Although the overlap between Barack Obama's DNC address and Radiohead's webcast of their final North American show this tour wasn't total and complete, from your Santa Barbara liveblogging, it seems more than a few of you devoted your night to Obama's Denver address. I think you guys chose wisely, both for the sake of Observing Significant Moments In American History, and for the sake of knowing that the Internet captures every move Radiohead makes in perpetuity anyway. What I saw of the concert was a nice reminder of my nights with them this summer, and a necessary chaser to hearing Chris Matthews yell at me about how essential Barack's speech was. We've rounded up what we could of the high-quality YouTubes out there from the Santa Barbara set, along with a setlist, for your pleasure.

Like so many bands before them, Van Halen do not approve of their music being used on the presidential campaign trail (McCain used "Right Now" as an entrance theme in Ohio this morning). "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given," says VH management. "They're not political, they're just rock and roll." Also Sarah Palin's favorite meal is moose stew.

Artist To Watch Lykke Li gave Americans the first opportunity to watch her on late night TV last night. The buzz Swede visited Studio 6A, where she performed icy dance pop tune "Breaking It Up" with an invisible choir. Looks like Lykke won over Conan with her megaphone and patented wacky moves. Of course you may have been otherwise engaged, so here's what you missed.

There was quite a bit going on last night, so chances are you missed Lykke Li's national television debut. Also, if you haven't heard the Punks Jump Up remix of this song that I posted the other day, I highly recommend it:



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Most remix type things should never be downloaded, let alone get a video. But Crystal Castles' slinky, Nintendo bleepy makeover of HEALTH's "Crimewave" -- a standout track from the exceedingly good HEALTH // DISCO remix album -- well, that can get whatever it wants. The clip has a higher Alice Glass visibility factor than did "Courtship Dating" (she's singing through a mesh net) and features a down on his luck zombie, mixed in with footage of Crystal Castles supremely strobed live show.

If you missed the Radiohead webcast last night from Santa Barbara, here's Thom Yorke's solo performance of The Eraser standout "Cymbal Rush," which kicked off the first encore:



More from the webcast here.

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unrelated:


high places (photo)

High Places have gone and made the prettiest song on their forthcoming self-titled debut LP available for free download. Here's the dreamy album-closer, which has already become a staple on our Sirius Blog Radio show:

mp3:
high places :: from stardust to sentience

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elsewhere:

Sounds like this new album from The Streets is shaping up nicely. Here's the new video for the title track, "Everything is Borrowed":



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DOWNLOAD: 2 hours and 26 minutes of Dave Dresden for August 2008 (MP3)

Watch Her Dance, Coney Island (New York Observer)

Hopefully by the time you read this you will be recovering from some dancefloor devastation no matter what you decided to do. Options abound for the weekend as well (for those staying in town) (or those visiting):

Friday night (Aug 29) Trouble & Bass are back for the Takeover at Love with South Rakkas Crew and Dre Skull. The South Rakkas Crew brings reggae/dancehall influenced electro bangers and Dre Skull makes happy, retro (90's-ish in a good way) electro jams. It should be a really fun night.

$10 before midnight, $15 after. $10 advanced tickets available here.

Also happening Friday - Dave Dresden (of the famed production duo Gabriel & Dresden, each pursuing solo careers since May) is at Cielo. You can download a mix he did this month - "2 hours and 26 minutes of dave dresden" at the top of this post (tracklisting below).

Advanced tickets available here as well as at Rebel Rebel (319 Bleecker St).

2 hours and 26 minutes of dave dresden for August 2008 tracklist1. faithless - it's a kind of peace (acappella)
2. motorcycle - as the rush comes (synth part)
3. dave dresden - anthem bass
4. daniele papini - church of nonsense
5. siliversun pickups - lazy eye (dave dresden & dj lynnwood bootleg)
6. depeche mode - personal jesus (dirty south remix)
7. style of eye - girls
8. radiohead - nude (dave dresden remix)
9. jewel - serve the ego (gabriel & dresden remix)
10. deadmau5 - not exactly (dave dresden remix)
11. coldplay - talk (acappella)
12. john dahlback - pyramid (dirty south rework)
13. energy 52 - cafe del mar (deadmau5 remix)
14. shiny toy guns - you are the one (acappella)
15. planet funk - chase the sun - (house moguls 2008 remix)
16. paolo mojo - intersteller
17. delerium feat sarah mclachlan - silence - (thomas gold & niels van gough remix)
18. john dahlback - blink -(d.o.n.s. & dbn chainsaw remix)
19. gabriel & dresden feat jan burton - enemy
20. josh gabriel - tone program (original mix)
21. rennie foster - devil's water
22. josh gabriel - tone program (style of eye remix)
23. john claude ades - i begin to wonder 2008 (jerome isma-ae remix)
24. spoon - don't you evah? (dave dresden remix)
25. dj blaqstarr - shake it to the ground (claude vonstroke remix)
26. interpol - the heinrich maneuver (dave dresden re-edit of paul epworth remix)
27. gabriel & dresden - portobello
28. the editors - at the end of it all (marcus schossow remix)
29. BILL HICKSI don't think I can emphasize "dance outside while you still can!" enough. There are lots of opportunities to do so this weekend, but not too many more!

Saturday is the second to last Warm Up party at P.S.1. This week's line-up is particularly no-wave oriented with:

Jonathan Kane's February

James Chance and The Contortions

You can download a free mp3 of their track "Incorrigible" ("Warm-Up Version" by Sal P. w/ Brennan Green and Dennis Young) from No Wave City. It will be released as a 12" on Rong Music later this year.

Matthew Dear & Ryan Elliott (Ghostly International/Spectral Sound). Check out the clip of them below at last year's DEMF:

Hey Convict! (Golf Channel Recordings, Australia) - they don't have much of an internet presence but their sets are supposed to be disco-based, but also very eclectic, mixing in a variety of genres. You can download a set they did for Beats in Space last year here (scroll to June 5th) and one of the mixes they are known for - Slow Mo No Beard, from Research and Development.

If you're into Ryan Elliott's set at P.S.1 you can continue dancing to his tunes without leaving the neighborhood as the second to last Beach Party at Water Taxi Beach is also happening in Long Island City (which is also soon to be the home of Queensbridge Theater) Saturday night. Ryan's labelmate Osborne will also be deejaying as well as Marcel Wave aka Tanner Ross of Freerange and Dirtybird.

Marcel Wave aka Tanner Ross

The party is from 8pm - 3am and costs $5. Directions and any other info you might need is available here.also: New free Saturday Late Night Bus Shuttle between Water Taxi Beach and the #7 Subway at Vernon Jackson Blvd from 10pm to 3am!One last option for Saturday night:

The monthly Crooked Disco party is happening at Public Assembly with DJ Eleven, Mr. Andersonic, Nick Hook, and a *special surprise guest* that will be announced on the Crooked Disco website on Saturday.

$5 w/ RSVP here or rsvp@crooked-disco.com

Monday is Labor Day, so you owe it to yourself to hit it extra hard on Sunday. Here are some ways to do it:

This Sunday is the last Sunday Best at the Yard, fittingly ending with New York's own Metro Area keeping things nice and funky combining elements of disco and R&B with more modern house and techno to keep everyone moving. If you haven't made it out to any of these parties it's not too late! There's a re-cap of the series below and all the info you need to get there this Sunday:Thirteen weeks after Roy Davis Jr rocked with us into the summer on Memorial Day weekend, Sunday Best is saying goodbye to our weekly jam at The Yard. It's been great. From Danny Wang playing air bass with a rainbow overhead to Afrika Bambaataa closing out his sunshower set with Josh Wink's Higher State of Consciousness to John Tejada playing his 3am-worthy live show tucked under The Yard's outdoor shed as the sun went down, there's been no lack of special moments.

This Sunday we're all go for a few more. Hometown heroes Metro Area are playing with us, and along with the standard good food and breezy vibe, we'll probably have a surprise or two up our sleeve.

We hope to see you there one last time!3pm - 9pm. $8. All ages, 21+ to drink.
RSVP: rsvp@sundaybestnyc.com

Directions to The Yard (400 Carroll St between Bond and Nevins)
F, G trains to Carroll St. South on Smith. Left on President. Right on Hoyt. Left on Carroll.
N, R trains to Union. West on Union. Left on Nevins. Right on Carroll. Just over the bridge.

