The Required Fire

I'm Thankful For... The Muppets!

2009-11-26T22:53:00.001-05:00

and Jim Henson. Yessir.

Word of the Day: Anthropomorphic

Miike Snow vs Takashi Miike

2009-11-24T16:02:00.002-05:00

Yep. This is a totally rad song. I play it once a day for sanity. And to keep dancing between my ears.

You should start that video for Animal ... then push play on this Takashi Miike clip.

Or use that youTube crossfader that I made fun of last week:

twoyoutubevideosandamotherfuckingcrossfader

Weird

2009-11-23T22:53:00.002-05:00

This is a face video.

It would have been easier to just turn the camera over rather than the bodies attached to these faces... but whatever.

Obits play The Bell House in BK on New Year's Eve. Probably stuff from their 2009 album I Blame You, released on SubPop. Which is good.

Radio Radio

2009-11-13T02:52:00.004-05:00

Time for internet radio!

I'll be on your computer again this Saturday night on All Over The Shop, sans Ben and Stu.

There's a mystery guest scheduled so... tune in for the tunes!

And if you're into the archives, I'm found on:

Oct. 10th and 31st for guest spots.
Oct. 17th for the solo act.

Ohbijou

2009-11-12T22:53:00.001-05:00

Just catching wind of this gift from the north country.

Pretty pretty.

The 2009 album from this Toronto youngster-sister duo fronted indie-pop septet ~ Beacons ~ offers quite a few gems to be explored. Including Wildfires... thanks Joy!

And, enjoy.

Dan Auerbach

2009-11-11T22:53:00.001-05:00

The multi-instumentalist best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist for The Black Keys, Auerbach has some solo business cookin'. He released Keep It Hid earlier this year on Nonesuch and I heard he played a great set on Wednesday night here in NYC... thanks Dnugg.

Keeping form with the Keys' drone and drum... here's The Prowl.

Yeah. I'm feeling a little Bob Log III too. And because I recently read a great quote regarding the Log... here's some Boob Scotch.

Tom Waits says:
And then there’s this guy named Bob Log, you ever heard of him? He’s this little kid — nobody ever knows how old he is — wears a motorcycle helmet and he has a microphone inside of it and he puts the glass over the front so you can’t see his face, and plays slide guitar. It’s just the loudest strangest stuff you’ve ever heard. You don’t understand one word he’s saying. I like people who glue macaroni on to a piece of cardboard and paint it gold. That’s what I aspire to basically.

Naked lips. Er, lip? Just watch...

2009-11-10T22:53:00.002-05:00

The Flaming Lips have a new album - Embryonic.

And their new video is quite a package itself. Find it here on NME.com

As per usual, Wayne Coyne gets all Prisoner ~ more on that below ~ with the bubble, recruits the masses to get naked on bikes and births them from a birthing fur-bubble in the woods of Portland, OR. Obviously.

But what wasn't was the song... I have to say that I like the sound of this Watching The Planets number. I've noticed The Lips from quite a distance since their 2002 Yoshimi smash. It's just that Wayne always has too much noise going on. Not that this track doesn't... Awe, hell. It's probably just the boobies and penises distracting me from noticing. Hooray!

So this is the intro to The Prisoner.

It's an all-time favorite of mine and my lady's. It's a BBC sci-fi thriller TV series from the 60's staring Patrick McGoohan ~ armed with his most distinctly classic speech pattern ~ who's trying to figure out where the hell is is and who the hell's in charge. And he ain't no number.

There is also a six-episode miniseries set to air on AMC this month... starting this Sunday actually. And while my fist is shaking in their direction... Ian McKellen will star as Number 2 and that James Caviezel ~ dude who was Jesus for Mel Gibson ~ will reprise McGoohan's role as number 6.

And Christopher Nolan ~ Momento and a couple of those Batman movies ~ has been rumored for a film adaptation. Don't fuck it up dude.

Brilliant? Or? Wait, wait... Nope. It's not.

2009-11-09T22:53:00.002-05:00

Some genius has given the masses mix-infinitum.

twoyoutubevideosandamotherfuckingcrossfader

I guess it was bound to happen? But I certainly didn't see this one coming.

Am I to suppose there will be an onslaught of youtube videos of two youtube videos with crossfades from Lady Gaga lip-syncing tweens to kitty-antics and meows and dudes on skateboards? And stuff..?

Jesus.

CMJ'd

2009-10-26T01:04:00.002-04:00

You may have noticed a hiatus of updates over the past week. There were some 1400 bands in NYC last week for CMJ and instead of highlighting the what's-what and who's-whatnots while it was going on, I'll use this week to give a rundown of what went down. Yarp.

In the meantime, crunch on these informative PSA's!

Monty Python Week on IFC.

2009-10-19T22:53:00.010-04:00

Tune in peoples. Terry Jones' son has produced and filmed a six-part documentary airing along side all of the best-bestest Monty Python skits and full-features on IFC. The cast comprised of these blokes:

Micheal Palin
Graham Chapman
Eric Idle
Terry Gilliam
John Cleese
Terry Jones

And this is my, and will be your, favorite skit by These Flying Circi:

Gilliam is my fav. Take a gander at his stylistic aggressions toward the absurd and brilliance. Top notch.

Throughout the Python cannon, Gilliam's interludes created cohesiveness when there was none to be had. Enter animation and suspension of disbelief. To each and to all's awe.

It's certainly no Judean's Peoples Front contribution... Fuckin' splitters.

It's the People's Front of Judea!!

Since breaking wits with the circi... Gilliam went on to direct quite a few American noticed films ~ oddly enough, as he was the only American of the troupe ~ Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), The Fisher King(1991) and 1995's 12 Monkeys. His latest flick was released Oct. 16th:

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Yees. Johnny Depp and Heath Ledger.

Monty Python - ministry of silly walks
Uploaded by Van_Lock. - Sitcom, sketch, and standup comedy videos.

You don't have to pay for it.

2009-10-15T03:40:00.003-04:00

Last night Port O'Brien played at Mercury Lounge for dollars.

Tomorrow they play at Union Hall for dollars.

No dollars? Well, tonite's your nite!

They play FREE at Sound Fix in BK at 6pm.

Just scroll down if you want to hear their vibe.

Sea Wolf and Port O'Brien

2009-10-14T15:48:00.002-04:00

You're a Wolf here spent many many minutes on repeat when it came out on Dangerbird Records in their 2007 album Leaves in the River. From the same album...

Winter Windows shared those many minutes.

Their September 22, 2009 release White Water, White Bloom doesn't have the same airy-awesome drive that was so damn appealing throughout their previous album. I've read, or more likely, heard, somewhere that their intentions were for a more full-band sound and with the help of producer/multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis (Saddle Creek) I suppose that was achieved. And Alex Church's vocals still resonate and crescendo on cue. Which is nice.

Sea Wolf is on tour with Port O'Brien and will be at Mercury Lounge tonight and at Union Hall in Brooklyn on Friday night. Get it.

From the album, Threadbare ~ Port O'Brien's October 6th release ~ here's a cool song:

'My Will Is Good' by Port O'Brien - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

The Shackeltons

2009-10-13T22:53:00.004-04:00

The Shackeltons will be playing at Bruar Falls in Brooklyn on Friday night for only eight dollars. Frontman Mark Redding does his darndest to channel Ian Curtis and a live viewing is highly recommended. Your Movement is from their 2007 self-titled album released on KEXP disc jockey John Richards' label, Loveless Records.

The band is named after Earnest Shackleton, an explorer who most notably attempted to cross Antarctica on foot in the early 1900s. Spoiler alert! He died of a heart attack.

Along a similar faulty vein, The Breaks was directed by Sam Jones ~ who also directed the 2002 Wilco-doc I am Trying to Break Your Heart. A must see.

Tune in Tokyo.

2009-10-12T19:07:00.005-04:00

So.

I was a guest host on my buddy's show ~ All Over The Shop ~ on East Village Radio this past Saturday night. Check that archives page to tune in to that episode... OR tune in this Saturday night from 6pm-8pm when I'll be hosting the program all-by- my-damn-self.

There will be upcoming dates in November that I will be covering on the show as well.

Internet Radio!!

Tap that ass, NASA.

2009-10-08T22:53:00.002-04:00

The folks at NASA will be blowing chunks out of the moon tomorrow morning.

At 7.30am EST, the LCROSS mission will launch some rockets into the south pole of the moon in attempts to snatch up presumed deposits of frozen water laying below the lunar surface.

I hope Coca-Cola jumps on board and comes out with some awesome lunar-cola by the holidays. I've been hearing about this magical moon now for decades and demand an outer-space additive to my high-fructose corn syrup based consumable beverage. By the holidays.

Update: Here's how it went.

ApSci

2009-10-06T22:53:00.001-04:00

ApSci is a now Bronx-based duo comprised of Raphael Lamotta and his Filipinio-Australian wife Dana Diaz-Tutaan. They have been performing together since 1998 and signed to the San Francisco-based underground hip-hop label Quannum Projects in 2004.

A classically-trained singer with theater background, Diaz-Tutaan toured Australia with Blackalicious in 2004 and, in 2006, was asked to play the lead role in Here Lies Love, a musical collaboration with David Byrne & Fat Boy Slim. ApSci's new album ~ Best Crisis Ever ~ is out October 13th, 2009.

ApSci plays MonkeyTown on Friday night. Expect a visual-explosion accompaniment on the BIG screens.

Have a Vampire Weekend?

2009-10-05T22:53:00.003-04:00

The oxford-clad quatro have officially announced their upcoming album ~ Contra ~ will be released state-side January 12th, 2010. These guys had the market cornered on all things kitchy-Columbia University-prep. I see they've widened there nets for all-things-nostalgic for the rest of the white people born in the 1980's. Perhaps an homage to all things sitting-in-front-of-a-television is to be expected.

Is there no stopping them? Let's just see if they get their instruments on that Fraggle Rock movie I keep hearing about.

Click for a free download of their new single Horchata.

Ringo mutha-fucka, what's happenin?

2009-10-01T22:53:00.001-04:00

Lorne Greene was a Canadian. He was known to fellow Canadians as "The Voice of Doom," an epithet he acquired as the chief radio announcer for CBC radio from 1939 to 1942, the height of Canada's darkest days of WWII. He would later become a Canadian pioneer figure in early Hollywood.

Greene is best known for playing the patriarchal character Ben Cartwright on the long-running western Bonanza (1959-73). Throughout the 70's Greene was also popular as the spokesman for Alpo Beef Chunks dog food commercials. Weeks before this death in 1987, he had signed on for a revival of Bonzana. Bummer... no reprisal.

In 1964, Greene had a #1 single on the charts ~ although which charts is still in question ~ with the western ballad Ringo. Growing up I had this 45 on my jukebox in the basement. I swear I could play the best pool of my life while serenaded by "The Canadian Voice of Doom."

I meant to put this up about a month ago. Well fuck me.

2009-09-30T22:53:00.005-04:00

Or dagger me, rather.

Major Lazer "Pon De Floor" from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

Click on this ~ link ~ for more videos from this director.

As for daggering, its origins lay in breaking Jamaican dicks. Observe.

Major Lazer is at Terminal 5 on Saturday night. I'll be there.

Woah, Soulsaver has a new album. Epic.

2009-09-29T22:53:00.004-04:00

Soulsavers are an English production and remix team comprised of Rich Machin and Ian Glover. They have a downtempo electronica sound with influences of rock, gospel, soul, and country. Giddy. Up.

Although formed in 2000, they just released only their third album, Broken, on August 17th, 2009. Mark Lanegan is featured as the main vocalist with contributions from Mike Patton (of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk), Jason Pierce ( of Spiritualized and Spaceman 3), and Gibbby Haynes ( of Butthole Surfers).

From the aforementioned Broken... the all instrumental track Wise Blood:

The non-album single Sunrise was written by Lanegan and sung by Will Oldham, aka Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, which preceded the album's release on August 3rd, 2009.

And now for some perdy Will Oldham moving pencil scratches...

Top Spits

2009-09-28T22:53:00.002-04:00

Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon, has just blown the top off the auto-tune's precipice. Under the collaborative Volcano Choir he's just released a new album ~ Unmap ~ and it starts with the hateful application, but with time the chimes and drums give resonance and validity to the fad.

It unfolds itself with tidal wave rhythms of said tune, but choir, chimes and blanketed sheets of vocal bliss with encouraging yes-please ambiance makes it a portrait worth appraisal. Sounding much better than the original version of The Woods he put out last year.

Volcano Choir; the one that's good like wine, just give it time:

The Woods. Sans choir. Don't listen too long. Seriously. Just making a point.

Thanks for the lead, DNUGG.

Port O'Brien

2009-09-28T17:30:00.003-04:00

The new album ~ Threadbare ~ will be out in the US next Tues. Oct. 6th. They just completed a live show in Seattle and will spend 2 nights in NYC : 10/14 at Mercury Lounge. 10/16 @ Union Hall.

Port O'Brien. They lost a brother of the band earlier this year... very resonant in the album. Heavy.

My girlfriend is famous.

2009-09-24T22:53:00.003-04:00

Featured today on Planet.com is none other than the beautiful Joy Merrifield. As she readies to embark on another Icelandic adventure, Joyous leaves us with the hopes of up-to-the-second happenings and have-to's in the tundratic oasis of pixies and sprites.

Bravo!

Iceland Airwaves Festival.

A touched family

2009-09-23T22:53:00.003-04:00

There is something spectacularly refreshing about Jason Trachtenburg. And his family. Here's a get to know you interview from 2005. Just to get things rolling. . .

Okay, so perhaps you just watched the first 1:28 to get an idea of what the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are all about. In that first 90 seconds, Jason mentions their inception to slideshows as a medium for a musical act and their first song ~ Mountain Trip to Old Japan. Well here it is:

They did a buncha buncha touring in the US, Canada and Europe and have recorded and released two albums: Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol. 1 (2001) and Adventures in Middle America, Vol. 2 (2005).

The ~ now 15 year old ~ daughter, Rachel, began a morning show in 2007. It's a bit of an infotainment-puppet vessel for tweens with a green thumb for environmental and social issues. And it's still a family affair:

Rachel's morning show has now evolved into Rachel Trachtenburg’s Homemade World alongside her parents and various other actors. She released an album of the same name in 2009. Simultaneously to working on Rachel's show, she and the family have been quite outspoken on her political views here in New York City.

Rachel went downtown in October and November of 2008 to speak out against Mayor Bloomberg extending his term limits. Here, The Players defend her position after Rachel addressed a public hearing at City Hall.

I think she means it. This is from a few days after speaking at city hall:

On January 30, 2009, Rachel and her parents went back to City Hall to speak out against horse carriage drivers, whom she claims, mistreat their horses. Rachel performed a song about horses on her ukulele and received a round of applause from the City Council, which are both not normally allowed.

Rachel plans to spend the rest of her life in New York City.

The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players will be performing Saturday night as part of the Showpaper Music and Art Celebration at Red Hook Labs in Brooklyn. I think it's only $8 but I guarantee a touching slideshow.

Paul, Paul... Interpol.

2009-09-23T10:48:00.005-04:00

I read somewhere, sometime ago that Paul Banks was teased in his adolescence for being a narc. Funnily enough, when forming Interpol in 1998 he encouraged the adoption of aliases for his troupe. For the exception of Carlos D. it didn't take. Until now.

Under the adopted moniker Julian Plenti, Paul released his first solo album ~ Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper ~ on August 4th, 2009. Really driving the alias home, Paul.

Here's the video for Games for Days featuring the Canadian born Emily Haines of Metric as... the woman.

Paul, err, Julian Plenti will be playing at the Guggenheim Museum on Friday night for many many many many dollars. Really? I remember when Paul and his whole band would play for, like, twelve bucks. And he's not even from Brooklyn... ~ had to follow the Gugg-link for that one.

Woah. Best video ever. Seriously. of the day.

2009-09-22T22:53:00.003-04:00

I wanna be someone to someone too. Don't we all?

I'll be on the lookout, hopefully it won't take long for this to be remixed ~ all 2009 style.

Fanfarlo, birds and drums

2009-09-22T12:00:00.001-04:00

Fanfarlo @ The Bell House : TONIGHT.

I wonder what Beirut thinks of this London-based ~ via Swedenish (Simon Balthazar) ~ six-piece? Regardless... it should be a stageful of sound.

This music video was produced by Iain and Jane and features one of Europe's top escape artists ~ Roslyn Walker ~ performing his version of the Hanging Straitjacket Escape, first performed by Houdini in the early 1900s.

And they will be playing live on KEXP on Thursday afternoon. Here's a nerdy video...

Fanfarlo will be playing with Wildbirds & Peacedrums, the Swedish husband and wife duo.

Should be a doozy.

Bonus: Just Announced of the Day

2009-09-21T22:53:00.002-04:00

Be Here:
Southpaw, Brooklyn on October 2nd. 7.30pm. Here's the lineup...

The Twilight Sad
Hailing from Kilsyth, Scotland, The Twilight Sad's new album ~ Forget The Night Ahead ~ will be released October 5th, 2009 on FatCat Records.

BrakesBrakesBrakes
Following April’s release of Touchdown, Rock Is Dodelijk (translated from Dutch: Rock Is Dead) will mark the BrakesBrakesBrakes second release of 2009, after April’s Touchdown. Recorded at an August 2008 hometown gig ~ Brighton, UK ~ and this past May in Cologne, Germany, the album is a unique spin for a live concept album. The first half was done on each venue’s in-house multi-track system, and the mixing was done afterward. The second half will be a bit rawer, as it was recorded in the midst of the crowd.

The live album is out October 6th on FatCat Records.

We Were Promised Jetpacks
Assembled in Edinburgh, Scotland as high school friends in 2003, their first ever gig saw them winning their school's battle of the bands competition. The band's debut album ~ These Four Walls ~ was released June 15th, 2009 on FatCat Records.

Colour of the Day.

2009-09-21T20:58:00.003-04:00

MotherFucking Living Colour dropped an album last week ~ The Chair in the Doorway ~ in case you didn't notice. It's their fifth since the band's 2000 reunion performance at the now defunct CBGB's. They visited SoundCheck on the 11th to perform and discuss their new album, blasting on the scene in 1988 and the band's fuuuutre.

They kick off their world-tour tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and return to NYC on October 30th to play The Highline Ballroom. Tune in.

The List of the now. Of the day.

2009-09-18T22:53:00.007-04:00

My buddy Stu was on KEXP last Friday. Here's the coordinates...

Go to KEXP's StreamingArchive, at the bottom... find the section listed as "Listen By Time". And plug in Friday, Sept. 11th. 3pm... and listen to it!

He talks all things Iceland. And all things Iceland right now are like that moment in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory when Gene Wilder throws off the cloak and reveals that, Yes! Charlie! What you thought you heard is true! Here. Take it. Now you shall own the pasture to the breeding grounds.

Stuart shows us that some damn fine horses are out there.

The playlist of Stu's hour-long fete with Kevin Cole is as follows:

LayLow : by and by
SeaBear: Seashell
Retro Stefson: Medallion
Hjaltalin: Traffic Music
FM Belfast: Par Avion
Agent Fresco: Eyes of a Cloud Catcher
Mammut: Svefnssykt
Reykjavik!: Eji plis!
Sin Fang Bouse (of SeaBear): melt down the knives
Sindri Mar Sigfussen (of Sea Bear): Landslide
Porir: HeyYa (Outcast cover)

a Video/Link of these will soon follow this post.

Some Damn Mad Flutists of the Day

2009-09-16T22:53:00.000-04:00

Augusto Martelli : to listen to.

Jethro Tull : to watch.

I think Ian Anderson is hardcore. You tell me.

Meanwhile, back at the patch.

2009-09-16T18:30:00.001-04:00

Jesus Billy, really? 44 songs? I thought you were still doing Tequila.

Fuck. You are white.

Alright, if you didn't read the link ~ I didn't either ~ The......... 'all new smashing pumpkins' are putting out a 44 track album ~ 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' ~ in October FOR FREE.

It's a bit hokey. But perhaps we'll care about them again? Naw. That's silly. I mean, as a friend mentioned, could 44 songs really combine to an actual /concept/ or otherwise album? Even Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness had no real cohesiveness. But I bet they got connections enough to at least get on that new lame Leno show. Fuck TV.

So be on the scout! I'm sure your phone will tell you when it's time to download.

Don't sit by it.

You may have missed him of the day.

2009-09-15T22:53:00.002-04:00

Ryan Adams. Yes ~ not Bryan Adams ~ Ryan Adams.

Most notable for such pop-stopping hits as New York, New York. Well, he's uuuber'd himself into whatthafuck oblivion. And I, for maybe the only one, love it. His coordinates in NYC street-lore may have never met, but he's a righteous sonnabitch.

This live version of La Cienga Just Smiled ~ and just wait for it, it gets going ~ is from the 2001 GOLD release. I think Ryan, nee David, deserves songwriting, stage-presence and general wherewithal to be who he is and was. It's fuckall easy to write bad press for someone who tends to ex, and, implode simultaneously on a vision. I mean, listen to his songs. But I certainly enjoyed the journey.

Following his marriage and departure from the Cardinals, Ryan announced~ as we in the press are privy ~ that he left music in March. However, Ryan has completed and released his first book of free-verse poetry, Infinity Blues in early April of 2009. His second book of shorts and poems, Hello Sunshine is due for release in December. Judging by the titles, I have to say that it sounds on the up-and-up. Perhaps there is a reason for Mandy Moore after all...

I jest.

Or do I? Hopefully I do. But what he had the capacity to create and record from 2000 - 2008 : eleven albums, 3 in 2005 : is quite a cannon to behold. Take him at face value or throw him out the window. He couldn't care less and would want you to listen anyway. Conundrum'd to the end.

May I recommend:
Heartbreaker 2000
The Heartbreaker Demos 2000
Gold 2001
Demolition 2002
Rock N Roll 2003
Cold Roses w/ The Cardinals 2005
Jacksonville City Nights w/ The Cardinals 2005
29 2005

That video was from 2005. He was tinkering with sobriety, but I wasn't. And I didn't mind him not looking at the audience, telling us to shut the fuck up, or his general hate-rages. To be young!

He also plays mad piano. And began blogging for The Awl in September of 2009.

The who? Of the Day.

2009-09-14T22:53:00.001-04:00

Chuck Klosterman is a humorist. His latest article in The Onion uncovered the much blurred past of four Englishmen. Probably like you've never read before. peruse.

Chuck doesn't appear to have a personal website, but if you're not familiar with his pop-cultural musings, take a trip about the many media he dances between. wiki.

And if you include sports in your pop-satirical world, Chuck's chats with The SportsGuy are tops in the business.

Oprah, Ellen and One Son of Lee Marvin

2009-09-14T11:35:00.005-04:00

Today on Soundcheck: The media queens' impact on the current ~ and future ~ music scene...

and this guy kills a bunny. Hear all about it at 2pm on wnyc.

song of the de. cades.

2009-09-11T22:53:00.002-04:00

I Wanna Be Adored

The Stone Roses. 1989.

Tonite!! In Brooklyn!! Just down the street!!

2009-09-11T12:49:00.002-04:00

Phantogram @ Union Hall.

Join me.

Today!! And This Weekend!! In Seattle!!

2009-09-11T12:16:00.007-04:00

A Taste of Iceland is happening in Seattle this weekend. You should go to that!! And tell your friends. You can listen to Olof Arnalds on KEXP's streaming archive. Just type in yesterday's date, 9/10, at 3pm... and away you go. On a viking invasion of the ear.

Olof will be playing at The Crocodile this evening.

I am sure there are a many many other All Things Iceland going on as well. The films are sure to be tops. Superb reeling, Deirdre!

Later today, I believe 6pm EST, Stuart Rogers will be talking everything Iceland with Kevin Cole. You should also tune into that ~ on kexp ~ I'm sure the Airwaves will come up as well as other topical Icelandic musical revelries. That's coming up, mid-October. So get your woolies on. And buy a ticket already.

Live, In-Studio of the Day

2009-09-10T09:09:00.003-04:00

Olof Arnalds performs live on KEXP.org today at 6pm EST. Tune in.

Ólöf Arnalds: Suffering is a Gift.

Here's some vids shot by the Stumaan on Lo-Fi.TV. He's also Olof's manager.

Nerd. Out.

2009-09-10T08:48:00.000-04:00

Season 6 of RadioLab starts tomorrow on wnyc.org at 3pm. Tune in.

Each new episode will air on Friday's at 3pm, but dig into the site for oldie and goodie shows from the past. And the cannon of podcast snippets.

Mmm. Brains.

Speachless of the Day.

2009-09-09T10:09:00.000-04:00

Tonight! 8pm! Miller Theatre: Wordless Music Series.

Featured in this installment are the following artists:

Nico Muhly

Sam Amidon

Doveman

These three often perform together. Additional videos can be found at lofi.tv

Thanks, Stumaan.

A Day late of the Day

2009-09-03T19:50:00.004-04:00

Elvis Perkins played at Housing Works in NYC last night. What a delight.

And no worries, if you missed last night's show, just skip on over to Portland, Oregon for tonight's performance at the Doug Fir Lounge. What a crazy tour manager?

And for bonus missed coverage... accompanying Perkins last night was RaRa Riot.

Yeah, but it was only a DJ set. So, you know. You'd not have known it was them.

Echo of the Day

2009-09-01T22:53:00.000-04:00

This gets caught between my ears for years at a time. Since 1987.

Lips Like Sugar

Their website is a bit of a mess, but here it is. Or maybe I just wasn't focusing. Both are possibly true statements. They have no 2009 dates set for the states at present.

Formed in 1978 in Liverpool, the Bunnymen have had breaks, splits, new frontmen and old one's return. Here's the wiki-tale.

A Good Morning Video.

2009-09-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Magnetic Fields never repel. And the choreography has never been in better hands.

To have such whirling staged dreams... just be sure to wrote them down!

Busby Berkeley. Stephen Merritt.

Song & Video of the Day

2009-08-31T23:00:00.000-04:00

Battles:Atlas

From their 2007 release Mirrored. Bravo album. They will be playing with !!! at Terminal 5 on Friday night. !!! is pronounced Chk Chk Chk. Like little chickens. And for more about taking it to the countryside: Escape to River Cottage is only the beginning.

Learn more here. And beyond.

The best radio. Period'd.

2009-08-31T22:53:00.000-04:00

RadioLab. They're nerds. Like They Might Be Giants nerds. But good to know and good to have on your side. In case anything needs literated... or explained why a goat would stand on a cow.

The hosts:

Jad Abumrad's ~ recent father ~ WNYC blog
Robert Krulwich ~ with the more extensive wiki-page ~ here

Funny thing. They both went to Oberlin College in Ohio, decades apart, and met in NYC. I think their combined energies, knowledge and on-air banter is unmatched. Since Harry Caray died anyway. He knew how to address the issues. Big-Corporation style.

Harry Caray. Rest. In. Peace. 1914-1998. Go Cubs. Go.

NPR'd

2009-08-31T19:00:00.001-04:00

Chairlift was on Sound Check with John Schaefer today. Take a listen. He kinda, well, gives them a grilling on selling out. Both musically and fashionably. Perhaps a faux pas on John's behalf... Jesus boss, NPR much?

But I have to say, I've seen the dude that plays the computer in a damn Mets T-shirt. Woah; two things wrong with that. Uno, they're from Boulder, CO ~ act like it. And dos, since when is a laptop an instrument. Oh, yeah. Ghostland Observatory! Okay. That's cool. But at least wear a Rockies uni, they've at least made the playoffs this decade.

Here's a link to Evident Utensil. It's a pencil by the way. Pretty cool video. Although they confuse the medium by using oil-based paint.

The topic of the interview is the i-pod song of yester...day, month, year. Who knows anymore in this mac-world. I'm just a mac girl and I live in a mac-terial world.

It is a damn-fine song. But, erm, obviously that video was brought to you by industry-pods. Hopefully you have a MAC and can go to another tab whilst listening.

Chairlift is playing NYC Saturday night at Bowery Ballroom. And I believe all their original videos are no longer embeddable for blogs because of their contract with MAC. Just saying, but it's true.

Every Day of the Day

2009-08-28T22:53:00.000-04:00

Jack Penate's uuuuuber pop wundersong, can't not dance to, can't not get loud enough, as you may recall...

Jack Peñate - Tonight's Today

He has a new album out ~ about a few Tuesday's ago by now ~ but, here's the new single.

From the album of the same name, Everything is New.

The Myspace for your further listening desires. And what's up, Jack? Why do we only get these new releases with videos of you and your straight face? Give us the bi-curious videos right off the bat I say.

River of the Day

2009-08-26T22:53:00.000-04:00

I was feeling quite nostalgic whistling this little ditty whilst riding my bike today in Brooklyn. Although, the STD'd Gowanus doesn't quite compare to the moonlight on the Wabash...

This is an annual ritual at the Indy 500. Before the engines can start, Jim Nabors must sing.

Concert of the week, of the day

2009-08-25T22:53:00.000-04:00

Phantogram to play the business at Glasslands on s.a.t.u.r... d.a.y. NIGHT!!

You should go to this. Glasslands can be a super-intimate venue. And if you can't on the Saturday, they will be back through NYC on September 11th for a show at Union Hall with Pomegranates; which will also be a toastable affair as that spot is truly a treat to boot.

See at least one, but don't miss them both.

Pretty Hippie Dippy I'd say...

2009-08-25T19:02:00.004-04:00

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.

They'll be riding their big, beautiful love bus through Brooklyn on August 30th.

Be sure to wear a flower in your hair.

Sweet Jardin

2009-08-25T18:55:00.002-04:00

Here's some pretty new music by Brazilian songstress Tiê.

N.A.S.A.

2009-08-20T22:53:00.000-04:00

I've heard there's some sort of 50 year celebration involved. If you believe in that sort of thing.

N.A.S.A.

To the boroughs!.. all of 'em.

2009-08-17T22:53:00.000-04:00

The Icelandic viking pop wizard ~ Mugison ~ will be spreading his boundless sound around the town on Aug. 18 ~ that's tomorrow! He'll be trying his hand at breaking a world record by playing shows in all five boroughs of New York City in one day.

Mugison will be playing the five shows as part of a partnership to raise awareness for Amnesty International and all proceeds will go to benefit AI in support of human rights advocacy worldwide.

The schedule is as follows:
Staten Island - Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art @ 12:00pm

Queens - The Silent Barn @ 2:00pm

Bronx - Bronx River Art Center @ 5:00pm

Manhattan - City Winery @ 8:30pm

Brooklyn - Pete's Candy Store @ 11:00pm

mornin'

2009-08-14T04:00:00.001-04:00

Just hit play. And don't navigate away from the page.

probably the thirty third time i've posted it. Yeah!

Here's how to do it.

2009-08-14T03:40:00.005-04:00

If you want to let me know what's coming out your speakers ~ and, yes, it is the audio version of twitter , but without the fuckall annoyance of knowing what you're doing whilst posting ~ so don't note your whatupto's... just say what to tune into.

Go to here:
Blip.

I'm TheRequiredFire. And I mean to burn.

Band of the week, of the day.

2009-08-13T22:53:00.000-04:00

At South Street Seaport: River To River. Friday Night. Do eet.

Band of the week, of the day.

2009-08-12T22:53:00.001-04:00

At South Street Seaport: River To River. Friday Night. Do eet.

Mother sonsabitches.

2009-08-12T17:44:00.002-04:00

Mexico, 2. USA, 1.

Oh, crap. It's over. 0-23-1 all time in Mexico.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2009-08-12T16:23:00.001-04:00

USA, 1. Mexico, 1.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

2009-08-12T16:13:00.000-04:00

USA, 1. Mexico, nil.

Band of the week, of the day.

2009-08-11T22:53:00.001-04:00

At South Street Seaport: River To River. Friday Night. Do eet.

Yea. But gonna be too too too crowded.

2009-08-11T19:37:00.000-04:00

Yessayer is playing for FREE on Thursday at Pier 54 ~ which is West Side Highway @ 13th St. ~ But I say, again mind you , the line should end at this joint; which should be tasted, but is up on 131st St. Take a carnivorous lady friend. And shuttle a copter to the show... er, too soon?

Band of the week, of the day.

2009-08-10T22:53:00.001-04:00

At South Street Seaport: River To River. Friday Night. Do eet.

Simon's no funkel.

2009-08-10T02:38:00.003-04:00

Priceless Souls:

I just wanted to know that you know Paul sang around the world ~ in nineteen~eighty~goddamn~six. Before it was cool. He's equivalent to the modern day Al Gore; not of the inventing the Internet sort, but soopa actively beautiful.

And for the flavor-pill, this is the #1 request in my truck.

BAND OF THE DAY

2009-08-07T22:53:00.000-04:00

MUMFORD AND SONS

Freddie Mercury Friday

2009-08-07T10:50:00.000-04:00

This is their actual debut performance. I love that the accent is, well, apparent.

Here's the deets. Thanks D'nuggernet!!

Video of the Day

2009-08-06T22:53:00.000-04:00

Escort plays to Purple Rain tonite in Prospect Park, BK.

Something super sweet to see

2009-08-06T03:06:00.003-04:00

Nicole Atkins has been on every late-night show you used to watch.

But I mean it, and I've seen her. Find her and listen.

She plays at The Bell House, Thursday goddamn August 6th.

That's right now! I'll be there.

the cave of the day

2009-08-04T22:53:00.002-04:00

This is Nick Cave. I can barely spell his name without quivering.

Nick Cave - Red Right Hand
Uploaded by scootaway. - See the latest featured music videos.

He's my favorite speaker of words. Lyrically. And he knows no other way.

AND LEST WE FORGET: shhh it's a secret.

Day of birth. History style.

2009-08-04T10:53:00.001-04:00

August 4th.

Nice weather for ducks of the Day

2009-08-03T22:53:00.004-04:00

Shuggie; you should know goddamn you. And the Lemon Jelly; well, you are here to learn.

This is the digiographic-Jesus original version... sans Shuggie.

Awe, I get it. He's in a paint-by-number purgatory. Lovely.

And another goddamn Aussie gem

2009-08-03T11:12:00.001-04:00

Spiderbait... #1 hit from 1996:

Spiderbait - Buy Me A Pony - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Amazing cover of a tune Leadbelly crafted in the 1930's.

The wiki tale of Spiderbait.

A 1992 cover of the English comedians, The Goodies: RUN; fancy a peek.

And a damn shame the embed code is disabled for this next one. So do yourself a favor and follow this link for a 1995 Spiderbait original video... MONTY.

Click it! There's robots!! Promise.

BONUS OF THE DAY

2009-07-31T22:53:00.002-04:00

Mark yourself busy busy on August 14th ~ River to River @ South Street Seaport.

It's a free education. Be School'd.

SVIIB.

Seahell of the Day

2009-07-31T07:28:00.000-04:00

Dan Deacon's spoken word meets Liam Lynch's animation.

Deacon takes the stage Sunday, Sunday, Sunday with Deerhunter and No Age at The Pool Parties. It's FREE.

He grood:

Jem of the day

2009-07-30T16:45:00.002-04:00

Britta sang this song in 1985.

She sings with Dean at the bandshell Saturday night in Prospect Park.

Indiana of the day

2009-07-29T22:53:00.011-04:00

These three ~ of the best labels in the country ~ reside in Bloomington, IN.

It all began in 1996 when brothers Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle and Jonathan Cargill founded Secretly Canadian upon their release of a re-issue June Panic album. Weddle eventually left to form his own label, Family Vineyard.

Secretly Canadian:

~ Antony and the Johnsons
~ BLK JKS
~ Catfish Haven
~ Damien Jurado
~ Danielson
~ The Earlies
~ Foreign Born
~ I love you but I've chosen darkness
~ The Impossible Shapes
~ Jens Lekman
~ Magnolia Electric Co.
~ Throw Me the Statue

Also in 1996, Jagjaguwar was founded in Charlottesville, VA, on a theory that label-affiliation would better the release of founder's Darius Van Arman's band The Curious Digit. Unbeknownst that he would ever continue to sign more and more bands, a stable of artists were signed and compiled until 1999 when Van Arman partnered with Chris Swanson of the aforementioned label. Bringing us back to Indiana.

Despite having a distinctly differing arsenals of artists, Jagjaguwar packed up shop and moved HQ to Bloomington to share offices and staff with Secretly Canadian.

Jagjaguwar; name formed from D&D name-generating program.

~ Bon Iver
~ Dinosaur Jr.
~ Daniel Johnston
~ Ladyhawke
~ Lightning Dust
~ Oakley Hall
~ Okkervil River
~ Oneida
~ Parts & Labor
~ Pink Mountaintops
~ Pterodactyl
~ Spokane
~ Sunset Rubdown

In 2007, with former label manager for Misra Records, Phil Waldorf, the crew behind Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar announce a third sister label, Dead Oceans Records. Waldorf has remained in Austin, TX acting as A/R guy while offices have now joined forces in Bloomington. I have heard there are good-things-music in Austin. Well played.

Dead Oceans; Not certain its namesake but, what i learned. Sad, but true.
~ Akron/Family
~ Bishop Allen
~ Califone
~ Dirty Projectors
~ Evangelicals
~ John Vanderslice
~ Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
~ Phosphorescent
~ White Hinterland

So... if you ever wonder while visiting the TOUR page on bands websites why they're stopping in Bloomington, Indiana, this is the reason. Gotta press the palms of your peoples.

The featured artist of the day is Catfish Haven. Because, well, the video looks like it was actually shot in B-town... in a house my friend used to live in while in college. Seriously.

They're playing on Sunday night at The Bell House, $5. Monday night at Piano's, $8.

Major Lazer of the Day

2009-07-28T12:32:00.003-04:00

The latest installation of Diplo and Switch's project ~ Major Lazer ~ gives us what we were promised... M.I.A.

Here's a little write-up from Pitchfork and here's the link to download Keep Watch Vol. X: Major Lazer.

Fuck yeah.

Getting out of bed.

2009-07-28T09:45:00.000-04:00

This helps.

Most days.

Together again... sometime last year

2009-07-28T09:39:00.006-04:00

Formed in Chapel Hill, NC ~ in 1990 ~ POLVO originally signed with Merge Records and defined the math rock genre. With their surrealist lyrics, dissonant guitar harmonies and their driving rhythms, they were critically acclaimed from the get.go despite the accusations of performing under the influence of failing to tune their instruments properly.

vid from 1993 album ~ Today's Active Lifestyles ~

Since disbanding in 1998, Polvo reunited for the 2008 Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona; they resigned with Merge, entered the Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, NC in March and plan to release their first album in over a decade on September, 8th.

From the new album ~ In Prism ~ this song is tops: Beggar's Bowl.

They play FREE at South Street Seaport on Friday night. That's this week!

Legacy of the day

2009-07-27T18:55:00.003-04:00

TRON. 28 years later...

Jeff Bridges will reprise the super--streaking neon role of Kevin Flynn while Daft Punk will be providing the soundtrack. Well played; the French duo know something about the vid scoring. All of the videos from their 2001 album Discovery combine for an intergallactic anime adventure, just the way the 80's would have had it. Corny as hell.

Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem...

Go down that hole

2009-07-23T19:34:00.004-04:00

Absolutely cannot wait for this. March fifth, twenty-ten...

Director: Tim Burton
Alice: some 10 yr old Aussie chick
The Mad Hatter: Johnny Depp
The Caterpillar: Alan Rickman
The Cheshire Cat: Stephen Fry
Red Queen: Tim Burton's wife
White Queen: Anne Hathaway
The Knave of Hearts: Crispin Glover

From 1982... narrated by Vincent Price.

the enigma of the day

2009-07-22T23:43:00.012-04:00

Naboo.

not in it for the blood

2009-07-22T17:54:00.005-04:00

Just another great band on Sub Pop Records...

The Fruit Bats newest album ~ The Ruminant Band ~ is set to be released on August 4th. And they kick off the tour August 18th in Vancouver.

Music Hall of Williamsburg ~ September 14th.

so cute you could eat 'em. just like that polar bear

2009-07-22T09:42:00.005-04:00

The Fiery Furnaces are delectable gems of delight.

This duo has all the elements for indie-pop palate whetting: they're brother~sister, they're Brooklyn based and she has bangs.

Buuuut, like the bangs, the furnaces have been around to earn it. Formed in 2000, their latest album ~ I'm Going Away ~ was released yesterday on Rough Trade Records and is the band's 7th studio release.

The Fiery Furnaces are playing tonight at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in NYC. The Housing Works site seems to be impaired, so no link. But it's in SoHo. 126 Crosby St. if you're interested in the hip tonite.

This just in from Austrailia of the day

2009-07-21T23:28:00.002-04:00

Summer Cats.

FREE tonite at Bowery Ballroom. The Boosh!

2009-07-21T16:06:00.005-04:00

The Mighty Boosh, colloquially referred to as The Boosh, is the collective name for the creators of the cult British comedy written by and starring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC.

the mighty boosh - legend of old greg

The doors open tonite at 9pm for the stage show and song & dance. I'd say get there around 7pm to get in. It's first come first serve. So get served!

Finally, already.

2009-07-21T11:59:00.003-04:00

It rains... tonite at Santos Party House.

So, this is Mayer Hawthorne. He signed to Stones Throw Records after a mere two song listen by studio head Peanut Butter Wolf. The singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist is the latest contributor to the trend of contemporary work that sounds like it was originally recorded between 1966 and 1974. How retro.

Electronic Trip Down the Bunny Hole.

2009-07-09T17:15:00.002-04:00

This actually existed of the day.

2009-07-08T22:53:00.002-04:00

ACTION mother-fuckin PARK.

I'm providing an abridged version of literature of the facility... because frankly, I can't write it any better. Although I add personal commentary. Anywaay...

Action Park was a waterpark/motor themed park open from 1978 to 1996 in New Jersey. It featured three separate attraction areas: an alpine slide, Motorworld, and Waterworld.

Its popularity went hand in hand with a reputation for poorly-designed, unsafe rides; inattentive, underaged, underpaid and sometimes under-the-influence employees; equally intoxicated and underprepared visitors — and the poor safety record that followed from this perfect storm of circumstances. At least six people are known to have died as a result of mishaps on rides at the park.

The alpine ride was an operator controlled mini-sled ~ armed only with a hand-brake ~ that sped up to 60 mph down a slick that may or may not handle your bundle as you cruise.

Here's a glimpse:

This fuckin joint was nicknamed Traction Park, Accident Park, Class-Action Park, Danger Park and Death Park by doctors at nearby hospitals due to the number of severely injured parkgoers they treated. Little action was taken by state regulators despite a history of repeat violations; in its later years personal-injury lawsuits forced the closure of more and more rides until the park itself was closed.

A close, personal friend lamented on the hilarity and fun that abounded. To that I say ~ hijinx. His visits were near-death experiences that have led to his mal-funtioned state of life. He relished in the PVC-type tubing that shot him out into sub-zero degree waters whilth recollecting a boy that was dragged out of the pool the color of my 501's. Dude.

"Untamed, almost out-of-control experiences abound at Action Park. Bombs Away's short slide abruptly ends and sends brave souls freefalling about 15 feet into a gulch. The adjacent Canyon Cliffs skips the slide; daredevils simply jump off the edge for a 20-foot dive into the water."

Possibly to their death. Electrocutions, drownings, heart attacks, negligence. Yes. The good times did roll. Such a tragic piece of Americana, only to be lost. And only in New Jersey.

Phantogram'd

2009-07-08T21:41:00.001-04:00

Listen.

PHANTOGRAM.

And watch...

Dayliner of the Day

2009-07-07T18:09:00.003-04:00

Baby Dayliner ~ aka Ethan Marunas ~ is from and based in NYC. He went to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts ~ the high school from the 1980 film FAME.

Under the Baby Dayliner moniker, Marunas has released two albums on Brassland Records.

Here's a single from his latest EP:
You Push, I'll Go

Marunas' first influence was classical music that his parents and private teachers fed him as a child violinist (age 7-17). Later came jazz and hip-hop records ~ that prove influence in his pseudo-rap tracks. He finally whet his chops in pop and cites Hall and Oats as his major duo of influence.

Bjork spins her i-pod

2009-07-07T14:24:00.003-04:00

Last week on All Things Considered...
Bjork spun it wo' pop.

Artists highlighted:

Omar Souleyman
Eyeless in Gaza
Olof Arnalds
The Pokrovsky Ensemble
Micachu and the Shapes

Orca of the Day.

2009-07-06T17:31:00.006-04:00

Accompanied by a revolving door of cast members since 2002, The Dirty Projectors is a Brooklyn based experimental indie pop collective fronted by Dave Longstreth . Their first album on Domino Records ~ Bitte Orca ~ was released on June 9th, 2009.

Here's the single Stillness is the Move:

In 2008, they collaborated with David Byrne as part of the compilation Dark was the Night.

In 2009, members of Dirty Projectors collaborated with Bjork to perform an original composition by Longstreth; written for five voices and acoustic guitar, it was part of a charity concert to benefit Housing Works.

McCarren Pool Parties move to the river.

2009-07-06T12:24:00.006-04:00

Jelly Presents have moved their Pool Parties to the Williamsburg waterfront. Let's just hope the space can hold all that hipness. The sked is below. Save some dates...

JULY 12th:
Mission of Burma~Fucked Up~Pony Tail~Jemina Pearl

JULY 19th:
Dirty Projectors~Magnolia Electric Co.~White Demin

JULY 26th:
and you will know us by The Trail of Dead~The Black Lips~Health~Grupo Fantasmo

AUGUST 2nd:
Dan Deacon~Deer Hunter~No Age

AUGUST 9th:
Simian Mobile Disco~Fiery Furnaces~Dark Heat~The Netherlands

AUGUST 16th:
Del Tha Funky Homosapien~Prince Paul (DJ set)~DD/MM/YYYY~Gravy Train~Kenan Bell

AUGUST 23rd:
Girl Talk~Max Tundra~Wiz Khalifa

AUGUST 30th:
Grizzly Bear~Beach House

Prospect Park Bandshell

2009-07-01T16:31:00.004-04:00

MGMT plays tonite at Celebrate! Brooklyn.

About this video.

Shakespeare of the Day

2009-06-30T22:53:00.004-04:00

There are only 9 dates left for the latest installation of Shakespeare in the Park. The Twelfth Night is surely not to be missed. Log-in at midnight for a spot on the virtual-line the day of your desired day ~ and check back in ~ in the afternoon to see if you are invited..! For Free!

The players were recently on Leonard Lopate ~ it should be quite a treat.

Please sir, I want some. More.

Discover Discovery

2009-06-30T18:25:00.002-04:00

Featuring members of Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot ~ Discovery ~ album out July 7th.

Nudie Strikes Again.

2009-06-30T11:36:00.000-04:00

Wilco appeared on The Tonight Show last week bathed in Nudie Suits. Spectacular.

That original post was based on the first episode of the Wilco/Nudie Suit tale.

Wilco's latest, self-titled album is out today.

Rusty Santos of the Day

2009-06-29T22:53:00.001-04:00

Rusty Santos will be performing at Monkey Town Wednesday night.

Former Animal Collective, Ariel Pink and Vashti Bunyan producer, Santos has released four solo albums and currently touring as The Present.