Tickets. We get 'em.

...and now you will too, loyal TVD reader. We're giving away two tickets courtesy of The Frontier Brothers for their show TONIGHT at Iota in Arlington, VA. Most convincing plea for these passes either in the comments section or to us directly gets 'em -- but the contest closes at 3:00EST, so get those pencils moving.

Born in space, razed in Fort Worth, and now regenerating in Austin, The Frontier Brothers have only just arrived, yet early notices are truly something for the E.T.s to phone home about. "The Frontier Brothers cover the wicked terrain between The Beach Boys and The Kinks with just a touch of mad Syd Barrett," says Vivien Goldman (BBC America). While the Fort Worth Weekly declares, "(The Frontier Brothers) have a love for the pure pleasures of music-making." Individually known as Marshall Galactic, Brett Moses, and Travis Newman, TFB craft a new breed of danceable indie-pop inspired by artists ranging from David Bowie and ELO to Wilco and Arcade Fire. However you describe them, The Frontier Brothers are simply out of this world. The trio is currently on tour recruiting more terrestrial visionaries for their intergalactic exchange program.

The Frontier Brothers - Everyones A Neutron Bomb (Mp3)
The Frontier Brothers - Space Punk Starlet (Mp3)
The Frontier Brothers - Take It For Love (Mp3)



Update: We have a winner. Thanks to everyone who wrote in.

TVD's Daily Wax | Spacehog "The Chinese Album"

Oh, that Ira Robbins over at Trouser Press: " Pointedly copping melodies, guitar sound, vocals and a stylistic posture from glam-era David Bowie may be an odd choice two decades on, but it isn't intrinsically any more despicable than the usual pilferage that goes on in the rock world. If Spacehog — two brothers and two others from Leeds who emigrated to New York City before launching their miserable career — had a second idea of any merit, the group might be excused for such lightfingered designs...unmitigated rubbish, stupid and obvious."

...enjoy!

Spacehog - Lucy's Shoe (Mp3)
Spacehog - Sand In Your Eyes (Mp3)
Spacehog - Carry On (Mp3)
Spacehog - Captain Freeman (Mp3)
Spacehog - Beautiful Girl (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Danny Wilson "Be Bop Moptop"

Owing a heavy stylistic debt to yesterday's duo, Danny Wilson followed up the stellar "Meet Danny Wilson" with the wonderfully flawed release, "Be Bop Moptop". Wonderful because the song writing is top-notch, as are the arrangements, Gary Clark's vocals, and the subtle atmospherics and sonic touches. (Love those rainstorms.) Flawed because of the timing...not in a career sense but in a production-value sense. These songs SCREAM full band to me...not tinny keys and often abused drum machines. (Hell, it WAS '89 after all.) But strip those away (as Danny Wilson did in a live setting--which is how I KNOW I'm right) and you've got a little gem that just needs...a wee bit of burnishing.

Danny Wilson - Imaginary Girl (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - Charlie Boy (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - If You Really Love Me (Let Me Go) (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - Loneliness (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - The Ballad Of Me And Shirley Maclaine (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Steely Dan "Aja"

I read once that, in general, a child's first sense of inebriation happens on the playground in the form of the merry-go-round, the swings, the slide, etc. And that we, as adults, attempt to recreate 'baby's first buzz' via all sorts of intoxicants. It's the singular pursuit of 'that buzz' in it first and finest form that seems to become the prime motivator. Well, today there are flowers in the courtyard. The trees have turned from merely budding to a noticeable green. It's warming. And somewhere in some sleepy town, a yellow bus pulls up to the bus stop with a crackly FM radio tuned into the crusty classic rock station and 'Aja' comes sputtering out. And nostrils flair to the soundtrack of baby's first Springtime buzz. Exactly the way it happened for me.

Steely Dan - Aja (Mp3)
Steely Dan - Black Cow (Mp3)
Steely Dan - Deacon Blues (Mp3)
Steely Dan - Home At Last (Mp3)
Steely Dan - Peg (Mp3)

TVD's Weekend Shots

An oh-so-anonymous reader writes…

I’ve come up with so many different lists from so many different starting points here – songs from a year / songs from a particular compilation tape / songs with a theme /songs… ach, eventually we just need to play what we need to play. Always remember the ‘gremlins’ rule (don’t make a playlist after midnight and expect it to behave itself – not much of that one is left here) but that aside, this is a mixture of some old and some newish, some things well known and some maybe unknown, some brightness and some bleakness, a bit of anger and a bit of hope. Can’t fault that. You have a good weekend.

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Tell Me When My Light Turns Green (Mp3)
Maximo Park - Distance Makes (Mp3)
Callaghan - No Way Out (Mp3)
The Open - Close My Eyes (Mp3)
*Teevo - Mexico (Mp3)
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. - Call Me Ishmael (Mp3)
Belle and Sebastian - The Boy Done Wrong Again (Mp3)
OMD - Souvenir (Mp3)
Battle - Tendency (Mp3)
Wah! - The Story of the Blues (Mp3)
(It's all about Part 2 x+x)

TVD Shuffle Bored | April 11, 2008

The random Friday, post exceptional Joe show, five:
Ike and Tina Turner - Our Lord Will Make A Way (Mp3)
Van Halen - Dance The Night Away (Mp3)
The Charlatans - Time For Livin' (Mp3)
Any Trouble - Baby Now That I've Found You (Mp3)
China Crisis - Seven Sports For All (Live) (Mp3)
(Thanks Mick!)

One from the New LP 'Rain'

We'll be up front...
Joe Jackson - King Pleasure Time (Mp3)

We should take a walk...

The AntiDC finds herself rather ProDC today (well, for the time being anyway) with a TVD-penned guest blog! And we're hitting the streets and taking a tour of five of DC's record stores. Come along, won't cha?

TVD's Daily Wax | Joe Jackson "Live in New York"

Joe Jackson's at the 9:30 tonight with a similar live line-up to this 2000 release, "Live in New York." It's Joe on keys, Graham Maby on bass, and on this tour it was Gary Burke behind the drum kit. Tonight, original Joe Jackson Band drummer Dave Houghton is your time keeper.

And that's right -- no guitarist. Skeptical? Don't be:
Joe Jackson - Summer in the City (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - Fools In Love (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - Home Town (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - It's Different for Girls (Mp3)
Joe Jackson - One More Time (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | INXS "Shabooh Shoobah"

There's a photo I should have located to accompany this post of Mike Hutchence holding an INXS fan club newsletter whose cover was illustrated by yours truly, age 15. Scanning this cover today and uploading these songs...I get the sense that some things will just keep repeating themselves over and over. Over and over.

INXS - The One Thing (Mp3)
INXS - To Look At You (Mp3)
INXS - Soul Mistake (Mp3)
INXS - Jan's Song (Mp3)
INXS - Don't Change (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Echo and the Bunnymen "Songs To Learn & Sing"

Despite the absence of a traditional TVD theme...this week and for the foreseeable future (although I have a roots reggae week in the works as the weather warms...) I am sensing a theme I think. If Freddie were here, he'd be singing, " Those were the days of our lives/The bad things in life were so few..."

Echo and the Bunnymen - Do It Clean (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - Never Stop (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - Silver (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - The Back Of Love (Mp3)
Echo and the Bunnymen - The Cutter (Mp3)

Local record store owners take a spin behind the decks at Beyond in April

Beyond, the weekly downtempo happy hour in Dupont Circle, is celebrating its first anniversary by hosting some of DC’s favorite record store managers. Som Records’ Neal Becton, Red Onion’s Joshua Harkavy, and Crooked Beat’s Holly Tegeler will be taking over Beyond in the month of April. During the month of April, each of these esteemed DJs will have an evening in which to showcase their skills and personal vinyl collections.

Beyond, the Dupont Circle weekly Extended Happy Hour event takes place every Wednesday from 6PM to 11PM in the Upstairs lounge above Skewers and Café Luna restaurants at 1633 P St NW (at the corner of 17th St and P St). More info here. (Via freeformdj.com)
Image courtesy LP Cover Lover!

TVD's Daily Wax | The English Beat "What Is Beat?"

Feel that? It's the reins of a 'theme week' coming loose, lightening the blog load in favor of some old skool freestylin'. And what better way to inaugurate this non-theme theme then a handful from the always appreciated English Beat. I hear quite a few toes tapping in office cubes this morning...

The English Beat - I Confess (Mp3)
The English Beat - Doors Of Your Heart (Mp3)
The English Beat - Save It For Later (Mp3)
The English Beat - Too Nice To Talk To (Mp3)
The English Beat - Can't Get Used To Losing You (Mp3)

(BTW - 300th post. My.)

TVD's Weekend Shots

To wind up Beatles Bootleg week here at TVD, your weekend round o' shots is the entire, complete session from the rooftop at 3 Savile Row on January 30, 1969.

The Beatles - Get Back (Mp3)
The Beatles - Get Back (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down (Mp3)
The Beatles - I've Got A Feeling (Mp3)
The Beatles - One After 909 (Mp3)
The Beatles - Dig A Pony (Mp3)
The Beatles - I've Got A Feeling (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Get Back (Take 3) (Mp3)

The Weekend Shots is where you--yes, you-- the TVD reader get to participate. What are ya waiting for? Got ten tracks and a theme?

TVD Shuffle Bored | April 4, 2008

Five for Friday:
Beirut - Elephant Gun (Mp3)
Small Amp - Sisters and Brothers (Mp3)
Ringo Starr - You're Sixteen (Mp3)
The Grays - Same Thing (Mp3)
Rickie Lee Jones - Chuck E's In Love (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

Despite the odd compilation or two or the recent 'Anthology' releases, I wasn't a member of the buying public when there actually was a NEW Beatles record. It was all out there by the time I got to it. And I chipped away...one LP at a time and largely out of sequence which gives me a broad appreciation for their career--from the Cavern to the Rooftop. The latter era informs today's bootleg 'The Auction Tapes' which are 'Let it Be' and subsequently 'Abby Road' rehearsals. And actually, when I listen to these...I'm truly hearing a few things that really are, well...new.

The Beatles - All Things Must Pass/Mean Mr. Mustard/Don't Let Me Down/All Things Must Pass/Fools Like Me/You Can Win Again (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Be Cruel/Costa Del Sol/My One And Only Prayer/My Baby Left Me (Mp3)
The Beatles - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying/Sexy Sadie/Blue Suede Shoes (Mp3)
The Beatles - If Tomorrow Ever Comes/What Do You Wanna Make Those Eyes At Me For (Mp3)
The Beatles - She Came Into The Bathroom Window/Sausages and French Fries/Hi Ho Silver/Stand By Me (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

Aside from the ticks in my head when these tracks deviate from the versions burned in all of our brains, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to add to these -- which makes for some easy blogging. Classics in progress:

The Beatles - I Am The Walrus (Basic Tracks) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Penny Lane (Unedited Rough Mix) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever (Overdub Session) (Mp3)
The Beatles - The Fool On The Hill (Demo Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Aerial Tour Instrumental (Take 8 RM 4) (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

A first few takes at genius:
The Beatles - Day Tripper (Take 3) (Mp3)
The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You (Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (Take 4) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Paperback Writer (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out (Rough Mix) (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Beatle Bootlegs

All in all, a pretty interesting vinyl-related weekend at ol' TVD HQ. For starters, in regard to the aforementioned trip to Orpheus records on Saturday, it turns out that Ms. TVD actually purchased more LP's than yours truly. (What th'?) And, after staring down the task for QUITE some time now, TVD HQ today sports a fully alphabetized LP collection--which is far easier typed than done, I assure you. And as such, I realized I had quite a few Beatle Bootlegs among the newly organized archives--and thus, an informal theme week was born...

The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (Take 3) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love (Take 2) (Mp3)
The Beatles - If You've Got Trouble (Take 1) (Mp3)
The Beatles - Leave My Kitten Alone (Mp3)
The Beatles - One After 909 (Take 2) (Mp3)

The reports of Orpheus Records' demise have been exaggerated.

Rick Carlisle at Orpheus Records in Clarendon. (Photo by John Mcdonnell)

Well, by a month.
Owner Rick Carlisle tells TVD that the lease on the Clarendon location has been extended a month and that they will remain open until the end of April--while the used vinyl is STILL 50% off. We were by yesterday and got our hands on this 30-year Yep Rock reissue...and while this spanking new, 180-gram, 2LP set itself wasn't 50% off, the $20 was well spent for this gem. See ya on April 19th?

TVD's Weekend Shots

A TVD Ten from 1980:
Wah! - Seven Minutes to Midnight (Mp3)
Nightmares in Wax - Birth of a Nation (Mp3)
Woodhead Munro - Mumbo Jumbo (Mp3)
Spizz Energi - Where's Captain Kirk? (Mp3)
Associates - The Affectionate Punch (Mp3)
Frantic Elevators - You Know What You Told Me (Mp3)
Fad Gadget - Ricky's Hand (Mp3)
The Tea Set - Parry Thomas (Mp3)
Swell Maps - Let's Build a Car (Mp3)
The Normil Hawaiians - The Beat Goes On (Mp3)

TVD invites you--the informed TVD reader--to participate and DJ the Weekend Shots each week. What should we be listenin' to?

TVD's Daily Wax | Meat Loaf "Bat Out of Hell"

Well, sure - I grew up on the Jersey Shore...but I was nothing close to a Springsteen fan. It took me until my thirties to actually get The Boss, and much of that is purely nostalgia. (I'm on board now, but still...) This Meat Loaf record...with all of its bluster and blather filled the gap just fine, thank you. Motorcycles belching out from the grave, tenuous moments in the back seats of cars, hot summer nights on the beach...this was the soundtrack to that road map. Smell the ocean? I do.

Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell LP (Mp3)
This is the whole LP...reordered for maximum effect. And the last of the guilty pleasures for now. (Until I can find my Culture Club LP...it's here SOMEplace....)

TVD Shuffle Bored | March 28, 2008

OK, that's it. I'm pitching the Nano. Too many recurring themes among the randomness...but here you have it:
ABC - Date Stamp (Mp3)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy - The Sun Goes Down (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - Aberdeen (Mp3)
The Turtles - Elenore (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | Journey "Greatest Hits"

It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? I'm sure a third of you are wondering to what level of depravity TVD will sink this week, another third saw this round-house punch coming since Monday when this sick salad began to be tossed--and the rest of you are making that infamous Lee Harvey Oswald face as TVD loads this morning...But fight it, I can't--these songs kill in their 1970's FM radio, AOR way. (That is, permanently downloaded and cached.)

Once while taking a late night cab from the airport into downtown San Francisco, "Lights" came on the radio in the taxi as I'm looking out the window at the literal lights. The cab driver leaned over the seat to me and said, "Yea, man, great song, huh?" And it was. (And is.)

Journey - Any Way You Want It (Mp3)
Journey - Lights (Mp3)
Journey - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' (Mp3)
Journey - Wheel In The Sky (Mp3)
Journey - Who's Crying Now (Mp3)

(Yea, that's the face.)

TVD's Daily Wax | Yes "Drama"

Despite the volume of whiskey and other things ingested at the prompting of my high school pal Noel to better "get" Yes -- it just never happened. He became a Yes-aholic, and me? Well, I preferred tunes that weren't 8 minutes long -- or a whole album side long. Sheezus. What torture. Make mine punk or new wave. But a funny thing happened -- Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman left Yes and the Buggles - the f'n BUGGLES - joined! What th'? I was in clover and Noel was in--censed. And you guys get guilty pleasure/embarrassing post #3!

Yes - Machine Messiah (Mp3)
Yes - Does It Really Happen (Mp3)
Yes - Into The Lens (Mp3)
Yes - Run Through The Light (Mp3)
Yes - Tempus Fugit (Mp3)

TVD's Daily Wax | The Darkness "One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back"

Maybe it's because I miss Queen so much. Or the quality of the Roy Thomas Baker production with those sonic flourishes that have been marinating in my brain since childhood. Or maybe it's the cool--albeit corny--cover art. Or maybe it's because, while waiting with Big Andy for The Darkness to hit the stage at the 9:30, they played nothing but Thin Lizzy to warm up the crowd. Then Dan Hawkins comes out wearing a classic Thin Lizzy t-shirt. That could be it. But I tell you one thing, it's not the falsetto. Certainly not the falsetto.

The Darkness - One Way Ticket (Mp3)
The Darkness - Is It Just Me (Mp3)
The Darkness - Dinner Lady Arms (Mp3)
The Darkness - Bald (Mp3)
The Darkness - Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time (Mp3)