the leather canary

r.i.p.

2009-09-20T19:00:00.010-05:00

well, it looks like this thing has run it's course...thanks to everyone who's visited over the past few years...it's been fun, but so long for now. -dc & dg.

The Radiohead Reshape

2009-08-17T14:31:00.003-05:00

The worlds most progressive band is now giving away their music for free. Click the link below to download their new single for free.

related - these are my twisted words

-wiz

All Points Jay-Z

2009-08-01T16:16:00.005-05:00

Due the unfortunate circumstance surrounding MCA's recent health diagnosis, the Beastie Boys had to cancel a number of shows.

All Points West book Jay-Z as the day one headliner to replace the Beastie Boys. The ultimate showman, Jay-Z came out playing the Beastie Boy's classic "No Sleep Til Brooklyn". Which was a huge hit with the crowd and a bit of a homage to the Boys.

related: too many rappers

-wiz

Air Show

2009-07-28T16:23:00.006-05:00

This is my homage to the air show in Milwaukee last weekend, sorry no Van Halen.

Related: yo la tengo- here to fall

-wiz

ask permission if i want to go out fishing

2009-07-27T16:01:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I had the distinct honor of standing up at the wedding of friend and Canary-in-Chief Cohen as he sealed the deal with his lovely bride, Candace. It was a great time in the Motor City - good to see friends old and new as well as the families of the bride and groom.

Dan and Candace are truly a remarkable couple who I’ve enjoyed spending time with over the years. Much to the dismay of our parents, the three of us decided to pursue Electronic Media majors in college. During our course studies we often found in each other, a great resource of collaboration, challenge and inspiration throughout the program. From all of our collective documentaries, mock newscasts and attempts at sketch comedy programming – Candace and Dan always had it – they’ll now rival Poehler + Arnett for top comedy couple. We wish you all the best together.

Here’s their first dance off Dan’s highly coveted C+D 7-25-09 disc (limited to 300 copies nationwide – check ebay you may get lucky).

Download: Tom Waits - Little Trip to Heaven (On The Wings of Your Love)

The Best Hot Tub Since James Brown's

2009-07-27T15:30:00.007-05:00

-wiz

Kings Go Forth - Free Download

2009-07-25T13:06:00.003-05:00

The Kings Go Forth put on a great show last night at Turner Hall. They have expanded their arsenal of songs and sound. Their set included some great covers; Archie Bell's "Love Will Rain on You", Love's "Alone Again Or" and Mayer Hawthorne's "Maybe So, Maybe No".

This was scheduled to be their CD release show, but the CD is not quite ready. But they did hand out download cards to tie their fans over.

J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound opened and equally but on a great show. Their cover of Wilco's "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" was better than the video that DC posted a few weeks back.

-wiz

Incase You Missed It or Want to Hear It Again

2009-07-24T09:17:00.004-05:00

Pitchfork once again was a hit. Great music, good people, and a great location. Incase you could not make it down or want to hear it all over again, here are some links to three shows. Enjoy.

The National

Grizzly Bear

M83

- wiz

Monsters In Chicago

2009-07-23T16:01:00.004-05:00

Just announced... supergroup Monsters of Folk will be performing in Chicago at the Auditorium on 10/30. The pre-sale is on 7/28 and regular tickets are on-sale is 8/1. MOF will donate a dollar from each ticket sold to a local charity.

And don't forget the album comes out on 9.22. In the meantime, enjoy the link below.

download: say please - monsters of folk

- wiz

Yim Yames

2009-07-22T15:10:00.001-05:00

It can't come soon enough.

- Wiz

Blitzen Trapper at the Pabst

2009-07-21T22:31:00.004-05:00

Some blogs said Blitzen Trapper sounded like the mid-60's. But they did in fact take the audience on a musical journey. Each song was layered with great classic American rock harmonies and clean sound. They played off each other well both vocally and musically. Even mixing up styles of folk-pop and big guitar rock, all while keeping their harmonies spot-on all night.

Thanks to the gang at the Pabst Theater for the $10 show and 88nine for the live broadcast. And drummer Brian Adrian Koch would make a dynomite Teen Wolf for Halloween.

- Wiz

Related: photo by C.J. Foeckler

Raaaaaaaandy

2009-07-21T10:05:00.002-05:00

-Wiz

Welcome Matt and Kim

2009-07-16T19:11:00.003-05:00

They say that TV is the radio station. Well if that is the case here comes Matt and Kim. Their song "Daylight" has been on heavy rotation on such spots as Bacardi and the new Joel McHale sitcom (which I am very excited for).

I have been a big fan of Matt and Kim for sometime now. They have ventured into some cool partnerships that offer their fans some free music. I hope more is on the way.

- Wiz

Grizzly Bear from the Front Row

2009-07-14T12:33:00.000-05:00

09: Blue Ribbon Vision: Grizzly Bear @ The Pabst Theater from Pabst Theater on Vimeo.

- Wiz

Chicks Dig the Long Ball

2009-07-13T23:34:00.006-05:00

Including a 503 ft blast....congratulations Prince.

download: prince - kiss (daft punk remix)

-Wiz

The Jayhawks

2009-07-13T10:08:00.002-05:00

My friend Tony headed up to the Twin Cities to the Basilica Block Party for The Hold Steady. But to his surprise, he got a bit of a treat on Friday. The hometown boys, The Jayhawks, headline the main stage. Throughout the evening, I kept receiving texts telling me how great they sounded. The last text of the evening said..."Blue with a full choir....amazing."

I have to admit, I was a bit envious. I could only imagine the rich harmonies of Gary Louris and Mark Olson with the rich and soulful sounds of the backing choir.

The Jayhawks are one of forgotten bands in the alt-country movement. But throughout the years they have always released solid albums and singles that will cement them in the alt-country pantheon.

download: the jayhawks - blue

download: the jayhawks - waiting for the sun

-wiz

What's G?

2009-07-09T17:29:00.005-05:00

Get down to the St. Alfred store this weekend and hope you can score some of the limited VIP tickets for Monday screening.

-Wiz

Separated At Birth

2009-07-08T14:09:00.006-05:00

I was walking past The Pabst Theater today and encountered a large poster in the window of Andrew Bird to promote his upcoming shows in October. I never thought of it before but I had to do a double take, he bears a striking resemblance to the actor Sacha Baron Cohen, or vice versa. See for yourself and you be the judge.

download: andrew bird- heretics

-Wiz

Where The Wild Things Are

2009-07-07T14:36:00.007-05:00

I am sure you have heard about the upcoming Spike Jonze film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's. The trailer looks great and the movies features the voices of some great actors including: James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker, and Catherine O'Hara.

If you listen closely, you can hear one of my favorite Arcade Fire tunes "Wake Up". Knowing Spike Jonze and his dynamic ear combined with his cinematography skills, this movie could be pretty amazing.

download: the arcade fire - wake up

-Wiz

It Might Get Loud

2009-07-06T14:15:00.009-05:00

related: Mutant Swinger from Mars

-Wiz

Away We Go

2009-07-06T07:10:00.009-05:00

I checked out Away We Go last night. Sam Mendes put together another solid movie with the help a great story written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida.

Credit John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph for turning in top notch performances. Rudolph, one of my favorites from SNL, did an exceptional job with her character.

What really made the film was the warming and heartfelt soundtrack featuring George Harrison, The Velvet Underground, The Stranglers, and Bob Dylan. The soundtrack is centered around Scottish singer-song writer Alexi Murdoch. His sound has been compared to Nick Drake and you can hear it throughout the film.

download: bob dylan - meet me in the morning

download: george harrison - what is life

download: alexi murdoch - all my days

related: maya as whitney

-Wiz

michael jackson

2009-06-25T21:19:00.000-05:00

r.i.p.

the uptown sound...

2009-06-18T20:11:00.003-05:00

...assassin down the avenue. (via fuel friends)

friday funk & soul

2009-06-05T22:15:00.003-05:00

baby huey's having hard times...kind of like the leather canary.

download: baby huey & the babysitters - hard times

related: was a little surprised to hear this track play over the opening credits of jcvd...decent flick though.

buick mackane

2009-06-03T21:44:00.010-05:00

buick mackane was alejandro escovedo's heavy hitting, early nineties, part-time austin based rock band...they released their only lp, called the pawn shop years, in 1997, though it was recorded somewhat earlier (during the band's pawn shop years, i imagine)...& like most everything alejandro escovedo's involved in, it's pretty fucking awesome.

download: buick mackane - the end

download: buick mackane - falling down again

download: buick mackane - say goodnight

related: a version of the second tune up there, "falling down again", also closed out escovedo's 1992 solo debut, as the second half of the album's lofty title track...& it was perfected, in a medley with lou reed's "street hassle", for the incredible live album, more miles than money a few years later.

download: alejandro escovedo - gravity/falling down again

download: alejandro escovedo - gravity/falling down again/street hassle (10/14/96)

related: chuck klosterman wrote a great paragraph about marc bolan in his book, killing yourself to live, & considering buick mackane took their name from one of bolan's song's, here it is:

"Marc Bolan: Arguably the most pretentious wizard in glam-rock history, Bolan fronted T. Rex, claimed to author science fiction novels that were never published, and honestly believed it was a good idea to name an album "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow: A Creamed Cage in August". With his signature top hat and solid-gold easy action, Bolan loved to sing about cars: He claims to have driven a Rolls-Royce, apparently because it was good for his voice. He loved his Cadillac. He once pursued a woman named Buick McKane, and he was a jeepster for her love. He even had "highway knees," whatever the fuck that's supposed to signify. And this was all somewhat paradoxical, since Bolan never learned how to drive; the irony is further extended when one considers that he died in a 1977 car accident, two weeks before his 30th birthday (his girlfriend drove them both into a tree). Bolan glorified a machine he could not operate, only to have that same machine spell his doom. The lesson: Be careful what you wish for, lest you get it."

download: t. rex - buick mackane