DJ PALEBOY Tonight!

That's right, yours truly will be spinning once again at Capone's in Williamsburg - rain or shine.

Come say hi!

Capone's
221 N. 9th St. between Driggs and Roebling

Fuk Yer Homo Disko

Modular Monthly - NYC

It's time for another Modular Monthly party and this time it's getting all elegant on us, being held at the Tribeca Grand Hotel this Friday night. With an open bar from 10-12 and a special DJ set from Tim of CUT COPY, I can't think of a better place to go after the HOT CHIP show at Webster Hall. The party will also feature a live set from APACHE BEAT and DJ sets from KASPER BJORKE and other Modular DJ's.

SLOW BURNING LIGHTS Debut Live Material

Yes Alexander (of THE CASUAL LUST) and her new band SLOW BURNING LIGHTS are set to make their live debut on Saturday April 28th at San Francisco's Edinburgh Castle.

LISTEN to the gorgeous "Secret", the first track taken from the forthcoming debut album.

An interview with SOULWAX

I thought I'd share this interesting interview with David Dewaele of SOULWAX that URGE sent over to me.

"David Dewaele: I have many theories. One of them is, in terms of dance music, America is still very traditional in many ways. I think for all kinds of music in America, you need to do it live. I don't think America is ready yet to watch people play a laptop. They need a show, a frontman, a drummer. Even in hip-hop. You can mix the most advanced kind of electronic, weird hip-hop, and if you want to do it live — even Timbaland or The Neptunes' stuff — they bring in some s****y drummer and [yell corny stuff like] "wave your hands in the air." I think that's a typical American thing; it's the reason why The Prodigy works, and something like Underworld won't. In essence, Prodigy has a frontman going, "Come on, jump up and down!"

URGE: Is that why you've incorporated a live-band performance aspect into Radio Soulwax? Are you trying to trick people into liking dance music?

Dewaele: Yeah, like a scheme. [Laughs.] No, it's a lot more simple. We made Nite Versions, and we wanted to do it live. The thing with Radio Soulwax is that it's set up like a continuous party. It's not necessarily a live gig then a DJ set; it's one continuous performance, where one flows into the other. The thing that everyone keeps talking about is the blend of indie and dance music, electro and new-rave, whatever you call it. To us, that's just normal. It's what The Clash used to do. People think a little bit too much in categories. If you can dance to it, it works. That was at the basis of 2 many dj's and with Radio Soulwax, it was just an extension of that. In our heads, it doesn't really matter if it's Vitalic or Justice, or WhoMadeWho that we bring with us on tour. It's all the same aesthetic for us. It musically brings the same point.

URGE: With all your various personas, it's sometimes difficult to figure out what separates Soulwax from 2 many dj's. You're a band, you're DJs, you're remixers, but you remix yourselves, and reinterpret your music
in different ways.

Dewaele: I don't think it'll seem so confusing in a few years time. In 2007, it's almost like the only way to go. If you're just a band touring... you're like thousands of other bands doing the same. A lot of upcoming kids who send us stuff do the same thing: They're a band that plays drums, remixes, produces other people. It's almost becoming the norm. With things like the music industry changing and the Internet and MySpace, definitely the way people put out music or express creativity is changing as well. We all have to adapt to it, and whatever we're doing won't seem abnormal."

Read more of the SOULWAX interview and much more at MTV's URGE

Countdown to Coachella part 3 - 9 Days...

These are perhaps the four biggest reasons why I wanted to go to Coachella this year...and they're all on the same day!


LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
Every single time I've tried to see James Murphy live I always just miss the boat. The recent string of dates in NYC have all seemed to sell out instantaneously. Back at Coachella 2004, I diligently tried to convince my gang to catch one of their earliest performances, but no one knew who the hell they were so we saw someone else instead. From what I hear, LCD Soundsystem is always good for an unparalleled live show, creating a sort of hypnotic dance explosion. By contrast, check out this old favorite of mine, "Tired" - an ode to James Murphy's love of post-punk.

DOWNLOAD LCD Soundsystem - Tired

*****


HOT CHIP
I'm finally seeing Hot Chip for the first time this Friday at Webster Hall and I'm ecstatic about it. This will be the one event that makes me feel that all is not lost by missing Coachella this year. Check out this new Hot Chip track, "My Piano".

DOWNLOAD Hot Chip - My Piano (radio mix)

*****


!!!
I saw !!! live a couple years ago at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and they were fun as hell. Their infectious energy demands that you dance and if you don't, you're dead. Here's an outtake from the latest album "Myth Takes".

DOWNLOAD !!! - Bend Over Beethoven (Original Nashville Jam)

*****


THE RAPTURE
So maybe I wouldn't have caught The Rapture at Coachella this year, as I've seen them a few times now. But they always put on a solid show with a great light spectacle. Not to be missed if you've never experienced these guys live. Here's an old fave from the EP "Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks".

DOWNLOAD The Rapture - The Pop Song

Coachella.com

BOAT CLUB - "Warmer Climes"

Yet another band from Sweden has grabbed my attention. The Gothenburg duo BOAT CLUB has just released a two track ep single "Warmer Climes". The lead track is a wistful breeze; ethereal pop anchored by a bittersweet melancholy. The other track, "Memories" is more of the same with a more pronounced 80's drum track, though not quite as catchy as its predecessor.

To purchase the EP go to I Wish I Was Unpopular.

DOWNLOAD Boat Club - Warmer Climes

GLASS CANDY - "Rolling Down the Hills"

Everyone is blogging about this one right now, but I can't stop myself. The latest track from Portland's GLASS CANDY is so good! A smooth 70's lounge track, complete with horns, sexy vocals and vinyl scratches to add a more vintage feel.

To see what I mean, head over to Big Stereo. They've got the track for you to download, plus tour dates and more.

Countdown to Coachella part 2 - 10 Days...

Here is part two of my Countdown to Coachella...


FAITHLESS
A nostalgic moment for those of us who were deeply ensconced in the electronica-era late 90's when FAITHLESS burst on the scene with trip-hop classics "Don't Leave" and "Insomnia". FAITHLESS bring their epic live show to the Coachella stage to remind us that these guys should have played at the first Coachella in 1999. Here's another throwback from the savagely underrated 2000 film "The Beach" - DOWNLOAD Faithless - Woozy

*****


BJORK
I can't believe I've never seen Bjork live. This will be pure magic at the Empire Polo Fields, just so long as crazed fans don't rush the stage like they did back in 2002. Her new single "Earth Intruders" shows promise of a lively stage show.
DOWNLOAD Bjork - Earth Intruders (Spike Stent mix)

*****


PEACHES
Peaches is another one I've never seen live, but have heard endless great things about from friends. I predict she will go on the Outdoor Stage for a late night party just as Bjork is finishing on the main stage. (Note to crazy Coachella freaks: That is a prediction, not to be confused with fact.)
DOWNLOAD Peaches - The Inch

Countdown to Coachella part 1 - 11 Days...

This year will mark the first time in four years that I WILL NOT be heading out to the desert for the Coachella Festival. As depressed as I am about this, I still find the need to torture myself with this two week series, highlighting the bands that I would have caught during the three day weekend. Here goes...


THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN
Probably one of my top 5 all-time favorite bands emerges from a nine year hibernation to headline Day 1. "Stardust Remedy" is one of my favorite tracks off their last album "Munki", released back in 1998.
DOWNLOAD Jesus and Mary Chain - Stardust Remedy

*****

OF MONTREAL
Their recent album "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" is by far one of the year's best as of yet. But I still love the bouncy fun single "The Party's Crashing Us Down" from 2005's "The Sunlandic Twins".
DOWNLOAD Of Montreal - The Party's Crashing Us Down

*****


FELIX DA HOUSECAT
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is the 2004 release by Felix da Housecat "Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever". Check out the track "What She Wants", featuring James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem.
DOWNLOAD Felix Da Housecat - What She Wants

For those of you who are lucky enough to make it to Coachella this year, please share your stories as I will live vicariously through you.

Coachella.com

DEERHUNTER - "Fluorescent Grey EP"

According to Pitchfork Media, DEERHUNTER's new EP, "Fluorescent Grey" is quite good, as they declare it "Best New Music" and tag the release with an 8.8 rating.

If you aren't already familiar with DEERHUNTER'S latest album "Cryptograms", released in January on Kranky Records, do yourself a favor and check it out - deep psychedelic white noise, embodying elements of Chapterhouse, Sonic Youth, and early Blur.

Key tracks - "Strange Lights", "Cryptograms"

For a good laugh, read the "Sounds Like" section on their Myspace page - endless hate mail from Yeah Yeah Yeahs fans when Deerhunter opened for them.