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Friday Video Fun: Soundgarden

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Sat, 01 May 2010 00:19:00 +0000

Here's the reunited Soundgarden performing "Beyond the Wheel" at the recent show in Seattle. Drop D goodness.

Live Review: The Dead Weather

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Sat, 01 May 2010 00:16:00 +0000

The Dead Weather
The Fillmore
4.15.10
San Francisco, CA

There are shows, and then there are shows. The Dead Weather Thursday night was a show. In fact it was a fucking show - it was that good. Having missed them last summer at Outside Lands, our crew was eager to hear the dirty, skuzz rock blues of their debut album Horehound at full amplification. The band did not disappoint, and even played a handful of new songs from the upcoming Sea of Cowards album coming out on May 11^th.

Frontwoman Alison Mosshart is a force to be reckoned with as she stalked the stage with a vengeance, brimming with confidence. This is saying something considering she is prowling the same stage with Jack White, who has the ability to quickly overshadow musicians who share the stage with him. Keyboardist/guitarist Dean Fertita and Bassist Jack Lawerence more than held their own as well. In fact, I’ll go on record and say this is the first band I’ve seen Jack White in that is truly the sum of its parts.

And in my best Jeff Spicoli voice, I’ll say this band slays live bro.

With a dimly lit stage, the band let the music do the talking and the songs pretty much cold-cocked the crowd. Beginning with the scrapes of White’s drum sticks along the rim of his snare drum, the band let off a few warning shots with the loud/soft dynamics of “60 Feet Tall” and let the amp buzz build the rest of the night. The new songs are even heavier and darker, particularly “Die by the Drop”, “Hussle and Cuss” and “Blue Blood Blues”.

A solid year of touring has sharpened the band musically. Jack White played some thunderous drum rolls while Dean Fertita peeled off sick guitar riff after sick guitar riff from his white hollow body Falcon. Mosshart is the femme fatale, luring you in seductively and then ripping your heart out of your rib cage with her bare hands.

Easily the show of the year and we aren’t even halfway through 2010.

Setlist:

60 ft tall
Hang you from the heavens
You Just Can’t Win
So Far From Your Weapon
No Horse
Child of a Few Hours
Die By the Drop
Blue Blood Blues
I Can’t Hear You

Hussle and Cuss

Rocking Horse
Will There Be Enough Water

-Encore-
I Cut Like a Buffalo
New Pony
Treat Me Like Your Mother

You Missed It: BRMC Play Jimmy Fallon

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:58:00 +0000

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club performed "Beat the Devil's Tattoo" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last Friday night. Enjoy.

Video Fun: DBT - "Birthday Boy"

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:25:00 +0000

Video Fun: Wilco "Country Disappeared"

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:56:00 +0000

Wilco - Country Disappeared - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Live Review: Devendra Banhart

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:20:00 +0000

Devendra Banhart & the Grogs
Regency Ballroom
San Francisco, CA
3.23.10

Freak folk. Gypsy rock. Hippie shit. More often than not, when you read an article about Devendra Banhart you also hear one of the above qualifiers as the writer attempts to describe Banhart's music. Whatever you want to call it, Banhart's music is as unique as the man himself.

After warming to Devendra's brand of rock 'n roll and many lazy Sunday afternoon's spent with an album of his blaring on the surround sound, it was definitely time to check him out live. How would the songs translate live? How are his backing band, The Grogs? A last minute venue switch to the Regency Ballroom put another wrinkle of wonder in our minds as we made our way downtown to the show.

The mellow Tuesday night crowd warmed up as Banhart (looking more indie hipster with short hair/two-day stuble, tight jeans and French sailor shirt) and the Grogs casually strolled out and kicked off a two hour musical party that indeed covered the spectrum of musical styles - finger picking acoustic, full on 70's space rock, surf rock, tripped out latin grooves, reggae and even a metal jam.

With this melting pot of musical genres and layered vocal harmonies, the need for the Grogs to actually know how to play is an absolute necessity, and the band stepped up and made it look way too easy. With members of Priestbird and Little Joy in the Grogs, we seemed to be privy to a private jam session between musical friends where the physical stage barrier melted away and the party kicked into high gear. Devendra even surrendered the spotlight and mic several times to give the other guys in the band a chance to play some of their own tunes.

Devendra played a mini acoustic set that seemed to fit right in to the evening's mellow-but-we-can-still-rock-it-when we feel like it attitude. The band pretty much covered most of his discography, including last year's What Will We Be album.. Highlights included a rockin' "Seahorse", "Baby", "Long Haired Child" and a version of "First Song for B" that saw all the typical background noise of a rock show die down to a hush as Banhart performed solo behind a keyboard.

Hell, we even got a few verses of "Chinese Children" and a show stoppin' version of "I Feel Just Like a Child". And by the end of the night, it was no longer a sleepy Tuesday night, but a night just beginning and the central question on everyone's mind being "where to next?".

Live color photos by Gretchen Robinette and used without permission from this blog.

Public Service Announcement: Record Store Day 2010

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:41:00 +0000

Records stores...remember them? Despite the death of Tower Records, Sam Goody and other national chains, records stores are still around.

For those of you who still enjoy walking the aisles in search of that elusive new musical find, national Record Store Day 2010 is approaching. On April 17th, visit your favorite local record store and enjoy the celebration. Here to help you understand all there is to know about Record Store Day is Queens of the Stone Age/Them Crooked Vulture member Joshua Homme.

Fresh Pots!

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Coffee Addiction Never Looked So Fun

TV Rock - Pearl Jam and Drive By Truckers

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:58:00 +0000

In case you missed them, here are recent performances by Pearl Jam on last weekend's SNL performing "Just Breathe" and "Unthought Known"and the Drive By Truckers on Letterman performing "This Fucking Job".

Drive By Truckers: Webisode

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:19:00 +0000

In the days leading up to the March 16th release of the Drive By Truckers new album, The Big To-Do (ATO Records), the band has released a webisode chronicling the making of the album and other items.

Go here to pre-order and listen to a stream of the entire album

Live Review: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:57:00 +0000

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
03.09.10
Slims
San Francisco, CA

In four years a lot can change: Four years ago I lived in San Diego. That evil fuckhead George W. Bush was our President, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were touring in support of their album Baby 81 with original drummer Nick Jago.

Four years later I live in the Bay Area. Those dumb fucks in Washington are doing their best to do nothing about our ailing country, and BRMC are touring in support of their excellent new album Beat the Devil's Tattoo with new drummer Leah Shapiro.

Some things stay the same: I'm still trying to kill my hearing by going to all these concerts, and BRMC still kicks major ass live. Returning to their hometown Tuesday night, the band strutted on stage, plugged in and attacked the crowd with the blues bomb of new song "War Machine". Bassist/vocalist Robert Levon Been slashed away at his bass guitar as if trying to wrestle state secrets from it while guitarist/vocalist Peter Hayes sprayed waves of feedback over the crowd.

The show had indeed begun.

With Beat the Devil's Tattoo released the same day as the show, BRMC didn't shy away from playing a majority of the cuts off the new album. Standouts included the title cut (complete with some great vocals harmonies from the band), rockers "Conscience Killer" and "Mama Taught Me Better", the Brit Pop of "Bad Blood" and the psychedelic-slide menace of "River Styx".

With over five album worth of material to choose from, BRMC did a solid job of touching all corners of their musical career: the rootsier HOWL cuts like "Shuffle Your Feet" and "Ain't No Easy Way" were show highlights, and the band went back to their first album for a healthy dose of classics like "Spread Your Love", "Rifles"and "Punk Song".

