Kanye West is Sorry.

Kanye West is sorry, now that someone told him who Beck is. I could have stopped that sentence after the word "sorry." ‪#‎frontinondebra‬ You're only really and truly sorry if you say so on Twitter.
Hmm I think the problem is that Kanye just doesn't know his chicken.
Maybe Beck and Cibo Matto need to school his ass.

Shannon Wright Announces Tour Dates

I missed the boat somehow or I certainly would have promoted the release of Shannon Wright's latest album Young Widows, because I believe she is an amazing artist deserving of a much wider audience. Wright's first full U.S. tour in ten years in support of Young Widows begins March 12. Here's an example of her talent: "The Caustic Light" Shannon Wright U.S. Tour 2015 3/12 - Headliners Music Hall - Louisville, KY 3/13 - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, IL 3/14 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH 3/15 - Boot & Saddle - Philadelphia, PA 3/16 - Great Scott - Allston, MA 3/17 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY 3/18 - DC9 - Washington, DC 3/19 - Strange Matter - Richmond, VA 3/20 - Milestone - Charlotte, NC 3/21 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA

Kim Gordon Pens Book. Girl in a Band: A Memoir

Kim Gordon, founding member of Sonic Youth and all around kick ass person, (never mind strong female), has written a book, Girl in a Band: A Memoir. She writes in a surprisingly candid open way about being in Sonic Youth, her love lie, the dissolution of her marriage, and relationship with daughter Coco. The HarperCollins Publishers book and Kindle version will both be available February 24. What the critics are saying: ''The blonde enigma from the band that spoke softly and carried a big noise tells her story, from art-chick beginnings to success to marital and musical catastrophe…Written with the same cool passion she brings to her lyrics, Gordon delivers a generous look at life inside the punk whirlwind.'' --Kirkus Reviews ''In this intriguing memoir, Sonic Youth founding member Kim Gordon describes a life in art and music that led her through the undergrounds of Los Angeles and New York City…The strength of Gordon's prose lies in her evocation of places - the dappled light of LA canyons, the clamor and steaming heat of Hong Kong, the NYC loft scene…Although Gordon includes expected list of celebrities she met throughout life, her unique sensibility never fades.'' --Publishers Weekly

The official word from Jack White's Management about "Bananagate"

For my piece yesterday regarding Jack White's rider and the cult of celebrity, please scroll the blog or click here: Jack White's "Bananagate" is Food For Thought About Larger Societal Problem #bananagate #guacnroll

A memo from Jack White's management Monotone Inc:

Holy Guacamole!

To the students and staff of University of Oklahoma: Jack White would love to thank all the concert attendees at his performance at the University of Oklahoma. The crowd was incredible and Mr. White played an extensive two and a half hour show for them. The students who helped organize the event were wonderful. Playing in, and for, the people of Oklahoma is one of Jack White’s favorite tour stops. At no time did Jack White or White's management say that we would never play there again, that is untrue.

The incidents with the OU Daily student newspaper reporting the financial terms of the show, the private tour rider information, along with unsolicited photographers from their staff were unfortunate, unprofessional, and very unwelcoming. The show was one of many on this tour directed at playing for university students in their own environment. And the band were all completely thrilled with the performance and the crowd.

Incidentally, the most important function of a rider is that it lays out optimal technical specifications to ensure the audience has the best experience possible. For that, Jack hires a team of very qualified touring professionals who write the rider and attempt to execute a professional and pleasant experience for all involved. Part of that is making sure that the tour personnel of about 30 people plus the local venue staff are fed. Contrary to what some believe, Jack doesn't write the rider nor make demands about his favorite snacks that must be in his dressing room. We're not even sure he likes guacamole but we do know that the folks who work hard to put on the show do enjoy it.

(By the way, now that's it out there, we recommend you try Lalo's guacamole recipe. It's delicious.)

We hope those present for Mr. White's performance are able to maintain their good memories from the experience and he looks forward to seeing them again soon.

Sincerely, Monotone Inc.
(Jack White’s management)

Jack White's "Bananagate" is Food For Thought About Larger Societal Problem

Jack White Ruthlessly Discriminates Against Bananas! See what I did there? That was a joke, because it's okay to make jokes about famous people, even guitar heroes, and even if you're a fan. It should be okay to question the behavior or alleged crimes of a celebrity, no matter how famous. Ah the ridiculousness of the media and pop culture. Apparently Jack White was pissed off because his "no bananas" and "chunky guacamole recipe" rider was published. Maybe someone is allergic to bananas? Maybe someone on the tour is a severe bananaphobe and has night terrors about giant bananas creeping onto their tour bus and peeling them into oblivion. Or maybe, and more probably, it's just in the rider to assure that the rider is followed. Who cares? Big deal. Anyway, White's rider seems tame compared to many I've read, but why did he make an issue of the publication of said rider during a performance? Why sully the experience for which fans paid hard earned money? And now it gives more people ammo to call him "thin skinned" and an a-hole. No one is perfect, not even Jack White. Does his music make my life better? Unequivocally. Have I been a fan for longer than the majority of his fans? Yes. Does it make someone a bad fan to question the behavior of someone famous? No. Should we as fans, and society as a whole not question reports of serious bad behavior, abuse, violence? Hell no. I give you Bill Cosby as just one example off the top of my head. Is a rider asking for chunky guacamole and no bananas on par with rape? Of course not, but it's ok to call someone out - no matter if they are your best friend or favorite "rock star" if they behave ridiculously, rudely, or wrongly. I wasn't at the show (unfortunately) and so I can't comment on my opinion of his behavior, but as a human I can only assume Jack White has bad days and is entitled to be an occasional jerk - as should we all as humans. I hate to continue with White as an example, but I have a personal anecdote. I posted a video on my music and film blog some time ago that was clearly made by an enemy of White, and I took an educated guess as to who created said video. I also stated that I thought the video wasn’t funny. But here's where it gets weird. I posted links to the piece, as I always do, and was attacked by a "Seven Nation Army" of White fans insulting me in varying degrees which is pathetic but unfortunately expected. Then someone employed to handle the twitter account for White's publicity company got in on the act as well. I found it extremely surreal. When I mentioned it to fellow White fans I was insulted and attacked even more harshly. I was told I was “lucky someone who works for White in any capacity payed attention to me.” I was really disheartened when my flogging took place, but more for the people doing the flogging than myself. A fellow fan posted some Jack and banana memes today and said they were basically deluged with negativity. Yes you read correctly, they are being attacked over banana jokes. No, seriously. This points to the ridiculous lengths some people go to allegedly defend the honor of someone they must worship as indisputable. No one is perfect or beyond reproach, not even Jack White. (#bananashaming) Celebrities are people, not deities. They should be appreciated, but not idolised. Our celebrity obsessed culture puts them on a higher level than anyone who performs any other job, which is wrong in the first place and their privileged entitlement is accepted and encouraged with perks and exclusive rights to which mere mortals are not privy. This double edged sword makes them potential victims to a life surrounded by “yes men” which at best leads to nothing positive, questions of motives, and in my personal opinion interferes seriously with the completion of excellent art. Let me share another anecdote. I was not allowed access backstage once, even though I had proper credentials, because a famous D.J. was with the performer and didn't want to be bothered by fans. So I stood with someone in a cast on crutches in the hallway with the other mere mortal peons until said D.J. was finished with his uninterrupted time from those in the hallway who didn't care he was there anyway. This behavior was enforced by the venue staff who stated it was common practice. Even the label representative stood and waited to be allowed into the hallowed ground complete with crappy deli tray and off brand sandwich cookies. I share all of this information to put forth a reality. Celebrity has become a cult whose members seem to have achieved the status of being beyond reproach by many, particularly their legion of fans. And fans, originally from the word fanatic, seem to have become more and more fanatical on the whole, which if you're not prepubescent should not be encouraged. People on social media are regularly insulted, even threatened for the mere act of questioning the behavior of a celebrity, much less condemning the behavior. This points to a severe problem with societal values on the whole. When the obsessive fanatic outnumbers the appreciative admirer, and ones life may be threatened due to an opinion questioning of a celebrity, there's a problem with the system. When people are afraid to speak publicly about something as serious as rape, or any kind of mental or physical abuse allegedly inflicted by a celebrity or public figure, all of us take the blame for the alleged survivors suffering. Every single fan who blindly defends their favorite celebrity or politician is a canary in a coalmine showing the way toward a future I hope does not continue to become a reality. That my friends would be bananas.

Duke Garwood to Release Heavy Love

London's avant-blues master Duke Garwood - who's played with everyone from The Orb to Mark Lanegan to the Master Musicians of Jajouka will be releasing his fifth album, Heavy Love, his first on the Heavenly label. He's now released a fourth video in anticipation of the album's release, a live in the studio version of "Burning Seas": Mark Lanegan and Duke Garwood have been discussing a second collaboration which Garwood said has the working title Hot Lunch.

Reunited Band Ride Present Tour Dates 2015 & Compilation Back in Print

You may have heard that the classic "Shoegaze" band Ride have reunited. Well now they're treating fans new and old with some tour dates. Additionally Rhino is reissuing the out of print compilation album OX4 March 31. The album will also be issued for the first time on vinyl for Record Store Day. The double-LP set will be available on limited edition red vinyl on Record Store Day (April 18). OX4 Track Listing 1. "Chelsea Girl" 2. "Drive Blind" 3. "Like A Daydream" 4. "Taste" 5. "Dreams Burn Down" 6. "Vapour Trail" 7. "Unfamiliar" 8. "Leave Them All Behind" 9. "Twisterella" 10. "OX4" 11. "Birdman" 12. "From Time To Time" 13. "How Does It Feel To Feel?" 14. "I Don't Know Where It Comes From" 15. "Black Nite Crash" Ride Tour Dates April 10 Indio, CA Coachella (Main Stage) 13 San Francisco, CA The Warfield 14 Pomona, CA Fox Theater 17 Indio, CA Coachella (Main Stage) May 22 Glasgow, Scotland Barrowland Ballroom 23 Manchester, England Albert Hall 24 London, England Roundhouse 26 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso 27 Paris, France Olympia 29 Barcelona, Spain Primavera Sound Festival June 2 Toronto, Ontario DanForth Music Hall 4 New York, NY Terminal 5 6 Porto, Portugal Primavera Sound Festival 7 London, England Field Day Festival Some background: Mark Gardener and Andy Bell (guitar/vocals), along with Laurence "Loz" Colbert (drums) and Steve Queralt (bass) formed the band in 1988. After signing with the legendary British label Creation Records in 1990, and later with Sire outside of the UK, the group recorded four EPs: Ride, Play and Fall (1990) and Today Forever (1991), plus four studio albums: Nowhere (1990), Going Blank Again (1992), Carnival of Light (1994) and Tarantula (1996). Ride "Vapour Trail"

More Hilarious Video from What We Do in the Shadows Kicktarter for U.S. Release

From the Creators of Flight of the Conchords & “Boy” - Help Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi bring their vampire comedy to the USA! Help if you can, because, well hilarity, plus the rewards are pretty awesome!

Alex Pop Project Featuring Bay City Rollers Singer Les McKeown

" Wanna Be Your Man " - ALEX POP PROJECT Feat Les McKeown ( The Bay City Rollers ) Kind of catchy but not enough here to keep me interested. Admittedly it is overly repetitive, but that never bothered me with songs from German band Trio. I'm not sure what it's missing. It seems like it will appeal to a lot of people. I love the guitar sound, but I'm not crazy about the sampling in the background. McKeown sounds good. I do find it funny that he decided he had to smoke a cigarette in the video. What's up with that? Call me crazy (you won't be the first or last), but I prefer this: "I Only Wanna Be With You" by Bay City Rollers