American Idol

Has any one been paying attention to American Idol recently? It's virtually considered America's new favorite pastime nowadays. Anyway, there was a contestant voted off a couple weeks ago who had, what I thought, the most memorable voice. Don't judge him on the fact he was sporting a mullet or that he performs as stiff as a powdered shirt or that he slightly resembles Sondre Lerche, but that he has unmasked, pure talent.



Tough luck, Alex.

Sondre Lerche at Work Play (2/12/10) and Music Updates Down South

Thank god there's still good music wherever I go. Sondre Lerche with buddy JBM stopped by Birmingham's Work Play Theatre on 2/12 during his extended Heartbeat Radio tour. Who knows how a scrawny Norwegian singer/songwriter braved the American Deep South? His concert was awesome, as usual, selling the Alabama crowd with his stage charisma. And yes, he was wearing an extremely low V-neck tee, but whatever, hipsters. Particularly, I liked his rendition of "My Hands Are Shaking," "Say It All," both of which I've seen done at D.C. Surprisingly, he left out popular new songs, such as personal favorites "I Cannot Let You Go" and "If Only," for nontraditional ones like "Happy Birthday Girl" and a very acoustic version of "Phantom Punch," with only Sondre on guitar and JBM on half a drumset. It amazes me how he transforms the lush instrumental songs from Heartbeat Radio or punky/poppy songs from Phantom Punch, to a rendition with only a voice and a guitar. Unfortunately, I again arrived too late to see JBM's opening performance (apparently 23rd St and 23rd St South are worlds apart), but from what I hear he's one to watch as well.

By the way, Work Play Theatre is the poshest venue I've ever been. I was expecting the usual standing room only but this place had only tables and booths. Everyone was sitting down and sipping drinks. Kind of unusual, but very nice nonetheless.

Speaking of good music coming near, PHOENIX IS COMING TO NASHVILLE, TN, and maybe to a city near you in their new Spring tour. Spoon is also dropping by Birmingham 3/19. By the way, way up in snowy D.C., the Kings of Convenience concert was delayed until 6/6/10. Anyone interested in going?

Upcoming Concert Listing for D.C.

Why is it that the ONLY 15 weeks I will be out of the Baltimore/D.C. Area in 3.5 years is the 15 weeks full of AMAZING concerts? I mean, absolutely incredible artists like Wilco and Kings of Convenience who I've been waiting to see live for years. Here's the short list of hot concerts. Please go so I can live vicariously through you while I wallow away in Huntsville.

1/25 CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG @ 930 Club (D.C.)
2/15 KINGS OF CONVENIENCE @ 930 Club
2/20 NOUVELLE VAGUE @ 930 Club
2/24 ST. VINCENT @ 930 Club
3/5 SONDRE LERCHE @ Rock and Roll Hotel (D.C)
3/17 AIR @ 930 Club
3/30 WILCO @ The Music Center (N. Bethesda, MD)
4/3 VAMPIRE WEEKEND @ D.A.R. Constitution Hall (D.C.)

Hopkins' Octopodes covers Chester French's "She Loves Everybody"

Man oh man. Never did I expect Johns Hopkins' very own blue and black a capella Octopodes to cover Chester French! And to get recognition from CF themselves! I'm not the most school spirited person, but they sound damn tight and I couldn't be prouder. Check them rocking out on the quad, but for the better sound quality version, see their Fall 2009 concert performance.



As a side note, Serena recently brought up the fact that Chester French performed at the Sonar Lounge during finals period this past spring. I didn't want to go because I had a Modern Physics final to study for. And they were opening for an unknown pop artist who I didn't care much for named...Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga is now my #12 most listened to artist on last.fm and I probably got the same grade in Modern Physics regardless if I studied or not. Missing that concert is one of my biggest regrets of the decade.

Rooney on a Related Note

So, if you haven't got enough Robert Schwartzman, check out his other project, Solobob. His first video, The Victim, directed by cousin Roman Coppola below. Dig it? Here's the free mp3, via solobob.com--happy respective holidays!

Musical Wishes for the 21st

My birthday, or the biggest celebration in the last twenty-one years, is approaching and instead of buying me alcohol, I'm requesting something less expensive and more useful--music. Here is a list of albums I would like to poach from those willing to be poached:

Peter Bjorn & John - I am seeing them in November and I realized I have only 1/5 of their stuff.

• Peter Bjorn and John
• Falling Out
• Seaside Rock
• Living Thing

Wilco

• Being There (Discs 1 & 2)
• Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Phoenix - Don't even get me started about how mad I am that they canceled their D.C. show, that would have been on my birthday.

• United

Ben Folds

• Way to Normal

--I will gladly accept any album/song you have of these following artists. Compliments to Brittany Kemp, my music guru.--

• Hard-Fi
• Calvin Harris
• Duffy
• Emiliana Torrini
  

--and now for the guilty pleasures--

Kanye West - Whatever. I don't even like Taylor Swift.

• 808s and Heartbreaks

Britney Spears - I only like one song, "Unusual You," and it happens to be worth getting all the shit that comes along with it.

• Circus

Jay-Z

• The Blueprint 3

If you are willing to share music, send it on over. Regardless, enjoy the 27th as if it were your own 21st birthday.

