After the recent season finale of the smash MTV reality show Paris Hilton's My New BFF, my nights have been unexpectedly empty and devoid of excitement. What other source has tantalizing glimpses into a world much more fun, much more thrilling than my daily workaday existence? Life had seemed hopelessly dull and whack.
Until now!
With the unveiling of the No Fun Fest 2009 lineup, finally there is something to look forward to once more. Hold the commercials, cue the noise. Looks like Merzbow is once again coming back to the U.S. for a set! Also making appearances will be TMT favorites like Emeralds (TMT Review), Black Pus (TMT Review), Pedestrian Deposit (TMT Review), Chris Corsano (TMT Review), Skullflower (TMT Review), Blank Dogs (TMT Review), and C. Spencer Yeh (TMT Review) playing with Trevor Tremaine (TMT Review) and Rafael Toral (TMT Review).
And while Sonic Youth members are always dispersed throughout the fest in various collaborations, this time they're playing their own set! Also expect Bastard Noise, Axolotl, Bardo Bond, the always uncompromising CON-DOM, and much, much more.
It all goes down May 15-17 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Alas, I hear Hilton is more of a Coachella girl
05.15.09-05.17.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
Final lineup:
Merzbow
Sonic Youth
Bastard Noise
Grey Wolves
Bardo Pond
Thrones
Blank Dogs
Skullflower
CON-DOM
Conrad Schnitzler's Con-Cert
Xeno and Oaklander
Emeralds
Raglani
Pulse Emitter
Black Pus
Axolotl
Yellow Tears
Chris Corsano
Rafael Toral with C. Spencer Yeh and Trevor Tremaine
Seymour Stein, VP at Warner Music Group and founder of Sire Records, offered this tiny nugget of a quote for all of us to read and laugh at, as quoted in The Globe and Mail (via Coolfer):
We blew it. The first major music labels were all phonograph manufacturers, but by the time the Beatles came along, most companies were no longer involved in the hardware. Had we remained in control of the hardware, we wouldn't be hurting as much as we are now. And the iPod would be ours.
Yes, you sure "blew it," record companies. What's keeping you in the red isn't the horrible music product that you promote or your contradictory approach to the digital world or that you call digital-oriented consumers "pirates"or, as Coolfer suggests, your apparent lack of interest in entering the cash cow world of merchandise, ticketing, e-commerce, management, or touring. No, it's because you don’t control the production and sale of, uh, hardware, like the iPod...
Can you believe executives like these are calling the shots? They really need to stop worrying about what decisions they COULD have made and worry about what great decisions they SHOULD be making now. Like putting out my record.
Antony and The Johnsons -- not to be confused with Anthony Johnston, my freshman roommate -- have confirmed a 15-date tour of the U.S. Just so happens that my bud Anthony Johnston is also a big fan of Anthony and The Johnsons, so this'll be PERFECT. The group's new album, The Crying Light, hits stores January 20 via Secretly Canadian, which gives me and Anthony just enough time to memorize all the words before the tour.
Here's what Antony had to say about the new album:
My new album "The Crying Light" is dedicated to the great dancer Kazuo Ohno. In performance I watched him cast a circle of light upon the stage, and step into that circle, and reveal the dreams and reveries of his heart. He seemed to dance in the eye of something mysterious and creative; with every gesture he embodied the child and the feminine divine. He's kind of like my art parent.
And here's what Anthony Johnston had to say:
Why is it only drug dealers and software developers call their clients users? Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra? Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? If God dropped acid, would he see people? If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too? If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?
Hahaha! Can't you see why I'm friends with him? Fucking hilarious.
When last writing about Mr. Deacon (TMT Review), I submitted my pleas for more information about his forthcoming album, Bromst. Well, it looks like Dan has answered my prayers (or so I would like to believe this was just for me) by announcing that his follow-up to Spiderman of the Rings will be coming our way (relatively) soon -- March 24, 2009, to be exact, courtesy of Carpark Records.
Deacon will also be mixing up his famous live show with the addition of a huge-ass band. Featuring a hodgepodge of Baltimore all-stars, the ensemble will be making its debut tonight at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple to help promote Bromst and will later tour in 2009 charged with the same task. The show promises a few solo Deacon songs, sets from Dirty Projectors and So Percussion, and, of course, surprises!
According to my buds at Pitchfork, Animal Collective are set to release their forthcoming album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, EARLY. And by early, I mean they've set a different release date for the vinyl release. While the CD and digital releases are still still scheduled for January 20 (January 12 in the UK), the vinyl + digital download come January 6, the first Tuesday of 2009.
According to people close to the band, "You don't want to miss this album. Even if you were planning to commit suicide." So, if you were planning to commit suicide on New Year's Eve, you should perhaps consider rescheduling it for January 7. Go ahead and blow your brains at that time.
Meanwhile, AC have recently scheduled more listening parties. Here they be:
It was October 20. Ottawa, Ontario. It was a dark, windy night. And a little chilly. The kind of weather best suited for a nice cashmere sweater and a scarf, perhaps a late-afternoon hot chocolate. Not a star was in sight, unless of course you count music act Stars at the Scotiabank Place arena.
Having released the Sad Robots EP back in September, Stars were clearly excited to be performing live again. This show would mark their first of a 12-date tour of their home country Canada.
But, as excited as they were to perform, Stars were in fact more excited to be sharing the stage with the Best Band in the World, Coldplay. The show was a one-off before both bands would say their goodbyes and head on their respective Canadian tours, so Stars knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Eager to watch Coldplay perform, Stars quickly ran through their set, playing most of their songs at least 25% faster than normal. Coldplay's fans cheered loudly, but it was clear to everyone -- including Stars -- that the Real Deal was about to perform and that any warm-up act is but a slight breath of fleeting hot air.
After their set, Stars quickly found a comfortable spot from which to watch Coldplay's set.
At 8:30 PM, Coldplay finally hit the stage. Like Gods. One minute into their opening song "Yellow," the members of Stars fell to their knees and started weeping. "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me!" yelled vocalist Torquil Campbell, in between weeps. "Yeah I know. I will never forget this moment for as long as I live," replied keyboardist Chris Seligman, hands pointed toward the ceiling, as if reaching for the heavens. Judging by how things were going so far, it wouldn't have surprised anyone if he did find himself in heaven by the end of the night.
Two hours later, Coldplay finished their third encore and were preparing their goodbyes. The audience, exhausted from crying throughout the set due to the ineffable beauty of Coldplay's music, started cheering so loudly, in such a deafening manner, that Coldplay began to cry too. The members of Stars looked at each other in excited approval. They knew too that this was The Moment, the kind of experience that would forever shape their lives.
When everyone thought things couldn't get any better, Coldplay did what everyone knew had to happen: they launched into "Yellow" again. The crowd went nuts; Coldplay looked as energetic as ever; and each member of Stars closed their eyes and sang along: "Look at the stars/ Look how they shine for you!" The night felt like it could last forever.
