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: