I'm currently sitting at Lotus Cafe on the southwest corner of Clinton and Stanton and it has become completely necessary for me to comment on their in house mix. I've been here for all of a half of coffee and they've already played Spoon, The Little Ones, Dirty On Purpose, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Art Brut. Well done - keep up the good work.

Speaking of well done - I got toasted last night, but it was well deserved. After a hellish Brand New show at Webster Hall where some over privileged kid spit on me, I cruised down to the Mercury with Evan to check out a tip-top Friday night double bill featuring Cold War Kids and Sound Team. The Cold War Kids were the number three hitter in last night's lineup, and did they ever deliver the big hit. If you are no where near the crest of the wave and you've missed the initial hype train departure on these four kats, then you need to catch a up in the worst way. Their sound is something unique to the post blog rock scene and yet it seems to fit in the wake of storms brought on by the likes of the Wolf Parades and Arcade Fires of our world. Where CWK's win is their unstoppable energy coupled with a sound that tips its hat to soul influences along with quirky off signature white hot indie rock. I'm not the first person to write this and after last night's show I can guarantee I won't be the last.

Batting cleanup was those six loveable chaps from Austin, TX. If you read the papers - and I'm sure you do - then you know Pitchfork didn't look to kindly on their Capitol Records debut Movie Monster. Sometimes you just can't take stock in what PFM has to say - especially in this instance. Not only is the record a solid debut, but their live show has buttoned up and at the same time loosened up over the past couple years. Historically I found Sound Team to be somewhat stiff on stage; maybe they tried to convey the attitude of the music through their posturing or maybe they were simply nervous. In any event Matt and Bill lead this band into new sweat drenched territory. The band gave it their all and the all was fantastic. They recall the other side of indie rock (the side that is embraced by blogs, but rarely needs championed because it has a massive crossover appeal to college audiences and major label ears), but the points of reference get lost in their driving ambition and what appears to be a new found, no holds bar tude. I'm awfully excited to watch this band develop into something grander than their predecessors.