RIP: Jerry Fuchs of Maserati, !!!, The Juan Maclean

by David Nadelle on 11-09-2009

Another Thursday night. After-work drinks at the local shithole usually end with a half-eaten donair and a piss-poor sleep on the sofa, but tonight there was something different in the air for our hero. Most asked after the fact say it was a mix of pickled eggs and contraband Drakkar but for some it was much more magical. He spies a few interesting faces, one in particular among a group of well-ridden regulars. Feathered hair AND red denim skintights... BA-BAM! Normally a free G&T would be enough to corral one of these cougs back to the lair but something told him that additional help might be required to snare this particular cub. He slides off his bar stool and walks as erect as a salacious Greek novelty keychain toward the digital jukebox secured to the back wall. Coins dispensed, his eyes dart through the flipping CD covers with quiet conviction. His hand stops automatically on the button and his fingers instinctively press "31-03" on the grimy number-pad. Walking confidently back to his barstool, he flashes a "done deal" smile at his soon-to-be conquest and thinks to himself, "I can't believe they have Bob Seger's 'Night Moves' here!"

I can. And if you have ever had your ears held captive by one of those dreadful digital bar jukeboxes that invariably spin the endless likes of Steve Miller, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and, yes, Bob Seger as selection staples, so can you. It doesn't have to be this way. I have frolicked in suds-soused sounds that came from good digital bar players crammed with French yé-yé, au currant British indie labels, or '50s rockabilly rarities and '60s and '70s soul treats. With the announcement of renewed investment digital media leader Ecast, the prospect of better bar times seems all the more likely.

Ecast, "the leader in place-based interactive media," knows that people will always need booze, especially in the most depressing of economic times, and has secured $17 million in funding to keep full-tilt drunks and mild social drinkers alike happy as clams. The company provides bars and restaurants with a network of 10,000 touchscreen, internet-connected digital jukeboxes, generating profit by displaying more than a billion ads monthly. In addition to contributions from current investors Foundry Group, Escalate Capital Partners, DCM, and Crosslink Capital, the $17M comes from Ecast's new investing partner and electronics giant LG. Ecast presently has label rights to Sony BMG, Warner, and Universal material in addition to some independent imprints distributed through IODA. Could the licensing rights to Load, Orange Twin, or Ecstatic Peace! be far behind? Probably not, but one can dare to dream. It would be better than having to sit through "Under Pressure" a dozen times a night. Narrowly better.

by Liz Louche on 11-06-2009

Fun fact about Calexico: you can buy really awesome Dia de los Muertos paper flags on their website! Fact #2: John (of the band) recently composed a film score for Taiwanese filmmaker Peter Chang’s Man with a Movie Camera-esque video portrait of Tokyo, Toyko Is Dreaming, which premiered about a month ago at a film festival in England. Whoa, what’s this? Another fact? YES. Here goes: Calexico is touring very, very soon. For the majority of the dates, the group is being billed simply as founding members Joey and John of Calexico. Life on the road wraps up with a performance as part of seminal LA punk band X’s 2nd Annual Merry X-mas show.

Dates:
11.08.09 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
11.10.09 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre *
11.11.09 - Tarrytown, NY - The Tarrytown Music Hall *
11.12.09 - Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall *
11.13.09 - Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre *
11.14.09 - Providence, RI - Lupo’s *
11.15.09 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre *
11.16.09 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre *
12.19.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern **

* performing as Joey and John of Calexico

** X

by Jon Lorenz on 11-06-2009

ESP-Disk', the label responsible for shedding light on such monumental free jazz players as Albert Ayler, Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman, Milford Graves, and Pharoah Sanders -- not to mention weirdo folk bands like The Fugs, The Godz, Holy Modal Rounders, and Pearls Before Swine -- is turning 45 years old. Since 1964, the label has released over 100 records, and its back catalogue is still highly sought after by collectors.

On November 8, ESP-Disk' will be throwing itself a big ol' b-day party at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York. In addition to performances by many of the artists included in its catalogue over the years, ESP will be helping out a great cause by giving 100% of the door money to the Jazz Foundation of America. They'll be using a sliding scale for tickets, from $20 to $100, but of course donations will be accepted for higher than the suggested amount. The event will start at 2 PM with 11 groups playing, including Talibam!, Alan Sondheim, Sonny Simmons Trio, and many more. Check out the full lineup here:

- 2 PM - Mercy

Joe Morris - bass

Charles Downs - drums

Ras Moshe - tenor, alto

Matt LaVelle - trumpet, bass clarinet

- 2:40 PM - Alan Sondheim

Myk Freedman - guitar

Azure Carter - voice

Alan Sondheim - string instruments

- 3:20 PM - Paul Thornton solo

- 4:00 PM - Flow Trio

Louie Belogenis - tenor sax

Joe Morris - bass

Charles Downs - drums

- 4:40 PM - Kali. Z. Fasteau

Nioka Workman - cello

Kali. Z. Fasteau - soprano sax, viola, drums, nai flute, voice, mizmar

- 5:20 PM - Randy Burns solo

- 5:50 PM - Totem>

Bruce Eisenbeil - guitar

Tom Blancarte - bass

Andrew Drury - drums

- 6:30 PM - Juini Booth solo bass

- 7:00 PM - Giuseppi Logan Quartet

Matt LaVelle - trumpet, bass clarinet

François Grillot - bass

Warren Smith - drums

Giuseppi Logan - saxophone

- 7:50 PM - Talibam!

Matthew Mottel - piano, fender rhodes, mini moog

Kevin Shea - drums

- 8:30 PM - Sonny Simmons Trio

Warren Smith - drums

Tom Abbs - bass

Sonny Simmons - saxophone