Californian-born poet, musician and composer Michael Franti and his band Spearhead, return with album, All Rebel Rockers, on September 9, via Anti-Records. Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, with reggae's most prolific production teams, Sly & Robbie (No Doubt, Alicia Keys, Sean Paul, Bob Dylan), Alongside Dave Shul (guitars), Manas Itene (drums), Carl Young (bass) and Raleigh Neal (keyboards), the album also features Zap Mama founder Marie Daulne and Jamaican soul/dancehall star Cherine Anderson. Franti blends hip hop, funk and reggae together with his political and progressive lyrics. but also a leader in the peace and social justice movement. Franti's own ‘Power to the Peaceful’ festival has drawn more than 50,000 people for one day to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco over the last 9 years. In December of 2007, Franti brought the 1st annual festival to Sao Paulo, Brazil, featuring his band Spearhead & Brazilian star Seu Jorge.
video:
I Know I'm Not Alone
http://www.anti.com/
http://www.myspace.com/spearheadvibrations
http://spearheadvibrations.com/
Monday, May 19, 2008
Michael Franti and Spearhead:: All Rebel Rockers
The Matches make their own soap
The Matches guitarist Jon Devoto and a friend have been hand making Matches branded soap. Originally this started small by making soap for friends and family and it’s gotten a life of its own as they’ve been selling out the soap every night on tour. Now, they have launched a brand new website (www.jrsoapco.com) where fans of the band and of being clean can purchase the magical soap. The soap is available in a variety of scents such as Sugarhigh (infused with coconut, almond and magic), Revival (infused with coconut and giggles) and Sandcastle (infused with olive, coconut and distilled unicorn tears).
http://www.myspace.com/jrsoapco
http://www.jrsoapco.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thematches
10,000 Lakes Festival:: July 23-26: Detroit Lakes, MN
Come join Phil Lesh & Friends for some blazin' heat from all angles. Click on the flyer for more information on the 10,000 Lakes Festival, July 23-26.
http://www.10klf.com/
Kaskade:: Strobelite Seduction
Kaskade will release his fifth artist album, Strobelite Seduction through Ultra Records on June 3rd, and on iTunes May 20th. Strobelite Seduction is a collection of sparkling, cascading melodies layed out in high style for long nights of intense sweat and pheromone release on the dance floor. Check Kaskade on his international tour, and listen to "Move For Me," the first single below.
audio:
Move For Me
live:
23-May – BUZZ @ Fur Nightclub – Washington, D.C.
24-May – POP @ Cow Palace – Daly City, CA
30-May – This Is London – Toronto, ON
31-May – Stereo – Montreal, QC
6-June – Mansion Ultra Lounge – New York, NY
7-June – Giant @ Vanguard – Los Angeles, CA
13-June – Swerve – Atlanta, GA
14-June – Electric Daisy Carnival – Denver, CO
19-June – Lique – Curitiba, Brazil
20-June – Pacha – Sao Paulo, Brazil
21-June – Winterplay – Florianopolis, Brazil
27-June – The End – London, England
30-June – MN2S – Ibiza, Spain
3-July – Ruby Skye – San Francisco, CA
4-July – Bliss Nightclub – Reno, NV
5-July – Flames Central – Calgary, AB
6-July – Wet Republic @ MGM Grand – Las Vegas, NV
12-July – Pacha – Ibiza, Spain
17-July – Tentation Ultra Lounge – Newport Beach, CA
18-July – Rich’s – Houston, TX
19-July – Epic Event Center – Minneapolis, MN
25-July – The Bank Ultra Lounge – Edmonton, AB
2-August – Smart Bar – Chicago, IL
6-September – Minc Lounge – Dallas, TX
http://www.myspace.com/kaskademusic
http://www.kaskademusic.com/
Ani DiFranco:: Live at Babeville
Last September 11 and 12th, Ani DiFranco's live performances in her newly renovated hometown church/venue—christened "Babeville" by the Buffalo press were captured for eternity on the new Live at Babeville DVD. It took 10 years to save the 135-year-old Buffalo church from demolition and restore it to s a concert venue and community space. Check out the video below, and in particular "Present/Infant," where Ani sings about her experience as a new mom.
video:
Live at Babeville (trailer)
Little Plastic Castle (live)
Present Infant
http://www.righteousbabe.com/ani/
Annuals on tour in June
Annuals will be touring in the U.S. next month, continuing support of their very fine EP Wet Zoo. Check out the video for "Sore" from Wet Zoo, and "Brother," as well.
tour:
June 4 - Phoenix, AZ at Modified
June 5 - San Diego, CA at Beauty Bar
June 6 - Los Angeles, CA at the Natural History Museum
June 7 - San Francisco, CA at Cafe DuNord
June 10 - Seattle, WA at Neumo's
June 13 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
June 14 - Chicago, IL at Empty Bottle
June 16 - Toronto, ONT at Drake Hotel
June 18 - Brooklyn, NY at Union Pool
June 19 - Arlington, VA at Iota
June 20 - Philadelphia, PA - Millcreek Tavern
June 21 - Carrboro, NC at Arts Center
video:
Sore
Brother
http://www.myspace.com/annuals
http://www.annualsmusic.com/
http://www.canvasbackmusic.com/
The Diggs
New York City's The Diggs released an album earlier in the year, Ctrl- Alt- Del, exploring the dynamics of loud and soft to give their nineties influenced melodies full impact.
audio:
ctrl alt del.mp3
careen.mp3
recovery forever.mp3
http://www.thediggs.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thediggs
http://www.sugarspunrecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sugarspun
Offspring:: Smash & Ignition Re-Issues
They are known to much of the world as one of the biggest "punk" bands ever, and now the Offspring are reissuing the records that started it all for them, 1992’s Ignition and 1994’s Smash. The band’s third album Smash became a phenomenon, certainly driving the "punk" revival of the early 1990s, and has sold over 11 million copies worldwide. The release continues to hold the title of best-selling independently released album of all time. Mega hit songs like “Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem” and “Bad Habit” launched the Orange County CA band into superstardom, thanks in large part to Los Angeles’ alternative radio station KROQ, whose embracing of the band and their sound propelled their following. Much like their contemporaries, the Offspring have hence morphed into one of the largest rock bands in the world, selling over 34 million albums in their extensive career.
The record release party for Ignition, the band’s second record and Epitaph debut, was attended by 25 diehard fans in 1992 in Fullerton, CA. The album has since sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. The Ignition and Smash re-issues have been digitally remastered from the original tapes, and Smash features a new 24 page booklet. The re-issue release date of June 17th coincides with the release of The Offspring’s brand new album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace.
http://www.epitaph.com/
http://www.offspring.com/
Monty Are I:: Trying to Save Lives
Monty Are I have been helping out with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and recently played an acoustic show for Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, RI where they raised a record amount of money for the cause. Watch the video below to learn more about their trip to DMS and ways you can help. If you would like to donate any money to the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society you can go to www.lls.org/donate. In addition, the band have a new website where the MAI Video Journal is back and soon to be filled with more clips of the band making new music.
video:
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
http://www.montyarei.com/
http://www.myspace.com/montyarei
http://www.lls.org/donate
Evangelicals spend Spring/Early Summer in Europe
Evangelicals are heading back on the road after spending the first part of the year supporting their January release, The Evening Descends. They will be going to Europe for the first time and are hooking up with Bishop Allen for two shows along the way. Following their trip to Europe, they will return to the US for another tour,pairing up with Frog Eyes on all of the dates, and on a select few, Shearwater will be part of the fun.
audio:
Skeleton Man
video:
Midnight Vignette
tour:
05/21/08 Stockholm, SE - Debaser
05/22/08 Oslo, NO - Spasibar
05/23/08 Goteborg, SE - Pusterviksbaren
05/24/08 Kopenhagen, DK - Loppen w/ Bishop Allen
05/25/08 Aarhus, DK - Voxhall
05/26/08 Berlin, DE - White Trash
05/27/08 Koln, DE - Werkstatt w/ Bishop Allen
05/28/08 Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
05/29/08 Groningen, NL - Vera
05/30/08 Utretch, NL - Ekko
05/31/08 Paris, FR - Flech D'or
06/02/08 Capri / Modena, IT - Mattaoio
06/05/08 Fribourg, CH - Le Transformateur
06/06/08 Aarau, CH - Club Flosserplatz
06/07/08 Glasgow, UK - Captains Rest
06/08/08 Dublin, IR - Whelans
06/09/08 Belfast, UK - Auntie Anni
06/10/08 London, UK - ULU
06/12/08 Austin, TX - Club DeVille w/ Frog Eyes + White Hinterland
06/13/08 Dallas, TX - Club Dada w/ Frog Eyes + White Hinterland
06/14/08 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone w/ Frog Eyes
06/16/08 Washington DC, - Black Cat w/ Frog Eyes + Firewater
06/18/08 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/ Frog Eyes
06/19/08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall Of Williamsburg w/ Frog Eyes + Shearwater
06/20/08 Cambridge, MA - T. T. The Bear's Place w/ Frog Eyes + Shearwater
06/21/08 Danbury, CT - Heirloom Arts Theatre w/ Frog Eyes + Shearwater
06/22/08 Montreal, Quebec - Lambi w/ Frog Eyes + Shearwater
06/23/08 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern w/ Frog Eyes + Shearwater
06/24/08 Chicago, IL - Mansion w/ Frog Eyes + Shearwater
http://www.myspace.com/evangelicals
http://deadoceans.com/
Bishop Allen in and around Europe
Bishop Allen's Justin Rice and Christian Rudder have been busy writing and working on demos for the follow-up to their 2007 album, The Broken String and now are heading to Europe for a tour surrounding their appearance at the Primavera Festival in Barcelona.
