Trials + Tribulations

The Scissor Sisters are playing Halloween to a sold out London crowd. Why do you care? Because you can see it for free tonight on Global Cool. By pledging to reduce your carbon emissions, you are treated to not only the show but pre-show-getting-ready-antics. Their costumes and live performance are not to miss on any old regular day. A special Halloween show should be phenominal.

side note:

We are still running the contest for 3 copies of The Changes album Today Is Tonight. Add your email addy here to be thrown into the hat. Contest ends on Nov 10th.

Scissor Sisters – Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand Cover)

Scissor Sisters – Skins (remixed)

Now, I know this is pointless drivel, but Mike and I spent LOTS of time waiting for all of the great shows ACL weekend. We were talking about how awesome it would be if Carrie Brownstein (of Sleater-Kinney) and Matt Friedberger (of the Fiery Furnaces) played together, and possibly the control issues, blah blah blah.

Anyways, we kinda came up with a name for them or moreover the subject of them. To us, they are now BrownBerger

We also saw a lot of Cat power and Sufjan, and then got carried away deeming them, ChanJan (pronounced shawn-yawn) Finally, we saw Smog and Joanna and called them Smoanna. See Mike’s earlier post.

We thought it was fun. Maybe you guys can think of some others in the music world. They obviously don’t have to have any relation to each other. Possibly just those you’d like to see play together or maybe have offspring.

Sufjan Stevens – Ding! Dong! Vol. 3 That was the Worst Christmas Ever

Cat Power and Karen Elson – I Love You (Me Either) off Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisted

Pink Nasty (aka Austinite Sara Beck) is high on my list of need-ta/wanna see. She was invited to tour with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and is featured on his live album. He reciprocated with a duet on her new album Mold the Gold. Her brother is Black Nasty, who helps to co-write some of her songs. Black and Pink Nasty also sing love songs with another brother as The Kevins.

Somehow I missed her last time she was in town and down the street from my house. I’m hot on her trail and will be buying whatever she’s selling. She’s playing solo at Good Records on Saturday the 28th at 3pm.

also:
01 Nov in Austin @ Flamingo Cantina (solo) w/The Shells/Madeline and Geoff Reacher
02 Nov in Austin @ The Parish w/Britt Daniel
03 Nov in NYC @ Mo Pitkins (solo) w/Wooden Wand and many others
11 Nov in Louisville @ The Pour House w/Speed To Roam

May It Always Be

Don’t Ever Change (w/Will Oldham)

Away Message (video)

I chickened out and told Khaela of The Blow that Mike’s in love with her. It’s the truth, but I am, too. I’ve been lucky enough to be at 2 of her shows in about a month’s time, and the live experience is captivating. I want her to dance in my living room. I’m going to go out on a limb and bet that you haven’t picked up the new album Paper Television. It just came out on K on Tuesday, so go NOW!

Parentheses (live)

How Naked Are We Gonna Get (live)

Hock It (live)

Get the rest of this show at Lullabyes.

I’m gonna guess that this version of CSS‘s Alala is the one you might see on not-so-mtv’s subterranean. The director spoke about the stop-motion concept with Video Static.

There are a few different videos for the same song and if you’re a huge fan like me you can see them all on You Tube.

Mike and I were up front for their show at the Gypsy Ballroom opening for Ladytron. We were kinda the only ones dancing, but that’s not unusual for a Dallas show. If you go see them, or anyone, please dance.

Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Spank Rock remix)

Via Audio was born at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. They recorded a six song ep, played numerous shows, and even caught the attention of Chris Walla of Death Cab. But don’t count that against them, just kidding (I think I’m the only one not into Death Cab). Now, they are working on a full album with Jim Eno of Spoon. They’ve drawn comparisons to Stars and Rilo Kiley. Jessica Martins’ super smooth voice reminds me of Sarah Harmer (whom I LOVE). I think they’ve got mad skills, and if I were you, I’d catch them before they blow up. They’ll be at CMJ, so someone report back to me as to how the live show is.

We Can Be Good

Modern Day Saint

Funny enough, I was just looking for info on this festival last week. When you see that Peaches and Spoon are booked for the same show, your curiousity is peaked. I am happy to report that the very fine booker for Emo‘s has done what he does best but on a bigger scale. Fun Fun Fun Fest is going down December 1st at Waterloo Park in Austin. There’s a little something for everyone with an indie stage, a punk stage, and an electronic stage.

I Summon You – Spoon

You Love It – Peaches with Joan Jett

Erase Errata burst onto the music scene opening for the likes of Sleater-Kinney and Le Tigre. The jagged beats and bursts of trumpets made me instantly fall in love. Throw in that they’re politically conscious and can out dance anyone, now that makes for a mean show. Their lineup has changed a bit. I do miss Sara Jaffe, then they threw in some guy, but now Jenny’s back to singing and has taken on the guitar parts. They’ll be playing at CMJ, but for right now are taking Europe by storm.

MON 23.10 Amsterdam NL @ Paradiso
TUES 24.10 Kortrijkt/Brussels B
WED 25.10 Paris F @ Point Ephemere
THUR 26.10 Milano I @ Magnolia
FRI 27.10 Barcelon ESP @ Apollo 2
SAT 28.10 Madrid ESP
SUN 29.10 Lyon F @ Le Sonic
MON 30.10 Brighton UK @ Pressure Point
WED 1.11 London @ Spitz

Nov 3-4 @ CMJ!

Sunday, November 12 @ Cafe DuNord, San Francisco w/ Clipd Beaks, Origami
Thursday, Nov 16 Canberra, AUS @ Transit Bar
Friday, Nov 17 Sydney, AUS @ Spectrum
Saturday, Nov 18 Melbourne, AUS @ East Brunswick Club
Monday, Nov 20 Perth, AUS @ The Rosemount Hotel
Wednesday, Nov 22 Adelaide, AUS @ Rocket Bar
Thursday, Nov 23 Brisbane, AUS @ Powerhouse part of LADYFEST!
Saturday, Nov 25 Wellington NZ
Sunday, Nov 26 Auckland NZ

Tax Dollar (video)

Tongue Tied

No one is going to miss Mike more than me. You’d think that he and I were seperated at birth, if we weren’t born many years and kids apart. He’s the best, but I don’t need to tell you guys that.

Here’s a clip of Amy Sedaris (hopefully, Mike’s future wife) on The Daily Show. She’s promoting her new book I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. Watch it now before it gets pulled.

If you don’t mind, I’ve got a pretty big announcement to make now.

Next week I’ll be taking off to serve a mission in Monterrey Mexico for the LDS church. I’ll be gone for two years, which means I won’t be able to blog at all. I don’t even know if in two years blogging will still be around or relevant, but thankfully, my sister CC has agreed to take over everything here while I’m gone. I know she’ll do a great job and I hope you guys keep reading here to see what she has to say. She taught me everything I know so she’ll do an awesome job.

I just want to thank you all for reading for the past year (or however long you’ve been reading), seeing what I have to say about music or just enjoying the tunes. I wish you all the best, and see you in two years maybe.

Jens Lekman-Be Good