James Blackshaw Was Always a Young God, But Now It's Official

By Heidi Vanderslice on

London-based 12-string guitarist James Blackshaw has shown scant loyalty to record labels in his relatively short album career, giving a bit more love to Tompkins Square than others, but it seems he has finally found a home with Young God Records. Young God houses early works by acoustic wunderkinds Devendra Banhart and Akron/Family, who, come to think of it, should probably tour with Blackshaw immediately. If you're unfamiliar with him, this label switch should convince you to give him a listen, even if “12-string acoustic guitar, instrumental only” makes you want to run screaming off a cliff. Blackshaw is completely one with his instrument, creating exquisite, rolling landscapes of sound that completely consume the senses, never losing momentum for a second, leaving you hanging even after the song surpasses the 10-minute mark. I especially recommend him to city-dwellers who want to make their fire escapes feel like wraparound porches. Blackshaw's first YGR release will be called The Glass Bead Game and will drop in late spring of 2009.

But wait! You don't have to hold out till then, because he's touring in support of his last release for Tompkins Square, Litany of Echoes. Michael Gira of Young God described his live show as “no effects, nothing, just a mic on his guitar, [and] the room was filled with swirling overtones and a million points of light.” Sounds like someone's excited about his new toy, but can you blame him? For these dates, Blackshaw is joined by equal parts Portland rockers Grails and Drag City folkie Meg Baird.

Finger cymbals discouraged:
02.19.09 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe du Nord #
02.20.09 – Santa Cruz, CA – Folk Yeah Presents #
02.21.09 – Los Angeles, CA – Spaceland #
02.22.09 – San Diego, CA – Casbah #
02.24.09 – Oakland, CA – Stork Club
02.26.09 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern @
02.27.09 – Portland, WA – Dantes @
03.02.09 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung-Fu Necktie %
03.03.09 – Baltimore, MD – Talking Head Club % $
03.04.09 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge % &
03.05.09 – Boston, MA – Brattle Theatre % +
03.07.09 – Brooklyn, NY – Issue Project Room %
03.08.09 – New Haven, CT – BAR %

# Grails

@ Earth and Sir Richard Bishop

% Meg Baird

$ Arbouretum

& Heather O'Donnell

+ Michah Blue Smalldone

Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart Announces Spring Solo Tour, Launches Subscription Series of Experimental Works; New Xiu Xiu LP Slated for Next Year

By Mr P on 02-11-2009

Jamie Stewart, front dude of Xiu Xiu, has announced his first solo tour since 2003. Drawing from over 80 songs, the setlist will feature a mixture of new and old tunes, all played with an electric guitar, bird call whistles, and a stylophone ("a late 60s toy synth that one plays with a pen," according to his publicist). The set will also feature songs from Xiu Xiu's forthcoming full-length, Dear God, I Hate Myself, which is tentatively scheduled for release in 2010.

I've seen Xiu Xiu live plenty of times, but the prospect of seeing Stewart perform solo is enough to let him take nude photos of me holding a plastic doll. Actually, I sorta have that chance, as Stewart and David Horvitz will be taking a photograph of every single person at every single show. Yes, EVERY single person, from the sound people to the janitors, the promoters to that stupid TMT journalist jotting down the setlist. Each photo will be published on Xiu Xiu's blog, and the "best 300" will be published in an upcoming photo book. There'll also be lots of merch, including some hand-decorated mix CDs.

Finally, Stewart is launching a one-year, 12-disc subscription series in an edition of 50. Each will be hand-wrapped and hand-numbered, featuring experimental and minimalist works by Stewart. Costs $100, but if you throw in an extra $10, you'll get some hand-made chocolate made by Stewart himself. Order here, and check 'em out here:

Jamie Stewart solo dates:
04.02.09 - Greenville, NC - The Spazzatorium
04.03.09 - Norfolk, VA - The Boot
04.04.09 - Richmond, VA - The Triple
04.05.09 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
04.06.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Monkey Town
04.09.09 - Durham, NH - The Stafford Room
04.10.09 - Chicago, IL - Ronny's Bar
04.11.09 - Grinnell, IA - Gardner Lounge (Grinnell College)
04.14.09 - Seattle, WA - The Vera Project
04.15.09 - Portland, OR - Backspace
04.17.09 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
04.18.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo Curio
04.19.09 - Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture
04.21.09 - Austin, TX - Salvage Vanguard Theater
04.23.09 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
04.24.09 - St. Augustine, Florida - Cafe Eleven
04.25.09 - Atlanta, GA - Wonderroot

[Photo: David Horvitz]

Santogold Changes Name to Santigold

By Mango Starr on 02-11-2009

I like to copy-paste bullshit:

Change the graffiti on the bathroom wall, get your tattoo fixed, get your t-shirt airbrushed and change the name on your year end list- Santogold is now Santigold. She’s not telling you why, that’s just how it is. No unpronounceable symbol, no numbers where they shouldn’t be, no random capitalization, just plain ass Santigold so remember that.

Downtown/Lizard King released Santigold’s self-titled breakthrough CD in April and it instantly became one of 2008’s most acclaimed albums garnering international raves. Critics and radio have championed the record’s standout tracks “L.E.S. Artistes”, “Creator” and her latest single “Shove It”.

Travels Return with a Sweetheart of an Album, Despite Pat Benatar Warning That “Love Is a Battlefield”

By David Nadelle on 02-11-2009

It doesn’t take a degree in Obamanomics (didn’t take long, did it?) to realize that we could potentially be in store for a new era rife with personal freedom and consideration. A more caring would would be wonderful, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, it’s hard to be optimistic for a liberating life in a “nice” place. In fact, it would probably take a mandate to reanimate the corpse of Mr. Rogers just to guilt everyone into showing an ounce of respect to their fellow beings. Oh well, maybe you just gotta take niceties when they are offered, like when the duo of Mona Elliott and Anar Badalov, a.k.a. Travels, will self-issue their latest album called The Hot Summer.

Hackily described on this very website by this very same hack as "a safe house in a world of confusion," the debut Travels disc caught many unaware with its unassuming, fragile beauty. This time around, Travels give us more tender tracks, a few curveballs, and a variation of one of their previously recorded songs: “Olivia Hurt.” If you couldn’t feel enough of the love, here is a mellooooow cover version of [“My Funny Valentine,”->
http://www.bradleysalmanac.com/songs/misc/Travels-MyFunnyValentine.mp3] recorded by the duo to celebrate the release of “The Hot Summer” on Valentine’s Day (that’s February 14, for you unattached apathetics). Ah, the things some do for love. I’m as romantic as the next person, and I have as healthy a relationship with my right hand as other well-adjusteds have with actual, separate human beings, but I never felt the need to perform a duet with my “Mighty Righty.” Call me an olde-fashioned romantic...

Hit me with your best shots:

1. The Forgotten
2. Favorite People
3. Olivia Hurt
4. Happiness (you woke up)
5. Buzzards Bay
6. Severed
7. Dogs
8. Fairy Tales
9. Animal
10. A New Year

Travels abroad (but really at home):
02.14.09 - Somerville, MA - PA’s Lounge #
02.20.09 - Baltimore, MD - Talking Head Club $

# Animal Hospital, Arms & Sleepers, Mary Page

$ Mr. Moccasin, Ari Schenck, The Owls Go

RIP: Orlando “Cachaito” López, “the heartbeat of the Buena Vista Social Club”

By Shane Mack on 02-11-2009

From the BBC:

Buena Vista Social Club founding member Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez has died in Cuba aged 76.

The double bass player died in a Havana hospital from complications after having prostate surgery.

Lopez became a worldwide sensation as part of the group of elderly musicians who were living quietly in Cuba before being brought together in 1996.

He was considered to be Buena Vista's "heartbeat" in the band's mix of traditional Cuban rhythms.

- Orlando López MySpace
- Orlando López Wikipedia entry

Death Cab for Cutie Speak Out Against Auto-Tune, Accidentally Raise Male Breast Cancer Awareness

By Kasia Galaxy on 02-11-2009

While Twitter kept you informed about the Grammy Awards against your will, you probably didn't see Death Cab for Cutie sauntering around wearing light-blue ribbons. The cause: an anti-Auto-Tune campaign.

The digital manipulation of people's voices is affecting thousands of singers, Ben Gibbard told MSN UK, "So we just want to raise awareness while we're here and try to bring back the blue note... The note that's not so perfectly in pitch and just gives the recording some soul and some kind of real character."

It was only a matter of time before some sort of Auto-Tune backlash emerged. Let's look at its pros and cons:

Pros:
- Makes people "sound good"
- Can be used as an instrument
- Ribbons bring out your eyes

Cons:
- Not what "real people" sound like
- Nation looks to American Idol for talent
- Sounding like T-Pain

No word yet on the 5K run against Auto-Tune

03.07.09 - Miami, FL - Langerado Festival
04.07.09 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre #!
04.08.09 - Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall #!
04.09.09 - Davidson, NC - John Belk Arena/Davidson College #!
04.10.09 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace #!
04.11.09 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre #!
04.12.09 - Tulsa, OK - The Brady Theater #!
04.13.09 - Omaha, NE - Holland Theatre #!
04.15.09 - St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkings Auditorium #
04.17.09 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom #!
04.18.09 - East Lansing, MI - Breslin Events Center/Michigan State University #
04.19.09 - Waukesha, WI - Van Male Fieldhouse/Carroll College #!
04.24.09 - Spokane, WA - McCarthey Athletic Center/Gonzaga University #!
04.25.09 - Boise, ID - The Morrison Center #!
04.27.09 - Sacramento, CA - Memorial Auditorium #!
04.29.09 - San Diego, CA - RIMAC Arena/UC San Diego #!
05.01.09 - Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall #$
05.02.09 - New Orleans, LA - Contemporary Arts Center #$
05.04.09 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium #$
05.05.09 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall #$
05.06.09 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre #$

# Ra Ra Riot

! Cold War Kids

$ Matt Costa

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