Yesterday we posted an episode of "The 5" featuring Ezra Koenig and Chris Baio from Vampire Weekend, wherein they talk about their new single, "Cousins."
Chris said that, while the song, which counts as the second single from their forthcoming album, Contra, is not specifically about his long-lost cousin -- sitcom and reality star Scott Baio, whom he has actually never met -- he hopes the track serves as a mechanism for their union somewhere down the line. We can only hope for a Baio cameo in a future VW clip.
Today, we get a behind-the-scenes look at Vampire Weekend's upcoming "Cousins" video. In just the briefest peek, it looks like folks are in for a beguiling vid, one that plays with depth of field and editing (as well as children and evening wear). Check out the finished product when the "Cousins" video makes its MTV premiere on Thursday, November 19.
You might think the boys in Vampire Weekend would be a little stressed about following up their critically-lauded, self-titled debut. But you'd never know it from watching singer/guitarist Ezra Koenig and bassist Chris Baio glide through this episode of "The 5."
Here, half of Vampire Weekend talks about some things that are true. For example, Chris Baio is the cousin of Scott Baio, who you may know from famous '80s sitcom Charles In Charge, or from the infamous '00s reality show Scott Baio Is 45 And Single.
In the not-true department, while you gotta love the amusing anecdote about playing the very same festival that saw Oasis call it quits, I would like to see some evidence documenting Ezra Koenig's ability to heal hundreds of teenage fans left bereft at the announcement of the Gallagher brothers' break-up.
Koenig and Baio also talk about the meaning (or multiple meanings) behind the name of their new album, Contra, as well as the joys of being a wedding band. Contra is due out January 12th, 2010. Stay tuned for the "Cousins" MTV video premiere on Thursday, November 19.
(Credit: Rene Cervantes)
Yesterday, when writing about AFI's personable appearance on "The 5" I remarked about how friendly and un-goth the dudes in AFI came off.
In this exclusive set of MTV photos the boys split the difference between their personas and their personalities. Yeah, there's a certain darkness to 'em, but they also seem like some normal, everyday rock dudes. Maybe it's Davey Havok's fuchsia shirt? Drummer Adam Carson's friendly facial expression? I don't know. Or maybe it's just the lack of eyeliner.
+ Check out the entire set of AFI's exclusive MTV photos here.
LIGHTS: We have followed her adventures in the silent wasteland in Audio Quest; we've learned things we didn't know about her in "The 5" interview, we've discovered her "Halloween Horrors." And now, now we get to look at her!
This charismatic one-stop-electro-pop-shop posed for MTV photographer Rene Cervantes in these exclusive MTV photos. They're a little but funny/playful, a little bit goth and a little bit other-worldly; a lot like her music.
+ Check out the entire set of LIGHTS' exclusive MTV Photos here
(Credit: Rene Cervantes)
In this episode of "The 5," AFI -- who just released their album Crash Love -- prove themselves to be far more lighter touches than you might expect from the dudes behind "Love Like Winter."
Watch and learn as Davey Havok and the boys espouse a cruelty-free lifestyle (they're all either vegan or vegetarian), recall the time Hunter Burgan challenged Paul McCartney to an air bass-off and recall their early days of releasing singles on 7" vinyl.
After AFI's interview, watch brand-new live performance footage of "Beautiful Thieves" from the MTV Ulalume Festival. And don't miss the MTV special, "Ulalume: Howling At New Moon," on Friday, October 30 at 9 PM ET, featuring live performances by Paramore, AFI, Dead by Sunrise featuring Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, and Kid Cudi and interviews with the cast of New Moon.
In this new edition of "The 5," the ubiquitous (at least on these blog shores) LIGHTS tells us a few things we never would've known about her, had she not hipped us to them.
Not only is LIGHTS an accomplished songwriter/singer/producer, she also enjoys taking a blade to undead images (or whatever) while playing the popular World of Warcraft game. When LIGHTS was little a tuberculosis shot gone wrong left her with a nasty scar on her arm. So thank the heavens she got into the fantasy role playing game; it gave her a reason to cover up her tat with a dope knife tattoo.
Otherwise, LIGHTS calls boars the worst "invention" and recalls the time she basically found herself at a boar convention at a zoo. Bummer. She also discusses making pop-up books and how the first song she ever produced sounded like something from the Thumbelina soundtrack.
Learn all you can about LIGHTS below, and be sure to check out her animated comic book adventures in the thrilling Audio Quest series.
We already hit up Holy Ghost! in an episode of "The 5" a little while back, but this condensed, "150 Words Or Less" chat has plenty of info on these NYC dance mavens.
Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser talk about getting together a couple of years ago and making a name for themselves crafting remixes for the likes of Moby, Cut Copy and Kings of Leon.
They also talk about the "futuristic, retro disco" of their newish single, "I Will Come Back," and the rigors of DJ'ing most nights out of the year.
Check out the interview as well as the video for "I Will Come Back" below.
You may be saying to yourself, "Self, why is Max Bemis, singer/songwriter of one of my most beloved bands, Say Anything, whose self-titled new album drops November, 3, FYI, participating in this edition of Buzzworthy's "The 5"? Why, Self, would a man so prone to lacerating self-examination via his music feel the need to divulge any more unknown secrets about himself to the world?'
My answer, after chastising you for talking to yourself too much, would be that, "you may think you know, but you have no idea." And you would probably look at me funny for quoting VH1's Behind The Music tagline, and then I would clarify by saying "The 5" is for those factoids you usually don't get from regular interviews. Such as? Such as Say Anything's early days playing NOFX songs at Jewish summer camp! See? Plus, find out more about Max's graphic novel obsession, his side project band, Two Tongues, and watch "Hate Everyone." Again.
No, that wasn't a typo. Not SALMON STEAKS. SALMON SHAKES. Jason Derulo -- he sings "Whatcha Say," that infectious, emotionally wrought, AutoTune-heavy reimagining of Imogen Heap's "Hide And Seek" -- keeps his manly physique manly by sippin' on SALMON SHAKES. POWER SHAKES MADE OF SALMON. I CAN'T HANDLE IT. But proof's in the pecs. I'm buying tickets to Derulo's gun show, yo.
Anyway, I totally spoiled one thing, but find out four more things you need to know about rising star Jason Derulo, besides that he's a seasoned tap dancer. Whoops. Find out three more things in Jason Derulo's brand-new "The 5" video interview. Plus, get a sneak peek of the "Whatcha Say" video, and stay tuned for the premiere of his "Whatcha Say" video tomorrow on MTV.com.
Feast your eyes on the latest edition of "The 5," featuring the Christian rock heavy hitters Skillet. As you may have seen yesterday when I wrote about Skillet's jailbreak-themed video for "Monster," the two guys and two girls of Skillet are definitely not playing around. They play pile-driving jams about serious stuff.
So you'll likely be surprised to find such an affable quartet talk about their need for exercise and coffee. And you'll likely smirk as singer/bassist John Cooper (by the way, does he not kind of resemble that guy Mark Salling who plays Noah on Glee? No? Anyone?) struggles with his own band's history as he tries to name all of Skillet's seven albums. (He bangs 'em out.)
