New Regina Spektor Video - "Better"

1) Regina Spektor looks hurt in this video.
2) It's not the album version, it's overdone, and sounds terrible. I want the album version back.



3) Ugh. You were so precious a year ago.

September 19, 2007: Regina Spektor with Only Son at Ram's Head Live!

Any Given Tuesday last saw Only Son and Regina Spektor at Sonar in November of 2006 (read the review here). While this last week's show Ram's Head Live! didn't mesmerize the author as much as the previous, the sound was 178% better. It would have been 200%, but the girl who sounded (but unfortunately did not look) like a contestant from Beauty and the Geek took some points off.

Only Son started out with a few acoustic songs before launching into his popular iPod band set (an iPod plugged into the sound system plays the backing tracks while Only Son sings and plays guitar). Fun, yes, but after touring once with Regina Spektor, hasn't this guy learned that he has to introduce himself to the crowd a couple times? I kept overhearing people asking, "Who is this guy?" Trust me, Jack, people aren't that bright.

As for Regina, what is there to say that hasn't been said before? A charming woman, a captivating performer. Her voice is masterful and unique, employing beat boxing, unusual forms of percussion, and a perfect blend of imperfection and poise. With recent favorites such as "Fidelity" and "On The Radio" balanced by older ones such as "Us" and (a personal favorite) "Ghost of Corporate Future", Spektor masterminds the art of pleasing old and new fans alike without screaming sell-out.

The intimacy wasn't as palpable at Ram's Head Live! as Sonar, causing concern that Spektor can't satisfy a venue any bigger than this, but for her most forgiving fans, any proximity to her charm and character should suffice.

Lollapalooza Schedule Is Here!

The Lollapalooza schedule has been made official, and you can download it here.

Austin City Limits 2007 Lineup: Dylan, Bjork, White Stripes, more

The lineup for Austin City Limits has been announced. The fest will take place in Zilker Park in Austin from September 14-16.

Bob Dylan
Björk
The White Stripes
The Killers
Wilco
Arcade Fire
Muse
My Morning Jacket
Queens of the Stone Age
Bloc Party
Arctic Monkeys

Gotan Project
Joss Stone
Damien Rice
Robert Earl Keen
Lucinda Williams
Spoon
Blue October
Indigo Girls
The Decemberists
Paolo Nutini
Regina Spektor
Amy Winehouse
Crowded House
Steve Earle
Ziggy Marley
Stephen Marley
Kaiser Chiefs
LCD Soundsystem
Devotchka
Augustana
Amos Lee
M.I.A.
Ben Kweller
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Andrew Bird
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Ghostland Observatory
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Reverend Horton Heat
Pete Yorn
Butch Walker
Peter Bjorn and John
STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
Yo La Tengo
Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Zap Mama
Blonde Redhead
Eli Young Band
Aterciopelados
Heartless Bastards
Raul Malo
James Hunter
Mighty Clouds of Joy
Del McCoury Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Andy Palacio & the Garifima Collective
Asleep at the Wheel
Ryan Shaw
Will Hoge
The National
Beau Soleil
Midlake
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Railroad Earth
Dax Riggs
Sound Team
The Legendary Soul Stirrers

Charlie Musselwhite
JJ Grey & Mofro
Young Love
The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker
Ian Ball (of Gomez)
The Little Ones
Manchester Orchestra
Patterson Hood
Billy Joe Shaver
Fionn Regan
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
John Ralston
The Broken West
Rose Hill Drive
Brandon Rhyder
Ocote Soul Sounds
Sara Hickman
Willy Mason
Jon Dee Graham
Kevin Devine
Nicole Atkins & The Sea
Ike Reilly Assassination
Greyhounds
Guy Forsyth
Adam Hood
Cary Ann Hearst & The Gun Street Girls
The Jones Family Singers
The Gospel Silvertones
The Shields of Faith
Sylvia St. James
Jeffrey Steele

Amy Cook
Trent Summar & the New Row Mob
Back Door Slam
Mario Matteoli
Kara Grainger
One Mississippi
Kevin McKinney
Jennifer Nicely
Sahara Smith
The New Soul Invaders
The Wonderful Harmonizers
Loretta Williams Gurnell
Amy LaVere
Amy Loftus

And for the kids:
The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars
The Steps
We Go To 11
The Sippy Cups
Daddy A Go Go
Farmer Jason
Q Brothers
Jambo
The Bummkinn Band
The Jellydots

Virgin Festival Baltimore 2007: LINEUP

The lineup for Virgin Festival at Pimlico Race Course on August 4 & 5 in Baltimore is official:

August4:

The Police
Modest Mouse
Peter Bjorn & John
Sasha & Digweed
The Fratellis
Danny Tenaglia
Incubus
Amy Winehouse
LCD Soundsystem
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
TV On The Radio
Sander Van Doorn
Beastie Boys
Shout Out Out Out Out
Cheap Trick
Felix da House Cat
Paolo Nutini
Booka Shade
Miguel Migs
Fountains of Wayne
Fiction Plane

August 5:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Crystal Method
Bad Brains
Deep Dish
Velvet Revolver
Regina Spektor
311
The Smashing Pumpkins
Spoon
Wu-Tang Clan
Dieselboy & Andy C
M.I.A.
Infected Mushroom
Interpol
Girl Talk
CSS
Chris Cornell
Matisyahu
James Zabiela

Tickets go on sale May 5 at 10AM.

Lollapalooza Lineup Leaked A Day Early

Lollapalooza's lineup leaked today.

Pearl Jam
Daft Punk
Ben Harper
Muse
Iggy & The Stooges
Modest Mouse
Interpol
My Morning Jacket
Satellite Party
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Snow Patrol
The Roots
Patti Smith
Kings Of Leon
The Black Keys
Regina Spektor
Spoon
Lupe Fiasco
TV On The Radio
Pete Yorn
G. Love
Paolo Nutini
Amy Winehouse
LCD Soundsystem
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Silverchair
Femi Kuti
Yo La Tengo
Hold Steady
Jack's Mannequin
Stephen Marley
STS9
M.I.A.
Slightly Stoopid
Blonde Redhead
Sparklehorse
Sean Lennon
!!!
Blue October
Son Volt
Motion City Soundtrack
The Polyphonic Spree
Peter Bjorn & John
Silversun Pickups
Cansei De Ser Sexy
The Rapture
The Wailers
Roky Erickson
Tapes 'N Tapes
Heartless Bastards
The View
The Cribs
The Fratellis
Ghostland Observatory
Tokyo Police Club
Rhymefest
Soulive
Cold War Kids
Annuals
Fields
Electric Six
Jim Noir
Elvis Perkins
Sam Roberts
Black Angels
Charlie Musselwhite
Aqueduct
Juliette & The Licks
Dios
Viva Voce
David Vandervelde
Los Campesinos!
Chin Up Chin Up
Ryan Shaw
Colour Revolt
Satin Peaches
Illinois
Arckid
Mickey Avalon
The 1900s
Bang Bang Bang
Bound Stems
High Class Elite
Carey Ott
Matt Roan

New Releases: Regina Spektor Live In California 2006 EP

Regina Spektor has just released a four-song EP that was recorded live in California recently, and you can get it on iTunes or in physical format. I recommend going the digital route, even though I'm a CD holdout, because the EP at Warner Brothers' store is $5, and shipping is $4.

Tracklist:

"Fidelity"
"Field Below"
"Sailor Song"
"Ghost of Corporate Future"

Regina Spektor US Tour Dates, on sale 2/27

Regina Spektor has announced a few US tour dates (not really all that new, but they go on sale 2/27, so be ready!):

3/28 - Purchase, NY @ Purchase College
4/12 - Savannah, GA @ Savannah College of Art & Design
4/21 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
4/24 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
4/25 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
4/26 - Sacramento, CA @ Empire
4/28 - Indio, CA @ Coachella (SOLD OUT)
4/29 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
4/30 - San Franscisco, CA @ The Warfield
5/13 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theater (on sale now)
6/17 - Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo (tickets sold through Bonnaroo)

Only Son Releases Video For "My Museum", Continues Touring With Regina Spektor

Only Son, AKA Jack Dishel, known for playing with his guitar and an iPod as his band, has released a video for his latest single, "My Museum", on YouTube.





Only Son tours once again with Regina Spektor during Winter 2007:

Feb 15 - Manchester University - Manchester, UK
Feb 16 - Astoria/NME Awards Show - London, UK
Feb 17 - The Spitz - London, UK (headlining)
Feb 18 - Northumbria University - Newcastle, UK
Feb 19 - Queen Margaret Union - Glasgow, SCT
Feb 20 - Leadmill - Sheffield, UK
Feb 23 - Lido - Berlin, Germany
Feb 25 - Stage Club - Hamburg, Germany
Feb 28 - Le Trabendo - Paris, France
March 4 - China Theatre - Stockholm, Sweden
March 10 - Barby Club - Tel Aviv, Israel