Thursday, February 23, 2017

What You Should Be Listening To... Best New Releases


Son Volt, Sun Kil Moon, Ty Segall, Chuck Prophet, Gene Clark, The Orwells, Foxygen

New Releases Of Note:

Son Volt "Notes Of Blue"

Sun Kil Moon "Common As Light And Love Are Red Valleys Of Blood"

Ty Segall "Ty Segall"

Chuck Prophet "Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins"

Gene Clark "The Lost Studio Sessions: 1964 - 1982"

The Orwells "Terrible Human Beings"

Foxygen "Hang"

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Jay Farrar's (ex-Uncle Tupelo) Son Volt has an excellent new album. His former comrades went on to form Wilco and become superstars. Jay is criminally neglected but continues to put out interesting new tunes to a small but appreciative and ever growing circle of fans. His "Big Sur" soundtrack and collaboration with Jim James, et al (New Multitudes) were inspired and worth checking out if you missed them the first time around.


Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozelek's new album is much of the same from him, lyrics-wise, but with a very different sound. Basically you either really love or really hate Mark Kozelek. I like him, so I like this album. Your mileage may vary.


The same could be said of Foxygen - either very love or very hate - no in between. Me? I love.


Chuck Prophet seems to be getting major props and if this is this moment, I say, so be it!


Ty Segall keeps cranking out material. His 60s and 70s influences come through loud and clear (T. Rex, Bowie, Beatles, metal, punk...). Most of the songs are hard, fast, and loud, but a couple of slower numbers demonstrate Ty's not a one-trick pony.... Anyone else think "Talkin'...." sounds like The Dead? (Not an insult, just a comment. Hey, if Malkmus can do The Dead, anyone can...)


The Orwells are a young hard rock band building a solid following which will only increase with this new release.



Gene Clark co-founded The Byrds with Roger McGuinn and David Crosby but left for a solo career after singing on the #1 hits "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn, Turn, Turn" and writing "Eight Miles High". Sadly, his solo career never really took off, but a growing number of musicians and other music insiders cherish his singing and songwriting, more than 25 years after his premature death. This new collection (to be reviewed in a separate article next week) more than fulfills its promise to reveal previously hidden treasures from the vaults. The singer-songwriter songs from the collection,  like "Back To The Earth Again", "The Lighthouse", "The Awakening Within", and "The Sparrow" have become some of my favorite Gene Clark songs. I wish more people would fall in love with Gene Clark, but I feel that the people who need to find him, often do!


"TV Or Not TV" By Children Medieval Band (CMB) (Video)


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Cool, New Bonnie "Prince" Billy Song "Treasure Map" Is Benefit For Anti-Racist Group SPLC





This song will be released officially in May as part of a benefit for the anti-racist, anti-extremist group the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). For more information on their work, please see their website here...


Forbes: Grace Slick - "Why I Licensed Music To Homophobic Company"




Why I Decided To License Starship's Music To Chick-fil-A




Inside the business of show business.  
POST WRITTEN BY
Grace Slick
Grace Slick is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. She was formerly a lead singer for Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.
Forbes ShowbizForbes Showbiz, Contributor

Musician Grace Slick signs a portrait of herself at a handprint ceremony inducting her into the Hollywood Rock Walk on October 22, 2002. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Recently an ad agency asked me if they could use a song I sang on, in 1987, for a TV commercial. I didn’t immediately tell them to go f**k themselves. 

After all, I’ve licensed my music to advertise someone else’s product before. In 1967, Jefferson Airplane wrote a psychedelic jingle about white
rabbits jeans that’s a damn classic (Google it!). But that was for Levi Strauss & Co. This time, the agency wanted the Starship tune “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” for a very different kind of enterprise: Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A pisses me off. The Georgia-based company has a well-documented history of funding organizations, through their philanthropic foundation WinShape, that are against gay marriage. In interviews, CEO Dan T. Cathy has critiqued gay-rights supporters who “have the audacity to define marriage” and said they are bringing “God’s judgment” upon the nation.

I firmly believe that men should be able to marry men, and women women. I am passionately against anyone who would try to suppress this basic human right. So my first thought when "Check"-fil-A came to me was, “F**k no!”

But then I decided, “F**k yes.”

So that was my voice you heard on the Chick-fil-A commercial during the Grammy Awards telecast. I am donating every dime that I make from that ad to Lambda Legal, the largest national legal organization working to advance the civil rights of LGBTQ people, and everyone living with HIV. Admittedly it’s not the millions that WinShape has given to organizations that define marriage as heterosexual. But instead of them replacing my song with someone else's and losing this opportunity to strike back at anti-LGBTQ forces, I decided to spend the cash in direct opposition to "Check"-fil-A’s causes – and to make a public example of them, too. We’re going to take some of their money, and pay it back.

See, I come from a time when artists didn’t just sell their soul to the highest bidder, when musicians took a stand, when the message of songs was “feed your head," not “feed your wallet.” We need that kind of artistic integrity today, more than ever. We won’t produce quality art if we don’t keep ourselves open to all people and possibilities, if we don’t put our money where our mouths are. As Jennifer Lopez quoted Toni Morrison during the Grammys telecast, "'This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self pity, no need for silence, and no room for fear. We do language. That is how civilizations heal.'"

You might think I’m writing this just to cover my ass for allowing a company whose practices many find morally objectionable to use Starship’s music. Well, I haven’t covered my ass since the day I was born (except, maybe, in a pair of white Levi’s). From the moment I agreed to license the song, I knew I wanted to set an example for other artists. I wanted to tell them, “Your art will survive and thrive. Do not let it be used by companies who support intolerance. Don’t be afraid to take a stand. You’re an artist; that’s what we do.”

I hope more musicians will think about the companies that they let use their songs; we can use our gifts to help stop the forces of bigotry.
Nothing’s gonna stop us now.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Forbes: Pink Floyd Previews London Show, Talks Glastonbury Rumor, Donald Trump, Mexico And 'The Wall'


MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT  9,005 views

Pink Floyd Previews London Show, Talks Glastonbury Rumor, Donald Trump, Mexico And 'The Wall'



Pink Floyd band members Nick Mason (L) and Roger Waters (R) pose for photographers following a press conference in central London on February 16, 2017. (BEN STANSALL/ AFP/ Getty Images)
Pink Floyd today announced plans for a blockbuster touring show, starting in London. It also addressed rumors of a future performance at the Glastonbury Festival and questions about the relevance of its album The Wall with President Donald Trump’s plans build a wall on the Mexican border.
The comments came during a rare joint appearance by singer-songwriter-bassist Roger Waters, and drummer Nick Mason.
The “Their Mortal Remains” exhibition, running at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum from May 13 through Oct. 1, will feature stage sets, instruments, rare photos, unseen videos and much more from throughout the U.K. band’s 50-year career, during which time it has sold more than 250 million albums, 75 million in the U.S. alone.
In news conference questions, the two musicians were asked if there was any possibility of the group reuniting to play a concert on the Mexican border.
Mason said he had no idea, but joked that he had been sent a picture of Donald Trump captioned “We are going to build a wall and Pink Floyd is going to pay for it.”
Waters said he had been often asked if he would stage The Wall in future, having stopped his solo performances of the concept album a couple of years ago. “I have always said I would do it again… if they ever figure out what to do with Israel and Palestine and get rid of that appalling security boundary there.” He would certainly consider it if world conflicts were resolved “and there is no ‘Us and Them’ and we are all human beings… then as an act of celebration of a move towards a more humane way of organizing ourselves I would be only too happy to put a concert on in some place that is significant geographically and if that happened to the border between the United States and Mexico, then yes absolutely. But, first of all, the sewers are clogging with the greed of powerful men… I am quite sure that if President Trump comes to this country [Britain] there will be enormous demonstrations, the biggest ever seen.”
Waters said he only finished the vocals for his new solo studio album the day before yesterday and it is being mixed now. It will be followed by an international tour, Us & Them.

