Bjork - Possibly Maybe

Know it. Love it. Moving Forward...

Dave Matthews - Mercy

"Mercy" is the first song off of DMB's new upcoming album titled Away From The World, due out on September 11th. For the video the band asked their fans for photos and videos so they could make the video sort of a tribute to them. What came out of it was a pretty amazing video. Check it out!

Weird Auction Item

Wow I can't believe I'm even going to be writing this post....

A pair of Elvis Presley's underwear (which look pretty dirty to me), will be sold at an auction in England next month. According to sources he wore the underwear at a 1977 show before the auction house acquired them from Elvis's father Vernon. They are expecting them to go around $15,000. 

Included in the action are also his personal bible and a 16mm home movie footage taken by his then wife Priscilla. 

Auction is set to begin on September 8th (Great day by the way...)

Get To Know The Dude.... Behind "The Dude"

Any fans of the Big Lebowski out there? This short documentary will give you a peek inside the inspiration for the beloved character in the Coen Brothers cult film. It follows Jeff Dowd to a Lebowski Fest and offers us a glimpse into the real life character behind the iconic "Dude".

Worth the watch!

THE DUDE (Director's Cut) from Jeff Feuerzeig on Vimeo.

Picture On My Wall - Dylan Taylor

I got this song last week off of a recommendation and just like he thought it is right up my alley. A great voice, great lyrics and great sound. What is there not to love about Dylan Taylor? Here is her song "Picture On My Wall":

"I love you more than anything

and I don't know where the hell I'd be

If you never loved me

Well I'm thinking about you everyday

And I'm finding brand new ways

To keep you on my mind

To keep you alive"

**Beautiful**

(Sorry for the crappy video below, its a live version but still good audio!)

I'm Back!

Hey guys, I'm sorry that I had to take a few days break there for a moment. Had a huge event last Friday night and a busy start of this week and well the blog fell behind. My bad. 

Good news, I'm back today and hopefully my schedule will be a little bit more manageable moving forward. Anyways, lets get back to the music. 

Grace Potter just released a new video for her song "Stars". I love the song, the video is catching on... its just a little bit too cheesy for my liking. But that will not destroy my love for her or my excitement to see her in DC in December. 

Here we go:

Truth.

LL Cool J Nabs Intruder

You know this robber must have been pissed when he saw the jacked LL Cool J come down the stairs.

According to authorities a man was trying to rob his house last night when he woke up, came down the stairs and literally caught him red handed. He not only caught him but he held on to him until police arrived.

Whoops.

New Drew Kennedy Video

Drew Kennedy - "Stars in California" (Official Music Video) from M. Andrew Barrera on Vimeo.

I know I usually have a rule about country music but this one is different. Check out this video, try your best to tell me this is not an amazing song and a breathtaking video. I want to go to every place he shot in this video!

Way to go Drew!

Fail. Part Two.

Dear Avett Brothers....

I'm so disappointed in you and your new GAP commercial.

Fail.

Avril Lavigne is engaged to the lead singer of Nickleback.

I can not believe I live in a world where this can actually happen...

Leslie Knope Does Impressions

Easily my favorite character on TV is Amy Poeler playing Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation. Here she is doing some great impressions. This show can not come back soon enough!!

Pixel Rain During Black Keys Show

This is pretty amazing stuff! 

In an unforgettable moment, the Moment Factory (known for their creations of multimedia events) released hundreds of floating LED's to rain "Everlasting Light" over the crowd at Osheaga 2012 during The Black Keys closing performance. 

What a cool moment.

Just Sometimes...

R.I.P. Phyllis Diller

Sad day for comedy fans. The great Phyllis Diller passed away today at the age of 95. 

Phyllis began her career back in 1952 and rose to fame with her TV specials alongside Bob Hope in the 1960s. Later that decade, Phyllis starred in her own show called "The Phyllis Diller Show". She was also a regular on "Laugh In". 

Here is her appearance from "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1969.

R.I.P. Phyllis

American Idol Fail

Its official. I will never watch American Idol ever again. I haven't really watched it in the past 4-5 years but I can officially say I'm done now. Why?

They just announced that Nicki Minaj will be joining the judges table.

Fail. Fail. Barf. Fail. Fail.

Greatest Moments in Sports

If you are a fan of sports like I am, this video is a must watch. Trust me.

Awesome Vintage Video

In February of 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono famously took over The Mike Douglas Show for a week. The musical highlight was an appearance by Chuck Berry who played "Johnny B. Goode" with help from Lennon. 

