Thursday, July 31, 2008

Popshifter Loves Redd Kross loves Popshifter loves Redd Kross

Ever fervent and vigilant in their love for Redd Kross - Popshifter has posted Redd Kross at NXNE and put them at position numero uno on their "Top Ten Musical Siblings" podcast. Here are the links:

http://popshifter.com/2008-07-30/they-are-all-so-dont-even-try-nxne-2008-with-redd-kross/

http://popshifter.com/2008-07-30/its-a-family-affair-top-ten-musical-siblings-from-garbos-daughter/

HIT IT!

Beautiful bye bye

Design a Poster For Mercury Rev

From Mercury Rev's press machine:

Break out your favorite graphic design program: Yep Roc Records and Mercury Rev want you to design a poster for the band! The poster will be printed and distributed to everyone who preorders the CD or LP version of Snowflake Midnight, the latest album from Mercury Rev to be released 9/30, from the Yep Roc Web Shop. (yeproc.com)

To submit your designs, just reply to this post on Mercury Rev’s MySpace page with the image embedded in the comment or with a link to where the image can be viewed.

**Note: Please submit 5" x 5" minimum, 72 dpi, rgb jpgs for proofing.**

The winner, chosen by the band, will win the glory of having their work printed and distributed to people across the United States!

Contest ends 8/18.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

An oldie but a goodie about rock critic jargon

Like Clichés on Acid
A lush soundscape of Rock Critic Jargon I will never use again.
By Rob Harvilla


January 5, 2005

Let us now discuss the labyrinthine, in-your-face, introspective,
esoteric, head-bobbing, fist-pumping, booty-shaking, genre-defying
mélange of the Rock Critic Cliché milieu. (Riffage. Let us also
discuss riffage.)
Next time you spot one of these doofuses at a party (riffling through
the host's CD collection, pilfering all the Cheetos, sulking
despondently in a darkened corner), ask him/her/me to describe a band,
a song, a genre. Verbally. In actual, human, face-to-face
conversation. Then prepare for an onslaught of meaningless nonsense.
Like any other, this profession suffers from its own unique lexicon of
ridiculous, impenetrable jargon. I am certainly not immune to this
disease, nor can I suggest a foolproof cure. But perhaps I can
diagnose specific viruses and prescribe medicine to -- lousy
metaphors. (Gotta knock it off with the lousy metaphors, too.)
As we behold 2005's shimmering, hypnotic, melodic dawn, I pledge to
you: Every bolded word in this column, I will never use again after
this week.
Angular
Frequently describes guitars that sound, well, pointy. Sharp,
unpleasant, of or like Fugazi. As opposed to "circular," which is a
whole other can of corn.


Can of Corn
Sorry.
Coruscating
Really, really angular.
Listenable
"I didn't like it."
Unlistenable
"I didn't listen to it."
Seminal
"I sold it back for $5 without listening to it, but then everyone else
wrote about it, so I had to buy it back for $12 and pretend I liked
it."
Rewards repeated listens
"Though I haven't yet listened to it, I assume it will be seminal."
Minimalist
Describes any song that does not employ a full string orchestra. "Hall
& Oates' 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)' is a seminal, coruscating
slab of minimalist pop."
Slab
Indeed.
Danceable
"I couldn't dance competently if my pants were on fire."
Four on the Floor
Intended to mean "Inspires raucous dancing." Actually means "Induces vomiting."
Nervous Funk
Attempted dance music that inadvertently induces vomiting.
Beatlesque
(Fires rocket launcher at head.)
Radio-Ready
"This is the only song I remember."
Anthemic
Really, really radio-ready.
Jangly
Fate intertwined with R.E.M. Adios.
Drops, e.g. "Tone Loc's new album drops Jan. 25"
Knock it off; you're white.
Spits, as opposed to "raps" or "speaks"
White white white.
Wheels of steel, as opposed to "turntables"
White white white white white.
Lush
Boring.
Soundscapes
Pretentious.
Swirling
Conjures lush soundscapes of boring pretentiousness.
Cerebral
Yes, sir: Brian Eno is smarter than you.
Cinematic
What -- like Meatballs?
Eclectic
"From polka to bluegrass to baile funk to death metal! It's a floor
wax and a dessert topping!"
Jazzy
Sounds nothing whatsoever like jazz.
Crunk
White white white white white white white white.
_____-esque/ish
"Dude, I gotta finish this: Aqua Teen Hunger Force starts in twenty minutes."
Like _____ on acid
"Dude, that giant bag of fries totally just said 'Crunk.'"
_____ Meets _____ with a Tinge of ____
"Dude, this show is like Bugs Bunny on acid."
Wanton Hyphen Overuse
An ordinarily calm writer friend of mine flies into a rage whenever
this technique is employed. Specifically, he refers to it as
"I-can't-think-of
-what-to-write-so-it's-time-to-just-say-'fuck-it'-and-
hyphenate-the-shit -out-of-a-whole-mess-of-words-
that-might-come-close- to-an-accurate -description-
of-something-that-I -might-be-able-to-work-out-myself-if-I-
read-real-books-instead-of-Spin-while-I- go-poo-poo." He'll be fine,
honest.
Wanton
Not yet. I still really like wanton.
_______ Yet ________
Increasingly common. Angry Hyphen Guy particularly chafes at the
"Retro Yet Futuristic" tag: "What -- like Barbarella?"
Wanton Capitalization Overuse
Such as, oh, say, Angry Hyphen Guy. I'm still enamored of this one,
too. Let's save it for '06.


