I’m sitting here listening to the new Nine Inch Nails offering (it’s purty good) because I have to review it for one of the alt weeklies in Louisville. In honor of Trent & Co., please enjoy this Vulcanized version of “Closer.”

I’m fascinated by all this bucking of the system, as it were, considering how little money musicians actually make from album sales (unless they’re like Madonna or something). The Slip is available as a DRM-free download and the multi-track versions are available for people who want to do remixes. Of course it could be argued that Reznor and Radiohead don’t need the money that potential sales could garner therefore it’s easier to try new adventures in record releasing. However, it only takes a spark to light a fire or some such cliché, and it will be interesting to see how these new models trickle down to smaller bands (or have they trickled up? Is this voodoo economics?).

Rolling Stone has a story today about Rock’s New Economy and what smart artists are doing to make money in the face of lagging sales (licensing, merch and touring, etc). It’s interesting to figure that most major label bands would have to go Gold before they see a dime off royalties.

That said, I don’t mean to pan the major label system. The giants have a place at the table. Some of my closest friends work at majors and it’s tough to see them dealing with an ever shrinking environment when they are dedicated and work hard… to bring us Hannah Montana… just kitten!

However, I hope that from the current state of semi-controlled chaos something great can rise above and we’ll all get to be a part of it. Maybe it’s rising now.

In other news, longtime SXSW friend Bill Bentley (he who was the drummer in The Bizarros, a long ago Austin band that featured Sterling Morrison from the Velvet Underground), has launched a new site (along with managing editor Amanda Hanson) aimed at old folks talkin’ ’bout the old style too (to quote Peter, Bjorn & John)… I keed, as Sonic Boomers features music and cultural news and info that will help keep the 50 is the new 30 set au courant. Contributing writers come from such prestigious lands as Rolling Stone, Paste, The New York Times, The Washington Post,and NPR to name a few. Check it out (and tell me if there’s an RSS feed anywhere. I want to subscribe!)

Our email is down so I’m sure there’s other exciting stories to tell hidden within the depths of lost to Mother Nature server land. You shall just have to enjoy them next week!

Have a splendid weekend, lp

ps. Email me at musicblog@sxsw.com, if you like. I might get it one day!

We’ll start things off today with a new Flight of the Conchords video because seeing Jemaine’s meatless autograph wasn’t quite enough, right?

Weezer’s third eponymous album has had its release date moved up to June 3 due to overwhelming excitement from geeks around the world. Apparently this one is called The Red Album. Please enjoy this Guitar Hero version. This record is produced by Rick Rubin who is currently enjoying success with Neil Diamond. Everything that guy touches turns to gold (or platinum, if you will). It’s kind of scary. Did he sell his soul to the devil or something?

The Cure are releasing a single a month leading up to their 13th full length. Here’s one of them, “The Only One,” and though Robert Smith’s lyrical musings have become a bit suspect, the song is pretty undeniable and who doesn’t love The Cure? Who didn’t spend all of 1986 dressing up just like RS? I know it wasn’t just me!!!

That’s all for now. Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com. Or don’t. It’s cool either way, man.

Until tomorrow, lp

Please enjoy this autographed (by Jemaine Clement) package of Yves Meatless Roast Beef while I think of something else to write.

Flight of the Conchords have two more weeks of dates. Catch them if you can!

May 13 - Orpheum Theatre (Mpls), Minneapolis MN
May 14 - Chicago Theatre, Chicago IL
May 15 - Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver CO
May 26 - Sasquatch! Festival, George WA
May 27 - Nob Hill Masonic Center, San Francisco CA
May 30 - Orpheum Theater, LA CA

Back in a bit, lp

Email things to musicblog@sxsw.com.

MMJ on SNL - “I’m Amazed” and “Evil Urges”.

I know there’s probably tons of interesting music news out there in the ether, and I know you’re probably thinking, what is this - the SXSW MMJ Blog? But, I just got back from NY and aside from reading about Bon Iver tour dates, my focus has been pretty limited.

So here’s a tale about one girl’s trip to NY and the hallowed halls of Saturday Night Live…

Tom and I spent the early afternoon in Herald Square trying to find a black shirt with black buttons (so as not to clash with the black velvet jacket he wore). Thank G for H&M (my favorite store on earth!). If you ever wondered what bands are doing before performing on SNL, there’s one example.

