Welcome back to Almost Famous, where we select one lucky Uncensored Interviewee who we deem to be on the verge of spreading beyond our illustrious tastemaking boundaries and taking over the cultural zeitgeist at large in the coming months.

And with as much pomp and circumstance as we can muster, it’s time for Almost Famous to decipher the will of the people, keep our campaign promise to never let the constituency down, follow on the heels of last week’s recipient, Florence And The Machine, and once again inaugurate our latest star candidate, Thriving Ivory.

“We are honored and can’t wait to continue sharing our music with the world,” drummer Paul Niedermier tells UI about their election as this week’s AF artist.  “2009 is going to be an amazing year for us and we are excited for everything that is to come. We do solemnly swear to play to the best of our abilities, make you laugh, make you cry and not let this go to our heads.” (CONTINUE READING ALMOST FAMOUS: THRIVING IVORY)

What Andrew W.K. didn’t mention in his Uncensored Interview was his new TV show! There aren’t many details about the show so far, though it wouldn’t be his first television show. So what form will this new program take? Will it be a variety show like the Osbournes? A talk show like Henry Rollins? Lord only knows. The only clue we have is that there will be a studio audience.

A part of me hopes it will be a show for kids, like a new Mister Rogers. Despite his tough outer persona, I have a feeling that inside he is a gentle soul perfectly suited to fill Rogers’ sweater. Regardless of my hopes and dreams, an Andrew W.K.-hosted kids show seems unlikely.

Maybe Andrew W.K. is hosting a new Jackass spin-off! His song “We Want Fun” was the lead single from the Jackass movie soundtrack, and he seems like he would be the type of guy capable pulling off ridiculous, stupid or otherwise impossible stunts.

(CONTINUE READING ANDREW W.K.’S TV SHOW)

Trendspotting: UI Artists’ Obama Prophecy

If you have been paying attention at all this past year, we could’ve told you ages ago that Obama would come out on top. From the Democratic primaries to the main event, artists such as Marnie Stern, Stereolab, Genji Siraisi, Ben Taylor and Sam Champion had all cast their votes in the right direction, or at least on Uncensored Interview. Even the Canadians. Yup! Clara Lofaro, too.

How certain were we? Let’s just say that a certain interviewee of ours was actually inspired to change their band name. Now that’s just straight up ballsy! I mean, Port O’Brien (aka Port Obama) even made the buttons to match! It’s like a team that ends up in the Superbowl and makes anticipatory hats that say “Superbowl Champion.” Is this blind optimism? Unshakable faith? A will making a way? Or perhaps it is something mystical at work.

To that end, note this ritualistic chant (even Xena: Warrior Princess couldn’t have done it better) by Yo! Mama. We believe that much like a Native American rain dance, this had some strong influence over the outcome of the election.

We can’t help it if these clairvoyant images come to us in dreams and crystal balls…or in video clips. Whatever. And though we kinda hate to say we told you so, we don’t really have to. Our artists did it for us already.

To check out all the UI clips pertaining to our outgoing president and incoming leader, visit http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E0A6DA53081B6EA0 and http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A9A5773014A48209, respectively.

Well, well, look who’s back blogging for Uncensored Interview: your favorite foul-mouthed, curmudgeonly sea predator. I apologize for my sudden and totally unexpected hiatus, but it looks like I’ve returned just in time, because there’s a huge, some may even say an historic inauguration occurring, and it just so happens to coincide with the launch of my newest weekly feature for UI, focusing on things that Piss Me Off. And boy, have I got a warehouse full of pristine, organic, made-in-the-USA gripes about the way we indoctrinate elected officials to the highest office in the land.

You might not have known this, but you see, this entire inauguration dog-and-pony show is just a way to distract the American public from all the fucked up shit that the administration’s gonna pull over the next four years. A real, honorable man doesn’t need expensive bullshit theatrics and over-the-top symbolism to kickstart his new career. He just needs a few shots of JD and maybe a toothless hooker or two. The entire affair should cost no more than $217 and carry a very good chance of someone contracting HPV.

Look at me, I’m ranting already and I haven’t even gotten past the intro yet. You know this is gonna be a bloody entry:

The Shark Presents:

The Top Three Things That Have Pissed Me Off About Recent Presidential Inaugurations

3. Rick Warren Delivering Obama’s Invocation – This hasn’t even happened yet and already it’s pissing me off. Look, I like Obama as much as the next guy, but this is a dubious start to what was supposed to be the Jesus Christ of presidencies (minus the whole crucifixion thing). You’re going to tell me Obama had NO IDEA his choice of an anti-gay, pro-life, right-wing pastor to deliver the invocation would be met with the kind of backlash it has? Bullshit! This guy was riding a wave of positive momentum unseen in this country since John F. Kennedy was elected. He could have picked a goddamn juggling bear cub on a circus ball to urinate all over Joe Biden and no one would have batted an eye. But Rick Warren? What the hell is going on in your head, Barack?

Whether you voted for him or not, you can’t help feel tingly all over about January 20^th 2009 when Barack Obama is sworn is as the 44^th (and, more importantly, first black) President of the United States. The entire world will be watching as we say BYE BYE BUSH and HELLOBAMA. (Or at least our Interviewees, will, as evidenced below.)

There will be a celebration across the nation, and there’s no better way to commemorate while we inaugurate than by giving you our list of the 10 bands we wish, in a perfect world, were kicking off Obama’s presidency at the kickoff.

About seven years ago, MTV launched one of it’s more successful programs sort-of-related-to-music-but-not-really programs, The Osbournes. A new era of reality TV was ushered in that mixed good ol’ fashion family values with good ol’ fashion profanity. Though the show ran it’s course, FOX seems to think that people will still tune in to see the most incoherent member of the family host a variety show.

As the NY Daily News reports:

Also new is a variety show hosted by Ozzy Osbourne and family, called “Osbournes: Reloaded,” which will mix musical performances, comedy sketches, game-show competitions and, most likely, more than its fair share of expletives.

“There’s always curiosity as to what this family is going to do,” said Reilly. “And right now, the reality genre is a mature genre. There’s a lot of versions of versions, so a variety show starring the Osbournes, you’re not going to mistake that for six other shows on the air.”

Half of the good news is that it sounds like Ozzy will likely has his family to translate assist him with hosting duties. The other half sounds is that it seems as though the show will actually feature musical performances, which means that the Osbournes’ show on FOX will have more music programming than their show on MTV did. Strange.

Another odd bit is that FOX wants to lump this into the “reality TV” category. This sounds a little more like Letterman or Conan than Survivor. Is NBC going to call Jay Leno’s primetime endeavor “reality TV?” I guess those two words are still buzzworthy in Hollywood.