Who Shot My Morning Jacket...

If you were at Lollapalooza 2007...then maybe you did! You may remember that My Morning Jacket & Current TV invited fans to take pictures of them with cameras and cell phones while they performed with the Chicago Youth Orchestra ("All Eyes On"). Well, everyone took their shot at being famous and now the results are in. The Digital Age has got us covered from every angle...it is overwhelming, but when it is MMJ, I'll take it. Wonder what's next for MMJ. They will be at SXSW in March, Coachella in April and they just sold out a show at Radio City Music Hall scheduled for June...which is when their newest ATO Records release is scheduled to drop. Look for Evil Urges on June 10th.

Jacked Up...

Aloha Jack Johnson fans. While you are chillin' like amoxicillin waiting for the new Jack Johnson CD, Sleep Through the Static, you can check out this video clip which gives you a peek into this do-gooder, all-around-laid-back, enviro-conscious rocker's brain as he was creating his latest work. Look for the new album to come out on February 5th (and keep an eye out for a summer tour).

Trailer for the new album, Sleep Through the Static


Video for the first single, If I Had Eyes

Oh Brothers, Where Ark Thou...

The Avett Brothers deliver a kind of bluegrass rock style that feels like a sound you might get if you forced the Violent Femmes and The Beatles to live in a North Carolina cabin for the sole purpose of creating an album. Stripped down, melodious and full of energy. This trio has just released their latest, Emotionalism, and have mounted up for a seemingly endless tour around the U.S.of A. And as luck would have it, they are bringing their lighting in a bottle to The Ark in Ann Arbor on May 20th. It feels like a ways off, but don't get stuck without a ticket...this is a good one.

Talk On Indolence


Avett Brothers on Conan


Electronic Press Kit turned Documentary


The Avett Brothers at Bumbershoot 2007


Nothing Short of Thankful

R.E.M.'s Fool's Gold...

R.E.M., the alt-pioneers from Athens, Georgia have chosen April Fool's Day to release their 14th album, Accelerate. Many music fans feel like they have grown up with R.E.M.'s music over the years, so it is hard not to take notice when they get back in the studio or head out on the road. And yeah, some of their more recent albums may have attracted less attention, but this band has endured and kept on going. That's no joke. 2008 will no doubt bring more press, as well as tour dates. They have already committed to playing Langerado and SXSW in March. Stipe, Mills & Buck were also spotted last week in Manhattan's Lower East Side shooting a video for Supernatural Superserious, the first single from the new record. Their have been several media sources that have reviewed this latest effort, which Michael Stipe describes as the fastest they have ever put together an album.

Serious fans will enjoy exploring NinetyNights.com, a website that the band has set up to release video snippets leading up to the release of Accelerate.
Billboard Review

Accelerate tracklist:
Living Well's the Best Revenge
Mansized Wreath
Supernatural Superserious
Hollow Man
Houston
Accelerate
Until the Day Is Done
Mr. Richards
Sing for the Submarine
Horse To Water
I'm Gonna DJ

On location at last week's video shoot.


Nightswimming (British version)...Gonna miss you Meg!!! Enjoy.

Doughty is Ripe for the Pickin'...

Ahhh...good crisp music that is not too tart, not too sweet & never rotten! Mike Doughty has announced tour dates that will bring him through the area in mid-March. Known for serving up those tasty performances, Doughty will be playing new music from his freshest release, Golden Delicious (in stores Feb. 19th). Ann Arbor will get a sample on Sunday, March 16th at The Blind Pig. You can also check out his store to pre-order the new album and be entered in a contest to win an iPod loaded with Mike Doughty music (do it by February 15th). Go on...take a bite. Delicious to the core!

The Girl In The Blue Dress

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Here are the tour dates so far:
1/27 Athen, GA @ The Melting Pot
1/29 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
1/30 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
1/31 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
2/1 Orlando, FL @ The Social
2/8 Great Barrington. MA @ Club Helsinki
3/12 Northhampton, MA @ Pearl Street
3/13 Rochester, NY @ German House Theatre
3/14 Montreal, QC @ Les Saints
3/15 Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club Theatre
3/16 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
3/18 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
3/19 Indianapolis, IN @ The Music Mill
3/20 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
3/21 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
3/22 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
3/25 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
3/26 Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club
3/27 St. Louis, MO @ The Gargoyle

Classic Clips: Led Zeppelin...

Black Dog...In Memory of Coop

'Nuff Said...

Get to this one!

Local Anesthetic...

Just when you think there isn't much good music coming to the Toledo area, the local schedule takes shape. Here are some solid bands that will be playing nearby in the next several weeks.

1/27 De Novo Dahl @ Howards Club H (Bowling Green)
1/29 Ra Ra Riot & The Virgins @ Frankie's (Toledo)
1/31 Pittsburgh Slim @ Frankie's (Toledo)
2/7 My Dear Disco @ Howard's (Bowling Green)
2/12 Dusty Rhodes & The River Band @ Frankie's (Toledo)
2/15 Cut in the Hill Gang @ Frankie's
2/16 Kate Voegele @ Frankie's
2/26 Tim Reynolds @ Howard's Club H
3/5 Von Bondies @ Frankie's
4/18 The Dirtbombs & Kelley Stoltz @ Frankie's

Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine


An Introduction to De Novo Dahl

Mic Test #39: Ghostland Observatory...

Ghostland Observatory:
Other/Electro/Punk
*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.

Will The Weekend Ever Get Here...

Soon Grasshopper, very soon. Finally, a word about a "Vampire" that doesn't suck.....does anyone get that? Thank you, I'll be here all "Weekend". You can see where this is going. VAMPIRE WEEKEND!!! is going on tour so get out your capes & fake fangs because you might want to start stalking this catchy, tuneful group as they trek around the U.S. This band has enjoyed a lot of buzz and they have a new album that will be coming out on January 29th. The buzz will no doubt keep on growing. See you at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor on February 12th. Check out the opener Sam Buck Rosen..another beast from Brooklyn.

They have been describes as Preppy Afro-Pop by the New York Times. (How can you not want to know what that sounds like!)

Here are the U.S. tour dates:
1-29 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
1-30 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
1-31 San Francisco, CA @ Popscene
2-01 San Francisco, CA @ Amoeba Records (in-store)
2-06 Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
2-07 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
2-08 Williamstown, MA @ Williams College Currier Ballroom
2-09 Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts
2-11 Toronto, Ontario @ Horseshoe Tavern
2-12 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
2-13 Cincinnati, OH @ The Gypsy Hut
2-14 Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center
2-15 Pittsburgh, PA @ Andy Warhol Museum
3-06 Orlando, FL - The Social
3-07 S. Fla Everglades, FL @ Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (Langerado)
3-08 St. Augustine, FL @ Café Eleven
3-09 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
3-10 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree
3-19 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
3-20 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
3-22 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
3-23 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Shop
3-25 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
3-26 Seattle, WA @ Neumos

Mansard Roof


A-Punk

Needy For Tweedy...

Something simple here...stumbled across an old video of Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco) & Fred Armisen (of SNL) interviewing each other for a thing called Myspace Artist on Artist. Check it out.

Artist on Artist: Fred Armisen & Jeff Tweedy

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What The Foo Can Do For You...

Today is the day the Foo Fighters set out on their nationwide tour of the U.S. When you think about a "rock concert" in the traditional sense, this band is carrying the torch. Big sound, not a sellout, mainstream enough to be able to sing along but not enough to make you sick of hearing it. Heartfelt lyrics backed by a strong guitar that can rip through a brick wall or just the wall of a heart. It is no surprise that CNN interviewed the band about their latest effort. The band has said they will play all the "favorites" on this tour, so get out there and get yourself a nice dose of the Foo. As mentioned before, they will be in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena on February 24th.

On a side note...Dave Grohl was one of the famous faces seen in London at last month's Led Zeppelin reunion...which made me think of this old performance of Stairway to Heaven on Craig Kilborn. Good stuff.

Down the Tubes...

In this ever expanding world of YouTube-ery, it seems that many a musician have been using their free-time to become their own private UP-Link to the world. Here are a few recent examples that have caught my eye.

Ryan Adams: Everybody Knows


Ryan Adams: Like Yesterday


Mike Doughty: 27 Jennifers


G. Love: Sympathy For The Devil


G. Love: Blackbird

Keys to Success...

The Black Keys are preparing for their latest tour, which will no doubt find them debuting material from their upcoming release. Attack & Release will hit stores on April Fool's Day. This album is highly anticipates for the reason that is was produced by Danger Mouse. Brian Joseph Burton, aka Danger Mouse is best known for some of his work with Gnarls Barkley & the creation of the Grey Album, a mix of music born from The Beatles White Album & Jay Z's Black Album.
Tickets go on sale for the Royal Oak date on January 18th.

Pitchfork Media has an interview about the new album.

Tour Dates:
March
27 - Tucson, Ariz. @ Rialto Theatre
28 - Tempe, Ariz. @ Marquee Theatre
29 - San Diego, Calif. @ House of Blues
30 - Pomona, Calif. @ Glasshouse

April
1 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Wiltern Theatre
2 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Warfield Theatre
4 - Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom
5 - Seattle. Wash. @ Showbox SoDo
6 - Vancouver, B.C. @ Commodore Ballroom
9 - Denver, Colo. @ Ogden Theatre
10 - Omaha, Neb. @ Slowdown
11 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
12 - Chicago, Ill. @ Riviera Theatre
13 - Indianapolis, Ind. @ The Vogue
15 - Royal Oak, Mich, @ Royal Oak Music Theatre

May
12 - Washington D.C. @ 9:30 Club
13 - Washington D.C.@ 9:30 Club
15 - New York, N.Y. @ Terminal 5
16 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ The Fillmore at Theater of Living Arts
17 - Boston, Mass. @ Orpheum Theatre

Ring In The New Year...

...with some live music in the Midwest. Wintertime can slow down rock, but it can't stop it.

1/15 Carolina Chocolate Drops @ The Ark (Ann Arbor)
1/15 Mason Proper @ Frankie's (Toledo)
1/18 G. Love @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
1/18 Martin Sexton @ 20th Century Theatre (Cinci)
1/18 Talib Kweli @ St. Andrews (Detroit)
1/21 Mos Def @ Hill Auditorium (Ann Arbor)
1/24 Band of Horses & Cass McCombs @ Beachland Ballrroom (Cleveland)
1/25 & 1/26 Ann Arbor Folk Fest (Patty Griffin, etc.)
1/26 Hot Hot Heat @ The Majestic (Detroit)
1/27 Dan Deacon @ Scrummage University (Detroit)
1/27 Lenny Kravitz @ Fillmore Detroit
1/29 Ra Ra Riot @ Frankie's (Toledo)
1/30 Raul Midon @ The Ark (Ann Arbor)
1/31 DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist @ House of Blues (Cleveland)
2/4 Joe Henry @ The Ark (Ann Arbor)
2/5 Daniel Johnston @ Magic Stick (Detroit)
2/5 Tim Finn @ Double Door (Chicago)
2/6 The Whigs @ The Pike Room (Pontiac)
2/14 Vampire Weekend @ Wexner Center (Columbus)
2/15 Martin Sexton @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
2/15 Cut in the Hill Gang @ Frankie's (Toledo)
2/15 - 2/20 Wilco @ The Riviera Theatre (Chicago)
2/16 Kate Voegele @ Frankie's (Toledo)
2/20 English Beat @ Majestic Theatre (Detroit)
2/21 Bedouin Soundclash @ Shelter (Detroit)
2/22 New York Dolls @ Majestic Theatre (Detroit)
2/23 Limbeck @ Magic Stick (Detroit)
2/24 Foo Fighters @ Joe Louis Arena (Detroit)
2/26 Chris Bathgate @ The Ark (Ann Arbor)
2/26 Tim Reynolds @ Howard's (Bowling Green)
2/29 Lez Zeppelin @ The Magic Bag (Detroit)
3/1 Avett Brothers @ Kent Stage
3/1 Big Head Todd & The Monsters @ House of Blues (Cleveland)
3/1 Sia @ Magic Stick (Detroit)
3/1 Mountain Heart @ The Ark ( Ann Arbor)
3/4 Q-Tip @ HOuse of Blues (Cleveland)
3/5 Steve Earle @ Michigan Theater (Ann Arbor)
3/6 The Black Lips @ Magic Stick ( Detroit)

Mic Test #38: George Stanford...

George Stanford:
Americana/Pop/Soul
*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.

New Year's Day at the Movies...

All is quiet...but not for long. January is the month that U2's movie, U23D opens in theatres across the country. This release is highly anticipated, as the 3-D effects give viewers the feeling that they are onstage with Bono & The Edge. Limited showings will begin on January 23rd. U2 has also rolled out a website solely dedicated to the movie.
Here are the songs that are captured on screen:
Vertigo
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Miss Sarajevo
Beautiful Day
Where the Streets Have No Name
With or Without You
Pride
The Fly
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Yahweh
One
New Year's Day...Still a great video!