Devotchka Kicks Off Small Tour
Gypsy kings and queens Devotchka are giving a few American cities a taste of their gypsy music with a small tour. Their EP, Curse Your Little Heart, was released in May on Ace Fu. Tour dates: December 1 - Madison, WI, Annex 2 - Chicago, IL, Logan Square Auditorium 4 - Lawrence, KS, Bottleneck 7 - Boise, ID, Neurolux 8 - Portland, OR, Berbatis Pan 9 - Bellingham, WA, The Nightlight 10 - Seattle, WA, Showbox 15 - San Francisco, CA, The Fillmore 16 - Los Angeles, CA, Avalon 17 - Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern ... read more
Matt Mays & El Torpedo
Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Members [L to R]: Jarrett Murphy (guitar, vocals), Tim Baker (drums), Matt Mays (guitar, lead vocals), Andy Patil (bass, vocals), Rob Crowell (keyboard) Fun fact: What began as a quest for tickets to one of Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles resulted in the band being invited to play a Ramble themselves. Why they’re worth watching: As if his band’s debut wasn’t enough, Mays’ second solo album was released in Canada this November. When the Angels Make Contact is the soundtrack to an independent film of the same name, which Mays wrote and co-produced. For fans of: Neil... read more
Rock The Bells Festival Kicks Off
Annual west coast hip-hop festival Rock the Bells has launched the North American dates of its first world tour, while promoter Guerilla Union has added some acts to the line-up, including Ghostface Killah, Pharoahe Monch, Smif N Wessun (of Boot Camp Clik) and Dirty Heads. The first talents that were added were Redman, Raekwon and Supernatural. Tour dates: December 1 – Providence, Lupos (Ghostface Killah) 2 – Buffalo, Buffalo Ballroom (Ghostface Killah) 3 – Burlington, Higher Ground 5 – Toronto, Kool Haus (EPMD) 6 – Chicago, House of Blues (Ghostface Killah) 8 – Park City, Harry O’s (Dirty Heads) 9... read more
The Bird and the Bee
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif. Members [L-R]: Inara George (vocals), Greg Kurstin (everything else) Fun fact: Inara George is the daughter of Lowell George, founder of ’70s blues-rock group Little Feat. Why they’re worth watching: The duo signed to Blue Note Records (home of another moderately successful debut artist: Norah Jones) for its first album, and both George and Kurstin have had successful solo careers.For fans of: Feist, Beth Orton, Bebel Gilberto, Burt Bacharach... read more
Buy Rare Velvet Underground & Nico Album!
Better get out the dolla-dolla bills if you want to buy the “most important rock ‘n roll and pop-art artifact in the world,” which can currently be found on eBay.com. The auction consists of a 12” LP acetate of The Velvet Underground’s first album as Andy Warhol had intended to be released. It’s supposedly slightly different than the commercial release of The Velvet Underground & Nico, with few of the same takes but different mixes. At the time of this posting, the leading bid is $18,600. Get to bidding! ... read more
Aterciopelados
The setting is Casa Pepe, a combination butcher shop, carvery and tapas bar in Barcelona, Spain. The band is Aterciopelados—or “Velvety Ones”—Colombia’s most adventurous export of rock en español. The occasion is a tour supporting Oye, the group’s first album of new music in five years. It’s early afternoon when I catch up with singer Andrea Echeverri. She and her entourage are having a late lunch, but it’s so noisy inside the restaurant that Echeverri steals away to the busy Barcelona streets, where the gentler sounds of children yapping in Spanish bleed into our conversation.... read more
Harry Shearer and Michael McKean
Harry Shearer… On Guest’s directing style: “Most people—including myself—who direct do so because they love to control things, and Chris is really remarkable for his ability to cede a lot of control. He tries to get the actors to make choices that are appropriate and funny and, you know, hopefully wonderful. He’ll also apply a gentle foot on the brake if things get too out of control, but they almost never do, and so his ability to stand the onslaught of surprises is part of the charm of the project.” On constructing his character in For Your Consideration, Victor Allan... read more
Phish, String Cheese Incident Up For Auction
From now until December 3rd, 2006, the Mimi Fishman Foundation is offering superfans the chance to bid on a whole slew of collectible memorabilia and rare prize packs from music artists including Phish, String Cheese Incident, Jack Johnson, and the Allman Brothers. From rare t-shirts, concert memorabilia, and signed posters, the goods are all up for bids online. The auction features Phish goods donated by the band’s long-time manager John Paluska, out of his personal collection. The String Cheese Incident is offering up a package that includes tickets to the band’s New Year’s Eve shows on December 30th and 31st... read more
Vagrant Titles On Sale For Holidays
Hold the reindeer socks, fruitcake, and yet another weirdly scented candle—Vagrant Records knows all you really want for Christmas is music. With their first-ever online sale, they’re making sure your Secret Santa won’t have to go broke to give it to you. From December 1st, 2006, until January 15th, 2007, over 65 music titles will be on sale at $7.99 a pop on iTunes and even more available through Vagrant’s online store at a special rate of 2-for-$15. From Paul Westerberg to The Hold Steady, the titles run the gamut of Vagrant’s illustrious 12-year history. Visit the store for more... read more
Matisyahu Releases New CD and DVD
On December 26, 2006, Epic Records plan to release a new CD and live concert DVD set by Hasidic Jewish reggae rap musician Matisyahu. The CD, No Place To Be features seven new songs including tracks produced by Sly & Robbie, AdRock, Bill Laswell, and others. The DVD, entitled Live In Jerusalem contains footage shot live in Isreal in December 2005, interspersed with interviews and street performances from the same trip. The DVD also contains the music video for his new single, “Jerusalem.” Matisyahu will be kicking off his first annual Festival of Light Hanukkah concert series in December. The... read more
Blues Powerhouse Ruthie Foster Releases New Record
On February 6, 2007, Blue Corn Music will release The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, the latest record from blues/roots powerhouse Ruthie Foster. The record includes both Foster originals and her unique takes on songs by the likes of Lucinda Williams, Son House, Eric Bibb and Sister Rosetta Tharpe and even a musical rendition of Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman.” ... read more
Jesse Malin Releases Third Record
On March 6, 2007, singer-songwriter Jesse Malin will release his third record, Glitter In The Gutter on Adeline/East West Records. A native of Queens, New York, Malin assembled an impressive group of artists to accompany him on the record, his first since 2004’s The Heat. Guest performers include Bruce Springsteen, Jakob Dylan, the Foo Fighters Chris Shiflett, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and Ryan Adams. A half-hour film about the making of Glitter by JoJo Pennebaker, son of the legendary D.A. Pennebaker, will be released to coincide with the record. ... read more
Christopher Guest
I’m a pretty fast typer but I’ll be LUCKY if my fingers can keep pace with my thoughts... read more
MusicNation.com Launches Video Contest
A recording contract with Epic Records is up for grabs in MusicNation.com’s first-ever online video competition. Launched on November 17th, 2006, the site features submitted videos from bands and musicians around the world, all hoping to be voted in to one of the competition’s top slots by MusicNation.com users and a panel of celebrity judges. Musicians in the genres of rock, pop and urban music are invited to participate. Contest entry is free until January 1st, 2007, or for as long as the site is in Beta form. After the first of the year, a $25 entry fee will be... read more
Erin McKeown Exposes 'Sinners'
Holed up in a Northampton, Mass. studio with a few of her best friends and favorite musicians, Erin McKeown recorded her fifth album, Sing You Sinners, in just four days. Now she’s giving fans a glimpse into that brief but exciting recording process through the "Making of Sing You Sinners" online picturebook and diary. Featuring photos from the sessions and of the band goofing around between takes, McKeown’s notes on the recording process offer insights into her relationships with her bandmates and how she tackled her first-ever foray into album production. Sing You Sinners is McKeown’s “singular and sly take... read more
Judges, Finalists Revealed For 6th Annual IMAs
The 2007 finalists have been announced for the sixth annual Independent Music Awards. The program is designed to provide career opportunities for independent artists, labels and releases. Among the judges for the IMAs are Peter Gabriel, Wynonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Buddy Guy and Suzanne Vega. To see the complete list and listen to music from the 2007 finalists, go here. ... read more
David Dye Gets ASCAP Honors
World Café host David Dye will receive the award for outstanding radio broadcast coverage of music at the 39th Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards Reception Dec. 7 at Lincoln Center in New York City. World Café was created by Dye in 1991 and is distributed by National Public Radio. It has included interviews and live performances by various musicians such as Norah Jones, My Morning Jacket and Damien Rice. The show is now syndicated to nearly 200 stations nationally. ... read more
Trey Anastasio
As a member of Phish and as a solo artist, Trey Anastasio has come to be known for his instantly identifiable guitar sound. read more
Eric Matthews
Do it yourself. It’s a credo Eric Matthews now lives by. read more
Coachella To Rock For Three Days In 2007
Coachella is gearing up for some big changes in its eighth year. Organizers of the popular southern California music festival, which genres from hip hop and indie pop, have announced the addition of an extra day to the festival’s 2007 schedule, slated to be held April 27th-29th at Indio, California’s Empire Polo Club. An official artist lineup has not been released. The addition of a country music-themed "sister festival" to Coachella has also been announced. Featuring performers such as Emmylou Harris, Sugarland, Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, and Nickel Creek, the "jamboree" will be staged at the Empire Polo Club the... read more
