You know, better late than never. Faster than a speeding bullet, it's a LARS update for you all on a Friday night.

EL JEZEL are playing Siberia tonight (40th and 9th, black door, red light). EJ are quite possibly one of the catchiest art-house bands to come out, NYC's sweet answer to the UK's sudden burst of post-Tallking-Heads Franz Ferdinands, et. al. They will be taking the stage at 11pm after bands named Rizzo and The Song Corporation rock the crowd respectively. I ask you now, how great of a band name is Rizzo? Much better than the one I proposed to my roommate last night: Willy Nilly Bestiality. But hey, it can happen. Keep your ears peeled for my latest LARS side project. Oh and ps: this one's a freebie, which basically means get your drink on, young LARS readers!

El Jezel: "Inheritance" Video http://www.eljezel.com/inheritance_huge_T1.mov Shot by Man In Gray's resident rocker, Bryan "Subinev Bruchman (http://www.subinev.com).

Rizzo: "The Jokes On You" http://www.worldwiderizzo.com/home.html

The Song Corporation: "Salvation Army" http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/agv4/tsc/salvationArmy.mp3

 

 

 

Meanwhile, SEACHANGE are playing Southpaw tonight with more LARS picks for greatness: OXES. Desert Fathers (dude, we've got some great names on bills tonight) shall be accompanying these two as well. We're talking $10 and 8pm doors. So sue me, I'm a little behind. Get there anyways, you can make up for the fact you missed the first band by drinking yourself senseless (125 5th Ave., Bklyn).

Seachange: "News From Nowhere" http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/seachange/seachange_news_from_nowhere.mp3

Oxes: "Half Half & Half" http://www.epitonic.com/files/reg/songs/mp3/Oxes-Half_Half_And_Half.mp3 Oooh yeah, gotta love sudden tempo changes.

Desert Fathers: "Pitbulls" http://www.thedesertfathers.com/desertfathers/pitbulls.mp3

 

Finally, THE GIRAFFES, producers of LARS' favorite song "I'll Be Your Daddy", are playing the Luna Lounge tonight (and you know what the Luna means: FREE. Enough said). It's technically Chris Ryan And the Noise's party, aka they can cry if they want to; CD releases are being celebrated. Joining these two shall be the sweetly named Bona Roba, who are, officially, the LARS PICK OF THE DAY. I told you it would be arbitrary, much like life itself. Get used to it. BR are the love children of Stones groupies, I can assure you. Sweet rock and roll with sneering vocals=good stuff. You'd best get down to 178 Ludlow at Stanton by 9:30pm tonight to catch these soul men perform.

The Giraffes: "I'll Be Your Daddy" (ohhh yessss) http://www.thegiraffes.com/The%20Giraffes_I'll%20Be%20Your%20Daddy.mp3

Chris Ryan And The Noise website, which will take away the mystery and play the music for you: http://www.chrisryanandthenoise.com/

And finally, LARS' PICK O' THE DAY:

Bona Roba: "Cunningham" http://www.bonaroba.net/audio/cunningham.mp3

So now, I'm out. And you know, after having posted this, I think I might just have to pull myself away from the books/reviews/job applications and get out and see one of these bills. Possibly. Could be. Who knows.

Rock Photos, both of our little pick and of their forefathers. Or just plain fathers, who knows. Keith alone probably populated a small country:

-And is it just me, or did one of the Followill brothers run away and join Bona Roba?-

More photos here, they're simply too large for the LARS spots: http://www.bonaroba.net/archive/photos/bandphotos.htm

 

 

 

 

 

Jaundice never looked so good: Mick Jagger taken by Neal Preston, 1977, for CORBIS. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mick and my rock god, the first man I would nail once I can afford one of those time travel machines, Ron Wood. Taken by Neal Preston, 1972 for CORBIS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies I warn you: it is quite possible you may get impregnated simply by looking at this picture. Mick taken by S. Woods on August 20, 1976 for CORBIS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some crazy fan pictures: Fans/Groupies outside the Toronto Stones concert in 1979. Taken by Neal Preston for CORBIS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the next shirt which I'm going to have made: More '79 Tornoto fans by Preston. Toronto sure knew how to party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why don't you all fade away?-S.

 

 

Dude, one more post, I swear this time. But this is too great not to post about:

Meet THE IZZYS (http://www.theizzys.com).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is great rock and roll with the added bonus of great cinematography for their video: "Dreaming" http://tgrexfilms.com/izzysDreaming.html . And yes, it is indeed a fine line nowadays between being influenced and remembrant of your classic rock heritage, and just plain donning a pair of ripped jeans and cowboy boots and karaoke-ing your way through your classic rock heritage . And I think that The Izzys do a damn nice job of toeing the line but coming through on the winning side of the equation. Well done.

Well I got down on my knees/And I began to pray-S.

Also, several bands which I have discovered and promptly thought to myself, "My my, LARS would certainly approve of these tracks." And yes, LARS has officially become a animate object, a person if you will. He's like the cool rocker friend who crashes at your place with LPs in tow, sleeps on your couch, and drinks the OJ out of the bottle. So for all of you who were hoping that perhaps you could be that person who could crash at my place with your LPs in tow, sleep on my couch, and drink the OJ out of the bottle, that position has currently been filled.....Yes, somehow I can sense my credibility slowly slipping away as I write this. On with the music, enough of my talk.

MYSTIC CHORDS OF MEMORY, whose new album off of Rough Trade Records was released on the 26th:

 

E-Card: http://www.jvtdesign.com/e-cards/mcom.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See now, prog rock ISN'T dead! SR's Pure Volume website (perhaps they chose their name in part for its acronym, SR, aka. Seratonin Reaction...Hmmm...And you know, technically Sgt. Pepper, if played backwards, reveals that Paul's dead).

http://www.purevolume.com/salorex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See kids, hipster chic wins everytime. Ladies and gentlemen, the aptly named The Kicks:

Download page for "Mir" http://www.tvtrecords.com/download/download.jsp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now, some newbies over at the ever-evolving Rock Me Baby (http://www.screenblast.com/sarasmile/rockmebaby):

James Brown: "Make It Good To Yourself" off of Black Caesar. Probably the only song where I'll condone the usage of "Woman!", because when James Brown sings it, it brings chills to my quasi-feminist spine. It was with this album that Brown crowned himself "The Godfather of Soul", and for good reason. He was in complete control of this album: "But once James became excited by the possibilities he had me make charts for oboes, bassoons, upright bass--very unlikely elements for him...'On top of it all', he adds, 'I had to make it funky'. [Bodie Chandler, writer for "Down And Out In New York City"]-Liner notes written by Harry Weigner. Listen to this track and try not to be blown away. The bass comes in super-exploitation style, all smooth and jiggly. Then, the muted horns come in and stone you cold. Oh man, when James screeches, I faint. Everytime. When he's mimicking with the horn? "Tell me! Tell me! TELL ME!!!" Dude, this track IS soul.

 

 

 

 

 

The Clash: "I'm So Bored With the USA", The Clash. I don't think there's ever been as ground-breaking and rocking an album as The Clash. Track 3 was no exception off this one, a killer song with amazing guitar work (stay tuned in until the very end, when all of the sudden, the Strummer/Jones guitar combo suddenly SLIDES its way through the chords, much like an airstrike on your eardrums. And then you know that you've been bombed by, as 1977 referred to them, "The Only Band That Matters".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can play with the band until you hear my song-S.

 

 

Rhetorical question time in lieu of yet another apology concerning my missing an update: "Who's got two thumbs and is getting their ass kicked by finals?" Ohhh it's me. And you know, it'd be a helluva lot worse in 407A if not for the tremendous amount of good music going down this week, all of which has found it's way onto my iTunes studying list. That is, in between the constant spins of James Brown's Black Caesar (dude, go get this LP pronto, it's way too good for it's own good). So hunker down all you students, it's time to get the nitty-gritty done with so that you can PARTY all summer long. Or, as some are wont to do, find yourselves your own personal John Travolta and boogie a la Grease. Or at the very least, as was said on my pantheon of pop culture, I Love The 70s, realize that in order to snag that greaser you've had a crush on all summer, you're going to have to become a whore. Simple as that.

 

And, though I don't usually do this, it's been awhile and damnit I have news to give you all. Now, I'm sure that if any of you reading LARS are musicians, you probably already know about this place. But I'm going to put it out there for all of you, regardless of knowledge or profession. ROGUE MUSIC,  this sweet place over on 251 W. 30th between 7th and 8th (10 Floor), is your place for all things instruments and music in general. I just went there today for reasons that won't go explicitly mentioned but, shall we say, involve obtaining the means to continue seeing shows/buying records. They've got every sort of equipment imaginable, and the help is super cool and informed. Plus, according to their website (http://www.roguemusic.com), they've served everyone from Madonna to Michael Jackson. Yeah, I'd say it's pretty boss as well. Best part was, as I was waiting around, they were playing what had to be by far one of the best mixes: "Maybe I'm Amazed" followed by "Reeling In The Years" and subsequently a little Kinks action. The best part about all of this, besides Rogue itself, is that the buiding it's housed in is right next to a) a vintage and antique radio equipment shop which has this amazing phonograph that I want to save up and buy, and b) a hole in the wall across the street where shady characters sell buckets and bins of LPs. So now, consider this a shameless plug from your friendly local music geek, and then get down (or for me, up) there. At the very least, taking the ACE to Penn will give you an excuse to stop at the Smoothie King as I did. Ohhhh Smoothie King, there's nothing like it....

Alright now, music....

CMJ  New Music Monthly is holding a showcase tonight at Northsix with some awesome bands who I all but guarantee are going to crossover onto the national circuit. They include: ELECTRIC TURN TO ME, whose darkly rocking combination of Lotte-Lenya-does-American-rock style vocals and jangly guitars makes for shrewd and hardened music; YOUR ENEMIES FRIENDS, whose sheer tenacity in rocking nearly every single club in NYC within this past week is quite admirable; and THE CHINESE STARS, whose website pictures may be great (see below), but whose music is fucking boss. "Sick Machine" scales the walls with the opening guitars, and then unleashes what have to be some of the oddest vocals to come out this side of...I don't know what. But whatever it is, it's amazing, particularly because this music/noise works perfectly. I'd say you'd best get yourselves down to Northsix tonight to witness three superb rock bands in their independent prime (66 North 6th St, Bklyn, $7, 7:30).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Turn To Me: (One of my favorite songs to come out this past year) "Wrestle With Me Angel" http://www.electricturntome.com/Musicfiles/Wrestle_with_me_Angel.mp3

Your Enemies Friends: "A Figure of Speech" http://www.buddyhead.com/mp3/Your_Enemies_Friends-The_Wiretap_EP-02-A_Figure_Of_Speech-Buddyhead.MP3

The Chinese Stars: "Sick Machine" http://www.skingraftrecords.com/mp3/LP%20MP3's/chinesestars_sick.MP3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ask you now, does it get any better than that? Dude, you're living in New York City, capital of Rock N Roll no matter what anyone tells you. Of course it does. In case you still can't shake your Brooklyn-hipster-phobia, get down to Pianos tonight to witness an equally tight bill (158 Ludlow at Stanton). We've got THE TWENTY TWOS, LOW FLYING JETS, and SCOUT to satisfy your every need in the "Let's Spend the Night Together" sense. Party begins at 8pm and nevermind the cover: you've got yourselves scores of cheap alcohol at your disposal since, once again, your musically savvy friend Rheingold is sponsoring the Fearless TV Wrap Party event (dude, someone please fill me in on how Rheingold managed to weasle their way into the independent music scene. I seriously would like to know). Anyways, regardless of who's offering you practically-free beer (hey, it never stopped me), you need to witness these three bands live. "Make Fun" is one of the catchiest guitar-driven rockers, and I like the way The Twenty Twos have employed Looker-style harmonized background vocals instead of more rrrocker ones, it adds some nice melody to the music. LFJ combine pseudo-Jack White vocals (which can, however, sometimes thrill and surprise if you let them) with their apt and tight style of music; basically well-done and slightly ambient guitars melding with go-ahead drumming and major/minor shifts. Scout, finally, are much more laid back than the other two bands. However, they are an emotional force to be reckoned with, a band whose soft style escapes the pitfalls of overly poppy hooks and chords, going instead for heartfelt harmonies and nicely thought out guitar riffs. All in all, Pianos is going to shine tonight. Don't miss it.

The Twenty Twos: "Make Fun" http://www.thetwentytwos.com/tunes/make%20fun.mp3

Low Flying Jets: "Murderers" http://www.lowflyingjets.com/music/murderers.mp3

Scout: "Good Enough For Now" http://www.scoutisaband.com/mp3/goodenough.MP3

Finally, I'd like to take the time to let you in on a song which has all but taken over my life at the moment. This is beauty captured on wax, and so many elements of it make me want to cry out of sheer joy and love of good music. The simple guitar progressions. The rising folksy harmonies on the chorus, particularly the cracked voice on "Clear as a bell"... All of this fits so well together, it's shocking that in truth, it's such a simple song. Beauty, thy name is PEDRO THE LION.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I Am Always The One Who Calls" http://www.pedrothelion.com/mp3/PedroTheLion-I_Am.mp3

-And, for good measure, the latest mp3 off their new album-

"Discretion" http://www.pedrothelion.com/mp3/PedroTheLion-Discretion.mp3

Rock Photo:

A little mini LARS tribute to living legend Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers, one of the finest Southern rock guitarists to ever grace the stage.

All photos were taken by my personal photography hero, Neal Preston (http://www.prestonpictures.com/) for CORBIS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And one more comment: I know it's going to be greeted by many rolls of the eyes, but damnit, I don't think you can safely argue that this was a bad song. The year is 1996, and John Cougar Mellencamp has just come out with a new album titled Mr. Happy Go Lucky. A young music geek (6th grade to be exact) comes home from her Long Island Catholic school, flips on VH1, and finds herself confronted with what has to be a) one of the most wistful and beautiful videos she's seen in a long time, and b) poetry over music sung by a sultry-voiced man whose face looks oddly familiar ("Jack and Diane" perhaps?). It's true, I admit it: I still love "(Key West Intermezzo) I Saw You First". It's just too good of a song not to, even though I'll be the first to admit that Cougar comes off as an ass (dude, who puts "Intermezzo" in their song titles since Sinatra died, I ask you?) and has committed more music felonies than heroics. but I'll be damned if it's still not one of my favorite songs. Period.

