We could post for hours on end on these Bergen boys- heck we have already- so here’s what you need to do: Get your tickets *HERE* because this will totally sell out. Keep track of the details via their Myspace page, and if you are on the fence on shelling out cash, check out their fantastic Studio B set w/ Fa Fa Fa, and check out the drummer doin’ the worm during I Used to Dance W/ My Daddy from CMJ. Absolutely, positively, perhaps, the greatest live show around today…..

Datarock LIVE at Studio B ‘Fa Fa Fa’ 3-31-07.

Datarock ‘I Used to Dance With My Daddy’ LIVE at Blender Gramercy Theater.

MCA talks about his new b-ball documentary, upcoming Beastie Boys Album & pissing off Nestle!

I’m in heaven. ‘Nough said!

Hallelujah, now that’s what I call an update. Ashcroft and McCabe are back! September US Tour Dates to come, and visit their Myspace for confirmed European gigs and new songs too. Have we said we’re excited? Here is the tracklisting for ‘Forth’:

Now this one is for the Disconappers:

Abbey Braden © 2008 Downtown Alliance

Citysol 2008 kicks off June 26th (tomorrow) and runs through the 29th. Just what is CitySol? It’s a free event put on by Solar 1, which is NYC’s first green energy, arts and education center located in Manhattan. Check out the roster of the featured acts from 2005 that have gigged on the 100% solar-powered stage: Les Savy Fav, Deer Tick, Japanther, the members of Antibalas, OCDJ, Menomena and a TON more. The Dirty Projectors were set to highlight this year but pulled out, so the Acorn are in. Hurray for Moms! Did you know they released no fewer than 5 EPs before Glory Hope Mountain? Yikes.

What we’re really looking forward to is seeing So Percussion again, because what the world needs now is TOTALLY more Xylophones! They were our fave discovery at the Bang on a Can marathon last month, and we can’t wait for this next installment. It’s gonna be the world premier of their new work 16 Words, where the 16 new words added by Merriam-Webster to the dictionary are transformed into sound using two-part phrases to distinguish between the vowel and consonant sounds in the words. This system connects the English language to oldr “talking drum”traditions from Africa, as well as drumming techniques from Indonesia and Cuba.

This event is right in so many ways. Firstly, it’s a free instore for LUKE TEMPLE. Homeboy makes us so weak in the knees it’s embarassing- but it seems he has that effect on Jon Pareles and Sufjan Stevens as well so we’re not alone. Secondly, the store in question is possibly my fave hiding place in the entire city. As much as it pains me to divulge my favorite spots (look what happend to Magnolia Bakery via SATC), HOUSING WORKS deserves a much needed shout out. Here is why:

Housing Works Bookstore Café is an independent cultural center that offers patrons a unique opportunity to join the fight against AIDS and homelessness. Arts-based philanthropy in practice, they operate solely on donations and volunteers. All proceeds directly benefit their parent organization, Housing Works, Inc., the nation’s largest minority-controlled AIDS service provider. Housing Works provides housing, healthcare, job training, and advocacy for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. As an activist organization, they are committed to implementing the systemic changes necessary to ensure that AIDS and public health policies are sound in concept and equitable in administration.

So, all this, PLUS the awesomeness of the store itself. Tucked away on Crosby Street (Just east of Broadway and south of Houston) it’s one of those old school library setups- we’re talking two stories with the sliding ladders, and don’t even get me started on the inventory. I picked up an dusty copy of the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe once and a pressed four leaf clover feel out of the pages. It was a dollar. My friend bought a photo book from the 50’s there last week, and a letter from J. Edgar Hoover fell out. Housing Works is also the place where I heard Spaulding Gray (RIP) do a reading of a new Chekov translation back in the day. Talking to him over champagne = SURREAL. Long story short: This place is a gem. The music is good. Do whatever you have to do to get there (that is, unless you’re going to Devo). It’s for a good cause!

Um, wow. Please welcome this 2 disc CD/DVD release to the world. It’s all brand spankin’ digitally remastered, and sure to replace our scratched up copy of ‘Billy Idol: Greatest Hits.’ Truth be told, that puppy is probably the best investment to come out of our epic Columbia House contract. What’s new about this one aside from the 16 classic re-masters? His cover of ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ is blissfully absent from this compilation, and there are 2 new tunes to boot. Before you go all eye roll-y, I ask you this question: When was the last time you heard ‘Dancing With Myself’ or ‘Eyes Without A Face’ ? I got so excited today I totally had to go to the bathroom when the music started. Like 1984 all over again…..

Steam ‘The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself’ *HERE*

Come out to After the Jump Fest this Saturday!