It's a lot to deal with, it's true — but we're going to break it down for you, don't worry. Check it out —

WHEW!
Whew! We just finished with a strong powerful release date — and now we've got another on our hands! It seems like only yesterday we were shipping (Smog) Supper LP/CDs, Imitation Electric Piano Trinity Neon LP/CDs, Slitch DVD+CDs, David Grubbs/Mats Gustafsson Off-Road CDs, and Van Oehlen Rock and Roll is Here to Die CDs to everyone all over America! Of course it wasn't yesterday — it was last month! Oh well, they're all out there now — if you need ‘em, you can have ‘em!

SPRING IS…WHERE?
Damn, it's going to be summer soon! Summer of course, is the official season of rock and roll. And nobody can really wait for that. But first, we the people of Drag City have to get through that fifteen minutes of chilly breeze known around these parts as “Spring.” To kill time while the moment of truth approaches, we've been running all around this world, checking out the potential dominion before the war finally encroaches upon all our liberties. This last winter, Drag City operatives have been out in the field from New York to LA to Hawaii  including Austin for South by Southwest. Why, we even dispatched our very own Bill “(Smog)” Callahan through southern states on a — get this — tour of record stores! He came away with lots of interesting intelligence, believe you us! Meanwhile, Scene Creamers worked the perimeter of the country, hitting all four corners in an exhaustive tour routing. Sure, there was propaganda involved — it was a rock and roll tour! Once the war broke out, of course it was Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy who showed the most blood and guts — getting on a transatlantic flight and taking his act over to old Europe, where he played in France and Holland. The mission complete, he's returned to the fold, to trade notes and compare images of our world in chaos. It's something we appreciate in our artists — you gotta pay attention to what’s going on out there in this world in which we live (and sell) in.

IMAGES OF APRIL
But hey, enough of this potlicktical nonsense — we're a record label, damn it! And this is what we've arranged for your forthcoming musical distractions. On April 15, we plan to unleash three new releases on you. Diverse, entertaining, self-contained; each of these releases are, unto themselves, masterful. At this point, we can't settle for less. The names at hand: Alasdair Roberts, Monade and Papa M! Here’s a word or two on each.

For the past five years or so, Alasdair Roberts has issued his music to the world under the name of Appendix Out. We’ve released three full-length records under that name —The Rye Bears a Poison (now back in print on CD for the first time in a long time!), Daylight Saving and The Night is Advancing. This time around, he delivered a new set of his signature traddy folk-pop with his trademark Scottish flair as well as a new directive — that he would no longer would he be known as Appendix Out. We suggested using some parentheses, but he preferred his own name. So it shall be! From this date forth, Alasdair Roberts shall be the name attached to his music. And so — with that in mind, we've got a great new album to tell you about called Farewell Sorrow by a singwriting songer named Alasdair Roberts. Alasdair has just grown a ton as a songwriter and singer over the years, and Farewell Sorrow is finest, most honed collection yet! Recorded in Glasgow with a sympathetic support crew, Farewell Sorrow blossoms with sweet melody as well as tunes steeped in traditional song writing. The secret is local ingredients — and Alasdair brings them all to the fore. It's a brilliant new entry into the larger canon of British Folk music. You shouldn't miss this one. As we said last month, Farewell Sorrow — hel-lo Alasdair Roberts. 

Now, onto Monade. Monade is the musical brainchild of Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier. Over the last half-decade, the world has been treated to the sounds of Monade in tiny, one-song increments. Like baby-food, it's been spooned to us a little at a time — and like baby-food, it has proved nourishing and quite tasty. But the time has come for greater sustenance, don't you think? Now is the time for a full-course meal of Monade. That meal comes to you in a multicoloured sleeve and is called Socialisme ou Barbarie. Containing the previous three previously released (and hard to find) Monade songs known to us, it features twelve songs overall — each a juicy slice of at-home music-making from Laetitia and her pals (which include Rosie and Matt from Pram!) with vocals, keyboards, odd bits of rhythm and Laetitia’s latest passion, the trombone. Sweet and simple in a way Stereolab hasn’t been for several years, Monade will satisfy your space-age cravings. Get into Socialisme ou Barbarie the day it hits the streets, April 15th, 2003.

Also satisfying cravings in April is Papa M. Papa Pajo hasn’t handed us an LP since the “Whatever, Mortal” tapes were turned over in late aught-one. Since that time, we've heard he's a bit busy — but not too busy to create a Papa M singles series for 2003! Here's the plan — every two months, when the dark rises again, we issue another Papa M CD single. We started the process in the black month of February with “One,” and continue down the garden path (of evil) in April with “Two.” Each single so far is a three-song affair. This will continue through the end of the year, at which point Papa M fans will have six singles with perhaps eighteen or more fresh Papa M tracks in them — and each single wrapt in its own distinctive li’l ol' jacket! Singles create excitement, it's true — and we’re sure you’ll all be excited to know that these singles come in the standard 5" CD format, and not that wonderful and strange 3” CD format that Papa M put his “Three Songs” CD single out upon — copies of which are still available to all you mailorderers!

That's your April 15th forecast — oh, but wait! We're also selling a new shirt on this date — the Drag City shirt, mach two! Years ago we had a nice shirt just for us, with a Drag City logo and everything. It's been awhile, but we're finally ready to endorse ourselves with a shirt once again! This shirt features the “Pushead Dylan” portrait to be found on the front page of this site — so if you like t-shirts and if you look good in black  ask your local retailer to stock one for you on the next order! Either that or mail-order one from us directly. It's NEW!!!

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU MAIL ORDER THINGS
Oh yeah  speaking of mail ordering from us, don’t forget to check our Special Orders page  now home to the much-sought-after Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy CD5 known as “Happy Child/Forest Time.” It’s there, along with the Papa M CD3, the Silver Jews shirts, the Drag City shirt, the Neil Hamburger radio interview 7”, the Papa M farthing, the Ghost side projects and much more! Go there NOW!!!

Yeah, and while you're there — don't forget to pick up on the Slitch DVD+CD. This outrageous new release features Dianne Bellino's short film "Slitch" plus her video for the Palace track "Come In" on it's DVD side, then flips over to play music on it's CD side. The music is by none other than The Continental OP — who debuted this soundtrack music on a 12"EP late last year (good copies still available!). And since Will Oldham appears in the short film "Slitch," and The Continental OP is none other than Dave Pajo and Will Oldham, you'll probably need to get a few copies of this awesome new format. The best part about the DVD part is that it plays in all countries of the world. Tell them to stock in your corner shop! Or order it from us!

SCENE CREAMERS CREAM SCENE
Ah, what else is going on? Let’s see...oh yeah, what about Scene Creamers? They’re going on for sure. Their debut album is the fastest-spreading trend in America today! As Scene Creamers finish their second national tour, I Suck on That Emotion is flying out the door to shops all around the country! Their show at the Fireside here in town was an all-ages, sold-out, total exciting affair — as shows were in so many places Scene Creamers have played. Now their national tour is coming to a close. What’s the next move? Play some more shows! They’re so much fun. Plus, plans for more recordings are being slowly implemented and executed  before you know it, another Scene Creamers record will be back in your face again!

ALSO ON TOUR
If you’re in the Mountain Zone and you don’t have a plan to see Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, you’re crazy! He’s touring for three weeks from Arizona to Washington State, playing little out of the way places like Taos, NM; Fort Collins CO; Moscow ID and Walla Walla Washington. It’s going to be really fantastic to see Bonnie and his merry band playing out there in the middle of nowhere so…if you get the chance, don’t not go!

AZITA is working hard to make sure the nation and eventually the world become aware of her debut turn as pianist/songwriter/and bandleader on Enantiodromia. Since the release of this record back in February, minds have been consistently blown by her highly unusual approach to songs and singing, not to mention melody! To some, it’s soothing — to others an act of rebellion. They’ve all got a point —  but they should all reserve further judgement until AZITA comes to town. Fortunately for east coasters, it will be soon. AZITA has gigs in the northeast later this month. Check the tour page, you’ll see!

Alasdair Roberts celebrates the release of Farewell Sorrow (on Rough Trade in the UK and Europe) by taking to the road for an extensive tour of Scottish towns in May. Word is, he’ll be playing solo. If you’re up north, check him out. If you’re in America, hold your damn horses — he’ll be coming over to tour with a band in September. We’re really gonna do it this time!

Back in the USA, May will find Cynthia Dall on tour in the eastern, southern, and mid-western states, still in support of last year’s Sound Restores Young Men. It’s been quite a while since Cynthia’s toured any of these places — so come on out and show her you care!

May is Hamburger time for all of you Los Angelites out on sunny so-cal  Neil Hamburger, that is! Neil’s booked himself every Wednesday night in May, four weeks running at LAs Knitting Factory. This is an opportunity for all the elite members of the entertainment industry to catch Neil in an intimate setting where his comic stylings should have a positive impact. Here’s hoping, anyway! We’re crossing fingers and other things in anticipation of these high-profile shows.

COME WHAT MAY
…or is it What May Come? Ah, whatever — what we’re talking about is what happens after April! Obviously, we’ve got all those touring parties mentioned above that will be alive and on the road in May — but what record releases have we to entice you? And when? It’s like this…

NEIL MICHAEL HAGERTY & THE HOWLING HEX!
You know who Neil Michael Hagerty is…but what’s this Howling Hex thing? Is it a new band? Is it a new record? The answer is, it’s a bit of both. And it's totally fucking hot. On the new album The Howling Hex, Neil is supported by a band of the same name. Neil has really outdone himself this time, placing 21 songs in sequence designed to get the most out of its audience. Composed of up-to-the-minute observations about where we are at from Neil’s eye-on-the-street viewpoint, The Howling Hex is Neil Michael Hagerty doing what he does best — writing in a diversity of styles, kicking out the jams and moving us both physically and mentally with his unique brand of entertainment. Shocking and astonishing in a way only rock and roll can be, Neil Michael Hagerty has a good one for you — and The Howling Hex will be available for all of us on May 20th, 2003.

THE SUNTANAMA STRIKE BACK!
Last July, the world was shocked by an unlikely debut — the stepping out on our very own Drag City imprint by the classic-est of New York’s classic rock subculture, The Suntanama. Lurching from the belly of the beast known as No-Neck, The Suntanama plays a blues of decidedly different proportions. Led by a silver-tongued swami-to-be named Catfish, The Suntanama come on like a post-millennial jug band, then rev it up and rock you with tribal rhythms, wind instruments, triple guitars, hash-headed poetry and of course, more. The self-titled debut introduced one and all to the vast spaces The Suntanama come from — but their sophomore effort takes a more honky-tonkin’ tact, tripping up the space-heads among us with a bit of rock and roll. From acousto-folk to stomping prog, The Suntanama slowly unfurl their colors. It’s called Another, but it’s not just that — it’s more! Catch this exciting development in full-flight on or about May 20th, with the Neil Michael Hagerty album.

THAT’S ALL FOLKS
That’s it for this this one! Don’t forget to order something via mailorder today — to purchase some form of media with the Drag City logo today — to bring your new toys to the party and blow some minds — and to make it on down to the soonest show nearest to you sometime soon!

And then we'll have world peace…

See you in May.

Rian Murphy
Drag City Inc.
April 2003