The Mountain Goats w/Final Fantasy & Larkin Grimm 11/20 - The Mercy Lounge - Nashville

If you can get to it, I can gaurantee it will be quite worth the trip.

If you haven't been privy to this business, then i suggest you check it out. John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats has a voice reminiscent of a pirate recently scorned, complemented by slightly optimistic melodies that offset it perfectly.

Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) puts Frerbluca to shame with his talent on a violin. My introduction to him was a cover of Bloc Party's This Modern Love that makes the original seem mundane.

Listen, and the drive to Nashville will sound a lot shorter afterwards...







here's a video of the two together from a show on the 7th...
(not so great sound quality)


The Mountain Goats + Final Fantasy from CakeIn15 on Vimeo.

Broadcast 2000

So, I ran across this band by pure accident, and I could not have been happier. British main man Joe Steer produces the kind of building, folky, happy songs perfect for a roadtrip. I'm always a sucker for orchestral pieces thrown into pop songs, but here it's used abundantly to great effect. Give it a listen.
Broadcast 2000 - Don't Weigh Me Down from broadcast 2000 on Vimeo.



Unfortunately, their website doesn't have much to it, but you can pre-order their debut album or visit their Myspace for more music and such.

Herman Dune - Don't You Worry A Bit, Try To Think About Me

A friend of mine turned me on to these guys... 

Imagine a duo headed by a slightly French Van Morrison with a beard that could also host an awesome kids' show. That's Herman Dune. Amazing music that makes you want to tap your foot and smile in the sun.

I missed the show in Nashville around Halloween, but I can only imagine it was ridiculously good. If anyone knows of any video from the show, let me know and I'll try to post it.

You can check out their website here. 


Here's a video containing good music and snazzy hats.


HERMAN DUNE - "Don't You Worry A Bit, Try To Think About Me" (dublab VisionVersion) from dublab on Vimeo.

Herman Dune performs Leonard Cohen's Here It Is on NPR

The Non-Commisioned Officers - Make-Out with Violence

I am becoming increasingly envious of Nashville music... if you listen to the Non-Commissioned Officers, you will see why... man, I hope these guys come to Knoxville.  I saw them at the Protomen Act II cd release party on Cannery Row in Nashville and they blew it up.  Bought the soundtrack and listened to it the next two weeks non-stop.


There's 44 songs on the soundtrack, and there's a good chunk of them that are score for the movie, but they're phenomenal. Though even if you require vocals for your music, there's about 15 songs or so for you to sing along to... check it out fo' sho'.


No Means No from MAKE-OUT with VIOLENCE on Vimeo.
This song is from the soundtrack for Make-Out with Violence, written by Eric and Jordan Lehning (known as the Deagol Brothers), members of the Non-Coms who also directed and starred in the film.

Check out their website for more songs from the 2-disc, 44 song soundtrack.

Ponies in the Surf

here's a good start.









Ponies in the Surf - Ventricle




Let me say that these guys are one of my favorites. Siblings Camille and Alexander McGregor succeed in putting my heart at ease the way few bands can. Their collection A Demonstration is one of the easiest to listen to ep's i've ever heard. Like warm gravy... for your ears... but without the mess.