Heartless Bastards to Play ACL

Austin City Limits released their lineup the other day, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Black Keys' labelmates and Cincinnati based band The Heartless Bastards on the list. It seems as if the Fat Possum/Ohio indie connection has gotten a lot of well-deserved hype lately. They had a song featured on the Black Snake Moan Soundtrack and now a tour opening for The Hold Steady. The best thing about ACL is that I don't have to be jealous of not getting to see it - you can usually catch most of the performances on TV. Check out the HB website for streams of their latest record, All This Time.

Why MySpace Sucks and Always Will Suck

I just saw this on MySpace and had to say something. I've been trying to build my first MySpace profile recently and have had an eye opening experience about how bootleg an operation their service is - but this was the last straw. I know that some of you don't think that misspelling Elliott's name wrong is a big deal, but c'mon! - this is on the front page of their music section. I see this error all the time on people's facebook or myspace or whatever - I always let it go but kind of chuckle to myself that spelling a favorite artist's name right isn't really important to this person. MySpace is great for bands and other artists to get their name out, but I wish there was something better. For this to slip through the cracks at MySpace headquarters proves that they need to step up their game.

May Mix - 3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Breaking the Girl

The third song from May's Mix comes from 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and is one of my favorite songs from childhood. This song amongst some of the others on BSSM displayed a different side of the Peppers and started an evolution of sorts to a more mainstream sound. Songs like this one, I Could Have Lied, and even Under the Bridge were a turning point for the band. As a kid I had no idea what this song was about but I knew I loved that guitar sound. I tried posting the video for this one, but YouTube is being a bitch today. But check out the video, it sucks so bad it's pretty funny.

Bishop Allen - New LP This Summer

Brooklyn based band, Bishop Allen is set to release their new LP, Broken String this July. After having completed 12 EP's last year (one titled for each month) they embarked on a short tour in support of this new LP. I hope to see them swing through the West Coast soon. Listen to their catchy pop on this tune called Click Click Click Click or head over to their MySpace to hear some of the new record.

Weekend Concert Roundup: Los Angeles

Thursday 5/3:
You, Me, and Iowa w/ Solare @ The Echo
Circle Jerks w/ 400 Blows @ Explx
ELF Power @ The Spaceland
Califone @ Malibu PAS

Friday 5/4:
Sea Wolf, Bird and the Bee and Little Ones @ Explx
Ima Robot @ National History Museum
Abe Vigoda w/ Ima Fucking Gymnast @ Pehrspace

Saturday 5/5:
Minus the Bear w/ Chin Up Chin Up and The Honorary Title @ Explx
Bootie LA Mashup Dance Party @ The Echo
Frog Eyes @ The Spaceland

Vintage Bright Eyes Thursday

Here's a clip from a few years back of Bright Eyes on David Letterman. This song never made an album, but was one of the standouts on the b-side release, Noise Floor. Pretty gutsy to play a song no one knew on their national t.v. debut. The song is called The Trees Get Wheeled Away.

May Mix - 2. Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 (XO)

When I think of 3/4 timing, this is the song that pops into my head first. One of Elliott's better known tunes, it comes off of XO that eventually went on to sell over 200,000 copies. Elliott wrote a number of waltzes, this being my favorite. I've read that it's written about his mother and upon relistening makes total sense. Anyhow, I think Waltz #2 will fit snugly into the 2 spot on our May mix.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

I just caught this on Stereogum, and I wouldn't just repost it except for the fact that this video and its animation is the shit. Kind of reminds me of Jamiroquai with a 12 year old Michael Jackson singing, but I don't remember ever liking one of Jamiroquai's songs as much. Apparently they killed it at Coachella. By the likes of their MySpace, they're staunch Christians? Jesus never knew anything this funky.

Dan Deacon - Rattlesnake Gun

The best way I can think to describe this man is Girl Talk meets Charlie the Unicorn. I'm going to see him in June and I haven't been more excited for a show like this in a long time. For more info, check out his MySpace or better yet go on YouTube and watch some live performances.

PB&J on NPR Live Concert Series

Didn't get into Peter Bjorn and John until after they came to your town on tour? Or are you like me and had a ticket purchased only to have them cancel all of their Los Angeles dates? Well NPR's Live Concert Series has the next best thing. The acclaimed series is currently featuring PB&J along with fellow touring bands Fujiya and Miyagi and Au Revoir Simone. If you didn't know about this public service, it's a great way to catch up on bands that you didn't get a chance to hear live - professionally recorded, usually at D.C.'s 9:30 club.

...Boris Yeltsin talks Boris Yeltsin

I don't know about anyone else, but Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin was the first thing I thought about when I heard last week that Boris Yeltsin had died. I had been waiting to see if the band would release some sort of statement and their website posted a clever speech from one of there recent shows:

Boris Yeltsin was a kind man. But what kind of man was he? With sprite and in spite he tried to do away with the totaliterian ways of his country. He also loved to play tennis. In fact, he was in tennis as he was in politics; he tried to serve well but was not without faults. After his resignation on New Years 1999, he left the public's eye and did as he pleased. With a bottle of vodka at his side, he struggled against his health until this past Sunday, when he passed away. Boris Yeltsin may have died of heart failure, but he never failed to have heart. He will remain in our hearts and band name forever. Someone still loves you, Boris Yeltsin.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's-Skeleton Key

This is my favorite song by these guys, and this is a pretty tight performance. Check out dude with my dream job just banging away at random shit. I also like the Dylan poster framed up in the top right corner. For a recorded version check out their MySpace.

Dirty Folks

The Dirty Mouth Mashup of the Day goes to Diplo's "Young Folks' Pussy." He mashes PB&J with that one song that says Shake Your Ass a lot. It's not a real showcase of his talent, but it's still pretty funny at parts. Not office acceptable, so throw on those headphones for a quick laugh.

May Mix - 1. Desaparecidos - Manana

The first song comes from Conor Oberst's other band, Desaparecidos. This song is the perfect choice for the number 1 spot - not only does it include a great intro to the theme with Mr. Oberst's brutal countoff, but its high energy kickstarts the mix off quite well. This is off the only full length record that Desaparecidos put out, with lyrical content that was a precursor to Bright Eyes' political leanings. Listen for the killer ride cymbal- bell hits during the second verse. "Water! Water! Water!"

My Nakamichi and Me

May 2007: One, Two, Three, ONE TWO THREE!!!

Greetings, ya'll. Here's the deal: a new month with a new mixtape with a new theme with minimal attempts at being witty. This month's theme is songs in three timing. Every other day or so a new song will be added so that at the end of the month there's 15 or so tracks. That's 30 (or so) divided by 2 (or so) equals 15. At the end of the month I'll put my Nakamichi MR-1 pro tape deck into overdrive and make as many copies as there are people who want them, easy as that. Tune in tomorrow for track one. Johnny likes it!