Peace Now was released via Nublu Records so go check it out now!

Be aware my darling, these things i say i mean...

Whereas last year it was quite easy for me to ramble off my list of top albums of the year 2008 has found me saying which songs I enjoy rather than whole records. This is not the case when it comes to School of Seven Bells who turned out one of the most intricately composed and enchantingly woven compilations. I believe that there are certain movements one must make in life, steps you are absolutely destined to tread in order to create something new or find yourself some place completely different. Such is the scenario for Benjamin Curtis, formerly of Secret Machines. In 2004 the Deheza sisters: Alejandra and Claudia (both formerly of On!Air!Liberty!) and Curtis were opening acts for Interpol and met backstage in between the performances. Their band name was taken from a mythical South American Pickpocket Academy that might have existed during the 80's that sparked Alejandra's imagination while she was watching a PBS special. It took three years but by early 2007, School of Seven Bells was born and signed with Ghostly International for their debut release, Alphinisms which came out this October. The threesome just recently finished touring with M83 and are performing at the Mercury Lounge next Monday. Yeaaahh! If you are curious about what they might sound like live you can check out their in studio session at KEXP here.

And because I do have a favorite song when it comes to them I fondly invite you to download Half Asleep first,

Sometimes I go whole days
listening bored, half sleep
I won't say anything
that's worth a thing to me
One day, suddenly, time
took a turn that once felt so brief
I blinked to see polite ghosts fading quickly

What begins as an unguarded
train of thoughts slowly can become
an addiction to the slumber
of disconnection and the resonance
of memory that no longer has a shape
but keeps you numb through
the hours tills gone is another day

Be aware, my darling
these things I say I mean
are just traces of something
I long to feel again
I see our time expand
in the air almost forcibly,
spreading thinner till it dissolves completely


School of Seven Bells-Half Asleep.jpg
School of Seven Bells-Wired for Light.mp3
School of Seven Bells-Song for the Magpie.mp3

All I need is a song to save my soul

It is November and I have finally caught back up with my work for my real job after all of the CMJ/presidental madness. Once again during CMJ i lended a hand to the ever so wonderful people over at KEXP during their in studio sessions that they hold all week long at Gibson Studios(formerly known as the Hit Factory). Being amongst some of the most knowledgeable music lovers this country has to offer is always the best week of my year. Hands down. Nothing else can even come close to comparing being in a room with people you respect who are all banning together to broadcast non-profit programming that they so dearly believe in. It is as close to the music as you can get. You also get to find out about new music coming out of Portland and Seattle, two cities that seem to just be bursting with creative talent these days, especially when it comes to Americana/Folk/Alt-Country/Bluegrass/Wonderfulness. The Moondoggies hail from Seattle, Washington and are supported by Sub Pop's sister label (and home to our beloved Le Loup): Hardly Art.

"There is a popular chapter of American mythology that pertains to The Highway. It tells of a two-way ribbon of blacktop running endlessly through our past to our future, linking city to country, offering escape and motion and freedom to travel anywhere the imagination might wander. In this chapter, The Highway is both means and end, metaphor and reality.

And down that mythical Highway there is a Bar. Inside that Bar is a Stage. On that Stage is a Band. That Band is the Moondoggies."

Kevin Murphy (vocalist), Robert Terreberry (bass), Carl Dahlen (drums), and Caleb Quick (keys) have been playing together since they were teenagers and after the band took up residence at a local dive bar, Blue Moon Tavern (a 70 year old haunt in the University District) the equation for moody blues and raucous live shows was complete. Don't Be A Stranger is their debut album and has led them to tour dates in and around their hometown with the equally talented The Maldives. Layers of blues, rock, folk, country and gospel radiate with sunshine and love-soaked days making the record hard to put down and impossible to forget. With all of the albums floating around this year that draw upon music of the 60's and 70's what makes The Moondoggies separate themselves from bands like Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes is that vein of pure indulgence and outright joy. You get a sense that the boys are swaying back and forth clutching their beloved instruments and enjoying their music as much as you are as you stroll down the street, falling in love with their album with every step you take. I have my eye out for tour dates like a hawk circling for that stray rabbit...so be aware kids.
The Moondoggies-Black Shoe.mp3
The Moondoggies-Ol' Blackbird.mp3
The Moondoggies-Changing.mp3
The Moondoggies-Undertaker.mp3

LAST DAY OF THE FALL KEXP PLEDGE DRIVE!

Because I have been walking around lately like the living dead due to my job I am utterly exhausted to the point of not being able to even post a blog about my number one love, KEXP until today. YEs, the upcoming election is important and today is the last day to register to VOTE...so get off your ass and do it already. BUT- today is also the last day to pledge for the annual KEXP FALL PLEDGE DRIVE. They have been working tirelessly all week, counting down the top 903 albums voted on by their listeners and they just played two of my favorite songs of all time off of two of my favorite albums back to back.
8:48~~~Depeche Mode ~~~~~ Enjoy The Silence~~~~Violator Sire

DJ Comments: #79
*************************************************************************************
8:42~~~~LCD Soundsystem~~~~~~Someone Great~~~~Sound Of Silver EMI

DJ Comments: #80 For all those great who are gone...


Sarah and Hawk, these are for you kids. The rest of you...go vote, register people to vote and donate money to a non-profit that you are going to need to carry you through the next 4 years if things do not go right in a few weeks. Thank you.
Depeche Mode Tags/LCD Soundsystem Tags

If these two got together

I think everyone in the indie/rock/music community would be a happy little Bon Iver/Lykke Li-lover. At least I would be.

As if you need anymore convincing of why you should show up to see the KEXP live in studio sessions during the week of CMJ (Monday, October 20th through Friday, October 24th) look no further. Lykke Li is scheduled for a spot on Tuesday, October 21st and she will be stellar. You can check out the rest of the lineup which includes some of my favorites like the Voom Blooms, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Friendly Fires, Hercules and the Love Affair, Deerhoof...seriously, they are FREE kids. FREE. Sign up
HERE.
Lykke Li Tags/Bon Iver Tags/KEXP Tags

sTArFuCker*...You even have health insurance? What a bore...

The magically talented Sarah Cass
And they say it is all in the name...During a recent trip to Seattle I was turned onto Portland-based band Starfucker and decided that heck, if they were good enough for one of my favorite people over at KEXP then they were good enough for me. One of the things to do whenever you travel to a new city is find out what the locals are listening to. Portland may be a mere three hours a way but their neighboring villagers of Seattle definitely support and adore their home grown artists as much as their own. Kinda like the Manhattan-Brooklyn connection going on here. Their debut (self titled ?) album came out last Tuesday via Badman Recording Co. and they will be hitting the CMJ market heavily during the days of October 22nd and 24th so if you are in the city and enjoying the mass chaos you should check them out. Sure to be compared to Passion Pit, The Flaming Lips, MGMT and anything else that gets the hipster kiddies movin' these days. Enjoy their music before it is splashed all over MTV and playing in Urban Outfitters. It is super catchy and I for one am excited to have this as my soundtrack for those indian summer days as we look ahead to colder days and early nights. Just means more time for dance parties indoors! HEck yeah!
***************TOUR DATES****************
Oct 7-Neurolux-Boise,Idaho
9-Kilby Court-Salt Lake City, Utah
11-High Dive-Denver, CO
13-Replay Lounge, Lawrence, KA
14-Skull Alley, Louisville, KY
15-Skully’s Music Diner, Columbus, OH
16-Talking Head CLub, Baltimore, MD
17-The Red and Black-DC, Washington DC
18-M Room-Philadelphia, PA
22-Cake Shop-nYc-CMJ
22-OS art house-nYc-CMJ
24-Knitting Factory-nYc-CMJ
26-Beachland Tavern, Cleveland, OH
27-The Hide Out-Chicago, IL
28-7th Street Entry-Minneapolis, MN
29-Nutty's North-Sioux Falls, SD
31-Badlander-Missoula, Montana
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NOVEMBER~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nov 1-Vera Project-Seattle, WA
7 -The Hemlock-San Francisco, CA
8 -Spaceland, LA, CA
4-Wonder ballroom w/ blitzen trapper-Portland, OR
Starfucker-Pop Song.mp3
Starfucker-German Love.mp3

Words can never make up for what you do

A few weeks ago I went to see Lykke Li at Le Poisson Rouge and covered the show for KEXP. You can read my review here if you would like. She was excellent and I highly recommend going to see her upcoming shows, the most recently announced date is Tuesday, October 21st at Bowery Ballroom with Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson as part of the CMJ Music Madness.
**************Lykke Li Tour Dates*********************
Oct 19-Black Cat-Washington,Washington DC
Oct 20-Music Hall of Williamsburg-SOLD OUT-Brooklyn,NY
Oct 21-Bowery Ballroom-nYc, nY
Oct 23-Paradise-Boston,Massachusetts
Oct 24-Mod Club-Toronto,Ontario
Oct 25-Empty Bottle-Chicago,Illinois
Oct 28-Richards on Richards-Vancouver,British Columbia
Oct 29-Neumo’s-Seattle,Washington
Oct 30-Doug Fir-Portland,Oregon
Nov 1-Independent-San Francisco,California
Nov 3-El Rey-Los Angeles,California
Dec 10-John Dee-Oslo, Norway
Dec 11-Vega, Copenhagen
Dec 12-Kägelbanan,Stockholm
Lykke Li-Breaking It Up.mp3
Lykke Li-Little Bit (CSS Remix).mp3
Lykke Li Tags

Strange Overtones

There is nothing more spoiled than waking up on vacation on a beautiful island...tottering into the kitchen to grab some yogurt before your morning swim and tuning into the Morning show on KEXP only to hear new David Byrne with Brian Eno. John will continue to debut new songs as they are recorded...so stay tuned. The first track, Strange Overtones was chillingly fantastic.

Pools of hipster electric cries echoed for miles around

*Remarkable footage provided by Jason Bergsman

*My sentiments of the event for KEXP.

Free Albert Hammond, Jr. Show Tomorrow at HIRO

They are giving away 200 tickets before hand, click here. I was lucky enough to gain access into the secret Albie show at the Mercury Lounge last week thanks to KEXP, check out my review.
Albert Hammond, Jr.-Victory At Monterey.mp3
Albert Hammond Jr-Rocket.mp3
Albert Hammond, Jr-Borrowed Time.mp3

Dodos Live at 6:oo (EST) on KEXP!

One of the things I am most looking forward to this summer is seeing The Dodos again. I will be getting my chance during the Pitchfork Music Festival in July and for those of you staying in the city you can see them for free at the Siren Music Festival out in Coney Island on July 19th. One of my favorite bands of the year the Dodos of course remind me of Animal Collective and Panda Bear (and a dash of White Stripes). I am happy I was finally educated on Panda Bear and thanks to one of the best Sundays I ever spent they sank in and I fell head over heels in love with their eclectic and chirpy lit. Spend sometime with The Dodos and you are sure to have the same experience. It will be worth the indulgence, trust me. They are stopping by KEXP today at 6:oo PM (EST) and 3:oo Seattle time. Their Daytrotter sessions is one of my favorites so i am sure KEXP will be just as enjoyable. Or it might just make those last few minutes of work tick by a little quicker.
The Dodos-Red and Purple live at Daytrotter.mp3
The Dodos-Men-Daytrotter Session.mp3
The Dodos Tags

