2003

Instead of congregating at conventions, book fairs and on the Internet, science fiction fans will get their own shrine dedicated to the art, literature and film of science entertainment, courtesy of billionaire Paul Allen. Tentatively named the Science Fiction Experience, the exhibit is slated to open in the summer of 2004 within the confines of Allen’s Experience Music Project (EMP) in the shadow of Seattle’s Space Needle. “Science fiction shows us that change is constant and exhilarating,” said Microsoft Corp. co-founder Allen, who is funding the project. Flanked by science fiction props such as Captain Kirk’s original command chair from the “Star Trek” television series, classic science fiction books and movie banners, Allen said the $20 million non-profit endeavor would provide “entertaining and thought-provoking exhibits” for visitors. Allen, a philanthropist who has invested in everything from cable television to professional sports teams since leaving Microsoft in 1983, has funded several cultural projects in his hometown of Seattle, including the EMP, a Jimi Hendrix-inspired music museum and the Cinerama, a restored 1960s-era movie theater with a giant, curved viewing screen. Allen said he expects the Science Fiction Experience, which will be built in a newly vacated space within the EMP, to pull in 150,000 to 200,000 more visitors to the building every year. Science fiction author Greg Bear of Seattle will chair an advisory board to the museum and said that respect for the genre has been long overdue. “Science fiction is one of the greatest untold stories of science and art today,” said Bear, winner of two Hugo awards for novels such as “Eon” and “Queen of Angels”. Among the items on display will be a complete set of autographed first editions of the Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov, a collection of “Astounding Science Fiction” magazines and artwork depicting the future.
Source CNN.com.

Ween’s highly anticipated next studio album will be called “quebec,” but guitarist Dean Ween (real name: Mickey Melchiondo) says a few wrinkles still have to be ironed out before the 16-song set sees the light of day. “I can’t give you a definitive release date right now,” he wrote on the band’s official Web site. “We were in negotiations with a record label and things fell apart, setting us back even further.”
“I have no idea how this will affect our summer touring plans just yet as we planned on having the record out by June at the latest. It is still possible that this may happen,” he continued. “As for the record itself, it is heavy, dark, psychedelic and musically intricate at times, and musically really f***ing cheap at times as well. All and all it’s a great record that we put a lot of time and love into and it was produced by Andrew Weiss, mostly recorded in his living room.”
Source Billboard.com.

The Grateful Dead’s “View From the Vault” archive series has moved into its fourth volume, with DVD and CD audio documents of a pair of summer 1987 California concerts: July 24 at Oakland Stadium and July 26 at Anaheim Stadium. As with past releases in the series, the Monterey Video DVD is culled from the four cameras that projected stage action onto large video screens in each venue.
At the time, the Dead was at the height of its second wave of popularity, thanks to a string of sold-out concerts (some with Bob Dylan) and the single “Touch of Grey,” was rising on the charts.
The DVD features the full Oakland show, and most of the drastically different set list of the Anaheim date. The four-disc Grateful Dead Records audio CD includes both in their entirety, restoring “Friend of the Devil,” “Me and My Uncle,” and “Big River,” cut from the DVD due to time limitations.
In other Dead news, it was announced that Bob Dylan will be opening up leg two of the band

Overshadowed by the many ambitious festivals in the jam scene, the Field Day Festival in Calverton, New York on June 7th and 8th presents an absolute amazing lineup in the heavier alternative genre. Radiohead has just been announced to play the first night of the festival. Other acts confirmed for the first day include: Beck, Beth Orton, Interpol, The Raveonettes, Spiritualized, Thievery Corporation, and Tortoise.
Confirmed bands for the second day are just as impressive and include: The Beastie Boys, Sigur Ros, The Roots, Elliot Smith, N.E.R.D., Blackalicious, and Le Tigre.
Visit FieldDayFestival.com

Super group in the jazz groove sense, Garage a Trois the avant-jazz/electronic supergroup featuring guitarist Charlie Hunter, saxophonist Skerik and percussionist Mike Dillon of Les Claypool and Critters Buggin, and Galactic drummer of everything that grooves, Stanton Moore, are ready to show their game face. The band will be releasing Emphasizer, their first full length album on April 22nd on Tone-Cool Records. Hunter, Moore and Skerik originally came together in 19998 to record Moore

At age 61, it’s tough slowing down rock legend Lou Reed as he continues a large scale tour in support of his most recent album, “The Raven” – a poetry rock collaboration influenced by the Edgar Allen Poe classic. New US dates have been announced that include two nights at the Town Hall in New York City and two shows at the Warfield in San Francisco, CA and a show at the Orpheum in Boston, MA. Next week Reed will be playing two nights at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Expect an eclectic mix of old and the new mixed in with social commentary that only Reed can pragmatically deliver.
Visit LouReed.com[.url] for a complete listing of shows.

Perhaps the coolest pairing this summer are the stage combos Wilco is throwing forth. With seven confirmed east coast summer dates with Sonic Youth, the band has just announced a West Coast pairing with R.E.M. starting in early September. Confirmed dates included shows in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Denver. R.E.M. member Peter Buck recently collaborated with the members of Wilco and Scott Stringfellow in the recent collaboration, The Minus 5. For a complete listing of dates visit Wilcoworld.net