"Romantic" by Walter Meego

This is not a riddle. What do you get when you cross french disco, early playstation soundtracks, and fuzzy guitars? Really, it's not a riddle, but it's the newest banger from the eclectic musicians in Chicago's Walter Meego and it's called "Romantic." Walter Meego's music is a breed of its own, sampling the best in modern rock, electronic, and pop, unrestrained by allegiances to any particular sound or any particular scene. In other words, it's one for the rockers, and one for the dance heads. It's one for the lovers, and one for the fighters. It's one for the people. Walter Meego - Romantic.mp3 The Romantic 12" single/cd EP, will be available this November. It'll feature a couple studio tracks, some remixes, and lots of audio goodness. Walter Meego

Know Your Chicken

I couldn't help it. I read some news yesterday that Miho Hatori, of Cibo Matto, was releasing a solo album, and the only thing I could think of was chicken. You see, back in the nineties, Cibo Matto, had this insane, and insanely catchy tune, "Know Your Chicken." The chorus, "I know my chicken. You've got to know your chicken," had this way of seeping into your brain and not leaving. All I needed was to read the word, "Cibo Matto" and chicken was stuck on repeat in my mind. It took all of my rock and roll powers not to pull into the KFC drive through on the way home. I really, really needed that chicken. Be careful. If you click on that play button, there's a good chance that you're gonna spend the rest of the day bouncing about with chicken on your mind.

Backyard Tire Fire

Sometimes, there's nothin' better to my ears than some good old fashioned blues based rock and roll. You know, it's like some days, you're at the bar and you drink British imports, other days, you want something that's an American working-class brew, like Stroh's. Indie rock is pretty cool, and I'll do the experimental and avant garde sh*t. I'll rock the new wave, no wave, and your punk rock, post punk, and post punk rock, but every once in a while, man, lay down some riffs, howl you're heart out, and you've got me hooked. In comes, Backyard Tire Fire, a working man's bluesy rock band out of Chicago, Illinois, and their six song ep, Skin and Bones, a soundtrack for bar fights, late nights, and days spent alone with ash trays and empty bottles. Skin and Bones consists of two songs that'll be on their full length due out this January, two exclusive tracks, and two live cuts. The title track, "Skin and Bones" is what I like to refer to as a howler -- rock and roll that's deep, dirty, and fills your soul. Backyard Tire Fire - Skin and Bones.mp3 The Skin and Bones ep is available now from e-tailers like iTunes and eMusic, and directly from the band while they're out on tour. Backyard Tire Fire will be in Cleveland this Friday night at The House of Blues along with The Notrth Mississippi All-Stars. Backyard Tire Fire

It's A Sad Day In Parma

From Yahoo News: The Pink Lawn Flamingo Faces Extinction. My boyhood home of Parma, OH is known for quite a few things: muscle cars, bowling alleys, white socks with dress clothes and black socks for mowing the lawn (you laugh but have you ever see grass stains on dark socks?), and pink flamingos in the front yard. Now, with the news that Union Products, the maker of the original pink lawn flamingo, is going out of business, I'm left to wonder what will become of my boyhood home. I've had to deal with pink flamingo jokes my whole life. Inevitably, whenever the topic of my birthplace comes up, people want to see my socks, ask what car I drive, know if I own my own bowling ball, and last but not least, whether the front yard of my boyhood home had a flamingo. Well, the answer was yes. My parents had, and still do have pink flamingos in the yard. As for the other questions? I never wear white socks to work, or when I go out, and I haven't mowed grass in years, not a muscle car, and I don't own my own ball.

Easy Rockin Sunday with Wild Sweet Orange, Christians and Lions, and Barzin

This morning I'm serving up three tracks from three realtievely unknown artists. Each artist and each track in the mix comes highly recommended by the genius at IRCWHQ. "Ten Dead Dogs" by Birmingham, Alabama's Wild Sweet Orange is a song that has taken over my sound system the last couple days. Admittedly, Birmingham is not one of the fanciest addresses for aspiring rockers. Don't let that dissuede you. In "Ten Dead Dogs" you'll hear traces of American roots music and nineties alternative rock, along side powerful and poignant lyrics. Wild Sweet Orange - Ten Dead Dogs.mp3 As an aside, I am forever indebted to John Richards, aka John in the Morning, of KEXP, for turning me onto these guys. Wild Sweet Orange Christians and Lions are a new act out of Boston who just recently released their debut, More Songs for the Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake on ECA Records. Matt DuFour, of The Tripwire, gave these lads a glowing review last week, and I have to concur, though internet hype can be a hit and miss prospect, Christians and Lions appear to be the real deal. "Gimme Diction" is a damn fine mid-tempo rocker. It's smart and wonderfully arranged. Christians and Lions display an understanding of songwriting and performance that's well beyond their years. Christians and Lions - Gimme Diction.mp3 Christians and Lions "Let's Go Driving" by Barzin closes out today's mix. This Canadian songwriter has taken on the labels of alt-country, slo-core, chamber pop, and awesome. That last one, awesome, that was my label. "Let's Go Driving" is a slow, sleepy, and reverb soaked country ballad, and man, it's really f'n good. Barzin - Let's Go Driving.mp3 Barzin

Archie Bronson Outfit, Benji Ferree, New Lou Reeds. Beachland Tavern 10.27.06

It was a dark and stormy night. Seriously. Periods of rain that can be heavy at time? Whatever. It rained and it rained and it rained hard all night. If it wasn't for rock and roll, and more specifically, the triple bill with The Archie Bronson Outfit, Benji Ferree, and The New Lou Reeds, I would have been perfectly content to stay in last night. After dodging standing water on the shoreway, as well as other drivers scared sh*tless of the standing water on the shoreway, I finally made my way to The Beachland Tavern. The New Lou Reeds took the stage first. Their set featured many tracks off of their latest disc, Top Billin, on Cleveland's Exit Stencil Records. They treated the Beachland crowd to lots of big, heavy, and dirty blues riffs. Although I was stuck on a barstool with Pabst in hand, it was impossible not to rock out once they blazed through the riff-tastic "Looking For a Boogaloo." Benji Ferree was up next. Though his disc, Leaving The Nest, often feels quaint and relaxed, his music comes off much larger live as he is backed by a guitarist, bassist, cellist, and drummer. Early on it was obvious, that most in attendance were unfamiliar with his work. It took a bit for the crowd to warm up. The turning point came when Benji admitted he was one of us -- he had spent some time in the sprawling city of Mentor as a youth. Or, maybe the turning point was when everyone realized that this dude was pretty damn good. Either way, by mid-set you could scan the crowd and see everyone tappin their toes, nodding their heads, and just plain enjoying the tunes. The headliners of the night, The Archie Bronson Outfit, did not disappoint. The tavern may have been only at half capacity at best, but as they launched into the first chord, nearly everyone gravitated front stage. These three cats from London, with their full beards and trainers, absolutely shredded through their set. Sam Windett howled as he ripped those angular chords off his guitar, drummer, Mark Cleveland punished his kit -- those drums didn't stand a chance, and second guitarist and bassist Dog Horday take a stoic stance as he added to the pummeling sound. At the end of the night, I could already hear the conversations that would take place tomorrow, "Dude, you should have been at The Tavern last night, The Archie Bronson Outfit killed it."

Every Day Is Halloween Covered By The Postmarks

Let's file this one under something I didn't expect to like. C'mon, how can you take on a classic song like Ministry's "Every Day Is Halloween." The original version was so fun, catchy, and (dare I say) a little silly. Ministry probably never intended "Every Day is Halloween" to be considered a silly song, but trust me, put the original one on your sound system and sing along to the "Um Um Bop Bop's" and see how much fun it is. On The Postmarks version, gone are the "Um Um Bop Bop's" that made the original version so endearing. In its place is a spooky menagerie of instruments. There's definitely a little banjo thing going on and if I'm not mistaken I do believe that I hear some theremin. That sh*t right there, that theremin, is one spooky instrument. In fact, the entire production has a certain eerieness about it and that's why this cover works. They took an unintenionally silly and spooky song and made it just spooky. The Postmarks - Every Day Is Halloween.mp3 The Postmarks

The Low Frequency In Stereo

I hate labeling bands as much as the next guy. It's just happens that sometimes tossing around strange concatenations like lo-fi-post-rock, or Scandanavian shoegazing disco, is easier than describing the music. If I sit here and type, the bass goes chugga, chugga, chugga, and the drums go ratatata ratatat, and the guitar goes wah-wah, da wah wah, I end up souding like Jack Black from School of Rock, or worse, a three year old. You know, I could always go the poetic route and say that the rhythm section moves with the force of the rolling thunderstorm while the guitars mimic a gentle summer breeze. I could do that, but then I sound like a douche. How bout we stick with lo-fi-post-rock and Scandanavian shoegazing disco. The Low Frequency In Stereo - Big City Lights.mp3 The Low Frequency In Stereo - Axes.mp3 The Last Temptation of The Low Frequency In Stereo will be out next Tuesday on Gigantic Music. If you're in NYC, the band will be in and around all the CMJ happenings. The Low Freequency In Stereo Gigantic Music

New Vid For "Mine Ain't Yours" by Lions In The Street

Welcome to another edition of masterpieces of rock and roll theatre. Today's episode features the boys from Vancouver's Lions In The Street laying down some of that groove heavy Southern styled rock and roll that I so adore while they enjoy a day at the races. "Mine Ain't Yours" happens to also be one of my fav rockers off of their debut ep, Cat Got Your Tongue, which was released free over the internet earlier in the year. Lions In The Street

Andrew WK's Close Calls With Brick Walls

Oh, kids these days. They all want to make the biggest rock and roll album of all time. The Killers want to channel Springsteen. My Chemical Romance is doing their best Queen. Yet, as hard as they may have tried, neither group succeeded in making the next great American rock and roll record. Surprisingly, the one who may have come the closest this year to equaling Springsteen, Queen, and the other juke box heroes of yesteryear is Andrew WK. You know, the guy who parties hard and parties till he pukes. That guy. Stranger still, Close Calls With Brick Walls isn't even available in The United States. Your choices are limited to the 18 track Japanese import or the 22 track South Korean import. So, you want even more strange and more surprising? Close calls with Brick Walls follows a period in Andrew WK's career where rumors started popping up on the internet that the Andrew WK we all know and love isn't really Andrew WK. If you're looking for information on Andrew WK (like I was last night) chances are you'll come across websites that claim Andrew WK is an actor playing Andrew WK, or that there's some sort of shadow organization that created the concept of Andrew WK, or that Dianne Warren really writes the songs, or (better still) that Tom Cruise is Andrew WK (you know you've never seen the two of them together at the same place and same time). For all we know, he could also be a product of The Dick Cheney Energy Task Force, Saudi Arabian Oil Magnates, the NSA, and The Masons. In a July 28th interview with The Gothamist, Andrew WK was asked about these conspiracies, and he seemed quite amused by the whole situation while he gave rather deep philosophical answers to the charges levied against him. Oh, I'm not done with the surprises. On Close Calls With Brick Walls, not every song is about partying hard. Sure, there's songs like "Not Going To Bed," "When I'm High," and "I Want To See You Go Wild," and there are plenty of anthems like "You Will Remember Tonight" and "Hand On The Place," but then, there's also a good deal of redemption, introspection, and personal growth. In fact, the opening track, "I Came For You" has absolutely nothing to do with partying. It barely has a power chord. It's a ballad featuring a bruised, battered, and all of a sudden, very vulnerable Andrew WK. Now consider the tune "One Brother." With different lyrics, it could have been another good time rocker. However, it finds Andrew WK doubting the life of rock and roll, women, and partying, and instead relying on his friends. Strange, I know. This is an older and wiser Andrew WK. Additionally, not only does Close Calls With Brick Walls feature a more mature voice, it also features a fair amount of musical experimentation. The basic formula is the same -- piano, guitars, drums, and Andrew WK's bellowing voice. What's different is this new sense of adventure. "Pushing Drugs" sounds like an electro-blues mash up. "Mark My Grace" is another of the blues based tracks and it ends up coming off like a marraige between Soundgarden and The Black Keys. In the end, I guess it is Donald Rumsfeld who sums up this situation the best, when during one of the many Iraq War press conferences he answered a seemingly simple question with the memorable quote, "There are things we know. There are things we don't know. And, there are things that we know we don't know." We know Andrew WK has made one of the most compelling rock and roll records this year. We don't know if and when it'll be released domestically. Finally, we thought we knew who he was, an eccentric rock and roller in white t-shirts and high tops who likes to party, but now after listening to Close Calls With Brick Walls, we know we don't know who Andrew Wk is. Andrew WK - I Came For You.mp3 Andrew WK - One Brother.mp3 Andrew WK's Close Calls With Brick Walls gets an 8 1/2 out of 10 on the Rockometer

Holy F*ckin Sh*t. Chavez On Tour

What else can I say. For everyone out there who rues the fact that Death Cab and The Decemberists are the face of indie rock today, your wish has been granted. Chavez are touring. If you know what I'm talking bout, this is a big deal. Three dates have been announced already with more to come. Dec 2 Baltimore, MD Ottobar with Endless Boogie Dec 16 Brooklyn, NY Warsaw with Endless Boogie Dec 30 San Francisco, CA Slim's If you don't know what I'm talking bout, let me introduce you to this thing that's called knowledge. Once you have this knowledge, you'll surely be stoked.

The Boggs

Recently, I've started to see press for The Boggs scattered about the internet at places like Spin and The Tripwire. Go ahead, read what those other dudes have to say. You know why? They're right and you need to familiarize yourself with The Boggs. For his latest effort, Jason Friedman, the multi instrumentalist and songwriter behind The Boggs has brought in musicians like Au Revoir Simone's Heather D' Angelo and Enon's Matt Scultz. This tune here, "Arm in Arm," comes in two flavors. The original and the Hot Chip remix. I prefer the original, because, well, it's more boggy, with it's use of harmonica and dirty, dirty instruments. The Boggs - Arm in Arm.mp3 The Boggs - Arm in Arm (Hot Chip Remix).mp3 "Arm in Arm" will be on Forts, the newest disc by The Boggs. However, this release won't be out until next spring on Gigantic Records. So, enjoy it know, and file that name away in that little rock house in your soul.

The Curious Case Of The Toad Licking Cockerspaniel

Every once in a while, you hear a story on NPR that stops your car in its tracks and you just have to stay and listen. The folks at NPR like to call it a driveway moment. Well, what if you're driving home from work and you hear the phrase, "Later, we'll have the story of a dog who likes to suck on toads." It's no longer a driveway moment, it's now a near high speed accident moment. The short version of the story is that a cockerspaniel got addicted to toads. The long version of the story? You should really listen to it yourself. The Dog Who Loved To Suck On Toads by Laura Mirsch

Last Chance For Tickets To See The Archie Bronson Outfit

Today is your last chance to get in those entries for two tickets to see The Archie Bronson Outfit, Benjy Ferree, and The New Lou Reeds this Friday at the Beachland Tavern. The winner will also receive an Archie Bronson Outfit swag pack that includes a vinyl copy of Derdang Derdang as well as cd singles. Mail your entries with a subject line of ABO to irockcleveland@gmail.com. The contest will close at midnight tonight.

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - "Wasted State of Mind"

Trail of Dead are never going to make another Source Tags and Codes. To most, this statement shouldn't be necessary. However, I know there's a few people out there wanting to hear Return of Source Tags and Codes or Source Tags and Codes Strike Back. It should have been apparent after 2005's Worlds Apart that the band were moving forward. No longer was tension built solely by sonic force and released in the breaks between songs, now the band were taking a more dynamic and nuanced approach to their craft. Hell, I love Source Tags and Codes. It's one fine rocker, but I have no interest in hearing Trail of Dead trying to copy sonic territory that they came damn near close to perfecting four years ago. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about their latest offering So Divided. I've had the chance to give it a few spins in the I Rock Cleveland sound system, and it's pretty f*cking solid. "Wasted State of Mind" is the first single off of So Divided and from the first conga beat, it's evident that Trail of Dead are moving in a new direction once again. Sure, with a total guitar assault this one could sound straight outta 02, but instead the song is built upon layers of those congas, pianos, strings, accordian (!), and your traditional rock and roll strings of guitar and bass. It works and it rocks. Trail of Dead - Wasted State of Mind.mp3 So Divided will be available to the masses on November 14th. Trail of Dead

Sunn O))) and Boris Featuring Jesse Sykes

Man, this song here is so bada**. Use your own favorite spooky adjectives and this is it. I'll use marauding, gloomy, dark, droning, and haunting. Sunn O))) and Boris feat. Jesse Sykes - The Sinking Belle (Blue Sheep).mp3 Southern Lord Records

Ins, Outs, What Have Yous

Pitchfork has turned down Zune's advances. Ryan Scheiber was quoted in the New York Post as saying, "They asked us about generating new content with them or creating a new section on our site specifically for Zune visitors, but it wasn't something we were interested in pursuing." It's snowing in Cleveland and the Browns still suck. From Billboard.com. Two popular nineties acts are forging ahead with "reunion" albums: Smashing Pumpkins and Blind Melon. Also from Billboard.com. My Chemical Romance and The Killers are atop the British charts. Now, I don't feel so bad about the state of popular music in the states.

Benjy Ferree

Me and Benjy Ferree have spent a lot of quality time together this weekend. His latest offering, Leaving The Nest, is a sweet combination of glam styled pop, southern swamp gothic, and out there indie influences. Sometimes he has me thinking Marc Bolan, like on the disc's opener, the blissfully catchy boogie, "In The Countryside." Other times, when I listen to "Little At a Time" and its slightly off-kilter approach to instrumentation, I'm thinking Badly Drawn Boy. Then, we get to a song like "Private Honeymoon," a haunting ballad of violin and piano, it makes me wish I could take back all of the other times I used the Jeff Buckley comparisons to artists that failed to craft a song in the Southern tradition that's as haunting and inspiring as this one. Most of the time he just leaves me thinking, "This is one really fine disc." Benjy Ferree - In The Countryside.mp3 Benjy Ferree Benjy Ferree on Domino Records Benjy Ferree will be in Cleveland with The Archie Bronson Outfit and The New Lou Reeds at The Beachland Tavern on Oct 27th

120 Days Remixes and Tour Dates

I've been totally into this band 120 Days and their crunching space rock from Norway. Their first single, "Come Out (Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone)" plays like you're speeding through city streets at night with a car full of coke, champagne, and strippers. I can't endorse any of those things, but I can recommend this band. Two remixes dropped my way this afternoon, one by Lansing-Dreiden and one by The Field. 120 Days - Come Out (Lansing-Dreiden Remix).mp3 120 Days - Come Out (The Field Remix).mp3 Finally, Homeland Security finally found it safe for the boys to enter the states. They'll be touring mostly in New York City, but some other spots, too, starting next week. Mon Oct 23 NEW YORK CITY Fontana's with My Best Fiend, The Big Sleep FREE SHOW Tue Oct 24 BROOKLYN Union Pool with Wzt Hearts, Dysrhythmia Wed Oct 25 NEW YORK CITY Mercury Lounge Sat Oct 28 MONTREAL Main Hall with Love Is All Sun Oct 29 TORONTO Reverb Mon Oct 30 OTTAWA Zaphod Beeblebrox Wed Nov 1 NEW YORK CITY Cakeshop (VICE Late Night CMJ Afterparty) Thu Nov 2 NEW YORK CITY The Fader House (CMJ) afternoon Thu Nov 2 NEW YORK CITY Sin-E VICE Records CMJ showcase Fri Nov 3 NEW YORK CITY Pianos Upstairs with Low Frequency in Stereo and Don Juan Dracula (Total Norway CMJ) early evening Sat Nov 4 CHICAGO Empty Bottle Sun Nov 5 MINNEAPOLIS 7th Street Entry Wed Nov 8 SEATTLE Chop Suey Thu Nov 9 PORTLAND Holoscene Fri Nov 10 SAN FRANCISCO Mezzanine Mon Nov 13 LOS ANGELES The Echo I Rock Cleveland. Out.

I Love My Country

Let's have some fun today. Me First and The Gimme Gimmes are not the next big thing in music. In fact, they're nothing more than five punk rockers who record revved up covers of popular songs. Well, that may be selling them a bit short. They're five punk rockers who record covers albums that happen to be more fun than shooting fish in a barrel. Me First and The Gimme Gimmes released their latest, a country and roots inspired set, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes Love Their Country, this past week. On this disc they interpret well known classics from the likes of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and others. Me First and The Gimme Gimmes - On The Road Again.mp3 Me First and The Gimme Gimmes - Ghost Riders In The Sky.mp3 And, now for some bonus fun, another one of their "classics" off of the disc Me First and The Gimme Gimmes Have a Ball: Me First And The Gimme Gimmes - Leaving on a Jet Plane.mp3 Me First and The Gimme Gimmes

There's No Such Thing As A Good Hodgkins

It looks as if Ryan is pulling the plug on Good Hodgkins. I'm a bit saddened by this news. For those of you who don't know, Good Hodgkins was another music blog running out of Cleveland. I've always considered Good Hodgkins the yin to my yang. He was always the serious one. Me, well, I've always peppered my posts with self-deprecating humor and bits of irrelevance. Good luck with your future endeavors my friend.

Black Keys: New Vid For Your Touch

There is some symbolisim and metaphorical sh*t goin' on in this vid that is way beyond my mental capacities. While I still have your attention, can I tell you again how much I'm looking forward to that show with The Black Keys and The Black Angels at The Agora on November 18th? Lots. The Black Keys

Stereo Workers Union

The band formerly known as The So Long Goodbyes are now The Stereo Workers Union. This psychelic rock outfit from Cleveland are about to release their debut disc, God Bless The Stereo Workers Union. The album was produced by songwriter H.J. DeBoe and Robert Campanella (The Quarter After and The Brian Jonestown Massacre). Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestwon Massacre also lent a helping hand. Today, I'm featuring the psychedlic jam, "Spanish AM." It grabbed my attention last night. In fact, I remember remarking to myself, "Damn, that's a fine tune." "Spanish AM" is the type of jam that would fit nicely on an Quentin Tarantino soundtrack. It's got this haunting vibe built with a little spanish guitar, country and western bass, and a little harmonica. Stereo Workers Union - Spanish AM.mp3 The Stereo Workers Union are playing the Beachland Tavern tonight with The Volta Sound and Asteroid #4. Stereo Workers Union on Myspace

Cool Sh*t Of The Internet Kind

Stereogum talks about the new album from Mark Carson called The Black Parade. No, it's not a conincidence that it's the same name as the new My Chemical Romance cd. It's major label shennanigans in an attempt to "protect" their artists. Chris from Gorilla vs Bear has the new Cassettes Won't Listen Remix of The Postmark's "Goodbye." We Are Scientists are putting together a rarities/b-sides comp titled Crap Attack. It includes their covers of Sigur Ros's "Hoppipolla" and Art Brut's "Bang Bang Rock and Roll." Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are recording a new album for Spring release and they've rediscovered the electric guitar. This new disc is described as a combination of the heavy psychedelica of their first two albums and the swampy, country blues of their last offering, Howl.

The Perfect Christmas Gift For Everyone On Your List

Too early to be thinking about Christmas you say? Not when the perfect gift is only a click away. No it's not a Pasta Pro, or a Salad Shooter, or a year's supply of Kaboom! It's the Twisted Sister Christmas album. It's exactly what every rocker wants to find under the tree on Christmas morning. It's a great gift for your mom, your dad, all of your brothers and sisters, your Uncle Randy, your Aunt June, your boss at work, and that cutie at the coffee shop you've been dying to ask on a date. This one's gonna blow that Sufjan dude's Christmas album away. One listen to Dee Snider singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" and you are guaranteed to have a Christmas that you'll never forget. Twisted Sister - Oh Come All Ye Faithful.mp3 Amazingly, it sounds a lot like "We're Not Gonna Take It." C'mon what did you expect? Twisted Sister on Myspace Oh, there's more. Twisted Sister will be on the road this Holiday Season bringing a Twisted Christmas to your town just for you and yours. This is going to be the best Christmas EVER!

Tim Armstrong and A Poet's Life

Tim Armstrong, the punk rock vet from Rancid and The Transplants is in the process of releasing his first solo album, A Poet's Life. I say he's in the process of releasing this album since one by one, each track is going to be made available as a free download as a gift to his long-time, loyal fans. Then, in February, Epitaph will put out a proper cd. The first song released from A Poet's Life was the old style reggae track, "Hold On," recorded with the help of The Aggrolites. The second track, "Wake Up," has a little more dub runnin in it, and shares the same easy rockin vibe as "Hold On." Man, there's just something about that rough and ragged voice of Tim Armstrong that sounds so right backed by a reggae beat. Tim Armstrong - Hold On.mp3 Tim Armstrong - Wake Up.mp3 Being one of those long time listeners myself, I'd like to take this opportunity to say thanks, my man, for fifteen years of punk, rock, ragga, ska, and everything in between. Tim Armstrong on Epitaph Rancid Rancid Myspace

The Great Archie Bronson Outfit Giveaway

I got a way cool contest for all of the Cleveland rockers out in the crowd tonight. I've got two tickets to see the most excellent Archie Bronson Outfit at the Beachland Tavern with Benjy Ferree and The New Lou Reeds on Friday October 27th. In addition to that, the good people at Domino Records are going to toss in an ABO prize pack including their state side debut Derdang, Derdang. To enter send an email to irockcleveland@gmail.com with ABO in the subject line. One lucky winner will get both the tix and the pack of goodness. Please, only enter if you can make the Cleveland date. The contest will be open until Tuesday, Oct 24th midnight, Cleveland time. In case you don't know why you should enter, try this rocker in your iPod and hear for yourself. Archie Bronson Outfit - Dart For My Sweetheart.mp3 As always, your privacy is important to I Rock Cleveland. Your email address will not be shared with any outside parties. Additionally, I Rock Cleveland won't use your email for any of its own purposes. Unless, of course, it's late, I'm drunk, and I'm feeling especially lonely. Then, I may hit you up to chat, or something.

...And Now For Something Completely Different: Bling Kong

Just how do you go about describing the rock and roll monster Bling Kong? Going by the numbers there are 4 cheerleaders, 3 drummers, 2 guitarists, a bassist, and what is referred to as a video ninja. Musically, you can say it's like Andrew Wk vs The Go Go's playing raunchy anthemic rock and roll music. Listening, though is only part of the equation. This is a spectacle that needs to be seen. Bling Kong - I Want More.mp3 Speaking of seeing the Bling Kong monster live, BK's show in Cleveland, Wednesday Oct. 18th has been moved from The Church to Pat's in The Flats. Here's one more teaser. Bling Kong performing "I Want More" live on public access tv. photo courtesy of Alys Kenny Bling Kong

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me The Oxford Collapsed Rocked So Hard

You know, I figured someone would have told me, "Dude, have you heard that new one by Oxford Collapse? It F'n Rocks." This one rocks like it's straight outta 1993 and your daily diet consisted of a steady supply of Superchunk 7" singles. And that's a good thing. Oxford Collapse - Please Visit Your National Parks.mp3 Oxford Collapse Subpop Records

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before

From Spin.com: The music industry has filed 8,000 new lawsuits against illegal downloaders. Thanks to the war chest they've amassed from the Kazaa settlement, they're able to be more agressive with their lawsuits. Then, from the Boston Globe, while the major label use the lawsuit strategy for increasing sales, the indies are embracing new technology. Oh, will they ever learn.

Jesus For The Jugular

Let's get some of the details out of the way. Finn Andrews, the man behind The Veils, spent his formative years split between London and New Zealand. His father, Barry Andrews, was a member of this little band called XTC, perhaps you've heard of them. The first album released by The Veils was 2004's Runaway. It's 2006, and we have a new disc, Nux Vomica. I don't have my old college Latin text book, but I'm guessin' that title has something to do with vomitting Latin. Now, let's get into why you should care. "Jesus For The Jugular" is perhaps the most menacing and haunting song I've heard this year. It F'n Kills. Check out that riff coming from a guitar that has clearly had it's better days, the piano and bass playing impending doom, all that echoing spooky stuff, and Finn Andrews spitting out words like a Jack White posessed. Damn. The Veils - Jesus For The Jugular.mp3 I've got good news and bad news for the rockers out there that are digging this tune. Good news - Nux Vomica was released September 18th on Rough Trade. Bad News - it isn't yet available domestically. I donwloaded a drm free copy at this joint called Bleep. The Veils The Veils on Myspace

Ins, Outs, and What Have Yous

A rock and roll show in Houston Friday night featuring Two Gallants, Langhorne Slim, and The Trainwreck Riders ended in a melee after a policeman forcibly tried to shut down the show due to a noise complaint. The boy in blue cliams self defense, while the boys in the bands cliam the boy in blue was a douchebag.