RA RA RIOT DEBUTS AT #109 ON U.S. ALBUM CHART& LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN SEPTEMBER 2!

"The Rhumb Line reminds us why we cared about this band in the first place. Its mournful cellos and haunting violins are dissonantly if pleasingly matched with triumphant rhythms and exultant melodies, resulting in a record that is at once grand and intimate."--PITCHFORK

RA RA RIOT's debut album The Rhumb Line (Barsuk) has entered the Nielsen Soundscan Top 200 U.S. album chart at #109, selling nearly 6000 units in its first week of release. The Rhumb Line's first week sales also have also landed it at #1 and #2 respectively on the Alternative New Artist and Heatseekers charts.

The Rhumb Line will also be available in a limited edition orange vinyl edition with an exclusive fold out poster beginning September 2nd. The Syracuse NY-born band's first full length has already generated some of the most universally positive response to any indie debut of recent years, with ROLLING STONE currently featuring the band in a full page Artists To Watch spread and recently awarding the record a 4- star review, hailing it as "a blissful chamber-pop breakthrough" and "ultimately life-affirming," while ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY compared "the quintet's assured performances" to "Unforgettable Fire-era U2" In other debut-related news, RA RA RIOT will make their first ever network television appearance September 2nd on LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, while the video for album opener "Ghost Under Rocks" premiered on MTV's Subterranean August 23rd and "Dying Is Fine" (Live
in Syracuse NY) became the first in a series of live renditions of tracks from The Rhumb Line recorded live in an attic in the band's hometown to stream on PITCHFORK (Three more live tracks from that session are now up at STEREOGUM, BROOKLYN VEGAN and MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG). "Ghost Under Rocks" was directed by Brian Savelson (Band of Horses' "Is There A Ghost" and "The Funeral"), while the Syracuse clips were captured 100% live by directors Taryn Gould and Emily Kowalcyzk.

Ra Ra Riot Fall 2008 Tour Dates
09/03/08 - Montreal, QC - Lambi
09/04/08 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
09/05/08 - Jamestown, NY - Mojo's
09/06/08 - Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
09/07/08 - Syracuse, NY - Syracuse University
09/08/08 - Columbus, OH - The Basement
09/10/08 - Cleveland, OH - Case Western
09/11/08 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
09/12/08 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
09/14/08 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon
09/16/08 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive
09/17/08 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
09/18/08 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
09/20/08 - Seattle, WA - King Cobra
09/21/08 - Vancouver, BC - Media Club
09/22/08 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
09/24/08 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
09/25/08 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
09/28/08 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah
09/29/08 - Phoenix, AZ - Modified
09/30/08 - Tucson, AZ - Plush
10/02/08 - Dallas, TX - The Loft
10/03/08 - Austin, TX - Stubb's
10/04/08 - Houston, TX - Rudyards
10/07/08 - Orlando, FL - The Social
10/08/08 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
10/10/08 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
10/11/08 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
10/12/08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat Backstage
10/14/08 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
10/15/08 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
10/16/08 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
10/17/08 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/18/08 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs

BECK PERFORMS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL FEATURING FATHER AND SON'S FIRST EVER PERFORMANCE TOGETHER

Beck's sold out September 20 show at the Hollywood Bowl will mark yet another milestone in the multi-platinum Grammy winner's long and storied career. In addition to being Beck's biggest ever hometown headline engagement, the show will now commemorate the first time he and his father arranger-conductor David Campbell have performed on stage together, when Campbell conducts the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Strings as they accompany Beck's performance.

David Campbell's work appears on more than 400 gold and platinum albums. Over the course of his career, his work has received no less than 50 Grammys and two Oscars. As a performer, he has played on historic sessions with the likes of Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Carole King, while his arrangements can be heard on music by everyone from Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and the Rolling Stones to Cat Power, The Mars Volta and of course on several of Beck's albums.

Arranger-conductor DAVID CAMPBELL'S work appears on more than 425 Gold or Platinum albums. During his long recording career, albums David worked on have received 50 Grammy awards and film scores have earned 2 Oscars. After studying with viola maestro William Primrose, Campbell attended Manhattan School of Music and played several seasons with the American Symphony under Leopold Stokowski.

In his early LA studio musician days, he was fortunate to play on historic sessions, such as Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On", Bill Withers' "Lean on Me," and Carole King's "Tapestry". As an arranger, Campbell began a string of successes from the seventies that has continued to present day, with number one albums and songs including: "Your Smiling Face" (James Taylor), "The Pretender" (Jackson Browne), "The Rose" (Bette Midler), "Don't Know Much" (Linda Ronstadt), "Iris" (Goo Goo Dolls), "Uninvited" (Alanis Morissette), "Time of Your Life" (Green Day), "Tal Vez" (Ricky Martin), "Jaded" (Aerosmith), Under My Skin (Avril Lavigne), "100 Years" (Five for Fighting), "Bring Me to Life" (Evanescence), "I Hope You Dance" (Lee Ann Womack), "Not Ready to Make Nice" (Dixie Chicks), "Breaking the Habit" (Linkin Park), The Black Parade (My Chemical Romance) and "Because of You" (Kelly Clarkson). The list of artists continues with Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Air, Cat Power, Leonard Cohen, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Cat Stevens, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw, Johnny Cash, Faith Hill, Macy Gray, Beyonce, Will Smith, The Mars Volta, Jewel, Garth Brooks and more.

David has composed music for many films, and for commercials for George Lucas, Panasonic, Sony and others. He orchestrated scores for Dead Man Walking, Friday Night Lights, and the Oscar-winning score for Brokeback Mountain. As arranger/conductor for motion picture songs, Campbell worked on Armageddon, Dreamgirls, City of Angels, Daredevil, The Grinch, Men in Black II, The Land Before Time, Spiderman 2, Ladder 49, the Oscar-nominated song from Pearl Harbor, and the Oscar-winning song "You'll Be in My Heart" from Tarzan. He has guest conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, and Melbourne Symphony, and at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics. In jazz, Campbell has arranged and conducted orchestrations for Manhattan Transfer, Gabor Szabo, Stanley Clarke, and Medeski, Martin & Wood, among others. In recent years, he conducted on the Hollywood Bowl stage for Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson. Although David has written string arrangements on most of Beck's albums, tonight will be the first time Beck and David have performed together.

BECK AT HOLLYWOODBOWL, SEPTEMBER 20TH - SOLD OUT

Cassettes Won't Listen and RCRD LBL bring you Freeze and Explode (The Philadelphyinz remix)...leaks a clip of video!

On September 9th, 2008, mild-mannered Jason Drake as his alter ego Cassettes Won't Listen will release the “Freeze and Explode” extended single “Freeze and Explode” – called “[O]ne of the best sons that 2008 has produced” by Pop Matters -- first appeared on Cassettes Won't Listen's debut physical release, Small-Time Machine. To wet your appetite, he has released a promo-only remix by the Philadelphyinz on RCRD LBL. The Philadelphyinz are DJs and producers Skinny Friedman and Apt One who split their time between Philadelphia and New York. They throw weekly parties in NY and Philly and have seen press from SPIN to NPR.

