Tuesday, October 5, 2010

HUGE show down in the Cities this Friday -- catch it if you can!

A Benefit For Brad Kern
Friday, October 8, 2010

First Avenue Mainroom
$22.50 advance/$24.00 doors 
18+ show
6:30pm Doors

With performances by:
Semisonic
Mason Jennings
Jeremy Messersmith
Twilight Hours
The Hang Ups
Two Harbors

Host by Mary Lucia from 89.3 Current
+ Music between bands by DJ Jake Rudh
Produced in cooperation with Twin Cities Music Community Trust
Tickets on sale Friday August 20 at First Avenue, The Depot Tavern and all First Avenue and Ticketmaster Outlets.

Brad Kern has been working as a live sound and recording engineer in the Twin Cities and around the globe since 1988. At one time or another, Brad has mixed live or recorded every band on the bill, since his initial work with Trip Shakespeare in 1991.

Brad was the victim of a hit and run, while biking to his home last month. He had extensive injuries but is expected to fully recover. Proceeds from this event will go to cover medical bills and lost wages during his recovery.

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SEMISONIC
http://www.semisonic.com/

  
After the breakup of Trip Shakespeare, Minneapolis natives Dan Wilson and John Munson teamed up with drummer Jacob Slichter to form Semisonic.  From 1995 to 2001, the band toured the globe and released four recordings; "The Pleasure EP",  "Great Divide", "Feeling Strangely Fine" and "All About Chemistry". “Feeling Strangely Fine,” sold over 2 million copies worldwide and remains a touchstone of late-90’s alternative rock. “Closing Time,” the band's biggest hit, for which they received a Grammy nomination, was ubiquitous around the world and remains a familiar and recurrent radio presence in many countries. “Secret Smile,” which became a chart-topping single in UK and Europe a year after the album’s release in the US, is equally long-lived. Semisonic's appearance at this benefit marks their first live show in over two years.


MASON JENNINGS

http://www.masonjennings.com/



Mason Jennings is a Minneapolis based singer/songwriter. His latest studio CD Blood Of Man, on which he played all the instruments, was given a 4 star review in Rolling Stone and called 'His best album yet'." Mason will be performing with his original band mates Robert Skoro (bass), Edgar Oliveira (drums) and Chris Thompson (sax) it’s a ten-year reunion of the "Birds Flying Away" album released at First Avenue.


THE TWILIGHT HOURS

http://thetwilighthours.com/



Originally cooked up as a nom de rock for music veterans John Munson and Matt Wilson's latest collection of songs, The Twilight Hours have evolved into a cohesive quintet, comprised of some of the finest rockers in Minneapolis.  Along with Jacques Wait on guitar, Dave Salmela on piano and Steve Roehm on drumset, Munson (bass, vocals) and Wilson (guitar, vocals) have forged a sound that is at once timeless and fresh.  The group was named a Best New Band of 2009 (!) by First Avenue Staff and music biz insiders.  The record, Stereo Night, was named among the top ten of 2009 by both The City Pages and Star Tribune.  The band is in the midst of creating a new recording, which will make full use of the mighty chemistry they have concocted.  Look for it early next year.   And visit thetwilighthours.com for more in-depth analysis, videos, downloads and delightfully inscrutable nonsense.

THE HANG UPS
http://www.myspace.com/hangupsmusic



Having grown from a trio formed at art school to a quintet boasting accomplished albums and highly respected credentials in music circles around the country, the Hang Ups have elevated their skills and creative vision to deliver some of the most appealing guitar-pop tunes fused with a psych-folk edge heard this side of the Village Green. It’s no wonder the Minneapolis-based group’s memorable arrangements, beautiful melodies, and infectious hooks have attracted fans such as Pete Yorn, Don Dixon and Mitch Easter (producers of the group’s "Second Story" lp), Semisonic and their producer, Brad Kern (who produced The Hang Ups self titled lp)), and Soul Asylum ’s Dave Pirner.

TWO HARBORS

http://www.myspace.com/twoharborsmusic
  
Originally known as Colonial Vipers Attack, this Minneapolis dreampop band returns with a new name and a tighter, grander sound on their second album All the Places We Would Rather Be. The Two Harbors trail begins around 2006 when the band released a self-titled album (under the original band name) with a lineup that included bassist John Schrei and keyboardist Dax Eckel. The first album made a good splash with local radio and press, listeners appreciating the music's dreamy, textural tone and the band's slyly catchy song writing.

TWIN CITIES MUSIC COMMUNITY TRUST
The Twin Cities Music Community Trust was co-founded by Myles Kennedy and James Baker to help out members of the local music industry with medical bills and other expenses. Previous beneficiaries of The Twin Cities Music Community Trust are sound engineers Chad Weis and Matt Lindquist, and First Avenue stage manager Conrad Sverkerson among others.


City Pages

Semisonic and the Hang Ups reuniting for benefit




A benefit for live sound and recording engineer Brad Kern is shaping up to be quite the remarkable lineup, thanks to Kern's extensive involvement in the local scene. Since working with Trip Shakespeare in 1991, Kern has mixed or recorded countless acts, and now the bands are honoring Kern with a fundraiser in the First Avenue Mainroom on October 8.

In addition to performances by Mason Jennings, the Twilight Hours, and Two Harbors, the First Ave show will also feature two reunions: headliners Semisonic, who last performed locally in 2008, and the Hang Ups (led by Brian Tighe of the Owls and the Star Folk), who were most active in the mid-'90s.

Brad Kern was the victim of a hit and run accident while biking home last month. He is expected to recover completely, but sustained severe injuries and has been unable to work. Proceeds from the benefit show will soften the blow of his medical bills and lost wages.

------------

Star Tribune


August 13, 2010 - 5:25 PM
In other concert news, Minneapolis favorites Semisonic -- who never officially broke up (so don't call it a reunion) -- will play their first show in two years Oct. 8 at First Avenue, a benefit concert for sound engineer Brad KernMason Jennings, the Twilight Hours, theHang Ups and Two Harbors will also perform. Kern was in a hit-and-run bike accident last month. Tickets ($22.50) go on sale next Friday at noon via www.First-Avenue.com.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
------------
A.V. Club
Updated 09/30/2010
  • Fri Oct 8 6:30 pm
    Semisonic, Mason Jennings, Jeremy Messersmith, The Twilight Hours, The Hang Ups, and Two Harbors at First AvenueWith the recent reunions of bands like Guided By Voices and Pavement, ’90s nostalgia is in full effect. So why shouldn’t the Twin Cities have their own version? Semisonic’s biggest mark on the alt-rock world was “Closing Time,” but earlier releases like the 1995 Pleasure EP and the following year’s Great Divide are packed with equally infectious hooks. While Semisonic’s last show was only two years ago, it’s been a bit longer since indie-pop band The Hang Ups took the stage, though leader Brian Tighe has continued to hone his talent for sweet, sing-along melodies in The Owls. The bands are reteaming to play a benefit for sound engineer Brad Kern, who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident while biking a few months ago.
    First Avenue 701 1st Ave. N., Twin Cities, MN 18+ $22.50/$24

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Mpls Music Live 
Brad Kern Benefit @ First Avenue on Friday, October 8th ($22.50): Semisonic reunion?  That alone is a must see.  Now throw in Mason Jennings, Twilight Hours, The Hang Ups, and Two Harbors and you know you are going to have to be there.  The benefit is for Brad Kern, a long time local sound tech who was recently hit by a car while riding his bike.  It’s an unprecedented line-up, making it both a great value and a good cause.  Horrible circumstances, to be sure – but, let’s support some great local musicians supporting their friend.

Source: Tinderbox Music

Monday, October 4, 2010

Mix Tape Appreciation Society No. 7 :: TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE


Here lies a mix tape. Hope you have your headphones on.


A nice little intro before ...

... the debut solo single from Doomtree producer extraordinaire Lazerbeak!

I love the confidence: "If I ain't on your playlist, your playlist is irrelevant."

4. Cloud Cult - "You'll Be Bright (Invocation, Pt. 1)"
Check out this gem from my recent interview with Cloud Cult's Shawn Neary: "The demos we receive from Craig (Minowa) are usually demos in name only: They’re the finished song with most — if not all — of the parts laid down by Craig on either the instrument proper or on synthesizer."

This Austin foursome is one of my new favorite bands. The group's sound is all at once fresh and eerily reminiscent of something else in my collection. ... Of course I can't name it on cue, so strike that comment from the record: The Eastern Sea is decidedly one-of-a-kind!

Cool: My favorite rapper from Columbus, Ohio, is also a huge Who fan. On this one he raps over the unforgettable synthesizer sounds found on "Won't Get Fooled Again."

7. The Posies - "She's Coming Down Again!"
I know I say this about a different record every week, but ... "Blood/Candy" is quite possibly my album of the year. So, so, ridiculously good. This is just one highlight.

