Friday, October 31, 2008

Taste The Magic: America Now

Odd but catchy song/videos from Adult Swim and Brad Neely:



Like Schoolhouse Rock on "retarded".

Here's the first Schoolhouse Rock, which originally aired on ABC starting in 1973 on Saturday morning cartoons. It's "Three Is A Magic Number":

Cheap Trick Plans To Celebrate 30th Anniversary of "Live In Budokan"


In an effort to get the bad taste of that last post out, here's something from Cheap Trick, WHO HAVE ALL THEIR ORIGINAL MEMBERS:

1. The boys from Rockford have a new album in the can, and are looking for someone to partner with to release it. No release date, obviously, yet. More when we hear about it at the Old Skool Institute Of Rockology World Headquarters.

2. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of "At Budokan", the disc that launched them, at least for a while, into superstardom with "I Want You To Want Me", the band is planning some special goodness. The band has recorded a new Budokan set from their visit this past April, and plans on releasing a CD/DVD of the concert. That is interesting, but let's face it, they did it because they can sell some discs on nostalgia. I doubt the recording will be anticipated by anyone other than the faithful followers of Bun E. and gang.

The more interesting news here, although I admit it still probably only excites the Cheap Trick mega-fans, is that they will also release a box set CD/DVD of the ORIGINAL concert, which was filmed and broadcast on April 30, 1978 on Japanese TV. It's been in the can all that time, aging like a fine wine. Unless it had a bad cork, which in that case it will stink like a 30-year-old Members Only jacket. We'll see, but I think that will be interesting.

3. The band also hope to release a 1998 re-recording of the classic 1977 "In Color" album that was produced by Steve Albini.

That's a lot of nostalgia, but one thing is true: Cheap Trick is ALWAYS good in concert. And if these little trips down memory lane help fund them so they can go out on the road and rock some more state fairs and club dates, I say do it.

Oh, and one more thing about that last LZ post: IF this is real and that other guy sings for them, it means that Creed may re-form since Alter Bridge is all the non-singing members of that band. It goes from bad to worse, folks.

Old Skool Weeps: Led Zeppelin: Are They REALLY Thinking About Touring With A Singer Other Than Robert Plant? REALLY?


If this was April 1, I would feel better reporting this. Because then it would be a bad joke, not a "real" news story that I picked up from Billboard.

But here it is, from Billboard. I can't even bring myself to paraphrase. An excerpt:

Who needs Robert Plant? Apparently not the other surviving members of Led Zeppelin, who are ready to pull the trigger on a tour with a new singer if Plant refuses to join in. Sources tell Billboard the frontman first in line for the gig is Myles Kennedy, who has most recently led the rock outfit Alter Bridge.

Kennedy has rehearsed with Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham on several occasions, according to sources in the know. In a recent BBC interview, Jones confirmed the band was planning to tour but didn't refer to Kennedy by name.


First Page and Plant tour and don't consider having Jones join them. And now this.

Sigh.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Yo-Yo Ma/Andrew Bird Live Duet

This one made me smile. I agree with Stereogum that Yo Yo is a bit patronizing, but then again, he is YO YO and probably just met this other guy, the one they call Andrew. And you just know that Andrew is going to break out his bad-ass whistling. The brother just can't help himself:

The Flaming Lips Are Cool Even When They Are Doing The NBC "Chimes"

Link to the video here. Make sure you check out Wayne's cool guitar hero guitar. Sweet.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Octopus Project, This Thursday At The Bluebird


I was pleased to see that the Octopus Project were going to be gracing our fair STL city this Thursday at the Bluebird. If you are not familiar with them , they are a mostly instrumental group hailing from Austin. I stumbled upon them at SXSW a few years ago, and was entranced to see a young lady playing the hell out of the Theremin along with a full-on band. That's right, I said Theremin. The band puts on a very good live show.

Here is a new video from them that has a great home-made feel. Man, I miss seeing videos on my MTV:


Here's one for the song "Truck". I love you both videos capture the aesthetic of the band in their own way:


There are more videos on their site, along with some MP3s that you can download. Go see them, I bet you'll like them. Enjoy.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Music From The Future, Today

Thanks to Warren for this one:

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Flaming Lips: March Of 1,000 Flaming Skeletons This Saturday


My good friends in the Flaming Lips e-mailed me to let me know that they are having their annual parade this Saturday, October 25 in Oklahoma City. Sounds like a lot of fun, but I've got to wash my hair and can't make it. Maybe next year, though. Here's the details:

This Oct 25, The LIPS will once again host their annual MARCH OF 1000 FLAMING SKELETONS parade in downtown Oklahoma City’s Bricktown district, just a stones throw away from FLAMING LIPS ALLEY.

Last year’s inaugural Ghouls Gone Wild event was a huge success that drew LIPS fans from around the globe. Naturally, this year’s Supernatural procession will be even more incendiary as festive floats, (in)appropriately adorned cars, walking groups and plenty of surprises along with 1000 strong undead snaking through the streets of Oklahoma City. Wayne Coyne will lead the evening’s proceedings as Master of Ceremonies and the parades Grand Marshall Extraordinaire.


For $35 you get a cool pack of a t-shirt, skeleton suit, and torch. And of course you get to march in the parade! Sounds awesome, and I am seriously thinking I need to do this next year when I can plan ahead. Go HERE to sign up, and let me know how it was!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Free Music Downloads From Insound

For a limited time you can download a free sampler at Insound to celebrate the upcoming CMJ Festival in NYC, October 21-25. The mix includes a bunch of bands like The Uglysuit, Crystal Stilt, and more bands that I frankly have not listened to UNTIL NOW. Any good? Don't know, but it's free. Go get 'em!

Apollo Sunshine: Singing To The Earth (To Thank Her For You)

Apollo Sunshine e-mailed me (OK, it was a bulk e-mail. Let me live in my cotton-candied fantasy world where all the cool musicians love me and correspond regularly with me. It gets lonely here on Old Skool Mountain's Fortress Of Musicology) to let me know that they have a new video, featured below.

Cool fact about this video: guitarist Sam Cohen and his girlfriend Sarah Graves created the stop-motion animation together. Fun video, thanks for sharing, good friends (in my mind) Apollo Sunshine!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Old Skool Proof Of The Eyes Concert Attendance



Why have I written so much about the Eyes/Pale Divine reunion? Maybe it's because I saw them back in the day almost EVERY WEEKEND. My friend John send me some shots from their web site that clearly shows evidence of an Old Skool siting, similar to seeing the mythical bigfoot in the wild. Often heard about, rarely documented. John is the fair-haired longer-haired blonde behind the stage, I'm the shorter darker haired guy in the front.

Wonder if ballerina girl will be there?

Thursday, October 16, 2008

In The Air Tonight

I can feel it in the air tonight. Can't you?

Monday, October 13, 2008

AC/DC Hear Old Skool Pleas, Agree To Come To STL. Forget To Tell O.S. Just How Damn Expensive It Will Be to See Them.



Old Skool may just buy the DVD and stay home.

The Eyes/Pale Divine Update



Well, the December 29 reunion show is a go, and tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster or through the Pageant box office. As a matter of fact, the reserved seating looks to be all sold out, dangnabbit. Darn other Old Skoolers, wantin' to be sittin' the whole time...

The Eyes always favored the dramatic and I am happy to say that this reunion is no exception. Most bands get back together and hope they sell enough tix to make a couple of bucks and share some memories of good times. I'm sure the boys are looking forward to that, but there is more: You can also get a limited edition retrospective booklet with a DVD and two CDs, a remastered version of the original "Freedom In A Cage" (which I have, of course. From the original CD release at 1227.) and 12 demos from the aborted follow-up to "Straight To Goodbye". For a little more $$ you can also have a limited edition t-shirt.

Looks like I'm gonna have to get a job at the gas station to pay for all this stuff.

Go here to see a part of the DVD, showing the band rocking out in all their glory at Kennedys, The Hangar, Mississippi Nights, etc. It's a hoot to watch. You can also check out the shirt and images of the book/cd/dvd/toenail clipper

Purple And Brown Silliness

Here's one that made me chuckle, from Aardman Animation:

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The Avett Brothers- Murder In The City



The Avett Brothers are bit of a conundrum for me. The first time I saw them open up for BR5-49 I could not tell if I loved them or hated them, these wild-eyed romantic hippies bashing and stomping, screaming their lungs out. And there also was some gorgeous harmonies, and lyrics that rang true, an unusual thing.

This song, from the Second Gleam EP, absolutely slays me. It should be a monster hit, one of those medical shows should have it roll over one of those emotional montages, and every man woman and child should own a copy. Look, it's got it all: Musing about growing up:

I wonder who my parents loved the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble
They seemed to let the other g
o (as the brothers share a smile)
A tear fell from my father's eyes
I wondered what my dad would say
He said I love you and I'm proud of you both
In so many different ways


Romance:

If I get murdered in the city
don't go revenging in my name
One person dead from such is plenty
No need to get locked away
When I leave your arms
The things I think of
No need to get over alarmed
I'm coming home


Acoustic guitars, piano, harmony, family:

Make sure my sister know I loved her
Make sure my mother knows the same
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name


Not many songs are good enough, real enough, that I feel the emotions and am moved by them. Buy The Second Gleam on itunes, emusic, at your favorite music store, or at least buy this song. These boys deserve it.

For more, here they are from an earlier post from when Jeff and I saw them at the Sheldon. There was no mistaking my feelings for them at that show. It was a rare magical night, starting with this very song:

Tractor Rock

Sorry I've been AWOL lately. I've been... thinking.

Here's Sweet Georgia Brown, with a tractor's engine keeping beat. Fun: