The next YBP t-shirt has arrived and it’s been designed by none other than Tunde Adebimpe of the Brooklyn-based band, TV on the Radio. All profits from the sale of this t-shirt will benefit Partners In Health, in an effort to raise money for Haiti relief. As you may recall, we supported this charity recently by auctioning off a hand-coloured Indie Rock Coloring Book via ebay!

The first print-run of t-shirts were generously donated by Alternative Apparel, and to make this t-shirt even more unique, we chose to print this colourful design on their ‘Destroyed’ tee. It’s super soft! And its collar, sleeve and bottom hems are grinded with a special machine to create a uniquely worn and deconstructed look.

Click here to buy this tee!

Photos above by Megan McIsaac and Alicia Vega respectively.

On the dawn of the New Year we posted a list of our favourite albums of 2009, and coming up 8th on that list was none other than the english folk quartet - Mumford & Sons. We’ve been following Mumford & Sons with a watchful eye, having seen them appear at The End Of The Road Festival, The Royal Festival Hall, and other venues across London. We’ve been waiting for them to explode across the USA, knowing that it was only a matter of time.

Well folks, it appears that now their time has now come. See videos below of Marcus & gang performing on Craig Fergurson and David Letterman! Way to go chaps – keep up the momentum!

‘Little Lion Man’ on Letterman:

‘The Cave’ on Craig Ferguson:

Now that DC is recovering from the worst snow season in a hundred years, I’m starting to miss staying home from work, drinking cocoa, watching the storm rage outside, and listening to good music.

Gillian Welch is one of my staples when it comes to chilling and unwinding. She is absolutely at the top of her game and, with partner David Rawlings, has been instrumental in reviving interest in Americana, folk, and bluegrass. Seeing (and briefly talking to) the two of them at last summer’s Newport Folk Festival was great. So is this NPR Tiny Desk Concert. And Rawlings’s first album under his own name is getting rave reviews. I can’t think of a musical couple that are more tuned into each other.

Which musicians do you turn to first when stuck in the house, stressed beyond belief, or otherwise looking to relax?

Saw this movie last night. A+, highly recommended.

MP3:> Jeff Bridges – The Weary Kind

Wednesday night, before the skies opened up and unleashed Snowmageddon, DC was fortunate to have the high-intensity Delta Spirit play at the intimate DC9. I last saw them open for The Shins back in May, and their album, “Ode to Sunshine”, was (as well as having great cover art) one of my favorite finds of 2009.

Delta Spirit, hailing from San Diego, is one of those bands that is meant to be heard live. Although the studio versions of their songs are very solid, seeing and interacting with the group adds a lot to the experience. I also have a strong appreciation for groups that utilize unusual instrumentation and whose members often change roles even in the midst of a single song.

“Ode to Sunshine” is a very apt phrase to describe the tenor of the album. They play a great fusion of straight-up Americana rock and soul with a type of rough honesty, vigor for life, and consummate passion that permeates all of their songs. The lyrics are thoughtful, powerful, ruthless, yet optimistic, and often political (without falling into cliche). The group dedicated their show to the late Howard Zinn, whose surname was scrawled on Matt’s guitar.

Check out the album version of “Trashcan” for a catchy tune, “People C’mon” for a not-so-gentle exhortation, and “Strange Vine” for a taste of the live show.

They’re getting ready for a new album entitled “History from Below”, and the majority of their set was new songs. I can attest that there’s not a sleeper among them.