We Shine Like Potential on an Unimagined Day

Listen up, Dubuquers. You people in northeast Iowa will be treated to something special tonight. Given that I am 3+ hours away, have a day job, and am not the young buck I once was, I must live vicariously through you. Jon Auer has found a break in his tour of bigger cities with Fountains of Wayne to return to your fine city:

[T]he Silver Dollar recently announced that Jon Auer will make a special appearance at the Cantina, Thursday, July 9. Those who missed his previous show might want to get there early as anyone who witnessed it will surely be there on the ninth.

Evidently back in 06 he blew everyone away. Naturally. Enjoy the show for me.

Here are the other dates for his tour with FoW. And you must acquire his solo masterpiece Songs for the Year of Our Demise. It is my favorite album of the past five years. Favorite.

Money Can't Buy Me Love

Free Music! Free Music! Get your 20 free indie songs from the iTunes Facebook page. The link is in the left column.

I've never heard of 98% of the bands featured, but there is a choice track from the Eels. And hey, it's free. If you don't like any of the songs, you can delete them. Or whatever. It's your hard drive space - do what makes you happy.

We're All Different and Nothing's Universal

I was click-wheelin' through my collection this morning on the way to work looking for something different when I landed upon Ro Sham Bo. Let me take you back in time. The year is 1993. Grunge has not yet disrupted the growing popularity of power pop. Matthew Sweet's Altered Beast is in the record shops (remember those?) just a few rows down from Jellyfish's Spilt Milk.

Recently departed Jellyfish member Jason Falkner teams up with power pop royalty Jon Brion, Dan McCarroll and Buddy Judge to form The Grays. Their only album, Ro Sham Bo, is released in April 1994 and kicked off by the single The Very Best Years. Wow. This is power pop at it's ultimate best. Even 15 years later, this album is fresh, inventive and inspiring. It's also filled with kick-ass hooks. The album takes you on a roller coaster ride of melodic wonders.

Unfortunately, The Grays disbanded shortly thereafter and went their separate ways. I guess all good things have to come to an end eventually, but this was too quick. What is even sadder, Ro Sham Bo is long out of print. All you can get from iTunes is the music video of The Very Best Years. Amazon offers up a few physical copies but nothing to download. Hell, even YouTube won't let me embed the video for The Very Best Years on this post. This is one album that begs to be rediscovered.

If this isn't part of your collection, do yourself a favor and track down a copy today.

Go

Not Lame is offering a special deal with the purchase of Bleu's new album A Watched Pot:

[R]eceive a super cool, exclusive 3 song CD-R EP that contains the following songs:

1. Go (Acoustic)
2. Come N Go (Acoustic)
3. The Blame Game (A Watched Pot B-Side)

THIS IS A LIMITED OFFER and only good until August 15, 2009. You will, also, receive an another exclusive. An MP3 audio of an interview I am going to be doing with Sir Bleu next week.

Nice. Not Lame Guy Bruce Brodeen is soliciting questions from you for the interview. Just email him here ASAP.

Check out samples and pre-order right here from Not Lame. If he's not careful, he's going to have to change the name to Way Not Lame.

Hey Moon, Please Forget To Fall Down

Say it ain't so!! Panic At The Disco is breaking up!!! Just announced on their Facebook page:

Ryan Ross and Jon Walker will be leaving Panic at the Disco to embark on a musical excursion of their own. Though the four of us have made music together in the past, we’ve creatively evolved in different directions which has compromised what each of us want to personally achieve. Over the years, we have remained close and honest with each other, which helped us to realize that our goals were different and that parting ways is truly what is best for each of us. We are all excited for the future, you should be too.

-Ryan & Jon

Stay posted to the Panic site for updates on Ryan and Jon’s new project, as well as a message from Brendon and Spencer who will continue on as Panic At The Disco. All touring and album plans for Panic will continue as previously announced.

I'm so bummed!!!!! If you haven't yet picked up Pretty. Odd., do yourself a favor and get it now! One of my 2008 favorite albums!

You Leave Your Smell Like An Alley Cat

The Beatles' former manager, Allen Klein, died today after suffering from Alzheimer's. He was 77.

Allen Klein wrestled his way into the Beatles' and was their controversial manager for a short period of time before they broke up. He also managed the Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, Herman's Hermits, Bobby Darin and others. His independent ABKCO record company was unique in the sea of colossal corporations. His first client, Sam Cooke, had unprecedented ownership of his own music through Klein. George Harrison hired Klein to put on the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.

On a lighter note, Klein is said to the be in the inspiration for John Belushi's Ron Decline in 1978's film The Rutles and John Lennon's song Steel & Glass.

In The City Built On Laughter

If you love Jellyfish, you'll love this -

The Peppermint Tolley Company


And they sung the Brady Bunch theme song on the closing credits in season one. More