Upcoming D.C. Concerts and Updates

Two great concerts coming to D.C.'s 930 Club:

1. SONDRE LERCHE: Fri 9/11 (doors open at 6PM)
Sondre's new album, Heartbeat Radio, drops on Sept 8 and I'm mad excited. I saw Sondre in New York back in freshman year and it was one of the best days of my life. His new album seems really chill and it should be a pretty low key concert, in contrast to the punky one in NYC to compliment his Phantom Punch album. Unfortunately, I don't know if I can go to this concert because it's so early and my concert buddy, Serena, has class until 6 (which should be illegal on Fridays). I guess this means I need to find an interim concert buddy.

2. PHOENIX: Sun 9/27
OMG PHOENIX IS ON TOUR. OMG THEY ARE COMING TO D.C. OMG THEY ARE PERFORMING ON MY MOFO 21ST BIRTHDAY. OMG OMG OMG. There is still no ticket info on 930's site but they better get their act together because I'm GOING to this concert. Fate wants me to go to this concert so I'm GOING. Did you get that? I don't care if I'm late for work the next day because I'M GOING TO THIS CONCERT.

In other news, I've been craving hip-hop/pop music recently. Thus I've been listening to the local pop radio station, which does not do hip-hop nor pop any justice, but it hits the spot sometimes. Top of the crave list: Flo-Rida's "Right Round." Don't ask. I've also been listening to Britney's "Unusual You," which I've liked from the beginning. No doubt the best song from her album.

And another note, watch (P.) Diddy's Making His Band. It's good to see Diddy putting his star power behind musicians, not girls in skimpy skirts and big hair. I'll even ignore the fact he's making a hip-hop "concept album."

What's New with Beck?

Beck has self-stated he's never going on tour again (tear) but being the prodigious artist, he's never short on ideas. He's created the Record Club and here's his own quip on his project and his always quirky homepage:

"We've been working on changes to the website for the last few months. We'll be adding new sections as they're ready. The first one to be added is called Record Club, an informal meeting of various people to record an album in a day. An album will be chosen to be reinterpreted and used as a framework. Nothing rehearsed or arranged ahead of time. A track will be uploaded once a week on beck.com as well as through the web sites of those involved with the project."

The album they chose was The Velvet Underground and Nico and though I don't listen to The Velvet Underground, the Record Club's version sounds pretty good. I've posted my favorite thus far, but check out all the rest here.

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico "Femme Fatale" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

An unrelated tidbit, Kings of Convenience is coming out with a new album soon (thanks for the tip, Brittany). According to Wikipedia it will be out Friday, October 9, though I've never heard of albums released on Fridays.

In Other News

Though I never played any MJ on the show, I am secretly an admirer of his music. When my family was moving from Connecticut to Minnesota, my parents played a compilation of Michael Jackson, starting with "Black or White," so his music will always be a little glimmer of my childhood. As I said, I've never played anything of his, I don't have his albums, and I am not by any means a fanatic. But, his music is so inspirational that it is everywhere, even when you don't know it. For example, Kanye's "Good Life" features the ending snipet of "P.Y.T" as background. Also, Justice's "D.A.N.C.E" is a prominent display of how much they idolize MJ (lyrics include, "Do the D.A.N.C.E, 1 2 3 4 5/ You were just a P.Y.T. catching all the light." Also, I will never forget circuit running in high school where the gym teachers always played "Billie Jean," but not with the fondest of memories. RIP Michael Jackson.

Officially, Asian BBQ with Wenli and Juhee will be on hiatus for atleast one semester, or atleast it will be called Asian BBQ with Juhee Only. I will not be here for the fall, but will hopefully still post as much as I can(want). Kinda sad because I already have some songs I really wanted to play for the show.

Upcoming good news: Wilco's album drops next tuesday, Rooney will be releasing a new album very soon as will Sondre Lerche, according to their respective websites. Check out this acoustic-y performance of Phoenix's "1901" from MTV and check out how much the crowd is NOT into it (how little they know).

Phoenix - New Music - More Music Videos

C.E. Cheese covering Rooney

This is the funniest thing I've ever seen. I've gotta hit up a Chuck E. Cheese if they're playing this set.

Revisiting Coldplay

Ever have a moment where the song you were listening to matched perfectly with the setting you were in? Like a perfect song for that moment of life? I was sitting on the Baltimore light rail and it was overcast and raining mist. I was listening to Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. Everything matched perfectly, even the Asian instrument (the shamisen?) synchronizing with the clicks of the rail.

I realized I never gave Coldplay's newest album that much of a chance, still too disappointed from X&Y. I actually liked their music quite a bit before then. Anyway, they've got it right this time around--Viva flows incredibly well and has some very solid songs. My favorites are "Life in Technicolor," "Lost!," "Yes," and of course "Viva La Vida," most of which I've played on Asian BBQ.

Bottom line: take off your Coldplay blockers and give Viva a chance. Their title song has been in the midst of plagarism charges from many other artists, including the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. I guess it's that good of a song. Right now, Coldplay is giving out a free downloadable album. Free music is always good music, right?

Blame It

Mainstream R&B is not particularly my favorite genre, nor do I like the sound of the auto-tune, but have you seen the video for Blame it from Jamie Foxx (ft. T-Pain)? Where do Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Ron Howard, Jamie Foxx, and Samuel L. Jackson NOT belong together? In a club shooting a video about getting girls tipsy...atleast I was pretty sure until I saw the video again and again. I was surprised the Jamie used the auto-tune because I'm pretty sure he can sing, though I kind of wonder what state T-Pain's voice is in to make a living off an mechanical voice. But, may I just say, I really quite like the song and video, especially the grooving dancing panda. Whatever, blame it on the a(-a-a-a-a-a)lcohol.

Jamie Foxx - New Music - More Music Videos