A Very Special Message From My Friend, Alice Cooper

New Avett Brothers Out Today

"I and Love and You"
I predict a big hit. On first listen the sound feels fuller without feeling like they have betrayed their true selves. I'm happy that Rick Rubin showed some sensitivity to their sound and didn't try to mess with it, rather augment their sound.

Go see them live. They don't hold anything back. The official version of this video has that old "embedding denied because the Record Company is a group of Greedy Pigs who don't understand how things work in the new age", so we'll see how long before this link disappears. Until that time, enjoy:

New Alice Cooper Song, Just In Time For Halloween!

And fitting, since the new song is called "Keepin' Halloween Alive". It's out now on iTunes, and it's a decent song. Long-time readers of this blog know that I'm a HUGE Alice fan, so I admit I'll buy just about anything he puts out. Here's the word from Alice, direct from his official press release:

Alice delivers the song with the garage-punk snarl he is best known for, ensuring that it will soon be a Halloween classic. “At home my family all gathers around an old spooky tree decorated with skulls and bones in the living room, and we exchange gifts,” says Cooper. “It’s our holiday. We even all have matching black-and-orange Halloween sweaters! I wanted a theme song for people like me, and for us Halloween never ends. In the chorus I say, ‘I’m keepin’ Halloween alive, baby, 3–6–5’... and I mean it!”

“Keepin’ Halloween Alive,” was co-written and co-produced by Cooper with Piggy D. (a member of Rob Zombie’s band), who played rhythm guitar/backup vocals. Dave Pino (Powerman 5000) is featured on lead guitar, and David Spreng (Bob Dylan, The Bravery) on drums. Of the recording, Cooper says, “We played it live as a band to capture the vibe. It was the easiest work I think any of us have ever done, not to mention a blast!”

It should be noted, according to the attached poster graphic, that the song is "Number 1!". How that is possible, since it just came out, is beyond me. But I'm not telling the 61-year-old shock rocker what he can or can not claim. Are you?

Here's the current US tour dates for his (mostly) annual fall trek. No STL? Bah, humbug:
Tue 09/29/09
Richmond, VA The National

Wed 09/30/09
Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center

Fri 10/02/09
Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

Sat 10/03/09
Pompano Beach, FL Pompano Beach Amphitheatre

Sun 10/04/09
Fort Myers, FL Barbara B. Mann Perf. Arts Hall

Mon 10/05/09
Daytona Beach, FL Peabody Auditorium

Wed 10/07/09
Montgomery, AL Montgomery Performing Arts Centre

Fri 10/09/09
Marksville, LA Paragon Casino Resort

Sat 10/10/09
Biloxi, MS Beau Rivage Theatre

Sun 10/11/09
Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater

Mon 10/12/09
Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom

Fri 10/16/09
Stateline, NV Harrah's Lake Tahoe

Sat 10/17/09
West Wendover, NV Peppermill Concert Hall

Mon 10/19/09
Idaho Falls, ID Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium

Wed 10/21/09
San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre

Fri 10/23/09
Las Vegas, NV The Orleans Hotel & Casino

Sat 10/24/09
Las Vegas, NV The Orleans Hotel & Casino

Sun 10/25/09
Las Vegas, NV The Orleans Hotel & Casino

Tue 10/27/09
Fresno, CA William Saroyan Theatre

Wed 10/28/09
Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE

Fri 10/30/09
Indio, CA Fantasy Springs Resort Casino & Special Events Ctr.

Carl Sagan: "A Glorious Dawn"

This one has been going around the interweb, and it's one of the better uses of autotune, IMO. It draws me in, listening to it more than one time:

Thanks to Mark for being on the edge of the wave and sending this to me first.

Jenny Owen Youngs Update: Good News/Bad News- She's Coming To STL

So after I posted last about Jenny, I checked to see if she is touring, and GREAT NEWS, SHE IS! Specific to my little corner of the world, she's coming to Off Broadway on Tuesday, October 27, opening for the band mae.

But BAD NEWS, she's coming the same night that White Rabbits are playing at the Firebird. Oh cruel gods of fate, why do you taunt me? Ah, perhaps I can pull a Beatle Bob and hit Off Broadway first, catch Jenny, and then hightail it to the Firebird to see those White Rabbit boys. Yessss, it just might work.

Here's her whole schedule:
Tue 10/13/09
Louisville, KY Skull Alley

Wed 10/14/09
Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle

Thu 10/15/09
Richmond, VA The Downstairs Lounge

Fri 10/16/09
Baltimore, MD Sonar

Sat 10/17/09
New York, NY Blender Theatre At Gramercy

Sun 10/18/09
Asbury Park, NJ Asbury Lanes

Mon 10/19/09
Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs

Tue 10/20/09
Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre


Appearing with Mae
Thu 10/22/09
Denver, CO Marquis Theater

Fri 10/23/09
Kansas City, MO The Record Bar

Sat 10/24/09
Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club

Mon 10/26/09
Fargo, ND The Aquarium

Tue 10/27/09
St. Louis, MO Off Broadway Nightclub

Wed 10/28/09
Chicago, IL Reggie's Rock Club

Thu 10/29/09
Newport, KY The Historic Southgate House

Fri 10/30/09
Akron, OH Musica

Sat 10/31/09
Grand Rapids, MI Mixtape Cafe

Sun 11/01/09
Columbus, OH Skully's Music Diner

Mon 11/02/09
Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe

Appearing with Mae
Tue 11/03/09
Philadelphia, PA North Star Bar

Wed 11/04/09
Philadelphia, PA North Star Bar

Thu 11/05/09
Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs

Fri 11/06/09
New York, NY Fillmore New York At Irving Plaza

Sat 11/07/09
South Hackensack, NJ School of Rock East

Sun 11/08/09
Washington, DC Black Cat

Jenny Owen Youngs: F**k Was I Thinking VIDEO

Jenny has a great voice. I recently downloaded her latest called "Transmitter Failure" and it is one of the under-rated quiet little gems of 2009. I first heard her through this song, though, from the 2005 release "Batten The Hatches". About an unwanted pregnancy?
"Love grows in me like a tumor
a parasite bent on devouring its host"
Great opening line, don't you think?

I'm going to download all of "Batten The Hatches" now, and see if the rest is as good as this song.

OK, here's "If I Didn't Know" from her latest:

It's hard to stop at one.

New Flaming Lips Video: I Can Be A Frog

I CAN NOT WAIT for the new Flaming Lips. Here's a video from the new one with backing animal noises by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And did you catch them playing "Convinced Of The Hex" on the Colbert Report a week or so back? SWEEEEET.
The Flaming Lips "I Can Be A Frog"

Siversun Pickups Video: Substitution

Here they are, with the best-looking game of musical chairs that I've ever seen:

Sending This One Out To All The Ladies (And The Men Who Love Them) Out There

So bad it's delicious. My long-distance dedication to you:

PLAY: stl Music Festival Starts Tomorrow

Wristbands are only $15 and that icludes a free burrito from Chipotle, and a free Schlafly beer. Mmmmmm... beer.
Thursday night features the Antlers. Here they are performing for the politically correct NPR listeners. It's almost 20 minutes, so pull up a chair and relax:


The place to be on Friday is at Cicero's, The Life and Times, Republic Tigers, and more:
7:15 p.m. | Starlume | Springfield, Mo. | alt/indie
8:10 p.m. | The Orbz | St. Louis, Mo. | wave
9:05 p.m. | The Life and Times | Kansas City, Mo. | indie rock
10:05 p.m. | The Makeshift Gentlemen | St. Louis, Mo. | wave/dance
11:00 p.m. | The Republic Tigers | Kansas City, Mo. | indie rock
12:00 a.m. | One Lone Car | St. Louis, Mo. | pop/rock
Here's the Republic Tigers, doing the song "Made Concrete":
the Republic Tigers - Made Concrete


There are many STL bands sharing stages, and it's a great time to hear some new bands, and others that you've been meaning to check out. See you there.

Jim Carroll, R.I.P.: People Who Died

Teddy sniffing glue, he was 12 years old
Fell from the roof on East Two-nine
Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug
On 26 reds and a bottle of wine
Bobby got leukemia, 14 years old
He looked like 65 when he died
He was a friend of mine


Jim Carroll died of a heart attack in his home on Friday. He was 60 years old, and you can read a full obit about him here.
Most famous for the above song, he also wrote the book/journal "The Basketball Diaries" which was made into a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio.

