Lollapalooza dates confirmed! It will be outside Chicago at the Tweeter Center on July 29 and 30. Mark your calendars now, because someone will be going with me, if only to see the Walkmen sing "the Rat." Oh, and Modest Mouse do "Float On." And all the other cool bands too.

Off to Coachella! I'm going to write up something cool about it for Tiny Mix Tapes, so look for that in the future.

HAVE AN AWESOME TIME AT COACHELLA, NICOLE!
i'll be thinking of you while i take my evil civil procedure exam (if by "thinking of you" you mean, "wishing you dead in a jealous rage," then yes!) i tease! tell Ben i say helllllo! have fun (as if i would be possible NOT to)

The Coachella times are up!!! And there are things that overlap of course . . . Basement Jaxx or Mogwai? Too many choices . . . feel free to give me suggestions . . ..

COACHELLA TOMORROW!!!! Though there is potentially a Radiohead issue . . .

I don't mind so much if they can't play, since I've seen them twice already, but I think Ben would have a heart attack.

You law students and your lack of sleep. Silly gooses. Geese?

what's up with pickets? becky, alaska? that's kind of closer to portland...
what day is it? why have i only eaten ice cream today? what's going on? i'm confused...

Natural History review up on Tinymixtapes!

Holy shit! When did Lollapalooza become cool???? Check out that line-up!

Morrissey, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, Le Tigre, Modest Mouse, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Broken Social Scene, The Walkmen, Danger Mouse, Datsuns, Sparta, DJ Peretz, Flaming Lips, Gomez, Polyphonic Spree, Elbow and more

Haha, no I haven't crossed any picket lines, mostly because I spend all day in Grainger. Many of my students told me that they have been crossing them or trying to find back entrances into buildings like Ag Hall. My brother said his professors said they'd be responsible for material given in lectures, so he'll be crossing some lines too into Vilas Hall.

By the way, I want a "last hurrah" next weekend sometime, either Friday or Saturday night, depending on which day I start moving to Chicago. Mark your calendars!

Today I made a presentation in my marketing class. It opened with a Four Tet song on the first slide and ended with Junior Senior's "Move Your Feet," which was on a slide titled "Dance Party" (yes I'm obviously graduating). It's my last ditch chance to attempt to spread my musical influence on the boring business school students. It might have worked a bit, as it was voted "most creative presentation" by the class.

Oh, and today one of my students recognized "Shins Company" as a band. Slowly but surely!

I just put that Mifflin collage together myself in anticipation for Saturday's party. Come rain or shine, I will do this week’s show in roller-blades! Its theme is Peace, Love, Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll.

I trust you will all please shoot me if I ever call anyone "sweetheart" "pumpkin" "honey" or anything along those lines. Especially if it is any sort of baby-talk type voice.

Meanwhile, Rockey, where did you get that awesome Mifflin JPG? It actually has a picture of General Thomas Mifflin on it! I believe we all know his half-birthday is coming up!

PS, nicole, you gotta burn me the new les savy fav - i've heard amazing things about that cd!
PPS. i am going to be in minneapols from May 9 - May 13. Everyone should visit!

"float on" by modest mouse in my new theme song - which is probably good, considering my contracts exam in less than 48 hours and i'm-a-gonna-fail...

I dreamt about the new Les Savy Fav CD last night. Does that make me a dork? I should be getting it in the mail any day now!

Pictures are up NOW.

Ok, now I've put my pictures on the computer, and there are 41 of them. Up soon!

Oh yeah- I took a zillion pictures, I'll put them up when I've got the chance.

Also, I totally forgot about the girl Rockey met! They were a twin match made in heaven, and she liked the Shins and the Postal Service. Rockey should have gotten her number! And I should have taken a picture!

Good summary Nicole. Now, when are we going to see some pictures?

Just for the record, I did not partake in the fake blood of my own free will. The squirt bottle was shoved up my nose. It did lead to getting some very awkward looks at the Yummy Buffet.

Also, at Party in the Park, I met a nice girl who was wearing the same outfit (orange puma jacket and roller-blades) as myself. Maybe our paths will cross again someday...

Boy, is my face red today.

The 35th annual Mifflin Street Block Party is less then a week away! 1st Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin might just be rolling in his grave when he listens to the Perfect Face For Radio: Mifflin Street Rock Party this Saturday.

Alrighty, now that I've gotten some sleep, here's the rundown of yesterday's activities for those of you who missed out:

9:45- got to the park to help set up. Saw the special gift Helena made to present to Andrew WK: a skateboard with a keyboard attached to it, with Andrew WK and WSUM stuff decorated all over it. It's totally awesome.
11:00- first bands begin playing, Orin Project and Urizen, on both stages
12:15- DPC plays to a good-sized crowd, Megan T. tells me it is much larger than last year at this time
1:00- Andrew WK's tour bus pulls up and parks. We're told he's sleeping inside, and that we need to drive a roadie and a random ho to their hotel room.
1:30- The Soviettes play for 20 minutes when they were supposed to play for 45; at least we finally had a chick band
2:00- The Heavenly States arrive a little late, cold and hungover; I get to introduce them and they sound probably the best I've heard them sound yet, and the new songs are great. They just came back from an awesome tour of Australia, and I got a copy of the Australian version of their CD (different artwork, track order)
4:00- Califone plays to a wonderfully large crowd, and there set is HOT, to use the words of Helena. Unfortunately, it has to be cut off as fears of rain make us speed up the sets.
4:45- Immortal Technique jumps on and raps for only about 20 minutes. I missed this because I was starting to get tired, but I heard it was pretty awesome.
5:00- The keyboard/skateboard is presented to Andrew WK outside his tour bus, where he clearly had just woken up. He dug it though.
5:15- WSUM DJ Joey Cienan brings fake blood, and soon tons of audience members have fake blood all over their faces in homage to Andrew WK's first album cover. It is gross, and I refuse to partake. DJ Lazer partakes.
5:30- Andrew WK finally comes on with his band, and together they have massive amounts of hair waving around. They blow the speakers- TWICE- and from then on the sound is never quite good, but it doesn't really matter since all the songs sound exactly the same anyway. A mosh pit starts, and WK constantly says "This is cool!" in his gruff voice while it starts to rain lightly. Funny and ridiculous, as was expected!
6:30- I leave PITP a little early to go get Party in the Dark started at the Rathskellar. I don't know how I made it there without fainting. Too bad it couldn't have been on the terrace with the crappy weather! Though I think the Rathskellar's more intimate setting was better anyway.
8:00- Scout Niblett is late, but she finally makes it and I go help her unload. She is driving around touring alone in her tiny Honda Accord, and she came from Omaha! Poor girl. She is the cutest, sweetest little British girl ever.
9:20- The Candyland Riots play to a small crowd, and the sound levels weren't quite right throughout, but they were fun as always. If I wasn't about to pass out from sheer exhaustion, I'd have had more fun.
10:15- A little over 100 people are probably there as Sandman the Rapping Cowboy takes the stage, and it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen when he pulled out this tiny, tiny keyboard, holds it up to the mike and raps with it. Then Ivan Okay came on stage to beat box for more rap. There was alt-country songs also.
10:50- Ivan Okay starts with his guitar, and he's just the cutest thing ever. He ends with a song played on this teeny, tiny children's piano.
11:30- Scout Niblett starts and she is fabulous. She plays guitar and sings, going between very quiet, minimalist sounds to awesome screaming and whaling on the guitar. Then she moves to the drums for more of the same. She invited everyone to sign up and join her Friendster, which I did, haha. She's so odd and quirky on stage between songs, but while she's playing it's HOT, as Helena would say. She totally wowed everyone in the room who didn't know her already, and I think she sold a ton of CDs.
12:30- Went home and died.

Overall, considering the weather factor, everything went really well and smoothly, we had great crowds that were drawn by the bands and not just by a sunny day, and I got a lot of compliments for putting together a really strong Party in the Dark after the show, which made it very very worth it. And now I'm sore from carrying too many heavy things around and sunburned when I didn't even think there was any sun. But not as sunburned as DJ Lazer!!!!!

OMG. Dead. Exhausted. Keyboard/skateboard. Sunburned??? Andrew WK. Scout. HOT. More tomorrow after I've slept 300 hours.

I'm cold, sunburnt, exhausted, fake bloody, wet, dizzy, and I have never felt better. Could this be the best Crazy Party in the Park Legs day ever? Yes.

30 hours of madness begins now!
1. Dancing at the Cardinal Bar (80s night)
2. Running Crazy Legs (in a Viking Ship)
3. Volunteering at Party in the Park until I pass out
4. ???

