New Municipal Waste Video Premiered on MTV last Saturday/NYC Shows with At The Gates are Sold Out

You have to love that Municipal Waste's latest video was filmed at the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant in Playa del Ray, California. The video for "Sadistic Magician" made its premier on MTV Headbangers Ball last Saturday night. Video director Jeff Speed commented that "[h]umor, horror, metal and mayhem have always been a winning combination. It's 80's throwback to the fullest - back when videos were fun and the music was still dangerous. MUNICIPAL WASTE is the perfect band for it because this is exactly who they are - no bullshit."



Municipal Waste - Sadistic Magician Video


Municpal Waste is touring with the reunited At The Gates this month. Both shows at Irving Plaza/The Fillmore (July 9th and 10th) are now sold out but there are still tickets on eBay and Craig's List.

ism: Urgency CD Release Interview, NYC 6-5-08

NYC's ism has finished their sophomore disc Urgency, which is coming out on August 5th. The band released the single "Sacred Cows" as an advance track from this disc and have been playing some warm-up shows around town. Urgency is a cohesive vision around the theme of rising above ourselves and making the world a better place.

I had the opportunity to chat with the band about the new disc, the newest member of the band (drummer Mike Higgins), and their plans for 2008.



ism is off on a tour of California this month and will be back in town on August 15th for a show at Bowery Ballroom with Kill The Alarm.

Links:
ism's MySpace Profile

The Who Release Greatest Hits Collection for Rock Band on July 15th

This has to be one of the best reasons I've had to go out and get a copy of Rock Band.

The Who announced that they are releasing a greatest hits collection for Rock Band that includes three tracks from Live At Leeds. Given the action of the Rock Band drum kit, you can really drum along with Keith Moon on what was rated one of the 10 best live albums of all times. It doesn't get much cooler than this.

Here are all the tracks on this collection:

“Amazing Journey”
“Baba O'Riley”
“Behind Blue Eyes”
“Eminence Front”
“Going Mobile”
“Leaving Here”
“My Generation” (Live at Leeds)
“Real Good Looking Boy”
“Sea & Sand”
“Summertime Blues” (Live at Leeds)
“Who Are You”
“Young Man Blues” (Live at Leeds)

This release coincides with the broadcast of “VH1 Rock Honors” honoring The Who. The show airs on Thursday, July 17 at 9PM and will feature tribute performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, Incubus and Tenacious D as well as a grand finale performance from The Who.

Indie Rocker Nikki Shannon Announces Show at The Cutting Room on July 16th

Indie rocker Nikki Shannon has recently been playing around town in support of her debut disc Too Few which was released last month. Her next local show is at The Cutting Room on July 16th.

Nikki is a talented pianist/keyboardist who is has a raw bluesy voice that is somewhat comparable to early Melissa Etheridge. She also has a fascinating bio as her MySpace profile talks about how the financial challenges of being a NYC artist left her homeless for a period and sleeping on friend's couches and in the basement of piano bars.

I caught Nikki's set at the Canal Room a few weeks ago (video below) and was really impressed with her and her band's set and stage presence. The video below captures Nikki's set-closer "Suffocate". This was the only song that she performed without her band and it showcases the strength of her songwriting.



Nikki's new disc "Too Few" is available on Amazon, eMusic and iTunes.

Comedian and Guitar Virtuoso Mike Rayburn Played Rockwood Music Hall on June 23rd/Live Video + Interview

"Classically Trained, Comically Derailed" guitarist/comedian Mike Rayburn was in town for a show at Rockwood Music Hall on June 23rd.

Mike is touing behind his latest CD, "Mike Rayburn at Carnegie Hall" and his show is mix of stand-up comedy and master-class guitar work. Mike is known for combining musical artists and styles in ways God never intended. This clip starts with Mike combining Dan Folgelberg with AC/DC.

Anybody who thinks this is too much of a joke needs to watch Mike's fretwork at the end of this video. Mike could easily give guitarists like Eddie Van Halen a run for their money.



Links:
Mike Rayburn's Website

Philadelphia Sludgemonsters Javelina Play the Knitting Factory on July 14th

Philadelphia's Javelina is playing the Knitting Factory on July 14th along with Demiricous and Monstrosity. Javelina just released their debut CD on Translation Loss Records and the tracks that I have heard from it are seriously heavy (and good).

Blabbermouth describes these guys as "early, sludgified MASTODON...with the unhinged screech vocals and over amped guitar lines) of LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR."

You have to dig some of Javelina's other press quotes:

"Throw in equal parts Eyehategod (speed it up a bit and use less heroin, though) and “Technocracy”-era Corrosion Of Conformity (well, add moments of “Blind”, too), add a dash or two of Soilent Green/ Goatwhore, and include a few post-thrash/ sludge/ stoner touches evocative of newer acts such as The Fucking Wrath, and you have Javelina’s debut full-length in a nutshell." ---LiveForMetal.Com

"Things go from ugly to uglier in a hurry and you find yourself wondering how the fuck Iron Maiden, Motörhead, early C.O.C. and Celtic Frost... could ever be assembled into something so seamless and crushing." - Decibel

Looks like this would be a fun show and cheers to the Knitting Factory for continuing to book metal acts.

The B-52s - Funplex CD Review

This disc has been out since March but I dropped the ball in writing a CD review (until now). The passing of time hasn't necessarily been a bad thing as I have gotten a better appreciation for some of the new material having watched the band perform tracks from this disc live on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Regis and Kelly. (Almost all of these videos are on YouTube for anyone who missed them the first time)

With this release, The B-52s do justice to their thirty-year legacy (which is more than a number of the band's contemporaries can lay claim to). The new songs fit well with the band's back catalog and it is somewhat amazing that the band can sound this revitalized after a 16-year hiatus from recording. In terms of how Funplex compares to the band's "recent" releases, it doesn't quite have the 'WOW' factor of Cosmic Thing but it is a stronger release than either Good Stuff or Bouncing Off the Satellites.

Funplex has a strong dance-floor sound and may be best compared to an updated version of Whammy!. In talking about writing the music for Funplex, Keith Strickland said "I had been listening to a lot of electronic dance music and early rock and roll. I was inspired to use these two aesthetics together with our own sound to write some shameless dance-floor party music." Keith and the band then added on to this by hiring veteran dance-music producer Steve Osboune (who produced The Doves, Suede and New Order's comeback CD).

Funplex debuted at #11 on the Billboard charts and the first two singles from this release are "Funplex" and "Juliet of the Spirits". Here are the videos for both songs:

Funplex:


Juliet of the Spirits (Live on Regis and Kelly)

Hopefully, it won't be another 16 years until the band's next disc of new material.

Links:
The B-52s Website

Les Breastfeeders Announce Show at Club Europa in Brooklyn

French-Canadian band Les Breastfeeders are making one final run through the US in support of their 2006 release Les Matins de Grands Soirs (Mornings of Great Evenings). The band is playing Club Europa on Sunday, July 20th and tickets are $10.

Les Matins de Grands Soirs is a great slab of garage rock crossed with the pop influences and girl group stylings of early Blondie. The band's lyrics are all in French so I'm not sure what they are singing about but all the songs are pretty damn catchy.


Links:
Les Breastfeeders' MySpace Profile
Les Breastfeeders' Website

Hydrogyn: 'Deadly Passions' CD Release Interview, NYC 6-25-08

Hydrogyn released their newest CD, Deadly Passions, on Demolition Records last month and I had a chance to catch up with the band when they were in town for a CD launch party at The Delancey.

We spent a few minutes to talking about the new CD, the new band lineup, their past work with Craig Goldy (Dio) and Michael Wagner (Skid Row, Alice Cooper). The band also talked about their upcoming 'female voices' tour with Benedictum which they are going to take to Europe and then through the US in the Fall.



Deadly Passion marks the start of a three-release deal that the band signed with Demoltion Records. The new disc was produced by guitarist Jeff Westlake and the band recorded the disc at Steve Riley's Smash Hits Studio in Huntington, WV.

"Steve does fantastic work out there," Jeff said. "The album is really big, the guitars are big, the drums are big, of course, the vocals are big, the bass guitar is phat, it really is the way we wanted it to sound. Before we ever got into the studio, we did a lot of pre-planning, and it helped out a lot. When it came time to mix the album, it was mixed right in your face -- no big room reverb, I wanted it to be right here." (from Herald-Dispatch.Com)

Links:
Hydrogyn's MySpace Profile
Hydrogyn's Website

The Shys - You'll Never Understand This Band The Way That I Do CD Review

The Shys second full-length release, You'll Never Understand This Band... is a winner. It is a fascinating mix of 60's British psychedelia, 70's pub rock and indie-punk channeled through vision a young southern-California band.

The band makes a bold move by starting the album with a mid-tempo instrumental (not the typical Side 1, Track 1) which features both a violin and glockenspiel. One needs to listen to the whole album to really appreciate the depth of the band's songwriting abilities. Across this disc, the band embraces a variety of musical styles that range from The Beatles' psychedelia-era (Revolver and the White Album), Nicky Hopkins-era Rolling Stones (Exile on Main Street and Goats Head Soup) and pub/roots-rock (The Kinks/Dr. Feelgood).

The standout tunes are on this disc are the "Savior", "She's Already Gone", "Find Some Courage". All of which have a sort of a John Lennon vibe but singer Kyle Krone makes these tunes his own. Kyle Krone has a great voice that matches the band's style of music as his delivery ranges from John Lennon-ish fuzzed-out psychedelia to world-weary Mick Jagger-style blues (on "Mercy" and "Brother Please"). Even though I prefer the Beatles/Stones-style tracks, the pub-rock tracks are pretty cool and may get me to break out my Dr. Feelgood albums. The only track that doesn't seem to fit with the overall flow of the disc is "All on Me" which is a John Eddie/Bob Seger-style roots rocker.

The Shys returned to Aeronaut Records for You'll Never Understand This Band The Way That I Do and the record hits the streets on July 22. Check out Mojo Republik's in-depth interview with The Shy's where they talk about the upcoming CD and their move back to Aeronaut Records.

Links:
The Shys' Website
Aeronaut Records

The Subjects To Release New Single/Featured on MTV2 Indie Music Week

Brooklyn's The Subjects started developing a growing fan base last year with the release of their debut CD, With the Ease, Grace, Precision, and Cleverness of Human Beings, and their constant touring. The band kept the local buzz going earlier this year, opening for the White Rabbits at Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg.

The Subjects have a new tune, "Goldenshire Boogie", coming out on August 12 on a split single with The End of the World. An advance of the single is streaming on the band's MySpace profile and the single will be available prior to Aug. 12th at the band's live shows.

As much as I hated the piece that MTV ran at the beginning of the year (Brooklyn Rocks: The Birth of a New Scene), it is still kind of cool to see a clip from The Subjects featured on MTV2.

The Hives: Black, White and Run: Nike + Original Remix CD Review

As I have been going to the gym more, I have been trying to load up my iPod with workout music that is going to keep me going. I have been listening to a lot of Earache Records releases when lifting but you can't really run to death metal blast beats.

I have been listening to The Hives - Black, White and Run CD my last few times at the gym and this is really what I have been looking for. Production duo Expensive People have taken elements from The Hives' The Black and White Album and have crafted them into a high-energy disc which you can pace your run by. Unlike a lot of other remix discs, this 45 minute set would hold its own in the dance clubs as well as the gym.

There are elements from "Try It Again", "Won't Be Long", "Tick Tick Boom" and a number of other well-known Hives songs. The disc begins with a brisk start and then picks up the pace as the music intensifies. The breather breaks don't slow the pace much so it isn't until the end of the disc when the beats slow down for the cool-down. This disc runs about 45 minutes and it will drive an aggressive workout.

Here is a two minute sampler from the disc and you can click the CD cover to purchase Black, White and Run from iTunes.

Links:
The Hives
Nike+

Cheyenne Front-Man Beau Jennings Plays Solo Show Tomorrow

Cheyenne front-man Beau Jennings is playing a solo show tomorrow at Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg. Beau is gearing up for the release of his solo disc, "Holy Tulsa Thunder", which is due out on July 8th. This should be a great show as I would expect that Beau will trying out a lot of new material and he doesn't have another local show scheduled until August.

"Holy Tulsa Thunder" is a fabulous disc (I'll be posting a review shortly). You can check out an advance track of Tulsa Sound and there are couple of other tunes from this release streaming on Beau's MySpace page.

New Lou Reed Song, "Power of the Heart", Posted As a Free Download

Lou Reed has been playing a new song on his current tour, "Power of the Heart", which reviewers are calling 'understated and beautiful'.

There is a studio version of this track posted to the Cartier LOVE website which is available as a free download. The song is being used by Cartier's Love Campaign to raise funds for the group Action Against Hunger.

Blake Lewis: Live Video from the American Idol's Solo Set @ Canal Room, NYC 6-24-08

Blake Lewis headlined the bill last Tuesday at the Canal Room. He seemed incredibly glad to be there and the crowd matched his enthusiasm. He played a mix of material from his new release Audio Day Dream along with some covers.

Here are a couple live songs from the set:



Here is what Blake posted on my MySpace page after the show:

I'm so hyped right now!!! I just done playing the Canal Room in New York and the crowd was so freaking great. Thank you to all who came out. It was truly a great cap to end the last couple of weeks on the road.

Blake just finished a new track entitled "Selfless" for the AIDS foundation Dance4Life and he has a couple dates on the West Coast coming up.

Links:
Blake Lewis' MySpace Profile

Brianna Taylor (from MTV's Real World) - Live @ the Canal Room, NYC 6-24-08

Brianna Taylor, who rose to fame on MTV's Real World (Hollywood), opened for Blake Lewis last Tuesday at the Canal Room. Brianna is touring behind her debut self-titled EP which was just release on iTunes.

