I’m just about to go enjoy the Orlando sun, but I just have to say that nothing sounds better than The Thermals have to me over the past three days.  I posted about them back in August but their album never hit me like it has lately.  Check out the tracks below, then go down some champagne and ring in 2007.

Buy: Insound
Myspace: The Thermals
MP3: The Thermals - A Pillar Of Salt
MP3: The Thermals - Here’s Your Future

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are making their way back through the US in support of their double album Stadium Arcadium. This time out, they bring along 2006 hype sensation Gnarls Barkley for a performance at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on February 28th, 2007. We caught both acts at Lollapalooza this year and Gnarls again at ACL. While we weren’t blown away by either’s performances, it’s nice to see that these acts are playing Wisconsin.

Tickets are $56.50 and go on sale at 10am CST on January 6th, 2007.

I’m off to Orlando to say goodbye to 2006 and hello to 2007. I’m hoping UW can pull off a victory over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl. This will be the last post of the year, check back next week as we resume what we do and share some of our favorite records, songs, and blogs from 2006.

Thanks for reading Muzzle of Bees, we’re almost 2 years old and are planning a nice little party/DJ stint for you Madison folks at one of our favorite local venues. Keep January 16th open on your calendars and have a safe and happy new year’s eve.

Thanks to reader joe d for letting us know about the upcoming Asobi Seksu shows in Milwaukee and Chicago. I was supposed to catch these guys with Mates of State at the El Ray Theatre in Los Angeles last month, but missed out due to flight delays. I’m very excited to see they will be making a tour stop at Mad Planet in Milwaukee on January 24th, and two nights later at the Abbey Pub in Chicago on January 26th.

Asobi Seksu’s 2006 album, Citrus continutes to be a big favorite of mine and am really looking forward to their show in Milwaukee.

UPDATE: The Milwaukee show is with The Appleseed Cast, which calls for me to amend the above statement of “looking forward to their show” to I will not miss this!

Related: Pitchfork Review - Citrus [8.3] and interview from 10.26.2006.
Myspace: The Appleseed Cast
Myspace: Asobi Seksu
Buy: Insound

One group whose album keeps popping up on best of lists for the year is Girl Talk’s Night Ripper.  They will be playing a free show at UW’s Union South on March 24th.  Pitchfork gave the album an 8.4 and describes it as, “a hulking hyper-mix designed to make you dance, wear out predictable ideas, and defy hopeless record-reviewing.”

MP3: Hold Up
MP3: Bounce That
Myspace: Girl Talk

Also:

3/7 - Reverend Horton Heat/Murder By Death - Palace Latin Club, Madison
3/20 - Sebadoh - The Rave, Milwaukee

Here are a few of the concerts that will remain with me for some time, one possibly forever. Seeing Broken Social Scene at Lollapalooza and being able to stand on stage, literally a few feet away from the band and take in the thousands of people who didn’t give a shit about the Red Hot Chili Peppers who were about to close down the festivities about 500 yards away is hands down the best concert I took part of this year, if not ever. The Radiohead concert at the Chicago Auditorium Theatre ranks second and would have easily been number one had I not attended Lollapalooza.

1. Broken Social Scene - Lollapalooza, Chicago (Muzzle of Bees Post)

2. Radiohead - Chicago Auditorium Theatre, Chicago (Muzzle of Bees Review)

3. Pearl Jam/My Morning Jacket - Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON (Muzzle of Bees Review)

Say what you will about Eddie Vedder and company, but these guys were huge for me growing up, and It had been years since I was really a fan of theirs. This show made me feel like I was in my teens again and made me fall in love and appreciate the band all over again. It was the first of three times I saw this year and this one still resonates strongly.

4. Cat Power - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC

I never wrote about this show. I was in DC for work. I needed this show, it was my frist time seeing Chan, all by myself in a city far from home, yet I felt completely comfortable. I saw her again last month in LA and while the shows were nearly identical, the DC show was much more powerful.

5. Wilco - The Barrymore Theatre, Madison (Muzzle of Bees Review)

6. Hot Chip - Lollapalooza, Chicago (Muzzle of Bees Review)

7. Lucero - Mad Planet, Milwaukee (Muzzle of Bees Review)

8. The Go! Team - Lollapalooza, Chicago (Muzzle of Bees Review)

9. The New Pornographers - High Noon Saloon, Madison (Muzzle of Bees Review)

10. TV On The Radio/Grizzly Bear - The Metro, Chicago (Muzzle of Bees Review)

11. M. Ward - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee (Muzzle of Bees Review)

12. Jeff Tweedy - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee (Muzzle of Bees Review)

13. Neko Case - The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee (Muzzle of Bees Review)

14. Bloc Party - Intonation Music Festival, Chicago (Muzzle of Bees Review)

15. Frank Black - High Noon Saloon, Madison (Muzzle of Bees Review)

16. Sufjan Stevens - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee (Muzzle of Bees Review)

17. Jolie Holland/Sean Hayes - High Noon Saloon, Madison

18. Catfish Haven/Pink Mountaintops - The Khyber, Philadelphia (Muzzle of Bees Review)

19. Lewis & Clarke/Mi & L’au - World Cafe Live, Philadelphia (Muzzle of Bees Review)

20. The Hold Steady - Lollapalooza, Chicago

21. William Elliott Whitmore - Mad Planet, Milwaukee

I got a press release today that I wanted to share because it was of a “super group” of sorts that I didn’t even have on my radar. The Good The Bad & The Queen is Damon Albarn’s (Blur/Gorillaz) newest creation and is being mixed by none other than DJ Dangermouse himself. The self-titled album is set for release on January 23rd, and it features Paul Simonon (Clash) on bass and Tony Allen (Fela Kuti) on drums.

A pre-order of the first single, “Kingdom of Doom” here which also gives you access to four additional tracks off the album as well.

Update: Gorilla vs. Bear has an MP3
Myspace: The Good The Bad & The Queen
Myspace: Gorillaz

Pete Yorn makes his return to Madison on March 4th at the Palace Music Club located at 1401 University Ave.  Anyone know anymore about this venue?  Is it the venue that was formerly Luther’s Blues?

Tickets are $22 in advance (beginning on January 7th at 1:35PM) or $20 at the door day of show.

Myspace: Pete Yorn

The Lemonheads will play Milwaukee’s Shank Hall on Saturday, February 17th.  The show starts at 8PM and tickets are $25.

Myspace: The Lemonheads

This post is geared towards those of you who have been enjoying Hot Chip all year. I stumbled upon the GrecoRoman Myspace page directly from my visit to Hot Chip’s page only to find some humorously brilliant material as well as some strait up danceable tracks. The track, “Madlib Greenery” is worth your time in clicking alone, and yes, it’s that Madlib.

Some further digging revealed this post on Music For Robots which includes a download of a nearly 60 minute set for your enjoyment. This Friday GrecoRoman will be teaming up with the Slutty Oysters, Four Tet and DJ Never Forget amongst others for GrecoRoman vs. Christmas.

Oh to be back in the UK…