Archive: 2004

They

New Orleans-based progressive funk band Galactic will make its national television debut on Last Call With Carson Daly as the show’s featured house band for one week. The episodes will air the nights of June 15th, 16th, 18th and 22nd on NBC. These episodes also mark a historic first for the show itself as never before has a house band been featured for a block of consecutive shows.

Following the Last Call with Carson Daly tapings Galactic will kick off their summer touring schedule with a stop at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in mid-June and a series of festival stops across the country. The summer will culminate with four dates opening for Dave Matthews Band in mid-July. All this comes on the heels of a one of the most successful winter runs the band has ever had, selling more tickets in the Midwest than ever before.

The Orb will release their album Bicycles & Tricycles on Sanctuary Records in

For the third consecutive year, the Bonnaroo Music Festival has sold out in advance. This year, festival organizers increased the ticket allotment to 90,000, selling all tickets through the festival’s Web site. Bonnaroo 2002 and 2003 sold 70,000 and 80,000 tickets online respectively, and the festival’s 2004 installment has enjoyed the same enthusiastic response from fans. Set to take place June 11 – 13, the three-day camping and music festival will once again be held on the same 600-plus-acre farm in Manchester, TN, 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

Recent additions to the festival’s lineup include rock’n’roll veteran Steve Winwood, and punk rock poet laureate Patti Smith. Bonnaroo alums Robert Randolph and Ween have also joined up, along with Danger Mouse (of The Grey Album fame), three-man DJ ensemble the X-ecutioners, experimental all-star band Praxis, and progressive bluegrass trio Jazz Mandolin Project, featuring Phish’s Jon Fishman.

Bonnaroo also continues to break ground with non-music attractions such as this year’s Yet Another (Comedy) Tent. Dedicated entirely to live standup and skit comedy, this performance tent will feature national headlining comedians appearing multiple times per day in a showcase format. Performers include Todd Barry, Louis CK, Jim Norton, and Rich Vos. These laugh specialists are regulars on network and cable television shows and specials, including Premium Blend, Comedy Central Presents, the Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. In addition, New York City’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade comedy troupe will present a special Bonnaroo-themed improvisational show.

This year, Bonnaroo organizers are giving fans the opportunity to extend the enjoyment of live music beyond the festival weekend with LiveBonnaroo.com, the festival’s new online outlet offering digital, downloadable recordings of live performances from the festival soon after they take place. In addition to full sets from the festival in MP3 and FLAC formats, LiveBonnaroo.com will provide downloadable album artwork, CD labels, liner notes, and live photos. With the vast selection of high-quality artists performing at Bonnaroo LiveBonnaroo.com presents an unprecedented opportunity for fans to capture the magic of live music.

See bonnaroo.com for more info.

This coming week happens to be a happening week for good music on the tube, courtesy of late night talk shows.

Beginning on Monday June 7, PJ Harvey will be on The Late Show with David Letterman, Los Lobos will be featured on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Zero 7 will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

On Tuesday June 8, R.E.M. will be playing The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Simple Kid will be on Late Night With Conan O

Amid widespread (and roundly denied) rumors of an impending breakup, Atlanta hip-hop superstars Outkast are declaring that the next year will be their busiest yet. As everyone who isn’t currently dead or comatose knows, the two last worked on semi-separate “solo” albums, which were packaged together and released in 2003 as Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Since then, Big Boi, the less flamboyant of the duo has played several solo dates, including Atlanta’s massive annual Music Midtown Festival. However, he maintains that big things are coming up for Outkast as a functioning band.

First up is a new album due out in November. According to an MTV interview with Big Boi, the album is “gonna be a hardcore album, me and Dre letting Organized Noize produce the whole album. I can’t give you the title of it yet, but it’s coming together nicely.” Then, in May of next year, the duo will star together in a new movie, which will also feature a soundtrack by Outkast. This film is not the already announced starring vehicle for Andre 3000 based on the song “Love Hater” from The Love Below, but rather a prohibition-era story featuring Dre as the son of a mortician and Big Boi as a club owner.

Regarding the soundtrack, Big Boi told MTV, “It’s gonna be all brand new songs, me and Dre on one CD together.” And if you’re wondering what the film will be about (and I think we both know that you are), “It’s going to be a lot of action, adventure, romance,” “reveals” Boi.

Source pitchforkmedia.com.

