MTV recently got some footage of Broken Bells at The Boat, the famous studio in Los Angeles (Madonna, David Byrne, and The Sex Pistols are among the clientele), performing “The Ghost Inside” from their self titled album. Danger Mouse and The Shins’ James Mercer play here with a full band (DM on drums). Sounding pretty flawless live. Starting to wish I had made an effort to get some Troubadour ticktets for Sunday (SOLD OUT).

The National gave a “super early preview” on Jimmy Fallon of the opening track, “Terrible Love,” from their upcoming full-length, High Violet. According to Stereogum, this hadn’t even aired as of yesterday. Nothing shocking to report here. Trumpets dance among a calm sea of guitar and piano as Matt Berninger’s voice scratches through the smooth surfaces gallantly, giving them life.

It’s incredible, or whatever.

After seeing the new video for last year’s “Fo Yo Sorrows,” I expressed my concern yesterday via 140 characters regarding the unknown release date of Big Boi’s long-awaited solo album. He Tweeted @me, says “very soon young Jedi.” G-h-e-t-t-o-m-u-s-i-c-k. Stay down!

My favorite hipster children’s choir, PS 22 Chorus, added a cover of Phoenix’ “Lisztomania” to their impressive playlist of pop/indie favs over the weekend. In case you forgot, the chorus appeared on Passion Pit’s debut album, Manners, and is currenty the best thing on the internets.

These aren’t the best quality, but if you’ve been anxiously awaiting a release date for We Are Lasers for the past 9 months, then these might be of interest. Lupe Fiasco premiered 3 new tracks off of the upcoming [someday?] album at his ‘Steppin Lasers’ Tour kick-off on Friday in Claremont, CA. “Scream,” “State Crime Radio,” and “Beautiful Lasers” are below.

It’s Lupe, so, as always, assume introspective, synthed out hip hop goodness. (LupE.N.D.)

Lasers is due ????? ??.

Look at this f*cking Barcelona house party!

Vampire Weekend apparently made friends at a local bar after a gig in Barcelona, and then somehow ended up playing at a random birthday party. Their impromptu performance of “A Punk” and “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” has luckily (for me and my mom, she loves Vampire Weekend) made its way onto Youtube -> SPIN -> Poproks. it’s muy bueno.

Wonder if Perez Hilton will find a way to trash them for this too (yawn).

British singer-songwriter, Dan Black, visited LA this week for the first time since he was 13. I sadly did not make it for the late start at Cinespace (not having a car in LA = not fun things). Black performed the remix of his hit, “Symphonies,” with special guest Kid Cudi, who gets kissed on the mouth here by a random dude around 2:12. The US release of Dan Black’s album, ((un)), is out now.

We may be entering back into Kanye-post-a-day territory.

Mr. West launched a new blog today that, for the most part, is exactly like the one at Kanye University. He’s only posted a couple of things so far, but I get the vibe that this will be a non-ALL CAPS ranting affair, which is thoroughly disappointing. Hopefully he keeps updating the other one!

<3 you, Kanye.

Received an email from Broken Bells around 10am on Friday announcing their “First Ever Live Show Tonight!” at LA’s Fold in Bootleg Theater (AKA somewhere small). This was sadly not enough preparation time for me, but above is video of The Shins’ James Mercer and Danger Mouse playing their lead-off single (Best Songs of 2010 ish), “The High Road,” live for the first time. (Via LAT)

I’m not watching the Winter Olympics. There are a few reasons for this (one being not having cable, or even a digital converter, because I’m a masochist and I am 2 episodes behind on Lost), but it’s mostly just not something that I do. But this guy’s name is Ohno. That’s pretty awesome. Anyway, The xx lead-off track (appropriately titled, “Intro”) makes speed skating exciting to me for at least 30 seconds.