British Sea Power Go Back to their Roots with a New Soundtrack Set for May 5

By Brom on

The Decline of British Sea Power, British Sea Power’s debut album, was one of the strongest records of 2003. It wasn’t just the brilliant, distortion-heavy rock songs or the quirky use of Gregorian chanting, but the way they had made something truly evocative of Great Britain, both in terms of historical musical trends and the way they captured something of the British spirit in their tales of decay, the ocean, and past military adventures. Which is why it’s been such a shame to see them descend into stereotypical stadium rock and U2-esque anthems with their two most recent releases, Open Season and Do You Like Rock Music?

However, British Sea Power seem to be going back to that redolent, erstwhile style. On May 5, Rough Trade will be releasing a DVD of 1934’s Man of Aran, featuring new music written by British Sea Power that will not only soundtrack the film, but will also be included separately on CD. Check out this clip. I think it demonstrates what BSP do best: capturing a sense of mood, time, and place with modern instrumentation. According to BSP guitarist Noble:

It’s a wonderful film. The images vary between huge drama and a brilliant kind of ridiculousness -- check out the amazing foot-wide bobbled berets that the fishermen wear. It’s a great look, like a 1930s Irish version of Jack White or Kraftwerk. It’s a film that’s also relevant to the current era – a time when the idea of living a simpler life is in the air. The film shows something I'd like to think I could do, but know I never will.

The band will perform the soundtrack live to the film April 23 at London's BFI Southbank.

RIP: Lyman Woodard, Detroit Jazz Musician

By Shane Mack on 03-02-2009

From the Detroit Free Press (via The Daily Swarm):

“Don’t Stop the Groove” wasn’t just the title of one of organist Lyman Woodard’s best records. It was the immutable truth at the core of his being, the philosophy that transformed his live performances into four-alarm parties.

Woodard, who died Tuesday at Owosso Memorial Hospital at age 66, was a stalwart on the local jazz scene for decades. But he really hit his stride in the 1970s, when his band, the Lyman Woodard Organization, took up residence at Cobb’s Corner, a Cass Corridor nightspot that became a leading showcase for jazz in Detroit. Mixing a grits ’n’ gravy, bluesy approach to jazz with R&B, soul, funk and even a bit of disco, Woodard created a charismatic brew, with booty-shaking rhythmic grooves supporting natty horns and enough improvisation to give the music an edge of spontaneity.

Mika Miko Set To Release New Album And Tour With Every Hip Noisy Rock Band Ever

By Annapocalypse on 03-02-2009

Imagine you’re a member of an up-and-coming Los Angeles punk/noise band and you’re on the cusp of releasing your long-awaited sophomore follow-up release. If the band you’re in just happens to be Mika Miko, you better step up your game. Before they release their new album, Mika Miko have decided to make sure their peers haven’t forgotten about them by touring with every single noisy rock band in existence (no exceptions!). The Mae Shi? Check. Abe Vigoda? Check. HEALTH? Check. Aids Wolf? Check. Clipd Beaks? Check. Etc.

After they’re done reminding the West Coast of their existence, the rest of the country can play catch-up by purchasing their new album, We Be Xuxa, due May 5 on PPM Records. The new album was recorded by Mike McHugh (no, not OUR Mike McHugh) at The Distillery in Costa Mesa (Black Lips, Lightning Bolt, Le Shok).
03.04.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Kerckhoff Grand Salon (UCLA) #
03.16.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Smell %
03.17.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Trunk Space &
03.18.09 - El Paso, TX - Black Market $
03.19.09 - Austin, TX - Red 7 - SXSW PPM ^
03.21.09 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk - SXSW Panache Booking @
03.22.09 - Austin, TX - Panache Booking Day Party at Beerland $
03.23.09 - Odessa, TX – Roadhouse $
03.25.09 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress **

# The Mae Shi

% Lovvers, Clipd Beaks

& Health, Pictureplane, Clipd Beaks

$ Aids Wolf, Past Lives, and etc

^ Abe Vigoda, Gun Outfit, and etc

@ Health, Monotonix, Pre, and etc

** Aids Wolf, Monotonix, Crystal Antlers

Edie Sedgwick Announce Tour; Edith Minturn Sedgwick Is Still Dead

By Annapocalypse on 03-02-2009

It can be really confusing when bands take their names from other famous people (I’m looking at you, Kevin Shields). In order to separate the band Edie Sedgwick from the famous Andy Warhol muse, I decided to consult my teenage little sister, who is pretty much a connoisseur of all things Edie (no, not the band). Here is her list of how to distinguish the band from the person:

Edie Sedgwick (the band):

- “Ohmygod, Anna, stop forcing me to finish your news story! I don’t care about some lame band on Dischord Records (whose latest album, by the way, is called Things Are Getting Sinister And Sinisterer). LOL I hate you. On the other hand, did you know that Conor Oberst is touring right now?! I LOVE HIM!!!”

Edie Sedgwick (the person):

- “AHHH!! EDIE!!!!!!” (incomprehensible screaming)

…Uhh, I guess she’s a tad biased.

Edie Sedgwick (the band):
03.12.09 - New York, NY - Cake Shop
03.13.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Garfield Artworks
03.14.09 - Chicago, IL - Ronny's
03.15.09 - Lexington, KY - Southgate House
03.16.09 - Nashville, TN - Springwater
03.17.09 - Dallas, TX - Lounge on Elm Street
03.18.09 - Austin, TX @ SXSW Showcase @ Wave (8 PM)
03.19.09 - Austin, TX Day Into Night Showcase (5 PM)
03.20.09 - Austin, TX - Salvage Vanguard Theater (early show 2:45 PM)
03.20.09 - San Antonio, TX - Artpace
03.22.09 - Lafayette, LA - Artmosphere
03.23.09 - Pensacola, FL - Sluggo's
03.24.09 - Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
03.25.09 - Atlanta, GA - 529
03.26.09 - Raleigh, NC - Berkeley Cafe
03.27.09 - Richmond, VA - The Czar
03.29.09 - Washington, DC - Black Cat #
03.31.09 - Baltimore, MD - The Talking Head #
04.03.09 - Harrisonburg, VA - MACROCK

# Medications and Played Tomorrow

The Feelies Schedule Two (Sorta-Kinda Three) Reunion Shows for March

By Mike McHugh on 03-02-2009

Last summer saw the return of one of punkdom’s spazzier bands, The Feelies. Best known for their jerky as Jack Links 1980 debut Crazy Rhythms and for more or less creating R.E.M. (yeah thanks a lot, fellas), The Feelies had been inactive since 1992 until, like so many other old punk bands these days, they saw the aughts as an opportunity to cash in on renewed interest and began playing shows again, including a New Year’s Eve rager with Yo La Tengo.

In anticipation of the reissues of their first two records -- the aforementioned Crazy Rhythms and 1986’s The Good Earth -- these New Jersey nerd royalty will be playing two headlining shows in mid-March. Before all that, though, The Feelies are playing one song at a Carnegie Hall tribute to their erstwhile progeny, R.E.M. Really, one measly song? I guess Michael Stipe doesn’t want the word to get out that The Feelies did everything he did three years earlier and three times better. Ingrate.
03.11.09 - New York, NY - Carnegie Hall (R.E.M. Tribute)
03.13.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
03.14.09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

King Khan and The Shrines Expand Tour into the Ever-Expanding Universe

By Couscous on 02-27-2009

Your favorite freaky, Indian-American, garage-psych-souler is set for a Spring U.S. tour. Which freaky, Indian-American, garage-psych-souler, you ask? Let me narrow it down for you -- it's King Khan! Yes, the King and his Shrines are set for a proper U.S. release of 2007's barn-burning full-length What Is?! on April 21 via Vice Records (TMT News). To support it, the crew is hitting the road on a tour that will take the band through March's SXSW conference in Austin and May's Sasquatch Festival in Quincy, WA.

Here's the full tour schedule:
03.06.09 - Elkton, FL - Harvest of Hope
03.07.09 - Miami, FL - The Vagabond
03.08.09 - Orlando, FL - Wills Pub
03.10.09 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
03.12.09 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
03.13.09 - Nashville, TN - Exit In
03.14.09 - Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Café
03.15.09 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
03.16.09 - Dallas, TX - Palladium Loft
03.17.09 - San Antonio, TX - The Warhol
03.20.09 - Austin, TX - Emo's - SXSW Vice
04.29.09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
04.30.09 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
05.01.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Willamsburg
05.02.09 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
05.03.09 - New York, NY - Santos Partyhouse
05.07.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise
05.08.09 - Ottawa, ON - Babylon
05.09.09 - Montreal, PQ - La Sasa Rossa
05.12.09 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Theatre
05.13.09 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Theatre
05.14.09 - Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
05.15.09 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
05.16.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
05.19.09 - Calgary, AB - The Warehouse
05.20.09 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room
05.22.09 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
05.23.09 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Festival
05.25.09 - Portland, OR - Dante's
05.28.09 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
05.29.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo
05.30.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo

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