Concert Announcement: Okkervil River

09/12/08 The Bottleneck, Lawrence

Another solid concert announcement for the Lawrence area comes in today as Okkervil River will be making an appearance at The Bottleneck on September 12th. Okkervil River has been a JoC favorite now for a while....we've mentioned their solid 2007 album The Stage Names on here before and in fact, that album cracked our Top 15 Albums of 2007. This Austin, TX band just announced details for their follow-up/companion album to The Stage Names. The new album will be titled The Stand Ins and you can head over to Pitchfork to view details and full tour dates.

Videos: Great Cover Songs

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Since it's been a slow week here I thought I would try posting something a little different. This is the first post in a series of music videos for some of my favorite cover songs. The song in question here is called 'Heartbeats' which was originally written and performed by Swedish electro-pop duo The Knife. You can see the video of their video below:



The cover version is performed by fellow Swede Jose Gonzalez. Gonzalez version is obviously much more mellow, with most of his music on the folky side, but like all great covers, Jose makes it his own. Check out his version below:

New Playlist: Tom Waits

.Tickets for Tom Waits Glitter & Doom Tour went on sale yesterday, and I believe most of the shows are already sold out. Yours truly happened to score front row seats in the Orchestra Pit for the show at The Fox Theatre in St. Louis on June 26th, and I may be more excited than I've been for just about anything else ever. I'm not going to pretend I have been a Tom Waits fan forever, in fact I was exposed to Mr. Waits only about five years ago by my Brother-in-law, but I've been completely obsessed ever since. Tom Waits has a pretty intimidatingly large catalog so if you haven't had the pleasure of hearing his music I've created a little playlist below. The songs span his almost his entire discography and will give you a good idea of the vastness of his musical stylings. Enjoy!

Upcoming Show: Air Traffic

05/17/08 The Record Bar, Kansas City

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, cruise by The Record Bar this Saturday to catch the UK band Air Traffic. This might be your only chance to catch them in a place as small as The Record Bar because this band seems to have the qualities that will make them a big success. If you like Keane but wish they had more depth to their sound or if you like Muse but wish they weren't so bombastic, you'll find much to like here. Click HERE to download a live version of 'No More Running Away' off their album, Fractured Life. You can also cruise by their website to check out a few more tracks off the album. Make sure you get there early on Saturday because it's an all-ages early show with the first opening band set to go on around 5:30 and Air Traffic going on around 8:00 PM.

Air Traffic Myspace

New Music: American Princes & The Black Angels

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American Princes - Other People

American Princes are a band who did the complete opposite of most bands trying to make it and moved from New York to Little Rock, Arkansas to focus on their music. It pays off as their third full-length album, Other People, is a pretty solid album. At first listen a few songs caught my ear but I dismissed it as a pretty standard rock album. After coming back to it a few times it has really grown on me. These guys are pretty outstanding songwriters and can switch up styles and genre's from song to song. The whole thing is pretty darn catchy and the whole three guitarists usually does it for me as well. They just played a show in KC earlier this month but I hadn't really checked out the album enough yet to want to go...I'm sure I'll regret it. You can check out the first song on the album, Auditorium, below and Other People, is out now on Yup Roc Records.



American Princes Website
American Princes Myspace

The Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost

The Black Angels didn't necessarily switch things up for their sophomore release Directions To See A Ghost, but that's definitely not a bad thing. If you were a fan of the Austin band's debut album Passover then you'll certainly find something to like here as well. They made my Top 15 Best Shows of 2007 for their stellar concert with Vietnam at the Bottleneck and in 2006 they made my list with their show at the Bleeding Kansas Festival. They appear to be playing everywhere but KC/Lawrence for their current tour, but let's hope they make it back through very soon. Check out the track 'Doves' from Directions To See A Ghost which is out today on Light In The Attic Records.



The Black Angels Website
The Black Angels Myspace

My Morning Jacket SNL Videos

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Any issues I had about their new album not quite rocking out enough were put to rest about halfway through their live performance of 'Evil Urges'. Check out that and the first song they played, 'I'm Amazed' below.


My Morning Jacket - I'm Amazed:




My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges:




Don't forget that tickets to MMJ's Uptown show officially go on sale on Saturday the 17th, however you can buy them now via ticketmaster if you use the pre-sale password "thepitch".

Concert Announcement: Dr. Dog

09/30/08 The Record Bar, Kansas City

Jeopardy of Contentment favorite Dr. Dog will be coming through town a few times in the next few months. In addition to playing the Wakarusa Festival on Saturday June 7th and Sunday June 8th they will also be appearing at The Record Bar on September 30th. Not only do Dr. dog have an album in my Top 50 Albums of '07 but they made the Top 15 Shows of '07 as well so their headlining gig at The Record Bar is sure to be a good time. Their new album, Fate, will be released on July 22nd.

Dr. Dog Website
Dr. Dog Myspace

New Music - The Islands - Arm's Way

Keep your ears peeled for Montreal's Islands 2nd full length release entitled Arm's Way due out May 20th on ANTI-. In the meantime, stroll on over to ANTI-'s website to stream the first single off of the album very appropriately named "The Arm".

We were big fans of Islands' 2006 release Return to Sea. The Islands make catchy, epic pop songs straight out of Canada that leave you both humming and thinking. The new single sounds darker and less overly produced than the first album which could turn out to be not such a bad thing in my humble opinion. I like the sound and can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the record...

Concert Announcement: My Morning Jacket

08/18/08 The Uptown Theater, Kansas City

Continuing the weekly My Morning Jacket posts, I am pleased to announce that MMJ will be kicking off their Fall tour in Kansas City at The Uptown Theater on August 18th. With the June 10th release date of their new album, Evil Urges, fast approaching I'm sure you have seen them mentioned plenty here before.

I was able to catch them on their Z tour a couple of years back in Columbia and it was a face-melting experience to say the least. Don't miss this KC show and don't forget that My Morning Jacket is the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend.

My Morning Jacket Myspace
My Morning Jacket Website

Concert Announcement: The Whigs

06/14/08 The Bottleneck, Lawrence

Until I heard about this show I wasn't sure if The Bottleneck was still going to be around anymore (their concert calendar looks pretty pathetic). This Athens, GA trio are a Jeopardy of Contentment favorite and have been mentioned here before...imagine My Morning Jacket meets The Replacements. You can catch them at The Bottleneck in Lawrence on June 14th.

The Whigs Website
The Whigs Myspace

Concert Announcement: Tom Waits

06/26/08 The Fox Theatre, St. Louis

Even though this isn't in the Kansas City area it still warrants a Concert Announcement here. The rarely touring Tom Waits will be making a stop at The Fox Theatre in St. Louis on June 26th. No word quite yet on when tickets will go on sale but check The Fox Theatre's website for more info.



Check full tour dates HERE.