2006

The glacial pace of Portishead’s third album appearsto be moving a bit quicker. Group member Geoff Barrow wrote last week on the group’s Myspace.com page that its new tracks “are in a right mess but sounding like [an] album for the first time in years.” He added, “It [is] nice to think us old gits have a few tunes in us without sounding like coffee table Zero 7 / Moby chill out sh*t!!”

Portishead has not released a studio album since a self-titled 1997 effort. In the time since, vocalist Beth Gibbons released a 2002 collobration with Rustin Man, “Out of Season.”

Source billboard.com.

At 28 songs, Radiohead’s set was the longest of their brief North American tour, during which the critically adored Brits have been testing out new songs in the mix for their next album. On this night, these included the raucous guitar jam “Bodysnatchers,” the “OK Computer”-era outtake “Nude” and the danceable “15 Step.”

But day two’s mightiest jam came after midnight, when one-half of Phish reunited during the annual Super Jam. Previewing their summer tour, singer/vocalist Trey Anastasio and bassman Mike Gordon teamed with the Benevento/Russo Duo and the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh for the Dead’s “Casey Jones” and the oft-covered “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad.”

For full coverage, see: jadedinsider.com and Billboard.com

The annual, sun-drenched music-marathon that is the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival kicked off its fifth year yesterday (June 16) with more than 14 hours of music that began with the resurrected folk-rock of World Party and finally lurched to a halt early this morning with the conclusion to a jam band face-off featuring Umphrey’s McGee and the Disco Biscuits.

Indeed, if in its first fours years, the festival (sold-out this year at 80,000 people) has been known primarily as a jam-band event, last night’s bill should do well to help redefine the event, as Bonnaroo’s behemoth main stage featured not only one, but two classic rock icons: Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks.

Bonnaroo favorites My Morning Jacket ushered in the midnight hour with squalls of Crazy Horse-worthy fury. The quintet delivered a more than three-hour set that sported a guest turn from friend and singer Andrew Bird for an epic take on another classic rock moment, “It Makes No Difference” by the Band. MMJ recently recorded the track for an upcoming Band tribute album at singer/drummer Levon Helm’s barn studio in Woodstock, N.Y.

For an extensive day 1 recap, see: jadedinsider.com and Billboard.com

Tom Petty has settled on the track list for “Highway Companion,” his first solo album since 1994’s Rick Rubin-produced “Wildflowers.” Fittingly, the set is due July 25 on Rubin’s American Recordings imprint via Warner Bros.

First single “Saving Grace” can be streamed from Petty’s Web site and will be available July 4 via digital download retailers.

Source: billboard

Rappers have long proclaimed their love for Cristal, frequently mentioning the high-end champagne in songs and popping the corks of the clear, gold-labeled bottles in music videos and at nightclubs.

But the makers of Cristal don’t seem to feel the same way about hip-hop

M. Ward will be touring 24 of the 30 days in September in support of his new album, “Post-War” (Merge). Nuemo in Seattle will play host to the first date on Sept. 1. Ward will be joined by violist Amanda Lawrence and percussionists Rachel Blumberg and Jordan Hudson on the road.

The latter two toured with him during his stint with the White Stripes last year and, as previously reported, appear on the record alongside guests like Mike Coykendall, Neko Case and Jim James. “Post-War” will be released Aug. 22.

Here are M. Ward’s tour dates:

Sept. 1: Seattle (Nuemo’s)
Sept. 2: Vancouver (Plaza Club)
Sept. 5: Minneapolis (Varsity Theatre)
Sept. 6: Omaha, Neb. (Scottish Rites Hall)
Sept. 7: Milwaukee (Pabst Theatre)
Sept. 8: Chicago (Metro)
Sept. 9: Columbus, Ohio (Little Brother’s)
Sept. 11: Toronto (Mod Club)
Sept. 12: Montreal (La Sala Rossa)
Sept. 14: New York (Webster Hall)
Sept. 15: Alexandria, Va. (Birchmere)
Sept. 16: Philadelphia (Theatre of Living Arts)
Sept. 17: Somerville, Mass. (Somerville Theater)
Sept. 18: Charlottesville, Va. (Satellite Ballroom)
Sept. 19: Carrboro, N.C. (Cat’s Cradle)
Sept. 20: Nashville (Belcourt Theatre)
Sept. 22: Denton, Texas (Haileys)
Sept. 23: Austin, Texas (The Parish)
Sept. 25: Tucson, Ariz. (Rialto Theatre)
Sept. 26: Tempe, Ariz. (The Clubhouse)
Sept. 27: San Diego (San Diego Woman’s Club)
Sept. 28: Los Angeles (Henry Fonda Theatre)
Sept. 29: San Francisco (Fillmore)
Sept. 30: Portland, Ore. (Aladdin Theatre)

Source billboard.com.

Shock jocks Opie and Anthony are spearheading the Opie & Anthony Traveling Virus — The Comedy Event of the Year! tour, a multi-act, festival style comedy outing.

Three dates for the traveling comedy festival have been announced so far: Aug. 5 in Worcester, Mass., at the DCU Center featuring Bob Saget, Jim Norton, Bill Burr, Patrice O’Neal, Rich Vos, Tracy Morgan and Ralphie May; Aug. 26 in Holmdel, N.J. at the PNC Bank Arts Center featuring Carlos Mencia, Bob Saget, Jim Norton, Bob Kelly, Bill Burr, Patrice O’Neal, Rich Vos and Tracy Morgan and Sept. 9 in Camden, N.J., at the Tweeter Center featuring Bob Saget, Jimmy Shubert, Jim Norton, Dom Irrera, Bob Kelly, Bill Burr, Ralphie May, Patrice O’Neal, Rich Vos and Tracy Morgan.

The syndicated jocks’ flagship station is 92.3 Free FM in New York, where they broadcast from Howard Stern’s old studios.

Source billboard.com.