extrawack!

Holy Ghost remakes New Order...sort of.

2009-07-10T08:50:00.003-04:00

Holy Ghost have just released their single, "I Will Come Back" for free download at Green Label Sound, and have created a video for the track that more or less recreates the iconic video for New Order's "Confusion". In fact, they've even included legendary producer Arthur Baker to reprise his role as "head-bobbing DJ", just as he appeared in the original. It's great.

Check it:

Discovery "LP" - Get It Early And Help Oxfam America

2009-07-01T20:59:00.002-04:00

Last night we had a ball at a party to celebrate the release of the new Discovery album, "LP" at Le Poisson Rouge. After the album was played, the guys from Discovery, Wes from Ra Ra Riot & Rostam from Vampire Weekend took over the turntables to DJ a set heavy on poppy summertime jams. Too much fun.

By the way, the album is fantastic, fun, and perfect for playing in the backyard with friends over for beers. Even cooler is the fact that if you but the album at Amie Street this week (which is actually the only way to get it before it's "official" release date next week), Oxfam America will get $2 of the purchase price. Get it here: http://amiestreet.com/music/discovery/lp/

Enjoy a couple tracks here:

Weird Al's Homage To The Doors - "Craigslist"

2009-06-16T08:58:00.003-04:00

Seriously...If there is a Comedy Hall Of Fame, Weird Al Yankovic deserves a spot there. And if there's a Musical Comedy Hall Of Fame, Al deserves a statue at the entrance.

Here's his newest, "Craigslist", featuring Ray Manzarek of The Doors:

Concert review: Grizzly Bear at Berklee, Boston 6/3

2009-06-05T08:23:00.006-04:00

Concert review: Grizzly Bear at Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA June 3, 2009

The first time I saw Grizzly Bear live—at a crowded, stiflingly hot club in Northampton, Massachusetts—was the moment I went from being a casual fan to a mildly obsessed one. These four sweaty, slightly goofy guys put on a dazzling, energetic, virtuosic show, one that transformed the cramped space into a collective religious experience.

Nearly two years later at the Berklee Performance Center, I realized Grizzly Bear are on their way up in the world. Last night’s venue was five times bigger, the audience was sitting down, and the band members were cool and collected under a light show in shifting tones of red, blue, and green.

Other than that, though, you’d never know that Veckatimest, one of the most (deservedly) hyped albums of the year, just made #8 on the US Billboard charts. Grizzly Bear’s unclassifiable live sound—a blend of four-part harmonies and folky strumming, fifties-style pop hooks and dramatic climaxes—remains as astonishing as ever.

At last night’s show, the band turned much of their older material inside out, giving “Colorado” and the rhythmic “Fix It” an added depth and expansiveness. They’ve probably played “Knife” a billion times by now (as shown by the loud applause that flared up on the first notes) but somehow they made it new.

The band played actual newer stuff, too, including the pretty, piano-driven “Two Weeks,” and my favorites “Ready, Able” and “While You Wait for the Others.” The new material was a bit more faithful to the album versions, but I’m sure that eventually these songs, too, will sound completely different in a live setting. The only letdown was the relative lack of lead vocals by guitarist Dan Rossen, whose rough-edged voice provides the perfect counterpart to singer Ed Droste’s sweeter, more soaring tones.

That’s a minor disappointment, though, from what was a truly stellar live show. If you’re a fan, try to catch Grizzly Bear in concert as soon as you can; at the rate they’re going, two years from now they’ll be headlining their first world stadium tour. -Anna Kramer

photo of Ed & Dan by Kate Vacanti

Hear Grizzly Bear's recent full set performed in-studio for NPR at WNYC here.

Spank Rock, Japandroids, Bear Hands, Future Of The Left Added To Siren Festival

2009-05-19T14:13:00.002-04:00

More good news coming from the Siren Festival camp...

Spank Rock, Japandroids, Bear Hands, and Future Of The Left have been added to Siren's bill. Already announced are Built To Spill, The Raveonettes, Frightened Rabbit, Grand Duchy, Monotonix, Micachu, and The Shapes.

Sounds like there's still a few more acts to be announced...we'll let you know when we find out, natch.

In case you missed the original announcement, Siren will be held again on Coney Island on Saturday, July 18. More info on the Village Voice Siren Festival at: http://www.villagevoice.com/siren.

