TONIGHT IN LA: CASTLEDOOR @ SPACELAND

The final night of THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT residency at Spaceland closes out BIG with THE DEADLY SYNDROME and our friends, CASTLEDOOR (FS30). Castledoor hits the stage at 9PM.

NEW SOUNDS: MONTE NEGRO

Last night I rolled out to a venue I normally avoid, The Knitting Factory, to see a number of acts for the first time and was absolutely blindsided by the headlining band, MONTE NEGRO. When the curtain opened and this LA four-piece popped out wearing Kato masks and launched into their first track in spanish, I had a rush of emotion that I haven't felt in years. I felt like I was witnessing a band in Felini's 'La Dolce Vita', or the international-ness (I know, not a word) of Duran Duran's 'Rio', yet this was rock and roll, not an 80's revival (although in their encore they did rip up A-Ha's "Take On Me"). Guitarist Jason Li Shing looks like the lost SMASHING PUMPKIN and his sound is like LINK WRAY or THE VENTURES meet JANES ADDICTION.

Frontman Kinski though is the life force that really drives this experience, with on stage confidence I haven't witnessed in some time, which didn't feel like a put on, but a natural reaction to the music that has his back. Kinski is Brandon Flowers on his best day, but has the tat's and road wear to back up his life stories, having come to the US from Mexico on his own at 10 years old. His brother is on drums and he had a shout out to another brother in the audience that have followed his adventure.

Look, I took a couple of years of Spanish in college and most of it has faded, y mi espanol is muy mal, but this didn't matter at all, it was the music and the energy behind it that erased the need to know each word. They are bi-lingual so the set does shift from Spanish to English often, and does so without a breakage of flow, it just feels natural. Their cover of THE DOORS' "Break On Through (To The Other Side)" by any other band would have been a lame cover choice, where MONTE NEGRO's latin touch, the surf guitar sound, the reaction from the throng of kids upfront, made the old cynic in me shift back and forth and uncross my arms.

Epic Records apparently saw the light as well, and have signed the band, but NOT to the Latin division, but to the rock side. This is a band I could see on the Coachella stage by next year, replacing the contrived mania around THE HIVES, with something authentico and fresh.

I know, quite a gush session, but well deserved.

MONTE NEGRO
MYSPACE
WEB SITE

THE EPOCHS ARE SPIN.COM'S ARTIST OF THE DAY

Hey SPIN, thanks for catching up (again). I'm very happy to see THE EPOCHS (FS26) getting more attention, and "Opposite Sides" is a great track. If you haven't caught them live yet, try and plan to. The dynamic that happens between the two brothers is priceless.

TONIGHT IN LONG BEACH: LEMON SUN + VOXHAUL BROADCAST

WORD'S OUT ON DUBLIN'S FIGHT LIKE APES

Music Quarterly in Ireland just featured the band I go ape over, FIGHT LIKE APES, on the cover of their recent issue. For anyone that loves the thought of mixing THE SLITS with LIFE WITHOUT BUILDINGS, FLA is for you. It's a great article on a band on the rise. Looks like they just landed a UK tour with THE VON BONDIES.

TIVO ALERT: THE WHIGS ON DAVID LETTERMAN TONIGHT

The Athens, GA trio, THE WHIGS (FS28), will be playing TONIGHT on The Late Show with David Letterman. The boys just recently released "Mission Control" on ATO Records and are out promoting the album.

TONIGHT IN LA: MAGIC BULLETS + THE BLAKES @ THE ECHO

TONIGHT IN LA: LEMON SUN @ THE ECHO

LEMON SUN are back with their first show of 2008 tonight at The Echo for Club Underground. Put on your rain boots and get out of the house.

TONIGHT IN LA: AUSHUA & VENUS INFERS CRASH THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT

Folks round here sure seem to be yappin' about THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT. I haven't caught them live yet, but tonight's the chance, and the show is packed with talent from start to finish, get a load of this lineup at Spaceland tonight....

THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
RADARS TO THE SKY
AUSHUA (FS30)
VENUS INFERS (FS28, FS31)

PIN ME DOWN GETS SOME PITCHFORK LUV

Bloc Party's Russell Lissack Fires Up Pin Me Down

NEW JOHNOSSI ALBUM COMPLETED

I just got word that the sophomore album by JOHNOSSI is now finished in Sweden and a release schedule is still TBD. In case you didn't catch them when they came through with the SHOUT OUT LOUDS on the TankFarm Future Sounds Tour in October, JOHNOSSI is the band I had the pleasure of witnessing night in and night out rip the stage to shreds each evening. I'm told they'll be coming back to the US again in 2008 for more touring, you can be sure I'll be yappin' about it.

THE POSTELLES IN SPIN

Check out today's SPIN.COM "It Happened Last Night" column today and you'll see some action on one of my new favorite bands, THE POSTELLES, who were opening up for JACK PENATE last night in NYC. Read more HERE

OR

Former SPIN.com Artist of the Day Jack Peñate celebrated the stateside release of his debut album, Matinée, by turning the Mercury Lounge into an English pub last night (Jan. 22). Following a pitch-perfect set from NYC retro rockers the Postelles, the ragamuffin tunesmith took to the stage, ultimately surprised by the front row dominance of his fellow countrymen and women in the audience for the first of two sold-out NYC gigs. "I apologize to you New Yorkers," joked Peñate about the many British accents sprinkled around the crowd.

I'm telling you, these kids are going to get lots of love.

COACHELLA LINE UP ANNOUNCED!

Roger Waters playing the Dark Side of the Moon? The Verve? Portishead? Love & Rockets?
Not a bad showing at all.....

NEW SOUNDS: TODOSANTOS

This one's a freakout from Venezuela, now living in Brooklyn - TODOSANTOS.
Picking up where BONDE DO ROLE and CSS left off, with a big hunk of B'more in there, Todosantos are the Venezuelan JUSTICE. I could see them jumping on the decks after HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR and giving them a run for their money. Their "Acid Girlzz EP" is out now on Flamin' Hotz' Records.

TODOSANTOS
MYSPACE
WEB SITE

TONIGHT IN LA: THE MOVIES @ THE VIPER ROOM

TONIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO: MAGIC BULLETS, THE BLAKES & THE BLACKS

A Future Sounds triple-bill is going on tonight in San Francisco, complete with
MAGIC BULLETS (FS28)
THE BLAKES (FS27)
THE BLACKS (FS30)
at the BOTTOM OF THE HILL for only $10.

VIDEO: PEELANDER-Z "MAD TIGER"

The HOT FREAKS just sent me this video from Japan's PEELANDER-Z, and this thing is ripe! I'm told they'll be a SXSW this year and I haven't seen these kind of stage antics since VAN HALEN did the "Panama" video.

TONIGHT IN LA: THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT + SUNDAY DRIVERS

NEW SOUNDS SOUNDING OLD

Thanks to the runaway success of AMY WINEHOUSE and the lack of much in the way of 'new' sounds being created, there's a real wave of bands digging back in the vinyl bags and pulling out old Northern Soul classics, funk action, and even straight up '50's style rock and roll records and reinterpreting them with a taste of today. Until something besides electronic dance rock forms as a new direction, it's wonderful to hear anything new besides yet another Fall Out Boy/Panic At The Disco knock-off. I've been enjoying each new discovery of an old sound and noticed that they were piling up and demanded a little attention.

PALOMA FAITH

London's PALOMA FAITH has a BILLIE HOLIDAY voice and a BETTY PAGE look. Check out 'Broken Doll' which has this GROOVE ARMADA "At The River" feel to it. She has the Winehouse vibe but has a softness to her and a rich voice. Keep your KATE NASH and your LILY ALLEN's, I'm sure Paloma won't get drunk before every sloppy performance and have to cancel any tours.

THE HEAVY

One of the band's I'm maybe the most excited about to see in 2008 is England's THE HEAVY. It's like CURTIS MAYFIELD being channeled through some white kids from the UK. In yo face funk that makes you walk like Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Look for music on the upcoming Future Sounds 31 from them as their first record drops in early '08. Wait until you hear 'Coleen' or 'That Kind Of Man'. This band is BAADASSSS!!!

