Because it was.  Something to be said for early to bed / early to rise, especially when the days are so long.  Glorious sun, swimming and fun.  I’m curious to hear what Art Brut has been up to in the last few years.  They were a fun live show, but I wasn’t sure they’d have staying power.  I know that a new album exists, but haven’t heard a bit.  Anyone?  Bueller?

Title track off of the new album.  The record release show was last night.  I love going to see bands that I have never heard before.  M has introduced me to a number of my favorite musicians, The Thermals are now joining the club.  They put on a great show, and I’m hooked.

Sadly, the openers were nothing to write home about, but in the spirit that it is easier to write a bad review than a good one, I will.  The lead singer of Parenthetical Girls was employing a brand of pretention that would have been annoying but understandable in a 22 year old.  When he announced that he’d just turned 28 and proceeded to tell a not-so-endearing anecdote about his mother giving him a pair of Kurt Cobain commemorative Converse sneakers he lost me for good. Word to the wise, kids:  Don’t criticize your mother while onstage.  You look like an ungrateful brat.

Panther had good beats, but absolutely no vocals.  I’m not sure the mic was even turned on, though the singer carted it around and shouted into it quite a bit.  He yelled at an audience member for requesting more volume on the vocals “this isn’t easy!”  Uh, ok…I don’t think he got it.  When you are a two-piece band and half of your songs are with drums and piped in bass, you really shouldn’t do away with your vocals.  Otherwise, why are you on stage at all?  Dancing, sure, but the audience can do that too.

I love the black & white photography, though it makes it difficult for me to imagine what the clothes would look like in color.  In costume for black & white film, colors and prints were chosen for contrast, a red dress would look different than a blue one though in either case the audience would see a shade of grey.  Whoever chose these understood that art.

The obligatory Sound of Music reference.  Julie Andrews has been popping up everywhere this weekend, including but not limited to the LP of holiday songs I found at an estate sale and the internet advert meme of dance numbers in European train stations.  I never really get tired of the Sound of Music and the infectious optimism of Rodgers & Hammerstein.  “I Have Confidence” has good get up and go without the religious overtones of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” which reminds me of my grandmother and sometimes makes me cry.  In a good way.

Found via W posting something on facebook (quite some time ago, actually).  Aggressive and well put together.  Good for what ails you.

Super catchy tune, video has nods to Grease and Back to the Future.  I wish I’d heard of The Motion Sick before I moved, and now that I think about it, I’m not sure how I came across this at all.  In any case, I think they’d be a fun live show at TT’s or the Middle East.

Finally nearing the end of a backlog of songs in the queue for SOTW, need to find some new tunes.  Other posts have been delayed as well.  This is not a medium that works well with procrastination.

I remember the first time I heard The Mike Flowers Pops.  Their cover of Wonderwall was on MTV and despite knowing that it was an Oasis song I found myself thinking that the Pops version was the orginal from the 60′s.  Their kitch was powerful and is still just as much fun to listen to.  Unfortunately their work is nearly impossible to find these days.  A Groovy Place is available on Amazon occasionally, but few of the tracks have made it to iTunes, and Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina was only ever released as a single.

I don’t know what to write about Freezepop.  I like them.  Unfortunately the last time I tried to see them I ended up listening to an awful Italian gypsy-grunge band, as the entire program was delayed.  I’m looking at you, ArtBeat!