Misc. Music Archives

With their SXSW performance tomorrow (you can listen to the webcast on NPR) and the news that Accelerate will debut on iLike/Facebook on March 24th, the hype for R.E.M.'s new album is everywhere. I sure as hell hope it lives up to expectations. Editors lead singer Tom Smith liked what he heard from the album when I talked to him in January.

Here's the first video from the album, for the track "Supernatural Superserious," a decent song but not a classic by any means.

If you want a classic, try this on for size:

[mp3] R.E.M. | So. Central Rain (live in Cologne, 2001)

You can get the entire show (2 CD's worth) here.

I'm still excited about seeing Stipe & Co. this summer with Modest Mouse and The National. I haven't seen R.E.M. since the Up tour. I just couldn't bear to pay the $75 for tickets to DAR last time they toured.

While the rest of the music blogging world is heading to Austin, it's time for me to go for mine. I am very happy to announce that information leafblower dot com is putting on its first-ever concert featuring Robbers on High Street with The City Veins at the Rock and Roll Hotel on April 3rd. I've been a Robbers fan for a while now, especially after The Fatalist and Friends EP, so I'm super-stoked to be hosting them here in our fair city. The City Veins are an up-and-coming D.C. band that have been generating some great local buzz. Should be a lot of fun.

You can buy advance tickets here.

Here is the video for "Crown Victoria," the latest track from the Robbers on High Street album Grand Animals.

[mp3] Robbers on High Street | Married Young

[mp3] The City Veins | Strike Up The Band
[mp3] The City Veins | Toe The Line Band

Grab you some Neon Neon tracks. That's the new collabo between Gruff Rhys and producer Boom Bip. I've been rocking "Raquel" on my iTunes for the last few weeks.

Paging Kegzies! Swervedriver have reunited for an upcoming NYC gig.

No Pavement reunion any time soon? Maybe? Pretty please? Just not for Coachella.

Related: TLOBF, one of my fave UK blogs, talks to Senor Malkmus.

Doves new album “moving along nicely.” Rock.

Spiritualized's new record, Songs in A&E, will get a US release!

New Mew? Yes please. Maybe then I will stop listening to And the Glass Handed Kites and Frengers. But I doubt it.

Completely unrelated: D.C. United season starts in just a few days time. Woo hoo!

Sadly, Pela's March 14th show at the Rock n' Roll Hotel has been canceled, along with the rest of their tour.

During last night’s show at Schuba’s in Chicago Billy fell off the stage, landing on a broken pint glass. This happened during the triumphant finale of the set; the stage was crowded with people dancing and singing to ‘Cavalry’, while a strobe light turned their vision into a cut screen movie. His left hand has a gash on the palm, and a deep slice in his pinky finger which also cut tendons.

We regrettably must announce that Schuba’s was the last night of the tour.

We promise to make up each and every show as soon as possible and apologize to everyone who purchased tickets. Arrangements are being made with all of the clubs on how best to handle the situation. We will have more information soon.

Webmaster note: you can send your best wishes to billy@pelamusic.com and I'll forward them to him.

Get well soon Billy.

[mp3] Pela | Cavalry (live at the Bowery Ballroom)

**[UPDATE - 03/05]**

Billy will be interviewed by John Richards on KEXP today at 8am Pacific time (11am Eastern time). You can listen online at kexp.org and on air if you are lucky enough to get KEXP on your radio waves.

Billy was asked to share his thoughts about the tour, his injury, and anything else that come to mind - for everyone that bought tickets to see us on this tour.

We apologize for the last minute post, but we just found out.

Pela

Monday:

These United States @ Iota - Jessie Elliot and Tom Hnatow are good friends and even better musicians. This is the first date in their forthcoming US tour that will take them all over this damn country, playing with a different backing band in every city. They are also releasing their debut record tomorrow. I highly recommend you check them out if you like your music loose and laid back.
[mp3] These United States | First Sight

Tuesday:
Say Hi @ Black Cat - Been looking forward to this show for a while now. Their new record The Wishes And The Glitch is getting quite a few spins from me lately.
[mp3] Say Hi | Northwestern Girls
[mp3] Say Hi | Toil And Trouble
[mp3] Say Hi | Zero To Love

Jesse Malin and De Novo Dahl @ Iota

Thursday:
Born Ruffians w/ Cadence Weapon @ DC9

Friday:

Sia w/ Har Mar Superstar @ 9:30

Saturday:

The Hives w/ The Donnas @ 9:30

Jukebox The Ghost @ Rock and Roll Hotel - Heard nothing but good things about JTG, but I can't seem to make it to one of their shows. Last time they were in town I was in Philly seeing the Super Furries. It's becoming a running joke at this point.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Meanwhile in Durham...

Virgin Festival rumors...Personally I would be suprised if Foo Fighters and Stone Temple Pilots aren't there.

Here are the last bands added to the All Points West Festival. Still rather meh in my opinion. Also, it looks like those APW will be Radiohead's only NYC area appearances.

The Charlatans have released their new record as a free download.

Art Brut: the best unsigned band in Britain?

26 tempting but inappropriate funeral songs.

It’s almost unbearable how perfect Elastica could be.

I had a fun weekend, more on that tomorrow. This should, fingers crossed, be my last week in work purgatory. Hopefully things will get back to normal next Monday.

At work but still sick. Hence my brevity.

Things I'm loving right about now

• Leap Day!


• Tissues with lotion in them.


• Ted Leo emailing me to tell me he likes the new design of the leafblower. Best.


• PJ Brown.


• The prospective Allen - Alien backcourt.


• Last night's LOST episode. Holy Fuck.


• The High Places LP 03/07 - 09/07. Saw them and loved them last year at Whartscape.


• Panda Bear's Person Pitch. Gruff played me the first song off this album on the tour bus in D.C. It's amazing, like a Beach Boys side project produced by DJ Shadow.

Things I am rather "meh" about right now

• SXSW. I do not care what artists you have playing there.


• Traveling again this weekend.


• Citibank canceling my debit card to "protect my checking account" from identity theft. That's great, but how about telling me before you do it next time, okay?


• Coughing up green stuff.


• Still being sick after three days.

MMJ strikes again! Here is a video they shot last year at Lollapalooza, comprised entirely of video taken by the audience on their cell phones, digicams and whatnot. What I love about this is they credit the people during their little snippet of video. Best. I am seriously late to this party, but I like MMJ more and more everyday.

[via Grant and his Man Ship]

If item # 2 is correct. Underworld opening for Radiohead on their US tour?

Holy fuck.

Via The Tripwire, I see that the Brothers Gallagher have placed 1 and 2 in the poll of the top 50 Best Ever British Albums put on by Q Magazine and HMV. I also took great pleasure in seeing that Blur placed no higher than 25th for Parklife, proving once again that while that fookin' poof Albarn may be the critic's darling, Liam and Noel are the men of the people. All you need to do to get an understanding why is listen to this fantastic All Back to Mine BBC program recorded with Noel back in 1997 . Noel seems like someone you could go down the the corner pub and have a pint with, while even Dan Abnormal admits his own bands hates his guts.

Some other surprises (pleasant and otherwise); Keane placing twice in the top 13, The Manics The Holy Bible, Songs of Faith and Devotion from Depeche Mode, only one album for The Who and no New Order.

Here's the Top Five, full list after the jump.

01. Definitely Maybe Oasis
02. (What's The Story) Morning Glory? Oasis
03. OK Computer Radiohead
04. Revolver The Beatles
05. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses