Kyle is happy because Cat Power is finally coming back to Toronto – April 13 at the Opera House. I’m a little surprised she’s playing such a big room. Last time through, I think she was at the Horseshoe. Has her cachet really grown that much in the past few years? Hopefully the larger venue and higher expectations for her new record will force her handlers to try harder to keep her from wigging out. “Now Chan, Chan – Look at me Chan, that’s right. There’s a lot of people out there who’ve come to see you play. We’re going to need you to go out there – yes, out THERE – and play for at LEAST a half an hour. Don’t worry, it’ll be over before you know it. It’ll be fine. Really. No, don’t start crying. Chan…”

I’m not sure if I’ll be going to that one. It’s nestled in perfectly between Mark Gardener and Yo La Tengo shows. Three shows in three nights. Do I dare? At least it’s over the course of a weekend. Sort of. I’ll have to hear some of the Cat Power record before I decide.

Wilco are streaming one of the shows from their recent Australian tour in the Roadcase section of their website.

From Kyle – Rocks Shaped Like Shoes. It’s all about the presentation.

np – Death Cab For Cutie / The Photo Album

You know how I like my Mondays? Slow. Uneventful. I like to be eased into the week. Not flung headlong into the onrushing madness like, oh, today. No need to go into specifics, sufficed to say that it’s a damn good thing the day is half over. If I do manage to get out of here at the usual time, that is. Mostly, the not being able to put the headphones on, turn on, tune in and drop out while working irks me. All work and no music makes Frank go something something.

I won a copy of The Posies’ Dream All Day compilation on eBay. Not the cheapest CD I’ve ever gotten off auction, but still significantly cheaper than picking it up new. For a band that got some significant press in the early 90s, I’ve actually only heard maybe 3 or 4 of their songs. The purchase is based more on word-of-mouth recommendations and how much I love Ken Stringfellow’s solo disc, Touched – I’m surprising myself. I’m prepared for a little bit of that major-label proto-grunge production, but hopefully the strength of the songs will come through.

And now I will cut my lunch break short because, well, I need to. Gnarf.

np – Teenage Fanclub / Grand Prix

So this February blahs thing. It’s for real, isn’t it? It should be some comfort to know that people the world-wide (or at least those in the northern hemisphere) are similarly unmotivated, mopey and generally unimpressed with the state of things right now. It should be, but really it’s not. The shortest and most dismal month of the year has got just five days and a bit to go (126 hours if we’re counting), so what’s the excuse if everyone doesn’t immediately start feeling better on the first of March? Who’s to blame? Of course I’m being pedantic. Just ignore me. It’ll pass.

I updated the mp3 of the week. I haven’t listened to any Lush in ages. It’s interesting to listen to their distinctive chiming, chorused guitars and angelic vocals – While there’s nothing about it that sounds dated, I can’t imagine there’ll ever be another band that puts those same ingredients together so effectively again.

I love Christopher Walken. I only caught part of his stint on Saturday Night Live last night, but I swear – seeing that man say or do ANYTHING puts me in stitches. I would pay good money to hear hiim read this old gem from The Onion aloud.

Here’s a little-known tidbit. Walken is credited with a cameo on The Simpsons wherein he reads from Goodnight, Moon to children at a book fair (“‘Goodnight room. Goodnight Moon. Goodnight cow jumping over the moon.’ Please, children, scootch closer. Don’t make me tell you *again* about the scootching. You in the red, chop-chop.”). However – that is not him. It’s actually Jay Mohr. Do with that knowledge what you will.

np – Elvis Costello / Extreme Honey

So welcome to my first official post from the new computer. Swapped my soundcards and moved my data hard drive over this morning, and everything is running tip-top. It’s fast. XP is pretty.

Billboard has an interview with Mark Gardener about the upcoming solo tour, which is specifically to promote the American release of OX4 : The Best Of Ride. It will be predominantly Ride material from the best of, with some older tracks that didn’t make the compilation cut and a couple of his new solo tracks. Can you say, ‘excited’? Good, I knew you could.

Forecasts call for the wrath of God to be dumped on Southern Ontario over the next day and a half, but in snow, freezing rain and rain form rather than blood and locusts. It’s gonna be one of those days for staying indoors. Which I can do, with my new computer and guitar to keep me company. Huzzah.

np – Galaxie 500 / Copenhagen

I’m getting word that Fountains of Wayne has signed to S-Curve Records, the bastion of indie-rock goodness that brought you… the Baha Men, and will be releasing the new album in late Summer. Um. Okay. That’s… different. I don’t know how this gels with earlier reports that the new album was called Mexican Wine and was going to be out on a subsidiary of Virgin this Spring. There has been no official word from the band on anything in many months, either way.

Bright Eyes are bringing their travelling spit-shower roadshow back to T.O. on May 5, with professional Scottish mopers Arab Strap in tow.

np – The Pernice Brothers / The World Won’t End