Manic MP3 Monday, Week 17

The Rolling Stones - Shake Your Hips

The Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon

Arctic Monkeys - A Certain Romance

REVIEW OF OUR ANNIVERSARY SHOW ON THE WAY! THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE IT OUT TO THE DELANCEY! Laura already has her review of The Gaskets up. She also put together this video of The Gaskets performing 'End Game'!



UPDATE: A whole stream of photos (mostly The Gaskets and one of your sluts themselves) can be found here! (Thanks thisismecl!!!)

Shake Your Rudebox

Last night, I received this email from a fan:

i'm a huge fan of your blog and i don't know if you ever report about robbie williams (i'm a bit of a pop anglophile) but i thought i'd share the fact that his latest single/remixes are out and it's kind of my guilty pleasure at the moment cause it's so retro 80's.

the single and remixes are here:

robbie williams - rudebox

robbie williams - rudebox (riton remix)

or you can read more on my blog

http://wongiesmusicworld.blogspot.com/2006/07/robbie-williams-is-rudebox.html

You don't know if I'm a fan or not? One word- HELLO! So cheers Wongie.

'Rudebox' is a great, hip-hoppy, R&B, 80's electronica tune. According to Wiki: Robbie Williams will release a brand new single ‘RUDEBOX’ on September 4th on EMI Records. ‘RUDEBOX’ is the first single to be taken from his forthcoming new studio album, '1974', which will follow soon after. Robbie was born in 74', so I guess that is where the album title comes from. You can view the site for the new single here. Also, there is a random video of a granny dancing to the song on Youtube:



Robbie is really on a role with the albums, seems Intensive Care just came out, but I suppose that was last Christmas.

Bloc Party, Secret Machines & Mew @ McCarren Park: Clap! Your! Hands!

It's rare that I will endure seeing every band on a bill. This line-up was surely worth the foot pain that followed.

First up were Danish superstars, Mew. Wearing all black in 92 degree weather is a feat within itself, but the guys truly surprised me with their energy and melody. For me it was a little Kasabian meets Secret Machines. As you could have guessed, I ate it up. Their newest release just came out in the States on Tuesday. Purchase it ASAP!


Secret Machines were next. How much do I love these guys? Acoustic, electric, it doesn't matter. They are unreal and have released 2 of my favorite albums of the last 5 years. Tonight, they split the set evenly amongst Now Here Is Nowhere and Ten Silver Drops. If you don't adore them, then I don't think we can be friends. Setlist went: Nowhere Again/The Road Leads Where It's Led/Daddy's In The Doldrums/Alone Jealous & Stoned/Lightning Blue Eyes/First Wave Intact.




Bloc Party, Bloc Party. Wow, what a graduation from The Bowery Ballroom just a year ago. Kele is a thrilling frontman, nothing's changed there. Each song on Silent Alarm was sung as if it was an anthem. And in a way, I guess they all are, or have become them over the last 15 months. The set started with 'Waiting For The 718' and ended with 'Pioneers'. The new stuff was tops as well. Kudos to another fine show! Setlist: Waiting For The 718/Positive Tension/Banquet/Blue Light/She's Hearing Voices/Hunting For Witches/This Modern Love/Like Eating Glass/Little Thoughts/Helicopter///So Here We Are/Price Of Gas/Compliments/Pioneers

Jen's Bloc Party Pictures:



Excellent recap Matt. It was certainly a hot, sweaty, fabulous night. I should never have doubted that Bloc Party would get me jumping as much as they did. Chris MusicSnobbery was also there getting his groove on, as was Amrit Village Indian for Stereogum and Jerry Yeti Don't Dance (I couldn't see him, but I bet he was dancing).

Acoustic Editors...again

I took a small video of the song 'Bones'. Despite playing just three songs, Tom and Chris were brilliant as always. Honestly, I was thrilled to be there.



And well done Tom for fighting against his pasty white British genes and getting a tan. He looked fabulous.

Editors @ Cornerstone Promotions

Yes, it was an acoustic set.
Yes, it was only 3 songs.
Yes, they were 'All Sparks', 'Bullets' and 'Bones'.
Yes, this bitch beat me to the post!
Yes, I'll shut up and post the pics.

Music Slut Faves A-Z (Part 3)

T Rex - Planet Queen
U2 - Bad
The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work
The White Stripes - Jolene
Xiu Xiu - Jennifer Lopez
Yo La Tengo - Return To Hot Chicken
Zero 7 - Destiny

Not This Again!

OK, so this question used to always pop up about 4 or 5 years ago when Dashboard Confessional was all over MTV2.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look like Chris Carraba?" Answer: Yes, many times.


I think that we have the same shaped eyes/eyebrows and similar features.

Now that DC is back (with a terrrrrrrrible new album), I am getting the question yet again.

I've tried growing my hair out, dying it a lighter hue and parting it, but not ONE person told me I looked like Paul Banks!!

Is the resemblance really that strong?
Your thoughts in the comments, please.

Music Slut Faves A-Z (Part 2)

LCD Soundsystem - Tribulations
Morrissey - I Like You
The Noisettes - Scratch Your Name
Oasis - Live Forever
Pixies - Where Is My Mind?
Queen - Bicycle Race
Robbie Williams - She's The One
Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche

Music Slut Faves A-Z (Part 1)

Thanks for being such loyal readers! This is for you.

Antony & The Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
Belle & Sebastian - Me And The Major
The Cure - Lullaby
Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again
Editors - Feel Good Inc.
The Flaming Lips - Fight Test
Grandaddy - The Crystal Lake
Hot Chip - Playboy
Interpol - Public Pervert
Juliana Hatfield - Tomorrow Never Comes (live)
KT Tunstall - Black Horse & The Cherry Tree

Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, WIN WIN WIN!!!

Want a copy of The Cure's landmark 1987 double album REISSUED WITH 18 previously unreleased tracks, including studio demos of "Hot Hot Hot!!!" and "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep," and six live bootlegs.

YOU CAN WIN BY BEING THE FIRST PERSON TO E-MAIL US AT THEMUSICSLUT AT GMAIL DOT COM!

GO! Good luck!

Boston, I Officially Hate You

Why can't YYY do a free show in THEIR HOMETOWN OF BROOKLYN!!??

Sigh.

Bostonites, enjoy!


Here's some old-school YYY for ya: 'Date With The Night'

Antony, CocoRosie & Matmos @ Warsaw: We Are Family!

I know you want to sing the next line of the song so go ahead...

Ok, now to the review.

I was completely misled thanks to the billing of last night's show! The Ali Forney Benefit show was billed as an Antony show with CocoRosie and Matmos as support. I was a little confused when CocoRosie graced the stage first around 8pm, as introduced by Murray Hill (great job by the way!), but didn't mind. Then Antony came on next, followed by Matmos. Odd if you ask me since Antony is by far the most successful talent on that bill, but on second thought since Antony curated the whole event, perhaps he felt weird headlining it as well. The Matmos guys came all the way from San Fran for the show! Perhaps they deserved the coveted spot of closing out the gig for that reason alone; I just wish 75% of the crowd didn't saunter out as soon as Antony sung his last note!

CocoRosie was in fine form last night. I've now seen the band 3 times and have gone from being totally disgusted by their stage presence and song structure, to absolutely adoring it. Last night only deepened my love for the sisters that make up the band. They played a good deal from Noah's Ark including 'K-Hole', but by far the highlight was 'Beautiful Boyz'. Antony joined them on stage for the ditty and it was flawless. I wished they did an extended version of the song because it was totally dead on last night. The ladies received much praise from the crowd which seemed just as excited to see them, as they were to see Antony.


