Article: Pearl Jam Sends Special Delivery to VT Man

Here's a nice article about a fan who fell victim to robbery and what happened once word of the incident came to the band's attention.  Having just watched the documentary "Pearl Jam: Twenty" chronicling the band's history, I can't say I'm surprised by their actions.  They've always treated their fanbase with the utmost respect and gratitude and have a long history of gestures of this nature.
Pearl Jam Sends Special Delivery to VT Man

My Favorite 16 Songs of 2011

Why 16?  Because I couldn't cut the list down to just 10 or 15.

1. Need You Now by Cut Copy
2. Art of Almost by Wilco
3. Vomit by Girls
4. Go Outside by Cults
5. Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
6. What You Know by Two Door Cinema Club
7. Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men
8. Midnight City by M83
9. You Wanna Freak Out by My Morning Jacket
10. Under Cover of Darkness by The Strokes
11. Lost In My Mind by The Heat And The Heart
12. Blue Cassette by Friendly Fires
13. Tree by the River by Iron & Wine
14. The Bad In Each Other by Feist
15. Gravity Lane by Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
16. Without You by Eddie Vedder

Favorite Albums of 2011

Here they are, my 10 favorite albums of 2011.  Ask me again in a week and it may look different but that's the subjective nature of these lists.  Overall 2011 seemed like a solid year for music.  There were a lot of good albums but not one that stood head and shoulders above the others for me.  More then anything I always enjoy these lists because you can pick up on some quality music that you may have missed out on.

10:  El Camino by The Black Keys -

• It's still growing on me since it just came out a couple weeks ago.  A little more up-tempo then 'Brothers' which is good but the songwriting doesn't seem as deep.

9:  In Light by Givers -

• Great debut album with a very distinct sound.  Hopefully they can build and expand on it in the future.

8:  Torches by Foster the People -

• Despite 'Pumped Up Kicks' & 'Helena Beat' being played to death on the radio, it's a solid album that I listened to non-stop when I first heard it.

7:  The People's Key by Bright Eyes -

• It was great to see that Conor & Co. still have great music in them after a couple disappointing solo album attempts.  

6:  Middle Brother by Middle Brother -

• I liked this one a lot more then I expected.  It also introduced me to 3 other great bands: Dawes, Deer Tick, & Delta Spirit.

5:  Era Extrana by Neon Indian -

• Stumbled onto this almost accidentally and was hooked from the opening beats.

4:  Father, Son, and Holy Ghost by Girls -

• There always seems to be an album that I'll dismiss at first only to rediscover and appreciate it later on.  For 2011 it was this gem by Girls.  

3:  Zonoscope by Cut Copy -

• I definitely listened to Zonoscope more than any other album this year.  It was my go-to album for the gym or long drives at work.  

2:  Cults by Cults -

• This album seems timeless to me.  I feel like it would've fit in just was well 40-50 years ago as it does today.

1:  The Whole Love by Wilco -

• For the wide range of styles Wilco experiments with on this album all the songs blend together really well.  There have been great songs on their past few releases but for me this is the best 'album' they've had since 'A Ghost Is Born'.  

New Hacienda Album in Spring 2012

According to the band's website they're finished recording a new album that will be released in the Spring of 2012.  This will be their 3rd album following 2010's somewhat disappointing Big Red & Barbacoa.  Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys is back as producer and if the teaser trailer below is any indication, this should mark a return to form for the band while breaking some new ground.  The album's first single "Savage" is already out and getting some air play locally in the Philadelphia area. 

Hacienda - Savage by hacienda_tx

New To Me: Yuck

I came across Yuck while checking out various Best of 2011 lists.  Listening to their self-titled debut took me back to the 90's alternative groups that I listened to when I was just getting into music.  I'll definitely be keeping them on my radar.

Favorite Shows of 2011

The end of the year is fast approaching and various countdown lists are beginning to appear.  I figured I'd start off by counting down my favorite concerts of 2011:

5 - Friendly Fires @ Union Transfer, Philadelphia
Prior to FF even taking stage the show became one of my favorites of the year.  That was in part due to it being my first time at Union Transfer and also because Theophilus London commanded and energized the crowed unlike I think I've seen an opening act do before.  Friendly Fires brought a similar intensity that the crowd ate up in a dancing frenzy.

4 - Bright Eyes @ The Mann, Philadelphia
Opening act Dawes played as the unsuspecting crowd filed into The Mann.  Following their 2011 release "Nothing Is Wrong" I have a feeling they'll be headlining similar venues in the near future.  I tend to prefer their live performances more so then their albums.  See this version of Peace In The Valley as an example.  I had previously seen Bright Eyes in a much smaller venue so I wasn't sure how they'd translate to an outdoor setting this time around.  Conor & Co. didn't disappoint and neither did their album "The People's Key" which will likely end up on another Year-End list of mine.

3 - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ The Grand Opera House, Wilmington
It should come as no surprise that some of the best musicians in the world put on a fantastic show.  The original Flecktone lineup was on tour in support of their new album "Rocket Science".  I had very high expectations for this show and they lived up to them.  This particular show also included the first live performance of the song 'Wolf Laurel' off Rocket Science which was a real treat to experience.

2 - Cut Copy @ Rams Head Live, Baltimore
Cut Copy put on the best live performance I saw all year, and probably longer.  Even though I wasn't too familiar with their first album I was still caught up in every beat of every song.  A couple years from now they're the band you'll be kicking yourself in the ass for not having seen before.

1 - My Morning Jacket @ The Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia
I've seen MMJ a handful of times and although this wasn't the best performance I've witnessed (Bonnaroo '08), it was one of the most memorable.  Through their fan club I got pit tickets and experienced the show from several feet in front of the stage.  Jim James & Co. can seem larger then life to a mega-fan enjoying the show from a distance, so to get that close was uncharted waters for me.  I thought to myself, this is what it would have been like to see them years ago at a smaller venue, forgetting the thousands seated/standing behind me.  A couple months later I saw MMJ again from a distance and it was a fantastic show as well, just not as refreshing as an up close and personal look from the pit. 

Boot: Cut Copy - Live at the Wireless, Sydney 5/29/2011

I've been on the lookout for a recording of Cut Copy for a while now and finally came across this gem today.  This performance is from their native Australia in May of 2011.  Give a listen to "Lights & Music" and download the entire show below.
Cut Copy - Lights & Music - Live at the Wireless 2011 by Ledjam311

Setlist:
1 - Visions
2 - Nobody Lost, Nobody Found
3 - Where I'm Going
4 - So Haunted
5 - Lights & Music
6 - Take Me Over
7 - Pharaohs & Pyramids
8 - Saturdays
9 - Hearts On Fire
10 - Need You Now
11 - Out There On The Ice
Download - Cut Copy - Live at the Wireless 2011

Recent Shows: Friendly Fires & Fanfarlo

I caught a couple shows over the past two weeks that lived up to and surpassed my expectations.

• Friendly Fires played a crowd pleasing, high intensity show at a new venue called the Union Transfer.  Touring in support of their sophomore album 'Pala' they worked the crowd and the stage with the presence and confidence of a veteran act.  Opening act Theophilus London helped start off the night working the crowd into a dancing frenzy.  Definitely the best opener I've seen in recent memory.  Union Transfer is a great concert location and I'm eager to return for another show.
• Fanfarlo played Johnny Brenda's as part of a small tour in prep of the release of their next album due out in February.  Their set, heavy with new material, didn't disappoint.  Afterwards the only complaint I had was that I have to wait until Feburary for the new album.

Free Speakers With Purchase Of Shoes?

While shopping at EMS this past weekend for hiking shoes the cashier told me that my new Keens came with free cardboard speakers.  At first I gave him a confused look, then accepted said speakers figuring I'd be depositing them in the nearest trash receptacle.  Turns out I was too quick to judge, they're actually pretty cool.

Keen's "Fold and Play Recycled Speakers" form 2 speaker cubes that don't require a power source and plug into any headphone jack.  The sound quality is decent considering the source and volume output is sufficient at my office desk.  Kudos to you Keen.



 

Catch Up on Late Night

For those of us who are asleep by the time bands come on the late night shows watching online is the way to go.  Good performances by Neon Indian on Jimmy Fallon and Wilco on Letterman recently.

Wilco Spreads The Love On Labor Day Weekend

Over the weekend Wilco treated fans to a sneak peak at their new album "The Whole Love" by streaming it on their website for 24 hours.  Although not much notice was given leading up to Saturday I managed to get in 2 listens.  For those who aren't Wilco fans I've got bad news... it's gonna be a long year for you because this album is good and will be talked about a lot.  The opening track 'Art of Almost' has drums and guitars echoing a song you'd expect from Radiohead.  Other instant standouts, 'Dawned on Me' and 'Born Alone', showcase Jeff Tweedy's gifted songwriting and the classic Wilco sound.  Based on those 2 listens I already enjoy this album more then their recent releases.  Check out a couple of the album's highlights below and get the new album out on September 27th!

New To Me: Neon Indian

While searching for some new music to listen to while doing laundry and dishes (I know, exciting...) I saw Neon Indian's new album "Era Extrana" available on NPR's Exclusive First Listen.  Having heard the name tossed around I figured I'd give it a shot.  I'm damn glad I did.  Electronic pop can walk a fine line with my musical taste but this album easily surpassed my expectations.  It had my head bopping and my feet moving which is a great first sign in my book.  Follow the link below to hear the entire album up until it's release.
First Listen - Neon Indian 'Era Extrana'

Concert Review: My Morning Jacket @ The Merriweather Post Pavillion, MD 8/12/11

My Morning Jacket are truly a musical force to be reckoned with.  I've seen them a handful of times and they have yet to disappoint.  This show was particularly memorable however since I witnessed it from the pit, only a few feet from the stage!  Excitement and energy flowed and reciprocated between the band and the crowd up front.  Some of my highlights included: the traditional glow-stick war during 'Gideon', an 18 minute 'Dondante', 'Phone Went West', 'I Will Sing You Songs' (a personal favorite), and a cover of 'Islands In The Stream' with Neko Case.

