Musician tweet of the week: Tokyo Police Club

It's nice when bands give us a window into their touring life, like Tokyo Police Club did yesterday:

To sir outside Columbus hotel who offered us some "killer". First, I'm not clear what your code is. Second, probably not before breakfast.

Tokyo Police Club have a new album coming out this summer. They played in Pittsburgh a couple days ago, but as their publicist ignored our interview request, we ignored their show. (Hey, it's our prerogative to hold grudges - it's the only power the little guy has!)

http://twitter.com/TokyoPoliceClub

Martin Bisi to play Brillobox

Any project involving either of the Dresden Dolls is enough to get us excited, so we're happy to report that Dolls drummer Brian Viglione will be appearing at Brillobox in Lawrenceville on May 2. Viglione is actually playing second-fiddle on this appearance, drumming for veteran rock producer Martin Bisi, who is headlining the show.

Bisi's been working behind the scenes since the '70s, when he opened a studio with Brian Eno. Bisi has been at the helm for several Sonic Youth records as well as the Dresden Dolls' debut album. But those aren't the coolest credits on his resume - he also worked on Herbie Hancock's "Rockit."

Bisi moonlights as a musician and is playing headlining shows across the country in support of his 2009 EP Son of a Gun. Check out a short video he made for "Drink Your Wine."

Video: Martin Bisi - Drink Your Wine

Flaming Lips to play Pittsburgh!

This is shaping up to be a great concert summer for Pittsburgh, with the city already nabbing several concerts that it usually just doesn't get. To wit: Lady Gaga, Kings of Leon, and indie darlings Beach House, Of Montreal and Neon Indian.

Here's the latest: Crazy psychedelic weirdos the Flaming Lips will return to Pittsburgh for the first time in nearly a decade. The Lips play the Amphitheatre at Station Square on July 20, and advance tickets are only $32.50. WYEP and Drusky Entertainment are presenting the show.

I finally got a chance to witness the Flaming Lips at last summer's Pitchfork Music Festival and everything I'd heard about their killer live show was true. It was sensory overload, with giant balloons, confetti cannons, girls in animal costumes, and great music.

Mark your calendars now!

Musician tweet of the week: Rivers Cuomo

Rivers Cuomo of Weezer has been tweeting up a storm in recent weeks, with wry observations that make his page one of the most interesting musician Twitter accounts.

Some highlights from last week:

You'd think Heinz would do something about that sound ketchup makes when you squeeze it out of the bottle.

I wish my arms were hairier.

If I were a woman, these would be my last years of fertility.

River$.

Ack!!!!! It just occurred to me that "The Summer of '69" might be a double entendre... Can anyone confirm??

http://twitter.com/RiversCuomo

Musician tweets of the week: Ice-T & Aimee Mann

Nothing's better than a good Twitter war of words, especially one this unlikely. Last week Aimee Mann began the drama with an innocent tweet about a tv show. It was ironic that the "hush hush, voices carry" chick got in trouble because of her big mouth, but it was fun for us to watch.

Aimee Mann: Christ, there is no reason in the world anyone should ever have cast Ice T in a television show.

Ice-T: Hey @aimeemann stop worrying bout my acting bitch, and worry about your WACK ass music. In the mean time.. Eat a hot bowl of Dicks! Ice T

Ice-T: Send that shit to TMZ.. Homegirl went in on me for no fuckin reason! WNTFW...Wrong Nigga To Fuck With. She didn't get the FLTG memo?

Aimee Mann: Oh NOOOO!! Someone just told me that Ice T responded to my tweet about him!! THIS CAN'T BE GOOD!!!

Aimee Mann: I am not going to read it. I DO NOT WANT HIM MAD AT ME!!

Ice-T: She started it! I've never even heard of her... I'm playing with my puppy!

Aimee Mann: Plus, I do not like to hurt people's feelings. I forget that twitter is not just me and four other dorky friends, ragging on TV stars.

Aimee Mann: He's out there doing his job. He doesn't need any heckling from the peanut gallery. So, I am sorry, Mr. T! You get out there and DO IT!

Ice-T: OK. Homegirl apologized....... Say no more. FLTG Cease fire! "Once again there's Peace in Twitterland." Ice T

Ice-T: Once again. She made a comment.. I replied... She apologized. Peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010 Three Rivers Arts Fest lineup disappoints

The lineup for the Arts Fest has been revealed, and from my perspective, it's a great big snooze.