METAFILTER THREAD:

"New Dylan," "next Bob Dylan," "this generation's Bob Dylan" and any
variations thereof. Beyond being hackneyed, it's often the kiss of
death to any artist it's misapplied to.


long-awaited second album


I've seen the phrase 'angular guitars' used literally dozens of times
to describe any band that sounds anything remotely like Polvo.


"Strokes-esque"
"Eponymous second album"
"...brings to mind Phil Spector's legendary 'Wall of Sound' technique..."
"...prowled the stage like a caged animal."
"muscular riffs"
"...evades [or succumbs to] the dreaded 'sophomore slump'..."
"Jagger in his youthful, pouting prime"
"...the peaceful tenor of the late sixties officially disappated as
Meredith Hunter was stabbed to death by the Angels..."



-- "... sounds like Band X and Band Y in a blender."

-- "... sounds like Band X on acid [or speed, or oxycontin, whatever]."

-- "... sounds like Band X in a time warp to [whenever]"

-- "... sounds like Band X with a chainsaw"

not similes, but also nerve-grating:

-- "lush soundscape"

-- "latest outing" or "latest effort" in referring to a new album

-- mentioning how your cat reacted to hearing it for the first time

-- "songsmith"




Oh, also: comparing any group with women musicians (especially
sisters) to the Shaggs. That's right; we're all enthusiastic
14-year-olds who haven't mastered barre chords yet!


"the newest british invasion"

"retro-(anything)" or "(anything)revival"




haunting melodies...obtuse guitars...-core...


Band A's awesome new release, "..." combines the postrock postpunk
industrial stylings of obscure Band B you never heard of with the emo
stylings of obscure Band C, producing a sound like Jackson Browne
going down on Joey Ramone. In one of the most anticipated albums of
the year, Band A's mysterious front man, Surly Haircut, takes his art
to a new level, rawly exploring his relationship with his mother and
crack in howling, tortured lyrics like "perfectly obvious
metaphor/something something semaphore." When I was a kid, I wanted to
be Lester Bangs. Did I mention that yet? Also, I got high with the
band. I hate them, and myself.


"(inset band name here) have (finally) grown up"
anything about saving rock and roll
"best band since..."
"this could be the best album of the year!!!"

or my favorite
"I don't want to lower myself to lame cliches, but (insert lame cliche)"


Also
"balls out rock"

"In the end, (insert album x) suffers largely from the hype---there's
no way this album could be as good as it was supposed to be."

" (band x) is challenging expectations and listeners by stretching
their musical boundaries and defying people to come along for the ride
through close listening."

"(album X) is an essential listen for anyone interested in where music
might take them."

"A record filled with such emotional scope and range that it's
tailor-made to showcase (band x's) world weary roar."

" (Album X) is nothing short of remarkable."

"(band x) trumps any pretension with melody and sheer fervor."

"(album x) is a tour de force"

"(band x's) jaw-dropping debut..."




"This is finally the album/act that will bring techno into the mainstream!"




Kind of a post-cliche - the NME once said Idlewild were the sound of
'a flight of stairs falling down a flight of stairs'


'sonic cathedrals....' - every bloody time!

and : '-esque' - grrrrrr


It's a guitar. Not a bloody axe.


Is it too soon to try to step on "screamo?"


I feel a need to reach for my gun every time I read either "seminal"
or "high-octane." Or anything with "-core" suffixed to it.

Also: that phase in the mid-90s when rock writers thought it was
clever to try to string together seemingly disparate music descriptors
like "slamgrass," "thrashgrass,"... other examples are elusive at the
moment, but oh god that shit makes me wretch.



I once read a review of Daft Punk's Discovery that described the song
"Digital Love" "like the incidental love theme music from Magnum
P.I.".

I think that's possibly the only time I've ever heard any reference to
the music on Magnum P.I.



I did not write any of the above, nor do Inecessarly agree to uphold it's standards
, but I was just writing a list of these sort of phrases and ideas when an editor sent me this hilarious story. I had to share it. "Krautrock" really chaps my hide too - by the way.

An Update On Fujiya & Miyagi

US Fall Tour

Oct 22 2008 MERCURY LOUNGE NEW YORK
Oct 23 2008 WEBSTER HALL NEW YORK
Oct 24 2008 PARADISE BOSTON
Oct 25 2008 BOTTOM LOUNGE CHICAGO
Oct 27 2008 CHOP SUEY SEATTLE
Oct 28 2008 THE INDEPENDENT SAN FRANCISCO
Oct 30 2008 THE TROUBADOUR LOS ANGELES


http://www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk/

Parenthetical Girls

http://www.forcefieldpr.com/ASongForEllieGreenwich.mp3

In lieu of tasty after dinner mints - please enjoy this MP3 of the new Parenthetical Girls single from their new record Entanglements available on Tomlab in September. I bet you can guess the title?

