I thought everyone knew about this woman but if you don’t here’s your chance.
Today only, Amazon is selling the MP3 version of “Lungs” by Florence + The Machine for $3.99.
You can thank me by leaving a review here.
Caught Peter Gabriel this past weekend at The Hollywood Bowl. Although the show was all orchestral, he rocked. The first part of the show featured a back-to-front performance of his all cover album SCRATCH MY BACK.
The second half was devoted to a lot of the songs you love… with a few exceptions. Yeah, I’m sure “Sledgehammer” would be hard to orchestrate but don’t we all love a challenge?
And why didn’t he play this Vampire Weekend cover?
Actually it’s more like “how hard do I have to work?”
Nothing says “Friday Fun” like a graphic, especially one that’s kinda depressing, right?! Anyway, I found this and had to share.
Pretty sobering, especially when I think about how I’ll probably have to release my first feature solo and online. How I wish the ONE TOO MANY MORNINGS guys would release their data. I wonder how they’re doing.
I’m still recovering from my Coachella experience so let me be swift and let me be brutal
Day One
Yeasayer – Sounded great. Would love to check them out in a proper venue.
Ra Ra Riot – Much improved from their SXSW show, which was riddled with technical issues. Fell in love with the violinist, crushing hard on the cellist (who might have the best ass in indie rock)
The Specials – Sounded so good. Wish I would have checked them out longer but had to catch…
Passion Pit – Tons of fun but the lead singer needs vocal lessons… or the mix was way off but I doubt that because the second he sung falsetto (which is always) he was impossible to hear.
Them Crooked Vultures – Good to see John Paul Jones live but I wish they didn’t sound like Queens of the Stone Age outtakes.
Echo & The Bunnymen – He’s such a prick but he’s earned it.
Vampire Weekend – Without a double my pick of the day. Last time they were nervous, stiff and out to prove themselves. This time they came to rock and boy did they.
Jay Z – So I can check that off the list. And now I love how Danger Mouse improved him even more.
Day Two
Camera Obscura – I was certain they’d wilt in the desert heat but they were surprisingly awesome.
White Rabbits – I wish these guys were surprisingly awesome but they’re young so I’ll cut them some slack.
Tokyo Police Club – Man, I wish they were better live.
The xx – Their sound is huge. Go see them, preferably outdoors. Just awesome.
Dirty Projectors – Oh, oh, oh damnit, you’re only good on albums.
Corinne Bailey Rae – Still beautiful.
Faith No More – They opened with a bitchin’ cover of “Reunited” and commanded the stage until their last note. Without a doubt my pick of the day.
MGMT – They sounded better. I’m done saying nice things about them.
Muse – In theory I should really, REALLY like… unfortunately that’s just in theory.
The Dead Weather – Alison, don’t leave The Kills for this band. You and The Kills are better than this side project.
Day Three
Mayer Hawthorne – I’m a little over the current white soul surge… or maybe just this guy.
Florence and The Machine – Very good but not magical and she really should have been magical.
Julian Casablancas – Sounded great, just like The Strokes (are they still together) but still great.
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Yawn.
Phoenix – Just when I lost my faith in the French they rocked it. For sure my pick of the day.
Pavement – Sounding good guys.
The Big Pink – Way heavier than their album and I wish they weren’t. Still, worth checking out.
Gorillaz – Damon, get your ego out of your ass and stop boring me!
On a final note, the new “in/out” policy whereby people can enter the show, leave to go back to their car and then return, resulted in way more folk rolling. Christ, I saw a pack of fourteen year-old girls doing blow, in public no less. The whole event took on a different vibe.
Okay, I’m off the soapbox. Here are my pics.
One last note. This is my 500th post. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna go all Clark Boyd but I knew I wasn’t gonna go Brian Ibbott. Instead, let this marker stand as a good place to look back, then look forward.
Thanks to this volcano erupting in Iceland, The Cribs, Bad Lieutenant, Gary Numan and my favorite band of the moment, Frightened Rabbit, will probably have to cancel their Coachella appearances because they’re stuck in Europe
I only got one thing to say to that.
Although I’m on what will most likely be my fourth 16-hour day in a row, I took a minute to check out the Coachella lineup and choose the acts I want to see. Here they be (they’re the ones that have been outlined).
What other bands should I check out?
So excited, so tired.
A few posts ago I told you about a SXSW music torrent that contained 1,038 songs. I listened to all those songs and these are the 59 tracks that I found worthy of a second listen.
I just saved you over a day of listening. You’re welcome. So what do you think? Do you like/hate any of these?
My final day at SXSW started late but thanks to my friend, the beautiful & always stylish Kelly, I was able to see Ben Gibbard play the Stereogum party.
Man, this man and his band will always have space on my music shelf.
I then ran across town to catch The Boxer Rebellion.
As you can see from that pic, these guys were rocking the hell out of their last show.
And what SXSW would be complete without a Frightened Rabbit sighting.
So damn good. I’m pretty sure the plane ride home will feature lots of their tunes only interrupted by…
This was my second time seeing them but now I’m completely in love with Rachel Flotard. Why? First, she saw me singing along and mentioned it. Second, the set was awesome and she even took an off-the-cuff request from the audience. Third, she referenced both Winger and “Pigs in Space“. Seriously, Rachel, when you’re in LA drop me a line and I’ll take you out for a dinner.
Next up was Minipop.
Why these guys? Because I like their song from the 1,038 MP3 SXSW music sampler I told you about. What an added bonus that the lead singer is such a cutie.
I then saw Best Coast because my friend Kate tole me to.
Since they’re a new band and the lead singer was whining about having played so many shows at the festival (who didn’t?) all I’ll say is that I should have checked out Surfer Blood instead.
And finally I braved the cold night to witness Death.
They were awesome and if you don’t know their story you should listen to this NPR story. And obviously they’re my pick-of-the-day.
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And with the I say adios to SXSW. I hope to come back soon. LA, here I come.
BTW, the next stop on the Tony Music Express is Coachella!
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