Bear in Heaven announce fall tourdates at the US’s tiniest clubs, because they’ll probably be down to a duo by then
By Nobodaddy on Aug 30 2010
After coming out of relative obscurity (i.e., I hadn’t heard of them) and releasing a pretty darn well-respected album — last year’s annoying-to-type-but-more-annoying-to-say Beast Rest Forth Mouth — tribal Brookllyn rockers Bear in Heaven immediately got to work doing what most formerly-obscure bands do best: losing members and then pretending like the “lean line-up” was the plan all along.
With that timeless strategy of hamfistedness in mind, the recently minted three-piece band have just announced their return to the US (following a slew of UK and European dates this summer) that will include stops at Austin City Limits and Pop Montreal, a handful of dates opening for Crystal Castles, their own headlining stint, a lot of pre-recorded parts, and some snazzy in-ear monitors. Who knows, they might be down to a two-piece by the time they roll into your city! Then… maybe just a karaoke show! Then… if you catch them at the tail-end of this tour, maybe a lone iPod with their record on it will show up on stage at your venue. Exciting!
Oh, and speaking of their record, perhaps you’ve heard of a little remix album that the band recently put together, featuring the likes of The Field, Justin K. Broadrick (a.k.a. Jesu, Godflesh), Studio, and High Places. The remix album will be released September 14 on Hometapes (August 23 in the UK) and will come packaged alongside Beast Rest Forth Mouth. Also, their press release assures me that it “builds new sonic terrain.” Huh… a remix album that sheds new light on the original recordings? Naw, they’ve gotta be exaggerating there.
Bear in Heaven fall tourdates:
09.07.10 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom *
09.08.10 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Music Hall *
09.09.10 - Orlando, FL - Club at Firestone *
09.11.10 - Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch Music Festival
09.12.10 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
09.29.10 - Ithaca, NY - Castaways
09.30.10 - Montreal, QC - La Salla Rossa
10.09.10 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
10.26.10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox
10.27.10 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
10.28.10 - Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
10.29.10 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
10.30.10 - Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College
11.02.10 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
11.03.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
11.05.10 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
11.07.10 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
11.09.10 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
11.10.10 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
11.13.10 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
11.16.10 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern
11.17.10 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
11.18.10 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
11.19.10 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
* opening for Crystal Castles
• Bear in Heaven: http://www.bearinheaven.com
• Hometapes: http://www.home-tapes.com
Jim Jarmusch sets his lens on Iggy Pop’s old, writhing body
By Kid Midnight on Aug 27 2010
If there’s one thing that I’ve always wanted to see more of, it’s gotta be Iggy Pop. Whether Iggy is playing a suburban dad (Adventures of Pete and Pete), acting like an alien (Star Trek: DS9) or just writhing across a stage covered in his blood and broken glass (the late 1960s), I just can’t get enough!
So, imagine my face (it was pleased as punch) when I heard that my favorite film director, Jim Jarmusch, was getting ready to make a new film with Iggy in it! “It’s something Iggy [Pop] asked me to do,” the cool-as-shit director said before elaborating on his love of Pop. “There’s a rule in my household that if Iggy is playing anywhere within 90 miles, we go. It’s going to take a few years though. There’s no rush on it.”
Well, Jim, not to sound like a dick, but you better rush it because I want to see Iggy in another one of your movies!
The project is planned as a “long-term documentary project” where Jarmusch will most likely film a couple shows, follow Iggy around for a handful of months, provide an insider look into the rock and/or roll lifestyle, and ultimately end with an existential crisis wherein Iggy will either travel to Florida to discover America or head west and become an unwilling gun-fighter. Regardless of subject matter, I can guarantee that there will be plenty of long, uninterrupted, static shots of Iggy sitting in sparsely decorated hotel rooms.
• Iggy Pop: http://www.iggypop.com
Brian Eno announces more details about his forthcoming Warp debut, Small Craft on a Milk Sea
By Liz Louche on Aug 27 2010
Legendary ambient/glam auteur Brian Eno is releasing a new album, Small Craft on a Milk Sea, on Warp Records this fall. Slated for a November 2 release in the US, Small Craft is a joint effort between Eno and electronica dude Jon Hopkins and guitarist Leo Abrahams (TMT News). Abrahams worked with Eno as well as David Byrne on Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, Byrne and Eno’s second collaboration together.
If you’re one of those people who’s like, “Bwaa — what do I care about a measly album release? I want the COLLECTOR’S EDITION! The more stickers and informational booklets, the better!” then boy has Warp got a deal for you. Small Craft is getting not only the Limited Edition Box Set treatment (complete with vinyl and CD versions, plus a lithographic print), but also the Collector’s Edition Box Set treatment (with vinyl and CD versions, unique, signed, and numbered screen print.) That’s right, you can be the owner of something Brian Eno took a pencil and numbered with his own Eno hand. How collector-y!
• Brian Eno: http://brian-eno.net
• Leo Abrahams: http://www.leoabrahams.com
• Jon Hopkins: http://www.jonhopkins.co.uk
• Warp: http://warp.net
No, but seriously, folks: Liars announce new EP, Proud Evolution
By Nobodaddy on Aug 27 2010
Hey, did you know that Liars know Thom Yorke?
Thom Yorke from Radiohead? That Thom Yorke?
Oh, you knew that because you heard his (Thom Yorke’s) version of “Proud Evolution” on Sisterworld Reinterpretations, the star-studded (e.g. featuring Thom York from Radiohead) remix album that followed closely on the heels of the regular-old (e.g. “Yorkeless”) Sisterworld album (TMT Review)?
Well, fine.
But… but hey, do all your friends know that Liars know Thom Yorke of Radiohead!? A-ha! Didn’t think so. And that is why the band (Liars, not Radiohead) will release the new Proud Evolution EP on October 19 in the US and October 18 in the UK via Mute. The EP includes the very same Thom Yorke’s remix that appeared on Reinterpretations! …uh, plus a few new songs and a bunch of other piddly crap. Whatever. Thom Yorke.
Proud Evolution EP:
01. Proud Evolution (Album Version)
02. Proud Evolution (Thom Yorke Remix)
03. Proud Evolution (Live From Williamsburg)
04. Come Now
05. Total Frown
06. Strangers
• Liars: http://liarsliarsliars.com
• Mute: http://www.mute.com
• Thom Yorke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIaE_c-isJk&feature=related
of Montreal fulfills prophecy by releasing new EP, The Controller Sphere
By E. Nagurney on Aug 27 2010
Near the end of Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer track “Faberge Falls For Shuggie,” of Montreal frontman Kevin Barnes spat out the words “Skeletal lamping, the controller sphere, false priest.” Back in the simpler days of 2007, it was anyone’s guess what these words could possibly mean. Now in the present day, with all the knowledge we’ve gained over the past three years, it’s still basically impossible to decipher the meaning behind these words. What we do know, however, is that two of these phrases eventually became of Montreal album titles: 2008’s Skeletal Lamping and this year’s forthcoming False Priest (which is also being released on cassette).
Now, the Athens-based band is ready to complete that trifecta by releasing an EP called The Controller Sphere, planned for a tentative spring release. Want more information? Okay, there’s a track called “Black Lion Massacre” on it. Want more information? Too bad, I’m all out.
• of Montreal: http://www.ofmontreal.net
• Polyvinyl: http://www.polyvinylrecords.com
[Photo: Patrick Heagney]
