She & Him

I am beyond excited for Tuesday night at Hiro Ballroom to see She and Him, otherwise known as M Ward and Zooey Deschanel. To tie me over I am sharing their session with Cheryl and some photos: Zooey and M Ward live @ KEXP Studios in Seattle. You have to be pretty hard-pressed to not enjoy Zooey's sly and luring voice. Their album is happily one of the best surprises so far for 2008 and definitely in my top ten. The New York Times enjoys them as well.
She and Him-Sweet Darlin.mp3
She and Him-You've Really Got A Hold On Me.mp3
She and Him-Control is Hard (Live at KEXP)
She and Him-Magic Trick (Live at KEXP)
She and Him-Bring it On Home to Me (Live at KEXP)

Siren Fest re-CAP

The Twilight Sad *cred*
I was incredibly satisfied with having to wake up 'early' on a Saturday morning to trek out to see The Twilight Sad five seconds into their performance. Yep-five seconds. Their enchanting songs were just as vivid and bold live. They had a bit of difficulty with their sound check which i worried would cause them to be tense and rushed on stage, but they were neither. Brazenly claiming their presence on stage they marked themselves as a band i think it definitely one to watch. I am hoping that some important music people checked them out for their sake. They deserve to be opening for bands such as The National, The Magic Numbers or The Editors with similar moody sounds and mysterious melodies. Granted, not really the type of music to turn out for on a bright, sunny July day, but overwhelmingly worth it.
The Twilight Sad-And She Would Darken The Memory Of Youth.mp3
The Twilight Sad Tags

Elvis Perkins
After The Twilight Sad set wrapped up i happily left Jaime to go watch one of my favorite acts, Elvis Perkins. The last time i saw Elvis he was opening for Cold War Kids at Bowery Ballroom where i completely fell in love. He clearly plans every second of his stagetime which shows in both his music and style. At first Elvis approaches the audience and commences with 'While You Were Sleeping' while the other members of his band gracefully join him one by one. Silently slipping into their places, putting down their beers and reuniting with their instruments. Elvis is a gift among the music scene these days. Like Andrew Birds and Antonymusic is more than just a format of expression for him but a true obstacle to tackle and meld into his own unique creation.
Elvis Perkins- It's Only Me.mp3
Elvis Perkins Tags

The Black Lips *cred*
I was sad to have skipped the Dr. Dog set as i have yet to see him perform. Jaime absolutely loves him and throughly enjoyed the performance. We took a bit of a break before heading over to check out the tail end of The Black Lips. This was the first band to make a convert out of me on Saturday. I enjoyed their fiesty energy as much as their sound. They were a perfect summer festival band and it was clear the audience was enjoying them.

My Lavendar Diamond *cred*
After leaving The Black Lips we wandered over to My Lavendar Diamond. She sounded lovely, but sadly, i felt she was a bit out of place with the whole beach, Siren Festival Vibe.

Matt and Kim *cred*
My favorite awakening of the day was during Matt and Kim. I had never really understood the buzz surrounding them and their live shows. Now i completely get it. Matt, with his exuberant voice comes across as the most jovial male performer i have ever seen. Whereas most male singers put energy into being either funny or mysterious, Matt with his youthful presence draws you in and fills you with happiness throughout their set. Their songs are lighthearted and the audience reponds with happy dancing, clapping and cheers. They were incredibly pleased to be performing to an audience at their favorite place on earth, Brooklyn and it showed. Tearing through each song i was very impressed overall. Definitely made me want to run home and put them on my ipod immediately.
Matt and Kim-Yea Yeah.mp3
Matt and Kim Tags

I reallllllyyyy wanted to see M.I.A. but it was SO crowded by this time. It was very apparent that most of the crowd came out for the bands scheduled to close out the day. We couldn't hear her at all from where we were and all i could see was that she was wearing something sparkely. I really was curious to see how she translated live, hopefully i will have another chance soon-and hopefully i won't have to go to Studio B for it.

