New addition to the Like A Rolling Stone blog family: To make it easier to access the reviews, many of which have been piled into the archives due to the number of posts on this thing, I have created a seperate blog where I will cut and paste all of the reviews posted on here there. Therefore, whenever you feel the need to read, say The Harlem Shakes review from January 17th and don't feel like swimming through all the archived posts here, then simply click on over to http://www.sarasmilearchives.motime.com, where you shall find all of my reviews neatly sorted. You're quite welcome, you five readers you.

In spite of our words/They all turn away-S.

That's right folks, put yer best knickers on, it's Saturday night. TisWas is bringing you the best there is at our favorite dive, Don Hills (511 Greenwich at Spring Sts.), and tonight should be a doozy. We've got a record release party for Starsailor's Silence is Easy, which sounds to be tops based from their website streams (www.starsailor.net). Supporting our celestial sailors are the groups Challenger, The GoStation, and those kings of New York buzz, Aerial Love Feed. Challenger reminds me of what the Wizard of Oz would sound like were he a DJ and a fan of Led Zeppelin (dude, check out this random sampling of "When the Levee Breaks" on "Goddamn American Dream" below in the links). The GoStation meanwhile have been on my radar for awhile; they're possessors of a late-90's-ish sound which feels cozily familiar, full of Everclear-ed guitars and Sister Hazel vocals. Don Hills will be witness to whether these boys can prove themselves live tonight.

And then, finally, are the band whose name has been on everyone's tongues for months now; Aerial Love Feed (www.aeriallovefeed.com). Though their website still does not have mp3s, which leaves me a bit in the dark, I suppose following the wave of hype to DH's tonight might prove fruitful. We shall see. In the meantime, some aural goodies to whet your palettes.

Challenger: "Goddamn American Dream": http://www.challenger.ms/music/Challenger%20-%2001%20-%20goddamn%20american%20dream.mp3).

Starsailor: Musical Jukebox: http://www.starsailor.net/juke/index.html

The GoStation: "Wandering Away" http://www.thegostation.com/media/WanderingAway.mp3

And as if tonight couldn't get any livelier, we've got Les Savy Fav hitting Northsix (66 North 6th St., Bklyn) hard beginning at 9pm. Indescribably energetic musically with some anger to spare (but in an art school kind of way), LSF will surely please you, and if they can't fully, then The Hold Steady and The Fire-Ups should finish you off nicely. Listen below for incentive.

Les Savy Fav: "Who Rocks the Party" http://69.13.85.222/realaudio/frenchkissrecords/who_rocks_the_party.ram

The Hold Steady: "The Swish" http://www.theholdsteady.com/the_hold_steady-the_swish.mp3

The Fire-Ups: "Delta Ess" http://www.geocities.com/thefireups/deltaess.mp3

One more show-tune before I go: our favorite B-52s-meet-The-Kingsmen band, Trans Love Airways, are playing The Lit Lounge (93 2nd Ave.) tonight at 9pm. Helping them out are Apollo Heights and Nervous Cabaret, the latter of which have a distinct lounge-act-meets-ambience sound to them. Check it below and then bundle up and hit the dancefloors of New York's finest.

Trans Love Airways: "People" http://www.transloveairways.com/mp3/TLA-People.mp3

Nervous Cabaret: "Gravity" http://www.nervouscabaret.com/mp3/nervous_cabaret_gravity.mp3

Rock Photo and then I'm out to resume-pitch and then shop the tax-free week to its death (because I'm a self-hating capitalist).

Mick Rock's take on Tim Curry's Rocky Horror Picture Show deviant:

PS: To download the TisWas flyer for a savings of $5, cliquez ici: http://www.rockstarhelper.com/gstis2.jpg

We would be so happy, you and me-S.

Back from a school-infested hiatus with tonight's recommendations for a kickass time in the bowels of the City. Be sure to dress appropriately and drink a couple of lagers once you've reached your destination for maximum warmth. Also, the Events Calendar is back up and running with new dates, and of course the Photo Album's kicking it as usual. As for The Fever review? Well the finish line is near, but you know I wouldn't half-ass something for one of my all-time favorite bands. So have fun tonight and enjoy the waning days of January.

The iOs are setting the Knitting Factory's Tap Bar (74 Leonard St.) on fire tonight with the help of The Color Guard, Man In Gray, and El Jezel. It's technically Man In Gray's party, so not only can they cry if they want to, they can also celebrate the release of their EP No Day/No Night. The iOs (www.the-ios.com) are fantastically folksy with hand-clapping drums and whimsical melodies. Think Stephen Malkmus romancing Clinic. The Color Guard meanwhile are a bit heavier and moodier than The iOs.  I get an electrified "Battle of Evermore" Led Zeppelin vibe from them (http://thecolorguard.com).  El Jezel (www.eljezel.com) are more of The iOs' contemporaries, testing the waves with flowing guitar and emotional vocals. Lastly, the boys and girl of the evening, Man In Gray (http://maningray.com). MIG's got themselves a faster tempo than the others and definite rock roots, especially in Tina Dacosta's angered staccato vocals. No Day/No Night might prove to be worth a listen to based on "Incommunicado"; they've definitely got a distinct sound and strong guitar work.  Shall they prove themselves live? Tune in yourselves at the Knitting Factory tonight beginning at 9.

The iOs: "Calmdown" http://www.the-ios.com/music/calmdown.mp3

The Color Guard: "Man of War" http://www.the-ios.com/music/calmdown.mp3

El Jezel: "Je Devenir" http://www.eljezel.com/JeDevenir.mp3

Man In Gray: "Incommunicado" http://maningray.com/nodaynonight/05_Incommunicado.mp3

That's all? Hell no, this is New York City (where the grass is green and the girls are pretty). Our pals Ghetto Ways (www.ghettoways.com) are having a record release party at Siberia (40th and 9th). Helping them throw it down proper are Some Action (www.someaction.com), The Tampoffs (great name; www.tampoffs.com), and Spitzz (www.spitzz.com). "Heartattack" by GW produces just that, it's got riffs to spare and furious vocals.  As of press release, Some Action did not have mp3s on the site; however if these boys sound as good as they look (rare but possible in rock), then you will sure be in for a treat (below).

The Tampoffs never quite got over the decline of retro-rock, and thank goodness for that. We've got '80s viper-fast vocals, 5-chord-guitar rock, and drums which know no other beat than triple time. By the time the quickie solo comes on in "All the Time", you've either gotten up and shimmied or bolted out the door to Siberia. It's worth it, though Siberia might be the best adjective to describe New York right now.

Check them all and then allez au Siberia!

Ghetto Ways: "Heartattack" http://www.ghettoways.com/heartattack.mp3

The Tampoffs: "All the Time" http://www.tampoffs.com/mp3s/all_the_time.mp3

Spitzz: "Get Kicked" http://www.spitzz.com/spitzznew/mp3/Spitzz_Get_Kicked.mp3 

Little rock photo-age to wash down your rock dosage:

If Edmond Hallas of Mommy and Daddy got any cooler, he'd be (what's that Andre 3000?) ICE COLD.

I don't know/Just where I'm going-S.

The Fever review is fast-approaching; however for tonight, we've got some news-worthy bands playing New York that should be showered with affection. Keep warm tonight and for heaven's sake, don't drive to the shows; apparently we'll be getting some snow tonight, about 3-5 inches. More from your friendly weatherwoman/music-lover to come. Also, be sure to check the Events Calendar for more...events.

Whoa Black Betty/Bam-a-lam/She really gets me high/Bam-a-lam/You know that's no lie/Bam-a-lam/She's so rock steady/Bam-a-lam/And she's always ready/Bam-a-lam...

It's not everyday I get to quote Ram Jam, but today's a lucky one indeed. Our own GO TO TOWN are playing Black Betty's in Brooklyn (366 Metropolitan Ave. at Havemeyer St. to be exact). With songs like "Bow Tie Daddy" and "Ass Pocket of Whiskey", this female-fronted quartet are boss. The songs are well-written and executed to perfection. Don't believe me? Well listen for yourself at www.gototownnyc.com, and then go to Kim's on St. Marks to pick up their 5-song EP. And if you're feeling sinister, as Belle and Sebastian said, go see 'em tonight. They're worth it.

Go To Town by Tori Harris.

Never going back again-S.

Still coming down from the FEVER which swept me last night at the Mercury Lounge. Expect a review soon, but until then, we've still got some good shows going down tonight around the City. Check the recommendations here and don't forget to check "My Events Calendar" in the links.

Viv, The Cush, The Strines play the Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston at Ave. A) with Country Club and the Porn Horns beginning at 7.  $8 will get you in and chances are you won't want to leave once the three headliners take the stage. Viv have a great unabashed poppiness about them which refreshes the ear. Plus, with lyrics like, "I've got good friends/That keep me alive/When I'm feeling dead", you're getting your nightly depression-fix as well, though albeit in a cleverly disguised package. The Cush are equally talented, picking up where Beck left off on his "Sea Changes".  Their website alone is worth the look, the artwork is beautifully done (www.thecush.com). Finally we've got The Strines, a heavier-set band than the other two music-wise but nonetheless interesting; their vocalist reminds me of an early-Garbage Shirley Manson. As for Country Club and the Porn Horns...well, great name. Take a listen before you brave the cold:

Viv: "Friends" http://www.vivtheband.com/music/mp3/viv_friends.mp3

The Cush: "Hollow" http://www.thecush.com/hollow.wav

The Strines: "Liar" http://www.thestrines.com/mp3/Liar.mp3

Rock Photo O'Day:

Henry Diltz's 1968 photograph of Steppenwolf.

Money don't buy everything it's true/But what it don't buy I can't use-S.