Sep 29 2008
More photo evidence, etc. to come later, but this photo was taken on a good ol’ fashion EDGE iPhone…All the fans around the crappy cinder block ramps at Shea Stadium waiting for the Legends to arrive. Dwight “Dr. K” Gooden got the loudest ovation by far during the soggy-pseudo-red carpet entrance. At the actual event, amidst the doom and gloom of another season lost, Mike Piazza got the most rousing applause. More photos to be added tomorrow.
Sep 29 2008
According to new! Magazine, Pop newcomers THE TING TINGS recently received their European sales figures - and were stunned to learn they had sold just one album in Slovakia.
The band is now hoping to meet the person who purchased their debut album We Started Nothing.
Singer Katie White says, “We found that we had sold one record in Slovakia.
“One lonesome album… now that to us is very funny and we would love to know who bought it because they deserve a drink on us for making us giggle with confusion.”
http://www.new-magazine.co.uk/latestnews/view/3129/One-Slovakian-fan-buys-The-Ting-Tings-album/
Sep 25 2008
Honestly, who doesn’t like viking metal? I know for a fact that Amon Amarth love it! If you like beards, viking ships, battles, & fire you will fully enjoy the new video for Twilight of the Thunder God. Check it out below…
Twilight of the Thunder God
Sep 16 2008
Friday, September 19th
Robot Rock at Le Royale
Consider this another public service annoucement for what you should be doing this Friday. Dragonette kicks it live on the early show and the Written On A Bathroom Wall staff is going to kick it late night with a dance party. I’ll buy anyone a drink if they can out dance Allison Moore….
RSVP to list@gbh.tv for free entry
10pm - Le Royale - 21 7th Ave South - New York, NY - 21+
Sep 12 2008
Dragonette
Release Galore & Announce US Tour Dates This Fall
First Single “I Get Around”: http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=tHdSP8_ifQC8r9WdPGPC55n8Ml6Dnpbv&UserName=Unknown
“I Get Around” video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQwJOVOtZpY
“Take it Like a Man” video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eub6OkEG3I0
With a growing army of admirers and fans all over the world, now is your chance to witness what all the fuss is about. Bouncing from the East to the West coasts and destined to wow audiences with their revivalist new wave synth-pop, Toronto-based quadruplet, Dragonette, are now embarking on a much welcomed four-date mini-tour this fall in the United States.
With the pending release of their refreshing debut album Galore (I Surrender Records through Red An Artist Development Company) out on October 28th, watch out for their dirty electronica beats and synths, trunk full of hooks, neon-doused live shows and downright naughty delivery and vocals by the bands star front woman Martina Sorbara.
9/18- The Mercury Lounge- New York, NY
(w/ The Major Labels, Oppenheimer)
9/19- Le Royale- New York, NY
(w/ Headman)
9/22- The Trobaudour- West Hollywood, CA - SOLD OUT
(w/ Does it Offend You, Yeah? And DJ AC Slater)
9/23/08- Cinespace- Hollywood, CA
(w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? And DJ AC Slater)
It’s clear that this clever and glamorous cohesion of talent and shameless honesty is exactly what will take Dragonette beyond the realms of any hipster hyped about band (even though they have all the right factors that equate to any partygoer’s dream night out) and carry them into the mainstream superstar arena through out 2009.
The band, which was named after the singer’s ipod, possess an edgy dance rock sound with a bubble-gum pop lining. Lead vocalist and sultry siren, Martina, formed the band in 2005 when she met her future bassist, and future husband, Dan Kurtz at a canadian music festival. Martina, with her poppy songstress vocals and deep desire for some driving eccentric pop dance beats, eagerly agreed to leave behind her sucessful solo career and form what was originally just the dynamic duo, Dragonette.
“We met at a Canadian music festival we were both playing at,” Martina explains “and then we screwed.”
“And then I left my girlfriend.” states Dan.
The rest was, as we say history and Dragonette was born.
Later on in that year, Joel Stouffer (drums) and Will Stapleton (guitar) rounded out the line-up and they were soon asked to open up for Duran Duran’s US tour after only being a together for eight months.
“Galore” which was produced by Dan Kurtz himself (who also produced Feist’s critically acclaimed Monarch (Lay Your Jewelled Head Down) just prior to forming the band). Their debut single off the album, “I Get Around,” recently hit the Top 20 in Canada and the ridiculously infectious “Get Lucky,” reached global status, as after it was synched to fifteen major movies and advertising campaigns in the United States.
