Ill Bill Plays Only Local Show at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ (La Coka Nostra)

Hardcore/hip-hop rapper Ill Bill is playing a few shows next month and the closest that he is coming to NYC is Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ.

Bill is touring behind his second solo disc, The Hour of Reprisal, which was released toward the end of '08. Bill is also part of La Coka Nostra and they have a new disc coming July on Suburban Noize Records. La Coka Nostra is comprised of Ill Bill, Slaine, Danny Boy, Everlast, DJ Lethal and Big Left. Bill described this release as "a no holds barred burst of hardcore hip-hop to the fullest, representing everything we love about this art form but feel is missing from the game right now".

Recently, Ill Bill has made a few appearances on Fearless Music to play some cuts from The Hour of Reprisal.

Ill Bill - "My Uncle", Live on Fearless Music


Ill Bill - "A Bullet Never Lies", Live on Fearless Music


Links:
Ill Bill's MySpace Profile

Chico Fellini Play Public Assembly on June 6th (Dance Rock)

DOWNLOAD: Chico Fellini - "Electrolyte" (MP3)

Photo: YouAintNoPicasso
Lexington, KY post-punk quartet Chico Fellini are playing Public Assembly on June 6th with Stacy Rock and Nightrats.

Chico Fellini are touring behind their self-titled debut CD which was released in March and the disc has been getting great reviews. Amplifier Magazine said "Props must be given to Chico Fellini for creating an innovative, fun and thought-provoking masterpiece on its first try".

YouAintNoPicasso is a big fan of the band's live show (link is above). For anyone who wants an advance look at the band's live show, here is a live performance of "No Strata" (which is on the new CD).



Tickets for the show at Public Assembly are $10 and the set times are: 7PM-Stacy Rock, 8PM-Nightrats and 9PM-Chico Fellini.

Links:
Chico Fellini's MySpace Profile

Grant Hart (x-Nova Mob, Husker Du) Plays The Bell House on Monday, June 1st

Grant Hart (x-Husker Du, x-Nova Mob) is playing a rare solo show Monday night at The Bell House. Grant has a new album in the can and it is his first since 1999's Good News for Modern Man. The new disc was recorded in Montreal with members of A Silver Mt. Zion and Godspeed You! Black Emperor and in Minneapolis with members of Rank Strangers and Fat Kid Wednesdays. The first track from this release, "School Buses Are For Children", is streaming on Grant's MySpace page.

Based on some of the set lists that I've seen, Grant is playing a good mix of solo material and Husker Du songs on his current tour. Here is the set list from the show a few nights ago in Rochester.

Grant Hart — Bug Jar, Rochester NY, 26 May 2009

Remains To Be Seen
You Don't Have To Tell Me Now
You're the Reflection Of The Moon On The Water
The Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill
Never Talking To You Again
2541
[new song] ("words of a friend...out for an evening")
Barbara
A Letter From Anne Marie
She Floated Away
Terms Of Psychic Warfare
Diane
Green Eyes
Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely
Books About UFOs

Tickets for Monday's show are $10 and Grant is playing with Death Vessel and Kevin Barker.

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.

Pet Ghost Project Releases Two New EPs; Record Release Show at Fontana's on May 29th

DOWNLOAD: Pet Ghost Project - "They Built a City in My Country Mind" (from The Wordless Conversation)
DOWNLOAD: Pet Ghost Project - "Wires From the Ceiling" (from Idiot Brain/Genius Heart)

Justin Stivers has released two new Pet Ghost Project CDs as free downloads available through PetGhostProject.com.

The Wordless Conversation EP is a rich flurry of epic instrumental works while Idiot Brain/Genius Heart is a frolicking art-pop collection. Like past works by Pet Ghost Project, these lo-fi EPs will continue to rightfully cement comparisons to Animal Collective, Neutral Milk Hotel and Brian Wilson.

Pet Ghost Project have a number of upcoming shows around the area:
5/29 -- Fontana's (Record Release Show)
6/05 -- Goodbye Blue Monday - Brooklyn
6/07 -- Animal Shelter Benefit Show @ Arlene's Grocery
6/13 -- Northside Festival. Bar Matchless. - Brooklyn
6/19 -- Trash Bar - Brooklyn
7/11 -- Bar 4 - Brooklyn
7/16 -- Crash Mansion

Links:
Pet Ghost Project's MySpace Profile

Charlie Allen: Interview with Nashville Country Artist (New CD is 'That Was Then, This is Now')

Right before Memorial Day, I had the chance to talk with country recording artist Charlie Allen. Charlie has a new track called “No Welcome Home” which is a special single made exclusively to honor Veterans during this Memorial Day holiday. A portion of the proceeds of “No Welcome Home” will be given to various Veterans funds and the track can be purchased on Cdbaby.com.



Charlie has been playing music since the age of seven and his first public show was opening for Hank Williams Jr. Charlie is currently signed to indy label, River Run Records, and his newest CD "That Was Then, This Is Now" came out in April. The first single, "See If I Care", is currently climbing the Country charts.



Charlie is playing Bonnaroo next month before heading over to the UK later this Summer for a tour of Ireland. Here are Charlie's June tour dates:

June 11 2009, 4:45PM, BONNAROO, Manchester, TN
June 12 2009, 8:00PM, CMA FAN FEST and BONNAROO, Manchester, TN
June 13 2009, 8:00PM, CMA FAN FEST and BONNAROO, Manchester, TN
June 14 2009, 8:00PM, NASHVILLE CONVENTION CENTER, Nashville, TN
June 14 2009, 8:00PM, CMA FAN FEST, Nashville, TN

Links:
Charlie Allen's MySpace Profile

RockItOut! Blog Hosts a Concert Tomorrow Night at The Delancey w/ Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne)

Former Fuse TV host and 23 to Sparta vocalist Sami Jarroush hosts the first RockItOut! Concert tomorrow night at The Delancey.

