Ropeadope

The first time I was blown away by Bodega was at a dive bar in West Chester where they (literally) tore the roof of the spot. The second time I was blown away by Bodega was at the 2007 All Good Festival when they were the house band on the Ropeadope stage backing everyone from The Lee Boys to Marco Benevento and then just kept playing this crazy trance music all through the night. The third time I was blown away by Bodega was when they handed me their master recording for their Ropeadope debut "Bounce". People - trust me, if this was 10 years ago these guys would be the subject of a bidding war. They are THAT good. Super young and fresh from Philly (students at the University of the Arts) these guys are going to be blowing folks away for a long time to come. Get blown away.

Years after Danger Mouse fucked up The White Album. Jay-Z jumps in the mash and mixes shit up with Radiohead. Click here for free downloads - worth the effort.

If the music business were dog years, Ropeadope (now celebrating our 10 year anniversary) would be as old as Blue Note (now celebrating their 70th). Celebrate with some Blue Note (by Ropeadope) tees here and here. And let's all cheer - hip-hip-hooray for blue note (still) the finest in jazz.

My man P-Fitz sends me the good stuff even if I don't check it out right away. Case in point? This redunkulous (!!!) photo essay of the year that was 2008. nuts.

Straight from the source this February, Medeski ,Martin & Wood will play three highly exclusive engagements in NYC. It's been awhile since MMW have played in Manhattan and they are excited to be back. They will play February 17 - 92Y TriBeCA (Acoustic), february 18 - Le Poisson Rouge (Radiolarians)and February 19 - City Winery (With Special Guest). Tickets for all shows go on sale Wednesday, January 7th through each venue's website. Jonesing? Take a hit.

(i) Six absurd phobias and the people that have them; (ii) being a funny scary banana is a job i would like (for one day); (iii) strange japanese commercial; and (iv) your objective as a giant Eagle is to feed your hungry babies by catching and feeding them as many people as possible.

Wasting no time in the oh-nine, the good people of kicksville set the tone early by going Wacky- the latest single from their singles club and this one sets the tone for a whole new year. Go on, listen here and then play it for your friends and say "Guess who this is?". Answers might range from The New Deal to The Battles. Point 'em straight to Kicksville - once they're hooked and wanting more. Pick up Wacky here.

You and me and everyone else picked The Fleet Foxes self-titled debut on their "best of 2008" lists right? . But dig these sisters from Sweden (15 and 18) doing an amazing cover and more.  Makes you sort of wonder - which one's best? Put it to the test.

I'm not like the hardcore jazz phd, I just like the music ya know? One guy that helped me find my back in the day was Freddie "Hub" Hubbard.  His two 1970 recordings for CTI- Red Clay and Straight Life - got me hooked. Freddie's recent passing got me looking back and forward and back and forward. We'll miss you Freddie, and the Ropeadope flag hangs at half mast while we play The National Windjammer

Yea, you're back to the grind and it's 2009 and you're a little bored and you wouldn't mind....seeing stupid people doing stupid things. Right. Well - there's a new place you can go to feel better about yourself by seeing how stupid some people can be when they try and be a bragster - billed as facebook meets jackass it's really entertaining. go 'head I dare ya to check it out.