So, I went to see Harry and the Potters yesterday in Lakewood Park . Draco and the Malfoys opened; I'd heard of them once or twice. They were very funny. I liked their banter. And they did "99 Death Eaters" which is naturally a takeoff on "99 Red Balloons," and they did it well.

The Potters themselves were sweet. I took mad pictures, and if I knew where my scanner had got to in the move, I'd put them up, but alas.

Without looking at the questions below, list your top 10 favorite artists according to Last.fm

1. Pinback
2. Harry and the Potters
3. Pretty Balanced
4. Black Cat Revival
5. Dr. Dog
6. Joanna Newsom
7. Andrew Bird
8. The Beatles
9. Alanis Morissette
10. Rasputina

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

Q: What was the first song you ever heard by #2?
A: "Stick it to Dolores," on their MySpace.

Q: What is your favorite album of #6?
A: I don’t have any of her albums, just bits and pieces from all of them, ‘cause I’m a pirate.

Q: What is…

New Favorite Band:

Dr. Dog, most weirdly talented band ever. I got their album Toothbrush in the mail about a week ago, and I ordered Easy Beat but haven't gotten it yet.

I was more familiar with Easy Beat and the sound in Toothbrush is stylistically different, more folk with almost a bluegrass feel in a couple of songs, like County Line and How Dare.

Easy Beat to me is more reminiscent of mid-to-late Beatles, full of harmonies and circus sounds. Other than that, I couldn't really make a band comparison.

All of their recordings that I've…

Black Cat Revival, formerly Wigglepussy, Indiana, from my hometown of C-bus, Ohio–pretty locally famous, with a decent-sized Midwest following; they've done a few small tours. I think they deserve to get the fuck out of this city and go somewhere big. Oh, and get signed.

Their setup:

Piano and synth, heavy bass, drums, harmonic vocals.

Their sound:

Most easily described as gothic, but that doesn't cut it. They're much more unique than goth music. I'd say dark, melodic, sophisticated musicality, while still loud and good for rocking out. Pretty cool lyrics, surreal and full of ghosts and clowns…

So Liana introduced me to Nellie McKay, and I've heard about her several times, including in an Entertainment Weekly article that I'd totally forgotten about.

I downloaded her demo, a sampler, the demo/single/whatever Columbia Is Bleeding, and a live show, and have made my way through most of it all.

I can't decide whether or not I like her. I don't not like her but it might be one of those things where she grows on me, or one of those things where I get more and more "eh" 'til I just stop listening. For one thing, she's…

I got the idea reading Doro's post about Such Great Heights.

Songs I Like to Cover/Like to Hear Covered

Such Great Heights because I don't like the original. I've always thought it worked better as a slow song. For an example, check out this cover: Such Great Heights

White Rabbit because it's about DRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGZ. Well, no, more because it's fucken sweet, loud and short enough that I don't get tired with all that bangin.

Talk Show Host even though, or actually BECAUSE, it is a B-side and therefore less-known than most. And I think it's beautiful. It's on the…

I'm going to do a little pimping; hope nobody minds.

Pretty Balanced is my band; I'm the singer, pianist, cellist and accordionist. We call ourselves "piano chamber rock" which means, as far as I can define it, that we are classically trained on classical instruments, but play rock. We incorporate sometimes more and sometimes less of the classical element but in general that's what we are. Often we make it quirky and increasingly, we've tried to make it scary.

Our new album is Icicle Bicycle.

We Have Been Compared To:

Rasputina because of the string element, and in…

Andrew Bird–I just learned Opposite Day on the piano, and I think I'm going to cover it on June 2nd at Fat Eddie's. This man is insanely talented and HOT. Oh my god.

Joanna Newsom–as previously mentioned. Current favorite is Peach, Plum, Pear.

Pinback–yeah, aje poisoned me. Been listening to Rousseau and June obsessively in the past week.

Tenacious D–you're wrong, it is funny. Especially Fuck Her Gently, which gets stuck in my head at inopportune moments.

Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope:

I don't have the same bone to pick with it as everyone else, although I can't say I'm totally satisfied. Where everyone else seems to think the production ruins her beautiful songs, I like the production and I think the songs ruin it.

They are musically unimaginative, too heavy on C major and 4 5 1 chord progressions. Maybe I'm just spoiled by 11:11, which is imaginative to the point of avant garde, at times, but I think Regina's songwriting is going downhill. I still love her lyrics, although they definitely don't…

Joanna Newsom is my new influence/obsession/crush. I don't think I've had one this big since Regina Spektor, and maybe it's because they're slightly similar, in a kind of superficial way–solo females with strong, harsh voices, and rich lyrics–but their sound is extremely different. Where Regina mixes the simple instrumentals with flowery vocals , Joanna does these elaborate harp arrangements and her voice, although I love it, isn't traditionally beautiful.

Her lyrics are mind-blowing. Every word seems to add on to create this thick imagery; you can almost taste it. It's the same thing Regina's older lyrics–mostly the ones from…