I Want My 3+ Minutes Back...

I, like all other truly cultured Americans, tuned into the last few minutes of the Teen Choice Awards to watch Mr. Spears give his "National TV Debut." If you couldn't figure it out already from the headline, he sucked. Really, really sucked. The into was alright with the really fake-looking piano playing and the 12 year-old boys (Michael Jackson anyone?) dancing and mouthing the words but then Federline turned from the piano and began to what I assume he consideres rap.

Just a few words of advice for this budding rap artist: don't be white and name your song the same title as an Eminem hit track and don't give a shoutout to Detroit (it doesn't matter if you came from there or not). I am not going to dignify this with a thumb.

I'm trying to find a video of this on YouTube so that I can link to it but now I'm lazy. Look it up, it's there.
-Intern Dan

Welcome to the Labrynth...














First of all, I know it's been a while since I posted.

But anyway, last Thursday, as I imagine most of you know considering a large portion of the human population on this planet we call Earth was there, was Gnarls Barkley at Summerstage. I, as usual, put in a request for a ticket after the purchase was complete and therefore had to wait anxiously all day thinking I wasn't going to get to go. It didn't help that one friend after another (I know what you're thinking, "but Intern Dan doesn't have any friends" but you're not original) texted me saying they were going and we should meet up. Finally, Intern Rachel (although she doesn't intern with The Interns, she's still technically an intern) told me that if I decided to stop sucking and go to the concert to call her.

I got there during the Peeping Tom set to be greeted by the best timed BBQ (read: beerbaque) possibly ever. There were a bunch of people in the tent. First, met up with Intern Hillary who works (read: interns) at Summerstage and then with Intern Rachel and Big PA and co. Apparently, Paul actually does know everybody.

The highlight of Peeping Tom: Rahzel.















Basically, up to this point in the entry, I have been stalling. The highlight of the night...















...Yes, that is the back of David Bowie's head. Every time we tried to be stealth and take a picture and he somehow knew to turn his head away from us. Hillary said she was going to ask him for a picture and I asked her that if she did, could I please be in it. So instead, she asks Mr. Bowie for a picture and hands me the camera to take it.

After Gnarls, Rachel and Paul dragged me to the Annex. We arrived just in time for Die Die Die.
I was excited to see them but have to say I wish I was not. They had a few songs that made me think they could possibly be good but yeah. (Thumb down)

Paul continued to prove that he does know everyone by having a bajillion people say hi to him at the Annex... including my favorite DJ's. (Ok, now I think it is starting to sound scary. To defend myself, I just think they have great taste in music and for the brief times I've met them, seem like nice/cool young ladies.) And to make me miss London even more, Paul and Karen were talking about Reading festival blah blah blah.

I had to leave to catch a train just as Aberdeen City started their set. The half of a song that I heard sounded good though.

That's all I got now. Warped wrap-up is still coming. I am starting a campaign to get Intern Dave to actually write something even though he's in Los Angeles now.
-Intern Dan

When I first started going to concerts, I thought that every band sounded better live than on CD. Obviously, this is very far from the truth. In actuality, most of the bands I've seen this summer sound much much much much better recorded than live.

On my commute to work today, I was listening to one of the Phoenix albums and realized that this is the first band I have seen this summer (minus a few exceptions of bands signed to majors) that was better live than recorded. The CD lacks a lot of the energy present in the live performance (at least the one at Bowery earlier this week). I don't know if it is necessary to see the drummer get really into the groove for me to get into it as well or maybe it's just not recorded well. Who knows? Point is, they are funky as all hell live and that is not nearly as present on CD.

That's all I got for now. Just wanted to rant.
-Intern Dan

State of the Union

Well, it's not a state and it wasn't in the Union but whatever.

I am going to sum this up quickly:
Some bands know how to write and play. Phoenix is one of those bands. (Thumb up.)

French Kicks were fun (sideways thumb)

The "local guys" opening band. Here's a piece of advice for any band that gets the possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that this band got opening the show: say your name so the sold-out Bowery Ballroom crowd can know who you are. Say it between every song if you'd like. Also, have someone film your set. You are playing for a packed house in a great venue and nobody will remember you and you have no proof to get them to think otherwise.

So if you did not know, the concert was sponsored by Camel. They had these people walking around and taking surveys. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life but they were giving away a CD for taking this survey of smokers so I, with the help of the questioner, took the survey. Apparently my brand of choice is Camel lights and out of the last 10 times I bought a pack, 6 were of my preferred brand. Just FYI. I got music and I gave away my cigarette coupons. Good deal.

I took a bunch of pictures last night with Nora's camera and will post them soon.

I'll do a Warped Tour entry later. In the meantime, I'm working on Intern Dave to get him to write about all the events he goes to that he doesn't tell anybody about.

That's all for now.
-Intern Dan

To Lolla or Not To Lolla - Day 1 (Webcast) and Other Things...

So I'm currently watching the streaming video of Panic! at the Disco as they finish their set. Granted, it has improved as it goes on but I had someone from down the hall come over to my desk asking if we were doing singing to Panic! thinking there is no way they could actually be that out of tune. He was wrong. A little too ambitious maybe. My guess is this needs to be heard over a big, loud PA so that you can't tell, etc.

Some of you may be thinking that it's just the webcast but that is not so. The Subways sounded great earlier today.

Tonight: Hot Chip at South Street Seaport; Levy at Mercury; Teddybears at Annex. good times
Tomorrow: Warped. hot times.

See you there.

Nora's Indie Rock Dance Party Mix... A Track By Track Analysis

Young Love - Discotech - without this song, there would be no "Dance" in the title of this mix

The Faint - Worked Up So Sexual - pretty good song and it is certainly danceable (except for the random spazz-out breakdown in the middle). However, if you are looking to check out this band (which is not the worst idea), I'd check out some other stuff first. What other stuff you ask? I can't think of right now so ask me later.

Muse - Supermassive Black Hole - good song of the new album. Recommended.

Panic! - Time To Dance - I shouldn't have to review this one but in case you haven't read my previous entry about bands I currently recommend but I love their entire album. Good pick for this mix. Get it.

White Rose Movement - Love Is a Number (Radio Edit) - I had never really heard this song/band before receiving this mix. Now I know why. As I'm reviewing this song, Intern Erica turned to me and said "this is the most predictable song ever." The chorus is pretty good but that's about it. (Yes, it has a dance beat and therefore can fit in this mix.)

The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes - I really like this song/album/band.

Nightmare Of You - My Name Is Trouble - this is my song of the moment from my album of the moment. Please do yourself a favor if you like pop music at all and buy it.

The Futureheads - Let's Dance - This title is a misnomer. I really really like the Futureheads but don't like this song. In general, I am not as big a fan of the new album as of the last.

The Streets - When You Wasn't Famous - I enjoy the Streets. If you don't, you won't like the song. It's not my favorite but it's good and fits this mix better than a lot of his other songs would.

Men, Women, & Children - Dance In My Blood - I think I am one of the only non-Candians who actually liked Our Lady Peace. This is another fun band from that dude and yes, the song is much more danceable and more crazy than OLP stuff.

Rihanna - SOS - I don't appreciate this song being on the mix. Enough said.

The Subways - Oh Yeah - good song from a good album from a good band. Recommended. Annie - My Heartbeat - not as good as Madonna.

Cobra Starship - Snakes On A Plane - If you don't like this song, I don't like you. (p.s. For a good time, watch the music video and the making of the music video... very profound.)

Lily Allen - Oh My God (Kaisers cover) - quite enjoyable

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good yadda yadda yadda - Now, let's see. (Paul, this is your shoutout.) How to put this nicely: THIS BAND IS EXTREMELY OVERRATED desptie all the arguments Big PA puts up about how Americans (i.e. me) should understand that in the UK, many bands and fans care mroe about the feel, etc. than the tightness, blah blah blah. Now, so that Paul (and everybody else) does not think I am bashing his taste in music, he does have some good taste. He admitted to me earlier today that he made a mix (to be reviewed here sometime soon) that he even included some music from "yanks" and that he does in fact like some music not from Europe (which I accused him of a year ago). I was "studying"/living in London when they were really blowing up and I can agree that they have some good songs but cannot agree that they are a great band let alone better than the whole history (let alone current) of amazing Birtish bands. To name the bigger names, Bloc Party, Kaisers, Hard-Fi, Maximo Park, and The Futureheads are all better than the Arctic Monkeys. Paul, we can argue about this more later but you should thank your newest intern, Rachel, for not relaying my comments to you about them sucking.

Art Brut - Good Weekend - I still can't decide on my opinion of this band.

The Killers - When You Were Young - Overproduced but I guess that is to be expected. Not a terrible song by any means but I would like to hear the demos of this song.

So, all in all, it's a decent mix; as I said before, I like half of it. Nora, no more asking for my review. Here it is as thorough as I can make it. Paul, I finally delivered on my promise. Maybe a little late but it's there. Instead, you got a mention in multiple entries in a row. I look forward to reviewing the PA mix on here.
-Intern Dan