Testing... testing...

Um... hey. It's me again. Sorry I haven't been around very much. Life got the best of me. First it was work, then it was moving. The loss of my internet really cut back on my ability to post (for obvious reasons) and then, to top matters off, I've been sick. I am, at last, back from everything and, with school starting tomorrow, I should be on a real schedule within a week. This means that, although posting probably won't occur daily, it will be at regular intervals. I hope.

I originally planned to kick-off my new beginning with a huge concert review of the Sufjan Stevens concert last Wednesday, but sadly Claude has not had the opportunity to send me the pictures. That will just have to wait. In the meantime, I will give you one of my regular old posts. I hope you find it satisfactory.

Where do I begin? How about a Sufjan Stevens concert review! Of course, this is no ordinary concert. This one takes place in none other than Chicago, Illinois. As you can imagine, it was intense. That's what happens when you make a city your home. The locals go crazy when you visit. Needless to say it was a fantastic show, though not exactly reminiscent of the Newport, Kentucky, show, which I will explain in the future. Anyway, read it up if you can't see him yourself. I just have to say, though, that you're missing out.

One of my other obsessions, The Arcade Fire, has been given the nod by U2 and will be one of the many bands slated to open for them during their upcoming tour. Others include Kanye West, Keane, and even Dashboard Confessional, a band who has been over since 2003. The Arcade Fire has also swept the ballots for the annual mtvU Woodie Awards, receiving the most nominations of any band this year. Here's hoping they win a bunch. They certainly deserve the recognition.

My most recent obsession isn't a new band; it's actually The Beatles. And speaking of, here's an interesting story. Paul McCartney recently fell into a hole on-stage during a concert. That has to be pretty embarassing, but it leads me to wonder why he wasn't paying attention. Apparently the hole was a trap door that was open to elevate a piano he was supposed to start playing. I don't know whether the piano was slow to rise or what, but he fell right into it. He hurt his back and his arm, but he's alright.

Sir Paul isn't the only one who has recently been hurt. Michael Diver of Drowned In Sound is pretty hurt by the new Franz Ferdinand single, "Do You Want To." Hurt enough, in fact, to write a rather scathing letter to the band, asking, "Please, give me back the three minutes and thirty-eight seconds I spent listening to the aforementioned. I'll forego the repeat encounters." Dang, that's harsh. I haven't actually had the time to listen to the single myself, but from what Diver has to say, I may not be very impressed. Time will tell, I suppose.

There is one band I'm sure I don't like and that's Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah. Which is why I don't care about the following news. I'm just telling you because you probably want to know. So they've inked a distribution deal with Warner Music Group, one that might eventually lead to a record deal. Let me take the time now to console those of you who thought they were too indie for this. I hate to say it, but I could have told you so.

Enough about that. Let's talk about a good band like Belle and Sebastian. Since I've been on hiatus so long, I had no idea that they were even thinking of coming out with a new album. This is why I'm happy to report that their latest project, The Goalkeeper's Revenge, will hit the shelves sometime next year. All I have to say is... score.

Coca-Cola, what in God's name are you thinking? Allowing people to download music from your vending machines to their mobile phones? I think this is too far. At least there are no plans to do this in the US yet, though that doesn't make sense because you're more likely to get your little pawns to shell out the couple bucks to use your little convenient vending machines if you market it in the US. But in Africa?! How about, instead of doing that, you just donate a bunch of money and save some people's lives instead of trying to buy their souls one download at a time?! This is ridiculous. And I thought the McDonald's kiosk and the Toyota Scion record label were bad ideas.

Okay, done ranting. Here's something to lighten the mood. At long last, the cartoon members of Gorillaz will hit the stage in their first ever live-action concert. I really hope they wear costumes to look like their characters. That would be awesome. The concert, or should I say concerts, will take place from November 1st through the 5th in Manchester. Those lucky, lucky Brits.

I have to confess. I never listened to OK GO until today, when I watched their video for "A Million Ways." So their music may not be all that unique, but hey, if they can record a video entirely of them doing a dance routine in a back yard... yeah, they're just cool. So watch this video. Especially watch when the guy in the red vest is mouthing the beats. It's so funny. I think I like these guys.

Let us not forget that today is Tuesday and that lots of albums have been released today. Here are a few I might suggest getting. Links courtesy of Largehearted Boy.
Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Jamiroquai - Dynamite
Le Tigre - This Island Remixes

Upcoming Columbus Shows
Tonight - The National w/ Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah - Little Brother's
Tonight - Kings of Leon w/ The Features - The Newport Music Hall
9.24 - The Rolling Stones w/ Beck - Nationwide Arena
9.28 - Doves w/ VHS or Beta - The Newport
9.29 - The Gossip w/ We Are Wolves - Little Brother's
10.05 - Stryper - The Newport Music Hall
10.07 - Rainer Maria - Little Brother's
10.07 - Atmosphere w/ Blueprint - The Newport Music Hall
10.08 - The Fiery Furnaces w/ Miss Alex White and Red Orchestra - The Wexner Center
10.14 - The Decemberists w/ Cass McCombs - The Newport Music Hall
10.21 - The Dresden Dolls w/ DeVotchKa and Faun Fables - The Newport Music Hall
10.25 - Cat Power w/ Dexter Romweber - The Wexner Center
11.20 - Andrew Bird w/ Head of Femur - The Wexner Center

Daily Downloads
As seen in the Regnyouth Archives
The Beatles - The White Album
Stereolab - Mars Audiac Quintet
The Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

I hope this was good enough. I will try to be back soon with those Sufjan Stevens pictures. That's all.

Where have I been?

It's been a rough couple of weeks, guys. First of all, I worked a lot the last couple weeks of my job, especially with the back-to-school season. Then I had to pack and move to my new apartment, which happened last week, and now I'm without internet for another week. This is really the most tragic thing that could ever happen to someone like me, I think. Hopefully I will be making a return in a week once everything gets hooked up. In the meantime, read some of the links on the left and be ever-so patient. I miss you guys. Peaceout!