Quick News

The Libertines have confirmed they are reuniting to perform a special outdoor show in London on July 5. This news confirms Carl Barat's message to fans last week when he said, "Keep July 5 open."

Sam Endicott of The Bravery gave fans a long overdue update on the band and their indefinite hiatus. In a email to fans, he wrote, "This letter has been a long time coming. Honestly I think I've been putting it off because it's a difficult, bittersweet thing to write but now I find myself in a place where, although it's difficult to discuss the past, I'm excited to discuss the present. To answer your many queries, the band has not "broken up," nothing so dramatic as that. We just aren't doing anything together and don't have any plans to for the foreseeable future. There's been no "falling out," no bad blood, we all just have different interests now and are involved in our own projects. The Bravery is a beautiful thing that we are all immensely proud of, but after many years it is just not where our passions lie anymore and continuing simply out of habit or momentum would be unfair to our audience and ourselves. Will we get together again at some point? I don't know the answer to that, it's unclear, but for now we have no plans to." He then gave an update as to what each band member is doing and that all is alright in their own lives.

Tiesto will release his new album, A Town Called Paradise, in June.

Duran Duran have confirmed in a statement on their website that they are working with John Fruscante on their upcoming album. The New Wave vets wrote, "We were holding this exciting news because we were hoping to give you full details when we announced, but as word has leaked out, catching us rather off guard, we wanted to confirm… yes it’s true, the extraordinarily talented John Frusciante has indeed been doing some work from his home base in California on our new album. The tracks have been going back and forth via the internet, and we are thrilled with the results. We are all such big fans of John’s work and are honoured to have him adding his magic to the record! There are no current plans for John to tour with us, but his guitars sound incredible on the tracks."

Spiritualized will reissue their 1993 live album, Fucked Up Inside, on 180-gram vinyl in June. 

 Next month, Michael Jackson's estate will release his posthumous album, Xscape. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
01. Love Never Felt So Good
02. Chicago
03. Loving You
04. A Place with No Name
05. Slave to the Rhythm
06. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
07. Blue Gangsta
08. Xscape

NEWSLETTER

It has been a little while since we have given you an update on what is going on our end. Though we keep plugging along with the usual news updates, live reviews, interviews and videos, we have added a totally new section to the site we are really exited for!

You can now access our INTERVIEW ARCHIVE at the top of the website, right underneath our title! It was a long process to get every interview up, but we have prided ourselves on our interviews over the years and our whole database in now online.

So if you missed our interview with legends like Yoko Ono, Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, Peter Hook, Andy Rourke, Stephen Street, Neville Staple, Nitzer Ebb to some of our favorites of today like The Drums, Frank Turner, The Vaccines, Joy Formidable, Airborne Toxic Event, The Bravery, Incubus. Plus, the first American interviews of Glasvegas, La Roux, The Heartbreaks and Chapel Club. Plus interviews with music insiders like rock photographer Brian Cannon, Mary Forseberg Weiland (Scott Weiland's ex-wife), Mickey Leigh (Joey Ramone's brother), Tony McCarroll (original Oasis drummer) and more!

What's Coming in 2012!

We have entered a New Year, the start of something new and fresh and as a New Year engages us, we can look forward to many things and of course, new music. Here is a list of what to look out for in 2012!

JANUARY
- Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
- Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Out of Frequency
- Fionn Regan
- Graffiti6 – Colours
- Howler – America, Give Up
- Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
- The Big Pink - Future This
- Ingrid Michaelson – Human Again
- Craig Finn – Clear Eyes, Full Hearts

FEBRUARY
- Tennis – Young and Old
- Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
- Air – Las Voyages das La Luna
- Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror
- Nneka – Soul is Heavy
- Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
- Paul McCartney

MARCH
- The Heartbreaks
- New Order – Lost Sirens EP
- Paul Weller – Sonik Kicks
- Ladyhawke - Anxiety
- Tim Fite – Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t
- Jonquil – Point of Gold
- Dry the River – Shallow Bed
- Fanfarlo – Rooms Filled with Light
- The Magnetic Fields – Love at the Bottom of the Sea
- The Shins – Port of Morrow
- Miike Snow – Happy Next to You
- The Soundtrack of Our Lives – Origins Vol. 2
- The Parlotones

APRIL
- GOOD Album
- Screaming Females
- Queen and Michael Jackson

SPRING
- Madonna
- Black Star
- Public Image LTD.
- Sigur Ros
- Silversun Pickups
- Gallows
- VCMG
- Jenny Owen Youngs
- Spiritualized
- OFF!
- Surfer Blood
- Rocketjuice and the Moon
- Regina Spektor – What we Saw From the Cheep Seats

SUMMER
- EPMD – There is No Business like Show Business
- Metric
- Noel Gallagher
- The Killers
- Green Day
- No Doubt
- Soundgarden
- Sparta
- Pure Love
- The xx

ALSO IN 2012:
- Muse
- Deftones
- Cribs
- Gaslight Anthem
- Pearl Jam
- Bad Religion
- Jay-Z
- Joy Formidable
- The Bravery
- How to Destroy Angels
- Primal Scream
- Atoms for Peace
- Ben Folds Five
- Best Coast
- Hot Chip
- Santigold
- Nas
- Garbage
- Modest Mouse
- Bouncing Souls
- The Hold Steady
- Metallica
- Stone Roses
- The Walkmen
- Franz Ferdinand
- Black Sabbath
- Q-Tip
- Watch The Throne Part 2
- Erykah Badu
- Mumford and Sons
- Bruce Springsteen & E-Street Band
- Editors
- Inspirational Carpets
- The Vaccines
- Tyler, The Creator
- OMD
- Against Me!
- Titus Andronicus
- Scissor Sisters
- Slayer
- Frank Ocean
- Bloc Party
- Blood Red Shoes
- Chapel Club
- The Flaming Lips
- Dillinger Escape Plan
- Flats

Possible Releases in 2012:
- Outkast
- Dr Dre
- Beady Eye
- U2
- Jimmy Eat World
- Nine Inch Nails
- Depeche Mode
- The Strokes
- Foo Fighters

Quick News

With deep sadness and worry we report that long time E-Street Band saxophonist and "Big Man," Clarence Clemons suffered a stroke over the weekend at his home in Florida. He is showing signs of recovery as he lays in a hospital bed. Bruce Springsteen took to his website to say " While all initial signs are encouraging, Clarence will need much care and support to achieve his potential once again." No word yet to say if Clemons will make a full recovery. We wish him and his family all the power and strength in the universe during this difficult time.

New York City electro-rockers The Bravery are currently in California working on their fourth album. Singer Sam Endicott has taken to Twitter to give fans updates and says they are working on material that "sounds like Kajagoogoo." No word on a release date.

Back together at last, former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke and current DM member Martin Gore are working together again on an instrumental dance record. Clarke was a founding member of Depeche Mode but left in the mid-80s to start the bands Yazoo and Erasure. This collaborative record will not be out for a while, since Gore is currently promoting Depeche Mode Remixed 2 and Clarke is working on the new Erasure record. Gore tells Billboard Magazine of the collaboration, “Out of the blue I got an e-mail from just saying, ‘I’m interested in making a techno album. Are you interested in collaborating?’ This was maybe nine months, a year ago. He said, ‘No pressure, no deadlines,’ so I said, ‘OK,’ and that’s what we’ve been doing the last six months.” Gore then gave an update on his main band, Depeche Mode and stated “I’ve started writing again — writing songs and actually writing words again. I feel like it’s coming like a breath of fresh air after a long time of not thinking about them.”

After four years, VHS or Beta will release their latest record. The indie electro-rockers moved from their homebase of Louisville, KY to Brooklyn, NY and on September 27 they will release Diamonds and Death. Take a look at the cover below:

Playlist

Here is your dose of fresh monthly jams to listen to..

- The Germs - "What We Do Is Secret"
- Wu-Tang Clan - "Bring the Rukus"
- Rolling Stones - "Sister Morphine"
- Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance"
- Chapel Club - "All the Eastern Girls"
- Blur - "No Distance Left to Run"
- Spiritualized - "Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space"
- M83 - "Highway of Endless Dreams"
- Spoon - "Written in Reverse"
- Clipse - "There was a Murder"
- Far - "Pony" (Genuine Cover)
- Them Crooked Vultures - "Warsaw or the Last Breath you Take"
- Hot Chip - "One Life Stand"
- The Bravery - "White Knuckles, Red Hands"
- Screaming Females - "Mothership"
- Royal Chains - "Ink"
- Mars Volta - "Cotopaxi"
- The Stooges - "TV Eye"
- Richard Ashcroft - "The Journey"
- Broken Bells - "The High Road"

The Bravery on Kimmel!

The Bravery hit up Jimmy Kimmel Live this week and gave the city of LA a free concert as well. Closing down a few streets, The Bravery performed the songs "Hatefuck," and "Slow Poison," off their latest record, Stir the Blood. "Hatefuck," of course was edited and changed to "Hateful."
Take a look!

EXCLUSIVE! The Bravery INTV!!

The New York City electro rockers are back! One of the pioneering bands to bring back the new wave - electro rave earlier this decade, The Bravery return on December 1 with their brand new album, Stir the Blood. The band's latest record hears them returning to the dirty, unapologetic crass that fans herd off their debut in 2004. In preparation for the album, the band has been touring the US all fall with Living Things and The Dusty's. While on the road, I had the honor of speaking with guitarist Michael Zakarin. Michael and I discussed the band's latest record, being on the road and the band's beginnings practically hustling their music on the Lower East Side. Take a listen to my interview with Michael below..









New Video for "Sugar Pill" Directed by Bassist Mike Hindirt (Above) / UK Version of "Unconditional" Video (Below)


Special thanks to Michael, Pete Galli, Sharon Timure. Extra special thanks to Jenna Campagna and Manny Valdivia.

The Bravery's Stir The Blood is Out December 1!

3 Year Anniversary

This is a big moment for me. I never realized that this site would take off as it has and last as long as it has gone on. I am very happy to be celebrating the THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of "WITH THIS I THINK I'M OFFICIALLY A YUPPIE!"

You may have already noticed a big change, the address to the site is no longer http://www.salvatorebono.blogspot.com/ - it is now http://www.officiallyayuppie.com/. If you use the old link, no worries it will still direct you to the right place.

In the three years this site has been active, I have a ton of people to thank so please bare with me. The following people have showed support, helped me in the process of getting interviews, sent me music. So Thank You to:
Henry Rollins, Johnny Marr, Franz Nicolay, John Baldwin Gourley of Portugal The Man, Royal Chains, La Roux, Little Boots, My Brightest Diamond, Patience Hodgson of The Grates, Adam Thompson of We Were Promised Jetpacks, Leah Marchesano, The Creature, Manny Valdivia, Jenna Campagna, Brady Brock, Caroline Borolla, Julie Arkenstone, Rosario Pellerito, Rich D Smoov, Tom Jaycox, Paul Boyd, Jennifer Corley, PJ Seivering, Jay Drizz, Logo, Valentine Lysikatos, Jennifer Crocker, Steve Lent, Phil Testa, Greg Pace, Kismet Films, Eric Grodeck, Scott Rossman, Le-La Cloutier, Bryan Kehn, Elliot Jacobson, Sarah Rubenstein, Tony Beard, MoneyPenny, Tyler Horvath, Debbie Pressman, Felice Ecker, Kevin Harry, Colum Ward, Rob Nieto, Matt Dufour, Catherine McNelly,Canada's Edmonton Journal, Absolutepunk.net, Idancetolaroux, Cliff Sarcona and Daniel Nigro of As Tall As Lions, Mark Palgy from VHS or Beta, Steven Chen of Airborne Toxic Event, Pete Galli, Adam Lucaus from Vonrenzo, Alison Prouty, Dan Haggis of The Wombats, Simon Bobbett, David Dargah of The Postelles, Daren Baber, EMI, Steve Pedulla of Thursday, Jon Langford of Your Vegas, Nathan Bayley of Blue Knives, Paper and Sand, Coldplaying.com, thevervelive.blogspot.com, Brooklyn Vegan, The Editors, Jonny Cragg of Spacehog, Glasvegas, La Strada, Arthur Kremer of Stellastarr*, Steph Pensa, Val Pensa, Nicole Garvey, Violent SoHo, Universal Music, Sony Music, Ian Mackaye, Girlie PR, Tell All Your Friends PR, Mpumi Mcata of BLK JKS, Jerm Reynolds of Hockey, Doug Wimbish of Living Colour, Keving Calabro, Amanda Palmer, Mike Zakarin of The Bravery, Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Sharon Timure, Heather Losik, Living Things and most importantly…

YOU!