A Message From Dave Markey

I've been working on with my good friend of 28 years, mr. jordan schwartz- called _party with me punker_. it's due out next year, published by abrams nyc, and edited by my friend of likewise many years, mr. thurston moore. to see the online version (in two parts)_

http://www.viceland.com/int/v15n7/htdocs/wasted-youth-114.php?country=us

for those of you in the nyc area, some of these photos will be on display starting aug 1 @ the vice gallery 99 n 10th st.

also in nyc, sunday sept 7, the ny premier of my new film _the reinactors_ 7:45pm at the millennium, 66 east 4th St., ny, ny 10003 $10 admission. tickets on sale now at_ http://www.nyunitedfest.com/

and last but not least, my image of the week is going on at my website_ http://wegotpowerfilms.com/info/davedimagesoftheweek.htm

best, dave markey

http://wegotpowerfilms.com/

U.S. Premiere of Joe Strummer's London Calling

Listen to Joe Strummer’s London Calling
Tuesday evenings at 9:00 - 10:00 pm Central Time
on www.93xrt.com


In celebration I have made a mix of rare and unreleased Clash songs(and The Pogues covering London Calling):

Idle In the Kangaroo Court W1 - Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg
The Fullham Connection (A.K.A. The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too) - Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg
White Riot (Previously unreleased alternate demo mix) - Joe Strummer - The Future Is Unwritten (Soundtrack)
London's Burning (Live) - From Here To Eternity
London Calling - The Pogues (live)
Rock the Casbah (alternate 3:47 version)
Know Your Rights (alternate 5:05 version)
Straight To Hell (Alternate 6:55 version)

http://sendshack.com/download/30exc0a

Jack White and Alicia Keys to Record Bond Theme

There have been rumors (from Amy Winehouse to Bjork ) circulating with regards to whom would record the next Bond theme. Then Alicia Keys put out a press release stating she wanted to work with Jack White. Well apparently unlike me - when Alicia Keys expresses her artistic intentions publicly - she gets what she wants. Billboard has just confirmed that Jack White has written the music for and will play the drums on the new Bond theme “Another Way To Die” for which Keys will provide vocals. The White produced song is for the 22nd Bond film entitled Quantum of Solace. This marks the first duet in Bond theme history. The soundtrack is slated for release October 28, and the film hits theaters November 7.


In the meantime The Raconteurs have added a new live section to their website www.theraconteurs.com
and you may listen to The Raconteurs Lollapalooza performance here:http://www.attblueroom.com/music/Lollapalooza-Music-Festival/more-information.php

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Neon Angels (A film about The Runaways)

A film based upon the all girl seventies rock and roll band The Runaways entitled Neon Angels is currently in production and slated for a 2009 release. This is the debut feature length film for photographer / music video director Floria Sigismondi who has previously worked with artists such as David Bowie, The White Stripes, Sigur Ros, and Marilyn Manson. She has written the screenplay and is directing the film.

A truly kitschy walk down memory lane with bad grrl juvies The Runaways:http://sendshack.com/download/31da1m1
The Runaways - Dead End Justice

The Runaways inspired girls everywhere - most notably The Donnas - to pick up an instrument ( and /or wear yeast infection inducing spandex). They went through bass players like Spinal Tap did drummers.

Members through the years are as follows:
Cherie Currie - vocals (Acted in several films including the classic Foxes with Jodie Foster. She also sang on a ridiculous 7” single with Redd Kross’s McDonald brothers).
Joan Jett - guitar and vocals
Lita Ford - guitar and vocals
Sandy West - drums and vocals (R.I.P. 1959-2006)
Michael Steele - bass and vocals (early member of a Runaways trio along with Joan Jett and Sandy West. She later joined the Bangles).
Peggy Foster - bass
Jackie Fox - bass
Vicki Blue - bass (A.K.A. Victory Tischler-Blue) She wrote and directed Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways which received lukewarm reviews.
Laurie McAllister - bass

Monday, July 28, 2008

Matmos / Electronic Music

youtube clip of the day:


"Exciter Lamp" by Matmos

Monday, July 14, 2008

Yaz Remastered Box Set and A Moyet's New LP The Turn

The 4 disc Yaz boxset 'In Your Room' is released this week in North America

Featuring:
• Remasters and 5.1 mixes of both Yazoo's classic albums Upstairs At Eric's and You And Me Both
• B-sides and remixes
• DVD featuring a new short film containing exclusive new interviews with Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet and the promo videos for Don't Go, The Other Side Of Love, Nobody's Diary, Situation (1990) and Only You (1999)

The boxset is available from large music retailers.

The track listing is identical to the UK / European version of 'In Your Room'.

The individual remastered editions of 'Upstairs At Eric's' and 'You And Me Both' will be released later in the year by Mute/Warner.

Alison Moyet's most recent album 'The Turn' is released this week by W14 Music in North America on CD and digital download.

Track Listing:
1 One More Time
2 Any Time At All
3 The Man In The Wings
4 Can't Say It Like I Mean It
5 It's Not The Thing Henry
6 Fire
7 The Sharpest Corner (Hollow)
8 World Without End
9 Home
10 Smaller
11 A Guy Like You

Friday, July 11, 2008

Amazing Youtube Find



The artist's website: http://www.EatPES.com

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Shilling Shoes With Rock and Roll

I was sickened when I saw limited edition Converse shoes for Joy Division and Kurt Cobain. No I am not kidding.

Anyway - here ia a current music video tied in to marketing shoes:


MY DRIVE THRU -
FEATURING PHARRELL WILLIAMS, N.E.R.D., SANTOGOLD,
AND JULIAN CASABLANCAS

Artists Brought Together as Part of Converse Century Celebration


NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (July 10, 2008) - Converse, the creator of iconic shoes including the Chuck Taylor® All Star®, Jack Purcell® and One Star®, announced today the release of the music video for My Drive Thru. The video will be streamed at converse.com beginning today at noon EST.

My Drive Thru was released in June and made available as a free download for music fans globally at converse.com. Since release, the site has had thousands of daily downloads and the track has received praise from a wide range of media sources. Rolling Stone's current issue features a four star review - and The Times of London referred to the collaboration as "a three-headed Frankenstein's monster of coolness."

The track was created as part of Converse's Century celebration of the brand's deep roots in music and inspiring creativity over the last 100 years. The Chuck Taylor shoe has been worn by musical icons ranging from Sid Vicious to current artists like Common and M.I.A

The video was created by Converse with partners including Anomaly, Cornerstone and the directing and animation talents of Psyop. All three organizations are based in New York.

