RAD PHOTOS FROM THE TRADITIONIST'S SHOW AT SUBTEXT IN SAN DIEGO!

Look at these! Go, Joey Barro, Go! The Traditionist's new one, SEASON TO SEASON, is going to smash everyone when it comes out on March 3rd (Better Looking/Banter Records). Photo credit goes to Dylan Jones.

LOCH LOMOND RELEASES ONLINE-ONLY EP: FREE/DONATION!

Portland's own Loch Lomond have just announced the release of the "Trumpets for Paper Children" EP, an online-only five song EP culling two songs each from both of their full-lengths ("Paper The Walls" and "Lament for Children"), as well as the all-new "Trumpet Song"--you can GET IT RIGHT HERE ON THE HUSH RECORDS WEBSITE. Furthermore, it is FREE, or you can donate some dough to the cause, Radiohead-style; singer/frontman Ritchie Young may be possessed of a voice that shares the dramatic dynamism of Thom Yorke's pipes, but Young does NOT have Yorke's famously wonky eye---if this EP makes enough in donations, Young will finally be able to afford the delicate plastic surgery required to get him that sexy singular drooped eyelid. Or, the money just may help the septet travel out to this year's SXSW festival, where they'll be playing the Other Music Night, the DoneWaiting.com day party, the Nail Distribution day party and more!

Loch Lomond - "Trumpets For Paper Children" EP free/donation

1. Virgin Mountain
2. Bird and A Bear
3. Field Report
4. Trumpet Song
5. All Your Friends Are Smiling

Seriously though, please ENJOY, POST ONLINE, SPREAD AROUND THE LINK, and feel the tremendousness of the band whom Spin describes as "a pop orchestra beneath angelic harmonies."

Much love,
Joan

RIOT ACT MEDIA NEWSLETTER, JANUARY 2009: MAKE THAT JANUARY TWO THOUSAND-FINE!

Jubilant happy new beginnings to you, friends. MUCH going down in the RA camp….read on for details, and contact Joan (at) riotactmedia dot com for any and all requests, questions, and/or life advice you may need! ONWARD, ALPHABETICALLY:

ALL SMILES: Grandaddy alum Jim Fairchild is back with not one, but TWO stunning follow-ups to 2007’s critically-acclaimed Ten Readings of A Warning (quoth Pitchfork: “It is a deeply ruminative and powerful collection.”) Fairchild will be playing some upcoming dates with Modest Mouse in advance of his new EP (title TBA), which will be available digitally worldwide and physically at his shows—his also-as-yet-untitled new LP is slated for an early April self-release. Look for themes of entropy, inequity, strong love, and hope! Review copies available soon; put your requests in now.

LEONARD MYNX: This April, our bro Leonard is self-releasing his stunning debut LP, Vesper; the thing was expertly produced and recorded in the world-renowned Type Foundry studios in Portland under the watchful eye of Adam Selzer (Norfolk & Western, M.Ward)—check his upcoming Cali, Oregon and Colorado dates on our TOURS PAGE, and hit us up for review copies asap.

LOCH LOMOND: The epic chamber cinema pop septet has been putting final touches on their upcoming LP, Little Me Will Start A Storm (label & release date TBA), and has shows in Seattle and Tacoma, WA later this month—the band is also touring out to SXSW this year, and rest assured that we here at the RAM will keep you mega-posted on that.

NICK JAINA: If you haven’t seen new Riot Act family member Nick Jaina live, please do at least watch this video of his troubadoury tremendousness (courtesy of our pals at Hush Records): http://vimeo.com/2292788. The busking-prone legend and his myriad band of crackerjack musicians will be raging through the entire US this spring in support of ‘08’s brilliant A Narrow Way, as well as for ‘08’s Wool, which NPR called a “foreboding collection of acoustic songs that seem to drift in on the ether….haunting undertones made of bowed cymbals and resonating bells. It's a beautiful mix.” Dates to follow.

