Ear on TV: Week of 10.25.10: Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon on Letterman Monday: For me and pigeons to poop on

It's been a crazy ride to the top of the heap for Kings of Leon. Once dubbed "the Southern Strokes," the band born in a garage has risen quickly to selling out stadium shows, and gaining a new moniker: "the Southern U2" (or, as Pitchfork has christened them, "Y'All2"), and their latest release (Come Around Sundown) only reinforces the idea that the title is not without merit.

The Followill family (brothers Nathan, Caleb and Jared, along with cousin Matthew) were a plucky, bearded bunch, with more positive press than sales when U2 nabbed them in 2005 to open for them on their North American tour. That tour provided the eager Kings with the opportunity to learn from their successful elders, and as the successive albums would attest (2006's Because the Night and 2008's breakthrough success Only the Night), more than a little bit rubbed off on the band. It's tempting to believe that Matthew Followill stole The Edge's guitar pedals at the end of the tour ("he has so many, perhaps he won't notice?").

When the band plays Letterman on Monday, in support of Come Around Sundown, it's obvious they're mostly keen on just holding on to their current fans, crafting songs with big sing along choruses for the stadium Bic lightersilluminated cellphones. Those early fans hoping for a return of their hungry Appalachian garage rock can only be consoled by Caleb bringing back his beard -- as perfumed and well-groomed as it is. Perhaps the pigeons had the right idea.

Elsewhere, Kid Cudi is poised and ready to follow-up his Kanye West-approved debut (Man on the Moon: The End of Day) with the similarly titled Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. While it won't be in stores until November 9, the rapper gives us a preview with an appearance on Letterman Thursday.

Gwar: Worlds of Warcraft rejects or Orcs loose from Middle Earth?

Meanwhile, it's the week of Halloween which can only mean Rob Zombie and Gwar is on tour somewhere. This year, Virginia's shock rockers are upping the ante with a special Halloween online concert broadcast and a performance with The Roots (maybe?) on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Thursday night. We should expect Fallon, The Roots and members of the audience to employ plastic covering to help shield them from the projectile liquid emanating from the World of Warcraft-looking crew. (Or, perhaps Orcs from Lord of the Rings? The result is scary, regardless.)

Picks for the week
Monday, October 25
ABC: ABC: The View: Janet Jackson
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: K'naan
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kings of Leon
FUEL: The Daily Habit: All That Remains
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Norah Jones
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Weezer (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: One eskimO
Tuesday, October 26
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Donavon Frankenreiter
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Chiodos
IFC: 360 Sessions: Editors
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Underworld
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: She & Him
Wednesday, October 27
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: A Perfect Circle
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kylie Minogue
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: School of Seven Bells
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Interpol
Thursday, October 28
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kid Cudi
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Temper Trap
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Corinne Bailey Rae
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: GWAR
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ra Ra Riot
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Sugarland
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Seal
Friday, October 29
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Jimmy Eat World
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Villagers
Saturday, October 30
COMEDYCENTRAL.COM: Rally to Restore Sanity: Elvis Costello
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Charlotte Church
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Rihanna
PBS: Austin City Limits: Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll

Ear on TV: The week of January 7

While most actors won't cross the picket lines for Jay, Conan, Carson and Jimmy, music artists aren't as beholden to unions, so it's a bit surprising that they're not leaning on music guests more than the late night shows are this week. Thankfully, there's more than just the usual late night talk shows to pluck from this week.

Austin City Limits, now in it's 33rd year, finally nabbed Texas rock & roll legend Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators) for a performance, and the result airs this coming Saturday*. His battle back from the effects of shock treatment were painfully documented in the 2005 film You're Gonna Miss Me, and now he's appearing on television for the first time since American Bandstand over 41 years ago. Backed on stage by The Explosives along with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Erickson deftly runs through much of the sci-fi garage rock days of his solo career, and sets the house on fire with crowd favorite "You're Gonna Miss Me" from days with 13th Floor Elevators. Opening the evening are Kings of Leon, the southern Strokes U2.

Also make a return to television is former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, who plays all week on the newly revamped The Early Show. Starr's new album Liverpool 8, much like McCartney's latest, is his first in a long time to take a look back at those days long gone. Apparently CBS is thinking in the past as well, since the revamp was done in part to expand their younger audience. Aside from narrating early seasons of Thomas and Friends, Starr's audience is more gray then Grey's Anatomy.

Playlist: Picks for this Week
Monday, January 7
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: RZA
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Morrissey
Tuesday, January 8
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: MGMT
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Rogue Wave
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Buzzcocks
Wednesday, January 9
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Chuck Prophet
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Panthers
Thursday, January 10
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ayo
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Every Time I Die
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Chingy
Friday, January 11
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Dropkick Murphys
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Spoon
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Tiger Army
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Gogol Bordello (REPEAT)
Saturday, January 12
PBS: Austin City Limits: Kings Of Leon, Roky Erickson

*As always, check local listings. We won't be seeing it on Seattle's poor excuse for a PBS affiliate any time soon.

