Coachella Line-Up Announced!

So, the Coachella line up is finally announced. No Britney...but it is pretty decent.

Here it is:

FRIDAY APRIL 17: Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Beirut, The Black Keys, Girl Talk, Silversun Pickups, The Ting Tings, The Crystal Method, Ghostland Observatory, Crystal Castles, The Airborne Toxic Event, We Are Scientists, N.A.S.A., Patton & Rahzel, M. Ward, The Presets, The Hold Steady, A Place to Bury Strangers, Felix da Housecat, Buraka Som Sistema, Ryan Bingham, Bajofondo, Peanut Butter Wolf, Noah & the Whale, White Lies, The Bug, Alberta Cross, Los Campesinos!, Craze & Klever, Molotov, Switch, Gui Boratto, Steve Aoki, The Aggrolites, People Under the Stairs, The Courteeners, Cage the Elephant, Dear and the Headlights.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18: The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, MSTRKRFT, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Atmosphere, Mastodon, TRAV$DJ-AM, Henry Rollins, Crookers, Turbonegro, Hercules and Love Affair, Superchunk, Glasvegas, Dr. Dog, Drive-By Truckers, Booker T & the DBT’s, Amanda Palmer, The Bloody Beetroots, Surkin, Para One (Live), Calexico, Liars, Bob Mould Band, Zane Lowe, Electric Touch, Blitzen Trapper, James Morrison, Drop the Lime, Glass Candy, Thenewno2, Gang Gang Dance, Billy Talent, Ida Maria, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Zizek, Cloud Cult, Tinariwen.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19: The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Throbbing Gristle, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn and John, X, Antony & the Johnsons, Roni Size, Public Enemy, Jenny Lewis, Groove Armada, Paolo Nutini, Christopher Lawrence, Lykke Li, The Kills, Okkervil River, M.A.N.D.Y., Clipse, Sebastien Tellier, Fucked Up, Perry Farrell, The Horrors, Late of the Pier, K’naan, Junior Boys, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Supermayer, No Age, Vivian Girls, Shepard Fairey, Themselves, Gaslight Anthem, The Knux, Mexican Institute of Sound, The Night Marchers, Marshall Barnes.

So, who is going to make the trek out to the desert this year?

Likely Looks: Nico Vega - Burn Burn

Nico Vega just keep better and better in 2009 for me! With their self-titled debut album set to be released on February 3 and a tour with Semi Precious Weapons, they are ready to make a big splash in the music world.

Their new video for their single "Burn Burn" is a twisted version of Leonardo's famous painting "The Last Supper". Directed by the Skinny Directors (they also did the Devandra Bernhart video for "Carmensita"), the clip shows the band destroying instruments, people throwing food...its one supper I know I would like to attend. Who could turn down a good food fight?

Here's the video:

Coachella Will Have No Bowie, Radiohead Or Daft Punk!

Coachella rumors are flying around now almost daily but we can confirm that there will be no Radiohead, no David Bowie and no Daft Punk.

Who is left? Is Britney Spears really going to headline? Hopefully the line up gets released soon!

As long as Jack Johnson doesn't headline again...

Likely Listens: VV Brown

If you've been missing your fix of some new female singers, then here's one to feed your addiction; VV Brown.

Hailing from Northampton, UK, VV is no stranger to writing a good pop tune. She's already penned tracks for the Sugababes and The Pussycat Dolls before deciding to do it all on her own.

A little bit more on the fun side of retro pop...VV Brown is a mix of Amy Winehouse if she hung out with the Pipettes.

Already on the radar with her track "Crying Blood", VV Brown is one of the big artists to watch for in 2009. You'll have to wait till May though when her album "Travelling Like The Light" is scheduled to be released through Island Records.

If you are in the UK, you can catch her supporting the Ting Tings in February and March.

Check out the video for "Crying Blood":

Iggy Pop Really Wants To Sell You Some Insurance

Iggy Pop I guess is pressed for some cash these days. After being the soundtrack to the Royal Caribbean commercials for years with "Lust For Life", he's now ready to sell you some car insurance!

Taking the plunge into promoting Swiftcover Auto Insurance in the UK, its an odd fit and not even Iggy can give it the cool factor. Maybe he should have broken out the peanut butter?!

Likely Looks: The Ting Tings - Thats Not My Name

The Ting Tings have decided their other video for "Thats Not My Name" wasn't good enough so they decided to make one for us fine people in the U.S.

Loads of glow in the dark, a little bit of double dutch and of course Jules in sunglasses and Katie dancing up a storm in the middle of nowhere.

Its a fun video...although I actually prefer the original.

Likely Looks: Coldplay - Life In Technicolor II

Coldplay got a little lazy and decided to replace themselves with puppets for their latest video "Life In Technicolor II".

The kids seem to enjoy it and Chris Martin even has the ability to crowd surf as a puppet...pretty incredible.

Oasis To Play In China!

Oasis have announced they will be bringing their tour to China during the month of April.

Hitting 3 different cities, they will play:

April 3 - Beijing, Capital Gym
April 5 - Shangai, Grand Stage
April 7 - Hong Kong, AsiaWorld Arena

This will be the band's first time playing in the country...

Lily Allen - Two New Tracks!

Lily, Lily, and more Lily! Here are two new Lily Allen tracks that are on "The Fear" EP and bonus tracks on "It's Not Me, It's You".

"Fag Hag":



"Kabul Shit"

Lily Allen Performs New Track On BBC 6

Its less than a month away till the release of "It's Not Me, It's You" and songs are slowly pouring in. With the nice little sampler Parlophone offered up the other week and Lily releasing demos ages ago, now she has recently performed "He Wasn't There" live on BBC 6.

Listen to it here!:

Lily Allen Continues Katy Perry Feud

Lily Allen is not a person to get into a feud...and I am sure Katy Perry is regretting ever making that stupid comment about her being the skinnier American version of Lily and the fatter Amy Winehouse.

Lily was recently on Miquita Oliver's show and pulled off quite a good impression of Katy during her interview

Watch it here:

Coachella Line-up (sort of) Revealed

Of course...its a fake but hopefully there will be some actual truth to it. Apparently the Bowie listing is true. I know Moz is confirmed...and thats about it.

As the news comes along it will be posted...

U2 Unveiled "Get On Your Boots"

U2 is well, U2....they don't really need an introduction. Today they decided a special URL to their first single "Get On Your Boots" from their upcoming album "No Line On he Horizon" at goyb.u2.com

Thoughts? Well, its definitely not typical U2. They took a little bit of a different approach to their typical loud, full of sound pop/orock tracks and brought in a little bit of darkness to the track. Don't get me wrong, its still catchy but its definitely a change.

So far, I like it...I'm not in love but I have listened to it more than once.

The track listing for "No Line On The Horizon" is as follows:

1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez - Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon

Ting Tings Announce Another U.S. Tour

Seriously, how many times are the Ting Tings going to tour in the U.S.? I mean, it felt like they were playing in New York once a week for the past year...

Well, if you missed them the 30 other times they've come around then here are the tour dates:

March 16 New York, NY Webster Hall
March 18 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
March 19 Philadelphia, PA Sanctuary
March 20 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
March 21 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
March 23 Norfolk, VA NorVa
March 24 Richmond, VA Canal Club
March 26 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
March 27 Miami, FL Ultrafest
March 28 Orlando, FL The Social
March 29 Tampa, FL Orpheum
March 31 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder
April 2 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theatre
April 3 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill
April 5 Chicago, IL Metro
April 6 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
April 7 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
April 8 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
April 9 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
April 11 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
April 12 Seattle, WA Crocodile Cafe
April 13 Portland, OR Douglas Fir Lounge
April 15 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

The Decemberists Offer Free Download To Fans

The Decemberists are offering fans the chance to hear some of their forthcoming material via free download on their official website. Colin took to the official site to tell fans the latest and this is what he had to say:

Adored Mailing List Recipients,

It is our utmost pleasure to offer to you, dear Mailing List Recipient, the first crack at downloading a song culled from our upcoming Long Player, The Hazards of Love, due out on Capitol Records on March 24th. The song in question? It's called "The Rake's Song." Go immediately to www.decemberists.com to redeem said FREE DOWNLOAD! Share it with your friends! Post it as your Facebook update! Play it for your grandmother!

On second thought, don't play it for your grandmother.

In other news: NPR's World Cafe will be broadcasting a live session from the Decemberists along with an interview with Colin Meloy in the first hour of their show on Thursday, Jan. 15th. You can find your local station and times by scrolling to the bottom & choosing their state under "Find a Program Broadcast Time" at the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/stations/schedule/?prgId=39

Also: check out Colin's new twitter feed for the most up-to-date abstruse information about him and the band: www.twitter.com/colinmeloy. Put that in your proverbial pipe and proverbially smoke it.

