Midlake CD Release
For close to 10 years, Midlake has been kicking around Denton in various musical forms and gaining a steady following... read more
Band of the Week: The Scourge of the Sea
The Scourge of the Sea tends to let things fall into place. read more
Joseph Arthur Announces Album, Label
Singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur will launch a record label along with a new album on Sept. 19. Arthur’s fifth album, Nuclear Daydream, will be the first record on Lonely Astronaut, an imprint of Red/Sony. “This one’s a little bit more stripped-down than my last album,” Arthur told Paste, on the way to the studio from his home in Brooklyn. “The songs are more traditionally songs.” Nuclear Daydream was recorded over the past two years in Los Angeles and Berlin. Arthur decided to launch a label because it would allow him to record more freely and have more control over... read more
Mindy Smith Set To Release Sophomore Album Oct. 10
Mindy Smith will release her sophomore album Oct. 10 on Vanguard Records. Long Island Shores, the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut One Moment More, captures Smith paying homage to her family and her time spent growing up in Smithtown, N.Y. The album was co-produced by Smith, Steve Buckingham and Lex Price, with additional production by Roger Moutenot. ... read more
Animal Collective Reissues Rare Live Album
A reissue of Animal Collective’s live album Hollinndagain will be released Oct. 31 on Paw Tracks. This compilation of seven live songs (captured from performances during the first half of 2001) was originally released on 300 limited edition LPs in 2002 on St. Ives Records, and included hand painted cover art. This marks the first time Hollinndagain (whose original copies are being sold on eBay for gobs of money) will be available to the general public to purchase. It is also the first time it will be released on CD. Come fall, the band will begin a select run of... read more
Jamie Cullum To Tour With Josh Ritter This Fall
After headlining shows and playing festivals across the U.S. this summer, British keyboardist Jamie Cullum will take to the road on September 24 for his largest North American tour to date. The tour will kick off at the Hilton Ballroom in Las Vegas, and will stop at such well-known spots as NYC's Roseland Ballroom and Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club. Critically acclaimed for his live shows, Cullum will headline the tour and be accompanied on most dates by singer/songwriter Josh Ritter. Cullum's new single, "Photograph," will be released on Aug. 14 in conjunction with the announcement of his fall tour.... read more
Joshua Tree Music Festival To Benefit Environment
The Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival, an environmentally-friendly fest hailed as a “rootsicana newgrassy folkadelic music and camping experience in the high desert,” will be held Oct. 21-22 in Joshua Tree, California. The festival will raise money for the devastating Sawtooth – Millard Fires, which scorched over 85,000 acres, destroyed over 200 homes and incurred more than 12 million dollars in damages. 100% of profits will be donated to the local fire disaster relief and wildlife conservancy organizations. Confirmed artists include RailRoad Earth, bluegrass group Trampled by Turtles and Australian duo the Bluehouse. The festival will take place at the... read more
MTV VJs To Celebrate 25th Anniversary On SIRIUS
Four MTV VJs will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the channel’s launch on an exclusive two-hour special on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Original hosts Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood, Alan Hunter and Martha Quinn will share memories and play songs from videos that aired during their first few hours as MTV VJs in 1981. The VJs reunited in May 2004, serving as on-air hosts of SIRIUS’ commercial-free music channel Big ‘80s. The special, Big ‘80s Celebrates MTV at 25, will air on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. ET on SIRIUS channel 8. Following its premier, the show will be repeated on... read more
The Whigs Sign To ATO
Following the success of their self-released debut, Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip, Athens, Ga., natives The Whigs have recently announced a deal to join ATO Records. As the label plans to re-release the garage rockers’ recording on Sept. 19, the band is scheduled to kick off a North American headlining tour beginning on July 27. For more information on these shows click here. ... read more
Polyphonic Spree To Tour
After spending the past several months in the studio working on its third album, 26-member band The Polyphonic Spree recently announced a short tour throughout North America beginning in September. With the release of a digital EP expected to coincide with the tour, The Polyphonic Spree will support Hasidic reggae singer Matisyahu for a number of performances. For more information on these shows click here ... read more
Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Buck Collaborate On Album
Ole! Tarantula, the latest album from singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock, will be released Oct. 3 on Yep Roc Records. Joining Hitchock on the album is the Venus 3 — Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey and Bill Rieflin (R.E.M., The Minus 5). Recorded in Seattle in September 2005 and March 2006, the new album features a variety of guests spots including performances by Morris Windsor (Soft Boys, the Egyptians), Kimberley Rew (Soft Boys), Ian McLagan (Faces) and two Seattle locals, Sean Nelson (Harvey Danger) and Chris Ballew (Presidents of the United States of America). Tracklist 1. Adventure Rocket Ship 2. Underground Sun 3.... read more
Robert Cray Band Releases First Live Album In 30 Years
The Robert Cray Band, known for touring more than six months each year, is set to release its first live album in over thirty years. The two-CD live set, The Robert Cray Band: Live From Across The Pond, taken exclusively from seven shows on a May 2006 London tour with Eric Clapton, contains live versions of classics and new releases such as “Poor Johnny,” “I’m Walkin” and “Twenty.” The five-time Grammy Award winning Cray is slated for another U.S. tour with Clapton to promote the album’s Sept. 12 release. His band, consisting of Jim Pugh on keyboards, bassist Karl Sevareid... read more
The Decemberists Announce New Album, Tour
The Decemberists will release their Capitol Records debut, The Crane Wife, on Oct. 3 and embark on a North American tour Oct. 17. Recorded in Portland and co-produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie) and Tucker Martine (Laura Veirs), The Crane Wife was inspired by an ancient Japanese folk tale of the same name that Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy discovered years ago in the children’s section of a local bookstore. The disc is comprised of 10 tracks, including the 13-minute ballad, “The Island.” The Crain Wife track listing: 1. The Crane Wife 3 2. The Island: Come and See... read more
Jay Bennett Signs to Rykodisc, Releases Album
Ex-Wilco multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett has recently signed to Rykodisc and will release a solo album, The Magnificent Defeat, September 26. Bennett’s signing to Rykodisc is the first for the label as a Warner Music Group company. Mostly recorded at Private Studios in Urbana, Ill., and tracked in Chicago at Bennett’s home studio, The Magnificent Defeat features the best of the 70-some songs Bennett wrote and recorded after his work on Blues Traveler’s Bastardos! in 2005. Track list: 1. Slow Beautifully Seconds Faster 2. 5th Grade 3. Wide Open 4. The Palace at 4 A.M. 5. Replace You 6. Out All... read more
Springsteen To Tour Europe
Following a hugely successful mini-tour of ten European cities earlier this year, Bruce Springsteen, along with his 17-piece Seeger Sessions Band, recently confirmed that they will once again venture abroad, this time including 26 tour dates throughout Europe. Beginning on Oct. 1, the Boss and the band are expected to make stops in Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England and Ireland. ... read more
Jim Noir Cancels Tour
Due to health difficulties, rising British pop artist Jim Noir—whose single “Eanie Meany” was featured on a recurring Adidas commercial during last month’s World Cup tournament—has been forced to cancel his North American tour scheduled from July 24 through Aug. 12. With his debut album Tower of Love to be released Aug. 8, Noir is expected to retry his intended jump across the pond later this fall. ... read more
José González Tours With Zero 7
Swedish musician José González will soon kick off a North American tour alongside British band Zero 7. Beginning Aug. 26 in San Diego, González will open each show and perform during the band's sets. Zero 7’s latest album, The Garden, consists of four tracks featuring González, including a cover of his song “Crosses.” After wrapping up that tour, the singer/songwriter will begin a set of solo dates, which will include stops at Paste's Rock 'N' Reel Festival, Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival and the Austin City Limits Festival. González, whose album Veneer was reissued April 4 via Mute Records, will soon... read more
Pixies DVD Chronicles Band’s Reunion Tour
MVD Visual has announced a worldwide Nov. 7 release of loudQUIETloud, a DVD capturing legendary college rock group the Pixies. After an unexpected breakup in 1992, the Pixies reunited in 2004 to embark on a sold-out tour. loudQUIETloud will focus on the rehearsals and warm up shows for the band’s reunion tour while presenting an intimate look at the less glamorous side of the touring band lifestyle. To view a trailer of loudQUIETloud, click here. ... read more
Band of the Week: Bird York
At 15, Kathleen “Bird” York experienced two events that came to define her. read more
BendFilm Festival To Spotlight Independent Cinema
Move over, Sundance. The next big thing in the vein of independent film festivals is BendFilm, drawing over 12,000 attendees last year to the desert town of Bend, Oregon. In addition to showcasing films selected from a pool of over 800, this year’s festival, taking place Oct. 12-15, will feature filmmaking lectures, parties and special events. BendFilm has seen two of its previous winners receive Oscar nominations -- “9” in 2005 for Best Animated Short and “Born into Brothels” in 2004 for Best Documentary. For more information on the festival, visit bendfilm.org. ... read more
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