What the Hell Was Going on in the '70s Vol. 2

You think child beauty pageants are creepy? Okay, you're right. But so is this commercial from the '70s. And the perfume smelled like baby powder. Fetish much? (And lest we forget the recent Dakota Fanning debacle). And in a little seventies hangover from 1981 we have Brooke Shield's Calvin Klein commercial:

"New" Johnny Cash Album: Out Among the Stars

Legacy Recordings will issue recently discovered never before released Johnny Cash recordings in the new year - March 25, 2014. The twelve tracks are not demos and were originally recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at Columbia Studios in 1981 and 1111 Sound Studios in 1984 and produced by Billy Sherrill. The album will include duets with June Carter Cash and Waylon Jennings. Featured are Marty Stuart on guitar and mandolin and Nashville A-Team members Jerry Kennedy (guitar), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano) and Henry Strzelecki (bass). Regarding the discovery of these songs, son John Carter Cash said "When my parents passed away, it became necessary to go through this material." And "We found these recordings that were produced by Billy Sherrill in the early 1980s…they were beautiful." Johnny Cash Out Among The Stars track listing: 1. Out Among The Stars 2. Baby Ride Easy - duet with June Carter Cash 3. She Used To Love Me A Lot 4. After All 5. I'm Movin' On - duet with Waylon Jennings 6. If I Told You Who It Was 7. Call Your Mother (written by Johnny Cash) 8. I Drove Her Out Of My Mind 9. Tennessee 10. Rock and Roll Shoes 11. Don't You Think It's Come Our Time - duet with June Carter Cash 12. I Came To Believe (written by Johnny Cash) Pre-order at Amazon or Itunes

Zoe Cassavetes: Day Out of Days

Writer/director Zoe Cassavetes and producers Kate Roughan and Gina Kwon speak about their new film Day Out of Days and recent crowd funding. According to Fund Anything the film is about "A once well-known actress who struggles to maintain her sanity and dignity in the obstacle course known as Hollywood." The project has raised just shy of $50,000. And this seems rather bizarre to me, but if you donate one dollar you receive the opportunity to help Cassavetes promote the film via blog Facebook or Twitter. I'll just promote the project and save a dollar, how about that? Mama got to pay her rent.

CASH Music

About a week ago I blogged about Maggie Vail's CASH Music Summits. Here is some more information on this important project from Vail herself. "I work a lot. I’ve always worked a lot. I’ve worked at least a 40 hour work week since I was 19 years old. I think it’s safe to say that in the last two and half years since I started working at CASH Music I work at least 20 hours more per week than I did at Kill Rock Stars. The good thing is I like to work, especially when it’s something I truly believe in. As a result of all this working I’ve become a bit of a social recluse. Lately when I do get out I’m often asked what exactly CASH Music is and what it is that we’re trying to do. Sometimes there’s a twinge of “what do you mean you don’t know what I’m spending all my time doing?!” and then I remember this is a massive, ambitious, and multi-faceted effort that we’re in the middle of building. It’s not just a simple product that’s easily explained, this is a life’s work in progress. It is really important and if executed the way that we envision we believe will ensure a healthy option for all musicians moving forward. This means everything to me. My partner, Jesse von Doom, and I have a vision and a very solid plan towards a sustainable future for the organization. That said, right now we need help getting there. We are currently raising funds via a Kickstarter campaign for a series of summits in 2014. Because I sadly can’t speak with everyone on the phone or in person I’ve broken down the important parts of who we are and what we’re doing into ten simple points: What is CASH Music? 1) CASH Music is a nonprofit organization. We are a tiny staff of just two people. Our board is made up of 16 people. Since we are a nonprofit none of us can own CASH Music. This is important. 2) Our mission is to help empower artists for a more sustainable future in this digital age. We believe that an important part of helping artists includes helping artist friendly labels, managers, publicists, etc. 3) We build digital tools. Jesse has spent the last six years building a massive platform, project by project, directly with artists and labels. The platform can be downloaded and used on your own site or you can use our hosted version, currently in beta. Right now the platform can do things like digital sales, download codes, email list management, email collection, etc. Later we will be adding features like a full shopping cart, a subscription service, and much much more. All of our tools are open source. This is also important. 4) Our tools are, and always will be, free to use. We are unwavering on this stance. We believe giving artists access to basic online tools is an important part of sustainability. 5) We believe artists should own their own data. All information collected by our platform can be exported at any time. 6) Because we are a nonprofit we cannot be bought or sold. We also cannot take investment. Since we build all of our tools using an open source license this means that even if CASH as an org for some reason dissolved, the code would still exist and live on. Both of these things are very, very important to us and we think very, very important to the future of music online. 7) Education is also a key component of our mission. It’s vital that artists have free access to information and resources that will help them manage and navigate their careers in an ever changing landscape. Education, both online and in person, will be a big part of 2014 for us. 8) We think musician’s perspectives are often missing in the current discussions about the future of music. We believe their voices are necessary to the conversation. We’ve launched a series of summits designed to make sure they are heard. 9) The CASH Music Summits bring artists and technologists together. The conversations started in these events will influence our educational goals, our platform, and hopefully many other projects. We want to foster a new form of collaboration that can lead to new understanding of the intersection of technology and music, leaving real change in its wake. 10) We think that music is one of the most important parts of being alive. We want to help the people that make it survive. We need your help to make this happen. If you believe that what we are working on is important please consider donating to our Kickstarter campaign, spreading the word, or getting involved. We have seven days left to raise over $15,000 dollars. That’s a lot of money in a very short time. I know we can do but we can’t do it alone. THANK YOU! - (Maggie Vail)" And this from the project's Kickstarter page:

What the Hell Was going on in the '70s?

Clip number one of my just invented series What the Hell Was Going on in the '70s. It can't be explained. It must be experienced in video clips. It helps if you're hopped up on Booberry cereal. These need not be in chronological order - they will come sporadically. They will catch you unawares. They will be like acid flashbacks or minertia blue attacks while wearing spadex pants. It's not a "Psychobilly Freakout" but it's better. And it went on for a decade. Pretty sure Chuck Barris snorted Peru before Steven Tyler even got to the table.

Bettie Page Reveals All

Bettie Page Reveals All Finally the real story of cult icon and infamous pin-up model Bettie Page. This documentary film is directed by Mark Mori, narrated by Bettie Page, and features Dita Von Teese, Hugh Hefner, Rebecca Romijn, Mamie Van Doren, the legendary Tempest Storm, Perez Hilton and more.

Upset

Patty Schemel (Hole, Lucid nation) is in a new band with Ali Koehler (Best Coast/Vivian Girls). They're called Upset and I already love them. Here's their video for "You and I" It ROCKS!

CASH Music Summits

Maggie Vail (formerly with Kill Rock Stars) just announced the first round of speakers for the CASH Music summits: CHI (March 1, 2014) Damon Krukowski (Galaxie 500, Damon and Naomi) Harper Reed (former Chief Technology Officer, Obama for America) Dave McCreath (Mule Radio) emceed by Dan Sinker (OpenNews, Punk Planet, Internet Shenanigans) NYC (May 17, 2014) JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Anil Dash (ThinkUp, Movable Type, The Internet) Dapwell (Das Racist, Untitled Kondabolu Brothers Project) emceed by Jonathan Coulton SEA (August 2014) Larry Crane (Tape Op) emceed by John Roderick (The Long Winters) ATL (November 2014) Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses) http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cashmusic/cash-music-summits-music-meets-technology

Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant and Jimmy Fallon

Lip Sync Battle with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant and Jimmy Fallon For the few of you that may have missed this - it is well worth investing your time. Fallon is the least funny. The other two are Gods of the mic.

Got My Tight Pants On

Not too far from the mods I hung with....

David Lynch Releases 12"

The new David Lynch 12' "Bad the John Boy" will be released tomorrow via Sacred Bones Records website. It appears the limited edition version is still available.

Louis Vuitton Venice Fim: David Bowie & Arizona Muse

Louis Vuitton Venice Fim: David Bowie & Arizona Muse

Kathleen Hanna Documentary

Director Sini Anderson's Kathleen Hanna documentary The Punk Singer: A Film about Kathleen Hanna has won the jury prize for international music documentary at Barcelona’s Beefeater In-Edit Film Festival. After playing November 9 at the Olympia Film Festival and at DOC NYC, November 16, the film will open at select theaters in America November 29. Hanna with Bikini Kill Hanna aka Julie Ruin Hanna with Le Tigre (Johanna Fateman, Sadie Benning (98-01) and JD Samson). Hanna with The Julie Ruin (Carmine Covelli, Sara Landeau, Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox, and Kenny Mellman) In addition to various band members "Punk Singer" features Joan Jett, Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater Kimney), Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth, Body/Head) and Adam Horovitz (Beastie Boys, Married to Kathleen Hanna)

Excision and Suburban Gothic

As an ardent fan of John Waters as well as all things macabre, I am deeply ashamed that I completely missed the boat on the film Excision. The film was written and directed by Richard Bates Jr. and released in November of 2012. It features Annalynne McCord, Malcolm McDowell (whom I forgive for his stint in Entourage), Traci Lords, Marlee Matlin, and Matthew Gray Gubler. Keep an eye out for director Bates' upcoming film Suburban Gothic which he co-wrote with Mark Bruner (script coordinator for Under the Dome and the aforementioned Entourage). The film stars Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls, Thor) and Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds, (500) Days of Summer), and features an embarrassment of riches: Sally Kirkland, Ray Wise (::geek alert:: Laura Palmer's Father from Twin Peaks), John Waters, and Mackenzie Philips, among others. The plot according to IMDB: "Raymond has a prestigious MBA, but he can't find work. He can channel the paranormal, but chatting with a cute girl mystifies him. Kicked out of his big city apartment, Raymond returns home to his overbearing mother, ex-jock father, and beer-bellied classmates. But when a vengeful ghost terrorizes the small town, the city-boy recruits Becca, a badass local bartender, to solve the mystery of the spirit threatening everyone's lives." All that and one of the characters is named Zelda. Well I for one can't wait! November 9 2013 update from the director (Richard Bates, Jr. ‏@RichardBatesJr1) via Twitter: "DO NOT watch "Excision" on starz. It's a pan & scan that looks like ABSOLUTE SHIT (not its original aspect ratio). What a joke..."

IS THE MAN WHO IS TALL HAPPY?

From the wonderful Michel Gondry
The new Michel Gondry film is described as "A series of interviews featuring linguist, philosopher and activist Noam Chomsky done in hand-drawn animation."

The Ramones Box Set

The unedited press release, and I do this only because this band is part of the soundtrack of my life: RAMONES: THE SIRE YEARS (1976-1981) New Boxed Set Features Seminal First Six Albums From The Punk Rock Pioneers The Six-Disc Collection Arrives October 29 From Rhino LOS ANGELES - "Hey ho, let's go!" With that call to arms the Ramones launched their recording career and changed the face of music forever, spawning punk rock and reinvigorating the ailing art form known as rock 'n' roll. Formed in the Forest Hills section of Queens, NY in 1974, the Ramones were completely original, forging a whole new sound and direction for music and giving birth to punk. Rhino explores the incomparable footprint of the Ramones' musical legacy with a boxed set featuring the band's seminal first six albums. RAMONES: THE SIRE YEARS (1976-1981) includes the band's 1976 eponymous debut, Leave Home (1977), Rocket To Russia (1977), Road To Ruin (1978), End Of The Century (1980), and Pleasant Dreams (1981), each presented with their original running order and artwork. The set will be available on October 29 for a suggested list price of $39.98. An expanded digital version of the set, titled THE SIRE YEARS (1976-1989), features a total of 11 studio albums, including the six in the physical box as well as Subterranean Jungle (1983), Too Tough To Die (1984), Animal Boy (1986), Halfway To Sanity (1987), and Brain Drain (1989). With the 1976 release of their debut album the Ramones issued a manifesto with their groundbreaking sound, inspiring countless others to pick up guitars and rock. Ramones contains 14 tunes-including classics like "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Beat On The Brat," "Judy Is A Punk," and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"-and runs a tight 32 minutes, thanks to the fact that every song clocks in well under three minutes (and many under two). The Ramones' sophomore effort Leave Home saw the band expanding their sound slightly by including more melodic songs like "What's Your Game," "Swallow My Pride," and "I Remember You." But the chain saw guitars were still sharp in songs like "Glad To See You Go," "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment," and "Pinhead," with its classic "Gabba Gabba Hey!" chant. Rocket To Russia continued the Ramones' full-scale assault on the indulgent arena rock of the day with another 14 blistering tracks, including the classics "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" and "Teenage Lobotomy." The disc also features the band's reworkings of "Do You Wanna Dance?" and "Surfin' Bird." The fourth and final Ramones disc of the 1970s, Road To Ruin, was the first to feature a three-minute-plus song, "I Wanted Everything." The album also contained "I Wanna Be Sedated," perhaps the best-known Ramones track ever and their signature cover of "Needles & Pins." End Of The Century found the Ramones indulging their love for the sounds of the '60s with storied pop hitmaker Phil Spector behind the boards for his last commercial release as producer. The "Wall Of Sound" treatment of songs like "Baby, I Love You," "Danny Says," and "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?" helped make the album the Ramones' most commercially successful effort ever. The Ramones followed up with Pleasant Dreams in 1981, an album that saw the band letting their pop influences show. Produced by Graham Gouldman (ex-10cc), the disc contains some of the band's most infectious tracks, including "We Want The Airwaves" "The KKK Took My Baby Away," and "She's A Sensation."

New Sarah McLachlan Album

Apparently in the wee hours, while I've been away, Sarah McLachlan and her elves have been hard at work constructing a youtube channel, a website and a new album. Or as I like to say, AB-LUM, to be released next year. It appears I've crawled out from under my ("I don't care about writing music reviews for a magazine or my blog, etc") lazy self just in time for her to make this announcement: And in the land of social media there was much rejoicing. Side note: One of the best concert moments of my life (which is saying a lot) happened watching Sarah Mclachlan rehearse for Lilith Fair. I'd seen her several times in the past (and even talked with her about buying her first 12" single - to her embarrassment - and gave her a tin of violet candies). I sat alone in the outdoor auditorium petting her big black dog whose name I've long since forgotten. And I admit a tear may have slipped from my eye as I heard her transcendent ethereal voice performing for a crowd of one. I half expected someone to toss me out, but no one did. I was thankful for that. Later I did some side schlepping for Pat Benatar and I saw Sarah, hair tucked up in a trucker hat, amongst the throng of fair attendees about twenty feet from me acting all "Please no one look at me." Our eyes locked for a few seconds and she put her finger up to her mouth "Shh." I nodded and thanked her silently for the performance by telling no one she was there.

Brendan Benson Says "You Were Right"

Brendan Benson is one of the most underrated consistently brilliant solo artists of our time. Oh yeah, and there's that other stuff he does under The Raconteurs moniker with that Third Man Records cat Jack White and his cronies, garage rock masters The Greenhornes. But for my money his solo work is where he shines most brightly as a beacon of all that is right with music. Benson released What Kind of World last year, and this holiday season (December 10th to be specific) will see the release of his latest set of gems You Were Right via Benson's own Readymade Records. The tracks are: 1. It’s Your Choice 2. Rejuvenate Me 3. As of Tonight 4. Diamond 5. Long Term Goal 6. I Don’t Wanna See You Anymore 7. I’ll Never Tell 8. Swallow You Whole 9. She’s Trying to Poison Me 10. Purely Automatic 11. New Words of Wisdom 12. Oh My Love 13. The Fritz 14. Swimming 15. Red White and Blues In celebration of the new release (in lieu of punch and pie), there will be a Brendan Benson & Friends concert at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on December 18. Those aforementioned friends are said to include Jack White, Adriel Denae, Eric Burdon, Butch Walker, Jesse Baylin, Ken Stringfellow, Jon Auer, Cory Chisel, Willy Mason, The Howlin’ Brothers, and Young Hines. Everyone with good musical taste in Nashville should attend, because Great Googly Moogly, if Brendan Benson plus members of Big Star and The Posies won't get you out of bed, then you're a certified loon.

Girls Don't Poop

Girls don't poop. If they did they would use Poopourri. Everything sounds better with a British Accent. I wish I were being paid for this post. Or comped some product. Not that I poop either...

Fiona Apple's Breakdown and Let Me Break It Down

It has been reported, regarding the Fiona Apple & Blake Mills Portland performance of October 3: Fiona Apple Breaks Down After Being Heckled Over Her Appearance
 For those who don't know, about ninety minutes into Fiona Apple's performance an audience member shouted loudly enough for Apple to hear, "Fiona! Get healthy! We want to see you in 10 years!” Ms. Apple was understandably upset by the remark and replied “I am healthy! Who the fuck do you think you are? I want you to get the fuck out of here. I want the house lights on so I watch you leave!” As per her direction, up came the house lights, but the "fan" shouted while departing, "I saw you 20 years ago and you were beautiful!” Following that exchange Apple soldiered on and performed “Waltz (Better Than Fine)" although Stereogum reports she did so through "sobs." Fiona Apple is no stranger to controversy. The beginning of her career saw her "Criminal" video criticized for appearing like skeevy '70s child porn. Many bloggers, fans, and reporters have mocked her on stage behavior and patter calling it bizarre and implying she appeared close to a "breakdown." She was arrested for possession of hash (and a small amount of marijuana) in Sierra Blanca, Texas in 2012. After the incident Apple allegedly made claims of inappropriate treatment, about which Hudspeth County Sheriffs Information officer Rusty Fleming advised Apple, after some condescending remarks, that she "Shut up and sing." How it is possible to do both simultaneously he did not say.

 Controversy abounded while fans awaited the release of Apple's Extraordinary Machine and assumed Sony was, for some reason, holding back the release. There were also multiple negative reports that Ms. Apple exited the stage prior to the end of a Tokyo performance. Apple spoke out via a post on Questlove's OkayPlayer website: "if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, if you could tweet to the twits who call themselves journalists (example Chris Martins of sit-and-Spin Magazine) that I FINISHED MY SET!!! I did my job, and they should do theirs too–They all miss the fact that there is a difference between the back-of-the-room-chatter that is simply annoying,–and the operatic drunken blather, or the heckling that is really just INTERRUPTING that makes it impossible for us to do our jobs. I hope your readers are already hip to the fact that they are consistently lied to… no apologies. -Fiona." And if one cares to peruse youtube they can see a smattering of video clips that allege Fiona Apple gives bizarre speeches, and other commentaries of similar ilk. The interesting part of this is neither the arrest nor alleged bizarre behavior by someone who writes some of the most honest and heart wrenching music currently being produced. The interesting part is darker and less sexy (read salable). It is about what society deems acceptable commentary, even by professional writers.

Why is it that people find it perfectly acceptable to dissect the appearance of females ruthlessly and relentlessly while -for the most part- males remain unscathed. Save for the obese about whom jokes are still considered socially acceptable, men are allowed to express sexuality or manage their physical appearance almost entirely without reproach. They are allowed to keep their bodies as they like without fear their record company will drop them, or film them from angles that partially obscure whatever offense is currently deemed unacceptable. What is unacceptable is society's focus on a woman's sexuality and validation of whether she is or is not worthy of our collective sexual attention. Whether a celebrity puts her body on display like Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears or Madonna; if she dares gain or lose weight like Gaga and Christina Aguilera, or has their appearance indirectly mocked at an awards show (Seth Mcfarland and Adele anyone?) it seems that ruthless dissection of alleged physical deficits is not only accepted without question, but encouraged by society at large. Even possible attempts to escape dissection by dressing more conservatively, such as Florence Welch (Florence & the Machine), the male gaze and increasing critical eye of women is pervasive and inescapable. And women seem content to join in the chorus and scoff at the idea there is anything wrong with it. Men can prance about on stage like spastic chickens with more wrinkles than a Shar Pei regularly, but everyone knows the same isn't true for women.  

There is a female weight limit and expiration date. It follows some mysterious code. For example, a Lane Bryant bra commercial was pulled for being "too sexy," but Victorias Secret commercials complete with pouting lips and arched backs still air, as do Carls Jr. ads wherein women squirm with delight as they perform oral copulation with hamburgers. It seems that women must be skinny, but not too skinny, (even though those running the fashion industry demand as much). The popular opinion is that women be curvy, but not too curvy, and only curvy in precisely the proper places. It's well known that magazines use tricks to make cover models seem perfect and cellulite free, but no one stops buying the magazines, nor do women stop comparing themselves to those images and adjusting their self worth based upon them. And we certainly don't discuss it in mainstream media in a serious manner.  

The proliferation of social media appears to have caused people to criticize others as if it's a new sport. Perhaps the trend of constant commentary via social media gave the audience member at Fiona Apple's concert the idea that shouting out their opinion about her weight (under the guise of concern for health) during a live performance was perfectly acceptable behavior. Can you imagine someone shouting at Aretha Franklin that she should put down the sandwiches? Perhaps if she were a current artist in today's climate it would have already happened. Critique of ones performance or artistic validity in the media is fair, but skewing facts and commenting upon weight is not, unless of course that person makes their living by exploiting their (ahem) assets.

Further unacceptable is the way in which popular culture deals with mental illness. It was casually reported that Apple suffered "a breakdown." Social media comments often include "take your meds," "Go cut yourself" or the more extreme "Go kill yourself." Comments on womens' appearance are brutal and photos shared via social media have been known to be circulated by others as a joke. It can happen to males, but it is largely a female issue. Joe Jonas posed proudly shirtless to bring awareness to diabetes and was applauded, but would the same hold true for an up and coming female promoting acceptance of mental illness? When someone, especially a female, displays erratic behavior that is ongoing and presumably not induced via illegal drugs, they become the butt of everyone's jokes. Even Oprah escaped near public stoning for admitting she recently felt as if she had a "breakdown." The stigma of mental illness and portrait of the hysterical female still proliferates within the media with very little dissension. Feminist ideals are still relegated to feminist outlets and many young women attack feminist theory with the vigor of a torch wielding mob of villagers. People love to see public "train wrecks" but not focus on the underlying issues. Mental health may be brought up for a day or two by someone like Dr. Drew, but ultimately the discussion dies before it approaches any serious examination. We collectively choose to ignore the fact that society's propensity to treat mental illness as a joke, or with a pill and assume it works, is appalling.

Eating disorders and their cause are individual in many ways and certainly not treated simply by eating, dieting, or bariatric surgery. Clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and more diseases of the mind are based in physical dysfunction. They are not a weakness of the mind. Our understanding of the brain is still in its infancy. We aren't that far away from lobotomies or claims that a clitoral orgasm is proof of a woman's lack of sexual maturity. And all the naive "Just be positive" nonsense (which includes the limitations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), is far from helpful to someone who desperately wishes they could simply be positive, as if they choose depression as a viable lifestyle. That friend of yours about whom you complain is "a downer" may be seriously suffering from a legitimate disease.

Positive thoughts and talk show makeovers can't cure chemical imbalances. Post traumatic stress disorder won't disappear merely by spouting positive affirmations. Imperfections both physical and mental abound in regular people and the "Royalty" we call Celebrities. But they are never seriously addressed by the media, and celebrities who suffer aren't exactly eager to discuss the matter. So the stigma remains. And when a public event such as Britney Spears conservatorship, Amanda Bynes current confinement, the infallible Oprah's self described breakdown, or Fiona Apple's overly exaggerated incident (where she was simply trying to execute her job) occurs, it is banter at the water cooler, 2 minute fodder for entertainment news written about in an exploitative manner. But ultimately the discussion stops shy of any public recognition that the problems discussed actually exist and need to be solved. It is now commonplace for a global audience to comment daily on appearance or sexuality albeit from behind a computer screen. That said, the escalation via incidents like Apple's is almost inevitable. Unfortunately society seems all too eager to remain ensconced in the ideology of point and laugh (or point and click) to do actually examine the issues at hand.

Neutral Milk Hotel Expand Reunion Tour

Neutral Milk Hotel has expanded their extensive reunion tour and Elf Power Superchunk and M Ward are coming along for part of the ride! 10-11 Baltimore, MD - 2640 Space at St. John's Church * 10-12 Richmond, VA - The National * 10-14 Covington, KY - Madison Theater * 10-15 Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club * 10-16 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note * 10-18 Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall * 10-19 Chattanooga, TN - Track 29 * 10-20 Birmingham, AL - Iron City * 10-22 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club * 10-23 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club # 10-24 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club % 10-25 Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (Mountain Oasis Festival) #! 10-26 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle # 10-27 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle *@ 11-12 Brisbane, Australia - The Tivoli ^$ 11-14 Sydney, Australia - Enmore Theatre ^$ 11-15 Melbourne, Australia - The Forum ^$ 11-20 Dunedin, New Zealand - Sammy's 11-22 Wellington, New Zealand - James Cabaret 11-23 Auckland, New Zealand - The Kings Arms Tavern 11-24 Auckland, New Zealand - The Kings Arms Tavern 11-28 Taipei, Taiwan - Hostess Club Taipei 11-30 Tokyo, Japan - Hostess Club Weekender 01-16 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre 01-17 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre 01-18 Montreal, Quebec - Olympia 01-19 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus 01-20 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus 01-22 Port Chester, NY - The Capitol Theatre 01-23 Brooklyn, NY - BAM Howard Gilman Opera House 01-24 Brooklyn, NY - BAM Howard Gilman Opera House 01-25 Brooklyn, NY - BAM Howard Gilman Opera House 01-27 New York, NY - Webster Hall 01-28 New York, NY - Webster Hall 01-29 Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre 01-30 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer 01-31 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall 02-01 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle 02-02 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle 02-04 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium 02-05 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant 02-06 Chicago, IL - The Riviera Theatre 02-07 Chicago, IL - The Riviera Theatre 02-08 Madison, WI - Orpheum Theater 02-10 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 02-11 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 02-13 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre 02-14 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom 02-15 Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre 02-17 Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater 02-18 Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater 02-19 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live 02-20-21 New Orleans, LA - Civic Theatre 05-16 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street 05-18 Manchester, England - Manchester Albert Hall 05-19 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowland 05-21 London, England - Roundhouse 05-25 Paris, France - Le Trianon 05-27 Toulouse, France - Metronum 05-29-31 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound Festival 06-05-07 Porto, Portugal - Optimus Primavera Sound * with Elf Power # with Half Japanese % with Circulatory System ! with Daniel Johnston @ with Robert Schneider ^ with M. Ward $ with Superchunk

Miley Cyrus, "Molly," Sinead, Amanda and Me

Before I begin my diatribe ( or possible incoherent rambling) about Miley Cyrus, Sinead O'Connor (whose music I adore), and Amanda Palmer (whom I also adore musically, but who seriously needs to get some Immodium AD for her insufferable Twitter diarrhea. I mean, Amanda, no one really cares what you're having for tea and if someone does, you should probably take out a restraining order against them). Anyway, I digress. Since I am here and writing, I will answer the question no one in particular may have asked: Where has K Telle been? Long story short, quite some time ago I stopped writing music reviews for a respected Indie/Alternative music and popular culture magazine. I became disenchanted with music. Well, to be more accurate, I listened to most of what was sent to me by PR Agents and went "Meh." I GOT BORED. At first I thought "Eh, I'm just getting old." But that wasn't it. I got tired of finding new and interesting ways to basically regurgitate the opinion " Um, I guess it's O.K." I was searching for an alternative to the alternative. But you know, every now and again, music goes through what I like to call a "tilling of the soil." It happened most famously with The Beatles and Nirvana. Courtney Love tried her hand at it too, representing for angry RocknRoll women, and most successfully until the departure of Eric Erlandson, but again I digress. Back to my disappearing act which followed my utter disappointment for most modern music. Essentially, several events transpired that made me redirect my energy to things other than music, writing for others, and blogging. Well, I'm (sort of) back. And I finally have something to say. Why is everyone so concerned with Miley Cyrus, Sinead O'Connor's view of Miley Cyrus, and last but not least, Amanda Palmer's view on Sinead O'Connor's view of Miley Cyrus? Am I interested? No. I'm not interested in Miley Cyrus or an album titled Bangerz. I dislike her style of music. I'm not saying that for indie cred. I'm bored with indie cred. I'm saying that because her music is shit. But let's face it, not listening to top 40 is hardly a rare trait in the world of hard-core music lovers, be it spotty jaded "Alternative" or the even more pretentious musical landscape of Opera. Yet the country is stuck on Miley, like a needle in the groove to your first 45, prattling on and on about the shape of the poor girls ass, and how we should all protect "the children." Newsflash: Using sexuality, (be it successfully or in a manner which evokes much hilarity and a bit of unintentional cringing), is hardly new. Sex or nudity are no strangers to marketing geniuses or middle American moms. So why now is it suddenly so controversial? Why is what Miley Cyrus did and does considered "offensive?" She appeared on a music channel's awards show. A corporate music channel wherein music scarcely plays a role, and therefore is taken seriously by no one of consequence. If you want my opinion, Cyrus' over produced marginal music, and cavalier snarky attitude toward mental illness (IE: Amanda Bynes), are the two most offensive things about her. Do fans of music such as Sigur Rós, Conor Oberst, Radiohead, Redd Kross or Jack White think Miley looks like a moron sticking her tongue out and "throwing signs?" Probably. But then every era has its "Oh my God I had a mullet and wore spandex leggings with shocking blue eyeliner" moments. If Miley Cyrus wants to brag about doing drugs like "Molly" to appear "cool," I consider it no more shocking than next door's stoner talking about how baked he is while flashing the latest copy of High Times as his friends bikes and he block the entrance at the local convenience store. It's a case for parents and school to educate kids about drugs and sex. Use the time you've been wasting on "MileyMania" to actually, oh I don't know, TALK TO YOUR KIDS about what concerns you or what you hope and want for them. And if people are truly shocked by Miley Cyrus' prancing about in an awkward suspendered onesie alongside teddy bears and (smack me for saying this word), twerking, I have to ask, "Do you people not have the internet?" There are a lot more shocking things your children are looking at on a daily basis, parental filter or not. Hell, check out the new book series about dinosaur on human "erotica." If Cyrus still sticks in your craw, you've got issues I can't begin to fathom. I don't have kids. So I don't know how you are supposed to speak to them about sex and drugs. Maybe I read a pamphlet or something once. I've approached the subjects honestly with my nephews, as have their parents, and that worked pretty well. If you're religious - talk to your Priest or Rabbi. But, kids are going to do what they are going to do. It always was thus and so shall it always be until the end of time. Is watching T.V. going to provide you with a valid answer? It doesn't appear to have helped thusfar, has it? Unfortunately the days of After School Specials and kitschy made for T.V. movies like The Death of Richie, Go Ask Alice, or even the "tour de force acting" of Scott Baio in Stoned are archaic, albeit fondly nostalgic things of the past. If your kids want to seek out watching something or doing something because someone tells them its cool, they will. Unless you demonstrate something cooler and more forward thinking to them. Again, that's up to you. And if Ms. Cyrus wants to show her body - that's her business. I mean that literally, artistically, and with the business pun. She's young. She's a performer. She's growing. She'll find her way. Who knows, maybe underneath the posing and the production, she might even write some songs I can eventually enjoy. But I ask you, Why are you so fixated on it? Now that I'm semi-back and I've blathered on about something that took me weeks of the country's fascination to care enough about to think "SHUT UP ALREADY!" I now find my voice among the chorus of lemmings. So, irony aside, I ask you collectively, can we just move on already?

Jake Bellows Fall Tour

Jake Bellows's fall tour kicks off this Friday with a stop at San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. He will play at noon the festival's Rooster Stage which was curated by Conor Oberst (AKA Bright Eyes) and will include performances by The Felice Brothers, The Evans, First Aid Kit and more. On Monday, Jake Bellows will play a free in-store at Los Angeles' Origami Vinyl before hitting the road later this month with labelmate Tim Kasher. Jake Bellows is touring in support of his critically acclaimed debut solo album New Ocean which is available now via Saddle Creek and limited edition cassette through Majestic Litter. Jake Bellows Tour Dates 10.04 - San Francisco, CA @ Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (12pm at the Rooster Stage) 10.07 - Los Angeles, CA @ Origami Vinyl (7pm free in-store) 10.15 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop * 10.16 - Santa Cruz @ The Crepe Place * 10.17 - Santa Ana @ Constellation Room * 10.18 - Los Angeles, CA @ the Echo * 10.19 - Las Vegas, NV @ Backstage Bar & Billards * 10.21 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah * * w/ Tim Kasher

Stream David Novick's Self Titled Release

Listen to the new David Novick album: Originally released in a limited pressing of 100 via Sun Sneeze Records, offered only at shows, (Drag City Imprint) GOD? Records officially re-presents the self-titled, debut album of David Novick October 15th. David Novick tracklisting: 1. Undo the Knot 2. Silver 3. Seven Ghosts 4. Ashtray 5. Rain 6. Sweep 7. Be Still

See Redd Kross Live

Legendary Power Pop pranksters Redd Kross have announced a live performance in their native Los Angeles. The show is in support of their recent comeback album Researching the Blues which may be purchased via Itunes with an extra track featuring Astrid McDonald, or Amazon. Additionally, the second vinyl pressing, as well as cd and digital formats are available via Merge Records with free shipping for U.S. orders. And you can always look in on our boys at their home base at www.reddkross.com. Redd Kross and Mikal Cronin @ The El Ray in Los Angeles, CA Tickets on Sale Fri. Oct. 4th Goldenvoice Presents TUE, Dec 3, 2013 — 9:00PM Ages: All Ages Doors Open: 8:00PM Starting from: $20.00 Rocking the Phantom of the Theme Park? Or riffing on Nordic Death Metal? Either way - they rock harder than anyone else while simultaneously singing sha-la-la-la. Keep carrying that torch.