Marnie Stern - Put All Your Eggs In One Basket
Marnie Stern - Every Single Line Means Something
Marnie Stern - Grapefruit

A little over a year ago a good friend of mine took me to Piano's to check out a good friend of his, who was playing there that night. Her name was Marnie Stern. It was a Sunday night, and the room was pretty empty. Marnie got up on a stage with a guitar, an amp and an iPod (which didn't want to work, but eventually did), no band and no reservations. She then proceeded to show me why my friend insisted I go to see her: with an attitude that was part riot grrrl, guitar thrashing ability strong enough to make those dudes that hang at Guitar Center to show off their van Halen tapping technique jealous (girl can fucking thrash!), and absolutely no pretensions, I immediately had one overwhelming impression: "Holy Shit."

That night, Marnie gave me a copy of her demo, the same one that would later get her signed to Kill Rock Stars. Those songs were quirky and good, and they've finally been released (albeit rerecorded) as her debut record, In Advance of the Broken Arm. So what does it sound like? It would be fair to call this record experimental music, and it would also be fair to call it a completely unpretentious exercise in guitar heroics. But both of those would miss what makes this record so good: it's a combination of these elements filtered down into catchy, quirky three minute pop songs that make this record memorable, accessible and occasionally rocking. Between the occasional odd keyboard stab, the hyper-frenetic drumming by Hella's Zach Hill and the unorthodox song structures, In Advance of the Broken Arm doesn't sound like any other record I can think of, and it makes sense that this record was originally due to come out on 5RC before that label was absorbed into Kill Rock Stars. But if I didn't get this across yet, this record is pretty fucking good, and an excellent debut. It comes out today and you should pick it up.

I went to the record release party last week at Cake Shop. The Punks opened up with a twenty minute feedback jam punctuated by multiple drummers. They were followed by High Places, a boy-girl duo that played catchy and eccentric electro-pop songs. I liked them a lot, and I'll have to track down more of their tunes. By the time Marnie went on, the room was pretty full (an impressive turnout for a Valentines day show), and everyone was ready to rock. Despite some unfortunate sound problems, Marnie busted through a quick set and showed just how easy it is for her to thrash and sing and for dudes like me to be jealous of her crazy skills. In fact, my favorite part of the evening was definitely when Marnie asked the crowd if everything sounded alright, and she was met with yells of "less talking, more thrashing!" That's a pretty good way to describe it. A good time was had by all, I'll be checking her out again at SXSW (possibly with a full band). She just started a tour, dates are listed below. Check her out, she rules!

Feb 20 2007 8:00P Warehouse Next Door DC, Washington DC

Feb 21 2007 8:00P Nightlight Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Feb 22 2007 8:00P Caledonia Lounge Athens, Georgia

Feb 23 2007 8:00P Drunken Unicorn Atlanta, Georgia

Feb 24 2007 8:00P Green Project Space New Orleans, Louisiana

Feb 25 2007 8:00P The Proletariat Houston, Texas

Feb 26 2007 8:00P Emo's Austin, Texas

Feb 28 2007 7:00P the Decimal Point Flagstaff, Arizona

Mar 2 2007 8:00P Old Baldy Brewery Pomona, California

Mar 3 2007 8:00P The Smell LA, California

Mar 4 2007 8:00P Steynburg Gallery San Luis Obispo, California

Mar 5 2007 8:00P The Knockout San Francisco, California

Mar 5 2007 8:00P 21 Grand Oakland, California

Mar 8 2007 8:00P Le Voyeur Olympia, Washington

Mar 9 2007 8:00P Gallery 1412 Seattle, Washington

Mar 10 2007 8:00P Rotture Portland, Oregon

Mar 11 2007 8:00P HOUSE PARTY Boise, Idaho

Mar 12 2007 8:00P the SUB at Boise State University (12 NOON START TIME) Boise, Idaho

Mar 13 2007 8:00P Rhinoceropolis Denver, Colorado

Mar 16 2007 1:00P Pitchfork Media Party @ Emo's Austin, Texas

Mar 16 2007 8:00P SXSW Free Agency/Terrorbird Media Party @ Lucky Lounge Austin, Texas

Mar 17 2007 8:00P KILL ROCK STARS SHOWCASE @ Emo's IV Austin, Texas

Mar 18 2007 8:00P It's my birthday - SEND ME PRESENTS UPTOWN, New York

Mar 19 2007 8:00P Ronny's Chicago, Illinois

Mar 20 2007 8:00P Scrummage University Detroit, Michigan

Mar 21 2007 8:00P AV Space Rochester, New York

Mar 22 2007 8:00P Contemporary Artist's Center North Adams, Massachusetts

Mar 23 2007 8:00P AS220 Providence, Rhode Island

Mar 24 2007 8:00P Uncle Paulie's Brooklyn, New York

Labels: Album Review, Concert Reviews, Marnie Stern

Keith Olbermann is back for four more glorious years. Excellent.

Washington State is nearly ready to send the first petition to the US House of Representatives to impeach the president. Fucking Right On.

I'm still hoping to see the Arcade Fire this week. Here's one of the ways I'm going to try.

There's been an interesting debate on religion and politics over at Eschaton today. It's absolutely worth reading if you're interested in such things.

Imagine this: we finally get Democrats in control of congress, and they immediately expose what everyone should have known for some time. Billions have been wasted in Iraq.

As if you needed any more proof that the people responsible for planning the Iraq war were fucking stupid: this recently declassified powerpoint presentation from 2002 shows that they imagined the need for only 5,000 troops in December of 2006. Talk about wishful thinking.

Labels: Arcade Fire, Links, Politics

Best Valentine's Day Headline: Zoo tours cash in on hot monkey love.

The best thing that Michael Crichton has ever written, and you should absolutely read it. No, it's not a novel, but it is about how major corporations owning critical parts of your body, without you knowing about it. I'm not kidding.

If you feel like being frightened by the possible upcoming war with Iran, read this.

I'm off to see Marnie Stern tonight, who's have a release party for her excellent In Advance of the Broken Arm, out on Kill Rock Stars. I hope to have some tracks up for you later this week.

Labels: Links

The White House, along with it's newly promoted Pentagon lackeys, has recently been busy shouting that Iran has been supplying militants with arms and specifically bombs that have been used to fight US troops. Keep in mind that this is the same administration that sent Colin Powell to lie to the UN about WMD's in Iraq, the same administration that had the president address the nation and lie about uranium in Niger (someone's on trial for that currently!), and the same administration that was recently cited by an internal Dept. of Defense study as manipulating intelligence to suit its own purposes against the better judgment of many for the sole purpose of starting a disastrous war. To summarize, they have no credibility on absolutely anything, and once again this "link" to Iran and its government is basically a bunch of bull shit. Don't be fooled. For a straight up refutation of all current newspeak being put forward, click on the Juan Cole link at the bottom.

TPM muck-raker summary of recent events

New York Times once again allowing itself to mislead

The AP follows blindly

Juan Cole beats everybody down, again.

Labels: Politics

Pitchfork dismisses the Bird and the Bee's new record. I agree with some of the reference points the reviewer brings up, like Stereolab, but haven't really examined the record in the context of whether or not it's Jazz. I'm still digging it, it's just smooth and catchy electro-pop. And no, I don't consider it to be Jazz, even if it's on Blue Note.

Another compelling reason the traditional media is fucked up: according to broadcast time spent last week, Anna Nicole Smith's death was far more important than the many more people that died in Iraq.

Peter Bjorn and John are coming back to the States for a tour in May! Check out the dates here.

The White Stripes sign with Warner Brothers. Most interest fact from that article: they've currently sold 4.5 million records in the US. Remember when everyone thought the Strokes were going to be bigger than them? Also, I've read in other spots that they're currently working on their next record. Sweet.

The Arcade Fire announced a North American tour for this spring. Luckily, they'll be coming back to NYC for three nights, meaning that this time perhaps I'll be able to get tickets. Their five show stand at Judson Memorial Church starts tonight. I wish I had tickets. Speaking of which, there's a lot of folks willing to pay $300 for a ticket on Craigslist. Damn.

A career in marketing can be dangerous, especially lately.

Labels: Arcade Fire, Links, Music News, Peter Bjorn and John, The Bird and the Bee, The White Stripes

Midlake are a band that I came across a bit after their most recent record (the excellent The Trials of Van Occupanther) made its splash in the indie world. That hasn't stopped me from giving it a lot of spins and enjoying it thoroughly, which is why I was very excited to check them out live and see if they could pull it off in a big room full of people. About three-quarters of the way through the show, the singer recounted an interview he gave recently, where he was asked if he felt surprised that the show at the Bowery sold out; that New Yorker's were into Midlake's "pastoral music." I think that pastoral is an excellent way to describe the pace and space of Midlake's sound, but I was in no way surprised that this show sold out or that New Yorkers dig it.

What was surprising to me is how many drunk assholes in the audience practically ruined the show for the rest of us, which consisted of 75% couples there to make out and 25% people lacking someone to make out with but who are still obsessed with Midlake. Seriously, for such a chill, laid back and pretty band I wouldn't have expected to see the frat boy's come out in such force. And they did. And to the dude who was wearing the NY Rangers hat that decided to come all the way up to the front and try to dance with the girls and yell about how awesome the show was: yes, you were drunk. Yes, you were an inappropriate ass, and I'm sad that the girl with the red curly hair didn't kick yours, because she totally would have and I was looking forward to it.

I bear no grudge to folks who like to drink, I probably like to drink more than you do. But being totally loud for a band that's playing softly and gently is fucking inappropriate. Either handle your liquor or hang out at the bar, where you belong. It's difficult to hear Midlake's gentle harmonies (which some folks paid a good chunk of change to experience, considering the show was sold out for a while beforehand) when some drunkard feels the need to yell about how awesome the band is, or how much that girl sucks because she's not receptive to your completely unwelcome advances. But enough about that.


I arrived shortly before St. Vincent took the stage. To say that she's lovely is an understatement: she has excellent fingerpicking guitar prowess, a beautiful, emotive voice and to top it off, she's totally pleasant to look at. She played well crafted songs with interesting, narrative lyrics. For a one-woman-band, she won my attention (and that of the crowd) by the end of her first song, and kept me entertained and interested for the duration of her set. Not an easy task for one person, playing a guitar (or occasionally a piano), singing and stomping her foot. She said that she hopes to have a record out late this summer, I'm curious to see if her charisma and charm translate to tape. I'm sure her talent will find its way there without difficulty.



Midlake came on next and established quickly that they can recreate all the layers and subtlety of their recordings. They were very professional, a little bit quiet (shy even?) and interested only in playing the songs well. Apart from the previously mentioned antics of a drunken few, the show was easygoing and smooth. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the singer's voice was live, as well as how faithfully they were able to recreate all those harmonies. The band sounded great, and I left happy to have had the chance to see them. For more on what it is that they sound like, I wrote a bit about them here, or take a listen below. Roscoe, by the way, is one of my favorite singles of 2006. Nothing else released last year sounded remotely like it.

Midlake - Roscoe

Labels: Concert Reviews, Midlake, St Vincent

iTunes and Ticketmaster are getting in bed together. Gross. Apple, you should know better: for a company that prides itself on innovation and excellent customer service, I can't think of a worse or more hated partner in the music business than Ticketmaster.

Speaking of Ticketmaster, my hatred was rekindled as I was looking at my Explosions in the Sky tickets and receipt the other day. How much did a pair of tickets for the Warsaw show cost? $30. How much did Dicketmaster tack on for the pleasure of mailing them? $15. That's the price of a ticket. I hope that their headquarters, as well as their business model, burn down.

So, I peeped the Police "reunion" from the Grammy's on youtube, and correct me if I'm wrong, but was that f*cking boring or what? All that hype for a passable-but-bland rendition of "Roxanne"? I will say that Stewart Copeland looked like he's kept his drumming in shape all these years. However, count me out as one of the people who will be shelling out hundreds of dollars to hear them play in an arena (perhaps even stadium) somewhere. Stereogum has the clip, if you care.

I didn't hear the Dixie Chicks record that won all of those awards last night, but I do know that the record was completely shut out (if even nominated) at the Country Music Awards. If this actually is (and I'm not convinced that it is) the "Acadamy's" way of saying fuck-off to the president and all those country-music folks who hated on the Dixie Chicks, then that's about the best thing the "Acadamy" has done in some time. I hope that this is the only time you ever see me mention the Dixie Chicks or the Country Music Awards on my blog.

Labels: Explosions in the Sky, Music News

Labels: Arizona, Concert Reviews

EMI might start selling its entire catalog in DRM free mp3 format. That would be excellent!

Fuck the RIAA!

Holy Shit.

An internal investigation by the Dept. of Defense rightly concludes that the Pentagon manipulated intelligence to false create a link between Saddam Hussein's regime and Al Quaida. Only republicans and their apologists are surprised.

For political junkies, Jonah Goldberg is officially an idiot.

Bloglines is like crack for information junkies like myself. Highly recommended if you read a lot of blogs/news sites/ whatever.

I'm very excited to see Midlake tonight, even though I couldn't find anyone to go with me.

I just got a record by an LA band called The Bird and The Bee, and I'm really digging it. It's smooth, upbeat and catchy electro-pop. Check out some tunes on their MySpace.

Labels: Links, Politics

I find this terribly romantic.

Illinois, who I like a whole lot already, designed a shirt for Playboy, along with Wayne Coyle and Metric. Check it out here.


Steve Jobs blogs that he would get rid of DRM on iTunes "in a heartbeat" if the record labels would let him. I can think of plenty of indie artists who'd be down, let's hope that Mr. Jobs keeps his promise. The RIAA, unsurprisingly, is pissed.

The first trial of the officer being court-martialed for refusing to deploy to Iraq on grounds that the war is illegal ended today in a mis-trial.

Check out this creepy looking shark.

I'm still obsessing over Neon Bible. I don't have anything bad to say about it, except that I wish had a better quality copy of it. Well done Arcade Fire. Well done. Now I just need to find a way into one of their shows next week.

I'm still giving the Marnie Stern's record In Advance of the Broken Arm a bunch of spins. It continues to get better, I'll be writing a review shortly. Also, I'll be spending my Valentines Day at her record release party at Cake Shop.

Lastly, I'm very excited to finally see Midlake on Friday. Last year's The Trials of Van Occupanther was my #12 of 2006. I'm not quite sure what it will be like, but "Roscoe" alone should be enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Labels: Arcade Fire, Illinois, Links, Marnie Stern, Midlake

Ted Haggard is now "completely heterosexual." Those of us who didn't drink the cool-aid understand that this really means "completely in denial."

Iowa develops birth control for deers. This article also taught me that deers are "famously fertile and polygamous animals." Who knew that being a deer was so much fun!

A San Francisco study finds that teens can suffer emotional consequences from having sex. Really?

An astronaut goes bat-shit crazy for love. Was it space, or just old-fashioned jealousy?

"Most" women would go abstinent for 15 months in exchange for a closet full of new clothes. Would you? I would not.

Republicans are afraid to talk about Iraq on the senate floor. Cowards, own up to what you've created.

Meanwhile, Russ Feingold continues to be the only senator to get it right and call out both parties for the disaster that is Iraq.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino is still a complete idiot, and plans on banning "guerrilla marketing" in his city. What a stooge.

Labels: Links, Politics

Apple and the Beatles kiss and make up. The muli-million dollar question still remains, however: did iTunes score the Beatles catalogue?

Philly to get rubber sidewalks? Surely someone has something funny to say about this.

The court martial of a soldier who refused to fight in Iraq, citing the illegal nature of the war, began today.

USA today claims that the Budweiser spot with the worshiping crabs was the best commercial of this year's Super Bowl. That was funny, though I'm partial the Robert Goulet spot for Emerald Nuts and also, even though everyone knew it was coming, the K-Fed spot for Nationwide. Watch all of them here.

Speaking of Super Bowl commercials, Sheryl Crow's partnership/commercial with Revlon was pretty lame. Seriously, why would any musician agree to do that spot? $$$, and lots of it. Well done letting everyone know that the color of your hair is for sale, Sheryl. Can't wait for your new record either. *wink*

I finally started listening to Neon Bible, and so far so great. Really.

Labels: Links

This was easily the best half-time show I've ever seen. How it is that Prince can still scream the same way now as he did in the eighties is beyond me. Also, I'm pumped that Prince decided to show off his massive guitar chops, he wasn't faking it. Dude can thrash. Plus, we got a little "All Along the Watch Tower!" Prince, you rock. Also, I didn't write about it but last year's 3121 was a surprisingly strong record, and "Black Sweat", if you didn't hear it, was a pretty sweet jam. Check it out if you need more Prince in your life.

Labels: Concert Reviews, Prince

After missing the Black Angels for various stupid reasons over the past six months, I finally had my chance to experience the vibe in person. And I'm happy I did. They announced this last minute show on their MySpace page not quite a week ago, and much to my surprise they were playing a 9:30 slot at Pianos. The Black Angels would have easily sold out the Mercury, and likely could have filled up the Bowery if they had a little time to promote the show. So, why then did they play Pianos? Because a certain major label (cough Columbia/Sony cough) flew them up to play a showcase, as they are perhaps interested in signing the band. I heard that Sony actually bought out the entire room last night, although tickets were sold for the show. What I do know is that it was uncomfortably packed. I was stuck in the back, and literally couldn't move as I was stuck in between five other people, all of which also couldn't move, except for the drunken asshole(s) that I always seem to run into at these kinds of shows. The crowd was my least favorite part of the evening, it just wasn't comfortable. But enough about that.

The Black Angels went on at 9:30 sharp (since when do rock shows start on time?), and I literally walked into the room as "Young Men Dead" was ramping up. It sounded loud and wonderful. Even though they were playing on rented back-line equipment, the tone and the atmosphere were remarkably consistent to the record. Even though it was packed, I was able to see most of the band, and I liked what I saw. I don't know exactly how else to put it, but they just have a good vibe and a good look to them. The set was pretty excellent, even though the sound kind of went in and out (the bass-amp blew out pretty early on in the set, the vocal mic also shorted out occasionally, the mix couldn't keep up). I was very satisfied with the band, and I'm looking forward to catching them the next time they're in town. I'll certainly never see them in a venue that small again, and honestly this is one of those rare times when it will be better to see a band in a bigger place. Their sound and their fanbase are too big for a little room like Pianos.

Labels: Black Angels, Concert Reviews

If only all families could play Iron Maiden covers together...
My buddy JT is on a role today, as he sent me this sweet video, and also hooked up Jerry Yeti with a Canadian boy band video which is worth seeing for its WTF factor.

A sign that my week has been insane: I've had Neon Bible since Sunday and I've not had time to listen to it. Shame on me. Apparently, it's fantastic according to my friends who've been spinning it non-stop. I'll be joining their ranks shortly.

In better news, I'm finally going to see the Black Angels tonight! Passover was my #2 of 2006, I've been waiting for some time to finally hear it live. They're playing a recently announced gig at Piano's tonight, which really means that a big label flew them out here to play a showcase. I'm not sure I can see them on a major label, but if that means that more people get to hear their music, I'm all for it.

Gerard has my favorite take on the Coachella lineup I've seen. I agree with him.

Pitchfork has some nice picks from a recent Annuals show in Atlanta.

I agree with Kos, the folks running Boston are morons. The media are also morons for giving this story so much attention. If you're really that obsessed with the prospect of terrorism, invest your time reporting on the war we're involved in that's creating new terrorists daily.

Hugo Chavez just received free reign to change Venezuelan society in deep and significant ways. While I can't say that I necessarily agree with his ideas, or that I think other countries should follow suit, I'm excited at the prospect of someone creating a new model. These kinds of opportunities don't happen that often; I hope that this experiment teaches the world new things about how societies can exist, and that some good new ideas finally get a chance to be proven right. Only time will tell.

Labels: Annuals, Arcade Fire, Black Angels, Politics