All these years slugging it out on the road has chiseled the band into a tight live unit. The band jammed out several tunes, including "Six Barrel Shotgun" to the point where the original song was almost forgotten. New drummer Leah Shapiro more than held her own behind the kit, hitting harder on hypnotic tracks like "Red Eyes and Tears" and "666 Conducer" and adding backing vocal harmonies where appropriate on the acoustic/piano songs.

As members of the garage rock class of 2000, BRMC might not have hit the commercial paydirt like classmates The Strokes, The White Stripes and now Kings of Leon have in recent years, but the band has maintained its vision and musical integrity while carving out a devoted fanbase. With a solid new album out and a world tour just beginning perhaps it's BRMC's time to shine.

Athens, GA band The Whigs opened the show. I only caught the last 4 songs, but they were enjoyable and reminded me of Crazy Horse if Crazy Horse were a trio of 28 year olds trying to make their amps explode.

Live Review: Them Crooked Vultures

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:55:00 +0000

Them Crooked Vultures
Fox Theater
Oakland, CA
11.19.09

"So fuckin' good they almost killed me"

"They killed it bro"

You hear these Spicolli-inflected pieces of musical zen when people talk about a recent concert they caught. Clearly still in their post show glow, these phrases cut to the heart of why many music fans attend live concerts: Go to a show, get your mind blown.

The crowd that packed the Fox Theater in Oakland to see Them Crooked Vultures Thursday night were most likely blabbing the same thing to friends and coworkers the next morning.

When drummer Dave Grohl, vocals/guitar Josh Homme, guitar/keyboards Alain Johannes and bassist John Paul Jones hit the stage and started tearing into songs off their new eponymous album, it was clear the band came to blow the roof off the joint.

Songs like "Elephant", "Mind Eraser No Chaser" and "Dead End Friends" exploded waves of heavy riffage on the crowd. Grohl and JPJ were the perfect rhythm section storm, with Grohl doing his best to destroy his drum kit before the shows end.

Take equal parts Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age and serve with amps on 11. This, was rock'n roll bliss.

We could try and describe what this lil' aural slice of heaven sounded like, but you are better off watching this.

Let me tell you how good this band is: During the song "Interlude with Ludes", I couldn't help but notice how psychedelic the lights had become, and how heady the music was making me feel. I started to feel like I was tripping.

My first thought: I've been dosed.

Looking at my brother-in-law standing next to me, who had ordered the same beer at the bar as I had seemed fine. Then I almost passed out and hit the floor.

I had dehyrdrated/overheated. Concert tip #7: Always take your heavy coat off at a show kiddies.

After grabbing some water, I enjoyed the remainder of the show, including the jam on "Spinning In Daffodils", before heading home with a big shit eating grin on my face.

The Vultures had almost killed me.

Live Review: The Black Crowes

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:20:00 +0000

The Black Crowes
The Fillmore
San Francisco, CA
December 2nd & 4th, 2009

Same Time Next Year

Since regrouping in 2005 and playing a run of shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco, California, The Black Crowes have made multi-night runs at the historic venue an almost-annual event. True to form, the band capped their tour supporting 2009's Before the Frost...Until the Freeze double album with a five night run at the historic music venue.

HF hit two shows of the 2009 run and witnessed the Black Crowes flexing their musical muscles to produce two musically different shows, both in song selection and overall vibe . Where Wednesday night was a seamless journey through the band's musical wheelhouse, Friday night was a rock'n roll show that left the crowd simultaneously scratching our heads and picking our jaws off the beer-soaked dancefloor of the Fillmore at the amazing music blasting out from the stage .

Opening a cold and windy Wednesday night with the trippy "Movn' On Down the Line", the band allowed the psychedelic opener room to slowly bloom into a celebratory jam. This is the type of song many bands would close a show with and yet we were only one song into the set.

The swirling organ and slide guitar of "Under a Mountain" followed as the band embarked on a guided tour of their songbook: new song "Shady Grove" brought some Midnight Ramble boogie to the evening, while first album classic"Twice as Hard" reminded longtime fans what got them into the band almost 20 years ago. A thoroughly jammed-out cover of Delaney and Bonnie"s "Poor Elijah - Tribute to Johnson", and finally the drifty balladry of "Wyoming and Me"off the previously unreleased Band album

At this point in the evening, the message was clear: this is going to be one of those nights for the faithful fans in attendance.

In this day of AutoTuned vocal performances, sample triggering and outright lip synching, The Black Crowes play their music organically and the result is a performance that is unique to the day, the town, the crowd and the venue they happen to be playing on that given night.

Maybe it was the cozyness of the five show run at the Fillmore. Perhaps it was the culmination of a band being on the road for the majority of the last two years. Whatever it was, the Crowes' relaxed stage presence made the evening feel like we were getting to watch the band's private music jam, only with a cool light show and full service bar.

Their road chops shined brightly on the poly rhythms of "Another Roadside Tragedy" (complete with percussionist Joe Magisttro, who sat in for the entire Fillmore run), a thunderous "Sometimes Salvation" and the one-two punch of "Girl From a Pawnshop" and "She Gave Good Sunflower".

The encore proved just as random with three more covers- Clapton/Bramlett's "Don't Know Why", the Velvet Underground's "Oh Sweet Nuthin" complete with guitarist Rich Robinson taking lead vocals, and finally a proper show-closing with Little Feat's"Willin'", leaving everyone in the Fillmore with a smile on their face.

On to Friday.

As with any weekend show, the crowd was buzzing to have a good time and the band brought the rock'n roll, opening with "Good Morning Captain" off the new album, followed by the haunting feedback of "Nebekenzer" off 1997s Three Snakes and One Charm album. "Cosmic Friend" followed and while not a personal favorite, the crowd enjoyed it.

The pace came to a halt as drummer Steve Gorman made his way to the front of the stage to play some djembe on "Whoa Mule", the country-folk tune that caps 2008's Warpaint album. A bold move by the band no doubt, but I wonder how the drifty understated tune played to the rest of the Friday crowd, who by now were fully boozed up and ready for the weekend.

The pace picked up a bit as the band plucked their way into the country shuffle of "Roll Old Jeremiah" leading into a jam that allowed keyboardist Adam McDougal to play some bar-room piano fills that twisted together with the percussion until the band collectively spun straight into the hallucinatory gospel goodness of rocker "Good Friday". That my friend's, is a segue.

Suddenly, the rock show was back. After an epic 16 minute "My Morning Song" , the Crowes eased up a bit and gave the audience some Exile on Main Street acoustic blues with new song "Shine Along" before absolutely grinding the show to a halt with the country ballad cover "Lost My Drivin' Wheel". While the song was excellent and allowed Chris Robinson to showcase his vocals, the Friday crowd was collectively too drunk to handle this level of subtlety.

At this point, you really didn't know what was coming next. Groove rocker "Blackberry" got things going again, and was followed by the stomping 60's southern soul of Joe Tex's "Show Me" which absolutely left the majority of the crowd looking dazed and confused as they asked their friends just what the fuck they were listening to at this point in the night.

After departing for the far reaches of outer space on the jam following "Nonfiction", the band must have sensed the crowd was now lost in a Friday night wormhole of musical confusion as they attempted to reel everyone back in with fan favorites "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" and the classic "Remedy".

The encore began slowly, opening with the ballad "The Last Place that Love Lives" off the new album. A frontier western style ballad that showcases Chris Robinson's pipes, the subtlety of the song could have easily been lost on the crowd, but something rare happened: the crowd shut up and actually listened, allowing the song's damaged beauty to shine through.

A booming "God's Got It", complete with drummer Steve Gorman banging away on a marching band drum got the crowd going tribal, followed by Moby Grape's "Hey Grandma"to finish the show.

While the encore was another head-scratching collection of songs, overall the show was fun and the band sounded great. The seamless ease of Wedsnesday's show might have colored our perception of the evening, but part of the fun of a good Black Crowes show is not knowing what's coming next, and we got that both nights in spades.

*Photos used without permission from the Black Crowes fan board. If you would like your photo removed, contact us.

Wednesday Setlist:
Movin' On Down The Line, Under A Mountain, Shady Grove, Twice As Hard, Poor Elijah - Tribute To Johnson (Medley), Wyoming And Me, Wee Who See The Deep > The Raga > Another Roadside Tragedy, You Can All Join In, Girl From A Pawnshop, She Gave Good Sunflower, Sometimes Salvation, Jealous Again, Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)
E: Don't Know Why, Oh! Sweet Nuthin', Willin'

Friday Setlist:
Good Morning Captain, Nebakanezer, Cosmic Friend, Whoa Mule, Roll Old Jeremiah > Jam > Good Friday, My Morning Song, Shine Along, Lost My Drivin' Wheel, Blackberry, Show Me, Nonfiction > Jam, Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution, Remedy
E: Last Place That Love Lives, God's Got It, Hey Grandma

Them Crooked Vultures: 1st Single, Album Drop, West Coast Tour

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:34:00 +0000

Them Crooked Vultures, the supergroup of Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones, finally have an official release date for their self-titled debut album, due November 17th in North America on DGC/Interscope. You can listen to the studio recording of "New Fang" above.

The band has also announced a small West Coast Tour. Guess where we will be November 19th?

Nov. 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theater
Nov. 19 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
Nov. 21 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
Nov. 22 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater

Live Review: Pearl Jam

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:41:00 +0000

Pearl Jam
GM Place
Vancouver, Canada
9.25.09

When we missed the Ten Club onsale dates for the San Diego and Los Angeles shows we were faced with the grim reality of catching Pearl Jam at the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park. That doesn't really sound that bad until you consider tickets were about $100 a piece and that we would literally have to camp out in front of the stage all day to guarantee a decent spot and catch a glimpse of the band without the aid of the Hubble telescope.

No way. Fuck that.

We haven't logged 12+ years in Pearl Jam's fan club to pee in plastic cups while we endure 7 other bands, drugged out tweeners unable to handle their acid, and maintain our spot in the crowd all day. We did what any other self-respecting Public Health Care Option and PJ fan would do - we went to Canada.

What a glorious decision that turned out to be. Not only did we have a great opportunity to check out the amazing city of Vancouver, we caught one of the better PJ shows we've seen in years.

When the band starts the show with the polyrhythmic rumble of "In My Tree" from 1996's No Code, you know the night is going to be special. Touring in support of their recently released album Backspacer, Pearl Jam left it all on the stage Friday night in Vancouver, erasing any doubts the band was operating in some creative cruise control silo.

Instead, the band hit the ground running - blasting through rockers like "Save You", "Severed Hand", "The Fixer" and "Johnny Guitar" before coming up for air and greeting the rabid Canucks who had packed the GM Place, aka "The Garage". Eddie and the boys quickly acknowledged that it was indeed a Friday night show before lifting the crowd with the soaring "Given to Fly" and then speeding through the Yield album classic "MFC".

With an insane catalog of music to choose from, Pearl Jam kept everyone on their toes playing rarities like "Sad" from the b-sides Lost Dogs album, to the almost never played "No Way" off Yield. Eddie Vedder took time to dedicate the Binaural era "Light Years" to Canadian Terry Fox and his inspirational story, getting a huge roar of approval from Vancouver.

To explain the amount of energy these guys gave to the performance Friday night , you would think we're descrbing some band of 20 year olds jacked up on youth, a couple cases of beer and pure adrenaline. Guitarist Mike McCready bounced, ran, and pumped up the crowd all night between guiar solos. Bassist Jeff Ament and Vedder flew through the air like the skate/surf rats they are, and for the first time in fucking ages, guitarist Stone Gossard criss crossed the stage and head banged like it was 91 all over again.

More aural goodies continued through the night - "I Got Shit", "Breath", "State of Love & Trust" and "Grievance" balanced out by some PJ classics including "Alive", "Even Flow" and "Rearviewmirror".

The band did a masterful job of working the crowd. Early on, Vedder told the audience that the Seattle crowd a couple nights prior "sucked", lathering up fans into a fermented fury that wouldn't leave the rest of the night. Their lighting rig and backdrop were also lowered so the back third of the arena could sit right over the band behind the stage.

And the new songs? Better than how they sound on record. "Got Some" remains a choice song with just a great pummeling start/stop dynamic that sways harder and rocks harder live. "Unthought Known", "The Fixer", and "Johnny Guitar" all escape the 80s rock sheen production sound of Backspacer in the live setting with the amps maxed out and the Matt Cameron Train thundering away.

As a live band, Pearl Jam is firing right now. The band brought out opener/friend Ben Harper to sing with Vedder on "Indifference"creating another show highlight and then drove it home with "Betterman" and "Yellow Ledbetter". The image of guitarist Mike McCready just sitting out on the edge of the PA wailing away on "Ledbetter", looking like he didn't want to ever leave was a polaroid moment and a testment to the energy Vancouver brought to the show.

Great show. Great town. Permanent memories from this trip.

Catch 'em if you can.

September 25, 2009 Vancouver, BC, GM Place

Set List: In My Tree, Save You, The Fixer, Severed Hand, Johnny Guitar, Given To Fly, MFC, Even Flow, Amongst The Waves, Sad, Unthought Known, Light Years, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Grievance, No Way, Got Some, Rearviewmirror

1st encore: I Got Shit, Love, Reign O'er Me, Breath, State Of Love And Trust, Alive

2nd encore: Last Kiss, Indifference w/ Ben Harper, Wasted Reprise, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Yellow Ledbetter

Photos liberated from PearlJam.com

Back From the Dead

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:25:00 +0000

Wow, that was a long time between posts.

Anyway, we're back and we have lots to cover....

Crowes on Letterman

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:49:00 +0000

The Black Crowes played the David Letterman show last night to support the release of their just-released album Before The Frost. The band performed the album's first song "Good Morning Captain".

We're still digging our way through this new long player, but after a few initial spins, things sound good in Crowe-ville. There's even an additional mini-album called After the Freeze that you can download with a code contained in the Before the Frost album.

Enjoy.

Look Back in Anger: Noel Quits Oasis

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:55:00 +0000

While Noel Gallagher has been hinting at a solo album for a while this year, and has walked away from the band several times in the past only to rejoin, over the weekend the elder Gallagher issued a statement via his blog on Oasis' website that he has left the band.

"It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quite Oasis tonight." read Noel's blog post.

"As of last Friday, August 28, I have been forced to leave the Manchester rock 'n' roll pop group Oasis

"The details are not important and of too great a number to list. But I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable. And the lack of support and understanding from my management and bandmates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.

"I would like firstly to offer my apologies to them kids in Paris who'd paid money and waited all day to see us only to be let down AGAIN by the band. Apologies are probably not enough, I know, but I'm afraid it's all I've got.

"While I'm on the subject, I'd like to say [sorry] to the good people of V Festival that experienced the same thing. Again, I can only apologise - although I don't know why, it was nothing to do with me. I was match-fit and ready to be brilliant. Alas, other people in the group weren't up to it.

"In closing I would like to thank all the Oasis fans, all over the world. The last 18 years have been truly, truly amazing (and I hate that word, but today is the one time I'll deem it appropriate). A dream come true. I take with me glorious memories."

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a family and a football team to indulge. I'll see you somewhere down the road. It's been a fuckin' pleasure."

Will he be back? Did he finally tell little bro Liam that he sounds like a frog shitted in his throat when he sings these days? Time will tell.

Devendra Banhart's To Release New Album in October

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:24:00 +0000

During the quiet mellow Sunday's of the last 8 months, we have found independent folk/rock dude Devendra Banhart's music a big part of our Sunday soundtrack( tip of the hat to Jake over at The AmericanUnderground blog for recommending him), and now comes some news that Banhart has left XL Recordings for the big hallowed halls of Warner Bros to release his upcoming album What Will We Be.

Here's the album cover art:

We dug around and Pitchfork had the following tracklisting for the album:
01 Can't Help but Smiling
02 Angelika
03 Baby
04 Goin' Back
05 First Song for B
06 Last Song for B
07 Chin Chin & Muck Muck
08 16th & Valencia, Roxy Music
09 Rats
10 Maria Leonza
11 Brindo
12 Meet Me at Lookout Point
13 Walilamdzi
14 Foolin'

More Hype Worth Hyping Even More

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:24:00 +0000

I think I just wet my pants

I’m just dead, I’m not gone. Jim Dickinson R.I.P.

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:37:00 +0000

Some sad news, legendary musician/producer Jim Dickinson passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2009. He was 67.

Who is Jim Dickinson? He played with the Rolling Stones, produced Big Star and The Replacements, and Bob Dylan considers him "a brother". Our own introduction to him was Mudhoney's thundering Tomorrow Hit Today. His sons Cody and Luther play in the North Mississippi All Stars and The Black Crowes.

For more background on Jim Dickinson, we'll refer you to a wonderful remembrance written by Dickinson's friend Bob Mehr in the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Such a Tease: Them Crooked Vultures

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:07:00 +0000

Catching up on all things rock, two weeks ago at Lollapalooza in Chicago, the big buzz wasn't any of the bands playing the three day fest, it was the buzz surrounding the aftershow at The Metro, where Them Crooked Vultures played their first public show.

Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin are the main players, along with QOTSA alum Alain Johannes. Supergroups come and go (Audioslave/Velvet Revolver anyone?) but this seems to be one supergroup actually worth getting excited about.

An album is allegedly already in the can with a Fall release and full tour slated for later this year/early 2010. Two words sum up the possibilities: Fuck Yeah.

It's time to get excited. You can read a review of the Metro show by the Chicago Sun Times music critic Jim DeRogatis here

Pearl Jam - Backspacer Promo Video

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:09:00 +0000

Hmmmmmm....

Pearl Jam - Backspacer Short

Pearl Jam Kick Off Tour, Announce More Shows

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:16:00 +0000

Pearl Jam kicked off their tour this past Saturday at Calgary's V-Fest in advance of their upcoming album Backspacer. The band played two songs from the new album - "Got Some" and "The Fixer". Setlist looks like a good one. They'll play more off the new album once it comes out. Memo to the band: put Yellow Ledbetter to pasture.

Why Go
All Night
Dissident
The Fixer
Got Some
Severed Hand
Sad
Unemployable
Even Flow
Rats
Save You
Given to Fly
Daughter
Down
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter in a Small Town
Do the Evolution
Alive

-encore-

Betterman
Brother
Black
Spin the Black Circle

-encore 2-

Crazy Mary
The Real me
Yellow Ledbetter

Here's a video of "The Fiver". It sucks less live...

Beastie Boy MCA Diagnosed wih Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (SRB) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:51:00 +0000

Some sad news. Waiting in our inbox this morning was an email from the Beastie Boys titled "Houston We Have a Problem". Through a video message to fans, B-Boy MCA, aka Adam Yauch and bandmate Ad-Rock, aka Adam Horovitz broke the news that MCA has a tumor in his parotid (salivary) gland.

The good news is that it is treatable, and MCA will be undergoing a surgical procedure and radiation treatment to kill the cancer. The other bad news is the Beastie Boys have cancelled all touring commitments for the summer and have pushed back the release date of their upcoming album Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 to a later date.

Albums and tours can wait. We wish MCA and his family a speedy recovery. Get well and rock well.