The duo was asked about the world’s biggest greenfield festival, Glastonbury, where veteran organizer Michael Eavis had been quoted previously as saying he would like Pink Floyd to play. The festival takes periodic fallow years, with one expected in 2018, and is set to move to a new venue in 2019.
Mason said, “I think it would be nice to add to the list of things – we have never played Glastonbury. It would be fun to do it, yes. But I don’t think it is very likely.”
Waters replied, “I did Glastonbury once – it was very cold! But there were a lot of people and it seems very jolly and I liked it. Yes, I would do it again. I am on the road during 2018, so if Glastonbury came up I would look at it and say yes or no.”
(All of which is not a flat “no” anyway.)
Would guitarist David Gilmour get on board?
Mason said that Gilmour had announced his retirement – then unretired. Waters noted that the reunion question is “so dull.” It has been coming up ever since the 1980s, and there was a brief reunion for the Live 8 concert in 2005. Waters and Gilmour joined for another show at London’s 02 in 2011.
Like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd members face constant questions about the likelihood of reuniting. Led Zep’s Robert Plant has denied reports that he rejected $800 million for a reunion. Some promoters could see a figure of that amount for Pink Floyd, given the potential for income – surely more than The Wall Live Tour, with extra for a movie.
Pink Floyd’s early leader, Syd Barrett, left in 1969 and died in 2006; keyboard player Rick Wright died in 2008. Gilmour and Mason turned leftover material into The Endless River in 2014, with statements saying that album was the last of the band. Waters quit in 1985 for a long solo career.

The songwriting of Waters was the backbone of some of the bestselling albums of all time: The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall. Still, some tracks were a group effort with Gilmour’s guitar and vocals to the fore. During today’s news conference it was stated that Dark Side still sells 10,000 copies a week.
Floyd’s earnings capacity was boosted in 2011 and 2012 with remastered editions, compilations and box sets. Most recently, its 27-disc box set of early recordings was priced $699.98 in 2016. The Early Years on Legacy has more than 12 hours of audio and 15 hours of video, including 20 unreleased songs such as 1967’s “Vegetable Man” and “In the Beechwoods.” Individual volumes of much of the material are now following.
The Pink Floyd exhibition follows the record-breaking David Bowie Is show at the V&A. The Rolling Stonesalso gathered material for another huge touring show, Exhibitionism.
Among the Pink Floyd objects going on show: the school book that says Waters was caned for fighting; a letter from Gilmour telling his mother he was joining a band called Pink Floyd but she need not worry; a photo of John Lydon of the Sex Pistols sporting a “I hate Pink Floyd” tee-shirt; a Sennheiser recreation of “Comfortably Numb” and much more.
I’m the author of books including All You Need is Rock, collecting my rock criticism for Bloomberg. I’m now editor of Dante magazine and write for ArtInfo andForbes. Follow me @Mark_Beech

Stephen Malkmus (Pavement) On The Talkhouse Music Podcast


Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Pavement's Spiral Stairs Cool New Song "Dundee Man" (Audio) from the forthcoming album "Doris & the Daggers" out 24th March on Domino




...and from last October in San Francisco... Spiral Stairs (Scott K) and Stephen Malkmus, the guitar gods behind Pavement, got together for a rare jam on Scott's birthday... here they are during the encore doing Pavement's "Summer Babe" to the crowd's great joy...


Monday, February 13, 2017

No Depression: Concerts Mark 50th Anniversary of Byrds Co-Founder Gene Clark Solo Debut

The Sometimes Forgotten Byrd to Be Honored on Both Coasts

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Milo Goes To College: Protesters Shut Down Alt-Right Creep Milo In Berkeley! (Videos)


Alive And Well In Berkeley 2017! The Spirit of The Free Speech Movement, Mario Savio, The Civil Rights Movement, People's Park, James Rector (who died for People's Park), The Anti-War movement, the Anti-Nuke movement, Steven Biko & The Anti-Apartheid movement, Bob Sparks and so many more.... Alive! and Present! Last night! THERE IS HOPE!




