Nominations announced for YouTube Music Awards

They have just announced the official nominations for the YouTube Music Awards. Here is the official media release...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2013 at 8:00 P.M. PT

Nominations Announced for the YouTube Music Awards,

Voting Opens for Fans Around the World

Avicii, M.I.A, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator, and Walk Off the Earth added to previously

announced performances from Eminem, Lady Gaga and Arcade Fire

(San Bruno, CA, October 21, 2013): YouTube today announced nominations for the first-ever YouTube Music Awards, a global event culminating in a live show from New York City on Sunday, November 3. Six categories, including Video, Artist, and YouTube Phenomenon of the Year, are now open for voting to fans around the world.

The lineup of top performers at the YouTube Music Awards continues to grow. Avicii, M.I.A., Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator, and Walk Off the Earth join previously announced acts Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Arcade Fire for the live show, with YouTube sensations Lindsey Stirling and CDZA also on tap to perform. Actor and musician Jason Schwartzman is joined by comedian and musician Reggie Watts to host this live event presented in partnership with Kia Motors Corporation. Music video visionary Spike Jonze is creative director, with executive producers VICE Media and Sunset Lane Entertainment. Nominations for the YouTube Music Awards are based on YouTube data over the last 12 months from September 2012, with nominees representing the artists and videos with the highest levels of YouTube fan engagement, including views, likes, shares, comments, and subscriptions.

Fans can now vote to determine the winners of each nomination category by visiting youtube.com/musicawards or searching “YTMA” on YouTube, and sharing the official YouTube Music Awards nomination videos across Google+, Twitter and Facebook.

The six nomination categories and nominees for this year’s YouTube Music Awards are:

·         Video of the Year: Honoring the world’s most loved music videos, these nominees represent the videos with the most fan engagement on YouTube over the last year.

Ø  Epic Rap Battles Of History - Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney

Ø  Demi Lovato - Heart Attack

Ø  Girls' Generation - I Got A Boy

Ø  Justin Bieber (feat. Nicki Minaj) - Beauty And A Beat

Ø  Lady Gaga - Applause

Ø  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Mary Lambert) - Same Love

Ø  Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

Ø  One Direction - Best Song Ever

Ø  PSY - Gentleman

Ø  Selena Gomez - Come & Get It

·         Artist of the Year: Honoring YouTube’s most loved acts, nominees represent the most watched, shared, liked, and subscribed to artists over the last year.

Ø  Eminem

Ø  Epic Rap Battles of History

Ø  Justin Bieber

Ø  Katy Perry

Ø  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Ø  Nicki Minaj

Ø  One Direction

Ø  PSY

Ø  Rihanna

Ø  Taylor Swift

·         Response of the Year: Honoring the best fan remix, parody or response video, these nominees represent the top “unofficial” fan videos on YouTube based on the videos fans watched, shared or liked.

Ø  Boyce Avenue (feat. Fifth Harmony) - Mirrors

Ø  Jayesslee - Gangnam Style

Ø  Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix - Radioactive

Ø  ThePianoGuys - Titanium / Pavane

Ø  Walk Off the Earth (feat. KRNFX) - I Knew You Were Trouble

·         YouTube Phenomenon: Recognizing the YouTube trends that the world could not get enough of, nominees are based on the songs that generated the most fan videos.

Ø  Diamonds

Ø  Gangnam Style

Ø  Harlem Shake

Ø  I Knew You Were Trouble

Ø  Thrift Shop

·         YouTube Breakthrough: Honoring music’s breakout new acts, nominees represent the artists who experienced the biggest growth in views and subscribers over the last year.

Ø  Kendrick Lamar

Ø  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Ø  Naughty Boy

Ø  Passenger

Ø  Rudimental

·         Innovation of the Year: Starting with videos selected by an international panel of musicians, YouTubers and creative luminaries, we then selected the creative video innovations that resonated most with fans on YouTube, based on views, likes, shares and comments.

