RIP Michael Jackson

Took me a while, I think I've come to terms with it now. The first concert I ever took my sister to. What else can be said that hasn't already. I'll remember him like this, one of the greatest performances ever (amongst so many):



Make the world a better place.

Michael Jackson

Anvil (live) @ Uptown Theatre 5/8/09

(Flickr)

So I had a chance to watch "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" and see the band perform last Friday. Wow! One of the greatest movie/band experiences for me ever. Even without seeing the band live, trust me, you'll love the movie. Go watch it ASAP.

A couple of vids I shot at the show (thanks Kyle for saving us seats). Not the greatest live videos ever, since peeps were blocking my view and I was rockin' out, but you get the idea...

Anvil - "666" live @ Uptown Theatre 5/8/09


Anvil - "Metal On Metal" live @ Uptown Theatre 5/8/09


A couple of other brief things to talk about:

1) Fucking not cool!

2) This whole post was written while listening to 'This Is Thirteen', which I bought after the show. Obvs ;)

3) My buddy Tom "officially" had the day off and drove the band around all day Friday. Ahhh, the stories...

Anvil Website | MySpace | Movie Website

We Were Promised Jetpacks - “Quiet Little Voices”

Gotta' agree with Mojo. Brilliant band name, love the tune, Scotland rules...



mp3 here.

We Were Promised Jetpacks Website | MySpace | YouTube

More Cowbell 5th Anniversary Party | Thu 4/16 @ Turf Club [You Should Go]

My buddies over @ More Cowbell are celebrating their 5 year anniversary by putting on a great show Thursday 4/16. Let's go!



What: More Cowbell 5th Anniversary Party
When: Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 9pm (Doors at 8pm)
Where: Turf Club (1601 University Ave, St. Paul, MN)
Who: Romantica / The Evening Rig / The Absent Arch
Cost | Age: $6.00 21+

Great bands. Hope to see you there.

Read an interview with "blogger" pal Kyle here.

Romantica - "Fiona" live @ Kieran's 6/8/08:

Pet Shop Boys at the Brits

[YouTube]

Lux Interior RIP [The Cramps]

Oh man, we'll miss ya.

The Cramps Website | Wikipedia | YouTube

Morrissey

Have you heard? He's going on tour. Sweet.

The Smiths - Girlfriend in a Coma

Get to the Choppa

Thanks to Idolator for pointing out metal band Austrian Death Machine. Their album Total Brutal is based on themes from Arnold Schwarzenegger films. Pretty funny if you ask me. Enjoy.

Austrian Death Machine - It's Not A Tumor


Austrian Death Machine MySpace

Hasta La Vista Baby.

Oasis on Twitter

Via Oasisinet: http://twitter.com/oasisofficial

Noel & Liam, time to start tweeting...

Oasis - I'm Outta Time


Oasis will perform w/Ryan Adams at Target Center in Minneapolis next Wednesday 12/10/08. Tickets are still available here (lots of good seats actually - even 2 for 1).

Oasis Website | MySpace | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter

HowWasTheShow.com's 6 Year Anniversary Party 6/6/08, Turf Club, St. Paul, MN

You should come out, it's gonna' be fun. Congrats David!

HowWasTheShow.com's 6 Year Anniversary
Friday, June 6, 2008 at 8:00pm
Turf Club
$6.00 | 21+

Bands:
The Haves Have It
The 757s
The Evening Rig
Dallas Orbiter
The Wars of 1812

More info on HowWasTheShow's Blog.

The Wombats cover Leona Lewis

Sweet. The Wombats: "Bleeding Love" (Leona Lewis cover)

First Avenue on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Firstavenue

Via Peter. Very useful as they publish set times and other info. I'm really happy they got rid of the big box around the soundboard.

Also, I don't think I've mentioned it before, but I'm on Twitter as well. Feel free to follow me:

https://twitter.com/rocknrollstar

Coachella 2008

Starts today. AT&T Blueroom is streaming some of the performances live. Sorry, no Prince (obvs). Also, Heather made a couple of pretty sweet mp3 mixes. Check 'em out.

Backstreet Boys coming to Minnesota State Fair

Sweet ;) MN State Fair's lineup is shaping up to be stellar as usual: Toby Keith, Backstreet Boys coming to State Fair.

Keep your fingers crossed New Kids On The Block will announce a tour date here when they play Today Show Friday morning.

YouTube: I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys (Chipmunk Version)

Babes in Toyland drummer Barbero charged with DWI

The Cribs were just talking at their gig at Varsity Theater about how much they loved Babes in Toyland back in the day. Wow, slamming into your own garage and house: Babes in Toyland drummer Barbero charged with DWI

Babes in Toyland Wikipedia

Fine Line Music Cafe

Website redesigned. So much better. Check out their community section for more Fine Line links.

Cool Event Alert: Sigur Rós "Heima" @ Uptown Theatre 12/14/07

This is gonna' be cool, you should probably go... A special one night only screening of the highly talked about documentary film Heima by Icelandic post rock band Sigur Rós.

Switchbladecomb.com and Minnieindie.com present:

Heima, a Sigur Rós Film

Uptown Theatre
Friday, Dec. 14th
Doors @ 11:55pm
$5.00

Heima Trailer

Door prizes: Sigur Ros posters, DVDs, and CDs.

Call the Uptown Theatre Box Office at (612) 825-8620 for more info.

Limited number of free tix here.

See you there!

