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I didn't know Vetiver was playing! Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats, Shins, Vetiver) and I have become close friends and he just asked me to write his bio. I gotta get the lowdown on the fest from him after the fact).

I don't know how you can possibly hate on that setlist the Alumni alone, Free Man In Paris seems like a majestic choice as well.

Putting Emerson, Lake and Palmer at the top of your list really says more about your musical inclinations if anything, not that the criticisms aren't all valid. And I liked Homebelly Groove! And really isn't Walking In Memphis Richard Marx biggest tune or am I cnfusing him with Marc Cohn.

Hey I think I made an error in that article - like maybe the quote about the verse in June you don't get 'til December isn't from Stakes Is High. Or about the Dilla/De La connection viz a viz Stakes Is High. I need an actual De La head to piece it together. It was really weird piecing together the bulk of their setlist without knowing their catalogue, just reverse engineered from samples I could recognize and lyrics I recalled.

I managed to piece together my melted mind after a week of pre-NXNE at the Dakota then my local got taken over by a festival. I can say quickly that the Golden Dogs show with a surprise Zeus set was unbelievable (I know their album Coat of Arms coming out July 27 intimately and it was a really faithful rendition of that material with their band not the Zeus guys etc. that play on the album). Also a band called Young Empire really impressed me and a surprise set right after them by Japandroids was seriously weak sauce (like I see bands most nights of the week at Dakota that impress me more). I wanted to get the De La Soul setlist and a review pieced together as quickly as possible though before the goo melted. It's up on www.northernheads.blogspot.com

Fuck it does not help having the Dakota a five minute walk from both my house and work. I'm seriously there like 3 or 4 nights a week it seems on the odd week. In any case I don't know if people have heard about Steamboat who's the new residency Sunday nights there but they are just completely off the hook. There is not a one-line description for this band they are so boldly original. Essentially they are a six piece (tambourine/synth, drums, bass, guitar, keys, keys). The songwriter Matt McClaren clearly has a huge repertoire (they play 3 sets of staunchly original, rooted in history but bracingly new music) that an incredibly tight band has worked out insane arrangements - like 'The Band on Crack' type shit, Allain Toussaint by way of the Shit Creek Boys or some such thing. Well that's a good one liner but then that's why I'm the pro right boys? In any case Ethier, who does more painting than playing lately and has at least 5 galleries worldwide selling his paintings for a pretty penny, sat in and the band became like Deadly Steamboat. Serious fucking conjuring voodoo hour shit boys. Like if someone had been taping this would be a legendary recording. It was a massive 'whoaaaaaa' moment and there's lots of those at the Dakota but it was something else. I'm piecing together the full 3 setlists and an attempt at a review for NorthernHeads but I mean seriously, they play almost all originals and were calling straight audibles by the end. I can't believe I survived The Mahones (and hardcore openers Continental (whch it turns out is Rick Barton from Dropkick Murphys band, and his son plays bass - they were actually better than the Mahones don't listen to any hardcore really but this was topnotch songwriting with a huge melodic sense and conceit, I think some of you if you dig on harder edged shit would really like these guys was hugely impressed. Continental (Rick Barton, ex-Dropkick Murphy)- But yeah not to get ahead of myself but Ethier with Steamboat... whoaaaaaaa.

Trey said of Jay Z, at the time of the Brooklyn show, that he honestly thought if Jay was born in another era that he would have been a figure like Beethoven. I truly believe though that a more apt comparison would be that J Dilla (born James Yancey) is truly the Beethoven of Hip Hop. People are going to be pullling apart his samples, methods, soundscapes and collages for literally decades likely centuries to come.

Okay ticket techies I have a friend coming back to the country who needs 4 tics badly but having trouble ordering the presale from around the world. What's my absolute best bet to get four together over the next few days (well 5 I guess I have to go).

Threw up a bunch of links to mp3s of the Dilla/Nas mashup DILLmatic on www.northernheads.blogspot.com (also if you're really lucky you can watch footage of Jay Z performing 99 Problems and Big Pimpin' with Phish in Brooklyn I know you're dying to see that one).

I'm not sure who amongst you is a fan of either Prince or this specific song in his repertoire but, well let's say it's in my top 10. I was really surprised when I did some research recently about the origin of the song and what the song is actually about. If you're interested the stunning live clip and precis of the origin of the song, and the Sign 'O' The Times tour is on my blog www.northernheads.blogspot.com

Ever heard of Narco Subs? You have now. Narco Subs pose new challenges for Coast Guard

Brah, I hate to tell you but you're a fucking idiot. That's a concise analysis of about 18 newspaper articles I could likely find the links or clippings for. How about this one, a little piece slipped through the New York Times a few weeks back that said - now think about this for a second- in the upping of the ante on the Mexican border in terms of Homeland security and whatnot there was massive hirings made of course- these candidates are all vetted thoroughly but especially in Mexico but of course in America it is routine for criminal organizations to infiltrate Justice organizations (think of the film The Departed). In any case it turns out of all the hires only, I'd have to find the number exactly but I want to say that they only administered (routine) polygraphs to %10 of the candidates and something like %60 were eliminated on the basis of the polygraph. It was just a small little item in the NYTimes but if you think about it, it's a scary thought how deeply interlaced government organizations and cartels are. But if you're only into heady music festivals here's the article about MtyMx. Problems at the MtyMx festival in Mexico

When I recently got outmusicgeeked about a free project Detroit based producer Black Milk released prior to Tronic called Music From The Color Purple I essentially couldn't find the music and everything about it quick enough. With a devout devotion to Prince and a more recent obsession with Black Milk and his mentor J Dilla this was undoubtedly a serendipitous find. I wrote a short article about the 'collaboration' and the download link and posted it on my blog www.northernheads.blogspot.com

Sorry but listening into this dialogue about the international drug trade seems a bit laughable to me. I'm sure it's because let's say I've been more invested in that culture but mainly I mean through the lens of not so much (but lately) the Canadian and American media. With regard to Dudus, one of the odd things is that I believe he got his start by backing Seaga likely in the election against Manley days after the Bob Marley assasination attempt where he famously made the two shake hands on stage. There was a massive bust in Toronto a couple weeks ago that was splashed over all the papers that involved the takedown of two gangs the Falstown Crips (that's Crips, Crips- like members of the international crime organization Crips, like you don't where a Hell's Angels logo on your denim jacket type of thing) and the Five Point Generals. The raid/sting which netted about 100 Torontonian's but led to the arrest of 12 Jamaican's members of the notorious (and not limited to) Jamaican Shower Posse- of which Coke is the leader. Coke is literally more powerful than the Prime Minister of Jamaica, gov't members have admitted as much. He's also hired, astutely, American lobbyists to fight his extradition which is what this whole bloodbath is based on. With regard to Mexico yes the violence in any of the border cities particularly Ciudad Juarez is of epic and staggering proportions. It's not really reported in the Canadian media very much but the culture of kidnap for hire, assassination, criminal infiltration of justice organizations is astounding. There was a music festival MtyMx (Monterrey, MX) that tried to time around SXSW but - and this was both in the New York Times and I heard it directly from a band they wanted to play- well basically bands were legitimately concerned about kidnap for extortion, gun violence, all of it. It's important too- and I think this is really lost in the general (legitimate) indignation at the unconstitutional gubernatorial challenge of Latino rights- to remember that it's not a bullshit argument that what they are dealing with in Phoenix (the kidnapping capital of America) is not a city or state but a federal issue.

Or Ray Ray and I can go in our New Era caps and sit on the patio until someone (highly unlikely) suggests they won's serve me. And I'll say something like, while Ray Ray lowers his Versace glasses, 'is this about me paying with the pennies the one time, or cause I'm not cool enough, or is it because both Ray Ray and I are convicted felons. Now that would be hilarious.

Great advice Dave...sniff...sniff... In fairness I just go to The Common now all the time which has insance coffee and is a really comfortable communal place and yes Jason Collett and his baby had coffee there this morning. Hawksley Workman's producer and I shared a butt. But hey that's my neighborhood and your life. ...And I don't need a big black friend to back me up. Here's the reality - anyone - especially if you thought you were friends that treats someone like that whether serving in a restaurant or otherwise is going to get called on it. Being non-violent and concious (through alot of mental health training on De-Escalating Conflict and Defusing Hostility - I know irony) of not wanting to be rude or upset the customers I left and wrote a polite letter. Basically it's cool to stop frequenting them as a resto - their staff is pompous, their customers are boring and any place you're made to feel unwelcome you should leave- I just want it in writing as to the rationale. That's what they likely won't do. Think about it- if I wanted resolution and felt I was harassed - do I really want to go to some place I don't work and basically get some managerial lecture (when I'm not being paid) about why I'm not welcome in their restaurant? No I want them - a big successful chain of restaurants- to have to put in paper what their rationale is.

I don't know how many of you would be interested but in addition to the features I've been writing here I have alot of long interviews and additional content I've been running on: www.northernheads.blogspot.com There's a great article up about Matt Murphy (Super Friendz, The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico) opening for the UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE show at the Mod Club with Danielle Duval and Murphy opening for Zeus. As god as Zeus was Murphy just fucking destroyed. There's also a lot of good articles and clips up about recent Detroit Hip Hop including Black Milk and his collaborators.

I'm afraid after a good run - and it may just be under a pile of clothes or something but I don't think so - the ipod nano seems to be lost. I really need to replace it immediately because I really on it daily for everything from exercise to journalism to survival. I actually bought my last one at Costco it was quite a good deal. Suggestions?

I don't really know what to say but take this opportunity to see this band at this juncture. 3 0f 5 Beauties are from London so that show should kill. And the Horseshoe's already selling briskly. The new self-titled due out first of the month is really a dense production that grows on you but is a counterpoint to their balls out stage show which could be compared in intensity to The Sadies.

I'll give you that one Velvet as much as it comes off as mockery. Whatever to the grow the fuck up.

Sweet!!!

Wait what's your guys take on eating there in the meantime when he's not working. I mean doesn't someone in a capacity to make that distinction have to actually have a conversation with you ie. you paid in pennies that one time sorry can't serve you. I'd be interested to just stand my ground peacefully and ask for them not to serve me and here the rationale. From my friends they'd be choked and a bit awkward. I already wrote a beautiful letter to the owner that acknowledges my shortcomings but how it was an unacceptable situation on the gentleman's behalf.

It's my neighborhood patio, it serves good brunch, the rest of the staff are my buds - that's it. I'm going to have an interesting chat with the owner.

Guys I'm not retarded. I'm not literally going to scare the shit out of him by introducing him to Ray Ray. The guy seriously exhibited some shitty humanity and I've been really kind to him like given him hours of music and Hold Steady shit he loves and we've basically been buddies. Yes, should I let this guy rent space in my brain? No. Does this need to be discussed in private rationally with an owner yes very very much. Come on you guys get that, you can't in any occupation come at someone with aggression and embarass them in front of customers. I handled and am handling this well. I'm chilling don't sweat it, it just pissed me off to all hell.

It seems like BradM and Phishtaper have sage points and you all get it. Understand that I've supported this place since it first opened, I also worked in the Thai restaurant that occupied the space for the two years before so alot of the clientele are my former clientele and also my neighbours. The servers are generally my friends. My issue was with how this single server could unilaterally and in an aggressive fashion make this decision. Worst case scenario, the owner or manager takes you aside in Private and has a chat with you. You're not getting my drift here either, I have an invisible disability I sometimes am compelled to overtalk (hypomania) or be bad with financial management (hence the on a personal level saying the chef was putting me through hell). We're also all in the SERVICE industry. It just goes past a "I'm not going to eat there anymore trip" for me. Also come on let's be serious here guys I'm a thug, I'm the most peaceful guy in the world but this guy went to my high school like six years before me and is a tiny little wannabe hipster douchebag who plays rugby. Two guys get into a confrontation and one is unable to act on their aggression - shit happens. Think about two male dogs meeting on a roadside- they figure out pretty quick who the alpha is. It genuinely threw me, was really insulting and embarassing and yeah I wanted to smash the guy. Best solution seriously boys is me and my fellow sous-chef Ray Ray (who is Green Mile big, very black, hair in corn rows and the heart of an angel). We're just going to go in and have a polite breakfast - on me of course - and tip heavily next time Ryan's working.