Vampire Weekend, New Album, Popscene This Week!

I just listened to the much anticipated Vampire Weekend album and I have nothing but good things to say (as always). The debut album is available on iTunes, and I'm sure they will have copies at Popscene (330 Ritch) on Thursday. Take a listen, watch the video, see the band. You'll enjoy.

Concert Schedule Heating Up

January 24th - Silian Rail - Hemlock Tavern - The instrumental duo impressed the crowd at the Thread Production showcase at Bottom of the Hill back in July. Plus the reference to one of my favorite movies gets bonus points. If you don't know it, watch the video.

January 25th - Action Design - opening for the Donna's at Aaron Axelsen's new Popscene establishment. Get there early to see them... The lead singer has a very Karen O + Pat Benetar rock'n'roll hotness to her.

January 26th - planningtorock - Mezzanine - I saw her open for Hot Chip at the Fillmore earlier this year. It was on my wishlist of artists to see in 2008. Very bizarre, Very eccentric... If that's OK with you, then you will think she is awesome. I'm not making this shit up..
"Neo-vaudevillian kaleidoscope of a record, its vigorous and defiant, littered with off kilter touches" - WIRE June 2006
"I´m getting a record that is super fucking weird but also satisfyingly mind-blowing." - VICE magazine July 2006

January 27th - Ian Fays - Hemlock Tavern:
The Ian Fays were supposed to play on my birthday at the Hemlock, but the show was cancelled. Fortunately, I gave their tunes a listen and was immediately hooked to their casio-tone indie rock.

January 31st - Vampire Weekend - Popscene - I seem to have missed a handful of their shows since I saw them open for The Shout Out Louds. The talented young band from NYC has been compared to the sounds of Paul Simon and David Byrne.

A Great Date With Kate In Another State: Was it Fate?

My business travels recently put me on the east coast for a week and though I was never in one place for more than 48 hours, I was able to squeeze in some live music while in New York City. Admittedly, I've not been to a concert in NYC since 1992 and the Bowery Ballroom was high on my list of places to see music before I die. So, when I checked into my hotel, I immediately went to the Bowery Ballroom's website to see if anyone was playing. Success! The much-hyped Kate Nash playing that very evening. Sold Out. Bummer. I went on craigslist to see if anyone would sell tickets at a reasonable price, but most of the listings were $50 and up. As luck would have it, one kind poster noted that Ticketmaster just released more tickets. Huzzah.

The Bowery Ballroom was packed and the room was buzzing as Kate Nash made her first appearance of three US dates. She gingerly sat on her bench and then her little fingers started dancing furiously across the keys. The New York crowd, much like a San Francisco crowd, just watched in judgement. As the notes to first song ended, the applause, the whistles, and the bellows of undying love laid the foundation of a fun night.

For a great review of the show, read the post by the Brooklyn Vegan.