Local Natives - Hummingbird (2013)

1/30/13 4:15PM


it's supposed to be streamable here for the next 2 weeks. FTR, i am digging it, but I have not been able to listen to it more than a couple of times yet. It's a different kind of record, but I still enjoy something about nearly every track.

And of course, the hordes of hipster/bloggers comments and reviews are nauseating, between the comparisons to The National and especially the 'West Coast Grizzly Bear" garbage. But that is nothing new. Nor is the lack of anything about close to the p-word or even chamber rock.

Blech, hopefully, a more detailed review will come soon. back issues, other albums., and time have been what has backed me up so far. But I do have it as the 2nd best release of 2013 already.

1/23/12 5:37PM
It's just a stream, I'm luke warm about hearing that. More dreamy and less energetic, but until hearing it with headphones, the jury is still out.

full album on youtube deleted

12/6/12 9:35AM

New official Video for Breakers




11/25/12 11:23PM -12/6/12 9:35AM 

Track list.
01 You & I
02 Heavy Feet
03 Ceilings
04 Black Spot
05 Breakers
06 Three Months
07 Black Balloons
08 Wooly Mammoth
09 Mt. Washington
10 Colombia
11 Bowery





10/19/12 12:02PM
This 2nd album is coming January 29th. Also there are tour dates and a single below to stream (as linked on their site).

http://www.thelocalnatives.com/

 


    Sun NOV 4 / Tokyo, Japan / Zepp
    Wed NOV 28 / Hamburg, Germany / Molotov
    Thu NOV 29 / Berlin, Germany / Comet
    Sat DEC 1 / Paris, France / Point Ephemere
    Tue DEC 4 / Amsterdam, Holland / Bitterzoet
    Wed DEC 5 / Brussels, Belgium / Rotunde
    Thu DEC 6 / London, UK / Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
    Sat DEC 8 / Camber Sands, England / All Tomorrow’s Parties
    Tue JAN 29 / Los Angeles, CA / El Rey
    Wed JAN 30 / Oakland, CA / Fox Theatre
    Fri FEB 01 / Brooklyn, NY / Music Hall of Williamsburg
    Sat FEB 02-03 / New York , NY / Bowery Ballroom
    Mon MAR 18 / Nashville, TN / Marathon Music Works
    Tue MAR 19 / Asheville, NC / Orange Peel
    Fri MAR 22 / Milwaukee, WI / Turner Ballroom
    Sat MAR 23 / Minneapolis, MN / First Avenue
    Mon MAR 25 / Covington,KY / Madison Theatre
    Tue MAR 26 / Columbus, OH / Newport Music Hall
    Sat MAR 30 / Boston, MA / House of Blues
    Sun APR 01 / Providence, RI / Fete
    Thu APR 04 / Philadelphia, PA / Union Transfer
    Fri APR 05 / Washington DC / 9:30 club
    Thu APR 25 / Portland, OR / Crystal Ballroom
    Fri APR 26 / Seattle, WA / Neptune
    Sat APR 27 / Vancouver, BC / Commodore Theatre

I haven't heard the new single of course. The band made a special appearance at CMJ a few nights ago as well.

Fuck Fuck Fuck..Its stuff like this that comes out so damn quickly and I'm slow. Why this blog, if I were smart, would die. But I'm not smart of course, and I'm also only by the band known to be 1 of their longest time fans outside of their hometown.

But I have got to say, even before hearing the 1st single and album, I hope/almost expect, despite the fact they worked with someone from The National (who I think are hipster drivel), that this record not only will be awesome, but vastly superior to all the other hipster garbage that's come since Gorilla Manor ala Fleet Kittens, Grizzly Cub, Yeasayer, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Sleigh Bells, Mumford and Sons, Tame Impala, Tune Yards, Animal Collective/Panda Bear and related crap, and many others I'm not even remembering right now.

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A MN/Chicago Concert Calender Winter/Spring 2013

This is just my likely concert schedule at this point, over the next 3 months or so. Pretty busy. And I'm sure more shows will pop up I'm not even aware of/haven't been announced yet.

2/9 Buke and Gase (Minneapolis, The 7th Street Entry)
2/10 Coheed and Cambria/Between the Buried and Me/Russian Circles (Minneapolis, First Ave Mainroom)
2/17 Pooja Pavan with Greg Herriges (Minneapolis, The Cedar Cultural Center)
or
2/17 A Silent Film/Gold Fields (Minneapolis, The Triple Rock Social Club)
2/24 Rush Heads (St.Paul, Station 4)
3/7 Muse (Minneapolis, Target Center)  
3/20 Bend Sinister (Chicago)
3/23 Local Natives (Minneapolis, First Ave Mainroom)
4/3 Miracles of Modern Science (Minneapolis, venue tba)
4/5 Michael Nesmith (St.Paul, The Fitzgerald Theater)
4/6 Michael Nesmith (Chicago)
4/14 The Dear Hunter (Minneapolis, The 7th Street Entry)
4/25 The Red Paintings (Minneapolis, Mill City Nights)
4/27 Cloud Cult (Minneapolis, First Ave Mainroom)
5/4 Steven Wilson (Minneapolis, The Fine Line)
5/11 Pain of Salvation (St.Paul, Station 4) 

Brice Plays Drums as well at Whiskey Junction every week in February?

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Subterranean Masquerade - Home EP (2013 + news)

1/30/13 2:10AM

http://www.submasq.net/






1/22/13 12:09PM
I'm incredibly excited for this. New 7" EP and plans for the band to enter the studio to record their next full-length. Will it be "In Pastille Colors"? or maybe called something else. Their debut record came out nearly 10 years ago.

bmouth link

Israeli/American outfit SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE, which features in its ranks Paul Kuhr of NOVEMBERS DOOM on vocals, has set "Home" as the title of its new EP, to be released in March. 

Eight years after the release of SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE's acclaimed album "Suspended Animation Dreams", "Home" features two tracks: the new title cut and a cover version for THE MISSION UK's"Beyond the Pale". The effort was recorded at various studios around the world with a lineup that included drummer Mathan Shmuely ofORPHANED LAND, bassist Mike Feldman of NOVEMBERS DOOM, and Arabic orchestra, featuring violins, oud, bazuki and lyra. According to a press release, the EP contains "lots of vintage keyboards and the band's heaviest guitar parts ever."

Says SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE songwriter and mastermind Tomer Pink: "We got so excited while writing this long-due follow-up that we decided to release a two-track EP as a teaser for the album. This is gonna blow people's minds!"

"Home" was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY,BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound studios in Örebro, Sweden. 

The EP will be released only on seven-inch vinyl for now and will be available to pre-order directly from the band. It is limited to 300 copies only —100 transparent orange and 200 regular black. The artwork was created by longtime collaborator Travis Smith (OPETH, KATATONIA).

SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE plans to enter the studio later this year to record a new full-length album.



I don't think I shared/posted this ever on here. But it probably bares sharing to emphasize my interest and excitement about the return of this great band again.



mp.com link from may 27 2009 

 

1. Suspended Animation Dreams
2. Wolf Among Sheep (Ok maybe the other way around?)
3. No Place Like Home
4. Kind of a Blur
5. The Rock N Roll Preacher
6. Six Strings To Cover Fear
7. Awake
8. X 

It's really a tastefully composed concept record about a guy and a dream or dreams? Conceptually, I'm still not too deep into it, but musically, it is incredibly tasteful. It's like progressive folk-rock with some subtle sax and rich, soaring strings at times that leave a mark in your mind everytime you hear them. The vocals kind of minimal at times, and then maybe one of my favorite parts of this band, is how they blend the death growls with such character. You can make-out mostly everything their singer says in the harsh style. And it fits really well throughout, with the moods of each section or part of the music.
 
Also not to be missed, how pretty they use the female vocals in this album. They work really well on an emotional level. I'm not sure who they got as singers (in spots they are in a group, and other times it's just 1 female singer), but to hear them on a progressive death album is not something I recall hearing about too often.
 
I mean sure, they do remind me of groups like maudlin of the Well, Agalloch/Sculptured and even Opeth. But there is without a doubt a really unique approach to songwriting. I guess it's one example of music that successfully combines harsh with beauty. Heavy with gentle, etc. Much like bands such as motW or Pain of Salvation have done as well. But perhaps not in this specific approach. Almost like if Jethro Tull or King Crimson added some death metal to their sound. It's very organic, which is kind of rare now-a-days.  
 
I recently purchased their previous EP "Temporary Psychotic State" which is also in the same vein. Very much foreshadows what the band would do soon after with SAD. It's only 2 tracks, "Temporary Psychotic State" and "Observation Through Metamorphosis" which clocks in about 17 minutes long. In a way,  you could attach it to SAD and it might work, as those 2 tracks are great but not nearly long enough for me. I may make it a habit of always listening to them together now in fact.  

 

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Michael Nesmith Spring 2013 US Tour (incl Mpls!)

1/29/13 5:37PM

So it turns out it is at The Fitzgerald Theater, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'Fitzgerald Theater in fact.

I.e., it is a venue OWNED by the same people who OWN 89.3. So, logic would say, 89.3 should PROMOTE this show of Mike's. But will they????

FAT CHANCE.

But I'd love to be wrong and be surprised and we'll hear songs like "Wax Minute" and "Rio" on their airwaves between now and April 5th.

http://www.facebook.com/michaelnesmith/posts/10151575484965116
Here are the The Spring Tour dates and venues

Tickets on sale Feb 8th

Thu-Mar-21 The Franklin Theater, Franklin - (Nashville, TN) 
Sun-Mar-24 Canyon Club - Agoura Hills CA -(Los Angeles CA)
Tue-Mar-26 Rio Theater - Santa Cruz CA 
Wed-Mar-27 Palace of Fine Arts -San Francisco CA
Fri-Mar-29 Aladdin Theater- Portland OR 
Sat-Mar-30 Neptune Theater - Seattle WA 
Wed-Apr-03 Boulder Theater - Boulder CO
Fri-Apr-05 Fitzgerald Theater - Minneapolis MN
Sat-Apr-06 Chicago IL
Sun-Apr-07 Magic Bag (seated) - Detroit MI
Tue-Apr-09 Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead - Munhall, PA
Thu-Apr-11 Iron Horse Northampton, MA
Fri-Apr-12 Union County PAC - Rahway, NJ
Sat-Apr-13 Somerville Theater - Boston, MA
Mon-Apr-15 World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
Tue-Apr-16 Town Hall - New York, NY
Wed-Apr-17 Birchmere - Alexandria VA

The Fitzgerald Theater Ticket Info link
Tickets for all Fitzgerald Theater events are available to the general public in person at The Fitzgerald Theater box office. 
Fitzgerald Theater Box Office
10 East Exchange Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Box office hours:
Tuesday–Friday: Noon–5 pm
Minnesota Public Radio members may also purchase tickets for selected events by calling during our regular business hours.

Phone: (651) 290-1200
e-mail: fitzgerald@mpr.org
Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster by phone at 1-800-982-2787 or in person at any Ticketmaster outlet.
For information on tickets for upcoming Prairie Home Companion shows, please visit theirSchedule/Tickets page


I do find it rather LAME how the only way to purchase tickets directly ON THE TELEPHONE from MPR at Fitzgerald Theater events are if YOU ARE ACTUALLY AN MPR MEMBER. L-A-M-E, but whatevah.


1/28/13 9:48AM


As the man himself just posted a bit ago on Facebook, Minneapolis got a date! 

The venue and ticket sale date hopefully coming later today. I'm pretty sure it won't be at either The State Theatre nor Orpheum as both of those venues already are booked, but the Pantages perhaps. Varsity Theater or another appropriate venue (The Fitzgerald Theater in St.Paul?), it should be good to find out soon.

The only down side to this is, it is the same evening that Jamie Lidell is playing The Fine Line. But as my gf says "Mike takes priority."

And her and I may venture down to Chicago for the show the next night, depending on logistics. 

Christian Nesmith? it doesn't appear will be on this tour unfortunately. O well, raincheck in hoping to meet and chat some prog and Kevin Gilbert with him.

http://www.facebook.com/michaelnesmith/posts/10151573406460116 
Here is the The Spring Tour

Me, Joe Chemay on Bass, Paul Leim on Drums, Boh Cooper on Keys

I'll post the venues and ticket outlets later today or tomorrow.

This is the tour to break in the show, see if you like it, earn the promoters confidence, and see if anybody comes.

If it goes well we will keep going later in the summer/fall and hit the states we missed on this half-lap of the US.

If it goes poorly we will stare blankly into the future and post pictures of cute animals and food.

Thu-Mar-21 Nashville, TN
Sun-Mar-24 Los Angeles CA
Tue-Mar-26 Santa Cruz CA
Wed-Mar-27 San Francisco CA
Fri-Mar-29 Portland OR
Sat-Mar-30 Seattle WA
Wed-Apr-03 Boulder CO
Fri-Apr-05 Minneapolis MN
Sat-Apr-06 Chicago IL
Sun-Apr-07 Detroit MI
Tue-Apr-09 Munhall, PA
Thu-Apr-11 Northampton, MA
Fri-Apr-12 Rahway, NJ
Sat-Apr-13 Boston, MA
Mon-Apr-15 Philadelphia, PA
Tue-Apr-16 New York, NY
Wed-Apr-17 Alexandria VA

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TheBlack & TheWhite (As Tall As Lions related)

http://www.facebook.com/astallaslions/posts/468483889866026

PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
The wait is over - Julio and Cliff would like to introduce... TheBlack&TheWhite. Song
preview below, 'Future' drops on iTunes Tuesday. Join us -
http://www.facebook.com/theblackandthewhitemusic - it all begins TODAY



Future-Tuesday from Meritime on Vimeo.

I'm not sure how I feel about this, but it sounds intrguing. A bit different than much of the ATAL stuff, and maybe more in the vein of some of the member's project Kilimanjaro? Regardless, I'm curious to check this out at least. I still miss ATAL, but this might makeup a little for that.

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Buke and Gase - General Dome (2013)

1 Houdini Crush
2 Hiccup
3 In the Company of Fish
4 General Dome
5 Hard Times
6 Sturtle
7 Twisting the Lasso of Truth
8 You Do Yours First
9 Split Like a Lip, No Blood on the Beard
10 Cyclopean
11 Contortion in Training
12 My Best Andre Shot
13 Metazoa


Release date is this Tuesday, January 29th.

