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Lemonhead founder Evan Dando headlines The Record Collector in Bordentown on Sunday. Bridge Underwater - Love is Like (The Fish Song) from Pat Mellon on Vimeo.
Arms and Sleepers - Matador from David Altobelli on Vimeo.
The metallic smooth criminals moonwalks into Asbury Lanes (209 4th Ave., Asbury Park) this weekend with a Jacko impression that’ll wake the dead. And in this case, hopefully it’s the King of Pop who crotch-grabs from the grave Sunday night to “Thiller-Night” these Brooklyn beat-killers into Bubbles chow. Show starts at 9. Sweetheart opens. Tickets cost $10. 21-plus.
The United One guitarist’s idealistic folk-punk acoustic strums – and the accompanying of a couple Bad Religion, Bob Marley and Bob Dylan reanimations – make for the model modern-day workingman’s happy hour. The city musician - who also played in Towers Open Fire – hits Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) with Kyle McGill Wednesday evening. The free show starts at 6. 21-plus.
DJ CHOP - The Beast Within (Original Mix) by DJ CHOP AKA JERRY MONTANAThe city spin thing – and his crew in the Trenton House Society sometimes – fight the beat with an arsenal of pop-techno, trance dreamscapes and club cuts that could pass for both Simian Mobile Disco and the Guru Josh Project. And Wednesday night at McGuinn’s Place (1781 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence) it’s going to be ’80s night so maybe a Depeche Mode or Cure remix will be order. Show starts at 9. Tickets cost $2. 21-plus.
Scott Frost’s On The Beat concert listing appears in The Trentonian every Thursday. If your band is playing around town, email the On the Beat web line at djscott111@aol.com.
Rumpelstiltskin Grinder play an all-ages show at Championships Sports Bar and Grill in Trenton on Saturday
Hsu-Nami 
“Mistletoe,” the award-winning area singer-songwriter’s just released holiday warmer, belongs on one of those Christmas coffeehouse collection CDs. According to Carvin, who’s headlining the free New Year’s Eve party at Hamilton Lanes (1200 Kuser Road, Hamilton) tonight, the song is “about how life changes like the seasons do and we need to flow with it like how you would just kiss someone under the mistletoe.” “It just happens,” Carvin says, “why think about it or try to explain it?” The perfect sitting-by-fire-sipping-coco-with-a-special-someone-tune, “Mistletoe” features holiday bells, girlie harmonies and a lyrical map that shows off Carvin’s sweet and spiritual side. Show starts at 10. 18-plus.
DJ ISH
The beat selector spins in the next decade at Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) tonight at 8. The “Good Riddance” party runs till 5 a.m. Tickets cost $5 and that includes a bunch of New Year’s Eve discounts and goodies. 21-plus.
Get jealous of these kid-rockers-in-training. At the start of its all-star team’s Holiday Tour ’09, Yes’ Jon Anderson greeted the teens backstage during sound check. The British prog-God was brought in as a “guest professor” in preparation for their Philly show at the Trocadero – instructing a couple of Paul Green’s prodigies to not be so “noisy” when passing between rhythm and lead guitars. The tour - which ran up and down the east coast throughout December - concludes with a New Year’s Eve bash tonight at Asbury Lanes (209 4th Ave., Asbury Park). Show starts at 8. Tickets cost $10. All-ages.
The Queens death-metalers get the head-banging going with neck-snapping breakdowns and creature-conjuring devil screams. Sounds like a hell-ride through “The Devil’s Rejects” if the movie took place in Jigsaw’s basement of barbed wire. Featured on the MINOtour with Hallow Ties, the foursome shakes the walls of Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) on Saturday afternoon. Show starts at 2. A Dream Worth Dying For, The Crowning, I Am Forever and The Goodnight Armada open. Tickets cost $10. All-ages.
The pulsating instrumental dementia delivered by these Trenton/Philly metal mentalists explores an infatuation with doom-driven grinds constructed to bite you in the ass with hammering guitar and drums just as you get lassoed in by the dreamy jazz elements found in the opening minutes of their songs. The thunder clappers - who place elements of Isis, Russian Circles and Neurosis in its sonic projectiles – play their first show since May at Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) on Saturday night. They’re will be new songs to digest, too. Show starts at 9. Prog rockers Holluck Rex and Entelechy open. Tickets cost $8. 21-plus.
The Cleveland emo rockers – think Taking Back Sunday or Jimmy Eat World – leave no frown upside down at The Court Tavern (124 Church St., New Brunswick) Saturday night. Victory Records. Show starts at 8. American Living, Further North and Kickdown Kickdown round out the bill. Tickets cost $8. 21-plus.
Indie-folk space distortion a la vintage Flaming Lips, Sebedoh and Pavement, and breathy song structuring in a Band of Horses sort-of-way make this Asbury Park group a band to keep your eye on. Also sounds like Bright Eyes, but heavier on percussion, weirdo sound additives and go-go boots. The eight-piece open for .448 at Asbury Lanes (209 4th Ave., Asbury Park) on Saturday. Show starts at 8 p.m. Chemtrail and The Obvious round out the bill. Tickets cost $8. 18-plus.
Pop-punk royalty in Philly through its associations with Kid Dynamite and Paint It Black, Dave Hause and company “find the will to survive” by playing a few shows during the holidays – including Wednesday night at Asbury Lanes (209 4th Ave., Asbury Park) - as each member works on their quieter solo recordings. Hause did his dusty-country acoustic thing when opening for AFI twice in November and last week with the Bouncing Souls at the Stone Pony, and is expected to drop a solo record sometime in 2010. Show starts at 8. Trenton’s The Great Explainer (The Roskoes) and New Brunswick’s Let Me Run open. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. All-ages.
Scott Frost’s On The Beat concert listing appears in The Trentonian every Thursday. If your band is playing around town, email the On the Beat web line at djscott111@aol.com.
People know I love girls – a lot. And the only thing I find more appealing than the beauty of the female race, is when woman take control. And 2009 brought plenty of that.
- Scott Frost “On The Beat”
Shakira
Just by the way she crawled across the monitor on Saturday Night Live a few months back showed me just how talented the Columbian bombshell is. And with the electronic production on "She Wolf" - and the slinky lead single - I could no longer press the mute button when her videos appear. Growl!
Still waiting for a proper release - “Go! Pop! Bang!” was set to drop in March – the reigning queen of B-More still got dance floors around the world gyrating with “Bang.” She appeared at Coachella with MIA, but was dropped from the All Points West lineup and a tour with A-Trak presumably because she was pregnant. Guessing we’ll see her on this list next year, too.
Peaches
Ms. Nisker retracted the claws in dropping a solid electro-centric record for the ’09, “I Feel Cream.” The ranch remained while the hyper-clash approach – and production from Simian Mobile Disco and Soulwax – smoothed-up her usual grime. Peaches’ synchronized rhyme flow on the record was also a welcome attraction.
Lea Michele
The raven-haired half-Jew and her bratty, over-anxious, ultra competitive, villainous, stuck-up-on-speed portrayal of Rachel is easily the most appealing part of “Glee” – the biggest guilty pleasure on TV nowadays. But she’s pretty hot, too, and way more attractive then those bimbo Cheerios. And somehow I was hoping she’d end up bed with that football douche, Terry. Yes, I watch. God knows I feel dirty about it. But I watch with one eye on my school work – promise.
She plays bass in Silversun Pickups – and sings a little back up – but that’s about it.
So how does she make this list, you ask? Well, “Swoon” is an awesome album that should be revered forever – and at least one indie-rock nerd babe should make this list every year. And Jenny Lewis has done nothing this year. So there you have it.
Hot and a million dollars richer. Nice, right? Actually it was the way she won “Survivor: Samoa” that was so memorable. Based solely on his game play, manipulation and his ability to find numerous hidden immunity idols with few clues, the hated Russell Hantz seemed like the obvious winner. But even though it looked like White was using the millionaire oil tycoon as a shield, it was White who pulled off the biggest move in the game. With her Foa Foa down in numbers heading into the merge, White befriended Hantz’s heated revival, Laura, and was able to convince her Galu tribe to vote out Eric (who nobody knew was holding a hidden immunity idol). It was the shift in the game Foa Foa needed to send three on that tribe to the finals. In the meantime, White looked super sexy the whole time and was easy to like with that southern charm. Even when she bashed that rat in the head and ate it. Yum, indeed.
Nattie “Natalya” Neidhart
Ok, so she’s built like a midget linebacker. And yes her dad is Jim “The Anvil,” so the WWE diva will probably grow out the Billy-goat beard in her old age. But of all the ladies in Vince Mac’s corner, Natalya is quite the performer in the ring. That, and she’s part of the Hart bloodline, so it’s easy to cheer for anyone related to my favorite performer of the ’90s, Uncle Bret. Not a Bella Twin by any means, her womanly curves is still neatly positioned on her muscular 5-5 frame. So I’m ready for my camel clutch any day now, my lady.
Megan Fox
The Hollywood starlet is too hot for David Silver - period! Didn’t see “Transformers 2” or “Jennifer’s Body” and didn’t need to, to see she’s the most babelious chick in Boner City.
Elly Jackson
The girl lead in Brit synth-pop duo La Roux became one of the most recognized faces in the blog universe in 2009 because - simply put – all their songs are perfect. Sure they’re throwbacks to ’80s new wave, but Jackson’s songs are powerful and pretty at the same time. Finally a short-haired indie diva for use music nerds that’s we’re not afraid to dance to.
Maybe you’ll hear more from this New York ex-model in 2010, but her debut, “Self-Taught Learner,” is a super record. Could have been the darling covers of Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend” and Hot Chip’s “Ready On the Floor” that got me hooked. But that’s OK for this list.
Karen O
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs leading lady’s art-house chic went diva in 2009. Actually, she stayed weird and continued to dress awkward, but turned up the volume to arena levels on “It’s Blitz!” – the New York trio’s best and most disco danceable record yet – as the world’s regulars started to take notice. Still no top 10 hit, but a festival headliner. And that’s the way Karen – who also penned the lead track to “Where the Wild Things Are” - tends to like it.
Lady Sovereign
“Jigsaw,” the self-proclaimed biggest midget in the galaxy’s sophomore CD, was not the best record of 2009. But it did spit a few parting shots at her adversaries while proving the Brit rap tomboy never needed to hide those vocal harmonies behind a knickers and that infamous snarl.
Caroline Martial
Another model-turned-lead-squealer, the French fly girl in electro-clash outfit Kap Bambino could snatch the queen of sleaze title from Peaches. The music is more intense and in-your-face, and Martial’s wild live shows have been considered legendary in Europe.
No one looked so good killing the living dead than this 21-year-old “Zombieland” star.
Jules (as in the dream girl from “Superbad”) has grown up before our eyes – and the redhead looked mighty fine armed in those stiletto boots and sexy pout. Another actress in the “could-be-my-girlfriend” label. Then I woke up.
Joss Stone
The Brit soul revivalist canned her record label, went indie and released a solid fourth album, “Colour Me Free!” for 2009. Vintage on the jazz and R&B front, Ms. Stone finally shook that gimmick label that’s haunted her for years.
The Philly spank rocker dropped some of the more vulgar lyrics heard from a female emcee in 2009 on “I Love You” – further proving gutter music was invented to destroy dance floors and male egos.
Pirate-Metal Mauraders Swashbuckle play its hometown throwdown in Trenton on Saturday.
The Canadian hardcore hate-breeders advocate strife and the type of metallic-melting musical spectrum Warzone, Earth Crisis and Snapcase bullied into your skull more than a decade ago. The former A Stained Glass Romance lays the hammer on Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) tonight. Show starts at 5. Tomorrow Never Dies, Open Denile, Taking The Tide, An Open Ended Sky, Burn Your Bridges and Night of Malice open. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. 21-plus.
The Trenton hip-hop crew hit up The All Call Inn (214 Weber Ave., Ewing) tomorrow night. Show starts at 9. Tickets cost $5. 21-plus.
Put on your Yamaca …. it’s time to celebrate Hanukkah … with an evening of Eastern European Yiddish folk music and milk chocolate disguised as money at The Record Collector (358 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown) tonight. Maybe if you’ve been a good boy for Hanukkah Harry, the tsimbl player will share his recipe for potato latkas. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. All-ages.
The Blue Method play Trenton Friday night.Bonnie Raitt once called this ’70s folk icon, “my Eric Clapton.” In fact, the country singer cover of Smither’s “Love Me Like a Man” has been a staple of her live years since the two started working together in 1972. Since, Smither – set to play two 50-minute sets at The Record Collector (358 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown) tomorrow night – is touring in support of his 13th CD, “Time Stands Still.” Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door. All-ages.
Jongleurs - who use accordion, trumpet, ukulele and mandolin in mixing its Tzingane, Rajasthani and Romani folk, flamenco and Cake-like alt-rocks – star in the free Metromix Sip, Shop & Rock Holiday Party at The Grand Arcade (1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park) tomorrow night. Show starts at 6. The crew also headlines The Trash Bar (256 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY) with Generation Welfare and Sit Down Baby at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $6. The Asbury Park show is all-ages, the New York concert is 21-plus.
Remember Cheap Trick and Dramarama? Add a little Weezer and Smithereens and you’ll get a grasp of what these Jersey rockers – playing Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) Saturday – waste away an afternoon. Show starts at noon. Fuel The Fire, Scissors in a Cupcake, Nobody Yet, Nuclear Shakedown, Just Enough, Foul-Play! and Bio-Feedback round out the bill. Tickets cost $10. All-ages.
A quick listen of the melodic-punk physics of Dag Nasty’s Pete Cortner’s current outfit and it’s easy to imagine what the legends were bound to morph into after 1987’s “Wig Out At Denko’s.” Cortner picked up the vocals duties just as Dave Smalley (Down By Law) left to study abroad. And it was during that post-Minor Threat era of the DC hardcore scene where harmonies and a slower pace confused pit punishers when many pinpoint the beginnings of the emo-core evolution. Some of the quick-changing vocal whacks on The Gerunds – hitting up The Mill Hill Basement (300 S. Broad St., Trenton) on Saturday night with The Undertones’ “Teenage Kicks” in their arsenal – will remind punk historians of classic All and Bad Religion. Show starts at 9. Radio Exiles (Garden State Soul, Silver Dollar) and Mean Streets open. Tickets cost $5. 21-plus.
The Connecticut slime-corer’s scare tactics include the stalking doom-metal crawl of Pig Destroyer and malevolent creeping-death effects of Neurosis. The group, which features the old singer of Cable, pummels the speakers at Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) Saturday night. Show starts at 9. The Waking Alley, Feast On the Deceased, Beyond Dishonor and Maegashira play, too. Tickets cost $8. 21-plus.
Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs
The Doughboy’s Mississippi-blues side track goes Southern backwoods on The Record Collector (358 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown) Saturday night. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. All-ages.
According to Internet reports, Grateful Dead survivors Phil Lesh and Bob Weir are digging up early material like “King Solomon’s Marbles” for their two-set showcases these days. It doesn’t get too heady through, as “Touch of Grey” is not a forgotten cog to the jams – going on forever and ever at Convention Hall (1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park) on Saturday. Ratdog’s Jeff Chimenti (keys) and Jay Lane (percussion), Duo’s drummer Joe Russo and Dark Star Orchestra’s John Kadlecik (guitar) round out the lineup. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $55 and $65. A $10 after party at the Stone Pony (913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park) at midnight features Dead cover band, Splintered Sunlight. The Further show is all-ages. The after party is 21-plus.
The profoundly political gospel to the Philadelphia-burbians’ working-class folk-punk nicely counter-balances the passive energy of the tandem’s acoustic strums. Sounds extra cool on their rendition of Hot Water Music’s “Jack of All Trades.” Hopefully the cover makes the cut when the guys perform in The Mill Hill Basement (300 S. Broad St., Trenton) Sunday night. Show starts at 9. Dale Gordon (Pats!e, DEMO) and Ship Wreaks play, too. Tickets cost $5. 21-plus.
The Brooklyn beatnik’s psychedelic ranges tend to jump from shoe-gazing Jesus & Mary Chain to Zombies-style ’60s surf-rock and early ’80s British post-punk. Fans of A Place to Bury Strangers, John Spencer Blues Explosion, The Ramones’ Beach Boys covers and chicks in go-go boots playing tambourine would dig the foursome – headlining The Wonder Bar (1213 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park) Tuesday night. Show starts at 8. Invincible Gods, Future Future and Bedroom Girls open. Tickets cost $2. 21-plus.
The dramatic guitar builds, rhythmic-yet-electronic break downs and beastly vocal prose found in this South Jersey metalcore act emit an Acacia Strain-meets-Converge vibe. The band opens for Rose Funeral (Metal Blade Records) at Championships Sports Bar and Grill (931 Chambers St., Trenton) Monday night. Show starts at 5. Local hardcore killjoys In Wake of the Plague, Embracing the Chaos, Total Ruination, Within the Black and Foraminis round out the bill. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. All-ages.
Scott Frost’s On The Beat concert listing appears in The Trentonian every Thursday. If your band is playing around town, email the On the Beat web line at djscott111@aol.com.
