Elvis Costello Is At Amoeba Next Monday

While we have yet to really warm to his new record, there's no denying that Elvis Costello delivers a killer live performance under any circumstances. In fact, we think his live performance on Letterman a few weeks back (mp3 below), really destroyed the album version.  As such, we were psyched to hear that the man himself will be making a free appearance at Amoeba Records next Monday, June 22nd.

Having seen EC live and solo quite a few times, we can assure you this show is not to be missed. Not only that, but it's free. Can you seriously argue? According to Amoeba's website, Costello goes on at noon, so take your lunch break early. See you there!

mp3: Elvis Costello - Sulphur To Sugarcane (Live On Letterman)

Grand Lake Album Release Imminent, New Video Released

We mentioned a while back that Grand Lake is ramping up to a busy release week for their EP Nevermint. Well, next week the event will be upon us with three nights (3/26 - 3/28) of consecutive gigs at Amoeba, Lobot, and the Hemlock. It's a veritable Bay Area tour! We're really digging the EP, and it's having some definite staying power on our playlist. That being said, we're always psyched for new content.

We were glad to see that the band has shot another video for the record, this time for the lead off track "Concrete Blonde On Blonde". The video is something of a day-trip through the hills and highways of Oakland, and uses a combination of stop motion photography and tilt shift technique. Put differently: it's just a really cool video. Check it out (above) right now, and get yourself psyched up for next week!

mp3: Grand Lake - Concrete Blonde On Blonde (YouSendIt, click through)

The Dodos To Play GAMH, Amoeba, Independent

Local duo The Dodos have been receiving quite a bit of national hype at the moment, so if you haven't heard the band, this may be a good chance to get your fill. The band will be playing three shows in the city over the next three months in support of their new Record, Visiter. The first will be an opening slot for Les Savy Fav on April 27th at the GAMH, the second is a free show at Amoeba (Haight Street) on May 14th, and the third is a headlining show at The Independent on June 19th.

We here at H.A.D. have been listening to the new record since we got it off of eMusic last week, and we're enjoying it quite a bit. It's a nice dose of fuzzed out folk, and Meric Long's vocals are definitely top notch. We are a bit curious as to how the definitely multi-layered approach to the band's material comes across live, but I guess that's why we'll have to go and see, eh?

Stream: The Dodos - MySpace

Tomorrow Night: Malkmus @ Amoeba, Raveonettes @ The Independent

Tomorrow will be a full night for us over here at H.A.D.: first we'll be making our way up to Amoeba on Haight Street for the 7 PM performance by Stephen Malkmus + Jicks, then we'll be heading down the hill to The Independent to catch The Raveonettes.

We've heard good things about The Raveonettes' live show, and we've been digging on their new one Lust Lust Lust for the past couple of weeks. The album is a nice dose of slick euro-pop drenched in feedback and noise.

Get yourself out there tomorrow night, and in the meantime enjoy some tunage.

mp3: Stephen Malkmus + Jicks - Cold Son

mp3: The Raveonettes - Aly Walk With Me

Stephen Malkmus + Jicks At Amoeba This Wednesday

In support of their new record Real Emotional Trash, Stephen Malkmus + Jicks will be in town this Wednesday, March 5th, doing a free show at Amoeba Records' Haight Street Location. Get there at 7 PM to enjoy the jams. Sweet.

New Vampire Weekend Video + new performance dateS

Vampire Weekend will be in San Francisco for Popscene at the end of the month, but news has just come down the line that they'll also be playing a free show at Amoeba Records the following night, February 1st, at 7 PM. So, basically you have your choice of over-crowded, pain in the ass venues. Still, cheap tickets, so don't complain.

However, if that's not enough for you, check this out: The band will be back in March for a pair of dates at two of our town's finest independent venues: March 22nd at the Independent, and March 23rd at the Rickshaw Stop. So basically, if you're hooked on the Vampire Weekend crack pipe, your dealer's coming to town.

Meanwhile the band has an awesome new video out for "A-Punk". Enjoy: