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Bonnaroo Announces Line-up of Artists and Ticket Sale Date 2008-02-06 22:01:21 There is so much music festival news coming out right now that it's like trying to watch three horses races at once.To some people it may seem early in the year to be planning for summer rock festivals, but just the opposite is true. This is the time.In the case of the south's popular Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, plenty of music fest fans have been holding their breath waiting for ticket and artist line-up news. Bonnaroo 2008 has been set to take place June 12-15.Breaking now: Bonnaroo tickets are set to go on sale Feb. 19, 2008 at 10 a.m. EST and the first list of confirmed artists has just been issued.Someone should write a song to this next block of text (the challenge is on) and put it on YouTube or wherever.Anyways, artists from the official line-up that are linked are artists that have been featured on this blog and those in bold print are artists I like and plan to write about soon. Regretably, I must admit, like any music blogger, there are probably excellent artists in ...

The Low-Down on Coachella: Tickets, Maps and Where To Sleep 2008-02-06 18:49:25 When single-day tickets for Coachella 2008 went on sale two weeks ago, they were gone in a matter of hours.But there's hope, if you're willing to throw it down.For folks only interested in single-day tickets, competitive bidding is underway on eBay, and for sale on Craigslist. Of course you can expect people to hold out in posting for sale their tickets until closer to the festival opening day (April 24).Even in a recession, people will decide to go at the last minute and shell out for the so-called 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience of Coachella (even though logic says it'll be around for years to come).If you simply cannot find, or do not want to pay the inflated prices for single tickets, I strongly recommend getting a three-day pass now before they sell out. It is a pisser that the three-day passes are a ridiculous $269 each.Nevertheless, once they are gone for the official price, they will be much more valuable in the next couple of months. Also, when you are buying the three-da ...

Best 2007 Music Videos: Arcade Fire Performs in Elevator and Crowd of Fans 2008-02-05 15:20:31 As one of the most popular new bands to hit the music scene in the past few years - so much so that they made the cover of Time magazine - the many band members of Arcade Fire sure don't appear to act like musical super stars.One example of this is the band's genuine nature, spontaneity and innovativeness, as the following video clearly shows.In this 15-minute video, Arcade Fire members take their eclectic mix of instruments into an elevator (but it's not that kind of elevator music) to play "Neon Bible" and then proceed to walk out into the middle of a crowd of their fans using a megaphone and strings to pump out a sing-a-long version of "Wake Up".If you are not an AF fan, maybe you will be after you see and hear them play the title track from their 2007 hit album, Neon Bible in a Parisian elevator. (mp3s for sampling below)MP3s:Arcade Fire - No Car Go Arcade Fire - Intervention Arcade Fire - Black Mirror (OH SNAP!! Remix) Arcade Fire - Black Mirror (Full-Source Remix)------------- ...

After Nearly Two Years On The Road, The Fray Jump Out 2008-02-03 00:45:30 While this blog is primarily focused on independent and alternative music, there are some mainstream bands that are too talented to ignore and who somehow seem to transcend all of the trappings that normally taint once-indie bands that 'crossover'.mp3: Heaven Forbid - The Fraymp3: How To Save A Life - The FrayAccording to The Fray's official website, the Denver-based band are taking time off after nearly two years on the road. A new full-length release is expected this some time in mid-2008.The Fray's 2003 independent debut EP Reason has been re-released. The new 'digitally-enhanced' re-issue of Reason includes all of the recordings not found on their 2006 double-platinum, worldwide blockbuster How to Save a Life.There are some videos, photographs and an online journal of the band's time on the road, but on the whole, considering the 'fame' of the band, their website offers surprisingly little for fans.You'd think Sony/Epic would put some of its immense resources into creatin ...

Best Alternative, Indie and Rock Songs of 2007 - The List of Lists 2008-02-02 18:33:31 Despite the fact that it is somewhat pretentious and plain nutty to say that any one song was the "best song of 2007", there are still dozens of music websites, news and entertainment organizations and blogs that are relentless in their self-righteous pursuit to announce to the world '2007's best song!'Beyond that, to assemble a top songs list in order of No.1 to No. 20, for example, is literally impossible and disingenuous, especially when anyone connected to the music world needs to listen to hundreds, if not thousands, of songs in a given year. (photo, top left: Spoon)After weeks, and many hours, searching and reviewing a few dozen list of lists for the 'best songs' of 2007, I whittled it all down to just the best, with a deliberate effort, of course, to weed out lists that focus purely on chart-topping songs. If you're looking for Britney Spears or Carrie Underwood, you're not going to find them here. List of Lists: The Top Songs of 2007 (from the Internets)NPR Music - Song ...

Favorite or "Best" Songs of 2007, Playlist II 2008-01-29 02:14:52 Rouge Wave's song "Lake Michigan" is easily one of my favorite songs of 2007.So it's no surprise that the song is being highlighted in this is second installment of IRC's favorite songs of 2007.The focus of this series remains fixed on talented, original and under-rated independent music, especially that which rises to a level that it is talked about on many other alternative and indie rock blogs.However, there are some entries in this series that feature mainstream artists who are currently signed with non-indie records labels. Nevertheless, they are often not artists that are not household names, and I'm always good with that. I guess the best artists fail when they 'sign over', like Taking Back Sunday and to some extent Radiohead a few years back.IRC's own 'Favorite Indie and Alternative Songs of 2007' series includes songs that are not found on many site's lists of lists for best music of 2007 (to be published later) low).However, there is no ranking of songs. That's up ...

IRC's Getting A Total Makeover 2008-01-28 22:33:50 Hey Everyone:You may have already noticed that Indie Rock Cafe is getting a total redesign. Hopefully, you like it more than the old design; if you haven't seen it yet, check out and let me know.Advancements will also include more information and access to the newest releases, indie and alt rock news, venue and cafe locations, concert and festival listings, and more MP3s, streams, podcasts and music videos from the greatest and latest independent (with some mainstream sprinkled about) and alternative rock artists and groups.Check out the new site design and content (still on-going but mostly all is good).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe for the Feed Me Indie feed via RSS, Atom,iTunes or your favorite reader and podcaster. ...

More Great Songs from 2007, Playlist Three 2008-01-28 05:57:25 Some rock critics argue that 2007 was not a great year for music.Maybe that's because many of them don't listen to, or appreciate, independent and alternative rock. There are plenty of excellent songs from 2007.Here is IRC's third installment of "Great, Best, Favorite Songs" from 2007:- Add Your Light To Mine Baby - Lucky Soul- Aly, Walk With Me - The Raveonettes (pictured to the right)- And I Remember Every Kiss - Jens Lekman- Du Og Meg - Beirut- Heart It Races - Architecture in Helsinki- If You Found This It's Probably Too Late - Arctic Monkeys- Kid on My Shoulders - White Rabbits- No One Would Riot For Less - Bright Eyes- Now, Now - St. Vincent- Oh Be One - Oh No! Oh My!- Our Life Is Not a Movie or Is It? - Okkervil River- Pioneer to the Falls - Interpol- Snow Tip Cap Mountain - The Octopus Project- Start a War - The National- Suffer for Fashion - Of MontrealMore to come Tuesday._________________________________________________________________________Subscribe for the Feed Me In ...

After Two Years On The Road, The Fray Jumping Out 2008-01-22 22:38:00 While this blog is primarily focused on independent and alternative music, there are some mainstream bands that are too talented to ignore and who somehow seem to transcend all of the trappings that normally taint once-indie bands that 'crossover'. mp3: Heaven Forbid - The Fraymp3: How To Save A Life - The FrayAccording to The Fray's official website, the Denver-based band are taking time off after nearly two years on the road. A new full-length release is expected this some time in mid-2008. The Fray's 2003 independent debut EP Reason has been re-released. The new 'digitally-enhanced' re-issue of Reason includes all of the recordings not found on their 2006 double-platinum, worldwide blockbuster How to Save a Life.There are some videos, photographs and an online journal of the band's time on the road, but on the whole, considering the 'fame' of the band, their website offers surprisingly little for fans.You'd think Sony/Epic would put some of its immense resources into cr ...

Coachella 2008 Official Line-Up Includes Roger Waters, Portishead, DCFC, Shout Out Louds, My Morning Jacket 2008-01-22 17:46:22 Organizers of the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival have released the official line-up for this year's event, slated for April 25-27, 2008.Pink Floyd founding member Roger Waters, Kraftwerk, Portishead, My Morning Jacket, Death Cab for Cutie, Love and Rockets, Spiritulalized, Hot Chip, Madness and Fatboy Slim are just some of the headliners for the three-day music fest and art show. Nothing that great really.Here is the full line-up in its entirety:April 25 – Jack Johnson, the Verve, the Raconteurs, the Breeders, Fatboy Slim, Tegan and Sara, Madness, the Swell Season, the National, Animal Collective, Slightly Stoopid, Mum, Pendulum, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Stars, Battles, Aesop Rock, Midnight Juggernauts, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Minus the Bear, Spank Rock, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobies Pip, Diplo, Adam Freeland, Santo Gold, Jens Lekman, the John Butler Trio, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Sandra Collins, Busy P, Cut Copy, Black Lips, Dat ...