Ø  Anamanaguchi - ENDLESS FANTASY

Ø  Atoms For Peace - Ingenue

Ø  Bat For Lashes - Lilies

Ø  DeStorm - See Me Standing

Ø  Toro Y Moi "Say That"

In the run up to the YouTube Music Awards, five music events will be streamed from around the world on YouTube, culminating in the live awards celebration at Pier 36 in New York City. The shows from Seoul, Tokyo, Moscow, London and Rio will kick off at 5am ET on November 3rd, and fans can tune in at youtube.com/musicawards.

Sights and Sounds: Atoms for Peace, Def Leppard, Stagecoach Festival, 'Battle of the Blues Harps'

I'm still weary, having made the long trek up to Los Angeles last night to catch Atoms for Peace at the Hollywood Bowl. My short review: fantastic performance (Thom Yorke and Flea led the genre-busting electronica rock quintet), lousy crowd. We had the chatterbox hipsters seated behind us, so we moved to some empty seats elsewhere in our row. Still could hear them. Not nice.

Now on with more positive news...

VIVA! HYSTERIA LIVE DOUBLE ALBUM AND DVD OUT OCTOBER 22^nd ON FRONTIERS RECORDS

Limited Edition of VIVA! Hysteria Sold Exclusively Via Best Buy 

Def Leppard’s anticipated live double album and DVD - VIVA! Hysteria - will be released on October 22, 2013 in North America on Frontiers Records.  In addition to the previously announced 2CD/DVD, DVD, Blu-Ray digital editions, the band has recently revealed that a limited edition of VIVA! Hysteria will be available via Best Buy that  includes the live double album and concert on Blu-Ray. Fans wishing to pre-order this edition can do so at www.bestbuy.com.

The VIVA! Hysteria concert was filmed over two nights during the band's Spring 2013 residency at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas’ intimate music venue – The Joint. The concert features the band performing their classic, 12x platinum album Hysteria in its entirety, plus many of the band's greatest hits.

Earlier this month, the concert was shown in theaters nationwide courtesy of Fathom Events. Thousands of fans experienced the concert as special theatrical event, taking them on nostalgic ride of the band’s high energy performance and showcasing their elaborate set design created only for the Las Vegas residency.  Guitarist Phil Collen told the Associated Press, "It was fun, actually, and a totally different way of doing it." He continues to say, "It was a different dynamic doing the album in full, and it was much more theatrical."

PRESS HERE to read the exclusive story and watch the trailer for Viva! Hysteria concert on Billboard.com 

Fans can pre-order VIVA! Hysteria now by visiting www.defleppard.com, amazon.com, iTunes and as previously mentioned www.bestbuy.com

Praise for VIVA! Hysteria concert:

“Def Leppard were one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, dominating radio with their polished arena-rock. But as they demonstrated earlier this year with their Viva Hysteria! concert series (at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas), the band's diehard fans remain loyal and rabid.” – RollingStone.com

“I appreciate how tightly and powerfully it's played, and also the interesting echoes of Queen.” – The Guardian

Def Leppard brought Hysteria cuts like “Animal,” “Love Bites,” and “Run Riot” to life again with precision and a sonic clarity that would make the album’s producer (and infamous studio perfectionist) Robert “Mutt” Lange gleam with pride.  - Noisecreep

The full track listing for Viva! Hysteria: 
Cd1

“Women;” “Rocket;” “Animal;” “Love Bites;” “Pour Some Sugar on Me;” “Armageddon It;” “Gods of War;” “Don't Shoot Shotgun;” “Run Riot;” “Hysteria;” “Excitable;” “Love and Affection;” “Rock of Ages*;” “Photograph*.”

*extra non Hysteria tracks

Cd2

Ded Flatbird - night 1

“Good Morning Freedom;” “Wasted;” “Stagefright;” “Mirror Mirror (Look Into My Eyes);” “Action Not Words;” “Rock Brigade;” “Undefeated;” “Promises

Ded Flatbird - night 2;” “On Through The Night;” “Slang;” “Let It Go;” “Another Hit And Run;” “High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night);” “Bringin' On The Heartbreak;” “Switch 625.”

The VD tracklisting is as above but also includes bonus content of the acoustic medley: “Where does love go when it dies”/”Now”/”When Love & Hate Collide”/”Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad”/”Two Steps Behind.”

DVD / Blu Ray menu

- Viva Hysteria

- Ded Flatbird Night 1

- Ded Flatbird Night 2

- Acoustic Set

- Photo Montage

Stagecoach Fest tickets update

Just an important reminder that Stagecoach Festival tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Friday, Oct. 18 (that's tomorrow!). The annual event to be held Friday - Sunday, April 25-27, 2014, will feature Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Shelby Lynne, John Prine, Michael Nesmith, Susanna Hoffs, Trampled by Turtles, Loretta Lynn, I See Hawks in L.A. and so many other country music/Americana artists. Visit the official Stagecoach Festival Web site for artist and ticket information. You can also view a much larger version of the poster seen here on the right!

Top Four Blues Harmonica Bands Compete in Finals this Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013

On Saturday, Oct. 19 four blues harmonica based bands will vie for cash awards and the opportunity to perform as the opening act at Southland Blues Magazine’s 26th Annual Battle of the Blues Harps, Southern California’s longest running blues harmonica event held on Thanksgiving Eve at Golden Sails Hotel in Long Beach. Top name bands such as Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, White Boy James and the Blues Express and the 44’s are slated for the Nov. 27 show.

The competing bands are first place winners from four Saturday qualifying rounds which kicked off Sat. Sept. 21 as part of the 4th Annual Road to the Battle of the Blues Harps held at the Orange County Market Place, the weekend swap meet at the O.C. Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.

Twelve bands were selected from electronic auditions to perform, with three bands competing each Saturday.  First place winners from each qualifying round return for the finals.  The first place winner receives $1,000 cash in addition to opening at the Thanksgiving Eve event.  Second place winner receives $750, third place, $500 and fourth place, $250.

Three of the top four bands landed in the finals last year.

San Diego based Red Lotus Revue, the Sept. 21 winner and third place last year, performs at noon and features Karl Cabbage on harmonica.Cabbage is known for playing with West of Memphis (SDMA nominated Best Blues Band in 2009), and the Smokin’ Knights, voted by Blues Lovers United of San Diego to represent their organization in the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. 

H. T. Richmond and The Southland Jukes, a contemporary blues band with Tom Richmond on harp and vocals, the Sept. 28 winners, will follow at 1 p.m. The band placed fourth in last year’s finals.

Chef Denis aka Denis Depoitre, an executive chef at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena who is as comfortable in the kitchen as he is on harmonica placed second last year.   This year he won the third round of competition on October 12 and will be on stage at 2 p.m.

New to the contest is Catfish and the Hollywood Hound Dogs, the fourth round winner on October 12, performs at 3 p.m.  But Gilbert Mares, the band’s harmonica player, is not new to the harp. His band formed in 2009 and recently released a new CD Rite On! Right Now!

Judging is based on harmonica artistry and proficiency, lead vocals, band musicianship, showmanship, song selections and audience response.

“We had a very strong lineup of bands this year. Competition is tough but it isn’t just about that.  This contest is really more of a coming together of the blues community. It’s also a way of keeping the blues alive and well while exposing it to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to see this kind of talent in one setting, “said Mark Liddell, coordinator for the Road to the Battle of the Blues Harps.

Other harp players and bands participating this year included Dan Forte’s Juke Joint Freak Show, Slick & The BBQ Kings, The Silver Kings, Satin Blue, The Juke Joint Preachers, Jon Garner & The Humor Kings, and 60 Grit Blues Band.

Last year’s winner was Jumpin’ Jack Benny.   

The Saturday Oct. 19 finals are free with swap meet admission which is $2 or free for children 12 and under. Free parking is available and preferred parking is $5.

More information may be found at www.ocmarketplace.com or by calling 949-723-6616.  For details on the Battle of the Blues Harp Thanksgiving Eve event visit www.southlandblues.com/harpbattle.htm or call 714-423-5525.

Inbox Update: Nine Inch Nails, Amos Lee, Atoms For Peace

Lots and lots of news to report. Here are some of the most high-profile music media releases worth featuring...

NINE INCH NAILS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, NEW SINGLE   AND NORTH AMERICAN ARENA TOUR  Hesitation Marks Set For September 3 Release, Available For Pre-order On iTunes Now   New Single "Came Back Haunted" Available Thursday, June 6 On iTunes   Tickets For Fall Tour Go On Sale Beginning Friday, June 14

On September 3, 2013, Columbia Records will release Hesitation Marks, the new full-length album from Nine Inch Nails. Recorded in secret over the last year, Trent Reznor teamed with producers Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder to create the first new music from Nine Inch Nails in five years.   Lead single "Came Back Haunted" is available Thursday, June 6 on iTunes (iTunes.com/NineInchNails). In addition, fans who pre-order Hesitation Marks on iTunes will instantly receive a download of "Came Back Haunted." The album can also be pre-ordered at www.nin.com, where the singleis streaming now.   Today plans were also unveiled for "Nine Inch Nails: Tension 2013" - afall 2013 North American arena tour.  Reznor says, "Tension picks up where Lights in the Sky left off.  This is the full-on NIN live experience realized as we never could before." The run will launch on September 28 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN and include shows at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY (October 14) and Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA (November 8).   Tickets for the arena outing will go on sale to the public beginning Friday, June 14, at www.livenation.com. See below for itinerary and specific on sale dates. Fans who register at www.nin.com will receive exclusive first access to tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

AMOS LEE'S MOUNTAINS OF SORROW, RIVERS OF SONG SET FOR OCTOBER 1 RELEASE BY BLUE NOTE RECORDS PRODUCED BY JAY JOYCE, ALBUM INCLUDES SPECIAL GUESTS ALISON KRAUSS AND PATTY GRIFFIN AND FOLLOWS 2011's CHART-TOPPINGMISSION BELL Amos Lee                   Photo credit: Harper Smith

Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song, Amos Lee's fifth studio album, will be released on October 1 by Blue Note Records. See below for track listing. Lee recorded the 12-song collection in Nashville with Jay Joyce (Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Eric Church, Cage the Elephant). "I've always enjoyed it down there, so I thought I'd bring my band and see how a bunch of Philly guys fit in," says Lee. "Jay brings a musicality, a different kind of ear. He definitely hears things in ways that I don't, and brings out extra dimensions in the songs." Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song is the follow-up to 2011's Mission Bell, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Rock Albums charts and contained the No. 1 Triple A radio hit "Windows Are Rolled Down." The new studio record is the first to feature Lee's longtime touring band - comprising Freddie Berman, Zach Djanikian, Andy Keenan and Jaron Olevsky - and the first album ever recorded at St. Charles, producer Joyce's brand new studio, which is housed in a converted East Nashville church. The convenient location allowed several remarkable guests to participate in the sessions.Alison Krauss joins Lee on "Chill In The Air" and Patty Griffin sings harmony on "Mountains of Sorrow," a song inspired by Lee's visit to Levon Helm's barn in Woodstock, where he appeared at the legendary drummer's Midnight Ramble not long before Helm's death. Instrumentalists Jerry Douglas (Alison Krauss & Union Station),Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson and Family) and Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band) also contribute to the record. Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song finds Lee in new sonic territory, working with a broader palette of textures and instrumentation yet retaining the trenchant impact of the scenes, characters and stories that he is renowned for. The album arrives a full 10 years after he first signed with Blue Note Records and began a career that continues to grow and surprise. The New York Times praised Lee's "honeyed singing voice," noting that 2011's chart-topping Mission Bell  "sharpens the payoff...it plants Mr. Lee and his tunes in a stark landscape, enveloped by rustling percussion and reverberant drones " while MOJO said: "His lyrics sweat with detail and nervy experience." "Mission Bell is a darker turn for Lee, and shows that his artistic arc is still peaking," observed Associated Press. Lee - who has toured with such artists as Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello, Adele and Dave Matthews Band - will celebrate the release of Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song with an extensive fall headline tour. Details will be announced shortly. Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song - Track Listing 1.     Johnson Blvd                                               2.     Stranger                                                        3.     Scamps                                                         4.     Chill In The Air                                             5.     Dresser Drawer                                           6.     Indonesia                                                     7.     High Water                                                    8.     The Man Who Wants You                           9.     Loretta                                                           10.  Plain View                                                    11.  Mountains of Sorrow                                 12.  Burden Atoms For Peace (Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich)  LIVE DJ Set on KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) THIS Friday, June 7 at 10am Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich have teamed up on many projects, from Radiohead to their current musical outlet Atoms For Peace, and will join forces for an unprecedented DJ set in our studios -- their first time doing a live set on U.S. radio -- THIS Friday, June 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time); Tune in to 89.9FM or stream it online at KCRW.com.   KCRW is handing over an entire hour of Morning Becomes Eclectic to the duo, who will alternate between DJ sets and short interview segments with host Jason Bentley.  Atoms For Peace’s debut album “Amok” was released in February on XL Recordings. Tickets are still available for their full band performance at the Hollywood Bowl on October 16.

Atoms For Peace, Bobby Long, Amazon.com, Rocking sites, The Golden Girls

Here are the latest gems and headlines for Tuesday...

Thom Yorke's Atoms For Peace first official full-length album Amok is streaming now on NPR's First Listen site. Click here to learn more about the groundbreaking album which has a Feb. 26, 2013 release date.

Speaking of highly-anticipated efforts, singer-songwriter Bobby Long's sophomore album Wishbone is out today and streaming in full at AOL Spinner and via MSN Music. For more information on Long, visit bobbylong.info.

I just received word this morning that Amazon has launched a new Entertainment Collectibles Store where online customers can shop from 350,000 unique and rare collectibles, including musical instruments from legendary musicians, autographed vinyl albums and much more. Click here to see the new site.

Check out the top 40 rock 'n' roll travel sites courtesy of the Lonely Planet site.

On a final note, ever wonder what were the best 10 musical performances on The Golden Girls television series? Click here to go back in time and have a few laughs...

Other Lives touring in support of 'Mind The Gap' EP

One of my favorite musical discoveries of 2012 is Other Lives. I first saw the Oklahoma band when they opened for Radiohead in Glendale, Arizona on March 15, 2012. I was further impressed when I reviewed the band's potent set at Coachella for The Orange County Register just over a month later on April 20, 2012.

Now with the group having released its latest EP Mind The Gap last week on tbd records, Other Lives is back on the road and not to be missed. Among their upcoming performances is a headlining spot at Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012.

Here is the official release regarding the band's fall tour and newly-issued Mind The Gap EP, which was recorded in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, England and features four tracks including a remix of "Tamer Animals" by Thom Yorke's supergroup Atoms For Peace. Again, Other Lives is an incredible band; do yourself a huge favor and see this band.

Other Lives premiere "Take Us Alive" on Pitchfork

Mind The Gap EP released October 23 on tbd records
U.S. Fall Tour continues into early December

Other Lives announce the release of Mind The Gap EP out October 23, 2012 on tbd records.  The EP was recorded by the band this past summer in a studio in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, England and features the Atoms For Peace remix of "Tamer Animals".  The EP also features the tracks "Dead Can" which was written during the band's recent world tour and was “mostly recorded in the van using a lap top, because we were touring so much. That's what gives it an electro feel" along with "Take Us Alive", which is “based on a violin loop that was written in my parents’ backyard", explains lead singer Jesse Tabish. Look out for Other Lives back on the road on a full U.S. tour this Fall.

Click here to listen to the outstanding and symphonic track "Take Us Alive" on Pitchfork

'Mind The Gap' EP Tracklisting
02. Dead Can
03. Tamer Animals (Atoms For Peace Remix)
04. Dust Bowl

01. Take Us Alive

Upcoming Tour Dates

10.29 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
10.30 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
11.01 - Don Quixote's - Felton, CA
11.02 - Soho - Santa Barbara, CA
11.03 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
11.04 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
11.05 - The Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ
11.08 - Sons Of Hermann Hall - Dallas, TX
11.10 - Fitzgerald's-Upstairs - Houston, TX
11.12 - Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
11.13 - 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN
11.15 - Gabe's - Iowa City, IA
11.16 - Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN
11.17 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
11.19 - The Pyramid Scheme - Grand Rapids, MI
11.20 - Magic Stick Lounge - Detroit, MI
11.21 - Beachland Ballroom & Tavern - Cleveland, OH
11.23 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON
11.24 - Cabaret Mile-End - Montreal, QC
11.26 - Space Gallery - Portland, ME
11.27 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
11.28 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
11.29 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
11.30 - Rock and Roll Hotel - Washington, D.C.
12.01 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
12.03 - Brillobox - Pittsburgh, PA
12.04 - The Basement - Columbus, OH
12.07 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL
12.08 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL

Other Lives premiere "Take Us Alive" on Pitchfork

I've been busy reviewing shows and shooting episodes of Music Worth Buying so have not been able to post as many times as I had hoped in the last week or so. But here is definitely a choice item I want to share...

Other Lives premiere "Take Us Alive" on Pitchfork

Mind The Gap EP out October 23, 2012 on tbd records
U.S. fall tour starts October 19th!

Other Lives announce the release of Mind The Gap EP out October 23, 2012 on tbd records.  The EP was recorded by the band this past summer in a studio in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, England and features the Atoms For Peace Remix of "Tamer Animals".  The EP also features the tracks "Dead Can" which was written during the band's recent world tour and was “mostly recorded in the van using a lap top, because we were touring so much. That's what gives it an electro feel" along with "Take Us Alive", which is “based on a violin loop that was written in my parents’ backyard", explains lead singer Jesse Tabish. Look out for Other Lives back on the road on a full U.S. tour this Fall.

'Mind The Gap' EP Tracklisting

01. Take Us Alive
02. Dead Can
03. Tamer Animals (Atoms For Peace Remix)
04. Dust Bowl

Tour Dates

10.19 - Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO
10.20 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT
10.22 - Pink Garter Theatre - Jackson, WY
10.23 - Top Hat - Missoula, MT
10.25 - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA
10.26 - Electric Owl - Vancouver, BC
10.27 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR
10.29 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
10.30 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
11.01 - Don Quixote's - Felton, CA
11.02 - Soho - Santa Barbara, CA
11.03 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
11.04 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
11.05 - The Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ
11.08 - Sons Of Hermann Hall - Dallas, TX
11.10 - Fitzgerald's-Upstairs - Houston, TX
11.12 - Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
11.13 - 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN
11.15 - Gabe's - Iowa City, IA
11.16 - Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN
11.17 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
11.19 - The Pyramid Scheme - Grand Rapids, MI
11.20 - Magic Stick Lounge - Detroit, MI
11.21 - Beachland Ballroom & Tavern - Cleveland, OH
11.23 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON
11.24 - Cabaret Mile-End - Montreal, QC
11.26 - Space Gallery - Portland, ME
11.27 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
11.28 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
11.29 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
11.30 - Rock and Roll Hotel - Washington, D.C.
12.01 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
12.03 - Brillobox - Pittsburgh, PA
12.04 - The Basement - Columbus, OH
12.07 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL
12.08 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL

For more information, including where to catch the band on tour this fall, visit Other Lives' official Web site here.

Inbox Update: Other Lives, Benjamin Gibbard, Harry Taussig

Here are highlights of a number of notable releases that have landed in my inbox this week...

Other Lives premiere "Tamer Animals" (Atoms For Peace Remix) on Pitchfork

Having wrapped up a successful spring tour, including dates supporting Radiohead, Other Lives are pleased to announce a new remix of their single "Tamer Animals" by Atoms For Peace. Listen to the premiere of "Tamer Animals" (Atoms For Peace Remix) on Pitchfork now. Vinyl & digital release of the remix will be available August 6, 2012 on 50 Weapons. Other Lives are currently on tour in the UK & will be heading off to Japan & China in August before returning to the US & Canada for a full tour this fall with supporting act Indians. Look out for a new Other Lives EP this fall on tbd records (US) / PIAS (Worldwide).

Click here to watch "Tamer Animals" video on Pichfork.

Here are the band's fall tour dates:

10.19 - Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO

10.20 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT

10.22 - Pink Garter Theatre - Jackson, WY

10.23 - Top Hat - Missoula, MT

10.25 - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA

10.26 - Electric Owl - Vancouver, BC

10.27 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR

10.29 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA

10.30 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA

11.01 - Don Quixote's - Felton, CA

11.02 - Soho - Santa Barbara, CA

11.03 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

11.04 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA

11.05 - The Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ

11.08 - Sons Of Hermann Hall - Dallas, TX

11.10 - Fitzgerald's-Upstairs - Houston, TX

11.12 - Bottletree - Birmingham, AL

11.13 - 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN

11.15 - Gabe's - Iowa City, IA

11.16 - Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN

11.17 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI

11.19 - The Pyramid Scheme - Grand Rapids, MI

11.20 - Magic Stick Lounge - Detroit, MI

11.21 - Beachland Ballroom & Tavern - Cleveland, OH

11.23 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON

11.24 - Cabaret Mile-End - Montreal, QC

11.26 - Space Gallery - Portland, ME

11.27 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA

11.28 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY

11.29 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY

11.30 - Rock and Roll Hotel - Washington, D.C.

12.01 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA

12.03 - Brillobox - Pittsburgh, PA

12.04 - The Basement - Columbus, OH

12.07 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL

12.08 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL



Benjamin Gibbard to release debut solo album 'Former Lives' on Oct. 16, 2012

Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard is set to release his debut solo record in fall of 2012. Former Lives will be released on October 15, 2012 in the UK/Europe (City Slang) and October 16th in North America (Barsuk). The 12 tracks were written over the course of eight years but didn’t find their fully realized form until the songwriter moved from his native Seattle down to Los Angeles. The album was recorded at longtime pal Aaron Espinoza’s (Earlimart) studio, The Ship. Limited touring will follow the release of the album.

Information: http://www.benjamingibbard.net/




Tompkins Square releases American primitive guitar pioneer Harry Taussig's first album in 47 years

'Fate Is Only Twice' available on CD/LP/DL on Aug. 21, 2012

Released as a short-run private press LP in 1965, Fate Is Only Once has long been a coveted collectible among American Primitive guitar enthusiasts. The album presages the broader movement. Acoustic musicians were still largely stuck in a rigid "Folk" mindset in 1965, and there are just not that many other examples of the exploratory guitar sounds found on 'Fate' during this time period. Alternating between haunting originals and jaunty blues-based traditional numbers, this absurdly rare LP was reissued by Tompkins Square in 2006. Taussig's only other recorded works appear on the long out-of-print Takoma compilation 'Contemporary Guitar Spring '67' alongside John Fahey, Robbie Basho, Max Ochs and Bukka White. Taussig spent years as an educator, published instructional guitar books, and traveled extensively to photograph weird museums.



Amazingly, he returns with his first album in 47 years, appropriately titled Fate Is Only Twice. The same stark, smoldering playing is evident, all the humor and inventiveness intact.


Available on LP (TSQ2738), CD (TSQ2745) and DL on August 21, 2012.

Tompkins Square is distributed by INgrooves/ Fontana in the US, Cargo UK for Europe, FUSE for Australia/NZ.

For more information on Tompkins Square releases, click here.