Visit cassetteswon'tlisten.com to hear the newest song from the release, 'Another One'. The EP will be released with remixes by Maker, the infamous Chicago DJ and Producer most known for his contributions to Glue, and his solo work on Galapagos 4 on Bully Records and J Vegus, NY hip hop producer who has worked with underground MCs Cage, Tame One, Bisc1, amongst others . The EP will also include two brand new tracks "The Last Parachute In Sight" and "Another One". In addition to the music, the video for “Freeze and Explode” shall add a new, dynamic layer to this pop masterpiece.Preview an advanced clip of the video at www.cassetteswontlisten.com.

RCRD LBL and Cassette Won't Listen have teamed up to bring you a free remix of Freeze and Explode by NY/Philly producers, The Philadelphyinz.

Download The Track Here

Tracklisting:
01. Freeze and Explode
02. Another One
03. The Last Parachute in Sight
04. Freeze and Explode (J Vegus remix)
05. Freeze and Explode (Maker remix)
06. Freeze and Explode (Instrumental)

The Walkmen Debut On Billboard Top 200 At #71 This Week

It's The Highest Debut In Their History! Also, They Release The Video For First Their Single “In The New Year”! You & Me Out This Week On Gigantic Music To Rave Reviews!

The music that inspired the Walkmen to compose You and Me follows in a tradition of song writing that goes back to early rock 'n' roll: the intimacy and energy of Elvis Presley's and Buddy Holly's early recordings, and the massive voice and orchestration of Roy Orbison. And it carries on through people like Bob Marley and Randy Newman and on to bands like The Pogues and The Modern Lovers - the sort of songs that are very much a product of their time and place while firmly rooted in tradition. The vocals were performed live right in the room with the full band, and sometimes a horn section too.

With some romance and drama, You and Me harnesses a sense of classic live-band production into meticulously constructed, unique-sounding rock songs. The sound would definitely not be mistaken for old, but it would be impossible to ignore the most timeless influences. You and Me offers a distinctive twist to the"Walkmen" sound of their first three records. Each song shows focus, and an up-beat enthusiasm apparent in all lyrics, music, and performances. It is a long record, clocking in at just under an hour, and it presents a wide range of ideas. The pacing is very important, as the band felt it was essential to set the right tone, and show each song in its proper light.

Writing and recording of You and Me happened over a vibrant and rigorous 2-year period, during which the members of The Walkmen were split between Philadelphia and New York. The band rode China Town busses five days a week to work in two small rehearsal spaces (an old nightclub in Chelsea, New York and a warehouse in Fish Town, Philadelphia) to freeze by the kerosene heater in the winter, and sweat it out in the summer. By the time of the record's pressing there were over four hundred cast-off 8-track tapes littering both spaces.

The song “I Lost You” was the first major breakthrough, and inspired many songs to follow. Maroon was teaching himself the viola and trumpet at the time, and the song was the culmination of many 8-track experiments. The new warmth and romance in the music seemed to beg for the same from the lyrics, so the cold and stand-offish tone that had run a-ground in recent years was abandoned for a more personal and real approach. “I Lost You's” strange pacing, and the way in which both the music and the lyrics together pushed towards an Orbison-like crescendo, was the new direction everyone had hoped for. Songs like “Red Moon”, “On the Water”, “If Only it Were True”, and “In the New Year” were soon to follow.

The album was recorded in two installments - the first at Sweet Tea studios in Oxford, Mississippi (where they had worked on Bows and Arrows) with engineer John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Hold Steady, Sonic Youth) and in a couple of sessions in New York's Gigantic Studios (built by Phillip Glass) with engineer Chris Zane (who the boys consider "the best f@#king engineer in the world" and a "f@#king god-send").

You and Me is a solid and complex showcase of inspired songwriting. Romantic and celebratory, this is the sound of The Walkmen returning to classic form.

New York Times, Live Review (Nate Chinen) - “... A terriffic new album. “You & Me” signals more than a return to typographically brisk conjunctive clauses: it’s The Walkmen’s sharpest work since “Bows & Arows”, and in some ways an even better record. And the band shows perspective as well as purpose”.

Rolling Stone (Austin Scaggs) - “...stoked to get an early listen to their killer upcoming disk, You & Me which has an equally awesome banger “In the New Year”.

NPR All Songs Considered Previews “If Only It Were True”

Watch the new video, “In The New Year”


2008 Fall Tour
8/18: Bowery Ballroom, New York
8/19: Bowery Ballroom, New York
8/21: Troubadour, Los Angeles
8/22: Troubadour, Los Angeles
8/23 : San Francisco, CA (Outside Lands Festival)
8/27: Doug Fir, Portland
8/28: Richards on Richard, Vancouver (co-bill w/ Man Man)
8/29: Rifflandia Festival, Victoria (Black Mountain, Destroyer, etc.)
8/30: Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle
9/06: 9:30 Club, DC
9/09: La Sala Rossa, Montreal
9/10: Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
9/11: Pike Room @ Crofoot, Pontiac
9/12: Metro, Chicago
9/13: 400 Bar, Minneapolis
9/14: The Annex, Madison (With Okkvervil River)
9/15: The Basement, Columbus
9/18: Middle East, Cambridge
10/02: Cats Cradle, Carrboro
10/03: The Earl, Atlanta
10/04: Club Downunder, Tallahassee
10/05: The Social, Orlando
10/08: Republic, New Orleans
10/09: Walters on Washington, Houston
10/10: The Parish, Austin
10/11: Pontiac Garage @ HOB, Dallas
10/12: Hi Tone, Memphis
10/13: The Basement, Nashville
10/14: Southgate House, Newport, KY

MADE IN CHINA To Release Sonic Blog V.1 This November

Debut LP Out On Recordburger RecordsOk… these two guys, they’re disgusted with everything except their families and sex. So, after they sniffed one another out, one said, “We should make a record so one of us doesn’t end up a sniper in a McDonald’s.” The other one said, “Yeah, OK, but I’m not leaving my house.” Anyway, Palumbo and LK - the guys in question - decided that “Palumbo and LK” sounded like some bogus tree hugging folk duo (which, of course they also hate). One of them said, “Everything is made in China…if I didn’t know better, I would think my kids were manufactured there.” The other, more detail oriented one, said, “No, not the parts of your kids, lots of their parts are made here in the US, but maybe your kids were ASSEMBLED in China.” Then they said, whatever… let’s call our band MADE IN CHINA. So, please don’t ask either one of them about that ever again.

LK, an anal retentive obsessive compulsive, went to Columbia. The school, not the country, which is spelled differently anyway. He graduated and then bagged it before becoming a lawyer, cause who wants all that money and power? Instead, he went into music. “Idiot,” said dad. “Don’t be a fool,” said mom. LK produced and mixed, cause that made him BOSS, and he lovessssssss being BOSS. He worked on the Chili Peppers, played with Herbie Hancock, and lots of other stuff the world thinks is even more important that he doesn’t want to talk about right now.

Palumbo, a Zen Buddhist head-in-the-clouds loon who thinks life is to be taken on a moment by moment basis, went to school, quit, and went into music. “Idiot,” said dad. “Don’t be a fool,” said mom. Palumbo formed this band called Crack The Sky and they did okay, until he saw that they were on the verge of breaking big, then he bagged that, cause… yep, same thing… money and power! He went back to school so mom and dad would put him back in their will, and actually became a doctor of psychology. Then, he met LK. The meeting went something like this:

LK: I would like to produce you.
Palumbo: Sure.
LK: Can I be boss?
Palumbo: Sure.

LK bossed Palumbo around and made this record called Citizen X. One day, while Palumbo was searching the Jenna Jameson websites down in the studio, LK was piddling on the piano. Palumbo listened and said, “Whoa, hey you write that?” LK, wonderful at being boss, but a little rusty when it came to his own stuff, said…”well…” Palumbo became uncharacteristically overbearing and begged LK to show him his songs. Like a kid who just got caught - well, looking at Jenna - LK reluctantly showed some songs to Palumbo.

Palumbo: This is really good stuff.
LK: It’s…
Palumbo: No, it’s better than good… I can make it better, but it’s really good.
LK: Can I be boss?
The result is MADE IN CHINA, Sonic Blog V.1 The songs are the thing.

WWW.MADEINCHINATHEBAND.COM

The End Of The World To Release Sophmore LP “French Exit”

“French Exit” Out November 11th On Flameshovel/ Pretty Activity Records! Split Subs & Dubs 7" Entitled "Someone Else's Dollar" Out Now With Pretty Activity Label Mates The Subjects

Leaving without saying goodbye is called a "French Exit." Suffice it to say, there has been an interesting cast of characters weaving in and out of the lives of The End of the World's Stefan Marolachakis and Benjamin Smith -- but somehow through 14 bass players and one fistfight, the two of them have been able to stick together, whether it be as best friends or as band mates. It's a rarity in a city where true friends are hard to come by.

Singing drummer Stefan first met guitarist Benjamin in Spanish class nine years ago. The two friends have been writing and recording music together ever since, now better known as the Brooklyn-based band, The End of the World.

The duo performed, recorded and self-produced every song on their second full-length, French Exit, as a two-piece in both Montana and Brooklyn.
The 11 songs on French Exit (on Flameshovel/Pretty Activity, distributed via Touch & Go) address the growing pains of boys becoming men and transitioning into adulthood, or at least attempting to do so.

"Most of the record is very much about our lives, our friendship and our friends in general," said Benjamin. "It's definitely a growing up, life choices type of record."

Stefan's old school crooner voice underscores an earnestness in his narrative lyrics as he sings about people who have appeared and disappeared from his life. Onstage, he is a captivating storyteller, reflecting on the ins and outs of his life, his loves and his friendships. Meanwhile, Benjamin chimes in with shimmery, yearning guitar strums. The sound is minimalist and stripped down, calling attention to each song's emotion and tone.

“When everything else is removed and it’s just the two of us, there’s a really good line of communication there,” Stefan said about writing the record. “It made it easier to make a record that felt honest and clear. ‘Say what you mean’ was one of our mottoes.”

Their friendship has developed beyond the musical partnership over the years. They're constantly scheming their next New York escapade. They publish an online literary magazine called Take the Handle, inspired by participatory journalism in the spirit of George Plimpton and Hunter S. Thompson. Just like the stories in the band's music, the magazine chronicles the lives of their extended creative circle, including the likes of novelist Nathaniel Rich and bands such as Cursive, Oxford Collapse, The Subjects and Money Mark. They also run Pretty Activity Records, a label that acts as the musical arm of this same community.

French Exit features guest contributions from many of their friends, and the cover art was designed by renowned photographer and Grammy-winner Michael Schmelling. For their charming live show, they bring along friends Sam Axelrod (ex-Narrator) on bass and Mike Incze on pedal steel and guitar.

The End of the World just released a split 7" with Pretty Activity label mates The Subjects entitled Subs & Dubs 7". It includes The End of the World's "Someone Else's Dollar" from French Exit on one side and The Subjects' "Goldenshire Boogie" on the other side. At last year’s CMJ Music Festival MTV News ran a segment on the long-standing friendship and good-natured rivalry between the two bands, who have been playing shows together for years.

The End of the World first released a 4-song self-titled EP on Pretty Activity in May 2005. The EP spawned the single, "This Little Theater," which was featured in Jonathan Demme’s remake of The Manchurian Candidate. The Village Voice declared it "the best song to come out of Brooklyn" that year. The band followed up with their debut full-length, You're Making It Come Alive, on Flameshovel/Pretty Activity in October 2006. The album was produced with Bill Skibbe and Jessica Ruffins at Key Club Recording Studios.

Over the years, the End of the World has toured and performed shows with bands like Cursive, MGMT, French Kicks, Maritime, +/-, Bishop Allen, Ambulance LTD, David Vandervelde and Working For a Nuclear Free City.

Matthew Solarski, Pitchforkmedia.com - "And for a good three minutes the End of the World has us, holding 'Last Cast' slightly aloft, taking it for a few well-timed dips and across a steady bridge, Marolachakis' elongated vowels gluing the whole thing together."

Matt and Kim's "Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare"

It took two years and some great live sets but Matt and Kim are back in action releasing a hot new tune, "Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare”

Check it out!

Matt & Kim - Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare {MP3}

WEST COAST TOUR!

Thursday August 28th
SAN DIEGO CA
@ Beauty Bar
4746 El Cajon Blvd .
21+ with BF $8

Friday August 29th
LA JOLLA CA
@ Che Cafe
9500 Gilman Dr.
all ages with BF and doctor bird and the anasazis $8

Saturday August 30th
LOS ANGELES CA
@ Echoplex
1822 Sunset Blvd
all ages

Tuesday September 2nd
SAN FRANCISCO CA
@ Bottom of the hill
1233 17th St.
All ages with BF $12

Wednesday September 3rd
SACRAMENTO CA
@ Fun Garden
1050 20th St.
All ages with BF set time is 10pm.
There is a 11pm curfew for music

Friday September 5th
PORTLAND OR
@ Backspace / MUSICFEST NW
115 NW 5th Ave.
All ages with BF $10
set time is 11pm

Friday October 31st
BROOKLYN NY
@ Danbro Brewery Warehouse
www.toddpnyc.com

Monday November 3rd
BOSTON MA
@Middle East Downstairs
480 Massachusetts Ave.
with BF $10 18+

Wednesday November 5th
NORTHAMPTON MA
@Iron Horse
20 Center St.
with BF $10day/$12 adv all ages

Thursday November 6th
MONTREAL
@Il Motore
179 Jean-Talon W
with BF $12 19+

Friday November 7th
OTTAWA
@Mavericks
221 Rideau St.
with BF $12 19+

Saturday November 8th
TORONTO
@Whippersnappers Space
587a College St.
with BF $12.50 all ages

Monday November 10th
DETROIT MI
@Magic Stick
4140 Woodward Ave.
with BF $10 all ages

Tuesday November 11th
CHICAGO IL
@Subterranean
2011 West North Ave.
with BF $10

Wednesday November 12th
CHICAGO IL
@Subterranean
2011 West North Ave.
with BF $10

Thursday November 13th
DEKALB IL
@The House Cafe
263 East Lincoln hwy
with BF $10 all ages

Friday November 14th
MINNEAPOLIS MN
@Triple Rock
629 Cedar Ave. South
with BF $10 18+

Saturday November 15th
Madison WI
@Union south club
227 N Randall Ave.
with BF FREE all ages

Mondday November 17th
BLOOMINGTON IN
@Uncle Festers
430 E. Kirkwood.
with BF $5 21+

Tuesday November 18th
COVINGTON KY aka CINNCINATTI
@Mad Hatter Club
620 Scott St.
with BF $10 18+

Thursday November 20th
CLEVELAND OH
@Grog Shop
2011 West North Ave.2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd
with BF $10 all ages

Friday November 21st
PITTSBURGH PA
@William Pitt Union
corner of fifth and bigelow ave..
with BF $8dadv/$10day all ages

Here is their video for one of my favorite songs...Yea Yeah:

Sam Champion Pre-Release Album For 3 Bucks At AmieStreet.com

Premiere Part Two In Video Series On RCRD LBL! Click Here To Part Two Series

Heavenly Bender Exclusively At AmieStreet.com

Stereogum - “An absolute force of nature”

Rolling Stone - “One of the most buzzworthy releases of 2007”

Spin - “While his guitar style is firmly rooted in garage rock, Charin’s sharp lyrics separate Sam Champion from the rest of the Lower East Side pack.”

