Monday, December 29, 2008
THERE IS STILL TIME TO ENTER THE INTIMIDNATION DOODLE CONTEST!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Women's BLACK RICE Named #18 on Pitchfork's "100 Best Tracks of 2008"!!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
BRIGHTON MA ON DAYTROTTER !
Ladies and Gents! In what Daytrotter Superman Sean Moeller describes as "easily one of the absolute best we've ever recorded", we are proud to present Brighton MA's Daytrotter Session! Live now, you'll be treated to three songs from the Chicago band's recently released debut 'Amateur Lovers' plus two unreleased tracks. Listen, enjoy, check em out Dec 12 @ Cubby Bear, Dec 27 @ Hideout, and watch for a Windy City residency to be announced later this winter!
Monday, December 1, 2008
RIOT ACT MEDIA. DECEMBER 2008.
Merry yuletide, l’chaim and joyous mistlefruitcakes to you, chums! 2008’s been a banner year for us here at Riot Act, and we couldn’t be prouder or happier to have worked with all of the amazing bands, comedians and artists who’ve graced our roster this year (for a full list of ’08 RAM-repped releases, pls check the end of this newsletter!) This December and into Winter 2009, there’s much going on with our incredible new clients SCREAMING FEMALES, MODERNBOYS MODERNGIRLS, LEONARD MYNXand THE TRADITIONIST, as well as for comedians EUGENE MIRMAN, MATT MCCARTHY, JOHN ROBERTS, JACQUELINE NOVAK, KUMAIL NANJIANI and GRACE PARRA, AND AND AND for ace musicologists MATT AND KIM, AT THE SPINE, LOCH LOMOND, ORIGAMI GHOSTSand STARFLYER 59. Read on, and know that Riot Act Media is sending you the warmest of holiday fuzzies with our minds, telepathy-style.
Oh NYC, you are in luck! Modernboys Moderngirls have chosen you to host their US stage debut next month! MBMG released their hot debut, I Might As Well Break It in Canada this spring, but before they
even had a record released, the band had gained so many fans and so
much attention that they were invited to play alongside huge acts at
NXNE and Canadian Music Week. Led by the songwriting of vocalist
Akira Alemany, MBMG unleash a rock n roll that is part soul and part
garage, a little Reigning Sound fury with Franz Ferdinand drive. I
Might As Well Break It was mixed by Ryan Mils (Born Ruffians), the
US release of the LP will see two bonus tracks added on to the
already outstanding album which made its way into the CBC Radio Top
10 earlier this year. Get an early listen and make an appearance in
the mini-documentary they are filming at their two shows: Jan 2 @
Arlene’s Grocery and Jan 3 @ Trash Bar!
Contact Sheila (at) riotactmedia.com.
HOLY WOW, we get to work with Screaming Females! The band is currently in the studio recording Power Move, their new full-length for Don Giovanni. More news is on its way soon regarding the release, as well as an upcoming Don Giovanni showcase this spring and some sweet Screaming Females shows with Throwing Muses. Athens weekly Flagpole just summed up yr typical. Screaming Females show quite nicely: “The Screaming Females of New Brunswick, NJ are one of those bands that people watch with their jaws on the floor, only tearing their eyes away from the stage to look at each other to confirm they are seeing the same thing. So you’ve got a very Minutemen-y rhythm section (in their more straightforward moments) backing up a frontwoman named Marissa Paternoster. Let’s get the insignificant details out of the way: Ms. Paternoster stands no taller than five feet. She is very much like Prince in this respect; also, she shreds like a motherfucker. We’re talking old-fashioned, blues-based all-out wailing, with some Greg Ginn-inspired noise thrown in for good measure. And her voice? Forget it: quavering throaty moans punctuated by utter shrieks. The Screaming Females are the perfect cross pollination of guitar-god heroics and DIY basement fun, and they do a ripping Neil Young cover. If that’s not enough for you, you are uninvited to my birthday party.”
http://www.screamingfemales.com
http://www.myspace.com/screamingfemales
http://www.dongiovanni.com
http://www.myspace.com/dongiovanni
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Hot off their Fall headlining tour, Matt and Kim are taking a
well-deserved yet short break before heading back out for more shows
in December, all of which are a mere $5! To say that the response to
their upcoming Grand full length has been awesome would be an
understatement. The album is so very Matt and Kim - together they
recorded it in Matt's childhood bedroom with Matt self-producing- and
their fans as well as critics are loving it! FADER will release
Grand early next year and a spring tour has been announced, but
we'll have many more shows coming up so keep an eye on the tours
page. And then go see Matt and Kim!
Contact Sheila (at) riotactmedia.com.
Seattle’s At The Spine are kicking off a superrad west coast tour December 19th in Portland, and they’ll be hurling jams at you from this year’s Vita full-length (Global Seepej)…if you’re in Oregon, Washington, Cali or Arizona, you’re in luck. Get out to those shows, and chat with genius frontman Mike Toschi about his experiences teaching overseas!
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Wow, Leonard Mynx! Portland’s got it going on like crazy-style these days, and Leonard Mynx is part of why. Dude recently finished recording his amazing debut full-length with Adam Selzer (Norfolk & Western, M. Ward) at Type Foundry in PDX; it draws from the history of American music and American history in general, and waxes poetic on the long tradition of communication through song. Shunning the graveyards, prisons and diseases that plague much of present society, the music of Leonard Mynx is a celebration of life! Stunning, rad. More news regarding the album and dates soon.
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Origami Ghosts’ “Short Momentum” is getting some supercool critical praise (Synthesis calls the record “a contagious collection of well-crafted songs”, and Boise Weekly notes that “singer and founder JP Scesniak’s high, haunting voice stands out against a beautiful backdrop of cello, guitar and sparse drums”), and they’re planning their next US tour as we speak—ye shall have all the news where that’s concerned; just check this site!
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Just when you think you know about everything and everyone out there, you come across something like The Traditionist that reaffirms any doubts yr cynical mind may’ve had about there being new, great musicmakers yet to be discovered. Songcrafter Joey Barro is crazy prolific, and will have several releases throughout ’09 and ’10, the first of which is dropping hotly on Better Looking Records later this winter. Produced by the Mother Hips’ Tim Bluhm, this batch of songs was brought to fruition over the course of a year with Bluhm’s help. Barro is now in the studio recording the album’s follow-up with Bluhm, and Superchunk/Mountain Goats/New Pornographers/Robert Pollard drummer extraordinaire Jon Wurster is slammin’ down the beats.
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
So many exciting things are happening for Portland’s own Loch Lomond, who are hott off a US tour with The Decemberists. The new full-length is now titled Little Me Will Start A Storm, and the band will have release news before too long, along with upcoming touring updates. For now, lucky Portlanders can check the band as they play with Blind Pilot at The Aladdin on December 17th. Not only that, they’ve just recorded a Future Sounds session with WOXY, which you can here >right here!
visit Loch Lomond’s MySpace page!
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Starflyer 59 has just released the gorgeous, somber, huge-sounding Dial M For Martin, and it’s got the critics abuzz. The Blah Blah says the album “fires on all cylinders”, and Copious Notes, err, notes that the band is “creating some of the most well-crafted, imaginative rock” of the past decade, and YouthWorker says that the album “clears the bar with room to spare”.
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
COMEDY ROSTER NEWS:
Eugene Mirman. What can't he do? First of all, he hosts the
amazingly awesome Tearing The Veil Of Maya show every Sunday at Union
Hall (don't miss the upcoming holiday show!!), he has an insanely
funny book 'The Will To Whatevs. A Guide To Modern Life', coming out
in February, will be performing a multitude of shows at Comix in
January, and he has just relaunched his website with a ton of fun,
new, original content, including “The Incidents of Eugene Mirman” blog,
new videos, phone calls, Eugene's advice column, “The All Night Party
Think Tank League”, a place to pre-order the book and more!
http://eugenemirman.com
Contact Sheila (at) riotactmedia.com.
New York based artist/comedian/musician John Roberts has two upcoming
NYC performances that you'll be sorry to miss. The John Roberts
Holiday Show is set for Dec 17 & 18 at Comix, and his performance will
include his original characters, many of whom are featured in his
massively popular short films. If you haven't seen his brand new
Jackie and Debra short, (which just recently went live and has over 23k
views on YouTube alone) you should do it right now!
Jackie + Debra - Stephanie Berger
WATCH HERE!
Contact Sheila (at) riotactmedia.com.
If you aren’t familiar with Jacqueline Novak, it’s high time you get that way! If you’re in NYC, you have an opportunity every Sunday, when Novak co-hosts a comedy night at Piano’s called President Johnson with Greg Johnson; each show starts at 7:30, and past guests have included Todd Barry, John Roberts, Jim Gaffigan, Lynn Shawcroft, Bonnie MacFarlane, Tom McCaffrey, Demetri Martin, Rob Cantrell, Hannibal Buress, Mike Birbiglia and more.
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Another great comedy night, Fatsmiles, is happening again on December 4th at Joe’s Pub in NYC! This installment features Eugene Mirman, Hannibal Burress, Kumail Nanjiani and Robin Ince, and you DO NOT want to miss it.
