Led Zeppelin - Since I’ve Been Loving You @ Madison Square Garden July 1973

I understand, that these days, we leave it to Marshawn Lynch to school us on what it means to be in “Beast Mode” but Jimmy Page INVENTED “Beast Mode.” Fact.

David Bazan - “Virginia”

Songs like this are why ‘Strange Negotiations’ should be on MANY Best Albums of 2011 lists.

Virginia I had a dream that you invited us over
You still lived on the street where you laid down for good
We all sat on the floor as my kids swam around us
You smoked cigarettes like I knew you would

We were worried about your personal salvation
Was it heaven or hell that you saw when your eyes closed?
You smiled at us, floating high above the question
Like you knew something we didn’t know

Virginia I had a dream we were closer than brothers
Singing, pictures of you, crashing cars, skipping school
We drove all over town as the days blurred around us
We wore out your cassettes, we were nobody’s fool

They were worried about our high school graduation
They read us a poem, “Oh the Places You’ll Go”
You smiled it off, floating high above the question
Like you knew something they didn’t know

A great performance of “Virginia” live on KEXP.

Charles Bradley & Thomas Brenneck - The World (Is Going Up in Flames) live

A little known fact about me (that I’m actually REALLY proud of): I’ve never ever been in a fight EVER. Like, I’ve never physically made fists with my hands and aimed it at anybody to seriously injure them (well maybe my big brother Jimmy but that dude should have never taken a swig from my RC Cola when I wasn’t looking, sorry bro). I will tell you this though, if I was at a bar and Thomas was there and someone started something with him and it was clear that he needed backup, I’d break a damn bottle on a shaddy ass muthaf***a ANY DAY. How sweet is his guitar work? Those licks will put a sleeper hold on a ninja. 

John Coltrane - Alabama (Live at Birdland)

“Alabama” is a song written by John Coltrane that appears on his album Live at Birdland. It was written in response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, an attack by the Ku Klux Klan in Birmingham, Alabama that killed four girls (wikipedia)

Message.

Let me tell you why I like this picture. It’s nothing super amazing but it is a great picture of Jeff Tweedy at the Sasquatch festival 2011. What I like about it is that it almost seems like my two of my all-time favorite musicians have fused together to almost form a super musician. I see elements of John Frusciante in this picture that puts a smile on my face. Imagine these two making music together? I’m not sure if that would work but it’d be interesting. In the meantime, listen to Wilco’s Sasquatch festival set on NPR, hope that Frusciante puts new music out soon and that the new Chili Peppers isn’t horrible. I’m still a fan of that band even if it had a lot to do with Frusciante.

There’s so much music online, you guys. Man, no wonder people don’t buy records anymore. NPR always delivers.

Lissette and I attended the sold out Fleet Foxes show the other day at the Hollywood Palladium. It was an awesome show. The setlist was great. I had never seen them before or can say that I’m a huge fan but due to my co-worker’s hookup there, we got in for free. Grown Ocean has definitely grown on me and was one of my favorites live along with this long extended version of ‘White Winter Hymnal.’ Too bad my lady didn’t get to hear ‘Meadowlarks’ which was what she was pulling for. We still had a great time. It reminded me of the intensity of a My Morning Jacket show if it was just more mellow and more acoustic jams.

That’s what we call ‘The Jimmy Kimmel Show’ around work now. Well…not really. I actually just came up with that.

In the past week, we’ve been to the Jimmy Kimmel show twice because two of our bands performed there. Last Tuesday, The Gaslight Anthem were in town to perform “Bring It On.” Today, The Sounds were there on the outdoor concert to promote the new album ‘Something To Die For’ which hits stores tomorrow.

Hanging out with the bands and the label in the Green Room is always fun. I gotta admit, there’s a lot of people back there beating on their chest about what they do but it’s still rad to take advantage of an open bar and free grub (they had some rad coconut shrimp on the night Gaslight played). Just another one of those occasions where it’s rewarding to be part of something that you’re also a part of even if it is all the background work that goes into this kind of business.

The Gaslight Anthem on Jimmy Kimmel 3/22/11

The Sounds on Jimmy Kimmel’s Outdoor Concert Stage 3/28/11

Look ma, it’s me. I’m on TV.

