All I Ever Dreamed Of.

So I don't want to sound like a snot, but really I don't give a fuck so I'm going to say it. Getting free shit is awesome. If keeping a blog and trying to start a publication is all that's necessary for scoring free records, then count me in. Today was the strangest receipt ever. Propped against our door at 186 was a copy of Styx, Rockers. I don't know how it got there or why, but thank you to the mystery delivery person. Show your face so I can spit beer on it!

If you have some free time, check out the hilariously well done Jason Forest video for Steppin' Off on the Waverly Films website. These kids are a bunch of chaps who went through NYU at the same time as me. We shared some late night boozers together. Good kids with serious talent. You'll also find videos for The Thrills, VHS or Beta and Fatboy Slim on the site.

Speaking of the Waverly; Moser and I had lunch their today and you can bet your ass I had the Waverly Melt.

posted by jayloose at 5:52 PM 73 comments   

Over The Hills And Everywhere.
My favorite hymn from my formidable years as a Catholic School Boy was Go Tell It On the Mountain. It was one of the few songs that forced my ass off the stiff wood pew and encouraged my prepubescent voice cry out to the higher power. Last night another mountain impressed me enough to believe in a higher power; at least geographically. When someone describes a band by using the word psychedelic I immediately become skeptical. Outside of a few bands doing the psych rock style justice, (Dead Meadow and The Warlocks) I usually get turned off by what seems to be another blatant attempt to mesh influences by bands my mom used to see at lazar rock shows. Not that this is a bad thing, but like some of my friends, I’m not into psychedelics. My reality is hard enough to deal with, (even though I have it pretty good). This idea of psychedelic has me instantly think extended jams and obnoxious guitar riffing. There is also the notion of psychedelic as highlighted in the Nuggets box set, but we all know that has morphed into Neu Garage which has all but fallen off the radar. Last night Black Mountain became a welcomed addition to my current psychedelic rock favorites.

My evening started with a welcomed shift at the Bowery for the Regina Spektor show. Not realizing the temperature was going to drop, I cruised out of 186 in less than the required gear. Thankfully the night was such a breeze. The label reps were super nice and Dave is always a killer guy to have on the team. Once we closed down, I said hello to everyone working downstairs then shot upstairs to catch a couple songs. Not being too familiar with Spektor outside of her vocal track on that Strokes B-side, I was pleasantly surprised to see an extremely earnest redhead prancing about the stage singing about, “Kissing someone close to you so you both get practice.” She is so cute you could bottle her up and sell her to tourists. Cara popped by and we chatted for a couple minutes before Mr. Beardsley and I headed to Mercury.

On our way to the back room, we snagged a quick drink and said hello to Ari Upwelling who always seems to be in great spirits. He filled me in on what I missed in terms of Crystal Skulls. The back corner was stuffed full of familiar faces that included: Beach, Daylen, DJ Del, Tumblehawk, Christina Flavorpill, Lucy, Tracy Lordz, Jintastic, Mr. Beardsley, Sladyk in the Box and a happily drunk Gigs. A very solid crew was assembled for the kick ass rock show during the final hours of Wednesday night.

Hailing from what the bass player called, “Downtown Canada,” Black Mountain isn’t your typical band. The five-piece includes guitar, bass, drums, keys and a wildcard lady who adds harmonies, cowbell, tambourine and even some melodica to the mix. At times they caught grooves that flashed me back to last weeks Dead Meadow show, but they didn’t ride them nearly as long. The bass player hammered away at some great melodies that came across very tasty and even a bit funky. There was also some (intentional?) fuzz seeping from the President of the North American Beard Club’s guitar. This guy made Grizzly Adams look like a poor man’s Barry Gibb. Anyway, this band sounds like they discovered their parent’s acid rock records, smoked an ounce of grass and decided to compose music. There were hints of the obligatory reference points, but Black Mountain definitely took the cue from their predecessors and redefined heavy.

If you feel the need to see what I’m talking about (trust me, you do), then get off your ass and head to Asterisk* tonight where Black Mountain and Crystal Skulls are playing a gig. It’s only 6 bones, and Todd P’s site has all the details. If not there are a couple other shows worth noting:

1. Album Leaf w/ Bloodthirsty Lovers @ Mercury Lounge: This show has yet to sellout which is surprising after all the great press both bands have received, (Tickets).

2. The Giraffes w/ The Diggs @ Sin-e: Do you like hard rock as much as me? Do you want to see a man play riffs for an entire set? Then go to this show, (Tickets).

3. Say Hi To Your Mom w/ Aqueduct & Effel Tower @ Northsix: Eric’s songwriting continues to excel. Go welcome Say Hi To Your Mom home after a tour following their SXSW appearance, (Tickets).

Does Sucking Dick Make You Gay?
Should we be chastised for our former music atrocities? I’d have to lean towards live and learn status. There are definitely some shows that I’m ashamed to say I attended. The numerous Less Than Jake shows along with some even crappier ska/punk bands will continue to haunt my past. But I’m not ashamed. Neither should you Mr. Bravery lead singer guy. Don’t let the man get you down. Your band doesn’t suck because you used to play in Skabba the Hut. Your band sucks because it’s a copy of a copy of a copy, (to use Palanhiuk’s language). Dance Revival is so 2002. The Killers are so 2004. Hating The Bravery is so 2005. Does this mean I agree with The Killers? I guess so, (punching myself where my balls should be).

posted by jayloose at 2:42 PM 12 comments   

Eminem Was Wrong!
TICKET UPDATE: Buy Tickets on Thursday, March 31st at 12noon! Don't miss out!

Whoever said you only get one shot is full of shit. Saints be praised! The Shins have confirmed a third night at Webster Hall. They will play Monday, April 25th in addition to their soldout 23rd and 24th dates. Ticket information has yet to be released. Check the Bowery Presents calendar and the Webster Ticketweb page. This show might sell out as quick as the others so you won't want to miss out.

