2006

As posted on the band’s official website, newly appointed guitarist Scott Metzger has left Particle due to “an unforseen family emergency.” Of course this official statement is somewhat reminiscent of Particle’s former guitarist Charlie Hitchcock’s departure announcement on the site last fall. In that post, it noted Hitchcock had decided to leave the band. Weeks later he told Glide that was not exactly the case.

It’s with great sadness and surprise that we recently learned Scott Metzger will no longer be a member of Particle. Last week, Scott received unfortunate news of an unforseen family emergency that requires his long term attention. The combination of Particle’s rigorous touring schedule, west coast rehearsals, and upcoming studio projects make it impossible for Scott to commit to both the band and his east coast family. Health and family always come first to us. Although we will miss him in the band, we respect his decision and wish both him and his family the best.

Ray LaMontagne will be dropping off the Guster tour in September, due to “unforeseen conflicts in his schedule.” Here’s the official word from his camp:

Ray LaMontagne regretfully has to cancel his participation in the second leg of his co-headlining tour with Guster due to unforeseen conflicts in his schedule. There are also a few midwest dates that are affected during the first leg. He enjoyed the first leg with Guster and is disappointed he can’t continue at this time but is looking forward to returning to the road soon.

Nada Surf are taking Ray’s place as opener, along with Tristan Prettyman, for the second leg beginning in mid-September. In other Guster news, The shows in Cleveland, Columbus, and Pittsburgh have been cancelled (8/4, 8/5, 8/6).

The Seventh Annual moe.down will be held September 1-3 at the Snow Ridge Ski area in Turin, NY. moe.down is an annual party for moe. and its fans. The band will perform a total of six sets throughout the weekend. The moe.down line-up is now complete. The following artists will perform:

moe.Mike Gordon and Ramble DovePage McConnell with Jon Fishman, Adam Zimmon, Jared Slomoff and Rob O’DeaUmphrey’s McgeeZiggy MarleyBanyan featuring Stephen PerkinsGrace Potter and the NocturnalsThe Avett BrothersU-MeltMoonshine StillToubab KreweTim EastonYolkPat McClimans GroupBefore CowboysMike RocklinSpaghetti Cake (Kids’ Jamband)Whiskey Mae

A limited number of tickets will be $95 until they are sold out or until August 12th. Tickets after that be $110. For up-to-the-minute information, visit moe.org.

The moe.down promises three days of music, camping and fun at the Snow Ridge Ski Area in Turin, NY. The site is about an hour northeast of Syracuse, at the edge of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. Ski lifts will be open, so mountain bikes are welcome.

As posted on the band’s official website, The Disco Biscuits have announced a “Thanksgiving Holiday Bash at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. The shows will take place on Friday and Saturday, November 24th and 25th, 2006.”

Ticket information is expected to be released shortly

Tortoise has begun to slowly release tourdates in support of their forthcoming rarities box set, A Lazarus Taxon, due out August 22. Only three have been made public so far (in addition to a previously scheduled Switzerland festival appearance), but more are in the works, including one in the band’s hometown of Chicago.

Dates:

07-25 London, England – KOKO (Don’t Look Back) *
09-14 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
09-15 Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
09-17 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
11-17 Bern, Switzerland – Taktios Festival

See pitchfork for more details.

The Rhythm Devils are re-forming in 2006 for a series of appearances beginning this August. After hosting this year’s Jammy’s in New York City, Mickey & Bill decided to take The Rhythm Devils to the next level.
Although they existed within The Grateful Dead for over three decades, this will mark the first time The Rhythm Devils have appeared as a touring group outside of the Dead. The Rhythm Devils welcomed many special guests at their inagural appearances in New York City that included Mike Gordon, Charlie Musselwhite, Babba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, Steve Kimock, Stephen Perkins, and The Mutaytor.

Hart & Kreutzmann’s remarkable cohesion, synchronicity, and driving power would a be a hallmark of the Grateful Dead’s sound for over thirty years, earning them the nickname The Rhythm Devils. The percussive duo’s sole release was The ‘Apocalypse Now Sessions’ for which they were recruited by director Francis Ford Coppola to bring together the myriad sounds and “colors” for the legendary film. Coppola was in the process of conceptualizing his musical underpinnings of “Apocalypse Now” when he attended a Grateful Dead concert and found the perfect accompaniment for his cinematic vision of the Apocalypse.

Both have kept busy over the years participating in numerous projects from the Grammy winning percussive supergroup Planet Drum which brought Mickey together with Zakir Hussain and many of the world’s best drummers, to the one-off power trio SerialPod in which Kreutzmann collaborated with Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon of Phish. The Rhythm Devils are brimming with excitement to get back on the road. Mickey Hart says, “The stars are finally aligned to have some of our closest musical friends playing together in one group.”

The Rhythm Devils plan to make high profile appearances at festivals and special events from coast to coast kicking off this August rolling out new material, choice covers, and a few chestnuts from the GD songbook. They will release a handful of tracks from the New York City Rhythm Devils show at The Canal Room. Check out mickeyhart.com for more info expected soon.

August 16 & 17-Burlington, VT-Higher Ground Ballroom

August 18-Alexandria, VA-Birchmere Bandstand

August 19-Mariahville, NY-Gathering of The Vibes

Enigmatic guitarist Buckethead has a 28-date tour lined up that will keep him on the road through late October.

Buckethead’s circus-gone-wrong will hit theatres throughout the Midwest, Northeast and South, starting in Lawrence, Kan., September 13. He’ll play the Vic Theatre in Chicago, B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York City and the Theatre Of Living Arts in Philadelphia before heading south in October.

The main tour looks to wrap with a three-date run through Texas October 13-15, although one more show is scheduled for Anaheim, Calif.’s House of Blues October 29.
Earlier this year, Buckethead toured for several months with longtime collaborators Pinchface on drums and Delray Brewer on bass. This time around, he’ll have a drummer named Rene and bass duties will be handled by That 1 Guy, who was the opening act on a spring East Coast run.

Source pollstar.com.