Excited about upcoming Animal Collective tour dates and album?!

Need something to listen to and hold you over until Merriweather Post Pavillion comes out and you can hop about at their upcoming shows in January? I have two bands that you might want to check out and have probably already heard of. Lemonade and El Guincho have been touring consistantly throughout these late weeks of 2008 and even performing together in select cities. Lemonade hail from San Francisco and El Guincho are from Barcelona. Both bands have the ability to transport you mentally to warmer locations and days and have me longing for a mini-break from New York for a bit...just a little bit.
El Guincho-Kalise Video

*This is SOOooooo one of those videos you would expect to see on a large wall in some dive bar in Williamsburg, you know the types---which doesn't keep me from loving it as much as i do.
Lemonade-Blissout.mp3
Lemonade-Sunchips.mp3
**************El Guincho On TOur************
January:
30~Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney, Australia
31-Laneway Festival~Brisbane, Australia
February:
1-Laneway Festival~Melbourne, Australia
5-The Corner~Melbourne, Australia
6-Laneway Festival~Perth, Australia
7 Laneway Festival~Adelaide, Australia
8-Laneway Festival~Sydney, Australia
El Guincho-Antillas.mp3
El Guincho-Palmitos Park.mp3
El Guincho-Kalise.mp3

I cursed these legs I walked on

In Ear Park is the perfect record for that transition that happens to light during the colder months where in late October it goes from being strands of thick, golden warmth into strained weak translucent lemon light by the early December. Maybe it was my time that I spent in Southern France or my love of the Impressionists but I have always had a fond affection for the evaporating element of light and adore late afternoon winter light the best above all else. Sitting tucked into my bed and reading by my window Department of Eagles was the perfect companion. The band formed back in 2001 thanks to New York University where Daniel Rossen (who went onto join Grizzly Bear) met Fred Nicolaus. The two roomed together, discussing and sharing music theory and preferences leading to them making a sample CD that they originally planned to only distribute amongst friends. These early tracks ended up being released via California-based independent record label, Isota Records under the name, Whitney on The Moon UK. To avoid a possible encounter with a San Francisco band the two changed their band name to Department of Eagels. The album In Ear Park was named after a park in Los Angeles where Rossen used to go with his father, who recently passed away. In January the band commences a mini-tour including an upcoming date at Bowery Ballroom on Monday, January 19th. Ticket are already on sale.
**************DEPARTMENT OF EAGELS TOUR DATES****************
Jan 15-Schuba’s Tavern-Chicago, Illinois
Jan 16-Wexner Center for the Arts-Columbus, Ohio
Jan 17-Johnny Brenda’s-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jan 18-The Brattle Theatre-Cambridge, Massachusetts
Jan 19-The Bowery Ballroom-New York, New York
Department of Eagels-In Ear Park.mp3
Department of Eagels-Teenagers.mp3
Grizzly Bear Tags

Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele

Happy moment of the day so far was stumbling across Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele whose quote on his page is, "My dog has fleas, just like Lou Reed" which made me laugh out loud which is always a good/healthy exercise during the work day. Hailing from Taylor, Mississippi he has sweet, innocent and catchy tunes that were immediately enjoyable. Kind of like Beirut but without all the added instrumental filler. (Don't get me wrong, I LOVEEE Beirut, but this is much more broken down). An added layer of fun was his cover of Tegan and Sara's When You Were Mine. It is so good you might have to play it twice...or four times. He has a new album coming out on February 3rd via Paw Tracks (ahem, Animal Collective). Hopefully this means we will be hearing more out of Mississippi soon!
Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele-When You Were Mine.mp3
Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele-Meet Me In The Garden.mp3

A study in bars and scales

I came across this while perusing the New York Times today. I LOVE their ridiculously over the top pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs and interpretations and breakdowns of pretentious Indie Music sets. These diagrams of recent
Hot Chip and Passion Pit shows are deliciously fun.

*New York Times dissecting the Hot Chip performance at Terminal 5 Song by Song

*Passion Pit at Pianos...check it out.
Passion Pit-Better Things.mp3
*Hot Chip Tags/Passion Pit Tags

James Murphy---you make me happy.

*This is the cutest thing i have seen in a LONG TIME

*And everyone needs a little bit of Weezer every once in a while. Especially when it comes with flipping penguins in the background and Animal on the drums.

You cast your spell and I went under, I found it so difficult to leave

A few weeks ago the story of my very first kiss was made public on the air and my mum heard it and immediately called me to ask who the Smashing Pumpkins were and then commented on how it was 'such a violent song!' to make out to. This led to conversations with some of my girl friends about what types of songs they choose as background noise for those choice situations. I almost never ever have kissed a boy to something considered romantic. Again today while I listening to some love songs a friend of mine sent over for my opinion I found myself mentally charting all of the love songs that i could not possibly live without and came to realize that i am not a very cheerful love song type of gal. At all. I was a bit surprised because for the most part I think of myself as optimistic and supportive when it comes to the subject. Then again, these were my top five...so you can judge for yourself. This much I must admit- i am not a cheap sell lyrics wise. Heck no!

1.Sinead O'Connor-Nothing Compares To You


2.Leonard Cohen-Hey,That's No Way To Say Goodbye


3. Sam Cooke-Bring It On Home
(There can be as many re-makes of this song as there are fish in the sea, but no one-no one could ever ever ever do what Sam Cooke does to me)
Sam Cooke-Bring It On Home.mp3

4. Bob Dylan-Lay Lady Lay/I Want You (too hard...definitely a split here-but it is Bob-so that is understandable)
Bob Dylan-Lay Lady Lay.mp3
Bob Dylan-I Want You.mp3


5. Magnetic Fields-Book Of Love
Magnetic Fields-The Book Of Love.mp3

Awesome things about today

New York Times Special Edition Video News Release - Nov. 12, 2008 from H Schweppes on Vimeo.
*For more coverage check out the Gothamist.


And this movie...


ENJOY!

Bang Bang Eche

Bang Bang Eche are THE most adorable rock/punk/New Zealand band I have ever laid my eyes upon. They have more energy than I could ever hope for and have the sound to back it up. They are playing their last show in the city tonight at Pianos' at 7 PM. If you do not have anything else planned-that is where you should be. In case you need more convincing:

10 fun facts about BANG BANG ECHE!!!!!

01. We started out in March 07, after some bands that we were previously in (a hip hop crew, an indie-house duo and an angry punk band) had disbanded!
02. Since then we’ve been touring NZ non stop, playing with superduper bands like Chk Chk Chk (NY), So So Modern, Cut Off Your Hands, Die Die Die, the Mint Chicks, and the Shocking Pinks etc etc!
03. Our synth player Perry used to be a prodigal drum & bass DJ named ‘Vitamin P’ when he was 6.
04. We released our debut self-titled EP in May 2008! You can download the whole thing for free, from our myspace at myspace.com/bangbangeche
05. Our first two ever singles ‘4 To The Floor’ and ‘Nikee’ went straight to #1 on the bNet (NZ college network). The third single ‘Time Mismanagement’ followed shortly after at #4, and even got to #2 on the mainstream Radioscope charts!!
06. Our bassist T’Nealle is fucking brutal. Her reputation in underground fighting circles is unparalleled. Usually she disappears for a few hours when we have just played a show and comes back with a blinging gold belt like wrestlers have, but waaay more ghetto. She has eight pairs of grills that all say “CRUNQ”. (T’Nealle is also said to have written two albums of new material in one week. crazy? yes.)
07. In late October, we are moving to New York to live with our hot managers Moose and M-Liz for a few weeks!!! We are playing at the CMJ Music Festival - you can see us at the CMJ NZMusicCommision Showcase with Cut Off Your Hands, the Ruby Suns, and Die Die Die.
08. After NYC we play some dates in Europe, and stay in London for 2 weeks! Check myspaz for dates!
09. At the same time in London, the ‘4 To The Floor//Fingers In The Till’ 7” vinyl is being released by Zarcorp Records!
10. After Europe, we then return to NZ to play the Rhythm & Vines festival in Gisbourne on new years eve!!

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

My Old Kentucky Blog kills the video star

Bon Iver~Flume (Live in-studio at MOKB/WEEM) from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.
I have been incredibly behind and am playing catch up but things I have loved will hopefully be making their way onto this site however slowly and late they may be. One of them is My Old Kentucky Blog launching their new video site which features incredibly intimate and one of a kind in studio sessions with some my most beloved people to tour this year. Visit LaundroMatinnee to check out Dr. Dog, Bon Iver, The Rosebuds and many more as they stop by and play a few tunes and share some insight into their tours, music and daily lives.
Dr. Dog-The Breeze.mp3
*My Old Kentucky Blog Tags/Dr. Dog Tags/Bon Iver Tags

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