Other Lives in Manchester
The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 17 August 2011.
Other Lives is an American indie rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma. The band formed in 2004 as Kunek and released one album in 2006 under that name. Other Lives’ self-titled album was released physically April 7, 2009 by TBD Records and digitally March 17, 2009. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Joey Waronker. The lead single “Black Tables” was featured on the 16th episode of season three, “Things Fall Apart” of the television show Ugly Betty, the first episode of season five, “In the Light” of the television show “Covert Affairs”, Dream a Little Dream of Me, Part 1 of the television show Grey’s Anatomy. and the episode Every Picture Tells A Story of the television show One Tree Hill.
As of February, 2011, Other Lives finished working on their new record titled Tamer Animals that is due out on May 10, 2011 in the USA and August 29, 2011 in UK/Europe. Their new song “For 12″ was featured as KCRW’s “Today’s Top Tune” on October 27, 2010. The band is spending their Summer 2011 tour with S. Carey and The Rosebuds.
“The core of that band is still with me,” says frontman Jesse Tabish, who founded Kunek with cellist Jenny Hsu and drummer Colby Owens. “In a lot of ways, it’s still what I gravitate towards, songwriting wise.” Tabish added, “I’d rather us be an ensemble than a rock band, That’s my goal—to get away from those traditional ideas. It’s not a strength in numbers kinda thing, either, where 12 people are on stage
and five of them are playing the same melody. When the music calls for that many players, we’ll go there. We’ll destroy the band itself.”
Band Members:
Jenny Hsu - Cello, Keys
Jonathon Mooney - Vocals, Guitar, Violin, French Horn, Trumpet, Keys, Percussion
Josh Onstott - Bass, Mellotron
Colby Owens - Drums
Jesse Tabish - Lead Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Harmonium, Organ, Vibes, Electric Harpsichord
Live
As I approached the venue I could not help thinking of the chaos that engulfed northern Manchester on my last gig visit. Tonight I’m here to review a concert by the creator of one of my favourite albums of the year so far. The band is Other Lives, the album is called TAMER ANIMALS which was released on the 29 August. Comparisons have been made with a number of acts including Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, and even Philip Glass. For me Fleet Foxes come closest although Other Lives has a much more interesting sound that seems to revolve around its powerful rhythmic heart.
I’m reminded of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble music that often includes medieval percussive sounds. The power of Radio 1 to influence an act’s popularity became obvious tonight in an almost packed house following the band’s R1 Live Lounge performance. In fact Tabish commented that the band’s Manchester audience was larger than a home town USA one. The big question for me was whether the band could replicate its glorius sounds to the live stage, and I have to say the band did not disappoint.
However, the question has to be asked on why a band (with loads of instruments) even tries to perform at this particular venue. It’s tiny and at best only suits a solo performer maybe with minimal backing. Tonight the small stage was way too overcrowded, and with dreadful lighting and busy backdrop, this
show was less than satisfactory. It’s absolutely vital that promotors/acts ensure that the venue is adequate for their needs and while the Deaf Institute has an almost mythical reputation in reality it’s a fucking awful venue. In fact so bad that I have now decided I will not cover another gig there. The Band On The Wall would have been more appropriate.
Well that’s the bad news, the good news is Other Lives performed out of their skin and played every highlight from the new album plus a couple of wonderful encore surprises. Opening with ‘As I Lay My Head Down’ the band made an immediate impression. Jesse Tabish excelled from the first vocal note while the band’s signature, original sound came through loud an clear. There’s a lightness of touch but at the same time an expansive sound which comes with truckloads of emotional impact. It’s at moments like this that a better venue would have been ideal.
Two other favourites followed including the brass-led ‘Dark Horse’ which opens the album in grand style. Jonathon Mooney was incredible as he blew his horn one moment and then shifted over to his violin for the next. I was reminded of the distinction of Low Anthem who I also saw at this venue a couple of years ago. Then came the album’s first single track ‘For 12′ which received awards back in the USA, perhaps because of it’s Tex-Mex flavour and memorable melody. It’s not my favourite album track but by heck it’s good…
An encore was demanded and delivered by and to the most enthusiastic audience. First the wonderful ‘Black Tables’ from the band’s first album followed by a beautiful Leonard Cohen cover - ‘The Partisan’. My summary of the night: Great band, great songs, distinctive folk sound, shit venue.
