Who comes to mind when I say: Chicago Blues Funk Legend?
Buddy Guy.

This 71-year-old can make his guitar weep with one hand, all the while chatting up a woman in the audience. True.


Update: I'm going to Chicago in September! YAY! I'll be stopping by his blues club Legends and maybe I'll get to see him play again. Fingers crossed.

Sara Bareilles opened for Aqualung - what a lovely surprise.

Click on Sara to watch Vegas.


Aqualung is Matt Hales; he's currently on tour promoting 'Memory Man' with brother Ben. Lovelovelove the new album!

A bon voyage to Alun & The Quitters. They're off to play shows in CHINA!

Click on Alun to watch Whisper Of You.


Sadly, I was so stinkin' tired that night, due to my insomnia, that I only lasted his first 2 sets - and wouldn't you know it? I missed out on videoing the first Dakota Tavern BRAWL. Damnit. I miss all the good stuff.

Update: Got this message from Alun.
"Just a short hello from Shanghai... Enjoying the Jimmy Swift Band every night. However the air quality is fucken killing me."
(So things haven't changed since I was last there in 1995? Air quality is putrid in the urban areas of China; it's a shame as the history, architecture and sights are magnificent.)

Drowning Girl - new name, a nice and easy name.
Formerly she... they, were known as Hill Kourkoutis (her name). But perhaps it was getting a bit tiresome as they kept having to spell it out for everyone.
K-O-U-R-K-O-U-T-I-S... and yes it's Hill - as in Lauryn Hill, Benny Hill, a mole hill?! GAH.

Klaxons sans glowsticks, ha.

Click on Simon and Jaimie for a couple live performances.

Exclaim! is a monthly national music paper - and a former employer of mine.
They kicked off April with their Spring Fling concert with four awesome Canadian bands: You Say Party! We Say Die! (Vancouver), Malajube (Montreal), Chromeo (Montreal/New York), and (DJ) Champion (again from Montreal - what can I say? Montreal's where's it at!).

But first here's You Say Party! We Say Die! earlier that day at MTV.

Then they raced over to the Spring Fling show and kicked things off there. Here's Derek & Stephen rocking out.


Malajube is a francophone four-piece. Yes, they sing in French but music is universal. N'est pas?



Chromeo are Dave 1 and P-Thugg. The only thing I had heard from them was a fun remix of Feist's Sea Lion Woman - worth a listen on their myspace.


DJ Champion made the show! Max, the mix-master/conductor started things off.

Then one by one, four guitarists made their entrance: Barry, Fets, J-L and Seb.

Then the ladies came out: Manon the bassist in the back and Betty in front.


What a night! Baisers!

I ended the Month of March with a blast - Snow Patrol Weekend!

First stop, Montreal. Here's Jenny & MOI.

Silversun Pickups were amazing! Pablo came out and played on Lazy Eye!

OKGO were having far too much fun. Crazy projections!

And rather than posting photos of the SP boys, here are some videos of Gary rambling...okay, maybe ONE obligatory tummy teaser first.

Snippets from Montreal. Click to view.

Gary proclaims his love.

Gary on a gay day.

Set The Fire...on the first girl.

Set The Fire...with Marianne.

Snippets from Toronto. Click to view.

Superstition.

My dear Robert.

Set The Fire...with Alex & Jen (aka Sam).

As they say across the pond, IT WAS A BELTER! Love to all, x.

Holy shit. Has it been over a month already? Best finish up the end of March.

March 23rd, the return of Sebadoh.

Lou kept going on all night about his 'Canadian pick'. One point during the show he accidentally flicked it into the crowd, 'Hey, give me back my Canadian pick'. That's some attachment; that's some Canadian pick!



March 27th, Stars of Track and Field open for...


The Long Winters.