Dirty Nice: If I Was Abducted By Aliens

English quirky pop act Dirty Nice are quite certain that it will be work out fine after they got swept of the planet, provided they are wearing properly shined shoes. Their catchy lo-fi pop single If I Was Abducted By Aliens has a melody with earworm potential and could serve as a singalong encore when they play live. Recommended if you like They Might Be Giants.

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/30 St. Louis, MO

St. Louis, MO 2024 poster by Johnny Dombrowski

Phish
2024/07/30
Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO

Set 1:

1. Cars Trucks Buses
2. Gotta Jibboo
3. NICU
4. Ocelot
5. Evolve
6. Theme From the Bottom
7. Vultures
8. Timber (Jerry the Mule)
9. Everything's Right

Victory Lap: "Faults to the Silver Screen" live video

Watch Nottingham based pop-noir band Victory Lap perform Faults to the Silver Screen, a track from their debut EP Torch Songs: "There is a thin line between pathos and being pathetic, but they manage to keep it under control, rolling with the self-inflected punches. Wrapped in the lush arrangements that were all the rage in the late 60s it is very stylish cry for help and a plea for compassion. Changes are that the other party won't be moved, but if so, that is their loss."

Live dates:

• 08/08 Rough Trade East, London (RT Recommends headliner), UK
• 10/17-19 Left Of The Dial, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• 12/02 The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, UK
• 12/03 Polar Bear, Hull, UK
• 12/04 Headrow House, Leeds, UK
• 12/05 The Grace (Upstairs), London, UK
• 12/06 YES (Basement), Manchester, UK
• 12/07 Bodega, Nottingham, UK

» Victory Lap on Facebook

HCTF review of Torch Songs.

The Speed Of Sound: Underground

Manchester based psychedelic power pop veterans The Speed Of Sound have posted a video for Underground, a track from their Victory album, the middle kid of their sprawling triple A Cornucopia set. It is a deviant statement about not giving in to the majors and going your own way as artists. If anything, the interesting things tend to happen on the back roads, not on the motorways.

» thespeedofsounduk.com

HCTF review of A Cornucopia: Minerva.

Ben Hemming: Thorns

London based singer-songwriter Ben Hemming is steeped in hard-hitting blues. For his new single Thorns he comes close to the dark moods of Soundgarden in their Superunknown phase. His growling vocal delivery is a match for the dense wall of sound, with a softer middle-eight offering a window to have a short glimpse at greener pastures.

Blues as a genre was never a sunnyside up thing as such, but Hemming's bleak and dark approach really is something else entirely. Best avoided when intense emotions are not your cup of tea, but for those who persist it will be a transformative experience.

Joyce: Voyce

English singer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Watkins is the main force for Joyce, a racous ensemble that mixes punk, rock and a bit of the Beastie Boys flair on their Voyce single, the title track for their forthcoming debut album. It is a rollercoaster ride that could have ended badly at each twist and turn, but Watkins somehow manages to keep it all together, with Phil Thornalley (The Cure), Joe Hicklin (Big Special), Gwenllian Anthony (Adwaith) and Paul Broome (Fauxchisels) having his back.

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/28 East Troy, WI

East Troy, WI 2024 poster by Dan Black + Jessica Seamans at LandLand

Phish
2024/07/28
Alpine Valley Music Theatre
East Troy, WI

Set 1:

1. A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing
2. Tube
3. 555 >
4. Divided Sky
5. Wolfman's Brother
6. Bathtub Gin
7. Bug >
8. Possum

Zebra Crossing Sounds: Come Into My Darkness

English singer-songwriter Chris Spurgeon works his way through a wide of array of emotions on Come Into My Darkness, the first album by his one-man project Zebra Crossing Sounds. Tapping into his own demons and the current state of planet Earth as a whole, he finds himself on the edge of a breakdown, trying to cope by both acoustic folk songs (Unplug & Rewind, Confide in Me) and all-out rockers (The World is on Fire).

He is his own backing vocalist, so he did not have to worry about straying off-pitch. Come Into My Darkness is a 101 for getting the sound right for intense bedroom lo-fi recordings. It is a safe place for both the artist and the listener, sharing an almost palpable hurt in search for a way out.

Words about music (745): Mick Jagger

A lot of times songs are very much of a moment, that you just encapsulate. They come to you, you write them, you feel good that day, or bad that day.

Mick Jagger

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/27 East Troy, WI

East Troy, WI 2024 poster by Dan Black + Jessica Seamans at LandLand

Phish
2024/07/27
Alpine Valley Music Theatre
East Troy, WI

Set 1:

1. Sample in a Jar
2. Halley's Comet >
3. Birds of a Feather
4. Mountains in the Mist
5. Foam
6. Moonage Daydream
7. My Soul
8. The Lizards
9. David Bowie

The Fierce & The Dead: Photogenic Love (Sped Up Version)

English prog experimentalists The Fierce & The Dead have shared a sped up version of Photogenic Love, a track from their News From The Invisible World. It has an early 80s vibe, with the vocals kept at the original pitch.

Cover Me: Call Me

Watch English baroque pop band The Last Dinner Party perform the Blondie classic Call Me for Like A Version, a segment on Australian radio station triple-j.

» thelastdinnerparty.co.uk
» blondie.net

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/26 East Troy, WI

East Troy, WI 2024 poster by Dan Black + Jessica Seamans at LandLand

Phish
2024/07/26
Alpine Valley Music Theatre
East Troy, WI

Set 1:

1. 46 Days
2. The Moma Dance
3. The Well
4. My Friend, My Friend[1] ->
5. Brian and Robert
6. Llama
7. Cities >
8. Ya Mar
9. Stash
10. Cavern

New box set "Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision" in September

After being in limbo for more than two years, the new Jimi Hendrix box set, Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision, will be available as a 5LP/Blu-ray and 3CD/Blu-ray on September 13. Most of the tracks were recorded @ Electric Lady Studios in New York. The Blu-ray contains the posthumous First Rays of the New Rising Sun album that was released in 1997 in 5.1, plus one track from Rainbow Bridge, The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set, and Valleys of Neptune.

The box set was originally slated for a release in March 2022, but it was pulled from reasons unknown. The same happened to the single with Angel (Take 7) on the A-side and Message To Love (live @ New York Pop Festival, Downing Stadium, Randall's Island, NY - July 17, 1970) on the B-side, which was supposed to be released for Record Store Day that year. It is now available on white vinyl as of today.

The Family Grave: Caroline b/w Leave Him Behind

Brighton based eclectic folk act The Family Grave is an outlet for singer-songwriter Jon, a modern day minstrel who can spin a tale. The new double A-side single Caroline b/w Leave Him Behind serves as a taste for the new The Family Grave Play Songs About Love, a concept record of sorts about the perennial ups and downs are an integral part of relationships. He writes from different perspectives: Caroline captures the lingering longing after a chance meeting and Leave Him Behind tackles the disappointment and the urge to move on when things don't work out.

John Watts: "Going Deaf for a Living" celebration solo tour

John Watts will play all of the Going Deaf for a Living album plus plenty of other Fischer-Z songs and solo material during a short tour in the Netherlands. Plenty of humourful asides are part of the equation as well.

Live dates:

• 10/31 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
• 11/01 Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands @ Gebouw T
• 11/02 Enschede, Netherlands @ Metropool
• 11/03 Drachten, Netherlands @ Iduna

Icarus Phoenix: Doctor! Doctor!

Songwriter Drew Danburry wrote another song about his divorce for his band Icarus Phoenix Doctor! Doctor! tells the true story about the results of an online mental health questionnaire. The results were hardly surprising, labeling him as suffering from a depresion, as he had to leave his son behind and he is now working hard in a different town to stay afloat and make enough money for child support as well.

Blues and folk are the go to genres when this kind of shit happens and he choose the latter. Like with the previous single High Tide, the track is accompanied by a harrowing solo acoustic version. The video was edited by Arielle Nelson.

