Seaspin - cool band alert

Following on in the trend of bands revitalizing the late 80's shoegaze sound in the tradition of My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, Ride and The Jesus and Mary Chain come Los Angeles based Seaspin

Joining the ranks of other revivalist bands such as A Place to Bury Strangers and Love of Diagrams, Seaspin present there noise-laden distorto-pop songs with a more shiny, cleaner vibe. Their vocalist Jennifer Goodridge (previously from Your enemies friends) has a pristine, melodic voice that rides high over the distorted, heavily tremelo'd suspended fourth chords of Ronnie Washburn creating that archetypal My Bloody Valentine sound of pretty girl meets dirty but talented stoner guy with too many big muff pedals, but with their own melodic sensibilities of course.

I've been lucky to hear the ep called Reverser and it is really great. Goodridge has a pretty, soothing voice but at times can bite down on attack. On the first track ("Love is a Fable") you can pick up on the MBV vibe with the buzzing guitars. "Give yourself" leaps off the speakers with a fuzzed out guitar and keyboard loop. The bass has a nice deep groove as Goodridge swoons over the top.

Check out an mp3 for yourself right here for the title track. Here it to hoping the ep is just the tip of the iceberg.

Be sure to check them out on myspace as well.

In the news....

An Illinois bus driver was suspended for wearing a pink necktie in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The drivers sister and mother both battled cancer but officials said there was to never be a deviation from the uniform.

The 15 person police squad in Budaros Hungary won a collective 16 million dollar lottery all resigned on the spot.

Mexico City put 1300 of its police officers on a diet because 70% of the 70,000 members of the police force are overweight.

A woman in Britain has the loudest snore on record. They reach levels of 111.6 decibels. To give you an idea, this is louder than a spinning washing machine, a diesel truck or low flying jet.

Nearly 26% of wives now earn more than their husbands in homes where both work. This is up 17.8% in the last two years. - MSNBC.com

The Federal deficit hit the 1.42 Trillion mark in October, more than the total nation debt for the first 200 year of the republic, and more than the entire economy of India. - Associated Press

More than half of adults in New York City are single. The 3.8 million singles outnumber the entire population of Chicago. - The New York Times

In 2005, Dell Computer had a market value of 100 billion. More than apple and Hewlett Packard combined. Today, the market values Dell at $30 billion, less than a third of the value of HP or Apple. Business Week

(This is my favorite)
A Florida man has failed to win compensation for "defective underwear". The 62 year old man claims that over a two week vacation in Hawaii the fly flap of his briefs rubbed his genitals "like sandpaper belts". Asked by a judge why he didn't notice sooner, the 285 pound man said he could not see his own genitals and he didn't ask his wife to look because that would "ruin her vacation". (this is fantastic..really...)

A Stanford study found that coin flips favor whichever side of the coin was facing up when the flip was initiated, landing on that side 60% of the time.

A longest golf course in Australia has opened. Some tees are over 50 miles away from each other. It is estimated to play the par 71, 850 mile course is 4 days.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg spent over $85 million dollars of his own money to be re-elected. This was more than any other electoral candidate in history. - The New York Times

Tuition and fees for the current school year at a private four year college averages $26,273. This is a 4% increase from last year. In state tuition and fees at public, four years schools rose 6.5% to $7,020. Time

Bill Clinton admitted recently if it were not or term limits he'd have kept on running.

The FBI's terrorist watch now has more than 400,000 individual names and it adds about 1,600 per day. Fewer than 5% of the people on the list are U.S Citizens or legal residents. - The Washington Post

Every year Americans eat 35 million cows, 115 million pigs, and 9 Billion chickens and Turkeys. - The New Yorker

Shady back yard afternoon Summer clothes and tennis shoes

After a week off...We are back. For the folks in the USA hope you are coming off your Thanksgiving gluttony fest.

Hope you might check out Forgotten Disc Friday.

Most won't know much about this band, but it makes it all the more fun to find out about them, read about them, and check out some new (old) tunes.

Thanks to all for reading.

-march

Sundance Channel's Season 2 of 'Spectacle' with Elvis Costello

Breaking news!:

BONO, THE EDGE AND SPRINGSTEEN AMONG GUESTS IN SEASON 2 OF SUNDANCE CHANNEL'S "SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH..."
Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Neko Case, Richard Thompson and Others to Join Host Elvis Costello In Seven-Part Original Series
Premieres December 9, 2009 at 10:00pm et/pt

The Sundance Channel will launch the second season of its critically acclaimed music/talk original series "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 10:00pm et/pt with an episode featuring U2's Bono and The Edge. "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." combines the best elements of talk and music television and lets viewers in on intimate conversation and performances with host Costello and his guests, who range from legendary performers to promising new artists. Among the confirmed guests for the seven-part season are: Bono, The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Ron Sexsmith, Neko Case, Jesse Winchester, Ray LaMontagne, Nick Lowe, Levon Helm, Richard Thompson and Allen Toussaint.

Elvis Costello commented: "In the words of the great Joe Strummer, 'Let's rock again!'"

"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." is taped in front of a live audience at Harlem's world famous Apollo Theater in New York City and The Masonic Temple in Toronto, Canada. The series will also air on CTV in Canada.

For more information on Spectacle, check out this.

The schedule for Season Two of "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with ..." is as follows:

+ December 9th at 10:00pm--
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bono and The Edge"

+ December 16th at 10:00pm--
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Ron Sexsmith and Jesse Winchester"

+ December 23rd at 10:00pm--
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson and Allen Toussaint"

+ December 30th 6:00 - 10:00pm--
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." marathon

+ January 6th at 10:00pm--
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Elvis Costello"

+ January 13th at 10:00pm--
"Elvis Costello with Lyle Lovett, Ray LaMontagne, and John Prine"

+ January 20th at 10:00pm--
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bruce Springsteen part 1"

+ January 27th at 10:00pm--
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bruce Springsteen part 2"

The inaugural season of "Spectacle" featured an extraordinary and eclectic roster of legendary musicians and fascinating personalities including: Sir Elton John, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, Julian Schnabel, Smokey Robinson, The Police, James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Rufus Wainwright, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Diana Krall, John Mellencamp, Jakob Dylan, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), Norah Jones, Jenny Lewis, Renée Fleming and President Bill Clinton.

Season one of "Spectacle" is now available on iTunes, and a DVD/BluRay box set was released in the U.S. on November 17, 2009.

Beatle poster give away!

Hey you..yes you! Wanna win this poster:



If so, shoot an email to laokas2002 at yahoo dot com with your mailing information. The contest is open to folks in the US only and will run for one week. In the email header put something beatle related and include that mailing information. All emails are deleted at the end of the competition.

More on the Beatles:

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game. Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.
The albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.

The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the UK, and 'Magical Mystery Tour,' which became part of The Beatles' core catalogue when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections 'Past Masters Vol. I and II' are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.
Within each CD's new packaging, booklets include detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. With the exception of the 'Past Masters' set, newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on each album. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere.
A second boxed set has been created with the collector in mind. 'The Beatles in Mono' gathers together, in one place, all of the Beatles recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono masters (covering similar ground to the stereo tracks on 'Past Masters'). As an added bonus, the mono "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" discs also include the original 1965 stereo mixes, which have not been previously released on CD. These albums will be packaged in mini-vinyl CD replicas of the original sleeves with all original inserts and label designs retained.

Star Wars : In Concert, TD Garden, Boston MA Novemeber 14, 2009

Star Wars : In Concert
TD Garden (Boston Garden)
Boston, MA
Saturday, November 14, 2009


It had been on the radar for a bit, but in looking tickets were just a little pricey and not too many people were anxious as I was to go it seemed.

Lucky for me, I ended up winning a pair of tickets on a local radio station.

They had done a show earlier in they day, but I was at the 8pm show. Shortly before 8 the orchestra began to take the stage and then after a few minutes of tune up the lights came down and the "theme" for THX was played. (Think of THX/Surround sound at the stat of your movie watching). That went right into the theme for 20th Century Fox. The audience was eating it up with fun laughter. Then the massive HD Screen behind the orchestra displayed the words..

A Long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

and the place went NUTS.

The orchestra (Royal Philharmonic, led by Dirk Brosse) had the place in the palm(s) of their hands. Anthony Daniels, who played C3-PO, provided narration for the show. He would come out, give a short story (all based off the films) and the orchestra would play the next selection. Daniels was well spoken as he walked back and forth on the massive stage and would even lapse into 3PO from time to time for a laugh. During a few selections their was also a chorus of voices to really bring it on (think of the light sabre battle with Darth Maul in Episode 1).

The first "set" ended after about 50 minutes and that led to a 20 minute intermission. During that time people could check out various props from the films (Han Solo in Carboninte) as well as Chewbacca walking around for pictures.

The second set was shorter, but still great. In set two was the "Cantina Band" song that actually was a radio hit at one time. The main show ended to a thunderous roar with lazers, smoke and fire pots flashing (Nothing you'd get with a night at the symphony!)

Daniels returned to the stage and asked if we really were ready to go, and he was met with a rousing chorus of "No". The orchestra sat back down and gave us a second playing of the the "Imperial March".

It was great for free and I'd think I'd have no problem paying next time.

The lone downside to the event was that you watch the massive screen and can often forget some pretty talented musicians are playing under the screen. If that is a "downside" it can only be a plus.

Check the official web site here for more info/dates/trailers etc.

You win some, you lose some its all the same to me.

Friday the 13th??! Ohhh scary...

Hope you might check out Forgotten Disc Friday.

This week, a rare look to a live record that captures one of the greatest bands of all time in their prime. Read and crank this on up...

Thanks to all for reading.

-march

Editors - new single and album news!

Morning all.
Doing some catching up and wanted to bring your attention to the latest single from Editors called "Papillion". The track is off the new album 'In This Light and On This Evening'.

The album is due out in the United States on January 19, 2010 and has already had its debut at #1 in the UK. In This Light and On This Evening is a follow-up to 2007's platinum selling record An End Has A Start, and was produced by Grammy Award winner Mark "Flood" Ellis (U2, Sigur Ros, Depeche Mode). The album finds Editors heading in a daring new direction where synths replace the soaring guitars and lead singer Tom Smith takes his vocals to haunting new places giving the album a dystopian, apocalyptic, mechanical ambiance.

Check out "Papillion" in video form (Quick Time) here. Or for Windows based you can check it
here.

For more information check the bands official site as well as myspace.

Some Pearl Jam stuff.

Hey all.
Some short Pearl Jam stuff for you. We've got a cool new widget where you can hear the new single "Just Breathe." (There is a video for it coming soon as well!)

Check out the widget here. Also, the band closed out a show in Philly dressed as Devo. Check the video out of them doing "Whip It" here.

this convenience ain't convenient anymore

First full week of November has already passed?!

Hope you might check out Forgotten Disc Friday.

I have to say this is the only cd from this band I own. In re-listening its "okay", glad I only paid a dollar for it on cd honestly...

Thanks to all for reading.

-march

Albums in my in-laws basement part 2.

Part two of the odd albums from my inlaws basement has been posted here

A day in the basement with some records...

Back in August we travelled to Ohio for my mother in laws wedding. On an off day I was sent to the basement (shocker) to look over the vinyl records they had. Was told to take what I wanted. Thank goodness we drove!

With the power of a "smart phone" I took pictures and part one is posted on Forgotten Disc Friday..the link to the article is
here.

Caspian - AS220, Providence Rhode Island 10/31/09

Caspian
AS220, Providence, Rhode Island
Saturday October 31, 2009

It might seem odd to do a review of a show when they are not the headliner (last minute change of plans) but when its the band you care about things change.

Halloween night had been on the calendar for me for a bit. Boston area band Caspian was headed to Providence for a show. They would be coming off a massive European run of shows and cap it off with this show.

I had been following the band on line via Facebook and on twitter (links to the bands FB and Twit pages). All along AS220 was pushing Caspian to play at midnight. All fine and good since I needed to get the kids out and back from trick or treating.

Then I got a twitter update from Caspian saying "Come early..we go on at 10:30". All the better. So, with little hassle I arrived at the show, paid $6.00 and got ready to have some ripping tunes thrown my way.

I tracked down Phil. I had owed him some cds. One was from their cd release party a few months back, and the second was a cd copy of the Mogwai show from back in May. It was good to see him, he was gracious as always and we chatted quick as they were setting up the merch table. He did tell me they'd have a little down time, but were going to do a short run of shows, then a full US tour in March and then head back to Europe. (Boston folks..mark 12/30 down on your calendar for the Middle East Downstairs).

There were a bunch of bands playing but Phil said they sorta wanted to play and then just hang out. Cool enough I thought.

About 10:30 the band took the stage and began "The Raven" which is on the bands latest record "Tertia". The set list was brief (only 30 minutes) but the band made the best of their time. The tracks exploded off the amps and drums and the band gave it their all. Throwing their bodies around the stage and filling the room with the swirling guitars. The audience, some dressed in Halloween garb, bobbed along with the band and gave thunderous applause at the end of each track.

The whole set was from the new record:
The Raven
Malacoda
Ghosts of the Garden City
Sycamore

Sycamore is a perfect closer. The song slowly builds to a massive drum circle with everyone just wailing away before ending with a massive thump of the drums. The band circled to wave and that was it..they were done.

A much needed break, but they will be back before you know it.

Check them out sooner than later. Don't make me pull a "I told you so" a year or more down the road.

Check out Caspian on their myspace page for tunes and tour dates.


Image from the bands myspace page.