~`IL fAit cHaud`~

So looks like we are going to hit our first HOT weekend of the (almost) summer in the city. Highly exciting. Especially since there are some incredibly good shows to go to- one of which that allows you to enjoy the sun and music at the same time. Lucky Dragons tomorrow as part of the East River Music Project starting at 2 PM sharp. Tonight Pela, a KEXP favorite is playing at Bowery with one of my local favorites The Big Sleep. If you have not seen them, you should. Recently Billy McCarthy sliced a tendon in his hand during a live performance- gruesome yes, passionate-100%. Sunday is the next FRICTION series concert with THESE NEW PURITANS(so excited!) at Billyburg Music Hall. You know it. So slap on some sunblock, download all of these goodies from some of my favorite lady lovers and enjoy your weekend. You~earned~it.
Lykke Li-I'm Good I'm Gone-(Black Kids Re-mix).mp3
*Dear dear Lykke Li- so my love for the summer!
Vivian Girls-Where Do You Run To.mp3
Stricken City-Tak o Tak.mp3
Zeigeist-Tarheart.mp3
Portishead-We Carry On.mp3
*Just getting into this album---expect more gushing once I have throughly become involved.
These New Puritans Tags
Lucky Dragons Tags

I'm a hustler baby

*Cred
That's what my KEXP's made me...oh yes. So cheesy. I know. But it is the annual summer pledge drive, so head on over and show your support. Make your parents proud. Show them you aren't just wasting your youthful years listening to music and going to shows. It isn't all about the party, it is about supporting the arts and one of the best non-profits in the music industry. Fitting, right? So do your love for music right, DONATE! Thank you.
We Were Promised Jetpacks-Quite Little Voices.mp3
We Were Promised Jetpacks-Ships With Holes Will Sink (acoustic).mp3
(*We Were Promised Jetpacks are care of John in the Morning...my latest discovery.)

Crystal Castles return

I have been stalking the Crystal Castles myspace page ever since i saw them as part of the Friction NYC show at the Mercury Lounge on March 26th. News hit today that they will be returning and playing at Studio B on June 19th with room around the date for them to play in Manhattan as well. Even though they are two incredibly different bands with two unique sounds i have been loving this band as much as i loved LCD Soundsystem around this time last year. Killer.
******CRYSTAL CASTLES TOUR DATES*******
May 15-Sugarmill-STOKE
May 16 & 17-Great Escape-BRIGHTON
May 18-Paradiso-AMSTERDAM
May 19-AB Club-BELGIUM
May 20-Laiterie-STRASBOURG
May 22-Festival Super @ Trabendo-PARIS, FRANCE
May 24-Forgotten Valley Festival-UK,LAKE DISTRICT
May 25-Gatecrashers Summer Soundsystem -NORTHAMPTON
May 26-Gateshead Evolution @ Baltic Square-NEWCASTLE
May 27-Sound City-LIVERPOOL
________JUNE_________
Jun 5-Element-VICTORIA
Jun 6-Richard’s on Richard’s-VANCOUVER
Jun 7-Chop Suey-SEATTLE, WA
Jun 8-Backspace-PORTLAND, OR
Jun 10-The Independant-SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Jun 11-The Roxy-L.A., CA
Jun 12-Casbah-SAN DIEGO, CA
Jun 13-Modified Arts-PHOENIX, AZ
Jun 16-Cervantes Masterpiece-DENVER, CO
Jun 18-Double Door-CHICAGO, IL
Jun 19-Studio B-NYC
Jun 21-Popped! Festival-PHILADELPHIA, PA
Jun 23-Hove Festival-ARENDAL
Jun 29-Glastonbury Festival-UK
Jul 5-Harbourfront-TORONTO

*(Friction NYC with KEXP sponsor one night a month at the Mercury Lounge and have hosted some of the most unique acts i have ever experienced- definitely check it out!)
Crystal Castles-Air War-Ryan Laser (Re-mix).mp3
Crystal Castles-Vanished.mp3
Crystal Castles Tags