NEEF.: 2005

Dutch indie-jazz trio NEEF. are old enough, albeit barely, to long for days long gone on their debut album 2005. That was the year that Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho made headlines by scoring improbable goals as a player for Barcelona, which left a huge impression on a couple of kids in Utrecht dreaming about playing in big stadiums and wowing the crowd. That never happened, but they found an outlet in creating adventurous music instead.

By inserting elements of progressive rock and a bit of modern day indie guitar, the trio goes for an idiosyncratic yet elegant overall sound. It is smooth, but it is not slick. 2005 is a vulnerable collection of instrumentals about friendship (pelle), skills (Ronaldinho, panna) and falling asleep after playing for hours on end, holding tight to a favourite stuffed animal (welterusten, kleine beer). Scouts from the big football teams will no longer offer them a contract, but they may land a record deal with a niche record label.

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/24 Uncasville, CT

Uncasville, CT 2024 poster by Dr. Juanpa

Phish
2024/07/24
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, CT

Set 1:

1. AC/DC Bag >
2. The Curtain With >
3. Steam
4. Maze
5. Farmhouse
6. Mull
7. Reba
8. Most Events Aren't Planned

The Album Years: listener hub for submitting 1972 record reviews

English musicians and music geeks extraordinaire Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness invite the listeners of their podcast The Album Years to include a review of their favourite album for the next episode which will cover records from 1972. Voice and text messages can be submitted here.

» thealbumyears.com
» stevenwilsonhq.com
» timbowness.co.uk

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Long Dark Night

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds have shared Long Dark Night, another single from their new album, Wild God. It is a powerful ballad, inspired by the mystic poem Dark Night of the Soul by the Spanish 16th-century priest St. John of the Cross. Cave:

'Long Dark Night' is inspired by one of the greatest and most powerful poems of conversion ever written. Ultimately, though, it's a beautiful country tune. It feels like a sweet companion to the song, 'Wild God'.

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/23 Uncasville, CT

Uncasville, CT 2024 poster by Dr. Juanpa

Phish
2024/07/23
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, CT

Set 1:

1. Martian Monster
2. Rift >
3. Golden Age
4. Gumbo
5. Funky Bitch
6. Guyute
7. Undermind
8. Evolve
9. Waste >
10. Walls of the Cave

Mandrake Handshake: Charlie's Comet

photo: Marieke Hulzinga

London based psych collective Mandrake Handshake make a case for slow travel with their new single Charlie's Comet, a dreamy song that also serves as a heartfelt send-off for their rhythm guitarist Charlie Arrowsmith who has left the band that explore other pastures. They are down to a nonet, which should suffice to keep churning out their special blend of "Flowerkraut", a mix of jazz, bossanova, funk and psychedelic rock.

Jim White & Trey Blake: new album "Precious Bane" in October

Country noir musician Jim White has collaborated with UK singer Trey Blake for his new album Precious Bane, due for release in October. His second book, Prose & Cons, is currently being proofred by one of his trusted friends.

The first dates for their European tour in February 2025 have been confirmed.

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/21 Mansfield, MA

Mansfield, MA 2024 poster by Chris Gipple

Phish
2024/07/21
Xfinity Centerk
Mansfield, MA

Set 1:

1. Free
2. A Wave of Hope
3. Bathtub Gin >
4. Wilson
5. The Connection
6. Thread
7. Joy
8. Runaway Jim >
9. Life Saving Gun

Victory Lap: Torch Songs

photo: Natasha Koziarska

The members of Nottingham based pop-noir band Victory Lap know that loves can hurt. Hurt really bad. The four tracks on Torch Songs will strike a chord with anyone who has been shouting at the heavens after their partner left them in tears and in tatters.

There is a thin line between pathos and being pathetic, but they manage to keep it under control, rolling with the self-inflected punches. Wrapped in the lush arrangements that were all the rage in the late 60s it is very stylish cry for help and a plea for compassion. Changes are that the other party won't be moved, but if so, that is their loss.

Words about music (744): Rhian Teasdale

I think there’s more authenticity if you’re having fun. If I go to a gig, I don’t want to see people doing a rock star act – sometimes it can be quite contrived and people think they have to be a certain way as a musician.

Rhian Teasdale

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/20 Mansfield, MA

Mansfield, MA 2024 poster by Chris Gipple

Phish
2024/07/20
Xfinity Centerk
Mansfield, MA

Set 1:

1. Theme From the Bottom >
2. Back on the Train
3. Sand >
4. Bouncing Around the Room
5. Backwards Down the Number Line
6. Human Nature[1] >
7. It's Ice >
8. Wolfman's Brother
9. Drift While You're Sleeping

Jimi Hendrix: "Angel (Take 7) b/w Message To Love" on July 26; "Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision" on September 13

Way back in 2022 a Jimi Hendrix single with Angel (Take 7) on the A-side and Message To Love (live @ New York Pop Festival, Downing Stadium, Randall's Island, NY - July 17, 1970) on the B-side was supposed to be released for Record Store Day, as a forerunner for the Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision box set.

When the release of that set was held up, the single got shelved as well. Lo and behold: the latter will be released on white vinyl on July 26th and the box set appears to finally see the light of day on September 13. The documentary Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision will be shown at the Quad in New York city on August 9, with a global rollout to follow.

July 26, 2024 update: it is official. The box set will be released on September 13.

» jimihendrix.com

Shehehe: Elton John

Punkish power pop trio Shehehe pay tribute to Elton John, naming their latest single after him. He is thankfully very much alive, despite the band's lament that "All my heros are dyin'".

Nicole Bechill (bass, vocals), Jason Fusco (drums, vocals), and Noelle Shuck (guitar, vocals) keep it deceptively simple and basic and get the job done in a little over two minutes of high energy garage rock. It will be included on their Namedroppers album, due for release on August 23rd on Say-10 Records..

Phish 2024 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2024/07/19 Mansfield, MA

Mansfield, MA 2024 poster by Chris Gipple

Phish
2024/07/19
Xfinity Centerk
Mansfield, MA

Set 1:

1. Buried Alive >
2. Character Zero
3. Hey Stranger
4. Down with Disease
5. Roggae >
6. NICU
7. Stash
8. 46 Days

William William Rodgers: show in Newcastle

English singer-songwriter William William Rodgers does not have to travel far when he plays @ The Cumberland Arms in Newcastle Upon Tyne on August 17. He pokes fun at himself and others, but dig a little deeper and it becomes clear that he is making a case for being nice to outsiders.

» William William Rodgers on Facebook

HCTF review of William William Rodgers Hits the Floor.

Town of Saints: Farewell tour

Dutch/Finnish folk band Town of Saints have regrouped for a short farewell tour. They play four show in total, calling it quits with a last hurrah @ Vera in Groningen.

Live dates:

• 10/16 Langenberg, Germany @ KGB
• 10/17 Cologne, Germany @ Schmitzundkunzt
• 10/18 Hieslum, Netherlands @ Muzykkafee DeVille
• 10/19 Groningen, Netherlands @ Vera

» Town of Saints on Instagram

A Place To Bury Strangers: new album "Synthesizer" in October; "Disgust" video

NYC noise rock band A Place To Bury Strangers always have loved a challenge, for themselves as well as their audience. Digust, the lead single for their forthcoming new album Synthesizer, uses a lot of feedback and high-pitched bits to create a sonic assault, a love it or hate it approach that has been their modus operandi since 2002.

Frontman Oliver Ackermann is the sole constant in the band's ever evolving line-up, with his friends John and Sandra Fedowitz stepping in order to fullfill his vision of a distorted dystopia. The video was made by Ben Hozie & Joe Wakeman.

Phish: Tiny Desk Concert

Watch American indie rock band Phish play five songs for a NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Yes, they used the trampolines.

Setlist:

1. Sigma Oasis
2. Evolve
3. You Enjoy Myself
4. Sample in a Jar
5. Chalk Dust Torture

» phish.com

The Bye Bye Blackbirds: Mending Time

Californian indie rock band The Bye Bye Blackbirds are trying to fix a relationship on their new single, Mending Time. The pain of the breakup is almost palpable and there is only a glimmer of hope left as the months go time. Nice touch to use the changing weather conditions as metaphors to describe the protagonist's state of mind. The animated video was made by Marry Waterson.

