Lollapalooza Initial Lineup Reveal

Well, here it is! And it couldn’t have come any sooner!

The Initial Lollapalooza Lineup:

Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Louis XIV, Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, The National, G. Love & Special Sauce, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Explosions in the Sky, Brand New, Gogol Bordello, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Dierks Bentley, Okkervil River, Amadou & Mariam, Blues Traveler, John Butler Trio, Girl Talk, Your Vegas, CSS, Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves, Battles, Steel Train, Jamie Lidell, Bang Camaro, Butch Walker, The Blakes, Mates of State, Tally Hall, Spank Rock, White Lies, Brazilian Girls, Magic Wands, Chromeo, Electric Touch, Duffy, Innerpartysystem, The Kills, The Postelles, Rogue Wave, The Parlor Mob, The Go! Team, Bald Eagle, Mason Jennings, Krista, The Gutter Twins, Ha Ha Tonka, Yeasayer, Witchcraft, Grizzly Bear, We Go To 11, MGMT, Sofia Talvik, The Weakerthans, Booka Shade, Santogold, Black Kids, Black Lips, Dr. Dog, Nicole Atkins & the Sea, The Ting Tings, Kid Sister, Office, The Cool Kids, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, The Whigs, Manchester Orchestra, Foals, Uffie, The Octopus Project, Cadence Weapon, Ferras, De Novo Dahl, Noah and the Whale, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, K’NAAN, Serena Ryder, Newton Faulkner.

The Lineup was revealed compliments of Jim DeRogatis and the Chicago Times and the ‘official’ announcements, along with changes to the Festival Page will be added Monday, 9am ET.

Tickets for the show are available via the site, and with a lineup that only promises to get 30-40 bands bigger and better… I’d be jumping on those 3day passes almost immediately.

Lollapalooza takes place August 1st-3rd, and promises certainly to be THE festival of the summer.

All that is left to do here is find out a way to get there.

Lollapalooza Lineup Leaked

You know, there are few things that I get really excited about: The Season Premiere of Battlestar Gallactica, sushi, cheese… very few things.

But now I have to add some Jim De Rogatis to this list of exciting things, cuz he just ‘apparently’ leaked a huge portion of the Lollapalooza lineup. I mean, what a guy… he just couldn’t wait until April 7th, and who could blame him?

Well enough stalling, here’s the leak:

“Art-rock giants Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, the reunited Rage Against the Machine, Jack White’s side project the Raconteurs and hometown heroes Wilco and Kanye West will headline the main stages on Aug. 1-3.

The Raconteurs, Wilco and West will each be making their second appearance at the reinvented destination festival. Other repeaters among the more than 100 acts on this year’s bill are Gnarls Barkley, the Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, G. Love & Special Sauce, Blues Traveler and Mates of State.

Quite a few of the other acts — including many of the most promising — have earlier performed at Chicago’s two independently produced music festivals, Pitchfork and Intonation. These include Bloc Party, Cat Power, Stephen Malkmus, Girl Talk, Kid Sister, Office, the Cool Kids, Battles, the Go! Team, Jamie Lidell and Grizzly Bear.”

Well, that looks like a pretty dreamy little start to a super weekend.
But I mean, I didn’t really need to hear all the hype. Lollapalooza, you had me at ‘Wilco’.

Electric Picnic 2008: Wow… I’m officially Moving to Ireland

Wow… say what you will about American Music Festivals.. but it is slowly becoming clearer and clearer to me that Europe blows American Festivals out of the water. Not to mention, Europe is all pretty looking and old, and stuff.

Seriously though, think of the beautiful architecture, all that history, and then some of the greatest groups from around the world play, just for you (and you know, like a couple thousand other people.. meh). I think my heart just exploded.

If you’re not into all that aesthetic pleasure, and just wanna know the facts, here is the 2008 lineup for the Electric Picnic Festival that takes place August 29-31st in Stradbally, Ireland.

Sex Pistols, Sigur Rós, Grinderman, Franz Ferdinand, George Clinton & The P-Funk Allstars, My Bloody Valentine, Goldfrapp, Christy Moore, Wilco, The Gossip, Duffy, Underworld, Tinariwen, CSS, Tindersticks, New Young Pony Club, Josh Ritter, Lisa Hannigan, Cathy Davey, That Petrol Emotion, The Breeders, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Sinead O’Connor, Henry Rollins, The Waterboys, The Roots, Kila, Micah P Hinson, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Hayseed Dixie, Candi Staton, Juana Molina, Turin Brakes, Faust, Midnight Juggernauts, Tartit, Hadouken!, Silver Apples, Mark Geary, Teitur, Blitzen Trapper, Absentee, Balanescu Quartet, Lou Rhodes, Adrian Crowley, One Day International, The Yard Dogs, Tobias Froberg, Boss Volenti, Dawn Landes, Constantines, Yacht, Lionheart Brothers, Large Mound, Emmy the Great, Foals, Kormac & the BSQ Band, Jape, Noisettes, Dublin Gospel Choir…plus many more to be announced.

