PAYDIRT.

After much searching, I finally found the movie version of The Arcade Fire and David Bowie ripping up "Wake Up". Heather Graham likes The Arcade Fire. Why don't you?

David Bowie/The Arcade Fire: Wake Up (At Fashion Rocks)

And briefly, several shows you should think about donating your time to:





This much madness/Is too much sorrow/It's impossible/To make it today-S.

Not much to say, except that I did the typical rounds the last couple of nights (The Sexy Magazines, The Harlem Shakes). Both were spectacular in their own ways, and both shall get reviews. Do I feel guilty for not expanding my horizons during this holy week of weeks? Yes. But until someone gives me $200 to spend on a CMJ badge, there's no way in hell I'm going to trot from venue to venue and pay $10 approximate door fees at each. Not counting all the gin & tonics that I need to get me by. Perhaps by next year, I'll have a CMJ daddy who'll take care of me. Until then, be resigned to only get the buzz on the two L.A.R.S. favorites.

But just because I'm limited doesn't mean you have to be also. Here are the picks for tonight:

The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir: Ellen's Telling Me What I Want To Hear Video.

Elkland: Apart Video.

Benzos: Glass Souls.

Wolf Parade: Shine A Light.

Constantines: Nighttime/Anytime (It's Alright).

Kinski: The Wives Of Artie Shaw.

Rogue Wave Website.

Fruit Bats: Lives Of Crime.

Chin Up Chin Up: Virginia, Don't Drown.

Amusement Parks On Fire: Smokescreen.

Apollo Sunshine: Conscious Pilot. (Who just released a new album. Go to L.A.R.S. Fresh Music for details).

Dirty On Purpose Website.

The Upwelling Website.

Youth Group Website.

Looker: Hope & Anchor.

Walking Concert: What's Your New Thing? Video.

Detachment Kit: Ted The Electric.

The Fine Lines: Look At Her Run.

The Twenty-Twos: She Does Video.

Group Sounds: Business Before Pleasure.

Tilly & The Wall Website.

Metric: Combat Baby Video.

Shy Child: The Noise Won't Stop.

We Are Scientists: Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt.

a2 +b2 = c2:

Towers Of London are like the Pythagorean Theorum of punk rock. It’s coincidental that I was watching the new documentary “Punk Attitude” on IFC when I found this video for TOL’s single “Fuck It Up”. I mean, here is a band that took all of the essence from what I saw on the screen: a little touch of Johnny Rotten’s vocals, The New York Doll’s sense of style, The Damned’s guitar riffs, and even the added bonus of Van Halen-style shout-outs. I honestly don’t know whether to have my sensibilities mortally offended or to tap my foot along. Whatever it is, I’m hypnotized. I can’t take my eyes off this video. And still, after five straight plays, I can’t confirm or deny my hatred of this obvious pilfering. I mean, here I am, a writer who rips Drag Citizen a new one, but I can’t seem to get excited enough about this bleeding carrion of a rock band to rip up the remains. Who knows. I’m stumped. It’s just a shame that they’re playing with two genuinely great bands (Shy Child and We Are Scientists). I suppose the most I can say is be prepared for a humongous buzzkill after seeing those two. Either that or bring a flask of Jägermeister and channel your inner Jersey Van Halen fan.

Towers Of London: Fuck It Up Video.

Sam Champion: TV Fever.

The Giraffes: Haunted Heaven.

Brian Jonestown Massacre: Time Is Honey (I Dare You) Video.

Madison Strays: Harmony.

Ezra Reich: Supergirl (My Daughter).

M.A.S.S.: Hey Gravity. (Keep an eye on this band. The song's quite worthwhile).

Au Revoir Simone Website.

Baby Dayliner Website.

The Eames Era Myspace Site.

The Bamboo Kids Website.

Bad Wizard Website.

The Witnesses Website.

The Gore Gore Girls: Astral Man.

You know, I still remember a time when I did not know about the Arcade Fire. I was up at Print Space in Chelsea, printing out some contact sheets with the rest of my photography class. I was hanging around, waiting for the sheets to come out of the drier, when I struck up a conversation with this one guy about music. He was very knowledgable about the scene (and very cute to boot), and after I mentioned to him that I was getting really into this band called Blood On The Wall, he exclaimed, “You have GOT to hear this band Arcade Fire. It’s unlike anything you’ve heard before. Get into them. They’re going to be huge.” And so said the prophet, and now, almost a year to the day later, I’m still listening to Funeral and videos like this one still give me chills. Enjoy.

The Arcade Fire on Top Of The Pops: Rebellion (Lies).

And one more for good measure, courtesy of Insound's Clips Newsletter.

The Arcade Fire: Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeah's cover).




Thou Shalt Downloadeth This Promptly.
Peter Noone: Oh! You Pretty Things.

Hear a clip of it here.

From The Rolling Stone Rock N Roll Encyclopedia: “Initially [Peter] Noone returned to acting. In 1970 he met David Bowie, who supplied him with his first British solo hit, “Oh You Pretty Things,” and played piano on the sessions. Their subsequent collaborations failed, however, as did Noone’s other early-‘70s releases for Rak Records.”

A true testament to the fact that David Bowie can write a song that even a chimpanzee can record beautifully. Although, to be fair, in this case it’s about 75% Bowie’s talent and 25% Peter Noone’s fantastically chirpy voice and the producer’s string arrangements.

I can’t stop playing LEVY’s “In The Woods”. Cannot. Stop. Playing it.

Get hooked.

Also, dig on this: Mississippi John Hurt.

Rock Photos:
Courtesy of Sarasmile's shutter.
The Harlem Shakes at Tonic and The Sexy Magazines at the Pussycat Lounge.






