Inspired by the spring cleaning over at tmwsiy* and the warning from my Mac that I must delete files before it explodes, I’m determined to clear out some of these podcasts and things I’ve been stashing. Must … find … hard … drive … space.

First up is this session from Editors on KEXP while the Seattle station was at SXSW. I know what you’re thinking: Editors sound like Interpol … blah blah … like Joy Division … bloo bloo. I suppose it’s true. A couple years ago, that might have really ticked me off, and I probably would have written a band like Editors off before listening (indie-rock snobbery … don’t let it happen to you).

But, you know, who’s writing these rules? So they’re influenced by Interpol. Is that a bad thing? Probably not because Interpol is really damn good (trust me, people, you can’t find this kind of analysis just anywhere). Is it robbery or flattery? I’ll side with the latter. Anyway, I hear Editors put on a pretty superb live show.

My ears also perked up when the guys in the band excitedly referred to Elbow, one of my favorites, as an influence in their interview with KEXP. In fact, Editors recorded a B-side, Let Your Good Heart Lead You Home, under Elbow’s guidance (maybe you can find it here).

Editors, Live on KEXP from SXSW, 3/15/06:

1. Lights
2. Bullets
3. All Sparks
4. Munich
5. Fingers in the Factories

In mp3 blogs …

• Eric at Marathonpacks has done it again. That is, put us all to shame. His latest post, on the Beatles, is prolific, insightful and finely crafted. In other words, everything we’ve come to expect from him.
• Bows + Arrows is killing it, too. The latest feature over there, Thinking of a Dream I Had, lets us in on Brian’s sleepytime visions – accompanied by music, of course.
• Hang On To Your Ego has pretty funny Coachella photos.

In sports …

• Phoenix New Times says of Arizona State football coach Dirk Koetter: “Fire Him!”
  But then CollegeFootballNews.com says the Sun Devils could be “national title level good.” Oh, who do I believe?!?
• Cubs offense stinks, and I’m tired of it. Six losses in a row. Maybe time for Jim Hendry to rekindle his flame for the Reds’ Austin Kearns?

Credit: Alec Hanley Bemis/Brassland.org
This past weekend was busy: a wedding Friday in Tucson and one back here in Phoenix on Saturday. But the good news is my wife’s sister, June, delivered their first child (a boy) on Sunday, which also happens to be the date of our anniversary and Annie and June’s dad’s birthday. April 30 is a great day.

Anyway, with the hectic (ahem, hungover) pace of the weekend, I was more than happy to see a WOXY.com Lounge Acts performance from Clogs pop into my subscription update to help soothe my nerves. My affinity for the National has drawn me to Clogs, whose members include National guitarist Bryce Dessner.

The sound of the group’s classical-trained musicians, all haunting and absorbing, has drawn comparisons to the Rachel’s and Sigur Ros. It’s multi-instrumental chamber music, with an emphasis on multi: We’re talking violins, ukeleles and bassoons here.

Consider it a serene and engaging departure from the usual indie-rock runaround.

Clogs, WOXY.com Lounge Acts, 4/28/06:

1. Raise the Flag
2. 235
3. Bed & Rest
4. Voisons
5. Lantern

The Clogs’ catalog, including their new release Lantern, is available at eMusic.

Support WOXY.
Subscribe to WOXY Lounge Acts podcast (opens iTunes).

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but what makes Dodge such a cool cat (among other things) is his thorough grasp on all things music and Internet. Yesterday, he introduced us (well, me at least) to AOL’s podcast The Interface, which hosts in-studio sessions/interviews.

Already, The Interface has hosted Editors and The Raconteurs. As is habit around here, I’ve cut up the three songs performed by The Raconteurs for easy digesting. But head over to the site and listen to the interview, in which Jack White reveals he came up with the name after reading an article on Mike Wallace. In said article, Wallace was called a “raconteur” or, as defined by Webster’s online: “a person who excels in telling anecdotes.”

Anyway, it’s a pretty nice set, if not a little stilted. The version of Steady, As She Goes changes tempo from the original and almost feels off-rhythm at points. Still good.

The Raconteurs, on AOL’s The Interface:

1. Yellow Sun
2. Steady, As She Goes
3. Blue Veins

Tired of Elbow yet? Yeah, neither am I, especially after hearing this set on KEXP. I’ll continue to push Elbow until you give in and realize their greatness. … Is it working yet? … What about now?

Anyway, this wasn’t just another in-studio job. No, this was one of the Seattle station’s “Behind Closed Doors” sets hosted by the Triple Door. In other words, it was pretty much a full-on live set. The sound mix was incredible. I just hope my recording didn’t blow out the low end too much. I can never tell on my miniscule (read: pieces o’ crap) speakers on my eMac.

On that note, if anyone has suggestions/recommendations for speakers for my Mac, please let me know.

Elbow, Live on KEXP from the Triple Door, 4/11/06:

1. The Stops
2. Fugitive Motel
3. Leaders of the Free World
4. Red
5. Great Expectations
6. Mexican Standoff
7. Puncture Repair
8. Switching Off

So glad the Sunday visitors got worked up enough to indulge me in my grammar fetish on the post for The Boy Least Likely To. Always love a little crossfire on grammar and prepositions. Keep the comments comin’ … except for the ones rippin’ Matt at YANP. Come on, now.

Anyway, I just counted, and including this here post, seven of my past eight posts involve some sort of radio broadcast. That can mean one of two things: There’s some excellent radio out there; or I’m spending far too much time in front of my computer. Or, maybe both. Yeah, probably both.

What’s there to say about Calexico that hasn’t been said already? As a proud Arizonan, I can puff my chest a little more when talking about Joey Burns and John Convertino, given their Tucson residence. From personal experience of living here for a good 20 years, I can tell you that no other group captures the soundtrack of this state quite like Calexico. As Burns calls it during the interview, “the high lonesome sound.”

He continued: ” … It’s a feeling of longing, sadness, sorrow. But yet at the same time it’s not toally depressing; it’s also uplifting.” It makes living in the desert sound so mystical.

Calexico, live on KEXP, 4/14/06:
1. Yours and Mine (such a great song)
2. Cruel
3. Roka
4. Deep Down

Listen to KEXP.
Stream KEXP at glorious 128 kbps.
Support KEXP.

It’s taken me awhile to come around to The Boy Least Likely To for one seemingly trivial (some might call it “anal”) reason: The group’s name drives me batty.

You see, I’m a copy editor, so I can be kind of obsessive-complulsive when it comes to grammar. The Boy Least Likely To commits a cardinal grammar sin: Almost never should you end a sentence in a preposition. Seriously. The boy least likely to … what? The boy least likely to fly? The boy least likely to sing? The boy least likely to poop? Something. Give me something! Argh! It reminds me of the Sunny Day Real Estate album How It Feels to be Something On. Oh, what would Strunk and White say?

Well, grammar misstep aside, I’m quickly warming up to the group’s wistful and refreshing tunes; Be Gentle With Me is priceless. Plus, they are YANP-approved, so you know they’re good. And I was pleasantly surprised to hear the guys in the group name-drop Son Volt among their current favorites.

The Boy Least Likely To, on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, 4/6/06:

1. Hugging My Grudge
2. I See Spiders When I Close My Eyes
3. Papercuts
4. My Tiger My Heart
5. Monsters
6. The Battle of the Boy Least Likely To
7. I’m Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to Your Star
8. Be Gentle With Me
9. Fur Soft As Fur

Well, my ears will have to be surgically removed from my computer headphones because there has been some great radio streaming in the Web this week, thanks to NPR, KCRW and KEXP. This little here performance by Band of Horses is no different.

For starters, I think The Great Salt Lake is rising in my favorites rankings, though it’s still just a tad behind The Funeral. Be sure to check out the slower version of Wicked Gil.

The group has made its way back home to play two shows in Seattle this weekend to celebrate the release of Everything All the Time, which has made the rounds on the blogs and should end up on several end-of-the-year top 10 lists, assuming it’s early-year release doesn’t affect peoples’ memories.

That said, I’m expecting the usual indie backlash in … 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 …

Band of Horses, Live on KEXP, 4/13/06:

1. The Great Salt Lake
2. Part One
3. Wicked Gil
(Which they dedicate to Mariners starter Gil Meche. I love baseball.)
4. The Funeral

Whew. OK, here’s the last of the Neko Case set on NPR. Pay special attention to the ridiculous banjo work of Tempe’s own Jon Rauhouse on Wayfaring Stranger. I’m telling you, besides playing one of my favorite instruments (pedal steel guitar), that guy is really amazing. He’s worked with Neko, Giant Sand, Calexico and a host of others. We’re proud to call him one of ours.

Today’s random picture brought to you by my 1-year-old niece, Eliot:

Hope everyone is enjoying this set. Major props again to NPR’s All Songs Considered.

Neko Case, NPR Live Concert Series, 4/9/06:

Songs 1-7.
Songs 8-14.

15. Hex
16. That Teenage Feeling
17. Furnace Room Lullaby
18. Hold On, Hold On
Encore
19. Wayfaring Stranger
20. Look for Me (I’ll Be Around)
21. John Saw That Number
Second encore
22. Knock Loud

Before Part II of the Neko Case show that NPR All Songs Considered broadcasted on Sunday, I just have to say thanks. I’m about 99 percent certain that I set traffic records yesterday in both page views and visitors. I’m not sure if it was that link from Dodge (definitely), the Neko stuff (probably) or my abundant supply of wit and charm (um, yeah, probably not) … either way, thanks for stoppin’ by.

To celebrate, here’s a picture of my cat, Sadie, which has nothing to do with anything, except for maybe that Neko’s sometimes-backing band is the Sadies:

On to the music, which includes my Neko favorite, Deep Red Bells, and a cover of Bob Dylan’s Buckets of Rain, for which I am indebted to Hello Gina for so kindly sending me when I once made a passing mention of my adoration for Neko.

Neko Case, NPR Live Concert Series, 4/9/06:

Songs 1-7.

8. Dirty Knife
9. I Wish I Was the Moon
10. The Tigers Have Spoken
11. Maybe Sparrow
12. Margaret vs. Pauline
13. Buckets of Rain
14. Deep Red Bells