MEAGHAN SMITH

If MEAGHAN SMITH doesn't end up becoming a massive worldwide BEYONCE-type celebrity then I guess we should all just get used to manufacturing stars through American Idol and give up hope. Smith is from Nova Scotia and has a voice from heaven. Honestly, it's so lush in songs like "I Know" , produced by DJ KID KOALA, that if NORA JONES is out there somewhere, she'd better put down the bon-bons and hire some new writers and get crackin' before she's dethroned by this superstar in our midst with the throwback sound of the early '50's and those dominating female vocalists. I'm told she's being snapped up by a label, management, agents, and anyone with ears, so this one will be fun to watch rise.

ADELE

London's ADELE seems to be on many people's 'One's to watch' list for 2008. The only thing that may hurt is the fact that AMY WINEHOUSE got out of the bag first as many inside the industry were pushing for the next RONNETTES, with a Spector "Wall Of Sound". Her voice has that MACY GRAY scratchiness to it, but it seems to have some real depth to it for such a young gal. Check out 'Chasing Pavement' which is set to drop on January 21st. Then listen to 'Hometown Glory" and you'll be ready to find this at your favorite Starbucks counter and will be willing to drop the bills needed for her CD, and pick up those little breakfast English muffin sandwiches they have their now.

DUFFY

The one that seems to be getting the most UK attention right now is DUFFY. She's not hard on the eyes at all and has this DUSTY SPRINGFIELD spunk to her but has more of a '60's girl group feel to it. Her single 'Rockferry' is a runaway train over there, and I'm sure will catch fire here if we can wise up. 'Rockferry' has that feel of an instant classic. Anyone that says that talent is amongst us at this time in music must have their heads pretty far up the asses of bands like SEETHER and BOYS LIKE GIRLS or THE PLAIN WHITE T'S. With bands this bad owning modern rock it's no wonder some have had to dial back the sound to a time when a hit was a hit and our heroes had personality and style.

THE POSTELLES

New York City's THE POSTELLES are what you get when you mix FRANKI VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS with THE STROKES. Their self-titled EP that is about to drop on Retone Records, is six of the most enjoyable and head-bobbin' tunes I've heard in some time. I got caught doing 'the jerk' in public with my headphones on with "White Night' playing walking in my neighborhood. Get ready for them on Future Sounds 31, which is almost done. This band I cannot wait to see live. Watch this space for info around their live shows, because I'm hooked.

VIDEO: THE BLACKS - ELEGANT WALK

From our bi-coastal friends, THE BLACKS (NY/SF), here's the video to 'Elegant Walk' a song off the Future Sounds 30 compilation. Look for the band at SXSW in Austin in March.

SATURDAY NIGHT IN PHOENIX: DUST & BLOOD RETURN

The Bloodline continues to spread - Jumping on the plane to Phoenix to catch the DUST & BLOOD boys as they help sell out this 600 capacity spot in Tempe.

Here's a shot from the show....

VIDEO: THE MINUTES - UKRAINE

I just received the link to this video for 'Ukraine' by Dublin's THE MINUTES. You may remember the song on Future Sounds 30, and if you are a long time subscriber, you should remember that voice from three-time FS act, STARS OF THE CITY (FS11, FS18, FS23). They've evolved into The Minutes and 2008 should be a year that they make their move into the rest of the world.

SAM SPARRO SIGNS TO ISLAND RECORDS UK

Our boy, SAM SPARRO (FS29) recently went over to London, played to every label president in the country, and flew home with a record deal with Island Records UK (and a publishing deal to boot with EMI). I don't think I'd be going out on a limb to say that when 'Black & Gold' hits UK radio that it will be the hit of the summer. Congratulations SS!

NEW SOUNDS: THE MAY FIRE

When your band's members are from Chile, Columbia and Connecticut, you're probably going to bring some pretty interesting influences to your music. This is the case for the band, THE MAY FIRE, currently living in San Francisco and anyone that spends time on their Web sites will hear the diversity flowing. The band have embarked on an ambitious campaign of trying to put out 3 EP's in a year's time, a trilogy of EP's, and they already have two down-heading for three. Plastic Army and La Victoria are finished, and La Victoria rips! Check out tracks like 'They Make Me Mad', or the sung in Spanish track 'Marcha' or even 'You Make It Right', the video I have here below. Besides when you have someone in your band named El Pipe (pronounced "el peepay"), you have to have something going on. El Pipe lives!

THE MAY FIRE
WEB SITE
MYSPACE
BLOG

JUST ANNOUNCED - THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO CONFIRMS AXELSEN & LOVEMAKER

Thought we were sleeping in '08???

Nope, just took January off but we're pleased to announce that DJ Aaron Axelsen of LIVE 105 FM/POPSCENE and Lisa Light of THE LOVEMAKERS (FS10) will be joining resident DJ Bagel Ted of BAGEL RADIO as guest DJ's for the February Rumble in SF at HARLOT. We've got some tricks up our sleeves for March as well. Look out for Orange County and LA Rumbles shaking down in the coming months as well.

TONIGHT IN LA: THE MORNING BENDERS @ SPACELAND

That Berkeley band that is someone to watch in 2008, THE MORNING BENDERS, come down to play some southern California shows and hit the stage tonight at 9:30pm at Spaceland. I received an early copy of their full-length that will be released later this year and it's excellent.

THE FELICE BROTHERS SIGN TO TEAM LOVE - TOUR US

I was hoping to really help spread the word about a fantastic band that sounds like mixing BOB DYLAN with the vibe of DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS/DEVOTCHKA, or the New York version of THE POGUES on Future Sounds 31, but it looks like it's way too late - they've signed to TEAM LOVE and hit the road next week through April in the States. The band is called THE FELICE BROTHERS and if you haven't heard "Frankie's Gun" yet, or any of their music, do it now. Authentic. This act is special and it looks as though they've found a great label home. Now I just hope they'll still be on the FS31 comp....

THE FELICE BROTHERS
MYSPACE

The Felice Brothers - 2008 Tour Dates
Thu-Jan-17 Chicago, IL House of Blues with Sun Volt
Fri-Feb-01 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Sat-Feb-02 Kingston, NY Bridgewater Café
Thu-Feb-07 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone
Fri-Feb-08 Austin, TX The Mohawk
Mon-Feb-11 Anaheim, CA House of Blues- #
Tue-Feb-12 Los Angeles, CA Avalon - #
Wed-Feb-13 San Francisco, CA The Grand Ballroom - *
Fri-Feb-15 Portland, OR Roseland Ballroom- *
Sat-Feb-16 Seattle, WA Showbox Theatre- *
Sun-Feb-17 Seattle, WA Showbox Theatre- *
Tue-Feb-19 Boise, ID Big Easy- *
Wed-Feb-20 Park City, UT The Palladium - *
Thu-Feb-21 Aspen, CO Belly Up Tavern- *
Fri-Feb-22 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre - *
Sat-Feb-23 Boulder, CO Fox Theare- *
Mon-Feb-25 Omaha, NE The Slowdown - *
Tue-Feb-26 Columbia, MO Blue Note - *
Wed-Feb-27 Champaign, IL Canopy Club - *
Thu-Feb-28 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre- *
Fri-Feb-29 St. Louis, MO The Pageant - *
Sat-Mar-01 Louisville, KY Headliner's - *
Mon-Mar-03 Whitesburg, KY Summit City
Tue-Mar-04 Winston-Salem, NC The Garage
Wed-Mar-05 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox
Thu-Mar-06 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle – with Man Man
Fri-Mar-07 Charleston, SC Village Tavern - with Man Man
Sun-Mar-09 Everglades Park, FL Langerado Music & Arts Festival
Mon-Mar-17 Pioneertown, CA Pappy and Harriets
Fri-Mar-28 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar- **
Sat-Mar-29 Madison, WI – University of Wisconsin- **
Mon-Mar-31 Grinnell, IA Grinnell College - **
Thu-Apr-03 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge - **
Fri-Apr-04 Birmingham, AL Bottletree - **
Sat-Apr-05 Knoxville, TN Barley's Taproom - **
Sun-Apr-06 Atlanta, GA Eddies Attic - **
Mon-Apr-07 Raleigh, NC Berkeley Cafe - **
Tue-Apr-08 Norfolk, VA The Boot - **
Thu-Apr-10 Arlington, VA IOTA - **
Fri-Apr-11 Philadelphia, PA The Chapel @ The First Unitarian Church - **
Sat-Apr-12 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom- **

# with North Mississippi All Stars
* with Drive By Truckers
** with Justin Townes Earle and McCarthy Trenchings

MGMT ON DAVID LETTERMAN TONIGHT

Remember back to Future Sounds 29 and the incredible song, "Time To Pretend", well tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman, MGMT will be performing this track. The song also happens to be the iTunes Single of the Week. The band is about to hit the road with another FS favorite, YEASAYER at the start of next week. Set your Tivo.

TONIGHT IN LA: AUSHUA @ THE SILVERLAKE LOUNGE

Free Mondays in LA make starting your week off with music so much more tempting. Tonight that Orange County band that I think has big potential, AUSHUA  takes the stage at Silverlake Lounge, and they're bringing their friends, WE BARBARIANS with them, formerly THE COLOUR (FS13). 

PIN ME DOWN IN NME (AGAIN)

BEST OF 2007

Trying to summarize a full year's worth of releases is always tough for me, and last year there were a ton of 'excellent' albums, but not many 'all time greats'. Maybe they just need some time to sink in and grow so we'll see. I've read a number of people's lists and wonder if people confuse one or two songs with something being a great ALBUM, as this year for me had many artists that aren't on this list, but who did make a big impact with a song or two.

THE TOP 10

ALBERTA CROSS - THE THIEF & THE HEARTBREAKER
ANDREW BIRD - ARMCHAIR APOCRYPHA
AVETT BROTHERS - EMOTIONALISM
FILM SCHOOL - HIDEOUT
JOHNOSSI - JOHNOSSI
JUSTICE - +
THE NATIONAL - BOXER
SHOUT OUT LOUDS - OUR ILL WILLS
WILCO - SKY BLUE SKY
YEASAYER - ALL HOUR CYMBALS

THE BACK 10

BAND OF HORSES - CEASE TO BEGIN
THE BEES (UK) - OCTOPUS
CHRISTOPHER DENNY - AGE OLD HUNGER
JAMIE T - PANIC PREVENTION
KINGS OF LEON - BECAUSE OF THE TIMES
MGMT - ORACULAR SPECTACULAR
RADIOHEAD - IN RAINBOWS
THE SHINS - WINCING THE NGIHT AWAY
SPOON - GA GA GA GA GA
WHITE RABBITS - FORT NIGHTLY

HONORABLE MENTIONS

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS - A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
ARCADE FIRE - NEON BIBLE
BLONDE REDHEAD - 23
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS - AMERITOWN
EULOGIES - EULOGIES
FEIST - THE REMINDER
HERE HERE - THE BOY WITH AN ORANGE
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - SOUND OF SILVER
PANDA BEAR - PERSON PITCH
PELA - ANYTOWN GRAFFITI
RICHARD HAWLEY - LADY'S BRIDGE
THE WHITE STRIPES - ICKY THUMP

TOP 10 EP'S

AUSHUA - EP
BRAZOS - A CITY JUST AS TALL
FIGHT LIKE APES - JAKE SUMMERS EP
GRIZZLY BEAR - FRIEND EP
LOVELIKEFIRE - AN OCEAN IN THE AIR
MY BEST FIEND - MY BEST FIEND
SAM SPARRO - BLACK & GOLD EP
SEA WOLF - GET TO THE RIVER BEFORE IT RUNS TOO LOW
THOSE DANCING DAYS - THOSE DANCING DAYS EP
WHITE DENIM - LET'S TALK ABOUT IT

ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2008

DUST & BLOOD
FANTASTIC MAGIC
THE FELICE BROTHERS
THE HEAVY
HERE HERE
KUDU
LEMON SUN
MEAGHAN SMITH
MY BEST FIEND
PIN ME DOWN
SPIRAL BEACH
TOKO-RI GET HIGH
VOXHAUL BROADCAST
WHITE DENIM