Steven Wilson & Tim Bowness: "The Album Years" top albums

English musicians and music geeks extraordinaire Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness have posted another video of their live version of their podcast The Album Years @ West Hampstead Arts Club in London on June 7th. They name their favourite albums. Spoiler: the top 10 consists almost solely of double albums.

» thealbumyears.com
» stevenwilsonhq.com
» timbowness.co.uk

Naïm Amor: Stories

BEST OF 2024
2
HCTF

French guitarist and violinist Naïm Amor is blessed with the dexterity to play fast and slow effortlessly. Add a knack to write memorable melodies that sounds both fresh and instantly familiar and you have a hard time to find fault with his new album Stories. He lets the instruments do the talking. As an an in-demand film scorer he can tell a tale without using hardly any words. Ry Cooder, Link Wray and Hank B. Marvin can all be traced back as major influences. Some of it is quite polished, but Amor throwns in some rougher sounds as well as a means for tension and release.

Stories is blissful and wistful. Amor appears to searching for something that has gone missing in his personal life and by doing so he created a record that should be enjoyed as a whole. The moods change ever so slightly and there might ne some sort of Hollywood ending in the cards, but the ambiguity is far more interesting than a straightforward predictable narrative that would ruin it all.

Sterling Morrison: "The Velvet Warrior" 3-part documentary

Cam Forrester made an in-depth 3-part documentary about Sterling Morrison, the Velvet Underground's understated guitar hero, who became a teacher and a tugboat captain before returning to music.

Labasheeda: on tour in The Netherlands & Germany

Amsterdam based art-rock band Labasheeda will playing a bunch of shows in The Netherlands and Germany to promote their latest album Blueprints: "Firmly grounded in the post-punk meets noise tradition, they are not in it for the entertainment of their audience, but offering them a challenge instead with rhythmic shifts, choice feedback, and using string instruments as equal partners for the electric guitar as a lead instrument."

Tears Run Rings: Lost Touch

Portland, OR shoegaze quartet Tears Run Rings made a comeback in 2018 after a 10-year break. They made three albums since then, all of them firmly rooted in the sound of the late 80s and they stick to the recipe for their new single Lost Touch, the lead track for their forthcoming album Everything In The End: layered vocals, plenty of echo, and muffled drums. They used footage from Francis Thompson's A Day in New York movie for the video.

Words about music (743): Niccolo Paganini

The violin is my mistress, but the guitar is my master.

Niccolo Paganini

Colin Robinson: interview on Left of Leeds (East Leeds Radio)

English avant-garde musician Colin Robinson was interviewed by John Toolan on East Leeds Radio, discussing radio jingles, Oblique Strategies, Brian Eno, Frank Zappa and dreams. And of course some of his music by his Jumble Hole Clough project is played as well.

» Jumble Hole Clough on Facebook

HCTF review of Auntie, why does your house smell funny?

Julia-Sophie: telephone

Anglo-French electronic pop artist Julia-Sophie has immersed herself in vintage synths and 80s production values for her new single telephone, a track from her forthcoming first full-length forgive too slow. Failing to reach the other party can be quitefrustrating and her voice trails off near the end of the song after a mesmerizing instrumental break. Being on the verge of tears transformed into music has been done many times, but not often as good as she did.

Phish: "Evolve" on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"

Watch Phish perform Evolve, the title track for their new album, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Their Summer tour starts on July 19th with a 3-night stand in Mansfield, MA.