The long-running Body & Soul party is happening at (a place that isn't everyone's favorite) Webster Hall, but it's an opportunity to catch a soulful, genre-crossing, good-vibed party with some legendary deejays: Francois K, Joaquin "Joe" Claussell, and Danny Krivit.

Advanced tickets available here.

One last event happening Sunday that features a lot of deejays whose styles aren't exactly my favorite, but I'm sure is of interest to some: Sunday School for Degenerates. It's actually a series of three events - the Overboard Boat Party (pre-school) from 6pm - 10pm on Sunday w/ Steve Bug and Adultnapper, Sunday School for Degenerates at Rebel from 10pm - 9am with Dan Berkson & James What (live), Kate Simko (live), and quite a few deejays, and the Afterschool Special at the Yard from 10am - 9pm on Monday with Brendon Moeller, Cassy, Joel Mull, Nikola Bytala, Zip and special guests. There are tickets available for the individual parties as well as a pass to all three, info on all the deejays, venues, transportation, etc. here.

As much as I hate to admit that it's coming, fall is on its way. Luckily there is already a ton of events lined up that I am looking forward to to distract me. One that's coming up pretty soon is Ete D'Amour w/ Boombass at Santos on September 11th. Boombass is 1/2 of the great French electronic/house duo Cassius with Philippe Zdar. Unlike a lot of electronic bands and deejays that have recently come to light and become increasingly popular with the rise of "electro", Cassius have been around for a while and it shows in their classic French touch tracks.

I first saw Cassius deejay at my second electronic show ever, opening for the Chemical Brothers during 2002's CMJ (along with the Audio Bullys, Erlend Oye, and Simian Mobile Disco, back when it was all 4 of them). Cassius' set was easily one of the best I've seen to this day with an instantly accessible and banging mix of French-tinged everything, culminating in Steve Edwards coming out to do live vocals over what was their latest single at the time, "The Sound of Violence". Check out the video below and be sure to get a ticket for what is sure to be an equally awesome night of French classics at Santos.

Cassius - The Sound of Violence

Also, before Boombass throws down at Santos on the 11th, some other Frenchmen - Gildas & Masaya of Kitsune will be
hitting our city and the sea next Saturday for the last People Don't Dance No More boat party of the summer. Be sure to get your ticket ASAP as they are extremely limited and will probably sell out. You can find all the info you need here.

-Showtrotta

BSS fans @ Lollapalooza 2008 (more by Bao Nguyen)

Although Broken Social Scene's next advertised NYC show isn't until October 24th, they will be playing one in the city for NYU students on September 4th with French Kicks and Pattern is Movement. You can also catch French Kicks at Bowery Ballroom with Passion Pit on September 24th. Pattern is Movement's next public NYC show is October 4th.

In this clip for the opening/title track of the new Streets album, Mike Skinner is at home, not roaching a spliff and watching telly, but waking the wife and making breakfast for his son. Their domestic bliss is cut short when six dudes show up to repossess the house. It's "an artistic piece of credit crunch drama" according to The Beats' video description. The maudlin refrain "I came to this world with nothing, and I'll leave with nothing but love" takes on a more literal meaning in this context. The British rapper's no stranger to sentimental songs, of course, but it's an interesting choice for first single and perhaps hints at LP4's more mature themes.

We told you Paul Westerberg's 44-minute 49:00 was available at for 49 cents -- was because looks like you can't buy it anymore. If you don't mind inflation, though, there's the two-song 3oclockreep EP going for .99 (one's a 22-minute collage that includes Tom Waits babbling!) and choose between 99¢ and :05 for "5:05."

Nada Surf @ Frank Bango benefit - Aug 26, 2008 (more by Chris La Putt)

The most caring band in the world, Nada Surf, will play another acoustic show with members of Fountains of Wayne and others in order to benefit the ailing NY singer-songwriter Kelly Buchanan at Knitting Factory in NYC on September 10th. Tickets are on sale. Flyer and more details below...

On March 9th, Kelly suffered traumatic brain injury while playing street hockey. On Sept 10th, ASCAP is hosting a Benefit to raise funds for her & to celebrate the 2008 record she was never able to release - ironically, a record written about healing & recovery.

