R5 Productions iPhone app = very cool

If you go to indie/alternative/punk shows in Philly and are iPhone enabled, you need this app.

Camera Obscura perform "French Navy" on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

I do not understand why talk show hosts slam down the album cover when announcing a band. Letterman did it the other night when Sonic Youth was on.

Watch Craig Ferguson do it when introducing Camera Obscura:



As for Camera Obscura, I like the band's retro apparel.

And their new album, "My Maudlin Career," is pretty spiffy.

Dinosaur Jr. Daytrotter Session June 2009

Here is Dinosaur Jr.'s contribution to Daytrotter.com's sessions archive.

Four performances exclusive to this session: Severed Lips, Repulsion, Crumble, Back to Your Heart.

I saw Dinosaur Jr. in May 2009 at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA. After a painfully long problem with J's amps, they brought the rawk all loud and what not.

There was some insanely high Dinosaur Jr. "fan" who almost certainly was tripping balls, as the kids say.

He kept yelling between songs, "Dinosaur Jr. is the BEST BAND EVER!"

J seemed amused, but Lou was not. He pointed out that Led Zeppelin was "pretty good" and then gave the "fan" a big thumbs down.

A few moments later, an audience member turned around and clocked the "fan" for being so out of it and repeatedly bumping into him.

The "fan" deserved it.

Stereolab's 'hiatus' announcement

Was listening to Stereolab's most recent 'Chemical Chords' and it got me wondering what the band was up to at the moment.

Found their announcement that Stereolab is on hiatus. Nooooooooo!!!

Their site says they're working on yet another 'Switched On' comp of singles.

There's also talk of remastering the back catalog. I can only hope that some vinyl reissues will be part of that ... I have some gaps to fill in my collection.

Bummer since I had tickets to see their last show in U.S. in Solana Beach, CA in fall 2008, but had to cancel my vacation due to $$$ issues.

By my calculation that would have been the last U.S. show before the hiatus.

Who doesn't love Battles?!

The other day while at the gym, my wife said, "Battles are a great band to listen to while working out!"

Heck, I think they're great to listen to any time of the day.

Here they are on Later! With Jools Holland.



Listen:
Battles @ elbo.ws
Battles @ Hype Machine
Battles @ MySpace

Nice Emma Pollock review, Philly show preview soon

Here's a nice review of Emma Pollock's "Watch the Fireworks."

indie-mp3.co.uk: Emma Pollock - Watch The Fireworks

I intervied Emma the other day ... I'll have a show preview on pBurbs next week.

Will definitely post a link!

London: Ready, set, go!

I get into London Saturday morning.

Time permitting, I may drop a few pics onto Flickr.

Or, I may be too busy enjoying a much-needed vacation!

I'm meeting up with Taylor Roark on Sunday. We've kept in touch ever since University of Delaware days.

He's going to spend all day showing us around markets, record stores, etc.

That night we're going to see Yo La Tengo score Jean Painlevé's legendary underwater films, live at the Royal Festival Hall.

Here's Yo La Tengo doing "The Summer" from my fave album of theirs, "Fakebook."

Going to see Emma Pollock in London

I'll be seeing Emma Pollock at a very special pre-record release party at The Social in London on Sept. 11!

Her very first solo album ever, 'Watch the Fireworks,' comes out on Sept. 17 on 4AD Records.

As you may know, Emma was previously in The Delagdos.

And of course, Emma Pollock is on MySpace

Here's the video for 'Adrenaline' from Emma's forthcoming record:

Emergency room visit

Spent the better part of last night at St. Francis' ER. Everyone and everything is fine.

They've totally re-done the place but that didn't stop someone from taking a massive diarrhea dump in the check-in area. Was made worse by someone spraying Lysol. Ew.

Worked early shift this a.m. and just listening to some records right now. Now playing: Death of Samantha - "Strungout on Jargon."

I love digging up old Homestead Records releases. I think that the bulk of the catalog is OOP makes the label's lore and legend that more alluring.

Or not.

New season of Doctor Who starts next week. And yes, that does make me happy. Still think Torchwood is better than the new Who, but I can do without the gay sci-fi angle.