On another note... who thinks the new Caribou single sounds exactly like Neu?

posted by jayloose at 3:45 PM 4 comments   

posted by jayloose at 2:55 PM 0 comments   

Never One To Sit Still.
If you aren’t heading to the sold out Vagina Spektor show at The Bowery Ballroom this evening, then you should stop by the Mercury Lounge for a solid bill featuring some acts I’m not too familiar with and one that I heart more than most. The Big Sleep hit at 8:30pm and are flowed by Crystal Skulls (9:30pm) and Black Mountain (10:30pm). Get stoned and go have some fun. Send me thank you notes tomorrow.

*** Stream the new Hot Hot Heat record, Elevator or if you’re really bored stream The Bravery’s self-titled debut.

*** I love The Strokes. You do too. Don’t deny it. If you think you don’t love this band, then go home, listen to Is This It in its entirety and tell me you don’t dig it. It’s what made 2001 such a cool year, well, before all that other stuff that made us forget. Anyway, they are nearing completion of their third record. Excited? You bet.

*** Speaking of Pitchfork, they seem to hit the nail on the head in this review of New Order’s Waiting for the Sirens’ Call. Sometimes I think Bernard Sumner should have been my dad.

*** Weezer, please please please don’t let me down. Just put out a good record and quit being such pussies about it. How much does it cost to get a tattoo removed?

*** Can’t get your art in a museum? Man the fuck up and do it yourself.

*** Lollapalooza is back, but not in tour format. After last year’s colossal fuck up, Perry has brought the festival back as a two day event in Chicago. Now that is totally unfair. Chicago gets the Pitchfork festival and Lollapalooza featuring Beck, Kings of Leon and The Killers for starters.
*** I’m going to need to find a cash machine.

*** Please open your mouth… So I can pee in it.

*** U2 is on the most important tour of the summer. At least The NYPost seems to think so. They will never stop touring. Not as long as Bono can do gravity defying leg kicks.

*** Ok, now I’m pissed. The Black Keys announce a national tour, but they don’t book a date in New York. Their last stop at the Bowery was a top five night of 2004.

Argghhhh. Oh, if you blinked, you missed it. Bright Eyes sold out in five minutes. Don’t let the same happen with Spoon. On a sidenote, WOXY just had an advertisement that said the “WOXY the future of rock n’ roll” then ripped into The Hives' track Hate To Say I Told You So. Didn’t that come out in 2000? I still love them even if I’m a snide little prick.

posted by jayloose at 1:36 PM 5 comments   

Buy Your Tickets Now.
So you’re pissed you got shut out of the two Shins shows? Deal with it. You should have been on top of the ticket situation. Since you weren’t I’m giving you some insight to upcoming Webster Hall shows. All the Webster haters can eat it. The sound is better and the space is better. Now here is that information. Have your credit cards ready and go to Ticketweb’s Webster Hall page:

Bright Eyes w/ The Faint (May 21-25): Tickets on sale today at 12:00pm!

Rilo Kiley (May 26-27): Tickets on sale today at 2:00pm!

Spoon w/ The Clientele (June 8-9): Tickets on sale today at 2:00pm!

The Dears w/ The Shout Out Louds (June 11): Tickets on sale now!

A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts.
Yesterday we collectively logged a terrific tequila Tuesday. This doesn’t save me from the ‘I just drank diesel fuel’ coffee breath that’s rocking my insides, but it does mean I’m leaning toward the happy side. Another reason this is a surprise is the mild heart attack I had this morning on my walk to work when out of the corner of my eye, I caught someone running right at me. Thankfully it was Jenna whom I haven’t seen since our trip to the Central Park Gates, (wow that was a long time ago). We chatted for a minute before she left to enjoy her day off while I was left to my windowless office. No worries though. Things are tip top.

Following a horrendous afternoon in my office characterized by unnecessary stress, I stopped by the Mercury to pickup my paycheck. Dan was dutifully working the box office so we had a chat about the crazy upcoming schedule at Webster. As some guy pulled out his wallet to purchase a ticket to the Eagles of Death Metal show on next Tuesday, I advised him to get there early because The Hold Steady are awesome. He thanked me and informed us that he’s in the band. Upon his departure, Dan commented, “That’s definitely blog worthy,” which cracked me up. Gigs came down with da money, and I took a quick walk with her to snag some afternoon coffee. I wasn’t ready for her scolding in regards to not getting on stage in the Bunny costume. Gigs gave me some serious shit, but I see her point. I’m not a stage person, but it was Easter and Peelander-Z played. Anyway, we got back to the Mercury and I listened as Dan gave me some advice on Brooklyn living versus Manhattan living. Thanks Dan.

Back at 186 I cooked up some mean grilled cheese sandwiches to go with my nasty overcooked chicken soup. Kyle kept me laughing as he got us blacklisted from Tiny’s for giving the girl attitude for not including his dressing. Don’t ever cross Kyle because he’ll make you feel like an idiot and a dick all at once. He’s trained to do so. Christina came over so we could do some work on the Loose Record website while Josh, Sky and Chris argued about Pay Pal. Around 9pm Christina and I headed over to the club for a Sam Champion rock show.

As we rolled into the Mercury there were familiar faces abound. It was good to see the boys in the band after a brief departure for the festival and tour. They spent the day shooting and interviewing for a couple publications. It’s great to see them getting some much deserved attention. There was also tons of old hits in the club including, and forgive me if you aren’t on here, Jersey Dan, Trowbridge, Beach, Daylen, Mia, Denise, Christine, Ramie, Kari, Helen, Joey, Emma, Pooja, Stevo, Builder, Elise, Dave, Greg, Mike, Maggie, Ackerman, DJ Del, Beckwith, Alister, Jody and a few more monkeys. Thanks to Jersey Dan for hooking up a couple drinks and the obligator Tuesday Tequila shot that we shared with Dave, Mia and Christine.

