Modest Mouse: “Dashboard” video

Quite possibly the coolest music video I’ve ever seen. 

The Real Mr. Indestructable

Rulon Gardner, former Olympic gold medalist wrestler (ie STUD), cheats death yet again.

CLICK HERE

One Man’s Ipod: Volume 2

This is the weekly Figurehead feature where you guys get to see what played on “shuffle” mode on my ipod during my run. As always, you get the TRUTH – embarrassing or not. For the most part, the music matched today’s weather – sunny and 60 in February. Only Prodigy seemed out of place today.

One Love by Bob Marley

Incommunicado by Jimmy Buffett

Dukes on Sunday by Jimmy Buffett

The View by Modest Mouse

Mahgeetah by My Morning Jacket

Cut Your Hair by Pavement

Breathe by Prodigy

Baby Girl by Will Hoge

A Look back at Volume 1

Deerhunter – Cryptograms

Since this albums release I’ve listened to the samples over and over again. I’ve read all the reviews – some glowing / some scathing. So which way do I go with this one? Spend the downloads or skip it and keep letting Explosions in the Sky rock my world? There is something kinda creepy about the timing of this albums title and the recent hype around the Zodiac Killer movie (in case you don’t know, The Zodiac sent “cryptograms” to the San Fran police to decifer).

One thing is for sure. I like this song:

Springhall Convert

Tour of California: Levi Leipheimer goes wire to wire for the win

It’s over. After winning the prologue in San Francisco a week ago, Levi Leipheimer and The Discovery Team defended the lead all week for the win. That’s good news for American cycling fans this year with Floyd Landis on the shelf and Lance now sipping Shiner Bocks.

CSC’s Jens Voigt finished 2nd overall. Leipheimers teammate Jason McCartney was 3rd and in more good news for Americans CSC’s Bobby Julich looked strong finishing 4th.

Going forward it will be interesting to see if Levi rides in support of his teammate Ivan Basso in France or if Levi will be the team’s leader. Chances are that Basso is still the man, but’s great to see that American cycling still has a shot at an 8th straight Tour De France with Leipheimer and Julich.

More.

Arcade Fire play “Intervention” and “Keep the Car Running” on SNL – The Legend Begins

Here it is in case you missed it. I was blown away. Thus begins a legend I believe.

Intervention from Neon Bible

Keep the Car Running from Neon Bible

Tour of California Stage 5: Leipheimer and Voight finish 1 and 2 in time trial

Levi Leipheimer maintained his GC lead by holding off Jens Voight in yesterday’s individual time trial.

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Tour of California Stage 4: Bettini wins in photo finish, Levi still looks good in yellow

Olympic and World Champion Paolo Bettini won in a photo finish in stage 4. It made cycling history as it marked the first time that a World champion has ever won a race on US soil.

American Levi Leipheimer held onto the yellow jersey and leads CSC’s Jens Voight by 3 seconds in the general classification.

More

Founding Fathers Friday: Pixies

Here they are on Letterman during their sold out reunion tour. Man, I’ve always had a crush on Kim Deal.

One to Grow on: “Into the White” (a bit more old school – and featuring Kim Deal).

Founding Fathers Friday Artists: The Cure, REM, The Smiths, Violent Femmes

Great Lake Swimmers: New album “Ongiara” released early

 

The new album was originally slated for a March 27th  release. It seems it’s been released a month early.

Track listing

1. Your Rocky Spine (3:36)
2. Backstage With The Modern Dancers (4:28)
3. Catcher Song (4:11)
4. Changing Colours (4:44)
5. There Is A Light (5:06)
6. Put There By The Land (2:43)
7. I Am Part Of A Large Family (4:23)
8. Where In The World Are You (3:49)
9. Passenger Song (4:28)
10. I Became Awake (5:53)

It’s available both on itunes and emusic.

Streaming of Your Rocky Spine is available at Aquarium Drunkard

Tour of California Stage Three: Jens Voight wins brutal stage, Levi is second and keeps the yellow

The familiar face of CSC’s Jens Voight crossed the line first in San Jose after a tough day in the saddle. The riders spread out over the course as they climbed the Category 1 Sierra Road leading into San Jose.

Leipheimer finished second and retained his leaders jersey.

Results

Just Remembered How Great This Song Is: The Cure – Push

Achtung! A new feature on The Figurehead: “Just remembered how great this song is”.

The Cure – Push – from The Head on the Door – Video from The Cure In Orange

Wonder if the boys from Bloc Party have ever listened to The Cure? (snicker)

Live Arcade Fire

 

Our friends at NPR All Songs Considered provided this performance from NYC’s Judson’s Memorial Church on on Feb.17. They perform a number of songs from the upcoming Neon Bible. Go get your fix…the link is temporary:

Arcade Fire LIVE

You can also check the bands MySpace page for Keep The Car Running.

Tour of California Stage 2: Haedo wins stage, Levi keeps his jersey

 CSC sprinter J.J. Haedo won yesterday’s bunch sprint following 3 circuits of downtown Sacramento. The riders covered 116 miles from Santa Rosa to Sacramento. Haedo finished comfortably ahead of Luca Paolini and Thor Hushovd.

The Governator awarded Levi Leipheimer his yellow jersey.

More Results

One Man’s Ipod

Have you ever wondered what the person next to you is listening to on their Ipod at the gym? Now you’ll have insight into at least one person’s personal playlist – mine. That’s right, The Figurehead will reveal what’s playing on his Ipod during his workouts. I’ll try to do this on Tuesdays.

I generally set my Ipod that holds about 450 songs on Shuffle while I run, unless I have something brand spanking new that I really want to listen to. I love setting that shuffle and pretending I’m listening to my own personal radio station. That’s one RAD radio station! I won’t cheat and lie to you about what played in order to maintain my “rep”. I’m gonna give it to you just as it happened – for better or worse.

Here’s what played today during my run (finally outside again as the weather has started to warm up):

Long Into the Evening by Great Lake Swimmers

Do It Again by Nada Surf

I Feel By The Sundays

Same Old Drag by Apples in Stereo

Ghosts of Jackson Square by Edwin McCain

Off The Record by My Morning Jacket

Wet Sand by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Heaven by Live

Angel, Won’t You Call Me? by The Decemberists

Told ya, I wasn’t going to lie.

Tour of California Stage One: Leipheimer still leads, Graeme Brown wins stage, Zabriskie crashes out

A major pile up spoiled Levi Leipheimer’s ride into his hometown of Santa Rosa yesterday, but he held onto his leaders jersey nevertheless. Ivan Basso paced Leipheimers day…not a bad pacesetter at all.
“What an honor to have Ivan Basso put the throttle down today… I know those roads out near Occidental, and he was ripping it up! I’m very honored and very proud to have him lead me into my hometown…”, said Leipheimer.

Graeme Brown of Rabobank won the bunch sprint to the finish by edging out T-Mobile’s Greg Henderson and Discovery’s Allen Hansen.

One of the tour favorites, and former Tour De France yellow jersey wearer, David Zabriskie, crashed out of the race with a wrist injury about 70 miles into the stage. X-rays were negative, but he did suffer a minor concussion.
“70 miles into the race (Dave Zabriskie) had a moderate speed accident and hit his head. He was a little bit foggy and decided it was best not to continue on, and he’s out of the race. This is one of the more difficult things about working in a race like this. In this situation if he has an intact neurological exam, you can continue to let him ride. It’s almost like a “stress” test when you get back on your bike. The decision was fairly straightforward when he got back on his bike. He had a mild concussion,” said the races chief medical officer.

More

Leipheimer wins Tour Of California prologue

Levi Leipheimer (USA), now of The Discovery Team, won the Tour of California prologue for the second straight year today by edging out relatively unknown Jason Donald (USA) of Team Slipstream.

Other notables: Fabian Cancellara (5th), George Hincapie (9th), Michael Rogers (12th), David Zabriskie (14th), Bobby Julich (22nd), Ivan Basso (23rd).

Complete Results: results

In case you care: XM and Sirius Merge

XM and Sirius satellite radio have announced that they will merge.

2007 Daytona 500: all that’s great about competition (and bonding)

 

I love sports – pretty much all of them. There are so many parallels at play in athletics and the art of living. Both can be beautiful, ugly, joyous, and agonizing. I don’t want to go much farther with this, but I mention it only to illuminate lesson’s learned through something like the 2007 Daytona 500.  Put some thought into the day that Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Dale Jr., and Jeff Gordon had. Each of them learned important life lessons that go beyond sports, whether they realize it or not.

My dad is a Nascar fan; not the sort that wears the tshirts and goes to races, but the sort who casually watches the races on tv on Sundays. I love sitting and quietly watching these races with him when I’m visiting my parents house on weekends. My little girl and wife were napping in the back bedroom, my mom was asleep in a chair in the living room and my dad, now 70, and I, at 32, watched a Southern tradition (a masterpiece at that) unfold before our eyes. It was a good day. I’m committing to being a full fledged Nascar fan this season.

Is it ok to love indie rock, poetry, UFC and Nascar??? If you’re THE FIGUREHEAD everything is ok.

Nirvana: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!

Check out this awesome live concert footage from Nirvana’s DVD: Live! Tonight! Sold Out! No one! NO ONE, made pop songs sound more heart felt and dangerous than Kurt Cobain. Watch for yourself as one of the most mesmerizing front men in music history rocks out!

You can watch: Lithium, Breed, Drain You, and About a Girl.

Nirivana!

Founding Fathers Friday: Violent Femmes

This band provided one of my first true music experiences. They also introduced me to the term “alternative”. One evening during a conversation lull while on the phone with a cheerleader I was dating at the time, she happened to hear the Femmes playing in the background. She said with horror, “What is that? Are you alternative?!” I could only respond, “I don’t know…what’s that mean?” 17 years later….I guess I am, in fact, alternative.

Gone Daddy Gone

This album made me want to run through the streets wild and free!

Previous F.F. Fridays: The Cure, REM, and The Smiths

Arcade Fire to play SNL

Arcade Fire will be the musical guest on the February 24th episode of Saturday Night Live. I’ll be awake for once!

Explosions in the Sky: All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone released early

The new EITS album is already available on itunes; it was scheduled for release next week.

I’ve never really gotten into them, but a friend whose opinion I respect tremendously once told me that the only album to ever make him misty eyed, without vocals, was a EITS album.  You can stream the first single now.

Click now! Welcome Ghosts

Happy Valentines Day

My gift to you, my loyal Figureheads, is this:

Mr. Jeff Buckley – a genius taken from us too soon. My all time favorite Buckley song:

Lover, You Should Have Come Over

Great Lake Swimmers – Bodies and Minds

I just added this album to my collection today. It was recorded in a lakeside church in rural southern Ontario, continuing the emphasis on atmosphere from the debut album (which was recorded in an abandoned grain silo). You can feel the heartbreak.

Watch the beautiful video for “To Leave It Behind” 

Goodnight.

What? Still awake? Stream these:

Various Stages from Bodies and Minds

Moving Pictures Silent Films from Great Lake Swimmers

New Dinosaur Jr. due May 1st

 

 It’s been 20 years since we’ve had a new album from the original Dinosaur Jr. lineup. We won’t have to wait much longer as their new album Beyond releases on May 1st.

Listen to the first single Almost Ready HERE. Sounds like vintage Dino Jr. to me – which is a good thing! Thanks to Pitchfork for the stream.

Back on the bike

The temperature crept up near 50 degrees today, so I decided it was finally time to take The Specialized (thank you Nashville Bicycle Co.) and it’s sweet new wheels (thank you Mrs. Figurehead) off of the trainer today. Spin classes and boring trainer rides, even equipped with a constant supply of new music, have gotten old.

