Sorry, kids, no SirenFest reporting here. I like Spoon as much as the next person, but I really can't imagine hearing Spoon - especially the new songs - from 5,000 feet away, crammed in a sea of sardines on Coney Island. Call me crazy, but I'd rather hear Spoon - especially the new songs! - in, like, a supper club. Or at a burrito shack in Austin. Ditto the above for Q & Not U, substituting a DC basement for the burrito shack.

However, shout-out to local success story Morningwood, who are sitting pretty on Capitol Records, one national tour under their belts and who-knows-what ahead. Chanteuse Chantal's boobs are everywhere these days (apparently the marketing people noticed them). It'll be interesting to see what happens for them - and, if you check their bio, you'll see that they owe it all to Sean Lennon.

The awesomest place in the city to hear music and get drunk is, hands down, 169 Bar. It hasn't been overrun by hipsters. The sassy bartenders pour lethal drinks. There's a cute cat hanging out in the DJ booth. The booker used to work at SpinArt. The sound sucks and the DJ decks function in some kind of alternate reality where "cue" means "not actually cued," but I still love it there, and you should stop by if you're in New York. Just don't tell anyone with a white belt or a blog.

Three hours away and over and out.