I dig music. Possibly a little bit more than I should, but that can't be helped. Since having two kids, however, the amount of time I'm been able to devote to music has been drastically reduced. My listening time is largely relegated to walks outside the apartment with an iPod (which is already a bad idea given my Tinnitus), and the number of live shows I'm able to attend at this stage in the game is severely limited (as I warned my fellow new dads about in this post). It's just a fact of life. By and large, however, I don't really feel that I'm missing that much. As I mentioned in this old post, about five or ten years ago, there was a sort of shifting of the tectonic plates of popular culture, and I suddenly found myself on the wrong continent, so to speak. Most of the bands that blow a new part in my hair are now almost considered "oldies acts" and are invariably on reunion tours (if functioning at all). I passively attempt to keep up with the newer bands, but again -- you're more likely to find me perusing the reissues racks of your local record store than the new releases rack. Who am I kidding? There aren't any record stores left anymore. Silly me. I'm old.
That all said, I do still get fired up about my favorite artists and thrill to hear of any activity either happening in a studio or on a stage. Below are some items that have me all hot and bothered. May they similarly blow your skirt up:
- There's a long overdue, brand spankin' new anthology from STUMP -- a band I wrote about just recently -- out in stores today. This is slightly bittersweet for me, as it renders the highly coveted, super-rare compact disc of their classic 1988 album, A Fierce Pancake which I prized off someone on eBay for an implausibly silly sum several years ago rather moot. In any case, this new set contains every bit of head-warping music the criminally unsung Irish band ever committed to tape. Go fetch at once (click on the "news" section on this site for track listing and full details).
- Somewhat unbelievably, the deliciously gloomy trip-hop practitioners in PORTISHEAD have a new album out on April 14. The notion that this band would ever rear its troubled head again in the wake of the nation of also-rans who shamelessly stole (but never matched) their noir-tinged thunder seemed laughably far-fetched at best. But here it comes. Get your box of kleenex out, as it's clearly going to be a stylishly weepy Spring.
- There's a new DVD slated for an April 15 release documenting the onstage evolution of THE CLASH, culminating in their opening stint for The Who at Shea Stadium in 1982. I, for one, am quite excited to check it out.
- The WEDDING PRESENT are about to release a new disc called El Rey. It was recorded and mixed by the notoriously frowny Steve Albini, who also helmed their beloved Seamonsters album back in the day. Here's hoping for a rousing return to form.
- If you're a fan of ridiculous Goth shenanigans, maybe you'll give as much of a damn as I sorta do about the release of these four discs that capture the four farewell performances by ye olde MISSION U.K.. They are doubtlessly suitable to put on when you're feeling like wearing lots of crushed purple velvet and doing the wavey arm dance.
- The original line-up of fabled Los Angeles band X pulls into New York City on their 13 X 31 Anniversary Tour on May 24. The band -- featuring the incomparably cool Billy Zoom back on guitar detail -- will be tearing it up at the needlessly re-named Fillmore New York @ Irving Plaza. I only just found out about this, and am well psyched. Be there or be square.
- My beloved FIREWATER have also returned to active duty. Their new album, The Golden Hour (which is fucking brilliant, incidentally) hits stores on May 6th (on Bloodshot Records), and Tod [A] brings the latest incarnation of the band back to his former hometown of NYC in May (May 24: Southpaw in Brooklyn, May 26: The Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan -- I'l be at that one..... like you care). An even cooler development is that Erik Sanko of SKELETON KEY will be playing bass.
- Technically, I already wrote about this, but legendary NYC No Wave band, TEENAGE JESUS & THE JERKS are fleetingly reforming in June for a one-off at the Knitting Factory. This is truly stranger than fiction.
- Those of us still inclined towards basking in the infernal warmth of vintage metal will doubtlessly squeal with demonic delight to learn that the tireless N.W.O.B.H.M. stalwarts of IRON MAIDEN are returning to New York City on June 15 to rock the paint of the swiftly decaying rafters of Madison Square Garden. Regrettably, I missed `Maiden when they were here just a few weeks back (this on their retrophillic romp, the Somewhere Back In Time World Tour, wherein the band is revisiting material from their Powerslave era, replete with endearingly silly Egyptian set design), but plans are afoot to make sure I don't miss them this time. They're Iron Maiden, after all. They rock. You don't.
- The almighty DEVO is also returning to New York City this summer. The ageless spuds are to play the McCarren Park Pool out in Brooklyn on June 26, to show all those ironic beardy hipsters in girls' jeans and plunging v-neck t-shirts how it's really done. Dutifully, I will be there.
- Last but very decidedly not least, as I mentioned before, the original line-up of KILLING JOKE have booked two nights at The Fillmore New York City @ Irving Plaza in October (the 11th and the 12th, specifically). Without bludgeoning the obvious into dazed and bloody submission, I am more psyched for these shows than can be expressed in any language known to man.
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