Alberta Cross are poised for the release of their much-anticipated full-length debut, ‘Broken Side of Time’, set for release September 22, 2009 on ATO Records.

The album arrives on the heels of their acclaimed EP ‘The Thief & the Heartbreaker’, which earned the band UK touring slots with Oasis, The Shins and Bat For Lashes, and widespread critical praise, including PopMatters, which declared, “The seven-song EP is one of the best you’ll be lucky enough to pick up, resembling a full album’s quality but leaving one wanting a lot more.”

Alberta Cross is coming off noteworthy performances at Bonnaroo, Coachella and SXSW and is slated to perform at Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and more.

Details on upcoming tour dates will be announced soon.

Founded by guitarist/vocalist Petter Ericson Stakee and bassist Terry Wolfers, Alberta Cross took shape when the two began jamming together in London’s east end.

Stakee, from London by way of Sweden, and Wolfers, a Brit himself, moved to New York City in 2008 in pursuit of renewed creative energy and new challenges.

‘Broken Side of Time’ is born of the struggles and setbacks the band faced along the way. The album serves as Alberta Cross’ official introduction to the U.S.

As Stakee explains, “It’s kind of a desperation album, a darker album; it’s definitely angrier. We’ve been in a crazy place during the whole album and you can hear that.”

Led by Stakee and Wolfers, Alberta Cross is rounded out by guitarist Sam Kearney, drummer Austin Beede and keyboardist Alec Higgins. ‘Broken Side of Time’ was recorded in Austin, TX and produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Dead Confederate, Heartless Bastards). John O’Mahony (Depeche Mode, Coldplay, Kasabian) mixed the album at Electric Lady in New York City.

“Each tune comes on like a fragile gesture – rich with euphoric choruses, layered guitars and raw harmonies.” – NME

“Channeling Neil Young and My Morning Jacket, the sound of deliverance.” – Esquire

Alberta Cross 2009 Summer tour dates:

(This is a partial list – dates and information subject to change. More dates on their website.)

June 28 Glastonbury Glastonbury
July 13 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
July 17 The Stone Pony Asbury Park, NJ
August 9 Lollapalooza Chicago, IL
October 3 Austin City Limits Austin, TX

Buy Music:

Alberta Cross on amazon.com

Alberta Cross on amazon.co.uk

For music, the latest tour dates and more, go to:

Alberta Cross Website
MySpace
Alberta Cross on Twitter

Drink, dear rebels and drink again. Katzenjammer’s musical underground cultus is conjured up through instruments like the accordian, mandolin, guitar, piano, balaika bass, xylophone, trumpet, kazoo, melodica, drums and banjo just to name a few – all played with fire in the belly, fever in the fingers, heart and throat. And then there are voices. The voices, my dear friends, are the brushstrokes on the night sky where you dance your wildest dance in your fanciest clothes.

Katzenjammer drives clichés so hard into your guts that they shrivel, twist, and lay a foundation for new generations with a taste for the old. Our blissful mistresses are self-taught on most of the formentioned instruments. The animal tamed by its trainer will eventually know every nook and cranny of its cage, and eventually become calm. Katzenjammer recently arrived at their cage and are rattling about in a fruitful, creative ruckus. The animal tamer takes two steps back.

Katzenjammer “A Bar In Amsterdam” video:

Katzenjammer signed with Nettwerk Music Group, and just digitally release the single “A Bar in Amsterdam” June 2nd. A 3 song EP is also in the works.

David Byrne has invited the women who are Katzenjammer to play at the 2009 Bonnaroo. Byrne has assembled a number of performers for the first artist-curated stage at Bonnaroo.

On the evening of Friday, June 12, 2009, Byrne, who is performing the “Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno,” will host his recent collaborators Santogold, the Dirty Projectors, and, of course, Katzenjammer.

Turid, Solveig, Marianne and Anne Marit will also make a stop in NY for an special early show on Tuesday June 16th at The Mercury Lounge.

The live energy generated by these extraordinary women is not to be missed.

The 29 Instruments played by Katzenjammer:

Tom Tom, Trash Can, Accordian, Piano, Tack Piano, Vibraphone, Trumpet, Zitar, Mellotron, Horn, Tube, Domra, Pump Organ, Melodica, Harmonica, Banjo, Glockenspiel, Pipe Organ, Cookie Boxes, Guitar, Ukelele, Kazoo, Music Box, Contrabass Balalka, Barrel Organ, Cymbols, Drums, Trumpet, Violin, Cello

“They can bring a house down with a rousing set… and their musical chops are undeniable.” – Adrian Bagrand, PopMatters

Katzenjammer Official Website
Katzenjammer MySpace
Katzenjammer on Twitter

A.A. Bondy will hit the road for a summer tour next month, beginning June 5, 2009 at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA and ending July 7th at Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge, LA.

Bondy is also confirmed to perform this weekend at the Sasquatch Music Festival in Quincy, WA and June 14th at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN.

Bondy’s debut, ‘American Hearts’, was re-released by Fat Possum in April 2008 after its original release by Superphonic in 2007. Spare and arresting with timeless appeal, the album was an underground favorite among fans and critics.

Bondy performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, while NPR noted in a ‘Song of the Day’ pick: “By the time ‘How Will You Meet Your End’ reaches its own dramatic and doomstruck end, Bondy has cemented his status as a fatalistic troubadour with few modern peers.”

Bondy is currently in a Mississippi studio finishing his sophomore album; a release date on Fat Possum will be announced soon.

A.A. Bondy 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

May 23 Quincy, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
June 5 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
June 6 Brooklyn, NY Bell House
June 8 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie
June 9 Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe
June 11 Arlington, VA Iota
June 12 Charlotte, NC Snug Harbor
June 14 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival
June 15 Columbus, OH The Basement
June 16 Indianapolis, IN Radio Radio
June 17 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room
June 18 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
June 19 Milwaukee, WI Club Garibaldi
June 20 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar
June 22 Denver, CO Hi Dive
June 23 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
June 25 San Francisco, CA Café du Nord
June 26 Visalia, CA Cellar Door
June 29 Phoenix, AZ Modified Arts
July 7 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon

Photo: Jonathan Purvis

A.A. Bondy MySpace

Cage The Elephant left crowds staggering after outrageous performances on their latest US tour with stops at Coachella and Bamboozle.

Rolling Stone annointed the band to be the “Next Big Thing” and Entertainment Weekly describes the band’s live show as “…good clean spastic fun.”

Fans will have another chance to experience Cage The Elephant’s exuberant live show at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and All Points West this Summer.

The first single “Aint No Rest For The Wicked” has been one of the most added tracks at Rock & Alternative radio over the past few months, and the song’s video has been on rotation at MTV2 Subterranean, MTVu, and Fuse.

Now you can check out a new track, “Tiny Little Robots,” off their new self-titled album.

Download “Tiny Little Robots” MP3

May 2009 UK shows:

Tues 19 – Newcastle University – www.gigsandtours.com
Fri 22 – London KOKO – www.bigwheeltickets.com

For music, the latest tour dates and information, go to:

Cage The Elephant Official Website

St. Vincent’s new album ‘Actor’ (4AD), released last week snagged the #90 spot on the Billboard Top 200 and #9 on the Billboard indie chart.

The album has been receiving rave reviews from critics with NPR describing it as “a surreal sonic wonderland” and last week’s New York Times claiming St. Vincent’s music “defies categories”.

Watch “Actor Out Of Work” video:

On May 19, 2009, St. Vincent will kick off a tour in support of ‘Actor’ with performances at Sasquatch!, Bonnaroo and All Points West and on June 24th she will make her network television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman.

St. Vincent will also tape a performance for Austin City Limits to air this fall on PBS.

Read on to see what people are saying about the album.

“A uniquely potent cocktail of sounds and moods that’ll get you hooked, fast.” – Grade A, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“Gorgeous, arresting and always sneaky.” – ROLLING STONE

“Stylishly spooky.” – USA TODAY

“‘Actor’ is elaborate and wide awake. There are brief echoes of Robert Fripp’s guitar mandalas and XTC’s sense of ornate and generous melody.” – THE NEW YORKER

“Lush, dynamic and inviting.” – 8.5, “Best New Music” on PITCHFORK

“An indie dream… Clark’s ability to tantalize with what remains just out of view keeps us looking.” – SPIN

Buy Music:

St. Vincent on amazon.com

Photo Credit: Annabel Mehran

For tour dates, music and more, go to:

MySpace
St. Vincent on Twitter
St. Vincent Official Website

ATO Records recording artist Gomez has announced a national tour with dates confirmed throughout the Spring and Summer of 2009. The band will be touring in support of its just-released sixth studio record ‘A New Tide’.

Watch “Ping One Down” video live on “Later with Jools Holland”, 2002:

Buy Music:

Gomez on amazon.com

Gomez on amazon.co.uk

The North American tour will kick off in Detroit, MI, on May 22nd, hitting most regions of the US and even up into Canada for a date in Toronto on May 29th. The trek will culminate on June 12th with the band’s third career appearance at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN. The band will also appear at this year’s Mile High and 10,000 Lakes Festival during their second leg of the tour in July.

‘A New Tide’ debuted on Billboard’s Top Album chart at #60 this week, marking the highest chart debut in the band’s history. Billboard praised the release, proclaiming that it is “a brilliant 11-song collection of lyrical jewels embellished by colorful and unusual textural arrangements.” The New York Daily News also touted the band, claiming that “Gomez crafts warm, rustic pop songs that recall classic ’60s rock groups like Traffic and the Faces,” while Paste Magazine calls the new album “Catchy, quirky & Gomez’s most experimental.”

Gomez April/May 2009 UK tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

16 Apr Barrowlands Glasgow
17 Apr O2 Academy Leeds
19 Apr Junction Cambridge
20 Apr Academy Manchester
21 Apr Wulfrun Hall Wolverhampton
22 Apr UEA Norwich
24 Apr O2 Shepherds Bush Empire London
26 Apr O2 Academy Bristol
27 Apr O2 Academy Oxford
28 Apr O2 Academy Liverpool
1 May Mandela Hall Belfast

Confirmed North American tour dates are below. Additional Midwest and West Coast dates to be announced shortly.

Gomez 2009 North American tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

May 22 St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI
May 23 Summer Camp, Chillicothe, IL
May 24 Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
May 26 House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
May 27 Headliners Music Hall, Louisville, KY
May 29 Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON
May 30 Mountain Jam Festival, Hunter, NY
Jun 1 Terminal 5, New York, NY
Jun 2 House of Blues, Boston, MA
Jun 3 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
Jun 4 Madison Theatre, Covington, KY
Jun 7 Wakarusa Music Camping Festival, Ozark, AR
Jun 8 Stubb’s, Austin, TX
Jun 9 Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
Jun 10 House of Blues, Dallas, TX
Jun 12 Bonnaroo Music Arts Festival, Manchester, TN
July 18 Mile High Festival, Denver, CO
July 22 10,000 Lakes Festival, Detroit Lakes, MN

A limited number of presale tickets for the North American dates are currently available at: www.gomeztickets.musictoday.com.

Photo Credit: Marty Butler

For the latest tour dates, ticket info. and more, go to:

Gomez Official Website
MySpace
Gomez on Twitter

ATO Records is proud to announce that Gomez will be embarking on a string of spring US dates in support of their soon-to-be released sixth studio album ‘A New Tide.’

The band will kick off the tour at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX, then head up the east coast to play a very special CD release show on March 31, 2009 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

Watch “See The World” video from ‘How We Operate’ album:

Gomez on amazon.com

Gomez on amazon.co.uk

Appearing on nearly half of the dates will be Josh Ritter, who will be performing with a full band. Please check the Gomez site for full details including ticket pre-sale.

Additionally, the band will be returning for their third appearance at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival this June in Manchester, TN alongside such acts as Beastie Boys, Ben Harper, Wilco, and David Byrne. Tickets for Bonnaroo went on sale February 7th.

In celebration of the upcoming release, fans can get a taste of ‘A New Tide’ via their official homepage. A free download of “Airstream Driver” is available now at gomeztheband.com.

Set for release on March 31st, the new album marks a return to the always-freewheeling British band’s more experimental roots, with songs like “Win Park Slope” and “Airstream Driver” evincing a spirit born of boundless imagination and a longstanding collaborative relationship.

Gomez U.S. Spring 2009 Tour Dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

Mar 18 SXSW Music Festival, Austin, TX
Mar 19 SXSW Music Festival, Austin, TX
Mar 21 Workplay Theatre, Birmingham, AL
Mar 22 Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC
Mar 23 The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
Mar 24 Center Stage, Atlanta, GA
Mar 26 Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD
Mar 27 Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
Mar 28 Theatre of The Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Mar 29 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
Mar 31 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
Apr 1 State Theatre, Ithaca, NY
Apr 2 Pearl Street, Northampton, MA
Apr 3 Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

(Mar 22, 23, 24, 26 and Apr 1 are co-headlining dates with Josh Ritter. Blind Pilot is support on March 28 and Alberta Cross supports on April 3)

Gomez Official Website
Gomez MySpace

Superfly Productions and A.C. Entertainment are proud to announce the dates for the eighth annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Confirmed to take place June 11 – 14, 2009, the four-day festival will once again be held on the same beautiful, 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

Bonnaroo on amazon.com

Ticket pre-sales for the festival will begin on December 4, 2008 and go through December 31st. These tickets will be specially priced ticket levels available exclusively for early purchase. VIP tickets will also be available during this time. In an unprecedented move, during our holiday pre-sale, general admission tickets will be available as well for five (5) payments of $50.00 plus applicable fees through our payment plan. To promote the pre-sale, Bonnaroo and comedian Lewis Black worked together to create a hilariously manic Crazy-Eddie inspired video. A link for viewing it is below:

Watch Crazy Lewis video:

Consistently and successfully looking for ways to improve the festival each year, Bonnaroo’s eighth promises to build on the triumphs of the previous seven in every way. From its music programming to the non-music attractions, activities and art, the promoters are already hard at work adding new and exciting elements to create yet another legendary weekend. Since it’s inception in 2002, the festival has evolved into an incomparable multi-faceted entertainment experience, swiftly earning its status as the country’s premier music and arts event.

Bonnaroo continues to make a strong impact on the American music industry. The festival has served as a launching pad for such popular artists as Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Robert Randolph, My Morning Jacket, Ray Lamontagne, Matisyahu, and many others. A creative and cultural mega-success, Bonnaroo has also featured a staggeringly diverse range of world-class acts such as Bob Dylan, Metallica, Neil Young, Radiohead, Willie Nelson, The Police, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Tool, Wilco, The Dave Matthews Band, James Brown, The White Stripes, The Dead, Regina Spektor, Widespread Panic, Death Cab For Cutie, Elvis Costello, Amadou and Mariam, Beck, Against Me!, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss, Bright Eyes, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Jurassic 5, Modest Mouse, The Mars Volta, Common, Burning Spear, the Flaming Lips, among so many others.

The festival is also starting to make quite an impact on the comedy industry as well, as it has featured some of today’s best comedians working today. From Chris Rock, Lewis Black, Flight of the Concords, David Cross and Fred Armisen to Jim Norton, Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Janeane Garofalo and Brian Posehn, Bonnaroo is considered to be an essential play in any comedian’s touring plans.

For more information, go to:

Bonnaroo Festival Official Website
Bonnaroo MySpace

Jessie Baylin’s highly anticipated major label debut, ‘Firesight’, will be released June 24, 2008 on Verve Forecast.

The Boston Globe calls the Nashville-based songstress, “impressive…powerful…engaging…” while Nylon magazine describes her as “…a vision to behold…she channels the unbridled energy of a boiling tea-kettle.”

Recorded at Hap Town Studio in Nashville, the 12 tracks on ‘Firesight’ build and expand on material featured in Jessie Baylin’s first full-length album, ‘You’.

The new album also continues Baylin’s collaborative efforts with Grammy-winning songwriter Jesse Harris (Norah Jones) and features co-writing contributions from Mike Daly (Whiskeytown), Mark Goldenberg, Greg Wells and Danny Wilde (Rembrandts). The album was produced and engineered by Roger Moutenot (Yo La Tengo, Rogue Wave) and includes guest appearances by fellow Hotel Cafe alumni Cary Brothers and Brett Dennen, drummer Brad Pemberton (Ryan Adams), guitarist Joe Pisapia (Guster), and brothers Ned and David Henry (Josh Rouse, Cowboy Junkies), among many others.

Her first single is “Was I On Your Mind”. Look for Jessie’s music in upcoming movies, tv shows (tba).

Jesse Baylin has been featured on the forth-annual Hotel Cafe Tour sharing the bill with artists such as Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers and Greg Laswell. And in April she joined British musician Newton Faulkner on tour followed by a series of May shows supporting acclaimed singer-songwriter Teitur. Baylin will also be performing at this years Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 14th, 2008 in support of her new album, ‘Firesight’.

Jessie Baylin Official Website
Jessie Baylin Myspace

Nicole Atkins is one to watch – and I’ve found out why first hand.

The singer/songwriter New Jersey native has been on tour in Europe with her band, the Sea, and I was lucky enough to catch her show while she was in London.

First of all the venue, the Soho Review Bar (formerly the Raymond Review Bar), a place that some might consider seedy due to it’s erotic nature, was a brilliant room to watch a live performance. Just what I like – intimate, dark, the red interior was a plus and the sound was exceptional.

By the time Nicole started her set, the room was full with an expectant audience. She looked a million dollars, wearing a short white and black dress, she sounded great and her banter in between songs was friendly and humorous. At one point she invited people to go up toward the stage to watch – and a few did get up from their seats to sway along to songs that she played from her album, ‘Neptune City’.

The band was tight, and members on stage were Gillian Rivers (violin), Daniel “Cashmere” Chen (keyboard), Derek Layes (bass), Dan Mintzer (drums) and Dave Hollinghurst (guitar). Special guest Russell Simins from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion sat in on tambourine at one point.

Stand out songs of the night were “Brooklyn’s On Fire”, “The Way It Is”, “Party’s Over”, “Maybe Tonight” and their outstanding cover of the Doors’ “Crystal Ship”.

While in England, Nicole was able to squeeze in a phone interview with me for Band Weblogs the day before her show in Soho.

Jenny May: Do you have a favorite place to write music?

Nicole Atkins: I do. When the melodies of my songs come to me it’s usually when I’m sitting, but moving, so usually in the car or in a train is when they happen. But I really like to finish my songs in my parents’ living room at home. At least when they’re upstairs – but as long as they’re not in the room!

Are your parents musicians?

No. They like rock music, but none of them are musicians. We grew up with like, Frank Zappa as our ‘children’s music’.

Do you tend to write on guitar?

I write everything based on the vocal melody, and then I just put chords to that. It’s more fun and easier for me because instruments are limited, but on vocals, it’s not limited at all so I just layer everything through vocal melodies for every part.

What was the first guitar that you bought, do you remember?

I never bought one. My mom’s little brother, he passed away when he was thirteen and when I was thirteen I found his Yamaha Acoustic learners guitar in the attic. It was kind of a big deal. My mom was kind of reluctant for me to play it because she thought that I would break it, you know, because she got kind of sad when she would see it. Then I just kept going into the attic, I got this Grateful Dead guitar book, and taught myself how to play a bunch of Dead songs. So then after awhile they got really okay with it.

Do you still play it?

No. It’s a learner so it’s very short, and it’s actually harder to play than my guitar now!

And what are you playing now?

Now acoustic, I’m playing a Martin, and electric, I’m playing a Hagstrom Viking. It’s great.

I saw a video of you on YouTube singing “Be My Baby” – that was really good. It’s funny because that was the first song that I ever sang on stage with a band.

Nice. I love that song and I love singing that when my parents’ friends come to our shows ’cause you know, they have no idea what the hell I’m singing about, but when I start singing that, it’s just like, yeah!

I know what you mean. Ha ha.

Ha ha.

What are some of your favorite cover songs to play?

Three that we’re liking right now is “Crystal Ship” by the Doors, “Pissing In a River” from Patti Smith and “Under The Milky Way” by The Church.

I’m not sure if I’m familiar with The Church.

It’s a really pretty song.

I’ll have to look it up. I’m going to your show tomorrow night in Soho, London. Are you going to play that one?

Good. No we’re not…we’re still choosing, so maybe we will.

I was reading through your Myspace messages and noticed that your fan base is missing you in the States.

Yeah. Ha ha.

How do you stay in touch with them while you’re on tour?

Well, I always put out bulletins and I put up blogs of what’s going on out here, and little videos and stuff. So, I keep them fully abreast on the happenings.

I’m sure they appreciate that.

They do, and it’s always weird for me because I’m like, oh, they care!

I saw that video of you performing in Norway.

That was really fun. That was like, the funnest press thing that I’ve ever had to do.

It sounded great.

Yeah we met a bunch of people afterwards that were like super stoked on it. Like all these older people were like, “you have a very nice voice”. I was like, yeah!

How do you prepare for a show each night?

I don’t really do anything, I just kind of do brief vocal warm ups and just hang out with my band or my friends and then just go up and do it. I don’t really get into the mode until maybe 15 seconds before I sing the first note.

I would imagine that makes life easier for you.

It does. If you ever think it, you know, it will be weird and unnatural.

Some singers have all these rituals where they don’t talk or they don’t do certain things…

Yeah, I mean, unless I’m sick, you know, then I won’t talk. I always get on stage and I pick out the eight people that seem kind of skeptical or uneasy or unhappy in a crowd and kind of focus on them, kind of change their mood. I make them my personal mission.

Nice. I did read that you were sick on the road. Did you drink tea, or…

I’m always sick on the road. I just realized I’ve got the weakest immune system in the world. I do everything. I’m like a walking science project.

Ha ha. Is there any one thing that’s tended to work better for you?

Yeah…eight hours of sleep.

How did the David Letterman performance go (”The Way It Is”)? How was that for you?

That was the best day of my life. That was the day my record came out and it had been pushed back so much, I mean, it was, ahhh, finally we did it. It came off really, really well.

It was funny, the way he kept holding your hand at the end.

Yeah, he wouldn’t let go of my hand. It was cool, though, he liked us.

You could tell he liked you.

It was cool.

With your “Neptune City” single, it gives me the chills when I listen to it. What was the recording environment like in the studio?

We were in a barn in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere in Sweden and it was during the middle of winter. I recorded that song almost a year before I recorded it for the album and it’s one of those songs, that every time I sing it, I get the same feeling as I did when I first heard it. It was one of those things that…it was so much bigger than me.

What brought you to Sweden to record?

The producer lived there so it was much easier for me to go there alone then for him to come to New Jersey.

Did you enjoy it?

I didn’t. At all. I love making my records, and I love the music part of it, but it was the middle of winter so it got dark out at like 2 o’clock everyday. And I was in the middle of nowhere and I didn’t know anybody so it was very isolating…which might have been good because I was able to really focus on the music, but at the same time it probably didn’t do too well for my mental stability. I was very happy when I got home.

How long were you out there for?

A month and a half. Not too bad, but very, very isolating.

What normally is a good recording setting for you?

My idea of a good recording setting is very off the cuff, and very intimate, but it never really gets to work out that way now a days.

Is there a certain studio that you would like to work in that you haven’t yet?

Abbey Road. Who wouldn’t?

With your upcoming release, “Maybe Tonight”, I love it, the video is fun…

Thanks!

Do you have any input with the making of your videos?

Yes, I have full input. The video director (Josh Forbes) said let’s do this like you’re walking on your way to get ready for a late night TV show. I was like, oh, let’s get some circus freaks, you know, because I grew up on the boardwalk. There was a very big carnival culture. So he ended up getting us Vaudeville Cirque, which was way past my expectations, and we improvised everything and did it as we were, and it was just so much fun.

It looks really fun, and it definitely comes across.

It was. I choreographed it too.

That’s really good to know. Had you had experience with choreographing before?

No, I just did a lot of theatre.

Do you want to do more videos, directing, that sort of thing?

Oh yeah, I have tons of video ideas. It’s kind of a passion of mine to make up stories for a film.

Do you have a favorite festival that you like to play?

I’ve never really played any except for Austin City Limits. The one I’m looking forward to the most is All Points West. It’s in Jersey City and it’s with Radiohead. It’s an hour from my house too, so it’s really nice.

You’re playing Bonnaroo as well?

I’m really looking forward to that too, cause we get to play that with our good friends The Avett Brothers, that I went to college with.

Not only are you a singer and musician, but you’re an artist as well. Did you do the cover art for your album, ‘Neptune City’?

No I got my friend Nick to do it. He basically draws how I would draw if I wasn’t lazy and if I had the time!

Are you going to continue doing your art along with your music?

Yes, I always do. Comics and stuff. I put together a zine that goes to our fans so that we can actually mail them the comics and stuff like that. The comics will probably be ready in the fall.

Nicole Atkins Official Website
Nicole Atkins Myspace

Aimee Mann’s seventh solo release to date, ‘@#%&! Smilers’, is a return to form after the artistic detours of 2005’s concept album ‘The Forgotten Arm’ and 2006’s Christmas CD ‘One More Drifter in the Snow’. ‘@#%&! Smilers’ is set for release June 3, 2008 on SuperEgo Records.

Featuring 13 new original songs, producer Paul Bryan describes the record as “deceptively powerful…very rich and grand sounding”.

The songs range from the stripped-down-to-basics of “Columbus Avenue”, to the almost Cars-esque synth-pop of “Freeway”, along side the classic Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell-era “Phoenix”, and the hushed creepiness of “Little Tornado.” The final song “Ballantines” is a duet with Sean Hayes complete with barroom piano and trombone section.

Aimee Mann download – “Thirty One Today” MP3

All of the songs were penned by Mann, with the exception of “True Believer”, co-written with fellow singer-songwriter Grant Lee Phillips.

An amalgamation of sounds, Aimee explains “we tried not to echo any previous albums…for this one we wanted to use a different palate, thus replacing electric guitars with distorted Wurlitzers, Clavinets, and analog synthesizers. We made the low end and rhythm section full and organic-sounding, with Jay Bellrose’s quirky approach to percussion and my acoustic guitar together. For this album the acoustic guitar is present in a new way, one that melds with Jay’s rhythm section and acts as an adjunct to the high-hat. On top of that we layered detailed interwoven keyboards and on select songs added a lush string section; on others a full horn section.”

The album was recorded in the latter part of 2007 at the Sound Factory studios in Los Angeles, engineered by Ryan Freeland and mastered by Gavin Lurssen.

After finishing off 2007 with her critically acclaimed sold-out Christmas tour, Aimee will return to the road in support of ‘Smilers’ this Spring and Summer 2008, including a stop at Bonnaroo.

Look for upcoming appearances on NPR – All Things Considered and the Ovation channel – Live from the Artist’s Den performance series, amongst others.

Aimee Mann 2008 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Aimee Mann’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

June 2008

June 2 Los Angeles, CA Largo
June 6 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
June 10 Los Angeles, CA Largo
June 12 Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis Zoo
June 13 Milwaukee WI Pabst Theater
June 15 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival

July 2008

July 9 Boulder, CO Chautauqua Auditorium
July 11 Denver, CO Denver Botanical Gardens
July 12 Park City, UT Deer Valley Resort
July 14 Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery
July 15 Rosebud, OR Stewart Park
July 16 Seattle, WA Seattle Zoo
July 24 Calgary, Alberta Calgary Music Festival

@#%&! Smilers on amazon.com

Aimee Mann on Myspace
Aimee Mann Official Website

Watch a video of Cold War Kids playing “Hospital Beds”

8 May 2007 Garage Oslo
9 May 2007 Vega Copenhagen
10 May 2007 Knust Hamburg
11 May 2007 Kalkscheune Berlin
12 May 2007 Flex Vienna
14 May 2007 Rainbow – POSTPONED Milan
15 May 2007 Abart – POSTPONED Zurich
16 May 2007 Atomic Cafe – POSTPONED Munich
17 May 2007 Vapeur – POSTPONED Dijon
18 May 2007 Olympic – POSTPONED Nantes
19 May 2007 Tri Postale – POSTPONED Lille
21 May 2007 KOKO (SOLD OUT) London
25 May 2007 Tokyo – Astro Hall Tokyo
26 May 2007 Tokyo – Astro Hall Tokyo
27 May 2007 Osaka – Banana Hall Osaka
30 May 2007 HiFi Bar Melbourne
31 May 2007 Tivoli Brisbane
1 Jun 2007 Forum Sydney
8 Jun 2007 Ventura Fairgrounds Ventura, California
9 Jun 2007 Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, Arkansas
15 Jun 2007 BONNAROO Manchester, Tennessee

Cold War Kids Official Website
Cold War Kids on Myspace

By: Jenny May