September 2nd is the release date for Sam Champion’s sophomore bash, Heavenly Bender, a few hundred times. But the Brooklyn indie rockers threw us all a big curveball this morning. Effective immediately, the band’s North Street debut – in all of its skuzzy garage pop glory – is available for pre-release purchase exclusively at AmieStreet.com. And better yet, for the next three days, you can snag it for just three bucks(!). Yes, that’s right, three measly dollars. And then, when Friday rolls around, the price inches up to four greenbacks until (one more time with feeling!) September 2nd, the album’s wide release. So, yeah, long story short, Heavenly Bender costs sixty nickles for the next three days!

In other news, the Andrew Zuchero-helmed Sam Champion video series continued last week when RCRD LBL premiered the second installment of the four-parter. This time, bassist Jack Dolgen encounters a 4th grade demonspawn in a ridiculous feverdream, only to awaken strumming the final note of a bitchen bass solo on stage with his Sam Champ brethren. And in case you missed it, the first video was unveiled by Music For Robots earlier this month, and has its own surreal moment. Keep a look out for the old man! And lest we forget, all the humor is in celebration of a serious slab of music: Sam Champion’s Heavenly Bender, available exclusively at AmieStreet.com until September 2nd.

Watch and Share The Second Installment in The Sam Champion Video Series:



Download and Share Sam Champion’s “Be Mine Everyone” From Heavenly Bender [North Street]

Delta Spirit’s Highly Anticipated Album 'Ode to Sunshine' Is Released Today!

Delta Spirit’s highly anticipated album Ode to Sunshine is now on record store shelves (as well as online)! The band is celebrating the release of their new album with an in-store performance at Fingerprints Records in Long Beach, California tonight at 7pm!

Listen to their first single off this hot new record!

Delta Spirit - Trashcan {MP3}

A little about Delta Spirit (via Myspace page): There's a scene in Murray Lerner's film ("Festival"), about the 1963 Newport Music Festival, where Peter, Paul and Mary are shown obliging a resounding call for an encore with the protest song, "If I Had A Hammer." Peter and Paul face each other from the sides and Mary faces the audience of tens of thousands, shaking her blonde hair and bearing down on a song about making change. She would, they would hammer out danger and a warning all over the land. Delta Spirit have five hammers and they swing them the way Mary bobbled her head back in '63 for her close-ups, the way Mary sang as if her knees were on fire and her mouth was brimming with more ire laced with optimism than she knew what to do with. These Californians have more in common with the dirty haired, dirty fingernailed folk groups of the nascent years than they do any of their contemporaries. They're suited for reminiscent hopefulness and the gracefully youthful fusion of hostility and all-encompassing passion for all things that can set a smile ablaze or turn the hairs on arms and backs of necks into little beds of nails at the flick of a switch. They make lists of things they like, including all of the people they love, their home, pretty girls, desserts, bodies of water, justice and America. They believe there's still hope for it and in all of the rooms contained within the hallways of the band's newest offering, "Ode To Sunshine," they make you understand that, when it's all boiled down, what we all ultimately live for is catharsis and a fulfillment of body meeting land, air and sea harmoniously. They're about bodies meeting bodies, pressing skins to skins. They're about reminding you to listen more than you talk. They're about urging you to put stock in the happiness of others, not just your own. They make it obvious that we have to go somewhere to be somewhere. We have to feel something to really live. They sing of the soul searchers. They sing for the soul searchers. They are the soul searchers. – Sean Moeller

Tour Dates:
8/26/08 Longbeach, CA - Fingerprints (In-store)
8/26/08 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland (CD Release Party)
8/27/08 San Luis Obispo, CA - BooBooRecords (In-store)
8/28/08 San Fran, CA - Rasputins (In-store)
8/29/08 Salt lake City, UT - Greywhale (In-store)
8/31/08 Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern
9/04/08 NY, NY - Mercury Lounge
09/06/08 Atlanta, GA - The EARL
09/07/08 Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley
9/08/08 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
09/09/08 Hattiesburg, MS - Thirsty Hippo
09/10/08 New Orleans, LA - Republic New Orleans
09/11/08 Houston, TX - Walter's On Washington
09/12/08 Fort Worth, TX - Lola's Fort Worth
09/13/08 Austin, TX - The Parish Room
09/16/08 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
09/17/08 San Diego, CA - The Casbah
09/19/08 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
09/20/08 Visalia, CA - Cellar Door
09/22/08 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
09/23/08 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
09/24/08 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
09/26/08 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Music Festival)
09/27/08 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
09/29/08 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
09/30/08 Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar
10/02/08 Ann Arbor, - MI Blind Pig
10/04/08 Montreal, QC - Petit Campus (Pop Montreal)
10/10/08 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
10/12/08 Washington, DC - Rock And Roll Hotel
10/14/08 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
10/15/08 Athens, GA - Tasty World
10 /16/08 Saint Augustine, FL - Cafe Eleven
10/17/08 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds
10/18/08 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
10/20/08 Knoxville, TN - World Grotto
10/21/08 Nashville, TN - The Mercy Lounge
10/23/08 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's

VICTORY! USA WINS AIR GUITAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!

On August 20th, San Francisco native CRAIG BILLMEIER (aka ‘HOT LIXX HULAHAN’), traveled to the Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland, carrying with him dreams of World Air Guitar glory and the flag of the United States.

Billmeier was crowned the 2008 Cuervo Black US Air Guitar presented by TouchTunes Champion earlier this month, defeating twenty-four challengers from around the country, all vying for the opportunity to represent the United States. The World Championships brought 20 more challengers – this time from all around the globe. The field included two-time defending World Champion Ochi (Dainoji) Yosuke of Japan, as well as representatives from Russia, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. 'I honestly didn’t think I had a chance,' Billmeier said afterwards. 'Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to do good, to do everyone proud, to at least look decent on YouTube.'

DAN CRANE (aka BJORN TUROQUE), emcee of the Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Championships Tour, and star of the American feature film, Air Guitar Nation, was on hand to host the event (the first time the competition was hosted by a non-Finn). Crane said of Hot Lixx’s compulsory round performance, 'He couldn’t have nailed the song more perfectly. Every move was precise and the audience was eating out of the palm of his hand.' The judges concurred, giving Hot Lixx a near-perfect score. 'I’ve never seen such a near-perfect score in the final round,' Crane said via email. His tone softened when speaking of the spirit and sportsmanship surrounding the event and its participants: 'Afterwards, everyone came up to him and said they were happy that if it wasn’t them that won, they were glad it was Hot Lixx. He’s just got that Air about him.'

'It’s certainly in keeping with the true heart of air guitar, which is World Peace,' said US Air Guitar co-founder Kriston Rucker, via text message, referring to the Air Guitar Ideology which states that if one is holding an air guitar, one cannot, at the same time, be holding a gun. 'I think it speaks to the old Air Guitar Ideology which states that if one is holding an air guitar, one cannot, at the same time, be holding a gun.' Rucker then continued to say, 'I believe this victory validates the organizational initiatives we put into place following our three year drought at the world level. It also reaffirms that our talent pipeline is robust, and will only grow stronger with the global attention that Hot Lixx is bringing to our event.'

Since its inception, US Air Guitar has sent a representative to compete for the World Air Guitar crown six times. This latest win marks the third time the United States has triumphed. 'With this win, America has just entered an Air Guitar dynasty,' said USAG co-founder Cedric Devitt. The US won the world crown in its first and second years in the world competition (2003 & 2004, respectively), but relinquished the throne in 2005 to Michael (Destroyer) Heffels of the Netherlands, and in 2006 and 2007 to Ochi (Dainoji) Yosuke of Japan. For winning the Air Guitar World Championship title, Billmeier was awarded a Finnish handmade Flying Finn electric guitar. Of his victory, he said simply, humbly, 'I certainly did not expect this.'

Check out TIME MAGAZINE’s in-depth looks at the Air Guitar World Championships, including clips from Hot Lixx Hulahan’s winning performances:

Like a polished diamond, the AGWC Network has grown and prospered to a world-wide realm of 18 official AGWC countries. The crème de la crème of Air Guitar compete in national championships before coming to Finland for the battle of the best. One person is annually hailed as the Air Guitar World Champion, the master of an invisible instrument. Countries registered to compete in the 2008 Air Guitar World Championships include UNITED STATES, CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM, NORWAY, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, DENMARK, SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, ITALY, ESTONIA, GREECE, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, RUSSIA, AND THE NETHERLANDS.

For the first time ever, a non-Finn emceed this prestigious event. US Air Guitar is proud to announce that our very own BJORN TUROQUE was slotted as this year’s Master of Ceremonies. We are just glad that there was no King, Lord, or Emperor of Ceremonies to whom he could potentially come in second.

To see Hot Lixx Hulahan’s performances from both Rounds: Click Here

Air Guitar World Championships Results With Scores:
1. Craig ”Hot Lixx Hulahan” Billmeier (United States) 35.5
2. Andel ”John Sniffler” Soree (Netherlands) 34.8
3. Cole ”Johnny Utah” Manson (Canada) 34.7
4 Francois-Xavier ”Master Peace” Phan (France) 34.4
4. Ichikawa the Rock (Japan) 34.4
6. Ochi “Dainoji” Yosuke (Japan) 34.2
7. Christian ”Heart Buckboard” Sweep (Denmark) 33.5
8. Clay ”Clay Bangers” Connolly (Australia) 33.4
8. Daniel ”Midnight Moses” Robertson (United Kingdom) 33.4
10. Simon ”Turak” Edwards (United Kingdom) 32.8
11. Ramsey James ”Carlos Slazenger” Williamson (Greece) 16.6
11. Maxim ”Angel of Death” Andro (Finland) 16.6
13. Daniel ”Fahnderstruck” Faranna (Italy)16.5
13. Terje ”Lord Fist” Stephansen (Norway) 16.5
15. Aikyu ”Super IQ” Kanagawa (Japan) 16.4
16. Dirk ”Lord Airness” Lüdi (Switzerland) 16.3
17. Heine ”Lord Wolmer” van der Walt (South Africa) 16.1
17. Alexander ”Devil Seducer” Gott (Russia) 16.1
19. Oskari ”Knucklefinger” Martimo (Finland) 15.4
20. Aivar Meos (Estonia) 15.1

BAND WATCH - Oh Darling

Having to be from my hopeful new home of P-Town, Oregon... These darlings are about to rock out that area a lot more.

The will be playing at The Artistry (w/ The Parson Red Heads & Everst) this Thursday evening! See other dates below.

Consisting of Oregon natives, J. Marie Hall (bass), Jasmine Ash (vocals & keys) , Jake Endicott (drums) and Daven Hall (guitar).

Be sure to check out their debut album, Nice Nice, when it hits store shelves on September 16th.

Enjoy the Oh Darling Radio!

The Portland Mercury - “Jasmine Ash has the girliest of voices. It’s a compliment, of course…her voice feels down right sweet all the time, a breathy and innocent delivery that, when backed by the rest of her Oh Darling band mates, delivers quite a punch.”

Portland Tribune - “Cutesiness in music is a risk proposition. There’s a fine line between cute and cloying…Thankfully, newcomers Oh Darling get the balance right, with singer Jasmine’s girlish vocal bouncing over the music like a balloon tied to a toddlers’ wrist. There’s an innocence and giddiness to the music, and it’s impossible not to get a contact buzz from the bands’ buoyant, charming pop.”

ohdarlingmusic.com/

www.myspace.com/ohdarlingmusic

Upcoming Shows:
Aug. 28 - The Artistery - Portland, Oregon (W/Everest and The Parson Red)
Sep. 6 - The Fez Ballroom - Portland, Oregon (Music Millenium Musicfest)
Sep. 15 - Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, California (Nice Nice CD Release)
Oct 3 - Doug Fir - Portland, Oregon (Nice Nice CD Release w/UHF and Tea For Julie)

Andrew Bird Rock's For Kids

Chicago, are you ready for the concert event of the summer to take place next Wednesday, September 3rd?

It should be a wonderful night of music at the hands of Andrew Bird at the gorgeous Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park and a perfect opportunity to raise some money for Rock for Kids. They are teaming up with them to offer Meet and Greet passes and Reserved Pavillion tickets for the show. There are two different auction packages on Ebay here and here.

Good luck and good cause!

About Rock For Kids: Rock For Kids is a non-profit organization that provides support, inspiration and assistance to children that are homeless or in need. Committed to the dignity of our children, Rock For Kids works with families and organizations to positively impact and celebrate young lives.

Rock For Kids is a non-profit organization that provides support, inspiration and assistance to children that are homeless or in need. Committed to the dignity of our children, Rock For Kids works with families and organizations to positively impact and celebrate young lives.

Rock For Kids began as a holiday fundraising effort in 1988 with the goal of providing gifts for children living in homeless shelters. Rock For Kids has since increased its services exponentially to include its flagship music education program, Youth Jam.

Youth Jam brings free year-round music education to underprivileged and homeless children throughout the Chicago area. Through free music lessons Rock For Kids works to improve the self-esteem and confidence of the students, while introducing them to the joy of music. Initiated in 2000, with twenty students, the program now serves close to 500 children annually at fifteen Chicago sites.

Rock For Kids is a licensed Illinois 501(c)(3) organization. Only 11% of all income is spent on fundraising costs. All contributions are fully tax-deductible.

Dragonforce Announce Fall Headline Tour

Fresh off their massively successful stint on the main stage of this summer's inaugural Rockstar Energy Mayhem Fest, DragonForce aren't content to take a break. The band will hit the U.S. for a six-week headline tour that hits major markets, supporting their new album, Ultra Beatdown, which lands on retail shelves on August 26. DragonForce are a touring machine, but their last headline tour occured two years ago in September 2006. It was a sold-out spectacle that cemented the band's reputation as a live powerhouse, so it's time for the band to once again topline a bill! Turisas will serve as main support for the tour, which kicks off on November 1 and runs through December 19.

DragonForce have absolutely erupted since the release of 2006's Inhuman Rampage, which has sold over 300,000 copies and counting. They've captured the hearts and hands of Guitar Hero 3 fans with their masterful guitar wizardry and have graced the January 2008 cover of Revolver as well as the covers of Guitar World and Decibel. The accolades on Ultra Beatdown keep pouring in, with Alternative Press lauding the band as "poised to enter the relatively underoccupied pantheon of British metal."

DragonForce are an international "force" of nature, fusing virtuoso levels of guitar work with a fun-filled live aesthetic. Tour dates are as follows, with the pre-sale beginning today at 3 PM local time. Pre-sale tickets, along with newly launched fan club packages, will be available at https://tixx1.artistarena.com/dragonforce/. Fans can go to www.dragonforce.com for more ticket information, as well.

Tour Dates:

Nov. 1 - Pipeline Café – Honolulu, HI

Nov. 3 – The Showbox SoDo – Seattle, WA

Nov. 5 – The Warfield – San Francisco, CA

Nov. 7 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA

Nov. 8 – SOMA – San Diego, CA

Nov. 10 – Marquee – Phoenix, AZ

Nov. 11 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV

Nov. 13 – The Great Salt Air – Salt Lake City, UT

Nov. 14 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO

Nov. 15 – Sunshine Theatre – Albuquerque, NM

Nov. 17 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX

Nov. 18 – House of Blues – Houston, TX

Nov. 19 – Stubbs – Austin, TX

Nov. 21 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA

Nov. 22 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL

Nov. 23 – House of Blues – Myrtle Beach, SC

Nov. 25 – Roseland Ballroom – New York, NY

Nov. 26 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ

Nov. 28 – Rams Head Live – Baltimore, MD

Nov. 29 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA

Nov. 30 – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA

Dec. 2 – The Medley – Montreal, QC Canada

Dec. 3 – Imperial – Quebec City, QC Canada

Dec. 5 – Kool Haus – Toronto, ON Canada

Dec. 6 – Royal Oak Music Theater – Royal Oak, MI

Dec. 7 – Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH

Dec. 9 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI

Dec. 10 – Congress Theater – Chicago, IL

Dec. 12 – MYTH – Minneapolis, MN

Dec. 13 – Burton Cummings Theatre – Winnipeg, MB Canada

Dec. 15 – Events Centre – Edmonton, AB Canada

Dec. 16 – MacEwan Hall – Calgary, AB Canada

Dec. 19 – Croation Cultural Centre – Vancouver, BC Canada

The Return Of MP3 Mondays

Matt And Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare {MP3}

The National - The Thrilling Of Claire {MP3}

Clare and the Reasons - Obama Over The Rainbow {MP3}

SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 years

Preorders will begin September 8 at mergerecords.com for SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years, a deluxe subscription-only box set with special artwork and packaging. Quantities will be limited to the number of subscribers who enroll between the September 8 start date and the January 2009 delivery of the first two volumes.

The first two volumes will kick off a series of 14 custom-curated compilations spanning the Merge Records catalogue, each featuring the curators' handpicked Merge selections as well as exclusively commissioned original artwork. These compilations and additional exclusive content will be delivered only to SCORE! subscribers throughout Merge's 20th anniversary year of 2009.

The curators of the first volumes will be Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Phil Morrison, director of Junebug, The Upright Citizens Brigade and numerous music videos. Curators for future volumes will include Amy Poehler, David Byrne, author Jonathan Lethem, artist Marcel Dzama, Momofuku chef David Chang and many more to be announced.

Additionally, the entire SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years project will benefit specific charitable causes handpicked by the curators.

Watch for future announcements regarding SCORE!-related projects and special events commemorating the first two decades of the label that has brought us the likes of Arcade Fire, Spoon, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, She & Him, Lambchop, Superchunk and so many more.

For the first time in 15 years former Caroline Records indie faves Springhouse will release their long awaited third LP “From Now To Okay”

Who is Springhouse? Well, if you don’t remember, it’s lots of people you know. Springhouse is the Big Takeover's editor Jack Rabid on drums and vocals, Mitch Friedland on vocal, guitar and keyboards and Blue Man Group Music Director/ Co-compuser Larry Heinemann on Bass, Guitar, Steel Pedal and is producer and engineer

The boys have been working on their forthcoming LP for the better part of 10 years and it was recently finished. It’s a labor of love and a long time coming. From Now to OK will be self released in October on a limited edition run of 550 deluxe Bruce Licher-designed letterpress multi-layered foldout CD art package and free internet digital download, Radiohead-style (i.e. pay what you want!).

Big Takeover Magazine Presents the East Coast tour dates kicking off on October 16th at Local 506 in Chapel Hill and winding up at Southpaw for a CMJ show on October 21st. These will be the Springhouses’s first shows of any kind in 6 years [ and only the second time the band has toured since 94.

Hear! “Moving Van” from the New “From Now To Okay”

Hear! “Layers” from their first LP Landfalls

Confirmed dates! More to come!
October 16 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
October 17 – Washington, D.C. @ Rock and Roll Hotel
October 18 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Johnny Brenda’s
October 19-Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Sound Fix (From Now to OK record release party, unplugged short set)
October 20 – Allston, Mass. @ Great Scott
October 21 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Southpaw (CMJ first night, but open to the public)

Springhouse will support indie rock super group Magnetic Morning- Adam Franklin from Swervedriver, Sam Fogarino from Interpol and Jimmy from The Album Leaf. Warming stages for Springhouse will be Julie Ocean, a new DC based band with ex-members of Velocity Girl, High Back Chairs, Tree Fort Angst, Saturday People, St. Christopher, Glo-Worm, Severin!

NEW YORK TIMES - “The melodies are pretty and wistful, the sentiments are dizzying and sad; Springhouse captures and holds onto a fleeting sense of melancholy.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE - “I kept looking around for the second guitar, until I realized it was simply the deft interplay between Friedland and Heinemann that was creating those phantom tones. In an underground music music scene increasingly dominated by noise and nihilism, Springhouse is that rare beacon of mystery and beauty.”

Violens Score Men's Designer Patrik Ervell's Show Fashion Week 2008

Violens make their Fashion Week debut, scoring menswear designer Patrik Ervell's 2008 Show. The score is a re-imagining of the groups music, recorded as instrumental marches, and a very limited edition release of this production will be available to show attendees. Singer/Producer Jorge Elbrecht is also doing the music for Rogan's SS09 show, and had previously contributed his talents to runway shows by Erin Fetherston, Proenza Schouler (as a member of Lansing-Dreiden), Yigal Azrouel, Michael Angel, and Victor Glemaud.

On the heels of a sold-out tour of the Northeast US together, Violens are thrilled to announce more dates with MGMT this November. Following the release of singer/producer Jorge Elbrecht's remix of their single "Time to Pretend", MGMT asked Violens to join them on dates between a busy schedule of summer festivals, and the package will now cross the pond for a string of dates that are quickly selling out major clubs across the UK! Stay tuned for additional shows in London, and release plans for Violens international debut.

Violens recently released their critically acclaimed new single "Trance-Like Turn" on The Green Owl Records Comp: A Benefit for the Energy Action Coalition. Their contribution is featured among tracks by other notable artists such as Feist, Muse, Deerhoof, Bloc Party, A Place To
Bury Strangers, and many more. 100% of profits from the album sales will be donated to the EAC, to support their efforts to raise environmental awareness in our community. http://greenowlrecords.com/comp.php

Violens (pronounced "vy-lenz") are a New York-via-Miami four-piece formed in the fall of 2007, featuring members Iddo Arad (synths/vocals), Ben Brantley (bass), Jorge Elbrecht (lead vocals/guitar) and Kris King (drums). Their music imagines a place where The Zombies & The Byrds meet Wire & The Violent Femmes, and Crass meets Angelo Badalamenti & Prefab Sprout.

Violens songs conjure descriptions of nightmares, the passing of time, speculations on spiritual messages, and accounts of psychedelic hallucinations. Even their most frenetic guitar work and aggressive rhythms are draped in a gauze of reverberant, harmonized vocals and synths
Which create a sense of creepy, artificial comfort. A fitting characterization, lyrically and musically, for a group whose name sounds like a melding
of the words "violence" and "violins".

US Summer Dates
Aug 22, 2008 Seaport Music Festival (w/ Grand Archives) New York, NY
Aug 30, 2008 Johnny Brenda’s Philly, PA

November UK Tour With/MGMT
Nov 3 Ambassador Dublin
Nov 5 Academy Leeds
Nov 6 Rock City Nottingham
Nov 7 Academy Bristol
Nov 9 Barrowlands Glasgow
Nov 10 Academy Birmingham
Nov 11 Academy Manchester

CLARE & THE REASONS HEAD OUT FOR TWO MONTHS OF EUROPEAN DATES

FARGO RECORDS TO RELEASE EUROPEAN ISSUE OF THE MOVIE 8/26/08, FEATURING BONUS TRACK, TEARS FOR FEARS COVER, “EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD”

As the world enjoys the last days of summer, Clare & the Reasons are headed back to the UK for a tour that is still adding dates. The tour includes stops at landmark UK festivals, such as Fringe, Connect and End of the Road. The group will join up with My Brightest Diamond halfway through for a co-headlining European leg.

Fargo Records, the French label boasting such artists as Andrew Bird, Jesse Sykes, Against Me, and Ron Sexmith, will be proudly re-releasing The Movie in all European territories excluding the UK. On October 7th at La Cigale, Chris Garneau, My Brightest Diamond and Clare & the Reasons will join forces to celebrate Fargo Records.

Clare and the Reasons were recently added to the Dublin Fringe Fest playing a night of music with Duke Special. They’ll be performing the songs that Manchon and Special have co-written for the upcoming Duke Special release.

After the European dates, Clare & the Reasons will be announcing more exciting news for the States, and eventually will be settling into the studio to record their sophomore album.

SHOWS WITH MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND, DUKE SPECIAL & CHRIS GARNEAU

Click Here To Download “Obama Over The Rainbow”

UK TOUR DATES:
Aug 25- EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL-Club Voltaire- Edinburgh, Scotland
Aug 27- ABERDEEN- Café Drummonds
Aug 28- INVERNESS- Madhatters/Hootananny's
- Nevis Radio- Fort Williams- Scotland, playing live.
Aug 29- FORT WILLIAMS- Fired Arts
Aug 30- CONNECT FESTIVAL- Club Noir stage
Aug 31- DUNDEE- Fat Sam's
Sep 2- GLASGOW- King Tuts
Sep 3- YORK- The Duchess
Sep 4- MANCHESTER- Night & Day
Sep 5- BIRMINGHAM- Glee Club
Sep 6 - "Loose Ends" on BBC Radio 4.
Sep 6- NOTTINGHAM- The Bodega Social Club
Sep 8- NORWICH- Norwich Arts Centre
Sep 9- LONDON- Borderline
Sep 10- DUBLIN- Spiegeltent Dublin Fringe Fest with DUKE SPECIAL
Sep 11- OXFORD- Bullington
Sep 12 – END OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL


EUROPEAN TOUR WITH MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND:
Sep 21 – AMSTERDAM-Melkweg
Sep 22- HAMBURG- Molotow
Sep 23 – BERLIN- Lido
Sep 24- SCHORNDORF- Manufaktur
Sep 26- VIENNA- B72
Sep 28- ZURICH- Rote Fabrik
Sep 29- MILAN- MusicDrome
Oct 1-BRUSSELS- Le Botanique
Oct 3- BELGIUM- 4AD
Oct 4- GRONINGEN- Take Roots Festival
Oct 5- NIJMEGEN- Doornroosje
Oct 6- TOURCOING- le Grand Mix
Oct 7- PARIS- LA CIGALE- Fargo All Stars
Oct 8- STRASBOURG- Laiterie Club
Oct 10- EVREAX- Abordage Club
Oct 11- LE HAVRE- Cabaret Electric

Kevin Ayers Releases "What More Can I Say…" Exclusive Early 1970's Private Sketches And Demos!

A delectably triumphant treasure trove of previously unreleased performances, carefully remastered from Kevin's private reel-to-reel tapes. Featuring performances from friends such as bassists Mike Oldfield and Archie Legget, organist David Bedford, and legendary drummer Robert Wyatt, What More Can I Say… is a one-of-a-kind personal collection that welcomes the who, what, where, when and why inquiries about its rarities.

Internationally celebrated founder of Britain's most important sixties psychedelic rock band, The Soft Machine, Kevin Ayers went on to compose and sing a string of strikingly magnificent songs across a series of classic albums throughout the seventies. Standing the test of time, reissues of Kevin records have garnered universal praise and found new fans in the 21st century. Recently, Kevin's return to recording was the critically acclaimed Unfairground which Mojo described as "gorgeous" and "one of the top albums of 2007"

Imagine the surprise when a cache of tapes, abandoned at poetess Lady June's London apartment in the mid-seventies, were found in storage with former flat mate (and master guitarist) Gerry Fitz-Gerald! Reel Recordings was granted the honor of caring for the reels and assembling a program on behalf of Kevin Ayers, and accomplished this with a stirring of love for the great man and the music found from his long forgotten private demos and studio outtakes.

This CD presents Kevin Ayers captured in warm intimacy with acoustic guitar and voice seldom sounding finer. For fans and newcomers alike, such a musical tonic is reason to raise a glass and rejoice. Rare Ayers indeed! What more can we say…?

Presented by Reel Recordings, US Release Date: November 1st, 2008

Ill Bill - The Hour Of Reprisal Sampler

Fat Beats has just released a six-song sampler for this cross-genre epic, appropriately entitled The Hour Of Reprisal, which is set to drop September 16th. The sampler highlights the myriad sounds and flavors that have influenced ILL BILL ranging from edgy metal guitar parts to the raw hip-hop beats and production seen on every featured track. An ILL BILL verse has never been an aimless journey through 16 bars, but rather a threatening configuration of worldview, conspiracy theories, street corner politics and real-life experiences, and this album is no exception. Topics such as the war in Iraq, the unsettling and disturbing subject of racism, the senseless shootings at Virginia Tech University, the state execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams and countless others surface, minus any air of exploitation, but with a slash of brutal awareness of challenging times.

YouTube video of Bill talking about the album:

MP3 Download link:

About the album: The highly anticipated second solo album from Brooklyn's independent hip hop kingpin ILL BILL is finally scheduled for release on the Uncle Howie/Fat Beats label on September 16th, 2008. The former Non Phixion member and current La Coka Nostra riot-starter has surgically crafted a fine masterpeice featuring guest shots from Raekwon The Chef, Immortal Technique, La Coka Nostra, B-Real, Necro, Tech N9ne, Bad Brains, DJ Muggs, Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage, Max Cavalera of Sepultura/Soulfly, DJ Premier, Vinnie Paz and More.

Track Listing:
1. Babylon feat. Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage
2. Doomsday Was Written In An Alien Bible
3. Trust Nobody
4. A Bullet Never Lies feat Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks
5. White Nigger
6. My Uncle
7. Riya feat. HR and Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains
8. War Is My Destiny feat. Immortal Technique and Max Cavalera of Sepultura/Soulfly
9. Society Is Brainwashed
10. This Is Who I Am
11. Too Young feat. HERO and Slaine of La Coka Nostra
12. Pain Gang feat. B-Real of Cypress Hill and Everlast of La Coka Nostra
13. U.B.S. (The Unauthorized Biography of Slayer)
14. Coka Moshiach feat. Raekwon The Chef
15. The Most Dangerous Weapon Alive
16. Soap
17. I'm A Goon
18. Only Time Will Tell feat. Necro, Tech N9ne and Everlast of La Coka Nostra

UK’s Latest & Greatest, Ebony Bones, Makes North American Debut

EBONY BONES! A vocalist and instrumentalist who sings like Annabella Lwin on PCP while patrolling the stage like an Amazonian Warrior with an acute eye for fashion.

If there’s one thing to sum up EBONY BONES! and her anti- conformity, multi-stylistic freakoid upturning of popular music culture, it is that EBONY BONES! is a cultural chameleon. Magically explosive, everything she sees is an inspiration. A banshee, a redeemer, a wholly unique artist for our time who sees everything and has the devil’s tail in her hands..

Starting from a blank page, Ebony put up self produced tracks on a blank myspace, and let the songs do the work. With the electricity and shock and awe these tracks conjured, it got the web in a spin, and the word spread like wild fire. Everyone took notice, from Timbaland, to Massive Attack, Grace Jones and even Grammy Award winners Basement Jaxx..

Mesmerising tracks like ‘We Know All About U’, with menacing grooves, haunting refrains and clattering percussion, give you the first flash into her world, that will soon be yours..

More alive and exciting than anything else around right now, EBONY BONES! is a globe-trotting, jaw-dropping proposition. She is the future, leaving you with sweet psychedelic dreams and a rainbow of excitement everywhere she goes.

Q Magazine - 'All the right people are making all the right noises about this talented Technicolor Londoner..'

Entertainment Weekly (US) - ‘With a truly wild wardrobe, a rocking band, and a raw sound EBONY BONES! is definitely someone to keep an eye on..."’

Shows:
Aug 21 TORONTO, ON Drake Hotel Underground (Tonight)
Aug 23 NEW YORK, NY FIXED @ Santos Party House
Aug 24 BROOKLYN, NY Pool Parties @ McCarren Park Pool

Cassettes Won't Listen To Release Freeze & Explode Extended Single and Video on September 9th, 2008

On September 9th, 2008, mild-mannered Jason Drake as his alter ego Cassettes Won't Listen will release the “Freeze and Explode” extended single “Freeze and Explode” – called “[O]ne of the best sons that 2008 has produced” by Pop Matters -- first appeared on Cassettes Won't Listen's debut physical release, Small-Time Machine.

Visit cassetteswon'tlisten.com to hear the newest song from the release, 'Another One'. The EP will be released with remixes by Maker, the infamous Chicago DJ and Producer most known for his contributions to Glue, and his solo work on Galapagos 4 on Bully Records and J Vegus, NY hip hop producer who has worked with underground MCs Cage, Tame One, Bisc1, amongst others . The EP will also include two brand new tracks "The Last Parachute In Sight" and "Another One". In addition to the music, the video for “Freeze and Explode” shall add a new, dynamic layer to this pop masterpiece. Preview an advanced clip of the video at www.cassetteswontlisten.com > .

Cassettes Won't Listen has received press and attention from the likes of Spin, NY Press, Perez Hilton, Spin, Billboard, MTV, AOL, Myspace, Stereogum, Music for Robots, URB and renowned radio tastemakers KEXP. Additionally, Cassettes Won't Listen has been an active remixer over the last few years for a wide range of artists including El-P, (featuring Trent Reznor), Midlake, Asobi Seksu, The Postmarks, Dr. Octagon, Pela, Dirty on Purpose, Mr. Lif, and Morcheeba, amongst others.

"...demands your attention, simply because it is one of the best songs that 2008 has produced to date" Pop Matters

“So infectious it’ll be hard to see past tomorrow.” SPIN

Freeze and Explode Tracklisting:

01. Freeze and Explode
02. Another One
03. The Last Parachute in Sight
04. Freeze and Explode (J Vegus remix)
05. Freeze and Explode (Maker remix)
06. Freeze and Explode (Instrumental)

CARDINALS featuring Ryan Adams, Neal Casal, Chris Feinstein, Jon Graboff and Brad Pemberton...ADD YET MORE FALL DATES

In anticipation of the tentative fall release of their ever closer to finished new album, Cardinals have announced yet another run of headline dates extending their current tour through to October 17th. As always, on-sale information will be posted on www.ryan-adams.com as it becomes available.

The current Cardinals itinerary commences August 23rd at the Fillmore in San Francisco and includes a series of Canadian shows supporting Oasis.

Cardinals are Ryan Adams (vocals, guitar, keys), Neal Casal (guitar, vocals), Chris Feinstein (bass), Jon Graboff (pedal steel) and Brad Pemberton (drums).

See below for a complete listing of all confirmed shows.

CARDINALS U.S. 2008 (NEW DATES IN BOLD)
August 23rd - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
August 26th - Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater *
August 27th - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place *
August 29th - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place *
August 30th - Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome *
September 1st - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Center *
September 4th - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Palace *
September 5th - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre *
September 7th - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
September 9th - London, ONT - John LaBatt Center *
September 25th - Schenectady, NY - Proctor's Theater
September 26th - Syracuse, NY - Landmark Theater
September 27th - Rochester, NY - Auditorium Theater
September 29th - Columbus, OH - Palace Theater
September 30th - Cleveland, OH - Palace Theater
October 2nd - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre
October 3rd - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater
October 4th - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater
October 5th - Madison, WI - Overture Hall
October 7th - Ames, IA - Stephens Auditorium
October 9th - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
October 10th - Tulsa, OK - Brady Theater
October 11th - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Theater
October 13th - Austin, TX - Paramount
October 14th - Houston, TX - Verizon
October 16th - Tuscaloosa, AL - Bama Theater
October 17th - Atlanta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
* supporting Oasis