KNITTING FACTORY - MAIN
Wed. Sept 10, 2008 at 7:00 PM
featuring separate, rare acoustic sets by members of Fountains of Wayne and Nada Surf, NY based band Measure and an All-Star Band with many special guests, covering songs from Kelly's latest release.

DOWNLOAD: James Jackson Toth - Nothing Hides (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: James Jackson Toth - Doreen (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jex Thoth - Separated at Birth (MP3)

James Jackson Toth (ex-Wooden Wand) released an album called Waiting In Vain on 7/29 on Rykodisc. The album features, among others, Nels Cline (Wilco), John Dietrich (Deerhoof) and Andy Cabic (aka Vetiver) on guitar, and it was produced by Steve Fisk (Nirvana, Screaming Trees). You can download two tracks from that above.

Jex Thoth (not Toth, THOTH) is married to James Jackson Toth and used to be in Wooden Wand with him. Jex Thoth is also the name of Jex Thoth's band that used to be called Totem. Jex Thoth (the band) recently released a self-titled album that James (aka Grim Jim) played guitar and bass on. So just to recap: James Toth contributed to Jex Thoth's new Jex Thoth album Jex Thoth (someone please correct me if I messed that up). Stream Jex Thoth HERE. Get an MP3 above.

Jex Thoth has no upcoming shows, but James Jackson Toth is on tour with Hardly Art recording artist The Dutches & the Duke. The NYC shows are Sunday at Mercury Lounge and the day after that at Union Hall. James is also playing some dates with the Silver Jews. All dates below...

TDATD opening for Fleet Foxes @ Bowery (more by Elizabeth Weinberg)

The Dutchess & The Duke - 2008 Tour Dates
08.27.08 - Asheville, NC - Harvest Record !
08.28.08 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 !
08.29.08 - Charlottesville, VA - Gravity Lounge !
08.30.08 - Baltimore, MD - Talking Head Club !
08.31.08 - New York, NY - Mercury !
09.01.08 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall !
09.03.08 - Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bears !
09.04.08 - Albany, NY - Valentine's !
09.05.08 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place !
09.06.08 - Bloomington, IN - Uncle Festers !
09.07.08 - Pontiac, MI - The Cro Foot (Pike Room) !
09.10.08 - Chicago, IL - Reckless Records in-store *
09.10.08 - Chicago, IL - Schubas !
09.11.08 - Ames, IA - Maintenance Shop
09.12.08 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater (Monolith Party)

! - w/ James Jackson Toth
* - All-ages and free! Starts at 7pm at the Broadway store

James Jackson Toth - other 2008 Tour Dates
Sep 9 - Daytrotter Sessions Rock Island, Illinois
Sep 12 - The Billiken Club St. Louis, Missouri
Sep 13 - Hi Tone Memphis, Tennessee
Sep 14 - The End w/ Kindergarten Circus and ??? Nashville, Tennessee
Sep 17 - One Eyed Jacks ** New Orleans, Louisiana
Sep 18 - Orange Show ** Houston, Texas
Sep 19 - Emo's ** Austin, Texas
Sep 20 - Hailey's ** Denton, Texas
Sep 22 - Plush ** Tucson, Arizona
Sep 23 - Casbah ** San Diego, California
Sep 25 - The Fillmore ** San Francisco, California
Sep 26 - Echoplex ** Los Angeles, California
Oct 11 - WPRK 91.5 FM's Marathon IV Orlando, Florida

** w/ Silver Jews

David Grubbs supposedly describes his new album An Optimist Notes The Dusk as "a step into the void," which doesn't sound overly optimistic. His first solo record since 2004's poppier A Guess At The Riddle does sound good and enjoyable fractured, though. It consists of five longer songs (hence the "edit" in the above headline) and an 11-minute instrumental. Fans of his work in Gastr del Sol or the nighttime blues of Loren Connors should appreciate the spare, nay skeletal, knottiness. Listen:

The piano man had begun work on his first ever opera, but he's composing it in French, and his would-be commissioners at the Met and Lincoln Center prefer their new operas in English. That's why he's looking to find it a new home -- that, and because the Met can't even fit it in 'til 2014. Quoth Rufus: "I'm an impatient pop star."

photos by Ryan Muir

More tour dates HERE.

DOWNLOAD: Motel Motel - Coffee (MP3)

NIN @ the Izod Center (more by Zach Dilgard)

today in NYC
* FREE
* DANCE
* Fred Thomas @ The Stone
* Fishbone on a boat
* The Giraffes on a boat
* Motel Motel @ Union Hall
* the opening of Hello Brooklyn
* Raphael Saadiq, Oneida, and Endless Boogie @ South Street Seaport
* The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, My Teenage Stride & Capstan Shafts @ Glasslands
* Portraits of Past, Ampere, Dead Letter Auction & Tropic of Nelson @ Death By Audio

Sonic Youth tomorrow.

Goodbye Blue Monday is hosting three free performances of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night".

Happy Labor Day Weekend.

What else?

Amateur YouTube musicians can be sad, annoying, or both. Teenage sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg, harmonizing on "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" in a magical forest, are neither. In fact, they will brighten your day. ">Good job, Internet!

It's hard to believe, but High Places still haven't released their first proper album -- 03/07 - 09/07 was a comp, remember. But don't expect a letdown: Their forthcoming self-titled debut on Thrill Jockey's great, easily expanding on and complicating their past work, creating a more cohesive whole than you received via 03/07 - 09/07, etc. A little while ago we offered a listen to the recorded version of "Vision's the First..." (which we first heard at our SXSW party) fronting fellow album track "Namer" on an Upset The Rhythm 7". Now you can take a listen to "From Stardust To Sentience," the album's quiet finale. It sounds like an exit, a pretty ambient lullaby that finds Mary Pearson singing about space, the effects of gravity, and the desert where "your thoughts are as clear as the stars."

Mark Ronson is very serious about his love for Kaiser Chiefs. He memorialized this by commissioning Lily Allen to sing a cover of KC's "Oh My God" for his Versions record. Now he's one-upped himself by taking a production credit on the band's forthcoming, third album. "Never Miss A Beat" has been popping up on Kaiser Chiefs live sets since last year, sounding like a fairly standard guitar-rocking chant-along Kaiser Chiefs song, so here's Ronson's opportunity to bring some apparent shifts to the mix. (Warning, though: He didn't really bring any shifts to the mix.)

Hello Brooklyn? No comment on the name. More details on the new Red Hook Brooklyn venue below...

Hola! Bonjour! Konichiwa! But most importantly... HELLO BROOKLYN! As Red Hook waves farewell to The Hook, it says hello to the area's newest performance space and nightclub, HELLO BROOKLYN. Labor Day weekend [08.29 and 08.31] marks the opening and coming out party for the newly renovated space. Friday features all out dance party and Sunday features an all-ages backyard BBQ. [Flyers below] For more information, visit www.hellobrooklynnyc.com.

Located at 18 Commerce Street between Richards and Columbia St., HELLO BROOKLYN is nestled in Red Hook's eclectic mix of living artist residences, the new IKEA, and industrial businesses - a perfect location for raucous live performances, unique corporate events, video/photo shoots, and private engagements.

Renovations to the 6200 sq. ft. space include a plush new upstairs and downstairs interior, an upgraded, state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, and a refurbished outdoor space with a newly added bar. HELLO BROOKLYN boasts 3500 sq. ft. of open space on the main floor, including a beautiful semi-circular wood and brick bar, which at capacity houses 400 guests. The 75 X 23 ft. raised stage is perfect for large bands and a variety of stage performances. At the rear of the main floor, 250 sq. ft. of cushioned and carpeted risers provide casual seating with a clear view of the stage. For more information on venue specifications, visit www.hellobrooklynnyc.com.

HELLO BROOKLYN's opening marks the realization of a lifelong dream for owner and manager Craig "Knoki" Fyffe, former Sugar Factory alum, and business partner, Cesar CeDillo. "It's been a good four-year search for the right space in the right community," said Fyffe. "I want HELLO BROOKLYN to be known as a performance space with a lot of cultural and community events in Red Hook - we're not just another nightclub, we're an all-inclusive event space."

In addition to new management, HELLO BROOKLYN has partnered with Rare Form Promotions to serve as the booking agency for the space. Rare Form Promotions is known for hosting a variety of nightlife events in Brooklyn and Manhattan, including over five years of the Freedom Party, the JDilla tribute party Donuts Are Forever 1 & 2, Brasilintime with Red Bull/Mochilla, and ?uestlove at Quo.