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Matt McCarthy will be performing brand new, never before seen
original stand up next month at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
on Dec 18th at 8pm. What can you expect from Matt McCarthy? His
sketches let loose original, unrelenting roller coaster performances
that needs to be seen to believed. His routines are full of manic
absurdity, inimitable deadpan, and scathing satires of convention,
expectations, and the decorative fantasy stores in the mall. And it
all feels like he's performing just for you.
Contact Sheila (at) riotactmedia.com.
Grace Parra has a side-splitting, hard-hitting new video investigating exactly what it takes to be (drumroll)….a soccer mom. Directed by NBC producer Chad Wollett and shot in California, Parra goes straight to the source. Moms are interviewed. Kids are interviewed. More moms and more kids are interviewed. And Grace, champion that she is, UNLOCKS THE SECRET OF THE SOCCER MOM! Watch! Share!
HERE IT IS!
Contact Joan (at) riotactmedia.com.
Kumail Nanjiani spent the first 18 years of his life growing up in
Pakistan, then made the natural transition to Iowa where he attended
Grinnell College. He was so excited to leave Iowa four years later
that he moved to Chicago, where he immediately started performing
comedy--and before long, he found himself hailed as one of Chicago's
rising comic talents. After being spotted performing at Empty
Bottle, Chicago's Lakeshore Theater commissioned Kumail's oustanding
one man comedy performance "Unpronounceable" directed by Paul
Provenza (director of The Aristocrats). After performing
"Unpronounceable" through a successful New York run this spring,
Kumail will bring his critically acclaimed one man show to The
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater for an exclusive Los Angeles
engagement on January 22.
Contact Sheila (at) riotactmedia.com.
There’s more excitement to come…until then, frivolity and eggnogs to you!
Love,
Joan and Sheila
PS: DO NOT FORGET TO CONSIDER THE RELEASES WE WORKED ON FOR YR YEAR-END LISTS!
Adem, "Takes" (Domino)
All Girl Summer Fun Band, "Looking Into It" (AGSFB Music)
Alina Simone, "Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware" (54/40 or Fight!)
At The Spine, "Vita" (Global Seepej)
The Bellrays, "Hot, Sweet & Sticky" (Anodyne)
Bird Names, "Open Relationship" (Unsound)
Brighton, MA, "Amateur Lovers" (Loose Tooth)
The Coast, "Expatriate" (Aporia)
Fences, "Ultimate Puke EP"
Glorytellers, "s/t" (Southern)
The Hard Lessons, "B&G Sides" (Quack)
The Interiors, "s/t" (54/40 or Fight!)
Little Pieces, "s/t" (One Eleven Records)
Love You Moon, "Waxwane" (Sargent House)
Maps and Atlases, "You and Me and the Mountain" (Sargent House)
Miss TK and the Revenge, "No Biterz"
Musee Mechanique, "Hold This Ghost" (Frog Stand)
Neva Dinova, "You May Already Be Dreaming" (Saddle Creek)
Origami Ghosts, "Short Momentum"
Polite Sleeper, "Seens" (Sabotage)
Say Hi, "The Wishes and the Glitch" (Euphobia Records)
The Seabellies, "Prairie"
Starflyer 59, "Dial M for Murder" (Tooth and Nail)
Stepsonday, "s/t" (One Eleven Records)
Women, "s/t" (Jagjaguwar)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
NEW JACKIE AND DEBRA !!
Comedy genius John Roberts is back with a brand new Jackie and Debra video!! You know him from his original characters and videos like "The Christmas Tree","The Phone Call", "Mother's Day" "Make Your Mom Proud" and more, and we're here to tell you that this video does NOT disappoint! John's videos have proven to be youtube sensations, receiving 4millions views and counting. Want to see him in person? Coming up in NYC, John Roberts will perform Dec 17 and 18 at Comix with an original John Roberts Holiday Show!
Friday, October 31, 2008
RIOT ACT MEDIA, NOVEMBER 2008: CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP!
RIOT ACT MEDIA, NOVEMBER 2008: MATT AND KIM, WOMEN, EUGENE MIRMAN, STARFLYER 59, ORIGAMI GHOSTS, LOCH LOMOND, OLIVIA WINGATE ARTISTS, ROCK BIBLE, THE SEABELLIES, FENCES, AND MORE!
Great holy goodness, it’s NOVEMBER! Election month! Thankgsiving month, featuring babies in turkey costumes! Month of flaming fall foliage and mufflers and mittens and shorter days and longer nights. As per usual, there is MUY MUCH GOODNESS going on in the Riot Act family, which I shant preface at length but instead will, in the immortal words of Cherish, “DO IT TO IT.”
Firstly, Matt and Kim have officially announced the release of their amazing new LP, “Grand”!! Recorded over a nine-month period in Matt's childhood bedroom in Vermont, 'Grand' stands to be the duo's most compelling work to date. Matt self-produced the entire record paying attention to every detail with meticulous precision, achieving production that Matt and Kim had never had, yet every track is still very Matt and Kim. 'Grand' will be released Jan 20 2009 in conjunction with FADER label. The lightning in the bottle? Matt and Kim will be bringing their elated live show worldwide as they plan to tour nonstop throughout 2009. Contact Sheila@riotactmedia.com.
Jagjaguwar recording artists Women continue to tour the states in support of their eponymous debut CD, out now. The band killed it at CMJ, and have been killing it (does that meant that the “it” is double-dead?) on the road with King Khan and BBQ Show and Dungen. Women will tour throughout the Midwest and west coast this month, so keep checking the tours page for details on the band about whom Pitchfork says, “Women has the cool, hard weight of something created under duress. You're reminded of how This Heat recorded their songs in a meat factory; Women’s cover-- a creepily synchronized group tai chi exercise-- recalls the sleeves for Reagan-era punk, released at a time when everything seemed vaguely politicized.” Contact Joan@riotactmedia.com.
Speaking of touring, Loch Lomond, Portland-based new additions to the Riot Act family, are touring the east coast with The Decemberists this month! The chamber pop septet, who just finished recording their stunning new LP at Type Foundry also just unveiled the new Alicia J. Rose-directed video for “Blue Lead Fences”, the debut single of their new album (release date and title TBD.) Creepily compelling and visually arresting, the lo-fi, hi-awesome video casts the band as a wayward cult headed to their certain watery doom. Contact Joan@riotactmedia.com.
If you live in Baltimore, Philly, Seattle or Portland, you’re in superluck because Henry Owings is coming to your town on his book tour in support of “CHUNKLET Presents: Henry Owings’ Rock Bible”. Get yourself a copy of the hilarious rulebook that's full of dos and don’ts for musicians, wannabe musicians, and rock fans of all ages. It features essays from Patton Oswalt, Brian Teasley, and Andrew Earles--and the Rock Bible is available now via Quirk Books. There’s a tremendous new issue of Chunklet out, too! (www.chunklet.com) Contact Joan@riotactmedia.com.
No one understands the complexities of modern life better than Eugene Mirman- claims comedian Eugene Mirman-and anyone seeking guidance from a man who has lived through everything (except the Great Depression, the Spanish-American War, and Jerry Lee Lewis's sex scandal) won't resist his charmingly hysterical guidebook, 'THE WILL TO WHATEVS: A Guide to Modern Life', out this February. He has written an absurdly funny book with advice on everything from how to find love, get a job, or make a baby cry (very easy) and much, much, much, much more. For those of you in Chicago, go to Lakeshore Theater on Nov 7 & 8 and become part of history when Eugene performs and records his new comedy album! Contact Sheila@riotactmedia.com.
Congratulations to The Seabellies, who came to the US and conquered CMJ! The Australian six piece played their first US show ever to a packed audience at the Fader Fort last Friday, leaving QRO Magazine no choice but to name The Seabellies "Best New Band"! Everywhere they played, they made immediate fans and lots of them, so good on ya, Seabellies! We shall see you next time. Please come back soon! Contact Sheila@riotactmedia.com.
Reggie Watts and Tom Allen are just two of the many, many talented comedians represented by the amazing Olivia Wingate Artists, both of whom made their mark last week in NYC. Reggie is featured in this month’s “Genius” issue of Esquire, and after one of his amazing CMJ performances, The Tripwire said: “Who is Reggie Watts and why have I never heard of this guy before? His performance was the essence of CMJ, the essence of discovery that the festival used to be known for. He was like Flight of the Concords meets Rahzel. This guy is a serious personality who I can see inhabiting the role of Michael Showalter and/or Rhys Darby sometime soon.” Tom Allen, winner of the BBC New Comedy Awards, was just over from the UK to perform his hilarious "A Voyage Around My Mother" to a full house at NY’s Upright Citizens Brigade. Keep checking riotactmedia.blogspot.com for more news from the world of Matt McCarthy, John Roberts, God's Pottery, Adira Amram and more. Contact Sheila@riotactmedia.com and Joan@riotactmedia.com about Olivia’s roster.
Actually, this falls under the “more” category: for lucky New Yorkers, on November 12th (8PM, Bowery Poetry Club), FATSMILES will incorporate the best in UK and US standup and video comedy with live music for a one-time only event. Each night will be unique event, with a new host and comedy collaborations, along with screening of new videos from acclaimed and emerging artists from around the world. Some past FATSMILES performances include: DAVID CROSS, SARAH SILVERMAN (the Sarah Silverman Program), TODD BARRY, JUDAH FRIEDLANDER (30 Rock), HEATHER LAWLESS (Be Kind Rewind), LEO ALLEN, EUGENE MIRMAN, JOHN MULANEY, LAURA KRAFFT (Colbert Report), CHELSEA PERETTI, REGGIE WATTS, GOD’S POTTERY, JOHN ROBERTS, KURT BRAUNOHLER and ADIRA AMRAM. Contact Joan@riotactmedia.com.
Starflyer 59 just released the excellent new Dial "M" For Murder" LP, out now on Tooth and Nail. This is a gorgeous, deeply personal album for the band's vocalist, producer and songwriter, Jason Martin. Somber, yet reflective, mournful, yet hopeful, atmospheric and haunting, this is Martin at his sleeve–wearing finest--and the band has also taken a completely different turn in terms of production: instead of any sense of drive to the guitar sounds, SF59 goes the opposite direction, which proves to be a wondrous decision. Mr. M. and company rely heavily on assorted analog keys and synths, with a sprinklings of acoustic guitar (there are even tracks without any guitar at all---very different for SF59). Buzzgrinder says: "We got all tingly when we heard the album's first single, 'Brightest of the Head'." Contact Joan@riotactmedia.com.
Origami Ghosts are gearing up for the January release of their new full-length, “Short Momentum”! Melodic, catchy, pop and soul hooks, quirky–good reverb–soaked vocal melodies, warm and sailing cello sounds, and thumping drum beats abound on the album, which was produced by Kevin Suggs (Cat Power, Goodness) and mastered by Kramer (Galaxie 500, Low, etc.) . The Paris-by way of Seattle-based band, fronted by pop mastermind Jean Paul Scesniak, will be announcing some dates soon, so stay tuned! Contact Joan@riotactmedia.com.
That’s mostly it for now, friends! Whew--and until next time, adieu.
Madd love.
Joan & Sheila
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
HAPPY RELEASE DAY, BRIGHTON MA !!
Chicago's Brighton MA release their debut full length 'Amateur Lovers' today on WIndy City label Loose Tooth Records! Sprung from the ashes of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Brighton MA is led by notable frontman and songwriter Matt Kerstein, who Chicago Innerview recently noted "has always been one of the most talented songwriters in Chicago, bar none.” WIth 'Amateur Lovers', BMA take it up a notch with an lp penned by Kerstein and his fellow former SYGC bandmates which tells of struggle and confusion, hope and redemption, shifting mid-album from a lightness to a darkness. An album which MusicFor-Robots recently noted as having “Everything is in its place, but satisfyingly askew.” Brighton MA just played a smashing set at CMJ and look forward to their upcoming November shows in support of 'Amateur Lovers'.
11/4 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar *free
11/5 - St Louis, MO @ Cicero's
11/6 – Indianapolis, IN @ Indy CD and Vinyl –Instore, 5pm
11/6 - Indianapolis, IN @ Melody Inn
11/7 - Madison, WI @ Café Montmartre
11/9 – Chicago, IL @ Reckless Records, Wicker Park Instore, 4pm
12/13 - Chicago, IL @ Cubby Bear *WXRT Local Anesthetic Event
Monday, October 27, 2008
STARFLYER 59's "DIAL M FOR MARTIN" IS OUT TODAY!!!
Somber, yet reflective, mournful, yet hopeful, atmospheric and haunting, this is Martin at his sleeve–wearing finest--and the band has also taken a completely different turn in terms of production: instead of any sense of drive to the guitar sounds, SF59 goes the opposite direction, which proves to be a wondrous decision. Mr. M. and company rely heavily on assorted analog keys and synths, with a sprinklings of acoustic guitar (there are even tracks without any guitar at all---very different for SF59).
Buzzgrinder says: "We got all tingly when we heard the album’s first single, 'Brightest of the Head'."
Soul Audio says: "OIt’s an album that draws you in from beginning to end, inviting you on the journey, the musings, the memorials, everything that Martin wants to share with the listener. It’s a must-own for anyone who is a fan of thoughtful, well crafted rock music and a sign that Martin is far from being past his prime."
LINKS:
http://www.riotactmedia.com/artist_starflyer59.php
http://www.invisiblecreature.com/clients/dialm/
Look for the band soon in Alternative Press, Skyscraper, Cokemachineglow, Buzzgrinder and more! For interviews, etc., contact Joan@riotactmedia.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LOCH LOMOND DEBUTS NEW VIDEO FOR “BLUE LEAD FENCES”; SUPPORTS THE DECEMBERISTS ON TOUR, FINISHES NEW FULL-LENGTH
October 27, 2008. Portland, OR: Loch Lomond, long a fixture of the Portland music landscape, is unveiling the debut music video from their upcoming full-length (title TBD), “Blue Lead Fences”, today on both YouTube and the band’s website, www.lochlomondmusic.com.
Shot entirely on Super 8 over a lush August weekend at Milo Mciver State Park in Estacada, Oregon, the video is an eerie lo-fi masterpiece casting the co-ed chamber pop septet as a wayward cult on a determined journey toward a watery end. The directorial debut of music industry veteran and acclaimed photographer Alicia J. Rose (aliciajrosephotography.com), the video is visually arresting — saturated with muted pastels - and haunting in its rhythmic serenity, right down to the moment of doom.
“Blue Lead Fences” is a perfectly-timed video debut, as Loch Lomond is embarking as main support on an East Coast tour with hometown comrades The Decemberists starting on December 5th at Terminal 5 in New York City. The band has just finished recording their newest and as yet untitled full-length at Type Foundry in Portland, with engineer/studio owner Adam Selzer (Norfolk & Western) and producer and Loch Lomond bassist Dave Depper. “Blue Lead Fences” is the album’s first single, and is a gorgeous and dark meditation, replete with staccato violins, soaring choral melodies, and vocalist Ritchie Young’s signature thunderous-then-glassy-fragile leads.
VIDEO LINK:
www.lochlomondmusic.com
OR:
YouTube!
LOCH LOMOND WITH THE DECEMBERISTS:
11/5 New York, NY - Terminal 5
11/6 Boston, MA - The Orpheum
11/7 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
11/8 Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live
11/9 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University, Barton Hall
11/11 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
11/24 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
11/25 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
11/29 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
Thursday, October 16, 2008
RIOT ACT AT CMJ !
As you all know, CMJ hits next week and Riot Act has some awesome acts heading to NYC so take note! I will also be in town for the festivities and I will most certainly be hitting a ton of shows, hope to see you at some of these...
-Sheila
- THE SEABELLIES -
Fri 10/24 @ FADER Fort, 3pm
Fri 10/24 @ 92Y , 9pm
Sat 10/25 @ The Bell House, 8pm
Mon 10/27 @ Pianos, 9:30pm
“An incredibly entertaining live act” – The Herald
- BRIGHTON MA -
Thurs 10/23 @ Arlene Grocery, 10pm
"Rising from the ashes of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, these locals put an anthemic spin on Dylan and Wilco circa Mermaid Ave" - Time Out Chicago
/
- GOD'S POTTERY -
Tues 10/21 @ Bitter End
“If Christianity were always this funny, I'd go to church" - The Guardian
- ALINA SIMONE -
Wed 10/22 - After The Jump Festival @ Knitting Factory, 11pm
Fri 10/24 @ Pianos, 5pm
"dazzlingly raw, slinky and tough" - Metro Times
- THE COAST -
Sat 10/25 @ Rehab, 11pm
"Canada's Best Kept Secret" - MTV
- TOM ALLEN -
Sat 10/25 @ Upright Citizens Brigade, 7:30
Winner of the BBC New Comedy Awards and So You Think You’re Funny Fresh from Radio 4’s Bleak Expectations and The Correspondent
- WOMEN -
Sun 10/19 @ Cake Shop
Tues 10/21 @ Cake Shop Pop Tarts Suck Toasted Party
Tues 10/21 @ Cake Shop KCRW Party
Wed 10/22 @ Cake Shop Terrorbird Party
Wed 10/22 @ Cake Shop Subbacultcha! Showcase
Thurs 10/23 @ Don Pedro's MyOpenBar.com Party
Fri 10/24 @ Market Hotel Tood P NYC Party
Sat 10/25 @ Glasslands Paste/ R5 Party
Women has the cool, hard weight of something created under duress. You're reminded of how This Heat recorded their songs in a meat factory; Women’s cover-- a creepily synchronized group tai chi exercise-- recalls the sleeves for Reagan-era punk, released at a time when everything seemed vaguely politicized."- Pitchfork
- SCISSORS FOR LEFTY -
Thurs 10/23 @ Crash Mansion, 7pm
Fri 10/24 @ Ace Of Clubs, midnight
"So cheerily unpretentious, it's almost irresistible" - SPIN
- WALLPAPER -
Tues 10/21 @ Santos Party House
Thurs 10/23 @ Webster Hall
Fri 10/24 @ Le Royale
"Best Party Band" - SF Weekly
Thursday, October 2, 2008
RIOT ACT ROCKTOBER: OH, WHOA!
The leaves are turning, the candy's on sale, and the many—splendored fruits of our artists' labors are being harvested this month at Riot Act! Holy stromboli, is there lots to talk about.
Portlanders are lucky, because on October 18th, ALL GIRL SUMMER FUN BAND is playing their record release show for their brand—new, self—released full length, Looking Into It, at Backspace! AGSFB aren't going to be playing many shows, so get yrself to this one in order to see jams from the record about which Pitchfork noted, "AGSFB are at their best when blowing through their songs with freight—train velocity, bouncing along with their plucky bass throb and joyously wild drumming". Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
THE COAST just wrapped their US tour (which included shows with buddies Tokyo Police Club, Dressy Bessy and Born Ruffians ) in support of their amazing first full length, Expatriate, and now have their sights set on Europe where they are off to next! Fear not though, the four Toronto gents will be back for some more US shows, including CMJ and some early November dates. Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
Get ready, America. THE SEABELLIES are soon to make their debut on your shores! The six piece from New South Wales, Australia are anxious to
arrive in NYC for their first shows for US audiences. The Seabellies, who have played down under with the likes of Beck and Gnarls Barkley and who The Herald call "An incredibly entertaining live act" and Beat Magazine say play "Fevered pop with a fierce romantic heart" have a nice line up of shows during CMJ and will be sharing stages with Blackstrap and Radio 4. This is the band you will be talking about that you saw "back when". Promise. Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
Jagjaguwar artists WOMEN release their self—titled debut full—length on October 7th, and have a massive number of worldwide tour dates booked in support of the release! The band is set to tour the US this October and November, playing some dates with Dungen, King Khan & BBQ Show, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and The Beets. Listen to their "Black Rice" single at Myspace , and understand why Pitchfork says of the band, "noisy jangle straddles the 1960s' divide between the Warhol crowd's speed—addled New York cynicism and the echoes of psychedelic San Francisco that bubbled up across the pond in the fey, catchy pop of UK groups like the Zombies." Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
STARFLYER 59 are releasing their newest full—length, Dial M For Murder, on Tooth and Nail October 28th! Songwriter Jason Martin's newest is perhaps his most personal and introspective record to date; it's Starflyer 59 at its heart—on—sleeve—wearing finest. It's somber, reflective, mournful and hopeful, and is heavy on the analog keys and synths, with only sprinkles of acoustic guitar. Dates will be announced soon, so stay tuned! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
Happy Record Release Week, MUSÉE MÉCANIQUE! 'Hold This Ghost' is now available on Frog Stand Records and the Portland group is on tour now in support of it. Reports from the road find Musee Mecanique and their stageful of glockenspiels, accordions, pianos, musical saws, strings, woodwinds, and garage synthesizers inspiring awe from the audiences. A "Dreamlike" album (Venus) and equally breathtaking live show "Like the French duo Air, Musée Mécanique creates far—reaching songs out of a host of disparate instruments" (Willamette Week). Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
AT THE SPINE are about to play their record release show for Vita (Global Seepej) on October 10th at the Sunset in their hometown of Seattle! Seattle Weekly explains of the record, which was crafted after singer Mike Toschi experienced the trials and tribulations of living in Europe as a Bush administration—era American, "Just as the European lifestyle moves at a slower pace than Americans are accustomed to, crossing continents slowed things down for At the Spine frontman Mike Toschi as well. Vita is definitely the band's quietest record to date, and while the revolutionary, introspective lyrics and badass breakdowns are still present, they, too, travel at a more leisurely pace." More dates should be announced soon! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
POLITE SLEEPER are playing in Brooklyn at Southpaw on October 15th before heading off to Europe! You don't want to miss the band, a post—folk mess with a live reputation that shakes like Elvis. From folk to country and the proud scars of punk, the band turns soft lullabies and the occasional sing—a—long into a spectacle no one ever expects from an acoustic trio. Check our TOURS PAGE for more info! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
Hey NY peeps! Tune in to Good Day New York / Fox 5 Thursday, October 2 to catch the amazing John Roberts. You know him from his brilliant YouTube sketches, and I almost guarantee you have forwarded his videos to your friends, including Kelly "Let me borrow that top!" and "Shoes!" and his Emmy and Christmas Tree—proud Mom——now you'll see the brilliant talent behind the wigs. And joining him on—set? His Mom! Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
Comedian Reggie Watts was just featured in the "Genius" issue of Esquire, on newsstands 11/1! Look for him at Joe's Pub in NYC on October 12th with Kristen Schaal. More news on Reggie coming soon! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
FENCES are set to self—release their debut, "The Ultimate Puke EP", which is a hauntingly beautiful thing, expertly and effortlessly written. Conjured and recorded in songwriter Chris Mansfield's apartment, each song is plaintive and soulfully raw in the way the best spontaneous songs are—they're melodies with immediacy and urgency. You can hear just how close the mouth is to the mic on "The Knees": Mansfield is near whisper as his beloved slept in the adjacent room. Quiet and delicate though some parts of Fences' music may be, the music is a stark contrast to Chris's seemingly tough exterior. More shows will be announced soon—for now, their CD release show is October 2nd at Chop Suey in Seattle! Their powerful, intimate, tough live show is not to be missed. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
BRIGHTON, MA will be kicking off their tour on October 11 with a huge Record Release Show at Chicago's Metro! Led by the incredible Matt Kerstein (Scotland Yard Gospel Choir), who Chicago Innerview recently noted "has always been one of the most talented songwriters in Chicago,
bar none", Brighton MA have announced tour dates in support of their debut full length, 'Amateur Lovers' which includes a stop at the DayTrotter studios to record a session. Until the album's Oct 28 release, you can help yourself to a free download of the single "Underground" at the band's site and check out their Rhapsody Originals. Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
Funny lady Adira Amram is performing a one—woman show called "Adira Amram is: An American Idol" at Ars Nova in NYC October 8th! The show is a Pop Comedy spectacle featuring a live band and real live backup dancers! Donned in outfits that tip the scale of fabulocity, Adira Amram and her gang will rock you. Get ready to get leotarded. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
If you have not seen THE INTERIORS onstage yet, get thee to their shows! They are on tour now ripping it up on stages across the east and are heading south for their first time. The crowds just keep growing at every show as The Interiors fire through their sets with a guitar—driven ferocity. See for yourself here!
then get to their shows to see for yourself live! Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
HENRY OWINGS is announcing his first round of appearances on this fall's book tour in support of Chunklet Presents: Henry Owings' ROCK BIBLE (Quirk Books). Aside from having just published the latest (and 20th!) issue of Chunklet, releasing an incredible split 7" from Zach Galifianakis and Ted Leo, and all manner of other awesome endeavors, Henry's hitting Seattle, Portland, Philly, Baltimore, Chicago and other towns soon in support of the book! Also, Chunklet Magazine is throwing down this October for their 15th anniversary ——The 15th Anniversary Shindig Extravaganza Events are to be held October 10 and 11 at the fabulous 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia. The first event, on Friday the 10th, will feature comedian Brent Weinback and Deerhunter with special guests Twin Tigers (Athens, GA) and Gentlemen Jesse and His Men (Atlanta, GA). The second night will pair Brian Posehn with Atlanta's Mastodon with special guest LA's It's Casual. Check our TOURS PAGE for details, and order your copy of the Rock Bible now via www.quirkbooks.com! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
New York, you are lucky to be the host of an amazing concert! October 7th, The Music Hall of Williamsburg will host the BARACKROCK BENEFIT featuring a great number of comedians from Olivia Wingate Artists as well as some awesome music! Performing will be Eugene Mirman, Adira Amram, Kumail Nanjiani, Lizz Winstead, John Roberts, Martin Bisi, The Fiery Furnaces, ALINA SIMONE, Andrew Bird, Guster, Heather Lawless, Les Savy Fav Acoustic Spectacular, Josh Hamilton, and Super Special Secret Musical Guests (order of appearance tba). ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN! There'll be the Stage for Change, where 7 Musical Acts and 7 Speaking Acts will be Hyping the Hope. There'll be the Obama Room where you can watch the debate, register to vote, and sign up for Specific Volunteer Actions! Let's make these last days count! Buy Tickets at the Mercury Lounge or MHOW Box Offices, or online. COMEDY! MUSIC! ACTION! Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
INTIMIDNATION plush artist Laura Granlund has a show in San Francisco opening October 10th called "Monster Rally"! The show, which is at Gallery 1988, is (you guessed it) monster—themed, and is not to be missed. One of Ms. Granlund's pieces is an amazing six—legged plush alligatoresque monster. That same day, Granlund's work will be featured as a Seattle show called "Plush You!" opens. She's created a hilariously wonderful creature called Pucker Duck, which is a multicolored puckering duck made of fleece and felt. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
SAY HI, aka Eric Elbogen, is currently throwin' down on a full US tour! If you haven't caught him yet as he plays in support of his latest release, The Wishes and The Glitch (Euphobia Records), now's the time indeed. He'll be headed down the east coast, into the south and back up to the pacific northwest this fall! Harp Magazine online said of Say Hi live, "he mixture of electro beats, simple yet catchy sequences and hypnotic drumming combined with Elbogen's tongue in cheek lyrics (who else signs about meeting a girl in the Laundromat and commenting that her "soap technique is pretty ill"?) and flawless delivery made for a great performance." Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
MISS TK AND THE REVENGE are also playing live this month—check our TOURS PAGE for details! If you haven't seen the powerhouse go—go goodness that is MTKR, we urge you to attend. Warning: bring yr dancing shoes; these shows will be total throw—downs. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com.
Monday, September 29, 2008
BarackRock Obama Benefit with SuperStar LineUp Oct 7
OCT 7th, THE MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG WILL HOST BARACKROCK BENEFIT !
Andrew Bird / Eugene Mirman / The Fiery Furnaces / Kumail Nanjiani / Alina Simone / Heather Lawless / Guster / Lizz Winstead / Martin Bisi / John Roberts / Adira Amram /Les Savy Fav Acoustic Spectacular / Josh Hamilton reading George Saunders' New Yorker piece on Sarah Palin / Special Secret Musical Guests (order of appearance tba) ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN! There'll be the Stage for Change, where 7 Musical Acts and 7 Speaking Acts will be Hyping the Hope. There'll be the Obama Room where you can watch the debate, register to vote, and sign up for Specific Volunteer Actions! (Volunteer! Volunteer!) Let's make these last days count! Buy Tickets at the Mercury Lounge or MHOW Box Office or Online Here
MUSIC! COMEDY! ACTION!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
LISTEN TO SAY HI ON FEARLESS RADIO TODAY!
To listen: www.fearlessradio.com - choose Listen Live Stream
Call Say Hi in the studio: 312/224-8273
IM us during the show: fearlessradio00 on AIM & Yahoo; fearlessradio on MSN.
AWESOME!!!! YEAH!
Monday, September 22, 2008
GOOD OLD WAR NEED YOUR VOTE !!
Good Old War's oustanding video for "Coney Island" awaits your vote, America! Good Old War's gorgeous, brand new album 'Only Way To Be Alone' includes the ever-catchy single "Coney Island" and their video is featured on MTVu Freshmen this week. Thousands of you sang along to this song every single night of their recent tour and now you can vote for Good Old War and to get their video kicked into rotation on MTVu. Consider it good practice for November. Now get out there and VOTE!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
ANNOUNCING NEW ADDITIONS TO THE RIOT ACT GANG: STARFLYER 59, FENCES, and INTIMIDNATION!
We're elated to let you in, from now on, on the raddest news from not one, not two, but THREE new clients: Starflyer 59, Fences, and Intimidnation! Here's the preliminary scoop:
Starflyer 59's new album, "Dial M", comes out on 10/28 on Tooth and Nail. Somber, yet reflective, mournful, yet hopeful, this is prolific and incredible songwriter Jason Martin at his sleeve-wearing finest. Feeling speaks first here above all else, but just don’t expect him to trade songwriting or sonic surprise for sentiment. And there is more than one dose of the unexpected here: instead of any sense of drive to the guitar sounds, SF59 goes the
opposite direction, which proves to be a wondrous decision; Mr. M. and company (the title refers to him, fyi) rely heavily on assorted analog keys and synths, with a sprinkling of acoustic guitar. There are even tracks without any guitar at all.
Seattle's Fences release their debut, "The Ultimate Puke EP", on October 2nd, and are playing a show at Seattle's Chop Suey on that day to launch everything into the stratosphere. It is a hauntingly beautiful thing, expertly and effortlessly written. Conjured and recorded in Chris Mansfield’s (Mansfield was a student of jazz at the Berklee College of Music when he met his roommate, who played acoustic guitar and wrote terribly sad songs. Inspired by John’s musical musings, Chris sold his upright bass for $5,000, used some of that money to buy an acoustic guitar, then spent the next year wrestling his personal demons.) apartment, each song is plaintive and soulfully raw in the way the best spontaneous songs are—they’re melodies with immediacy and urgency.
Plush company Intimidnation is the brainchild of artist Laura Granlund, whose incredible plush creations, illustrations and paintings will blow your mind with their cuteness. Her flagship creation is a tremendous little guy named Mr. Beardsley--Mr. Beardsley slightly resembles a monkey, wears different disguises, and has a removable beard. HE HAS A REMOVABLE BEARD. Laura is showing new pieces in San Francisco's Gallery 1988, as part of "Monster Art Rally", a monster-themed plush and custom vinyl show that runs October 10 - November 1, 2008. The opening reception for the show is on Friday, October 10th from 7-10PM. She's also featured in Seattle's "Plush You!" show this fall--more on that soon!
HOORAY! MORE SOON!!! xo
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
GOOD OLD WAR STREET DEBUT LP, MAKE TV DEBUT !
Hot on the heels of their gigantic, sold out US tour and big release day for their amazing debut lp 'Only Way To Be Alone', Good Old War are making their television debut this week. Be sure to tune in as the Good Old War gents play Last Call With Carson Daly tomorrow night! They will be accompanying featured guest Anthony Green on two songs. Anthony Green appears on Good Old War's lp and is featured on the track "Weak Man" which you can here here "Weak Man" 'Only Way To Be Alone' is available today on Sargent House and they have announced a handful of October shows - GOOD OLD WAR check it!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ANNOUNCING DAVE DEPPER AND JOAN HILLER’S ENGAGEMENT TO BE MARRIED!
SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2008, PORTLAND, OR: Mr. Dave Depper of Portland, Oregon and Ms. Joan Hiller, formerly and recently of Seattle, WA are beyond psyched and proud to announce their engagement to be married to family, friends and the entire universe at large on this very eve. At approximately 6:09 PM on Saturday, September 13th, 2008, in the midst of a beautifully arduously steep, mossy, pebbly and magical hike in Portland’s gorgeous Forest Park, and following many gaspy laughs and hi-fives regarding a number of playfully hypothetical wedding-related quips quipped by the two, the couple stopped dead in their tracks, faced face-to-face, and both silently thought, whilst smiling widely at the other, “Oh, shit! Is this…..?”
Of course, it was indeed the moment of the querying of the question. Mr. Depper, man of all men that he is, did the wise and tremendous thing and asked Ms. Hiller, both smiling ear-to-ear, “Should I be crazy right now? I mean, should I do something crazy?”, to which Ms. Hiller applied, “Dude, yes?!?!”. After gape-mouth, pie-eyed smiling and additional generalized freakout seriousness, Mr. Depper held Ms. Hiller, got on his knees, looked her square in her brown eyes from his, and proposed a proposal: “Joan Hiller, I love you. Will you marry me?” Ms. Hiller, who knew as well as Mr. Depper did that the answer would be “yes”, said, “YES” and fell to her knees, after which the newly-engaged couple made out joyously and with a tremendously ecstatic fervor for a good minute or few until a mid-sized herd of soccer moms, newborns in tow, came upon them. Said soccer moms clapped, took photos, and ooooohed and ahhhhhed in unison while Mr. Depper yelled, thumbs up and fake drawl activated, “I got me one!”
And thusly, both he and Ms. Hiller had indeed gotten themselves one. Or, two. Whichever way you count it. As the sun set on the horizon above Mt. Hood, Ms. Hiller and Mr. Depper continued on their hike until they found themselves in front of one of the fanciest restaurants in all of Portland, wearing their hiking clothing. The underwhelmed waitress asked if the couple could be helped, and Mr. Depper exclaimed, “We just got engaged, and we want a drink!”,and the two were promptly seated and gifted with fine, free champagne and a really fancy chocolate torte dessert, also on the house. It was delicious to them, and they don’t even like chocolate. They also enjoyed oysters on the half shell with a vinaigrette reduction. Afterwards, they retreated home to change, then ate engagement nachos at Dot’s, which is a fine place at which to have such a thing. Since, they have been blowing peoples’ minds by screaming news of their upcoming wedding and inspiring the uninspirable with the immense, irrepressible, irreversibly incredible nature of their love, which shall bloom forever as the mae-shoo blossoms bloom on the eves of the days of their birth, yearly, into eternity.
Speaking of days of birth, Mr. Depper and Ms. Hiller have set their wedding date as September 8th, 2009---that is Ms. Hiller’s 30th birthday, on the dot (which, if you’ll remember from earlier, is where the engagement nachos came from.) Between now and then, the couple will rent their first home together, go on a vacation to Oahu, do publicity for several amazing bands and comedians as well as paint and write about food and think about how incredibly lucky she is on the one end, and go on tour with Loch Lomond, Norfolk & Western and Jolie Holland while birthing into the world two of the most incredible albums either PDX band hath ever produced, as well as think about how incredibly lucky he is on the other end. The wedding will probably be in the morning and involve a brunch trench, several bands and a goodly amount of bacon, karaoke and mint gum.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS, PHOTOS OR MORE, CONTACT JOAN HILLER @ RIOT ACT MEDIA DOT COM.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
THE EUGENE MIRMAN COMEDY FESTIVAL! Sept 25-28
The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival is a celebration of the comedians that Eugene Mirman enjoys who happen to be available from 9/25 – 9/28. The Brooklyn-based festival, which is the first event on American soil to be both completely ironic while absolutely sincere, will finally blur the line between art and entertainment. Sponsored by Sub Pop Records and The Onion and produced by Julie Smith and Eugene Mirman, the festival will blah blah blah blah blah blah. Some of the comedians performing include: Eugene Mirman, Michael Showalter, The Sklar Brothers, John Oliver, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Greg Johnson, Larry Murphy, Kumail Nanjiani, ChelseaPeretti, AndreaRosen, HeatherLawless, RonLynch, Fred Armisen, Jon Benjamin, Shonali Bhomik, Todd Barry, Morgan Murphy, Tig Notaro, Bobby Tisdale, Seth Herzog,
Dave Hill, Andy Blitz, Katty Biscone, David Wain, Craig Baldo, Hannibal Buress, Leo Allen, Matt Price, Patrick Borelli, John Roberts, Janeane Garofalo and special guests.
Schedule:
Sep 25 - 8:00pm - The Bell House (Opening Night Awards Gala)
Sep 26 - 9:00pm - The Bell House (Invite Them Up)
Sep 26 - 5:30pm - Union Hall (Eugene Mirman's Fresh Faces of Comedy)
Sep 26 - 7:00pm - Union Hall (One of Each)
Sep 27 - 2:00pm - The Bell House (Apartment 2F Reunion)
Sep 27 - 9:00pm - The Bell House (The Very Best Supporting Television Cast Members Live)
Sep 27 - 5:30pm - Union Hall (Jon Benjamin Presents the Failed Pilots of Sam Seder)
Sep 27 - 7:00pm - Union Hall (Eugene Mirman's Fresh Faces of Comedy)
Sep 28 - 6:00pm - The Bell House (The Shac)
Sep 28 - 9:00pm - The Bell House (Tearing The Veil of Maya, Closing Ceremonies)
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
HENRY OWINGS' ROCK BIBLE IS #1 IN SEVERAL ABSURD CATEGORIES ON AMAZON!
ALINA SIMONE ON DAYTROTTER!
Go to Daytrotter today to listen to the riveting session Alina recorded for them earlier this summer!! The session features songs from Alina's acclaimed new album 'Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware' as well as a number from her debut lp 'Placelessness' and a track which will be on her forthcoming full length. Alina Simone past, present, future...
Alina Simone Daytrotter Session
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
RIOT ACT MEDIA: SEPTEMBER 2008
Greetings and Salutations, friends and compatriots! It's September (where did the summer go??), and as per always, we've got tons of news to report from across the roster, detailed below. Plus, we'd love to introduce our newest roster additions, Polite Sleeper, The Seabellies and boutique plush company Intimidnation! Check the Riot Act Blog for even more news--and please note that the Seattle office has now moved to Portland, Oregon!
Those Philly gents in GOOD OLD WAR continue their trek across the States selling out shows all over the place. 'Only Way To Be Alone' debuted in the top 75 in digital sales, the video for the album's first single "Coney Island" is hitting MTV2, MTVu and FUSE. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but last week they shot a video for "Weak Man" which features friend/fan/ tourmate Anthony Green on the record and in the video. You can pick up a copy of 'Only Way To Be Alone' at the show, online, and after Sept 16 you can pick it up in indie stores. Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com
Good news, West Coast! ALINA SIMONE is heading your way next month! Rest of the world, the gorgeous vinyl version of 'Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware' will be available Sept 19 via Austin based label Topple Records. Adorned with stunning original artwork by Vladimir Zimakov with gatefold and includes bonus track not found on the cd. Also, look for her Daytrotter session on Sept. 9th! Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
Seattle's AT THE SPINE are working hard, gearing up for their CD release show for 'Vita' on October 10th at the Sunset in Seattle! The band's headlining the Reverb Fest, and is prepping for a string of dates later this fall. 'Vita', out on Global Seepej, documents singer Mike Toschi's time living and teaching in Europe, where he was assaulted by five males and felt the burden of being an American abroad during the Bush administration. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
ALL GIRL SUMMER FUN BAND's 'Looking Into It' comes out on September 23rd, and boy, have they been getting the love! This is the band's first self-released full-length (it's self-recorded, too!), as well as their most ambitious and, dare we say, lyrically darker record. Still full of AGSFB jams at their rawest, 'Looking Into It' deals with themes of greed, death, getting fired, relationship dynamics and new love. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
BRIGHTON, MA is a band from Chicago led by the magnificent songwriting of Matt Kerstein. They have a record release show happening at The Metro on Oct 11 and a debut lp called 'Amateur Lovers' hitting shelves on Oct 28. Check our tour page for all their dates which includes a stop at CMJ. In the meantime, you'll hear their music on the upcoming Limewire Chicago sampler and if you are an IGO car driver, you'll hear Brighton MA in their stereos alongside Neko Case and Wilco. Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
We are psyched to work with POLITE SLEEPER, a post-folk mess with a live reputation that shakes like Elvis. From folk to country and the proud scars of punk, the band turns soft lullabies and the occasional sing-a-long into a spectacle no one ever expects from an acoustic trio.
Imagine if John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats fronted Xiu Xiu. Imagine if your next pub fight came with three-part harmonies and jazz precision. It's what happens when a bedroom side-project from former punks develops on the road and in the moment in classic DIY fashion. And with only a keyboard, banjo and pedal steel to round out each record, the Brooklyn-based trio fills up the space with personality alone. It's authentic and honest, emotional and fun. The band has spent most of their touring lives in Europe, but look for them here soon. We'll keep you posted. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
Portland's Musée Mécanique -not to be confused with SF's Musee Mecanique which is not a band- are also looking to the Fall as they map out shows in support of their gorgeous debut lp 'Hold This Ghost' including a record release show Sept 25 @ Holoscene. Early reviews are in and there is a lot of love out there for Musee! The lp drops next month, watch this space for tour dates! Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
THE INTERIORS just can't stop! They didn't let a thing like a bit of a missing finger stop 'em the day after they signed up to release their LP, and they sure aren't going to stop rockin' like there is no tomorrow! They joined fellow Chicagoans BRIGHTON, MA and Matt & Kim on a bill earlier this month and Rolling Stone was there to capture all of its furious glory. The Interiors are heading back out on tour and you need to go see them and then let us know how only three people can fill a stage with so much sound! Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
GROK is a band from London with no songs. Every time they perform, they hit the stage with no ideas except for a list of images and the Wheel of Chordal Destiny (no joke, an audience or band member spins said wheel, which determines the key the song is to be played in.) It is risky and there is the potential for it to all go badly wrong, but that is part of the fun, creating something on the spur of the moment. They have an amazing record, also all recorded off the cuff, called "Ruined Music For Everyone", and they are coming to the States soon, look out for dates. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
On tour now in support of the amazing, just-released-in-the-US lp 'Expatriate', THE COAST continue to tear it up onstage on the radio where they are charting in the Top Ten across the States! But it's not all business for this Toronto band who were named by MTV as Canada's Best Kept Secret. Just ask them about playing Rock Band til the wee hours in a hotel parking lot in Des Moines, finding out what mayhem lurks in Denver around the DNC, or hitting the casinos in Vegas with their hard earned per diems. The Coast will continue touring all Fall including CMJ and Europe. Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com.
MAPS AND ATLASES continue to tour their behinds off in support of their new EP, "You And Me And The Mountain"; they're going out on their very own headlining tour with labelmates NURSES that kicks off with two shows (early and late, same night) at Schuba's in Chicago on September 6th. After that tour, they're heading to Europe to tour with Foals! See 'em now! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
LA folks are psyched, because LOVE YOU MOON, aka Matt Embree of The Sound of Animals Fighting and RX Bandits, has a rad in-store scheduled for September 10th at Fingerprints. The band's debut, 'Waxwane', is out September 9th on Sargent House, and it's dubby, sociopolitically informed, and stripped-down to just Matt and his guitar. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
SAY HI is going on tour in further support of "The Wishes And The Glitch", and you do not not not want to miss 'em if they're anywhere near you. Eric Elbogen jumps up and down when they play now, and you will, too. Check the tour page, as dates keep getting added! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
MISS TK AND THE REVENGE are set to play some shows in the northeastern US in support of their "No Biterz" single; they'll be rippin' up the stage wherever they go, so stay tuned! Also, listen for the band's music on ABC's Samurai Girl September 5th. Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
Astounding Jajaguwar artists WOMEN are getting ready for the release of their eponymous debut, out October 7th. The band's debut was recorded by Sub Pop and Flemish Eye artist Chad VanGaalen over four months on ghettoblasters and old tape machines in his basement, an outdoor culvert and a crawlspace, and it is mindblowing. Tour news soon! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
New band alert!! The Seabellies are planning to hit US shores in October so take note! This New South Wales six piece has been burning up stages across Australia and are looking forward to bringing their Scandinavian stylings to CMJ and beyond. You are destined to hear more from The Seabellies once they are Stateside, but for a head start on this sensational group, head here! Contact sheila [at] riotactmedia.com
Awesome boutique plush company alert!! Intimidnation, founded by Chicago-based plush artist Laura Granlund, is the vehicle through which Granlund has introduced her main creation, an adorably hirsute creature named Mr. Beardsley, amongst others. You may have recently seen her dolls of Portland band The Thermals featured on Pitchfork, or her Dinosaur, Jr. Dinosaur's adventures elsewhere on the interwebs. We're psyched to spread the word, and about her show at Schmancy in Seattle on October 10th! Contact joan [at] riotactmedia.com
Much Love, Joan & Sheila
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
GOOD OLD WAR GET HYPED!
So as you all know, Good Old War are on a massive tour right now -the first three nights of which sold out and sorry LA fans, that show has been sold out for some time!- in support of their full length 'Only Way To Be Alone.' Good Old War are not only playing their own amazing set, but also playing as backing band for tourmate Anthony Green. Before their sold out Chicago gig, The Good Old War gents played a couple numbers for Fearless and you can watch them perform "Coney Island" here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9b6TlEyAhQ&feature=relate Anthony Green gives Good Old War a tremendous shout out during his interview on Fuse http://www.refused.tv/anthonygreen/ag-f-gow.mov Chances are the tour is coming to a city near you. We advise getting your tickets early! Good Old War are selling 'Only Way To Be Alone' on tour, and it is now available on iTunes.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
It’s AUGUST! The last month of Summer 2008! AND WE HAVE A BRAND NEW, FRESHLY-REDESIGNED WEBSITE launching 8/6, thanks to web genius Matthew Kopel, AKA Doctor Sandwich. Our new logo, that nice owl with teeth designed by brilliant NYC artist Lauren Asta? His name is Ernie. In alphabetical order by band, the news starts now:
ALL GIRL SUMMER FUN BAND’s forthcoming full-length, “Looking Into It”, is out on the band’s label, AGSFB music, next month, on 9/23! It’s not only a stunning pop album filled with the band’s signature crunch-fuzz guitars and dead-on melodic sense, but lyrically, AGSFB bravely confronts issues such as greed, death, getting fired, relationship dynamics, and new love. Get ready for it September 23rd.
ALINA SIMONE continues to blow up! Alina will be releasing her second LP, 'Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware' August 5th, and the critical praise has already started to come in. Just before launching her US tour, Alina was featured on NPRs Second Stage http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92677536 and SPIN featured Alina as Buzz Of The Day http://www.spin.com/articles/catch-buzz-alina-simone Time Out Chicago said "The words may be in Russian, but the emotions need no translation" while notable online LargeHeartedBoy called it "the most impressive record I have heard all year." Even Hilary Clinton's Communications Director Howard Wolfson noted Aline Simone as the artist he is listening to now in his recent interview with NY Magazine! Be sure to catch Alina on tour now and get one of her beautiful tour-only limited edition copies of 'Everyone.'
Seattle politico-rockers AT THE SPINE are gearing up to tour in support of their newest release, “Vita”, on Global Seepej, The record is bananas; it was mostly written during singer Mike Toschi’s time living and teaching in Europe, where he was jumped by five males and felt the burden of being an American trying to escape the Bush administration. Keep yr eyes on our tour page!
BRIGHTON, MA has finished their new full-length, “Amateur Lovers”, which’ll be out on Loose Tooth Records this November! It’s an expansive thing, drawing from singer Matthew Kerstein’s past. Keep your eyes peeled for BMA dates…
CHUNKLET PRESENTS: HENRY OWINGS’ ROCK BIBLE is out on Quirk Books this October, and word is already spreading that the book is brilliant and hilarious. “The Rock Bible” is gorgeous to hold, too—it’s leather bound, and looks like, err, a Bible, complete with bookmarker ribbon. VICE says, “every single sentence in it is 100% dead on.” It’s THE word on rock music and culture from an insider’s perspective, going waaaaay above and beyond those drummer jokes we all know and love. Order your copy now—not from us, from Quirk or yr rad local book/magazine/comics store. (www.quirkbooks.com)
THE COAST have more hot US dates coming up in support of their forthcoming debut! 'Expatriate' isn't out for a few wks yet, but The Coast keep US audiences warmed up with dates showcasing album tracks and the release of the Tightrope 7" with bside remix by Tokyo Police Club, with whom they'll share upcoming shows... Plus dates with Born Ruffians. We just love these guys and soon you'll also know why MTV calls The Coast "Canada's Best Kept Secret!"
We’ve just started working with genius Christian acoustic folk comedy duo GOD’S POTTERY; if you haven’t seen them on Last Comic Standing or on Comedy Central, perhaps watch this YouTube clip of “Jesus I Need A Drink” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4fzgVP3OgY), or, better yet, if you live in LA, see them at Spaceland on August 9th.
GOOD OLD WAR, featuring former Days Away members Keith Goodwin and Tim Arnold with Daniel Schwartz of Unlikely Cowboy, have their awesome debut LP, 'Only Way To Be Alone', ready for release! Recorded with Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), longtime friends Anthony Green of Circa Survive and Dave Davison from Maps & Atlases are also featured on the album. The result is a beautiful, back-to-basics affair that's sure to satisfy Days Away fans who have been anxious for this new band formation. At the Bamboozle Festival, the huge crowd that had gathered for GOW's set sang along to every word. Don't miss them on tour now! Many of the shows are sold-out, so be sure to get your tix so you're not left out!
GROK is a band we’ve just now started to work with, and boy, are we lucky to. Grok are from London, and are a band with no songs. Every time they perform, they hit the stage with no ideas except for a list of images and the Wheel of Chordal Destiny (no joke, an audience or band member spins said wheel, which determines the key the song is to be played in.) It is risky and there is the potential for it to all go badly wrong, but that is part of the fun, creating something on the spur of the moment. They have an amazing record, also all recorded off the cuff, called “Ruined Music For Everyone”, and they are coming to the States soon—look out for dates, and in the meantime, listen here: http://www.myspace.com/grokmusic.
Last weekend, THE HARD LESSONS played the holy heck out of their record release show! It was a culmination of a year of touring, an explosive celebration, a complete Who's Who of Detroit rockdom with guests on stage and a venue packed with fans when they played the entirety of 'B&G Sides' front to back at the Crofoot Ballroom. Available now, the beautiful B&G Sides' box set of The Hard Lessons singles is a collector's item to be sure--it fits together like a big puzzle to display a poster-sized piece of art when all four volumes are laid out together. They even made a fun little video to show it off: http://www.thehardlessons.com/index2.php?sec=bandgsides Also available on limited edition hand-stamped vinyl. Lots more touring for THL, so visit the tour dates page!
Matt Embree’s been on the road with punk/dub/rock outfit RX Bandits, but his debut release under the moniker LOVE YOU MOON is out now on Sargent House, and the throngs of Matt’s fans are sure to double-triple freak. “Waxwane” is Embree at his purest and best. Get it!
MAPS AND ATLASES continue to tour their behinds off in support of their new EP, “You And Me And The Mountain”; their tour with Portugal The Man and Sargent House labelmates RX Bandits ends August 10th, but then they’re going out on their very own headlining tour with labelmates NURSES that kicks off with two shows (early and late, same night) at Schuba’s in Chicago on September 6th. After that tour, they’re heading to Europe to tour with Foals! See ‘em now!
MISS TK AND THE REVENGE are riding high on their single, “No Biterz”, and have dates coming up soon—keep your eyes on the tours page, as you know you love neon pink, sick beats and party confetti.
Watch this space for MUSEE MECHANIQUE tour dates! They have announced a Portland record release show, so mark your calendars for Sept 25 @ Holoscene and stayed tuned for more! 'Hold This Ghost' is out Sept 30 on Frog Stand Records.
And, as mentioned before, NURSES are touring with Maps and Atlases, but they’re also going out after that with Born Ruffians and Plants and Animals, which will equal Super Fun Times. They’ve also been recording new jams—don’t miss these folks when they come through; you will be bummed if you do.
SAY HI is going on tour in further support of “The Wishes And The Glitch”, and you do not not not want to miss ‘em if they’re anywhere near you. Eric Elbogen jumps up and down when they play now, and you will, too. Check the tour page, as dates keep getting added!
And finally, we are so thrilled to work with WOMEN, whose eponymous debut full-length is out October 7th on Jagjaguwar. The band's debut was recorded by Sub Pop and Flemish Eye artist Chad VanGaalen over four months on ghettoblasters and old tape machines in his basement, an outdoor culvert and a crawlspace, and it is mindblowing. Tour news soon!
xo Joan & Sheila
Monday, August 4, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
THE FIRST REVIEW IS IN OF CHUNKLET PRESENTS: HENRY OWINGS' ROCK BIBLE
"The Rock Bible: Unholy Scripture For Fans & Bands
Henry Owings
Quirk Books
This looks like it should be sharing shelfspace with the Stuff White People Like book and one of those “survival guides,” but I swear to you it’s good. Henry Owings is the editor of Chunklet, one of the the best and definitely the funniest music zine to ever come out of Georgia. He took a year or so off to put together this compendium of syntactically biblical advice for musicians with some of Chunklet’s regular contributors, and every single sentence in it is 100 percent dead-on.
Suggestions like “No playing two keyboards at the same time. Keep your hand on the wheel and shut up,” “Money spent on guitar lessons is better spent on an in-sink garbage disposal,” and “If you get a drumstick endorsement don’t take one of those lame promo photos acting like your biting or breaking the sticks in half” ring with the sort of gospel truth that can only come from someone who has thought really long and angrily about the subject. Sometimes they’re not even attempts at being funny, just really sound advice for touring bands, like “Always make a schematic of how your equipment best fits in the trailer once you figure it out for the first time.” Still, when they are attempts at humor, they are every bit as on the money—like the section of underused words in music journalism (beige, niggardly, MILF-damaged, etc.) If somebody followed every dictate in this book to the letter when forming their band or being a guy into music, odds are probably about 4 to 1 they might turn out pretty decent.
LEROY GUMPTION"
Thursday, July 24, 2008
HOLY MOLY, SAY HI IS GOING BACK OUT ON THE ROAD!
The Ghost
09-20-08 @ Hi Dive -- Denver, CO; 16+; with Jukebox The Ghost
09-21-08 @ The Slowdown -- Omaha, NE; All Ages; with Jukebox The Ghost
and Pepi Ginsberg
09-22-08 @ The House Cafe -- Dekalb, IL; All Ages; with Jukebox The
Ghost and Pepi Ginsberg
09-23-08 @ The Beat Kitchen -- Chicago, IL; 17+; with Jukebox The Ghost
09-24-08 @ Mac's Bar -- Lansing, MI; All Ages; with Jukebox The Ghost
and Pepi Ginsberg
09-27-08 @ Big Orbit's Soundlab -- Buffalo, NY; All Ages; with Jukebox
The Ghost
09-28-08 @ Brandeis University (Usen Castle) -- Waltham, MA; All Ages;
with Jukebox The Ghost
09-30-08 @ Middle East Upstairs -- Cambridge, MA; 18+; with Jukebox
The Ghost
10-02-08 @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg -- Brooklyn, NY; 18+; with
Jukebox The Ghost
10-03-08 @ Johnny Brenda's -- Philadeplphia, PA; 21+; with Jukebox The
Ghost
10-04-08 @ Black Cat -- Washington, DC; All Ages; with Jukebox The Ghost
10-06-08 @ Local 506 -- Chapel Hill, NC; with Jukebox The Ghost
10-07-08 @ Milestone -- Charlotte, NC; 18+; with Jukebox The Ghost
10-08-08 @ The Drunken Unicorn -- Atlanta, GA; 18+; with Jukebox The
Ghost
10-09-08 @ Bottle Tree Cafe -- Birmingham, AL; with Jukebox The Ghost
10-11-08 @ The Mohawk -- Austin, TX; All Ages; with Jukebox The Ghost
10-12-08 @ Hailey's -- Denton, TX; All Ages; with Jukebox The Ghost
10-14-08 @ College Of Santa Fe -- Santa Fe, NM; All Ages; with Jukebox
The Ghost
10-16-08 @ UC San Diego (The Loft) -- San Diego, CA; All Ages; with
Jukebox The Ghost and Princeton
10-17-08 @ The Echo -- Los Angeles, CA; All Ages; with Jukebox The
Ghost and Princeton
10-18-08 @ Bottom Of The Hill -- San Francisco, CA; with Jukebox The
Ghost and Princeton
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
NURSES PLAYING PDX POP FEST, MAPS AND ATLASES POST NEW TRACK, KEEP TOURING!
ALSO! MAPS AND ATLASES have a new jam called "Witch" that's just been added to their MySpace Page. Plus, they're playing the Midwest Fest and the Wicker Park Festival!
MAPS AND ATLASES ON LE ROAD:
Jul-24 Mt Pleasant, MI – MIDWEST FEST
for info: http://www.myspace.com/midwestfest2008
Jul-27 Chicago, IL – WICKER PARK FESTIVAL
$5 donations, All Ages open to the public
NORTH STAGE with: Isis, Red Sparowes, Maps & Atlases, Film School, The Most Serene Republic, Kid, You’ll Move Mountains & Aleks and The Drummer
W/ RX BANDITS & PORTUGAL THE MAN
7/29 Baltimore, MD – The Ottobar
7/30 Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore at the TLA
7/31 S Hackensack, NJ – School of Rock
8/1 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
8/2 Allston, MA – Harper’s Ferry
8/4 Rochester, NY – The Club at Water Street
8/5 Cleveland Heights, OH – Grog Shop
8/6 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
8/7 Chicago, IL – Metro
8/8 St Louis, MO – 2 Cents Plain
8/9 Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
8/10 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Under The Radar Protest Issue 2008: On Newsstands Now
How are your favorite artists involved in this year’s elections? Where do they see themselves as leaders and opinion shapers today? Who will have their vote this November? How can we all work to make the world a better place to live? You will find in-depth interviews and photos with cover stars Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, The Decembrists’ Colin Meloy and Britt Daniel of Spoon, plus Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Conor Oberst, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Billy Bragg, Death Cab For Cutie, Moby and many more all within the 30+ pages dedicated to the intersection of music and politics in Under The Radar’s Protest Issue 2008, on newsstands now.
For a more detailed look at The Protest Issue visit: www.undertheradarmag.com/protestissue2008.html
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
LITTLE PIECES=SIMPLY ROCK MELODICO OF GREAT THICKNESS.
"if you put the text into yahoo's translation gadget it's pretty funny:
It Calls to you Indian, also considers it you fashionable but that one of the Little Pieces is simply rock melodico of great thickness. ' The Skier' and ' Hurricane' they introduce to us in the new universe dell' former Sunset Valley Herman Jolly that not ago nothing in order to hide infuences that dig in the popular tradition and paints of wonder and astonishment the ten songs of this flashing debut. Sul disc flutters dark atmospheres and blows nearly ritornelli solar as if l' encounter/crash between the giving up and the evil to live with the hope that something can change is l' architecture on which putting down never banal melodie. ' Smallest Man' , ' Full The Stone' and ' Ordinary Friend' they are other dowels of a mosaic that the band of Seattle has composed with cure and talent not forgetting to make contents the radius but not even of rinnegare a expressive force that in years ninety has rendered that city a point of reference total. A piece after l' other."
Sunday, June 29, 2008
RIOT ACT MEDIA, JULY 2008--MAKING IT HAPPEN!
About Maps & Atlases’ You and Me and the Mountain: These are songs that wrestle themselves from flailing, algebraic fits of spazzy guitar notes and drum ruptures to lulling, voice-driven melodies that speak stories using lyrical images strung together like soup cans chasing a Cadillac. Mostly influenced by experimental and technically adept musicians such as Hella, Don Caballero, and Psych-Folkies Devendra Banhart and Six Organs of Admittance, Maps and Atlases create a distinctive blend of the intricate and organic. You can hear the title track for this EP on the band’s MySpace page (www.myspace.com/mapsandatlases), and you can see them on the road as much as you want, because they are touring into infinity and beyond. www.riotactmedia.com/maps.htm
A bananas li'l video of them playing about a month ago with FOALS:
The Hard Lessons don't suck in a way that can make the most jaded cynic care about something new again. Their instantly memorable neurotic rock-indie (in The Hard Lessons case, “Rock” comes before “Indie”) keeps the self-conscious singing and dancing well past last call--The Hard Lessons continue to out-work, out-rock and out-play expectations—they’ve killed it onstage in support of Iggy and the Stooges, Wolfmother, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Ok Go, Brendan Benson, The Dirtbombs, New York Dolls, The Killers, Von Bondies, Electric Six and Social Distortion, just to give you an idea. To get a better one, hear jams from their new LP, B&G Sides, on their MySpace Page (http://www.myspace.com/thehardlessons)Don’t miss them on tour if you can help it.
There are those who are disciples of Matt Embree, and those who just haven’t gotten it yet—if you’re one of the latter, we’re hoping that his new project, Love You Moon, will make you one of the former. The longtime RX Bandits/Sound of Animals Fighting frontman, studio owner and all-around songwriting genius’ new full-length, Waxwane, is out on Sargent House on 7/15, and you can hear tracks on (you guessed it) Matt’s MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/loveyoumoondog). Embree’s passionate notes on the human condition, love, struggle and the current sociopolitical battles we all face are stunning, immediate, poignant and spit with hot, furied frustration that is as poetic as it is urgent.
Speaking of politics, this month also marks the release of Under The Radar’s 2008 Protest Issue. Using the time-honored connection between politics and music to promote political dialogue and awareness in a way that few print publications do in this day and age, The Protest Issue features two alternating covers: one with R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, the other with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, The Decembrists’ Colin Meloy, and Britt Daniel of Spoon. Inside the issue, you’ll find in-depth interviews and photo shoots exploring the intersection of music and politics as artists tackle issues ranging from Darfur to the environment to the upcoming 2008 U.S. presidential election. This is a pivotal era in America’s history and n ever has the time to utilize musicians’ voices through the media been more apropos. Visit www.riotactmedia.com/undertheradar.htm for more info!
Finally, Riot Act is more than excited to announce the addition of Miss TK & The Revenge to its roster—their new EP, No Biterz, is available now via iTunes, and you can hear ‘em here: www.myspace.com/misstk. A primer: Miss TK & The Revenge bring it. Like Blondie, Tom Tom Club, Missing Persons, Waitresses, Cyndi Lauper, Josie Cotton, or Toni Basil, MTKR come from the land of trouble funk, where go-go cowbells and dub party sounds reign. Comprised of New Jersey punk rock royalty--Ari Katz, vocalist of seminal hardcore legends LIFETIME (DecayDance) and ZERO ZERO (Jade Tree) steps back from the mic and onto the drum kit while wife Miss TK (also of Zero Zero) takes center stage, MTKR are anchored by razor-sharp J5 on guitar, Worrell prodigy Street Stylz on keys, Le Bobby Neutronique kickin’ the bells, claps and whistles, and m. Groovesteau L'ingenieur du Bas on, well, bass. If “No Biterz” isn’t yr new favorite summer jam, I don’t know what I can do for you.
And, um, here's a super-ridiculous YouTube video I found of a DJ playing said jam somewhere:
That’s it for this month’s output, compatriots---but worry not. In August and September, we’ve got buckets of news for you regarding The Coast, All Girl Summer Fun Band, Good Old War, Musee Mecanique, At The Spine, Nurses, Henry Owings’ Rock Bible and more. Until then, please do visit our special Riot Act Blog (www.riotactmedia.blogspot.com) for updates.
Much love,
Joan & Sheila