In the pig-pile rush to get our best-of-2011 lists done, we thought we'd take a break and pick up the continuation of that what's-in-heavy-rotation post from last month, wherein we let you know what was taking up space on the imaginary radar of late, along with upcoming shows and appearances. So, without further ado, here's the second piece of that post, where almost none of the bands have anything particular coming up on the calendar or release radar, but we've still got them in repeat mode regardless:

We're not sure if this is a band-produced or fan-made video, but in either case, Yellow Ostrich's WHALE is pretty high up there on the list for Best Mixtape Openers Ever To Exist {which makes the grand assumption that ubiquitous you still makes actual mixtapes, of course} with it's stripped-bare, big-empty-room drumbeats and veritable choir of multi-vocals to bleed into the start of something good. Regardless of your format or fancy, you'd be doing yourself a favor by picking up this track to have in your tracklisty mix-making arsenal. YO doesn't have any tour dates coming up at the moment, but head on over to their corner of the internet anyway to keep an eye on what's coming next for these gents. {band site}

On the roots-y-Roadhouse-y front, there's a few alt.indie acts that fall under the umbrella of "General American Songwriter" that have made it into our mixes of late, like the entirety of Gillian Welch's The Harrow and the Harvest and Caitlin Rose (photo above)'s Own Side Now. Gillian's album has proper and snippet-streams all about the web, but even though there were a slew of Fleetwood Mac covers, we couldn't find a video or track link for our favorite song of Caitlin's, "Coming Up" -- and it's hands-down the best representation of her we can muster. Should you come across it out there, please purchase it immediately and blast it on your next drive at full-volume, preferably as the closer of the mix you just made that started with that Yellow Ostrich track. {buy Gillian's music} {buy Caitlin's music}

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17 years + 1 day ago, I started loving live music shows. September 21, 1992:  Pearl Jam, Drop in the Park. Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle.  Pearl Jam made me love real bands, smaller venues, and being part of a flash group loving on the music together.

That 1992 Pearl Jam show was the first time I felt part of the music and a participant in the event. Stage front, jostling and being jostled, passing crowd surfers, getting stinky dirty.  I swear he looked right at me.  I held my breathe as  Eddie Vedder climbed the light scaffolding and swung like a monkey for what seemed like forever.

Until Pearl Jam, all my prior music shows were of the rock-arena variety. You know: hard-ass seats, eye strain- headache-inducing distance, and muddy sound. Alone in a crowd of thousands. Just for the priveledge of saying you were there. (Think Rolling Stones, The Police, Billy Joel, Van Halen.)  I haven't been to an arena show in years and very possibly may never go to one again.

The Drop in the Park show was a date with I guy I had been wanting to go out with. He asked if I liked Pearl Jam and would I like to go with him. ("Who?" I thought, "Yes!" I said. ) Between the asking and the date, I did hasty recon so I would be able to carry a conversation and know something about the band before I showed up.  (Um, maybe I haven't changed much since then.)  I haven't been in touch with the Pearl Jam date guy in 16 years. Not because he wore a baja shirt / mexican hoodie to the show. (Don't mock,  it was the fashion at the time.)  I'll always have general affection for date guy -- and for Eddie Vedder -- for being the catalyst of change in my music perception and experience.

You won't see me at the Key Arena show tonight, although word on the interwebs is the new Backspace is worth checking out.  If you go, get close, get in, let go. Watch for the PJ magic to be at work again creating new music lovers and live music supporters.

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The release comes in four different flavors, including a super-duper-maxi-ultra-fancy package.

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Day-job calendar scouring strikes again!

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You can read the whole, unadulterated review here. If you feel masochistic today.

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Just received word through the Pearl Jam fanclub (don't judge!) that frontman Eddie Vedder will make a short solo-tour jaunt down the West coast.

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Krist looks like a down-and-out math teacher rather than the former bassists of the most influential bands of rock and roll.

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Burn to Shine's forthcoming Emerald City edition is quintessentially us. Like the other houses featured in the previous three Burn to Shine installments, this house was destined to be destroyed... but not before some stunning musical performances by great local performers like Tiny Vipers, Eddie Vedder, and Burn to Shine curator Benjamin Gibbard.

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at Bumbershoot 2007

"This is their song??!?! I had no idea this was their song! This is one of the Top Hits of The 80s!!"

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Pearl Jam fans and Internet watchdogs were up in arms Thursday after it was revealed that AT&T Inc. censored portions of the rock band's live concert cybercast on Sunday.

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