New Mos Def LP Out, But Not Out
In a move usually reserved for faulty car parts and inadvertently-ingestible children’s toys, all copies of Mos Def’s recent release have been recalled by Geffen Records. According to a Pitchfork news item posted January 9th and MTV and VH1 bits posted January 8th, Geffen made the decision to pull True Magic from the shelves of retailers across the country after the album was lost in the post-holiday shopping shuffle in the wake of its release on December 29th, 2006. True Magic’s hasty drop-- and unorthodox Friday release date-- apparently resulted from the album being leaked in early December. But, reports... read more
Bright Eyes Announces Spring Tour
After spending most of 2006 in the studio, Bright Eyes is going to resurface in late February to show off the new work. The tour starts in Chicago and hits major cities on both coasts, promising a traditional line-up, plus songs from his upcoming Four Winds EP and the new full-length, Cassadaga. The shows are being performed in a select set of intimate venues for the full Bright Eyes affect. Ticket pre-sale starts on January 18th and regular sales start on January 25th. Four Winds will be available March 6th and Cassadaga on April 10th, both on Saddle Creek Records.... read more
Beat It Wally!
“Beat It Wally”—some long-lost catchphrase of the Beav? Nah, it’s a star-studded, semi-acoustic benefit concert for drummer Wally “Llama” Ingram, recently diagnosed with throat and neck cancer. Ingram has played and/or recorded with artists such as Sheryl Crow, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal. Of late, he was playing drums in the most recent incarnation of Eric Burdon and the Animals. Raitt, Garbage, The Martinis, (w/Joey Santiago & David Lovering from the Pixies), among others, will convene at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, Calif. on January 31 to raise money for Ingram. Also expected are guest appearances... read more
Pete Yorn announces North American tour
After a string of dates opening for the Dixie Chicks, Jersey-born rocker Pete Yorn will soon embark on his aptly titled “Morning, Day, and Night Tour,” which kicks off February 6 in Boise, Idaho. The coast-to-coast jaunt will showcase songs from all three installments of Yorn’s critically acclaimed album trilogy—2001’s musicforthemorningafter, 2003’s Day I Forgot and 2006’s Nightcrawler—as well as a smattering of the eclectic covers (think Springsteen, Bowie and The Smiths) for which he is so well known. Tour dates include: February 6 - Boise, ID @ Big Easy 8 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom 9 - Portland,... read more
According to a report at Billboard.com, veteran pedal steel guitarist “Sneaky” Pete Kleinow, co-founder of ‘60s rockers the Flying Burrito Brothers, died Saturday at age 72 from complications associated with Alzheimer's disease. After two albums with the Flying Burrito Brothers, Kleinow took his talents elsewhere, playing as a session musician on John Lennon’s Mind Games, Fleetwood Mac’s Heroes are Hard to Find and Joni Mitchell’s Blue and working as a visual effects artist on the first two Terminator films. He performed his last show in October 2005 as a member of Burrito Deluxe, a country-rock group he formed in 2000.... read more
Joseph Arthur to release two albums in 2007
According to a new report at Billboard.com, Joseph Arthur plans to release two new albums in 2007. The article reports that Arthur and his band, the Lonely Astronauts, recorded nearly 80 songs in recent weeks that will comprise two upcoming albums. Let's Just Be, due April 17, and Abwoon, out before the end of the year, will be released on Arthur's Lonely Astronauts label. Arthur's last record, Nuclear Daydream was released last September. A tour is planned this spring to support Let's Just Be. Related Links Joseph Arthur's website Lonely Astronauts' website Joseph Arthur on MySpace ... read more
Ralph's World to Play House of Blues, Fillmore
Barney never had it so good. This winter, popular indie-rocking, parent-friendly kiddie music superstar Ralph’s World will criss-cross the United States on a tour of House of Blues venues and other locales usually frequented by fans who, well, don’t bring their parents along in tow. The sixteen-date tour solidifies the popularity of Ralph’s World among both kids and parents, which had been spreading faster than the flu at a preschool since the release of Ralph’s first album, 2004’s The Amazing Adventures of Kid Astro. After the release of his 2005 album, the Grammy-nominated Green Gorilla Monster & Me, Ralph sold... read more
Music Legend Porter Wagoner Signs to Anti-
Fifty years into his legendary music career, Grammy winner and Country Music Hall of Famer Porter Wagoner has been signed to LA-based Anti- records, and is soon to release a Marty Stuart-helmed project celebrating his five decades as one of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry's best-loved performers. Wagonmaster, as the project is now titled, will mostly feature songs written by Wagoner himself-- the same tunes that have earned him a place in Americana music history, as well as numerous industry awards and accolades. But one song in particular, while not penned by Wagoner himself, holds a special place on the album's... read more
Bobby Bare, Jr. Hits The Road Again
After spending the fall on tour in support of his September 2006 release The Longest Meow, Bobby Bare, Jr., has announced that he will hit the road again in the new year, starting January 11th at Dante's in Portland, Ore. Bare will wrap up up a run of cross-country solo dates at Pilot Light in Knoxville on January 27th, with a few nights opening for his sometime-collaborator Andrew Bird thrown in for good measure. Bare is also slated to join Dr. Dog on the road for a slew of shows starting in March. The Longest Meow's 11 tracks were recorded... read more
Legendary soul label celebrates 50th anniversary
It’s been 50 years since Stax opened its doors in Memphis, Tenn., and the legendary soul label is turning it up to 11 in 2007. Thanks to a host of deluxe reissues, special events and new releases slated for this milestone year, Stax is celebrating its anniversary in style with recent signees Isaac Hayes and Angie Stone at the helm. Since its birth a half-century ago, Stax has been home to soul giants like Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MGs, the Staple Singers and Eddie Floyd. The reactivation of Stax was initiated by Concord Music Group, which acquired the... read more
Los Lobos begin 'Acoustic en Vivo' tour in February
Los Lobos hits the road in February for a 16-city acoustic tour, dubbed the Acoustic en Vivo tour. The 34-year-old band will mix songs from their latest album, The Town and the City, with Los Lobos' classics and traditional Latin American folk-songs, playing acoustic instruments like guitarones, jaranas and bajo sextos. The Town and the City, Los Lobos' 13th album, was released September 12, 2006, on Hollywood Records. Los Lobos' Acoustic en Vivo tour dates February 8 - La Jolla, CA @ Mandeville Auditorium, UC San Diego 13 - Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theater, Humboldt State University 14 -... read more
Merle Haggard honored with stretch of road
When the time arrived to honor country music legend Merle Haggard, no tribute album or collectible figurine was good enough, at least not for the residents of his hometown. The board supervisors in Oildale, Calif., held an open meeting on December 19 and voted 4-1 to honor Haggard with the original gift that keeps on giving—that’s right, his very own road. A 3.5 mile stretch of asphalt on 7th Standard Road between Highway 99 and North Chester Avenue will be newly dubbed Merle Haggard Drive as soon as his fans raise the estimated $41,500 necessary to change the street signs.... read more
Grant-Lee Phillips to release new album in March
Grant-Lee Phillip's fifth solo album, Strangelet, will be released March 27, 2007 by ZOË/Rounder Records. The former Grant-Lee Buffalo singer recorded much of the album at his home studio—producing, engineering and playing most of the instruments himself. R.E.M.'s Peter Buck played guitar on two tracks, and musicians Bill Rieflin and Eric Gorfain provided drums and strings, respectively. Strangelet follows nineteeneighties, an album of 1980s cover songs released in 2006, and 2004's Virginia Creeper. Strangelet tracklist: 1. Runaway 2. Soft Asylum (No Way Out) 3. Fountain Of Youth 4. Hidden Hand 5. Dream In Color 6. Chain Lightning 7. Raise... read more
Mary Weiss announces solo debut
After a 40-year hiatus, the original leader of the pack is finally back. Mary Weiss, former first lady of The Shangri-Las, will soon release her first recording in four decades and her first-ever solo album. Dangerous Game, which hits stores March 6 via Norton Records, features 13 new originals as well as an updated version of The Shangri-Las’ “Heaven Only Knows.” Weiss is joined by Memphis garage band The Reigning Sound on every track, and the record was produced by Norton Records' Billy Miller and The Reigning Sound's Greg Cartwright. Dangerous Game tracklist: 1. My Heart Is Beating 2. I... read more
The Lemonheads announce 2007 tour
The Lemonheads hit the road again later this month for a four-week tour of the U.S. After little more than a month break from their North American and European tour, Evan Dando's trio will play mostly on the east coast, also stopping in Texas and the mid-west. Tracks from the band's eponymous latest album, released last September as the first Lemonheads album in almost 10 years, will be played alongside older hits and rarities at the shows. 2007 Lemonheads tour dates January 25 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle 26 - Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm 27 - Athens,... read more
Low ready album, plot tour
After some time off spent funding the construction of a school in Kenya, Sub Pop vets and budding humanitarians Low have readied their Drums & Guns and will soon launch phase one of a two-prong attack on slowcore fans nationwide. Kicking off in April, their tour will support the March 20 release of Drums & Guns, Low’s follow-up to 2005’s The Great Destroyer. Swedish labelmate Loney, Dear, whose debut LP hits stores February 6, will join Alan Sparhawk and company for four of their April shows. Tour dates include: 2/15 London, England - The Spitz 2/16 Bruges, Belgium... read more
2007 Ponderosa Stomp returns to New Orleans
The 6th Annual Ponderosa Stomp, an American roots music festival, returns to New Orleans this year. Moved to Memphis last year, the eight hour event spotlighting pioneers of rock'n'roll and rhythm & blues will be held at the New Orleans' House of Blues on May 2, 2007. The Mystic Knights of the Mau-Mau, a non-profit group, started the Stomp in 2000 to rediscover and promote overlooked American musicians. Since then they have partnered with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Sun Studios and the Stax Museum, among others. Some of the artists' playing the Stomp are: Wardell Quezergue and... read more
The Roots play the streets of South Africa
On their current world tour, The Roots took it to the streets in South Africa. For the first time in their career, the rap group visited South Africa shortly before Christmas. Using a flatbed truck as a stage, they played on the streets of neighborhoods in Johannesburg, Capetown and Durbin. The band’s tour, which will take them to Japan before they hit North America in February, will continue through April. 1/12 Osaka Japan @ Blue Note 1/13 Osaka Japan @ Blue Note 1/15 Tokyo Japan -On Air East 1/16 Tokyo, Japan - On Air East 1/... read more
Son Volt to release new album
Transmit Sound just announced a March 6 release date for the follow-up to Son Volt's 2005 LP, Okemah and the Melody of Riot. The Search will mark a dramatic departure from the band's alt-country past, as guitar pedal loops, keyboard sounds and a full-fledged, Memphis-style horn section will supplant the electric guitar at the forefront of Son Volt's soundscape. Farrar is currently wrapping up a series of dates with Anders Parker as part of their side-project Gob Iron and will then hit the road with Son Volt for a national tour in March. Stay tuned for a list of those... read more
Figure to commemorate Madvillain
Rejoice, all ye rhyme-loving, figure-collecting souls out there! Hip-hop label Stones Throw Records and rare-toy superstore Kidrobot have partnered to bring everyone’s favorite masked rapper to a shelf near you. The limited edition Madvillain figure stands 8.5 inches tall, comes in two colors and sports giant fists to knock you out with. Available online and in boutique retailers throughout the nation, the collectible drops on Jan. 11 to coincide with the release of Adult Swim’s DVD/CD Chrome Children Pt. 2, which features music from Madvillain and a host of other Stones Throw artists. Related links: Madvillain on MySpace Stones... read more
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