Morrissey

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

The Smiths - Girlfriend in a Coma

Smile: MSP Concert Announcement - Lily Allen is coming to the Twin Cities!

Finally! She's skipped us on all of her previous US tours.

• 05/24/07: Lily Allen @ First Avenue.
  

Related:

• BRIAT: Lily Allen @ The Metro (Chicago 2/8/07)

• Pitchfork: The biggest midget in the game gets sick and cancels gigs. You know about the feud, right?

YouTube: Lily Allen - Littlest Things:



More videos here.

Lily Allen Website / MySpace

P.S. Thanks for the heads-up Amy! You made my day ;)

23 - 20 Days to go: Arctic Monkeys found in Cuba and India! Mashups & Covers...

Hope my reader(s) had a nice weekend! I did. Nice and relaxing, no live rock 'n' roll after last weekend's craziness...

It's early in the workweek so let's have some fun. A couple of cool, amusing, and even booty-shakin' mashups and covers for you:

Rhythms del Mundo vs Arctic Monkeys - Dancing Shoes:



Bollywood Vs Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor:



Arctic Monkeys - Love Machine (Girls Aloud Cover):



Sugababes - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor:



This is still my fave, though:

Arctic Monkeys - Baby I'm Yours (Barbara Lewis Cover):



Related videos:

• Too many ;)
  

Other info:

• Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba on Amazon.com.
  
• "Baby I'm Yours" can be found on the CD Single: Leave Before The Lights Come On
• Arctic Monkeys play First Avenue Mon 5/7/07. Tickets.
• Arctic Monkeys new album Favourite Worst Nightmare drops April 23, 2007, in the UK. (April 24 in the US).
  

Arctic Monkeys Website / The Riot Van / MySpace
Girls Aloud Website / MySpace
Sugababes Website / MySpace

Previously:

• 24 Days to go: Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down (live @ Reading, 2006)

• 25 Days to go: Arctic Monkeys - Leave Before The Lights Come On (live @ Reading, 2006)

In other news:

• Kings of Leon release their new album "Because of the Times" today and you can catch them live in Mpls/St. Paul @ First Avenue Friday 5/18/07. Did anybody else notice Albert Hammond Jr. (from The Strokes) is opening? Sweet.

• Yeah, I know, you don't have to email me anymore... another good band is playing here 05/07/07: The Rapture @ Fine Line Music Cafe.

• Jarvis. Yes, his album is out in the US today. Bloody brilliant, pick it up.
mp3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
mp3: Jarvis Cocker - Running The World
YouTube: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time (A+)

• This should fit for today: Sometimes it snows in April (Prince cover).

I'm up way too late once again... I gotta' go. Have a nice Tuesday.

White Light Riot returns with new tunage

Alert! Local rockers White Light Riot just posted 3 new tunes off their forthcoming album "Atomism" (July 2007 via 50 Entertainment) on their revamped MySpace.

Also, since it's a long time until July, they've just put out a new limited release EP titled "Out of Sight". It features the same 3 songs, as well as a re-produced version of the single "Out of Sight", and b-side "Tin Soldiers". More details on their website. You can also check out all the songs from the EP below:

Stream / Lyrics: Out of Sight
Stream / Lyrics: Charlatan
Stream / Lyrics: Grey Divide
Stream / Lyrics: In a Shotgun Whirlwind
Stream / Lyrics: Tin Soldiers

Their main website is all new all is well. They even have a new blog. Head over and leave them a "blog warming" comment. Perhaps this will make them put up another post soon ;)

If you were at the October 11, 2006, gig @ 7th Street Entry, you may also find yourself in this new promo video:

MOV: White Light Riot - Out of Sight

White Light Riot - Out of Sight (live @ St. Kate's, Sept 2006)



St. Kate's "is the largest Catholic college for women in the country". I bet the boys had a LOT of fun there...

What else? Upcoming tour dates:

• 04/15/07: White Light Riot - Sacre Bleu Wine Party @ Trocaderos.

• 04/24/07: White Light Riot / This World Fair @ Varsity Theater.

They rock, so check 'em out.

White Light Riot Website / MySpace

In other news:

LCD Soundsystem. I should talk about this. Puuuuleeeaase, have music critics gone absolutely insane? Don't believe the hype:



Have a nice Thursday!

- Steve

Birdmonster live tonight / Jamie T / MSP Concert Announcement / Culture Bully Interview / Alex Gaudino

(Birdmonster live @ 400 Bar 10/24/06)

Just a few quickies for you today:

> San Francisco's Birdmonster returns to the Twin Cities tonight @ Varsity Theater. To say these guys are fun live, would be a great understatement. I would know, as I wound up playing the drums on stage last time they were here @ 400 Bar. Don't miss 'em; Pulse and Brody agree. Local bands Belles of Skin City, Aneuretical, and Jayber Crow open the show.

Birdmonster will also appear in-studio on The Current today between 9:00AM - 11:00AM.

mp3: Birdmonster - Skeleton Suit

Birdmonster Website / MySpace
Belles of Skin City Website / MySpace
Aneuretical Website / MySpace
Jayber Crow Website / MySpace

> Speaking of the Current... I heard this song on my drive home from work last night and can't get it out of my head. Jamie T rocks.

Jamie T - Calm Down Dearest:



Jamie T Website / MySpace

> MSP Concert Announcement:

• 06/13/07: Fountains of Wayne / The Broken West @ First Avenue.
• WTF Moz? Milwaukee, but no Twin Cities... You HAVE to be kidding me.

> Solace and I were interviewed as "local music experts" over on the great blog Culture Bully. Read it here. I think it turned out pretty well. I laughed very hard at the picture they used of me... The original photo is up on my MySpace.

> Last but not least. My awesome roomie once again told me "Dude, you gotta' post this!" OK, Brian:

Alex Gaudino - Destination Calabria: (probably NSFW)



Such a sweet video (in so many ways)... The tune is an anthem in Ibiza. I really need to go there soon.

Alex Gaudino Website / MySpace

I'm so outta' here. Have a great weekend!

BRMC: Baby 81

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, what a great name for a band... And what a great band they are. I've loved these guys since the first time I saw them in tightly packed 400 Bar. Or was it the time they blew out the speaker system at the Quest Club with The Rapture?! I don't know...

Anyway, they're coming out with their 3rd 4th record "Baby 81" 5/1/07 and everything I've heard from it sounds like dynamite. It's like somebody told them to combine the best elements from their previous 2 albums...

Here's the first single from the album:

WM: Weapon Of Choice
QT: Weapon Of Choice
Real: Weapon Of Choice

BRMC Mp3s here.

They're also launching a major tour:



As much as I'd like to see The Fratellis, I'm actually looking forward to seeing The Horrors... these guys were absolutely nuts at SxSW. I highly encourage that type of behavior ;)

Here's the video for the tune that blew out all the speakers at Quest Club (no surprise):

BRMC - Whatever Happened To My Rock n' Roll (Punk Song):



Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Website / MySpace
The Fratellis Website / MySpace
The Horors MySpace

Related: BRMC live @ Varsity Theater 2/7/06

MSP Concert Announcements

Just announced:

• 04/05/07: Elvis Perkins / Let's Go Sailing @ 400 Bar. Actually, I'm not sure if this one is new, or not... however, Let's Go Sailing is on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic tomorrow (Thu 3/22/07 11:00 AM PST).
  

• 04/20 - 4/21/07: Modest Mouse @ Orpheum Theatre. All tour dates here. What the fuck is Johnny Marr doing in this band again?

• 05/16/07: Keane @ Myth Club. All tour dates here. Don't get me started ;)
  

• 06/18/07: The Bravery @ Varsity Theater. I think you know how I feel about these guys. Then again, yo, it's my friend Amy's birthday, so who knows, I may just go...

SxSW 2007

Honestly, SxSW is soooooo overrated! I'm really sick of reading / hearing / and receiving emails about it... All the great acts will come to a venue near you soon, anyway. Attend a cool event instead.

Related:
WCCO: "Minn. Bands Head To South by Southwest"

I'll take The Hives over PB&J anyday:

Arctic Monkeys - Presale Tickets / MP3 & New Video "Brianstorm"

Three things about my boys:

• Presale tickets for their upcoming North American tour are available via their live music Website, Riot Van. I just got mine and I suggest you do the same. I don't see these guys playing smaller venues in the US for too much longer.

• "Brianstorm" high-res mp3 here.
  

• Domino Records was kind enough to post the brand-new video for "Brianstorm":

Jesus, not only is the song fucking brilliant, but the video even throws in some hottie dancers. It's like they read my mind...

Arctic Monkeys Website / MySpace

P.S. I do realize my posts have been a bit news-and-youtube-heavy lately. Don't worry, I'll get some more creative stuff and mp3's up soon, including the London Calling playlist... Anybody else listen to it? I seriously rocked out...

Mickey Avalon Alert!

Dude rules:

• City Pages "Filth and Glitter - Glam-Rapper Mickey Avalon plays dirty in Beverly Hills"

• Mickey live in Minneapolis Thursday 3/15/07 @ Foundation Nightclub. This seems like an event I should attend ;)

OK, good excuse to post another vid:

Mickey Avalon @ Jimmy Kimmel Live:



Mickey Avalon Website / MySpace

MSP Concert Announcements

I fell asleep early from The Faint exhaustion last night and therefore didn't get to post this:

• 05/18/07: Kings Of Leon @ First Avenue. All tour dates here.

I missed their last gig in town as I had quit smoking that exact day. I won't make that same mistake again. Smoking is good for you, kids ;)

Here's the new video for "On Call":



The new album "Because of the Times" drops 4/3/07 in the US. I hear it's great...

Kings of Leon Website / MySpace

MSP Concert Announcements

(Arctic Monkeys live 3/18/06 @ Metro, Chicago)

Just announced:

• 04/16/07: The Black Angels / Vietnam @ 7th Street Entry. All tour dates here.
  

• 05/07/07: Arctic Monkeys / Be Your Own Pet @ First Avenue. All tour dates here.

• 05/09/07: !!! @ Fine Line Music Cafe. All tour dates here.
  

I don't think I need to elaborate. I'm off to see The Faint...

Arctic Monkeys live on Jools Holland:

MSP Concert Announcements

(BRMC live @ Varsity Theater 2/7/06)

Just announced this week:

• 04/25/07: Bright Eyes @ State Theater. All tour dates here.

• 05/02/07: Air / Kate Havnevik @ First Avenue. All tour dates here.

• 05/22/07: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / The Horrors @ First Avenue. All tour dates here. I wish we would've gotten The Fratellis as openers...

• 06/08/07: The National @ 400 Bar. All tour dates here.

• 07/17/07: Maximo Park @ Varsity Theater. All tour dates here.

Unfortunately, no Daft Punk :(

Also:

• NPR is doing a live broadcast of The Good, The Bad & The Queen live @ 9:30 Club, in Washington, DC, 3/14/07.

• Stereophonics are releasing the DVD "Rewind" 4/2/07 in the UK. Here's the trailer:

Nas Tour Dates!

I'm kind of psyched for this one (via):

April 2007
2 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
3 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Tavern
5 - Norfolk, VA - NorVa
6 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
7 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
8 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
10 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
11 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theater
13 - Washington, DC - Love Nite Club
15 - Providence, RI - Lupo's
16 - Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
17 - Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus
19 - Detroit, MI - State Theater
20 - Chicago, IL Congree Theater
21 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
22 - Minneapolis, MN - Myth
23 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
25 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
26 - Salt Lake City, UT - Harry O's
29 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
30 - West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues

May 2007
1 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
2 - San Diego, CA - 4th & B

Nas Website / MySpace

Birdmonster Tour Dates!

(Birdmonster @ 400 Bar 10/24/06)

I loved these guys last October @ 400 Bar. Don't miss them on the upcoming tour.

3.07.07 San Diego, Casbah
3.08.07 Phoenix, Modified Arts (all ages)
3.09.07 Tucson, Plush
3.12.07 Dallas, Ellum Festival
3.13.07 San Antonio, Limelight
3.14.07 SXSW / Habana Calle Six
3.15.07 SXSW / Hell Ya at the Apple Bar
3.16.07 SXSW
3.17.07 Dallas, The Cavern
3.20.07 Oklahoma City, The Conservatory (all ages)
3.23.07 Minneapolis, Varsity Theater (18+)
3.24.07 Chicago, Subterranean (18+)
3.26.07 Indianapolis, Spin
3.27.07 Detroit, Lager House
3.28.07 Toronto, Horseshoe Tavern (19+)
3.29.07 Syracuse, Mezzanotte
3.30.07 Boston, Middle East (18+)
3.31.07 New York, Gramercy Theatre (all ages)
4.03.07 Washington D.C., Black Cat (all ages)
4.05.07 Norfolk, The Boot (18+)
4.06.07 Wadesboro, TVCC
4.07.07 Charolotte, Visulite (18+)
4.08.07 Knoxville, Pilot Light
4.10.07 Lawrence, Bottleneck (18+)
4.12.07 Denver, Hi Dive (all ages)
4.26.07 San Francisco, The Independent

mp3: Birdmonster - Cause You Can
YouTube: Birdmonster - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) (live Proclaimers cover)

Birdmonster Website / MySpace

Mando Diao Announces US Tour Dates & EP

I've long been been a Mando Diao fan, so I figured I'd pass on the following tour dates:

March 15: Austin, TX: SXSW: Antone’s (Spaceland Party)
March 15: Austin, TX: SXSW: Dirty Dog (Official SXSW Showcase)
(more SXSW dates to be announced soon)

April 29: Indio, CA: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
May 1: San Francisco, CA: Bottom of the Hill
May 3: Portland, OR: Dante’s
May 4: Seattle, WA: Crocodile Café
May 5: Vancouver, BC: The Plaza Club
May 8: Minneapolis, MN: The 400 Bar
May 9: Chicago, IL: Double Door
May 11: Ann Arbor, MI: Blind Pig
May 12: Toronto, ONT: The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
May 13: Montreal, QUE: Petit Campus
May 14: New York, NY: Bowery Ballroom
May 16: Hoboken, NJ: Maxwell's
May 17: Washington, DC: Black Cat
May 18: Philadelphia, PA: Johnny Brenda's
May 19: Cambridge, MA: T.T. the Bear's

Also, in the US, the Swedish Pop/Rocksters are releasing an EP 3/6/07 "Long Before Rock ‘n’ Roll", before their new album "Ode To Ochrasy" hits the shelves 4/24/07. Here's the tracklisting of the EP:

WM / Real: 1. Long Before Rock’n’Roll
2. Popovic
3. Cinderella
4. Chet Baker
5. Long Before Rock’n’Roll (live)
YouTube: 6. VIDEO: Long Before Rock’n’Roll

I've actually had the new album for a while now, as I picked it up in Europe last year. The CD is ok, nothing too mind-blowingly new... I definitely still love "Hurricane Bar" material best:

Mando Diao - You Can't Steal My Love


Then again, they're great live, so do check them out at a venue near you soon. I'll see ya' at 400 Bar May 8th.

Mando Diao Website / MySpace
Mando Diao YouTube
Mando Diao perform in Studio on the Current 5/2/05 (very funny and awkward - Mary Lucia doesn't do so well with the Scandanavians)