This is by far the most groan-worthy article the Onion has ever written.

I've just received the new Interpol album, "Antics," in the mail. The time has come to see if I feel like this about it, or like this. I shall remain skeptical, and report back after I've had some time with it.

Oh man. This is way harsh. And a gentle reminder why it's a good thing the Dismemberment Plan broke up when they did.

My review of the Les Savy Fav show is now up on Tinymixtapes. Go read it, yo.

from the Some fun news I saw on CNN tonight- Jay Leno is going to retire from the Tonight Show in 5 years and Conan is going to replace him!

Friday Night was former PFFR weather man Sam "Da Nice Guy" s Birthday party and, of course, it was great. We all went out afterwards and I ventured out with a few other friends in search of dancing, which we found. Next thing I know it’s 5AM and I am eating a whole roast chicken, munching on fried plantains, drinking a Corona, and listening to Latin dance music at a diner with a girl from Venezuela. I love this city.

Woohoo, last night my string of failures at seeing Pretty Girls Make Graves was broken when the birthday party I went to decided to make a last minute trip to see the show. They totally rocked too, they played my favorite song "Speakers Push the Air" and it was wonderful. That song just has the best lyrics, all about how awesome music is- "I heard a record and it opened my eyes." I also realized that this band is extremely hot. Lead singer Andrea Zollo is a totally awesome rocker chick too. One more band to cross off of my list.

Last night we saw Califone at the Hideout Block Party, and they were completely un-Califone like. No random instruments, just the guitars, bass and drums, and no experimental Califone as we know them- they were all classic rock covers. I thought it was kind of fun for them to rock out like that at a block party, though I don't know if everyone else in the audience agreed. Also, apparently a member of Califone works at the Hideout- it's always funny to find out your favorite bands still have real jobs. Well, working at a music venue is *sort of* a real job I guess :) .

Good concerts coming to the midwest this weekend:

Madison-
Friday, September 24: Frog Eyes at the Catacombs Coffeehouse
Sunday, September 26: Scotland Yard Gospel Choir w/ Charlemagne at the High Noon Saloon

Milwaukee-
Friday, September 24: Mouse on Mars w/ Ratatat, Macha and the Junior Boys at the Onopa Brewing Company
Saturday, September 25: Xiu Xiu w/ the Race and Vega Star at the Onopa Brewing Company

Chicago-
Friday, September 24: Marah w/ Manishevitz, Califone, Danny Black and Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter at the Hideout Block Party
Friday, September 24: RJD2 w/ Diplo and Rob Sonic at the Logan Square Auditorium
Friday, September 24: The Black Keys w/ the Cuts at the Metro
Saturday, September 25: Telefon Tel Aviv w/ Sightings, Keith Fullerton Whitman, and Entrance at the Empty Bottle
Saturday, September 25: Estrojam ft. The Gossip, Pretty Girls Make Graves, and the All Girl Summer Fun Band at the Metro
Saturday, September 25: Ratatat at Sonotheque
Saturday, September 25: Mouse on Mars w/ Archer Prewitt, Macha, Andrew Bird and Mahjongg at the Hideout Block Party
Sunday, September 26: Ghost w/ Xiu Xiu, Noxagt, and Double Leopards at the Empty Bottle

It's Maggie O'Mara!

Not much, just has you as the producer of the 10:00 news and as the producer of the weekend news at 6. Are you the producer of the weekend news at 6? Maybe I have to edit your information . . . I can also write a bio and profile about you if I really felt like it!

Check this out: Rich people just figure out how to dodge taxes anyway . . .

So after three or so years of reading Salon.com, I've finally broken down and subscribed to the site because they offered this book for free with subscription.

So I'm temporarily stationed in the magazine department because they're redoing my floor, so I hear magazine talk all day. This guy next to me keeps calling up magazines like "Flame Retardancy News" and "Safe Worker Magazine" to get info from them. Is there really a market for people to get news on flame retardancy? And is there enough news to fill up an entire magazine with? Some questions to consider.

An article I wrote about going to concerts alone is now up on Tinymixtapes. Check it out.

In other news, apparently the Mates of State had a baby? That they named Magnolia? I didn't even know Kori was pregnant!

Anyone want to go see the Natural History with me in Chicago Oct. 7? Apparently the band remembers me from last April and is willing to put me and a friend on the list!

Started new job today- went through the company database and found Jon Stewart, Gideon Yago, and Annie Johnson contact info. So far so good. Then went to Millenium Park for the first time to see Tortoise and Dhizan and Kamien, a couple of European DJs, for free at the new band shell, which was very cool-looking. Now I'm home for the first time since 7:30 and I'm going to pass out now.

Caveman Robot seems pretty cool. Almost as cool as an unfrozen caveman robot lawyer would be.

I'm down for Death Cab.

I am still loving New York to death. This weekend alone I went Salsa dancing (live bands!), to a Greek party, and to a comic book convention across from Madison Square Garden. At said convention I met the famous Caveman Robot in person. Also, I met his creator and writer/artist of his adventures. Due to my positive attitude, I was invited to a Caveman Robot Gigantic Mega-Annual 2004 Comic Book Release Party at the Brick Theater in Brooklyn. Sadly, I did not make it to the party because I was partying with classmates and Greek people in Morningside Heights. However, if I read the stars correctly, the paths of DJ Lazer and Caveman Robot will cross again.

http://www.tetragrammatron.com/cavemanrobot.html

Courtesy of WSUM metal director, check out this death metal band whose vocalists are two pitbulls:

www.pitbullgrindcore.com

Funniest thing I've heard . . . well, this weekend how about.

Fiery Furnaces:

So if you haven't heard the new album, it's like a bunch of 10 minute songs that are really comprised of a bunch of 3 minute songs. But for the show tonight, they basically took the album, chopped it up into little bits, mixed them all up, and then played it straight through- so like, 30 seconds of Quay Cur here, 30 seconds there, it was crazy. In addition, it was also done at what appeared to be DOUBLE SPEED. Them Furnaces are weird. But cool. It reminded me of some sort of Andrew Lloyd Webber review, like where they start with part of Jesus Christ Superstar and end with it too. The Fiery Furnaces Musical Blueberry Review. Then they encored with their single "Single Again," which has the line "I wish I was single again," a line I highly approve of.

Meanwhile, it was very obvious all the indie boys were madly in love with lead singer Eleanor. At the end she threw out a set list and like, 8 guys just DIVED. That's ok, because I was madly in love with the drummer, in spite of the horrible pants he was wearing, because he was the biggest freak behind the drums I've ever seen.

M83 . . . wow. I thought it was fantastic, they had a full band, two guitars, a bassist, a drummer, and it was really cool seeing them recreate the sounds from the album using live instruments. It was crazy seeing some of the things they did to their guitars to make those sounds; like stick a screwdriver between the strings and flick it. Those crazy frenchmen. Now I have this sudden urge to listen to My Bloody Valentine.

Happy Birthday Liz!

M83 is tonight! Word is they'll be recreating their sound with a full band, which should be extremely interesting and hopefully cool.

Tomorrow- Fiery Furnaces!

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

This guy went to my high school and also went to UW, my UW friends should remember him as Travis' roommate in Sellery freshman year!!! National ABC News!

Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav in his cat outfit.

So I was thinking today, what would I do if I was one of those terminally ill kids who got to have some sort of dream come true through the Make-a-Wish foundation? (Ok, I have NO idea where that came from. A 3 hour drive can do that to you I guess.) Anyhoo, I think I'd have a Dismemberment Plan reunion show for me and like, 30 of my closest friends at a really small club in Chicago, like Schubas, and I'd get to make their set list. Or maybe I can marry someone really rich who will arrange for that reunion at our wedding.

Maybe I haven't been getting enough sleep lately.

If you're in New York and read this before tomorrow . . .

-- MODEST MOUSE IS PLAYING A SECRET SHOW... tomorrow night, Wednesday, September 15, at Webster Hall in New York City to support their friends in Wolf Parade. You can get tickets 2 ways: 1) Walk into Other Music record store (where the show is billed as "Wolf Parade (secret Modest Mouse show)" and buy tickets, or 2) go to the Bowery Ballroom website on the "Bowery Ballroom presents" section, and buy tickets here.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I'm so sick of politics and this election. I don't see how it's ok for Cheney to say that voting for Kerry means we'll be attacked by terrorists, but Kerry is not allowed to attack Bush's policies on a legitimate issue like Social Security. Today while taking the bus home to Madison I saw two Bush/Cheney billboards that said "Keeping America Secure" and "Protecting our Nation" or something like that. Blech.

Anyhoo, back to the music! Here's the cutest interview with french duo M83- it has to be read in a french accent to get the full effect.

Pixies Chicago news, hot off the wires:

"A record breaking 5th show announced with Urge Overkill November 17th at the Aragon!

Jam Productions announces a 5th and final show from one of the hottest concert touring acts of the year - a reunion by Pixies - on November 17th. After tickets for the November 13th, 14th and 15th shows sold out immediately, a fourth show was added on November 16th. When the fourth> show sold out seven months in advance, many procrastinating fans were left without tickets. The band has responded to fan pleas for another show by announcing this unprecedented fifth date at the Aragon. This show will break the record for most consecutive shows ever played by a band at the Aragon Ballroom.

The band has hand picked a different support act for each of the Chicago shows:

Support as follows:
The Datsuns (Nov. 13)
Secret Machines (Nov. 14)
The Walkmen (Nov. 15)
Coctails (Nov. 16)
Urge Overkill (Nov. 17)

Ticket information for fifth show:
Who: Pixies with special guest Urge Overkill
Where: Aragon, 1107 West Lawrence, Chicago
When: November 17, 2004 @ 7:30pm
Tickets: On sale this Saturday, September 18th at NOON through Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or charge by phone (312) 559-1212.
$35.00 general admission"

Well well well, it looks like Pitchfork agrees with me about the awesomeness of the Arcade Fire! Get your copy now!!!!

Les Savy Fav was freakin' awesome. They didn't play Adoptduction, but they did play In These Woods and Tim Harrington did grind some kid's head into his crotch for about 30 seconds, came out dressed as a lifeguard, and got everyone to not only wave their hands like they just don't care, but got the entire venue to SIT DOWN with him at the end. Priceless. I'll have a review of it done sometime this week, if I can figure out the best way to describe the experience.

LES SAVY FAV TONIGHT!!!!! One of my must-see-before-I-die bands can now be crossed off the list. Built to Spill is next. I hope they play Adoptduction-

KIDNAPPED
I WAS KIDNAPPED
I DREAMED I WAS KIDNAPPED
BY A GUY WITH A MUSTACHE
AND A CHICK WITH A EYEPATCH
WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD TRADE ME BACK FOR SOME QUICK CASH
BUT WHEN THEY RELAYED THE BARGAIN
MY FAMILY SAID "WE'LL PAY HALF THAT"

Has anyone heard if Built to Spill is releasing a new album soon? I just saw them, and they played new songs!

Oh my god that is awesome. It makes me think of Bender and Futurama. Especially the episode where he and Beck's disembodied head put on a benefit concert for broken robot equality. One of the best. episodes. ever. That and the one where Fry goes back to college and Bender relives life at his old fraternity . . .

ROBOT HOUSE!!!!!

Robot Art is seriously the coolest thing in the world. We saw this at Bumpershoot and I am going to save my pennies and buy one!

So last night Megan and I went to a hip-hop dance class at our new Real World gym. Let me tell you, I have absolutely no dance skills whatsoever, hip hop or otherwise. I am so utterly uncool. In the rest of the gym, however, Modest Mouse and Broken Social Scene were heard over the speakers, so I've obviously made the right decision, gym-wise.

Some recommended shows this week:

Madison-
Friday, September 10: Ivan Okay w/ the Cleveland Browns, If Then Else, and the Takebacks at the Electric Earth Cafe

Milwaukee-
Friday, September 10: The Killers w/ Ambulance LTD at the Rave

Chicago-
Saturday, September 11: Scotland Yard Gospel Choir w/ Canasta, Stephanie Morris and Tenki at Subterranean
Sunday, September 12: Les Savy Fav w/ the Detachment Kit and Smoke and Smoke at the Bottom Lounge
Sunday, September 12: Calexico w/ Low Skies at the Double Door

So last night for a good laugh, Tori and I went to go see "Wicker Park." One of the funniest comedies I've seen in awhile, though it is billed as a "suspense thriller," which is a joke. Other than a shot of Josh Hartnett walking past the Double Door and trying to hail a cab on Michigan Ave, the movie was actually shot in Montreal, so it should really be called "Fake Wicker Park."

Moved in to my new pad! Though it's still a mess of boxes and crap all over the place. It's so darn cute though, maybe I'll take some digital pictures and post them for your viewing pleasure once it's put together. We went out to dinner for our first night in Wicker Park at this cool pizza place called Piece, and during our meal they had played Interpol, Franz Ferdinand, and lots and lots of Built to Spill. Nothing better to be eating pizza to.

I haven't heard the new Rilo Kiley- Tinymixtapes liked it a lot while P-Fork thought they weren't doing justice to Jenny Lewis' voice. I'm going to see them when they come to Chicago though because they are coming with Tilly and the Wall, who feature a tap dancer instead of a drummer. That's some crazy shit.

This weekend: heading up to Seattle to see the Pixies and Built to Spill at Bumpershoot! Perhaps during that time, I can attempt to forget that I am a sucker who is still in school. I hate being a sucker.
Anyone hear the new Rilo Kiley cd, by the way?

Last weekend I rediscovered my long-forgotten love for Weezer's Say It Ain't So when it played at a bar in Lakeview. I haven't listened to my Blue album in probably like, 2 years, so I popped it in again today for old time's sake, and I forgot how wonderful it is, and how that song can still give me chills.

Today marks my last day in Lincoln Park, as tomorrow I'll be moving to Wicker Park, namesake of the new Josh Hartnett movie that opens today and probably will suck. Maybe you'll see my new house in it though- I just learned it was built in the 1890s. Fun fact!~

So this is very cool. I'm on the Merge Records email list, and here's one of their updates:

Shark Quest Hit the Road with Many Stringed Instruments, And A Movie
The amazing new Shark Quest album Gods and Devils ("intensely interesting music" - Indieworkshop.com; "so intriguing, original, and even creepy at times." -- tinymixtapes) is in stores now and the band is hitting the road in September for some live shows (click HERE to see all of Shark Quest's tour dates) and at least one performance with the film Monster Road, a documentary about animator Bruce Bickford with a score by Shark Quest.

That tinymixtapes quote was from MY review! Very cool!

They also mentioned in the updates that the Arcade Funeral's upcoming CD is now available for pre-order on mergerecords.com and insound.com . . . it's real good . . .

Awesome Jeff Buckley article on Salon.com

Megan and I will get to begin our hot careers as DJs later this month at a friend's birthday party. Anyone else interested in booking us for parties? Will travel, available now!

Interpol's new album comes out in less than a month- Sept. 28. We will soon know the fate of Interpol- will they be the next Strokes and put out Turn on the Bright Lights part 2? Let's hope not. They are also on tour with the Secret Machines and stopping in Chicago on 10/17 at the Riviera. FYI.

Ha ha! Foolish mortals and your SCHOOL. Same goes for you other fools with your WORK.