Friday, August 31, 2007

End o' week musings























It's finally here- the last long weekend of summer.... and I have a full schedule- woo hoo! But I digress, I should start with a look at this past week.


When we parted ways I was heading out to the Bleeding Through, Slayer and Marilyn Manson concert in Irvine. Bleeding Through was decent. I appreciate this band's musicianship even though I am not that into their music. The crowd was small during their set, but gave them a nice round of applause.


Slayer was awesome. They put on a powerful and emotional show that left fans wanting more. Manson left many of his larger stage antics behind for a simple set and an ongoing series of costume changes-- also simple, such as a coat or hat, which he would toss off after a verse or so.


The crowd was actually the most interesting part of the entire concert. There were Slayer fans in black t-shirts and jeans, many with long, wild hair and then there were Manson fans in total goth gear, including makeup (which was surprising considering the heat). I like both artists, so I dressed in a plain tank top and jeans, as to not take sides. The Slayer fans headbanged and hollared, while the Manson fans moved slightly and clapped politely. It was almost surreal and most definitely funny when you saw the two groups together. I really wonder what the booking agent was thinking here...


On Sunday I headed out to the Screaming Chicken in San Bernardino to see the Joe Walla Band. I drove up to the bar and, noticing the lot overflowing with motorcycles, parked across the street. As I walked toward the door, I saw that most of the people milling around were wearing vests and t-shirts emblazoned with the Vagos colors. The gentleman at the door assured me I was at the right place and directed me to the back of the venue. Back was right, the stage was in the Chicken's backyard, but it was actually pretty nice with a raised platform and scaffolding to hang lights and banners.

It was warm outside, but overcast with a slight breeze, which eased the heat a bit. I found a seat and the band began offering up a set of tunes that moved, as well as a few of their humor-edged songs such as "Ghost Town." Frontman Joe Walla kept the friendly banter going between numbers, joking with the crowd, commenting on the soaring temperatures and dedicating tunes to the bikers, the ladies, etc. All of the group's original songs were well-received and Walla even played a great - and unexpected - cover of "Voodoo Child."

There was a raffle after the set, which fizzled out after going on for quite a while-- people were beginning to leave the venue to go home and rest in their air conditioning. But undeterred, Joe Walla Band hit the stage again for a few more songs and, after the crowd yelled for an encore, they ended with "She Showed Up." The woman in charge of the raffle began distributing what was left on the prize table to the various Vagos members milling around and then, surprise!, gave me a motorcycle gas tank. I took it home with a smile. It would fit on my Triumph (that my brother and I are restoring), but I might just hang it on my wall for a good memory. I will say, as I often have, that if you're nice and respectful of others, you will be treated in kind. It was true on Sunday, as the bikers were friendly and I had a great time. It's a pity that they get a bad rap so easily....

The rest of my week has been a rush of interviews, writing, dancing and trying to keep cool. Tonight I'm going to the Pasadena Playhouse to see "Matter of Honor," tomorrow it's Route 66 in Duarte for rockers Bluebeard, Sunday "Family Values Tour" in Irvine and Monday my pre-birthday lunch and pizookie at BJs with my friend Vernor. (Vernor also writes movie reviews for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group and DaBelly.com, so I just may get to tag along with him for a show.) On Tuesday I will be at the hospital having my six-month screenings after my cancer bout- I should be fine, as my bloodwork went well. That evening I'm off to Leo Carillo State Park and Beach with my dog, Atticus, for camping (he's the Jack Russell you see here) and Wednesday -my birthday- will be spent on the beach, swimming and boogie boarding (yes, Atti loves to boogie board) and maybe taking a hike. Then back to normal life...

Lastly, watch my blog because soon it will be featuring a weekly comic strip!

In rotation this week: Real Be Easys, Infidel, Van Helsings Curse, Joe Walla Band, 69 Eyes, Into Eternity, The Exies, Tiger Army, Cipes and the People, Racoon and a collection of oldies CDs that were a gift from Art Laboe (luv ya, Art!)

This week I'm reflecting again on my life and deciding what I need to change and how I intend to do it. I am looking over my personal goals for the future too. I want to become a happier, stronger person and find the path that I should be taking in my life. I might not be able to change the world, but I want to do the right things that make a difference.

Keep on rockin'
Mickie

"American Idol's" loss is chidlren's gain

Armed with talent, determination and a desire to help a worthy cause, a group of songwriters took action when their songs failed to make the finals in "American Idol's" recent songwriting competition. They each felt confident they had written the type of emotion-filled hit the TV show was looking for and wanted to find a way for their compositions to make an impact and be heard. Impressed by the writers' passion, music producers LuanneHunt, Sean Gasaway and John Bass set the wheels in motion in a Nashville recording studio to put together a compilation CD of the rejected tunes. The project, which will benefit the Oakland School for the Arts in Oakland, CA, was announced on various Internet Web sites and garnered dozens of submissions.
Ten of those entries were ultimately chosen for the newly released CD "Hits They Missed! - Songs Not Fit For An Idol (Or So They Say)." The disc features the work of 13 songwriters from across the United States: Sean Gasaway, Brad Bertram, Luanne Hunt, Steve Hunt, Patrick Hurd, David Kraut, Dana Lamb, Jamie Southworth, Iggy Taylor, Heidi Thompson, Geoff Thurman, Nancy Vogl and Leslie Bowe. The tunes' genres cover everything from pop and country to folk, R&B and adult contemporary.
"People are always talking to me about the lack of really great songs out there in all genres," said Hunt, the CD's executive producer. "But I think this CD is proof there are amazingly gifted songwriters who would do very well in the marketplace if only they were given the chance. Hopefully, 'Hits They Missed' will be the opportunity that leads them to big-time success."
Hunt intends for that success to spill over to The Oakland School for the Arts, which will receive a portion of the proceeds from the CD's sales. The institution, which was co-founded by former California Gov. Jerry Brown, aims to create a learning environment that fosters excellence in the arts and education. The school, which is tuition-free, received its 501(c)(3) status in 2001 and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The CD can bepurchased for $12 plus $2 shipping at
http://www.melodiesthatmatter.com

Mayday Parade perparing to tour

Mayday Parade is setting out on tour with Alesana and As Cities Burn this September in support of their new album, A Lesson in Romantics.
Mayday Parade will stop in Anaheim, CA on September 18th at Chain Reaction. It would be awesome if you could run a preview of the show in your publication.
A Lesson in Romantics was released July 10th on Fearless Records. The new album began to take shape early in 2007 with the help of producers Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount (Cartel, All Time Low, Collective Soul) in Atlanta, GA.
"We were all really nervous going into the studio with big time producers but it was an awesome experience, we created a record everyone loved and we all became great friends," says Alex Garcia.
Their debut full length album showcases the bands maturity and growth. The songs are much deeper and more powerful than those on the bands EP Tales Told By Dead Friends which Fearless re-released earlier this year after the band sold 20,000 copies of the EP on their own. While the band's sound grows between the EP and full length, Mayday Parade retain that irresistible catchiness that made thousands of people fall in love with the band to begin with. Once the honesty of their lyrics and the power of their music enters your head, not only will it be stuck there for days, but you will find yourself making strides to keep it there intentionally.

www.myspace.com/maydayparade

Bon Jovi and others option Jessica Blank's "Almost Home"

Jon Bon Jovi, along with Vector principals Jack Rovner and Ken Levitan, have optioned Jessica Blank’s fiction debut, ALMOST HOME. The announcement comes two months before Almost Home’s print release, which is planned for October 23, 2007. Ms. Blank, an actor and writer, along with husband Erik Jensen, previously teamed on their acclaimed play The Exonerated, and have already begun work on the Almost Home screenplay, which Bon Jovi, Rovner, and Levitan will produce. The Gersh Agency handled the deal for JBJ and Vector Management, as well as author and screenwriters Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen. The writer’s deal was made on behalf of the writers’ rep Joe Veltre at Artists Literary Group.

Almost Home introduces a group of homeless teens whose lives intersect on the streets of Los Angeles. The book paints an explicit, gut-wrenching picture of a Hollywood inhabited by kids struggling to find themselves in a world that wants to tear them apart. The ensemble of unique characters, bound together by an outlaw code, includes Eeyore, a privileged pre-teen who flees the seeming tranquility of a Hollywood Hills home; Squid, an anti-hero determined to create his own “sidewalk family” after surviving too many foster homes to count; Scabius, a street punk hardened by an abusive dad; Critter, a heroin dealer with movie-star looks and vulnerable heart; and Tracy, the charismatic, damaged girl who changes each of them irrevocably.

“Jessica has written an extraordinary story whose characters remind us that, regardless of their tough exterior, these kids are just kids,” stated Rovner. “In the tradition of stories like The Outsiders, Almost Home is shocking, vivid, and so compelling that by the end, you’ll find yourself wanting to help keep these kids from creating their own doom.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jessica Blank is an actor and writer. In 2002, Jessica (with husband Erik Jensen) wrote The Exonerated, a play based on interviews they conducted with over 40 exonerated death row inmates. Listed as one of 2002’s best by Time Magazine and the New York Times, The Exonerated was made into a movie, directed by Bob Balaban and starring Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Delroy Lindo, Aidan Quinn, and Susan Sarandon. Jessica Blank appeared on Rescue Me, The Bronx is Burning, and Law and Order: CI, among others. Erik Jensen is an actor and writer who most recently starred as Thurman Munson in ESPN's The Bronx is Burning. Blank’s first novel, Almost Home, debuts this October 23, 2007 from Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

Are you violating copyright laws?

If you have a Contaminated P2P Network Program on your computer you have Violated US Copyright laws - Landmark Case in Arizona
***
"This landmark case means that anyone who has contaminated P2P network programs on his computer is committing copyright infringement, since the only reason to have them installed is to make copyrighted files available to all other P2P users," said Pasquale Giordano, President/COO, SafeMedia CorporationBoca Raton, Fla. & Hollywood, Calif.

"This precedent setting ruling by Judge Neil V. Wake will provide the legal foundation for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to more aggressively stop individuals from distributing unauthorized copyrighted music over Peer-to-Peer networks," said CEO & Chairman Safwat Fahmy SafeMedia Corp., Boca Raton, Fl.

"This landmark case means that anyone who has P2P programs on their computer, which connect to a contaminated P2P network (even without downloading files) is committing copyright infringement since the only reason to have the programs is to make copyrighted files available to all other users," said Pasquale Giordano, president & COO, SafeMedia Corp.

SafeMedia is the leading provider of P2P Disaggregator (P2PD) technology. P2PD is the only technology that completely isolates and stops contaminated P2P networks even if they use encrypted transmissions. The latest court victory involves the case Atlantic v. Howell, where Judge Wake, in a summary judgment, shot down the Howell's arguments and handed the RIAA $40,500 in statutory damages, $350 in court costs, and a permanent injunction against future copyright infringement by the Howells.

"Several cases suggest that users commit direct copyright infringement by employing Kazaa ( a contaminated P2P program) to make their collections of copyrighted sound recordings available to all other users," Judge Wake wrote, naming three other cases as well as Howell's deposition in which he admitted ownership of the software in question.

Recent studies and Congressional hearings have shown that contaminated P2P network users often do not realize they are involuntarily sharing their files with the world. A March 2007 United States Patent & Trademark Office report, which analyzed Kazaa, LimeWire, BearShare, eDonkey, and Morpheus discovered that all five "repeatedly tricked users into uploading infringing files inadvertently."
For the full story visit: http://www.mayocommunications.com/2007NewsReleases/NR-90-2007-RIAAJudgesRuling8-29-07final.htm

See Cipes and the People

My new friend Neil sent me a CD by Cipes and the People and I'm hooked! There's reggae grooves and just all around feel-good sounds that make you want to move to the beat. They're not in my part of town for a while, but perhaps you can catch 'em live and drop me a line about the show. ~M

Cipes and the People tour:
Sep 6 Portland, OR Dante's
Sep 8 Seattle WA Nectar Lounge
Sep 9 Spokane WA The Zombie Room
Sep 10 Missoula MT The Other Side
Sep 11 Bozeman MT Zebra Cocktail Lounge
Sep 14 Chicago IL The Abbey
Sep 15 Madison WI The Annex
Sep 21 Cleveland OH Beechland Ballroom Tavern
Sep 25 Boston MA Paradise Lounge
Sep 27 New York NY Canal Room
Oct 10 Knoxville TN Blue Cats
Oct 11 Atlanta GA Smith's Olde Bar
Oct 12 Chattanooga TN Rhythm & Brews
Oct 20 Miami FL Studio A
Oct 21 Tampa FL Skipper's Smokehouse
Oct 22 Tallahassee FL The Beta Bar
Oct 24 New Orleans LA Tipitina's Uptown

Support local music

Mr T's Bowl
5621 1/2 N. Figueroa St at Ave 57
in Highland Park

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thur Sept 6th
9:00 - Talons of Spring
9:45 - The Councilmen (Bakersfield)
10:30 - The Kris Special
11:15 - Walk
12:00 - The Jinx (San Antonio, TX)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fri Sept 7th
9:30pm: Red Giants
10:15pm: Bloody Robots
11pm: The Front
11:45pm: Summer Darling
12:30am: The Monolators
No cover....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sat Sept 8th
Josh Haden's Dead Sea Scrolls
Unpopableand others
$5.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun Sept 9th
Santanic Hispanic Nite with
Holocaust
Decayed Forest
Manik Thorns
Vassago
Maculxochitl
$3.00 cover
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mon Sept 10th
Seasons's monday residency with
without work
ghost machinists
Seasons
No cover
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tue Sept 11th
Open Micsign up at 8:30pm
3 song sets
starts at 9:00pm
No cover
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wed Sept 12th
Nightcat!
The Nimoys
Spinal Frog
Laura Steenberge
Free Radical
No cover....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thur Sept 13th
dons-nite with
Short Hand for Epic (SEATTLE, Washington)
http://www.myspace.com/shorthandforepic
Second Movement (Groove-driven jazz-funk from NYC)
http://www.myspace.com/secondmovementmusic
and others...DJs...

Bands all over

Anaheim
September 7
MACHINE HEAD
co/headlining @ House of Blues (Black Tyranny Tour w/Arch Enemy, Throwdown andmore) www.myspace.com/machinehead

October 4
NORMA JEAN
@ The Grove of Anaheim . 2200 E. Katella Ave /714.712.2700 / Doors: 6:30pm / Tickets: $17/$19
http://www.myspace.com/normajean
ALONG WITH SAOSIN , ALEXISONFIRE

September 13
THE RED CHORD
@ House of Blues / 1530 S. Disneyland Dr /714.520.2371 / Doors : 6:00pm / tickets :$24.50/$27
www.myspace.com/theredchord
w/ Cannibal Corpse and more

Bakersfield
October 6
Every Time I Die
@ THE DOME - 2201 V STREET - 661-321-9700 - 6PM-$18ADV/$20 DOS
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie
ALONG WITH Poison the Well, Maylene& the Sons of Disaster, Underoath

Concord
September 28
ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY
@ Bourbon Street
www.myspace.com/atpvaw/
Obituary, Full Blown Chaos and more

Corona
September 26
ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY
@ Showcase Theatre
www.myspace.com/atpvaw/
Obituary, Full Blown Chaos and more

Fresno
October 1
NORMA JEAN
@ Rainbow Ballroom 1725 Broadway / 559.264.6404 /Doors: 6:00pm / Tickets: $15.50 / 17.50
http://www.myspace.com/normajean
ALONG WITH SAOSIN , ALEXIS ONFIRE

Irvine
Sept 2
DROID
@ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre / FAMILY VALUES Tour
www.myspace.com/droid...dirty

Sept 19
Bako's ADEMA
@ Crash Mansion
http://www.myspace.com/adema

October 2
NORMA JEAN
@ the Avalon 1735 N. Vine / 323.467.4571 / Doors:6:00pm / Tickets: $17
http://www.myspace.com/normajean
ALONG WITH SAOSIN, ALEXIS ON FIRE

October 5
Every Time I Die
@ WILTERN THEATRE - 3790 WILSHIRE BLVD -213-388-1400 - 6:30PM - $19.50
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie
ALONG WITH Poison the Well, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, Underoath

West Hollywood
September 14
THE RED CHORD
@ House of Blues / 8430 Sunset Blvd /323.848.5197 / Doors : 6:30pm / tickets :$24.50/$27
www.myspace.com/theredchord
w/ Cannibal Corpse and more

September 30
ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY
@ The Knitting Factory
www.myspace.com/atpva
w/Obituary, Full Blown Chaos and more

29 Palms
Sept 22
Bako's ADEMA
@ 29 Palms Military Base
http://www.myspace.com/adema

Sacramento
August 31
DROID
@ Sleep Train Amphitheatre / FAMILY VALUES Tour
www.myspace.com/droid

San Diego
September 9
MACHINE HEAD
co/headlining @ Soma (Black Tyranny Tour w/ArchEnemy, Throwdown and more)
www.myspace.com/machinehead

September 15
THE RED CHORD
@ House of Blues / 1055 5th Ave / 619.525.1925/Doors : 6:00pm / tickets : $24.50/$27
www.myspace.com/theredchord
w/Cannibal Corpse and more

October 3
Every Time I Die
@ SOMA / 3350 SPORTS ARENABOULEVARD - 619-226-7662 - 7PM - $18 ADV/$22DOS
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie
ALONG WITH Poison the Well, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, Underoath

October 5
NORMA JEAN
@ Soma / 3350 Sports Arena Blvd / 619.226.7662 / Doors:6:30pm / Tickets: $15/$17
http://www.myspace.com/normajean
ALONG WITH SAOSIN , ALEXIS ON FIRE

San Francisco
Sept 1
DROID
@ Shoreline Amphitheatre / FAMILY VALUES Tour
www.myspace.com/droid

September 16 & 17
THE RED CHORD
@ Slim's / 333 Eleventh St / 415.255.0333 /Doors : 7:00pm / tickets : $24
www.myspace.com/theredchord
w/ CannibalCorpse and more

September 30
NORMA JEAN
@ Slim's / 333 Eleventh St. / 415.255.033 / Doors:6:00pm / Tickets: $17
http://www.myspace.com/normajean
ALONG WITH SAOSIN , ALEXIS ON FIRE

October 7
Every Time I Die
@ THE WARFIELD - 982 MARKET ST - 415-567-2060 -6PM - $25
http://www.myspace.com/normajean
ALONG WITH Poison the Well, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster

San Jose
Sept 21
Bako's ADEMA
@ Nova Hall
http://www.myspace.com/adema

San Marcos
September 29
ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY
@ The Jumping Turtle
www.myspace.com/atprva
w/Obituary, Full Blown Chaos and more

Singer/songwriter soiree

REVISED!! L. A. WOMEN IN MUSIC PRESENTS - SEPTEMBER SOIREESINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE & NETWORKING EVENT
Wednesday, September 12, 2007. 7:30 - 10:00 pm
(SECOND Wednesday of every month! Doors open at 6:30, Show from 8-10)
NEW VENUE! NEW PROGRAM!
The lovely MBAR in the heart of Hollywood!
1253 N. Vine Street, in the Fountain & Vine Plaza, South of Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90038
FREE PARKING in the lot adjacent or on the street
Delicious BUFFET DINNER INCLUDED. Full Bar - drinks available for purchase.
Admission: donation ONLY $10 members, $20 general public -
More Info: info@lawim.com - Reservations Recommended. Call 323/856-0036.

"An invigorating evening that proves there is art in Los Angeles after all." - Tom Kidd, Music Connection

Soiree performers will be automatically entered in our search for the next COMET Award winner. The BEST OF Soirees will have professional judges and the now MONTHLY Soirees lead up to a final BEST OF THE BEST, from which the Comet Award Winner will be chosen. Presentation of this award will be made at our next (2008) LAWIM Honors Banquet. We will continue to feature talented newcomers alongside veteran songwriters & performers in a venue where the L.A. community of artists may perform and network.
Once again, our host will be platinum songwriter and recording artist (#1 song: "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady"), HARRIET SCHOCK, VP of LAWIM (www.harrietschock.com ). September's talented performers will be:Aaron Black, Karen Hart, Kelly's Lot, Julie Manasian, Tracy Newman, Dolores Petersen, Evonne Rivera, Andrea Ross-Greene, Michelle Stevens, Sean Stewart
Be sure to sign in when you arrive and you'll be eligible to win either a free one-year membership to L.A. WoMen in Music, a one-year premium membership to the Film Music Network, provided by founder of FMN, LAWIM board member Mark Northam or One-Year Subscription to MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE.

Soiree Performing Requirements:
To perform, you must:
1) Attend one soiree
2) Send a tape/CD to: LAWIM Soiree, 11664 National Blvd., Ste #280, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (attn: Harriet Schock Committee)
3) Be able to perform your preferably original pieces of music live with keyboard and/or guitar and 1-2 vocalists.
FEATURED PERFORMER ONLY ADMITTED FREE.
All others please pay admission.

Thanks to our sponsor Music Connection Magazine.
Questions/more info: Judy Lamppu, Secretary jlamppu@socal.rr.com, 818/831-3905info@lawim.com, www.lawim.com a 501(c)311664 National Blvd., Ste #280, Los Angeles, CA 90064, 213 243-6440 - Fax: 213 244-1260

Party at Club Tubthump's anniversary

Club Tubthump, LA 's only '90s night celebrates its 1 Year Anniversary Sat. Sept 15th with a LIVE '90s COVER BAND, '90s DJ and appearances by Surprise Celebrity '90s Guests!

WHAT: Club TUBTHUMP - Pissin' the night away to all your favorite '90s hits.

Club Tubthump is celebrating 1 Year Anniversary of paying tribute to the '90s every month. The anniversary bash on Sat. Sept. 15, will include the debut of the Tubthump House Band, Jim Garrison & Friends. These guys are the best cover band in town and can also be heard at Ponchos in Manhattan Beach every weekend. To top it off, Tubthump will have special SURPRISE GUESTS from the '90s on stage to JAM with the BAND throughout the night. The new Santa Monica Bar & Grille has a a great stage and sound system, a huge bar, plush VIP booths, HD-plasma screens, an outdoor patio lounge, delicious food and GREAT DRINK PRICES! This is a party you won't want to miss!
In between hair bands and boy bands was a beautiful mess of pop and rock music; TUBTHUMP is a tribute to that era. Whether you were an "MMM-Bopper'" or "Hotsteppa'," getting down like the "No Rain" butterfly or the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" teenagers, or rocking EMF or the KLF, there was something spinning in your Disc Man that is getting a second chance.
TUBTHUMP features an assortment of '90s favorites from classic bands to one-hit-wonders, ranging from hip-hop (Tupac, Snow), to grunge (Nirvana, Sponge), pop (En Vogue, P.M. Dawn) to rock (Hootie, Spin Doctors).

WHEN: Sat. Sept. 15 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. (Come early, full dinner menu available!)
WHERE: Santa Monica Bar & Grille 3321 Pico Blvd (Just west of the 405 at Centinela) Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 453-5001
www.smbgrocks.com
ADMISSION: $8.00 For $3 discount admission go to www.myspace.com/tubthump and print party flyer. Call (310) 559-5000 for Tubthump Table Reservations.
PARKING: SMBG has a free parking lot across the street behind US Bank or there is plenty of parking on Pico.

Realistic to release third effort

Following the aesthetic of Negativland and John Oswald, Realistic borrows material from every possible source: classic rock, disco, self-improvement records, soap operas [and more]. Towning demonstrates a knack for unconventional looping, sonic accumulation, and a good joke.” – All Music Guide

Realistic's third album, Perpetual Memory Loss, features sixteen tracks of intricate sample-based compositions – a beautifully sophisticated celebration of found sound, recorded media, technology, and electronic composition. Slices of field recordings mesh with surreal electronic melodies, which creates enjoyably odd multi-layered musical fun. Realistic is the guise of sound collage artist James Towning, by day a Brooklyn-based motion-graphics designer.

With this release, the Illegal Art label continues to challenge the restrictions of copyright as perceived by the larger music industry. The uniqueness of Realistic in comparison to other artists on the label (Girl Talk, Oh Astro, Steinski) further illustrates that sample-based music is strikingly some of the most original, innovative, and exciting music being made in the 21st century. Illegal Art claims Fair Use for all of its releases and has professional legal counsel nearby if needed.

Towning has been a fan of electronic music since his college days, mostly the UK scene. Artists like Human League, Soft Cell, Cabaret Voltaire, Wire, Art of Noise, and Meat Beat Manifesto were early influences, while Mu-ziq and Kid Koala can be counted as contemporary ones. In a recent interview Towning says, “I also go off on binges of Queen, ELO, XTC, The Beatles, and Bowie.”

A recurring source in Towning's compositions is the nostalgic sounds of 70's and 80's techno-pop and rock artists that were personally influential over the years. As well as using computer-based waveform editing and sampling, Towning carries a portable digital recorder to capture various audio environments on a daily basis. Whether the source samples are found around the house, on TV, on a busy Chinatown street, or a crackly sound effects record, Realistic's juxtaposition of head-spaces always creates something surreal and altogether new.

“There's such a rich texture of sound and visuals in New York. I'm constantly entertained with the sounds that I record,” said Towning in a recent interview. An ever-increasing collection of thrift-store records and cassettes is another likely source of audio inspiration. “I love composing little sound pieces using whatever source material I choose. It's a cathartic, fun, and essential part of my life.”

With Perpetual Memory Loss, the Realistic sound has evolved into a tighter and more structured mesh of musical patterns and mangled beats. Tiny rhythmic patterns and subtle textural layers are revealed upon repeated listening. Sampled dialogue is used more sparingly than in previous Realistic releases allowing the musical voices to be heard more clearly. Each complex track is its own self-contained little world, with disjointed characters, funky grooves, and odd but familiar musical samples. Throughout the 45-minute album, expressionistic patterns of sound twist and fold into one another as the tracks evolve. At times the entire audio spectrum degrades and distorts in groovy syncopation. The tracks on Perpetual Memory Loss are more complex and refined, but what remains is the underlying sense of humor, rich production, and an offbeat composition style that is distinctively Realistic.

Regarding the album’s unique artwork, Towning explains, “The CD art was designed by me. It consists of many thumbnails of snapshots I've taken over the past three years or so. That timeframe coincides with the production of the audio tracks, too. The snapshots represent memories in a very literal way. They vary in subject matter from pictures of my cats, still-lifes, industrial landscapes, detailed textures, and random found art. The inside artwork reveals more snapshot thumbnails in varying degrees of clarity.”

Towning further elaborates, “Beneath the CD, a collage of found images and photographs explodes and bleeds over into the snapshots. The technique of collaging with found and personal imagery reflects the style of the audio tracks too. The primary colors of red and green that I chose were inspired by and derived from a vintage Christmas card I received from a friend a few years ago. Again, a nostalgic reference.”

As for the title Perpetual Memory Loss, Towning says it “speaks to the process of growing older and the mind's ability to store, lose, and constantly distort memories. And how sometimes those memories are recalled in a random and overlapping order. As we get older, more and more memories are stored while others are buried deep or lost. The title also references the similarities between the ever expanding human mind and a computer's finite hard drive and its ability to retrieve random and corrupt data.”

Videos From Previous Realistic Releases:
“Private Moments”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJAaDZZawLo
“Music for Voyeurs”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzIUnevtrFc
“Angel 2001”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ0eKMJKnm0
“Spectacle of Slop”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bTYS2HQqqI

Perpetual Memory Loss Tracklisting:
Release Date: October 23, 2007


01. The Camera Track (MP3)
02. Music in the Round
03. Conversation Hearts
04. Post-Corporate Fantasy
05. Amazing Fall
06. Welcome to Heaven
07. Brand Name Sunday
08. Library Music
09. Wandering Aimlessly
10. Have a Nice Trip
11. April and August Sixth
12. There is Always More
13. In Loving Memory
14. Snowday Plaything (MP3)
15. The Numbers Test
16. Uneventful Fall

On The Web:
www.blackmail.com/realistic
www.myspace.com/realistic
www.illegalart.net
www.myspace.com/illegalart
www.fanaticpromotion.com/current/realistic_perpetual.html

Prepare for the Unholy Alliance Tour DVD

Hailed as "the heaviest, darkest metal tour of the summer, if not the year," the Unholy Alliance Tour: Preaching to the Perverted, stomped and screamed around the globe last year. On October 30, just in time for Halloween, the Unholy Alliance Tour DVD package will be released (American Recordings) and will feature the tour's line-up - headliner Slayer, the undisputed kings of speed metal/thrash, and the "future of heavy metal contenders" - Lamb of God, Mastodon, Children of Bodom and Thine Eyes Bleed. The DVD will have an approximate running time of 90-minutes.
The Unholy Alliance Tour DVD/CD was shot at Vancouver's General Motors Place on July 13, 2006, was directed by Adam Rothlein (Speedway Films), and boasts performance footage plus bonus material to include backstage, behind-the-scenes and one-on-one interviews, many of which were conducted by the Unholy Alliance artists themselves.
Slayer's "Eyes of the Insane," which took home a Grammy Award this year, is included on the DVD. Other selections on the DVD include Lamb of God's "Vigil," Mastodon's "Blood & Thunder," "Capillarian Crest," and "Crystal Skull," Children of Bodom's "Angels Don't Kill" and "In Your Face," and Slayer's "Angel of Death," "Dead Skin Mask," "South of Heaven," and "Antichrist," among many others.

The Unholy Alliance Tour: Preaching to the Perverted garnered terrific press last summer - "It's so metal, it HURTS - KKKKK (Kerrang!),
"Effin' brutal!" (OC Weekly),
"...stomps, rages and screams..." (Los Angeles Times),
"...a show no metalhead should miss..." (Harder Beat),
and "...the alliance itself proved mighty" (Worcester Telegram & Gazette).

Currently, Slayer is just wrapping up a North American co-headline concert tour with Marilyn Manson. The dates are in support of the band's new release, a special limited edition of "Christ Illusion," which hit stores July 24. The next edition of the worldwide Unholy Alliance Tour will kick off late 2008.

Marco Mahler's work getting accolaides

As the landscape of music is carved throughout time, the work born solely to contribute to that progression is something to be appreciated. With lyrical aspirations of Bob Dylan and a healthy admiration for the innovative guitar work of Bert Jansch, the contribution from acoustic singer/songwriter Marco Mahler is immense.
Born of Swiss heritage and living as a dual citizen in the United States and Switzerland, his international travels have given him a wide appreciation for music, ranging from traditional Irish folk to mainstream Hip Hop. This range shows through in the debut album, Design in Quick Rotation, which has been described as "music that captures the dawn of Sunday morning and embodies it through verse and song." Under each gentle melody, Mahler's whispery vocals seem to be offering access to a profound secret, creating a rare intimacy between artist and listener.
Design in Quick Rotation breathes perspective, as Mahler crafted much of the album while working to revitalize a log cabin nestled in the Appalachian foothills. During this period in the scenic mountains, Mahler, for the first time, took on the roles of father and husband, and the album is charmed with that same sense of newness. The final inspiration for the record's completion, however, came when Mahler parted with the mountains of Virginia for the livelier pastures of Brooklyn. This contrast in location can be felt as a subtle undertone throughout the album. His creative release was fueled by nature, but the time in New York, a microcosm of art and culture, gave Mahler a strong desire to see his passion for music come to fruition.
The move north was more a coming home for Mahler, as several years of his past were spent submerged in the artistic atmosphere of a pre-gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. This period proved to be crucial in the development of his sound. His tendency of being an intense listener allowed him to fully absorb the music swirling around the area.
Playing the New York City subways – mainly for the challenge of committing an indifferent crowd of commuters – gave Mahler confidence in his original material and enhanced his improvisational skills as a guitarist. It wasn't just music, however, that was influential in his development; reading the work of his wife, an accomplished poet, further broadened his horizons through her unique approach to written word. In the end, the music has the feel of a dreamy lullaby. Yet, there was no carelessness in its creation, with every word holding strong value to each refined lyrical verse. There is an indefinable quality to it, landing somewhere in the realm of Sufjan Stevens, Belle and Sebastian, or Nick Drake, yet shying from the melancholic for a more upbeat rhythmic vibe.
Design in Quick Rotation, the debut album from Marco Mahler, takes the singer/songwriter genre to a new place; an organically grown record that serves as the introduction to a brilliant musician. Mahler's work has gotten airplay on The New York Times' radio station, WQXR, and earned praise from members of Pavement and The Silver Jews, as well as from Allen Ginsberg. Now that it's available to everyone via his site (as well as iTunes and many other online music source) more acclaim is sure to follow.

Design In Quick Rotation track list:
1. Design In Quick Rotation 3:44
2. Hike The Lake 3:54
3. Orange Chinese Car 3:50
4. 1's and O's 4:00
5. Think Tank 3:22
6. Study Airports 4:34
7. Otmar Elmer 2:36
8. Lawnmowing Daydreams 4:54
9. Standing Still Faster 2:54
10. Fields 4:00
11. Go Crocodile 3:24

"I just want to let you know that I've enjoyed listening to your album more than most of the things I end up reviewing or writing about over the course of a given year." - Patrick James (freelance writer for Filter Magazine)

"Wow, I just couldn't stop listening to this great music. Excellent vibrant songs, with calming voice" - Hastik Blog

"A majestic disc of desolate instrumentals and personal folk songs with crisp instrumentation overlaying sparse melodic backdrops" - jefito blog

"... he writes and plays very lovely lullabye-esque songs which at times flirt with the best aspects of indie pop. And don't miss the lyrics, they don't jump out as they are sung in his quiet sleepy-edged voice" - Alan Williamson - SIXEYES Blog

"Indeed, the stark nature of this recording is its most arresting feature ... Mahler's approach doesn't waver from the first note to the last. He travels through his songs, using each to change course ever so subtly. Not nearly so idiosyncratic as a Simon Joyner or Songs: Ohia or Will Oldham or whatnot, Mahler has nonetheless managed to notch his own first-rate entry into the minimalist singer-songwriter ledger. Fine work." - Jon Worley - Aiding & Abetting

Public Radio record release party set

Bay Area based label, BROWNTOWN WRECKORDS, is proud to announce its latest release, a collaborative project between PAULIE RHYME (of live hip hop band FINLESS BROWN) and San Francisco producer, DEEDOT. The project, entitled Public Radio, will be release on October 9th, 2007 and distributed by Portland based Burnside Distribution. This will be Browntown Wreckords first release distributed with Burnside.
Bay Area transplant PAULIE RHYME (of live hip hop band FINLES BROWN) and San Francisco producer on the rise DEEDOT (MELINA JONES // NATE KROOKS) have joined forces to bring you PUBLIC RADIO. The two first met at a local hip hop show where both performed in 2004. From that point, PAULIE RHYME and DEEDOT continued to build their names with their respective crews in the ever-growing Bay Area Hip-Hop scene. They kept in touch and politicked about the possibility of collaborating on a track or two. Finally making it a reality in 2006, the chemistry and sound of the first session would evolve into a whole album - with DEEDOT manning the boards and production and PAULIE RHYME on the lyrics.
PUBLIC RADIO is a tribute to the things we all love about Hip-Hop as our culture. Cleveland bred PAULIE RHYME has been releasing independent records since the mid 90s and has worked with the likes of HEIRUSPECS, TUT, DJ LORD JAZZ, ODDJOBS, & 4TH DISCIPLE. DEEDOT has worked with many artists,such as ROCK (BOOT CAMP/HELTAH SKELTAH), MIND COMPLEX, & MELINA JONES' (FEMALE FUN MUSIC). PAULIE RHYME & DEEDOT present PUBLIC RADIO features guest appearances by RASCO (CALI AGENTS), TABLEEK (MASPYKE), KHAI SHERRIEFF (LUNAR HEIGHTS), MOTO (KEY OF SOUL/FINLESS BROWN), and more.
The release party will take place at Poleng Lounge, 1751 Fulton in San Francisco, CA on September 28th, 2007 at 10pm.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

The Eagles to release first album of new material in more than 28 years


Long Road Out of Eden, the Eagles’ first album of new material in more than 28 years, is scheduled for an October 30th release and will include 20 songs in a specially priced double album of $11.88 for the 2-CD set, or $10.88 if purchased digitally.

Long Road Out of Eden is available now for pre-order, including a free download of the band’s recently released single “How Long,” through Walmart.com, Samclub.com and eaglesband.com. On October 30th the album will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club in the U.S. and Canada, through Walmart.com and Samsclub.com, and via the band’s Web site http://eaglesband.com/.

The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning four #1 U.S. singles and four Grammy Awards. Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is the best-selling album of all time, exceeding sales of 29 million units. The band's Hotel California and Their Greatest Hits Volume 2 have sold more than 16 and 11 million albums respectively. Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Eagles will be performing six nights in October with the Dixie Chicks as a Grand Opening celebration for the new NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.

The full track listing for Long Road Out of Eden is:

DISC ONE

01 No More Walks In The Wood 4:00
02 How Long 3:20
03 Busy Being Fabulous 4:17
04 What Do I Do With My Heart 3:55
05 Guilty Of The Crime 3:44
06 I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore 4:25
07 Waiting In The Weeds 7:10
08 No More Cloudy Days 3:58
09 Fast Company 3:57
10 Do Something 5:06
11 You Are Not Alone 2:30


DISC TWO

12 Long Road Out Of Eden 10:15
13 I Dreamed There Was No War 1:37
14 Somebody 4:12
15 Frail Grasp On The Big Picture 5:10
16 Last Good Time In Town 7:15
17 I Love To Watch A Woman Dance 3:11
18 Business As Usual 5:34
19 Center Of The Universe 3:48
20 It’s Your World Now 4:20

For more information, visit http://www.eaglesband.com/

Kelly Clarkson and Ford launch Warriors in Pink Campaign

Ford ramps up its fight against breast cancer by announcing today a very special addition to its 2007 Warriors in Pink Campaign in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Two-time Grammy-winner and former American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson joins Ford’s fight by appearing in their campaign designed to drive awareness of the Warriors in Pink initiative. Ford has supported Komen for the Cure for 13 years and has dedicated more than $90 million in cash and in-kind donations to save lives and help end breast cancer forever. Last year, the line of apparel generated more than $1.1 million in sales, with all net proceeds going to Komen.

The Grammy winner is joining Ford in the fight against breast cancer for the second year in a row. As a supporter of breast cancer awareness and eradication, this year, Clarkson will be the face of the Warriors in Pink print campaign as well as the PSA on the importance of early detection to be featured on fordcares.com. In addition, Clarkson designed a one-of-a-kind customized Warriors in Pink miniature Mustang that will be auctioned off during the month of October. In 2006, a portion of tickets sold for Clarkson’s Addicted summer concert tour was donated to Komen for the Cure as part of Ford’s Warriors in Pink effort.

Part of a multi-faceted campaign supporting the Komen for the Cure, the print ads featuring Kelly Clarkson will debut on September 4 in a national print campaign running in Conde Nast, Meredith, Rodale, Martha Stewart Omnimedia and Time, Inc. publications this fall including Better Homes and Gardens, Cooking Light, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, In Style, Self, Women’s Health and People.

“It is so important for all women to realize that the earlier breast cancer is detected, the better a woman’s chance to go on to live a full life. I wholeheartedly support breast cancer awareness and the eradication of this deadly disease and am proud to be affiliated with Ford’s Warriors in Pink campaign for a second year in a row,” says Clarkson. “Through my partnership with Ford, I hope to raise awareness and encourage women of all ages to join in the fight.”

Launched in 2006, the Ford Warriors in Pink campaign recognizes the strength and courage it takes to deal with the everyday challenges of fighting breast cancer. The Warriors in Pink collection of apparel for men and women feature important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the commitment to the fight against breast cancer. Three new Warrior symbols debut this year, representing the Warrior spirit in each one of us, from power and courage to strength and compassion. These new symbols will be found on additional apparel items available for men, women and children. All apparel is available on Fordcares.com and 100 percent of net proceeds will be donated to Komen for the Cure.
In another addition to the 2007 campaign, Ford announced earlier this year the new 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package. Produced in a limited edition of 2,500 units, the Mustang with Warriors in Pink package is the first-ever Ford vehicle designed exclusively in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and is currently available for consumers at their local Ford dealer. Sales from the Warriors in Pink package will help raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ford's goal is to donate more than half a million dollars through these sales in addition to other fundraising efforts.
Available on V-6 Premium Array Coupe or Convertible models, the Mustang with Warriors in Pink package includes a pink ribbon and Pony fender badge, pink Mustang rocker tape striping, charcoal leather seats with pink stitching, aluminum-spoke steering wheel with pink stitching and charcoal floormats with pink ribbon and contrast stitching. The Mustang with Warriors in Pink package, which includes the Mustang Pony package, will be available in three colors to please the spirits of all Warriors: black, metallic silver and performance white.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800 I’M AWARE.

Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

Carrie Underwood preparing October release

Two-time GRAMMY winner and reigning CMA and ACM Female Vocalist Carrie Underwood is preparing to release her new 19 Recordings/Arista Records/Arista Nashville album, Carnival Ride, on October 23.

With first single, “So Small,” already a country airplay Top 10 after only four weeks, the Checotah, Oklahoma native who went from college student to American Idol winner to six-million-selling, multi-format superstar in less than three years has clearly been on an adventure ride of her own.

In choosing the album title, Underwood found Carnival Ride (taken from a lyric line in the new disc) to be a great metaphor. She explains, “You step onto this ride called life, and it’s a crazy thing you don’t know anything about, but you get on it anyway. You do what you can to lean different directions to try and get it to go where you want it to go, but you can’t stop it – it just keeps moving. That’s why Carnival Ride works as my album title, because it describes the wonderful craziness that I’ve been through over the past couple years.”

Underwood’s debut disc, Some Hearts, was released on November 15, 2005 and spent a remarkable 27 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, holding that position across multiple weeks in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Currently 6x Platinum, and with SoundScan sales in excess of 1.2 million copies this year alone, Some Hearts remains the best-selling country album of 2007.

New offerings from Jack Clement and Flying Burrito Brothers

SHAKESPEARE WAS A BIG GEORGE JONES FAN: COWBOY JACK CLEMENT’S HOME MOVIES In Stores September 4

Starring… Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Bono, and many more!

“One of the funniest and most touching music films that I've ever seen.”—Elvis Costello

Riding the trail between Monty Python and Blazing Saddles, this off-the-wall feature about Nashville’s legendary Cowboy Jack Clement boasts hilarious home movies and skits made with longtime friends Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Bono and many more. Producer/performer/artist Cowboy Jack has recorded Elvis Presley and U2. He’s been an Arthur Murray dance instructor, a slasher-film producer, best friend to Johnny Cash, Sam Phillips’ right-hand man, a US Marine, and he discovered Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride and Townes Van Zandt. And Cowboy Jack always took home movies.
“Jack would like to make a circus out of life,” says Kris Kristofferson, who appears in the film.
The Grammy-nominated filmmaking team of Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville have done just that with this show. Shakespeare romps through private rehearsals and rowdy sound stages, stands next to John Prine and Waylon Jennings as they create songs, and captures unlikely stars goofing around in unlikely roles.
In his ode to Jack, Johnny Cash hearkens, “Come along and ride this brain.”
Shakespeare Was A Big George Jones Fan will be available on DVD in stores September 4, and will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide beginning July 2007 (check local listings). The film was screened at a select number of film festivals in 2005 such as New York’s Tribeca Film Festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Nashville Film Festival, where it received multiple awards.
Cowboy Jack isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The host of “The Cowboy Jack Clement Show” on Sirius Outlaw Country (Saturdays from 2 pm – 6 pm EST) was a recent artist in residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and he received the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. His home, The Cowboy Arms Hotel And Recording Spa, is always open to his friends, who drop by at all hours. With all his rooms wired for recording and filming, and a swimming pool in the yard, visitors know that the coffee’s always on and a good time is ready to be had.
Extras Feature Commentary with Cowboy Jack Clement & Alamo JonesBonus Interviews and Home Movies: U-Who? Waylon, Jesse & JackWabash Cannonball Jack's Rules. Jack, John Prine & The Air Conditioner Jack, Johnny Cash & Ring of Fire Some Of Jack’s Home Movies I’ve Done Some Silly Things In My Life Goodbye Out There Roberto Bianco, The Romantic Voice Of Our Time

* * * * *
The LONG awaited LIVE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS release is finally HERE!
TWO-CD, HIGH FIDELITY LIVE SET ‘GRAM PARSONS ARCHIVES VOL. 1: THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS “LIVE” AT THE AVALON 1969’ OUT OCTOBER 30th ON AMOEBA RECORDS
MATERIAL FROM 1969 FOUND IN GRATEFUL DEAD VAULTS; FEATURES TEN SONGS NEVER RECORDED BY PARSONS AND NEVER BEFORE AVAILABLE
Amoeba Records will release a major addition to Gram Parsons' discography with ‘Gram Parsons Archives Vol. 1: The Flying Burrito Brothers “Live” at the Avalon 1969’, due October 30th from the newly formed label. The two CD,27-track set includes a number of never-before-heard -- though long rumored-- rarities.
Gram Parsons, leading the Flying Burrito Brothers, opened for the Grateful Dead April 4, 5 and 6, 1969 at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. The April 4th show has never been heard in any form. The bonus disc is the April 6th show. For years these tapes were rumored to exist and were finally unearthed in the Grateful Dead vault. The shows were recorded by the legendary sound engineer Bear (Owsley Stanley), and are the highest quality Gram Parsons live material available.
Rarities on ‘Gram Parsons Archives Vol. 1: The Flying Burrito Brothers“Live” at the Avalon 1969’ include Gram’s unique choice of mainly country standards, which are not on any other official Gram Parsons recording:
Undo The Right/Somebody’s Back In Town
She Once Lived Here
Mental Revenge
We’ve Got To Get Ourselves Together
Lucille
You Win Again
Long Black Limousine
Sweet Dream Baby
When Will I Be Loved

Gram Parsons Archive Volume 1 Track Listing:
Disc 1 – [Live At The Avalon - April 4th 1969 (includes 2 bonus tracks!)]
1. Close Up the Honky Tonks
2. Dark End of the Street
3. Undo The Right/Somebody’s Back In Town
4. She Once Lived Here
5. We've Got to Get Ourselves Together
6. Lucille
7. Hot Burrito #1
8. Hot Burrito #2
9. Long Black Limousine
10. Mental Revenge
11. Sin City
12. Sweet Dream Baby
13. Thousand Dollar Wedding
14. When Will I Be Loved

Bonus Disc: Disc 2 – [Live At The Avalon April 6th, 1969]
1. Undo The Right/Somebody’s Back In Town
2. She Once Lived Here
3. Mental Revenge
4. We've Got to Get Ourselves Together
5. Lucille
6. Sin City
7. You Win Again
8. Hot Burrito #1
9. Hot Burrito #2
10. You're Still On My Mind
11. Train Song
12. Long Black Limousine
13. Sweet Dream Baby
14. Do Right Woman

Vist www.sincitysocialclub.com
www.myspace.com/sincityshilah
www.amoeba.com
www.topangadays.com
www.myspace.com/topangadays
www.jessedayton.com

Concert news

Concert news from Live Nation

On Sale Thursday, August 30th at 10 AM:
JIMMY EAT WORLD
with special guest
October 16th
The Wiltern

On Sale Friday, August 31st at 10 AM:
TIGER ARMY
with special guests
Street Dogs, Imperative Reaction - November 16th
Guana Batz, Said Radio - November 17th
November 16th & 17th
The Wiltern

On Sale Tuesday, August 28th at 10 AM:
PAOLO NUTINI
with special guest
The Wiltern
September 21st

On Sale Friday, August 31st at 10 AM:
CHEVELLE
With: Butterfly Effect – Tyler Read
Plus Special Guest
SOMA
October 24

On Sale Now!
JESCA HOOP
Ivar Theatre
September 19th

CANCELLED SHOWS

The Cure
Cox Arena
Originally Scheduled for:
Saturday, October 13
-- Tour to be rescheduled for Spring 2008
-- Refunds Available at Point-Of-Purchase


AMY WINEHOUSE / PAOLO NUTINI
The Wiltern
Originally Scheduled for:
September 18 & 19
-- Refunds Available at Point-of-Purchase

Support local music

Get out with compliments of Sierra Madre Sue:

THURS. 8/30 - LOS LOBOS @ THE SANTA MONICA PIER'S TWILIGHT DANCE SERIES, 7:30pm. FREE. http://www.twilightdance.org/

8/30 - Every Thursday at the Skyebox in Montrose, Better Than Blue (Danny, Felicia, etc.) continues to host a weekly Jam Night. It runs from 8:30 PM until 12. 3710 N. Verdugo Rd. 818-249-3617. Above the Sun Palace Chinese Restaurant. http://www.betterthanblue.com/openjampage.html

THURS. 8/30 - RICK SHEA AND THE LOSIN' END @ ARCADIA BLUES CLUB, 8-11:30pm, with special guest J.D. CRAWFORD do ing the middle set at 9pm. 16 E. Huntington Dr. 626-447-9349. $5 cover - goes to the guest band. N ightly beer and cocktail specials, free pool & 2 great musical acts with frequent surprise guests - what a bargain! Honky Tonk Blues & Country every Thursday nite!

FRI. 8/31 - "SWING DANCE PARTY" with FLAT TOP TOM @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Call for time: 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. "Pizza, Martinis and dancing the night away to great swing and blues!" www.flattoptom.com

FRI. 8/31 - PRESTON SMITH @ BARRU IN MONTROSE, 9pm - 12ish . 2265 Honolulu Ave. 818-957-8800. Full kitchen & bar - fancy martinis! Jazz duo. http:// prestonsmith.com/

FRI. 8/31 - KINGSIZE MAYBE & KARMA @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9ish. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, lots of free parking in back. Garage/Southern Rock is what KSM's website says. Not sure about Karma.

FRI. 8/31 & SAT. 9/1 - "THE SUBS" (Better Than Blue's acoustic alter ego) @ the DOCKSIDE in WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. 626-915-3474 . Danny Hesse, Joe Velose, Felicia Bright. Acoustic rock, soul & blues. http://www.wearethesubs.com/

SAT. 9/1 - DAVE OSTI @ THE EASTSIDE BOOK CAFE IN BIG BEAR CITY, 7 - 8pm -one set only. Original songs from Dave's 2007 CD "In The West". 409 W. Big Bear Blvd. 909-584-8910. The venue is a very cool used book store with several rooms of books, cozy furniture and a cafe as well. I believe this show will be on an outdoor platform off the back porch.

SAT. 9/1 - Open Mic Night @ the FRETHOUSE in Covina. 309 N. Citrus Ave. (626) 339-7020. Always on the first Saturday of the month, and just one dollar for performers or audience. Sign-up starts at 7:30. If there aren't enough slots for everybody they'll make a list for the next month, and call you. Each act gets two songs or ten minutes, whichever comes first. The show starts at 8:00. They'll have desserts and coffee ready. Bring your friends and family and join the show! www.covina.com/frethouse/

SAT. 9/1 - JEFF STETSON and THE B.O. TRIO PLAY A "MIXED BAG AND SOME BLUES" AT ZEPHYR COFFEE HOUSE IN PASADENA, 8:30 - 10pm. 2419 E. Colorado Blvd., just E. of Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-793-7330. Soups, sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies, etc.

SAT. 9/1 - MURPHY'S FLAW and STEPHANIE BETTMAN & THE BOYS (in that order) @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm. 45 N. Baldwin Ave. 626-355-1596. Soups, sandwiches, desserts, coffee drinks, etc. Paul Dorn's OTHER Bluegrass band!

SAT. 9/1 - HORSES ON ASTROTURF @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9PM. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, lots of free parking in back. Both Steves will be in attendance, as well as Jane, John Lloyd & Peter Burke, but no Danny. Labor Day Weekend show/Joan's b-day party!

SUN. 9/2 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443. BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 9/2 - GRANT PARK SOFTBALL - ALL ARE WELCOME! NOT A LEAGUE - JUST FOR FUN & THE LOVE OF THE GAME! CORNER OF CORDOVA & MICHIGAN IN PASADENA, 3 BLOCKS WEST OF PCC. BATTING PRACTICE 12:30, GAME TIME ASAP. BRING YOUR GLOVE, BAT, CHAIR, ICE CHEST, ETC. EVERY SUNDAY.... and possibly Labor Day Monday as well???? it could happen!

SUN. 9/2 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ BARN BURNER RESTAURANT IN PASADENA, 5 - 8pm. 1000 S. Fair Oaks Ave. 626-403-RIBS. Still haven't been there yet. Bluegrass.

SUN. 9/2 - "OPERA TO BROADWAY" VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great italian food. Get there early to get a good seat!

WED. 9/5 - MAX BUDA (A.K.A. LOS CHUMPS featuring Chester on electric violin, Jerry on grand piano, Tedroy on bass and Sierra Madre's own Peter Burke on drums) @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8:00pm. 626-836-5414. Full bar, great Italian food. Sort of a unique jazzy-rock kinda thing - very entertaining stuff!

9/6 - Every Thursday at the Skyebox in Montrose, Better Than Blue (Danny, Felicia, etc.) continues to host a weekly Jam Night. It runs from 8:30 PM until 12. 3710 N. Verdugo Rd. 818-249-3617. Above the Sun Palace Chinese Restaurant. http://www.betterthanblue.com/openjampage.html

THURS. 9/6 - RICK SHEA AND THE LOSIN' END @ ARCADIA BLUES CLUB, 8-11:30pm, with special guest RED MEAT do ing the middle set at 9pm. 16 E. Huntington Dr. 626-447-9349. $5 cover - goes to the guest band. N ightly beer and cocktail specials, free pool & 2 great musical acts with frequent surprise guests - what a bargain! Honky Tonk Blues & Country every Thursday nite!

SAT. 9/8 - LEN @ BARRU IN MONTROSE, 8pm - 12, I think. 2265 Honolulu Ave. 818-957-8800. Full bar and kitchen. Acoustic guitar/vocal faves - Beatles, James Taylor, Paul Simon & stuff. Hope to see more of him around!

SAT. 9/8 - DOGS @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9PM. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, lots of free parking in back. I don't know anything about these guys - ask Tony!

SUN. 9/9 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443. BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 9/9 - have lunch with NEW ASTROTURF @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Bring the family!

SUN. 9/9 - TONY GILKYSON, THE EVANGENITALS, GENTLEMEN FARMERS and more @ the "GRAND OLE ECHO" in Echo Park, 5 - 9pm. Alt/Country Music & BBQ. 1822 Sunset Blvd. 213-413-8200. No cover charge. www.myspace.com/thegrandoleecho

SUN. 9/9 - THE TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS @ THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE in Altadena, 7pm, $15. 2029 N. Lake Ave. 626-398-7917. Songs from the Old West. It says they're from Sierra Madre - so how come I don't know them?

Please remember to call and verify all info. before making plans. Everything is subject to change. This is show biz, after all.

See Every Time I Die's video premiere tonight

In preparation for the upcoming September 4 release of their brand-new album, “The Big Dirty”, Every Time I Die will be premiering the video for “We’rewolf” exclusively on MySpace on August 30. MySpace will also be hosting an exclusive album premiere for “The Big Dirty” on August 31.

Singer Keith Buckley had this to say about the new video: “It has been announced that in the wake of the MySpace premiere of Every Time I Die’s "We'rewolf" video, the county of Wilkshire, England has demolished the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, citing: "This video is far greater than anything man has ever constructed.” To those of you yet to view this historic footage, beware. Such beauty was not intended for mortal eyes and may render you shitless.”

On August 30, tune in to FUSE TV at 6PM EST to see Every Time I Die LIVE on “The Sauce.” The band will be in the studio for the television premiere of the “We’rewolf” video.

MTV2’s “Headbanger’s Ball” will begin airing the video on September 1 starting at 11PM. To accompany the show, “We’rewolf” will be available online at the Headbanger’s Blog website, http://headbangersblog.mtv.com.

All this leads up to the September 4 release of “The Big Dirty.” Every Time I Die will be appearing on FUSE TV’s “Steven’s Untitled Rock Show” the day the album is released. The show will air at 7PM EST.

Be sure to catch Every Time I Die’s new video for “We’rewolf” on MySpace (http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=16986418), and don’t miss them on FUSE and MTV2. “The Big Dirty” hits streets on September 4, and ETID’s tour with Underoath kicks off on September 22 in Houston, TX!!

Every Time I Die with Modern Life is War, and The Handshake Murders
9/19 – Nashville, TN – Rocketown
9/20 – Cordova, TN – Skatepark of Memphis
9/21 – New Orleans, LA – The Parish @ House of Blues

Every Time I Die with Underoath, Poison The Well, and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
9/22 – Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater
9/23 – San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
9/24 – Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa
9/25 – Dallas, TX – The Palladium Ballroom
9/26 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
9/28 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
9/30 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
10/01 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
10/03 – San Diego, CA – Soma
10/05 – Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theatre
10/06 – Bakersfield, CA – The Dome
10/07 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
10/09 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
10/10 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDu
10/12 – Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue
10/13 – Denver, CO – The Fillmore Auditorium
10/15 – Kansas City, MO – The Beaumont Club
10/16 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s
10/18 – St. Paul, MN – Myth
10/19 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
10/20 – Detroit, MI – State Theatre
10/23 – Depew, NY – Evolution
10/24 – New York, NY – Nokia Theatre
10/25 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
10/26 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
10/28 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
10/29 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
10/30 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live!
11/01 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva

Norma Jean ready to make the rounds

Fresh off of a successful run on Warped Tour, Georgia’s Norma Jean are preparing for an upcoming US tour with Saosin, Alexisonfire, and others! The tour kicks off in Seattle, WA on September 28 and finishes in New York on November 7 in New York City.

Before they head out with Saosin, Norma Jean will be playing Ohio’s Collide Festival on August 24, the Revelation Generation Festival in New Jersey on September 1, and the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on September 3. These festival dates will lead up to a week-long tour of Mexico, before Norma Jean returns home to gear up for the Saosin tour.

Norma Jean will also be playing the Saints and Sinners Festival at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ on November 4. The festival also features such heavy hitters as Glassjaw, August Burns Red, Between The Buried and Me, Walls of Jericho and many more!!

Norma Jean are touring to support their most recent release, 2006’s Redeemer (Solid State Records), and they are planning to return home after the US tour to write and record a brand-new record, tentatively due in Summer 2008.

Be sure to catch Norma Jean’s electrifying performance as they tour across the country this fall!!!

Norma Jean festivals and Mexico tour dates:
8/25 – Cortland, OH – Trumbull County Fairgrounds
9/01 – Frenchtown, NJ – Revelation Farms
9/03 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot Backyard Stage
9/05 РMonterey, Mexico РCaf̩ Iguana
9/06 – Mexicali, Mexico – Club Dune
9/07 – Tijuana, Mexico – Tangaloo
9/08 – Guadalajara, Mexico – Teatro Estudio Cavarete
9/09 – Mexico City, Mexico – Circo Volador

Norma Jean with Saosin, Alexisonfire, and others:
9/28 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
9/29 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
9/30 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
10/01 – Fresno, CA – Rainbow Ballroom
10/02 – Los Angeles, CA – The Avalon
10/04 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove of Anaheim
10/05 – San Diego, CA – Soma
10/06 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
10/07 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
10/09 – San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
10/10 – Houston, TX – Meridian
10/11 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
10/12 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
10/13 – Nashville, TN – Rocketown
10/15 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
10/16 – Tallahassee, FL – The Beta Bar
10/17 – Saint Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing
10/18 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
10/19 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
10/20 – Jacksonville, FL – Fuel
10/21 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
10/23 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
10/25 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Club
10/26 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
10/27 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
10/28 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
10/30 – Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music Hall
10/31 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva
11/01 – Towson, MD – Recher Theatre
11/02 – Boston, MA – The Roxy
11/03 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore at Theatre of Living Arts
11/04 – Asbury Park, NJ – Convention Hall Complex (Saints and Sinners Festival)
11/05 – Farmingdale, NY – The Crazy Donkey
11/07 – New York, NY – The Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza

Sebastian Bach featured on "Celebrity Rap Superstar" starting tonight

You've just finished your new album and you've got Axl Rose singing on it. What do you do next? Go to Disneyland? If you're Sebastian Bach, you sign on as a celebrity contestant for MTV's new weekly competition show "Celebrity Rap Superstar," which kicks off this Thursday, August 30 at 10PM ET/PT.
Bach, known for his Platinum rock pipes as a solo artist, on Broadway, and his days with Skid Row,will be one of eight celebrity contestants culled from the worlds of music, film, TV and sports (Internet gossip mogul Perez Hilton has also been confirmed as a contestant). Bach and the other celebrity contestants will be paired with their own rap mega-star mentor - Sebastian's will be Kurupt from The Dog Pound - with Paul Wall, Warren G., and Tone Loc already on board - who will share their respective knowledge and skills to prepare the contestants with the technique they'll need to be a master rapper. With help from his personal tutor, expect Bach to perform covers of some of the biggest rap songs of all time, create original raps and be tested in freestyle rap competitions, all in front of a live audience.
This isn't Bach's first foray onto the small screen nor with MTV. His reality show, "Supergroup," which also starred Ted Nugent, Jason Bonham, Scott Ian and Even Seinfeld, and "Forever Wild" were very successful shows on VH1, and his "I Married...Sebastian Bach," also on VH1, was a number-one rated program. In addition, Bach spent five seasons on the popular CW series "Gilmore Girls," and made several guest appearances on the Canadian mockumentary series, "Trailer Park Boys."
Bach will release Angel Down on November 20. The album was produced by Roy Z (Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, Judas Priest), and recorded at Sound City Studios and Under City Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Joining Bach in the studio were guitarists "Metal" Mike Chlasciak and Johnny Chromatic, Bobby Jarzombek on drums, and Steve DiGiorgio on bass. Guns N Roses' Axl Rose makes a special guest appearance contributing vocals on three of the album's songs - "(Love is a) Bitchslap," a cover of Aerosmith's "Back In the Saddle," and "Stuck Inside."
The cover art for "Angel Down" is an original painting by Bach's late father, the celebrated Canadian artist David Bierk who died in 2002. The painting, entitled "David Watching," was painted in 1990, so an emotional choice for Bach. Bierk also created the cover artwork for Skid Row's 1991 album "Slave To The Grind," which Rolling Stone voted one of the top 5 album covers of the year. His paintings have been exhibited in art galleries all over North America.

