Upcoming Raincoats Documentary Projected to Kick as Much Ass as Their Music
By jbottie on 10-12-2009
The "godmothers of grunge," post-punk rockers The Raincoats blew minds and won hearts with their raw vocals, animal energy, and jangly guitars shortly after forming as an all-female group back in the late 70s. Brits Anna DeSilva, Gina Birch, and Palmolive (of The Slits, who later left the band) were true iconoclasts, from the music they made all the way down to their refusal to shave their legs. But, curiously, the story about how The Raincoats unwittingly instigated the riot grrrrl movement and defined the post-punk sound has never been told on the big screen.
UNTIL NOW! Instead of waiting around for somebody else to come along, bassist Gina Birch kept true to punk’s DIY ethos and made her own damn movie about her band. The documentary, called Fairytales: A Work in Progress, showcases live footage -- most of it unseen -- and interviews with the many musicians and artists who have cited the band as a major influence. As the story goes, Kurt Cobain was an adoring fan of the band. In the liner notes of Insecticide, he wrote about meeting Anna DeSilva in her cousin’s antique shop while on a search for a duplicate copy of their debut album (TMT Review). He went on to constantly praise the group, encouraged them to reunite, and played a major role in getting their albums reissued so their music could reach younger ears.
The documentary will feature new interviews with Anna DeSilva, Gina Birchvocalist, journalist Vivian Goldman, Goeff Travis from Rough Trade Records, Beth Ditto of The Gossip, Peaches, No Bra, Chicks on Speed, Sonic Youth, Andy Gill from Gang of Four, and former bandmembers Viv Albertine and Palmolive (of The Slits), and Jane Woodgate (of The Modettes).
Dates of its stateside release have yet to be announced, but it wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to guess that anyone with a decent amount of respect for post-punk will be eagerly awaiting. Watch the trailer for the film here.
Comebacks Galore! Themselves to Tour with Eyedea & Abilities
By Kid Midnight on 10-12-2009
Fresh off their newly minted “comeback” mix tape theFREEhoudini and teetering on the eve of their “comeback” album CrownsDown -- set for release on October 10, 2009 via anticon. -- Themselves have announced a fall tour with recently reactivated hip-hop duo Eyedea & Abilities.
CrownsDown, the group's first proper full-length album in seven years, is described by the band as “a careful and vicious exhibition of mastered rap tactics and sampling ethics.” Themselves created and structured the album as a means of exploring “the essential ten commandments” of hip-hop. Not quite sure what that means? Let me explain: Jel and Doseone, in preparation for writing and recording, dug through their crates of “favorite hip-hop albums ever” and created a list of the common, most effective forms of hip-hop songs and then tailored their own sound to meet these self-described patterns. The album has 10 tracks that span crowd favorites, ranging from the ”guess who’s back,” the “don’t bite,” the “don’t fuck with my DJ,” and the “dropping science,” as well as six other archetypal hip-hop jamz.
Meanwhile, Eyedea & Abilities will also be touring in support of a new album, By The Throat, their first new material in five years, released earlier this year. Check them out with Themselves on the majority of these tourdates:
11.19.09 - Austin, TX - Highball #
11.20.09 - Denton, TX - Hailey's #
11.21.09 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon #
11.22.09 - New Orleans, LA - The Parish Room - HOB #
11.23.09 - Atlanta, GA - 529 #
11.24.09 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 #
11.25.09 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel #
11.27.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory #
11.28.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs #
11.29.09 - Providence, RI - Jerky's Live Music Hall #
12.01.09 - Toronto, ONT - El Mocambo #
12.02.09 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig #
12.03.09 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's #
12.04.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity #
12.05.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club #
12.11.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
12.12.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
* Busdriver
# Eyedea & Abilities
CrownsDown tracklist:
1. Back II Burn
2. Oversleeping
3. The Mark
4. Gangster Of Disbelief
5. Daxstrong
6. You Ain't It
7. Roman Is As Roman Does
8. Skinning The Drum
9. Deadcatclear II
10. Gold Teeth Will Roll
