Bands for listening and looking

The 1900s
The 1900s continue to gear up for their fall release of Cold & Kind, their stellar new full-length out on Parasol. The album seethes with energy, oozes confident coolness and just plain jams—Edward Anderson and Jeanine O’ Toole’s voices, when raised and mixed with the rest of the band, deliver some of the most transcendent moments you’ll see live or hear on disc anywhere this fall. This record is the follow-up to their critically-acclaimed Plume Delivery EP, which was recorded before the band ever played their first live show (it was at that show, coincidentally, that they were immediately signed by their current label.) The last year and a half has been a whirlwind for The 1900s; aside from writing and recording their record, they've played relentlessly, sometimes with some of their favorite bands like Iron and Wine, Devin Davis, and the Spinto Band.

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The Narrator
Chicago’s best kept secret that nobody should be keeping secret, The Narrator, have been insanely busy supporting their full-length release, ALL THAT TO THE WALL (Flameshovel), and they’re about embark on their first leg of fall touring. Dates span throughout the Midwest, southern U.S. and east coast, and are listed below. For the uninitiated, The Narrator underwent some pretty heavy changes during the writing of this album--including the departure of their first drummer—that led the band in interesting new directions while they hunkered down in the studio and brought in friends (and mostly label mates) from Oxford Collapse, Russian Circles, Bound Stems, Sybris, Tight Phantomz and Lying In States.

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Mannequin Men
Mannequin Men are another windy city find, though these guys have been kicking it at dive bars and house shows for the better part of three years, honing their skills and earning their keep. Deeply recomended for anyone whom might be a fan of The Wipers, if you have recently been digging the Black Lips, or maybe Mannequin Men neighbors and frequent tourmates The Ponys. The band offer up something more than your typical garage revival, Mannequin Men have the right mix of punked-up chops and bar band bravdo; if their angst-ridden and brash Flameshovel debut, Fresh Rot, is proof of anything... it's that they mean business.

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Maritime
As Maritime ready the fall release of Hersey & Hotel Choir, the bands third full-length, they also found time to plan a fall tour with Jimmy Eat World and secure a steady line-up. The album showcases the first recorded work from Maritime’s four members (after a virtual revolving door of con tributors) and arguably, their most cohesive record yet. Finally being able to create music with a steady group of musicians and with help from producer Stuart Sikes, (Cat Power, Modest Mouse) Maritime was able to capture the energy of the band like never before.The fall tour, which hits both US and Canadian cities, promises to be the band's best yet. With a batch of fresh new songs and a fresh faces, Maritime is sure tug at the ears of any fan who enjoys melodic hooks and swayable beats.

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The Valley Arena
When The Valley Arena started writing and recording their second full-length, they set out to do more than just record a collection of songs. Sesso.Vita (Italian for “Sex/ Life”) ties together re-imagined stories of the bands hometown, told through more desperate and hyper-sexual eyes. Producer Jason Cupp is back on board to craft the exaggerated tales, adding a heavier groove element this time around.The Valley arena will take up residency at LA’s Silverlake Lounge this fall along with a handful of other tour dates while readying the winter release of Sesso.Vita.

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Sonic Boom
Who says all record stores are dying? Seattle’s stalwart indie record store Sonic Boom Records will celebrate 10 years in business on September 26th, 2007. The Boom originally opened on September 26th, 1997 when Jason Hughes & Nabil Ayers ran up $30,000 in credit card debt to lease a small space in Seattle's burgeoning Fremont neighborhood. Today, Sonic Boom boasts three locations, a Sonic Boom General Store (which sells new and used vinyl, magazines, books, designer toys, turntables, headphones and junk food), and has hosted literally hundreds of in-stores—it’s a music destination from people in the Northwest and around the world.

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Head Of Femur
As one the leading bands to immerge from the Chicago scene, Head of Femur will release a Limited Edition EP entitled, 'Leader and the Falcon' on October 2nd. A headlining, 3-week US tour will immediately follow including an official CMJ showcase in New York City on Friday, October 18 at Arlene’s Grocery at 10:30pm.Head of Femur continues to be one of the most willfully weird bands to break out of Nebraska, enlisting some 21 musicians to play on their 2005 SpinART sophomore release, 'Hysterical Stars'. Two years later, the band has stripped down to a more accessible 5-piece while still managing to stay true to their ambitious trademark sound, lacing together art-rock sensibilities reflective of the Talking Heads and the organic, home-grown feel of Neil Young and The Band.

