I'm waiting on the canyon's edge

Clearly, i don't frequent this space...

2011-02-18T09:06:00.005-11:00

But i am always here.
...and occasionally here.
...and my pics are still here.
...and the videos i shoot go here.
...and you should definitely check out my new thing here.

See you around.

The New Pornographers at the Palladium in Dallas, 7/24/10

2010-08-03T16:22:00.006-11:00

i took pics. You can see them all here at the flickr.

thenewpornographers.com
thepalladiumballroom.com

Review: Phosphorescent, Shiny Around the Edges & Dallas Family Band at The Kessler Theater 7/23/10

2010-07-26T17:53:00.030-11:00

Phosphorescent is the musical brainchild of Brooklynite Matthew Houck who has garnered well-deserved praise as an underground indie rock force since the beginning of this decade on the merits of several solid releases. Arguably, the most notable of which is a tribute to the Red-Headed Stranger, To Willie released last year on independent label Dead Oceans.

Thanks to high acclaim for that record by Willie himself, Phosphorescent was poised to emerge from the underground into the limelight on the strength of Houck's own songwriting and the merits of his and his backing band's top-notch musicianship.

While previous albums have shown Houck's love for Americana with solo efforts that ventured into that territory, this year's Here's To Taking It Easy is more of a legit country-rock record comprised of songs that would fit snugly into any play list with the likes of Gram Parsons-era Byrds, Neil Young and The Band. And of course, there's plenty of Willie-influenced sentiments throughout.

Phosphorescent kicked off their current tour with a hometown gig in Brooklyn only to wake up the next day to find that their van and 40 grand worth of vintage gear and tour merchandise had been stolen. To everyone's astonishment, the van and all their equipment and goods were recovered by NYPD a few days later. My theory is that the thief tipped off the police himself after he opened one of the new CDs and gave it a listen. It's that good. However it happened, the band must have felt like they had witnessed a miracle that day.

Houck and Company took the stage Friday night at the beautifully restored Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff and proceeded with easy confidence into the extended intro of "Los Angeles" from the new album. Perhaps part of that alacrity was due to a new appreciation of their vintage instruments. They held them gently, lovingly caressing each note out of them to calm an anxious audience until the song swelled to its climax and receded delicately like the ebb tide of the warmest ocean. "Are you getting a lot of attention, ain't you now?" Houck repeats, and as the crowd leaned in closer and closer, it was quite clear that Phosphorescent was getting every bit of theirs.

The band flowed smoothly into two more from their recently released record. "It's Hard To Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)," a barroom boogie built on bouncy lines by ace bassist Jeffrey Bailey that provides a solid foundation for Scott Stapleton's hair-flinging piano pounding. "Nothing Was Broken (Love Me Foolishly)" is a mid-tempo number driven by the expertly understated percussion sensibilities of Christopher Marine that epitomizes the new record with its tale of longing, its careful craftsmanship and the haunting pedal steel of Dallas native Ricky Ray Jackson.

Continuing into the night, they wove a colorful sonic tapestry consisting of Willie covers, new album tracks and the forlorn folk of Phosphorescent's back catalog. Such a varied set list provided ample room for Jesse Anderson Ainslie's expert leads and the fuzzy solos of Houck's beloved 1955 Gibson ES-125.

As 12:30 neared the band left the stage but the house had not had enough and coaxed Houck back to center stage, guitar in hand. He stood under a single spotlight where he quietly fingered the strings of - appropriately enough - Leonard Cohen's "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye." His rendition of that lonely classic evoked a newer, more profound feeling of loss and longing as every note danced on the delicate edge of pure vulnerability and whiskey fueled despair. Taking a cue from an audience member, Houck continued solo, singing "I Am a Full Grown Man (I Will Lay in the Grass All Day)" into the quiet darkness before him.

The band mates returned for a few more songs including the Joe Tex southern soul classic, "These Taming Blues." As the last song approached its final crescendo, Houck raised his guitar with one hand high above his head in triumph. He then brought it down, letting it free fall to the stage with a thud from three feet high. If that vintage Gibson survived the impact without permanent damage, then the audience too witnessed a miracle on that night.

Starting off the evening at the Kessler was The Dallas Family Band, a collective of musicians from several area bands. The dozen or so members played and swapped at least that many musical implements, singing, stomping, clapping in the middle of the theater amongst the audience members. Their exuberance and spirited performance was reminiscent of an ad-hoc folk band on the last day of church camp. Which is to say, big fun.

Shiny Around The Edges began their set with a low, distorted bass line and hushed vocals. One by one each member made their way to the stage and added new layer of resonance to create a wall of disparate sounds that seemed to make sense as they bounced around the theater. Joining the Denton trio was Nick Foreman of Dust Congress on banjo and percussion who helped Shiny churn out songs from their forthcoming record Denton's Dreaming. Based on the sounds coming from the stage on that night, that new album will turn listeners upside down on their melted faces when it comes out in September. This face is ready.

For more pics, head on over to my Flickr page.

This review was cross-posted at Subservient Experiment.

New pics: The Hold Steady; The Whigs; Islands

2010-07-15T16:11:00.005-11:00

Lots of new pics up on my flickr page for your perusal and enjoyment.

The Hold Steady at Granada Theater in Dallas July 10, 2010

The Whigs at Granada Theater in Dallas July 10, 2010

Islands at The Loft in Dallas July 7, 2010

Josh Ritter at The Granada Theater, June 15, 2010

2010-06-19T14:54:00.005-11:00

This lengthy review at The Dallas Observer DC9 At Night blog says everything i would say, only better.

After listening to his records non-stop for four plus years, this was my first live Josh Ritter experience, and i can only say that his performance surpassed my expectations by unimaginable lengths. i hope he comes back soon.

i took lots of pics and put them on the flickr. Here's a few:

i took some video also.

"Me & Jiggs"

"The Curse"

Be sure to check out the official video for "The Curse," which beautifully relates the ballad with elegant puppetry by Liam Hurley:

Best mummy love song ever!!1!!1!!!

The Mynabirds opened the show and featured songs from their debut record, What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood, out now on Saddle Creek Records.

joshritter.com
Josh Ritter merchandise
themynabirds.com
saddle-creek.com
granadatheater.com
blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9

Midlake, John Grant at Hailey's in Denton, TX 6/5/10

2010-06-08T14:45:00.007-11:00

So Midlake finally found their way back home after extensive touring had seen them trekking across this continent and Europe over the last six months. They'll be on the road and over oceans in the months to come in support of their stellar 2010 LP, The Courage of Others. In addition to the comfort of their own beds, they found an attentive, appreciative audience at Hailey's to show off their musical chops and penchant for performing captivating versions of their dark tales on stage.

Opener John Grant, who spent much of last year recording 2010's Queen of Denmark, with Midlake as his backers, performed tracks from that record beautifully to start the evening.

There's just no feeling in the world like watching songs from your favorite albums of the year being performed right in front of your face. It's what dorks like me live for. Both records are available from Bella Union, so pick 'em up if you haven't done so already.

Midlake

John Grant

The fine folks at Go Figure Skate Productions have great videos of performances from that night at Vimeo so you can get a sense of how awesome it was.

Rhett Miller, Seryn at the Belmont Hotel, Dallas 6/3/10

2010-06-07T14:48:00.008-11:00

Old 97s frontman and Dallas native Rhett Miller headlined the latest installment of KXT 91.7 Radio's Barefoot at the Belmont series on June 3. Mr. Miller burned through a set of Old 97s favorites like "Doreen," "Curtain Calls," "Barrier Reef" "Rollerskate Skinny," "Wish the Worst" and "Big Brown Eyes" as well as some of his solo songs such as "Fireflies," "Question," "Our Love," and "Singular Girl," which he dedicated to an 11 year old birthday girl in attendance. He's widely known as one of the nicest guys in rock 'n' roll, and he more than proved it that night with a lengthy, energetic set and a 40+ minute meet-and-greet with fans afterwords.

Kicking off the evening were Denton's folky up and comers Seryn, who dazzled the sold out crowd with a typically airy, harmony-focused set that matched the stunning beauty of the setting.
More pics as always, at my flickr page.

Seryn

### UPDATE ###

Here is a vid i shot of Rhett performing a new Old 97s song that could be included on their new album. A rewrite (or "theft," as Rhett puts it) of Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row," it features the refrain, "You will not go to heaven, you'll go to Champaign, Illinois." Snort.

Thanks to KXT and The Belmont Hotel for putting together such a magical evening. The Barefoot at the Belmont series continues through August, so check it out.

Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Salim Nourallah, The Quaker City Night Hawks 06/04/10

2010-06-06T17:16:00.005-11:00

Whiskey Folk Ramblers filled Ft. Worth's Lola's in celebration of their long-awaited Salim Nourallah-produced second LP, ...And There Are Devils. As always, the whiskey flowed, the crowd hooted, hollered and boogied while WFR banged out a raucous set of their signature old timey jams. i think i saw sweat dripping from the ceiling. Or was that PBR?

Whiskey Folk Ramblers

Salim Nourallah

The Quaker City Night Hawks

Lots more pics at the flickr.

Clem Snide, The Heligoats, MATAS at the Doublewide 5/26/10

2010-06-06T13:57:00.003-11:00

Clem Snide's set at the Doublewide was the highlight of a hot Wednesday night in Dallas. Supported by a playful set by The Heligoats and another fine performance by Denton's Matthew and the Arrogant Sea.

Clem Snide

The Heligoats

Matthew and the Arrogant Sea

More pics at the flickr.

Rock 'n' Roll at The Where House in Ft. Worth 05/22/10

2010-06-06T05:01:00.005-11:00

The good people behind Ft. Worth venue The Where House held a benefit to raise cash for renovations and future shows on May 22. Featured performers Adrian Hulet, RTB2, Chatterton, The Orbans, The Quaker City Nighthawks, and HOYOTOHO treated the patrons to all kindsa booty-shakin' sounds. These pics and more can be found at flickr by clicking here.

Chatterton

The Orbans

The Quaker City Night Hawks

Keep an eye out for more shows, as this place has all kinds of potential for awesomeness.

Quiet Company CD release party, Denton, TX 5/29/10

2010-06-05T12:27:00.004-11:00

Austin's Quiet Company stopped at Hailey's in Denton on May 29 to celebrate the release of their new EP Songs for Staying In, which is the follow up to their hook-laden 2009 LP, Everyone You Love Will Be Happy Soon. Feel the love. i did.

More pics at the flickr here.

Sarah Jaffe CD Release Concert, Dallas, TX 05/14/2010

2010-06-05T11:31:00.005-11:00

Sons of Hermann Hall hosted Sarah Jaffe's Dallas CD release concert where she and her all-star band belted out some old favorites as well as tracks from Suburban Nature, which is out now on Kirtland Records.

Click here for more pics on the flickr.
Ms. Jaffe is currently on tour in support of Lou Barlow. Click here for tour dates.

Homegrown Music & Art Festival 05/22/2010

2010-05-24T14:02:00.006-11:00

Spent the day in downtown Dallas at the first annual Homegrown Music & Art Festival at Main Street Garden Park watching area bands rock out in the heat.

Telegraph Canyon

Lots more pics at the Flickr.

What a day! Thanks to the organizers, sponsors and all who came out. See ya next year!

www.facebook.com/HomeGrownFest
www.homegrownfest.com

Loads of new rock show pics at the flickr

2010-05-09T12:36:00.006-11:00

i finally got caught up on uploading the pics i've been shooting at local rock shows lately. Sorry for the selfish hoarding. Head to my flickr page to check 'em out.

Centro-Matic:
Matthew and the Arrogant Sea:

Megafaun:

The Red 100s:

Jacob Metcalf:

The Hope Trust:

Fate Lions:

See ya at the rock show.

Fate Lions / The Winter Sounds / Parachute Musical

2010-04-20T02:01:00.003-11:00

...at the Moon Bar in Ft. Worth this Friday, 04/23/10. Come out for the rock and what have you.
i made this for you:

fatelions.blogspot.com
thewintersounds.com
parachutemusical.com
themoonbar.com

Camera Obscura at Hailey's in Denton, TX, 04/10/10

2010-04-11T03:51:00.004-11:00

Camera Obscura, Scotland's premier sad sack pop rockers made their first appearance at Hailey's on Saturday night and treated us to a sublime set of sweetly sentimental songs. Singer/guitarist Tracyanne Campbell never seems comfortable on stage, but her confidence comes through in her voice as she carries a crowded room away with lamenting tales of lost love. Her honey-sweet tones pour over you like so many warm rays of sunshine, you can easily forget that the stories she tells come from such a melancholy, overcast place full of longing. Camera Obscura's songs push me to the edge of tears every time, but maybe that says more about my sad sack sensibilities than Ms. Cambpell's.

Here's their performance of "James" from their 2009 record My Maudlin Career:

And their last song of the night "Razzle Dazzle Rose" from 2006's Let's Get Out of This Country:

http://www.camera-obscura.net
http://www.myspace.com/cameraobscuraband
http://www.haileysclub.com
http://www.spune.com
Camera Obscura at The Loft in Dallas, June 2009

SXSW 2010 Film Festival Wrap Up

2010-04-03T03:44:00.010-11:00

Once again, the SXSW film fest proved to be a boatload of fun as i and Joel and Ben and new friend Mathew conquered the crowds and long lines to see some fantastic work by some up-and-comers as well as established players.

Click for more pics at my Flickr page.

Joel put together a killer slide show of pics we took. Check it:
Ben and Mathew's brilliant video for Why? These Hands/January Twenty Something was the highlight of the SXSW Music Video program:

Here's the films i saw, ranked from best to worst:

Marwencol

Micmacs

Cyrus

American: The Bill Hicks Story

The Freebie

I'm Here <--watch the entire film on line!

One Night In Vegas

Successful Alcoholics

Kick-Ass

Solitary/Release

Mr. Nice (Seeing Chloe Sevigny nekkid on the screen while she sat 8ft away was about the only interesting thing about this experience.)

Mars

Q & A from "Cyrus" with John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill and the Duplass Brothers:

Here's Joel's slide show from our domination of SXSW 2009:

Can't wait til next year.

Scout Niblett @ City Tavern in Dallas, TX 03/03/2010

2010-03-11T08:59:00.003-11:00

http://www.scoutniblett.com/
http://www.citytaverndowntown.com/

Laura Veirs @ Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, TX 02/24/2010

2010-03-11T08:56:00.003-11:00

http://www.lauraveirs.com
http://www.danssilverleaf.com

Evan Dando @ The Prophet Bar in Dallas, TX 2/23/10

2010-03-11T08:53:00.003-11:00

http://www.thelemonheads.net
http://www.theprophetbar.com

Telegraph Canyon, Chatterton, Glen Farris at Lola's Sixth Street, January 15, 2010

2010-01-16T13:40:00.005-11:00

Lola's on Sixth Street hosted a brilliant triple bill for Chatterton's CD release party Friday night. By the time Telegraph Canyon took to to the stage they know so well the place was packed.

Chris Johnson and company performed songs from their widely acclaimed 2009 record, The Tide and The Current as Lola's patrons stood shoulder-to-shoulder, soaking in the rich sonic texture that washed over the room like a warm, satisfying zephyr. Which was nice, because it was cold and rainy outside.

Lots more pics at my Flickr page here.

And here's a vid i captured of Chris and Tamara collaborating on "Low":

Chatterton had been playing some of their new songs at recent live shows, and tonight they celebrated the release of their new EP, The Cold Hard with their loose but refined brand of Lone Star rock. Kevin Aldridge and the boys kicked off their set with their own twist on Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' angsty "Jammin' Me." Mr. Aldridge updated the lyrics with the mention of the Jay Leno controversy and the gentrification of the Fort Worth neighborhood he calls home, which was clever and fun, even if it tripped up those of us trying to sing along. Later in the set, they covered Lucinda Williams' "Joy" (Tom Petty style) in another nod to their southern rock roots. Chatterton has always worn their influences on their sleeve, and the songs they presented on this night reflected not only where they've been but where they are going as one of Fort Worth's treasures of the new century.

Check out more pics at my Flickr page here.

Opening the night was Denton songster Glen Farris, who shared a set of lonesome ballads in true Texas troubadour style. Armed with a gorgeous Gibson guitar and a homemade stomp box, Mr. Farris charmed a restless crowd with his heartfelt delivery of songs evoking the sorrow of the small town everyman.

More pics at the Flickr here.

http://www.telegraphcanyon.net
http://www.myspace.com/chatterton
http://www.digstation.com/Chatterton
http://www.myspace.com/glenfarris
http://www.spune.com
http://www.lolasfortworth.com

"One More Thing"

2010-01-14T12:39:00.002-11:00

See if you can get through all four minutes without throwing up a little.
Oh, and one more thing: if i were unfamiliar with Dallas, this vid would make me want to stay far, far away.

Mount Righteous, Giggle Party, Mr. Troll at Andy's Bar 01/08/10

2010-01-11T16:37:00.004-11:00

Grapevine's Mount Righteous threw down at a sold-out Andy's Bar on Friday January 8, 2010 with the help of Giggle Party and Mr. Troll. The sing along sounds of everyone's favorite 9-piece folk rock orchestra oompahed, thumped and crashed their way out to the still, cool night air of the Denton square on that frigid evening as the crowd wailed along. It was the best tour kick off party Denton has seen this decade. Not kidding. Look:

More pics at the Flickr spot here.

Giggle Party made a mess. We demand nothing less.

More pics here.

And Denton's own Mr. Troll opened up the festivities, turning everyone on to his folky love songs.

More pics and a show review at My Denton Music here.
Mount Righteous is currently on tour in support of their latest record, Open Your Mouth, so go check 'em out when they roll through your neck of the woods, or you'll regret it and feel like this:

http://www.myspace.com/mountrighteous
http://mountrighteous.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wearegiggleparty
http://wearegiggleparty.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mistertroll
http://www.myspace.com/andysbar

Christmas in Carolina

2009-12-28T15:40:00.002-11:00

IMG_2676crbwf
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

i traveled to see family in South Carolina over Christmas. Woo hoo! More pics at the Flickr page.

The Whigs at The Loft in Dallas, TX on 12/02/09

2009-12-05T19:19:00.003-11:00

The Whigs played their hearts out at The Loft on a chilly Texas December Wednesday night, making the stage, the floor and their fans bounce all over the joint. They once again proved why they are My Favorite Band in the Whole World, jamming songs from their two LP's, Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip and Mission Control. They also busted out a few fresh ones from their highly anticipated upcoming record, In The Dark. If those new tracks and their high-energy rock shows are any indication, Parker Gispert, Julian Dorio and Tim Deaux are poised for world domination in 2010. Do yourself a favor and check 'em out live to see what the funk i'm talkin' about.

More pics at the flickr page here.

The Whigs are offering two (2) free tunes ("Hundred/Million" & "In The Dark") from their upcoming album at this spot right here, so go and get 'em.

http://www.myspace.com/thewhigs
http://www.thewhigs.com/
http://www.theloftdallas.com

The Whigs at the Loft in May, 2008

The Features at The Loft in Dallas, TX 12/02/09

2009-12-05T13:10:00.003-11:00

i've been a huge fan of The Features since i heard the first pounding notes from of their stellar LP, Exhibit A back in 2004. So when i saw that they were coming to the Loft to play with The Whigs, i knew i had to be there to see them live for the very first time. My expectations where high, as their knack for making hook-heavy pop song perfection takes a back seat to no one. Well, they met and exceeded all expectations that night as they charged through their set, playing songs from Exhibit A, the Contrast EP, their 2008 album, Some Kind of Salvation, and even "Thursday," one of my favorites that they first recorded in 2000. Hopefully, it won't be another five years before i get to see them again. Come back soon, boys!

See more pics at my flickr page here.

And get their latest record, Some Kind of Salvation, and other Features goodies right here.

http://www.myspace.com/thefeatures
http://thefeatures.ning.com
http://www.theloftdallas.com

Neko Case @ Granada Theater in Dallas, TX on 11/23/09

2009-11-28T16:12:00.002-11:00

Red-headed siren songstress Neko Case captivated the capacity crowd at the Granada Theater on a gorgeous November evening. She's been on tour in support of her stellar 2009 record, "Middle Cyclone," which makes an excellent holiday gift for that difficult person on your list. Just tell them that Amazon.com has declared this the top album of the year, and it includes 31 minutes of crickets chirping, so shut up and like it.

More pics at my flickr page here.

http://www.nekocase.com/
http://www.myspace.com/nekocase
http://www.granadatheater.com/

Good show, Neko.

Fate Lions @ The Grotto in Ft. Worth on 11/20/09

2009-11-28T15:57:00.004-11:00

Fate Lions blew the doors open at the Grotto on this night. And look! Brand-new member Drew rocked the keys in his live debut. Nice job.

More pics at my flickr page here.

i am unable to express adequately how much you need to get their 2009 record,"Good Enough For You."

Fate Lions links:
http://fatelions.bandcamp.com/
http://fatelions.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/fatelions
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Fate+Lions
http://www.last.fm/music/Fate+Lions
http://www.soundcloud.com/fatelions
http://www.twitter.com/fatelions
http://www.virb.com/fatelions

Roman Candle at The Loft in Dallas, TX on 11/19/09

2009-11-21T18:38:00.005-11:00

Roman Candle made their first stop ever in Dallas when they rocked The Loft on Thursday, November 19.

More pics at the Flickr here.

Skip Matheny and company have been on the road most of this year in support of their stunning LP "Oh Tall Tree in the Ear," and had driven to Texas after seeing Bruce Springsteen in Nashville the night previous. Even if they were a road-weary bunch at the tail end of a long tour, they certainly didn't show it as they playfully and masterfully performed most of the songs from Tall Tree and "One Hundred Thousand Miles" from one of the three EP's they released over the last year. Roman Candle will play a couple more shows, then it's time to give the tour van the rest of the year off and see how many "best of 2009" lists Tall Tree ends up on. i know it will find a cozy spot near the top of The NeffList this year.

http://www.romancandlemusic.com/
Roman Candle on Facebook
Live Seesion on American Songwriter

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Longhorn Saloon, Ft. Worth 11/13/09

2009-11-21T18:19:00.004-11:00

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit brought their soulful, southern tunes to The Longhorn Saloon in Ft. Worth on 11/13/09. It's funny how songs about heartbreak and loneliness can make a room full of people so freakin' happy. If that isn't a sign of a great songwriter, i don't know what is.

More pics at the Flickr here.

Here they are performing "Grown":

Earlier that day, Isbell and company performed at the studios of the newly launched KXT 91.7. Check it out here.

jasonisbell.com
myspace.com/longhornsaloonstockyards

Lucero at Longhorn Saloon in Ft. Worth, TX 11/07/09

2009-11-08T13:39:00.007-11:00

"It's good to be in the South!" Lucero lead man Ben Nichols related to the rowdy Longhorn Saloon crowd. "It's November, and I'm sweating my ass off!" Everyone up front was sweating too as they sang, clapped, swayed and bounced along to the 100+ minute set on that night in the Stockyards. "We may be 500 miles from Memphis, but damn, if you all don't make it feel like home," he said later. The hoots, hell yeahs and devil horns that followed from the Fort Worth faithful drew one of Ben's patented glisten-eyed grins that riled us up even more.

Lucero's latest LP, and major-label debut 1372 Overton Park was released just a month ago, and Ben admitted on stage that he was struggling to get through some of the new tracks. "I'm still learinin' these new ones," he said after what sounded to me like a flawless performance of 1372's opener, "Smoke." It didn't seem to bother Lucero's enthusiastic followers, as they clamored to the front to shout the lyrics they have already committed to memory, "I'm not beautiful, I'm not beautiful" (See the vid below) . Lucero declares that they are Nobody's Darlings, but on that Saturday night, they were more than beautiful, they were perfect.

More pics here at the flickr.

And here's the vid for "Smoke":

1372 Overton Park is available at the usual outlets, or at Lucero's online store. Get it now so you can put it on your "Best of 2009" list.

Related links:
http://luceromusic.com/site/index.php
http://www.myspace.com/lucero
http://www.myspace.com/longhornsaloonstockyards
http://www.spune.com/spune/Intro.html

Ready The Jet at the Double Wide in Dallas, TX 11/04/09

2009-11-05T14:57:00.009-11:00

Whew! L.A.'s own Ready The Jet blasted the denizens of Dallas with a rockin' set at the Double Wide. i'm still trying to catch my breath and will continue to look for the remnants of my face, which they blew off with rock. i'll keep you posted on the condition of my mug as soon as i find it. Holy craps. Here's some pics. There's more here at the flickr.

Ready the Jet's 2007 album, New Record Highs is available for purchase at CD Baby. Here is what the cover looks like:

See how they cleverly put the name of their band, Ready The Jet and the title of the LP, New Record Highs right on the cover so it's easily identifiable? That is marketing genius, right there.

The band, Ready The Jet, claims no responsibility for the damage you may incur while rocking to their album, New Record Highs.

Ready The Jet on MySpace
Double Wide Bar

Islands / Jemina Pearl at Rubber Gloves in Denton, TX on 10/28/09

2009-11-05T14:46:00.002-11:00

Two incredible bands, one magical night.
Islands:

More Islands pics at my flickr spot here.

Jemina Pearl:

More Jemina Pearl pics here.

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio
Islands on MySpace
Jemina Pearl's blog

The Black Heart Procession at Hailey's in Denton 10/24/09

2009-10-25T15:58:00.006-11:00

The Black Heart Procession 102409 (12crbwf)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Pall Jenkins brought his Black Heart Procession to Hailey's in Denton to mesmerize us with his brooding tales of sorrow and deceit. As a long-time fan, there was no way i was going to miss this, and i was not disappointed as their massive musical talent was unfurled before me. i just thought he would dress nicer. More pics at the flickr, of course.

Here's the vid i shot for "Tropics of Love":

The Black Heart Procession's new record, Six is out! Go get it.
http://www.myspace.com/theblackheartprocession

http://www.haileysclub.com/

The Mumlers at Hailey's in Denton on 10/24/09

2009-10-25T15:34:00.007-11:00

The Mumlers 102409 (33crbwf)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

San Jose's The Mumlers are touring on the heels of the release of their album Don't Throw Me Away. They stopped by Hailey's, opening for fellow Californians The Black Heart Procession where they won over some new fans with songs from that record and 2007's Thickets & Stitches. i was hoping for a longer set, but i think they did play all of the dozen or so instruments they had scattered up on the stage, so i did get my money's worth in the end. :o] There's a few more pics at my flickr here.

Here's a vid i shot of "Coffin Factory":

And here's a vid of them performing a new song, the title of which i do not know, but it's cool.

http://www.haileysclub.com
http://www.myspace.com/themumlers

Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr, Lou Barlow - Granada Theater, Dallas, TX 10/22/09

2009-10-24T13:00:00.005-11:00

Built To Spill pics at my flickr page here.

"Carry The Zero" vid from that night:

Dinosaur Jr pics here.
Note the Vintage Vinyl sticker on his rack. Sweet.

Lou Barlow pics here.

The Granada Theater continues to bring the best rock to Dallas.

The Decemberists at The Blue Note in Columbia, MO 10/07/09

2009-10-24T12:48:00.006-11:00

The Decemberists 100709 (254bw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Took a road trip to my old hometown of Columbia, MO and caught The Decemberists at a packed Blue Note. They played their 2009 record, The Hazards of Love straight through brilliantly then came back on stage for some favorites from their previous couple of records. It was very deece. There's a couple more pics on my flickr page here.

Here's a coupla vids i shot for your enjoyment...

"O, Valencia"

"The Crane Wife 1"

Fate Lions @ Lola's Stockyards 09/25/09

2009-09-27T05:43:00.006-11:00

Fate Lions (97f)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Fate Lions!!
More pics at the flickr spot here.

Vids:
"Astronaut"

"Seen It All"

More vids from this night...
"The Queen Himself"
"Shining Places"
"Starsign"
"The Girls Are Alright"
"Outlaw"
"Hard Swallow"

All of these tunes, and five others can be found on their 2009 record "Good Enough For You" which is my favorite jam of the summer. These Fort Worth fellas bust out the smart, punchy, head bobbin', hand clappin' power pop that will have you clicking the "repeat" button.

Fate Lions links:
http://fatelions.bandcamp.com/
http://fatelions.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/fatelions
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Fate+Lions
http://www.last.fm/music/Fate+Lions
http://www.soundcloud.com/fatelions
http://www.twitter.com/fatelions
http://www.virb.com/fatelions

Throw Me The Statue @ The Cavern Dallas, TX 9/12/09

2009-09-15T17:56:00.002-11:00

Seattle's Throw Me The Statue threw down some of my favorite tunes at The Cavern in Dallas. As always, it was dark in there.

"Waving at the Shore"

"About To Walk"

Throw Me The Statue is out on tour in support of their latest record, Creaturesque, out now on Secretly Canadian, so go get you some.

Burger King Drive Thru Screen 082609

2009-08-27T11:47:00.001-11:00

Burger King Drive Thru Screen 082609
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

This was on the screen when i pulled up to the drive thru at the Burger King in Euless, TX.

Mike Judge screens "Extract" at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas

2009-08-21T03:50:00.006-11:00

The Dallas Film Society & The Lone Star Film Society hosted a screening of Mike Judge's latest film, Extract at The Angelika Film Center in Dallas on August 19, 2009.
The film stars Jason Bateman as Joel, an everyman in anytown whose life spirals out of control over the course of a few days, thanks to a confluence of his poor decisions, bad advice and the actions of some very flawed people that inhabit his world. Here's a trailer:

BTW, the music you hear during the first 30 seconds of the trailer is "Whatever Gets You By," track 1 from The Features' 2009 album, Some Kind of Salvation, which i can't recommend highly enough. That tune is not in the movie, though. :-(

Back to the film...Bateman is supported by an excellent cast that includes Kristin Wiig, J.K. Simmons, Mila Kunis and Ben Affleck. David Koechner and Gene Simmons add to the chaos as two more pains in Joel's ass.
As a big fan of Mike Judge's past film work, i came to the screening trying to temper my expectations. i knew in my head that Extract probably wouldn't attain the zeitgeist-skewering genius of Office Space, or the social insight of the criminally under-appreciated Idiocracy. The fact that the film stars three of my favorite actors in Bateman, Wiig and Simmons also makes it difficult to not judge this film on a generous curve. Having said that, i'd say that Extract made the grade. As comedies go, it doesn't lean heavily on juvenile jokes, nor does it insult the audience's intelligence with gross-out gags. Instead, most of the humor plays on the audience's empathy for Joel. As the events unfold, we are wincing and thinking, "What else could go wrong for this poor guy?" and laughing the whole time.

Writer/Director Mike Judge stuck around for a 20-minute Q&A after the screening to talk about the origins of Extract, Beavis & Butthead, casting Gene Simmons, drug use in the movies, and more:
Part One:

Part 1.1.
Part Two.
Part Three.
Part Four.

Awesomeometer Rating: 98 units (out of a possible 113).
Extract is in theaters on September 9, 2009. Go see it!

Bowerbirds at Hailey's Club in Denton - August 12, 2009

2009-08-14T19:15:00.002-11:00

Caught Bowerbirds in Denton last Wednesday night, and it was lovely.

Bowerbirds' blog. Catch 'em if you can.

Bobby Bare Jr - Longhorn Saloon, Ft. Worth, TX August 7, 2009

2009-08-09T16:34:00.014-11:00

Bobby Bare Jr 080709 comp
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Dude, i saw one of my favorite artists of all times rock out at Longhorn Saloon in Fort Worth. He busted out some new ones, including a cover of America's "I Need You" which is available on his new EP "American Bread." It's a collaborative effort between Bobby and David Vandervelde, available on Village Records on August 11, or at one of Bobby's shows. You should get it. And go see him. Or both. There's a bunch more pics up at my flickr here.

Here's some vids i shot from that night:

"You Blew Me Off"

"Borrow Your Cape"

"Snuggling World Championships"

i think this one's called, "I Got Busted" or something...

"Rock 'n' Roll Halloween" - this one was new to me.

www.bobbybarejr.com
www.myspace.com/bobbybarejr

Fort Worth Stockyards Slow Shutter Aug 09

2009-08-09T16:24:00.001-11:00

Fort Worth Stockyards Slow Shutter Aug 09
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

From the balcony atop The Love Shack on Exchange Street in the Fort Worth Stockyards. August 7, 2009.

Magnolia Electric Co. @ Rubber Gloves, Denton, TX, July 24, 2009

2009-07-26T14:09:00.005-11:00

Magnolia Electric Co. 072409 (119)crbw
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Jason Molina and his mates in Magnolia Electric Co. played an emotional set at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios in Denton, TX on July 24, 2009. Everyone in attendance was treated to an especially powerful mix of old favorites from the band's catalog and several new songs from "Josephine," M.E.Co.'s latest record that was released on July 21. This night's set was the first weekend show since the release of the album and coincided with what would have been former bassist and good friend Evan Farrell's 35th birthday. Farrell, who also was a member of Japonize Elephants and Rogue Wave died in a house fire on December 23, 2007. Farrell left behind a wife and two sons.

"Molina's concept album["Josephine"] is an honest-to-God effort on the part of Magnolia Electric Co. to pay tribute to the life and spirit of fallen bassist Evan Farrell (R.I.P. December 2007), as the ideas for Josephine were being pieced together. Molina said each tune is a good faith attempt to make real Evan's hopes for the record. And in doing so, Evan's spirit becomes part of the concept. The loss of Josephine becomes the loss of Evan. Molina's familiar lyrical allegories are still in tact. But here, in what is no doubt the strongest set of songs Molina has written since the inception of Magnolia Electric Co., those classic themes take on new meanings. Molina has approached the universal loneliness before, but never in such a focused, directed manner as found on Josephine." - Secretly Canadian

Sculpture Donated to City in Remembrance of Local Musician - City of Bloomington, IN

More pics from the Denton show here.

The Donkeys @ Rubber Gloves, Denton, TX, July 24, 2009

2009-07-26T14:02:00.003-11:00

The Donkeys 072409 (37)crbw
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

The Donkeys impressed the crowd during their fourth trip to Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios in Denton, TX on July 24, 2009.
More pics here.

Whiskey Folk Ramblers at The Moon Bar, Ft Worth, July 18, 2009

2009-07-22T12:37:00.004-11:00

Whiskey Folk Ramblers 071809 (90)crbw
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Fort Worth locals Whiskey Folk Ramblers took a break from recording their second record and played to a full Moon Bar on July 18, 2009.
More pics at my flickr here.

For your viewing pleasure, i provide you highlights from that show:
Intro/Ramblin' Man:

Moanin' Rag:

As We Drive By:

The Strange Boys at The Lounge, Dallas, TX, July 10, 2009

2009-07-11T13:31:00.004-11:00

The Strange Boys 071009 (29crbw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Austin's The Strange Boys at The Lounge in Dallas, TX on July 10, 2009.
More pics here.

UPDATE: ...a vid posted by TheWeijiaofdeath:

Thanks, Weijiiaofdeath!

The Coathangers at The Lounge, Dallas, TX, July 10, 2009

2009-07-11T13:26:00.003-11:00

The Coathangers 071009 (52crbw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

The Coathangers from Atlanta at The Lounge in Dallas, TX on July 10, 2009. They made me smile a lot.
See more pics by clicking here.
The Coathangers' MySpace page.

UPDATE: ...vid posted by TheWeijiaofdeath:

...and a couple more:
"Toomer Head"
"Gettin' Mad and Pumpin' Iron"

Thanks, TheWeijiaofdeath!
Now you know why they make me smile so much.

Bad Sports at The Lounge, Dallas, TX, July 10, 2009

2009-07-11T13:22:00.002-11:00

Bad Sports 071009 (63crbw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Denton's Bad Sports at The Lounge in Dallas, TX on July 10, 2009.
More pics here.

Teenage Cool Kids record release party July 3, 2009 Denton, TX

2009-07-06T14:07:00.005-11:00

Teenage Cool Kids 070309 (28crbw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Teenage Cool Kids perform at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios in Denton, TX on July 3, 2009.
More pics at my flickr.

These Denton rockers plowed through a heart-felt, blistering set to celebrate the release of their second album, Foreign Lands, much to the delight of their pumped, dedicated followers. Here's some vids featuring crowd surfing with a cigarette (don't try this at home):

...and two more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrO02Ma84CU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaWWYqI86Ow

Next month, they embark on a tour of the US and Canada to showcase their tunesmithing and implant earbugs into the heads of the masses. Tour deets at their MySpace.

Video at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios July 3, 2009

2009-07-06T13:02:00.004-11:00

Video debuted their homegrown brand of punk rock at Denton's Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios on July 3, 2009. Here they are performing "In Control" to a (dark) room full of enthused fans:

Dallas Observer music blog DC9 At Night has more details on the band and an mp3 of "In Control" here.

And here's another vid, in case you don't get it yet:

Keep your eye out for these youngsters, they got something sweet going on.

Fireworks over Bedford, TX July 4, 2009

2009-07-05T06:53:00.003-11:00

Fireworks-Bedford-TX-070409 (185cr4x6)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

More pics at my flickr here.

The Gourds at The Longhorn Saloon June 27, 2009

2009-06-29T12:59:00.002-11:00

The-Gourds-062709 (38cbw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

The Gourds threw down at the Longhorn Saloon in Ft. Worth, TX on June 27, 2009.
More pics here.

And here are a coupla vids from that night:

Scott Miller AllGood Cafe, June 26, 2009

2009-06-29T12:21:00.002-11:00

Scott-Miller-062609 (41cbw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

The Scott Miller at the AllGood Cafe on a hot Friday night in Dallas, TX.
More pics here.

Here's my vid of his performance of "Cheap Ain't Cheap" from his 2009 LP, For Cryin' Out Loud:

Several more vids from this night:
Appalachian Refugee
Sin in Indiana
Red Ball Express
People Rule
I Made a Mess of this Town
Jody
Enjoy!

Meat Puppets June 19, 2009

2009-06-20T17:14:00.002-11:00

Meat-Puppets-061909 (255bw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Meat Puppets tore up the House of Blues in Dallas, TX on June 19, 2009.
More pics here.

Retribution Gospel Choir June 19, 2009

2009-06-20T17:10:00.002-11:00

Retribution-Gospel-Choir-061909 (8bw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

From the Retribution Gospel Choir show at the House of Blues in Dallas, TX on June 19, 2009.
More pics here.

Camera Obscura June 16, 2009

2009-06-17T17:54:00.003-11:00

Camera-Obscura-061609 (101)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Scotland's Camera Obscura at The Loft in Dallas, TX on June 16, 2009.
More pics at my flickr.

Here's a vid i shot. This one's called "Honey in the Sun" from their 2009 record, "My Maudlin Career":

And another. "If Looks Could Kill" from their 2006 album, "Let's Get Out of this Country":

Robert Gomez June 12, 2009

2009-06-14T14:56:00.002-11:00

Robert-Gomez-061209 s(67bwc)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Robert Gomez at Haileys, Denton, TX, June 12, 2009.
More pics at my flickr.

Viva Voce June 12, 2009

2009-06-14T14:24:00.003-11:00

Viva-Voce-061209 s(209bw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Viva Voce at Hailey's on a stormy night in Denton, TX on June 12, 2009. Rock!
More pics at my flickr.

Here's my vid of their performance of "Tornado Alley" off their latest record, Rose City:

Cut Off Your Hands June 12, 2009

2009-06-14T14:18:00.004-11:00

Cut-Off-Your-Hands-061209 (123bw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

New Zealand's Cut Off Your Hands at Hailey's in Denton, TX.
More pics at my flickr.

i shot this vid of them performing "Oh Girl" that night:

A picture of me taking a picture

2009-06-08T07:58:00.002-11:00

bpbilly-526f
Originally uploaded by billellisonphotographer

Photo taken by Bill Ellison at the Bonnie "Prince" Billy show. Feels a bit odd being the subject of a photo for once. More pics from this photographer here.

Bonnie Prince Billy June 06, 2009 Dallas, TX

2009-06-07T16:05:00.002-11:00

Bonnie-Prince-Billy-060609 (275bw)
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

Bonnie "Prince" Billy at The Granada Theater, June 6, 2009, Dallas, TX
More at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nffcnnr/

Son Volt: Dan's Silverleaf, February 26, 2009, Denton, TX

2009-03-11T15:01:00.006-11:00

Son Volt came on down to Texas and slayed the full house at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton.More pics at my flickr page.
Bonus video: The mesmerizing "Medication":

Slobberbone reunion show, February 6, 2009 Denton, TX

2009-02-21T10:52:00.006-11:00

Slobberbone rawked Dan's Silverleaf for the first of two reunion shows on Februray 6, 2009, and i was there. Here's proof:

Lots more pics from that magical night at my flickr here.
And here's video of the first two songs they performed, "Tilt-a-Whirl and "Barrel Chested":

Tapes 'n Tapes Club Dada January 30 Dallas TX

2009-02-03T17:07:00.007-11:00

Tapes 'n Tapes came to Club Dada in Dallas and kicked us in the ass with the rock 'n' roll.

Lots more pics at my Flickr page here.
And here's a couple vids i shot.
"The Illiad":

And a new song, "Hideeho!":

Review at Dallas Observer's DC9 At Night Blog.

The NeffList 2008

2009-02-03T17:04:00.001-11:00

Here is the [theoretical] NeffList 2008, which is sadly no longer available online.

Side 1:
01 - Production City by The Whigs
02 - Lions by The Features
03 - Blank Slate by The National
04 - Oceans & Streams by The Black Keys
05 - Consoler of the Lonely by The Raconteurs
06 - Call It a Ritual by Wolf Parade
07 - River Song by Whiskey Folk Ramblers
08 - Self-Destructive Zones by Drive-By Truckers
09 - Cryin' Like the Rain by David Vandervelde
10 - Party Bardge by Silver Jews
11 - Singer Songwriter by Okkervil River
12 - Old Time Tickin' Away by Marah
13 - Angels by Black Mountain
14 - What She Turned Into by Retribution Gospel Choir
15 - Supernatural Superserious by REM
16 - A Mutinous Dream by Throw Me the Statue
17 - Headshock by Tapes 'n Tapes
18 - Pieces of You by Islands
19 - Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend
20 - Borrowing Time by Aimee Mann
21 - First Sight by These United States
22 - Manhattan by Kings of Leon
23 - Remnants by My Morning Jacket
24 - For the Birds by Earlimart

Side 2:
01 - Lost in the Light by The Heavenly States
02 - A New Parade by the Shaky Hands
03 - Someone Else's Dollar by The End of the World
04 - Youthless by Beck
05 - An Audience With the Pope by Elbow
06 - Sausilito by Conor Oberst
07 - Go Easy by Ryan Adams & the Cardinals
08 - Pretty Bird by Jenny Lewis
09 - Twenty-Four by Centro-Matic
10 - Goner by Dead Confederate
11 - Minor Keys by Starflyer 59
12 - Johnny is Dead by Q-Tip
13 - One Week of Danger by The Virgins
14 - Middle Child by Bridges and Powerlines
15 - I've Seen Enough by Cold War Kids
16 - Drift by Wolves in the Attic
17 - Gold for Bread by Blitzen Trapper
18 - Out of Time by The Dutchess and the Duke
19 - The Hopeful and the Unafraid by Jason Anderson
20 - One Last Round by Ron Sexsmith
21 - The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer by Dr. Dog
22 - White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes
23 - Camp-Fire by Starling Electric

Mockingbird Train Station Dallas, TX

2009-01-09T20:20:00.002-11:00

Mockingbird Train Station Dallas, TX
Originally uploaded by nffcnnr

This and other new pics up on my flickr page.

The Whiz

2009-01-09T12:37:00.005-11:00

Saw this today on my lunch break. This is why i always have my camera ready when i'm out and about.

NeffTunes MixTape December 2008: The Reason for the Season

2008-12-18T17:54:00.004-11:00

Seasons greetings. i hope this post finds my dear readers healthy, happy and well. i trust that you are handling the hassle, hustle and bustle of the holidays with great patience and temperance like your ever-imperturbable blogger and are refraining from assailing your fellow citizens with insults and swats to their insufferable visages while you jostle for bargains at your local mart of choice. If circumstances prompt such barbaric impulses to be summoned by those base survival instincts seated deeply in your fallable mind, take a moment to remember the peaceful teachings of that Fella whose spirit occupied a seemingly mortal body over two millenia ago. For he is the reason for the season. If urges to commit uncomely deeds unto your fellow man persist, i recommend you proceed with great haste to the nearest music dispensation device and listen to the following compilation of songs about said Fella and chill the hell out. Happy holidays.Tracklist:
01 - Fake Out Jesus by The Blacks
02 - Christ for President by Billy Bragg & Wilco
03 - Water Into Wine by The Handsome Family
04 - Jesus Wrote a Blank Check by Cake
05 - Trust Jesus by Slobberbone
06 - Jesus in the Temple by Marah
07 - Jesus Don't Love Me by Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs
08 - Jesus of the Moon by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
09 - Personal Jesus by Johnny Cash
10 - Jesus the Mexican Boy by Iron & Wine
11 - Me and Jesus by Tom T. Hall
12 - Jesus Was a Capricorn (live) by Kris Kristofferson
13 - On Jesus' Program by Mark Lanegan
14 - Jesus Saves, I Spend by St. Vincent
15 - If Jesus Drove a Motorhome by Jim White
16 - Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind on Jesus) by Doug Martsch
17 - Shine on Sweet Jesus by The Flaming Lips
18 - American Jesus by Bad Religion
19 - Jesus and Tequila by The Minutemen
20 - Jesus Christ Was an Only Child by Modest Mouse
21 - Jesus by Page France
22 - Salvation by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Download the zip file here.
98.47 MB @ 160 kbps
Peace.

NeffTunes MixTape November 2008

2008-12-07T17:48:00.012-11:00

Sink your teeth into these tasty nuggets, gentle readers, cuz here's a fresh batch of brand new tunes! Relish the artistic stylings of 23 piping hot bands on this veritable smorgasbord of aural delights. Come sample the delicacies, graze the buffet, eat it up. i've run out of ~~similes~~ metaphors. Just listen.Tracklist:
01 - Half a Cent by Bridges and Powerlines
02 - I Don't Wanna Lose by The End of the World
03 - Bomber by Wolves in the Attic
04 - Keep Me In Mind by Little Joy
05 - Gotta Get Me Thru by The Sacred Sailors
06 - My Little Friend by The Heavenly States
07 - Never Stops by Deerhunter
08 - Same Difference by The Old Ceremony
09 - The Business by These United States
10 - Things I Like To Do by Ben Kweller
11 - Lazy Bones by Papermoons
12 - Life Before Asthetics by Denison Witmer
13 - Fernando by Jenny Lewis
14 - To Flunker With Love by Starling Electric
15 - The Boat Song by Jeremy Warmsley w/Emmy the Great
16 - The Boy With an Anchor by Oh No! Oh My!
17 - Journey of the Featherless by Cloud Cult
18 - Balloons by Foals
19 - Altercation by Starflyer 59
20 - You'll Find a Way by Santogold
21 - A Good Customer by Ghosty
22 - The Score by Chris Walla
23 - In the Sunlight by The King Left
Download the zip file here.
85.8 MB @ 160kbps
These artists busted their butts putting their songs, tours and records together, so show your support and appreciation by going to their shows, buying their albums and telling your friends.

NeffTunes MixTape October 2008

2008-11-20T16:37:00.007-11:00

Is there anything sweeter than the cry of a pedal steel as it slowly weaves its way through the threads of a sad song? Man, i loves me some of that lonesome, melancholy sound especially when it pops up in unexpected places. Many of my favorite artists have employed steel guitar accents on some of their best songs to add a bittersweet flavor traditionally used by bands with a more countrified bent, and here are my favorite examples.
Kick back and enjoy, my dear readers.

Tracklist:
01 - Gone for Good by The Shins
02 - Father to a Sister of Thought by Pavement
03 - Baby Boy by Crystal Skulls
04 - A New Name for Everything by The Weakerthans
05 - Man With a Mission by Bad Religion
06 - Big Gay Heart by The Lemonheads
07 - Pearl of the Quarter by Steely Dan
08 - Don't Lose Faith in Me by The Pretenders
09 - Torn and Frayed by The Rolling Stones
10 - Postage Stamp World by Rogue Wave
11 - Dory Previn by Camera Obscura
12 - Mexico by Cake
13 - Sleep Sunshine by The Whigs
14 - Sissyneck by Beck
15 - Grace Kelly Blues by Eels
16 - Jessie by Paw
17 - Your Secrets by Belle & Sebastian
18 - It's the Nighttime by Josh Rouse
19 - Right Down the Line by Gerry Rafferty
20 - Say It Ain't So by The Thrills
21 - Powder Blue by Ween
Download the zip file here.
95.6 MB @ 160kbps

NeffTunes MixTape September 2008

2008-10-18T15:03:00.009-11:00

i know it's October, but i'm not so good with deadlines, self-imposed or otherwise. Better late than never, so here's a batch of goodies that are burning up my playlist. This stuff is hot!

Tracklist:
01 - Show Me Your Life by The Shaky Hands
02 - Wooden Heart by The Features
03 - Gold for Bread by Blitzen Trapper
04 - Uncovering the Old by Dr. Dog
05 - 3 Dimes Down by Drive-By Truckers
06 - Can Do by Giant Sand
07 - Danny Callahan by Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
08 - Reservoir Park by The Dutchess and the Duke
09 - Grounds for Divorce by Elbow
10 - Saint Isabelle by The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello)
11 - Singer Songwriter by Okkervil River
12 - California Breezes by David Vandervelde
13 - From Now On by Nada Surf
14 - Eastern Europe by The Stills
15 - Burn Through Love by Matthew Sweet
16 - Magick by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
17 - Start Me Laughing by Dead Confederate
18 - Perfect Games by The Broken West
19 - Mingus by I'm From Barcelona
20 - Cigarettes and Kerosene by Earlimart
21 - Quiet Horses by Fleet Foxes
22 - Vampire Voltage No. 6 by Beck
23 - The Frown Song by Ben Folds
24 - Cannibal Summer by Wax Fang
~~Download the zip file here~~. [link removed by request]
88 MB @ 160kbps
Enjoy. i promise to get the next one posted on time.

Dead Confederate Sept. 27, 2008 The Cavern Dallas, TX

2008-10-01T08:55:00.010-11:00

i had been dyin' to see Athens, Georgia's Dead Confederate since their self-titled EP got countless spins on my mp3 player last year. So i ventured down into a dark, dank, smoky Cavern so they could rock me in person. Below is the performance of "The Rat" that they blasted me and their loyal DFW area fans with that night.

Dead Confederate's new album, Wrecking Ball is available everywhere now. Get it.
Listen to the latest studio version of "The Rat" here.
More info here.
Check out a sweet write-up at flagpole.com.

Drive-By Truckers September 25, 2008 House of Blues Dallas, TX

2008-09-28T11:00:00.002-11:00

Heeeey-alll yeaaaah! Got free tix to the Drive-By Truckers gig at the local House of Blues. They rocked Dallas for two and a half hours on a Thursday night before they headed down to Austin for their ACL fest performance. It had been a few years since i've seen DBT, so i was super stoked to once again witness their incredible live show. Dig more pics at my flickr.

Marvin blogging

2008-09-17T12:42:00.002-11:00

NeffTunes MixTape August 2008

2008-09-03T15:51:00.004-11:00

Tracklist:
01 - Kids by MGMT
02 - Kelly by Van She
03 - Going On by Gnarls Barkley
04 - Lolita by Throw Me the Statue
05 - Drugs In My Body by Thieves Like Us
06 - Creeper by Islands
07 - The Opposite of Hallelujah by Jens Lekman
08 - Hey Hey Girl by The Virgins
09 - Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo) by Black Kids
10 - Gregory's Chant by The Little Ones
11 - You Know What by N.E.R.D.
12 - Sad Sad City by Ghostland Observatory
13 - Give Up? by Hot Hot Heat
14 - You Made Me Like It by 1990s
15 - Force by The Black Ghosts
16 - Amsterdam by Peter Bjorn and John
17 - Last Day of Magic by The Kills
18 - Keys to the City by The Go! Team
19 - The Pulse by Holy Fuck

Instructions:
1. Download the zip file here (91.4 MB @ 160 kbps)
2. Put on your dancin' shoes.
3. Crank it up.
4. Cut the nearest rug.

NeffTunes MixTape July 2008: Ode to the Road

2008-08-06T17:06:00.003-11:00

I took a 2200 mile road trip this July, meandering up through the Midwest to visit good friends and family. That was about 32 hours of quality windshield time, so needless to say i listened to tons of tunes and thought about a lot of stuff. Like: Where have i been? Where am i going? Why is it so hot? and Maps are for suckers. Some thoughts were more existential than others. Guess i must have been looking for answers. I didn't find too many. Oh well, it was a blast anyway. i thought of a great list of road songs and i never got lost. So dear readers, here's my compilation of my favorite travelin' tunes for you to enjoy on your next journey on our nation's great highways and byways. Hope you enjoy.

Tracklist:

01 - Windfall by Son Volt
02 - St. Louis by Cub Country
03 - As We Drive By by Whiskey Folk Ramblers
04 - Steve's Last Ramble by Steve Earle
05 - Six More Miles by Mike Ness
06 - Where There's A Road by Robbie Fulks
07 - Nothing But the Wheel by Peter Wolf
08 - In the Air by The Handsome Family
09 - Moab by Conor Oberst
10 - 16 Days by Whiskeytown
11 - (Is Anybody Going To) San Antone by Texas Tornados
12 - The Hitch-Hiker by Tom T. Hall
13 - Return of the Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons
14 - Roll On by Josh Ritter
15 - Roll Another Number by Nuisance
16 - Sweet Hitch-Hiker by CCR
17 - Runnin' Down a Dream by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
18 - High Plains Drifter by Beastie Boys
19 - Tiny Cities Made of Ashes by Modest Mouse
20 - Goin' Goin' Gone by Old 97's
Zip file size: 86.8 MB. Bit rate: 160Kbps (or so).
Download the zip file here.
Drive safe and buckle up.

Ween July 20, 2008 Council Bluffs, Iowa

2008-07-27T15:26:00.006-11:00

Ween paid a visit to my hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa and rocked the joint silly. Silly!!Tonz more pics at my flickr page. You can almost taste the waste.

NeffTunes MixTape June 2008: My Favorite Jams

2008-06-30T15:37:00.008-11:00

All the times peeps come up aksin' me, "Neff, whatchoo been listenin' to?"
Well, here it go.

- Sequestered in Memphis by The Hold Steady
- You Won't Be Fooled by This by Albert Hammond, Jr
- The Grey Estates by Wolf Parade
- I, the Kite by Centro-Matic
- Now You Love My by The Dandy Warhols
- Rich Girls by The Virgins
- J'aime Vous Voire Quitter by Islands
- Only The Truth by The Last of the Shadow Puppets
- What New York Used To Be by The Kills
- Who Built the Road by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
- 31 Today by Aimee Mann
- Librarian by My Morning Jacket
- Without Permission by The National
- Rooks by Shearwater
- I'll Be On My Way by Whiskey Folk Ramblers
- A Setting Sun by Grand Archives
- For Every Field There's a Mole by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
- Whippoorwill by Doug Burr
- Bob by Drive-By Truckers
- Learnin to Love by Ween
- 1,000 Wives by The Whigs
Zip file size: 97.4 MB. Bit rate: 192Kbps.
Download it here. Enjoy!!

With a name like NeffTunes, it's gotta be good.

Rogue Wave, Death Cab For Cutie June 17, 2008 Nokia Theater

2008-06-19T16:32:00.010-11:00

Advice: If someone offers you a free ticket to a sold out show, get it!
Rogue Wave came and captivated a full house at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie, TX. Zach Rogue and company played their hearts out and rocked a tight set of tunes from their three LP's and there was much rejoicing.

