RAILROAD EARTH TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, AMEN CORNER, ON JUNE 10, 2008

Photo: C. Taylor Crothers
LOOK FOR THE BAND ON TOUR THIS SPRING.

Anticipation has been building for a new release and for the first time in 4 years, Railroad Earth found themselves back in the studio recording all new material.  It’s definitely a home-grown project, much like the band itself.  Railroad Earth’s new studio release, Amen Corner, was written and recorded at Lone Croft: an empty, 300 year-old house in New Jersey’s rural countryside. What happened inside the building was the experience of a lifetime for the band’s members, resulting in an early creative pinnacle of a gifted young band, and an album that is an instant Americana classic. Amen Corner is a collection of crisp and crafted roots, bluegrass, and acoustic sides that resonates in all the right places. The tunes breathe both on and between the notes. They hit you immediately, but then linger like a good buzz.  Look for Amen Corner to hit in June 10, 2008 on SCI Fidelity Records.

Railroad Earth is currently on tour.  Current confirmed tour dates include:

April 11 Warsaw at the Polish National Home Brooklyn NY
April 17 Tupelo Music Hall Londonderry NH
April 18 Pearl Street Northampton MA
April 19 Bearsville Theater Bearsville NY
April 24 Higher Ground South Burlington VT
April 25 East Hartford Community Cultural Center East Hartford CT
April 26 IMAC Theater Huntington NY
May 02 The German House Rochester NY
May 03 Oberlin College Oberlin OH
May 24 DelFest Cumberland MD
May 25 Hookahville Thornville OH
June 01 2008 Crawfish Festival Augusta NJ
June 05 Variety Playhouse Atlanta GA
June 06 Riverbend Festival Chattanooga TN
June 07 Bama Jam Enterprise AL
June 10 Vintage Vinyl St. Louis MO 6pm In-Store Performance
June 10 Blueberry Hill St. Louis MO
June 13-14 Ogden Theatre Denver CO CD Release Party!
June 19 McDonald Theatre Eugene OR
June 20 Crystal Ballroom Portland OR
June 21 The Showbox Seattle WA
July 01 Summerfest 2008 Milwaukee WI
July 03 ROTHBURY Rothbury MI
July 04-05 High Sierra Music Festival Quincy CA
July 13 All Good Music Festival Masontown WV
July 25 Floydfest Floyd VA
August 01 Dunegrass Festival Empire MI
August 02 Silver Maple Music Festival Comstock Park MI
August 13-14 YarmonyGrass Bond CO
September 26-27 The Fillmore San Francisco CA

More dates to be announced soon.  For more information, visit www.railroadearth.com. Find them on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/railroadearth.

Young Knives To Release Superabundance April 22nd

Superabundance is bigger, more beautiful, bracing, and more direct and compelling than any of their previous work. It is the sound of a band not only enhancing the dexterity, eclecticism and integrity of their debut, but redefining the stakes of what the band is, dispensing a wider set of tools, and deriving from a greater, more vivid pool of inspiration.

Constantly evolving, consistently shifting, and always appealing, Young Knives’ comeback is the most important and influential of our decade so far, a band destined to redefine genres, better lives, and - for the first time with this album - touch its listeners. Lord knows where we’ll all end up next.

“Terra Firma” Video

http://www.theyoungknives.com/
http://www.myspace.com/theyoungknives

MATTHEW SWEET TO RELEASE SUNSHINE LIES 7/22/08

On July 22, Matthew Sweet will release his 10th studio album, Sunshine Lies, in a new alliance with Shout! Factory. Fans who have eagerly awaited the album’s arrival (and have been tracking its progress under the working title Rock Bottom) will not be disappointed. Call it what you wish–Sweet terms it “power-pop-folk-rock-psychedelic-melodic-singer-songwriter-type stuff”–listeners will marvel at the depth and clarity of vision here.

By turns achingly melodic and startlingly visceral, Sunshine Lies swirls with poetic emotion and stark attitude, bringing neatly into play the entire gamut of Sweet’s stylistic experience. Flowing with masterful ease, Sweet’s uniquely personal songwriting never fails to delight, and he has described the album as “very direct, but seen through the eyes of nature, or rather modeled on its beauty, chaos and freedom, something like a stab at sonic art nouveau.”

Sunshine Lies was recorded at Lolina Green Studios in Los Angeles, CA, and produced and mixed by Matthew Sweet. Susanna Hoffs appears on the album, providing backup vocals on the title track. While familiars Ric Menck (drums), Ivan Julian (guitar), Greg Leisz (guitar/pedal steel guitar) and Richard Lloyd (guitar) are all here as well, Sweet let chance lead the way during the recording. He managed to teleport his songs into a surprisingly more abstract and psychedelic space, finding a “sure and natural realm in words, melody and performance, like a carousel mindflower.” Indeed. The vibrant Sunshine Lies will certainly revolve in your mind long after each listening.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sweet was part of the developing music scene in Athens, Georgia in the 1980s. Sweet came to fame in 1991 with his Top Five Modern Rock hit “Girlfriend,” off his certified gold album of the same name, followed by the critically acclaimed albums Altered Beast and the platinum follow up 100% Fun. After releasing a number of other excellent solo albums, Sweet formed The Thorns with fellow singer-songwriters Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge, and they released one self-titled album to positive reviews. Sweet then returned to his solo efforts, releasing Living Things and Kimi Ga Suki. In 2006 Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs collaborated on the Shout! Factory release Under The Covers Vol. 1, featuring 15 of the duo’s favorite pop tunes from the 1960s.

Matthew Sweet Sunshine Lies
Distributed by Sony BMG
Release Date: July 22, 2008

Sunshine Lies Track Listing (not final, subject to change)

Byrdgirl
Flying
Feel Fear
Sunrise Eyes
Sunshine Lies
Badass
Daisychain
Stick It
Meltdown
Back Of My Mind
Burn Through Love
Pleasure Is Mine
Time Machine
Let’s Love
When You’re Gone
Could you need me?

www.matthewsweet.com

Scream The Prayer Tour Details

Facedown Records is excited to announce our affiliation with the 1st Annual Scream The Prayer Tour.

The Facedown camp is proudly sending Impending Doom, Sleeping Giant and War of Ages to take part in this 40-date US summer tour.

Please visit http://myspace.com/screamtheprayer 

War of Ages will be touring in support of their upcoming release produced by As I Lay Dying’s Tim Lambesis;  Sleeping Giant will be making their US tour debut in support of their Facedown release “Dread Champions of the Last Days;  Co-headliner Impending Doom will be screaming the prayer in support of “Nailed. Dead. Risen.”

http://myspace.com/warofages
http://myspace.com/sleepingxgiant
http://myspace.com/impending

6/13-Bakersfield, CA @ The Dome
6/14-San Diego, CA @ Soma
6/15-San Bernardino, CA @ The Hudson Theatre
6/16-Scottsdale, AZ @ Vertical Venue
6/17-El Paso, TX @ Revolution
6/19-Tulsa, OK @ The Otherside
6/20-San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
6/21-Houston, TX @ Java Jazz
6/22-Dallas, TX @ Fat Daddy’s
6/24-Pensacola, FL @ The Red Door
6/25-Tampa, FL @ The Cuban Club
6/26-Orlando, FL @ The Haven
6/27-Miami, FL @ Life Pointe Church
6/28-Jacksonville, FL @ Hill Theatre
6/29-Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue
6/30-Raleigh, NC @ Vintage 21
7/01-Nashville, TN @ Rockettown
7/02-Dayton, OH @ The Attic Club
7/03-CORNERSTONE
7/04-CORNERSTONE
7/05-Minneapolis, MN @ Barfly
7/06-Elgin, IL @ Judson College w/ LIVING SACRIFICE
7/07-Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
7/08-Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
7/09-Clinton, NJ @ The Aquifer
7/10-Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
7/11-Baltimore, MD @ Riva Trace Baptist Church
7/12-Virginia Beach, VA @ Club Relevant
7/13-Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
7/14-Pittsburgh, PA
7/15-Louisville, KY
7/16-Joplin, MO @ The Foundry
7/18-Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
7/19-Salt Lake City, UT @ The Outer Rim
7/21-Fresno, CA
7/23-Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
7/24-Spokane, WA @ Service Station
7/25-Boise, ID
7/26-Sacramento, CA @ Club Retro

VOXHAUL BROADCAST TO RELEASE ROTTEN APPLES ON 4/29

Having played together in various incarnations for years, David, Tony, Phil, and Kurt of Voxhaul Broadcast always considered themselves more of a live band than a studio one.  So on a sunny summer afternoon last year, they blazed out 8 tracks of raw enthusiasm in one day and conceived their debut EP Rotten Apples, out April 29, 2008 on Retone Records/Fontana.

Harnessing a sound that reflects a range of influences from James Brown and Al Green to The Beatles and Donovan, David Dennis (guitar, vocals), Anthony Aguiar (guitar, organ, backing vocals), Phillip Munsey II (bass) & Kurt Allen (drums) combine danceable beats, falsetto soul, a dash of southern-rock swagger and a tightly wound groove to form their own configuration of modern indie-rock.

Recorded live by Dwayne Larring, mixed by David Larring and mastered by Mark Chalecki (Sublime/Brian Jonestown Massacre) at Capitol Mastering, Rotten Apples (the title at least) is both a frustrated commentary on the current state of the music business and a boastful nonchalance citing that the band is hardly worried.

The Luke Guidici directed video for “Rotten Apples,” the band’s first single, is dubbed a ‘surreal journey in the old west’ and features Dennis roaming the dusty outback on a coin operated horse. 

“I was on that coin horse for like 5 hours,” bemoans Dennis.  “That thing was violent… My ass hurt so bad!”

The video also features some heavy stunt work by the band in the shape of elaborate falls and stunt drops, some of which led to minor shoulder injuries.

“Next video we’re going to have stunt doubles… but they’re going to be dogs,” offers the band.

Check out the video for “Rotten Apples”at:

(No coin operated equines or canines were harmed in the making of this video)

Less than a year old, Voxhaul Broadcast have already showcased at CMJ, played Sundance in January, performed at the Noise Pop fest in SF in February and will be appearing at Milwaukee’s Summerfest this summer.  The band also made their SXSW debut this year with 4 captivating performances and UK dates are scheduled for later this year.

Voxhaul Broadcast’s debut EP Rotten Apples is available on Itunes and will be released on April 29, 2008 by Retone Records / Fontana.

For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/voxhaulbroadcast

RADIOHEAD AUGUST 2008 DATES & VENUES CONFIRMED

Photo: Colin Greenwood

Dates and venues have been confirmed for the second leg of Radiohead’s upcoming North American tour. They are:

August 1 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
August 3 - Verizon Wireless Music Center - Indianapolis, IN
August 4 - Blossom Music Center - Cleveland, OH
August 6 - Parc Jean Drapeau - Montreal, QC
August 8 - All Points West Music & Arts Festival/Liberty State Park - Jersey City, NJ
August 9 - All Points West Music & Arts Festival/Liberty State Park - Jersey City, NJ
August 12 - Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ
August 13 - Tweeter Center For the Performing Arts - Mansfield, MA
August 15 - Molson Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
August 19 - Thunderbird Stadium - Vancouver, BC
August 20 - White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA
August 22 - Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival @ Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, CA
August 24 - Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
August 25 - Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
August 27 - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre - Chula Vista, CA
August 28 - Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, CA

With the exception of the festivals (Lollapalooza, All Points West, Outside Lands), pre-sale for the above dates will begin April 9 with general on-sale following April 12.

Support for the headline dates will be Grizzly Bear August 3-15 and Liars August 19-28 (as well as the first run of U.S. dates in May).

http://www.radiohead.com/

FROM READING, ENGLAND COME PETER AND THE PIRATES

Photo by Rebecca Miller

Pete and The Pirates are a misfit gang of five friends wonderfully out of step with all other bands and scenes. Together, they produce music which is raw, joyous, melancholic, raucous and tender.

The band’s debut album - Little Death– was produced by Gareth Parton (the Go! Team, Foals).

Pete and the Pirates headline the Stolen Recordings April tour (with support from Let’s Wrestle and Artefacts for Space Travel).

She Doesn’t Belong To Me

Mr Understanding

Tour Dates!

4.8- Nottingham - Rescue Rooms
4.9- Birmingham - Bar Academy
4.10- Liverpool- Bar Academy
4.12- Bristol- The Cooler
4.14- Manchester- The Ruby Lounge
4.19- Southend- 2 Chinnery
4.22- London- HUSH- Royal Albert Hall
4.24- Rotterdam- Rotown
4.25- Den Haag- Paard
4.26- Amsterdam- London Calling- Paradiso
4.29- London- Kings College
5.18- Brighton- The Great Escape
7.4- Redhill- Redfest
7.5- Winchester-Blissfields
7.18- Barcelona- Summercase
7.19- Madrid- Summerase festival

Pete and the Pirates are:

Tom Sanders - Vocals
Pete Dog - Bass/Vocals
David Thorpe - Guitar
Jonny Sanders - Drums
Pete Hefferan - Guitar/Vocals

www.myspace.com/peteandthepirates
http://www.stolenrecordings.co.uk/

STREETZ CERTIFIED Presents J-MILL

J-Mill - Like Dat (Dirty) MP3
LISTEN HERE!

www.myspace.com/therealjmill

B-52’s “Funplex” Highest US Chart Debut Ever!

The B-52s first album in 16 years, ‘Funplex’ (Astralwerks), makes a triumphant entry into the Billboard 200 this week at #11. In the past week, the “infectious dance rock” (New York Magazine) album was the #2 best-selling record on Amazon.com and reached #7 on iTunes.

“Funplex” Video
WATCH HERE!