Another Day, Another Reunion Show Story: ESG Returns to the Stage Tomorrow!

By Liz Louche on

After calling it quits and playing their most recent "final show" nearly a year ago (in that "I'm Jay-Z, and I'm quitting music forever... until I stop quitting music forever and release a new album a couple years later"), seminal South Bronx mutant disco act ESG have already announced a reunion! No one necessarily knows for how long they will be reunited, how many shows they will play, or if they will be asked to join the growing ranks of bands reuniting at festivals I cannot afford to attend this year. What is known is that their first show as the reunited, living, and breathing embodiment of sweet disco/post-punk/funk is happening tomorrow, September 13, and that they expect to record a new album and announce more shows sometime in the future.

After some legal trouble last year, it's good to know that more people will now have the chance to see ESG in their latest incarnation. This new version of the band features the original sisters Renee, Marie, and Valerie Scroggins, Renee's daughter Nicole Nicholas, guitarist David Miles, and bassist Leroy Glover -- with loads and loads of stone cold jams, of course

09.13.08 - New York, NY - Santos Party House

SHRIMP SCAMPI: Menomena’s Danny Seim Gives Tour of Tour Van

By David Harris on 09-12-2008

Read the full coverage of MusicfestNW here, where you can also find more videos.

Cleveland Police Force Captures OiNK Administrator, Elitetorrents Admin Fined and Jailed – Next Up: Bin Laden

By Julbucket on 09-12-2008

To all of the hardworking musicians and artists out there who can’t stand the damn kids on the torrent-tracking sites who steal your precious art: rejoice! Like Harvey Dent before them, the Cleveland police force have made the streets a lot safer for you and your children. Alan Ellis, the highly pernicious administrator of the now defunct-terrorist/torrent site OiNK has been captured and charged with conspiracy to defraud. Phew! Another criminal behind bars.

Authorities extended Ellis’ bail date five times due to “lack of evidence,” but they've apparently come up with enough “evidence” to nab him. The Cleveland police have also arrested six OiNK uploaders and charged them with copyright infringement for uploading a single CD. The suspects were required to provide fingerprints and DNA samples (there’s no word yet as to whether a tangible link to Al Qaeda has been discovered).

Meanwhile, Daniel Dove, an admin for BitTorrent tracker Elitetorrents, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Rest easy, everyone; your government is keeping you safe.

Jack White Pens Another Coca-Cola Jingle, But At Least I Can Sleep at Night

By Mango Starr on 09-12-2008

Jack White of The White Stripes has done it again! Ostensibly in support of Coca-Cola's long, sordid history of class-action race-discrimation lawsuits, pesticide use, water polluting, and other questionable business practices and environmental I-don't-give-a-shits, Jack has written another jingle for the giant soda company, according to MarketWatch (via Stereogum). Unlike his first jingle in 2006, this one's for Coca-Cola Zero, a calorie-free alternative to the high fructose corn syrup-heavy original.

And guess what? The James Bond-themed commercial has everything an idiot Bond fan would want out of a commercial: fast cars, shapely women, and, of course, a macho soundtrack. BUT WHAT ABOUT COCA-COLA'S SHADY BUSINESS PRACTICES? Sorry, whiner, too busy watching shit blow up and numbing my mouth with Coke's high acidity.

This news comes on the tail of the Alicia Keys/Jack White collaboration "Another Way to Die," recorded for the upcoming James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, which had a budget of -- ahem -- $224.87 million.

Okkervil River Embark on Carbon Neutral Tour; Meanwhile, Toby Keith Unrelentingly Farts into a Zippo Flame to Offset “All Them No Good Indie Rock Eco-Queers”

By Mike McHugh on 09-12-2008

Nature is important to Okkervil River. Whether they're staring catatonically in their favorite forest or nervously chatting in their outdoor breakfast nook, these folky bros love the earth and plan to keep it in decent shape for awhile, or at least until their contractor finally installs that damn oven and range in the wildflower patch. So in an effort to save the planet, Okkervil River are going green across the country in support of their new album The Stand Ins (TMT Review) in what they hope will be a carbon neural tour.

But the O-Riv can't achieve carbon neutrality all on their lonesome. They need you, the fans, the, dare I say, heroes, to pitch in and lend a hand for Mother Gaia. Since 80% of a tour's carbon-dioxide emissions come from commuting fans, the band are encouraging you to take the bus, carpool with friends, or hop on your hoverboard to your local Okker show. Community bike rides have already been organized in Madison, Portland, Tempe, and Athens, with more to come. The band will also be selling recycled stickers, which will offset 300 pounds of CO2 emissions with each purchase.

In addition, the band is planning to.... actually, that's their entire plan. So really, Okkervil River haven't made their tour carbon neutral, they're just encouraging you to be environmentally responsible with your ride to the venue and maybe buy their eco-friendly merchandise. But, whatever, their hearts seem to be in the right place. Good for them, and good for you if you plan to follow their good advice. Good for all, I say!

The Stand Ins is available now on Jagjaguwar or for a limited time as a free stream on the band's MySpace. The tour kicks off tonight in Lawrence, KS, so get on that hoverboard and start kickin'. But don't use that thing on water... unless you got pow-ah.

SHRIMP SCAMPI: No Age vs. Battles

By David Harris on 09-11-2008

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Read the full coverage of MusicfestNW here, where you can also find more videos.

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