Earlier today, MLive.com reported the passing of original Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton at the age of 60. Dead of an apparent heart attack, Asheton’s pioneering work with the Stooges, New Order, New Race (alongside Radio Birdman’s Deniz Tek and Rob Younger) and Destroy All Monsters casts a major creative shadow over much of the music [...]

Making good on those New Years resolutions yet? Anyone promise themselves they’d start living a purer existence, one free of the burdens of technology and the modern world? Well it’s time to start getting in touch with that better self, at least for you West Coasters, as Brightblack Morning Light kick off a [...]

Legendary New London, CT trio the CONDO FUCKS returned to the stage last March after a long absence from the tri-state area’s concert circuit, and the results of a secretive Hoboken rehearsal recording session 35 is being released in March of ‘09 by Matador as the LP/CD, ‘Fuckbook’. Eschewing such Condo Fucks originals as “Fuckin’ Gary [...]

Mission Of Burma and longtime associates / Ace Of Hearts labelmates The Neighborhoods will be playing the Somerville Theatre on January 24, as a benefit for that fine town’s Center For Arts At The Armory.  Tickets are available from Ticketmaster or from the Sommerville Theatre box office.

(pic swiped from NJ.com, taken by Hoboken Jack) Yo La Tengo just completed their annual Hanukkah residency at Maxwell’s ; for the full scoop on the amazing cavalcade of stars & surprises unveiled during this year’s edition, Ira’s daily diary of said event will make you feel like, well, a very unlucky person if you [...]

Much as I hate to poke fun at the brave men and women who constitute our nation’s armed forces, Max Impact — a self-described combination of “today’s hip-hop, pop and urban sounds-and everything in between” — might be the first entry in a genre I like to call, “Bands That Can Form The Basis For [...]

Chan and the DDB will be hitting the stage of Harlem’s historic Apollo Theatre on February 6 and 7, and tickets go on sale today.  In addition, Ms. Marshall and friends will visit Washington DC’s 930 Club on February 8 (tickets)  .

The promotional video for The Unsane’s “Body Bomb” from the album ‘Total Destruction’ seemed, at the time, like a rather pricey (ie.  more than $10) way of making a clip guaranteed to receive zero MTV play, the fine efforts of Chris, Pete, Vinnie and director Richard Kern aside.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wsSaF6axy8 History, however, has a funny way of sorting [...]

At this time of year we often get sentimental and review the contents of old archive folders. I found this letter in there from an Edna Johnson. Back in the pre-internet days, stuff like this got circulated from office to office via photocopier and fax. Miss u, pre-internet.

I can’t stop thinking about the goose daube I made last spring, especially ’cause I have several calves’ legs left in the freezer. Since Jonah from Fucked Up asked me to scan the “recipe” so he could use it to impress some girl, I decided I should let all of you have the benefit of [...]

Kinda scared/confused… wondering what 2k9 will bring… h8 u Carles for writing the most perceptive metablog on “alt” culture on the internets. Worth reading for his views on TV On The Radio alone. Take that, P4K!

This has got to be the easiest recipe ever - if you have a good Italian butcher nearby. Ottomanelli’s in the West Village sells braciole at $5.99 a pound. It’s flank steak (or other cheap cuts) pounded, stuffed, rolled and tied with string. The stuffing is up to you or your butcher. Ottomanelli uses tiny [...]

Remember the glory days of summer? Sitting in front of your computer, patiently refreshing your browser, praying aloud for privilege of shelling out your lawn mowing money for every 7″ in the Jay Reatard singles series. You dreamt of righteous music (or ebay gold). We know a lot of you weren’t able to successfully assemble the [...]

Yet another shining example of bringing together fine music and comedy. A.C. Newman joined (far left) Dave Hill, host of the Dave Hill Explosion, Carl Arnheiter (in elf hat), and Brett Gelman (as many New Yorkers know as “Little Bit o’Luck” which can’t be easy when he’s at the deli) as special musical guest at the [...]

Sorry, but seriously: Jay Reatard played maybe the most electric set we’ve seen to date in October at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. This take on “I’m Watching You”, from Matador Singles ‘08, kills me every time I see it: (watch in high quality) Matter of fact, the whole show was so good, Rhapsody is making it [...]