Well I just saw this a bit ago. I'm not surprised they have a new album, but also excited to just learn of it and get to hear it. The stream is just above this from NPR?

I can't add a ton right now, but I'll just say, they were 1 of a handful of groups I discovered last year, that I mean to still spend more time with. They have this cool twangy, acoustic, dynamic folk/rock thing. Odd, quirky, funny at times if I recall. I wanted to see them live with Deerhoof at Mill City Nights but I didn't make it for that show. Perhaps they'll be back supporting this new record of theirs in 2013.

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Bend Sinister - March 2013 North American Tour (Chicago 3/20)

I'll add more later hopefully. Megabus ticket on that Wednesday to Chicago is $42 roundtrip. The Township Club/Bar is 2 miles from my brother's place.

Bucket List band could finally be checked off. 7+ years of wanting to see Bend Sinister may finally end in a little less than 2 months.

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The Mars Volta RIP

I personally have mixed feelings. On 1 hand, I felt Noctourniquet was their best record in many years, and they seemed to be gradually getting better.
 
On the other hand, Omar seems to need to release 2 or 3 albums every year anyway, and there always seems to be some kind of conflicting views between him and Cedric, which may mean this is for the best. If so, it may mean the end of 1 of the most important artists in progressive rock over the last 15 years.

I suppose I am curious to hear Cedric's solo stuff anyway, but who knows if that stuff or any of Omar's endless number of releases will ever compare.

http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/the-mars-volta-breakup.html
 
The Mars Volta's sixth and probably final LP,Noctourniquet, dropped in March 2012. In lieu of a corresponding tour, there was talk of a hiatus. 
  
Now it's officially over, per vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, who broke off from At the Drive In with Omar Rodríguez-López in 2001 to form the psych-prog-jazz-hardcore-math-etc.-rock group. "I can't sit here and pretend any more. I no longer am a member of Mars Volta," Bixler-Zavala tweets. "Thank u 2 all VOLTA fans u deserved more especially after the way u rooted for us on this album. I tried my hardest to keep it going. But Bosnian Rainbows was what we all got instead." (Bosnian Rainbows is the latest musical venture for the brain-smashingly prolific Rodríguez-López, incidentally the Lennon to Bixler-Zavala's McCartney, or vice-versa.) 
  
"For the record I tried my hardest to get a full scale North American tour going for Noctourniquet but Omar did not want to. ... What am I suppose to do be some progressive house wife that's cool with watching their partner go fuck other bands? We owe it 2 fans to tour." It's not all jabs, though — Bixler-Zavala simultaneously seems a bit misty eyed over it all: "Thank u a million times over for ever giving a fuck about our band." 

Omar's side of things, per an NME interview published hours before things went to Breakup Town? "It’s been very strange being without Cedric. It’s one of those bittersweet moments, it’s great for both of us because he’s making this great solo record, which is more of an acoustic thing. I’m really excited to hear another side of him and to work on music without me. He’s composing all the music, playing all the instruments, literally doing everything himself, rather than just singing over the top of my songs." Yeah ... maybe best for these two to have some alone time. 

[Cedric Bixler-Zavala/Twitter] 

[NME] 

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Pain of Salvation in Minnesota Sat 5/11/13 w/ Anneke

http://www.station-4.com/viewItem.aspx?ID=1727



Daniel posted an update today with news and a tour, but strictly for Europe. I know there's an acoustic EP coming soon titled Naked I guess. And they were recently confirmed to play at the Right of Spring Festival the 1st weekend of May.

http://www.painofsalvation.com/2011/acoustic-tour-announced/


Kicking off activities in 2013, Swedish Pain of Salvation are ready to embark on more worldwide touring. The upcoming European tour in April will be exclusively acoustic based and Pain of Salvation will be joined for the 3 weeks of dates by Dutch singer/songwriter Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex The Gathering) and Árstíðir from Iceland, making this a remarkably interesting package.

The tour is to coincide with Pain of Salvation’s upcoming album release via InsideOutMusic, featuring newly recorded acoustic versions of hand picked Pain of Salvation songs. More details about this special album project will be made public soon.

