SXSW Announces Brian Wilson Panel
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival will host a panel discussion of Brian Wilson's Smile project, in conjunction with a screening of the documentary Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of 'Smile'. SXSW is scheduled to take place Wednesday, Mar. 16, to Sunday, Mar. 20, 2005 in Austin, Texas. Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, David Leaf and Mark Linette will share stories from the project on a panel discussion Mar. 18 at the Austin Convention Center. On the SXSW Music Festival front, Elvis Costello and The Imposters will perform this year for the first time. Other... read more
New Jimi Hendrix DVD to be released
Eagle Rock Entertainment will mark the newest addition to its “Classic Album” series with the release of The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland: Classic Album on DVD Feb. 22, 2005. Electric Ladyland: Classic Album features some of Hendrix's most notable recordings, archive film footage and interviews with many of those who were there for the ride, including producer Eddie Kramer, Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Steve Winwood and Chas Chandler. Track Listing: 1. Burning of the Midnight Lamp2. All Along the Watchtower3. Rainy Day, Dream Away4. Voodoo Chile5. Crosstown Traffic6. Little Miss Strange7. Gypsy Eyes8. House Burning Down9. Long Hot... read more
Jesus Covers The Smiths
The BBC plans to celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter with a procession through the streets of Manchester, featuring musicians from the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, and songs by the Smiths and New Order. Seriously. The program is called “Manchester Passion.” A contemporary retelling of the last hours of Jesus’ life, it will combine words from the Bible with contemporary music while reenacting important moments in the gospel story. A character playing Jesus will sing Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart. ” He’ll then sing New Order’s “Blue Monday” with his betrayer, Judas. Mary... read more
Black Crowes Return For A Five-Night NYC Run
After months of speculation, The Black Crowes will finally make their return to the live concert stage with five shows—billed by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson as “All Join Hands”—at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom beginning March 22. These concerts mark the first Black Crowes shows since Oct. 31, 2001. Tickets are on sale Feb. 5. Each show will feature a special opening guest handpicked by the Robinson Brothers. Group manager Pete Angelus states that these are the only confirmed shows and no future touring plans or dates have been confirmed. Tour Dates: March 22 - with John Butler TrioMarch... read more
Alison Krauss On Tour With Jerry Douglas
Alison Krauss and Union Station are currently touring with Dobro legend Jerry Douglas. The tour began in January in Chattanooga, promoting Krauss’ new album Lonely Runs Both Ways. Krauss and Douglas have announced 26 dates with more to be added in the coming weeks. The pairing will also make appearances at Bonnaroo and the Telluride Bluegrass festival this year. Tour Dates: 2/2 - Greensboro, N.C. - Memorial Auditorium2/3 - Savannah, Ga. - Johnny Mercer Theater2/4 - Melbourne, Fla. - King Center for the Performing Arts2/5 - Pompano Beach, Fla. - Pompano Beach Amphitheater2/7 - Clearwater,... read more
Conscious Alliance Food Drive Project Teams Up With The Fillmore
The Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colo., and Conscious Alliance are holding a yearlong food drive to benefit the Denver Rescue Mission and Metro CareRing emergency assistance service. At every show in 2005, Conscious Alliance volunteers will collect non-perishable donations for Denver's hungry outside The Fillmore's main entrance. Every patron who donates 10 or more non-perishable items will receive a free Fillmore poster. If you forget your food donations, you can pick up your poster inside at the merchandise counter for a $10 donation. The food drives are averaging over 1,000 pounds per show, but need more contributions to keep it... read more
Jimmy Chamberlin Complex - Life Begins Again
From the ashes of Smashing Pumpkins and Zwan comes Life Begins Again, the debut from Jimmy Chamberlin Complex... read more
The Greencards - Movin' On
Aptly named, this trio of Austin, Texas, transplants came from Australia and England to pursue one of America’s most traditional musical forms, bluegrass-inflected country... read more
Listening to Old Voices: Merle Haggard
Before bands like The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers merged country and rock music, musicians from the two genres... read more
Donovan - Beat Cafe
Certain tracks on Beat Cafe sound like they could be outtakes from Donovan’s 1967 album, Mellow Yellow... read more
Architecture In Helsinki - Fingers Crossed
Combining electro pop, experimental kitsch and indie twee into a decidedly palatable multi-layered sunny-morning pop marching band... read more
Spin Doctors - Nice Talking to Me
Veteran jam-poppers paint in muted neons read more
Patty Loveless - Dreamin’ My Dreams
Loveless proves she’s got nothing but love for traditional country After 2001’s stellar bluegrass hoedown, Mountain Soul, and the equally enchanting radio-ready country of 2003’s On Your Way Home, Patty Loveless gracefully bridges the two with Dreamin’ My Dreams. Her song selection, as usual, proves impeccable, ranging from the brazen first single “Keep Your Distance” to the gorgeous, excruciating “When Being Who You Are Is Not Enough” (made even more painful by Emmylou Harris’ aching harmony). And for the bluegrass fans, Loveless pulls out a frisky fiddle romp on “Big Chance.” When so many of today’s female country singers are... read more
KCRW Host Arrested
KCRW’s Chris Douridas was arrested last week outside a Santa Monica bar on suspicion of drugging and trying to kidnap a 14-year-old girl, according to the LA Times. Witnesses reported seeing Douridas put a substance into the girl’s drink and then carry her out of the bar. The girl was taken to a hospital, treated and released. After posting $1-million bail, Douridas was released by police. Douridas will continue to host KCRW’s “New Ground,” which airs on Saturdays. “Chris has been with us for 15 years, during which he has interacted with thousands of people,” KCRW assistant general manager Jennifer... read more
The Telepathic Butterflies - Songs From A Second Wave
The Telepathic Butterflies instantaneously and convincingly revive 1960s Britpop with their third release, Songs from a Second Wave... read more
Björk Creatively Raises Money For UNICEF
Since the song was originally released in 1995 on the album Post, Björk has consistently been sent unsolicited re-mixes and cover versions of “Army of Me.” These mixes and cover versions have encompassed a broad range of styles, from upbeat electronica to death-metal. For years, these versions of the song have been gathering dust in a corner of Björk’s office. Björk has now decided to release the best mixes and cover versions on a 2-CD album in order to raise funds for UNICEF. However, in order to complete the album, Björk needs to receive more material to choose from. Submissions... read more
The Comas - Conductor
In the liner notes to The Comas’ sophomore album, Conductor, lead singer Andy Herod thanks The WB channel. It’s a gracious gesture completely... read more
Fourth Annual Ponderosa Stomp Roots Romp Announces Lineup
The fourth annual Ponderosa Stomp Roots Romp has been scheduled for April 26 and 27 at New Orleans’ Rock’N’Bowl Mid-City Lanes. The festival will feature legends Link Wray, Johnny Farina (of Santo & Johnny), Eddy Clearwater, Lonnie Brooks, Blowfly, Nathaniel Mayer, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Archie Bell, Nokie Edwards (of The Ventures), and over 30 more artists. The two-night music festival features classic rock’n’roll, r&b, rockabilly, blues and swamp-pop artists on two stages from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. each night. The festival is book-ended by the two weekends of JazzFest. An entire lineup for the two-day affair can be found... read more
Eisley Backs Debut With First Headlining Tour
Room Noises, Eisley’s full-length debut, will hit shelves Feb. 8 on Reprise Records. Recorded in various locales over the past two years, Room Noises was produced by Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliot Smith), John Shanks (Michelle Branch, Sheryl Crow) and Rob Cavallo (Green Day). Aaron Sprinkle also produced a track with Eisley, while the band itself produced two tracks. Comprised of sisters Chauntelle, Sherri and Stacy DuPree, along with brother Weston and family friend Jonathan Wilson, Eisley hails from Tyler, Texas, and first attracted a following playing in the Deep Ellum district of nearby Dallas. Coinciding with the release of Room... read more
NY Daily News story on Paste
Jim Farber, chief pop critic for the New York Daily News, has written a wonderful feature on Paste magazine in the newspaper's Sunday (Jan. 9) edition. It begins ... "American music magazines like to carve up the genres they cover. Spin focuses on alterna-rock. Revolver ruminates on heavy metal. Tracks tackles adult music. Vibe rules the R&B scene. The Source satisfies fans of rap. The few periodicals that try to straddle all the genres—like Blender or Rolling Stone—often adopt a flip and breezy tone that's more appropriate to celebrity-driven entertainment publications than earnest music magazines. However, a new arrival called... read more
