Music Under Fire

Even if seeing one of the most legendary groups of all time doesn't tickle your fancy, the lineup for the third annual VH1 Rock Honors Weekend should produce a few more beats per minute in your chest.

Yes, the honorees for this weekend to remember are none other than one of the U.K.'s original rock and roll molders- The Who. The event, sponsored by Sprint, is scheduled to run from July 10-14 with other big names playing such as Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, Foo Fighters, Tenacious D and Incubus.

For those that can't attend the taping at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion (7/12), make sure to tune to VH1 on July 17th at 9 p.m. ET for the nationally televised rock festival.

Also, make sure to check out The Who online, where you can pick up an exclusive live double CD, way cool free t-shirt, as well as gain access to other Wholigan mania.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Elvis is back! No, not that Elvis. I am talking about the great musician: Elvis Costello. Costello, born as Declan Patrick MacManus, is a singer/songwriter from London, England. Elvis made his first appearance in 1974 and he’s been rocking his listeners ever since. The impressively long list of instruments that have been played by Elvis Costello are: vocals, guitar, piano/keyboards, bass, drums, ukulele, glockenspiel, mandolin, tambourine, harmonica, melodica, celesta, harmonium, organ, cymbal, vox continental electric organ, synclavier, casiotone, maracas, and bells. Some of Costello’s genres of music are rock, punk, pub rock, and New Wave. But over the years Costello has expanded his range and tackled many different genres of music. The part about Elvis Costello is that he isn't just rock and punk, but his choice of music spreads out.

Over the years Costello has been in hit TV shows like: “The Larry Sanders Show”, “3rd Rock from the Sun”, “Frasier”, “Late Show with David Letterman”, and “Two and a Half Men”. He has also featured in movies such as: “Straight to Hell”, “Spiceworld”, “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”, “200 Cigarettes”, “Putting the River in Reverse”, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”, and “Delirious”.

Costello's newest album, MOMOFUKU, includes The Imposters. The Imposters are: Steve Nieve (Piano), Pete Thomas (Drums), and Davey Faragher (Bass). Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas were in The Attractions with Costello when he formed it in 1977. MOMOFUKU was released on April 22nd by Highway Records. Costello decided to originally release this album on vinyl. Which I believe is a noble choice. Vinyl just sounds better, it is truly the way music is meant to be heard.

Elvis Costello and The Imposters’ new album is fantastic. It is classic Costello. My personal favorite song on the album is track one, side one, “Now Hiding Places”. Other great songs on the album are “Turpentine”, “Stella Hurt”, “American Gangster Time”, and “Go Away”. He also collaborates with composer Loretta Lynne on “Pardon Me, Madam, My Name is Eve”, and Rosanne Cash on “Song with Rosie”. Also, two great songs.

This album is very Dylan-esque, as usual. It goes back to albums like "Get Happy!!", and shows the true sound of Elvis Costello. It truly is classic Costello.

This summer, he will be touring along side of The Police on their 2007/2008 Reunion Tour.

For more information on Elvis Costello and The Imposters, you can check out his website at http://www.elviscostello.com/.

Our pals over the pond that gave us The Invitation and Contact have brought us back to them once more- this time with their title track, "Contact", done acoustic.

The quality comes across so smooth as Will South's vocals and the lovely sounds of the chimes can make one feel as though they are playing right here. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Sorry about the slow blog lately. One of us just got married (on honeymoon now) and the other was on antibiotics and in a fragile state for the past fifteen days. Back to new music...

This week I'm quite excited for The Wombats' U.S. release. The UK trio satisfies my ears every time and this time should be no exception. Also along the indie rock forefront, Cute Is What We Aim For are releasing their much-hyped Rotation album. Sigur Ros is finally here. To check out their crazy running around naked video, go here. *mature audiences only*

On a different note, Calico Horse and Saturday Knights have caught my attention, so their stuff is below. Enjoy.

MP3: Calico Horse - Awake In The Clouds
MP3: The Watson Twins - Sky Open Up (buy)
MP3: The Wombats - Let's Dance To Joy Division (buy)

Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal (Official) (MySpace)
Angels & Airwaves - Start The Machine DVD (Official) (MySpace)
The Anniversary - The Devil Is On Our Side: B-Sides & Rarities (Official) (MySpace)
Au - Verbs (Official) (MySpace)
Babyshambles - Oh What a Lovely Tour (DVD & CD) (Official) (MySpace)
BBQ - Tie Your Noose (vinyl) (Official) (MySpace)
Be Your Own Pet - Get Damaged EP (Official) (MySpace)
Black Lips - We Did Not Know The Forest Spirit (LP) (Official) (MySpace)
Buffalo Killers - Buffalo Killers (vinyl) (Official) (MySpace)
Calico Horse - Mirror (Official) (MySpace)
Cute Is What We Aim For - Rotation (Official) (MySpace)
Damiera - Quiet Mouth Loud Hands (Official) (MySpace)
Die So Fluid - Spawn of Dysfunction (Official) (MySpace)
Dropout Year - On a Lighter Note (Acoustic EP) (MySpace)
Go Crash Audio - Dear, Song In My Head (MySpace)
Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair (MySpace)
IAMX - Kiss+Swallow (Official) (MySpace)
Joseph Arthur - Vagabond Skies EP (Official) (MySpace)
Less Than Jake - GNV FLA (Official) (MySpace)
Lou Lou & Guitarfish - Lou Lou & Guitarfish (Official) (MySpace)
Love as Laughter - Holy (Official) (MySpace)
Mugison - Mugiboogie (Official) (MySpace)
Paul Weller - 22 Dreams (Official) (MySpace)
Safari So Good - Every Fight is a Food Fight When You're A Cannibal (MySpace)
Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro (Official) (MySpace)
Saturday Knights - Mingle (Official) (MySpace)
Seun Kuti & Egypt - 80 Disorient Records (Official) (MySpace)
Sigur Rós - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (Official) (MySpace)
Superchick - Rock What You Got (MySpace)
Steve Tyrell - Back to Bacharach (Official)
Take it Back! - Can't Fight Robots (MySpace)
Thriving Ivory - Thriving Ivory (Official) (MySpace)
The Watson Twins - Fire Songs (Official) (MySpace)
The Wombats - A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation (Official) (MySpace)

We have come across a ton of wonderful groups and PR people that have been a great help to us over the past few months. Although our focus is to find the new stuff, we wouldn't have that extra leg up if we couldn't properly promote groups generally out of reach of casual sites.

Thanks to:
The Diggs
Jessi White
Elisa and Wonderland Records
Mike from Stars and Sons
Director
Matt @ Green Light Go Publicity
Andy @ Fanatic Promotions
Martin from The Sweet Serenades
Keith from Bridges and Powerlines
Shawn @ Wiredset
Marissa @ MMG Publicity
Erick from FAIR
Your Vegas

Special thanks to:
Angela @ Filter Magazine
Darragh Nolan and Angel Pier
Isaac @ BreakThru Radio
John @ SugarSpun Records

We wish you all the best. We also greatly appreciate our readers who help lead us to what they are listening to. If you weren't there, what would be the point.

This was too funny not to post. It definitely reminds me of Cake's "Short Skirt, Long Jacket" video, except without the song playing.

My favorite quotes from the people in the video are:
"That's legit."

"It's got a nice beat. It's got a nice beat to it. Nice ryhthm. Nice beat. It could be sold, I think."
"A middle sized dancefloor it would do real well." (Same guy)

Rating: 7.4/10

The strangely engaging harmony from Bridges and Powerlines could probably miss a chord several times in a song yet no one but the members of the group would know. No one would mind either. What the band from New York generated with Ghost Types stands alone every time it plays.

Formed out of Andrew Wood (vocals/keyboard), Keith Sigel (bass), Jon Crockett (guitar), and Pete Mucek (drums), Bridges and Powerlines emit their fresh take on each track in Ghost Types. From Woods’ rising vocals that remind one of making a song up as they go (except with excellent precision) to the pop-friendly synth melodies, the charm of the album presents itself at every corner.

Starting with the fan favorite “Uncalibrated”, the album opens as the keyboard and the vocals bounce and sing “I could make it cold inside just by being here.” “Floods and Fields” follows with a rockers mentality type song, which is highlighted by a more upfront drum sound, louder vocals and the first real guitar solo on Ghost Types.

The theme that tails every track is Woods’ well-pronounced, yet toned-down lyrics. The best example on the album comes with “Maine” at track nine. Although the whole tempo of the album briefly slows down around this section of Ghost Types, the shaking of the hi-hats and a strong electric guitar presence seem to drown out the vocals until “this is your last lie” closes out “Maine”.

Although a clean album throughout, “Uncalibrated” clearly contains the most zip. “Middle Child” and “The Ghost Types” both come close to providing another single but ultimately fall short. The album can casually be played but when looking for something to sing along or shake to, it doesn't have it.

Overall, Ghost Types manages to lighten up the room without ever flicking the power pop switch. It could be called a controlled effort by some but the wily transition of the album suggests a progressive pop approach without the catchy lyrics for many of the tracks. This is highly recommended to fans of French Kicks or Maximo Park. You can buy the album here or check out their sound on myspace.

Tokyo's BlindPlace somehow fit the bill for a great ambient group. Like El Ten Eleven and Sigur Rós, the four-man band doesn't rely on lyrics to push who they are, or who you think they are.

Working with a pair of electric guitars, a bass guitar and drums, the hynotically melodic sound of the group gently moves into your comfort space before they really dial up the energy. On occasion, lyrics are present, but are so subdued that the fact that they aren't speaking English doesn't matter.

After forming in 2005, the progressive BlindPlace has been a work in progress. Starting with just two members, they added a guitarist in 2006 and worked with several support bassists before finding their current player. A year later, a guitarist left and another one entered. With a cast solidly formed now, BlindPlace will be releasing an album this summer. Their ensemble includes: Hiroshi Sanse (guitar/vocals), Syun "Pei" Katsumi (bass), Koji Tsuruno (drums) and Haruhiko Sagawa (guitar).

Unfortunately, BlindPlace hasn't scheduled any tours outside of Japan. You can check out the links below and also download more of their stuff for free at Purevolume. If their regular site is too confusing, their myspace can be found here. 楽しみなさい.

MP3: BlindPlace - Fear Egoist
MP3: BlindPlace - Fest

Several days since their incredible show at the Mann Center in Philadelphia, we are happy to give a few words about Death Cab for Cutie's performance. We wish we took better pictures but we won't dwell on that. If you really want pictures, check out Pitchfork's take on the show.


Amid a crowd still marching to the hum of Rogue Wave, Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer, Jason McGerr and Chris Walla strolled across the large stage to take their place. Opening with "Bixby Canyon Bridge" as the cover to their Narrow Stairs album hung behind them the thousands in attendance constantly sang along.

Although their new album boast a bunch of great songs, DCFC stuck with what the fans wanted: tons of Plans, Transatlanticism and the favorites from The Photo Album and We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes. It turned out to be phenomenal.

While Gibbard hung out and went crazy playing his guitar while serenading the audience, Walla moved between the guitar and the piano as well as providing backup vocals. As one of the people I talked to at the show said, "Is this the CD or the live show? Can't tell."

Truly a must-see group for hardcore DCFC fans or just a casual fan of a few of their songs.


Here is the set list:
Bixby Canyon Bridge
The New Year
Why You'd Want to Live Here
Photobooth
Crooked Teeth
Long Division
Grapevine Fires
A Movie Script Ending
Title Track
Soul Meets Body
I Will Follow You Into the Dark
I Will Possess Your Heart
Cath...
We Laugh Indoors
The Sound of Settling
Marching Bands of Manhattan
~encore~
Title and Registration
No Sunlight
405
Your Heart is an Empty Room
Transatlanticism

When you are out there looking for a new band that you can really jam to, you need to look for different qualities. One, they have to rock. Two, the music must be catchy, Three, the lyrics have to hit home. But most importantly, they must be unique. The group Meho Plaza is extremely unique.

Meho Plaza is a 3 man band (or 2 man and 1 woman band) that is located in the "City of Angels". Yes, that is Los Angeles, California. The three major players' names are Mike Thrasher (Vocals and Guitar), James Connelly (Drums), and Jennifer Hwang (Keyboard). Meho Plaza has been signed by the label Better Looking Records along side of groups like: GoldRush, Tristeza, Ryan Ferguson, The Electric Soft Parade, Ides of Space, The Jealous Sound, and more.

When you first listen to Meho Plaza, you will say two things. The first thing you will say is: "What the #@$% am I listening to?" The second thing will be: "They're good though." Meho Plaza is a very unique and talented group. Their style is odd, and their lyrics are lovable. Their uniqueness also comes from the titles of their songs. Their song titles include: "We'll Drink the Blood", "I Sold My Organs", "Let's Play Police", "Your Future Looks Bright", "I'm a Green Beret", "George Washington", and "The Beach".

Meho Plaza is definitely a good listen. Personally, the volume of the vocals and the instrumental needs to be slightly adjusted, but it doesn't take away the enjoyment of the mood the music sets in your own environment. But the truth is the reason the drums sound distorted, the guitar sound has a slightly screeching melody to it, and the keyboards sound rough is because that is their style. This is odd, but very appealing. And of course, behind this clash of sounds lies some touching lyrics. Like I said, the vocals should be adjusted a bit, but other than that this is a great group. I, myself, have heard folks refer to Meho Plaza as being "pretty crazy". And the truth is that they are. That is probably the main thing I like about this enthusiastic band, I haven't heard many other groups like them.

Meho Plaza is extremely unique and original. Their music is extremely lovable, and their personalities definitely stick out.

Their album, Meho Plaza, is available now. Meho Plaza will be appearing on May 31st at The Smell in LA, June 14th at Million Fishes Gallery in San Francisco, and June 16th at Chop Suey in Seattle with These New Puritans.

MP3: Meho Plaza - I Sold My Organs (buy)
MP3: Meho Plaza - The Beach (buy)
MP3: Meho Plaza - 106 Beats That (buy)

Check out their music and more information on Meho Plaza at: http://www.myspace.com/mehoplazamusic or http://www.mehoplaza.com/.

Hooray! We love when our favorite groups make an appearance when new music hits stores every Tuesday and we can particularly say that for our Scottish friends, The Twilight Sad. Their new EP this week Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did is a stunning follow up to 2007's Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters.

Also sitting on the edge of our listening grasp is My Morning Jacket's much talked about Evil Urges. There has been nothing but praise for the group since their single was available as a free download not more than two months ago. Critics are raving, fans seem to love them no matter what they do, whether we like it is not yet decided. More to come...

Jon Foreman's last installment of his promised four EPs in a year is finally complete with his Summer EP. I can't say this enough: Yes, it is Jon Foreman, who sings for Switchfoot, but if you're into side projects and some off-the-beaten-path music, each EP has been excellent and fitting for the season.

Lastly, you can't miss The Fratellis and Supergrass, two groups whose names have already done much of the talking. Perhaps if you can't find anything else you like this week, these two are surefire for a few good tracks at the very least.

MP3: Ben Sollee - A Change Is Gonna Come (buy)
MP3: The Awkward Stage - Anime Eyes (buy)
MP3: Joan as Police Woman - To Be Loved (buy)
MP3: Lexie Mountain Boys - Sweet Potato Sugar Tots (buy)
MP3: Sloan - I'm Not A Kid Anymore (buy)

Adele - 19 (Official) (MySpace)
Alamance - Moving On (Official) (MySpace)
Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement (Official) (MySpace)
Beast From Sea - What Your Children Dream Of (Official) (MySpace)
Ben Sollee - Learning to Bend
Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm (Official) (MySpace)
Dianogah - qhnnnl (Official) (MySpace)
Elysia - Lion of Judas (Official) (MySpace)
Flying Lotus - Los Angeles (Official) (MySpace)
Heart - Set Self-Destruct (Official) (MySpace)
Inhale Exhale - I Swear... (Official) (MySpace)
Jakob Dylan - Seeing Things (Official) (MySpace)
Jean Grae - The Orchestral Files (Official) (MySpace)
Joan as Police Woman - To Survive (Official) (MySpace)
Joe Wilson - On The Mend EP (Official) (MySpace)
Jon Foreman - Summer EP (Official) (MySpace)
Karen Dalton - Green Rocky Road (Official) (MySpace)
Lexie Mountain Boys - Sacred Vacation (Official) (MySpace)
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III (Official) (MySpace)
Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings, Too (Official) (MySpace)
Miranda Cosgrove - iCarly (Official) (MySpace)
My Education - Bad Vibrations (Official) (MySpace)
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (Official) (MySpace)
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds (Official) (MySpace)
Natural Born Rockers - Pump Up The Volume (Official) (MySpace)
Peter Von Poehl - Going to Where the Tea Trees Are (Official) (MySpace)
Plies - Definition of Real (Official) (MySpace)
Priscilla Ahn - A Good Day (Official) (MySpace)
Quitzow - Art College (Official) (MySpace)
Railroad Earth - Amen Corner (Official) (MySpace)
Rank Deluxe - You Decide (Official) (MySpace)
Setting Sun - Children of The Wild (Official) (MySpace)
Sloan - Parallel Play (Official) (MySpace)
Solomon Burke - Like a Fire (Official) (MySpace)
Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha (Official) (MySpace)
The Awkward Stage - Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights
The Bangkok Five - We Love What Kills Us (Official) (MySpace)
The Charlatans - You Cross My Path
The Fratellis - Here We Stand (Official) (MySpace)
The John Henrys - Sweet as the Grain (Official) (MySpace)
The Medic Droid - Whats Your Medium (Official) (MySpace)
The Twilight Sad - Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did (Official) (MySpace)
Tyga - No Introduction (Official) (MySpace)
Verse - Abomination (Official) (MySpace)

We love Denmark, which claims stakes to the hot dog and the world's greatest dip. Perhaps you could all pass on those. What you shouldn't pass on is Cartridge.

