When it comes to concerts, let's be honest: Unless your band rocks a double kick drum and has ch-ch-chunky power chords, bigger is rarely better. Many die-hard music fans love to play the game 'I saw Modest Mouse in a club this small,' but there's one place on the Net where you can witness amazing, brief moments of musical glory in the smallest venue of all.

Like it says on their Web site, "One song. One take. One cab" is the perfect description of the Black Cab Sessions' modus operandi, and there are moments of minimalist beauty throughout this unique London-based production company's mini-films. If the site feels like a labor of sincere musical love, that is because it is, explains Black Cab-ber/filmmaker Jonny Madderson. He says that they stay true to the one-shot rule for two basic reasons -- endorphins and money. "We're pretty militant about the 'one take' thing, because it adds so much to what is thrilling about the sessions -- watching an artist go for it as the cab weaves around corners and lurches over speed bumps. We're also hard core for financial reasons: We pay for this all ourselves, so doing any more than one take would mean the cab fares get expensive."

The Rules for Battle: Each week, we pit versions of the same song by two different artists in a head-to-head death match for musical supremacy. (Sometimes it will be the original recording vs. a cover version; other times it will be two different covers.) Then it's up to you to decide: Listen to and vote on which version you think should emerge victorious and which should be sent packing. May the best band win!



The Song: 'Panic'

The Contestants: The Smiths vs. Spoon

In This Corner -- The Smiths: Hailed by many as one of the most influential indie rock groups to emerge from 1980s England, the Morrissey-fronted Manchester quartet rose from indie-rock unknowns to superstardom in no time. 'Panic' was never released on a studio album but has been included on several Smiths compilations and was named No. 21 on NME's list of 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.

The Smiths, 'Panic'


In This Corner -- Spoon: The indie rockers, most associated with the Austin scene, have performed their version of the Smiths classic at several shows. They add a little of their twangy sound to the original's very '80s synth-sounding vibe. Though there's really no way to re-create Morrissey's voice, it's not too shabby.

Spoon, 'Panic'

"People on 'Arrested Development' are the highest order of celebrity to me. [Michael Cera] emailed me something like, 'I think you're one of the coolest cats on Gmail.'" --Britt Daniel

The Spoon frontman gushed about his encounter with the endearing actor in an interview.

• Feist, Spoon and Lil Jon are among the headliners for Vanderbilt University's Rites of Spring music festival. The event takes place at the Nashville campus' Alumni Lawn on April 18-19.

• Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry cancelled a forthcoming performance at the Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel due to impending knee surgery.
  

• Tapes 'N Tapes are allowing fans to preview their new album, titled 'Walk It Off,' with a 24-hour stream, beginning March 7 at 1 pm CT. The effort hits shelves on April 8.

• Scott Weiland pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a DUI stemming from his arrest on a L.A. freeway last November.

• Jennifer Lopez gave birth to twins -- a boy and a girl -- early Friday in Long Island, New York. These are the first children for Lopez and the fourth and fifth for her husband, singer Marc Anthony. "Jennifer and Marc are delighted, thrilled and over the moon," Lopez's manager told PEOPLE.

• Aaron Carter was arrested for drug possession on Thursday after the 20-year-old singer was pulled over by police for speeding. Cops searched Carter's Cadillac Escalade and found less than two ounces of marijuana. The singer, younger brother of Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter, spent the night and jail and is due in court this morning.

• Eight people were arrested at an Akon show in Denmark on Wednesday after a fire alarm sounded and violence broke out. Nearly 3,000 people attended the free concert, held at the Fields mall. Police were reportedly attacked when they tried to evacuate the crowd. No serious injuries were reported.

• Spoon will kick off a spring U.S. tour, beginning April 2 in Kansas City, Missouri. Currently, the jaunt runs through April 19 in Indianapolis, but more dates are expected to be announced.

Artist: What Made Milwaukee Famous
Song: 'Resistance St'
Album: 'What Doesn't Kill Us'
Sounds Like: Spoon, The Wrens

Download: 'What Doesn't Kill Us' (MP3)

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Before the Interface ramps up the new year with brand-new episode, we've got another batch of highlights from 2007. Last week, we introduced Part One of our year-end wrap up, and have since culled together a second batch of first-rate performances, including Tegan and Sara, Bloc Party, and a stunning rendition of David Bowie's 'Starman' by of Montreal.

Meanwhile, subscribe to the show and dig through the Interface archive to catch every last peformance. Keep reading to download the highlights edition podcast, and stay tuned from new performances from the likes of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and the New Pornographers in 2008.

Artist: Something for Rockets
Song: 'Stuck in Neutral'
Album: 'One Track Mind'
Sounds Like: Spoon, Stars

Download: 'Stuck in Neutral' by Something for Rockets (MP3)

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While many artists checked out other bands at this past weekend's Echo Project, perhaps none were as conspicuous as members of the MarchForth Marching Band, who sported eye-catching vaudevillian outfits both on and off the stage.

A feathered hat on one of the female ensemble players certainly caught the attention of Spoon's Britt Daniel who, between songs, inquired from the stage: "What's that thing you've got on your head?" He agreed that it was "very pretty," but wondered if there was a more specific story behind it.

When he was informed that the bearer was a member of the MarchForth Marching Band, he asked politely, "What's March Fourth? Well, thanks for coming to our little corner."

As with many of the acts at Treasure Island this past weekend, Spoon flew into the Bay Area direct from Texas' Austin City Limits, thereby pulling off a festival circuit double-header."It's a nice night for rock 'n' roll," Britt Daniel told the crowd at T.I."It's been such a beautiful day."