(by Dawn Reed) Adios, au revoir, وداعا, օրոր,да спаткання, 再见, vaarwel, hindi importanteng bagay, अलविदा, ciao, and good-bye. No matter what language I type it in, it still reads like a major bummer.  This is it my friends! The final episode of Strictly Global is airing this Friday nationwide at 10 PM, so set your DVR's for a final dosage of worldly music video entertainment, before an undoubted summer of posthumous SG reruns.  Join me as we recollect on some the best videos we aired in our final/ninth season, including psychobilly from the Netherlands, electro-surf-pop from Spain, riotous raver-rock from Iceland, and more, plus your top 3 most requested videos as tabulated by your twitter tags, facebook comments, and emails.

We'll have special guests popping in throughout the hour, including an update from Joshua Padgett, the singer/guitarist of rock band The Chance.  We first introduced the SG audience to this DC based band back on our 7th season where I had interviewed them as our featured NextWave artist.  Padgett tells us about the Chance's upcoming summer release New York City Girls EP, NYC inspiration, their new line-up, and his favorite video SG aired this season- which I think most of you will dig. (Tune in to see!)

Our friends over in Tel Aviv, Israel- Eatliz- will pop in with a special shout-out, and have informed us they are planning on coming back to the states in 2012!  Also, Chef Eugene Abedejos drops by to talk about the Beat Kitchen that never was, and producer Terrance Averett will drop in to take us out with a video from his all-time favorite musician, who most likely inspired the birth of Strictly Global in the first place.  I'm not giving it away, you just have to tune in.

And as for me- I've been promoting music since childhood, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.  Follow me on facebook or twitter, because later this summer, I'll be back with something awesome.  For now- continue to support your locals and keep your music scene alive!!!  Mahalo!

<3-Dawn

This Friday on Strictly Global we are bringing together South Africa, the Republic of Georgia, Hungary, and more, by way of indie rock and pop music videos, which is everything we strive to do on this show, as you clearly know.  That being said- this is the second to last episode airing via  our national affiliate MHz Networks, and it's super sad.  You can still let them know how much you need music in your life/Friday nights here, or reach out to your local station and say "I want my Strictly Global." :)  But meanwhile, this Friday we'll offer you a great playlist to pump up your weekend, as well as feature an interview we had with the NYC based electropop duo Holy Ghost!.

We'll check out the latest boy/girl duo comprised of Italian/Canadian renowned opera soprano Rachel Zeffira, and the Horrors' frontman Faris Badwan.  Together they are known as Cat's Eyes and are heavily influenced by 1960's girl group music.  Wiki-"Using Zeffira's classical music contacts the band were able to perform a short performance using a church organ and choir at the Vatican, in front of several important cardinals, and following much positive press on the performance offered free downloads of two songs, via their website." Killer!

And we'll check out the latest from Ireland's electronic dance band the Japanese Popstars.  March saw their 3rd release Controlling Your Allegiance, featuring tracks they'll surely be pumping at the plethora of gigs they got going on worldwide this summer.  In 2010 they received the "Best Live Act" award for the third time at the Irish Dance Music Awards, inevitably getting the signed to a huge label. Dig it.

UK's dance punk band Friendly Fires are about to embark on a North America tour in support of their yet to be e-released (out 5/24 in US) second album Pala.  I know I've been waiting for their return, and am excited that their second stop will be at the 9:30 Club in DC on Thursday May 26. And we've got passes to give away to that show!!!  Want to dance your ass off?  Then all you have to do is tell us what your favorite Friendly Fires song is and why. Email Dawn at strictlyglobal@mhznetworks.org by 3 PM Wednesday May 25. The winner will be chosen at random, emailed back, and announced on this blog.  Now, check out this track off their highly anticipated second album, and more on FF after the jump.

From wikipedia:
 Friendly Fires met at St Albans School. At age 14, the members formed their first band, a post-hardcore outfit called First Day Back which existed until they began university. During this time lead singer Ed Macfarlane released his own music (under his own name) through the electronica label Skam, and Precinct Recordings. Upon leaving university they formed a new band inspired by dance music, "lush shoegaze melodies", and classic pop songwriting. The name Friendly Fires originates from the opening track of the Section 25 LP Always Now. The band consider German techno label Kompakt, Carl Craig and Prince to be their greatest influences.

(by Dawn Reed) Damn, I'm craving thai food like none other right now... Which sparks me to think- we've never had a music video from any Thai rock bands on the show.  Is that something you'd like to see? I know I would.  To ensure that possibility, maybe you should demand another season of Strictly Global!  Because this season is just about done, boo-hoo! This Friday is the third to last episode, featuring awesome music videos  from Wales, Finland, Germany and more, plus our NextWave artist of the month Happy Clinic!

We've got a stunning new video from the Finnish dream-pop band Delay Trees, who's debut self-titled album, released earlier this month, has already gotten praise from the press as "one of the most interesting new bands to come out of the Nordic Indie-scene."  They've done some heavy touring through Finland and Germany and have yet to make their US debut, but maybe after the rest of America hears "About Brothers" that'll change.

And from Liverpool, England we'll check out some live footage recently captured on post-punk pioneers Echo & the Bunnymen's current tour.  Their US tour is coming to a close this weekend before they start hitting up worldwide music festivals this summer. Forming in 1978, they've put out 11 albums, and have had their infamous songs featured in a plethora of films including Pretty in Pink, Lost Boys, and Donnie Darko.  

The Bridgend, Wales based metal band Bullet For My Valentine are currently touring the world in support of their February 2011 (US) release Fever.  So attention DC area fans of Bullet For My Valentine! We are giving away a couple passes to their upcoming show at the 9:30 Club in DC on Tuesday May 24.  All you have to do is email us and let us know what your favorite Bullet For My Valentine song is and why! Email Dawn at strictlyglobal@mhznetworks.org by 3 PM on Monday May 23. The winner will be chosen randomly at that time, contacted via email, and announced on this blog. And now, more on Bullet For My Valentine!

(From their official bio): The group, named by metal magazine Kerrang! as Best British Band in both 2008 and 2009, formed 10 years ago in their Welsh hometown of Bridgend. After gigging around and honing their considerable live chops for years, the band signed with Sony in 2004; in the U.S., the band's music is released by Sony label Jive. The Poison, released, appropriately enough on Valentine’s Day in the U.S. in 2006, has been certified gold in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany and Canada. The band quickly became a major draw known for its ceaselessly frenetic live shows.

When it came time to record its third album, Bullet for My Valentine wasn’t content to rest on its already impressive laurels. While its second album, 2008’s Scream Aim Fire, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than a million copies worldwide, went gold in the UK and Canada, the Welsh metal band mates had a fire in their collective belly to push themselves beyond what they’d ever accomplished.

For Bullet for my Valentine, they want fans to feel about Fever the way the music from their musical heroes made them feel.  “Fever sounds like something that if I were 16 and getting into rock music, I would just be going nuts and wanting to be in a band, just like Metallica did for me,” says lead singer/guitarist Matthew Tuck. “It’s just so timeless and real. There’s nothing fake about what we do.” 

The London/Tel Aviv based art rock band Blackfield are currently touring in support of their recent third release Welcome To My DNA.  So attention DC Area fans of Blackfield! We are giving away a couple passes to their upcoming show at the 9:30 Club in DC on Wed. May 18.  All you have to do is email us and let us know what your favorite Blackfield song is and why! Email Dawn at strictlyglobal@mhznetworks.org by 3 PM on Tuesday May 17.  The winner will be chosen randomly at that time, contacted via email, and announced on this blog. And now, more on Blackfield!

Blackfield formed back in 2000 when Aviv Geffen and Steven Wilson met.  Their cross-cultrual collaboration was backed by incredible achievements they each had already made in the music industry.  The following bio is from their official site.

Over the past few years Steven Wilson’s Porcupine Tree have made the transition from a solo project to genuine international stars. The 2009 release, The Incident, is the band’s bestselling album to date, and the band has continued to raise its profile around the world, recently playing sold out gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Radio City Music Hall. 

However, Porcupine Tree is just one of Steven’s several musical projects, which also include Blackfield, No-Man and Bass Communion. Steven is also a Grammy nominated producer and mixer working with the likes of Opeth, King Crimson, and Yoko Ono. He also co-wrote and sang a song on the recent UK number one album by Pendulum.

The son of esteemed Israeli poet Yehonatan Geffen, and the nephew of Moshe Dayan, Aviv Geffen is Israel’s leading counter culture rock musician. A huge star in his native country, while his frank political views have caused huge controversy his records have been greeted with equal amounts of adulation, earning him a string of gold albums. 

An outspoken peace campaigner, he controversially refused to do compulsory military service and his lyrics have been fiercely critical of the Israeli military and their actions.

At a peace rally in Tel Aviv in 1995, Geffen performed his ballad, ‘I Cry for You’, in front of over 300,000 people. After the show Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin congratulated Geffen backstage. Little did Aviv know but he would be the last person ever to embrace Prime Minister Rabin, as only moments later, yards from where Geffen stood, Rabin was gunned down. From that moment onwards Aviv became the national peace symbol for Israel's youth, and ‘I Cry For You’ would become an unofficial national anthem.

For more info on Blackfield, click here.

(written by Dawn Reed) The season finale is quickly approaching my dudes and dudettes!  So be sure to let me know what your favorite music videos, interviews, and NextWave artists were via email. Remember the season opener when we interviewed Sarah McLachlan?  Or how about that Cairokee interview I guerilla shot when visiting Egypt last year?  Maybe you dug our contest submissions from our New Year's Eve special?   Perhaps you'll see something on this Friday's episode too as we've got tons of fabulous videos from Iceland, Scotland, Israel, and more!

We'll check out the latest from the accurately self-described "global pop" artist Schiller, the musical project created by German composer Christopher von Deylan.  Inspired by Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, he's been producing albums since 1998 under this guise, and has sold over a million of them in Europe alone! He also incorporates guest singers from all parts of the globe in his music including Sarah Brightman (UK), Despina Vandi (Greece), Nadia Ali (Libya), and more.  

And we'll check out a cool video from the Colombian electro-tropical group Bomba Estereo ("pump up the stereo!") who are currently on tour in the US and Canada before heading off to Europe in July.  Formed in 2001, they combine traditional sounds of Cumbia music with electro to get their signature groove on, and were recently selected as one the "best bands in the world" by MTV Iggy. And they've had their music featured on the show Dexter.      

(by Dawn Reed) So many reasons to party around the world this week! Whether you're into new royalty, Star Wars, victorious Mexican battles, a concluded 10-year-long game of hide and seek, and/or new episodes of Strictly Global- this is the week to bust a pinata in Chalmun's Cantina!  Did I lose you?  Well, it might not be going down in history books, but the new episode of Strictly Global this Friday is still going to be a lot of fun featuring videos from Mexico (feliz Cinco de Mayo!), UK (congrats to the newlyweds!), and the dance party continues with our interview with the Australian dance band Miami Horror! 

Ok, so let me just point out that we filmed this episode early last week and some of the featured bands ironically harp on the events that occurred just a few days ago.  For instance, we'll check out a video from the Swedish indie-rock band The Windupdeads who released their 2nd LP earlier this year titled Army of Invisible Men. Isn't that freaking wild!?  Other than that though, they are getting regular rotation on over 30 college radio stations across the states, and as you know, college radio is the best radio. The Windupdeads have been around since 2007, and if you are into "the young & the rich" dramas and/or teen sci-fi TV, you might have heard some of their debut material featured on Gossip Girl and Kyle X/Y.

We'll also check out a video from the German punk band Donots that were founded in 1993! Late last year they released their 8th studio album The Long Way Home which has reached #24 on German charts.  Recently for Record Store Day, they collaborated with another German band, Itchy Poopzkid, and released a split 7'' in which all proceeds will be given to victims of the Japanese earthquakes and tsunami.   I hope they sell them all!

Oh yeah, and the new Beastie Boys album is d-d-d-d-d-d-DOPE!

We love them, and so does Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters according to a tweet he posted several hours ago saying "I would like to personally thank The Joy Formidable for writing the song of the year 'Whirring'. xxx Dave".  From North Wales, TJF is a band we first mentioned in our blog about must-see international bands performing at SxSW this year, and now they are about to wrap up their U.S. tour tomorrow in NYC at Webster Hall.  But hey they'll be back later this summer to perform at the coveted Lollapalooza!

Their debut LP The Big Roar, with the title perfectly describing the music you'll hear on this stellar display of loud kinda-pop noise rock, has reached #31 on UK charts.  It's almost hard to believe that it was created by only 3 people,"with guitar goddess Ritzy Bryan wailing the rock back into what indie rock has been missing, Rhydian Dafydd's booming bass, and Matt Thomas' perfected percussion with a touch of metal tossed into some of their epic grand finales."

If you're a fan of Mogwai or Sonic Youth you'll most likely dig them.  They also kind of remind me of one of our past featured Nextwave bands from DC, The Chance. 

The Israeli-American gypsy punk band, Balkan Beat Box, are currently touring in support of their latest release, Blue Eyed Black Boy, making one of those stops at the 9:30 Club in DC this Friday 4/29.  And they are giving away tickets!  So, if you are in the DC area and want 2 free tickets, email Dawn at StrictlyGlobal@mhznetworks.org by 6 PM on 4/28 and tell her what your favorite BBB song is!  The winner will be chosen at random, contacted via email, and announced on this blog.  And now, more on BBB!

Via their Facebook page:
Founded by Israeli-born ex-pats Ori Kaplan (ex-Gogol Bordello), Tamir Muskat (ex-Firewater), the band built their reputation on explosive live shows, becoming an audience favorite and a critic’s darling. BBB soon added frequent collaborator Tomer Yosef as frontman –his wild onstage energy galvanizing live audiences ever since. The three emerged as a cohesive songwriting trio on 2007’s Nu Med, and found that each had strengths that complimented the others.Founded by Israeli-born ex-pats Ori Kaplan (ex-Gogol Bordello), Tamir Muskat (ex-Firewater), the band built their reputation on explosive live shows, becoming an audience favorite and a critic’s darling. BBB soon added frequent collaborator Tomer Yosef as frontman –his wild onstage energy galvanizing live audiences ever since. The three emerged as a cohesive songwriting trio on 2007’s Nu Med, and found that each had strengths that complimented the others.

Recorded in Belgrade and Tel Aviv, Blue Eyed Black Boy takes BBB to their roots, scouring the Balkans and beyond for unique collaborations and new inspirations for their globalized urban mashups. Featuring the singles “War Again” and “Move It,” Blue Eyed Black Boy marks the return of Ori Kaplan, Tamir Muskat and Tomer Yosef – a.k.a. Balkan Beat Box – with their first album of all new material since 2007, and the group’s debut for the Nat Geo Music label. Blue Eyed Black Boy is due out on April 27th.

More tour dates here.