Here is that classic amazing video!

Tom Morello 'Rages Against' Paul Ryan

(Taken from a Rolling Stone Article HERE)

First let me say.... Tom Morello is the MAN.

Moving forward...

Last week, Mr. Romney picked Paul Ryan, the Republican architect of Congress's radical right-wing budget plan as his running mate. Ryan had previously cited Rage Against the Machine as one of his favorite bands. Rage guitarist Tom Morello responded in an exclusive op-ed printed in Rolling Stone:

He states:

"Paul Ryan's love of Rage Against the Machine is amusing, because he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades. Charles Manson loved the Beatles but didn't understand them. Governor Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen but doesn't understand him. And Paul Ryan is cluelss about his favorite band, Rage Against the Machine.

Ryan claims he likes Rage's sound, but not the lyrics. Well, I don't care for Paul Ryan's sound or his lyrics. He can like whatever band he wants, but his guiding vision of shifting revenue more radically to the one percent is antithetical to the message of Rage.

I wonder what Ryan's favorite Rage song is? Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans? The one lambasting American imperialism? Our cover of "Fuck the Police"? Or is it the one we call the people to seize the means of productions. So many excellent choices to jam out to at a Young Republican meetings!

Don't mistake me, I clearly see that Ryan has a whole lotta "rage" in him: A rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment. Basically the only things he is not raging against is the privileged elite he's groveling in front of for campaign contributions". 

BURN!!

Read the rest of the piece by following the link above. 

Grace Potter Covers Beyonce

Yes I am so excited for her concert in December that I may become slightly obsessed with this woman. (Lets be honest I've been obsessed with her for years.) Here is my girl Grace Potter covering Beyonce's "Why Don't You Love Me". She did this performance for Billboard last year.

Rihanna. Respect.

Last night I watched Oprah's Next Chapter interview with pop princess Rihanna. And while my music taste doesn't bring me to much Rihanna music its hard to miss her songs on the radio. I was interested to see an interview about who she really is and how she has reacted to this much fame at the mere age of 23. 

Like always Oprah did a fantastic interview but it was Rihanna that was the most surprising. Usually when Oprah shows up at a celebrities house to do these interviews they are dressed to the nines they have their house decorated perfectly and their make up is obviously done for them. I was surprised to see Rihanna in a simple sundress, no make-up and sneakers for her interview. You could tell she was real, she was insightful and was wise beyond her years. 

If you get OWN and get the chance to watch this interview I highly recommend it. 

Here is a preview:

And here is a clip when she talks about the Chris Brown incident in February 2009. You can't help but feel for her...

Bravo to both Oprah and Rihanna.

Seven Years in Seven Minutes

This could be the coolest thing I've seen in a long while. 

"A lot can happen in seven years: The birth of a baby, the death of a loved one, and the completion of a Mars Rover. JPL engineer Mark Rober is just one of the thousands who contributed to NASA's Curiosity Rover and on August 6, 2012 they saw seven years of hard work pay off in just seven terrifying minutes."

When you get the chance. Watch this video!!

Ken Taylor Wins Again

As many people know I love me some Phish posters. I try and get them at most of the shows I go to, its a great way to remember where you have been and keep the memories alive even after the show is over. Over the weekend Phish did a historic stand at the Bill Graham Arena in San Francisco. Many know the place as the home of The Dead, they played numerous shows during their days there. 

So in honor of this, artist Ken Taylor was tasked in doing the posters. I have one of Ken's posters from the new years run and its amazing! I was looking forward to what he would do for this run. 

Well check it out below. They are pretty fantastic! It features a Sloth! 710 Ashbury (Jerry Garcia's old home) and the colors are fantastic. Great job Ken!

Also as a side note: I'm listening to last nights show right now and it is STELLAR. You all should drop what you are doing open your Phish App and listen now. Here is a quote I read about it in a review this morning:

"It was the type of evening -- an entirely mesmerizing and moving two-set concert filled with superb musicianship and incredible improvisation -- that made the undying devotion of the 'phans' seem quite logical. As the group moved through one blistering jam after another, and filled the set list with an equal number of surprises and expected treats, it not only became increasingly easy to understand why someone would follow Phish from city to city-- it also started to sound like a very good idea."

R.I.P. Tony Scott (1944 - 2012)

Super sad news this morning, and I'm sorry that I have to start this week on this note. But last night filmmaker Tony Scott took his own life at the age of 68. Scott is responsible for some of my favorite movies including action classics "Top Gun", "The Last Boy Scouts", "True Romance", "Crimson Tide", "Enemy of the State" and "Unstoppable". 

My heart goes out to his friends and family during this difficult time.

Free Pussy Riot!

Love or hate this music you must respect what these women are doing. Oh and when you go to sleep tonight thank the Lord you live in the USA.

In February of this year, the Russian punk band Pussy Riot (made up of 24 year old Maria, 22 year old Nadezhda and 29 year old Yekaterina) staged a performance/protest at Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral. Here they recited a "Punk Prayer" featuring the lines "Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away". Well this did not go over too well with their government.

They were immediately arrested and charged with hooliganism, and during their months long trial they were facing up to three years in prison. During this time their cause hit the press. Everyone from Paul McCartney to Madonna were showing up to support them. Unfortunately unlike America Russian's don't see what they did as a clear-cut case in defense of free speech.

Throughout it all the girls remained clam, often seen smiling and standing up for what they believed in.

Well today the verdict in their case was handed down. THEY WERE DECLARED GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON. What!!! The Judge declared that the band "crudely undermined social order". This cause protests from their supporters and literally riots across the city. There were also pro-Pussy Riot protests in Paris where people chanted 'Freedom' in the city square. 

All I can say to Pussy Riot is way to show what it really means to be in a feminist punk band. You are brave and bold and I support you!!! 

Today. Is. Friday.

I'm pretty stoked for the beginning of this day and the end to a busted week. This one was not a good one for me. I sometimes a bad day or two, but never an entire week where it seems like the world is crushing down on my head. I made and did some stupid things under the pressure, treated people I cared about like shit and now will have to pay the consequences. Hopefully the people around me know that this is not me and that I love them all and just had a terrible week. 

For that there is this song by Cher. :)

Happy Friday. I know I'm going to make the best I can out of the weekend ahead.

Dear Dave Mustaine. You've Lost Your Mind!

Yeah Yeah Yeah I agree with free speech too. But it doesn't mean I have to like the man. I have written about him and his rants before but now former Megadeth singer has taken his rants a little bit too far for my liking. Again he can say what he wants but what an ass.

Here is his quotes from a recent show in Singapore.

"Back in my country, my president (Mustaine begins then pretends to gag himself with his finger), is trying to pass a gun ban so he's staging all of these murders. The 'Fast and Furious' thing down at the border. And Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now the beautiful people at the Sikh temple. i don't know where I am going to live if America keeps going the way it's going because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America."

**Dear Dave, just stick to the music. Please!** 

Great Picture

This is a fantastic picture a friend of mine took from his apartment last week during the Mumford & Sons concert at Pier A. 

Wow!

The Lumineers - Ho Hey

If you are a fan of the Swell Season like I am you are guaranteed to like this next band coming out of the Denver Colorado area. I am absolutely loving this first song "Ho Hey"; it has all the essence of an Irish Folk band while being right here in America. I have a feeling you will be hearing a whole lot more of it on this blog.

"I've been trying to do it right

I've been living a lonely life

I've been sleeping here instead

I've been sleeping in my bed

I've been sleeping in my bed

So show me family

all the blood that I will blee

I dunno where I belong

I dunno where I went wrong,

but I can write a song.

I belong with you, you belong with me

you're my sweetheart

I belong with you, you belong with me

you're my sweetheart..."

Dear Sports Media.

Just stop. Its preseason and all you can talk about is this man. One day he is the greatest and should be starting the next he is literally "Te-Blowing It". Make up your minds and then go and focus on some other teams in our league. I'm telling you this as a Jet fan. This story will get old!

Stadium Lights Show

Now we know what stadiums do when everyone else goes to sleep. Fantastic video below!!

Happy 54th Birthday Madonna

In celebration of this I bring you the best video I have ever seen of a 13 year old celebrating his Bar Mitzvah by voguing to Madonna. 

Life Goal Failed.

Justin Bieber met Phish before me. Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail.

Here is the report:

According to sources "Justin Bieber's all grown up and going to Phish concerts now. The singer and his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, went to a Phish concert at the Long Beach Arena last night. Bieber was brought by his musical director who had wanted the pop star to check out the bands music for some time. After the first set Bieber and Gomez got to go backstage to meet the band and the member's families. Bieber wore a green tie-dye T-Shirt (of course) and a Philadelphia Flyers cap to the event. The couple had been expected to leave after intermission, but ended up staying almost until the end."

