• Home
• Music
• Entertainment
• Design
• Books
• Technology
• Help/Environment
• Wellness
• Life Banter

Quickly, I'll tell you Say Anything is in the studio working on their next album, but for the life of me I really can't find out anymore information about it. Their poorly designed website has a video up on it, but the blurry, white on black text turned me off and so I didn't try to dig further.

*~*~*

Speaking to Rock Sound magazine recently, 30STM frontman Jared Leto revealed thoughts on giving away their third album: "Anything can happen, you never know what the future will hold. Maybe we will just throw our new album on the internet and see if anybody wants to take it. We have never made a penny from selling a record anyway so why would it matter to us?"

The band is currently going through a $30 million dollar lawsuit with their former record label.

I might be the only person who liked their first album, so I'll be staying posted on this third one.

*~*~*

And then I have some music to share with you this morning.

Woodpigeon - "Home As A Romanticized Concept Where Everyone Loves You Always And Forever" (mp3)

Explosions in the Sky - "Your Hand In Mine" (mp3)

Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears - "Bitch, I Love You" (mp3)

Enjoy!!!

Labels: 30 seconds to mars, Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears, explosions in the sky, music news, say anything, woodpigeon

Keith Urban, who is set to release his fifth studio album next month (March 31, 2009), has revealed the first round of dates for his upcoming "Escape Together World Tour." So far, the country star has 30 stops booked across the country through August, and the outing is expected to grow to more than 50 North American dates.

The artist will be joined by Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean and the Zac Brown Band on select tour dates.

A select number of seats on his Escape Together World Tour will be sold for $20 each, and the excess transaction fees for the bargain passes have been waived.

Keith says, "It's easy to see that people out there are hurting. And if these ticket prices can help some of them to let loose, forget about their daily grind and enjoy a night of music, then that's what we intend to give them and everyone else that comes out to our shows."

He'll be near me on August 1, 2009 at the Wachovia Center. =o)

May 7 - 8 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
May 9 University Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
May 15 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
May 28 Charleston, WV Charleston Civic Center
May 29 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Civic Center
May 30 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center Arena
June 5 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
June 6 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
June 7 Fort Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
June 11 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
June 13 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
June 17 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center
June 18 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
June 19 Raleigh, NC RBC Center
June 27 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
June 28 Moline, IL i wireless Center
July 9 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
July 10 Wichita, KS Kansas Coliseum
July 11 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
July 15 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
July 19 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
July 25 Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena
July 31 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
August 1 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
August 8 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
August 13 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena
August 14 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
August 18 Hershey, PA Giant Center
August 21 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
August 27 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena

The tour continues this summer with a final performance on August 27th at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, NC. About 20 additional North American dates are expected to be announced shortly.

Labels: concert, Keith Urban, music news

The Langerado Music Festival is upping its game. While it has been a significant festival the last several years, this year's line up seems more diverse and an attempt to push Langerado into the upper festival echelon. Modest Mouse is the latest addition to the annual Florida gathering joining Snoop Dogg, Death Cab for Cutie, Ryan Adams and The Cardinals as some of the marquee names.

The lineup so far, includes:
Death Cab For Cutie • Snoop Dogg • Modest Mouse • Thievery Corporation (Live) • Slightly Stoopid • Ryan Adams and the Cardinals • Dashboard Confessional • The Pogues • Matisyahu • Flogging Molly • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Broken Social Scene • Cafe Tacuba • Umphrey's McGee • The Disco Biscuits • Robert Randolph & The Family Band • Pepper • The Faint • Cold War Kids • Steel Pulse • Public Enemy • Gym Class Heroes • Tricky • Gene Ween Band • Girl Talk • Chromeo • Mute Math • Bad Brains • Ozomatli • Against Me! • George Clinton & Parliament / Funkadelic • Tortoise • DeVotchKa • Black Kids • Deerhunter • Grupo Fantasma • Holy F*ck • Budos Band • Tokyo Police Club • Lotus • The Virgins • The Gaslight Anthem • King Khan and the Shrines • Lucero • Alberta Cross • Murs • Ra Ra Riot • Tortured Soul • Rebelution • K'Naan • The Egg • Zac Brown Band • Tigercity • The Aggrolites • Cloud Cult • Spam Allstars • Rachel Goodrich • Blue King Brown • The Heavy Pets • Awesome New Republic • The Postmarks • Suenalo • Live Painting by LEBO

Langerado Greening Initiative:

- Bio-Diesel Fueled Generators & Light Towers
- Extensive Recycling Program for all Materials On Site
- Greenerado Eco-Village
- Recycled products used by vendors
- Sustainable Catering Practices
- Green Sponsors
- Carbon OffSet Program
- Organic Merchandise Options
- Artist Participation

Besides some new names, there is also a new location. This year Langerado moves to Bicentennial Park in Miami on March 6, 7 and 8th. Tickets are on sale now.

Labels: Langerado Music Festival, music news

M83 and the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform a co-headlining concert that pairs the orchestra and M83's chief star-gazer Anthony Gonzalez in a program that features individual performances, as well as M83's debut performance with an orchestra. This one-night-only concert, held on Saturday, March 7, at 9 p.m., also marks M83's debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Julian Kuerti, Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducts.

I wrote up a complete article at PoshMama on the latest from M83.

*~*~*

Ben Kweller is proud to announce the premiere of his new music video for "Fight" on MySpace Music today, Thursday, January 29. As one of the highlight tracks from his soon-to-be released ATO Records album "Changing Horses," "Fight" is an upbeat representation of the album's musical craftsmanship, a body of work saturated in Country music influences and the kind of poignant songwriting one is to expect from the seasoned musician. The music video for "Fight" is a good-natured clip that illustrates exactly the lengths one will go for their buddies in a pinch. Check out the video below.



*~*~*


Ray LaMontagne announced his first North American tour dates of 2009 today starting April 2 at the Wellmont in Montclair, NJ and ending April 30 in Miami at the Fillmore @ Jackie Gleason. The tour is LaMontagne's second in support of his latest album Gossip In The Grain which achieved the Maine singer-songwriter's highest chart number debuting at #3 on Billboard Charts its week of release. The album was a huge digital sensation being the top selling album on iTunes that first week.

For Ray LaMontagne tickets benefiting The National Children's Cancer Society, please visit www.Tickets-for-Charity.com or call 1-866-567-4576.

Labels: ben kweller, m83, music news, Ray LaMontagne

Being misquoted, misunderstood and taken out of context is one of the most definite things to occur in the media world. And unfortunately, this normally leaves an opening for idiotic and ignorant people to prey upon the situation and start trouble like a bunch of ego maniac and pompous teenagers.

Blender magazine has stooped to this absurd high school level in a recently published interview regarding Alicia Keys. While I'm not Ms. Keys biggest fan, I do think she is one of the most talented pianists out there today and I am in awe each time I see her play.

So I thought, rather than continue to bash Blender, I would print her response to the absurd interview printed in Blender.

"Anyone who knows me and my character, knows that I am not a conspiracy theorist or, by implication, a racist. My comments about 'gangsta rap' were in no way trying to suggest that the government is responsible for creating this genre of rap music. The point that I was trying to make was that the term was over-sloganized by some of the media causing reactions that were not always positive. Many of the 'gangsta rap' lyrics articulate the problems of the artists' experiences and I think all of us, including our leaders, could be doing more to address these problems including drugs, gang violence, crime, and other related social issues.


Additionally, regarding the AK-47 reference, AK-47 is a nickname given to me by some of my friends in jest, as an acronym for Alicia Keys and a metaphor for wowing people with my music and performances, "killing 'em dead" on stage. The reference was in no way meant to have a literal, political or negative connotation."

The recent implications about me are too radical and too dramatic a departure from whom I have continually demonstrated myself to be. I work so hard and give so much of myself to bring about positive change to this world, and I only wish those efforts received as much press and attention as the misinterpretations of the Blender article."

To further state for the record and every pointing finger out there. I don't give a hoot what y'all think or say or roll your eyes about in regards to this post. I do not and will not stand for anything remote defaming, especially something so out landish.

Labels: Alicia Keys, interview, music news

Capitol/EMI announces the June 3 U.S. release of Radiohead: The Best Of. The band's first ever career retrospective, to be made available both physically and digitally, Radiohead: The Best Of brings together the singles, key album tracks and live favorites spanning the band's entire Parlophone Records and Capitol Records career.

Radiohead: The Best Of (standard)
1. Just
2. Paranoid Android
3. Karma Police
4. Creep
5. No Surprises
6. High and Dry
7. My Iron Lung
8. There There
9. Lucky
10. Optimistic
11. Fake Plastic Trees
12. Idioteque
13. 2+2 = 5
14. The Bends
15. Pyramid Song
16. Street Spirit (Fade Out)
17. Everything In Its Right Place


Radiohead: The Best Of (Special Edition 2CD)

Disc 1
1. Just
2. Paranoid Android
3. Karma Police
4. Creep
5. No Surprises
6. High and Dry
7. My Iron Lung
8. There There
9. Lucky
10. Optimistic
11. Fake Plastic Trees
12. Idioteque
13. 2+2 = 5
14. The Bends
15. Pyramid Song
16. Street Spirit (Fade Out)
17. Everything In Its Right Place

Disc 2
1. Airbag
2. I Might Be Wrong
3. Go To Sleep
4. Let Down
5. Planet Telex
6. Exit Music (For A Film)
7. The National Anthem
8. Knives Out
9. Talk Show Host
10. You
11. Anyone Can Play Guitar
12. How To Disappear Completely
13. True Love Waits [recorded live in Oslo, 2001; previously released on I
Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings]


Radiohead: The Best Of (4-piece vinyl set)

Disc 1: Side 1
1. Just
2. Paranoid Android
3. Karma Police
4. Creep

Disc 1: Side 2
1. No Surprises
2. High and Dry
3. My Iron Lung
4. There There

Disc 2: Side 1
1. Lucky
2. Fake Plastic Trees
3. Idioteque
4. 2+2 = 5

Disc 2: Side 2
1. The Bends
2. Pyramid Song
3. Street Spirit (Fade Out)
4. Everything In Its Right Place

Disc 3: Side 1
1. Airbag
2. I Might Be Wrong
3. Go To Sleep

Disc 3: Side 2
1. Let Down
2. Planet Telex
3. Exit Music (For A Film)

Disc 4: Side 1
1. The National Anthem
2. Knives Out
3. Talk Show Host

Disc 4: Side 2
1. You
2. Anyone Can Play Guitar
3. How To Disappear Completely
4. True Love Waits [recorded live in Oslo, 2001; previously released on I
Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings]

Labels: music news, Radiohead

Straight from their website we have the latest and greatest news of one of my favorite bands ever, The National.

NEW SHOWS:
+ May 11 - Aula Magna - Lisbon, Portugal
+ May 12 - Olympia Theatre - Dublin, Ireland (Third + FINAL show added!)
+ August 11 - Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark

NEW FESTIVAL ANNOUCEMENTS:
+ T in the Park, Scotland: July 11-13
+ Benicassim, Spain: July 17-20
+ Haldern Pop Festival, Germany: Aug 2-4
+ Oya Festival, Norway: Aug 5-9
+ Way Out West Festival, Sweden: Aug 8-9

Being the loving people that they are they also wanted fans to know Bryce Dessner will be performing two shows with Glenn Kotche (from Wilco) at The Kitchen in NYC, March 13 + 14th.

Listen:
The National - "Slow Show"

Buy the Boxer album! (It's perfect, every track, trust me!)

Labels: music news, The National

We don't know everyone involved yet, but we do know some of the people who will be at Coachella this April and you can read it here. It sounds like it is going to be flippin' amazing!

Here is a list of just some of the artists who will be rocking out:

FRIDAY, APRIL 25: Jack Johnson, The Verve, Raconteurs, The Breeders, Fatboy Slim, Tegan and Sara, Madness, The Swell Season, The National, Animal Collective, Slightly Stoopid, Mum, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Stars, Battles, Aesop Rock, Midnight Juggernauts, Does it Offend you, Yeah?, Minus the Bear, Spank Rock, dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Diplo, Adam Freeland, Santo Gold, Jens Lekman, John Butler Trio, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Sandra Collins, Busy P, Cut Copy, Black Lips, Datarock, Professor Murder, Reverend and the Makers, The Bees, Porter, Rogue Wave, Modeselektor, American Bang, Lucky I Am.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26: Portishead, Kraftwerk, Death Cab for Cutie, Cafe Tacuba, Sasha & Digweed, Rilo Kiley, Dwight Yoakam, M.I.A., Hot Chip, Cold War Kids, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, DeVotchKa, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Turbonegro, Scars on Broadway, Islands, Enter Shikari, Calvin Harris, Boyz Noize, Junkie XL, Cinematic Orchestra, Jamie T, The Teenagers, VHS or Beta, Carbon/silicon, Erol Alkan, Yo Majesty!, Little Brother, Bonde Do Role, St. Vincent, Akron Family, MGMT, Institubes DJs (Surkin, Para One and Orgasmic), James Zabiela, Sebastian, Kavinsky, Dredg, The Bird and the Bee, Grand Ole Party, New Young Pony Club, 120 Days, Yoav, Electric Touch, Uffie

SUNDAY, APRIL 27: Roger Waters (“Dark Side of the Moon”), Love & Rockets, My Morning Jacket, Spiritualized, Justice, Gogol Bordello, Chromeo, The Streets, Metric, Danny Tenaglia, Simian Mobile Disco, Booka Shade, Murs, Dmitri from Paris, Autolux, The Field, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Les Savy Fav, The Cool Kids, Sons & Daughters, Sia, Holy Fuck, Black Kids, Black Mountain, The Annuals, Kid Sister w/A-Trak, Man Man, Duffy, I'm from Barcelona, Manchester Orchestra, Deadmau5, The Horrors, Austin TV, Shout Out Louds, Plastiscines, Brett Dennen

It is held at Empire Polo Field in California.

SOURCE

Labels: Coachella, music news

The B-52's, pioneering dance-rock stars, are exploding on the scene once again with the February 26th, 2008 release of Funplex, the band's first studio album in 16 years.

Hehehehe.

I can just imagine it now. No seriously I am looking forward to this album. I think it might end up being refreshing if not VERY interesting.

Guitarist Keith Strickland explains, "It's loud, sexy rock and roll for your pleasure zones, with the beat pumped up to hot pink."

I can't say you heard it hear first, but I hope you did. When I get more news I'll let ya know.

THE B-52'S 'FUNPLEX' TRACK LIST
1. Pump
2. Hot Corner
3. Ultraviolet
4. Juliet Of The Spirits
5. Funplex
6. Eyes Wide Open
7. Love In The Year 3000
8. Deviant Ingredient
9. Too Much To Think About
10. Dancing Now
11. Keep This Party Going

Love shack, that's where it's at...

Labels: B-52, music news

Starting on September 1st at the Minneapolis, MN Soap Factory, Sleeping in the Aviary will be touring the US throughout mid-October.

Their debut album released in February, Oh, This Old Thing? and has proven they deserve national acclaim. But in more recent news, band member Elliott, has composed a spacey collection of songs which he recorded himself at home over the last few years entitled "She is so Beautiful/She is so Blonde." Copies will be ready by the time they head out on tour. Some copies will be for sale, but an official release date has not yet been scheduled.

SITA - "Another Girl" (mp3)

Labels: music news, Sleeping in the Aviary

Every ones favorite British sardonic rock band teams up with every ones favorite Brooklyn-based bar band to create a night of rockin' debauchery throughout the US.

After a slew of US dates this September, Art Brut barely have time to rest and will set out across America with The Hold Steady on NME's "Rock 'N' Roll Riot Tour 2007".

---AND---

The release of Matt Costa's second album, Unfamiliar Faces, has been changed to January 15, 2008, which will be supported by a headlining tour early in the year. In the meantime fans can catch Costa when he joins Modest Mouse on select US tour dates over the next month.

Matt Costa - "Sunshine" (mp3)

Labels: Art Brut, Matt Costa, music news

Seems like Lily Allen is constantly getting in trouble.

Her US visa cancelled after being held at a US airport, locked in a cell and strip searched. Oh gracious! She flew in from Australia for the MTV video music awards and was taken into an interrogation room for questioning on an arrest from March...? I'm not sure that seems kosher, but I wasn't there so what can I say?

"I am trying everything I can to sort this out. I don't like letting my fans down," explained Allen. "It is my intention to play my American dates in September. This depends on authorities granting me a new work visa."

I wonder how long it will take to sort this out.

Labels: Lily Allen, music news

In case you didn't see yesterday, The Goo Goo Dolls have posted their track "Fiction (Before It's Too Late)" from "The Transformers soundtrack" on their MySpace page. Seems that some people aren't too thrilled with it, but I really like it.

Secondly, it is finally Friday and boy what a week it has been.

And I am exhausted!

So here are some sleepy-themed songs for you.

Something For Kate - "Song For A Sleepwalker" (mp3)
The Cardigans - "03.45: No Sleep" (mp3)
I'm From Barcelona - "Oversleeping" (mp3)

And the adorable sleepy time image is from a brilliant digital illustrator shiii-kun.

Labels: music, music news

It's lunch time. So I thought I'd include some music fun on my break.

Two new articles up on Spacelab for you to check out.

This is about the new Okkervil album:
Okkervil River Brings Us The Stage Names

And this is kind of "a big deal" piece for me:
Amazon.com Makes Bold DRM-free Move

So that is exciting news.

You can also head over to Indie Music Xposed to read up on Mach Schau and White Rabbits while also perusing other news and listening to emerging new artists music.

I've been listening to "Boys Like Girls" a lot lately. Their self-titled album came out on August 22, 2006 and clearly I missed it then, but am so up to speed now.

Their song "Thunder" is my current favorite. Specifically for these lyrics:

I dont wanna ever love another
Youll always be my thunder
So bring on the rain

But also because the whole vibe from the song is perfect.

Martin Johnson, John Keefe, Bryan Donahue and Paul DiGiovanni are from Boston, MA. They kind of sound like Dashboard Confessionals or Saves the Day; both of which I love so this is a compliment I assure you.

They are currently on tour with "Hellogoodbye" and then they will be on the road for the Vans Warped Tour all the way through the end of August.

Take a listen:
Boys Like Girls - "Thunder" (mp3)

Labels: music, music news

I recently had the pleasure of writing about two upcoming summer tours for Spacelab. Make sure to head over to their site to check them out!

Tegan and Sara's Summer Tour to Support album THE CON

Hot Summer Tour: Fiery Furnaces

Bestival Sells Out After Adding New Acts

Labels: music news

I'm not one to gossip, in fact I think it's just awful.

However, Pela sent out a note to fans and writers to let them know about a bad experience they had at a venue called "Sweet Jane's" in Hartford. Now, I love Pela, I think their music is fantastic, they seem like a good group of guys and I've promoted their latest album when I have the chance because I think it's good music.

So to hear that the owner of a venue could be so harsh and rude to their guests, not to mention their entertainment...well...it irritates me to say the least.

There is always two sides to every story, but to back-up Pela I'm sending out the message they wanted you to hear. If you want to contact the owner you can e-mail him.

So in case you're hoping to play a show for Hartford nightlife, you may want to let your manager know to bypass the Sweet Jane's venue...

Labels: music news

Velvet Revolver will be releasing an EP Harmony And The Tyranny this June. It will feature two tracks from their new album "Libertad" (will be out on July 3rd) plus a cover of "Talking Heads" "Psycho Killer" and a video on the making of the album. Sounds pretty rocking to me!

Tracks for you until then:
Velvet Revolver - "Set Me Free" (mp3)

Labels: music news

We now know the offical track listing of Ryan Adams' upcoming album Easy Tiger. The album will release on June 26th and I'm pretty excited. The only bad thing I've got to say is I don't know why he has Sheryl Crow on two tracks. Bleck! I guess I shouldn't diss her just because she is a homewrecker though, she does have a nice edgy voice that I am sure will compliment the album very well. And hey, we all screw up from time to time, right? Right.

So here is the track list:

"Goodnight Rose"
"Two"
"Everybody Knows"
"Halloweenhead"
"Oh My God, Whatever, Etc."
"Tears of Gold"
"The Sun Also Sets"
"Off Broadway"
"Pearls on a String"
"Rip Off"
"Two Hearts"
"Three Girls"
"I Taught Myself How To Grow Old"

And if you find yourself in Philly on May 15th head on over to the Keswick Theatre, because he'll be there jamming.

Until then, here are some tracks:
Ryan Adams - "Goodnight Rose" (live mp3)
Ryan Adams - "Rosalie Come and Go" (mp3)

Labels: music news

So I just heard back from the features editor of the Venus magazine.
And I have been picked to do a piece on The Noisettes!
It will be a phone interview some time the end of this month while they are touring with Bloc Party!

How psyched am I!?

I'll keep you posted and will definitely let you know when it publishes.

Labels: interview, music news

My two most recent articles have gone up on Spacelab's website.

Kemado Records Signs Another Gem: Marissa Nadler

and

Telepathe: On Tour With New 12" Record On The Social Registry

Be sure to check them out as well as the rest of the music news at Spacelab.

Labels: music news

Head on over to Spacelab.org to find out more of what's going on in the Indie world.

My latest article is posted today, about the Manchester International Festival, but you'll also find the latest on the White Stripes and the close of the Coachella Festival.

Labels: music news

Man have I been keeping busy!

And there are three new write-ups published at Spacelab.

The Feist Tour

Arts&Crafts Sign Los Campesinos!

Amandine : Solace In Sore Hands

AND

A new artist review at Indie Music Xposed:

Who is Ben Mitchell?

Labels: music, music news

Exciting news!

Indie Music Xposed has named me Head Writer and partial Admin of their site.
The editor even wrote up an article about it which is pretty cool.

I can't even tell you how awesome it is to be a part of that community. Anyone can sign up and contribute. And after we review what you wrote it will most likely make it on the site. So it's a great place to start writing and enjoying new music. Bands and labels are very welcome to send information and press kits in as well.

So thanks to Graydon for welcoming me aboard. It's great to be there!

Labels: music news

I recently have been given the chance to contribute writing to Spacelab.org.
It is unbelieveable to me and I am very excited at this opportunity.

My first published music news article in online their now. It has to do with the FCC's consent decree regarding payolo in the music industry.

So head on over to their site to check it out!

*****

And I am also now writing for Indie Music Xposed.
You can read my first review here.

Fun times!

Labels: music news, review