The band has played everywhere from dingy underground hipster clubs to festivals like Glastonbury and The Virgin Music Festival; and Martina has already achieved pop-star status, as she wrote and sang lead vocals on Basement Jaxx’s hit single, “Take Me Back to your House.” Dragonette has also been nominated for a Juno Award for Best New Group.
With songs reminiscent of those ranging from bands such as The Eurythmics and The Cars, Dragonette is sure to spark the interests of many a teen girl and boy as much as they would, your suburban housewife or club kid queen. Their music and live shows can ultimately be described as “a world of guilt-free pleasure mixed with 80’s party prowess”. Eclectic and exciting, stretching from sunny-day folk to hard driving dance rock, this is music for the masses at it’s finest.
Sep 12 2008
Sep 12 2008
In 50 years of Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart,
one song is triumphantly the #1 single…
Chubby Checker’s ‘The Twist’!
Are you shocked? We’re not. Chubby Checker is a living legend and this song had a huge impact on music and the way people danced to it! Wait, you didn’t know that? Check out this profile of Chubby in Vanity Fair magazine, and get up to date.
We here at Written On A Bathroom Wall have decided to offer you a little piece of this great musical achievement. Now, using basic office supplies, you too can twist with The Man, The Myth, The Legend - CHUBBY CHECKER! It’s endless amounts of DIY fun!
Materials Needed:
Step One: Download and print Chubby graphic here.
Step Two: Using scissors cut out both sides of Chubby.
Step Three: Add glue to one side of the graphic and place straw just above Chubby’s knees. Apply glue around Chubby’s feet and legs. Seal paper tightly around straw and continue to glue remaining parts.
Step Four: Let dry
Step Five: Make Chubby Twist!!!!
Sep 08 2008
Am I way behind on this one? After only a few days in the blog world, tunes seem to turn into the musical equivalent of moldy bread so I’d hate to think that I snoozed on such an anthem.
Kings of Leon have given our ears a treat with the first single “Sex on Fire” from their upcoming album Only by the Night. Peep the sexy video below and get stoked for the September 23rd album release.
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Sex On Fire
I’m down with songs that make me question what year it is.
Sep 08 2008
In case you haven’t heard, one of my favorite new bands Low vs. Diamond is going on tour with none other than this year’s biggest indie darling Santogold! Obviously I’m very happy for the band because I think this tour could expose them to lots of new fans, like maybe…you? Check out the tour dates below and dl “Heart Attack” - it’s my favorite song on LvD’s cd.
In other LvD news - there’s a hot new video on the way for “Heart Attack.” I’ve seen the rough cut and IT IS GOOD! Stay tuned for that post!
Low vs. Diamond supporting Santogold
Mp3 “Heart Attack”: http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=qOS7xptMCPqSZ5s4reMW5xznejmtRAls&UserName=Unknown
Fri/Sep-19 New York, NY • Fillmore New York @ Irving Plaza
Sat/Sep-20 Boston, MA • Paradise Rock Club
Tue/Sep-23 Philadelphia, PA • TLA
Wed/Sep-24 Toronto, ON • Phoenix Concert Theatre
Thu/Sep-25 Cleveland, OH • House Of Blues
Sat/Sep-27 Detroit, MI • St. Andrews Hall
Sun/Sep-28 Chicago, IL • House Of Blues
Tue/Sep-30 Lawrence, KS • Liberty Hall
Wed/Oct-01 Denver, CO • Gothic Theatre
Sat/Oct-04 Seattle, WA • Showbox SODO
Sun/Oct-05 Portland, OR • Crystal Ballroom
Tue/Oct-07 San Francisco, CA • Fillmore
Fri/Oct-10 San Diego, CA • House Of Blues
Sat/Oct-11 Las Vegas, NV • House Of Blues
Mon/Oct-13 Anaheim, CA • House Of Blues
Tue/Oct-14 Los Angeles, CA • Wiltern
Sep 08 2008
I don’t know about you guys, but I loooooves me some Josh Radin. And his long-awaited sophomore album is out tomorrow (digitally at least - bleh, I’d wait for the real thing if I were you)! I’ve head the album in full, and I promise and assure you, it’s every bit as good as (and, IMHO, better than!) anything JR’s done in the past. Check out all the info below and download the mp3.
Digital Release 9.9.08
In Stores 9.30.08
First Single “I’d Rather Be With You”
http://redmusic.com/streams/radin_irbwy.mp3
Track Listing
1) One of Those Days
2) I’d Rather Be With You
3) Sky featuring Meiko
4) Friend Like You
5) Brand New Day
6) They Bring Me To You
7) Vegetable Car
8) Free Of Me
9) You Got Growin Up To Do
10) We Are Okay
11) No Envy No Fear
On tour this October, supporting Missy Higgins!
Fri/Oct-3 Rochester NY • The Club @ Water Street Music Hall
Sun/ Oct -5 Pittsburgh PA • Diesel
Tue/ Oct -7 Columbus OH • The Basement
Sun/ Oct -12 Ann Arbor MI • Blind Pig
Mon/ Oct -13 Champaign IL • Canopy Club
Tue/ Oct -14 Omaha NE • The Waiting Room
Sun/ Oct -19 Columbia MO •The Blue Note
Mon/ Oct -20 Tulsa OK • Cain’s Side Room
Mon/ Oct -27 Boulder CO • Fox Theatre
Tue/ Oct -28 Denver CO • Bluebird Theater
Wed/ Oct -29 Salt Lake City UT • Club Sound
Thu/ Oct -30 Pocatello ID • Icon
Sat/Nov-1 Vancouver BC • Commodore Ballroom
Sun/ Nov -2 Victoria BC • Element Nightclub
Mon/ Nov -3 Portland OR • Crystal Ballroom
Tue/ Nov -4 Eugene OR • WOW Hall
Wed/ Nov -5 Seattle WA • Neumo’s
Fri/ Nov -7 Chico CA • El Rey
Sat/ Nov -8 Reno NV • Grand Sierra Theatre
Sun/ Nov -9 Anaheim CA • House of Blues
Mon/ Nov -10 Solana Beach CA • Belly Up Ttavern
Wed/ Nov -12 Santa Barbara CA • Soho
Joshua Radin Releases Sophomore Album on Mom & Pop Music
The times in which we live are confusing, chaotic and complex, but the things that have always been important in life are still important, and those are the subjects Joshua Radin addresses on his second album, Simple Times. These songs, he says, are about “falling in and out of love. Making friendships, having friendships fall apart. Experiencing different parts of the world, seeing other cultures and getting a better perspective on how we live in our country. Everything that people generally go through.”
The means he employs to deliver those ideas to the world is also pretty simple: He picks up a guitar and sings his heart out.
“It’s a personal account of my life through music,” says Cleveland-born Radin. “They’re all true and honest songs. When I meet people after shows, sometimes they think they know me because of a certain song—and in a sense they do, because I write about what’s going on in my life. It is scary making yourself vulnerable like that to a bunch of people you don’t know, but it’s also very therapeutic.”
“I was always trying to find some medium to express myself,” says Radin, who had previously studied art and spent six years writing screenplays. “When I started writing songs, I thought, ‘This is as honest as I can be: getting onstage with my guitar and my voice and singing for people.’”
Radin proved an extraordinarily quick study. A friend gave a demo featuring his very first composition, “Winter,” to a TV producer—who promptly used it to score a scene of the sitcom Scrubs in early 2004. Other Hollywood types found his music just as evocative, and soon various Radin songs were being heard in other TV shows (Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, American Idol, One Tree Hill, So You Think You Can Dance, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Eli Stone), as well as movies (The Nanny Diaries, The Last Kiss, Catch and Release) and ads.
Having captured the public’s attention, Radin set about keeping it with the release of his debut album in 2006. We Were Here drew critical acclaim and passionate listener response, establishing him as an artist in the tradition of greats like Nick Drake and Elliott Smith—confessional folk-pop craftsmen who could say more with a whisper than most can with a scream.
Still, We Were Here presented the first batch of songs Radin ever wrote. Simple Times is drawn from a much deeper well. “These last two years I spent writing and writing and writing,” he says. “I did feel this pressure on myself to top the first record.”
To help him do that, Radin enlisted highly regarded producer Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck). “I still wanted to keep an intimate sound, but I also knew I had to grow as an artist,” Radin says. “So I opened myself up to Rob’s production, and he had a lot of great ideas. We both had a really clear vision of what we wanted.”
Radin spent seven weeks at L.A.’s legendary Sunset Sound studio working with a cast of musicians including Patty Griffin, who dropped in to sing the exquisite harmony on “You Got Growin’ Up to Do.”
The completed Simple Times offers the next step in the evolution of an artist whose talent is flourishing, whose skills have grown and whose vision is broader than ever before.
“I feel like right about now I’m starting to hit my stride, which is cool,” he says. “With this record I feel like I can come out and say, ‘OK, I’m a fully formed artist now.’ I just hope that other people like it as much as I like it.”