These are all the dates of the European tour:

PAIN OF SALVATION - ACOUSTIC 2013
special guests: Anneke Van Giersbergen & Árstíðir

03.04.2013 – Krakow (Poland) @ Kwadrat
04.04.2013 – Warsaw (Poland) @ Progresja
05.04.2013 – Prague (Czech Republic) @ Klub Nova Chmelnice
06.04.2013 – Bratislava (Slovakia) @ Majestic Music Club
07.04.2013 – Budapest (Hungary) @ Club 202
08.04.2013 – Wien (Austria) @ Szene
10.04.2013 – Bologna (Italy) @ Estragon
11.04.2013 – Rome (Italy) @ Orion
12.04.2013 – Milano (Italy) @ Magazzini Generali
13.04.2013 – Yverdon (Switzerland) @ Amalgame
14.04.2013 – Toul (France) @ Chez Paulette
15.04.2013 – London (UK) @ The Garage
17.04.2013 – Paris (France) @ Le Trabendo
18.04.2013 – Pratteln (Switzerland) @ Z7
19.04.2013 – Weert (The Netherlands) @ De Bosuil
20.04.2013 – Zoetermeer (The Netherlands) @ Boerderij
21.04.2013 – Essen (Germany) @ Turock
Booking: www.dragon-productions.com

Prior to the European tour, Pain of Salvation will also be perfoming
two regular headline shows in Russia:

16.02.2013 – Moscow (Russia) @ Moscow Concert Hall
17.02.2013 – St. Petersburg (Russia) @ Arctica

Furthermore, Pain of Salvation will be heading out to tour in North America in May.
More details about these shows in the USA and Canada will follow soon...


So some added tour dates isn't surprising. And this show, is very mixed in terms of timing. Of course I saw them 3 times from 2001 to 2004, but Daniel Gildenlow is the only member left since then. And their recent albums have not been close to the level of the music they made in the 90's and early 2000's.

And they were supposed to come to the US with Dream Theater on Progressive Nation in 2009, but their record label folding killed that at the 11th hour.

So, this does not mean what it could have meant, even just a few years ago. However, it still does mean a fair amount. To me? maybe to have the chance to actually chat with Daniel and meet the other new members of the band I suppose. But it means a lot to me to see others who never got to see them, finally get to.

Also Anneke opening adds a little more to this. I still won't ever forget how The Gathering I believe opened for King's X back in 1999 at what was known as the 4th Street Station, and I didn't make it due to being unemployed at the time. Anneke is both eye candy and someone who is a great live singer/performer. I wouldn't expect any stuff from The Gathering, but who knows.

Also, I guess Station 4 may finally have installed AIR CONDITIONING.

The only concern I have with this is the fact the date being Saturday May 11th, the 3rd consecutive Saturday I plan to see a concert. The gf will NOT be happy about that. Steven Wilson is the previous Saturday, and Cloud Cult just announced a show on Saturday April 27th.

At least this show is ALL AGES so, I imaging it'll be over by 10PM, but as far the gf is concerned, that doesn't matter. I'm not sure what to do, beyond wanting to buy her flowers or some other desirable gift(s).

Also not to forget, Nathan with Sword Lord Productions deserves a lot of credit for bringing this show to Minnesota.

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Pinnick Gales Pridgen - Pinnick Gales Pridgen (2013)

1/23/13 5:22PM

new song/video "Hang On, Big Brother"



1/3/13 2:48AM



1 Collateral Damage 5:09
2 Angels and Aliens 6:16
3 For Jasmine 1:18
4 Hang On, Big Brother 5:08
5 Wishing Well 5:57
6 Hate Crime 3:09
7 Lascivious 5:18
8 Black Jeans 6:47
9 Sunshine of Your Love 6:53
10 Been So High (The Only Place to Go Is Down) 10:23
11 Me and You 4:45
12 The Greatest Love 5:45
13 Frightening 5:20

http://magnacarta.net/pinnickgalespridgen/index.html

It’s often been said that three-piece bands are the most expressive and most balanced musical units known to the rock world. Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Rush, The Police, Primus … These legendary acts struck upon the correct ratio of musicianship and progressive songwriting by exploring uncharted musical territories while highlighting the individual talents within their collective ranks. 

Now Magna Carta Records unveils Pinnick Gales Pridgen a visionary power trio (emphasis on power) and a supergroup to boot, which is sure to take its rightful place in rock’s hallowed halls. 

Pinnick Gales Pridgen show some of their influences with their brilliant version of seminal power trio Cream’s “Sunshine Of Your Love”. Pinnick says, "Our version has a different vibe: it’s tuned down, real low.” 


As much as I can't stand, or have lacking supportive thoughts towards Magna Carta, even as many years after the garbage that went down with their people and musicians/bands I liked, it can be sort of water under the bridge at this point.

And as much as I love King's X and Doug, most of his solo (Strum Sum Up, Emotional Animal, Poundhound and sideprojects (Supershine among many others), while often not bad, haven't quite compared to King's X. The sample video above and the samples on the link below I'll admit, have got me pretty intrigued about this album/band/project.

And Thomas Pridgen, who has only played on 2 albums I have heard, from memory, both with The Mars Volta of course. And his work on Octahedron, I honestly, have very little to no memory of. Which leaves The Bedlam in Goliath, which his playing was fine, but the mix was god awful. But the guy obviously has the chops and experience outside of TMV, which for this album, I still wouldn't doubt his ability for this record.

And Eric Gales, the name is familiar but I honestly don't recall hearing any music from, from memory at this point. But in just reading a little about him, I guess his roots are in Jimi Hendrix-style blues rock since the early 1990s.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but those samples and video do sound rather intriguing about this album. Rather funky/bluesy hard rock of a kind. And the "Power Trio" as it emphasizes, which may suggest it does focus a lot on just songwriting and melodies with groove. Jimi Hendrix? yeah, I'm a fan. They even cover Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love," which of course Jimi was a Cream fan of course.

And the drop date for this album is soon, being on February 12th.

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Miracles of Modern Science - Meems [EP] + tour

CD:

12":


1 Ahem
2 Dear Pressure
3 Breather
4 Don't You See?
5 The Singularity
6 Physics Is Our Business


From their latest newsletter: I hope that Minneapolis show gets a venue soon and of course I'm looking forward to this. Dog Year is one of the best records I've discovered over the last year or so.

Hi friends,

Oh man oh man, is 2013 going to be awesome. We're kicking it off with a new EP and our biggest national tour yet, plus a couple kickass NYC shows (including one this Saturday). Read on for more!

Love,

Evan, Josh, Kieran, Tyler, and Geoff


So glad we can finally share this with you! MEEMS is our 5-song followup to Dog Year, recorded this past fall at our favorite studio, Spaceman Sound, and it's our best work to date.

But don't take our word for it.

PREORDER THE ALBUM NOW on digital, CD, or limited edition 12" vinyl, and get the first single, "The Singularity," as an immediate download.

You can also stream or download "The Singularity" here. Please let us know what you think, and share the track with your friends if you like it!

We'll be celebrating MEEMS with a special 19+ release party on Thursday, February 21 at The Studio at Webster Hall in NYC. We hope you can join us! 

TOUR!!!

This spring we're embarking on our biggest tour yet! We'll be hitting SXSW 2013 and making it to the west coast for the first time. Check out the full itinerary & get tickets below.

If you live in any of these cities and would be willing to offer us a place to stay OR help promote the show, please reply to this email and let us know! We'll be eternally grateful and will try to make it worth your while.

Jan 26 - New York, NY - (Le) Poisson Rouge w/ Zammuto (tickets)
Feb 21 - New York, NY - The Studio @ Webster Hall (MEEMS release party)
Mar 6 - Washington, DC - 9th and Beats
Mar 7 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern (tickets)
Mar 8 - Durham, NC - The Garage @ Motorco Music Hall
Mar 9 - Athens, GA - Athens Slingshot Fest @ The World Famous
Mar 10 - Nashville, TN - TBA
MEEMS Tour 2013 FlyerMar 11 - Hattiesburg, MS - The Thirsty Hippo
Mar 12-16 - Austin, TX - SXSW
Mar 19 - Phoenix, AZ - TBA
Mar 20 - San Diego, CA - TBA
Mar 22 - Los Angeles, CA - The Hotel Cafe
Mar 23 - San Francisco, CA - Hotel Utah Saloon (tickets)
Mar 26 - Portland, OR - TBA
Mar 28 - Seattle, WA - The High Dive
Mar 29 - Boise, ID - TBA
Mar 30 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
Apr 1 - Denver, CO - The Walnut Room
Apr 2 - Lawrence, KS - TBA
Apr 3 - Minneapolis, MN - TBA
Apr 4 - Chicago, IL - TBA
Apr 6 - Columbus, OH - TBA
Apr 7 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

We're still hammering out details on some of these shows, so stay tuned for updates!

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ROS Fest 2013: Shadow Gallery and Pain of Salvation

http://rosfest.com/

They have Shadow Gallery and Pain of Salvation. Shadow Gallery are also playing at ProgPower USA in September.

I'd love to cross them off the ole bucket list, even though without Mike Baker, it likely wouldn't feel as unique. But beggars of course...(like Kevin Gilbert's music live).


RoSfest 2013 schedule

Friday May 3rd
Bolus – 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
The Flower Kings – 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Saturday May 4th
Jolly – 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Pain of Salvation – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Believe - 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Riverside – 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Sunday May 5th
Dream The Electric Sleep – 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Moetar – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Believe – 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Shadow Gallery – 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm



REGULAR SEAT TICKET INFO

Regular seat tickets go on sale February 2nd, 2013 at twelve noon. - Ticket price $125.00
Friday night show case tickets - $50.00
Regular seat tickets go on sale February 2nd at 12 noon through the Majestic Theater Box Office. 
Regular seat tickets may only be purchased on the Majestic Theater website or through the box office by calling (717) 337-8200, or in person at 25 Carlisle Street during box office hours (Sunday: 3-7:30PM, Monday-Saturday: 12 noon-7:30PM).
RoSfest is in its tenth year, with this year's event being held in the aptly named Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The festival takes place on May 4th, 5th and 6th 2013.
Majestic Theater website - http://www.gettysburgmajestic.org/ and click BUY TICKET Tab and scroll down to the show to purchase tickets. 

Estimating the cost,
$125: ticket
$566: Flight + Hotel
$150: Estimated Food + Merch

Approx. $850 unless I split a Hotel with someone, lol. The ProgPower show might not be quite as expensive and as far as I know, won't conflict with something else right now (although I would like to go SF with the gf whose never been to the best Music Store in America in Amoeba Records, sometime it August..which at least her and I would likely be able to stay with my Aunt instead of a Hotel), but still the cost easily adds up to $500+ even splitting a Hotel Room, lol.

Festivals cost a lot of money, but I have known that for many years. And regular venues and tours can't book obscure prog metal bands like Shadow Gallery and Pain of Salvation unfortunately. I would almost rather pay them $20 to watch them on Stageit.com or something, lol.

The day I'm in a tax bracket where $500-$1000 is like pocket change to me, I'll be happy to dispense that level of cash for these things. But I wonder if that day will ever come. I attended/was able to afford to see a number of these and just special out of town shows, partially based on having free plane tickets from the Airlines per being bumped for a later flight. But that hasn't happened in a long time unfortunately, and thus, I don't attend as many of these things as I used to.

However the idea of attending this thing is more or less MOOT given,

Steven Wilson is playing in Minneapolis for the 1st time in 8 years on May 4th, 2013. My girlfriend (who hates prog by the way) has a birthday on May 4th.

If another show with Shadow Gallery and Pain of Salvation could be scheduled for another weekend in May or June, say in Chicago, I'd be up for that instead.

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The Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO (2013)

I know I've dogged this band in the past, and how much better People For Audio are (which I do think I prefer them PFA, even long after their ending), but the show I saw with Malajube in May 2011 at the Triplerock did win me over about these guys. They have those huge, acid-trippy parts that I was sucked into and now enjoy.

I guess I'm not certain the studio work has been able to do the same up to this point, but I can now claim myself a fan, and am hoping this record will allow me to.

Drop date is April 2nd.



1 46 Satires
2 And Her Eyes Were Painted Gold
3 People Of The Sticks
4 The Specter
5 At Midnight
6 Catalina
7 Colour Yr Lights In
8 Alamogordo

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Saturday Night, January 19th, 2013 @ Shank Hall in Milwaukee, WI

In all likelihood, I'll write some kind of length of a review about this show and what it means to me to finally see Kevin's music live. My exact agenda before and after this show is not exactly certain. Taking a City Bus from where the Megabus drops me off (near the Amtrak Station) to Shank Hall, a Taxi or something else. And the same getting back there on Sunday morning at 9:10AM when I am scheduled to depart on the Megabus back home. Killing time from after the show until then, I may hang with some folks afterwards at a hotel/motel or even split one. It's all sort of up in the air right now. I just hope I don't totally throw my sleep cycle off horribly. Having Monday, the 21st off for MLK day is a relief.

But in the mean time, here's a nice overview about it, Kevin and Shaming.

Found linked here on the January 19th Listing

Champions of Nothing perform Kevin Gilbert's "The Shaming of the True"

8:00pm $10.00

Sex! Drugs! Rock-N-Roll! It's all here, and more - fame, greed, exploitation, despair - everything you¹d expect from a night at the opera, right here at Shank Hall. Chicago's Champions Of Nothing bring the saga of "Johnny Virgil" to life. The late Kevin Gilbert, composer of "Shaming," actually performed here at Shank Hall in 1995, and The Champs are excited to be taking the stage where their hero once stood. Opening will be special guests Department Of Revenge, and hosting will be Mark Krueger of WMSE's Planet Prog, heard every Sunday at 9 PM. We will be filming the show, so come on down and be a part of history! 

The Band: 
With a combined professional experience of over a century in a wide variety of genres, the Champions Of Nothing came together in 2009 to realize the revival of one of the greatest rock operas ever written: "The Shaming Of The True" by the late Kevin Gilbert. In addition to their many other projects, these eight Chicagoland musicians have taken it upon themselves to rescue this masterpiece from undeserved obscurity, in order to keep the musical legacy of Kevin Gilbert alive for future generations of music lovers everywhere. For more information on "The Champs" and their many other projects, please visit www.ChampionsOfNothing.com. 

The Man: 
Kevin Gilbert was one of the most talented musicians/composers/producers of Generation X, counting among his many collaborators Michael Jackson, Madonna, Keith Emerson and Eddie Money (with whom he earned a Gold Record, at age 22) during his tragically short life. His bands "Giraffe" and "Toy Matinee" achieved critical acclaim but little commercial success, and his major contribution to Sheryl Crow's hit album "Tuesday Night Music Club" was mostly unrecognized. Gilbert died in 1996 at the age of 29 during the recording of his magnum opus "The Shaming Of The True." His colleagues, recognizing the brilliance of the material, completed the album for release in 2000 and gave its only live performance at the ProgWest festival in 2002 - until the debut of "The Champs" in August 2010. More information on this amazing musician can be found at www.KevinGilbert.com. 

