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Monday, June 8

News in Brief: Hugh Hopper, the Portland Cello Project, Rhymesayers, Sónar Festival

News in Brief: Hugh Hopper, the Portland Cello Project, Rhymesayers, Sónar Festival

-- Jazzwise reports that Hugh Hopper, former bassist for British prog-jazz legends Soft Machine, died recently of leukemia. He was 64. (via The Daily Swarm)

-- On June 9, Kill Rock Stars will release The Thao and Justin Power Sessions, the new album from experimental classical crew the Portland Cello Project. Thao Nguyen of Thao With the Get Down Stay Down contributes four songs, as does Portland musician Justin Power.

-- The Minnesota indie rap label Rhymesayers Entertainment is launching a new series called RSE Spotlight Series, designed to give some shine to rising artists by distributing their records and selling them for cheap. A press release about the series said: "Developed to be a launch pad, the RSE Spotlight Series will provide select services and distribution to emerging artists ready to go to the next level, by expanding their fanbase and sales history." The first beneficiary is Twin Cities rapper Toki Wright, whose solo debut album A Different Mirror is due June 9.

-- Because amazing weather and great food and one great music festival apparently aren't enough for the people of Barcelona, the Sónar Festival will go down in the Spanish city June 18-20. Animal Collective, Crystal Castles, Fever Ray, Grace Jones, Special Disco Version, Orbital, Luomo, Mulatu Astake, Public Enemy production team the Bomb Squad, and Micachu are among the artists participating in this year's throwdown.

Posted by Tom Breihan on June 8, 2009 at 1:40 p.m.

Tags: Album, Festival, Hugh Hopper, Obituary, Rhymesayers, Soft Machine, Sónar, The Portland Cello Project, Toki Wright

 

Sunday, June 7

R.I.P. Jeff Hanson

R.I.P. Jeff Hanson

Singer-songwriter Jeff Hanson was found dead in his home in St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune reports. He "likely died from a fall or other accident," according to the paper. He was 31 years old.

Hanson released three albums for Kill Rock Stars, 2003's Son, 2005's Jeff Hanson, and 2008's Madam Owl. He was known for his high, otherworldly voice.

Kill Rock Stars sent out the following statement on Saturday evening:

"We are deeply shocked and saddened to report that Kill Rock Stars artist Jeff Hanson passed away on June 5, 2009 in his home, a victim of a terrible accident. Jeff has been a part of the KRS family since 2003 when he became the first artist signed to the label from an unsolicited demo.

Jeff Hanson was an amazing artist, a riotously funny person, and a good friend. Everyone at Kill Rock Stars feels that we were privileged to put out his records. We will miss him tremendously. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."

Posted by Amy Phillips on June 7, 2009 at 4:05 p.m.

Tags: Jeff Hanson, Obituary

 

Thursday, June 4

News in Brief: The Shins, Jonny Dollar, Bert Jansch, NXNE

News in Brief: The Shins, Jonny Dollar, Bert Jansch, NXNE

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

-- Ever wonder what James Mercer of the Shins dreams about at night? The blog Mimi and Honey has the answer. And before you ask, yes, it does involve Mercer fighting a giant gorilla.

-- NME reports that the British producer Jonny Dollar, who manned the boards on Massive Attack's classic Blue Lines album, died of cancer this past weekend in London. He was 45.

--On June 15, Drag City will reissue remastered versions of three out-of-print 70s albums from Pentangle guitarist and Scottish folk legend Bert Jansch. L.A. Turnaround, Santa Barbara Honeymoon, and A Rare Conundrum will all be available on CD for the first time, and Jansch himself picked the bonus tracks for all three. Jansch will also tour the U.S. this summer. The dates are up here.

-- NXNE, Canada's slightly colder answer to SXSW, will take over venues all around Toronto June 17-21. No Age, Black Lips, Matt and Kim, Cool Kids, GZA, HEALTH, King Khan and BBQ Show, These Are Powers, and Crystal Antlers are among those taking part.

Posted by Tom Breihan on June 4, 2009 at 11 a.m.

Tags: Bert Jansch, Festival, James Mercer, Jonny Dollar, NXNE, Obituary, Reissue, The Shins, Tour

 

Wednesday, June 3

Blues Singer Koko Taylor, R.I.P.

Blues Singer Koko Taylor, R.I.P.

Singer Koko Taylor, known as "Queen of the Blues", died this afternoon in Chicago, the Chicago Sun-Times reports (via Idolator). The 80-year-old's death was due to complications from surgery for a gastrointestinal bleed, according to a statement from her longtime label, Alligator Records.

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Sunday, May 24

R.I.P. Jay Bennett

Former Wilco member dead at 45 R.I.P. Jay Bennett

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett, formerly of Wilco, died this morning in Urbana, Illinois. He was 45 years old; the cause of death is not yet known.

Bennett was a member of Wilco from 1994 through 2001, and was a driving force behind their albums Being There, Summerteeth, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, as well as their Mermaid Avenue collaborations with Billy Bragg. Bennett's departure from the band, during the recording of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, was chronicled in the 2002 documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.

UPDATE: Jeff Tweedy has posted a message on Wilco's website:

We are all deeply saddened by this tragedy. We will miss Jay as we remember him -- as a truly unique and gifted human being and one who made welcome and significant contributions to the band's songs and evolution. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends in this very difficult time.

Jeff Tweedy

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Monday, April 13

News in Brief: Destroyer, Outside Lands Festival, Pearl Jam, Delfonics

News in Brief: Destroyer, Outside Lands Festival, Pearl Jam, Delfonics

-- Not sure if you heard, but vinyl is back! Big time. Like it never left and stuff. The return of records continues with two new reissues from Dan Bejar's band Destroyer. Nominal have re-released 1998's City of Daughters and 2000's Thief on big black discs this month. Both feature re-worked covers from original artist Lester Smolenksi and stereo sound remixed by a team including Bejar himself. Destroyer is also on the road this spring.

-- The lineup for this year's Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival-- taking place August 28-30 at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park-- is very random. You've got Black Eyed Peas and then M.I.A.; Incubus and then Modest Mouse; Dave Matthews Band and then TV on the Radio. I guess there's always a possibility of Fergie peeing her pants, but there's really no upside to Incubus. Other P4k friendly acts: Beastie Boys, the National, Os Mutantes, Deerhunter, Band of Horses, Q-Tip, Mastodon, Built to Spill, and more. Jack White's new band the Dead Weather will also play only their second scheduled show (so far.) Check the Outside Lands site for the full list.

-- Speaking of bands playing Outside Lands: the Pearl Jam reissue campaign is already underway, but they're still living-- Pearl Jam are still playing shows and making albums! In fact, their upcoming self-released ninth LP is due before the end of the year, according to Billboard. They're also in the process of compiling a 20th anniversary film made up of existing footage with director Cameron Crowe.

-- Randy Cain, a founding member of sweet soul originators the Delfonics, passed away at his home in New Jersey last Thursday, Billboard reports. He was 63.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on April 13, 2009 at 4:10 p.m.

Tags: Album, Delfonics, Destroyer, Festival, Obituary, Outside Lands, Pearl Jam, Reissue

 

Thursday, March 26

News in Brief: Celebration, The Black Keys, Rock Plaza Central, Eddie Bo

News in Brief: Celebration, The Black Keys, Rock Plaza Central, Eddie Bo

-- TV on the Radio buddies Celebration are through with releasing music the traditional way. A post on their blog states their new forward-thinking strategy: "Our plan is to post new songs monthly, as we create and record them. All of our new music will be free to download. When we have enough music for an album, we will release it on vinyl for those who want to have something to hold." Sounds reasonable to us. They also have a note for the haters: "If we be fools, let us be the Fool of the tarot." Oh snap.

-- Now that Black Keys singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach (beard) has his own solo album, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney (glasses) is working on his own side project, according to Entertainment Weekly. It's a new band called Drummer featuring (um) drummers from Ohio bands. Ironically, Carney plays bass in Drummer. They have a couple gigs lined up for May.

-- Folky Toronto band Rock Plaza Central have a new album ready to enter the world May 26 in Canada and June 16 in the U.S. It's called ...at the Moment of our Most Needing, or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone. (Fiona Apple, all is forgiven.) Download a song off the album called "(Don't You Believe the Words Of) Handsome Men" here.