Roots rockers Max Creek will be holding their annual Camp Creek festival July 23rd, 24th, and 25th at Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, NY. As usual the festival will be highlighted by sets from Max Creek along with the welcoming festival fare of camping and vending. Among the other bands on schedule for the weekend include: Railroad Earth, Sun Ra Arkestra, Gordon Stone, Pevar/Lavitz Project, Ulu, Raisinhill, Addison Groove Project, Pete Scheips and Brothers Past. Also featured on the bill include a set by Max Creek

Ignoring history, former Cop Shoot Cop bassist Tod A impresses once again as the spark and hydrogen of New York

After a ten-year recording hiatus, the five piece – featuring all original members – have returned with Into The Now. With true marksmanship,
the band has always excelled with its niche of slow rockers, featuring
seasoned vocals and jubilant choruses.

The members of Creed have confirmed that they will split after almost a decade together. The announcement comes three months after Creed songwriter/singer Scott Stapp told Billboard that his bandmates would take a break.

In a statement issued today (June 4) and posted on the band’s official Web site, Stapp says, “Creed was one of the most amazing journeys through music and friendship I am blessed to say I was a part of.”

Source billboard.com.

Former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus has begun work on a new album which may wind up either as a solo project or a collaboration with his band, the Jicks. “I’ve been down in the basement working on a different kind of record,” he wrote on his official Web site. “The band has been contributing a bit but it has more of a solo vibe than anything I’ve done in a long time.”

Malkmus adds that “we’re probably gonna do some group recording” sometime this month. The finished product “looks like a January release though may come earlier,” presumably via the artist’s long-time label Matador.

In related news, Pavement’s legacy is chronicled in Rob Jovanovic’s new book, “Perfect Sound Forever,” released last month by Justin, Charles & Co.

Source billboard.com.

Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson has wrapped his solo debut, “Paper,” . Due Aug. 24 via Key Hole Records, the 14-track album features guest spots from former Crowes keyboardist Eddie Harsch and BR5-49 fiddle/lap steel player Donnie Herron, according to Robinson’s official Web site.

For the first time in his career, Robinson handled all of the vocal duties. “I named the album ‘Paper’ because this is all a blank sheet of paper to me; it’s fragile and new,” he says. “For 15 years I wrote for [Crowes frontman] Chris [Robinson’s]’ voice, but this is for me.”

Tracks set for inclusion are the psychedelic rocker “Places,” the dulcimer-tinged “When You Will,” the mid-tempo ballad “Forgiven Song” and such Crowes-inspired numbers as “Yesterday I Saw You” and “Enemy.” Robinson will also create the album’s cover art from one of his own oil paintings.

Robinson will unveil material from “Paper” during a three-week, three-city residency. He will play New York’s Knitting Factory Tap Bar on Tuesdays beginning June 29, Philadelphia’s Tin Angel on Wednesdays beginning June 30 and Cambridge, Mass.’ Brother Jimmy’s Barbecue on Thursdays beginning July 1.

Source billboard.com.

Along with rescheduling concerts canceled in the wake of her mother’s death, Lucinda Williams has put together a summer tour and will participate in a few one-of-a-kind gigs. The tour will kick off July 7 in San Diego and close Aug. 21 in Kansas City, Mo.

The end of the summer trek will return Williams to Charlotte, N.C. (Aug. 15), Nashville (Aug. 17), Columbus, Ohio (Aug. 18) and Kansas City — all cities she missed at the end of her spring tour.

Williams, who was among the guests at the Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels USA Network concert special, will also participate in the July 9-10 Gram Parsons tribute concerts in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, Calif. As previously reported, the event will also feature performances by Norah Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, the Mavericks’ Raul Malo and Jim Lauderdale.

Here are Williams’ tour dates

June 4: Chicago (Art Institute of Chicago)
July 7: San Diego (Humphrey’s)
July 9: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Santa Barbara Bowl; Gram Parsons Tribute)
July 15: Reno, Nev. (Robert Z Hawkins Amphitheatre)
July 16: Grass Valley, Calif. (California Worldfest Fairgrounds)
July 18: Saratoga, Calif. (Mountain Winery)
July 19: Jacksonville, Ore. (Britt Pavilion)
July 21: Seattle (Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheater)
July 22: Bend, Ore. (Athletic Club of Bend)
July 23: Portland, Ore. (Oregon Zoo Ampitheatre)
July 25: Calgary, Alberta (Calgary Folk Music Festival)
July 26: Edmonton, Alberta (Winspear Centre)
July 28: Apple Valley, Minn. (Music in the Zoo: Outdoor Amphitheatre)
July 29: Milwaukee (Pabst Theater)
July 30: Des Moines, Iowa (Simon Estes Amphitheatre)
Aug. 6: Shelburne, Vt. (The Green at Shelburne Museum)
Aug. 7: Newport, R.I. (Apples and Eve Folk Festival)
Aug. 8: North Hampton, Mass. (Calvin Theatre)
Aug. 10: New York (Central Park Summerstage)
Aug. 11: Oyster Bay, N.Y. (The Planting Fields)
Aug. 12: Bethlehem, Pa. (Zoellner Arts Center)
Aug. 14: Washington, D.C. (930 Club)
Aug. 15: Charlotte, N.C. (Visulite Theatre)
Aug. 17: Nashville (Ryman Auditorium)
Aug. 18: Columbus, Ohio (Promo West Pavilion)
Aug. 20: St. Louis, Mo. (Pageant)
Aug. 21: Kansas City, Mo. (Beaumont Club)

Source billboard.com.

Rock the Vote will begin a five-month, 50-city bus tour on June 16 in Los Angeles. The trek will hit a wide range of venues, including college campuses, before wrapping on the U.S. election day of Nov. 2. There is no admission fee for the shows.

Participating artists are Antigone Rising, Autopilot Off, Black Eyed Peas, Michelle Branch, Dixie Chicks, the Donnas, Dan Dyer, Future Leaders Of The World, Tyler Hilton, Hoobastank, Sarah Hudson, Ben Jelen, Kinky, Maroon 5, Alanis Morissette, Jason Mraz, Q-Tip, Rooney, Joss Stone and Paul Van Dyk.

MTV is on board as partner with Rock the Vote, a non-profit, non-partisan organization geared toward raising political awareness and voter registration among youth. Rock the Vote had a previous bus tour in 2000, and outings with MTV in 1992 and 1996.

Source billboard.com.

Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has come aboard for this summer’s Black Sabbath reunion, despite a prior announcement that Mike Bordin would be filling his slot on the Ozzfest tour.

In a statement issued two weeks ago, Ward said he’d been offered “a proposal which allowed no room for negotiation. It was a cul-de-sac proposal in my opinion, where the only answer was yes or no. I was asked to respond by Friday, May 14th. I wrote a brief letter of decline on Thursday, May 13th. I answered directly at the proposal, and left out any personal comments, other than I was sad to have to decline.”

“Black Sabbath is, and always will be an important priority in my life,” he continued. “I support [bassist] Geezer [Butler]’s, [guitarist] Tony [Iommi]’s and [vocalist] Ozzy [Osbourne]’s decisions to move ahead into Ozzfest ’04 without me. I can appreciate they may not be overjoyed with the decision, and I’d really like to be with them. Nothing would please me more than to be a part of the show.

Ozzfest kicks off July 10 in Hartford, Conn., and will feature Sabbath, Priest, Slipknot, Slayer, Hatebreed and Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, among others

Source Billboard.com.

More than a thousand employees got pink slips from the new Warner Music Group in March; now the company plans to drop almost half of its 170 artists. At press time, final decisions had not been made. Sources say the Breeders and Third Eye Blind may be among the first victims, and Stereolab have already been dropped. “Artists deserve a deep commitment from their labels,” says WMG head Lyor Cohen. “If that commitment doesn’t exist, they should be given the freedom to pursue it elsewhere. The goal is to nurture artistic creativity and create successful careers.”
In February, a group of private investors, including former Universal Music Group tycoon Edgar Bronfman Jr., bought the label group from Time Warner for $2.6 billion. In an effort to save more than $200 million, operations for Elektra, Atlantic and Lava Records were combined.

“We were told that our services are going to be dispensed with,” says Martin Pike, manager of the electronic-pop group Stereolab. “We’ve been with Elektra since 1993. That company doesn’t exist anymore.”

According to one label executive, the decisions about who to cut are being based in large part on profitability. Stereolab have sold only 40,000 copies of their recent album, Margerine Eclipse. The Breeders’ last CD, Title TK, moved barely 45,000 units. Third Eye Blind, whose 1997 debut sold 6 million copies, didn’t reach gold with 2003’s Out of the Vein. Also vulnerable are developing bands such as Socialburn and Apartment 26, whose CDs will not likely earn back the money it cost to record and promote them.

Artists who survived the cuts — including the Darkness, Jason Mraz, Jet, the Donnas and Kid Rock — will probably be forced to work with smaller budgets in the future. But, says Donnas manager Molly Neuman, “I’m getting the sense that a leaner roster will be to our advantage, because we’ll have greater access to the senior executives.”

Not everyone is so optimistic: Paula Cole’s contract is up in June, and she says she may not renew even if she’s asked to. “I want to be at a place where there’s enthusiasm for me and for music,” she says. “The people I trusted and loved there are all gone. It’s scary, because I have a kid and I want to make a living.”

Meanwhile, Metallica have jumped ship from Elektra to its sister company Warner Bros. A source at WMG says that the band was devastated when virtually all of the people it worked with at Elektra were laid off. The band reportedly has only one album left in its contract.

