Nachtmystium Booted from Toyota-Sponsored Event for Alleged Ties to Nazism; Say What You Want about the Tenets of National Socialism, At Least It's an Ethos
In a shocking turn of events, the Illinois psychedelic black metal band Nachtmystium have been banned from playing the Toyota Scion Rock Fest in Atlanta this past Saturday due to alleged ties to Nazism. Although the group has released material on Unholy Records, a label known to promote and adhere to Neo-Nazism, they claim the relation was business-oriented only and that Nachtmystium in no way espouse or condone the ideologies or practices of Nazism. In fact, in a press release put out by band leader Blake Judd, the group claims to be totally apolitical and consider themselves to be more like "hippies" than your average leather-clad metal dudes. Judd also stated he would be filing legal proceedings against those who slander or libel the band and cause them lost opportunities.
While Toyota hasn't made any public statements regarding the debacle, we can all sleep easily tonight knowing that corporate entities like IBM, Coca-Cola, Bayer, Volkswagen, Chase Bank, and Ford have never funded Nazism or have been affiliated with National Socialism or fascism in any way. Cough.
Fog's Andrew Broder Releases Four Five Experimental Albums Online
With Andrew Broder’s formerly main music outlet Fog on hiatus, the hip-hop/indie rock/electronic musician needs something to do. So what did he decide to do? Why, make music and release it exclusively online, of course!
Mr. Broder has released an astonishing five albums in roughly just as many weeks, and he’s perfectly okay if you go ahead and download ’em (sorry, there's no website to link to). However, he does hope that you leave a lil’ sumthin’ sumthin’ in the way of a donation, so he can still eat and continue to release his “audio-diary of-sorts” for awhile.
"The material on these records is improvised, layered music for guitar and turntables," says Broder. "It is a process and style I have been developing over the last couple of years, and it is a big departure from Fog's music."
Below are some links that bring you to the albums, as well as Broder’s preferred tracklisting for each one. And, hey, if you got no cash, don’t worry. Broder says it is okay if you can’t pay -- just tell everyone you know if you like it, and make THEM pay!
1. I Must Fix
2. All the Problems
1. Distance
2. Toughen
3. Wet Match
1. Gas Leak
2. One Hundred Dollars
3. Stop Making Plans
4. Vacuum
1. No Argument Here
2. Lasting
3. Revel
4. Pay the Man
5. All Automatic
6. Until it Bleeds
1. Reliance
2. Placate
3. Goodbye Tom
4. Bats
5. Places No One Else Is
6. Reasons Not to Go
7. Much
8. By Force
If you would like to donate, PayPal Broder some money to thefog@visi.com.
British Sea Power Go Back to their Roots with a New Soundtrack Set for May 5
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
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
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
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
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
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
Weasel Walter Jams with Everyone, Including Your Momma
Now that The Flying Luttenbachers are no more (TMT News), Weasel Walter (XBXRX, Burmese, Lake of Drakula) is bustin a move on the free improv world, jammin' with anyone he can. He'll soon be hitting the road for the next few months, tearing out your ears with his brand of high-energy, brutal free-improv.
For the U.S. portion of the tour, Weasel will be cruising around, tapping into each town's free improv circle for each show, as well as doing one No Wave video lecture at Bard College. For the European portion, he'll join up with Sheik Anorak and Mario Rechtern for a week, Mary Halvorson and Peter Evens for another week, Marco Eneidi for a few dates, and then finishing up the tour with one date in London with Evan Parker and Peter Evans.
Tons of new releases on his ugEXPLODE label, so check them out. And check out Leveer's recent DeLorean review of The Flying Luttenbacher's 2007 release Incarceration by Abstraction here.
Here are the tourdates:
03.01.09 - Chicago - Hungry Brain - Weasel Walter/Mike Forbes/Andrew Scott Young + WW/Josh Berman/Jason Stein/a.o.
03.05.09 Annandale-On-Hudson, NY, Bard College - NO WAVE video lecture
03.07.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Zebulon - Mary Halvorson/Weasel Walter
03.08.09 - Providence, RI - The Dark Lady - Nondor Nevai Ensemble feat. Weasel Walter w/ Sioux City Pete and the Beggars, Made in Mexico a.o
03.09.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Art Alliance - Darius Jones/Evan Lipson/Weasel Walter
03.16.09 - Sacramento, CA - Java Lounge -Ava Mendoza/Devin Hoff/Weasel Walter
Weasel Walter / Sheik Anorak with guest Mario Rechtern:
04.30.09 - Paris - TBA
05.01.09 - Nantes - Festival venue TBA
05.02.09 - Bordeaux - La Centrale
05.03.09 - Clermont Ferrand - Raymond Bar
05.04.09 - Lyon - Grnd Zero
05.05.09 - Genève - Cave12
Weasel Walter / Mary Halvorson / Peter Evans:
05.06.09 - Paris - Les Instants Chavires
05.07.09 - Berlin - Ausland
05.08.09 - Wurzburg - Cafe Cairo
05.09.09 - Graz - Lendwirbel Festival
05.10.09 - Vienna - The Rhiz
05.11.09 - Budapest - TBA
Weasel Walter / Marco Eneidi:
05.12.09 - Vienna - Celeste
05.13.09 - Zagreb - KSET
05.14.09 - need show Slovenia (need help)
Weasel Walter / Evan Parker / Peter Evans:
05.22.09 - London - Tufnel Park Dome
[Photo: Joe Tunis]
RIAA Cuts Employees, Internet Dies Laughing Smugly
Remember in Robert Zemeckis’ 1988 classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit? when Bob Hoskins performs such a sidesplitting slapstick routine that it leads to the deaths of five animated weasels? You do? Awesome! Now, as long as your imagination has got that scene queued up, replace Bob Hoskins with roughly 30 (possibly 100+) soon-to-be jobless RIAA employees, and swap the weasels’ hysterical laughter with a holier-than-thou yet distinctively insecure cackle and turn their zoot suits into “Chocolate Rain” t-shirts. Congratulations! You now have a reasonably accurate visual representation of the internet’s capacity for sensitivity and compassion, except in this scenario the weasels don’t die, they just keep laughing and laughing and £4µ9h1n9 forevermore.
Now I could be wrong, but I suspect that not every RIAA staffer has a curly mustache, a few yards of rope, and easy access to railroad tracks. Even though these layoffs will cut a swath through some anti-piracy units, I imagine most of the jerkoffs who make all the jerkoff decisions will stay put in their high positions. There have yet to be any specifics about what types of jobs are being cut, but maybe, just maybe, the RIAA’s heart grew three sizes bigger and they’re downsizing every key member of their anti-piracy staff. But back here in reality, it’s more likely they’re ditching secretaries and bean counters who don’t have much say in the organization’s policy.
So, quit laughing when people lose their livelihood, internet, because once this economy kicks you in the beanbag, I doubt that Karma is gonna reward you with that job in Doritos’ quality assurance department you’ve always dreamed of.
Jai Ho! Dirty Projectors' Bitte Orca Set for Release in June, Which May or May Not Be A Concept Album About a Mermaid Triumphing in the Face of Adversity
On June 9, Domino (in conjunction with Domino the rapper) will release Bitte Orca, Dirty Projectors' fifth LP and follow-up to 2007's life-altering-because -- really -- everything-alters-your-life-whether-you-know-it-or-not Rise Above (TMT Review). The album will be preceeded by a single, "Stillness Is the Move," which will include B-sides and a Lucky Dragons remix.
Meanwhile, Dirty Projectors have added two new touring members, bassist Nat Baldwin (TMT Review) and vocalist Haley Dekle, according to P4K. They'll play some scattered U.S. dates starting today that will take them to SXSW and then ultimately to England. While they're in London, Bang on a Can will debut a work by head DP member Dave Longstreth at New York's Kaufman Center.
Meanwhile, another album is already in the bag, according to Billboard. We expect details shortly. Jai ho, indeed!
Bitte Orca tracklist:
1. Cannibal Resource
2. Temecula Sunrise
3. The Bride
4. Stillness Is the Move
5. Two Doves
6. Useful Chamber
7. No Intention
8. Remade Horizon
9. Fluorescent Half Dome
02.27.09 - Bennington, VT - Bennington College Student Center *
02.28.09 - Haverford, PA - Lunt Basement
03.06.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Walker Art Center
03.07.09 - Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College Gardner Lounge
03.19.09 - Austin, TX - The Parish - SXSW NPR
03.19.09 - Austin, TX - Emo's Annex - SXSW Windish showcase
03.20.09 - Austin, TX - Emo's Jr. - SXSW Pitchfork/Windish bash
03.21.09 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.24.09 - Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms @
03.25.09 - Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Bach @
03.27.09 - Belfast, Ireland - Black Box @
03.28.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Crawdaddy @
03.29.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - ABC2 @
03.31.09 - Brighton, England - Komedia @
04.01.09 - Manchester, England - Mint Lounge @
04.02.09 - London, England - Scala @
04.03.09 - Bristol, England - Arnolfini @
04.04.09 - Coventry, England - Taylor Johns House @
* Icy Demons
@ Lucky Dragons, Polar Bear
