The Sly Cat Empire

I love The Cat Empire- this brassy party band from Australia! Trust me, it takes a lot to get me to dance (I AM the inspiration behind a certain Frank Zappa song), and when TCE played Rams Head Live last year, I shuffled my two left feet to their irresistible funk, ska, Latin grooves.

They're back tomorrow with SO MANY NIGHTS and Felix, Harry and the boys really transform into something more than a dance band. The Cat Empire display their sophisticated musicology throughout the record, with building songs full of strings, keys, and of course, horns and they even throw in a few nods to other big ensembles from the 60's, such as Sly and the Family Stone and War.

You can hear it on the title track.

Rolling Stone Magazine names Baltimore Best Scene of 2008

Over the weekend, Rolling Stone Announced there Best of Rock 2008

Listen Here to Erik's Interview with Evan Serpick, writer for Rolling Stone Magazine who covered Baltimore as Best Scene

Best Scene: Baltimore! (more in depth article here)

Best Festival Band: Radiohead

Best Breakthrough Band: My Morning Jacket

Best Live Band: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Best Producer: Danger Mouse

Best Songwriter: Connor Oberst

Best Prog-Rock Band: The Mars Volta

for the full read check out the May 1, 2008 issue of Rolling Stone or read online here

What are your thoughts on Baltimore as Best Scene of 2008?