“These cuts had to happen,” says a WMG executive. “We had gotten fat and bloated, and we were releasing way too many records. If this means we put all of our efforts and resources behind what we actually do release, that’s a good thing.”

Source rollingstone.com.

Photos by Jake Krolick of the Jam on the River at Pennslanding in Philadelphia, PA on Memorial Day weekend, May 29th and 30th, 2004.

With The Good Life, its third CD release, Railroad Earth may have revealed itself as the best acoustic jam band of its generation.

After grabbing headlines as the backing band for N.E.R.D., Spymob has set out to establish themselves as career artists. With their debut album Sitting Around Keeping Score, the Minnesota four piece attests they are as boundary busting as their hip-hop mentors.

Thirty-five years in the music business have taught Burning Spear that taking care of his own business is good business. The reggae legend (a.k.a. Winston Rodney) claims that he’s never seen any accounting for his record sales, so he recently took matters into his own hands and started his own label, Burning Spear Records.
“A lot of things encouraged me to start my label,” he says. “I think it’s very important for an artist to know how many records they’ve sold and where they’ve sold. I know that I have never been treated the way I’m supposed to be treated — like an artist. That’s why I do things for myself. I feel like I’m a free man.”

Having recently secured distribution through MRI/Ryko, Burning Spear has set about re-releasing the bulk of his back catalog, with Resistance (1984), People of the World (1986), Living Dub Volume 2 (1993) and Rasta Business (1995) already in stores, and Living Dub Volume 1 (1979), Live at Montreaux (2001) and Free Man (2003) set for release on August 31st.

In addition to the flurry of re-released material, Burning Spear is at work on a new album, which will likely include a song with the chorus of “come now people try again” that is now serving as his answering-machine message. He also plans to sign other artists to Burning Spear Records.

“You never can tell when you’re building something,” he says. “Anything can happen.”

Burning Spear’s summer tour kicks off next week in Cleveland and will continue through a September 19th gig in New York’s Central Park.

Burning Spear tour dates:

6/12: Cleveland, Peabody’s
6/13: Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo
6/16: Ithaca, NY, The Haunt
6/17: Northampton, MA, Pearl Street
6/19: Angels Camp, CA, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
6/22: New Haven, CT, Toads Place
6/23: Providence, RI, Lupo’s
6/24: Brooklyn, NY, Celebrate Brooklyn
6/25: Seaside Park, NJ, The Green Room
6/26: Washington D.C., 9:30 Club
6/27: Farmingdale, NY, The Downtown
6/29: Milwaukee, WI, Summerfest
7/1: Toronto, York Event Theatre
7/3: Amagnsett, NY, Stephen Talkhouse
7/5: Nantucket, MA, The Muse
7/7: Oak Bluffs, MA, Atlantic Connection
7/8: Hyannis, MA, Pufferbellies
7/10: Masontown, WV, All Good Summer Festival
7/12: Albany, NY, Washington Park
7/13: Lewes, DE, AJ’s Brewing
7/14: Ocean City, MD, St. Mary’s
7/16: Pittsburgh, The World
7/17: Detroit, Concert of Colors
7/22: Norfolk, VA, The Norva
7/24: Union Grove, NC, Smilefest
7/25: Kill Devil, NC, The Pit
7/27: Tallahassee, FL, Beta Bar
7/28: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Culture Room
7/30: Jacksonville, FL, Freebird Cafe
7/31: St. Petersburg, FL, Jannus Landing
8/4: Taos, NM, El Taoseno
8/5: Bond, CO, State Bridge Lodge
8/6: Steamboat Springs, CO, Level Z
8//7: Denver, CO, Gothic Theatre
8/8: Ft. Collins, CO, Aggie Theater
8/9: Boulder, CO Fox Theater
8/11: Teton Village, WY, Mangy Moose Saloon
8/12: Sandpoint, ID, Panida Theatre
8/13: Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay
8/14: Park City, UT, The Forum at the Canyons
8/18: Scottsdale, AZ, The Venue of Scottsdale
8/19: Flagstaff, AZ, The Orpheum Theater
8/20: Anaheim, CA, House of Blues
8/21: Lake Tahoe, CA, Truckee
8/22: Los Angeles, House of Blues
8/24: Santa Barbara, CA, 634
8/25: San Diego, The Belly Up
8/26: Santa Cruz, CA, TBA
8/27: San Francisco, Slim’s
8/28: San Francisco, Slim’s
9/2: Portland, OR, Roseland Theater
9/3: Seattle, WA, Bumbershoot Festival
9/5: Victoria, BC, Centennial Square
9/6: Tofino, BC, The Legion
9/7: Whistler, BC, Buffalo Bill’s
9/8: Nelson, BC, Fluid Lounge
9/19: New York, Central Park Summerstage

Source rollingstone.com.