To view and download the press release announcing the launch of the track as well as images, go to: http://mnr.onthescene.com/converse/mydrivethru.html.

My Milky Way Arms / Today's myspace band

http://www.myspace.com/mymilkywayarms
I am digging them.

And you can listen here:http://web.mac.com/milkysyndication/iWeb/Milky%20Syndication/Songs.html



07/12 Little Rock, AK @ Divo's

09/12 Lafayette, LA @ Caffe Cottage

09/13 Mobile, AL @ Blind Mule

09/25 Memphis, TN @ Murphy's

Gentleman Auction House

Alphabet Graveyard On Emergency Umbrella Records August 19th

Daytrotter Session:
http://www.justin.tv/daytrotter/102724/Gentlemen_Auction_House_LIVE

"This septet of young indie pop kids brought the noise hard, bringing their fun soundtrack of keys, horns, claps and cheery vocals without missing as much of a beat." - Muzzle of Bees

"Paddles down. Gentleman Auction House has officially bid its way into orchestral indie pop eminence." - Venus Zine

"Gentleman Auction House could be the best band you've never heard." - 30music.com

Tour Dates

July 11th - Schuba’s w/ Bound Stems & Netherfriends- Chicago, IL
July 12th - Vaudeville Mews w/ Secret Panels, Taciturn & Kate Kennedy - Des Moines, IA
July 23rd - The Outland - Springfield, MO
July 25th - The Vault - Stillwater, OK
July 26th - DFest w/ The Roots, Phantom Planet, The Apples In Stereo... - Tulsa, OK
July 31st - Off Broadway w/ What Made Milwaukee Famous & Black Joe Lewis - St. Louis, MO
Sept 19th - Pygmalion Music Festival w/ Yo La Tengo, Black Mountain, Dan Deacon... - Champaign, IL
Sept 20th - TBA w/ Yea Big & Kid Static - Chicago, IL
Sept 21st - TBA w/ Yea Big & Kid Static - South Bend, IN
Sept 22nd - Mid City Grill w/ Yea Big & Kid Static - Fort Wayne, IN
Sept 23rd - TBA w/ Yea Big & Kid Static - Ypsilanti, MI
Nov 8th - Earlham College - Richmond, IN

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls)

A Dresden Dolls Mailing List message from Brian:

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!

Ladies and Gents, Brian here, writing to you from Munich, Germany at the start of the WORLD/INFERNO tour!!

We spent the month of June rehearsing our asses off in a sweltering, dusty, warehouse space on 57th St. in glorious Manhattan, NYC and I am now bracing myself for the impending whirlwind of shows that lies ahead. World/Inferno is on a 5 week blitzkrieg through Europe then coming back to begin US shows! U.S. TOUR DATES ARE BEING BOOKED NOW, SO GET READY...

We will be doing a mix of headlining shows and also the theater show we've been working on entitled, "Addicted To Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's 20th Century".

In September, the band will be doing performances in Holland, New Jersey, and a short mid-western tour. October sees the band doing shows in the southeast US, and up through the northeast for an epic Hallowmas show on October 31st, then bombing around performing, spreading love and spilling wine, into November.

We've got some great new items available on the World/Inferno merch page including CDs ($12), 7" Vinyl ($3), and also we've got new patches in the works as well and the (dun dun dun!) Cycling Cap! Please check the brand new merch page for updates.

We are making plans to get out all over the US between the fall and spring.

PLEASE CHECK THE DATES BELOW AND GET YOUR ASS TO THE SHOW!! (Click for ticket info)

Jul 9 2008 8:00P Autonomes Zentrum Aachen
Jul 10 2008 8:00P T-Keller Gottingen
Jul 11 2008 8:00P Knust (Soli Amnesty) Hamburg
Jul 12 2008 8:00P Phono Pop Festival Russelsheim
Jul 13 2008 8:00P Open Air Festival Dorfen
Jul 14 2008 8:00P Alte Mälze Regensburg
Jul 15 2008 8:00P K4 Nürnberg
Jul 16 2008 8:00P tba Jena
Jul 17 2008 8:00P secret show shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Jul 18 2008 8:00P Nexus Braunschweig
Jul 19 2008 8:00P FZW Dortmund
Jul 21 2008 7:30P Prince Albert Brighton
Jul 22 2008 7:00P Rio's Leeds, Northwest
Jul 23 2008 8:00P The Adelphi Club Hull
Jul 24 2008 8:00P Rigger Stoke
Jul 25 2008 9:00P Underworld London
Jul 26 2008 8:00P White Rabbit Plymouth
Jul 28 2008 7:00P Croft Bristol
Aug 2 2008 8:00P Festsaal Berlin
Aug 3 2008 8:00P Zoro Leipzig
Aug 4 2008 8:00P Schlafthof Weisbaden
Aug 5 2008 8:00P Kult 44 Bonn
Aug 6 2008 8:00P Sturmglocke Hannover
Aug 7 2008 8:00P 1000 Fryd Aalborg
Aug 8 2008 8:00P Nook Bremen
Aug 9 2008 12:00P Olgas Rock Festival Oberhausen

Check it out here: http://www.myspace.com/worldinferno

Finally, Amanda and I want to send a massive thank you to all of you who we met and rejoiced with at the ROTHBURY Festival this past weekend. Not a more beautiful setting for celebrating art & music, taking political action for the environment, and enjoying the great out doors on the 4th of July, could have been possible. Everyone involved in putting this event together did and incredible job and it won't be forgotten. Hope to see you there next year.

