 So today I just randomly checked my Flickr profile and I realized I had a message in my inbox. So naturally I check it and expect to hear from either my brother or some kind of spam; Nope...neither. It was Rocky Votolato! The folk-blues singer-songwriter from the band Waxwing decided he liked the picture I took of him a few years back (above) and wanted to know if he could use it for his website. So obviously I said yes and offered to send him the others I took that night.
Maybe M.I.A. will like the picture I took of her and ask me if she can use them...and then ask for a date. Hey, I can dream right?
Hello Kata,
I really like the pictures you took of me and I was wondering if I could put some up on my website. My favorite is the one on me kneeling with all the light across the stage.
Thank you,
Rocky
Download: Rocky Votolato - Postcard From Kentucky from the album, The Brag and Cuss
 Like I said earlier this month; this will be a concert year to remember. Here’s 5 – 1 of the best concerts I’ve been to this year.
5 - TIE. Woven / Finn Riggins at Milly’s Tavern, Manchester, NH – This show was really something special. I have been searching for records of this band for years and I eventually found their full length and older E.P. this past year. When I found out they were playing up here (in a bar in Manchester too) I was stunned and very excited. I had to drive almost an hour up to New Hampshire to see this band play at midnight, when I had to get up for work at 4am. So add in the hour drive and you’ll get a recipe for disaster. Well show wasn’t, they have such an amazing live presence. And the new E.P. is far beyond anything they’ve ever done. Simply remarkable all around.
Download: Woven – Cosmonaut from the E.P., Aftermath
 5 - TIE. Interpol / Liars at the Agganis Arena in Boston, MA – Katie was able to score some fucking awesome seats (3rd row) at this enormous stadium to see Interpol. They were just incredible. Whether it was the lights or the perfect sound they had that night…I don’t know…they were just on point.
Download: Interpol – Mammoth (Erol Alkan Rework) originally from the album, Our Love to Admire
 4. Division Day / iLIKETRAINS / Dylan in the Movies / Lady of Spain at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA – Seeing that Division Day was coming to Boston made me scream out loud, “Holy Shhhhhit!” I’ve been a fan of Division Day since ’03 and this was an opportunity I was not going to miss, especially with their new record in heavy rotation in my car stereo. This show was absolutely perfect. Katie and I got to hear pretty much every song we wanted to hear from them. Also I got their old self-titled E.P. signed by the whole band.
Download: Division Day – The Water Fails from the E.P., Division Day
 3. M.I.A. / Big Digits at the Palladium in Worcester, MA – There isn’t much to say other than, wow. She is truly an artist to be reckoned with. The show involved your average crowd interaction as well as some the coolest imagery in the background on the big screen behind her. She played pretty much everything off her latest album as well as favorites off Arular. The whole show was full out energy in it’s truest form.
Download: M.I.A. – Paper Planes (RyeRye and Afrikan Boy Remix) originallyfrom the album, Kala
 2. Jonah Matranga at the Paradise Lounge and the house show in Boston, MA – What it is it, the 20th time seeing him live? This time though was very special to me. One of Katie’s friends and my best friend was finally able to attend what I consider one the best live shows on earth (I mean that by the way). I like to believe we all became better people after that night.
Download: Jonah Matranga – I Want You to Be My Witness from the album, And
 1. Björk / Konono No.1 at Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY – This show is number one for a multiple of reasons. First off this was my brother’s first concert ever. For what I could tell, he was having the time of his life. Second, this was just such an awe-inspiring show of epic proportions. She had everyone from her recent record show up and do their guest performances. Antony Hegarty on The Dull Flame of Desire, Konono No.1 on Earth Intruders (with flames on stage), and even Min Xiao-Fen on I See Who You Are. This show was one to remember and one of the best I’ve ever been to. There was even a guy on the train on the way back who said my brother had already peaked in his concert experiences. Maybe, at least until the next Björk concert.
This Björk mp3 will not be from the new album though, but from her finest work and the best album for winter, Vespertine.
Download: Björk – Harm of Will from the wonderful and flawless album, Vespertine
Runner-ups –
Strata at the Living Room in Providence, RI
Do Make Say Think / The Berg Sans Nipple at the SPACE in Portland, ME
3 / The Distraction at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA
Jenny Owen Youngs / Sean Hayes at the SPACE in Portland, ME
 The artist that has made what could very well be my favorite record of the year is finally coming to my neck of the woods to rock the house. M.I.A. has been slowly traveling along the U.S. promoting her new masterpiece, Kala. Kala is a dance freaks wet dream; filled with perfected congo-electroclash beats and M.I.A.s distinct vocals that really cannot be easily described. Nearly every song is flawless in its own way being pretentious or over experimental. After seeing her TV spot on MTV, I thought to myself, “I really need to see her live before this magic disappears.” It won’t be long before you hear her music in the next iPod Nano commercial. So sad. I any case, I have had so much fun dancing like a complete retard with Katie and my brother Cully to her infectious tunes. I hope you will too. Oh! And she’s touring with The Cool Kids! How freakin’ sweet is that? They’re like Lupe Fiasco without being cheesy. Or what they like to call themselves; the black Beastie Boys.
Download: M.I.A. – Paper Planes from the album, Kala.
Download: The Cool Kids – Pump Up The Volume from the EP, Totally Flossed Out
M.I.A. / The Cool Kids Tour
Monday, Nov 26 @ 8:00 PM Metropolis
Montreal, Quebec
Wednesday, Nov 28 @ 7:00 PM The Palladium
Worcester, Massachusetts
Thursday, Nov 29 @ 7:30 PM 9:30 Club
Washington, DC
Friday, Nov 30 @ 9:30 PM Sonar
Baltimore, Maryland
DECEMBER
Saturday, Dec 1 @ 8:30 PM The Electric Factory
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Saturday, Dec 8 @ 8:00 PM ICA
London, United Kingdom
Monday, Dec 10 @ 7:00 PM The Custard Factory
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Wednesday, Dec 12 @ 7:00 PM The Arches
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
Friday, Dec 14 @ 7:00 PM Brighton Concorde 2
Brighton, United Kingdom
Saturday, Dec 15 @ 7:00 PM Anson Rooms
Bristol, United Kingdom
Monday, Dec 17 @ 7:00 PM Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Tuesday, Dec 18 @ 7:00 PM Manchester Academy 2
Manchester, United Kingdom
Wednesday, Dec 19 @ 7:00 PM Waterfront
Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Thursday, Dec 20 @ 7:00 PM Coronet
London, United Kingdom
I haven't been putting desirable music for my brothers on this website. It's all been indie-rock stuff that they have no interest in (they're missing out! You hear me!?!?!). Anyways, I've molded both of them into people that are not only passionate about music, but very intelligent music listeners. They can smell bad music and are confident with their taste. Cully is more or so into weird dance indie-pop music while Steven has shown his dedication to hip-hop (of all shapes and sizes). These songs are dedicated to them in hopes they further grow in their tastes and inspire those around them with all the kickass tunes they listen to. Amen!
In addition I have posted pictures from Steven in the Fotoes sections and a video from Cully being...Cully...in the Vlog section. They are both artists in their own right and I will support them in anyway possible.
Steven's Music Flavor Mix E.P.
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass from the album None Shall Pass out now!
Coldcut - Walk A Mile In My Shoes from the album Sound Mirrors out now!
Young M.C. - Roll With The Punches from the album Stone Cold Rhymin' out now!
Lupe Fiasco - Us Placers (ft. Kanye West and Pharell Williams) from the album The Cool out October 31st 2007
Cully's Music Flavor Mix E.P.
Kanye West - Stronger (Phantom Sky Remix) from the album Graduation out now!
M.I.A. - Mango Pickle Down River from the album Kala out now!
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. from the album† out now!
Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko form the album We Are Pilots out now!
In other news; the Interpol concert was phenomenal! Way beyond what I expected. Thanks again to Katie for snagging front row tickets!
that's right my dogs. well okay they're not MY dogs but i keep a good eye at the while i volunteer at the MSPCA Animal Shelter. we have this big oaf of a dog named Kodiak; a Newfoundland with enough slobber to drown a small child. Fuck, this dog could eat a child. but he wouldn't, he's a sweetheart. i got to play with him one last time before he left for a nice home with 2 more Newfoundlands (i know, where do the live? in a barn?). apparently they put another dog down due to inability to get used to people who don't beat the living shit out of him. it's quite tragic. speaking of which, FUCK Michael Vick and his satanic crew of canine killers. these are the people i believe need to have the death penalty. if you have the nerve to kill something that has no other purpose in life but to love thy owner no matter what, you deserve to die. i can see why people kill other people. humans are evil, conniving, and naturally obsessed with violence. So save a dog, kill a person.
Random thought #1 - I want to see a person with down syndrome wearing a t-shirt that says, "I'd Fuck Me"
Free Music! You know that's why you're here, don't deny it. Fuckers. Well I just bought two of-the-hook albums from Minus the Bear and M.I.A. You should buy them too if you know what's good for you. Minus the Bear is one of those bands that you hear and instantly you're sure you've never heard anything like it. Their mix of hip-hop beats, rock, and electronica give the band an atmospheric sound that sets them apart for most bands in their genre (whatever that is). The new album is much more serious than their previous discs. But that does not in anyway deter them from their unique style. M.I.A. is a female nutcase electro-clash hip-hop singer from London, England. Her last disc was blaring out my windows for months and this one is no different. Actually it is, it's way better. Every track is dance worthy and beyond anything I expected from her. Just 100% awesome.
M.I.A. - XR2 from the new album Kala out now!
Minus the Bear - Ice Monster from the new album Planet of Ice out now!
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