Also thanks to a dedicated taper named Alex Leary I woke up the next morning to an excellent recording of the show.  You can Listen/Download the show here at the Live Music Archive.
 My Morning Jacket-Phone Went West-Columbia, MD 6/12/11 by Ledjam311


Setlist:
1-Victory Dance
2-Circuital
3-Off The Record
4-I'm Amazed
5-Gideon
6-Outta My System
7-Golden
8-Evil Urges
9-Mahgeetah
10-Slow Slow Tune
11-Dondante
12-Smokin From Shootin
13-First Light ~ RunThru (end)
14-Movin Away
15-Phone Went West
16-Holdin Onto Black Metal
17-I Will Sing You Songs
18-Wordless Chorus
19-The Day Is Coming
20-Islands In The Stream (with Neko Case)
21-Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 2
22-Highly Suspicious
23-One Big Holiday

Boot: Death Cab For Cutie - Hollywood, CA 6/7/11

Last weekend I got to see an excellent performance by Death Cab at The Mann in Philly.  They've put together some great setlists during this tour, showcasing their new album "Codes & Keys" and dusting off some gems from the past.  Here's a show I came across from earlier this summer at the El Rey Theatre in Hollywood.
 Death Cab For Cutie - Stay Young, Go Dancing [6.7.11] by Ledjam311
Setlist:
1- Title Track
2 - The New Year
3 - Why You'd Want To Live Here
4 - Crooked Teeth
5 - Photobooth
6 - Doors Unlocked And Open
7 - Long Division
8 - Grapevine Fires
9 - Codes And Keys
10 - What Sarah Said
11 - I Will Possess Your Heart
12 - I Will Follow You Into The Dark
13 - You Are A Tourist
14 - Underneath The Sycamore
15 - Company Calls
16 - Company Calls Epilogue
17 - Portable Television
18 - A Movie Script Ending
19 - Soul Meets Body
20 - Cath
21 - The Sound Of Settling
22 - Encore Break
23 - Stay Young, Go Dancing
24 - Title And Registration
25 - Transatlanticism
Download: Death Cab For Cutie - El Rey, CA 6/7/11

New To Me: Cults

Although I may be a little late to the 'Cults' train I'm definitely on board.  I really dig their retro sound.  Their self titled debut album came out a few months ago, be sure to give it a listen.

Concert Review: Eddie Vedder - Tower Theatre, Upper Darby 6/25/11

The evening (or afternoon for many) began at the Waterford Bar & Grill, conveniently located adjacent to The Tower.  Inside, the Waterford was packed with local fans as well as dedicated travelers from across the country and probably the globe.  Patrons interacted, sharing thoughts and stories about Pearl Jam & Ed while enjoying some beverages before the show.

Ed took the stage shortly before 9pm, opening with several songs of his new album "Ukulele Songs".  The simple stage setup, 1 man & 1 ukulele, created an intimate setting among the crowd of several thousand.  The remainder of the set consisted of a mix of songs by Pearl Jam, the Into The Wild soundtrack, and a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Girl From The North Country'.

The highlights of the show for me were during the encore.  Opening the first encore was 'Parting Ways', a hauntingly beautiful and often overlooked song off of Pearl Jam's "Binaural".  The emotional peak of the evening however came when Ed introduced Jake Clemens, nephew of the late Clarence Clemens, and invited him on stage to play sax for a song.  Ed, Jake, and opening act Glen Hansard played 'Drive All Night' by Bruce Springsteen, a touching tribute to the sax legend, ending with Jake holding his sax up in the air to thunderous applause.

Ed has a unique way of connecting with the audience.  The stories and observations he shares feel like a one on one conversation with everyone in attendance.  I've seen Pearl Jam/Ed many times and I often distinguish between the shows not only by the songs that were played but by those stories and surprises that separate each show and make them an individual experience.

Setlist:
Waving Palms
Can't Keep

Sleeping By Myself

Without You

Goodbye

Broken Heart

Light Today

You're True
Girl From The North Country
I Am Mine
Betterman
Just Breathe
Far Behind
Long Nights
Lukin
Guaranteed
Rise
Unthought Known
Speed of Sound
Arc
--Encore 1--
Parting Ways
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
Tonight You Belong To Me

Society

Falling Slowly

Drive All Night

Porch

--Encore 2--

Hard Sun

Halfway Thru 2011...

This time of year everyone starts to reflect and compile a list of the albums that have been released since the beginning of 2011.  With so much music out there something always seems to fall through the cracks for me and these lists can be a good guide of what I may have missed.  Here are a few that I came across along with my own obligatory list.

• Stereogum's "Top 20 Albums of 2011 So Far"
• Stereogum's "Top 12 Albums Overlooked By Stereogum's Best of 2011 So Far" ...my personal fav
• SPIN's "25 Best Albums of 2011 So Far"
• WXPN's "2011 Halftime Report"

My personal favorites...in no particular order:

"The People's Key" by Bright Eyes

"Helplessness Blues" by Fleet Foxes

"Circuital" by My Morning Jacket

"Gimme Some" by Peter Bjorn and John

"Zonoscope" by Cut Copy

"Torches" by Foster The People

"In Light" by Givers

"Rocket Science" by Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

"Middle Brother" by Middle Brother

"Ukulele Songs" by Eddie Vedder

Roll Call Member Certificate

One reason My Morning Jacket has such a loyal following is because of the appreciation they have for their fans.  Recently they set up a fan club as a means to have a direct connection to these fans and vice versa.  Benefits for members include exclusive access to video's and songs from the band, the opportunity to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public, and primo seating at said concerts.  Last week I received my member certificate in the mail.  I got a good laugh reading it.  Hopefully the statements in the 2nd paragraph turn out to be true.

New to Me: Turntable.fm

I read an interesting article on CNN this morning titled "Turntable.fm:  The cool kids' Pandora".  The article states that what makes Turntable.fm different from other online music streaming sites is that "instead of computers, real people pick the songs, in real time.  The site turns this process into a concert-like game."  Visitors to the site can choose to be part of the audience or to be one of the DJs choosing what songs are played.  Although I like the concept of people being able to share and discover music with each other online, the idea of being part of an 'online audience' in real time via an avatar doesn't appeal to me.  We spend enough time sitting in front of computers as it is, is there really a need for a virtual version of a concert or DJ show?  Sorry, but I think I'll stick to the real thing.

New Music & Videos: Wilco "I Might", The Black Keys cover Buddy Holly, Eddie Vedder on Letterman

• Wilco "I Might" -  Just saw this posted on Stereogum this morning.  "I Might" is our first glimpse into the next Wilco album due out in September.  Follow the link below to give it a listen:
• Wilco - "I Might" - Stereogum
• 'Rave On Buddy Holly' is a tribute album featuring the likes of My Morning Jacket, Modest Mouse, She & Him, Paul McCartney, & more.  Songs on tribute albums can be very hit or miss in my experience, but one song on 'Rave On' that hits the nail on the head is "Dearest" by The Black Keys.  They keep it short, simple, and sweet.  Check out "Dearest" below or go to NPR's First Listen to hear the entire album.
• Earlier this week Eddie Vedder performed "Without You", a track off his new album 'Ukulele Songs', on Letterman.  Note Ed's tribute to the late Clarence Clemens written on the body of his Uke.

New To Me: Givers

Givers are the Artist to Watch in June at XPN.  Their first full length album titled "In Light" was released yesterday while the band is currently out on the road making a big name for themselves at festivals like SXSW.  Although I've been thoroughly enjoying the new releases by some of my favorite artists (Fleet Foxes, Death Cab, My Morning Jacket), it's always refreshing to come across a new artist.  Givers are young, energetic, enthusiastic, and it all flows right into their music.  I just picked up "In Light" and I'd encourage you to do the same.  Here are a couple videos of Givers at SXSW 2011.

Video: My Morning Jacket on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

My Morning Jacket played last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  The band is out in support of their new record "Circuital".  Check out the Web Exclusive performance of 'You Wanna Freak Out' below.

Concert Review: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - Grand Opera House, DE 6/2/11

Last week I had the pleasure of seeing the original lineup of Bela Fleck & The Flecktones.  The group's core trio of Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, and Roy "Future Man" Wooten recently reunited with piano/harmonica player Howard Levy who appeared on the group's first 3 albums.  The setlist consisted mostly of material off those 3 albums and their new album titled "Rocket Science" which was released in May.  Since this was only the 4th stop so far on the tour the crowd even got to hear the live debut of a song called 'Wolf Laruel' which is a bonus track to the album when purchased on iTunes.  If you're a fan I'd highly recommend going to see them on the current tour, and if you're not familiar with them you can find a number of live recordings here at Archive.org.  Here's the setlist from last Thursday:

Setlist:
Gravity Lane
Nemo's Dream
Prickly Pear
Like Water
Sex in a Pan
Life in Eleven
Wolf Laurel
(Intermission)
Big Country
Sweet Pomegranates
Sunset Road
Bottle Rocket
Falani
Blu-bop
(encore)
Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
Slipstream

First Impressions of..."Circuital" by My Morning Jacket

Up until it's official release next Tuesday May 31st, you can hear "Circuital" in it's entirety via NPR's Exclusive First Listen.  To me it feels like My Morning Jacket have found a comfortable balance between what they created in 2005's "Z" and what they were striving for in 2008's "Evil Urges".  It's certainly going to require repeated listens to absorb but my first impression is that it's a solid and consistent album re-establishing MMJ as a musical force to be reckoned with.  Here are my thoughts on some of the individual tracks.

Victory Dance - Another great slow building song by a band that's got a knack for writing them.  It's perfect for starting off an album or a show.  In fact they opened their show at The Hangout Festival last week with it.
Wonderful (The Way I Feel) - One of the most beautiful songs Jim has written.  It's been played live for a number of years and cherished by those who have heard it.  Now we finally get a studio version.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Outta My System - A glance into the mind of Jim James as he reflects on his past.  Simple yet introspective lyrics.
Holdin' On To Black Metal - It's this album's 'Highly Suspicious'.  Some people will love it, some will hate it.  If 'Highly Suspicious' felt like Jim's homage to Prince, then this one goes out to all his funk/soul influences.  Trepidation gave way to full embrace from me after hearing a live recording of it from The Hangout Fest courtesy of The Steam Engine.
You Wanna Freak Out - This song was the biggest surprise of the album for me.  The phrasing reminds me a lot of another MMJ song (Sec Walkin'), which was a weak point on Evil Urges in my opinion.  What 'Sec Walkin' could have been is realized on this wonderful tune. 
Movin Away - A review on NPR said you could hear the influence of George Harrison on this song (Jim James previously released an EP of Harrison's songs).  I totally agree.  It's also an interesting choice to close out the album.  The songs ending their two previous albums (Evil Urges & Z) have had an epic and explosive feel.  'Movin Away' fits in well in this case however as it following another slow 50's-esk ballad appropriately titled 'Slow Slow Tune'.

Ten Club presents a glimpse into PJ20

The email ended with "Watch it.  Share it.  Spread the word....2011 is YOUR year".  A link lead to a teaser trailer of the Cameron Crowe directed documentary of Pearl Jam's 20 year anniversary.  The 33 second clip captures the group then known as Mookie Blaylock discussing their new name....Pearl Jam! Cameron Crowe reportedly had 18-20 hours of never before seen footage spanning the group's 20 year career to compile his film. He also periodically followed and recorded Pearl Jam over the past 1 1/2 years.  To say that my hopes for this documentary are high would be an immense understatement.  Check out the teaser below.

Mookie>>>PJ from Pearl Jam on Vimeo.

My Morning Jacket News.....New Song & Circuital Tracklisting

Following the reveal of the title track from their upcoming album a few weeks ago, My Morning Jacket gave fans a second helping of soon to be released disc yesterday.  The group streamed another song from Circuital titled "Holdin On To Black Metal" on their website and facebook page.  It oozes funk with horns and a female choir.  If "Circuital" reached back to MMJ's earlier days then "Holdin On To Black Metal" picks up right where there last album 'Evil Urges' left off.  I also have a sneaking suspicion that the band's recent work with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band had a big influence on this record.
Holdin On To Black Metal by user5149576

According to frontman Jim James in an interview with SPIN, among his musical influences are a Thai pop group from the 60's.  So much so that "Holdin On To Black Metal" samples the melody of one of their songs.  Honestly, who other then Jim and MMJ would sample a 60's Thai group for a rock record!?  They never cease to surprise me. 


Lastly, the track listing for 'Circuital' has been released.  It comes out on May 31, 2011 so hit up your local record store and pick it up.
Circuital Tracklisting:
1 - Victory Dance
2 - Circuital
3 - The Day Is Coming
4 - Wonderful (The Way I Feel)
5 - Outta My System
6 - Holdin On To Black Metal
7 - First Light
8 - You Wanna Freak Out
9 - Slow Slow Tune
10 - Movin Away

Concert Review: Iron & Wine - Electric Factory, Philadelphia 4/21/11

Nearly 3 years after having missed their performance at Bonnaroo in favor of Ben Folds and Jack Johnson I got to see Iron & Wine in concert.  Sam Beam & Co. played a great show which included songs from throughout their catalog as they tour in support of their newest album "Kiss Each Other Clean".  If you haven't seen Iron & Wine live you may be surprised to hear the strictly acoustic tunes you've come to love accompanied by horns and keyboards.  The arrangements of Beam's songs seem to continuously grow through the years.  Fans loyal to his early work have been disappointed but I've liked the direction he's gone in and applaud him for continuing to be creative with his songwriting.  Even a song off the new album (Tree By The River) was tweaked with by adding saxophones and a trumpet and I thought it fit perfectly.  Be sure to catch them the next time you have a chance.

Stuff worth checking out from...My Morning Jacket, Passion Pit, Dawes

Here are a few things I came across over the past week that I haven't had a chance to post:

• Earlier today My Morning Jacket released a new tune called "Circuital" which will be featured on the upcoming album of the same name.  Visit MMJ's website for a free download of Circuital.  Clocking in at 7 minutes 18 seconds, it has plenty of time to take us on a musical journey filled with rises & falls, haunting howls from Jim, piano licks reminiscent of an old west saloon, and some rocking guitar solos.
• A few days ago on Rolling Stone posted a video of the song "Golden" from MMJ's upcoming VH-1 Storytellers broadcast.  Lead singer Jim James lends insight into the origins, meaning, and humor behind the song.  
• My Morning Jacket |Storytellers |Free Music Videos |New Artists
• Passion Pit remixed the single "Make Some Noise" off of the new Beastie Boys album.  Check it out over at Stereogum.
• After listening to Middle Brother's debut album non-stop for a week or so I started to dive more into the members primary bands (Dawes, Delta Spirit, & Deer Tick).  I came across a nice recording from a Dawes show back in August of 2010.  You can listen/download it over at TheFrontloader.

Grand Opening: World Cafe Live at the Queen

Last weekend the doors to this newly refurbished venue were officially opened.  After having been vacant since the late 1950's (formerly a hotel & movie theater), the building known as The Queen has been resurrected as a top notch music venue.  To see this project come to fruition is due in large part to Hal Real, founder of the World Cafe in Philadelphia, and radio station WXPN.  This week's edition of Out & About has several good articles regarding The Queen's opening including a Q&A with Hal.  In the article, Hal says that despite repeated requests he had been reluctant to open another World Cafe, not wanting it to become a "cookie cutter" establishment like Hard Rock Cafe.  In the end, the history of the building and the challenge to revitalize the City of Wilmington's nightlife won him over. 

Opening night featured singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson playing to a sold out crowd (including me) who were eager to see what The Queen had to offer.  The renovated lobby and hallways lead to the main floor which is general admission bookended between a bar in the rear and the stage up front.  The balcony features lounge seating in the front with standing room in the rear.  It also has a 2nd stage upstairs that will be utilized at smaller events during the week.  Overall The Queen is small enough for the performance to feel intimate but not so much that you feel like you're stuck in a sardine can.  The walls and ceiling surrounding the stage appeared to be cleared of loose/chipping paint but otherwise left unaltered.  It seemed to serve as a reminder of the buildings age and history, plus it looks pretty damn cool with the lighting arrangement shining on it. 

As for the show itself, Ingrid seemed almost effortlessly to win over the crowd by sharing stories and having a dialogue in between songs.  She alternated between guitar and piano accompanied by two backing vocalists also on guitar.  Admittedly I'm only vaguely familiar with her catalog but I still really enjoyed the performance.

Tickets for Upcoming Events at World Cafe Live at the Queen are available for purchase at their website.  In addition to those performances The Queen also boasts several weekly events free of entry charge including: "4W5 Acoustic Jam" on Mondays at 7pm, "Acoustic/Electric Open Mic" on Tuesdays at 7pm, and "4W5 Blues Jam" on Wednesdays at 7pm.

New To Me: Middle Brother

I picked up the debut album from Middle Brother earlier this week and instantly became a fan.  If you haven't heard of Middle Brother you may know some of the member's other bands.  John McCauley of Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit joined forces forming a indie/folk mega-group along the lines of Monsters of Folk.  The result of that collaboration is a remarkable album full of folk/rock songs reminiscent of other 'Brother' acts The Avett Brothers and The Felice Brothers.

Middle Brother are currently out on tour supporting the album, including a stop at the SXSW Music Festival.  A recording of their performance in Boston earlier this month is available to download at Visible Voice.  As with the album I was captivated by their heartfelt and powerful live performance.  Hopefully they'll swing by my way sometime soon.  Take a listen to "Blue Eyes" and "Theater" from their show in Boston below.
 Middle Brother - Blue Eyes - Boston 3/3/11 by Ledjam311


 Middle Brother - Theater - Boston 3/3/11 by Ledjam311

Boot: Two Door Cinema Club - Live at the Wireless - Australia 9/19/2010

I was lucky enough to catch Two Door Cinema Club a few months ago when they played the Troc in Philadelphia.  The trio from Northern Ireland released their debut album "Tourist History" in 2010.  Here's a recording from a show they played last year that was broadcast/recorded on Australian radio station Triple J.
 Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn - Live At The Wireless 9/19/2010 by Ledjam311
Setlist:
1- Intro
2- Cigarettes In The Theatre
3- Undercover Martyn
4- Hands Off My Cash
5- Do You Want It All
6- Something Good Can Work
7- Costume Party
8- You're Not Stubborn
9- What You Know
10- Eat That Up It's Good For You
11- Come Back Home
12- I Can Talk
13- Back Announcement
Download: Two Door Cinema Club - Live At The Wireless

News & Rumors Galore for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder

Websites and blogs have been aflutter the past couple days with news and rumors related to Pearl Jam.  Being the mega-fan that I am, it's been rather exciting.  

First off we've got an interview that bassist Jeff Ament gave with Billboard.  In it he reveals that Pearl Jam are heading back into the studio in April to work on a new album that will hopefully be out this year.  He also says to expect an announcement in April about the rumored Pearl Jam Weekend Festival which may take place over Labor Day weekend.  

Now onto front man Eddie Vedder who is currently playing several solo shows in Australia.  The website Antiquiet has posted a song from Ed titled 'Longing To Belong' which is supposedly on his forthcoming solo album due out in June.  During his stint in Australia earlier this week Ed played several new songs that just may be on the new album.  Titles of the new songs include: 'Without You', 'Broken Heart', 'Sleeping By Myself', 'Light Today', and the previously mentioned 'Longing To Belong'.  

Rumblings of some U.S. dates for the Ed solo tour have also been circulating.  Some people have thrown out the possibility of a show at the Tower in Philly on June 25th.  If it happens you can expect to see me there.

Click Here to listen to 'Longing to Belong' at Antiquiet

Click Here to listen to an audience recording of 'Sleeping By Myself'

New to Me: Graffiti Radio

Graffiti Radio is a HD radio station that I stumbled upon a couple days ago.  I've been streaming it at work and like what I hear.  Checking out their Most Played Songs I found quite a few artists I enjoy including: Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine, Bright Eyes, Wye Oak, and more.  Here's an excerpt from the About section on their website. 

"Graffiti Radio is an HD radio station based out of Wilmington, DE that specializes in new and classic music in the genres of Indie and Alternative Rock, and includes selections from almost every popular music style that has emerged over the course of the last sixty years. Our goal is to provide our listeners with a snapshot of the evolution of popular music while maintaining a solid foundation in offering a venue for new and emerging artists to be heard by the public. We can be found on 93.7 HD-2 in and around Wilmington, DE, on 97.7 HD-3 in and around Milford, DE and all over the world on-line at http://www.graffitiradio.com/. Thanks for stopping by, we hope you enjoy what you hear."

-J.J. Booker (Co-Producer, Co-Program Coordinator & Night-time On-Air Host)

Boot: The Postal Service - Morning Becomes Eclectic 5/6/03

At a recent solo show, Ben Gibbard debuted a new song called "Codes and Keys" which will be featured on the forthcoming Death Cab For Cutie album of the same name.  You can hear it now over at Stereogum.  After going on a Death Cab listening kick I revisited this studio performance of Ben's side project 'The Postal Service'.  It was recorded at KCRW studios back in 2003 near the end of their tour and features Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis on backing vocals.  Rumors of a follow-up Postal Service album seem to swirl around every now and then but are consistently dispelled by Gibbard.
 The Postal Service - Nothing Better - Morning Becomes Eclectic 5/6/03 by Ledjam311
Setlist:
1 - Intro
2 - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
3 - We Will Become Silhouettes
4 - Nothing Better
5 - Interview
6 - Clark Gable
7 - This Place is a Prison
8 - Such Great Heights
9 - Brand New Colony (Radio Mess Up)
10 - Brand New Colony
Download:  The Postal Service - Morning Becomes Eclectic

Video: Bright Eyes perform on Letterman

Bright Eyes appeared last week on Letterman playing "Jejune Stars" off their most recent album 'The People's Key'.  The album has been on constant rotation since I first got it.  Conor almost seems to take the group back in time to the 'Digital Ash From A Digital Urn' era while maintaining the songwriting maturation he's developed over recent years.  Although I wouldn't call 'The People's Key' a complete change in direction it is a nice detour from what I'd expected to hear from him on his past few albums.

One Year Later..........

Over the weekend I realized that it's been a year since I created Bang! Bang! Goes The Night.  My first post was on February 17, 2010 about a show I saw at the Khyber featuring Alberta Cross.  Numerous concerts, new albums, new artists, and 91 posts later, here we are...

I created this blog for several reasons.  The main one being to share my love for music with friends and anyone else who stumbles onto the site.  Discovering a new artist or finding a great bootleg really excites me and this has served as a great way to express that.  Another reason was simply to chronicle my musical endeavors throughout the year.  I still have the ticket stub from when I saw Billy Joel in 1998 but I don't have information on the setlist, opening bands, etc.  My hope is that this blog will help me recall those experiences more vividly as I look back years from now. 

Finally I'd like to thank anyone who is reading this or has visited the site over the past year.  I hope that you've gotten some enjoyment or taken away something positive from this site.  I was pretty much flying blind when it came to creating/maintaining a blog when I started.  As my understanding of blogging and time permits I'll continue to make improvements and keep things fresh.  If you ever have the desire to make a suggestion about the blog or an artist I'm missing out on or anything, feel free to shoot me an email (mmmboboh@aol.com). 

It seemed appropriate to end this post with something related to the site's creation.  If I didn't tell you personally or if you didn't figure it out on your own, the blog's title "Bang! Bang! Goes The Night" comes from a line in the My Morning Jacket song 'Mahgeetah'.  Here's a recording of that song from MMJ's show at Red Rocks in 2008.
 My Morning Jacket - Mahgeetah - Live At Red Rocks 2008 by Ledjam311

Boot: Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Philadelphia - 6/30/87

I stumbled across this show and decided to download it simply because it was recorded in Philly.  What I discovered was a true gem of a bootleg.  It turns out that this is one of the most popular and coveted SRV shows for his fans.  The feed is from a broadcast by local radio station WMMR and the sound quality is near perfect. 

Stevie had been sober for just about a year at the time of this performance and as noted by the station announcers during the encore break, he'd never sounded better.  During 'Life Without You' SRV addresses the audience telling them "Right now the most important thing in my life is to make sure you understand that first of all I thank God that I'm alive today...and I mean that".  Hearing him talk like that gave me chills knowing that just a few years later his life would tragically end.  Why this hasn't been officially released is beyond me, so get it here for free while you can.  Enjoy.
 Stevie Ray Vaughan - Cold Shot - Philadelphia 1987 by Ledjam311
Setlist:
1 - Scuttle Buttin'
2 - Say What!
3 - Lookin' Out The Window
4 - Look At Little Sister
5 - Mary Had A Little Lamb
6 - Ain't Gonna Give Up On Love
7 - Superstition
8 - Willie The Wimp
9 - Cold Shot
10 - Couldn't Stand The Weather
11 - Life Without You
12 - Come On (Part III)
13 - Love Struck Baby
14 - Rude Mood
Download: SRV - Philadelphia 1987

LCD Soundsystem on The Colbert Report

James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem appeared on The Colbert Report this past Monday marking his last TV appearance as LCD Soundsystem.  The group will perform it's last show on April 2nd at Madison Square Garden in New York.  Murphy sits down for an interview with Stephen and then joins the rest of the group to play "I Can Change".  My favorite part of the interview is Stephen telling him "There are only 3 ways to end your career as a rocker: overdose, overstay your welcome, or write Spiderman the musical".  Here are clips from the episode.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
James Murphy
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

Album Cover & New Song from The Strokes

The Strokes just unveiled the cover design for their upcoming album titled "Angles", which is due out on March 22nd.  The first single for the album, 'Under Cover Of Darkness" was also released this past week.  Upon first listen it sounds much more crisp and upbeat than songs off 2006's "First Impressions of Earth".  Whether or not all of "Angles" will have a similar sound we'll have to wait and see.  Personally I'm stoked to have some new Strokes heading my way.  It seems long overdue.  Solo efforts by the band members fell short for me for the most part and I've been anxious for them to collaborate again.  Take a listen to 'Under Cover Of Darkness' below.

World Cafe comes to Wilmington

I've heard rumors and read a couple articles over the past year or so about a World Cafe venue opening in Wilmington, but it wasn't until this past week that I saw a confirmed opening date and artist lineup.  A friend emailed me about the grand opening for the World Cafe Live at The Queen, which is on Friday April 1, 2011.  Ingrid Michaelson who has been a favorite of World Cafe Live in Philadelphia will be the venue's first performer that Saturday night.

World Cafe Live at The Queen is located on Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware, just a few blocks from another great venue, The Grand Opera House.   Founder Hal Real, who came up with the project, along with  the City of Wilmington and non-profits like Light Up The Queen, hope the opening will help revitalize the city.  I'm very excited for the opening (bought my tickets for opening night earlier today) and hope it succeeds.  Being in such close proximity to other major cities there's a good chance they can recruit some really talented artists.

New Song from Fleet Foxes

While driving back from lunch earlier today I was treated to a new song from Fleet Foxes on WXPN.  The new song, titled "Helplessness Blues", also happens to be the album title for the bands sophomore release due out in May.  The band has also listed a number of tour dates on their website for the month of may.  It looks like I'll have a shot to see them when they come to the Tower Theater!  Take a listen to the song "Helplessness Blues" below or go to their website to download it.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop

New To Me: The Naked And Famous

I'm going to see Freelance Whales play a show in Baltimore this coming May.  The Naked And Famous were also on the bill so I decided to check them out to get a sneak peak of what I was in for.  With a sound falling somewhere in between Passion Pit, Atomic Tom, and MGMT I feel like they show a lot of promise.  You can be sure I'll be at that show early enough to catch their opening set. 

Boot: Local Natives - SXSW 2010

I missed the train with these guys the first time around.  Their debut album "Gorilla Manor" was released last year and somehow it fell through the cracks for me and I only recently realized how good it was.  They played a great albeit short set at South By Southwest.  Give it a listen below.

 Local Natives - Airplanes - SXSW 2010 by Ledjam311 

Setlist:

1. Wide Eyes

2. Camera Talk

3. Warning Sign

4. Shape Shifter

5. Airplanes

6. Sun Hand

Download:  Local Natives - SXSW

Pearl Jam - News & Rumors for 2011

2011 will be a big year for Pearl Jam fans.  It represents the 20th anniversary of the release of their debut album "Ten".  An article in Rolling Stone this week lists some of the things that PJ has planned. 

• Reissues of their early albums "Vs" & "Vitalogy" which will include unheard bonus tracks and live recordings from the era among other things.  A reissue of "Ten" came out last year and included the long awaited dvd recording of their MTV Unplugged performance.
• A documentary on the band being directed by Cameron Crowe featuring footage from throughout their career.
• A rumored 2-day weekend festival with the band headlining both nights.  I'm already dreaming about potential lineups and collaborations. 

Concert Review: Tokyo Police Club & Two Door Cinema Club - Trocadero, Philadelphia 1/22/11

The only other show I've seen at the Troc was Big Bad Voodoo Daddy back in 1998, which was before I was of age to go up in the balcony or even drive to the show!  Having seen shows at many different venues since then I'd forgotten how much I liked the Troc. 

Returning to a sold out show featuring 2 up and coming alt-indie rock bands made for a great time.  Sitting up in the balcony this time I got to watch the crowd below move in unison dancing and jumping to the up-tempo flow of the show. 

Two Door Cinema Club are from Ireland and released their debut album "Tourist History" in 2010.  I picked it up after being impressed with their performance and found myself dancing along to it upon the first listen.  Tokyo Police Club played an energetic set featuring tracks from their new album "Champ" which I've really enjoyed.  As co-headliners, both bands came out to play the encore which included a cover of The Strokes 'Last Night' which went "all the way back to 2001" according to TPC lead singer Dave Monks.  It was a great cover although the statement made me feel kind of old.

Team Coco presents "Kiss Each Other Clean" by Iron & Wine

Conan debuted a stream of Iron & Wine's album earlier today on his website.  The band will appear on his show next Monday the 24th.  The stream is available until the album is release on Tuesday the 25th.  I pre-ordered my copy of "Kiss Each Other Clean" last week and after having just finished listening to it I'm damn glad I did.  Sam Beam's take Iron & Wine to a whole other level on this release.  Take a listen (or two or three) below!

Videos of The Black Keys, Monsters of Folk, & Grace Potter

Are you bored at work?  Snowed in?  Here are a few videos to occupy you for a little bit.

• Over the weekend The Black Keys performed on Saturday Night Live.  They played 'Howlin For You' and 'Tighten Up'.  Check out the videos below:
• Monsters of Folk (Yim Yames, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, & Mike Mogis) recently reunited to play a set at Austin City Limits.  A recording of the show is now available to view on PBS's website:
• Grace Potter & The Nocturnals played a cover of "Golden" by My Morning Jacket at a show last week.  Thanks to 'Seeker' for posting a link to the video on the MMJ Forum.

Music Notes: Iron & Wine Surprise Show and The Black Keys do SNL

• Iron & Wine played a surprise show this past Wednesday in NYC.  They debuted their new album live in it's entirety to a very lucky audience.  Most of the songs had never been played in front of an audience before.  The new material sounds phenomenal live, it will be interesting to hear the mix on the recorded version.  Head over to The Steam Engine to download a webcast recording of the show.
• Be sure to check out The Black Keys performing on Saturday Night Live this weekend.  Jim Carrey is hosting.  I'll put up a link to videos of the performance afterwards.