It was bound to happen….

Billboard’s got today’s scoop.

MP3: Semisonic - Closing Time

TOMORROW, Union Square, 7PM.

Present your Virgin wristband…

And get free booze at FF’s Annex gig later in the evening!

Visit Friendly Fires on MySpace.

MP3: Friendly Fires - Jump In The Pool

To celebrate the US release of her magnetic debut LP, Rockferry, Duffy performed a trio of acoustic tracks (’Warwick Avenue’, ‘Syrup & Honey’, ‘Mercy’) last night at VM’s Union Square location. Following a well received appearance at NYC’s legendary Apollo Theater, it was charming to hear the aforementioned selections in their rawest and gentlest form - even if the set was a mere 12 minutes in length! Enjoy a parade of photos from the gig + an MP3 below. Visit Duffy on MySpace. Watch yesterday’s performance on Conan here.

MP3: Duffy - Warwick Avenue

Celebrate their sophomore LP (Walk It Off) at:

7pm
Virgin Megastore
Union Square
14th St & 4th Ave.

9pm
Iona
Williamsburg
180 Grand St.

Visit Tapes ‘N Tapes on MySpace.

MP3: Tapes ‘N Tapes - Omaha

Celebrate their sophomore LP (Walk It Off) at:

7pm
Virgin Megastore
Union Square
14th St & 4th Ave.

9pm
Iona
Williamsburg
180 Grand St.

Visit Tapes ‘N Tapes on MySpace.

MP3: Tapes ‘N Tapes - Omaha

Celebrate their sophomore LP (Walk It Off) at:

7pm
Virgin Megastore
Union Square
14th St & 4th Ave.

9pm
Iona
Williamsburg
180 Grand St.

Visit Tapes ‘N Tapes on MySpace.

MP3: Tapes ‘N Tapes - Omaha

Anthony C shares the following info with ONTD: *One thing I was looking forward to on 1.01.08 was the release date for the physical copies of In Rainbows. BUT I was in Virgin Megastore in Union Square, NYC last night and I saw a sign on the front door saying something to the effect that In Rainbows is available now. I checked it out thinking it was a ploy to get people in, but right there in the front display were the physical copies of the album for $10 and the LP Boxed set. The employees were also wearing In Rainbows t-shirts listing 1.01.08 as the release date as well. I asked the cashier about it but they had no information.*

MP3: Radiohead - All I Need

This time around I’m going to let the pictures do the talking for me. Enjoy the photos below from last night’s terrific Patrick Wolf in-store celebrating his third LP, The Magic Position’s US release. If you missed The Music Slut’s interview with Patrick from this past weekend, check it out here!

Setlist: Overture/Get Lost/Tristan/The Bluebell/Bluebells/The Libertine/Accident & Emergency/The Magic Position

MP3: Patrick Wolf - Accident & Emergency

If you couldn’t already tell by my myriad posts about Secret Machines over the last 2 weeks, I’m very excited about the new album.

It’s genius. 8 well-crafted gems without any sort of fluff. I love it. In a way, it reminds me of ( ). I get a similar feeling and the songs provoke you in a very familiar way. If Sigur Ros and Secret Machines ever did a joint tour I very well might lose my head. That’d be unreal!

Anyway, out of daydreaming and back to the show.

Considering how powerful and large their sound is, I was particularly curious to see how they would pull off an entirely acoustic set. Well, the answer is, they put on a brilliant stripped-down show.

Speaking with drummer Josh before they hit the stage, he said he had no idea what the band was going to play (apparently brothers Ben and Brandon call the shots) but promised that it’d be a treat to hear the ‘bare bones’ feel of the songs.

He wasn’t kidding.

“Alone Jealous + Stoned” was especially perfect last night. The gentle insrumentation combined with Ben and Brandon’s vocals work extraorinarily well together. For me this was the highlight. As was “Daddy’s In The Doldrums”. Oh, whatever, I was mesmorized by the entire set!

For all keeping score, the setlist went like this:

Lightning Blue Eyes
Alone Jealous + Stoned
Daddy’s In The Doldrums
Nowhere Again
1,000 Seconds

The band will be touring, outside of NY (imagine that!) all summer long.
Don’t miss it, for the love of Matisyahu!!!