War Child Heroes compilation

I probably won't be available on Friday so here's a mid-week delight...

War Child, a Canadian based charity is releasing a compilation album (Feb 24th) where rock legends choo... choo... choose new bands to cover one of their songs. Pretty cool concept if you ask me and from the looks of the tracklist, the elders really know how to pick 'em. Kudos to P-fork for hooking us up with the stream of the TVOTR track. Honestly, I'm kinda lukewarm about it after only a few listens, but if it's like their other stuff I'm sure it'll grow on me.

TV on the Radio - "Heroes" (David Bowie)
Beck - "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Bob Dylan)
The Kooks - "Victoria" (The Kinks)
The Hold Steady - "Atlantic City" (Bruce Springsteen)
Hot Chip - "Transmission" (Joy Division)
Lily Allen ft. Mick Jones - "Straight to Hell" (The Clash)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (The Ramones)
Franz Ferdinand - "Call Me" (Blondie)
Duffy - "Live and Let Die" (Paul McCartney)
Estelle - "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder)
Rufus Wainwright - "Wonderful & Song for Children" (Brian Wilson)
Scissor Sisters - "Do the Strand" (Roxy Music)
Peaches - "Search and Destroy" (Iggy Pop)
Adam Cohen - "Take This Waltz" (Leonard Cohen)
Elbow - "Running to Stand Still" (U2)
The Like - "You Belong to Me" (Elvis Costello)

The Kooks - 9:30 Club (9/8/08)

Was I expecting the amazingness that was MMJ at Constitution Hall the week prior? No, and I was fine with that. Honestly I think my brain would have exploded if I had another experience like that less than a week later. As RatBat Bear put it "great Brit pop fun!" That's what I was in the mood for and that's exactly what the Kooks delivered.

With that being said it still took me a few songs to get my wits about me. I walked in just a few minutes before they took the stage and when they did it was obvious that the crowd was female heavy. Thankfully the cheering wasn't quite at the ear-popping, overwhelming shrieking level but it was definitely an octave or 2 higher than the standard crowd noise. And of course I found a decent spot upstairs until an overly exited 6'5" dancing man stood right in front of me. Luckily he came there for the concert and the beer, so it wasn't long before he was off to refill his beverage.

While I only had a few days take in Inside In Inside Out, it was enough to be decently familiar with the songs when they came up in the setlist. They played a solid main set that lasted just over an hour. Lead man Luke Pritchard kicked off the encore with two solo, acoustic songs which was a nice touch. All in all it was an entertaining show - good sound and they played to the crowd rather well.

Hooray Friday!

- New music:

• Kaiser Chiefs, "Never Miss a Beat," Off With Their Heads (Oct 13), Ultra 8201

- With the Kooks concert coming up next week and only one album under their belt, I've been wondering if they have any tricks up their sleeves to beef up their setlist. Butter Team answers my question. Hopefully they'll whip out some of these covers on Monday.

- Wilco and Fleet Foxes converged in Washington State and took on Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." Thanks to Aquarium Drunkard.

- If you're like me and missed Radiohead in concert this time around (or want to see them again), NPR will be streaming their Santa Barbara show starting on Monday, Sept. 8.

Hooray Friday!

- Coldplay fans can stream Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends on their mySpace page starting tonight (it actually might be just tonight). Thanks to NME for the K. In other news, it sounds like they in the process of finishing up a follow-up album to be released in the near future ala Kid A/Amnesiac according to Twisted Ear.

- The Kooks cover Peter Bjorn & John's "Young Folks" and MOKB provides the love.

- M Ward, Jim James of MMJ and Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes got together in 2004 for a "Monsters of Folk" tour. The bootleg has individual sets and a threesome (not that kind, you pervs) jam at the end. Thanks to I am fuel.

- If you're looking for a live Radiohead fix, look no further. Okay, you'll have to make a few more clicks of the mouse, but I can't imagine it's not worth the effort. Ultra 8201 as always is on top of it.

- Same blog, different band. NIN is all about giving free shit away nowadays. This is an EP containing songs from bands that will be opening for them on their tour: A Place to Bury Strangers; Does It Offend You, Yeah?; Crystal Castles; and Deerhunter.

- The trifecta from Ultra 8201! I've heard about this before, but it got lost somewhere in my mind. If you haven't done so already, check out Black Cab Sessions for nifty performances from Bon Iver, MMJ, Death Cab, Spoon and others.

Catching up rapid-fire style

- New Pete Yorn track with Mexican band Kinky thanks to I am fuel.

- Same blog, different band. The Kooks cover Peter Bjorn & John's "Young Folks".

- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks performs three songs in studio for Minnesota Public Radio. You betcha!

- Death Cab for Cutie's new single "I Will Possess Your Heart" from their upcoming album Narrow Stairs out May 13th courtesy of Ultra 8201.

- Cat Power's Black Session tracks from French radio's France Inter are available on Aquarium Drunkard. Just make sure you don't listen to these under a ladder.

- Peter Moren's (from Peter Bjorn & John fame) solo effort The Last Tycoon is out April 8th and the first single "Social Competence" is available for your ears on Let's Sexy Fighting.

- New Birdmonster track "I Might Have Guessed" had it's coming out party at SXSW. Thanks to the Music Slut.

- More from SXSW. Jim James and M. Ward give us a little acoustic love and Aquarium Drunkard has it zipped up nice and neat like.

- Muse's HAARP DVD/CD is out April 1 and will be screened in a handful of cities. Ultra 8201 has the dates.

- R.E.M. covers the Editors for BBC's Radio 1. Thanks to You Ain't No Picasso for the video.