It’s a good thing the game was so great cuz the commercials were kind of disappointing this year. A couple of themes emerged: The Slap as a Comedy Device and Men Need To an Man Up (and wear pants!). One ad that broke from the pack? The Green team ad for Audi. I loved it:

Another great thing about the weekend? VP of Content, Kat, was in town for a visit from brainiac school. Here is her take of the big ads on the big game:

I have to admit, the game made up for some weak commercials, but between Betty White and small business owners being incorporated into the ads this year, my needs were met. Or maybe it’s just because I sustain myself on nothing but Snickers and beer. Regardless, here are my two favorites from this year’s game.

What were your faves?

As I’m sure you can see in the picture, last night was all about Billy Joel and Elton John at Key Arena! Wild, raucous…

The way different people describe Elton John is like how they might describe their reaction to a painting – he’s classic, different, innovative… and you’re not quite sure how to interpret him all the time.

In that vein, I’ve asked different folks to weigh in on the show last night, give us their perspective of the concert.

Intern Brittany checked in with me this morning with her account of the show:

Elton and Billy started a little before 8 pm, which was almost right on time. The pianos came up first – right up through the floor. Elton and Billy came on stage at the same time and began the show with “Your Song”. Both singers performed, first together followed by E.J alone, then B.J and finally finishing by slamming through a bunch of hits together. Billy Joel wowed the crowd with a cover of “Purple Haze” while Elton John had everyone on their feet during “Philadelphia Freedom”. The crowd (which was a sight in itself) consisted of people of all ages – from 2 to 82.

What did you think? Are you going to the show tonight? Comment me with your thoughts, friends!

- Shawn

You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours… right? Well, Peter Gabriel’s next record is going to do just that.

Peter Gabriel’s new project (Scratch My Back) is an all-cover, orchestra-backed collection of songs from Bowie’s “Heroes” to Arcade Fire’s “My Body Is a Cage.” It’s “the first part of a series of song exchanges in which Peter and other leading artists reinterpret each others songs.”

The disc is set to be release on March 2nd through Gabriel’s own Real World Records.

If you’re excited to catch the live show, you might have to venture to NYC, LA, or Montreal. Right now, he’s only got these locales on his North American tour. The trip might very well be worth the journey, because for all the dates, he’ll have a 54-piece orchestra in tow.

Peter Gabriel – 2010 Tour Dates
March 22: Paris, Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
March 24-25: Berlin, O2 Arena
March 27-28: London, O2 Arena
April 28: Montreal, Bell Centre
May 2-3: New York City, Radio City Music Hall
May 7: Los Angeles, Hollywood Bowl

Check out the track list for this disc – it’s Gabriel-goes-indie greatness! And, should you scroll down dear readers, I have included an MP3 of Gabriel’s version of “Flume.”

01 “Heroes” (David Bowie)
02 “The Boy in the Bubble” (Paul Simon)
03 “Mirrorball” (Elbow)
04 “Flume” (Bon Iver)
05 “Listening Wind” (Talking Heads)
06 “The Power of the Heart” (Lou Reed)
07 “My Body Is a Cage” (Arcade Fire)
08 “The Book of Love” (The Magnetic Fields)
09 “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” (Randy Newman)
10 “Après moi” (Regina Spektor)
11 “Philadelphia” (Neil Young)
12 “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” (Radiohead)

Peter Gabriel – Flume (originally Bon Iver)
Scratch My Back (2010)

- Shawn

It might not be New Music Tuesday, but today, I’ve got a special track from Mountain artist Meiko for you!

It’s an acoustic version of her tune “Boys With Girlfriends,” originally included on her self-titled debut.

Meiko

Meiko – Boys With Girlfriends(Acoustic).mp3

Thoughts?

Side note: Let it stand for the record that the new Meiko t-shirts have already made their list on VP of Content Kat’s wish list for Christmas 2010.

Friends and followers, please mark your calendar for a fantastic event next week.

The event is a night of music and comedy called “DefriendingCancer.” It will be hosted by Todd Barry and there will be musical performances by James Mercer (from The Shins) and Isaac Brock (from Modest Mouse). Both Isaac and James will perform solo, which should be pretty amazing. There will also be performances by the following group of talented comics: Neil Hamburger, Tim Heidecker, Tig Notaro, Eugene Mirman and Natasha Leggero.

The show will be at The Moore next Thursday, February 11th. “Defriending Cancer” is a benefit show for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Tickets can be purchased here:
 http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPu…

- Shawn

Ok, so maybe I do need to rethink the “tribute to Sade” ponytail because of my dinner plate sized ears! Regardless, I still had a lovely time at the Sade Listening Party this week. I got to hang out with folks like Matt Vaughn, owner of Easy Street Records, interns Dustin and Brittany, a pair of great Mountain listeners, and lots of Seattle music industry folk in the bar at Hotel 1000. Nice fireplace! The new Sade? Well, to be honest it was really hard to hear over all the hobnobbing, so I’m looking forward to hearing it in earnest on Feb 9 when it hits stores.

Here’s proof of those saucer sized ears:

Dustin and I

Ears and Sade fan John Spicer and his lovely bride

Ears and Party Goer Carrie McIntyre and her hubby

And finally, my ear took this photo of Brittany and her friend Morgan.

- Shawn

If having a copy of your novel tucked under the arm of John Lennon’s assassin doesn’t qualify your novel as one of the biggest cultural touchstone’s of the 20th century, then what does?

Reclusive author J.D. Salinger passed away today, but his novel Catcher In The Rye will live with everyone who ever suffered a crush, felt misunderstood by their parents, thought teachers were phonies, or got drunk and felt lonely. Since that describes just about every teenager in America, it’s safe to say Catcher In The Rye will live on.

Need more proof? Check out a short list of songs inspired by or referencing J.D. Salinger and Catcher here:

• The Beastie Boys – Shadrach
• Green Day – Who Wrote Holden Caufield
• Old 97’s – Rollerskate Skinny
• Too Much Joy – Willam Holden Caufield

(Mind you, this is only skimming the surface!)

My favorite? Clem Snide’s “The End Of Love”, which perfectly suits the mood of the day.

Bye bye, J.D. Salinger, we’ll miss you but we’ll never forget you.

- Shawn

Hey Justin Timberlake, I like you.

I know, I’m pretty late to that party, but, I just have to say it out loud. You have really curly hair, you did that D!@# In A Box song, your jeans flatter my lady parts, and you are good to your friends. I know this because we share a mutual friend, Matt Morris.

It was really cool when you brought him along to sing on the Hope For Haiti benefit show. I know you guys have been friends since you were Musketeers together and that your record label is putting out his new cd, but it was cool none the less. And you guys sing like angels together. Speaking of angels, nice pick on the Leonard Cohen cover too. I can’t tell you how many calls I’ve had asking about it. I hope you raise about a billion dollars for Haiti with sales of this song. That’s what we at Ask The MD call a win win!

Here’s the performance:

- Shawn

You’ve heard “Soldier Of Love” on New Music Tuesday, or on the promos for the new season of Lost. No? Well give it a listen here.

It’s a gorgeous song, and now we all want to know… how’s the rest of the Sade album?

Find out with me!

I’ve got one space on the guest list for an exclusive, private Sade listening party in downtown Seattle on Wednesday night, January 27th. Sade won’t be there, but people who love her will! We’ll get to hear the whole album and mingle with local Sade lovers.

I’ve also got 10 copies of the new CD to give away.

All you have to do is leave a comment here on the blog, make it a nice comment about love and happiness, and then check your email to see if you’ve won the cd or listening party passes. Cool?

Good luck, lover.

- Shawn

Prince might be at the game, but I’ll be in Ballard to cheer on the Vikings as they face off against the Saints for their spot in the Super Bowl. Come on out!

Zayda Buddy’s Pizza & Bar will be hosting the area’s biggest “purple-pizza-party” Sunday. Food and drink specials will highlight festivities, as Seattle’s Minnesota contingent will cheer on the Vikings in their bid for Super Bowl XLIV. Zayda Buddy’s expects to be standing room only by kick off.
5405 Leary Ave. NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 783-7777
The following games will be shown in HD on Zayda Buddy’s three big screens:

Sunday, January 24:

Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints 12 p.m.
New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts 3:40 p.m.

Sunday, February 7:

Super Bowl XLIV, 3:25 p.m.

The restaurant opens at 9:30 a.m. for one of Zayda Buddy’s biggest parties. Breakfast specials include a variety of Egg Break Pizzas and the Iron Range A.M., two eggs, two pieces of bacon, tater tots, Texas toast with a choice of coffee or Hamm’s.

Zayda Buddy’s Pizza & Bar is Seattle’s only Minnesota-style pizzeria. For more information, visit: www.zaydabuddyspizza.com.

See you there!

- Shawn