The Current Music Blog: December 31, 2008 Archive

20 Album Covers, Recreated in Legos

Posted at 7:41 AM on December 31, 2008 by Steve Seel

Since 1) The link was screwed up in the Paste Magazine story in Barb's original post below (and still is as of this posting), and 2) I loved this so much, here's a direct link. Nevermind is still my favorite.

Bonus: 20 hip hop album covers recreated in Legos.

The Stream 12/31/08

Posted at 8:28 AM on December 31, 2008 by Barb Abney

30 years later Ireland discusses the threat of The Sex Pistols.

Foo Fighters and Coldplay will appear at Neil Diamond's forthcoming MusiCares charity concert.

Today In Music History:
1942 - Andy Summers (Police) was born.
1947 - Burton Cummings (Guess Who) was born.
1959 - Paul Westerberg was born.
1963 - Scott Ian (Anthrax) was born.
1973 - Journey made their live debut in San Francisco.
1973 - AC/DC made their live debut in Sydney.
1980 - Tom Waits met Kathleen Brennan.
1984 - Rick Allen (Def Leppard's drummer) crashed his Corvette Stingray. He lost his left arm in the accident.
1985 - Ricky Nelson was killed in a plane crash.
2000 - Chris Robinson married Kate Hudson.

Live Blogging 12/31/08

Posted at 9:09 AM on December 31, 2008 by Barb Abney

10:25 a.m. Andrew Bird
Noble Beast will be in stores January 20th. Pre-order it here.
He's playing State Theater on April 11th.
More...

Song Of The Day Info - Chairlift
Today on our Song Of The Day podcast we're featuring Chairlift with the tune "Evident Utensil" from their record, Does You Inspire You.
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9:50 a.m. Heartless Bastards
The Mountain will hit the shelves on February 3rd.
They're playing The Varsity with The Gaslight Anthem on April 4th.
More...

9:45 a.m. Lily Allen
It's Not Me, It's You will hit the shelves on February 10th.
More...

9:30 a.m. The Killers
They're playing Northrop Auditorium on January 19th.
More...

9:05 a.m. The Gaslight Anthem
They're playing The Varsity with Heartless Bastards on April 4th.
More...

Ever fallen asleep at a concert?

Posted at 9:24 AM on December 31, 2008 by Barb Abney (9 Comments)

Yesterday after playing an Over The Rhine tune, I admitted to falling asleep at one of their shows years ago (Sorry Karen & Linford.) Then I asked if anyone else had ever fallen asleep at a show and got some interesting responses that I thought you might enjoy.

Lou called in to say he'd fallen asleep and actually disturbed people with his snoring at an on-stage theatrical presentation of Jeckyl & Hyde.
Another gent called and said he's fallen asleep back in the 90's during a Bruce Springsteen show.
A gal called in to report she'd fallen asleep at a Trans Siberian Orchestra show.
One more gal had somehow managed to fall asleep at The Who's performance at The Metrodome! (in her defense, she had a sinus infection and had taken too much Nyquil.)

These were a few of my online responses...

Cecilia in St. Paul:
I once fell asleep at a Black Crowes concert, I was like 14 and just not that into them. I only went to the show to see Oasis! I also fell asleep at a Godsmack concert when I was around the same age, I loved them, but it had just been a long school day. Well I guess I didn't really fall asleep so much as I nodded off, I was constantly woken by the insanely loud pyrotechnics!

Stephen in Beldenville, WI (near River Falls):
It must have been 1988? I was in college, and working a summer job as a roofer, 6:30 am to 4:30 pm with lots of overtime. I was a HUGE Joe Jackson fan, and had been to two of his shows since '84. I was somehow out of the loop that he was changing everything about who he was, and was totally unprepared for "Will Power" or "Blaze of Glory" or whatever the new album he was promoting was. It was just when he really turned his back on pop music, which was what I expecting. Instead I got torch song music, and I slept through the final two thirds of the show. Solidly. In Radio City Music Hall. I can't really say I feel bad about it either. He moved in a different direction, and I didn't follow. I haven't really liked anything he's done since then. I guess he's gone back to pop music in the last few years, but as a busy family dude now, I haven't had time to check it out.

Jon in Houston, Texas:
I totally fell asleep in a Jack Johnson concert. He is a great singer but there is no pitch or tone change, put me right asleep like a washing machine.

Jeremy in Minneapolis:
I fell asleep at a Tool concert, box office seats, at the Xcel back in June '07!!! Those seats were so cushy!

Travis in Toronto:
One year my wife and I were at SXSW, and it had been a REALLY long day. We had flown in from Toronto earlier that day (leaving our house probably around 5am), got all set up in our hotel room and then hit the town. Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys were playing at the Continental in the 1am slot. I HAD to see them. After club hopping all night, we arrived, got ourselves a spot to watch them, and my wife promptly fell asleep. The bar staff were none to pleased! Repeatedly told me that she couldn't sleep in the club, and I kept prodding her to stay awake. In the end, I managed to see about half a dozen songs by Big Sandy, and then we had to fall into a cab back to the hotel.

Colin in the Twin Cities
I fell asleep at a Dave Matthews concert in 2002. Actually it was during the opener, i think it was ben kweller.

Sarah in Toronto:
I fall asleep at shows all the time. I'm known for it in my circle of friends. Sometimes I actually find a quiet corner and curl up. I never sleep through an entire concert, I just take a catnap and kind of dreamsurf through the music. It's actually kind of nice.
Here's a sample list: The Dears, The Sadies, Black Mountain, Akron/Family, Thee Silver Mount Zion, TV On the Radio, Goldfrapp, Iron and Wine, The Twilight Singers, Drive-By Truckers.

Michele in Rosemount:
I hate to say it, but I fell asleep at a Van Halen concert once--it may have been Metallica playing as one of the opening acts. It was one of those all-day Monsters of Rock shows back in the 80's or early 90's--it was a long day in the hot summer sun!!

I also fell asleep at a Nataline Merchant show once. The music was just so soothing...

On the flipside, I can't help but wonder how this guy managed NOT to fall asleep at this show!

Dominic in Winnipeg, Manitoba:
July, 2003: Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to see Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve. 2800 miles, 17 hours in transit including 7 hours driving & 2 flights, 1 missed plane, 1 piece of lost luggage, BUT I STAYED AWAKE FOR THE WHOLE SHOW!

I came very close a couple of times, but dammit, I lasted all the way through that show!

So, have YOU fallen asleep during a concert?

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My Three Songs News Years Eve

Posted at 12:09 PM on December 31, 2008 by Jill Riley

Ryan in Minneapolis calls this three song set a tribute to his hometown of Waukesha, WI.

1.) Mark Mallman "True Love"
2.) Jeff Hanson "If I Only Knew"
3.) Ashtray Hearts "Exits"

Happy New Year!!

Posted at 9:58 PM on December 31, 2008 by Mark Wheat

Robert Plant was given a CBE in the New Years Honors list, a British tradition, where The Queen recognizes lots of 'commom folk' for their work...and hooj rock stars! My mum has a friend that got one of these medals for serving as a sister in her local hospital for 20 years.

Hope you enjoy the Top 89 countdown and thanks to all of you who voted, it was the best turnout ever! I regret not having David Byrne and Brian Eno's new one on the list as it came out just too late, but it's great to see and read about David touring the country;David Byrne on his blog wrote about the highlights of his visit to Minneapolis. It was definitely my fave concert of the year. What was yours?