Antibalas have a busy summer and spread afrobeat across America like your mom spreads for me

By Kid Midnight on

Antibalas have a busy summer and spread afrobeat across America like your mom spreads for me

This year (2010), Brooklyn-based afrobeat collective Antibalas will be celebrating its 12th year together. As we all know, staying together for 12 years can be tough. For example, by the time I was 12, I hated myself and couldn’t stand being around me. But then I discovered Antibalas and I danced my pain away! To commemorate its own anniversary, the band will be releasing a new 12-inch, reissuing its classic 2004 album Who Is This America?, and helping the country dance the night away by playing an eight-date tour. The band will also celebrate by taking a trip to Six Flags: Great America, where they will be riding the Batman ride all day.

The new 12-inch single, “Rat Race” b/w “Se Chiflo,” will be issued on the band’s newly forged Exactamundo imprint. The single’s two songs are a rip-roaring cover of Bob Marley’s “Rat Race” and a commentary on the global financial crisis (“Se Chiflo,” which is translated as “Everything’s Gone Mad” and features vocals from Marcos Garcia of Chico Mann). Both songs are certified live favorites and the disc is produced by Victor Axelrod (whose name sounds like a super-villain), a man who has worked with The Dap-Kings, Mark Ronson, and Amy Winehouse, and even once helped me paint my fence.

Once you’ve bought the single, which you will totally do (I command it!), you can head back to your local record depository on August 17 and pick up the reissue of Antibalas’ critically acclaimed album Who Is This America?, which is being released by Ropeadope Records. The LP was produced by Bosco Mann (Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse) at Daptone Records’ “House of Soul” and features guest appearances from classy dudes like TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe. Or, you can just stay at home and do nothing, but that’s dumb.

If you would much rather celebrate Antibalas’ 12th-centennial (or whatever) by seeing the band in person, well, like I said earlier, you can totally check them out at any one of the following dates. As long as you dance when you’re there. You better fucking dance. Especially ‘cause The Sway Machinery are opening. But more especially because Antibalas are playing.

07.14.10 - San Diego, CA - Casbah *
07.15.10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex *
07.16.10 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
07.17.10 - Garberville, CA - Reggae on the River
07.19.10 - Portland, Or - Berbati’s Pan *
07.20.10 - Seattle, WA - Neumos *
07.22.10 - New York City - River to River Festival, Castle Clinton
07.29.10 - Philadelphia, PA - Kimmel Center, Perelman Theater

* The Sway Machinery

In other news: I went over to your parents’ house last night. Your mom was home alone, and I played some Antibalas to get us dancing. Then we fucked.

• Antibalas: http://www.antibalas.com
• Ropeadope: http://www.ropeadope.com

My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel set to release solo album, All Birds Say

By Annapocalypse on Jul 6 2010

As if it weren’t enough that he’s playing in one of the biggest “indie” rock bands out there, or opening for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, or, you know, headlining a five-night stint in New York City, My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel has announced plans for a new solo album. Entitled All Birds Say, the record is set for release on August 31 from ATO Records. According to the press release, it will be a “folky, introspective affair,” and Broemel feels that “a lot of the songs are really just me talking to myself, trying to make sense of things in my head.” Well, then. Get ready for a bit of contemplation headed your way on August 31.

• My Morning Jacket: http://www.mymorningjacket.com
• ATO Records: http://www.atorecords.com

Get pumped, then get sad, then get pumped again while being sad! Japandroids tour with The Walkmen

By E. Nagurney on Jul 6 2010

Japandroids love to get pumped. If the Vancouver-based duo have released a song that doesn’t sound like the aural equivalent of an endless fist pump, I have yet to hear it. They’re in the midst of putting out five different 7-inches in 2010, and I’d venture to guess that all 10 sides of music deserve at least one fist pump each. Comparatively, The Walkmen seem like complete and utter sad-sacks. Still, those guys can put out a pretty mean fist-pumper of their own (what’s up, “The Rat”?), even if it’s a little angrier, a little sadder than the Japandroids brand of stomper.

This fall, Japandroids and The Walkmen will celebrate their mutual love of the fist pump in the form of a tour that finds the former opening for the latter. Even aside from that particular trip, Japandroids have an awfully busy touring schedule for this year. The duo are currently in the midst of a European tour that lasts halfway through the month. Then, between the two halves of their tour with The Walkmen, the group will play a string of Canadian dates, primarily with countrymen Frog Eyes and PS I Love You. Is their mighty pumpedness resilient enough to handle all this touring? Probably.

Japandroids tourdates:

07.08.10 - Bremen, Germany - Tower
07.09.10 - Rüsselsheim, Germany - Phono Pop Festival
07.10.10 - Trenčín, Slovakia - Trenčín Airport (Pohoda Festival)
07.15.10 - Mexico City, Mexico - Ex Teresa Arte Actual (Vice Mexico Party)
07.24.10 - Guelph, ON - Guelph Lake Island (Hillside Festival)
07.31.10 - Montreal, QC - Parc Jean-Drapeau (Osheaga Festival)
09.06.10 - Seattle, WA - Seattle Center (Bumbershoot)
09.11.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge (Musicfest NW)
09.14.10 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
09.15.10 - Los Angeles, CA - Music Box @ The Fonda *
09.17.10 - Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse Music Venue *
09.18.10 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up Tavern *
09.28.10 - Nelson, BC - Hume Hotel ^
09.30.10 - Banff, AB - Wild Bill’s ^
10.01.10 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room ^+
10.02.10 - Regina, SK - Distrikt ^+
10.03.10 - Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid +
10.04.10 - Saskatoon, SK - Louis’ Pub ^+
10.06.10 - Calgary, AB - Republik ^+
10.08.10 - Victoria, BC - Logan’s $+
10.09.10 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre $+
10.14.10 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre *
10.16.10 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room *
10.18.10 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre *
10.19.10 - Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck *
10.20.10 - St Louis, MO - Off Broadway *
10.21.10 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar *
10.22.10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre *
10.23.10 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero *

* The Walkmen
^ Frog Eyes
+ PS I Love You
$ Ladyhawk

• Japandroids: http://japandroids.com
• Polyvinyl: http://www.polyvinylrecords.com

I’m always saying that such and such show would be great to get high and go to, but you should really get high and go to this show: Sleep announce fall tour

By Kid Midnight on Jul 2 2010

There are plenty of people out there who are always trying to tell you that your experience on drugs will be “way better” if you just do a certain activity, eat a specific food, or spend your time listening to a special album. I’m guilty of this, as one of my favorite things to recommend as an enhancer is to watch a great band live. I’ve seen some great bands while I was really fucking high, and I totally recommend the experience.

Now the important part: do you want to see a really awesome band that would be totally dope to see while high? Well, then I recommend seeing the recently reunited Sleep, who will be heading out on a North American tour where they will be playing their 1993 Holy Mountain album, as well as selections from Dopesmoker (which ranked at #61 on our favorite albums of the last decade). I will be taking massive bong rips before heading out to the show.

Sleep practically created the “stoner metal” genre and released two awesome albums that are also great enhancers for psychedelic experiences. Dopesmoker is a fucking dope album, and it makes my brain boil with monolithic guitars, plenty of distortion, and hilarious/awesome lyrics about priests smoking pot to communicate with God. Which is what I do every day before work!

Anyway, this fall, original members Al Cisneros and Matt Pike (who went on to form Om and High on Fire, respectively) will be teaming up with Jason Roeder of Neurosis to blow your fucking brains out with mega-metal. Seriously, get high and go to this show, you’ll thank me.

Sleep 2010 U.S. tour:

09.03.10 - Monticello, NY - All Tomorrow’s Parties
09.07.10 - Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom
09.08.10 - New York, NY - Brooklyn Masonic Temple *
09.09.10 - Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium *
09.10.10 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
09.11.10 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater/Music Fest NW
09.12.10 - San Fancisco, CA - Regency Ballroom

* Lichens

• Sleep: http://www.myspace.com/rifffilledland

Ottawa’s Bluesfest 2010 kicks off next week

By munroe on Jul 2 2010

The Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest is back again this year with another ridiculously long lineup and duration time. We’re talking nearly two straight weeks of outdoor (and under a tent) music, featuring over 230 artists in what’s normally a sleepy town filled with federal government employees and the occasional shiftless layabout.

Ottawa’s Bluesfest had a humble beginning in 1994, attracting a few thousand people and some notable names from the blues canon, including Clarence Clemons. Over the years, the organizers realized that by adding big names that had only a passing (or non-existent) connection to the blues they could sell more tickets. As a result, Bob Dylan, Built to Spill, Snoop Dogg, Gogol Bordello, Brian Wilson, The White Stripes, Manu Chao, the Handsome Furs (pictured above), and Ornette Coleman have all passed through here at some point. 2010 sees the addition of Carlos Santana, Iron Maiden, Arcade Fire, The Flaming Lips, and RUSH to the evergrowing list. You read that right, goddamned RUSH.

The festival runs from July 6-18 and has added comedy shows to its lineup for the first time. Lewis Black, Louis C.K., and Wayne Brady are the big names, with a slew of other comedians performing every night. Look forward to full coverage from TMT, as both David Nadelle and I will be hoping to take in another brilliant performance by That 1 Guy.

• Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest: http://www.ottawabluesfest.ca

Serena-Maneesh prep split 12-inch with Fucked Up, head out on ultimate summer European party tour!!!!

By Liz Louche on Jul 2 2010

Serena-Maneesh sure are spending a lot of time in France this summer. Hmm… summer European tour, or devious Norwegian plan to annex the country that gave us the Gainsbourg family, striped shirts, and delicious, buttery SNAILS? Okay, probably the former.

Whilst the shoegaze group is rockin’ festivals across the Old World in support of their newish S-M 2: Abyss in B Minor (TMT Review), a very special, newer release is being planned. Literally, the band will release five white doves representing Western civilization’s best hopes for the future.* Okay, no, that’s not true, but what is true is that the band is releasing, come August 12, a split 12-inch with Fucked Up! Norwegian/Canadian label Best of Both Records is pressing only 1,000 of these puppies, with S-M doing a track called “Opium Priest” and Fucked Up doing a saucy little number called “Here Lies Are.” That’s exciting, right? At least five times more exciting than releasing some sad, hostage doves.

* In accordance, the doves have been named Katy Perry, Snooki, Bieber Fever, John McCain, and Stimulus Package.

07.02.10 - Aust-Agder, Norway - Hovefestivalen Tromøya
07.03.10 - Belfort, France - Festival Les Eurockéennes
07.16.10 - Hainaut, Belgium - Dour Festival Dour
07.17.10 - Vestland, Norway - Softelandrock Os
07.24.10 - Riberac, France - Le Grand Souk Festival
07.31.10 - Møre, Norway - Sommerfesten Giske
08.11.10 - Oslo, Norway - Øyafestivalen
08.13.10 - Haldern, Germany - Haldern Pop Festival
08.15.10 - Saint Malo, France - Festival La Route Du Rock
09.04.10 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia
09.10.10 - Klub Wytorna, Poland - Soundit Festival
09.16.10 - Norwich, UK - Norwich Arts Center
09.18.10 - Tilburg, Netherlands - Incubate Festival
09.19.10 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat

• Serena-Maneesh: http://www.serena-maneesh.com
• Best of Both: http://bestofbothrecords.com

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