Arcade Fire Bring Ian McCulloch Onstage in London for Cover of "The Cutter"

I haven't spent enough time with Arcade Fire's music to really have a strong opinion of the band one way or another but I had to shake my head after hearing the stories that there were a number of Craigsist posting for the band's 2007 show at Judson Memorial Church soliciting sex for tickets. With a proposition like that, you have to wonder who is more crazier/desperate - the poster or anyone who responded.

While front man Win Butler may be a "a f*cking rock star", you have to give the band props for bringing Echo and the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch onstage with them for a dead-on cover of the Bunneymen's 1983 hit "The Cutter".



Arcade Fire are in town in August for three nights at Barclay's Center and their run of shows starts August 22nd. Tickets are still available and range from $38.70 to $82.60.

Links:
Arcade Fire

Welcome to Ashley Release New Video For "Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead" (Chicago Post-Punk)

Chicago post-punk band Welcome to Ashley have released a new video "Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead", which was filmed by singer Coley Kennedy and bassist Jeremy Barrett. "Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead" is the first video from the band's newest EP "Absent Man" which is available on iTunes.



Links:
Welcome to Ashley

Welcome to Ashley - Absent Man EP Review (Power-Pop)

Welcome to Ashley is a four-piece post-punk band from Chicago, IL whose music combines the melancholy pop influences of bands like The Smiths and The Bravery with an Urge Overkill style alt-rock swagger.

This new 4-track EP follows a 2007 EP ("The Catbird Seat") and the band's 2006 self-titled full-length debut. Singer Coley Kennedy has a distinctive voice and a way of turning a phrase that keeps this CD memorable. The band also keeps the production lean (there is none of The Bravery or Echo & the Bunnymen's "layers upon layers" of sound) which gives focus to the jangling guitar and melodic bass sounds and keeps the music uplifting over the somewhat melancholy lyrics.

Welcome to Ashley look like they are staying close to home for the next few months. Here is the band's upcoming tour dates:

Oct. 23, 2009, 9:00PM, Empty Bottle, Chicago, Illinois
Dec. 04, 2009, 9:30PM, Radio Radio, Indianapolis, Indiana
Dec. 09, 2009, 9:00PM, Schubas, Chicago, Illinois

Links:
Welcome to Ashley's MySpace Profile

Echo and the Bunnymen Release Live Performance of 'Ocean Rain' on CD on May 30th; Play All Points West on August 2nd

Late last year, Echo & the Bunnymen played three shows (London, NYC and Liverpool) where they performed Ocean Rain in its entirety, backed by a multi-piece orchestra.

The band is releasing the Liverpool show (recorded 11/27/08) as a limited edition CD/DVD set on May 30th. The CD features the live performance of Ocean Rain with a ten-piece orchestra. The DVD features visuals of some of the classic band images that were projected at the show along with a 20 minute ‘behind the scenes’ documentary – with unseen footage (including rehearsals for the shows).

The box set is available through the bunnymen.com site and all copies will be autographed by Mac & Will. The first 1,000 copies ordered will be inscribed to a name of your choice.

Needless to say, cool and expensive often go hand-in-hand and this set is selling for £30.00.

Echo & the Bunnymen are playing the last day of the All Points West festival on Sunday, August 2nd. Festival tickets are $199 for a three-day pass and single-day tickets are $89.