Grand Lake Pre-Tour Videos Surface On The Eve Of SF Gig

We already mentioned Grand Lake's gig tonight with Jake Mann, but just in case you needed a reminder: The combined awesomeness of the two will be descending on San Francisco at the Bottom Of The Hill tonight to celebrate the release of Mann's new CD. Put lightly: you'd be very foolish not to attend, and we don't suffer fools lightly, mmmkay?

But wait: that's not all - not by a long shot. Grand Lake's been hiding out for a couple of months, but that doesn't mean things aren't brewing. Never mind the fact that they've been diligently writing new rock and roll brilliance, or that tonight's show got a nice nod from Bay Area Beats. We'll do you one better: new video.

Taken right before the band headed on tour last fall, these two vids from Echo Locale (along with a nice little write up) capture acoustic versions of "Spark" (click through) and Pavement's "In The Mouth Of A Desert". Taking place in the Berkeley sun, they're not only sounding great, but looking great as well. It's time to whet your appetite for tonight's show and get your day started!

mp3: Grand Lake - In The Mouth Of A Desert (Pavement Cover)

Beck's Website Freebie Madness Continues

We already mentioned that Beck had spruced up his web site with his "Record Club" concept and some Velvet Underground covers. Well, it appears that that wasn't quite enough, and so Mr. Hansen has decided to add even more free content to his home on the interwebs.

In the past week or two, Beck's not only added more Velvet Underground tracks (we're up to "Venus In Furs" now, click above for video), but he's also has implemented a weekly updated DJ session, and another weekly track-by-track release of Modern Guilt in acoustic form.

We have to say, in addition to enjoying the velvets tracks, we're quite excited about that last item. Beck's acoustic stuff has always held a special place in our hearts after seeing him at Lincoln Center, and to hear the latest record (his best in a while) get the acoustic treatment is particularly awesome.

Stream: Beck.com - Various

Anya Marina Delivers Daytrotter Session

Picture from the HAD Archive

Forget that she's in cahoots with Britt Daniel on her record - Anya Marina holds her own in the live setting, and does so with aplomb. We thought so when we saw her last November, and now her Daytrotter Session only serves to underscore the awesomeness.

In a world of female musicians where far too many are content to be loosey-goosey "songstresses", or arrive on stage as band accessories, Marina is the opposite. She's spunky, killer on the guitar, and clearly delivering her songs on her own terms. In other words, damn good.

We've attached an mp3 of Marina performing one of our faves "Cut It Out", if you head over to Daytrotter you can snag a bunch more mp3s, as well as read some interview material. Win.

mp3: Anya Marina - Cut It Out (Live On Daytrotter)