Thao & Dianna Agron From "Glee" Debut New Video for Oxfam America

Dianna Agron (Quinn from Fox's Glee) recently shot a video for our friends Thao with the Get Down Stay Down's song "Body", which debuted exclusively on the Oxfam America website.

As Thao explains:

“Last winter, Dianna contacted me to see about directing her first music video for my band. I so readily agreed, the internet could not deliver my consent fast enough. We met one day on Skype while I was on tour in Europe and Dianna was on set. "Body" (from the band's latest record Know Better Learn Faster) was shot on Valentine's Day on Dianna's bed.

Dianna and I offered the exclusive premiere to Oxfam America in hopes of directing traffic to Oxfam's site and encouraging action to support Oxfam's efforts, particularly on behalf of the world's poorest, who are hit hardest by the effects of climate change.”

The video also features a candid (and funny) three-minute spoken introduction from Dianna and Thao, giving fans some insight into their friendship, Thao’s work with Oxfam, and how the video came to be.



Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - "Know Better Learn Faster" mp3

Take Action with Oxfam America! Tell your Senators: The hardest hit communities can’t wait another decade!

New "Making Of" Video From Band Of Horses

In advance of the May 18th release date of their new album Infinite Arms, Band of Horses have released this "Making Of" video, which gives a bit on insight into how the new work came together:

And get the the album's opener, "Factory" here, gratis:

Concrete Blonde Reunites and Tours

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their "Bloodletting" album, Concrete Blonde have announced they're reforming and hitting the road with a set list celebrating the album and their career. Released in 1990, Bloodletting spawned the top 20 hit “Joey,” as well as alt-radio staples “Tomorrow, Wendy”, “Caroline”, and “The Sky Is a Poisonous Garden”.

Lead singer Johnette Napolitano explains how the tour came about: “People started emailing me and calling me up and telling me that it was the twentieth anniversary of Bloodletting, which had “Joey” on it and was a big hit for us all over the world. My dad passed away recently and was a big fan of the band and it occurred to me that a twentieth anniversary’s only going to happen once and that my dad would have said that it’s a good idea and that we should do it. So we knocked it together and it looks like it’s going to be fun, doing twenty-year-old vampire songs should be fun.”

Beyond Bloodletting, the band is responsible for classic alternative songs including “Still in Hollywood”, “God is a Bullet”, and their iconic cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows”.

Here's where you can catch the tour:

6/8: Boston, MA @ Royal Boston
6/9: Fairfield, CT @ Stage One
6/10: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
6/11: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
6/12: Chicago, IL @ Vic
6/13: Detroit, MI @ Majestic
6/15: Washington, DC @ 930 Club
6/16: Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
6/17: New Orleans, LA @ Republic
6/18: Dallas, TX @ Granada
6/19: Austin, TX @ Emos
6/21: Denver, CO @ Arvada Center
6/22: Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot
6/24: Seattle, WA @ Showbox
6:25: Portland,OR @ Roseland
6/26: San Francisco, CA @ Regency
6/28: Hollywood, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater

Here's their cover of "Everybody Knows":

Cover Song Of The Week: Girl In A Coma - "Transmission"

I have (and I'm sure you have too) heard Joy Division's "Transmission" covered about a hundred times, but I've never heard it quite like this. Watch Girl In A Coma take on this classic song live at Casbeers in San Antonio, Texas this past January.



Girl In A Coma's covers project, "Adventures In Coverland" is out next Tuesday on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records. They're

They start a tour with legends The Wedding Present this Sunday night, and continue on the road with Sia through May:


Apr 8, 2010 9:00 PM The Basement Nashville, TN
Apr 11, 2010 8:00 PM Bowery Ballroom w/The Wedding Present New York, NY
Apr 12, 2010 7:30 PM Middle East Downstairs w/The Wedding Present Cambridge, MA
Apr 14, 2010 8:30 PM Horseshoe Tavern w/The Wedding Present Toronto, ON
Apr 15, 2010 8:00 PM Pike Room w/The Wedding Present Pontiac, MI
Apr 16, 2010 8:00 PM Double Door w/The Wedding Present Chicago, IL
Apr 17, 2010 8:00 PM 400 Bar w/The Wedding Present Minneapolis, MN
Apr 20, 2010 8:00 PM The Biltmore Cabaret w/The Wedding Present Vancouver, BC
Apr 21, 2010 8:00 PM The Crocodile Cafe w/The Wedding Present Seattle, WA
Apr 22, 2010 8:00 PM Doug Fir w/The Wedding Present Portland, OR
Apr 25, 2010 7:00 PM Vic Theatre w/Sia Chicago, IL
Apr 26, 2010 7:30 PM St.Andrews Hall w/Sia Detroit, MI
Apr 30, 2010 8:00 PM Club Soda w/Sia Montreal, QC
May 1, 2010 6:30 PM House Of Blues w/Sia Boston, MA
May 2, 2010 7:30 PM Theatre of the Living Arts w/Sia Philadelphia, PA
May 4, 2010 7:30 PM 9:30 Club w/Sia Washington, DC
May 6, 2010 7:30 PM Terminal 5 w/Sia New York, NY

Girl in a Coma - "Clumsy Sky" mp3

New Jason Collett Video For "Love Is A Dirty Word", New Tour Dates, Too.

Here's the first video for the first single off Jason Collett's new album, Rat A Tat Tat, which hit stores in March on Arts & Crafts. Collett is in the midst of a six week North American tour with backing band Zeus.



"Love Is A Dirty Word" was directed by Peter Lynch, shot in the Rex Hotel in downtown Toronto, and features the guys in Zeus as well as Gentleman Reg, making a guest cameo. Tourdates below.

4/1/10 – Calgary, AB @ The Legion
4/2/10 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange
4/3/10 – Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Ccentre
4/4/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
4/5/10 – Rock Island, IL @ Daytrotter
4/6/10 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
4/12/10 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah
413/10 – Waterloo, ON @ Starlite
4/14/10 – Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod’s
4/15/10 – Montreal, PQ @ Petit Campus
4/16/10 – Peterborough, ON @ Red Dog Tavern
4/17/10 – Kingston, ON @ Grad Club
4/20/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
4/21/10 – Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
4/23/10 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
4/24/10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
4/29/10 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s

Spoon Interviews Master Masterer Howie Weinberg

The guys in Spoon recently sat down with album-mastering legend Howie Weinberg to chat about the mastering process, and his thoughts on Spoon's new album "Transference". The results are pretty hilarious:



Spoon's "Transference" is out January 19th, and can be pre-ordered here.

Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On" mp3

Video of the Week - Fan Death -"Reunited"

Fan Death have returned with another colorful fantasy based video, directed this time by vocalist Dandilion Wind Opaine. Watch the girls encounter scores of bizarre characters resembling certain influential personalities before riding off into the sunset with the big man himself.

Stay tuned for a special message from "Grandpa William" at the end of the presentation.

"Reunited" is taken from the forthcoming EP A Coin For the Well coming out on The Pharmacy Recording Co. early next year. This video features a special extended mix of the track.

Comsat Angels...Still Sounding Great.

I was at the excellent SESAC CMJ showcase last night at Cake Shop, and got in a conversation about songs that "just sound great". Not because of brilliant songwriting, great production, or amazing playing...but because they just have that "magic". The woman I was talking to is a huge student of '80s pop & new wave, and used the example of Comsat Angels' "Stay Tonight" as such a song. As soon as she mentioned that song, which I hadn't heard or thought about in years, I knew exactly what she was talking about.

Check it here. The video is crazy boring, but the song "just sounds great"!



And a bonus great-sounder from Comsat Angels, "Independence Day":

Hey Pillow Fight Fans! The New Har Mar Superstar Video Is Here.

Regular readers of extrawack! know that we are suckers for the amazingly perfect pop sounds of Har Mar Superstar, so it'll be no surprise that we are psyched about his new album Dark Touches.

To prove that we've got good taste, here's the video and mp3 for the album's first single, "Tall Boy". The track was produced and co-written by The Bird and the Bee’s Greg Kurstin (who has also produced tracks for Lily Allen, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue), and the video stars Har Mar's pals Eva Mendes, Alia Shawkat (from "Arrested Development" and Whip It), and Eric Warheim (from "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!") . Check the tour dates at the bottom of the page.

Har Mar Superstar - "Tall Boy" Video:

Har Mar Superstar - "Tall Boy" mp3

Har Mar Superstar Tour Dates:
10/23: Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Club Stage
10/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
10/26: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/27: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
10/28: Boston, MA @ Great Scott
10/30: Montreal, QC @ Club Lambi
11/01: Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/02: Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
11/03: Chicago, IL @ Darkroom
11/05: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock w/ Kool Keith
11/06: Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
11/08: Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
11/09: Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
11/11: Kansas City, MO @ The Brick

Holy Ghost remakes New Order...sort of.

Holy Ghost have just released their single, "I Will Come Back" for free download at Green Label Sound, and have created a video for the track that more or less recreates the iconic video for New Order's "Confusion". In fact, they've even included legendary producer Arthur Baker to reprise his role as "head-bobbing DJ", just as he appeared in the original. It's great.

Check it:

Weird Al's Homage To The Doors - "Craigslist"

Seriously...If there is a Comedy Hall Of Fame, Weird Al Yankovic deserves a spot there.  And if there's a Musical Comedy Hall Of Fame, Al deserves a statue at the entrance.

Here's his newest, "Craigslist", featuring Ray Manzarek of The Doors:

 

Matthew Barber Playing NYC 2X Next Week...Download & Tix Contest Here

I'm a sucker for a good pop song.

Seriously, as long as the hooks are huge and the lyrics dance off the singer's tongue, I'm in.

And show me an album loaded with good pop songs? There's a good chance it'll stay in my player for weeks. Case in point is the new album from Toronto's Matthew Barber, "Ghost Notes".

Barber's a pretty great lyricist, but the music really shines as well on this album, which is split between rock stompers, folky pop, and piano-driven slower songs, all of which are catchy as hell.

Must musicians can't pull off the rock/folk split-personality thing well. Many have tried and failed, but the few who do it well are legendary...Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Bob Dylan come quickly to mind. Not to say that Matthew Barber belongs to that lofty group just yet, but "Ghost Notes" would certainly not be out of place in a stack of that gang's CD's, next to the backyard boombox, waiting to be spun on a lazy weekend afternoon.

Having said that, I'm very interested in hearing Barber play these songs live. Thankfully, he's out on the road for a few dates, and is giving New Yorkers a couple chances to check him out:

Matthew Barber Live:
May 12 Living Room - NYC
May 13 Union Hall - NYC (with Jill Sobule)
May 14 Milltown - Carrboro, NC
May 15 Farm 255 - Athens, GA
May 16 Criminal Records - Atlanta, GA

extrawack! wants to give one lucky reader a pair of tickets to Barber's show at Union Hall in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. The third email to extrawack@gmail.com with "Matthew Barber" in the subject line gets them.

Matthew Barber - "Easily Bruised" mp3

Matthew Barber MySpace

Matthew Barber - "And You Give" video:

Bothering The Neighborhood With The Bronx

As the weather gets nicer, I love rolling down the windows of my Scion and cranking big-riff jams in the CD player.  This past weekend I took the opportunity to enjoy the recent album from The Bronx, The Bronx (III), in a way I'm sure my neighbors didn't appreciate.  Tough luck.  It's awesome.

Imagine my surprise, when after one of these neighborhood musical education trips, I found a note in my email letting me know that there's not one, but two dope new videos from the album!

For your pleasure, here they both are.  I'm partial to the video for "Past Lives", which features some truly extra-wack dance moves.

The Bronx - "Knifeman" mp3

New York Dolls New Album Out Soon

Of all of the "influential" or "seminal" bands that have reunited in recent years, only one has really knocked my socks off hard enough to really make me pay attention...The New York Dolls. Their "reunion" album, 2006's One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This was dead solid, and the tour that followed was nothing less than a ball.

Now comes word that The Dolls have reunited with Todd Rundgren, producer of their influential 1973 debut, to record their fourth studio album, ’Cause I Sez So, on Atco Records. Recorded at Utopia Sound Studio in Kauai, Hawaii, the album features original Dolls David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar) plus Steve Conte (guitar), Brian Delaney (drums), and Sami Yaffa (bass). The 12-song track list features 11 original compositions, including the first single “'Cause I Sez So” and a new version of “Trash,” which was originally on their 1973 debut album. “It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present,” says Johansen.

From what I've heard on the advance tracks posted on the online listening party, the new album kicks out the jams in a big way. ’Cause I Sez So is out May 5.

Pre-order ’Cause I Sez So here.

NY Dolls Official site
Facebook page
MySpace

To hold you over until the album comes out, check this video featuring the original version of "Trash", along with a montage of images from from "Born to Lose: the Last Rock and Roll Movie," by Lech Kowalski:

New Phoenix Video - "Lisztomania"

Phoenix have just released a video for the song "Lisztomania", from their forthcoming album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The album is released (you'll never catch me saying "drops") on May 26.

Ch-ch-check it out:


Phoenix - Lisztomania from 35east on Vimeo.

New Maximo Park Video Here.

Maximo Park has a new album out next month called Quicken The Heart, and they've just put out a video for the single, "The Kids Are Sick Again".

Here 'tis:



Their website lists a ton of live dates for Europe, but none yet for the States. Fingers crossed.

Hey XTC Fans! Dukes of Stratosphear Reissues Coming Soon. Two Downloads To Get You Started Here...

Wow! Just got a press release stating that Andy Partridge's Ape label will be re-releasing the two excellent Dukes of Stratosphear albums on April 21, complete with bonus demos and new liner notes! I'll let that email speak for itself:

The Dukes of Stratosphear came about in the 80s with a release of an EP (25 O'Clock) by those cheeky lads in Swindon, UK, otherwise known as XTC. It was a side-project put out semi-anonymously, without fanfare, which came about from a shared love of 60s-inspired psychedelic, Lewis Carroll-tinged power pop.

Not surprisingly, the band was unmasked in fairly short order, due to the distinctive vocal stylings and musical sensibilities of Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, et al. They followed it up with a full length release (Psonic Psunspot), and both titles were re-released together in the late 80s as Chips from the Chocolate Factory.

Flash-forward to 2009-Andy Partridge's own Ape label has reissued them AGAIN, this time with previously unpublished demo versions as well as video! Did you know that Colin originally wrote Vanishing Girl as No One at Home and sang on the demo (Andy sang the album version)? I didn't, and I am a crazy XTC/Dukes junkie. Despite its homage and nod to the summer of love era, it is a sound that remains somewhat timeless.

If you are unfamiliar with The Dukes of Stratosphear, prepare yourself for a treat and to have your ears and mind blown.

The Dukes of Stratosphear - "My Love Explodes" mp3
The Dukes of Stratosphear - "Braniac's Daughter" mp3

Freak out to the Dukes' "What In The World" here:

Prince does "Dreamer" On Leno...Video Here

Did you happen to catch Prince on Leno last night?  No?  Well, here it is...

He's known for being funky in general, but this is proof that he's EASILY one of the best guitarists on the face of the globe.

This is "Dreamer" from the forthcoming album, Lotus Flow3r:

Morrissey vs Russell Brand...Watch It Here

I've spent the better part of the week with the new Morrissey album, Years Of Refusal, in major rotation in my iTunes. I'll admit to being enough of a fanboy that Mozza would have to release an album full of Gregorian chant duets with MC Hammer for me to not like it, but I really think this one's a killer. It's definitely the most solid release since Your Arsenal, but not retro sounding in the least.

The Mozzer recently sat down with comedic nutjob/genius Russell Brand for a remarkably insightful chat...here's a segment (with more available here) :



Morrissey - Years Of Refusal


Catch Morrissey soon near you:
US Tour Dates:
March
6 Myrtle Beach. SC - House of Blues
7 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
9 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
11 Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
13 Richmond, VA - The National
14 Washington, DC - Warner Theater
16 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
17 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall
19 Buffalo, NY - University of Buffalo Center for the Arts
21 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
22 Philadelphia, PA - Acadmy of Music
25 New York, NY - Webster Hall
26 New York, NY - Carnegie Hall
28 Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods
29 Boston, MA - House of Blues
31 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater
April
1 Columbus, OH - Palace Theater
3 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
4 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
6 Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
7 Kansas City, MO - Midland Theater
8 St. Louis, MO - Pageant Theater
10 Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom
11 Houston, TX - Jesse H. Jones Hall
12 Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall
14 El Paso, TX - Chavez Theater
15 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
17 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival

And as a bonus, here's the video for the album's "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris":

Asobi Seksu Announce Full Tour, SXSW Dates

Asobi Seksu has announced a full set of tour dates in support of their new album, Hush, including an April 4th date at NYC's Bowery Ballroom.

Here's the whole shebang:

Asobi Seksu US Tour Dates

Mar 02 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
Mar 03 Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
Mar 04 Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom
Mar 05 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Mar 06 Bloomington, IL @ Illinois Wesleyan U.-Young
Mar 07 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Mar 10 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Mar 11 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Mar 13 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Mar 14 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubador
Mar 15 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
Mar 19 Austin, TX – SXSW @ Scoot Inn, 6pm
Mar 20 Austin, TX - SXSW: Polyvinyl showcase @ Habana Calle Patio 6, 1am
Mar 21 Austin, TX – SXSW: Filter Magazine party @ Cedar Street Courtyard, 2:30pm
Mar 22 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
Mar 23 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
Mar 24 Memphis, TN @ Young Avenue Deli
Mar 25 Atlanta, GA @ Eyedrum
Mar 26 Chapel HIll, NC @ Local 506
Mar 27 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
Mar 28 Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
Mar 29 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
Mar 30 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
Apr 02 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom


Asobi Seksu - Me & Mary from Aaron Stewart-Ahn on Vimeo.