A handful of January mp3s

Matt and Kim

It's January, AKA "dead time" in the world of music blogging. December is great because you can do all sorts of "year in review" stuff, but once January rolls around, nobody of consequence is releasing new music, nobody's touring... it's just dead. You could do one of those "what I'm looking forward to in 2009" posts, but I find those exceedingly boring, and plus, you can't predict what's gonna happen.

To pass the time here are a few new mp3s:

MP3: Matt and Kim - Daylight (from Grand)

On Saturday I went to Lava Lounge and was shocked to hear this song played on their dance night. I didn't think Matt and Kim were big enough for that, but I'm glad they are. This is my favorite Matt and Kim song yet, and it's from their new album, which comes out tomorrow.

MP3: Invade Rome - Pretty Demons (from Light Eyed & Villainous)

This Milwaukee act plays loud rock with a psychedelic twist. Check out their myspace page for more songs from this self-released album.

MP3: Bon Iver - Your Love (live)
Justin Vernon's band dared to cover the gloriously hideous '80s song "Your Love," originally performed by The Outfield. This track is proof that Bon Iver could sing just about anything and have it sound beautiful.

August Pittsburgh concerts

CAN'T-MISS SHOW:
8/2 BON IVER @ Rex Theatre
Ironically I'm going to miss this one, as I'll be out of town... but everyone else should check it out. The band's beautiful, sparse ballads are likely to sound great inside the Rex. Bon Iver's debut For Emma, Forever Ago, is earning rave reviews, and I personally can't stop listening to "Skinny Love." Folks, go to this show and tell us how it was!

ALSO WORTH ATTENDING:
8/6 Natalie Portman's Shaved Head @ Garfield Artworks
Four kids from Seattle create cheeky electropop songs, choose a ridiculous band name, and earn significant buzz. Their debut album Glistening Pleasure is full of nonsensical gems like "Beard Lust" and "Me + Yr Daughter" that will have you shaking your ass.

8/8-9 New American Music Festival @ South Side Works
Seeing Dylan perform next to the Cheesecake Factory is worth the $49 price tag alone, but toss in Gnarls Barkley, the Raconteurs, the Black Keys, Spoon, and the Roots and you have yourselves a quality rock 'n roll festival, even in our modest city.

8/29 Ratatat @ Diesel
8/29 Xiu Xiu @ Garfield Artworks
Two great quirky indie acts come to town, which is rare enough, and they have to play on the same night? I still haven't decided which one I'll be attending, although the fact that Diesel is two blocks from my house will be a factor. Both bands make captivating music - Ratatat's rocking instrumentals are enchanting, and Xiu Xiu is beautifully bizarre.

Others to keep in mind:
8/2 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival with Disturbed, Slipknot & Mastodon @ Post-Gazette Pavilion
8/3 Tilly and the Wall @ Hartwood Acres
8/8 Tapes 'n Tapes @ Club Cafe
8/10 Deerhunter @ Garfield Artworks
8/10 Poison, Dokken, and Sebastian Bach @ Post-Gazette Pavilion
8/11 We Are Scientists & Oxford Collapse @ Diesel
8/16 Kill Hannah & innerpartysystem @ Mr. Small's Theatre
8/20 John Mayer & Paramore @ Post-Gazette Pavilion
8/21 Counting Crows & Maroon 5 @ Post-Gazette Pavilion
8/30 Rascal Flatts & Taylor Swift @ Post-Gazette Pavilion