ORIGAMI GHOSTS: Lucky Seattlites will get to see OG play the CD release show for the brand new Short Momentum LP (Hand to Media) on the 30th of the month at the High Dive! Songwriter Jean Paul Scesniak and co. are embarking on a big ol’ west coast tour this February; there is still promo available, so let us know! Go, Origami Ghosts, go!

SCREAMING FEMALES: New Brunswick’s favorite bombastic shredders are working on a highly-anticipated, sure-to-be-bananas-rad video for “Bell”, the lead track on their upcoming Power Move LP (Don Giovanni Records.) Marissa Paternoster & co. have several upcoming dates in the northeast this January and February, and are psyched to announce their upcoming March dates with Throwing Muses---you want to request your promo of Power Move now, before those suckers are all gone!

THE LIFE AND TIMES: The Chicago Reader just summed up why you should be salivating in anticipation of TLAT’s upcoming LP, Tragic Boogie (Arena Rock, out this April): “A power trio with an emphasis on the power, they make muscular, sprawling rock in the midwestern tradition, specifically the school of Husker Du and Slint. Fans of Shiner, front man Allen Epley’s previous band, will recognize the music’s seismic dynamic shifts, big hooks, and postgrunge crunchiness, all effected with big amps and numerous pedals.” The band’s got some Midwestern dates on tap this month, and are hot on the heels of their sold-out New Year’s Eve show at Chicago’s Double Door (reportedly, tickets were being eBayed for upwards of $300.)

THE RHOMBUS: New Riot Act pals The Rhombus are looking forward to a two week-long west coast tour this March, which will coincide with the rad release of their bonkers, catchy and tremendous-as-all-heck Ladders EP (Public School Records, out late March.) We’ll keep you up to date on all things Rhombusesque until then!

RIGHT ON! PR: This month, former Riot Act publicist extraordinaire Sheila Breen Kenny is announcing the formation and launch of her very own superrad publicity firm, Right On! PR! Working with Sheila has been a total blessing and inspiration, and we are so psyched for her and her tremendous new venture—the Austin-based firm will represent the entire Olivia Wingate Artists comedy roster (look for Eugene Mirman’s amazing new book!), Matt & Kim, Brasstronaut, and more! Her website is underway at www.rightonpr.com, and you can contact Sheila for all your publicity needs at Sheila@rightonpr.com. Madd love, and hi-fives galore!

THE TRADITIONIST: Everyone’s chomping at the bit for the March 9th release of The Traditionist’s Season to Season (Better Looking Records/Banter Records), but there’s goodness to be had before then, in the form of a ton of great west coast shows this January! If you’re in Cali, you’re in the luck—check our tours page, and you’ll be in the know as well. Promo available!

VALLEY OF THE VAPORS INDEPENDENT MUSIC FESTIVAL: Riot Act is so honored to announce that we’re handling this year’s VOV festival—for those not in the know, the Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival is one of the most unique and innovative fests going on in the ‘States today---it takes place on March 17th-22nd, all in one small, volunteer-run venue in the unspeakably gorgeous Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This year’s lineup includes Monotonix (Drag City), The Queers (Asian Man), Pink Spiders (Geffen), AIDS Wolf (Lovepump United), Headlights (Polyvinyl), Poison Arrows (File 13), Teenage Bottlerocket (Red Scare) and more! Stay tuned for all things VOV-related.

WEINLAND: New Riot Act champions Weinland are almost done wrapping up their new LP (Title TBD, release date this April) for Badman Records, and they’ve got a bevy of Oregonian tour dates set up to support this incredible, luscious release. The songs are beyond stunning live, so if you’re within, say, 300,832,922 miles of a Weinland show, for the love of all that is good in the world, GO. Start requesting your promo now, and best believe that we will keep you in the know about all things going on with master songwriter Adam Shearer and his madcap gang of master musicologists.

A BASKET OF HAPPY SUPERDUPER NEW YEAR TRIPLEWISHES TO ALL Y’ALL.

XO Joan Hiller Depper, Esq., LLC