The Brian Jonestown Massacre Announce Summer Tour

The Brian Jonestown Massacre have just announced their summer tour. While playing mostly smaller clubs throughout Europe, the BJM does have a number of high-profile gigs, playing the world's largest music festival, UK's Glastonbury Festival, along with other festival dates such as Norway's Hove Festival, Sweden's Accelerator Festival, France's Les Eurockennes and Garden Nef Party festivals, Scotland's T in the Park festival, Ireland's Oxygen Festival, and Spain's Benicassim Festival. Wrapping up the dates, is the lone US show in New York City, although more dates are expected to be announced.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Summer Tour

06/21/2008 Copenhagen - Pumphaset
06/23/2008 Norway - Hove Festival
06/24/2008 Gothenburg - Sticky Fingers
06/25/2008 Stockholm - Accelerator Festival
06/27/2008 UK - Glastonbury Festival
06/29/2008 Oxford - Academy
06/30/2008 Stoke - Sugarmill
07/01/2008 Manchester - Academy
07/02/2008 Northampton - Roadmenders
07/03/2008 Paris - Bataclan
07/05/2008 Utrecht - Helling
07/06/2008 Belfort - Les Eurockennes
07/07/2008 Koln - Luxor
07/09/2008 Birmingham - Academy 2
07/10/2008 Nottingham - Rescue Rooms
07/11/2008 Leeds - Cockpit
07/12/2008 Kinross - T in the Park TBC
07/13/2008 Dublin - Oxegen TBC
07/15/2008 Barrow-in-Furness - The Canteen
07/16/2008 London - Forum
07/18/2008 Angouleme - Garden Nef Party
07/19/2008 Spain - Benicassim Festival
07/25/2008 New York, NY - Terminal 5

http://www.brianjonestownmassacre.com/

http://www.myspace.com/brianjonestownmassacre

Hopewell perform "Oh Yoko" on NYC Public Transportation

The Brooklyn-based Hopewell has been one of my favorite bands of the past few years. I first heard about them in 2005 and a few people mentioned that they were worth checking out. I had heard that lead singer, Jason Russo, used to play bass for the fantastic Mercury Rev, which made me more interested. I heard about a scheduled show at NOMAD World Pub (formerly the 5 Corners Saloon) opening for a local band, Vicious Vicious. This was strange on a couple of counts. First of all, the NOMAD World Pub generally doesn't host "national" bands. Secondly, a critically-acclaimed band was opening for a local band. Strange.

Unfortunately, I had lost track of the date of the show, but to my fortune, while driving home, I happen to tune into the great local radio station, The Current 89.3, who was just starting an in-studio performance with Hopewell. I was completely floored by what I heard. You can listen to the show here:

Hopewell's In-Studio performance at The Current

I made it to the show that night and was again floored by what I heard. I'm sorry to say that I didn't stick around for the complete performance of Vicious Vicious. There was no band that night that could have followed Hopewell and succeed. I ended up buying their masterpiece "Hopewell & the Birds of Appetite" directly from Jason after the show. Still one of the best records I've heard in the last five years.

Hopewell has since come thru Minneapolis two times, once opening for The Black Angels at the 7th St. Entry and once, opening for Spindrift at the 400 Bar. Each time, their opening performance was spectacular, and each time the headliner had the misfortune of following Hopewell's performance.

Watch Jason and Lydon from Hopewell perform John Lennon's "Oh Yoko" on a New York city bus. Enjoy!!



SPLIT - HOPEWELL - #1 - OH YOKO!
by lablogotheque


Watch Hopewell perform an amazing version of Synthetic Symphony from their fantastic Hopewell & the Birds of Appetite

The Quarter After- Changes Near (Full Album Stream)

Well Folks. The new album by The Quarter After, Changes Near, was released yesterday. See Album preview in Upcoming Releases post below. I've already ordered my copy from The Committee To Keep Music Evil. In the meantime, the Committee has generously decided to stream the entire album free-of-charge. Enjoy!!

To purchase Changes Near, please visit
The Committee To Keep Music Evil

Album Review

Hymns- Travel In Herds
Blackland Records
Rating: 8 out of 10


Approximately 20 years ago, a friend popped into the CD player, Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. Within a few seconds of hearing the opening notes of “Tangled Up in Blue,” I knew that I’d be in for a treat and listened to the whole record start to finish while eagerly awaiting each song. It was around the same time, that I had bought Lou Reed’s New York record, in which the liner notes stated the album, was “meant to be listened to in one 58 minute (14 songs) sitting as though it were a book or a movie.”

Ever since that day, I’ve been an album guy as opposed to a singles guy. I knew that bands could easily produce a catchy single, but the more important test, in my opinion, was whether that same band could make a great LP…start-to-finish.

In this day of the iPod, where listeners often rely on the shuffle function to play random tracks from their favorite artists, I wondered to myself, “Are bands still going to take the album seriously?” Although I already knew the answer, that answer was reaffirmed resoundingly after I got a chance to listen to Hymns soon-to-be-released record Travel in Herds.

Travel in Herds starts off with a bang with “NYC Nervous Breakdown.” The looping bass line chugs along with Rickenbacker-like country picking done by the Kinks.

“I Can’t Be What U Want,” takes the band into previously uncharted territory with fantastic horns accompanied by banjo that takes the listener on roads traveled by The Band and perhaps Dr. John.

I think it’s refreshing that while many indie bands have gone 80’s retro, almost using Moog synthesizers as a crutch, Hymns have enough guts to go against the grain and revisit more organic sounds...using horns, piano, banjo, and other old-timey instrumentation.

“St. Sebastian” rocks like Exile-era Stones while tackling Travel in Herds reoccurring theme of wide-eyed big city love and ambivalence. Hymns are from Brooklyn by way of North Carolina and, while they’ve clearly enjoyed their travels and time spent in big cities, you never get the sense that this band has forgotten their roots.

“Time Has Told Me” sounds like another great North Carolina band, Whiskeytown, meeting the Stones halfway.

The only minor slip-up on this record might be the fade-out ending to “LA, or Babette Sange.” I hate fade outs….a sloppy, ramshackle finish would have sounded more authentic.

“On the Run” seduces the listener with Hammond organ coloring, builds up momentum, and eventually launches to into an epic soulful blue-eyed soul song reminiscent of Van Morrison of the early 70’s. The perfect ending to a fantastic record.

The pace and sequencing of this album is nearly perfect, which is difficult when you make a record that touches so many bases. It’s not easy for a band to be this ambitious and still pull it off. Wilco did it with Being There and the Hymns more than succeed with Travel in Herds. Hymns cover expansive ground while keeping the listener comfortable in the familiar realms of Americana.

Sure, you hear some subtle and not-so-subtle nods to The Band, late 60’s Stones, Tom Petty (Blame it On the Mountains), and perhaps Gram Parsons (Off My Mind)…but Travel in Herds is a modern music-lovers album and is a record that any of those artists would have been proud to have made.

Despite this record being full of great singles, this record should be listened to start-to-finish in one sitting….you’ll be happy you did.

Travel in Herds has already solidified a place on my “Best Records of 2008.”

*Travel in Herds will be released on March 11th on Blackland Records.

http://www.hymnsband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/hymnsband
http://www.blacklandrecords.com/

Watch Hymns perform an acoustic version of "NYC Nervous Breakdown" live at the South By Southwest Festival.

SXSW 2008: Hymns, "NYC Nervous Breakdown"

Hymns chat with Spin . com's William Goodman after a quick acoustic set at the SPIN and MySpace San Jacinto Saloon, SXSW 2008.

SXSW 2008: Hymns

Watch the video for "Train Song" from Travel in Herds

UPCOMING RELEASES

The Replacements- Reissues
In Stores April 22nd. Rhino

Good news for Replacements fans as Rhino records is reissueing the band's Twin-Tone releases, Sorry Ma, I Forgot to Take out the Trash, Stink, Hootenanny, and Let it Be. In addition to sparkling new re-mastering of those classic records, fans are treated to a ton of previously un-released material, which may surprise some fans who remember the notoriously self-sabotaging-band's stories of disposing master tapes in the Mississippi River.

Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash

Tracklisting:

1. Takin a Ride
2. Careless
3. Customer
4. Hangin Downtown
5. Kick Your Door Down
6. Otto
7. I Bought a Headache
8. Rattlesnake
9. I Hate Music
10. Johnny's Gonna Die
11. Shiftless When Idle
12. More Cigarettes
13. Don't Ask Why
14. Somethin to Du
15. I'm in Trouble
16. Love You Till Friday
17. Shutup
18. Raised in the City

Bonus Material

Raised in the City (live, 1980 – demo)
Shutup (live, 1980 – demo)
Don't Turn Me Down (live, 1980 – demo)
Shape Up (live, 1980 – demo)
You Ain't Gotta Dance (live, 1980 – demo)
Get on the Stick (live, 1980 – demo)
Oh Baby (studio demo)
Like You (outtake)
Get Lost (outtake)
A Toe Needs a Shoe (outtake)
Customer (alternate take)
Basement Jam (rehearsal)
If Only You Were Lonely

Watch The Replacements perform Johnny's Gonna Die live at the 7th St. Entry. September 5th, 1981.

Stink

Tracklisting:

1. Kids Don't Follow
2. Fuck School
3. Stuck in the Middle
4. God Damn Job
5. White and Lazy
6. Dope Smokin' Moron
7. Go
8. Gimme Noise

Bonus Material

Staples in Her Stomach (outtake)
Hey, Good Lookin' (outtake)
(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock (outtake)
You're Getting Married (solo home demo)

Hootenanny

Tracklisting:

1. Hootenanny
2. Run It
3. Color Me Impressed
4. Willpower
5. Take Me Down to the Hospital
6. Mr. Whirly
7. Within Your Reach
8. Buck Hill
9. Lovelines
10. You Lose
11. Hayday
12. Treatment Bound

Bonus Material

Lookin' for Ya
Junior's Got a Gun (outtake - rough mix)
Ain't No Crime (outtake)
Johnny Fast (outtake rough mix)
Treatment Bound (alternate version)
Lovelines (alternate vocal)
Bad Worker (solo home demo)

Let It Be

Tracklisting:

1. I Will Dare
2. Favorite Thing
3. We're Comin' Out
4. Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
5. Androgynous
6. Black Diamond
7. Unsatisfied
8. Seen Your Video
9. Gary's Got a Boner
10. Sixteen Blue
11. Answering Machine

Bonus Material

20th Century Boy
Perfectly Lethal (outtake)
Temptation Eyes (outtake)
Answering Machine (solo home demo)
Heartbeat -- It's a Lovebeat (outtake - rough mix)
Sixteen Blue (outtake - alternate vocal)

http://www.twintone.com/mats
http://www.theskyway.com/

Gary Louris- Vagabonds
In Stores Feb 19th. Rykodisc

The former Jayhawks' frontman is releasing his first solo record since the breakup of the alt-country legends. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and a number of guests appear, including Farmer Dave (ex-Beachwood Sparks), Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles), Chris Robinson (Black Crowes), and Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley). The album was co-produced by Thom Monahan (Espers / Vetiver / Devendra Banhart) and Louris’ long-time friend, Chris Robinson.

Tracklisting:

1. True Blue
2. Omaha Nights
3. To Die a Happy Man Louris
4. She Only Calls Me on Sundays
5. We'll Get By
6. Black Grass
7. I Wanna Get High
8. Vagabonds
9. D.C. Blues
10. Meandering

Gary Louris Solo Tour

3/16: Seattle (Showbox)
3/17: Vancouver (Richard's on Richards)
3/18: Portland, OR (Wonder Ballroom)
3/20: San Francisco (Fillmore)
3/21: Los Angeles (El Rey)
3/23: Denver (Bluebird Cafe)
3/25: Minneapolis (State Theatre)
3/27: Madison, WI (Barrymore Theatre)
3/28: Chicago (The Vic)
3/29: Pittsburgh (Mr. Small's)
3/30: Toronto (Mod Theatre)
4/1: Boston (Somerville Theatre)
4/2: New York (Town Hall)
4/4: Chapel Hill (Cat's Cradle)
4/5: Atlanta (Variety Playhouse)

http://www.myspace.com/garylouris
http://www.rykodisc.com/


Hymns- Travel in Herds
In Stores March 11th. Blackland Records
*See Album Review and Interview Next Week*

Tracklisting:

1. N.Y.C. Nervous Breakdown
2. I Can't Be What U Want
3. L.A. or Babette Sange
4. Streets Alone
5. St. Sebastian
6. Time Told Me
7. Train Song
8. Blame It on the Mountains
9. Travel in Herds
10. Off My Mind
11. On the Run

http://www.myspace.com/hymnsband
http://www.hymnsband.com/
http://www.blacklandrecords.com/

Supergrass- Diamond Hoo Ha
In Stores March 24th (UK Release). Parlophone/Capitol

Supergrass is releasing the follow-up to the fantastic Road to Rouen. No word on if they'll continue down the path of meloncholy reflective songs featured on Road to Rouen, or if they'll revert back to their energetic Brit-pop of earlier recordings. I'm hoping for the former as Road to Rouen was one of my favorite records a couple of years ago.

Tracklisting:

1. Diamond Hoo Ha Man
2. Bad Blood
3. Rebel In You
4. When I Needed You
5. 345
6. The Return Of...
7. Rough Knuckles
8. Ghost Of A Friend
9. Whiskey & Green Tea
10. Outside
11. Butterfly

http://www.supergerass.com/
http://www.myspace.com/supergrass


The Brian Jonestown Massacre- My Bloody Underground
In Stores March 31st. A Records

The Brian Jonestown Massacre are finally releasing a full-length proper album, titled My Bloody Underground. It's been five years since Anton Newcombe and the remaining cast released And This is Our Music, although the mini-album/ep, We Are the Radio was released in 2005.

A free demo version of My Bloody Underground has been available for many months on the bands website. Frankly, as much as I hate to say this, I'm not that high on this record. It's more avante garde than previous Jonestown efforts and was largely recorded by Anton himself, although Mark Gardener (Ride) helps out on a song. The post-apocolypic-sounding songs are generally layered electronic loops with a few songs sung in Icelandic. The record was recorded in Anton's new adopted home of Reykjavik, Iceland, as well as Liverpool, England.

Here's a podcast interview of the BJM's Anton Newcombe, courtesy of The Guardian. He discusses topics such as the chemical-inspiration for My Bloody Underground, Amy Winehouse, British Culture, and a couple of his favorite Icelandic bands.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/audio/2008/feb/14/music.weekly.podcast


You can download all BJM albums free-of-charge at http://www.brianjonestownmassacre.com/

However, if you do like the records, please purchase the records from the Committee To Keep Music Evil.

http://www.thecommitteetokeepmusicevil.com/

Tracklisting:

1. Bring Me the Head of Paul McCartney on Heather Mill's Wooden Peg (Dropping Bombs On The White House)
2. Golden-Frost
3. Infinite Wisdom Tooth / My Last Night In Bed With You
4. Kicking Jesus
5. We Are The Niggers Of The World
6. Who's Fucking Pissed In My Well
7. Who Cares Why
8. Dark-Wave-Driver/Big Drill Car
9. Monkey Powder
10. Yeah-Yeah
11. Black-Hole-Symphony
12. Auto-Matic-Faggot For The People
13. Ljosmyndir

http://www.brianjonestownmassacre.com/
http://www.myspace.com/brianjonestownmassacre


The Quarter After- Changes Near
In Stores March 18th. Committee to Keep Music Evil

As many BJM fans already know, Anton Newcombe isn't the only talented musician in that band. A few years back, BJM multi-instrumentalist Rob Campanella and his brother Dominic formed the Quarter After, along with Brian Wilson's and Wondermints' drummer, Nelson Bragg. Their self-titled debut The Quarter After was a great collection of Gene Clark-era Byrds mixed with subtle nods to the psychedelic freakouts featured on Husker Du's version of "Eight Miles High".

According to Rob, the new record will still maintain their psychedelic sounds, however, a slight move away from Gene Clark-era Byrds to more Gram Parsons-era Byrds. In other words....a little more twang. Also guesting on the record, Eric Heywood of Son Volt.

