weekend was nice. the city was relatively empty as the new york times likes to note every year. not exactly night of the comet stylee, but good enough. i saw the flaming lips documentary and drank beers and red bull on jami's lovely roof and saw the hold steady acoustic and ate brunches and made bracelets for the craft show and sent inadvisable text messages and apparently ascended to the top of THOR. good times. i still don't have my camera but it has been located in the fine state of delaware and will be on its way to me next week. so yay that.

the sirenfest schedule finally came out, and it's a little weak. i love spoon and brendan benson, but spoon is maybe a second-stage headliner, if that. i'm hoping the TBA acts fill out the lineup a little more. then again let's face it, siren is about violating open container laws and getting sunburned, and little else. see you there.

last night i got tipped off about a secret fountains of wayne show at the delancey, and so as a ginormous fan, of course i had to go. i was prepared to be fully rocked, standing as i was in the second row of a tiny club (next to james iha, who later joined in for a song). alas, i was only partially rocked, and for a paltry 25 minutes! i wish i could say it was a "wham, bam, thank you, man" situation, but i was disappointed. they played the good old tunes (i could hear "radiation vibe" every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of it), but they seemed kind of sullen. at least TRY to look like you're having fun. it made me wonder why they even bothered with the show in the first place. i think chris collingwood in particular really needs a hug. the crowd as a whole didn't clamor for an encore, and so there was none. i was glad to see them, but it was a far cry from the first time i saw them a few years ago, when the whole of irving plaza was bouncing up and down in glee. shame.

funny conversations overheard at the hold steady show last night, submitted by randi:

woman 1: are you craig fnn's mom?
woman 2: no, i look like i could be though. i'm old enough. no, i sing with the band.
woman 1: oh, i'm sure you're a really great asset to their live show.

tool 1: yeah, not only were they on the cover of the voice, but they were also in the new yorker.
tool 2: wow, that's big stuff.
tool 1: yeah, that's why there are so many yuppies here.

dude 1: i've only ever seen them live.
dude 2: yeah.
dude 1: i wonder how they sound in the studio.
dude 2: yeah.

moving on....

this blogger sneaker promotion is pretty cool. i haven't decided who i'm voting for yet. (no, coolfer, i take bribes!)

10 fictional albums to listen to while reading overwrought pitchfork reviews, by david cross. about half funny.

secret wall tattoos. pretty cool. next time i'm in a crappy hotel room i'm checking under all the art. (have to wonder though: aren't those things usually bolted down?) [via cityrag]

it's been linked in a lot of places, but the hamburger blog a hamburger today is really quite excellent. strangely fascinating. why do i like reading about hamburgers so much?

one of the pernice brothers had an idea: what if there were a "mtv cribs" for indie rockers? he even shot a pilot featuring him deadpanning about his various mundane household activities. it's so hilarious. if you've ever wondered what joe pernice's recycling bin looks like, this is the video for you. he also writes some entertaining news updates.

finally, nick denton got pied! retarded and yet so awesome.

pitchfork interviews the hold steady, and we learn that the band recently shot an internet promo film for target, in which they acted (!), and that tad wants to solo on top of a california cliff. best would be if the film actually featured tad soloing on the cliff, but i guess we'll just have to wait and see.

oh yeah and gothamist's movable hype series, curated by jen, is doing an all-comedy night tomorrow at tonic. it's only $7 and features inconsiderate cell phone man from the movie previews as well as some up-and-coming comic types, some of whom i understand are featured on best week ever, like ohmygod. you can say you saw them when!

i'm in complete agreement with this guy, but at the same time, who doesn't love a good britney/kevin animated movie? and nice gawker bitchslap, too!

okay, this is good: they're finally going to connect the F and 6 lines at Broadway/Lafayette and Bleecker so we can transfer uptown. of course, the article does not bother to hazard a guess as to when the project might be completed, or quote anyone who might be so inclined. the answer is probably when we're all retired and living in the midwest. as tamar said, don't get our hopes up dammit! (though she said it even more profanely, if you can believe that.)

they just don't make them like built to spill anymore. so good at irving last night. concert nirvana was achieved several times over. love those layered, swooping guitars. and the lyrics are just so good, so true. there were a couple overly wanky jams, but that's forgivable because doug martsch is a guitar god. a bald, dad-cute guitar god. there's a new album coming out in the fall, finally. i kept four songs off of their last album, 2001's subpar "ancient melodies of the future," before selling it. this is the best one:

::: Built to Spill, "Strange" ::: fave line: "you're not listening or/i'm not saying it right..." more mp3s at my old kentucky blog. "you were right" is such an awesome song; get that one first. and then there's a whole show here if you want to get really crazy.

spoon's going for the big time apparently. i can't pick up a magazine without seeing britt's suckable lips. new album rocks my small world. it has some fantastic songs, though not quite as consistently great as "kill the moonlight," for the record. what can you do?

okay, now it's time for another edition of "buzz or bunz?" wherein i and i alone decide whether recent hyped-up bands are worth your time. if you need a definition of bunz, well just use your imagination. let's get it on:

louis xiv, "the best little secrets are kept": i was initially against them b/c they were sort of lumped in with the loathsome killers, so that's why i'm late to the party. but thanks to the magic of illegal downloading, i have now heard their album, and i unabashedly love it. so funny! i love the over-the-top sex-obsessedness. i love laughing while being rocked sloppy. (you know what i mean -- they sorta remind me of the darkness.) i also like how they throw in strings and hand claps and shit. and how the singer has that mark e. smith sneer thing going on. not much filler on here, and enough variety to keep you thoroughly entertained. verdict: buzz!

tom vek, "a little word in your ear": now, i'm not going to condone people going around declaring "blog buzz" on a band (come on people, cut it out), and it's usually a dead giveaway of a shitty band anyway. but central village talked up this tom vek guy, and i was feeling open-minded, so i downloaded the two tracks he was offering, and holy shit i am completely in love with "a little word in your ear." it's very byrne-ian. i keep waking up with it in my head. in fact it hasn't really left my head in two days. the rest of the album is somewhat eh. but this song! as a result i am forced to declare verdict: buzz for that one song!

two asian kids lip-synching some boy-band song. hilarious. thanks kurt!

brittany wuz robbed!

big congrats to dennis and the dodgeball crew: google bought dodgeball! there are supposed to be some cool new features in the works. i can't imagine what they would be -- what more could i need to know besides exactly where krucoff is at any given hour of the evening? -- but i guess that's why those boys make the big bucks and i fix people's comma placement. ahem.

the bryant park film festival schedule is out. i was just over there yesterday at lunch, letting my feet feel grass and soaking up the sun. i swear it was only warm in bryant park yesterday. anyway who's up for "the fly," or "touch of evil," or "the odd couple," or....?

more mugging for the camera, from saturday night's poorly attended review reunion at loreley, can be found here. yay flickr! that was the highlight of my weekend, hanging out with peeps i don't get to hang out with nearly enough. that and yesterday's two, count 'em two, brunches.

the hold steady can now be said to officially be media darlings, i think. check out this piece in the new yorker about them and the mountain goats. the new yorker! oh and also, i didn't realize it before, but they made the cover of the village voice. according to frenchkiss records, that's the first time in 15 years a new york band has graced the cover. sweet!

as a professional word nerd, i love the grammar cop, but i think (hope) regular people can enjoy it too.

weezer is streaming their new album "make believe" on their myspace. there are some really, really horbz songs on there. proceed at your own risk. could be a grower.

old 97s are touring, fyi. who's up for a trip to asbury park midweek?

i'm leaving work early to go shopping, hooray! before i go, though: happy no pants day!

stream the new aimee mann and/or the new ryan adams.

hey, liz phair still sucks! [new tracks via productshop]

indietits is cartoons of birds talking about bands and making funnies. make sure you peep the archives. [via rawkblog]

you can download "when the president talks to god," the song cono r oberst performed on jay leno the other night, for free from itunes. uh, does this song suck hard, or is it just me? and i like bright eyes....

in case you hadn't gleaned this information somehow, i am a huge fan of the hold steady. here's a somewhat suspect mp3 link: "stevie nix", off the new album. contains perhaps my favorite line off the album. special prize to whoever can guess what it is.

rejoice, for today is separation sunday tuesday! the first photo above was taken two years ago this month, at a chaotic but thrilling show at the late, lamented mighty robot. it might be the best rock photo i've ever taken. the second was taken a few months later at northsix. note tad's right hand, glistening with beer.

it was there, at i think my second show, that the hold steady's devilish rock and roll spirit entered me. rarely has there been another band that makes me have a virtual panic attack at a show because they are so good. there's something really visceral and affecting about their music. the blush of discovery has worn off a bit after umpteen shows, but with every listen their new album gets better and better. i had a hard time picking a track to share (a catherine's pita exclusive! act fast!), because there are so many great ones. the album both narrows and widens the scope of the narrative, focusing on one character but placing her story in a larger spiritual context (just try and count the biblical references). it's interesting. and of course, it'll rock your pants right off if you let it (which i will, every time). this album has horns, and backup singers, and thank jesus, guitar solos. you know i love the guitar solos.

::: The Hold Steady, "The Cattle and the Creeping Things" ::: you know how so many reviewers insist on calling the hold steady a "bar band"? it's a nice mythology, but it never made any sense to me. bar bands suck. they're easy, unchallenging listening. seriously, does this sound like a bar band to you? i must be hanging out in the wrong bars if so. sure, there's a major classic-rock influence there, but there's so much else going on. this is my official favorite song on the album (unofficial favorites: banging camp, charlemagne in sweatpants, stevie nix). it kinda sounds like a hip-hop song. check it out. "separation sunday" is out tomorrow. (note: this link will expire in an undetermined but small number of days.)

the record release show on may 19 at the bowery ballroom is going to be like no other. full horn section, female backup singers, the works. i'll be the one flinging devil signs and woooohing like there's no tomorrow. get tickets before it sells out.

the gospel according to the hold steady, an interview in the village voice.

jami reviews "separation sunday" in the queens chronicle.

craig discusses his love of hip-hop and disses death cab a little bit. nice.

here's the hold steady's myspace, where you can listen to the excellent non-album jam "hot fries." check out the "sounds like" field. love it.

listen to more hold steady tracks at the frenchkiss records site.

with both roommates out of town, i spent the weekend mostly alone. saw guitar gods the wedding present friday night. why is it that older dudes seem to rock the hardest? david gedge totally rocked it out, putting on a show to go along with those awesome guitar sounds. the crowd was very appreciative (and by the sound of things very english). when the deluge of shouted requests began, gedge apologized: "i'm sorry for writing so many fantastic songs." there was a redheaded girl in the front row who was way too bouncy and smiley and "oh my god i love you like 13-year-olds in the 60s loved the beatles" for a shoegazey guitar band. there was also inconsiderate cellphone man, who was apparently streaming the show to a friend of his, loudly adding such valuable commentary as "isn't this great, dude?" and "i love this part!" how can a sentient being think this is okay, in the second row no less?! thank goodness the heavily tattooed gentleman in front of me confronted him, asking if he was going to be on the phone all night and adding, "it's bugging me." the lame-o immediately ended the call and vacated the area. victory! anyway, the show was excellent. my only complaint was they didn't play my favorite song. the band's new album, "take fountain," has been getting lots of spins in chez pita. hear some tracks from it.

::: The Wedding Present, "Suck" ::: i went through a period a few years ago where i would buy every wedding present cd i would see in the used bins, and there were a lot. this is my favorite song.

of note: on the way to the show, there was a huge crime scene blocked off at delancey and chrystie, with hordes of police and detective-looking guys around. apparently a 20-year-old guy got stabbed around 7:30 and died just after midnight. a dude from the bowery called the police. so sad.

and then saturday night i was dissed via text message. never good news from randi on my cell phone, ever. thanks randi and ryan! i'm so glad i put on my long-wearing lipstick before i checked with you! guess that's the breaks, baby. instead i played with my glue gun. good times. and that's my weekend report! see you tomorrow with a special treat.

OH! and i almost forgot: new cozies in the pita shop! get yours!