Saw one of the best lineups all year last night, Mouse on Mars, Ratatat and the Junior Boys. Wow, the only thing that would have made this show any better would have been if it was at the Empty Bottle; the Logan Square Auditorium is all ages and looks like the Great Hall in Memorial Union, so I felt old and like I was back in college. But regardless, I got right up front for the fabulousness that was this show.

Junior Boys: An electronic/keyboard/guitar twosome that I've fallen in love with this year. The lead singer has one of the most beautiful voices, and they played "Teach Me How to Fight," one of the best songs I've heard in a long time. The funny thing was, the singer looked nothing like I expected him to look with that voice. He was kind of short and chubby and very unassuming. I later told him how much I loved his voice and the band, and then left with the awkward "you rock" and the thumbs up. I never know how to initiate and then end conversations with musicians.

Ratatat: Again, two guys playing guitar/bass/electronics, with a fog machine, lights and a video montage all timed to the music, and it was awesome. They were really incredible on stage. The guitarist was absolutely amazing on his guitar, and "Seventeen Years" had the whole crowd going insane. I love it when people actually dance. Though the guy next to us dressed as a skeleton needed to tone it down a bit.

Mouse on Mars: I was actually least familiar with MOM, having only one album out of their like, 10. But they somehow still played my two favorite songs off that album, "Actionist Respoke" and "Doit" and they had everyone dancing like crazy. This was the last show of the 5-week tour, so I felt like we got a better show than anyone; the guitarist from Ratatat came and played with them for a bit, then during the encore the stage got flooded with people dancing, from the audience and the other bands, and it was just so much fun. Then everyone hugged afterwards. There was a lot of love going on last night.

That was definitely one of the best shows I've seen in awhile, and everyone seriously needs to go get that Junior Boys album because it is amazing. Ahhhhhhh.

Yet more ridiculous costumes, this time courtesy of Dan Savage. It's hard to top the littlest prisoner in Abu Gharib.

Here's a good costume idea I read about if you and a friend haven't gotten one yet- one of you goes as Ralph Nader, the other one wears a shirt that says "Vote" and carries around a bottle of wine. Together, you're a wasted vote!

HA!!

Final decision on the costume: zombie girl scout.

So I actually have found people to go to Mouse on Mars tomorrow! I've been excited for this show for about three months now, it's not often you get three awesome bands on one bill.

Potential Chicago Halloween plans for all interested parties

Tonight Megan and I went and saw Beans (former Antipop hip-hop artist) do a free in-store performance at Reckless Records, which was great! I'm continuing to open myself up to the hip-hop. Beans was late, so in the meantime I walked across the street and bought new glasses. Talk about major impulse buy. They're green! Maybe I'll put up a picture of me in them when they're ready.

Sort of odd Interpol interview from Nerve.com.

If anyone wants to hit up Mouse on Mars/Ratatat/Junior Boys this Friday with me at the Logan Square Auditorium, I'm currently hitting it up by myself. I'm sure everyone else will be celebrating Halloween early, but I can only do so many days of celebrating in a row, so Friday will not be one of them. A somewhat futile request I suppose, but a request nonetheless.

If you haven't already heard about Ashlee Simpson's lip-synching fiasco on SNL, read about it here and then watch the video. Hi-larious.

Tonight I rented a few episodes of "Freaks and Geeks" after many recommendations from friends. This show is glorious, I can't tell you how much I identify with the main girl in her attempts to get through high school alive.

I'm trying to figure out what the do for Halloween, last minute as usual and without the usual group of girls to make a group costume with. I'm considering going as a man, inspired by the episode of Sex and the City where Charlotte cross-dresses for a painting.

No way! Last night, I saw I Heart Huckabees, too. I also thought it was only so-so...I was expecting more, methinks. Mark Wahlberg DOES indeed rock (as does Jude Law).

Last night I saw I Heart Huckabees. It was ok, the whole existential thing was a little overreaching, but Mark Wahlberg ROCKS. He is the man. Up next, I must see the movie Dig, which is a documentary about the singers of the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre over 7 years of attempted stardom.

Ah, Eminem. The voice of reason!

I was browsing another person's personal music website and noticed he had his resume up on it. I think I'm going to steal that idea, you never know when Google will bring potential employers to my site! It's like a .0001% chance, but hey, it's a chance!

Hey! I am offended by the t-shirt site...there wasn't a shirt in honor of Minnesota. I guess Minnesota just can't be made fun of, being so cool and all...

More shirts for your state here . . .

The Q101 Twisted Christmas lineup has been announced:

Friday, December 3: Taking Back Sunday, the Used, some other crappy emo band
Saturday, December 4: Modest Mouse w/ the Secret Machines and Califone
Sunday, December 5: Franz Ferdinand w/ the Hives and Snow Patrol

All at the Aragon Ballroom.

Salon interview with Frank Black (a.k.a Charles Thompson?) of the Pixies

I just purchased a ticket to see the Arcade Fire in Chicago on Friday, November 26, aka the day after Thanksgiving. I'm coming back from Madison early to see what general consensus has deemed Band of the Year, and they're supposed to have an amazing live show. So if anyone in Madison wants to come with me or anyone in Chicago wants to meet up, that would rule!

Last night I got on the air for a half hour during training! I played Ratatat, Menomena, Wolf Eyes (still can't get into the noise rock, I'm afraid), Castanets, Panda Bear, new Ted Leo, Books on Tape, and Q and Not U. I also took advantage of the fact that I have free burning reign again to get myself copies of Songs: Ohia, Bonnie Prince Billy, Imperial Teen, Solvent, and Les Georges Leningrad. Oh how I love community radio. Now I'm an official sub!

Then my battery died in the parking ramp.

Hard-hitting journalism, right here.

We're not going to the town, we're going to the city . . .

Interpol last night turned out to be pretty damn cool. We got a good spot early so the sound was good. The Secret Machines were a little disappointing, and good lord was everything way too loud. But the new songs sounded awesome live, and the lighting was done really well. They continued on their pattern of always starting with the first track of an album. I suppose that makes sense, since "Untitled #1" and "Next Exit" don't really belong anywhere else other than the beginning of something. Their first few songs were incredibly predictable: "Next Exit," "Obstacle #1," "Evil"- not that I minded since I love all those songs. Anyhoo, good show.

Interpol and the Secret Machines tonight! The new album has continued to grow on me and I've decided I like it- who would have guessed?

If you have some time, you have to read this transcript of Jon Stewart appearing on CNN's Crossfire. He completely destroy's Tucker Carlson and calls him a Dick. It's glorious.

www.youhavebadtasteinmusic.com

Did anyone else notice Bush seemed to be foaming at the mouth at the debate last night?

Another interview with the glorious Joanna Newsom.

The Onion never fails to remember its Wisconsin roots.

Last night Megan and I had our first training session at WLUW, and it was so great to be back in a studio! I forgot how wonderful it is to have an entire studio of music at your disposal. After next Monday, we'll officially be able to sub, so hopefully I'll be able to pick up a few shows here and there over the next few months. The Perfect Face for Radio will return to the airwaves!

Just got back from seeing Califone at the East Village Arts Festival, making it a record-breaking four days in a row of shows. I am officially completely deaf. This time there was no classic-rock covers, but they sounded absolutely awesome. I really love this band.

I also spent the day at a local coffeeshop writing up a review of the Black Heart Procession show, which will be up in the reviews section sometime soon and on tinymixtapes sometime a little later.

Has anyone out there seen the movie Eraserhead??? If so, can you tell me what the hell is going on in it?

Show last night was good- Scout Niblett was her usual on-crack self. Enon started out a bit shaky but ended strong and played all my favorites from "High Society." The Japanese girl singer rocked the house. I think when she said "Black Heart Procession is up next" and "this song is called 'Disposable Parts'" in her adorable Japanese accent, the whole crowd breathed a collective "awwww . . .." Black Heart Procession proved how appropriate their name is with their dark, deliberate songs about pain. But the real highlight of the show-

After Scout, I looked around to survey the crowd and though, "wow, that guy looks a lot like he's in TV on the Radio." It's not every day you see a giant black man with a huge fro and beard hanging at an indie show. Then I remembered that TV on the Radio had been playing at the Metro with the Faint for the past two nights, and they are on the same label as BHP and Enon (Touch and Go, a Chicago label at that) . . . and then the rest of the band came over and it was official. TV on the Radio was just hanging out at the show, not even backstage, just out in the crowd. Very cool.

I think someday I'm going to write a book or make a documentary and it's going to be called "Can I Get More Bass in the Monitor?"

Natural History last night was good, the brothers Tepper remembered me and they told me their new album would be out hopefully by March on a new, to-be-determined record label. It's called "The People That I Meet." They previewed a lot of new material at the show, lots more sexy singing by Julian the bassist, who didn't sing at all on Beat Beat Heartbeat. Good times. Tonight: Black Heart Procession, Enon, and Scout Niblett.

Also: Megan and I begin DJ training at WLUW on Monday. In the next month or so, we'll be qualified to sub for shows and then next semester we can put in a bid for an official time . . . most likely to be starting off at like, 2-4 AM, but hey, you gotta start somewhere I guess. I'll be sure to update everyone when you can hear our lovely voices over the airwaves again . . . WLUW is webcast!

Chillin at work listening to the Natural History getting excited for the show tonight. I've decided to not care if anyone notices me rockin' out at my desk.

Menomena is coming to Chicago! Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Empty Bottle. Huzzah!

Good shows this weekend:

Madison:
Thursday, October 7: Pilot to Gunner w/ Channels and the Driftless Pony Club at the High Noon Saloon
Friday, October 8: The Like Young at Cafe Montmartre
Saturday, October 9: The Black Heart Procession w/ Enon at the High Noon Saloon

Milwaukee:
Friday, October 8: Pilot to Gunner w/ Channels at the Cactus Club
Tuesday, October 12: Q and Not U w/ El Guapo at Mad Planet

Chicago:
Friday, October 8: The Black Heart Procession w/ Enon and Scout Niblett at the Bottom Lounge
Saturday, October 9: Radio 4 w/ the Libertines at the Metro
Sunday, October 10: Q and Not U w/ El Guapo and Et at It at the Logan Square Auditorium

A glimpse of some of the cool things I get to check out at work right now. Texas sure produces a lot of religious syndicated programming.

Once again, the Onion is so right on with this article. I especially love the quote at the end by Fat Mike. It reminds me of when Liz and I saw Anti-Flag sophomore year and these 15-year old looking band members kept singing about dying for their government and stuff.

Looks like the Spongebob Squarepants movie is going to have a super-hip soundtrack.

New Interpol is starting to grow on me, but still the rest of the album doesn't live up to the total awesomeness of the first two tracks, "Next Exit" and "Evil." I can continue to form an opinion after seeing them with the Secret Machines on the 17th.

Alright, I've listened to the new Interpol twice today at work, not enough to make a definite opinion on the album, but I've got some early indications as to what I think of it.

The first two songs are awesome. When I first heard them, I thought they might have been able to pull off the proper sophomore album- changing your sound enough to evolve as a band, but not enough to alienate fans. Definitely a more upbeat, less dark Interpol. From then on though, it pretty much sounds like sort of, well, the same- none of the other songs have yet stuck out as anything special in my mind. They might, after a few more listens, again, it's too early to say. Of course, it's a good album, and if I'd never heard Turn on the Bright Lights before, I'd think it's a really good album. But they all seem to sort of have the same structure; there's no song that's super in-your-face like Obstacle #1 or slower and thoughtful like the New. Though I also know I shouldn't be comparing it to TOTBL, which of course, is virtually impossible. Anyhoo, I'll give it a few more spins before I decide for sure.

I gotta see this movie.