Tracklisting:

1. Sanctuary
2. She Revolves
3. Counting the Score
4. See How Good It Feels
5. Early Morning Rider
6. Nothing out of Something
7. Changes Near
8. Winter Song
9. Turning Away
10. This Is How I Want to Know You
11. Follow Your Own Way
12. Sempre Avanti (Johnny Marr is Not Dead)

http://www.myspace.com/thequarterafter
http://www.thequarterafter.com/
http://www.thecommitteetokeepmusicevil.com/

New York Dolls- Live at The Fillmore East
Available at shows, Official store release N/A. Mercury, Roadrunner

The legendary New York Dolls reformed a couple years ago after Morrissey requested they play the Meltdown Festival that he was curating. Shortly after the festival, the Dolls lost their fourth member as Arthur "Killer" Kane succumbed to leukemia. The band has carried on and has remained largely true to sound, which listeners should hear in the live recording from last November.

Tracklisting:

1. Babylon
2. Trash
3. Jet Boy
4. Personality Crisis
5. Rainbow Store
6. Looking for a Kiss
7. Puss 'n' Boots
8. Dance Like a Monkey
9. Pills
10. Lonely Planet Boy

http://www.nydolls.com/
http://www.myspace.com/newyorkdolls

Golden Smog Perform in Front of 20,000 at Obama Rally in Minneapolis

A sold-out crowd of 20,000 (an estimated 5,000 didn’t get in) were on hand Saturday for the "Stand for Change" Presidential Campaign rally for Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. Those 20,000 people were treated to an unexpected performance by Twin Cities' supergroup, Golden Smog.


Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy warm up the Obama crowd

Golden Smog is a supergroup, who’s primary members are Gary Louris and Marc Perlman (Jayhawks), Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum), Craig Jarret Johnson (Run Westy Run, Jayhawks, Iffy, etc.), and Jeff Tweedy (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo). Sitting in on drums in place of Jody Stephens (Big Star) was Greg Wieczorek from Joseph Arthur's band.

Due to a busy schedule with Wilco and other side projects, it was Tweedy’s first performance with the band in a few years. However, it wasn’t the first time Tweedy has played an event with the Presidential hopeful. Tweedy and Wilco have performed a number of times at Obama events and the Illinois Senator introduced Wilco at the 2005 Farm Aid Concert.

Setlist

Looking Forward To Seeing You
Glad and Sorry (The Faces)
To Call My Own
Love & Mercy (Brian Wilson)
Beautiful Mind
Until You Came Along

Not played due to time constraints.

I Can't Keep From Talking
Corvette
Easy to be Hard
What's So Funny 'bout Peace, Love and Understanding (Elvis Costello)*
Revolution Blues (Neil Young)

*Performed at soundcheck

Here’s a couple photos from the event, courtesy of Baby, You Got a Stew Goin' blog

http://www.myspace.com/goldensmog

http://www.myspace.com/wilco

http://www.wilcoweb.com/

Leonard Cohen to Tour US

2008 looks to be a prosperous and busy year for Leonard Cohen. First off....the highly influential singer-songwriter will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10th in a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Well deserved, Leonard.

Secondly, Cohen, who hasn't had a full tour in nearly 15 years, is expected to tour the United States and Canada starting in May, followed up with a tour of Europe, according to his website.

Cohen holds a special place in my record collection.

Although most people who know me, know that I'm not a particularly religious person, I've always had a belief in a universal spirituality. I'm not great at explaining abstract spiritual concepts and I won't try and do that now. However, I can tell you that listening to the records of Leonard Cohen and Van Morrison give me that feeling of universal spirituality. Capturing the essence of the spiritual world of Leonard Cohen is a daunting task, but Kurt Cobain, comes as close as anybody when he sings in the song, Pennyroyal Tea

Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld
So I can sigh eternally

There is something about Leonard's poetry combined with the soothing and comforting voice of Leonard that takes me away. Don't forget that Leonard is a poet at heart. He began as a poet in Montreal, and continued after he combined music to his words.

To get an idea of what the voice of Leonard Cohen can do, watch this performance of Suzanne, recorded at the infamous Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.