Around 9:30 or so, Antony took the stage. Antony was in really good spirits last night. He joked about how embarassing he was on stage, how he longed for a dead drummer from the early '70s, and how he can turn any song into a melancholic one. The CocoRosie girls joined him on stage for the witty and hysterically funny new tune "Bouncy Balls". The entire set was perfect. Here's the setlist, the asterisks denote a new song:

My Lady Story
Cripple + The Starfish
*Kiss My Name
Spiralling
For Today I Am A Boy
*Bouncy Balls
*One Dove
I Fell In Love With A Dead Boy
Fistful Of Love
Hope There's Someone

Matmos hopped on stage somewhere around 11pm. Sadly as I mentioned earlier, much of the crowd had dissipated by the time the boys got ready for their shtick. They opened their set with one member literally blowing air through a straw and into a small bowl filled with water (as seen in the photograph below). After about 5 minutes of that, he threw in a packet of Alka Seltzer which made a throbbing sound, as you can imagine, and although it was a little cacophonous it was also pretty damn cool.


Pretty soon after this, Antony graced the stage yet again for 2 tracks with Matmos. This is when I got closest to the stage and snapped away.






Can't wait for their next benefit show! Hopefully Antony will curate it again.

Have You Been Half Asleep?

I just came home from a great show at Warsaw. It was a benefit concert curated by Antony of Antony and The Johnsons with Matmos and CocoRosie performing. Matt will have the full scoop for you tomorrow but right now, I wanted to share this song with you:

Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie.

For some reason, I found myself singing it as I drove hom tonight and it made me happy thinking about being little and listening to this song on my Fisher Price record player. It's such a beautiful, hopeful and slightly sad song. Maybe Antony and The Johnsons just put me in the right sort of mood to remember it. Enjoy.

Natalie Cole Covering Fiona Apple?

I never would have seen this coming.

I guess she's trying to stay fresh but the last hit song she had was a duet with her dad over 10 years ago!

Will Lite FM even play this song?

They don't say which Fiona track she's gonna use but I'm praying it's 'Criminal'. I just wanna hear Natalie Cole singing 'heaven help me for the way I am/save me from these evil deeds before I get them done'!!

Fiona Apple - Across The Universe (Beatles cover)

In Rapture

The Rapture have a new album coming out September 12th called Pieces of the People We Love, great title I think. Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Futureheads), Ewan Pearson (Depeche Mode, Chemical Brothers, Gwen Stefani) and Danger Mouse all helped to produce this album. If the single is any indication, I think it is going to be great:

Download 'Get Myself Into It'

The Rapture'’s Mattie Safer says, "We started with a goal of making an album that's an even happier Saturday night than the last one, and this record is going to be so good that even the engineers get laid off the back of it."”

I really loved the group's last album and I agree, this first single sounds like dancing on a Saturday night. Hope the rest are as "get your ass on the dancefloor."

File This Under: No Shit Sherlock

Just went over to Stereogum to see a big picture of Lance Bass on the cover of people proclaiming he is gay.

I would like to add this: duh.

A friend of mine in college moved to LA after he graduated and dated Lance- for a long time. And they weren't shy about it. They would go to events together, weddings, premieres, etc. and no one ever batted an eye. I have it on very good authority also that Gavin DeGraw is gay as well and that Star Jones had gastric bypass surgery. But you can file that under: Who Gives a Shit?

Clearing Out Our Email

We get a lot of email over here. So much that we often read it and then before we can take a second look, it gets shoved to the back of the pile forgotten.

Case in point, an email about the band The You- a group from Pittsburgh whose debut album was produced by Brian Deck (Modest Mouse and Iron & Wine). I actually really liked the song we were sent but just never got around to posting it. Well today is my day to get around to things. You can download 'I'm going to kill myself' here.

Another singer to come across our inbox is Naama Hillman. She's a singer/songwriter with a new acoustic ep as a follow-up to her first cd, Living Room. There are no real stand-out tracks on the ep (which you can download for free on her site) but she does do a nice cover of 'Ring of Fire.' It's no Johnny Cash version, but it's nice all the same. Download it here.

Daytrotter just sat down for a session with Two Gallants. They perform 4 unreleased songs and they are all available for download, so that is worth checking out. Last week they had the French Kicks.

The New York Dolls just visited The Henry Rollins show on IFC and performed 'Lookin for a kiss'

The Noisettes have a new song called 'Scratch your name.' You can download it here, definitely worth it- this group is awesome.

And I was in yesterday's Newsday reviewing Rockstar Supernova. Check it out. I was in last week's paper talking about Stride gum, exciting I know, as well. Next up, I'll be reviewing Thom Yorke's new album and Union Hall in Park Slope.

I Figured It Out!

OK, so...I was listening to Damien Rice's lovely, brilliant and mesmerizing debut, O yesterday and when 'Cannonball' popped on. Immediately I thought of that f*ing James Blunt song.

How did I never realize before how much James Blunt rips off Damien Rice? Has anyone else noticed this?

We all know he will NEVER have the grace and vocal inflection that Damien possesses, and his attempt is quite embarrassing when you listen to the two tracks side by side, one after another.

I just can't believe I didn't see/hear it sooner!

In related news, Damien Rice (alongside tour partner, Fiona Apple) will be at Summerstage tonight. We wanna hear your thoughts on his new tracks if you make it out! I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for no thunderstorms. I only want the best for you.

I'd put the songs side by side for you, but there's no reason you should have to bear 'You're Beautiful' any more than you already have. So, here's some Damien for you.

'The Blower's Daughter'

Warper Party @ The Delancey: Experiment This!

Last night, my crew and I headed over to The Delancey for some experimental tunes as provided by The Warper Party including sets by nearly 20 performers! As described on Warper's site, the night was billed as "2 Floors of Omnidigital DJs and Biomorphic Musicians." Each act was given roughly a half hour to wow the crowd, using (mostly) their MacBooks and a projection screen. As you can guess, I was only able to fully appreciate 3 acts as events were going on upstairs and downstairs, and everywhere in between.

The first act I witnessed, downstairs, was a woman who goes by the moniker, YZ. Her shtick involved mostly slower beats, a la Junior Boys or the slower Ratatat songs. She strictly stuck to her laptop to spread the message. Her set was pretty much one extended non-stop song with various sections. It was definitely one of those acts you can appreciate but not really groove to. I guess in a way she was the lost member of Amiina.


Secondly, I saw Gemini Duo on the main level. Their whirlwind of sound is rather hard to translate into words. According to Gemini Thom, the sounds created last night were completely unplanned and unrehearsed. Although you couldn't really tell. Everything melded together wonderfully to create a multitude of layers and effects. The duo enjoyed the use of a laptop and some sort of mini keyboard device that I wouldn't have slightest clue what to call! They also threw in a bass, at times, for good measure.


Lastly, and definitely my favorite of the evening was Moldover. This guy was fantastic! He "specializes" in mixing super crazy pounding beats with classic 80s tracks. Finally drum-n-bass and The Eurythmics can be put into the same sentence! He also sampled Run DMC, Michael Jackson as well. A great video of the South By Southwesters dancing to his stuff can be seen on his MySpace page. Ace act.


Hopefully you know by now that THE DELANCEY IS WHERE YOU WILL BE THIS SUNDAY!! Our anniversary party featuring The Gaskets, Band Of York and We Are Americana (with a DJ set by Miss Modern Age) is just around the corner. See you there!!

Which Album Will Be The Bigger Blockbuster?

As we all know, two highly anticipated sophomore albums will be released in late September/early October.

Each will do extraordinarily well, but just how well?

Can the Scissor Sisters have a #1 album in the US?? Will The Killers push over 200,000 copies in its first week? 300,000?

I guess only time will tell, but the buzz machines are already in high gear.

Which band do you think will have the bigger debut week?

I think it's gonna be a tough call!

What I'm Listening To This Week

So many people have asked.. here's a random sampling:

Interpol - Leif Erikson
Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
New Order - 60 Miles An Hour
Blur - Charmless Man
Editors - Camera

And.. yourself?

Ask & You Shall Receive

I wouldn't download this if you feel like dancing.

Nope, definitely wouldn't.

Pretty Girls Make Graves @ McCarren Park

Following Jason Lytle's set, Pretty Girls Make Graves took to the stage somewhere around 7pm. The last time I saw them was at a 2AM SHOW (yes, you read correctly) at Northsix (go figure, right?) that didn't end till close to 3:30 in the morning!!



As you could probably guess, I was thrilled to see the band in daylight and while I was still awake.



By the time PGMG got started, McCarren was finally starting to fill up. Even the dodgeballers escaped their cage to rock out to Andrea and the rest of the band.





Here's their setlist as written on a paper plate. Way to be resourceful guys!



Thanks to JELLYNYC for sponsoring these free Summer Sunday shows! Be sure to drop a dollar in their box on the way out/into the next show you see at McCarren!

Bon Savants, Jason Lytle, Pretty Girls Make Graves @ The McCarren Pool Party 7/23: Sorry Jason

I heart the McCarren Pool Party! Despite it being insanely hot and the sets being about half an hour late, I still managed to have a lot of fun- though it wasn't without spurts of boredom waiting around.


The first band up was the Bon Savants. We hung around for a bit while they played, but eventually moved off to the sides for a walk around. The group was ok, but the music didn't stand out at all. They sounded a bit like everyone else. I'm not sure what the last song they played was, but it must have been the single as it was the best of the lot and received a good applause from the crowd.

Download: 'Atomic Age'


While the Bon Savants played, Matt and I checked out the awesome blow-up slip and slide they had on one side of the pool.


And then make our way over to the opposite end to watch some dodgeball. I think watching people pelt each other with balls was the most enjoyable part of the day. Some of those people were really into it! I would have played but it is a little intimidating playing in front of about 100 people.


That guy with no shirt on, Jeff we called him, definitely came out just for the dodgeball. He was hardcore.


Next up was Jason Lytle. Matt's already talked about his set and since I am no Grandaddy fan, I'll leave the comments to him. I will relay this story though: The VIP section for the show is right behind the stage so Matt and I were standing relatively close behind Jason as he performed. At one point, Jason was staring at me and suddenly stopped singing. For a moment he became flustered and told the audience, he forgot the words. Yikes. That's when I told Matt we had to move back.


I find it odd that Jason is touring around still playing Grandaddy songs. Since the band broke up, why doesn't he break out some of his own music? It's very strange. When Mick Jagger plays by himself, he plays his own material. Same with Paul McCartney. I think Lytle needs to stop assuming that people are just going to want to see him perform Grandaddy songs and write some new stuff soon, for his own good.

Download: 'Now it's on' by Grandaddy live on Radio 1
and
'The crystal lake' also live on Radio 1


To end the day were Pretty Girls Make Graves. I really have nothing to say about them. I never really listened to any of their stuff before yesterday but I thought it was good. Nothing I'd probably get too excited about in the future, but I can see the appeal.


Some of the crowd got very into it, but most seemed a bit apathetic. Matt and I left before the end, but apparently they closed with 'Speakers push the air' "and it was awesome."


Download 'Liquid Courage' here.
and
'All Medicated Geniuses' here.

Jason Lytle @ McCarren Park: Lost On His Merry Way

Hi all! Have a good weekend? About a thousand of you made it out to McCarren Park (in spite of a non-functioning L train, a slow-as-all-hell/rancid G train and sweltering heat) for the JL/Pretty Girls Make Graves show yesterday afternoon.

The Bon Savants opened the show in style but your sluts were too busy distracted by soy dogs and a vicious game of dodgeball to give the band the proper review they deserve. Sorry guys.

Anyway, Jason. The last time I saw him at Other Music I was convinced it'd be the last time I'd ever see him... at least see him perform Grandaddy songs! Well, I was wrong. Not only did he just finish 2 nights @ Joe's Pub, he came out to Greenpoint for a great set in the park. His set was pretty similar to the OM gig. Here's the official setlist, but he didn't stick to it. In fact, much of the middle part was omitted & replaced by 'Lost On Yer Merry Way'. I didn't complain.

