SXSW 2012: Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More" & "Lover's Eyes"

I have a whole bunch of things I still want to post from SXSW, but it is a process because I have to separate photos for NBC SoundDiego, write, upload videos, then post titles to those videos. This is all on top of the other stuff on my brain like the North Park Festival of Arts, Casbah stuff, daily postings, my eviction, etc., when really all I want to do is sleep for a week straight. Yikes. I will share these videos with you for now (the first is shot with my old camera) to tease the show I saw on Saturday. Click on read more for a new song that is perfect if you need a good cry.

Local Band Needs Your Help

From The MySpace page of A City Serene:

There has been a serious accident involving the band. Their van was struck while traveling to their next show on their current tour. For the privacy of all families and band members we are not releasing any further information at this point but keep checking back for updates.

The band needs your support now more than ever. The families of the band are under an immense burden, not only emotionally but financially as well. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE donate to the band’s families by copy and pasting the paypal link below. You can also visit http://acityserene.bigcartel.com to purchase their EP, in which all proceeds will go directly into the fund as well.

Please keep the band and their families in your thoughts and prayers. These are some tough kids, but they definitely need your support.

DONATE HERE:
(copy and paste the link)

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8211669

Update: I think this is a link to the news item.

Neko Case @ The Casbah, 3.3.09

Yesterday I spent the whole afternoon at the Casbah, sending updates via Twitter about the status of the wristbands for the free Neko Case show. It was a really fun day though I'll say off the bat that I didn't meet Neko except for an awkward "We need to get in the office" exchange as I was coming out and some kinda random overheard conversations to the photographers from the tour manager. "Neko wants you to use flash. She's 38 and doesn't want to look it. She doesn't want weird shadows." They also announced (for the first time ever at the Casbah?) that there was no photography allowed.

Anyway, the show was fun by the time it finally happened and Neko Case sounded good inside the Casbah, though I opted to listen from the smoking patio (which was a non-smoking patio for the night at the request of Neko) and that worked just fine for me. I have to say that this was a fly in show and as such, the band had about 20 bags of luggage piled in the office. It shocked me that with all that crap, they didn't even bring CDs to sell on the day her album was released. Are you kidding me? Would you rather people download? I don't know, but seemed like a total missed opportunity.

We weren't allowed to take pictures (MySpace got the exclusive) but I can at least post what I got. So there's a picture of line of people waiting for wristbands at 3 pm, the setlist, some of the bands instruments, and a post-show photo.

















It was funny that the show ended so early because by the end of it all, it felt like a full night, but I made my way to the Soda Bar for Joel P West, Matt Curreri and Paddle Boat and made a good night even better.

Free Neko Case Show At The Casbah Tonight (Presented By MySpace and TurboTax Free Federal Edition)

I'm at the Casbah now and as of 4:50 pm, there are still 40 wristbands available for the Neko Case show tonight. Come by and get your wristband, then come back when doors open at 7pm. The show starts at 8. I'll be updating until the show on Twitter @sddialedin. Follow me!

NEKO CASE TO PLAY A FREE MYSPACE SECRET SHOW ON TUESDAY AT CASBAH

MySpace Secret Shows has announced their next FREE secret show, and I'm pleased to announce that it is with one Neko Case at the Casbah on Tuesday, March 3.

PRESENTED BY TURBOTAX FEDERAL FREE EDITION



TUESDAY
MARCH 3, 2009
FREE! 21 AND UP!
Doors @ 7:00 PM

DETAILS BELOW

@ The Casbah
2501 Kettner Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101

PLEASE NOTE: This show is first come, first served, so get there early and stay in line.

In addition, if you are one of the first 15 people with a print out showing TurboTax in your top friends, you will be guaranteed entrance to the show

Polysics "We Ate The Machine"

It's really not my style to review albums, but I'm listening to Polysics latest album, We Ate The Machine, and I'm heading to their show at the Casbah tonight and I thought they deserved the added push, especially since they're playing with Black Gold (see Petro's interview here.