Wye Oak @ The Echo, Los Angeles 3/24/11

Last night, after having missed them at SxSw, I went to go check out Wye Oak with Lissette at The Echo. Tickets were 8 bucks. Yes, EIGHT BUCKS! That’s less than some service fees for some shows here in L.A. Crazy. Anyways…I’m a bigger fan of Wye Oak than I was when I walked in there. For being just a two piece band, their sound was monstrous. We were right up next to them so we felt all the vibrations from the speakers/instruments resonating in that tiny venue. Jenn is a massively talented guitar player. I think I stared at her guitar work more than I did her. Being right up front you get to see how she orchestrates every sound she makes with all the pedals and effects right in front. It was beautiful. I ended up purchasing their last two albums before ‘Civilian’ and their previous one ‘The Knot’ has yet to be removed from my car stereo since me and Lissette popped it in this morning. Something tells me that Lissette really enjoyed the show as well. I love that. I love introducing her to new tunes and bands. The other day she admitted to digging The Moondoggies. It’s the least I can do for her after her exposing me to the world of Nina Simone and Janis Joplin. If you haven’t checked out Wye Oak, you should do so now. I can also thank Hugh for exposing me to them a while back.

*A little side note about the evening: While watching the band performing before Wye Oak, we encountered a woman/girl who kept squeezing by Lissette and I bumping into us every time she did. The first time was like whatever. The second was a tiny bit annoying but the third time I couldn’t help but say “Goddamn…” The girl didn’t hear me in the loud venue of course but I was beginning to think ghetto and be like “Aww hell nah, if this bitch do dat one mo’ time, I swear…” You know how that goes. She never came back or did it again. Later on, the girl who kept bumping into us went on stage and said “Good evening, we’re Wye Oak.” Awwkwaaaaaaaaard!

Mogwai - You Don’t Know Jesus (Live)

I finally got it. I purchased this Mogwai Special Moves 2LP/DVD Live in Brooklyn, NY back in August 18 and after an error by Amazon in posting the availability of it, I waited 3 months for it’s delivery. I debated canceling the order but I couldn’t find it anywhere so I toughed it out. Amazon is pretty legit and I figured they’d fulfill it and I’d one day be a happy listener. It arrived today and I’m stoked on this live version of one of my favorite Mogwai tracks. I don’t have a record player STILL but the LPs will sit patiently for me while I rock out to digital downloads (every release should include them). Enjoy.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Killing A Camera1 / Braid / Lucky To Be Alive

Braid - Killing a Camera (live)

got a cough
my throat kills from singing
my ears are ringing
the stage is slowly sinking
and we’re all thinking the same thing
let’s not settle for satisfaction
we are women and men of action
let’s stop clapping let’s start doing
a dream for the teens and in-betweens
and twenties yet unseen.

fakeproblems:

So I don’t know where you live, or how old you are, but if you happen to live anywhere near Los Angeles, California and are 21 or older, we’re having a free show just for you.  We’re going to be pounding out some old hits, and a lot of choice cuts from our upcoming record “Real Ghosts Caught On Tape”.  I hope to see you all there!  

Where you can find me Tuesday night. I really like this band. And I’m not just saying that.

Weezer - No One Else (Acoustic)

I’ve been doing a lot of shit talking about Weezer lately. Basically, I could care less about ANYTHING they put out these days. I don’t care how much they or anybody claims that it’s back to the old stuff or that Rivers has put some heart into it again. That’s what they said before and we’ve been getting bullshit ass records every time. BUT, they gave us the Blue album and Pinkerton which alone gives them a place in my musical heart. This is one of my favorite songs and one of my favorite acoustic jams in one.

P.S. My cousin, Melissa, totally agrees with me on how I feel about Weezer now and she’s the biggest fan I’ve ever known personally.

So this was my scene last night. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the House of Blues Sunset.

Joe Gittleman the Bass Fiddleman used to work here at SideOneDummy rocking production duties a few years back. Anytime the Bosstones are in town he extends an invitation to the crew here. One of the coolest dudes ever. Given he’s the one in the band I know the most I tend to keep an eye on him when he plays. He’s such a great bass player, just carries so much of the song on his groove. The Bosstones, despite me not knowing a lot of their catalog, are nothing short of professional when they are on stage. They bring it every time I’ve seen them. Such a great band and when they play Rascal King I can’t help but whisper to myself “hell yeah!” The crowd was cheering a lot, I’m assuming they were having an awesome time. Or at least that’s the impression that I… nevermind.

Nine Inch Nails - Hurt (live)

I wear this crown of shit
Upon my liar’s chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
the feelings disappears
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become?
my sweetest friend
Everyone I know
goes away in the end
You could have it all
my empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt