For the better part of ten years, Calexico has sounded like no other experimental rock outfit. Where else can you hear mariachi singers, marimbas and happy trumpets with shades of highway Americana? Recently reaching the Billboard 200 album chart with their 2005 In the Reins collaboration with Iron & Wine, Calexico
New York Doll tells a story that touches the soul as the band prepares for their reunion show after 30 years. Arthur “Killer” Kane is as lovable character as there is and one is left wondering what could have been if the boys could have worked out there problems instead of breaking their band. They directly influenced so many bands that include The Clash, The Pretenders, The Sex Pistols and so many others would not be what they were if it were not for the New York Dolls. “Too Much Too Soon,” a great title for their second album and a great description of what happened to those young impressionable New York Dolls when fame was knocking at their lip stick laden, glittery front door.
David Gilmour opened his North American tour this week at New York City’s famous Radio City Music Hall. A night expected to be full of songs from his newly released On An Island was that and then some.
Asthmatic Kitty Records has announced plans to release a new collection of songs from Sufjan Stevens, titled The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album which will hit shelves on July 25, 2006.
The little secret behind the Illinois record is that it was originally conceived as a double album, culminating in a musical collage of nearly 50 songs. But as the project began to develop into an unwieldy epic, common sense weighed in
Apparently outside the boardroom, Donald Trump likes to let his freak flag fly.
“The sound of booing filled New York’s Beacon Theatre last night when Donald Trump announced that Bob Weir was unable to perform and that he would instead be taking his place fronting Ratdog. It was, of course, a ruse, and the band, with Bobby in tow, took the stage to thunderous applause.” read more
Widespread Panic, the wildly popular standard bearers of rootsy American rock, are readying for the release of their audacious new album Earth To America (June 13, Sanctuary/ Widespread Records). Their 9th studio CD, Earth To America captures the band at a new creative peak in collaboration with producer Terry Manning, the first time they’ve worked with the famed studio master whose credits stretch back to Stax days.
Beginning with the eerie, ambitious 11-minute plus epic “Second Skin,” (a staple of their live shows), the album twists and turns through 10 tracks of time-honed classic rock. Other standout tracks include the boisterous barroom rocker “Goodpeople” and the toe-tapping, blues tinged “Time Zones”. Extended workouts like “You Should Be Glad” give the band a chance to show off their chops, while the tender closing benediction “May Your Glass Be Filled” highlights the band’s delicate touch on a down tempo ballad. Also noteworthy is the band’s hard charging cover of Bob Dylan’s “Solid Rock” from 1980’s ‘Saved’.
The album will be available in four formats- digi-pack, jewel case, double Vinyl LP, and digital download. The vinyl includes two bonus songs not available on the CD. The fans who pre-order the disc through widespreadpanic.com before June 13th will have access to 6 bundles of digital extras including home video from the recording at Compass Point studios, exclusive band interviews, unreleased concert footage, artwork, and more.
Widespread Panic will perform 4 spring concerts this year, 2 in Raleigh, NC and 2 Atlanta, GA at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. The May 9th Fox Theatre show will be simulcast through select movie theaters nationwide in association with National Cinemedia. Plans are in the works for a full summer tour to be announced soon.
