In case you were wondering, my blog is named after the Boo Radleys song. I remember buying that single in Caen, France while I was going to university there for the semester back in…well, that doesn’t matter. The EP was called Every Heaven, and it came out on Rough Trade. Anyway, this blog is based in Seattle, USA. It’s mostly about music, but other things sneak in here and there. I originally started the thing to write about gigs, the problem is though I can never seem to get to see everything I would like to see. I’m always looking for reviews of the ones I miss, and appreciate it when somebody has taken the time to post a review of show they went to. So the original (and still current) intent was to fill in the gaps, you know, in case you may have missed your favorite band that played last night.
You can email me with questions/suggestions/ephemera, but no insults please (actually I can take the insults), at finestkiss{at}gmail{dot}com
–Toby
the finest kiss 
Yay, Toby!
yay, yay toby
Hey Toby! Mat passed along your link; it’s been fun following your musical exploits from afar. Just might invite myself along to some shows with you after I move back at Christmas. Wish I’d seen Kelley Stolz; he provided the soundtrack to my summer. Take care- Desiree
Toby!
Your end of year letter found me at my new place in Saratoga. I just frittered away a couple prep periods catching up with some of your reviews and the family blog. I should get a clue about keeping in touch with people. Thanks for the letter and the photo!!
Hey Toby,
We added the Finest Kiss to our indieRSS feed.
xoxo!
three imaginary girls
Hey Toby! I was wondering if you’d be interested in getting press releases/updates/promos from FANATIC PROMOTION? e-mail me fanaticnewmedia(at)fanaticpromotion(dot)com – Clyde
Hey Toby–This is just about the best music blog I’ve ever seen. Just linked to The Finest Kiss to give my political blog some cultcha!
Hi!
I want to send you a CD of one of my artists, Ali Wesley! What’s your contact / mailing info?
Thanks!
Xtian Gunther
Artist Manager
M1 Group
This blog rules my life…thank you.
The new basementcast is fantastic! XO
You might want to check out “the Saucy Jacks” on Chocolate Covered Records. They are really great!
My debut EP is being released this week, and I wanted to see what you guys thought of it. Please let me know if there is a way to mail you a copy, or send a zipdrive in a way that won’t clog up your email. I’m playing on the BMI stage this Sunday for the Austin City Limits music festival, then head west after that. Matt Vaughn of Easy Street Records will be selling copies of it, and I’ll eventually have an album release party at one of his stores.
I hope you like it and look forward to hearing from you.
-Jesse Woods
http://www.myspace.com/jessewoodsband
Hello Toby,
Just wanted to thank you for the wonderful, informative and well-written article on Velez Manifesto and the ‘mid-80’s Underground RailRoad music scene’ we were all a part of here in Morgantown, WV back then.
What magickal memories and joyous thoughts you brought back to me! I really appreciate your work!
Cheers to you and yours and many blessings for a magickal 2010!
LovEternaL, Walter STACY Bernoski
Cats on Fire tonight at SF pop fest was fucking magical!
Just recently stumbled upon your blog, and it’s totally awesome! Thanks for posting so much great stuff.
Hiya Toby,
Just a wee message to say thank you for your review of our record. We have found the music press to be a desolate wasteland of indifference and perfume so your blog is a ‘pepto-bismol’ in a pool of the abysmal (as you Yanks might say). Keep on keeping strong kidda, Chris (Les Cox Sportifs)
x
I just discovered your blog, and it’s spot on everything I like!
Coincidentally, my hometown is Caen and I went to univesity there too. And I bought Boo Radleys records probably from that same shop. Keep up the great work!
Hi Toby- I’ve been following you blog for a while and wanted to follow up with you to see if you might be interested in reviewing my album. I am happy to send it to you through the mail, or if you prefer I have a digital download available as well. I’ve begun work on a second album, but would love to get your thoughts and insights on my first album. I hope you like it and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Hey guys,
My band “Carousel” would like to send you one of our songs that has been circulating among some blogs this past week. Please let us know what you think and if you would consider posting our music on your site. Thanks a lot, we really enjoy your blog.
Kevin Friedman
“Carousel”
Here is a direct link to one of our songs, “Games”
[audio src="http://carouselmusicpage.com/Games.mp3" /]
carouselmusicpage.com
youtube.com/carouselmusicpage
facebook.com/carouselmusicpage
Hey Toby!
Effin’ wow! Wonderful discovering an amazing local music blog via KCRW in Santa Monica, CA (they’re my fav to listen to when in the LA/Long Beach area). I really appreciate the music clips. I’m up in Shoreline, so it’s tough not being close to the nerve center. We do have Darrell’s Tavern, but that’s all. Keep up the good work. Love your taste in music!
–Dave
hey tobyy, interesting blog! let me share something, hope u enjoy it!
Hi!
I think you’ll like it
http://dirtytwins.bandcamp.com/album/murmurs
Thanks Toby for your job & your enthusiasm. Thank you also for the discovery of Dream Boys and their excellent LP.
Vince, from Bordeaux, France.
Saw your post on tumblr, The Coneheads are most certinatley not from Germany. Northwest Indiana! Go see em live sometime, you close!
Got your link off of KCRW website. I thought you were one of the better blogs off that page. I am helping manage a unique indie electronic rock band called TV Movie. I think you will find this concept album very different from what is out there. Thanks for your time. Keep this awesome blog going, music needs this kind of voices out there. Here is the full album link http://tvmovieband.com/album/reel1
Hello,
My name is Anna Poulimas and I work with Spectra Music Group. I am
interested in having one of my artists featured on your website and
would like the opportunity to to share their music with you. Here is a little about our artist, Hunter & The Dirty Jacks.
Hunter & The Dirty Jacks are the band. Retro Fresh Rock & Roll is the sound. Infectious riffs, soaring vocals and bedrock solid grooves propel the Dirty Jacks extremely high energy, emotionally compelling performances. Fronted by lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Hunter Ackerman, and anchored by Jon Siembieda and Carmelo Bonaventura on guitar, Aaron Barnes on bass, Brian Lara on drums, with Moana Avvenenti on background vocals, they are a blues-infused rock and roll force that is not to be missed. Having headlined several festivals in 2014, including the largest motorcycle rally on the West Coast for three nights and having played over 200 shows in the past 2 years, they are no stranger to the stage. They have a strong following of over 8,000 social media fans organically grown, over 80,000 song plays online, and over 350,000 video plays. The band recently signed 14 licensing deals for television, including a global contract with NASCAR, MTV Real World, MTV Road Rules, MTV Extreme/All-Star Challenge, All Discovery Networks (13 channels including Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Science, Destination America, OWN, etc.), Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Total Divas, The Ruckers, Lookbook, Take, Best Ink, Bad Girls Club, Bad Girls All Star Battle, Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too, Oxygen Network, Nitro Circus and Rob Dyrdek’s Ridiculousness. Their album “Single Barrel” is on over 150 radio stations across North America and is released worldwide on all the major online stores, as well as is available in hard copy. For more information on Hunter & The Dirty Jacks visit http://www.hunterandthedirtyjacks.com or the Spectra Music website.
I would be happy to send you the mp3 to their single “Rock & Roll Soul” along with the cover art upon your request. If you would like the entire album I can send that as well. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Best regards,
Anna Poulimas
Publicity Coordinator
Spectra Music Group
(E)annapoulimas@spectramusicgroup.com
(W)www.spectramusicgroup.com
*Visit our Facebook page and let us know you like us.
*Check out our shop page with albums, downloads, apparel and more. Follow
us on Twitter @spectramusicinc and stay up to date with all the latest
info!
This isn’t the Toby from my French class at WVU… the guy who shaved his head despite not having any other discernible skinhead leanings?
hey Toby, just wanted to let you know that I really miss your regular posts. Looks like maybe you are not doing your mid-year roundup this year? I totally get it, I’m personally so busy at work that I’m neglecting some of my passion projects. BUT, if you wouldn’t mind just shooting me a list of stuff that you like this year, no descriptions required, i would totally appreciate. You are my music idol! :)
Thank you!
Rick
Hoping for a 2023 list…take care