Chris Shiflett (of Foo Fighters and his new project, Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants) will be playing an acoustic set on THIS Sunday the 30th at The People’s Concert for Winograd.  The benefit is at the Venice United Peace Center (2210 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA) map and he plays around 9pm.

The self-titled debut album from Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants will be out 7/13 on Le Coq Napoleon/RCA.

More info on Chris Shiflett can be found on his Facebook.

Parts of this video were filmed within 500 ft of my apartment. Just so you know.

Did you know that redheads require 30% more anesthetic to be sedated?

Tonight at The Viper Room in West Hollywood, Melissa Auf Der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins) releases her 2nd solo record Out Of Our Minds (out April 6th) and you can join me there for FREE thanks to BMI and Filter Magazine. She will also be screening the accompanying short film for OOOM at the Silent Movie Theatre tomorrow. For both events just RSVP HERE and enjoy the show!

http://xmadmx.com

Tuesday, March 30th
BMI & FILTER Magazine present MAdM Out of Our Minds Album Release Party
w/ Juliette Commagere and Night Horse
8 PM @ The Viper Room
8852 West Sunset Blvd.

Thursday, April 1st
BMI, Cinefamily & FILTER Magazine present MAdM Out of Our Minds Short Film Screening
7PM @ Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre
611 N. Fairfax Ave.

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

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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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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.

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!

I’ve categorized this as “You Should Know:” but really, if you haven’t heard of Montreal fireball Melissa Auf der Maur then you need a serious lesson in Alt Rock history. After Kristen Pfaff’s overdose, Melissa became her replacement as bassist of Hole and in 2000 MAdM would replace D’Arcy Wretzky in Smashing Pumpkins until it’s initial dissolution. Her 2004 solo album titled simply Auf der Maur would go on to sell over 180,000 copies worldwide.

Now that you know who she is you should know that her latest SELF-RELEASED solo album Out Of Our Minds is a vibrant, layered work with touches of Kate Bush with newer hints of artists like A Perfect Circle, Azure Ray and Blonde Redhead. Her electro-rock orchestrations have a very epic swing and play into the delicate blasts of her voice. And it could be my stubbornly approaching 30 yrs-old ears but in songs like “Meet Me On The Dark Side” I still hear a bit of that 20th century “alternative rock” sound remaining in the songs structure which might actually be a welcome appeal to people of my generation and the Gen X’ers just before us. Of the 5 tracks I have been given to preview the standout is still the title track but a close 2nd is “The Key” which almost has a Queens of the Stone Age vibe, not so coincidentally. MAdM has also worked with them in the past. Album guests include Jordon Zadorozny (Sam Roberts), Chris Goss (QOTSA, UNKLE), Alan Molder (Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins), Mike Frazer (Franz Ferdinand, ACDC) with a special duet with Glenn Danzig.

Out Of Our Minds is following the modern trend to remonitize music by appealing to hardcore fans by offering the solo record along with various other media in cost escalating tiers. Along with the solo record there is also an accompanying Graphic Novel by Brooklyn artist Jack Forbes as well as a 28-minute HD film, directed by Tony Stone which premiered at The Sundance Film Festival in 2009 and a vinyl picture disc (among other standard merch). All of this is set for release this March 23rd.

A free MP3 of the title track is available at xmadmx.com when you sign up for updates. Warning for sensitive listeners: In title track Out Of Our Minds, “Fire” and “Desire” lyrically interchange. But because she is a redhead, I think we can make an exception.

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Fresh off performing with the tonally impaired Taylor Swift and legend Stevie Nicks at Sunday’s Grammy ceremony, Butch Walker and his new band The Black Widows…which I’m kinda guessing is at least 70-100% of his regular touring moppets The Let’s Go Out Tonites are set to release I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart on February 23rd with a handfull of Pre-Order options now-available including a tongue-in-cheek $25,000 option which will get you a limited personal friendship with Mr. Walker. Head to Butch’s website to check out the various legitimate options. If you dig the record I suggest you purchase the vinyl version which comes with a cd for your digital fix and will be released a full 2 weeks earlier on next Tues Feb 9th.

A sold out record release show is set for Tue Feb 23 at his usual spot The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. More tickets have already been released but it of course sold out immediately. Starting March 4 Butch will embark on a string of dates with Train to support the record (which you can preview below, dates listed after that). I know I speak for a lot of my friends who have been fans of BW since either The Marvelous 3 days or his early solo career when I say, “Butch! We love you, you make great music but please, please, please MAKE A HUGE OVER-THE-TOP ROCK RECORD PRONTO AND TOUR THE SHIT OUT OF IT!”

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For Your Consideration: Lucy Schwartz
Sounds Like: Piano-driven pop w/layered harmonies.
Well Produced. Vocal maturity beyond her 20 years!
For Fans Of: Sara Barielles. A Fine Frenzy
Album: Help Me! Help Me! EP
(Available 1/26 – Self-Released)
Free MP3: Help Me! Help Me!
Websites: Myspace.com/LucySong

Catch Lucy Schwartz Live in the LA Area:
Feb. 9 – Hermosa Beach, CA - Saint Rocke
Feb. 24 – Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

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In L.A. you are encouraged not to acknowledge a celebrity’s existence —certainly don’t say anything to them, that’s what tourists do! It’s understandable why. After all we are all human beings who wish to be rewarded for our deeds but allowed our personal freedoms including the right to peace and privacy. But I’ll have been a citizen of the The City of Angels for 3 years come Valentine’s Day (romantic I know) and I don’t give a fuck what you say, if I want to talk to someone regardless of who they are…I’m gonna. Of course even I have my rules and standards. You never, ever bother a famous person with their kids or at dinner…EVER! And I want it very clear that I’m not trying to bother anyone just because they are famous. It’s ALWAYS about WHAT they do, which is why they are famous to begin with unless they are a non-celebrity like cast members of The Hills*. I’m not going to say something unless I really have something to say. Problem is, you always think of something to say out-of-the-blue 5 minutes later. Fortunately this afternoon. I had just such a 2nd chance.

You should know that I have an EAGLE-EYE for personalities. Some people just have that “glow-of-importance” to them. Maybe I can subconsciously observe their aura. I know that sounds ridiculous.** I have no real explanation for it. When I first moved to California my inner dialog after a quick glance at someone was always, “That person looks a lot like _________.” only to realize at 2nd glance that it most likely was that person, just doing whatever. I’ve learned now to accept that it probably is that person as it proves true more likely than not.

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Last March I recommended Echo Park dance troupe/electrosiezure We Are The World as a band “You Should Know” and really, this recommendation is for your own good if you feel that music needs an artistic boost removed from the cult of celebrity currently seized ahold of iTunes. Finally the Echo Park quarted have made a hauntingly spectacular video for standout track “Clay Stones” in anticipation of their first release, a single of the song available today via IAMSOUND (still saying pre-sale). The Vinyl will be out 2/23 on Manimal.

And as I’ve said before if you get the chance to catch their kenetic live show (of which they play very few) consider yourself very lucky. Their myspace page indicates an upcoming February residency here in Los Angeles but a venue has yet to be revealed. Rest assured I will be making as many trips to Silverlake/Echo Park this month as necessary.