UC Berkeley cancels Milo Yiannopoulos event amid violent protest


Updated 8:37 pm, Wednesday, February 1, 2017
A protest at UC Berkeley over a scheduled speech by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos turned fiery and violent Wednesday night, prompting police to cancel the event and hustle the Breitbart News editor off campus.
Hundreds of protesters began throwing fireworks and pulling down metal barricades police set up to keep people from rushing into the building where Yiannopoulos had been scheduled to speak. Windows were smashed and fires were set outside the building as masked protesters stormed it, and at 6 p.m., one hour before his scheduled speech was to begin, police decided to evacuate Yiannopoulos for his own safety.
Berkeley police said three people were injured. There were no immediate reports of arrests.
Police said protesters threw bricks and fireworks at police officers. University police locked down all buildings and told people inside them to shelter in place, and later fired rubber pellets into the crowd of protesters who defied orders to leave the area. Police called in support from other law enforcement agencies and warned protesters that they might use tear gas.
“This is what tolerance looks like at UC Berkeley,” Mike Wright of Berkeley College Republicans, the group that invited Yiannopoulos to the campus, said as smoke bombs went off around him.
Someone had thrown red paint on him. “It’s sad,” he said.
University officials had earlier rejected requests to cancel Yiannopoulos’ appearance. In a letter to the campus community last week, Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said, “The U.S. Constitution prohibits UC Berkeley, as a public institution, from banning expression based on its content or viewpoints, even when those viewpoints are hateful or discriminatory.”
Protesters argued that what Yiannopoulos specializes in is hate speech, and that it didn’t deserve to be protected.
“It’s not a question of free speech,” a protester said via megaphone, riling up the hundreds of protesters in attendance. “It’s about real human beings.”
Berkeley College Republicans said all 600 tickets had been sold for Yiannopoulos’ scheduled appearance in Pauley Ballroom, in the student union building on Sproul Plaza. Yiannopoulos was expected to use the event to kick off a campaign against “sanctuary campuses” that have vowed to protect undocumented students as President Trump cracks down on illegal immigration.
Campus police had been hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaos at UC Davis on Jan. 13, when protesters overwhelmed their barricades and shut down Yiannopoulos’ speech.
In an interview with Fox News after Wednesday’s cancellation, the 33-year-old Yiannopoulos — a self-described “libertarian, gay, Trump-supporting provocateur” — said college campuses are places where “you should be able to engage with different ideas.”
Those who attend his appearances, he said, include people who “don’t necessarily agree with me but just want to hear the other side. They were prevented from doing so this evening by violence from the left — the left that is terrified of anyone who they think might be persuasive or might be interesting or might take people with them.”
Three lines of zip-tied metal fencing separated the crowd of protesters from campus police officers who had secured the building where Yiannopoulos was supposed to speak. He had arrived earlier, escorted by security and had been waiting inside the student union building when the protests erupted. 
The protest turned violent around 6 p.m. when dozens of masked anarchists, dressed in black and wearing backpacks, emerged from the otherwise peaceful crowd. 
As “Milo had got to go” chants broke out, they struck: in small groups, at first — knocking down the fences, cutting through to zip ties. Then, they came in droves, as the dozens of university police officers quickly retreated to an inner ring of fencing. 
That, too, was breached, as protesters ran toward the student center, where Yiannopoulos was waiting for the event to begin. Police in riot gear retreated inside. 
Seizing the opportunity, the masked protesters breached the inner ring of fencing, picking up pieces of it and hurling them into the building’s windows. Glass shattered, but no one went inside.
As some protesters yelled obscenities at police, others toppled a generator and light pole police had set up, spray painting “Milo” with an X through it. Then they lit it on fire. From their backpacks, the protesters hurled dozens of fireworks.
One of the black-dressed anarchists said he had been hit by nonlethal ammunition.
“The cops shot me with pepper balls,” said the 26-year-old man, who called himself Zombie. “It hurt.”
Carrying a thick black shield and wearing a milk-soaked kerchief over his face to protect against potential tear gas, Zombie said, “We’re anarchists.” Fellow protesters unfurled a banner reading, “This is war.”
Police soon declared an unlawful assembly and ordered everyone to leave, but hundreds of protesters stayed, filling the entire upper and lower plaza. “Turn on the dance music,” one masked woman yelled.
UC Berkeley junior Fatima Ibrahim, 20, who clutched a “resist fear” sign with a red fist, said the timing of Yiannopoulos’ scheduled appearance stung.
“As a black Muslim woman, all three of those identities have been targeted throughout (Trump’s) campaign,” Ibrahim said. “To have someone like (Yiannopoulos) come into my campus and affirm those people’s beliefs, it’s very, very hurtful.”