Oh, and Death Cab For Cutie played, too. It was my first time seeing Ben Gibbard and his mates and i was thoroughly impressed. So were the several thousand youngsters in attendance.

More pics at my Rock 'n' Roll Flickr set.
And check out ESPN's Euro 2008 commercial featuring Rogue Wave's song, Harmonium. Pretty freakin' cool!!

Centro-Matic at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, TX May 30, 2008

2008-05-31T14:40:00.007-11:00

Centro-Matic found comfort in "The warm bosom " of their hometown of Denton, TX Friday night and treated their loyal fans to a perfect set of down home rock 'n' roll. Wow. Lots more pics in the Rock 'n' Roll section of my Flickr here.

NeffTunes MixTape May 2008: The Black Album

2008-05-27T14:12:00.004-11:00

Some of my favorite bands are black.

The Black Album Tracklist:
01 - Dolly by The Blacks
02 - Not Just Words by The Black Heart Procession
03 - Wucan by Black Mountain
04 - I Got Mine by The Black Keys
05 - High-Low by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
06 - Fairies Wear Boots by Black Sabbath
07 - 18 Years by The Black Angels
08 - The Craft by Blackalicious
09 - The Model by Big Black
10 - Step Right Up by Black Lips
11 - Sweet Valentine by Blue Skies for Black Hearts
12 - God's Got It by The Black Crowes
13 - Sister Isabel by Frank Black with Teenage Fanclub
14 - Union by Black Eyed Peas
15 - You Don't Know What You've Got by Joan Jett & The Black Hearts
16 - Seasons in the Sun by Black Box Recorder
17 - Strobelite Honey by Black Sheep
18 - Boatsman by Black Twig Pickers
19 - Poor Brown Sugar by The Black Diamond Heavies
Zip file size: 92.9 MB. Bit rate: 192Kbps.
Download it here. Enjoy!!

The Whigs at The Loft in Dallas, TX on May 9, 2008

2008-05-10T12:34:00.010-11:00

My favorite band in the whole world (at the moment) came and rocked us at The Loft in Dallas on Friday. It was loud. There was a fog machine. Oh, and a pack of tweens. (?) The Whigs jumped around a lot while playing a raucous and tight set of their best rock 'n' roll. You shoulda been there. i was. it was sweet.

A crapload of pics are posted at my flickr, accessible with your mouse thingy by cliking on this text right here. And check out The Whigs' blog here.
Get their latest album, Mission Control. Go see them on tour.
And check out acoustic versions of "Hot Bed" and "Like A Vibration" at The Whigs' It's Hard To Find a Friend Backstage Session here. Splendid!!

Deke Dickerson All Good Cafe Dallas, TX

2008-04-26T07:55:00.004-11:00

Deke Dickerson brings the rock 'n' roll with his Ecco-Fonics to the All Good Cafe
Lots more pics at my flickr.
Get Deke's brand new album, King of the Whole Wide World on sale now!

NeffTunes MixTape April 2008: Quarterly Report

2008-04-22T12:55:00.004-11:00

Here's a compilation of songs from the Official Awesome-O-Meter Highly Recommended List of Kick-Assed Albums for 2008 (so far).
Quarterly Report Tracklist:
01 - Hot Bed by The Whigs
02 - Big Black Bird by Blitzen Trapper
03 - Same Old Thing by The Black Keys
04 - Wild West Love Song by Marah
05 - Quality Strange by Centro-Matic
06 - Gardenia by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
07 - Aretha, Sing One For Me by Cat Power
08 - Index Moon by The Grand Archives
09 - Hang Them All by Tapes 'n' Tapes
10 - Rize by Blood on the Wall
11 - Escape to Aspen by Jeremy Jay
12 - Think I Wanna Die by SomeoneStillLovesYouBorisYeltsin
13 - Bryn by Vampire Weekend
14 - Fall Down by Sara Melson
15 - The Silence Between Us by Bob Mould
16 - Autoclave by The Mountain Goats
17 - Man-Sized Wreath by REM
18 - Garbage Heap by Black Francis
19 - Salute Your Solution by The Raconteurs
20 - Somebody's Someone by Retribution Gospel Choir
21 - Strange Victory, Strange Defeat by Silver Jews
22 - Change Is Hard by She & Him
23 - Perfect Timing by Drive-By Truckers
24 - This Will Never Be Our Town by Jason Anderson
25 - Evil Ways by Black Mountain
26 - Hurly/Burly by Man Man
Download the Quarterly Report here.
Zip file size: 92.4 MB. Bit rate: 160Kbps. Enjoy in good spirits!
Most of these artists are on tour in support of their new records as i type this. Show up, cheer them on, say "hello," and buy their stuff!

Son Volt: Main St. Ft. Worth Arts Festival April 19, 2008

2008-04-20T15:00:00.006-11:00

More pics here.

Show Pics: The Weakerthans; Okkervil River

2008-04-10T21:11:00.001-11:00

The Weakerthans: April 5, 2008 Granada Theater, Dallas, TX

Okkervil River: April 1, 2008 Granada Theater, Dallas, TX

Lots more pics at my flickr

NeffTunes MixTape March 2008: The Light Album

2008-03-24T15:05:00.003-11:00

Tracklist:
01 - Red Morning Light by Kings of Leon
02 - Hot Soft Light by The Hold Steady
03 - Turn on the Light by Bad Religion
04 - When You See the Light by Pete Yorn
05 - Lighten Up by Beastie Boys
06 - Going To Switch the Lights On by Grand National
07 - Blue Light by Bloc Party
08 - Blinking Lights (for me) by Eels
09 - Follow the Lights by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
10 - A New Light to Guide You by California Snow Story
11 - Bad Light by Built To Spill
12 - Shine A Light by The Constantines
13 - Light Switch by The Young Knives
14 - Real Light by The Jayhawks
15 - Red Light by Georgia Satellites
16 - Under the Lights by Grievous Angels
17 - Pink Light by Laura Viers
18 - Shine A Light by Ghostfinger
19 - See a Little Light by Bob Mould
20 - What Light (live) by Wilco
21 - I See the Light by Cracker
22 - Daylight by Viva Voce
23 - Long As I Can See the Light by CCR
Enlighten yourself here at MediaFire. Zip file size: 90.1MB. Bit rate: 160Kbps
As always, support these artists by going to their shows and buying their stuff!

NYC Pics

2008-03-24T14:26:00.004-11:00

Lots more pics here.

NYC

2008-03-14T08:33:00.004-11:00

i'll be in NYC for the SES this week (March 17 - 20). i'll be staying here, it looks nice. No word if Paris will be in the house, though.
i've never been there, so i am very pumped. Any tips? All's this boy knows about New York is what he peeps on the teevee and movies. i hope to hang out at Monk's Cafe and Central Perk as much as possible. Does Rachel still work there?
i plan on taking cabs wherever i go, so as to increase my chances of getting picked up by the CashCab, or Reverend Jim.
What's the most fun/ interesting/ off-the-beaten-path activity you've partaken in while there?
Is the pizza any good?
How can i get into the Letterman's audience without having to wait in line all day?
How do i meet the new governor? He seems pretty cool.
i like to take long walks at 3am with my headphones on, is Central Park a good place to do this?
Thanks for your help.
i'll post some pics and have a new MixTape for y'all when (if?!) i return to the Dallas.

NeffTunes MixTape: February 2008

2008-02-13T13:07:00.003-11:00

i've got a classic case of my girlfriend and i broke up, she left and this place is empty and everything reminds me of her blues. Allow me this catharsis, dear readers. Next month i'll be back with more rockin' tunes.

Tracklist:
======================
01 - Last Night I Went Out Walking by The Handsome Family
02 - And I Remember Every Kiss by Jens Lekman
03 - House of Secrets by Mike Ireland & Holler
04 - Hate It Here [live] by Wilco
05 - Everything I Do by Whiskeytown
06 - I Flew Over Our House Last Night by Tom T. Hall
07 - The Buck Starts Here by Robbie Fulks
08 - House That Used To Be by Old 97s
09 - A House Without Love by Hank Williams
10 - Home Sick Home by Grievous Angels
11 - I Still Miss Someone by Gram Parsons
12 - She Doesn't Live There Anymore by Doughboys
13 - House We Used To Live In by The Smithereens
14 - Empty Shell by Cat Power
15 - Open Doors by Josh Ritter
16 - Wish You Were Here by Ryan Adams
17 - Ghosts of You and Me by Soulsavers
18 - Left and Leaving by The Weakerthans
19 - The Ending by Bobby Bare Jr's YCSL
===================
Download: Vacancy
160Kbps. 79.1 MB.
Enjoy!

Some recent shows in the DFW/Denton area...

2008-02-04T13:12:00.000-11:00

Dove Hunter
Doug Burr

Lots more pics at my Rock n Roll flickr set.
See ya at the next show.

The NeffList 2007

2008-01-17T14:29:00.000-11:00

Dear reader, i have assembled the best songs from my top albums from 2007 and served up this super deluxe, extra rich heapin' helpin' of the rock (and some roll). Hope you enjoy.

Download Batch 1 here [160 KBps MediaFire 92.56MB]: Viola!! 

Download Batch 2 here [160 KBps MediaFire 90.43MB]: Chow down.

Download Batch 3 here [160 KBps MediaFire 90.54MB]: Issue victuals! Full tracklist in the Comments section.
~N

2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Mizzou 38, Arkansas 7

2008-01-13T12:33:00.000-11:00

The Missouri Tigers had their most successful season ever, and came to Dallas for the 2008 Cotton Bowl on Jan 1, 2008. Slice, Bu, and Wibbler joined me from the homeland to witness their dismantling of the hapless University of Arkansas Razorback "men's" "football" "team." The Tigers offense started slow, but once they realized Arkansas was dropping up to 8 men back in the secondary to stop their potent aerial attack, they simply let Tony Temple take the ball and run. And run and run and run. He racked up a Cotton Bowl record 281 yards rushing to help the Tigers roll in their bowl. Here are some pics from that glorious and historic day.

See more pics at my flickr here.

Modest Mouse 12/14/07 Nokia Theatre, Grand Prairie, TX

2008-01-13T09:00:00.000-11:00

Modest Mouse rolled back into town on December 14, 2007, and once again, they were nice enough to let me hang out with them and document another wonderful performance. Here are some pics:

Lots more pics here at my Flickr. Thanks again to the band for rocking North Texas. See y'all next time around!

NeffTunes MixTape November 2007: Put Your Hands Together! Vol, I & II

2007-12-08T13:54:00.000-11:00

i scoured my library and extracted the best hand-clappin' songs by my favorite artists. i came up with 49 songs that can fit on (2) CDs. A word of caution: Be careful when listening to these songs while driving. They may cause you to clap along, endangering you and your fellow travelers.
Download Volume I here.

Volume I Tracklist:
01 - Lamb on the Lam (in the city) by Band of Horses
02 - Wrecking Ball by Viva Voce
03 - Penny by The Tellers
04 - Women Are Born In Love by Oh No! Oh My!
05 - Fancy Claps by Wolf Parade
06 - Your Move by Blackalicious
07 - OK, Alright by The Whigs
08 - Hey Man (now you're living) by eels
09 - Clap Hands by Beck
10 - Away From Home by Crystal Skulls
11 - The Way It's Meant To Be by The Features
12 - Alone Again Or by Calexico
13 - Kicking The Heart Out by Rogue Wave
14 - Love and War (11-11-46) by Rilo Kiley
15 - We Used To Be Friends by Dandy Warhols
16 - Knockin' Em Back by Paul Westerberg
17 - 12-51 by The Strokes
18 - Slaveship by Josh Rouse
19 - Chill, Relax, Now by ScottMiller&TheCommonwealth
20 - Oh Sweet Susanna by The Mooney Suzuki
21 - Touch You Touch You by Hot Hot Heat
22 - The Way We Get By by Spoon
23 - Phantasies by Stephen Malkmus
24 - ReceptacleForTheRespectable by SuperFurryAnimals
==========================================
And get Volume II here.

Volume II tracklist:
01 - Stream Running Over by Apples In Stereo
02 - Ten O'Clock Your Time by The Waxwings
03 - Point Breeze by Marah
04 - Oppenheimer by Old 97's
05 - Happy Hour by The Promise Ring
06 - You Blew Me Off by Bare Jr.
07 - Amy 88 by The V-Roys
08 - Boom Swagger Boom by Murder City Devils
09 - Turn It On by Sleater-Kinney
10 - Where It's At by Beck
11 - Free and Easy Take 2 by BrianJonestownMassacre
12 - Connection by Elastica
13 - Public Witness Program by Fugazi
14 - Kitchen by The Lemonheads
15 - 99 Red Balloons by 7 Seconds
16 - VictimOfCircumstance by JoanJett&TheBlackHearts
17 - Rock The Casbah by The Clash
18 - Centerfold by The J. Geils Band
19 - Teenage Kicks by The Undertones
20 - My Best Friend's Girl by The Cars
21 - Right on Time by The Brothers Johnson
22 - American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
23 - Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder
24 - All The Young Dudes by Mott The Hoople
25 - My Obsession by The Rolling Stones
=======================================
Enjoy these tunes safely.
Hear somethin' you like? Buy it!

NeffTunes MixTape October 2007: Gloomy Day Music

2007-11-01T12:59:00.000-11:00

The other day, a friend at work told me she needed some music for the gloomy day we were having, so i put these tracks together.

Download the zip file here.

01 - Either Way by Wilco
maybe the sun will shine today
02 - Ocean of Noise by Arcade Fire
a world of empty streets
03 - Ain't Gonna Rain Anymore by NickCave&TheBadSeeds
once there came a storm in the form of a girl
04 - The Past and Pending by The Shins
as someone sets light to the first fire of autumn
05 - Apartment Story by The National
sleep in our clothes and wait for winter to leave
06 - Cleanse Song by Bright Eyes
full of fever dreams that scare you sober
07 - I'll Be Around by Bobby Bare Jr's YCSL
when you need a warmth inside
08 - Open Doors by Josh Ritter
you don't see shadows on a cloudy day
09 - And It Rained All Night by Thom Yorke
the drops were the size of your hands and face
10 - It Covers the Hillside by Midlake
winter comes it sure is rough
11 - Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen
your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free
12 - The Bank and Trust by The Elected
the streets are full of snow, and the shops are closin' down
13 - Left and Leaving by The Weakerthans
the sidewalks are watching me think about you
14 - Let's Stay In by Bright Light Fever
we're gonna stay inside 'til it begins to rain
15 - Fine Day by Jawbreaker
fine day to sleep
16 - Plastic Jesus by The Flaming Lips
i don't care if it rains or freezes
=====Enjoy! :o]=====

NeffTunes MixTape September 2007: Don't Call It A Sellout

2007-10-03T14:02:00.003-11:00

In the past few years, i have noticed that Madison Avenue has been using tracks from some of my favorite artists to hawk their products. Some call the bands that lend their sounds for big corporations' marketing campaigns "sellouts." i'm not one of those people. i am happy to see these bands rewarded for their years of touring and toiling in virtual obscurity with some cold, hard cash. In many of these cases, the soundtracks for commercials are their first wide national exposure, which leads to greater interest, which in turn leads to more album sales, bigger tours and more cash to make more music. Everybody wins, except for the jealous, whiny "fans." i say, hooray for them. It's the American way. This MixTape is comprised of some of my favorite examples of NeffTunes on TV.
Download it here from MediaFire, fine readers and enjoy these catchy nuggets of American capitalism responsibly. And remember to support these artists by buying their albums and going to their shows. And if ya get a chance, congratulate them for cashing in. Word up.

01 - We've Been Had by The Walkmen
02 - Ocean Man by Ween
03 - Molly's Chambers by Kings of Leon
04 - 10am Automatic by The Black Keys
05 - The Revolution Starts Now by Steve Earle
06 - The W.A.N.D. by The Flaming Lips
07 - Gravity Rides Everything by Modest Mouse
08 - Woman by Wolfmother
09 - The Thanks I Get by Wilco
10 - Go by Apples In Stereo
11 - Ice Cream by New Young Pony Club
12 - Such Great Heights by The Postal Service
13 - So Here We Are by Bloc Party
14 - TheBleedingHeartShow by TheNewPornographers
15 - New Slang by The Shins
16 - One Two Three Four by Feist
17 - Chanty by Son Volt
18 - Ariel Ramirez by Richard Buckner
19 - Such Great Heights by Iron & Wine
20 - You're My Best Friend by Queen
Bonus: The Pizza Hut commercial that never was. In 2002, Ween was commissioned to provide a jingle for Pizza Hut's new "Insider" pizza - the one with a cheese-like substance baked into the crust. Track 21 is what they submitted.
21 - Where'd The Cheese Go? by Ween
Pizza Hut rejected it and told them to try again. Track 22 is what they came up with.
22 - Where'd The Cheese Go? (remix) by Ween
Needless to say, Pizza Hut didn't like the remixed version either. Just another testament to the genius of Ween. :o]

The National: An Awesomeometer Super Post

2007-09-21T10:06:00.000-11:00

The National is officially this blogger's Favorite Band in the Whole World at the Moment, and their stellar 12-track album, Boxer has retained the title of The NeffList's Top Album of 2007 since its release earlier this spring. They played a kick-assed set at Dallas' Granada Theater Friday, September 14, 2007, and i was fortunate enough to be one of the many super-stoked fans in attendance. See my flickr page for tons of pics from that memorable performance.
They recently played "Fake Empire" on Late Night With David Letterman, and will play another track from Boxer, "Apartment Story" on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on Wednesday Sept. 26. So plan on staying up late or look for it on the YouTube the next day.
In June, The National was featured on NPR's Live Concert Series. Listen to their performance from DC's 9:30 Club here.
Filmaker Vincent Moon is completing a documentary featuring The National as they recorded Boxer last year. The film is titled A Skin, A Night. Check out Vincent's incredible footage of intimate performances of each song from Boxer here. Wow.
For all of you fans of The National who already have all of their CD's, but are left wanting more, i have scoured the darkest corners of the interwebs and uploaded all of the non-album tracks i could find. And you're very welcome. All files are zipped and uploaded to Mediafire for your convenience. You can find the tracklists for each file in the comments section of this post. Vive le National!!

The National: Black Session April 2005
The National: Live KEXP Radio 2005
The National: Boxer Demos
The National: Live Radio Show England 2007
The National: Live On Spinner 2007
The National: White Session May 2007
The National: Daytrotter Live
The National: Stray Tracks

Enjoy, you motherscratchers!!

Other links:
The National - Official Page
Daytrotter
NPR Concert Series
Spinner