Do The Twist

It's Twister night at Ellis, I deemed it so. It's pretty much a double today, I'll be over at the bar from 2:45 onward so come down after work. Gotta go back to LA on Tuesday, who knew that bi-coastal couch surfing in the middle of a recession could be so tiring. Someday soon, I'll get paid to do this and I'll have a bed of my own. Not this futon in the back of a tiny apartment in Brooklyn and random L-shaped couches in Southern California. I know, I know... it's so totally fucking glamourous, I mean seriously if I had a dollar for every e-mail WAMU sends me about another overdraft fee I'd be as rich as someone with a full time job. I digress, if you are in The BK tonight come by and twist.

French Cats Do It Better

Ok, off to see Abandoned Lighthouse with Holly @ Cake Shop. Come by if you are on the Lower East Side.

I'm Bartending In Park Slope Friday Night

Just a quick note...

While I'm sugar shacked in BKLYN, I picked up some shifts at the ever awesome bar Ellis in the South Slope. Tomorrow night happy hour is until 10pm and I'm gonna whip out the twister if enough people are interested. Tell your friends. Come alone, leave with someone.

Friendly Fires - 'Skeleton Boy' Video

The LP comes out March 9, 2009 on XL Recordings. Friendly Fires are on the NME Shockwave tour right now, catch them across the EU.

Husker Du

Just in case you're like Liz.

First Aid Kit covers Fleet Foxes

First Aid Kit are sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg (born 1990 and 1993, respectively), hailing from Enskede, a suburb south of Stockholm. Jeebus... They are so young, and great! Everything sounds better in the middle of the woods.

This Just Out: UHH

I think Brad Elliot kissed me on the cheek the night Friendly Foes opened for The Jealous Girlfriends, we were drunk. That's usually when I'm kissing boys that I don't know very well. Brad is the drummer for the Ferndale, Michigan trio who seriously kick some ass. With Ryan Allen and Lizzie Wittman at the helm they are force to be reckoned with. For me, their music conjures up memories of driving around Smithtown, listening to Sugar and drinking at the marina in summertime or doing donuts in the parking lot of King Kullen (I never really did that, I just watched... from inside a shopping cart). Please, pretty please if you value straight up hard pop go and download their album "Born Radical" available now on iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, CD Baby or Dig Station. They're on Gangplank Records.
[Photo: Jerry Wald]

Friendly Foes - Couch Surfing


Jason Friedman (former Boggs) and Eleanore Everdell make up The Hundred In The Hands, a post-punk Brooklyn based duo. Their first single "Dressed in Dresden" you've listened to here a few months ago and now that single and the remix "Undressed in Dresden" are both available for a limited time as a 7" at Puregroove.co.uk I suggest all you budding DJ's get this track before all your other friends playlist you off the decks. To keep up with all things THITH, check out their blog. To download both tracks go here.
[Photo: Sara Wilmer]

Dressed in Dresden


Undressed in Dresden

THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS-"UNDRESSED IN DRESDEN" from THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS on Vimeo.

ALSO

Tonight in Brooklyn, Holly Miranda does the 3rd installment of Holly and Friends at Zebulon. Tonight she is joined by Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Pink Noise and some very spectacular guests. Zebulon is all ages and free... You can stream the concert tonight from the Zebulon website, the shows begin at 10pm EST.

In New York this week, so the updates will be spotty at best. Forgive me.

PS: I'm working on a Valentine's Day podcast with DJ Buttafucco for Radio Bronado and we need your apologies. Please record yourself in an AIFF or MP3 and send us an apology, DO NOT USE YOUR NAME in the recording. These are anonymus, so you can be as honest or not honest as you like. We're going to use them, all of them so e-mail me here or bmiddleton@gmail.com

PPS: Flight of the Concords was hilarious last night.

Animal Collective - 'My Girls' Video

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Kid Tested Mother Approved

K, so Mommy is going to turn on some programming so she can spend the day watching the inauguration of you know who, as the first you know what, of you know where...




First up, head over to Daytrotter and check out the session they have with Brooklyn's own Chairlift. The band immigrated to Kings County from Colorado around four years ago and in 2008, their song "Bruises" was used to introduce the new iPod Nano. They were an NME radar band all through last year. Does It Inspire You ironically came out on September 11, 2008 and this was their first time to Daytrotter.



Now, The Black Cab Sessions might be the best idea in music on the internet since The Take-Away Shows on La Blogotheque (which we'll get to in a momo). Based out of London, every week a new band takes a ride round town in a cab and plays a song. Just one sone in one cab... *Sigh* the most simple ideas. Anyway this week is different, when they wanted Ryan Adams so they had to switch it up a bit, according to the TBCS:

... the London cabbie had to travel all the way to Nashville, Tennessee to hear about us. But that's what happened with Jason Brown, our cabbie for this Session. A keen music fan, he went over there for an event and heard a talk from BBC2 radio DJ Bob Harris who apparently mentioned what we're up to. Jason loved the idea, and on his return looked us up and offered his services for a Session. What is more, he just so happened to be a pretty big Ryan Adams fan. Perfect.

Cardinals, formerly Ryan Adams and The Cardinals new album is out now on Lost Highway Records.



Now... La Blogotheque Take-Away Shows, what to say... another very great, simple idea from a the French. Take bands-a-buzzin, hijack them when they come through Paris and move them to a 2nd location. The case with one of 2008's biggest buzz (and highly talented) band Fleet Floxes was no diffferent. As Blogotheque explains,

Dream of the impossible and you’ll get something even better. For the Fleet Foxes, we wanted a huge empty place, and impressive, if possible. We wanted echo, we wanted a lot of space, we wanted something unseen. At the Grand Palais, on the central walkways running along the neve where Richard Serra’s monumental pillars were installed, was a door sealed with an iron bar. Behind that door, a disused university and an infinity of corridors, abandoned as if at short notice after a shooting epidemic. A couple of chairs, smashed doors, pigeon dejections on the worn carpets and pigeons flying above our heads, under unreasonably high ceilings.

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

The Fleet Foxes released their first self titled EP in 2006, they were scooped up by Sub Pop and Bella Union and they're poised to rise in some major ranks this next year. If they haven't already. I first heard "White Winter Hymnal" in the spring of last year, it was an immediate grab and subject. By that I mean, I had it on my iPod and would put the headphones on my friends ears and hit play. No one protested.

Off to watch, but first... coffee.

This Just Out: Liz On A Date

Aaaand... we're back! Thanks for watching the show today, before I give you links to your new favorite artists there are two shameless plugs I have to make.

First, the girls over at Club Boobytrap were so accommodating to us while we shot that segment. I want you all to go over to their website and download Dans Twilight. If you can't make it out on a Wednesday here in LA you can listen with a body pillow and just imagine. If you're going to Dinah this year Club Boobytrap will be at Club Skirt


Second, this is my shameless plug for my best friend Holly. Her song, "Forest Green Oh Forest Green" is Kcrw's song of the day, with vocals from Ludlow Lions' Brenden Coon, who also co-wrote with Holly, the track was recorded last winter at Stay Gold Studios. Holly Miranda is the lead singer for the Brooklyn based The Jealous Girlfriends, this solo debut was produced by Dave Sitek (Tv On The Radio) and Katrina Ford (Celebration) the album will drop later this year but you can listen to selected tracks over on her myspace page.

Now back to business.

It’s a new year, and the one thing people love making more than resolutions? Predictions!

We’re crossing Atlantic over to South London where 22-year-old Florence Welch is causing a serious ruckus. NME and the BBC have already hopped on board projecting that she will be one of the biggest names in 2009 and I have to agree with them. She performs under the moniker Florence and The Machine, and this is who I am bombarding my friends with right now. This girl is making chorus teachers everywhere feel validated, she sings from the bottom of her diaphragm. She’s like the love child of Kate Bush and Chrissie Hynde her album comes out later this year but you can find some mp3’s floating around on the interwebs I suggest downloading her cover of Beirut’s Postcards From Italy it’s tremendous. And if you’re over in the UK she’s on the NME awards tour.

