Here Björk uses her massive lung capacity to shift the stars as she delivers a perfect live performance of “Desired Constellation” from 2004’s Medulla at France’s Canal+.

posted by: Bene Garcia

“During the SOY Festival in Nantes, HEALTH was the first night’s sensation. The four Californians did not disappoint their fans who came to see them at the Batiment de Bitche (an underground artist squat). Powerful and focused on pushing experimental rock to its limits, HEALTH is the 2010 D.I.Y noise rock we at Grandcrew like…especially the insane tribal drums !!!” (source: Grandcrew)

We couldn’t agree more.

posted by: Brent Carter

This video clip of the White Stripes performing “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” was taken from the 10th Anniversary Show entitled The White Stripes Under Nova Scotian Light.

On March 16, the White Stripes will release a limited-edition box set that celebrates and commemorates that 10th anniversary tour through Canada with a plethora of goodies. In the set, fans will find a live compilation of tour highlights in both CD and vinyl, a DVD of the 10th Anniversary Show and a documentary about the The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights tour at large. But wait… there’s even more  that comes in the box set – including a hardcover book, silk-screened prints and even more vinyl.

Watch the trailer for The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights below:

posted by: Brent Carter

Ever since the U.S. government got their excuse to invade and/or bomb Yemen, thanks to the alleged actions of the “underwear bomber,” two songs by post-punk luminaries Wire have been stuck in my head. One, “Being Sucked in Again” from Wire’s 1978 album Chairs Missing and also “Blessed State” from the band’s 1979 album 154. Although Wire’s music may echo the frustration many of us are feeling in these times of instability, it’s the lyrics that make them still relevant thirty plus years later.

From “Blessed State”
Closing doors
Opens eyes
To the fatal gift
Of a well timed lie
Loved in the flesh
And (but) butchered in the mind
Oh what a pearl
What a well made world
Holy globe
Eternal home
Sacred sphere
So glad I’m here
Oh what a pearl
What a well made world

From “Being Sucked in Again”
Bound and gagged your labour’s saved
The cost minute, the rules are waved
No hand, no step, your labour’s in vain
Being sucked in again

Both live versions of these songs were recorded in 1979 by the German TV show Rockpalast and re-released in 2004 by Wire as a part of a live CD/DVD set called Wire on the Box: 1979. It is excellent.

For those new to Wire and wanting more, we also highly suggest any of the band’s first three studio albums.

Wire – Pink Flag – 1977
Wire – Chairs Missing – 1978
Wire – 154 – 1979

Find out more about Wire here

posted by: Harold Johns III

On December 17, 1977, Elvis Costello and the Attractions performed as a last-minute replacement on Saturday Night Live for the Sex Pistols, who were unable to obtain passports due to criminal histories. Legend has it Costello wanted to play “Radio Radio” on SNL. Columbia Records, Costello’s US label, on the other hand was interested in having an already-established song performed in order to promote the band prior to the American release of My Aim Is True and This Year’s Model. A slightly different version says NBC and SNL producer Lorne Michaels didn’t want Costello to perform the single “Radio Radio” because the song protests the commercialization of radio broadcasts and the power wielded by the media in selecting who is heard on the airwaves, especially within the politically explicit side of punk rock. Regardless of what story you buy into one thing is for certain, Costello was not supposed to play “Radio Radio” that night.

In true punk rock fashion the band defied orders. Costello began his SNL performance with the less-controversial song “Less than Zero.” But after a few bars, he turned to the Attractions waving his hand and yelling “Stop! Stop!,” then said to the audience, “I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen, there’s no reason to do this song here,” possibly referring to the fact “Less than Zero” was written as a reply to British fascist politician of the day Oswald Mosley. The SNL music director at the time Howard Shore attributed it to Costello purposely bucking the pressure he felt from Columbia Records.

Either way, Lorne Micheals was furious. The second Costello changed songs Micheals allegedly began flipping Costello the bird and continued to do so until the end of the performance. Whether Micheal’s reaction had more to do with the SNL’s taping being thrown off schedule or Costello’s song choice remains to be seen. However, Costello would not appear again on Saturday Night Live until 1989. On SNL’s 25th anniversary show in 1999, Costello interrupted the Beastie Boys’ performance of “Sabotage” in a similar but joking fashion, and together they broke into a version of “Radio Radio.”

posted by Harold Johns III

Right when you thought MySpace was a complete waste of time, electro-punk pioneers Devo decide to stream a live album recorded in Bristol, England from 1978 on their page. Listen to the live album here.

Also, Devo is releasing a four-disc box set entitled The Ultra Devo-lux Ltd. Edition on December 22 which features two studio recordings “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” and “Freedom of Choice,” demos, remastered live tracks, a live dvd from 2009, a collection of their music videos, a fold out poster, a copy of the artwork featured on Devo’s first single “Jocko Homo/Mongoloid” and other goodies all for the price of $49.99. Pre-order The Ultra Devo-lux Ltd. Edition here.

posted by: Harold Johns III