SOTD: "One Little Girl" - Toad The Wet Sprocket

I'm not sure how many people used to (or still) listen to Toad The Wet Sprocket but I've been a fan since high school. I got an email yesterday from them stating that they're having a 20th Anniversary Tour for their album "Bread & Circus" which came out in 1989. Wow, can't believe it's been that long. Anyways, thought I'd turn back the calendar and pick one of my favorite songs off that album....."One Little Girl".

Siren Music Festival 2009

The lineup for the Siren Music Festival on July 18th at Coney Island has been announced. Some good bands are playing, including Frightened Rabbit who I saw earlier this year and really enjoyed. All festival details can be found HERE.

BANDS:

BUILT TO SPILL
THE RAVEONETTES
FRIGHTENED RABBIT
GRAND DUCHY
MONOTONIX
MICACHU & THE SHAPES

SOTD: "Curs in the Weeds" - Horse Feathers

I've come across a lot of new music over the last year but I think this would have to rank towards the top of the list. I stumbled upon these guys this past weekend, kind of reminds me a bit of Damien Rice and Bon Iver, a really good song. Horse Feathers will be playing a couple shows in NYC soon, May 9th at the Bell House and May 12th at Joe's Pub.

Austin City Limits Lineup

The Austin City Limits lineup was revealed yesterday, a bunch of good bands. All the festival information is HERE.

Highlights include:

Pearl Jam
Dave Matthews Band
Beastie Boys
Kings of Leon
Ben Harper and Relentless7
Thievery Corporation
John Legend
The Dead Weather
Sonic Youth
Mos Def
Toadies
Flogging Molly
Lily Allen
Citizen Cope
Arctic Monkeys
The Decemberists
Coheed and Cambria
Andrew Bird
Girl Talk
Phoenix
Bon Iver
The Avett Brothers
The Airborne Toxic Event
Medeski, Martin & Wood
Clutch
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Grizzly Bear
Heartless Bastards
Passion Pit
White Lies
Dan Auerbach
The Walkmen
Devotchka
Blitzen Trapper
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
The Felice Brothers
Brett Dennen
Zac Brown Band
Rebirth Brass Band

SOTD: "Now We Can See" - The Thermals

Cowboy Junkies & Son Volt Tour

Cowboy Junkies and Son Volt will be playing eight shows out west in July. Tour Dates are venues below:

July
7 - Denver, Colo. @ Ogden Theatre
10 - Snowbird, Utah @ Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort
15 - San Diego, Calif. @ Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay
16 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Wiltern
17 - Saratoga, Calif. @ Montalvo Arts Center
18 - Jacksonville, Ore. @ Britt Pavillion
22 - Seattle, Wash. @ Woodland Park Zoo Ampitheater
23 - Spokane, Wash. @ Martin Woldson Theater

SOTD: "Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead" - Akron/Family

Sometimes the best songs are the simplest ones.....

Ben Harper & Relentless 7 Album Stream

Ben Harper is streaming his new album with the Relentless 7 on Myspace. Not sure how long this will be up, so check it out HERE.

NYC Area Concerts week of 4/27

4/27 Bowerbirds @ Mercury Lounge
4/29 Peter Bjorn and John, Chairlift @ Webster Hall
4/30 Bat For Lashes @ Bowery Ballroom
4/30 Peter Bjorn and John, Chairlift @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

MAY
5/1 Noah and the Whale @ Bowery Ballroom
5/1 King Khan & the Shrines @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
5/1 The Dears @ The Bell House
5/1 Chris Batten & The Woods @ Maxwells
5/1 Jess King @ Village Underground
5/2 Bat For Lashes @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
5/2 The Kills @ Webster Hall
5/3 Vetiver, Papercuts @ Bowery Ballroom
5/3 King Kahn & The Shrines @ Santos Party House
5/3 The Dears @ Bowery Ballroom
5/3 Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson @ Mercury Lounge
5/3 Dark Was The Night @ Radio City Music Hall (Bon Iver, David Byrne, The National, etc.)

SOTD: "Brooklyn Boy" - Kevin Devine

My Morning Jacket: "Celebracion De La Ciudad Natal"

One cool thing I picked up last weekend in my travels during Record Store Day was this My Morning Jacket release. Here's some footage showing the making of the album, cool stuff.


My Morning Jacket from Tugboat Productions on Vimeo.

