TOUR NEWS
The immensely talented John Darnielle is taking his musings on the Great American Trail again this fall for TWO helpings of mountain goat meat. Ranked number 13 on the top 20 most prolific writers ever list, Darnielle cannot be stopped on his quest for the perfect song. He has releases on cassette, vinyl, CD, and maybe more media, with albums ranging from conceptual to spiritual under a slew of different labels. He has written so many songs that there are multiple "series" of songs with common characters and themes scattered across his releases. There are songs for people and places, fake people and fake places, for emotions, and even for some of the notable chemical elements. Mad props. And even with such an abundant repertoire, The Mountain Goats shepherd has been known to play many different covers at his live shows. If you love storytelling, fun, happiness, sadness, friends, people, nature, depression, cold, heat, or even your parents, chances are you will enjoy listening to The Mountain Goats. Oddly enough (or maybe not odd at all) most "punk" kids seem to love whatever he puts out. Be it for his DIY ethic, his beauty and grace, or possibly his songs relating to their own suburban experiences as "punks" — whatever the reason, he must be doing something right.
According to a Mountain Goats FAQ, they have released and/or played over 1000 songs live. Allusions to Greek mythology, Latin phrases, and areas studied more thoroughly than Sufjan himself litter Darnielle’s songs. All of these tourdates are confirmed, but don’t be surprised if more are announced soon. Enjoy! Also, I think The Mountain Goats toured Australia once. I wonder if Steve Irwin was there. He would have loved it. I bet he owned the Devil in the Shortwave 12-inch EP. That’s some rare shit.
Does this messenger bag make me look gay?
First Fall Tour:
09.14.06 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club #
09.15.06 – Ames , IA – The Maintenance Shop #
09.16.06 – Chicago, IL – The Empty Bottle #
09.18.06 – Kalamazoo , MI – Kraftbrau Brewery #
09.19.06 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace #
09.20.06 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Andy Warhol Museum #
09.21.06 – Athens, OH – The Union #
09.23.06 – Ithaca, NY – Appel Commons at Cornell University #
09.24.06 – Northampton, MA – Pearl Street #
09.26.06 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East #
09.28.06 – Washington, DC – The Black Cat #
09.29.06 – Brooklyn, NY – Europa #
09.30.06 – New York, NY – The Bowery Ballroom #
10.01.06 – New York, NY – The Bowery Ballroom #
# - w/ Christine Fellows
Second Fall Tour (REMIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!): 10.20.06 – Durham, NC – Troika Music Festival 10.23.06 – St. Louis , MO – Gargoyle at Washington University 10.24.06 – Springfield, MO – Randy Bacon Gallery 10.26.06 – Norman, OK – The Opolis 10.27.06 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Back Room 10.28.06 – Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves 10.29.06 – Austin, TX – The Parish 10.31.06 – Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon 11.01.06 – Birmingham, AL – The Bottle Tree 11.03.06 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl 11.04.06 – St. Augustine, FL – Café Eleven 11.06.06 – Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
Attention fans of sarcasm-laced, quasi-concept albums about the Christianity overload in the USA: have you heard the new LP by Portland, OR’s The Thermals? You should check it out; it is called The Body, The Blood, The Machine (Sub Pop), and it probably would be right up your alley. If you like catchy punk not made for, or marketed only to, 14-year-olds, which may be better than at least 95% of all modern punk, you should give the album a listen as well. Both of the above demos (or maybe just everyone, not to be exclusive) should also go see the band live. Starting Saturday, the band will be beginning a six-week tour of this land of Bush, Cheney, Rove, & Rumsfeld (there were four horsemen in that story, right?).
Many of the dates see the band opening for Cursive, who are supporting their latest (like you care), Happy Hollow, released just a few weeks ago on Saddle Creek. (Note to the reader: the next sentence is to be read by you in a Mike Myers-circa-Axe Murderer voice.) Speaking of being marketed only to 14-year-olds, hello!!! (You were supposed to do the impression in your head, not aloud. Now people are going to think you are, culturally speaking, stuck in the ’90s. Might as well put on some flannel, lace up those Doc’s, and pull out Badmotorfinger; you are gong to be thought of forever as "’90s Guy.") Other bands playing those C-Money shows will be Chin Up Chin Up, Ladyfinger, The Detachment Kit, and Easter Youth. Those of you in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma luck out, as you get The Thermals all to yourself, sans-Cursive. Maybe God does exist.
Tourdates:
09.16.06 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom 09.22.06 - Fargo, ND - Playmakers Pavilion @ 09.23.06 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue * 09.24.06 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater * 09.25.06 - Chicago, IL - Metro * 09.26.06 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theater * 09.27.06 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues * 09.28.06 - Buffalo, NY - The Icon * 09.29.06 - Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom * 10.01.06 - New York, NY - Webster Hall * 10.03.06 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club % 10.04.06 - Pittsburg, PA - Club Zoo % 10.05.06 - Newport, KY - Southgate House % 10.06.06 - Nashville, TN - City Hall % 10.07.06 - St. Louis, MO - Mississippi Nights % 10.08.06 - Lawrence, KS - Granada 10.10.06 - Houston, TX - Proletariat 10.11.06 - Denton, TX - Hailey’s 10.12.06 - Austin, TX - Emo’s 10.13.06 - Norman, OK - Opolis Production 10.15.06 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre & 10.17.06 - Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue & 10.18.06 - Boise, ID - The Venue & 10.20.06 - Seattle, WA - Neumo’s & 10.21.06 - Portland, OR - Roseland Ballroom & 10.23.06 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore # 10.25.06 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour # 10.26.06 - Los Angeles, CA - Avalon # 10.27.06 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues # 10.28.06 - Pomona, CA - Glass House # 10.29.06 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues # 11.02.06 - New York, NY- Bowery Ballroom $ (Sub Pop CMJ showcase)
@ w/ Cursive * w/ Cursive, Ladyfinger % w/ Cursive, The Detachment Kit & w/ Cursive, Chin Up Chin Up # w/ Cursive, Eastern Youth $ w/ The Shins, CSS, The Album Leaf, Oxford Collapse, The Elected, Loney, Dear
Meh. Another day, another reason to spend it in bed. Everyday I sit doing nothing while modern-day da Vincis run around creating wonders like the Pizza Pocket and the Segway, and I just think, "What’s the use?"
Sorry about the negative vibes, folks. Why the talk about creative workaholics and mournful self-reflection, you ask? Well, indie rock’s most prolific and consistent inventor, Mac McCaughan, is at it again, and that always sends me into a spiral of self-doubt and uselessness. In the time it’s taken me to decide on a new font for my résumé, McCaughan has padded his own with Portastatic, by releasing the excellent Bright Ideas full-length, the Who Loves the Sun soundtrack, and is now poised to head out on tour and put out yet another studio album called Be Still Please.
The Merge Records head honcho, Superchunk leader, and original Gerber baby (probably) will take his "other band" on the road for some hot live action next week. Until a string of headlining shows towards the ass end of the tour, Portastatic will play with M. Ward, Lambchop, and a brief respite north into New France at the Pop Montréal Festival.
09.18.06 - Charlottesville, VA - Satellite Ballroom * 09.19.06 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle # 09.20.06 - Nashville, TN - The Belcourt Theatre * 09.22.06 - Hailey’s * 09.23.06 - Austin, TX - The Parish Room * 10.05.06 - Montréal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa % 10.11.06 - Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar 10.12.06 - Allston, MA - Great Scott 10.13.06 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 10.14.06 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell’s 10.15.06 - New Haven, CT - Bar Nightclub 10.18.06 - Washington, DC - Black Cat (Backstage) 10.19.06 - Durham, NC - Duke Coffeehouse 10.20.06 - Mt. Pleasant, SC - Village Tavern 10.21.06 - Athens, GA - The Earl
* w/ M. Ward # w/ M. Ward & Lambchop % Pop Montréal Festival
Ah! There’s the catch — Be Still Please only has nine songs on it! Nine? That’s how McCaughan does it! He’s human after all! That’s like, one-third of a Foo Fighters album and a quarter of a Red Hot Chili Peppers release! About a thousand times better than both though...
An internet-only EP is out now and includes two versions of album opener "Sour Shores" plus "Portraits From Before the War" and a cover of Hot Chip’s "And I Was a Boy From School." Be Still Please is out October 10 and has these nine, pffft, tracks on it:
1 Sour Shores 2 Black Buttons 3 I’m in Love (with Arthur Dove) 4 Sweetness and Light 5 Getting Saved 6 You Blanks 7 Like a Pear 8 Cheers and Applause 9 Song for a Clock
Criminally talented violinist, whistler, crooner and Squirrel Nut Zipper Andrew ’The Bird’ Bird, as you well know, is one of the finest musicians to grace the world - possibly the universe. We all went cuckoo over his sixth full-length albumen, the wondrous Mysterious Production of Eggs [TMT Review], but now he’s announced an abrupt change of direction, eschewing attempts to rule the roost of wistful, acoustic, jazzy musings.
Bird has opened an owl sanctuary to combat the so-called ’surname surlies’ who have mercilessly subjected him to years of senseless abuse, based merely on his aviary-inspired moniker. This month, he embarks on a tour of the West Coast (with the San Fran date already sold out) to give a series of speeches and lectures marking the inauguration of the sanctuary.
In addition, Bird will be releasing an album early next year, showcasing the whistles and coos of his namesakes in the sanctuary. The album will be known as Armchair Apocrypha, due to Bird’s penchant for sitting up at night in the sanctuary, keeping the owls company.
We at TMT would urge you to attend these essential meetings if at all possible. It is one of the most heart-rending and touching sights in the independent American music scene to see an artist so selflessly reach out to our buddies in the sky.
09.16.2006 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater* 09.17.2006 - Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue (Club Sound)* 09.19.2006 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater* 09.20.2006 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up Tavern* 09.21.2006 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre* 09.22.2006 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall* 09.26.2006 - Eugene, OR - Wow Hall Community Center* 09.27.2006 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater* 09.28.2006 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey* 09.29.2006 - Vancouver, BC - Media Club* 09.30.2006 - Bellingham, WA - The Nightlight*
* Accompanied by Dosh, supported by Cass McCombs
Reptilian post-hard/math core is coming our way, in the shape of the venomous These Arms Are Snakes. I don’t know what you think about David Icke’s theory on the Illuminati and their quest for world domination, but I happen to feel that giant lizard life-forms masquerading as normal humans would be a welcome addition to our otherwise dull and bland existence. As such, I’m thrilled to announce, exclusively for TMT – sadly no other website would allow me to announce it – that These Arms Are Snakes are slithering their way across the continental United States in an imminent, upcoming, forthcoming, pending, impending, chilling, thrilling tour!
And now I have had it with These Fuckin’ Arms are Motherfuckin’ Snakes on a Motherfuckin’ Plane:
09.22.06 - Richland, WA - Ray’s Golden Lion 09.23.06 - Yakima, WA - Yakima Sports Center ^ 10.17.06 – Denver, CO - Marquis Theater *$ 10.18.06 – Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon * 10.19.06 - Iowa City, IA - The Picador * 10.20.06 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen *# 10.21.06 - Milwaukee, WI - The Cactus Club *# 10.22.06 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig *#$ 10.24.06 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *# 10.26.06 - Toronto, ON - The Kathedral *# 10.28.06 - Montreal, QC - Petit Campus *# 10.29.06 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East – Upstairs *#% 11.01.06 - Providence, RI - The Livingroom *#% 11.02.06 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church *#% 11.03.06 - Brooklyn, NY - North Six (Jade Tree CMJ Showcase) 11.07.06 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *#@ 11.08.06 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder *$ 11.09.06 - Orlando, FL - AKA Lounge *@ 11.10.06 - Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbit’s *@ 11.20.06 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *%
* - w/Mouth Of The Architect # - w/Young Widows % - w/ French Toast @ - w/The North Atlantic ^ - w/ With a Bullet, Head Like A Kite $ - w/ Planes Mistaken For Stars - w/ River City Tan Lines – w/ Everlovely Lightning Heart
Enough punctuation for ya? My keyboard is having a FIELD DAY!
Said one churchgoer to another, "Hark, I hear that the rapture is coming. It will begin in DC first, to smote those foul politicians, then sweep across the United States and Canada. The final judgments will occur in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, those Spanish-named bastions of sin."
The other, overcome with emotion, fell to his knees, and raised his eyes to the heavens. "Lord! Please provideth me with tickets to your holy assemblage! The rapture is upon us and I beseech you to include me in your hour of righteousness!"
Needless to say, when Rapture tickets began to rain down from heaven, every hipster within a mile radius called every hipster within a ten-mile radius, who called their hipster friends in the three neighboring states. I hear there are still some tickets, albeit a bit smeared, floating down the Mississippi River. If only you were willing to get your American Apparel leggings wet...
The rapture will probably not be televised (but will most likely be on YouTube within 5 hours of the end of the first show): 10.26.06 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club 10.27.06 - Toronto, Ontario - The Guvernment 10.28.06 - Detroit, MI - St Andrew’s Hall 10.30.06 - New York, NY - Webster Hall 11.01.06 - Boston, MA - Axis 11.02.06 - Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda 11.03.06 - Philadelphia, PA - Pure Nightclub 11.05.06 -Chicago, IL - Metro 11.07.06 - Austin, TX - Emo’s 11.09.06 - Phoenix, AR - The Old Brickhouse Theatre 11.10.06 - Pomona, CA - Glass House 11.11.06 - San Francisco, CA - Be The Riottt! 11.13.06 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon 11.14.06 - Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards 11.15.06 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom 11.17.06 - Las Vegas, NV - Celebrity Vegas 11.20.06 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
This is your brain:
Why has everyone started to like all my favorite bands? Is it because they’re too "accessible"? Are their T-shirts that cool? Were they on some magazine cover? Are they on the internet? Am I out of the loop? Shitttttttttt. Maybe I should trade in these Converse for some more obscure shoes. Like some skater shoes. Yeahhhh... And maybe I’ll sell this band shirt for some sweet used shirt. Or something striped. And tight. Maybe flannel. Shit, my parents didn’t give me enough money for clothes AND records this week. Fuck. God I love fist-pumping. I’m so hardcore. Feedback gets me off. Noise better not go anymore mainstream or I’ll have to start listening to silence again. Or those ’50s girl-pop bands. I can’t stand going to a huge venue for a band that I knew about when they were still playing five-dollar clubs. Fuck them for not coming to my hometown. Promotion for shows is lame. Touring sucks. Recording is so passé. DIY man. It’s the postmodern no-wave. Since when are shows fashion shows? I don’t think about what I’m going to wear for when I go out. I just pick whatever filthy, ragged, inconspicuous, random-ass piece of clothing with holes in it to wear because I’m lazy. I wish my parents would give me more fucking money.
This is your brain on drugs:
Dude, since when do people in Australia listen to Animal Collective? What’s that about the toilets there? You see different stars, you say? The winter is in the summer? The moon is on its side? 18+ shows?! What the fuckkkkkkkk? Come back to America, Animals, where the grass is green and the ladies fair. Where crickets chirp late and people won’t stare.
Stop bringing your camera to shows:
11.03.06 – Brisbane, Australia – The Zoo (18+) 11.04.06 – Sydney Australia – Newtown (18+) 11.06.06 – Melbourne, Australia – The Corner Hotel (18+) 11.08.06 – Auckland, New Zealand – Kings Arm 11.09.06 – Wellington, New Zealand – Indigo Bar
Lately, I have been noticing more and more a disturbing trend amongst artists I listen to on a regular basis: I can’t fucking pronounce any of their names. Honestly, how can I name-drop Paavoharju in front of some co-workers when I can’t get past the first syllable? And what about Fennesz? Shivers went down my spine merely reading it. And am I supposed to pronounce it "Sunn" or "Sunn O"? Ugh! Maddening. Yes, I realize that some of those names are in languages other than English, and that perhaps in their native countries their names are quite simple. For the most part, I choose to remain ignorant to that fact and long for simpler times. What’s so wrong with good ol’ American names like "The Who" or "The Smiths"?
All good things must come to an end, I suppose. I have more or less accepted that the glory days of band names that just roll off the tongue are over. The world is growing up. I have even ended my long-time boycott against bands with over a dozen consecutive letters in their names, and for this moral defeat, I hold Charalambides personally responsible. Upcoming tour? 40+ albums and CD-Rs? One of which, titled A Vintage Burden and released in 2006, has a conveniently placed TMT review link right here [TMT Review]? How could I resist? Not to worry: my boycott of movies with subtitles, the five-string bass, "icicle" Christmas lights, fruits without seeds, cup-holders, and any movie playing system other than Laserdisc are all stronger than ever.
Look for a 15-passenger van with "Charal-" painted on one side and "ambides" on the other in your town soon.
11.03.06 - Northampton, MA - Elevens 11.04.06 - Portland, ME - Strange Maine 11.05.06 - Somerville, MA - PA’s Lounge 11.06.06 - Providence, RI - AS 220 11.08.06 - New York, NY - Knitting Factory Tap Bar 11.09.06 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church Chapel Room 11.10.06 - Asheville, NC - TBA 11.11.06 - Atlanta, GA - Eyedrum 11.12.06 - Nashville, TN - Ruby Green 11.14.06 - Houston, TX - Rudyard’s 11.15.06 - Austin, TX - Emo’s 11.16.06 - Oklahoma City, OK - Conservatory 11.17.06 - Kansas City, MO - TBA 11.18.06 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle 11.19.06 - Iowa City, IA - Hall Mall 11.20.06 - Oberlin, OH - Dionysus Disco 11.21.06 - Washington, DC - 611 Florida
When I lived in Baltimore, I eventually made my peace with the fact that I’d have to go to DC in order to see about 80% of the bands I liked. And you know what? Call Baltimore all the names you want (believe me, I have), but DC sucks more. DC is like Baltimore with a few fancy neighborhoods, some government buildings, a subway that shuts down at midnight, and rents almost as inflated as New York. At least Baltimore is cheap and gave us John Waters.
So anyway, here I am, writing an article on The New Pornographers’ fall mini-tour, when I come across this thing called the "V Fest" and learn that it’s in Baltimore, of all places. At first, I’m impressed. New Pornos: yay! Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: *hand clap*/yeah! The Flaming Lips: wahoo! Wolfmother: hells yes! Scissor Sisters: shut up, I like them. Then I’m disappointed: Red Hot Chili Peppers? The Killers? Gnarls Barkley? The Raconteurs? John Digweed? That guy is still around? Finally, I’m just confused: The Who? Really???? Only when I realize that the whole thing is sponsored by Virgin Mobile does the utter randomness begin to make sense. And then I understand why it’s taking place in Baltimore, the randomness capital of the world. Take that, DC!
I guess it doesn’t make any difference to me. I’ll be seeing them in New York, where it looks like they’ll be interviewing the author of that bestseller The Wisdom of Crowds at The New Yorker Festival. I haven’t read the book, but, hey, at least I don’t have to look at Dave Navarro if I also wanna look at A.C. Newman. And we all know who the real hottie is there.
Jackie dressed in tourdates:
09.14.06 - Mexico City, MEXICO - Salon 21 09.17.06 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits 09.23.06 - Baltimore, MD - V Fest 10.07.06 - New York, NY - New Yorker Festival 10.14.06 - Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Centre at the Marlborough* 10.16.06 - Saskatoon, SK - Odeon Event Center* 10.17.06 - Edmonton, AB - Red’s* 10.18.06 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Hall Ballroom*
* with Noverillo Immaculate Machine
Early reports indicate that especially talented singer/songwriter Juana Molina may easily capture the coveted best-album-of-the-year award once the lists start rolling in just a few months from now; some even start as early as next month compiling, editing, listing, re-editing. It’s big fun and even better trying to figure out which well-known websites and/or taste-makers will put what where and why. Molina’s Son [TMT Review] is an astounding grab bag of a record, with something for every taste, all covered and smothered in Molina’s sometimes soothing sometimes crooning seasoned vocal exercises.
Molina is even better in a live setting (even in pits, like smoky, funky Midwest bars) and will prove it beginning next month with a healthy set of shows spread out across the country with even a few stops up north. The tour will see support from UK folkie Adem, who released Love And Other Planets (Domino) this past April.
Juana and friends are set to begin October 8 in Arlington, VA.
Juana Juana Juana:
10.08.06 - Arlington, VA IOTA* 10.10.06 - New York, NY Bowery Ballroom* 10.11.06 - Montreal, QC La Sala Rossa* 10.12.06 - Toronto, ON Supermarket* 10.13.06 - Cleveland, OH Grog Shop* 10.14.06 - Chicago, IL Lakeshore Theater* 10.15.06 - Madison, WI Cafe Montmarte* 10.17.06 - Denver, CO Walnut Room* 10.18.06 - Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge* 10.20.06 - Seattle, WA Crocodile Cafe* 10.21.06 - Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge* 10.23.06 - San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall* 10.24.06 - Los Angeles, CA Echo* 10.25.06 - San Diego, CA Casbah* 10.26.06 - Austin, TX Parish*
* w/ Adem
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