"F*ck The Sh*t"

This 53-second song and video for "F*ck the Sh*t" by Sons of Butcher is both hilarious and rocking at the same time. Of course, it goes without saying that it's NSFW.

MP3: F*ck The Sh*t - Sons of Butcher

James in the US this Fall!

I'm pretty psyched that James is finally going to be doing a US tour - and they're going to be including a date in DC! This will be my first chance to see them live. Here they are playing "Tomorrow" in 2006 at Manchester.

Threefer

CAKE: It’s National Cheesecake Day, so take advantage of the $1.50 slice of cheesecake special at The Cheesecake Factory – of course, it’s dine-in only and one-per-person, suckers!

POTTERMANIA: Forget Batman, check out the trailer for the new Harry Potter movie here

BEAUTY: The Hill has released its annual 50 Most Beautiful People issue, which is tripe. But what really matters is that it provides fodder for the DCeiver’s mockery of it

Better Not Speedwalk Without A Snickers

Or else Mr. T will find you! I pity the fool!

Threefer

KNIGHT: KITT turning into an F-150? Check it in the video preview here. Oh wait, I don’t really plan on watching the new doped-up Knight Rider series anyway…

WHITNEY: New Whitney Houston track/video “Like I Never Left” – and it’s pretty generic

KINGS: For today only, Kings of Leon are giving away a new track “Crawl” for free download here – it’s off of their upcoming album Only By The Night

Four-Banger

SHARKED: It’s Shark Week on the Discovery Channel – so go shark yourself!

FOODICLES: DC’s Restaurant Week is coming up August 11th-17th, and DCist lists the newly released 2009 Zagat's Top Tens for DC here, which might help you pick where to go

A SHOT AWAY: Captain’s Dead has a boot of that infamous Stones show back in ’79 here, grainy as though it may be

GLEN: Glen Campbell covers…Green Day’s “Good Riddence (Time Of Your Life)” – go take a listen here – it’s kind of cool

Juniper Lane Opening for Coldplay 8/3

Congratulations to DC’s Juniper Lane for scoring the opening gig at Coldplay’s August 3rd show at the Verizon Center.

Threefer

CASSIDY: This is a good article on Paul Newman’s brand Newman’s Own (love those Ginger-O’s!), and how the company is planning to carry on once Paul Newman no longer is around

CONTRACT: NFL training camps are starting – has your favorite NFL team signed its first-round draft pick yet? Check over here

NINETY: This is pretty cool - The 90 Best Rap Albums of the 90s, with ten from each decade

Lifehouse - "First Time"

I was listening to some Lifehouse today, and I was curious how they'd sound live. So I checked it out. Turns out they can bring it with very strong vocals and harmonies. Here's an acoustic version of "First Time."

A Case of the Fridays - Early Edition

It’s been a busy July so far, at least for some people, and we lead off with “What Should Have Been,” by Amy Sullivan & The Whiskey Darlings (above). It’s a sad, beautiful song good for shedding an alt-country tear in your beer and remembering those who aren’t around anymore. Love the string/pedal steel arrangements that tug on the heartstrings and delicate harmonies on the choruses. If you like what you hear, she’ll be at IOTA in Arlington Friday, July 25th.

MP3: What Should Have Been – Amy Sullivan & The Whiskey Darlings

And then we close out with Flo Anito’s “No Good.” It’s warm and jazzy, full of piano and bluesy organ fills, with lyrical phrasing that lazily wraps around the lines, creating a nice smoky atmosphere. You can catch her across the river at the The Red & The Black in DC Friday, July 25th.

MP3: No Good – Flo Anito

Watchmen Trailer

I saw the trailer for Watchmen before The Dark Knight this weekend. Pretty freaking cool. Hopefully the actual movie lives up to it. And those Mars visuals at the end are pretty damn spectacular...

Threefer

ROCK: In case you haven’t seen the cover of the new Metallica album yet…

BRO: Need some guidance on how to treat your bros? Good news – Barney Stinson of “How I Met Your Mother” will be releasing “The Bro Code,” a book of advice in November. Wait for it.

SPOILER: EW.com gives some spoilers about the upcoming season of Friday Night Lights here

The Spill Canvas - "All Over You"

Thanks to CC's recommendation this afternoon, I'm really digging The Spill Canvas' "All Over You" - power pop with an irresistably catchy chorus and lyrics with a hint of darkness. Here's the video...

Bellman Barker @ Black Cat Saturday

DC indie-poppers Bellman Barker are back with a couple of new studio tracks on their myspace page (“Top of the Stairs” & “Two Bees”) and a big show at the Black Cat in DC. Really digging "Top of the Stairs," but no tengo the mp3 - sorry, kids. Anyway, they’ll be rocking out this Saturday the 19th with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Ha Ha Tonka. Go and give them a hug, and enjoy that cool poster...

MP3: Two Bees – Bellman Barker
MP3: Glue Girls - SSLYBY
MP3: St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor - Ha Ha Tonka

Corey Hart's Guide to When and When Not To Wear Sunglasses

I never had actually seen the video for "Sunglasses At Night" before. Turns out it paints a rather ominous (or shall I say dark) look at the future. Check it.

Four-Banger

CRAZY: Ever wonder what you’d look like as a prisoner banished behind Arkham Asylum’s bars wrapped in a straitjacked? The Dark Knight viral marketing campaign gives you a chance to find out here – you just have to upload a photograph

DIRTY DEEDS: When they’re not schilling for Walmart, looks like AC/DC will be touring the world in support of their new album Black Ice which will be dropping 10/28/2008 - and they’ll even be giving the kids a taste of some Angus when their track “Let There Be Rock” appears in the upcoming video game release of Rock Band 2

GnR: Axl Rose is getting in on the video game craze, too, and “Shackler’s Revenge,” one of the tracks from the ever-delayed Chinese Democracy album, is set to appear on Rock Band 2, which is due out in September. Uh, the game is due out in September, not GnR’s album…but you knew that, right?

VEGAS: Now I pretty much never watch CSI on CBS – I stick to gorging myself on reruns on Spike, so I’m a few seasons behind - but it looks like my main man Grissom is going to be leaving, though he’ll sticking around as a producer, as well as for the occasional guest appearance

Gasoline Heart @ Ottobar Wednesday

Gasoline Heart is going to be rolling into Baltimore’s The Ottobar Wednesday, July 16th. I finally picked up their CD You Know Who You Are a couple weeks ago at my favorite used CD store, and I’m glad I did. Lead singer Louis DeFabrizio has got a great rock and roll voice that’s a bit Vedder-esque. The guys can really throw down their share of triumphant Springsteen rockers with some nice Moon-y drums. Yeah, that’s a lot of big-name comparisons, but it sounds like they’d be a good time live.

MP3: Move Along – Gasoline Heart
MP3: Long Island – Gasoline Heart

Photo Credit

Vote For Coldplay's DC Opening Act

Yup, Coldplay is coming to DC’s Verizon Center August 3rd, you’ve got no choice about that one. But, you can help decide which local band will be opening for them. All the contestant bands have live videos up for your perusal, so go and vote at the website here.

The Who - "Baba O'Riley"

I've been craving me some "Baba O'Riley" lately, so here's The Who whooping it up live. Damn, I wish I could do that windmill strumming like Pete Towhshend...

A Case of the Fridays

We kick off things this week with a “Come Home” from the UK power-trio Back Door Slam. They’ve got a throwback bluesy rock sound that belies their ages. It’s a chance to catch guitarist/vocalist Davey Knowles stateside – and yeah, the kid can play. They’ll be at the Rock and Roll Hotel Monday, July 14th.

MP3: Come Home – Back Door Slam

And then on the poppier front we’ve got Jon McLaughlin’s “Beating My Heart.” This keyboard-based track has got a good bounce to it, as well as a nice lift in the chorus as McLaughlin’s lilting voice floats above it all. If you like what you hear, check him out at Jammin Java Wednesday, July 16th.

MP3: Beating My Heart – Jon McLaughlin

Photo Credit

Tonic - "If You Could Only See"

Here's a little Tonic for what ails ya. I've been listening to Tonic's album Lemon Parade in the car, so I was curious what they sounded like live. Pretty good, actually...at least on Conan.

Four-Banger

ROCK: Pitchfork has got some very slammin photographs by Sigurd Fandango from the Roskilde Festival that’s going on in Denmark here

DENIM: Yeah, Americans like their jeans, but $1,000 for some high-end brands is getting a bit ridiculous

CHANCES: Virginia has been selling scratch-off lottery tickets for prizes that had already been won earlier, and they’re getting sued. Good. Luckily, I don’t buy lottery tickets

HENSON: Mental Floss has got The Origins of Ten of Your Favorite Muppets

Photo Credit: Sigurd Fandango

A Strange Craving For Meat Loaf...

Yep, that's right! Here's a little live Meat Loaf performing a nice rendition of "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad." There's nothing like a little piano ballad every once in awhile, right?

Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons

I’ve really been digging Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons as of late. I love the way Chisel’s textured, smoky vocals effortlessly fit into the folky, Americana arrangements. Especially when Adriel Harris is singing harmony. The achingly lovely “Angelina” has been a favorite of mine for awhile, and check out “Home In The Woods” from their new EP, Cabin Ghosts below.

MP3: Home In The Woods - Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons
MP3: Angelina - Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons

Cake on the 4th of July

It’s the Fourth of July! So celebrate and have some Cake!

MP3: Short Skirt/Long Jacket – Cake
MP3: Love You Madly - Cake

"Major Tom" - Live...and in German!

It's Peter Schilling performing one of my favorite 80s songs, "Major Tom" in German! NOAAgirl, care to check the translation?

New Birdmonster

I’m really liking the new track from Birdmonster, “Born To Be Your Man.” It’s acoustic-based with a nice pub-rock bounce, and a touch of the cheerier side of The Cure, thanks to those reverb-drenched guitar-lines. Anyway, I’m definitely looking forward to them dropping their new album, From The Mountain To The Sea in August.

MP3: Born To Be Your Man - Birdmonster

David Ford @ West Mount Vernon Park July 3rd

David Ford becomes his own band, playing all the instruments, singing all the tracks at the same time, courtesy of this cool four-panel video style for the slow burner, “I’m Alright Now.” You can get your holiday weekend started early with David Ford – he’ll be performing a free show at West Mount Vernon Park in Baltimore Thursday, July 3rd starting at 5:30 or so.

Four-Banger

VIOLINS: So it was the consistent wood density that made the Strads so good

SOON: One of my favorite bands, the All-American Rejects, will be dropping a new album this fall - it's been awhile since their last one (2005's Move Along), so I'm definitely looking forward to some new material

SHRINKAGE: So instead of raising prices, food companies are subtly decreasing the sizes of established products – so the end result is still the same – consumers are getting less for more

STACKED: The Beatles covered Stax-style? Yup, check out a couple of the tracked off of STAX Does The Beatles over on Aquarium Drunkard here