Five-Banger

FRAGRANCE: Because who doesn’t want to smell like Andy Warhol?

FANTASTIC: I finally found video from the Clapton/Winwood three-night MSG stand - Here’s one of my favorite songs, “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” from the Monday (2/25/08) show. Frankly, I didn’t know that Steve could play the guitar like that - and he’s still got some pipes, too.

FLUFF YOUR GARFIELD: What happens when you read the Garfield comic strip without Garfield (here)? It gets a little bit…weird. (thanks, Pop Candy)

MOCKERY: SI’s Don Banks offers up his Mock Draft, Version 3.0 here – and I really don’t want Jerry Jones to go nuts and trade up for Darren McFadden, by the way

APPLE: Rolling Stone got an advance listen to potential tracks for Coldplay’s upcoming album – and they actually dished a bit about ‘em here.

A Case of the Fridays

Some people are working tomorrow, and others are taking the day off – hopefully you’re a member of the latter group like me, and not the former. If you dug Gavin DeGraw’s breakout hit “I Don’t Want To Be,” you should be digging the soulful “I’m In Love With A Girl,” which pretty much mines the same groove. Gavin DeGraw will be with Landon Pigg at the 9:30 Club this Friday, February 29th.

MP3: I’m In Love With A Girl – Gavin DeGraw

I had never heard of Chuck Ragan (above) until this past weekend, when I heard “The Boat” playing in a CD store, and I had to ask the clerk who it was. Turns out he’s got a pretty hardcore past, as far as music goes, as a member of Hot Water Music. But this is an acoustic-based track that makes great use of his husky rasp of a voice and tops it with some electric slide guitar work that completes this soaring track. Take a listen.

MP3: The Boat – Chuck Ragan

Photo Credit

Threefer

PUMPKINS: Stereogum’s got a video of an unreleased Smashing Pumpkins track, “Superchrist,” here – they’re quite complimentary of it. I’ll just say that Jimmy Chamberlain gets one hell of a workout in it.

CAPTIONS: Think you’re good at writing cards? American Greetings is having a contest where you can come up with the best captions for pictures that they provide here

HALLELUJAH: My Old Kentucky Blog’s got a repost of his Covers Project of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” up here – with versions by Bono, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Damien Rice, just to name a few

Sarah Gets Matt Damon, Jimmy Gets Ben Affleck

Jimmy Kimmel's video cameo-packed response to Sarah Silverman's "I'm F*cking Matt Damon." Not as good as Sarah's, however. That Josh Groban cameo is pretty damn funny.

Four-Banger

YOU ZOMBIES: CC & I will be going to see The Hooters later in March, and conveniently, Will Harris of Popdose just interviewed singer/guitarist Eric Bazillian here

PEE SHIVERS: Cracked’s Explanations for 5 Body Mysteries - here

ALMOST BLIND: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood are playing a three-night stand at Madison Square Garden from 2/25 to 2/28 – I couldn’t find a good video of the first show, but here’s a clip of ‘em doing “Can’t Find My Way Home” at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival

REALITY: Could MTV’s The Real World finally be coming to DC? It only took 21 seasons…

Butch's New Live Album

Butch Walker has got a new live album out, Leavin' The Game On Luckie St, that's only available via download - and you can pay the amount you want - here. You can also get it from his MySpace site or from Amazon, though the price isn't negotiable at those locations, I don't believe. And if you're tired of working, go watch a video for "Don't Move" here.

Marah @ Zaragoza 2008

You wondering how the new Marah lineup sounds, but frustrated cus you can't go see a show since they're currently touring in Europe? PaulMurff was kind enough to post video from the Zaragoza show. No lie.

Journey w/ Their New Lead Singer

Curious how Journey sounds with their new Filipino lead singer (Arnel Pineda) they found over the internet? Here they are with him performing "Faithfully" and a good bit of "Don't Stop Believin'." (thanks, Stereogum)

Threefer

MATCHBOX SUX: $140,000 for a Hot Wheels 40th Anniversary car? Yep.

TORN: Johnny Knoxville suffered an injury to his urethra while doing a stunt for the upcoming 24-hour Jackass marathon – if that doesn’t make you cringe…

ART: You can check out the posters from all 79 Best Picture Oscar-winners at this link here (thanks Pop Candy)

A Case of the Fridays

It’s icy out, so why not listen to a couple songs until things melt? First up this week is “Your Call” from Secondhand Serenade. It’s sweeping emo-pop, in the same vein as classic Dashboard Confessional, building from a simple acoustic beginning to reach glorious crescendos. Interestingly enough, Secondhand Serenade, like DC, is a “band” made up of one guy, John Vesely. Secondhand Serenade will be at Jammin Java Tuesday, February 25th.

MP3: Your Call - Secondhand Serenade

And we close out the week with the instrumental (why not?) band, Russian Circles’ track “Death Rides A Horse.” It explodes out of the gate with some ferocious guitar licks, and things take off from there. They keep things interesting with tempo changes and different parts, almost like a moody progressive metal symphony. These guys (above) will be at the Rock and Roll Hotel Wednesday, February 27th. Most likely you’ll need earplugs.

MP3: Death Rides A Horse – Russian Circles

Photo by Ryan Russell

A Wreck

If you're going to total your car, at least make some art out of it.

Jackass Goes Live

Mark your calendars kids. This weekend the guys from Jackass will be celebrating the official launch of their new website, Jackassworld.com, by taking over MTV all-day Saturday, February 23rd. Don't miss out!

Four-Banger

CONNOR: My brain hurts after watching the time-bending episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles last night – but here’s the EW recap anyway

YEAR: Ari Hest talks about his kinda interesting new project titled “52” – writing, recording and releasing one song a week via his website for the entirety of 2008 – in a Stereo Subversion interview here

BIG: Barnacles’ male organs can be up to eight times the length of their bodies! Talk about a reach around…

DRINK: I just tried this Orange Mango Honest Ade – and it’s now my new favorite beverage – not too sweet, no high-fructose corn syrup, and it’s “organic” - whatever that means nowadays

Marah Interviews Up

Marah is about to depart for a big ol’ European tour, with new "members" on board. And, lo and behold, they did some interviews to help promote it. These interviews will be running in European press during the tour, but they were kind of enough to give us an advance look at ‘em. My particular favorite is the one with El Correo (Basque Country) here. I love this particular answer Dave gave gave – priceless.

Q: Which are the differences between the two brothers?
DB: One wears a vest and plays the harmonica on his back in puddles of beer. One doesn't.

There’s two more interviews, too, one with La Luna De Metropoli (Spain) here, and one with Grande Rock Radio Topo (Zaragoza, Spain) here.

MP3: Santos de Madera - Marah

Gerald Green Makes A Wish...

I watched part of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but it looks like I missed Gerald Green blow out the candle on a cupcake before dunking. Not bad!

Conehead Dog

Opie's had a difficult weekend (as related in CC's post here). He's doing OK, but sadly, he's forced to run around with a cone of silence, errr...a cone of reduced licking...around his neck until he heals.

Threefer

LISTS: The 25 Best Band Logos and 17 Great Pop Culture Cars

MOCKERY: SI’s Don Banks presents his NFL Mock Draft, version 2.0 – start sharpening up for April, kids!

BIG STICKS: The 5 Most Badass Presidents of All-Time, according to Cracked

There Will Be Milkshakes

I finally saw "There Will Be Blood" this morning. But yeah, I have to admit, after hearing the spoilers, I was waiting with eager anticipation throughout the entire movie just to hear a whacked-out Daniel Day-Lewis utter the line "I drink your milkshake."

I thought the movie was a bit overdone, and DDL seemed to swerve into the Al Pacino territory of overacting. Frankly, I thought Paul Dano's performance was much more subtle and enjoyable to watch.

Anyway, I haven't seen every Best Picture nominee, but I hope TWBB doesn't take Best Picture over "No Country for Old Men."

Shwa CD Release Party Saturday

Former DC resident singer-songwriter Shwa has got a new CD coming out (Chop Chop), and he’ll be in town for a CD release party this Saturday night (2/16) at IOTA. I've only gotten to listen to a couple songs from the disc via his MySpace page. The title track lopes along at a dreamy pace, propelled by a hypnotic drum beat and acoustic guitar groove, with a sing-song hook. But I’m really loving the combination of lyrics and melody of the pop gem “Myriah,” which pbviously you can stream on his myspace page here.

MP3: Chop Chop - Shwa

Photo by Emily Rawlings

Sure as Shootin'

The more I watch this video of the Beastie Boys' "Sure Shot" made with childrens' illustrator Richard Scarry's drawings, the more surreal it becomes to me.

Morou, My Valentine

Yup, yesterday was Valentine's Day, and I took CC to her favorite restaurant, Farrah Olivia, in Old Town. It's Chef Morou Ouattara's restaurant, and we're big fans of his, after watching him do battle on Iron Chef and compete on The Next Iron Chef. The food was very good Valentine's Day fare (expectations are generally lowered on this busy day), and I got to check some items off of my "never had before" list, such as squab and rabbit.

But the highlight of the evening, however, was Morou actually coming out into the dining room to talk to a few of the customers (most didn't recognize him). CC, never one to be shy, went up and talked to him before he retreated back into the kitchen. He told her he had to meet her date, too, so he came over to our table, talked a a bit and shook my hand! I made sure to tell him that he never should have been kicked off of The Next Iron Chef. Awesome!

Valentine Four-Banger

HEART: Scientist-themed valentines are hilarious! Who woulda thunk it? Go check 'em out.

SIP: Marilyn Manson’s got his own label of absinthe (Mansinthe) and Epicurious has even reviewed it – read more on Stereogum here

POWER: Which superhero are you? Take the superhero personality quiz here. I’m 75% Spiderman – intelligent, witty, a bit geeky, and have great power and responsibility.

MIXED: Feeling less romantic, a bit more sad or bitter for V-Day? Go check out I Am Fuel, You Are Friends’ “Bleeding In The Bathtub collaborative mix here

Guitar Rock

Every so often you just need a couple little dirty guitar rockers. Cary Hudson’s gritty, swampy “Things Just Ain’t What They Used To Be” has one of my favorite chorus set-up lines ever - “ain’t no more Indians in Indianola, no more cocaine in Coca-Cola.” I just came across Back Door Slam’s “Come Home” on the radio, and frankly, I was surprised to hear them play something that retro and bluesy on the air. Apparently the guys in this band from the UK are still only teenagers, but their sound is a good bit older than their years.

MP3: Things Just Ain’t What They Used To Be – Cary Hudson
MP3: Come Home – Back Door Slam

Marcel Breuer Exhibit

MARCEL BREUER: DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE will be finishing up its run at the National Building Museum in DC February 17th. I’ve never been there before, and I’ve always wanted to go. Cool chairs and modernist design just might be enough to finally get me out.

Photo of Atlanta Public Library: MarcelBreuer Papers, Archives of American Art, Washington, D.C.

Four-Banger

SHAKER: Yeah, R2D2 always was the peppery droid of the pair…

KANSAS: This video of a 10-year-old rocking out on the organ to “Carry On My Wayward Son” is rather…impressive – she really makes good use of all the organs’ sound capabilities (thanks, Daniel)

SEVENTIES: The music of 1978 wrapped up in a nice, MP3-laden nutshell of a post here, thanks to Popdose

AWWWW: Cracked presents their Six Cutest Animals That Can Still Destroy You – how cute is that baby hippo!

Red Dirt Girl

I always love hearing Catfish Honeymoon cover Emmylou Harris' "Red Dirt Girl," so I figured I'd look for a live version of Emmylou playing it. It's quite nice, and once Buddy Miller's harmonies kick in, it's even better. And I love that little bass hook, by the way.

Threefer

PURSESTRINGS: Wanna go on a spending spree? Just get depressed!

INK: Yeah, getting needles shoved into your skin hurts, but it hurts more in certain places – here’s the top 5

HIS WAY: Butch Walker has got some new covers (“Laid” and “Born to Run”) up on his MySpace site here

New Bond Movie Poster Pic Credit

New Kula Shaker

I like me a little Kula Shaker every now and then – they reformed a bit ago, and I’ve been waiting patiently for them to release their new album, Strangefolk here in the US, since it’s already out in the UK. It’ll be dropping February 19th, and you can stream “Song of Love/Narayana” at Spin.com here. Psychedelic sound? Check. Indian chanting? Check. Guitars? Check. Just what you expected, right?

MP3: Dr. Kitt – Kula Shaker

Threefer

CANED: If you’ve got to limp,at least you can limp like House (thanks, LeeHead)

BOOST: Val Kilmer is now going to voice KITT on the new Knight Rider television show? You know, I do believe William Daniels is still alive…

IG-88: Alright, kids – the Ten Star Wars Toys That Unintentionally Look Like Other Celebrities – how many do/did you have?

As The Marah Turns...

I was supposed to be going to see my favorite band, Marah, tonight at the 9:30 Club. But they had a few internal problems several weeks ago on the eve of a world tour for their highly-acclaimed new CD Angels of Destruction, and long story short, their bassist, lead guitarist and drummer split, and their US shows were canceled. Whew! Long sentence.

Anyway, the remaining members, brothers Bielanko (Dave & Serge) and keyboardist Christine Smith are still going to go through with the European leg of the tour. The Marah message board has been abuzz with speculation, and at this point it looks like the Kids Originally From Philly will be touring with Johnny Pisano on bass and Joe Gorelick on drums.

MP3: Santos de Madeira - Marah

Photo Credit Hanna Torreson

U2 - In Three Dimensions

If you missed U2 last time they were here on tour, and seeing them in the two dimensions that is color television just doesn’t do it for you, you might want to check out “U2 3D” over at the Natural History Museum IMAX theatre in DC. Cool 3D glasses and giant rockstars – what more could you want?

MP3: One (live in DC 12/31/99) – Bono & Daniel Lanois

(Photograph Courtesy of 3ALITY Digital)

Threefer

RESERVATIONS: Wanna travel with Anthony Bourdain? Enter the contest here.

PEE WEE: Local blogger Arjewtino recounts his week in heaven…I mean, baseball fantasy camp in Dodgertown…here

TIP INCLUDED? Got a wicked big amount of money to burn on a five-course meal? Try this one

Pic link

And The Videos Continue...

I never knew that Phish performed on Letterman, but low and behold, they did! And they played one of my favorite jams, "Character Zero." Trey gets his wah on a bunch, and the recording is pretty solid, since it's TV. This one's for you, Dan.

Super Bon Bons for Everyone!

I had never seen the video to Soul Coughing's "Super Bon Bon." But now I can check out some visuals to go along with the incredible bass and drum groove that propels this jam.

What Sarah Silverman Is Doing To Matt Damon

There's a running joke on the Jimmy Kimmel show about how he's run out of time to have Matt Damon on. Anyway, looks like Jason Bourne is getting the last laugh courtesy of this Sarah Silverman video...