PARTY IN THE PARK AND DARK TOMORROW! I just helped set up the stages for the festival and everything looks great. Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be as good as it was today. There's been a slight change in the schedule: Something to Do's bassist got hit by a car (he's okay!), so they'll be replaced by local favorites the Treats.

My recommendations for what to see tomorrow:

12:15-1:00: The Driftless Pony Club (West Stage)
1:45-2:30: If Then Else (East Stage)
2:45-3:30: The Heavenly States (West Stage, sadly at the same time as the Treats, who I'd otherwise recommend if it wasn't for my band)
3:45-4:45: The German Art Students (East Stage) or . . .
4:00-5:00: Califone (West Stage)
6:30-8:00: Andrew WK (West Stage)

Then I recommend all of Party in the Dark. If you could only show up for ONE band at the terrace though, make it the Candyland Riots at 9 PM.

Andrew WK will be arriving with his entourage in his tour bus at approx. 1 PM!!!! So he'll be hanging around with WSUMers and his fans until he plays at 6:30. He's probably the nicest man on the face of the earth (I'm not even exaggerating), so definitely look for him to hang out and get some photo ops.

me wanty that cd, too!

and, yes! yay for donnie darko - i have made so many people watch it since i've purchased it!

I just ordered this album and I'm already drooling . . . .

Liz sent me this link . . . yay for more Donnie Darko!

Woohoo, big article in the Daily Cardinal today on Party in the Park AND Party in the Dark, including interviews with Califone (PITP) and Scout Niblett (PITD)! Finally something I put together gets big press. Read all about it!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

"Greetings Edgewood class of 1999!

Wow we must be getting old;) Just a friendly note to
let you all know that the five year class reunion will
be on Saturday, November 27, 2004 at the Downtown
Great Dane. We thought that this would be a nice low
key place to meet. We anticipate the evening to begin
around 6 and we have it reserved through 9 pm."

NOT gonna happen.

Just got back from the Cursive show! Ashley and I were able to interview Tim Kasher before the show, and he turned out to be a really nice, soft-spoken man though his voice and his very angry songs may indicate otherwise. The transcript of that interview will be up here sometime this week and on tinymixtapes eventually. Then the show totally rocked, they played all my favorites off of The Ugly Organ (tracks 1,2,3,4,7, and 8!) and none of the ones I wanted to hear from Cursive's Domestica or Such Blinding Stars for Starving Eyes. Oh well, they still totally blew my mind. The night was almost ruined by these three guys who actually started a MOSH PIT, and who looked like they mistook the show for a Limp Bizkit concert. In my anger, I actually told them I was going to kill them, which may not have been the best idea as they were massive. Security eventually intervened.

Attention misandrists: careful where you are throwing those rocks, because throwing rocks at boys can turn their pee red and I don't even mean A LOT of rocks, just a few well placed hits are enough to... well you get the idea.

Check it out, the new High Noon Saloon, which is being opened by the woman who owned the O-Kayz Corral that burned down, is opening in a couple weeks and has a million shows already booked for May!

I just burned Of Montreal's new CD, "Satanic Panic in the Attic." It is tons o' fun- apparently they are "psych pop." I have no idea what that means, but I like it!

one of my friends asked me today if eating a lot a lot A LOT of beets would turn pee red. i don't know - anyone (maggie, i am thinking of you here, b/c you know random things AND you like beets a lot)?

ps. i am listening to spoon's first CD - it's fantastic!!

This Tuesday at the Majestic at 7:30 PM: The Plea for Peace Tour headlined by Cursive and featuring Denali and Mike Park. The tour is promoting voting in the upcoming election in a non-partisan way, with voter registration available at every stop. Promo director Ashley and I will be interviewing Cursive before the show, which will be recorded and replayed on one of our shows as well as written up for tinymixtapes, so look for those in the future!

Huzzah for Annie and her first post in a long time! This is a trend that will continue, I hope. Oh and the website is: www.davidandgoliathtees.com. The game where you throw the rocks at the boys is being updated, sadly, but keep checking back for your chance to play.

My future!