Just before he hit the stage with a couple buddies toying with background effects and vocals (it gave it a more Grandaddy feel than the in-store), some chick was taking multiple shots of the group. I snuck in right next to her for a single photo and Jason decided to give me this sad face. I didn't mean to screw up your picture, lady! As you can see the 2 people on the right are still smiling for the other photo. Ha!

Manic MP3 Monday, Week 16

A preview of the Ali Forney benefit show this Wednesday at The Warsaw:

Antony & The Johnsons - 'Cripple And The Starfish'

Matmos - 'Action At A Distance'

CocoRosie - 'K-Hole'

Review: The Knife, Silent Shout

The other day I received The Knife's debut LP in my mailbox. I must admit, at first I was tentative to tear it open and pop it into my iTunes. I've downloaded select tracks off of Silent Shout and I wasn't thorougly impressed with the Swedes' work. However, upon reading glowing review after glowing review, I decided to give it a spin. I'm glad I did.

The album is rather hard to describe in simple terms. At times it bring to mind early 90s rave techno and at others it emulates Bjork. Certain tracks bring to mind Aphex Twin (the freaky stuff) while others are a little Orbital/Hot Chip/Mylo. The album is all over the place, but in a good way!

'Silent Shout' itself, is a hard track to grasp as an opening number. The song is a whirlwind of sound and emotion as well as distortion and beats. In fact, I must say, I had to give the entire LP about a half dozen spins before I saw what the fuss was all about. But once you 'get it', you start loving it (in my case, head bopping/shoulder grooving to it while shooting out e-mails)! The album will be released on Mute here in the States shortly, even though it's been out in Europe for over a year.

Hey, these guys won the Swedish grammy for best pop group back in '04! No joke.

Here's the video for their track, 'We Share Our Mothers' Health'.

Let the Thom Yorke Parade Continue...

Today, I sent in my review for The Eraser to Newsday and I gave it an A. Thom Yorke's solo effort is short, sweet and beautiful. The lyrics are minimal in some of the songs and all have to do in some way with the agony of love. The title track is by far my favourite with the lyrics:
"The more you try to erase me
The more, the more
The more that I appear
Oh the more, the more
The more I try to erase you
The more, the more"

The last song, 'Cymbal Rush' is about the frenetic chaos of trying to save a relationship that should maybe be left to drown. You can watch Thom perform it on the Henry Rollins show:

The Eraser invokes early Radiohead, think The Bends and OK Computer, but strips away all but the piano and electronica. It is dark and pleading- reminding me of Sigur Ros at their most inexplicable. It is an album best listened to on rainy afternoons and during deep conversations on late Saturday nights.

Download 'The Eraser' here.

Sam's Town Track List

Enterlude? Exitlude? BLING?
I just hope it is much better than these titles:

'Sam's Town'
'Enterlude'
'When You Were Young'
'Bling'
'For Reasons Unknown'
'Read My Mind'
'Uncle Jonny'
'Bones'
'My List'
'This River Is Wild'
'Why Do I Keep Counting?'
'Exitlude'

Stereogum and The National HACKED; Miss Modern Age added to Anniversary Party!

Whoa, has anybody been to Stereogum yet this morning? Yikes. Last night I saw a message saying that there were difficulties (I'm assuming that was posted by Scott), but today it's hack central. Here's hoping that Scott gets it all figured out and that this hacker gets gonorrhea.

Not only SG, but The National's MySpace profile has been hacked as well! Apparently somebody was posting bulletins with such taglines as 'what's up my n****s???'. Phew. When I think of The National the first thing I automatically think of is gangsta rap. Don't you?

In much more exciting news, MISS MODERNAGE HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE LINE-UP TO OUR ANNIVERSARY PARTY! (deets still on the left side column of this page, click on the naughty photo). She'll be on the 1s and 2s, and um, her iPod! Any requests for the DJ? Put in the comments below and I'll pass them her way.

Colour Music (Members of The Americans for British Spelling)

Thanks to a bulletin the Flaming Lips posted a couple of weeks ago, I have been introduced to Colour Music- a trio from Stillwater, OK.