Live dates:

• 07/19 Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
• 07/20 Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
• 07/21 Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
• 07/23 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• 07/24 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• 07/26 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
• 07/27 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
• 07/28 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
• 07/30 Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO
• 07/31 Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO
• 08/02 Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN
• 08/03 Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN
• 08/04 Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN
• 08/06 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
• 08/07 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
• 08/09 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY
• 08/10 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY
• 08/11 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY
• 08/15 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/16 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/17 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/18 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/29 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
• 08/30 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
• 08/31 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
• 09/01 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

» phish.com

The Armoires: "Here Comes The Song" video

Californian power pop band The Armoires have posted a video for their Here Comes The Song single: "The track is about a songwriter losing control about the contents and meaning of the lyrics. It gets a life on its own, with the musicians not exactly sure that they are happy about that, but not being able to grab the steering wheel and force it to another destination". Th clip was dircted by Michael Bulbenko.

Rory Gallagher's guitars and amps are up for auction

Rory Gallagher's guitars, including his iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster, and amps will be auctioned by Bonhams in London on October 17th. Fingers crossed they don't end up in some fat cat's collection, never to be seen by the general public again. His brother Dónal Gallagher explains why he is letting go:

After nearly thirty years since my brother Rory’s passing, I now believe it’s time for other people to cherish Rory’s ‘orphaned’ 1961 Fender Stratocaster and the rest of his incredible instrument collection.

Since 1995, I have always felt that there was a mission to be fulfilled to cement Rory’s legacy and further widen the knowledge of his music. So, following much deliberation and reviewing of all options, in what is one of the most difficult and sensitive decisions to reach, I have decided to facilitate the release of his instruments for sale, so that these emblems of his legacy can be enjoyed by others.

Sunset Rubdown: Reappearing Rat

Vancouver based multi-instrumentalist Spencer Krug got the band back together for a new Sunset Rubdown album, Always Happy to Explode, due for release on September 20th. Their blend of art rock and psychedelica made them underground favourites before they went on hiatus in 2009. The new single Reappearing Rat is a fine example of soul searching, and a plea for not blaming other people when things go South. The video was directed by Derek Janzen.

Always Happy to Explode is on all the usual digital streaming services.

Geiger von Müller: "Blue Moon Frequency #5" video

London based acoustic slide guitarist Geiger von Müller has posted a video for Blue Moon Frequency #5, a track from his Slide Sonatas II album: "He takes it slow, conjuring images of asteroids passing by as tumbleweeds in a Western movie. His blues-based instrumentals honour the less-is-more approach of a musician who is set on discovering limitless possibilities within the space of a couple of choice notes". The clip was made Boldizsar CR. Lego stuff by Red Ey.

» geigervonmuller.com

HCTF review of Slide Sonatas II.

Phish: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Phish will be playing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 11th @ 11:35PM EDT to promote the release of their new album Evolve. Their Summer tour starts on July 19th with a 3-night stand in Mansfield, MA.

Live dates:

• 07/19 Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
• 07/20 Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
• 07/21 Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
• 07/23 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• 07/24 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• 07/26 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
• 07/27 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
• 07/28 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
• 07/30 Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO
• 07/31 Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO
• 08/02 Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN
• 08/03 Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN
• 08/04 Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN
• 08/06 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
• 08/07 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
• 08/09 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY
• 08/10 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY
• 08/11 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY
• 08/15 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/16 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/17 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/18 Mondegreen, The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• 08/29 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
• 08/30 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
• 08/31 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
• 09/01 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

» phish.com

Steven Wilson & Tim Bowness: "The Album Years" most mentioned artists

English musicians and music geeks extraordinaire Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness have posted another video of their live version of their podcast The Album Years @ West Hampstead Arts Club in London on June 7th. They go on about the most mentioned artists: Momus, John Martyn & Nick Drake, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Talk Talk, Scott Walker, Robert Fripp and Peter Hammill.

» thealbumyears.com
» stevenwilsonhq.com
» timbowness.co.uk

The Fierce & The Dead: "Magnet" live @ Ramsgate Music Hall

Watch English prog experimentalists The Fierce & The Dead perform Magnet @ Music Hall in Ramsgate on May 4, the title track from the EP they released in 2018. The video was directed by Lucy Foster.

DeVotchKa: How It Ends 20th Anniversary Tour

Denver Balkan folk inspired band DeVotchKa are on the road to commerorate the 20th anniversary of their How It Ends album.

Live dates:

• 07/11 Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO
• 07/18 Strings Music Festival 2024, Steamboat Springs, CO
• 07/20 Desert Reef Hot Spring, Florence, CO
• 07/30 Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, NM
• 08/08 Vivarium, Milwaukee, WI
• 08/09 Park West, Chicago, IL
• 08/10 Outlandia Festival 2024, Bellevue, NE
• 08/11 Codfish Hollow Barnstormers, Maquoketa, IA
• 08/23 South Sound Block Party, Olympia, Washington
• 09/11 Ardmore Music Hall ,Ardmore, PA
• 09/12 The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA
• 09/13 Le Poisson Rouge ,New York, NY
• 09/14 Black Cat ,Washington, DC
• 10/31 Devotchka's 6th Annual Halloween Costume Ball at The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO
• 11/01 Devotchka's 6th Annual Halloween Costume Ball at The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO
• 11/02 Devotchka's 6th Annual Halloween Costume Ball at The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO

» devotchka.net

Florida: Metal Detector

Rock band Florida try to sound big on a shoestring budget on their Metal Detector album, a collection of songs about the rapid changes that are occurring in their surroundings and dealing with loss in the band's inner circle. There is a lot of misery beneath the carefully manicured and polished surface that is usually associated with the Sunshine State.

Keeping it tight but loose in both the slower songs (Sure Enough, Countyy Line) and the faster ones (Decap, Looking To Find), they have hit the ground running. By wearing both joy and grief as badges of honour, Florida are rocking out with swagger and precision.

Permafrost: Wrong Heart

Norwegian post-punk band Permafrost have been at it since 1982 and they band stuck to their guns musically: emotional guitar-driven, dark melodic pop. It is like listening to a recording that was buried in a time capsule. Fans of the early Cure will love it. The video was made by Jøran Wærdahl. The track will be included on their The Light Coming Through album, due for release in Autumn 2024 on their own Fear of Music label.

» Permafrost on Facebook

Words about music (742): Nico

People think I'm not polite. But, what I have to say to people seems so unnecessary. I can't be forced. I'd rather just be what I feel. Even when I sing I try to imagine I'm all alone, there's nobody out there listening. I play with the notes, with the feeling. Each time the song is different for me.

Nico

John Cale: interview in Paper

John Cale was interviewed by Tobia Hess for Paper. About getting into the New York avant-garde scene and the influence of La Monte Young:

It began in London, where I got to know Cornelius Cardew there. I was aware of what Stockhausen was doing, and it was very entertaining to hear what La Monte was doing in regards to Stockhausen because he was at odds with him. It was a period where there was a changing attitude towards tonality in Europe. He was really driving a different kind of perspective than Stockhausen. Stockhausen was hellbent on saying, “You've got to invest in new music.” In Europe, it was: you just make sure that you have a 12-tone scale, and if you don't have a 12-tone scale, you can have a 12-tone instrumentation. It was a quick shift that was going on in Europe. La Monte was from the West Coast jazz groups, it was Terry Riley, Terry Jennings, etc. So when I got to New York, La Monte had already established himself. And John Cage was very generous with his recognition.

» John Cale on Facebook
» Fear Is A Man's Best Friend - John Cale

Deep Purple: Lazy Sod

Legendary hard rockers Deep Purple have released Lazy Sod, a trak from their new album =1, out on July 19. It is throwback to their early Seventies sound and could be mistaken for an outtake from Fireball, with guitarist Simon McBride and keyboard player Don Airey paying hommage to Blackmore/Lord interplay.

» deeppurple.com

STÄSJ: "Lady With Arrows" live video

Watch Dutch singer STÄSJ perform Lady With Arrows, a track from Building A Cathedral: "[It is] an album about the human condition. That is a big subject to cover, but she pulled it off by going all out within self-proclaimed boundaries: being adventurous like Kate Bush and catchy a la Depeche Mode." She was joined by Rosa Ronsdorf on backing vocals, synths & electronics and Nina de Jong on drums & electronics. The clip was shot @ Studio 150 in the Bethlehemkerk in Amsterdam and made by Alrik Wiggers.

Live dates:

• 07/13 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ WORM
• 07/14 Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Paviljoen Ongehoorde Muziek
• 07/14 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Valkhof Festival

» stasj.world

HCTF review of Building A Cathedral.

HCTF premiere - Scott Collins: Shittin' Tears

Watch Scott Collins tear through Shittin' Tears. It was recorded live with The Slutz, proving that a bit of distortion goes a long way when in need for an extra layer of oomph for a slow, menacing blues explosion. No, it is not all glitzy polished country in Nashville. Dig a little deeper and you might run into this versatile guitarist player up a storm, either as a solo artist, as half of the duo The Smoking Flowers (with his wife, Kim) and or as the resident guitar hero for Justin and The Cosmics.

Human Interest: Better Press Repeat

English post-punk band Human Interest relive the ennui that was such a big part of the pandemic on their new single Better Press Repeat, when there not much to do except staring at the walls and listen to the same thing over and over again. The subject matter is pretty bleak, but even then there was light at the end of the tunnel. A nice slice of soft-spoken melancholia to be played during a rainy day.

Steven Wilson & Tim Bowness: "The Album Years" highlights video

English musicians and music geeks extraordinaire Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness have posted a highlights video of their live version of their podcast The Album Years @ West Hampstead Arts Club in London on June 7th.

» thealbumyears.com
» stevenwilsonhq.com
» timbowness.co.uk

The Armoires: Here Comes The Song

Californian power pop band The Armoires go for a strings-driven baroque mood on their new single Here Comes The Song. The track is about a songwriter losing control about the contents and meaning of the lyrics. It gets a life on its own, with the musicians not exactly sure that they are happy about that, but not being able to grab the steering wheel and force it to another destination.

Pretty ambitious to try to capture this Faustian concept within the time frame of a little less than four minutes, but there is no real art without taking risks. It is another taste from their forthcoming new album, Octoberland, due for release in the Fall.

Martin Kohlstedt: tour dates

German composer, piano and keyboard player Martin Kohlstedt will be showing off his impressive improvisation skills, mixing classical figures with post-rock, jazz and ambient on a lengthy tour. Every show is different, so don't sleep on it when you have the chance to watch hm work his magic more than one night.

STÄSJ: show in Rotterdam added

Dutch electro-pop artist STÄSJ,, nom-de-plume of multi-instrumentalist and singer Stefanie Janssen, has added a show in Rotterdam @ WORM on July 13 to promote her latest release, Building A Cathedral: "[It is] an album about the human condition. That is a big subject to cover, but she pulled it off by going all out within self-proclaimed boundaries: being adventurous like Kate Bush and catchy a la Depeche Mode."

Blake Jones & The Trike Shop: Mock Stoner Voices

Fresno, CA power pop band Blake Jones & The Trike Shop are having some fun on their new single Mock Stoner Voices, about a guy meeting a girl (well, sort of) at Tower Records. They threw a few Zappa-esque licks, just to make sure that people will realize it is a whimsical joke song. It is a track from their forthcoming new album and still..., due for release in the August via Big Stir Records (vinyl, CD, digital).

LOGOUT: new album "τα τ​​​η​​​ς ε​​​π​​​ι​​​σ​​​τ​​​ρ​​​ο​​​φ​​​ή​​​ς" album in September

Greek singer, songwriter and producer LOGOUT will release his new τα της επιστροφής ("Of the Return") album on September 2. He went for a slightly rougher, lo-fi sound, with the feeling of being dislocated as the main theme for the lyrics. It is a joint release by three indie labels: B-otherside Records and Gama Records in Greece, and Tiny Room Records in the Netherlands.

Naïm Amor: September Escapade

French guitarist and violinist Naïm Amor has the final single from his forthcoming new album Stories. September Escapade is like a slowly unfolding flower, showing off its colours one by one to create an aural spectacle that needs to revisited time and again to fully appreciate all the intricacies. It has a late 60s Nouvelle Vague soundtrack vibe, spiced up with a bit of noise, a dash of post-rock and Tex Mex.