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Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: Kurt Baker / Got It Covered – Formerly the frontman of The Leftovers, Kurt Baker makes his solo debut with the Got It Covered EP. Featuring covers of Blondie, Rick Springfield, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello & The Attractions -- to name 4 out of 7 -- Baker shows his power-pop influences while adding his own energy to the mix. Produced by Linus Of Hollywood and featuring a cameo by Kay Hanley, Got It Covered is a pleasant reminder of how great the Top 40 used to be. (kurtbakermusic.com)…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: The Damned Things / Ironiclast – An all-star band of sorts, The Damned Things features 2/5 of Anthrax, 2/4 of Fall Out Boy, and 2/5 of Every Time I Die. Somewhere between arena rock,  metal and Misfits-inspired punk, The Damned Things are dark yet heavy on hooks and riffs. Hopefully this is not just a “side project” and there are more albums to come. (thedamnedthings.com) BOOK: Craig Ferguson / American On Purpose – Craig Ferguson is best known as the host of the Late Late Show on CBS, which…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: Gorillaz / The Fall – Damon Albarn –- leader of Gorillaz, Blur and The Good The Bad & The Queen -- decided to end his 2010 with a massive challenge: making an entire album on an iPad. Which he gave out to fan club members on Christmas for free. Which was on the heels of the top-notch 2010 release Plastic Beach. Whether or not you love the genre-bending music of Gorillaz (Plastic Beach is undeniably far superior to The Fall), the work ethic of the nearly-all-star band is practically…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: Mike Viola and Kelly Jones / Melon – In an age when most artists think economically, it is rare for artists to go “deluxe” on a creative project. In mid-2010, Mike Viola and Kelly Jones –- two renowned songwriters based in L.A. with roots in New York –- opted to record a vinyl-only, live-in-the-studio, acoustic. Now, Melon can be found on iTunes and Amazon MP3. “Steal Your Heart Away” (a Fleetwood Mac cover) and “There Goes My Baby” (a re-working of an earlier Viola-produced Jones recording) must be heard.…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: Hooray For Earth / Momo – Hooray For Earth has been renowned for distorted guitar sounds and gloomy lyrics going above layered melodic vocals. The Boston-rooted, New York City-based delivers a somewhat-new style their Momo EP, bringing more atmospheric keyboards and sounds into the mix. Prepare to be blown away by the anthemic (and optimistic) one-two punch that is “Surrounded By Your Friends” and “Comfortable, Comparable.” (hoorayforearth.net) BOOK: Jerry Weintraub / When I Stop Talking You’ll Know I’m Dead – Jerry Weintraub has had many roles in the entertainment…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: Gary Numan – Although he is primarily known for hits like “Cars” and “Down In The Park,” Gary Numan has long been renowned by music die-hards for being a pioneer of the synthesizer. Thus, Numan’s music has been covered by a wide range of artists from the Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails to Armand Van Helden and Basement Jaxx. At a recent New York City show at the Best Buy Theater, Numan flawlessly played his landmark album The Pleasure Principle in its entirety with a five-piece band backing…

I’m pretty proud of my concert repertoire; in my six or so years as a music reviewer, I’ve seen Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2, stalked James Blunt (he was cool at the time, okay?!), and endured a horde of rednecks to see Seal  at a county fair. But somehow, even the most major of those acts doesn’t quite compare to my night seeing Matt & Kim at Ram’s Head Live on Saturday, October 23rd. It’s funny, I’ve never heard a Matt & Kim song before that night, save for their big hit “Daylight,” which graced many a commercial last…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: X JAPAN – With a record-breaking 18 sell-outs of the 50,000-capacity Tokyo Dome to their credit, X JAPAN is arguably the most successful rock band in the history of Japan. Most artists would be content to relish in their domestic success, yet X JAPAN opted for their first U.S. tour this year, 28 years after their formation. Led by flamboyant drummer/pianist/composer Yoshiki, the group brought their full-scale production to the States, presenting it in front of a surprisingly-capacity crowd at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom. Given X JAPAN’s recent…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: The Madison Square Gardeners / Taste The Thunder – Arguably my new favorite New York City band, The Madison Square Gardeners are a six-piece alt-country combo that may remind you of both Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and The Replacements. A collective of scene veterans, all of the Gardeners are professional sidemen, having played with everyone from The New York Dolls and Ben Kweller to Dar Williams and Roseanne Cash. Although there are three songwriters and lead vocalists in the fold, all of the songs on Taste The Thunder…

Metal fans form a unique family, something I realized on Monday July 19 at People’s Court. People really looked out for each other that night, and it made the night that much better. The venue is divided into a large music area and a separate bar area. If someone fell down in the pit, someone helped them up. If someone slammed the door open going into the bathroom and startled someone, there was an apology (“Sorry, dude”) and an embarrassed smile. When I ventured into the bar, the bartender was friendly. The music being played was tasteful. I was in…