It's not everyday that we get to celebrate an invention as lofty as the wheel, but low and behold, the boys from Brooklyn laid claim to the patent and it was just granted! On Ropeadope none the less!  I hear an average of 21.23 demos a day, and very rarely am a I blown away (but when I am, I am, and there's no limit on greatness).  In short? JDT took me there and back. Proud to introduce their Ropeadope debut Inventing The Wheel.  Go on and take a listen here, pick one up for yourself here.  Learn about inventing the wheel here.

From our friends at Revivl - sometimes admiration can turn into hostility when egos get bruised or you just plain suck. Either way we are happy the cameras were rolling when the shit hit the fan (or vice versa).

MarijuanaTv.com is like Youtube for weed, except, ummmm, instead of billions of videos about everything in the world, there's just millions of videos about weed.

Remixed and the Press Play Show put together this collection of Michael Jackson remixes. It's a compilation of remixes of MJ hits that Mick spins during some of his sets. The genre of the remixes range from soul to hip-hop to house. The producers on this compilation include Z-Trip,Kanye West, Salaam Remi, Daft Punk, Ummah, and more. Follow me after the jump for the download link and tracklisting from Okayplayer.

Is anyone else as hooked on True Blood as me? Seriously - best show on tv right now. And if you watched the latest episode you may have noticed that the music playing at Maryann's crazy pool party when Andy Bellfleur shows up was none other than....Power (Voodoo Version) by King Britt and Sister Gert. Anyone got any v? 

You only need to own one collection of William S. Burroughs' cut-up audio experiments (phew), and it's Sub Rosa's 2005 CD Break Through In A Grey Room. Three of its best tracks are released on limited edition 7" this week.

The Critters Buggin' central command and biscuit shoppe just received word that the new live download of a show from 1995 with the original line up - Skerik, Matt, Brad and John Bush is out now!! Skerik says "It's frickin crazy and it's got OG John Bush on percussion, samples and analog synth!! Listen to the creation happen from inside the WOMB!!" This download is exclusively available now only through CrittersBuggin.com Downloads. Listen to sound clips and purchase it here!

What happens when a 13 year old trades his iPod for a Sony Walkman? : "I came to realise that I have very little knowledge of technology from the past". Duh.  Whole story from the BBC here.

Chamber Music V.1 drops today from the clan that is Wu Tang.   RZA speaks loud and clear right here.  Take it back to the old school with some C.R.E.A.M; always Protect Your Neck,  Killer Beez always swarmin.

On July 17th Ropeadope all-star Teddy Presberg drops a brand new album thing.  Get a little taste at Teddy's place with this quick little bitty video, download a free single from the new album here get back to basics with Teddy's RAD debut here.

Biologists are addressing one of humanity’s strangest attributes, its all-singing, all-dancing culture of music. I know this article is a year old but still - science is science.

Got up early with the kids yesterday and guess who taught me the ABC's? Patti fucking LaBelle! Made my whole day (and night).  Now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me?

For the very first time in New York coastal waters, the voices of singing blue whales have been positively identified. Acoustic experts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bioacoustics Research Program (BRP) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed that the voice of a singing blue whale was tracked about 70 miles off of Long Island and New York City on Jan. 10-11, 2009, as the whale swam slowly from east to west. At the same time, a second blue whale was heard singing offshore in the far distance.

Ropeadope's own Teddy Presberg continues to convert humans into life-long fans after lacing them with Blueprint of Soul= still in heavy rotation at the fake offices over a year after it's release.  We're not alone in our feelings either, new album coming out in a month, it’s bad ass and called “Outcries From a Sea of Red”. Two-month tour to follow. Pick up more Teddy here. Watch you some Teddy here.

Louis pointed out this strange reality: Kodachrome film is dead after 74 years, but vinyl is still alive and kicking. 

On this week's edition of Six Degrees Traveler, the boys from The Bay spin a genre-hopping, free-form set of music inspired by summer.  Click here to hear the mix.  Check out the full playlist. The last four Traveler programs are always archived and available for listening here Also- check out the new blog filled with music, news, videos and lots of fun stuff.

Wanna play? Try Breakdown - a cross between Bloons and Totem Destroyer. Aim and fire your cannon as you destroy the blocks in each level.  Can't help but think of Tom Petty? Listen to Breakdown here.

My boy Rodney thinks N.E.R.D. is the cat's meow, he sent me their new website that features everything you would ever want to know about the band… and you can also play the video game – which is a little strange. Worth a peek.

Yes, yes, full audio release coming, for now - some folks on the MMW listserv shared these sneak peak videos of the RAD 10 year bash at Sullivan Hall from earlier in the month - featuring John Medeski, Billy Martin, Charlie Hunter, John Ellis, Joe Russo, Big Sam and more.  The videos are random clips, but well worth the insight and inspiration. Dig.

Every Monday morning I seem to find a fascinating email in my inbox from Sk-Sk-Skerik. Here's today's message: A B H!!!!!!  DUDE, was just on the mighty Ropeadope site and I thought, "I should tell Andy about the awesome MCTUFF tour that is happening right NOW!! MCTUFF is Joe Doria's band,  the insane organist from the SYNCOPATED TAINT SEPTET, so you know it's REAL!!! It's a real band, and we've got a new real CD out NOW!!! Grazie!!!! PS> New GRIZZLY BEAR is amazing........SK".  Get deep with Skerik - get his first syncopated taint here; the second here; more random Skerik here, here and here.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog headed to Bonnaroo and sends in this video report which includes random proclamations including, "I love the smell of weed mixed with Axe Body Spray". Full scoop from The Daily Swarm here (complete with annoying NBC commercials). 

Here at the real fake offices former intern (now employee) Tim was talking about the use of rock critics, arguing against a video of Christoper R. Weingarten.  Louis was intrigured, but (still!) couldn't get over the "fucking rediculous" verdict handed down last week in favor of the RIAA.

Can Bruno Save MySpace From Cultural Irrelevance? Sasha Baron Cohen Remakes the Social Network for Follow-up to 'Borat' June 18, 2009 check it here.

Let your Summer Solstice this weekend as everything lines up this Sunday for Fathers,  the official start of summer and the longest day of the year to those of us existing over here in this hemisphere.  And don't bat an eye, I smell the start of July.   Summer lovin' had me a blast.  Summer summer summer summer. It turns me upside down.

RAD lifer Martin Brewer writes in "Dude - I don't know if you are familar with this band 'Of Montreal', but besides being awesome, they have mastered the art of getting people to actually buy their records. their lastest album 'Skeletal Lamping', (which I would describe as an oversexed Midnight Vultures Beck vs. The Beatles on acid meets Devo vs. Prince ala Little Red Corvette) comes in seven different packaging formats. Check this shit out anyway, the band/album is amazing, and I thought you might appreciate their approach to album marketing. later...Martin"

Fascinating story on how mass media’s codependant relationship with advertising has destined both industries to failure.

From master Chuck Treece:  "We started when I just turned 19.. I'm 45 now and still in music and skating. Thanks to all who support dreams." Treece/Morris productions big ups to Andy Morris original McRad drummer in the skies and minds. Mcrad lives here, here or here.

From the big man Louis: "Nobody ever talks about the musicians who make the music business suck. Famous people can get away with saying stupid shit like this because people are blinded by their fandom. Think about it - he won't call other musicians because it's 'not cool' , but he floats the story in the press!  As if he even knows what cool is. It's HARD to be a Beatles fan without John around." Dig in here.

Not every artist needs an A+ online.  But everyone needs at least a C-. The challenge for independent artists, label managers, artist managers and anyone working with artists in online marketing is deciding where to apportion effort. 

The largest free public arts festival in the country, Artscape features 150+ artists, fashion designers and craftspeople; visual art exhibits on and off site, including exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize; incredible live concerts on three outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, fashion, film, experimental music and performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, competitions, children’s entertainers and multiple street theater locations; and a delicious, international menu of food and beverages that is available throughout the festival site.

Special date coming up for Ropeadope's JDT as they prepare to humbly bow before the stage at NYC's fabled Jazz Standard on July 7th.  Nifty little e-card for said event here.  Random link that will take you to a random place here.

My sort-of-some-of-the-time intern (and former student) Sherri Waldov just graduated from Temple and is now unleashing her tv. Last week she came down to The Piazza and filmed these three dope bands: Leana Song and Oud Blues and for extra credit she even threw in this drum ensemble montage.

For all of us who didn't make it down this year, here are some clips to keep you entertained.  The Boss/Phish.  NIN Last US Show.  Wilco. Yeah Yeah Yeah's.  Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.  Beastie Boys.  

The resurgent vinyl market isn't showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, recent figures released by Nielsen SoundScan indicate that overall U.S. vinyl sales will once again set a benchmark in 2009, with sales up 50% through the first five months of the year.  SoundScan predicts vinyl sales will reach 2.8 million units in 2009. 

Spend some time with these five finds and learn.  (i) If Charlie Parker Was A Gunslinger, There'd Be A Whole Lot Of Dead Copycats;  (ii) Gots to give props to my boy, Danny B (iii) Here in Philly it's all Mad Decent; (iv) Pass the McJAWN and I'll pass it right back full; and (v) You know that Bud Caddell. Can't stop sharing that which Consumes him.

I've listened to Black Landlord's Ropeadope debut hundreds of times, but it wasn't until 4:30am, driving south on the New Jersey Turnpike, coming home from the Ropeadope 10 Year Anniversary Party did I really see the glory. Addicted to Distraction is pound for pound and inch for inch the single most bad ass hip-hop-funk-junk recordings of all time.  I was hypnotized by the verbal assault, the rhythmic rounds and the sweat-soaked funky sounds.  This band will kick your ask. okay Myspace; mind over matter on a video platter; got it good (understood).

Give it up to the good folks at J-Dub for pumping out the holy shit.  Most recent is The Wailing Wall and J-Dub is giving their full length debut for free right here.   More info and streams here.

In an effort to help Latinas improve their cardiovascular health, professors from Temple's School of Medicine and College of Music, came together to create a music therapy program. The eight-week therapy program is to assess the effects of music on cardiovascular health. Research has it that music, song-writing, music improvisation and much more have positive effects on the heart, body and mind. This research is one of the many innovative programs that demonstrate the role of the arts in people's lives.

Nyle is RAD booking agent David Chiatt's new favorite band.  And their new video "Let The Beat Build" is the most awesomest visualization to come across my tiny nation.  Witnesseth.

Enjoy last night?  Enjoy seeing all the sick music and the great crowd to match it?  It was a great to go back to where it all began.  Just don't forget why everyone was there...Scotty Hard.  Thanks for the 10 years, thanks for helping us Stand Strong.

Great read from The Daily Swarm - an interview with Ashley Capps - one of the creators of Bonnaroo and really (truly) one of the only nice guys left in the music biz. Read on. 

It has a lame name, but give this physics game a chance. Drive your buggy through the levels and destroy all the bricks. Don't get distracted by distractions, just keep your track on the traction.

So here's a question I've been asking for awhile, "Whatever happened to that damn Jeff Buckley biopic that was announced years ago that seems to have gone nowhere?".  Good to know the project is back underway with, "Finally some new news via the Australian press, which we can confirm we've known about for some time. Orian Williams, who produced the well-received Joy Division, Ian Curtis biopic, "Control," in onboard, and a new screenwriter has been hired, Ryan Jaffe" and "IMDB pro lists the film as a 2010 film...with Jared Leto, James Franco, Robert Pattinson and James Marsden all interested in the part". All I can say is Hallelujah!!!

This life! What's it all about? What does it all mean? Beats the shit out of me, but maybe you can help me find some inspiration from the galaxy. Take off here and dig this composite photo of the galaxy M82 taken from three images snapped by The Great Observatories and hubble tel-a-jawn. 