Florence and the Machine - Postcards From Italy (Beirut Cover)




A little further east our friends in Stockholm Sweden have had a thriving local scene for years, my most recent import from the functional furniture capital of the world are The Sound of Arrows. This is happy pop music people; if you’re tired of listening to that Justice album consider your prayers answered.

The Sound of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C

That is all for me this week, keep checking this blog for other music that might titillate you.

Bustin' Empire of the Sun

Ok, so at this point your MGMT mercury is busting through the thermometer, right? You've played Oracular Spectacular through the summer, into the fall, maybe you waited on line with three thousand other people to see them, in the rain, at McCarren Pool with The Ting Ting's and if you hear Electric Feel one more time you're going to stick a pair of scissors into an electrical socket for the real thing. Have no fear! Empire of the Sun is here and just in time for the Australian summer, and the dead of winter (eventhough I'm in LA and it's 80 degrees and that's just weird). No, no not this Empire of the Sun



THIS Empire of the Sun





*Le Sigh* Thank you David Bowie.

OH and P.S.


My little brother worked on that Electric Feel video. ;)

January Radio Bronado is up!

It's Friday, it's 80 degrees in Los Angeles and this was Radio Bronado from Tuesday night listen here or download here.

Also, DJ Buttafucco and I are doing a very special Valentines Day Bronado and we need your apology letters! Say sorry to Mom for not taking about the trash, say sorry for not calling your litter brother back after he told you he was gay... hey, even say sorry for getting pregnant that time, it's up to you. No names required, you can record yourself and send them in or e-mail us and we will read them on the show.

Shanekate and Liz

See you on Monday.

My Car Weeps

It's a very sad day for drivers in Los Angeles, our beloved radio station Indie 103.1 took a totally punk rock stance against corporate radio and said eff you to Britney. Indie 103.1 was responsible for launching many of the bands you've heard us talk about on This Just Out. It's effective immediately, you can still get Indie on the interwebs, but I don't gots the interwebs in my 96' Honda yo. Sad days indeed.

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience -

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option --- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world.


Variety did a good piece.

To The Moon Alice

Sam Spiegel is part of the speigel family, the catalogue my mother would try to buy me clothing from when we first moved to the suburbs. We settled on LL Bean which in hindsight, makes me think for an itty-bitty second. He known in hipper circles as Squeak E. Clean and he's been working with Brazilian DJ Zegon on N.A.S.A (North America South America). The album due out February 19th features Karen O & Nick Zinner of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tom Waits, Lovefoxxx of Cansei de Ser Sexy, David Byrne, Seu Jorge, Method Man & Ol' Dirty Bastard of Wu-Tang Clan and Maya Arulpragasam and a long list of others but I didn't feel up to linking them, it's enough to make you dizzy.

"Money" is available for download on iTunes.


And yes, that's whose artwork you think it is.

Bustin' Florence and the Machine

So many predictions in 2009. NME readers predict the epicenter of indie music is going to move from Brooklyn back to East London. Has anyone consulted Portland? Here are one of their breakout predictions for 2009. It's Florence and The Machine, right now if you live in the UK you can see her on the NME Awards Tour.

Bustin' Sky Larkin

The debut LP from Leeds trio Sky Larkin will be released February 9th on Wichita Recordings. Here is a video released today via youtube for the single "Beehive"



They're probably younger than I am, but it still reminds me of high school.

Dally in the Valley

Just watched the GG's in the walley. I missed the snowstorm and the rodeo in NYC today, but had a rather lovely afternoon attempting to fix a tire and driving through San Marino, where in the middle of January could double as mid-October Greenwich, CT. A vortex at best, and worst... the realization that I will probably only ever drive through San Marino. Regardless, I still missed the rodeo.


Vivian Girls~I Have No Fun from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Here is another band I like to talk about. Also, for those of you who love John Roberts as much as I do... here you go, just in case this one slipped you by.

Day four in L.A.

Trying to catch up on my google reader so I can regurgitate all the relevant stuff to you guys. Yesterday I had lunch with some old friends at Cafe Flore, a nice little vegan spot in on the Silverlake strip. Now, I'm not a vegan personally, I have issues with something called bacon that is not bacon, I feel like I am being lied to. Just call it compressed veggies and seitan... I'll still eat it, I just won't expect it to taste like bacon. All that aside, my friend Ari who runs A Scent of Scandal recently (8 months ago) started a blog called Ari On The Daily. If you want to keep up with all the, "Shit you should know about." Go ahead and subscribe.

Most of you guys know that I was obsessed with The Big Pink's "A Brief History of Love" this past summer, if you go check out their Myspace page now they've got a bunch of new tracks up and a new remaster of ABHOL with some female vocals, really good stuff. Below is the first video from the boys for "Too Young To Love". For many of you, my prediction is that they will be your Crystal Castle's of 2009.



Ok, gotta make some brunch. Speak soonyi.

We're Back in 2009

Would I lie to you?

Roger Dodger

Barring any weather hold-ups I'll be in Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon and still when I fly this is what goes through my head:

If you're going to be in NYC the next few weeks Holly Miranda is going to be doing some pretty cool shit up at Zebulon the next few Monday's. If you have a case of them, next week check out acoustic sets from Holly and The Hundred In The Hands and the following Monday you can see Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. Remember Zebulon is always free and they have live music every night.

OH! Also, this afternoon Amy was like, "Dude! That Paper Planes song is a Clash sample." Yeah, it is. Then I thought, maybe some people don't know that Paper Planes samples one of the greatest Clash songs ever. Bryan dies a little bit every time someone thinks it's original... it's not. Just lookin' out for yah Bryguy, and you... and you... and you.

My Morning Jacket MP3's from NYE @ MSG

As you well know by now, I was at My Morning Jacket new years eve. My friend Cindra says that the way you bring in the new year is the way you will spend the entire year. Well then! 2009 or "Hoe-Nine" as we are referring to it over here in Muthafunkaland, will be filled with plenty of retardedly sick shows surrounded by friends I love. If you couldn't make it to MSG on NYE for MMJ, Stereogum has two mp3's up:

My Morning Jacket - Celebration (LIVE)
My Morning Jacket - Get Down On It (LIVE)

ALSO

Brooklyn Vegan has more



By far the BEST show of 2008. Thank you Lisa for making me come out and not sitting and home with my parents.

DJ Earworm 2008 Mash-Up

Clea DuVall Guest Blogging This Week

Hey Guys!

My friend Clea is guest blogging about it over at Funny or Die this week:

“Me? Blog? What ever would I blog about?” I didn’t (did) want to. Too much pressure. The people that visit this site, have refined senses of humor, they know comedy*. I do not. I am not funny, (at least that’s what I’ve been told for my entire career) How am I going to do this?"

Five days of Duvall, get'em while they're hot.

Beeeehaayyyy

It's been a slow weekend, what can I say that this video doesn't say already. In LA mid-week to work on This Just Out, yes it's true, we weren't lying.

Kathy Griffin is my hero.

[via Buzzfeed]

Hoe Nine

This is an oldie but a goodie from two years ago, and for me, instead of hangin' with The M & D I high tailed it up to Lisa's corporate box at MSG to see My Morning Jacket and holy cow! First of all if you don't listen to Nicole Atkins by now you should be ashamed of yourselves. When Holly and I used to run Muthafunka over at Bar 13, Nicole was around downtown throwing nights of her own... huge crush... tremendous voice. Ilsa still wants to have Jim James babies and ok... I'm getting the stink eye from Mona, I'm supposed to be helping with the cooking for our annual NYD brunch. Be back soon.