Bad Religion on Kimmel

Legendary LA punks Bad Religion cranked up the heat and fury on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week performing "Wrong Way Kids" and "21st Century Boy." Take a look!

Quick News

Paul Weller has announced his follow up to his critically praised, Wake Up the Nation is "ready to go," he tells XFM. He says it was finished last week and is being mixed but the former Jam front man has no idea when it will be released.

Incubus have announced that July 12 will be the release date for their latest record, If Not Now, When?

Paul McCartney and Dixie Chicks have lent their vocals to Steve Martin's latest banjo fronted recording effort. The legendary comedian has been enjoying a successful run as a bluegrass musician and will release his latest record, Rare Bird Alert on June 6 in the UK and the following day in the US.

Russel Lissack has made it official, "Bloc Party will reconvene in September." The Bloc Party guitarist tells NME that "We're having a bit of a break until the festivals are over, because people have commitments during the summer, but we're going to get back properly in September and sit in a rehearsal studio to work on new band material." Bloc Party have not played together since 2009.

The story of Kings of Leon has been turned into a documentary. The film, Talahina Sky will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival later this month. Take a look at the trailer below:

Wire on Fallon!

In their first American TV appearance in 25 years, UK punkers Wire came to Fallon to promote their latest record, Red Barked Tree. Watch the icons as they perform "Red Barking Tree" and the classic "Map Ref 41N 93W"

Unreleased Sigur Ros

It has been a bit quiet on the Sigur Ros front for quite sometime. With singer Jonsi enjoying a successful run as a solo artist, there is not telling when the beloved Icelandic band will return. However, the band recently took to Sound Cloud to give out a few demo's, manipulations and rarities for fans to stream. Take a listen below:

svefn-g-englar 1999 demo by sigur rós

Agaetis Byrjun manipulations:

ágætis byrjun manipulations by sigur rós

Agaetis Byrjun demos:

ágætis byrjun demos by sigur rós

Atari Teenage Riot Cover & Track Listing

Germany's Digital Hardcore pioneers - Atari Teenage Riot will return with their first album in a decade! The album, Is This Hyperreal? will be out June 6 in the UK and the following day in the US. It marks the studio return of Alec Empire, Nic Endo and latest member, CX KiDtronik.

Take a look at the cover (above) and the track listing, below:

1. Activate!
2. Blood In My Eyes
3. Black Flags
4. Is This Hyperreal?
5. Codebreaker
6. Shadow Identity
7. Re-Arrange Your Synapses
8. Digital Decay
9. The Only Slight Glimmer of Hope
10. The Collapse of History

Last November we interviewed main man, Alec Empire about ATR's return. Take a look at that interview HERE.

EXCLUSIVE! YOKO ONO INTV!

Witness the reinvention of an icon. An icon of art, music, activism, philanthropy and peace. Since 1961 Yoko Ono has been turning heads, hearts and minds with her work and actions. With her husband, John Lennon, Ono and Lennon took the 60's and 70's by storm with their counter culture approach to life and promotion of peace and love across the world. Until his untimely death, Ono and Lennon looked as if their romance would last forever on Earth. Still after all of these years, Ono has taken her work and pushed forward in doing what John would want and love and of course, doing what pleases her the most - making art with love. In 2009, Ono released her 19th studio album and an album that has seen her take on the music charts and dance floors all over the world like never before. Produced by her son Sean, Between My Head and The Sky, boasted a critically praised record but once DJ's from around the world got their hands on, they reinterpreted Ono's work and began giving it a different spin. In March, she released Move On Fast (The Remixes) which gave her, her sixth number 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club single with "Move On Fast." Now, still dancing after all these years, we had the honor and privilege to speak with the icon that has helped shape the world we live in. Take a look at our EXCLUSIVE interview with the one and only, Yoko Ono below:

How does it feel to still be dancing after all of these years?

I regret the years I didn't. Let me dance at least another life time.

You released “Between My Head and the Sky” in 2009 and various dance remix EPs after. Do you feel that getting your music out to DJ’s is the best way for it to be heard these days?

Dance remix, is certainly a great say to communicate. But BETWEEN MY HEAD AND THE SKY did get a wide and good response, too. I love Dance remix. But I love making rock CD's as well.

Sean produced your last record, what was it like having him helm the controls?

I didn't give up my control. We never thought otherwise.

Your new single, "Move On Fast" has a very clear Euro-style dance beat and feel to it. Was Europe an inspiration?

I didn't think so.

One of the remixes has a clear dubstep sound to it, do you feel this style and genre is starting to really break in the mainstream?

What is the mainstream in your mind? Pop?

When a remix of one of your songs are done, do you pick the artist, DJ or producer who you would like to have reinterpret the song?

Sometimes. But most of the time, it just happens.

You recently did a handful of gigs with Sean last year in Brooklyn and LA with some magnificent artists, everyone from Bette Midler to Iggy Pop to Lady Gaga to Antony and the Johnsons. How much fun was it to have all of your friends and your son on stage playing with you? Will you be doing more gigs like that in the future?

I never dreamt of doing a concert that way. That was Sean's doing.

How did you decide who will get to play at the shows with you?

Sean called them. I was horrified and loved it in the end.

Who really impresses you in music today?

I like Lady Gaga's Performance Art bit.

You recently overlooked the remastering John Lennon’s back catalog that was released on his birthday. What was it like taking a trip down memory lane with his old work?

It was painful and great at the same time.

How do you think John would look at music today? Would he like it? Would he be inspired by some of today’s musicians?

I think he would have loved making music digitally.

You are very active in social networking and connecting with your fans, do you feel that these tools are very important for today’s artist?

They are the new media in Art. Of course they're important. Important, exciting, and fun.

Aside from music and art you have always been a champion of human rights, what was your initial reaction to the release of Aung San Suu Kyi after all those years under house arrest?

I am, as so many people, very glad that she is out. I hope she will stay healthy and free for the rest of her life.

Do you believe we will see world leader’s one day give peace a chance?

Yes. I do.

Live Review - The Strokes @ MSG

The Strokes Live at Madison Square Garden - by Jon Zuckerman*

“We haven’t been back here in forever,” said Julian Casablancas during The Strokes sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden on April 1st. He meant NYC, not MSG. The hometown crowd clearly felt their absence and gave them a welcome-home party like they’ve never had before. People were going crazy from the moment they walked out on stage. Couples started making out because they didn’t know what else to do with the outpouring of love they felt.

For me they got off to kind of a slow start. “Is This it” isn’t the most exciting opener. Following with “Reptilia” was smart but I still wasn’t fully into yet. Once they went into “Last Nite” though, only a few songs later, I was suddenly 15 years old again- feeling something inside me explode and knowing I’ll never be the same again. From that point on I was in 100%, dancing and singing and grinning like a fool. Other highlights were “Juicebox,” which Julian sang most of from the crowd, and a heavily mirror-balled “Under Control,” the only true ballad The Strokes have. But the best part of the night came when Elvis Costello joined in on “Taken For A Fool.” It was nothing short of amazing and I was completely dumbfounded. Even the band couldn’t hide how excited they were to be playing with such a legend (except for Nikolai who always kind of looks like an Ent from Lord of the Rings). Julian and Albert smiled at each other in disbelief and when the song was done they all just ran off the stage.

Of course there was an encore and all of it was stellar. It started with the rarely played “Ask Me Anything” and culminated with a massive “Take It Or Leave It.” I walked out of their with the feeling you’re supposed to get after a great concert, not just that you’ve seen a show but that you’ve been a part of something. The feeling that you just had a unique experience. The reception for their new album Angles has been mixed but one thing if for sure, it’s really good to have them back.

The Strokes 4/1/11 MSG Setlist:

Is This It
Reptilia
Under Cover of Darkness
Hard to Explain
Last Nite
Juicebox
Someday
You're So Right
Under Control
You Only Live Once
New York City Cops
Games
Whatever Happened
Taken For A Fool (with Elvis Costello)
-
Ask Me Anything
The Modern Age
Gratisfaction
I Can't Win
Take It or Leave It

**Jon Zuckerman is a contributing writer for Officially A Yuppie. He is also a member of another New York City rock band, The Twees.

LISTEN NEW MARITIME ALBUM!

Formed out of the ashes of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan in 2003; drummer Dan Dieder, guitarist Dan Hinz, vocalist Davey von Bohlen and bassist Eric Axelson formed Maritime. Maritime's main mission was to be an acoustic, sort of neo-folk band but that quickly changed once they started replugging in their instruments and cranking out a post-hardcore sound. Maritime released three albums on Flameshovel records and in 2006 Axelson left the band and was replaced by Justin Klug. As the band have toured and toured and toured some more, they took a bit of a break and are now back with their first album in four years, the amazing Human Hearts on Dangerbird Records. Human Hearts arrives on Tuesday but YOU can now take a listen to this EXCLUSIVE album stream of Maritime's latest.

Royal Bangs on Letterman

The rip roaring Knoxville, Tennessee trio The Royal Bangs hit up Letterman this week. Take a look as to why they are one of the most talked about live band's out there today.

Duran Duran on Fallon

Legendary New Wavers Duran Duran came to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to promote the physical release of their "return to roots" Mark Ronson produced album - All You Need Is Now. Take a look at the band performing "Leave a Light On" and the classic "Hungry Like the Wolf."