Their music actually reminds me a lot of the Flaming Lips. It's happy, slightly left of center, country-rock-folk. Upon first clicking on their MySpace, I left their music streaming for the rest of the day and immediately wrote to the band asking for an mp3, I was so excited to share them with you all. So enjoy!

You can download their single 'Circles' here and make sure also to check out their MySpace for the infectious 'Gospel Song.'

Unfortunately, I don't see any tour dates set for NYC (though if you are in Texas and Colorado you are in luck) and surprisingly, they aren't on a label. Someone scoop them up! And hey, thanks Flaming Lips.

Monsters are Waiting @ Pianos 7/19: What Were You Thinking?

Lead singer of Monsters are Waiting, Annalee, is either the worst dancer in the world or she is suffering from some sort of affliction. Either way, it wasn't cute. My advice to Matt during the show was, don't look directly at her. I spent most of the show staring at the floor myself.


Never at a show have I experienced such terrible stage presence, she flapped her arms like a chicken and squawked at one point, so contradictory to the music. It really is a shame, because MaW does actually have some good stuff. They remind me very much of a female fronted Hourly Radio. It's dark, post rocky with a little Manic Street Preachers. The stand out track from them would definitely be 'Fascination.' It's worth checking out their MySpace, but their show may be another story- people were actually leaving during the middle of the set. Ultragrrrl and Nightmare of a Boyfriend, however, showed up just as people were beginning to get annoyed and walk out.

Monsters Are Waiting @ Pianos

'Nobody' off their debut Fascination.

The much-buzzed LA faves stormed into Pianos last night. They'll be doing another set tonight.

Check 'em out, if you dare. The lead chick did the chicken dance last night. Uh huh, the CHICKEN DANCE!

J Spaceman Flies Solo

I know one crazy Music Slut reader that will be flying across the Atlantic for one of the shows.. I'm sure she'll give us a gushing review right around Halloween.

From NME:

Spiritualized frontman Jason Pierce is to go on an acoustic tour of the UK this autumn.

The dates will showcase songs from the forthcoming new Spiritualized album. Pierce will be accompanied on all dates by a string quartet, gospel singers and Spiritualized guitarist Doggen. Pierce will also play some covers and back catalogue classics, including Spacemen 3 songs.

Pierce, going under the name Jason Spaceman, has now recovered from the serious illness which halted work on the follow-up to 2003's 'Amazing Grace' . He described the new material, due for release in early 2007, as being "the work of the devil......with a little guidance from me".

Dates:

Salisbury Arts Centre (October 20)
Brighton Komedia (22)
London Queen Elizabeth Hall (23)
Colchester Arts Centre (24)
Leicester The Y (25)
Kendal Brewery Arts Centre (November 22)
Gateshead Sage (23)
Manchester Lowry (24)
Edinburgh Queen's Hall (25)

Here's the title track to their masterpiece, Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space.

Sondre Lerche @ Barnes & Noble Union Square

Although discussion was limited to the following topics: A-ha, Cole Porter, A-ha, being a young performer, A-ha, loving New York and learning English (and A-ha), Sondre Lerche put smiles on nearly all 300 fans in attendance for his show/discussion last night at B&N Union Square. He performed 3 stunning tracks off of Duper Sessions: 'Everybody's Rooting For You', 'Minor Detail' and 'I Wanna Call It Love'.



Alongside Air America host Katherine Lanpher, Sondre answered all the same questions he is always asked charismatically and honestly. Upon repeated requests, Katherine even got Sondre to belt out a scream (a la his next album, the David Bowie-influenced 'rock' album) which was much appreciated by all the 17 year old girls in the front two rows.



Also, at the Q&A was author Gary Shteyngart, who was a friggin' riot! His book about an overweight hairy Russian Jew named Misha in love with a hooker from The Bronx (think about that one for a second) had the crowd in an uproar. Ok, the great majority of us at least.



Ha, what a great way to spend a Wednesday evening.