Four artists plan to spend five months on a barge to show how we might live on the water if we run out of land.  The 30-by-100-foot barge moored at the Brooklyn Navy Yard has been dubbed the "Waterpod," and was first envisioned by Mary Mattingly, a 30-year-old sculptor and photographer.  Mary and her crew will share the space with egg-laying hens, as everything about the Waterpod is meant to be "self-sustaining: food will be grown onboard, some of it in hydroponic gardens; drinking water derived from purified rainwater; electricity generated through a mix of solar, wind and bicycle power, and waste recycled into compost. The barge, which cost about $150,000 to build, funded by "private donations and grants" will dock "at various locations in the five boroughs," with the public invited to visit.

From Terry Urban (of Santigold):  "As many of you know, I’ve been preparing an exciting mixtape to release to you for free this summer called Southerngold. Basically, me mixing my favorite Southern rap vocals over remixed samples of my favorite Santigold influenced samples and tracks.  However, as I am about to release my mix on the internet tonight… literally, I am sitting at my desk in Brooklyn uploading the mix to YouSendIt.com, I get a cease and desist from lawyers at Santigold’s label, Downtown Records."  She sent it to us though - Grab it while you can.  Get the mix tape here.

Yes, yes, we live in Philly and yes yes yes we're all going to The Roots Picnic. No, no no you couldn't get tickets? Come see ?uestlove spin for free all Sunday afternoon at The Piazza at Schmidt's as part of Lee Jones' Sundae Party. Come on down.  Can't make it? Represent with great Okayplayer shirts like this one, that one and this other one.

You know Fatty Acid has the soundtrack to your summer lovin' (and buzzin').  And leader Jon Sheldrick writes in "Ropeadope has officially been reped in the Cash Cab!  But me and my girlfriend blew it at the last block". Get Fatty here.

Combining try-before-you-buy with the luxury rental concept, Guitar Affair rents out high-end and boutique guitars by the day or week.  Customers pay a one-off USD 50 fee to join and then select and reserve a guitar to be shipped anywhere within the United States. After they’ve had their affair for the agreed time span, they return the guitar in its shipping container with an included UPS label. For those fond enough to commit to a lasting relationship, guitars can be purchased with some (or all) of the affair fee refunded.

Take a moment out of your day to honor a great one, “Grammy Award-winning blues legend Koko Taylor, 80, died on June 3, 2009 in her hometown of Chicago, IL.  On May 7, 2009, the critically acclaimed Taylor, known worldwide as the “Queen of the Blues,” won her 29th Blues Music Award, making her the recipient of more Blues Music Awards than any other artist. Over the course of her 40-plus-year career, Taylor received every award the blues world has to offer.”

Hang with this one, give it a second to progress, and you shall be blessed. Witnesseth -The Evolution of a Dance Party.  (One dreamer can dream!).

Our favorite Philly DJ (now living in the BK) Cosmo Baker did a "dual set" for 2.5 hours at LA's Do-Over and they recorded it and I think you might like it, it's kind of fun to listen to - download the audio here and the video here.

My man Jeff Mattheis (aka Matthuzilla) states the obvious, but with Phishness in the air, I share: "In case you don't know about this they post the shows a couple HOURS after the show, AND I saw that now you can subscribe and it's downloaded for you!!! So you wake up hit play and are listening to last night's Phish show (NOT SB but good QT aud.) and FREE baby!!" So enjoy.  

My man Skiz turned me on to Vlad.tv yesterday. Here's 3 to try - (i) Method & Red giving parenting tips on teaching your kids about weed; (ii) Kid freaks out on National TV; and (iii) Amy Winehouse vs. Eminem

Dusty Tunes is a free download that automatically creates your own personal web page with a list of all the music in your iTunes library. Builds a list with links (to preview or purchase) so you can share it with your friends, on blogs, forums, websites, Digg, Facebook or simply keep it as a personal reference. You can come back at any time and update your page with all your latest tracks.   Get it.