audio:
Click, Click, Click, Click
video:
Click, Click, Click, Click
tour:
05/21/08 Gothenburg, SE - Woody West @ Pusterviksbaren
05/22/08 Oslo, NO - Cafe Mono
05/23/08 Stockholm, SE - Debaser Slussen
05/24/08 Copenhagen, DK - Loppen w/ Evangelicals
05/25/08 Berlin, DE - Roter Salon
05/26/08 Munster, DE - Gleis 22
05/27/08 Koln, DE - Werkstatt w/ Evangelicals
05/28/08 Groningen, NL - Vera
05/29/08 Utretch, NL - Tivoli
05/30/08 Barcelona, ES - Primavera Festival
http://www.myspace.com/bishopallen
http://deadoceans.com/
Friday, May 16, 2008
Evan Voytas in Brooklyn tonight
Evan Voytas will be appearing at Pete's Candy Store tonight in Brooklyn, N.Y. Check out some of his music below, including a fine cover of The Association's "Never My Love."
audio:
"Never My Love"(The Assocation cover)
"The Yellow World Of 83"
"We'd Be Good Together"
live:
May 16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Pete's Candy Store (709 Lorimer St.)
May 20 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire (412 West Girard Ave)
http://www.myspace.com/evanvoytas
The Week That Was in London
Sunderland based Field Music released two full albums, the eponymous 2005 debut and 2007's Tones of Town. Field Music, concerned that being in a band in the traditional sense was restricting their creative output, branched off with David Brewis' School of Language album Sea From Shore in Feb. ‘08. Now comes The Week That Was, Peter Brewis's first solo foray. The Week That Was, written and recorded in late 2007 at Field Music's 8 Studio in Sunderland, emerged from an imagined crime thriller dreamt up by Peter and inspired by Paul Auster's labyrinthine storytelling. The Week That Was features contributions from Peter's Field Music colleagues, Andrew Moore and David Brewis, along with Pete Gofton on vibraphone, singing by Jennie Redmond, John Beattie on cornet and Laura Cullen on flute, as well as percussive and vocal duties from This Ain't Vegas' Jordan Hill and Richard Amundsen. The strings were played by Emma Fisk and Peter Richardson (veterans of previous Field Music albums) and Pauline Brandon.
live:
May 16 Luminaire London
May 18 Tyneside Cinema Newcastle, Northeast
http://www.myspace.com/theweekthatwas
http://www.canvasmedia.ca/
http://www.memphis-industries.com/
http://www.arts-crafts.ca/
Pomegranates:: Everything is Alive
Earlier in the week I talked about Cincinnati's Pomegranates and their very entertaining Everything is Alive. I suppose I'm not the only one who enjoyed their new album as Spin.com made them "Artist of the Day" yesterday.
Pomegranates on Spin
http://www.myspace.com/pomegranatesart
Thievery Corporation on Outernational Music Tour
Thievery Corporation will headline and curate the Outernational Music Tour; comprised of six select live dates across the United States beginning June 20th in San Francisco and ending in their home town of Washington DC on June 28th. As long-time aficionados and purveyors of blunted world grooves and electronica, a sound aesthetic they simply dub "outernational," Thievery Corporation have invited an array of like-minded musicians and friends to join them on tour: from the Brazilian roots rhythms of Seu Jorge, Argentinean soul of Federico Aubele, Venezuelan funk of Los Amigos Invisibles, and the Brazilian bossa nova of long time Thievery Corporation collaborator Bebel Gilberto, to the left-field hip-hop, rock, and electro sounds of Gnarls Barkley, TV on the Radio, and Ladytron. Reflecting the Outernational Music Tour's global outlook, Thievery Corporation will be joined at concerts by representatives of the UN World Food Program (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian organization for which Thievery is a celebrity partner. They will be present at the shows to raise awareness among concert-goers about WFP's fight against global hunger and the catastrophic effects on the hungry poor of the global food crisis.
tour dates:
June 20 @ Greek Theatre, San Francisco (with Bebel Gilberto, Los Amigos Invisibles, Federico Aubele)
June 21 @ Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas (with Gnarls Barkley, Bebel Gilberto)
June 22 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles (with Bebel Gilberto, Los Amigos Invisibles, Federico Aubele)
June 24 Stubb's BBQ, Austin TX (with Ocote Soul Sounds)
June 26 SummerStage, NYC (with Bebel Gilberto, Turntables on the Hudson, Federico Aubele)
June 28 Merriweather Pavilion DC (with TV on the Radio, Ladytron, Turntables on the Hudson, Federico Aubele)
video:
Richest Man in Babylon
Shadows of Ourselves
http://www.eslmusic.com/
http://www.thieverycorporation.com/
http://www.thieverycorporation.com/
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Denny's All Nighter:: Helping Out Where The Government Has Failed
Times are tough for bands with the American public being perpetually swindled by just stupid gas prices, big oil making huge record profits, and our government telling us that the two have nothing to do with one another. Well, no matter who gets in to office in November, we should count on nothing changing for the better, and the reality that your drum set, amps, pa, instruments and whatever else, don't fit in a fucking Prius. What we need is a revolution and lower fuel prices, but that will have to wait, and in the meantime Denny’s wants to help.
Denny’s restaurants has just launched a unique new music program entitled Adopt-a-Band to provide free meals, promotional support, and concert after-parties to “adopted” bands on tour across the U.S. The preferred choice of late-night dining crowds across the country and strongly entrenched in the after-hours lifestyle culture, Denny’s is not only supporting local bands on the road, but also enhancing its menu with new late-night options.
Denny’s is also a proud sponsor of the 2008 Sasquatch! Music Festival May 24 – May 26 in George, Washington. To feed hungry bands and music fans, Denny’s is constructing a Denny’s Lounge in the campground featuring favorite late-night and breakfast standards. A new Denny’s online music hub, http://www.dennysallnighter.com/, will feature songs, tour dates and road diaries from all of the adopted bands; a place to vote for future adopted bands; blog updates with current music news; and a visitor gallery where bands and fans alike can submit photos from concerts and Denny’s late-night visits. Bands can also enter to become a Denny’s Adopted Band on the site, while fans can enter to win prizes from each participating artist.
http://www.dennysallnighter.com/
The Duke Spirit:: My Sunken Treasure
One of my favorite records this year is the neo-Motownesque illuminated crush of Brits, The Duke Spirit. "My Sunken Treasure" appears on The Duke Spirit's album Neptune, released earlier in the year.
tour:
May 15 STAG & DAGGER FESTIVAL-ST LEONARDS CHURCH LONDON,
May 22 CABARET VOLTAIRE-FOR CLASH MAGAZINE & FIRETRAP EDINBURGH
May 23 POINT EPHEMERE (HEADLINE SHOW) PARIS
May 24 ROTOWN (HEADLINE SHOW) ROTTERDAM
May 25 PATRONAAT (HEADLINE SHOW) HAARLEM
May 27 BOTANIQUE (HEADLINE SHOW) BRUSSELS
May 28 GEBAUDE 9 (HEADLINE SHOW) KOLN
May 29 ATOMIC CAFE (HEADLINE SHOW) MUNCHEN
Jun 2 MASCOTTE (HEADLINE SHOW) ZURICH
Jun 4 MOLOTOV (HEADLINE SHOW) HAMBURG
Jun 5 MAGNET CLUB (HEADLINE SHOW) BERLIN
Jun 13 ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL ISLE OF WIGHT
Jun 27 GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL-PARK STAGE PILTON, Southwest
Jun 28 GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL-Q STAGE PILTON, Southwest
Jul 11 2000 TREES FESTIVAL CHELTENHAM, Southwest
Aug 17 SLAVIA STADIUM - SUPPORTING REM PRAGUE
Sep 6 BESTIVAL - BBC TENT ISLE OF WIGHT, South
http://www.myspace.com/thedukespirit
http://www.dukespirit.com/
The Pharmacy on tour
The Pharmacy are on tour with Japanther in support of new album Choose Yr Own Adventure. In case you missed out, The Terrordactyls recently released the Mike Bowers EP, also on Don’t Stop Believin’ Records, covering five Pharmacy songs. Check out some tracks from Choose Yr Own Adventure below.
audio:
mirror.mp3
little toys on a shelf.mp3
adeiu,adeiu.mp3
video:
little toys on a shelf
live:
05/15 Pensacola, FL @ Sluggo's *
05/16 New Orleans, Louisiana @ Big Top*
05/17 Austin, TX @ Red 7 *
05/19 Las Cruces, NM @ The Farm *
05/22 Flagstaff, AZ @ Stab Mountain *
05/23 Long Beach, CA @ Babe’s Warehouse*
05/24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell *
05/25 San Francisco, CA @ Thrillhouse Records *
05/25 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern *
05/27 Eugene, OR Shady Pines *
05/28 Portland, OR @ Exit Only *
05/29 Olympia, WA @ Midnight Sun *
05/30 Seattle, WA @ Sonic Boom Records - Ballard
05/30 Seattle, WA @ Booty Cave *
05/31 Silverdale, WA Jackson Hall
06/27 Seattle, WA Bend-It Fest @ Cal Anderson Park
* w/ Japanther
http://www.myspace.com/pharmacy
http://www.dontstopbelievin.net/
http://www.myspace.com/dontstopbelievin