Anyway, I was trying to think about what to write about this album because it is not anything I would normally listen to. It's not mopey and introspective and thought provoking and deep. But it is awesome. Remember that lame saying people used in high school when they thought they were so clever- "Party in your pants and everyone's coming"? That's exactly how this album sounds. It's fun and light while also rocking hard and kicking ass. Thinking back to the last show, maybe I don't need to give the push because that show was sold out and the crowd clearly knew what they were in for. On this album, I'm a fan of "DNA Junction", if only because I'm wondering WTF that means, and the album opener "Moog is Love". By the way, the album is released on MySpace records, so maybe everyone's first friend, Tom, will be there to rock out with all of us.

Either way, I recommend checking out the album and especially checking out the show tonight.

BTW, congrats to Jamie for winning the tickets to the Casbah tonight and to Johnathan who nabbed the Conor tickets.

Exclusive Album Premieres on "The MySpace"- Flight of the Conchords & The Night Marchers

I don't like posting press releases verbatim, but got this little nugget in the inbox today:

MYSPACE TO EXCLUSIVELY PREMIER ALBUMS BY ATMOSPHERE, FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, THE NIGHT MARCHERS APRIL 18

The release goes on to talk about each artist and their labels and myspace and yadda yadda, but hello? Flight of the Conchords! and San Diego's own The Night Marchers!!

When this special aired on HBO, I must've watched it 25 times OnDemand. I'm so glad someone posted the clips on MySpace.

Hiphopopotomous vs Rhymenocerous
flight of the conchords


"Be more constructive with your criticism"

Nada Surf MySpace Transmissions

Perhaps you can get some idea of Matthew's disarming stare by watching these live MySpace sessions. Just imagine it in person. Note, after I posted this I got an email about the sessions and apparently you can buy the recording of these songs on iTunes. I've rearranged them into the order they appear on the live EP.

Always Love
Nada Surf - "Always Love" LIVE from MySpace Transmissi


Whose Authority
Nada Surf - "Whose Authority" on MySpace Transmissions


I Like What You Say
Nada Surf - "I Like What You Say" - from MySpace Trans


Blizzard of 77
Nada Surf - "Blizzard of '77" - LIVE from MySpace


See These Bones
Nada Surf - "See These Bones" on MySpace Transmissions


Happy Kid
Nada Surf - "Happy Kid" LIVE from MySpace Transmission


Here Goes Something
Nada Surf - "Here Goes Something" - from MySpace Trans


There's also some video of interviews, etc. on MySpace, so check it out if you have a moment.

The Coronas "San Diego Song"

One of my Google Alerts pointed me in the direction of this song. The band is called The Coronas and they're from Dublin, but they penned a song called "San Diego Song" and I guess I'd call it a grower...first listen isn't groundbreaking, but they grow on you. You can listen to their song on MySpace here.


We sleep all day and we drink all night
We are not wasting our time
We refuse to hide... we're going out tonight

Single in San Diego - 6 weeks just wasting time.
We moved in with the girls and left it all behind
So what's wrong with this life you say it's not enough,
What does it feel like? You think you're better than us.

'Cause we sleep all day and we drink all night
We are not wasting our time,
We refuse to hide... we're going out tonight

Lonely in San Diego - just don't let it get you down
'Cause I've been there before but I know better now.
Just one last storm before the calm while we're still young
Yeah we know yeah we understand what needs to be done.

'Cause we sleep all day and we drink all night
We are not wasting our time,
We refuse to hide - we're going out tonight

MySpace Tour: Say Anything, hellogoodbye at Soma, Nov. 17

The discussion about the ever changing landscape of music trudges along. Some people (namely the big record labels) bitch and moan. "Declining record sales are the fault of downloaders, blah blah blah." My feeling is you accept the changes and work them to your favor or you get lost in the dust. Maybe more musicians doing things in a DIY way can afford their rent in exchange for the execs only having 10 bedroom houses instead of 15 bedroom houses. wah. What I'm interested in are the innovators that say, yes, it's changing, but it can work for us. Fighting the web is like trying to stop an ocean wave with your hands. Not gonna happen. Obviously as a blogger, I have my share of opinions about all of it, but I stand up behind sites like MySpace, YouTube, vMix, mTraks, Veoh, Virb and the like in all that they do for levelling the playing field and opening up the musical landscape. There's room for everyone.

It is known that there is a MySpace record label, and now, MySpace is presenting their first national tour. Say Anything and hellogoodbye are headlining with various guests in each city of the tour. The tour will make it's way through San Diego on November 17, and I'll be there if Tom is there. Tickets go onsale Friday, Aug 31 at 1 pm. Click the link below for tickets.

Pre-Sale Tickets Available Exclusively for MySpace Members Beginning Aug. 31

(update: tickets are selling now;$20 each)

I wasn't gonna post the whole press release, but I kinda like all the corporate mumbo jumbo.

MySpace, America's most trafficked website, today announced the official launch of the ‘MySpace Music Tour,’ a new series of MySpace produced and branded concert events. The first MySpace Music Tour, presented by Extreme Style by VO5, will kick off Oct. 16 in Seattle, WA, and will be co-headlined by artists Hellogoodbye and Say Anything. Other bands will include MySpace Records artist, Polysics, and to-be-announced special guests. The Tour will include more than 30 shows across the United States throughout October and November 2007.
"MySpace has served as a platform for countless bands and musicians around the world to showcase and promote their music to millions of fans online," said Tom Anderson, president and co-founder of MySpace. "With the new MySpace Music Tour concert series we are able to bring people face-to-face with the bands and artists they’ve come to know and love on the site. The kick-off tour has an amazing line-up of bands and I know the MySpace community will be psyched to see them live.”

Presented by Extreme Style by VO5, the MySpace Music Tour will have a dedicated online community on MySpace, where fans can find all tour information and purchase tickets. The profile will also feature exclusive content, including band blogs from the road, photo galleries and exclusive offers and sweepstakes for MySpace users to win a chance to hang out backstage with the bands.

“Extreme Style by VO5 is all about individuality and self-expression, making MySpace a great partner and the MySpace Music Tour an ideal venue,” explained Rob Keen, Marketing Director for VO5. “Music and style are the main vehicles for self-expression, and we’re helping provide both with amazing music and styling stations for men and women to achieve their personal looks.”

Co-headliners Hellogoodbye and Say Anything have made their names as popular MySpace Music artists. Hellogoodbye's first full-length album, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! was released in 2006 featuring the platinum single, "Here in your arms." Alternative rock band Say Anything will release its second album In Defense of the Genre, in October 2007. Japan’s Polysics are touring in support of their first album for MySpace Records, Polysics or Die: VISTA!!!, which comes out Oct. 9. Widely known for their hyper-kinetic live shows, Polysics perform new wave punk in Japanese, English and even their own space-language.

"Hellogoodbye are big fans of MySpace, and I don't want to brag or anything, but I am a pretty good blogger,” said Forrest Kline, lead singer and guitarist of Hellogoodbye. “MySpace has allowed me to develop my blogging skills and I am thrilled to be on the first ever MySpace tour and further refine those skills by posting post-show blogs."

“We are stoked as beans to be on the first MySpace tour with Hellogoodbye!! It’s going to rock!” said Max Bemis of Say Anything.

The MySpace Music Tour will kick off Oct. 16 in Seattle, WA and will wrap in Las Vegas Thanksgiving weekend. Pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase exclusively on MySpace for MySpace members only beginning Aug. 31. Ticket sales for the general public will begin on Sept. 6. Full details about the first ever MySpace Music Tour, including dates and tour stops, will be available on MySpace. The next concert tour in the ‘MySpace Music Tour’ series will take place in Spring 2008, with additional details to be announced in the coming months.

To date, MySpace has more than eight million bands using the site. MySpace music has allowed bands to share music and videos, announce tour dates and communicate with fans and others in the MySpace community, seamlessly integrating the web into shared online and offline experiences. MySpace Music has been the launch pad for exclusive, high-profile album releases from artists such as Gnarls Barkley, Panic! At the Disco, Lily Allen, Fall Out Boy, Timbaland, Modest Mouse, The Used, and many more. Exclusive album releases recently featured on MySpace include T-Pain (#1 Debut on Billboard), The Used (#5 Debut on Billboard), Timbaland (#2 Debut on Billboard), Modest Mouse (#1 Debut on Billboard), and The Shins (#2 Debut on Billboard).

Complaint Department

Just wanted to say, for the record, if you're a bar owner (Ken Club Brett and Sports Club Tony, I'm talking to YOU!) it would be nice if you updated your calendars every once in a while. I shouldn't have to dig around for a tiny ad in the Reader to know who is playing at your club when MySpace is FREE. If you don't have the time, I'd be happy to update your site for $40 weekly and be your "MySpace Manager". Seriously, ever wonder why certain shows draw 7 people while others pack the house?? Yes, bands should do their share of promoting, but you should at least make the info available for people like me who seek it out.

End complaint.

New Rilo Kiley Full Stream!

Established facts: 1. Grand Ole Party is supporting Rilo Kiley on their North American tour this fall. 2. Grand Ole Party is an awesome San Diego Band. 3. I support all San Diego Bands.

That said, I'm happy to announce that Rilo Kiley's new album is available for full stream on the myspace. Ha. I love calling it "the myspace". Anyway, check out the whole album here for the next week. Gotta love full streams.

A Local Review Of Britney Spears from Tristan Prettyman

This is all from Tristan Prettyman's MySpace blog. Tristan's follow up to 23 is being recorded in June and hopefully will be released not too long after.

Britney Spears my little toxic bumble bee played at the House of Blues in San Diego tonight. My friend emailed me last week, saying she got tipped off that Brit Brit was playing a secret show there under the name M+M's. I figured no freaking way, sure enough i looked it up and amazingly there were still tickets available...So i said, frickin what the hell, for 35 bucks, i want the toxic ness. There had been rumors that she was gonna cancel or not show up or this or that...but she was there, and she was looking HOT and smoking and dancing and wig whippin away, lip synching and hip synching everywhere and she ended with Toxic. I felt like a proud parent. I dont know if i ever was a britney fan or not, but i think i am now for sure. I am rootin for the girl, shes kinda of a train wreck, from what the press makes of her, but aren't we all a little bit train wrecky and if we were her, woudnt we def be like a freaking amtrak gone haywire? I think so..Who knows what the real story is, and i doubt we will ever get the real story...but dammit for a sista who has 2 kids, she was looking sizzling, and THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: she looked like she was having fun. She played a britney medley and then lap danced the hell out of some chair,and then invited some dude up out of the audience, who looked like he was a hypnotized puppy dog surrounded by her and her 4 back up dancers...and then she sang an new song in a very nice fur coat and then ended with toxic. Amen. It was worth it though...rock out Britney. I never seen so many papparazzi outside either, it was nuts...i was like hey hey hey..just kidding, omg i think i would shoot myself if i ever had that many people following me around...holy heck

I love when people in a position to have fans are fans, too. If Regina Spektor hadn't been rushed so much by her tour manager, I would've liked to find out what famous people would make her be starstruck in the way so many of her fans were on that night, in the way expressed when Only Son closed his show with an inner monologue of being backstage at Coachella and seeing "famous" people.

More articles:

A different kind of review on MSNBC.
And here's one mentioning and quoting Jamal, aka Kid Lightning.

Newsy Tidbits: Tailgunner, SXSW, Greg Laswell, MySpace Case, Vanja James,

I don't have much news this week.

Tailgunner has gone on an indefinite hiatus. Ok, they're pretty much over. You can read the band's MySpace blog here.

*****
MySpace Case: A middle school teacher is under investigation by his school District after a parent complained about his MySpace profile. Keep them profiles private, people! You can read about the case here.
*****
Local musician Vanja James has permanently relocated to Northern California because she "wasn't finding what (she) was looking for in San Diego."
*****
Everyone in indie blogger nation has a boner over the SXSW band listings which you can find here. No major surprises from San Diego: AJ Croce, Rob Crow, Earthless, Steve Poltz, Rafter & Friends, The Softlightes, and Weatherbox. Who is Weatherbox?? Several other bands will be playing in the area that aren't a part of the official festival, including Republic of Letters among others.
*****
Congratulations to Greg Laswell, again. Indie 103 is now playing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".
*****
That's all I've got today. Beauty Bar Recap and Things to do coming up, stay posted.