The show starts around 7PM and cover is $7.00. The bands playing are:

7pm - The Ambassadors
8pm - The Narrative (featuring members of Taking Back Sunday & Straylight Run)
9pm – Aliens
10pm - The Orion Experience
11pm - Jody Porter (from Fountains of Wayne)



Links:
RockItOut! Blog

Andy Shauf - "Darker Days" CD Review (P Is For Panda Records)

DOWNLOAD: Andy Shauf - Three Cuts from Darker Days are available as a Free Download on iSound.com

Andy Shauf's full-length debut Darker Days came out last week on P is for Panda Records. The disc is a collection of the best of Andy's bedroom demos but, unlike most demo tapes, the songs are surprisingly mature. Andy wrote, produced and played all the instruments on this disc; on only two of the eleven cuts does he bring on friends to help out on backing vocals.

Andy has a silky-smooth voice but he doesn't use his voice alone to cary the songs. The backing instrumentation plays a major role in most songs and it ranges from acoustic guitar to electric grunge chords, handclaps and a banjo. While Deb Hansen adds some beautiful backing vocals to "Crushes", one of the real gems on this CD is "Gone" where Andy provides his own backing vocals and sings in glorious Beach Boys-like harmony with himself.

The themes of a lot of the songs are about love and relationships but the disc doesn't come off as a bland folk/emo disc. While there are a few slow spots, Andy keeps the disc moving by changing up the tempos, the instruments and his vocals. Some of the strongest cuts ("The Greatest Moments", "Your Heart" and "Crushes") are streaming on Andy's MySpace page.


Here is the first of Andy's video blogs which features an acoustic performance of "Your Heart". This is the lead-off track from Darker Days and it is a great segue into the rest of the disc.



Andy is currently touring in Canada and here are his upcoming tour dates:
June 2, 2009 -- 7:00PM, Estevan Comprehensive School Cafeteria, Estevan, Saskatchewan
June 12, 2009 -- 8:00PM, Haar Theatre (Grant MacEwan Arts Campus), Edmonton, Alberta
July 8, 2009 -- 7:30PM, TCU Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
August 7-9, 2009 -- Regina Folk Festival, Regina, Saskatchewan

A.A. Bondy Plays Bell House in Brooklyn on June 6th

DOWNLOAD: A.A. Bondy - "Mightiest of Guns" (HearYa Sessions)

A.A. Bondy starts his summer tour next month in Northampton and he is playing the Bell House on June 6th. Bondy is likely to debut some new material on the road as he is currently in a Mississippi studio finishing up his second album for Fat Possum. A.A. Bondy's first CD, American Hearts, was re-released by Fat Possum in April 2008 after its original release by Superphonic in 2007.

For anyone who hasn't heard American Hearts, here is a live video of the title track.


Here is A.A. Bondy's summer tour schedule:
June 05, Northampton, MA -- Iron Horse Music Hall
June 06, Brooklyn, NY -- Bell House
June 08, Philadelphia, PA -- Kung Fu Necktie
June 09, Pittsburgh, PA -- Club Cafe
June 11, Arlington, VA -- Iota
June 12, Charlotte, NC -- Snug Harbor
June 14, Manchester, TN -- Bonnaroo Music Festival
June 15, Columbus, OH -- The Basement
June 16, Indianapolis, IN -- Radio Radio
June 17, Pontiac, MI -- The Pike Room
June 18, Chicago, IL -- Schubas Tavern
June 19, Milwaukee, WI -- Club Garibaldi
June 20, Minneapolis, MN -- 400 Bar
June 22, Denver, CO -- Hi Dive
June 23, Salt Lake City, UT -- Urban Lounge
June 25, San Francisco, CA -- Café du Nord
June 26, Visalia, CA -- Cellar Door
June 29, Phoenix, AZ -- Modified Arts
July 07, Baton Rouge, LA -- Spanish Moon

Links:
A.A. Bondy's MySpace Profile

Free BBQ and Maker's Mark Milkshakes Tomorrow Afternoon at Bushwick Country Club (Courtesy of FreeIceCream.Net)

DOWNLOAD: Almost Fameless Volume 3: "Been Such A Long Time" (Produced by DJ SmutVillian) MP3

Hip-hop artists Kats and Domer are throwing a free BBQ and Maker's Mark milkshakes tomorrow at Bushwick Country Club. The FreeIceCream party runs from 2PM - 7PM tomorrow and Bushwick Country Club is located at 618 Grand Street (@Leonard).

Kats and Domer have also posted a third volume of their "Almost Fameless" mixtape series as a free download on their FreeIceCream site. The "Almost Fameless" series features Kats and Domer collaborating with some of New York City’s premier MCs and producers. Each mixtape is a "ten–song party of all new material chocked full of bangin beats, top–notch rhymes and memorable guest appearances."

The Datsuns: "Head Stunts" CD Review (Cooking Vinyl USA)

After being released in Europe at the end of last year, The Datsuns' fourth disc, Head Stunts, was finally released in the US this month. Like The Datsuns' past work, this is another slab of high-energy power-punk.

The disc starts off with a bang as the lead-off track "Human Error" has all of hooks of a perfect radio single. While Head Stunts is predominately composed of anthemic rock rave-ups, there are some dabbling into psychedelic/garage rock on cuts like "Hey! Paranoid People" (which prominently features Christian Livingstone's swampy Hammond organ) and the somber "Eye of the Needle" (which is driven by a pulsing bass-and-drums backbeat).

While this disc isn't significantly from The Datsuns' past work, it feels a bit more mature. The melodies and tempos ebb and flow between the songs (not all of the cuts are guitar-rawk) which makes a number of the songs more memorable. Aside for the guitar-rawk and psychedelic influences mentioned above, there are also elements of glam-rock (" Highschool Hoodlums") and 70's pop ("Cruel Cruel Fate"). The disc ends with a brilliant "Tomorrow Never Knows"-sounding shoegazer "Somebody Better"

Lyrically, this isn't a deep album (i.e. the "Chain Smoking/Shit Talking" chorus of Highschool Hoodlum) but it has some great riffs that should come across even better in the band's live performance. The last few times that The Datsuns have come through NYC, they have put on a wild performance. Here is a video from a recent performance (a cover of The Misfits' "Where Eagles Dare") that shows the live power of the band.



The Datsuns are coming back through the US in July which includes a stop at Mercury Lounge on July 18th. Here are the dates for the US and Canadian leg of the tour:

July 13, 2009, 8:00PM, Café Du Nord, San Francisco, California
July 14, 2009, 8:00PM, Echo, Los Angeles, California
July 17, 2009, 8:00PM, T T The Bears, Boston, Massachusetts
July 18, 2009, 8:00PM, Mercury Lounge, New York
July 19, 2009, 8:00PM, La Sala Rossa, Montreal, Quebec
July 20, 2009, 8:00PM, The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, Ontario
July 21, 2009, 8:00PM, Majestic Cafe, Detroit, Michigan
July 22, 2009, 8:00PM, Empty Bottle, Chicago, Illinois

Links:
The Datsuns' MySpace Profile

Crosby Stills and Nash Release CD of 1968 - 1971 Demos on June 2nd (Rhino Entertainment)

STREAM: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Demos (Rhino Entertainment)
(Streaming tracks are "Marrakesh Express”, "Almost Cut My Hair” and “Love The One You’re With")

On June 2nd, Rhino is releasing a collection of 12 previously unreleased demos by Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young) that were recorded between 1968 and 1971. Many of the performances feature various combinations of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and the tracks are a good mix of CSN(&Y) and solo solo songs.

Some of the tracks include:
- "Marrakesh Express" features Crosby, Stills and Nash and was recorded four months before CSN's debut release
- "Music is Love" features Crosby, Nash and Young
- "Almost Cut My Hair" is a solo recording by David Crosby
- "My Love is a Gentle Thing" is a 1968 solo recording by Stephen Stills

Here is the complete track list:

1. "Marrakesh Express"
2. "Almost Cut My Hair"
3. "You Don't Have To Cry"
4. "Déjà Vu"
5. "Sleep Song"
6. "My Love Is A Gentle Thing"
7. "Be Yourself"
8. "Music Is Love"
9. "Singing Call"
10. "Long Time Gone"
11. "Chicago"
12. "Love The One You're With"

Crosby, Stills & Nash are out on tour this summer and here are their June tour dates:
June 03 - St. Louis, MO, Chaifetz Arena
June 04 - Chicago, IL, Charter One Pavilion
June 06 - Detroit, MI, Meadow Brook
June 07 - Toledo, OH, Zoo Amphitheatre
June 09 - Niagara, ON, Fallsview Casino Resort
June 10 - Canandaigua, NY, Constellation, PAC
June 12 - Cooperstown, NY, Doubleday Field
June 13 - Mashantucket, CT, MGM Grand @ Foxwoods
June 14 - Boston, MA, Bank of America Pavilion
June 27 - Glastonbury, England, Glastonbury Festival
June 29 - Cork, Ireland, Marquee

Links:
Crosby, Stills & Nash's Website

Canon Logic Play Southpaw on Thursday, May 28th with Ann Courtney and the Late Bloomers

DOWNLOAD: The Canon Logic - "The Devil Sold His Soul" (MP3)

Photo by James Hamilton Photography
This is my 'pick of the week' show.

The Canon Logic are playing at Southpaw on Thursday night with Ann Courtney & the Late Bloomers. The Canon Logic are fantastic live band and the crowds seem to grow in size each time that I've seen them play.

The Canon Logic are finalizing their debut full-length CD Dark Maid and the band will be playing tracks from this forthcoming release at the Southpaw show. For anyone who needs an early 'fix', the band posted their recent EP "The White Balloon" along with a handful of unreleased tracks as a free download.


Here is a live performance of "Avenue of Criminals" when the band was competing on MTV2's Rock Battle.


Tickets for the Southpaw show are $8.00 and the show starts at 8PM.

Links:
The Canon Logic's MySpace Profile

Quiet Hooves, Bird Names and Darla Farmer Play Free Memorial Day Show in Crown Heights

DOWNLOAD: Quiet Hooves - "Hott R Nott" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bird Names - "People Should Get More Aware" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Darla Farmer - "Big Accident"(MP3)

Damn...indie rock is coming into my neighborhood.

Hooves on the Turf are hosting a free all-ages Memorial Day show in Homage Burger & Bar's backyard. The show starts at 6PM and Homage is located at Franklin & Park (two short blocks from the Franklin Avenue 2/3/4/5 stop).

Playing the show are Quiet Hooves (from Athens, GA), Bird Names (from Chicago, IL) and Darla Farmer (from Nashville, Tennessee).



Quiet Hooves got some great write-ups for their recent SXSW performances. There isn't any footage from Quiet Hooves' SXSW performances posted to YouTube so here is an impromptu performance of the band playing live in a swimming pool.

Automatic Children: Release Party for New 7" Tomorrow Night at Arlene's Grocery

Not surprisingly, Automatic Children made The Deli Magazine list of top NYC bands for the second year in a row. The band has been working on new material as a follow-up to their 2007 EP "It's Not Me, It's You" and they are releasing a new vinyl 7" tomorrow night as a precursor to full-length disc later in the year.

The new 7" contains the songs "Coming Over Me" and "Solitude" and it comes with a digital download card (for those without a turntable). For old-school vinyl aficionados, the new disc is both limited and numbered. For anyone who doesn't make it out to the show tomorrow, you can pick up copies of the new single at Kim's Music and Academy Records in the Village. Kim's is now on 1st Avenue (between 7th and St. Mark's) and Academy Records is on 12th Street (between 1st Ave and 'A').

Here is a live version of "Solitude" that was recorded last month at Coco66.


