Tuesday, March 31, 2009

OUT TODAY: POCKET feat. ROBYN HITCHCOCK: "SURROUND HIM WITH LOVE" SINGLE! PLUS, THE LAUNCH OF POCKET"S NEW WEBSITE!


Renowned remixer and producer Pocket is unveiling his most ambitious and exciting project yet, the first installment of which is out today— a full-length’s worth of singles featuring a stunning lineup of both legacy musicians and newer artists, all of which will be released digitally and individually throughout 2009. Pocket’s new and improved website, www.music-by-pocket.com, is launching today, and stems for each remix will be posted on the Pocket site for download for one month only.

The first installment, “Surround Him With Love” featuring legendary Soft Boys singer/guitarist Robyn Hitchcock, is out TODAY! Pocket & Robyn Hitchcock’s “Surround Him With Love” single is to be released not only as an original version, but as three additional remixes: KKS’ Space Disco Remix, the Somnambulists Remix, and The Stealth Remix. As part of the five-song single pack, Pocket is also releasing b-side “Let Her Close Her Eyes”, featuring musician/comedienne Shonali Bhowmik (Tigers and Monkeys).

This succession of Pocket singles will feature an impressive and diverse collection of remixers, including Craig Wedren (Shudder To Think), Slim Moon (Kill Rock Stars, Shot Clock Management, Slim Moon and What Army), Markese, Rick Moody (novelist), David Fischoff (Secretly Canadian), Ming (Ming + FS), Beatallica, Kendall (Mascott), Alien Skin (George from Real Life), Glenn Mercer (The Feelies), Mux (Ghostly), Elk City, The Wrens and more, to be announced soon..

Contributing artists aside from Robyn Hitchcock and Shonali Bhowmik include Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think), Dave Smalley (Down By Law), Yuki Chikudate (Asobi Sesku), Mark Burgess, Steve Kilbey (The Church), Lorraine Lelis, Tanya Donelly (Belly), Sal Principato and Danny Seim (Menomena).

As the principal creative mind behind the NYC-based electro-pop band Burnside Project (Bar-None Records), Richard Jankovich (aka Pocket) is not just well-versed in pop music production—he’s quickly become one of the most celebrated remixers today. As Pocket, Jankovich has done remixes for Beck, Radiohead, Kristin Hersh, Of Montreal, Elk City, Joanna Newsom, Mendoza Line, Dirty on Purpose, Eskobar and many others, always to critical acclaim (“We've always been fans, but this is the deepest Pocket's gone yet. Outstanding.”—Stereogum, “Where Radiohead's version builds from spare beginnings (little more than Thom Yorke's voice and keyboards), Jankovich lets droning tendrils of noise poke into all that space, setting a thumping beat beneath.”--Pitchfork).

In a time where music is revisiting the concept of playing with projects that feature groups of disparate artists, often to great or horrible effect (from Bowie + Jagger + Bing Crosby in ‘85, Run DMC + Aerosmith in ’86, Celine Dion and R.Kelly in ’02—yes, that happened—and, more recently, N.A.S.A., or Timbaland + Cornell), Pocket gets it RIGHT. Through this collection of singles, not only does he prove once again to be one of the most gifted and imaginative remixers and producers around, but he demonstrates how different artists’ work can be linked together seamlessly, lit differently, angled freshly.

After 10 years of making music in New York, Jankovich recently relocated to Los Angeles.

Monday, March 23, 2009

RIOT ACT MEDIA AT SXSW: AN UNMITIGATED SUCCESS!


Holy whoa, what a time! Loch Lomond, The Life and Times, Peter Broderick and Women all threw down hard in Austin, as did the Lovitt Records family--Quieting Syrup, Des Ark and Ben Davis were all systems go, and we here at Riot Act were running around like crazy people. So were all of our press friends. Paste Magazine recommended Loch Lomond as part of their hour-by-hour guide to the fest, saying "Portland's Loch Lomond builds its tunes into glorious chamber folk that should resonate with fans of Iron & Wine or Bon Iver. Singer Ritchie Young started the band as a solo project in 2003, but since then the group has ranged from one to 10 members. Loch Lomond's song "Field Report" has been on repeat in the Paste office."

Pitch Weekly did a whole SxSW feature on The Life and Times, which you can read HERE. The Austin American Statesman named Peter Broderick a critic's pick for Thursday, noting "Lots of acclaim for the last album by this acoustic-roots artist", and NY Metromix reported on Women's Friday show, calling the band "dark, edgy, post-punk and, my personal favorite, angular.”

BrooklynVegan, WIRED and Prefix were all stoked about the amazing Lovitt Records showcase at Radio Room. Prefix, particularly, was excited about Des Ark, saying "he North Carolina-based artist has been performing since 2001 and recorded her first album with J. Mascis, and her imperative, guitar-driven show is likely to draw fans who favor PJ Harvey, Scout Niblett and Cat Power."

AND, guess what? My husband and I were totally in an elevator with Mark Mothersbaugh, who, for the record, had his Devo "Whip It" hat on in the photo on his badge. Amazing.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

LOCH LOMOND, PETER BRODERICK, THE LIFE AND TIMES: THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE IN AUSTIN.


We here at Riot Act Media, just like all the other souls in the music industry, are getting ready to pack our bags and head down to Texas (not before attending the amazing VALLEY OF THE VAPORS festival--info HERE)--and whether you're a fan or a scribe, we'd love for you to check out Loch Lomond, Peter Broderick and the superamazing The Life And Times if you can. Everyone's available for interviews; hit me up for my cellular digits, and let's hi-five, okay?

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18th:
10 PM: Loch Lomond @ BrooklynVegan showcase @ Club DeVille w/VERY special guest.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19th:
1 PM: Loch Lomond @ SESAC Official Day Stage @ Convention Center
2 PM: Efterklang featuring Peter Broderick @ Other Music and DigForFire.tv's Lawn Party
2:30 PM: Loch Lomond @ NAIL Distribution party @ Sidebar
4:50 PM: Loch Lomond @ Little Radio Party @ Red Eyed Fly
8 PM: The Life and Times @ Wave Rooftop
9 PM: Peter Broderick @ Bella Union Showcase @ The Ranch
11 PM: Efterklang featuring Peter Broderick @ Leaf & Hometapes Showcase @ Habana Bar

FRIDAY, MARCH 20th:
5 PM: Loch Lomond @ Rumblefish Party @ Tiniest Bar In Austin
7 PM: Loch Lomond @ The Round @ Space 12 (acoustic)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

OUT TODAY DIGITALLY: THE TRADITIONIST'S "SEASON TO SEASON"!


Happy release day to Joey Barro and the fine folks at Banter/Better Looking Records!

Written as almost a chronological window into the mind of prolific multi-instrumentalist songwriter Joey Barro, The Traditionist's aptly titled debut, SEASON TO SEASON was created over a period of greater than a year with the collaboration of long time friend and producer Tim Bluhm (Mother Hips). It's now available today via iTunes!

Growing up amongst a family of musicians, singer and guitarist Joey Barro (aka The Traditionist) immediately found a connection with the songs he heard when the sun went down and the guitars came out at family get-togethers. Van Morrison, Simon & Garfunkel and lots of Dylan could often be heard with a low hum emitting out from the walls of the Barro house. As he grew, his love of music and the classics only got stronger and his taste developed with the years. While his influences are clear, he does not set out to replicate the originals, but to acknowledge and update them.


FREE MP3 DOWNLOADS:

"I Know My Ocean"
"A Sleep Be Told"
"Driftwood Doll"

THE TRADITIONIST on tour:
03.12.09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hyperion Tavern (Acoustic Show)
03.13.09 - San Diego, CA @ Belly Up w/ Mother Hips (21+)
03.14.09 - Costa Mesa, CA @ La Cave
03.17.09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge w/ So Many Wizards
04.02.09 - San Diego, CA @ Museum of Contemporary Art (all ages)
04.03.09 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah w/ Anya Marina
04.11.09 - Sacramento, CA @ Vox
04.29.09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Bordello
04.30.09 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Mercury Lounge


"The Traditionist is a breeze that whirls the spirits of Dylan, Springsteen, and Young, but drifts off into its own atmosphere." - Caleb Morairty, Better Propaganda

Monday, March 9, 2009

MORE NICK JAINA DATES ANNOUNCED!


In case you haven't yet heard him, Nick Jaina is a writer, record producer and performer posessed of the kind of arresting presence and intense, innate gift for storytelling and songwriting that few today can match. It sounds like I'm being hyperbolic, but let me super assure you, I am not. He is touring this time with his seven-piece band, with whom he is known for proudly, joyously busking . His band orchestrates their instrumentation to perfectly match and amplify Jaina’s mesmerisingly-delivered songwriting—one snare, one tom, guitars, violins, horns.

Although his music has taken him across America, to Europe and even South America, Jaina is embedded in and is a hero and staple of the thriving Portland, Oregon music community. He is a force to be reckoned with both recorded and live, either on the street or in a theatre, with an audience of eight or eight hundred. 2008 was a banner year for Jaina, who released two critically-acclaimed (NPR: “Wool is a more foreboding collection of acoustic songs that seem to drift in on the ether. They crackle and buzz with haunting undertones made of bowed cymbals and resonating bells. It's a beautiful mix”) full-lengths on Hush Records; first, Wool, and then A Narrow Way; both are quite possibly his most brilliant works—big stuff for such a prolific and gifted dude.

04.24.09 - Denver, CO @ Meadowlark
04.25.09 - Omaha, NE @ Barley Street Tavern
04.28.09 - Wichita, KS @ Fisch Haus
04.30.09 - Auston, TX @ Lambert's
05.01.09 - Fort Worth, TX @ The Chat Room
05.04.09 - Arlington, VA @ Iota
05.06.09 - New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
05.07.09 - Philadelphia, PA @ Manhattan Room
05.09.09 - Winooski, VA @ Monkey House
05.16.09 - Madison, WI @ The Project Lodge

Friday, March 6, 2009

RIOT ACT MEDIA, SXSW 2009: FEEL THE REALNESS!


LOCH LOMOND! THE LIFE AND TIMES! PETER BRODERICK! ME! ALL AT THIS YEAR'S SXSW! GO! ALL ARTISTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS! AND ENCHILADAS!

Wednesday, March 18th:
10pm LOCH LOMOND @ Brooklynvegan Showcase @ Club Deville w/ VERY special guest (900 Red River)

Thursday March 19th:

1 PM LOCH LOMOND @ SESAC Official Day Stage @ Convention Center
2pm EFTERKLANG (feat. Peter Broderick) @ Other Music and DigForFire.tv’s Lawn Party
2:30 PM: LOCH LOMOND @ NAIL Distribution Party @ Sidebar (602 e 7th st.)
4:50pm: LOCH LOMOND: @ Little Radio Party @ Red Eyed Fly ( 715 Red River)
8 PM: THE LIFE AND TIMES @ Wave Rooftop (408 E. 6th St.)
9pm PETER BRODERICK @ Bella Union Showcase @ The Ranch
11pm EFTERKLANG (feat. Peter Broderick) @ Habana Bar / Leaf & Hometapes Showcase

Friday, March 20th:
5 PM: LOCH LOMOND @ Rumblefish Party@ Tiniest Bar in Austin (817 w 5th)
7 PM: LOCH LOMOND: @ The Round @ Space 12 (acoustic/3 members) (3121 e 12th st)

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

THE LIFE AND TIMES: GOING ON A SLAMMIN' TOUR!


If you've never seen TLAT live, or if you never got a chance to see Shiner live, now is your chance. Well, if you live in one of these cities or are going to this year's SXSW, that is. Also, stay tuned for more radness concerning the band's blisteringly heavy, witty, genius upcoming full-length, "Tragic Boogie", out on Arena Rock 4/14. Now, the dates:



3.17.09 Fort Worth, Texas / Longhorn Saloon

3.19.09 Austin, Texas / Wave Rooftop (SXSW)

3.21.09 Austin, Texas / Radio Room (SXSW)

4.5.09 Kansas City, Missouri / Record Bar (Record Release)

4.8.09 Denton, Texas / Rubbergloves

4.9.09 Austin, Texas / Red 7

4.10.09 Houston, Texas / Walters

4.11.09 Birmingham, Alabama / Bottletree

4.13.09 Atlanta, Georgia / The Masquerade

4.14.09 Asheville, North Carolina / The Rocket Club

4.15.09 Charlotte, North Carolina / The Milestone

4.16.09 Washington, DC / Rock And Roll Hotel

4.17.09 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Kung Fu Necktie

4.18.09 New York, New York / The Studio at Webster Hall

4.19.09 Allston, Massachusetts / Great Scott

4.20.09 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania / The Smiling Moose

