Slightly dodgy hand-held video of Florence & the Machine performing “Dog Days Are Over” live at the Vancouver Commodore Ballroom, April 14, 2010, along with a crowd of totally raving lunatic fans going absolutely nutso with joy and bounce.

Moody ambient music begins! Shadows spread across a white curtain! The shroud drops! Snazzy lights and dry ice! Gritty soul voices and new wave electronic beats! Welcome to world of London’s The XX live. Click through for pics from the show and a wee roundup of their April 13 show.

Amazing live photos! Words and subjectivity pertaining the live performance of a band from Texas called Spoon! And their opening act, Deerhunter! And a tenuous reference to Captain Picard! Chickens! Eggs! A man called Britt! Hipsters! Oooh, it’s a good one.

Wild animations, soaring vocals and a stunning musical performance: Sigur Ros’ Jónsi launched his visual and aurally stunning live show in Vancouver on April 6 in support of his brand new solo album, Go. All hail Iceland and its incredible and bonkers musical exports.

In the spirit of rock n’ roll randomness and the fact that their reunion dates are (praise all gods) upon us, the BackstageRider pins down Pavement’s Bob Nastanovich to talk about his 7-inches. Get your mind out of the gutter..and remember, our lists go right to 11.

An ode to Lou Rhodes, the flaming redhead singer-songwriter of loveliness, and her brand new new album One Good Thing. Oh, and there’s an interview, too.

‘Tis the season to have a pop-rock-dance-drum n’ bass-singer-songwriter-hip-hop-indie-alt freakout. This week has been particularly rocktacular, so lay a cornea on pics of Gomez, Efterklang, Mike Doughty, Old Money, The Manvils, Dragonette, Pendulum, John Digweed and Postdata.

AussieUK drum n’ bassterds Pendulum give us not one but TWO ironic rock hands for March. See if you can figure out which of the two was the most wasted.

How the hell did the BackstageRider end up drinking Beck’s and talking Beck with Gomez while watching Danish band Efterklang? The story starts in 1998. And then weaves its way to 2010 and the Cultural Olympiad in which Tom Gray discusses what he wants from the band’s new album… and it isn’t wallpaper. Click through for exclusive pics and interview.