HAPPY EARTH DAY!

No go outside and enjoy this beautiful spring weather and do something good for the earth!
Mercy, Mercy Me (with Eddie Vedder and Josh Homme).mp3

Bjork on Saturday Night Live

Friendly reminder Bjork is slated to perform songs from her highly anticipated upcoming album "Volta" on Saturday Night Live tomorrow. Her album is due to hit stores on May 8th (the same day as her Apollo show) and so far I have heard "Earth Intruders" and seen the fantastic video. As always an album from Bjork stirs excitement amongst us music industry types because let's face it, lady is clearly one of the biggest female innovators in music- EVER. As for Saturday Night Live they are doing quite alright when it comes to booking talent this season, Arcade Fire, Lily Allen, Bjork...keep it up folks!

"In other news, Bjork has announced a contest giving fans the opportunity to create the video for her new song, 'Innocence'. To assist aspiring videographers, song lyrics, album photos, and images of the sculpture Bjork wears on the cover of her forthcoming album are available on her website: Bjork.com. The unreleased track is now streaming from Bjork's MySpace. She is expected to determine the winner of the competition in July."

*MusicSlut has posted the "Earth Intruders" video
Earth Intruders.mp3

Fabrizio Moretti backing up mate Har Mar Superstar

The Modern Age has a bit about this story so i decided to do my own research into the matter. Apparently our lovely Strokes friend has been on tour with Har Mar opening up for Red Hot Chili Australian gigs while Albert and crew do their own thing.


"Hey, Everyone:
What's new, all? The news right now is that I've signed Sean Na Na and Har Mar Superstar to Dim Mak. We will dominate together for 2007-2008. It's gonna be amazing. My Australian brothers and sisters: I'm supporting the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS throughout April!!! Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes) & Tony Bevilacqua (The Distillers, The Drips, Sean Na Na) will be my ace rhythm section for all of the following shows:

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND DATES
(Supporting The Red Hot Chili Peppers)

APRIL 7, 2007 @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Hindmarsh, South Australia

APRIL 8, 10 & 11, 2007 @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
100 St Kilda Rd
Melbourne, Victoria

APRIL 13 & 14, 2007 @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Melaleuca Drive
Brisbane, Queensland

APRIL 16, 17 & 19, 2007 @ Acer Arena
Olympic Boulevard
Sydney Olympic Park
New South Wales

APRIL 21 & 22, 2007 @ Vector Arena
Auckland, New Zealand




To my dear friends in Australia i would have posted this earlier had i known! Sorry for the delay!

Feist adds second show at Town Hall

BrooklynVegan is ever so reliable with posting on sale announcements so remember to wake up in time to purchase a ticket to her second Town Hall date!
One Two Three Four.mp3
*A lil bit addicted to this song- so catchy!

Orchestras lend support to Decemberists upcoming tour

By now it has been widly reported that The Decemberists are returning to New York City for a slot at this years Summerstage in Central Park with local Brooklyn artists Grizzly Bear. If you have not yet procured a ticket to this summer nighttime event i highly urge you to do so. Both bands have such story teller lyrics backed up with melodous music that will be perfect for Summerstage. Billboard Magazine reports how other cities will be viewing The Decemberists with some very special support, Orchestra support that is.

"This July, The Decemberists will perform alongside local orchestras at select dates in amphitheaters in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Columbia, Md. The Portland, Ore.-based act is currently playing 1,500- to 3,000-capacity theaters in support of its Capitol debut, "The Crane Wife," which has sold 214,000 copies in the United States since its October release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The idea to match The Decemberists with orchestras came after Johanna Rees, who has booked similar shows at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, approached the act's booking agent, Kevin French with Bigshot Touring Artists "I was the liaison between the band and the orchestra folks, because they don't really know how the rock world works," Rees tells Billboard.com. "And if you're a fan, it's such a perfect band to put with an orchestra. Musically, they're just astounding." To help organize the dates, Rees, who also books the L.A.'s Walt Disney Concert Hall, reached out to various venue and orchestra promoters around the country. "I needed to make sure all the pieces fit together," she says. "Obviously, an orchestra promoter won't be able to promote a rock concert the way it needs to be promoted." In 2004, Rees paired French electronic duo Air with an orchestra for a sold-out concert at the 17,300-seat Hollywood Bowl. And over the next two years, she did the same with Dead Can Dance (2005) and Belle and Sebastian (2006). "After the third year, the artists, managers and agents started calling -- and so did some of the orchestra promoters that I know," Rees says. "They were wondering how to be a part of it." For the Decemberists July 7 concert at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Rees predicts many concertgoers will simply attend out a desire to experience something different. "I think people are just interested in seeing a band play with an orchestra, even if they don't know the band or orchestra that well." Indie act Band Of Horses will open the show. For the orchestra shows, the Decemberists will play songs from their entire catalog, according to sources close to the band. Leading up to the five orchestra-backed concerts, the band will play the Coachella and Bonnaroo festivals. A theatre tour is expected in the fall which hit 4,500-17,300-capacity sheds, the Decemberists are scheduled to appear at Indio, Calif.'s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 28, and Manchester, Tenn.'s Bonnaroo Festival on June 17. Beyond that, the band is expected to hit theaters again this fall."

Here are the Decemberists summer tour dates:

June 16: Manchester, Tenn. (Bonnaroo Festival)
July 7: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl, w/ L.A. Philharmonic, Band Of Horses)
July 13: Atlanta (Chastain Park, w/ Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
July 14: Columbia, Md. (Merriweather Post Pavilion, w/ Baltimore Symphony
Orchestra)
July 15: Philadelphia (Mann Center for the Performing Arts, w/ Mann Festival
Orchestra)
July 16: New York (Central Park Summerstage, w/ Grizzly Bear)
July 18: Chicago (Jay Pritzker Pavillion, w/ Grant Park Orchestra)
July 22: Troutdale, Ore. (Edgefield Winery, w/ Menomena)

*i also throughly enjoy the whole aesthetic value behind The Decemberists so i invite you to check out this artist who reminds me a bit of the artwork on Crane's Wife as well as the artwork link on their website.


Sons and Daughters mp3
Summersongmp3

Green Apple Festival Reminders

OF course everyone should be checking out The School of Rock on Sunday night at Symphony Space, or today at noon in front of Grand Central Station- but there are some other acts spread out across the country that are showing up in support of Earth Day 2007.

Bjork Record Release Party @ The Delancey

This Friday, April 20th beginning at 8:30 PM

"One Little Indian/Elektra Records is holding a special record release party for Bjork's new album "Volta." Known for her crazy fashion sense, expressive range, and a wide range of music interest, Bjork is easily Iceland's hottest export with 12 Grammy's and an Academy Award nomination. With over 15 million albums sold already, no wonder she can get away with wearing dresses that look like birds."

Cost: $10.00

Official Site

Vote for Treehugger-Webby Awards

Not sure why KEXP was not nominated as best Radio Blog or why HBO was not nominated for best TV Blog-but that does not mean you shouldn't go and vote for Treehugger!

All You Rock & Rollers

Now move with your lover, or friend, or stranger next to you...NOW! Last night marked the first time i have seen Ghostland Observatory even though i have been dancing to them ever since my first listen during John in the Morning's set on KEXP. For those of you who do not regularly listen to the wonderfulness that is John in the Morning let me tell you- you should- because the man has more taste than most record labels A&R departments ever could. The bands' two albums "delete.delete.i.eat.meat..." and "Papparazzi Lightning" are on regular rotation here in my office.

So, if you have ever heard a song of theirs then close your eyes and imagine a man singing/screetching/howling at the top of his lungs backed up with nothing other than, yep, you guessed it-lasers. But in a good way, the best way. Everything i had heard about their shows turned out to be true and what a performance they put on. Bowery Ballroom was sold out and the only lighting came from a laser machine propped up in the center of the stage aimed at the back bar. Strobe lighting during the second encore made the scene turn into a full on dance rave. Take that Studio B! I wish i had a camera just so i could share photos of what was happening on stage to accompany these fantastic dance effects. Singer Aaron Behrens showed no signs of holding anything back as he struted across the stage with his hair cleanly parted into two long braids, an turquoise indian mock, and sunglasses. His bandmate, Thomas Turner was decked out in a silver cape madly performing to the crowd with as much intensity as Behrens.



