Two of the world’s most sought-after DJs and producers, Eric Prydz (Sweden) and Sébastien Léger (France), play one of New York’s tightest sound systems on Saturday 3/20 — that of the Nokia Theater Times Square.

Some tickets are still available at $35 each plus fees, but we’re giving two winners the chance to win a pair of tickets. Email us at contests@themusic.fm to enter. Randomly chosen winners will be emailed before 5 p.m. on Friday. Good luck!

Sébastien Léger - Live @ Cream Opening (Amnesia, Ibiza, 2009) [MP3 via Soundcloud]

Eric Prydz - Pjanoo [MP3 via Soundcloud]

	Annie Mac Presents, SXSW Republic Live, Austin, TX Wednesday March 17 [Tickets] Annie Mac Theophilus London Fool’s Gold Brodinski L-Vis 1990 Fake Blood Boy 8-Bit Kingdom Annie Mac Presents, WMC White Room, Miami, FL Friday, March 26 [Tickets] Annie Mac DJ Mehdi Jack Beats Brodinski L-Vis 1990 Riva Starr J-Wow Kingdom

Even if you can’t catch Annie Mac’s events, you can catch the excitment of her weekly show, Mash Up, from anywhere the world at bbc.co.uk/radio1 or satellite radio. Each episode features a host of new acts, with an electronic music focus. And there’s typically a guest mini-mix or two. Recently, she has helped raise the profiles of rising acts Elie Goulding and Two Door Cinema Club - neither of which are particularly electronic at their core, but have proven quite talented and quite remixable.

The show is based in London, but we listen here in New York every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. (during DST). If our heads haven’t exploded by then, we stay tuned for Pete Tong’s show, too.

Check out Annie’s last show of 2009, which was rather epic (as she likes to call things).

Even if you haven’t heard of The Happy Hollows (check out our profile here) there’s a good chance you’ve heard their song “High Wire” in a Samsung Mobile commercial. Kicking off their SXSW run, our local gems played an intimate show at the Troubadour opening for London-based The Veils. Were you the lucky soul to guess Sarah’s spirit animal (black panther) and win a pair of tickets to the gig as well as a Daisy Rock guitar?

The Happy Hollows - High Wire [MP3]

About the third song in, “Labyrinth,” the crowd moved away from the bar area and closer to the stage because it was time to move. Sarah ripped it on “We Will Find You” and how I love watching a female who knows how to play the guitar! The Hollows were tight with two guest “guitar heroes” accompanying the trio on a couple of songs.  Negahdari’s giddiness is infectious and their catchy pop-noise is as powerful as a black panther sneaking up on you when you least expect it.

The National played the second and final night at The Bell House on a windy wet Friday (03/12/10). The show was sold out and there were fans on stage and in the crowd adding to the memorable occasion. High Violet will soon be released and everyone in attendance saw the band try out the new material an added plenty of old favorites.  The National are one of the best indie bands today due to their quintessential American storytelling and deft craftsmanship and on Friday created a masterful New York love story.

“This is the happiest song on our new album” Matt Berninger introducing “Sorrow”.

The band of Matt Berninger and brothers Andrew and Bryce Dessner and Bryan and Scott Devendorf were accompanied by many guests including Conrad Doucette from Takka Takka aiding on drums and Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) was helping out as well. The sound was perfect and the large ensemble filled the Bell House that was packed full of diehard fans. The band had played the night before and Berninger joked that because of the excellent result they felt really confident in the back; when that happens the band usually takes a dive. It comes as no surprise that the band did no such thing.

The band’s modus operandi for the evening was to test their material from the forthcoming High Violet. Being the second night, the band was a little looser and let their personality shine on stage. Berninger quipped and made jokes while the Dessner brothers’ had their sister in the audience.

“Boo Boo!” - The Dessner’s Brothers’ sister
“That one is going to stick…we’re going to be called Matt Berninger and the Boo-Boo’s” - Aaron Dessner

The new songs wove together flawlessly with the already rich tapestry of music The National have already recorded. Despite only a small few knew what the songs sounded like, the night was memorable thanks to this discovery process. The songs felt like an extension of their past work; furthering their American story. Whether it was the somber introduction of the internally intense opener “Sorrow” or the reassuring “Anybody’s Ghost” the new tracks felt like favorites tracks you haven’t heard yet.

“Mistaken for Strangers” and”Secret Meeting” were definitely favorites and stellar tracks from their last two releases. The intensity and lyricism is still there despite the band dedicating itself completely to the new album. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” has been played in the past and was another standout track with the evocative imagery of being “carried to Oho in a swarm of bees”.

All the songs felt like they belonged in that Raymond Carver vision of America. The vignettes of life, where love and passion come from the slightest sliver of detail and although disillusioned there is a sense of vitality as we come to grips with our reality. The songs felt urgent and in that intimate space; everyone had a role.

“Everything I can remember, I remember wrong”…”Perfect” - Berninger during “Daughters of the Soho Riot” after forgetting the lyrics

The looks around and head shakes was great to see as the band unfurled their latest story. As good as their new material was, the band’s personality was the best surprise. Berninger’s banter about quitting smoking three months ago and ever since having a persistent cough was one highlight.

“If I coughed on you, it’s not a disease, it’s a good thing. It’s getting rid of all the tobacco since I was 16. It’s my lungs regenerating”, to the Dessner brothers having their moments to shine as truly great guitar players. The rhythm section was flawless and Devendorf’s intricately layered drumming sounded even better on the new tracks.

As the band progressed into the second half of the set, fans met plenty of familiar characters. “All the Wine” and “Apartment Story” were lyrical odysseys of rich imagery that led into “Runaway”, which has been played several times in the past. “Abel” provided a raw frenetic energy into the set, a shot of pure adrenaline that was paired with the restrained “Daughters of the Soho Riots”.

Hearing “Fake Empire” close the main part of the set was special and hung in the air as the band departed briefly backstage.

While the second half of the set was more familiar, there were still memorable moments to be had. “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” was another song that has been played live and showed off some passionate vocals by Berninger. “Mr November” was the penultimate track and featured Berninger going through the crowd and making his way to his wife. The whole audience was a part of that song and as Berninger made his way on stage he thanked everyone again including his wife and dedicated “Terrible Love” to her.

The two night stay was impromptu, but it seems spontaneity suits the band. The National played an inspired set at the Bell House which promised the continuation of their evocative American storytelling thanks to their latest chapter; High Violet.

The National Setlist
Sorrow
Anyone’s Ghost
Little Faith (Chrome Horse)
Mistaken for Strangers
Secret Meeting
Afraid of Everyone
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Lemonworld
Brainy
All The Wine
Apartment Story
Runaway
Conversation 16
Abel
Daughters
England
Fake Empire
-Encore-
Vanderlye Crybaby Geeks
Mr. November
Terrible Love

The National

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More photos after the jump.

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We highly recommend catching these two on tour. All dates are on the flyer above. Tonight, they’re playing with other folks (including Jack Beats, Desctructo) at Hard LA.

The Black Ghosts - Anyway You Choose to Give It (Boy 8-Bit Remix) [MP3]
Oh, 2:49…

Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Remix) [MP3]
Oh, 1:42…

Fake Blood - Mars (Boy 8-Bit Cover) [MP3]

The Big Pink - Velvet [MP3]

Our intrepid photographer on the scene, Debi Del Grande, caught The Big Pink, who is currently on tour with A Place to Bury Strangers and IO Echo, at El Rey Theatre. She had this to say, and these great photos to offer.

Back from recording in London, local fav IO Echo started the night off with their haunting effects. IO (a.k.a. Joanna Gikas) was in top form and gave us some new tunes. A good percentage of the crowd was there for A Place To Bury Strangers. I did not understand a word they sang, but I don’t care. They gave the crowd the bass and loudness they expected and I loved every second of it.

When Big Pink took the stage, I noticed the other half, Milo Cordell, was not there. We missed Milo!  Leopold Ross (who is also in IO Echo) took over the keyboards and managed just fine. That guy is talented. Robbie Furze stepped up and took hold of the audience. Big Pink played their entire album, A Brief History in Love and added a new song they had just written before hitting Australia.  “Velvet” didn’t disappoint and their hit “Dominos” ended the night.

TheMusic.FM caught The Big Pink last year and loved it despite being oh so short (clocking in around 45 minutes). The Bowery Ballroom is a fantastic venue for them although their stage show was awfully dark and full of strobes (sidebar, it was crazy difficult to take any decent photo between having either no light or strobe lighting), but the show offered plenty of energy.

Hole 2010 Tour Dates

March 19 - Stubb’s BBQ - Austin, TX (SXSW)
April 22 - The Music Box at the Fonda - Los Angeles, CA (Tickets)
April 27 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY (Sold Out)
April 28 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY (Tickets)
May 3 - O2 ABC Glasgow - Glasgow, UK (Tickets)
May 5 - O2 Academy Brixton - London, UK (Tickets)
May 9th - O2 Academy Birmingham - Birmingham, UK (Tickets)

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Violence and chaos broke out around Bogota’s Simon Bolivar park Wednesday night, when hundreds of frenzied fans tried to crash heavy metal band Metallica’s first Colombian concert in eleven years.

Bogota’s Regulatory Center of Emergency Services reported that four policemen and four civilians were hospitalized throughout the evening for cuts, lesions to the head and one fractured leg. One youth was stabbed with knife in the hand.

130 people were arrested and property was vandalized and destroyed, as ticketless fans tried to storm the venue in order to catch a glimpse of their rock-god idols.

Radio Santa Fe reported that prior to the concert, there were posts on social networking site Facebook inciting fans to crash the Metallica concert.

Excerpt from ColombiaReports.com

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Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti signed to 4AD and are set to release a new album this year. While they are working on the finishing touches the band so kindly released “Round and Round”, the first single off of this soon to be announced release.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round [MP3]

The song has this great haunted retro feel wrapped in lo-fi glory. A distorted fun house mirror version of a pop gem if you will that continues to build off the strengths of their previous releases.

The band only has one date announced so far on March 20th at The Labcabin in Los Angeles but expect plenty of news soon.

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The Golden Filter happen to be a huge favorite here at TheMusic.FM central and we have been eagerly waiting their debut Voluspa. The wait is almost over as the debut will be released on June 15th while the lucky people in the UK will get the release in April.

The band has just released the first single “Hide Me” and it looks to be another hypnotic dance gem. Head over to TheGoldenFilter.Com and enter your email or send a tweet to snag your download. The single will be released on April 27th and will feature Peter Bjorn and John’s Hortlax Cobra remix and a Clock Opera remix.

The Golden Filter - Hide Me

Austin and SXSW are just a few days away, so if you are not going…be prepared to get sick at the amount of coverage that will soon hit the web. It seems like every band in the world will be there (save for a couple of exceptions here, there and everywhere) and The Golden Filter will be one of those bands making multiple appearances at SXSW. You can catch them during the day or at night. All appearances below.

The Golden Filter SXSW Appearances
03/18 (3pm) - Urban Outfitters + Windish Agency Presents (2406 Guadalupe St)
03/19 (5:30pm) - Mexican Summer x Gorilla vs. Bear - Klub Krucial (612 and 614 East 6th St)
03/19 (8pm) - Official SXSW Showcase - Emo’s Junior (603 Red River St)