The only show I'd be remotely interested in seeing is Kris Kristofferson. Remember the days when the Arts Fest brought us Wilco, Patti Smith, the Psychedelic Furs and Sonic Youth? Even recent years brought us Andrew Bird and the Avett Brothers. This year's lineup just pales in comparison. Too much WYEP soft-pop and not enough ROCKING. Guster hardly qualifies as a rock band to get excited about.

June 4: Alejandro Escovedo
June 5: Guster
June 6: Dirty Dozen Brass Band
June 8: Jason Isbell
June 9: Los Amigos Invisibles
June 10: Ingrid Michaelson
June 11: Kris Kristofferson
June 13: Patty Griffin

Tweet of the week: Trace Cyrus

Trace Cyrus of Metro Station posted a serious update this week after coming from the movie theater:

Aliens are real. there is proof. not saying the fourth kind is it. but there is proof out there. Its funny the things our government hides.

http://twitter.com/TraceCyrus

Girls & Dum Dum Girls at Mr. Small's

CONCERT REVIEW: Girls & Dum Dum Girls
Mr. Small's
April 5, 2010

It's always fun when a band member slips into the audience to watch his opening act. Christopher Owens, songwriter and lead singer for San Francisco band Girls, did just that on Monday to witness the entire opening set from Dum Dum Girls.

Dum Dum Girls are a band on the rise and they delivered an impressive set of moody rock with vocal harmonies, with the songs ranging from grungy to poppy. The up-tempo "Don't Talk" was a great closing number.

While Owens stood in the modest crowd of 200 to 300 near the merch table, a handful of people came up to say hello, but most people seemed not to notice him. He was quite a bit more noticeable minutes later when Girls took the stage.

The band opened with one of its slowest songs, "Solitude." A Girls live show is more laid-back than one might expect, but that makes sense given that the lyrics are the main focus of the group's songs. There's no need for screeching guitars or a massive drum solo to overpower the words.

"Laura" and "Lust for Life" were well-received, but the clear highlight was the epic "Hellhole Retrace," which took off at the end as the restraint the band had seemingly been building all show finally exploded.

Girls' performance was relaxed but not unenthusiastic. They closed their three-song encore with the mellow "Life in San Francisco." This is the kind of band that always skips Pittsburgh, so it was great to see them make an appearance, even if the size of the venue wasn't a perfect fit.

April Pittsburgh concerts

MUST-SEE SHOW:
4/5 Girls & Dum Dum Girls @ Mr. Small's
Girls, two guys from San Francisco, have been earning rave reviews for their combination of messed-up surf pop, revealing lyrics, and straightforward indie rock in songs like "Lust for Life" and "Laura." Don't miss the opening act, either - Dum Dum Girls are getting a lot of attention from indie rock fans lately. We'll be in attendance and will be posting a review of the show.

ALSO WORTH ATTENDING:
4/14 Owen Pallett @ Andy Warhol Museum
4/14 The Hold Steady @ Diesel
I'm surprised the Hold Steady are playing such a small venue, but at least now people can drink, unlike the band's last show in town. The better bet on this night, though, is amazing violinist Owen Pallett (formerly Final Fantasy) at the Warhol.

Others to keep in mind:
4/7 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Mr. Small's
4/7 Freezepop @ Rex Theater
4/9 Jakob Dylan & Neko Case @ Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
4/10 Rusted Root @ Gateway Clipper
4/11 Wilco @ Carnegie Music Hall (Oakland)
4/13 Drive-By Truckers & Langhorne Slim @ Mr. Small's
4/14 Silverstein @ Mr. Small's
4/18 The Four Tops & The Temptations @ Heinz Hall
4/18 The Used @ Chiodos @ Club Zoo
4/27 Tokyo Police Club @ Mr. Small's
4/29 The Maine & We the Kings @ Altar Bar

Stream Jonsi's Go in its entirety

Go, the new album from Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi, is streaming live on NPR, along with an interview Jonsi did for All Things Considered.

The album is my favorite of 2010 so far. Every song is better than the next. "Tornado" and "Bob Lilikoi" are both epic, exuding an energy and euphoria not seen as often in the work of Jonsi's band. Check them out!

Go is officially released on April 5. I'll be seeing Jonsi in concert in Chicago in April. Stay tuned for the review!