Pages tagged “nick lowe”

Part 2: The Conventions/The General Election Begins

“Nearly Lost You” - The Screaming Trees

A blistering grunge-rock anthem for the almost-barred Michigan and Florida delegates, who—after much heated debate—were finally seated at the Democratic National Convention.

New Wave avatar's debut gets spiffed up for 30th anniversary

After spending the first half of the ’70s fronting underrated roots-rock band Brinsley Schwarz, Nick Lowe morphed into a superhero at the dawn of punk and New Wave. Along with producing memorable LPs for The Damned, Graham Parker & the Rumour and Elvis Costello, “Basher” (as his mates called him) co-founded archetypal indie label Stiff, for which he threw together his first solo album, joined by members of The Rumour, Ian Dury’s Blockheads, The Attractions and Rockpile (the hotshot combo he started with Dave Edmunds). Exhilarating (“So It Goes,” “Heart Of The City”), cutting-edge (“I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass,” “36 Inches High”), retro (“Little Hitler”), playful (“Shake And Pop”), cynical (“Music For Money”) and picaresque (“Marie Provost”—who had the misfortune of becoming her own “doggie's dinner”), Jesus of Cool filters the hopped-up energy of 1977 London through Lowe’s quirky genius, and its neon immediacy is undimmed after 30 years. The 10 single sides on the expanded reissue complete this electrifying portrait of a man with his finger in the socket.

It was 30 years ago that Nick Lowe first walked onto the music scene with his album Jesus of Cool, an infectious collection of sharply written pub-rock songs that won him a devoted following of fans and fellow artists who still cite his influence today.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Yep Roc will be issuing a 30th Anniversary Edition of the album on February 19, boasting the original UK track listing, new artwork and plenty of bonus material.

But that’s not the only celebration in the works. Admiring musicians across the country will be staging special tribute show to commemorate the release of Jesus of Cool. Bands from Portland, Ore., to Boston, Mass., will be paying tribute to Lowe during their shows the weekend of February 22-23. Any band interested in playing a few of Lowe’s songs, or even an entire set, is encouraged to participate by registering on the Jesus of Cool Resurrection MySpace page.

Confirmed shows celebrating Lowe’s resurrection are listed below.

Dates:

February:
22 - Seattle, Wash. @ Tractor Tavern: The Lowe Beats led by Scott McCaughey of the Minus Five/Young Fresh Fellows
22 - Austin, Texas @ Hole in the Wall: The Lowlies led by Brent Lyles along w/ Eric Hisaw and Elizabeth McQueen
23 - Portland, Ore. @ Dante’s: The Lowe Beats led by Scott McCaughey (Minus Five/Young Fresh Fellows)
23 - Boston, Mass. @ Lizard Lounge: Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom), Tony Goddess (Papas Fritas) and Ed Valauskas (Graham Parker, Juliana Hatfield)
23 - Nashville, Tenn. @ The Basement: The Lowe Numbers led by Bill Lloyd w/ Steve Allen (20/20), Tom Peterson (Cheap Trick) and more

Related links:
NickLowe.com
Nick Lowe on MySpace
Paste: Pub-Rocker Nick Lowe Makes Long-Awaited Return

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

For almost four decades, Nicholas Drain Lowe (yes, his middle name really is "Drain"), better known as Nick Lowe, has been dishing up saccharine soaked pop music by the troughload, giving his audiences an insatiable sweet tooth and leaving them wanting more.

So it's probably with much delight that his fans heard about his first tour in three years that kicked off on Sept. 17 in Virginia, promoting his latest CD, At My Age. The singer also plans to make a few guest appearances - one coming Saturday, Sept. 29 on "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor and Wednesday, Oct. 3 on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Also, catch Lowe's Sept. 17 performance on the first night of the tour, recorded for webcast by NPR:

Lowe's first tour date show

Here's Lowe on the Top of the Pops show in 1979 performing "Cruel to be Kind":

Related links:
NickLowe.net
Nick Lowe's MySpace page
Lowe's U.S. record label Yep Roc Records

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.

Nick Lowe doesn’t train people to love him only to abandon them, like the sadistic protagonist in one song from his newest album, At My Age. Sure, it’s been three lonely years in the U.S. since Lowe last toured here, but as Conan says, “Be cool, my babies!” Lowe’s music will once again float through our spacious skies and amber waves of grain this September.

The schedule:

September:
17 - Alexandria, Va. @ Birchmere
18 - Philadelphia, Penn. @ World Cafe Live
19 - New York, N.Y. @ World Financial Center
20 - Somerville, Mass. @ @ Somerville Theater
22 - Montreal, Quebec @ Club Soda
24 - Toronto, Ontario @ Mod Theater
25 - Ann Arbor, Mich. @ The Ark
27 - Chicago, Ill. @ Park West
28 - Milwaukee, Wis. @ Shank Hall
29 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ Fine Line

October:
2 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Safari Sam's
5 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Great American Music Hall
6 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Golden Gate Park
8 - Portland, Ore. @ The Aladdin @ Portland, OR
9 - Bothell, Wash. @ Northshore PAC
10 - Vancouver, B.C. @ Richard's on Richard

Related links:
NickLowe.net
Paste: Pub-rocker Nick Lowe makes long-awaited return
Nick Lowe on NPR

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.

Nick’s knack for vintage country and pop in evidence once again

At My Age is the fourth product of Nick Lowe’s Americana phase, but it’s his first studio album in six years. The 58-year-old Brit has admitted that the songs came “in dribs and drabs,” borne out by the fact that only eight originals made the cut (the LP features three covers). “A Better Man” and “I Trained Her to Love Me” exhibit Lowe’s rueful, mock-confessional mode; “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day” displays his skill at reinvigorating a cliché a la the Brill Building masters; “There’s Hope for Us All” deftly replicates the extended melody lines of Burt Bacharach and “The Other Side of the Coin” offers another elegant example of Lowe’s feel for the Tin Pan Alley balladic tradition. His world-weary vocals suit the nuanced, elegiac material, and the rigorously laidback arrangements are tasty, but overall, the album feels slight and redundant. Perhaps it’s time for the onetime Jesus of Cool to get out of his comfort zone.

On June 26, pub-rock architect Nick Lowe will release his first album in nearly six years.

At My Age, recorded in London and issued by Yep Roc, features nine originals penned by Lowe as well as three reinventions of classic tunes from Charlie Feathers, The Uniques and Farron Young.

Drummer Bobby Irwin, keyboardist Geraint Watkins and guitarist Steve Donnelly back Lowe on each of the record’s 12 tracks, and Chrissie Hynde and Bill Kirchen make guest appearances.

No word yet on any tour dates, but stay tuned for more on the second coming of Nick Lowe.

Related links:
Nick Lowe’s homepage