Aerosmith lays off Steven Tyler

Complete story at The Onion

Gary Numan Goes Commercial

Note to young rockers, if you can write a hit about something as ubiquitous as a car, it is going to keep you in eyeliner for a long long time.  

Witness below one godfather of electronic music, Gary Numan in a pair of unpredictable ads, one for Diehard batteries, the other a Scottish public service announcement.  

Perhaps my favorite part of these ads is Numan's unapologetically dour facade, even while these ads show this most seminal music figure must have a sense of humor buried deep within.  In view of Numan's upcoming Pleasure Principle Tour one would imagine he's not at a loss for ways to promote himself, but I do hear that even Gary Numan has to eat. 

Magic Shoppe and 28 Degrees Taurus at the Rosebud Diner Somerville

Made it out last week to see former Green Magnet School guitarist Chris Pearson's newest gig, playing with local trip-rockers Magic Shoppe at my new favorite venue The Rosebud Diner in Somerville.  Why is this my new favorite venue?  Where to start?  First off you can sit down.  Ah, my old bones!  Second, you can order a pizza from your nice waitress and eat it while you watch the bands.  Third, so far I've not seen a bad show here.  The booking is really well done.  Though one might think the lack of stage and low fi sound system could hamper the "I am at a show experience" I completely disagree.  This is a venue with a nice degree of intimacy with the artists but not one where you are on top of them with no escape.  El perfecto. 

But anyway, see below for Magic Shoppe footage.  Though 28 Degrees Taurus turned in a fantastic set, sadly no video, but everyone should check out their boy-girl arty psych burn.  And that drummer, oh he gives me shivers.