So if you don't have the new Phantom Planet record, go.. neh RUN to your favorite local/online retailer and get it. Raise the Dead pretty much drop kicks every other rock record I've heard this year - combining equal parts pop melody (ala The Guest) and in-your-face rock n roll (via their self-titled Phantom Planet record).

I picked up the record about a month ago - and have had the first seven tracks on repeat ever since. Especially useful when you need to go for a run, and need something to get your adrenaline pumping.

The guys played at SXSW a few months ago, but unfortunately I didnt have a chance to catch them (didnt have a wristband this year, stuck to the day shows). It was basically the only night show that I wanted to see, and though I was glad I saved $300+ by not buying wrist bands, I was fairly disappointed I didn't get to see them.

I saw them in support of their self-titled record a few years ago, but didn't have a chance to tape the show. It was an incredibly fun and high octane show, and I'd been looking forward to seeing them again in the future.

The GOOD NEWS. They came through town last week and played the Loft, a cozy little downtown venue (basically its above a couple of larger venues - Gilleys (mid size) and the Palladium (bit bigger than mid size). The show was everything I hoped for. Completely rocking. An hour and a half set that seemed like 15 minutes. There were only a couple of hundred people there - but every fan sang along to every sang (Dallas sounds beautiful), called out requests for every b-side, and seemed disappointed that the band didn't play another hour.

Lots of cool songs got played, including the best tracks of the new record, the Radiohead cover "Just" (Alex Greenwald had recorded the cover for Mark Ronson's Versions record), rare b-side "The Galleria" and a made up little ditty that led into their best known track, California.

Here's a sampling of the show for your pleasure (turn it up!). Go buy Raise the Dead, and they're touring for the next three months, if they come to your city I highly recommend going.

Live MP3 MP3s:
Intro to...
Just (Radiohead Cover)
Do The Panic
Dropped
Boobies
California
The Galleria

Live Shows:
Fri 08/01/08 San Diego, CA Qualcomm Stadium
Sat 08/02/08 Mesa, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre
Sun 08/03/08 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
Tue 08/05/08 Little Rock, AR Riverfest Amphitheatre
Wed 08/06/08 New Orleans, LA The Sugar Mill
Thu 08/07/08 Memphis, TN Mud Island Amphitheatre
Fri 08/08/08 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
Sun 08/10/08 Saint Louis, MO The Pageant
Tue 08/12/08 Chicago, IL Congress Theater
Wed 08/13/08 Sterling Heights, MI Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
Fri 08/15/08 Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier At Penn's Landing
Sat 08/16/08 Asbury Park, NJ Convention Hall
Sun 08/17/08 Providence, RI Providence Pier
Tue 08/19/08 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock Cafe
Wed 08/20/08 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
Fri 08/22/08 Montreal, QC Metropolis
Sat 08/23/08 Toronto, ON Kool Haus
Sun 08/24/08 Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amph.
Tue 08/26/08 Saint Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
Fri 08/29/08 Portsmouth, VA Ntelos Wireless Pavilion
Sat 08/30/08 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre
Tue 09/09/08 Tempe, AZ The Marquee
Wed 09/10/08 Las Vegas, NV Jillian's Las Vegas
Thu 09/11/08 Anaheim, CA Grove Of Anaheim
Fri 09/12/08 San Diego, CA SOMA San Diego
Sat 09/13/08 Los Angeles, CA Music Box @ Fonda
Sun 09/14/08 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Tue 09/16/08 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
Wed 09/17/08 Seattle, WA El Corazon
Fri 09/19/08 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
Sat 09/20/08 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
Mon 09/22/08 Lawrence, KS Granada Theatre
Tue 09/23/08 Saint Paul, MN Station 4
Wed 09/24/08 Milwaukee, WI The Rave Eagles Club
Thu 09/25/08 Chicago, IL Metro / Smart Bar
Fri 09/26/08 Pontiac, MI The Crofoot
Sat 09/27/08 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
Sun 09/28/08 Buffalo, NY Club Infinity
Tue 09/30/08 Worcester, MA The Palladium
Wed 10/01/08 Philadelphia, PA Theatre Of The Living Arts
Thu 10/02/08 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Fri 10/03/08 New York, NY Webster Hall
Sat 10/04/08 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
Sun 10/05/08 Norfolk, VA NorVa
Tue 10/07/08 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
Wed 10/08/08 Saint Petersburg, FL Jannus Landing
Thu 10/09/08 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution
Fri 10/10/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
Mon 10/13/08 Houston, TX House Of Blues
Tue 10/14/08 San Antonio, TX Scout Bar
Wed 10/15/08 Austin, TX Emo's
Sat 10/18/08 Dallas, TX House Of Blues