Via KanYe West: Twitter: “who the fuck is Stephen Colbert?” As Alex Blagg points out this is absolutely in no way priming the pump for the inevitable Colbert/Kanye showdown on The Colbert Report we’ll absolutely in no way inevitably blog about. Success!

Lo and behold, Billy Corgan found time apart from his 20th anniversary staged exorcisms to make a video. It’s for “G.L.O.W,” which still isn’t sung by the Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling. There are some fairly impressive get ups, though (see Billy’s Sunn O)))/Lawrence Of Arabia/Jawa threads, etc.), plus flashing lights and smeary cupcakes. Remember, “G.L.O.W.” is the first song ever recorded exclusively for Guitar Hero, so while you watch, no need to worry about pretending Smashing Pumpkins are still a real band.

Get that free Dr. Pepper in all its 23 flavors? Neither did most of the country. Website crashed, phone lines were down, and Axl’s lawyers are filing pissed off litigious communications: “In and of itself this campaign brazenly violated our clients’ rights in numerous respects. Unfortunately, Dr Pepper has now magnified the damage this campaign has caused through its appalling failure to make good on a promise it made to the American public.” Get legally briefed at AdAge.

Jack & Co. are joined by youngster country vocalist Ashley Monroe and Nashville bluegrass legend/Grammy mainstay Ricky Skaggs for this reworked take on “Old Enough.” The loose, behind-the-scenes-style video’s directed by Autumn de Wilde, who did the surrealistic forest dwelling clip for the Consolers Of The Lonely version. In the press release for this new formation, Skaggs notes:

I had a great time doing this video … It was really fun music to play. By the way, I’m the old guy with the gray hair.

So it’s about age in both directions. There are also more than enough smiles to go around, confirming the “fun” thing.

Stephen would like to thank Colbert Nation for making his Xmas album #1 on iTunes, except he can’t because that slot belongs to “sunglasses mannequin Kanye West.” In an effort to humble Kanye West, he’s launching Operation: Humble Kanye West, which means everybody buy his Xmas album tomorrow at 5PM. Watch and learn. While you’re in the Jesus spirit, Kanye recently delivered his thoughts on not wanting to be Christ-like at a press conference in New Zealand, just in time for the holidays. (He later back-peddaled, which is totally un-Christ-like.)

Amanda Palmer @ Webster Hall (more by Dese’Rae L. Stage)

Mr. Brownstone is playing a 2 AM show at Mercury Lounge on New Years Eve. Amanda Palmer is playing a 2 AM show at Bowery Ballroom the same night. Patti Smith is playing Bowery Ballroom earlier that evening.

Stay tuned for Amanda ticket info. All dates below…

Continue reading “Amanda Palmer - New Years Eve in NYC & other tour dates” at BrooklynVegan.com

This is it guys, your last chance to cast the single most important ballot of 2008. Polls close in two hours! That is so soon, but it’s enough time to knock Third Eye Blind off its perch as Best Album. After the dust settles and the results are tabulated, we’ll randomly pick an entrant who’ll receive the top 50 CDs (as chosen by you, so choose wisely) and a one-year 3-DVD-at-a-time subscription to Netflix. If you need help, here are some good videos, and here are some good albums. Vote now.

Also don’t forget to be in Brooklyn this Monday night (12/8) for the Gummy Awards Live, taking place at Music Hall Of Williamsburg. It’s a rock show — featuring a headlining set from Deerhunter, with Violens and Bell opening — but also expect funny times from our MC, comedian Max Silvestri, as well as videos from the Videogum kids. 16+, doors at 8, show from 9-???

Just kidding the show will probably end by 2 or something. Come.

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Medusa - “Transform” (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Medusa - “En Raga Sul” (MP3)

Meet Medusa from Bloomington, Indiana. They may not be quite as frightening as the mythical snake-haired devil-woman responsible for turning men into stone, but damn they (tunes) be ugly!

Medusa combines the noise rock asthetic that could only come from 3/4 of Racebannon (or possibly Jesus Lizard), along with an angry pre-Big Business-era Melvins thunder. Medusa’s debut record En Raga Sul is out today on Hawthorne Street Records and streaming in it’s entirety at punknews. The band also hooked us up with a little gratis action in the form of the very Stoner Witch-y title track, and “Transform”, both of which are available for download above.

Racebannon dropped Acid or Blood earlier this year and toured with Light Yourself on Fire. The Jesus Lizard is getting back together.

Continue reading “Medusa (Racebannon) - album out now, streaming, free MP3s” at BrooklynVegan.com

photos by Tim Griffin

Gang Gang

Marnie

Pitchfork: So, the kissing booth. Are you tired of talking about it?

Marnie Stern: Yeah, well, I just have no idea! We got the ticket, we’re broke, barely scraping by. So we thought– well the tour manager, Malia [James], said, “Let’s do a kissing booth with Gang Gang [Dance, with whom Stern is touring].” And so everyone decided we should do a kissing booth. And then, so we [laughs] made up the sign, we first– which was in Seattle– and nobody was doing it, so the Gang Gang guys paid [laughs] for the first couple nights.

Pitchfork: That’s sweet.

Marnie Stern: Isn’t that sweet? And then… I don’t know. Then we sort of stopped doing it, but um, I don’t know, it’s fun.

Gang Gang Dance and Marnie Stern played a late show at Santos Party House in NYC on Saturday night (11/29). I don’t think there was a kissing booth unfortunately. It was the last night of their tour together - the tour that also had them at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn one night earlier. Z’s played with them in Brooklyn. 18th Dye played first at Santos…then Marnie, then Gang Gang Dance, and then Marnie and a member of 18th Dye returned to the stage for the final encore.

Marnie Stern’s next NYC show is this Monday at Knitting Factory. More Santos pictures below…

Continue reading “Gang Gang Dance & Marnie Stern @ Santos, NYC - pics” at BrooklynVegan.com

photos by Leia Jospe

Chester French, The Knux and Charles Hamilton performed at the not extremely well attended Puma event at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn last night (Dec 1, 2008). The Knux play NYC again tonight, Tuesday December 2nd, on the Highline Ballroom bill with Q-Tip and The Cool Kids. More pictures from last night below…

Continue reading “The Knux, Charles Hamilton & Chester French @ MHOW (Puma party), Brooklyn, NY - pics” at BrooklynVegan.com