4 Editions for the New Stereolab LP Chemical Chords

Deluxe Edition - CD in a Japanese 60's style card sleeve

1. Neon Beanbag
2. Three Women
3. One Finger Symphony
4. Chemical Chords
5. The Ecstatic Static
6. Valley Hi!
7. Silver Sands
8. Pop Molecule [Molecular Pop 1]
9. Self Portrait with "electric brain"
10. Nous Vous Demandons Pardon
11. Cellulose Sunshine
12. Fractal Dream Of A Thing
13. Daisy Click Clack
14. Vortical Phonotheque
15. The Nth Degrees
16. Magne-Music

Standard jewel case edition

1. Neon Beanbag
2. Three Women
3. One Finger Symphony
4. Chemical Chords
5. The Ecstatic Static
6. Valley Hi!
7. Silver Sands
8. Pop Molecule [Molecular Pop 1]
9. Self Portrait with "electric brain"
10. Nous Vous Demandons Pardon
11. Cellulose Sunshine
12. Fractal Dream Of A Thing
13. Daisy Click Clack
14. Vortical Phonotheque

Japanese edition

1. Neon Beanbag
2. Three Women
3. One Finger Symphony
4. Chemical Chords
5. The Ecstatic Static
6. Valley Hi!
7. Silver Sands
8. Pop Molecule [Molecular Pop 1]
9. Self Portrait with "electric brain"
10. Nous Vous Demandons Pardon
11. Cellulose Sunshine
12. Fractal Dream Of A Thing
13. Daisy Click Clack
14. Vortical Phonotheque
15. The Nth Degrees
16. Magne-Music
17. Spool of Collusion

i-Tunes edition

1. Neon Beanbag
2. Three Women
3. One Finger Symphony
4. Chemical Chords
5. The Ecstatic Static
6. Valley Hi!
7. Silver Sands
8. Pop Molecule [Molecular Pop 1]
9. Self Portrait with "electric brain"
10. Nous Vous Demandons Pardon
11. Cellulose Sunshine
12. Fractal Dream Of A Thing
13. Daisy Click Clack
14. Vortical Phonotheque
15. Spool Of Collusion

US 7"
1. Spool of Collusion
2. Forensic Itch

Tour 7"
1. Explosante Fixe
2. L`exotisme Intérieur

And, again the tour dates previously posted:
09-20 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
09-21 Pomona, CA - Glass House
09-24 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
09-26 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
09-27 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
09-29 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
09-30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-01 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
10-02 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-03 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-04 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-06 Boston, MA - Paradise *
10-07 Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda *
10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre *
10-09 Detroit, MI - The Crofoot *
10-10 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre *
10-12 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
10-14 Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre *
10-17 Seattle, WA - Showbox *
10-18 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *
10-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
10-21 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-22 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-23 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *
10-24 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern *

* with Monade

European dates to follow.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Joss Whedon's New Project / Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog



Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
The story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he's too shy to talk to.

Starring Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer, Felicia Day as Penny, and a cast of dozens!

Directed by Joss Whedon

Written by Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon

Music by Joss Whedon and Jed Whedon

Lyrics by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen

Score and Orchestration by Jed Whedon

A little birdy peeped in my ear the following useful informtaion:

1st Episode available July 15
2nd Episode July 17
3rd Episode July 19

Free Airings end July 20, 2008

Joe Strummer - The Future is Unwritten DVD

Julian Temple's documentary film Joe Strummer - The Future Is Unwritten won the BIFA award for best documentary 2007. If you haven't seen it yet - please add that to your "to do" list. I'm about to watch the DVD myself. Here is a snippet to get you going:www.joestrummerthemovie.com

In celebration of today's release of the DVD, I present you with "MacDougal Street Blues" by Joe Strummer and Jack Kerouac (from the album Kicks Joy Darkness: A Tribute To Jack Kerouac)
http://sendshack.com/download/2z7zyhk

Beck on His New Release Modern Guilt

What is Modern Guilt...

...to Beck?

"out of all the appropriate situations to find oneself, the least being the hurtling of loose bricks, the parties involved first disclosed their coordinates and proffered cards which happened to be in their pockets. from an embassy of restraint and a superimposed background they assembled at the time of next convenience and weighed their options. drag a filing cabinet across a subdivision or sit out the current situation till a more reliable picture of the situation materialized. neither seemed all that enticing, so the course was set, the workstation laminated and some biofeedback sorted out for use in further research. after the frequency which would shatter a display case was discovered they launched themselves at a barricade of empty cardboard boxes. all these games were inconsequential at first but then later provided some back story for the urge to be a human battering ram. while so many people with disposable incomes sauntered by on the boulevard near the workstation a new kind of light was grafted onto the premises. "how many songs can we fit in an inflatable raft?" "I didn't know there was going to be a flood?" "There isn't, but that rainbow is stalking me somehow..." and so, 120 nights of no sleep and seeing the dawn try not make an impression, there was some hollow hewn thing there that seemed a little basic. "do you have anywhere to put this?" "just leave it where it is." I shook hands with danger mouse and said I'd see him again, maybe at the farmhouse or some scenic location where we could breathe a little."

Thanks for clearing that up for us Beck.

All Hail The Pandoras

The classic 80s all female garage band The Pandoras were a psyched out dynamo with a singer who could growl like no other. Their cult classic album Stop Pretending was remastered and reissued by Rhino in 2004. I snatched it up greedily - just in case my vinyl ever wore (more) thin. The complete cd contains 10 bonus tracks and remastered versions of the original LP.

The divas in this band threw male garage rock swagger and love ‘em and leave ‘em right back at the bands they emulated and the fans who loved them. Grrl power (pre riot grrl I might add) through enjoyment of sex and rocknroll was where it was at - especially on tracks like “The Way It’s Gonna Be” and “You Don’t Satisfy.” (Cool) girls wanted to be them and guys wanted to fuck them. Well, maybe girls wanted to fuck them too? Anyway, I was thinking of them when I got my pink paisley strat.

The Pandoras never get the credit they deserved for being a strong all female band in the ‘80s. A subsequent foray into cheesy metal (complete with slogans such as "If it ain't rock hard - it ain't worth a fuck") can't tarnish the image they created with this classic release. Hopefully you’ll like what you hear....

Here are 13 tracks from the 22 track 2004 reissue of Stop Pretending:http://sendshack.com/download/3fchl9l

Monday, July 7, 2008

That Darned Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls)

As the time for the release of Amanda Palmer's solo release comes closer, she continues to play live shows as well ans has begun a series of videos. According to Amanda "these aren't just normal music videos, they are also threaded-together bits of one long film that works as a whole if viewed from start to finish. as i release these on youtube, the streaming audio for the songs will also be cross-posted on myspace.com/whokilledamandapalmer." The video treatments were written by Amanda along with director Michael Pope. "astronaut" is the first in the series. There will also be a video screening held at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge Massachusetts on July 25 and 26.

The first single from her solo album Who Killed Amanda Palmer will be shot 8/31 in London.

Tour Dates:
Aug 4 2008 / Troubadour / West Hollywood, California
Aug 6 2008 / Great American Music Hall / San Francisco, California
Aug 8 2008 / Lake Shore Theatre / Chicago, Illinois
Aug 9 2008 / Rivoli / Toronto, Ontario
Aug 11 2008 / Spiegeltent @ South Street Seaport / New York City, New York
Aug 19 2008 / Docks / Hamburg
Aug 20 2008 / Gebäude / Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Aug 21 2008 / ICA / London
Sep 27 2008 / Academy / Dublin / Dublin
Sep 28 2008 / Auntie Annie's Porterhouse / Belfast, Carlow
Sep 30 2008 / Cabaret Voltaire / Edinburgh, Scotland
Oct 2 2008 / King Tuts Wah Wah Hut / Glasgow, Scotland
Oct 4 2008 / Concorde 2 / Brighton, South
Oct 6 2008 / Club Academy / Manchester, Northwest
Oct 7 2008 / Thekla / Bristol, Southwest
Oct 8 2008 / Academy 2 / Sheffield, Midlands
Oct 10 2008 / Koko / London, London and South East
Oct 12 2008 / Knaack Klub / Berlin, Berlin
Oct 13 2008 / Star Club / Dresden, Sachsen
Oct 14 2008 / Karlstorbahnhof / Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg
Oct 16 2008 / Abart / Zurich, Zurich
Oct 17 2008 / Music Drome (fka Transilvania) / Milan, Milano
Oct 18 2008 / Komma / Worgl, Tirol
Oct 20 2008 / Szene Vienna / Vienna, Wien
Oct 21 2008 / 59:1 / Munich, Bayern
Oct 23 2008 / La Boule Noire / Paris, Ile-de-France
Oct 24 2008 / Handelsbeurs / Ghent, East Flanders
Oct 26 2008 / Melkweg / Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Oct 27 2008 / Helling / Utrecht, Utrecht
Oct 29 2008 / 13 / Tilburg, Noord-Brabant

The Graduate Tour Dates and Videos

July 11 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
July 12 San Diego, CA Soma
July 13 Tucson, AZ The Rock
July 14 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
July 16 Corpus Christi TX Brewster Street Ice House
July 17 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
July 18 San Antonio, TX Scout Bar
July 19 Oklahoma City, OK The Conservatory
July 20 Cordova, TN Infinity
July 22 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
July 23 Charlotte, NC Amos South End
July 25 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
July 26 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
July 27 Orlando, FL The Social
July 29 Columbia, SC Headliner’s
July 30 Fayetteville, NC Jester’s Pub
July 31 Greenville, SC The Handlebar
August 1 Norfolk, VA The Norva
August 2 Richmond, VA Canal Club
August 3 Towson, MD The Recher Theatre
August 5 Philadelphia, PA The Trocadero
August 6 New York, NY Blender Theater at Gramercy
August 7 S. Burlington, VT Higher Ground
August 8 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
August 9 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
August 12 Lancaster, PA The Chameleon Club
August 13 Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
August 14 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection
August 15 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
August 16 Chicago, IL Metro
August 17 Green Bay, WI Riverside Ballroom
August 19 Madison, WI The Loft
August 20 St. Paul, MN Station 4
August 21 Omaha, NE Sokol Underground
August 22 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
August 23 Murray, UT Murray Theater

I Survived
Windows Media Player
http://www.iconmes.com/i_survived_video_formats/windows_media_player/I_Survived_Final.wmv

Quicktime
http://www.iconmes.com/i_survived_video_formats/quicktime/I_Survived_Final_web.mov

Boston's Passion Pit To Release Debut LP

Passion Pit were voted the best new act in Boston this year. Their debut LP will be released September 16 on Frenchkiss Records. There will also be a limited edition 7" Of "Sleepyhead"/"Better Things" released by Neon Gold Records Sept 2. HAve a listen: http://www.frenchkissrecords.com/audio/passion_pit/sleepyhead.mp3

http://www.myspace.com/passionpitjams

Jack White Waxes Poetic About His Home Town (Detroit)

Below is the poem as it appeared in The Detroit Free Press.


I have driven slow, three miles an hour or so, through Highland Park, Heidelberg, and the Cass Corridor. I've hopped on the Michigan, and transferred to the Woodward, and heard the good word blaring from an a.m. radio. I love the worn-through tracks of trolley trains breaking through their concrete vaults, As I ride the Fort Street or the Baker, just making my way home.

I sneak through an iron gate, and fish rock bass out of the strait, watching the mail boat with its tugboat gait, hauling words I'll never know. The water letter carrier, bringing prose to lonely sailors, treading the big lakes with their trailers, floats in blue green chopping waters, above long-lost sunken failures, awaiting exhumation iron whalers, holding gold we'll never know.

I've slid on Belle Isle, and rowed inside of it for miles. Seeing white deer running alongside While I glide, in a canoe. I've walked down Caniff holding a glass Atlas root beer bottle in my hands And I've entered closets of coney islands early in the morning too. I've taken malt from Stroh's and Sanders, felt the black powder of abandoned embers, And smelled the sawdust from wood cut to rehabilitate the fallen edifice. I've walked to the rhythm of mariachis, down junctions and back alleys, Breathing fresh-baked fumes of culture nurtured of the Latin and the Middle East. I've fallen down on public ice, and skated in my own delight, and slid again on metal crutches into trafficked avenues.

http://m.freep.com/news.jsp?key=281549&p=2


Limited edition "Salute Your Solution" 12" and 7" singles are available through The Raconteurs webstore.

Track Listing:
1. Salute Your Solution
2. Top Yourself (Bluegrass Version)
http://www.theraconteurs.com/

It Ain't Easy (Bowie) - The Raconteurs:http://sendshack.com/download/3ueec2p

Dressy Bessy New Release /Elephant Six Originators

Elephant Six Originators, Dressy Bessy, Return To Classic Form This Fall With Their Fabulous Fourth LP
Holler And Stomp Out September 30th 2008 On Transdreamer Records
Look Out For Fall Tour

Holler And Stomp Tracklisting

1. Automatic
2. Do You Whisper
3. Dressed The part
4. Ease Me Down
5. Simple Girlz
6. In Your Headphones
7. Left To The Right
8. Anyone Can See
9. Pretty Pleaze
10. Ten Million Stars
11. Shoot, I Love You
12. Roundabout
13. Sindy Says

www.dressybessy.com

NPR : “I think that Dressy Bessy is a far more efficient pleasure-machine than Coldplay. If Chris Martin's voice is earnest and thoughtful, Tammy Ealom's tone is every bit as knowledgable about the vagaries of love and lost and so much more varied and witty in its expression." – Ken Tucker

Rolling Stone : “Denver's Dressy Bessy are devo-tees of the same kind of retropop sound as Apples in Stereo and the New Pornographers, a hook-y, Sixties-derived jangle filtered through a knowing indie-rock sensibility.” - Christian Hoard

Daytrotter : “A Dressy Bessy song isn’t one without three very important components. First, it must actively enable or invite rump shaking, Ealom is about many more things – fashion, a good smoke and exclamation points. Second, it must rely on straight-up, fuck ‘em all moxie that you get studying the bad guys in old-time Westerns or watching Kate Hepburn own her leading men. Thirdly, they absolutely must give off a glow of older climes. It must feel transported from the cream-colored pages of old Life magazines or Saturday Evening Posts. She’s of a vintage blueprint and when she brings guitarist John Hill (also of The Apples In Stereo), drummer Craig Gilbert and bassist Rob Greene into the folds, they make a sound that’s aged and cured, but sweaty so you know it’s alive.” - Sean Moeller

Earlimart 6th studio album and tour dates

Live Performance On KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic July 16th
KEXP In Studio Performance On July 22nd
Tour Starts On July 17th In San Diego at Casbah And Passing Though Spaceland In LA On July 18th And Winding Their Way Through Brooklyn At The Masonic Temple With Apples In Stereo On July 31st

http://tellallyourfriendspr.com/media/music/earlimart/01%20Song%20For.mp3


Tour Dates:
07-17 San Diego, CA - Casbah
07-18 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
07-19 San Francisco, CA - Café du Nord
07-20 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
07-22 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
07-25 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
07-26 Chicago, IL - The Hideout
07-30 Cambridge, MA - Middle East (Upstairs)
07-31 Brooklyn, NY - Masonic Temple
08-01 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
08-02 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
08-05 Austin, TX - The Mohawk


Spin - “In a time when subgenres can seem as numerous as artists, it's a relief to find straightforwardly sincere, modern-rock songwriting done well.”

All Music Guide - "...Hymn and Her features the same sun-baked slices of indie pop that made Mentor Tormentor and Treble & Tremble such appetizing fare."

Billboard - "Earlimart... issues another set of dreamy, rainy-day tunes with 'Hymn and Her.'"

LA Times - 3 1/2 Stars "Releasing another full-length effort less than a year later is unusual, but the accelerated pace might account for the infusion of freshness that makes "Hymn and Her" so arresting."

LA Times - "Espinoza and Murray (who headline at Spaceland on July 18) are clearly charting a course of their own now, heading for a place of saturated emotion and sanctified spirit."

Blurt - "Full of subtle hooks and ear-catching surprises..."

Metromix - "...one of the band’s most consistently enjoyable efforts to date."

New York Sun - "Earlimart creates airy, soaring songs that feel as light and fleeting as a dream."

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - "This is a tapestry of organic and melodic materials that leave a long-lasting, sweet aftertaste."

Deli Magazine LA - “Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray's revolving vocals evoke telepathic conversations between two distanced lovers, backed by an ethereal mix of piano and guitar-driven rock. Their songs have a signature blend of tension and release, with honest stripped down verses followed by lofty daydream choruses, just waiting to tell your summer love story.”

Digg.com - ”The increasingly prolific Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray, a.k.a. Hymn and Her, a.k.a. Earlimart, have returned just one year after the lush folk and pop of Mentor Tormentor to deliver the even more accomplished, assuredly staggering Hymn and Her.

Fujiya & Miyagi

Fujiya & Miyagi Release Debut Single "Knickerbocker"
Sophomore LP “Lightbulbs” To Be Released September 16th On Deaf, Dumb + Blind Recordings
Currently On Summer World Tour / Look Out For US Fall Tour Soon

World Summer Festival Tour

7/4 - Opener Festival, Gdynia, Poland
7/12 - Obstwiesenfestival, Ulm, Germany
7/18 - Benicassim Festival, Castellon, Spain
7/9- Melt Festival, Berlin
7/20 - Dour Festival, Dour, Belgium
8/2 - Big Chill, Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, UK


http://www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk/

Peaches and Tone Loc "Wild Thing" Remix on Delicious Vinyl

Here is a live video:

And here is some information:



"Wild Thing" (PEACHES RMX) will be available via iTunes on November 6th, and on sale in limited edition vinyl format on November 20. It's sure to be a must-have in the record bags of DJs and an essential download for groovers worldwide. In addition to the main version, the 12" will include an instrumental version, acapella, radio edit, and a special beat box version courtesy of French sound specialist TEZ.

"Wild Thing" (PEACHES RMX) debuted at a special party hosted by Peaches herself at the revered Tape Club in Berlin this September. And this release is just the beginning of something very special. Over the next twelve months, Delicious Vinyl will release a full slate of the label's classic records re-imagined by artists including Hot Chip, Spank Rock, Diplo, Bonde Do Role, A-Trak, Ed Banger's Mr. Flash & DJ Medhi onto an unsuspecting public. Of course, that public still fondly remembers Delicious Vinyl artists whose tunes will be featured, including Young MC, The Pharcyde, Masta Ace, The Brand New Heavies, Def Jef, Born Jamericans, and Fatlip. Each release will be available on limited edition vinyl, launched with a special DV Twenty Years Fresh party in select cities worldwide. (Stay tuned for dates and locations to be announced soon.) The tracks will be part of a triple vinyl full-length album slated for release in 2008.

The brainchild of Los Angeles DJs Matt Dike and Michael Ross, Delicious Vinyl is a crucial label in the evolution of hip-hop. Late-'80s chart-topping hits from Tone-Loc ("Wild Thing") and Young MC ("Bust A Move") took innovative underground grooves to the masses. This year, Delicious Vinyl kicks off its 20th anniversary celebration with no sign of slowing down. Along with The Brand New Heavies triumphant tour in support of their new album Get Used To It, dancehall player Mr. Vegas had one of the summer's biggest singles, "Hot Wuk." The label's newest releases are JayDeelicious: The Delicious Vinyl Years (celebrating the pioneering productions of James "Jay Dee" Yancey) and Delicious Vinyl: Twenty Years Fresh mixtape by Bobby Evans. So if it's rump-shaking, trunk-rattling, floor-filling, chart-busting tunes you want, Delicious Vinyl delivers.

Artist: Tone Loc & Peaches
Song Title : Wild Thing (Peaches RMX) French Video
Album : Delicious Vinyl All-Stars : RMXXOLOGY
Director: Flora Destrats
Production Co: 75
Copyright 2008 Delicious Vinyl

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Stereolab Tour Dates

09-20 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
09-21 Pomona, CA - Glass House
09-24 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
09-26 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
09-27 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
09-29 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
09-30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-01 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
10-02 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-03 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-04 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-06 Boston, MA - Paradise *
10-07 Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda *
10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre *
10-09 Detroit, MI - The Crofoot *
10-10 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre *
10-12 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
10-14 Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre *
10-17 Seattle, WA - Showbox *
10-18 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *
10-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
10-21 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-22 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-23 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *
10-24 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern *

* with Monade

European dates to follow.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Dave Mustaine

Guitar Center Sessions Presents:
An Evening of Education, Conversation, and Insight
with
Dave Mustaine

June 25, 2008, Los Angeles, CA – Guitar Center is pleased to announce the next installment of Guitar Center Sessions: An evening of dialogue and insight with Dave Mustaine. This exclusive event is powered by Marshall amps and will be taking place on July 10 at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, CA and is free and open to the public.

Since forming Megadeth in 1983, Dave Mustaine’s career has been one of the most thrilling and musically innovative in the history of heavy metal, selling over 20 million albums with 7 Grammy nominations. Under his extraordinary vision and leadership as guitarist, songwriter and singer, Megadeth has helped pioneer the thrash and speed metal movements and has influenced and inspired a generation.

Designed to provide informative, provocative conversation and hands-on tutorials, GC Sessions serves as an incubator for musicians, providing them an opportunity to network with their peers in an intimate setting and gain career-fostering advice from their heroes. For this evening’s event, Dave Mustaine will offer guitar techniques, discuss his favorite gear (including his signature guitars and Marshall amps), and provide advice on marketing, monetizing and touring in today’s music business.

Join us as Dave Mustaine, one of Metal’s most legendary icons, shares his experience and insights from his celebrated and distinguished career.

July 10, 2008 @ 6PM
Guitar Center Hollywood
7425 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA