Indy Watch

It was a great day to wake up and be a movie fan, Jon Faverou announced Iron Man has officially ended principal photography (bad-ass), Guy Richie has casted Gerard Butler in his latest film and just started shooting (even more bad-ass) and above all else...Steven Spielberg submitted this to www.indianajones.com -its a behind the scenes look at the first day of shooting from the new Indy Film (bad ass is an understatement).

Quick News

It is a Bittersweet Symphony after all, The Verve ended their 8 year dispute and reunited! They have entered the recording studio and are playing a small tour in England in the fall. All of the original members are back, but Simon Tong who is currently busy with his latest band The Good, The Bad and The Queen.

In related news, Weezer is also in the studio. This dismissing reports the band had too broken up or were not planing on making a sixth record. River and the boys hope to have it out by next spring (keep your fingers crossed that is it better than Make Believe).

In the strange, sad and sick events that occurred this weekend to WWE superstar Chris Benoit, his murder/suicide has raised more questions in any celebrity death case than Anna Nicole Smith. This morning Raine Maida singer for the Canadian Rock band Our Lady Peace, who had written the entrance music for Benoit, had this to say via their myspace page: In 2000 Our Lady Peace was asked to write a song for a WWE wrestler. I admit to being heavily influenced by martial arts but entertainment wrestling was never my thing. I knew very little about the sport. Our drummer Jeremy was more the wrestling aficionado in the band. Nevertheless one night in Toronto we met with a professional wrestler for dinner at a local restaurant chain. His name was Chris Benoit. Immediately I was struck by his appearance. Not overly tall but freakishly muscular and wearing a very large neck brace. He had suffered a few herniated discs in his neck days before and was on hiatus until he had surgery and was able to rehab. Throughout the evening we learned about Chris and about the sport. Chris was a purest and came from a true wrestling background. His technical abilities were revered by all who followed him. Above that he seemed like a decent, nice man if not a little tortured. Nothing surprising coming from someone so dedicated to this absurd lifestyle of injuries, painkillers, steroids and constant travel. We ended up recording a theme song for him in Seattle during the next few months. We would see him a couple more times at various shows on tour in the US and he seemed pleased with the song we wrote for him. Today I learned through numerous emails and Myspace comments that Chris Benoit had killed himself along with his 7 year old son and wife. I think back to that dinner we had years ago and struggle to come to grips with the fact that this was Chris' destiny. Assuming the authorities are correct in their assessment, I can't help but think Chris must have been in immeasurable pain both psychologically and physically. We may never know the answers to why this successful man ultimately was unable to handle this world and in no way do I personally absolve him of any guilt concerning the death of his son and wife. I guess I simply feel sad and somewhat shocked that someone I knew briefly had such a terrible and tragic ending to their life.

Indy Watch

The first official on set still of the man with the hat. This photo was taken by Steven Spielberg himself. Cant wait for May 22!

Live Review - Bouncing Souls at Crazy Donkey

In an early show right before Long Island douchbags could pack the Crazy Donkey and fist pump to poor prefabricated beats and chug down cheep lager, New Jersey's finest The Bouncing Souls filled out the some times rock joint, sometimes dance club on a steamy summer evening and turned it into an all out free for all. Arriving on stage to Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run," a Souls opening theme staple, the power-punkers jumped right into "The Gold Song," off their 2006 release The Gold Record. Yet, right away it was obvious why the Souls are so good at what they do and why they love doing it, the simple answer lies right in the bands fan appreciation. The fans were chanting the words to each song the Souls thrashed through and sometimes to the point of over powering singer Greg Antonito, that he would stand on stage with a smile from ear to ear and let the crowd become the front man. After going through a slew of new tracks, the band went into their greatest hits, songs like "Johnny X," "East Coast! Fuck You!," and "True Believers," took the show to new heights and the crowd reciprocated the feeling. This was the second to last show for the punk vets, winding down a small tour with The Loved Ones, I Am The Avalanche and Static Radio. The Loved Ones were the stand out opener, this should come to no surprise to any fan (like myself). The Loved Ones were a perfect compliment to go right on before the punk legends took their places. A fast, furious and fun show and sometimes nostalgic, the crowd were dressed as if they were coming right from the Bowery or Asbury Park into the small Long Island venue. I hadn't seen so many Mohawks, checkered belts and greased hair since the days of The Vanderbilt during the late 90's Ska scene. It was great to reminisce and enjoy.

Playlist

Here are 10 tracks in heavy rotation on my Ipod...check them out:

- Amy Winehouse - "Back to Black"
- Jenny Owen Youngs - "Fuck Was I"
- Bjork - "Wanderlust"
- The Bravery - "Every Word From Your Mouth Is a Knife In My Ear"
- Air - "Once Upon A Time"
- The Frames - "The Stars Are Underground"
- Maximo Park - "Girls Who Play Guitars"
- Arckid - "I'll Stick Around"
- Fire Flies - "The Receiver"
- The Arcade Fire - "Keep The Car Running"

Indy Watch

FILMING HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!!! Director Steven Speilberg yelled "Action," The Fourth Installment of Indiana Jones on June 18. In more Indy news, actor Jim Broadbent (Gangs of New York, Brazil) has joined the cast and will play a Yale Professor in the latest action/adventure.

Quick News

Head on over to the all new Coldplay.com, the band really re-worked their site and made it more fan friendly with videos, an interactive time line of the bands history and other fun stuff...check it out www.coldplay.com

Word on the street is that the producers behind the latest James Bond installment, tentatively titled Bond 22, would like Neo Soul Diva Amy Winehouse to sing the theme song. Sounds like a great choice and great addition to the Bond Renaissance.

Buzz Band The National's 6/20 performance at D.C.'s 9:30 will be airing on National Public Radio. Head on over to www.npr.org to listen/download the concert.

Fan of the Smashing Pumpkins? Well to celebrate the Pumpkins getting back together (or just 1/2 the band), Spin Magazine is giving away a free Pumpkins tribute CD with the purchase of this months issue. It features covers from The Bravery, The Academy Is..., Panic! At the Disco, (+44), Young Love and many more.

Speaking of reunions...or sorta-reunions, The Beatles are getting back together!!! Or just doing a talk show , former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will be joined by Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison will come together on June 26 on Larry King Live.

Arckid Vid

ARCKID - I'll Stick Around


Hey remember the band Spacehog? Well here are a couple of the members new band called Arckid, and this is their debut video for "Ill Stick Around." The video was directed by Joaquin Phoenix, good to see their was no bad blood between Arckid/Spacehog member Royston Langdon since he is married to Liv Tyler--who used to date Phoenix. Check it out, the song is dope!

BUY NOW!!!!!!!

Buy Now!!!!!!!
Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
Fire Flies - Two New Sciences! (Recommended if you like: David Bowie, Flaming Lips, OLD Snow Patrol... Two New Sciences! will be available on Itunes soon, but for now you can get it directly from the band at www.myspace.com/firefliesmusic )

Currently Spinning:
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon
The Police - Synchronicity

Live Review-FireFlies at Crash Mansion

On a sweaty Friday night in New York City, hundreds of hipsters crammed into the Bowery residency known as the Crash Mansion not just to take advantage of the open bar, but to celebrate the sophomore release of the greatest band you never herd--Purchase, NY's FireFlies. Just before 11pm, the crowd began chanting and stomping the ground to the syllables that break down the bands name, as the band emerged from stage left and took their places, the DI machine next to drummer Seth Faulk began playing programmed beats and singer/guitarist Dan Romer opened his mouth and before he could get a note out, the crowd erupted as if someone just lit a stuffed cannon. Opening with "Mechanical Love," the lead single from their new album Two New Sciences!, FireFlies created a dance party reminiscent of another Bowery location during Punks Prime. These four gentlemen were unstoppable and so was the audience, only fueling and reloading that cannon before each song. As they stormed through tracks off the new record, the band invited close friends and fellow musicians up on stage to sing in a Polyphonic Spree influenced choir, only enhancing the sound and energy even more. As the band were joined by close friends singing back-up, the crowd jumping around, and proud parents of the band members looking on...not to mention actress Liv Tyler (who was their to support her husband, Former SpaceHog front man Royston Langdon's new band Arckid), singer Dan Romer was almost reduced to tears as he was full of emotion singing the breakdown to "The Receiver." The Fireflies have a lot to be proud of, the release of Two New Sciences!, is a record five years in the making and now its just their career that is in the making, they could single handidly be the greatest band your NEVER herd. My suggestion is check them out and buy the new album, its brilliant. For more on Fireflies, head on over to their Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/firefliesmusic and go see them!!!