Matt & Kim - "Lessons Learned"

This video by Matt & Kim for "Lessons Learned" is quite interesting. Yeah, there's blurred nudity, in case you were wondering.

Auto-Tuning The News

This "auto-tuning" of the news, a la T-Pain is freaking hilarious. There's a few other adjustments, too. You just have to watch...

Picasso In New York

If you happen to be up in New York City, I highly recommend checking out the Picasso exhibit Mosqueteros going on at the Gagosian Gallery at 522 West 21st Street. The show is free, and they’ve got a surprisingly rich collection of his later period works, with paintings and prints. It’s definitely worth the time.

Alphabeat - "10,000 Nights"

I'm really digging the Danish pop group Alphabeat right now. It's unabashed giddy pop, on the ABBA tip, and they've got a bunch of outrageously catchy songs on their album, This Is Alphabeat. I was curious how they sounded live, and they're pretty sharp. Here they are performing "10,000 Nights" live...

Modern Skirts @ Black Cat Thursday 4/23

Athens (GA, not Greece) indie-poppers Modern Skirts will be at Black Cat this Thursday, April 23rd, supporting their new album, All of Us In Our Night. They’ve got a lush sound, mixing in some electronics in with their keys here and there, often times taking off on rather unexpected chord progressions, for better or worse. Lead singer Jay Gulley seems comfortable in his higher range, and gets some help from his friends, as all of the members of the band contribute to their tight vocals.

MP3: Like Lunatics - Modern Skirts

Photo: Jacquelyn Pierson

Daniel Lee / CD Release in College Park

Soulful and slinky-voiced singer-songwriter and guitarist Daniel Lee has got a new album coming out, Decibel Lustre. His stuff generally isn’t the typical singer-songwriter fare, yet he finds a way to still keep things melodic, interesting and groovy. He’s got a CD release party out in College Park, MD at a home show (4603 Harvard Rd, College Park, MD). Check out the video to “Bottleneck” from his new album above…

Gerard Malanga Interview

My most recent interview with photographer and former Warhol associate Gerard Malanga (above, c. 1970s) is up over at Smithsonian.com here. Please check it out once, twice, or as many times as you like. The photo gallery includes some very cool black & white portraits from the '70s onward and there's a good chance you'll recognize some of his subjects. I especially love the oh-so-young-looking Keith Richards in his 1977 shot.

Terminator Likely Done

Unfortunately, it looks like Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is going to be getting its plug pulled by FOX, but Brian Austin Green did some excellent work on the series. Here's a nice little interview w/ the BAG man right after the season finale.

Wes Tucker & The Skillets CD Release Saturday

Local alt-country act Wes Tucker & The Skillets are having a CD release party for their new album The Scorpion and the Dove this Friday, April 17th at IOTA in Arlington. It’s a well-crafted, balanced effort throughout, with thoughtful lyrics and soulful vocals a la Ben Harper style. The band is especially tight, and Arch Alcantara’s lead guitar work shines when given a chance to stretch his chops on tracks like “Good To Go.”

MP3: Good To Go – Wes Tucker & The Skillets

photo by Alicia Daugherty

Harry Kalas & Marah

Back in September of 2006 I interviewed Dave Bielanko of Marah, and for my last question in the interview (as suggested by my friend Dan), I asked how the band managed to get Harry Kalas to record the introduction to their track "Rain Delay." The excerpt is below, and the full interview is here. You'll be missed, Harry...

JC: So how'd you get Harry Kalas (the distinctively-voiced Philadelphia Phillies announcer) to record the introduction on Marah's track, "Rain Delay?"

DB: It was a friend of a friend who was taking photographs for the record. He worked as a sports photographer for either the Vet [Veteran's Stadium] or the Phillies. He knew him [Harry Kalas] well enough to know that he'd have a whiskey after work at the bar and play games with his voice, and have a sense of humor about it, because his voice is incredible...But we met him [Harry Kalas] and he's totally cool. We had written several things, and then we picked one. We were like, "Could you read this?" He did it in one take. It was beautiful, and we just high-fived and went our separate ways.

Ryan Star / First Single

You might recognize Ryan Star (not the American Idol chick) as one of the contestants from the TV series Rockstar (like a rock version of American Idol)– and perhaps you’d recognize his Dave Navarro-dubbed nickname “The Dark Horse.” Or maybe not. Anyway, the guy’s dropping a new album in June, and his first single, “Last Train Home” is one anthemic, triumphant piece of modern rock. It might be a tad overproduced, but I’m cranking the track in my car every chance I get. (thanks to Berg for recommending)

MP3: Last Train Home – Ryan Star

Chickenfoot

Eat your heart out Eddie VanHalen. Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony’s new project, Chickenfoot, w/ guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and RHCP drummer Chad Smith is pretty intriguing to me. It's got those vintage VH harmonies, and perhaps Satch will reign in his guitar pyrotechnics a bit to fit the band atmosphere. Although, like many of these supergroups, it’s doubtful they'll last very long. You can hear the riff-heavy “Soap on a Rope” above.

Threefer

D'OH: New Simpsons stamps, available for pre-order May 7th here

COUNTRY ROADS: Dwight and Andy from The Office get all John Denver on your a**! Watch it here. And I love that banjo!

CHEFERY: Hungry for more Top Chef? Top Chef Masters begins June 10th!

Talking Fish

This McDonald's filet-o-fish commercial has been stuck in my head like nobody's business. I guess they're trying to capitalize on Lent. And on people who like eating fishes that speak.

Threefer

GTO: As far as what car heaven might be like, the upcoming Ferrari 288 GTO Pebble Beach weekend in Monterey in August is probably pretty close…though I might get drunk on seeing so many of my favorite car in one place

JAZZY: Smithsonian’s American History Museum’s got a Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn exhibit going on, and I blogged about it on Smithsonian.com here

SHADY: Guess who’s back? Yep, Eminem’s dropped the video for his first single from his new album, Relapse – check out “We Made You” here – no pop culture figures are exempt from Slim Shady’s lyrics, but overall, the track doesn’t really feel like anything new

House Shocker

That was some shocker of an episode of House last night, but I won't give away any spoilers in case you didn't watch it yet. Wondering about a few things? The Ausiello Files over at EW.com here have a few interesting answers.

New Matthew Ryan Side Project

One of my favorite singer-songwriters, Matthew Ryan, has got a new side project going w/ Greg Richling (The Wallflowers) and Rami Jaffee (The Wallflowers, Foo Fighters) called The Dead Satellites. And they’re giving away their single, “Shook Down” free here. Check it out.

Threefer

QUALITY: NBC has renewed Friday Night Lights through 2011!

TEN: Yup, it’s time for the re-release of Pearl Jam’s Ten, and Billboard has a very cool interview with PJ’s Jeff Ament here

SO GOOD: I did a brief interview with jazz musician Chuck Mangione earlier today – you can check it out here – and if you’re wondering who he is, just play the video above, I'm pretty sure you'll recognize the tune

A Case of the Fridays

We kick off this week with Running With Giants’ track “Stars.” It’s a tasty slice of pop punk, complete with buzzy guitars, pounding beat and especially strong female vocals. If you like what you hear, Running With Giants (above) will be at the Sterling Community Center this Saturday, April 4th.

MP3: Stars – Running With Giants

And we close out with a live version of “Memphis,” by Michael Jantz & The Davenports. Yeah, it’s an acoustic arrangement, but it’s done right; it sucks you right in and gets your foot tapping and Jantz’s vocals are strong and very likeable. If you like what you hear, Michael Jantz & The Davenports will be doing the acoustic quartet thing at The Red & The Black in DC Wednesday April 8th.

MP3: Memphis (live) – Michael Jantz & The Davenports