News

Elisa Randazzo made her debut as a solo artist back in May with the album Bruises and Butterflies. But Elisa's not a nu kid on the block, she's got more of an old-school approach to putting out albums. To wit - the record is now two months old, a virtual epoch in today's fickle market, but Elisa's just getting started on the B&B rollout. In fact, she's got a couple of super-special shows happening this week, featuring none other than the legendary Bridget St.... (read more)

The first thing I remember about the recording of Bright Flight is that when we opened the door to Hum Depot's roller rink of a basement studio, the console was in a jillion pieces. Why we were the reason it got cleaned for the first time since 1972, who can say? Marky cussed heroically, recomposing the board while the Joos idled High Life ponies in the parking lot. Everyone was well in character by the time the reels sputtered to life.

Mostly I recall catnapping... (read more)

Feel it rumble towards ya, Mr. Kangaroo. Trying to find solid ground? Oh sorry. OM has other plans. But fortunately for you, and all your Aboriginal neighbors (not to mention royal didgeridoognitaries), OM plans to happily provide a solid plane. Spiritually, for all of Australia. Skip the Sunday Roast: Om kicks off their OZ tour this coming, July 11th, at the National Hotel in Geelong. They may not speak Tiwi, but if they did, you can be sure the sound would help you meditate.

... (read more)

Ben Chasny is in Holland right now studying shrines and temples that he will later write music about. Don't get all holy headed about it, Chasny reports that he's not seeking Divine Inspiration from the structures, but rather he's sketching the shrines poetically with his guitar rather than a pencil or a camera. It all sounds pretty mysterious and metaphysical! Can't wait to hear the music.

You can find out more about the project here

Join Drag City and Twos & Fews in celebrating the release of The Good Old Fashioned Way: Hamper McBee of Monteagle, Tennessee, with a screening of Raw Mash. Legendary moonshiner, carnival barker, raconteur and singer Hamper McBee was the subject of this 1977 profile by ethnographic filmmakers Sol Korine and Blaine Dunlap, released soon after in PBS's Southbound. In it, Hamper builds a still, explains his whiskey-making method, recalls some of his prodigious drunks, and sings a bit.

Saturday July 10, 6-8pm,... (read more)

Join Drag City and Twos & Fews in celebrating the release of The Good Old Fashioned Way: Hamper McBee of Monteagle, Tennessee, with a screening of Raw Mash. Legendary moonshiner, carnival barker, raconteur and singer Hamper McBee was the subject of this 1977 profile by ethnographic filmmakers Sol Korine and Blaine Dunlap, released soon after in PBS's Southbound. In it, Hamper builds a still, explains his whiskey-making method, recalls some of his prodigious drunks, and sings a bit.

Saturday July 10, 6-8pm,... (read more)

If you're looking for a weekend trip for 4th of July weekend and you live in central California, why not drive down to Big Sur? Its natural beauty has been celebrated by everyone from Ansel Adams to the Beach Boys! And that's just from A to B. Yeah, it can be very calming and centering out there whether you're chilling out by the waves (literally - it can get quite cold along the coast) or hiking through the pines and the oaks and the redwoods... (read more)

THE WORLD’S NOT ON FIRE TONIGHT

Summertime, and the living is elsewhere. What’s going on? Any shows in town tonight? There better be, because school’s out, and once the kids go home, it’s a old-school truism in the record business, sales dive into the toilet just like those self-same kids back at their home-town watering holes. When will someone build a record shack in those old home-towns? People still have to buy records!

Or do they?

GIVING 50%

One thing we’re sure that people do... (read more)

If you live in or around Austin or just happen to find yourself there on Wednesday (stranger things have happened, kids), boy are you in luck. Final Flesh, the furreal (yeah, the medieval 's' works best here) masterpiece created by Vernon Chatman in 2009 and mostly screened in home theatres, will be presented back to back (get it?) with Harmony Korine's just-released Trash Humpers in an actual American cinema!. If you're really in luck, Austin's The Ritz will be thoroughly equipped with garbage bags,... (read more)

Regular reader, it isn't news to you that Bill Callahan is a brilliant songwriter, but if you need proof to lay on your stupid friends, you should note that Gil Scott Heron has not only covered a beautiful Smog song from the immortal A River Ain't Too Much To Love, but he's actually one-upped Bill: Gil also made a beautiful video to go along with it. Bill never did that! Check out Gil Scott-Heron's A/V take on Callahan here

And good news, fans of... (read more)