Way back in the day RAD intern Justin Peak hipped us to Destination Out -  an mp-free jazz blog focusing on rare or out-of-print music which publishes once a week. And while this has nothing to do with that, I couldn't figure out where to post this so I share it now - Louis and his brother Richard are both out to Screw the Man and Save the World.  I'll second that emotion.

Those 3 letters are all you need to focus on this month as we await the debut release of JDT (Jason Domnarski Trio). The album is “Inventing the Wheel”, and the leader is Jason Domnarski, one of New York’s finest pianists. Invent the Wheel here, and check out their space and videos here and here.

Okay, I was going to feature this one simply under video of the day, but after fully absorbing The Leningrad Cowboys & Red Army Choir singing "Sweet Home Alabama" live from Finland,  I thought they deserved a spotlight. Extra Credit - "Paradise City" baby.

I guess you have to be in the mood, and I guess I was, but Seth MacFarlane finally got me laughing.  Take a taste: name that animal penis here; die sweet road runner die right here and look fat Jesus over here.

Been telling you - NYC is the place to be on June 10th as we raid Sullivan Hall with the dope shit - an all-star band (Medeski, Martin, Charlie Hunter, John Ellis and many more) coming together to benefit Scotty Hard.  And to warm things up we'll throw in Otis Grove and keep things going late with a big band of surprises. Get your tickets now.

Rent is due on the 1st (bitches)! Gives you less than a week to play your Black Landlord.  If you somehow still don't have this masterpiece, ummmmmm - go on and get it here.  Great review here calling it " big-band brass with Motown soul and Hip-Hop, an eclectic musical tirade".  Other cool thing here.

The Dutch justice ministry has announced it will close eight prisons and cut 1,200 jobs in the prison system. A decline in crime has left many cells empty and a complete dismantling of jails! So for all of you wanna be gangsters - here's your chance - go jack The Netherlands. 

Picking a band name has got to be a pretty hard thing to do. Once set, it will label you and all your actions for the rest of your career. If you get tired of it you won't be able to simply toss it out the window on a dusty desert highway--at least not without repercussions. Music critics agree that this is one way in which a band name is a lot like a sack of kittens. Here's some true stories behind famous band names.

You know Dirty Dave's Mobile Beat Shack got released a while back, but with summer now in swing, it's time you click here and pick it up - the perfect mix for driving, living and loving. Check out this review from Mainstrem Isn't So Bad.  Get this free download from Wax Poetics. More dirt here.

Jambands and metal heads do not exist in the same universe. Exhibit one - a bunch of hippies dancing to Rusted Root; and here's some metal heads doing what they do. Who would you rather hang out with?  Maybe they all need a lesson from Robin Williams on the difference between weed and alcohol.

Take a big step back with Kicksville to 1964 to check out Undesirables, a poem by John Beecher's that was originally published in 1964. Music wise “Once upon a time, there was a song by the band Joi called What You Are…we ended up throwing away all of the original samples, re-recording the song's guitar riff, and turning the lyrical concept on its head”.  Check out Kicksville’s space here and keep looking for their Season II Releases in the coming weeks.

You know my man Kuf Knotz, he's of the legendary Burndown All-Stars, who now rolls with his band The Hustle who just launched their sweet new blog here.

We're always excited about every band we sign, but man oh man, can't wait for Clay Time. Clay! Play, his name is Clay Ross. Check out this, and come check out his space out.  The Clay Ross sessions coming to Ropeadope this fall. 

In NOLA during jazz fest and my man Tony from Hypersoul hips me to Tarace Boulba - a brass band with thirty mouths and ten times more fingers. It’s also an association called Rasta Baboul, which was formed under French law 1901, and offers musicians an opportunity to hone their craft, play on stage, and generally progress musically and contribute their talent to a collective vibe. Well worth investigating here. check out some videos here and here. 

After the thousands of bands that applied for the first contest with Sonicbids, we got to thinking....we should do this again.  Sooooo, submit your epk before July 16 and we'll talk a listen and see your band, artistry, vision and/or spirit can mesh with ours in a way that we will ultimately make sweet love together, forever, in an open, caring relatiionship.   Come on, send us your shit right here, let's make a deal. 

The little-big band that could, Bodega headlines The Note this Saturday in West Chester.  Eliot Lipp gets it all started and then passes the baton to Damn Right and then Bodega takes it home, but you don't need to be Phily-town to feel the Bodega all-around sound - feel their space; get their Ropeadope debut and watch to see what they do.

Match the colors, click on them, and make them disapear, but do it before they hit the top of the screen.  The bombs come rarely so use them wisely for extra points. 

Fake offices closed through Tuesday as we skip into summer with a back pack filled with music and our hearts filled with joy. Wake up and smell the sunshine people. ready or not, here summer comes. Catch it while you can.

Reut Regev is someone who cannot be spoken about enough.  Her RAD debut, "This is R*Time" is one of the best albums put out this year, definitely check out "Swill" and "Nutcase Scenario".  I've never truly heard a trombone move in so many ways.  Check out this great interview from All About Jazz here.

Circle the date - June 10th, Sullivan Hall NYC where we'll be throwing a party for ourselves in celebration of our 10 year anniversary.  A house band that includes John Medeski on keys; Billy Martin on drums; Charlie Hunter on guitars; John Ellis on horns; DJ Logic on the ones and twos and a whole bunch more surprises for me and you. All to benefit The Scotty Hard Foundation.  Get tix now before it's too late. 

Louis is all into surfing these days and he sends me random surfing stuff and it's normally just sort of cool, but man-oh-manthese Clark Little photos are straight up redunkulous.

Don't be afraid you can do it! Go on and grab your rockets, your glider, and show the world that a penguin like you can fly (high).

Down in Hot 'Lanta, Ed Peterson shakes peaches off the trees of knowledge and offers 'em up like a professor in college.  Get a view from his blog Inman Park where he bakes it fresh all day in inman park. Check out this post and his Ropeadope top 3 list (have to admit Ed, that right there (in that very order!) is mine too). 

The excellent music blog Musicophilia has posted its entire 9-part collection of essentials from 1981.  The collection features: “Hundreds of key artists, the famed and the forgotten, from the apex of post-punk and the ascent of new-pop, synth-pop, and related artforms.” Sounds pretty amazing. Go get it.

Kicksville's Singles Series V.2 rolls on with The Last Step. Remember Bob The Pusher and Candy The Evil Temptress from Evil Demon Weed?. They're baaaaaaack along with Johnny The Good Kid.  In "next step" we find Johnny has become a hopeless junkie, Candy has taken the vows, and Bob has fallen into the depths of a drug-induced psychotic break, but it's all about the music and here the band sites Frank Zappa as it's main influence along with nods to Captain Beefheart. Mix in some Tom Waits, and Jim Jarmusch and you got one hell of a tune. Dig it.

Featuring Vince the Slop Chop Man and more, making yummy food has never been easier. So stupid that's almost brilliant. Do the Rap Chop remix here; original Slap Chop here.

It's Friday, you're ready to smoke up some free time. Let's start on the fake golf course - nothing like your typical video golf. This is more maze-y with tricky holes and weird physics. And of course, balls!

The class of '99 was a great one: of course that's the year Ropeadope was born, but our classmates include Okayplayer who started the same year and our old friends Soulive. I'll never forget the first show we did together - double bill - DJ Logic's Project Logic and Soulive at the now defunct Baby Jupiter.  5 folks showed up including me and my sister. We've come a long way baby, from Glide Magazine, dig into the last 40 minutes of Soulive's final gig at Wetlands in September of 2001.

Speaking of Soulive, the bass player in the Project Logic Band referenced above was none other than Melvin Gibbs hailed by New York Magazine as "The best bass player in the world....period!".  His new project is Elevated Entity which is being described as "when Holy Ghost guitar meets Brazilian spirits....reuniting the diaspora on Ancients Speak".  Hear it here. Buy it here.

