Tune into a special Thursday edition of Between the Covers with Jack and Jessica from 1-2PM on February 17 to hear a live set and an interview with Dave Smallen. Originally hailing from the Bay Area and now based in Los Angeles, Dave Smallen is one of the most humble and talented musicians I have [...]

Formerly of the band Street To Nowhere (who knocked my socks off that one time I saw them live at the downtown club with the Elvis pinball machine), Dave Smallen is now pursuing a solo career and releasing his songs one by one for a small fee. Each comes complete with distinctive artwork, and are really good. By way of example, I will confess to having listened to this song a dozen times this morning alone - super solid pop skeleton ( sha la laaaaa ) with a [...]

Dave Smallen is the frontman of Oakland, CA band Street To Nowhere . He's delightfully whip-smart, as evidenced by the writing in his blog , and also generous - releasing a free tune via his website . He says, "I wrote 'America' in October 2006 after getting home from my first national tour. I consider it a personal song, not a political song, but I want to release it now while people are very concerned about our country, which I think is actually a beautiful thing." America [...]

The original MOKB Covers Project post of Hallelujah has been dead for many moons, but it is still one of the most commented on, linked up and talked about posts we've put together here at MOKB. I've promised many a reader that I would one day re-host all the files for everyone to enjoy. We revisited the song and found a plethora of new versions since last we posted it. There are even more we saw but couldn't find. As always , if you have a [...]

Last Tuesday I saw Street To Nowhere again, opening for Rocky Votolato . Turns out this was kind of the third time I saw them because they opened for that awesome Format show I was at last year at the Cervantes. But I was either late or not paying attention that night, so my loss. They put on a really good set this time around, showing more of their "singer-songwriter" side due to the nature of the following acts, and less of the Weezer-meets-Bright-Eyes rock. Drummer Joey still broke both snare [...]

SXSW 2007 list. Yes I know it's over. but I just had time downloading the songs to make lists. This one is the nicest so it goes first. It's a late nite list with consistent sound, very sexy, and bunch of post-rock in each section. I would post more info, were it for not having a chance to carefully look at each artists webpage. But at least the list nice. Enjoy. "I. City of Love " 01. Dislike - Alone (Ufa, RUSSIA) 02. Slot - [...]

Time is short 'til my departure to San Francisco (okay, via Oakland) tomorrow afternoon for the six-day fiesta of Noise Pop , the Bay Area's best independent music festival. Its proximity on the calendar to the pricey and crowded SXSW means that many of my music blogger friends are opting for Austin and not S.F. I say: their loss. Not that I wouldn't love to go to SXSW (and should probably start saving my kopecks now for 2008), but Noise Pop is just the right size, high quality, varied, and [...]

YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. The finish line is way off in the distance. Woo Hoo! - The 5,6,7,8s Boxcars Boxcars Boxcars - Street to Nowhere Strawberries (Cassettes Wont Listen remix) - Asobi Seksu [...]

Not much time to write so I'll be brief. DELTA SPIRIT [MP3] Delta Spirit - Tom Gerald Delta Spirit will be the Monday Night Resident at Club Spaceland For December. Not bad for the San Diego act. Stay tuned for a friggin sweet contest we will be running with them in the next week or so. BRIERTONE [...]

BLUE HILLS - A ROAD TRIP MIX THROUGH OCTOBER "Geography is all that separates you and your destination ." At least you'll have some great music for the ride. This may be the best stream of tracks yet! Burn on a CD for a great driving mix. [...]

OK OK I totally realize how lame it is to post the same frickin post two days in a row without adding any new information. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off this morning and havent had time to write an amazing MIND BLOWING Post. Hopefully this one will make you laugh, cry, and possibly skip over this site in your bloglines and go right to Good Hodgkins or something (great site BTW. You should read it). Here's a mixtape as penance. Hope you forgive my flagrant self-promotion. Come [...]
I now want to make a sign that says CHEER OR DIE and take it with me to every show. Thanks MTV for the inspiration. OK Go will be performing their now infamous treadmill stunt on the MTV Video Music Awards TONIGHT. Damian and Tim are scared SHITLESS so they cornered JC Chasez in the crapper and asked him for dancing advice. Frickin' hilarious. Don't worry I think they're ready now. HELL YA! returns [...]

Summer has been insanely brutal in Los Angeles this year. I know, I know I really have NO PLACE to complain. I'm sure you readers in Las Vegas, AZ, and The Southwest are having a wonderful season as well. In the past two weeks Los Angeles has seen temperatures well over 90 degrees and triple digits this weekend (as high as 119 degrees in the valley). My apartment doesnt have air conditioning and with temperatures like this it's been super hard to sleep. OY! In place of a music post today I thought I would [...]