The line wove down the block to see Yo La Tengo at Amoeba Hollywood Jan. 17, on the heels of their 13th album release, Fade. Ripping chords and solos greeted the full house, which may have not expected such noise, given Fade's somber feel. But this is typical of Yo La Tengo, who read an episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants" and covered songs by The Urinals the last time they were in L.A. Yo La Tengo mixed a couple of rougher cuts with Fade's mellower songs like the rolicking lo-fi of "Is That Enough?" A hush fell over the entire store during acoustic country ballad "I'll Be Around" and its extended atmospheric passage. "Ohm" found the trio singing in unison to the song's wandering melody and insistent thump. Lead singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan went apeshit on the guitar and returned to singing with the others nonchalantlly while still whammying away in the show's most thrilling moment. The band plays Amoeba SF Saturday Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. See more photos from the Hollywood performance here.

FIDLAR's long-awaited debut album is a Pabst-soaked party record with strong songwriting anchoring its punk attitude. Pulling from hardcore, surf rock and pop-punk, and with the immediacy of The Clash's first record, the foursome, made up of singer/guitarist Zac Carper, Brandon Schwartzel (bass), and brothers Elvis Kuehn (guitar) and Max Kuehn (drums), sing about being young and dumb and getting fucked up. But all the funny lyrics in the world wouldn't mean a thing if the songs themselves didn't captivate you, and they do, across FIDLAR's 14 tracks. There's nary a hint of cynical sneer, and though they play with sloppy punk abandon, their hooks are tight as a six-pack ring. FIDLAR sing about who they are and what they do, whether that's waking, baking, skating in mechanical hedonism or reflecting that said young hedonism can "kind of suck."

The band has been selling its debut record at shows for some time now, but it's officially out in stores Jan. 22. FIDLAR is playing Amoeba SF Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. and Amoeba Hollywood Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. They're also playing a release show at LA Fort Jan. 22 with Pangea, Meat Market and Spaceships. I caught up with Carper as the band was set to play SF. WARNING: This will be a bit NSFW (Not Suitable for Wussies). There's poop involved.

PST: Fidlar has some of the best song titles in recent memory (such as “Cheap Beer,” “Stoked and Broke”). Do those usually come first before the lyrics and sort of guide them, or do you guys kind of joke and throw stuff around to see what sticks once the songs are written?

Carper: It kinda matters. Sometimes the title will just pop out and we’ll think of a chorus with the lyrics and base it around that. Sometimes we’ll jam it out and think of a topic to sing about. I remember with cheap beer, I said “I dunno, I just wanna write a song that says I drink cheap beer so what fuck you,” and someone said “why don’t we just yell that?” Sometimes we’ll just hear someone talking and say something funny and we’ll use that. It’s all a collaborative process and super fuckin’ fun.

Ever since Amoeba fan/Simpsons creator Matt Groening recently paid tribute to Amoeba Music by including an Amoeba Music Hollywood fashioned building (renamed Protozoa Records) in the Season 24, Episode 7 Simpsons show titled "The Day The Earth Stood Cool" that aired in early December I have been scratching my head and wondering what if Homer Simpson were to stop into Amoeba for some music shopping? What would he buy? What would be included in a Homer Simpson's WIMB (What's In My Bag?) episode if he were to go crate digging at Amoeba Music? Based on the numerous songs Homer has cited (most well worn Top 40 pop/rock hits that the cartoon character supposedly grew up listening to) and have been featured in episodes in the long running animated series, now in its 24th year, this is my stab at what Homer's WIMB might look like.

Bear in mind that this list only scratches the surface since over the years Groening and company have incorporated such a long list of hit songs into The Simpsons. In fact the show must have racked up quite a bill in copyright fees to license all this popular music for the show. But it is worth it since music often plays such an important role in so many episodes of The Simpsons - especially the Homer related songs. For example, when Homer and Marge pop into the open house next door to them and he imagines buying the house and what it would be like living next door to himself, just how horrible that would be, as he visualizes himself always playing Journey's "Separate Ways" and at way too loud volumes.

On January 5, we had our very first auction of 2013, with the inimitable hurricane orator, Don Barris, who managed to rock, rattle and cajole bids out of unsuspecting Saturday Amoeba shoppers. Even though it came on the heels of people being broke from the holidays they still reached down deep and gave, mainly because Don was so damn funny. And his determination to beat his last auction totals helped to keep the competitive spirit going at full throttle. It was raucous and rollicking - and a great success with all of this month's proceeds benefiting the Rainforest Action Network.

Here are some of the key highlights from the day:

• Herbie Hancock signed LP with Patti Smith signed book (and Madonna postcards!!) - $50.00
• Bow Wow Wow / Midge Ure tickets - $15.00
• Ra Ra Riot / Mouse on Mars tickets - $20.00
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! VIP tickets - $110.00
• Record Store Day special limited edition package - $50.00
• Trader Joe's Gift Card with Jimmy Kimmel lunchbox - $110.00
• Signed Cat Power poster / headphones / action figures - $20.00
• Bob Marley pack - $10.00
• Pink Floyd pack - $12.00
• Beatles bag with Beatles trinkets - $40.00
• Monkey & Son organic coffee with Amoeba mug - $20.00
• Amoeba in-store VIP ticket - $42.00

All together Don helped raise $526.00 in bids, which means a total of $1,052.00 for our friends at the Rainforest Action Network. We have been working with the good folks at RAN since we opened our first store in Berkeley in 1990. We share concern about the dwindling rainforests and the global environmental impact and we are thankful for the work they do each year.

TOP 15 WORLD MUSIC NEW RELEASE BEST SELLERS FOR 2012

1. Jovanotti - Italia 1988-2012 (CD only)
2. La Santa Cecilia - El Valor ((CD only)
3. V/A - Original Sound Of Cumbia (CD/LP)
4. Tim Maia - Nobody Can Live Forever (CD/LP)
5. Los Miticos Del Ritmo - Los Miticos Del Ritmo CD/LP)
6. Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Area 52 (CD only)
7. Cafe Tacuba - El Objecto Antes Llamado Disco (CD only)
8. Ondatropica - Ondatropica (CD/LP)
9. Chicano Batman - Joven Navegante (CD only)
10. Los Cafeteras - It’s Time (CD only)
11. Anoushka Shankar - Traveller (CD only)
12. Ana Tijoux - La Bala (CD only)
13. Jenni Rivera - La Mas Completa Collecion (CD only)
14. Yuridia - Para Mi (CD only)
15.  Carla Morrison - Dejenme Llorar (CD only)