4.22.09 Pontiac, Michigan / The Pike Room

4.23.09 Chicago, Illinois / Empty Bottle

4.24.09 Minneapolis, Minnesota / Triple Rock Social Club

4.25.09 Lawrence, Kansas / Replay Lounge

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

AAAHHHHH! SCREAMING FEMALES' "ON THE COVER" TRIPWIRE FEATURE!



YEAH! Read it: HERE.An excerpt: "Their brand of blues-inspired, guitar wankering punk rock has left many mouths agape at the ease by which they wield their self-branded “Queer disco on the moon, with pterodactyls and squid fighting satellite dishes.” Drawing comparisons to bands like Fugazi and The Stooges, to more obvious references like The Gits or Throwing Muses, it is a safe bet that Screaming Females will undoubtedly rise to notoriety on the heels of their enigmatic front woman. But from the interview to the photo shoot, it is plain to see this the notion of a band is strong within the females."

WEINLAND: THEY HAVE HELLA NEWS!


THEY REALLY DO! Please do get in touch with me at Joan *at* riotactmedia dot com to hear "Breaks In The Sun"....and read on! Weinland says: "Dear Family, Friends, Followers, Co-Conspiritors, Ladies, Gentlemen, Mbilly, Victims of Indie-Spam, etc,

Hello!

We have a lot of news. As a result of famously cute email newsletter will be kept short in a desperate attempt to encourage you to read all of the pertinent information! After you read this, forward it to ten friends or else WEINLAND will write a song about what deadbeat you are and you will forever be infamous for your lazy lazy ways. .. I kid, I kid!!

Our biggest news:

Our new record, Breaks In The Sun, will be out at the end of April! Pack up the family dog and drive to Portland to help us celebrate!!

April 11th @ Mississippi Studios right here in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are available and limited.. we highly encourage advance procurement. You can get tickets at www.mississippistudios.com We're playing two shows in one night... an early and a late.. both will undoubtably be the bestest show ever.. the only way to know for sure which is better will be to go to both! This will also be your chance to get our new record an entire week before the rest of the country camps out all night long just to buy it an entire week after you already got it! pfff.. we'll probably be sellouts by then anyway.

One crazy week:

We are playing 2 or 3 songs this Wednesday night to celebrate the opening of Portland's beloved Mississippi Studios. Its free and its going to be painfully full! Come see a new room and some great bands!

THURSDAY NIGHT: I, Adam, am honored to be playing with great Neil Halstead (www.myspace.com/neilhalsteadofficial) at The Doug Fir Lounge. Neil is one of the most tasteful songwriters I've heard in years... and he has a british accent... and its real! Which means I have to lay off my crappy british Office impressions.. I played with Neil when he came through Portland last year and am so excited to play with him again, sincerely his live performance is incredible. March 5th at The Doug Fir - Portland.

FRIDAY NIGHT: WEINLAND will pack up the new Weinlander (sob sob.. the O.G. Weinlander is taking respite in the driveway.. old age has taken her.. but she is like Phoenix! and she will rise again) and drive to Seattle. The whole band will be playing a mega mellow set at the mega rad Triple Door in Seattle... again supporting the great Neil Halstead. Tell your Seattle friends! March 6th at The Triple Door - Seattle.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY DAY: Whow, 3 shows with The Portland Cello Project in 24 hours! Not even Kiefer Sutherland could pull that off! ...actually Kiefer Sutherland could, and is welcome to join us on all three shows.. if know him, just tell him Adam says, "hey Kief, what up? Wanna sit in on harp?" Adam and Ian will be joining the cello project playing a couple of WEINLAND tunes at each show and Adam will be lending his strange brand of humor as he emcee's all three shows. March 7th + an early matinee show on March 8th at Mississippi Studios - Portland.

Ok, love ya,
WEINLAND"