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

Read the rest of this entry »

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

Read the rest of this entry »

Say what you will about Chicago’s OK GO, but when it comes to single-camera performance videos they don’t fuck around.

I’m fully jazzed that Omaha indierock veterans Cursive will be doing 2 shows this spring on the Sunset Strip. They’ll be out from Feb.16 – Apr.2 supporting Chicago’s Alkaline Trio starting and ending the tour in the LA area. If you haven’t caught Cursive since their days with Cellist Greta Cohn you may be pleasantly surprised with the renewed energy/texture that the addition/replacement of keys/horns has been to the bands live show. I felt like using a lot of slashes today. Need fulfilled. See you next month, Cursive!

Cursive tour dates (all in support of Alkaline Trio)

FEB. 16              POMONA, CA GLASS HOUSE
FEB. 17             LOS ANGELES, CA HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)
FEB. 18             SAN FRANCISCO, CA REGENCY BALLROOM
FEB. 19             PORTLAND, OR WONDER BALLROOM
FEB. 20            SEATTLE, WA NEUMO’S
FEB. 23             BOISE, ID KNITTING FACTORY
FEB. 24              SALT LAKE CITY, UT IN THE VENUE
FEB. 25              DENVER, CO GOTHIC THEATRE
FEB. 26              LAWRENCE, KS GRANADA THEATRE
FEB. 27             CHICAGO, IL METRO
FEB. 28             CHICAGO, IL METRO
MAR. 2             ROYAL OAK, MI ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE
MAR. 3             COLUMBUS, OH NEWPORT MUSIC HALL
MAR. 4             CLEVELAND, OH HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 5             PITTSBURGH, PA CLUB ZOO
MAR. 6             TORONTO, ON PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE
MAR. 8             CLIFTON PARK, NY NORTHERN LIGHTS
MAR. 9             HARTFORD, CT WEBSTER THEATRE
MAR. 11           PHILADELPHIA, PA TROCADERO
MAR. 12          NEW YORK, NY NOKIA THEATRE
MAR. 13          SAYREVILLE, NJ STARLAND BALLROOM
MAR. 14          PROVIDENCE, RI LUPO’S HEARTBREAK HOTEL
MAR. 16          TOWSON, MD RECHER THEATRE
MAR. 17          CHARLOTTE, NC AMOS’ SOUTHEND
MAR. 18          CHARLESTON, SC MUSIC FARM
MAR. 19          ATLANTA, GA MASQUERADE
MAR. 20          JACKSONVILLE, FL FREEBIRD LIVE
MAR. 22          ORLANDO, FL HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 23          FT. LAUDERDALE, FL REVOLUTION
MAR. 25          NEW ORLEANS, LA HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 26          HOUSTON, TX WAREHOUSE LIVE
MAR. 27          DALLAS, TX PALLADIUM BALLROOM
MAR. 28          AUSTIN, TX EMO’S
MAR. 30          TEMPE, AZ THE MARQUEE
APR. 1             SAN DIEGO, CA HOUSE OF BLUES
APR. 2             LOS ANGELES, CA HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)

That’s all the adjectives I had room for.

Intr0vert may have reviewed Brooklyn’s dirty-glamorous Semi Precious Weapons back in November, but I wanted in on the action. So when the chance came along to interview them before their show on Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour, I picked my jaw up off the ground, threw some glitter on and rented a sexy Kia Spectra to get to Rosemont.

From ditching their Brooklyn apartment and hopping on a tour bus that follows my beloved Lady, their lives have been turned a bit upside-down in the past year. Lady Gaga actually opened for Semi Precious Weapons, back sometime between being Stephanie Germanotta and a 23 year old woman with her own army of Monsters.

Sitting down on the bus with SPW, I was expecting 30 minutes of me being awkward turtle while they stared at me blankly, wishing for a legit interview. To my utter amazement, it was just the opposite. Yeah, I did have four gorgeous rock stars staring at me, but to my relief it was just 6 people (including Justin’s mom for awhile) having a conversation about rock and roll, tits, blood, glitter-you know, normal stuff.

Read the rest of this entry »

This was my first time at Schuba’s, and I like that it was a small and intimate venue, albeit more long than wide. It’s just off of Southport and Belmont, so if you’re in the Lakeview area, not a hard place to get to.