My Dog Is A Jedi

Sorry, one more for friday. I must be feeling a little giddy right now:

Happy Friday From The Jonas Brothers

Go ahead. You'll like it.

Fever Ray: Seven Video

I think of the album this comes off of as a 2008 release, but it really came out this year, in January. A lot has happened since then, so maybe that's why it feels like a distant memory. Anyway, Fever Ray's self-titles release is one of my favorites of the year. It doesn't hit you over the head but becomes hypnotic. For some reason I feel that I'm listening to what Native American music would have sounded like if we had all merged into one big happy family.

Fever Ray is the solo debut of Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson, lead singer for the duo The Knife.

Ghostland Observatory, Free Show At The Pageant Thanks To Southern Comfort

It's October 15, and it is indeed free. Go here for more information, and to get your tickets. You must be 21 and will be sent your code to get in 24 hours before the event via your mobile phone. Here's a video to let you know what you're getting yourself into:

Should be fun! I saw them in Chicago a few years ago at a sold-out show (was it the Metro?) and they were a lot of fun, and had LOTS of strobe lights. This is part of Southern Comfort's "Undercover Series", so it may be a little different as the band plays homage to some of their influences. The band will be in other cities, also, so check that web site for more info.

Son Volt Returns To The Pageant, St Louis

Can't believe I missed this. Surely it's been in the local blogs, but there it is: Son Volt returns to the Pageant on November 6. they're supporting the latest release, American Central Dust. Here they are performing Cocaine and Ashes at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Where, it should be noted, I saw Uncle Tupelo once back in the day:

Here's the rest of the dates:
SEPTEMBER 10th, 2009 EXIT/IN, NASHVILLE, TN

SEPTEMBER 11th, 2009 VARIETY PLAYHOUSE, ATLANTA, GA

SEPTEMBER 12th, 2009 VISULITE, CHARLOTTE, NC SON VOLT

SEPTEMBER 13th, 2009 CAT'S CRADLE, CARRBORO, NC

SEPTEMBER 15th, 2009 9:30 CLUB, WASHINGTON, DC

SEPTEMBER 16th, 2009 WORLD CAFE LIVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA

SEPTEMBER 17th, 2009 IRVING PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY

SEPTEMBER 18th, 2009 THE EGG, ALBANY, NY

SEPTEMBER 19th, 2009 PEARL STREET, NORTHAMPTON, MA

SEPTEMBER 21st, 2009 HIGHER GROUND, BURLINGTON, VT

SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2009 PARADISE ROCK CLUB , BOSTON, MA

SEPTEMBER 24th, 2009 THE MAJESTIC , DETROIT, MI

SEPTEMBER 25th, 2009 VIC THEATER , CHICAGO, IL

SEPTEMBER 26th, 2009 PABST THEATER , MILWAUKEE, WI

SEPTEMBER 27th, 2009 FIRST AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

NOVEMBER 5th, 2009 BLUE NOTE, COLUMBIA, MO

NOVEMBER 6th, 2009 THE PAGEANT, ST. LOUIS, MO

NOVEMBER 7th, 2009 THE LYRIC, OXFORD, MS

NOVEMBER 8th, 2009 GRANT STREET DANCE HALL, LAFAYETTE, LA

NOVEMBER 11th, 2009 CONTINENTAL CLUB, HOUSTON, TX

NOVEMBER 12th, 2009 THE GRANADA, DALLAS, TX

NOVEMBER 13th, 2009 FLOORE'S COUNTRY STORE, HELOTES, TX

NOVEMBER 14th, 2009 ANTONE'S, AUSTIN, TX

NOVEMBER 17th, 2009 MINGLEWOOD, MEMPHIS, TN

NOVEMBER 18th, 2009 WORKPLAY, BIRMINGHAM, AL

NOVEMBER 19th, 2009 40 WATT, ATHENS, GA

NOVEMBER 20th, 2009 THE HANDLEBAR, GREENVILLE, SC

NOVEMBER 21st, 2009 RHYTHM & BREWS, CHATANOOGA, TN

Acid Girls: The Numbers Song VIDEO

Artistic, sexy, disturbing, instrumental, well-done:

Acid Girls - The Numbers Song from IHEARTCOMIX Records on Vimeo.