White Denim

White Denim is one kooky trio. Coming to us from Austin, Texas, White Denim sound like several bands accompanied with a dash of Texas twang and blues, put in a blender on puree, causing angular and frenetic gyrations in this proverbial blender. But, the end product is something that goes down very easily. Interesting tidbit: White Denim lead singer Kevin Petralli is son of former MLB catcher Geno Petralli...from the era of not as many players on steroids, and seemingly all players had mustaches like your father. Check out "Don't Look That Way At It" and "Heart From All of Us" by White Denim.

"Don't Look That Way At It" by White Denim

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"Heart From All of Us" by White Denim

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From the mind of Chris Lilley...

Summer Heights High is a mockumentary that chronicles the daily school life of a Drama teacher, a misfit Islander, and an over privileged teen age girl in Australia, all played by the show's creator, Chris Lilley. Lilley plays "Mr.G", an overzealous Drama teacher who doesn't believe in limitations that are often presented in the landscape of a public school production. He also plays trouble making Jonah Takalua, a Tongan student who only hangs out with other Islanders in the school, and Ja'mie(pronounced Ja-may), a rich teenager who believes she's kind of like Princess Diana, gracing everyone with her presence and charitable deeds at Summer Heights High School. Lilley plays all the roles with such ease, that I found myself forgetting that the show is a lampoon of high school life, the first time I viewed it. The show is on Sunday nights on HBO at 10:30pm, and is an effective appetizer for the return of New Zealand's Flight of The Conchords on January 18th. Check out the trailer for Summer Heights High below.

Call in 'gay' to work day.

I've called in 'drunk' to work. And I'm also a big believer that if you call in 'sick' for two days in a row, it's more believable. Supporters against California's Prop 8 are being encouraged to call in sick on December 10th. So plan ahead, in the event you need to get a haircut, check out at the sassy cashier line at Urban Outfitters, or go antiquing tomorrow. Seriously, as one of my married friends put it recently, "If they want to suffer the same eternal damnation of marriage just like the rest of us do, so be it." I've always thought that the term homophobic was dumb. It should be 'homo-intolerant', and 'lactose-phobic'. Gay marriage doesn't scare me, the perils of too much milk in the stomach does. Check out some gay songs below.

"I Know, I Know, I Know" by Tegan and Sara

Download "I Know, I Know, I Know" here

"There Is A Place In Hell For Me & My Friends" by Morrissey

Download "There Is A Place In Hell..." here

Buy Tegan and Sara, Morrissey songs at iTunes and Amazon.

Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus hail from New Jersey. They just played the Troubadour in West Hollywood with another up and coming band making some ruckus, No Age. Titus Andronicus' album ‘The Airing of Grievances’ is out on a label called Troubleman Unlimited (home to Black Dice, Wolf Eyes). They have just signed to a wonderfully innovative label XL Recordings (home to Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Sigur Ros). If you want a finer and simpler pleasure in life, pour yourself a glass of whiskey, find a quiet place to reflect, and give a spin to ‘The Airing of Grievances’. What you wished you’d known then, will embrace you now. Check out "No Future" below. I can't help but love a song that incorporates the line and pays homage to Public Enemy with, "Welcome to The Terrordome...".

"No Future" by Titus Andronicus


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Purchase Titus Andronicus music on iTunes or Amazon.

A youth that's sonic.

Boom Bip is Ohio native, Echo Park resident Bryan Hollon. With a strongly rooted and diverse background which started him off as a DJ, Boom Bip has constantly evolved himself into many facets of sound. He is the true definition of a musical artist. Amongst his long resume of remixing/reworking artists such as Mogwai, M83, and the Super Furry Animals, he also toured in support of Mice Parade and Interpol. His vast talent, and knowledge of music keeps him fresh, and always on the move. His constant reinvention makes him truly hard to classify, which to his credit would hardly do his music justice. Check out "Mannequin Hand Trap Door" featuring emcee Dose One, from 2002's "Seed To Sun".

Boom Bip releases available on iTunes or Amazon.

"Mannequin Hand Trap Door" by Boom Bip

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