Speak more clearly, dammit; The Love Language play summer dates with Camera Obscura
By Erika H on Jun 1 2010
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, eh? Such is the case with The Love Language, whose new album Libraries (their first with Merge — TMT News) will hit stores and hearts July 13. Love is painful; love is transient: in short, love can suck pretty hard. Happily, you’d never know it from the jangle and cheery beat of the songs, unless you catch the lyrics and realize that lead singer/songwriter Stuart McLamb is probably as sick of PDAs as you are (or maybe not — observe, bitter hearts, their MySpace background).
These romantic linguists are going on tour this summer with former Merge darlings, Camera Obscura (whose last album, My Maudlin Career, marked a switch to 4AD).
Tourdates:
06.03.10 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel *
06.04.10 - Cincinnati, OH - Fountain Square *
06.05.10 - Richmond, VA - The National *
06.07.10 - New York, NY - Grant Ballroom (Manhattan Center) *
06.20.10 - Chicago, IL - Taste of Randolph Street Festival
07.12.10 - Washington, DC - Black Cat Backstage
07.14.10 - Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bear’s Place
07.15.10 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
07.17.10 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
09.11.10 - Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch Music Festival
* Camera Obscura
• The Love Language: http://myspace.com/thelovelanguage
• Merge: http://www.mergerecords.com
[Photo: Stacy Peterson]
Diplo makes a movie: favela music documentary to be released soon
By Liz Louche on Jun 1 2010
So you’re a jetsetting, partystartin’ international DJ who has founded your own label, introduced the world to Brazilian dance sensations Bonde do Role, and produced a single for Snoop Dogg. What do you do next? Well, if you’re Diplo, you fly to Brazil and direct a documentary about favela music with creative partner Leandro HBL.
Favela is a name for the Rio slums behind the unique and awesome music known as funk carioca. It combines 80s electrofunk with Brazilian cultural elements, is meant to be cranked up LOOOOUD, and is seriously incredible. Diplo’s film, entitled Favela on Blast (also the name of an earlier mix tape by the man), was an official selection at the South By Southwest film festival in 2009. Diplo and Leandro had to deal with limited funding and translation issues to bring this project to the people, and ‘brought’ it will be when Diplo’s label, Mad Decent, releases the film digitally and on DVD. You can also catch a sneak peak on Pitchfork TV’s “One Week Only,” starting July 9.
• Diplo: http://www.myspace.com/diplo
Dan Deacon-organized Whartscape gets Lightning Bolt, No Age, Oneohtrix Point Never, every other awesome act ever
By E. Nagurney on Jun 1 2010
For the past five years, Baltimore’s Wham City has put together Whartscape, an annual arts and music festival featuring plenty of Baltimore’s best acts, along with some great out-of-towners. The fest typically runs simultaneously with the citywide Artscape fest, but this year Whartscape runs July 22-25, a week after Artscape. What will remain the same is the fest’s typically awesome lineup.
From the Baltimore side of things, Whartscape features festival organizer Dan Deacon with his Dan Deacon Ensemble, Ponytail, Double Dagger, Future Islands, Video Hippos, Adventure, and Lower Dens. The lineup of touring bands is similarly killer, boasting TMT favorites like Xiu Xiu, Lightning Bolt, Oneohtrix Point Never, Burning Star Core, Social Junk, No Age, HEALTH, Arab on Radar, and Animal Collective’s Deakin. Basically, if you like things that are noisy and fun, this is where you want to be this summer.
For the full lineup, head over to the Wham City website. Tickets will be available on June 15 via Wham City’s site and the True Vine Record Shop in Baltimore.
• Whartscape: http://www.whamcity.com
Zs, Child Abuse, Weasel Walter play benefit for those affected by oil spill disaster
By Liz Louche on May 28 2010
01. Do you like challenging, avant-garde rock’n’roll?
02. How about benefits?
03. Oil spills?
04. Fun?
If you answered “Yes, yes, no, yes,” well, then have I got an event for you. (Fact: “no” is the ONLY answer for #3.) Solid PR has booked a last-minute benefit for the Greater New Orleans Foundation to assist the victims of the oil spill disaster. Performers include freaky/no wave/drone band Zs (whose New Slaves made our Eureka! list), Lovepump United artists Child Abuse, industrial/noise pioneers Controlled Bleeding, no-wave hero Weasel Walter’s Cellular Chaos, and DJ 1000TimesYes (a.k.a. Chris Weingarten, formerly of Parts and Labour) this Wednesday June 2 at Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium.
The oil slick is said to be the size of a small country. Ick. Hats off to Solid PR and their partner Arthur Magazine for providing music fans with a fun way to do something good for our friends in NOLA, both pelican and human alike
06.02.10 - Brooklyn, NY - Shea Stadium
• Solid PR: http://www.solidpr.com
• Greater New Orleans Foundation: http://www.gnof.org
• Arthur Magazine: http://www.arthurmag.com
Mountain Goats go on tour, providing John Darnielle a quick respite from penning tales of mankind’s misery
By E. Nagurney on May 28 2010
I don’t know a whole lot of official information on The Mountain Goats’ plans for the near future, but I’d wager it involves recorded tales of human misery. The subjects of alcoholism, drug use, religion, and black metal will likely be involved. But I do know one thing about The Mountain Goats’ plans for the near future: they’re going on tour starting this weekend. But don’t worry, the tour ends mid-June, giving John Darnielle plenty of time to record more heartbreak and sadness.
Mountain Goats tourdates:
05.30.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
05.31.10 - George, WA - Sasquatch
06.01.10 - Victoria, BC - Element
06.02.10 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
06.04.10 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
06.05.10 - Missoula, MT - The Palace
06.07.10 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Hall *
06.08.10 - Edmonton, AB - Edmonton Events Center *
06.09.10 - Saskatoon, SK - The Odeon Events Center *
06.10.10 - Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Centre *
06.12.10 - Iowa City, IA - The Blue Moose Tap House
06.13.10 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
06.15.10 - Englewood, CA - Gothic Theatre
06.16.10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
09.08.10 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Leeds
09.09.10 - London, UK - Koko
09.10.10 - Dorset, UK - End the Road Festival
10.08.10 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
* The New Pornographers
• The Mountain Goats: http://www.mountain-goats.com
