"Quantum of Solace" Trailer

Bond. Is back. Soon. With an unwieldy title.

Threefer

DEAD: Ever wonder what you’d look like as a zombie, but not willing to become a member of the living dead to find out? Send Rob Sachetto a jpeg and he’ll do a customized rendering for you, for a price of course - here

HACKED: Is something popping up in your pictures that you’re pretty sure wasn’t there when you took them? Perhaps you’ve been a victim of the Fulgurator (thanks, LeeHead)

DEFINED: Cracked’s Six Famous Songs That Don’t Mean What You Think

Matthew Ryan Demos/Live

I’ve been listening to Matthew Ryan’s new CD, Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State a bunch recently, and I really like it. Especially the track “It Could Have Been Worse” – it’s one of his best ever. Anyway, it’s put me in a Matthew Ryan kind of posting mood – so here’s a few demo/live versions of some of my favorite tracks from one of his earlier albums, East Autumn Grin.

MP3: I Must Love Leaving (demo) – Matthew Ryan
MP3: Me & My Lover (HearYa Live Sessions, 5/13/2008) – Matthew Ryan
MP3: Still, Part Two (demo) – Matthew Ryan

The Darkness - "I Believe In A Thing Called Love"

Whoa, that was one crazy week. And why not, here's a crazy video by The Darkness to close it out...

Four-Banger

SHIFTY: A skyscraper that changes shape? Only in Dubai.

MIXED: Vodka flavors seem to be getting a bit carried away these days…coffee, tomato, and root beer?

TOP: Michel Gondry picks his favorite 25 videos of the past 25 years here

LIQUID: Do we need waterfalls in NYC (including one on the Brooklyn Bridge)? Apparently Olafur Eliasson thinks so – check out the exhibit he’s planning

Drink Your President

So who would you drink? And what do you think his/her cola flavor would taste like? Go vote over at Jones Soda here.

Flickerstick

I finally picked up Flickerstick’s first album, Welcoming Home The Astronauts, the other week. I first became aware of them watching the show Bands on the Run on VH1 back in the day, around 2001. It was a band competition show before shows like American Idol and Rock Star were the norm. Though they really didn’t give a sh*t about the little challenges, their live performances really were outstanding, playing with an Oasis-like swagger and triumphant modern-rock sound. They’ve been through a few line-up changes over the past few years, but they’re still around, still playing shows, still releasing albums.

MP3: Coke - Flickerstick
MP3: Beautiful - Flickerstick

Marah Matters

There’s been chatter over on the Marah discussion boards that Marah as we know it is through. Hopefully this won’t be the case and they’ll regroup and rock the US like a hurricane. Until then you can waste (not waste, really) your day away at work watching an entire live Barcelona show recorded onstage during their 2008 European tour here, courtesy of Paul Murff.

Allman Brothers - "Blue Sky"

I never checked out the Allmans on Youtube, so I just did a little looking. Anyway, here's a little live version of "Blue Sky" from 1982. That Dickey Betts is one smoooooooth, melodic player.

A Case of the Fridays - Monday Edition

Yeah, a little off-schedule with this column, but I’ve been a bit busy recently. We kick things off with The Jones’ “You Don’t Have The Stones.” The Jones (pictured) make it low down and bluesy, with a pounding, driving rhythm that’s not too far from Zep’s “When The Levee Breaks” while tossing out a few nice lyrical lines and dirty guitar licks along the way. Like what you hear? They power trio’s got a CD release party this Friday, June 27th at The Red & The Black in DC.

MP3: You Don’t Have The Stones – The Jones

Yep, that’s right, Toadies are back on tour, so throw on your flannel, and head out for some stomping riffs and Todd Lewis considerable vocals. You remember the 90s classic “Possum Kingdom,” now don’t you? (“Do you wanna die…yada yada yada?”) It still rocks. They’ll be at the Black Cat this Wednesday, June 25th.

MP3: Possum Kingdom - Toadies

Culinary Hardness

I taped Wednesday's Top Chef reunion show - good times - and the best part of it was finding out that they're releasing my favorite quote of the year (by Andrew) on a t-shirt! Pick one up for yourself here.

Butch Is Coming to DC In August

Looks like Butch Walker is going out on tour w/ Jesse Malin to support his upcoming album, Sycamore Meadows. A effing awesome combination if they’re both rocking out with backing bands…However, Butch says in his blog here that he’s going to attempt to do a “one man show,” which may mean that there may not be backing bands involved. Still good, but less bang. Anyway he’ll be playing the 9:30 Club here in DC August 15th, which is cool.

MP3: Born To Run (live) – Butch Walker

Photo by Angeline Vuong

Stamps!

Yeah, that's right, a post about stamps, no pun intended. My colleague at work got a new sheet of stamps today, and the postage was very cool-looking. The stamps commemorate the husband and wife design team of Charles and Ray Eames, and they're very well-done. Yeah, they’re not superheroes or Star Wars characters, but I definitely wanna get me some postage.

Traffic - "Dear Mr. Fantasy"

Here's Traffic performing a nice version of my favorite song of theirs live back in 1972 in Santa Monica. And yeah, Steve Winwood does look like he's bugging out out bit...

Pete wanted me to post him a certain Cheap Trick track, so I figured I’d add an REO Speedwagon for good measure to double the 70s goodness.

MP3: I Want You To Want Me (live) – Cheap Trick
MP3: Take It On The Run – REO Speedwagon

Joe Jackson - "Is She Really Going Out With Him"

I just caught Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" on VH1's 1979 special - I don't think I ever actually listened to it before. It's a pretty catchy tune.

David Spencer

I’ve really been enjoying Chapel Hill singer/songwriter David Spencer’s new CD Love Like A Symphony these days, courtesy of Frank’s recommenation. It takes me back to the first time I listened to the Aware Records release of John Mayer’s Room For Squares – it's warm catchy pop, though Spencer's sound is a bit less jazzy and more produced. And I like David Spencer’s vocals, too – he sounds a bit like Marc Cohn or maybe the dude who sings “The House of Stone and Light” (Mark Page). My two favorite tracks are below – love the production on “Town of Wandering Ones,” and “Gonna Be Something Good” has a hook you just can’t shake. It looks like he’s pretty much doing shows down in his neck of the woods, but I’m hoping he come up to DC soon.

MP3: Town of Wandering Ones - David Spencer
MP3: Gonna Be Something Good - David Spencer

A Brand New Alfa

Oh, and here’s a picture of the newest member of my family of 1/43 scale cars – a beautiful red Alfa Romeo 8C Coupe, courtesy of my dad.

Threefer

HYDRO: 74 mpg and no emissions? Maybe you should get a Honda FCX Clarity

BELT: Better suck in your guts, Japanese population, cause the national government in Japan is setting limits on waist size. Exceed it, and you’ll receive “guidance and re-education”

LITERARY: Cooter writes a book. And it sounds like he was pretty effed up back in the day, but then again, what memoir-writer wasn’t?

They've Gone Country

Country’s all the rage these days, even for artists who aren’t exactly “country.” And I’m really liking a couple of their tracks. Darius Rucker (formerly of Hootie and the Blowfish) always has had a strong voice, and it proves to be very well-suited for the country genre on his new single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” And Jessica Simpson has also jumped on the Nashville bandwagon with her irresistibly catchy pop country “Come On Over.”

MP3: Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It – Darius Rucker
MP3: Come On Over – Jessica Simpson

Threefer

BOP: Go get yourself some live Ramones from back in the day – January 7th, 1978 at the Palladium, to be exact – over at Licorice Pizza: Part 1, Part 2

DECISIONS: Serial killer or computer programmer? Go play the game here. I got 6/10 correct. So I guess I'm qualified to play a cop on TV, apparently. (thanks, CC)

TREK: Oh, this bawdy Star Trek TNG rap video is freaking hilarious…though it’s not suitable for work

Sympathy for the Axl

Still waiting on the new Guns N’ Roses CD? In the meantime, here’s a vintage Stones cover from back in the day you might not have heard before.

MP3: Sympathy For The Devil – Guns N’ Roses

Radiohead - "My Iron Lung"

Here's some live Radiohead from the 1994 Reading Festival to rock up your day. Pete was quite impressed with how they were really churning up the crowd.

Adam & Dave's Bloodline

Yeah, there’s been a lot of shake-up over on the Marah tree this past year, with the loss of their lead guitarist and drummer (not to mention their bassist). That was one ferocious line-up, by the way, and it will be missed. Anyway, if you didn’t know, the lead guitarist and drummer have got a band going called Adam and Dave’s Bloodline, and they’ve just released a 4-track EP that’s available for free download over at their website here. Not quite as good as I had hoped on first listen, but I am kind of digging “Runt.”

MP3: Runt – Adam & Dave’s Bloodline

Photo: Julie Terrell

Four-Banger

DRIVE: Find out what cars look exciting over at MSN’s 2009 Model Year Preview

CHEFERY: Salon.com interviews Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio right here

SUSTAINABLE: A guitar with infinite sustain? Moog (yes, Moog) has got one for you here

SPALDING: So are you gonna eat your fat? If so, this guide lets you know which types are the “best” to consume

"Sledgehammer" - Peter Gabriel

Mucho lightning and thunder outside, so CC and I were playing a little 80s Trivial Pursuit. Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" video was the answer to one of the questions, so now that the storm has subsided a bit, I figured I'd post the video (since I don't have anything else today!).

Nashville Star Begins...

The new season of Nashville Star begins tonight at 9:00 on NBC, and it’s now on one of the big boy networks with a set day and time! It’s pretty much just like American Idol, but with a country twist, and more songwriting and instrument playing. Check out former runner-up and ACM-winner Miranda Lambert rocking out live on “Gunpowder & Lead” here – just don’t get on her bad side!

The Cars - "Drive"

We were just talking about The Cars at band practice this week, so here's a little "Drive" to close out the week...

Four-Banger

DIORAMA: It’s disturbing what funeral parlor worker/taxidermists can do with too much time and too many dead squirrels on their hands here and here(thanks, LeeHead)

DEBAUCHERY: Ahhhhh….the good ol’ days of GnR – in pictures, nonetheless

OPTIMUS: The sequel to Transformers will be…Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. How generic. I would have preferred “Bumblebee’s Lament.”

HULK MAD: Release your anger. Wreck stuff. Go play the Hulk Smash game now.

PHOTO CREDIT

A Case of the Fridays

And…we’re back for another edition, kicking off with a very boppy track from The Bloodsugars, “Bloody Mary.” It’s poppy, it’s got a nice beat (you can dance to it), and it’s got some sweet synth lines. If you like what you hear, they’ll be at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore this Saturday, June 7th.

MP3: Bloody Mary – The Bloodsugars

And we close out this week with another uptempo number, “Make Some Sense,” from De Novo Dahl (pictured above). The sad lyrics contradict music that’s giddy and catchy, building to choruses that swell with keyboards. These guys (and one girl) put on a high-octane live show with some snazzy outfits – so if you like what you hear, De Novo Dahl will be in town at the Rock and Roll Hotel Wednesday June 11th.

MP3: Make Some Sense - De Novo Dahl

Richard Misrach As Big As The Wall

There’s a cool new Richard Misrach photo exhibit, On The Beach, over at the National Gallery. It’s got beautiful photos of swimmers and beaches taken in Hawaii, almost low-altitude aerial-style (from above), and sized as big as the walls. Take a look at a slide show of some of the images here. The exhibit will be on display from May 25th until September 1st.

IMAGE CREDIT: Richard Misrach (born 1949), Untitled 1132-04, 2004, chromogenic print, Collection of the Artist. Courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco; Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York and Marc Selwyn Fine Arts, Los Angeles

Cooley's Diet

Now I’m a Cowboys fan, but I can still appreciate Redskins TE Chris Cooley – especially this post he made about the junk he really eats during the football season. Here’s an excerpt - “St. Louis has the most unbelievable bacon I've ever tasted. Not only did I love the bacon, everyone on the team was blown away by the taste. Three or four of us decided to forget all other foods and have a bacon-eating contest. I won with 39 pieces and was sick on the floor for the next hour in the visitor locker room.”

Everclear @ Crystal Rocks Concert

If you’re still an Everclear fan, they’ll be in town this weekend playing a free show at the 4th annual Crystal Rocks Concert over in Crystal City (Arlington) on Sunday June 8th. The Festival is going on between 2 and 6, so plan accordingly…

MP3: Santa Monica - Everclear

Four-Banger

BUGGIN: What food crisis? Just eat insects! (thanks, LeeHead)

LED GUITAR: Jimmy Page shares a few secrets with Rolling Stone here

HOWDY: This little video tells you everything you ever wanted to know (and more) about NYC’s Naked Cowboy (thanks, LeeHead)

YUMMY: This is making me hungry! 12 Food Additives To Avoid

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Yell County, The City Veins and Julie Ocean @ IOTA

Three DC bands will be having their CD-release parties at IOTA this Friday night, June 6th. Julie Ocean’s jangly indie power pop is ultra-catchy, and they’ll have copies of Long Gone and Nearly There waiting for you. The City Veins bring a well-propelled indie-rock sound to the table, and they’ve just released their first EP, Cracks In The Floor. Yell County have got a 60s garage rock vibe, and if everything goes as planned, they’ll have copies of their new album, A Real Fine Hole, available at the show.

MP3: Freedom After The Fall – The City Veins
MP3: #1 Song – Julie Ocean
MP3: Conveyor Belt – Yell County

Four-Banger

ROCK: If you’ve plenty of time to kill, check out Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time (thanks, Pete)

CREDIT: If you can complete this phrase “At Eastern Motors,….” then no doubt you’ll enjoy this little video and written retrospective of the best Eastern Motors commercials of all-time - #4 is my favorite

PURPLE: Prince gets “Creepy” on Radiohead at Coachella…video here – after all the hype, I must say I’m underwhelmed

SNOOZE: Who needs 8 hours of sleep a night when you can just take six 20-minute naps a day? One writer tries to switch and finds it’s not as easy (?) as it sounds.

Churck Palahniuk

Like writer Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke) and got a spare $30? He’ll be doing an on-stage interview at the Avalon Theatre Tuesday, June 3rd at 8pm – you can order tix in advance, and the $30 admission gets you a signed copy of his new book, Snuff.

Albert Collins - "Honey Hush"

Although I've heard of Albert Collins, I never really listened to him before. He really can squeeze out some feeling out of that guitar.

Threefer

GUIDO: Would you really want to smell like a Ford Mustang? And what exactly do you think it would smell like? (thanks, Autoblog)

FLOYD: Live Pink Floyd (9/30/71) from a session that was taped for the John Peel show at the Paris Cinema in London over at Captain’s Dead here - and it includes "Echoes"

SPICY: Blender’s 33 Things You Should Know About the Red Hot Chili Peppers – it’s a good read