-- According to the AP, Eddie Bo-- New Orleans singer and pianist who worked with Irma Thomas and Art Neville, and wrote the Etta James hit "My Dearest Darling"-- died of a heart attack earlier this week. He was 79 years old.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on March 26, 2009 at 3:55 p.m.

Tags: Album, Celebration, Eddie Bo, Obituary, Patrick Carney, Rock Plaza Central, The Black Keys

 

Wednesday, March 25

News in Brief: Uriel Jones, Soundgarden, Rites of Spring Festival, John Doe/The Sadies

News in Brief: Uriel Jones, Soundgarden, Rites of Spring Festival, John Doe/The Sadies

-- The former Motown session drummer Uriel Jones died in a Dearborn, Michigan hospital yesterday after suffering a heart attack, as Reuters reports. Jones was the final surviving member of the Funk Brothers, the legendary Motown studio band. He was 74.

-- According to Ear Candy, the three former members of Soundgarden not named Chris Cornell stole a page from the Audioslave handbook last night, playing a quick semi-reunion set at the Seattle club the Crocodile, with former Tad frontman Tad Doyle filling in for Cornell. And yes, they played "Spoonman". Seattle Weekly has photos.

-- The Rites of Spring Festival will go down at Vanderbilt University in Nashville April 17-18. Among the acts playing: the Flaming Lips, Santigold, N.E.R.D., Q-Tip, and Okkervil River.

-- X frontman John Doe and the Canadian country-punk band the Sadies have teamed up to record Country Club, an album of classic country covers, plus a few originals by both the Sadies and Doe and X partner Exene Cervenka. It's due April 14 via Yep Roc.

Posted by Tom Breihan on March 25, 2009 at 4:05 p.m.

Tags: Festival, John Doe, Obituary, Reunion, Rites of Spring, Soundgarden, Tad, The Sadies, uriel jones, X

 

Wednesday, February 25

Pylon Guitarist Randy Bewley, R.I.P.

Pylon Guitarist Randy Bewley, R.I.P.

Earlier today, we reported that Randy Bewley, the guitarist for Athens, Georgia post-punk band Pylon, entered the Athens Regional Medical Center ICU after suffering a heart attack while driving on Monday. Unfortunately, Bewley has passed away, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. 

Pylon can be categorized as a band whose influence outstripped their modest fame. Originating in the late 70s, the band's no-frills sound inspired many local bands, including R.E.M. According to the Pitchfork review of their DFA-reissued 1980 album Gyrate, "Pylon didn't blow up like their fellow Athens luminaries; they were too fucking Spartan." The band reunited in 2004 and played sporadically over the last few years, according to their MySpace. A long-awaited DFA reissue of their 1983 album Chomp is reportedly in the works.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on February 25, 2009 at 5:50 p.m.

Tags: Obituary, Pylon

 

Friday, February 20

News in Brief: ELO, The Week That Was, Carpark Records, Indie-O Fest

News in Brief: ELO, The Week That Was, Carpark Records, Indie-O Fest

-- Kelly Groucutt, bassist for ELO during their 1970s heyday, died of a heard attack on February 19, according to his official site. Groucutt was a core member of the group from 1974-1983-- that's his jaunty line on "Mr. Blue Sky". The AP reports that he passed away in Worcester, England.

-- Sophisticated British pop-rock band The Week That Was-- whose self-titled debut received an impressive 8.2 on this very website-- is ready to break the U.S.! Or at least play a few shows here. Their first Stateside trek starts March 7 and will hit Chicago, New York, Toronto, Cleveland, and Austin. Full details here.

-- Washington, D.C. label Carpark Records-- home to Beach House and Dan Deacon-- signed a new electro-pop duo called Ear Pwr. Their debut LP, Super Animal Brothers III, is out May 19.

-- Mexico City's Indie-O Fest will take place March 4-7 this year. The south-of-the-border indie-rock spectacular features Los Campesinos!, Clinic, and No Age, along with local favorites Hello Seahorse! and Nos Llamamos. Check the official Indie-O site or their MySpace for full info.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on February 20, 2009 at 2:40 p.m.

Tags: Ear Pwr, ELO, Festival, Indie-O, Obituary, The Week That Was, Tour

 

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