Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

9:00 AM MHD: CMT Crossroads: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

9:00 AM Syndicated: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Jonas Brothers

10:00 AM MHD: CMT Crossroads: Steve Earle and Rosanne Cash

2:50 PM Encore Love: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

3:00 PM Showtime Next: End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones

6:00 PM MHD: FNMTV Premieres: Tokyo Police Club , Pink , Gnarls Barkley , Danity Kane , Bow Wow , Missy Elliott

6:00 PM VH1C: ZZ Top: Live From Texas 

9:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: Matchbox Twenty, The Script & Def Leppard         

10:00 PM ABC: 20/20: Jonas Brothers , Carla Bruni

10:00 PM Sundance: You're Gonna Miss Me: Roky Erickson

11:00 PM VH1 Classic in Concert: Heaven & Hell - Live From Radio City

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: John Mellencamp , T Bone Burnett

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Huey Lewis

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: The Airborne ToxicEvent

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Hold Steady

1:30 AM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!): Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen / J-Kwon

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: The Heavy

2:15 AM HBOS: The Making Of...: Idlewild w/Andre 3000 , Big Boi

[Pictured: The Heavy]

Extensive North American tour with Leona Naess.

By Fred Mills

With his new album Gossip in the Grain en route, Ray LaMontagne will be kicking off an extensive North American tour in conjunction with the record, which is due Oct. 14 on RCA. LaMontagne hits the road on Sept. 30 with a show in Indianapolis; the tour wraps Nov. 9 in Seattle. Opening for LaMontagne is Leona Naess, who herself has a new album, Thirteens, out Sept. 23 on Verve Forecast (she also guests on LaMontagne’s record).

LaMontagne recorded with producer Ethan Johns in Box, England. Unlike his two previous albums, Trouble and Till The Sun Turns Black, which were largely solo affairs with Johns handling much of the instrumentation, Gossip In The Grain sees him joined by members of his touring band, bassist Jennifer Condos and guitarist Eric Heywood (with Johns on drum duties). According to his label, the album “touches upon a range of styles and musical settings- spanning pastoral folk, railroad blues, front porch country, and plangent balladry… his most creative and emotionally expansive collection to date.”

Well, of course it is!

Ray LaMontagne Tour Dates:


Sept 30       Murat Theatre                           Indianapolis, IN
Oct 1           Chicago Theatre                          Chicago, IL
Oct 3            Union Theatre                            Madison, WI
Oct 4           State Theatre                            Minneapolis, MN    
Oct 6           Royal Oak Music Theatre          Royal Oak, MI    
Oct 7           Queen Elizabeth Theatre          Toronto, ON
Oct 9           Opera House                            Boston, MA
Oct 10        Opera House                             Boston, MA
Oct 11       Radio City Music Hall                 New York, NY
Oct 13           Keswick Theatre                     Philadelphia, PA
Oct 14        The Strathmore Music Center    Washington, DC
Oct 16           Meymandi Concert Hall           Raleigh, NC
Oct 17        Bijou Theatre                             Knoxville, TN
Oct 18           The Tabernacle                        Atlanta, GA
Oct 19            Ryman Auditorium                 Nashville, TN
Oct 21            Uptown Theatre                      Kansas City, MO
Oct 23         Verizon Wireless Theatre           Houston, TX    
Oct 24         Majestic Theatre                         Dallas, TX     
Oct 25         Paramount Theatre                     Austin, TX
Oct 27            Macky Auditorium                  Boulder, CO
Oct 28         Murray Theatre                      Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 30         Wiltern Theatre                       Los Angeles, CA
Nov 1          Spreckels Theatre                     San Diego, CA
Nov 3            Paramount Theatre                   Oakland, CA
Nov 5          Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall     Portland, OR
Nov 6            McDonald Theatre                    Eugene, OR
Nov 8            Vogue Theatre                       Vancouver, BC
Nov 9           Marion Oliver McCaw Hall        Seattle, WA        
         

Personal Statement Of Clarity For Anyone In Doubt (and the rest of us…)

By Fred Mills

On his official website, Ryan Adams sometimes makes really interesting blog-like postings — which, due to the really weird navigation and archive functions of his site, are sometimes impossible to find! For example, as of this writing, the only one immediately visible is accessible via the “Impersonal Swordfish” button on the upper right side of his homepage, and that’s a posting about heavy metal and the first two Vinnie Vincent Invasion albums being reissued on CD. Not that there’s anything wrong with Vinnie Vincent…

As a public service, then, we would like to reproduce, below, a fascinating Adams post bearing the curious title “Personal Statement Of Clarity For Anyone In Doubt.” It addresses, generally, the notion of celebrity and rumor (which clearly bothers him — recall the big Ryan-Mandy Moore paparazzi dance that was going on earlier this year. But it also takes a swipe, though veiled, at Courtney Love and her recent accusations leveled against Adams of theft. (You can read her entire rant at BLURT’s previous news item titled “Courtney Love Rips Ryan Adams A New Asshole” HERE.) About time someone called the erstwhile Hole singer on the carpet...

Meanwhile, check out the July-August digital issue of BLURT — we’ve got a super-secret sneak peek at leaked prose from his forthcoming book, due sometime next year…

***

From Ryan Adams:

to whom it may concern,

these days i find myself working harder than ever at being at my best, overcoming my fears and pushing myself creatively in my every endeavor. my only wish after the work is completed is that it may prove further evidence that no matter how isolated we all may all feel at times, as sad or misrepresented, we are not alone. there's hope for and within each of us.

I've been dealing with the truth that i have at times been a bad example and/or glorified self destructive behavior. this was never intentional, but rather a consequence of leading a public life in plain sight and never expecting any sort of preferential treatment, isolation or protection.

Regardless of varied judgments as to my cultural relevance, i am thankfully alive and exercising my joy in creating. i only hope anyone who hears, reads or sees any of my contributions will permit the work to speak where i cannot.

i've realized and accepted that if people decide to dislike me, they're going to find reasons to justify disliking me. there's nothing i can do about that. that said, it still does pain me to be accused of fictional crimes against innocents or to be implicated in romantic gossip involving the possibly reality-challenged--however unreliable the source or outlandish the accusations. in the end, however, i know that i have never done or even meant anyone any harm.

anyway, the lives of public figures are so much more boring than anyone can imagine. honestly.

and also i like metal. A LOT. (even more than last time).

“Palpable joy” from Portland.

By Blurt Staff

When Portland, Oregon, outfit  Au dropped their second album Verbs (Aagoo) recently, the gasp emanating from critics and the blogosphere was more than just audible — it felt like a tremor in the popverse. As BLURT ourselves (itself?) uttered in a review, “Pitched somewhere between the arty campfire songs of Animal Collective, the whole-grain, free-jazz clap-alongs of Akron/Family, and the choral ephemeries of Grizzly Bear, Luke Wyland's Au plays feel-good experimentalia. It is joyful, explosive and improvisatory… one of this year's most joyful experiments.”

Au (pronounced 'ay you') is the brainchild of Luke Wyland, but for his sophomore outing he put together a “proper” band: multi-instrumentalists Johnathan Sielaff and Mark Kaylor, plus assists from a slew of Portland frends including vocalists Sarah Winchester (of Team Love recording artists A Weather) and Becky Dawson (of Ah Holly Fam'ly, Saw Whet), as well as members of Yellow Swans, Parenthetical Girls, and Evolutionary Jass Band.

According to the label the album was “recorded over three days at Portland's Type Foundry Studios and finished over a subsequent two-month period in Wyland's own attic studio… [It] seamlessly segues through new and unlikely ecstatic extremes with an arresting economy. Breakout Pop jams like "RR vs. D" rub shoulders comfortably with retreating meditations ("Two Seasons", "Summer Heat")-the record's several distinct movements working at once with more autonomy and cohesion-with arrangements that stretch in longhand across the album's length.

“Verbs is the elated realization of those many asymmetrical pop diamonds that shone so brightly throughout Au's artful debut (whose warm, Appalachia-informed gems found many favorable comparisons to the far-reaching likes of Arnold Dreyblatt, Animal Collective, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Grizzly Bear)-its many swift and unexpected evolutions shepherded confidently by Wyland's competent, classically-trained hand. As surprising as it is immediate, Verbs is infused with all of the earnest and palpable joy of its creation-the delightfully enveloping whole of which demands to be heard.”

Catch that palpable joy on tour – the band will be heading out to do dates with the Dodos and Deerhoof.

Au Tour Dates:

Tue-Aug 12- Brooklyn, NYC- Monkeytown (early and late shows)
Sun-Sep 28- Baltimore, MD- Sonar
Mon-Sep 29- New York, NY- The Spiegeltent
Tue-Sep 30- Middletown, CT- Wesleyan University
Thu-Oct 2- Boston, MA- Museum of Fine Arts
Fri-Oct 3- Hanover, NH- Dartmouth College
Sat-Oct 4- Montreal, QC- La Sala Rossa
Mon-Oct 6- Toronto, ON- Horseshoe Tavern
Wed-Oct 8- Chicago, IL- The Bottom Lounge
Fri-Oct 10- Richmond, IN- Earlham College
Sat-Oct 11- Columbus, OH- Milo Arts
Mon-Oct 13- Omaha, NE- Slowdown
Tue-Oct 14- Minneapolis, MN- First Avenue
Wed-Oct 15- Milwaukee, WI- Turner Hall
Thu-Oct 16- Bloomington, IN- Buskirk- Chumley Theater

You’ll be glued to our text ‘til your eyes will hurt, kids!

By Fred Mills

We’re not sure if it’s the way he puts shaving cream on his head and cleans up the ol’ chrome dome while taking a bubblebath that charms the bejeezus outta us, or if it’s simply the shameless bit of BLURT promotion that subsequently ensues when he picks up the guitar and strums a little ditty in our honor. Either way, though, you gotta check out Hamell On Trial’s latest installment of “Yap,” his BLURT video blog that is posted to our site every two weeks.

Check it out, over on the right hand side of the homepage, or simply click straight in HERE.

Then sing along with Hamell, and roll credits:

Calling every Patti and Johnny and Kurt

Music fans wanna tell ya ‘bout BLURT

Got culture and movies and politics too

We’ll do our best not to insult your I.Q.

BLURT-BLURT!

You’ll love it so hard you’ll want to spurt

We got an online mag, we’re calling it BLURT

So opinionated you’ll puke on your shirt

It’s a cyber rockin’ daddy we’re calling it BLURT.

BLURT!

Got our eyes in the heavens and our feet in the dirt

The watchful ghost Lester, callin’ it BLURT

We enjoy music, we’re devoted – don’t flirt

We are fanatics glued to BLURT.

BLURT!

You’ll be glued to our text ‘til your eyes will hurt

You know it’s gonna rhyme, I’m branding… it’s BLURT

We’re irreverent as fuck we’ll never be inert

I stretched it that time like we stretch it at BLURT.

BLURT!

Country diva turning out to be a real horse’s ass…

By Fred Mills

When we posted our July 30 news item about the Black Crowes suing Gretchen Wilson for copyright infringement (they say her song “Work Hard Play Harder” is musically similar to their own “Jealous Again”), we did it between yawns — who gives a shit about some silly country music diva, anyhow? Here’s hoping she gets a good ol’ Georgia ass-whuppin’ from the Crowes’ well-paid legal team just the same.

Never ones to pass up a free juicy news item to post to the BLURT site however, this just got slipped over the transom from the Crowes’ label, Megaforce:

Here's an interesting tidbit about The Black Crowes claim of copyright
infringement against Gretchen Wilson.

One of the co-writers of the Wilson song is Country Star John Rich (of Big &
Rich), who announced today he has penned a quasi "Presidential" song for John
McCain. John Rich and John McCain will appear together today in Florida.

"Work Hard, Play Harder" songwriters: John Rich, Vicky McGehee and Gretchen Wilson.

Well, that’s kind of a yawn too, followed by a “DUH.” Isn’t it required that before you get your Big Country Star credentials from Music Row, Inc., that you have to register as a fucking Republican anyway? (Big shout-out to Doonesbury, incidentally.)

So both Wilson and Rich are putzes — big whoop. Anyhow, you can check out the two songs and decide for yourself if the Crowes are likely to prevail with their legal complaint. (Hint: you won’t have to think about it too much. Jeezus…)

 At the top is the Crowes song, followed by Wilson’s:

Check out the ATT Blue Room broadcasts if you’re not going…

By Fred Mills

Though some say that in 2008 Lollapalooza is but a shadow of its former, mid-nineties-heyday, former self, it remains a credible, alterna-approved brand among hipsters of all stripes (mostly young). Which isn’t surprising; with rock festivals clearly having peaked this year and most observers predicting that market oversaturation will lead to a slowdown next year — only a handful of 2008’s big festivals even came close to selling out, at least thus far — it will be the branded fests like Lollapalooza, Coachella, Austin City Limits and Bonnaroo that stand the best chance of surviving. (It’s a shame that indie rock fests can’t make a go at the traveling troubadour thing like Lollapalooza once pioneered; what, you want Ozzfest or Warped for the family’s annual outing?) And even then, as this year has also proven, a lot of even the most popular fests are looking mighty interchangeable. How many times can you see Jack Johnson headline anyway?

Anyhow, today through FRIDAY the Lolla hordes will be frammin’ on the jim-jam in Chicago featuring the likes of Radiohead, Wilco, Black Kids, Nine Inch Nails, Cat Power, Gnarls Barkley, Girl Talk, Broken Social Scene and the Raconteurs. Tons more, too, commanding seven stages in all, positioned around the oven known as Grant Park in Chicago (luckily the temperatures are supposed to peak only in the mid ‘80s).

You can check out the schedule of performers at the Lollapalooza website of course. There are also going to be after-shows at clubs around Chicago tonight and tomorrow night, so check the venues’ websites for exact times if you’re in town. Among the main ones:

FRIDAY Black Lips at Empty Bottle
FRIDAY Mates of State, MGMT at Double Door
FRIDAY Gogol Bordello, the Ting Tings at Metro
FRIDAY Rogue Wave, Dr. Dog at Schubas
FRIDAY Brand New, Manchester Orchestra at House of Blues
FRIDAY The Whigs, the Blakes at House of Blues Back Porch
SATURDAY Broken Social Scene, Yeasayer at Metro
SATURDAY Bloc Party, CSS, Does It Offend You, Yeah? at House of Blues
SATURDAY Battles, Foals, Magic Wands at Double Door
SATURDAY Flogging Molly, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears at Congress Theater
SATURDAY Okkervil River, Octopus Project at Schubas
SATURDAY Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, White Lies at Empty Bottle

Meanwhile, for the rest of us stuck at home, there’s always the ATT Blue Room, which is broadcasting selected performances all weekend long. Each day’s schedule of broadcasts is listed below the Blue Room video player — today they’ve got the Kills, Gogol Bordello, Raconteurs and more; among the ones for Saturday areDr. Dog, Gutter Twins, Duffy, Broken Social Scene and Wilco; and Sunday includes Chromeo, G. Love, Love and Rockets and The National.

Rock over Chicago!

All the concert news ‘n’ reviews that’s fit to print.

By Blurt Staff

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT – this time, we’ve got the Spiritualized concert from D.C. and the Rock The Bells hip-hop tour in nearby Columbia.

·         *Spiritualized’s Washington show on July 25: Writes Stephen Deusner, of frontman Jason Pierce, “His aloofness is part of his appeal. He makes music that’s grandiose and cathedral, the better to lose himself utterly in it—that’s its true narcotic effect. His standoffishness makes it possible for listeners to get lost as well, as long as they’re wandering a different wing of the song.”

·         *The Rock The Bells Tour hit Columbia two days later, on July 27: Roxana Hadadi noted that about half of the acts did indeed rock the proverbial bells while the other half phoned in their performances. “Some (like Supernatural and Immortal Technique) amazed,” Hadadi observes, “while others (such as Mos Def) didn’t fare so well.” Find out who the playas and suckas were. And check out Adam Fried’s amazing, front-of-house photos (like the one above) while you’re at it.

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We’ve also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

SATURDAY AUGUST 2:

9:00 AM MHD: FNMTV Premieres: Tokyo Police Club , Pink , Gnarls Barkley , Danity Kane , Bow Wow , Missy Elliott

10:00 AM SUNDANCE: We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen

1:00 VH1C: Hard Rock Calling Concert w/             

Eric Clapton , The Police , Sheryl Crow , The Bangles , John Mayer , Jason Mraz

3:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Joe Lean , Amy Macdonald , The Young Knives , Sheryl Crow

3:00 PM TVONE: James Brown: The Man, The Music & The Message

5:00 PM VH1: Rock Docs: The Drug Years:

6:00 PM RAVE HD: George Jones, 50 Years of Hits

9:00 PM PBS: Austin City Limits: James Blunt / James McMurtry

10:00 PM VH1C: The Night James Brown Saved Boston

11:30 PM NBC: Saturday Night Live: Seth Rogen / Spoon

12:00 AM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Thom Yorke , Envelopes , Albert Hammond, Jr.

1:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Robyn , Kevin Bacon

2:00 AM Bravo: Crossroads (1986)

SUNDAY AUGUST 3:

8:00 AM Bravo: Crossroads (1986)

9:00 AM A&E: Private Sessions: Cyndi Lauper

9:00 AM CBS: CBS News Sunday Morning: Steve Winwood

11:00 AM Sundance: Iconoclasts: Quentin Tarantino and Fiona Apple

12:00 PM HDNet Concert Series: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

1:00 PM HDNet Concert Series: The Tragically Hip: That Night in Toronto

2:35 PM HDNet Concert Series: Black Eyed Peas - Live from Sydney to Vegas

4:00 PM HDNet Concert Series: Incubus Alive at Red Rocks

5:00 PM HISTORY: Hippies w/The Beatles , Allen Ginsberg , Charles Manson

6:00 PM MHD: MTV Live: Foo Fighters

6:30 PM FUSE: Loaded: Weezer

6:30 PM VH1C: The Night James Brown Saved Boston

8:00 PM VH1C: Jailhouse Rock (1957)

9:00 PM Gospel Music Channel: Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan

10:00 PM ETV: Pam: Girl on the Loose: The Uncensored Confessions  of a Trailer Camp Tramp

10:00 PM Planet Green: Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee

10:00 PM VH1C: Hard Rock Calling Concert

11:00 PM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Heart

11:30 PM HDNet Concert Series: Ol' Dirty Bastard aka Dirt McGirt  -Free To Be Dirty Live

1:00 AM RAVE HD: Later With Jools Holland: The Cure , Jackson Browne , Anita Baker , KT Tunstall , The Futureheads , Embrace

Helm, Hoge, Isbell, McMurtry, Duhks, Louris & Olson and tons more…

By Blurt Staff

The Americana Music Association has announced an initial line up of artists, below, confirmed to play the 2008 Americana Music Festival in Nashville Sept. 17-20. Festival showcases will be held at downtown venues The Mercy Lounge, 3^rd & Lindsley, The Cannery, The Station Inn and The Basement. Showcase wristbands are $35 and can be purchased over the web at the Americana Music website.

It’s all part of the 9^th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference. Registration for the entire conference, including a ticket to the Honors & Awards show and daily panels, workshops and daytime showcases is $350 for AMA members and $450 for non-members until August 13; register at the above website.

The seminars and panels will be held at the Nashville Convention Center in the day before activities shift to the nighttime showcases.  Levon Helm will officially kick off the festivities September 17 with his Ramble at the Ryman Auditorium (tickets available at the box office or through Ticketmaster).

The capstone of the festival will take the form of the annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards, scheduled for September 18 at the Ryman Auditorium. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring a band led by Buddy Miller, the ceremony will toast winners in six member-voted categories and also bestow Lifetime Achievement Awards on John Hiatt, Jason and the Scorchers and longtime Austin City Limits producer Terry Lickona in the categories of Songwriting, Performance and Executive, respectively. The AMA will also present the unique "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech award to Joan Baez.

Confirmed Performers (more tba):

Peter Bradley Adams
Nels Andrews
Marcia Ball
Band of Heathens
Randall Bramblett
Laura Cantrell
Chatham Country Line
John Cowan Band
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Dailey & Vincent
Dedringers
Christopher Denny
Joe Ely
Mike Farris
Rosie Flores
Folk Ute
Kylie Harris
Malcolm Holcombe
Will Hoge
Jason Isbell
Jason & The Scorchers
Kane Welch Kaplin
Randy Kohrs
Ben Kweller
Langhorne Slim & the War Eagles
Jim Lauderdale
Gary Louris & Mark Olson
Kathy Mattea
Anne McCue
James McMurtry
Chuck Mead
Tift Merritt
Buddy Miller
Jennifer Nicely
Dave Peterson & His Old Time Country Review
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Red Stick Ramblers
Kim Richey, Will Kimbrough & Mando Saenz
Bruce Robison
Romantica
Patty Hurst Shifter
Shurman
Sierra Hull & Highway 111
Patrick Sweany
The Belleville Outfit
The Coal Men
The Duhks
The Everybodyfields
The Farewell Drifters
The Gougers
The SteelDrivers
The Wrights Band of Annuals
Paul Thorn
Those Darlins
Ricky Young
Jim White
Robin & Linda Williams

The Artist Formerly Known As Wooden Wand promotes his debut solo LP.

By Fred Mills

You’ve read the official BLURT review of the album.

You’ve read the official BLURT interview with its creator.

Now you can catch James Jackson Toth (a.k.a. The Artist Formerly Known As Wooden Wand) on tour in support of his debut solo platter, Waiting In Vain issued last week by Ryko. According to his label Toth, wife Jexie Lynn, Wymond Miles on guitar and keys, Shayde Sartin on bass and Richard Gowen on drums will be on the road starting in mid August and running through September, joined with what Ryko describes as “surprise guests in select cities. The 5-piece band will play mostly songs off of the new album, though they will be drastically overhauled and changed from the album versions.”

Toth added, “Some of this is going to be hard to recreate live, so we may try to change and adapt it, maybe do ‘Midnight Watchman’ loud and fast, then slow another number down. The idea that people merely want to hear a record recreated in a crowded, smoky room and pay seven dollars for drinks – I never understood that.”

TAFKAWW is joined on tour with The Dutchess & The Duke, a duo of childhood friends who play dark folk music reminiscent of early Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.  Kimberly Morrison and Jesse Lortz are the pair who released their She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke debut on Hardly Art in July, and you can read the BLURT review HERE. Toth will continue touring after his solo bout by opening up for the Silver Jews, starting in mid-September. 

James Toth tour dates (w/Dutchess & Duke unless otherwise noted):

Wed. Aug. 13             San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop

Thurs. Aug. 14            Santa Cruz , CA @ The Crepe Place

Sat. Aug. 16                Los Angeles, CA @ Echo

Sun. Aug. 17               San Diego, CA @ Bar Pink Elephant

Tue. Aug. 19                Austin, TX @ Mohawk

Wed. Aug. 20              Houston, TX @ Mink

Thu. Aug. 21                New Orleans, LA @ Rykodisc Party*

Fri. Aug. 22                  Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon

Sat., Aug 23                Birmingham , AL @ The Bottletree

Mon. Aug. 25               Athens, GA @ Tasty World

Tue. Aug. 26                Atlanta , GA @ E.A.R.L.

Wed. Aug. 27             Asheville, NC @ Harvest Record

Thu. Aug. 28                Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

Fri. Aug. 29                  Charlottesville, VA @ Gravity Lounge

Sat. Aug. 30                Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club

Sun. Aug. 31               New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

Mon. Sep. 1                 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall

Wed. Sep. 3                Cambridge , MA @ TT & The Bear's

Thurs. Sep. 4              Albany, NY @ Valentine’s

Fri. Sep. 5                   Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place

Sat. Sep. 6                  Bloomington, IN @ Uncle Fester’s

Sun. Sep. 7                 Pontiac , MI @ The Cro Foot (Pike Room)

Tue. Sep. 9                 Rock Island, IL @ Daytrotter*

Wed. Sep. 10             Chicago, IL @ Schuba's

Fri. Sep. 12                 St. Louis, MO @ Billiken Club*

Sat. Sep. 13                Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone*

* Without The Dutchess & The Duke

Dates with Silver Jews:

Wed. Sep. 17            New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's
Thurs. Sep. 18           Houston, TX @ Orange Show
Fri. Sep. 19                Austin, TX @ Emo's

Sat. Sep. 20              Denton, TX @ Hailey's
Sun. Sep. 21              Drive Day
Mon. Sep. 22             Tucson, AZ @ Plush
Tues. Sep 23             San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Thurs. Sep. 25           San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
Fri. Sep. 26                Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex

Meanwhile, check out the new “Doreen” video, from the album:

New album on Yep Roc, new band lineup, new American tour… so what else is new, Howe?

By Fred Mills

It’s been four years since an official Giant Sand album, and nearly as long since head Sand-man Howe Gelb — who in the interim issued a slew of solo projects — took his freewheeling band on the road for a full American tour. All that changes in September, however: Sep. 2 marks the arrival of new Sand platter proVISIONS, issued by indie tastemaker Yep Roc, and then a couple of weeks later the quartet will embark on a tour that initially finds them opening for Neko Case then, in October, breaking off for a West Coast trek as headliners. After that Gelb will head to New Zealand and Australia for a vacation and perform a series of solo shows.

"Giant Sand is a mood," deadpanned Howe Gelb, no stranger to understatement, in a recent press release from Yep Roc. The label goes on to note that Gelb,  “the creative force behind the extended family that has comprised Giant Sand over the years, speaks of  ‘yippity and happenstance’ that arise to inspire the soundscape that is Giant Sand. Gelb has steadily amassed a prolific catalog of Giant Sand and solo material that spans the wealth of southwestern roots and lo-fi. Thick with musings scattered by desert winds, and soaked with eroding guitars and dusty piano, proVISIONS  sonically explores love and loss in the socio-political climate of the modern world.” The bulk of the record was cut last summer during Gelb’s annual family sojourn to Europe and it was produced by Gelb and Kent Olsen, who previously worked with him on his Arizona Amp and Alternator project.

You can check out some new and past GS/Gelb sound samples at the group’s official MySpace Page, or at the Yep Roc artist’s page for the band. In particular, “Increment Of Love” has the kind of spooky, burying-bodies-in-the-desert vibe that has always marked Gelb’s most memorable tunes, while “Without a Word,” featuring Neko on haunting background vocals, ploughs into a classic Sand-worthy garage-skronk groove. And after you’re done with the new tracks, scroll to the bottom of this page for some of BLURT’s fave clips from the man and the band.

With a family tree that would flummox even the mighty family tree majordomo Pete Frame, Giant Sand currently features Gelb (guitars, keys, vox, brakemanship) plus  Danish musicians Thoger T. Lund (bass), Peter Dombernowsky (drums) and Anders Pedersen (slide guitar). For the album the likes of Case, M. Ward, Isobel Campbell, Henriette Sennenvaldt, Lucie Idlout and Lonna Kelley also pitched in, but as always, it’s Gelb’s singular, sunbaked vision — as filtered, increasingly, through a distinctive European sieve — that drives the bus.

“Drives,” indeed: while the press release coincidentally characterizes the new album as “a creeping cruise down a dark desert highway,” speaking personally, as a fan of the band since that first Giant Sandworms seven-inch all those decades ago (not to mention as an erstwhile Tucson resident who was privy to some monstrously fine Giant Sand and GS-related performances during my ten-year tenure in the Old Pueblo), I can attest to the viscerality and velocity that a trip with Giant Sand provides.

One interesting side tidbit about the record: promotional copies were sent out to the press in July, but since then Gelb came across a “lost” track, “Belly Full Of Fire,” that he wanted to include. Apparently it was a song he’d cut some time ago while on tour with PJ Harvey in Europe, but then it got “stashed away” and subsequently forgotten. Much later, while poking around in his archive, Gelb found the song. “Somehow it made sense there at the very last minute to get this new found treasure of a song in the record,” Gelb told Yep Roc. “It made the whole record click. It woke up the songs that came after it beautifully.” The finished, commercially available copies of the album, then, will include “Belly,” which subs for the nine-minute “The New Romance Of Falling,” originally on the promos. The latter, a drop-dead awesome track incidentally, will be made available ass a digital-only bonus track with purchase of proVISIONS (and yes, sharp-eyed Giant Sand fans: the tune is indeed descended from an earlier GS track: "Romance Of Falling," from 1992's Ramp, although needless to say it's been pretty radically overhauled for the new millennium). Meanwhile, ahem, it would appear some of us done got ourselves a nice collectible in our mitts! [Stop gloating, you geek. – Weekend Copy Editor]

In the current, July/August digital magazine of BLURT, you can read our interview conducted by Lavinia Jones Wright with Gelb about his band and the new album. Of his recording and touring beast that just won’t die, Gelb observes, “Every record always seems like the very last record. It is, literally, always the last record. You can assume you’re going to do another one if a bus doesn’t run you over today, but it really is all you know. It’s one of the good things about getting older, that you realize that. When you’re on a tour you think, ‘This is my last show,’ or ‘This is the last time I’ll ever play this song…’ because you really enjoy it when it’s the last time.”

Meanwhile, keep an eye peeled for our forthcoming coverage of proVISIONS. “In today’s cookie cutter universe – and that includes the hordes of indie recycling bands – there’s little room for true eccentrics like Gelb, the ‘squeaky hinge out here on the fringe’ as he sings here,” writes John Schacht, in his review of the album. “[But]  proVISIONS rivals anything in the vast Gelb/Giant Sand catalog… these are the most polished and accessible off-the-cuff improvisations Gelb’s ever done.”

Again, speaking personally, I learned firsthand that in the Gelb universe, “improvisation” isn’t merely a noun — it’s an action verb. A goddam fine state of mind, too.

Giant Sand Tour Dates:

(opening for Neko Case)

Sep 15 2008    8:00P

            Sokol Underground    Omaha, NE

Sep 16 2008    8:00P

            Hoyt Sherman Auditorium     Des Moines, IA, Iowa

Sep 17 2008    8:00P

            Mitchell Auditorium   Duluth, Minnesota

Sep 18 2008    8:00P

            First Avenue   Minneapolis, MN

Sep 19 2008    8:00P

            Orpheum Theatre        Madison, WI

Sep 20 2008    8:00P

            Hideout Block Party   Chicago, IL

Sep 21 2008    8:00P

            Blender Theater - Gramercy   New York City

Sep 23 2008    8:00P

            Beachland Ballroom   Cleveland, OH

Sep 24 2008    8:00P

            The Pageant    St. Louis, MO

Sep 25 2008    8:00P

            The Lyric         Oxford, MS

Sep 26 2008    8:00P

            Diamond Ballroom     Oklahoma City, OK

Sep 27 2008    8:00P

            Granada Theater         Dallas, TX

(headlining)

Oct 3 2008      8:00P

            Modified Arts             Phoenix, AZ

Oct 4 2008      8:00P

            Club Congress             Tucson, AZ

Oct 8 2008      8:00P

            The Echo         Los Angeles, CA

Oct 9 2008      8:00P

            Cafe Du Nord             San Francisco, CA

Oct 11 2008    8:00P

            The Doug Fir Lounge             Portland, OR

Oct 12 2008    8:00P

            The Triple Door           Seattle, WA

(Howe Gelb solo)

Oct 23 2008    8:00P

            Sammies          Dunedin, NZ

Oct 24 2008    8:00P

            San Francisco Bathhouse        Wellington, NZ

Oct 25 2008    8:00P

            4.20     Auckland, NZ

Oct 28 2008    8:00P

            The Troubadour          Fortitude Valley, QLD

Oct 30 2008    8:00P

            Clarendon Guest House          Katoomba, NSW

Oct 31 2008    8:00P

            The Factory Theatre    Enmore, NSW

Nov 1 2008     8:00P

            Northcote Social Club            Northcote, VIC

Nov 2 2008     8:00P

            Northcote Social Club            Northcote, VIC

Nov 3 2008     8:00P

            The Jade Monkey        Adelaide, SA

Giant Sand on YouTube: Take a Tucson travelogue with Gelb via the GS track “Shiver.” Next, go all the way back to the beginning, circa 1983, for Giant Sandworms doing “Body Of Water” (dig those Saguaro alien invaders). And then, finally, glom onto the best version of X’s “Johnny Hit and Run Pauline” that X never cut. Now THAT is entertainment…

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:35 AM Sundance: Neil Young's Greendale (2003)

9:00 AM Syndicated: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Jill Scott

9:45 AM TMC: Moog

11:30 AM & 10:30 PM VH1: Luke's Parental Advisory: THE NEW CREW w/2 Live Crew

12:00 PM Sundance: Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

1:45 PM Sundance: Let's Rock Again! w/Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros [NOTE: look close and you might spot one of the BLURT editors in a couple of scenes]

2:00 PM HBO2: Flight of the Conchords: Bret Gives up the Dream                       

3:00 PM MHD: FNMTV Premieres: Tokyo Police Club , Pink , Gnarls Barkley , Danity Kane , Bow Wow , Missy Elliott

4:00 PM VH1C: Duran Duran Live

4:15 PM HBOZ: Idlewild (2006) w/Outkast

6:05 PM Encore: High Fidelity (2000)                      

7:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Keane , Lemar , Kano , Switches , Gruff Rhys

8:00 PM FUSE: Loaded: Stone Temple Pilots

9:00 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Night Marchers

11:00 PM Gospel Music Channel: Bill Gaither: The Gospel Music of Johnny Cash

11:00 PM FUSE: Lil' Wayne's World

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Fleet Foxes

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Jonas Brothers

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Does It Offend You, Yeah?

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Jakob Dylan

1:00 AM FUSE: Live Through This: Amy Winehouse

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: The Flobots

3:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Natalie Imbruglia

Tentatively pencils in January for fourth album release.

By Blurt Staff

Ben Kweller has just confirmed fall dates. This special tour will kick off in Dallas, TX, on September 25th, and come to a close on November 2nd in Austin, TX.  Kweller will be previewing new material from his fourth album, Changing Horses, tentatively scheduled for a January 2009 release from ATO.

The venues featured will be intimate club settings. Fans will get the chance to hear new music for the first time, as well as the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise.

Ben Kweller tour dates:

09/25 Dallas, TX--Pontiac Garage at House of Blues
09/26   Houston, TX - Walters On Washington
09/27   Oklahoma City, OK - University of Oklahoma
09/30 Tucson, AZ--Club Congress
10/01 Pomona, CA--The Glass House
10/02 West Hollywood, CA--Troubadour
10/04 San Francisco, CA--Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest at Golden Gate Park
10/06 Eugene, OR--W.O.W Hall
10/07 Seattle, WA--Chop Suey
10/10 Denver, CO--Bluebird Theater
10/11 Omaha, NE-Slowdown
10/13 Minneapolis, MN, TBA
10/14 Chicago, IL--The Bottom Lounge
10/16 Boston, MA--Paradise Rock Club
10/17 New York, NY--Bowery Ballroom
10/20 Philadelphia, PA--Johnny Brenda's
10/21 Washington D.C--Rock and Roll Hotel
10/23 Nashville, TN--Mercy Lounge
10/24 Atlanta, GA--The Earl
10/25 Birmingham, AL--WorkPlay Theater
10/27 Orlando, FL--The Social
10/28 Ybor City, FL--Crowbar
10/29 Tallahassee, FL -- Florida State University, Club Downunder
11/02 Austin, TX - Antone's

“Everything That Happens Will Happen Today” available for sampling today.

By Blurt Staff

David Byrne will embark on a six-month world tour starting September 16. The tour, titled “David Byrne, Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno,” will feature Byrne performing songs from his numerous collaborations with Brian Eno, including tracks from several Talking Heads albums produced by Eno, the pair’s 1981 collaboration My Life in the Bush of Ghosts and their newest collaborative effort, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. “The live shows will…try to draw a line linking this new material with what we did 30 years ago,” explains Byrne. He will tour throughout the U.S. from the fall of ‘08 through early ‘09, Australasia in early ‘09 and Europe in March ‘09. Please see reverse for a list of dates.

For the release of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, www.everythingthathappens.com  will offer listeners a free download to preview the album beginning today, August 4. On August 18 the entire record will be made available for sale as a digital download, exclusively from the site. Other formats available for pre order via the site will include an enhanced CD with download and a deluxe package CD with download featuring artwork by Stefan Sagmeister.

Byrne’s current projects include music from season two of HBO’s series Big Love; the upcoming Here Lies Love, a song cycle with Fatboy Slim based on the life of Imelda Marcos and the visual art project Playing the Building, an audience-interactive installation presented by Creative Time and currently on view at the Battery Maritime Building in New York City through August 24.

David Byrne Tour Dates:

September 16            Bethlehem, PA            Zoellner Arts Center
September 17            Baltimore, MD            Lyric
September 18            Newport News, VA            Ferguson Center for the Arts
September 20            Atlanta, GA            Chastain Park Amphitheater
September 21            Asheville, NC            Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
September 22            Nashville, TN            Ryman Auditorium
September 23            Memphis, TN            Orpheum Theatre
September 25            Austin, TX            Paramount
September 26            Austin, TX            Austin City Limits
September 28            Albuquerque, NM            Kiva Auditorium
September 30            Phoenix, AZ            Orpheum
October 2            San Diego, CA            Humphreys
October 3            Los Angeles, CA            Greek Theatre
October 4            Santa Barbara, CA            Arlington Theater
October 6            San Francisco, CA            Davies Symphony Hall
October 8            Santa Rosa, CA            Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
October 11            Park City, UT            Eccles Center for the Performing Arts
October 12            Denver, CO            Buell Theater
October 14            Minneapolis, MN            State Theater
October 15            Milwaukee, WI            Pabst Theater
October 17            Omaha, NE            Kiewit Concert Hall
October 18            St. Louis, MO            Fox Theatre
October 19            Kansas City, MO            Uptown Theatre
October 21            Louisville, KY            Louisville Palace Theater
October 23            Cleveland, OH            Allen Theatre
October 24            Ann Arbor, MI            Michigan Theater
October 25            Indianapolis, IN            Clowes Memorial Hall
October 26            Chicago, IL            Chicago Opera House
October 29            Toronto, ONT            Massey Hall
October 30            Montreal, QC            Metropolis
October 31            Boston, MA            Wang Center
November 1            Atlantic City, NJ            Borgata
November 3            Red Bank, NJ            Count Basie Theatre
November 5            Albany, NY            Empire State Plaza
November 7            Pittsburgh, PA            Carnegie Music Hall
November 8            Philadelphia, PA            Tower Theatre

Catch ‘em on tour the rest of this week, kids!

By Blurt Staff

As we previously told you, the Secret Machines are set to release their forthcoming third album on October 14^th.  The record, simply entitled Secret Machines, is the follow up to 2006’s critically-acclaimed Ten Silver Drops, and the first since the band’s departure from Reprise Records.  Secret Machines will be the first offering from the band’s own, newly-formed label TSM Recordings, which is distributed through World’s Fair Label Group.

From the label:

Secret Machines, recorded in the band’s adopted home of New York City and produced by the band and Brandon Mason is a sonic tour de force, full of expansive instrumental swells and psychedelic sounds.  From the driving beat of opener and first single “Atomic Heels” to the steady drone of “The Fire Is Waiting,” Secret Machines sees the band mapping out new musical terrain while retaining the elements that have made them favorites amongst music fans since the release of their first album, Now Here Is Nowhere, in 2004.  Indeed, it is The Secret Machines’ patented space-bound sound that helped to put Brooklyn on the map as a psych-rock hotbed, resulting in a scene that has swelled in numbers over the last several years.  The band’s newest offering expands upon the trajectory they initiated five years ago.  And oh, what a long, strange trip it has been…

The Secret Machines consists of founding members Brandon Curtis, Josh Garza and new addition in longtime friend Phil Karnats, who replaced Brandon’s brother, guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Curtis who left the group to focus his full attention on his own project, School of Seven Bells. They are currently out on the road playing select dates through the summer including a stop at the All Points West Festival in New Jersey on August 10^th. See the above link for a list of the remaining tour dates.

Track Listing:

1. Atomic Heels

2. Last Believer, Drop Dead

3. Have I Run Out

4. Underneath The Concrete

5. Now You’re Gone

6. The Walls are Starting to Crack

7. I Never Thought to Ask

8. The Fire Is Waiting

Stepping out from the Fountain…

By Blurt Staff

Fountains of Wayne guitarist Jody Porter is set to release his first solo record via itunes on August 26, 2008. Entitled Close to the Sun, the album is made up of 12 original songs that were recorded in New York and produced by Porter and Michael Tudor. Strokes producer Gordon Raphael also produced one song.

"Close To the Sun is a collection of songs I wrote and recorded over the last few years, in between Fountains of Wayne albums and tours," says Porter . "After working on my friends’ records (Albert Hammond, Jr., Juliana Hatfield), I decided it was time to put out my own. It was nice to be able to let this record come together gradually until I had the right songs to make sense together on one album."

The songs bridge the gap between the atmospherics of Porter's first band, The Belltower, with the more guitar-driven power pop of his work in Fountains of Wayne. A US tour in the fall is being scheduled.

Not exactly Prince’s favorite band, however…

By Blurt Staff

These Arms Are Snakes — who describe themselves as “four men with a chronic black cloud overhead; bitter, bummed out, and bored” — are set to release their third album, Tail Swallower & Dove, on Suicide Squeeze. It’s due in early October.

The Seattle band, comprising Chris Common (drums, percussion), Brian Cook (bass, guitar, keyboards), Ryan Frederiksen (guitar, keyboards), Steve Snere (vocals, effects), have been around since 2003, forming from the Ashes of Botch and Kill Sadie. Since then, they’ve toured virtually nonstop and become reknowned for the intensity of their performances.

Here’s the scoop from the label:

TAAS play with their history, with their personalities built deep into the music. You hear it in every innovation, behind each note. A beautiful collision of what has always been with what is completely unexpected. It's evident in the weight of the words, structure of the songs, the linkage of current and construction: concrete writing, coupled with a natural approach to recording, that brought the band – helmed by Chris Common, to produce and engineer – back into the semi-secret Red Room, in Seattle, Washington, to track and mix.

The result is more an album – a coherent whole – than a cycle of individual songs. The music circles around, from beginning to end, looping seamlessly and devouring any sense of arrested motion. The first single, “Red Line Season,” is all guitar-hook-squirm, leading to an anthem of a chorus. “Seven Curtains” explodes into being after thirty- seconds of gorgeous, low volume riffing. It’s here that the band’s strength in the studio really shows. From the textural depth of the keyboards and guitar tones, to the vocal delivery, the attention to detail is incredible. Each sound sets up huge spatial relationships, creating a dynamic tug-o-war, and building up a groove that continues throughout - marked by impossibly nimble drumming - blowing up the room with resonant vibration.

Relentless, and restless - nothing in nature says no. And from this direction comes These Arms Are Snakes, a dark cloud of sound thundering, waiting to burst and drown everything in their noise.

Track Listing:

1 Woolen Heirs
2 Prince Squid
3 Red Line Season
4 Lucifer
5 Ethric Double
6 Seven Curtains
7 Long and Lonely Step
8 Lead Beater
9 Cavity Carousel
10 Briggs

FUN FACT: The band blipped the mainstream radar earlier this year thanks to a bizarre intersection with Prince, as this news item from HollywoodToday.net illustrates:

Prince may have succeeded in convincing YouTube administrators to remove fan videos of his rendition of These Arms Are Snakes' "Crazy Woman Dirty Train" from their servers, but footage of the performance has already been reposted by users of the popular site who dispute the "Purple Rain" singer's right to do so.

The controversy stems from Prince's appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. in April. There, he performed the well known These Arms Are Snakes hit for the audience, but had his label, NPG Records, file copyright complaints with YouTube when video began showing up online.

When asked for comment by AP, These Arms Are Snakes lead singer Steve Snere stated his discontent with Prince's efforts to censor the performance, suggesting the musical icon should be told to unblock the material posted on YouTube because the song did not belong to him.

In contrast to These Arms Are Snakes' generally permissive attitude toward the online distribution of the band's material, Prince has staunchly fought against copyright violations of his own work, including unauthorized use on unofficial fan sites and bootleg material for sale on popular online auctioneer eBay.

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

9:00 AM Syndicated: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Gretchen Wilson

10:00 AM GMC: Bill Gaither: The Gospel Music of Johnny Cash

11:00 AM BET Jazz: The Duke: Duke Ellington

11:30 AM VH1C: The Night James Brown Saved Boston

1:30 PM FUSE: Loaded: Panic at the Disco

2:30 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Night Marchers

6:00 PM MHD: Storytellers: Dave Matthews Band

7:00 PM VH1C: VH1 Rock Honors: The Who (2008)

9:00 PM VH1C: Hard Rock Calling Concert

10:00 PM PBS: P.O.V.: Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music

11:00 PM VH1C: BBC Electric Proms: The Who

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Spiritualized

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Toby Keith

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Tyga

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: N.E.R.D.

1:30 AM FUSE: Loaded: Lil' Wayne

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Tristan Prettyman

3:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Katie Melua, Courtney Love

Teenage symphonies from God revealed as shell corporation front for Lucifer!

By Fred Mills

That’s not just rock math we’re talkin’ in the headline above — it really happened in the late ‘60s, particularly if you were palling around with the Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson. In a new DVD due Sept. 30 from Zeit 1/MVD titled The Beach Boys and the Satan the whole story behind how future Tate-LaBianca killings mastermind Charlie Manson sucked Wilson into his dark vortex is outlined in lurid detail. The 1-hour documentary film, initially available in 1997 when it was produced for German TV, has been out of print for years and this marks its first appearance on DVD.

According to MVD:

Most people imagine California during the sixties to be an idyllic peaceful and highly creative place in which some of the greatest music of the sixties and beyond was created. In many ways this is true but there was also a dark undercurrent that took hold during the late sixties and it stretched out and infiltrated what many people to be "America's Band" The Beach Boys when drummer Dennis Wilson became involved with a cult led by Charles Manson called "The Family". This documentary details the Beach Boys rise to success into context with rarely seen footage of the band, while it exposes the Summer of Love's darkest side and investigates the connections between some of the most controversial characters of that period (Anton La Vey, Kenneth Anger, and Brian Wilson) and their connection to the Manson Family. The film includes interviews with Kim Fowley, Don Was and the creative force behind the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson.

Hey, as long as we’re on the topic, check out the Jesus Is Savior website which exposes the connection between the Beach Boys and Satan — literally! Who needs a bunch of Manson mumbo-jumbo when we’ve got REAL proof that Brian Wilson surrendered his soul to the dark prince ages ago. Hail Lucifer!

Here's a sample entry:

Then there's Brian Wilson's song, God Only Knows.  Although the song didn't become popular at the time, it has become an icon of the Beach Boys.  The song is extremely popular nowadays and is cherished worldwide.  The only problem is that Brian Wilson isn't sure there is a God.  When asked by interviewer, Andrew Schwartz, "Are you thinking about God these days?", Wilson replied:

"I think about God, yes, and I wonder if there is a God. And if there is a God, will God please help me through my hard trips." -SOURCE, INTERVIEW: Backtalk with Brian Wilson

I find it utterly disturbing that any individual could sing about a God he's not sure exists.  To make matters even more freakish, Wilson states...

"...I've gone beyond him (Phil Spector) now. I'm doing the spiritual sound, a white spiritual sound.  Religious music ... That's the whole movement.  That's where I'm going.  It's going to scare a lot of people ... That's where I'm going and it's going to scare a lot of people when I get there." ~Brian Wilson quoted in Jules Siegel's article, Goodbye Surfing Hello God!

Here's a guy who wants to produce religious music; but isn't sure if God exists.  Interestingly, Brian Wilson in the quote above speaks of a "white spiritual sound"; which is a deviation from his "dark stuff" mentioned in the quote below.  But, ironically, Wilson is still unsure of God's existence.  I want you to notice carefully here that you can sing witchcraft or religious music, and still be totally void and ignorant of God and His Word.  Wilson hasn't found God, he's found religion; and religion is the most godless thing on the planet.  You need Jesus Christ Mr. Wilson; not religion.

Band’s gear stolen outside Montreal hotel.

By Blurt Staff

Yesterday morning in Montreal, Iggy and the Stooges’ gear was ripped off outside the Embassy Suites Hotel, according to a notice posted on bass player Mike Watt’s site. “All equipment was in a rented Penske 15-foot yellow truck with U.S. (Michigan) license plate number AC46493, and the theft had to have happened in the morning between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m.”

The band asks that anyone with information about the robbery contact this guy:

Eric Fischer at:
nycentral13@gmail.com
cell phone: +1 646 932 1907

The notice, including a list of missing gear, is here: http://www.hootpage.com/stoogesstolenstuff/stoogesstolenstuff.html

Or you can read it below.

**************

if anyone has information, ANY INFORMATION!
please, please, PLEASE as soon as possible contact
Eric Fischer at:
nycentral13@gmail.com
cell phone: +1 646 932 1907

PLEASE FORWARD AS FAR AND WIDE AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!!!

IGGY AND THE STOOGES
EQUIPMENT STOLEN ON AUGUST 4, 2008
OUTSIDE THE EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL
208 SAINT ANTOINE OUEST,
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA

all equipment was in a rented penske 15 foot yellow truck
with u.s. (michigan) license plate number AC46493
and the theft had to have happened in the morning,
between 6:30 and 7:30 am

there's a web page at:

http://www.hootpage.com/stoogesstolenstuff/stoogesstolenstuff.html

that will soon have pictures and updates to more stuff found missing


Item      Country of Origin   Serial Number

Red roadcase containing:      USA   No serial number
       Red Gibson 1963 EB-3 bass (this is mike watt's bass!)   USA
No serial number

Black roadcase containing:      USA   No serial number
       Reverend Flying V guitar - Volcano black   USA   #08001

Black roadcase containing:      USA   No serial number
       Reverend Orange guitar   USA   03416 ZSL7

Black fibre case containg:      USA   No serial number
       Gibson red SG short scale bass   USA   No serial number

Black roadcase containing:      USA   No serial number
       Marshall Vintage/Modern Amplifier   UK   M-2007-07-0926-2 RoHS

Black roadcase containing:      USA   No serial number
       Marshall Vintage/Modern Amplifier   UK   M-2007-07-0927-2 RoHS

4x Marshall 4x12 Cabinets (with Tuki cover)      UK   #1 Slant:
M-2007-05-0149-0

4x Marshall 4x12 Cabinets (with Tuki cover)      UK   #2 Straight:
M-2006-49-0380-0

4x Marshall 4x12 Cabinets (with Tuki cover)      UK   #3 Slant:
M-2007-05-0150-0

4x Marshall 4x12 Cabinets (with Tuki cover)      UK   #4 Straight:
M-2006-49-0381-0

Orange Calzone road case containing:
       Guitar pedal board and pedals   USA/Japan   No serial number
       Assorted leads    USA/UK   No serial number
       2x mic stands   Germany   No serial number
       Assorted strings and spares   USA   No serial number
    plus:
       2x Boss TU2 Chromatic Tuner
       Boss CH1 Super Chorus
       Fulltone OCD Overdrive
       Crybaby Wah
       Peterson Strobo-Stomp Tuner Pedal
       Whirlwind A/B Boxes
       Whirlwind Cable Tester
       and many many istrument cables
       various tools ( screwdrivers, soldering iron, pliers, etc... )
       tambourine and maracas

Cardboard box containing:
       Assorted replacement drum heads   USA   No serial number

Gretsch Silver Sparkle Catalina drum kit      USA   No serial number
       26" Kick Drum      No serial number
       13" Rack Tom      No serial number
       18" Floor Tom      No serial number
       4x Cymbal Stands      No serial number
       1x Snare Stand      No serial number
       1x Hi Hat Stand      No serial number
       1x Drum Throne      No serial number

Eden D810 Bass cabinet      USA   D810RP4 0703E5001

Eden D810 Bass cabinet      USA   D810RP4 0703E5002

Cardboard box containg:
       Eden VT300 Bass amplifier   USA   0601E5115

Cardboard box containg:
       Eden VT300 Bass amplifier   USA   0507E5033

Floor Fan      CHINA   No serial number

Floor Fan      CHINA   No serial number

Green clamshell suitcase containing:
       Yamaha snare drum   JAPAN   No serial number
       Yahama kick pedal   JAPAN   No serial number
       Zildjian Mega Bell cymbal   USA   No serial number
       Zildjian 15" Hi-Hats   USA   No serial number
       3x Zildjian 18" 19" 20" crash medium cymbals   USA   No serial number

Brown Epiphone guitar case:
       Black Epiphone EB3 short scale bass   KOREA   F300503

D.C. indie pop band announces breakup online.

By Blurt Staff

John Davis and Laura Burhenn, more popularly known as D.C. indie pop band Georgie James, have announced they’re splitting to focus on solo projects. The two issued this statement on GeorgieJames.com yesterday:

“After three years, Georgie James is calling it a day. We're proud of the album we made and everything else that we were able to do during our time together. We are both working on our respective solo projects... (John's can be found at www.myspace.com/titletracksdc and Laura's at www.myspace.com/lauraburhenn) and hope to have albums out early next year. Thanks to everyone that helped our band over these past few years. And thanks to those who've listened to the music and come out to the shows. It is greatly appreciated. See you around soon.” - John and Laura/Georgie James

The news comes just as the band’s episode of NPR’s “Project Song” was nominated for an Emmy, and catches everyone by surprise, as the band’s 2007 album Places was almost universally drooled upon. The good news is that the demos of Davis’s project, Title Tracks, appear to carry on the GJ sound—minus, of course, Burhenn’s sweet vox. He hopes to release a TT album early next year. Burhenn will ostensibly continue to perform the atmospheric pop heard on her 2004 solo album Wanderlust.

Performing in Asheville NC just for the BLURT staff  ‘n’ cameras!

By Fred Mills

On July 23, Jason Isbell appeared as Asheville, NC, venue the Grey Eagle and the BLURT editiorial staff, along with local production company Bclip, was on hand for a special pre-show taping session of a couple of songs and an interview. We’ve got footage posted to our video section now of Isbell (accompanied by his 400 Unit guitarist Browan Lollar) doing "The Magician" from his 2007 album Sirens of the Ditch. 

Video produced by Allie Goolrick; all camerawork by Bclip Productions.

Special thanks to the Isbell crew, New West Records and the good folks at the Grey Eagle. Watch for more clips from the Isbell session shortly, along with a review of the show!

First four albums to be remastered and expanded as well.

By Blurt Staff

Teenage Kicks - the anthem that defined an era of punk, pop and a host of imitators - celebrates its 30th birthday this month with a special reissue, live gig and 2xCD anthology telling the story of its makers, The Undertones.

Due first, on Aug. 31, is a 30th anniversary digital 'vingle' release of the original “Teenage Kicks” song  backed with a previously unreleased live version and the original promotional video. This is followed by a strictly limited edition 7" vinyl re-release of the original four-track single complete with foldout poster booklet.

Then The Undertones - An Anthology will be released by Salvo/Ardeck on Sept. 22 containing 56 songs, 27 of which are previously unreleased demos, live, session and rehearsal tracks. It arrives on the same day as the band (including vocalist Paul McLoone; Feargal Sharkey will not be on hand, however) performs a headline gig at Dingwalls, London.

From Derry, Ireland, the ‘tones burst onto the scene in 1978 with Teenage Kicks, 2 minutes 28 seconds of immaculate guitar pop that has been covered - but never bettered - by everyone from Supergrass to KT Tunstall to Green Day. 12 singles culled from four albums followed including Jimmy Jimmy, Here Comes The Summer, My Perfect Cousin and Wednesday Week that showcased a band prepared to take risks as punk morphed into new wave and on into electro pop and new romanticism.

Teenage Kicks was also famously the late British DJ John Peel's "favorite record of all time". (A new series of Peel's memoirs, The Olivetti Chronicles: Notes On Life, Music And Facial Hair, will be published on 23 October 2008.)

Meanwhile, those first four Undertones albums from the Sharkey era — The Undertones, Hypnotised, Positive Touch, The Sin of Pride — are also in the process of being reissued as new remasters with bonus material and new booklets. However, considering that those records were already reissued as expanded (a slew of bonus tracks) remasters back in 2000 by Castle/Sanctuary, one may well abide by the old saw caveat emptor: how many times can a punter repurchase a favorite album, after all?

Anthology Track Listing:

CD ONE

Original single and album versions

1          Jimmy Jimmy

2          She's A Runaround

3          You’ve Got My Number

4          Girls That Don't Talk

5          Listening In

6          It's Going To Happen

7          Wednesday Week

8          Billy's Third

9          Girls Don't Like it

10        Crisis Of Mine

11        Teenage Kicks

12        There Goes Norman

13        The Love Parade

14        When Saturday Comes

15        Mars Bars

16        Family Entertainment

17        Tearproof

18        Lets Talk About Girls    

19        Jump Boys

20        Julie Ocean

21        Male Model

22        Top Twenty

23        True Confessions

24        My Perfect Cousin

25        Beautiful Friend

26        More Songs About Chocolate & Girls

27        Soul Seven

28        Here Comes The Summer

29        I Know A Girl

CD TWO

Previously unreleased live, demos, rehearsals and rough mixes

1          My Perfect Cousin (demo ‘79)

2          You've Got My Number (demo ‘79)

3          Girls That Don't Talk (demo ‘79)

4          Nine Times Out Of Ten (demo ‘79)

5          Get Over You (Live at the Lyceum ’78)

6          Wrong Way (Live at the Lyceum ’78)

7          Mars Bars (Live at the Lyceum ’78)

8          Listening In (Live at the Lyceum ’78)

9          I Don’t Wanna See You Again (demo ’78)

10        Do The Fast (demo ’78)

11        Girls Don't Like It (demo ’78)

12        I Gotta Getta (demo ’78)

13        Teenage Kicks (demo ’78)

14        Emergency Cases (demo ’78)

15        Get Over You (demo ’78)

16        It's Going To Happen (live 8 track ’81)

17        The Positive Touch (live 8 track ’81)

18        Luxury (demo ’82)

19        Party Party (demo ’82)

20        Beautiful Friend (recording session ’82)

21        The Love Parade (demo 82)

22        You Stand So Close (recording session 82)

23        Bittersweet (demo ’82)

24        Soul Seven (demo ’82)

25        Turning Blue (demo ’82)

26        Window Shopping For New Clothes (demo ’82)

27        Cher O’Bowlies (rehearsal ’83)

While we have your attention, check out this video of “Teenage Kicks”…. First the Undertones, then KT Tunstall, then Green Day, no less!

Intimate performance filmedby Current TV  for MoMA.

By Blurt Staff

A week before Iceland’s Sigur Ros released their critically-acclaimed new record, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, they played a few very special shows in America, including an intimate, tremendous performance at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art.

 Current TV captured a number of songs from the performance and will be airing it tonight at 10 pm EST & PST in the form of “Sigur Ros @ MoMA.”  Go to Current.com.

The hour-long concert film features rousing renditions of songs from Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, including “Gobbledigook” and “Inní mér syngur vitleysingur,” in addition to fan favorites from their lauded past albums.  Included are behind-the-scenes snippets and commentary from the band.

Sigur Ros Tour Dates:

 
9/17/08 New York, NY @ United Palace Theatre
9/18/08 New York, NY @ United Palace Theatre
9/19/08 Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
9/20/08 Montreal, QC @ Quai Jacques Cartier
9/22/08 Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
9/23/08 Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
9/24/08 Chicago, IL @ The Chicago Theatre
9/25/08 Minneapolis, MN @ The Orpheum Theatre
9/27/08 Denver, CO @ Morrison Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9/28/08 Salt Lake City, UT @ Saltair
9/30/08 Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
10/1/08 San Diego, CA @ Copley Symphony Hall
10/2/08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
10/3/08 Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre
10/5/08 Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall
10/6/08 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Theatre
10/7/08 Vancouver, BC @ The Chan Centre

Some of that good ol’ hype that just got slipped over the BLURT transom….

By Blurt Staff

Metallica have announced their tenth studio album, Death Magnetic, will be released globally on Friday, September 12^th.

News about Death Magnetic has been flowing out of Metallica's camp via the band's official website (www.metallica.com) and a brand-new site, missionmetallica.com, which offers users a unique, ground-breaking look-in on the making of the album, with producer Rick Rubin. Fans who can't wait for the September 12^th release date will be able to purchase a digital-edition version of the album, to be delivered at midnight on release day, by joining the free site, which launched on May 29^th. Missionmetallica.com features a treasure trove of exclusive content, including the low-down from the band members themselves about their progress in the studio via fly-on-the-wall video footage, live concerts downloads, exclusive new and never-before-seen archival photos from the studio, contests to fly to foreign lands to see the band perform and much much more.

Metallica are currently finishing up the mixing and mastering of Death Magnetic. The cover art and full-track-listing (below) have been posted at missionmetallica.com, where fans can purchase the album plus web content in various configurations. Users should continue to check the site for the chance to win tickets and meet-and-greet passes to Metallica's live concert events this summer. Upcoming dates include headlining slots at Ozzfest on August 8^th in Dallas, TX and at England's Leeds and Reading festivals later this month.

Death Magnetic is Metallica's first studio album since 2003's multi-platinum St. Anger, which hit No. 1 in 30 countries and has sold nearly six million copies worldwide. Formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, Metallica has become one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands in history, having sold 100 million albums worldwide and playing to millions of fans the world over. They have garnered numerous awards and accolades, including seven Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, and multiple MTV Video Music Awards. In addition, their 1991 album, Metallica, which has sold 15 million copies in the United States, has been awarded the prestigious "Diamond Award" from the Recording Industry Association of America, given to those albums with U.S. sales of 10 million or more.  

Track Listing:

"That Was Just Your Life"

"The End of The Line"

"Broken, Beat & Scarred"

"The Day That Never Comes"

"All Nightmare Long"

"Cyanide"

"The Unforgiven III"

"The Judas Kiss"

"Suicide & Redemption"

"My Apocalypse"

And one more item just slipped over the Blurt transom, this time not just a load of hype, either!

By Blurt Staff

Internationally known musicians have united with Louisiana artists to call on the Presidential candidates to debate in New Orleans about Louisiana coastal wetlands restoration and hurricane recovery. With the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina looming, musicians are urging the candidates to weigh in on Gulf Coast issues which need Federal leadership -- Louisiana Coastal wetlands rebuilding and a sustainable hurricane recovery, by attending a Presidential Forum being organized by the websites Google and YouTube.

The Gulf Restoration Network partnered with Grammy-nominated musician Tab Benoit and his Voice of the Wetlands organization to enlist more than 90 musicians and music industry leaders on a letter to the candidates urging them to support Louisiana coastal wetlands rebuilding, a sustainable hurricane recovery and to present plans on both issues at the Google/YouTube forum.  The letter was signed by a wide range of musicians and music industry voices; from New Orleans own Allen Toussaint, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Galactic, and Funky Meters to internationally known acts like REM, Pearl Jam, Trent Reznor, 311, Ok Go, Jackson Browne, My Morning Jacket and the Indigo Girls.

Rounder recording artist Amanda Shaw, a New Orleans based singer, songwriter and fiddler, turned 18 years old this week but has been an advocate for Louisiana's wetlands since she was 14.  "As a first time voter, I want to make sure they know how much we need our wetlands and hear their plans to restore the coast because the wetlands take care of us and protect us," said Shaw.  Coastal experts have estimated that every mile of coastal wetlands that a storm travels over diminishes its surge by as much as a foot and point to the ongoing loss of Louisiana's coastal wetlands (currently 25 square miles per year) as a primary reason that New Orleans' federal levees failed during Katrina.

Stanton Moore, a founding member and drummer for Galactic stated, "New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, and has influenced about every American style of music that followed, from rock to hip hop.  The next President will need to prioritize restoring our coast to continue the recovery process.  The culture of our whole country depends on it."

Benoit explains, "This forum is the perfect opportunity for the people of Louisiana to voice their concerns about rebuilding our wetlands and communities. It creates the opportunity to get the Presidential candidates to make concrete proposals for how we can ensure that Hurricane Katrina does not happen again."

Expected to use a format similar to the YouTube forum in the primaries, members of the public will be able to ask questions of the candidates by submitting YouTube videos. Despite high-profile support from Louisiana's Governor Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin as well as the New Orleans area universities, neither Senator Barack Obama nor Senator John McCain have committed to the event.

To read the letter and see the complete list of signatories, please visit:

http://www.healthygulf.org/Candidates_Coastal_letter.pdf

For more information about Louisiana's coastal crisis, please visit:

http://www.healthygulf.org/GRN_Defend_Our_Coast_factsheet.pdf

Voice Of the Wetlands (VOW) is an organization that is made up strictly of volunteers who dedicate their talent, time and resources to bring global attention to south Louisiana and the world's coastal erosion problem.  Based in Houma, Louisiana, VOW is organizing their 5^th annual Voice of the Wetlands Festival October 10-12 at the Southdown Plantation in Houma.  On the web at www.voiceofthewetlands.com

Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) is a network of groups and individuals committed to restoring the Gulf of Mexico to an ecologically and biologically sustainable condition.  Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, the GRN is the only organization solely focused on uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf.  On the web at www.healthygulf.org

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM NBC: Today: Foreigner

9:00 AM Syndicated: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Taylor Swift

10:00 AM HBOZ: The Making Of...: Idlewild (Outkast)

12:00 PM RAVE HD: Beautiful Noise: Neko Case

1:30 PM TV Land: The Beverly Hillbillies: "Flatt and Scruggs Return"

3:30 PM FUSE: Loaded: Paramore

4:30 PM MHD: Nine Inch Nails - Beside You in Time

5:00 PM VH1C: Classic 60 Minutes: Bruce Springsteen

5:30 PM VH1C: Classic 60 Minutes: Billy Joel

6:35 PM IFC: Mystery Train (1989) w/Screamin' Jay Hawkins , Tom Waits , Joe Strummer , Rufus Thomas

8:00 PM RAVE HD: Later With Jools Holland: Dixie Chicks , Gogol

Bordello , The Fratellis , The Dresden Dolls , Paolo Nutini , Jools Holland

9:00 PM RAVE HD: Beautiful Noise: Grace Potter

10:00 PM MOJO Concerts: Doyle Bramhall w/Clapton & Crow at the Great Wall

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: Joe Cocker

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Randy Newman

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Conor Oberst , Jack Black

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Rev Theory

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: The B-52's

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Brett Dennen

2:00 AM FUSE: Lil' Wayne's World

2:00 AM MTV2: Celebrity Deathmatch: Bob Dylan , The Wallflowers , Donny Osmond , Marie Osmond

News for all you Hendrix freaks from Experience Hendrix, LLC… but don’t you already have bootlegs of this anyway?

By Blurt Staff

Experience Hendrix is the continuing concert phenomenon that brings together contemporary guitar greats to celebrate the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix.  It is also the title of the first-ever DVD release that chronicles blazing concert performances by top name artists in tribute to Jimi Hendrix.  Experience Hendrix, released through Image Entertainment this month, features highlights of two star-studded concerts featuring such notables as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Double Trouble, Living Color, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Indigenous, Robert Randolph, Mick Taylor, Kenny Olson of Kid Rock’s band, Hubert Sumlin, Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers, Buddy Guy, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Miles, Billy Cox and others.

Fourteen of the performances seen in Experience Hendrix were filmed at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Jimi Hendrix’s home town. Three bonus songs were filmed at San Diego’s annual Street Scene.

The connection between the participating artists and the legacy of Jimi Hendrix is undeniably direct.  According to Kenny Wayne Shepherd, “Without the music of Jimi Hendrix, I might never have been so inspired to explore the music possibilities and push the envelope of the guitar.”  

Billy Cox the bassist, who met Jimi Hendrix in the U.S. Army and performed and recorded with Hendrix with both the Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Band of Gypsys, stated, “It’s a thrill for me to play Jimi’s music for audiences now as it was in the past.  The Experience Hendrix shows illustrate just you how timeless this music really is.”

The Experience Hendrix cast includes musicians who performed or recorded with Hendrix during his lifetime including the aforementioned Cox as well as original Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and the late Buddy Miles who was, with Cox, the rhythm section of the Band of Gypsys.  Before going on to join the Rolling Stones, Mick Taylor jammed with Jimi Hendrix while still part of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.  Likewise, before he worked with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Double Trouble’s Tommy Shannon enjoyed a friendship with Hendrix and once lent his bass guitar to him so that he could join a late night jam session with Johnny Winter and Stephen Stills at New York’s famed Scene Club.  Hendrix’s love for the blues and the critical role it played in his sound was acknowledged by the participation in this special DVD by two of his favorite guitarists, Hubert Sumlin and Buddy Guy.  Sumlin, whose distinctive lead guitar served Howlin’ Wolf for three decades, joined Jimmy D. Lane, the son of fellow Chess Records blues giant Jimmy Rogers to perform “Killing Floor” a signature song Hendrix loved and had selected to open his American debut performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop festival.  Hendrix had also admired the work Buddy Guy had done for Muddy Waters and as a solo artist for Chess Records.  Guy and Hendrix also enjoyed a friendship.  Hendrix, says Guy, explained to him that “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” came from his love for Muddy Waters and desire to take the blues into new, uncharted territory.  Guy, whose version of Hendrix’s “Red House” has long been a staple of his repertoire, can be seen on the new Experience Hendrix DVD performing a version of “Hoochie Coochie Man”, a Muddy Waters staple Hendrix loved [Hendrix’s own version can be heard on his BBC Sessions album]

Produced by Janie Hendrix and John McDermott for Experience Hendrix, LLC, the family run company charged with preserving the legacy of Jimi Hendrix, the DVD was mixed by Eddie Kramer.  Kramer, one of history’s most lauded recording engineers was a long-time associate of Jim Hendrix’s who worked on every one of his albums from Are You Experienced? onward as well as numerous live recordings including Woodstock. Kramer mixed portions of the Experience Hendrix DVD at Electric Lady Studios, the Greenwich Village recording studio he helped construct for Hendrix in 1969.

Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix, LLC commented, "Everyday, we see how Jimi's musical legacy continues to transcend generational and cultural boundaries.  This DVD release reflects the genius of his unifying spirit."

Experience Hendrix track listing:

Seattle Paramount

Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Double Trouble: "Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)"

Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Double Trouble: "Voodoo Chile"

Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Double Trouble "I Don't Live Today"

Indigenous: "Hear My Train A Comin"

Living Colour: “Power of Soul”

Living Colour: “Crosstown Traffic”

Eric Gales: "Purple Haze"

Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy D. Lane & Double Trouble: "Bleeding Heart"

Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy D. Lane, Mike McCready & Double Trouble: "Killing Floor"

Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox & Andy Aledort: “Freedom”

Paul Rodgers, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Andy Aledort & Kenny Olson: "Stone Free"

Buddy Guy, Andy Aledort & Double Trouble: “Hoochie Coochie Man”

Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Andy Aledort & Double Trouble: "Five Long Years"

Ensemble: “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”

San Diego Street Scene

       1. Robert Randolph & Double Trouble: "Purple Haze"

       2. Mick Taylor & Indigenous: "Red House"

       3. Eric Gales, Billy Cox & Buddy Miles: "Foxey Lady"

No comment from the Mark David Chapman camp yet…

By Fred Mills

As one BLURT staffer groaned when the press release came in — Oh, no (pardon the pun). Tell me they did not just use the phrase "#1 with a bullet" in a press release about a John Lennon composition.

Well, er… yes, yes they did…

BLURT gets press releases all day long. Hundreds. Most we delete. Some we print out and use as t.p. And still others we hang on to, savor, and find a way to utilize the information contained therein to benefit both you, dear readers, and the artists themselves.

And then sometimes others arrive that leave us staring, gape-jawed, at our computer screens.

Yoko Ono has released some remix collections via Astralwerks and they’ve garnered critical acclaim and noteworthy club play (not to mention doing pretty well commercially). This week her “Give Peace A Chance (The Remixes)” reached number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart.

The press release that was sent out to hail this accomplishment bore the following bold-faced header:

ONO’s “GIVE PEACE A CHANCE” (THE REMIXES) Hits #1 With A Bullet On Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart This Week!!

Yup. With a bullet.

(Aside from the Lennon stuff, does anyone really use the chart-topping phrase “with a bullet” anymore? We thought that went out with the Mothers At Fillmore East.)

All the concert news ‘n’ reviews that’s fit to print.

By Blurt Staff

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT – this time, we’ve got Alejandro Escovedo in Asheville, NC, Hippiefest (feat. Eric Burdon and Jack Bruce) in Kettering, Ohio, and Stevie Wonder in L.A. (only marginally present, it turned out).

·         *Of the Wonder “performance” at the Sunset Marquis in L.A. July 30, Jose Martinez was more than taken aback: “Promised a night of music from legends Stevie Wonder and Jeff Beck, instead I was bombarded with a horrifying and never ending set from the diminutive John Oates, sans Daryl Hall. And I can’t go for that (no can do).”

·         *Yours truly saw the Alejandro Escovedo band tear it up in Asheville on July 15, and it made my day/week/month: “’Rock’ was the operative term, and blaze away they did, leading with the stomping Real Animal opener “Always A Friend” and making sure, as the evening progressed, that most of that album’s hi-nrg cuts got their proper public airings.”

·         *And Steven Rosen caught the Hippiefest tour on July 26 in Kettering, Ohio, featuring a number of washed-up relics (Turtle, Badfinger, Melanie, etc.) and some bonafide heroes — Burdon and Bruce. “[They] have no cobwebs on them, musically or culturally,” writes Rosen. “Their material isn’t dated or poppy-cutesy or mired in the sentimental love-peace vibe that Hippiefest tries to conjure with its advertising and marketing. If anything, the dark, bluesy and sometimes-angry edge to their signature 1960s-era songs pointed to where rock – and society – was going in the future. And if either is tired of playing that material, they didn’t show it. The sets were ferociously, defiantly authoritative.”

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We’ve also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

[Stevie Wonder “please don’t upset our hero by using your flash” photo credit: Jose Martinez]

Major market tour supporting new album, due Sept. 9.

By Fred Mills

As previously announced, Tricky’s new album Knowle West Boy arrives Sept. 9 via Domino, and a few days prior to that he’ll arrive in the U.S. with his band to do a string of major-market dates. Full itinerary is below. He’s also slated to do the Letterman show on Sept. 3.

The press hype on the album:

Produced by Tricky, with Switch on mixing duties, Knowle West Boy is named after the urban ghetto where Tricky was raised. The album finds Tricky reaching into the post-punk, Two-Tone, reggae, hip hop and pure pop he grew up adoring and twisting it all into surreal songscapes; creating the most varied and accessible set of his career.  Knowle West Boy, was released last month in the UK to rave reviews. Q Magazine called the collection "vivacious", the NME  proclaims that  "Tricky's back" and Uncut states it's "his best album in at least a decade."  

Watch your friendly neighborhood BLURT for a review of the album…

Tricky Tour Dates:

9/4 - New York, NY - The Fillmore At Irving Plaza

9/5 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero

9/6 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

9/8 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues

9/9 - Toronto, ONT - Phoenix

9/11 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues

9/12 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre

9/14 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent

Touring with Whigs, We Are Scientists and Stills.

By Blurt Staff

A month or so ago we gave you some of the details of the upcoming Kings Of Leon album Only By the Night, due Sept. 23. Today the band announced details of the accompanying North American tour:

The tour kicks off on street date with an exclusive club show at New York's Webster Hall. It will continue through October and November, ending November 19th at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN. A full itinerary is below.

Only By The Night's first single, the explosive and memorable "Sex On Fire," will be available on Itunes and impacts at radio next week. The song received its first public airing yesterday, Tuesday, August 5th, on MySpace Music, the band's MySpace page and kingsofleon.com The video is being shot in Los Angeles this week and is being directed by the renowned Sophie Muller.

Starting September 1st, the band is going to begin hosting a series of home movies that document the making of Only By The Night. Every day leading up to the release date, a new home movie will be featured on kingsofleon.com and the band's MySpace page. This Saturday, August 9, they will play the All Points West Festival in Liberty State Park, in Jersey City, NJ.

Tour Dates:

September

23                      New York, NY                    Webster Hall w/The Whigs

October (w/The Stills and We Are Scientists)

11                       Las Vegas, NV                   The Joint
12                       San Diego, CA                   House of Blues
15                       Los Angeles, CA                Nokia Theatre
17 and 18         San Francisco, CA            Warfield Theatre
20                      Seattle, WA                         Paramount Theatre
21                       Portland, OR                      Schnitzer Hall
23                      Denver, CO                          The Fillmore Auditorium
25                      Austin, TX                            Austin Music Hall
26                      Oklahoma City, OK           Bricktown Events Center
28                      Houston, TX                       Verizon Wireless Theater
29                      Dallas, TX                            Palladium Ballroom
31                      Chicago, IL                           Aragon Ballroom

November (w/The Whigs and We Are Scientists)

1                        Minneapolis, MN              Orpheum Theatre
3                        St. Louis, MO                      The Pageant
5                        Milwaukee, WI                   The Eagles Ballroom
7                        Toronto, ONT                     Kool Haus
8                        Detroit, MI                          The Fillmore
10                      Washington, DC               DAR Constitution Hall
12                      Boston, MA                         Orpheum Theatre
15                      Philadelphia, PA               Electric Factory Ballroom
18                      Atlanta, GA                         The Tabernacle
19                      Nashville, TN                      Nashville Municipal Auditorium

Going beyond the pale and even beyond that…

By Blurt Staff

The mighty Neurosis issued a statement today indicating that they will be curating a special Roadburn edition of their Beyond The Pale festival. It takes place in Holland next April, and the full list of performers will be announced soon. Read on for the details…

***

The mission of Beyond the Pale is for us to honor the spirit and power of sound with people that we feel are kindred spirits. We want to bring together a diverse group of people who push the envelope, are truly original, and have that unspeakable fire and inspiration flowing through their art. - Steve Von Till

In our 23 years of existence we have had very few experiences that felt as right as our initial performance at Roadburn in 2007. Roadburn is a unique experience in the often disappointing and disingenuous world of music, it is a festival organized and run by people with a true passion and dedication to sound. In the spirit of this commitment we are proud to announce that the day of April 25, 2009 at Roadburn will be a rekindling of 'Beyond The Pale. We will be performing as well as curating the entire days events. - Scott Kelly

Roadburn is very pleased to invite our spiritual brethren from Neurosis to host a European version of their "Beyond The Pale" festival. We couldn't imagine anyone being more attuned to the atmosphere and energy of Roadburn than Neurosis, and offering them the opportunity to stage the first ever "Beyond The Pale" outside of the U.S. is our way of honoring their enormous contributions to underground music as well as their iconic style and sound.

On Saturday, April 25, Neurosis will have complete freedom to invite all the bands and set the lineups for each of the stages. Over the years, Neurosis has exhibited an amazing commitment and dedication to the art of underground music, something that we at Roadburn understand and appreciate completely. We are looking forward to the new ideas that they will bring to the festival, as we feel they are truly kindred spirits. We look forward to uniting at Roadburn 2009.

Steve Von Till comments: "It is a great honor and privilege to have asked to host our own Beyond the Pale event at Roadburn 2009. Since playing Roadburn 2007, we could think of no better people to work with on this event than the organizers and promoters of Roadburn and the wonderful staff at the013. Roadburn is a completely different experience than the traditional music festival. It is a small, intimate, extremely well organized festival, put together by people who love the bands, and thrive on creating a unique social vibe where the lines between artist, audience, and staff are often completely blurred."

"2009 also marks the 10th anniversary of our own label, Neurot Recordings. What an amazing way to mark our first decade as a label. I believe that Roadburn and Neurosis share a clarity of vision that will result in an amazing experience for us all."

* Roadburn 2009 will run for three days from Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. There will be an additional afterburner event on Sunday, April 26, 2009. More info, including full lineup, will follow.

More information about previous Beyond the Pale events can be found here.

Past performers for Beyond the Pale have included Savage Republic, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Shellac, Stars of the Lid, Pleasure Forever, Low, Jarboe, Zeni Geva, Zoviet France, and more. Lookout for a very special lineup at this year's event!

In honor of the Twins’ plans to kick the living crap outta the damn Yankees….

By Blurt Staff

Its always a great day when we have new Supersuckers news, and yes, you guessed it, today is a great day. First of all, there’s word of a new album en route titled Get It Together but no firm date yet. Then we’ve just been told that the band will perform “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” during the Minnesota Twins game on Wednesday August 13 in Minneapolis. The Supersuckers will then perform at The Cabooze in Minneapolis the next night, August 14.  To check out all the tour dates and more info you can go to their www.supersuckers.com website.

Here’s what singer, Eddie Spaghetti said in a ‘sucker statement:

Take me out to the ball game...take me out to the crowd! You ever wonder how they decide on who gets to sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" at the seventh inning stretch at Major League Baseball games? Well, me too! I still can't figure it out even after being asked to do exactly that at an upcoming Minnesota Twins game this August 13th. That's right, the good people in the Twins operation have deemed it appropriate that we, The Supersuckers, will get to partake in this time honored tradition when they take on the Darth Vader of baseball, the New York Yankees, in a day game this Wednesday, August 13th.

The first pitch will be at 12:10 pm Central Time and we'll be doing a little show before then somewhere in the stadium at 10:45. If you'd like to come to this glorious event we will be hooking a few people up with tickets but it's first come first served so get your email requests into chris@supersuckers.com right away for your chance to see The Greatest invade the American Pastime in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008. We will be rooting firmly for the Twins to kick the living crap outta those Damn Yankees so come on out and join us. It'll be lots of fun for sure!

Stay tuned for an update regarding our new release, "Get It Together", coming real soon to a computer near you!

Rage Against the Machine, Steve Earle, Atmosphere, Billy Bragg, Mos Def and others to play protest shows during Republication National Convention.

By Blurt Staff

They played Metallica, Van Halen and the Clash to annoy Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega in 1989-90, and he surrendered—so why not try the same thing on the wannabe dictators at the Republican National Convention?

On September 1, the first day of the RNC, the SEIU Take Back Labor Day Festival will take place at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul, Minnesota. The event, backed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), goes from noon until 7 p.m. and will feature performances by Steve Earle, Atmosphere, Billy Bragg, Mos Def, Allison Moorer, Lupe Fiasco and “Tom Morello & Friends.” For more information, visit www.takebacklaborday.com.

We’re guessing “and Friends” means Rage Against the Machine, as the band will play Minneapolis’ Target Center on September 3.

Despite pledging “I’m not going to Salt Lake City,” Blag Dahlia and company did it anyway.

Blag Dahlia’s not the president, so it’s no big deal if he goes back on his word. Like last weekend, when Dahlia and his band—the notorious Dwarves—spent three days in Salt Lake City, a town Dahlia hated so much he wrote a song about it.

There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you

Except the one thing that you want me to

We went across the mighty Rio Grande and

saw Disneyland and

the sea

you and me

But there's one thing I'll never do not even for you

I'm not going to Salt Lake City

There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you

except to walk among the Osmond crew

I know you're planning for a latter day and

 you can't betray

what you know

in Provo

But there's one less town on the globe and

if you must go there you're going alone

I'm not going to Salt Lake City

even if they tell me I can stay

Even if they resurrect my brain

I don't wanna go there

I don't wanna go insane

I'm not pure and I'm not pretty and

I'm not going to Salt Lake City

I'm not living in Hello Kitty and

I'm not going to Salt Lake City

The band played Saturday night at SLC’s Bar Deluxe and then Dahlia and the Dwarves’ masked guitarist HeWhoCannotBeNamed played a 50-minute in-store at The Heavy Metal Shop. Word among the locals is the band partied its collective ass off—and, as they say, all night long—after the Bar Deluxe show, and Dahlia actually appeared to have a good time at the in-store, smiling and cracking jokes, a few of them at the expense of the city’s conservative reputation. But although he played a song that made fun of the hip hippie city of Seattle, he did not play “Salt Lake City.”

At the in-store, anyway. Blurt’s sources say they did indeed play the song at the Bar Deluxe show, but—curiously, given Dahlia’s outspoken nature—without rubbing it in.

Blurt planned to ask about the visit after the in-store performance, but Dahlia—who during the Heavy Metal Shop performance mentioned a near-miss hook-up the night before—had a gaggle of Salt Lake City babes waiting for him to say “Hello, kitty.” And clearly, he was very happy about that. Y’all come back now, y’hear?

(Photo: Randy Harward)

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

9:00 AM & 3:00 PM Biography: Jerry Garcia

9:00 AM Syndicated: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Leona Lewis

10:00 AM & 4:00 PM Biography: Pete Townshend

12:00 PM VH1C: Classic Albums: Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks..."

12:35 PM Showtime 2: New York Doll

2:00 PM Biography: Led Zeppelin

2:00 PM VH1C: Rock Fest: Judas Priest

3:00 PM RAVE HD: Montreux Jazz Festival 2006: Sting , The Strokes , Iggy Pop

5:30 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: Top of the Pops Special: Sting

7:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Beck , Amy Winehouse , Razorlight , Jamiroquai , Jarvis Cocker , The Flaming Lips

7:30 PM VH1C: Classic 60 Minutes: U2

8:00 PM Biography: Jimi Hendrix

8:00 PM Cinemax: Almost Famous (2000)

8:00 PM TLC: Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee: Raise the Roof

8:00 PM VH1C: U2: Rattle and Hum

9:00 PM Biography: Janis Joplin

9:00 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Warlocks

10:00 PM Biography: Hippies

10:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: Elbow, MGMT, Alanis Morrisette

11:00 PM Sundance: Iconoclasts: Paul Simon and Lorne Michaels

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Solomon Burke

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: From First To Last , Tommy Lee

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Al Green

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Conor Oberst , Jack Black

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Shooter Jennings

2:00 AM FUEL: Check 1, 2: The Cool Kids

3:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Rufus Wainwright , Melanie C

[Pictured: Cool Kids]

After the Oasis tour he and his Cardinals strike out on the road as headliners.

By Andy Tennille

Talented singer-songwriter, teen heartthrob, Elton cronie, former drug addict, Gap salesman, raving lunatic...whatever the epithet, Ryan Adams has worn them all over the years with mild derangement and unhinged grace.

This fall, Adams is scrapping the appellations and touring simply as The Cardinals, the moniker of his crack touring band consisting of pedal steel player Jon Graboff, bassist Chris Feinstein, drummer Brad Pemberton, guitarist Neal Casal and occasional piano player/producer Jamie Candiloro.

The tour finds Adams and his avian mates joining up for eight Canadian dates this fall with Oasis (as we previously told you about), which seems a match made in heaven given the Gallagher brethrens penchant for drama and offstage antics. In addition to their shows with Oasis, The Cardinals will headline shows across the Northeast and Midwest before concluding the tour on October 5^th at Overture Hall in Madison, WI.

Word from the Cardinals’ nest is a new album – recorded in Paris last year – is upcoming, as is an Adams solo release. For more info on all things Adams, check out www.ryan-adams.com.

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals Tour Dates:

08-23 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore

08-26 Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater (with Oasis)

08-27 Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place (with Oasis)

08-29 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place (with Oasis)

08-30 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome (with Oasis)

09-01 Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Center (with Oasis)

09-04 Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Palace (with Oasis)

09-05 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre (with Oasis)

09-07 Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion

09-09 London, Ontario - John LaBatt Center (with Oasis)

09-25 Schenectady, NY - Proctor's Theater

09-26 Syracuse, NY - Landmark Theater

09-27 Rochester, NY - Auditorium Theater

09-29 Columbus, OH - Palace Theater

09-30 Cleveland, OH - Playhouse Square

10-02 Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre

10-03 Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater

10-04 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater

10-05 Madison, WI - Overture Hall

Gradually formig an “exit strategy” if this album doesn’t take off!

By Blurt Staff

Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith has confirmed his first headlining tour of the US since the release of, Exit Strategy of the Soul (Yep Roc,) an album which has produced some of the most glowing reviews of his career.

In fact, BLURT enthused, of Sexsmith in general and Exit specifically, “Over the course of 17 years and nine albums, Ron Sexsmith has offered listeners few surprises and zero disappointments… Many artists have been as consistent as Sexsmith, but few have been as consistently good.” Read the full review HERE.

Sexsmith will be joined by his long time live band of Mark Mariash (drums), Tim Bovaconti (guitar) and Jason Mercer (Bass) on a national string of dates running from New York to Los Angeles.

Ron Sexsmith Tour Dates:

9/15 - Maxwell's - Hoboken NJ

9/16 - Bowery Ballroom - New York NY

9/17 - Tin Angel - Philadelphia PA

9/18 - T.T. The Bear's - Cambridge MA

9/19 - Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA

9/22 - The Belcourt Theatre - Nashville TN

9/24 - The Five Spot - Atlanta GA

9/25 - 20th Century Theatre - Cincinnati OH

9/27 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago IL

9/28 - Shank Hall - Milwaukee WI

9/29 - The Varsity Theater - Minneapolis MN

10/7 - Triple Door - Seattle WA

10/8 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland OR

10/9 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco CA

10/11 - Troubadour - West Hollywood CA

Sixth studio album Pull The Pin arrives Sept. 9.

By Blurt Staff

Over the past eleven years, the Stereophonics (Kelly Jones, Richard Jones and Javier Weyler) have released five smash albums, scored twenty-one Top 20 hits and eleven Top 5 hits in the UK, racked up multi-million sales and toured relentlessly all over the world.  On September 9^th, Stereophonics will release their latest album, Pull The Pin, here in the U.S.

Pull The Pin, their first new release in America since 2005, is the band’s sixth studio album. Written by Kelly Jones and featuring the impressive lead single “It Means Nothing” the album combines the band’s rockiest and most melodic aspects in one blazing LP that comes out fighting on all fronts. A 12-track tour de force, it has already been called one of the definitive albums of their incredible decade plus career.

Produced by Kelly and Jim Lowe (Foo Fighters, Manic Street Preachers) and mixed by Spike Stent, (U2, Depeche Mode and Massive Attack) the album is instantaneous and razor-sharp, "In these times - when you can download a track before it’s even released - one song can’t be weaker than another, you have to make 'em all stand their own ground," enthuses Kelly Jones.

“I wanted to say something on this record, to start making story songs again – but with everything I've learnt in the past ten years. It was not to make a political comment, but just to observe what was going on around me in working class, real environments.  I think we've achieved the best parts of the band over the last ten years on this one record,”

“When you have been in a band so long, you tend to know what the next step is going to be before it happens,” commented bassist Richard Jones. “We trust each other, we’re all on the same page. We all just went in and played, and it was like going with the flow.”

With the collapse of their US record company V2 America, Stereophonics and Universal Music Group have decided to re-release their entire studio back catalogue through the band's imprint Vox Populi (Fontana/Universal) this fall.

All five of the band’s pervious studio albums (Word Gets Around, Performance & Cocktails, Just Enough Education to Perform, You Gotta Go There to Come Back & Language, Sex, Violence, Other? will be made available again during September and October. Kelly Jones first and only solo album Only The Names Have Been Changed will also be released for the first time in the U.S. this fall.  (See the full detailed release schedule below)

The Stereophonics will also return to these shores to celebrate their entire career with their first North American tour since 2005.  Beginning in Boston on September 5^th, the twelve city tour includes performances at Toronto’s Virgin Music Festival, Webster Hall in New York and the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.

Stereophonics 2008 North American Tour Dates:

Sept 5^th                        Boston, MA                             Paradise Rock Club

Sept 7^th                        Toronto, ON                            Virgin Festival

Sept 8^th                        Philadelphia, PA                       Wold Café Live

Sept 9^th                        New York, NY                        Webster Hall

Sept 11^th                      Washington D.C.                      9:30 Club

Sept 12^th                      Pittsburgh, PA                          Mr. Small Theatre

Sept 13^th                      Chicago, IL                              The Metro

Sept 16^th                      Los Angeles, CA                      Henry Fonda Theatre

Sept 17^th                      San Francisco, CA                   Great American Music Hall

Sept 19^th                      Portland, OR                            Wonder Ballroom

Sept 20^th                      Vancouver, BC                        Commodore Ballroom

Sept 21^st                      Seattle, WA                             Showbox (Market)

Stereophonics U.S. Release Schedule:

September 9^th

Pull The Pin

September 23^rd

Word Gets Around & Performance & Cocktails

October 7^th

Just Enough Education to Perform & You Gotta Go There to Come Back

October 21^st

Language, Sex, Violence, Other? & Only The Names Have Been Changed (Kelly Jones Solo Album)

On the hippest label in North America, to boot!

By Blurt Staff

Cardiff, Wales, septet Los Campesinos! are set to release their second album We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed in North America on November 11 via Arts & Crafts.

Los Campesinos! took North America by storm this past year, first landing with the six-song Ep, Sticking Fingers Into Sockets, in July 2007 and making their U.S. debut performance at Lollapalooza, launching the explosive single, “You! Me! Dancing!” Then in April of this year, Los Campesinos! returned with their debut full-length, Hold On Now, Youngster, which garnered glowing reviews from all the right hipsters.

Upon the conclusion of the band’s extensive North American tour this past spring, Los Campesinos! remained on America’s West Coast, in a Seattle studio with producer John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney/Blonde Redhead/Bikini Kill) for a two week recording session and returned to Wales to mix at Monnow Valley.

In a recent note to their fans the band had this to say: “This is no B-sides, rarities or ‘songs that weren’t good enough to be on the album cobbled together with some remixes and field recordings’ collection. It’s all new tracks that none of you have ever heard before. Sure, we considered re-releasing a radio-edit of ‘You! Me! Dancing!’ and trying to get famous, scrape another tour out of that, but our parents unanimously agreed that if we did they would never speak to us again.”

Well, all right then. For the entire website posting from Los Campesinos! visit www.loscampesinos.com

We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed track listing:

1. Ways To Make It Through The Wall

2. Miserabilia

3. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

4. Between An Erupting Earth And An Exploding Sky

5. You'll Need Those Fingers For Crossing

6. It's Never That Easy Though, Is It? (Song For The Other Kurt)

7. The End Of The Asterisk

8. Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown # 1

9. Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time

10. All Your Kayfabe Friends

Weddoes supporting recent Albini-produced album El Rey.

By Blurt Staff

The Wedding Present has announced a 21 date North American tour which will commence at the Casbah in San Diego, California and conclude at The Mohawk in Austin, Texas.  The band released El Rey in May, its first new long player since 2005’s Take Fountain.  El Rey found the band reunited with noted producer Steve Albini, with whom they worked with on their 1991 release Seamonsters. 

The live lineup includes David Gedge (guitar and vocals), Terry de Castro (bass), Graeme Ramsay (drums), and Chris McConville (guitar).

El Rey was penned Gedge was living in Los Angeles and according to his label it “burns with West Coast sunlight; Hollywood seen through the eyes of a gritty British Northerner.”  Speaking about El Rey in MOJO Magazine, Gedge observed, “I’ve been living in West Hollywood for the last year or so, and while I’m not going to claim that this is my ‘L.A.’ album, there are some references. I suppose the themes are lust, jealousy, betrayal, regret, obsession, super-heroes… the usual. We chose to record with Steve this time because the new songs were sounding very guitar-ry and quite dark. It’s been good. As you’d imagine, really; Albini knows his stuff.”

Wedding Present Tour Dates:

9/18/08                        Casbah                                                San Diego, CA

9/19/08                        Troubadour                             Los Angeles, CA

9/21/08                        Slim’s                                      San Francisco, CA

9/23/08                        WOW Hall                              Eugene, OR

9/24/08                        Neumo’s                                  Seattle, WA

9/25/08                        Doug Fir Lounge                    Portland, OR

9/26/08                        Media Club                             Vancouver, B.C.

9/29/08                        Turf Club                                St. Paul, MN

10/1/08                        Empty Bottle                          Chicago, IL

10/2/08                        Crofoot (Pike Room)              Pontiac, MI

10/3/08                        Lee’s Palace                            Toronto, ONT

10/4/08                        Babylon                                   Ottawa, ONT

10/5/08                        Le National                             Montreal, ONT

10/6/08                        Middle East                            Cambridge, MA

10/8/08                        Bowery Ballroom                    New York, NY

10/9/08                        Southpaw                                Brooklyn, NY

10/11/08                      Black Cat                                Washington, D.C.

10/12/08                      Local 506                                Chapel Hill, NC

10/14/08                      The Earl                                   Atlanta, GA

10/15/08                      The Bottletree                         Birmingham, AL

10/17/08                      The Mohawk                           Austin, TX

This just in from the wolf den…

By Andy Tennille

Grammy Award-winning Australian rockers Wolfmother today announced via a statement posted on their website and MySpace page the immediate resignation of bass/keyboard player Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett.

“Wolfmother toured the world virtually non-stop through 2006 and early 2007 on the back of their acclaimed self titled debut album. Longstanding frictions within the group then lead them to take an extended break during the second half of 2007 to consider their future.

In early 2008 they regrouped and worked on new material. Initially encouraged by those sessions, they committed to a handful of live shows to 'road test' the new songs and to try to find a way forward.

Those dates concluded with a headlining slot last Sunday at the Splendour In The Grass Festival in Australia's Byron Bay where rumours circulated about possible lineup changes.

Following that show Chris Ross decided to announce that he was leaving the band due to irreconcilable personal and musical differences. Myles Heskett has also decided to leave the band rather than continuing as part of a changed lineup. The pair has been working together on songs for some time and they plan to focus their energies on that new project in the future.

Andrew Stockdale, Myles Heskett, and Chris Ross will make no public statements at this time except to say that they are each really looking forward to making their new music over the years ahead.

In the meantime they simply ask all Wolfmother fans to please understand that in spite of their best efforts over a long period of time, they just could not find a harmonious way to work together and that has [led] to the decisions announced today.”

Frontman Andrew Stockdale – the modern-day torchbearer of the famed Noel Redding fro - will howl (ok, enough with the wolf jokes, already!) again, however. Stockdale plans to add to the pack prior to cutting a new Wolfmother album later this year.

To listen to an exclusive track BLURT received from Wolfmother’s recently abandoned recording sessions, click here.

Texas rockers return with No Deliverance and BLURT has a special sneak peek!

By BLURT Staff

The Toadies’ new album No Deliverance is due August 19 on the Kirtland Records label, and it’s a BLURT-approved scorcher. We’ve got a nifty video peek here of the band rehearsing, with another one to follow next week, and then a full song the week after that.

Check it out:

My Morning Jacket, REM, Pearl Jam, Dr. John, Boots Riley and more ask McCain and Obama to step up support for Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.

By BLURT Staff

"We are asking that the future President of the United States direct the resources and attention necessary to restore coastal Louisiana and secure the future of Louisiana's communities." So reads a letter

[ http://www.healthygulf.org/Candidates_Coastal_letter.pdf ]

to Barack Obama and John McCain signed by more than 90 artists and industry people. It asks that whomever wins the election pay special attention to the needs of Louisiana’s Gulf Coast and its residents.

The entreaty comes nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina, many of whose victims still seek assistance in rebuilding their homes and lives. The idea is that, no matter the outcome of the election, something will finally be done. 

Those signing the letter include My Morning Jacket, Dr. John, Trent Reznor, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, the Coup’s Boots Riley, Indigo Girls, Hubert Sumlin, Allen Toussaint and Galactic. They not only ask the candidates to use the presidency to help Katrina victioms but also attend a presidential forum September 18 n New Orleans, where they may present their plans for “leading the Gulf Coast's recovery.”

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM ABC: Good Morning America: Jonas Brothers

7:00 AM CBS: The Early Show: Duffy

10:00 AM BET Jazz: Rendezvous in New York Chick Corea

10:00 AM RAVE HD: Soundstage: John Mayer , Buddy Guy

1:30 PM VH1C: Rock Fest: AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Rush, Guns N' Roses, Van Halen

2:30 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Warlocks

2:30 PM MTV2: Celebrity Deathmatch: w/Jessica Simpson , Nick Lachey , 50 Cent , The Game , Hilary Duff , Lindsay Lohan

4:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: The White Stripes , The Shins , The Divine Comedy

7:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Bloc Party , Richard Swift , Lady Sovereign , Magic Numbers

8:00 PM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Peter Frampton

9:00 PM Comedy Central: Chappelle's Show: GZA, De La Soul

9:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: Elbow, MGMT, Alanis Morrisette

10:30 PM VH1C: VH1 Rock Honors: The Who (2008)                   

12:00 AM MHD: Nissan Live Set: Moby

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Airbourne

12:35 AM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Chris Cornell Scarlett Johansson

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Toby Keith

1:30 AM Comedy Central: Tenacious D

1:39 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Mason Jennings

Unique, experimental, snowflake-y and strangely attractive…

By Blurt Staff

We previously brought you details on the new Mercury Rev album Snowflake Midnight  (and it’s free-download companion Strange Attractor), both due Sept. 30 from Yep Roc. (Trust us, they’re cool. We’ve heard ‘em.)

Now, in honor of today’s mystical configuration/alignment of planets/date scheme 8/8/8 (check it out) comes word of a pair unique experimental Rev shows to be held in NYC on Sept. 10 featuring guests Feedtank and Alex Chechile.

Here’s the official scoop:

Mercury Rev, long known for their pioneering work in experimental music, have confirmed two performances for Sept. 10 at The Stone, John Zorn's lower east side outpost for the avant-garde. The show, curated by Foetus front man Jim Thirlwell, will see Mercury Rev joined by Brooklyn's Feedtank, a collective of digital artists using new technologies to create playful interactive spectacles and light-based musical interfaces. Artist Alex Chechile will also join using a home-built electroencephalograph brainwave machine and hacked electrocardiograph heart monitor producing tones and music directly from the minds of Mercury Rev.

The collaborative performance will feature playing and improvising around motifs from the forthcoming Mercury Rev release "Snowflake Midnight" and its companion album (available for free download on release date) "Strange Attractor" as well as the band's back catalog. The new albums, created using open-source audio technology as well as random note and word generators are a milestone for the band and mark a further embrace of experimental compositional techniques and cutting edge recording methods to make music that Stereogum says "brims with energy and a glossy, trippy feel."

Soon after these performances at The Stone, Mercury Rev will play the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Monticello, NY on Sept 21 at the behest of curators My Bloody Valentine.

The Stone is located at Ave. C at 2nd St., and the shows will be held at 8 and 10 pm. Tickets are available on the night of performance at the door (let’s see how press scum try to work this…) at the bargain prices of $15 adult, $5 students 13-19, free for children 12 and under.

Go to The Stone’s official website if you have any questions. (Press scum excluded…)

Now that is one goddam lucky-sounding collection of reissues…

By Blurt Staff

Today’s date? 08/08/08, and in either a master stroke of marketing synchronicity of just sheer, dumb coincidence, word just arrived that acid house/electronica pioneers 808 State have plans to reissue four of their classic albums as expanded remasters, all due Oct. 6 from ZTT. As a pre-celebration gig, the band will play live at Bestival, Isle of Wight on Sept. 6.

Read on for the official press release…

808 State: '808:90', 2xCD Deluxe Edition (ZTT 102CDX)

808 State: 'ex:el', 2xCD Deluxe Edition (ZTT 103CDX)

808 State: 'Gorgeous', 2xCD Deluxe Edition (ZTT 104CDX)

808 State: 'Don Solaris', 2xCD Deluxe Edition (ZTT 105CDX)

The date of this press release is no coincidence! On 8.08.08, ZTT announces four deluxe reissues from one of the UK's most important electronic outfits - 808 State - celebrating the band's 20th anniversary, the 20th anniversary of acid house, and the 25th anniversary of ZTT itself.

Formed in Manchester in 1988, 808 State - Andrew Barker, Graham Massey and Darren Partington (and, for the first two albums, Martin Price) - were heralded as 'the UK's answer to Kraftwerk' and developed a sound and style that dominated, developed and defined electronic music throughout the 90s.

ZTT Records is proud to reissue all four classic 808 State albums, each coming with an extra disc of rare and previously-unreleased tracks and remixes put together by Graham Massey himself, and with a booklet comprising extensive sleeve notes and rare photos.

1989's 808:90 includes the top ten hit Pacific, which launched the band's career and eight bonus tracks including special takes from the band's first arena gig at Manchester G-MEX. 1991's EX:EL includes the top ten hits Cubik, In Yer Face, Olympic as well as collabs with Bernard Sumner (New Order) and Bjork.

1993's Gorgeous includes the band's biggest ever hit - One In Ten (as 808 State Vs. UB40), the Joy Division mash-up Contrique and guest vocals from Ian McCulloch. Finally 1996's Don Solaris includes the top 20 hit Lopez (feat. James Dean Bradfield), guest vocals from Lou Rhodes and a rare Brian Eno remix.

Two E-Z ways to apply, no trips to the post office… start uploading those press kits!

By Fred Mills

With the annual South By Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference and Festival set for Austin March 18 – 22, the SXSW organizers have registration underway. Aspiring attendees can head over to www.sxsw.com/music for all the details they’ll need about the 2009 event — it’ll be the 23^rd in a long, illustrious line of SXSW happenings, in fact — and to register to attend.

Meanwhile, SXSW is now accepting showcase applications for music acts to perform at the 2009 music festival. This year artists will have a choice of two ways to apply - both online to avoid trips to the post office.

You can submit your online application at this official website:

http://sxsw.com/music/shows/apply

Or you can apply through Sonicbids:

 http://www.sonicbids.com/sxsw.

The deadlines for applying are October 24, 2008 for international artists and November 8, 2008 for artists in the USA. The fees are $25 for early submissions and $35 for applications submitted after September 26, 2008.

Incidentally, the other SXSW related dates are as follow (go to www.sxsw.com for details):

SXSW Interactive: March 13-17
SXSW Film: March 13-21

And the hits just keep coming at BLURT TV… because we care.

By Blurt Staff

In addition to that Toadies exclusive rehearsal clip we told you about yesterday and the Jason Isbell exclusive live performance a few days ago (more of that soon…), we’ve also added three of our favorite new videos to the BLURT TV section, which you can access by scrolling down or simply clicking through HERE.

• *The Watson Twins – “How Am I To Be”:  Double your pleasure and double your fun with this choice track off the Watson Twins' recent Vanguard album Fire Songs. The ladies may have come to our attention via their Jenny Lewis connection, but they're doing just fine on their own, we think. They are, as the saying goes, two breaths of fresh air in one.

• *Darling Downs – “Circa ‘65”: Dig this freaky video for “Circa ‘65” which the Darling Downs’ Ron Peno and Kim Salmon call “a 'countripolitan' song filmed in a neo-cubist style” — our eyes are poppin’! Peno and Salmon, of course, comprise Australian’s Darling Downs, and the song comes off their new album From One To Another (Carrot Top Records). And if those names ring a bell and you cast your memories back to Peno’s old band the Died Pretty and Salmon’s myriad outfits (Scientists, Surrealists, Beasts of Bourbon, etc.) then go directly to the head of the Oz-rock class.

• Loxsly – “Lamprey Eels” : From the forthcoming album Flashlights, a spacey bit of grooviness from one of Austin’s finest new bands. Mix in some Spoon, puree up some Beach Boys, and finally season with Wayne Coyne’s ashes and you just might have a sense of what this band’s all about.

Wait -- you say you missed the Toadies? Let us urge you on....

hTe Toadies’ new album No Deliverance is due August 19 on the Kirtland Records label, and it’s a BLURT-approved scorcher. We’ve got a nifty video peek of the band rehearsing, with another one to follow next week, and then a full song the week after that.

Even bringin’ the wifey into the fight… meow!

By Fred Mills

Music industry commentator/watchdog/gadfly/provocateur Bob Lefsetz recently had some choice words to say about John Mellencamp. In one of his recent newsletters (“Sales-Week Ending 8/3/08”) Lefsetz tallied up Mr. Cougar’s sales tally to date for Life Death Love and Freedom, then proceeded to weigh in with the verbiage, including a none-too-veiled swipe at Mellencamp’s allowing his 2007 song “Our Country” to be licensed by Chevy — Randy Newman also took a potshot at the songwriter for the same offense in “A Piece of The Pie,” from Newman’s just-released Harps and Angels album.

Here’s what Lefsetz had to say:

Why does he look twelve on the cover?

Act your age. Unless you think you’re really gonna get Top Forty airplay and the little kids will understand. You want to be PART of your audience, not miles away. Mellencamp should be showing every line in his face, his history, just like his audience.

If your career is based on credibility, and Mellencamp’s was, don’t do a commercial. It undercuts your cred.

The star here is T-Bone Burnett. He should have his own label.

***

This, you might imagine, didn’t sit all that well with J.M., who is no stranger to sparring with critics. Within 24 hours he fired back thusly:

I thought that you were a fan of music.  Seems that a man of your age would have learned not to judge a book by the cover. Listen to the music, it shows every line and every scar.

As far as credibility goes, 23 albums, millions sold, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, etc. etc. etc.....35 years in the business.  and for commercials, you mean no "cred" like  Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, & U2?

You choose to sit behind your computer and have the illusion that you have an answer....leave your house sometime and get in the real world, the world of struggle, survival and longevity. Nothing is as it seems.

You are either for music or against it. So much negativity, how is that helping?

In the words of the great rock journalist, Timothy White "in the accomplishments of anyone there is real promise for everyone."

PS The one thing you have gotten right is that T Bone Burnett is a wonderful producer and gentleman.

***

Apparently the Lefsetz Letter got passed around the Mellencamp compound, however, because next thing we knew his wife, Elaine, has also gotten ticked off enough to send in a missive to Lefsetz:

You must think that you are a photo critic now too...

I guess that you have become the proverbial cranky old man, hurling insults at the people who are out trying to live while you just sit and criticize.

Obviously you don't have a wife, because if you did, she would have pointed out that when you have absolutely nothing nice to say, EVER, people stop listening.

As you seem overly eager to judge, with no regard to actual facts, I will also address your dig at John's licensing his song for a commercial. John had had numerous opportunities for decades, and has been offered fortunes, to sell one of his songs. So after 35 years of being his songwriter, who are you to judge what he feels is appropriate for his own music or words? Bottom line, there is no longer a correlation to songs used in commercials and the credibility of the artist. Johnny Cash, no cred? Elvis Costello, no cred? Sting, no cred? Wake up to a new day, blame record company execs if you must, for putting the music industry where it is, but lambasting artists for taking matters into their own hands is just plain short sighted. My husband, I'm sure, pines for the old days sometime himself, but they are gone.  We are all looking for a new way. When you write your own song then you can decide its fate.

Elaine Mellencamp

PS I took that photo of John that you mentioned, and he does look rather handsome doesn't he? So nice of you to mention it.

***

Guarantee: All dialogue reprinted verbatim. Why? Because we care, gentle BLURT readers, we care….

More musical madness from the ever-tasty Egon label.

By Fred Mills

Over the years we’ve gotten some sweet swag from the Yo La Tengo folks, including the WFMU-FM covers compendium Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics and the Sounds of the Sounds of Science soundtrack collection, both via their homegrown Egon label.

 Now comes word that they have compiled all the material they contributed to four indie films on a CD titled They Shoot, We Score. According to the band:

Not sure about the legal definition of "popular demand," but this might actually apply. At long last, They Shoot, We Score collects all of our music — plus outtakes — for the motion pictures Game 6, Junebug, Old Joy, and Shortbus in one handy-dandy compact disc. Nearly an hour of instrumental music. 27 tracks — 26 of them previously unreleased. Eight-page booklet features posters from around the world. Four different front covers, one for each movie. Don't collect them all, and don't ask for a specific one — they will be sent out according to a random-number generator by our blindfolded mail-order crew.

The band is taking pre-orders now at their official website and CDs will start shipping on Sept. 5. Digital downloads will also be available.

Now aren’t you feeling lucky, with this news, that today is 08/08/08, punk?

Fee-Fie-Foe-Fum, we smell the blood of an Englishwoman…

By Blurt Staff

Mercury Music Prize nominee Laura Marling — 18-year old English singer/songwriter who BLURT recently profiled (see “Darling Marling,” HERE) — just announced her first official American tour, which she is inexplicably calling the “Fee Fie Foe Fum” tour.

To pre-promote her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim Marling played New York City, Los Angeles and Austin earlier this year but these upcoming shows mark her first coast-to-coast jaunt. She’ll be joined by a co-headliner, Lost Highway recording artist Johnny Flynn, a fellow Englishman whose album Tickle Me Pink is out now on Lost Highway. UK folksters Mumford & Sons are opening all below tour dates.
  
Laura Marling wrote and recorded her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim at the age of 17 and has since watched it snowball into one of the most critically acclaimed British albums of the year and was recently nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize. Released in the UK in February, it’ll be made available on CD in the US from August 19th on Astralwerks Records. The album was made available from digital retailers last month.  

Watch for the BLURT album review soon too.

Laura Marling Tour Dates:
  
 9/13 Boston, MA @ ICC Church
 9/15 NYC, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom
 9/17 Philadelphia, PA @ The Side Chapel
 9/18 Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
 9/20 Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
 9/21 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Club
 9/23 Denver, CO @ The Falcon
 9/26 Los Angeles, CA @ The Hotel Cafe
 9/28 San Francisco, CA @ The Cafe du Nord
 9/30 Portland, OR @ Lola's
 10/01 Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern
 10/03 Montreal, Canada @ O Patro Vys  
 10/04 Toronto, Canada @ Rivoli  

All the concert news ‘n’ reviews that’s fit to print.

By Fred Mills

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT – this time, we’ve got Jason Isbell in Asheville, and the Lollapalooza weekend in Chicago.

• *Lavinia Jones Wright was our go-to gal at Lollapalooza last weekend in Chicago, August 1-3. Observed Jones, “Whether it was by geography (the Lollapalooza site – Chicago's Grant Park – is long and narrow with main stages as far as a twenty minute walk from each other) or by chronology (this year's fest featured old favorites – Nine Inch Nails, Toadies – and newcomers – MGMT, Yeasayer), tough choices had to be made.”

• *Yours truly saw Jason Isbell and his 400 Unit guitarist Browan Lollar knock an audience dead in Asheville on July 23. Uttered I, “[Their] performance frequently reached intensity levels to rival their electric incarnation. One observer remarked to me that they brought to mind Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds at their most high-flying, and as anyone knows from seeing a favorite artist go the unplugged route and revisit rock songs from a fresh perspective, acoustic guitars don’t automatically breed “mellow.”

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We’ve also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

[Isbell Photo Credit: Andy Tennille]

BLURT has exclusive still photo from the film Mars, showing Howe Gelb as Dr. Fortunato.

By Randy Harward

Last month BLURT reported that Howe Gelb will star in the upcoming animated feature, Mars. Today filmmaker Geoff Marslett sent us this exclusive still from the film, showing Gelb as the villain Dr. Fortunato. Check him out in all his hi-def, rotoscopic, animated glory!

Watch BLURT for more on Mars.

Dean Ween debuts online fishing show.

By Randy Harward

Ween fans know that Deaner likes to fish—now they can accompany him on his angling adventures through an online fishing show, Brownie Troop F.S. This, from the press release:

“[Deaner] began discussing his passion on the Ween website several years ago and started getting thousands of invitations from fans around the world to come and wet some line. On this past world tour… , he fished with fans—some of them very serious anglers indeed—everywhere from the Great Lakes to Australia and took a camera along for filming.”

So far there are five episodes, the latest being an expedition with the Butthole Surfers off Asbury Park, NJ. Visit www.brownietroopfs.com to view the eps.

Album due Sept. 23; Sept-Nov. tour ticket presale already in progress…

By Fred Mills

As you may have heard by now, TV on the Radio’s got a new platter set to drop Sept. 23 on Interscope. Titled Dear Science, it’s the followup to 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain.

Track list:

1. Halfway Home
2. Crying
3. Dancing Choose
4. Stork & Owl
5. Golden Age
6. Family Tree
7. Red Dress
8. Love Dog
9. Shout Me Out
10. DLZ
11. Lover's Day

 A tour will commence Sept. 5 in Oregon and run into early November. The band will be joined by special guest Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and later (on selected dates) The Dirtbombs. Of additional note: For the Dear Science Tour, already in progress is a special presale option where tickets will have lower service fees than the usual ticketing outlets.

Visit:https://tixx1.artistarena.com/tvontheradio, register if you haven’t already, and proceed. You know we are all about lower service fees. Salute to TVOTR for that move.

TV On The Radio Tour Dates:

9/5: Roseland Theater; Portland, Oregon*

9/6: Showbox; Seattle, Washington*

9/12: Knitting Factory Concert House; Boise, Idaho*

9/13: In the Venue; Salt Lake City, Utah*

9/14: Monolith Festival at Red Rocks; Morrison, Colorado

9/19: San Diego Street Scene Festival; San Diego, California

9/20: Treasure Island Festival; San Francisco, California

10/10: Electric Factory; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania+

10/11: Lupos; Providence, Rhode Island+

10/13 Wilbur Theatre; Boston, Massachusetts+

10/14: Masonic Temple; Brooklyn, New York

10/15: Masonic Temple; Brooklyn, New York

10/18: Bogarts; Cincinnati, Ohio+

10/19 Vogue Theatre; Indianapolis, Indiana+

10/20: First Ave; Minneapolis, Minnesota+

10/21: First Ave; Minneapolis, Minnesota+

10/22: Riviera; Chicago, Illinois+

10/24: Voodoo Festival; New Orleans, Louisiana+

10/25: Tabernacle; Atlanta, Georgia+

10/26: Bijou Theatre; Knoxville, Tennessee+

10/28: Lakewood Theatre; Dallas, Texas+

10/30: Stubbs; Austin, Texas+

10/31: Diamond Ballroom; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma+

11/6: Wiltern; Los Angeles, California+

* Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson to open

+ The Dirtbombs to open

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

9:00 AM Syndicated: Live with Regis and Kelly: Natasha Bedingfield

10:00 AM PBS: Sesame Street: Feist , Jack Black

10:25 AM Starz Black: Blues Divas w/Deborah Coleman , Mavis Staples , Irma Thomas , Bettye Lavette , Odetta , Ann Peebles

12:00 PM MHD: Radiohead: From The Basement

1:10 PM IFC: Tom Dowd and the Language of Music

3:10 PM TMC: Can't Stop the Music (1980) w/Village People

4:00 PM VH1C: Live Aid: The Day the Music Changed the World

6:15 PM Sundance: Let's Rock Again! Joe Strummer

8:00 PM CMT: Elvis: Viva Las Vegas w/Elvis Presley , 50 Cent , Beyoncé , Brandi Carlile , Chris Daughtry , Celine Dion (WTF?!?!?)

8:00 PM Great American Country: Master Series: Emmylou Harris Hall of Fame Medallion

8:00 PM ET VH1C: Freddie Mercury: Magic Remixed w/Freddie Mercury , Queen , Elton John , Robbie Williams , Boy George

9:00 PM MTV2: FNMTV Premieres: Santogold , Common , Donnie Klang, Morningwood

10:30 PM VH1C: The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Cool Kids , Justin Timberlake

1:00 AM FUSE: Loaded: Soundgarden

2:00 AM Encore Love: American Graffiti (1973)

One-two-three-four, monsters walking ‘cross the floor…

By Fred Mills

Today’s the day! As we previously brought word to you, Feist appears on Sesame Street today (Monday, Aug. 11) performing “1234” with at gaggle of Muppet monsters.

 It’s a don’t miss moment, and it was also either been pirated or leaked to YouTube so you can view it below. But still tune in – she’s got some other monsters up her sleeve too…

Soul supreme, sonic sensation and Chef all rolled into one break-the-mold package.

By Fred Mills

The eternal Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (that’s “Chef,” to all you Southpark fans, but some of us just call him Shaft, and you know he was a bad mutha….)  died today at the age of 65. According to CNN reports and breaking Associated Press filings, his wife found him unconscious beside his treadmill; their home was located east of Memphis and Shelby Count, TN, sheriffs  and paramedics were dispatched following her call to 911.

Paramedics administered CPR, but Hayes was pronounced dead at around 2 pm after being rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. No official cause of death has been reported yet. No foul play is suspected.

BLURT will post an appreciation of Hayes along with any further developments in his death later on Monday.

Rest In Peace, brotherman…

Damn.

Swedish invasion of these shores continues…

By Blurt Staff

Dungen return to the US with confirmed tour dates this fall and a new record, 4, due on the Kemado label. Prior to that will be a limited edition 12” (on Mexican Summer) featuring album track “Satt At Se.”

As Kemado puts it, “Nobody around does it live like these Swedes,” who are: guitarist Reine Fiske, new drummer Johan Holmegard, bassist Mattias Gustavsson and bandleader Gustav Ejstes who nowadays is focusing on the piano as his prime instrument. Expect plenty of mind-uncorking shredding from the new platter as well as material from the previous Tio Bitar and Ta Det Lugnt.

Hey, just for fun, check out this Dungen article that BLURT’s precursor, the mighty fine Harp magazine, published!

Dungen Tour Dates:

Oct-24 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg (Kemado/CMJ)

Oct-27 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's

Oct-28 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's

Oct-30 Boston, MA  Great Scott

Oct-31 Toronto, ONT  Horseshoe Tavern

Nov-01 Ann Arbor, MI  Blind Pig

Nov-02 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge

Nov-04 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar

Nov-07 Seattle, WA Chop Suey

Nov-08 Portland, OR  Doug Fir

Nov-10 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill

Nov-11 Visalia, CA Cellar Door

Nov-12 Los Angeles, CA  The Echo

Returning to the road after a month’s respite due to exhaustion.

By Fred Mills

Alejandro Escovedo just announced the next leg of his Real Animal tour, which will include playing Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee on August 30 at the Roadhouse. Also on the bill: some guy called Bruce Springsteen, with whom Al previously teamed up onstage this past April for a version of Real Animal’s “Always A Friend.”

Escovedo had to cancel a number of earlier dates when exhaustion forced him temporarily off the road (he had to drop a high-profile Letterman appearance as a result), but he’ll be back in the saddle starting  Aug. 28 when he does a benefit for the Austin Child Guidance Center at Antone’s in Austin. Also on that bill: The Reivers (who reunited in February), and Ian McLagan & the Bump Band.

You can check out our exclusive Escovedo feature in which Al, his pal Chuck Prophet and legendary producer Tony Visconti hold forth on Real Animal. We’ve also got a live review of Escovedo from his July 15 concert in Asheville.

Alejandro Escovedo Tour Dates:

28-Aug          Austin, TX    Antone’s
30-Aug  Milwaukee, WI   Roadhouse at the Lakefront
08-Sep          San Diego, CA   Belly-Up Tavern
09-Sep          Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour
12-Sep          San Francisco, CA       Bimbo's 365 Club 
13-Sep          Portland, OR            Aladdin Theatre  
15-Sep          Seattle, WA             The Triple Door  
16-Sep          Vancouver, BC   Biltmore Cabaret  
17-Sep          Boise, ID               Egyptian Theatre  
19-Sep          Denver, CO              Bluebird Theatre  
20-Sep          Lake City, CO           Lake City Wine & Music Festival  
25-Sep          Austin, TX              Shady Grove
26-Sep          Austin, TX              Zilker Park - Austin City Limits Music Festival    

[Photo Credit: Andy Tennille]

Includes Lucinda, Willie, Patty, Delbert, John Hiatt, Little Richard and those annoying Republicans from Big & Rich.

By Fred Mills

Didn’t we get rid of this motherfucker? Don Imus, that is. Well, say what you will of that nappy headed redneck ho Imus (and some of do say a lot about shock jock bigots such as Imus, including my late mom, who would have taken him over her knee and then washed his mouth out with soap if she’d had the chance), he still has a long, admirable history of helping out children via his Imus Ranch. Maybe eventually there wil be a spot in heaven for him some day, in fact: judge a man more by his deeds and actions than his ill-considered words, perhaps.

So without further editorializing, here’s an official announcement of the impending Sept. 16 release of The Imus Ranch Record (New West Records), a 13-track album designed to benefit the Imus Ranch (run by Imus and his wife Deirdre Imus), which hosts children who are afflicted with cancer or other serious blood diseases.

Here’s the scoop:

The album boasts eight Grammy^® Award winning artists including Patty Loveless, singing the Stevie Nicks penned “Silver Springs,” Dwight Yoakam putting his signature sound to “Give Back The Key To My Heart,” and Lucinda Williams singing “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” which was made famous by Waylon Jennings.  Big & Rich cover the Beastie Boys classic “Fight For Your Right To Party” playing with the lyrics to work in a line about the Ranch. Little Richard, Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson and Randy Travis all recorded standards.

The compilation was produced by Imus along with Kyle Lehning (Randy Travis, George Jones) and Tracy Gershon (well known A & R executive). Imus selected each song and matched it to a specific artist. A complete list of the tracks follows:

Tracks & Artist List:

Silver Springs – Patty Loveless

Lay Down Sally – Delbert McClinton

Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys – Lucinda Williams

You Better Move On – Levon Helm

Life Has Its Little Ups And Downs – Raul Malo

I Ain’t Never – Little Richard

I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore – Randy Travis

You’ve Got To Fight For Your Right To Party – Big & Rich

What A Difference A Day Makes – Willie Nelson

Give Back The Key To My Heart – Dwight Yoakam

What Happened – Bekka Bramlett

Welfare Music – John Hiatt

A Satisfied Mind – Vince Gill

About The Imus Ranch: 

“Imus Ranch is an authentic working cattle ranch nestled beneath a majestic mesa in the rolling hills near Ribera, New Mexico, fifty miles northeast of Santa Fe.  The ranch was conceived and designed with the sole purpose of providing the experience of the great American cowboy to children suffering from cancer or serious blood disorders, and children who’ve lost brothers and sisters to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  The objective is to encourage in them a sense of achievement, responsibility and self-esteem and to instill pride and restore their dignity as they become aware of just how much they are able to accomplish.  The Imus Ranch is totally and completely organic, serving a strict vegan diet and using cleaning agents that are non-toxic, biodegradable, naturally derived materials.  They use no pesticides of synthetic chemicals of any kind in their gardening, farming, or infrastructure and plant maintances. For more information visit: www.imusranchfoods.com.”

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM NICK: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Smoosh , Mark Mothersbaugh

9:00 AM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Damien Rice , Autolux , eels , Architecture In Helsinki

9:00 AM Syndicated: Live with Regis and Kelly: Jonas Brothers

11:00 AM RAVE HD: The Dave Fanning Interview: R.E.M.

2:00 PM FUSE: Steven's Untitled Rock Show: Underoath

3:00 PM Great American Country: Master Series: Emmylou Harris Hall of Fame Medallion

6:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Sonic Youth , Jose Gonzalez , Laura Marling

6:00 PM VH1C: The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story

9:00 PM Gospel Music Channel: Front Row Live: Jars of Clay

11:00 PM RAVE HD: Later With Jools Holland: Paul Weller , Carlos Santana , Anthony Hamilton , Bettye Lavette , John Cale , Sheryl Crow

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: Isaac Hayes

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: The Hold Steady , Neil Young

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Katharine McPhee

1:00 AM FUSE: Loaded: Smashing Pumpkins

“Bodyrock,” “Run,” Joy Division, Scientology and lots more…

By Fred Mills

Whoops, you missed it, ha-ha! Moby did a special performance/interview show at an intimate setting in Malibu the other night as part of the KCRW-FM Sessions series. Too bad you weren’t there. Never fear though — BLURT was, and we have an exclusive look, along with photos, at the goings-on. Our man on the ground in L.A., Jose Martinez, was embedded in the audience and he caught Moby doing a pair of sets, one dance and one with his full band, plus a sit-down conversation with KCRW’s Nic Harcourt. You can check it out HERE.

[Photo Credit: Jessica Holmes Photography]

November’s not so far away!

By Blurt Staff

Longwave — Steve Schiltz (vocals/guitar), Shannon Ferguson (guitar), Jason Molina (drums) ,Morgan King (bass) — has set a Nov. 11 date for the release of their fourth long-player. Secrets Are Sinister succeeds 2005’s There’s A Fire: the group’s tenure with RCA Records reportedly ended badly, so they wisely went with an indie this time — the highly regarded NYC-based Original Signal Recordings, home to Blanche, Ingrid Michaelson, David Ford and others.

 
The new album was recorded predominantly by the band in their Brooklyn studio and with the help of producer Peter Katis (The National, Tokyo Police Club, Interpol) at his Connecticut studio. It expands on the band’s trademark sound: atmospheric, arena-sized guitars still build to an epic swell while the band’s penchant for dreamy landscapes now gives way to an equally dynamic but louder, noisier, and more driving sensibility, from the shimmering “Sirens In The Deep Sea” to the thundering, Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, MGMT, Sleater-Kinney)-produced “Life Is Wrong” to the hopeful title track.

Longwave will also headline a FREE show in their hometown of Brooklyn, NY this Friday August 15th at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Presented by the blog coalition After The Jump, the show is the official after party for the Albert Hammond, Jr. and Regina Spektor concert at McCarren Park Pool.  For more information:

http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com/calendar/show/1838/.

 
Track listing:
 

Sirens In The Deep Sea

No Direction

Satellites

The Devil & The Liar

Life Is Wrong

Eyes Like Headlights

I Don’t Dare

It’s True

Shining Hours

Secrets Are Sinister

New season kicks off September 22 on Nick Jr.

By Fred Mills

So we’ve been telling you about Nick Jr.’s acclaimed Yo Gabba Gabba! program for a year now (nevermind that we’ve only been around for three months…). You know, the educational show aimed at tykes — Sesame Street for pint-sized hipsters — featuring the likes of Biz Markie, the Aquabats, Smoosh and Mark Mothersbaugh singin’ ‘n’ playin’ ‘n’ beat-boxin’ like nobody’s business. (What? You haven’t been checking our daily Channel Guide that shows each day’s more notable music-on-TV happenings?!?)

Well, the new season kicks off Sept. 22 at 11:30 a.m. EST, and check out the roster of talent.

They got musicians: the Roots, Ting Tings, Jimmy Eat World, Mix Master Mike, and mainstays Markie and Mothersbaugh.

They got comedians: Jack Black, Andy Samberg, Rachel Dratch and Amy Sedaris.

They even got real actors: Melora Hardin (The Office) and Jack McBrayer (30 Rock).

Plus an NBA player for some reason: Amare Stoudemire, who no doubt will impart hard-won wisdom relating to fame, fortune, keeping in shape, making good grades in school, and keeping it zipped until you’re of legal age, yo!

Now this is the kinda show we all wish we had growing up…. Hello, friends, today we’re gonna have fun! Check out he official Yo Gabba Gabba! site:

www.yogabbagabba.com

Meanwhile, here’s a cool little video from the show you might dig:

Performing as “Endless Shovels” with up-and-comer guests Frances.

By Lavinia Jones Wright 

In the midst of a whirlwind festival tour, Rogue Wave used a rare night off to play a secret show Saturday night at Brooklyn’s Union Hall, just because, as frontman Zach Rogue told the crowd, “we heard this place was cool.” And BLURT was on hand for the special event.

Billed as Endless Shovels, the band that has recently been playing to huge festival crowds serenaded a tight cluster of around fifty fans.  “Nothing’s secret anymore,” Rogue joked eyeing up those who had somehow figured out they would be playing.

Despite a little feedback the band was stunning in a small setting, with Rogue’s shimmery voice echoing through the small room.  They played album versions of songs that they’ve recently been altering for festival settings, like the set-opener “Bird on a Wire” and set-closer “Lake Michigan.”

BLURT was able to grab Rogue Wave’s full setlist:

Bird on a Wire

Endless Shovel

Publish My Love

Lullaby

Desperate

Like I Needed

Ghost

Eyes

Phonytown

Postage Stamp World

10:1

Love’s Lost Guarantee

Seasick on Land

Kicking the Heart Out

Chicago X 12

Lake Michigan

_____________

Man-Revolutionary!

Birds (Neil Young Cover)

Harmonium

Main support band, Frances, was kind enough to lend Rogue Wave their gear for the gig.  The band is due to release their debut effort via Gigantic Records soon, and judging by their set, it will be filled with sweet and sparkly orchestral pop gems.  Saturday’s show included album preview tracks “Cousin,” “The Brain,” and “Telephone,” as well as a fun cover of Elvis Costello’s “Green Shirt.”

[Photos Credit: Lavinia Jones Wright]

More cerebral bounce to the ounce than a barrelful of windowpane…

By Blurt Staff

S.F. psych rockers Howlin Rain, featuring Comets on Fire co-founder and lead singer Ethan Miller and Drunk Horse’s Joel Robinow, will be joining The Black Crowes for the West Coast and East Coast legs of their fall 2008 tour.  Favorites on the summer festival circuit here and abroad (Bonnaroo and upcoming gigs at SF’s Outside Lands Fest w/Radiohead on 8/22 and Seattle’s Bumbershoot Fest on 8/31), Howlin Rain are promoting their Birdman/ American debut, Magnificent Fiend.

The label describes it as “freeform, organic and transcendent, with songs that roll from the speakers like a half-waking vision made of dreams and nightmares, ignited and guided by the power of the band and the velvet roar of Miller’s vocals… Laid-back grooves and soulful breakdowns build to explode into anthemic choruses with mind-melding guitar riffs and soaring, string-bending solos. Miller is a passionate, possessed frontman and the band’s intuitive playing and synched-in musicianship is a heady shot of pure, timeless rock and roll.”

Meanwhile, your friendly neighborhood BLURT describes the album thusly:

Comets on Fire's Ethan Miller can't possibly remember the 1960s, and maybe that's the secret to Magnificent Fiend's dead-on, day-glo channeling of the decade of love. The unmistakable scent of patchouli wafts from the viscous guitar lines and swirling organs in "Dancers at the End of Time." You can hear a bit of Comets on Fire's mad chaos in the interstices here, but not much. This is, after all, Miller's band for structured songs. And what songs! In "Lord Have Mercy," a cast of thousands swirls gospel, blues, funk and soul into one Peter Max-vivid vibe. "Goodbye Ruby" shape shifts from porno-quality, wah-wah laced funk into a soaring, circling guitar solo worthy of Duane and Dickey in their prime. These cuts are so old-fashioned, they're almost fresh by default. In the end, though, what's remarkable is not how well Howlin Rain remembers the 1960s, but how completely it forgets everything that came after.

Howlin Rain Tour Dates (* indicates w/Crowes):

FR Aug 22 San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival w/Radiohead

SU Aug 31 Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot Festival

WE Sep 10 Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theater*

SA Sep 13 Las Vegas, NV @ the Joint*

SU Sep 14 Santa Cruz, CA @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium         

TU Sep 16 Mesa, AZ @ Ikeda Theatre (Mesa Arts Center)*

WE Sep 17 Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater*

FR Sep 19 Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara County Bowl*

SU Sep 21 Santa Rosa, CA @ Wells Fargo Center For the Arts

TH Sept 25 Redwood City, CA @ The Little Fox     

TU Oct 7 Richmond, VA @ The National*

WE Oct 8 Richmond, VA @ The National*

SA Oct 11 Albany, NY @ the Palace Theater *

SU Oct 12 Northampton, MA @ Calvin Theater*

MO Oct 13 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern

WE Oct 15 Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium       

FR Oct 17 Boston, MA @ Boston Opera House*

SA Oct 18 Buffalo, NY @ The Town Ballroom*

SU Oct 28 New York City, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom*

Road-testing new songs, playing old ones, on lengthy international trek.

By Fred Mills

Word arrives that one of 2007’s most hotly-tipped buzzbands, Brooklyn’s Yeasayer, will be doing, like, mad touring. Actually, they already are knee-deep in a European tour. After they’ll vacation for a couple of days in Texas for the Austin City Limits fest, then they go down under to Australia and New Zealand. Mark your calendars for Oct. 22: that’s when the full blown North American tour starts and it will take in most markets until concluding in early December.

BLURT saw the band this past March in Austin at SXSW and we were, in the parlance, “gobsmacked.”

Ostensibly promoting their acclaimed album All Hour Cymbals, the group plans to work out new material on the road while playing choice songs from that album, and they guarantee an "projectors, LCD grids, and possibly a weather balloon."

We are all about weather balloons.

A new album is planned for early next year. Meanwhile, cruise over to their MySpace page — they’ve got some unreleased/demo and singles tracks available for your listening pleasure.

 Yeasayer Tour Dates:

08-11 Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia
08-14 Berlin, Germany - Lido
08-15 Hohenfelden, Germany - Highland Festival
08-16 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop
08-17 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands - Lowlands Festival
08-19 Gent, Belgium - Democrazy
08-20 London, England - Kings College
08-22 Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
08-24 Reading, England - Reading Festival
09-26 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
10-03 Brisbane, Australia - The Zoo
10-04 Melbourne, Australia - The Corner
10-07 Sydney, Australia - Oxford Art Gallery
10-22 Boston, MA - Paradise
10-24 Montreal, Quebec - Le National
10-25 Toronto, Ontario - Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
10-26 Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig
10-28 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
10-29 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
10-30 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
10-31 Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College
11-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
11-20 Seattle, WA - Neumos
11-21 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
11-22 San Francisco, CA - Bimbos 365 Club
11-23 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
11-25 La Jolla, CA - The Loft
11-26 Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room
11-28 Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House
11-29 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
12-03 Washington, DC - Sixth & I Synagogue
12-04 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
12-05 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
12-06 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

No more mister nice guy for the Coop’s doc, eh?

By Fred Mills

That recent 5.4 earthquake in L.A.? While filming a promotional film on July 29 for his new Along Came A Spider (SPV) album at Linda Vista Hospital, an abandoned facility in East L.A., Alice Cooper was in the process of choking a nurse. No, we are not making this up. According to Cooper’s handlers the band,and everyone on the set (including director Piggy D) was shocked into “a stunned silence.” 

According to the Coop, “The floor started moving. Whoa, this is more powerful than I thought! I hope they keep it! You can’t get special effects like that.”

Er, yes. Just ask anyone who’s lived through an earthquake. At any rate, Cooper’s "Psycho-Drama" tour—approximately 100 shows from July 5 to December 4—continues apace. In Redmond, Oregon, recently, we are advised, fans looked on “fascinated as Alice took a violent fall [and many] figured it was part of the show. Alice, hurting, continued with the performance and with a few performances after that.”

Eventually Cooper, still hurting, went to his physician who informed him he’d suffered both a broken rib and ligament damage and prescribed three weeks of rest. He has yet to take that advice, however.

Alice Cooper Tour Dates:

August 12      Casper, WY                            Events Center

August 13       Idaho Falls, ID                        Sandy Downs

August 15      Imperial, NE                           Chase County Fair

August 16       Council Bluffs, IA                  Harrah's Stir Cover

August 17       Tower, MN                             Fortune Bay Resort Casino

August 19       Hammond, IN             The Venue @ Horseshoe Casino

August 21       Bloomington, IL                     The Theatre @ US Cellular Coliseum

August 23       Florence, IN                            Belterra Resort & Casino

August 24       Columbus, OH                        LC Pavilion

August 26       Lakewood, OH                       Civic Auditorium

August 27      Detroit, MI                               State Fair

August 28      Oshkosh, WSI              Waterfest Concert Series

August 29       Waukegan, IL             Genesee Theatre

August 31       Houston, TX                           Rock The Bayou Festival

Sept 5, 6, 7      Las Vegas, NV                       Orleans Hotel & Casino

Sept. 9 Tucson, AZ                             Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre

Sept 12            Hutchinson, KS                      State Fair

Sept 18            Vancouver, BC                       Centre for the Performing Arts

Sept 19            Vancouver, BC                       Centre for the Performing Arts

Sept 20            Vernon, BC                             Multiplex

Sept 21            Kamloops, BC                        Interior Savings Center

Sept 23            Prince George, BC                  Canada Centre

Sept 24            Grand Prairie, AB                   Crystal Centre

Sept 26            Red Deer, AB                         Centrium Arena

Sept 27            Edmonton, AB                       Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sept 28            Lethbridge, AB                       Enmax Centre    

Sept 29            Calgary, AB                            Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Oct 1               Regina, SK                              Conexus Arts Centre

Oct 2               Saskatoon, SK                        TCU Place

Oct 4               Thunder Bay, ON                 Auditorium

Oct 6               Hamilton, ON                         Hamilton Place

Oct 7               Barrie, ON                              Molson Centre

Oct 8               Oshawa, ON                           General Motors Centre

Oct 10             London, ON                           Centennial Hall

Oct 11             Ottawa, ON                            Civic Centre

Oct 14             Kitchener, ON                       Centre In The Square

Oct 15             Montreal, QC                        St Denis Theatre

Oct 17             Halifax, NS                             Metro Centre

Oct 18             Saint John, NB                      Harbour Station

Oct 19             Moncton, NB                         Coliseum

Oct 21             St John's, NF                         Mile One Stadium

Oct 22             Cornerbrook, NF                     Pepsi Centre

Oct 25             Boston, MA                            Orpheum Theatre

Oct 26             Schenectady, NY                    Proctor's Theater

Oct 28             Verona, NY                            Turning  Stone Casino Resort

Oct 30             Englewood, NJ                       Bergen Performing Arts Center

Oct 31             Mashantucket, CT                   MGM Grand @ Foxwoods

Nov 1              Atlantic City, NJ                       House of Blues

Is is possible? Could it be? What if God were one of us — would he be jammin’ to Metallica?

By Fred Mills

Ha ha, almost got you with that headline, didn’t we? No, silly: Metallica and Osborne are not touring together. Maybe Metallica and Otep, or perhaps Joan Osborne and Ratdog. Or maybe even Metallica and Joan’s big brother Ozzy Osborne [sic]. But both artists are going to be touring.

Metallica kicks off an extensive road trek in October that will be preceded by a few European dates already in progress. Somewhere in the middle of all that the band releases its new album Death Magnetic, which is due Sept. 12 on Warner Bros. Word has it that it’s a “welcome return” to the black album sound, and  considering that a return to any sound other than that 2003 turd St. Anger would be “welcome,” we’ll give it an advance two snaps up.

And then Joan has her own fresh platter, titled Little Wild One (Sept. 9, on Womanly Hips/Plum/Saguaro Road/Music Allies). Could we have a few more labels in on this folks? At any rate, it features that fantastic tune already been featured on “World Café” and numerous Triple-A stations, “Sweeter Than The Rest,” so all signs are good. The tour will showcase material from the record, which marks the first collaboration between Osborne and producers/writers Rick Chertoff, Rob Hyman, and Eric Bazilian since her five-times-platinum debut, Relish. The tour gets underway in early September, with initial dates also featuring John Hiatt on the bill.

See ya there, moshers! All dates listed below.

Joan Osborne:

9/5 - Vilar Center for the Arts - Beaver Creek, CO (w/ John Hiatt)

9/6 - Ogden Theatre - Denver, CO (w/ John Hiatt)

9/7 - Red Butte Garden Amphitheater - Salt Lake City, UT (w/ John Hiatt)

9/9 - Chautauqua Auditorium - Boulder, CO (w/ John Hiatt)

9/11 - Orpheum Theatre - Flagstaff, AZ (w/ John Hiatt)

9/12 - Telluride Blues & Brews - Telluride, CO (w/ John Hiatt)

9/14 - The Backyard - Austin, TX (w/ John Hiatt)

9/15 - Nokia Theatre - Grand Prairie, TX (w/ John Hiatt)

9/16 - Riley Center for the Performing - Meridian, MS (w/ John Hiatt)

9/25 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY

9/26 - Calvin Theater & PAC - Northampton, MA

9/27 - The Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT

9/29 - Ram's Head Tavern - Annapolis, MD 9/30 - Toad's Place - Richmond, VA

10/1 - Bomhard Theatre - Louisville, KY

10/3 - Belcourt Theater - Nashville, TN

10/4 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC

10/5 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA

10/9 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA 10/10 - The El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

10/11 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA

10/13 - The Triple Door - Seattle, WA

10/14 - Aladdin Theatre - Portland, OR

10/17 - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO

10/18 - Whiskey Roadhouse - Council Bluffs, IA 10/20 - Varsity Theatre - Minneapolis, MN

10/21 - Park West Theatre, Chicago, IL

10/23 - Mr. Smalls - Millvale, PA

10/24 - Somerville Theatre - Somerville, MA

10/25 - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY

10/26 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA

Metallica:

8-14 Arras, France - Grand d'Arras
8-15 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival
8-17 Jonschwil, Switzerland - Degenaupark
8-20 Dublin, Ireland - Marlay Park
8-22 Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
8-24 Reading, England - Reading Festival
9-12 Berlin, Germany - TBA (Fan club show)
9-15 London, England - TBA (Fan club show)
10-21 Glendale, AZ - Jobing Arena *#
10-23 Albuquerque, NM - Tingley Coliseum *#
10-25 Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center *#
10-26 Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena *#
11-01 Portland, OR - Rose Quarter *#
11-03 Salt Lake City, UT - Energy Solutions Arena *#
11-04 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center *#
11-06 Omaha, NE - Qwest Center *#
11-08 Moline, IL - iWireless Center *#
11-09 Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center *#
11-17 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center *#
11-18 Tulsa, OK - BOK Center *#
11-20 Houston, TX - Toyota Center *#
11-22 Little Rock, AR - Alltel Arena *#
11-23 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena *#
12-01 Seattle, WA - Key Arena *$
12-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place *$
12-04 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome *$
12-07 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place *$
12-12 Ontario, CA - Citizens Bank Arena *$
12-13 Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center *$
12-15 San Diego, CA - Cox Arena *$
12-17 Los Angeles, CA - The Forum *$
12-20 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena *$
01-12 Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center *%
01-13 Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena *%
01-15 Washington, DC - Verizon Center *%
01-17 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center *%
01-18 Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Center *%
01-26 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena *%
01-29 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum *%
01-31 Newark, NJ - Prudential Center *%

* with the Sword
# with Down
$ with Lamb of God
% with Machine Head

Responding to industry blogger’s comments, rap-rocker lets the CAPS, exclamation points, f-bombs, fellatio denial n’ shit fly.

By Randy Harward

No one ever accused Kid Rock of being a Pulitzer Prize-winning author or even a Publisher’s Clearinghouse prizewinner, but the trailer park rock star’s response to a recent edition of The Lefsetz Letter [Note: circulated via email tonight, but yet to appear on the LL site] is borderline ILLiterate, and ILLogical.

Lefsetz pondered whether or not Kid Rock is selling 100,000 CDs per week is because his record is unavailable via iTunes. He also contemplates whether Jay-Z’s decision to offer American Gangster only as a full-album download on Apple’s music service, as opposed to allowing buyers to choose individual tracks, killed its sales—and whether the only reason Katy Perry has done so well is that her album is available in piecemeal so people can scarf up her calorie-light single with the ripped-off title and theme. Lefsetz also conjectures that Kid Rock’s sales may be due to his older crowd, status as a career artist, and capability of making an album that is “good.”

Rock’s rejoinder is mostly about sucking dick and how he, just like his musical, ideological and personal antithesis James McMurtry, doesn’t do that. In an expletive- and exclamation point-laden rant that begins (all quotes verbatim, with formatting left as-is)…

GET OFF MY DICK"!!!    ......that was gonna be my email, hahahaha, but were buddies now, so ill be serious!!

…and probably passes for a graduate thesis around Rock’s doublewide tour bus, he laments that artists no longer connect with their audiences.

I really believe its about a connection to the artist and the "lack of" that plays a big part in this. When I would hear a Bob Seger or Run DMC record as a  kid, I really believed they WERE the songs, and that they were who they sang and wrote about. I think that connection, especially in pop music has been missing for sometime. Shit, I dont think kids even believe in half the rappers are who they claim to be anymore.

Yes, we’re all devastated when we find out a public figure—especially a rapper—is frontin’. But is he saying he’s not putting on a show? Well, mayhap he isn’t—er, ain’t. One thing you can say about Kid Rock is that his shit-talkin’ trailer trash trucker countenance is intact (like he tells Lefsetz: you ll never beat word of mouth on a good product!), even if his logic and syntax sometimes are not.

Here’s another verse from his Lefsetz epistle, this time about why radio sucks the dick and, surprisingly, how McMurtry’s song “Cheney’s Toy” is a hit (pretty surprising, coming from Bush supporter).

On another note, the radio has fucked so much of it up, for instance, that James Mcmurty song is a pop hit, but they know he wont suck thier dick so they say fuck him and as a result kids lose out on hearing a great song and pop music suffers. Now obviously i dont suck dick either, but i know how to put my arm around em and make em feel good, maybe tickle thier balls a little if it means more people will hear my music. BUT NO DICK SUCKING!! Programmers are not the fucking stars, artists are, but if they would rather party with brittney or mariah rather than folks like me, thier missing one hell of a party!! I mean ,I wanna be friends with radio and have met some good folks in it, but overall they make it very difficult with the politics and bullshit, and the record companys share in that as well. (shit, sometimes us artists do too)

And this biggest thing is, you ll never beat word of mouth on a good product! And when people love something, theyll do whatever it takes to get it. Itunes is convienient, but so is Mcdonalds, but....... a lotta people still wait in line and make reservations to eat elsewhere!! Sometimes when you believe in yourself and your product, NO is the best answer. Thiers plenty of ways to have big sales without itunes (or conventional wisdom), i just proved it! (dont mean to toot my own horn but BEEP FUCKING BEEP!!!! haha)

Whuuuuh? He’s the upscale alternative to McSpears and McCarey? He’s a pop artist just like them. And he is—or at least was—friends with radio. Maybe that’s why he’s a little prick…ly. The industry is changing even for him, and when CDs go away, if Kid Rock doesn’t embrace iTunes, et al, he and his luddite fanbase may have a problem. So yeah, dude, don’t suck off the programmers—you should be blowin’ the online music services. You know, after the marketing tricks cease to be effective. There’s some conventional wisdom for ya.

bottom line, lets bring some creativity back into this buisness and make it fun again,lifes too short, thats where im at with things.

A one-note trick like Kid Rock is gonna breathe life into a dying… business? Music is art, asshole. That’s the difference between you and guys like Neil Young.

and ps, Mellencamp has credability oozing out of his hit makin ass!!

Yeah, he does. Probably a convoy of new Chevy Silverados, too. And of course you’d be the guy to understand selling out.

ps (i know my typing and shit sux)

tReU dAt!!!!

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

8:00 AM TVONE: Tom Joyner Sky Show: Toni Braxton

10:00 AM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Sugarland

11:00 AM Biography: Bob Marley

12:00 PM Biography: Jimi Hendrix

1:00 PM Biography: Janis Joplin

1:00 PM FUEL: Billabong's Design For Humanity w/MGMT

3:00 PM Biography: Hippies

4:00 PM VH1C: Styx: One With Everything

5:00 PM MHD: Dispatch: Zimbabwe

7:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: The Enemy , Fergie , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Rufus Wainwright

8:00 PM MHD: FNMTV Premieres: Santogold , Common , Donnie Klang , Morningwood

8:00 PM VH1C: Wattstax

9:00 PM BET: New Jack City (1991)

10:00 PM VH1C: True Stories (1986)

11:00 PM Biography: John Belushi

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Mötley Crüe

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Bryan Adams

3:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Tom Wopat , John Schneider 

[Pictured above: Motley Crue; pictured below: not Motley Crue - it's Crue tribute band Girls Girls Girls!]

The only band that matters with the only CD that matters and the only book that matters…

By Fred Mills

Although the Clash’s truncated stint as opening act for The Who in 1982 was never regarded as a highwater mark for the combo, performance wise, it did represent a significant achievement for a quote-unquote “punk” band: at that point you just didn’t see groups like the Clash playing in front of a zillion people in stadiums, But that’s exactly what they did — in particular, they did it on Oct. 12 & 13, 1982 in Shea Stadium, and the latter show is the subject of a forthcoming Clash CD called Live at Shea Stadium, slated for release from Epic Legacy on Oct. 6.

Parts of both shows have been previously bootlegged and while this prior documentation confirmed that the Clash wasn’t genuinely at “the peak of its powers” (see below) on this particular set of shows — it was the Combat Rock tour and they kept their big guns in reserve for their own headlining gigs — they did acquit themselves admirably, considering the circumstance. It’s not exactly the US Festival, but it is the Clash live, and that’s good enough.

According to Legacy:

As rain fell on a near-capacity audience at NYC’s Shea Stadium, Clash road manager Kosmo Vinyl took the mic and whipped the crowd to crescendo as the band took the stage.  With frontman Joe Strummer announcing “Welcome to the Casbah Club,” the Clash launched into the powerful opening guitar refrain of “London Calling” and made history.

Recorded while on the road supporting 1982's Combat Rock, The Clash Live at Shea Stadium captures the British rock commando unit at the peak of its powers.  The Clash, opening for The Who on their farewell tour of the US, played two nights at the legendary Shea Stadium (October 12^th & 13^th, 1982).  Recorded by Glyn Johns, the album features the second night’s performance in its entirety.  Despite being the support act, The New York Post reported “there were as many Clash fans on those nights as Who fans.”  One of the few remaining unreleased Clash treasures, the recordings have long been sought after by fans. The tapes were unearthed by the late Joe Strummer while packing for a move.

Incidentally, you can ignore reports in other alternative music media about an October release of a new Clash DVD; The Clash Live: Revolution Rock was released way back in April (somebody fire that intern who was in charge of fact checking).

However, you can mark your calendars for Nov. 4: that’s when a new Clash book titled The Clash by the Clash hits stores. Published by Grand Central Publishing, the 384-page book combines photos and interview text with the band members. The Amazon.com “about the author” blurb is unintentionally dry in its description: “After the breakup of the band, Joe Strummer fronted The Mescaleros until he unfortunately passed away in December 2002 in his home from the effects of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Topper, Mick and Paul all live in the UK.” Nice to get that update, Amazon.

The volume slides onto an already sagging Clash bookshelf that in the past 5 or 6 years has seen about ten new Clash or Joe Strummer titles, so one might justifiably ask if this is an instance of flogging a dead horse. Does the world really ever need another Beatles, Dylan or Stones book, in other words? But hey, it’s the goddam Clash – the only band that matters.

Track Listing:

1 Kosmo Vinyl Introduction
2 London Calling
3 Police on My Back
4 The Guns of Brixton
5 Tommy Gun
6 The Magnificent Seven
7 Armagideon Time
8 The Magnificent Seven (Return)
9 Rock the Casbah
10 Train in Vain
11 Career Opportunities
12 Spanish Bombs
13 Clampdown
14 English Civil War
15 Should I Stay or Should I Go
16 I Fought the Law

Knocks defending champ William Ocean’s dingdong in the dirt…

By Fred Mills

Looks like that dumbass feature in USA Today didn’t do much to help William Ocean hold on to his crown in the US Air Guitar Championships. While Defending Champion Ocean was busy having his knob polished by the daily rag’s staff of puff-piece profilers, the mighty Hot Lixx Hulahan was waxing his axe all the way to the finish line at the San Francisco finals. Hulanhan will be representing the good ol’ You Ess of Aye in Oulu, Finland, Aug. 20-22 when the World Air Guitar Championships take place.

Here’s the blow-by-blow wrap up of the US event, courtesy the good folks at the US Air Guitar Championship organization. You can also check out video highlights at the official site at www.usairguitar.com ….

***

It was the morning of AUGUST 8th, 2008. The city of SAN FRANCISCO was crisp but peaceful. In the Grand Ballroom, it was business as usual. Little did anyone know… All the buzz, all the hype, all the warnings surrounding the 2008 Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Championships, Presented By TouchTunes, could not have prepared the City by the Bay for what was about to transpire. All the while, US Air Guitar was getting ready to Stryke (sic).

The math is simple really: 10 returning Finalists, 3 former US Champions, 1 Air Guitar Hall of Famer – in addition to the best crop of Rated Rookies in Air Guitar history – set the stage for 1 Star-Spangled Air Guitar extrava-hemoth. In all, 25 contestants had waited 12 long months for their 60 seconds of rock and roll glory. 1,500 ticket holders, 3 judges, 2 mascots, 4 bars. Carry the 6, and this equation has only one correct answer: a million thrills, spills, and one Fair City plundered.

ROUND I

The first round was absolutely manic. Newcomer and San Francisco darling AWESOME electrified the hometown crowd to earn a bid into Round 2. Hall of Famer BIG RIG and twin brother STRYKER could not make it through, despite their veteran status and matching Air Guitar logo tattoos, which they unveiled at the pre-show press conference. McNALLICA did Boston proud with a soul-shaking performance. The progressive SF audience could not quite catch up with former US Champ THE ROCKNESS MONSTER’s slo-mo flow, which doomed his chances in this, his final Air Guitar competition, in the wake of his announcement that this marked the end of his illustrious competitive career. Defending US Champion WILLIAM OCEAN overcame a few first round missteps to get to the second round. The top score in the first round went to AIRISOL of Minneapolis. An ex-gymnast, she wowed the crowd and the judges with a series of flips and displayed the full capabilities of her seemingly rubber vertebrae. Fake blood, confetti, bike shorts, back flips, a literal stage dive… We saw it all. Or so we thought…

The much-ballyhooed HALFTIME show saw a showdown between the new (but no less grizzled) US Air Guitar mascot Air Bear and newfound friend of US Air Guitar, LOU SEAL, the official mascot for MLB’s San Francisco Giants. This one-on-one bout was judged purely based on crowd reaction, and Lou quite literally mopped the floor with poor Air Bear. The crowd was promptly rewarded with vouchers for ‘Friends Only’ Giants tickets.

ROUND II

The compulsory round is where the Top Five took things to a new level. Shreddy Mercury showed up bigger than the city lights in Times Square, and William Ocean pulled out his patented surf-board and literally crowd-‘surfed.’ Awesome brought the thunder (via his performance) and the lightning (shaved into his chest hair).

And then, air guitar as we know it changed forever.

Hometown hero (2006 San Francisco and US Air Guitar Champion) Hot Lixx Hulahan added another ornament to his already decorated Air Guitar oeuvre with a second-round performance that has to be seen to be believed.

Mid-song, the San Francisco native ran back into the wings (stage right), only to emerge at full-speed, jump off a monitor, and with no regard for human life (his or anyone else’s) careen into the crowd via front-flip somersault that landed him on an inflatable whale, which he rode back on stage. He finished his set in perfect sync, which would have mattered more if you could hear the music over the roar of the crowd, which was trying to gather their breath, whereabouts, druthers, and whatever else, about them. Judge Marc Hawthorne, music editor of the Onion, left his subversive headlines at the door to bestow Hott Lixx with a 7.0 out of a possible 6.0 and the crown of America’s greatest Air Guitarist.

Final Scores (Round 1 + Round 2):
Compulsory song Black Sabbath 'Crazy Train'

1. Hot Lixx Hulahan - DC, 35.3
2. Airosol - Minneapolis, 35.2
3. Awesome - San Francisco, 34.6
4. McNallica - Boson, 34.4
5. Shreddy Mercury - New York, 33.9
6. William Ocean - DEFENDING US CHAMP, 33.5

2008 AIR GUITAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Like a polished diamond, the AGWC Network has grown and prospered to a world-wide realm of 18 official AGWC countries. The crème de la crème of Air Guitar competes in national championships before coming to Finland for the battle of the best. One person is annually hailed as the Air Guitar World Champion, the master of an invisible instrument. Countries registered to compete in the 2008 Air Guitar World Championships include UNITED STATES, CANADA, MEXICO, UNITED KINGDOM, NORWAY, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, AUSTRIA, ITALY, SLOVENIA, CROATIA, GREECE, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

For the first time ever, a non-Finn will MC the event. US Air Guitar is proud to announce that our very own BJORN TUROQUE is slotted as this year’s Master of Ceremonies. We are just glad that there is no King, Lord, or Emperor of Ceremonies to whom he could potentially come in second.

For More Information on the Air Guitar World Championships, Visit:

www.airguitarworldchampionships.com

By A.D. Amorosi

Also features contributions from Grinderman, Will Oldham and Irmin Schmidt.

You know, I’ve seen Lou Reed act. It ain’t pretty.  I only bring this up because Palermo Shooting, Wim Wenders’ road movie where a photographer (played by Andreas Frege from Die Toten Hosen) meets up with “Death” (played by Dennis Hopper) then Lou Reed. No matter what Reed’s thespian capabilities are, you’d think I’d put Reed before death. But if you’ve seen Wender’s1993 Faraway, So Close!, you’d know.

This is not the first time Wenders has put the rock stars in his movies - fond as he is, of Nick Cave and Bono, who‘ve done bits in Wenders films they’ve soundtracked. Cave’s Grinderman, Can's Irmin Schmidt and Will Oldham have new music in Palermo Shooting.

It is also not the first time that Reed has appeared in a film, even if you discount (and please do) Faraway, So Close! While none of us can forget his ads for Honda (is it Honda?) or his recent docu-Schnabel Lou Reed's Berlin, there was of course his bit part in Prozac Nation where he played “Lou Reed,” (how could you not), his role right before Harvey Keitel and Madonna started to dance (not together) in Blue in the Face (actually his best ever role with those silly glasses), and his role in Lulu on the Bridge as “Not Lou Reed.” Wow. NOT LOU REED.

But for me, he will always be – no, not the voice of Mok in Rock & Rule – that weird wired manager dude, “Steve Kunelian” in Paul Simon’s One Trick Pony of 1980. If you haven’t, you need to, then forget you did. We’ll be better off.

Fifth album features international cast of guest stars.

By Blurt Staff

Thievery Corporation’s new studio album entitled Radio Retaliation drops September 23. As usual it will be issued on the band’s ESL Music label; it’s the fifth from the mad-skillz production/DJ duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, who mash up one of electronica’s more compelling blends of downtempo, hip-hop, dub/reggae, Latin and afro-funk coming out of America today. Plans are for an iTunes digital pre-release Sept. 9 featuring an exclusive non album track entitled “Philosopher’s Stone” available for the two weeks leading up to the CD hitting retail outlets.

According to the Corp squad, ^“The album was recorded in the band’s hometown of Washington DC and the vibe is decidedly political which is no surprise given the high profile presidential campaign happening this year.”

“Radio Retaliation is definitely a more overt political statement,” noted Garza, in a statement. “There’s no excuse for not speaking out at this point, with the suspension of habeas corpus, outsourced torture, illegal wars of aggression, fuel, food, and economic crises.  It’s hard to close your eyes and sleep while the world is burning around you.  If you are an artist, this is the most essential time to speak up.”

Added Hilton, “Apart from a few independent bastions, there is no musical or informational freedom on the US airwaves anymore.  They’ve been bought up, consolidated and homogenized.  Radio Retaliation is about an exodus of conscious people who are willing to acknowledge something is wrong with the ‘official version’ in news and culture.”

It’s an international thang, y’all, for the Thievery Corporation: this album’s guests include Nigeria’s afro-beat heir Femi Kuti, Brazilian star vocalist and guitarist Seu Jorge, Indian sitar virtuoso Anushka Shankar, Slovakian chanteuse and violinist Jana Andevska, and Washington DC’s own go-go originator Chuck Brown.  Also returning are long time collaborators Sleepy Wonder, LouLou, Notch, Zee, and Verny Varela.

The band plan to take their show on the road with an impressive 15 member live ensemble for select dates in the U.S. and Europe this fall and will also hit the festival circuit in the spring and summer of ’09. Announced dates include: October 10 & 11 in Greece, 10/16 in Romania, 10/24 in Houston, 10/25 at the Voodoo Festival in New Orleans, and 10/26 in Dallas.

[Photo Credit: Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net]

Rockin’ in the free world, er, San Francisco next weekend.

By Blurt Staff

The schedules for the upcoming Outside Lands Music & Art Festival, which is being held August 22-24 in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, have been posted. Check ‘em out here.

As with so many multi-stage festivals, attendees will be forced to make some tough choices throughout the three-day affair:

-          old-school reggae (Steel Pulse) versus hometown rock 'n roll (Howlin’ Rain)

-           

-          vintage r&b and soul (The Dynamites) vs. psych-rock (Black Mountain) vs. indie rock it band (Cold War Kids)

-           

-          the “Mexican Beck” (Manu Chao) vs. jazz fusion duo (Benevento-Russo) vs. blues-rock duo (The Black Keys) vs. the real Beck (er, Beck)

-           

And that’s just Friday, kids — other artists featured include Tom Petty, Radiohead, Ben Harper, Wilco, Jack Johnson and Widespread Panic.

For more info on Outside Lands, visit: http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

By Fred Mills

It’s looking to be a runaway rout, folks: in our latest BLURT reader’s poll, the American Idol tour ensemble is a clear favorite. Or anti-favorite, in this instance. We asked you:

You’ve been booted off the Jam Cruise liner for being too fucked up and have washed up on a desert island. Who would you most NOT want to be stuck there with?

Your choices included the AmIdols, who are currently leading the pack at 36%. The other stats, as of this writing, are: beloved singer-songwriter Dave Matthews (11%), dub reggae loon Lee Scratch Perry (4%), U2 vocalist/world savior Bono (11%), potty mouthed pop diva Katy Perry (2%), “that dude from Buckcherry” (5%), alt-country legend/Courtney Love pal Ryan Adams (7%), professional crackhead Amy Winehouse (coming in a distant second at 18%), the Sex Pistols’ ever-charming John Lydon (4% - if we’d called him Johnny Rotten probably more of you kids would have picked him, right?), and those girlicious Pussycat Dolls (4% - now, c’mon, admittedly, you’d like to START being stranded on the island WITH them, but after you’ve “finished your business” wouldn’t you want some serious peace and quiet for yourself?).

Never fear: there’s still time to cast your ballots. Comments are welcome too. Just go to the Blurt Poll on the lower right side of the homepage and follow the instructions. What do you win? Why, the chance to take part in our next poll, of course!

[Contest not open to the employees and relatives of employees of the Blurt Corporation LLC. Void where prohibited by law. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate.]

New iTunes exclusive EP arrives Sept. 23.

By Blurt Staff

En route from My Brightest Diamond — that’s Shara Worden to her parents — is a new EP she’s called From The Top of the World (Asthmatic Kitty). While the title track is pulled from her A Thousand Shark’s Teeth album that came out earlier this year, the remaining material is unreleased and is sung entirely in French.  

Included are two Edith Piaf tunes ("Hymne Á L'Amour" and "Adieu Mon Coeur") plus a Kurt Weil/Roger Fernay composition ("Youkali: Tango Habanera"). Worden is calling the EP "a love letter to 1930s French music in the form of an EP,” which sounds perfectly logical to us.

It will be available at iTunes on Sept. 23.

Meanwhile, check out BLURT’s in-depth MBD feature (“Shine On You Crazy Diamond”) that we published back in June HERE.

Track Listing:

 From the Top of the World
 Youkali: Tango Habanera
 Hymne Á L'Amour
 Adieu Mon Coeur

Shitkickin’ symphonies, subcultures and suicide – all in a day’s work for Hank III.

By Blurt Staff

Just slipped over the BLURT transom, this one’s fun enough to just reprint verbatim. Anybody that can put the words “Hank Williams” and “GG Allin” in the same sentence gets OUR respect. He's no Kid Rock. But he rocks. Read on….

***

Don’t look for any apologies on Damn Right Rebel Proud, the upcoming sixth album from Hank Williams Iii.  Filled with a self-described “Jekyll and Hyde” mix of disturbingly dark stuff and “good ol’ country,” the straight-talkin’ third-generation rebel’s new album is set for release October 21 via Sidewalk Records.

The first single is the mutated truckers’ tune “Long Hauls & Close Calls,” for which a video has been shot. III thinks of it as the album’s “crossover” track, explaining that “It’s got a little bit of the scream for the kids in black and a little bit of the banjo and dobro for the country folks.”

Damn Right Rebel Proud follows the fierce and edgy Straight to Hell (2006), which broke all the rules of country music while still managing to honor its traditions. “That was a big one for me, man,” III says of STH. “Rock kids that don’t listen to country understood it. That record really had an impact.”

The new album honors tradition here and there. “Wild & Free” has a rollicking, Buck Owens flavor; ”Me & My Friends” is “a standard, good ol’ country song;” the populist anthem “If You Can’t Help Your Own” addresses what’s goin’ on right now with the government;” and the closing “Workin’ Man,” a duet with the tune’s author, writer/artist/construction worker Bob Wayne, sounds like an Alan Lomax field recording from the 1930s.

Recorded in HIII’s east Tennessee home with friends over a two-week period, the album’s magnum opus is the 10-minute, shitkickin’ symphony in three movements “P.F.F.” (you can guess what it stands for), which he describes as “a high-energy, get-drunk singalong.” He dedicates it to archetypal shock rocker G.G. Allin (certainly a first on a Nashville album), who III understandably views as a spiritual brother in chaos. “The hobo kids, the train-hopping kids, they all love Hank Williams and G.G. Allin,” he points out. “And they’ve bled into our audience.” III’s crowd is a roiling mix of outsider subcultures, along with working folks and party-down college kids. “Most of the time everybody’s gettin’ along,” he says. “Most of the trouble we’ve had has been with the security, not the kids. I’m still tryin’ to keep one half happy and the other half satisfied by flip-floppin’ the shows” between stone country, punk and metal sets. “We’re just doin’ what we’re doin’, and people see the realness in that.”

There’s some disturbingly dark stuff on here, like “3 Shades of Black,” which climaxes with a bloodcurdling horror-core scream, and “Stoned & Alone,” III’s corrosive take on a cryin’-in-your-beer country ballad, aches like a hangover after a three-day bender. “My dad’s version of that song would be ‘The Pressure Is On,’” he says. “I still live for the road; I don’t live for a lady – I guess that’s part of the problem.” 

But if you want really dark, check out “Candidate for Suicide.” “All the things I’m talkin’ about in that song – the rape, the drug abuse and feelin’ on the outskirts of life, as G.G. would say – that’s all true,” he acknowledges. “But just because you’re a candidate doesn’t mean you’re gonna go through with it. I’ve got no respect for anyone who tries to take the easy way out. Unless you can’t take care of yourself or stuff like that, I’m always standin’ for you to hold onto life as much as you can. There’s a huge amount of depression out there, and that’s really what the song’s about. ‘Candidate for Suicide’ is dark, but it’s not sayin’ do it; it’s just talkin’ about how it crosses your mind a good bit.”

Late comedian posthumously releases third album, Do You Believe in Gosh?

By Randy Harward

Comedy Central Records will relase Do You Believe in Gosh?, the third album by the late, beloved comedian Mitch Hedberg on September 9.  Hedberg recorded the album two months before his death. It will include all-new, unreleased material as well as never-before-seen photos and unpublished excerpts from his private journals. Comedy Central says the show was intimate and loose, with "a large amount of audience interaction."

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

8:00 AM & 2:00 PM Biography: David Crosby

9:00 AM & 3:00 PM Biography: Neil Young

10:00 AM & 4:00 PM Biography: Eric Clapton

10:00 AM MTV2: Kanye West: Homecoming

10:00 AM RAVE HD: Other Voices: Ray Davies , Candie Payne , Mick Flannery , Glen Hansard , Markéta Irglová , Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

2:00 PM FUSE: Steven's Untitled Rock Show: Tokio Hotel

4:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Sonic Youth , Jose Gonzalez , Laura Marling

5:30 PM Noggin: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Mark Mothersbaugh

5:30 PM Sundance: Neil Young's Greendale (2003)

7:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Mark Ronson , Biffy Clyro , Feist , Groove Armada

9:00 PM Biography: The Monkees

9:00 PM VH1C: The Doors (1991)

10:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: The Kills, Sara Bareilles, The Fratellis

11:00 PM Biography: David Cassidy

11:00 PM FUSE: Green Day: Making of Boulevard of Broken Dreams

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: Nas

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Los Lonely Boys

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Idina Menzel

Hiting the road in Sept. with A Place To Bury Strangers.

By Blurt Staff

Sian Alice Group have one more release planned for 2008, the EP Remix, which features three remixes of tracks from 59.59 that take the material in a new stunning direction. It is a remix record of unfettered diversity that adds yet another element to an indefinable band. Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor takes 59.59 opener "As The Morning Light" and focuses on the silky qualities of Sian Ahern's voice.  He emulates Ahern's style, collaborating with Sian Alice Group band member and multi-instrumentalist Rupert Clervaux to create another take on the torch song qualities of this track. Gang Gang Dance's Brian Degraw brings remix concepts to extreme heights in his take on "Murder," providing a 15 minute epic. Painstaking drum programming, soaring electronics and extreme vocal manipulation are slathered with a healthy dose of attention deficit disorder composition to create one of the more warped pieces of house music ever put to wax. Spring Heel Jack hone  in on the main riff in "Way Down To Heaven." Focusing on essentially two notes, two drum hits and ear-blistering volume, Ashley Wales and John Coxon present a minimalist composition that echoes the work of Terry Riley. Turn the track way up, lock in your headphones and revel in the trance of expertly executed subtle variation.

Another perfect companion piece to 59:59, along with their recent EP The Dusk Line, Remix focuses on more qualities inherent in the band's compositional tendencies. This is far from the usual toss-off remix record. It's a coherent statement, flows smoothly and provides an increasingly important example of a real community of musicians in conversation rather than the routine faceless remixes so prevalent our digital age.

Remix will be available on LP directly from Sian Alice Group on their tour and via The Social Registry mailorder. It will also be available digitally through all the usual providers in September.

Tracklisting is:

1. ALEXIS TAYLOR
2. BRIAN DEGRAW
3. SPRING HEEL JACK

Meanwhile, the band will be returning to the States this fall on tour with A Place To Bury Strangers. Thus far this year they’ve toured with Spiritualized and the Black Angels and have been winning over audiences at every stop. Those tour dates are:

September 15th at Music Hall Of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY
September 16th at Paradise in Boston, MA
September 18th at Zoobizarre in Montreal, QC (with Mike Bones)
September 19th at Lee's Palace in Toronto, ON
September 21st at Empty Bottle in Chicago, IL
September 22nd at Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, MN
September 25th at Biltmore in Vancouver, BC
September 26th at El Corazón in Seattle, WA
September 27th at Doug Fir in Portland, OR
September 29th at Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, CA
October 5th at Plush in Tucson, AZ
October 7th at Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City, UT
October 8th at Larimer Lounge in Denver, CO
October 9th at Waiting Room in Omaha, NE
October 10th at Record Bar in Kansas City, MO
October 16th at Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge, LA
October 17th at Club Down Under in Tallahassee, FL
October 18th at Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta, GA
October 19th at Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC
October 21st at Local 506 in Chapel Hill, NC
October 22nd at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC

But will still be contributing one previously recorded song for film.

By Fred Mills

With media reports (such as the one Pitchfork filed a few days ago) swirling about Radiohead’s reported gig to do the soundtrack to the film adaptation of author Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke, the band last night stepped in to set matters straight for all the hairy-palmed fanboys who are prone to float Radiohead rumors like the rest of us float toy boats in the lake on idyllic summer days. (Sorry, we just love the smell of flowery similes and metaphors early in the morning…)

According to the NME, a spokesperson for the band has told them directly that Radiohead “have only contributed a song to the film.”

Apparently In Rainbows’ tune “Reckoner” will be the closing-credits music for the film, which opens in late September.

To be fair, Palahniuk himself set the rumor in motion when he told the BBC that director Clark Gregg “knew that I'd written Choke while listening to Pablo Honey, with 'Creep', over and over and over. So Clark got Radiohead to contribute a song; to write a song for the very end of the movie, the final credits. Apparently Radiohead liked the movie so much, they've written the score, most of the ambient music throughout it. So it's 'Choke-- with the music of Radiohead'."

Cue up subsequent Radiohead denial. Meanwhile, the BBC itself stepped in and queried Palahniuk last night for his own clarification, and the somewhat confusing exchange read thusly:

Palahniuk: “It’s the incidental music and I also thought it was the closing credits, sort of like the equivalent of the Pixies song in Fight Club - and Clarke really wanted to end the movie on a downbeat, kinda like The Graduate, where they’re finally together and on the bus and the future’s not entirely bright at that point. I know Clark was looking for a very downbeat, mellow sort of song.”

The BBC then asked him if he “has heard the material Radiohead have done for the background,” and the author replied,  “Yes, I have, and it is terrific, I really love everything about the movie, it is as good as Fight Club, and the romance is much more predominant.”

Got all that? Befuddled? Yup, us too! Okay, back to those boats, kids!

"Pop music is for sheep and we are shepherds disguised as wolves" - Laibach
By Blurt Staff

With Russia’s invasion of Georgia in progress, it’s timely that we received word of another immient border violation: German art-metal terrorists Laibach return to the US for their first U.S. tour in four years in September and will be releasing a DVD in conjunction with the tour. Titled Volk Dead In Trbovlje, it’s out on Sept. 2 via Mute, and was filmed in Trbovlje, Slovenia, the industrial town associated with the birthplace of Laibach in 1980.

The DVD was filmed during the extensive tour based on Laibach’s Volk album, a collection of interpretations of national anthems which includes the national anthem for NSK, the State in time without territory and national boundaries which Laibach have been linked with since its formation in 1992.

On the album, Laibach uncovering a common ground linking the nations, a shared patriotic sentiment based around the bloody and violent foundations of nation which here, can be heard in the lyrics and pomp of the largely hymnal tracks. By reinterpreting the music and translating the lyrics of each anthem, the band have not only shown us this common ground, they have also offered up a very pertinent comment on today's political situation and a warning for future generations.

As a bonus, the DVD offers a collection of some of the most relevant screens that were projected during the show, animated stories of some of the most important songs. The Laibach music videos associated with VOLK are part of the content too. The project ends with a tour medley, a short video commentary as a souvenir from some of the places where Laibach have toured with VOLK.

DVD Tracklist: (NTSC All Regions)

1. Germania
2. America
3. Anglia
4. Rossiya
5. Francia
6. Italia
7. España
8. Yisra'el
9. Türkiye
10. Zhonghuá
11. Nippon
12. Slovania
13. NSK
14. Tanz Mit Laibach
15. Alle Gegen Alle
16. Du Bist Unser
17. Hell: Symmetry
18. Achtung!
19. Das Spiel Ist Aus
20. Laibach Medley
21. Germania (Screen)
22. Anglia (Video)
23. Rossiya (Video)
24. Francia (Screen)
25. España (Screen)
26. Türkiye (Video)
27. Zhonghuá (Screen)
28. Nippon (Screen)
29. Slovania (Video)
30. Vaticanae (Screen)
31. Volk Tour Medley

Laibach Tour Dates:

Mon, Sep 22, 2008 Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market    
Tue, Sep 23, 2008  Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Thu, Sep 25, 2008 San Francisco, CA @ Independent               
Fri, Sep 26, 2008  Hollywood, CA @ Key Club              
Sun, Sep 28, 2008  Tijuana B.C. Mexico @ El Foro           
Tue, Sep 30, 2008  New York, NY @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza    

Key track from latest album, shot in Las Vegas w/Piper Ferguson.

By Blurt Staff

Although Brit singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt’s recent album Beautiful Lie is only getting a lukewarm reception in the U.S. — see the BLURT review HERE — he does have a positively captivating new video for the song “Until Tomorrow Then.” It was shot in Las Vegas with director Piper Ferguson.

According to Ferguson, "Ed has been a friend of mine since 2002 when I photographed him at SXSW. Ed told me "Until Tomorrow Then" is about writing the song as the world is coming to an end and a couple are dying as they write it. To me that's a very romantic, psychedelic ending to a relationship, which is hopefully portrayed in a charming way in this video. Then Ed said he wanted to do the video in Las Vegas in the middle of July..."

Harcourt’s currently in London working on the score to the Donnie Darko sequel S. Darko. Meanwhile, you can check out the new video HERE.

With the Iraq Veterans Against the War and Tent State University, musicians hold the “Tent State Music Festival To End The War”.
By Fred Mills

To “celebrate” the Democratic National Convention being held in Denver, Colorado, Aug. 25-28, Rage Against the Machine has joined forces with the Iraq Veterans Against the War and Tent State University to perform as part of the "Tent State Music Festival to End the War" on Wednesday, August 27 at the Denver Coliseum. They will join the Flobots, The Coup, State Radio, and Wayne Kramer. Doors open at 9:30 AM, show begins at 11:00 AM. 

Tickets are free and available by lottery.  Sign up for the lottery, with a valid photo ID (person must be present) at Tent State University at Cuernavaca Park between 11AM and 6:30 PM (look for the Tent State Music Festival booth near the IVAW Tower) Sunday, August 24 through Tuesday, August 26 during the D.N.C. Winners will be notified by email Tuesday evening, August 26. 

Go to www.tentstate.org  for more info, or to www.madisonhousepublicity.com.

Ticket Pickup Information and Policies:

-Each lottery winner will get two tickets for the Festival.

-WINNERS can claim their tickets at the Denver Coliseum beginning 9:30 AM on Wednesday, August 27. ONLY the WINNER can claim the tickets on show day.  Photo ID required.  NO name changes will be accepted under any circumstance.

-Guest MUST be present when WINNER claims the tickets. After claiming the tickets, WINNER and their guest must immediately enter the coliseum.

-Any TICKETS UNREDEEMED BY 12:00 PM WILL BE RELEASED on a first come first serve basis. There will be a secured area set up for people to line up for any tickets not picked up.

Hat’s off to (Roy) Harper (slight return)…

By Blurt Staff

Way back in early July we brought you word of the first round of much-anticipated Roy Harper reissues. Since then there’s been a slight delay, but we’re delighted to receive this morning confirmation that those reissues are now available. Rather than belabor the point, we’ll give you the official word, below. Enjoy!

***

Influential, eccentric British singer/songwriter Roy Harper is releasing a series of his seminal albums in the United States for the first time through KOCH Entertainment Distribution, via its distribution deal with London-based Cadiz Music. The initial batch of releases will include Stormcock, Jugula and Flat Baroque and Berserk as well as a 2CD best of Counter Culture. Harper has been revered for decades by visionary musicians from Led Zeppelin (they wrote "Hats Off to Roy Harper" in 1970) to and Pink Floyd (he sang lead on "Have a Cigar" from Wish You Were Here) to Joanna Newsome most recently.

This deal marks the first official US release of these recordings which were previously only available as imports in this country.  These newly restored and repackaged albums are released on Harper's own Science Friction record label in exclusive distribution partnerships with Cadiz Music in the U.K. and KOCH in the U.S. Additional Harper titles to be released later in 2008 include: The Green Man, The Dream Society, The Unknown Soldier, andDeath or Glory. 

     Harper was born in the Manchester suburb of Rusholme, England. After the death of his mother a few weeks after his birth, he was raised near Blackpool by his father and step-mothe. At the age of 10, he began playing skiffle music with his younger brother,  as well as being influenced by blues music, jazz and classical. Leaving school when he was 15, he joined the Royal Air Force only to reject its rigid discipline. He managed to feign madness in order to get a discharge. Harper then busked around Europe until 1964 when he returned to England and gained a residency at London's famous Les Cousins folk club in Soho.

     His first album, The Sophisticated Beggar, was recorded in 1966 after Harper was spotted at the Les Cousins club and signed to Peter Richard's Strike Records. Producer Shel Talmy helmed the follow up, Come out Fighting Genghis Smith, which featured the 11 minute track "Circle", marking Roy moving away from more traditional folk stylings. 1968's Folkjokeopus virtually mirrored the previous album, with a 15 minute version of "McGooghan's Blues".

     Harper's first tour of the United States followed the release of the album Flat Baroque and Berserk in 1969 which featured The Nice on one track called "Hell's Angels". Its ethereal sound was achieved by a wah-wah pedal attached to an acoustic guitar. Roy's 1970 critically acclaimed album was the four-song epic, Stormcock, featuring Jimmy Page on guitar (credited as "S. Flavius Mercurius") and David Bedford's orchestral arrangements.

     For much of the seventies, Harper was managed and produced by Peter Jenner, Pink Floyd's original manager and producer.  In 1972, Roy made his acting debut playing Mike Preston alongside Carol White in the John Mackenzie film Made and Harper's soundtrack for the film appeared under the title Lifemask. His next album Valentine, was released on Valentine's Day, 14 February 1974 and once again featured contributions from Page. A concert to mark its release was held at London's Rainbow Theatre with Page, Bedford, Ronnie Lane on bass and Keith Moon on drums. The live album Flashes from the Archives of Oblivion soon followed.

     Having sung lead on Pink Floyd's "Have A Cigar," Roy saw David Gilmour return the favour by appearing on his next album, HQ, along with his occasional backing band: Chris Spedding, Dave Cochran and Bill Bruford along with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones. Harper then co-wrote the song, "Short and Sweet" with David for Gilmour's first solo record and performed the song live with him. Bullinamingvase featured "One of Those Days in England", with backing vocals by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, which became a U.K. hit. Gilmour returned to contribute to 1980's, The Unknown Soldier, and Kate Bush sings a duet with Roy on "You."  In turn he sang backing vocals on "Breathing", Kate's Never For Ever album. Harper's 1982 album, Work of Heart, marked the formation of Harper's own Public Records label.

     Throughout 1984, Harper toured the United Kingdom with Jimmy Page, performing a predominantly acoustic set at folk festivals under various guises such as "The MacGregors," and "Themselves." They released the album Whatever Happened to Jugula? under Harper's name and co-credited to Jimmy Page. In 1987 he briefly rejoined EMI for the release of the Descendants Of Smith. After he and EMI went their separate ways again, Harper inherited the record and changed the title to The Garden Of Uranium.

     Since 1987, Harper has had a relatively low public profile, though still releasing powerful materials periodically. He's dedicated much of his time and energy to collecting, compiling and releasing his life's work in various formats: books, CDs and DVDs.

     Koch's first releases from Roy's extensive archives present a crucial snapshot of Roy's progression from the late 60s to the present. Check out the man himself at the links below:

www.royharper.com

www.myspace.com/harperroy

Fiona Apple ain’t got nothing on Stern with that album title.

By Fred Mills

Following up her 2007 debut set In Advance of the Broken Arm, guitar virtuosoess Marnie Stern has the somewhat wordily-titled This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That due from Kill Rock Stars October 7.

According to her label, “Seeking the next step of her musical evolution, Stern approaches her unique guitar playing as a part of a cohesive whole rather than the expressions of virtuosity that earmarked her prior work. The results eschew her former conceptual leanings to create a deeply personal set of songs that are anthemic and uplifting; a pop record for an alternate dimension.”

And you KNOW we are all about alternate dimensions at BLURT! As Britain’s Guardian put it about the previous album, "Math-pop or avant-rock are terms that have been deployed liberally by journalists so far when trying to describe Marnie Stern's sound, but even these broad terms prove to be problematic after the first listen." 

Watch for a full-on review of the album shortly before its release right here at BLURT.

Tracklisting:

1. Prime

2. Transformer

3. Shea Stadium

4. Ruler

5. The Crippled Jazzer

6. Steely

7. The Package Is Wrapped

8. Simon Says

9. Vault

10. Clone Cycle

11. Roads?  Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads

12. The Devil's in the Details

Quasi-cryptic MySpace posts and emails speak of imminent new album.

By Randy Harward

Publicity stunts are publicity stunts, but some are just welcome enough, like the email that hit Blurt's inbox a few minutes ago from one of the few truly great emo bands: The Jealous Sound. It says, "Got Friends coming soon, as in REAL soon. Stay tuned."

The same is posted on the band's MySpace page, and that of their label, The Militia Group. Both are accompanied the ostensible album cover. The album title may allude to the band finally getting their standard MySpace page converted to a music page--on June 1, 2006.

That was the last time an update came from the band about its status. The last news item on www.jealoussound.com was posted on November 28, 2005, and rumors abounded that the band broke up. Welcome back, guys. Lookin' forward to the new songs.

Tim Easton, Leeroy Stagger and Evan Phillips--ESP--release One for the Ditch.

By Randy Harward

This week in supergroups: Americana singer-songwriters Tim Easton, Leeroy Stagger and The Whipsaws' Evan Phillips have come together as ESP, releasing the all-acoustic One for the Ditch on Rebeltone Records this week.

The collaboration started while Easton and Stagger were touring as support for The Whipsaws' CD release tour in Alaska this past January. Most of One for the Ditch was recording during a three-day session at a cabin in snowy Girdwood. It was completed in March at Easton's cabin studio in Joshua Tree and Victoria Williams' Chapparal Studios.

From their official bio: ...Stagger says "we keep each other together and in check, which makes it a very easy and fulfilling band to be in." Evan Phillips added, "We are also big fans of each other so that helps." Easton agrees that "this is a natural fit. We travel well as a trio and we are not afraid to push each other to do better work. There's a ton of songwriters out rambling about, and I feel lucky to have crossed paths with these two."

Visit www.myspace.com/eastonstaggerphillips to hear tracks.

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM ABC: Good Morning America: Donny Osmond , Marie Osmond

9:00 AM Syndicated: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Jonas Brothers

1:30 PM FUSE: Loaded: Nine Inch Nails

3:30 PM FUEL: Billabong's Design For Humanity: MGMT

4:00 PM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Tori Amos

5:00 PM MHD: FNMTV Premieres: Santogold , Common , Donnie Klang ,Morningwood

7:15 PM IFC: Mystery Train (1989)

8:00 PM RAVE HD: Montreux Jazz Festival 2004: Bryan Ferry , Cheap Trick

9:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: The Kills, Sara Bareilles, The Fratellis

10:00 PM Sundance: Joe Strummer Let's Rock Again!

11:00 PM VH1C: The Last Waltz (1978)

11:10 PM Sundance: Robyn Hitchcock: Sex, Food, Death... and Insects

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Emmylou Harris , Tift Merritt 

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Mariah Carey

1:00 AM Starz Black: Tupac - Live at the House of Blues

Why debate when you can instigate? Or vice versa? How about doing both simultaneously? That’s the somewhat muddled theory behind a new website dubbed Instigate Debate, officially launching in Britain tomorrow, Aug. 16, in conjunction with the huge British V Festival taking place this weekend. (How exactly do you "launch" a website at a festival?)

According to a report filed today by the NME, Instigate Debate is aimed at reigniting “political and social debate and tone down the tabloidisation of British culture” — for example, said ID in a statement, "We are asking people not to ask public figures for autographs or film them surreptitiously with their mobile phones. But to ask them if they can film, then ask socio/political questions, rather than next album/merchandise/love life stuff."

Er, right. THAT’s gonna happen. Sure. When was the last time you saw a rock fan that even knew what a socio/political question was, much less how to form and phrase one?

Skepticism aside, it’s an admirable goal, and reportedly some high profile musicians, including Dirty Pretty Things/Libertines’ Carl Barat, Babyshambles’ Drew McConnell and Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson are throwing their support behind ID. NME adds that when the site launches it “will feature the likes of Barat, McClure, McConnell,Alan McGee, Suggs, Jon Snow and George Galloway waxing lyrical about everything from foreign policy to whether money has changed them as people.”

Looks like they ran out of topics fast. Er, we thought the money question would be taboo too. Hey, it’s England, land of class consciousness! (Someone should try this in America, which if course is in no way a land of class consciousness. We’re barely conscious.)

Okay, now isn’t this just about the most dumbass thing you’ve read all day?

By the way, did anyone notice how closely the ID logo, above, resembles that old RIAA bogeyman "Home Taping Is Killing Music"?

Can it be? Is it possible? What would Polly Harvey say?!?

By Fred Mills

Ha ha, got ya on that headline! And it's not even APRIL FOOL'S DAY either! WTF?!?

No, ANY day is a good day to run a Beef photo. And besides, we got the scoop on the good Cap'n's return, in a matter of speaking -- an unreleased album, heretofore only available in fragmented bootleg form. See our review BELOW.

It’s now or never for Now or Heaven from the L.A. indiepopsters.

By Fred Mills

Merge Records’ latest and greatest, the Broken West, will be dropping Now or Heaven on Sept. 9, and not so coincidentally on that same day the band commences a North American tour.

The record follows up 2007’s acclaimed I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On, and according to Merge the stealth-pop geniuses — think a cross between Wilco, Arcade Fire and Okkervil River — are “tossing out all of the rules… they began by ignoring their guitars for a while.  The rhythm section is the heart of Now or Heaven.” [they recorded

“We almost went insane and gave up a couple of times, but it felt like natural conception,” says the band’s Danny Iead. Also in the Broken West, which is based in L.A.: Ross Flournoy, Rob McCorkindale and Brian Whelan. Plus “honorary members” Scott, Darice, Jon, and Jeff "Chef" Howell.

Check ‘em out at their http://www.myspace.com/thebrokenwest MySpace page for info and sound samples.

Get natural, then.

The Broken West Tour Dates:

9/09: Hi Dive, Denver

9/10: Slowdown JR, Omaha 

9/11: The Picador, Iowa City 

9/12: Orpheum Stage Door, Madison

9/13: 400 Bar, Minneapolis 

9/15: Schubas, Chicago 

9/16: Pike Room, Pontiac

9/17: Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto 

9/21: Mercury Lounge, New York

9/22: Middle East, Cambridge

9/23: Cafe Nine, New Haven

9/24: TBA, DC

9/25: Local 506, Chapel Hill

9/28: The Basement, Nashville

9/29: Hi Tone,  Memphis

9/30: Dan's Silverleaf, Denton

10/1: Mohawk, Austin

10/4: Spaceland, Los Angeles

Also on the bill: Vampire Weekend, Growing, Drums Of Death and IO Echo.
By Blurt Staff

For the second U.S. tour in support of the album Made in the Dark released earlier this year, Hot Chip — Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard, Owen Clarke, Al Doyle and Felix Martin — will be adding a live drummer on these dates. The drummer, Leo Taylor has played with the bands Zongamin and Gramme in the past.

Hot Chip have spent much of the last 12 months compounding their status as one of the hardest working bands around. Apart from numerous musical side projects, remixing duties and running a record label, they have had sold-out tours in the UK, Europe and the US. Now the band are set to return to the US for a second tour this Fall. The dates include two shows each at the Wiltern in L.A., the Metro in Chicago, and Terminal 5 in NYC.

Vampire Weekend, Growing, Drums Of Death and IO Echo will serve as support at various stops on the tour.

There’s also a new EP entitled iTunes Live: Berlin Festival. Recorded at Radialsystem V in Berlin on May 8, the 6 track EP features: "Over and Over", "Out At The Pictures", "One Pure Thought", "Don't Dance", "No Fit State", and "Ready for the Floor". It is available now exclusively on iTunes.

Tour Dates:

9/19    San Diego, CA           Street Scene
9/20    San Francisco, CA       Treasure Island Fest
9/21    Los Angeles, CA         Wiltern                         w/ IO Echo
9/22    Los Angeles, CA         Wiltern                 w/ Drums of Death
9/23    Tucson, AZ              Rialto Theater          w/ Vampire Weekend & Drums of Death
9/25    Dallas, TX              Palladium Ballroom      w/ Drums of Death      
9/26    Austin, TX              Austin City Limits             
9/28    Chicago, IL             Metro                   w/ Growing             
9/29    Chicago, IL             Metro                   w/ Growing             
9/30    Toronto, ON             Koolhaus                w/ Growing     
10/1    Montreal, QC            Metropolis              w/ Growing             
10/3    New York, NY            Terminal 5              w/ Growing     
10/4    New York, NY            Terminal 5              w/ Growing     
10/5    Philadelphia, PA                The Trocadero           w/ Growing     
10/7    Baltimore, MD           Rams Head Live          w/ Growing     
10/8    Washington, DC          9:30 Club               w/ Growing
10/9    Atlanta, GA             Variety Playhouse       w/ Growing

All the concert news ‘n’ reviews that’s fit to print.

By Blurt Staff

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT – this time, we’ve got the Virgin Mobile Festival in Baltimore, Wilco in Wilmington and, if you can dig it, the mighty (well, in a going-through-the-motions-way) Bad Company in Hollywood, Florida. Yes, that's right -- THE Bad Company. As in "Feel Like Makin' Love." (Don't we all?)

·         *We sent Roxana Hadadi and her trusty shutterbug sidekick Adam Fried to the Virgin Mobile Festival in Baltimore last weekend, Aug. 9 and 10, and Hadadi reported back on the good — Stooges, Gogol Bordello (Eugene Hutz, pictured above), Paramore and Nine Inch Nails among them — the bad — Lil Wayne and the always-hideous Bloc Party in particular and the downright annoying. “There’s a lot more to a festival than some flashy clothes and flashing lights,” writes Hadadi, adding, “With two days worth of music, it’s hard to confine everything to one review.” But she did a pretty ace job of covering most of the bases And Fried’s photos just plain kick ass.

·         *That same weekend Steve Klinge was taking in Wilco in Wilmington, Deleware, the night of the 10^th, and he came away awestruck. “They’re road warriors… a band at its peak,” Klinge observes, and then proceeds to outline precisely why.

·         *And Lee Zimmerman somehow found himself at the one-off Bad Company reunion in Hollywood, Florida, a couple of nights earlier on Aug. 8. (Apparently Paul Rodgers & Co. had to do a reunion show to nail down some legalities relating to retaining the rights to the Bad Company name; a faux-Company composed of latterday members has been touring and Rodgers wanted to put a halt to that.)  “On this particular night,” says Zimmerman, “the band would live up to their reputation and would neither raise nor lower the bar.  Which means they proved to be entertaining, but far from what could be considered the stuff o’ legend.”

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We’ve also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

[Gogol Bordello photo by Adam Fried]

In our second exclusive clip, Vaden Todd Lewis and Mark "Rez" Reznicek talk.

By Randy Harward

Here you have it, folks: the second exclusive video teaser from the Toadies, who are releasing their long-awaited third album, No Deliverance (Kirtland Records) this Tuesday.

This one's all talk--that is, interview, no music. Singer-guitarist Vaden Todd Lewis, with drummer Mark Reznicek looking on, talks about the significance of the album title and whether his parents listen to his records.

Watch it here or on the Blurt player. And look for an exclusive full-song performance on Tuesday!

Kick out the jams, motherfuckers..

By Fred Mills

Yesterday we brought you word about the Tent State Festival that will be rocking Denver while the Democratic National Convention is in session. Among the performers: Rage Against the Machine, Flobots, the Coup, Jello Biafra and the MC5’s Wayne Kramer.

Kramer, in fact, is no stranger to either protest or the DNC: he and the 5 were the only band to perform at 1968's Democratic National Convention and its now historic riot in Chicago's Lincoln Park.
 
Today Kramer offered a statement, saying, "I was part of a movement to stop a war then, and I’m part of a movement to stop a war now. In that very special case, it was our youthful defiance that ruled the day.”
 
Of the call to activism in 2008, Wayne adds succinctly, “Democracy requires participation. For rebellion to mean anything, it must be useful, so join us in the spirit of justice and peace.”

Matador snags the rights to release the soundtrack to the acclaimed Schnabel film.

By Blurt Staff

We were just headed out for lunch when this fine little tidbit got slipped over the news transom. For those of you lucky enough to have seen the Berlin film (you might have caught parts of it in Austin at SXSW) or simply loved the album itself upon its release, this is pretty cool.

Check out the trailer to the film at the bottom, too. Read on…

***

Matador Records is thrilled to announce that it will be releasing Lou Reed's Berlin:  Original Film Soundtrack on September 30 (digital)/October 7 (physical), coinciding with the Weinstein Company's October 6, 2008 DVD release of the Julian Schnabel film.

Upon the 1973 release of Berlin, Lou Reed's controversial successor to the wildly popular Transformer, Rolling Stone's Stephen Davis described it as one of "certain records so patently offensive that one wishes to take some kind of physical vengeance on the artists that perpetrate them...a distorted and degenerate demimonde of paranoia, schizophrenia, degradation, pill-induced violence and suicide."  A earnest pan, yes, but also a fabulous pull quote.   Thirty years later, the magazine named it one of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Staging Berlin had been discussed for over 30 years, and in December of 2006 it became a reality, over four days at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn.  It was the first time Reed performed the album live.  The New York Times said that Reed "wasn't revisiting these songs as oldies or artifacts; he was reinhabiting them...Berlin carried Reed's music to an ornate extreme, but now its trappings are secondary.  What comes through is the way it feels."

The film Berlin, by acclaimed painter-turned-director Julian Schnabel (Basquiat, Before Night Falls, The Diving Bell & The Butterfly), documents these historic performances.  Though the album's harrowing qualities are well documented, the experience of seeing and hearing it brought to life was invigorating.  More information about the film can be found at http://www.berlinthefilm.com/.

Produced by Bob Ezrin and Hal Willner, and featuring musicians like Fernando Saunders, Antony, Steve Hunter, Rob Wassermann, Rupert Christie and Sharon Jones, a seven piece orchestra (including Eyvind Kang and Jane Scarpantoni), and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, this recording magnifies the cinematic quality of the original album.  It also includes the three encores, "Candy Says," "Rock Minuet," and "Sweet Jane."

Berlin remains one of the most alarming and frank highlights of a career marked by innovation and candor.  Just as Schnabel's effort is far more ambitious than your average concert film, this release stands as a majestic and poignant re-imagining of one of the 20th century's most powerful works.

Lou Reed is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has been awarded the Chevalier Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Government, and the prestigious Hero Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.  His incisive, literate approach to popular (and unpopular) music has spanned five decades, with a remarkable lack of complacency.  Reed is one of the most important and influential living musicians. 

Wexler helmed classic recordings by Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, and coined the term “rhythm and blues.”

By Blurt Staff

The Associated Press reports that legendary producer and record label man Jerry Wexler died Friday at 3:45 a.m. in a Sarasota, Fla. Hospice.

Wexler made myriad contributions to music, producing records by Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and Willie Nelson, co-running Atlantic Records with Ahmet Ertegun from 1953 to 1967 and championing Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge. He also famously coined the term “rhythm and blues,” replacing the offensive term “race records.”

For more on the story, click here.

(Photo: AP Photo/DP)

Fattening up the playlist on the Blurt player--including exclusives from the Toadies and The Feelings Mutual.

By Blurt Staff

Check out the Blurt player for just-added clips from Black Mountain ("Wucan"), sBACH ("Track 02")and Lee Scratch Perry ("Pum Pum"), plus the premiere of "Ring Me Out" from San Diego's The Feelings Mutual and the second exclusive teaser from the Toadies!

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin’ on? Not likely. Here are BLURT’s top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16:

9:30 AM FX: Detroit Rock City (1999)

10:00 AM Biography: Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century

10:00 AM Sundance: loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies

1:00 PM TVONE: Krush Groove (1985)

2:00 PM VH1C: The Last Waltz (1978)

5:00 PM VH1C: The Song Remains The Same

6:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Scouting For Girls , Lightspeed Champion , Roisin Murphy , Justice

7:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Boy Kill Boy , David Jordan , Sheryl Crow , Athlete , The Enemy , Akon

8:00 PM MTV2: Celebrity Deathmatch: Coldplay , U2 , Bruce Willis

8:00 PM VH1C: Woodstock (1970)

8:30 PM MTV2: Celebrity Deathmatch: Paul Wall , Mike Jones

9:00 PM MHD: MTV Live: R.E.M.

9:00 PM PBS: Austin City Limits: Ladysmith Black Mambazo

10:00 PM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Robyn , Kevin Bacon

10:30 PM TV Land: TV Land Myths & Legends: Elvis

11:00 PM MHD: Radiohead: From The Basement

11:00 PM RAVE HD: Later With Jools Holland: Supergrass , Vampire Weekend , The Kills , Dianne Reeves , Chris Barber

12:00 AM Sundance: Stoned (2005)

1:00 AM FUEL: Check 1, 2: Valient Thorr

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17:

9:00 AM CBS News Sunday Morning: David Byrne

11:00 AM MHD: CMT Crossroads: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

11:00 AM VH1C: Wattstax

1:00 PM VH1C: Monterey 40

2:00 PM MHD: MTV Live: R.E.M.

2:00 PM sundance: The Drug Years: Part 2 - Feed Your Head

5:30 PM HDNet Concert Series: Alison Krauss & Union Station

5:30 PM MHD: Nissan Live Set: Moby

6:00 PM VH1C: Rolling Stones Let's Spend the Night Together

8:00 PM Comedy Central: Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

8:00 PM VH1C: U2: Rattle and Hum

11:00 PM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Dashboard Confessional - Live From Madison Square Garden

11:40 PM HDNet Concert Series: Robin Gibb With The Frankfurt Neue Philharmonic Orchestra Live

1:00 AM ETV: The E! True Hollywood Story: Hugh Hefner: Girlfriends, Wives and Centerfolds

Would YOU buy a U2 bootleg from this man?

By Blurt Staff

Bono needs to be careful about opening the windows to his bathroom when he plans to sing in the shower. Some enterprising fan strolling by his South France villa just might have a bunch of recording gear stuffed down his trousers and ready to press "record."

Or so it seems with the posting earlier today of 4 purported unreleased U2 songs that pundits are speculating will appear on the band's next album. You can read the full report, and hear the actual tunes, HERE.

Personally we think this is a stunt dreamed up by a 15-year old Norwegian guitarist who specializes in U2 covers, but what do we know?

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