"Hanukkah" by The Bitter Tears

This song changed every time they played it live. I miss them.

Megan Reilly Video on NPR Music

Sometime tomorrow morning (now Wed. See below), at a time and place of their choosing, the mysterious but benevolent NPR Music elves will post the debut for Megan Reilly's incredible "Throw It Out" video, directed by Antoine Wagner. The video stars the talented and lovely Megan, of course, but the show is clearly stolen by her husband, the equally talented and almost equally lovely actor Daniel London.

While you wait, you can still check out, or recheck as the case may be, Megan's other two videos for songs from her new album, The Well:

• This cute as kittens video of Megan with pal John Wesley Harding doing the duet "Old Man and The Bird" from AOL/Spinner...
• and the more ripping performance video for "Sew the Threads into Your Heart" shot at guitar god James Mastro's Hoboken shop, Guitar Bar, that was featured along with her cool recent interview in Guitar World.

After you've had time to digest the video, we'll share some of the story behind making it, but in the meantime, here's a still to whet your appetite.

UPDATE: The NPRMusic elves had some technical issues today to which we are not privy, nor should we be. We really don't want to see how the NPR sausage is made. They promise a Wednesday morning debut for Megan's video. We'll try to get some sleep tonight while thinking about it. Thanks, elves! We're all pulling for you!

Hypnotic video for Tetras "Pareidolia i"

Tetras "Pareidolia i" from Flingco Sound System on Vimeo.
Promotional video for the track "Pareidolia i" by the Swiss trio Tetras. Video by Annie Feldmeier Adams, artwork by Jason Kahn with music from Tetras. "Pareidola i" is from the Double LP/ Download "Pareidolia," released on the FSS label.

Video: Pillars & Tongues - Thank You, Oaky

Wow. This is the video for "Thank You, Oaky" off of Pillars & Tongues most recent album Pass & Crossings, done by 19th State Productions. What else can I say but wow?

Oh, I know what else... Pillars & Tongues will be playing saki on December 18th with A Tundra! That's two of this town's best bands for FREE at saki, and it's the day after our big Christmas Mansion party. That's a weekend not to be missed.

via

Real Estate covers a bunch of stuff for Halloween

Last night, Real Estate launched their US tour at Lincoln Hall, one of my favorite venues in Chicago. In observance of Halloween, the band donned a series of "musical costumes," injecting their set with a block of covers between tracks from their excellent new album Days, which happens to be available now at Saki!

Their choices of covers spanned several decades, including "Anything Could Happen" by The Clean and Weezer's "Holiday." The best of the bunch was their take on Felt's "Sunlight Bathed The Golden Glow," featuring vocals by Matt Mondale, Real Estate's lead guitarist/the main dude from Ducktales.

Video from last night's show is not (yet?) available, but you can instead watch a clip of Mondale talk-sing his way through the song in his apartment along with the rest of the band (after some talk of Blink 182-sponsored air travel), courtesy of The Fader.

Future Islands: Give Us The Wind video

Check out this Buñuel-esqu video for "Give Us The Wind", one of my favorite tracks from Futures Islands most recent release on Thrill Jockey, On The Water! This is a great single, but you should really listen to entire album. I'm such a sucker for those affected, bombastic vocals...

"I'm Gonna Freeze"

The first single from the new Chelsea Crowell album, Crystal City, is out. A cute video for a better song. Can't wait to hear the whole thing. In my dream, she will do an in-store at saki.

I've Got Something For Yooouu!!!

For all of y'all who grew up in the greater Chicagoland area: A low-budget taste of reminiscence.



As far as my sleuthing has led me, the number is still valid for those in need of car insurance. If so, here's their link, Eagle Insurance. This blog advertisement cost them $24.76 and an eagle suit less than the original.

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

Courtesy of Funny or Die, I present to you, a frame by frame (more or less) recreation of the best Christmas pairing ever. My apologies to the two turtle doves.

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy with Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly from Will Ferrell

This is What English Sounds like to Italian Ears

Prisencolinensinainciusol. I showed this video to my comrades in the CTD warehouse about a year back and, it's much more than a mouthful of a song title. Italian hybrid of Elvis and Gainsbourg, Adriano Celentano, penned the gibberish proto-rap lyrics to sound like English diction. The song dates back to '72, and man, is it a gem.

Bitter Tears New Album, Video and Show!

Ooooeeee...Carrot Top Records is under my control for the next ten days! Let's celebrate by releasing an amazing record. Tomorrow, Tuesday March 3rd, The Bitter Tears release Jam Tarts In The Jakehouse. To celebrate the release, The Bitter Tears will be hosting a Record Release Show at The Hideout this Saturday March 7th.

"Chicago's The Bitter Tears are a truly extraordinary group of musicians that one must experience in the live concert setting to truly appreciate the in-your-face absurdity and pure drama that their rambling catchy dada cabaret has to offer. Their often humorous and overwrought lyrics run the gamut of satire, lust, and the grotesque"—A Thousand Ears

Check out this video made by some All-Star CTD employees, Tyler, John, Brook and Kristin: