Fresh Bread

Photo Of The Day - Good Night, New York

Siren Fest Post Part II

More from Saturday's Village Voice Siren Music Festival at Coney Island

We Are Scientists

Village Voice Siren Music Festival - Coney Island 07.21.2007

The annual Village Voice Siren Music Festival in Coney Island was this past weekend.  I was on duty for the Voice, shooting the first three bands on the Main Stage.

Music Snobbery was there and promises that if you stay tuned he'll give you what no other blogger will.

More Siren reviews and pics here

The Twilight Sad

Dr. Dog

The Noisettes

New Daniel Johnston Video - "True Love Will Find You In The End"

Ro Rao (Ugly Pictures) just finished up this brilliant video of my favorite Daniel Johnston song, "True Love Will Find You In The End".

Daniel is back on tour in August (back in NYC September 4th at the Speigel Tent).  For more DJ goodness head here.

Stale Bread - DJ @ Mad River 5.23.07
Stale Bread - DJ @ Highline Ballroom 5.16.o7

(Editor's note:  I work with Daniel)

The Dirty Feel - Who Likes "Porno Rock"?

Porno rock, filthy and juicy (The Mighty Boosh)

You leave their gigs wanting to do unimaginably filthy, naughty things ... they play music you have to dance to in true ugly fashion: where your hair flies everywhere and you don't care what you look like as you're so caught up in the moment! (Artrocker)

For fans of foot-stomping rock, guitar solos, Wolfmother (and their inspirations), Earl Greyhound, the Mooney Suzuki, and quality hooks peep these tracks by U.K. band the Dirty Feel:

The Dirty Feel - "Talk In The City".mp3

The Dirty Feel - "Get It All The Time".mp3 (this song was used in a recent New Balance add in the UK...watch it on their myspace page)

Pela - Schuba's Chicago 07.18.07

After the Decemberists' show I met up with a friend at one of Sinatra's favorite restaurants, The Twin Anchors, for some sweet grub then to one of Chicago's best live venues, Schuba's, to see NYC band Pela. 

Pela...they are good.  They are great.  I'm sometimes unsure of why they haven't garnered more popularity.  Front man Billy McCarthy exudes intensity.  His one of a kind voice blends nicely with the familiar yet truly unique sounds of the Brooklyn band.  Oh yeah, they like to rock out too.

Highlight for me was the catchy "Lost To The Lonesome" (download the track here).

 

The Decemberists w/ the Grant Park Orchestra - Millenium Park Chicago 07.18.07

The Decemberists Symphonic Tour hit Chicago today for a free show at the magnificent bandshell in Grant Park.  Backed by the Grant Park Symphony, the Canadian wonderband sounded just as good, if not better, than I've ever heard. 

A humidity (SO humid) / rain combo couldn't deter the massive crowd from enjoying the free tunes.  The opening "Crane Wife" was truly magnificent.  A bummer that I couldn't stay for the whole show but glad I dropped by for a few. 

Sun, Sun, Sun, Here It Comes

A while back I guested on Brooklyn Vegan's blog radio show and played this song. It's just...simply...fantastic. Paul Simon and George Harrison playing the Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun" on Saturday Night Live (11.20.76):

Courtney Love - Hiro Ballroom 07.12.07

Courtney Love's selective new-album-hype tour stopped in NYC last night for a midnight performance at the Maritime Hotel's Hiro Ballroom. An 11:00pm start time turned into midnight real fast as the place quickly filled up with free-show RSVP'rs...including celebs Laura Prepon and Danny Masterson. Oh, and it was hot as a mofo in there.

I'm hesitant to offer up a judgement on Court's new songs just yet. I'm going to wait to hear the full album before making that decision. I will say I found a few of her songs seemed to sound really good; the setlist was pretty close to Monday night's London gig. Standouts were "Celebrity Skin" and "Dirty Girls". Love was enjoying "not enjoying" it as best as she could. Most of the crowd was ecstatically eating it up.

Best love quote of the night: "Relax honey. I'm like Springsteen; I can go all night...so chill out."

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Nokia Theater Times Square 07.11.07

The kings of Rock 'n Soul, Daryl Hall & John Oates, descended on Times Square for the first of two nights of classic jams. Shrugging off some early monitor problems (like the first 40 minutes!) D&O turned it up a notch and finished strong. Although I think the last time I saw them was a better overall performance, tonight's set included a really great take on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" in addition to the obvious favs ("Sarah Smile" -> "I Can't Go For That").