Brad @ Highline Ballroom, NYC

As I mentioned in my previous post, I had gotten free passes to the CMJ music marathon here in NYC. The first night of the music marathon I had found out that the band Brad was playing over at the Highline Ballroom, a small little music venue located in NYC's meatpacking district.

Having first heard of Brad way back in 1993, when they released their debut album Shame, which ended up being one of my favorite albums of that year, with its soulful funk grooved rock jams. I had always thought that that was their only offering and that the band kind of just disbanded, but unbeknownst to me they have steadily been putting out albums since then. They're currently working on a fifth album due out soon. So when I saw that they were playing I was pretty excited to go check them out.

Now for those of you who don't know one of the members of Brad is Stone Gossard who some of you might realize is a guitarist for that little known band Pearl Jam. Now although that would be one reason to go check them out the real reason to listen to Brad and to see them live is for their singer Shawn Smith. I had never seen pictures of the other members of Brad so I was surprised to finally see where this extremely soulful voice come from. Shawn Smith looks like a combination of Meat loaf, Ronnie Van Zant(singer from Lynyrd Skynyrd) and one of the actors from the defunct HBO series DeadWood. Looking at this guy you would never expect a voice like that to come out of him, yet it does. Even though Stone Gossard, contributes to the signature sound of the band the real star of this band is Shawn Smith, not only can this guy sing he also has a commanding stage presence.

The one criticism about the show is that they had this special guest guitarist playing with them. This guy looked like your middle aged uncle who still thinks he's in his twenties. He had 1980's style long hair that was pulled back into a pony tail which was just barely covering the bald spot on the top of his head. He also wore sports styled sunglasses throughout the entire performance(maybe he just had a cataracts operation I don't know). I could of lived with those two strikes against him but the camel that broke the straws back would be his constant guitar solos that really just didn't fit in with the rest of the music. He would start his solo and stroll up to the front of the stage and place one foot onto a monitor and get into that cliched 80's style rockstar guitar pose that says hey look at me aren't I so cool! I just didn't get his whole schtick, maybe he was crying out for attention, or just trying to relive his former glory days. He was just so distracting from the rest of the band . What would of been an outstanding stellar show was just a pretty good show, all because of him.

So the next day I did some Googling to find out who this guy was. Well, it turns out his name was Kevin Wood. He was a member, along with his brother Andy Wood of the band Malfunkshun, who some considered the "godfathers" of grunge, along with The Melvins(my favorite) and Neil Young. So, finally the connection was made as to why he was there. You see his brother Andy after Mulfunkshun broke up, formed a band called Mother Love Bone which featured Stone Gossard. Just days before the release of their first album Andy Wood died of a drug overdose. The significance of this is that if that didn't happen Pearl Jam may have never existed since Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament would than go on to form the basis of that band.

So enough with this grunge music history lesson since this post is getting way to long. I will leave you with this, if you have a chance to see Brad live, do so and hopefully they won't a guest guitarist, who is an aging rock star trying to relive his past on stage with them.

Brad @ Myspace
Brad official website

If you liked it digg it and stumbleupon it!

The Noisettes

This indie rock band from London, The Noisettes often get compared to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, mostly because it's two guys with an outrageously talented women for a singer. Yet if The Noisettes had been around before the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, it would be the latter being compared to the former. Their sound has often been described as punk rock soul and I would have to agree after having listened to front woman Shingai Shoniwa sing with her distinctive soulful punk rock swagger. Shingai who also plays the bass is backed by guitarist Dan Smith and drummer Jamie Morrison. The Noisettes are widely popular in their hometown London and hopefully they'll hit it big here in the States. So with out blabbering on anymore with my lame ass reviewing writing style, why don't you give them a listen.

Here's a live acoustic version of their song IWE.


The Noisettes: Scratch my Name and Bridge to Canada
The Noisettes MySpace
The Noisettes official site
If you liked it digg it

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a new EP out entitled Is Is. The songs on it aren't exactly new, they're songs that they've been playing live since 2004. The versions of the songs on the EP are however reworked studio versions so they don't exactly sound like the ones they've been playing live. You can check out a couple of the new songs on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs MySpace page. They are also going on a mini tour in the US, unfortunately I won't be able to go check them out because the ticket prices are a bit steep for me, which sucks because they are playing right near me.I would of loved to have heard the new songs live because from what I've heard so far of the EP they are pretty awesome.

Here's a video of one of the new songs, entitled Down Boy.




Yeah Yeah Yeahs official site


If you liked it digg it

Arctic Monkeys

For the past month or so I've been listening to nothing but the Arctic Monkeys on my iPod. I know that they were once touted as the next big thing from Britain when they first blipped on the radar over here, but I didn't really pay much attention to them. That all changed on a whim when I got their album Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not. Their are some really great tunes on the album from Riot Van to Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...

You hate to classify music but if I had to I would describe it as indie-punk-pop. I know that thats a bit of a odd combination of musical descriptions but let me clear it up for you. I classify it as indie-punk-pop and not just solely as pop-punk because with been brainwashed my the current trends of music into believe punk music today is some band that has a number somewhere in its name, the members have tattoos, their video is usually played after a Britney Spears video on MTV and they site their musical influences as far back as Green Day. No offense to Green Day, I've actually have come to like them as they've progressed in their career, but that's a whole nother blog. So indie-punk sounded like a good description since I would classify them as punk but not mainstream pop punk. I also threw in the label pop, because a good deal of their songs if given a chance could be radio hits and the popular(hence the label pop) culture would like them. Lets me put it this way this is a band that you would have lots of fun listening too/watching in a crowded bar drinking pints of beer with your friends. What's better than that.

Okay enough of that, basically enough of that. If you haven't heard of or listened to any of the Arctic Monkey's music, well your in luck they will be releasing a new album aptly titled Favourite Worst Nightmare, April 23rd. You can check out some of the tracks and see what some other blogs are saying about them, if you scroll down to my newly implemented Hype Machine Widget, located in the left sidebar. You can also hear a couple songs on their myspace profile.

Arctic Monkeys official site
Arctic Monkeys on myspace

On a side note they will be playing the Coachella Music Festival this year. IF you want to buy me tickets to go please don't hesitate to do so.

If you liked it digg it

Matt Weddle covers Outkast's Hey Ya

You really need to check this video out. This guy named Matt Weddle does a hippiefied cover version of Outkast's hit Hey Ya. If I didn't hear it myself I would of laugh at the notion of doing an acoustic version of this song. Somehow he manages to not only pull it off but to even, dare I say do a better rendition of the song than Outkast themselves. Well watch the video and you decide for yourself.



If you like it you can download the song here

If you liked it digg it

Lady Sovereign

Is the next rap super star a 5' 1" white girl from England, who goes by the name Lady Sovereign? Well I'm not an avid hip-hop/rap listener but if the punk rock/drum-n-bass tracks that I've heard are any indication of what Lady Sovereign has to offer than I would say yes. Plus it doesn't hurt to have Jay-Z sign you to his label and have everyone from Adrock, of the Beastie Boys(who did a remix of one of her songs) to Timbaland, Snoop Dog and the Neptunes wanting to work with her.

Although Lady Sovereign hasn't reached superstar popularity in her homeland of England due to her being mislabeled as a Chav and being associated with the Chav culture. She is sure to make a big splash on this side of the pond, mainly because I think the US rap/hip-hop audience is looking for something new in their hip-hop which we can see in the success of Gnarles Barkley, MFDOOM and Danger Mouse. So why don't you throw on a hoodie and trow back a Heiniken and give Lady Sovereign a chance, you never know you just might like her.

Ladysovereign.com (official website)
Wikipedia article
Lady Sovereign's Myspace Page

While checking out Lady Sovereign's myspace page be sure to download the live version of Public Warning. You can also find a bunch of other Lady Sovereign's songs floating around on the internet that you can download(you just have to know where to look), but if you like what you hear support this talented artist and buy her music.

A plagiarised blog about The Black Keys

So as I've already done in my 2 previous blogs, this week I'm going to try a little experiment and not post any original blogs, instead I will plagiarize other people's blogs. You may ask yourself why I'm doing this, well you see my blog doesn't get any hits/visitors what so ever. I think yesterday I only got 1 hit on my blog and that was probably me checking my blog to see if I had any visitors(yes its a vicious circle). So my experiment is to see if it's my subject matter, my style of writing or is my blog just plain not interesting, so why should people bother visiting it and waste their time here while there are millions of other uninteresting blogs out their to visit. Also another reason I'm doing this is that I just don't have the time to keep on writing my own blogs this week(how do all you people do it?) so this is also a practical matter on my part.

So let the experiment proceed......

The Black Keys

The Black Keys released their latest album Magic Potion yesterday. It's right in line with Keys' albums of the past and just as good. It's do-it-yourself-lo-fi-hard-driving-blues-rock. It's their first album for Nonsuch Records. The Keys continue to garner critical acclaim, a growing fan base (which I will always be a part of) and recognition from their peers. They've opened for Beck, Sleater-Kinney and Radiohead, played Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Fest, and their music seems to be making its way into the commercial mainstream a little more each year. Two white boys from Akron, Ohio putting out some of the best blues-rock around. They do their forefathers and influences (John Lee Hooker, Cream, Jimi Hendrix) proud. The Black Keys' MySpace.

Interesting factoid: They named the band, not as a play on the name of the band The White Stripes, of whom they had not heard when they named themselves but are often compared to, but from inspiration of a schizophrenic artist friend in Akron, who used the term "black keys" to describe things he disliked or people he did not trust.

Older Works:

The Black Keys - Meet Me in the City
The Black Keys - 10 A.M. Automatic
The Black Keys - Have Love Will Travel
The Black Keys - Busted
The Black Keys - Heavy Soul

Peaches: Impeach My Bush (2006)

So, Peaches the reigning queen of punk electrotrash music* is back, with a new album titled Impeach My Bush From the title of the album one would assume that this record would be filled with politically charged anti-Bush songs, well one would be wrong if they thought that. Besides the first track, which only clocks in at 49 seconds, titled F*ck or Kill in which Peaches sings "I'd rather f*ck who I want than kill who I'm told to" over and over there are no other overtly political references on the rest of the album. So, it just makes me think that Peaches just wanted to show us how clever she is with words and how they can have a double meaning or maybe no meaning at all.

With that said Peaches, on this album doesn't break any new musical ground, its basically more of the same as her last 2 records 2003's Fatherf*cker and 2000's Teaches of Peaches. Now, I don't mean to dissuade you from getting it, because if your a fan of Peaches you won't be disappointed. Some of the stand out tracks on the album are Tent In Your Pants, which features the standout lyrics, "It hurts so good I got a soregasm" it really doesn't get any better than that. The other tracks that stick in my head are Boys Wanna Be Her(which features once again an awesome collaboration with Joan Jett!), Two Guys(For Every Girl) and Do Ya(which can be heard on the new Gap commercial).

I'm not sure if Peaches is mellowing as she gets older or if I'm just becoming desensitized to vulgarities as I get older but, I didn't find this album as explicit and raw as her previous one's. Don't let that fool you though, Peaches is far from breaking into the mainstream and becoming a household name. You won't hear her music on the radio nor see her videos on MTV(does MTV even play videos anymore?) but with Gap(one of the most mainstream commercial retailers in the world) using one of her songs as a soundtrack for their new commercial, just maybe just maybe she might get her pinky toe into the mainstream consciousness. With that said, and if you've made it through this horribly written review, if you've never heard of Peaches before or if your a long time fan I would recommend getting her new album, Impeach My Bush.

Peaches is currently on tour with the Eagles of Death Metal and I will be seeing them on Saturday 22nd at Irving Plaza, Hopefully I'll have the time to write a review of the show, but if she's as good as the other time I saw her I can only bet that its going to be good.


Peaches wikipedia article: here


*If there is a reigning queen of punk electrotrash music than Peaches would be it.

There's a Peeping Tom in all of us.

You may remember Mike Patton as the singer of Faith No More or maybe Mr. Bungle. If you've been wondering where he's been, well he's never left. He's been putting out some of the best music around since he's left Faith No More. He's no one band man or a one man band for that matter. He's been the voice of Fantomas, Tomahawk and numerous other side projects. He's collaborated with the likes of Bjork, John Zorn and Sepultura.

One of my favorite side projects of his was the 2001 album Lovage which featured Dan the Automater and Jennifer Charles. Well I think that just might be surplanted as my favorite Mike Patton side project(lets hope this is just more than a side project though). Mike Pattons new album is called Peeping Tom, which I believe is his take on the 1960 film of the same name. I've never seen the film so I have nothing to say about it. I have heard the album though and it is as in Mike Patton's words what radio should sound like. The album features song collaborations between such artists as Bebel Gilberto, Kool Keith, Massive Attack, Norah Jones and of course Pattons long time collaborator Dan The Automator.

Some of the stand out songs on the album are Mojo (Featuring Rahzel and Dan The Automator), Celebrity Death Match (Featuring Kid Koala) and Kill The DJ (Featuring Massive Attack). My favorite song on the album has to be Sucker (Featuring Norah Jones). On the song you hear a side of Norah Jones you'd never expect when she sexily sings the words "What do you think your my only lover, Motherfvcker". That song alone is worth getting the whole album.

So if your looking for some new music to listen to this summer, give Peeping Tom a listen, it just might satisfy the voyeur in you.

The Japanese Invasion

We're always looking for that next great rock band that will supposedly save rock n roll well if the Japanese band named BORIS is any inclination of what Japan has to offer, than the next great rock bands of the future just might be coming from Japan.

I discovered(well in the sense of how Columbus discovered America) BORIS, over the weekend. They are a Japanese experimental noise metal stoner punk band with influences of Motorhead, Melvins, Black Sabbath and a bit of John Cage thrown in for good measure. You should really check them out. Their first US release called BORIS:PINK hit US record stores in March anything they've recorded before that will be a bit hard to find in the US.

BORIS will be playing a show at NYC's Avalon tonight, Tues, May 30th. So if your in NYC tonight and have nothing to do or would like something better to do go check them out! Unfortunately I can't make it to see them so if you do go check them out please feel free to rub it in my nose and let me know how the show was.

Here's their website:BORIS and here's their record label's website Southern Lord Records

Something to whet your appetite: Korosu.mp3

Dave Navarro

So while wasting away some time on the internet yesterday I came across Dave Navarro's website/blog. If you don't know who Dave Navarro is he was the guitarist for Jane's Addiction and did a stint for The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. He is also in a new band with Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, called The Panic Channel.

I downloaded a few songs by The Panic Channel and I'm listening to them right now. I'm a bit undecided on whether I like them or not. If anyone else has any opinions about them feel free to comment. They're also playing a show in NYC at Avalon on Thursday May 25. I guess what it really comes down to, is that I still yearn for the Jane's Addiction of my youth, circa Nothing Shocking.

Anyway I'm getting off topic here, back to Dave's website which is www.6767.com. Does anyone know why its 6767 or what it means? Regardless of what the 6767 stands for, you should definitely check out his site. He also has an internet radio show called Spread Radio, which is very good, I added it to my iTunes. He plays a great mixture of music and live interviews, on the show.

Also another site to check out in regards to Dave Navarro is Dave Navarro is god or just DNIG for short. Is it me or should that guy get a life. Not Dave but the guy who made the DNIG website? I guess maybe I shouldn't talk.

Well I gotta go and do more important stuff like see a man about a horse.

Until next time and remember your not really wasting time until you've read my blog!

The Raconteurs show.

So this past Friday my GF and I went to go see The Raconteurs over at Irving Plaza in NYC. I managed to get some of their music about a week before the show and give it a listen so I would be familiar with their music. Like probably most of the people there, my GF and I went because Jack White was in the band. Yeah the music is not bad but who wouldn't want to see Jack White play music in a small venue.(no I don't have a shrine of Jack White in my bedroom closet) Well let me just say, after the 3rd song I began to forget that it was Jack White and some other guys playing music. It was The Raconteurs, and they were pretty damn good. The show was above and beyond my expectations. Although if you do go see them make sure you wear ear plugs, I think my ears are still ringing.

Let me not forget the opening band, The Muldoons. Although I only caught a couple songs, since my GF and I decided to have a few beers over at Pete's Tavern and than had to use the bathroom before we claimed our spot on the concert floor. What I did catch of them, amazed me. The band consists of two brothers, 8 & 11 years old and their father on drums. They are a pint sized punk band. Not your proto, pop MTV boy band punk but your old school punk. They site their influences as Iggy Pop, The Ramones and MC5. Did I mention that they are 8 & 11 years old! Despite their age though, they would give any band a run for their money. I've tried searching for some songs of theirs on the internet but I have yet to find something. I keep getting hits on this other band called the Muldoons that were around in the late 60's or early 70's. (someone correct me if I'm wrong) If anyone has any links, of the tiny punk rockers The Muldoons music please email me.

If you weren't able to see the show or are just curious to check out The Raconteurs. The band will appear on Late Night with Conan O’Brien on May 19th.

The Raconteurs

So Friday night I'm going to see The Raconteurs(please don't ask me to pronounce that) at Irving Plaza in NYC. This is Jack White's side project. You know Jack White from the White Stripes. I've downloaded a few songs and they sound alright. I also downloaded a live concert. The songs that sounded more like White Stripe songs are the ones that sounded the best, but that's just my opinion. Check them out and find out on your own. I'll also update you on how the concert was.

rac•on•teur |,rak,ån'ter; -en-|
noun
a person who tells anecdotes in a skillfull and amusing way.

ORIGIN: early 19centuryrey France, from
ranconter 'relate, recount.'


Here a few links for you to checkout some of their songs:
2 songs
Raconteurs live in Glasgow
more songs

You should also check out their official website. It has a very cool retro command line computer interface.
The Raconteurs