Primus to play Lollapalooza, begin new album
This weekend Primus will head to Chicago to join a Lollapalooza lineup that ranges from the Pixies to Widespread Panic, their encore performance making them the only band there associated with the original, early-'90s incarnation of the festival. It's been 12 years since Primus first performed at Lollapalooza as the headlining act. The appearance will be the first public show of 2005 for the band, who's gearing up to record a full-length studio album for release in spring 2006. The effort promises to be the first full Primus album since 1999, and the first with the classic lineup of Les... read more
Roger Waters to release classical opera
In keeping with the tradition of recently celebrated Bastille Day, Roger Waters, formerly of Pink Floyd fame, will release his “operatic history of the French revolution,” Ça Ira, on September 27. The first edition of the album will include a double SACD with a 60-page color booklet. Not only will the booklet contain Waters’ lyrics based on Etienne Roda-Gil’s original French libretto, but also biographies of Waters and the opera cast as well as production notes. Additionally, a DVD “making of” documentary will be included in the package. ... read more
James McMurty prepares new album
Texas singer/songwriter James McMurtry is back with his first studio album in more three years, Childish Things, due out Sep. 6 on Compadre Records. In 2003, James McMurtry joined forces with the Houston label to release Live in Aught-Three. The new album features ten new McMurtry songs as well as covers of Peter Case’s “The Old Part of Town” and the country standard “Ole Slew Foot.” The son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), James' first album, released in 1989, was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a series of projects for... read more
Umphrey’s McGee launch memorial auction today
In an effort to benefit the Eddie Hrebic Family Fund, Umphrey’s McGee today launched five special poster auctions on eBay. Hrebic, a friend of Umphrey’s, died recently of a sudden pulmonary embolism. He left behind his wife and four-month-old son. The posters, designed by Jeff Wood of Drowning Creek Studios, are individually numbered and signed by the artist in addition to bearing the signatures of each member of the band. Umphrey’s McGee had this to say about the auctions and their lost friend: "We are always happy to do what we can, when we can. With a little help from... read more
Jay Farrar, Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell guest DJ on Sirius
(Above: Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell) Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell and Son Volt’s Jay Farrar are slated for Guest DJ spots on Outlaw Country Channel 35 on SIRIUS Radio. Created by Little Steven Van Zandt, the channel’s format features the rebels and renegades of country music with a cast of regular DJs including Shooter Jennings, Cowboy Jack Clement, Mojo Nixon, DJ Rig Rocker and Hillbilly Jim. CAITLIN CARY & THAD COCKRELL - GUEST DJ Monday, July 18 10:00 am ET, repeat broadcast Wednesday, July 20 8:00 am ET JAY FARRAR (SON VOLT) - GUEST DJ Wednesday, July 20 10:00... read more
Solid PR releases MS benefit compilation
Solid PR Presents, Vol. 1 is a double CD full of tracks by bands from the Solid PR roster, including The Unicorns, Hella and I Am The World Trade Center. The album will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Volume 2 will be released in early 2006. For more information, see nmss.org and myspace.com/solidprpresents. ... read more
Saddle Creek gets busy
(Above: Saddle Creek artist Joel Peterson, aka Broken Spindles) Omaha-based Saddle Creek Records is gearing up another round of new releases. First up, is the third LP from one-man project Broken Spindles. In between playing bass on the road with labelmates The Faint and Beep Beep, Joel Peterson crafted his third record in as many years. inside/absent will be released Aug. 23. In 1995, after years of playing together in various bands, four young friends from Omaha’s underground music scene formed the band Cursive. Now, ten years later, Saddle Creek will release The Difference Between Houses and Homes (Lost... read more
Horning’s Hideout music festival to end this year
For each of the last five years, the String Cheese Incident has hosted a camping and music festival in the hills of Portland, Ore., known as Horning’s Hideout. On August 4-7, the festival will be held for the last time. In addition to the festival-founding band, this year’s line-up includes Alpha Blondy, Railroad Earth and several others. ... read more
Elvis Costello & The Imposters tour with Emmylou Harris
Elvis Costello & The Imposters are getting ready to hit the road with Emmylou Harris for 11 tour dates billed as “one big show.” There will be no opening acts. The tour kicks off on Sunday July 17 in Atlanta. For tour dates, see elviscostello.com ... read more
Liz Phair promotes new album with summer tour
In support of her forthcoming album, Somebody’s Miracle, Liz Phair will be going out on an eight-date acoustic tour this summer. Phair will perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago on July 23 before kicking off the acoustic trek in Boston on July 26. Somebody’s Miracle comes out October 4. ... read more
Yep Roc to Reissue Billy Bragg Albums
