This video should provide a hearty laugh! James was a true patriot. Along with Rocky. Who is the present day James Brown? That’s a really tough one to answer.

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine To Release Autobiography “Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir” Next Month

This is a great headline, as I will probably have to head down to my local Borders to pick up a copy. To me, Mustaine is probably the best spokesperson for Metal and the role it has played over the last 20 years. Plus his off beat humor and political opinions are quite entertaining.

(click pic for full set)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdis2j_christina-hendricks-broken-bells_music#from=embed?start=2

Radiohead was the first band to promote the “pay what you want” sales model. This moves the notion forward, with benefiting a specific charity. I wouldn’t be surprised if more arts related commerce is directed in this fashion. In this case providing future students the continued ability to study music and possibly choose music as a viable career. Kudos to John and Omar ~

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The Mars Volta‘s Omar Rodriguez Lopez and former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante have released a second instrumental album together as part of a ‘pay what you want’ scheme.

The pair, who released ‘Omar Rodriguez Lopez & John Frusciante’ in the same way last month, have issued a new LP called ‘Sepulcros De Miel’.

Although fans can download it for free, they are encouraged to pay what they can as all profits are being donated to the Keep Music In Schools charity program.

For more information and to download the album, visit RodriguezLopezProductions.com.
(NME.com)

“And now for something completely different…” the husky voice of tall, thin lead singer Nick Mehalick, 25, promises the crowd at Bordz Skate Park in Southampton.

With a drum stick in one hand, the other stroking the keys of the unofficial third band member, Cynthia the Synthesizer, a bull horn by his feet and his younger, self-taught 16-year-old guitarist brother, Mike, wielding his axe like he’d been playing longer than twice his lifetime… made the promise quite delivered.

It’s not easy to compare This Temper to anything else going on in the Philly local circuit, or mainstream music either. In fact, as cliché as it sounds, there really is nothing out their quite like this band of brothers, especially in terms of a live show. The best way to describe a performance in a word is explosive. As Nick sings transcendent lyrics, he rocks his drum kit so hard the show momentarily pauses so he can place a cinderblock in front of his bass drum.

While drumming and singing he plays Cynthia simultaneously. Both artists engage the crowd as well during theirperformance, Nick making his way into the crowd to free style lyrics to their song “The Romantic” to an entranced audience as Mike wails mercilessly on his guitar. The energy poured from the stage as on lookers tucked away in corners of the skate park weasel their way out to take a closer look at the undiscovered, local musical phenomenon.

At the end of the show, a box of free CD’s are placed at the bottom of the ramp off of the stage.

It’s a mad dash to grab a treasured freebie, and within seconds demos are swiped. Currently they’re working on developing album art which both Nick and Mike have created themselves, as well as diving into a hands-on experience with their entire production process. This Temper plans to bring their lively show across the country this summer, with dates already booked from New York to Chicago.

If you want to have an experience rather than see just another show, try to follow these brothers (literally) on their nationwide tour. It will surely be something completely different.

Sing Sing

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Click on the Sound Icon on the linked page to hear the recording!

Great Movie Adventures

What began as a duo between lead vocalist and guitarist Ron Gallo and drummer Mike Baurer turned into a much larger project when Gallo employed the help of several more friends to play on their album in the studio.

Image courtesy ohnotoysoldiers.com.

“I guess they just never left,” Gallo joked. “We’ve been a big happy family since then.”

The group, which has included ten plus members for some live performances, released its debut LP, Whisper Down the Lane last fall. The smattering of influences that permeate the band’s sound include traditional country, folk, bluegrass, southern soul, delta blues and rock ‘n’ roll.

“Old-timey styles of music,” Gallo summed it up.

The group’s instrumentation often incorporates lively piano, banjo, acoustic guitar, brass instruments and a barrage of vocal harmonies. Gallo explained that the increased size of the band only aids its creativity.

“The addition of so much instrumentation has taken any limitation away that may have been there before,” Gallo said. “We can really go anywhere at this point, musically.”

Over the past month, Toy Soldiers have indeed gone somewhere: up and down the East Coast on a tour that will finish up tonight, back home.

Tonight:

Toy Soldiers. 9pm. Johnny Brenda’s. 21+. With The Great Unknown and TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb.

For more on Toy Soldiers, visit ohnotoysoldiers.com.

Kevin Brosky

This whole post came about while listening to a new song by Alice in Chains called ”black gives way to blue”. It’s a song written about Layne Staley and his bleak ending. It makes me think about how we often elevate people that had or have horrible drug addictions, but created very powerful art, by way of having a drug problem. Not that anyone would set out to have a drug problem in order to write redemptive songs about their abuse; But I think Staley was so honest about his addiction, as you can hear on the album “Dirt”. It’s this honesty that originally got me into the band.

It’s likes an on-going documentary with a band when you’re aware of certain members struggling with addiction. This was true with Elliott Smith, although I got into him after he died. I believe the rawness of the message, in contrast with the beauty of the music is what hooks so many people. Then I consider how much effort each of us spends on a day to day basis, confirming that we’re alright to others, all in an attempt not to be viewed as vulnerable or weak willed. It’s as if the fandom or appreciation of these suffering or honest musicians, allows us to thank those that say what we are too afraid or timid to say to others.

It’s funny how people can quote on quote relate to a band or singer, but be a very square member of society. (college, job, or family) I don’t necessarily think it’s relating, as it is embracing another human being that would be so frank and willing to bare themselves nude to the world…or to do this as a career. We take so much from their art, yet in the back of our heads, we know that the pace their living is unsustainable, but we cheer them on to keep performing and making us feel triumphant in a way.

In the end addiction comes in varying forms. In a way too many people are addicted to keeping a facade that bares nothing of who they are privately and only what they imagine themselves to be in the eyes of others. I don’t believe myself to be some struggling, soul searching musician. I’m more so interested in why someone like Kurt Cobain or Michael Jackson becomes so adored and appreciated before and after their death. Why don’t people adore and appreciate the ones that constantly improve their own lives and those around them? The community orgaziners, the mothers against drunk drivers, teachers,  etc. Why do we just accept these people and move on from them so soon?

I suppose that as humans we are constantly trying to raise people up, it’s our soul’s purpose for the most part. For any situation you are in, if there is another hurting or in stress, you feel a pull to ease their pain. And I think that maybe these tortured or troubled musicians need all of this world’s energy sometimes, because their psychic pain is so unreal to them, or their too sensitive to it.

Or we’re just all here from different planets and thus are always at war with each other because of vast misunderstandings?

Or I have the flu and I’m doped up on Nyquil, so I’m feeling sentimental and too speculative?

“black gives way to blue.” by A.I.C.  You should check it out. Sir Elton John even makes an appearance on piano.

http://www.myspace.com/lowanthem

I don’t know whats going on in her head. Why speculate…a bunch of people were however blurting out the songs they wanted…as if they still wanted to retain a kind of club atmosphere. But Regina is on a big label now (since “Soviet Kitsch)..and it showed by her song selection. I’d say she played 11/12 songs off of her new album “far”. Some are ok..have even started to grow on me..like “machine” and “man with 1000 faces”. But I had this thought of how labels must put it right into their contracts how artists will be given full promotional aid for upcoming albums, dependent upon said artist performing 90 percent of the album, night after night.

It’s like Ms. Spektor bit off the big apple (warner bros.) and here she is. (then again she was always billed as “anti-folk” which makes more sense now) For all i know, from the beginning, she was quirky and cute on stage. But in her heart of hearts, she really wanted to “make it” in the traditional sense. Of course certain fans that may have discovered the album “songs” wanted to hear more of this side of Regina. Even during the encore section one girl screamed out “consequence of sound”…it felt like a distant plea.  The whole night I wanted more “songs” songs. But this is very psychological I think. We usually discover a band or artist through a particular song or album..and that bond we have with it is quite tight.

I’ve never been a huge fan of shouting out at artists with what “you” want to hear. It’s our society at large, that makes this behavior more acceptable. We buy/download for free what we want musically speaking. Whether its 1 track, 7, or the whole thing. We are a very specific culture now with online commerce and if we pay a full ticket price, then dammit we want to hear those few songs that really do it for us! and i think the song “machine” speaks to this. Human jukebox, but we all serve somebody at the end of the day.

I know this all sounds overly negative. She is an extremely talented songwriter and that should never be taken for granted. I just feel like I missed the boat. It’s like you wished you would have gotten into a certain band/whatever when they were starting out. but this kind of logic never holds up. completely wishful thinking

Regina Spektor “Machine”

My eyes are bi-focal
My hands are sub-jointed
I live in the future
In my pre-war apartment

And I count all my blessings
I have friends in high places
And I’m upgraded daily
All my wires without traces

Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
I’m hooked into
Hooked into

I collect my moments
Into a cold respondence
With a mightier power
Who just lacks my perspectives
And who lacks my organics
And who covets my defense
And I’m downloaded daily
I am part of a composite
Everything’s provided
Consummate consumer
Part of worldly taking
Apart from worldly troubles

Living in your pre-war apartment
Soon to be your post-war apartment
And you live in the future
And the future
It’s here
It’s bright
It’s now

Image courtesy matadorrecords.com

Born and raised Philadelphia native Kurt Vile’s do-it-yourself grit fits perfect with the blue collar town he calls home.

The imaginative guitarist and songwriter, dubbed “Philly’s Constant Hitmaker,” has been working on finding unique sounds since he first picked up a banjo, and, later, a guitar. And with his brand new record Childish Prodigy (Matador), Vile may have found his mark.

The loud, pounding opener “Hunchback,” begins the album with a bang and the frenzied first single, “Freak Train,” showcases the unpredictable nature of Vile’s work. On the harmonica-infused groove “Inside Looking Out,” Vile’s volatile howling reminisces Jim Morrison over a distant jungle beat.

Deep cuts like “Blackberry Song” and “Overnite Religion” display Vile’s mastery of layered acoustic and electric guitars, which blend into a complex musical texture.

Prodigy is a complex web of songs, woven together into a tapestry of twisted brilliance from the mind of one of the most ingenious Philadelphia musicians. Perhaps unfortunately for Vile’s hometown fans, he may be on his way to bigger stages elsewhere.

Kurt Vile celebrates the release of his brand new album with a CD release show tonight, playing with his live band, the Violators, at Kung Fu Necktie in Fishtown. The show is set to start at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10.

Kevin Brosky