Seriously everything I just wrote just pained me to no end.

Ellie Goulding - Anything Can Happen

I love this chick. I've been writing about her on my blog for years now and I'm so glad that she is finally getting her due on the airwaves. Her name Ellie Goulding and there are a few things you may have known her from. 1. She hails from London where she sang at the Royal Wedding. 2. Her song "Lights" is literally lighting up the US charts 3. She is completely unique. 

Her new album Halycon is set to drop soon and her first single "Anything Can Happen" is very catching and perfectly mixed.

Phish In Long Beach

Phish kicked off their second leg of their summer tour out in Long Beach, California last night. And while I had to miss out listening to the show because I had to go to bed and be a productive member of society today. I am in fact listening to the show as we speak and it was nothing short of a scorcher!

Do I even have to mention the "Rock N Roll > Ghost". Unbelievable guys! 

Oh and the poster from last night wasn't too shabby either!

Next stop a 3 night run in San Francisco starting Friday.

Jack White Surprise Set

Yet another of the million reasons to love Jack White.

Yesterday marked the end of the Outside Lands Music Festival and what I'm hearing that festival is getting better and better each year! Fans were granted a special treat on its last day, according to one fan:

"On my way over to Trampled by Turtles at 3pm or so yesterday, I noticed the Third man Records truck was parked by the fried pickles stand and a rather large crowd was forming. Turns out Jack White was planning a little surprise set in the woods for an intimate few, which you'd hope to see if the truck rolled into your home town. He played "Love Interruption" "Broken Boy Soldiers", a tune I'm forgetting right now, and then ended things off with a singalong to "Hotel Yorba".

What a treat! Here is a video.

Grace Potter - Timekeeper

Why are you sleeping on the new Grace Potter album! Get it now!!

Here is another favorite from it called "Timekeeper"

"Timekeeper 

I can't believe how long it's been

Timekeeper 

I wish I could start over again

I'm too young

To be feeling this way 

Yeah I'm wasted as I lie awake

There goes another day..."

Phish Tour Starts Again Tonight

Sometimes I wish that I had the ability to fly and/or the financial freedom to not have to work and be able to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Unfortunately life does not work that way and its also the reason why I am not in California today getting ready for the Phish shows in Long Beach. The second leg of their summer tour starts tonight and after leg one this one is sure to be a good run.

I know a ton of people who are out there ready to have fun. I'll probably listen to the shows from my couch tonight, not the same... but better than nothing.

Have fun kids.

A Favorite Joins Dexter!

I am literally counting the days until Dexter comes back (September 30th) and the more and more I read about the new season the more and more I'm excited about it. 

Yet today came the best news possible. One of my favorite actresses, Yvonne Strahovski (formally of Chuck... I know I'm the only one who watched that show) but she was fantastic in it. And when the show ended I was afraid that I would never hear from her again. But alas! She has joined the cast of Dexter for the new season. 

Can't wait to see what type of insane situation she gets herself into!

Congrats Yvonne!

Mo Farrah Running Away From Things

Okay I promise this is the last of the Olympic coverage for me. This was just way too funny not to post. Anyone who watched the Olympic coverage was sure to see Great Britain's own Mo Farah literally run away with the 5,000m and the 10,000m. Something only a handful of people have been able to pull off before him. His face during these races were just priceless, and today someone created a Tumblr site to celebrate it with:

"Mo Farrah Running Away From Things"

(Full Site Click Here)

I have been laughing all morning.... (and I needed it)

....and now for my two favorites! 

again laughing so hard right now... 

Florence in Vogue

Dear Florence Welch, 

This is what I look like in dreams.... not reality.

Way to go.

-A Fan.

Grace Potter Headed to DC!

Life got a whole lot sweeter the other day when my girl Grace Potter tweeted out this photo with the caption:

"Breaking news from Coach Shanahan's office... we will return to Washington DC's famous 9:30 Club on December 6th!

Whoot Whoot Whoot!!

Ahhhh! (Breath) Ahhh!

Ahhhhh!!! Ahhhh!!! Ahhhh!!!!!!

This is awesome!!!

Trey (from a little band Phish... if you read this blog you may have heard of him) has just announced his fall tour dates. Not only is he coming to Richmond. He is coming to The National in October! 

For anyone who doesn't know, that is literally walking distance from my apartment. 

Trouble!!

Turnpike Troubadours

Okay this is a departure for me. Get ready... for... some.... country music!

Ahhhhhhh!

I know. I promised I would never go there. But today I was slapped across the face by a new band that I instantly fell in love with. Their names Turnpike Troubadours. Their song "Gin, Smoke and Lies". 

I don't know much about this band yet but you can be sure that I will be doing some research. For now take a listen to a certified badass song.

New Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift took to her twitter page last night to announce that she is getting ready to drop a new album named "Red" next month. She says that she will be exploring relationships on the new albums 16 songs, but not just her own. She said in an interview "When I'm writing an album, my world kind of becomes a big story board and everyone in it has the potential to become a character in it". She also described the relationships she has had in the past as "dysfunctional, and not good, but when you write about them, its good". 

To drive the point home she released her first single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together". Which is rumored to be about Jake Gyllenhaul. But Taylor being the good girl that she is, never really says that...

This first song is very poppy and well you may as well get on board now because you know its all the radio's will be playing for the next six months...

Bad Books - Forest Whitaker

This one is for you PC.

Bad Books are about to release a new album and they took to Rolling Stone today to premiere their new song Forest Whitaker. Bad Books (a band that I am just becoming familiar with) is an American rock supergroup formed in early 2010. It is composed of folk/indie artist Kevin Devine and members of the band Manchester Orchestra. 

The story goes that the band formed after Kevin toured along with the group back at the end of 2008. The ended up releasing their first self titled album in November of 2010. Their new album Bad Books II will be released this October.

And while I just listened to this song for the first time. Its pretty damn impressive. Looking forward to hearing more.

Getting Things Done

Sorry no time yet for the blog today. Been working pretty hard here at work (see above) to get things done today. Lots of meetings, writing, talking, touring, about to do lunching. 

I promise I'll try back later. No promises. 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Things I Could Have Done Without

Things I could have lived without.... Closing Ceremonies Edition.

Flying Saxophone Man

George Michael and his skull belt-buckle 

Jesse J performing with Queen

Boybands

Russel Brand 

Recreating John Lennon? 

Did I mention Jesse J?

This list could go on for days....

On the other hand, the fireworks during these Olympics were amazing. 

NBC Cuts Off The Who??

I thought that it came to an abrupt ending last night....

After taking some time to read some reviews about the telecast of the Closing Ceremonies last night I'm learning about some key things and artists that were left off. Last night at around 11:30 all of a sudden the closing cermonies cut off and I had a new NBC comedy playing on my tv. I thought it was a sudden ending to the Olympics but didn't think much about it, NBC has been cutting out of coverage all week. But then I learned this morning that they cut out sets from artists like MUSE and a multi-song set by The Who. 

Really NBC? You cut off The Who to make more airtime for your new shows that nobody is going to watch. 

Fail.

Spice Girls Back

I am still trying to process exactly what happened at the London Closing Ceremonies last night. 

While I process take a look at the above photo. Something that we all haven't seen since the mid 90s. Thats right its the Spice Girls, they reunited for last nights finale. 

I found it hilarious to see how nothing has changed. Four of them danced around singing and Posh spice (also known as Victoria Beckham) stood there in a fancy dress and posed the entire time. 

Olympic Pictures of the Day

I'm sorry that this blog has moved away from being a music blog this week. I've been very busy and have only had time to stop here and post a few times. I promise once these Olympics are over I'll get back to listening to music but for now you just get more pictures.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend planned.

Here are two pictures from the Gold Medal soccer game yesterday. USA eeked out the victory 2-1 over Japan and celebrated all over town last night with their gold medals. Congrats ladies!

Olympic Pictures of the Day

Last nights Olympic coverage belonged to these two. After dominating three straight Olympics the duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Walsh-Jennings brought home the Gold last night, their third straight. This pretty much solidifies that they will go down in history as the best duo to every play the sport. You don't get more dominating then what they accomplished. 

This seems to be the last match ever for Misty who announced her retirement shortly after winning the gold. It looks like Kerry will try and make another run for it in Rio, but it sure won't be the same without Misty by her side.

Misty says this about retirement. "This is my last match. Beach volleyball's not going to be my career anymore... Its time for me to be a wife. I want to be a mom and share time with my family. All of us as athletes sacrifice more on the family end than people realize. And it's getting back to that. My mind says its time. My body says its time. And its the right time."

Way to go out on top Misty.