Apparently the Great White manager is pleading guilty to 100 counts of manslaughter for lighting the pyrotechnics in that nightclub blaze awhile back. I'd say he should be convicted on 100 counts of being extremely odd-looking. That's quite the chin he's got going.

Ah, the real Coachella lineup is finally up:

Saturday, April 29:

Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Common, Damian Marley, Atmosphere, Carl Cox, My Morning Jacket, Ladytron , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tosca, Cat Power, Animal Collective, Hard-Fi, Derrick Carter, Devendra Banhart, She Wants Revenge, The Walkmen, The Juan Maclean, Audio Bullys, Imogen Heap, Lady Sovereign, Deerhoof, The Duke Spirit, Editors, stellastarr*, Lyrics Born, Matt Costa, The New Amsterdams, The Zutons, Platinum Piped Pipers, White Rose Movement, Chris Liberator, Colette, Joey Beltram, Hybrid, Wolfmother, The Like, Living Things, Nine Black Alps, The Section Quartet, Infadels, Youth Group, Shy FX & T Power, Infusion

Sunday, April 30:

Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, Paul Oakenfold, Scissor Sisters, Matisyahu, James Blunt, TV on the Radio, Sleater-Kinney , Mogwai, Coheed and Cambria, Gnarls Barkley, Coldcut, Phoenix, Digable Planets, Amadou & Mariam, Little Louie Vega, Mylo (DJ Set), Seu Jorge, Wolf Parade, The Go! Team, Kaskade, Metric, Art Brut, Dungen, The Dears, Jamie Lidell, The Magic Numbers, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jazzanova, Michael Mayer, Mates of State, Gilles Peterson, Gabriel & Dresden, The Subways, Minus the Bear, Be Your Own Pet, Giant Drag, Kristina Sky, The Octopus Project

I'm stealing this video that Annie posted on Liz's blog because it's so unbelievable. I actually haven't been able to watch the whole thing because I'm at work and I don't think I could control myself.

Recently, I have crossed paths with the electro punk feminist Le Tigre-ous band, Fur Cups for Teeth. During their live show this past Saturday they dressed up as figure skaters. It was very pleasing. The show was part of the after party for a human bobsled race called the Idiotarod. One team, composed of friends of mine, competed in the Idiotarod with an "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" mine cart theme.

Later that night I attempted to gain access to a lesbian party in Brooklyn. After proving that I knew not one but three people already in the party I was allowed entry for 5 dollars. "Short Round" felt awkward when a "lesbian" with a bull ring began to get a litte too friendly with him.

Follow-up: I had mentioned earlier that Pitchfork and the Intonation organizers split ways and are trying to run two separate festivals, one named Pitchfork, one named Intonation. The rumor is now substantiated, and here's a more official rundown of the situation from Jim DeRogatis.

I saw Syriana this weekend. I always enjoy when indie songs randomly make it into big movies; I always wonder who the secret fan is. In this case, the National's "Wasp's Nest" was playing in a bar George Clooney was drinking at in one scene. Great song.

Awhile ago I posted about this blog where two co-workers that were secretly dating made bets with each other. The Chicago Reader had an article about them. Apparently "Olive" went to UW and was a journalism major! She's my age, I wonder if I know her . . .

Time to start easing myself back into the music scene as the anticipation of tons more free time looms. I got myself tickets to Cat Power at the Vic 2/28 and will pick up a couple for Stars and the Elected at the Metro 2/17. Then it's a trip to Reckless for the new Cat Power, Plastic Constellations, and possibly Tapes 'N Tapes, if it's not too obscure for our humble Reckless. I haven't been to a show since Calexico/Iron and Wine in December- I hope I don't get culture shock!

From Salon.com, this is hilarious:

The BBC has announced plans to celebrate Easter with a televised procession through the streets of Manchester, England, using "popular music from the cream of Manchester bands" in "a contemporary retelling of the last few hours of Jesus' life." Highlights, according to the Guardian, will include Jesus singing "the legendary Joy Division anthem 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'" before "dueting" with "his arch-betrayer Judas on the New Order hit 'Blue Monday.'" Mary Magdalene will then "sing the Buzzcocks hit 'Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't Have)' accompanied by a string band" while "the climax of the event sees Jesus sing the Smiths' classic song 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' as he is being flayed by Roman soldiers. He will then come face to face with his Roman prosecutor Pontius Pilate with the two of them singing a duet of the Oasis hit 'Wonderwall.'"

I should also add that, as a former Best Buy employee, his schpiel about the great and helpful indie record store clerk and the apathetic Best Buy employee is sadly probably backwards. Most BB employees are overly enthusiastic about helping you, and most indie clerks could care less about helping me and probably sneer at my purchases. But that's why we love them, right?

Here's some record store owner's manifesto that's been making the rounds about Best Buy's recent plunge into selling indie albums on the cheap and how it's going to affect indie record shops. He claims that indie labels/distributors are selling it to Best Buy cheaper to get it into their stores and that someone needs to set these labels straight. Not sure where he got this information, since that would be illegal price discrimination. He also appears to compare the plight of the indie record store to that of Martin Luther King Jr. Right. I might have to echo Macky Ole's sentiments in the smoking ordinance comments section with regard to this. Best Buy can sell CDs at whatever price they want to. So you can buy the new Cat Power for $7.99 (which I probably won't do, purely because Reckless is up the street and Best Buy is a drive)- you still can't probably can't get 90% of what indie stores have to offer.

Here's some record store owner's manifesto that's been making the rounds about Best Buy's recent plunge into selling indie albums on the cheap and how it's going to affect indie record shops. He claims that indie labels/distributors are selling it to Best Buy cheaper to get it into their stores and that someone needs to set these labels straight. Not sure where he got this information, since that would be illegal price discrimination. He also appears to compare the plight of the indie record store to that of Martin Luther King Jr. I night have to echo Macky Ole's sentiments in the smoking ordinance comments section with regard to this- Best Buy can sell CDs at whatever price they want to. So you can buy the new Cat Power for $7.99 (which I probably won't do, purely because Reckless is up the street and Best Buy is a drive)- you still can't probably can't get 90% of what indie stores have to offer.

Lot's of talk about this upcoming Rollingstone cover with Kanye as Jesus.



Seems like controversy just for the sake of controversy to me.

I realize I'm a bit late to the game with this, but I've just discovered the Futureheads' cover of "Hounds of Love," originally by Kate Bush, and it is GLORIOUS. Played it this morning and had a dance party in the studio. Ok, not really, but it's ridiculously great. Makes me wonder what the original sounded like, since I have had absolutely no exposure to Ms. Bush.

I really have no idea what to think of this entire story.

Here's a nice rundown of Hollywood movies to expect in 2006. "X3"? Yes please! "World Trade Center"? No, thanks.

Good show this morning, lots of random stuff and a few interesting new releases, including foreign buzz bands Test Icicles and AIDS Wolf, two of the worst band names to grace an album cover, the new collaboration from Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy featuring classic song covers, and a new band from Minneapolis that's been getting some press, Tapes 'N Tapes, which is pretty quirky indie-pop that I think I'm going to have to investigate further. They're so Minnesotan, their album is called "The Loon."

Also, I played an Abstract Giants track called "Internal Auditory." I think it's an accounting pun.

Hey everyone,

The PFFR is back (finally!) tomorrow morning from 6-8am. Not sure how many great new releases there are yet this year to feature, but it will be nice to be back on the air. Look for the podcast to be available tomorrow night.

In other news, I'll be splitting duties keeping Radio Free Chicago up and running over the next couple weeks while Brad is out in LA working on a film project. Don't be surprised if some of my posts just reflect posts from this blog.

Apparently Apple has usurped the Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" video (the CD-making plant) for a new IMac commercial, and they ain't too happy about it.

I saw a preview for a new TV show called "Love Monkey" and thought it was the stupidest name for a show I'd ever heard. Also, it stars Jason Priestley. Now more information about the show has been presented to me, and apparently it's music-related: it's about a 30-something bachelor who is fired from his big A&R job for a big record label and gets a new job for an indie. Money quote as he realizes what's really important to him: "Money shouldn't be our goal. You know what our goal should be? Finding the music and putting the music out there that will change people's lives, because that is the power and beauty of music." Meanwhile, he tries to find love in New York City.

The new Cat Power album comes out on Tuesday! That'll be my first CD purchase of the year and I'm excited. I'm also being told that the new Liars album, Drum's Not Dead, is supposed to be pretty great, but I'll have to wait until it comes out in March to hear for myself, since I don't really download things in advance any more. Also in the pipeline is the new Built to Spill in April- the song they have posted on their myspace page is pretty great and a Perfect From Now On-esque 9+ minutes long- 5 years off may have done them some good!

What other upcoming 2006 albums should I be excited about?

I saw on the Red Eye this morning that the White Stripes are going to be on a Simpsons episode this fall! Apparently Homer gets Bart a drumkit, and there's a scene where Bart's drumming up and down the street like in the "Hardest Button to Button" video (great video), and then he runs into the White Stripes. As anyone who's seen Coffee and Cigarettes can attest to, let's hope Meg doesn't talk too much.

Here's one man's interesting response to seeing Brokeback Mountain. It's definitely a movie that stays with you for awhile. I loved it.

Looks like the Metro falls under Chicago's new smoking ordinance, and all shows there are now smoke free!

Bad news- I'm sick today, so my first show back will be pushed back until next Tuesday. Sorry!

HA!

Q101's response to Millenium Park's denying Radiohead for an orchestra practice is funny.

My iPod is on shuffle, and no matter how many times I've pressed skip because I'm not in the mood, it is absolutely demanding that I listen to Low's "Monkey" from the Great Destroyer. I've finally acquiesced (sp?) and shall listen to it all the way through.

Sometimes the iPod's shuffle mode just fixates on certain songs or albums and can't seem to let go. Very odd.

Also from Gapers Block today, a link to blog Tuning Fork Media: a site that reviews Pitchfork reviews. Still not as good as the David Cross reviews though.

Ha! From Gapers Block today, for fans of WTTW's Check Please:

What, Nobody Tried the Mead?
If anyone's looking for me at 8pm on Friday, I'll be on the couch, nachos in hand, checking out what may well prove to be the best Check, Please! of all time. All three guests are children (around 10 years old, from the looks of 'em), and two of the three restaurants they went to were---wait for it---Ed Debevic's and Medieval Times. The mind boggles.
- Nathaniel | 10.01.06 ~ Radio/TV

Looks like Radiohead will be coming to Chicago in June, but unfortunately, it won't be at Millenium Park because the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has to practice there instead. Lame.

Lindsay Lohan and her indie rock magazine featuring Devendra Banhart on the cover?!?!

Lou Rawls died this morning. I especially enjoy this quote from the article: "The singer was as well known for his charitable activities as he was for his smooth four-octave range."

According to Liz's blog, Justin Timberlake ("JT") is coming out with a new album this summer. This puts me in the mood for some "Cry Me a River." It's been too long!

I enjoyed this article because it has the word "smote" in the headline and because it's about craaaaazy Pat Robertson.

Pete Townshend thinks my iPod is causing my earache, too.

Looks like a big week of benefit concerts is coming up to support a local music guy named Gary Schepers who got diabetes without health insurance and has lots-'o bills to pay. There should be some way artists can pool together and get group health care somehow. Or, you know, like a national health care plan or something. Anyhoo, Califone at the Hideout, Jeff Tweedy solo at the Abbey Pub (?!?!?!?), and Jeff Tweedy's son's band the Blisters (which you may have seen in a ridiculously cute quaker oats commercial)- not a bad deal.

A sad little review of the P4k new year's eve show last Saturday on radiofreechicago, making me very glad I didn't go. A sharp, sharp contrast to the GLORY that was their show at Schubas, probably the best show I saw in 2005. Don't judge Wolf Parade's live show by this review though! Like I said, they'll be back in '06 at a superior venue (though not as superior as Schubas, I'm sure).

According to this study, women with un-sexy partners are more likely to cheat.

Seriously, am I paying for stuff like this?

I seem to remember last year around this time there already being a lot of buzz for hot new acts of 2005- Bloc Party, MIA come immediately to mind. I feel like I haven't heard much similar buzz about up-and-coming 2006 bands this time around, though I could very well be out of the loop. Who should I be anticipating great things from?

I guess the Strokes show is at Park West tomorrow, Jan. 3, and I'm assuming it's sold out (I'm only now catching up on music emails from the holiday weekend).

Back to work tomorrow after a few days off galavanting around Madisonand Chicago- boo!