Fresh Bread

Apes & Androids - Bowery Ballroom 05.30.08

WOW.  Amazing Show.  Top 5 concert I'll see in 2008, I'm sure of it.  I mean, how can it not be??? there were Raticorns on stilts!!!  Oh yeah...and an amazing band making their mark in a tough music scene by bringing down the house with a truly inspired performance. 

view the rest of my pics here

Haley Bonar On Tour, Back In NYC Around Release of Big Star

As I mentioned, Haley Bonar's new album Big Star is coming out June 12 3rd.  I can't wait.  I've been digging the new tracks streaming on her myspace.  There is just something about her voice I I love...her lyrics are way beyond her 24 years. 

Turns out she is going to be in NYC for a couple shows around the release date.  I can't make it to the Southpaw on the 7th but will most likely make the Knitting Factory show on June 5.  You should check her out, it's definitely worth it...tix available here.
Stream a few of the new tracks on her myspace page.

Haley @ Living Room 04.06.07

Picture Of The Day - Blue's In The Middle

The Eagles - Madison Square Garden 05.28.08

Took my Mom to see her favorite band of all time, The Eagles, at MSG Wednesday night.  All three of my older brothers definitely contributed to my wide range of music tastes.  My Mom, however, is the one who truly has a passion for music and of which I believe is solely responsible for me falling in love with music so much I wanted to make my living working in the industry.  So, in a way, this show was kind of full circle for me music wise....in my own way.

I have seen them twice before; once in '94 on the first Hell Freezes Over Tour (at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, NC) and once in '96 (Vabeyotchay baby!).  Both were great shows...but seeing them at the garden was truly special.  The setlist was a mix of the new songs (Long Road Out Of Eden) and the classics split over two 1-hr plus sets.  Standouts for me were the Joe Walsh tunes (that guy still shreds!).

Read a great NYT review of the show by Jon Pareles here (below photo cred NYT)

Guitar Hero: DS Edition Footage

New trailer bud light commercial rip-off instructional video for the upcoming Nintendo DS version of Guitar Hero (out June 15).  Commercial is a little OTT but the DS version looks like it'll be great.   Wonder how the sound will...well...sound.

I'm Not Offended, I'm Enthralled.

One of my favorite sets from SXSW this past March came as a surprise.  I actually hadn't heard of Does It Offend You, Yeah? before I saw them at Emo's (on the bill with Flosstradamus and The Cool Kids).  They perform with a ferocity on stage that wills the crowd to try to match and/or beat the performers energy.  Band and crowd fed off each other...leading both into a furry of pumping fists and jumping feet.  I wasn't sure what to feel other than amazement.

Since then, i've been rocking their 2008 release, You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into, all the time.  Especially the track "We Are Rockstars."  In fact, I'm going to listen to it right now.  You should too and check them out on tour in the US (if you can get tix) opening for Bloc Party.

"We Are Rockstars".mp3



(thanks to Matty J. for pointing out the lack of an "h" somewhere in my post)

Apes & Androids Are Out For World Domination...Or Atleast To Make You Dance

  New York City's most interesting band just might be Apes & Androids.  Part old school (insert easy Bowie reference here), part future school (music that sounds familiar but that also could be from 2031), all fantastic.  Live show:  check.  Amazing album (Blood Moon):  check.  Hot dancers with choreographed moves:  check.  Strangeness that draws you in:  check.  This band is like everything I've heard before but also nothing like anything I've ever heard...make sense?  Good.  About Blood Moon, Amrit Stereogum dropped some good comparisons here:

The sectional play-by-play runs further than just Freddie Mercury and Ziggy Stardust and horror-flick rock operetta vibes ("Sweetest Secret"'s hook is Talking Heads' "Crosseyed & Painless" dialed down a BPM or two, the awesome "Nights Of the Week" takes half of "Message In A Bottle"'s arpeggiated riff and spins it out into a paean to partying/new wave dance jam), a late-record suite of tunes tapping into Amnesiac-y Radiohead (see "Will I Live," "Doyle Is Dead," "Imaginary Friends").

"Nights Of The Week" is definitely the stand out track for me.  Peep it here and tell me what you think:

"Nights Of The Week".mp3

I'd also watch this clip of them performing "Put Your Hands Up" late in 2007, including the aforementioned hot dancers.  Maybe it'll convince you (if you are in NYC) to come check them out at the Bowery on Friday (tix still on sale).

Picture Of The Day - Memorial Day 2008 Dressings For ESB

 

Pictures Of The Day - Niece and Nephews

(this is how my nephew Sam Wii bowls)

Picture Of The Day - Beach Wedding 2008