It's The Best, Jerry!

The Washington Post is doing its yearly Readers' Choice Best Bets, so go vote on your favorite D.C. Metro Area music venues, foods, bars, restaurants, shops, etc. here!

Stories of the Jam

Don't forget kids - VH1 Storytellers: Pearl Jam airs for the first time this Saturday, July 1st, at 10pm. Eddie and the boys rock out a bit and provide some insight regarding the inspiration behind songs such as "Betterman" and "Alive" at NYC's Avalon.

MP3: Breath - Pearl Jam
MP3: Wash - Pearl Jam

A Case of the Fridays

We open this week with East Hundred’s hypnotic “Leave It.” Dreamy vocals hover above the atmospheric guitars, electronic beats and sounds, and then eventually wash right over you. Give it a listen.

MP3: Leave It – East Hundred

And we close out with “The Way Life Is Supposed To Be.” Bob Schneider lends the rasp in his voice to this catchy little pop song that’s really a love song at heart. And I must admit, the backing and harmony vocals over the choruses had me at hello. If you like what you hear, Bob Schneider will be here in D.C. this summer, opening up for the Dixie Chicks.

MP3: The Way Life Is Supposed To Be – Bob Schneider

If you missed the NBA draft last night, or you'd just like some further insight, check out SI.com's review of the first round here.

July Bunch

The July Mp3 Bunch of the Month is up over to the right --> I've got some Jeter, some Guster, some Bob Schneider, and some Triggerbox. Go give 'em a listen...

More Kasabian

A band I'm interested in hearing more from, Kasabian, has announced a September 12th release date and track listing for their sophomore effort, Empire. According to lead singer Tom Meighan, the album-opening title track sounds like "Marc Bolan smoking crack with Dr. Who." Nice.

MP3: L.S.F. - Kasabian

Building An Empire

I was flipping through my digital cable the other day, and I came across some concert footage of a Queensryche show, which prompted me to pull out my old Empire CD. This blend of heavy metal and progressive rock is still quite good, even fifteen years after its release. I had forgotten just how much "Jet City Woman" rocks.

MP3: Jet City Woman - Queensryche
MP3: Best I Can - Queensryche

Axl Bites Man

Time for your Axl Rose update, kids! Apparently he was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden Tuesday for allegedly biting a security guard in the leg. You can pretty much guess how things went down - Axl plays show. Axl gets drunk. Axl gets in fight. Axl takes a bite out of calf (or perhaps thigh).

On Deadly Ground

And you thought Steven Seagal only kicked ass in the movies! Now he wants to kick ass on guitar. I wonder if he can play as well as he can act...

Entertainment, Briefly

Two of my favorite directors have movies in the works, so I'm psyched...

David Fincher's (Seven, Fight Club) next film, Zodiac, will be a return to some familiar territory - the serial-killer flick. Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Robert Downey, Jr. will be starring in this film about about the Zodiac slayer, who terrorized Northern California in the 60s and 70s. It's got a tentative 2007 release date.

And Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream) is readying his first film in six years, The Fountain, starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Entertainment Weekly calls it “a mind-bending (what Aronofsky film isn’t), time-hopping sci-fi romance.” It’ll be in theatres October 13th.

And a little Potter news - J.K. Rowling, the master of the writing universe, has revealed that at least two characters will die in the seventh and final installment of her bestselling Harry Potter series. Of course, she’s not saying which ones, but I’m betting it’s not Harry.

Make Your Own Motivational Poster

The title of this post pretty much says it all. You can go and make your own motivational poster out of your own pictures at this cool website.

thanks to FantasticAlice for the tip

I Need To Get Out More

I just got my tickets in the mail for the 7/24 Butch Walker show at the 9:30 Club. CC and I are most definitely looking forward to that rocking evening. Butch Walker's got a new CD coming out pretty soon, and there's a pretty distinct Bowie/glam-rock edge to the new material. You can check out some of the new songs on his MySpace page.

Odds & Ends

it's a hanging lamp of some kind

a Flaming Lips CD

Get A Piece of the Crew

Forget buying your kid a pique polo from J.Crew - get 'em some stock instead! J.Crew is planning on going public next week.

A Case of the Fridays

We kick off this Friday with “Fell,” by Dan Wallace. It’s unique sounding, yet strangely catchy indie-pop that slowly builds layers of sound and voice. Its ska-tinged verses suddenly kick into choruses fueled by interesting harmonies and propellant rhythms. Check it out.

MP3: Fell – Dan Wallace

And we close things with a selection by The Samples. They’ve been around for quite awhile, but I think the stripped-down acoustic guitar/keyboard arrangement of “Who Am I” perfectly captures the mournful beauty of Sean Kelly’s voice. Take a listen.

MP3: Who Am I - The Samples

Strange Doesn't Describe It

Have you been aching to hear just what Taylor Hicks and Snoop Dogg could do together on stage? Then go check out the video link to their live performance of "Gin and Juice" on I Am Fuel,You Are Friends.

Less Traveled

Back in the day, I used to go see the band Less Traveled pretty much every Tuesday night at the Clarendon Grill. Those Tuesday night shows were amazing nights of music, both originals and covers. Sadly, they disbanded awhile back, but I always have wondered if they had recordings of any of their live material. Coincidentally, I went on Bruce's (the drummer) myspace site today, and it turns out that he had a live version of LT's "Dear Prudence" up!

