Matt Costa Interview

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Interview With Hot Hot Heat And More!

With Hot Hot Heat set to release "Happiness Ltd." today we figured it would be a great time to post this email interview we did with Dustin and Paul. The guys definitely seem exited to be done with the album. We're excited. for next weeks Endfest and their performance! Gander On for the interview as well as parts four and five of the making of "Happiness Ltd" and make sure to hit your local record stores today for a copy, It's Hot!>

Where did the name of the new album come from?
It came from the first lyric of the first song.

How do you think your music has evolved from Make Up The Breakdown to Elevators to now with Happiness Ltd?
If Make up the Breakdown was a one celled organism, this is album is a fully formed Homohablis.

What is the process you go through when making an album. Do you write a lot of the music and then go in and write to it? Or write the music first? Is it a combination of the two?
We spent a lot of time writing on the road. Songs usually start with one person bringing in an idea, a skeleton of a song, and then we all flesh it out.

You’ve put out some behind the scenes videos on your youtube channel. What’s it like to look back and see the process you went through making the album?
We shouldn't have been drinking so much. It seems as though there is a beer can in every other shot.

What can people expect at a Hot Hot Heat live show?
It's like being struck by lightning, repeatedly. Now ride the lightning!

You’ve said several times that you don’t like playing clubs but rather playing to a larger audience. Why do you think this is?
That's cause Steve was misquoted, what he actually said was that we prefer to play arenas.

What have been some of your favorite venues to play and what have been some of your favorite venues to see other bands play?

Santa Barbara Bowl, Red Rocks, London Astoria, Logan's, Whiskey, Viper Room
Steve did a remix of the Killers “Read My Mind” earlier this year. Are there any other remixes out there we should be looking for or any others in the works?
The Let Me In remixes are quite good.

What are some of your guilty pleasure songs you listen to?
Dripping With Hate - Hatewolf




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The Gourds At The KEXP Music Lounge

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club At The KEXP Music Lounge

One of our favorite shows this past weekend was Black Rebel Motorcycles Club's performance at the KEXP Music Lounge. Peter started out solo before he was joined by drummer Nick Jago and finally Rob made his way to the stage to complete the last songs of the set. The performance was acoustic and really added depth to their already amazing tunes. It was Nick's first time playing guitar with the others and he did a great job. Gander on for two videos of their performance "Shuffle Your Feet" and Peter's solo version of "Ain't No Easy Way Out."
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Gogol Bordello At The KEXP Music Lounge

This is Gogol Bordello's final song in the KEXP Music Lounge. They were taking audience requests and there is some great banter between the crowd and the band before they launch into their last song. Enjoy!
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Bumbershoot Recap

Bumbershoot is over this year but we've still got lots of great stuff to post. In the coming weeks you can look forward to plenty of video from the KEXP Music Lounge, show reviews, and interviews with The Pharmacy, D. Black, Art Brut, Iceage Cobra, and more. We'll be posting stuff as we get it uploaded (our real job is getting in the way.) so check back often and starting tomorrow look out for a new interview each morning. We're giving you a teaser below, one of our favorite sets in the lounge this weekend Gogol Bordello.
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Spike Jonze Spends Saturday With M.I.A. Parts 3-6

Last Week we brought you parts one and two and on this great Monday we have he rest of the series. Enjoy!

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Spike Jonze Spends Saturday With M.I.A.

Our favorite music video director recently spent a Saturday afternoon with M.I.A. The interview has been broken down into six parts and today we've got one and two. In part one Spike gives M.I.A a few gifts and we learn that her hair stylist enjoys taking Ketamine on the job. Part 2 isn't as exciting but it's mostly conversation on their way to meet Afrikan Boy but it's worth watching. Check out part 1 below and Gander On for Part 2. Big thanks to GvsB for the link.

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Matt Costa "Unfamilar Faces" has been pushed back

Yes Matt Costa fans - we all have to wait a little longer to get his new album. "Unfamilar Faces" has been delayed and according to sources will be released in January 2008. However, Matt will still be doing some shows in the meantime ....

August 27th - McMenemins Edgefield Amphitheater - Troutdale, OR (opening for Modest Mouse)
September 8th - Virgin Festival - Toronto, Ontario
September 13th - McKay Events Center - Orem, UT (opening for Rilo Kiley & Modest Mouse)
September 14th - Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, CA (opening for Rilo Kiley & Modest Mouse)
September 15th - The Joint - Las Vegas, NV (opening for Rilo Kiley & Modest Mouse)
September 22nd - San Diego Street Scene - Chula Vista, CA

Also here's Matt playing his new song "Downfall" enjoy:

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Clay Aiken Tries To Bring Sexy Back...Fails Miserably

This short video of Clay performing Sexy Back has been circulating the internets that last couple of days and we finally decided it was bad enough to post. Clay's dancing looks more like a cat cleaning itself than it does dancing. Be careful, if you watch it once you'll have to watch it again.
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New Video - Spoon - "Don't You Evah"

First the Killers go to Tokyo and now Spoon. Spoon wins though because instead of standing on street corners they have scientist studying a dancing Keepon. He also carries a sweet boombox circa 1987. Thanks to GvsB for the tip.
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Hot Hot Heat And Another One Of Those Making Of The Record Videos

It seems like every band is putting out a youtube video of them making their new record. It's the new indie thing to do. A couple of cheap hand held cameras, iMovie, and your fifteen year old brothers PR firm and kablammo you've got viral marketing. Hot Hot Heat are going the way of Tegan and Sara and giving it to us in installments. Check out the first one below along with a link to downlaod their new single "Let Me In" which is quickly climbing our itunes playlist. The video's not bad and really seems to be the most genuine of ones we've seen so far, showing the band actually arguing over parts of a song and getting on each others nerves until finally reconciling in the studio to vibe together. Big thanks to our friends at Filter for the tip.


Download Hot Hot Heat - "Let Me In"

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Update White Stripes Video

MTV.com finally got it online and you can view it here. As for our thoughts, the Malloys did a great job on the video keeping it very simple. Jack and Meg step out of their respective dwelling and proceed to wonder the arctic frontier. They even manage to stop by a graveyard, maybe a metaphor for the love between the the two people in the song. The 16mm action is great and we give the video a big thumbs up! Gander On!

Video Chamillionaire "Hip Hop Police"

We can't get enogh of this video. It's not directed by Hype Williams and it brings back memories of Dave Chappelle's Chuck Taylor character from the Chappelle show. The Slick Rick cameo tops it off. This video is a must watch!
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The Hives Are Making A Chinese Democracy

NME posted this great interview with The Hives Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and Chris Dangerous. The band discuss the fact that their new album is taking forever to come out and compare it to G&R's "Chines Democracy." The band also talks new song titles, set lists, and a few other interesting tidbits. Enjoy!
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New Video Architecture In Helsinki "Hold Music"

Architecture in Helsinki - Hold Music from helsinkids and Vimeo. Gander On!

Mos Def Hustler Freestyle

Black Dante blessed the mic earlier this week and he did so covering Cassidy's Hustler. Just before he spits Mos let's Swizz know he wanted to get on the beat but Cassidy beat him to it. We definitely want to hear the whole version of this track if he ever records it, great stuff Mos.
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Sly Stone Returns To The Stage

After reading the great Vanity Fair interview with Mr. Stone and him giving us a tease at the Grammys we were excited to see the family back together. Sly and The Family Stone played together for the first time in ages this weekend at the Rotterdam North Sea Jazz Festival. Sly gives the crowd a sccare that he might not show up but finally makes it to the stage. Check the first of three videos below and Gander On for the rest.






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New Video Reel Big Fish "Party Down"

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Smashing Pumpkins Do Letterman

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