Knox Hamilton - Washed Up Together

Just one look at you
I saw the truth
Just one look at you
And I crashed into
Mad love washed up
Young blood washed up

Do what you want
I'll pull my punches
Say what you want
Louder than any sound
Feel what you feel
I'll do no better than you
All my life
Be what you want
If it makes you happy
Go where you want
I'll turn the ship around
Feel what you feel
I'll do no better than you
All my life

This new single from Little Rocks' Knox Hamilton has the potential to be an even bigger hit than "Work It Out" was: Equally catchy but with the added bonus of being tweeted about by Katy Perry.  I missed them when they came through Austin last year, but here's hoping they'll be back again soon.

Upcoming Shows

Blowout - Cents Cents Money Money

Cut it out, I can’t be the one you want me to
because I’m nothing like you
And we’ll go on and on and on again, on and on
You might as well say “Bah bah bah bah bah” 
You’ve been talking, I just want to go home
My words mean nothing to you when you’re dressed like that
Maybe I’ll get a job someday, 
maybe I’ll find the words to say
Maybe I’ll get a job someday, 
maybe I’ll stop by
Maybe I won’t smoke as much or
drink as much or give a fuck
Oh no, and I, I’m not just like your type

Blowout is (are? is? Haha.) awesome. Their album No Beer, No Dad hooked me right away. It's got a polished (in a good way) yet raw and energetic sound that strikes a perfectly endearing balance. I bet they're also great live.

Upcoming Shows

Black Star - Definition

Walkin' the streets is like battlin', be careful with your body
You must know Karate or think your soul is 'Bulletproof' like Sade
Stop actin' like a bitch already, be a visionary
An' maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary

The late 90's were awesome for hip-hop! One of my favorites is Black Star, made up of two MCs who went on to make big, big names for themselves individually: Talib Kweli and Mos Def.

I listen to their 1998 debut quite often, but it was recently brought to the front of my mind while watching this awesome Vox deconstruction of rap by Estelle Caswell. If you've not seen it you should watch. Like right now. Thank me later.

You're welcome. Also, check out Estell's playlist on Spotify. It's awwwwwsome.

JEFF The Brotherhood - Idiot

She said ooh hoo hoo
I’m not some kind of idiot
If you think so I want you to know
That ooh hoo hoo
I did it because I hated you
I degraded you and left you alone
And I really really really really really really really really
Really love to make you feel bad
Because ooh hoo hoo
Baby I’m the worst thing you’ve ever had

I've gone on saying that JEFF The Brotherhood is the new, harder and more fun Weezer. And while I said that with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, there is some truth there. I first heard them when they opened for Ted Leo years ago at Bottom of The Hill, SF, 2009. What a great show! I always enjoy Ted Leo, but I remember being really impressed with JEFF The Brotherhood and couldn't wait to hear more of them.

They've put out several albums since then, and they're all terrific. Really, it's hard to pick a favorite. They're all fun, rocking and have enough diversity to keep you interested. If you like it harder, check out We Are The Champions. If you're into covers? Dig The Classics! Want some fun, American indie rock? Well you've got Hypnotic Nights or Wasted On The Dream. Or you could check out their latest, Zone. OR you could check out this video I found from that show I saw back in 2009. Rock!

Ooooor, you could see them live for yourself.

Upcoming Shows

Glass Animals - Life Itself

Come back down to my knees
Gotta get back, gotta get free
Come back down to my knees
Be like them, lean back and breathe
Come back down to my knees
Gotta get back, gotta get free
Come back down to my knees
Be like them, lean back and breathe

Glass Animals exploded (heh) on the scene with the quirky, summer groove showcase "Gooey", a song that, admittedly, I could never really get into. It was clear there was something unique there, I just wasn't sure what it was. I did like it enough to be intrigued when I found out that the next record of the month from Vinyl Me Please was going to be their latest, How To Be A Human Being. 

I've just been able to give it a listen. It's awesome and pretty much what you'd expect: funky grooves, a lot of catchy quirkiness and some serious soulful polish. I'm expecting it will be in heavy rotation for a bit. It was a bit hard to pick a Most Important Song to share with y'all, so I went with the first song one the album, "Life Itself". Enjoy.

Upcoming Shows