The Red Radio

Julian Casablancas covers Randy Newman

Mr. Casablancas has caused quite the stir here in Los Angeles with his recent residency at the Palace Theatre downtown.  We've yet to make it to one of the shows, but folks keep raving and raving about how great they are - the music, the backdrop visuals, the venue itself. 

Julian seems to be having such a good time in Los Angeles that he's been covering the old Randy Newman staple, I Love L.A.  Have a look below, quite a good cover, actually.

The last of Julian's Palace perfromaces takes place this evening.

Depeche Mode release new video for "Fragile Tension"

OK, finally a Depeche Mode video for Sounds Of The Universe that actually features the band.  Yes, we know they had a tiny cameo in Wrong, but that hardly counts. 

The pixelated effect on the band members reminds us of this place that used to be on Fisherman's Wharf in the Bay.  You'd give them a photo and they would pixelate the image into glass.  Kinda cool and a bit freaky, but the effect largely resembled Gahan, Gore and Fletcher here. 

Fragile Tension shares double billing with Hole To Feed for the upcoming double a-sided single.  Details here. 

Nitzer Ebb live from the Key Club

We are up late and tired and not enough words can express the greatness of Nitzer Ebb last night.  We've been seeing these guys since the 80's and they are seriously better now then ever.  Douglas and Bon were in sensational form.  The set list contained the perfect mix of new (from the upcoming Industrial Complex album) to the classic - Murderous, Join In The Chant (of course), Lightning Man, Getting Closer and the unexpected - I Give To You and Ascend. A great crowd as well.

A glimpse, below:

Tonight, Nitzer Ebb take Los Angeles

F yeah is all we can say.  Nitzer Ebb, one of our all time favorites, are set to play Los Angeles this eve at the Key Club. 

A few years ago, the very thought of Bon and Douglas playing together seemed about as likely as Morrissey and Marr reconciling on stage.  That all changed when they guys reunited for a world tour in 2006.  Tonight's show marks Nitzer Ebb's official live return to Los Angeles since September 12th, 2006, in which they played the Avalon. 

We've seen the set list and there's a lot to be excited about.  The most unexpected surprise is the addition of Ascend from 1991's Ebbhead. Our favorite track off that album. 

Check out the below clip of Ascend from the recent rehearsals for the Tour Of Duty kicking off in a few hours:

Sondre Lerche plays NPR's "Tiny Desk Concert" series

Sondre Lerche stopped by one of our favorite sessions out there - NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. 

Lerche played a three-song set in the middle of the music offices at NPR.  The set included:

Heartbeat Radio
Good Luck
Easy To Persuade

We admit, seeing him do Heartbeat Radio acoustically with the backdrop of vinyl and CDs makes us love the song more and more.  Lerche jokes with the crew that Heartbeat Radio is taking an issue with radio, but not the NPR guys per say. Good Luck and Easy To Persuade sound great acoustically as well. 

Watch the set below:

Editors do "Papillon" live and acoustic for Belgium TV

Editors guested on Belgium's De Laatste Show last week.  There's a nice little chat with Tom Smith at the opening of the clip below, discussing the band's current album hitting number one in Belgium, the band's late 90's musical influences, and a few other tidbits. 

The chat is followed up by a beautiful, quiet acoustic take on Papillon - we love this stripped down, synthless version:

Depeche Mode ready new double A-sided single for "Hole To Feed" and "Fragile Tension"

December 7th brings us the new double A-sided single from DM's Sounds Of The Universe.

Hole To Feed and Fragile Tension will share the spotlight and follow in the footsteps of the previous Sounds Of The Universe singles, Wrong and Peace. 

Art is above - consistent with the Sounds design of course. 

Oh and the 7th is for UK folks only, details on a US digital release are pending.  Our UK peeps will be able to purchase the single in digital format, CD or delectable double 12" vinyl. 

Beyond remixes of both tracks, special remixes for Perfect and Come Back will also be included.

There are all kinds of things going on across all three formats, take a gander below:

CD
Fragile Tension (Radio Mix) - 3.36
Hole To Feed (Radio Mix) - 3.27
Perfect (Roger Sanchez Club Mix) 7.24
Come Back (SixToes Remix) 4.56
Fragile Tension (Laidback Luke Remix) 7.52
Hole To Feed (Popof Vocal Mix) 8.42
Fragile Tension (Peter Bjorn And John Remix) 3.45
Hole To Feed (Joebot Remix) 6.43

Digital Download Bundles
Fragile Tension (Radio Mix) - 3.36
Hole To Feed (Radio Mix) - 3.27
Come Back (SixToes Remix - 4.56
Perfect (Ralphi & Craig Club Remix) - 8.49
Fragile Tension (Stephan Bodzin Remix) - 9.14
Hole To Feed (Paul Woolford's Easyfun Ethereal Disco Mix) - 9.24
Perfect (Roger Sanchez Club Mix) - 7.24
Fragile Tension (Solo Loves Panorama Remix) - 6.10
Hole To Feed (Popof Vocal Mix) - 8.42

iTunes Bundle
Fragile Tension (Radio Mix) - 3.36
Hole To Feed (Radio Mix) - 3.27
Come Back (SixToes Remix - 4.56
Perfect (Ralphi & Craig Club Remix) - 8.49
Fragile Tension (Stephan Bodzin Remix) - 9.14
Hole To Feed (Paul Woolford's Easyfun Ethereal Disco Mix) - 9.24
Perfect (Roger Sanchez Club Mix) - 7.24
Fragile Tension (Solo Loves Panorama Remix) - 6.10
Hole To Feed (Popof Vocal Mix) - 8.42
Perfect (Ralphi & Jody Club Remix) - 7.39

Double vinyl 12"
Fragile Tension (Stephan Bodzin Remix) - 9.14
Fragile Tension (Kris Menace's Love On Laserdisc Remix) - 6.24
Hole To Feed (Popof Vocal Mix) - 8.42
Hole To Feed (Paul Woolford's Easyfun Ethereal Disco Mix) - 9.24
Perfect (Roger Sanchez Club Mix) - 7.24
Perfect (Ralphi Rosario Dub) - 8.26
Peace (Herve's 'Warehouse Frequencies' Remix) - 5.10
Peace (Sander Van Doorn Remix) - 8.02

Track listing breakdown compliments of the DM official site. 

Random video of the week #38 - Urban Dance Squad "Deeper Shade Of Soul"

Back in the late 80's we used to work in a surf shop up in the Bay Area.  We had two TV's hanging over the cash register and used to play VHS tapes of videos we'd tape off of MTV and other local video shows.
Deeper Shade Of Soul by Urban Dance Squad made it on every tape.  Mini-dance parties would break out inside the shop and outside the front door.  Lots of Cali kids grinding and rocking out to the beat.  STILL a great little jam to this day.  One of the forgotten, but not one of the lost. 

Check it...

Photographer Kevin Cummins talks Morrissey, Marr, Happy Mondays and early Madonna

If there's one thing we love just about as much as music, it's photography.  Mix the two together, even better. Kevin Cummins, one of the greats and a favorite of ours, has a new book out documenting his amazing shots of the Manchester music scene.  His work with The Smiths, and later with solo-Moz and solo-Marr, is now legendary.  Anybody remember the infamous "tattoo" shot of Marr post-Smiths breakup outside the tattoo parlor? His new book, Looking For The Light In The Pouring Rain, contains a collection of his work from the Manchester scene over the past 30 years.  A black and white silhouetted shot of Morrissey graces the cover - above.   

Cummins recently sat down with the Mirror UK to talk about his work with Morrissey, Marr, The Happy Mondays, and early shots of Madonna taken at Manchester's infamous Hacienda back in the early 80's.  Good stuff.  Order the book here. 

Anya Marina releases video for "New Moon" track, "Satellite Heart"

We haven't yet talked about the excellent soundtrack to New Moon.  The entire collection embodies a cohesive atmosphere that continues on a consistent path throughout.  The gathering of previously unreleased tracks, by some pretty stellar indie artists, offers the ultimate mix tape.  

Our top selections include: Band Of Skulls, Friends - never paid them much attention, but we are now.  Lykke Li, Possibility - our favorite track. Editors, No Sound But The Wind  - of course, we've been having a love affair with this band recently - noticed? Thom Yorke, Hearing Damage - puts Thom back on our map (finally)

And of course, this lady, Anya Marina.  Join her in a romp through the woods in the video companion piece to her New Moon offering, Satellite Heart.  Anyone else conjuring up a direct link to Morrissey in the "true to you" lyric?