Yours,
The Decemberists

Ohhh The Decemberists are twittering now? Its grounds for multiple checks to his account to see whats going on in his wonderful world.

To get the free download CLICK HERE

Dig Out Your Soul In The Streets!

Yesterday, Oasis debuted their much anticipated short documentary about the street performers that debuted several songs off their current album, "Dig Out Your Soul"

The original rumor was that Oasis was going to be dropping in and playing a special street gig and making an appearance to play with one of the 30 buskers they appointed to perform their songs. It obviously never happened though as A-We all would have heard about it and B-The stupid asshole from Canada who broke Noel's ribs unfortunately caused the Terminal 5 gig to be canceled.

Anyway, here's the documentary...its a good one so be sure to put 18 minutes aside from your day and watch it!

Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul In The Streets

Indie 103 R.I.P.

For fans of Indie 103 in Los Angeles that thought they found the answer years ago to boring, generic radio rock...well say goodbye to that answer. Indie 103.1, in my opinion the best station in all of the United States is now off the air.

The station will still exist on the internet...but its not the same as having it on in your car during morning traffic. What a shame.

Here was the statement left on their website:

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option --- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative -- simply put, only the best music.

Lily Allen Explains Why She Didn't Work With Mark Ronson On "It's Not Me, It's You"

Lily Allen has had to face up to the big question...why no Mark Ronson this time around? He was such a big part in the production of "Alright, Still" but he is nowhere to be found to "It's Not Me, It's You".

Setting the record straight, Lily explains why...she wanted a different sound. She wanted to steer away from the usual suspects Mark has been working with and find a new sound courtesy of some new producers.

"I wanted to set myself away from Duffy, Adele and Amy (Winehouse) because they are so brilliant at what they do - it would be silly for me to follow them down that route," said Lily to MTV UK.

But don't worry...she is not opposed to working with Ronson again. "I just didn't want to do it this time because Mark has a really retro feel to what he is doing," she continued.

Let's see what happens next time around...

Likely Looks: Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins

After seeing them last year at SXSW and absolutely falling in love with them, Fanfarlo are back with a new video for their single "Harold T. Wilkins". Its the perfect blend of happy pop with a quirky little twist and the video is quite fun...even adding in a glowing drum kit to the mix.

This is the perfect song to listen to during these cold winter months!

Katy Perry To Play Intimate LA Gig...Meiko To Open!

Katy Perry is set to play Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe tonight for an intimate performance at 10PM.

Tickets are currently sold out online but if you get to the venue early enough you might be able to sold a chance to get in.

The extra special treat is that Meiko is opening up for Katy tonight!

She'll also be playing the Hotel Cafe 3 days later for a headlining performance. You can click here to purchase tickets.

Good luck getting in tonight!

SXSW Lineup 2009 - More Acts Announced!

Its around 8 weeks away (can you believe it?!) and the acts are being announced like wildfire. Here is the next round of acts playing this year's SXSW festival

8Ball & MJG (Memphis, TN)
Akron/Family (Williamsport, PA)
Al Kapone (Memphis, TN)
Alina Simone (Brooklyn, NY)
Amanda Blank (Philadelphia, PA)
Amber Smith (Budapest, HUNGARY)
Angry vs The Bear (Essex, ENGLAND)
Anthony Snape (Sydney, AUSTRALIA)
ARABROT (Oslo, NORWAY)
Arc Angels (Austin, TX)
Asher Roth (Morrisville, PA)
Asobi Seksu (Brooklyn, NY)
Astrid Williamson (Shetland Islands, SCOTLAND)
B.o.B. (Atlanta, GA)
Banda de Turistas (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Bar-Kays (Memphis, TN)
Bavu Blakes (Austin, TX)
Ben Kweller (Austin, TX)
Benny Gallagher (West Wickham, ENGLAND)
Black Cherry (London, ENGLAND)
BLACK SKIES (Chapel Hill, NC)
Blaqstarr (Baltimore, MD)
Blue Scholars (Seattle, WA)
Bomba Estereo (Bogota, Columbia)
Brick Bandits (Philadelphia, PA)
Buck 65 (Halifax, NS)
Buraka Som Sistema (Lisbon, Portugal)
Candy Coated Killahz (Toronto, CANADA)
Cashier No.9 (Belfast, IRELAND)
Casiokids (Bergen, NORWAY)
Charles Hamilton (New York, NY)
Choc Quib Town (Bogota, Columbia)
CHOO-CHOO (Bern, SWITZERLAND)
Chris T-T (Brighton, ENGLAND)
Come On Gang! (Edinburgh, SCOTLAND)
Crystal Method (Los Angeles, CA)
Crystal Stilts (New York, NY)
Damero (Berlin, Germany)
Dananananaykroyd (Glasgow, Scotland)
Dave Alvin (Los Angeles, CA)
David Garza (Austin, TX)
Dead Prez (New York, NY)
Dekadens (Bucharest, ROMANIA)
Dirtblonde (Liverpool, ENGLAND)
Division Miniscula (Matamoros, Mexico)
Doctor Krapula (Bogota, Columbia)
EBONY BONES! (London, ENGLAND)
Ella (Bristol, ENGLAND)
Empire ISIS (Montreal, CANADA)
Explosions in the Sky (Austin, TX)
Flood of Red (Glasgow, SCOTLAND)
Franki Chan (Los Angeles, CA)
Free Sol (Memphis, TN)
Futumomo Satisfaction (Tokyo, Japan)
Gabi Almedia (Sao Paolo, Brazil)
Gary Clark Jr. (Austin, TX)
Grimy Styles (Austin, TX)
Hacienda (San Antonio, TX)
Hickoids (Austin, TX)
Ida Maria (Stockholm, Sweden)
Insite (Mexicali, Mexico)
Invincible (Detroit, MI)
Jokers of the Scene (Ottawa, ON)
Kap Bambino (Bordeaux, France)
Kid Sister (Chicago, IL)
Killer Mike (Atlanta, GA)
LA Riots (Los Angeles, CA)
Los Fancy Free (Mexico City, Mexico)
Madi Diaz (Nashville, TN)
Manana (Basil, SWITZERLAND)
Mandi Perkins (Los Angeles, CA)
Mexican Institute of Sound (Mexico City, Mexico)
Micachu (London, ENGLAND)
Midnight Youth (Auckland, NEW ZEALAND)
Mika Miko (Los Angeles, CA)
Mike Badger (Liverpool, ENGLAND)
Mistah FAB (Oakland, CA)
Monokino (Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS)
Moriarty (Montreuil, FRANCE)
Motel (Mexico City, Mexico)
Mundo Livre Sa (Recife, Brazil)
My Crew Be Unruly (Baltimore, MD)
My Federation (Hove, ENGLAND)
Nacho Vegas (Gijon, Spain)
Nacional (Glasgow, SCOTLAND)
NAVEL (Erschwil, SWITZERLAND)
Outasight (New York, NY)
P.O.S. (Minneapolis, MN)
Pato Machete (Monterrey, Mexico)
Peter Bjorn & John (Stockholm, Sweden)
Peter Rosenberg (New York, NY)
Port O'Brien (Cambria, CA)
Primal Scream (Glasgow, Scotland)
Reflection Eternal (Ohio/New York)
Rob Quest (Houston, TX)
Sage Francis (Providence, RI)
San Quinn (San Francisco, CA)
Scribe (Christchurch, NZ)
Shad (London, Ontario)
Shawn David McMillen (Austin, TX)
Simplifires (Mexico City, Mexico)
Soulico (Tel Aviv, Israel)
St. Vincent (Dallas, TX)
Suzy & Los Quattro (Barcelona, Spain)
T Bird & The Breaks (Austin, TX)
Tanya Morgan (Brooklyn, NY)
Temposhark (London, ENGLAND)
The Beat Poets (Belfast, IRELAND)
The Carrivick Sisters (Devon, ENGLAND)
The Courteneers (Manchester, UK)
The deBretts (London, ENGLAND)
The Deep Dark Woods (Saskatoon, CANADA)
the Devil Wears Prada (Dayton, OH)
The Everyday Visuals (Boston, MA)
The Knux (New Orleans, LA)
THE MOOG (Budapest, HUNGARY)
The Pepper Pots (Girona, Spain)
The Sonics (Seattle, WA)
The Temper Trap (Nth Fitzroy, AUSTRALIA)
thecocknbullkid (London, ENGLAND)
Thee Oh See's (San Francisco, CA)
This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb (Pensacola, FL)
Tittsworth (Washington, DC)
Tommy Tee (Oslo, Norway)
Toy Horses (Barry, WALES)
Twilight Hotel (Winnipeg, CANADA)
Virgin Passages (London, ENGLAND)
Volodja Balzalorsky (Ljubljana, SLOVENIA)
WAZ (Los Angeles, CA)
We Have Band (London, ENGLAND)
We Should Be Dead (Limerick, IRELAND)
White Lies (London, ENGLAND)
Whitechapel (Knoxville, TN)
Willem Maker (Turkey Heaven, AL)
Willy Joy (Chicago, IL)
Yarah Bravo (New York, NY)