Is it really still three months away?

The 2007 Bumbershoot lineup is nearly finalized, with a few more great acts officially added in the past 24 hours. Highlights of the adds include Kings of Leon, Art Brut, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Andrew Bird, The Frames, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Tacoma's very own reunited Seaweed. That last one had scrambling today, pulling out my old 'Weed discs and reminiscing 'bout the good old days of yore.

Add these to the already great lineup, highlighted by The Shins, Gogol Bordello, Roky Erickson, Steve Earle, Lupe Fiasco and the reunited treats of Crowded House and The FRACKING Wu-Tang Clan) and you have quite a weekend. We'll have another baby in tow, so it might just be me (and Eli) taking in the action this time.

Playlist: Bumbershoot 2007 (A-Z)

Right now I'm leaning towards Sunday, with a lineup of Art Brut, Devendra Banhart, Andrew Bird, Kings of Leon and the mighty return of Seaweed. Monday is a close second, with the live prowess of both Wu-Tang Clan and The Frames, along with the rare chance to see Roky Erickson. But then again... if I've got Eli with me, it might have to be Saturday, with some of his faves like Rodrigo y Gabriela, Gogol Bordello, the Shins, and I'm sure he'll like Crowded House. Maybe I can talk my sweetie pie into letting me go all three days? Not a chance (I wouldn't leave her at home with the babies for three days in a row... what do you take me for? ;)

tags: music, ted leo, bumbershoot, seaweed, kings of leon, wu-tang clan, art brut, the frames, rodrigo y gabriela, live music, rhapsody

From easy to stranglehold in twelve acts

Like that other HBO series, Entourage premieres the second part of their season (their third) this Sunday, and the DVD of the first part hit the shelves this week... by my calculations, that gives you now just four days to hug it out with the collection. Musically, the show packs in a tremendous amount of music for a 30-minute program, and the track choices are more then just a backdrop of partying in Hollywood.

Playlist: Entourage - Season 3, Pt 1

Take for instance how the season begins and ends. It all begins with Ghostface Killah's request to "Be Easy," which is indicitive of the mood the gang's all in. Vinnie's blockbuster Aquaman is about to open, the money's flowing and the stardom is a heartbeat away. The season ends with Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold," and without spoiling too much, most of that goodwill seems now to be up in the air.

So how did we get from easy to stranglehold? In the first few episodes, everythings mostly copacetic. Songs like Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright," "I Just Want to Celebrate" from Rare Earth and Sinatra's "I've Got the World on a String" are all in sync with the gang riding the wave of fame and fortune. Eric's managing a star now, Turtle's got his own biz now managing the up and coming rap star Saigon, and Ari's new business is breaking ground. But then things start to get interesting. Notice how the songs (in general) get more conflicted and dramatic, and aside from the diversion with The Ramones ("Blitzkrieg Bop," "Rockaway Beach" are used in conjunction with a Joey Ramone bio film pitch,) it progresses steadily until we're led to the introspection of TV on the Radio's "Staring at the Sun," which was as profound a moment as the show has had in it's three seasons thus far.

What do we have to expect with this second part coming up? More specific then the usual great hip-hop, classic rock and indie rock, I'd venture to guess that Kings of Leon will be in the mix, as they've featured the band in each season (and they have a new album out this very week... coincidence?) Here's the teaser trailer for what's to come.

Full tracklisting
HBO's episode-by-episode music and scenes

tags: playlist, entourage, television, hbo, soundtrack, ted nugent, kings of leon, ghostface, indie rock, rap, hip-hop, the ramones, tvotr

New Releases 04.03.07: The Southern U2

This week, I'm giving a bit more ink to the highly anticipated third release from those sons of Tennessee, Kings of Leon. Also out this week worth mentioning is the latest from Ozomatli and the debut from the Portland noise-rock trio Ferocious Eagle.

Playlist: New Releases 04.03.07

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Album: Kings of Leon - Because of the Times

I have to admit, when I first heard the latest from Kings of Leon (Because of the Times,) my first reaction was one of disappointed. Aha Shake Heartbreak was such a creative leap from Youth and Young Manhood that it seemed they were poised for a massive breakthrough. But I'm realizing it's my problem... my expectations were following what I'd calculated for them based on their first couple albums, and that's faulty thinking on my part. Now that it's sat with me awhile, it's making a lot more sense, listening to it on it's own accord.

With Because of the Times, KOL distance themselves from the moniker The Southern Strokes, expanding their sound immensely.... in fact, one might be tempted, to now call them The Southern U2, which I suppose wouldn't be a bad career move, financially speaking. When U2 tapped KOL to open for them on their tour in 2005, it seemed like an odd pairing, but it appears the brothers Followill absorbed some of The Edge's guitar sounds - or perhaps just stole a few pedals while know one was looking looking. The opening track "Knocked Up" is a 7-minute exercise in Edge-like guitar soundscape, and sets the tone for the whole release. The next song, "Charmer," channels another U2 supporting act The Pixies, and "Black Thumbnail" rocks harder then U2 ever could, but the guitar still sounds exactly like "Vertigo" (try them side by side and tell me I'm not wrong.) Not all the songs are effects-laden, as "My Party," "Ragoo," and "Fans" all wouldn't sound all that out of place on Aha Shake Heartbreak. And the lyrics remain often nonsensicle and repetitive, but after frontman Caleb is through kicking the sh*t out of 'em, it really doesn't matter.

What still remains in all the songs are singer Caleb's unique vocal delivery and their ability to form songs outside of traditional formulas, and working outward from this base KOL have crafted themselves a pretty good (if not great) third album.

Free album stream via AOL

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Album: Ozomatli - Don't Mess with the Dragon

For Ozo's latest, they called upon pop producter KC Porter, who's sculpted hits for latino stars Santana and Ricky Martin, but the end result ends up being harder to pin down. Don't Mess With the Dragon finds the band trying on different hats R&B ("After Party,") the jazz of New Orleans ("Magnolia Soul,") ska/reggae ("Don't Mess with the Dragon" and "Here We Go,") and punk-ska ("When I Close My Eyes" which makes you feel like you're back in the 90s.) They're incredibly adept at playing all these styles, but it feels like they're not hitting their groove until they fall back on their Latin background ("La Gallina,") and they rock the funk-infused Latin sound they pioneered on their self-titled debut. On the whole, they're pretty adept at whatever they try, so I gotta give them credit for that.

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Album: Ferocious Eagle - The Sea Anemone Inside Of Me Is Mighty

This Polvo-influenced Portland trio weave angular guitar gems around disjointed rhythms and crazy chord changes. The band has no bass, and at times my ear begs for one to ground the math rock equations to a more solid structure, but then I give in and just let my head spin off and fly where they take me.

Warning: This music can make working, reading, walking, chewing gum and even breathing difficult to concentrate on while listening.

Download: "The Sea Anemone Inside of Me is Mighty" (Ferociouseagle.com)

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More going (or already in) the Sansa (via Rhapsody):
Idlewild - Make Another World (Free album stream)
Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather (Free album stream)
Paper Airplanes - Boyhood
Brandi Carlile - The Story
Chris Whitley and Jeff Lang - Dislocation Blues

One I wish was in Rhapsody:
Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis Free album stream via AOL

tags: music, album review, kings of leon, ozomatli, ferocious eagle, jarvis cocker, fountains of wayne, indie rock, album review, new releases, rhapsody

MUSIC ON Talk Shows: The Week of March 26

The highlight of his week's appearances has to be those Tennessee preacher kids Kings Of Leon, who's indie rock take on Southern rock will be on display tonight on Letterman. Their new album Because Of The Times will be released next week (April 3,) and one gets the feeling that a lot is riding on their third release for RCA Records. Last time out, they 'played the game' - cleaned up their appearance, opened for U2, sold their songs for commercials and had their music all over television the last couple years, but they can only ride as 'the Southern Strokes' for so long. They'll be performing the first single "On Call," which sounds like it could've been written to appear on an upcoming episode of Grey's Anatomy. Not only the 'on call' part, but also the "I'll come running" sentiment. It's also just haunting enough to bring some goosebumps to anyone watching McDreamy running to save Mer.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of other great indie rock bands hitting the airwaves this week. Bloc Party swings by Letterman on Thursday and drake fave TV On The Radio makes another Music on TV appearance, this time hitting Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday. They never disappoint, so tune in (that's an order, sort of.)

Also check out The Format, who'll be making their network TV debut Friday on Last Call With Carson Daly. Their album Dog Problems flew under the radar last year, but is picking up steam. It's a hummable classic and I hear their live act is equally infectious.

Picks of the week:
Monday, March 26
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Nas (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kings Of Leon
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Mika
Tuesday, March 27
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Macy Gray
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Mastodon (REPEAT)
Wednesday, March 28
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Ataris
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Gym Class Heroes
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Death Cab For Cutie (REPEAT)
Thursday, March 29
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Young Buck
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Bloc Party
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: My Morning Jacket (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Bird and the Bee
Friday, March 30
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: TV On The Radio
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ozomatli
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Format
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Gwen Stefani (REPEAT)
Saturday, March 31
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Arcade Fire (REPEAT)

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, kings of leon, tv on the radio, tvotr, bloc party, the format, indie rock, rhapsody