In interviews earlier this year, the Coldplay guys promised a new record in 2010.  A record that is going to be “stripped-down, more acoustic” and will be performed at a tour consisting of only “smaller venues”

It’s an exciting idea, that may not be as far off as we think.

On their current South American tour, they have debuted a couple of new songs including the track below “Don Quixote/Spanish Rain”

Coldplay-Don-Quixote-New-Song-HQ (2)

Here’s hoping this indeed, is an indication of things to come, because despite what “The 40 Year Old Virgin” says, I still like Coldplay a whole lot.

At this point…I feel like all of the jokes about Twilight have been made.

You know what you are getting when you sit down and read the books, and you know EXACTLY what type of movie you’ll be watching when you fork over $10 for “Eclipse”

If you love it.  That is awesome….get excited.
If you don’t, fine. great. good. awesome.

I’m not a huge fan of the series, but I AM a huge fan of the Soundtracks that they have released, so as far as I’m concerned…keep ‘em coming.

After taking a long hard look at all the summer festivals that have been announced (Coachella, Bonnaroo…even our beloved Sasquatch), it appears that Lollapalooza in Chicago’s Grant Park might be the one to hit.

Nothing official has been announced…however, a VERy strong rumor mill has been circulating these names for the yearly festival in Chicago’s Grant Park  (official lineup usually comes at the beginning of April)

Soundgarden
Green Day
The Arcade Fire
Phoenix
Lady Ga Ga

and, just confirmed by Julian Casablancas…The Strokes first show on US soil in years!

Casablancas also talked about the progress being made on a new Strokes record:

“I think it’ll be out in September.” he said,  “I’ve written a lot of melodies for it, but the other guys have also contributed a lot more: melodies, choruses, parts. It’s way more collaborative. So it’ll have a different feel than our other albums.”

Here’s why The Strokes are one of my favorite bands.

Every year a handful of records come out that people get real jazzed about. They listen for a couple weeks, move on and rarely revisit these records because they move on to the next thing.

Only special records from special bands get played months, years, decades after the fact.

Of all the bands that we’ve played on The End since I’ve gotten here, I think I go back and listen to Strokes records more than any other artists.  They never get old to me.

Very excited they’re back.  I’ll be in Chicago in August.

We are just a couple of weeks away from The Runaway’s bio-pic starring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart.

For the most part, The Soundtrack looks great.  It features music from David Bowie, The Sex Pistols, The Stooges, MC5 and more.

It also (of course) features music from The Runaway’s.

The one potential snag was that most of The Runaway’s “hits” weren’t on the soundtrack…at least not The Runaway’s versions.  Those songs are done by the 2 main stars of the film.

Up to you if this was a good idea or not.  Let’s compare and contrast.

Here’s Dakota Fanning’s version of “Cherry Bomb”
Dakota Fanning – Cherry Bomb (2)

and of course, The Runaway’s version

One of the many perks of being in the Deftones is that you are guaranteed a life of no one messing with you EVER.

A couple years ago the band was recording in Seattle and pulled up next to me at a stoplight.  I  instantly knew who they were.

I nodded
They nodded
I took off.
Through the red light

I’m lucky I didn’t die

Are you a glutton for punishment?

If so, great news…Billy Corgan is holding auditions for a few open slots in The Smashing Pumpkins.

He’s looking for a bass player and a keyboard player.

Some of the requirments:

Corgan says he’s looking for someone with a “prog-rock background”.  Clearly this person should also have a high tolernace for egomaniacal, perfectionist who is having very clear trouble coming to grips with the reality that his “band” has evolved into.

They should also not mind extremely large bald men who enjoy wearing outfits they were able to score from the set of  some sort of glam inspired version of The Matrix

Who also are big fans of professional wrestling

and are currently collaborating with girlfriend/sexual napalm/mega-talent? Jessica Simpson

Still interested?  Why wouldn’t you be?
Just e-mail a resume and performance clips to either  pumpkinsbass at gmail.com or  pumpkinskeys at gmail.com.

side note: Billy recently said this about former friend/collaborator Courtney Love with whom he currently has a “no contact” policy

“I have no interest in supporting her in any way, shape or form. You can’t throw enough things down the abyss with a person like that.”

At this point you either love David Chase or you hate him.

Reasons to love him:

He was the visionary creator of the Soprano’s, one of the most acclaimed and beloved TV series of all time.  His driving creative force was the main reason we got this brilliant work of art.

Reasons to hate him:

Over time, I have liked the ending of the Soprano’s more and more (initially, I was not pleased). It was creative, the metaphor it presented was laid on pretty thick and it took a lot of guts to do. I can get behind that.

After 2 years, Chase’s next project has been announced, he is working on a feature film that has been described as:

“a music-driven coming-of-age saga for Paramount about a bunch of guys who form a rock band in the 1960s.”

Fans of the Soprano’s hoping for a film with have to wait awhile (if it comes at all) b/c after this film, Chase is on board to write, produce, direct, make coffee for a HBO mini-sieres called “A Ribbon of Dreams” that is about the early days of Hollywood.

Check out more here

is when he shoots someone….famous

MGMT have set April 13th as the release date for their 2nd full length “congratulations”

Some words that have been used to describe it:

“different”
“dark”
“weird”

Well the wait is “sorta” over

Here is a free download of the first song from the record…”Flash Delirium”

3 words I would use to describe it:

“different”
“dark”
“weird”

The band split time last year between studio’s in NYC and Malibu with producer Pete Kember.

“We’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with some of our all-time musical heroes,” singer Andrew Vanwyngarden said in a statement. “It’s so great to be around such amazing and unusual musical minds.”

Here’s the tracklist:

1. It’s Working
2. Song for Dan Treacy
3. Someone’s Missing
4. Flash Delirium
5. I Found a Whistle
6. Siberian Breaks
7. Brian Eno
8. Lady Dada’s Nightmare
9. Congratulations

Just imagine the 2 guys on the left aren't there

We all have that friend that turns into a chatty Cathy when the’ve been drinking a bit.

Sometimes it’s fun and endearing, sometimes it’s a bit much.

When that friend is Dave Grohl, it’s very informative.

While taking pulls from a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey at the Independent Spirit Awards on Friday night, Grohl said that the Foo Fighters are headed back into the studio sooner rather than later.

And by the studio, he means his garage.

He then proceeded with the quotes that EVERY musician is contractually obligated by their label to say about the new record:

“I think this could be our heaviest album yet.”
“(we) have already started demoing songs”

The most interesting tidbit is the news that Grohl would be re-uniting with ‘Nevermind” producer Butch Vig for the new record.  That is awesome and something to look forward to.
The very distinct styles of both could create something very special when joined together.

I mean, it’s no Billy Corgan/Jessica Simpson collaboration, but you can’t expect that sort of magic to be made twice in one lifetime.