Floating Away

The Wrens Are Coming!!!!

This just made my day.  The Wrens, perhaps one of my favorite bands of all time, are returning to LA on Friday, November 10th to play the Troubadour.

If you were at their show last year at the Troubadour, you understand why this band is so amazing.  They not only pour their hearts out on stage all the time, but their fans are so obsessed with them.  A great combination that is sure to be memorable for sometime. 

If you haven't heard of the Wrens, watch this NOW. A little preview of a Wrens documentary that I hope will coming soon.

In other news, Voxtrot is coming back to LA to headline the Troubadour on November 1st.

PREVIOUSLY: Kiss Me Deadly, Voxtrot, Pink Mountaintops @ The Echo

Another reason I hate Hollywood

Has anyone else seen this?

Ugh.  It looks horrid. What did the Weinstein Brothers do?  I don't like my turtles in CGI.

An Aquaman movie?

Is this the coolest thing ever or the lamest thing ever?

You decide. I feel like this is a major example of Hollywood just trying to ride the coattails of something with buzz.

"Aquaman," one of Hollywood's hottest inside jokes, might make the move from fiction to reality. As a key plot line in HBO's "Entourage," the "movie" directed by James Cameron shattered box-office records (a feat that got it a real ad in Variety), turned an unknown actor into a $20-million movie star and sparked a fight over a sequel.

But now, informal talks have been launched about the feasibility of making a real Warner Bros. "Aquaman" movie. In one of the strangest twists of this life-imitating-art tale, the talent agent at the center of the emerging "Aquaman" deal is Ari Emanuel, the brassy Endeavor partner on whom "Entourage" agent Ari Gold is based.

Warner Bros. said Thursday that the studio "is not currently developing" an "Aquaman" project. But according to four people familiar with the idea, conversations already have been held about the character's film rights, controlled by DC Comics, itself a part of Time Warner Inc. One top filmmaker's name also has surfaced as a potential "Aquaman" director — "Charlie's Angels" alumnus McG. The director is finishing the football film "We Are Marshall"; his reps declined comment on the "Aquaman" prospects.

Read the entire article here.

Tobias Froberg

His story sounds eerily like that of Jose Gonzalez.  An artist from Sweden that no one here has ever heard of gets his song on an electronics commercial (granted, no where near as cool as Jose's Bravia commercial) and gets a good amount of press and airplay in the States.  Leaves Sweden for small US tour.

That story is the story of Tobias Froberg.  A Swede with great pop sensibilities.  This is wonderful little pop song that I think you will enjoy.

MP3: Tobias Froberg - When The Night Turns Cold
Watch Tobias' Panasonic video here.

He is playing Largo on October 4th.  The rest of the dates after the jump.

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

My first exposure to Leonard Cohen was through Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah."  When I first heard Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," I hated it.  I didn't understand it. It was too weird for me.  I didn't like his whole talking thing.  But, over time, his albums stayed with me and I enjoyed them more and more.  I came to love his lyrics, particularly on songs like "Suzanne" and "Chelsea Hotel No. 2."  For a while, The 2 disc Essential Leonard Cohen was a fixture in my car, perfect for sitting in traffic with the windows down. 

I was incredibly excited to see the Lian Lunson documentary, "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man."  Partially because it was about the great LC and partially because the guest stars read like my ipod: Antony, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, and U2.  I saw the movie last night and loved it.  It is a great mix of documentary and concert film.  The performances of the artists covering Leonard Cohen are great.  Antony's "If It Be Your Will" was particularly moving as was Rufus Wainwright's "Hallelujah" (although secretly I was hoping they would dig up some old footage of Jeff Buckley performing it live).  But the best performance of the movie was an incredible version of "Tower of Song" with Leonard Cohen backed by U2.

The soundtrack comes out tomorrow (July 25th) and should be incredible.  It includes all the songs played in the movie plus some extras.  I am looking forward to this one. 

826LA Benefit Concert Update

According to bookeaters.org, the 826LA Benefit concert at Royce Hall has some changes.  Gone are John Roderick (of the Long Winters) and Mark Kozelek (of Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon) and now Jenny Lewis is on the bill.

As much as I love Jenny Lewis, I would much rather have John Roderick and Mark Kozelek.

The rest of the lineup is unchanged.

Previously: 826LA Benefit Concert

Wolfmother Coming Back to Southern California

Talk about a band blowing up.  Australian rockers Wolfmother played Spaceland (260 person capacity) and Cinespace in February.  The Henry Fonda (1500 person capacity) in June and they are coming back to LA on September 6 to play the Palladium (3,500 person capacity!).  For those of you scoring at home, that's a 125% increase in only 8 months.  I guess non-stop touring (including every summer festival) and some selling out to MTV really does pay off. 

Pre-sale starts Thursday at 10 am and ends at 10 pm.  Regular sale starts July 22nd.  I have never seen them, but hear its a good live show.

You can also catch them at Street Scene in San Diego on August 4th.

New Sense

I have really been enjoying 5 songs from New Sense, a new band from Milwaukee.  They have played sets with Phoenix and Voxtrot and are coming to LA to open up for The Little Ones.  They sound great on record and use just the perfect amount of synthesizers and handclaps.  This is great music for summer.  Catchy and poppy, full of great hooks and bobbing your head.  Check out the two tracks below:

MP3: New Sense - Chase the Night
MP3: New Sense - What If I Get Sick

And if you want to see them live:
August 7 - Los Angeles @ Spaceland w/ The Little Ones
August 11 - Milwaukee @ Miramar Theater w/ Maritime

The Rakes, Every Move A Picture @ The Troubadour

I have been a bad music nerd this year.  I have missed the boat on many artists mainly because I didn't have the time to research and download and listen like I have in the past.  Sometimes, this is a big regret.  Other times, not so much.  Adam was in town and he got tickets to see The Rakes and Every Move A Picture last night at the Troubadour. 

I had heard a total of one song by both bands combined.  I did know that both were involved in the British post-punk scene and The Rakes wear their influences proudly on their sleeves.  I just thought they weren't good.  All of the songs sound exactly the same.  The lead singer of the Rakes doesn't so much sing, but rather talk over great bassline and guitar riffs.  I couldn't hear anything they were singing and I don't know if that was because of his thick accent or because the sound at the Troubadour sucks. 

The lead singer also tries to be a really great frontman.  I love a great frontman, but there is a fineline between entertaining and just looking stupid and he was flirting with the latter. 

Don't get me wrong.  Many people there left saying it was an amazing show.  I was just not one of them.  I have heard that the album is more reflective of their brilliance.  I am not that pumped to check it out.

The true highlight of the show for me was seeing Average Joe 2 star David Daskal in the audience rocking out to both bands.  Now that guy knows how to have a good time. 

Beirut Tickets on Sale Today

Blogger sensation Beirut comes to the Troubadour on October 21st.  Tickets are on sale today at 10 am.  Buy tickets here.