“Well, go ahead and call the cops. You don’t meet nice girls in coffee shops.” Favorite records of all time? Mule Variations makes my list. What makes your list? What records have you rediscovered lately?

It’s our hope that you’ll find a new favorite or another release to keep your eyes on.

MP3: The Swedes - “Julie Walker”
MP3: The Swedes - “Burning Fever”
MP3: The Swedes - ” Making Up Words”
[from Nothing Says Rich Like Golf Clubs; out 6/10/08]

MP3: Afghan Raiders - “Solid Gold”
MP3: Afghan Raiders - “Future Thinkers”
[from Afghan Raiders; out now on Badical Beats]

MP3: Mates of State - “My Only Offer”
[from Re-Arrange Us; out 5/20/08 on Barsuk Records]

MP3: David Ramos - “Pulse” (Myopathic remix)
MP3: David Ramos - “Kings and Queens” (Ernest Gonzales remix)
[from This Up Here; now available]

MP3: Orouni - “Panic at The Beehive”
MP3: Orouni - “A Greased & Golden Palm”
[now available, self released]

MP3: The Big Sleep - “Bad Blood”
MP3: The Big Sleep - “Pinkies”
[from Sleep Forever; now available on Frenchkiss Records]

Daytrotter: Times New Viking
Daytrotter: Cursive

Find more MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

Tom Waits tickets went on sale today. Were you successful in obtaining paperless tickets? I’ll be spending my birthday with Mr. Waits in Jacksonville.

Myspace: Tom Waits
MP3: Tom Waits - “You Can Never Hold Back Spring”
MP3: Tom Waits - “Bottom Of The World”

The Everybodyfields will return to Cafe Montmartre on Thursday, May 29th. This show comes highly recommended to the masses who attended the Avett Brothers last week. Same label y’all.

Tickets: $10

Myspace: The Everybodyfields
MP3: The Everybodyfields - “Aeroplane”

Also Announced: 8/6 - We Are Scientists - High Noon Saloon, Madison

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+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Frightened Rabbit show at the High Noon Saloon on Friday, May 30th. Their latest release, The Midnight Organ Fight got the Tuesday’s Gold treatment and let’s not forget the awesomeness of its predecessor Sing The Greys.

Unrelated: MoB is coming to you over the next seven days from our temporary home in Berlin, Germany. With past travel excursions as precedent, you can expect the same music coverage as usual with the addition of some travel related blogging and photos. Please pass along your hot spots and recommendations.

Myspace: Frightened Rabbit
MP3: Frightened Rabbit - “Modern Leper”

Find MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

If you come around MoB on the regular you’re sure to have read us rave about Weinland. The Portland group have two albums Demersville and La Lamentor, both come highly recommended to anyone who has a taste for folk/americana. We’ve partnered with True Endeavors to have Weinland open things up for The Silos (who call Bloodshot Records home) for an early show in memoriam of Drew Glackin at the High Noon Saloon on Thursday June 5th.

Tickets: $15 / 21+ / Purchase Online
Show Time: 6:30PM

Previously: 5 Questions With Weinland / We Like: La Lamentor
Previously: We Like: John Weinland - Demersville
Previously: Muzzleofbees.com - 2006 Favorites: Albums
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Myspace: The Silos
Myspace: Wienland
MP3: Wienland - “Sick As A Gun”

Find more MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

The Pabst Theater continues to bring quality live performances to Milwaukee with the recent addition of M. Ward to their calendar on Saturday, July 19th.

Boy does this announcement bring back memories! Post-War and the following tour were undeniable favorites for us here at MoB and pretty much everywhere else.

The Pabst is offering a free Pabst T-shirt if you buy tickets to both Bon Iver and M. Ward.

Tickets: $15 / General Admission / All Ages

eMembers Pre-Sale
Starts Mon., 05/19 @ Noon
Ends Thurs., 05/22 @ Midnight

Myspace: M. Ward

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+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

Josh Ritter has a better time on stage (or at least appears to) that 89% of the bands I’ve seen this year. He actually seems to enjoy his work. Refreshing. His set got an automatic bump from “good time” to “memorable” with a stunning acoustic take on Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel #2.” The sold out crowd was polite and attentive, though they needed assistance from the equally annoying/loud people reminding everyone to “shhhh.”

Musically Ritter and crew were tight and compelling. Something for everyone in a crowd that included pretty girls, frat boys, hipsters, hippies, parents and grandparents. Being widely accessible is a quality that Ritter parlays into sold out shows and great records. Speaking of records, last night’s performance had me rushing to my external hard drive this morning to recover The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter and Animal Years. I’ve not yet checked out Ritter’s live double disc (CD/DVD) In the Dark: Live at Vicar Street that was released earlier this year, but his live show is incentive enough to pick it up.

Let us know what you though of last night’s show. Do you have the aforementioned live album? What is Josh Ritter’s best album? You can keep tabs on Josh by reading the blog he maintains at The Huffington Post. Good stuff.

Myspace: Josh Ritter
MP3: Josh Ritter - “Chelsea Hotel #2″ (Leonard Cohen)
MP3: Josh Ritter - “Girl In The War”
MP3: Josh Ritter - “Thin Blue Flame”

More MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

At the beginning of the month we dropped the Stay Positive track listing on y’all. Indeed kids, the new record from The Hold Steady nears with each passing day (July 15th on Vagrant). The Hold Steady played Milwaukee last month while everyone in Madison was taking in Bon Iver over at the Stage Door. Somehow I knew Craig Finn and crew wouldn’t miss the chance to revisit Madison, especially with new material ready to be delivered for your aural pleasure.

The Hold Steady + The Loved Ones will play the Majestic Theatre in Madison on Monday, July 21st. No case of the Monday’s that week, beer and liquor vendors can anticipate a hefty payday due to the escalated amounts of beer and whiskey consumption. Though it didn’t make the upcoming record, I’m going to make a public request they play “Ask Her For Some Adderall”

Tickets: $16.50 Advanced / $18.50 Day Of Show
On Sale: Tuesday, May 20 @ 10:00 am via Majestic Theatre, by phone (1800-514-ETIX), at CONTEXT (next door to the Majestic, 113 King Street), STRICTLY DISCS, B Side Records, Mad City Music, PIPEFITTER, MOCO MARKET, and online at www.TrueEndeavors.com.

Previously: From The Crowd | The Hold Steady “Chips Ahoy!”
Previously: Review: The Hold Steady - Orpheum Stage Door
Previously: The Hold Steady: “Hot Soft Light” - Live from Madison
Previously: The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me
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Myspace: The Hold Steady
Myspace: The Loved Ones
MP3: The Hold Steady - Your Little Hoodrat Friend

More MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

It wasn’t all that surprising to read yesterday that Jonathan Meiburg was surrendering his duties in Okkervil River (who you guys really love) to focus solely on Shearwater. Anyone who’s spent time with Palo Santo can’t argue with their musical talents. The follow up record, Rook, arrives via Matador on June 3rd, and after having it on heavy rotation over the past week, digesting the content, feeling it out, gotta say it’s a pretty great record.

You don’t have to simply take our word for it though! Muzzle of Bees has arranged a few intimate listening sessions of Rook including the first Madison preview to be unveiled next week at the Majestic Theatre before the screening of label mates The National’s upcoming DVD A Skin, A Night on Tuesday, May 20th.

In addition I’ll also be hosting a listening session for Rook at Strictly Discs on the evening of Monday, June 2nd so you’ll have plenty of time to take a listen before picking up a copy for yourself. I won’t leave you without a digital morsel to wet your appetite, grab the first single “Rooks” as a free and legal download below.

Myspace: Shearwater
MP3: Shearwater - “Rooks” (Rook)
MP3: Shearwater - ““Red Sea, Black Sea” (Palo Santo: Expanded Edition)

More MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic