See it Live:
Wednesday, September 29th: The Black Keys have two dates at the Fox Theater in Oakland. Unfortunately, both Wednesday and Thursday are sold out. I’m not surprised one bit, the Ohio bands pure rock and roll roots bleed through the PA system during their live show. Check out Craigslist for tickets, you’re going to want to see this. Show starts at 8:00pm, original ticket prices were $32.50.
Thursday, September 30th: Matt & Kim are all about fun. If having a good time is something on your to do list, check them out at the Fillmore this Thursday. Tickets are only $18.50, and the dance party begins at 8:00pm.
Friday, October 1st: If there’s anything you should learn by reading by this section for the week, it’s to buy your tickets early. This is but another sold out show, but I have the obligation to pass on the info regardless. The Flaming Lips, Ariel Pink, and Thee Oh Sees are coming to the Fox in Oakland on Friday, show starts at 8:00pm. The original ticket prices were $39.50, but give Craigslist a look and see what you can find.
Friday, October 1st: The 10th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is coming together this Friday in Golden Gate Park. On Friday it will feature names like Jenny and Johnny, Patty Griffin, MC Hammer, Boz Scaggs and many more. Check here for full lineup and more info. Music starts at 2:00pm, and as always, the event is absolutely free.
Saturday, October 2nd: But wait! If you really want to see the Flaming Lips, they’re playing again on Saturday. The opening line up is different, with Health and White Hills playing before the lips. The show starts at 8:00pm. Tickets are still available for $39.50, get them here.
Saturday, October 2nd: The second day of Hardly Strictly starts at 11:00am. Saturday will feature Fountains of Wayne, Conor Oberst, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Joan Baez and many others. Check here for the full lineup and more details.
Saturday, October 2nd: If psychedelics in the form of music are your thing, Saturday is your night. Infected Mushroom, Shpongle, Hallucinogen and others are coming to the Warfield. The flashbacks start at 8:00pm. Tickets can be pocketed for $47.25-$57.25, get them here.
Sunday, October 3rd: The final day of free bluegrass (and more) in GGP begins at 11:00am. Bands such as Indigo Girls, Earl Scruggs, Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes, The Avett Brothers, Patti Smith, and others will be blessing our ears with free music. The night wraps up at 7:00pm.
Sunday, October 3rd: This is the most anticipated show of the week. Arcade Fire is coming to Berkeley’s Greek Theater, and it’s sure to be an incredible and emotional performance. The show starts at 8:00pm with Calexico opening, but after that the group should be ready to start. There’s also a show on Saturday, but it’s sold out. Get a ticket for $46.00.
Listen Here!:
Kanye West‘s song of the week features the masterminds of Jay-Z and Swizz Beats, but is it any good? The track is low key and creeps through stories of ridiculous scenarios for nearly seven minutes. Have a listen here, and let me know what you think in the comments section.
Florence and The Machine get a remix from Yeasayer on the summer anthem “Dog Days Are Over.” They give it fuzzy synth and cut the vocals a bit, making it all the more dance friendly. Click here to stream the track, or it will be available for purchase on October 12th.
Travis Barker has entered the game of production and hip hop. The pop punk hero will be releasing a solo album this fall where he produces and plays on tracks featuring Lil Wayne, Tom Morello, RZA, Lupe Fiasco, Cory Taylor and many, many more. To keep our thirst quenched, TRVS gives us this old school west coast track called Jump Down, it features The Cool Kids and those nostalgic high pitched tones. Download it here.
Heard it Through the Grapevine:
I’ve seen a lot of unofficial music videos, and they usually kind of suck. But this one for LCD Soundsystem‘s ‘Home’ is full of drugs, orgies, parties and a lonely makeshift robot; and it’s a damn good time. It’s directed by a man named Rick Darge. Check it out above, via stereogum.
If you’ve ever dreamed of going back in time to see Yeah Yeah Yeah‘s early material, you’re going to be pissed you weren’t in Brooklyn this past week. The dramatic yet danceable NYC band turned ten years old, so they threw an anniversary show on the 22nd. Looking at the tickets, apparently they only issued 200 of them, so you’d think they would be really expensive. But according to this article, they were only $20! Also, check that article to watch videos of the performance.
A few weeks ago I told you guys that the hip-hop astro pioneer that is Flying Lotus was coming out with a new EP titled Pattern + Grid World. Well, it’s out, and Pitchfork gave it 8/10 on their review, which it rightfully earned. This EP isn’t as busy as Cosmogramma, which came out early this year. It’s more bouncy and fluid, check out a couple key tracks: “Physics for Everyone” and “Camera Day”.
If you haven’t heard, Katy Perry‘s duet with Elmo was pulled from Sesame Street after receiving a barrage of viewer complaints. Some say her outfit was too provocative (it was low cut), others say the female figure is nothing to be ashamed of. But putting both of those things aside, when you watch the clip, it kind of does seem like she’s trying to seduce the furry little creature. Sigh. What I wouldn’t give.
Sorry ladies, Eddie Vedder is no longer on the market. The Pearl Jam front man married model Jill McCormick over the weekend in Hawaii. The two have only been in a serious relationship for a year, although they were casually dating before hand says Spin. Bonus: Listen to “My Babies In Love With Eddie Vedder” by Weird Al.
It’s official. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are now the newest additions to American Idol’s panel of judges. This will most likely be great for the show’s falling ratings, and will probably be fairly entertaining. The question is, who’s going to be the new Paula? Steven or J.Lo?
San Francisco’s Amoeba Records made it on Rolling Stone’s list of the Best Record Stores In America. It’s actually first on the list of 25. RS says Amoeba has always been the greatest, and that it’s “simply the most thorough and welcoming place a record lover could hope to shop.” Also according to the article, each Amoeba has over 100,00 items, and they didn’t even mention the free shows the store hosts. What do you think? Is it the best?
