Monday Morning Coffee Break

It was a pretty uneventful weekend for me all around. Wanee Festival and Coachella kicked off the festival season this weekend. I read a tweet last night that said that Phoenix had a bigger crowd than Pavement, which is interesting, but I am still pumped to see Pavement at Pitchfork this year. I hope everyone had a great weekend and here is some news and a video to get your Monday moving.

• Can you imagine if Thom Yorke had quit Radiohead?
• The Black Crowes will release a new acoustic album
• Muse cover Nirvana and Hendrix at Coachella
• Matador Records to celebrate 21st birthday in Vegas
• Jay-Z is suing Red Sox slugger David Ortiz
• Listen to Broken Social Scene's Forgiveness Rock Record

Blind Melon - Mouthful of Cavities

Monday Morning Coffee Break

Last night, Atoms for Peace delivered an amazing performance that ranks as one of the best shows I have seen this year. Check out Greg Kot's review of their show on Saturday. Other than that I had a really good weekend. On Saturday, I ate at Xoco, which was fantastic. I also tried the Opening Day IPA that Goose Island now has on tap. Grab a cup of coffee and read some news and check out a video to get your Monday morning moving.

• Sold Out!: Glastonbury sells 178,000 tickets
• R.I.P. Malcom McLaren
• Pitchork finalizes monster lineup with Big Boi & Wolf Parade
• Jack Bruce has confirmed that Cream will never reform
• Rolling Stone remembers Kurt Cobain with classic photos
• Devo wants you to pick the songs for their next album

Atoms for Peace - Harrowdown Hill

Butch Vig To Produce "Heaviest" Foo Fighters Record Yet

Dave Grohl is turning the clock back to 1991. Grohl has revealed that Butch Vig will produce the Foo Fighters next record. Vig produced Nirvana's insanely popular Nevermind and unless you lived in a cave in the early 90's, you have probably heard of it. And if that isn't cool enough, Grohl wants to record it in his garage. Badass!

[via Prefix]

Hump Day Happenings

Did anyone get a chance to watch the Trey webcast on iClips? I dislocated my right shoulder last night at my soccer game. I hope it's nothing worse. Have a great Wednesday.

• Jim Pollock designed the label for Magic Hats Vinyl Lager
• Jeff Buckley songs for Romeo & Juliet Musical Adaptation
• 50 Cent to lose sixty-five pounds for movie role
• Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck in the new Rolling Stone
• Meet the dancing guy from Nirvana's Live at Reading DVD
• You can now follow Lil Wayne on Twitter

Pearl Jam - Alive(Live)

Consequence of Sound: On Second Listen: Nirvana - Live at Reading

When I read that Nirvana would release it's legendary performance at 1992's Reading Festival on both CD & DVD, I was really excited. I wrote a little review of the record and you can read it here.

Consequence of Sound just did a great piece on the album. Below are two paragraphs that really stood out for me. You can read the whole article here. I couldn't agree with this piece anymore. Great stuff.

Nirvana’s remastering of Live at Reading is by far the best live recording to surface in 2009 other than when Phish let everyone download those Hampton shows for free back in March. The fact that somebody finally decided to put this out so the public could hear it again is spectacular. This recording is meant to be preserved for the masses. Not because it was their last UK performance, or because of Cobain’s legendary entrance, or because it’s the greatest possible set list Nirvana could have ever dealt. This recording shows why Nirvana was important.

Nirvana was important, even though numerous music pundits will argue otherwise. Hearing a live recording like this is like having your own time traveling Delorean. Live at Reading proves in every way that Nirvana was (arguably) the best band of the 90s because it shows them in the way any good band should be remembered, live, raw and uncut. If your band can’t play live, what’s the point? Good records can only do so much, but this recording shows Nirvana didn’t just make a few good records; these bastards could play, and that is what counts when it comes to commemorating any band: Live music will always be relevant.

Hump Day Happenings

• Pitchfork and I actually agree on something!
• Lil Wayne documentary gets straight-to-DVD release
• Animal Collective will release a studio EP with the first ever Grateful Dead sample
• Michael Jackson's father is being denied his $15,000 monthly allowance
• New Rammstein album banned from public display in Germany
• The Hood Internet just released The Mixtape Volume 4

Lastly, Aerosmith has been providing more drama than an episode of Gossip Girl. It appears that Aerosmith may have solved their issues for the time being. Steven Tyler made a surprise visit at a Joe Perry solo gig last night in New York City. Joe Perry also took to his Twitter page to dispel rumors of Aerosmith breaking up. It would have been a shame if the band would hired a new singer and continued under the Aerosmith name.

Nirvana Live at Reading

I know this sounds corny, but the reason I started playing guitar was because of Nirvana.

With that said, I have been thoroughly enjoying the latest Nirvana live release, Live at Reading. The album was released in multiple formats including a CD/DVD combo. From the opening chords of "Breed", to the feedback laden destruction of "Territorial Pissings", the album gives fans a glimpse to the chaos that Nirvana brought to the stage every night.

The DVD is the real gem of this release. The bands 1992 Reading Festival performance is one the bands most celebrated. The set featured early versions of "Tourette's", "All Apologies", and "Dumb", which would wind up on their 1993 release In Utero.

Nirvana may have only been around for seven years, but in those seven years, the band accomplished more than most bands do in a lifetime. If you are just getting into Nirvana or have been a long time fan, this is a must have release. Live at Reading is a prime example of Nirvana kicking ass and taking names, which is what they did best.

Them Crooked Vultures: "New Fang"

The anticipation is building for the November 17 release of Them Crooked Vultures self-titled debut album. After several short studio clips and some live YouTube videos, the band has finally released a full studio track called "New Fang".

Click below to hear the track:

New Live Unreleased Nirvana Track

On November 3, Sub Pop will release a remastered version of Nirvana's Bleach. It will be released on CD and on 180 gram white vinyl. Included on the release, will be a 1990 performance at the Pine Street Theatre in Portland, OR. You can preview one of the tracks from the live performance here. The complete tracklist is below.

Bleach: Deluxe Edition:
1. Blew
2. Floyd the Barber
3. About a Girl
4. School
5. Love Buzz
6. Paper Cuts
7. Negative Creep
8. Scoff
9. Swap Meet
10. Mr. Moustache
11. Sifting
12. Big Cheese
13. Downer

Live at Pine Street Theatre:
1. Intro
2. School
3. Floyd the Barber
4. Dive
5. Love Buzz
6. Spank Thru
7. Molly's Lips
8. Sappy
9. Scoff
10. About a Girl
11. Been a Son
12. Blew

[via Pitchfork]

Currently Listening To........

Foo Fighters - Self Titled
1. This Is A Call
2. I'll Stick Around
3. Big Me
4. Alone + Easy Target
5. Good Grief
6. Floaty
7. Weenie Beenie
8. Oh, George
9. For All The Cows
10. X-Static
11. Wattershed
12. Exhausted

After the death of Kurt Cobain, it didn't take Dave Grohl long to get back in the saddle. After turning down an offer to become the full time drummer for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Grohl entered the studio to record the Foo Fighters first full length album. Grohl played every instrument on the album except one guitar track played by Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs.

With the exception of two tracks this album is pretty heavy. Grohl's drumming on the album is very impressive and it reminds me a lot like his drumming on In Utero. His guitar is work isn't to shabby either. Of all of the Foo Fighters album, this is the least polished, but that doesn't take away from the quality of the record.

It is very fitting that the final song on the album is "Exhausted". I can't imagine the roller coaster ride of emotions that Grohl went through after the death of Cobain. The album was released just 15 months after his passing. By the time you get to the song, the listener is literally exhausted from the non-stop guitar and drum assault. Throw in a little screaming and you have a straight forward in your face rock n roll album.

Refusing to mount a major tour for the album, Grohl and band mates Pat Smear, Nate Mendel & William Goldsmith opted to open for Mike Watt on his Ringspiel club tour. I was very fortunate to have caught their show at The Metro in Chicago. I was surprised to see that Grohl was playing guitar and not drums, but you could tell that he clearly enjoyed leading the band. Although, he didn't play drums for the Foo Fighters, he did play drums for part of Mike Watts set and it was awesome! Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam was at the show as well. He performed as part of the opening act Hoovercraft, which was fronted by his then wife Beth Liebling, and as a part of Mike Watts band. It was a show that I will never forget.

It is amazing to think that The Foo Fighters are fifteen years old. They are currently on a hiatus of sorts, but Dave Grohl has not stopped making music. He has recently formed a supergroup called Them Crooked Vultures with John Paul Jones & Josh Homme. They are preparing to release their debut album with a tour booked as well. There is one thing for sure and that is Dave Grohl loves making music. I hope he continues to do so because I certainly do enjoy listening to it.

Mike Watt
May 6, 1995
The Metro
Chicago, IL

Walking the Cow@
Big Train
Against the 70's
Drove up from Pedro
Habit#
Makin' the Freeway
Chinese Firedrill
Piss-Bottle Man
Forever - One Reporter's Opinion
E-Ticket Ride
Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing
Coincidence is Either Hit or Miss
The Red and the Black$
E: Secret Garden%
Powerful Hankerin'

Notes:
@ - Daniel Johnston cover
# - Pearl Jam cover. First time ever played and would be released on No Code the following year.
$ - Blue Oyster Cult cover
% - Madonna cover

Mike Watt - Bass, Vocals
Dave Grohl - Drums, Guitar on three songs & Backup vocals
Eddie Vedder - Guitar, Backup vocals & Lead vocals on Habit
Pat Smear - Guitar, Backup vocals & Lead vocals on Secret Garden
William Goldsmith - Drums

Them Crooked Vultures Announce Tour

The supergroup featuring Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) have announced a US fall tour with a UK tour to follow in December. The band also posted a video of the song "Elephants" in the studio. They just posted a new music video of "Scumbag Blues", which is also below.

I missed out on getting tickets to their first ever live show at Metro a few weeks back, but next time they are in town I will definitely be there!






Them Crooked Vultures Tour Dates
10/01/09 Thu Stubb's BBQ Austin, TX
10/02/09 Fri Zilker Park Austin, TX (Austin City Limits Festival)
10/05/09 Mon War Memorial Auditorium Nashville, TN
10/06/09 Tue Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus, OH
10/08/09 Thu The Fillmore Detroit (State Theatre) Detroit, MI
10/09/09 Fri The Sound Academy Toronto, ON
10/11/09 Sun House of Blues Boston, MA
10/12/09 Mon Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
10/14/09 Wed 9:30 Club Washington, DC
12/10/09 Thu Plymouth Pavilion Plymouth, GB
12/11/09 Fri Portsmouth Guildhall Portsmouth, GB
12/13/09 Sun Empress Ballroom Blackpool, GB
12/14/09 Mon Birmingham Academy Birmingham, GB
12/15/09 Tue Edinburgh Academy Edinburgh, GB
12/17/09 Thu Hammersmith Apollo London, GB

http://themcrookedvultures.com

Nirvana Live at Reading

On November 3, Nirvana's legendary 1992 Reading Festival performance will be released in CD/DVD, CD-only, and DVD-only formats courtesy of Universal. The double LP version will be released on November 17.

I am very excited for this release. Nirvana is one of my favorite bands of all time and anytime you can get a release of this caliber, it is a must buy. This show was notable not only because it was their last UK performance, but Kurt Cobain was brought on stage in a wheelchair to mock people who questioned his mental health. The DVD tracklist is below.

1. Breed
2. Drain You
3. Aneurysm
4. School
5. Sliver
6. In Bloom
7. Come as You Are
8. Lithium
9. About a Girl
10. tourette's
11. Polly
12. Lounge Act
13. Smells Like Teen Spirit
14. On a Plain
15. Negative Creep
16. Been a Son
17. All Apologies
18. Blew
19. Dumb
20. Stay Away
21. Spank Thru
22. Love Buzz *
23. The Money Will Roll Right In (Fang cover)
24. D-7 (Wipers cover)
25. Territorial Pissings

* not on CD