Dâm-Funk - Kaint Let 'Em Change Me (No!)

Another future-funk outing from keytar wunderkind Dâm-Funk showcases all of his signature features.  From the dueling melodies to his crunchy space-grooves, the track continues in his trademark style of cool, refusing to "let 'em change me".  Check it out.

Kaint Let 'Em Change Me (No!) - DāM-FunK [unreleased] by DâM-FunK

Charles Bradley - This World (Is Going Up In Flames)

Earthquakes. Hurricanes. In Connecticut? At this point I'm just waiting for the plague of locusts and wondering if Mr. Bradley is right.

Neil Young - Like a Hurricane (Live Rust)

Still obvious, I know, but if Neil Young and Crazy Horse can't see us through a hurricane, who can?

Jimmy Buffett - Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season

Obvious, I know, but it's time to hunker down for Hurricane Irene.  Grab a cold one and turn on the radar.  Fire up the grill and charge those iPods in case the power cuts out.  Most of all, stay safe (and dry)!  See you on the other side.

The Flaming Lips - Jesus And A Spider Are In My Sleeping Bag Tonite

I'm going camping for a couple days, and I couldn't stop thinking about this track off Bradley Beesley's documentary Summercamp!  Written and performed by The Flaming Lips, the tune places you in a swampy, noisy forest, complete with chirping crickets and croaking frogs.  It's folky, casual, and wholly evocative of the summer camp experience.  Just give it a listen if you want to be transported to a simpler time, roasting marshmallows around the fire and kicking back with friends, instantly a happy camper.

Henry's Kitchen (Guest Stir Friday)

We're bringing in guest chef Henry Phillips for today's "Stir Friday" with his increasingly famous Anytime Chili for One.  Hope it helps you make it through the night.

Dire Straits - Walk of Life

Sorry, but is this not the funniest song ever? It's Friday, get outside and enjoy it.

G-Eazy - Runaround Sue (Endless Summer OUT TODAY)

G-Eazy's new offering Endless Summer drops online at NOON today (1 PM EST).  He's been steadily releasing tracks and outtakes since his amazing B.O.M.B. Fest set, culminating with this weekend's release of the official video for "Runaround Sue", a washed-out, nostalgic trip blending today's hip-hop with a 50's jukebox that is more short film than music video.  Featuring Greg Banks on vocals and samples from Dion & The Belmonts, come back in time with G-Eazy and stay right here in this endless summer.

Bon Iver with The Rosebuds @ Mountain Park - TONIGHT

Nearly a year after our most-successful excursions to central Massuchusetts' Mountain Park, we make our return for indie folk-rockers Bon Iver with the dance-folk group The Rosebuds.  Catching The Flaming Lips and MGMT were highlights of 2010 for us, not to mention the huge plus of Magic Hat drafts being available (hoping for some Circus Boy tonight).

This is more a double-headline show for us than a traditional opener/headliner pairing, as both acts' 2011 LPs have been in constant rotation all summer.  Check out our previous posts on these albums (here http://merrypicnic.blogspot.com/2011/06/rosebuds-come-visit-me.html and here http://merrypicnic.blogspot.com/2011/06/bon-iver-self-titled.html) and dig a couple more cuts we're almost certain to hear tonight.  Show's at 7, comment or tweet at us (@merrypicnic) if we'll be seeing you in Holyoke.

A Look Back @ Revenge of the Nerds

Holy cow have I seen this flick a time or two.  Or thirty.  Something about the 1984 comedy always had me in stitches and coming back for more.  Perhaps it was that geeky bespectacled kid I was once was (and mostly still am) wanting a taste of revenge for himself, but maybe that Animal House ideal of college just appealed to me.  Either way, while by no means a great film, I'd go as far as to say "Revenge of the Nerds" is perfect.  Scene after scene of wildly varying humor builds up over is running time, leading to a satisfying (though abrupt) conclusions.  From panty raids to fiery jockstraps, from musical numbers to tricycle races, "Revenge" truly runs the gamut of madcap comedy from wild gregariousness to quiet subtlety, providing something new with each viewing.  Check out the iconic (to me, at least) tricycle race scene, featuring an electronic take on the venerable tune "Daisy Bell", sung in Japanese no less.  Enjoy, because it won't be long, mark my words.  The time has come for Revenge of the Nerds.

Van Morrison - Into The Mystic

I'll admit when it comes to Van Morrison, my knowledge is essentially limited to "Moondance" and the god-awful "Brown Eyed Girl".  But earlier tonight, a friend's status simply said 'Felt like a good night for some Van Morrison' with this video attached, and despite my general ignorance, I couldn't agree more.  Enjoy it.  (Special thanks to Ranger Frank)

Roy Orbison - In Dreams

A recent viewing of Blue Velvet has me on the biggest Roy Orbison kick.  One of the singularly unique voices and personalities in the history of rock and roll, Orbison's lasting talent and influence cannot be denied.  Any number of tracks are instant classics, but "In Dreams" lends haunting gravitas to Frank Booth's borderline personality as exhibited throughout David Lynch's film.  Check it out (
with much more to come) embedded below.

Stir Friday: Better-Than-Crack Brownies

This brownie recipe has been circulating the Internet and my friends’ kitchens, and for good reason. These brownies might be the best things I’ve ever eaten. They’re called “better-than-crack brownies,” and they include Reese’s cups, salted peanuts and a milk chocolate/peanut butter concoction with Rice Krispies cereal. It's everything I ever wanted. They’re better after being in the refrigerator for a while because the milk chocolate/peanut butter part can be messy when it starts to melt.

Here’s the link to the blog we found this recipe on. It has better pictures than I can take. http://www.howsweeteats.com/2010/08/better-than-crack-brownies/

And here’s the recipe:

1 batch brownies (boxed mix is fine – just make sure it’s for a 13 x 9 pan)
1/2 cup salted peanuts (if don’t have salted, add sea salt)
1 cup chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups (I found them easier to chop if they’re refrigerated first.)
1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies Cereal

1. Mix brownies according to directions, and bake for 20-25 minutes in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Remove and top with peanuts and peanut butter cups, and bake for 4-6 minutes more.

2. While they are finishing baking, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. (You can do this in the microwave. I start with just the chocolate chips and butter, power at medium-high, one minute. Then mix in peanut butter and microwave another minute at medium-high heat.)

3. Stir cereal into the melted chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Remove brownies from oven and evenly pour chocolate mixture over top. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

I’ve now made four batches. Good luck.

The Guess Who on the Hamden Green - For Free - This Friday!

The Hamden Arts Commission's 2011 Free Summer Concert Series is going out with a bang this Friday, bringing us both a “big” name classic rock band – and a local favorite. The Guess Who are headlining, and we recently heard that Mighty Purple will be playing at 7.

The Guess Who brought us “American Woman,” “No Time,” “No Sugar Tonight,” and “These Eyes,” which I’ve embedded above. As soon as I hear it, I can’t get the Michael Cera in Superbad version of “These Eyes” out of my head. And I don’t mind.

We haven’t been to any of these Hamden concerts this summer, but we went to two last summer, and they were a fun time. The concerts are Fridays in July at 7:30 at the Town Center Park at Meadowbrook, 2761 Dixwell Avenue. Food is available at the site, but a lot of people pack coolers and bring their own. I’m expecting to get there early with my lawn chairs and picnic blanket. It’s going to be a good time.

Angelo Badalamenti - The Score from Twin Peaks

Badalamenti.  Twin Peaks.  Music obsession.

More to come.

Modest Mouse - Satellite Skin

I was playing some Modest Mouse today, first time in a long time, and I had completely forgotten how good their 2009 EP was, No One's First, And You're Next.  Culled from b-sides to 2004's Good News For People Who Love Bad News and 2007's We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, No One's First  serves as a perfect companion piece to those two LP's.  Check out the lead-off track "Satellite Skin" embedded below, and don't miss out on the rest of the EP, an eclectic musical trip through the band's recent history.

By the way, sorry it's been such a ghost town around here lately.  Been spending a lot of time watching Twin Peaks and getting outside, but we'll be back to it this week.  See you next time.

Battlefield Band - Bonnie Barbry-O

There's an album I'd have you know of.  It's called "Pro's Folk Sampler".  It's been the soundtrack to my life, and it's found on four sides of two cassette tapes, ripped from the original vinyl by my father's old roommate "Pro" (aka Dick Lewis).  It's through these collegiate tapes I've gotten both my taste and my love for folk music, especially the classics from the British Isles.  I ripped those cassettes, plugging my boom box into my record player, finally managing to feed those venerable cassettes into my MacBook.  I'll be working through several songs, mayhap posting the entire mixtape if interest ensues, over the next few weeks.  I'll begin with a cut off Pro's first tape, brought to us by the Battlefield Band, a track entitled "Bonnie Barbry-O".  Come down the stairs and have a listen, and know that I can hardly wait for the next installment.

Iron & Wine - Summer in Savannah

Just a lazy summer Sunday, kicking back with some Beerlao and Iron & Wine. Give a listen to "Summer in Savannah" one of the b-sides off their Black Friday Walking Far From Home single, and don't miss the other b-side "Biting Your Tail" our featured track for Record Store Day 2011, found here, http://merrypicnic.blogspot.com/2011/04/record-store-day-2011.html

Game of Thrones - A Dance With Dragons

Now that my copy of A Dance With Dragons (A Song of Ice & Fire - Book 5) came in from Amazon, it's going to be a few days before I get back to normal.  For those of you who lack the patience for the 4000+ page (currently) 5-part epic, don't miss HBO's adaptation of the first book in the series, Game of Thrones.  Check out the intro below, and good luck in finding the episodes pirated online! legally, of course.

The Beets - Killer Tofu (A Look Back)

Holy crap do I wish I were writing about a real band right now.  A full-on reunion tour is just what the world needs right now.  The Beets were the biggest thing to hit Bluffington since sliced bread (Beets-lemania? Anyone? Moving on...), and they had the tunes and style to back it up.  Half Rolling Stones, half Beatles, and all the rock and roll success and excess you could cram into a kids' show, The Beets were a hallmark of the 90s series Doug.  Their 'hit' single "Killer Tofu" entered my playlist a few months back, and I was most amused to find I still knew every lyric.  Not to mention the song still absolutely kicks.  Enjoy it (with lyrics!) embedded below, along with their other classic "I Need More Allowance".  Yodel-ay-ee-oo.