The Main Drag : Perfecting The Formula

I've thought about how to best deliver The Main Drag scenario in a short, concise description. After seeing them open for Thick As Thieves at Great Scott last night, the formula is simple: three multi-instrumentalists, a drummer that is the equivalent of a human energy drink, and one really, really incredible guitarist. Not only are they engaging, sarcastic, and entertaining between songs, but their antics while running around stage and switching instruments display a sincere chemistry of friendship and musicianship that isn't easy to find if you've been in the indie circuit for a while.

Variety is the key. I've sifted through their MySpace over and over this morning, and in addition to the set they played last night I can't put my finger on anything yet. Even so, to be so pleasantly surprised is a treat. They've played with some great local bands such as Mad Man Films (another personal favorite), Movers And Shakers, and Protokoll, as well as shared a stage with Arcade Fire, The Unicorns, and The Young Knives (who have that one goddamn song I can't get enough of...)

They've just reworked "All My Friends," the incredible anthem from the all-around winner Sound Of Silver by the already-legendary LCD Soundsystem for the holidays. CokeMachineGlow is one of their biggest fans, and the re-do (I feel it belittling to call it a cover, it's so goddamn good!) is available now [read more...]

Audible: The Main Drag - "All My Friends"
MySpace: The Main Drag

The Ice Princess & Her ReacTable

Yes, Bjork's latest record, Volta, is not all that great, but it has its moments. Long gone are the days of lush dramatic experimentation like that found up until Homogenic. The apex of this song (and video, taken from Jools Holland) is the focus on the touch table. Better known as Reactable, it's an electro-acoustic music instrument with a tabletop TUI (Tangible User Interface) that has been developed within the Music Technology Group at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain by Sergi Jordà, Martin Kaltenbrunner, Günter Geiger and Marcos Alonso.

Be sure to check out "Declare Independence" with focus on the ReacTable:



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