Secret Copyright Treaty Leaks: Obama’s Reign of Terror Knows No Bounds

By Brom on

Negotiations are currently underway in Seoul, South Korea on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), and apparently the internet chapter of this copyright treaty has leaked. And what do you know: its details are enough to make any freedom-lovin’ American apoplectic with rage. Amongst the proposals are international provisions to ensure that ISPs follow “notice and takedown regimes,” that policies are put in place to “deter unauthorized storage and transmission of allegedly copyright infringing content” (according to EFF), and that ACTA signatories enable legal action to be taken against those who break technological protection measures (such as DRM).

In other words, this is about extending government control over the internet all within a global framework.

ACTA began in October 2007 and aims to introduce international standards to tackle counterfeit goods and pirated copyright protected works. As summarised by Boing Boing, ISPs would “have to proactively police copyright on user-contributed material” and “cut off the internet access of accused copyright infringers or face liability.” What's key here is that internet access could be denied and content blocked simply because an allegation is made. No evidence has to be produced to justify the claims. Is there anything more un-American?

The Obama administration purportedly refused to disclose the text of the treaty “due to ‘national security’ concerns.” HMPH!

Evangelista Cancels Chunk of U.S. Tour, Keeps Dates with Thrones

By Mr P on 11-05-2009

Evangelista (a.k.a. Carla Bozulich) has canceled a significant batch of U.S. dates due to "complications home and abroad." That's the bad news. The good news is that her latest album, Prince of Truth (TMT Review), has no such complications home or abroad, and you can look forward to hearing some of its tracks on her December dates with Thrones, which are not expected to be cancelled

11.06.09 - Brussels, BE - AB #
11.08.09 - Nuernberg, DE - K4
11.09.09 - Colmar, FR - Festival Supersounds
11.10.09 - Geneva, CH - L'Usine %
12.09.09 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon @
12.10.09 - Portland, OR - Dante's @
12.11.09 - Eureka, CA - Jambalaya @
12.12.09 - San Francisco, CA - Hemlock @
12.13.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo @

11.20.09 - Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture
11.21.09 - Santa Fe, NM - The Process
11.23.09 - Austin, TX - Emo's
11.24.09 - New Orleans, LA - the ALLways Lounge
11.25.09 - Atlanta, GA - 529
11.27.09 - Philadelphia, PA - 941 Theater
11.28.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory
11.29.09 - New Haven, CT - BAR
12.03.09 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge

# Wilco

% Hair Police

@ Thrones

Sonic Youth, WHO WERE ON GOSSIP GIRL, Return to the Stage

By Liz Louche on 11-05-2009

It has been a big year for Sonic Youth. The band’s sixteenth studio album, The Eternal (TMT Review), came out this summer on their new label, Matador. In April, a song on which they collaborated with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones was used in a new piece by the prestigious Merce Cunningham Dance Company. And — perhaps most importantly — Sonic Youth also appeared on Gossip Girl, the ultra-stylish, ultra-AWESOME CW teen drama about wealthy teens on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Kim Gordon actually officiated at star-crossed mid-90s alterna-rock duo Rufus and Lily’s wedding! WHAT AN HONOR, RIGHT?!?!?

So after all this, what’s a band to do? Why, go on tour, of course! The venerable group will be playing a few shows on the East Coast before rocking ATP’s Nightmare Before Christmas and then returning for a brief venture into the American Southwest.
11.07.09 - Sao Paolo, BR - Planeta Terra Festival ************
11.21.09 - New York, NY - Terminal 5*
11.22.09 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre
11.23.09 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre
11.24.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg**
11.25.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg***
12.05.09 - Minehead, UK - ATP Nightmare Before Christmas
12.06.09 - Dublin, IE - Vicar St.
01.04.10 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater****
01.05.10 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater****
01.07.10 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues****
01.08.10 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theatre****
01.09.10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern****
01.10.10 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore****

*Dinosaur Jr.

**Talk Normal

***Jemina Pearl

****Sic Alps

************ Iggy Pop and The Stooges

Spoon New LP Is Coming Out in–OH MY GOD, It’s Still Not Out Yet???

By Liz Louche on 11-05-2009

Hooray, there’s finally a release date for that Spoon album with that single that keeps getting stuck in my head. FINALLY. Now my torment can end… on January 26, to be exact. The Transference (and therefore the previously mentioned single/title track of their last EP Got Nuffin’) will be released on Merge. Never got into Spoon? You're in luck: about a month ago, the band also released digital versions of their first four albums -- Telephono, A Series of Sneaks, Girls Can Tell, Kill The Moonlight -- on their official website.

In other Spooncentric news, the group is playing a presumably very special New Year’s show in Milwaukee. (No, no one has to make a hard decision about bullying after school, and Joey Lawrence is not the guest star, but hey, it’s New Year’s, so you never know, right?) Watch this space for more info about tourdates in support of Transference, but until then enjoy the tracklist!

Transference tracklisting:

1. Before Destruction
2. Is Love Forever?
3. The Mystery Zone
4. Who Makes Your Money
5. Written In Reverse
6. I Saw The Light
7. Trouble Comes Running
8. Goodnight Laura
9. Out Go The Lights
10. Got Nuffin
11. Nobody Gets Me But You

Not Enough Love to Go Around: Copyright Laws Prohibit Sublime’s Former Members from Using Band Name

By Rachel B on 11-05-2009

Well, it looked like the '90s were back and better than ever (depending on how you feel about the '90s) during Cypress Hill's Smoke Out Festival, where former Sublime bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh played with a new singer, Rome Ramirez, under their former moniker. Although they were "thrilled to reconnect with their fans around the world," the long arm of the law wasn't feeling as mushy.

According to Los Angeles judge Howard Matz, the passing of former Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell means that the Sublime name can't ever be resurrected, no matter how many original band members are still breathing. The Nowell family maintains: "Prior to his untimely passing, both Bud and Eric acknowledged that Brad Nowell was the sole owner of the name Sublime. It was Brad's expressed intention that no one use the name Sublime in any group that did not include him, and Brad even registered the trademark 'Sublime' under his own name." So much for sharing the love.

For now, Sublime's two remaining members fully intend to "take the court's advice and work on a business solution to this issue." Take your time, guys.

Grant Hart Is Coming to Your Town to Sing to You Personally! Well, Not Personally, But He’ll Be Singing!

By Kid Midnight on 11-04-2009

Fresh off the release of his newest album in 10 (!!!) years, Grant Hart has now announced that he will be setting off on a U.S. tour in support of Hot Wax (available since October through Con D'or/MVD Audio).

If you know anything about Grant Hart, then you know that Hüsker Dü were (and are) awesome and that they had some legendarily awesome shows during their career. Let me assure you that Grant’s solo shows are just as awesome (okay, not as awesome, but still pretty cool), and I’m sure that this tour will be equally entertaining

11.05.09 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
11.06.09 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
11.07.09 - Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge *
11.08.09 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
11.12.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Silver Lake Lounge
11.13.09 - San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside #
11.15.09 - San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern
11.17.09 - Portland, OR- Dante's
11.18.09 - Seattle, WA - High Dive
12.11.09 - Chicago, IL - Darkroom
12.14.09 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
12.15.09 - Montreal, QC - Sale Rosa
12.16.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
12.17.09 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
12.19.09 - New York, NY - 92Y (Tribecca)
12.20.09 - Bordentown, NJ - Record Collector
12.22.09 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop

* The Meat Pupppets

# Dead To Me

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