2005

Galactic is proud to announce some very special shows they are planning in honor of their hometown of New Orleans. On December 31st the band returns to the Crescent City and to their surrogate home, the historic Tipitina’s Uptown, to celebrate what is sure to be one of the most emotional New Year’s Eve shows of their 10-year career. While a Galactic New Year’s show is always one of the band’s most anticipated annual events, this one in particular takes on special meaning as it marks the band’s first show in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina swept through the region. The band has been particularly affected by the tragedy, having not only been forced from their home, but also from their recently built studio. Galactic is proud to be the first high profile, national show to be held in Tipitina’s since the tragedy. This show will be in classic Galactic fashion with plenty of special guests and two sets of music, making it a must-see New Years event. A $3 surcharge will be included on all tickets sold to benefit the Tipitina’s Foundation which is dedicated to preserving the culture of New Orleans. For more information on this foundation, please visit tiptinas.com

On November 18th & 19th, Galactic’s “10-Year Invasion Fall Tour” tour will culminate with a pair of unique performances at Washington DC’s 9:30 Club. Dubbed “9:30 in New Orleans”, these tour-ending shows will be a New Orleans style party featuring improvisational collaborations, a multitude of special guests and covers of classic material. Legendary vocalist and keyboardist Ivan Neville will make special appearances with Galactic throughout both nights, as will The Stooges Brass Band, who will also open the night of the 18th with a traditional, celebratory NOLA brass band show. The following evening will begin with a special performance by Robert Walters, who will be joined by Stanton Moore and Robert Mercurio of Galactic.

Dinosaur Jr. – who has never before released a DVD – has finally announced plans to issue an official Dinosaur Jr. DVD release. This full length concert DVD, which will feature the band in its original line-up, will be filmed at New York’s legendary Irving Plaza on December 2-3, and at other shows along the band’s Fall Tour. The DVD will be directed by Gold In Berlin, which is run by Mascis’ own brother in-law, German filmmaker Phillip Virus. With unfettered access to this famously elusive band, fans can expect complete backstage access to Dinosaur Jr.’s recent reunion tour, one-on-one interviews, behind the scenes goings-on and a full set of performances of Dinosaur Jr. favorites. The DVD will be packed with bonus materials that any fan of the band – seasoned or brand new – will find thrilling and entertaining. Look for the DVD to be released during the first half of 2006.

Dinosaur Jr.’s current list of tour dates is as follows:

Tues November 29 Chicago, IL Metro
Wed November 30 Chicago, IL Metro
Thur December 1 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s Theatre
Fri December 2 New York, NY Irving Plaza
Sat December 3 New York, NY Irving Plaza
Sun December 4 Cambridge, MA Middle East

Anti recording artist BLACKALICIOUS have announced the next leg of their national concert tour in support of their latest album The Craft. Balancing deep thought with visceral impact, The Craft features 15 new tracks and is the group

Jamie Masefield and Doug Perkins have announced a special gig. On Thursday, Dec 1, the two will be performing an intimate acoustic show at the Cutting Room in Manhattan. The two artists have been playing together for 15 years, but this will be the first time they’ve brought it to NYC. Unlike the Jazz Mandolin Project, Masefield and Perkins will be playing their own versions of well known bluegrass and jazz tunes (everything from Bill Monroe to Django Reinhardt) as well as some originals.

Details:
Jamie Masefield and Doug Perkins
The Cutting Room, 19W 24th St. NYC. 212-691-1900
Thurs Dec 1, 10:00pm
$15
thecuttingroomnyc.com

In between touring and making a new record with Wilco, frontman Jeff Tweedy is returning to two prior side projects. First up is Loose Fur, his trio with producer/artist Jim O’Rourke and Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, which will issue the follow-up to its 2003 self-titled debut next spring via Drag City.

“We’re finishing it this week,” Tweedy tells Billboard.com. “It’s all recorded and is basically down to doing the vocal overdubs and mixing.”

Asked to compare the new album’s sound to the eclectic folk/rock mix heard on the debut, Tweedy offers, “It’s maybe a little bit heavier. There’s definitely a lot of harmonized guitar parts. I think it’s a similar mix of folk-ish elements, but the rock elements are a little less stridently abrasive, and maybe a little bit more prog-rock or something.”

The new set will be the first concentrated batch of original O’Rourke material since his acclaimed 2002 solo album, “Insignificance.” Says Tweedy, “He has been really busy with other people’s music. I love getting to work with Jim and he has some really, really great songs on this, so I can’t wait to hear it finished.”

Meanwhile, Tweedy is planning to regroup at some point in the near future with the Jayhawks’ Gary Louris and Soul Asylum’s Dan Murphy for a new album under the moniker Golden Smog. The group’s last effort was 1998’s “Weird Tales.”

Source billboard.com.

The Athens, GA Music & Arts Festival, AthFest, will celebrate 10 years of existence in 2006 and the organizers have got some big plans. Dates for the event are set for June 22-25, 2006 in downtown Athens. Bands and artists to be announced.

Please visit athfest.com to find out the latest news and information about AthFest 2006.

In celebration of Beastie Boys’ 24th anniversary, Capitol Records has decided to pay tribute to their second (or third) best band ever: Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “Adrock” Horovitz and Adam “MCA” Yauch – known collectively as Beastie Boys-will be lionized November 8th with the release of Solid Gold Hits. (No, the group is not breaking up.)

The infomercial-worthy 15-track compendium distills the NYC trio’s storied career into an ADD-friendly digest format: Covering the Boys’ first platinum-mining expeditions with “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn” and “Fight For Your Right” through west coast detours “Shake Your Rump”, “So What’cha Want” and “Sabotage,” up to last year’s return to #1 with the million-plus-selling To The 5 Boroughs’ “Ch-Check It Out,” “An Open Letter To NYC” and “Triple Trouble” -and all points between.