A few years ago, I wrote a news story about The Good Life touring Europe, in which I recommended famous pubs and other drinking establishments to everyone’s favorite indie rock drunk, Cursive’s Tim Kasher. This time around, Kasher has asked me to recommend to him some of the best breweries that the U.S. has to offer so that he can make the most out of his summer touring schedule. Of course, I obliged, because it’s hard to say no when Kasher threatens to write an angry song that name-drops you. Feel free to print this list out and follow Kasher and Co. across the country this summer (Tim will be the one face-down in the beer vat):
- Frederick, MD: Flying Dog Brewery - Milwaukee, WI: Miller, Lakefront Brewery - Chicago, IL: Goose Island - Billings, MT: Yellowstone Valley Brewing - Seattle, WA: Pyramid Brewery - Portland, OR: Bridgeport Brewing Co. - San Francisco, CA: Anchor Brewing Co. - Chico, CA: Sierra Nevada Brewery - Salt Lake City, UT: Bohemian Brewery
It’s going to be a long summer: 05.04.09 - State College, PA - The State Theatre * 05.05.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel * 05.06.09 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick * 05.07.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall # 05.08.09 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 05.09.09 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge # 05.12.09 - London, UK - Dingwalls 05.14.09 - Cardiff, UK - Clwb Ifor Bach 05.15.09 - Brighton, UK - The Great Escape 05.16.09 - Birmingham, UK - Hare And Hounds 05.17.09 - Norwich, UK - Arts Centre 05.18.09 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3 05.19.09 - York, UK - Fibbers 05.20.09 - Newcastle, UK - Academy 2 05.21.09 - London, UK - Stag & Dagger Festival 05.22.09 - Leeds, UK - Stag & Dagger Festival 05.23.09 - Glasgow, UK - Stag & Dagger Festival 05.24.09 - Nottingham, UK - Dot To Dot Festival 06.13.09 - Denver, CO - Westword Music Showcase 06.18.09 - Sioux Falls, SD – Nutty’s North 06.20.09 - Billings, MT - Yellowstone Valley Brewery 06.21.09 - Missoula, MT - The Other Side 06.22.09 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory 06.23.09 - Seattle, WA – Neumo’s 06.24.09 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom 06.27.09 - San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall 06.28.09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre 06.29.09 - Pomona, CA - Glasshouse 07.01.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue
Cantankerous lounge comedian Neil Hamburger, after reportedly failing as a spokesperson for a national chain of low-cost motels, has announced (via telegram, no less) a summer release of a DVD entitled Western Music and Variety. The video will no doubt feature some of Hamburger's crotchety audience ribbing as well as country and western music from the Too-Good-For-Neil-Hamburger-Band, whose album Sings Country Winners (TMT Review) was released this past summer by Drag City.
The DVD will feature live footage of the band performing most of the songs on the album, as well as a bonus live performance filmed inside a cat hotel. The all-star band itself should be worth the price. Hamburger is backed by Tubes founding member Prarie Prince, guitarist Dave Gleason, New Cars bassist Atom Ellis, Rentals and Weezer contributor Rachel Haden, and pedal steel player Joe Goldmark. As a teaser, check out this music video for Hamburger's tearjerking ode to his father, "Jug Town":
05.22.09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge 05.23.09 - Bellingham, WA - Rogue Hero 05.24.09 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door 05.31.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland 06.28.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland 07.17.09 - Austin, TX - Emo's 07.18.09 - San Antonio, TX - Rock Bottom
- Cass McCombs will release a new record July 7 via Domino Records called Catacombs. I hate it when writers reference press releases, but from Cass McCombs press release, I found out that he’s a Scorpio, his Wikipedia page is almost entirely false, and the word “paradox” was used seven times. I really have no other news on this matter.
- ATP New York curated by The Flaming Lips, added Boredoms (could have seen that coming), Iron & Wine, Deerhunter, No Age, Caribou, Deerhoof, and Boss Hog to the lineup. They'll be doing some special performances. Read more about it here.
- The New York Dolls begin a tour in May to support their new record Cause I Sez So, which comes out May 5 (TMT News). It kicks off May 20 in Solana Beach, CA at Belly Up Tavern and ends June 13 in Atlanta, GA at Center Stage. Many of the dates are with Black Joe Lewis.
- Mark Kozelek -- making us sad with a new live album. Lost Verses – Live will be released May 12 and features performances from Kozelek’s 2007 and 2008 acoustic tours. The songs featured include solo material as well as Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters jams. They were all recorded at “intimate, seated settings” at venues like the Williamsburg Music Hall (Brooklyn), First Unitarian Church (Philadelphia), and the Palace of Fine Arts (San Francisco.) An additional live record of Kozelek in Zaragoza and Barcelona will come free when you buy the record at Caldo Verde.
So, perhaps this is not what was expected when seeing the headline, but Neutral Milk Hotel are making news again! Why? Apparently, the group wants “the people” to help them save a carousel.
Located in Hull, Massachusetts, The Paragon Carousel is an 81-year-old machine in need of some help. Julian Koster (also of The Music Tapes), speaking on behalf of Neutral Milk Hotel, has put out a plea on Merge’s site to help win this historic carousel a $100,000 preservation grant from Massachusetts. According to Koster:
I spoke with Jeff and Scott and Jeremy about this and they agreed that I should, on behalf of Neutral Milk Hotel, make an appeal to the good people who might have enjoyed the music made over the years, because we think you'd understand especially, and want to help.
All you have to do is visit this site and vote once a day until May 16, and then Neutral Milk Hotel’s cup will be spilling over with happiness.
I get skittish leaving my car on while I sigh at our local Redbox machine. But The Dears -- the poor Dears -- had their tour bus stolen while their driver slumbered in a Montreal Comfort Inn the morning before their tour was to start. The nerve!
Since the band was packing at home, luckily no equipmment was actually stowed on the van. And guess what: The Dears gave the whole situation the middle finger and are touring with Great Northern and Eulogies right now anyway.
If you see the vehicle, contact your local authorities. Here's some info: Bus model: Prevost, Series 60. Accuride Alcoa; License plate: V957YW.
The tourdates: 05.01.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Bell House * 05.02.09 - Albany, NY - Valentines * 05.04.09 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom * 05.05.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's * 05.07.09 - Washington, DC - Black Cat * 05.08.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel * 05.09.09 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop * 05.10.09 - Columbus, OH - Skully's * 05.11.09 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick * 05.13.09 - Chicago, IL - Lakeshore Theater * 05.14.09 - Columbia, MO - Mojo's * 05.16.09 - Denton, TX - Hailey's * 05.17.09 - Houston, TX - Warehouse * 05.18.09 - Austin, TX - Parish * 05.21.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room * 05.22.09 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah * 05.23.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex * 05.24.09 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent * 05.26.09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge * 05.27.09 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Lounge * 05.29.09 - Victoria, BC - Sugar # 05.30.09 - Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards # 05.31.09 - Kelowna, BC - Habitat # 06.02.09 - Calgary, AB - Theatre Junction Grand # 06.03.09 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room # 06.04.09 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigos # 06.05.09 - Regina, SK - Distrikt # 06.06.09 - Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Center #
* Great Northern and Eulogies # Jets Overhead and Black Diamond Bay
When I was at SXSW a couple months ago, I saw Future of the Left's (and formerly mcclusky’s) guitarist Andrew “Falco” Falkous outside the Radio Room just straight up raging on this slice of pepperoni pizza. I mean, the man was more than a few Stalins short of ballsout merciless on the thing, but I’ll be damned if that dude wasn’t rocking one sick pair of prison eyes while he was scarfing that sucker down. Dude had the sandbox-full-of-coke irises of Charles Manson coupled with the ineffable grace of a Kennedy before 5 o’clock. “You may approach me if you wish,” rhapsodized his body, “But you know full well that if you take one more lumbering step I can positively ruin your existence, fatty,” whispered his eyes. It was a pretty neat experience.
Anyway, for the sake of completing this metaphor, I guess the way Falco eats pizza is akin to the way Future of the Left take on the well-tested power trio format: as serial killers with political ambitions. So now that you and Future of the Left are practically related, let’s break it on down with the infos. Two years after their 2007 debut Curses, Cardiff’s finest will at least release their follow-up full-length Travels with Myself and Another June 23 on 4AD. Before that, FotL will head out on a May tour of the UK, and let me tell you, they are certainly a treat to see. Even if the siren songs of their hulking flesh lure you into a potentially fatal predicament, I nevertheless guarantee you will have a frighteningly significant experience. 05.02.09 – Leeds, UK – Cockpit 05.08.09 – Minehead, UK – All Tomorrow’s Parties 05.13.09 – Portsmouth, UK – Wedgewood Rooms 05.14.09 – Brighton, UK – Sallis Benney Theatre 05.16.09 – Belfast, UK – Stiff Kitten 05.17.09 – Dublin, Ireland – Academy 2 05.18.09 – Glasgow, UK – Stereo 05.20.09 – Hereford, UK – Jailhouse 05.21.09 – Manchester, UK – Academy 3 05.23.09 – Bristol, UK – Dot to Dot Festival 05.24.09 – Nottingham, UK – Dot to Dot Festival 05.25.09 – Cardiff, UK – Clwb Ifor Bach 05.26.09 – London, UK – University of London Union
