RIP: Chris Sievey, a.k.a. Frank Sidebottom
By Shane Mack on 06-21-2010
From the BBC:
The man who played comedian, musician and North West showbiz legend Frank Sidebottom has died.
It is understood entertainer Chris Sievey collapsed at his home in Hale, Greater Manchester, in the early hours.
The 54-year-old was pronounced dead at Wythenshawe Hospital, a spokeswoman confirmed.
Known for his over-sized, papier-mache head, he found fame through a series of TV appearances in the 1980s and remained a popular cult comedy figure.
• Frank Sidebottom: http://myspace.com/franksidebottom
Mountain Man announce release date for debut LP Made the Harbor; tour non-mountainous areas
By Erika H on 06-21-2010
You’re well-versed enough these days that you know not to expect much truth from a name. Little Girls share nary a female part among them; same with Women, Girls, and any number of distaff-named bands without a corresponding soprano. In keeping with this fad for erroneous appellation, Mountain Man consist not so much of one woodsy, Jedediah Smith-type, but a lineup more along the lines of a mountain man’s three daughters.
Molly Erin Sarle, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, and Amelia Randall Meath are not sisters, but their harmonies evoke the image of a trio of beautiful, homespun girls in gingham, singing to the open frontier from a dusty front porch – even when they play on a street in New York (video). Made the Harbor, Mountain Man’s debut full-length, is slated for release July 20 on Partisan Records, the same day as a 10-inch release (Sun Dog) from Underwater Peoples.
Before then, however, Mountain Man are leaving their home of Vermont to tour Europe and then the U.S. with Bear in Heaven and Twin Sister (who are only 1/5 female, in case you were wondering).
Tourdates:
06.22.10 - Manchester, UK - The Deaf Institute
06.23.10 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Melkweg
06.24.10 - London, UK - Union Chapel
06.26.10 - London, UK - Hard Rock Calling Festival
06.27.10 - Glastonbury, UK - Glastonbury Festival (The Queens Head Stage)
06.28.10 - Leeds, UK - Nation of Shopkeepers
06.29.10 - Stockholm, Sweden - Way out West Party (Debaser)
06.30.10 - Goteborg, Sweden - Way out West Party (Pustervisksbaren)
07.01.10 - London, UK - St. Augustine’s Tower
07.02.10 - Dublin, Ireland - Crawdaddy
07.13.10 - Cambridge, MA - TT the Bear’s Place *^
07.14.10 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall *^
07.15.10 - Toronto, ON - El Mocambo *^
07.16.10 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig *^
07.17.10 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall (Pitchfork Festival afterparty) *^
07.18.10 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club ^
07.19.10 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *^
07.20.10 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club *^
07.09.10 - Toledo, OH - Mickey Finn’s Pub @
07.10.10 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern @
07.12.10 - York, PA - Capitol Theater @
07.13.10 - Brooklyn, NY - The Old American Can Factory
07.14.10 - North Adams, MA - Solid Sound Festival (Mass MOCA)
07.20.10 - Glanusk, UK - Green Man Festival
09.11.10 - Isle of Wight, UK - Bestival
09.12.10 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival
* Bear in Heaven
^ Twin Sister
@ Deer Tick
• Mountain Man: http://myspace.com/mountainmansquint
• Partisan Records: http://www.partisanrecords.com
• Underwater Peoples: http://underwaterpeoples.com
Clinic to release Bubblegum in October, supposedly a “curveball”
By Mr P on 06-21-2010
Clinic, the cute Liverpudlians from Liverpool, are releasing their sixth album, Bubblegum, on October 4 in the UK (the US release date has yet to be confirmed). The album, according to the all-powerful press release, sees Clinic “throwing us a curveball”: “In place of churning riffs and wired vocals is a dream state of harpsichords, dulcimers and strings. Melody and softness combine with the band’s unique internal logic to produce a record of pop beauty.” In other words, Domino, the group’s label, is trying to assure us that Bubblegum won’t sound like every other Clinic album (that is, a slightly mutated Internal Wrangler) — terrific!
A new single, “I’m Aware,” will be released in late September in anticipation for the new album, but mosey on over to the Chocolate Grinder to hear a “unique megamix” of Bubblegum. You’ll even get to see the same press photo again!
Bubblegum tracklist:
01. I’m Aware
02. Bubblegum
03. Baby
04. Lion Tamer
05. Linda
06. Milk & Honey
07. Radiostory
08. Forever (Demis’ Blues)
09. Another Way Of Giving
10. Evelyn
11. Un Astronauta En Cielo
12. Freemason Waltz
13. Orangutan
• Clinic: http://www.clinicvoot.org
• Domino: http://www.dominorecordco.com
