Year 2009

THE MUPPETS: "Ringing of the Bells." NEW RELEASES: Julian Lennon, Lisa Hannigan and Variety Lab are streaming this week via Spinner. LOCH LOMOND did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter, two…

EELS released a video for "In My Younger Days" from the upcoming End Times album. FANFARLO and THE SWIMMERS played the World Cafe Friday. You can stream either set now via NPR. CURTISS…

THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE: …with SHINDIG CHRISTMAS '64! Part One includes The Beach Boys' "Dance, Dance, Dance," Bobby Sherman and Donna Loren singing "Keep on Searching," the Righteous Brothers doing "The Jerk" and an…

JAWBOX reunited for the first time in 12 years on the Fallon show, playing "Savory" on air and "FF=66" and "68" for the internet. MASON JENNINGS stopped by the World Cafe for…

THE BEATLES' Royal Variety Performance from 1963: "From Me To You," "'Til There Was You" and "Twist & Shout." John Lennon introduced the finale thusly: "For our last number I'd like to ask your…

THE SUBMARINES release a video for "Submarine Symphonika," which you may have heard in the latest iPhone ad. NEW RELEASES: Animal Collective, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Buffett, John Vanderslice, Lifter Puller and more…

ALTAMONT:  Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the infamous Altamont Speedway Free Festival, headlined and organized by the The Rolling Stones.  The event is best known for having been marred by violence, including…

THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE: …with THE dB's!  The influential, but oh-so-unlucky modern pop combo performs "Happenstance," "Bad Reputation" and "Living A Lie" from Sweden circa 1982.  Chris Stamey left the band (temporarily) after which we got…

THE FEELIES cover Jonathan Richman's "Egyptian Reggae." SHEARWATER has a new song, "Castaways," on the Matablog, along with details on their upcoming LP. THE COURTEENERS did the four free songs thing at…

JOE STRUMMER loved Bruce Springsteen, as it turns out — which put me in mind of the posthumous all-star version of "London Calling" at the 2003 Grammys. THE XX stopped by The…