So, I'm back. And so are The Verve, with their new album, 'Fourth,' (real clever lads, did you work that one out with Portishead?) due out in the States on August 19th. The have debuted a new track from the album on their MySpace, called 'Love Is Noise,' which I like more and more each time I listen to it. It's got a real driving, modern dance beat to it, and Richard's lyrics aren't quite as noodly as they've been on his solo records. The band has also made a non-album track (they used to be called b-sides, remember? Back when people still bought 7 inches. I still do, even without Let It Be around) 'Mover' available for free download beginning today via the Verve Website. And I have to say, if they are leaving fantastic songs like this off their album, we might be in for a real treat with the new record. Nick's guitar work is agressive and inspired, and the loud, crashing waves of sound that The Verve are know for are back in full force. It's a great song, and hopefully a good sign of things to come from a band that I never wanted to break up in the first place. Hopefully, Richard and Nick can maintain their creative bond and put aside their personal stuff, and just make good music together (and finally play another live show in Minneapolis), because I've grown tired of Richard's disappointing solo records.
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June 2008
06/30/2008
New Verve Track Available For Free Download
So, I'm back. And so are The Verve, with their new album, 'Fourth,' (real clever lads, did you work that one out with Portishead?) due out in the States on August 19th. The have debuted a new track from the album on their MySpace, called 'Love Is Noise,' which I like more and more each time I listen to it. It's got a real driving, modern dance beat to it, and Richard's lyrics aren't quite as noodly as they've been on his solo records. The band has also made a non-album track (they used to be called b-sides, remember? Back when people still bought 7 inches. I still do, even without Let It Be around) 'Mover' available for free download beginning today via the Verve Website. And I have to say, if they are leaving fantastic songs like this off their album, we might be in for a real treat with the new record. Nick's guitar work is agressive and inspired, and the loud, crashing waves of sound that The Verve are know for are back in full force. It's a great song, and hopefully a good sign of things to come from a band that I never wanted to break up in the first place. Hopefully, Richard and Nick can maintain their creative bond and put aside their personal stuff, and just make good music together (and finally play another live show in Minneapolis), because I've grown tired of Richard's disappointing solo records.
06/19/2008
Sigur Rós Coming To The Orpheum Theatre September 25th!
That's right-this post requires an exclamation point. Very excited for this show. Presale tickets go on-sale tomorrow @ 8 a.m. Visit Sigur Ros for ticket information. For those that didn't watch their Bonnaroo Webcast, search YouTube for the video's-they are incredible. I'll leave you with this video of their performance of 'Sé Lest'-stay tuned at the 4+ minute mark for the mariachi band appearance. That's right, mariachi band. Hope they come with for the Orpheum show.
Mercury Rev Releasing Two Albums In September, One Of Them For Free
Mercury Rev are planning on releasing two albums in September, making one of them available as a free download. The proper album (and follow-up to 2005's excellent "The Secret Migration"), "Snowflake Midnight," will be available for purchase on September 29th, while the companion album, "Strange Attractor," will be available for free download the same day for those that have signed up through the band's mailing list (Mercury Rev Mailing List). Good to see the band active again, and I can't wait to hear what they've been up to. Full tracklisting of each album found below. Hopefully, a full U.S. tour will be announced shortly.
06/17/2008
Official Lollapalooza After Shows Announced
So, not only do I have to shell out $190 to see three great days of music (and make decisions about Bloc Party vs. The Raconteurs vs. Stephen Malkmus on Friday, Broken Social Scene vs. Battles, Wilco vs. Rage on Saturday, and NIN vs. Kanye on Sunday-although 'Ye will probably get on at 4:30 a.m. Full schedule here Lolla Schedule) but they just announced a ton of great After Shows happening during the weekend. This weekend just keeps getting more expensive. Check out the mindblowing shows below:
| 7.31.2008 | The Black Keys w/ Magic Wands Metro Ages 18+ Doors @ 9pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | ||
| 8.1.2008 | Gogol Bordello w/ The Ting Tings Metro Ages 18+ Doors @ 10pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | ||
| Brand New w/ Manchester Orchestra House of Blues Ages 17+ Doors @ 9:30pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| The Whigs w/ The Blakes House of Blues - Back Porch Ages 21+ Doors TBD Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| Mates of State w/ MGMT Double Door Ages 21+ Doors @ 10pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| Black Lips Empty Bottle Ages 21+ Doors @ 9pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| Rogue Wave w/ Dr. Dog Schubas Ages 21+ Doors @ 9:30pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| 8.2.2008 | Broken Social Scene |  | ||
| Bloc Party w/ CSS and Does it Offend You, Yeah? House of Blues Ages 17+ Doors @ 9pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| Battles w/ Foals and Magic Wands Double Door Ages 21+ Doors @ 10pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| Flogging Molly w/ Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears Congress Theater Ages 18+ Doors @ 9pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| Okkervil River w/ Octopus Project Schubas Ages 21+ Doors @ 9:30pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  | |||
| Margot & the Nuclear So and So's w/ White Lies Empty Bottle Ages 21+ Doors @ 9pm Tickets on sale 6/21 @ 10am |  |
What a lineup-you don't even really need to go to the Festival (other than Friday, to see Radiohead), just hit up these gigs. But now there are even more decisions, especially on Saturday. Do I see Okkervil River at Schuba's (I love that club) or Battles w/Foals at Double Door (love that club as well), or Broken Social Scene w/Yeasayer at Metro (I guess I love a lot of clubs in Chicago), or even Bloc Party at House of Blues? Decisions, decisions. Whatever the choice, you must make up your mind by this Saturday @ 10 a.m. when all tickets go on sale.
