After ten years of working for fame and fortune, these southern church boys have finally made it. They have thousands of fans around the world, a top ten single for the last six months, and a platinum album. But what could they possibly be missing? That’s right, a live DVD. Kings of Leon is due to release their first ever live recording on November 10, 2009. The recorded show is live from the UK, the first nation to embrace the band and invest in their music. The band is well-known and well-loved in England which would explain why they would choose to have their performance recorded there. The DVD should prove to be one of total awesomeness.

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You do a lot of questionable things with a few beers in you walking down Boston’s Commonwealth Ave. at 3 a.m. Sometimes you think it’s good idea to down a giant 5-dollar sausage from Che-Chi’s or piss in a public alleyway… I don’t know, sometimes it just makes sense.

It was one of those nights, and my friends and I were butchering an impromptu version of ‘Knife.’ We decided that it wasn’t even a song, but a movement. Then I saw them live for the first time at Bonnaroo, covered in sweaty filth (which made sand floors a really poor choice), but when the waltzing strings of ‘Lullaby’ started, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t even normal; the performance was inhuman.

Grizzly Bear is a funny name for such a calm and refined band. When my friend told her mom she was going to a Grizzly Bear show, the response was utter disgust - to think we’d find entertainment in watching ferocious animals claw each other.

Not to say they lack ferocity. I saw Grizzly Bear the second time around at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, and I’ve never been so undividedly engaged, even with the audience seated the entire time (except when we started dancing to the closer ‘On a Neck, On a Spit’). Grizzly Bear has a mesmerizing sort of style — beautiful in sound, stealthy with instrumentals and haunting in harmony.

After the show I was able to (obnoxiously) flag down Chris Taylor, the square-jawed blondie responsible for the oh-oo-oh-oo-ohwah in ‘Knife’ as well as other wonderful harmonizations, bass and wind instruments. Chris is a person of impressive skill and kind demeanor. I shook his hand and before I knew it, he’d politely agreed to a phone interview. I didn’t jump up and down until I left the theatre.

To me, it’s safe to say the world (at least the blogging world) has fallen in love with Grizzly Bear, but in talking with Chris we focused less on the group and more on him. He has teamed up with Lust Boys’ Ethan Silverman to create Terrible Records in which they will release a series of 20 split 7 inches. The first of these comes out today, October 13th. It’s entitled CANT _and features Arthur Russell and Chris Taylor himself. _

Be sure to check it out! But first read this interview with Chris Taylor to learn more about Terrible Records, his musical background, his childhood dreams, and his love for cooking. (Endearing, right?!)

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Currently on their North American tour, Grizzly Bear made an appearance last night on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. They played their hit song from Veckatimest, “Two Weeks,” with Beach House member Victoria Legrand. Legrand is also featured with Grizzly Bear on the song “Slow Life,” which is part of the upcoming soundtrack for Twilight: New Moon. Check it out.

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If you’ve never been to the Middle East in Cambridge, MA, it’s an absolute must. I had the privilege of squeezing into the Middle East Upstairs, which was about the size of my apartment’s living room, to see Stars of Track and Field open for Lights.

[caption id=”attachment_2731” align=”alignright” width=”319” caption=”Who are you mystery man? Your music is wonderful.”][/caption]

There was also an opening one-man act before Stars of Track and Field; I walked in about half way through his set. His friend was kind enough to give me his name, but I can’t remember. I’m sorry, mystery noise man, but I really, really enjoyed your music. Standing on stage, he seemed incredibly serious in his dressy black duds and straight face, but once he got his fingers on the synth and his mouth on that mic, it was wonderful. Think Shiny Toy Guns with more of an M83 vibe. Once I find his name (I will find his name, please help me out), I’ll link you.

[caption id=”attachment_2732” align=”alignleft” width=”200” caption=”Kevin Calaba, vocals and guitar “][/caption]

Then Stars of Track and Field took the stage. I mean that in the most comprehensive way possible. This trio from Portland totally dominated the stage with their humble-yet-inherently-cool-because-we’re-musicians presence with their big rock feel and Kevin Calaba’s crystal clear vocals. Their sound draws traces from U2, Coldplay, My Bloody Valentine, the Silversun Pickups and at one point, I scribbled “Switchfoot matured and made good” on my notepad. It’s rock with a little ambience, just enough to make it full and interesting - nothing overdone, nothing burdened with too much effort.

[caption id=”attachment_2733” align=”alignright” width=”299” caption=”Jason Bell, guitar and vocals. “][/caption]

Most of their set consisted of songs from their September release A Time For Lions, and after a little research I’ve found that this album is very different from their first, Centuries Before Love and War. As a forever fan of Brand New, I am all about genre-jumping between albums.

The mellow Centuries Before Love and War has a more electronic element reminiscent of the Postal Service, check out this popular track ‘Say Hello:’

[audio:http://jetcomx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1281.mp3 |titles=Say Hello |artists=Stars of Track and Field]

So why the switch to a more mainstream sound? In an interview with Billboard, Kevin Calaba explained,

I want to grab them by the head and shake them. I don’t want to be background music.
It seems to be working since the fans, new and old, are responding real well to _A Time for Lions. _I mean, what better way to shake people than change up your sound? Here’s a comment from Spinner.com:
I’ve been a HUGE fan of Stars of Track and Field since the release of ‘Centuries Before Love and War.’ This new single is fantastic … they maintain their unique sound, but have stretched into a new realm. I’m going to spend the next two months counting down the days til I can make ‘A Time for Lions’ all mine! - erickasunhine33
The tracks are great, but I seriously recommend seeing them live to get the full experience!

Yessss, it’s finally Friday. This week, we’ve got Chromeo, Kanye West, Fatboy Slim, Grizzly Bear, Dead Prez, MSTRKRFT, Phoenix and more. I’m definitely a huge fan of LMFAO’s remix of Kanye’s “Paranoid.” It’s about 700 times better than the original. Also, this week, I’ve included a mash-up that’s too good to have left out. It’s The Hood Internet’s “Two Weeks of Hip-hop,” which is a mash-up of Grizzly Bear and Dead Prez. Have an awesome Columbus Day weekend, and enjoy.

[audio:remix-friday-3/The Hood Internet - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop (Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear).mp3]

[audio:remix-friday-3/Chromeo.mp3]

[audio:remix-friday-3/Eminem - Crack a Bottle (Discotech Remix).mp3]

[audio:remix-friday-3/Fatboy Slim - Right Here Right Now (Trumpdisco Remix).mp3]

[audio:remix-friday-3/LMFAO.mp3 |titles=Paranoid (LMFAO Remix) |artists=Kanye West]

[audio:remix-friday-3/Love Lockdown (Hatchmatik Remix).mp3 |titles=Love Lockdown (Hatchmatik Remix) |artists=Kanye West]

[audio:remix-friday-3/MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker (Featuring John Legend) (Laidback Luke Remix).mp3]

[audio:remix-friday-3/N.O.R.E. featuring Kid Cudi - Floating In The Sky (Bird Peterson Remix).mp3]

[audio:remix-friday-3/Phoenix - Love Like A Sunset (Shuttle Remix).mp3]