sonic slang

Motley Crue Honored in L.A.

A constant threat of death by earthquake is one big reason I have never moved to the west coast.  Now Motley Crue Saints of Los Angeles Day is another.  Seriously.

Smashing Pumpkins Primed for a Comeback?

The super-cool Watchman trailer, featuring "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning," a mostly forgotten Smashing Pumpkins tune, threw the band some much-needed positive buzz.  With new single "G.L.O.W." on the way in September, could the time be right for a long disenchanted fan base to give another look?  Maybe - if Billy Corgan can take some time away from the courtroom. For now, I guess the jury is still out...

Don't call it a comeback? Drop a comment with your take.

Leave Barack Aloooone!

What if Chris Crocker had an unhealthy obsession with unfairly-persecuted politicians, instead of washed-up pop singers?  Thanks to Slate and Christopher Beam, we don't have to wonder anymore.  Leave Barack Alooooone! (via Huffington Post)

Censoring the Count

Continuing in this blog's long tradition of unfiltered coverage from the puppet rock scene - The Count, as you've never seen him before.  (Jewish and horny)

B-Sides

- Stream The Walkmen's You and Me at Spinner

- It's rare I see a new "list post" that hasn't been done to death, but ExplodingNOW's "Amazing Dive Bar Songs" is worth a look - Plenty of Stones, Replacements and Velvet Underground...Not so sure about the Belle and Sebastian, but who said dive bars were only for tough guys?

- Sometimes I forget that Oasis were once upon a time a f*cking awesome band - This Dig Out your Soul trailer/video montage reminded me, plus it has a promising snippet for "The Shock of the Lightning."  Dare we get our hopes up yet again?

- Confession: "The Escapist" is the first track from The Streets that hasn't put me to sleep.  Of course, who isn't a sucker for 80s-style contemplative slow jams...

- Oh Royston Langdon, I know you're still smarting from that Liv Tyler breakup, but you're better than this

The Hold Steady Adds Fall Tour Dates

The Hold Steady, fresh off a #30 debut on Billboard for the acclaimed Stay Positive LP, has announced a whole slew of European dates  for this fall. With no new NYC gigs on the horizon, so book your flight now, and see the full list of gigs after the jump.

Bruuuuce at The Meadowlands, 7.28

After last night's stellar 3-hour Springsteen gig at The Meadowlands, today is a day of rest at Sonic Slang.  But first, a few highlights:

• Family style:  Max Weinberg let his son Jay grab the sticks for "Born to Run," Springsteen brought his daughter Jessica and friends on stage to dance on closer "Twist and Shout," "Waiting On a Sunny Day" was dedicated to his sons Evan and Sam, and the 55,000 fans sang "Happy Birthday" to Pattie Scialfa, who turns 55 today
• Ask and you shall receive: Bruce took seven (!) requests from the audience, including Tracks rarity, "Held Up Without a Gun" - a song he claims to have only played live once before
• Familiar faces: Jesse Malin and Dave Bielanko (of Marah), two SS favorites, Springsteen-heads and occasional collaborators joined E Street on stage for "Twist and Shout."  Very cool

No clips up on YouTube yet, so if you find one, send it in!

Cold War Kids Announce Track List, Tour

Cold War Kids, who last week threw us a curveball with an unusually danceable entry entry from the upcoming Loyalty to Loyalty LP (due 9.21 via Downtown), have now released the full track list and a massive tour that will take the band through NYC on 10.15-16 with stops at Webster Hall and the Music Hall of Williamsburg.  Hey locals - I hear these guys are big in the UK these days, so let's show some Stateside love this time around.

Sam Sparro - "21st Century Life"

I've been diggin' Sam Sparro's debut LP for about a month now and two tracks have boogied into the running for a permanent spot in my retro party rotation: The brooding, atmospheric synth of "Black and Gold," and the Prince-y funk of "21st Century Life."  The former is still probably my personal fav, but the new video for the latter - complete with neon wayfarer sunglasses, boomboxes and 80s hip hop chains - is all kinds of awesome. 

Behold after the jump, and if you're in NYC on August 5, hit up Santos for a special Sparro "showcase."

Gnarls Barkley - "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?"

Gnarls Barkley's The Odd Couple might have been a bit light on the "Crazy"-ness to capture the mainstream like St. Elsewhere, but the whack new clip (via MTV's Subterranean Blog) for "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?" (a great track, BTW) proves they haven't lost any of their video mojo. 

Check it out after the jump