MP3: Dear Prudence (live) - Less Traveled

Jet Sighting

Where has Jet been, you say? Rolling Stone catches up with the Australian-based rockers in this article and finds out what they've been up to since their 2003 debut album, Get Born.

A Little Lips

I'm in a Flaming Lips kind of mood. So here's some Flaming Lips for you, too. The vocal arrangements are quite top notch.

MP3: Flight Test - The Flaming Lips

More Auto Madness

The new cars are coming! So do yourself a favor and go check out MSN.com's 2007 Model Year Preview.

The Return of the Miura?

Lamborghini unveiled their retro Miura concept car at this past Thursday's Los Angeles auto show. Lamborghini claims the model is "strictly a concept, with no firm date set for its production launch." Regardless, it's one beautiful piece of machinery.

Long Island Trip Pics

a very intriguing bit of graffiti on a Long Island underpass

they even pave Saturday mornings in D.C.

driving across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

How Long Is Your Island?

CC and I will be heading up to Long Island (the one in New York, not the meteorite in Kansas) this weekend, so no posting for a couple of days...

A Couple Images

it's not a scooter

2200 is the address

A Case of the Fridays

We start things off this Friday with The Swear’s “January.” It’s tight, catchy, female-fronted rock (think Joan Jett, The Donnas) with a hint of darkness, both lyrically and sonically. Rock yourself a listen.

MP3: January – The Swear

And we close out this week with “Careful Hands,” by Sleeping At Last. The song’s delicate vocals stand out in this richly textured song that’s gradually built up with string arrangements and keys. A bit melancholy, yes, but it’s definitely worth a listen.

MP3: Careful Hands – Sleeping At Last

No Instruments Allowed

The new Guster album is coming out June 20th. In the meantime, here's an a capella cover of Guster's classic, "Either Way," by Tufts University's Beezlebubs.

MP3: Either Way (Guster Cover) - Beezlebubs

Get Your Dwight

I just couldn't resist posting this picture of the Dwight Schrute bobblehead doll (as seen in TV's The Office). It'll be available for purchase on July 30th from the NBC store.

Forty-Four

Bob Dylan is slated to release his 44th album, Modern Times, this summer on August 29th. I most likely won't be buying it. But I'm damn impressed by the fact that he's released 44 freaking albums! Now that's prolific!

Birdmonster Is Coming!

San Francisco-based indie-rock band Birdmonster is touring the East Coast, and they'll be making their DC stop Tuesday night, June 13th, bringing the rock to the Black Cat. I'm digging their track, "All The Holes In The Walls" - it's got some kick.

MP3: All The Holes In The Wall - Birdmonster

Roethlisberger Injured In Motorcycle Accident

From Fox Sports...

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was badly injured in a motorcycle crash Monday morning and set for surgery.

"Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition in an operating room," said Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital. Jones spoke before going into surgery.

Motorcycles can be an unforgiving business, and I really hope the guy is OK.

In Print

Wow, the Washington Post Express quoted my Marah concert review blog post in their "The Blog Log" section in today's edition on page 36. Very cool! And thanks to PT for letting me know!

Where'd You Get That T-Shirt?

Admit it. You know you want to get some more cool, snappy t-shirts for this summer, but you just don't know where to go to get 'em. No problem! aL over at You Look Like I Need a Drink just put up a dynamite post here going over where to go when you need that special t-shirt. Check it out.

A Little Live Ryan

Pete over at IckMusic has got a very cool post on Matthew Ryan right here that includes some updates on Strays Don't Sleep, and, most importantly to me, some live mp3s from Matthew's 1998 tour of Germany (I'm liking "Me & My Lover). It's refreshing to hear him live w/ a backing band, cus the times I've seen him he's been by himself...

Charm City

Damn, Marah ripped it up last night at the 8X10 Club in Baltimore! I hadn't seen 'em for a bit, and CC and I had a blast! There's nothing like a kick-ass rock 'n' roll show to cure what ails you.

I was a bit apprehensive about the opener, "Adam & Dave's Bloodline." But we later realized that (a) though their MySpace recordings aren't great, they put on a quality live show; and (b) Adam is the lead guitarist for Marah, and Dave is the drummer for Marah.

It was my first time at the 8X10, and I really like it - kind of like a mini-9:30 Club (including a balcony), just not as deep. And I even thought I had a Sam Goldberg sighting, but turns out it was just an impersonator.

Weekend Pics, Pt. III

Beetle

who's walking whom?

faucet

Weekend Pics, Pt. II

who's reading your meter?

if you can't get a motorcycle...

protect your contstruction site

Weekend Pics, Pt. I

Ford Pickup

flag in the wind

Arlington graffiti

i have no idea what this building is

Jack's Back on June 16th!!!

No more of this King Kong garbage! It's almost time for Nacho Libre!

Get Yo 'Stache On

Ahhhhh, to be young, hip, and moustachioed in New York City. That's right, folks - the 'stache it back, cus New York says it's so!

Largely shunned since the 1980s, moustaches are enjoying something of a renaissance among young New Yorkers, following a comeback trail blazed by such hip role models as actor Nicholas Cage and the ultra-trendy fashion photographer Terry Richardson.

So put away your Norelco razors and let your facial hair grow!