The Black Keys Set List London

For any of you that are attending The Black Keys second North American tour, paired with the Arctic Monkeys this is a little taste of what you can expect. I myself am attending their show in Minneapolis on the 15th of May and I am properly stoked. As for the set list I am rather pleased with it as they include such tracks as  "Thickfreakness" and " I Got Mine." As for me I would prefer less from their new album, but that's just me.

Photo courtesy of the wonderful Adrianna Pulver

Bangers & Nash Playlist 3/29 @ KTUH.Org / 90.3 FM Honolulu

Introducing: The Nixon x Bergdorf Goodman Mellor

Legendary New York retailer Bergdorf Goodman has combined forces with watch brand Nixon, personal favorite, to release a highly limited version of the Mellor. This puppy retails for a whopping $995 and believe me I would sell a kidney for one of these, particularly the black one. Swiss moment, genuine croc skin strap leaves my mouth watering boasting a classic,luxurious style.Check out more pics and info @ Nixon.com and get your self a slice of fifth avenue.

Champions League Quarter Final 1st Leg Wrap Up

Chelsea vs. Benfica 

Chelsea, the final surviving English club in the competition took a lead in their two leg quarter final show down with Benfica, winning at the stadium of light 1-0.  As the torch bearers for the English in the European competition, Chelsea have had the onus of " must succeed" put upon them. In the first leg against Portuguese opposition, they came up trumps securing an all important away goal. After a dismal display, in a dismal game against Tottenham at the weekend, the blues stepped up their game perhaps in response to my previously mentioned point and players like Ramirez and Torres had good games in a much unfamiliar line up. Solomon Kalou started off of Torres, Mikel was reinstated into the midfield, and Paulo Ferreira was brought in as right back.  The little Spaniard and creative attacking force Juan Mata had a quiet game, but former Benfica player Ramirez showed why he was signed from the Portuguese side. Another typical Chelsea performance from Fernando Torres as he did not score, yet help the ball well, skinned a few defenders and provided the chip cross that assisted to Kalou's goal.

The second leg will be at Stamford Bridge next week and I would gather that Chelsea will deal with the Portuguese side:  3-1 on aggregate.

Marseille vs. Bayern Munich

My pick for the most exciting duel in the quarterfinals proved to be far from actual. Let me just come out and say it, Marseille's starting keeper who for all he's worth is their third string, fluffed a strait forward save which deflated the side who where coping with the German powerhouse. Munich looked like the home side as they controlled most of the possession, with Lahm going walkabout on the right. The Spanish referee ruled with an iron fist, reprimanding four before the half. Ribery returned to his old side, and when his feet ensnared the ball the boos rained down possibly effecting his play as he was anonymous.  First string and French international keeper Steve Mandanda was out due to a suspension, and the second string keeper was dropped due to a poor performance.  On to the third Elinton Andrade  who turned to cellulose when a shot hit at him by Mario Gomez the naturalized German scoring machine, went right through him.  After this Marseille's stuffing was removed and Munich went on to win 2-0, with Arjen Robben adding the nail to the coffin pulling out old tricks from an old bag. 

If the French side couldn't  get it done at home, then they stand no chance in Munich next week, even with the return of Mandanda immanent. I say a 4-1 on aggregate.

AC Milan vs. Barcelona

When I saw the starting line-up for AC Milan I thought here goes another ransacking by Barcelona as most notably the absence of  center defender Thiago Silva was out due to injury. V for veteran was the name of the game as Alessandro Nesta at age 36 started in the back and Clarence Seedorf, who turns 36 this weekend started for the Rossenairi. My first instinct again was off as the game which in all due respect was rather toothless and finished in a 0-0 draw.  Messi had the ball in the bak of the net ( surprised?) but he was offside. Ibrahimnovich returned to his old stomping grounds with a point to prove, yet on another Champions League night  was missing from the spotlight. Milan should have changed the fabric of the game in the first few minutes when Ibra headed a looped ball strait to the former Real Madrid's Robinho, who skied his shot standing nearly 5 feet from goal. 

Milan heads to the Nou Camp next week and It smells like a case of " Sorry Charlie" as Barcelona are more clinical that Doogie Howser's prodigious hands. Barcelona progress 2-0 on aggregate.

New Arctic Monkeys Signal: R U Mine? ( Video)

I stumbled across this track on their website, coupled with a really dope video and I just lost my shit! I am not normally one for music videos although I love the collaboration of music and film, but this one is awesome. If you have followed this blog you might recollect my opinion in regrads to their last album " Suck It And See" / the direction of  the bands sound on a whole. With this newly released signal I am delightedly reminded of why they are one of my favorites with a throwback sound. Reminiscent of their older stuff the Arctic Monkeys continue to tantalize with collection of impressive signals adding this one to their repertoire. Check the video below, dig the tune and leave your comments.

