Friday, October 29, 2010

Robyn's Indestructable

And thank the gods for that. If you haven't already seen the new Robyn video for Indestructable - you're in for a treat.  I'm actually going to post it on Video Tuesday, but I'm sure you can find it a million places (like the link I posted on my Twitter account).  But I did want to treat you to the song and a good remix (via Discobelle).

Indestructible by robyn

Thursday, October 28, 2010

New Kid Cudi

Just pre-ordered this today!  Drops November 9, 2010.

(coming to Kent State University on Thursday, Nov. 4th)

 

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Video Tuesday

This is my second Video Tuesday leading with a Diamond Rings video.  His new album Special Affections came out yesterday, and has been one of my more anticipated releases this Fall.  Next up are a couple new videos for some of my favorite bands/shows this year, Crystal Castles (8/22/10) and Peter Wolf Crier (7/22/10).

Peter Wolf Crier - "Down Down Down" from Northern Outpost on Vimeo.

Starfucker (10/14/10)

(this'll be a short one...) I had some really high hopes for this show, but unfortunately I was still a bit under the weather - which only demonstrates my level of excitement.  Particularly since I was excited about ALL THREE acts.

Opening... our very own HotChaCha!  I had yet to see them at the Grog Shop and this was the perfect chance.  As usual, they delivered a spirited performance.

The Octopus Project was next.  With a primarily instrumental sound, these guys were really able to put on a great show with some awesome visuals.

Finally with Starfucker, I was unfortunately running out of steam.  I really enjoyed the part of the set I saw (and was able to grab this clip), but I'll have to wait until next time around to really get into their live performance...

Monday, October 25, 2010

I Will Not Be Afraid of Women

... and I'm back!  The house concert was an amazing experience.  I'm already ready for the next one.  I'll be posting some media from it- hopefully in the near future.  In the meantime - here's a video from someone who would be one of my Top 5 ideal house concert performers of all time (probably top 3).

Dar Williams Feat. Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, 'As Cool as I Am' -- Video of the Day - Spinner

Highlight:'I hope I don't look crazy for having Gary Louris in the studio playing guitar without singing!' Dar Williams tells Spinner. 'He was up in New York and we yanked him into the studio to play and sing on songs we'd done for 'Many Great Companions.' Then he looked so good, we just made him stay.' "

(Dar Williams Feat. Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, 'As Cool as I Am' -- Video of the Day - Spinner)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Video Tuesday

Another Video Tuesday!  A particularly special one if I do say so myself.  First off is the new The Hundred in the Hands video - and I'm all about these guys these days.  Second is a new video and song by Mark Ronson (feat. Boy George) that I just love - including all the vintage 80's footage.  Finally is a new Kid Cudi track - excited to see how he pulls off Man on the Moon Part II, this is a strong start.


Monday, October 18, 2010

House Concert!

If you haven't already heard, I'm going to be hosting my very first house concert this week!  So posting will be a little lighter than usual, as I setup and prepare for such a venture.  This is something I've been talking about doing for a long time.  I'm glad to see it finally happen.

This first event is primarily for just friends and family, but if you really want to go, let me know (I may be able to pull some strings).  I imagine I'll be reaching out to a broader audience for future shows.

If you're curious who's performing... It will be Tom Evanchuck.  And if you've read this blog for any length of time, you'll know that he's been one of my local favorites!

Here's a video:

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Two Great Options Tonight!

How much fun would this be...  (Happy Dog, 8pm, FREE)

Classical musicians bring their sound to easygoing venue | cleveland.com

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No disrespect to Severance Hall or anything, but the hottest place to catch the Cleveland Orchestra these days is a bar in the Gordon Square Arts District. OK, so the appearances by a group of players at the Happy Dog aren't about the music so much as they are about forging connections. No symphonies or concertos here. 466 Share

But the idea of first-rate classical music in an informal, neighborhood setting has both the performers and the public buzzing con brio. Why? Because it's just so different, at a time when many classical organizations are seeking out new models, and it's working."

(Continued... Classical musicians bring their sound to easygoing venue | cleveland.com)

For the more conventional music experience - check out OK Go at the Beachland Ballroom tonight!  (8:00pm, $15)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Video Tuesday

New La Roux! Not a fan of the product placements, but still think she's pretty great.  Luke Doucet (everyone's favorite Canadian) with his new single Thinking People.  And finally a new video from Blitzen Trapper!

Blitzen Trapper - "The Tree" from Daniel Elkayam on Vimeo.

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Thermals (10/8/10)

I'm not gonna lie, this night was all about The Hundred in the Hands for me.  After an excellent first time seeing them (opening for The Golden Filter), and a great new album, I was shocked these guys were even opening.  Made it there just in time for the first song, realizing how weird it is to hurry to the venue at published start time.

I think they sounded great - but this just wasn't their night.  I would blame probably 85% of it on this audience who didn't move a muscle.  I realize that they were there to see a whole different kind of band (it was kind of an odd pairing in my mind).  But I still hung towards the back and enjoyed my little concert-dance extravaganza, except for the times I was capturing video:

I wasn't much impressed with Cymbals Eat Guitars, though I wouldn't write off liking them in the future.

Cymbals Eat Guitars (10/8/10)

Once The Thermals took the stage, I thought the audience was going to light it up (literally - like last time).  But the crowd was still almost just as lame as with THITH.  Thermals still rocked the show, opening with a lot of tracks from my favorite, The Body, The Blood, The Machine.  We had other friends coming into town, so we didn't end up staying to see if the audience stepped up their game - I hope they did.

The Thermals (10/8/10)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Try Hugging an MP3 - Article

Oh the good ol' days.

