Karl Blau Schedules Lengthy Tour in Support of Zebra
Karl Blau is the type of musician guy who lives in the Pacific Northwest: Anacortes, Washington, to be exact. But if you have a “bottomless glass of wine” like I had for lunch, his name sorta kinda sounds like he could be the front dude of a forgotten post-punk band from, oh say, Belgium, whose "newly discovered" debut LP is getting a limited reissue and who is maybe playing, like, one show at a club in London before fading back into obscurity.
But as made-for-rock-writing as that mythology is, there is so much more to Karl Blau, even more than the ol’ K Records-style narrative. For example: he’s got a new African pop-influenced/freak folk/lo-f rock record coming out October 6 on — yes — K Records, entitled Zebra (which was recorded at Dub Narcotic Studios in Olympia, WA). He's also about to set out on a lengthy tour with LAKE. His music is, as they say, "haunting" and "well-crafted," and I can think of nowhere better to watch the man perform than one of the approximately 5,000 tourdates Blau has charted over the course of the fall season.
Zebra tracklisting:
1. Waiting for the Wind
2. Crucial Contact
3. Apology to Pollinateurs
4. All Over the Town
5. Free the Bird
6. Goodbye Little Song
7. Dark Sedan
8. Welcome in NW
9. Tha’ Ole Moon Smile
10. MT Handed
11. Nothing New
12. Gnos LeVohs
Tourdates:
10.11.09 - Olympia, WA – Northern
10.12.09 - Tacoma, WA - The Den
10.13.09 - Seattle, WA - The Josephine
10.15.09 - Pullman, WA – Belltower
10.17.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
10.18.09 - Denver, CO – Rhinoceropolis
10.20.09 - Lawrence, KS - The Jackpot Saloon
10.22.09 - Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern
10.23.09 - Grand Rapids, MI - The DAAC
10.24.09 - Bloomington, IN - Russian Recording
10.25.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Garfield Artworks
10.28.09 - Plattsburgh, NY - North Country Food Co-Op
10.29.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel
10.30.09 - Haverford, PA - Lunt Basement
11.02.09 - Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
11.04.09 - Greensboro, NC - Square One
11.05.09 - Lexington, KY - Al's Bar
11.07.09 - Athens, GA - Secret Squirrel
11.08.09 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Down Under
11.10.09 - Dallas, TX - Swiss House
11.11.09 - Austin, TX - Emo's Jr.
11.12.09 - Lubbock, TX - Bash Riprocks
11.13.09 - Albuquerque, NM - Burt's Tiki Lounge
11.14.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Trunk Space
11.17.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Smell
11.18.09 - Santa Barbara, CA - Biko Garage
11.20.09 - San Luis Obispo, CA - SLO Art Center
11.21.09 - Santa Cruz, CA - Resource Center for Non Violence
11.23.09 - Arcata, CA - The Green House
11.24.09 - Salem, OR - Ike Box
RIP: Beau Velasco of TheDeathSet
From TheDeathSet's Twitter:
"R.I.P. my dear brother, friend and band mate Beau Velasco. For all those who wish to pay their respects I will let know soon."
[More info coming soon]
- TheDeathSet official website
- TheDeathSet MySpace
- TheDeathSet Wikipedia entry
Apple Inc. and Eminem's Publisher go to Court Over Download Rights
Another day, another courtroom battle over artist copyright (why didn’t the "The Decade in Courtroom Battles" make it into Pitchfork’s P2K feature?).
Apple Inc. and Eight Mile, the publishing company of a little-known white-boy rapper, began court proceedings last week over who should be allowed to offer downloads of the musician’s hip-hop ramblings. Eight Mile and Martin Affiliated LLC argue that “Aftermath Records, which controls the recordings, did not have the authority to strike a deal with Apple to sell the artist’s] music on iTunes.” The rapper in question, who apparently goes by the name of [Eminem, has generated $2.5 million for Apple based on sales of his music on iTunes.
However, Apple “defended the sale of the rapper's music and denied claims that contracts between Eight Mile and Aftermath did not cover digital music sales.” Glenn Pomerantz, Apple’s lawyer, maintains that “Nowhere does it say ‘only compact discs’... Nowhere does it say... ‘not digital downloads.’” Eight Mile’s lawyer, Richard Busch, reckons "The publisher owns these compositions, not Aftermath. If Eight Mile had a direct licensing relationship with Apple, this kind of nonsense would not happen."
Morrissey to Release B-Sides Album, Has Severe West Coast Bias
Somewhere near the beginning of High Fidelity, John Cusack’s character Rob Gordon says his record store survives on the fandom of young men “who spend a disproportionate amount of their time looking for deleted Smiths singles.” The line was pretty preposterous, considering the sheer amount of unreleased material from The Smiths that was collected on greatest hits collections and compilations.
Apparently, Morrissey wants to ensure that Rob and other future name-droppers refrain from over-fetishizing out-of-print music with his upcoming release, Swords, a collection of 18 B-sides culled from singles from his past four albums. The album is due October 26 in the U.K. and November 3 in the U.S. and (might) come with a limited-edition bonus disc.
The Swords tracklist:
1. Good Looking Man About Town
2. Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice
3. If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look At Me
4. Ganglord
5. My Dearest Love
6. The Never-Played Symphonies
7. Sweetie-Pie
8. Christian Dior
9. Shame Is The Name
10. Munich Air Disaster 1958
11. I Knew I Was Next
12. It's Hard To Walk Tall When You're Small
13. Teenage Dad On His Estate
14. Children In Pieces
15. Friday Mourning
16. My Life Is A Succession Of People Saying Goodbye
17. Drive-In Saturday
18. Because Of My Poor Education
You can also catch Morrissey on a little nine-date tour of the West Coast:
11.29.09 - Seattle, WA - Paramount
11.30.09 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
12.02.09 - Oakland, CA - Paramount
12.04.09 - Indio, CA - Fantasy Springs
12.05.09 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint
12.07.09 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theatre
12.08.09 - San Diego, CA - Copley Symphony Hall
12.10.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
12.11.09 - Ventura, CA - Ventura Theatre
Like Bon Jovi and The Boss Before Them, Screaming Females Get the Fuck Out of Jersey and Hit the Road on Their First Headlining Tour
I really need to get my ass to New Jersey real soon, if only to halt the corrosive ooze of pop culture from further seeping its odious lies about the Garden State into my skull. Much like a Nazi prison or fat camp, Jersey is a smelly, coal-mine ridden hell-hole worth only escaping from, or at least that’s what waaaaay to many post-midnight viewings of Zoolander and Coyote Ugly have taught me. For all I know, the only people who actually stay in New Jersey are hairy-bodied-but-still-bald-on-top mobsters like Tony Soprano and those depressing-as-fuck fry cooks who work at the Howard Johnson on the Jersey Shore in that one ridiculous episode of No Reservations where Anthony Bourdain tries to reconcile with his Jersey roots. Good lord, pop culture, you’ve certainly taken a toll on that poor state.
Luckily, New Brunswick’s own Screaming Females stand as yet another reminder that, while Jersey may be known only as a flea-ridden stinkhole to the rest of America, it can still pump out some goddamn good music. And Screaming Females have had quite a year, going from schlepping around self-booked house shows to joining Jack White’s ever dubious list of “bands I like want to put under my wing because I like them.” But you know what separates Screaming Females from other Jack White-sanctioned acts like The Greenhornes or Whirlwind Heat? Screaming Females are actually good! So check out Screaming Females on their first ever headlining national (and hey, there’s even a couple dates for our friends to the north!) tour, or if you’re a Jerseyite, wait for them to come back home to what I’m sure is a lovely, lovely state.
09.25.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Pi Lam House
09.26.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Death By Audio
09.27.09 - Providence, RI - AS220
09.28.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
09.29.09 - Portland, ME - SPACE Gallery
10.01.09 - Montreal, QC - POP MONTREAL
10.02.09 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison
10.03.09 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Cafe
10.04.09 - Oberlin, OH - Oberlin College
10.05.09 - Chicago, IL - The Hideout
10.06.09 - Saint Louis, MO - The Gargoyle
10.07.09 - Beloit, WI - Beloit College
10.08.09 - Chicago, IL - Ronnie's
10.09.09 - Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College
10.10.09 - Richmond, IN - Earlham College
10.21.09 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
10.24.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Don Pedro's
[Photo: Jimmy @ Legion of Doom in Columbus, OH]
McPhun, Phun, Phun in the Sun! Ruby Suns Venture to North America for a Dodo of a Tour
The great Irish band A House had it right with the title track from their classic I Am the Greatest album. In it, the band rants about the "small music dictatorship" and loss of the individual, how most people "wouldn't recognize a new idea if it spat in their face and screamed out," how the music industry reers "big-mouthed rock stars with opinions on everything and answers to nothing" and society reveres "bandwagons full of bands with sycophantic fans with no lives of their own". A House was expounding the truth back in 1991 but the track is a sign of all times, including ours right now and our childrens' in the future.
Indeed, the more things change, the more they stay the same, so thank gawd for alternatives and exceptions, even in the most orderly and predictable music realm of pop. For instance, you won't find New Zealand adventure seekers Ruby Suns in your "Indie Rock for Dummies" and you will certainly not see them "pouncing on any third rate trend, milking it to death, once again putting money where the music is not." Revolutionary pop music is a true rarity, and although the Ryan McPhun-led trio didn't exactly change the world with their last record, Sea Lion (TMT Review) was like a fresh shovel to the head on a cold winter's day for forward-thinking pop fans.
While some new material would be better than a really good biscuit, North American folk will have to make do with the feel-good live pairing of The Ruby Suns with San Francisco's thoughtful folk-pop darlings The Dodos for a bunch of dates starting this weekend in California.
They are the greatest:
09.26.09 - Big Sur, CA - Henry Miller Library #
09.27.09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater #
09.28.09 - San Diego, CA - Casbah #
09.29.09 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress #
09.30.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Modified Arts #
10.02.09 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues, Pontiac Garage #
10.03.09 - Houston, TX - The Orange Show #
10.06.09 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder #
10.07.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl #
10.08.09 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern #
10.09.09 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel #
10.10.09 - Baltimore, MD - Talking Head #
10.12.09 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church #
10.13.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg #
10.14.09 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom #
10.15.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East (downstairs) #
10.16.09 - Montréal, QC - La Sala Rossa #
10.17.09 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace #
10.19.09 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge #
10.20.09 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club #
10.22.09 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater #
10.24.09 - Boise, ID - Neurolux #
10.25.09 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre #
10.26.09 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret #
10.27.09 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's #
10.29.09 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's #
# The Dodos
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Ready Triple-Disc DVD/CD Set, Evoking Fond Memories of The Effects of 333
On September 21, a young gentleman with the username “Harry” left a message on Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s MySpace page, which read: “If The Beatles still made music it would sound like this. Keep it up.” You mean the current Beatles lineup of Paul and Ringo would make mid-'80s Jesus and Mary Chain-style music if they got back together? Or maybe latter-BRMC Americana? Does Ringo look good in a black leather jacket? This “Harry” character really took my head for a spin, and I think he has no idea what he’s talking about.
Regardless, there are some developments in the BRMC camp. Years removed from the hangover of hyperbolic praise from the NME, and barely removed from their universally-panned instrumental album The Effects of 333, BRMC has teamed up with Vagrant to release a 3-disc DVD/CD set. The DVD features live performances from shows in Dublin, Glasgow, and Berlin while supporting their fourth studio album, Baby 81 (TMT Review). The bonus DVD captures “intimate, behind-the-scenes footage” (whatever that means), while the CD has live recordings from the aforementioned concerts. The whole package will be available on November 10.
BRMC are currently putting the final touches on their fifth studio album at The Station House studio in Hollywood. In the meantime, you can download a remix of “Not What You Wanted” off their website, or wait until October 20, when a new song entitled “Done All Wrong” will be featured on the upcoming New Moon soundtrack.
Ted Leo Runs With the Bulls and Signs to Matador Records
I’m sorry, was that “runs with the bulls” joke too obvious? Did it make you chuckle? Or groan? Did it make you think that Mr. Leo signed with the NBA team in hopes of topping Michael Jordan’s legacy? In any case, you should be happy that Ted Leo, and his talented Pharmacists, has found a new home for their music.
Having already issued several releases for Lookout and Touch and Go, Ted Leo is set to release his next album on Matador, hoping the label won't breach his contract over unpaid royalties or drastically downsize due to the economy. Ahem... Anyway: he's recording the new album at Brooklyn’s Seaside Lounge and plans to release it sometime in 2010, and I can't wait!
In other news, Ted Leo is actually scheduled to participate in Pamplona's annual running with the bulls event/festival.
No, not really.
Grab Onto Something and Hold on Tight 'Cause Kill Rock Stars Are Ready to Drop a Deuce! New Thao and Shaky Hands Albums Coming Quick!
5 dynamic duos:
- Batman and Robin
- Ace and Gary, The Ambiguously Gay Duo
- Steak 'n' eggs
- (Tie) Thelma and Louise, Riggs and Murtaugh
- Hall and Oates
5 not-so-dynamic duos:
- Batman and Robin (c'mon, watching George Clooney or Chris O' Donnell on their own is enough to induce fever and vomiting... but together? You'd be happier blowing a hole in your skull)
- Ace Frehley and Gary Coleman, The Ambiguously Odd Couple (on second thought, that might be the best duo ever)
- Ass 'n' eggs (sounds good but it is not)
- (Tie) Wayne and Garth, whatever characters Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker play in Rush Hour and its seven sequels
- Jobs and Wozniak (as bad as it sounds)
Conspicuously absent from either list are Thao and The Shaky Hands. Granted, they are rarely paired together for convenience, nor does one think of one when the other is mentioned, but both acts can entertain the hell out of the most miserly of curmudgeons, both record on the label that kills the most rock stars (Kill Rock Stars), both have new albums coming out soon, and both have announced large-scale tours! When you add the idea that they both may have eaten octopus in their lives and the fact that they are both parts of the human race, then, for the purpose of this fascinating news story, The Shaky Hands and Thao are the most dynamic duo you will ever hear!
The first record up is Let It Die from supercharged Portland quartet Shaky Hands. Sure, The Shaky Hands are always a rocktastic affair but Let It Die sees the band in a mature, rather inspired form. Hear for yourself on September 29 but, whatever you do, don't let this tracklist die:
1. Let It Die
2. Never Fine
3. Slip Away
4. Love Curse
5. All You Recall
6. Caught in the Storm
7. Don't Fail Me Now
8. Already Gone
9. Gonna Hold You Tonight
10. Allison and the Ancient Eyes
11. Leave It All
Thao Nguyen has been a busy and brave bee, playing with the Get Down Stay Down plus recording The Thao & Justin Power Sessions album with Portland Cello Project (also on KRS). On October 13, it is with the Get Down Stay Down that Thao will release her new album, Know Better Learn Faster. Know these tracks better; learn them faster:
1. The Clap
2. Cool Yourself
3. When We Swam
4. Know Better Learn Faster
5. Body
6. The Give
7. Good Bye Good Luck
8. Trouble Was For
9. Oh. No
10. Fixed It!
11. Burn You Up
12. But What of the Strangers
13. Easy
Getting down and staying down is something you will not be doing if you go see one of the following upcoming Thao and The Get Down Stay Down shows..
10.15.19 - Santa Barbara, CA - SoHo #
10.16.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex #
10.17.09 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Crepe Place #
10.18.09 - San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island Music Festival
10.21.09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
10.22.09 - Seattle, WA - Shop Suey #
10.23.09 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret #
10.24.09 - Spokane, WA - Empyrean Coffee House #
10.27.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center #
10.28.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall #
10.29.09 - Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club #
10.30.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle #
10.31.09 - Detroit, MI - The Café at The Majestic Theater #
11.01.09 - Toronto, ON - El Mocambo #
11.02.09 - Montréal, QC - Il Motore #
11.03.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs #
11.04.09 - New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom #
11.05.09 - Philadelphia, PA - The First Unitarian Church #
11.06.09 - Washington, DC - Black Cat #
11.07.09 - Richmond, VA - The Canal Club Downstairs Lounge #
11.09.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl #
11.11.09 - Houston, TX - The Studio @ Warehouse Live #
11.12.09 - Austin, TX - Mohawk #
11.13.09 - Ft. Worth, TX - Lola's #
11.14.09 - Lubbock, TX - Jake's #
11.17.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room #
11.18.09 - Tucson, AZ - Plush #
11.19.09 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah #
11.20.09 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House #
# Portland Cello Project, David Shultz
...and hands will shake and clap and strangle necks (of both the human and the beer bottle variety) at these Shaky Hands live dates:
09.18.09 - Portland, OR - Someday Lounge
10.02.09 - Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan
10.08.09 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
10.09.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
10.10.09 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
10.12.09 - Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge
10.13.09 - Iowa City, IA - Picador
10.14.09 - St. Louis, MO - Firebird
10.15.09 - Columbia, MO - Mojo
10.16.09 - Urbana, IL - Canopy Club #
10.17.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle $
10.18.09 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room $
10.20.09 - New London, CT - Oasis $
10.21.09 - Allston, MA - Great Scott $
10.22.09 - New York, NY - Cake Shop
10.24.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie $
10.25.09 - Washington, DC - DC9 $
10.26.09 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Local 506 $
10.27.09 - Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
10.31.09 - Paris, France - Mains d'Ouevres %
11.01.09 - Brighton, England - Prince Albert
11.02.09 - Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Bach
11.03.09 - Manchester, England - The Ruby Lounge
11.04.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - Captain's Rest
11.05.09 - London, England - The Lexington
11.06.09 - London, England - Cargo
11.08.09 - Munich, Germany - Atomic Cafe
11.09.09 - Vienna, Austria - Rhiz
11.12.09 - Basel, Switzerland - 1.Stock
11.13.09 - Lucerne, Switzerland - Treibhaus
11.14.09 - Freiburg, Germany - Swamp
11.15.09 - Berlin, Germany - NBI
11.16.09 - Hamburg, Germany - Molotow
11.17.09 - Aalborg, Denmark - 1000 Fryd
11.19.09 - Bergen, Norway - Garage
11.20.09 - Oslo, Norway - Blå
11.21.09 - Stockholm, Sweden - Fritz's Corner @ Debaser
11.23.09 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen ^
11.25.09 - Prague, Czech Republic - Klub 007 *
11.26.09 - Cologne, Germany - Tsunami
11.27.09 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Le Guess Who Festival
11.28.09 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat
# Blitzen Trapper
$ Headlights, Pomegranates
% Part Chimp, Get Back Guinozzi!
^ Damien Jurado
* AIDS Wolf
Merge to Reissue Neutral Milk Hotel Albums on 180-gram Vinyl
I love taking advantage of the fact that every Neutral Milk Hotel fan is secretly waiting for a new NMH album, even though each one of 'em knows that Jeff Mangum is as reclusive as a Sasquatch and that hoping for a new long-player from these particular Elephant Sixers is as futile as hoping for the Second Coming. However, despite that futility, and, if you’re like me, you pacify your desire for new Neutral Milk Hotel material by routinely buying a new copy of In The Aeroplane Over The Sea every six months, pretending that it’s the first time you ever heard it. I know you do it!
If you are like me, then I’ve got some good news, because at least now you can get a somewhat new album by the band. “How Kid Midnight?” Well, Merge Records has announced that it will be reissuing both In The Aeroplane Over The Sea and On Avery Island on vinyl. Both albums will be available on November 3 and, even though no bonus material will be included, the albums will be pressed on 180 gram vinyl for the first time and will come with a coupon for a free download!
If that’s not good enough for you... well... have fun waiting for the reunion concert.
Guy Hands Says Terra Firma Might Have “Paid Too Much” to Rescue EMI
Umm, are we to take it those new Beatles records aren’t reaching their “earning potential”??
Nice, soft, pillowy TMT punchline Guy Hands and his whacky-yet-lovable British private equity firm Terra Firma (that’s “solid ground,” don’t you know) Capital Partners Ltd have certainly been hard at work improving the bottom line of ill-famed, ill-fated, sloppy eater, messy houseguest, gassy sleeper, and crumbling worldwide music conglomerate EMI. But hey, to borrow a phrase from EMI’s own hallowed catalogue, just because you’re “fixin’ a hole where the rain gets in” doesn’t mean that you don’t still have a serious fucking termite problem to figure out.
In other words, there’s still a whole mess of problems over there, as evidenced by Guy’s very decorous but still pretty unmistakably Eggs Benedict-on-face statement that Terra Firma might have “paid too much money” for the lead-lined ocean liner of such stars as The Beatles and Coldplay. The ailing music group accounted for the vast majority of Terra Firma's $1.96 billion writedowns this year and Terra Firma was forced to inject extra capital into EMI twice in just six months (including a $46 million “injection” this past May to keep the company within the terms of its debt agreements. Ouch. Sounds painful.)
Hands, currently the Chief Investment Officer, said that Terra Firma has certainly succeeded thus far in boosting the earnings at EMI‘s recorded music division to about 160 million pounds ($263 million) last year from around $82 million when they first purchased ‘er in 2007. But he nevertheless admitted during his speech at a Dow Jones private equity conference on Thursday that “if the EMI auction started two weeks later, it wouldn’t have occurred. We wouldn’t have bought it. We’d have 90 percent of our funds still to invest and we’d look like geniuses.” Damn hell-ass geniuses, Guy.
Two weeks later? No, Hands isn’t just being a Grizzly Bear fan. See, Terra Firma flew its ill-fated $6.5 billion buyout of the tale-spinning, nose-diving EMI at the height of the buyout boom, a.k.a. right before that credit crunch thing. Regret city. Solid ground? Here we come.
![the artist’s] music on iTunes.” The rapper in question, who apparently goes by the name of [Eminem](http://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/whiteboyafricanamerican.jpg){kind=link}