According to BrooklynVegan she was lovely. As lovely as Di Fara pizza? Tough competition since that is where i ended up due to getting pushed back from M.I.A. and i can officially say it is the best pizza i have ever tasted. The whole experience is something you must do while you are visiting or living in nYc. You will not be disappointed. Family run the owner gently makes the pizza right in front of you while you wait at the counter...salivating over every move. It is well worth the wait just to watch him create his magic. My favorite bit was how slowly and deliberately he moved and how respectful everyone was who were waiting for their slice or pies. A truly magical place. I highly recommend the red peppers that live in a white container on the counter and melt into the pizza as soon as you place them on top of the cheese. I must thank my friend Rebecca since she shared this grand bit of New York with me.

I won't drag my feet in whatever dirt you track in

I am incredibly superstitious. Always have been. I loathed that story about stepping on cracks and breaking my mother's back when I was little. It terrified me. I never pick up pennies that are tails-side down on the pavement. I avoid walking under ladders (for two reasons...that is just not safe!). I throw salt over my shoulder when it spills on the table. For as long as I can remember when my mom left for work in the morning I would wave goodbye from the window until I couldn't see her car, otherwise I would worry she wouldn't make it home. When my dad traveled on trips the last thing I always made sure I said was I love you. I don't write about boys when I have crushes in my journal...whenever I do and I am happy things head straight to the trash bin. Once when I was walking home while living in Avignon a black cat crossed my path and I literally gasped out loud causing my french family to give me the hairy eyeball. I can't help it. I am beginning to think March is my unlucky month. Just like Cesar bad things befall me during this transition from winter to spring. Last year my boss at the time called me in for a meeting and told me he didn't like my taste in music or my attitude. At the time I was supposed to be at SXSW but had passed up the opportunity to go because I did not want to miss work and spending time with that lovely boss of mine. I remember sitting at my desk listening to Justin Vernon crooning live Bon Iver songs over the airways and straight into my heart and had to bite my lip as hard as possible to stop me from getting up and throwing a chair at my presiding officer due to his lack of intelligence and TASTE. "Where is Bon Iver now", is a something I would love to ask him if we ever crossed paths. Maybe I am his black cat. Things work in this way, especially in New York City. People have different ways of understanding the music business and I have come to understand that it is because no matter why you entered into the arena you end up making it by on your instincts. Music is an instinctual behavior. You either like something and the way it sounds to your own ears, or you don't. You can learn to appreciate an artist, yes. But like them and choose to listen to them on your own time...now that takes a little bit of work and love. But I digress. Again this year I was supposed to go to SXSW and I didn't...for the same reasons as last. Friday I walked into work and was released from my job. My music venue could not afford me anymore and will be booking through outside promoters only now. I did not cry. I cursed March.

And so today I am back talking to my computer and drinking my green tea from the comforts of my little apartment. I can do things like jump around to the Clash and play the latest Silversun Pickups songs as loud as I want to. I don't have to answer to anyone for the moment and until next week I won't be full on freaking out about the R word I don't like to mention. For now I am continent. Which makes it the absolute perfect time to share the latest songbird to soothe my nerves, Alela Diane. She has been floating around the scene for a bit now and was recently signed to Rough Trade records and will remind you a bit of her label mates Basia Bulat and Emilaina Torrini. Her LP To Be Still was released in February and she has recorded a session with Daytrotter that is stunning. To Be Still is the first song by Alela that grabbed my ear immediately. Her lyrics are honest and intense. Although she is a beautiful feminine creature she does not hide behind the pain of loss or loneliness. Instead she steps over the boundaries of fear and fragility and tells you, her listener, exactly how it is going to be.

No I won't drag my feet in whatever dirt you track in
Will you look at me when your face shows the lines of years
While you've been away
I have needed your strong hands

Alela Diane-To Be Still.mp3
Alela Diane-White As Diamonds.mp3

If you are lucky enough to be down in Austin please visit her and support her live:

Mars-19~2:30 PM-SXSW-French Legation Museum-Austin, Texas
4:45 PM-SXSW-Lamberts-Austin, Texas

Mars-20~3:30 PM-SXSW-The Mowhawk-Austin, Texas
10:00 PM-SXSW-Garden Hotel, Black Cab Showcase-Austin, Texas

Mars-21~3:45 PM-SXSW-The Mean Eayed Cat-Mojo BBQ-Austin, Texas

Green with EnVy*

I started writing this post a week after the festivities and decided that even this show took place a bit ago it is definitely worthy of a reading...so please forgive timeline and put yourself back in March for a moment...

As a little girl and the youngest of two children i was raised to not ask for too much and always think of others. However human nature sometimes falls into play and you become slightly jealous of others as you grow up. Needless to say i am incredibly jealous of everyone i know who was able to make it to SXSW. Granted I am not a hot weather type of gal. I would have had to drink massive amounts of coffee and mountain dew to muster through seeing all of the shows i would have wanted to check out..and the most difficult of all tasks I would have had to try very hard NOT to be shy. Which i am. Most of the time. That being said I still would have loved to experience the musical haven that is Austin, particularly during SXSW. Last night Jaime and i trucked down to Bowery Ballroom to check out Emmy the Great and The Pigeon Detectives, equally excited for both of these UK exports. It is a ballsy move to name a band with your name and 'great' especially at the age of 24. If anyone can pull it off with grace and sophistication it is Emma Lee Moss and company.

Armed with incredible emotion and depth she sings with angst about relationships and love reaching far beyond her years of experience. Comfortable in front of a room half full with people shuffling closer and closer to hear her words she joked about how the creators of SXSW had a randy sense of humour, picking for her to perform on a bill with her ex-boyfriend out of 600 bands. While most of her songs are girlish confessions about ill-witted and fitted ex's they ring sweetly of youthful love instead of bitter resentment. Like Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machine and Adele, Emmy represents her country and herself with class and intelligence, so boys watch out! I will definitely be checking in with friends to see how she fares amongst the industry beasts.

This photo captures this bands' experience PERFECTLY-thank you: Emile Holba
Recently i received a comment about my overall music taste and how it is well...'pop'ish.' I immediately crinkled my nose in ultimate disgust and was stunned into silence. It is not that i consider myself a music expert, far from it! I am constantly learning about music, old and new and confess openly to not being able to carry a tune or a play an instrument, however i feel that i consider myself knowledgeable enough to recommend something to a friend or co-worker with enough vigour and strength that they will be compelled to enjoy it if not overwhelmingly convinced. Half way through the The Pigeon Detective's set it occurred to me that yes, my taste might indeed be 'popular.' Which might not be such a bad thing. Music trends as of late have taken a turn towards favoring indie and alternative music markets with Vampire Weekend not only taking over SNL but the whole of MTV. Radiohead cleaned up with it's latest release and has already been selling out tour dates left and right. Apple and Zune commercials cleverly arm themselves with songs by CSS, The Shins and The Fratellis in turn saturating radio stations with these otherwise 'little' bands. This past weekend Yeasayer and MGMT were praised with keeping the Brooklyn music scene alive causing sneering bloggers and local hipsters to laugh at The New York Times for their up-to-date reporting on our thriving music scene, something we have all been hip to for a while now, even if we try actively to avoid the hype. The Pigeon Detectives have yet to make a splash within the states. For the most part when i told my friends i was heading out to see their show they responded with a 'who' or a 'damn those indie bands and their names these days!' Yes...yes...it is another odd name but their music is rambunctious and loud, two things I LOVE from my british bands. Swinging, failing, tossing the microphone, stage diving into the audience, their lead singer Matt Bowman has obviously spent a lot of time in front of a mirror playing at being a rock star. Hello Matt, you are well on your way. Oliver Main, Ryan Wilson, Dave Best and drummer Jimmi Naylor back him up with perfection and style. The sold out audience was loving every sweat-soaked second Bowman delivered. So if pop music is just another term for what is popular then yes, i do indeed have popular taste---i am just residing on the incorrect continent to do so.
Emmy The Great-Two Steps Forward(live).mp3
Emmy The Great-MIA.mp3
Emmy The Great-Canopies and Grapes.mp3 (*my favorite*)
Emmy The Great-The Hypnotists Son.mp3 (last one-i LOVE this one as well)
Emmy the Great
Pigeon Detectives

Warning, this is potentially incredibly offensive

There are moments in your life where in the midst of encompassing sadness and confusion you reach the pinnacle of being calm and it is within this space you mature and evolve. Humans as a species encompass a tribal existence. It has been widely studied throughout the centuries that we have progressed socially and biologically from being around one another. Humans who are cut off from their fellow kind often fall victim to the fate of disease and infection due to lack of social interaction. It is within me to always thing foremost as a romantic and second as a science geek and within this week have had a wrenching experience that has pent both of my better sides against one another. I was brought up believing that America was my second mother. A homeland for the poor, downtrodden and willing masses. In our land of freedom and opportunity we are reared to believe that anything is possible. Work will indeed set you free within our forward thinking territory and even the smallest peanut farmer can one day become president. It is with the most painful emotion I have been witness to the downfall of our country, our liberty and our community of countrymen. Yes we were attacked and it was beyond anything we could have expected or understood but in response to this instead of reaching for positive goals and ways of understanding our governmental leaders reached for paranoia, propaganda, guns and invasions. Under the guise of homeland security ( a term that single handily makes me ill) our political leaders have argued everything from phone tapping, internet monitoring to being categorized as UN-American for not agreeing with every step they take towards teaching the rest of the world to think like us. Or even worse, consume like us. America is turning away from our forefathers' ideals of a land of democracy and unadulterated thought into a land of ignorance and xenophobia. As a female I regard the nomination of Sarah Palin as an assault against my sex with more fear than and a larger threat than any white-male politician could ever carry. She could be the first representative of what my chromosomes encompass naturally and yet she is hell-bent on leading us even further from education, health care and environment, all things that are imperative for one to nurture and develop our community and our families. Beyond these simplistic fears that I am harboring for what I hold near and dear the woman cannot even formulate an argument. The video below was so shocking and that even before the reporter voices his disgust and disbelief I was right there with him. When I started this website I vowed never to write negative reviews about artists because what right do I have to sway anyone from discovering a new talent. But somethings need to be expressed. We are on the forefront of watching our country unravel. Our banks are foreclosing, one of our greatest cities STILL lays in ruins abandoned and ignored, our soldiers blood is bleeding from younger and younger veins and our presidential candidates are giving answers such as this:

Before you decide never to read my website again or leave a rank comment just put it where it really matters and vote this November. It is what we supposedly fight all of our wars for, what our government taxes us for and why people come to our country. So we can be loud-mouthed music lovers, writers and dreamers. I am not saying that Obama is a perfect candidate or human being, for no one is-so I welcome you to disagree and carry out your American-born right. Thank you. We now return to the previously scheduled dribble...

Despite my best ambitions...

There is something so incredibly delicious about swimming. One of my earliest memories was my first swimming lesson. The water was unbearably frigid and I did not enjoy it all. Screaming with tears streaming down my face I would not unleash my chubby arms from the neck of Pam, my beloved babysitter and unfortunate instructor. Once immersed and comfortable that was the end of the story for I became infatuated with the water from that day forward. Maybe it comes from growing up on a river that feeds into the majestic and unique Chesapeake Bay or maybe it was because as soon as it was warm enough I would ride my bike every day to our local watering hole and not return until it was dinnertime. My entire childhood was spent in, on or near the water and I was certain I would dedicate my education and adult life to preserving what was so beloved to my heart. Unfortunately I discovered New York and the reality of politics surrounding lobbying for environmental protection and have taken the weaker way out. But my love for the slickness and crispness of the waves and my respect for the creatures that call these places their home has never left me and never will. Floating in between that upper layer of sun-soaked surface wetness and the cool depths below you truly feel you are blessed for being a creature of our earth. The only sounds that penetrate your ears are the bits of coral crumbling under the hungry mouths of the fish feeding upon their jagged edges. Dark navy blue fins dotted with irridescent baby blue sparkels are my favorites to seek out. They hide under the large orange fans that drift with the waves, both coinciding peacefully as they have for ages. Yesterday afternoon while wadding out into the azure sea a little fish no longer than my pinkie took a liking to me and swam circles around my belly for a good thirty minutes. He would hide behind my back dodging my fingers that playfully chased him around the front and then hide again. To see if he really was interested in playing I took a couple of curious side strokes and he happily kept by my side. I decided to name him Claude. After my sister inquired, why Claude i responded with, 'because he is such a little flirt he must be french.' For you my dear little Claude I give you the lovely Jessica Lea Mayfield. This talented songstress has opened for both the Black Keys and the Avett Brothers on numerous occasions and has the lit of a skylark. At the tender age of 19 she recently was on the Black Keys last album, Attack and Release on the last track. Unfortunately I could only find one track to share with you, but I invite you to check her out. She is worth the gander.
Jessica Lea Mayfield-For Today.mp3