Brianna played to a full room and her strong voice and stage presence held the crowd's attention. One of the highlights of her set was a cover of Chris Cornell's version of "Billie Jean".



Brianna is back in town on July 11th. (It say @ 'Live Nation' on her MySpace page but I thought Live Nation was the promoter who booked The Fillmore, Roseland, etc. and not a venue).

Links:
Brianna Taylor's MySpace Profile

Thoughts and Impressions on Harmonix's Rock Band for the Wii

I was a heavy videogamer growing up but it has only been the last few years that I have been getting back into gaming. I have had a PS2 for about two years and got Guitar Hero III for my birthday this past January. Guitar Hero was the end-all, be-all for a few month...until I mastered the songs. The game loses some of its novelty when the only challenge is ensuring that I can still hit 100% of the notes on the same core 42 songs. Unfortunately, the majority of the bonus songs don't hold my attention as I have never heard of most of the bands (Nast, Gallows, LA Slum Lords, etc.) While I still play the game every now and then, Cars: Mater-National (I have a 4 year old) has taken over the PS2.

I got invited to try Rock Band for the Wii a few weeks ago (the Wii version was released earlier this month) and it was honestly head-and-shoulders above Guitar Hero. Admittedly, the the Wii is a nicer machine than the PS2 (512MB of RAM vs 32 MB, for starters) but I was really impressed with Rock Band's game play. Rock Band allows you to pick from vocals (which are scored based on vocal pitch), bass guitar, lead guitar and drums. Difficulty levels can be set for each individual instrument. I went for the guitar and Rock Band's Fender Stratocaster replica felt more like a real guitar and less like a toy. Compared to the Guitar Hero guitar, the buttons are part of the fret rather than raised above the fret and there is also an effects switch that allows the user the ability to toggle effects like flange, echo, etc.

Anyway...aside for listening to my younger brother attempt to sing, it was a really cool experience. I didn't get a chance to try the drums but I liked watching the action on them - I was told that the Rock Band drum kit is designed to simulate the movements of a real drummer and it is especially cool that the drummer has the opportunity to play some free-form fills as part of a song.

The soundtrack on the initial disc seemed a bit more diverse than the Guitar Hero soundtrack (I'm to the point where I can't stand to be in the room if someone is playing "Slow Ride" on Guitar Hero). The disc that we were playing had tracks that ranged from classic rock (Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult) to modern rock (Foo Fighters and The Clash). I have been intrigued by reading that one can now buy full albums to play on Rock Band. The initial albums have ranged from The Pixies (Dolittle, of course) to Judas Priest (Screaming for Vengeance).

Rock Band is certainly a major step forward in video gaming.

Links:
Rock Band Official Website

Nadja - Desire In Uneasiness CD Review

Nadja has to be one of the most prolific bands that I know. "Desire In Uneasiness" contains all new material and was released in April. The band has already announced their next album of new material, "The Bungled and the Botched", which will be released on July 10th.

"Desire In Uneasiness" is the first release for Nadja where the core-duo of Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff added a live drummer to the recording process. The live drummer and Baker and Buckareff's focus on using interlocking basses seem to have opened up the band's sound and given it room to breathe. The comparisons to Godflesh no longer seem valid and a good point of comparison for this release is either Earth or the Growing. Like these bands, Nadja's music falls more in the drone category than doom as their sound has none of the menace or darkness of some of their doom contemporaries (i.e. Xasthur and Khanate). The music on this disc builds a soundscape out of slow epic riffs that rise and fall like waves.

While there are only five tracks on this release, this disc clocks in at 60 minutes and most of the tracks are well over 10 minutes. The album plays like a coherent body of work where each of the tracks identifies slight shifts in the environment but each track still fits as a piece of the overall musical landscape.

This release is an exciting step forward for the band and Nadja should find fans in both the Hydrahead and Southern Lord camps.

Links:
Nadja's MySpace profile
Nadja's Website

John Joseph: Book Release Party Interview, NYC, 6/19/08 (Cro-Mags, F.V.K., Bloodclot)

Last Thursday, John Joseph, vocalist for many of the great NYHC bands (Cro-Mags, F.V.K., Bad Brains, Bloodclot, etc.), had a book release party for his new book at The Delancey. John's new book is an autobiography entitled "The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon" and is available from www.punkhouse.org.

I had a chance to catch up with John at the beginning of the night and talked with him about the new book, his new band Bloodclot, his views on the current musical and cultural scene and his plans for the future.



John also did a book reading this night (second video to follow) and played a full Cro-Mags set.

Links:
PunkHouse.Org
John Joseph's MySpace Profile
Bloodclot's MySpace Profile

American Idol Blake Lewis Plays the Canal Room Tonight

This is likely a rare chance to see one of the American Idol finalists in a small club. (Just think about how crazy Hannah Montana tickets were...)

Blake Lewis was the runner-up on Season 6 on American Idol and he is touring behind his release, A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream), which was released on Arista last year. Tonight's show is all-ages and tickets are still available. On the bill with Blake is Brianna Taylor from MTV's Real World and the show starts at 8PM.

Links:
Blake Lewis' MySpace Profile

Gang of Four Released First New Single in 13 Years, "Second Life", Yesterday

One of the best concerts that I caught in 2005 was the original Gang of Four at Irving Plaza.

It is somewhat bittersweet that it has taken now three years for new material to finally be released and, in the meantime, both Dave and Hugo have left the band. The band released the single "Second Life" yesterday, which is available on iTunes and as a limited edition CD single.

It is hard to get a sense of the band's future direction as "Second Life" was written while Dave was still in the band. Dave posted two rough mixes of the song to his blog a few months back (Second Life Demo #1, Second Life Demo #2). It is more than likely though that Go4 will return to the dance-sounds of their 1991 release "Mall" as Dave has been replaced with Gail Ann Dorsey who played and sang backup on this release.

Links:
Gang of Four's Website

Chris Willis: Interview with BrooklynRocks, NYC 6/2/08

R&B singer/songwriter Chris Willis was in town earlier this month to promote his latest collaboration with DJ/producer David Guetta. The new single is entitled "Love Is Gone" and it can be found on David's latest release, Pop Life. Chris sings on five of the tracks on this release and "Love Is Gone" is aggressively going up the charts. The song won a World Music Award in 2007 and, in 2008, it won the Winter Music Conference Club Award for "Best Club Anthem Of The Year" and the International Dance Music Award for "Best House/Garage Track".

Chris and I talked about everything from his current work with David Guetta to his background in gospel music, his work with some of the biggest names in country to his work with producer/hit-maker Desmond Child.



Here is the video for "Love Is Gone" (which has already gotten 16 million views).



Links:
Chris Willis' MySpace Profile

Bloody Social - Radio Maniacs EP Review

I've been wanting to check out Bloody Social for some time as I've been reading the 'future of rock and roll' hype around this band for the last few months. I got to the Mugison show at the Hiro Ballroom last month just as Mugison was taking the stage so I completely missed Bloody Social...but I did get a copy of their new single, "Radio Maniacs".

The two songs on this single are interesting but certainly not groundbreaking. Both songs are AOR/K-Rock style alt-rock tunes. The first song, "Radio Maniacs", is an upbeat rocker and the other, "Curtain Call", is a stereotypical post-Nirvana rock ballad. A good point of comparison would be the Stone Temple Pilots. The production is a bit slick on these tunes and the band (unfortunately) loses some of the rawness that they captured on their Sharpshooter EP. I'd like to hear more from the band before making any real conclusions.

I'm intrigued by the extreme "love" or "hate" comments (there is no middle ground) about the band that have been posted to various internet sites. I remember reading an interview by the guy who signed Motley Crue in the early 80's and he described them as the most hated band in California and went on to say that any band that can get people that emotionally involved in their music (either postively or negatively) has a lot of potential.

I'd like to catch Bloody Social's live set to see what they are all about. 20+ years ago, I had a buddy in the industry who insisted that Gn'R was going to be the biggest band in the world based on "Live Like A Suicide" and I just couldn't hear the potential in that disc (but I never caught the band live while they were playing the clubs).

Bloody Social is playing Piano's on July 3rd so...check 'em out for yourself. Drop me an email after you do as I'll be curious what you think.

Links:
Bloody Social's MySpace Profile

Nick Howard - Interview and Live Footage from Canal Room, NYC June 13, 2008

Nick Howard has been playing around town for a few years and has been gaining quite a number of fans over the years. Nick hooked up with Jamie Siegel last year (who has worked with Joss Stone, Lauren Hill and others) to record his debut full length CD. Even before the disc came out, Nick's song "The Pressure was included in an espisode of MTV's The Hills.

Nick's latest disc, Something to Talk About, was released last month. The disc is getting great reviews and Nick's music is getting picked up by local (Q104.3 "Out of the Box") and national media (Fearless Music).

I had a chance to talk with Nick before he went on stage last Friday at the Canal Room and he was kind enough to let me record some of his performance that night.



Here are Nick's upcoming shows in the area:
Jul 17 2008 8:30PM The Living Room New York, New York
Jul 24 2008 7:00PM Vogue/Tommy Hilfiger In-store Performance New York, New York
Aug 18 2008 8:00PM The Bitter End New York, New York

Links:
Nick Howard's Website
Nick Howard's MySpace Profile

Lauren Harris: Opens for Iron Maiden Tonight at MSG + Exclusive Interview

Lauren Harris is opening Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back in Time tour and she and her band are in town this weekend for shows at PNC Arts Center and Madison Square Gardens (tonight). Lauren is touring behind her debut CD, "Calm Before The Storm", which was released earler this month. (There is a free download, Steal Your Fire, from this disc on Lauren's MySpace profile)

I had a chance to catch up with Lauren on Friday to talk about her new CD, the Maiden tour and what the last two years have been like as she has gone from playing in front of a couple dozen people at Don Hill's to playing major arenas worldwide.



Tonight's show at the Garden is sold out but there are always tickets on the street (and not all of them will be counterfeit)

Links:
Lauren Harris' Website

The Fratellis Are Playing an Acoustic Set Tomorrow at Virgin Mega Store

This may be worth a trip out during the day but it probably requires a wristband tied to an advance purchase.

The Fratellis are playing an acoustic set at 12:30PM and then signing their new CD Here We Stand. The band is also playing a sold-out show tomorrow night at Webster Hall.

Links:
The Fratellis Website

The Eidolons Play First Live Show Tomorrow at Club Rehab

The Eidolons have just finished their debut CD, No One Ever Sticks Around That Long (Sept. '08 release date), and are playing their first live show tomorrow night at Club Rehab. The Eidolons' new disc sounds great and the band has posted a cut from this disc, "Amber", as a free download.

Tomorrow night's show is FREE and doors are at 7PM.

Links:
The Eidolons Website
Club Rehab

Santogold, Pharrell and Julian Casablancas Collaborate on Free MP3

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Converse shoes, Converse brought together Pharrell, Julian Casablancas and Santogold to create an original full-length track. The song is available as a free download on Converse's website.

According to MTV, Santogold, aka Santi White, said that the track is heavily influenced by Pharrell and that it’s not a case of selling out. "It's like one of the main ways to get our music heard now and so it's stupid for artists to shy away from that.”

John Joseph (Cro-Mags) Schedules Book Release Party and Live Show

Former Cro-Mag and current Bloodclot vocalist John Joseph has scheduled a book release party and live show on Thursday, June 19th at The Delancey. John is going to be reading from his recently published auto-biography "The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon" (Punk House Books)and playing a live set of Cro-Mags and Fearless Vampire Killers tunes with an 'all star band'. (It would be great to see some of the Bad Brains turn up for this)

The reading and vegeterian food (from John's Krishna Temple) are free but it is a $5.00 donation to see the band play. All proceeds are going to Food Relief for the Homeless.

Links:
John Joseph's MySpace profile
The Delancey

Tracii Guns' Version of LA Guns Now Features One Original Member

I am in the process of being downsized at my corporate job so I may go look for Nicky Alexander and Paul Black and form a third version of LA Guns. I didn't know Paul Black left LA Guns (sort of regretting missing the band's show at Don Hill's now) until I got a press bulletin that the new singer is Marty Casey, who came to fame on Rock Star: INXS.

I'm not (quite) ready to give up on Tracii but I just don't see this new guy (Marty) having the voice to do justice to Rip and Tear or Never Enough.



LA Guns is touring with Bang Tango and Faster Pussycat. Here are the dates in the area:
July 31 - Crazy Donkey - Farmingdale, NY
Aug. 01 - The Haunt - Yonkers, NY

The Return of Rococo: A Baroque Bash In Alphabet City

I have to say that I am intrigued by any party that is described as "burlesque, contortion/escape artistry, the Human Floor, juggling, and the nouveau-baroque music of Snazz Mammoth."

The party is on June 21st at teneleven (Avenue C btw. 10th and 11th Streets) in the
East Village. It starts at 9PM and the promoters describe it as "the extravagance of 1770 rococo Paris meets the eclecticism of 2008 underground NYC nightlife. Think Amadeus, Marie Antoinette, the Marquis de Sade, etc... Champagne, chandeliers, powdered wigs, powdered faces, and big hair will all abound in the most baroque ball since the guillotine came down.

No cover! Come in costume or come as you are."

State Bird: More Live Footage from The Annex, NYC

My parents were always concerned with the music that I was listening to when I was growing up (which were bands like Thin Lizzy, Minor Threat, Led Zeppelin and The Misfits). I always thought they were over-reactionary but I find myself turning down or off the death metal when my three year old (Jake) comes into the room.

Jake wanted to see what I was doing on the computer the other night so I showed him the live footage of State Bird that I posted to YouTube back in March. Jake hasn't heard Mostly Ghostly in a few months but he was asking where the "time to come home" song was.

Given this, I uploaded the "time to come home" song to YouTube



State Bird is playing a few dates in the Mid-West over the next few weeks but it doesn't look like they have any East Coast dates scheduled.

Links:
State Bird's MySpace Profile

Apes & Androids @ Bowery Ballroom, May 30, 2008

After catching The Canon Logic at Arlene's, I headed over to Bowery Ballroom to see Apes & Androids. The show was sold out and the place was jam packed even before Reggie Watts took the stage.


After now having seen the band play live, I'm completely sold on them. I haven't seen anything quite like A&A. There are all these reviews on the 'net that compare Apes & Androids to Bowie or Queen but this comparison doesn't do justice to the band's live show.

Apes & Androids really know how to put on a show and they seem to be one of the few bands that appreciate the theatrical aspect of the show. At Friday's performance, there were strobe lights, glow sticks and glow balls, go-go dancers with day-glo hula-hoops and monsters. I have no idea what all the people in the white tunics were doing on the stage and the end of the set but they were interesting to watch as well. This was really a production (in the best sense of the word). The only other act that I have seen put on such an elaborate stage show is Alice Cooper.

There are some more pictures from the show posted over at Stereogum.

Links:
Apes and Androids' MySpace Profile
Apes and Androids' Website

Kurt Cobain's Ashes Stolen From Courtney Love's Home

This has to be one of the craziest things that I have ever read...this is from NME.com:

According to the News Of The World, the Nirvana frontman's remains – the location of which has previously been kept secret – were taken from the Los Angeles home of his widow Courtney Love.

The ashes were said to have been kept in a "pink teddy bear-shaped bag along with a lock of his hair" and were taken with some jewellery and clothes.

Here is the full text of the NME article on the theft.

The Canon Logic @ Arlene's Grocery, NYC 5-30-08

The Canon Logic held the release party for their new CD, The White Balloon, last night at Arlene's Grocery. The room was completely full (sold out??) and the band sounded great. The band's brand of power-pop was infectious and they kept the crowd dancing (...which is rare to see at a NYC show these days). Both the crowd and the band seemed to have a great, hot and sweaty time.



The Canon Logic's next show is at R-Bar on June 28th.

Links:
The Canon Logic's MySpace Profile

Mugison @ Hiro Ballroom, NYC 5/15/08

Mugison is definately a force of nature...he and his band played a one-off show two weeks ago at the Hiro Ballroom. You really have to see Mugison to appreciate him. The music ranged from bourbon-soaked Tom Waits style blues to Hank Williams style country ballads.

“Mugiboogie,” his third official solo release, was recorded in his home studio, which offers views out onto silent, ancient fjords. Mugi put everything he had into the project. He worked 16 hours a day, started drinking and smoking again, and didn’t just flirt with a nervous breakdown but got into bed with one and spent quite a bit of time fighting to get back out.

Mugison @ Hiro Ballroom, NYC 5/15/08


I came away from the show thinking that everyone need to experience some Mugison once.

Here is a video from Iceland Airwaves where Mugi plays the song "Jesus Is A Good Name to Moan" (which is from Mugiboogie) and he also explains the background behind the song. I don't think I need to say anymore than this...



There are also a couple tracks from the new release on Mugison's MySpace profile.

Links:
Mugison's Website

Keith Caputo Plays Rare NYC Show

It is somewhat sad that Keith Caputo rarely plays NYC these days. I remember when Life of Agony seemed to play L'Amour all the time and River Runs Red was always on the radio.

Time moves on for all of us...

Keith is touring behind his latest CD, A Fondness For Hometown Scars, which was released by the Dutch label Suburban Records. Keith has a new solo band, The Sad Eyed Ladies, and he is bringing the band through the area in August on their first US tour. Keith and the Ladies are playing the Mercury Lounge on August 23rd.

There are audio samples from the new release on Keith's MySpace profile and you can buy the new CD from Keith's webshop for $15.00.

Thursday Night All Stars Announce June Residency at Piano's

Move over Weird Al...the Thursday Night All Stars are playing a 4-week Saturday night residency at Piano's next month. Here is how the band describes themselves on their MySpace page:

"TNA is a middle-eastern jam band that uses aural satire in promoting the voice of the great Ayatollah Fancy who is spreading his new mysticism based on the qualities of Spiritual Sonic-Selfishness(tm). TNA combine rock, humor, politics, and jello shots to proselytize the selfish values of the great Ayatollah Fancy while he continues to recover from being headbutted by a yack."

The first cut on the band's MySpace player, "Mahmoud", rhymes Mahmoud with 'bad dude'. Some of the other cuts in the player are 'Jihad Jam' and 'I Hate Homework'.

Good or bad...these shows definately looks like they will be an experience.

The band is playing the following Saturday's: June 7, 14, 21, and 28 and they are supposed to take the stage at midnight each night.

Links:
Thursday Night All Stars' MySpace Profile
Thursday Night All Stars' Website

Apes & Androids Are Playing Bowery Ballroom + Blood Moon CD Review

Apes & Androids are getting so much media buzz these days, I am surprised that there are still tickets available to the band's show next week at Bowery Ballroom. The show is Friday, May 30th and A&A are playing with Free Blood and The Forms. Tickets are only $13.00.

I've heard about Apes & Androids' over-the-top live shows shows for the past year or so but I never took the time to see the band play live so the band's debut CD, "Blood Moon", took me by surprise. (Given the number of CDs that I listen to in a given week, this really says something for the band). There are a number of reviews around the internet that compare the band to Queen but I honestly think the better point of comparison is George Clinton and P-Funk. George Clinton, with the full band, is the only act that I have seen hit the same oversexed electronic funked-up groove that Apes & Androids are playing in. This is wild stuff and I am looking forward to catching these guys live.

One of the standout tracks on the disc is "We Don't Understand You". Joly (from Punkcast.com) filmed the band's show at Studio B last year and posted a live version of this track to YouTube.



The band embraces such a wide variety of styles, I thought that I was listening to a different band as the CD first played through. Toward the middle of the disc, the band embraces more of a 80's West Coast punk/new-wave sound (a la Oingo Boingo). Check out Nights of the Week (which is a free download). "Johnny & Sarah" is another standout from this 'segment' of the disc.

The last third of the disc completely threw me as the band embraces a Coldplay/Radiohead sound. I'm not big on this style of music but "Doyle Is Dead" is a pretty cool song.

"Blood Moon" is truly a unique, stand-out disc and Apes & Androids have set the bar pretty high for a follow-up.

Links:
Apes & Androids' MySpace profile
Apes & Androids' Website

The B-52s Play Live on The Today Show on Memorial Day

The B-52s on the Today Show is a great way to kick off the Memorial Day festivities.

The band will be playing sometime between 7AM and 11AM on Monday. According to The B-52s MySpace page (link below), you can send an email to contest@cornerstonepromotion.com for a chance for you and a guest to win a VIP spot in front of the stage.