This from my man Jeff Mattheis:  "Found anouther cool concert stream/arcive site lots of diffrent bands I'm watching Ben Harper/Relentless 7 show from Australia like a week ago HOT! and Sound QT. is krushin' good!. Keep doin' what you're doin' Ropeadope rules". So do you Jeff. 

I was looking for the right ingredients in The Cabinet. Found a little bit of rust belt bluegrass, a tasty blend of banjo, and scraps of mandolin, fiddle, upright bass and acoustic guitar. Planted it all in the yard, woke up one morning and BAM got a bluegrass revival right here in Pennsylvania. Dig into the first bluegrass band to join our land, Cabinet- the band's Ropeadope 4/20 debut (was self titled from me to you). Taste some.

Kind of Blue was both a radical stylistic experiment and an album parents could put on after dinner without waking the kids. It's a manifesto, a meeting of musical minds, and it's moved millions of copies to remain the bestselling jazz record of all time. Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue," released in August 1959, featured what might be the finest group in jazz history; it virtually founded a new musical style -- called modalism -- but it also marked the beginning of the end of the genre's mass popularity.

Here’s a fun vid of a record being scratched with a video camera and a laptop. This fellow uses augmented reality software to track the record in 3-dimensional space.

Have only heard samples, but really, is there any possible way a Sex Mob meets John Medeski album can be anything less than fantastic?  I think not. Dig it.

Nina Simone’s all-time knockout performance at the Harlem Festival, 1969 is documented and celebrated in a great post by Jay Babcock and Arthur Magazine.

Bad things happen to good people.  One of our favorite drummers G. Calvin Weston is living through hell right now  as he mourns the loss of his oldest son who was the victim of a hit and run driver in Philly last week.  Calvin is trying to raise enough money to pay for his son's funeral and is accepting Paypal donations through this email you can send support and encouragement directly to Calvin here.  And if you live in Philly there will be a fundraiser tomorrow night (13th) at The FIRE. 

Not that I need CNN to tell me that the power of music is a real heart opener but, ya know, Bob says it best - one good thing about music...when it hits you, you feel no pain.

Needing inspiration to get you through the Monday blues, take a trip to Kicksville and touch the ground.  First appearance this season by City Council member Aya Peard on lead vocals, it's a no-worries song, that will help you pass the day along. Listen and buy here.

In the event you were too stoned to remember, this article by Ryan Rim helped crack the case: "What 420 Means: The True Story Behind Stoners' Favorite Number".  Truth be told, I have my own true story, but will save it for now. 

My man Tom Williams turned me on to Vendr.tv by linking Christo The Falafel Nazi. If you ever come down 'round Philly town, meet me at 20th & Market for the absolute best falafel in a cart you'll find this side of the Middle East.  Extra credit points from Jamaican D's - yummmmmy.

RAD intern Maximus Matt Eyer hipped me to one Joseph 'Joey' Marciano Armstrong who happens to be the son of Mr. Billie Joe Armstrong's (lead singer of Green Day) and Joey's got one hell of a band.  Emily's Army.

I repeat that which I've been saying just to make sure your obeying: My Bloody Valentine meets the Benevento Russo Duo. Really not sure what the fuck this music is other than to say that it makes people react hard in one way or another. My sister started to inexplicably beat her dog upon first listening, while my boy Rob Alberino claims the music led him to the Virgin Mary. Me? I just like to crank it up and drive far. (link to all linkables). 

Blah blah blah blah Black Landlord. Blah blah blah blah Black Landlord.  Blah blah blah blah blah Black Landlord.  Blah blah blah blah Black Landlord.  Blah blah blah blah Basketball Jones.

The Tonium's 60GB Pacemaker is the planet's first "Pocket-Sized DJ system," -60GB portable media player that boasts two "turntables" and a "mixer" -- all within a unit that easily fits within most medium- to large-sized palms.  Users have access to two independent audio channels and can beatmatch with the press of a button. Dig.

This site called Dusty Tunes allows you to upload your iTunes library song info and then displays it in a neat expandable directory sort of way. You can also click on songs and get previews and purchase links. It’s a very fresh way to show people what you’re into, but don’t let the RIAA see!