The Story: 
"The Shaming Of The True" is a variation on the classic rags-to-riches-to-rags story arc; we follow the adventures of a young singer/songwriter named "Johnny Virgil," largely patterned after Gilbert's own personal experience, who moves to L.A. to try to become a rockstar. In order to achieve this goal he is forced to compromise his artistic integrity and become a "sellout," getting rich and cynical in the process. Yet eventually, fame and fortune prove to be too much for Johnny and a nervous breakdown forces him out of the game and into further misadventures. This story is all-too-common in show business, but made much more poignant given that it's mostly autobiographical. Mostly - because whereas an aging Johnny Virgil sometimes hears his songs "on the oldies radio," Gilbert passed away at the beginning of a most promising solo career. Our revival of "Shaming" is therefore also a celebration of the life of Kevin Gilbert and the star he would have become if fate had been kinder to him.

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2013 Albums Calendar (as of January 11th 2013)

here's a prelim Calendar with actual RELEASE DATES.

TBA (was originally 1/13) Dug Pinnick - Naked
1/14 Everything Everything - Arc
1/21 Riverside - Shrine of New Generation Slaves
1/28 Biffy Clyro - Opposites
1/29 Local Natives - Hummingbird
2/5 Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Descension
2/11 Foals - Holy Fire
2/12 Pinnick Gales Pridgen - S/T
2/18 Jamie Lidell - S/T
2/25 Steven Wilson - The Raven that Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
3/1 For the Imperium - Hail the Monsters
3/1 Long Distance Calling - The Flood Inside
3/1 Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
3/5 Cloud Cult - Love
3/5 Jimi Hendrix - People, Hell and Angels
3/5 Brooke Waggoner - Originator
3/11-3/12 David Bowie - The Next Day
3/19 Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz
4/2 The Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
4/16 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito

More titles and NAMES here:
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/SoundscapeMN/2013__music_release_list

Hopefully I can remember to BUMP this entry with updates every so often. Either that, or  a new entry will show up every so often.

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Dug Pinnick - Naked (2013)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/dUg-Pinnick-Fan-Page/267397163682?fref=ts

"get naked on jan 13th"

Not a ton to add, although cool to learn about this along with the Pinnick Gales Pridgen album coming so early in the year. This is dropping on Sunday January 13th of all days. I have never been attached to his solo records, at least completely. Poundhound was interesting, and I found Strum Sum Up had a bunch of good tracks, but just from memory, I can't even recall which ones they were, lol. I just remember thinking it was 1 of his best records outside of King's X.

But my feeling is right now, the PGP thing I have higher hopes for, but this still should be worth hearing. These 2 videos/singles: I am at least assuming the 1st one 'What You Gonna Do?" will be on this album. I do like some of the subtle layering and psych harmonies within those heavy grooves just from hearing it once.
"Holiday" may be on the record, or just a track he made for the holidays, or a bonus song or something given  he made it for download on X-Mas.

This album Naked, I suspect will be just digital like those singles. But that along with the details of this record should be put up I'd think any day/hour now (unless it all comes on the 13th).

http://dugtone.com/
http://www.rockarmyrecords.com/artists/dug-pinnick/

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Cloud Cult - Love (2013)

1/2/13 11:55AM

new single "1x1x1"

 http://blog.thecurrent.org/post/2013/01/cloud-cult-debut-single-1-x-1-x-1


I got an email to download it being that I preordered this record not sure by "sampling" it refers to just hearing a clip, or the whole song. Their morning show did play the whole song this morning. Good song, from what I caught (the last couple of minutes). It sounded almost like an older era CC tune with much better production.

Even a bit like something off  The Meaning of 8  ("2 by 2 by 2").

Why 89.3 got this exclusive premiere? largely due to the fact they have CC headlining their 8th Annual Birthday show, which as much as I'd love to see CC, I don't think I could be paid to see the other acts (although I suppose I could just show up late/when CC are projected to go on). But it's a moot point for myself anyway given I shall be seeing Champions of Nothing perform the music of Kevin Gilbert and the complete The Shaming of the True in Milwaukee instead. 



12/7/12 2:16PM
preorder link

Drop date is March 5th. Yea, boi!


1 You’re the Only Thing in Your Way        
2 It’s Your Decision        
3 Complicated Creation        
4 1x1x1        
5 All the Things We Couldn’t See        
6 The Calling        
7 Love & the First Law of Thermodynamics        
8 Good Friend        
9 Meet Me Where You’re Going        
10 Sleepwalker        
11 It Takes a Lot        
12 Catharsis        
13 The Show Starts Now   

1st single:

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