Sam Champion delivered another set of slacker laced rock. Now some bands might get offended by the use of the word slacker, and if Sam Champion is they can kiss my ass. It’s not as if they don’t bring it, in fact they brought it pretty fucking hard last night, (as evident in Sean’s attempts to leg kick and Jack’s need to take of his glasses). Their sound lends itself to a lazy summer barbeque where everyone has a hotdog and is standing around the horseshoe pit. They play good time rock n’ roll that should induce more sing-a-longs and hand claps, but we’ll just have to wait for their record to drop. They got some help from Matt from RANA on the keys for a few songs. He always adds a nice layer to their Americana Indie rock. Anyway, I don’t know what’s next for them, but keep your ears peeled because everyone should see these kids.

Christina, Stevo, Maggie and I made a hasty exit following the show. We cruised over to 2A where Donovan was tending bar. We had drinks while talking about jean bulges, words that disgust us and the Christina’s dorky tendencies. As the night pressed on, we were joined by Builder, Becky, Christina and the Birthday Girl, Allie. Around midnight Builder and I put an ax through the evening and shot back to 186. A nice little Tequila Tuesday indeed.

posted by jayloose at 11:25 AM 3 comments   

Time To Rethink Your Strategy.
Last weekend fell flat on its face. It all began with a shift at the Bowery for the Kaiser Chiefs show that also featured Morningwood and Johnny Lives. Everything went according to plan and the work hardly had that feel of being work. Paul was in the club pimping Capitol’s Morningwood to some press people, but he managed to keep me company for a good part of the evening. Once they closed the 2nd door, I cruised downstairs for a drink before running up to the main floor to catch the last few songs of The Kaiser Chiefs. This show left me with the same feeling as their show at Mercury. It was nothing spectacular musically, but the boys get by on some serious charisma and bouncy pop sing-a-longs to which I’ve yet to learn the words. Sarah and I danced around in the back as they blasted through a song that straight ripped from Pennywise’s epic tribute track Bro Hymn. After the last note, I grabbed my gear and hit the streets.

There were two stops to make before my tired ass could get to bed. The first was at Orchard Bar where Ashley was having her birthday party. She was properly sauced as was the rest of the Dirty Jerz crew. Cara, Kat, Chuck and I sat on a bench while Paul jumped around like a possessed drunk man who just finished the last of his PCP. Despite this, he still beat me in the race to wake up on Saturday morning. After a drink or two, I cruised by the Mercury Lounge to catch the last couple songs of the Dead Meadow set. This Washington D.C. based quartet blasts out some heavy rock like no other. In my mildly inebriated state of mind, I found myself closing my eyes and getting lost in their lush psychedelic style. They are definitely one of my favorite stoner rock bands and they deserve more attention as they continue to expand their catalog. My evening ended when after watching Macchia dance around like a wild monkey, Beach and I Culkined Dan which provided him with the outlet to toss a beer in my face. My soaked body scored some pizza and passed out.

Saturday was a bit of a nothing kind of day. It began with a Loose Meeting at 186 followed by a shift at Webster Hall for the New Found Glory (Hole) show. Though I wasn’t looking forward to this show, it was a lot easier than I’d expected. The little punk rock kids were quite docile and nice to this grumpy old door man. Have you heard about the incident at the club? I was already finished by the time the NYFD showed up, so there is no comment from this guy. After the show I stopped into Daylen’s place where she was watching the game with Oveis and Beach. We ordered some Thai food and had a laugh when I tried on the bunny costume. By 9pm I was back home weighing the options for the rest of the evening. Against my better judgment, I pulled the plug on the evening when Builder, Alister, Elise and Howerton egged me into a game of Risk. Let’s just say I made those kids my bitches. Yes, that’s right. I dominated the world. Don’t test my skills because my geek factor registers mighty high on any scale.

Kiss My Tail Bitches.
Sunday was another waste of a day. It began with brunch at the General Store with Oveis, Hawkins and Builder. We returned to the apartment for some recreational activities and a leaf through the Sunday Times. We watched UNC hold strong against Wisconsin. Later that afternoon we traded Hawkins for a hungover Dana. She joined us for a fantastic contest between Michigan State and Kentucky that included one of the most clutch shots my eyes have ever seen. As we crossed over into the evening hours, Oveis headed back to Washington D.C. while the rest of us munched on Café Juanita and watched Arrested Development.

Around 9:30pm I got the call. It was time for me to meet Beach at the Mercury. A while back he asked me what it would take for me to dress like the Easter Bunny for the Peelander-Z show, and my reply was simply, “rent the costume and feed me tons of tequila.” Let’s just say mission accomplished. The funniest part about hanging around the Mercury Lounge in a full body bunny costume is that few people even care. Even when I was outside to get some air, passerbies didn’t pay me any mind. I guess it’s just the nature of the city. We were joined throughout the evening by Daylen, Lucy, Cara, Denise, Mia, Gigs, Zaina, Builder, Graeme and Hawkins. The tequila flowed like water and by the time Electric Eel Shock came on, this bunny was roasted. Halfway through their set, Beach grew impatient with my abstaining from any sort of stage appearance. He ordered me to the load in room where he took the costume from me and proceeded directly to the stage leaving me in the main room in my underwear. Yes, I was in the club in a t-shirt and boxers for a good 15 minutes. At this point I took the knock out punch from my 400th tequila shot. It sealed the deal on another Easter.

When Mother Nature decides to piss rain all day, it calls for a sick day. Not feeling 100% by the time I rolled out of bed, it became clear a sick day was my only option. By noon I managed to wiggle out of bed only to find Graeme on the couch. We popped into 7A for a bit of food with Hawkins before returning home so Graeme could beef up his Ipod before making his return trip to London. It’s was great seeing the kid and it was even sadder seeing him go. I wish he could be one of my full time solids, but at this point I’ll take what’s given and thank the stars we came to be friends. The rest of my day was spent doing Loose Record work and watching episodes of Law and Order. Builder eventually showed up to keep me company as Monday faded away.