Black Kids Announce 2009 Tour With Mates Of State

Black Kids seem to really like touring as they played what feels like a million times in the NY area last year. Now the 5 piece with the odd name are back for another round with Mates Of State.

What's in store for the Black Kids in 2009? Maybe playing NY another 10 times...but for now we will have to wait and see.

Here are the dates:

3/08/09 Miami, FL @ Langerado Music Festival 2009
04/02/09 Richmond, VA @ The National*
04/04/09 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club*
04/05/09 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg*
04/06/09 New York, NY @ Webster Hall*
04/07/09 Boston, MA @ House of Blues*
04/09/09 Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire*
04/10/09 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre*
04/11/09 Chicago, IL @ Metro*
04/12/09 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater*
04/13/09 Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club*
04/15/09 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater*
04/17/09 Seattle, WA @ Neumos*
04/18/09 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom*
04/19/09 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom*
04/20/09 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent*
04/21/09 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent*
04/23/09 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater*
04/24/09 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House*
04/25/09 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse*
04/27/09 Dallas, TX @ Granada*
04/28/09 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa*
04/29/09 Houston, TX @ War

Meiko Hits The Road With Josh Radin

Meiko has been a favorite since the release of her self-titled album last year. She's got the typical singer/songwriter things with an edge and its refreshing to have that in a world of one hit wonders and everything sounding the same.

She's hitting the road with Josh Radin for 2009...she'll be supporting but its still totally worth it to check her out.

Here are the dates:

15-Jan Los Angeles, CA Hotel Cafe (w/o Josh Radin)
9-Feb Houston, TX Warehouse Live Studio
10-Feb Austin, TX The Parish
11-Feb Dallas, TX The Loft
13-Feb Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Brewing Co
14-Feb Phoenix, AZ Clubhouse
15-Feb Tucson, AZ Club Congress
17-Feb San Diego, CA Belly Up
19-Feb San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
20-Feb San Luis Obispo, CA Downtown Brew
21-Feb Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre
24-Feb Aspen, CO Belly Up
25-Feb Colorado Springs, CO Black Sheep
27-Feb Lawrence, KS Bottleneck
28-Feb Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
1-Mar Milwaukee, WI The Pabst Theatre
3-Mar Chicago, IL Park West
4-Mar Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
5-Mar Cincinnati, OH 20th Century
6-Mar Louisville, KY Headliners
7-Mar Nashville, TN Exit In

Lily Allen vs Katy Perry...Its Still On

Some gossip just never gets old...and it seems to get the best of us sometimes. Case in point, Lily Allen and Katy Perry. Unfortunately, Katy should have thought a bit further before she claimed she was the "skinnier version of Lily Allen" because Lily just won't seem to let it go.

According to The Sun, Lily Facebook page claims, “I have Katy Perry’s number, someone did me a favour. I’m just waiting for her to open her mouth one more time then it hits Facebook.”

She's also on two Facebook groups, “I hate Katy Perry and her dumb-ass song I Kissed A Girl” and “Katy Perry? Who in the hell does she think she is?”

Katy, give up...this is going to be a hard feud to win.

Likely Listens: Chew Lips

Meet London's Chew Lips, the name may be a bit off the beaten path but the music is all that really matters...and it delivers!

Creating almost a hipster space pop feel, the band formed in early 2008, created 10 demos and since then have gone none stop. Receiving love from BBC1 Radio DJ Steve Lamacq, a spot at Electric Proms and loads of other prime appearances, it seems like 2008 was just the beginning.

Now taking their dancey pop to Paris, the band have just signed to Kitsune and will be giving audiences a hell of a lot more to come.

Check out the video for their track "Solo", here:

Madonna Does Louis Vuitton

The Material Girl STILL kills it at 50. Whatever she does to look that amazing...it's really working. Here are the photos from Madonna's 2009 ad campaign for Louis Vuitton where she proves that age is just nothing but a number...

The ad is currently running in the February 2009 issue of Elle UK.