First and foremost, I must self-promote for just a moment. This Saturday night will be the 3rd installment of the new La Paz Late Night series hosted by myself (Burgers), Potamus, and Vitalic Noise. This month we’re doing a 90s theme and it’s going to be the most ridiculous night of unironic nostalgic pleasure you’ve seen in quite some time. We’ve got all the danceable jams you can imagine from the 90s, even a few “jock jams,” as well as lights and a projector that will be showing classic 90s films like Clueless and Reality Bites on the wall. We also have our usual cheap drink specials- $2 jello shots/$2.50 PBR tallboys/$4 margaritas. It’s a meager $2 to get in if you come in 90’s attire, $3 if you come in 2011 attire. DO IT.

Now for some other stuff to do this weekend:

FRIDAY:

Doug Stanhope w/ The Mattoid @ Exit/In. 9pm, $20

Jimmy Eat World w/ David Bazan @ the Cannery. 9pm, $25 adv./$27 DOS BUT I’M PRETTY SURE IT’S SOLD OUT.

SATURDAY:

Well duh. You’re coming to La Paz Late Night.

BUT, if you just can’t do unironic nostalgia thing, you could go see Cheap Time, D. Watusi, Slammers, and Fox Fun at Glen Danzig’s House. That’s only $2 and starts at 7pm.

Have a great weekend, but first enjoy this extremely dorky but hilarious video/song “Tonight I’m Frakkin’ You”. (Tip to the producer of the song: your vocals are way, way too loud in the mix.)

(Via io9)

This new video from Those Darlins embodies their image perfectly. It’s a very simple concept but executed very well. I’m sure this will appeal much more to their male fanbase- you see flashes of butts, panties, bras, and plenty of sexy poses, albeit mixed with some goofy ones as well. But once again- that’s them: somehow sexy and goofy at the same time. There’s a little skin action from Linwood in there too, for the ladies. Just watch, and be sure to click up to full HD resolution.

If you have Netflix, I strongly recommend putting the phenomenal, Nashville-made film Make-Out with Violence in your queue right now. It just recently officially became rentable, so take advantage of that and get it. Seriously, go do it, here’s the link. I’ve mentioned this movie before, so you should at least have some clue about it if you read this blog somewhat regularly. If you’ve already seen it, at least go into your Netflix and give it a 5-star rating (or whatever you think it deserves) because these people deserve it. They deserve to finally start making some of their money back on this film. Also, Yewknee and We Own This Town report that the soundtrack is out now on vinyl. Clearly, the 40-something tracklist had to whittled down quite a bit to fit onto a vinyl LP, but from what I understand they kept the best of the best. Grab it here.

One of my favorite electronic producers/remixers is coming to town tonight at Mai. Yes, the amazing BIT FUNK will gracing Nashville with his slick, smooth, and funky style of nu-disco. Seriously, I flipped a lid when I first heard he was coming. It’s part of the monthly “VITAL” series hosted by my buds at Vitalic Noise. I heard there will be confetti cannons. And fog. And whatever else your disco heart desires. Seriously, be there. Robot Ears and Vitalic Noise DJs will open up. Starts around 10, only costs $6 to get in ($8 if you’re a young’n), and get this- 100% of the door money is going to Global Tribe, a very worthy cause. If you need more reasons to come, check out Bit Funk’s Soundcloud. I dare you not to dance.

*UPDATE* APPARENTLY BIT FUNK HAD TO CANCEL DUE TO THE SNOW IN NYC PREVENTING HIS TRAVEL. BUT JENSEN SPORTAG IS FILLING IN, WHICH IS A VERY FITTING REPLACEMENT.

Finally, just a quick mention that our friends in Diarrhea Planet were kind enough to take some video of the final Powerbrrrd show last friday at Springwater. Also, our friend at Dixie Downturn were kind enough to blog about it, so head over and watch them there. We love you, DD and DP!

If you’re a Nashvillian you no doubt know about the massive snowball fight that occurred in Centennial Park Monday night. Snow is somewhat of rarity around here, so the young (and the young at heart) never miss the chance to enjoy it. Luckily technology has advanced to the point that it’s quite easy to make gorgeous imagery, both still photography and film, even in such low-light conditions. Behold this awesome slo-mo video created by Winston Hearn. I know, I know, using a Jonsi song is so obvious for slo-mo footage of hipsters throwing snowballs… but it really hits the perfect mood and sometimes you have to throw the snark out window and enjoy something for what it is.

I must also mention the great set of photos from the event taken by Lance Conzett over on Dixie Downturn.

In other news, local indie rock/punk staple club The End has finally joined the 21st century and gotten a website. You can also pre-order tickets to some select shows. As much as we Nashville rock promoters/musicians love owner Bruce Fitzpatrick, the guy is very old-school. The venue has been around for 30 some years, and as far as I know, he’s been the owner the whole time. (Someone correct me if I’m wrong about that.) I’m just happy that it’s now relatively easy to see who’s playing there and when. (Via the Cream)

Nashville’s Dead became a bonafide record label a few months ago, and their first two releases are now up on the webstore. They are both 7″ singles, one by Useless Eaters and the other by The Paperhead (formerly known as The Looking Glass). (Via Nashville’s Dead)

Amazing Space Shuttle footage

December 13, 2010

NASA has released a stunning and awe-inspiring collection of footage of Space Shuttle launches called Ascent. It’s narrated by two shuttle engineers, so you know exactly what you’re looking at the whole time. Most of these scenes are in ultra slow-motion and fairly high definition, revealing tiny details that go by far too fast for the naked eye. PLEASE, take the time to sit down and watch all 45 minutes. TRUST ME, it is well worth your time. You will not be disappointed. These scenes have previously only been for NASA eyes only, but with the imminent retirement of the shuttle fleet, NASA is starting the long process of “commemorative this, remembering that” PR. I’m sure there will be more footage and imagery released, along with documentaries and short films, etc…

