Quick News

As Tall As Lions have confirmed their studio ambitions will go forth in 2009. The band will enter a Los Angeles recording studio at the beginning of January to master and finish recording their follow up to 2006's brilliant self titled sophomore disc. The latest record currently titled You Can't Take it With You, will be produced by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah producer Adam Lasus.

Seminal 90's post-hardcore band Far reunited a few weeks ago in California. Far featuring front man Jonah Matranga had sworn off rumors of a reunion last year when every band under the sun were getting back together. They played a surprise show at the Troubadour and are now doing shows in Europe. Fingers crossed for a New York appearance.

In another surprise move, The Killers were the surprise opening act to Glasvegas this weekend in England. Before the Scottish band took the stage, Brandon Flowers and Co. did a surprise acoustic set featuring some new songs as well as classics. Also in Killers news, the bands latest Day and Age was push up a day and will now be released Nov. 24.

He is a singer, a poet, filmmaker, writer, an activist now REM's Michael Stipe can add fashion designer to his resume. Stipe has designed a polo for French clothing company Lacoste for their Spring collection. The shirt can be seen below

Glasvegas in a Stairwell

Indeed the title of this post maybe a little obtuse, however, it is a brilliant video. It is Glasvegas singer James Allen in typical black shades performing an acoustic version of "Geraldine," for a European TV network.

Live Review-The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5

What a week it has been, it would only be fitting to cap it off in celebration. The pride of New York would headline one of the biggest homecoming concerts they have done in some time. Brooklyn rockers The Hold Steady and Alabama's Drive By Truckers Co-Headlining the "Rock and Roll Means Well Tour," arrived in a two night stay at Terminal 5. Hell's Kitchen was ablaze on the sold out final night of a pure good old fashion rock and roll show. Coming out guns a-blazing The Hold Steady opened with "Constructive Summer," a song of furious rock epic proportions about life, love and music supplied with a simple prayer to Joe Strummer it would platform the rest of the night. Hold Steady front man Craig Finn showed off his pure front man brilliance. Finn is part Shakespearean actor, part slam poet and using his guitar and mic stand for prop purposes only, his arms flailing around in the air with a smile from ear to ear. Finn was celebrating not only the victory of coming home to a big audience, his band successes, a new President, he was celebrating the idea that his words have reached out to so many in a time when words mean so much.
The Hold Steady are not just your typical band singing about angst. It is the angst that drives us day in and day out at every age on why their music hits so many demographics and groups of people. If you are 15, 25, 35, 45 years old, you can find something to relate to and have the songs become your own. Finn is not just the only one in the band offering something or someone to watch, guitarist Tab Kubler is one of the best his generation has put out. An underrated guitarist with the talent of his idols, he shreds and strums like an animal. Pianist Franz Nicolay (who is looking more like Italian Actor Alberto Sordi and less like Porn Star Ron Jeramey), swigs from his bottle of wine while jumping and dancing in place. The rhythm section of Bobby Drake (drums) and Galen Polivka (bass) are the back bone keeping the band in line. Playing for almost two hours, including a joint venture on stage during the encore with members of Drive By Truckers and The Loved Ones (who were in the audience, but not on the bill), Finn was two sheets to the wind by the end of the night, slurring his words and thoughts. While the musicians showed camaraderie while showing to their audience, Rock and Roll really does mean well.
Clearly a band who in the end of all of this will prove their longevity. The reality is clear after following them for a few years now, The Hold Steady are here to make true American thought provoking rock and roll music proud once again in a music world dominated by commercial distortion.

Set List: The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5 11/7/08
“Constructive Summer”
“You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came to the Dance With)”
“Multitude of Casualties”
“Chips Ahoy!”
“Sequestered in Memphis”
“One for the Cutters”
“Cheyenne Sunrise”
“Ask Her for Adderall”
“Magazines”
“Arms & Hearts”
“Stevie Nix”
“Massive Nights”
“Party Pit”
“Lord, I’m Discouraged”
“Hornets! Hornets!”
“Your Little Hoodrat Friend”
“Most People Are DJs”
“Slapped Actress”
“How a Resurrection Really Feels”
Encore:
“First Night”
“Stay Positive”
“History Lesson Part II”
“Ride On” (AC/DC Cover with members of Drive By Truckers)
“Burnin’ For You” (Blue Oyster Cult Cover with members of Drive By Truckers)
“Killer Parties” (with members of Drive By Truckers and The Loved Ones)

Quantum of Solace

In a week from today Bond returns to US theaters!

Mr. November

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." -

Barack Obama

"I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope, I'm the new blue blood. I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November, I'm Mr. November" -

The National "Mr November"

Listen to The KNUX!

Two brothers that left New Orleans after Katrina made a life for themselves in Hollywood. Sick beats and great rhymes...think Clipse meets Cool Kids meets Old Outkast!

500th Post / 2 Year Anniversary

This is a monumental posting as November marks the Two year Anniversary of this site, but this is also my 500th Post!! I am very proud to have seen where this blog has gone and taken itself. With readers as far south as Brazil and Argentina to all over Europe to Canada and as far west as California, "With This I Think I'm Officially A Yuppie," is getting read in places I never thought possible.

This has been a great year for the blog and I must take the time to thank some for helping me make it so big. Thanks to: Coldplaying.com, thevervelive.blogspot.com, Brooklyn Vegan, The Editors, Jonny Cragg of Spacehog, Glasvegas, Arthur Kremer of Stellastarr*, to artists making good music and films and giving me something to write about. Most importantly I need to thank you the reader above anyone else. Without you this site would not be going as strong as it has and I promise this next year will outdo this past one!

Thanks again for the support!

Much love,
Sal

Rising Artist - Daggers

Somethings in life just go together; like Cigarettes and Alcohol, Coffee and sweets, and of course Europe and Electro music. The combination of the two have been companions for some time now, yet the next wave of Euro-electro is here and that is Manchester, England's Daggers. The band describes themselves as "Extra spectral popular song, distorted atmospherics and apocalyptic electronics." England's Independent have said "If you want to gauge Daggers' potential, you aren't just looking at the Manchester scene, or the indie scene, or anything so irrelevant. You're looking at Planet Earth." They are a small band with very big potential, their influences are laid out in their music. Think Gary Numan fronting Nine Inch Nails or Simon LaBon fronting The Sounds. It is dark as it is poppy and it certainly needs to be listened to, they will have you dancing in your seat while waving your hands in the air. Check them out HERE

Movie of the Month - La Vie En Rose

After watching this film I realized every other biopic I had seen before December 2007 was nothing compared to La Vie En Rose. This is the single greatest biopic about an person ever put on screen. The French can do more than just put people in seats, but they engross the audience in a full blow piece of art. La Vie En Rose is the story of the famous French World War II singer Edith Piaf. The film goes through her trials and tribulations as a child just trying to survive, then as a singer just trying to stay alive and not fall to addiction. Piaf was the Amy Winehouse of her day, if you will, but how her story is laid out is one of more tragedy than triumph. Piaf is portrayed by the beautiful and talented Marion Cotillard in the role that won her an Oscar at this past years Academy Awards. Cotiallard transforms herself into Piaf from not only her voice but her look as well. Take a split screen of the both of them and you will not be able to tell the difference. Of course the film is chock full of Piaf music, and I promise you will become a fan of the famous French singer. A beautiful soundtrack to a beautiful film about a tragic figure. La Vie En Rose is a must for those that have not seen witnessed it.

Underrated Classic - Thursday "War All the Time"

You may look at this post and say it is too recent of a record to call a classic, let alone an overlooked classic. If anything War All the Time is one of those albums that has been given to us and needs to be discussed now more than ever.

The release of New Jersey's Thursday third record, but first major label, was met with very mixed reviews and much struggle. Thursday nearly broke up recording this record and then after a successful tour with Thrice and Coheed and Cambria, they went on hiatus. Unlike its predecessor Full Collapse, the record that gained the band national attention, War All the Time was a much more musical and melodic record. The title reflects both current times and the struggles we face at everyday life. Opening with the rip roaring "For the Workforce," the welcoming Thursday gave to fans was just a straight punch to the face. Not holding back, the record does move the listener unlike anything any Thursday fan was used to. Songs such as "Steps Ascending," "This Song Brought to You by a Falling Bomb," and "M.Shepard," showed the bands poetic side but not soft side, considering the topics of war, religion and sexuality were heavy in idea. War All the Time will open a listeners mind and in a time of change here in the U.S. it is one to start spinning again.