Blog: That One Pop! Gem

I don't live in Paris anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't pretend I live in Paris (or that I won't be back one day), and I'm always so intrigued by the Common People Party 's posters that I've decided just to stick with announcing them here anyway. (When it comes to music scenes, I am a citizen of the world- I have no true hometown, no home scene, just bands that I like in cities that I like. Or so I feel.) Anyway. Cette semaine au Batofar (you think they could have [...]

That's okay. Let indie rock be your Valentine instead: Obviously, I think you should go heckle support the boys of the BBB (abuse of alliteration!) on Wednesday night. Sources say that a certain Joe Welsh is playing, too, which I'm told is sort of a big deal. Sources also say that Okay Thursday is pretty awesome as well. I've already expounded my thoughts on the aptly-named Toothaches . (TWEEEE!) As for me, [...]

I made this dance mix a while ago, with the intention of making some "cover" art (so to speak) to go with it, but I never got around to that. I didn't actually get a chance to test it out on a live crowd of dancing people, though, until Saturday night (Sunday morning, actually), when I was dubbed the official DJ of the after party, mainly by default. (Seriously, how some of Boston's finest pop rockers and their closest friends and family(?) wound up at a house party, and none of them stopped to think, "Hey, maybe I [...]

Both Looker and The Red Romance have posted brand-spanking new songs on their respective 'Spaces today. Looker's "Gates of the Old City" and "Help Me Roada" come from their upcoming "Gates of the Old City" single, out on Serious Business on 4 March. "Roada" feels like the sort of summery pop song that belongs floating through your car speakers as you drive nowhere on the interstate, while I really adore the harmonies on the second and third refrains in "Gates". They don't incite the same emotional attachment for me as the "After [...]

As previously mentioned , Nada Surf 's new record Lucky drops 5 February, but as of tomorrow, 25 January, you can stream the whole thing on the 'Space. Good times. ..... Also, We Are Scientists have announced some tour dates- in the UK. Rawr. ..... Don't forget to vote for Rocketshp Park ! Because more money for Josh means more SDR for us.

I like Belgium. Lots of nice things come from Belgium. Like chocolate. And Leffe . And Kriek . And other nice things that I haven't mentioned. And also, a band called Malibu Stacy , which is a pretty awesome name for a band, even if they do pronounce "Los Angeles" improperly. Maybe it's a little generic rock-band-wandering-around-LA, but the whole "wo-oh-oh" bit reminds me of The Cribs ' [...]

I just moved into my new room at school this morning, and classes don't start 'til Monday, so you can probably expect some updates over the next few days as I wile away the last of my eight-month vacation from school. But while we're still on that only-posting-about-the-same-th ree-bands-I-always-post-about kick, Nightmare of You announced that they're going to announce "a handful of shows for late February and early March in the Northeast." The only confirmed date so far is 13/3 at The Crazy Donkey on Long Island, which doesn't help me out much, but insider-y [...]

Have you purchased your tickets yet? Okay, but don't cry to me if you can't get in the door.... The Brendan Boogie Band played Hennessy's last night. There's a video of them performing up here . You tell me how good it is, because I haven't watched the whole thing yet. (PS: I'm heading back up to school in a few days, so I'm frantically packing up right now. I can't guarantee any posts, or at least any new and interesting posts about bands other than the five I [...]

From Billboard.com : "The idea of making a dirty pop record -- this is what has been on our minds," Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos tells Billboard.com of the band's ongoing studio sessions in Glasgow. A new, as-yet-untitled album is expected from the group this summer via Epic. "It's the opposite of punk/pop, which took something that was wonderful and removed all the dirt," Kapranos says..."For me, the imperfections are what makes it perfect, like the cheapest, shittiest guitars through practice amps." More here . Kapranos [...]

Bulletin from Ser Biz band Rocketship Park : Hey sorry for the blast, but we need your help! Rocketship Park is participating in an online music contest of sorts. Basically, the more votes we get, the better our chances of winning! There is live video of us playing the music, a song called "Seasons", posted at the site. Use the following link: http://lg.eprize.net/makethemu sic/?video_id=86e4c0b66b3bfd1b a3cee8a80169ef14449f8a4b All you have to do is click on the above link (or copy and paste it into your browser if the link [...]

• Rocketship Park - Run Away

Ce soir au Batofar: Looks like good times. Makes me slightly upset that I only went to Batofar once in the whole year I was in Paris, considering it was a 15-minute walk from my apartment. I was just going to post the flyer and be done with it, but then I went in search of the possibly tastelessly-named We Are Terrorists , or WAT. (Not WAS. Don't get confused.) You pretty much have to hand it to any [...]

We Are Scientists have posted their new song "After Hours" on their 'Space , so if that radio rip isn't enough for you , you can, I dunno', add it to your own profile, I guess.

Looks like they're Malibu-sponsored shows. Hey, I have no issues with Malibu, so... Details/to RSVP: Thursday Jan 17 Detroit -Royal Oak Music Hall w/ Flosstradamus Doors at 8:00 pm www.rsvpmalibu.com/detroit/ Saturday Jan 19 Philadelphia - Electric Factory Doors at 9:00 pm www.rsvpmalibu.com/philly/ VHS or Beta - "Can't Believe a Single Word"

The Teenagers' ( not of the Frankie Lyman sort , sorry) new record, Reality Check is up for listen on their MySpace until it drops digitally in America on 15 January. The Teenagers are an electropop rock band from Paris. While I'm generally a fan of the French electropop rock thing, and although they have some peppy, dancey tunes (the cheekily-titled "Starlett Johansson" is worth a listen, I like the opening of "Ill", and on the refrain of "Love No" they sound like some British band, though I can't put my finger on which one) [...]

Get Out and Vote with Craig Wedren Getupandvote.com presents: "Barack Rock" Hosted by Stella: Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain OK GO Craig Wedren (of Shudder to Think) Nathan Larson (of Shudder to Think) Nina Persson (of The Cardigans) Joan As Police Woman & other special guests WHAT: A rare evening of outstanding music and comedy on the eve of the 2008 primary elections (aka 'Super Tuesday,' where over 20 states will most likely determine the two final Presidential candidates). WHEN/WHERE: February 4th, 2008, Bowery Ballroom, NYC More [...]

Re: this post . Somebody gave Damian internet access again: Hi Everybody. It's me, Damian. Our fearless cyber-chief Jorge has gone missing. Apparently to Antarctica. Seriously. He said something like "if there's one chance in my life, it's now." It's a winning life-method for everyone, really, so when I get done writing this and then when you get done reading it, let's all meet up in Antarctica, and together we can kick Jorge's sorry ass for not writing this like he promised he would before he left. THERE'S BIG [...]

'Cause there's never too much! Here's a vid from their 18 December performance with the Upright Citizen's Brigade at the Canal Room for the New York Holiday Office Party. And, um, some really belated Christmas greetings that I meant to post ages ago, but about which I totally forgot, oops. Oh, and Keith hitting on you. Just for good measure.

Oh hai. Nada Surf's touring all over, yeah? And their new record, Lucky , comes out 5 February on Barsuk. Presenting dates in an uncharacteristic-for-Katy month-date-year manner ('cause I'm too lazy to change them to the other way around): January 19 2008 Arena Vienna, Austria January 22 2008 Borderline London, England January 30 2008 The Triple Door Seattle, WA January 31 2008 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR February 2 2008 [...]

The lads of The Octagon are on the move again, and heading up north with two Boston-area dates (amongst others) scheduled for the end of January before a homecoming at Union Hall on the 30th. 23 January Café Nine New Haven, CT 24 January TT the Bear's Cambridge, MA 25 January Radio Bean Burlington, VT 27 January The Space Portland, ME 28 January Great Scott Allston, MA 30 January Union Hall Brooklyn, NY Meanwhile, the ladies (and gent) of Looker are finally a couple of New York-area shows- [...]

Hey, did you kids catch We Are Scientist 's new single, "After Hours," on BBC 1 with Steve Lamacq and Colin Murray last night? Yeah, I didn't, either, 'cause I was busy running about midtown . Luckily enough, someone was kind enough to rip and post it for all us busy Yanks. We Are Scientists - "After Hours" (radio rip) (via JPs blog, thanks) So many lovely layers, and so peppy! [...]