TV on the Radio - 9:30 Club (6/9/09)

It's been a long time coming for me seeing TVOTR in concert. I had a ticket to see them at the 9:30 in'07, but crapped out for some reason (I still have the unused ticket). When they announced their first go-around of the states in support of Dear Science, I was bummed to say the least... but they were kind enough to include DC as a stop on their 2nd leg. I was more than a little anxious to hear how all of their sounds came across in a live setting. Plus I wanted to see Kyp Malone's afro and beard in person.

Lead man Tunde Adebimpe has what seems like boundless energy. He bounces around the stage and sings every line like it could be his last. The sax player was definitely feeling the music as well. Other than those two though, there wasn't much movement by the rest of the band... but you could still tell that they were giving it their all.

I found myself doing the same thing last Tuesday that I did for the first few months I listened to Return to Cookie Mountain - trying to piece all of their "noises" together instead of taking it all in as one sound. And with all of the different "noises" TVOTR makes, taking them in individually quickly becomes overwhelming (and exhausting). I had to remind myself on a few occasions that night to step back and just enjoy the experience. And once I was able to do that, it just made me want to see them over and over and over again, until I got it just right.

This week's late night TV lineup

Carson

• Monday - Doves
• Tuesday - Diane Birch
• Wednesday - Zee Avi
• Friday - Peaches

Jimmy Kimmel

• Thursday - Ben Harper

David Letterman

• Tuesday - Ian McLagan & the Bump Band
• Thursday - Phoenix
• Friday - The Sounds

Conan O'Brien

• Wednesday - Incubus
• Thursday - Dead Weather

Jimmy Fallon

• Wednesday - Street Sweeper Social Club

This week's late night TV lineup

Dave Letterman

• Monday - Mos Def
• Wednesday - Sonic Youth
• Friday - PJ Harvey w/John Parish

Carson Daly

• Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - Green Day
• Friday - Foxboro Hot Tubs

Jimmy Fallon

• Monday - Amoadou & Mariam
• Tuesday - Mos Def
• Wednesday - Manchester Orchestra

Conan O'Brien

• Thursday - Neko Case

Pearl Jam - "Backspacer"

PJ performed a new song from their upcoming album (TBD) on Conan's first night hosting The Tonight Show.

This week's late night TV lineup

Jimmy Kimmel

• Monday - No Doubt
• Thursday (primetime edition, 7PM EST) - Justin Timberlake and Eminem
• Friday - Asher Roth

Conan O'Brien

• Monday - Pearl Jam
• Tuesday - Green Day
• Thursday - The John Mayer Trio
• Friday - Chickenfoot

Jimmy Fallon

• Tuesday - Paul Simon
• Wednesday - Dave Matthews Band
• Thursday - Doves

Carson Daly

• Tuesday - Ben Harper & Relentless7
• Wednesday - Lissy Trullie
• Friday - Ida Maria

Craig Ferguson

• Monday - Tori Amos

Dave Letterman

• Thursday - Elvis Costello

The National - 9:30 Club (5/25/09)

It seems like the National has been touring for over three years without many breaks. While I’m loving it because it’s given me the opportunity to see them three times, it has to take its toll on the band. They were initially scheduled at the 9:30 for two shows over as many nights, but after both shows sold out in no time, they added a late show to the first night. I had a ticket to see them on the second night… would they have anything left in the tank by the time they got to their third show in two days?

Silly me for questioning these guys. Accompanied by a three-piece horns section and keyboardist, they ripped through all parts of their catalog for over an hour and a half. Lead singer, Matt Berninger was even more engaging with the crowd than I remembered. They even broke out a few new songs - "Vanderlylle," "Blood Buzz" and kicked the night off with "Runaway" (see below - thanks to I am Fuel). It's hard to describe the intensity and sincerity they bring to their shows... it's just something you have to experience.

This week's late night TV lineup

Craig Ferguson

• Wednesday - Amy Smart

Jay Leno

• Thursday - Prince
• Friday - James Taylor

Carson Daly

• Tuesday - The Virgins
• Wednesday - Doves
• Thursday - Methodman & Redman
• Friday - Wale

David Letterman

• Wedneday - The Dead
• Thursday - The Killers

This week's late night TV lineup

Jimmy Kimmel

• Monday - Franz Ferdinand
• Wednesday - No Doubt
• Thursday - Busta Rhymes

Dave Letterman

• Monday - White Rabbits
• Wednesday - Grizzly Bear
• Friday - Green Day

Craig Ferguson

• Friday - The Decemberists

Jay Leno

• Friday - Tori Amos

Jimmy Fallon

• Monday - Method Man & Redman
• Tuesday - Iron & Wine

Carson Daly

• Monday - Crystal Antlers
• Tuesday - Keane
• Thursday - The Kills
• Friday - Glasvegas

And some more new music

• Pearl Jam, "The Golden State" and "Santa Cruz," 2008 Christmas Single (just mailed out to PJ Ten Club members), I am Fuel
• Green Day, 21 Century Breakdown stream (May 15th) here, here and here.

New music

• Stream Wilco (the Album), out Jun 30th, Metro D
• White Rabbits, "Percussion Gun," It's Frightening (May 19th), I am Fuel
• The National, "England" and "Vanderlylle Cry Baby," from the Dark Was the Night Benefit Show via I am Fuel
• stellastar*, "Graffiti Eyes" and "Warchild," Civilized (July 7th), Ultra8201

This week's late night TV lineup

SNL - Green Day

David Letterman

• Monday - The Killers
• Friday - Mastodon

Craig Ferguson

• Tuesday - Jenny Lewis

Jay Leno

• Thursday - The Decemberists
• Friday - Kings of Leon

Carson Daly

• Monday - Ben Harper & Relentless7
• Tuesday - Cold War Kids
• Wednesday - Brett Dennen
• Friday - Friendly Fires

Jimmy Fallon

• Tuesday - The Lonely Island

This week's late night TV lineup

Jimmy Kimmel

• Monday - The Whips
• Friday - Scott Weiland

Craig Ferguson

• Tuesday - Jenny Lewis

David Letterman

• Tuesday - Franz Ferdinand
• Wednesday - Ben Harper and Relentless7
• Thursday - Animal Collective

Jay Leno

• Tuesday - Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters

Jimmy Fallon

• Monday - Adele
• Wednesday - The National
• Thursday - Ben Harper and the Relentless 7

Carson Daly

• Monday - Lykke Li
• Thursday - Black Kids
• Friday - Ida Maria

One for One

This company was profiled on an AT&T commercial I saw this morning...

One for One is the mantra of TOMS Shoes. From their website:

TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.

I have no idea how these shoes hold up, but they sure do look comfortable. And the fact that you're helping to put shoes on a kid's feet is pretty damn cool too.

A bad music day

I decided while walking to work this morning that new music was going to be the theme for the day. Okay, some of my selections were not-so-new but they were new to me. Problem was that they were terrible... all of them. I can't remember where I read/heard about any of these but I wrote them down for a reason. Maybe I made a list of albums to stay away from? I don't know what the hell I was reading or thinking, but I do know that there's now some extra space on my iPod (about five albums worth). These bad boys don't even get a second listen:

• Tinted Windows - Tinted Windows
• The Sounds - Dying to Say This to You
• Dungen - 4
• Mavado - Mr. Brooks... a Better Tomorrow
• The Dream - Love vs Money

This week's late night TV lineup

Jimmy Kimmel

• Monday - Franz Ferdinand

David Letterman

• Wednesday - Manchester Orchestra
• Friday - Bat for Lashes

Craig Ferguson

• Wednesday - Antony & The Johnsons

Jay Leno

• Thursday - Starsailor

Jimmy Fallon

• Monday - Morrissey
• Wednesday - Gomez
• Thursday - Santigold
• Friday - Cold War Kids

Carson Daly

• Tuesday - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
• Thursday - Adele
• Friday - The Duke Spirit

This week's late night TV lineup

Jimmy Kimmel

• Wednesday - The Whip

Letterman

• Tuesday - Tinted Windows
• Thursdsy - The Dead

Leno

• Monday - The Killers
• Tuesday - Ida Maria

Jimmy Fallon

• Thursday - Tinted Windows

Carson Daly

• Wednesday - Crystal Antlers
• Thursday - Brett Dennan
• Friday - Whie Lies

Outta here...

This week's late night TV lineup

Jimmy Kimmel

• Thursday - Franz Ferdinand
• Friday - Pete Yorn

Jay Leno

• Wednesday - Chris Botti ft. John Mayer

Jimmy Fallon

• Wednesday - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Carson Daly

• Monday - Cold War Kids
• Tuesday - Adele
• Friday - Ben Harper & the Relentless7

David Letterman

• Monday - A.C. Newman w. Nicole Atkins
• Tuesday - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Wednesday - Neko Case

Craig Ferguson

• Tuesday - Brett Dennan
• Thursday - Amy Smart (not performing)

This week's late night TV lineup

SNL - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Tonight Show w/Jay Leno

• Friday - PJ Harvey & John Parish

Late Night w/Jimmy Fallon

• Monday - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
• Wednesday - The Virgins

Last Call w/Carson Daly

• Monday - Little Boots
• Wednesday- NASA
• Friday - M83

Late Show w/David Letterman

• Monday - Razorlight
• Tuesday - Cursive
• Wednesday - Bell X1
• Friday - U2

The Neon Bible Archives

It's nice to see Arcade Fire hooking their fans up during these tough economic times. Until next Friday (April 10th), you can head over to Pfork and check out Mirior Noir, their 70 minute documentary on the making/touring of Neon Bible, for FREE! After that, you'll have to lay some greenbacks down to see it. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.