Yep Roc Records has announced four simultaneous reissues of Billy Bragg back-catalog titles, each including a bonus disc of rare and previously unreleased material. Set for a September 20 release, the albums will be available individually and as a box set that will include an additional booklet and DVD of unreleased live footage. The releases will include 1983's Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy, an EP that sold over 100,000 copies in Bragg’s native U.K. This is followed by 1984's Brewing Up With Billy Bragg, 1986's Talking With the Taxman About Poetry, and a release that combines 1990's The... read more
Voodoo Music Experience announces 2005 lineup
Nine Inch Nails, The Flaming Lips, Billy Idol and Ryan Adams are just a few of the more than 80 acts slated to play the 2005 Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans Halloween weekend. Now in its seventh year, the festival is scheduled for October 29 and 30 on an expanded 62-acre site in City Park. For the first time, the festival will offer on-site camping for the entire weekend. The initial Voodoo Music Experience line-up is as follows, with additional artists to be confirmed throughout the summer: NIN, The Flaming Lips, Queens of the Stone Age, Billy Idol, Social... read more
Will Johnson on tour
Centro-matic and South San Gabriel songwriter Will Johnson is hitting the road for a Southeastern solo tour. The tour begins tomorrow in Austin and wraps up on July 27 in Tampa. All dates are with Bobby Bare Jr. For dates, see misrarecords.com ... read more
Morcheeba to administer The Antidote
On September 27, trip-hop veterans Morcheeba will release their sixth album, The Antidote. Band co-founder Paul Godfrey describes the record—which was recorded completely live—as the type of music to put on after “you’ve been at a party, or taken a few mushrooms or smoked a few spliffs.” Sticking to the band’s tradition of cycling through different singers, Daisy Martey, vocalist of Noonday Underground, will handle the album's front-woman duties. ... read more
Richard Swift signs to Secretly Canadian
Los Angeles troubadour Richard Swift has signed with indie label Secretly Canadian. The Indiana-based label will release Swift’s The Collection Vol. 1 on September 6. The Collection is comprised of Swift’s first two major works, 2003’s The Novelist and 2005’s Walking Without Effort, in double-disc packaging. Several of Swift’s small-run 7”s have also been picked up by Secretly Canadian Distribution, and will see a larger release throughout the summer. In the meantime, Swift will be taking up a Tuesday night residency throughout August at L.A. club Tangier. For more information, see http://www.richardswift.us ... read more
SXSWclick Festival announces film finalists
SXSW has announced five finalists for the SXSWclick Festival. The films include 101 by Matt Ogens, Finding the Unknown God by Lorenzo Llanillo Jr., Jane Lloyd by Happy, Man Up by Arturo Cabanas and Robot-ussin by Nikc Miller. The films are available to download in Quicktime format on the SXSWclick website at SXSWclick. Online viewers can vote for their favorite, and SXSW will announce a People’s Choice Award and a Jury Award next month. Winners will receive automatic entry into the 2006 SXSW Film Festival, to be held March 10-18, 2006 in Austin, Texas. ... read more
Flaming Lips to release video collection
The Flaming Lips will release a collection of nineteen of their music videos on Warner Bros. Records on Aug. 23. VOID (Video Overview In Deceleration), which is a career-spanning collection, will include the video for “Mr. Ambulance Driver,” off of their upcoming album At War With the Mystics, due out in spring of 2006. The band is also planning to release a feature film, Christmas On Mars, in mid-2006. ... read more
Dandy Warhols Confirm Album Release Date, Lollapalooza Appearance
The Dandy Warhols will release their fifth album, Odditorium or Warlords of Mars, on September 13. Frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor produced the album, which takes its name from the band’s Portland, Ore., studio space. Taking the summer easy before a soon-to-be-announced fall tour, the band’s only appearances currently planned are at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago’s Grant Park on July 23 and 24. Following the fall tour, the Dandies will embark on an acoustic “suitcase tour,” in which the group will perform using only what can it can fit into a single suitcase (with the exception of acoustic guitars). ... read more
Supreme Court rules against file-sharing networks
File-sharing networks have been dealt a major blow. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Grokster and StreamCast Networks infringed on copyright by creating software intended to swap songs and movies illegally. The Court sent the case back to a lower court and extended the liability to companies not taking easily available steps to prevent infringement. The decision is a major victory for the MPAA and RIAA, and threatens the continued existence of peer-to-peer companies, at least in the U.S. ... read more
John Lennon musical opens on Broadway
Broadway musical LENNON tells the story of John Lennon’s life using his own words and music. Nine cast members share the role of Lennon, appearing onstage as themselves and enacting scenes from Lennon’s life using words gathered from his songs and conversations. Yoko Ono authorized director Don Scardino to use her late husband’s words and music, including two unpublished songs, “India, India” and “I Don’t Want to Lose You.” LENNON started previews on July 7 and opens Aug. 4. For more information, see lennonthemusical.com. ... read more
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