One of the reasons I love triathlon and training in each discipline is that it provides me time to think – usually about my life, my daughter, my wife, and even rarely about competition itself. Today my thoughts were incredibly negative. I thought I’d come home from my ride and post a list of my pet peeves. As I rolled into the driveway another thought crossed my mind instead: Floyd Landis.

Floyd won’t be competiting in the Tour De France this year. There’s no way to know how he really feels about that. It may feel a sense of relief…or a horrible emptiness. I watch the Tour daily every July. In my book its the most dramatic event of each year – that includes all sports. It’s 3 weeks of cat and mouse, battles of attrition, suffering, and pain. I watched Lance win his championships and cried a few days at his brilliance. I stood and cheered for Tyler Hamilton when he won a stage a few years ago with a broken collarbone.

My opinion of Floyd Lanis is still up in the air. Was he really stupid enough to take a banned substance knowing he’d be tested as the race leader? Doubtful. Does the French establishment bare a grudge against American riders? Absolutely. One thing is for sure, Floyd’s triumphant attack on the race’s 17th stage last year ranks right up there in my mind with Lance crashing twice and still charging ahead, Lance cutting through a field mountain bike still and hopping a ditch, and Tyler Hamilton gutting out the pain to win a stage. They’re beautiful memories for me bringing the strength that man possess into sharper focus.

So today, despite my negative thoughts while riding about yuppies, fat guys with goatees who hate cyclists, and restroom co-pilots (aren’t you glad I posted about Floyd instead?), I want to remember the good times. Was Floyd’s stage 17 win a little too amazing considering his stage 16 performance? Maybe, but man did it feel good at the time. Viva la tour!

Lance crashes – wins anyway

This says it all – same moment for Lance, but this video is from a spectators and Lances perspectives. Hang with it until just past the 1:00 mark. When Lance blasts by, through the crowd of Spanish fans, I started crying here in front of the computer. No matter what you think about this guy, he was a warrior like no other we have ever seen. I want him in my foxhole.

Founding Fathers Friday: The Smiths

That’s right! The Figurehead is renaming “Retro Friday” and relaunching as “Founding Fathers Friday.” It’s a more fitting title in my mind and I think the word “retro” is played out and indicates that something is only still good in a nostalgia sort of way. This week – Episode 3: The Smiths

“Stop Me if You Think You’ve Heard This One Before”

“Girlfriend in a Coma”

Man, I wish I could find my old Morrissey tshirt from the 80s!

Previous Founding Fathers Friday artists: The Cure, REM.

New Stuff Sampler

While I try to soak in the new Bloc Party album, I’ll let you Figurehead’s sample some of the new albums I’ll be getting via emusic this month. Let me know what you think of each.

Field Music – A House is Not a Home – from Tones of Town

The Apples in Stereo – Energy – from New Magnetic Wonder

The Broken West – You Can Build an Island – from I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On

Bloc Party “A Weekend in the City” preview one day early!

The new album A Weekend in the City is streaming in it’s entirety today on MySpace. It releases tomorrow in stores. For those who can’t wait, get on over to MySpace…

HERE

Peter, Bjorn, and John: Young Folks

I’m a sucker for these duet type songs (see “Nothing Better” by The Postal Service, “Yankee Bayonet” by The Decemberists, etc.). This is a cool little song with a cool little animated video. Enjoy! It features Victoria Bergsman of the Concretes. Anyone have a piece of bubble gum?

The new album is Writers Block.

Stream more Peter, Bjorn, and John HERE

Retro Friday 2: REM

This weeks artist is at the request of my man BT. 

REM – Radio Free Europe (from Murmur) - the bands first national tv appearance on David Letterman – 1983! This was and is the definition of college rock!

Another for good measure: REM – The One I Love (from Document)- The Figurehead’s personal favorite REM song – circa 1987