Coachella 2008 Official Line-Up Includes Roger Waters, Portishead, DCFC, Shout Out Louds, My Morning Jacket 2008-01-22 17:20:00 Organizers of the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival have released the official line-up for this year's event, slated for April 25-27, 2008.Pink Floyd founding member Roger Waters, Kraftwerk, Portishead, My Morning Jacket, Death Cab for Cutie, Love and Rockets, Spiritulalized, Hot Chip, Madness and Fatboy Slim are just some of the headliners for the three-day music fest and art show. Nothing that great really.Here is the full line-up in its entirety:April 25 – Jack Johnson, the Verve, the Raconteurs, the Breeders, Fatboy Slim, Tegan and Sara, Madness, the Swell Season, the National, Animal Collective, Slightly Stoopid, Mum, Pendulum, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Stars, Battles, Aesop Rock, Midnight Juggernauts, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Minus the Bear, Spank Rock, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobies Pip, Diplo, Adam Freeland, Santo Gold, Jens Lekman, the John Butler Trio, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Sandra Collins, Busy P, Cut Copy, Black Lips, Dat ...

Best Indie and Alternative Songs of 2007, Playlist I 2008-01-20 21:58:13 To kick-off the playlist series for 'best', or favorite, songs of 2007, I have posted the first list below.While there are some mainstream artists included in this series, the focus is mainly on independent, or indie, and alternative songs by some of rock, pop and electronica music's most talent, and in some cases, vastly under-rated artists and music groups.You can subscribe to get these songs and playlists through any medium you prefer whether it be via your iTunes, email or favorite feed reader.Here's the first playlist of songs from 2007:Brainstorm - Arctic Monkeys from Favourite Worst NightmareThe Night Starts Here - Stars from In Our Bedroom After The WarSleeping Lessons (RAC Mix) - The Shins from Wincing The Night AwayYour English is Good - Tokyo Police Club from Your English is GoodMy Sword Hand's Anger - Apostle of Hustle from National Anthem of NowhereHollywood Bass Player - Jose Rouse from Country Mouse City HouseFor Agent 13 - The Besnard Lakes from The Besnard Lakes A ...

Favorite or "Best" Songs of 2007, Playlist II 2008-01-20 07:27:00 Rouge Wave's song "Lake Michigan" is easily one of my favorite songs of 2007.So it's no surprise that the song is being highlighted in this is second installment of IRC's favorite songs of 2007.The focus of this series remains fixed on talented, original and under-rated independent music, especially that which rises to a level that it is talked about on many other alternative and indie rock blogs.However, there are some entries in this series that feature mainstream artists who are currently signed with non-indie records labels. Nevertheless, they are often not artists that are not household names, and I'm always good with that. I guess the best artists fail when they 'sign over', like Taking Back Sunday and to some extent Radiohead a few years back.IRC's own 'Favorite Indie and Alternative Songs of 2007' series includes songs that are not found on many site's lists of lists for best music of 2007 (to be published later) low).However, there is no ranking of songs. That's up ...

Radiohead's Mass Distribution of In Rainbows Continues to Fuel Its Historic Success 2008-01-17 18:46:35 With the #1 album in the U.S. and other markets around the globe, Radiohead has probably received more attention from the mainstream music press and the music blogs worldwide than any other band in the past six months. And it was no accident.Radiohead broke out and totally embraced rock fans in a revolutionary way, initially having released their classic album In Rainbows on the Internet last fall and allowing fans to decide how much they were willing to pay for and download it. (However, now you have to buy the album, but it is arguably worth it.)Through such innovative marketing and distribution techniques, like free and name-your-price offerings of its music, specially packaged disc sets by the band members (and not a major label) and live webcasts (such as last evening's London webcast at radiohead.tv).In addition, by setting up and regularly updating pages on various social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, Radiohead has made In Rainbows not just one of the most importa ...

Radiohead's Mass Distribution of In Rainbows Continues to Fuel Its Historic Success 2008-01-17 03:20:00 With the #1 album in the U.S. and other markets around the globe, Radiohead has probably received more attention from the mainstream music press and the music blogs worldwide than any other band in the past six months. And it was no accident.Radiohead broke out and totally embraced rock fans in a revolutionary way, initially having released their classic album In Rainbows on the Internet last fall and allowing fans to decide how much they were willing to pay for and download it. (However, now you have to buy the album, but it is arguably worth it.)Through such innovative marketing and distribution techniques, like free and name-your-price offerings of its music, specially packaged disc sets by the band members (and not a major label) and live webcasts (such as last evening's London webcast at radiohead.tv).In addition, by setting up and regularly updating pages on various social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, Radiohead has made In Rainbows not just one of the most importa ...