Summer ‘09:

One song clearly transcended the pack. No matter where you were or what you were doing, chances are very high you heard this song sooner or later. It gobbled up radio time. Television time. Ended up on the decks at the clubs and the poolside Bar-B-Qs. Piped its way into the dressing rooms at Ross Dress For Less, helped you choose wine while shopping at Vons and was used liberally for car speaker testing material down the way at Best Buy. Filled your head. Got you moving. You literally could not escape it. Mayhap you hate it now, or pretend to, but the fact remains that it’s very likely that you loved this song at one point. Prior reader guesses have all been taken with some merit, sure, but the Song of the Summer, 2009 (SOSD ‘09) has not yet been mentioned by name. Said song contains but eight letters:

» Ask Losanjealous: What’s the Song of the Summer, 2009?

HEADS UP
Leonard Cohen @ _________ Thu 4/9

Pre-Nokia, pre-Coachella secret show details have officially been squeezed out of the holding parties. (Think 200 capacity, Los Angeles.) More details and link after the jump; tix on sale TOMORROW…
 
 
»continue reading Leonard Cohen Intimate Show Details Announced

President George W. Bush approaches the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in a S-3B Viking jet Thursday, May 1, 2003. White House photo by Paul Morse.

Don’t forget to vote. (As if I needed to say it.) Also: January swearing-in dates and lame duck weeks aside, today is the last day that you will ever be able to get drunk in a Bush nation. Make it count. Drink like W before his 40th. Drink like Bush Senior is floating the tab. Like Cheney’s buying the shots and you don’t know who’s really behind it. Like Rummy’s forcing Jäger bombs down your throat. Take a thermos of Bloody Mary to the polling station. Knock back a few with your lunch. Keg stands would not be out of line. Today’s going to be big, whatever happens. Have fun out there.

» President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended (TWH)
» Mission Accomplished Debacle Recap (Wikipedia)

HEADS UP
Rachel Fuller presents Pete Townshend with Friends @ Troubadour Fri Nov 7

All of the Best Buy charity tickets are completely sold out at this point, but according to Pollstar, a limited number of tickets for this Friday’s Rachel Fuller/ Pete Townshend Troub gig will be released this Thursday, November 6. That’s two days after you will have performed your civic duty at your polling place, mind you.

We should probably also note at this time: This show is billed as Pete Townshend And Friends, and The Who is playing Nokia the very next night. The Troub is keeping mum thus far and there’s nothing to click on TM to date, but keep fingers crossed if you didn’t catch the duo at Hotel Cafe (or SXSW) last year; maybe you can still work some magic Thursday and, come Friday, hear Pete utter those words you long to hear, “It is great to be back here at the Troubadour, the place where Daryl Hall, John Oates, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr and myself all performed countless times as one big, bloated, not-yet-supergroup when we first came to Los Angeles. Let’s bring them all out on stage now, shall we?”

UPDATE:
Buy tickets here Thursday at 1pm.

» Pete Townshend Is ‘In The Attic’ (Pollstar)
» Pete and the Raconteurs perform “The Seeker” (Stereogum)
» Pete and Rachel perform at the Grove (Your favorite mall) (!?) (Youtube)

This Just In
The Fighters and the QOTSA will shill a few Blackberries for the sake of free rock Wednesday eve, and that’s perfectly fine by us. Set times unknown. Venue unknown, though Oscar’s saying it’s at the Avalon. Ticket allotment unknown. Blackberry Storm tech specs unknown. What the fuck is actually known? Basically here’s the skinny as we know it, posted on the QOTSA website today:

How To Enter: QOTSA Special Show w/Foo Fighters
YOU MUST BE IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 29TH
»continue reading Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age: Free Show Wednesday (10/29): Vague, Blackberry-Themed Instructions Below

Today in Rampant Speculation: Sunset Junction 2008 set times are alive and kicking. If you haven’t been paying attention, the lineup looks great (Broken Social Scene, !!!, Black Keys, Beachwood Sparks, Cold War Kids, Kinky, local blog faves Voxhaul Broadcast et al).

But what’s this!? On Sunday, August 24, “4:10 TBA/Aug. 17″ will be taking the Bates Stage just before the reunited Beachwood Sparks. Who the dickens could this be!? We turn now to you, faithful reader, for a comprehensive – nay, exhaustive – analysis of the possibilities, one of which will ultimately be announced by the organizers on August 17, a mere week before show time. Who’s touring? Who’s in town or near town during that time? Vote for your best guess or add it to the list if it’s not already there.

UP THE JUNCTION
» 2007 Sunset Junction Street Fair
» Sunset Junction 2007: The Pity Party
» We Played Some Festivals Recently
» Canadian Coffee Break: The Street Fair Season
» Blonde Redhead @ Sunset Junction, 8/18/07
» Sunset Junction, Saturday: One Perspective
» Sunset Junction Options Juiced, Elongated

Did you watch Rock of Love 2 this year? Of course you did. Pathetic. I did, too. The show is over, and there’ll probably be a third season. So did you pull for Ambre? Daisy? Destiney? A different contestant? It matters not. What matters is the cat fight that took place during Sunday’s reunion show (Heather assaulted Daisy), and while we unfortunately have neither the time nor patience to work up a good Venn diagram to better categorize our contestants for your educated wager, we do still wish to open the books and place our bets on who would’ve won that fight, had it run its course. We’re talking real Jerry Springer stripper fisticuff action here. You can read all about the bout here if you missed the program, but really, you probably need only turn on VH1 at any given time in the next couple of weeks in order to catch a rebroadcast (hint: it’s on right now). Incidentally, the VH1 blog links beneath this poll are priceless if you watched any portion of the show whatsoever. Do give them a look.

VOTE AGAIN

» Touch My Backstage Pass Again: Behind the Scenes of the Rock of Love 2 Reunion
» The Celebreality Interview – Daisy’s Fighting Words
» The Celebreality Interview – Heather’s Fighting Words

ITEM: All Tomorrow’s Parties is promoting the first My Bloody Valentine shows in London this June. (Daily Swarm via BV)

ITEM: MBV will headline the ATP Festival in upstate New York in September. (ibid.)

ITEM: ATP promoters have recently teamed with Pitchfork for “Don’t Look Back” nights at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. Said nights feature bands such as Public Enemy, Mission of Burma and Sonic Youth performing entire albums. (ibid; P4k)

ITEM: P4k’s Friday, July 18 lineup:

Pitchfork Music Festival and All Tomorrow’s Parties present “Don’t Look Back”
Public Enemy performing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Mission of Burma performing Vs.
+ one more to be announced (P4k)

Somebody over at Pitchfork either doesn’t seem to think this’ll happen, or is playing coy. I say do the math. Take it away, but responsibly so.

***UPDATE, 4.25: While I am (arguably foolishly) adamant that surprises could still happen, the third Friday lineup has now been revealed: SEBADOH performing Bubble and Scrape

Are you as tired of Coachella speculation as I’ve intended for you to be yet? If not give me time, but if so, take comfort in the fact that we’ve a 100% Coachella-free baconwrapped hot dog article hitting the stands later today.

RIGHT NOW, THOUGH: Today’s rampant speCoachellulation: Flight of the Conchords. They’re scheduled for an instore appearance at Amoeba Records on April 24 – the day before the festival – yet their official Los Angeles gigs aren’t until the end of May – at the Orpheum – a Goldenvoice venue. Do the math. Having seen Tenacious D appear between the Strokes and the Foo Fighters in Indio back in ‘02, I’m responsibly predicting a similar surprise this year. Discuss.

Our thanks to everyone who turned out to Casino Morongo last weekend, making the party what it was. While in the area I snapped a few photos of the legendary beasts of Cabazon before venturing home Sunday, tail between legs.

As you sully forth to Coachella mere weeks from today, be sure to wave to Dinny and Mr. Rex in Cabazon some 20 miles west of your final destination. Better still, park the car and stock up for the impending Coachella security line. The legendary beasts are currently being used to teach children that dinosaurs are only a few thousand years old, but don’t let that stop you from entering the door in Dinny’s tail, plodding up the stairs to the propaganda-laden gift shop and eventually buying a few creationist coloring books – essential and ideal for filling that small portion of your life you will lose in the massive Indio queue. Don’t forget Crayolas, and remember: By Design, Not By Chance.

» Cabazon Dinosaurs (official site) (wiki) (LAT) (previously on LJ)

Bonus! After the jump, Dinny ponders creationism silently

»continue reading Coachella Checkpoint Queue Concept: Consider Cabazon ‘Creation Conondrum’ Coloring Book

News came yesterday that we thought might have been an April Fool’s joke at first: Los Angeles’ own Weezer has a release date (June 17) for its new album. The album will again be titled… WEEZER. The band has been referring to this album as THE RED ALBUM. We now ask the question…(fuck me! after our upgrade I cannot get rid of this superfluous “n”… no bullshit! ->) n

VOTE AGAIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS
5225 Figueroa Mountain Rd , Los Olivos, CA 93441

OUTSTANDING DEBT
$24,525,906.61

STATUS
Foreclosure. Auction Pending

FACILITIES INCLUDED
Mansion (equipped), Lake Neverland, Flamingo Island Train Station, Zip Line, Michael Jackson Museum, Britto Art Exhibit, Nature Preserve, Basketball Court, Teepee Village, Bumper Cars, Movie Theatre, Amphitheatre, Club Kiss (empty), Massage Therapy Center (empty), Aviary (empty), Petting Zoo (empty), Serpentarium (empty). McConnell’s franchise on site (empty). Expansive 2,800 acre property. Mansion equipped with infrared security device(s).

ASKING PRICE
Property auction originally slated for March 19 has now been postponed to May 14. »continue reading Help Us Buy Neverland Ranch On May 14

Apple is purportedly slowly and methodically wearing down the major labels’ negotiating price of an all-you-can-handle-but-for-a-premium smorgasbord download plan for your iPod and iPhone, according to a recent report by the Financial Times, and competitor eMusic is none too thrilled at present:

“They’re basically saying, ‘Let’s give a piece of every iPod sale to the record labels in exchange for bundling in all the music you can eat with every iPod’” said [CEO of competitor eMusic David] Pakman. “That’s classic Sherman Antitrust Act behavior. It’s called tying, and it’s where a company with a monopoly position in one market uses that monopoly position unfairly to compete in another.” (source)

Wah, wah. What do we think? Are you a subscriber to eMusic or Napster? I’ve tried both; personally, I say bring it on. Any Rhapsody users? Who uses what out there…(Limewire & Soulseek don’t count; Seeqpod users, holla)

» EMusic CEO Raises Antitrust Concerns About Apple’s Unlimited Music Plan (Wired)

RADIOHEAD, JACK JOHNSON QUIETLY WAITING IN WINGS TO CLAIM CHOICE “TBA” SLOTS

HEADS UP: Pitchfork Music Festival @ Union Park, Chicago, IL Fri 7/18, Sat 7/19, Sun 7/20

Tickets for the 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival go on sale this Wednesday at 10am (3/12). Check back for your detailed driving directions (sans highways) from Los Angeles to Chicago. PS, Extra Golden is the shit.

Friday, July 18:
Pitchfork Music Festival and All Tomorrow’s Parties present “Don’t Look Back”
Public Enemy performing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
+ more, to be announced

Saturday, July 19: »continue reading 2008 P4K Music Fest Lineup Revealed (July 18-20, Chicago)

Way up at the Bowl in Hollywoodland, two back-to-back nights (August 15-16) remain suspiciously on TBA status at press time. Might the consecutive dates be reserved for Radiohead? We know they’re coming to town. We turn now to you, valued reader, for rampant speculation on the topic at hand:

[ VOTE AGAIN ]

UPDATE. 6pm: Since they’re scheduled to appear in Canada on the 15th of August, I’m going to go ahead and say “knives out” to that Radiohead rumor. Let the voting continue.

Following our post Thursday afternoon (thanks for the tip DJ Budgie), ‘Crowes and Coachella message boards have lit up like so many blue-tinselled Spacelandian curtains as to which damn band will be gracing the establishment’s venerable, albeit quaint, stage come March 18.

The question is now begged.
»continue reading “Wyld Stallyons” @ Spaceland, March 18: The Speculation Grows