Key West Intermezzo it is: http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/videoplayer/index.jhtml?vid=9295&channelID=1&gateway=bands&paid=12334&s1=az&s2=mellencamp_john&adPth=/adsetup/bands/&adPN=audvid

On a moon spattered road in her parrot rebozo/Gypsy Scottys driving his big long yellow car/She flies like a bird over his shoulder/She whispers in his ear, boy, you are my star-S.

And PS: I don't think you can get a better lyric than "A loud Cuban band is crucifying John Lennon". -S.

 

You know everything's going to be okay when you get home after a long hard day and find your FRANZ FERDINAND tickets lying patiently in your mailbox. Sweetness. You know what's even sweeter? Tonight's shows at Sin-E, Irving Plaza, and Northsix respectively.

Sin-E is hosting what has got to be one of the best quadruple bills in history: OTHER PASSENGERS, THE AFFAIR, PROSAICS, and THE BLONDES INC. will all be playing at 150 Attorney St. tonight for the adequate payment of $7. It's quite the elaborate and diverse bill; you've got your beautifully-woven ambient orchestrals courtesy of the former Medicine Hat/currently Other Passengers. Then you've got an infusion of Cyndi Lauper and all that was great about '80s pop coming at you via The Affair, a band whom I saw way back in January at the Mercury Lounge and, might I add, was properly blown away by their collective talent (http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=3860169&uid=1993693). THEN you've got a one-two rock'n'roll punch a la Prosaics/The Blondes Inc. It's bound to be a party, and if your Tuesday went as poorly as mine did, I'd say it's worth going just to be able to throw back a couple in the midst of great music. The fun begins at 7:30pm

Other Passengers: "Push Me Over" http://medicinehatband.com/mp3/Medicine_Hat-Push_me_Over.mp3

The Affair: (One of my all-time favorites, such an amazingly written song) "Honey" http://www.theaffairnyc.com/mp3/honey.mp3

Prosaics: "Teeth" clip http://www.prosaics.com/prosaics_teeth_clip.mp3

The Blondes Inc.: "You Got It" http://www.theblondesinc.com/02%20You%20Got%20It.m3u

If you missed them last night, now's the time to go see SLEATER-KINNEY. They're so talented, a perfect combination of feminine vocals touches with catchy guitars and sweet drums. They swerve around melodies like fast cars on the Autobond (or like "Fast Cars", one of my favorite Buzzcocks singles). They'll be at the Irving again tonight beginning at 8pm with The Thermals (17 Irving Place at 15th). If you don't go, I hate to say it, but You're No Rock N' Roll Fun.

Sleater-Kinney: "You're No Rock N' Roll Fun" http://www.sleater-kinney.com/sounds/rockandrollfun.mp3

"One Beat" http://www.sleater-kinney.com/sounds/onebeat.mp3

The Thermals: "No Culture Icons" http://subpop.com/multimedia/No_Culture_Icons_-_Hi_Res247.mov

Lastly, APPLES IN STEREO and APOLLO SUNSHINE are playing Northsix tonight with The High Water Marks beginning at 9pm (66 North 6th St, Bklyn). Though I can't vouch for AIS since their mp3s weren't working when I checked, Apollo Sunshine are sweet with a capital S. Not only do they have a rocking website, they have an AMAZING sound. Listen to "I Was On The Moon": great and disorientating guitar intros followed by what have to be some of the most wonderfully sweet vocals this side of Paul McCartney. What a great song, and it's followed by one after the other on their website. This is the band to see before, as I always say, the other Soho tries to steal them and claim them as their own. Plus, how can you say no to such fresh faces? I ask you now:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In all actuality, this band is so tops, so damn catchy and beautifully concocted that I hereby proclaim them the LARS Pick of the Day. You may say, yeah well, that's not that special, a pick of the day happens everday. Well not on LARS. I might not ever have a Pick of the Day again, for all you know. Got your attention now? Good, go out and buy AS' latest, Katonah, and then go out to Northsix tonight and see them too. They've already cheered up my miserable Tuesday, don't pass them by.

Apollo Sunshine: "I Was On The Moon" http://www.apollosunshine.com/IWasontheMoon.mp3

"Mayday Disorder" http://www.apollosunshine.com/MaydayDisorder.mp3

And now, some pictures from AS' website. Because there's nothing I love more than when a band has a great sound AND great taste in photography. Cheers Apollo Sunshine, you've done yourselves good:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby baby/I'd get down on my knees for you-S.