How I spent my vacation time

Here's Ra Ra Riot at the Varsity Theatre in Minneapolis on September 17. They put on a great, energetic show in a very cool venue. Was wondering how the violin and cello works live, and the answer is: flawlessly. I caught the Pet Shop boys the night before at the State Theatre. They had great visuals and were fun but the sound was dreadful. Apparently the venue is to blame...
Beautiful, unseasonably warm weather in Minnesota this past week while Nashville was getting drenched...

Amazing Show

Here's a pic from the Nashville Junior Boys concert on May 1, 2009 at Mercy Lounge. They were amazing. They sounded fantastic. They played lots of songs. They seem like nice people. Even your mother would like them. I bought the t-shirt. I want them to come back soon.

Loved having the live drummer playing over the rhythm tracks. It gave the show that live feeling without sacrificing that deep punch that an electronic drum track can deliver. And yes, one of the Boys even brought out a guitar for a couple of tracks: most notably during show highlights "Double Shadow," "In The Morning," and the jaw-dropping, booty-shaking encore closer "Under The Sun."

I love music

My favorite albums of 2009 (a running list--check back for additions)

White Lies To Lose My Life

Telefon Tel Aviv Immolate Yourself

The Whitest Boy Alive Rules

Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Maximo Park Quicken The Heart

Bombay Bicycle Club I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Off

Jack Penate Everything Is New

Little Boots Hands

Wild Beasts Two Dancers

Miike Snow Miike Snow

La Roux La Roux

Wisp The Shimmering Hour

Little Dragon Machine Dreams

Sub Focus Sub Focus

Los Campesinos!

Here's the Cardiff-based indie band Los Campesinos! at their Nashville gig at Exit In on Saturday, January 24, 2009. You got to love a band with a lead singer who plays the xylophone as his instrument. The y were reduced to a six-piece this evening, as their seventh member was under the weather. Highlights included "You! Me! Dancing!" and the title track from their second album "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed."