Devo On Letterman

In case you missed it last night, here's Devo doing one from their new album Something For Everybody:

And yes, they do sound "fresh".

Now someone make sure they come to STL. Please?

The Hold Steady On Letterman

Did anyone catch this on Friday? Dave obviously likes this band a lot, and was really complimentary after they performed "The Weekenders" from the new release (coming out tomorrow!) "Heaven is Whenever".

There have been many comparisons to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, but if you listen to the lyrics, you might hear a bit of Warren Zevon in there. Letterman loved Zevon, so it makes sense that he would like the literate rock of the Hold Steady. Me, I'm thinking it's nice that the songs aren't as fussy and overwrought as they struck me with past albums. Things don't stray too far from the Hold Steady template, but there is a bit more directness that I like. And that's a nice guitar solo, too:

Mastodon On Letterman. Letterman On Mastodon: "I'm Frightened"

There's a world of stuff going on out there beyond these four walls. I apologize, I've been preoccupied. But again, how did I miss this? The one thing I notice right away is the technical dexterity of the musicians. Well, that and the guitarist's forehead. The guy on our left. Is that a tattoo, headband, stitches? But I digress. Anyone who thinks metal is just a bunch of stuff with no forethought or sense of composition, please watch this. I hope it changes your mind, at least a little. You don't have to like it to appreciate it's musicality. But I likey.