Little Pieces. Tiny Thoughts.
***Wow. If you follow the blogsphere, then you’ve probably seen something in regards to Brandon Flowers’ comments about The Bravery. Flowers is the front man for the Las Vegas bread rock band, The Killers. After reading this, I can’t help but laugh. Who the fuck does this guy think he is? I’m not a fan of either band, but Flowers has some serious balls to call another band out on being unoriginal. He has even bigger balls in saying that without The Killers there would be no Bravery. Brandon, you douche bag of a twat, you didn’t start anything. You’re only contributing to its end. Get down off your pedestal because the 14 year old girls holding it up are looking tired.

***Are your bank accounts ready for some New Order tickets? The Pre-sale for the May 5th show at Hammerstein Ballroom begins March 31st at 9am, (check KROCK for information). They will open to the public on April 1st at 11am. The tickets are $47.50 a pop plus probably another $7 or $8 in bitchmaster charges. I know it doesn’t matter for most, and it shouldn’t matter to me, but that is just too steep for a single show. In any event I’m sure it will sellout quickly so buy your tickets ASAP. In other New Order news, though I’ve already posted it, here are a few more formats of their single, Krafty from their upcoming release Waiting for the Sirens’ Call that has an April 26 American street date.

New Order’s Krafty Video: Windows Low / Med / High / Super; Quicktime

New Order’s Krafty Audio: Windows Low / High; Quicktime

***V2 has announced the release date for the next White Stripes album. On June 14th the last living guitar hero and his little pale sister will drop some serious blues all over our sun soaked faces. Bring it on. Speaking of releases today marks the street date for new offerings from Beck, Stereophonics and The Bravery. Check out the complete listing at Prefix.

*** See your favorite bands on the tele this week. Mark your calendar for: 3/29 Kings Of Leon on Leno [NBC]; 3/30 Kaiser Chiefs on Letterman [CBS]; 3/31 Jimmy Eat World on Leno [NBC]; 3/31 Kasabian on Kimmel [ABC]; 3/31 The Music on Last Call [NBC]; 4/2 The Killers on SNL [NBC].

*** Molesting Culkin. Yeah, you knew this was coming, (thanks Ms. Cruz).

***Before you even ask, this isn’t a Gorillaz fansite, but do love posting everything they put out because it’s always entertaining. Check out the video for the single, Feels Good Inc.. I’m not condoning drug use, at least not publicly, but this video looks even better after smoking a big joint. It’s another great track from a record that’s sure to be loved by old and new fans.

Gorillaz’s Feels Good Inc Video: Windows Low / High; Real Low / High

***As if you haven’t heard enough about the Cornerstone bands, here comes another Doves video. This time it’s a pretty rad EPK put together by the good people at Capitol records. It has a bunch of behinds the scenes footage and enough Doves goodness to last you for at least a week or two.

Doves EPK: Windows Low / Med / High; Real Low / Med / High; Quicktime Low / Med / High

*** Now go on and have yourself a laugh at Pat O'Brien's expense, (thanks Cara).

*** Also, its a bit early to get excited, but the Shout Out Louds are opening for The Dears on June 11th at The Bowery Ballroom.

posted by jayloose at 3:02 PM 0 comments   

We Missed You Sam Champion.

Have you been feeling empty the past couple weeks? Well, its time to let Sam Champion fill that hole. Sure, that imagery is a little graphic, but this announcement demands your attention. Our favorite local acts are beginning to take the stage following their SXSW induced New York hiatus. Tonight Sam Champion is playing the Mercury Lounge at 9pm between The Shore (8pm) and The Twinemen who feature the surviving members of Morphine. Noah, Jack, Ryan and Sean are back in town after a tour with RANA and a kick ass time in Austin. Help me welcome them back Tuesday, March 29th which coincidentally is a Tequila Tuesday.

posted by jayloose at 11:34 PM 0 comments   

What Would We Do Without Friends?
After a solid lunch at the Waverly Diner, Noah and I returned to my office to hang for a quick minute. Then I was graced by an IM message from Tumblehawk that read, “Best tattoo ever.” Not being one to pry, I deferred the chance to ask him how the hell he found this, but it does raise some questions. Anyway, this might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Sorry about making my site totally not safe for work, but this is a must see. Click this link. Don’t worry, it’s not too bad, but boy is it funny and completely mind boggling.

Tonight The Deli is throwing their 2nd Issue launch party at Sin-e. This issue will feature a page of bloggers hyping their favorite local acts, and you guessed it, I showed some love to the boys in Sam Champion, (who are playing this Tuesday @ Mercury). This party will surely be packed so stop in early if you get the chance. The bill includes sets by Nicole Atkins, Mudville, Hopewell, Hello Nurse and The Epochs. There is also a 2 for 1 special on Red Stripe from 8 to 10pm. You can check out The Deli and get all the information by visiting their website.

Sidenote: The Go! Team’s single, The Power Is On just played on WOXY and it just reminded me how disappointed I was by their show this week. It’s a damn shame. Thank god they saved face by following it with British Sea Power.

Tomorrow night Justin Carter and the New Release New York crew are throwing down another boogie down production at Asterisk* Art Project in Brooklyn. The party was featured in this weeks Flavorpill NY mailer by yours truly. Check out the listing for details along with this bitching flyer.

posted by jayloose at 1:43 PM 1 comments   

Pay Attention To The Details.
While working the Queens of the Stone Age show at Webster last night, I received a text from Dana that read, “Taped the OC! Soooo Good!” Thanks to Dana for keeping me in touch with this show. In my hasty exit from 186, I neglected to pop a tape in the VCR which could have meant back to back missed episodes. After the hectic show, I met with Dana, who was on her way home, for a quick handoff. It was time to catch up with Seth and the kids. There isn’t much to say about the episode except I’m sad to see the Julie Cooper porno storyline come to an end. The glaring element of this week’s episode was the music. The final credits exclaimed the episode featured music from LCD Soundsystem, Kasabian and Eagles of Death Metal. It’s as if the music director has my Ipod and is choosing my most played artists, (if my Ipod still works). The O.C. is playing more of my favorite music than MTV, (actually, what do I know? I haven’t had cable in 4 years). The point is, well, there is no fucking point. I’m just tired.

Break Up The Morning.
Recently a generous gent at V2 was kind enough to pass me some of the music they are releasing this month and in the weeks to come. As I said in an earlier post, the gem in this doughnut was the new Brendan Benson record, but there were others that are equally entertaining. Before I get to the other artists, check out the new video for Benson’s Spit It Out (Windows: low / med / high / super; Quicktime) which can be found on The Alternative To Love. Now girls, tell me this guy isn’t the cutest thing to ever come out of Detroit?

The Stereophonics are back and they’ve made a record I can actually enjoy. On Tuesday, they will release Language Sex Violence Other that includes the solid new single Dakota. Check out the video for Dakota and decide for yourself, (Windows: low / med / high / super; Quicktime). The three-piece constructed a melodic record that isn’t afraid to let its hair down. Give it a shot and if you need further proof, check this out.

On the final V2 tip, watch out for The Adored. It looks like V2 may have found themselves a Kaiser Chiefs or Futureheads, but with a bit more punk and a bit less art school. The few songs I received are definitely bedroom sing-a-longs, (read: catchy and fun). Though I don’t think they picked their best track for the single, check out TV Riot, (Windows: low / med / high / super; Quicktime). It’s like throwing early Manchester in a blender and splashing it with a bit of the East End then served the cocktail in the Hollywood Hills, (I don’t know what that meant, but it is something Graeme might say so eat me).

They have some more records coming out, but you don’t want me to comment on Moby. Let’s just say I’m not too fond of the chap. Mainly because he once claimed he hung out at Grassroot all the time, but we never saw the little elf in our favorite pub. He is a twat.

Lost Segment: Words From The Street.
*** New Order is a bunch of busy old men. Hopefully they don’t break a hip dancing around like farts, (they’ve always been so good at it). Here are their plans for their summer vacation. Unfortunately it doesn’t include an Alligator Alley, (those things were wicked).

*** This one is for Builder: Say goodbye to The Get Up Kids on June 24th @ Webster Hall. This tour will be your last opportunity to see the emo juggernauts play live as they plan to break up following the tour. My heart is bleeding on my black hooded sweatshirt.

*** In other News: Mariah Carey is a rich cunt.

*** In other Cunt News: Ian Brown is final realizing his shitty solo live shows won’t get him very far.

*** More proof that the new Gorillaz album is going to be huge. Pitchfork loves their new single Feels Good, Inc., and Pitchfork is definitely the leader of our pack, (is he serious).

*** Dick in the mouth. Dick in the mouth. Dick in the mouth. Dick in the mouth. That’s all I can think of when she talks.

This Looks Mega-Interesting.
Cara just sent me an email for this panel next week at Columbia:

Noise from Underground:
Pop Criticism and Cred in the Era of MP3s, Zines, and Blogs
March 29, 2005; 6:30 pm

Columbia University
Graduate School of Journalism Lecture Hall, Third Floor
116th Street and Broadway
Admission free

STREAMING AUDIO AND MP3S ARE TRANSFORMING POP MUSIC, from indie-rock to hip hop. But what about those newly minted Web zines, blogs, and alt glossies poking into every nook and cranny of the music world? While the mainstream seems content to leaf through Rolling Stone and channel surf from MTV to VH1, these do-it-yourself publishing channels are busy creating a bewildering amount of chatter about music and contemporary culture.

These days, every aspiring pop critic can create his or her own soapbox. The resulting atmosphere is as fragmented as it is high-speed: A blogger shows up at a club, orders a beer, and reviews a show in real time. New trends break at a faster clip than ever before. How can anyone keep up? And which critical voice do you trust?

For the independent publisher, the zinester, the online gawker, the vintage vinyl collector, or the unknown turntablist, credibility remains the coin of the realm. Cred, after all, is what makes the underground so underground. But do these new voices ever permeate the mainstream? Are they gunning to take over? Are they speaking a new language of pop criticism? Or merely talking among themselves?

Bringing together writers, editors, and musicians, “Noise from Underground” is a welcome conversation about the present-day pop criticism whirlwind -- and whether cred is even cool anymore.

Moderator: Sasha Frere Jones, pop music critic, The New Yorker

Panelists: Watch for details on panel makeup, which will include critics, ‘zine editors, bloggers, musicians and observers both underground and mainstream.

Tunde Adebimpe, musician, TV on the Radio (Touch and Go Records)
Anthony DeCurtis, contributing editor, Rolling Stone; executive editor, Tracks; editor of "Present Tense: Rock & Roll and Culture" and author of "Rocking My Life Away"

Amy Phillips, blogger, More in the Monitor
Knox Robinson, editor in chief, The Fader
Brandon Wall, editor in chief, Prefix
Michael Azerrad, author of “Our Band Could Be Your Life” and editor in chief, emusic.com

Now go forth and purchase Weezer tickets!

posted by jayloose at 9:49 AM 4 comments   

Feel Like Myself Again.
Are you trying to map out the coming weekend? Are you coming to the New Found Glory show on Saturday at Webster, (I kid)? If not, you should plan to stop by the Mercury Lounge for one of the two sets by The Section Quartet who are a strings outfit from Los Angeles. Why you ask? Because it’s something different and we can only hear so much guitar driven post/garage/indie rock. They’re good enough to have backed up some of our favorites such as Wilco on the Tonight Show. Last time they passed through New York they played Radiohead’s OK Computer. During the early show you can expect to hear Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. The late show is billed as “From Zeppelin to Radiohead,” but you’ll also hear songs from Muse, Buckley, Queens of the Stone Age, Tool and Yeah Yeah Yeahs to name a few. After tonight’s QOTSA won’t you be dying to hear No One Knows on a violin and cello?

If you weren’t lucky enough to score a QOTSA ticket for tonight’s show at Webster Hall, then you should check out Demander at The Delancey who share the bill with the 11 piece Australian band called Starky. They were recently added to Universal’s which everyone is unhappy with these days, (pay to play your videos on my blog?) but they are putting out the next Weezer album so I’m still happy.

As reported on More Cowbell, Bright Eyes will play five nights at Webster Hall. On May 21st – 25th the professional crooner will bring his melodies and mopes to the stage for what is sure to be a handful of sold out shows. The Faint will pull Flaming Lips style double time by backing Connor along with Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs fame. Get there early to work up a sweat for The Faint who will serve as openers. This means you’ll need to stay extremely hydrated. Between all the sweating and crying, we don’t need people passing out from the heat.

In more Gorillaz news, (did I mention the track Dirty Harry will flip your funky shit?) you can now stream their first single from the upcoming Demon Days. Check out Feels Good Inc. (Windows Media / Real) to see if they are living up to the massive hype train that is pulling out of the station. If you aren’t familiar with the cartoon rockstars, you can get acquainted through the use of this bitching electronic comic book. Even if you don’t like the band, check this out because it’s a really interesting concept that I’ve yet to see.

A few other notes about some upcoming shows: Productshop claims the May 5th date set for New Order now has a venue. The boys will play Hammerstein Ballroom, (couldn’t find confirmation, but I’ll take his word for it). If you didn’t get your Weezer tickets yet, the public sale begins tomorrow (Friday) at noon. The Hold Steady have been added to the April 5th lineup at the Bowery that includes The Eagles of Death Metal, (Tickets) and British Sea Power has added a second night on May 15th because the previous evening has already sold out, (Tickets).

On the heals of their debut release, Silent Alarm, that clogged record store shelves beginging Tuesday, Bloc Party announced plans for their next single, Banquet. The release will come in three different formats: 1. CD that will include a Peel Session version of Compliments, 2. DVD that will include a Peel Session version of So Here We Are and videos for Banquet and Little Thoughts, 3. 7inch that will include a b-side Peel Session version of Tulips. Expect more noise to come around the April 25th scheduled release.

The Tripwire reports the WHFS Festival will continue this summer despite the tanking of its namesake radio station. Thanks to some help from AOL the festival will take place on May 14th and has been moved to Baltimore. The bill boasts Interpol, New York Dolls, Muse, Social D, Garbage, The Bravery and Billy Idol. I don’t know how much these tickets will cost, but if it’s reasonable I might consider not going.

Sam Champion’s freshman record finally has a street date! Slow Rewind will hit shelves on July 26th thanks to the good folks at Razor and Tie. For those of you who need a Culkin, it’s a Tuesday. Records come out on Tuesdays. Speaking of Tuesdays, stop by the Mercury Lounge next Tuesday (March 29th) to catch a set by the band along with The Shore and The Twinemen (ex-Morphine).

Life Of Little Accomplishment.
Something Whitney quipped last week has struck a chord as I glanced over a former editor’s work on the internet. Whit claimed he “Couldn’t wait to forget his kids when he went to pick them up at this ex-wife’s home.” Naturally he was joking, but the fear of getting older is starting to bother me more than usual. If you know me well, my intentions have never been to live past the ripe old age of 27, (my apologies to those of you who are offended by this quasi romantic notion). Live fast. Die young. Yes, I’m littered with cliché, but it doesn’t seem to bother me. As my day job grows increasing frustrating, my mind scrambles for a bridge to deliver me from a position that stifles all creative urges. Should I quit this world of administration and attempt to freelance? Fear of further financial burden and lack of balls prevents me from taking this step. The question remains; if my life doesn’t change in the immediate future, is it doomed for all its waking hours? Regret will destroy me as skin loosens and teeth decay. The physical pain of poor arches and careless lifting won’t amount to the level of mental anguish waiting for me. Those facts of life are a bitch. This might be premature, but if I don’t worry about it, no one will.

Sorry, I just had to write something down as to not carry it with me all day.

posted by jayloose at 1:55 PM 0 comments   

Who Knew They Are So Loved?
Apparently everyone at The Bowery Presents knows. The Shins sold out two nights at Webster Hall in less than 24 hours. I had no idea something like this would happen. Sorry to everyone who got shut out. If I happen to hear anything floating around about a third night, (and I haven't heard a thing yet), I'll let you know. Those of you who were on the ball, get ready to buy me a drink on the 23rd. I'm so psyched The Shins wanted to play my birthday party, (just indulge me... ok?).

posted by jayloose at 9:55 AM 1 comments   

Queens of the Stone Age Tickets.
A little birdie just informed me that a few tickets for tomorrow night Queens of the Stone Age show were released on ticketweb. These won't last so stop by this link to purchase your tickets for what is sure to be a kick ass evening.

posted by jayloose at 7:00 PM 0 comments   

We’re Going Back In Time.
It’s been ages since my last rant on caravanning with my crew of dirty roustabouts so bare with this post. There will be hole, but I’ll do my best to fill them. I just said goodbye to the last of my company, and with that hope my life can return to some self centered normalcy. The ride began on Friday when none other than the Scottish Sensation known as Graeme showed up at my office. We decided drinks were in order so we stopped by Juanita’s for cheap margaritas ala Will. We returned to 186 for a bit of a hang before being joined by Whitney (Portland) and The Knowledgist (D.C.). After Syracuse took an early exit from the tournament, we strolled over to Crash Mansion for a set by Arbor Day. It’s too bad that Crash Mansion is such a weird venue because I could get used to an hour of free drinks followed by buckets of PBR, (7 cans for $10). Kyle said it best when after Arbor Day’s second song he shouted, “This place sucks,” at the top of his lungs. Leave it to Kyle to vocalize everyone’s thoughts.

The visitors and I ducked out during their last song and took a quick cab ride to 14th Street for a party in honor of Rebecca’s birthday. The party was packed full of younger kids since Rebecca lives with a bunch of 19 year olds. This didn’t bother us because it meant Mike would have a “Worm Off” with Rebecca’s little sister, (dance move not eatting contest). They cleared the room and wiggled across the floor in hilarious fashion as we sat back getting toasty. Eventually solids like Dan and Beach showed up which helped us turn the bitch out. At some point we slid over to Bar 119 on 15th Street where I made a scene at the pool table. Some kid accused me of stealing the cue ball off the table. After some honest denial, the kid got a bit pushy. Eventually I told him to fuck off so he got in my face. As we were about to make the step outside, his buddy pulled him away from the confrontation. This is when Whitney ducked into me and claimed that he totally had the cue ball the entire time. Thanks Whit, (jackass).

After a couple games of shitty pool, the boys and I hit the streets for some pizza and destruction. People should know not to leave florescent light bulbs out on a Friday night because a bunch of jackass kids will surely break them. Once we finished our light saber battles we returned to 186 for some shut eye.

Early Is An Understatement.
When I came to, it was 9am and my shoes were still on. Whitney was passed out next to me while the other chaps were strewn throughout the apartment. By 10am we had gathered in my room to devise a plan for the day. It started with some brunch at the General Store after a few failed attempts to eat elsewhere. We cruised up to Thompkins Square Park so Graeme could get some shots of the dog run before heading down to Nice Guy Eddies for a game of billiards and a couple beers. Jeff and Liz met up with us as we finished at the bar and spent the rest of the afternoon cruising around shopping. We were like a group of hokey tourists. A number of establishments were hit including Classic Kicks, Other Music, Tower Video, Transit, The Apple Store, Supreme Trading, American Apparel and The Vice Store. Following the marathon we set up base camp at Welcome to the Johnson’s. Their Saturday afternoon margaritas are becoming a favorite of mine.

After a rest and some showers, we decided to catch dinner at Crif Dog. Did you guys know Tony Hawk works at this weenie shop? I shit you not. Check it out and while you’re at it get a bacon wrapped hotdog and some tater tots. A quick Sparks session didn’t help my stomach, but the boys pressed on to the Mercury Lounge. Cara joined the crew of dudes that also included Justin who was at the club to see some brass band jam out. With a couple bevies floating in the belly, we hopped over to The Mud Spot where Kyle, Leah, Dan and a bunch of other Mudders were celebrating Ian’s birthday with cheap Magic Hat and some CCR. We had a beer or two before it got overly crowded inside and forced us to make a move.

The next stop was at our old college haunt, Grass Root Tavern on St. Marks Place. It’s always funny (weird not haha) to be back in the bar where so many nights were destroyed. During the middle years of higher education, you would have been hard pressed to stop into that bar and not find someone from the crew getting drunk on cheap pitches slung by Bob or Maria. We took some shots and got a bit randy before heading back to Johnson’s to close out our night in the same fashion as we started. This time we had Moser and Beach along for the ride that lasted till the lights came on and the bartenders threw us out. We all returned to 186 for a late night session that involved passing out while the party continued way past dawn.

The Pace Takes A Break.
Sunday began with Cara, Knowledge aka Bob Barker Jr., Whitness and I getting some breakfast at Odessa while Graeme was on a flight to Miami. I made the mistake of getting the Pierogies and Kielbasa for breakfast. Something I’d highly advise against. After breakfast Cara returned to the Dirty Jersey while Knowledgist snagged a bus back to the Capital City. Whitney and I decided it was Margarita Thirty so we picked up some mixers and went to Beach’s house for an afternoon of basketball and beverages. The tournament has been such a surprise this year. I can’t seem to figure out what’s going to happen, but with all the number one seeds still alive, it would be difficult to bet against them.

Once the buzzer rang on the final game, we met with Builder for some coconut shrimp at Boca Chica. He filled us in on the plus’s and minus’s of jolly old London. It’s too bad the dollar is getting hammered over there. A vacation to the U.K. would certainly break my slimmer than Kate Moss budget. After dinner we cruised back to 186 for an evening viewing of The Incredibles with Kyle and Mr. Frenchy who is back from his three week vacation to Paris. If you haven’t seen Pixar’s latest gem, do yourself a favor. It may be my favorite yet and with Jason Lee voicing the villain, how could you go wrong? A solid weekend was had by all who didn’t have the opportunity to rock out in Texas with the rest of the allstars.

Kicking Ass Without Taking Names.
Monday was a hellish workday, but that was easy to put behind me because it was also the same day I’d make my Mercury Lounge debut. Around 7pm Whit helped me pack up my gear and drag it over to the club. While The Big Sleep were busy checking, I hung outside with Greg who told me all about his latest creative endeavor as an MC for his new hip hop group Lawn Chair Gigolos, (sorry if that name isn’t 100% accurate). By 8pm Marc set me up and I was in the back playing to a sparsely populated back room that included Denise, Jin, Kyle, Beach, Daylen, Builder, Xtina, Tumblehawk, Lucy, Whitney and Dana. The nice part about having the familiar faces is the lessened pressure on my picks. Basically I played songs only Builder would love, but it seemed to keep everyone happy.

A bit after 9pm The Big Sleep took the stage and completely wowed the early crowd. They were loud. They were powerful. They were just as I remembered them from the first time I saw them except this time they were tighter. Saying this band is loud is a bit of an understatement. Their dirty boogie would strip the paint off of Graceland. The Big Sleep made it nearly impossible to stand still while they belted out some kick ass jams. They are definitely one of my top bands these days and thanks go out to Sonya for passing the word onto Danny that I was looking for a record. He hooked me up with a three song rough mix of their upcoming work, and it is simply fantastic. The guitar work, the drum beats, the break downs, the keys; everything they do impresses me.

