What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? If you’re still looking for an epic way to spend the evening, head on over to The Moore for some Cake! (the Cake at right on the pic above, that is… existence of cake on left is not yet confirmed.)

I had a chance to catch up with Cake frontman John McCrea on the tele yesterday and chatted with him about the holidays. Listen in:

How did you spend your Christmas?
How did you spend your Christmas?

How’s the new cake album coming along?
How’s the new cake album coming along?

Is Cake power fueling California?
Is Cake power fueling California?

Trees? Did someone mention trees?
Trees? Did someone mention trees?

Cake is at The Moore theatre for New Year’s Eve. Check it out!

- Shawn

*Make it your resolution to follow “Ask the MD” on Twitter in 2010!*

How about a little optimism for our Song Of the Decade?

While it came at the very end of a very rough 10 years, Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe” might be just the balm to set the tone for the next ten years. The message is simple: hold the things you love close, take a deep breath, and you’ll get through it. We’ll all get through it together!

“Just Breathe” might not start a fashion trend or launch a new genre of music, but it shows a band who already did that maturing into reflective, sensitive adults, and over the course of 10 years… isn’t it time we all grew up a little? Put materialism behind us (who has material possessions anymore??) and recognize the things that are truly important: the people we love?

(Note: This video of “Just Breathe” is live from Key Arena, 9/21/09!)

- Shawn

If things had turned out a little better this decade, if the bubble hadn’t burst, if our personal wealth hadn’t plummeted, if there hadn’t been wars and terrorism and the threat of a global pandemic, Outkast’s “Hey Ya” might have been THE song of the new millennium.

With it’s fusion of funk, rock, and soul and iconic lines like “Shake it like a Polaroid picture,” “Hey Ya” turned hip hop on it’s ear and got even the most jaded of hipster to storm the dance floor. Yes, having a flashy, happy, booty shaking anthem as our Song Of the Decade in a decade from pop and hip hop music dominated the charts feels right, but a party tune as the decade comes so somberly to close? That’s for you to decide!

- Shawn

Brittany Spears did it in public. David Duchovney did it in private. Michael Phelps did it with a turtleneck of gold medals. Elliot Spitzer did it with a call girl. And Tiger Woods did it with everybody else.

It was the decade of the mental/moral meltdown. And nobody wore the mantle of madness better than Amy Winehouse. But beneath the beehive and beyond the spectacle was one of the decade’s most gorgeous voices, a funny and heartbreaking lyricist, and memorable melody-maker. “You Know I’m No Good” told every f-up’s story, and it could have been anybody’s theme song from Fanny and Freddy to Jon and Kate. Throw in the fact that she launched a musical genre, created a fashion movement, and used the mighty Daptones as her back up band and the song lobbies for itself.

- Shawn

. . . until 2010. Have a great holiday!

So. Time to reflect. Take a long hard look back and ask yourself: what one song defined the decade? That’s a big question. Pretty easy to answer in the 90’s: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. Changed music, fashion, and Seattle forever.

But I can’t even name this current decade, let alone put a soundtrack to it. So I’m asking you to do so. But I’m going to lobby for a few songs I think deserve your consideration starting with this one:

U2 – “Walk On”

It started humbly enough (as if any U2 song could be humble!!) as an inspiring tribute to the democratically-elected Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi who remains under house arrest in her native land. After September 11th, the band, on tour to promote All that You Can’t Leave Behind, used the song as an ode to those who lost their lives in the attacks. The names of every victim ran on a huge screen as the band performed the song. “Walk On” became an anthem of grief and ultimately, survival, and about as powerful a moment as a person can have in an arena filled with 20,000 people.

The song hasn’t lost any of its power on the 360° Tour, as the band refocuses attention on Aung… asking audience members to walk on stage wearing masks of the imprisoned leader reminding us of all the freedoms we take for granted, reminding us that we are global citizens who must demand more of ourselves and the people who govern us. Reminding us that a rock song can change the world. Song of the decade? That’s for you to decide, but my hands are in the air, two fists up for this one.

- Shawn

Yes! Leave it to Weezer to come up with this brilliant marketing strategy. They’ve packaged their new album, Raditude, with a Weezer Snuggie! There are two options for people who happen to be fans of both campy alt-rock and warm nights by the fire:

And best of all, there’s an infomercial:

It’s for real! See all the details here. Regular Snuggie=kind of lame holiday gift. Weezer Snuggie=hip and ironic holiday gift.

Pat Monahan of Train was on one of the most popular TV shows in history last night, and today he chatted about it.

That’s our studio all decked out for the holidays. He was here for a music lounge. You can hear the whole interview and performance right here.

- Shawn

Brit band OneeskimO made their first visit to the lounge today.

Four charming lads from the UK and their handler, Daniel, ate oatmeal, drank tea, peeled bananas, and wowed a small group of Mountain listeners with their mix of electronic and acoustic sounds. Things got so complicated for the drummer he needed a graph to get through their 4-song set.

After the band wrapped, they signed cds and posters for fans and posed for photos. I wore a stripped jumper today. Jumper. That’s British for sweater. Oh and that’s Kristian, OneeskimO’s amazing singer, songwriter, visionary.

Jamie signed our trusty ping pong table.

And finally the lads wanted to see the Space Needle and we obliged. Seattle was the last stop on their tour after 5 months criss-crossing the country in a van. Now they’ll head home for the holidays. We wish them all the best: clean clothes, private time, home cooked meals, and breakfasts better than instant oatmeal.

- Shawn

If they gave Oscars for flip cam movies, I’m sure my performance at the Grandmother at the PNB would win ; )

My Grandson’s name was Luke and he taught me the moves. I had so much fun with all the cast members, and especially my “husband” Tad. We were either really good method actors or we actually enjoyed each other’s company.

I’ll go with the latter.

You can check out my Granny transformation (thanks, Shelby!) in the blog below.

- Shawn