Bangers & Nash Playlist 3/7 @ KTUH.Org / 90.3 FM Honolulu

 

                        Song                                                 Artist

          T.K.O.                                               Giant Panda

The Irony Of It All                                       The Streets  

  Just Drums                                              Tapes 'n Tapes

Losing My Edge                                         LCD Soundsystem 

Don't You Evah                                               Spoon

Aeroplane                                           Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Jocelyn's Toothache                                          New Beard

Coming Up Roses                                        New Mastersounds

Phenomena                                            Yeah Yeah Yeahs  

 The Human Abstract                                        David Axelrod 

Battle Slang                                             Dirty Ghosts

Gold Sneakers                                             Wax Idols  

  Hip Hug-Her                                          Booker T. & The MG's

Shade Of Blue                                       Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 

Potion Approaching                                         Arctic Monkeys  

The Number Song                                             DJ Shadow

Damaged Goods                                             Gang Of Four  

Brother Blackwell                                         Hadwynn  

Heavy Soul                                            The Black Keys  

North Portland                                          Robert Glasper

Wang Dang Doodle                                         Koko Taylor

So Much (Skit)                                            Musikyo

Glass Of Wine                                           Dengue Fever  

Jello and Juggernauts                               Unknown Mortal Orchestra 

 Make It Rain                                            Tom Waits

Lord, Lord                                     Herbalizer, ft. Roots Manuva

Liver n'Onions: RVP Strikes Back

Before the praises where sung of Liverpool's triumphant penalty kick shoot-out win in the Carling Cup final, Liver n'  Onions wanted to see how the reds would fair at the weekend against Arsenal. I, like many took their recent form into account in making a prediction wrongfully or not. This said Arsenal was not a stale bag of bread, in terms of form- still riding high off the 5-2 trouncing of city rivals Tottenham.  Giving the Reds my much invested faith I put a ten on them to shove the Gunners back down the barrel of the gun they have be residing in for most of the year. But it's a home game, how did that slip my mind…It was the early kickoff being staged at ever growing performance cesspit known as Anfield. Much to my chagrin, that ten dollars I had riding on them did not stand a chance.  Before I continue this quick photo compilation sums up Liverpool's,

Form away from Anfield:

Form at Anfield:

Pretty much sums it up, you could say proofs in the Persie…If you may. Arsenal snapped Liverpool's unbeaten home streak with their 2-1 coup at Anfield. It may have been the first loss, but draws have been a plenty. Looking at the content of the 90 'minutes played on Saturday you would render a win was in the offing for the Reds. Arsenal looked shabby in possession and lost their midfield quarterback Mikel Arteta through a rather ambiguous injury. Top-four hopefuls Liverpool had their chances but what has separated them from a team that would make that final Champions League spot  their own is their ineptness to take chances. Prior to the game the Liverpool attacking unit had only managed 12 goals between them. Top scores Craig Bellamy and Luis Suarez are on 6 which is frankly not good enough.  The look of disgust on Dirk Kuyt's face after his poorly taken penalty was saved by the keeper Scezney said it all. With the better play falling on the side of Liverpool, the man, the myth and the monster Robin van Persie struck again, to compound woes even further. A game where Liverpool should have had 3-points in the wallet, they emerged with none. You just cannot stop the Dutch maestro, he's  so hot you could cook an omelet on him. His volley in the 3rd minute of stoppage time was superbly taken, leaving Pepe Reina with no chance, even at his front post.

I wouldn't chalk down the absence of players to Liverpool's loss, because it really was a smash and grab performance by the Gunners. But this said pundits have come out asserting that Liverpool is still way too dependent on their Captain Steven Gerrard, who did not play at the weekend. Ok i would agree to some extent, as Liverpool look lost  i the midfield when he's not playing, lacking a supplemented  vision with players like Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson. Ever since the exit of now Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso and Barcelona's Javier Mascherano  the reliance on Gerrad  has become too much, though for many years he has been capable of doing it all. To these pundits I would pull the tainted victory mask off and look at Arsenals situation. Would Arsenal have won that game if not for their captain Robin van Persie? He does it all for Arsenal, he has scored 31goals in all competitions this season, and is top goal scorer in the Premier League. He has rescued Arsenal on numerous occasions with his goals, leading by example. Would Theo Walcott have pulled off the same deft dagger in the dying embers of the game…I  don't thinks so. Liverpool's over reliance on Gerrard is a notion holds water, but so does Arsenals over reliance on Van Persie. I pose this question: If one team where to lose their star man, Arsenal- RVP and Liverpool- Gerrard, who would be worse off? 

Liverpool and Arsenal's situations are not all that dissimilar. Two teams that are, or once were part of the fabled top four, have since fallen from grace and are repairing the damages trying coping with the fallout. Both have long standing managers who have come under scrutiny. Arsene Wenger in terms of longevity as manager, and Kenny Dalglish with his association to Liverpool, as player and manager. Both struggle to find a cohesive squad of players. Arsenals reluctancy to buy opting to rely on youth, and Liverpool's over-spending on un-proven talent. Where they finish in the league this year is really anyones guess, and both will certainly have to fight to get into the top 4.

A little nibblet to munch on before Liverpool faces Sunderland at the weekend.

Stay Oniony my friends

Don't to forget to check out more @www.worldfootballdaily.com

Liverpool's Pepe Reina In Kind Of A Racist Commercial (Video)

A TV Advert from a Spanish Insurance company starring non other than Liverpool's man with the gloves Pepe Reina,  has received some shtick over possible racist elements.  Liverpool can't seem to stay away racism offenses of late, and it seems to follow the squad in whatever they partake in. For me it's a bit offensive, but too big a deal is being made out of it. 

Check the video below:

Thanks to TheOriginalWinger