Inevitably, when reaching for a ticket printout in my back pocket moments before a live concert, a friend will reminisce on the glory days of the ticket stub. As the world of music becomes more and more automated, ticket stubs--like record stores, tangible album artwork, and bands making a living off their music--are slowly fading into oblivion.

As everything in life seems to be getting smaller, why are concert tickets getting bigger?

Well, come to think of it, maybe it's my fault. Many box offices will still give you a good 'ol fashion 2" by 5" ticket if you visit them in person, but if you want to cut out the middle man, the internet has made it very easy to print out tickets via your home computer. Not only that, but say if you're traveling out of town for a concert and you forget your ticket (which I've seen happen before), fortunately you can go back to your e-mail and just print out another one. The internet age with sites like eBay and Stub Hub have has also made it a lot easier to sell tickets. Back in the day, it would have been impossible to sell your Stones tickets to someone in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the day of the show, but with one click on your PayPal account, all of that can be done in milliseconds.

From the Desk of the Beastie Boys:

My Fellow Americans,

we are going to do a few shows in hopes that we can remind people to vote. this election is too important, too much is at stake to stay at home. we hope that you can come out, have a nice night, dance, sing, get your freak on, and then wake up the next morning and get everyone that you possibly can to get out and vote. if they have early voting in your state then ask people to vote early, lets get everyone we can out there on election day.

we are very excited about obama. hope you all feel the same.
see you shortly,
adam, mike and adam

BEASTIE BOYS & FRIENDS ANNOUNCE SWING STATE VOTER AWARENESS TOUR
Selected Dates in Battleground States

Beastie Boys have confirmed selected dates through the crucial swing states of the upcoming election. Joining the band in various markets will be Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Crosby & Nash, Santogold, Tenacious D, and special guests, as well as representatives from the Rock The Vote, who will be on hand to distribute information on local polling sites, including early voting locations where available.

The first three shows to be announced are:

Oct 28 Richmond, VA - Richmond Coliseum
Beastie Boys/Sheryl Crow/Jack Johnson/Norah Jones/Santogold

Nov 1 St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Beastie Boys/Ben Harper/Tenacious D

Nov 2 Milwaukee, WI - U.S. Cellular Arena
Beastie Boys/Ben Harper/Crosby & Nash/Tenacious D

Check www.beastieboys.com for on sale times and info.

The remaining shows will be announced shortly.

As 2008 winds down (let's face it people, we're approaching mid-October already), critics, bloggers, and journalists are slowly starting to think about their best-of, year-end lists. One man, however, doesn't have to begin assembling his Top-20 Albums of 2008 list, because he's been doing it all year long. Say hello to Dave Powers of New Music Nation.

(left: NMN's Dave Powers is already 20 steps ahead of you.)

Amazingly, he listens to most of the music released throughout the calendar year and critically racks his brain with an intricate grading/scoring system that could make the folks at Pitchfork Media squirm in their seats.

Why wait till the end of this year to see what the best albums are, when you can see them right NOW?

Note: On next week's episode of Lunchbox I'll be taking a page out of the mighty Dave Powers' book and reveal my Top 10 Songs of 2008 (thus far). When you're a one-man operation it benefits you to get a head-start on the competition.

Two nights ago in Iowa City My Morning Jacket's frontman, Jim James, took a tumble off the stage. The band is canceling their final two North Amercian shows (including two Barack Obama benefit solo-gigs that James was expected to play), but are tentatively scheduled to start their European tour in Dublin on October 29. We wish Jones a speedy recovery.

(Below: Drummer, Patrick Callahan, breaks the news that Jim is hurt and the show is cancelled.)

The band released the following statement on their website yesterday:

As some of you may have heard we had to cancel our show last evening in Iowa City. We were finishing up the last few bars of "Off The Record and just like any other night we were all having a great time. Jim went to get closer to the audience on his side of the stage, and as he moved forward to step onto the sub-woofer the lights darkened, and he inadvertently stepped off the stage. Upon falling, he suffered traumatic injuries to his torso, and was immediately taken to the hospital.