The band is also playing two shows in the area as part of the True Colors Tour:
June 01 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
June 03 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall

Links:
The B-52's MySpace Profile
The B-52's Website

Coffins - Burried Death CD Review

I've never really taken a firm position on music downloading until tonight. I was searching for some background info on Coffins to add to this review and a good number of torrent sites came up in the top slots on Google. C'mon kids...the CD isn't officially released for another month and it is already all over the internet???? It is highly unlikely that Coffins makes much money and this sort of bulls*t will limit both the band's releases and their ability to tour in the future.

Anyway...on with the review. Coffins sound has devolved and slowed waaaay down over the years. On the band's third release, Buried Death, the music is akin to a death metal version of The Melvins crossed with Kyuss. There are low-end bass and drums throughout the disc over which guitarist/vocalist Uchino growls in a cookie monster voice and locks in some stoner guitar riffs and psychedelic leads. While the band's style remains consistent across the disc, there is enough musical diversity between the tracks that the band doesn't wear out their welcome.

In addition to the music, the packaging is pretty cool on this release as Coffins appears to be one of the few bands that remembers the thrill of buying a gatefold LP for the cover art, inserts, etc. Buried Dead has some pretty killer cover art by Chris Moyen depicting zombies in the graveyard and the CD comes in an LP-like inner-sleeve. The band obviously took a lot of care in putting this release together.

Buried Death will be released on June 24th on 20 Buck Spin which is distributed through Southern Lord. Decibel magazine cited Buried Dead as one of the 25 most anticipated LPs of 2008. The title track, "Buried Death", is included on Southern Lord sampler that will given out free on Boris' North American tour.

Coffins is playing the Maryland Death Fest this weekend and made their US debut last week, which included shows at ABC No Rio and Rockstar Bar. There are some pictures of Coffin's show at ABC No Rio posted to Flickr.

Links:
Coffins' MySpace Profile
Coffins' Website

Backwords @ Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY 5/1/08

There was a small but attentive crowd at Southpaw when Backwords took the stage. Backwords plays with a low-key, mellow energy that reminds me of the Dead's Americana period or Neil Young alt-country songs. The talent of the musicians in the band was obvious and I really enjoyed watching the musical interplay between the members. For being a new band, Backwords already has a full-set of original material so it will be interesting to watch what's next for the band.


Backwords' next local show is at Coco 66 (66 Greenpoint Ave) on June 6th.

Links:
Backwords Website
Backwords MySpace Profile

James Apollo is Playing Union Pool Tomorrow Night (May 21st)

James Apollo has been in Brooklyn these last few years but he is playing his last show in town before moving to Seattle. James' music falls somewhere between the alt-folk and Americana genres and he is a classical storyteller (in the mold of Dylan). James put out the fabulous Hide Your Heart in a Hive CD last year and there are two tracks from this release streaming on his MySpace page (link below).

If you want to check out what James sounds live in advance of the show, he recently made a live appearance on Fox in Minneapolis playing "I've Got It Easy" (from his most recent release).

Links:
James Apollo's MySpace Profile
James Apollo's Website

Ponytail Release Free Download of New Single From Forthcoming CD

Baltimore's Ponytail just released their new single, Come Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From An Angel), as a free download. This track is off the band's forthcoming album, Ice Cream Spiritual, which will be released June 17th on the We Are Free label. This is some pretty crazy stuff and well worth checking out.

Ponytail is in town for a show at the Knitting Factory on May 31st with Thank You and Wzt Hearts. Tickets are $8.00 in advance.

Links:
Ponytail's Website
Ponytail's MySpace profile

Thee Majesty (Genesis P-Orridge + Bryin Dall) Return for First Show in Two Years

Thee Majesty are playing their first show since the passing of Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge on May 22nd @ The New York Society for Ethical Culture. This is located at 2 W 64th Street, five blocks north of Columbus Circle.

Thee Majesty rarely plays live and the band's last show was in November of 2006 at Northsix. (The band's previous show was two years prior at Tonic).

Links:
Thee Majesty's MySpace profile

Bugs in the Dark Release First Video, "Gasoline", from forthcoming CD

Brooklyn's Bugs in the Dark just released the first video from their forthcoming CD "Grand Avenue". This is a great video and I have been really getting into the tracks that I have heard from this upcoming release. Check out Bug's MySpace page (link below) to hear Ave. M.



Bugs in the Dark's CD release show is at Fontana's on May 31st and tickets are $7.00.

Links:
Bugs in the Dark's MySpace profile

Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I - IV CD Review

I have been wrestling with the philosophical question: Does free = good? Would this release get this much media buzz if it were released by either Pelican or Echoes & Shadows. (If anyone is wondering the context, Ghosts is all instrumental and both of the aforementioned bands are great instrumental bands).

Nine Inch Nails released Ghosts I-IV (part I) as a free download on the NIN site. Part 1 includes the first 9 of the 36 track double-CD. The entire album is available as a $5 download, a $10 double CD, a $75 "deluxe" package with CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray copies, and a $300 "ultra-deluxe" edition (which is already sold out).

The whole distribution concept is fascinating as this release generated $1.6M in its first week of release. I'm a big NiN fan and recognize and appreciate Trent Reznor's talent but this is a good, not essential, release. Long-time fans will likely buy this regardless but the curious are better off sticking with the free download. The 36 tracks aren't distinctive enough on their own so that anyone curious won't miss much after listening to the first nine cuts.

For anyone who hasn't heard this disc - it sounds nothing like past NiN work. Anyone expecting "Head Like A Hole" will be severely disappointed. This is a double disc of instrumental work with some middle-eastern flavoring (ala Eno/Byrne "My Life In the Bush of Ghosts"). The problem is that Reznor never challenges the listener in the same manner as Eno and Byrne. There are many tracks where the music just drifts away in the background. Adrian Belew plays some tasty guitar on a few tracks but that isn't enough to save this disc from being much more than background listening.

I'm not planning on parting with this disc but I don't think it will get much future play. With the tracks not being that distinctive, this is the sort of disc that you either listen to start-to-finish or not at all.

To drift back into my day-job...I am fascinated by the online community that has sprung up around this release. NiN created a YouTube channel around this release and there are currently 6,752 members and 1,019 videos.

"To expand the idea of the "Ghosts" project, Nine Inch Nails is inviting anyone and everyone to create visuals to accompany the album's music. In a few months, we'll be gathering the entries we feel are particularly exceptional and highlighting them. There are no rules to this - be as creative as you like. Create a music video, or a short film, or something completely abstract. Use only one track from the album, or use multiple tracks."

Links:
Nine Inch Nails' Website

Bugs in the Dark Announce CD Release Party at Fontana's on May 31st

Now that we are almost midway through the year - it is time for my 2008 predictions. Bugs in the Dark is one of the bands that I am expecting to break big this year.

The band recently completed their first full length CD, "Grand Avenue", and they are throwing a CD release party at Fontana's on May 31st. The band released an fabulous EP last year so I have high expectations for their full-length. There are two tracks ("Ave M" and "Gasoline") from the forthcoming release streaming on Bug in the Dark's MySpace page. Based on these two tracks, the band's sound has gotten fuller and these tracks are kin to the raw sounds of early Sonic Youth.

"Cancel everything and go see their next show." - Indie Sounds NY, Pete Harris

Fontana's is located at 105 Eldridge St. (between Grand and Broome) and cover is $7.00.

Warrior Soul (Kory Clarke) Play Ace of Clubs on May 31st

Who would have thought Kory Clarke would resurrect Warrior Soul? Kory put a new lineup together last year and the band has been getting great reviews for their shows in Europe. Finally, Kory is bringing the band to the US for their first NYC show since the one-off 'reunion' show at The Continental in 2004.

The Stoned are also on the bill and Kory is both the band's drummer and producer. With Kory having recently replaced Eric Wagner in Trouble, it is amazing that this guy can find the time to be in three bands.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.

Links:
Warrior Soul's Website
Warrior Soul's MySpace Profile

Interview with ism (ismmusic) Founder Andre Mistier

Last Thursday, I caught up with ism's Andre Mistier and talked with him about the band's upcoming sophomore release Urgency and what the band's plans are for 2008. Here is a direct link to the interview with Andre and here is a link to the podcast feed .

Urgency comes out in August and the first single, Sacred Cows, is included in the above podcast. There are a couple additional tracks from Urgency streaming on ism's MySpace page.

ism's next show is the WEQX-FM Riverfest in Albany, NY on June 14th.

Links:
ism's Website

Tristan Prettyman Releases Behind the Scenes Footage from "Madly" Video Shoot

Tristan Prettyman - Behind The Scenes on "Madly"

Here is the original music video:


Links:
Tristan Prettyman's Website
Tristan Prettyman's MySpace Profile

Dead Leaf Echo - Pale Fire CD Review / Show at Trash Bar on May 15th

This is an impressive disc...Dead Leaf Echo's second CD perfectly captures the spirit of the 80's-era Beggars Banquet/4AD bands. The band's sound is part atmospheric wall-of-sound, part goth/new romantic and part shoegazer. The amalgamation of all these styles makes for an interesting disc that warrants repeated play.

Singer/guitarist LG has a world-weary voice, which he complements with a guitar sound that ranges from a jangle (without embracing a 'pop' sound) to a wash of sound. Liza B. plays on integral role with tasteful keys and backing vocals and there is some pretty crisp drumming throughout the disc. In a recent interview with Gearwire , LG says the band’s influences include 4AD, Creation and Factory—delay heavy guitars with lush ethereal vocals.

The disc starts out with the gothic/ambient tracks "Warm Body" and "Thought Talk". Here is the video for "Warm Body" and the black and white 35MM film really captures the essence of the band's sound.



From here, the band shifts into some up-tempo tracks, "Tears" and "Cry The Sea". This is the closest that the band comes to 'rockers' and a good point of comparison may be My Bloody Valentine. The disc ends with two epic wall-of-sound tracks, "Pale Fire" and "Reflex Motion", that showcase the band's intricate and layered sound.

A limited edition second pressing of Pale Fire is available through the band's MySpace profile (link below).

Dead Leaf Echo play the Trash Bar in Brooklyn tomorrow night (May 15th) and Rehab on August 15th.

Links:
Dead Leaf Echo's MySpace Profile
Dead Leaf Echo's Website

Lou Reed Interviews Roderick Romero of Sky Cries Mary

Last year, Sky Cries Mary regrouped and recorded their first new studio album, "Small Town", in a decade. Lou Reed is a fan of the band and he spent some time with vocalist Roderick Romero talking about the new CD and music in general.



For anyone not familiar with Sky Cries Mary, the band has been around 20 years and plays trance/ambient rock in a style similar to Spacemen 3 or My Bloody Valentine. There are three tracks from "Small Town" streaming on the band's MySpace profile (link below).

Links:
Sky Cries Mary's Website
Sky Cries Mary's MySpace Profile

Amplify Is Playing The Charleston in Brooklyn Tonight

Amplify is playing The Charleston (in Williamsburg) tonight and they are going on at 10PM. The band has been playing out a bit more with the release of their debut CD, "Beneath the Beauty Lies Heaven to Burn", which is a great melodic hard-rock disc. The Charleston is located at 174 Bedford Ave (which is between 7th and 8th Street.

For anyone not familiar with Amplify, here is a live video of the band performing "House" from their appearance on WoozyFly.com.



Links:
Pictures from Amplify's March '08 show at The Cutting Room
Amplify's MySpace Profile

Pennywise - Reason to Believe CD Review

Before getting into the music, I think it important to note that Pennywise broke ground with the distribution of their ninth album, Reason to Believe. The band made the album available as a free DRM-free, 320kbps MP3 download via MySpace. As far as I know, Pennywise is the first major act to make an album available to the general public as a high-quality download. (Before anyone mentions Radiohead, their ‘pay what you will’ download was very low quality). I read some complaints that Pennywise partnered with Textango and MySpace on the distribution. The reality is…why does it matter how the band distributed the music?

I should context this review by stating that I haven’t kept up with Pennywise’s career over the years so I can’t compare this release to any of their immediate prior. The last time I saw the band play live was 1994 when they opened for The Meatmen while touring behind “Unknown Road”. This new release, Reason to Believe, certainly seems comparable to “Unknown Road”.

While the music on this disc doesn’t stray far from Pennywise’s established 90’s SoCal skate punk sound, this is an enjoyable release. There are some ‘brushes’ with metal/hardcore but the band sticks with their formula of power-punk guitar crossed with breakneck drumming across most of the disc. Singer Jim Lindberg’s voice is mixed on top of the instruments and there are more call and response sing-a-longs, vocal harmonies and “whoas” than you would find in a Misfits tribute band. Lyrically, the band is just as pissed off as ever. Songs like “Western World” where the lyrics are “We are the dregs of the Western World, the steroid boys and video girls. We are the viral internet stars and the anchor man can’t stop crying. We are the dead with the dreaded disease, the nuclear sons of you and me” are pretty typical of what is on the band’s mind.

When listening to this CD, I kept hearing elements of mid-90’s Bad Religion. Try listening to this disc without thinking of Bad Religion’s “Recipe for Hate” or “Stranger Than Fiction”. This isn’t a bad thing though - fans of Pennywise or SoCal power-punk sound should enjoy this release.

Links:
Pennywise's MySpace Profile
Note: the old www.pennywisdom.com site now redirects to the band's MySpace page

KaiserCartel Release First Single from Forthcoming Debut CD "March Forth"

Brooklyn's KaiserCartel are releasing their debut full-length CD, "March Forth" on June 10th. The disc is coming out on bluhammock music and the band has a CD release party at Joe's Pub that night.

Here is the description of the show from JoesPub.com:
"Eclectic, infectious music" are the words Benjamin Cartel uses to describe KaiserCartel’s low-tech, song-driven style. "We want people to feel like a fly on the wall in our living room." says Courtney Kaiser. KaiserCartel’s earthy blend of folk-rock and pop will make you laugh, cry, sing along, and want to hold hands with the stranger next to you. Warm up by the fire with KaiserCartel.

I'm a big fan of the tracks streaming on KaiserCartel's website and MySpace profile and the band just released the first single, "Okay", from March Forth. The band's bio describes "Okay" as "[t]he swirling harmonies between Courtney and Benjamin...are a perfect example of the special bond between them as collaborators and as a couple, as they ask of each other, “How are you feeling?”

The Joe's Pub show starts at 7PM. Tickets are $15 and Lucinda Black Bear is opening the show.

Lou Reed Played Highline Ballroom Last Night (May 6th)

Last night, Lou Reed played the one-year anniversary show at Highline Ballroom. After the negative reviews on Reed's show at Highline Ballroom last year (see previous post), I skipped last night's show.

It sounds as though I missed a good show as Reed was described as being in reasonable spirits and good form. Here is the set list (taken from the Highline Ballroom blog) for the show:

01) Mad
02) Sweet Jane
03) I'm Set Free
04) Ectasy
05) I'm Sticking With You
06) Power of the Heart
07) I Wanna Know
08) Halloween Parade
09) Video Violence
10) Guaridian Angel
11) Magic and Loss
12) Pale Blues Eyes
13) Perfect Day
14) Satellite of Love
15) Walk on the Wild Side

This is an infinitely better set list than the prior year's show and it sounds like one of the highlights of the show was a 15 minute version of "Ectasy" with John Zorn.

Lou is off the road until June when he heads over to Ireland for a couple shows.
Links:
Lou Reed's Website
Village Voice Review of the Show
Pictures from the show from Highline Ballroom blog

Biohazard: The Original Lineup Plays L'Amour on Friday, June 20th

I don't think anyone anticipated the announcement in January that the original lineup of Biohazard was reuniting for a 20th Anniversary tour. Once the announcement was made though, it seemed inevitably that the band would play L'Amour.

Biohazard is playing L'Amour on June 20th and I would expect tickets go quick. Tickets are $35 (forget about tickets at the door) and here is the link to order tickets in advance.

Links:
L'Amour's MySpace Profile
Biohazard's Website

Robert Francis Releases First Video, "Little Girl", from his One By One CD

Robert Francis released his debut CD, One By One, late last year (see previously posted CD review of One By One). Robert just released the first video, "Little Girl", from the CD.



This is a pretty wild video. It takes a little bit of getting used to as the video starts off in reverse (with both the storyline and cinematography) and ends in quite the twist of a beginning.

Robert's currently in the studio laying down tracks for his upcoming sophomore release. Given this, there aren't any upcoming shows scheduled but here is link to Robert's interview and live performance on NPR which was recorded in October of last year.

Links:
Robert Francis' MySpace profile

Tesco Vee & The Meatmen Return with a Show In Long Island on May 11th

After a 12 year absence, Tesco Vee has resurrected The Meatmen and is on the road with his Hate in 08 tour. Tesco is an incredible frontman and he is one of the only people that I have seen, outside of Fear's Lee Ving, who can hold a crowd at bay with just his "witty stage banter".

"A decade spent in my basement toy room /satanic shrine/ torture chamber for neighborhood cats/ Pilsner brewing cave/ and High grade ganga farm. On any given nite you'll find me down there guzzling my drink of choice Bombay Saphire, reefin' on Lucky Strike non-filter heaters , whilst watching Seka and Vanessa Del Rio Beta videos, poking pins in the Hank Rollins voodoo doll and drunk driving in my '59 Ford Galaxie 500.(ya there's a test track down there too!)(I'm a multi taskin' mutuhufucka!) I agree the world needs me more now than ever. Your humble servant returns like a prodigal son, bearing a gilded silver platter bearing Ten Fold Hate…I'M BACK MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!! Thought you were done with my saggy ass didn't ya? WRONG ASSFACE! My recent comeback special in Detroit May 26, 2007 sparked an inner desire to return for another go-round. Why you might ask? Hearing the throngs of cheers and jeers from the chrome dome neanderthal lunkhead contingent, lit a fire in my sack to return to the soap box to preach the gospel of musclehead aggro once more!"

-- from www.tescovee.com

The closest that The Meatmen are coming to the city is The Nutty Irishmen in Bayshore, Long Island. I haven't been to the bar before but, looking at the concert calendar, I have to wonder how The Meatmen got booked. Friday night, a Steely Dan tribute band is booked, Saturday night is an Allman Brothers tribute band and then The Meatmen are playing on Sunday, May 11th.

I haven't seen bookings this eclectic since the 9:30 Club booked Suzanne Vega for an early show and booked The Genitorturers the same night for a late show. I was in the club when an older woman was chasing Vega's child across the empty main floor while Tim Skold and band were setting up.

Links:
Tesco Vee's Website
Tesco Vee's MySpace Profile

The Acorn - Soundfix Records, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 5/4/08

The Acorn are in town for a 4 show run (all at different venues though). The second show was earlier this evening at Soundfix Records in Brooklyn. The band played what has to be close to a complete set, with the majority of the material coming from the new CD, Glory Hope Mountain.



The Acorn capture the intricacy and intimacy of Glory Hope Mountain in their live set and all the members of the band are impressive musicians. NY Press said that "[their] intricate polyrhythms and instrumentation absorbed me immediately and completely". If you are going to Monday or Tuesday's show, get to the club early so that you can get close enough to watch the band play.

The Acorn have two more shows in town. They are playing Piano's tomorrow night (May 5th) and Mercury Lounge on May 6th.

Links:
The Acorn's Website
The Acorn's MySpace Profile

Kory Clarke Replaces Eric Wagner in Trouble

I have missed a few key shows over the years as I always assume the band will be back through the area within the next 6-12 months. I missed Joe Strummer at St. Anne's and now I am kicking myself for missing Trouble's reunion show at BB King's last year. Trouble seemed back in action so I always figured that they would come back through the area once "Simple Mind Condition" was released in the US.

A year later..."Simple Mind Condition" has yet to come out (allegedly it will come out this month but...we have all heard this before) and singer Eric Wagner just left the band. The new singer for Trouble is Kory Clarke (from Warrior Soul and Dirty Rig). I love Kory Clarke but I am going to have to see him fronting Trouble before I decide what I think of this change. Kory has a great voice but I am just having trouble imagining him singing anything from Trouble's first two CDs. At the same time, I can easily image Kory singing the material from Trouble's Def America period.

The new lineup of Trouble is doing a live webcast on July 11, 2008. You can buy a 'ticket' (for $4.99) at www.deeprockdrive.com.

Links:
Trouble's Website