OKGO playing "What to Do" at Turner Hall, Milwaukee

Chicago natives OKGO stopped by Milwaukee last Friday to play Turner Hall Ballroom, and lucky for us, someone I know was on hand to catch the action. Check out the clip of OKGO performing "What To Do" (with handbells!), below. The action is a little far away, but you can hear things just fine. Kudos to Jason Kopplin for the video:



I haven't followed OKGO very closely over the years, but I've really enjoyed their videos, which for my money, are some of the best I've seen in years.

Check out some of the band's amazing music videos at their official website.

Stream Coachella for free

If you're a poor Midwestern fellow like me, chances are you aren't flying out to Cali this weekend to check out a couple nights of blissful music at the Coachella Festival.

But fret not: thanks to social media, you can catch a live stream of the Coachella Festival via Facebook or Myspace for free. It's almost like being there, minus the contact buzz and hipsters, of course. For a full webcast schedule, see below. If you can only catch a few or are new to the scene, our recommendations are bolded.

Coachella webcast schedule (all times listed are EST):

April 16
Street Sweeper Social Club - 8:05pm
Deer Tick - 8:00pm
Yeasayer - 9:00pm
Avett Brothers - 9:05pm
Jets Overhead - TBD
Calle 13
- 10:00pm
The Cribs - 10:05pm
As Tall As Lions - TBD
The Specials - 11:00pm
Passion Pit - 11:05pm
Ra Ra Riot - TBD
LCD Soundsystem - 12:00am
Echo & the Bunnymen - 12:05am
Lucero - TBD
Imogen Heap - 1:00am
Vampire Weekend - 1:05am
Public Image Limited - 2:20am

April 17
Zoe - 7:00pm
Frightened Rabbit - 7:05pm
Old Crowe Medicine - 8:00pm
Temper Trap - 8:05pm
White Rabbits - 9:00pm
Band of Skulls - 9:05pm
Portual the Man - TBD
Dirty Projectors - 10:00pm
Edward Sharp & the Magnetic Zeros - 10:05pm
The Ravoenettes - TBD
Tokyo Police Club - 11:00pm
The xx - 11:05pm
Coheed & Cambria - 12:00am
Hot Chip - 12:05am
Faith No More - 1:00am
Dead Weather - 2:05am

April 18
B.O.B - 7:00pm
Delphic 7:05pm
Yo La Tango- 8:00pm
Owen Pallett - 8:05pm
Matt & Kim - 9:00pm
Deer Hunter - 9:05pm
De La Soul - 10:00pm
King Khan & the Shrines - 10:05pm
Les Claypool - 11:00pm
Major Lazer - 11:05pm
Sly Stone & Friends - 12:00am
Gary Numan - 1:00am
Devo - 2:00am

She & Him on Letterman

I'll admit I would pretty much enjoy watching Zooey Deschanel do anything, whether she's starring in Elf, playing for She & Him, or hell, reading the newspaper, and I'm not afraid (of my wife) to admit it.

Luckily for me (and all the other ZooD fans in Wisconsin) I'll be catching her and stage buddy M.Ward on the first night of the Verge Music Festival in June. But if you just can't get enough of the talented Mrs. Ben Gibbard you can check out She & Him's recent performance on the Late Show, below:

New National track "Afraid of Everyone"

Another new track from The National is out and available for free download over at the Pitchfork site. We *really* loved the "Bloodbuzz Ohio" track they released earlier, and this track, "Afraid of Everyone," is another solid track. The album drops May 11, and is easily our most anticipated release of this year.

Death Cab for Cutie cover Fogerty

It's not a great video, but if you ever thought to yourself:

"You know what would go great at a Seattle Mariners game? Some Death Cab covering the John Fogerty (of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame) track "Centerfield" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

...then you are in luck. And also on drugs.

Either way, your wish if fulfilled below:

Menomena new track "Pilgrim's Promise"

To a former graduate school English major like me, the words "Pilgrim's Progress" immediately bring to mind the John Bunyan Christian allegory The Pilgrim's Progress, which, for some reason, is still on my bookshelf. Sure, it's a great work of literature, but not exactly my idea of a fun weekend read.

Thankfully, Portland rockers Menomena are helping me re-associate that phrase in a much cooler way, with their new track "Pilgrim's Progress", available for streaming at the Pitchfork site.

My introduction to Menomena actually came via my friend Grego a few years ago (thanks, buddy). Now, the band is getting set to release their new album Mines on July 27 via Barsuk. The "Pilgrim's Progress" track is also being released on a limited edition split 7" with the Helio Sequence on April 17.

Do yourself a favor and check out the free track at the Pitchfork site. And head over to the Menomena site while you're at it.

Freelance Whales, "Generator 2nd Floor"

This past week, Myspace began airing the new video from New York's Freelance Whales, a band that I've really started getting into lately, and just in time, apparently; their debut EP, Weathervanes, is set to be released next week on April 13 via Frenchkiss/Mom & Pop.

If you haven't been lucky enough to catch them on the road before now, you can get acquainted before their album drops next week with the great track "Generator 2nd Floor" available for streaming, below:

want more info on Freelance Whales? Check out their website!

Classics: Ben Folds, "Army"

This came on while I was shutting things down tonight at work and it reminded me of what a great song this was (and still is). I remember it being big back when I was in college, but I imagine trying to talk about Ben Folds with college kids today would only show my age.

Weezer, Crash Kings, Modest Mouse updates

One of the events I'm most looking forward to this summer (besides my upcoming trip to Phoenix to catch some Brewers baseball) is the inaugural Verge Music Festival in Milwaukee.

With two nights of music featuring Weezer, Cold War Kids, She & Him, and more, it's going to be a good time.

Wouldn't you know it, today I got an email about this impromptu performance Weezer put on in an LA park for some families. I've been hard on Weezer's recent releases (and deservedly so, in my opinion), but I'll be damned if this ain't a cute scene and a darn catchy tune.


Check out Weezer playing "I'm Your Daddy" at Vevo Go

Another band that's playing at the Verge Music Festival is Crash Kings, who I'll admit, I had not heard of before I saw them on the lineup for the festival. They've got a pretty solid tune called "Mountain Man" which you can also check out a video for at Vevo.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I mentioned earlier that Modest Mouse would be playing at Summerfest on Saturday, July 3, and that is true - but they will not be headlining the Marcus Ampitheater that night. That honor, my friends, will be going to... RUSH. So you can pay the $42 to see Geddy Lee and crew...OR just pay for a general admission Summerfest ticket (under $20) and join me at Modest Mouse.

Twin Tigers on tour; catch video for Red Fox Run

If you're heading out to catch The Hold Steady on tour this spring, make sure you get to the show early to Twin Tigers, who are opening on select dates.

The dream noise quartet from Georgia is out on tour in support of their Mar 2 release, Gray Waves.

If you're new to Twin Tigers, get introduced by checking out the video for "Red Fox Run", below:



April 17--Give It Up State! Festival--Clemson, SC
April 20--Tin Roof--Charleston, SC
April 29--Neighborhood Theatre--Charlotte, NC
April 30--Nightlight--Chapel Hill, NC
May 1--The Fire--Philadelphia, PA
May 3--Cameo Gallery--Brooklyn, NY
May 4--Pianos--New York, NY
May 6--Garfield Artworks--Pittsburg, PA
May 7--The Red and Black Room--Washington, DC
**May 22 & May 23--The Social--Orlando, FL**
**May 25--Live Wire Music Hall--Savannah, GA**
** May 26--40 Watt Club--Athens, GA**
**May 27--Variety Playhouse--Atlanta, GA**

** - w/The Hold Steady

Get more Twin Tigers @ Myspace