Per the doctor's orders, Jim will be off the road and recovering from his injuries for the next two to three weeks. Sadly, we must postpone the two shows in Chicago on Thursday and Friday until further notice.

For those who attended the Iowa City show, we would like to extend our gratitude for your understanding and cooperation. We take our fans and performances very seriously, and would never cancel a show unless it was absolutely necessary. Please know that we will be making every effort to return to your fine city.

Thank you so much to our fans for the kind sentiments and well-wishes on Jim's behalf. We hope for Jim's quick recovery and to be back out on the road soon.

With Love,
My Morning Jacket

Fresh off their brand new release, Offend Maggie, Deerhoof premiere their brand new video for "Chandelier Searchlight" this week (it's track #2 on their album if anyone's keeping score):

You can listen to Deerhoof's Offend Maggie in its entirety HERE.

This week I attended my first ever Madonna concert. I'd be lying if I told you I had a Madonna poster hanging in my bedroom or her latest album cover as the screen saver on my computer. But because Madonna is an important figure in both music and pop-cultural history, not to mention one of the last mega-pop-stars performing at a mega-pop-star level, I felt it was my duty to witness a live Madonna show before my concert-reviewing skills diminish or Madonna's legs give out.

(left: Madonna rockin' out on her "Sweet and Sticky" Tour.)

What better place to witness my first Madonna show than Madison Square Garden? Not only does she love New York (double check her Confessions On A Dance Floor album), but this is the city where the Material Girl became the Material Girl. Only in New York City could a dance-lovin', guitar totin' nobody, become the world's greatest pop-music somebody.

With three huge video screens on stage, two huge video screens hanging next to the stage, and a spherical video screen that descended from the ceiling onto the catwalk, I knew I wasn't about to see a concert, I was going to see a SHOW!

Today, Lars Ulrich of Metallica joins me on Lunchbox. We talk about the band's new album, Death Magnetic, and the tendency for fans to use Metallica's first four albums as a measuring stick for every subsequent release.

I met with Lars two weeks ago and had exactly 45 minutes to chat with him. A chunk can be seen below and another chunk can been seen on IFC's Automat tonight.

The 45 minutes went by in a flash, and I had about 20 more questions I wanted to ask (bummer). However, I'm sure if I had 2 more hours of interview time, I'd still have many more Metallica questions.



Here's a small recap of my time spent at Metallica's HQ (while reminiscing on some childhood Metallica memories).

Deerhoof, Offend Maggie (left)
Quirky, fun (and a confusingly fun album cover)!

Rise Against, Appeal To Reason
If Bad Religion and Sick Of It All had a politically minded baby boy.

Oasis, Dig Our Soul Out
A nice rock effort put forth by the brothers Gallagher.

The Streets, Everything Is Borrowed
Still tellin' stories in that one-of-a-kind Mike Skinner way.

The Pretenders, Break Up The Concrete
Two words: Chrissie Hynde

Brian Eno & David Byrne, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Matt, a cool dude from Pittsburgh (who you may or may not know), is lovin' this album!

Still in the habit of making proper music videos--which may seem like an outdated thing to do in this day in age--Weezer premiered their "Troublemaker" clip yesterday. The band's second video from the Red Album features a giant W-shaped trough filled with nachos, a massive game of dodge ball, a pie-fight, and great big 'ol hootenanny (a bunch of different people, playing a bunch of different instruments).

(left: Who's that guy in the hair-net with the neck tattoo? Duh, it's Rivers Cuomo.)

Like Weezer's first single, "Pork and Beans"--showcasing various made-at-home internet superstars (which to date has collectively over 16 million YouTube hits)--"Troublemaker" also attempts to speak to the common person (circa 2008). Who can't relate to kids being caught up in the video game Rock Band, when a real-life band is playing in the same parking lot?

Ever since The Black Keys released their "Strange Times" video earlier this year, I've been obsessed with lasers. This page reaffirms my love for them (I do love The Black Keys, but I'm actually talking about lasers).

[VIA]