Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew turns 40; somebody’s gonna make a buck
By Harold Shueberg on Oct 1 2010
For the jazz fan of any level or jazz musician of whatever style, it cannot be ignored that Miles Davis has had some sort of say within your listening or playing repertoire. The man, whether loved or loathed, has had more of a lasting influence on popular culture’s concept of jazz and its sublimates than any other individual. Davis has had a rare staying power within popular music and his name is mentioned in probably any conversation you have with your buddies about the 10 or 12 jazz musicians you’re actually somewhat familiar with. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it says something. The man’s merit can be questioned and re-questioned, but the fact of the matter is that he was in the right place at the right time, and his music spoke a singular language that is rarely spoken correctly by any musician within his or her lifetime. The language he spoke was ever-present on 1970’s Bitches Brew, what some would consider an album released in his twilight that recreated himself and popular jazz forever.
So the fine capitalists over at Legacy have decided to make their buck by celebrating the 40th anniversary of the recording by releasing a box set of Bitches Brew that features not only the original recordings on double 180-gram vinyl, but also 3 CDs of edits and outtakes, along with a live concert. But wait, what’s more? Also included is DVD footage of a concert from 1969 and a 52-page booklet that has some photos and shit that you can brag to your buddies at the office about. Regardless of the overwhelming packaging that Legacy has decided to dupe you into on this one, the original album remains intact and has made a statement in the musical voice of America. If you feel like you’ll get something out of three hours of outtakes that Davis himself chose not to release, be my guest.
• Miles Davis: http://www.milesdavis.com
• Legacy: http://www.legacyrecordings.com
Ted Leo reunites with his old hardcore band, isn’t as sensitive as you think
By Annapocalypse on Oct 1 2010
You might know him now as the sensitive vegan singer/songwriter, but did you know before he launched his own solo career that Ted Leo used to play in bands like Animal Crackers, Puzzlehead, and The Juiceboxes? Okay, I made that last one up, but in all seriousness, he was pretty hardcore. If you’re bummed you never got to see young hardcore Teddy playing live, lucky for you Leo announced this week that he’s reuniting with his former bandmates of Citizens Arrest. For those not in the know or younger than 35, Citizens Arrest is a New York-based hardcore band that existed from 1989-1991, with Leo as their original singer/guitarist. The band is currently planning shows in New York and Philadelphia, and maybe your city too, if you’re tough enough.
• Citizens Arrest: http://bit.ly/c3WWqT
• Ted Leo: http://www.tedleo.com
Help pay off Steve Albini’s studio mortgage!
By Nobodaddy on Sep 30 2010
Steve Albini — the hunky dreamboat behind such top-40 balladeers as Shellac and Big Black and proprietor of the famed Electrical Audio recording studio on Chicago’s northwest side — is seemingly always down to help struggling bands make records on the cheap… apparently, even to the detriment of his own finances. He’s a regular Jimmy Stewart from It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s not that his studio is in any immediate danger of closing like Stewart’s character’s bank was in the movie; it’s just that the man has reportedly racked up an outstanding mortgage balance of $230,000 (er, and I guess there’s also the Stewart parallel that he might jump off a bridge at any moment, too). But thankfully, Tim Midgett (of Silkworm and Bottomless Pit) is kinda like Jimmy Stewart’s hot-ass 1940s wife from that movie, because he has single-handedly launched a campaign to pay off Electrical Audio’s mortgage!
As A.V. Club Chicago points out, Midgett has launched the “Pay Off Electrical Audio” online campaign. The idea is beautiful in its commie simplicity: if 2000 people donate $115 a piece, the total will cover the rest of the mortgage, thus freeing Electrical Audio from the shackles of The Man for good, allowing Albini to focus more on “making art,” yadda yadda yadda. As Midgett wrote on the donation page, “I think the place should be paid off by now, and I think we have the ability to do it.”
The campaign, which just launched today, has already raised almost $15,000 in donations. And to answer your annoying questions, no, no one has to pay unless the goal is met, and no, there’s no minimum donation amount. So throw in a couple bucks if you’ve got it. Who knows, maybe Albini will give you naming rights. I can see it now: Tiny Mix Tapes Presents Electrical Audio. Nice.
• Electrical Audio: http://www.electrical.com
• Steve Albini: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Albini
• Shellac: http://www.myspace.com/shellacband
• Silkworm: http://www.myspace.com/silkworm
• Bottomless Pit: http://www.bottomlesspit.us
Horse Feathers played cover of Nirvana, thought it was a good idea to record it; go on tour
By Erika H on Sep 30 2010
Time for you to drop everything and slowly shake your head in embarrassed silence. You may remember the recent folksy offering from Kill Rock Stars, Horse Feather’s third full-length, Thistled Spring (TMT Review), from — well, this spring. Apparently, way back when, they played a release show in Portland, and ended their set with a cover of Old Crow Medicine Show. Just kidding! It was actually a decent cover of Iron and Wine. Not! Even that would make sense. The truth is that Horse Feathers closed the show by plucking their strings and pulling out a cover of none other than Nirvana’s “Drain You.” What?
I’ve got news for you, guys. Much as Cobain liked lo-fi indie with a quirky side (Fleet Foxes wouldn’t count, either), I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have covered you. Grunge covers of The Vaselines were okay in its day, but the whole “let’s slow it down and make it folk-acoustic” thing (should we decide to equate it with the reverse of Cobain’s fondness for Daniel Johnston) died when Jeffrey Lewis covered Crass for 12 songs straight. But maybe I’m wrong. If Kill Rock Stars are any judge, the cover from that infamous night in Portland was pretty outstanding. Hence a forthcoming 7-inch with “Drain You” on one side and a new track, “Bonnet of Briars,” on the other.
The single isn’t due until November 2, when Horse Feathers begin their tour of the US. I guess that means we’ve got time to get used to the idea of Horse Feathers covering Nirvana. Maybe by Thanksgiving we’ll want Mudhoney covers?
Tourdates:
11.03.10 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
11.04.10 - Chicago, IL - Schubas
11.08.10 - Toronto, ON - The Drake
11.09.10 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore
11.10.10 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
11.11.10 - Boston, MA - Middle East
11.13.10 - New York City, NY - Bowery Ballroom
11.15.10 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern
11.16.10 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
11.17.10 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
11.18.10 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
11.20.10 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley
11.21.10 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage
12.01.10 - Vancouver, BC - Media Club
12.02.10 - Seattle, WA - Tractor
12.03.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
12.04.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
• Horse Feathers: http://www.myspace.com/horsefeathersmusic
• Kill Rock Stars: http://www.killrockstars.com
RIP: Aaron-Carl Regland, founder of Wall Shaker Music and Detroit house DJ
By Shane Mack on Sep 30 2010
From Resident Advisor (via The Daily Swarm):
Wallshaker Music founder Aaron-Carl Ragland, best known simply as Aaron-Carl, died earlier today of cancer.
The acclaimed Detroit house producer had been very candid about his health over the past few weeks, using various social media channels to keep fans informed. After canceling his European tour, he wrote an entry on his MySpace blog explaining his trials in and out of the hospital. Earlier this week, he posted a video on his homepage discussing his official diagnosis. All the while, he let out a steady stream of Twitter messages and Facebook updates, the last of which read “Finished the bone marrow biopsy. Ouch! Now I’m preparing for the lymph node removal. Surgery, here I come!” The first notice of his death came earlier today when his friend and like-minded artist Piarahna Head wrote on his on Facebook page “Just lost one of his best friends, Aaron-Carl, and my arms are far too short to box with GOD. One of the best Human beings in the WORLD is gone. I have no words. Music is Silence.”
Over the course of his nearly two-decade career, Ragland’s music saw release on some of house and techno’s most respected labels, including Ovum and the Underground Resistance sub-label Soul City. In 2002 he launched his own imprint, Wallshaker Music, which served mainly as a platform for his own soulful house records. Our thoughts are with Ragland’s friends and family at this time.
• Aaron-Carl Ragland: http://blogs.myspace.com/aaroncarl
