The Bowery Presents will eventually have the full, blazing Bloc Party show this week from NYC’s Terminal 5, on demand for 24-hours only, starting sometime today.  Until they get the full show streaming, check out four songs from that show below.  Check back at The Bowery Presents YouTube Channel for the full show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSbdUVqaTu0&feature=channel&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6iJhLLOPMY&feature=channel&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbcPo9tIj70&feature=channel&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhBbVitI0Tk&feature=channel&list=UL

In the aftermath of a harrowing personal period, Cat Power will soon release a new album entitled, Sun.  She (let’s make no pretense about the “band” shall we?) has now made available her new song Cherokee and the Nicolas Jaar re-mix thereof (both of which you can play/download at the widget immediately below).  In addition, she has announced the dates for her Fall tour (found below the song).  Cherokee bodes very well for the new album.  Check it all out below.

Cat Power tour dates and sale information below:

Thursday 10/11 – Miami, FL – Grand Central – On Sale Fri Aug 10 at 7am EDT
Saturday 10/13 – Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital Music Festival – On Sale Now
Friday 10/19 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis – On Sale Fri Aug 10 at 12pm EDT
Saturday 10/20 – Toronto, ON – Kool Haus – On Sale Fri Aug 10 at 10am EDT
Monday 10/22  – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club – On Sale Thu Aug 09 at 10am EDT
Tuesday 10/23  – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom – On Sale Fri Aug 10 at 12pm EDT
Wednesday 10/24 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues – On Sale Fri Aug 10 at 10am EDT
Thursday 10/25 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory – On Sale Sat Aug 11 at 12pm EDT
Saturday 10/27 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre – On Sale Fri Aug 10 at 12pm EDT
Sunday 10/28 – Chicago, IL – Riviera – On Sale Sat Aug 11 at 10am CDT
Friday 11/02 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre – On Sale Fri Aug 17 at 10am PDT
Saturday 11/03 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo – On Sale Fri Aug 17 at 12pm PDT
Sunday 11/04 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom – On Sale Information TBA
Tuesday 11/06 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater – On Sale Information TBA
Thursday 11/08 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium – On Sale Fri Aug 17 at 10am PDT

We recently stumbled upon the Bay Area’s Monophonics performing for KDHX in St. Louis.  Thanks to Daptone Records and many others, we’ve seen a resurgence in large soul bands such as the Dap-Kings and the Menahan Street Band.  And now we have the improved Monophonics, who have been toiling and honing their chops for a good number of years in obscurity.  Check out the band below (in full casual, including flip-flops), sitting (but killing) on their songs There’s a Riot Going On (no, not that one) and Say You Love Me.  We initially thought that on the first song the lead vocals were being piped in.  Instead, the camera pans to the band’s recently-added lead singer, Kelly Finnigan, who gives it a blood, sweat and tears effort (a la David Clayton-Thomas or Gregg Allman) and impresses throughout (unlike many other neo-soul singers such as the Stevie Wonder knock-off, Allan Stone).  Check them out below.

Mumford and Sons have a new album about to drop titled Babel.   The band today made the first song from the album, I Will Wait, available for listening below.  Horns have been added to the mix.  We’re doing our best to keep the Mumfords and their Grammy-performance cohorts, the Avett Brothers, straight in our ears.  But we confess to a blurring.

Tom Waits and his wait-staff had pre-announced a big announcement for this date, but what we’ve got for now is this no-holds-barred, apocalyptic official video for his song Hell Broke Luce off of the recent Bad As Me album.  Check it out below and say your prayers.

We recently wrote about the hot Canadian/British “band” Cold Specs.   Pay strict attention to singer-songwriter Al Spx‘s well-wrought lyrics.  Check her out below performing her moving song, Blank Maps, for CBC’s QTV.  The lyrics to the song follow the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA1yI0dilgo&feature=em-uploademail

“Don’t you wait on me, I’ll shoot you down
Keep your eyes closed, your ear to the ground
Pick up in the middle of the night
Kill the silence, I can’t bear to speak
Head for the heart, does it break
Words may fall, the body remains
And every map is blank

When my words head for the cracks
Will you have my back
We were good children
Darling, let it out

I hold my breath, don’t like to move
When the night comes, who will you be
Even the dead cannot be astoundingly alive
I am I am, I am I am a goddamn believer

When my words head for the clouds
Will you have my back
We were good children
Darling, let it out

Well, I am I am, I am I am a goddamn believer”

Despite the havoc wreaked by the weather at this year’s Lollapalooza festival this past weekend, eye-witness accounts are still registering raves.  As proof, check out below The Walkmen taunting the heat in suits to perform Heaven, followed by the languid War On Drugs performing Coming Through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAn-ZmIsUA8&feature=em-uploademail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC8t4FCGdP0&feature=channel&list=UL

The dynamic Dawes slayed at Lollapalooza this weekend.  Check them out below from that festival playing their uplifting anthem, When My Times Come.  If you haven’t been in a Dawes crowd and screamed that accapella chorus, you simply haven’t lived.  ‘Dem dudes can write, sing and play.  After, check out the band in a decidedly different mode, performing a sweet unplugged version of If I Wanted Someone in a just-released Do317 Lounge Session.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGOhRWIIkFU&feature=channel&list=UL

Elliott Smith, one of our greatest songwriters, was born on August 6th, 1969.  In early honor of Smith’s birthday, KillRockStars has just released the alternate take below of Smith’s stellar song, Alameda.  Amongst our fondest memories are his shows at the old Yucatan in Santa Barbara and at the Pantages.  Elliott, you are sorely missed.

KillRockStars adds this about the alternate take and Smith:

“This version contains alternate lyrics during the chorus. Kill Rock Stars will also reissue Either/Or and Smith’s self-titled 1995 album on 180-gram vinyl this month, in honor of Smith’s birthday.

On August 6, Kill Rock Stars will sell its 2010 Smith compilation An Introduction to… for $4.99 all day. You’ll also receive “a present” from the label if you sign up for their mailing list that day.

Throughout August, Smith’s entire Kill Rock Stars output will be available digitally for $49. And for the duration of 2012, any Kill Rock Stars mail-order purchase will be accompanied by a 10% off coupon for their Smith offerings.”

If you lack any portion of Smith’s definitive discography, this is a good opportunity to catch up.

We recently waxed elaborate about new band Alt-J, out of Cambridge, England.  Coincidentally, Alt-J performed on KCRW today.  Check out their performance of song Fitzpleasure below, and then go HERE to listen to the entire KCRW session.  KCRW has now added the band’s performance of their song Breezeblocks at bottom.