And the Pussy Wagon.

Can you spot Semi Precious Weapons?

On the bill for last night’s show at my local dive was Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders. After I’d finished SXSW rehearsals with KAV for the night I figured I would stop by and check him out as there is rumor we might be sharing a bill outside of LA in the near future (awaiting confirmation). Nearing midnight I was relieved that he hadn’t yet played when I got to my local dive, AKA The World Famous Viper Room on the Sunset Strip. During the day I saw a post on The Viper Room’s Facebook…

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Deluka’s sound is like (Roxette minus the dude) + (The Pretenders minus the US) + Birmingham, UK (minus Black Sabbath). It’s kinda scuzzy and reeking of early late-80s or early-early 90s. Like that bit of pre-grunge when there were those Time-Life Living in the 90’s CD/Cassette commercials because people thought just because the decade changed it was a like whole new world! (Harder to say, “What the hell, it’s the ’10s!) The current single “Cascade” has a relaxed structure that takes it’s time in a very British way and has seen recent placement on MTV as well as some rotation on coastal radio and placement in Grand Theft Auto. The video for “Cascade” is the directorial debut of fashion photographer Antoine Verglas who has shot for everything from Vogue to Sports Illustrated. He has thankfully turned his focus to Deluka lead singer and burgeoning Siouxie Sioux clone Ellie Innocenti who aside from being an art-school raven also has a name that rolls off the tongue like hot syrup. (I think my subconscious is telling me i’m due for some IHOP.)

Unlike intr0vert, I will not be going to SXSW. Instead, I have to live vicariously through my co-author, who will actually be a part of the action with KAV. So I put together a short list of the bands I’d like to see, were I actually going. I have pretty great taste in music, so if you are lucky enough to be going, you should check them out.

Neon Trees: These electro-punk rockers from Utah have an album (‘Habits’) coming out this month. Their single, ‘Animal’, and it’s accompanying video caught my attention for the following reasons: I love handclaps. I am envious of their style and hairdos. Their drummer looks like the hipster love-child of Sarah McLachlan and Samantha Malone. Their shit makes me shake my ass. These are all really good reasons. You must watch this acoustic version of ‘Animal’, it really shows their versatility. They’re coming to Chicago next month with 30 Seconds to Mars, and if I’m lucky enough to get to see them live, expect a review/interview.

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OK GO does not fuck around when it comes to their videos. It’s a lost art, y’know.

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I saw Band of Skulls 4 times in 2009 and I still haven’t had enough of this UK trio. I’ve RSVP’d for a couple parties @ SXSW so hopefully I’ll be able to catch them sometime soon. I need my fix! Here’s there new video for the song “Friends” from the New Moon Soundrack.

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Ex-Moldy Peaches co-songwriter Adam Green has released 6 records since his 2002 departure, his latest, Minor Love is out today on Fat Possum Records and it’s great! The press has been throwing around things like Troubadour, Serge Gainsbourg and Lou Reed —and fuck it, let them! Here is a free MP3 of “What Makes Him Act So Bad” courtesy of  Fat Possum.

The record in it’s entirety is streaming now at Spinner. RCRD LBL premiered the track “Castles and Tassels” as their ‘MySpace Music RCRD of the Day;’ earlier this month, the track can now be downloaded here.

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Living doll Janelle Monáe will finally be releasing her “debut” album The ArchAndroid on May 18 of this year. I know, that seems pretty far in the future, well, that’s how Cindi Mayweather rolls. Fret not, she has released two tracks “Tightrope” (f/Big Boi of Outkast) and “Cold War” which you can preview on her website and will be touring this spring. Prepare to be inspired if you haven’t seen or heard Ms. Monáe live, I’m convinced she’s a cyborg. No mortal woman can dance that hard and sing so pitch-perfectly…unless it’s actually Prince in drag.

For a little background on Janelle Monáe consult the AvantTrash “You Should Know” post from September 2008.
Myspace: http://myspace.com/JanelleMonae |  Twitter: @JanelleMonae

Janelle Monáe Spring Tour
MARCH
15 Washington, DC Black Cat
17 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
18 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
21 San Francisco, CA Café Du Nord
22 San Francisco, CA Café Du Nord
23 Los Angeles, CA (Buy Tix) The Viper Room (see you there!)
24 Los Angeles, CA (Buy Tix) The Viper Room (see you there!)
29 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
30 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
31 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater

APRIL
2 St. Andrews Detroit, MI
5 Smith’s Olde Bar Atlanta, GA
6 Smith’s Olde Bar Atlanta, GA
9 Joe’s Pub New York, NY
10 Joe’s Pub New York, NY

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The fashion world has lost it’s most beloved misfit.

I woke up to a text from a friend, letting me know Alexander McQueen was found dead in his house. He was 40 years old. I’m not putting a fucking bio up here, go to Wikipedia for that. Instead, I’ve put together some of my favorite McQueen looks/moments.

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DatNewCudi.com: Dan Black Feat. Kid Cudi – Symphonies Remix from DP on Vimeo.

Happy Hearts Beneift for Haiti
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10
BOOTLEG THEATRE 2220 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
(free parking behind Praise Christian Church)
$15, 18+ (Buy Tickets)

The Fold presents… a Benefit for Haiti featuring:
PETE YORN
TIM KASHER (Cursive)
CRAIG WEDREN (Shudder to Think)
+ Special Guests

The event will be hosted by the hilarious NICK KROLL(The League), DAVID WAIN(The State, Stella) and NICHOLAS SHUMAKER and more. Proceeds go to benefit Happy Hearts, an organization that specializes in secondary response efforts.

Hard to believe this is actually a B-Side and was also on the Twilight: New Moon Soundtrack.

For Your Consideration: Midlake
Sounds Like: CSNY & The Moody Blues goes to college.
For Fans Of: Nuggets. Led Zeppelin, Sea Wolf
Album: The Courage Of Others
(Released 2/2 – Bella Union)
Free Live Set MP3: The Denton Session (Guardian UK)
Streaming: NPR Music First Listen
Websites: Midlake.net

It took me a bit to get into this Denton, TX band Midlake. Their music reminds me of everything Led Zeppelin did that required a flute. I would be remiss in forgetting to tell you that in addition to the CD and digital album release, the band will release a deluxe edition of The Courage Of Others, featuring a copy of the band’s short film directed by Jason Lee, a double LP, 45 rpm version of the record and a 32-page book and a live CD. This theme of bands releasing short films with their records has been HUGE lately (see Melissa Auf der Maur post). Is this a big demand to the fans? Does it influence whether or not you’d buy the record? Leave us a comment and let us know!

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I was priviledged tonight to accompany a friend of mine, another former Nebraskan and a recently transplanted Angeleno working for a prominent entertainment periodical to a screening of the 8-time Oscar Nominated film
“Inglorious Basterds”. An immense fan of Quentin Tarantino’s work of course i’d seen it before but what made the screening special was the venue and a few particular guests in attendance, namely the director himself, co-star Eli Roth (director of Cabin Fever, Hostel), producer Lawrence Bender and a few Holocaust Survivors.

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I think it would be a drastic conflict of interest to slurp on a friends band and make an out and out recommendation for you to be into them, so I won’t do that. I’d like to preserve the little bit of integrity I have left so I will instead tell you with absolute honesty that of all of the regular bands that I see on the strip (and I see A LOT of bands on the strip), one of very few that I actually enjoy seeing at least once a month is Lady Sinatra. Their own brand of Rock & Roll is as hard, fast and loud as it is difficult to pin down directly. I sometimes swear that I hear a bit of Motörhead in the backbeat mixed with a bit of that indefinable Sunset Strip sound.  The musicianship is tight and the swagger is loose. If you’ve got a girl that likes to strip then put on “Girl, You’ll Be A Trainwreck Soon” off of their 2nd album Hisses & Kisses and let her do her thing. The band (@LadySinatra) was at one point giving away a free download of the record in exchange for a Tweet, but that offer may have expired. It’s still available through iTunes.

Lead singer and head of Loose Fang Records,  Bunny Holliday recently sat down with evergrowing institution The Real Sunset Strip w/Scheff and The Hawk for the short interview/artist profile above (shot by photographer Andrew Herrold) which should give you a taste of their sound.

But to catch them in action they’ll be playing Monday February 15th at Crazy Girls Gentleman’s Club (Sunset & LaBrea) in West Hollywood with Sink To See and brilliant newcomers Jacuzzis (fb event). Full Disclosure: I’m playing that show, too. But if you haven’t seen Lady Sinatra in on their home turf at The Viper Room then you just haven’t seen them in their destructively natural habitat.
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Testing my iPhones ability to build a decent mobile post. Like it? Expect more!