Sigur Rós - "Svefn g englar" (live in Philadelphia, 9/22/01):



Sigur Rós - "Glosoli" (live in Reykjavík):



2007 wrap-up/lists to come next week. Peace.

Sigur Rós Website | MySpace

Related:
Sigur Ros live @ Orpheum Theater 5/8/06

Unrelated:
Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven" (live in London, 12/10/07):

Oasis - Lord Don't Slow Me Down

New(ish) video by my boys. The concert double DVD under the same name is out November 6th.

Lord Don't Slow Me Down contents:

Disc One:

* Feature length documentary tour film 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down' in stereo and surround sound. · Bonus audio commentary - Noel, Liam, Andy and Gem guide you through the film with their recollections of the tour. · A Noel Gallagher Q&A session with fans runs alongside out-takes from the film.

Bonus Disc:

* Oasis live at City of Manchester Stadium on 2nd July 2005 - sixteen classic tracks shot in HD with stereo and surround sound. · Bonus Disc also features unique footage and pictures sent in by fans who attended the concert.

Sweet... Oasis is currently preparing a brand new album for release in 2008.

Teasers from the DVD:

• Oasis - Interview with Liam
• Oasis - Liam meets Girls Aloud
• Oasis - Tour Bus footage
• Oasis - Noel talking to Australian crowd
• Oasis - Noel in an Italian Radio Station
• Oasis - Liam's Birthday

mp3: Noel Gallagher - Whatever / Octopus's Garden (live acoustic) (YSI)
mp3: Oasis - Married With Children (live) (YSI)
mp3: Noel Gallagher - Slide Away (live acoustic) (YSI)
mp3: Oasis - Let There Be Love (YSI)

Oasis Website | MySpace | YouTube

Travis live @ First Avenue 7/22/07

Travis live @ First Avenue - "Flowers in the Window"

Lots more (72) great Travis Photos: Flickr Photos | Flickr Slideshow

Travis. Holy f*cking #@$^. Wow. To get you "primed": Read Kyle's review of the DC gig over on Information Leafblower. After you're done, come back; don't worry, I'll wait...

OK, here's what happened at the First Ave gig:

> Yes, they entered from the back of the audience, walking through the whole crowd in boxer warm-up outfits with the theme from "Rocky." They then proceeded to the stage with James Brown's "Living in America." Their first (opening) tune was "Selfish Jean." Perhaps the greatest entrance of a band I've ever seen. Witness for yourself...

Travis - Rocky Theme / Living In America / Selfish Jean @ First Ave 7/22/07:



> "All I Want To Do Is Rock" really "rocked." ;) Guitarist Andy went into the crowd for this one...

Travis - "All I Want To Do Is Rock" live @ First Avenue, 7/22/07:



> Last song before the encores, "Turn." Magical. Watch Mr. Francis Healy jump off the drum set.

Travis - "Turn" live @ First Avenue, 7/22/07:



> First encore, b-side "20," I almost cried. Francis Healy solo, acoustic, without the PA system. Watch for yourself.

Travis - "20" live @ First Avenue 7/22/07 - w/o Mic:



> Second encore, "Flowers in the Window." Barbershop-quintet style...



> Third encore, "Sailing Away." According to Fran they had never played that one before... Check it out.



> They closed with the "pogo version" of "Why Does It Always Rain On Me". I don't have video of that one... Because I was jumping around pogo-style, sorry.

Luckily, Travis has a 2 minute summary (which includes the "pogo") of their whole DC show:




> After the show I got to hang with the boys for a bit.



> And look who I also hung out with.





Yeah, the Schwandt brothers from White Light Riot were in the house...

Setlist (A+):



This was the 7th time I've seen Travis. They put a smile on my face every time I see them. Fran is one the best and most entertaining lead-singers you'll ever see. Yes, he's Bono-like. Do check Travis out at a venue near you soon.

See you @ Fratellis Sunday. I hear they're playing The Fetus that afternoon as well...

Travis Website | MySpace

P.S. Klaus! Klaus! Klaus!...

P.P.S. For the record, I saw opening band/guy John Paul White as well. The guy was ok, not great. The ELO cover of "Cant' Get It Out Of My Head" was killer, though...





John Paul White Website | MySpace

Upcoming: The Alarmists "The Ghost and the Hired Gun" CD Release Party @ First Avenue 7/20/07

Get there early, 'cause this show will sell out:

Friday 7/20/07
The Alarmists
First Avenue Main Room
w/special guests:
The Debut | Jelloslave | White Light Riot
8:00pm Doors | 18 + | $10

Here's a taste of the new CD (world blog premiere, as far as I know):

mp3: The Alarmists - Hired Gun

Yes, it rocks. The new CD/EP "The Ghost and the Hired Gun" is out now exclusively via the Electric Fetus. Elsewhere it's out 7/24/07. Details to follow. Pick it up at the show 7/20/07, that's my advice...

Here's an "oldie":

mp3: The Alarmists - Some Things Never Stop

Elsewhere:

They stopped by The Current on 7/16/07 and talked with Mary Lucia for a while. Stream it here. They played:

• Nobody Knows You
• On the Way
• Try to be Kind

See you Friday. Buy me a Vodka-Red Bull at the show;) Have a great week!

The Alarmists - Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / End (live @ Triple Rock 5/11/07:



- Steve

The Alarmists Website | MySpace
White Light Riot Website | MySpace
The Debut Website | MySpace
Jelloslave Website | MySpace