Rhino Records Announces 2xCD of Unreleased Morphine Material; Surviving Members to Play Memorial Show
The death of Morphine frontman Mark Sandman was one of the greatest tragedies of '90s alt-rock. In an event that was surely jarring for everyone involved, Sandman suffered a heart attack onstage at an Italian festival in 1999. The singer and bassist died in an ambulance en route to the hospital, prematurely cutting short the career of one of the decade’s more inventive bands. Had Sandman lived, one could imagine him prospering throughout this decade in a fashion similar to fellow dark songwriters Greg Dulli or Mark Lanegan.
Thankfully, as long as Rhino Records is involved, Sandman’s legacy will not be forgotten. Being the relentless collectors that they are, the label has collected two discs of unreleased Morphine material into a set called At Your Service, which will be released on October 6. The set’s title references Sandman’s opening lines at most Morphine shows: “We are Morphine at your service.” Shadows, the set’s first disc, will consist mainly of unreleased studio tracks and alternate versions, while Shade, the second disc, contains mostly live material from radio station WMBR and more alternate versions of songs.
The 10-year anniversary of Sandman’s death will be further commemorated by a concert featuring the band’s surviving members at Pacific Park in Cambridge on September 27.
RIP: Skip Miller, former Motown executive
From Billboard:
Music industry veteran Skip Miller died Friday (Sept. 4) in Los Angeles. He was 62.Miller was born in New York City. After graduating with a chemistry degree from Hofstra University, he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders and served in the Vietnam War. Miller started his career in the music industry at Motown Records in 1971, eventually becoming president and working with artists such as Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Smokie Robinson and Diana Ross. He was named the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) music executive of the year in 1980.
After Motown Records was sold to MCA in 1988, Miller became senior VP of black, jazz and progressive music for RCA Records and worked with artists such as SWV, Me Phi Me, Stacy Earl, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Too Short, KRS-1, Mobb Deep and the Wu-Tang Clan.
He also became the president of Lion Tracks, where he managed Lionel Richie, and founded the Panda Entertainment Group.
Caroliner Rainbow to Embark on Rare, Limited-Edition, Numbered Midwestern Tour
Caroliner Rainbow, "an Industrial Bluegrass/Experimental/Noise conceptual art Costume Rock band" (a.k.a. the coolest band I've ever known), is setting out on a rare Midwestern tour, playing dates with the likes of Chris Corsano, Eyes and Arms of Smoke, Aaron Dilloway, Wasteland Jazz Unit, and Thrones. Why? This is why:
That show just happened on Sunday, the first show of the tour. Here are the remaining dates, with links to flyers -- because that's how we do it at TMT.
09.08.09 - St Louis, MO - Lemp Arts Center
with Spunky Toofers, Skarekrau Radio
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09.09.09 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
with Chris Corsano, Thrones, Haptick
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09.10.09 - Ypsilanti, MI - Dreamland Theatre
with Slither, Andrew Coltrane Orchestra, special guests
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09.11.09 - Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
with Apetechnology and see the A. Gutke / A. Lislegaard artistic opening
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09.12.09 - Oberlin, OH - The ’Sco
with Hatred, Failing Lights, Lifebones (Christopher Riggs/Matt Endahl), Disc Jockey Baaron Dilloway
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09.13.09 - Columbus, OH - The Summit
with Parallel Parameters, Tusco Terror
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09.14.09 - Lexington, KY - Al’s Bar
with Eyes and Arms of Smoke, Kraken Fury
09.15.09 - TBA, IL- TBA
Caroliner TBA with Handjob & Gargle Puppet Show, Wasteland Jazz Unit, Tiger Hatchery, Budweiser, Vertonen, Earfuck
09.17.09 - Lincoln, NE - The Bourbon Theatre
with Sat In What, Vverevvolf Grehv
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9973/carolinerflyer.jpg
Read our interview with Caroliner here.
Stooges Set To Play ATP, Ask James “Raw Power” Williamson To Complete Lineup
James Williamson, for those of you who aren’t up on your proto-punk history, put his three-chord punk guitar jams all over The Stooges' final record, Raw Power. In fact, he wrote a lot of the songs on that record. But after Williamson and Iggy Pop had a falling out in 1980, they hadn't talked in 20 years, and Williamson gave up guitar and became a dentist. That is, until Iggy called him up earlier this year asking him to play guitar with The Stooges again, replacing now deceased Ron Asheton, who died earlier this year.
Williamson, who has now taken up Hawaiian slack key guitar, met up with Mike Watt (The Minutemen) and original Stooges drummer Scott Asheton and saxophonist Steve McKay to start rehearsing. Now that Williamson is back in the game and can finally bring back the “raw power,” the band has confirmed that they will be playing Raw Power in its entirety at next year's All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in London on both May 2nd and 3rd. Though ATP is the only date set for The Stooges, Williamson says more dates are coming. If you're lucky, they just may "Search and Destroy" some dates around your neck of the woods!
RIP: Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson, dancehall producer
From The Los Angeles Times:
Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson, a keyboardist and producer who helped steer Jamaican music for nearly two decades and modernize the dancehall genre, has died. He was 47.Johnson died Sept. 1 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital in Patchogue, N.Y., following a heart attack, said Cleveland Browne, a drummer and producer who was the other half of the duo popularly known as Steely and Clevie.
Several weeks ago Johnson had surgery for a blood clot in his brain, and he had been treated for kidney problems related to diabetes and hypertension. He had moved from Kingston, Jamaica, to New York City for medical care.
Although he was best known for helping to produce numerous hits in Jamaica during the 1980s and 1990s, Johnson first drew acclaim as a keyboardist on Sugar Minott's 1979 album "Ghetto-ology," and later as a member of Roots Radics, a pioneering early 1980s dancehall band.
- Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson discography
- Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson YouTube video
The Butthole Surfers Return to Old Ways, Ask for So-Called Psychic Pills for Their Next Tour, Instead Get Stuck with Psychic Ills
In the early- to mid-'80s, The Butthole Surfers surely might have been one of the most psychedelic bands around. As of the mid-'90s, they had just become the band that did that "Pepper" song. Today, they are largely known as the band that did that "Pepper" song. Apparently though, the band will not be playing it on this tour, so if that's what you wanna hear, you can just stop reading right now.
They won't be playing that song because The Surfers are back to the early lineup of Gibby Hanes, Paul Leary, Jeff Pinkus, King Coffey, and Teresa Taylor! Does this mean they will only play the old stuff? Not sure!
In any case, The Surfers have invited fellow weirdo psych-rockers Psychic Ills to join them for the tour. They'll start things off September 24 in their home state of Texas, playing at the House of Blues in Houston, and then skip around for about a month until they end things in LA at Club Nokia on October 18. On their last three dates, they will be joined by The Melvins. The Butthole Surfers will also be doing two shows at the end of October with Peaches, one of them being a big Halloween extravaganza in Austin. Here are the dates:
09.24.09 - Houston, TX - House of Blues #
09.25.09 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues #
09.26.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade #
09.28.09 - Baltimore, MA - Sonar #
09.29.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero #
09.30.09 - Boston, MA - The Paradise #
10.02.09 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theater #
10.05.09 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall #
10.06.09 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre #
10.09.09 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater #
10.10.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge #
10.12.09 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom #
10.13.09 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo #
10.14.09 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom #
10.16.09 - San Francisco, CA - Grand Ballroom - Regency # *
10.17.09 - San Diego, CA - Canes Bar & Grill # *
10.18.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia # *
10.30.09 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre ^
10.31/09 - Austin, TX - Stubb's ^
# Psychic Ills
* The Melvins
^ Peaches
Mario Speedwagon’s Under The Radar News Round Up: Anti-Pop Consortium Reunite for New LP and Tour, Snoop Dogg Changes Name to "Niggarachi," Bowerbirds Tour Europe and the U.S., Richard Buckner Goes on Tour
Happy holiday weekend, TMTers!
- Anti-Pop Consortium have reunited and will release their fourth album, Fluorescent Black, on October 13 via Big Dada Recordings. In 2002, Beans, M. Sayyid, Earl Blaze, and High Priest shut it down to pursue other projects. Their last record was 2003’s Anti-Pop vs. Matthew Shipp (TMT Review). They will also head out on a mini-tour in October, starting in Cleveland, OH on October 1 and ending in Richmond, VA on October 13. Before that you can catch them at All Tomorrow’s Parties in Monticello, NY on September 12 or at their CD release show on September 29 at Santos. Check out their MySpace for more details.
- Snoop Dogg has changed his name to “Niggarachi” for his upcoming compilation album, Bacc To Tha Chuuch Vol, 1. Do what you will with that information.
- Bowerbirds are heading out on a big-ass tour this fall in support of their latest record, Upper Air (TMT Review). The U.K. leg of their tour kicks off in Aarhus, Denmark on October 10 and ends on November 1 in Manchester, U.K. The band then comes back to the U.S. and embarks on an East Coast tour from November 5 in Durham, NC until December 4 in New York City. A full list of dates and additional details can be found on their website.
- Richard Buckner will be hitting the road this fall. His tour kicks off in Bloomington, IN at The Bishop and ends October 3 in Hickory, NC at Fanjoy-Labrenz Gallery. Earlier this year, Merge reissued three out-of-print Richard Buckner records as digital downloads: Bloomed (1994), The Hill (2000), and Impasse (2002). Check out the Merge Records site for more details and tourdates.
Gift of Gab to Release His Second Outer-Space-Expedition-Themed Rap Album
Gift of Gab, best known as the MC in the duo Blackalicious, is set to release his first solo album in five years, which is rather infrequent for someone who calls himself Gift of Gab... I'm just saying. Escape 2 Mars, the follow-up to 2004's 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, is mostly produced by DNAEBEATS, with a few songs by Hednodic of The Mighty Underdogs, plus guest spots from Del The Funky Homosapien and Brother Ali.
The space-travel theme is apparently a device in delivering Mr. Gab's message about saving our own planet, warning that we might someday have to leave it behind for Mars. The environmental-protection/harbinger-of-space-colonization message is strong to both activists and players of Starcraft alike. Luckily, these two demographics make up 83% of Gab's fanbase, and record sales are expected to be illustrious.
Escape 2 Mars comes out on CD, vinyl, and digital download October 27, which is my birthday. I assume it is meant to be a gift for me, and I appreciate the sentiment. I guess it is pretty cool, but if they really knew me they'd know what I really want for my birthday is a new Joanna Newsom album.
Escape 2 Mars tracklisting:
1. E2MTRO
2. El Gifto Magnifico
3. Lightyears
4. Dreamin' (feat. Del The Funky Homosapien & Brother Ali)
5. In Las Vegas
6. Escape 2 Mars
7. Electric Waterfalls
8. Richman, Poorman
9. Someofthepeople
10. Spotlight
11. Rhyme Travel
12. Dreamin' (Aqua Sawtooth Remix) *
* Bonus for vinyl version only
Oh, also, he's going to go on tour in the fall and the winter and the spring. Just a few dates so far:
09.03.09 - Austin, TX - Aces Lounge
09.04.09 - Mobile, AL - Alabama Music Box
09.05.09 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater
09.11.09 - Horseshoe, NC - Deerfields Music Park (Trinumeral Festival)
Your Weekly Grant Hart (Hüsker Dü) Update Harticle: Grant Hart to Release New Album
When I worked at the self-proclaimed “Last Authentic Music Store” in Minneapolis, Grant Hart, former drummer and co-songwriter of Hüsker Dü, would always come in and dig around in the old VHS cassettes until he found some awesome Boris Karloff or other classic horror movie. We would then talk at the counter for a while about surf guitar and other such awesome stuff.
A common subject was Bob Mould, who was releasing a new album about every six months back then, and Grant would always say, “So, Bob put out another record,” and then ask if it was good. They were good, so I replied in the affirmative. However, I was always building up the courage to ask, “Hey Grant, when are you going to put out a new album? Because I love Intolerance, and I totally thought that Nova Mob was dope, and I would love to hear more stuff by you.” But I never asked; I never wanted to pry.
Apparently Grant was listening in on my thoughts, because he's going to be putting out a new album! Said new album, Hot Wax, is set to be released by Con D’or/MVD Audio October 6 and will be available on both CD and vinyl. It will also be Grant’s sixth solo release, though his first since 1999’s Good News for Modern Man.
Besides Hart’s multiple musical talents -- and stunning hair -- the album will feature appearances by musicians from Godspeed You! Black Emperor, A Silver Mt. Zion, and Rank Strangers, and was recorded in both Minneapolis and Montreal. When queried about the album, Grant replied with a descriptive response: “The song 'Narcissus, Narcissus' is my first attempt at combining ancient Greek mythology and American rock-a-billy. By merging those influences with an ice cream truck atmosphere I think I have found a style that defines this period of my career.” I have no idea what that song sounds like, but now I don’t think I've ever been more interested in hearing it.
Hart continues: “‘You're the Reflection of the Moon on the Water' is one of the most organic rock-and-roll songs that I have ever written. Its style owes a lot to my devotion for Patti Smith. It was inspired by a comment made by a monk during the selection process to find the next Panchen Lhama, who said of one candidate, ‘He is the reflection of the moon on the water but he is not the moon.’"
Awesome.
“Ground-Breaking Indie Rock Quartet” Pixies to Bring Doolittle Tour to Australia, Effectively Making Mo’ Money, Creating Mo’ Problems?
What the HELL, Stephen Malkmus? Have you been READING this shit, Spiral Stairs?? What are you DOING shilling for the Gordon-Moores, Mark Ibold??? Knock off all of these cutesy side-projects, and lets get the Reunion Train a-movin,’ huh?
Just, look, hear me out for a second. Look at what Frank and Kim and those guys in The Pixies are doing! Do they get along? No. But they’re out there anyway, maxing out the 20th Anniversary shlock-hype of 1989’s “acclaimed,” “venerated,” “groundbreaking,” “blah-blah-blah” Doolittle for all us half-assed Fight Club fans day-in and day-out. Heck, currently they are even expanding that tour (the whole shoddy gist of which is little more than them blowing through the complete tracklist to Doolittle and playing the accompanying B-sides from that era) to include five stops in Australia next spring. Those tickets go on sale on September 18, with an undoubtedly mad pre-sale bonanza commencing on September 16! Good times, familiar tunage, aging hipsters with babies at home... sounds awesome, right?
And meanwhile, while The Pixies continue to trompe le monde with bags-o-cash under their arms, what is Pavement doing?? Not a damn thing, as far as I can see! I mean, really, what... the... hell? You’ve got a stellar sophomore album of your own worth cashing in on -- er, “commemorating.” The fans? Oh, we don’t even care why you do it, man. We just wanna hear “Cut Your Hair” with the all-original lineup and think about cruising around in our big brother’s Oldsmobile again. Is that too much to ask? Don’t let The Pixies hog all of the alterna-boom reunion glory. You’re better than that. You’re not really gonna make us wait until 2014, are you, Stephen?
Pixies Doolittle Tour:
03.14.10 – Sydney, AU - Hordern Pavilion
03.18.10 – Brisbane, AU - Brisbane Convention Centre
03.20.10 – Melbourne, AU - Festival Hall
03.24.10 – Adelaide, AU - Thebarton Theatre
03.27.10 – Perth, AU - Belvoir Amphitheatre
Previously reported Doolittle dates:
09.30.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10.01.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10.02.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10.04.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - SECC
10.06.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.07.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.08.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.09.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.11.09 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderhalle
10.13.09 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Heineken Music Hall
10.14.09 - Brussels, Belgium - Forest National
10.15.09 - Paris, France - Zenith
10.16.09 - Paris, France - Zenith
11.04.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Palladium
11.08.09 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
11.09.09 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
11.12.09 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
11.13.09 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
11.14.09 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center
11.16.09 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore
11.20.09 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
11.21.09 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
11.23.09 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
11.24.09 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
11.25.09 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
11.27.09 - Boston, MA - Wang Center
11.30.09 - Washington, D.C. - Constitution Hall
The Antlers Stock Up on Flannels and Wool Socks for Upcoming Fall Tour
The Antlers are experts at preparing for the fall season (they do hail from Brooklyn, after all). This year, they’re not only coming to a local venue near you in support of Hospice (TMT Review), but they’re also blogging about some of their favorite autumn things. Check out this list from lead singer Peter Silberman:
5 Must-Have Fall Items for Touring:
- Wool Socks
- Flannels
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- The ability to grow facial hair
- These bad boys pulled straight off of a deer, to attach to our bass drum.
Antler Hunting:
09.12.09 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater (Monolith Festival)
09.16.09 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon
09.17.09 - St Louis, MO - Cicero's (Play:STL Fest)
09.18.09 - Champaign-Urbana, IL - Canopy Club (Pygmalion Festival)
09.19.09 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
09.21.09 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean &
09.22.09 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Cafe &
09.24.09 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern &
09.25.09 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall &
09.26.09 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall &
09.28.09 - Providence, RI - Jerky's Live Music Hall &
09.30.09 - Washington, DC - DC9 &
10.02.09 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's &
& Holly Miranda