*The People I've Met Are the Wonders of My World*

Sometimes the best thing about music is discovering a singer or band that you cannot wait to share with a friend. One of my dearest friends is one of those special people that when you bring him something to check out, it has to be something endearing and precious because he does not just lend his compliments with facility. We don't always agree on everything but he is my favorite person to share music with and I was incredibly excited when i first came across Adele for i instantaneously knew here was a singer worthy of my most favored music critic. The two of us picked our way through the drunken NYU/St. Patricks' Day masses and made our way towards Joe's Pub on Monday night. Young and feisty, Adele is the latest in line to the Mark Ronson dynasty and has often been compared to his famously talented songstress discoveries. Settling herself in with a guitarist to her left and a pianist to her right Adele commenced a bone-chilling forty five minute introduction to her voice and personality. Her debut album, 19 (which hit number one on the UK charts in January) is not slated to be released here in the states until May but has already been the recipient of much acclaim and attention back home. Winner of the Brit Award Critics' Choice prize back in December it was easy to understand why everyone is so excited to have discovered this teenage talent. She is refreshingly unkempt and honest. Yes, she admitted to a case of nerves and then quickly accepted this particular New York stage as a challenge and belted her songs with aggressive intimacy and sass. Her laugh was the best bit of the night, flashy and loud it revealed her innocence and lessened the bewitching ambiance that is a performance at Joe's Pub. Trying her hand at Dylans' Time out of Mind i was immediately reduced to goosebumps. Although her performance was shorter than i would have liked she covered all her bases with Chasing Pavement, Hometown Glory, That's It, I Quit, I'm Moving On, Daydreams, First Love and Right As Rain. Hopefully she will be back in May along with her album so i can hear my favorite track, Tired. For now I will continue to revisit her performance in my head as I wander the streets of our city and consider myself lucky for having a friend to share her music with.
Adele-Tired.mp3
Adele-That's It, I Quit, I'm Moving On.mp3
Adele Tags

The Happening

M Night Shyamalan, Sophia Coppola, and Wes Anderson, are my three favorite contemporary directors (in no formal order). I have gone to see all of his films in the theater and squirmed and squealed while taking in the plot's twists and turns. Innovative and obviously an avid lover of Alfred Hitchcock his movies breakdown into the most simplest of plot lines-love and the relationships we have with those that mean the most to us. Templates for his words- the actors within his web always deliver and have provided us, their audience with some of their best on-screen performances. I could not be more excited for this Friday's release--- The Happening. This will be his first film to receive the R rating and not his normal PG-13 and expect the results to be the ultimate experience in spine~tingling suspense. Like all of his other films, M chose to shoot in Pennsylvania forcing the actors out of their comfort zone, embracing the spirit of the movie on another level. Starring Zooey Deschanel it made me appreciate seeing her live with She and Him even more for choosing this role.

Skeleton Swoon

Today is the day to post about creepy music. Whereas everyone seems to think Vampires are trendy I have always been into them. Growing up with an older sister who was fascinated by Anne Rice and had a crush on Robert Smith you either became a follower or you spent your time being scared of things that were frequently surrounding you. Then there is the whole aspect of being a major science geek and wondering about aliens...which leads to ghosts...you tend to like things that freak you out. It is healthy. It is fun. It makes you feel alive.

Matador's latest signing of Esben and The Witch is perfect background music for a cold November night when you are walking down a deserted street with dead curled leaves scraping the ground, crawling their way back to a semblance of life with their veins holding them together before the first winter snowfall. The track, "They Use Smiles To Bury You" echoes like a beseeching call down an empty corridor...lonely, scared and sad. They will be journeying stateside in October, first playing Bowery Ballroom on October 1st and then The Knitting Factory on October 26th. Sure to be a band to keep track of they are bound to draw compliments for being similar to Bat For Lashes and The XX.

Visit their Myspace for a fairy tale depicting the characters that outline the band's name:

"Sir Red now told the king that the brothers could bring him a lamp which could shine over seven kingdoms. Esben asked his brothers this time for a bag of salt. For this task Esben had to enter the witches home, he entered secretly by the chimney. He crept about the decaying house but could not find the lamp which the witch guarded carefully. Esben hid in the baking oven and waited. The witch called to her daughter and demanded some porridge with no salt added, Esben emptied his bag into the porridge slyly when it was left unattended. The hag complained and had her daughter make more; she found though that they needed more water. The daughter requested the lamp from the witch so she could go out in the gloomy forest to fetch more. Esben followed her to the well, pushed her in and stole the lamp."

Definitely something to enjoy as August unwinds and heads into my most favorite season of all. Fall.

****Esben and The Witch Tour Dates****
SEPTEMBER
5--Offset Festival--London, UNITED KINGDOM
23--7th Street Entry--Minneapolis, MN
24--Lincoln Hall--Chicago, IL
25--Magic Stick--Detroit, MI
27--Lee's Palace--Toronto, ON
28--La Sala Rosa--Montreal, Quebec
29--Paradise Rock Club--Boston, MA
3--First Unitarian Church--Philadelphia, PA
OCTOBER
1--Bowery Ballroom with The Foals--New York, NY
3--Palms Casino Resort--Las Vegas, NV
5--Masquerade--Atlanta, GA
6--Club Downunder--Tallahassee, FL
8--Walter's on Washington--Houston, TX
9--The Mohawk--Austin, Texas
10--The Nightmare--Dallas, TX
12--Larimer Lounge--Denver, CO
14--Casbah--San Diego, Ca
18--El Rey Theatre--Chico, CA
19--The Blank Club--San Jose, CA
20--Bottom Of The Hill--San Francisco, CA
21--Doug Fir Lounge--Portland, OR
22--Venue--Vancouver, BC
23--Neumos City Arts Music--Seattle, WA
26--The Knitting Factory--Brooklyn, NY
NOVEMBER
4--La Boule Noir--Paris, France
10--Electrowerkz--London, UK
11--The Deaf Institute--Manchester, UK
12--Captain's Rest--Glasgow, Scotland
14--Leeds University--Leeds, UK
*Esben and The Witch Tags

She & Him

Sadly their show for tonight was cancelled kids.
UPDATE: *This show has been rescheduled for TOMORROW NIGHT, Tuesday, April 22 and moved to Webster Hall. All tickets will be honored. Refunds available at point of purchase.* (Thanks MusicSlut)More tickets have been released via ticketmaster and at the door.
She and Him Tags

Revenge of the Bookeater's Benefit @ Beacon Theatre

A benefit concert for kids to nuture their imaginations-priceless
For those of you not familiar with the 826NYC, it is a non-profit organization that works with kids to nuture their creative writing skills in a one on one environment. As with any non-profit organization they rely on funding for the continued success of their program and for the second year they organzied a great benefit show at The Beacon in nYc. This years' line-up included A.C Newman, Grizzly Bear, Jim James, Feist, Kevin Drew, & Britt Daniel. Along with the music it was hosted by comedian Demetri Martin and was one great night for a good cause.

Arriving into The Beacon towards the latter end of A.C. Newman's I was only able to catch the last song of his set. Following Newman was one local Brooklyn act Grizzly Bear who are meant to play these big rooms which just fill so nice with their slightly eerie music. Ed Droste and the crew rolled through a couple of songs including 'Knife', 'Marla' as well as Feist joining them for a song which I believe was called 'Cast A Spell'. The band ended their set with just Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen covering Paul Simon's 'Graceland'.

Jim James
After some great stand-up comedy with Demetri Martin,Jim James of My Morning Jacket came on to deliver the nights highlights. Armed with an acoustic guitar and some weird electronic music device Jim straight up killed it. Opening with a song with the repetitive line "I Feel Wonderful" I could only think of The Talking Heads classic 'The Book I Read' but it was not to be (it was a song I was not familiar with). Jim then went on to play a tremendous version of one of my favorite My Morning Jacekt songs 'Bermuda Highway'. After this Jim brought out some odd electronic music device which he played 'Wonderful Man' and straight up rocked the house. Jim then continued the trend of material from "Z", My Morning Jacket's latest album, and ended the set with 'Gideon' and 'Anytime' which saw Jim back on the electronic beat / keys combo finishing with Jim running from side to side as to figure should he keep going or not...sadly he did not.

Feist and Kevin Drew
It was after this we were treated to some stand up comedy skits followed by videos made by kids at the 826NYC. The video from "Death is Calling" was pretty hilarious. Feist then came out to read a couple of stories by the kids which offered the audience the chance to feel like kids laughing to stories about peanut butter of all things. She then played the piano for a rendition of 'The Water' before Kevin Drew and a member of Broken Social Scene joined in with 'F--ked Up Kid' off of their latest album and sweet version of 'Super Connected'. The show came to an end with Britt Daniel who said the last time he was in the Beacon was in 1999 when he saw Elvis Costello. He mentioned how in front of him there was an extremely liberal family which was all smoking pot together. Britt then went into playing "I Summon You" before inviting a friend to join on keys for "Finer Feelings" off of Spoon's latest album "Ga Ga Ga Ga." The show ended when Britt invited A.C. Newman for a cover which I am just not sure what name was. Overall it was a great way to spend Sunday night and had the crowd enjoying some laughs and tunes all for a cause that helps support creativity in today's youth.
My Morning Jacket-Dancefloors.mp3
Broken Social Scene-Hotel.mp3
Revenge of the Book Eater's Benefit Tags
-Jaime W.

*It should be noted that whoever was the jerk that felt the need to heckel Dimitri Martin you should feel like a grade A jack-ass. I think everyone besided you in The Beacon tonight thought Dimitri pretty much killed it and I for sure was definitely impressed.*

White Stripes reschedule dates for September and battle 'Icky Thump' leaks

Via their website, Jack and Meg announced that, "Due to unforeseen scheduling issues, The White Stripes have had to push back some of their early September dates. The only dates affected were those between September 4-13 and all but Albuquerque, New Mexico have already been rescheduled. A new dates for Albuquerque will be announced very soon. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our fans." Meanwhile fans are left to count down the days until June 18th...here comes 'Icky Thump.'

This all following news of a bit of a tustle with a detroit DJ who apparently played selections off of the album without the bands' permission. "Chicago Q101's DJ Electra has posted on Djelectra.blogspot.com about how White personally phoned her up after she played the album on her show. She wrote: "At 2pm today, during my show Q101 became the first station in the world to play the new White Stripes album 'Icky Thump'. "At 4pm today Jack White called Q101's main offices from Spain where they're touring, looking specifically for me, to yell at me for leaking the album and, in part, being 'messed up for the entire (music) business'. I felt like I was going to throw up. Weirdest, most surreal conversation of my life. "Jack asked me to take responsibility for leaking the record, and asked if I was sorry for what I'd done... We tried to explain where we were coming from - someone gave us a copy of a record that we were really excited to play, and the whole experience was an hour-long love-fest for him and his band - but he wasn't having it. He hung up, very, very angry, and I thought I was going to cry."
Fell In Love with a Girl.mp3
Sugar Never Tasted So Good.mp3

*`*FCBC`NYC*`*

Asian version of JOrtzzzstarrr*-yes she is that hip-she has an asian cartoon character
F-c-B-c-n-Y-c. Bookmark it. Read it. Love it. What to do with your time at work when you aren't reading my blog or watching Flight of the Conchords in secret. Now you have a solution! Not only is it a good place to find out what our lovely JOrtzzzstarrr* is getting into but you can meet her three spicey co-bloggers as well. Vern is after my own heart with her FANTASTIC obsession with all things Star Wars. But be forewarned dear readers-she knows her way around anything tech savy better than any boy with a pocket protector could ever be prepared for. Watch out for Pants-not only will she tell you what you should be or should NOT be wearing-she will do it in such a manner that has you laughing out loud at your desk. The kind of laughing that draws glares from your co-workers because you are happy for a moment during your boring day job and they are not. Yeah, you know the look. Lastly, but not least is P. How to introduce P. Well-his stories will stand up for themselves enough to let him make the introduction himself. Yep. He's that badass. Just wait. So now you've met the crew-and as i said, Bookmark it. Read it. Love it. Do you really want to know what will happen if you don't? And as any proper introduction to another blog should have, check out the Flight of the Conchords tracks listed below as a tribute. (P-i wanted to post-'If That's Something You'd Be Into' but i couldnt...sorry!)
Flight of the Conchords-For Vern-Goodbye Leggy Blonde.mp3
Flight of the Conchords-For Vern-Robots (Live).mp3
Flight of the Conchords-For JOrtz!-Business Time.mp3
Flight of The Conchords-For Pants-Sally.mp3
Mother F'in Dolly Parton-For P-Jolene.mp3

Raconteurs and Hives Collaboration/ Gogol Bordello News

That Jack White, seems nothing can hold him down. The White Stripes album slated to be released in May, he is already back in the studio with fellow Raconteurs bandmates twelve songs deep into their follow up album to 'Broken Boy Soldiers.' Apparently he has also been working with Swedish band The Hives on a track for their upcoming album. Seriously Jack! Take it easy- we need you well rested for Madison Square Garden!

Earlier my office mates and i were sharing stories over which shows we had gone to see that kicked our butts in such a fashion that we would never forget. For me it was a tie between Rage Against the Machine and Beastie Boys whereas my friend Jori said Gogol Bordello was one of the roughest shows she had ever attended. I believe that! Eugene Hutz, Gogol's spastic stage antics certainly can rile up an audience into some violent action. The band is working on their fifth album as we speak which is being produced by Nick Cave and Victor Van Vugt. The album has been named 'Tarantella' which by definition is "an extreme form of traditional Italian music once played to women in need of treatment for hysteria" and seems to match the Gogol crew perfectly. In a recent interview with NME Eugene revealed the inspiration behind the title, "I stumbled onto the idea when I saw a painting in Italy. "It showed a woman having convulsions and a guy standing over her playing violin and I thought, 'That shit is SO us! It's more Gogol Bordello than Gogol Bordello!' But we called our album 'Super-Taranta' because it's not just a cure for women, it has the power to cure men too. It's unisex!" The Ukrainian-born singer also explained how the album had benefited from the fact that the collective have now finally cemented its eight-piece line-up with regular members. "The last album wasn't done with our classic line-up. Musically, we were still figuring things out back then but now, there's no need for any tricks in the studio," he explained. "The band is in great shape and our new bass player Tommy Gobena is helping us explore more dub sounds so now we're ready to take gypsy-punk to the next level." Songs confirmed for the new record - the follow-up to 2005's 'Gypsy Punks' - include 'Ultimate', 'Wonderlust King', 'Forces Of Victory' and 'Super Theory Of Super Everything' (which is also the album's subtitle)."
bordellokindofguy.mp3

Sad day for Pete...

"Pete Doherty has told NME that as a result of his appearance in court today (August 7) he is now banned from London. The singer's sentencing for possession of class A drugs has been postponed for a month while he continues rehab. However one of the conditions set by West London Magistrates Court is that the Babyshambles man should stay with a family while he tries to quit drugs, and this has effectively left the singer homeless. "I can't stay with my mum, not while she's with my dad. I'm not quite sure where I'm staying," Doherty explained. "Are there any NME readers outside London who want to put me up?" Doherty added: "Babyshambles are going to have to decamp to the sticks for a while. "Meanwhile Babyshambles guitarist Mick Whitnall, who attended court with his bandmate today, added: "We didn't know what to expect so it's a bit of a relief." Despite the restrictions and rehab Doherty must now undertake, the court did give him permission to play the Festival Heineken Paredes de Coura in Portugal on August 12 and both legs of the V Festival on August 18 and 19." via NME Of all the bands i hope stick with it and clean up, Babyshambles is it. I completely stick by my word that Pete is one of the most talented songwriters out there. We wish you the best of luck.

That's our girl!

Who wouldn't drop everything for Prince? Definitely not someone who we would listen to! It is PRINCE! Amy Winehouse basically had the same reaction during a recent interview with MTV, Amy Winehouse has said, "I'll drop everything to do that. Stuff like that doesn't make me go, 'Oh I must be the nuts.' Stuff like that makes me want to do this tomorrow, and the night after, and the night after. Now I want to find out how solid that is. I'd do it with bells on. All day long." As previously reported Prince revealed his wish for the British singer to join him onstage for a version of her track 'Love Is A Losing Game'. Commenting on the fact Prince said he would be taking time off to study the Bible, she told MTV News: "What? I didn't know that. Prince is gonna study the Bible? Is he going to be a rabbi? I hope I can do (the gigs) though. (via NME)
Back To Black.mp3
PRINCE!-Kiss.mp3
Some Unholy War.mp3
The Tripwire was at last nights' show.