Hump Day Happenings

I am back from my blogging slumber! I had a fantastic time on my Phish trip. I saw some great shows and will have a post about my trip this week. In the meantime, I am getting back in the swing of things and have begun moving into my new place! I hope that everyone's week is going well. With that, here is some news and a video to get you over the hump day known as Wednesday.

• Arcade Fire are road testing their new songs in Europe
• Hear the Jeff Tweedy/Mavis Staples collaboration "You Are Not Alone"
• Listen to a new track from Radiohead drummer Phil Selway
• Gov't Mule will return to Negril, Jamaica for Island Exodus II
• Shakira will help close out this years World Cup
• Puscifer & Flaming Lips Steven Drozd cover Elton John's "Rocket Man"

Phish - Killing in the Name

Monday Morning Coffee Break

I had a pretty chill weekend, but managed to catch MGMT at The Riv this weekend. I enjoyed the show, but the owners of the Riv need to find a way to cool that place down. It was hot as shit! I must say that the crowd was really annoying. They stood for the older stuff and sat for the new material for the most part. I love it that they played "Siberian Breaks", the 12 minute opus from Congratulations. You can check out the reviews from the Chicago Tribune & Sun Times. Anyways.... less than one week until I hit the road for my Phish road trip! First stop, Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday! Here's some news and a video to get your Monday moving.

• Green Day played a massive show at London's Wembley Stadium
• Canadian legend Leonard Cohen will release a new album
• Local Natives announce North American fall tour
• My Morning Jacket to headline Voodoo Experience
• We might get a new Radiohead album "sometime this year"
• Jambase recalls Bonnaroo with Words & Photos

Primus - Wynona's Big Brown Beaver

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

Hump Day Happenings

Coachella, the first big music festival of the season will go down this weekend in Indio, CA. The festival has officially sold out, which isn't surprising considering the lineup is pretty kick-ass! The organizers of both Coachella and Stagecoach took a few tips from Phish and hope to make their festivals even better. Tomorrow, I am going to see Elton John at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. It should be a fantastic show. Don't forget that SS&S is on Facebook & Twitter.

• You can listen to LCD Soundsystem's new album for free
• Conan O'Brien covers Radiohead at first tour stop
• Death Cab For Cutie perform at Mariners home opener
• Phish reveal theaters for Phish 3D Movie
• Pre-order Band of Horses new album Infinite Arms
• Modest Mouse minus Johnny Marr announce summer tour

Alice in Chains - No Excuses(Unplugged)

Thank Boosh It's Friday!

Tonight, I am going to my first White Sox game of the season. I am hoping that John Danks can have a good outing and get a win. I have tickets to see Atoms of Peace on Sunday at the Aragon Ballroom. I can't wait to hear what they sound like. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

• Blur to release new song on Record Store Day
• Brooklyn Vegan recaps LCD Soundsystem's show last night
• Can't we all just get along: Suge Knight is suing Kanye West
• HT gives their top 10 toughest Phish tickets of all time
• Going to Coachella? Consequence of sound has you covered
• Lil Wayne will watch over suicidal inmates for his jail job

Radiohead - Talk Show Host

Monday Morning Coffee Break

Happy Opening Day! I am cautiously optimistic for my White Sox this season, but it's a long season so we will see. I had a pretty chill weekend, but I did get out and try a new beer on Friday night. The beer engine at Map Room had Thornbridge Brewery's Jaipur IPA pouring. Unfortunately, they ran out, but I enjoyed the the one glass that I had. Don't forget that they announce the Lollapalooza lineup tomorrow. Here is some news and a video to get your Monday moving.

• Bob Dylan cancels Asian tour after he is refused entry in China
• Pearl Jam donates $210,000 for 33 acres of plants & tree's
  
• Erykah Badu charged with disorderly conduct
• Stone Temple Pilots grace the cover of Billboard
• Check out these ten MGMT covers
• Radiohead drummer Phil Selway debuts new material
  
  
  
  Band of Horses - The Funeral

Hump Day Happenings

It's been a relatively chill week for me, but I am looking forward to the weekend. Don't forget that the lottery for Phish summer tour tickets closes on Friday night. If you haven't put your request in yet, you can do it here. Here is some news and a smoking video of Derek Trucks to help you get over the hump day known as Wednesday.

• Blitzen Trapper announce new album, release new song
• JamBase reviews a recent Al Di Meola show in San Francisco
• Radiohead to race in the Kentucky Derby
• Austin based web radio station WOXY stops live broadcasts
• Gogol Bordello ready Rick Rubin produced album
• YMSB & Leftover Salmon will co-headline Red Rocks

Derek Trucks Band - Joyful Noise

Radiohead's Ed O'Brien To BBC Trust: Don't Shut Down 6 Music

The BBC recently announced that it plans on shutting down BBC 6 Music. 6 Music is a digital radio station that offers an alternative to the more radio friendly music that BBC Radio 1 & Radio 2 offer. Below is a letter that Radiohead's Ed O'Brien sent to the BBC Trust.