The four Danish rockers jig to a rejuvenating symmetry of simple synth, almost opaque bass beats, guitar fondling, amorous drum rappings and anything else that chills the tempo to the mood. When Mathias Wullum Nielsen, Thomas Hjorth Vesterbaek, Alex Phumoon Thomsen and Niels Fibaek Bertel begin whooping around the stage/speakers with their electro-enhanced sounds and gnarly assortment of vocals, it becomes hard to turn them off.

After listening to their newest album Fractures, I became addicted. With a demeanor as suave as The Fonz and a style as fresh as a snowball, Cartridge plays to every end of their well-pleasing spectrum. Listen to the songs below, and if you enjoy it as much as I have for the past month or so, buy the album. Nyde.

MP3: Cartridge - Chimneys Stood Like Monuments (buy)
MP3: Cartridge - The Woods (buy)

One of our favorite groups from 2008 is giving some wicked cool stuff away. MusicUnderFire wants you to get your hands on it.

In conjunction with Filter Magazine, we are giving away the Republic Tigers' Keep Color CD, a RT's t-shirt and a snazzy Dakine travel bag. We have seen their tees, too, and they are pretty sweet.

You only need to do one thing to enter this contest.
1. Email us your name from a valid email address before July 31

We will get back to the winner as soon as the contest ends. Don't worry, we don't spam.

Still touring since the release of their debut full-album, Keep Color, Kansas City's the Republic Tigers caught our eyes back in mid-April when they played at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia (show review). Since then we have gone through Keep Color countless times with a greater appreciation for what we saw and heard.

Although "Buildings & Mountains" pops out at the opening track with a handful of 'oohs' and 'aahs', the rest of the album does not disappoint. We were particularly drawn to the clever lyrics of "Golden Sand" and the orchestrated effort in "Weatherbeaten".

We've said enough, check out the new CD and enter the contest.

Iceland's Sigur Rós (si-ur rose) begins yet another tour in anticipation of their June 23rd release of með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly).

This tour, marked the Summer Tour, starts in Mexico today (June 5) and eventually ends up in the U.K. for the third time on August 31. Overall, the tour will hit 22 countries over 87 days.

Sigur Rós' almost experimental approach and their laid-back sound somehow fits with any album they release. Over the course of the past 10+ years, the group has continued to improve upon a clean bass drums, melodic keyboards, eloquent vocals and wavy cinematic strumming of the guitar that they have produced so flawlessly.

The group is also a superb supporter of UNICEF through their time spent spreading awareness and fundraising throughout the world. We like that.

From the vault of Sigur Rós, we have a few of our personal favorites for your listening pleasure as well as a "Gobbledigook" off the soon-to-be-released album. What a fun name. Tour dates are also below.

MP3: Sigur Rós - Starálfur (buy)
MP3: Sigur Rós - untitled#4 (buy)
MP3: Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook

Mexico
June 05 • teatro degollado, guadalajara
June 07 • festival la colmena, tepoztlan, mexico city
June 08 • multikulti, tijuana (cancelled)
United States
June 11 • orpheum theatre, omaha city, nebraska
June 12 • uptown theatre, kansas city, missouri
June 14 • bonnaroo festival, manchester, tennessee
June 16 • the grand ballroom, the manhattan center, new york city, new york
June 17 • moma, new york city, new york
Germany
June 20 • southside festival, neuhausen ob eck
June 22 • hurricane festival, scheeßel
United Kingdom
June 24 • westminister methodist central hall, london
Iceland
June 28 • venue to be confirmed, reykjavík
Belgium
July 05 • rock werchter, werchter
France
July 06 • main square festival, arras
Austria
July 08 • arena, vienna
Switzerland
July 09 • les docks, lausanne
Italy
July 11 • giardino di boboli, florence
July 12 • cavea auditorium, rome
July 13 • arena civica, milano
Switzerland
July 14 • volkshaus, zürich
Spain
July 17 • fib festival, benicassim
United Kingdom
July 19 • lattitude festival, suffolk
Australia