Links:
Automatic Children's MySpace Profile

Drink Up Buttercup: Live Video from Cameo Lounge, Brooklyn 5-8-09

DOWNLOAD: Drink Up Buttercup - Daytrotter Session (Click-through to download the individual songs)

While Drink Up Buttercup can harmonize like The Beatles (and there is a bit of Beatles-style "Oompah" in Buttercup's music), the band's live show is closer to an Akron/Family or Animal Collective style sing-along. The music borders on the shambolic as tempos and song structures change (often mid-song) but the music never crosses over the edge into chaos.



Drink Up Buttercup are back in NYC next month for a few shows:
June 12, 2009, 8:00PM, Kanine/Frenchkiss Showcase @ Bruar Falls, Brooklyn
June 13, 2009, 8:00PM, Hooves on the Turf Showcase @ Trophy Bar
June 17, 2009, 7:00PM, Santos Party House w/ Clues (18+), New York

Links:
Drink Up Buttercup's MySpace Profile
Kanine Records

Noah: Live Performance and Interview with BrooklynRocks, May '09 (NoahXMusic / Human Geometry)

Canadian electro/dance artist Noah was in town last week to promote his debut CD Human Geometry (which will be released June 23rd through iTunes). I talked with Noah about the new CD, his influences and how he got into the music business. Noah also gave an impromptu performance of his new single "Mannequin" which kicks off this video.



The underlying message of Human Geometry is one of personal growth and self-improvement -- "[t]he idea is that everything you experience in life, up until this very moment, shapes you. The contradictory idea is that you have the power and control to shape your own life."

Noah's next show is June 10th at the Canal Room. He is playing as part of ArjanWrites Superfraiche Pop Music Showcase and advance tickets are $10.00.

Links:
Noah's MySpace Profile

Patrick Watson: Live Videos Posted from NYC and Los Angeles (Wooden Arms)

I'm still kicking myself for having to miss Patrick Watson's show at City Winery. For anyone who also missed the show, there are a number of pro-shot live video that have gone up on the 'net.

Here is some footage from WNYC Studios that was recorded earlier this month:


Here is a wild performance of 'Hearts in the Park' that was filmed in a piñata shop in downtown Los Angeles:


Lastly - here is Patrick's latest video "Fireweed", which is the opening track from Wooden Arms.


Patrick and Wooden Arms are currently touring in Europe and here are the upcoming tour dates:
May 24, 2009 8:00PM @ Mezz, Breda
May 25, 2009 8:00PM @ AB Box,Brussels
May 26, 2009 8:00PM, @ Melkweg, Amsterdam
May 28, 2009 8:00PM, @ Ubel und Gefahrlich, Hamburg
May 29, 2009 8:00PM, @ Passionkirsche, Berlin
May 31, 2009 8:00PM, @ Luxor, Cologne

Links:
Patrick Watson's MySpace Profile

The Soul of John Black Plays Sullivan Hall Tomorrow Night, May 14th (John Bigham)

STREAM: The Soul of John Black - Live on KCRW's Morning Becomes Electric

Former Fishbone guitarist and Miles Davis sideman John Bigham is back with his third CD under "The Soul of John Black" moniker. The new disc, Black John, was released earlier this year and here is a snippet from the Washington Post's review of the disc:

Incantatory funk choruses abound, while "I Knew a Lady" gets a lift from a propulsive go-go beat, and mid-tempo workouts like "Better Babe" and "Push Into the Night" veer in the direction of rock. For all its grit and groove, though -- the arrangements on a couple of tracks here hint at the freakadelic soul of Gnarls Barkley -- the record ends with a pair of sublime ballads, the second of them, "Thinking About You," graced with lilting filigrees of West African-style guitar.

The Soul of John Black are playing a long set tomorrow night at Sullivan Hall. The show starts at 9:30PM and tickets are $15.00.

Links:
The Soul of John Black
Sullivan Hall

Meat Puppets Play Two Shows in June at Mercury Lounge; New Disc "Sewn Together" Released Today (Megaforce)

DOWNLOAD: Meat Puppets - "Rotten Shame" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Meat Puppets - Daytrotter Session (Click through and download the tracks individually)

The Meat Puppets are back with their twelfth studio disc Sewn Together which is the band's second post-reunion album.

The new disc was written by Curt Kirkwood and recorded on vintage analog gear at the Saltmine studio in Mesa, Ariz. Curt also produced the disc with the help of his son Elmo. The LA Times describes the album as mixing "the Meat Puppets' heavy-rock free-flights with speckled shades of intimate country-folk."

The band's US tour started today in Los Angeles and the Meat Puppets are playing June 11-12 at the Mercury Lounge.

Here are the upcoming shows:

May 12th - The Mint - Los Angeles, CA
May 27th - Waterfront - Louisville, KY
May 28th - Blueberry Hill - St Louis, MO
May 29th - The Annex - Madison, WI
May 30th - Schuba's - Chicago, IL
May 31st - Schuba's - Chicago, IL
June 2nd - Mad Hatter's - Cincinnatti, OH
June 3rd - The Summit - Columbus, OH
June 4th - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
June 5th - Mr. Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA
June 6th - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH
June 7th - Mohawk - Buffalo, NY
June 9th - Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
June 10th - Paradise - Boston, MA
June 11th - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
June 12th - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
June 13th - Rock n' Roll Hotel - Washington, DC
June 14th - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC
June 16th - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
June 17th - Exit/In - Nashville, TN
June 19th - Pontiac Garage at HOB - Dallas, TX
June 20th - The Parish - Austin, TX

Links:
Derrick Bostrom's Meat Puppets Site
Meat Puppets' MySpace Profile

Dogs of Winter (Brian Grosz) Release Debut CD as a Free Download; CD Release Show at Fat Baby on Wednesday, May 13th

Brooklyn-based hard rockers Dogs of Winter have released their debut CD, From Soil to Shale, as a free download and the band is playing a CD release show tomorrow night at Fat Baby.

"From Soil To Shale," the blistering 9-song debut from Dogs Of Winter, marks the trio's passage from decay and detritus into the splintery, dark mass of angular stone you see before you. Compressed under the weight of Russian amplification, steeped in science-fiction and late-night movies, the album comprises tales of gorgons, body-snatching extra-terrestrial nano-organisms, tribal-excommunication and the unceasing march of progress.

The new disc was mixed by Andrew Schneider (Cave In, Pelican, Scissorfight, Unsane) and mastered by Nick Zampiello (Converge, Torche). From Soil To Shale also features custom artwork by Joe Boyle which is embedded in each individual track and the accompanying PDF digi-booklet.

Here is the video for the lead-off track from the disc, "Player Piano":



You can download From Soil To Shale, PDF-digbooklet and track-specific album art at Brian's Lapdance Academy site.

Dogs of Winter are playing at 9PM tonight and admission is $5.00 if you print out the flyer (above).

Links:
Dogs of Winter's Website

Rooftop Films Starts Its 13th Season This Friday (May 15th) with Cymbals Eat Guitars and an Open Bar

Rooftop Films kicks off its 13th season this Friday with a series of short films, music by Cymbals Eat Guitars and an open bar after-party at Fontana's.

Friday's film series is entitled “This is What We Mean by Short Films” and these are the movies that "define the short film as a genre—quickly clever but profoundly rich, packed with hard-hitting humor and long-lasting poignancy". Cymbals Eat Guitars are opening the night and the band seems to be popping up everywhere these days. They are playing upcoming shows with White Rabbits at Bowery Ballroom and Art Brut at the Mercury Lounge. Pitchfork just included the band's self-released debut "Why Are There Mountains" in their list of "Best New Music".

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 8pm ALL AGES
"This is What We Mean By Short Films" with Musical Guests Cymbals Eat Guitars
Venue: The Open Road Rooftop Project (above New Design High School)
Address: 350 Grand Street @ Essex (Lower East Side, Manhattan)

8:00PM: Doors open
8:30PM: Sound Fix presents live music by Cymbals Eat Guitars
9:00PM: Films
11:30PM - 1:00AM: Open Bar Fontana's (105 Eldridge St), courtesy of Radeberger Beer
Tickets: $9 at the door or online at going.com

Links:
Rooftop Films

Stephanie Schneiderman: Pre-Show Interview with Stephanie and Keith Schreiner, NYC 4-29-09

Portland singer/songwriter Stephanie Schneiderman was in town at the end of April for a show at the Living Room. I caught up with Stephanie and her new collaborator/producer Keith Schreiner before the show to talk about her new disc Dangerous Fruit.

Dangerous Fruit is Stephanie's sixth solo disc and it combines Stephanie's intricate songwriting with trip-hop producer Keith Schreiner's electronica and trip-hop beats. This release moves Stephanie out of the traditional singer/songwriter camp as the duo's combined sound is comparable to Portishead or Beth Orton.



For anyone who hasn't seen Stephanie play, here is a live version of the title track, "Dangerous Fruit", from the new CD.



Stephanie is back on the West Coast and here are her upcoming tour dates:
May 15, 2009, 8:00PM, Bagdad Theater - Wonder Quest Gala, Portland, Oregon
May 16, 2009, 9:00PM, High Dive Seattle - Seattle Show w/ Carrie Akre and Andrea Witgens, Seattle, Washington
June 03, 2009, 7:00PM, Old St. Francis Hotel - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Bend, Oregon
June 04, 2009, 7:00PM, Edgefield - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Troutdale, Oregon
June 06, 2009, 7:00PM, Hotel Oregon - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, McMinville, Oregon
June 09, 2009, 7:00PM, Olympic Club Hotel - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Centralia, Washington
June 10, 2009, 8:00PM, Kennedy School - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Portland, Oregon

Links:
Stephanie Schneiderman's Website

Kate Kavnevik: Norwegian Elctronica/Trip-Hop Artist Plays The Living Room Tomorrow Night, May 11th

Norwegian tranplant Kate Kavnevik is playing an acoustic show tomorrow night at The Living Room.

Kate is currently finishing her follow-up to 2006's Melankton. Spin Magazine described Melankton as a "glowing, mostly electronic set more in time with Björk, moving swiftly from gorgeous strings that wail like sirens to Havnevik's breathy, meditative melisma."

The break-out track from this release was "Unlike Me" which was used in Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy.



Links:
Kate Havnevik's MySpace Profile
Kate Havnevik's YouTube Channel

So Many Dynamos Release New Disc Next Month and Play Union Hall on July 28th

St. Louis dance-punk band So Many Dynamos are releasing their third disc, The Loud Wars (Vagrant Records), next month. The new disc was produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists) and mixed by Walla and Alex Newport (Mars Volta, At the Drive-In).

The first single "New Bones" is streaming on the So Many Dynamos' MySpace page and a new track, "The Artifacts of Sound", will be posted later this week.

Here is a live performance of "New Bones" that was recorded last September in Arkansas.



The band is heading out on the road in June for ten dates with Maps and Atlases before setting off on their own headlining tour in July.

Dates with Maps and Atlases:
Jun 7 – Toronto, ONT @ El Mocambo
Jun 8 – Montral, QC @ Il Motore
Jun 10 – Hamden, CT @ The Space
Jun 11 – Albany, NY @ Valentine’s
Jun 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ M Room
Jun 14 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar: Club Stage
Jun 15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks
Jun 16 – Lexington, KY @ Al’s Bar
Jun 17 – Bloomington, IN @ Russian Recording

So Many Dynamos Headlining Dates:
Jun 27 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird (Record Release Show)
Jul 8 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
Jul 9 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
Jul 11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Jul 17 – Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
Jul 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ First Christian Church
Jul 28 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall

Pelican Plays The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza on June 2nd with Isis and Tombs (Southern Lord)

Pelican, who recently signed to Southern Lord, is off on a May/June tour with Isis (Hydra Head) and Tombs (Relapse). The only area show is at Irving Plaza on June 2nd and tickets are $20.00.

Pelican will be performing material from their new EP "Ephemeral" and debuting new material that will be recorded for a forthcoming full-length on Southern Lord. The band will have tour-only CD copies of "Ephemeral" for sale at the shows. The vinyl edition of "Ephemeral" will be available on Southern Lord in early June.

Here are the upcoming tour dates:

5/19/2009 Emo's - Austin, TX
5/20/2009 Granada Theatre - Dallas, TX
5/21/2009 Meridian - Houston, TX
5/22/2009 Spanish Moon - Baton Rouge, LA
5/23/2009 Bottletree Cafe - Birmingham, AL
5/25/2009 The Social - Orlando, FL
5/26/2009 Common Grounds - Gainesville, FL
5/27/2009 Jack Rabbits - Jacksonville, FL
5/28/2009 The Earl - Atlanta, GA
5/29/2009 Cats Cradle - Carrboro, NC
5/30/2009 Black Cat - Washington, Washington DC
5/31/2009 Sonar - Baltimore, MD
6/02/2009 The Fillmore At Irving Plaza - New York, NY
6/03/2009 Theater of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
6/04/2009 Pearl Street - Northampton, MA
6/05/2009 Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
6/06/2009 The National - Montreal, QC
6/07/2009 Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, ON
6/09/2009 Grog Shop - Cleveland Heights, OH
6/10/2009 20th Century Theatre - Cincinnati, OH
6/11/2009 Small’s - Detroit, MI
6/12/2009 Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL

Links:
Pelican's MySpace Profile

Cauldron Release Debut CD "Chained to the Night" for Earache Records

Out of the demise of the NWOBHM-influenced Toronto metal band Goat Horn, bassist/vocalist Jason Decay and drummer Al Chambers regrouped with guitarist Ian Kilpatrick and formed Cauldron. The band released a limited edition vinyl EP "Into the Cauldron" in 2007 which sold out right away. (The CD version is available through Cauldron's MySpace page).

The band's full-length debut, Chained to the Night (Earache Records), dropped last week. Musically, this new disc fits squarely in realm of classic 80's metal. The band's influence range from the NWOBHM bands like Anvil and Raven to Metal Blade's Metal Massacre bands. Giving a direct nod to these bands, Chained to the Night closes with a cover of Black 'N Blue's "Chains Around Heaven" (from Metal Massacre Vol. 1). Similar to power-trios like Raven, Cauldron plays high-energy power metal with strong guitar leads. Jason Decay sings with a clean, melodic vocal style and the band describes their music as "straight-up, beer swilling, bullet-belting metal". Check out the track "Chained Up in Chains" which is streaming on the band's MySpace page and this will give you a good sense for what the new disc sounds like.

Cauldron is currently finishing up a UK tour with Earache label mates Bonded by Blood and then the band returns to Canada for series of late-May/June shows. The band will be hitting the States in late August with Sweden's Enforcer.

Cauldron's current tour dates are:
May 29, 2009, 8:00PM, Red Rooster, Burlington, Ontario
June 1, 2009, 8:00PM, Level 3, St. Catherines, Ontario
June 2, 2009, 8:00PM, Casbah Hamilton, Ontario
June 3, 2009, 8:00PM, Trinity Lounge, Sarnia, Ontario
June 4, 2009, 8:00PM, Cubby Pickle, Windsor, Ontario
June 5, 2009, 8:00PM, St. Paul’s Church Milton, Ontario
June 6, 2009, 8:00PM, Bovine Sex Club, Toronto, Ontario
June 11, 2009, 8:00PM, Tyrolen Warm Up Party, Blädinge, Kronobergs län
June 13, 2009, 8:00PM, Tyrolen Muskelrock Festival, Blädinge, Kronobergs län
August 20, 2009, 8:00PM, USA tour start w/ Enforcer, Detroit, MI

The first pressing of the CD version of Chained to the Night comes with a bonus disc with two previously unreleased studio tracks - "The Striker Strikes" and "Restless". The new disc is available from Earache's online store and there is also a vinyl version which has a different bonus track, "Cauldron Call".

Here is an early live performance from the band that was recorded at Cafe Decuf in Ottawa on Nov. 30, 2006.

Drink Up Buttercup Play Cameo Gallery (in Williamsburg) Tomorrow Night, May 9th (Kanine Records)

DOWNLOAD: Drink Up Buttercup - "Sosey & Dosey" (MP3)

Drink Up Buttercup's performances have been compared to "spectacle of a circus, the buzz of a bar-room sing along, and the comfort of a nursery rhyme" and almost every single reviewer mentions a comparison to The Beatles. I've seen some pictures of the band leading sing-alongs from the middle of the room and this reminds me of the early-on Akron/Family shows (which means tomorrow's show should be a great time).

Drink Up Buttercup recently signed to Kanine Records who released their US debut 7" last month - "Farewell Captain/Sosey & Dosey". The band is playing tomorrow night at Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg with Knight School and We Are Country Mice.

Cover is $8.00 at the door.

Links:
Drink Up Buttercup's MySpace Profile

Woodhands Cover Katy Perry, Release Live EP and Play The Delancey on May 16th

DOWNLOAD: Woodhands - "I Kissed A Girl" (Katy Perry Cover) MP3
DOWNLOAD: Woodhands - "Electric Avenue" (Eddy Grant cover) MP3

Seemingly touring non-stop after the release of their debut disc Heart Attack last year, Woodhands haven't slowed down with the releases. They released a live EP (an iTunes exclusive live session), a remix EP ("Dancer") and a couple cover tunes.

With all the emo bands who think it is "ironic" to do a straight-forward cover of a pop song, Woodhands does a brilliant deconstruction of Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl". This rendition is far from the original teeny-bopper anthem - check out Dan Werb's growls on the chorus. According to Werb, "we did it because the spirit of the song spoke to us: It's that feeling of being overwhelmed by the moment, of indulgence, of unfettered hedonism. Also, Katy Perry is hella hot. And the song is dope."

Woodhands are started a two week US today in Kansas City and the tour wraps up at The Delancey on May 16th.

Here is the complete list of tour dates:

May 7 - Kansas City, MO - Czar Bar
May 8 - Springfield, MO - Outland
May 9 - St. Louis, MO - Pops Blue Moon
May 10 - Des Moines, IA - House of Bricks
May 12 - Indianapolis, IA - My Old Kentucky Blog presents at The Volrath
May 13 - Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub
May 15 - Columbus, OH - Bristol Bar
May 16 - New York, NY - Loose Nukes @ The Delancey

Links:
Woodhands' MySpace Profile

Melbourne's St.Helens Releases Debut CD "Heavy Profession" on Dot Dash/Remote Control (Jarrod Quarrell/The New Season)

DOWNLOAD: St. Helens - How to Choose Your Guru Pt. 2 (MP3)

Jarrod Quarrell, leader of the regrettably short-lived Melbourne band The New Season, has resurfaced with his new project St. Helens.

Jarrod's new batch of songs combine his world-weary cynicism with sparsely-produced blues-based guitar and vocal interplay that bring to mind past work by Jeffrey Lee Pierce/The Gun Club and The Bad Seeds. Triple R Radio described the new disc as a "beguiling and beautiful musical journey through the quotidian, broken and sublime".

The new disc was released in Australia at the end of April and St. Helens currently have album launch shows scheduled in Melbourne and Sydney.

May 30, 2009 - 9:00PM, Northcote Social Club w/ Panel of Judges,Circle Pit and DJ Ann Ominous, Melbourne, Victoria
June 26, 2009 - 9:00PM, Spectrum, Sydney w/ Circle Pit and Songs, Sydney

Links:
St. Helens' MySpace Profile

eula: Photos from Show @ Crash Mansion, NYC 4-29-09

DOWNLOAD: eula - "Housewolf" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: eula - "Fight Riff" (MP3)

The more that I work in and around the music industry, the less I understand the logic behind what draws a crowd. Last week, eula played a great set of original music to a decent-sized crowd at Crash Mansion. At the same time, there are classic rock bands (that feature one-two original members) playing to a sold out crowds of 1,000 - 2,000 fans. Somewhere there must be some logic here...

Getting serious for a moment, eula plays art-punk in the style of Pylon and Gang of 4. Lead singer Alyse Lamb has a distinctively raw and quavery voice that sits well on top of the band's angular guitar riffs and loping bass lines.



eula released a new EP, Language of Threat, back in March that is available through IndepenDisc, Amazon and iTunes.

Here are the band's upcoming tour dates:
May 8, 2009 - 7:00PM, Polish American Club/Naugatuck River Revival Festival, Naugatuck, Connecticut
June 04, 2009 - 8:00PM, Crashin’ In Presents @ Public Assembly, Williamsburg, New York
June 13, 2009 - 8:00PM, No Kids Night, Asheville, North Carolina
June 14, 2009 - 8:00PM, The Czar, Richmond, Virginia
June 18, 2009 - 8:00PM, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, New Jersey
June 19, 2009 - 8:00PM, Danger Danger Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 21, 2009 - 3:00PM, Make Music NY - Brouwerij Lane, Brooklyn, New York

Links:
eula's MySpace Profile

Dream Theater Release Advance Single "A Rite of Passage" as a One-Day-Only Free Download

DOWNLOAD: Dream Theater - "A Rite of Passage" (MP3)
(Link expires at 11:59PM tonight)

Dream Theater's new disc, Black Clouds & Silver Linings, hits stores on June 23rd. The band released the first single from this upcoming disc as a one-day-only free download.

According to Dream Theater's website "In addition to the standard version CD, the album will also be available on vinyl LP, as well as a 3-disc Special Edition CD that will include the full album, a CD of instrumental mixes of the album and a CD of six cover songs, the titles of which will be revealed at a later date."

Links:
Dream Theater's MySpace Profile

Heaven & Hell Announce Show at MSG on August 25 - Pre-Sale Tickets on Sale Tomorrow (May 6th)

Heaven & Hell is touring this summer with Coheed & Cambria and the tour stops at Madison Square Gardens on August 25th.

Pre-sale tickets go on-sale tomorrow at 10AM (the password is supposed to be 'devil') and tickets are available to the general public starting at 10AM on Friday, May 8th. Ticket prices range between $54.50 - $79.50.

Here is the full list of tour dates for the band's August tour:
07 Vancouver, BC, Thunderbird Arena
08 Seattle, WA, WaMu Theater* (w/Neurosis)
10 San Jose, CA, Event Center Arena
11 Los Angeles, CA, Greek Theater
12 Phoenix, AZ, Dodge Theater
14 Albuquerque, NM, Journal Pavilion
15 Denver, CO, Red Rocks
18 Cincinnati, OH, PNC Pavilion
19 Chicago, IL, Charter One Pavilion
21 Detroit, MI, Meadow Brook Pavilion
22 Cleveland, OH, Nautica Pavilion
23 Baltimore, MD, Merriweather Post Pavilion
25 New York, NY, WaMu Theater @ MSG
27 Wallingford, CT, Chevrolet Theatre
28 Boston, MA, Bank Of America Pavilion

Links:
Heaven & Hell's Website

Rob Sacher (former owner of Luna Lounge) Opens His New Bar, Satellite Lounge, this Weekend

Rob Sacher, former owner of the Luna Lounge, was always one of the nicest guys in the industry. Rob's new bar, Satellite Lounge, is having its grand opening this weekend.

Friday, May 8th at 10PM and Saturday, May 9th at 10PM

Satellite Lounge is located at 143 Havemeyer Street (between South First And South Second Streets)

Given Rob's years in the local music scene, I would expect the bar to have a fabulous jukebox.

On a related note, what happened to the Knitting Factory's move into the old Luna Lounge space? I was by there last weekend and it doesn't look like any work has been done and the exterior looked bad. A couple months ago, this place looked "kept up". There were flyers for shows at the Knitting Factory in the display cases, the building walls were clean, etc. The display cases are now gone and the walls are covered with graffiti. You have to wonder if this move is really taking place. The Knitting Factory has shows booked in the "old location" through July and this is completely contradictory to the "closing in January, reopening in Williamsburg in March" story that was going around last year.

Cursive Announce June/July West Coast Tour Dates (Mama, I'm Swollen)

DOWNLOAD: Cursive - We're Going to Hell (Live on WOXY.Com)

Photo by Wendy Lynch Redfern
Cursive's latest disc, Mama, I'm Swollen, came out this past March to strong reviews. The band has been touring behind this release for the last few months and they have extended their tour to include some June/July dates on the West Coast.

Cursive - Summer 2009 West Coast Tour Dates
JUNE 13 - Denver, CO, WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE
JUNE 18 - Sioux Falls, SD, NUTTY’S NORTH
JUNE 20 - Billings, MT, YELLOWSTONE VALLEY BREWERY
JUNE 21 - Missoula, MT, THE OTHER SIDE
JUNE 22 - Spokane, WA, KNITTING FACTORY
JUNE 23 - Seattle, WA, NEUMO’S
JUNE 24 - Portland, OR, WONDER BALLROOM
JUNE 27 - San Francisco, CA, GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
JUNE 28 - Los Angeles, CA, EL REY THEATRE
JUNE 29 - Pomona, CA, GLASSHOUSE
JULY 01 - Salt Lake City, UT, IN THE VENUE


Cursive - Live on Shockhound.com


Links:
Cursive's MySpace Profile

Dynasty Electric: Live Performance from Fontana's, NYC 4-29-09 (Burning CD Release Party)

Here is the last song, "Hypnotized", from Dynasty Electric's performance at Fontana's last week. Dynasty Electric was playing a CD release show for their new disc, Burning,which is currently available from CD Baby.



Here are the band's upcoming tour dates:

May 15, 2009, 8:00PM, Newsonic - Burning Man Benefit Party, Brooklyn
May 16, 2009, 8:00PM, Dewey Beach Chickfest, Dewey Beach
May 30, 2009, 8:00PM, Flytrap Fest w/Turbotronix, Goldstreets, Brooklyn
June 12, 2009, 8:00PM, Mercury Lounge, NY (w/ The Meat Puppets)

Links:
Dynasty Electric's MySpace Profile

Patrick Watson & the Wooden Arms Play City Winery Tomorrow Night (May 4th)

Stream: Patrick Watson - Beijing (from NPR's site)

The new disc, Wooden Arms, from Polaris prize winner Patrick Watson will be released in the US on Tuesday and Patrick is kicking off his tour tomorrow night at City Winery.

In a recent write-up, the Village Voice said that Wooden Arms "is even more impressively layered with all the strings and keys, piercing solar vocals, and expansions of a small circus—one that could still mop the floor with the Arcade brigade."

The evening starts with 9PM with twenty minutes of vintage cartoons after which Patrick & his band will take the stage. Tickets are $17.00.

Links:
Patrick Watson's MySpace Profile

Seventh Void: "Heaven Is Gone" CD Release Interview (Big Vin Records)

I had the chance to catch up with Kenny Hickey (Type O Negative), Hank Hell (Inhuman) and Matt Brown (x-Supermassiv) right before Seventh Void's new disc, Heaven Is Gone, was released. We talked a bit about the band, how they hooked up with Vinnie Paul's new label, their upcoming tour with Static X and more. Heaven Is Gone came out April 21st on Big Vin Records.



The first video from the new disc, "Heaven Is Gone" was released last week.


Seventh Void heads out next week for a month long tour with Static X. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the band is playing anywhere around NYC as the closest area tour stop is The Chance in Poughkeepsie.

Here are the upcoming tour dates:
May 05, 2009, 8:00PM, Tequila Jungle. Lubbock, Texas
May 06, 2009, 8:00PM, The Marquis Theatre, Denver, Colorado
May 07, 2009, 8:00PM, The Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, Colorado
May 08, 2009, 8:00PM, Club Vegas, Salt Lake City, Utah
May 10, 2009, 8:00PM, Yellowstone Valley Brewery, Billings, Montana
May 11, 2009, 8:00PM, Expo Park, Great Falls, Montana
May 13, 2009, 8:00PM, The Rock, Maplewood, Minnesota
May 14, 2009, 8:00PM, Eagle’s Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 15, 2009, 8:00PM, Piere’s, Ft. Wayne, Indiana
May 17, 2009, 8:00PM, Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, Michigan
May 19, 2009, 8:00PM, Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 20, 2009, 8:00PM, Webster Theater, Hartford, Connecticut
May 21, 2009, 8:00PM, The Chance Poughkeepsie, New York

Links:
Seventh Void's MySpace Profile

Rumpelstiltskin Grinder (Relapse), Hull (The End) and Ravage (Metal Blade) are Playing A Free Show Tomorrow at Lit Lounge

Tones of Death.com (metal ringtones) and Precious Metal are putting on a pretty big free show tomorrow night at Lit Lounge.

I've been wanting to check out local boys Hull for quite some time. Hull got some great press for their SXSW shows and their first full-length disc, Sole Lord, is coming out May 26th on The End Records. Metal Maniacs described Hull as having "all the crush of early Mastodon met with the ambient fire of Neurosis, but somehow [Hull] avoids sounding like either one of them."

Boston metallers Ravage are also on the bill. I haven't heard the band play live but all the write-ups on the band cite the strong NWOBHM and thrash influence in their music. The band just signed to Metal Blade and their new disc The End of Tomorrow will be out this summer.

Ravage - "Night Crawler" (Judas Priest cover)


Last (but not least) is Philadelphia's "most extreme criminal thrash quintet" Rumpelstiltskin Grinder. RsG released their second full-length studio disc, Living for Death, Destroying the Rest, on Relapse Records earlier this year. Rumpelstiltskin Grinder are playing a few area shows before heading out on the road with Candlelight Records' bands Absu and SoThis next month.

Rumplestiltskin Grinder - "Nothing Defeats the Skull"