Press Record.

Have fun kids, sitting this one out.

When French remixer/DJ/Tigersushi head chef/club sensation Joakim crashes North American shores later this month, he won't be alone. Indeed, this propagator of all things danceable will bolster the agreeable blend of house, techno, electro, and disco found on this year's Monsters & Silly Songs!K7) with four separate live bands branded with similar but distinct names.

We know this much: Joakim's Ectoplasmics include Maxime Delpierre on guitar, Juan DeGuillebon on bass, and Mark Kerr on drums. As to who or what comprises the Euroschmucks, the Ectosluts, or the Europlasmics, folks in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago will just have to wait and find out. And don't even get us started on the Ectoschmucks (who turn up in Barcelona) and, of course, the Eurosluts (bound for Dublin). Do these refer to actual variations of Joakim's band? Or are they merely products of the Frenchman's whimsy? Either way, like Bill Murray, they're pretty funny.

In related news, Joakim lends his production muse to Chateau Rouge, the debut LP by buddy/collaborator My Sister Klaus-- aka Guillaume Teyssier, aka the lyricist behind Poni Hoax's kick-ass "Budapest". Look for that one May 15 on Tigersushi, and later, another Joakim-produced Poni Hoax LP. [pitchfork]
April 26 Toronto, Ontario - The Social-1100 Queen W. 416-532-4474.

Listen to full tracks here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A20332478

For as much as their record rocks, few bands validate the "you gotta see 'em live!" thing as much as Art Brut. Between Eddie Argos' ridiculous ad-libs and his band's high-energy guitar assault, one can't help but leave an Art Brut gig with a big smile pasted across his or her face.

Unfortunately, up until now, you probably had to dwell in or near one metropolis or another to experience Eddie and Co. live and raw. Now you can laugh and rock along without moving your arse from the couch.Way back in January of this year, Germany's Cargo Records snuck out an Art Brut DVD titled Talking to the Kids. The disc collects footage from a live show recorded January 24, 2006 at Cologne, Germany's Stollwerck, along with several music videos, photos, behind the scenes footage, German TV appearances, and other goodies.

Of course if you don't speak German, you might find the narrated portions a bit hard to follow, but we'll take live Art Brut any way we can get it. And we'll be able to get it much more easily come May 22, when Cobraside Distribution makes Talking to the Kids available in the United States.That snappy band, meanwhile, has its revenge with It's a Bit Complicated, out June 26 in the U.S. via Downtown Records, and likely the day before overseas via Mute.

Catch them on a brief States/Canada foray later this month, or in the UK thereafter supporting Maxïmo Park and eventually headlining.
Doors 7pm Tix 15.50 at Rotate This Soundscapes and TicketMaster

KONONO N°1
'CONGOTRONICS'

KONONO N°1 was founded over 25 years ago by Mingiedi, a virtuoso of the likembé (a traditional instrument sometimes called "sanza" or "thumb piano", consisting of metal rods attached to a resonator). The band's line-up includes three electric likembés (bass, medium and treble), equipped with hand-made microphones built from magnets salvaged from old car parts, and plugged into amplifiers. There's also a rhythm section which uses traditional as well as makeshift percussion (pans, pots and car parts), three singers, three dancers and a sound system featuring these famous megaphones.

The musicians come from an area which sits right across the border between Congo and Angola. Their repertoire draws largely on Bazombo trance music, but they've had to incorporate the originally-unwanted distorsions of their sound system. This has made them develop a unique style which, from a sonic viewpoint, has accidentally connected them with the aesthetics of the most experimental forms of rock and electronic music, as much through their sounds than through their sheer volume (they play in front of a wall of speakers) and their merciless grooves.

The first album by Konono N°1 was recorded and produced by Vincent Kenis - definitely the right person for the job: he is a great connoisseur of Congolese music and old car parts, he has produced albums by Zap Mama, Taraf de Haïdouks & Koçani Orkestar, and has also been playing a key part in the sonic design of many albums of electronic music on Crammed/SSR.

Konono N°1 is the first volume of Crammed's new series Congotronics, which is devoted to electrified traditional music from the Congo.

http://www.myspace.com/konononr1

I had forgotten about the Junior
Boys show at the Mod Club...oops.
I'll be there for sure.

For those of you that haven't had a chance to check them out here's a few samples from the Hype Machine

Sceneandheard.ca: "Junior Boys say goodbye to their house sound and hello to 80's-style synth-pop"
Also on the bill is Toronto's own Russian Futurists..."приятный!!!

Sweet Thing music is the passionate result of true rock music exploration. In a time where much music, a visual media, dominates the music industry, it's refreshing as hell to see a band that sounds so good live without the need of pyrotechnics and in studio voice adjustments.

The obvious talent and skill of the members of that band shines through every single performance, and that right there is the essence of where Rock And Roll needs to go.

You have to bring you're heart in to it, and Sweet Thing beats with vigor.
[from: ryandesmond]This is also KYLE's Bday @ the Mod....mmm I love it when a plan comes t'getha.

Staying in this weekend except for this and Sweet Thing/Kyles Bday @ Mod Club. It's been a long week.

Matthew Bourne and New Adventures (Swan Lake) are back with a magical new adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture Edward Scissorhands. A treat for the whole family, this touching and witty gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by an eccentric inventor. With only scissors for hands, Edward must find his place in a strange new suburban world where the well-meaning community struggles to see past his appearance to the innocence and gentleness within.

This musical without words is a must-see event you won't want to miss! “Matthew Bourne tells a story with extraordinary zest and originality. Nobody does it better”
Los Angeles Times
Promo: video (wmv)