popwreckoning updates |  |
- More than ! Parts with PATD, Members Leave This Time
- Under Cover – Michael Jackson Tribute (”Beat It”)
- the 8th Annual Lebowski Fest in Louisville THIS weekend!
- Hidden Talent: Stages of Dan
- Heartless Bastards Announce Huge Summer Tour, Tape Set for Austin City Limits TV Show
- NIN Add More American Dates Before Retirement
| More than ! Parts with PATD, Members Leave This Time Posted: 08 Jul 2009 01:50 PM PDT Let the speculation begin. Did somebody leave a goddamn door open? Did a “Yoko Ono” happen? Somebody else just miss their favorite punctuation too much? The official word is “creative differences,” but whatever the reasoning, half of the Las Vegas group, Panic at the Disco, is parting ways with the rest of the band. The announcement that guitarist, Ryan Ross, and bassist, Jon Walker, would leave the group to pursue their own project came as a big surprise as the band is currently working on a third album and is a part of one the summer’s hottest reunion tours with Blink-182. The tour is expected to still go on. This is not the first split of members. In 2006, the band let go of bassist, Brent Wilson. Ross and Walker will work on Hillside Session with Eric Ronick of Black Gold, while Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith will continue as Panic at the Disco. Perhaps the new PATD might take a bit more of a reggae direction. Panic at the Disco: website | myspace | @ honda civic tour  Photo by: Joshua Hammond Related Posts |
| Under Cover – Michael Jackson Tribute (”Beat It”) Posted: 08 Jul 2009 01:15 PM PDT Welcome back, readers! I hope you enjoyed last week’s Michael Jackson Tribute post to “Human Nature”. With the shock of the gloved one’s death still flooding news channels and papers regarding his tragic passing, star-studded funeral service, and talks of tribute concerts, it’s increasingly difficult to focus on any other musicians right now. And I’ve really been enjoying radio stations playing copious amounts of his latest and greatest hits for my daily commute. In any case, I’d like to dedicate Under Cover to MJ for the next few weeks until things calm down, the toxicology reports are in, and the masses go back to discussing Kim Kardashian’s behind, Heidi and Spencer’s latest fame-whoring project, and whatever get-over-yourself comment Megan Fox dishes out to the press. You know, the usual hard-hitting journalism this country loves to dole out from its celebrity-obsessed Pez dispenser.
This week we shall focus on “Beat It”. My sisters and I used to do the dance sequence towards the end of the video when the two gangs bust out the moves in sync with Michael. Well, we attempted them before stumbling to the floor in bouts of laughter and excitement. A lot of people think “Thriller” had their favorite choreography, but I always preferred the steps from “Beat It”. That Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, the West Side Story cliche street toughs, and MJ coming in to save the day by proving dancing can solve any kind of street fight. See, if Nancy Reagan had hired Michael to choreograph her “Just Say No!” anti-drug campaign, maybe she would have made more headway? Because let’s face it… Michael was right. We “don’t wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho man!” It don’t matter how funky and strong your fight is, just beat it punk! Michael Jackson – “Beat It” (original, 1983) Weird Al Yankovic cover (1984) Metallica cover (2003) – 1:35 mark Fall Out Boy (featuring John Mayer on guitar) cover (2008) MJ featuring Fergie (vocals) and Will.i.am (producer) cover (2008) Chipmunks cover – Related Posts |
| the 8th Annual Lebowski Fest in Louisville THIS weekend! Posted: 08 Jul 2009 11:47 AM PDT This weekend, Louisville, Kentucky plays host to the 8th Annual Lebowski Fest. What is Lebowski Fest? Only the a phenomenal festival dedicated to one of the greatest movies ever created by The Coen Brothers, The Big Lebowski. Though the Coens themselves have failed to associate themselves with the fest that launched in 2002 thanks to two fellas by the names of Scott and Will, The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, along with many other cast members, have made appearances at the various Lebowski Fests worldwide. After having started in Louisville, Kentucky, Lebowski Fest expanded to major cities worldwide including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Austin, Seattle, London and Edinburgh. Fans of the film, known as "Achievers", head to the fest, often in costume, to drink white Russians, throw a briefcase full of dirty undies, and party with like-minded moviegoers. It's a two-day party that typically opens with live performances and screening of the film the first night and concludes with a raucous bowling party the following night. The 8th Annual Lebowski Fest will be hosted by Rob Riggle of “The Daily Show”, who will also perform stand-up, and feature music sets by the Black Diamond Heavies and Louisville's own Whistle Peak, all followed by a massive outdoor screening of the film. The Lebowski Fest Louisville Garden Party has also incorporated various reenactments of scenes from the film, art exhibits, and carnival-style games like the Ringer Toss, whereby contestants toss a bag of white undies out the window of a '72 Plymouth Fury III (dubbed the Lebowski-mobile, naturally), toward a Nihilist dummy target, for prizes. The Marmot Fling (catapulting a stuffed ferret into a small bath tub) and The Sheriff of Malibu Coffee Mug Toss are also ‘Achiever' favorites. Also making an appearance will be Phillip Moon, whom Achievers will know as Woo the Carpet Pisser from The Big Lebowski. And I’ll be there, too! Anyone else headed to Lebowski Fest in Louisville? If any of you dear readers are going, leave a comment and I’ll bring some Popwreckoning stickers to give out! There’s still time to buy tickets, so get yours now! Don’t miss these other great Lebowski Fests coming to a major city near you! Lebowski Fest: website | mailing list | tickets Related Posts |
| Posted: 08 Jul 2009 09:22 AM PDT
thelondonpaper, the newspaper always being waved under your nose as you step out of a Tube station, said the following about Stages of Dan: “the trio combine to create memorable and catchy tunes that will get you off your seat”. I heartily agree. Stages of Dan (who abbreviate their band name jokingly as “SOD”) is a London band that accidentally happened to catch my attention on MySpace with their track “Gary”. Now I’m not sure who Gary is or why he’s the subject of a song (I guess this will be a question the guys will have to answer sometime in the future), but I’m glad the band decided to write about him and record this song. It begins innocently enough, sounding like something folky that fellow Londoners Noah and the Whale might have recorded. Then the guitar amps up and the song buzzes to life. It’s not rocket science – it’s just pure, honest rock ‘n’ roll sprinkled with pop sensibility. I’ll be the first to admit that as of late, I’ve been spending a little too much time with my blinders on, focused on English bands with their synthesizers and electronic noisemakers. And Stages of Dan is a refreshing contrast to the majority of music currently on the English charts. Have a listen to “Gary” or any of their other songs on their MySpace, and you will come away with a smile on your face. And you will probably be bopping up and down gleefully to the infectious beat too. With a humorous enough title, “I Like Them Crazy” also has a chorus that is so likable, you’d be hard-pressed to sit still whilst listening. “One Year”, with its catchy guitar hook, ambles pleasantly down the road of feel good pop. Stages of Dan comprises Chris Aliano (guitar and vocals), Chris “Big Chris” Bryant (bass and vocals), and Guy Davidson (drums and vocals). The band plans to release an EP later this year. A video for “Gary” featuring my favorite food, sushi (that’s right, sushi), is scheduled to debut later this month. I hope they come on over to our side of the pond soon so we can experience them live. For now, we have YouTube videos below. Demo Tracklisting: “Gary” live performance (2008) “I Like Them Crazy” live performance (2009) Related Posts |
| Heartless Bastards Announce Huge Summer Tour, Tape Set for Austin City Limits TV Show Posted: 08 Jul 2009 08:52 AM PDT
Recently, the Bastards taped a live set for the esteemed public television music program “Austin City Limits”; this is scheduled to hit American television screens this fall. Alex Maas (of the Black Angels), a good friend of the band, is a special guest on the episode, duetting with Wennerstrom on an evocative reinterpretation of the Tim Hardin-penned ’60s folk hit “If I Were a Carpenter”. Have a listen. If I Were a Carpenter, performed by Erika Wennerstrom and Alex Maas Wennerstrom and Maas (with Dave Colvin and Jesse Ebaugh of Heartless Bastards) have also been hard at work with a side project, Sweet Tea, taking on classic country and adding their own spin to it. A studio version of “If I Were a Carpenter” will be the band’s first single, to be available digitally later this month and physically on September 1. A limited edition 7″ single will also be released later this year. Tour dates Heartless Bastards: website | myspace | @ Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ | Tour Stop: Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ 2/4  Photo: Joshua Hammond Related PostsThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| NIN Add More American Dates Before Retirement Posted: 07 Jul 2009 06:50 PM PDT Nine Inch Nails aren’t done…yet. After previously announcing that Bonnaroo would be their last performance in North America, NIN has since decided to add a few more shows. These shows will occur in NYC, Chicago, LA and feature surprises like special guests and extra long sets. The band’s official comment can be read here:
NIN: website | myspace | @ starlight Related Posts |
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