An evening at SNL is a long one (you arrive around 4 and are there for about nine hours).

However, they are kind enough to provide you with good food, bread pudding, cheesecake and gelato (cookie dough gelato, no less!)

The band went through another set of rehearsals (the first being on Thursday) that sounded great in the studio. I will admit (and am sort of embarrassed, but) I got a bit choked up when I watched them do “I’m Amazed.” That song is purty good, I must say.

From 8 - 10 they do a dress rehearsal with a live audience to run through all the skits and both band performances. It was quite interesting to see how things evolved from dress to the actual show, and I think they did a great job of cutting out the fat. My favorite bits of the night were the MacGruber series and Bill Hader’s Italian talk show host.

Say what you will about SNL’s somewhat inconsistent nature, it’s pretty awesome to watch the show come together and see how hard the performers work. They seem like a genial, close-knit bunch (I’ve read about how it’s a pretty dog eat dog environment, but you don’t get that feeling when you’re there - at least not the parts I saw).

Oh, I forgot to mention that Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen warmed the crowd up with a cover of Blondie’s “One Way or Another.” She has a great voice, actually, which only makes her even cooler (if that’s possible). She has that Suze Orman voice down… and who was in the audience for the live show but… Suze Orman!! I got to walk out next to Suze Orman!! She was pretty good natured about the skit. I did not ask her for investment advice or if Oprah is nice or anything like that.

My Morning Jacket did really well, I thought. I figured I wouldn’t be surprised having watched the whole process, but then they ended with the stop-action thing (which they didn’t in rehearsal) so that was pretty cute. Those boys know how to entertain. I think we were all (the wives) sort of nervous for them, but I don’t know why - they’ve never not delivered in the hundreds of times I’ve seen them. However, this was probably their most high profile performance EVER (seriously, I watched Lorne Michaels and Amy Poehler rock out to the band. How insanely cool is that?!).

When the show is over, the cast, crew and loads of other people head to the after party and it was chock full of celebs (I admired Will Arnett from afar… I love that guy). I asked Bill Hader if he would do the LP Questionnaire, and he said yes so I’m excited about that. Will Forte told Tom he wants to go to Bonnaroo so maybe we’ll see him again someday. I never talk to famous people, mostly because what on earth am I going to say, really? But also because I think if I was a famous type person, would I want me stumbling up like a moron going, “You’re so cool. Tee hee. Can I steal your fork?” Probably not.

So that is what it’s like to spend a Saturday at Saturday Night Live. We got back to the hotel around 4.30 am. I haven’t stayed out that late since… umm… yeah. I can’t wait to get back to NYC next month for MMJ at Radio City Music Hall. They should dress up like the Rockettes.

It was a good week, lp

ps. How great was it that Pooch made it into the band pics?! He was super happy.

pps. Gibson Guitars are doing a giveaway for the MMJ RCMH show - you can win tickets and a kick-ass guitar. I really want that Flying V!

ppps. Don’t forget you can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com. And subscribe to our feedie here.

Much to the surprise of music lovers everywhere, long-time SXSW supporter, Harp Magazine, declared about two months ago (and the first day after this year’s SXSW) that it would cease publishing. Jaws dropped. But it is a trend that the publication industry is seeing more and more of everyday. The digital age is pushing through in a big way and the print world is starting to suffer because of it.

But don’t worry, kids! Harp is being digitally resurrected with a new name. The magazine’s founder, Scott Crawford, has teamed up with Managing Editor Fred Mills and Senior Editor Randy Harward to create a two-part information hub for all things music – BLURT Digital-Magazine and BLURT-Online. Not only will this be a greener form of getting your music and culture news, it will allow for fresher and more up-to-date content so you’ll never be at a loss for new information. You’ll want to bookmark this page when it goes live in June. BLURT already has an impressive list of featured artists for its debut and there will certainly be more of that to come along with exclusive interviews, reviews, videos, daily news and more. Your one-stop go-to music guide will live at www.blurt-online.com.

This site is sure to impress. Especially since it is being hosted by yet another long-time SXSW supporter and Interactive Festival Closing Party Sponsor, Media Temple. If you haven’t attended this closing party, go ahead and put it in the books for next year. It’s a can’t-miss event. Oh. And they’re a pretty good web hosting service, too.