I didn’t have the foresight this year to score myself a press pass for my camera so the pictures a very limited. However, here is some of what I saw.

The Hold Steady holding court at the Noise Pop/Take Root/Rock River Music.
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There was rain and free ice cream.

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Reports here that Lil Wayne is due to sell upwards of 900,000 copies of “Tha Carter III” this week. That is despite of Mr. Waynes protest against the mixtape dj’s unfairly profitting on his music and other album leaks. Lil Wayne could also surpass Kanye West 1st week sales of “Graduation” which reached 956,000 copies. Which should prompt some interesting blow back from Mr.West.
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What do you do if your release date is 2 months away and someone in your camp has leaked your new album to the interweb? It happens alot. All the time. Your label has spent 6 months staging a marketing campaign and now everyone UMICH is downloading your creative genius faster than a greased leopard. Again what do you do? The obvious thing would be to push up the release date to minimize the circulation of unsanctioned copies floating through the ether. Sure, that works for the majors, Beck, Nine Inch Nails,Radiohead are all still going to probably sell 7 figures ( albeit low 7 figures). And they have their tour support and licensing opportunities ( which is really where todays artist are going to make there money).

But I’m talking about the 2nd tier artist (neh artist on the come up). Critic and blogger darlings much anticipated 4th album ( hypothetically). Imagining they sold 40k last time out and they are slated to sell upwards of 100K this time around which would bump them up from their indie to the major that distributes said indie. But wait, 2008 is here and the DIY marketing strategy you have so carefully plotted out is blown because everybody has already bitorrented your record 2 months before you are booked on Letterman.

What do you do?
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Craig, Tad et al are streaming their new song on their myspace page.

Upon 1st listen Craig’s been taking vocal lessons so he’s “singing” more. They are not in a hurry to tell the story this time and not in a hurry to shut it down ( superfluous drum fill at the end ) and there are more “sing a long” bar room hooks.

Looking forward to hearing the rest.

The Hold Steady raised a toast to the Saint Joe Strummer last night at the Hard Rock in Times Square. The boys brought new songs for the Rolling Stone sponsored event. Check out the video of the new album title track “Stay Positive” backed with ” Hot Soft Lights” in a special Schick Quattro remix.

Footnote - included in the generous gift band was a 50 pack of blank cds. Nothing sends a mixed message more in 2008 than a bulk of blank cd’s in which to bootleg your favorite Hold Steady cd and share it with your friend who listens to it in his discman. I have not even finished the spindle of blank cd’s . Now where am I supposed to keep these? CD storage is still only 700 mg and If I remember correctly cds scratch. Well at least there was a Schick Quattro in the bag also. Too bad I went here to get strait razed by bond girl Miho the day before yesterday.