Pearl Jam Absolutely Killed It At Bonnaroo
Pearl Jam played a triumphant three hour headlining set at Bonnaroo on Saturday evening, mixing in rarities and crowd favorites throughout their 26 song set, reminding everyone in attendance why they are one of the best live acts going. Starting off the set with ultra-rarity 'Hard To Imagine' from the nearly unseen movie 'Chicago Cab,' they tore through as many songs from the odd's and ends collection 'Lost Dogs' as they did from proper albums through six songs, including the first ever live performance of 'All Night.' The set continued on, gathering steam with 'Who You Are' being played for the first time in 10 years (except for the night before in Florida), and the main set closed with a killer triumvirate of 'Love, Reign O'er Me,' 'Do The Evolution,' and 'RVM.' The momentum continued into the encore, with 'W.M.A.' getting the full treatment for the first time in years, a great version (is there any other version of this song from these guys?) of 'Crazy Mary,' into a rousing 'Porch,' and 'Release' strangely showing up at the end of the set for a change. Throw in 'All Along The Watchtower,' as a closer (played live by the band for only the 5th time) and it was, by all accounts, a legendary live set by a band that never disappoints. I can only hope that they add a local date sometime soon, preferably at Alpine Valley (a site where I have been lucky enough to witness some legendary sets by the band over the years, beginning in '92 at the second Lollapalooza.) In the meantime, I will just have to abide with the soundboard quality bootlegs the band continues to provide their fans for each of the shows Pearl Jam Official Bootlegs, and this awesome YouTube of their riveting, reworked performance of W.M.A.(still waiting for a vid of 'Hard To Imagine' to surface.) Overall, this was an uplifting, jubilant performance from Pearl Jam that makes me proud to be a fan. So, check out the setlist (and other videos as they continue to roll in) and kick yourself, like I am, for not being there to see this happen live. Or, if you were there, congratulations, you saw a great show, and I'd love to hear your thoughts and recollections about the night.
Setlist: Hard To Imagine, Corduroy, All Night, Why Go, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Down, Who You Are, Severed Hand, 1/2 Full, Animal, Even Flow, Daughter, Gone, Love Reign O'er Me,
Do The Evolution, Rearviewmirror
Encore 1 W.M.A., Better Man(Save it for Later), Black, Life Wasted, Crazy Mary, Porch
Encore 2 No More, Release, Alive
Encore 3 All Along The Watchtower
06/13/2008
Bonnaroo Festival To Be Webcast This Weekend
If you can't make it down to Tennessee this weekend for the Bonnaroo Festival, AT&T's Blue Room has got you covered, continuing their excellent string of webcasts for major American music festivals by providing coverage of the festival all weekend. Beginning today, you can catch fantastic sets from the Fiery Furnaces, The Raconteurs, Swell Season, and Les Claypool (Friday), Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Gogol Bordello, Against Me!, Iron & Wine, Cat Power, and Mastodon (Saturday-Where is Pearl Jam's Set Though?!?!), and Rogue Wave, Broken Social Scene, Sigur Rós, and Death Cab For Cutie (Sunday). All in all, it's a pretty stellar lineup, and you don't even have to get dirty and go without a shower (and be surrounded by 80,000 people, also dirty and unshowered), unless that is part of your weekend plans anyway. I'm especially looking forward to seeing who is actually onstage for the Broken Social Scene set and what songs they decide to play, as well as seeing how the atmospheric beauty of Sigur Rós' music goes over in a festival setting. There is something for all the different music fans out there, though, which is why this festival has grown so popular over the years. Check out the full schedule and get the webcast here
Bonnaroo Webcast
06/12/2008
The Ting Tings Are Coming To The Varsity Theatre
My friends are pretty divided on this band-it seems you either love 'em or hate 'em. I have to say I like about half of their record 'We Started Nothing,' -but the songs I do like, I like a lot, and can't seem to get them out of my head. Either way, the band probably doesn't care what you think about them, and they are coming to the Varsity Theatre anyway, whether you are there or not. August 4th is the date, and with a majority of their dates on their U.S. tour already sold out, I would recommend getting your tickets quick. It should be a fun, upbeat good time at the Varsity.
06/11/2008
Spiritualized Coming To First Ave. September 10th
Jason Spaceman will most assuredly make a triumphant return to Minneapolis, when he brings Spiritualized to First Avenue on September 10th. The show was just announced, with tickets going on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. for a veritable pittance of $15. They are touring behind the excellent new record 'Songs In A&E,' which I recommend to anyone and everyone. Jason nearly died in 2005, due to complications resulting from bilateral pneumonia, during the start of the recording process, having just completed the album this year (it came out May 27th.) Like all Spiritualized records, it's a sonic experiment, with layers of sound mixed with the fragile beauty of Jason's lyrics. I'm really interested in what type of band he is touring with-I've heard he's scraped the acoustic show that the band has been touring recently, and it's a full electric show now. Either way, this man makes great music, and you should all be in attendance at this show. It will be mindblowing.
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