Sleeping in the Aviary to tour the nation

Madison’s Sleeping In The Aviary to bring its Kinks/Buzzcocks brand of spastic, brainy basement pop on the road this fall. Debut album follows in the paranoid-humor tradition of local heroes Violent Femmes.

“Hard, fast, noisy and addictive indie-pop at its finest. It is such an absolutely joy to hear something as jarring and as exciting as this. I'm not lying when I say I spilled tea all over myself lunging for the volume to turn it up up up.” – The Roaring Machine

“I just like these kids because they make short pop songs. There's a lot to be said about a song that is under two minutes and engaging enough to get you dancing alone in your bedroom...” – It's The Money Shot

Thanks to intense, highly entertaining live shows and its addictive, spastic pop songs, Sleeping In The Aviary has in short order become one of Madison, Wisconsin's most intriguing young bands. Its sound could be described as The Thermals vacationing with the Violent Femmes, sharing hot tubs with The Kinks and saunas with Nirvana -- often sounding frenzied or angry, but strangely good-natured about it. Flashes of rock and roll's history percolate throughout its authentic brand of catchy songs which are of the kind that immediately become implanted in one's brain upon listening.

Sleeping In The Aviary was formed in 2003 and underwent a few lineup changes before founding members and long-time friends Elliott Kozel and Phil Mahlstadt finally found their perfect match in Eyebeams songwriter and drummer, Michael Sienkowski. The band recorded its debut album, Oh, This Old Thing? with Ricky Riemer at Science of Sound, a basement studio in Madison where they felt they could achieve what they were looking for – a crisp and full recording while maintaining a DIY ethic. Now the band will take this sound and these songs on a month long tour of the US where fans can find out exactly what is making this group the most talked about act in Madison, Wisconsin.

“The album's opening salvo dominates, suggesting early Thermals via mid-western garages and basements. From there its 20 minutes of kick-ass lo-fi power pop laced with strains of Buzzcocks crunch, Kinks hooks, and I swear, a dash of Ruins grandiose spazz.” – Necromuncher

“It's sloppy, low-fi and as catchy as anything that you are going to come across... The garage rock-esque undertones of the thing could probably carry it on its own but the raw vocals of Elliott Kozel and the way that they are thrown about in the most pop-punk of fashions are what really make this such a good listen.” – Side One: Track One

Sleeping In The Aviary Live:
09/01 Minneapolis, MN Soap Factory
09/09 Madison, WI King Club
09/14 Milwaukee, WI Linneman’s
09/15 Chicago, IL South Union Arts
09/16 Peoria, IL TJ’s
09/17 St. Louis, MO Way Out Club
09/18 Little Rock, AR Vino’s Brew Pub
09/19 Shreveport, LA 516 Soundstage
09/20 Denton/Dallas, TX TBD
09/21 Houston, TX Rudyard’s Pub
09/22 Austin, TX Trophys
09/25 Albuquerque, NM Space Maybe
09/26 Tucson, AZ Vaudeville Cabaret
09/27 Los Angeles, CA Knitting Factory
09/28 Fresno, CA The Exit
09/29 Sonoma, CA The Shop
09/30 San Francisco, CA TBD
10/02 Portland, OR Brainstains
10/03 Seattle, WA Sunset Tavern
10/04 Portland, OR Red Room
10/05 Boise, ID Neurolux
10/06 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
10/07 Denver, CO Three Kings Tavern
10/09 Wichita, KS Kirby’s Beer Store
10/10 Manhattan, KS PJ’s Pub
10/11 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
10/12 Chicago, IL Cal’s Bar
10/13 Dekalb, IL TBD

Oh, This Old Thing? Tracklisting:
01. Face Lift Floats
02. Pop Song (MP3)
03. Another Girl (MP3)
04. Gloworm
05. Sign My Cast
06. Maureen
07. Drug Suitcase
08. No Socks
09. Only Son
10. Lanugo
11. Love Song
12. Getting Thin

On The Web:
www.sleepingintheaviary.com
www.myspace.com/sleepingintheaviary
www.scienceofsound.com
www.myspace.com/scienceofsoundrecords

Vibrators hit the road

Vibrators US TOUR 2007:
Thurs. 6 Sept.SAN DIEGO (CA), Brick by Brick
Fri. 7 Sept.HOLLYWOOD (CA), Safari Sam's
Sat. 8 Sept.HUNTINGTON BEACH (CA), Fitzgerald's
Sun. 9 Sept.MODESTO (CA), Fat Cat Music Hall
Mon. 10 Sept.SACRAMENTO (CA), On The Y
Wed. 12 Sept.(TBA)
Thurs. 13 Sept.MEDFORD (ORE), Music Head
Fri. 14 Sept.PORTLAND (ORE), Ash Street Saloon
Sat. 15 Sept.SEATTLE (WA), Studio 7
Tues. 18 Sept.SALT LAKE CITY (UTAH), Burt's Tiki Lounge
Wed. 19 Sept.DENVER (CO), 3 Kings Tavern
Thurs. 20 Sept.OMAHA (NE), Shea Riley's
Fri. 21 Sept.MINNEAPOLIS (MN), Triple Rock
Sat. 22 Sept.CHICAGO (IL), The Note
Sun. 23 Sept.COLUMBUS (OH), The High Five
Tues. 25 Sept.INDIANAPOLIS, (IN), Locals Only
Wed. 26 Sept.WESTLAND (MI), Westland Lounge
Thurs. 27 Sept.CLEVELAND (OHIO), Now That's Class
Fri. 28 Sept.CATASAUGUA (PA), Arch St. Hotel
Sat. 29 Sept.NEW YORK CITY, Rebel
Sun. 30 Sept.BALTIMORE (MD), Ottobar
Mon. 1 Oct.JOHNSON CITY (TENN), The Hideaway
Tues. 2 Oct.SPARTANBURG (SC), Ground Zero
Wed. 3 OctCHARLOTTE (N.C.), The Milestone
Thurs. 4 Oct.ATLANTA (GA), Star Com. Bar
Fri. 5 Oct.SAVANNAH (GA), The Jinx
Sat. 6 Oct.MIAMI (FL), Churchill's
Sun. 7 Oct.ORLANDO (FL), Back Booth
Mon. 8 Oct.JACKSONVILLE (FL), Jack Rabbits
Tues. 9 Oct.STUART (FL), Cruiser Tavern
Thurs. 11 Oct.NEW ORLEANS (LO), Hi Ho Lounge
Fri. 12 Oct.DALLAS (TEXAS), Darkside
Sat. 13 Oct.SAN ANTONIO (TEXAS), Rock Bottom
Sun. 14 Oct.AUSTIN (TEXAS), Red Seven
Tues. 16 Oct.EL PASO(TEXAS), Lucky Devil
Wed. 17 Oct.PHOENIX (AZ), Rhythm Room
Thurs. 18 Oct.LAS VEGAS (NE), Beauty Bar
Fri. 19 Oct.LONG BEACH (CA), Alex's Bar
Sat. 20 Oct.CORONA (CA), Showcase Theater
Sun. 21 Oct.LOS ANGELES (CA), Airliner

The High Court's latest is here

The High Court
Puppet Strings
www.myspace.com/thehighcourt

2 Much Love For 1 Woman. A simple misspelling changes everything. With a questionable song title that doesn’t fail to raise eyebrows, The High Court avoid beating around the bush. They tackle the issue in all its forbidden glory: a good old-fashioned mÈnage-a-trois.
Exploits aside, the band have not been swept away in the glitz of sex and drugs (The HIGH Court. THC. So, maybe they smoke a little pot.). Rock and roll, on the other hand, is another story entirely. Puppet Strings, the band’s debut release from I Surrender Records, boasts a unique vision and an impressive repertoire of songs that range from the dancefloor anthems to black-light psychedelia.
But first, how it started: Guitarist Lou Cuello, drummer Denny Carvell, and bassist Kyle "Shell" Shellhammer decided to return to their rock roots after touring together in a variety of metal bands. Without a singer or a rhythm guitarist, the three sought out an unconventional last resort in the form of an advertisement on Craigslist. The response? One message from JB that simply stated, "I’ll sing my ass off." The band now had a singer, and when JB brought guitarist Mike Matranga along, The High Court were complete.
In a living room in Atco, New Jersey, it only took one rehearsal to know they had formed something huge. Regardless of their various music backgrounds, The High Court had a shared goal in mind: creating the music they loved and bringing their fans along for the ride.
"If you come out to a show, talk to us. If you have a party, we want to go," one member states. The High Court take the road few dare to travel with a refusal to separate themselves from their fanbase. In following their own dream, The High Court are unselfishly set on making a connection with their audiences. "We want people to clap, dance, shout, and just have a good time. We only want you to come if you are going to enjoy yourself," they add. It’ll be one hell of a party when the band hits the Vans Warped Tour this summer, and they plan on making their message loud and clear.
There are tracks on Puppet Strings that shamelessly call out those who dared scorn them. Ex-friends and ex-lovers, The High Court doesn’t bother with subtlety. JB describes it, "No metaphors, just things worth talking about." You can’t mistake their persuasive charm or the swagger in their step. They’re confident and brash, and they make no apologies. From their style to their personalities, even the band’s conception, The High Court brings something new to the table that few have seen before.
07/24/07 marks the release of Puppet Strings, twelve hard-hitting songs that, according to Mike, "are going to stick in your head for the remainder of this decade." With their cutting lyrics, riffing guitar solos, and an irresistible personality, it would be hard to find a flaw in The High Court’s brand of rock. They present a package deal and on top of everything else, they have a keen eye for business.

English rockers The Wildhearts set US dates

Notorious bad-boy English rockers The Wildhearts will be making it back to the United States for a long weekend of highly anticipated shows this October in support of their recent eponymous release in the UK. Following a series of unfortunate visa issues that resulted in the band canceling their SXSW appearance and subsequent dates in March The Wildhearts have held up their promise to get back over to this side of the Atlantic Ocean to make the dates up to fans. The shows currently confirmed October include the 19th at The Hook in Brooklyn, the 20th on a sold out Rocks Off Concert Cruise, the 21st at the Key Club in Los Angeles, and the 23rd at Fat City in San Francisco.

The Wildhearts was recorded partially at London’s Strongroom Studios, partially at a country house in Ipswich, and at a haunted castle in the Midlands. “This album is going to surprise a lot of people who considered the last Wildhearts album too poppy,” says Ginger of the new record. “There will not be any similar accusations this time around, that’s for sure.”

The Wildhearts’ current lineup sees the return of original drummer Ritch Battersby and the addition of Scott Sorry (Amen, Brides of Destruction) on bass. Front man Ginger regards Sorry as “the most energetic performer I’ve ever shared a stage with. His youth certainly keeps us older bastards on our toes.” Ginger and guitarist CJ round out the lineup, which judging by reactions from recent shows is the most solid ever.

Since the release of The Wildhearts, the band has been riding high off of the album’s success that has brought them back into the spotlight. The album has been praised across the board by the British press with London’s The Sun calling it “probably the rock album of the year” and a perfect 10 from Rock Sound who called it “a record that has ‘Classic’ tattooed all over it.” Despite the fact that the album has yet to receive distribution in America, US fans are still eager to get their hands on it as it is poised to make quite a splash and earn The Wildhearts the praise and support this side of the Atlantic that they have been receiving elsewhere for years.

Check out The Wildhearts at one of the dates below or visit www.myspace.com/thewildhearts or www.thewildhearts.com for more information.

Thursday, October 19 – The Hook – Brooklyn, NY
Friday, October 20 – Rocks Off Concert Cruise – New York, NY (Sold Out)
Saturday, October 21 – Key Club – Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, October 23 – Fat City – San Francisco, CA

Grammy brands clothing and accessories line announced

The Recording Academy® announced today at PROJECT Las Vegas that it will extend its musical message year-round with the launch of GRAMMY Brand™, a high-end fashion and merchandising collection for men and women. Celebrating the unique intersection of fashion and music and inspired by the energy and emotion of the GRAMMY® Awards, the clothing and accessories line will be launched coast-to-coast at luxury boutique retailers this fall with a meaningful portion of sales supporting The Recording Academy's charitable affiliates — the GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares®.

"Music and fashion have always gone hand-in-hand as illustrated year after year on our red carpet at the GRAMMY Awards," said Evan Greene, Chief Marketing Officer, The Recording Academy. "GRAMMY Brand allows us to extend our relationship with consumers beyond the show and celebrate the profound and personal relationship we all have with music year-round. More importantly, GRAMMY Brand products do more than look good, they are also doing good because our line offers a new avenue to communicate The Academy's vital philanthropic efforts with a portion of proceeds benefiting the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares."

Both Academy-affiliated charities work to better the community as a whole with programs that benefit musicians and the general public. The GRAMMY Foundation works to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture and offers music education and preservation programs that engage the music industry, cultural community and the general public. MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and human services assistance for musicians in times of need that cover a wide range of financial, medical, and personal emergencies.

The tagline for GRAMMY Brand, "Music Makes Me…," aims to connect the personal and profound relationship music fans have with music, which is why The Recording Academy partnered with the fashion industry's most innovative and passionate designers who understand the importance of this connection and who use it as the foundation of every design. From up-and-coming to more established designers, all have created vibrant and visually-alive pieces that speak to the breadth and richness of music.

The exciting collection, created in partnership with brand builders duffy + duffy, includes embroidered shirts and leather jackets from 3J Workshop, high-quality casual wear like organic tees and hoodies from JEM/Awake Sportswear, original hand-painted tees and blazers by Michael Eaton, leather handbags and belts from Latino Royalty, jewel-encrusted purses and jewelry by Madeline Beth, luxury eyewear by Franco, and shoes by Salpy.

This unique fashion line goes beyond event merchandise by celebrating a broad range of music. From sophisticated prints and dynamic graphics to one-of-a-kind artwork and music-centric messages, the wide range of products are as diverse as the price points — from $50 for a unique fashion tee, to $1,200 for a signature leather jacket, and up to $7,000 for diamond-encrusted eyewear — and will feature items to suit various individual styles. GRAMMY Brand will be available in October at luxury boutique retailers in more than 18 fashion-forward and music-centric cities across the United States. GRAMMY Brand also will announce a robust merchandising collection shortly. For more information on GRAMMY Brand, please visit www.GRAMMYBrand.com.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. In its 50th year, The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com .

Boston Comedy Festival CD set to be released

KOCH Records announces the release of 10,000 Laughs: Best Of The Boston Comedy Festival, a 2-CD set to be released on September 25, 2007 – just in time for this year’s festival.
Much like the U. S. Open, the Boston Comedy Festival is the only festival of its kind - open to all comedians around the country to compete for the coveted spots in Boston at the finals. Of the many who compete, only 90 are invited to Boston. And only the select few, the funniest and most original, have made it to the finals and to this record.
10,000 Laughs: Best Of The Boston Comedy Festival is a must-have for comedy lovers. It features 16 of today's hottest comedians performing the acts that vaulted them into the finals at the Boston Comedy Festival, making them the 'Best of the Fest'. A double CD with over two hours of laughs, the material is fresh, irreverent, provoking, but most of all, hilarious. Instead of listening to just one comic for over an hour or more, you get 16 short blasts, 16 different ways to make you laugh. And laugh you will. 10,000 laughs...go ahead and count them.

Performances by Jim McCue, Dan Boulger, Tom Cotter, James P. Connolly, Ryan Stout, Brad Upton, Floyd J. Phillips, Danny Bevins, Shane Mauss, Kevin Boseman, Tom Simmons, Ryan Hamilton, Darryl Lenox, Costaki Economopoulos, Mike Green and Rob O’Reilly

Learn from musicians Cannonball Jane

Bridgeport elementary school teacher moonlights as musician Cannonball Jane with help from Adrock of Beastie Boys.

“Cannonball Jane is the coolest one woman band I’ve heard in a long time. This is what Carole King would sound like if she had a sampler and was really into Francoise Hardy. I love her recordings and can't wait for more!” – Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill & Le Tigre

“Cannonball Jane purveys an inventive mishmash of hip hop beats and day-glo '60s pop that suggests a female Beck weaned on The Ronettes and The Raincoats.” – Time Out London

“Frothy, infectious sampledelica...dreamy doo-wop oohs and aahs with old-school breaks and beats...it could all be a musical car crash, but charm and sassy beats win the day. And to complete this mini-masterpiece's feel good credentials: by day Jane is a music teacher, Miss Hagopian, and she recorded it in her bedroom.” – The Times (UK)

By day she’s mild-mannered Bridgeport, CT based elementary school music teacher Sharon Hagopian, but by night she's smart and sassy electro-pop underground darling Cannonball Jane, maker of a mind-bendingly brilliant mix of hip-hop samples and sixties girl group pop. Her first musical go was the album Street Vernacular, released last year in the UK (and to be released in North America September 25th) to rave reviews in Time Out London, NME, Uncut, The Independent and many more besides and now comes her latest EP, Knees Up!, that features remixes of the hit “Take It To Fantastic” by Adrock of Beastie Boys and UK producer DJ Downfall.

Sounding more like the work of a group (sleeps-in-his-leather-jacket guitarist, banned-from-the-academy maverick multi-instrumentalist, recently-diagnosed-schizophrenic drummer, typewriter-sampling-avant-garde keyboardist, etc.) the reality is rather different. It’s just hard to believe that there's not more than one of her!

Recorded entirely at home, Hagopian’s studio set up of beatboxes, samplers, tambourines, guitars, turntables, piano, synths, various noise gadgets and effects shines through, creating an innovative retro-modern mix, elegant and sweetly beguiling but still rough enough to handle something bigger than a moped! From the Spector-soul of “Take it to Fantastic” (MP3) onwards, Knees Up! combines such diverse influences as Run-DMC, The Aislers Set, Solex, The Shangri-La’s, The Go-Go’s, Luscious Jackson and Devo, while remaining fresh, exciting and original at all times.

On top of this is Sharon’s singing – her truly lovely and pleasing voice polishes off each mini pop masterpiece on Knees Up!. Hagopian has previously taken the Cannonball Jane sound out on the road with support slots for The Go! Team, Gravy Train!!!!, E.S.G. and super-fans Le Tigre and has plans for more shows upon the release of Knees Up! this fall.

“…a concise summary of her aesthetic: cartoonish hip hop breakbeats, elegant piano chords, twinkling chimes, girl group melodies and a swirl of miscellaneous musical elements that fill out every available space in her songs without weighing down their buoyant grooves. Hagopian comes across as the world's most ideal music educator -- someone endlessly enthusiastic about a wide range of music who's open both to old fashioned instruments and cut-and-paste sample-based compositions “ – Matthew Perpetua, The Associated Press

Knees Up! Tracklisting:
Release Date: October 9, 2007

01. Take It To Fantastic (MP3)
02. Slumber Party
03. Breaker Breaker
04. Take It To Fantastic (Smallstars Remix by Adrock)
05. The Secret Handshake
06. Bossa Tug
07. Take It To Fantastic (DJ Downfall Smash Hit Radio Remix)

On The Web:
www.cannonballjane.com
www.myspace.com/cannonballjane
www.myspace.com/gaddycatrecords
www.fanaticpromotion.com/current/gcannonball_knees.html