I've never exactly been sure what to make of Kings of Leon. They're an interesting band, and I loved "California Waiting" off their debut album Youth and Young Manhood and even saw them live at the Middle East last year. But I've always found Caleb Followill's vocals (and lyrics) pretty cringe-worthy. Here's one from their new album Aha Shake Heartbreak which I think I like, but I'm not sold yet. Here's a NYT article about them as well.

Kings of Leon / "King of the Rodeo"

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Very solid concert weekend with Ambulance Friday and Ratatat on Sunday. More than anything it reminded me of how much I like Ratatat. They're one of the few remaining one-of-a-kind acts out there, and there's something very cool about how they can create music which is simultaneously poignant and mosh-inspiring (ok, mosh = furious but non-violent jumping around). Anyway, Bed and Board has a link to a "new" song which was on a recent single but not on the album, and which they usually play live:

Ratatat / "Noose"



Meanwhile, their audio page has a few tracks from the rap remix album then did, as well as the brilliant "Seventeen Years."

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It's not nearly publicized enough, but with digital cable from Comcast you can get DVR (read: TiVo, but provided by the cable company) for only $10 extra per month. In other words, you go to the Comcast offices (located conveniently three minutes away from my apt), give them your old cable box, and they give you a new DVR-ready cable box for free. And then you get the shit for 10 bucks/month. I'm also inexplicably getting all the movie channels at the moment, so I'm taking advantage by DVR-ing the shit out them while I have them. Good times.

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On Thursday we went to Improv Boston for the "Great and Secret Show." Why? Well, I've seen Louie CK three times now at The Comedy Studio, and each time the Walsh Brothers (Dave and Chris) have performed as well.

They're sort of standup comics, but they don't really do your standard type of sets. It's more like rambling, chaotic storytelling which somehow ends up being hilarious. There aren't even normal punchlines, just weird endings to weird stories that you can't really retell, which I guess is a testament to how funny they are. Anyway, they do this weekly show at Improv Bostons on Thursdays, as well as appearing Fridays at the Comedy Studio. At the end of the month they're doing a big collection of their standup, sketches, and videos. Check out the website for more. I'm *so* going.

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Also at the Ambulance show we saw VHS or Beta, who are pretty good, but I'm not totally sure on. They have a lead singer who sounds like the lovechild of Rick Astley and Simon LeBon (izzat gud?), which makes sense because he's an Asian guy from Louisville. But their music is bouncy new wavish dance-rock which the kids seem to enjoy so much these days. Also, their bassist had grown his hair out and had a child-molester mustache. Respect. Their supposedly popular song is below, though it's not my fave in the world:

VHS or Beta / "Night on Fire"