Without you I wouldn't be where I am today. So thank you and I promise that what I have lined up for next year will be even bigger and better! Please stick with me!

With This I Think I'm Officially A Yuppie on Facebook

Playlist

Here is a playlist to get you rocking and rolling...

- Hockey - "Work"
- Pearl Jam - "Unthought Known"
- Muse - "Undisclosed Desires"
- Doves - "Black and White Town"
- The Hold Steady - "Certain Songs"
- 7 Seconds - "Here's Your Warning"
- Thom Yorke - "Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses"
- Portugal the Man - "Do You"
- Funeral For a Friend - "All the Rage"
- Editors - "Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool"
- Blue Knives - "Charges"
- Yoko Ono - "Waiting on the D Train"
- Elbow - "The Fix"
- U2 - "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)"
- Elton John - "Made in England"
- Julian Casablancas - "11th Dimension"
- Bravery - "Hatefuck"
- Fugazi - "Waiting Room"
- Franz Nicolay - "This World is an Open Door"
- Vampire Weekend - "Horchata"

Bravery on Conan

The Bravery hit up Conan last week as the band is currently on tour in the West Coast just before their new album, Stir the Blood hits stores on December 1. Take a look at the band in the clip above and STAY TUNED AS I HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL WITH THE BRAVERY COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS!!

EXCLUSIVE! Moneypenny INTV!

Very sassy, very sexy and very fun. Chicago beauties DJ Chess Hubbard aka Mother Hubbard and DJ A-Cup make up the Windy Cities favorite house DJ's Moneypenny. The duo, who made their live debut at Lollapalooza this past summer in Perry's DJ tent, engaged a large crowd of festival performers in an all out dance party in the middle of the day. From opening to the likes of The Bravery, Robyn, and Chromeo are poised to take the club scene by storm, one spin at a time. Take a look my interview with these very cool ladies, as I spoke to Mother Hubbard and DJ A-Cup about coming together, Chicago and where they want to go and who they dream of playing with.

What was it like making your debut at Lollapalooza?

Chess Hubbard- It was a bit daunting, but extremely exhilarating too. I have gone to Lolla the past few years since it moved to Chicago, but I also went to Lolla as a wee lass several years ago when it was a touring show so there was definitely some nostalgia wrapped into the excitement as well.

DJ-A Cup Luckily, making our debut at Lolla wasn't as intimidating as it could have been. It's in our hometown of Chicago, so even though we aren't well known on the national scene, we knew there would be at least a handful of friends and fans rooting us on

Was it extra special to not only debut at Lollapalooza, but also in your own backyard of Chicago?

CH- Of course. I think any show we play in Chicago is special since this is where we met and Moneypenny began!

DJA-Cup - Chicago has such an incredible music history, and its role in the beginnings of electronic music is really special as well. So for us to perform on Perry's stage, with such an emphasis on the type of music and artists we're inspired by, in our own home town, was quite an honor.

One thing we did to make our Lollapalooza performance really special was to keep our new original material and show under wraps. We've been recording new songs for a while but didn't really let anyone know besides our closest friends. It was great to be able to unveil them (we did do a couple of smaller preview shows the week before to warm up) to a hometown crowd and show them another side of our project.

Was there any pressure to make your set memorable since you were introducing Moneypenny to the world?

CH- We wanted to make it as special as we could and with the budget we had. Having a choreographer and dancers really added a lot to the set. We planned the outfits and make-up as well, but the dancers were the main additive that made it special.

DJ A-Cup- We put a lot of pressure on ourselves for the show knowing it was our festival and live debut. Instead of doing a traditional two turntable set (or no turntables, as many DJs did - some even pre-recorded their sets and just played that to make sure it was perfect), we opted for a crazy three turntable set where we dropped over 30 songs in the first 25 minutes alone. As far as the live portion goes... I used to design costumes and sets so originally I wanted an insane landscape and ridiculous costumes and dancers, but within the constraints of the stage (we weren't even allowed to hang a banner with our name on it), we toned it down to include dancing, choreography, and a little robot makeup.

How has Chicago influenced your style and sound?

DJ A-Cup – I don't think there's any Chicago DJs who can say house music hasn't influenced them a little bit - Chicago is its home. There is a nice underground and super stylish hip hop scene, and we often find ourselves playing up and coming Chicago artists like Hollywood Holt and Mic Terror, layering them over disco or odd finds from the 80's. There's also a really nice Nu Disco scene here - DJ SR-71 has been pushing it for a while, and I've noticed a lot of DJs taking notice.

CH- Hmmm. I think Chicago has a pretty diverse musical environment, but I think the most noticeable element that has effected our style and sound would be Chicago's rich house music scene.

You started off as DJ’s under the banner Rocktapussy, now you are Moneypenny. Why the change in name?

CH- We loved the name Rocktapussy, but it is more limiting in some ways. As far as radio play goes and of course the fact that some people hear "Rocktapussy" and think it is a joke name. We didn't want our name limiting us in any way. Having the name Moneypenny allows us to still reference James Bond and it is a name our parents even like!

DJ A-Cup- We started Rocktapussy as sort of a jokey moniker to attach to our DJ project at the very beginning. Once it started to take off and we began writing and recording original music, we decided to change it before it became a problem. For example, we just sold a Moneypenny song to ABC Family - and I would bet a thousand dollars they wouldn't have touched the music with the name Rocktapussy in front of it.

Separately you both were well known in the Chicago nightlife scene, why did you choose to team up?

CH- We met through Matt, my business partner and Jessica's boyfriend, and hit it off. We have similar tastes in music, even when it comes to weird goth and industrial artists, and I think we both have very tomboy personalities, so we got along outside of work too. Also, we complement each other very well. Jessica brings the charisma, style, and glamor while I bring the nerdtastic graphic design and computer programming abilities. It's natural working together and it's refreshing to collaborate with someone that appreciates music from all different genres as well.

DJ A-Cup- There's only so much you can do as a solo DJ - you can get into remixing and doing your own music, but it's so much nicer to have another ear to bounce ideas off. I think our mixes we do together are more interesting than what we'd come up with on our own. We share a love of off-center music, old industrial, goth, weird disco and 80's, terrible mainstream guilty pleasures, etc - and it's fun to take disparate ideas and blend them together. The shared love is key.

Who are some of the songwriting and production teams you have been working with?

DJ A-Cup - We work with friends of ours here in Chicago, Blake Smith and Mike Willison from the bands The Prairie Cartel and Caviar. They've been doing this a lot longer than we have and I frankly don't think we'd have even got our first song done without their help. Another fantastic songwriter we've gotten to work with is Simon Perry from NYC. Between all of us, we've been able to craft songs that span the spectrum of pop, rock, and electronic music - much like our mixtapes.

CH- Simon Perry, Prairie Cartel, and Hey Champ so far with a lot of others in the brainstorming phase.

You have shared the stage with some great acts like Robyn, The Bravery, and Chromeo to name a few. What were those experiences like? What did you pick up from those like acts?

CH- Opening for Robyn was our very first show ever. We had never DJed out in public before that and it was one of those moments where we could have choked in front of a 1000+ people and made a fool out of ourselves easily. But we didn't let the fact that is was our first show get to us. It was an intimidating experience, but after that show I knew we had something special because we pulled our set off and the crowd and staff loved it.

The Bravery show allowed us to play at Metro in front of a big audience and I just love Metro's stage and sound.

Chromeo at Hard Rock Hotel was exciting since we are really big fans of Chromeo's music and it was a Lolla after party and people were in full on party mode.

DJ A-Cup - Robyn is an INCREDIBLE performer. She's so tiny and just commands the stage when she takes it. I think she's inspired me to get a cape as well. The Bravery and Chromeo are so slick and professional, they have their stage show down to a science. It will be nice to hone that on tour one of these days...

Where does Moneypenny want to go with their music?

CH- Go? Like style wise or career wise? Style wise, we are constantly evolving. We don't want to stick to one genre and we want to continue to work with songwriters we respect and whose music we like in addition to writing more and more music ourselves as well. Career wise the sky is the limit! Hopefully people like what they hear!

DJ A-Cup- We want to make as much music as possible for now, and worry about editing it later. We're a little schizophrenic in our vision - it's radio pop, dark synth, goth rock, disco, electro... there will be lots of surprises for our listeners.

If there was anyone you would want to play with who would it be?

DJ A-Cup – PRINCE.

CH- Björk. She is my idol. Although I might be too scared to play with someone that talented and amazing. I have never really gotten starstruck, but with Björk I might faint if I meet her.




Special thanks to Moneypenny and Matt Dufour for the interview!

Playlist

Here is a play list of jams I have been digging this past month...Enjoy!

- Simian Mobile Disco Feat. Beth Ditto - "Cruel Intentions"
- Arctic Monkeys - "Pretty Visitors"
- Ladyhawke - "Back of the Van"
- The xx - "Islands"
- We Were Promised Jetpacks - "Quiet Little Voices"
- Black Flag - "Rise Above"
- Brand New - "Vices"
- Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"
- Phoenix - "Napolean Says"
- Karen O and the Kids - "All is Love"
- Beatles - "Something"
- Oasis - "Live Forever"
- Little Boots - "Meddle"
- Imogen Heap - "First Train Home"
- BLK JKS - "Molalatladi"
- TV on the Radio - "Halfway Home"
- Living Colour - "Young Boys"
- The Bravery - "Slow Poison"
- Vonrenz0 - "Apologies, Excuses and the Redemption of Promise"
- Los Campesinos! - "The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future"

Live Review - The Bravery @ Terminal 5

It was a homecoming for the Lower East Side electro rockers as they made their way up to Hell's Kitchen for a night of fun and fury. The Bravery are on the road to promote their forthcoming third record, Stir the Blood, which hits stores in November. The dapper dressed rockers took the stage and jammed for a little over an hour, right away as singer Sam Endicott started singing I knew there was something off with his voice. Endicott later revealed to the audience that he was suffering from swine flu and was in the hospital all day taking cortisone shots in order to play his hometown. While the band's front man was out of sorts, yet still entertaining, the band themselves were completely on point. You would have had no idea you were at a live concert with how perfect they sounded. The Bravery played songs mostly from their 2004 debut and the catchier tunes from their last record The Sun and the Moon. Songs like "Believe," "Time Won't Let Me Go," and "Every Word From Your Mouth is a Knife in my Ear," had the crowd going crazy. Even a mix of new tracks like "Hatefuck," and "Slow Poison" were gaining a lot of praise, but the biggest applause came from the band's first single "An Honest Mistake." Nothing, not even H1N1 that has the world upside down could stop The Bravery from playing New York and the fans were very appreciative of their great effort.
Opening the show was St. Louis band Living Things and a new act from Virginia, The Dusty's. Living Things, who hit it big in 2005 with the single "Bom Bom Bom," looked like Russel Brand fronting The Ramones but had a great set. Totally engaging the audience and sounded very tight and fun to watch. The Dusty's had it difficult being the odd men out of the bands, but still held their own. A mix of garage and punk, The Dusty's will be an act that will gain attention as they get used to the road more and one to keep an eye out on.

Awesome & Disturbing Videos

I don't know what has been in the musical water the past couple weeks, but some very disturbing - yet awesome, music video's have emerged. From The Bravery to Dead Weather to Depeche Mode, these video's are ones that will have you turning away from the screen and coming back for more. In a dying media platform, these bands really know how to make you look forward to watching something that at one point was a way to make or break an artist.

Here is the video for The Bravery's new single "Hatefuck," it was directed by Bravery bassist Mike Dirt. Take a look..

The Bravery - "Hatefuck" from the hassle on Vimeo.

This next one comes from Jack White's new outfit Dead Weather for their latest single "I Cut Like a Buffalo". It was directed by Mr. White himself..

This final one is from Depeche Mode. The legendary band has not failed on a single video this year and has made the most interesting, if not best videos all year long. Their latest for "Hole to Feed," is another visual wonder..
Depeche Mode - Hole To Feed

Quick News

So maybe this past summers NIN/JA tour was not the Goodbye curtain call Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails was looking for. What was supposed to be the band's farewell tour in the US will now make another run at the end of the summer, closing out the way Trent wants. Playing only four cities; New York, LA, Chicago and Toronto. Reznor writes on the band's website "They will be informal affairs in medium to small venues with longer set-lists, possible special guests, cool openers and other surprises. Upon reflection, the NIN/JA tour felt like we had to rush through sets due to a limited allotted set length and many shows were in daylight - it just didn't feel right to end NIN that way. An offer to headline V-Fest in Toronto (being announced soon) set the idea in motion to play some FUN shows to end this up with. If we can get it together we'll film these shows, too." Keep your eyes locked to NIN.com for when these tickets go on sale, this really seems to be it.

New York City rockers The Bravery have come out of hiding. Last week the band gave an update via their website about the new record, "Our long silence has been due to the fact that we’ve been living in an abandoned church in the woods of upstate NY, recording our 3rd album. It’s almost finished; we can’t yet tell you exactly when it will be coming out—when it’s done it’s done. But it won’t be long. The album is being co-produced by Sam and John ‘Rodeo’ Hill; John’s previous work includes the Santogold album and a wide variety of artists including the Maccabees, Amazing Baby, and Shakira." In the meantime the band will hit the road with Green Day to test drive new tracks and get out of hibernation for a bit later on this summer. This will be the band's first album of new material since 2007's The Sun and the Moon.

French band Air have announced the track listing to their new record, Love 2. The album, which is due this fall, is the band's first since 2007's Pocket Symphony. Take a look at the track listing below...
‘Do The Joy’
‘Love’
‘So Light Is Her Footfall’
‘Be A Bee’
‘Missing The Light Of The Day’
‘Tropical Disease’
‘Heaven's Light’
‘Night Hunter’
‘Sing Sang Sung’
‘Eat My Beat’
‘You Can Tell It To Everybody’
‘African Velvet’

EXCLUSIVE! YOUR VEGAS INTV!!!

As 2008 came to a close I began to reflect on all of the albums I listened to, concerts and festivals I went to and bands I discovered. One band in particular Leeds, UK via New York City band Your Vegas was one that stuck out in my mind. I was introduced to them at this summers Lollapalooza festival in Chicago and saw them tear the place apart. Hundreds of kids jumping up and down and seriously getting into their set. I was not only entranced by their music and performance, but I knew as soon as I got back home to New York I had to get their album. The band's debut A Town and Two Cities has taken this small band to some big places. I had the opportunity to interview bassist Jon Langford, we spoke about the bands music, their connection to America, and being on the road with Duran Duran and The Bravery. Read my interview below:

1) You are originally from the UK and now New York based. After living and working on both sides, do you think they types of music on both sides of the pond differ?
Jon Langford: I think they used to but nowadays, because of modern technology and the close relationship the UK and the US have in a cultural sense, the pond has been bridged so to speak. It's not like in the old days when certain types of music was found in pockets. Like in Liverpool, during the late 50's kids there would get music that sailors brought in to the docks with them from the US that you couldn't get anywhere else in the country.

2) Does living in NYC have a new effect on your music?
JL: Living in NYC is inspiring. I think it would inspire artists of any type. I don't think it significantly changed our style though because that's taken from our influences.

3) Does living in the changing America have a new effect on your music?
JL: It's an exciting time to be living in America. It was an amazing experience to be living here when Obama got in and it was great to be a part of such an historical moment.

4) It is hard to avoid the fact that the big British sound is making itself known again the world over. Did you come to America, to get away from that so you would not be just another band from the UK?
JL: For us coming to America seemed like a natural thing. It just happened and we rolled with it. It didn't seem like a big deal.

5) Escape seems to be a recurring theme in the bands song lyrics and band name. What is it that Your Vegas is escaping from?
JL: Everyone has things that they want to escape from. It may be the mundane routines of everyday life. It may be a job you're stuck in that you hate. Music has always offered this escape for both the listener and the creator.

6) You just got off the road with Duran Duran. Was playing in front of their crowds a challenge or different than playing in front of your usual audience?
JL: Well we toured with Duran Duran back in the Spring so we knew what to expect this time. Last time we toured with them Coyle had a broken foot so he was rooted to the spot. This time he was free to run around the stage, which made a huge difference.

7) Did you pick up any tricks of the trade from Duran Duran while on the road?
JL: They are all amazing musicians so it was great for us to watch them every night. I loved watching the rhythm section. John Taylor and Roger Taylor are two of the all time greats. But then I'm a bassist so I would watch them.

8) You also toured with The Bravery a few times this year. What kind of releationship gets conjured up while being on the road for so long?
JL: Those guys are great. We toured with them for months. We had a blast with them. Whenever we're on the road with other bands we love hanging out and making friends with them. Every band we've ever toured with is in our top friends on myspace and you know when someone's in your top friends on myspace it means that you will be best friends forever.

Thanks so much to Jon and Your Vegas. Best of luck in the New Year!

In My Head

Your Vegas video for "In My Head" (Above) / Your Vegas cover The Beatles "Blackbird" (Below)

Quick News

After just announcing he will be joining Linkin Park and The Bravery among other on this summer's Project Revolution Tour, Chris Cornell is currently in the studio with mega producer Timbaland working on his third solo record. The album is expected to drop September.

Sparta's Jim Ward has been doing solo gigs for about a year now (no the band has not broke up), but has finally finished his record under the same Sleepercar. Check out the album West Texas in its entirety on his myspace page http://www. myspace. com/sleepercarwesttexas.

Friday be sure to tune into Good Morning America as The Swell Season will perform songs from the films Once! Nice way to cap off the end of the week.

Bravery Sun and Moon Complete

Live Review-Incubus at Jones Beach

When you go to an Incubus concert there is one rule you must follow...expect the unexpected. The audience is always unaware of what the SoCal rockers will pull out of their never ending bag of tricks. Last nights show at Jones Beach was a milestone for me, it was the seventh time I have seen the band and each time I see them they just keep getting better and better and each performance always stands on its own, last night was no exception. Opening with the somber and mysterious "Quicksand," off last years Light Grenades release, then exploding into "A Kiss to Send Us Off," the crowd ignited like a rocket being blasted into outer space. Yet by the time "Wish You Were Here," was played the crowd touched down back onto planet earth and lavished in the beauty of the Jones Beach Amphitheater, a theater floating in the heart of Long Islands South Shore. The perfect place to see a great summer time band even when Mother Nature decided to pour for a little while on the open air venue. Much like The Police the other night, Incubus reworked and rearranged many of their songs and jammed out to create 7-9 minute opuses. The jamming Incubus created displayed how eclectic they are. Fusing Funk/Punk/Rock/and Prog and flexing their musical muscles, its one of the reasons why they fans keep going back for more after all these years. Bassist Ben Kenny plays his axe with nothing but soul and the vibes he gives off singer Brandon Boyd feeds on and they become a dynamic duo on stage. The highlight of the show came when Incubus invited opening act Simon Dawes onto the stage to cover "Stand By Me," a pleasant surprise and had Boyd addressing the crowd at the end of the song by saying "another, of the songs we wished we had written." After 90 minutes, the band covered most of their career spanning tracks off each record and even had time to premiere a new song during the encore. A rocking song called "Look Alive!," had the crowd partially confused and totally entertained.
Aside from Simon Dawes, New York City natives The Bravery also opened. The Bravery had something going for them not many bands I have seen this past year have had and that was sound. They sounded absolutely perfect, each song amplified off the instruments and off the waves of the beach and into the ears of the audience and had many saying "why aren't these guys playing in stadiums." Bravery singer Sam Endicott did an impromptu storytellers and dictating the stories behind some of the new songs off The Sun and The Moon. All in all a good night, Incubus will continue their trek into September and The Bravery will be linking with The Smashing Pumpkins for their fall tour. Wherever both bands are playing, go see them.

Incubus Setlist 8/9/07 Jones Beach
Quicksand
Kiss To Send Us Off
Wish You Were Here
Anna Molly
Pistola
Careless Whisper (Wham Cover)
Vitamin
Love Hurts
Drive
Megalomanic
Sick Sad Little World
Stand By Me (King Cover)
Oil and Water
Dig
Encore
Are You In
LOOK ALIVE!
Aqueous Transmission

BUY NOW!!!!!!!!

Its been a while for this section...Here are three albums you should be picking up as well as other jammers.

BUY NOW!!!!!!!!
The Editors - An End Has A Start (Recommended if you Like [RIYL]: The Killers, The Bravery, Interpol)
Gallows - Orchestra of Wolves ([RIYL] Old Thursday, Black Flag, Minor Threat)
Against Me! - New Wave ([RIYL] Nirvana, Bad Religion, Bayside)

Current Jammers:
Blur- The Best of...
The Verve- This is Music
As Tall As Lions - Lafcadio
Depeche Mode - The Best of...
Instant Karma! The Campaign to Save Darfur