Watch that video even if — especially if — you don't usually read this column. This is the sort of next-level musical geekery that needs to be shared with EVERYONE. This is a reason to be proud of your town, folks. Put it on full-screen, watch his hands closely and wait for it. When you figure out exactly what's going on, your jaw is going to hit the floor. It's sick, sick, sick. You might know Sylvester from his work with future-jazz outfit Call It Anything, or you may have heard his contributions to The Perfect Hours records, which have gotten a good amount of play around these parts. Even if you don't know him, you will know he's a bad-ass after this lil' nugget is over. I'm not gonna tell you what happens, but I will say that this is a minute-and-11-seconds well spent. And seriously, it's the Friday afternoon before a long weekend — it's not like you're really doing work. Watch it.

And then travel along with us to a three-day weekend's worth of partying and bullshitting!

Go Party, it's your birthday! Go Bullsh*t, it's your birthday! It's your birthday, it's your birthday, it's your birthday! That's right, folks: It's the Birthday Party & Bullsh*t edition, celebrating your favorite (only?) local hip-hop column's first year of existence. It's been a wild 52-ish weeks, and what better way to celebrate than by going legit and bum-rushing the mainstream media show, amiright? If any of you were awake and listening to WPLN 90.3-FM first thing this morning, then you're already aware that Cream/Scene contributor and WPLN correspondent Jewly Hight had a way excellent — in my humble opinion — piece on Nashville hip-hop run on the airwaves today. (Here's the full transcription.)Hight interviews Dee Goodz, Openmic and ol' Cap'n Bullsh*t himself (me!) about, well, shit that regular P&B readers already know — my readers are the hippest on earth, amiright? — but does it in a manner that's probably got the squares thinking, "Hmm, Nashville hip-hop sounds really cool, I should check it out." Which is awesome, because the sooner Nashville at large realizes that Nashville makes great hip-hop, the better off we'll all be. Also, it makes for a great blog-birthday present. Let's just say that I'm pumped for all parties involved.

Now, let's get on to the serious partying and bullshitting! It's our birthday, damn it!

* If you're friends with the soon-to-be-defunct local venue Little Hamilton on Facebook, then you may have seen a status update reading simply, "Little Hamilton is flooded." When reached for comment, one of the Hammy folks said, "The roof has been slowly leaking for months, but lately has been really bad, especially with all this extra rain. Landlord is supposed to fix it ... " Bummer. Word is that Little Hammy will be "closing up shop sometime June," but "some folks from the space have found another spot in town and will be booking shows eventually." We'll keep you posted on any further developments.

* The Scene recently received a press release stating that roots rockers The Wallflowers — fronted by, as even my parents know, Bob Dylan's most noted progeny, Jakob — are "currently recording in Nashville at Dan Auerbach’s (The Black Keys) Easy Eye Sound studio." The lineup now features Jack Irons (RHCP, Pearl Jam), but word is that Auerbach is neither producing nor mixing the record — those duties are being handled by Jay Joyce and Rich Costey, respectively. Anyway, this release will be something of a comeback attempt for the 'Flowers, so keep an eye out for dates and a proper release come fall.

* PUJOL's highly anticipated, forthcoming Saddle Creek full-length, United States of Being — officially out June 5 — is now available for pre-order via SC's website. You've no doubt already heard the tune "DIY2K," which is of course quite good, and the record will also feature some familiar Poojie jams ("Endless Mike," "Black Rabbit," "Keeper of Atlantis," more) along with some new-to-us gems ("Niceness," "Made of Money," more). See the album art, which features a freshly tatted Pooj, after the jump. Also, since they were once labelmates, and since HC's frontwoman Jessica McFarland was in MEEMAW with the Pooj way back when, I figure this is worth noting: Heavy Cream's Super Treatment is out today via Infinity Cat. But more to come on that soon enough.

* We told you about how esteemed thespian Gary Oldman would be directing Jack White's American Express Unstaged concert event live from New York City, which broadcast last Friday, April 27. You can watch that whole performance right here. But in advance of the Unstaged broadcast, Oldman stopped by White's Third Man Records HQ here in Nashville to chat with White about why he has his two gender-segregated live bands, why he chose Oldman to direct (hint: It's like having your drummer produce your record) and more. Also, to start the video (which you can see above), you'll see that JWIII decided to ambush and tackle Commissioner Gordon. Bold move. Real blood.

* And since we're on the topic of Third Man — because they just can't seem to stay out of the news, thanks very much — TMR co-Bens and co-proprietors Blackwell and Swank recently curated a playlist of YouTube videos. The playlist features Jack White's Nashville-shot video for "Sixteen Saltines," not to mention videos from local artists PUJOL, JEFF the Brotherhood, Turbo Fruits, Karen Elson and more. See the full playlist here, and check the Bens' intro after the jump. All right, last Third Man news bits for the day, I promise ... unless, of course, White suddenly decides to release a single by dropping gilded, parachute-outfitted cigar boxes from a helicopter or something. Who knows, really.

* Proud East Nashville repper and acclaimed singer-songwriter Todd Snider recently blessed our pals over at American Songwriter with a performance of his tune "Too Soon To Tell," and you can see that after the jump. Snider is currently touring in support of his new Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables — he's also recently released a tribute to outlaw troubadour Jerry Jeff Walker titled Time as We Know It — and he'll co-headline The Ryman June 2 alongside fellow rootsy crooner Justin Townes Earle. The performance was shot and edited by Ian Maravalli, with audio by local sound dude (not the iconic comic, obviously) Steve Martin.

* We already gave you some deets regarding coed garage-punk quartet Heavy Cream's forthcoming Super Treatment (out May 8 via Infinity Cat). In the ramp-up to said release, HC recorded a Daytrotter session that debuted last week and features four tracks — plus the customary "Welcome to Daytrotter" intro. The gals and guy will celebrate Treatment's release May 11 at The Zombie Shop with a show and a crawfish boil (sweet!). Nashville's Dead has some further details on that, and there's a Facebook event page, too. And just because, hear HC's single "John Johnny" one more time after the jump.

It's Friday the 13th, let's get freaky! Actually, before we get freaky — which you know will happen sooner or later ... this is Party & Bullshit, after all — let's get serious. While there good be a multiplicity of opinions among the P&B readers about the Trayvon Martin case — and I want to at least pretend to acknowledge other opinions on the situation — I'm gonna guess that most of you feel like it's some epic bullshit. 'Cuz it is. Fuck any other opinions, actually — a grown-ass man shot an unarmed kid and didn't get arrested for weeks. That's fucked up. On the upside, the dude is in jail now. The other upside — and trust me, it doesn't make any of this any better, really — is that the tragedy has inspired Gummy Soul's Amerigo Gazaway to cut the Sharon Van Etten-sampling "Rosebud." And "Rosebud" is an absolute beauty. The pairing of the indie-folk songstress' haunting vocals from "For You" with Gazaway's stark, straightforward storytelling makes for a shiver-worthy listen. It's another winner from the Gummy Soul camp, and you need to give it a listen.

OK, bummer time is over. Let's get this party and bullshit train rollin' after the jump!

* So Kentucky-bred alt-rockers Cage the Elephant will be playing Marathon Music Works on April 17, and opening up for them will be local garage punks Bad Cop. The Cop is offering up free tickets to the show: All you have to do is go here and "like" them on Facebook. Then you have to fill out a little thingy in regard to which show you'd like to attend on Bad Cop's upcoming string of Cage the Elephant dates, and voila! You've just entered to win. Dig it, and see all five of the CTE/BC dates after the jump.

* And finally, since I know you Silver Jews freaks saw it up there in the headline and immediately misted your drawers just a little bit, yes: Nashvillian David Berman & Co. do have a forthcoming release in the works. But don't upgrade your drawers status from partial mist to full-on saturation just yet. The collection, titled Early Times, will feature previously released tracks recorded by "muppet baby versions of the David Berman, Stephen Malkmus and Bobby Nastanovich that we know today." Specifically, Early Times will be made up of "the tracks from the original 7-inch EP Dime Map of the Reef and the 12-inch EP The Arizona Record." Sorry if that headline made you think that Berman, the now-reclusive JD Salinger of indie rock — well, actually, Jeff Mangum is probably the Salinger of indie rock, but maybe Berman is, like, the Thomas Pynchon? — had totally re-formed the Jews. But we can always hope. See Early Times' full track listing after the jump.

All right folks, let's not bullshit around on this one — you aren't having a good Friday until you cop the new Starlito tape, Mental Warfare. You might be having an OK Friday or a better-than-average Friday, but the new 'Lito tape is gonna make it waaay better. This is a Party and Bullsh*t guarantee. The Smoking Section knows what I'm talking about. The fifth installment in what I'm calling the "War & Piece Saga" — basically the run of tapes released since last May's @War w/ myself — Mental Warfare finds 'Lito in top form, deftly switching it up between emotionally engaging narratives and fuck-if-I-care party chants over some of the best beats he's ever used. Starlito is a master of the craft of lyricism, and over the course of the War & Piece Saga, he's developed this interplay between himself and his producers — Coop, Burn One, Fate Eastwood — that allows him to take the form into some pretty deep, intensely honest, harshly self-reflective places, and his records are better for it. I've been saying that Starlito is one of the city's best writer for years, and on Mental Warfare he certainly proves it. Check it out over on BandCamp.

All right, time for the rest of this party and bullshit ...

So did you folks look at the Bonnaroo lineup and say, "Needs more New Jack Swing"? Same here. But we're in luck! Fresh Music Festival is happening at Municipal Auditorium on June 17, roughly the day you should revive from your post-Coffee County coma — because I assume that everybody who loves SWV also loves hanging out in a dusty field for four days. No? Just me? Weird. Anyway, SWV is playing with Keith Sweat, Guy, K-Ci and motherfuckin' JoJo. I mean, have you listened to that new SWV song? It's awesome, go listen to it and come back. ... It's awesome, right? "Co-Sign" is right. But anyway, SWV isn't playing Manchester — you gotta go dowwwwn-towwwn! Ba-dump-cha!

All right, let's chill with the rest of this week's Party & Bullshit ...