For proper perspective, you must realize that the Isle of Wight Festival was largely a disaster. It was essentially the last stand of radical anti-capitalism. Many in the young crowd felt it unethical to charge admission to the festival and thus crashed the gates and rioted throughout the event. Many in the crowd harassed the performers during their sets, unfairly characterizing the performers of profit-orientated bourgeois behavior, forgetting that many costs are associated with putting on a festival. Joni Mitchell finally got fed up with the naive crowd and called them "tourists". Bad vibes were all around, essentially a European Altamont.

Watch as Mr. Cohen had everybody's ear for this haunting and spectacular version of Suzanne.

I highly recommend watching the Leonard Cohen documentary, Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man. The documentary features performances and interviews with admirers such as Beth Orton, Linda Thompson, Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, U2, as well as the man himself.

Sometimes, when you no longer see yourself as the hero of your own drama, expecting victory after victory, and you understand deeply that this is not paradise... somehow we're, especially the privileged ones that we are, we somehow embrace the notion that this veil of tears, that it's perfectable, that you're going to get it all straight. I've found that things became a lot easier when I no longer expected to win. - Leonard Cohen

http://www.leonardcohen.com/

*Recommended Reading*

Beautiful Losers- Leonard Cohen

Recommended Rock Shows

Marah
Jan 26 2008 @ 400 Bar

Simply...one of the best rock and roll live bands around. Their albums don't come close to showing what a great band this is. However, early reviews of their new record, "Angels of Destruction" are claiming it the best since their solid, "Kids in Philly". Come see why Bruce Springsteen sometimes joins this band onstage.


**Editors Note** According to the band's website, their tour has been cancelled. Hopefully, they'll be able to sort out the issues within the band and re-schedule.

Watch Marah live from the Abby Pub in Chicago take a stab at The Replacements "Can't Hardly Wait".

http://www.marah-usa.com/

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Feb 6 2008 @ Varsity Theatre

The former Drive-By-Truckers guitarist/singer was forced out on his own and it's benefited both parties involved. Isbell has proven that he's strong enough artistically to succeed on his own. Isbell's 2006 disc "Sirens of the Ditch" was one of the best records of the year. He should also have the very talented Derry deBorja (Son Volt/ex-Canyon) on keyboards, along with his fantastic MuscleShoals-based band, the 400 Unit.

http://www.myspace.com/jasonisbellmusic

Daniel Johnston
February 8 2008 @ First Avenue

The underground-hero, eccentric, mentally-unstable, singer-songwriter had his story exposed in the 2005 Sundance Award-Winning Film, "The Devil and Daniel Johnston." The film is a must see for music wonks. Hopefully, a relatively stable and comfortable Mr. Johnston will show up, showing why everyone from Nirvana to Sonic Youth has championed his recordings.

Watch the trailer for "The Devil and Daniel Johnston"

http://www.myspace.com/dannyjohnston


Mark Olson w/ Janey & Marc
Feb 10 2008 @ 400 Bar

Like Isbell, Mark Olson is another singer that left a great band (The Jayhawks) and had enough talent to succeed on his own. He's been solo for 10 years now and doesn't show any signs of letting up. Opening the show is Olson's former bandmate in the Jayhawks, Marc Perlman, who teams up with Janey Winterbauer (ex-Astronaught Wife) for the folk-Americana duo, Janey and Marc.

http://www.myspace.com/markolsonmusic


Cat Power
Feb 11 2008 @ First Avenue

Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall) is also an eccentric, mentally-unstable, singer-songwriter. She also happens to be very gifted and her 2006 record, "The Greatest" was one of the best records of the year. Fortunately, she's coming to the hallowed halls of First Avenue with a great backing soul band that will attempt to recreate the soulfull Memphis sounds featured on "The Greatest". She's now touring on the newly-released covers album, Jukebox. Hopefully, we'll be treated to a couple. Which Chan will show up? The one who has onstage meltdown/trainwreck-type shows or the one who will show why she is such a respected artist.

Watch Cat Power's video for "Living Proof"

http://www.myspace.com/catpower


Super Furry Animals
Feb 15 2008 @ Varsity Theatre

The Super Furry Animals are the greatest Welsh exports since Tom Jones. The SFA's have been a bit inconsistent on the album front, going from producing must-have masterpieces, "Rings Around the World" and "Fuzzy Logic" to the largely forgettable "Love Kraft". They are now touring on the new Rough Trade release, "Hey Venus!" which is getting good reviews. Additionally, the SFA's put on one of the best live shows anywhere, as I can attest to, having attended their great show at the Fine Line in 2005. They've been known to dress up as furry animals and spacemen and your senses should be overloaded with videos and lights, while playing great psychedelic rock. Not to be missed.

*The Super Furry Animals are also doing a free in-store show at The Electric Fetus at 3:00 PM*

http://www.myspace.com/superfurry


New York Dolls
Feb 24 2008 @ Fine Line Music Cafe

Sure....Johnny Thunders is dead. Jerry Nolan is dead....and Arthur "Killer" Kane is dead. However, this is a legendary and influential band, and despite missing what many people consider the soul of the band, the remaining members, David Johannsen and Syl Sylvain, have assembled a respectable band, to perform the songs we all love and adore. Their 2006 show at First Avenue wasn't mind-blowing, but it was good enough for me to "Put My Arms Around a Memory" again.

http://www.myspace.com/newyorkdolls
http://www.nydolls.org/


Black Moth Super Rainbow
March 27 2008 @ 7th St. Entry

These guys opened for the legendary Flaming Lips last year at the Myth. Their intrumental, psychedelia impressed most of the Flaming Lips crowd....a hard task indeed. This band should be better suited at the Entry, however.

http://www.myspace.com/blackmothsuperrainbow


The Hives
Feb 28 2008 @ First Avenue

Yes.....another one of the "The" bands (The Strokes, The White Stripes, etc.) that came to fruition during the latest garage-rawk revolution in 2000. Although I only have one record by The Hives, Veni Vedi Vicious, I love everything about them...their attitude, their story, and of course the music. What good Garage RAWK is all about. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the set times, they are playing a wall away from the current Garage RAWK kings, The Black Lips, who are playing The Entry.

http://www.myspace.com/thehives


Black Lips
Feb 28 2008 @ 7th St. Entry

Currently, the Black Lips, are one of my favorite bands. This Atlanta-based quartet was one of the last bands signed by the legendary Greg Shaw at Bomp Records before Shaw's passing. Shaw, like his late friend, Lester Bangs, always had a great ear for music, especially bands that fit into the garage/pyschedelia scene. The Black Lips have toured non-stop the past few years, and if you've ever seen them live, you know how exhausting that must be. They've also played the Late Night With Conan O'Brien show, and despite this exposure, they are still playing the cozy 7th St. Entry. This may be your last chance to see them in a venue this small. Warning....their shows can get a bit out of control......beware.

http://www.myspace.com/blacklips


First Communion Afterparty w/ Gospel Gossip
Feb 29 2008 @ 400 Bar

I first heard about First Communion Afterparty a few years ago. I was going thru a deep addiction to the Brian Jonestown Massacre and their ancillary scene....and so were the Afterparty. I would see them at shows by the Jonestown, Warlocks, The Black Angles, Out Crowd, Dandy Warhols and what seems like a hundred other Anton Newcombe-inspired bands. I first saw them at the 7th St. Entry over a year ago and was totally blown away. I knew right then that this was the best band in Minneapolis...and probably the best band to come from here the last 5 years. I thought they were more inspiring than their musical compadres and much-more-hyped, The Black Angels, and their music was transcendent. I became aquainted briefly with now ex-drummer Mara Apple..sauce (now in the band Shy) and Liam Watkins. I've also had a chance to talk with lead singer, Mama Carin, at a recent Hopewell show. These young-energetic musicians are not only good people, they really know their rock and it translates to their music. This will be one of their last shows before the band heads down to Austin, TX for the South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival. Here's hoping that someone down there tunes into what we've known for quite some time....this is a great band. I've been hoping for a full-length album for quite some time. In the meantime, they do have a live record out, recorded at the Varsity Theatre last year. By the way, Gospel Gossip is a fantastic shoegaze-type band from Northfield. Here's your chance to see two of the best bands from Minnesota in one night.
* Photo courtesy of Tony Nelson http://www.tonynelsonphoto.com/

