Trail Of Dead Announces Summer Tourdates; Wait, They Haven’t Broken Up Yet?!

By Annapocalypse on

After five record labels, countless lineup changes, hundreds of smashed guitars, and a shitload of drama, it’s sort of shocking that ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead are still together. What’s not really that shocking though is that they still haven’t been able to impress critics since 2002’s Source Tags and Codes. AND WE KNOW ALL.

Still, Trail of Dead forge onward, and this time they’re coming to a city near you, presumably. After a European tour, the pasty-faced Texans will return July 26 to get their pool party on at Jelly NYC’s Summer Pool Party series in Brooklyn, NY at the new Williamsburg Waterfront music venue. Oh god, hipsters in bathing suits? No thanks! Trail of Dead will also play the All Points West festival August 1 and in their hometown of Austin for the Austin City Limits Festival October 3.
07.04.09 - Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival (Odeon Stage)
07.05.09 - Hannover, Germany - Musikzentrum
07.06.09 - Heidelberg, Germany - Karistorbahnhof
07.07.09 - Salzburg, Austria - Rockhouse
07.08.09 - Innsbruck, Austria - Poolbar Festival
07.10.09 - Haarlem, Holland - Paatronat
07.11.09 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
07.17.09 - Dour, Belgium - Dourfestival
07.18.09 - Herk de Stad, Beligum - Rock Herd Festival
07.26.09 - Brooklyn, NY – Williamsburg Waterfront
07.27.09 - Milford, CT - Daniel Street
07.29.09 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
07.30.09 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon
07.31.09 - Providence, RI - Jerky’s Live Music Hall
08.01.09 - New York City, NY - All Points West
10.03.09 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits

Unbelievable News! Violent Femmes Front Man Gordon Gano Is Still Alive! Slightly Less Unbelievable Sub-News: Violent Femmes Front Man Gordon Gano to Release New Album

By Nobodaddy on 07-02-2009

While Wisconson-based, snarky, smarmy, snarly folk-punk-alterna-blues troupe Violent Femmes impatiently waits their turn in the numbingly long line that currently sprawls outward from the “MID-'80s–MID-'90s BANDS WAITING TO REUNITE, TOUR, PLAY ALBUMS IN THEIR ENTIRETY AT FESTS, AND TALK/NOT TALK ABOUT RECORDING A NEW ALBUM TOGETHER” counter at the DMV or wherever, singer Gordon Gano has chosen to pass the interim time by releasing a new album... for the first time in some seven years (the Femmes must be getting close to the front of that line by now).

Due September 15 on the niche-market-elder-statesmen-loving Yep Roc label, the new album Under the Sun is credited to Gordon Gano & The Ryans and is apparently “a collaboration” between Gano and Bogmen leaders/scorers of tepid films (Fever Pitch, anyone?) Brendan & Billy Ryan. Take it away, glowing press release:

“The music that inspired his collaboration with the Ryan brothers spawned during fertile sessions in the café’s, bars and laundromats of New York City’s West Village [...] Brendan and Billy Ryan bring musicality and new color to Gordon’s visceral lyricism and signature adenoidal drawl. A filled-out next chapter to the music of the Femmes, Under the Sun is the music of a mature band, a band made of men not boys, men who have supplanted wonder for angst, controlled passion for reckless...” blah blah blah, bloop, bleep-bleep blah. You get the idea: it’s the best record ever. It’s for old people. Let’s move on to the details.

The whole shebang was largely recorded at the Carriage House in Stamford, CT and features Gordon “2G” Gano on vocals/guitar/violin. As for the Ryan brothers, Brendan handles keyboards/accordion/horn duties, while Billy tackles guitar/backing vocals. Other must assuredly competent-as-fuck but appositely low-profile contributors include Frank Black... whoops, I mean, Frank Ferrer (sorry to pique your interest like that) of Guns N' Roses and Psychedelic Furs on drums, and Lonnie Hillyer of Maggie’s Dream and Bernie Worrell on bass. Some real unit-movers, huh? Meanwhile, Phil Palazzolo (The New Pornographers, Neko Case) engineered and mixed the project. There is no tracklist as of yet, but rest assured, if we get our hands on one... uh, and if it’s a slow news day, we’ll go ahead and post one for you.

Andrew Bird Takes St. Vincent Back To School With Him This Fall

By Annapocalypse on 07-02-2009

Although it’s barely July, Andrew Bird has already made plans for the fall. Starting in October, The Birdman is taking St. Vincent back to school — the school of touring, that is. The two stalwart indie heroes will join forces on the road together this fall. TMT managed to get a copy of The Birdman’s lesson plan for the fall, featuring a few tips for St. Vincent:

- English 101: How To Write Lyrics On The Road
- Music 305: Building Your Own Recording Studio
- Algebra 202: How To Use Your Fans’ Disposable Income To Your Advantage
- Whistling 338: You Will Never Be As Good As Me, Seriously

St. Birdman:
09.29.09 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theater
09.30.09 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
10.02.09 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
10.03.09 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's Uptown
10.05.09 - Birmingham, AL - Workplay Soundstage
10.07.09 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10.08.09 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
10.09.09 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
10.10.09 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
10.12.09 - Charleston, SC - The Music Farm
10.13.09 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theater
10.14.09 - Cincinnati OH - Bogarts
10.16.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
10.17.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
10.18.09 - Kalamazoo, MI - State Theater
10.19.09 - Columbus, OH - Southern Theater
10.21.09 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall
10.24.09 - South Portland, ME - S. Portland High School Auditorium
10.25.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
10.26.09 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
10.27.09 - Providence, RI - Lupo's
10.28.09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

St. Vincent:
07.05.09 - London, England - Wireless Festival
07.06.09 - Bristol, England - Thekla
07.08.09 - London, England - ICA
07.11.09 - Naas, Ireland - Oxegen Festival
07.13.09 - Manchester, England - Night & Day
07.14.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - Nice & Sleazy's
08.01.09 - Jersey City, NJ - All Points West Festival

The Birdman:
07.10.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
07.11.09 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre #
07.13.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden #
07.14.09 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
07.16.09 - Jacksonville, OR - Britt Pavilion
07.17.09 - Redmond, WA - Marymoor Amphitheatre *
07.18.09 - Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater *
07.19.09 - Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater *
07.26.09 - South Lake Tahoe, CA - Wanderlust Festival
08.07.09 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
09.19.09 - Madison, WI - Forward Music Festival

*The Decemberists

#Death Cab For Cutie

Stars: They’re Just Like Us! The Clientele Release New Album, Hang Out in Jane Austen-y Cottages

By Liz Louche on 07-01-2009

I imagine The Clientele as some sort of mystery band — the sort of music you hear drifting toward you on a lazy summer breeze in that just slightly magical time as the sun sets, before the moon rises. Dusk, many would say -- although, clearly The Clientele would call it “the gloaming.” It’s hard for me to imagine a few normal-looking dudes and one lady sitting around hashing out what kind of drum beat to play when and who owes how much on the rent money for their practice space. So thank God there are Merge Records press releases to make that vital connection between sordid everyday reality and mystical fan hypothesis for me.

Check this out! Sure, the band formed in suburban Hampshire, England several years ago, and practiced in a thatched cottage. Sure, the singer is named Alasdair (MacLean’s the surname), and rumor has it that early on in their career, the group nailed down their stance on Surrealist poetry (pro), versus their collective stance on blues-style solos and aggro shouting (con). I hear what you’re saying. This band sounds like it’s populated by the lovable pre-war British creatures of The Wind in the Willows. But trust me — they do things that aren’t 100% bucolic and Albion sometimes.

Things like... releasing albums! The Clientele have three full-lengths under their belt so far, as well as their debut collection of early 7-inch singles entitled Suburban Light. They also contributed a track to the Sandra Bullock/Keanu Reeves time travel weepie The Lake House. And now they have a new album due October 6 on Merge, Bonfires on the Heath, which sounds like pretty much the most delightful foray into Wuthering Heights territory this side of Kate Bush.

The band is performing later this summer at Merge’s anniversary showcase in New York.
07.19.09 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

Tracklisting:

1. I Wonder Who We Are
2. Bonfires On The Heath
3. Harvest Time
4. Never Anyone But You
5. Jennifer & Julia
6. Sketch
7. Tonight
8. Share the Night
9. I Know I'll See Your Face
10. Never Saw Them Before
11. Graven Wood
12. Walking in the Park

Jack’s Mannequin, The Fray, Pepper, Oh My! Mile High Festival Delivers The Worst Lineup of The Summer Season

By Annapocalypse on 07-01-2009

They were up against some stiff competition, but it looks like the Mile High Festival, taking place in Colorado’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 18 and 19, takes the cake for the worst lineup of any 2009 summer festival. Or maybe of all-time?

Let’s examine the recently announced lineup for evidence:

Saturday, July 18: TOOL, Widespread Panic, Incubus, Ben Harper & Relentless7, G. Love and Special Sauce, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, The Black Keys, Ani DiFranco, Matt Nathanson, Galactic, Paolo Nutini, Gomez, The Greyboy Allstars, Railroad Earth, India.Arie, Lyrics Born, Rocco DeLuca and The Burden, needtobreathe, Band of Heathens, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, The Northern Way (formerly Set Forth), Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real, Early Pearl .

Sunday, July 19: Widespread Panic, The Fray, Thievery Corporation, 3OH!3, Gov’t Mule, Gogol Bordello, John Butler, Devotchka, Buddy Guy, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Pepper, The Wailers, Matisayhu, Jack’s Mannequin, Guster, Mat Kearney, Dead Confederate, Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons, Erin McCarley, Paper Bird, Honeyhoney, Joe Pug, Electric Touch.

At least The Black Keys, Lyrics Born, and, uh, Tool will balance out some of the hippy favorites.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now, including single-day passes, two-day packages, and VIP ticket options (I hear Brandon Boyd will personally smoke you out if you get a VIP pass). Buy tickets online or at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Box Office. Visit the Mile High Festival website for complete details.

The Twilight Sad to Release New LP in September Despite Ongoing Depression

By Brom on 07-01-2009

Forget the Night Ahead, The Twilight Sad’s sophomore effort, will be out via the Fat Cat label on September 22. The band’s frontman, James Graham, describes the record as “definitely rougher around the edges than the first one. It's not a flat, technically polished album. It's very rough but melodic at the same time. We didn't want to make an album that sounded too produced. This album is more raw than the first one, but again it's still developed.”

On listening to “Reflection of the Television” (download available here) and “I Became a Prostitute,” two tracks from the new LP, Graham’s comments would seem to hold true. Personally I can’t honestly say I’m excited by this change in direction for the Glaswegians, especially since I thought Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters was brilliant, but we’ll see when the album finally comes out.

Tracklisting for Forget the Night Ahead is as follows:

1. Reflection of the Television
2. I Became a Prostitute
3. Seven Years of Letters
4. Made to Disappear
5. Scissors
6. The Room
7. That Birthday Present
8. Floorboards Under the Bed
9. Interrupted
10. The Neighbours Can't Breathe
11. At the Burnside

The band will also be appearing at the Monolith Festival and Musicfest Northwest in September:
09.13.09 – Morrison, CO - Monolith Festival
09.17.09 – Portland, OR - Musicfest Northwest

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