Saturday 8-Track on Sunday - 20th High School Reunion Special

My 20th reunion is this week.

Holy shit.

So the theme is songs from 20 years (or so) ago that might be played at one of those dances (Homecoming, Prom, Valentine's Day) we all stressed so much about. This list, of course, could be 150 songs long (and it has been.) But it's not called Saturday 150-track, now is it?

There will be no picture posted from that prom so don't ask.

Listen: Depeche Mode - Strangelove
Listen: New Order - True Faith
Listen: Echo & The Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar
Listen: The Church - Under the Milkyway (Acoustic)
Listen: Erasure - A Little Respect
Listen: Prince - I Would Die 4 U
Listen: Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
Listen: The Cure - Just Like Heaven

How 'The Rest' Won, A Concert Review.

This is a different entry for me, but it's a rare treat when you get to watch friends, acquaintances and complete strangers fall in love with a band as they play right before their eyes. Such as the case with The Rest at the NYC Taper event on Friday, June 19 at Monster Island Basement. Somewhere between Anna's first draw on the bow, and when Adam Bentley hit a high with ease and perfection, my friend Heather (who had never heard them) turned to me, eyes wide, and said something that I'll never forget, something that made me remember the power that music still has over people:

"Oh my god. My heart."

About that time, the audience honed in. The usual chatter that you hear at shows rippled back into silence and admiration. And their attention was held for the next 40 minutes of their set. It was a joy to see, and as the show went on, the band fed off the energy and attentiveness; keys hammered, drums beat, bows lashing, and strings picked in a synergistic unison of highs and lows. I could not have been happier for Adam and crew. This is not to take away a thing from the other wonderful acts that played at the intimate event (Coyote Eyes, for instance, gets their own write-up shortly.) But Hamilton, Ontario's 'The Rest' were playing in front of strangers in a strange land. But the audience responded with enthusiasm, and New York owes gratitude to Todd and Dan for bringing The Rest across the border to play. Here's to many happy returns.

Listen: Walk On Water (Auspicious Beginnings,) from the album 'Everyone All At Once'
Listen: The Close Western, from the album 'Atlantis, Oh Our Saviour'

The Rest on MySpace
The Rest Official Site and Store

Andy J. Gallagher - 'Something Else' video

I was going through some old comments on my MySpace page last night and watched this again. It takes a unique creative quality to make me put up a video, so that should speak volumes of what I think about this one.

And Andy, I think we'll have to up the ante to 14 pints. A piece.
Look for an interview with Mr. Gallagher coming soon.

The Weekender - 6/11

Good lord there's a lot of shows to be seen in the New York City area, and unfortunately, I'll be out of town. If you're reading this, and you live anywhere near NYC, and you don't see one of these shows, you have no soul.

Thursday, June 11
The Hold Steady at The Music Hall of Williamsburg
Listen: The Hold Steady - The Swish

Brightblack Morning Light at Studio B
Listen: Brightblack Morning Light - Black Feather Wishes Rise

Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 at The Bell House
Listen: Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 - Up To Our Nex

Little Buddha at The Trash Bar
Listen: Little Buddha -Losing You

Band of Horses, and Arbouretum at Carnegie Hall
Listen: Band of Horses - The End's Not Near
Listen: Arbouretum - Song of the Pearl

The Fiery Furnaces at Le Poisson Rouge
Listen: The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat

Friday, June 12
Lucero at Maxwell's Lounge
Listen: Lucero - Until the Day I Die

John Vanderslice, and The Tallest Man On Earth at The Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Listen: John Vanderslice - D.I.A.L.O.
Listen: The Tallest Man On Earth - Where Do My Bluebird Fly

Detroit Cobras at Southpaw
Listen: Detroit Cobras - He Did It

Coyote Eyes, and Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers at Spike Hill
Listen: Coyote Eyes - Clumsy
Listen: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Filthy and Free

The Posies, Tally Hall, and The Brunettes at The Bell House
Listen: The Posies - 20 Questions
Listen: Tally Hall - Good Day
Listen: The Brunettes - Loopy, Loopy Love

Sunset Rubdown, Elfin Saddle, Witchies and Deastro at Studio B
Listen: Sunset Rubdown - Silver Moons
Listen: Elfin Saddle - The Bringer
Listen: Deastro - Parallelogram

Golden Triangle, The Homosexuals, Sightings, Pterodactyl, and Aa at Union Pool
Listen: Golden Triangle - Prize Fighter
Listen: The Homosexuals - Slow Guns
Listen: Sightings - Perforated
Listen: Pterodactyl - First Daze
Listen: Aa - Thirteen

School of Seven Bells, and Violens at Bowery Ballroom
Listen: School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep
Listen: Violens - Violent Sensation Descends

Ida Maria at Hiro Ballroom
Listen: Ida Maria - Oh My God

The Avett Brothers, and Nicole Atkins at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza
Listen: The Avett Brothers - At the Beach
Listen: Nicole Atkins - The Way It Is

Saturday, June 13
The Hush Now at Fontanas
Listen: The Hush Now - Sadie Hawkins Dance

The Loom, and Phantogram at Monkey Town
Listen: The Loom - Song for the Winter Sun
Listen: Phantogram - Voices

Asobi Seksu, Cymbals Eat Guitars, and Elika at The Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Listen: Asobi Seksu - Me & Mary
Listen: Cymbals Eat Guitars - Indiana
Listen: Elika - The Whip

Death Vessel at Public Assembly
Listen: Death Vessel - Bruno's Torso

Times New Viking at The Bell House
Listen: Times New Viking - Drop-Out

The War On Drugs at Union Pool
Listen: The War On Drugs - Taking the Farm

The Strange Boys, The Coathangers, Mika Miko, and Fiasco at Market Hotel
Listen: The Coathangers - Stop Stomp Stompin'
Listen: The Strangeboys - Probation Blues
Listen: Mika Miko - I Got A Lot (New New New)
Listen: Fiasco - Steve Herman

Sunday, June 14
The Dodos at Studio B
Listen: The Dodos - Trades and Tariffs

Telekinesis! and Fol Chen at Mercury Lounge
Listen: Telekinesis! - I Saw Lightning
Listen: Fol Chen - No Wedding Cake

Saturday 8-Track

Today I had a much-needed pep talk with my friend Corinne about, well, a lot of things. That combined with a much-needed pep email from Mr. Stivers led me to this week's theme for the Saturday 8-Track.

Eight bands I (shamefully) haven't talked about that you should give a listen to. I will be doing more about each of them in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. They area all just fantastic, and I really think you'll enjoy getting to know them better.

If you are, or know, an artist that you think I would like, please feel free to email me. And, as always, you can stay on top of the most recent posts by joining my Facebook group.

Listen: Logan Lynn (from Portland, OR) - Feed Me to the Wolves
Listen: Elika (from Brooklyn, New York) - The Whip
Listen: Photons (from San Fransisco, CA) - Where Were You Last Night
Listen: Hip Like! [Blank] (from the greater New York City area) - Can I Get a Sick Day
Listen: The Hush Now (from Boston, MA) - Bedtime Stories
Listen: Andy J. Gallagher (from London, UK) - Something Else
Listen: Foreign Born (from Los Angeles, CA) - Early Warnings
Listen: Meeting of Important People (from Pittsburgh, PA) - Hanky Church

The Weekender Concert Calendar - 6/4

I'm going to have to start doing these on Wednesdays. The days and weeks are flying by. I'll squeeze in a couple quickies for tonight, and take you through Sunday. It's a blitz of a weekend:

Thursday
Art Brut and Cymbals Eat Guitars at Mercury Lounge
Listen: Art Brut - DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake
Listen: Cymbals Eat Guitars - And the Hazy Sea

The Postelles at Santos Party House
Listen: The Postelles - 123 Stop

Doves at Terminal 5
Listen: Doves - Jetstream

Viva Voce at The Music Hall of Williamsburg
Listen: Viva Voce - We Do Not Fuck Around

David Ford at the Living Room
Listen: David Ford - Go to Hell

Femi Kuti and BLK JKS at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
Listen: Femi Kuti - Eh Oh
Listen: BLK JKS - Lakeside

Friday
Julie Peel and Dylan at the Movies at Bar4
Listen: Julie Peel - Unfold
Listen: Dylan in the Movies - Down to the Well

Love is All at The Music Hall of Williamsburg
Listen: Love is All - A More Uncertain Future

Pink Mountaintops and Quest for Fire at The Bell House
Listen: Pink Mountaintops - Vampire
Listen: Quest for Fire - Bison Eyes

TV on the Radio and Dirty Projectors at Central Park Summer Stage
Listen: TV on the Radio - Family Tree
Listen: Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move

Deadbeat Darling and Blip Blip Bleep at Bowery Ballroom
Listen: Deadbeat Darling - Without a Trace
Listen: Blip Blip Beep - Okay Lover

Saturday
AA Bondy, The Appleseed Cast, and Holly Miranda (of the Jealous Girlfriends) at The Bell House
Listen: AA Bondy - There's A Reason
Listen: The Appleseed Cast - As the Little Things Go
Listen: Holly Miranda - Waves

Disappears and Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band at Union Hall
Listen: Disappears - Hearing Things
Listen: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band - Anchors Dropped

Blind Pilot and Local Natives at Bowery Ballroom
Listen: Blind Pilot - Go On, Say It
Listen: Local Natives - World News

Dean & Britta at Le Poisson Rouge
Listen: Dean & Britta - Friday I'm in Love (The Cure Cover)

Sunday
Kevin Devine, and Miniature Tigers at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
Listen: Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band - I Could Be With Anyone
Listen: Miniature Tigers - Cannibal Queen