Photo above of Ra Ra Riot at last year's Siren by Stefano Giovannini

Concert review: Animal Collective at House of Blues, Boston, May 14, 2009

2009-05-16T11:17:00.004-04:00

Maybe it was the giant white ball hovering moonlike above the stage, its surface swarming with abstract film projections. Maybe it was the colored lights mounted under the white-draped tables where the three band members bent over their instruments. Or maybe it was the music itself: layered, percussive, hypnotic, and building moment by moment to a joyous climax.

Whatever the reason, Animal Collective definitely brought a ‘90s rave vibe to Boston’s House of Blues last night—even though most of the kids in the audience were probably way too young to recall the era of baggy pants and glowsticks. From the moment the first beats of new song “What Would I Want Sky,” exploded out of a delicate, looping guitar sample, the sold-out crowd started jumping and dancing frenetically—much like we did back in the day during an especially awesome DJ set.

Of course, though trance-influenced, Animal Collective’s music is anything but nostalgic; their set list drew heavily from the innovative sounds of the 2009 stunner Merriweather Post Pavilion, including a raucous version of “Summertime Clothes” and climaxing with the dizzy, ecstatic “Brother Sport.” Other highlights were an extended version of “Fireworks,” one of my favorite tracks from Strawberry Jam, featuring Panda Bear flailing out an energetic drum rhythm; and a mass sing-along to “Comfy in Nautica” from Panda ’s 2007 solo effort, Person Pitch. (“That’s not even an Animal Collective song!” the guy next to us grumbled, though I’m pretty sure he was the only one complaining.)

In an encore to the nearly two-hour-long show, the slow-building melodies of “Chocolate Girl”—featuring gorgeous Avey Tare vocals—merged triumphantly into the recent crowd-pleaser “My Girls.” And as the audience shrieked and flailed in approval, I glimpsed yet another sign of the new combining with the old: A young girl dancing a few feet away, twirling with a lit-up iPhone in one hand and a green glowstick in the other. --Anna Kramer

Animal Collective also played Letterman last week...

Matthew Barber Playing NYC 2X Next Week...Download & Tix Contest Here

2009-05-06T22:32:00.007-04:00

I'm a sucker for a good pop song.

Seriously, as long as the hooks are huge and the lyrics dance off the singer's tongue, I'm in.

And show me an album loaded with good pop songs? There's a good chance it'll stay in my player for weeks. Case in point is the new album from Toronto's Matthew Barber, "Ghost Notes".

Barber's a pretty great lyricist, but the music really shines as well on this album, which is split between rock stompers, folky pop, and piano-driven slower songs, all of which are catchy as hell.

Must musicians can't pull off the rock/folk split-personality thing well. Many have tried and failed, but the few who do it well are legendary...Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Bob Dylan come quickly to mind. Not to say that Matthew Barber belongs to that lofty group just yet, but "Ghost Notes" would certainly not be out of place in a stack of that gang's CD's, next to the backyard boombox, waiting to be spun on a lazy weekend afternoon.

Having said that, I'm very interested in hearing Barber play these songs live. Thankfully, he's out on the road for a few dates, and is giving New Yorkers a couple chances to check him out:

Matthew Barber Live:
May 12 Living Room - NYC
May 13 Union Hall - NYC (with Jill Sobule)
May 14 Milltown - Carrboro, NC
May 15 Farm 255 - Athens, GA
May 16 Criminal Records - Atlanta, GA

extrawack! wants to give one lucky reader a pair of tickets to Barber's show at Union Hall in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. The third email to extrawack@gmail.com with "Matthew Barber" in the subject line gets them.

Matthew Barber - "Easily Bruised" mp3

Matthew Barber MySpace

Matthew Barber - "And You Give" video:

Hey Gamers! Play Online with Silversun Pickups Next Week...Win SSPU & Xbox Swag Here Now!

2009-05-04T16:47:00.005-04:00

It's no surprise to regular reders of extrawack! that we're cookoo for Silversun Pickups. So when we were given the oportunity to giveaway some SSPU and Xbox swag, we jumped on it.

The contest is in conjunction with the announcement that Silversun Pickups will play Guitar Hero® World Tour with Xbox LIVE® Gold Members on May 14.

If you're an Xbox LIVE Gold Member and you want a chance to play with Silversun Pickups, send a friend request to the Gamertag "Silversun GwF"and be online half an hour before (9:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Thursday, May 14, 10:00 P.M. ET.

More info on the event can be found here.

Silversun Pickups on Guitar Hero here.

Silversun Pickups videos on the Xbox Marketplace here.

And the contest? We're giving away the following to one lucky extrawack! reader:

A copy of Swoon on 180 Gram Double Vinyl, includes download card for MP3 version of album
An Xbox belt buckle
An Xbox bag

You know you want it. Just be the sender of the 10th email to extrawack@gmail.com with "SSPU/Xbox" as the subject, and we'll have it sent out to you. Contest only open to US Residents. Sorry, Lichtenstein!

Silversun Pickups - "Panic Switch":

Bothering The Neighborhood With The Bronx

2009-04-29T16:47:00.006-04:00

As the weather gets nicer, I love rolling down the windows of my Scion and cranking big-riff jams in the CD player. This past weekend I took the opportunity to enjoy the recent album from The Bronx, The Bronx (III), in a way I'm sure my neighbors didn't appreciate. Tough luck. It's awesome.

Imagine my surprise, when after one of these neighborhood musical education trips, I found a note in my email letting me know that there's not one, but two dope new videos from the album!

For your pleasure, here they both are. I'm partial to the video for "Past Lives", which features some truly extra-wack dance moves.

The Bronx - "Knifeman" mp3

Now here's a tour...Dears, Great Northern, & Eulogies

2009-04-28T12:00:00.004-04:00

For a music fan in this jacked-up economy, there is nothing worse than shelling out big bucks for what turns out to be a lame show. If you are obsessed with making sure every one of your hard-earned pennies is well spent, have we got a triple-bill of goodness for you...

The Dears (pictured left), Great Northern, and Eulogies are heading out next week on tour, and as I look around at all the other shows listed for May & June, this package seems to pack the most punch.

The Dears' "Missiles" was one of last year's best, Eulogies "Here Anonymous" is one of our fave new releases of April, and Great Northern's excellent "Remind Me Where The Light Is" is out today.

Seriously...why pay more?

The Dears, Great Northern and Eulogies Tour:

5/1/2009 - Bell House - Park Slope, NY

5/2/2009 - Valentines - Albany, NY

5/4/2009 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY

5/5/2009 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA

5/7/2009 - Black Cat - Washington, DC

5/8/2009 - Diesel - Pittsburgh, PA

5/9/2009 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH

5/10/2009 - Skully's - Columbus, OH

5/11/2009 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI

5/13/2009 - Lakeshore Theatre - Chicago, IL

5/14/2009 - Mojo's - Columbia, MO

5/16/2009 - Hailey's - Denton, TX

5/17/2009 - Warehouse - Houston, TX

5/18/2009 - The Parish - Austin, TX

5/21/2009 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ

5/22/2009 - Casbah - San Diego, CA

5/23/2009 - Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA

5/24/2009 - Independent - San Francisco, CA

5/26/2009 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR

5/27/2009 - Crocodile Cafe - Seattle, WA

The Dears - "Crisis 1&2 (boy/boy version) mp3

Great Northern - "House" mp3

The Golasso! Tailgate Dance Party - A Reason To Actually Attend A Red Bulls Soccer Match

2009-04-24T20:57:00.005-04:00

OK, lets say you've been wanting to catch a Red Bulls soccer match at Giants Stadium, but the team's lackluster play this season is making you stay home. Or maybe you're not sure if its worth the drive out from wherever you're at for a mere 90 minutes of action.

Finally, here's your incentive to make it out to the Swamp...

The MetroStars/DC United rivalry is the closest thing in the USA to a Boca Juniors/River Plate style "Classico", so you've got that going for you this Sunday. Add in a heapin' helpin' of classic (and sometimes obscure) vinyl, spun before your eyes and ears under the East Rutherford sun, smack dab in the middle of a tailgate party thrown by the local Empire Supporters Club, and you've got a bonafide event.

I can personally vouch for the mad platter skillz of DJ's Mike 2 Dishes and Jonny Metro, but sadly not for the quality of play inside the stadium...but luckily, the musical magic kicks in again post-match.

The action'll be in lot 16A. Get there early for a prime parking spot near the grills, and practice your best sad "I'm out of beer" face to see how many gratis brewski's you can get handed to you!

Chimp Eats Banana - "Football" mp3
(courtesy Football and Music)

New York Dolls New Album Out Soon

2009-04-22T21:43:00.006-04:00

Of all of the "influential" or "seminal" bands that have reunited in recent years, only one has really knocked my socks off hard enough to really make me pay attention...The New York Dolls. Their "reunion" album, 2006's One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This was dead solid, and the tour that followed was nothing less than a ball.

Now comes word that The Dolls have reunited with Todd Rundgren, producer of their influential 1973 debut, to record their fourth studio album, ’Cause I Sez So, on Atco Records. Recorded at Utopia Sound Studio in Kauai, Hawaii, the album features original Dolls David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar) plus Steve Conte (guitar), Brian Delaney (drums), and Sami Yaffa (bass). The 12-song track list features 11 original compositions, including the first single “'Cause I Sez So” and a new version of “Trash,” which was originally on their 1973 debut album. “It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present,” says Johansen.

From what I've heard on the advance tracks posted on the online listening party, the new album kicks out the jams in a big way. ’Cause I Sez So is out May 5.

Pre-order ’Cause I Sez So here.

NY Dolls Official site
Facebook page
MySpace

To hold you over until the album comes out, check this video featuring the original version of "Trash", along with a montage of images from from "Born to Lose: the Last Rock and Roll Movie," by Lech Kowalski:

Tuesday Dance Battle With Bingo Players & Diplo!

2009-04-21T08:35:00.002-04:00

Oh Snap! Just for kicks, here's a good one from the Vertifight series of dance battles, featuring Bingo Players - "Get Up (Diplo Remix)" at the start:

Lou Reed Bringing Metal Machine Trio To NYC Next Week

2009-04-17T16:24:00.004-04:00

Lou Reed will be playing the Blender Theater at Gramercy next Thursday and Friday (April 23 and 24) with his Metal Machine Trio (Lou on guitar and electronics, Ulrich Krieger on tenor sax and live-electronics, and Sarth Calhoun on live processing and Fingerboard Continuum). The show is billed as "A Night Of Deep Noise", so don't expect "I Love You Suzanne"...

Check the widget below for samples of what to expect at these shows,
though it’s important to note that these shows are improvised, so no two shows will be alike:

Buy tickets here. We're told students are half-price with a valid student ID, but it sounds like you'd have to get your tickets at the box office for that deal.

New York Times preview of the shows here.

Hey Vinyl Heads...Win Some Matt and Kim, Cool Kids, and Flosstradamus Platters Here!

2009-04-16T20:50:00.006-04:00

If you are a fan of extrawack!, you know that we are big fans of free music...and that's why we're fans of Green Label Sound, the label/website that offers free downloads from a sweet roster of bands.

One of the best shows we saw at SXSW was Matt and Kim at the Green Label Sounds party, and since we're still fired up from our trip to Austin, we want to share some tunage with a couple of extrawack! readers...

We'll have the following treasure trove of Green Label Sound vinyl delivered by uniformed courier service to two lucky readers:

Matt and Kim "Daylight" 7",
the Cool Kids "Delivery Man" 12",
Flosstradamus feat. Caroline Polacheck "Big Bills" 12"
and a "Big Bills" tote bag.

To win, be the tenth or fifteenth email to extrawack@gmail.com with the subject "Green Label Vinyl". Contest open to US residents only. Sorry Greenland!

And if you'd rather not wait to see if you've won (or if you don't rock a turntable), hit up greenlabelsound.com and download all the songs offered in the contest for free!

New Phoenix Video - "Lisztomania"

2009-04-16T12:59:00.002-04:00

Phoenix have just released a video for the song "Lisztomania", from their forthcoming album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The album is released (you'll never catch me saying "drops") on May 26.

Ch-ch-check it out:

Phoenix - Lisztomania from 35east on Vimeo.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Black Moth Super Rainbow For Free At The Seaport!

2009-04-16T12:00:00.003-04:00

Although they've not officially announced their summer free show line-up, The Seaport Music Festival apparently already has some great shows lined up.

According to the good folks at Oh My Rockness, here are some of the shows they've confirmed:

Fri 7/03
6:00 PM
Here We Go Magic, Bachelorette

Fri 7/10
6:00 PM
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Fri 7/24
6:00 PM
Black Moth Super Rainbow

Fri 8/07
6:00 PM
Casiokids, The Wave Pictures, Slow Club

Those are some seriously good shows...

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Come Saturday" mp3

New Maximo Park Video Here.

2009-04-03T21:33:00.003-04:00

Maximo Park has a new album out next month called Quicken The Heart, and they've just put out a video for the single, "The Kids Are Sick Again".

Here 'tis:

Their website lists a ton of live dates for Europe, but none yet for the States. Fingers crossed.

Live Review: Asobi Seksu @ the Middle East, Cambridge, 3/30/09

2009-03-31T15:36:00.004-04:00

With this review, extrawack! welcomes new Boston correspondent Anna Kramer...

Asobi Seksu at the Middle East, Cambridge, March 30, 2009

Last night’s show began with an unexpected twist: A last-minute move from the 500-person capacity Middle East Downstairs club to the much smaller Upstairs section of the venue. But whatever this shift may have meant for Asobi Seksu, they didn’t seem to mind. “This show got a lot more intimate, but that’s okay,” said vocalist/keyboardist Yuki Chikudate. “Now we’re a whole lot closer together.”

Asobi Seksu’s music has always been about balance, especially on 2007’s stunning Citrus, which cut sweet vocals with all-out shoegaze guitars. With their latest album, Hush, Yuki and guitarist James Hanna turned the noise down a bit, resulting in melodies so ethereal they sometimes threaten to dissolve and float away completely.

Last night, though, the band set out to prove they were firmly anchored on earth. Armed with a bassist and drummer—and lit eerily by blue and pink Christmas lights—they opened with a pounding, percussive version of “Sing Tomorrow’s Praise” that set the tone for a noise-drenched, epic set. New songs like “Meh No Mae” and “In the Sky” took on added depth and resonance with a more prominent rhythm section, while Yuki’s vocals soared high and pure above the sonic assault, especially on the more melodic “Blind Little Rain.”

Citrus was well represented too, with the angular “Strawberries” and my personal favorite, “Thursday,” with its Slowdive-esque male-female vocals. But it was the combination of “Pink Cloud Tracing Paper” and “Red Sea” that brought the show to a climax. Strobe lights stuttered, James flailed his guitar madly, and Yuki even took a turn on drums as the last song veered into a ten-minute-plus monumental drone that still has my ears ringing the next day.

Despite a few seeming omissions from the set list—No “Me & Mary”? No songs from their self-titled debut?—I left feeling like I had experienced something unexpectedly special: The chance to see a very big-sounding band on a very, very small stage.

Hey XTC Fans! Dukes of Stratosphear Reissues Coming Soon. Two Downloads To Get You Started Here...

2009-03-31T11:29:00.004-04:00

Wow! Just got a press release stating that Andy Partridge's Ape label will be re-releasing the two excellent Dukes of Stratosphear albums on April 21, complete with bonus demos and new liner notes! I'll let that email speak for itself:

The Dukes of Stratosphear came about in the 80s with a release of an EP (25 O'Clock) by those cheeky lads in Swindon, UK, otherwise known as XTC. It was a side-project put out semi-anonymously, without fanfare, which came about from a shared love of 60s-inspired psychedelic, Lewis Carroll-tinged power pop.

Not surprisingly, the band was unmasked in fairly short order, due to the distinctive vocal stylings and musical sensibilities of Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, et al. They followed it up with a full length release (Psonic Psunspot), and both titles were re-released together in the late 80s as Chips from the Chocolate Factory.

Flash-forward to 2009-Andy Partridge's own Ape label has reissued them AGAIN, this time with previously unpublished demo versions as well as video! Did you know that Colin originally wrote Vanishing Girl as No One at Home and sang on the demo (Andy sang the album version)? I didn't, and I am a crazy XTC/Dukes junkie. Despite its homage and nod to the summer of love era, it is a sound that remains somewhat timeless.

If you are unfamiliar with The Dukes of Stratosphear, prepare yourself for a treat and to have your ears and mind blown.

The Dukes of Stratosphear - "My Love Explodes" mp3
The Dukes of Stratosphear - "Braniac's Daughter" mp3

Freak out to the Dukes' "What In The World" here:

Prince does "Dreamer" On Leno...Video Here

2009-03-27T18:17:00.003-04:00

Did you happen to catch Prince on Leno last night? No? Well, here it is...

He's known for being funky in general, but this is proof that he's EASILY one of the best guitarists on the face of the globe.

This is "Dreamer" from the forthcoming album, Lotus Flow3r:

Somebody Send Me Some Sleep, Please...Greetings from SXSW

2009-03-18T13:03:00.003-04:00

Even the pizza joints down here are hardcore this time of year:

Hope to check in a few times over the next couple days...but 83F and sunny means that I don't plan on staying inside a whole lot!

DirecTV SXSW Live Line-up Announced...Von Bondies, Echo and The Bunnymen, Ed Harcourt, and more

2009-03-13T09:01:00.005-04:00

One of the more interesting events that goes down every year at SXSW are the DirecTV tapings of their SXSW Live series, which are full performance sets by a great roster of industry upstarts and old favorites. The shows are taped in two different ballrooms in the Austin Convention Center, which are transformed into roadhouse-styled soundstages, and the performances are broadcast throughout the following year on DirecTV's channel 101.

Last year I caught fantastic sets there from Darryl Hall, Nicole Atkins, and a surprisingly great Hanson.

The line-up for this year's tapings have just been announced:

THURSDAY, MARCH 19
TIME ARTIST VENUE
6:00pm The Von Bondies, The Bat Bar

7:00pm The Oak Ridge Boys The Lonestar Lounge

8:00pm The Airborne Toxic Event, The Bat Bar

FRIDAY, MARCH 20
TIME ARTIST VENUE
1:00pm Juliette Lewis and the New Romantiques, The Bat Bar

2:00pm The Proclaimers, The Lonestar Lounge

4:00pm Lenka, The Lonestar Lounge

5:00pm Ben Harper and Relentless 7, The Bat Bar

6:00pm Third Eye Blind, The Lonestar Lounge

8:00pm Shiny Toy Guns, The Bat Bar

9:00pm Carlene Carter, The Lonestar Lounge

10:00pm Solange Presents:
Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams, The Bat Bar

SATURDAY, MARCH 21
TIME ARTIST VENUE
4:00pm Forever the Sickest Kids, The Lonestar Lounge

5:00pm Echo and the Bunnymen, The Bat Bar

6:00pm Ed Harcourt, The Lonestar Lounge

8:00pm TBA , The Bat Bar

9:00pm Shwayze, The Lonestar Lounge

10:00pm Tinted Windows, The Bat Bar

If it's run the same way as years past, a limited number of free tickets for all shows are available in the lobby of the convention center, and if I remember correctly, SXSW badges or wristbands are not required.

I'll definitely be checking out Juliette Lewis' new band, possibly Third Eye Blind (because I've always wanted to sing the doot-doot-doot's in "Semi-Charmed Life out loud in public), and best of all, I'll get to see what Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen looks like in daylight hours.

For those of you not making it to Austin, here's the schedule of the first airings of these shows:

SXSW LIVE Broadcast Schedule (eastern standard time)

Friday - March 20th

5pm - Lenka
6pm - Ben Harper and Relentless7
7pm - Third Eye Blind
8pm - The Oak Ridge Boys
9pm - Shiny Toy Guns
10pm - Carlene Carter
11pm - Sol-Angel & the Hadley Street Dreams (Solange Knowles)
12am - The Airborne Toxic Event

Saturday - March 21st

5pm - Forever the Sickest Kids
6pm - Echo and The Bunnymen
7pm - Ed Harcourt
8pm - Juliette Lewis and The New Romantiques
9pm - Late to the Pier
10pm - Shwayze
11pm - Tinted Windows
12am - The Proclaimers

More info on DirecTV SXSW Live here.

K-Rock Flipping to Top-40 on Wednesday

2009-03-09T22:21:00.004-04:00

The lamest sounding station in a market full of lame stations, NYC's K-Rock (92.3 FM) will be changing to Top-40 on Wednesday, according to the New York Times.

The new format will feature music from acts like “Kanye West, Beyoncé, Pink, Flo Rida, Akon, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake,” according to the announcement...which is good news in case you might be tired of Z100's format featuring Kanye West, Beyoncé, Pink, Flo Rida, Akon, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake. Thanks for nuthin'.

This would be a great time for rock fans to check out WRXP (101.9 FM) and their recently much improved format. Spearheaded by the arrival of Matt Pinfield as their morning guy a few months ago, 'RXP features a great mix of classic and current rock, with a healthy dose of NYC-centric R&R.

Check this list of songs they played this afternoon:
4:39 PM "BEATLES AND THE STONES" - THE HOUSE OF LOVE
4:34 PM "FAME" - DAVID BOWIE
4:25 PM "FOREVER" - LIVE
4:20 PM "SYNCHRONICITY II" - POLICE
4:17 PM "LOOKING FOR A KISS" - NEW YORK DOLLS
4:13 PM "ELDERLY WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER IN A SMALL TOWN" - PEARL JAM
4:09 PM "MY LUCKY DAY" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
4:05 PM "PULLING MUSSELS (FROM THE SHELL)" - SQUEEZE
3:57 PM "US & THEM" - PINK FLOYD
3:53 PM "MY FAVORITE MISTAKE" - SHERYL CROW
3:45 PM "CAN YOU TELL" - RA RA RIOT
3:41 PM "RUNNING ON EMPTY" - JACKSON BROWNE
3:38 PM "EVER FALLEN IN LOVE" - BUZZCOCKS
3:33 PM "6TH AVENUE HEARTACHE" - WALLFLOWERS
3:29 PM "USE SOMEBODY" - KINGS OF LEON
3:24 PM "ANGEL" - AEROSMITH
3:14 PM "RUNNING AWAY" - HOOBASTANK
3:10 PM "LOLA" - KINKS
3:07 PM "SEQUESTERED IN MEMPHIS" - THE HOLD STEADY
3:03 PM "AND SHE WAS" - TALKING HEADS
3:01 PM "INTO YOUR ARMS" - LEMONHEADS
2:56 PM "AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG" - ROLLING STONES
2:54 PM "WIRE TO WIRE" - RAZORLIGHT
2:49 PM "JANE SAYS" - JANE'S ADDICTION
2:45 PM "BROADWAY" - GOO GOO DOLLS
2:37 PM "TOUCH ME" - DOORS
2:33 PM "HUMAN" - KILLERS
2:29 PM "SEMI-CHARMED LIFE" - THIRD EYE BLIND
2:24 PM "MEAN STREET" - VAN HALEN
2:14 PM "SPEED OF SOUND" - COLDPLAY
2:09 PM "THE BATTLE OF EVERMORE" - LED ZEPPELIN
2:02 PM "ROOSTER" - ALICE IN CHAINS
2:00 PM "MAGICK" - RYAN ADAMS
1:56 PM "AUTHORITY SONG" - JOHN MELLENCAMP
1:50 PM "BALL AND CHAIN" - SOCIAL DISTORTION
1:47 PM "ROXANNE" - POLICE
1:43 PM "COME HOME" - BACK DOOR SLAM
1:40 PM "AFTER MIDNIGHT" - ERIC CLAPTON
1:31 PM "RUN" - COLLECTIVE SOUL
1:28 PM "POP SONG 89" - R.E.M.
1:24 PM "CRACK THE SHUTTERS" - SNOW PATROL
1:21 PM "IMAGINE" - JOHN LENNON
1:13 PM "ANARCHY IN THE U.K." - SEX PISTOLS
1:11 PM "DUMB" - NIRVANA
1:08 PM "SHIMMER AND SHINE" - BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS 7
1:05 PM "DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT" - TOM PETTY
1:01 PM "PRETZEL LOGIC" - STEELY DAN
12:55 PM "HOUSE OF CARDS" - RADIOHEAD
12:52 PM "YOU REALLY GOT ME" - KINKS

Buzzcocks, Pistols, Ryan Adams, Dolls, House of Love, Lemonheads, Bowie, and "Semi-Charmed Life"? It sounds like a great mixtape I'd left under the seat of the car I had before my last one...and that's a good thing.

4AD @ SXSW...Download Sampler Including Camera Obscura, M. Ward, St. Vincent Here.

2009-03-09T15:31:00.004-04:00

4AD will be handing out a limited edition (and eventually, very collectible, I'm sure) EP to commemorate next Wednesday's showcase at SXSW in Austin, but you can play and/or download the contents of the disc right now at the link below.