Put this video on its 480p resolution, throw it on fullscreen, and sit back. (Via Universe Today)

Having a day job prevents me from being timely on these sort of things sometimes, so the rest of the internet has probably already told you that Those Darlins released info yesterday about their next album titled Screws Get Loose, set for a March 29, 2011 release. Back in September when I spent roughly a week on the road with them as part of a photo documentary project, I got to hear most of the new songs played live every night, and I must say I’m very eager to hear how they sound recorded. There’s definitely a shift towards more bluesy, boosey, Stonesy-style songwriting. As mentioned in the press release, drummer Linwood Regensburg contributed to the songwriting this time around, and I’ve also heard he even sings lead on one of the tracks. It’s still Those Darlins through and through, but it seems they’ve shed some of the Carter Family influences for something a little more aggressive and hard-nosed. Indeed, when you tour as much as they have over the past couple of years, it’s going to show in your songs.

In other news, I invite you to experience all of Billy Joel’s greatest hits played at once:

(Via Clusterflock)

This band from New Zealand The Naked & Famous are making me pretty happy at the moment. Don’t have their full album yet but from the 2 tracks I’ve heard, they basically sound like a more epic, more robust version of Passion Pit. Basically those are the things that kept me from loving Passion Pit, so for me this band is almost perfect. I know they’ll get tons of Passion Pit references and will probably grow tired of it but it’s too obvious to just ignore- the similarities are there. What’s kind of hilarious is that Pashy Pit’s Angelakos is a dude, but his stratospheric falsetto is in the same register as TNAF’s vocalist Alisa Xayalith. Don’t get me wrong, I like both bands, but honestly TNAF is pretty much what I always wanted Passion Pit to be. I’d put money on them becoming one of the biggest indie sensations of 2011. Check out the video for their hit single “Young Blood”:

This is probably what it would look like:

(Via Yewknee’d)

If you don’t know who Harry Underwood is, you need to learn. Thank me later.

In other news, the latest We Own This Town podcast is out and it contains some tasty new treats from Nashville artists both new and old such as Jasmin Kaset, Fly Golden Eagle, Tristen, and Relax With Fiction.

File this one in the “what could have been” folder. Local classic indie rock (yes I’m using “classic” with “indie rock”) trio And The Relatives have sadly reached the end of their career… for the forseeable future, at least. I hate to say that, but it’s true. I won’t go into explicit details but a member of the band rather unexpectedly made the decision to move to California. That being said, they ARE releasing the debut album Green Machinery which they’ve been working on for the past few years; it will be out very soon on vinyl via a joint effort between Michael Eades’ YK Records and Theory 8. It will also be available digitally via their Bandcamp. You can actually go there now and preview a couple of the tracks. I’ve watched this band develop over the past few years, and it’s rather amazing how far they’ve come. I also must mention the eye candy that is the artwork and new website, designed by Eades and Kyle Scudder. I’d like to hope they will eventually reunite at least to play a show here and there, or even just to work on new recorded material… similar to the Hotpipes’ situation.

Some more random links/tidbits of interest:

The Boston Globe’s Big Picture blog has a series of beautiful and moving photographs from the Chilean mine rescue. I can’t imagine being trapped underground for 2 months with 32 other men, and no doubt the full psychological effects have yet to be seen. Regardless, these photographs are incredible.

T.I. apparently talked a guy out of committing suicide Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta, just a few days before he’s scheduled to go to trial on a probation violation. Good job, T.I.! Maybe the judge will go a little easier on you?

The Village Voice did a pretty cool interview with Duck Sauce (a.k.a. A-Trak and Armand Van Helden). Just go read it, and be sure to check out their new single “Barbara Streisand” for which they did this awesome came0-packed video:

Geez, the boys over at Nashville’s Dead had an outright blog-gasm. Probably the biggest news they dropped was that PUJOL recorded a track with Jack White, and it’s gonna be on a 7″ which will be available at their Next BIG Nashville showcase happening at White’s own Third Man Records. The Jack White-produced track was total news to me, but the showcase wasn’t- they’ve been sorting out the details of that for a while but didn’t want to mention it till it was figured out… But seriously, they’ve got 2 days of awesomeness lined up for NBN at Third Man. Oh, and PUJOL has another 7″ coming out as well: a live recording of their show opening for Nobunny at Third Man a while back. Here’s the NBN/ND show rundown:

Friday, Oct. 1st: JEFF the Brotherhood/The Ettes/Cheap Time/Heavy Cream/Cy Barkley

Saturday, Oct. 2nd: Jacuzzi Boys/Turbo Fruits/PUJOL/D. Watusi

I should also mention that there’s a pretty cool update over at WOTT about the goings-on of Battletapes over the past few months. Mr. Ferguson has been busy as fuck with tons of good stuff, and is about to be flown to Brussels, Belgium to record a band called Lucy Lucy, who had an ear-gasm when they heard his work on Turbo Fruits’ album Echo Kid. Congrats, Jeremy! (And of course congrats to his girlfriend Candice who has all but kicked her breast cancer’s ass.)

I was going to post the video of Chromeo’s awesome performance on Letterman, complete with a string section and backup singers, but then I came across this ridiculously awesome video of Irish hand-dancers doing a routine to “Speak No Americano” by Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP.