Screaming Females Announce NYE Show at the Cake Shop in NYC!

You heard me right! 2009's break out band of the year is closing down the oughts at the Cake Shop in New York City... $15 gets you a free pbr and the shreddiest new year's eve party in the city. Not to be missed!

Visqueen and frontwoman, Rachel Flotard, capped off an amazing year last night opening for Vampire Weekend and Muse at Seattle's "Deck The Hall Ball!"

As you're reading this, Rachel Flotard from Visqueen is somewhere over the Pacific en route to Laos to deliver much needed aid to schoolchildren. This past couple weeks have been the icing on the cake for an amazing return to form for her and her band Visqueen!

On monday, she was interviewed by NPR's Ari Shapiro on Morning Edition. Later that same day, Stephen Thompson (NPR's Music Editor) on All Songs Considered named Visqueen's Message To Garcia 2009's Biggest Surprise of the Year! Tuesday rolls around and the band plays Seattle's Deck The Hall Ball to about 7000 people as the only local band on a lineup that included Muse and Vampire Weekend. Then this morning, she flew out on her aid trip to Laos with a few thousand dollars to pave the school's floors and twenty suitcases full of school and medical supplies for her return trip to Ban Na Mouang.

When she returns in a month, Visqueen plans to tour the entire US with stops at Noise Pop and SXSW...

All images copyright Curt Doughty

HOLIDANG!

BLACK WINE'S S/T FULL-LENGTH = OUT TOMORROW!

It is beyond fitting that Black Wine's self-titled debut is being released on Don Giovanni for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that, in many ways, Don Giovanni came about in order to put out early releases by Black Wine guitarist Jeff Schroeck's former band, New Jersey punk legends The Ergs. Throw in the fact that Black Wine's other members, Miranda Taylor and J. Nixon, comprised the rhythm section of another of Jersey's most explosive bands, Hunchback—and that Screaming Females frontwoman Marissa Paternoster (herself beyond influenced by The Ergs) helped record Black Wine's debut, and the familial nature of how Black Wine fits into the New Brunswick scene becomes even more clear.

Schroeck, Taylor and Nixon have lived the essence of what punk community should be about—different folks in different bands in the same community sharing ideas, making music together, supporting each other—for a decade now. With Black Wine, the trio is exploring a slightly poppier musicality, building upon the cult successes they've experienced in their other bands to achieve a heightened degree of songwriting prowess, steeped in grit and rich with experience. And boy have they ever had plenty of amazing experiences.

Both bands—Hunchback and The Ergs—broke up following a tour in early 2008; when they played one final show at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ on November 15th of that year, each member of each band playing that night got onstage and demolished every instrument in reach. There's something to be said for closure, because closure makes way for rebirth.

Cut to one year later, and not only did Black Wine find themselves having recorded some of the finest output of their careers, but Schroeck and Taylor are engaged to be married. Black Wine is the phoenix rising from the fire of The Ergs, and the fire sounds great. Think early SST drive; think early Sub Pop crunch, think forward.

RAUELSSON: "EL RIO DE LOS NUDOS" LIVE VIDEO, "DEBUTANTES" MP3!

You know Dr. Raul Pastor Medal, the Spanish musician/neuroscientist we've been telling you about? Well, here he is, playing "El Rio De Los Nudos" live here in PDX at the always great-sounding Mississippi Studios. Chad Crouch, Hush Records label head (Hush is putting out the "La Espera, La Siembra Y La Cosecha" full-length on 180g gatefold vinyl on 1/12/10) shot the video in HD. Aside from watching the video, please do check out Rauelsson's "Debutantes" EP, which is now available via donation or free at the Hush Shop, HERE.

About the "Debutantes" EP: While some are content to collect the cast-offs for extra album material, Raul saw fit to reserve two of the finest tracks ("Depredadores" and "Dsbocados") as a special gift for listeners, and offer them up for free (or your support). They are bundled with the album opener, "Debutantes", an almost a capella choral arrangement Spanish version of Loch Lomond's "Elephants and Little Girls" (here, translated as "Elephantes y Ninas"), and a haunting Chad Crouch remix of the album track "Palidez" entitled "Palicdeces".

MEET YOUR NEW FAVORITE JAM OF 2010: SHELLSHAG'S "RESILIENT BASTARD"

Jesus Christmas, it was hard for everyone to pick a first song to share with everyone off Shellshag's upcoming "Rumors In Disguise"---you know why? THERE ARE SO MANY DAMNED JAMS that hit you so, so hard that selecting the right one to be the first one just seemed absurd. But, we did. And here it is: listen. Enjoy.

http://www.riotactmedia.com/mp3/shellshag_resiliant-bastard.mp3

SCREAMING FEMALES ARE ON THE ROAD WITH ARCTIC MONKEYS.

....and, don't forget! they're releasing a collection of singles (aptly called Singles) on 2.9.10, a few days after the what-is-to-be-mindblowing don giovanni showcase at bowery in nyc (2/6/10). they also just debuted a new song at asbury lanes! check out the brilliance:

PS--i got a text from them the other day at about 3 AM that said "we are driving next to insane clown posse's tour bus."

SCREAMING FEMALES ON TOUR:

12.07.09 - Milvale, PA @ Mr. Small's Funhouse*
12.08.09 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club*
12.10.09 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5*
12.11.09 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5* (SOLD OUT)
12.13.09 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues*
12.29.09 - Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony (Home for the Holidays!)#
* = w/ Arctic Monkeys
# = w/ Bouncing Souls