While our motto has quickly become "Every Day Is Record Store Day" (or at least that’s what our interns who split time at Academy Records keep harping on and on about), we can’t forget about the upcoming Independents Day 2008 which is kind of the Olympics to another’s Pan Am Games when celebrating independent music.

Here’s a quick lift from the web site and we’ve donated some signed Stereolab posters, Breeders LPs and a Long Blondes video!

Independents Day 08 is a worldwide event, taking place on the weekend of 4^th July to raise money for the independent music community and their chosen charities.

Starting in New Zealand and ending in the US, activities include the largest ever auction of independent music memorabilia (via eBay) and limited edition albums featuring the cream of independent talent from all over the globe, all supported by a comprehensive retail campaign and a series of one-off music shows and retrospectives across TV and radio.

Our good friend Lana Kim at The Director’s Bureau has herself a new talk show and the members of Blonde Redhead stopped by recently for a little Q&A.

Click here to view the full episode of THE LANA SHOW starring Blonde Redhead and Colette.

Blonde Redhead are no strangers to the technicolor world of T.D.B. as Melodie McDaniel directed their 23 video (keep watching the Lana Show to see the video) and well-known artist & film director Mike Mills directed 5 short films for the band when their album 23 was released last year.

You can view four of them on here.

Also, Blonde Redhead have two outdoor free shows coming this summer.

• Sat     6/28   Denver, CO   Coors Field Parking Lot   
• Southern Comfort Music Experience with Gnarls Barkley + more (It’s FREE but you have to be 21+ years old with I.D.)

• Thu    8/14    NYC, NY       Pier 54  (Westside of Manhattan at West Side Hwy & 14th Street)
• Hudson River Rocks (FREE show and doors at 6PM)

DETAILS JUST ANNOUNCED!

The Breeders are going to play a very intimate in-store at Other Music in New York on Friday, July 11th at 9:00pm!!!

Obviously, space is super limited and there are only 50 pairs of passes to go around. We’re going to keep it simple…all you have to do to enter is email enter@othermusic.com. Other Music will be picking the 50 names at random on Tuesday, July 1st, and notifying the winners via email. Good luck!!

On Monday night Team Beggars/Matador (The Ragbag Rats) put a mean hurtin’ on the Heeb Magazine crew in the first of our weekly, Saucony-sponsored whiffle ball showdownzen. The savage sluggery of the Ragbag Rats proved too powerful for the competition. By the end of the game our Line-Up looked like a checklist for the Whiffleball HALL OF FAME. Our training regiment (seen below) which involves forgoing traditional weights for small children raised morale while building serious strength….

The victory, however, was cemented with righteous pitching and defensive performances by the team (clad in red and with no intentions of taking prisoners) who managed zero-errors and a shutout in regulation (the game was extended to allow Team Heeb a sportsman’s shot at a run, which we ultimately sacrificed).

Game highlights included Helen’s one-handed hammer-hack swing, which, though unorthodox, proved surprisingly effective; our masterful employment of the controversial "pitcher’s hand rule"; Dave Martin’s competitive (at times bordering on psychotic) displays of leadership; and our collective disbelief at the blazing foot-speed of Beggars GM Matt Harmon (do NOT challenge this guy in the 40, people). All told, it was an excellent first showing, rewarded with beers (Miller Lite, Bud Lite, Coors Lite – take your pick, we drank ‘em ALL) and bar food at Blondie’s on 79th. Kudos to Team Heeb for a great effort (hey, they fared better than Team FADER – 17-0 at the hands of Sony/BMG – OUCH!). THANKS SAUCONY AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Sigur Ros mania has really gripped the office on the release day of með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. But not to be outdone we still have some action happening for the band’s film Heima that was released last year.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is presenting a special screening of the film on July 2nd (see flyer below)

More info here at CMA website

As part of my civic duties, twice a hear I schlep my laptop and Lesley’s iPod connector uptown to DJ the annual Special Music School Summer Dance.   And twice a year I absolutely wreck the fucking joint. 

This year was no exception – the roof was literally blown off the cafeteria at PS 199 this past Friday for 3 straight hours.  I mixed in some of the familiar and some less-so and the kids were 100% feelin’ DJ Realin’ In Tha Years for the 3rd Summer in a row.  Hit the jump to see how that shit went down:

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Nothing happened as previously reported.  But, there were lots of painted people and Tevas^®, as well as Sigur Rós, Cat Power and some extended bands from la familia.

This is making the way around the blogosphere today and it made me laugh out loud, so I deemed it worthy of posting.

The hilarious list was posted by the folks at the St.Louis venue Creepy Crawl

Top 39 Annoying Things That Bands Do

1. Bands that feel compelled to bang on their drums and guitars in an annoying display of lack of talent before the doors open. Usually this occurs when we are trying to talk to someone on the phone or give instructions to employees. There is a place for this type of behavior, its called your basement.

2. Out of town bands that show up and say "We decided to bring another band with us, don’t worry, they just need gas money and pizza."

3. Out of town bands that watch you order their pizzas with "the works" and after they arrive tell you "Oh, we’re all vegetarians, can we get buy-outs instead?"

4. Local bands with managers.

5. Local bands that have a girlfriend as their manager (Can you say annoying pain in the ass?). This usually marks the beginning of the end for most bands at the Creepy.

6. Bands that bring their own "personal" sound-tech. After seeing him try to operate the soundboard for 5 minutes the house soundman concludes that this guy has absolutely no clue how to operate a PA. Accordingly, the band sounds like total shit.

7. Bands that have more roadies than band members. 

MORE HERE….
http://www.creepycrawl.com/top39txt.htm

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Hey guys, apologies for the delay, but I only just learned today myself that this was confirmed. Long story, but I’m pleased to announce that The Pixies "Gouge Away" was featured in (episode #414) the season finale of LOST. This critically acclaimed show rarely ever licenses music, so it’s kind of a big deal. They typically just have score & occasionally the rare licensed track. It’s available to download on itunes. I just watched it & it’s the only source cue in the episode. It plays for about 10-15 sec in a flash forward scene where Jack is driving towards the end of the episode. Thought it was worth sharing.

Best, Jennx