I finally got with it and purchased My Bloody Valentine's Loveless yesterday at Reckless Records in Chicago. I was a little nervous to listen to it, as it's always been hailed as pretty much best record ever by everyone and their mother, that and OK Computer, and I thought it might not live up to that. So far, it's really good, and if I'd purchased it back in 1991, I might have been better able to understand how novel and influential it was. Also, I would only have been 10, so probably not. I think I'd just purchased my first Mariah Carey tape at that point.

I can't stop smiling.

I was too grossed out by the last article to even respond :). Now after this duck story I'm just curious as to what on earth it is you do all day, Maggie.

Meanwhile, here's the website of Bill from the Apprentice's Cigar business! Do you think his picture was always on it?

Off to Chicago for Death Cab and Pedro the Lion!

My May or May Not review is up on Tinymixtapes!

Here's the idea: tell the subservient chicken to pee. Then realize your craving for a hot, juicy chicken whopper. This subservient chicken idea is strangely reminiscent of the god-awful Quizno Sub Spongemonkeys.

Is this subservient chicken supposed to be the spokes-model for Burger King for something? If he is then let me just say he is the most unappetizing thing I have ever seen in any advertisement.

The real question is, what does the subservient chicken have to say?

Bravo Nicole!
Let's see what Babar has to say about your news:
http://www.childrenssalon.co.uk/imagesforgreenpages/cards/babacongratscardLG.jpg

Saw Mirah last night at the Nottingham Co-Op (never been in a co-op before- definitely a bizarro frat). Though the lights could have been turned up a bit so I could actually see her, it was awesome- her voice is so purdy. She was so tiny and her guitar was so big it was almost comical.

CONGRATS, NICOLE! that rocks - i fully expect you to keep me up to date on the hip-happenings of the chicago music scene...oh, and you should still visit me in portland...

I GOT THE INTERNSHIP!!!!!! HUZZAH!!!!!!!

Now that I'm not stricken with disappointment, I'll actually share what the internship is. It's with this company, Billions, a booking agency with clients like the New Pornographers, Destroyer, Califone, Liars, and so many more wonderful bands. Just look at that roster. It's unpaid, 2 days a week, but I get access to lots of free music and get into all the shows they book in Chicago for free! And it could potentially lead to real employment some day. I start in May!

Let's all remember that "I might not pass school this semester" in Becky-speak really means "I'm going to get the highest grades in my classes." Just like "no one is ever going to hire me this summer" really means "I'm going to get a cool internship in Alaska or Europe."

If you were to limit attendance, however, I'd recommend coming at 2:45 for the Heavenly States or just going to Party in the Dark at the terrace at 9.

Let's not forget about the killer song we heard on the car ride home, Rockey. You've all heard of Danger Mouse's combination of Jay-Z's Black Album and the Beatles' White Album to form the Grey Album? Well last night we heard a song by "Fitty Inch Nails." It was 50 Cent's "In Da Club" mixed with Nine Inch Nails' "Closer." I hate In Da Club, but good Lord, that mix was cool. It strangely worked really, really well.

Exciting news about the future of the show:

The Perfect Face for Radio will be continuing on through the summer and will showcase a brand-new segment entitled: "The Perfect Face for Radio Adventure Story Hour."

Nicole, I second that Rapture comment. That was truly a transcendental experience.

1 2 3 4 GET THAT FUCKER OUT THE DOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!!!!

Let me just say that the Rapture totally RULED and I finally got to dance at an indie show. I think I'll write a review of it instead of studying for real estate.

I HAVE AN APARTMENT!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!

The busiest weekend on the face of the earth along with the most gas used in a 72 hour period continues tonight with the Rapture in Milwaukee! If I don't get to dance tonight, I'll be so mad.

John Vanderslice rocked the Catacombs last night and managed to play every single song I'd wanted to hear (that's like, 8 of them mind you), and is clearly the nicest man on the face of the planet. Like, seriously, the nicest.

Today I opened up this week's Isthmus and saw the great picture of the Driftless Pony Club. Just yesterday, I was disappointed, because I accidently shattered the glass I got at the Klinic on Valentine's Day in the sink. Sure enough, the Klinic is where the Driftless Pony Club will be playing tonight at 10. Fluky.

wow...you should either reply to her email. or better yet, reply something nasty and try to "recall" the email. OR better yet, pretend nothing happened, move in and make her life hell...

Ok, so how incredibly funny is this? I'm looking for sublets in Chicago at the moment, and a girl emailed me saying she and her roommate had an extra room and wondered if I was interested. So I emailed back and said yes, I'd be interested. She replied and said she was out of town, but to email her and her roommate a little about myself and see if the roommate could set up a time to show me the place. So I sent a brief blurb about myself to both of them- literally like, three sentences. The roommate mistakenly replied to me: "I don't like her" instead of to the roommate! Then I got an email from her that said "this email has been recalled", like she realized her mistake and tried to recall the message, as if you could do that!

There is a really great interview with Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock in the Onion today, also found here. I knew about the date rape allegations and the drug use, but not the attempted murder charges. What an interesting person. I think the new album is great, and after reading this interview, you can really see where it came from and why exactly it's called "Good News for People Who Love Bad News."

http://www.airamericaradio.com/

Rockey: the Co-op may have free food available. It will be soy-based vegan tofu food, but it could be food nonetheless.

I reviewed the new Calexico EP for tinymixtapes, and there is an awesome cover of this song from the Wes Anderson movie "Bottle Rocket." Highly recommended.

Maggie, I am dying of laughter after reading this case study article. I can't stop laughing. "Detailed retrospective analysis?" I am freaking dying here. Man, I really am a science geek.

Nicole, you know you can catch more flies with honey then with vinegar or death threats. Also, you can usually attarct a wandering Jon Rockey with hints of free food.

Someone WILL be coming to this with me, or heads will roll . . .

MIRAH
The Weeds (her sister)
Dietrich Gosser (Madison)

Date: Tuesday, April 13
Time: 8pm show; 7:30pm doors
Tickets: $5
ALL AGES (but bring ID)

Location:
Nottingham Co-Op
146 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53706
(off the street, down by Lake Mendota)

This Friday: John Vanderslice at the Catacombs! He's an absolutely amazing singer/songwriter/producer, and I can't believe I get to see him at such a small, cozy venue. Becky and I will be going, let me know if anyone else is interested!

For those of you who saw the Long Winters last night and also saw how ridiculously funny the singer of the Long Winters is, check out their website, www.longwinters.com. It's run by the singer, and the bios and old tour diary entries he wrote are just hysterical.

Inside joke of the day: What's your birthday again?

Natural History/Long Winters show last night was great, thanks to everyone who came out in spite of the Wisconsin Film Festival. The Long Winters were absolutely hysterical and the Natural History played a lot of new stuff that I liked a lot. Afterwards we took the Natural History to "Graham Jam 2004" for a house party, after which they crashed on Becky's and my respective couches. I'll have pictures of the show as well as a review up today.

I finally used my B-Side Records gift certificate to buy the new Iron and Wine album, "Our Endless Numbered Days." It's definitely much more produced than his first album (The Creek Drank the Cradle"), but still absolutely beautiful.

I wish i could go EVERYWHERE and visit all my dear dear beloved friends...
rockey: i have never seen that tv ad! it sounds fantabulous!

I KNEW IT!!!

First of all, in case you all forgot: Natural History interview tonight at 6 PM, 91.7 FM, show w/ the Long Winters and Marzapan at Union South at 9:30. Be there or be . . . not there.

Also, check out today's music reviews at tinymixtapes- I have one up and the review for the Driftless Pony Club's new CD "Janel" is up with a good review.

Liz, I'll come and visit you by leaving the office and running miles and miles, like this woman does in a television ad for the Minnestora tourist board, while stripping down to a swimsuit before I jump in one of MN's many scenic lakes after which all of my problems disappear.

The line-up for Party in the Dark is now finalized as well! For those of you who don't know, Party in the Dark is an after party for Party in the Park, for those who just can't get enough partying. It will be from 9-12 PM on the Memorial Union Terrace, and I'm the organizer for it. And the line-up is:

Scout Niblett (on Secretly Canadian Records, sort of a "Cat Power on Crack" as I like to call her)
Ivan Klipstein (local legend, celebrating his upcoming 7" release and about to kick off a coast-to-coast tour with . . .)
Sandman the Rapping Cowboy (from Olympia, WA, has done work with K Records, alternates between alt-country and rap. Very funny I hear)
The Candyland Riots (Chicago quirky-rockers, saw them open up for the Unicorns and fell madly in love)

Alright, next weekend I have an interview for an unpaid music-related internship and I'll be checking out an apartment sublet with really cool-sounding music-loving people. I won't say more in case they don't work out, but things are looking up!