Here’s what another reviewer wrote:
“This is not simple acoustic folk music: technology is exploited liberally, evident in the synth keyboards and copious reverb. This gives a dreamy feel, where multiple parts blur into a expanse of rich sound, so you give up trying to analyse the harmony and submit to the introspective atmosphere. It’s emotional stuff, coaxing long lost memories from your subconsciousness, and leaving you with faith that
everything will work out in the end. It’s so creatively inspiring, the transmission of love through music leaving you a little more enlightened and tolerant at the end.”
SET-LIST: As I Lay My Head Down, Dark Horse, For 12, Tamer Animals, Dustbowl III, Landforms, Old Statues, Weather, Black Tables, The Partisan.
Shrewsbury Fields Forever: Live
LOCAL TALENT HOST SHROPSHIRE’S MOST INNOVATIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Some of Shropshire’s most talented music promoters and event organisers are behind the first ever Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival – bringing together six arenas and massive headline acts. The two-day festival, which is taking place at the 54 acre Shropshire Showground in the heart of Shrewsbury, boasting acts including headliners The Charlatans, takes place on September 17 and 18th. The line-up also includes chart toppers and world famous acts including Chase and Status, Kissy Sell Out, Krafty Kutz, Utah Saints and Fenech Soler.
New acts confirmed to play the Invasion Tent on the Saturday include dance masters Utah Saints who are known for their innovative use of technology and live performances. Utah Saints are Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt; the legendary and pioneering production team who have enjoyed major achievements over the past 15 years as recording artists and DJs. They have worked with some of the industry’s biggest bands and artists including U2, Take That, Rage Against The Machine and Iggy Pop.
And just announced for the Sunday performing in the Planet of the Breaks Tent, is the three times DMC World champion DJ Switch, festival favourite DJ Derek and renowned DJ act Krafty Kuts. During his career he has picked up numerous awards and his portfolio of work includes creating music for a Coca Cola advert, PlayStation 2 and British Director Guy Richie’s film Mean Machine. Dene Edwards, festival organiser said: “We have been overwhelmed by the quality of acts we have managed to confirm for the first ever Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival. “We are so pleased to be able to announce these new acts who are not only stalwarts of the British music industry, blazing a trail for other artists, but are constantly re-inventing what they do with innovative skills and ideas. “The line up for the festival is now near complete but we still have quite a few other announcements to make in the coming weeks so stay tuned to the website.”
During the two-day extravaganza which features optional camping and food and drink from local suppliers, some of the biggest names in British music will join local bands and DJs including, The Taste, John Harvey, Matt Wedderkopp, who all play in the county regularly. The full line up including British heavyweights and festival headliners The Charlatans, can be found at www.shrewsburyfieldsforever.com
DJ Zane Lowe has just been announced as the final act in the line-up at the first ever Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival. Zane will be headlining the main stage on the Sunday of the two-day festival, which runs from 17-18 September, at the Shropshire Showground in Shrewsbury. Zane, who was born in New Zealand and now lives in London, is most well known for presenting BBC Radio 1’s week-day evening show, where he plays a variety of alternative music, including rock, punk, drum and bass, and hip hop. He is well known within the British music industry.
Festival organiser Dene Edwards said: “Zane Lowe is an accomplished DJ and is (very) arguably one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry when it comes to music and new acts. “We are delighted that such an indomitable act such as Zane will be closing the main stage at the first Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival and are sure he will be bringing some of the ‘hottest music in the world right now’ to the event.” Joining Zane on the main stage on the Sunday are Fenech Soler, Friends Electric, WE//ARE//ANIMAL and the local Battle of Bands winners.
The biggest event of its kind to happen in the county is the brainchild of promoters Invasion, Planet of the Breaks and Subsoundz, who between them have been working in the county and beyond for decades.
Invasion’s, Dene Edwards and Mike Hubbard amongst others are responsible for first bringing huge dance acts to the county, including Boy George, Judge Jules and Dave Pearce. Being a local group of people, their inspiration for founding Invasion was the belief that a nationally recognised event could be born in Shropshire, and to prevent the hundreds of revellers migrating out of the town for a quality night out.
This was more than acknowledged when Invasion become the only brand night in Shropshire to host an Ibiza version in one of the islands superclubs EDEN. It has a long history of breaking new talent through its annual DJ competition and have helped local acts such as P.A.S and DJX2 release material.
The Planet of the Breaks team have been around almost 20 years. The outfit is the brainchild of local man Wayne ‘Sonny’ Woods who has been running dance acts in Shrewsbury since 1989. Back under his reign, Planet of the Breaks is perhaps most well known for putting on nights at the former nightspot the Buttermarket/Severn Cellars. Famous legendary acts they have brought to the town include Groove Armada, Grandmaster Flash, Mr Scruff, Grooverider and Chase and Status – who will also be at Shrewsbury Fields Forever and were given one of their first DJ gigs by Planet of the Breaks. POTB went on to run events in Birmingham, Leicester, Stoke, Liverpool, The Isle of Man, and Chester.
Subsoundz, are the final group to be behind the festival hail from South Shropshire, and have quickly established themselves as a quality promotional outfit, with front man Bryn Symmonds regularly being invited to many of the top DnB events home and abroad as a guest act. All the biggest names within UK music’s most popular genre have been attracted to Shropshire through their careful management such as Pendulum, High Contrast and DJ Hype. Other young, new promotional outfits, such as Pulse are being taken under the wing of the main three to pass on the skills of the industry to a new generation.
Anyone Who Cares: Hermes
HERMES: Double A side Anyone Who Cares/ More Love In Death
West country pop punk purveyors hermes released their second single double A Side Anyone Who Cares/ More Love In Death this Spring. Unbelievably accomplished for a young band, it’s easy to see why the US have started to fall for their charms…
Chicago’s JBTV founder Jerry Bryant heard about the band and absolutely loved them. He has become a cult figure on American TV introducing bands like Arcade Fire, Hot Hot Heat and The Gaslight Anthem to the American public.
Anyone Who Cares is utterly infectious. It show’s a more mature and poignant side to the band. It is an intense song about feeling alienated by the ones you love, the insecure sign of coming of age.
On the flip side More Love In Death show’s the more carefree aspect of growing up. It’s an uplifting tale of trying out new things, rejecting the dull and welcoming something exciting.
The band played their first London show supporting Egyptian Hip Hop at Koko in October and are due to come back for some more shows this spring. hermes are teenagers Thomas Jacob, James Dolman and Greg Davies, three friends from Cirencester. They got together to form hermes in 2009 have spent the last year writing, recording demos and refining their sound in any space available, be it their bedrooms, kitchens or the garage.
** Shake Says: After coming accross these guys by chance via Sat Bisla out of los Angeles we just had to get something out there to the world and play them on air, one of the most exciting young bands we have heard this year… Jjx
An album is due to be released later this year so watch this space…
Cuba Cuba: Welsh & Hot!
Where Else Is Safe But The Road?
Cuba Cuba are: Morgan Isaac – Vocals, Guitar, Keys Danny Owen – Keys, Guitar, Vocals Sion Fenwick – Guitar, Vocals Mike McCabe – Bass, Vocals Lewys Isaac – Drums, Vocals
Cardiff, Wales. After a summer in the studio Cuba Cuba return with their debut album ‘Where Else Is Safe But The Road?’. Produced by Todd Campbell (Straight Lines and Tiger Please) and mixed by Tristan Ivemy (Frank Turner and The Holloways), the album captures the band’s blend of angular pop rock.
A reverberant collection of songs inspired by the adventures of life, ‘Where Else Is Safe But The Road?’ explores the balance between fact and fiction. The album’s title is no coincidence, emphasising an underlying theme present throughout the record – the road, be it actual or metaphorical is safe, guarded. Straying off that road… well, who knows where you might end up.
Opening song, Building Blocks, is an intense passage into the intrinsic tracks that the album has to offer. 50 A Night demonstrates the softer pop/rock fusion that the band so readily propagate and We Rode is a stadium anthem. Closing track Away Part 2 is an ode to the past and the roads travelled, with a haunting resonance and a guest vocal appearance from Tiger Please front man, Leon Stanford.
Vocalist Morgan Isaac says of the album, “It begins with songs relating to home and our childhoods. It’s an examination of our dreams and how they panned out as we grew, as both individuals and as band. It’s personal, but it’s about life. Something everyone can relate to.”
Tracklisting : 1. Building Blocks 2. Outlines 3. 50 a Night 4. Golden Grounds 5. We Rode 6. Hong Kong 7. Home is The Fire 8. Away (pt 1) 9. Pride Rock 10. Depth 11. Away (pt 2) (feat. Leon Stanford of Tiger Please)
Cuba Cuba have been featured on Radio 1, Radio 6, BBC Wales, XFM and Nation Radio. They have also shared the stage with acts such as Friendly Fires, The Airbourne Toxic Event, The Joy Formidable, Funeral For A Friend, Attack Attack, General Fiasco and more.
www.myspace.com/cubacubaofficial
* Shake Says: This album is one of very few that you actually press play, don’t skip a track and when it ends, simply press play again. In the modern age that’s such a rare treat. Sure, you can compare them to other acts but that would be too simplistic, suffice to say that this album will be in my top 10 of 2011 for sure. Jj
Press Quotes
‘Yet another quality export from the vibrant valleys!’ – Kerrang! Magazine
‘The breathless energy and enthusiasm that seeps from this record carries them’ - 7/10 Rock Sound Magazine
‘Cuba Cuba’s catchy tunes will be around to enjoy for a long while’ - 4/5 Big Cheese Magazine
‘Their brand of angular pop will please fans of both Bloc Party and fellow Cardiff outfit Los Campesinos. If they continue to build on their promising beginnings, Cuba Cuba stand every chance of being the latest South Wales export.’ - Xtaster
‘The future’s certainly bright for Cuba Cuba so mark these boys down as ones to watch’ - 3.5/5 Punktastic.com
‘So good they named them twice!’ - RockMidgets.com
‘This is pop rock at its best, take note world, Cuba Cuba are going places fast’ - 13/13 roomthirteen.com
‘5 Beautiful, Talented, Sophisticated and Special young gentlemen making music since August 2007 - What We Think Of Ourselves Magazine
‘Cuba Cuba….Sit up and take note’ - The Recommender, No.28
‘They are definetly an act to champion’ - Soundscape Magazine
‘Cuba Cuba are on the road to bigger and brighter things’ - Punktastic.com
PJ20: Pearl Jam’s 20 Great Years
Pearl Jam’s cover of Mother Love Bone’s “Crown Of Thorns”, is the first track to be released from the upcoming Pearl Jam Twenty soundtrack and was recorded live at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 22nd October 2000. The soundtrack will be released on September 19th.
Released digitally on August 16th ‘Crown of Thorns’ is Pearl Jam’s touching and fitting tribute to the beginnings of the Seattle music scene they came from. Written by Andrew Woods, whose untimely death had a profound effect on the three members of Mother Love Bone who then went on to form Pearl Jam, it is beyond a doubt the most appropriate cover the band could have chosen to lead the soundtrack of Cameron Crowe’s iconic piece of film making.
Pearl Jam Twenty chronicles the years leading up to the band’s formation, the chaos that ensued soon-after their rise to megastardom, their step back from center stage, and the creation of a trusted circle that would surround them—giving way to a work culture that would sustain them. Told in big themes and bold colors with blistering sound, the film is carved from over 1,200 hours of rarely-seen and never-before seen footage spanning the band’s career. Pearl Jam Twenty is the definitive portrait of Pearl Jam: part concert film, part intimate insider-hang, part testimonial to the power of music and uncompromising artists.
About the Filmmaker: CAMERON CROWE, Director, Writer, Producer
At Age 13 Cameron Crowe began his professional life as a music critic, writing for magazines such as Creem and Crawdaddy, and at 15, became a staff writer for Rolling Stone. In 1979, Crowe (then 22) went undercover as a Southern California high schooler for his book, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He then wrote the screenplay for the film upon which it was based. In 1989, Crowe made his feature film directorial debut with Say Anything…. His other films include Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, Elizabethtown and Almost Famous, which earned him an Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay. His newest narrative film, We Bought A Zoo, starring Matt Damon, will be released in December 2011.
In celebration of their 20th Anniversary, Pearl Jam will debut Pearl Jam Twenty, a definitive portrait of the band as told by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and music journalist, Cameron Crowe, at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday September 10, 2011. Information on purchasing tickets, dates and times for the world premiere of Pearl Jam Twenty at the Toronto International Film festival, as well as two additional festival screenings of the film can be found at www.tiff.net
Pearl Jam is set to release the documentary Pearl Jam Twenty worldwide on September 20th in select theaters for one night only, with a full week run of the film beginning Friday, September 23rd in key markets. The film will be shown at the highest caliber of theaters in select cities in the U.S. and internationally. For the latest update of theaters and cities showing Pearl Jam Twenty, visit www.PJ20.com
In keeping with this unique theatrical release in select cities and theaters in September, Pearl Jam Twenty will then roll out in an accelerated fashion with the film’s U.S. television premiere Friday, October 21st at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), as part of the prestigious PBS “American Masters” series, airing during the first-ever PBS Arts Fall Festival. Following, the DVD of the film will be released worldwide by Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment October 25, 2011. Pearl Jam Twenty will also be available on Movies On Demand timed to the theatrical release. The Pearl Jam Twenty soundtrack, released by Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment, is currently available for pre-order at www.PJ20.com for its release date of September 20, 2011. Comprised of a selected track listing by Cameron Crowe—the album is a true companion piece to the film.
In addition, as part of their year-long celebration, Pearl Jam is releasing a Pearl Jam Twenty book on September 13, 2011. Published by Simon & Schuster in the U.S. and in Canada, and Atlantic Books in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, the Pearl Jam Twenty book is an aesthetically stunning chronicle of the band’s past two decades. Compiled and written by veteran music writer Jonathan Cohen with Mark Wilkerson, the book includes a foreword by Cameron Crowe (and material from all his own band interviews) as well as original interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and Dave Grohl. The book is also available for pre-order now at www.PJ20.com
The film, Pearl Jam Twenty, is told in big themes and bold colors with blistering sound, and chronicles the years leading up to the band’s formation, the chaos that ensued soon-after being catapulted into superstardom, their step back from the spotlight with the instinct of self-preservation, and the creation of a trusted circle that would surround them - giving way to a work culture that would sustain them. The film celebrates the freedom that allows the band to make music without losing themselves, their fans, or the music lovers they’d always been. “We put so much into the film – moments, pieces of footage shot by band members, audio snippets, visual bursts, new and old interviews – many different formats, all meant to present an emotional scrapbook of what it felt like to be a member of the band on this twenty-year journey,” said Cameron Crowe. “The richness of the footage made our path very clear – just tell the story of the band and let the music guide us. It was a joy to make this film, and we’re thrilled share it with the fans.”
The documentary gives fans and audiences an intimate first glimpse into Pearl Jam’s journey culled from more than 1,200 hours of rarely and never-before-seen footage, over 24 hours of recent interviews with the band, as well as live footage of their spellbinding concert performances. Pearl Jam Twenty is a Vinyl Films production in association with Monkeywrench Inc. and Tremolo Productions. The film was produced by Cameron Crowe, Kelly Curtis, Morgan Neville, and Andy Fischer.
The Raghu Dixit Project Live
Band On The Wall, Manchester. 9 August 2011.
Raghu Dixit’s first UK album release proved to be a joyous, exuberant celebration which I’ve enjoyed immensely since receiving it a few months ago. So, naturally, I had to see the man perform live and where better that one of my favourite Manchester haunts, The Band On The Wall situated in the Northern Quarter of the city. As I approached the city centre the ominous sight and sound of a hovering helicopter was worrying, especially since it seemed to be stationery, like a preying bird, over the part of the city I was heading for.
As I approached the venue sirens were wailing and I sensed tension in the air, and even wondered whether I should turn back - visions of overturned and burning cars flashed across my mind. Hell, fuck ‘em, I thought, parked the car and aimed for the venue just a few metres away. The front of the venue was shuttered and a side door opened for people attending the gig. Venue staff stationed outside was not comforting but they seemed to be in good spirits and offered up their usual warm welcome.
First up was Seamus Mcloughlin, a Preston based singer/songwriter who I had never heard of before. I was impressed… He had a powerful voice with wide vocal range and sang songs with real passion and meaning. He also is sensitive to melody and his short set was bursting with songs that immediately made an impression. He explained that he was a last-minute replacement and observed “why would you burn TK Max?”, lifting his hood as he spoke almost hiding his weather-worn face. It was a good set and strong enough for me to make a mental note to make contact.
Now usually there’s a thirty-minute drinking break to allow venues to make some money as well as setting up the stage. But within minutes of Seamus clearing his equipment a member of venue staff walked up to the mic. He announced that the performance was cancelled due to a strong recommendation from the police. He also advised the half-full auditorium that train, bus and tram services had been suspended, but staff would be on hand to assist with travel arrangements and liaise with car owners who may be able to provide lifts.
But then he said to loud cheers that Dixit would perform one song… And with that Dixit and his band arrived on stage traditionally dressed in the brightest colours and promising to ‘make the song last…’. The song chosen was the uplifting and intensely optimistic ‘Mysore Se Ayi’ performed like it was the last song of the set and not the first. This guy has already garnered much acclaim for his live performances but to witness him and his band ‘in the flesh’ was an inspiring experience. Dixit’s voice has that Indian ethnic sound and is delivered with such power and expression… One song was all that was necessary to confirm that Raghu Dixit is one special performer who can make an audience spark into life.
I was pleased I had ventured out but now it was my journey home through the city centre that worried me just a bit. Sure enough as I approached Piccadilly Square the police presence was tangible and crowds were watching whatever action was taking place. As I headed towards the G-Mex centre I could see smashed windows and even a pulverised pub front door frame. A newsagent shop had been totally emptied - it wa sickening. But in a country of extreme inequalities, I was not surprised.
“Really sad to have to cancel the gig today, but we managed to squeeze one song in. Apologies to everyone who came out to watch us, please drive home safe and leave us a message that you did. We’ll make it up to you soon, keep watching this space. Lets also hope things settle down in Manchester tonight and better sense prevails!” - Raghu Dixit
Some Punters:
” Enjoyed your one song and very glad I decided to come up for the gig - as I have just said on my own status, I refuse to stop living my life just because of idiots. Hopefully will get to see you again somewhere in the near future. Thank you so much to a really nice guy called Chas who went miles out of his way home to give me a lift back to my car.”
” The one song we heard tonight was amazing, and out of the mess on the streets came an act of kindness, a man gave me and my wife a lift home 30 miles to Preston. Hope to see you soon, it was great to see you”
Pink Floyd: Why? Re-Issues
EMI is to embark on a massive Pink Floyd re-issue campaign under the banner of “Why Pink Floyd..?” four months after agreeing a new deal for the band’s catalogue.
The campaign, which is similar to EMI’s handling of The Beatles’ catalogue, will include unreleased music, collectors’ boxed sets, the complete studio recordings remastered and a new single album best-of. It will be across a variety of formats, from CD to iPhone Apps and is intended to appeal to everyone from devoted followers to potential new fans. Extras include alternate takes, the first unreleased tracks in a decade, restored concert films and a live recording of The Dark Side Of The Moon at Wembley in 1974.
EMI Group CEO Roger Faxon called the deal “a unique collaboration between EMI and one of the most creative and influential bands in history”.“We have worked together for more than a year on this programme which incorporates all the elements that have made Pink Floyd one of the most inspiring forces in modern music,” he added.
The remastered CDs will come in Discovery editions, Immersion boxed sets incorporating CD, DVD and Blu-ray and Experience editions, which combine an album with a further disc of related content.
The campaign is staggered, with September 26 seeing the re-release of The Dark Side Of The Moon in a six disc Immersion boxed set and two-disc Experience set, as well as a collectors’ vinyl LP and various digital formats. On the same date, 14 remastered studio albums will be released, available separately or as a boxed set.
Phase two, which kicks off on November 7, will include the release of a five-disc Immersion edition and two-disc Experience set of Wish You Were Here, both of which include bonus material from the band’s 1974 Wembley dates November 7 will also see the release of A Foot In The Door - The Best Of Pink Floyd, the band’s first single CD best of since the CD format launched. A 5.1 SACD version of Wish You Were Here, mixed by James Guthrie, will be released on the same day by indie label Acoustic Sounds.
Finally, February 27 2012 will see the release of Immersion and Experience sets, vinyl LP and digital editions of The Wall. The Immersion edition will comprise seven CDs and the Experience three. Pink Floyd’s official website, www.pinkfloyd.com re-launches today, while a digital campaign around the re-issues will include user-generated content and iPhone Apps.
Storm Thorgerson, the band’s long-time art director, has overseen the visual design of the new campaign, including new booklets for all the CDs, new artwork for the boxed sets and menus for the DVD content. In January, EMI announced it had agreed a new, five-year global partnership with Pink Floyd for the band’s catalogue, in a deal that ended all legal disputes between the band and the company, putting an end to court battles over royalty payments and online sales.
EMI president of UK and Ireland Andria Vidler told Music Week at the time that major would be looking to repeat its success with The Beatles’ catalogue. “If you were to look at what we achieved with The Beatles it would be fair to speculate that we are looking to achieve similar results with Pink Floyd,” she said. “The reaction to The Beatles shows that we can reach both existing and new fans through new products and new releases and we are confident that is part of what Pink Floyd want.”
The New Regime Story!
The New Regime SPEAK THROUGH THE WHITE NOISE
The New Regime is Ilan Rubin (born in 1988), an American musician, best known for being former drummer of Lostprophets and drummer of industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails during their last tour.
THE NEW REGIME
Ilan’s first solo album, under the pseudonym ‘The New Regime’ and called Coup, was recorded throughout 2007 and 2008 and released in November 2008. While touring with Nine Inch Nails and following the conclusion of the “Wave Goodbye Tour Ilan had been working on his second album, ‘Speak Through The White Noise’ The release date of this album has been confirmed as April 1st, 2011. Prior to this, Ilan released a free single titled ‘Remission Of Guilt’ through his website. It has been confirmed that this track will not be on the new album.
SPEAK THROUGH THE WHITE NOISE
With Speak Through the White Noise, Rubin reaches the critical mass he has been moving toward the majority of his life.
While there is the obvious and impressive technical prowess evidenced by Rubin throughout Speak Through the White Noise, there is also a deeper current of noise, a buried transmission that broadcasts through the static, the Greek chorus unmasking a time and a place. “The album is a social commentary on the way the media, entertainment industry, and people in general instill fear and paranoia by exaggerating news and events either for the sake of an agenda or their own entertainment. The album title is a way of counter-broadcasting these themes in the form of an expansive and dynamic album,” Rubin says of his sophomore album, which he wrote, played, sang all parts, and recorded with his brother and manager Aaron Rubin.
Rubin’s journey to Speak Through the White Noise belies his years. Only 22 years old, Rubin has been involved in the music industry for most of his life, picking up the drums at 8, and in quick succession mastering the guitar, bass and piano. Armed with a veritable musical arsenal, Rubin was content to cut his teeth playing drums in numerous outfits, including stints drumming for Welsh rock act Lostprophets and industrial rock pioneers Nine Inch Nails, which he credits working with a musician, Trent Reznor, whose precision and discipline complemented his own. “When I joined the band, I finally felt like, ‘Yes, this is the kind of organization I want to be a part of.’ A lot of work, and a lot of making everything perfect,” Rubin says of the experience.
New York Doll: NY ink
New York Doll: Sex Trash by Stephanie Paterek
When word hit INKED’s office that there was going to be a NY Ink, speculation on who the tattooers would be chewed up the rest of the working day. Someone would rattle off the name of an artist and that would be answered with something like, “He would be a perfect wise elder,” “She’s a great artist but too shy for the camera,” or “No way would he pass the background check.” We each had our perfect cast in mind, with every reality-TV casting category filled (the foil, the villain, the edgy one, etc.). And while many of our prospective imdb.com pages for the show looked completely different, one thing many of us agreed on was who should be the talented pretty girl. Megan Massacre is the only person honored with an artist profile in INKED and also shot for sexy sister publication Inked Girls.
Ink had interviewed the Pennsylvanian for her artist profile and really appreciated her talent, and visited Wooster Street Social Club, the SoHo shop where she works and stars in NY Ink, to have her tattoo me. I’m working on an amalgam of childhood memories on my right side to commemorate the things that have shaped and inspired me. The next piece I had in mind was script from Alice in Wonderland that would read, “Do you suppose she’s a wildflower?” Megan’s the perfect person to tattoo it—she’s a sweet young lady whom I suppose would inspire many people to utter that same question.
As she set to work on the tattoo, Megan explained that coming to Wooster Street and being filmed makes her feel as if she is indeed in Wonderland. “This is my first experience with anything like this—being followed around with cameras everywhere I go,” she says. “But I believe this experience has actually helped me grow not only as an artist but also as a person. It’s not every day you get an opportunity to work in an amazing new shop in New York City with some of the top-notch artists in the industry. I feel truly very lucky.”
Massacre has always been on a trajectory toward being a world-famous tattooist. “My mom has drawings I’ve done all the way back from when I was 2 years old, and even has pictures of me as a child using markers to draw fake tattoos all over her,” she says. Along her path, she’s also honed in on a style. “I would describe my personal drawing as whimsical, with a cute yet sometimes creepy feel,” she says. “Although the colors are very bright, the imagery is usually more on the darker or gothic side.”
Bright colors with an undertone of darkness seems the antithesis of her look, a porcelain doll with jet-black hair and eyes, body language, and facial expressions that convey warmth, not creepiness. “I look at modeling as another form of art,” she explains. “Some artist friends have told me that I should give up modeling so that my work … would be taken more seriously. But the thought that I would have to hide my face in order for my work to be taken seriously is ridiculous.”
In fact, her tattoos would have captured my attention even if someone told me a toothless meth addict had crafted them. But Megan can’t help who she is: a beautiful, strong female artist—which does have its benefits. “An advantage in being a female is that it makes you unique because there are so few of us,” she says. “It helps you stand out in the sea of all the amazing artists that populate the tattooing industry today.” The only con of being the sole female tattooist at Wooster Street is “having to always put the toilet seat down.” As she finished up my piece, Massacre reflected on her gender and her journey thus far: “In the end I don’t want to be known as a great female artist—I want to be known as a great artist.”
^* Original Piece from inked Magazine: http://www.inkedmag.com/
PIAS & AIM Indie Label Aid Fund
Sony warehouse torched in London riots; Beggars, 4AD, Rough Trade and many other indie labels’ stocks destroyed.
Pias Entertainment Group (formerly Vital) distributes a huge list of independent companies’ releases. They announced interim plans for its physical product distribution clients. [PIAS] held stock for over 150 independent labels. It was confirmed that the building and all of its contents had been destroyed in the fire. In a statement [PIAS] announced that temporary plans to keep what stock was still available in the distribution chain were already in motion. The company said: “Sony DADC have actioned their Business Continuity Plan and are back up and running from a new control room in Enfield. [PIAS] continue to work with them to minimise the impact on the business, a number one priority for all labels and clients. Sony DADC have identified a temporary distribution partner and it is envisaged that they will be in a position to pick, pack and ship orders in the course of next week.”
Martin Mills told Music Week that it would take Beggars ten days to replenish its CD stock and three months to completely replace lost vinyl, and the company expected to recoup losses through insurance. However, he added that the main issue for all affected labels (especially those which may struggle to replenish stock as quickly) was what happens “while they don’t have anything to sell.” Beggars Group alone lost 750,000 CDs.
Sunday Best owner Rob Da Bank told the NME: “Nothing’s going to be sold for months, and I don’t know what will happen. There’s no way of distributing records. My back catalogues are all gone. I can’t afford to get another run done for older releases. Everyone’s going to have to think about the next few months. It’s a reminder of how on a knife edge these things are - some labels and shops are going to be really affected by it. It just shows how precarious the indie thing is.”
It’s also not clear at this stage if all labels are covered by insurance, and what sort of payout they would get if they are. Writer and musician Fion Chadd has also begun organising a fundraising event for affected labels, here: www.cognitivedissonancerecords.com/labellove
The ongoing rioting in London struck a potentially devastating blow to the U.K.’s independent record labels when a 200,000-square-foot Sony DADC warehouse went up in flames, destroying countless records and CDs distributed by the PIAS Group on behalf of scores of indie labels including such famed imprints as Beggars Banquet, 4AD, Mute and Rough Trade. Those larger independent labels won’t be as badly hurt, Beggars Group chairman Martin Mills tells Music Week, because they keep stock at other locations around Europe. But dozens of smaller labels may have had their entire physical inventory wiped out in the blaze, which resulted in no injuries.
Industry analyst Paul Scaife told The Guardian that the Sony fire could crush smaller labels: “Physical retail is still absolutely crucial to many in the independent sector and if — as seems quite likely — several smaller labels aren’t covered by insurers, this could be the difference between survival and going out of business.” Reissue imprint Beggars Archive this morning posted on its blog that “all our U.K. stock is gone,” but that the label is “remanufacturing as rapidly as possible” and moving stock from Europe to cover. The label says the fire will impact catalog availability, “but fortunately the This Mortal Coil boxes and Throwing Muses sets are still in transit, so we haven’t lost those.”
The Association of Independent Music’s chief executive Alison Wenham said: “We released an emergency bulletin. It’s terrible news, obviously it appears to be have burned to the ground. There’s nothing left. We’re a strong community though; other independent distributors are rallying round to help. Labels who have stock can be distributed, and other labels whose stock has gone may be able to access the distributors once a clearer picture has emerged.”
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DPK: Digital Press Kit |
Shakenstir Photo Supplement |
Bellowhead 2010 |
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