The Useless Critic 2.0

One thing I'm happy to admit is that I spend a lot of money on music. This is often a Herculean struggle for me internally - as much as I absolutely love the experience of live music, I hate crowds, and I hate the absurd wait times some artists inflict on their audiences. I went to a lottttttt of shows in 2017, cut back some in 2018, and this year looks like it'll be modest but worth it.  I'm not seeking to hit an exact # here - I've been to somewhere between 30 - 50 shows at this point, and probably hundreds of smaller, lesser known bands. I chose 13 for now because that just seems like the fair way to do things.  Is this the best use of money?! For me, YES. I rather collect experiences than things, and look forward to purging myself of some of the junk that I've accumulated the last several years (it does not bring me joy!)  I invite you to comment about any specifically memorable shows you've been to, and what makes them so grand in retrospect.  Honor...

I've had a love-love relationship with this band for years. And I don't know why it took me several months to discover the instant earworm pleasure of this genuinely good pop synthpop-sympathetic song, but DAMN. I would take this song to breakfast the next morning. Stephen Foster really *is* quite the pop songwriter. And hey, should you ever get the chance to see them live, take it. They're incredible as a live act. 

AKA Bleeding-Heart Tribute to Lykke Li and Trip-Hop-Influenced Sounds Hi friends, I've been living in a cave growing a beard. Just kidding: Although I probably will be now that Mila Kunis is carrying the antichrist's child. I mean ... Ashton Kutcher . ack ack ack ack ACK ack I guess I've been slacking, but I have an interview to post soon, a book review and some other this and that to do. In the meantime, here's a playlist to get you through the night. Spotify, you need to start paying me commission or something.

Song of the Day saw Mayer Hawthorne with Foster the People and Kimbra last night. creamed myself a little! btw ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS EVER

Spring 2012 Tour announced starting May 29th in New York City. Tickets on sale Friday, Dec. 16th. Exclusive pre-sale starting today at  Gilt . 5/29 - New York, NY - Rumsey Playfield (w/The Kooks) 5/30 - New York, NY - Rumsey Playfield (w/The Kooks) 6/1 - Columbus, OH - The LC Pavilion (w/The Kooks) 6/4 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre (w/The Kooks) 6/5 - Austin, TX - The Backyard (w/The Kooks) 6/7 - Alpharetta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (w/The Kooks) 6/10 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion (w/The Kooks) 6/12 - Montreal, QC - Lachine Canal (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/14 - Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center for the Performing Arts (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/15 - Boston, MA - Bank Of America Pavilion (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/16 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/19 - Toronto, ON - Downsview Park (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/20 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/22 - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theater (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/25 - Bur...

BIG SUNGLASSES ALL AROUND! Capital Cities are pretty new and fresh in the music world. Meaning, their debut EP was released last June. But this band has been riding nothing but a wave of positive feedback since, and has slowly managed to COMMAND AND CONQUER the ever-fickle Hype Machine charts.  I managed to get a hold of band member (it's a duo!) Ryan Merchant for a few fast questions regarding their growing popularity, being from LA, dancing fans and what they're up to next. Being from LA sounds very exciting, I know. West coast = best coast (not the singer) You guys are getting a lot of buzz these days! I see you all over my hype machine and  last.fm . How do you feel? Ryan:   We feel ecstatic! It's amazing to watch your music organically spread across the internet and connect with people in all parts of the World. When "Safe and Sound" went to # 2 on the Hype Machine most popular chart we were blown away. All of this activity makes us want to keep...

I love this band. Passion Pit + Vampire Weekend = them They are touring practically everywhere this summer. Their debut EP, Torches , just came out. And it's a lot of fun. Giddy, giddy fun. And this man's voice? DAMN. Anyway, I love hype, but this is a band worth believing in BESIDES the hype. or PAST the hype. or THROUGH the hype. see where I'm getting? Foster The People - Helena Beat from inaharris on Vimeo . They sold out in NYC already but I don't care I will find them. <3

Two songs I have heard recently that have been out since last year that are completely amazing: Foster the People: do you like Vampire Weekend? if so: I'm not really into Adele, but she has an amazing set of vocals. and this song is brilliant: I like that comment: So damn passionate! even in a chair! TRUTH A++++ for both of these. have a good weekend! p.s. I have two more Erie posts planned, and that will be that. I said there's not much worth discussing!