SOTD: "Ticket To Immortality" - The Dears

Green Day 2009 Tour

Green Day has announced a 2009 tour, dates & cities below:

July 3: Seattle, Wash.
July 4: Vancouver, British Columbia
July 6: Edmonton, Alberta
July 7: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
July 9: Winnipeg, Manitoba
July 10: Fargo, ND
July 11: Minneapolis, Minn.
July 13: Chicago, Ill.
July 14: Detroit, Mich.
July 16: Hamilton, Ont.
July 17: Ottawa, Ont.
July 18: Montreal, Quebec
July 20: Boston, Mass.
July 21: Philadelphia, Penn.
July 22: Pittsburgh, Penn.
July 24: Hartford, Conn.
July 25: Albany, NY
July 27: New York, NY
July 29: Washington, DC
July 31: Nashville, Tenn.
Aug. 1: Atlanta, GA
Aug. 3: Tampa, Fla.
Aug. 4: Miami, Fla.
Aug. 5: Orlando, Fla.
Aug. 7: New Orleans, LA
Aug. 8: Houston, TX
Aug. 9: San Antonio, TX
Aug. 11: St. Louis, MO
Aug. 12: Kansas City, MO
Aug. 13: Omaha, Neb.
Aug. 15: Denver, Colo.
Aug. 16: Salt Lake City, Utah
Aug. 18: San Jose, Calif.
Aug. 20: San Diego, Calif.
Aug. 21: Las Vegas, Nev.
Aug. 22: Phoenix, Ariz.
Aug. 24: Sacramento, Calif.
Aug. 25: Los Angeles, Calif.

SOTD: "In Our Talons" - Bowerbirds

30 In 60 Mix

Awhile ago I came up with this idea to try and make a mix that fit 30 songs into 60 minutes, without going over (and getting as close as possible). I've been working on it this week and finally finished the mix, I think the results are pretty good. Below you'll find the song titles, band, and song durations. It turned out to be 30 songs, 59.9 minutes, so just a few seconds to spare. I think most (if not all) of these songs are available on Itunes so it should be pretty easy to make a copy if you're interested. I'd also love to see if anyone else wants to give this a shot and send back any responses, I'll be happy to post them.

30 FOR 60
Neon Bible, The Arcade Fire 2:17
Again I Go Unnoticed, Dashboard Confessional 2:24
Our Swords, Band Of Horses 2:26
Remember When (Side B), The Black Keys 2:11
#3, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals 2:31
Four Kicks, Kings Of Leon 2:09
Team, Bon Iver 1:57
Bit Part, The Lemonheads 1:51
Forgive Me, City And Colour 2:08
No Ceiling, Eddie Vedder 1:34
Cowards Sing at Night, Tom Gäbel 2:06
I Will (No Man's Land), Radiohead 1:59
White Winter Hymnal, Fleet Foxes 2:27
Jesus On The Radio, Guster 2:17
Downtown, My Morning Jacket 1:36
The Sound of Settling, Death Cab for Cutie 2:13
Born Into A Light, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals 2:17
Lukin, Pearl Jam 1:02
#40, Dave Matthews Band 1:50
Fell In Love With a Girl, The White Stripes 1:50
Truly, Madly, Deeply, Ray LaMontagne 1:53
Faster, Sooner, Now, David Gray 2:24
Sweet Sweet, Smashing Pumpkins 1:39
Skinned, Blind Melon 1:58
So Long Mrs. Smith, Matthew Good Band 1:38
Seaside, The Kooks 1:39
Bandstand In The Sky, Pete Yorn 2:13
When The Day Is Done, The Samples 2:26
Nightingale Song, Toad The Wet Sprocket 2:03
Walkaways, Counting Crows 1:12

SOTD: "Been So Long" - Vetiver

When I was at Bleecker St Records this weekend for "Record Store Day", a bunch of people were looking for the Vetiver release. I hadn't heard of them so I looked them up this morning. This is pretty good.....

New Kings of Leon Dates

Kings of Leon will have added two local shows at the Izod Center (9/12) and Nassau Coliseum (9/14) in September. Tickets for both NYC-area shows go on sale to general public on Friday, April 24th at noon.

SOTD: "What's a Girl to Do" - Bat For Lashes

NYC Area Concerts week of 4/20

4/20 The Bronx @ Bowery Ballroom
4/20 Lily Allen @ Roseland Ballroom
4/21 Ed Kowalczyk @ Maxwell's
4/21 The Roots @ Highline Ballroom
4/21 Kuroma @ Mercury Lounge
4/21 Ratatat @ Terminal 5
4/22 The Bronx @ Maxwell's
4/23 Boxer Rebellion @ Mercury Lounge
4/25 Travis @ Webster Hall
4/26 Crystal Stilts, Mahogany @ Maxwell's

Record Store Day!

A special Saturday entry, today is Record Store Day across the country with a slew of rare vinyl and cd being released to independent record stores. Many of these shops will also offer in-store performances. All the information can be found HERE. I'm off to Bleecker St!......

Matthew Good: "A Silent Army In The Trees"

Matthew Good has released a "24 Hour preview" of his song "A Silent Army In The Trees", which will be on his new release "Vancouver". It won't be up for long so check it out HERE if you get a chance. I first heard this last year when I saw him at the Highline Ballroom in NYC, I just wasn't sure what the title was. Hope you enjoy it, this is a good one.

SOTD: "Kick Push" - Lupe Fiasco

Coachella 2009: Sunday Recommendations

Looking at the Sunday schedule, I actually think it's the weakest of the three days, which may be a good thing because you can be pretty exhausted by the third day. I'd probably end up getting a bit of a late start, but here are some stand-out bands that I'd recommend seeing:

2:10-3:00: Friendly Fires (Gobi Tent): I first saw these guys last year at the CMJ Festival in NYC (Lykke Li was on the same bill), I put up a review here that you can check out to get my thoughts. Exciting band in concert, definitely like the energy they bring to the stage. Should be a real cool set in the relatively small Gobi Tent.

"Jump In The Pool"

3:00-3:45: Gaslight Anthem (Outdoor Stage): After the Friendly Fires set, I'd make my way over to the Outdoor Stage to see these guys. One thing I found last year was that the crowd at the Outdoor Stage was never too big early in the day, you'll probably be able to get a good spot close to the stage. Really like what I've heard from these guys this year.

"Great Expectations"

4:05-4:55: Lykke Li (Outdoor Stage): I think I'd end up sticking around at the Outdoor Stage to see Lykke Li perform after the Gaslight Anthem. I thought she was really good when I saw her last year, she's got a nice voice and some really solid songs. The one thing I'd be a bit worried about would be how she'd do on a stage this size. I saw her in a small venue (Bowery Ballroom) and I think it was a good fit but I could see her getting drowned out a bit in a larger venue.

"Little Bit"

5:00-5:50: Peter Bjorn & John (Main Stage): After Lykke, I'd just take the short walk over to the main stage to see this trio. I think they just released another album so there should be a lot of new material. Anyways, I liked what these guys did with their last album and it's definitely a big step to be playing the main stage in the evening after playing one of the tents in 2007, so hopefully they'll put on a good show.

"Objects Of My Affection"

6:15-7:15: Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Main Stage): I would just sit tight at the Main Stage to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also just released a new album and have been making a lot of recent TV appearances. Should be a good crowd gathered to see Karen O and the boys.

"Zero"

9:25-?: The Cure (Main Stage): I think I'd take a big break before the Cure, probably a good time for some drinks and dinner and to just rest up a bit. I've never gotten the chance to see these guys but I think this would be a great opportunity and a really cool setting. A nice way to finish up the festival if there's nothing else that interests you on the menu.

"Mint Car"

Well, that wraps up my three day preview, I hope you enjoyed it and maybe even found some good advice/suggestions in there. Hopefully I'll make it back for 2010, but I leave you with this.....some highlights from my trip last year.

SOTD: "Daddy's Gone" - Glasvegas

Coachella 2009: Saturday Recommendations

At first glance of the schedule for Saturday 4/18, I think I'd be spending a lot of time in the tents early in the day, and then moving to the the Main & Outdoor stages for the evening, finishing back at the tents for late night. Actually kind of a good schedule logistically. Here's what I'd be checking out:

1:00-1:30: P.O.S (Mojave Tent): If you're there early enough, P.O.S is one of only two acts playing at 1pm so you've got a pretty good chance to see him. I think the Mojave Tent should get a pretty good crowd for his set but be far from full. I've been listening to this guy a lot lately and I think he brings something pretty unique to the festival, definitely a great way to kick off Saturday.

"Goodbye"

1:30-2:10: Ida Maria (Gobi Tent): After P.O.S, you can take the two minute walk over to the Gobi Tent (which is the smallest of the performing tents). Early in the day, it shouldn't be tough to get in but as the days go later, it gets harder and harder to get into the Gobi. I really like Ida Maria, something about her voice kind of reminds me of Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders. Again, there's not a ton going on at this time so this is definitely a good chance to see an up and coming artist.

"Stella"

2:30-3:10 Bob Mould Band (Gobi Tent): If you're up for hanging tight for a bit after Ida Maria's set, she'll be followed in the Gobi Tent by Bob and his band. If you're not familiar with Bob, he's got a pretty extensive history going back to his days in Husker Du and Sugar. Some good old fashioned rock to keep the vibe going, the opportunity to see these guys on such a small stage is a pretty cool opportunity.

"I Apologize & Chartered Trips"

3:45-4:35: Blitzen Trapper (Gobi Tent): As you can tell, I've got an early Gobi theme going. I'd probably take a break after Bob Mould's set to grab a drink but I'd stay close so I could get back in for the Blitzen Trapper set. I haven't seen these guys in concert but their music seems pretty chill, might be a good way to spend an hour kicking back and relaxing before making your way over to the main stage area for the evening sets. I'd bet that this set will be pretty packed.

"God & Suicide"

5:10-6:00: Michael Franti & Spearhead (Main Stage): The festival should be in full swing by this point, and the Main Stage and Outdoor Stage areas should be buzzing with a lot of people getting ready for a great night of bands. I haven't seen Michael Franti in years but from my previous experience, I'd guess that this will be a pretty fun set. Good time to grab some dinner and hang out by the main stage.

"Say Hey"

6:25-7:15: TV On The Radio (Main Stage): This is probably one of the most interesting acts of the whole festival for me. Pretty much everyone I talk to loves these guys but I've never been able to really get into them for some reason ( I do love "Wolf Like Me" though, awesome song). I'd really like to see their live set and see if I'd come away with a different mindset. I'm sure there will be a huge crowd for these guys, should be a major draw.

"Halfway Home"

7:25-8:15: Fleet Foxes (Outdoor Stage): After TOTR, I'd make two minute walk next door to the Outdoor Stage for Fleet Foxes. Talk about a band that's really taken off over the last year, these guys have become pretty big, well deserved after their great album last year. I still haven't gotten a chance to see these guys so I'd really be interested to check out their set, should be a good one.

"Ragged Wood"

8:40 -9:30: Band of Horses (Outdoor Stage): Without question, this would be one of my highlights for the festival. I've really gotten into these guys over the last year and can't wait to see them in a couple months. I can only imagine how cool their set will be at night in the Coachella Valley.....going to be an awesome backdrop for a really good band. If you're going to check out one group on Saturday, this would be my number one choice, these guys have some incredible songs.

"No One's Gonna Love You"

9:30-11:00: Chemical Brothers (Sahara Tent): The Sahara Tent is a good 10 minute walk (maybe 15 minutes after being on your feet all day) so I'd miss the beginning of their set to finish Band Of Horse but it's worth the walk. This will be a really cool DJ set and I'm sure people will be going nuts. When I first heard they were added to the festival, I thought they'd be out on a main stage, the thought of them playing the Sahara is pretty insane.

"Hey Boy, Hey Girl"

11:10- Close: MSTRKRFT (Sahara Tent): If you're still in the mood for more after the Chemical Brothers' set, you can just stay right in the Sahara Tent for a MSTRKRFT set that will probably end sometime in the early morning. I have to say, out of all the bands I've seen at Coachella over the last two years, MSTRKRFT in Sahara two years ago was one my favorites. Don't really think you can go wrong here, unless your legs are about to fall off (which is entirely possible at 11pm).

"Coachella 2007"

11:05-Close: Mastodon (Mojave Tent): If you finish Chemical Brothers and still feel like checking out some more music but are done with the dance scene, just take the short walk over to the Mojave Tent. Even though this is a late set, Mastodon has been getting some major buzz, especially about their latest album "Crack The Skye". From what I've heard so far, it's a really solid album and there's sure to be a good crowd there to close out Saturday night.

"Ghost of Karelia"

Aright, those are my Saturday suggestions. Have a great time and as always, I'd love to hear comments and thoughts from anyone reading. Sunday's preview will be up tomorrow morning.

SOTD: "Bleeding Hearts Club" - POS

Coachella 2009: Friday Recommendations

Above you will find the Coachella schedule for Friday 4/17, here's my recommendations on which acts to check out:

2:25-3:!5: Noah & The Whale (Outdoor Stage): This will be a good way to kick off the day, still early and probably only a few hundred people huddled around the Outdoor Stage. Sounds like a lot of people but looks really small when you walk into the grounds (you know what I mean if you've showed up early before).

"Shape of My Heart"

4:05-4:55: Airborne Toxic Event (Main Stage): The crowds should be arriving in full force by now, but you should be able to get a comfortable spot at the main stage at this time. I like these guys and would like to see how they do in this spotlight. Might be tough to pull it off but I'd be interested to see if they can do it. I think I'd only stay about half of their set (unless they were stellar) and swing over to see the Hold Steady at the Mojave tent (about a 5 minute walk).

"Sometime Around Midnight"

4:30-5:20: The Hold Steady (Mojave Tent): Another band that I haven't seen yet that I'd really like to see. Good news is that this set is in the Mojave Tent, which is a good size even though it usually gets pretty packed for the bands. I'd guess that this will be a really solid set, but either way I'd probably leave a few minutes early because I would be high-tailing it back to the Main Stage for the Black Keys.

"Sequestered In Memphis"

5:20-6:10: The Black Keys (Main Stage): An absolute MUST SEE on Friday. One of my favorite live groups of the last few years, these guys are great in concert. Truly amazing that it's just two guys on stage but they'll give an awesome evening set. Definitely make sure you catch these guys if you're at the show.

"Set You Free"

5:45-6:35: White Lies (Mojave Tent): If for some reason the Black Keys aren't your thing, I'd recommend seeing the White Lies in the Mojave Tent. I think the Keys will attract a pretty huge crowd so you'd be able to get a good spot in here I'd think. Haven't gotten around to seeing these guys either and I think I'd miss their set even if I was at Coachella but I like their sound and think they'll do well in the Mojave.

"To Lose My Life"

6:35-7:25: Franz Ferdinand (Main Stage): I like Franz's albums but I saw them a few years ago here in NYC and they were really, really good. I was extremely impressed with their live show and from what I've read, it seems they're consistently pretty good. You could just hang at the Main Stage and go right from the Black Keys into their set....a pretty good combo.

"Michael"

7:15-8:05 N.A.S.A (Mojave Tent): These guys have been getting some good buzz lately and might be something worth checking out. Maybe grab something to eat or drink and hang out near the Mojave, doesn't seem like something you'd necessarily need to see, but I'd give them a listen.

"Waydown"

8:30-9:30: Morrissey (Main Stage)/Beirut (Mojave Tent):: Both of these acts on at the same EXACT TIME? I don't like this planning at all, I'd think there will be a lot of people having to make a tough decision. I'm not even sure what I'd do.... I rarely get the chance to see Morrissey but Beirut playing Mojave will be awesome, no question about that. Man, what a brutal choice.......this might be the only reason I'm glad I'm not there Friday night.

"First of the Gang to Die"

"A Sunday Smile"

9:00-9:50: Girl Talk (Sahara Tent): Gotta hit the Sahara Tent! Girl Talk's set will be as good a time as any. I bet it'll be packed, but in a good way......a quick walk from the Mojave Tent if you're there for the Beirut set you can roll over within a few minutes to catch the last 20 minutes or so.

"Play Your Part"

10:00-? : Paul McCartney (Main Stage): I'd think almost anybody would want to see at least some of this set, whether you're a huge fan or not. One thing's for sure, the place will be PACKED.

"A Day in the Life"

11:25- CLOSE: Crystal Method (Sahara Tent): If you're looking for a good nightcap, this will be a fun spot to end the day, another trip to the Sahara Tent. If you're still standing, good for you.

"Trip Like I do"

So there are my Friday suggestions, Saturday's picks will come on Thursday. All comments are welcome, I'd love to hear from some thoughts from other people that have attended in the past.

SOTD: "Oblivion" - Mastodon

"10 Coachella Rules to Live By"

Over the last couple of years, I've learned quite a bit about Coachella. Here are my "Ten Coachella Rules to Live By":

1. If you decide to make the trip to Coachella, make sure you're going with the right people. What I mean by this is that these are long days in the hot sun. You don't want to be with people that are bitching and complaining. Go with people that love music, specifically festivals and can hang throughout the day. You want to be around positive people in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

2. As I just mentioned, it gets HOT. Two years ago, it was over 100 degrees for two out of the three days. Make sure you stay hydrated, take some breaks and get some water. Especially if you're drinking soju & vodkas or beer.....definitely want to mix it up with some H20.

3. Get there early. You don't have to go too early, the festival starts around noon each day but we found that if you show up between noon and 1pm, it's easy to roll in, get a good parking spot, tailgate for a bit and get ready for a long day on the polo grounds. I've heard nightmare stories of people sitting in 2+ hours of traffic and missing some acts they wanted to see. You've got plenty of time in the morning to sleep in, hang out a bit and then head over. This really makes getting in pretty easy. Also, you'll find the entrance lines to the festival pretty short at this time too.