As for the music itself the vocals were delivered with such clarity especially when you were watching Behrens dancing, swaggering, jumping all over the stage, not a single note was breathy or hushed. There is a reason that everyone was talking about them after South by Southwest. Even NPR has a live session for you to check out. I would love to see them again, maybe along side someone as charasmatic and crazy as Karen O, now that would be a dreamlike combo for a bill. Aaron is just that much of a rockstar, no other way to describe his persona. Their music is incredibly vivid. Electronic with a pop twist backed up with lovely old school guitars, drums, synthesizers, and keyboards. Take note of this band because after their performance at Lollapalooza they will most likely gain an audience of noteable size to finally match their incredibly massive sound and personality.


06 Sad Sad City.m4a
07 Stranger Lover.m4a

*Brooklynvegan was very lovely and linked to my posting of this review. I was reading through his comment section and found this blog which is almost entirely devoted to Ghostland Observatory with some excellent live shots from the show the other night. Thanks again BV and ENJOY!

Rosewood Thieves This Friday

If you were not able to make it out for their most recent show at Tonic definitely head over to the Living Room this Friday night. Yes, yes, Hot Chip is playing that night as well- but you COULD do both if you really tried and Rosewood Thieves are worth testing out your show hopping skills. Especially since it would seem that our little New York secret will not be secret for long. Apparently their song, "Los Angeles" will be featured during upcoming episodes of hit shows Grey's Anatomy and Entourage. Now, it is one thing to be featured on Grey's Anatomy which loves indie music more than any other tv show out there since The O.C.-but Entourage! Very fitting. The second season of Entourage featured Kings of Leon on almost every episode along with Muse, U2, The Rolling Stones, Jay Z, The Clash, Beck and others. As anyone who religiously watches HBO like i do knows that every single song picked for any of their series always is a perfect fit and a well thought out selection (you know you remember the closing scene for Six Feet Under with Clair driving her little hybrid while Sia swoons in the background). Congrats Rosewood Thieves! Their upcoming EP "From The Decker House" is slated to be re-released in early June with an end of the month release for six of their new songs. Saturday night the band is opening for Jesse Malin at the Mercury Lounge. If by some force of nature you cannot attend either of their shows, stay tuned to their website for more date announcements and mark down their residency at Pianos- also in June.
*very good Article from PASTE Magazine
01 Los Angeles.m4a
02 Back Home To Harlem.m4a

Arctic Monkeys Cover

Thank you to Musecology for posting this kickin' cover by the Arctic Monkeys. I must say, The Strokes are top five of my most BELOVED bands and they do a rather decent job covering 'Take It Or Leave It' which is usually the boys trademarker show closing chant. I am always so sad when i hear Julian announce, "Thank you guys, and this one is "Take It Or Leave It" because i know that means no more Strokes for me! I think Albert, Julian, Nick, Fab and Nikolia would be quite happy if they check this out.
Take It Or Leave It.mp3

Art Brut at Bowery Ballroom

So with this being the fourth time that I have caught Art Brut, I must say my faith has been restored in this band after tonights show. Never losing faith that this band has what it takes to put on a damn solid live show, the last time I saw them at Irving Plaza that "IT" factor was not there (that "IT" factor was sure as hell there when I saw them at the Knitting Factory and definitley at the Siren Festival). Recently Art Brut freely gave away an "unmastered" EP titled "It's a Bit Complicated" via their website and I must say I was instantly hooked on them again. Tonight at the Bowery Ballroom with their new EP on display they blended it with
their solid debut album "Bang Bang Rock & Roll". From start to finish the show had the crowds energy at a high and Art Brut put on their "Art Brut Style Show"....Eddie Argos delivering his story telling lyrics in a rather normal conversational voice on top of that "not too complicated" rock & roll...hey, it works and is fun! The highlight of the show was definitley "Modern Art" which saw the crowds fists in the air and Eddie taking his usual dip in the audience and running around the Bowery.
Fyi, if you plan on hopping on the stage at one of there shows, don't do it cause if you do so you will be tossed aside rather quickly and grabbed off the stage by the stage hand who demonstrated this during one clowns move during the encore tonight.

-Jaime W.



artbrut_directhit.mp3

artbrut_latesunday.mp3
*photo from KF show via Brooklynvegan

**Shelves of Vinyl happily welcomes Jaime with open arms. After much prodding he has agreed to write reviews from some of the fantastic shows he attends weekly. Jaime loves music more than anyone i have ever met and he should have his own blog, his taste is that good- so until he does, check out his reviews here from now on!