So my life in May was pretty much on hold because I was switching jobs.  And as regular readers might be aware, any slight modification in my life results in massive neglect to excellent online (hey, we've been doing this for over ten years, that says something right?).  I was contacted by a recruiter for a Seattle-based company back in February and went through several phone interviews.  After each one, I'd wait a week then politely ask for the status.  Another week would go by then a response saying that I've advanced to the next step.  So persistence is their first test.  How badly do you want this job?  Bad enough for you to keep emailing us?

After four phone interviews (all with their appropriate delays), I get invited for the onsite.  I was pretty anxious this whole time but the onsite interview really kicks it into overdrive.  Now I'm plagued with thoughts like, "how am I going to find a place to live in Seattle" or "will I adjust to the lack of sunshine."  Truely first world problems because obviously I can adjust to anywhere.

While this is happening, I interview with a local company (I'm in southern California, btw) and they offer me the position but I tell them that I cannot accept until I interview in Seattle.  I'm not going to bore you with the details of the interview other then to say it was a full day (10:30am-5pm, also interviewed during lunch!) and was the most intense interview I've ever had.  They asked if I wanted to stay in Seattle an extra day to check out the city.  But I was a big bag of nerves and wanted to get home as soon as possible and get back to my wife and kid.  The weekend was more of the same, a nervous wreck.  They were going to notify me on Monday evening about the status so I was super pissed that I didn't get a response until Tuesday morning.  They declined.  Bummer.

So I accepted the position from the other local company and while I'm sad that I'm not moving to Seattle, I think staying down here is good for me for right now.  So that's why there hasn't been a post in a while.  ;)

I skipped last week since it was a slow news week. Not actually slow since all the music blogs had tons of crap they were reporting. Just nothing new or interesting to me. (In a bad mood, sry)

The news was a little light last week as I spent a bunch of time in the hostpital with my wife as she was recovering from giving birth to our son.  YAY!  I'm a father!

Lots of good tour news last week.  I bought tickets to see Godspeed but got my scheduling messed up because it's on the same day as Coachella.  Damn, would've loved to see Godspeed at Big Sur, CA.  If you ever get a chance to drive up the California coast, do it.  But remember, it's a LONG drive so make sure you plan accordingly.

Lots of stuff this week.  I'm using the "predict a coachella appearance" expression a bit too much for my taste.  There are just a lot of tour dates announced and they all put bands in Southern California in late April.  In any case, lots of good stuff this week, enjoy!

Lots of good stuff, especially the new Elbow track if you missed it.  Plus the clip of Noel talking about how influential the Stone Roeses' Spike Island gig is pretty cool.

Lots of odd items in the roundup today.  My favorite is the Neil Young story about his Hybrid car exploding.  That's just good/bad stuff right there.

Freebass was a bass super group formed by Peter Hook and some prominent bass players.  Last week Andy Rourke (ex-Smiths) left the band and now Mani is taking a dig at Peter Hook as well.  He writes on twitter (of all places):

"Three things visible from space, Great Wall Of China, Peter Hook's wallet stuffed with Ian Curtis' blood money, Man City's empty trophy cabinet!" he tweeted, adding: "I've actually got an ongoing career, so I don’t feel the need to exploit my past glories. I exist in the here and the now."

"It's where it belongs mate… in the fucking bargain bin before it's even released," he wrote. "You live and learn."

I, personally, was thinking along the same lines, sorta torn about Peter Hook going on the road to play Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" album in full with no other members of Joy Division.  Then again, it's probably the closest thing I'll ever get to seeing the band so it might be worth it.

UPDATE on Sept 14:  Mani has apologized for his outburst and Peter Hook forgives him.  Personally I'm way to cynical as this whole thing could've just been manufactured to bring attention to their Freebass album which comes out next week.

I think the 20th Anniversary version of the legendary Stone Roses debut album pretty much summed it all up.  That had all the demos and live stuff anyone could want.  But not happy with that, the powers that be decided on releasing YASRC.  This one, titled 'Collection', is a little odd since it's mainly just random tracks from their Silverstone days (1988-1990).  It's not a "best of" or a "b-sides" or even a "remix" album, it somehow includes a sample of all of those tracks, a collection if you will.  The tracklisting is below thanks to Slicing Up Eyeballs.

Also over at Slicing Up Eyeballs, you can download a cover of "I Wanna Be Adored" by the Raveonettes.  You almost can't mess up that song and it's a great cover.

We've only barely mentioned Freebass in the past, it was during Excellent Online's crappy "digg-wannabe-days" (sorry everyone, I now love reddit).  Anyway, Freebass is a supergroup that features Peter Hook (New Order), Mani (Stone Roses, Primal Scream), and Andy Rourke (Smiths).  It was a triple-bass supergroup.  Yes, they now have a drummer and a singer too.  Earlier this year they released their first EP, Two Worlds Collide, and their album, It's A Beautiful Life, in digital form only.  Next week they're going to release the CD version of their EP and with that release, Andy Rourke is departing from the band.  According tho their official site, "Andy Rourke was initially involved in the conception of the group and contributed to the EP and a few tracks on the LP , He is now living in NYC and will not be joining the band for live dates."