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Comedians of Comedy
As you likely know, his fall, Image Entertainment is releasing the Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubadour DVD, the follow-up to 2005's The Comedians of Comedy film and the Comedy Central series of the same name. The DVD features live and backstage footage of the players at the legendary Troubadour club in Los Angeles, CA, and includes comedy by (in order of appearance) Patton Oswalt, Dana Gould, Zach Galifianakis, Andy Kindler, Sarah Silverman, Steve Agee, Blaine Capatch, Doug Benson, Morgan Murphy, Jasper Redd, David Cross, Jon Benjamin, Eugene Mirman, Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn and Seth Galifianakis. Furthermore, the entire concert will be shown on Comedy Central's Secret Stash, completely uncensored and uncut, on September 29.
The Comedians of Comedy were founded by writer and producer Patton Oswalt in 2005, as an occasional comedy tour that would feature a revolving cast of progressive comedians anchored by Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Brian Posehn and Maria Bamford. The group has been instrumental in the sea change happening in contemporary underground comedy today; mainly, the switch from comics performing in traditional comedy venues to playing in rock clubs, for largely rock audiences.
Not surprisingly, the Comedians of Comedy are embarking on their largest national tour yet, he shows will feature different comedians in different cities, but will revolve around the core group with most dates featuring new addition Eugene Mirman as well.

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All Smiles
Jim Fairchild is the singer/songwriter and general creator of All Smiles, his first solo outing after his days in the band Grandaddy. His debut record, Ten Readings of a Warning, was made along with drummers Janet Weiss (Sleater Kinney, Quasi), Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, Black Heart Procession, Magic Magicians), Danny Seim (Lack Thereof, Menomena), and Solon Bixler (Great Northern).The record was almost entirely created on 8-track, recorded in living rooms up and down the West Coast, and was mixed by Brian Deck (Iron and Wine, Modest Mouse). All Smiles is held together by Jim Fairchild's spare and decisive sounds, and a resistance to over-embellish.

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Anti-Matter
In the 1990s, much of the culture of the underground went undocumented by mainstream press. The lines, at least at first, were pretty sharply defined. So in many ways the most resounding catalogue of the times can be found stapled together, photocopied, and tucked away behind old Jawbreaker 7 inches. The catch-all was "fanzines", but there were of course shade of grey. Some were hyper-personal, confessional, almost diaristic. Others were more academic, dedicated to the completist collector. And in the middle of the era, in the throws of it all was Anti-Matter.
As writer Trevor Kelley frames it in his recently released book Everybody Hurts, "Fanzines had become fairly professional by the mid-nineties due in large part to publications like Anti-Matter. Throughout the zine's brief run, Norman Brannon used words like 'nascent' and 'emblematic' in his writings — but unlike a lot of fanzine writers before him, he knew what they meant. The thing that separated Anti-Matter from most major music rags, though, was that you got the feeling that virtually no writers at Rolling Stone would have ever asked Rage Against The Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha when the last time he cried was, nor would they have ever started their Letter from the Editor section with a rant about how they had just signed up for food stamps. Anti-Matter was written and edited by Norman Brannon, who had spent time in projects as varied and impactful as Shelter and Texas Is The Reason. It's pages featured smart, open, in-depth writing. Brannon really embraced the importance of community.
The concept of a "scene" still existed in the '90s, and Anti-Matter attempted to broaden the definition without deconstructing its base,covering everything from Snapcase to Jawbox; Rage Against The Machine to Lifetime. Fanzine culture owned a unique perspective into pre-internet music writing -- when writers had more time to formulate opinions, when bands didn't need publicists, when kids in New York City had no idea what kids in Louisville or Los Angeles truly lived like. On November 6th, 2007 Revelation Books will release an anthology of Brannon's writing. Now--on the sad heels of Punk Planet closing--seems to be as good a time as any to look at fanzine culture, what it meant then, and what it evokes now.

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RIOT ACT TOUR DATES
THE 1900S
Sep 28 2007 9:00P 7th Street Entry w/ Oakley Hall Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sep 29 2007 9:00P Waiting Room w/ Oakley Hall Omaha, Nebraska
Sep 30 2007 9:00P Jackpot Saloon w/ Oakley Hall Lawrence, Kansas
Oct 12 2007 9:00P Empty Bottle - RECORD RELEASE SHOW Chicago, Illinois

ALL SMILES
Sep 19 2007 9:00p Johnny Brenda's solo show w/ Gruff Rhys, Philadelphia PA
Sep 20 2007 10:00p Rock and Roll Hotel solo show w/ Gruff Rhys, Washington DC
Sep 21 2007 8:00pHiro Ballroom solo show w/ Gruff Rhys, New York NY
Sep 22 2007 9:0p Union Hall solo show w/ Gruff Rhys, Brooklyn NY
Sep 27 2007 8:00P Schuba's solo show w/ Gruff Rhys, Chicago IL
Oct 23 2007 8:00p The Pike Room solo show w/ David Bazan, Pontiac MI
Oct 24 2007 8:00p Grog Shop w/ David Bazan, Cleveland OH
Oct 25 2007 8:00p Garfield Artworks solo show w/ David Bazan, Pittsburgh PA
Oct 26 2007 8:00p Mohawk Place solo show w/ David Bazan, Buffalo NY
Oct 27 2007 10:45p T.T. the Bear's solo show w/ David Bazan, Boston MA
Nov 3 2007 9:30p Duke Coffeehouse, Duke University solo show w/ David Bazan, Durham NC
Nov 4 2007 8:00p Grey Eagle solo show w/ David Bazan, Asheville NC
Nov 5 2007 9:00p New Brookland Tavern solo show w/ David Bazan, West Columbia SC
Nov 6 2007 9:30p Cafe Eleven solo show w/ David Bazan, St Augustine FL
Nov 7 2007 10:00p The Social solo show w/ David Bazan, Orlando FL
Nov 8 2007 9:30p Club Downunder solo show w/ David Bazan, Tallahassee FL
Nov 9 2007 9:00p Bottletree Cafe solo show w/ David Bazan, Birmingham AL
Nov 10 2007 8:00p The Earl solo show w/ David Bazan, Atlanta GA
Nov 12 2007 9:00p Exit/In solo show w/ David Bazan, Nashville TN
Nov 13 2007 9:00p Southgate House solo show w/ David Bazan, Newport KY

COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
Oct 3 2007 8:00P Seattle @ Showbox
Oct 5 2007 8:00P Portland @ Roseland Theater
Oct 6 2007 11:00P Los Angeles/DETOUR Festival @ City Hall
Oct 10 2007 8:00P San Diego @ House of Blues
Oct 11 2007 7:00P Las Vegas @ House of Blues
Oct 25 2007 7:00P Boston @ Roxy
Oct 26 2007 8:00P Carlisle @ Dickenson College
Oct 27 2007 6:00P New York City @ Irving Plaza
Oct 27 2007 10:00P New York City @ Irving Plaza
Oct 28 2007 8:00P
Philadelphia @ Theater of Living Arts
Oct 29 2007 7:00P Washington DC @ Black Cat
Oct 30 2007 8:00P Pittsburgh @ Mr. Smalls
Nov 1 2007 6:30P Chicago @ Vic Theatre
Nov 2 2007 9:00P Ann Arbor @ Blind Pig
Nov 3 2007 8:00P Buffalo @ Center for the Performing Arts

HEAD OF FEMUR
Oct 7 2007 8:00P Duffys Lincoln, Nebraska
Oct 8 2007 8:00P Slowdown- ALL AGES! Omaha, NE
Oct 9 2007 8:00P The Mill Iowa City, Iowa
Oct 10 2007 8:00P Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct 11 2007 8:00P Otto's Dekalb, Illinois
Oct 12 2007 8:00P Cowboy Monkey Champaign, Illinois
Oct 19 2007 10:30P Arlene’s Grocery (Official CMJ Showcase) New York, New York
Oct 20 2007 10:00P Baker Theatre at Ohio University- ALL AGES Athens, Ohio
Oct 25 2007 8:00P Bluebird St. Louis
Oct 26 2007 10:00P The Hideout- Chicago EP release show! Chicago, Illinois
Oct 27 2007 8:00P Madison House Party! Madsion, Wisconsin

MANNEQUIN MEN
Sep 21 2007 8:00P Triple Rock Social Club w/ THE VIBRATORS!! Minneapolis, MN
Sep 22 2007 8:00P Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, Iowa
Sep 28 2007 8:00P LSA w/ BLACK LIPS, Selmanaires FRESH ROT RELEASE SHOW CHICAGO
Oct 2 2007 9:00P Frank’s Power Plant w/ Plexi 3, trolley, and the makes nice Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Oct 3 2007 8:00P 400 Club Minneapolis MN
Oct 14 2007 8:00P Velvet Lounge Washington D.C.
Oct 18 2007 8:00P CMJ Music Festival New York NY
Oct 19 2007 8:00P CMJ Music Festival TBA New York NY
Oct 20 2007 8:00P CMJ Music Festival TBA New York NY
Oct 21 2007 8:00PP.A.’s Lounge Boston

MAMARITIME
Sun- Oct 7 Wilma Theatre Missoula MT
Mon- Oct 8 MacEwen Hall Calgary AB
Wed- Oct 10 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver BC
Thu- Oct 11 Showbox Showroom Seattle WA
Fri- Oct 12 Performing Arts Center MainStage Bellingham WA
Sun- Oct 14 The Fillmore San Francisco CA
Tue- Oct 16 The Wiltern Los Angeles CA
Thu- Oct 18 (OC) House of Blues Anaheim CA
Fri- Oct 19 House of Blues San Diego San Diego CA
Sat- Oct 20 The Joint Las Vegas NV

THE NARRATOR
Sep 11 2007 8:00P Mojo’s Columbia, Missouri
Sep 12 2007 8:00P Record Bar Kansas City, Missouri
Sep 13 2007 8:00P Kirby’s Beer Store Wichita, Kansas
Sep 14 2007 8:00P 6th Street Live Fort Worth, Texas
Sep 15 2007 8:00P Hailey’s Denton, Texas
Sep 16 2007 8:00P 3846 Government Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Sep 17 2007 8:00P The Beta Bar Tallahassee, Florida
Sep 18 2007 8:00P The Atlantic Gainesville, Florida
Sep 20 2007 8:00P The Reservoir Carrboro, North Carolina
Sep 21 2007 8:00P The Boot Norfolk, Virginia
Sep 22 2007 8:00P The Mohn Building Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Sep 23 2007 8:00P DC9 Washington DC, Washington DC
Sep 25 2007 8:00P Western Kentucky University/REVfest Bowling Green, Kentucky
Sep 27 2007 8:00P Union Hall Brooklyn, New York
Sep 28 2007 8:00P Connecticut College/Cro’s Nest New London, Connecticut
Sep 29 2007 8:00P Bennington College/Student Center Bennington, Vermont
Sep 30 2007 8:00P Great Scott Allston, Massachusetts

RX BANDITS
Sep 14 2007 5:00P Red Fest @ University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah
Sep 18 2007 7:00P Wedgewood Rooms. UK W/State Radio & Facing New York Portsmouth
Sep 19 2007 7:00P Cavern Club. UK W/State Radio & Facing New York Exeter
Sep 20 2007 7:00P Solus Bar - UK W/State Radio & Facing New York Cardiff
Sep 21 2007 8:00P Zodiac. UK W/State Radio & Facing New York Oxford
Sep 22 2007 8:00P Sugarmill - UK W/State Radio & Facing New York Stoke on Trent
Sep 23 2007 8:00P Cathouse - Scotland W/State Radio & Facing New York Glasgow, Scotland
Sep 25 2007 8:00P KIngs College. UK w/ State Radio, Facing New York London
Sep 26 2007 8:00P Academy 2 - UK w/ Facing New York Newcastle
Sep 27 2007 8:00P Barfly. UK w/ Facing New York Birmingham
Sep 28 2007 8:00P Academy 3 - UK w/ Facing New York Manchester
Sep 29 2007 8:00P Razzmatazz- Pop Bar. Spain Barcelona
Oct 3 2007 8:00P BOA - Switzerland w/ Facing New York Luzern
Oct 4 2007 8:00P Chaeller - Switzerland w/ Facing New York Schaffhausen
Oct 5 2007 8:00P Sommercasino - Switzerland w/ Facing New York Basel
Oct 6 2007 8:00P Paradiso - Netherlands w/ Facing New York Amsterdam
Oct 7 2007 8:00P Prime Club - Germany w/ Facing New York Koln
Oct 9 2007 8:00P Logo - Germany w/ Facing New York Hamburg
Oct 10 2007 8:00P Knaack - Germany w/ Facing New York Berlin
Oct 12 2007 8:00P Alter Schlachtof - Austria w/ Facing New York Hollabrunn
Oct 13 2007 8:00P OHO - Austria w/ Facing New York Oberwart
Oct 14 2007 8:00P Backstage - Germany w/ Facing New York Munich

SONIC BOOM
September 15 2007 5:00P, Capitol Hill store A.C. NEWMAN (of the New Pornographers) live DJ set / in-store.
September 17 2007 11:00P Ballard store

SCHOOLYARD HEROES live in-store. Schoolyard Heroes' new album "Abominations" will be released at midnight September 22 2007 4:00P Ballard store

VAMPIRE WEEKEND free live in-store September 24 2007 6:00P Ballard store

THE LUCKSMITHS free live in-storeS eptember 25 2007 6:00P Ballard store

OAKLEY HALL free live in-store, September 30 2007 4:00P Ballard store MARIA TAYLOR free live in-store

THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES
Sep 22 2007 8:00P the old firehouse teen center Redmond, Washington
Oct 4 2007 8:30P Dante’s Portland, Oregon
Oct 20 2007 5:00P Hell’s Kitchen - Early Show - All Ages Tacoma, Washington
Oct 20 2007 8:00P Hell’s Kitchen - Late Show - 21+ Tacoma, Washington
Nov 6 2007 7:30P Great American Music Hall w/ Jesu & Oxbow San Francisco, California
Nov 9 2007 8:30P Echo Plex w/ Jesu & Oxbow Los Angeles, California

TERA MELOS
Nov 1 2007 1:00P Nov 1 - Dec 1 TOUR w/ Heavy Heavy Low Low, Dance Gavin Dance, Foxy Shazam California
Nov 1 2007 7:00P The Boardwalk Orangevale, California
Nov 2 2007 7:00P Satyricon Portland, Oregon
Nov 3 2007 7:00P El Corazon Seattle, Washington
Nov 4 2007 6:00P The Venue Boise, Idaho
Nov 5 2007 6:30P Avalon Theater Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov 6 2007 7:30P Marquis Theatre Denver, Colorado
Nov 7 2007 7:00P Grand Emporium Kansas City, Missouri
Nov 8 2007 7:30P Creepy Crawl St. Louis, Missouri
Nov 9 2007 7:30P The House Cafe DeKalb, Illinois
Nov 10 2007 7:00P Hayloft Liquor Stand Mt. Clemens, Michigan
Nov 11 2007 6:00P Xtreme Wheels Buffalo, New York
Nov 13 2007 6:00P ICC Perforance Hall Allston, Massachusetts
Nov 14 2007 7:30P First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 15 2007 6:00P Tiki Joe’s Tavern Shirley, New York
Nov 16 2007 6:45P School Of Rock South Hackensack, New Jersey
Nov 17 2007 4:00P The Ottobar EARLY SHOW!!! Doors at 4pm Baltimore, Maryland
Nov 18 2007 6:00P Alley Katz Richmond, Virginia
Nov 19 2007 7:00P The Soapbox Laundrolounge Wilmington, North Carolina
Nov 20 2007 6:00P The Casbah @ Tremont Music Hall Charlotte, North Carolina
Nov 21 2007 6:30P The Masquerade Downstairs Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 23 2007 6:00P Studio A Miami, Florida
Nov 24 2007 6:00P The Orpheum Ybor City, Florida
Nov 26 2007 7:00P The Door Dallas, Texas
Nov 28 2007 7:45P Chic’s Bar & Billiards El Paso, Texas
Nov 29 2007 7:00P Modified Arts Phoenix, Arizona
Nov 30 2007 7:00P Chain Reaction Anaheim, California

THE VALLEY ARENA
Sep 17 2007 9:00P TVA Residency @ Silverlake Lounge (The Fold) Los Angeles, California
Sep 24 2007 9:00P TVA Residency @ Silverlake Lounge (The Fold) Los Angeles, California
Oct 11 2007 9:00p Prospector w/ REPEATER Long Beach, California
Oct 12 2007 8:00P TBA w/ AWAKE AND ALERT Mesa, Arizona
Oct 28 2007 8:00P THE FEST 6 (Gainesville Fest) Gainesville, Florida
Nov 7 2007 8:00P Alex's Bar w/ DOS (MIKE WATT + KIRA ROESSLER), JOE LALLY (FUGAZI!!!)