Rodrigo y Gabriela a El Troubadour 1/27/07

So friday night was the Rodrigo y Gabriela show at The Troubadour. They were even more entertaining than I had anticipated. They of course are amazing musicians...some of the best guitar handiwork I've seen and by far the best use of a guitar for percussion. And just as entertaining was their between song banter. The crowd loved Gabriela's somewhat shy, yet curse-filled stories about their early days in an unsuccessful Thrash Metal band in Mexico City or how they talked their Irish-based label into sending them to a Mexican beach for a month to record their album and how they came back without a single song. Besides their own flamenco style songs (but according to Gabriela, "not fucking flamenco"), they also covered Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and of course Metallica. Rodrigo even did a lil bit of Rage Against the Machine which would have been phenomenal if he had only continued. The crowd was very much into the entire performance, clapping along to most of the songs...especially when Rodrigo assigned different clapping rhythms to 4 different sections of the crowd. Made for a very cool effect. I have a video of it that I'll have to upload later. I have no doubt the KCRW benefit concert crowd is going to love them. Next up, Thursday at the Roxy with Peter, Bjorn and John (PB&J).

Oh and I found the cover of One (Metallica) and Take 5 (Dave Brubeck) that I mentioned previously...its on their Live in Manchester/Dublin CD.

Rodrigo y Gabriela - One/Take 5 (.mp3)

2 days until the Irish Mexicans

Looking forward to Friday's Rodrigo y Gabriela show at the Troubadour...should be a lot of fun. Glad I got tickets for myself and 5 of my friends a month or two back cuz the show is sold out. My morning shower while listening to KCRW today included RyG's cover of Metallica's One (my favorite Metallica song...probably only fav) which also includes their cover of Dave Brubeck's Take Five (my favorite jazz song). Used to be online somehwere but I can't find it. How about their cover of Stairway to Heaven instead?

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Stairway to Heaven (.mp3)
website - myspace

Hopefully I'll remember so I can capture some hot flamenco action myself...in the meantime, David Letterman caught some hot flamenco action:

Coachella '07 (April 27-29)

It's a far drive and a ton of traffic but it can be a good time...hmm...should I go or not?

Who I'm excited for:
FRI: Interpol, DJ Shadow, Sonic Youth, Faithless, Silversun Pickups
SAT: Arcade Fire, Decemberists, The Good the Bad & The Queen, Travis, Black Keys, Hot Chip, Ghostface Killah, Andrew Bird, and Fields
SUN: Rage, Air, Happy Mondays, Crowded House, Damien Rice, Explosions in the Sky, and Rodrigo y Gabriela

Wow... Looks like I need Sat/Sun tix. I really want to see Rage, Happy Mondays, Crowded House and Travis since they haven't been around in ages. Of course Damien Rice is one of my favorites but not sure how his mellow tunes will work across a field from some louder acts (kinda killed the vibe for Sigur Ros a few years back). Definitely would like to see Damon Albarn's new band.

**Check out a sample of the NEW Travis**
TRAVIS - Big Chair (.mp3)

24 Ringtone

Get your 24 Ringtones

Be a geek like me and think..."Hmm, I really wish my cellphone ringtone sounded like the cool CTU phones on 24" and then google it and find out that you aren't the only geek who has such dreams.

CTU Phone

The Submarines / Fujiya & Miyagi / Peter, Bjorn & John / Bloc Par

January is starting out a good music year it seems. I've either seen or bought tickets to see 4 of my current favorite bands. I highly recommend you making the purchase or download and check them out live (although the 2 I have yet to see could totally suck live so who knows).

THE SUBMARINES - Vote has been just about my favorite song for the past few months but I kept missing opportunities to see them live so I was happy to finally catch them at the first night of their month long residency at The Echo. Its just Blake and John up on stage and Blake (who is FEMALE) is super cute. Not usually my type but she was very nice and I dig chicks who play instruments. She reminded me of Maggie Gyllenhaal who I really liked in Stranger Than Fiction. Weird, I used to really not like her. But I digress...anyways, its just the two of them with their instruments and an iBook handling the bass and drums. Works for me! Wonder if they'll evolve into a full band someday (like Mellowdrone). Always interesting to see.

Highlights from their bio...Blake is from Vermont. John was raised in Dubai. Met in Boston and played music near and far. Moved out west and broke up. Then...

They wrote songs, each in their own place, about their dismay and unhappiness without the other. Their songs said things they hadn't said in person, and when they heard them--together--it all made sense. In fact, life made more sense together. After a while, and having realized this, they became The Submarines.

Mondays in January - go on around 10:00 PM
The Submarines
at The Echo, Silverlake, California
$FREE

* * *

FUJIYA & MIYAGI - All I know is that they aren't Japanese...they are british. In fact, their names are really Steve Lewis and David Best and yes, they move my feet. Me likey the beats. Playing at Spaceland and I got 2 tickets.


Wednesday, March 14 at 9:00 PM
Indie 103 presents CLUB NME featuring Fujiya & Miyagi
at Spaceland, Silverlake, California
U.S.$12.00

* * *

PETER, BJORN & JOHN - All I know is that they aren't Japanese either...they are, as expected thanks to Bjorn, from Sweden. That and they too move my feet. They formed in 1999, got blogger buzz in 2006 and then had a song play on Grey's Anatomy = game over. Playing at The Roxy ...who's in?

Thursday, Feb 1 at 9:00 PM
Peter, Bjorn and John
at The Roxy, - Hollywood, California
U.S.$15.00

* * *

BLOC PARTY - Everyone knows Bloc Party right? Everyone loves Bloc Party, right? Well if you don't, go buy a soul and start. They kick ass live and write really good songs. They are playing two nights at The Wiltern



March 19 & 20 at 9:00 PM
Bloc Party
at The Wiltern, - Hollywood, California
U.S.$30.00

* * * *

The Submarines - Vote (.mp3)
website - myspace
Peter, Bjorn & John - Young Folks (remix - .mp3)
website - myspace
Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone (.mp3)
website - myspace
Bloc Party - Song for Clay (.mp3) *taken down by request
website - myspace

Veinte Quatro

Well my 2007 TV viewing is pretty much in full swing with The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy and um... another show (ok fine, for some reason I like What About Brian? Don't ask). Thankfully all these wonderful shows are helping me get over the mid-'season' cancellation of Day Break. Damn you ABC. Next week is of course the start of Heroes. And I still have to wait until Feb. 7 for the return of LOST. But for now, at least I've got the start of 24 this past weekend. Had to clear out the old Tivo to make sure I keep the good stuff. Jack Bauer is back and crazier than ever thanks to that no good Chinese Government. Most memorable moments of the first 4 hours (WARNING: possible spoilers!):

1. Jack kills a terrorist while handcufffed by biting his neck. I think Jack has reached the new low of canabalism. Well, eat or be eaten.
2. Kumar is on this season. Not sure if I can take him too seriously as a terrorist considering I just watched Van Wilder this weekend. Oops...he's dead now. No worries.
3. My favorite character (next to Jack), Curtis Manning, has some issues. Kinda fell off the Curtis wagon there. But we learn why. Unfortunately, Jack shoots Curts. Dead? We'll find out next week...but I'm guessing not. This just means alot more tension.
4. After seasons with the threat, 24 finally sets off a nuclear bomb in LA. Not much left for the writers to do now...they knocked out cannabalism and a nuc within the first 4 hours.

Only 20 hours left to go!

Extras

Watch Ricky Gervais' EXTRAS season premiere on iTunes for free
(with Orlando Bloom)

iPhone - Looks pretty sweet

Check out the flash demos

My 2006

Highlights include a PhD defense, Habitat for Humanity in Watts, my friends and lots of babies, St. Patrick's Day March Madness, Mammoth and Big Bear, UCLA's Final Four, Q's, Central Cali Boating Weekend/Wedding, Al's Bachelor Party and Wedding, Mud Run, Graduation, 3 Cali Radiohead shows, Yosemite, Mom's 60th, a ton of shows at The Greek, Steve's 30th, UCLA at Notre Dame, Thanksgiving at the Roost, a Ton of Troubadour shows, UCLA BEATS USC, Damien Rice @ The Orpheum, Xmas parties, Vegas, Guitar Hero, Griffith J. Griffith's observatory and my HAPPY new year!

Best Commercial (and jingle) of 2007

Wow...can't wait for this song/dance to hit the clubs. Way to go Pepto!
(I give the blogging community about 1 week until there is a remix of this)

Great Taco Hunt: Best of...

Best of 2006 (@ The Great Taco Hunt)