Quote of the Day

Regarding his strategy during his final weeks, he said that, "It's kind of like running on a diving board - you know it's going to end so you just run faster."

Chikeze Eze to the New York Post

Dream Ticket: Oasis and Ryan Adams in Concert

In a bill that I thought could only have come together in my dreams, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals will open for Oasis on a short (for now) US and Canadian tour in the run-up to Oasis' co-headlining of Toronto's Virgin Festival alongside the Foo Fighters on September 7th.

These two artists first became associated when Ryan Adams listed Oasis as a major influence, proven by his reworking of the 1995 Oasis classic, Wonderwall, released on his Love Is Hell album in 2004. Noel Gallagher returned the favor by performing the Ryan Adams version of his own band's tune at some solo acoustic gigs in 2006. Listen to Noel's take on Ryan's take on Wonderwall here.

The joint tourdates are (from oasisinet.com):

26/8/08: Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater -

Pre-Sale tickets on sale 4/1/08 @ 10AM PST until 4/3/08 @ 10PM PST.

Tickets on general sale 4/4/08 @ 12PM PST available from Ticketmaster & Qwest Field Box Office.

27/8/08: Vancouver, BC - GM Place -

Pre-Sale tickets on sale 4/1/08 @ 10AM PST until 4/3/08 @ 10PM PST.

Tickets on general sale 4/4/08 @ 10AM PST available from Ticketmaster & GM Place Box Office.

29/8/08: Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place -

Pre-Sale tickets on sale 4/1/08 @ 10AM MST until 4/3/08 @ 5PM MST.

Tickets on general sale 4/4/08 @ 10AM MST available from Ticketmaster & Rexall Place Box Office.

30/8/08: Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome -

Pre-Sale tickets on sale 4/1/08 @ 10AM MST until 4/3/08 @ 10PM MST.

Tickets on general sale 4/4/08 @ 10AM MST available from Ticketmaster & Pengrowth Saddledome Box Office.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

It's after 10:00 and I'm at the office on Sunday! I guess this is my fault. I didn't put in much of an effort last week and now I'm stuck under fluorescent lighting staring at a computer monitor trying my best not to jump off of the roof. But I do have some friends along for the ride. After listening to Howard Stern repeats on Sirius for a couple hours, I decided to visit some of the favorite ghosts of my musical past:

Keeping me company on this craptastic day at work have been: the Bruce Springsteen/E Street Band channel on Sirius, Regina Spektor and her entire 'Begin to Hope' album, Travis's The Invisible Band' album, John Mayer's 'Continuum' album, The Strokes 'Last Night' and 'Hard to Explain', Ray LaMontagne's 'Trouble', Jeff Buckley's 'Hallelujah' and 'Lover You Should Have Come Over', and wrapped up with a helping of Billy Joel's 'New York State of Mind'. So that is how I was my own personal DJ AM today.

Also, I was digging Travis covering Bowie's 'All the Young Dudes' on YouTube:

As the liquor store guy (Joe Nunez) says in Superbad, right when McLovin drops the beer cans and they explode on the linoleum floor, "Fuck my life".

Crazy Covers - Panic at the Disco/Counting Crows

Cool covers can make or break a concert. I'm fascinated by Panic at the Disco's choice to cover the Counting Crows 'Round Here'. It's one of my favorite songs, and respect the effort, but as Simon Cowell would say, "I'm afraid I just didn't get it". Or as Randy would say, "It was just alright for me, man, it was just alright.". Or as Paula would say, "I just wanna say, you look great tonight".



I'm looking forward to listening to the Counting Crows new album. Anyone heard it yet?

Step Into the Fire

Old news for plenty...Inspiring for all.

Here is Arcade Fire with special guests.



David Bowie w/ Arcade Fire
performing Wake Up from Arcade Fire's album Funeral
Fashion Rocks event, Radio City Music Hall
9/8/2005



Win and Regine from Arcade Fire
w/ Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
performing Keep the Car Running from Arcade Fire's album Neon Bible
Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Canada
10/14/07

Quote of the Day

"No amount of hype can bring Lenny Kravitz back from the dead. No number of fashion shoots, explanatory stories. He stopped making great music and everybody online knows it. Used to be we had no choice, we were subjected to his visage on TV. But we don't go to television for music anymore."

-- Bob Lefsetz on Lenny Kravitz

I couldn't agree more, Bob...

Jock Jams: Capital Edition

"[Next Sunday], the most spectacular state-of-the-art ballpark in Major League baseball opens its doors for its inaugural season. Your all-new Nationals Park combines the best features of other acclaimed MLB ballparks with an architectural flavor unique to DC, creating an experience unlike any other!"


Help the Washington Nationals select the songs to be played for:

7th Inning Stretch Song
Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
The Gambler by Kenny Rogers
Rock Me Gently by Andy Kim
September by Earth Wind and Fire
Shout by Otis Day And The Knights
Twist And Shout by The Beatles
YMCA by the Village People
You Gotta Have Heart by Damn Yankees The Musical

Home Run Song
Because We Can by Fatboy Slim
Bustin Loose by Chuck Brown
Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation
Off We Go (Air Force Theme) by Robert Crawford
Song 2 (Woo Hoo) by Blur

Victory Song
Beautiful Day by U2
Celebration by Kool And The Gang
Dancing In The Streets by Martha Reeves and the Vandelas
How Do You Like Me Now by Toby Keith
Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter

Firstly, these songs are pretty terrible options. So the best they could come up with are "Twist and Shout", "YMCA", "Song 2", and "Celebration". You've got to be kidding me. Talk about lowest common denominator. Are there any songs left on the Jock Jams CD that aren't listed here?

The only song on this list that I would like to see selected is "Bustin Loose" by DC's own Chuck Brown, the legendary originator of Go-Go music. This is the song that inspired Nelly's "Hot in Here." Check it out here [Don't be afraid...you know you want to dance to it. Make it funky Chuck]

God Only Knows

I was watching High Fidelity earlier tonight and I thought a "Top-5" list would be a good way to start the morning (it's after midnight here). This is what I came up with:

"The Top-5 albums you're embarrassed you don't own."

So, after I scoured through hundreds of albums compiled by several different internet sources, here goes (thankfully, The Beatles and Dylan didn't made the list):

5) Elephant (2003) - The White Stripes
4) At Folsom Prison (1968) - Johnny Cash
3) L.A. Woman (1971) - The Doors
2) Exile on Main St. (1972) - The Rolling Stones
1) Pet Sounds (1966) - The Beach Boys

I really have no explanation or excuse for how or why these "must-haves" slipped through the cracks -- especially the top-2. That being said, each one of the above is downloading from iTunes as I'm writing this. Jack, Johnny, Jim, Mick, and Brian, please forgive me.

Can you top my list?

Austin City Limits: It's Not Real?

Austin City Limits, the televised live concert music program that spawned a major festival is moving studios? So you're telling me that they're not performing on a quaint hilltop with an ideal view of the downtown Austin skyline over their shoulders. And the studio audience isn't sitting outside exposed to the elements? Talk about shattered dreams...

As it turns out Austin City Limits is filmed on a soundstage on the campus of the University of Texas. And the show is moving to a new downtown Austin theater with a capacity of 2,000, compared to the current seating for only 300. Sadly, the famous Austin city backdrop won't be making the trip to the new venue, as it is believed that it would not survive the trip in one piece. A new 3D replacement is being considered in its place.

Much like the artists quoted in this CMT article, I grew up watching this show and can distinctly remember my excitement in watching Phish perform on it. The band's performance first aired on Saturday, October 14, 2000 (season 26, episode 1), exactly one week after their last concert before the hiatus. It was taped earlier in the summer of the same year and featured "Possum" and "Limb by Limb," as well as "The Inlaw Josie Wales" and "Back On the Train" from their then latest album Farmhouse.

Good Vibrations

Based on the opinion of music-news.com, the recent settlement between Mike Love and Al Jardine on the use of the Beach Boys name could result in a reunion of all 3 surviving members, to include creative genius and nervous breakdown sufferer Brian Wilson. I'm not sure I see the connection between this court ruling and the possibility of a reunion, but as a music fan, I would welcome it. I just don't think I'd be there to see it.

Of note, Jardine joined Brian Wilson in November 2006 for a series of concert performances of the Beach Boys' landmark "Pet Sounds" album.