Late Breaking News: Blogger Arrested For Leaking G'N'R Tracks

A 27 year old blogger has been arrested yesterday for posting Guns N' Roses tracks, from the upcoming album Chinese Democracy, prior to their release. The charges are federal and bail has been set for $10,000.

But the way I see it, the wrong person was arrested... What about the asshole record exec who allowed this album to jumble into something more than 10 years in the making? He should be arrested...

The charge: Being stupid, or at the very least misappropriation of company funds.

Why would you invest so much money into one band? To date, it's amounted to over $13 million in production costs. If you're the mob, that makes sense. Build a person's debts and then take everything they own. I saw that on The Sopranos. But from a legitimate business stand-point it doesn't make sense. Did they honestly believe that demand for the album would be so high that they would make most of what they invested back? Especially in a climate of dwindling album sales?

Which then leads me to the next charge: fraud, or better yet misrepresentation.

It's only Axl Rose. So how can you continue the band name being the only remaining member? If you had Axl plus one (like: Gilby Clarke, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan... ), then you'd have fair reason to continue the band name. But that ain't the case. You have the rose, but no guns. With that in mind the band name should instead be shortened to just Roses'.

I argue that this man should be exonerated. Did he post the tunes illegally, maybe. But did he possibly save a few thousand people from wasting their hard-earned money on an album that appears sub-par at best, I think he did. And when you think of the economy in the shape that it's currently in, it's easy to then see that this man is a hero. The defense rests.

Thank You Very Much Mr. Roboto: My Robot Friend's Robot High School

Interested in watching a bad ass video? I can't stop watching it and I'm giddy because I just stumbled over it. It's currently a featured video on YouTube and with a title like Robot High School, how could I not watch it?

Directed by Roel Wouters, the video is that of New York's one-man electronica outfit of part man, part machine My Robot Friend. Sure it's been out 9 months. What's your point?

Fleet Foxes Announce Tour

While this news is a week and a half old, I figure what the hell... Fleet Foxes have announced the details of their North American/European Tour.

But oh look, no Toronto dates. Sure they've been in town twice already this year, but I'm still a tad suspicious. Looking at the dates and their relatively close destinations leads me to wonder whether a Toronto crowd might have done something to prompt these guys to completely b-line around us? Paranoid? Perhaps. But if it were true, I wouldn't blame them. Because let's face facts, Toronto crowds can be pretty piss poor given their folded arms attitude, 15 feet from the stage buffer, and habits of talking through sets. And when I see that Grand Rapids has two dates scheduled, my suspicions are only amplified further. But if I've learned anything from movies it's this: don't involve yourself too much when it comes to conspiracy theories, because if you do chances are you'll just end up dead.



Fleet Foxes Tour:

9/06 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom - Musicfest NW
9/16 Vancouver, BC @ Richard’s on Richards
9/17 Victoria, BC @ Element
9/19 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
9/21 San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Festival
9/22 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
9/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Redux
9/27 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits at Zilker Park
9/28 New Orleans, LA @ Howlin Wolf
9/29 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree
9/30 Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre
10/02 Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom
10/03 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
10/05 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
10/06 Somerville, MA @ Somerville Theatre
10/07 Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College
10/08 Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center
10/09 Grand Rapids, MI @ Ladies Literary Club
10/10 Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
10/11 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Centre
10/12 Chicago, IL @ The Metro
10/15 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
10/18 Bellingham, WA @ TBA
10/19 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater
10/20 Seattle, WA @ TBA
10/28 Norwich, UK @ The Waterfront *
10/29 Sheffield, UK @ Union *
10/30 Bristol, UK @ University Anson Rooms *
10/31 Birmingham, UK @ Space Two *
11/2 Nottingham, UK @ Trent Uni
11/05 London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire *
11/07 Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar Street *
11/08 Glasgow, UK @ ABC *
11/09 Manchester, UK @ Thee Academy *
11/10 London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire *
11/11 Cambridge, UK @ Junction *
11/12 Paris, France @ Festival Les Inrocks *
11/15 Milan, Italy @ TBA
11/16 Vienna, Austria @ Arena *
11/17 Zurich, Switzerland @ Abart *
11/18 Munich, Germany @ Ampere *
11/20 Brussels, Belgium @ AB Box *
11/21 Hague, Holland @ TBA
11/22 Essen, Germany @ TBA
11/24 Berlin, Germany @ Columbia Club *

* with J. Tillman

Death Vessel: Modern Day Eunuch

Considering that he's playing The El Mocambo on Thursday, I figured I'd get introductions out of the way. Dear reader I would like to introduce you to Death Vessel. He writes pretty songs and while it sounds as though he's playing along side a chick singing, guess again.

His Christian name is Joel Thibodeau, and while I doubt his high octave singing voice is due to being a castrati, he's definitely worth checking out. With all kidding aside let's get down to brass tacks: if you're down with calming acoustic folk music with plenty of fingering picking, then Death Vessel is very much worth your attention. On Wednesday, he'll be kicking off his tour in Montreal, in support of his latest album Nothing Is Precious. Enough For Us. (which dropped just last week: August 19th). And if you think that all Rhode Island has to offer is James Woods and Peter Griffin, think twice because in Death Vessel the state has a new hot commodity.





