Cleveland Concert Update: November 25th to December 13th

Tonight. Tuesday, November 25th: Marnie Stern, Talk Normal, Mystery of Two, and Marie Corbo @ Beachland Tavern. Electric Six, Local H, Townhouse Suite @ The Grog Shop.

Wednesday, November 26th: This Way Out Anniversary Show with Hot Rails, The Dreadful Yawns, and To Be …

F*cked Up Do Daytrotter

Canadian hardcore/art-core/progressive core/all kinds of core you ain't never dreamed of, band F*cked Up, recently stopped by Daytrotter to lay down an exclusive four song mix. Included in this free download, is a clean and crisp version of "Crooked Head," now with 90% …

"Headin' Inside" by Surf City

Simply put, if you're a fan of the new lo-fi sounds on Siltbreeze, or the new wave of underground punk/pop on In the Red Records, you need Surf City's EP. And when the New Zealand band add in those vintage surf guitars, buckets of boundless energy, and that …

Moving Pictures: "I Saw the Light" by State Bird

State Bird's video for "I Saw the Light" validates the old adage: Who needs a big budget for a music video when you have big fun. Lasers, scribbles, shirtless dudes jumping and screaming in joy, and a Full House era Olsen Twin plastered on the wall, all add to the …

"Folksong Oblivion" by The Phantom Band

Much like Future of the Left's "Suddenly a Folk Song," The Phantom Band's "Folksong Oblivion" isn't as much of a folk song, as a song with folksy elements interpreted by a band intent on not writing a folk song. The opening, with its loose guitar chords, alternating …

MF'N Chinese Democracy...

is streaming now at Myspace. Listen at your own peril and/or pleasure.

"Baby Can You Dig Your Man?" by Little Death

With the bite and bounce of the Pixies and the urgency and zeal of early singles by Ash, Little Death's "Baby Can You Dig Your Man?" hits the speakers with forceful conviction. It's got everything a great indie rock song should have: a good sense of dynamics with …

"My Thin Sides" by Army Navy

Ever wonder what happened to the dancing dude in The Mighty Mighty Bosstones? You know the guy, the one who served no purpose in the band, but to dance? I think we've found him. It's either him, or a long lost cousin, with the scene stealing performance in Army …

From the IRCWHQ Newsdesk: The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach Announces His First Solo Album

From Billboard.com, we have the details behind Dan Auerbach's first solo album. The 14 track Keep it Hid, will be released February 10th on Nonesuch Records and will encompass a wider range of styles than typically found on a Black Keys release. There'll be some …

Deerhunter and Times New Viking Live @ The Grog Shop Cleveland. 11.14.08

I'd be hard pressed to name an artist as genuine, as good natured, and as caring as Deerhunter's Bradford Cox. Before his band's set at the Grog Shop Friday night, he was out in the courtyard in front of the venue, hanging out and talking with fans. During the sound …

"The Asiatic Capital Vista" by Beaten by Them

Think about it, an Asiatic capital vista. If you're a dumb American like me, you may have trouble naming an Asiatic capital, let alone envisioning what one would like. Still, I want you to stick with that image.

Now, take a listen to the grand, sweeping movements of …

From the IRCWHQ Newsdesk: Black Keys Announce Cleveland Agora Gig

Hot from the inbox, The Black Keys have announced another Northeast, Ohio hometown gig. They'll be playing the Cleveland Agora on Friday, January 30th with Cincinnati retro rockers Buffalo Killers, and Cleveland up and comers Black Girls. Because I care, I'll point …

The Battle of the Indie Video Vixens: Marnie Stern vs Those Dancing Days

It's Marnie Stern versus Those Dancing Days in an epic battle for your heartstrings.

In one corner, there's Marnie Stern, and her new video for "Ruler." The dream girl, guitar shredder who does a play on Rocky in this clip, complete with the raw egg breakfast, intense …

From the IRCWHQ Newsdesk: Jessica Lea Mayfield's With Blasphemy So Heartfelt Scores Big With Pitchfork

Writing for Pitchfork, Stephen M. Deusner had some very nice things to say about Kent native, Jessica Lea Mayfield's latest release, With Blasphemy So Heartfelt:

Jessica Lea Mayfield sings with a drawl that goes slightly flat when she sustains notes and gives certain …

Announcing the Light in the Attic Holiday Sale

The good people at Light in the Attic are kicking off their first Holiday Sale and to make things even sweeter (sweeter than a $17 bundle of two Black Angels cds, an ep, and a poster) we're offering you an extra 10% off three I Rock Cleveland recommended titles. Just …

Moving Pictures: "Dog Days" by Florence and the Machine

Even without a full length to their name, Florence and the Machine have built up quite the collection of intense, sometimes dark, and always heart-felt folk, and garage rock songs. Who can forget the romping, stomping "Kiss With a Fist?" Now, that song was one top …

"Tambourine" by Happy Hollows

Like fellow Silver Lake rockers, Silversun Pickups, Happy Hollows have an affinity for that '90s alt rock and shoegaze sound. For Silversun Pickups, the inspiration is Billy Corgan and Smashing Pumpkins. For, Happy Hollows, it's Lush. As you listen to "Tambourine," …

"Tora Tora Tora" by Pretty & Nice

Can you imagine if someone had the nerve to sing a song with the line, "And the Muslim extremists were singing 'Death to the godless infidels' as they flew their hijacked airplanes into the World Trade Center?" Now, I don't think that would go over too well. Yet, when …

"Naked Caveman" by Black Ladies

A perfect synthesis of song title and song, Black Ladies' "Naked Caveman," moves with the brutal force of a crazed, early man bradishing a bone club looking for a good skull to bash. It may just be bass and drums, a dirty groove, and a gutteral grunt, but ask yourself, …

Cleveland Concert Update: November 7th to November 22nd

Friday, November 7th: Plastic Crimewave Sound (feat. DJin of Ya Ha Wha 13) , Mondo Drag, Double Murder Suicide, DJ Krauty Mckraut @ Grog Shop.

Saturday, November 8th: The Flaming Lips' Christmas on Mars @ CIA Cinemateque.

Sunday, November 9th: The Flaming Lips' Christmas …