Once they finished I was back to work playing some R.E.M., Pop Song 89 and Soul Asylum Somebody to Shove. My only slip came during this change over when I forgot about the abrupt ending to a Built to Spill song. The few seconds of silence weren’t very noticeable except by Whit and Dana who stood their laughing at me. I also played The Upwelling for Nora who showed up during the latter half of The Big Sleep. This is the point of the evening where lines start to blur thanks to tequila shots and tons of friends. I found myself smoking while The Mobius Band played the first half of their set. Upon my return, I was pleasantly surprised by the packed room and their solid electronic rock style. I’ve loved the Mobius Band for quite some time, but for some reason I couldn’t pay attention on Monday night.

As soon as they finished, I blasted Daft Punk’s Robot Rock, New Order’s Krafty and Gorillaz Dirty Harry in rapidfire succession. Those songs get me so amped. By the time The Go! Team took the stage the room was so packed it felt kind of ridiculous. In my highly intoxicated state, I became awfully nervous about someone nicking my disc’s so I stood guard while they kicked things off with Junior Kickstart. Though I was highly excited to finally see the band Kyle and I have been rocking for so long, I was a bit disappointed. First of all, Ninja needs a Culkin. She is their lead singer and though her enthusiasm is welcomed sometimes she needed to shut the fuck up. Additionally, I thought they would be a huge band with a horn section, but the horns were simply played in the mix from a CD or something. This was a bummer, but they still delivered a decent set to the hyped room. I played some more tracks following their set. The room eventually cleared and my drunk ass hit the pillow hard.

My apologies to Sal’s for ordering yet another one of your delicious pizza’s and falling asleep before it arrived.

Repeat Repeat Repeat.
Thinking ahead can be a godsend. On Tuesday I managed to sleep off my hangover thanks to my boss approving a vacation day a couple weeks ago. Whit and I wasted the early afternoon watching Shawn of the Dead which is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in years. You should all go out and rent this flick. Despite the gruesome nature of a zombie film, the picture is doused with one gut buster after the next. In an effort to enjoy some of the beautiful afternoon, we hit the streets around 3pm and stopped by the Mud Truck to say hello to Kyle before cruising around Union Square. We got back to 186 around 5pm and met with Kyle an hour later at Max’s for some dinner. Unfortunately that restaurant is bullshit. At 6pm on a Tuesday with the restaurant at less than 25% capacity, they sat the three of us at the smallest table possible next to one of the only other parties in the joint. When I asked for them to move us, they denied so we made a stink and bounced to Mary Ann’s for some stellar Mexican and margaritas.

Later that evening we stopped by The Mercury Lounge to catch the tail end of a set by the U.K. (thanks for the correction) five-piece that goes by the name of Pure Reason Revolution. Yes, I know the name is a bit of a wank-a-thon, but they were fucking amazing. It was grunge inspired hard rock that had some heavy melodies and some interesting vocal harmonies. Oh, they also have a super cute singer who looks like she should live on the coolest street in Williamsburg.

Beach, Whit and I hustled out of the club and were picked up by Daylen in a cab that took us to the Knitting Factory where Fred Armisen was in the middle of his standup set. There wasn’t a lot to laugh about, but his video at SXSW was hilarious especially when he commented about a shooting in Arkansas. Ok, so that didn’t make sense, but if you saw the footage you would have burst. He also did a funny impression of Sadam as Johnny Rotten, but it didn’t make me want to see him again.

A special thanks goes out to Mr. Lordz for hooking me up with a chance to see the best Portland band since Stephen Malkmus took residence in New York. The Thermals took the stage and blasted out nearly an hour of some of the fastest, catchiest rock songs around. They don’t waste any time getting through their set. Stage banter is kept to all time low with simple thanks dished out in between songs. They played a mix of old and new songs all of which I sang along to much like my sister at a New Kids On the Block concert. They also played two or three new songs that were a bit different (read: slower tempo) than all of their other material, but they still delivered the same punch as tracks like Everything’s Thermals, It’s Trivia, Brace and Break, Back to Gray, Every Stitch, How We Know, Sladyk In The Box and my personal favorite A Stare Like Yours. They even played a gracious three song encore during which I found myself bopping around with Mina and Anne. They are so much fun even if Hutch is crossing over into hippy land. We finished the evening plotting to Culkin David Cross, but it never seemed to happen so we finished our PBR’s and hit the road.

Broke Like Me? Then Enter.
Yesterday a couple solid records hit the shelves of your favorite record store. First the loveable singer song writer Brendan Benson released The Alternative To Love on V2 and believe me when I say this record is unbelievable. It is in the same fashion of his other records, but his ability continues to shine. He celebrated with an instore at Other Music, but we missed it because of raspberry margaritas. There are still a few tickets available for his April 15th show at The Bowery so purchase them while you can.

Vice Records is the proud parent of Bloc Party’s full-length debut, Silent Alarm that dropped yesterday. Put a hold on all your plans and go buy this record. It’s amazing. No joke. You can’t help but love it. Fuck the haters. If the kids can keep this up, they’ll outlast the hype train now crowded by the likes of The Bravery, Maximo Park and whatever other weekly specials emerge from the ashes of SXSW.

One last thing before I close the books on this gigantic post. Cornerstone and Universal are having a contest to win a free trip to see Razorlight at Coachella. Even if you aren’t a huge Razorlight fan, toss your name in the hat and try to win this round trip for two to the desert for the weekend festival. If you pass it on to friends and they enter, then you’ll be entered again. Spread this contest more than your last battle with crabs. More people will love you for this contraction.

posted by jayloose at 2:48 PM 7 comments   

posted by jayloose at 9:21 AM 4 comments   

See You There.

Weezer @ Roseland on May 11th & 12th

This makes my birthday present very easy.

posted by jayloose at 2:29 PM 0 comments