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Try hugging an MP3 - Entertainment

"Consumers have watched as the canvas for album art has shrunk from LP size to the possible option of no art at all. Record stores, even chains, were closed or forced back into the subculture, changing the experiences of buying and finding out about new music to cold, calculated processes that involve zero social interaction. Music has now been unofficially relegated as 'background' to other activities. It is no longer the centerpiece of entertainment. It is merely a soundtrack to activities such as jogging and walking to one's car. Most likely, no one will ever fondly recall the night they downloaded a new album. The ritual of standing in line at midnight to obtain a physical copy of a piece of music is now over. Thanks to MP3 technology, ritual, nostalgia, traditional physical music spaces, physical forms and aesthetic value are all aspects of music culture that are dead or dying. "

(Continued... Try hugging an MP3 - Entertainment)

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Biz Markie DJ Set (10/7/10)

Well, I bet it was a party if you stayed long enough.  The Biz didn't appear until around 12:15am... too late for me to hang around for something just starting.  I did catch this however, showcasing his love for old-school rap (theme of the night:

Biz Markie DJ (10/7/10)

I do have to say, it was fun to be in such a mixed crowd last night.  An unfortunately rare occurrence in my live music circles.

Cloud Nothings on Pitchfork TV!

This one couldn't wait for my Video Tuesday series... A big fat congratulations to local boys, Cloud Nothings for having their (great) new video make Pitchfork TV!

Make sure you Pre-Order Turning On, out on Tuesday!  Or better yet, head on over to Music Saves to buy it.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Looking for a Party Tonight?

Fresh off Yo Gabba Gabba!... Biz Markie is DJ'ing at the B Side Liquor Lounge tonight!  Boy, he's definitely knows how to entertain a large age range.

Dar Williams - Many Great Companions

Looking forward to this... Dar has always been a favorite.  Download the new version of As Cool As I Am from MOKB.

DAR WILLIAMS TO RELEASE “MANY GREAT COMPANIONS” OCTOBER 12TH
We are excited to announce that Dar will be releasing her 8th studio album on October 12th, 2010 titled Many Great Companions.  The new set features twelve of Dar’s classics newly recorded and interpreted acoustically with special guests including Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gary Louris of The Jayhawks (who produced the acoustic recordings), Motherlode, and Patty Larkin. The album also includes an additional disc containing twenty of Dar’s greatest original studio recordings from 1993’s The Honesty Room through 2008’s Promised Land. Take a look at the track list below for a glimpse of what's coming soon.

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MANY GREAT COMPANIONS TRACK LISTING
Disc 1: Songs Revisited with Guitar and a Few Friends
1. Calling the Moon
2. If I Wrote You
3. Spring Street
4. I’ll Miss You
5. The Christians and The Pagans (feat. Sara & Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek)
6. What Do You Hear In These Sounds
7. The One Who Knows (feat. Mary Chapin Carpenter)
8. The Babysitter's Here
9. As Cool As I Am
10. You Rise And Meet the Day 
11. Iowa feat. (Sara & Sean Watkins, Motherlode & Mary Chapin Carpenter)
12. When I Was A Boy (feat. Patty Larkin)
Disc 2: Best of Dar Williams
1. It’s Alright
2. Are You Out There
3. As Cool As I Am
4. If I Wrote You
5. February
6. Mercy of...
7. Easy Way
8. The One Who Knows
9. Teen for God
10. After All
11. Book of Love
12. Beauty of the Rain
13. Babysitter
14. Better things
15. Spring St.
16. The Ocean
17. Closer to Me
18. Empire
19. End of Summer
20. When I Was a Boy

 

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Video Tuesday

Going a little more avant garde this week. First off is the new Wolf Parade video, followed by an obligitory Deerhunter (everyone is gushing on these guys), then new one by Röyksopp. Sit back and enjoy.

Monday, October 4, 2010

The Zender Agenda: October 2010

Some great shows this month... check it over at Spangle Magazine.

THE ZENDER AGENDA: OCTOBER 2010Written by Roger Zender    Monday, 04 October 2010 00:17

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Spangler Roger Zender is back for his monthly dose of the best concerts in town and around the region.

"It's hard to believe October is already here. While this month is a little light on the number of shows, that's not to say there aren't some phenomenal options. Both featured events this month have really strong openers that are as worthy as the headlining acts.

October also has some strong road trips worth considering. This month also introduces the first installment of the Princeton Road Sessions house concert series, so this month is pretty special."

(Continued... The Zender Agenda: October 2010)

 

Friday, October 1, 2010

Sub Pop Experiments

I like this out of the box thinking...

Indie Sup Pop Considers Radical New Sales Model: Pay For The Toy And We'll Give You The Music Free - hypebot

"From early Nirvana through Mudhoney and on to Fleet Foxes and The Postal

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Service, indie label Sup Pop has been putting out interesting and often fabulous music for decades.  But just like the rest of the recorded music industry, they're having trouble these days getting people to pay for it.

To combat the problem, the venerable indie label is considering flipping the basic music sales proposition on its head. 'Although Sub Pop is primarily known for its many fine artists and their really very fine recordings (also grunge), we're not at all opposed to expanding into the fine world of t-shirts, hats, beer cozies, and key chains,' says Sub Pop general manager, Megan Jasper. 'We used to give many of these tchotchke items away for free in an effort to entice people to pay for the music, but we're considering flipping our strategy so that people pay for the toy and receive the music for free.

Indie bands have already been experimenting with the concept of bundling downloads with a physical item, but this would be the first time that a substantial label made the shift."

(Continued... Indie Sup Pop Considers Radical New Sales Model: Pay For The Toy And We'll Give You The Music Free - hypebot)