4. If you're trying to decide between getting a hotel room and renting a house, go with the house. If you have enough people, it usually ends up around the same price, but can even be cheaper. You've got a lot more room at a house with multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, family room, etc. We had a pool last year too, which was awesome. There's plenty of places you can stay within 10-15 minutes of the festival. HIGHLY recommended.

5. If you're with a good group of friends, it's a good idea to pool some money together each day at the festival for food and drinks. We had five of us and each threw in some money to a collective pot and whenever we wanted to get something to eat or drink, we just pulled from the pot. Works well if everyone is on board and you're not trying to figure out who spent what.

6. SEE WHATEVER YOU WANT. There's five stages at Coachella (Main stage, Outdoor Stage, Mojave Tent, Gobi Tent and Sahara Tent). You can get to any of those places in a 5-10 minute walk. If your friends want to see one thing and you want to see another, head over and see the band you want. You're not going to get lost and we've split up many times to see certain bands. You're going to have more fun seeing the group(s) you want to see, even if you have to do it alone.

7. Be Friendly. I always love going to festivals because you meet cool people from all over the world. Music is something that brings people together, regardless of your background. Coachella has to have one of the coolest crowds of any music event I've ever been to (and that is A LOT). I've met tons of cool people and some of them have become good friends of mine. It's not hard to treat people well, keep an open mind and you're going to run into some great people.

8. Make sure you catch at least one act in the Sahara Tent. Even if you're not a huge fan of dance/house/techno/etc. music, you're going to have fun in there. We've seen some great acts there.....MSTRKRFT, Fatboy Slim, Benny Benassi, etc. It's a real fun place to see a show, especially when you've got hundreds of people around you going crazy.

9. Don't worry about getting close to the stage. If you're one of those people that "NEEDS" to be up front at a show, I just don't think it's worth it at Coachella, especially if you have to wait around all day for an act you have to see later. There's always room to move around and you can get fairly close to at least be able to see at a reasonable distance. Take some opportunities to see bands that you want to see rather than staking out a place all day for the band coming on at 9pm.

10. HAVE FUN. Enjoy every minute, take nothing for granted. My trips to Coachella have been two of my favorite vacations ever. Awesome times with great friends, it's just as much about the experience as it is about the bands. Anyone that loves music will enjoy this festival. To anyone that's going this year, good luck and have a blast! Hope to see you back there next year.

The show schedules were released today and I'll spend the rest of the week giving my recommendations of bands to see each day.

SOTD: "Stay Positive" - The Hold Steady

Seeing as this is Coachella Week (the festival kicks off on Friday), I'll spend SOTD time this week on some of the bands that will be playing. Unfortunately I'll be missing the show for the first time in 3 years, I'm totally disappointed but excited for anyone making the trip.

I'll also give my "Guide to Coachella" this week with bands to see, various tips and advice from my previous experiences.

Here's some Hold Steady to kick things off......

NYC Area Concerts Week of 4/13

4/13-14 Neko Case, Crooked Fingers @ Nokia Theatre
4/14 The Roots @ Highline Ballroom
4/14 Dave Matthews Band & The Roots @ MSG
4/14-15 Flight of the Conchords, Kristen Schaal @ Radio City Music Hall
4/15 Nada Surf @ The Bell House
4/15 The Tallest Man On Earth @ Bowery Ballroom
4/15-17 Of Montreal @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
4/16 Throbbing Gristle @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
4/16 The Walkmen @ Webster Hall
4/17 Great Lake Swimmers @ Bowery Ballroom
4/17 The Dead Milkmen @ Warsaw
4/17 The Felice Brothers @ Webster Hall
4/18 The Appleseed Cast, An Horse @ Mercury Lounge
4/18 Lucero, Titus Andronicus @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

SOTD: "Where Do My Blue Bird Fly" - The Tallest Man On Earth

William Elliot Whitmore West Coast Tour

William Elliot Whitmore is going on a small west coast tour and I'd definitely recommend checking him out if you get the chance. I wrote a bit about his show when I saw him open for City & Colour awhile back and posted one of his songs as SOTD, which you can find HERE.

William Elliott Whitmore North American Tour Dates
(with Fake Problems)

Apr-29 Portland, OR - Bottom of the Hill
Apr-30 San Louis Obispo, CA - Downtown Brew
May-01 San Clemente, CA - OC Tavern
May-02 Los Angeles, CA - The Knitting Factory
May-03 San Diego, CA - The Casbah
May-04 Phoenix, AZ - Chyro Arts

SOTD: "Innocent Vigilant Ordinary" - The Appleseed Cast

Ryan Montbleau Band Tour

Ryan Montbleau and the boys hit the road last night to start their latest tour. All the dates, venues and ticket information can be found HERE. If you haven't gotten a chance to see them yet, this would be a great opportunity, they'll be playing all over the country.

Wed 04/08/09 Ithaca, NY Castaways

Thu 04/09/09 Dayton, OH Canal Street Tavern

Fri 04/10/09 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark

Sat 04/11/09 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern

Mon 04/13/09 Elkhart Lake, WI Brown Baer

Tue 04/14/09 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center

Thu 04/16/09 McCall, ID North Fork Lodge

Thu 04/16/09 McCall, ID Foresters

Fri 04/17/09 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern

Sat 04/18/09 Portland, OR Goodfoot Lounge

Mon 04/20/09 Eugene, OR John Henry's

Tue 04/21/09 Arcata, CA Humboldt Brews

Wed 04/22/09 Santa Cruz, CA Moe's Alley

Thu 04/23/09 Los Angeles, CA The Mint

Fri 04/24/09 San Francisco, CA Boom Boom Room

Sat 04/25/09 Lake Tahoe, NV Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa

Tue 04/28/09 Salt Lake City, UT The State Room

Thu 04/30/09 Fort Collins, CO Hodies Half Note

Fri 05/01/09 Denver, CO Quixote's True Blue

Sat 05/02/09 Boulder, CO The B Side Lounge

Wed 05/06/09 Lexington, KY The Dame

Fri 05/08/09 Plains, PA River Street Jazz Cafe

Sat 05/09/09 Fairfield, CT StageOne

Fri 05/15/09 Teaneck, NJ Mexicali Live

Sat 05/16/09 Hammonton, NJ Camp Jam In The Pines

Fri 05/22/09 Portsmouth, NH Muddy River Saloon

Sat 05/23/09 Sterling, NY Sterling Stage Folkfest

Eddie Vedder Solo Tour

Tickets are now on Presale for Eddie Vedder's Solo Tour. You can find all the information HERE.

EV Tour Dates:

Ed Vedder Solo Tour Dates:
* Indicates unconfirmed, possible "rollover" dates.
** No kama'aina discount

Jun 8 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
Jun 9* Albany, NY Palace Theatre
Jun 11 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre
Jun 12 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre
Jun 14 Baltimore, MD Lyric Opera House
Jun 15 Baltimore, MD Lyric Opera House
Jun 18 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
Jun 20 Memphis, TN Orpheum
Jun 21* Memphis, TN Orpheum
Jun 23 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Ctr
Jun 24* Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Ctr
Jun 29** Maui, HI Arts & Cultural Ctr - Castle Theatre
Jul 1** Honolulu, HI Hawaii Theatre Ctr
Jul 2** Honolulu, HI Hawaii Theatre Ctr

SOTD: "Frankie's Gun" - The Felice Brothers

Austin City Limit Tix On-Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the Austin City Limits Festival on October 2-4, 2009. The lineup has yet to be announced but you can find more information HERE.

SOTD: "Pulling On A Line" - Great Lake Swimmers

Jess King @ Village Underground - 3/31/09

Last week I took a trip downtown to see singer/songwriter Jess King at the Village Underground. It's been years since I've been to that venue, I think the last time I was there was back in 2001 for a Howie Day/John Mayer show, but I remember really liking the space. Walking in I could tell that they've clearly had some renovations since I've last been there and it's really a nice place to see a show.

This was my second time seeing Jess, the first was at the National Underground a few months ago (I'm sure eventually I'll see her somewhere above ground). Jess went on around 8pm and played for about 45 minutes, accompanied again by Andra Voldins on viola & Kevin Hunter on guitar. A lot of my impressions from seeing her the first time were only reinforced this time around. She's extremely talented with a great voice and really strong vocals. Her songs cover various themes and tempos and the crowd of 100+ people was clearly into the show clapping throughout and listening intently. Flat out, Jess is impressive to see in person, I think she's got a very bright future ahead of her.

I came prepared this time around so I was able to grab a couple video clips, which you can see below. I think her next big show is on Friday May 1st at the Village Underground again, well worth it if you have a chance to make the show.


"FLYIN"




"LOVE ME BACK"

SOTD: "Neighbourhood" - Ruby Coast

NYC Area Concerts week of 4/6

4/6 The Roots @ Highline Ballroom
4/6 Mates of State, Black Kids @ Webster Hall
4/8-9 Bob Mould @ Joe's Pub
4/9 Superdrag @ Bowery Ballroom
4/9 Cloud Cult, Margot and The Nuclear So & So's @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
4/10 Superdrag @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
4/10-11 The Faint, Ladytron, Telepathe @ Webster Hall
4/11 Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 @ The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

SOTD: "Hussle In The House" - Nipsy Hussle

Here's a good track to get the weekend started. Even though this is new, it totally takes me back to the mid-90s. Introducing Nipsy Hussle.........

The Jayhawks Reuniting

The Jayhawks will be reuniting for a couple shows this summer in addition to some acoustic tour dates from Mark Olson & Gary Louris.

Mark Olson & Gary Louris acoustic tour dates:

April 6: Seattle, WA (Triple Door)
April 7: Portland, OR (Aladdin)
April 9: San Francisco, CA (Great American Music Hall)
April 10: Santa Cruz (The Crepe Place)
April 11: Los Angeles, CA (Largo At The Coronet)
April 12: Solana Beach, CA (Belly Up)
April 13: Tucson, AZ (Club Congress)
April 15: Santa Fe, NM (Santa Fe Brewing Company)
April 17: Dallas, TX (Sons Of Hermann Hall)
April 18: Austin, TX (Antone's)

The Jayhawks tour dates:

May 30th: Barcelona, Spain (Primavira Sound '09 Festival)
July 10: Minneapolis, MN (Basilica Block Party)

SOTD: "You're Not Coming Home Tonight" - First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit are a couple of pretty talented sisters from Sweden. They've got some other tracks on their myspace page, I'd recommend listening to their cover of Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song".

Bumbershoot Festival Sept. 5th-7th 2009

The 2009 Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle has been announced and will feature bands such as:

- Sheryl Crow
- Modest Mouse
- Katy Perry
- MSTRKRFT
- Raphael Saadiq
- Michael Franti & Spearhead
- De La Soul

More information is available HERE.

SOTD: "Rain" - Bishop Allen

Gogol Bordello Tour - On Sale TODAY!

If you're interested in getting your hands on Gogol Bordello tickets for their US tour, Music Today is having a presale. Just go HERE.

Tour Dates:

5/20/2009 Ventura Theatre Ventura,CA 4/1/2009 3:00:00 PM
5/21/2009 Pomona Fox Theater Pomona,CA PreSale Closed
5/22/2009 The Catalyst Santa Cruz,CA 4/1/2009 3:00:00 PM
5/27/2009 The Murray Theater Salt Lake City,UT 4/1/2009 2:00:00 PM
5/28/2009 Fox Theatre Boulder,CO 4/1/2009 2:00:00 PM
5/29/2009 Beaumont Club Kansas City,MO 4/1/2009 1:00:00 PM
5/30/2009 The Cabooze Minneapolis,MN 4/1/2009 1:00:00 PM
5/31/2009 Congress Theatre Chicago,IL 4/1/2009 1:00:00 PM
6/2/2009 Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak,MI 4/1/2009 12:00:00 PM
6/4/2009 Rams Head Live! Baltimore,MD 4/1/2009 12:00:00 PM
6/5/2009 House of Blues Boston Boston,MA 4/1/2009 12:00:00 PM
6/6/2009 Higher Ground South Burlington,VT 4/1/2009 12:00:00 PM
6/7/2009 Higher Ground South Burlington,VT 4/1/2009 12:00:00 PM

New Pete Yorn Tour Dates

Some exciting news from the Pete Yorn camp....he'll be opening up some dates for Coldplay on their upcoming tour. Hopefully this will be some great exposure for Pete, I'm a big fan of the guy. More info HERE.

May
15 West Palm Beach, FL -Cruzan Amphitheatre
17 Atlanta, GA -Lakewood Amphitheatre
18 Birmingham, AL -Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre Birmingham
20 Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
21 Washington, DC - Nissan Pavilion
23 Hartford, CT - Meadows Music Theater
24 Hershey, PA - Hershey Stadium
26 Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Center
27 Saratoga Springs, NY - SPAC
30 Pittsburgh, PA - Post Gazette Pavilion

June
1 Buffalo, NY - Darien Lakes
2 Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
4 Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center