RA RA RIOT TOUR DATES HERE
August 29, 2008
RA RA RIOT’s debut album The Rhumb Line (Barsuk) has entered the Nielsen Soundscan Top 200 U.S. album chart at #109, selling nearly 6000 units in its first week of release. The Rhumb Line’s first week sales also have also landed it at #1 and #2 respectively on the Alternative New Artist and Heatseekers charts.
Ra Ra Riot Fall 2008 Tour Dates
09/03/08 – Montreal, QC – Lambi
09/04/08 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
09/05/08 – Jamestown, NY – Mojo’s
09/06/08 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
09/07/08 – Syracuse, NY – Syracuse University
09/08/08 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
09/10/08 – Cleveland, OH – Case Western
09/11/08 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
09/12/08 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
09/14/08 – Lawrence, KS – Jackpot Saloon
09/16/08 – Denver, CO – Hi Dive
09/17/08 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
09/18/08 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
09/20/08 – Seattle, WA – King Cobra
09/21/08 – Vancouver, BC – Media Club
09/22/08 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
09/24/08 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
09/25/08 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
09/28/08 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
09/29/08 – Phoenix, AZ – Modified
09/30/08 – Tucson, AZ – Plush
10/02/08 – Dallas, TX – The Loft
10/03/08 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
10/04/08 – Houston, TX – Rudyards
10/07/08 – Orlando, FL – The Social
10/08/08 – Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
10/10/08 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
10/11/08 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
10/12/08 – Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage
10/14/08 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
10/15/08 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
10/16/08 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10/17/08 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/18/08 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs
Photo: Doron Gild
SONYA KITCHELL GOODIES ALL IN HERE
August 29, 2008
Early raves have begun to roll in for Sonya Kitchell’s latest This Storm, out next Tuesday, September 2nd on Decca/Velour.
Okkervil River, The Stand Ins
August 29, 2008
On The Stand Ins, the worth is in the girth. At only eight songs, discounting three eponymous interludes, the latest release from Austin-based Okkervil River could easily come off as thin, but each song in this 8-pack is jam packed with meticulous arrangements and brilliantly crafted lyrics.
The Stand Ins is the “sequel” to 2007’s The Stage Names, which was originally conceived as a double album. It’s hard to see how any of these songs missed the cut on The Stage Names. Almost two years on, the band sounds fuller, smarter and musically fearless. The opener, “Lost Coastlines,” starts soft with guitar and banjo, then gradually adds layers of electric guitars, groovy bass, piano, horns, strings and sing-along choruses, turning what began as a simple rock song into a symphonic anthem. On the alt-country “Singer Songwriter,” Okkervil River’s front man Will Sheff takes pot shots at kitschy, name-dropping hipsters, quipping “You’ve got taste, what a waste that it’s all that you have.”
“Pop Lie,” sounds like late-eighties R.E.M. with sugary synth licks straight out of a Rentals record. The joke’s on us, really, as Sheff calls out corporate rock stars while the band rocks out to the most poppy song they’ve ever written, singing “He’s the liar who lied in his pop song… And you’re lying when you sing along.” Even more gorgeous is the piano-driven melody in “Calling and Not Calling My Ex,” complete with Phil Spector-esque church bells and organ.
Even when one of Sheff’s songs stumbles off of the blocks, as in “Blue Tulip” and “Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelasea Hotel, 1979,” his band is able to rally behind a groove and soak the speakers with sound. Only The Arcade Fire and the E Street Band can do this as effortlessly as Okkervil River does on The Stand Ins.
Words By: Bill Reese
Rating: 
STOLI LEARNS ABOUT THE UPS & DOWNS WITH TICKLE ME PINK
August 29, 2008
This next band in one of my favorite bands on the scene today. First of all they did a music video for “Typical” with Gabrielle Fox who is just amazingly hot. They also are signed to Wind Up Records and have one of the busiest tour schedules out now. Earlier this year the band took a major hit when they lost member Johnny Schou. I was lucky enough to chat with Stefan Runstrom (Drums) about that & much more!
NEW DOWNLOADS FROM DJ BABU & D-BLOCK
August 29, 2008
Today we have a double offering. One download is from DJ Babu’s new album which will be out 10/28/08. DJ Babu hooks up with MOP on this one. We also have a hot track from D-Block. Another tight download where Sheek Louch steps up heavy.
D-BLOCK “IT’S LIKE THAT” (PROD. BY PETE ROCK):
DJ BABU FEAT. M.O.P. “DEARLY DEPARTED”:
PEOPLE IN PLANES LIVE VIDEOS HERE / AUDIO
August 29, 2008
Instead of rising through the often-fickle English pop music scene, People in Planes forged their own version of a British musical invasion when they caught the ear of New York-based Wind-up Records during a transatlantic musical voyage that launched their career.
First, with an introductory EP and the alternative/college rock chart single “If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)”– hailed by Billboard as “a first burst of brilliance” — the band quickly caught American ears (as well as eyes with a video directed by Joaquin Phoenix). They followed with their debut album, As Far As The Eye Can See…, which Decoy praised as “a near-flawless, jaw-dropping piece of modern rock,” and toured the U.S. with such diverse acts as The Bravery, Blue October, VHS or Beta and The (International) Noise Conspiracy.
Check out live clips from thier live bonus DVD here:
“Mayday (M’aidez)” Live:
“Pretty Buildings” Live:
Check out the new single,”Mayday (M’aidez)”:
CARLA BRUNI REMAINS TRUE TO HER MUSIC / MP3 / VIDEO
August 29, 2008
Carla Bruni’s new release Comme Si De Rien N’était (As if Nothing had Happened) on Downtown Music.
NEW BAND ALERT: EAST VILLAGE OPERA COMPANY / AUDIO / DATES
August 29, 2008
Fans and newcomers to the band will have a chance to see them live on their upcoming 21-date U.S. tour, kicking off Sept. 18 in Manhattan, KS.
STIPE WRITES SONG ABOUT BUSH
August 29, 2008
R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe recently revealed that his hatred of President George Bush inspired to him to write the song “Man-Sized Wreath.” According to Contact Music, Stipe says, “I just can’t stand the guy or his administration and it was about him going to the graveside of Martin Luther King, one of my heroes, and I think desecrating the memory of that great man and his work by being there during the Iraq war. I found it pathetic so I wrote that song about it.” “Man-Sized Wreath” is off R.E.M.’s latest album Accelerate. R.E.M. play London tomorrow night.
MIXTAPE FROM TRAVIS BARKER AND DJ AM
August 29, 2008
Blink-182 fans probably already know that drummer Travis Barker has been working with DJ AM these days. But did you know they have a new mixtape out? It’s called Fix Your Face and you can download it now at www.TRVSDJAM.com now.
