As music fans, we’re constantly swimming in a deep sea of band names. From the minimalist (The The) to the extravagant (The Pains of Being Pure At Heart) and everything in between, it often seems like bands put just as much creativity into their monikers as they do with their music.
Just imagine a band’s frustration when, after establishing a snappy name for themselves, they discover some other new young upstarts who dared to name themselves something disturbingly similar. The nerve!
As much as it must drive bands crazy to have the added task of distancing themselves from their similarly named peers, it is an equally challenging burden for us music fans to have to mentally organize the wealth of music out there. That’s why we’re here to help!
What’s been going on in the world of music lately? Read on to get the scoop on your favorite artists, and start some discussion about current music-related events!
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Plans for Record Store Day celebrations on April 18th are being confirmed all across the nation. The Cold War Kids are using the music lovers’ holiday to release a new live EP. What’s more, the band will be in Wisconsin the following day. Got your tickets to their Waukesha gig yet?! In a similar fashion, The Breeders are releasing an EP of their own to celebrate the event. How are you going to spend the day? What are your favorite local record stores?
The Breeders
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It seems like everyone in the world made the pilgrimage to Austin last week for the indie rock Mecca of a festival, SXSW. If you missed out on the sounds, you can still experience the sights with this photo gallery of performances.
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The Duke Spirit recently stopped by the The Current’s studios. Listen to their performance/interview here!
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Rolling Stone previews 45 (!) of the most anticipated Spring releases, including new albums from Green Day, Regina Spektor, Wilco, Sonic Youth, Black Moth Super Rainbow (who will be in Madison May 21), New York Dolls, Mos Def and The Avett Brothers.
Regina Spektor
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Have you become totally obsessed with Twitter yet? You will be after reading Stereogum’s list of the Top 50 Rock Star Twitters! While you’re at it, come Twitter with us.
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It has been a sad week in the music world. Blues fans are mourning the loss of New Orleans-based pianist and singer Eddie Bo, who passed away from a heart attack last week. Motown drummer Uriel Jones (who collaborated with the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, and Jimmy Ruffin) also died recently.
Eddie Bo
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Blender magazine announced that it’s shutting its doors. The last line of this news story sums up the sentiments of so many music fans: “R.I.P. Blender. I wont miss you, but others will.”
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Listen to a brand new Death Cab For Cutie track here!
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Is streaming music online a bad thing? This guy seems to think so.
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Listen to a great NPR interview with Black Joe Lewis! Aaaaand a not-so-great one from Sigur Ros. In fact, according to NPR, it just might be the worst interview ever. EVER.
Black Joe Lewis
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UWIRE wants to take you on tours of the music scenes in various major American college towns. (Yup, Madison too!)
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What’s been going on in the world of music lately? Read on to get the scoop on your favorite artists, and start some discussion about current music-related events!
The Duke Spirit, who have played to Madison fans at several shows over the last year, announced plans to release their next album in an exclusive deal with Target stores. Along with the album’s release will come a clothing line inspired by the band’s frontwoman, Liela Moss.
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Stereogum is streaming Animal Collective‘s 1/20/09 show at the Bowery Ballroom. Click here to check it out!
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YouTube has begun using “overlay links” allowing users to purchase songs while viewing videos. Have you tried out this new feature? Do you like it, or is this kind of advertising too invasive?
Check out TV On The Radio‘s cover of David Bowie‘s “Heroes,” from the upcoming War Child charity album, also featuring Lily Allen, Peaches, Hot Chip, Elbow and many more!
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and openers The Duke Spirit rocked a packed house at the High Noon this May. Check out what the show was like or re-live the experience..
Can you keep up after last weeks intense run? Oh yes you can! Summer is rolling around and that means tour schedules will slow down- so get it while it’s hot (or at least before you have to travel 4 hrs. for a touring band and a beer)!
Friday May 2
THE DIRTBOMBS with special guests DAN SARTAIN & TERRIBLE TWOS
Genre: Rock
“..rock and roll at its pure, shaggy best. If you’re tired of that, you’re tired of life…” -Splendid
RA RA RIOT + THE LITTLE ONES with special guests HEY CHAMP
Genre: Indie/ Folk Rock
“Ra Ra Riot – a band of Syracuse University students past, present and on hiatus – find that balance — already in its short life, literally putting heartbeats and pacemakers into the stuffing of all of the songs that they’ve thus far put to their name – an explosive tag of cheerful and misleading aggression…” -Daytrotter
“The Little Ones..are here for you to feel better about yourself, once the cabin fever has lost its control and you’re free to go. They taunt everything from the waist down — on everyone within a 10-mile radius — to not go on and freak out all over the place with euphoric spasms becoming dancing and universally recognized getting down…” -Daytrotter
$1.50 PBR bottles all night & FREE Pizza from Glass Nickel!
Thanks to WORT FM and The Onion!
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Tuesday May 6
TEGAN AND SARA Out of Hibernation Tour with special guest AN HORSE
Genre: Indie/ Pop/ Alternative
“..defying conventional notions of rock rhythm, and featuring songs that seem to go through at least three melodic changes before recycling.” -Onion AV Club
“With accompaniment as varied as vocals from Ollabelle and Brazilian percussion from Mauro Refosco, White still keeps us off balance with rich, unpredictable textures that convey lost-in-the-backwoods disorientation.” -Billboard
