The Decemberists Cover Heart

We've seen live videos of the Decemberists doing Decemberists tunes everywhere from The Colbert Report to The Tonight Show (Leno version) lately, but those professional clips don't contain half the thrill of this fan-captured-yet-still-electrifying cover of Heart's "Crazy On You."... CONTINUE READING THE DECEMBERISTS COVER HEART »

Sasquatch! 2009 In Photos

Everybody loves Memorial Day weekend, but nobody loves Memorial Day weekend like those that make it to Sasquatch! As friends have returned from their treks across country, they've shared nothing but raves for this year's festival, from the Gorge's breathtaking... CONTINUE READING SASQUATCH! 2009 IN PHOTOS»

Progress Report: Becky Stark

NAME: Becky Stark PROGRESS REPORT: Performing with the Decemberists, performing and recording with the L.A. Ladies' Choir, prepping an album with The Living Sisters, recording an album with Lavender Diamond. Lavender Diamond isn't just Becky Stark, and Stark isn't just... CONTINUE READING PROGRESS REPORT: BECKY STARK»

The Decemberists @ Hollywood Palladium 5/19/09

When the Decemberists (and Shara Worden) played "The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid" on Leno, it felt a bit fragmented. There was no such problem last night in Hollywood when the band launched their A Short Fazed Hovel Tour. Over the... CONTINUE READING THE DECEMBERISTS @ HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM 5/19/09»

The Decemberists Bring "The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid" To Leno

Like they did at The Colbert Report, the Decemberists brought Shara Worden and their mythical prog jam "The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid" to Leno last night (Shara plays the "jealous forest queen" obvs). The difference between the two shows being... CONTINUE READING THE DECEMBERISTS BRING "THE WANTING COMES IN WAVES/REPAID" TO LENO»

Stream Shins, Bright Eyes, National Covering Merge Classics

Merge Records turns 20 this year and the celebration is well underway. Last week we told you about the five-day summer fest in North Carolina with Superchunk, Spoon, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Destroyer, and others. If that's a party you... CONTINUE READING STREAM SHINS, BRIGHT EYES, NATIONAL COVERING MERGE CLASSICS»

SXSW 2009: Decemberists Debut Hazards Of Love

Last night Austin's Stubb's Bar-B-Q hosted the live debut of Decemberists' Hazards Of Love, the latest morbid prog opera from a band famous for them. NPR.org streamed the ambitious performance of this dictionary rock LP start to finish, adding a... CONTINUE READING SXSW 2009: DECEMBERISTS DEBUT HAZARDS OF LOVE»

New Decemberists (Feat. Becky Stark) - "Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)"

The next song title in a collection of very Decemberisty track titles to come from the Portland outfit's forthcoming The Hazards Of Love is "Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)." It's a distinct shift from the tanpura-and-strums of... CONTINUE READING NEW DECEMBERISTS (FEAT. BECKY STARK) - "WON'T WANT FOR LOVE (MARGARET IN THE TAIGA)"»

Posted on March 13, 2009 (24 comments)
Tags: Lavender Diamond | Sunny Day Real Estate | The Decemberists | The Noisettes

High School Flick Stars Members Of No Age, Mika Miko, Lavender Diamond ... And Mike Watt

The setup: High School Record, written/directed/photographed by Ben Wolfinsohn (who also did the Friends Forever documentary), is a film about a senior at an art high school who decides to document his last year there with his video camera. The... CONTINUE READING HIGH SCHOOL FLICK STARS MEMBERS OF NO AGE, MIKA MIKO, LAVENDER DIAMOND ... AND MIKE WATT»

Posted on September 24, 2008 in Video (5 comments)
Tags: Lavender Diamond | Mika Miko | Mike Watt | No Age

Scenes From The Set Of The First She & Him Video

So gang, the bad news for you is Death Cab have returned to their day jobs -- but thanks to the band for giving us the day off, and to everyone who wrote in with questions and comments. Walla, you... CONTINUE READING SCENES FROM THE SET OF THE FIRST SHE & HIM VIDEO»

Lavender Diamond Cover Madonna

We've been enjoying Through the Wilderness: A Tribute to Madonna (well, half of it), and Lavender Diamond's faithful take on "Like A Prayer" is one of the more intriguing moments. You don't get much of the soulfulness of Madonna's (can't... CONTINUE READING LAVENDER DIAMOND COVER MADONNA»

Posted on November 13, 2007 (8 comments)
Tags: Lavender Diamond | Madonna

Ariel Pink Covers Madonna

It's been almost fifty years since Madonna was born, and almost twenty five since she popularized the jelly bracelet. But preventing global warming with Gogol Bordello and inspiring a new Blondie musical is keeping her in vogue. Even the freak... CONTINUE READING ARIEL PINK COVERS MADONNA»

Colin Meloy Covers Lavender Diamond

Becky Stark's "It's all about love and the earth people, ya know?" shtick doesn't sit well with everybody, but Lavender Diamond's perch on the precipice of over-preciousness has its fans, like us and tourmate Colin Meloy. Mr. Decemberist contributes the... CONTINUE READING COLIN MELOY COVERS LAVENDER DIAMOND»

Posted on May 29, 2007 (3 comments)
Tags: Lavender Diamond | The Decemberists

New Lavender Diamond Video - "Open Your Heart"

Amazing that we haven't got around to mentioning Becky Stark (aka Lavender Diamond) since February of last year, but sometimes the blog pile gets to be an unruly mess. The first vid from Imagine Our Love delivers all you need... CONTINUE READING NEW LAVENDER DIAMOND VIDEO - "OPEN YOUR HEART"»

Posted on May 7, 2007 in Video (7 comments)
Tags: Lavender Diamond | Sia

Madonna Gets Freak Folkie

Another tribute tracklist for this fine Thursday, although this one's already got a name -- and also happens to be infinitely less sad than the last. NME reports that the likes of Devendra Banhart, Bat For Lashes, Lavender Diamond, Ariel... CONTINUE READING MADONNA GETS FREAK FOLKIE»

Guilt-Free MP3s With A Freaky Chaser

First, the good music. A bunch of stuff we've been listening to, or heard about and finally got around to checking out, of varying degrees of newness. Figurines - "The Wonder" (MP3) Catfish Haven - "Madeline" (MP3) Kid Koala &... CONTINUE READING GUILT-FREE MP3S WITH A FREAKY CHASER»

Posted on February 6, 2006 in MP3 (24 comments)
Tags: Catfish Haven | Destroyer | Figurines | Lavender Diamond