Faust, Os Mutantes, Mission of Burma, and other non-old and decrepit bands to play Lexington's Boomslang Fest

By Keith Kawaii on

When did the aesthetic of acts like Burning Star Core and Hair Police become part of the independent music establishment? It seems that record labels like Stiltbreeze, Not Not Fun, Olde English Spelling Bee, Woodsist, et al. are as revered as any other indie label out there. "Experimental" isn't a pejorative; it's perhaps the greatest compliment in coded reviewer language. Basically, noise artists shitting on stage isn't what it used to be. TMT obviously loves all that... shit, and as far as I'm concerned, Lexington, KY has been somewhat of a hub for American house-show culture, featuring aforementioned mainstays BxC and Hair Police, but also a host of less-covered, but equally sweet (and incestuous) bands like Tiny Fights, Jovantes, Three Legged Race, and Caboladies.

Case in point: that scene's radio station, WRFL, is putting on a three-day festival to celebrate nothing less than "sound and art." (Don't you wish there were more random celebrations of sound and art?) On October 9-11, you can make your way down to Lexington for the Boomslang Fest, where a whole lot of venues and bars will be hosting music from Faust, Os Mutantes, Mission of Burma, Atlas Sound, Papa M, The Black Angels, Bardo Pond, Rachel Grimes (Rachel's), Teeth Mountain, Kurt Vile, Disappears, Bill Nance, Mark Hosler (Negativland), Burning Star Core, Hair Police, all those sweet Lexington bands, and many more.

The time-specific breakdown, full-band roster, and lots of other info can be found here: http://boomslangfest.com

Brother, Can you Spare a Conscience? The Most Serene Republic Get Robbed in Vancouver

By David Nadelle on 09-30-2009

During my daily perusal of the checkout line mags, I came across a somewhat bizarre quote from the lovely and talented Natalie Portman. Speaking about the current economic recession, she said, "I think it's kind of an exciting time. Everyone is cutting back." When it comes to scrimping and saving, no one knows like Portman, who recently had to settle for a modest $3.25 million L.A. hovel when she was in the market for a new crash pad. The kind-hearted, penny-pinching Hollywood starlet added, "I've started to see people look more toward their passions and what really excites them."

While the first part of her quote is a tad misguided, though positive, the second part is bang-on. Case in point, passionate and excitable thieves stole a shitload of equipment from The Most Serene Republic Sunday night in Vancouver after the band played a show at The Biltmore. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Wrong. Regardless of the economic landscape, be it prosperous or crippling, property theft is a most despicable act of cowardice.

Below is the list of instruments and equipment stolen, as well as the group's ongoing (mostly Canadian) tourdates so you come out and support the band. Also look for TMSR's Emma Ditchburn's latest tour blog at Venuszine.com.

Sunday night's bitter experience hasn't been covered yet, but you can bet it will. If anyone has any information regarding the robbery and stolen gear please contact Chris at Arts and Crafts.

Here is the missing gear:

Make: Washburn Acoustic (Natural Finish)

Model: D112

Serial #: 86028

Notes: Not original headstock, screw markings

Make: Wasburn Acoustic (blue glossy finish)

Model: EA16MBL

Notes: Small paint chip near end pin

Make: Gibson 335 (white w/ gold binding)

Model: E335 Diamond Cut

Serial #: 0-1387722

Notes: Gold Hardware

Make: King Trombone

Model: Jiggs Whigham 2102L

Serial #: 932731

Notes: Dents on Bell of Trombone. Trombone case is labeled TMSR

Make: Fender Telecaster (yellow)

Model: HWY-1

Serial #: Z4209214

Notes: Paint chips all over guitar

Make: Garrison Acoustic (black)

Model: AGSP-1-BK

Serial #: S06120550

Notes: Thin body acoustic

Make: Audio Tech Pedal Board

Notes: approx: 16"x12"

Make: Boss Tuning Pedal (white w/ orange writing)

Model: Tu-2

Make: Boss Delay Pedal (white w/ blue writing)

Model: DD-6

Make: Boss Delay Pedal (white w/ blue writing)

Model: DD-6

Make: Boss Distortion Pedal (yellow w/ black writing)

Model: SD - 1

Make: Radial D.I. (green)

Make: Washburn flight case for fender Telecaster

Notes: Silver case painted w/ TMSR

Make: Gator 335 Flight Case

Notes: Painted w/ TMSR

Upcoming TMSR tourdates:
09.30.09 - Calgary, AB - Palomino
10.01.09 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
10.02.09 - Saskatoon, SK - Louis' Pub

10.03.09 - Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret
10.05.09 - Madison, WI - High Noon
10.06.09 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
10.07.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
10.08.09 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
10.09.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw
10.10.09 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
10.15.09 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
11.04.09 - London, ON - London Music Hall
11.05.09 - Waterloo, ON - Starlite
11.06.09 - Guelph, ON - Albion Hotel
11.07.09 - St. Catherines, ON Level 3
11.08.09 - Hamilton, ON - Casbah
11.11.09 - Peterborough, ON - Montreal House
11.12.09 - Kingston, ON - Bar None
11.13.09 - Montréal, QC - Il Motore
11.14.09 - Ottawa, ON - Zaphod's
11.25.09 - Charlottetown, PE - Hunters Ale House
11.26.09 - Fredericton, NB - Capital
11.27.09 - Halifax, NS - Paragon Theatre
11.28.09 - Sackville, NB - Georges

Guitar Center Accused of Price-Fixing Fretted Instruments

By Brom on 09-29-2009

Move over Intel. Move over Microsoft, there’s a new monomaniac in town!

On September 22 a nationwide class-action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in California by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, who claims that Guitar Center and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) have been conspiring to fix the price of fretted instruments. The plaintiff argues that “NAMM organized meetings and programs where competing retailers including Guitar Center, were encouraged to discuss and agree upon strategies for price fixing along with other anti-competitive agreements with manufacturers.” They also claim the defendants tried to boycott manufacturers who sold their goods through online competitors. Steve Berman, lead attorney and managing partner at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, says, “We contend that, even with its market domination, the company acted illegally to rig the marketplace to its benefit.”

As rigorous purveyors of underground culture, the staff at Tiny Mix Tapes had to spend several days finding out what Guitar Center actually was. After completing a field trip to our local store, we recommend to all readers that if you do have to visit one of these capitalist abominations then please make sure you go in a group, hold hands, and avoid as much interaction with the staff as possible.

Throbbing Gristle Release Pocket-Size Ambient Noisebox of Horror, Perfect for the Goth on the Go!

By Liz Louche on 09-29-2009

All across America, discount retailers and department stores are only seconds away from putting up their holiday displays. Those brightly colored candy canes, that glittering winter wonderland all signal one thing: the thrill of consumerism! That quest to answer the eternal question: “what do I get the art student/sulky teenage brother/neighbor who’s always coming home from S&M clubs when I’m getting ready to go to work who has it all?!” Well now, thanks to our friends in Throbbing Gristle, the solution is clear, and it is neither a (confusingly) scary cute owl-looking thing or [insert former “hit” toy of yesteryear here]. From the people who once drove out a group of travelers from their neighborhood through the use of intensely annoying and painful sound effects, comes the Throbbing Gristle Buddha Box—just in time for the 2009 holiday season! It’s conveniently priced, attractively packaged, and the perfect size for use as a stocking stuffer! It also (probably) sounds like death.

What’s a Buddha Box, you ask? Well... it’s a small box that emits loops of ambient electronic noise, designed a few years ago by Beijing-based artists Christian Virant and Zhang Jian. The former is on board for the TG edition, which is being marketed simply as "Gristleism." You can expect "thirteen original and uncompromising loops" and the choice between three vibrant colors!!! It’s available for pre-order on the band’s website and is set to ship in November. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the ambient noise provided by the Gristleism will have anything to do with perennial ambient faves “Peruvian Panpipes of the Local Shopping Mall” or “Whale Sounds of the Pacific Northwest.”

Looplisting:

1. Persuasion
2. Hamburger Lady
3. Twenty Jazz Funk Greats
4. Thank You Brian
5. Maggot Death
6. Rabbit Snare
7. Lyre Liar
8. Wimpy Bar
9. Sex String Theory
10. Heathen Earth
11. Industrial Intro
12. R & D
13. After After Cease To Exist

Because You’ve Always Dreamed of Rivers Cuomo on Sizzurp, Lil Wayne Guests on New Weezer Album

By Heidi Vanderslice on 09-29-2009

Topping off the unlikely combination of Weezer and R&B producer Jermaine Dupri is the news that Lil Wayne also lends a few rhymes on the upcoming Weezer album, Raditude. The track in question is titled “Can't Stop Partying,” though Cuomo sounds unsure as to how much of a party mood Weezy was in:

...we got Lil Wayne to come in and do a rap on it... Any other rapper would've just done, 'Yay, we're partying! Let's drink and have fun,' but he gave it the edge I was looking for. You can hear in his voice, it sounds so dark, like he was gonna get shot or something when he walks out of the studio. So I was real happy that everyone involved got what we were going for.

Yeah! The fear of getting popped when you exit the building! Paaaarrrrrtttyyyy! (What!?) Obviously, Weezer are going in a new direction with this album, which includes tracks like “The Girl Got Hot” (co-written with additional producer Butch Walker) and “I'm Your Daddy.” Original album title "Bring It" was changed to the current name at the insistence of Rainn Wilson, better known as Dwight Schrute from TV's The Office. This is so ironic my skinny jeans just turned into JNCOs. Hey, at least it's a step up for Weezy... the last rock band he worked with was Fall Out Boy.

Raditude is due November 3 on Geffen, with tons of deluxe edition and iTunes bonus tracks waiting to be snatched up by your grubby little paws. I know you want that cover medley of MGMT's “Kids” and Lady Gaga's “Poker Face.” Somewhere, Girl Talk is feeling vaguely disturbed.

Thom Yorke Starts a New Band with Nigel Godrich and Flea! “The battle of the bulge is on,” says Colin Greenwood.

By Mr P on 09-29-2009

So that's what he's doing in LA! According to Radiohead's Dead Air Space blog, Thom Yorke has started a new band to perform his solo tunes. The lineup features longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, R.E.M./Beck drummer Joey Waronker, Mauro Refosco, and, oddly enough, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea on bass. (Apparently he's unhappy with Colin Greenwood in underwear?) The band has already scheduled two shows at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

In the interest of making this news post look meatier, here's Yorke's full post:

in the past couple of weeks i've been getting a band together for fun to play the eraser stuff live and the new songs etc.. to see if it could work!
here's a photo.. its me, joey waronker, mauro refosco, flea and nigel godrich.

at the beginning of october the 4th and 5th we are going to do a couple of shows at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

we don't really have a name and the set will not be very long cuz ..well ...we haven't got that much material yet!

but come and check it out if you are in the area. we've also got locals Lucky Dragons playing.

I think it's safe to assume that Radiohead has broken up:
10.04.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Theatre
10.05.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Theatre

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