http://www.myspace.com/theafterparty
http://www.myspace.com/gospelgossip


Bob Mould Band
Mar 5 2008 @ First Avenue

Just about 10 years ago, Bob Mould, prior to The Last Dog and Pony Show tour, told his fans that the tour would be the last time EVER that he'd perform with a full-on rock band. Apparently, hearing problems and references to Neil Young & Crazy Horse looking ridiculously old, caused the ex-Husker Du frontman, to pull up the stakes on loud rock-n-roll. Well....fortunately for us....he... like David Bowie.....has renigged on the promise. I've seen Bob Mould probably 20 times and although he's fantastic solo acoustic, there is nothing quite like RAWK Bob. Bob's shows are some of the loudest shows I've ever been too, so if you're a wimp, bring earplugs. His catalog matches up against anyone. This is going to be a great show.

http://www.bobmould.com/
http://modulate.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bobmould


Steven Malkmus & The Jicks
Mar 17 2008 @ First Avenue

I, like a lot of indie-rock kids in the 90's, loved Malkmus' band, Pavement. I haven't followed him much since he's gone solo, but I did get a chance to see him with The Jicks open for Radiohead at Alpine Valley in 2003. Although he went on early and I missed a third of the show, I was impressed.

http://www.myspace.com/stephenmalkmus


Black Mountain
Mar 24 2008 @ 7th St. Entry

I'm pissed that I missed these guys the last time thru town. Fortunately, they're back six months later and I get a chance to see what the buzz is all about. All I know is that they're a fantastic heavy-psychedelic/garage band from Vancouver, coming out of the same scene that birthed bands like the Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Warlocks, and Dead Meadow.

http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain


Gary Louris
Mar 25 2008 @ State Theatre

Gary Louris did a fantastic job leading the Jayhawks thru their post-Mark Olson years. The loss of Olson seemed initially heavy, but the Louris-headed Jayhawks were just as phenomenal as before and they didn't miss a beat. After the final breakup of the legendary Jayhawks, Gary is releasing his first solo record, "Vagabonds" (in stores Feb. 19th) produced by his friend, Chris Robinson (Black Crowes). If the few songs I've heard on his myspace page and other blogs are any indication, this is going to be a great record, start to finish. Gary has been hanging out in the Laural Canyon scene lately, so expect to hear nods to that breeding ground of pyschedelia by way of the Byrds.

http://www.myspace.com/garylouris

Top 30 Shows of 2007

1. Wilco w/ Andrew Bird- Northrop Auditorium
2. Wolfmother- Myth
3. Black Lips- Triple Rock Social Club
4. Elvis Costello & The Imposters- Myth
5. Hopewell w/ Spindrift- 400 Bar
6. The Redwalls w/ Robbers on High St.- Triple Rock Social Club
7. Dinosaur Jr.- Triple Rock Social Club
8. Flaming Lips w/ Black Moth Super Rainbow- Myth
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club w/ The Cobbs- First Avenue
10. Neko Case- First Avenue
11. Son Volt w/ Slim Dunlap- MN Zoo
12. Jason Isbell- 400 Bar
13. Two Cow Garage- 400 Bar
14. Drive-By-Truckers- First Avenue
15. Flavor Crystals w/ Bridge Club- Triple Rock Social Club
16. The Black Angels w/ Vietnam & The Tyde- 7th St. Entry
17. Hymns- 400 Bar
18. The High Strung- Barnes and Noble (Mall of America)
19. The Drams- Peavy Plaza
20. Son Volt w/ Jason Isbell- First Avenue
21. Golden Smog- Minnesota Music Festival
22. First Communion Afterparty w/ Strange Lights and Mouthful of Bees- FCAP Warehouse
23. Zappa does Zappa- 10,000 Lakes Festival
24. Derek Trucks Band- 10,000 Lakes Festival
25. Tapes 'N Tapes- First Avenue
26. Bob Weir & Ratdog- 10,000 Lakes Festival
27. Soul Asylum- Minnesota Music Festival
28. Neko Case- Electric Fetus
29. Gov't Mule- 10,000 Lakes Festival
30. Tapes 'N Tapes- Grand Ol' Days