Maximo Park 7" Contest and BS Contest Winner + lots more...

From Newcastle, UK come the power-pop kids of Maximo Park. You wanna win one of these 7 inchers, shoot me an email at dodge77(at)gmail(dot)com with Maximo 7 Park in the email header. You'll need to opt-out in your email if you don't want to be put on the band's mailing list.

Grand Prize: Limited Edition Orange Vinyl; Contains Brand New Track - My Life in Reverse
First Prize: Limited Edition Transparent Vinyl; Contains Brand New
Track - Isolation, as well as Live in Japan version of Apply Some Pressure.

Maximo Park - Isolation (Highly Rec'd!)
Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure
Maximo Park - My Life In Reverse

Belle & Sebastian Contest Winner:
Well no one ever likes who I pick, but the Belle and Sebastian Contest winner is Poker who chose Hawk & Animal as his best tandem. See, he tugged at my heartstrings with that one. My older brother Chris and I used to pretend we were Hawk & Animal when I was like 10 years old. It was awesome. He'd kick my ass all over the living room, but I didn't care because he wanted me to be part of The Road Warriors with him. I always had to be Hawk, which was fine, but Animal was really the major badass. I always wanted to be one of them for Halloween, I may have to do that this year. I think it was just that we loved face paint. The Ultimate Warrior was another face-painted wrestler we loved. Maybe there is some psychology in that...paint and masks...you can imagine yourself behind that paint, as a kid, you know? Anyway, congrats Poker, contact me by email with your address.

Band News:


Check out Dave McGraw, who recently released his debut cd, Northwest Southwest, and is beginning to tour around the southwest. Dave's MySpace.

Dave McGraw - Chihuahua
Dave McGraw - Bellingham

Dave recorded the album at home, outside of Flagstaff, AZ and it's a pretty strong debut of acoustic singer/songwriter tunes. He's on Pool Or Pond Records.

Cat Power's viddy for Living Proof.

Destroyer is still getting a lot of love, but I'm kinda inbetween on what I've heard from this album - which is why you haven't heard me say much about it until now. I got another email about it yesterday, so I figured I'd give it a mention. It get released Feb. 21st.

Destroyer - European Oils

In The Blogs:
Scenestars has some Knife up and I knows you ain't got it. Well, you might, but if you don't, go check it out.

Casey of Mocking Music has a good post up about married indie duos you should check out.

My man Rich, who used to send me all sorts of awesome music and news, went and started his own blog, so obviously I'm totally pissed at him. Now he'll be posting all of it and sending none of it to me! Bastard. Eh well, you must check him out because seriously, he's sent me a lot of good stuff (esp. live shows) over the last year. Check out Cable & Tweed.

Dan and the Music Glob need to be checked out. He posted on Kelpie, who also contacted me and every other blog on the planet it looks like.

Super Bowl:
Who you got?! I'm going with the Steelers in a really close game. Like 4th quarter field goal close, but still a high scoring affair. Joey Porter's been talking shite to meaningless tight ends all week, but this game is gonna be all about the run. Who can run and who can't. Oh and Heath Miller, big day buddy, big day. Seattle sucks against TEs.

It doesn't matter to me though, I'm still in a funk about the Colts not showing up in the biggest game since they've been in Indy. Edge said yesterday he doesn't expect to return, but that's not a suprise. Colts prez Bill Polian has been eluding to that since last season. Colts will likely draft Laurence Maroney from Minnesota to replace him, if you ask me.

Live Shows:
Man, MJ got us tickets to go see Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins down in Nashville on March 26th, but the bummer is Deadstring Brothers play here in Indy that weekend, so I'll have to miss them. I contacted Chandra and Leigh to tell them we would down to see them, so hopefully I get to hang with them for a few...and meet Jenny Lewis. We get to see some great friends while we're down there as well and that's always fun.

My man, Cary Brothers is coming back to Indy on March 8th with KT Tunstall, but that same night Metal Hearts is playing in Bloomington and I'd really like to see them. I hate double-bookings! argh. Let's see what else? I'll be seeing Matt Pond Pa and Dios Malos together here on February 18, two bands I've never seen live.

Thinking about going to Bonnaroo this year. I got a buddy who is a grizzled 4-year vet who's invited me to go along. Anyone else ever been? Secrets to survival and kick-ass good time?

This weekend, we're gonna head down to Bloomington to try and see Andrew Bird, the show is sold out, but we have an inside track on some tix thanks to Eric @ Marathon Packs. We're not sure if we'll get them, but keep you fingers crossed.