8. Paper Route - "Tennessee"
Don't let the fact that this Nashville group tours with marginally talented acts like Paramore and Owl City throw you: This is beautiful, piano-laden music. 

9. DJ Shadow - "Def Surrounds Us"
Epic ... just epic.

10. The Winebirds - "The Solution"
From my review of “Séance Hill”: The Winebirds are three guys and two girls — all Portland natives — crafting tunes that are A) as indie-tastic as Belle & Sebastian, B) as radio-friendly as Fleetwood Mac or Rilo Kiley and C) inherently timeless.

11. The Lonely Forest - "Turn Off This Song and Go Outside"
Fresh air? What a novel idea.

It won't get the crowds going like "F--- You," but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

13. K.Raydio feat. JDante - "Catchy Hook"
This one, on the other hand, could work wonders at your next dance party.

14. Rah Digga feat. Redman - "This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap" (Dirty Remix)
Redman, in small doses, is a MF-ing genius.

15. The Junior League Band - "So I Want Out"
This sounds so much like a whiskey-soaked She & Him, you could definitely have some fun messing with an unsuspecting hipster or two.

Brendan Benson reincarnate?

17. Mr. Lexx - "Brand New Ride"
Completely obnoxious if you're in a bad mood, bloody magic if you're on a sugar high.

18. BNLX - "Got Needs"
Do I hear a hint of "Twin Peaks" in this otherwise upbeat number?

19. Rakaa - "Delilah"
Good stuff ... despite its ho-hum production.

Going for Top 40 adds? Still, it's Smoosh.

Perhaps my fascination with "Dawson's Creek" influenced this middle-of-the-road song selection....



Even though he hasn't had a regular radio gig since he was the program manager at Thunder Web Radio (now KDSU) in Fargo, Budgeteer editor Matthew R. Perrine likes to make mix tapes like he's going to play them on the air someday. This here Mix Tape Appreciation Society is a continuation of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul." Enjoy!

Cake returns with 'Showroom of Compassion'


CAKE ANNOUNCES FIRST NEW ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS * SHOWROOM OF COMPASSION OUT 1/11/11 ON THEIR OWN LABEL, UPBEAT RECORDS - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW AT CAKE.HASAWEBSTORE.COM

FIRST SINGLE, "SICK OF YOU," NOW PLAYING ON YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION * LISTEN TO IT ATSPIN.COM

CAKE - John McCrea (Vocals/Piano/Nord), Vincent DiFiore (Trumpet/Euphonium/Keyboards), Xan McCurdy (Guitar/Synthesizer) and Gabriel Nelson (Bass/Guitar/Rheem/Bandalero) - announces their first album of new material since 2004's Pressure Chief. They'll releaseShowroom Of Compassion, their 6th studio album, January 11th 2011 on their own label, Upbeat Records (through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group). The album was recorded over the last two and a half years and was produced and engineered by the band themselves at CAKE's own solar electric powered studio in Sacramento, CA.

The first single, "Sick Of You," is off to a great start at Alternative, Rock and Triple A radio with early adds coming through at stations in big markets like WRXP/NYC, DC101/Washington DC, WRFF/Philly, 91X/San Diego, KTBZ/Houston, 99X/Atlanta, WBOS/Boston, KNDD/Seattle, KNRK/Portland, WXDX/Pittsburgh, KRBZ/Kansas City, CD101/Columbus and KKDO/Sacramento among others. As Spin.com can attest, "['Sick Of You'] is vintage CAKE, with frontman John McCrea's jaded, semi-spoken vocals, crunchy guitar riffs, a skippy beat, and blasts of trumpet." Spin.com has the exclusive online premiere of the song.

Starting today, fans have the opportunity to pre-order Showroom Of Compassion at CAKE's own webstorehttp://cake.hasawebstore.com/ - They'll be able to choose from bundles small and large that include autographed vinyl and CD's, a limited edition 7-inch and exclusive t-shirts. By pre-ordering Showroom Of Compassion fans will receive an instant MP3 download of the "Sick Of You."

Showroom Of Compassion official track-listing
1. Federal Funding 
2. Long Time 
3. Got To Move 
4. What's Now Is Now 
5. Mustache Man (Wasted) 
6. Teenage Pregnancy 
7. Sick Of You 
8. Easy to Crash 
9. Bound Away 
10. The Winter 
11. Italian Guy


Pre-Order: http://cake.hasawebstore.com/
Web: http://www.cakemusic.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cakemusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cake#!/pages/Cake-music/24063159304?ref=ts

Source: Independent Label Group

Procol Harum (the 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' group) readies reissues

UK-based reissues specialist Union Square Music (www.unionsquaremusic.co.uk) is reissuing expanded digital versions of Procol Harum’s classic albums Grand Hotel, Exotic Birds and Fruit, Procol’s Ninth and Something Magic on November 1st allowing fans of sophisticated music the chance to re-evaluate one of rock’s most consistently innovative bands. Careful remastering has brought out hitherto elusive nuances; judiciously-selected bonus tracks offer a unique insight into the compositions of Gary Brooker (music), Keith Reid (words) and their less-frequent collaborators, and into Procol Harum’s studio methodology.
The releases will be supported by a number of US dates as detailed below

Grand Hotel
Released in March 1973 in a busy year for classic albums (Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Paul McCartney’s Band on the Run, and a brace of albums apiece from Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Roxy Music.) Grand Hotel once again proved Procol worthy of their place among those major players. The album reached No. 21 in the Billboard charts in 1973, was certified Gold and remained in the album chart for 7 weeks.
Many were surprised that the theme of the Grand Hotel did not extend over the whole album – to form, dare one say it, a concept album. But Keith Reid confined his concept to the title track: “‘Dover sole and oeufs Mornay; profiteroles and peach flambé...’ I was very pleased that no-one had come up with that rhyme before,” Keith told sleevenote writer Patrick Humphries.
Certainly Grand Hotel is a brilliantly evocative moment. Brooker’s stately melody supports Reid’s gorgeously decadent lyrics, and as with Liza Minnelli’s Cabaret the previous year, there was something louche and slightly illicit about what Procol was promising here. Elsewhere, the poignant For Liquorice John, the wry A Souvenir of London (a single that was banned by the BBC as it concerned catching an STD, albeit none too obviously) and the elegant Fires (Which Burnt Brightly) offered further proof of the band’s astounding versatility.
NME acknowledged the title track as ‘a masterpiece of musical perfection and lyricism’, while Richard Williams, in a glowing Melody Maker review, reckoned it ‘stands with Whaling Stories and A Salty Dog as the group’s finest achievements (they are, too, almost unique in that the more ambitious they get, the more they succeed)’.
The digital release is augmented by two previously unreleased bonus tracks selected by Gary Brooker from the session tapes – raw versions of Grand Hotel and Bringing Home The Bacon without the orchestra.

Exotic Birds And Fruits
“Is it on, Tommy?” guitarist Mick Grabham can be heard enquiring chirpily of long-time Procol Harum producer Chris Thomas - even before the album proper begins… And then with a jolt, the thunderous Nothing But The Truth lets rip, providing a roistering opening to Procol Harum’s eighth album, a powerhouse set entitled Exotic Birds & Fruit.
The strangely exotic nature of this record was signalled both by its title and by the use of Jacob Bogdani’s 17th Century painting for the cover - in itself, an unusual choice for a new LP from a band like Procol Harum. Except of course, that then, as now, there really weren’t any other bands like Procol Harum.
Procol’s preceding album, 1973’s Grand Hotel - a grandiose effort that recalled earlier majestic achievements like A Whiter Shade Of Pale and A Salty Dog - had been hallmarked by its symphonic sweep. But for 1974’s Exotic Birds & Fruit, Procol Harum can be heard going back to basics. This was clearly an album custom built for a working band on the road.
“We made the live album with an orchestra,” (1972’s Procol Harum Live In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra) Gary Brooker recalled. “We’d then taken an orchestra into the studio on Grand Hotel and did a lot of work with that in easier surroundings - we could work on it for a week instead of only one night. But I think after Grand Hotel and a few concerts… we said we’d had enough of orchestras. Let’s get back and just be a band again.”
The original Side 1 (Nothing But The Truth, Beyond The Pale, As Strong As Samson, The Idol) was as fine a selection of songs as Procol had ever lent their name to - and indeed, as powerful an opening as any long player of the decade. The formidable Brooker and Reid partnership had once again triumphed. Even today, The Idol seems a prescient and strangely timeless piece… And thus, back in the day of three-day weeks, Kung Fu Fighting at No.1, and hot pants everywhere, Side 1 of Exotic Birds & Fruit drew to its majestic close.
The remainder of the tracks were reminiscent of a lighter shade of Procol. Monsieur R. Monde (a reworking of 1967’s Monsieur Armand), was a tongue-in-cheek catalogue of afterlife visitors including Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and that perennial festive party-pooper, Ebenezer Scrooge. On the upbeat Fresh Fruit we get Gary singing the praises of Vitamin C, as well as the delights of seeds, juice and pulp. “It was very much based on the sort of thing the Coasters might have done,” he later said.
Coincidentally, those prime Coasters songwriters Leiber & Stoller would be brought in to produce Procol on their next album.
Meanwhile, the current album wound down with Butterfly Boys, a none too subtle dig at the band’s then-label Chrysalis (whose logo was a butterfly). And finally, the stately ballad New Lamps For Old, which supplied a dignified end to an extraordinarily varied album.
The digital release is augmented by two bonus tracks selected by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid – Drunk Again and As Strong As Samson

Procol’s Ninth
When a top band has been on the road for some years, with a catalogue of successful recordings behind them, it is sometimes helpful to bring in fresh blood in the pursuit of new horizons. When Procol Harum came to record their 1975 album Procol’s Ninth, they decided on a drastic change of policy. The result was an unexpected collaboration between Procol and one of America’s top producer/songwriter teams, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Since the 1950s the duo had written a vast number of hits for the likes of Elvis Presley, Ben E. King and The Coasters. Gary Brooker had grown up listening to these hits and when he discovered that they were in Britain producing the debut album for Stealer’s Wheel, he asked them to work with Procol and was thrilled when they agreed. “The album was named after Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it was in fact our ninth album. As it turned out there was a huge difference between this one and our previous albums,” says Gary.
While there were a few tussles about material, with the producers trying to persuade Gary and co. to record songs they’d recently written for Peggy Lee (Procol eventually recorded their tune I Keep Forgetting, a hit for Chuck Jackson the previous decade), Leiber and Stoller made a significant difference to the band’s sound, which had greater clarity in the ‘mix’. This was immediately apparent on Pandora’s Box, the somewhat mysterious, Latin-tinged opening cut, which took Procol back into the singles charts, reaching No. 16 in the UK, and led to three appearances on Top of the Pops.
Other album highlights include Fool’s Gold, with excellent work by Mick Grabham on guitar and pounding chords from the twin keyboards of Chris Copping (organ) and Brooker (piano); Taking The Time, on which the piano and guitar are augmented by vintage brass riffs that make the band sound like Duke Ellington’s Orchestra; and The Unquiet Zone, which takes a left turn into what can quite easily be described as Latin funk territory, with diverse rhythms and nifty cowbell from the always exciting drummer BJ Wilson.
Procol’s Ninth reached Number 52 in the US chart. The album also made a little piece of history when it became one of the very first by a serious rock group to be released in Poland. Procol were also the first group to visit the country, since a Rolling Stones concert in the 60s, which led to a ban on all ‘decadent’ western rock music.
The digital release is augmented by three previously unreleased bonus tracks selected by Gary and Keith from the session tapes – raw versions of The Unquiet Zone, Taking The Time and Fool’s Gold.

Something Magic
Something Magic’s side-length suite – The Worm & the Tree - and surrealistic sleeve may echo earlier glories, but Brooker and Reid themselves harboured no retrograde intentions. An immediate follow-up might have revealed this album as a fruitful mutation, not an evolutionary dead-end; but injury and exhaustion took their toll, and the band dissolved unceremoniously after the promotional tour. Knowing now that Procol Harum regrouped in the early 90s, released three concert DVDs and two further studio albums, and is currently (2010) performing and recording exciting new material, we are well-placed to reconsider Something Magic as an intriguing milestone. The album was made in America, where Procol had previously recorded only individual numbers like Wreck of the Hesperus and Long Gone Geek. Miami’s Criteria Studios then had an impressive track record, boasting more singles in the top ten than New York and LA combined; its clients included Clapton, The Bee Gees and The Eagles. Following the 1975 success of Pandora’s Box (recorded in London under Americans, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) Procol Harum was once more a chart band, and as they took up residence on Ocean Boulevard in Golden Beach they hoped the Criteria producers would work something magic for them again.
In the market-place Procol may have been ‘swimming against the tide’, as Reid observes in Skating on Thin Ice; in other respects they were in fertile flow. The tracks that originally made up side one are stuffed with detail – distinctive middle-eights, multiple changes, strong lyrics – although Wizard Man (chosen for single release) employs just three chords, staples of the flourishing pub-rock movement.
The suite, The Worm & the Tree, features strong melodies and ingenious harmonies is essentially romantic music, worlds away from the fussy histrionics of Prog, though the shifting time-signatures and demanding keys do require real concentration onstage, from the pianist in particular. Some see The Worm as a 19-minute piano piece, decorated with rock-band and orchestral colouring; others rate its stylistic breadth alongside 1968’s celebrated In Held ’Twas in I. Either way it makes for fascinating listening, an ambitious and fitting end to Procol Harum’s first ten years.
The digital release is augmented by three bonus tracks selected by Gary and Keith from the session tapes – Backgammon, You’d Better Wait (live) and This Old Dog (live)
2010 TOUR DATES
Thursday 4th November – Whitaker Center Presents at the Forum, Harrisburg, PA
Friday 5th November – Capital One Bank Theater, Westbury, NY
Saturday 6th November – Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood, NJ
Procol Harum reunite with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Da Camera Singers for
the third and last time:

  • Tuesday 9th November – Winspear Centre, Edmonton, Canada
  • Wednesday 10th November – Winspear Centre, Edmonton, Canada
Friday 12th November – Snoqualmie Casino, Snoqualmie, WA
Saturday 13th November – The Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA
Sunday 14th November – The Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles. CA
Procol Harum and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra:
  • Saturday 4th December – The Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE 
Source: Presto Public Relations

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Beasties headed for Cleveland?

BEASTIE BOYS NOMINATED FOR ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Beastie Boys have been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, it was announced today.

Formed 1981 in New York City, Beastie Boys are arguably the single longest lived hip-hop act to consistently enjoy commercial and critical success both on record and as an international live attraction. Beastie Boys first changed the course of popular music when their 1986 debut album Licensed To Ill was the first hip hop record to reach #1. Since then, Mike "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad Rock" Horovitz have logged 40 million in record sales, three Grammy awards, the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award, four #1 albums, and countless sold out world tours, magazine covers and TV appearances.

Beastie Boys' musical history is as rich as it is varied: By 1982, the band was releasing the Pollywog Stew EP and playing its first public gigs opening for the likes of Bad Brains at storied NYC venues including CBGB, A7 and Max's Kansas City. The current Mike D/MCA/Adrock Beastie Boys lineup debuted in 1983 with the "Cooky Puss" 12", after which the band first hooked up with Rick Rubin for 1984's "Rock Hard"/"Beastie Groove" 12," the second ever record released by Def Jam. The next year saw the release of a few more Def Jam 12"s as the band supporting Madonna on the entire North American Virgin Tour.

Licensed To Ill dropped in fall 1986. Fueled by "Fight For Your Right," "No Sleep Til Brooklyn," "Brass Monkey" and more it remained at #1 for seven weeks and simultaneously reached #2 on the urban chart, becoming the fastest selling debut to date for Columbia and the first hip hop record to break 5 million sales.

1989's landmark Paul's Boutique saw Beastie Boys resurface with a new deal (Capitol), a new home (Los Angeles) and a kaleidoscopic new array of sounds. Produced by Beastie Boys and the Dust Brothers, Paul's Boutique laid down the blueprint for a generation of emergent genres. "Shake Your Rump," "Lookin' Down The Barrel Of A Gun," "Car Thief," Shadrach," and the hip hop "suite" "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" elevated Beastie Boys to a new level of critical respect: thumbs up from Robert Christgau, four stars from Rolling Stone, and various accolades hailing it as the "Pet Sounds or Dark Side Of The Moon of Hip Hop."

Check Your Head, released in 1992, heralded the return of live instrumentation into the B Boys mix, with Mike D on drums, Yauch on bass and Adrock on guitar. Produced by the band and Mario Caldato Jr. and recorded at Beastie Boys' own G-Son studios, Check Your Head would yield new B Boys staples including "So Whatcha' Want," "Pass The Mic," "Gratitude" and "Jimmy James." With the assistance of Keyboard Money Mark, Beastie Boys returned to the touring circuit and Check Your Head hit double platinum.

In the summer of 1994, Ill Communication, also produced by the band and Mario Caldato Jr., entered the charts at #1 as the album's first video, "Sabotage," directed by Spike Jonze, became an instant classic. Royalties from two songs on Ill Communication were donated to found the Milarepa Fund, which staged the Tibetan Freedom Concert series. Drawing crowds well into the hundreds of thousands and featuring performances from U2, Radiohead, Beck, Bjork, Patti Smith, Fugees, Joe Strummer, Pearl Jam, John Lee Hooker, Foo Fighters, R.E.M., A Tribe Called Quest, Yoko Ono, Sonic Youth and many more, the Tibetan Freedom Concerts would rank among the most significant benefit concerts of the '90s. Meanwhile, Ill Communication was supported by Beastie Boys' first arena headline tour since the '80s: The Quadraphonic Joystick Action tour, which sold out NYC's Madison Square Garden and Chicago's Rosemont Horizon in half an hour each, Massachusetts' Worcester Centrum in approximately 20 minutes, and Detroit's Cobo Arena in nine. One dollar from each ticket sold on the tour was donated through Milarepa to local charities in each city on the tour.

Hello Nasty was released July 1998 and, spurred by the monster success of "Intergalactic," clocked first week sales of nearly 700,000 in the U.S. and debuted at #1 in England, Germany, Australia, Holland, New Zealand and Sweden, #2 in Canada and Japan, and Top 10 in Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, France and Israel. That same month, Beastie Boys' 360-degree In The Round tour would be unveiled, its turntable stage set offering unobstructed sightlines from every seat, while a specially designed circular P.A. gave new dimension to the term "Surround Sound." Beastie Boys rounded out 1998 by accepting the Video Vanguard honor at the MTV Video Music Awards, and rang in 1999 with Artist, Band and/or Record of the Year accolades from Rolling Stone, SPIN, The New Yorker and Playboy, among others. A month later, at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, the quadruple-platinum Hello Nasty took Best Alternative Music Performance, while "Intergalactic," nailed Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group--the first time an artist would win in both Rap and Alternative categories.

In the wake of September 11, 2001 the Beastie Boys-headlined New Yorkers Against Violence benefit was staged October 28 & 29 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, with proceeds disbursed to the New York Women's Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans--both chosen for their efforts on behalf of those affected by the September 11th attacks least likely to receive help from other sources. The NYAV line-up included the Strokes, the B-52's, Mos Def, N*E*R*D, the Roots, Afrika Bambaata, a surprise two-song set by Moby and Michael Stipe (featuring an impromptu cameo by Bono), and more. Not long after, Beastie Boys added their voice to the growing protest against America's imminent course toward war, offering the track "In A World Gone Mad" as a free download on Beastieboys.com, moveon.org, winwithoutwarUS.org, MTV.com, and milarepa.org.

Beastie Boys' sixth studio album, To The 5 Boroughs, released in summer 2004, was the band's third consecutive #1 debut-and Rolling Stone's only 5-star review of that year. To The 5 Boroughs was supported by the Challah At Your Boy traveling pageant--which climaxed with a sold-out October 9 homecoming at Madison Square Garden, at which cameras were distributed to 50 audience members, whose efforts (and herculean editing sessions) spawned the feature-length AWESOME; I F----N' SHOT THAT!, which debuted at Sundance in early 2006 and was released theatrically the same year.

With 2007's Grammy winning all-instrumental The Mix-Up, Beastie Boys threw fans a curveball reminder of the one constant throughout the band's 29-year-and-counting career: reinvention. The Mix-Up featured Diamond, Horovitz and Yauch back on drums, guitar and bass, with Keyboard Money Mark and percussionist Alfredo Ortiz, on Beastie Boys' first ever full length offering of all-new, all-original instrumental recordings. Reminiscent of the cult hit The In Sound From Way Out! which compiled Check Your Head/Ill Communication era instrumentals, The Mix-Up found NYC's favorite sons drawing on one of their arsenal's primary strengths and pushing it into bold new directions.

Since then, Beastie Boys have recorded and prepped for release their long awaited eighth all new studio opus, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1. Following a headlining set at 2009's Bonnaroo festival during which the record's "Too Many Rappers" was premiered live with guest star Nas, the record's release was unexpectedly delayed by Yauch's surgery and treatment for parotid gland cancer. Like the record, the band's sold out debut headlining stand at the Hollywood Bowl had to be postponed, as did appearances atop the 2009 Lollapalooza and All Points West festivals. It is the most sincere hope of all in the B Boys camp that Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, which features soon to be classics "B-Boys In The Cut," "Make Some Noise," "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (featuring Santigold)" and more, will be released in 2011.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ballots are sent to more than 500 voters, who will select those to be inducted at the 26th Annual Induction Ceremony. To be eligible for nomination, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in December 2010 and the Ceremony will take place on March 14, 2011 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and will be televised live on Fuse. All inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland OH, the nonprofit organization that exists to educate its audiences on the global impact of the rock and roll art form via the museum, as well as its education programs and library and archives.

Source: Nasty Little Man

Monday, September 27, 2010

The making of Lazerbeak's 'Legend Recognize Legend' (the Doomtree song)

'Pinkerton' finally gets it day in the sun!

Weezer_Logo

WEEZER TO LAUNCH "THE MEMORIES TOUR" DRIVEN BY STATE FARM® THIS FALL WITH PERFORMANCES OF BAND'S
CLASSIC ALBUMS IN THEIR ENTIRETY
* * * * *
Two-Night Stands in L.A., San Francisco, Boston & New York to Feature Live Renditions of Band's Self-Titled Debut ("The Blue Album") & Pinkerton Plus Greatest Hits Sets
* * *
Greatest Hits Set to Include Songs from Weezer's
#6 Debuting Album Hurley
LOS ANGELES (September 24, 2010) - Following hot on the heels of their just-released Epitaph Records debut Hurley, which entered the Billboard 200 at #6 and marked their sixth consecutive Top 10 album release, Grammy® Award-winning alternative rock band Weezer have announced the details of "The Memories Tour" Driven by State Farm®.  Beginning on Friday, November 26th, the band will perform four very special residencies in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and New York, during which they will play two classic albums in their entirety. 

On the first night of each two-date residency, the band will perform their triple-platinum 1994 debut Weezer (aka "The Blue Album") from start to finish, followed by a set of greatest hits including songs from Hurley.  On the second night, they'll perform 1996's follow-up and fan favorite Pinkerton, followed by a different set of greatest hits and songs from Hurley.  The currently scheduled tour itinerary is included below, with further details to be announced in the coming days.

"State Farm is proud to partner with Weezer on their upcoming tour," said Todd Fischer, manager of national sponsorships at State Farm. "We are looking forward to working with Weezer, a band known for its creativity, on an innovative way that we can be there for their fans."  To find out more about how State Farm is giving back to music fans, please visit www.facebook.com/StateFarmNation.

Public tickets go on sale as early as Friday, October 1st, and American Express cardmembers will have access to tickets prior to public on-sales (see dates below).   Weezer has teamed up with I Love All Access to provide a variety of VIP ticket packages for the shows, including premium seats, meet and greets, photo ops, exclusive gifts, pre-show parties and more.  For more information, please go to www.iloveallaccess.com. 

Weezer's "The Memories Tour" Driven by State Farm® Itinerary
Friday, November 26                     Los Angeles, CA                Gibson Amphitheater *
Saturday, November 27                Los Angeles, CA                Gibson Amphitheater #
American Express Early On-Sale: September 25 - September 30.
Tickets on sale to the public: October 1.

Monday, November 29                 San Francisco, CA             Knob Hill Masonic Auditorium *
Tuesday, November 30                San Francisco, CA             Knob Hill Masonic Auditorium # 
American Express Early On-Sale: September 25 - October 2.
Tickets on sale to the public: October 3.
                      
Tuesday, December 14                  Boston, MA                        Orpheum Theatre *   
Wednesday, December 15            Boston, MA                        Orpheum Theatre #   
American Express Early On-Sale: October 2 - October 8.
Tickets on sale to the public: October 9.

 NYC concert dates, venue and on-sale information coming soon.

* Features performance of Weezer aka "The Blue Album," followed by greatest hits.
# Features performance of Pinkerton, followed by a different set of greatest hits.


About Weezer:
Weezer has been making headlines recently, starting when the group kicked off Hurley's September 14th release date with a "YouTube Invasion" that found them incorporated into videos from top YouTube celebrities.  To date, YouTube has recorded in excess of 11 million views for the Weezer-related videos.  Shortly thereafter, Weezer's surprise performance at the Dunes Inn Hotel in Hollywood for AXE Music's "One Night Only" concert series on September 21st caused a media frenzy, as the band slayed a packed crowd with a "best of" set list. The show featured guest appearances from friend of band and Hurley cover model Jorge Garcia, My Chemical Romance, and a host of Hollywood's hottest celebrities. Check out photos and video from the event here: http://tinyurl.com/2556uqk. 

Weezer also recently teamed up with long-time friend Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew to film a rambunctious new video for Hurley's first single, "Memories," which can be viewed here:http://tinyurl.com/33zhcoy.  The song will be featured on the soundtrack to the crew's highly anticipated new movie "Jackass 3-D."

About State Farm®:
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. Our 17,800 agents and more than 68,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com®, or in Canada, statefarm.ca®.

www.weezer.com          www.myspace.com/weezer      www.facebook.com/weezer

Source: Scoop Marketing