Now, in my humble opinion, you have to be pretty famous to make people wait an hour, only to play a 30-40 minute set. Such was the case with Nico Vega, thus I was quite confused when they announced their final song so soon. However, when they finally did get going, it was clear that I was among many hard-core Nico Vega devotees.

They weren’t lacking in energy, which was much appreciated. I’ve read comparisons of Aja to Karen O, which I can kind of buy, but with one difference: Aja clearly was an active participant in all the fun, and really fed off the crowd’s energy. She came out in a Robin Hood-esque cape and hood, only to reveal the disco ball madness below it (it was Bob Mackieish). Her voice was soulful and angry, she was quite frankly a little scary (the fact that every picture I took gave her devil eyes didn’t help either). The sound is bizarre and haunting, sounds like a hybrid of several people (I’m thinking a little Grace Slick, some Leila Moss…) and that’s not to say her voice isn’t unique.

Rabbit in the Bag, very intense good moment, the song I was waiting to hear them play. Like Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’, albeit more in your face and sans metaphors. That song was definitely worth the wait, and with such sheer intensity the show reached its peak with this one. After that, they closed with “Beast”, much to my surprise. It was a great song to end with, but I spent most of the song disappointed that their set was over so quickly.

I guess in summary I would say that Aja’s amazing vocals and intense energy are what make this band worth watching. They already have a handful of songs in my head, and I wanna use the word “potential” without being trite. But I get the impression that with the wind blowing just the right way, Nico Vega could burst from their cult-following status to filling much bigger venues with devotees. I would definitely advice you to catch them if they’re in your area.

I consider myself a pretty big Butch Walker fan. After meeting him after a festival with The Marvelous 3 in 1999 I’ve followed his career intensely. All the while mystified because for the life of me I just can’t understand how this guy isn’t bigger than all of the artists he writes & produces for?

Butch is in the midst of a series of shows in LA, NYC, Chicago and hometown Atlanta where he’s dedicated each night to one of his specific solo records. During his November residency at The Hotel Cafe in LA I caught the first night where he played the 2004’s Letters (still my favorite BW solo effort) with his entire biker gang in tow.

February 2, Butch will release his 5th solo album, Groundhog Day: The Album I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart on VINYL! With a regular CD/Download dropping Feb 23…but you should probably get a record player anyway.

He’s calling his new band The Black Widows which seems a bit forced in an Is-Ryan-Adams-Starting-A-Death-Metal-band? kind of way. But I’d imagine it opens up a lot of possibilities for his graphic designer. Butch can do no wrong by me, bring it!

Read the rest of this entry »

Stop panicking.

I’m not exactly sure how I feel about Michael Mann’s Public Enemies. I mean, I think I know, but then suddenly I’ll feel like I don’t. Is it possible to dislike a movie, yet at the same time leave the theater feeling as though you did enjoy the hell out of it? Does that make any sense? I’ll try to work that out in my review but for context, I’m a huge fan of Michael Mann. I adore Thief and Manhunter. I slurp the greatness of Heat. I will argue vehemently that Collateral is one of the 10 best films of the decade. The Insider, Ali, and The Keep are all fantastic. I love Mann’s attention to process, procedure, and work and how he will show the most minute detail of a robbery or gunfight during the tensest of moments. I love how he can capture cities in ways we’ve never seen with his camera and how his villains are tragically flawed, yet human. In fact, pretty much the only thing I don’t like about Mann is Miami Vice. That movie was disgustingly bad. But hey, every great director is entitled to a bomb every now and then (he should also be admonished for producing the tripe known as Hancock). I can forgive Mann for Miami Vice. After all, the followup film promised Johnny Depp and Christian Bale shooting at each other with Tommy Guns. It’s got to be good, right?

Read the rest of this entry »

By now, everyone has learned that Barack Obama studied under Mr. Miyagi and that he brutally murdered Dr. Andre Delambre (no comment as of yet from Vincent Price’s corpse). God damn, what they say about Chicago politicians being brutal ain’t no lie. Considering the fact that Colbert has been having a nightly segment dedicated to parodying the incident entitled “Murder in the White House” (Jeff Goldblum was on the other night to vomit and then suck up his 2 cents) there’s not much more I can add comedy wise to the situation. However, the best thing about Ninjabama’s actions was PETA getting up in arms about it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Previously announced Cursive dates:

APR. 30 – ORLANDO, FL @ THE SOCIAL* (sold out)
MAY 1 – ATLANTA, GA @ VARIETY PLAYHOUSE*
MAY 2 – CARRBORO, NC @ CAT’S CRADLE*
MAY 3 – WASHINGTON, DC @ BLACK CAT*
MAY 4 – STATE COLLEGE, PA @ THE STATE THEATRE*
MAY 5 – PITTSBURGH, PA @ DIESEL*
MAY 6 – DETROIT, MI @ MAGIC STICK*
MAY 7 – MILWAUKEE, WI @ TURNER HALL#
MAY 8 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ FIRST AVENUE
MAY 9 – CHICAGO, IL @ BOTTOM LOUNGE#
MAY 12 – LONDON, UK @ DINGWALLS
MAY 14 – CARDIFF, UK @ CLWB IFOR BACH
MAY 15 – BRIGHTON, UK @ THE GREAT ESCAPE
MAY 16 – BIRMINGHAM, UK @ HARE AND HOUNDS
MAY 17 – NORWICH, UK @ ARTS CENTRE
MAY 18 – MANCHESTER, UK @ ACADEMY 3
MAY 19 – YORK, UK @ FIBBERS
MAY 20 – NEWCASTLE, UK @ ACADEMY 2
MAY 21 – LONDON, UK @ STAG & DAGGER FESTIVAL
MAY 22 – LEEDS, UK @ STAG & DAGGER FESTIVAL
MAY 23 – GLASGOW, UK @ STAG & DAGGER FESTIVAL
MAY 24 – NOTTINGHAM, UK @ DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL
* with MAN MAN
# with P.O.S.

Cursive June/July Tour:

JUNE 13 – DENVER, CO @ WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE
JUNE 18 – SIOUX FALLS, SD @ NUTTY’S NORTH
JUNE 20 – BILLINGS, MT @ YELLOWSTONE VALLEY BREWERY
JUNE 21 – MISSOULA, MT @ THE OTHER SIDE
JUNE 22 – SPOKANE, WA @ KNITTING FACTORY
JUNE 23 – SEATTLE, WA @ NEUMO’S
JUNE 24 – PORTLAND, OR @ WONDER BALLROOM
JUNE 27 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
JUNE 28 – LOS ANGELES, CA @ EL REY THEATRE
JUNE 29 – POMONA, CA @ GLASSHOUSE
JULY 1 – SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ CLUB SOUND

I’m pretty psyched about this lineup. Moreso than last year which was pretty good and moreso than Coachella. Now I just need to find a way to raise the funds to buy my tickets to hang out with my co-author. You’ll be closer to the park this year, right?

Would you buy tickets to a summer festival…lineup unseen?

The only confirmed band on Lolla 2009 in Grant Park, Chicago is organizer Perry Farrell’s own Jane’s Addiction.

Tickets are Early Bird priced at $175 ($850 VIP) and there is no lineup on the official website.

I’m going to start the completely unfounded rumor that the original Smashing Pumpkins are going to be there. Even though Jimmy Chaimberlin himself quit the new incarnation for it being so far from the original vision.

If anyone wants to buy me a ticket and airfare I’ll totally go.

follow: twitter.com/lollapalooza

READ: I AM GIVING AWAY SHOW TICKETS FOR FREE. READ ON, MY FRIENDS…

(Contest over, thanks for playin)

Sorry I turned into Kanye for a second there. I can’t go to this show, so some lucky feller gets my tickets. It’s next Friday, April 3rd at the Double Door. Show starts at 9 and trust when I say I wish I could go. If I thought I could drag my mom along, I would consider it. Hell, if I stuck her at the bar, she’d be happy, but it’s a bit loud for her taste.

Anywho, I really wanna give these tix away to a deserving individual and Filter Mag really wants me to also. White Lies are an awesome group, and I’ve heard good things about them live, especially their SXSW performance. The video is “To Lose My Life” off of their album of the same name. Check out their MySpace page for more info on them.

No ticket pickup needed, I’d just have to get your name on the list with a +1 in time for the show. So here’s the sitch:

There’s not a lot of time for fun crazy contests this time around, so basically the first person who replies to this post with their contact info (I do need some way to actually contact you) gets their names on the list. Repeat, if I cannot contact you in some way, no tix for you. Now think about it folks, don’t email me if you can’t go. Lemme give these tickets to someone who wants to and can go see them next week.

And….GO!!!

From the shows beginning, an involved viral marketing campaign has been central to True Blood’s popularity. It’s a good show, don’t get me wrong (or my co-author will kill me). I think had they not done things like giving samples of TruBlood and replaced their posters with defaced anti-vampire slogans, enough people might not have watched the show and it would have gone the route of John From Cincinnati as a One Season Wonder that died before it’s time.

Their latest campaign is a wooden poster sized flat with stakes cut out at the bottom for people to break off and the tagline, “In case of Vampire” with a diagram of stabbing a vampire in the heart. Clever. I haven’t seen these yet in L.A. and I kind of fear that people will actually get stabbed or mugged with them. Nobody wants to be poked by a stick! “Gives me your money or i’ll pokes ya!” The homeless down in Hollywood might try to build a shack out of them (this applies to the forclosed in Beverly Hills as well). But it looks to me that the stakes have been screwed down for just that reason. HBO has a great legal department, did I mention they are also VAMPIRES!

Again, with the delayed reviews. Damn, I’m doing a lot of massive failing lately. I can’t help it, I’m all stressed, and working, and trying to find a new apartment–you try walking in my shoes for awhile.

Okay, get outta my shoes.

This Black Gold thing was some major crazy. I was supposed to review them back in November. Well, I didn’t realize they were playing first, so showing up 15 minutes late meant catching a whopping song and a half. Not worth a review. I was disappointed, but happy that another opportunity arose when I got word of them coming back around, and touring with Lydia, no less! Lydia’s cool-friend of a friend plays guitar for them and they’ve littered my living room floor on occasion.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hey hey hey, here’s the long-overdue review of The Little Ones. Part of the reason I delayed this was that I extended the contest a bit longer, and I wanted to do both things in the same post. The other part was because I’m lazy.

This was my first time at Park West, a groovy venue in Lincoln Park that holds almost 1000 concertgoers, yet still seems cozy. I, of course, was sick again but still excited. The Little Ones (actually pretty normal-sized) came out to a fairly full crowd, the non-seat area in front of the stage was littered with kids sitting Indian-style like it was storytime. Ahhh, all-ages shows…They started nice and upbeat, with “Face the Facts”. I can only imagine that most people were there for Brett Dennen, although I’d never heard of the fellow. But everyone seemed to respond very positively to TLO. Well, at least the people on the floor did, I didn’t pay much attention to the boring, sitting people with their fancy cushioned booths and waitress service.

Read the rest of this entry »

Once again, Filter Magazine has given AvantTrash the hook up, and we must pass the blessings on to our readers. Up for grabs is a signed copy of The Little Ones‘ debut album on vinyl, Morning Tide and a t-shirt. The music of TLO has been described as ‘freakishly infectious’, and I dare you to be in a bad mood after listening to them. Dare ya.

Here’s a little taste of The Little Ones, with a music video for their title track, “Morning Tide”. It’s fun, sunny California, put-you-in-a-good-mood music. And as I’ve said before, handclaps make me happy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to Filter Magazine, I have been getting exposed to all sorts of great indie music scenes. I’ve been given the opportunity to see and hear new music that I might otherwise not have been exposed to. Now, our brilliant faithful readers will also reap the awards, because it’s contest time!!!

(cue game show music)

Read the rest of this entry »

The subject/content of this post has completely been revised since my first draft. We are doing some remodeling at my jobbie, and I have been in charge of and largely responsible for getting shit done, moved, boxed…this past week has been hellish hard work and I was SO looking forward to my relaxing day off. But low and behold, I am a lowly ant, and somewhere out there, there’s a big mean kid with a magnifying glass trying to burn my feelers off.

Read the rest of this entry »