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To be clear, there was a fourth band on the bill this night, but due to driving an hour and a half to get to the show, I missed them, arriving instead towards the end of the energetic set by Set Your Goals. With a lot of dual vocals and a drummer with a huge tattoo across his bare chest, SYG was good. I was only familiar with one of their songs “Mutiny,” so when they launched into it, I was able to compare their recordings with a live reproduction. Not bad. The best thing SYG has going for them…

Here are another 5 quick picks for you, the loyal reader: ALBUM: Mandy Moore / Amanda Leigh – One of the albums most likely to turn heads in 2009 is Amanda Leigh. Produced and co-written with Mike Viola with additional contributions from Inara George, Lori McKenna and Tracy Bonham, the songs are introspective and organic while melodic and catchy. Expect to see Mandy on talk show circuit with clavinet-driven first single “I Could Break Your Heart Any Day Of The Week” serving as a good first taste. (mandymoore.com)BOOK: Peter Ellenby / Every Day Is Saturday – Years ago Peter Ellenby…

Here are another 5 quick picks for you, the loyal reader: ALBUM: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. / Catnip Dynamite – Roger Joseph Manning Jr. has long stood out in the music business for a number of reasons. First, he was a founding member of Jellyfish and Imperial Drag. Second, he is one of the most in-demand keyboardists, having played and/or toured with everyone from Morrissey to Jay-Z, from Beck To Neil Diamond, and so forth. “Catnip Dynamite” is another sugary power-pop album by RJMJ, full of the harmonies and psychedelic that his prior bands were known for. Those who already…

[Editor's note: Cover images of albums previously reviewed on the DV have been linked to the review.]In light of the oncoming train of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations headed our way, here is my contribution: something to fix your head the morning after, remove the whiskey burn from the back of your throat and get you back smiling once again. Take up your annual break once again from traditional barrage of Pogues and Dubliners that rest assured will be seething from every Irish Rover, O’Shea’s and Doyle’s pub that has managed to pervade wherever it is you live. Hopefully you’ll stop…

Here are another 5 quick picks for you, the loyal reader:ALBUM: MC Lars / This Gigantic Robot Kills – A pioneer of laptop-based hip-hop, MC Lars has long been renowned for combining topical lyrics with hooky choruses. The first release on Crappy Records, the new label headed Bowling For Soup’s Jaret Reddick and producer Linus Of Hollywood, This Gigantic Robot Kills is more of the same from Lars, only with a star-studded ensemble cast. Featuring many cameos -- “Weird Al” Yankovic, members of Cobra Starship, The Donnas, Simple Plan, The Aquabats and Suburban Legends, among others -– the cameos generally…

Here are another 5 quick picks for you, the loyal reader: MUSIC: Tinted Windows – Set to make their live debut at SXSW, Tinted Windows is an all-star band to be reckoned with. Fronted by Taylor Hanson, the group also features Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Fountains Of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger, and Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos. Shortly after their first gig, the group’s first album will be released through S-Curve Records on April 21st. Power-pop fans ought to be on the look-out for this project, which looks to be more than a one-off. (myspace.com/tintedwindows) BOOK: Kathi Elster…

David Byrne has always been quirky, but he's never been inaccessible. Coming to fame as the frontman of New Wave outfit Talking Heads in the ‘70s, he's turned heads with his crazy wardrobe choices, guest starred on The Simpsons and appeared on every Windows XP user's computer by default with “Like Humans Do.” And it seems that age is only improving him. After the release of his most recent collaboration with producer Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, the eccentric white-haired funk veteran returned to Australian shores in the first week of February for the Songs Of David…

Here are another 5 quick picks for you, the loyal reader: MUSIC:  Superdrag / Industry Giants – Original lineup intact, Superdrag returns with Industry Giants, their first new studio album in more than half a decade. Furthermore, it's the first album to feature songwriting and lead vocal contributions by bassist Tom Pappas and guitarist Brandon Fisher. Older and wiser, the group's tempos, dynamics, and lyrical themes are all over the place this time around. But for a taste of manic, high-energy rock, start with the John Davis-penned album opener “Slow To Anger.” Touring in support of the album will start…

Stubbornness is a quality that runs throughout my family, which has on occasion caused a few arguments that result in an armistice more than a long-lasting peace. Neither side wishes to admit a wrongdoing, demanding instead that the other see their view and submit to it. Over the years, this can result in tension so great that it threatens to tear apart what were once incredibly strong bonds. Despite any amount of success, that stubbornness can rear its head at any given moment. Metallica faced such problems during the recording of the infamous St. Anger and the ensuring documentary Some…

[Editor's note: Cover images of albums previously reviewed on the DV have been linked to the review.]Winter's got its good qualities.  Viewed in a positive light, it's a cavalcade of sparkly splendor, a months-long dispensation to wear stupid sweaters, light fires indoors and chug eggnog like it is Evian. But no matter how positive the light, the fact remains that there are a measly four hours of it per day.  The rest of the time, it is Dark.  And it is Cold.  The sky and earth are dirty chalkboards, washed in streaky gray.  Icy winds abrade skin and spirit.  Cars…