Classic Clips: The Kinks...

Beastie Boys to the Rescue...

Here is a little twist on Saturday morning cartoons.
I always knew the Beastie Boys were in the Justice League.

My Kinda Town, Chicago Is...

Fresh off a road trip to Pitchfork Music Festival which served as a reminder of how deep the music scene is in Chicago. So many great Indie acts played over 3 days. Check out Pitchforkmedia.com to catch all the recap...definitely a manageable fest that makes for a pleasant music experience.

And speaking of Chicago, here are a few other slices of pie that may make you consider a summer journey to the Windy City:
Lollapalooza on August 3rd thru 5th...packed line-up, as usual. Pearl Jam is doing a special show at the Vic Theatre before the fest on August 2nd...this will be a tough ticket to score, cuz they are really only for Fan Club Members. Another Lolla highlight should be My Morning Jacket playing with the Chicago Youth Orchestra. Current TV is teaming up with MMJ to get actual crowd video from digital cameras and cell phones to create an official concert video.

Wilco has just announced that they will be playing at The Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park on September 12th. Check out Wilco's website for details. This will be an amazing hometown show in an unforgettable performance space.

The Hideout Block Party is shaping up to be a Must See Show, also!!! So far The Frames, Andrew Bird, Dan Deacon, Bloc Party, Art Brut and The 1900s are all scheduled to appear. The event takes place on September 7th & 8th.

In case you care...
The Chicago Reader Early Warnings is a great way to stay in touch with all the latest shows scheduled for Chicago. They seem to offer one of the most comprehensive lists.

Ain't Nuthin' But a G Thang...

I have been meaning to post these video clips of G. Love & Special Sauce as they did their thing at Headliners in Toledo a few weeks ago. Fun show...the man can jam.

Fire Alarm...

The midwest is officially on the map....Arcade Fire has announced some additional tour dates including a stop in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, October 5th. They will be playing at the LC Pavilion with LCD Soundsystem opening the show. Ticket will go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 4th...act fast, these will sell out quickly (pre-sale begins 7/31). There has been so much said about this band...it would be hard for any group to live up to the hype, but by all accounts they do....every time.

One of my favorite videos of this unique group of musicians (they are playing in an elevator).

No Pity for the Glass City...

It can be easy to be negative about the Toledo music scene...the offerings can feel limited, but there are some upcoming shows that can't be ignored. The Toledo Indiepop Fest is a 2 day festival at Mickey Finn's Pub on Friday, July 27th & Saturday, July 28th. Over 20 bands offering up an amazing variety of music, including The Hard Lessons, His Name is Alive, The Bicycles, Paper Airplane & many more...go check this out!

Also, Frankie's has made a bit of a comeback with some solid shows for the summer including Cory Branan on Wednesday, July 25 and Sea Wolf opening for Silversun Pickups on Monday, August 6th. Sea Wolf's EP, Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low, has been one of my favorite new discoveries of the year.

Here is a Sea Wolf video for You're a Wolf:

Mic Test #31: Chris and Thomas...

Chris & Thomas:
Indie/Folk/Alternative
*Note: The music featured in the Mic Test is typically new to me, too. Just throwing out some info. about bands that seem to be offering something exciting. Enjoy.

A Great Northern Journey...

I was listening to Great Northern's debut release, Trading Twilight For Daylight, as I headed up to The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. Their current tour brought through on July 19th...and I didn't want to miss them. It was dusk, the sun was going down, work day over...it was the time of the day where you can feel the possibilities. Listen to Great Northern while driving and just let your mind go with the journey. Their music is introspective, but not in a way that puts your mind to sleep.

So, the stage was set...white amps and all. Going into their performance, I felt like I had committed most of their album to memory. But as they plugged in, there were some unexpected surprises. They started by laying down a sonic call to the wild...that electronic drone that signals an imminent launch. I was immediately struck by the thunder of the percussion...Davey's big thumping drums and Ashley's steady bass groove. They are the heartbeat for this band...make no mistake...the words are thoughtful, but the beat is fierce. Rachel (vocals & keys) and Solon (vocals & guitar) take you on their journey. This band rocks wildly while still maintaining a sense of control...rich layered sound, screaming guitars and kick drums woven with keyboard and xylophone melodies.

Great Northern are so many sounds. They are acoustic & electric, gentle but powerful, black & white, happy & sad, peaceful & chaotic, a lullaby & a jam...or how about just twilight & daylight. There are hints of The Beatles, Flaming Lips, Imogen Heap...and more. Check 'em out, you will find something to smile about and sway to. I loved Low is a Height which featured Rachel banging a Kettle Drum in one hand while swinging some jingle bells in the other...fun stuff. Home was a tight song that rocked live. Pack your bags and climb on board with this band...a great trip.

Setlist:
Just a Dream
Telling Lies
A Sun a Sound
Low is a Height
City of Sleep
Home
The Middle
Into the Sun

Chasing The Police...

I was able to catch The Police at The Palace of Auburn Hills (near Detroit) last night. It has been over 20 years since I last saw them perform with The Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope Tour. They followed U2 with an amazing performance which brought the house down. After last night's show, it is safe to say that they really haven't lost a step. Their music is as relevant as ever and they remain one of those "lightning in a bottle bands" that won't ever be repeated. Sting's voice still soars, Andy's guitar sounds commanding and strong and Stewart beats a drum like few others. One of the highlights for me last night (there were so many) was an intro of Voices inside My Head leading into When the World is Running Down. It is easy to forget how fun a concert can be when every song is a hit...lotsa nostalgia.

Here is an old video for Voices Inside My Head...


and then the same song at a small Hollywood show that announced their reunion tour.

Ryan Adams Says Yes to Michigan...

If you have been pulling your hair out as a result of the need to see Ryan Adams live, you can relax. He will play the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 22nd. Tix go on sale this Saturday at 10 am EST.

This Note's For You...

The White Stripes recently played a "One Note Show" as they completed their swing through Canada. Apparently, they wanted to say they had played every province & territory in the Great White North. Pitchfork has a quick blurb about the special show. OK, I am done with White Stripes for a while....promise.

Rock 'n Reel with The White Stripes...

Looks like The White Stripes are continuing their strange journey through Canada...and know they have taken to the waters off Prince Edwards Island. Fishing for new fans, no doubt. Pitchfork has more coverage of Jack & Meg's Canadian Vacation. Were those Groupies...or just Groupers gathered around the boat?

Jim James Goes Belly Up...

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has started a new series called The Craft. The idea is to go beyond a great song to discover what inspired songwriters to create there masterpieces. The format features an interview and a performance. This series has presented Elvis Costello, Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and there are more to come, including Patty Griffin.

Here is a clip someone shot of Jim James performance last week at a venue called Belly Up near San Diego. So stripped down with basically just a Casio...enjoy.

Mic Test #30: The Bees...

The Bees:
Indie/Alternative/Rock
*Note: The music featured in the Mic Test is typically new to me, too. Just throwing out some info. about bands that seem to be offering something exciting. Enjoy.

Where in the World are The White Stripes...

The White Stripes have been surfacing in some unlikely Canadian locations lately, including a transit bus in Winnipeg. Who knows where they will pop up next. Bringing Rock to the people...gotta love it!

Luck O' The Irish Includes R.E.M....

R.E.M. treated Dubliners to a special preview of some new music last week. They booked five nights of "rehearsals" at a small venue called The Olympia Theatre. They presented new songs, but also blessed the audiences with the early stuff to keep the restless in their seats. I Am Fuel, You Are Friends (a great music blog) is offering up some live MP3s of the first night that are definitely worth a listen (see post on 7/7/07). See what you think of the new songs, while recalling the days when R.E.M. helped deliver us from the mundane music of the 80's. Maybe the luck of the Irish will bring a future tour in smaller venues...we can only hope.

There are lots of videos of these rehearsals on YouTube. This clip features one of my favorite R.E.M. tunes, Second Guessing.

Only in America...

Happy 4th!!

Classic Clips: Bob Dylan...

The Mothership Invades Royal Oak...

George Clinton, "The King of Interplanetary Funksmanship", and Parliament will be bringin' that funky stuff to Royal Oak Music Theatre on September 16th (tix go on sale July 13th)...where they will surely "turn this mutha out". The often sampled, Clinton is a deep root on the family tree of funk, soul, R&B and Hip-Hop. Bow Wow Wow, Yippee Yay, Yippee Yay...Clinton for President...George Clinton, that is.

Diversity in Detroit...

The Concert of Colors is a free festival features a wide variety of music from all over the world. The festival takes place at the Max M. Fisher Music Center from July 19th to the 22nd. Check out the website to learn the daily line-ups. Some of the highlights include Hugh Masekela, Steel Pulse and They Might Be Giants.