Death Vessel Tour:

27 Aug Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
28 Aug Toronto, ON @ The El Mocambo
29 Aug Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
30 Aug Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
31 Aug Grinnell, IA @ Gardner Lounge
3 Sep Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
4 Sep Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern
5 Sep Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
6 Sep San Fancisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
7 Sep Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
9 Sep Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts
11 Sep Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
12 Sep Austin, TX @ Emos Lounge
13 Sep Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
14 Sep Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
16 Sep Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
17 Sep Washington, Washington DC @ Black Cat Backstage
18 Sep Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas
19 Sep New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
20 Sep Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
21 Sep New Haven, CT @ BAR Nightclub
22 Sep Vineyard Haven, MA @ Che’s Lounge
23 Sep Providence, RI @ The Living Room
24 Sep Portland, ME @ SPACE
25 Sep Boston, MA @ Harpers Ferry
26 Sep Turners Falls, MA @ The Rendezvous

Get Well Soon

Well I was going to open, wow you're reading one pretty hip blog, because nobody's written about Get Well Soon, but it looks as though i' guess i'm floating has beaten me to the punch.

Ah well, fuck it. You're still reading a pretty hip blog (even though it looks like a pile of shit).

Getting back to the point, Get Well Soon is essentially a one man band, fronted by 25 year old Konstantin Gropper. In terms of their sound, GWS is a bit atmospheric and is comparable to Spiritualized covering a Radiohead tune, which might I add, is a spot on description if you listen to 'We Are Safe Inside While They Burn Down Our House'. But what I like most, is that while somber you don't end up feeling like blowing your fucking head off (which that in itself makes this band very special).

Monotonix

Imagine if Kyuss and Fu Manchu came from Tel Aviv, smoked a little less smoke and had a tad bit more energy... there you have Monotonix.

Essentially Monotonix are third-generation Sabbath when you figure Kyuss and Fu Manchu 'borrowed' a lot from Sabbath and these guys 'borrow' a lot from Kyuss and Fu Manchu (most notably Josh Homme's jam style of jumping in and out of leads).

But when you get listening to tracks like 'Body Language' (the title track from their latest EP) you see that these guys bring a little bit extra to the generational table. Instead of making you want to stand there nodding your head, these guys make you want to climb shit or even hop a fence. It's the damnedest thing.


And oh look their about to embark on a North American tour:

30 Aug Los Angeles, CA @ F Yeah Fest
31 Aug Los Angeles, CA @ F Yeah Fest
1 Sep Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot Festival
2 Sep San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
3 Sep Oakland, CA @ Stork Club
4 Sep Chico, CA @ Crux Gallery
5 Sep Portland, OR @ Musicfest NW at Satirycon w/ Old Time Relijun
6 Sep New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg* [sold out]
7 Sep Manhattan, NY @ Bowery Ballroom* [sold out]
8 Sep New York, NY @ Death by Audio
9 Sep Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church*
10 Sep Washington DC @ Black Cat*
11 Sep Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle*
12 Sep Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle*
13 Sep Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse*
14 Sep Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits*
15 Sep Orlando, FL @ The Social*
16 Sep Tallahassee, FL @ Club Down Under*
17 Sep Chattanooga, TN @ JJ’s Bohemia^
18 Sep Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club (Pygmalion Music Festival)^ w/ Dan Deacon
19 Sep Madison, WI @ Forward Fest w/ Dan Deacon
20 Sep Chicago, IL @ Hideout Block Party
21 Sep Milwaukee, WI @ Warehouse TBA w/ Call Me Lightning
22 Sep Indianapolis, IN @ Melody Inn
23 Sep Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird
24 Sep Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Bar w/ Call Me Lightning
26 Sep Missoula, MT @ Badlander
28 Sep Olympia, WA @ The Brotherhood
29 Sep Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall*
30 Sep Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom*
1 Oct Vancouver, BC @ Richard on Richards*
3 Oct Boise, ID @ Neurolux*
4 Oct Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge*
5 Oct Denver, CO @ Bluebird*
7 Oct Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room*
8 Oct Oklahoma City, Ok @ Conservatory
9 Oct Austin, TX @ Mohawk
10 Oct Houston, TX @ The Mink
11 Oct Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
12 Oct Nashville, TN @ Exit/Inn*
14 Oct Asheville, NC @ New French Bar
15 Oct Richmond, VA @ Gallery 5
16 Oct Washington DC @ TBA w/ Pattern Is Movement
17 Oct Philadelphia, PA @ Pilam
18 Oct Providence, RI @ as220
19 Oct Milford, CT @ Daniel St. w/ Akimbo
20 Oct Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar w/ DMBQ
21 Oct Purchase, NY @ Suny Purchase College
22 Oct Halifax, NS @ Halifax Pop Explosion Festival
23 Oct Toronto, ON @ Wrongbar
24 Oct New York, NY @ Knitting Factory (CMJ - Panache Showcase)
25 Oct Brooklyn, NY @ Panache/ToddP party @ Market Hotel w/ the Mae Shi, DMBQ, Genghis Tron and more
26 Oct New York, NY @ WFMU Record Swap w/ DMBQ
28 Oct Greensboro, NC @ University of NC w/ The Mae Shi
29 Oct Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre^
30 Oct Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree^
31 Oct New Orleans, LA @ Saturn Bar^


* w/ Silver Jews
^ w/ Dark Meat

Nous Non Plus: That Soup Is Hot

Match catchy french pop with pretty french girls and you've got Johnny's attention.

Created out of a mess similar to your parents' divorce, New York based french pop group Nous Non Plus are definitely worth your attention too.

How hip is this tip you might ask... pretty fucking hip. But you being the hip and with it so-and-so that you are, you might counter: hey it's not that hip especially considering they've been out a few years. To that I would respond how would you like a slap in the mouth?

But when you consider that they're yet to name their album rumored to be due out this fall, I'd say the tip is pretty solid...www.myspace.com/nousnonplus