If you don't like Sufjan Stevens, you probably shouldn't be reading my blog.

So, maybe I'm just getting excited a little early, but I just can't get enough of Sufjan Stevens talk these days. By the way, who else is going to see him at Southgate House in September? Let me know and I'll see you there. At any rate, there's always something to talk about when it comes to Sufjan, whether it be interviews or commentaries (like mine) or concert reviews. Without further a-do, the latest on Sufjan Stevens:

The Denver Post has a review of the July 29th show at The Bluebird. When I lived in Colorado I had the opportunity to go there to see Dressy Bessy. I really love the place, and I can't imagine how packed it was that night. As the article reports, the band dons the now well-known Illinois shirts, blue with a big orange "I" and wows the audience with its epic masterpieces but steals the crowd's heart with the low key "Casimir Pulaski Day" and "John Wayne Gacy, Jr."

I found an older concert review on Indie Workshop for the Vancouver show that even furthers my excitement. It tells of how Sufjan actually tells stories to the audience, like the story behind "Casimir Pulaski Day," which I'm absolutely dying to hear. That song is incredible. From the sounds of things, they pretty much do the entire Illinois album, which is great but I would like to hear some of the old stuffs from Seven Swans. They do dive into it for the encore, so here's hoping we get some of that. The review also gives us show-goers a warning: Beware of the photo snapping. The biggest complaint was all the clicking from people taking pictures. I think Claude's digital camera is quiet, so it won't be my fault if it's annoying.

The LA Times asks Sufjan and Company the hard questions. Why wear the Illinoisemaker uniform when performing on the radio? He replies, "I think it just helps us to feel kind of unified." Sufjan downplays his performing ability during the interview, but the LA Times assures readers that, although a bit shy, he's anything but second-rate. The Times even quotes Pitchfork editor in chief Ryan Schreiber, who said, ""There's something about him that spans audiences. It's got the sort of teenage romanticism at the same time it's got this forlorn world-weariness and this sort of adult perspective as well. Lyrically it's an all-encompassing thing." What a way to put it. I can't possibly summarize the entire article, but it goes on to describe how Sufjan is not alone in the industry even though he sometimes feels secluded. I particularly enjoy their phonetic spelling of his first name, (SOOF-yawn). So get it right, folks.

COtapers.com has a couple recordings of live Sufjan concerts, including the aforementioned Bluebird show, at their website.

All in all, I'm getting way too excited about this show, but how can't I? When you read things like this, it's hard to not downplay the whole thing. Again, let me know if you're going to the show so I can see you there.

In other news...

This is so funny I just couldn't help but talk about it. A few kids down in Gainesville, FL, had the opportunity of a lifetime: to do a real-life punk on Scott Stapp, the apparently former lead singer of Creed whose failed solo career has made him pretty much the laughing stock of most of the music industry. To summarize the events, Stapp was drunk at an airport bar and met a girl there. He got her number (but it was really her friend's) and he called them a couple days later. She has him meet her at a Denny's for what he believes will be a booty call. Everyone's pretty much in on it, and she doesn't show up, but everyone talks about how awful his band is behind his back, etc. I'm doing a really bad job here, you should probably read their first-hand accounts of the matter. Apparently later he even went to the girl's house and did cocaine. Classy. Seriously read these two accounts and look at the pictures. It's a riot and a half. (Thanks to Stereogum for the heads-up.)

Pop Matters has a very entertaining interview with Fruit Bats' Eric Johnson. It's very educational.

Pitchfork gives Dressy Bessy's latest album Electrified a 6.3.

CBGB is past its prime and therefore not worth saving, reports The New York Times.

Prefixblog unveils the true Peter Griffin.

Are you as fed up with the "popped collar" as I am? The Village Voice tries to interpret what the fashion statement might mean. I was so doing that like three years ago.

Upcoming Columbus Shows

8.11 - Ben Folds w/ Ben Lee and Rufus Wainwright - Promowest Pavilion
8.12 - Velvet Revolver w/ Chevelle - Germain Ampitheater
8.13 - Switchfoot - The Ohio State Fair
8.20 - Pretty Girls Make Graves - Little Brothers
8.23 - Thunderbirds Are Now! w/ Kiss Me Quick - Little Brothers
8.30 - Xiu Xiu w/ Das Yellow Swans and Nedelle - Little Brothers
8.31 - Coldplay w/ Rilo Kiley - Germain Ampitheater
9.02 - Over the Rhine - Little Brothers
9.10 - The White Stripes w/ The Greenhornes - Ohio Theater
9.12 - Stellastarr* - The Basement
9.14 - Sufjan Stevens - Southgate House (Newport, KY)
9.24 - The Rolling Stones w/ Beck - Germain Ampitheater
10.08 - The Fiery Furnaces - The Wexner Center
10.14 - The Decemberists - Newport Music Hall

Daily Downloads
Courtesy of your friendly local Regnyouth Archives

The Verve - A Storm in Heaven
Air - Talkie Walkie
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak

After having a friend take a look at my computer, we've dubbed my sound card completely incapacitated. Looks like I have to go a few days without music. Ahhhh worst nightmare!