Mark Thompson, Herr Director General of the BBC, announced yesterday that 6 music was to be closed ... which is obviously a ludicrous decision for those who actually love hearing great music on the radio ... so I've written to the BBC Trust, who apparently have the ability to reverse the decision, and if you feel this way inclined the link is https://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/departments/bbc/bbc-strategy-review/consultation/consult_view
Here's what I wrote:

To whom it may concern,

I am writing regarding the news today that 6 Music is going to be closed, in the hope that you reconsider this decision. To be honest I, along with a vast number of other musicians, music industry types and real music fans, are completely shocked and baffled by this news. I wonder if those who made this decision are actually aware of the hugely important role that 6 music plays in fostering and promoting new bands, as well as still playing the likes of the band that I am in. It literally is the radio lifeblood for music outside of the mainstream. Not to denigrate Radio's 1 and 2, but it really is the only station that puts music first, and that's from a punters point of view and not some bloke in a band. Nowhere else can you hear an archived session track from T Rex juxtaposed next to Midlake's latest release. As David Bowie, put it ... it keeps the spirit of John Peel alive.

Please realise the impact and severity of closing this station down. It will be a huge blow for new bands and their labels. It's not enough to 'refocus' Radio's 1 and 2 as 6 music does a very specific thing. What you have with 6 Music is a gem of a radio station, it is doing what no other station in the world does or can possibly do. Remember it is also still relatively young, give it time. You also finally have a fantastic and seemingly settled line up of DJ's. Please get behind it and from what I can gather about its annual budget of £6m, it surely punches way above its weight in terms of cultural relevance and importance.

Thank you for considering this.

Ed O'Brien (Radiohead)

Ed

[via NME]

Video: Radiohead - Let Down

I love this song!!!!

Radiohead - Let Down(Live)

Video: Thom Yorke - Mouse Dog Bird

Thom Yorke - Mouse Dog Bird

Atoms of Peace Announce Spring Tour

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has finally put a name to his previously unnamed solo band. He also announced some spring shows leading up to their much anticipated appearance at Cocahella. Atoms of Peace consists of long time Radiohead producer Nigel Goodrich, Joey Waronker, Mauro Refosco and bass extraordinaire Flea. Yorke made the announment on Radiohead's Dead Air Space Blog.

Ticket info can be found here.

April 5 @ Roseland Ballroom - New York, NY*
April 6 @ Roseland Ballroom - New York, NY*
April 8 @ Citi Wang Theatre - Boston, MA*
April 10 @ Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL*
April 11 @ Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL*
April 14 @ Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA*
April 15 @ Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA *
April 17 @ Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, CA
April 18 @ Coachella- Indio, CA

* - Flying Lotus to open

[via Pitchfork]

Radiohead's Ed O'Brien Discusses The Release Of In Rainbows

It's amazing, but people to this day still talk about the way Radiohead released In Rainbows, including the band itself. Check out this interview with guitarist Ed O'Brien as he gives the reasons to why Radiohead did what they did.

Check out the video here.

[via Consequence of Sound]

Monday Morning Coffee Break

• The Fiery Furnaces take shots at Radiohead and Beck
• Beatles songs pulled from Bluebeat.com
• Aquarium Drunkard takes a look back at My Morning Jackets' At Dawn
• Stevie Wonder & Aretha Franklin will help celebrate Motown's 50th anniversary in Detroit
• Check out this interview with Phish poster artist Jim Pollock
• No Doubt is suing Activision over Band Hero Avatars

It's hard to believe, but Santana released Supernatural 10 years ago. Not only did the album go platinum 15 times in the US, but it sold 25 millions copies worldwide and won nine Grammy Awards. The album featured guest spots from Rob Thomas, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, and Cee-lo to name a few. The Onion recently ran a great piece about the song "Smooth", which appeared on the album and featured Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty.

Monday Morning Coffee Break

• Ed O'Brien confirmed that Radiohead will enter the studio this winter to record their next album. He also said that the album will be released on CD!
• Seattle super group Temple of the Dog reunited at a recent pearl jam show
• Deer Tick will open some shows for Neko Case
• North by East West are asking fans what are the greatest Canadian albums of all time
• In case you missed it, Phish announced their fall tour

Lastly, even though the Giants & Jets are still taking care of business at Giants Stadium, Bruce Springsteen played the final concert there. It was the bands 24th appearance at the venue. Read the NY Times review here, and Brooklyn Vegan has a review with some cool pictures here.

Thom Yorke Forms New Band

Don't worry folks, Radiohead hasn't broken up!

Thom Yorke has put together an interesting group of musicians for an unnamed solo project. The group consists of Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Beck/R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker, and multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refosco.

Thom Yorke & company have announced two shows set for October 4 & 5 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

For more info click here.