Don’t tell me that you love me/If you don’t know why-S.

It's gettin' hot in here. Tonight's bills are larger than life, and to top all that shit off, the uptown Loews Theatre is doing a preview screening of Martin Scorsese's NO DIRECTION HOME at 3pm today. Live it up, New York.

(And p.s.: To all you so-called rock fans who didn't go to The Sexy Magazines show last night...you missed a good one. Look for the review in the coming weeks. That is all).

The Rosebuds: Big Heartbreak. The band just came out with a new 11-song record called Birds Make Good Neighbors. Definitely worth picking up.

The Hold Steady: Your Little Hoodrat Friend.
You know, I never really liked The Hold Steady. They’ve been on the NYC scene for a while now, but recently they’ve enjoyed a slightly higher echelon of notoriety. It’s still a hung jury in my book. Yeah, their songs are catchy. But they’re by no means revolutionary. Or even remotely new. Not that you have to be new, per se. But you do have to do something fairly original. And I’m not really feeling this version of Del Amici/Blues Traveler/Louis XIV. But don’t take my word for it: go see them tonight with one band that I do feel deserves the praise and the glory, The Rosebuds.

(BIG BILL OF THE NIGHT):

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: In This Home On Ice.
The NYC band who can never receive enough praise are playing with the ambient maestros of the Big Apple, Ambulance LTD. A fine pairing at a fine establishment (Mercury Lounge). Go forth and mellow.

Ambulance LTD: Heavy Lifting Video

Robbers On High Street: Japanese Girls

You, dear sirs and madams, must check out this awesome band that’s playing with CYHSY/Ambulance LTD/Robbers On High Street: They’re called People In Planes, and without delving into too much detail (I’m going to do a wrap-up of the new favorites at the end of CMJ), I will say that they have a great sound and an even better sense of self (check out their video). Watch for these boys.

People In Planes: If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)

People In Planes: For Miles Around (Scratch To Void)

People In Planes: Falling By The Wayside

Say Hi To Your Mom: The Forest Scares The Hell Out Of Me

By far one of the best emotionally unstable bands out there, The Robot Ate Me has the ability to make the ordinary into the melancholy and, ultimately, the depressing. Truly gifted.
Check out two innovative and ethereally sad videos:

TRAM: On Vacation Video

TRAM: Crispy Christian Tea Time Video

The Head Set: Late For The Show

The Gossip Myspace Page

The Everyothers Website

Slumber Party: I Don't Mind.
Slumber Party are super good. Think The iOs dancing around a Maypole with Belle & Sebastian. There seems to be a lot of Belle & Sebastian influence nowadays, isn’t there?

Slumber Party: Soldier

And then of course, there’s my favorite, my pick of the night: THE HARLEM SHAKES playing Tonic.

Download the new Harlem Shakes demo

Magenta Lane Myspace Page
Magenta Lane sound like The Hong Kong, but despite the lack of niche-making, the songs are catchy and well-crafted pop nonetheless.

Dead Meadow: At Her Open Door

And of course, the one that you’re not going to see: !!! are playing S.O.B.s. If I had to kill someone’s Grandma to get to this one, I totally would. Those who were fortunate enough to get tickets: I applaud you and wish you a very funktastic evening…..wait….is this thing even on? Does anybody here even speak English?! Cause everybody’s acting like I’m fucking CRAZY or something!

!!!: Hello Is This Thing On? Video

Coco Rosie: Noah's Ark

Rock Photo:

Henry Rollins.
Taken by Tibor Bozi for CORBIS. 1999.



But the key to the city/Is in the sun that pins the branches to the sky-S.

Second day in, CMJ is offering more thrills than Coney Island on amphetamines. Sure hits include THE SEXY MAGAZINES (at a strip club no less, thus exponentially raising the sexy quotient), THE SOCIAL REGISTRY showcase over at Tonic, and the feel-good bill of the night with my favorites OF MONTREAL and the new-comers SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME. Both of the two favs pack more hooks than a boatload of pirates, and each share a wealth of influences, from The Unicorns to Belle & Sebastian. So whether you're going to see Franco shimmy next to boobie tassles or Blood On The Wall channel their best Pixies impersonations, I guarantee you all a fine night of music. C.Motherfucking.J.

(Also, some buzzwords on the street for you all: GRIZZLY BEAR and THE JOGGERS are both well worthy of the street hype).

The Sexy Magazines: War Baby

John Vanderslice: Exodus Damage

Tim Fite: Gone Ain't Gone Album Stream

The New Pornographers: Use It Video

The Natural History: Princeton Junction [Who, with LEVY, get the most-improved prize in my book].

Dios Malos: Starting Five

The Joggers Audio Page

The Five O'Clock Heroes: Head Games Video

Make Good Your Escape: Out Of My Skin

The Arcade Fire: Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

The Honorary Title: Everything I Once Had Video

The iOs: Every Waking Moment

She Wants Revenge: Sister Video

Joy Zipper: Christmas Song

Regina Spektor Website

The Willowz: I Wonder (Directed by Michel Gondry and, incidentally, also playing at ResFest as one of the Videos That Rock).

Of Montreal: Requiem For O.M.M.2

Of Montreal: Wraith Pinned To The Mist

Saturday Looks Good To Me Website

Blood On The Wall: Mary Susan

Blood On The Wall: Reunite On Ice

Hail Social: Start/Stop

Diamond Nights Album Player

Cheeseburger: Easy Street

Rock Photos:

Of Montreal. Taken from ofmontreal.net.



Seems like every time you turn around/There's another hard-luck story that you're gonna hear-S.