Other rumors also have Sigur Ros and the Sex Pistols doing some potential collaboration-type goodness at the show as well.. not to mention Moby, Fatboy Slim, Super Furry Animals, Billy Bragg, Mogwai, Elbow, and Gary Numan are all rumored as future adds to the lineup.

Man… the last time I saw Sigur Ros LIVE they were having audio problems, and their set had a time limit, so they never got to get things in order… and now that I recall how amazing they sounded even with the sound distorted, I can’t even imagine what a set of theirs would be like in an audio-friendly environment.

I just got goosebumps.

Well.. I might have to rob some banks to go to this festival… and trust me, the jail time might actually be worth it. But first things first.. I need to go run over my ex with my car. haha jk.

Over and out!

Outside Lands… huh?!!

Kay… this festival came out of nowhere… at least to me anyway; I’ve never even heard of it before. Maybe that implies that I’ve been living in a cave for the last little while…. and I’m willing to admit that definitely a version of that statement applies: just replace ‘cave’ with ‘wind-coulee’, and ‘living’ with ‘trapped against my own will’, and THEN we’ve definitely got a bit more of an accurate statement going on.

San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival released details of their lineup via the San Francisco Chronicle… and whoa!

Beck… Radiohead… Wilco… Manu Chao…

What the heck?!

According to the San Francisco Chronicle:

More than 60 bands and performers – including Beck, Primus and Widespread Panic – have been signed for the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival on five stages over three days, Aug. 22-24, in Golden Gate Park, producers announced Monday.

In addition to the already advertised headliners – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Radiohead and Jack Johnson – the colossal program will also feature Wilco, Manu Chao, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, and Steve Winwood.

Also appearing will be Rodrigo y Gabriela, Café Tacvba, Broken Social Scene, Regina Spektor, Devendra Banhart, Galactic’s Crescent City Soul Krewe, Steel Pulse, Cold War Kids, Andrew Bird, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Drive-By Truckers, M. Ward, ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), Matt Nathanson, Two Gallants and Mother Hips.

More artists are expected to be added to the lineup, so keep your eye on the prize and check this site every day: SFOutsideLands

Tickets go on sale: March 30th-10am Pacific

Maybe it was just the name of the festival that initially made me think the roster ought to be comprised of hillbilly bands from the U.S. interior… but this just knocked my socks off, and I HAVEN’T even had my coffee yet, DAMMITT!!
Though… I wouldn’t be opposed if one hillbilly band showed up and played some songs on the banjo.. that’s just plain romantic. hah.   Everyone loves a good banjo.

Over and out.

More Lollapalooza Rumors- So much for my seat staying dry.

The Chicago Times sure knows how to make my world go round, cuz they keep leaking more and more hints about the amazing 2008 Lolla lineup.

The latest hints to be announced:

Rage Against the Machine and Wilco

Sure, I was already expecting Wilco to be there, for whatever reason… But Rage would definitely be a pleasant surprise. Sure… I saw them last year at the Coachella Festival, but as long as Zach de la Rocha keeps his political rant down to a 10 minute max, and the crackhead who stepped on my skull promises to no-show, then we’re all good!!

As for Wilco… one of my favorite bands in the whole world… I don’t think I could ever get sick of hearing Jeff Tweedy sing, or grow tired of watching Nels shred his fingers off time and time again. They’re just a classic band, and you can’t ever go wrong when Wilco is on board.
(for those who haven’t heard them live, do yourselves a favor and buy their Kicking Television: Live in Chicago Album… and as you listen to it, think about how that disc isn’t even doing them any justice. They really are probably on of THE best live bands out there…)

Lollapalooza: Will you be soooo Awesome?!

As rumors unfold, it seems that the answer to this question is definitely ‘yes’!

Today the Chicago Tribune confirmed that Radiohead AND NIN will be headliners for Lollapalooza this summer.

Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails are expected to headline the fourth incarnation of Lollapalooza in Grant Park Aug. 1-3.

Promoters won’t make the lineup official for a few more weeks, but industry sources have confirmed that Radiohead has been booked as the centerpiece of the festival…

In addition, Nine Inch Nails will play its first Chicago show in several years, following the release of its 2007 album, “Year Zero,” and the four-volume “Ghosts,” made available a few days ago on the nin.com Web site.

So far.. this is the MOST promising set of headliners I’ve seen out of any of the Festival listings thus far! (with Sasquatch just legging a little behind in the runnings).

Not to mention, the hugely covetted 3-day presale tickets to Lollapalooza (if you can snatch em up in time) are a crazy $60.00!!! Think about that! How many awesome bands can you see in concert these days for $60 flat? Very few. AND yet Lolla is giving you a full meal deal of music awesomeness for a bargain price. Now thats a concert I can get on board with.

Other rumors include: Wilco, Black Lips, and Bang Camero.

Feist Tops Off the Shortlist!

After out-awesoming some fierce competition, Leslie Feist topped out as the winner of the Shortlist of Music Prize for her 2007 Album The Reminder.

Well, this is a result I am definitely happy with, though…I was kiiiinda rooting for Arcade Fire or LCD Soundsystem… but Feist does Canada proud, and she kinda sings really good too!!

Feist beat out Top 10 Finalists: Arcade Fire, Burial, Feist, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A., Spoon, Stars, Wilco and Working for a Nuclear Free City.

To see the Long List of Finalists: click here!

What’s YOUR Favorite Band!

The annual American Shortlist Prize TOP TEN finalists have been announced:
1)Arcade Fire
2)Burial
3)Feist
4)Justice
5)LCD Soundsystem
6)M.I.A.
7)Spoon
8)Stars
9)Wilco
10)Working for a Nuclear Free City

-For those that aren’t familiar with The Shortlist, this is pretty much the US version of the British Mercury Prize : the “annual award for the best album of the year from within the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland”.”

Though it’s hard for me to pick which of the bands I’D want to win the MOST.   I think my longterm alliances lie pretty firmly with LCD Soundsystem, Wilco and Arcade Fire. But there are so many others I think deserve it as well, and even more in the LONG LIST!!
Check it out! And let me know what YOUR pick for the win is!!

Here are the highlights from the Long List:

A Fine Frenzy One Cell in the Sea Hunnypot

Against Me! New Wave Rev. Moose

Animal Collective Strawberry Jam Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Arcade Fire Neon Bible Chris Douridas

Bad Religion New Maps of Hell Ronnie of the Killers

Biffy Clyro Puzzle Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Blonde Redhead 23 Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

brakesbrakesbrakes The Beatific Visions Hunnypot

Burial Untrue Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Calvin Harris I Created Disco Hunnypot

Dead Heart Bloom Chelsea Diaries Rev. Moose

Digitalism Idealism Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Dollyrots Because I’m Awesome Hunnypot

Eddie Vedder Into the Wild Soundtrack Ronnie of the Killers

Feist The Reminder Chris Douridas

Fionn Regan The End of History Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Future of the Left Curses Hunnypot

Gogol Bordello Super Taranta Rev. Moose

Grinderman Grinderman Hunnypot

Gui Boratto Chromaphobia Chris Douridas

Iron & Wine The Shepherd’s Dog Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Jesca Hoop Kismet Chris Douridas

Josh Ritter The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Juliette and the Licks Four on the Floor Rev. Moose

Justice Cross Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Keren Ann Keren Ann Chris Douridas

Kings of Leon Because of the Times Hunnypot

Klaxons Myths of the Near Future Hunnypot

LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Le Loup The Throne of the Third Heaven Rev. Moose

Les Savy Fav Let’s Stay Friends Ronnie of the Killers

M.I.A. Kala Hunnypot

Maps We Can Create Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

O’Death Head Home Rev. Moose

Of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Rev. Moose

Parts and Labor Mapmaker Rev. Moose

Peter Bjorn and John Writer’s Block Rev. Moose

PJ Harvey White Chalk Ronnie of the Killers

Puscifer V is for Vagina Ronnie of the Killers

Robert Francis One by One Chris Douridas

Robert Pollard Standard Gargoyle Decisions Ronnie of the Killers

Scout Niblett This Fool Can Die Now Ronnie of the Killers

Serj Tankian Elect the Dead Ronnie of the Killers

Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Stars In Our Bedroom After the War Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Swizz Beatz One Man Band Man Hunnypot

The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee Ronnie of the Killers

The Hives Black and White Album Ronnie of the Killers

The Thrills Teenager Ronnie of the Killers

Underworld Oblivion With Bells Hunnypot

Wheat Everyday I Said a Prayer Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

Wilco Sky Blue Sky Chris Douridas

Working for a Nuclear Free City Businessmen and Ghosts Hunnypot