WILDERNESS Return With Third Album, "(k)no(w)here" CD/LP
It has been more than two years since Wilderness's last album, and until just recently, the ground-breaking band from Baltimore, Maryland, has been largely inactive on the live scene as well. All that is about to change, as Jagjaguwar is proud to announce that the Wilderness cycle begins anew with the release of "(k)no(w)here", Wilderness's third full-length album, on November 4. Championed in the press as fertile traversers of "the more cerebral end of the rock spectrum" (by Pitchfork) and more simply as "just short of invincible" (by The Village Voice), Wilderness will also be touring North America in November and December. A more comprehensive announcement of tour dates will be made soon.
Wilderness's third full-length album entitled "(k)no(w)here" was conceived as one musical piece, and the impetus for this composition came from an invitation to collaborate with renowned visual artist Charles Long at Long's exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in Spring of 2008. The eight identifiable parts of "(k)no(w)here" are not readily separated from each other, such is the flow from and into each part. Created in ways different than the previous Wilderness self-titled album (2005) and the Wilderness "Vessel States" album (2006), "(k)no(w)here" still retains the Wilderness sound, with some evolution. On the new album, James Johnson is sometimes joined vocally by Colin McCann (aka THE LORD DOG BIRD, whose self-titled debut was released by Jagjaguwar in the Summer of 2008). And, as on previous albums, McCann performs on guitar, Brian Gossman on bass, and William Goode on drums, but the resulting community of all these parts comes across as more dynamic, and the perceived space they inhabit seems more vast.
Please check out a clip of Wilderness' collaboration with Charles Long at the Whitney Biennial here:
Stay tuned for more Wilderness news, and the announcement of a tour this fall.
ALBUM TRACK LISTING: 1. High Nero 2. Strand the Test of Time 3. (p)ablum 4. Silver Gene 5. Own Anything 6. Chinese Whisperers 7. Soft Cage 8. <....^....>
08/28/08
ONEIDA Appears On New WFMU Compilation
ONEIDA will be appearing on a WFMU, of New Jersey, compilation in celebration of the freeform radio station announcing their new Free Music Archive. The comp, entitled Selected Sounds From the Free Music Archive Vol. 1 closes with a live recording of "Rocket USA" with Oneida backing for Alan Vega, of Suicide. You can download the album for free here!
08/26/08
OKKERVIL RIVER And BON IVER Team Up For The Stand Ins Project
OKKERVIL RIVER added another cover to the video project for their upcoming release The Stand Ins. Providing a cover of "Blue Tulip" are label mates BON IVER. Watch their rendition of the song below:
Keep checking Okkervil River's youtube page HERE, as they will be uploading more videos soon.
Also, don't forget to pre-order your copy of "The Stand Ins," which includes a poster set and an early download code, HERE.
08/21/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Add Second Video To The Stand Ins Project
OKKERVIL RIVER have added the second video to "The Stand Ins Project" on YouTube. This time around we find David Vandervelde covering "Singer Songwriter." Check it out below:
The band will be adding two videos a week, and are encouraging fans to upload their own covers. So stay tuned HERE.
Don't forget to pre-order your copy of "The Stand Ins," which includes a poster set and an early download code, HERE.
08/19/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Launches Youtube Channel With Carl Newman And Will Sheff Duet
In celebration of OKKERVIL RIVER’s September 9 release of the The Stand Ins YouTube will premiere video footage of Will Sheff and Carl Newman of The New Pornographers performing an acoustic version of the song “Lost Coastlines.” The video will be the first in an 8-video series in which friends of the band act as “Stand Ins” to perform cover songs from the upcoming album. Other performances include covers from Bon Iver and David Vandervelde. Videos for the songs will be released twice a week for the next four weeks. The band is also inviting fans to upload cover songs from The Stand Ins. Videos will be featured on the OKKERVIL RIVER You Tube channel, www.youtube.com/okkervilriver.
Don't forget to preorder your copy of the record to receive an early download and poster set HERE
08/15/08
ONEIDA featured by Bloomington's WFIU - listen to the podcast!
Oneida was featured by Bloomington's NPR affiliate WFIU and Josephine McRobbie. You can check out a great interview with Kid Millions in the podcast here.
08/13/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN Release New Video Of "Wucan", Announce North American Tour Dates
From BLACK MOUNTAIN's second full-length album "In The Future" (which was just recently short-listed for Canada's prestigious Polaris Prize), the song "Wucan" is now in video form, featuring footage of all five members of the modern heavy psych outfit performing in the desert. Largely filmed by the band itself, and then put together with the assistance of Shira Blustein and Jon West, this video conjures up both a haunted and an expansive vibe. Check it out: http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/bmwucan.mov
Or here:
In addition to a handful of European festival dates (Green Man, Pukkelpop and the Lowlands Festival), Black Mountain will also be performing throughout North America in August and September. Highlights include being a part of the NEW PORNOGRAPHER's Stanley Park Singing Exhibition, performing at the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival and the Pygmalion Music Festival, and touring a string of dates (including two in New York City) with JESSE SYKES & THE SWEET HEREAFTER. Also, Black Mountain will make their maiden voyage to South America, and will perform two dates in Brazil, one as part of the Goiania Noise Festival on November 22.
BLACK MOUNTAIN tour-dates:
08/15/08 Brecon Beacons, UK - Green Man Festival 08/16/08 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival 08/17/08 Biddinghuizen, Netherland - Lowlands Festival 08/22/08 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival 08/29/08 Victoria, BC - The Royal Theatre 09/01/08 Vancouver, BC - The Stanley Park Singing Exhibition 09/19/08 Urbana, IL - Canopy Club - Pygmalion Music Festival 09/20/08 Chicago, IL - Hideout Block Party 09/21/08 Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room at The Crofoot w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/23/08 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/24/08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/26/08 Montreal, QC - Le National w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 09/27/08 Toronto, ON - The Opera House w/ Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 11/22/08 Goiania, Brazil - Goiania Noise Festival
08/12/08
BON IVER Add Second Night at Town Hall In NYC!
If you weren't able to get tickets to BON IVER at Town Hall on December 11th before they sold out, no worries! The band has added a second night at Town Hall on December 10th! Accompanying them again will be The Tallest Man on Earth.
Tickets are sure to go fast this time as well so don't miss your chance when they go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday 8/13!
08/07/08
BON IVER To Play Town Hall In NYC This December!
Even though the year will be winding down, BON IVER will still be going strong. On December 11th, Justin, Mike, & Sean will be playing New York City again, this time at Town Hall. Joining them for the show will be The Tallest Man on Earth.
Tickets will go fast, so grab them quick when they go on sale this Saturday (August 9th) at noon!
08/04/08
ONEIDA On WFIU's "Artworks"
ONEIDA will be featured on WFIU's program, "Artworks," on 8/5/08 and 8/12/08 from 7-8pm. The podcast of the show will be up starting tomorrow morning.
BON IVER And The Bowerbirds Perform Stirring Cover On Tour
Justin, Mike, & Sean of BON IVER along with Phil, Elizabeth, and Mark of The Bowerbirds perform an astonishingly beautiful version of Sarah Siskind's "Lovin's For Fools." This version is from the show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York.
Simply put, these people can sing. Please enjoy:
07/29/08
OKKERVIL RIVER Launch First Single From The Stand Ins to iTunes
We are pleased to announce that today you can get your first glimpse of OKKERVIL RIVER's new album The Stand Ins. The first single, "Lost Coastlines" is available now on iTunes in the US.
Or, if you go to the iTunes store, and check out "What's Hot," you'll find it there.
OKKERVIL RIVER's new full-length album The Stand Ins is the sequel to 2007's critically acclaimed The Stage Names, which Pitchfork praised as "...one of the year's best," with The New York Times proclaiming, "This band's musical arsenal keeps getting fuller."
07/26/08
WOMEN Join The Jagjaguwar Family. Women's Self-titled Debut To Come Out On Oct. 7.
Jagjaguwar will release Women's self-titled debut full length on October 7th, 2008 throughout the world (January, 2009 release in the UK, and Canadian label Flemish Eye is releasing the record in Canada.) The band will tour the U.S., Canada and Europe in support of the album throughout 2008, and tour dates will be announced soon.
The band's debut was recorded by Sub Pop and Flemish Eye artist Chad VanGaalen over 4 months on ghettoblasters and old tape machines in his basement, an outdoor culvert and a crawlspace. Sometimes light and spacious, at other times eerie and dense with an ominous weight, Women hint at the Velvet Underground, Swell Maps or This Heat; a lo-fi masterpiece cloaked in layers of vibrato and guitar wash.
Friends since childhood - two of them brothers - the band has an intuitive rapport that seems to transcend speech from years of playing together. The members of Women have collectively toured North America and Europe in various projects. Members have played and toured as part of Chad VanGaalen's band, and two members moonlight with Absolutely Kosher artists Azeda Booth.
"Calgary's Women, like Columbus' Times New Viking, give tape hiss a place of honor more often reserved for instruments, or at least computers. The ensuing noisy jangle straddles the 1960s' divide between the Warhol crowd's speed-addled New York cynicism and the echoes of psychedelic San Francisco that bubbled up across the pond in the fey, catchy pop of UK groups like the Zombies."--PITCHFORK
"This is freak-rock, nursed on psychedelia and prog, but without pretense."--VUE Weekly
07/25/08
JULIE DOIRON Collaborates With Phil Elverum On New Mt. Eerie Album
While in Washington State recording, JULIE DOIRON took some time out of her schedule to hook up with Elverum to contribute vocals to the upcoming Mt. Eerie album “Lost Wisdom” due out October 7th on P.W. Elverum & Sun. Elverum had this to say about the opportunity to collaborate with Doiron, "I've been a huge fan of [Julie's] music for many years, 'cause she played in Eric's Trip and that's my favorite band, ever. I mean, they're kind of the reason why I got into playing music."
New SUNSET RUBDOWN tour in September and October
You were missing Krug and the gang, but no more. No more...
09/15/08 Cambridge, MA - The Middle East 09/16/08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg 09/24/08 Atlanta, GA - The Earl 09/27/08 Austin, TX - Mohawk 09/29/08 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre 10/01/08 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot 10/02/08 Iowa City, IA - The Picador 10/03/08 Madison, WI - The Annex 10/04/08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
07/23/08
ONEIDA "Preteen Weaponry" CD/LP And THE LORD DOG BIRD CD/LP Now Available For Pre-order
THE LORD DOG BIRD is the solo recording project of Colin McCann, guitarist for Jagjaguwar artists, Wilderness. While the band was on extended hiatus, McCann kept at it, documenting his feelings about life and music at home on his four track. The result is a gritty, tactile document of a time spent in self-exploration and flux.
ONEIDA presents us with Preteen Weaponry. This is part one of the "Thank Your Parents" triptych of Oneida releases. Preteen Weaponry, itself, has three parts and is meant to be listened to at once (in order). It is almost entirely instrumental. Each part was recorded at different times and in different states of mind, but all on the same day. Oneida members past, present and future all contributed to this project. It reminds Oneida of what a live performance might sound like. It contains captured improvisational moments married with craft.
OKKERVIL RIVER Featured On The Insound 20
Insound has teamed up with designer Jason Munn of acclaimed design studio The Small Stakes to develop an exclusive music merchandise & design project, aptly titled the “Insound 20.” The project features iconic designs for twenty of Insound’s favorite bands, silk-screened onto American Apparel t-shirts & hoodies as well as on hand-numbered and signed silk-screened posters. All product editions are limited. Insound plans on launching a new series each year, featuring a new designer or studio and twenty bands.
JULIE DOIRON “Loneliest In The Morning” CD Reissue Available Now
We’re pleased to announce the reissue JULIE DOIRON’s “Loneliest In The Morning”. Originally released by Sub Pop in 1997 “Loneliest In The Morning” was Doiron’s second solo release.
BON IVER Performs For Daytrotter
BON IVER stopped by the Daytrotter studios in the midst of a hectic touring schedule this spring to demonstrate some alternate versions of "For Emma, Forever Ago." Justin's story with the making of this record has been well-documented. What occasionally gets lost is what is happening to these songs with the addition of Mike Noyce and Sean Carey to the band. While it is obvious that they are gifted musicians, it is the trio's togetherness that has really sprung a new life into the music.
Bon Iver is currently on tour in the US with the addition of Mark Paulson of Bowerbirds to the live band. They will go from coast to coast over the course of the next month, playing with Wilco for select dates. Be sure to check them out!
PARTS & LABOR Announce New Album, "Receivers"
We're proud to announce that PARTS & LABOR will be releasing their new album, "Receivers," on 10/21/08 here in the US and 11/03/08 in the UK. More below:
Brooklyn noisepunk outfit Parts & Labor has dramatically altered their wall-of-sound: Their fourth album, Receivers, finds P&L focusing on open spaces, longer movements, expansive arrangements and loftier goals. On eight epic tracks, Receivers showcases the band's catchiest and darkest moods to date, reveling in a growing dynamic sensibility only hinted at in their previous work. Though they've maintained their love affair with glitchy oscillations and anthemic vocals, they are now utilizing the full possibilities of a band that was once a scrappy punk trio, and now a mature art-rock quartet. It's a heady mix of psych, noise, and pop influenced by the arty minimalism of Wire, the surreal pop of early Eno, and even the spaced out psychedelia of Dark Side-era Pink Floyd.
To flesh out the roar of Receivers, P&L's founding members Dan Friel (vocals, electronics) and BJ Warshaw (vocals, bass) recruited drummer Joe Wong and guitarist Sarah Lipstate. Wong's motorik style perfectly complements the band's bombastic drone with uniquely repetitive rhythms augmented by jaw-dropping, furious fills. Lipstate implements a noisy-yet-folky guitar technique tinged with experimental electronics, cassette tape manipulations, and bowed double-neck guitar. The addition of a full time guitarist allowed Friel to focus on his signature keyboard effects -- a unique 8-bit clarion call that remains the most recognizable element of this constantly evolving band -- and allowed the band to compose their most complex arrangements thus far. With the new lineup solidified, P&L wasted no time, heading straight to Wong's Milwaukee studio mere months after playing their first show as a quartet.
In April, Parts & Labor had an open call on their websites, looking for audio samples and field recordings submitted by friends and fans. The band posed a selection of questions to spur inspiration: "What do your parents sound like?" "What are you afraid of?" They received hundreds of sounds in return -- all manner of bleeps, conversations and crashes. In a gesture of inclusion, every sound received is used in some degree on the album, either within the chattering satellites whirring by in the aptly titled "Satellites" or during the final cacophony of noise that swallows the band during Receivers' final moments. The band's favorite sounds, however, were given special prominence as source material for the ambient interludes and collages that bridge the eight songs. It's a unique project that comments on information overload while also championing the democratic nature of working in a increasingly digital music business.
Lyrically, Receivers continues Parts & Labor's obsessions with technology gone sinister, post-industrial paranoia, and cultural divides. "Satellites" envisions surveillance machines growing bored watching humans and then hurling themselves into the sun. "Nowheres Nigh" and "Solemn Show World" meditate upon the seemingly endless homogeny of exurban American highways. However, the band's questions this time point more inwardly; these are less calls to arms than they are calls to self-improvement. For every pessimistic observation comes a positive declaration. Whether cheerleading the celebration of choice in "The Ceasing Now" or pronouncing a declaration of love during an apocalypse in "Wedding In A Wasteland", Parts & Labor's lyrics, like their music, seek stability within the chaos.
07/08/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN Shortlisted For Canada's Polaris Prize
A 178 member jury of extremely cool Canadians have shortlisted our very own Black Mountain for the prestigious Polaris Prize, the annual award for a full-length Canadian album judged solely on artistic merit with no regard for genre or sales. Congratulations to the Black Mountain army!
MINUS STORY's Jordan Geiger Is A "Band To Watch"
When Jordan Geiger isn't doing amazing things with MINUS STORY he's doing amazing things with his side project, Hospital Ships. The dude just can't turn it off.
Stereogum recently listed Hospital Ships as a "Band To Watch." Read the full story HERE.
Hospital Ships will be releasing "Oh, Ramona" on 10/21/2008 via Graveface.
07/07/08
THE BESNARD LAKES New Video "Devastation" On Pitchfork.tv
The Besnard Lakes have finished a new video for the track "Devastation" from the album "The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse". The album, released in February of 2007, continues to spawn new and inspired content, and we couldn't be happier. Kara Blake, who also directed the video for "Agent 13", once again blows our minds. Enjoy!
07/01/08
PARTS & LABOR Embark On European Tour This Week
While most of us will be relaxing this 4th of July, PARTS & LABOR will be hard at work kicking off their European tour. Don't miss your chance to see them live!
Our New Favorite BON IVER Cover
Since last year when we first met Bon Iver, thousands of people have been touched by Justin Vernon's beautiful songs. While we continue to spread the message about "For Emma, Forever Ago", we often receive correspondence from fans telling us how much the album means to them.
This weekend we received a video from Youtube of a class from Milwaukee doing a brilliant cover of one of our favorites, "Flume". This means a lot to us, too.
06/23/08
NAGISA NI TE To Release "Yosuga", First Album In Four Years
It's been four years since the release of Nagisa Ni Te's previous album Dream Sounds, and now - after much work - their seventh album Yosuga has been completed. Jagjaguwar is once again very proud to deliver the band's most recent work to North America and Europe. Yosuga also marks the first time that Jagjaguwar has released a Nagisa Ni Te title on vinyl (not to mention the still popular compact disc format!).
The Japanese duo of Shinji Shibayama and Masako Takeda deliver an album that consists of both beautiful arrangements and soft melodies. Having perfected a certain simplicity with regard to songwriting, Nagisa Ni Te's subtle instrumental variations range from folky acoustic strumming to psychedelic guitar riffs, resulting in an amazing cross between progressive and folk rock. But once again it's both the simplicity of the music and the confidence with which the duo delivers these finely crafted compositions that are most compelling. Yosuga - the meaning of which refers to the source or grounds upon which the body and mind rely - is one of Nagisa Ni Te's finest efforts.
In the early 1980s, Shinji Shibayama performed "hyped up dada-psych" as part of Idiot O'Clock and then the more toned-down Hallelujahs. He also founded and still runs Org Records, the label responsible for bringing Eastern psych powers Maher Shalal Hash Baz to the world. With Maher Shalal Hash Baz's help, with the musical contributions of many of their collective friends, and with the assistance of Shibayma's now full-fledged cohort Masako Takeda in all things Nagisa Ni te, Shibayama recorded and released On The Love Beach (also available through Jagjaguwar), a beautiful, slow and entrancing work pulling equally from American and British rock traditions. Thus was born Nagisa Ni te, which means "on the beach" in Japanese, an homage of sorts to Neil Young's 1975 masterpiece. Their psych folk tendencies notwithstanding, Nagisa Ni te have also done well throughout all of their records to take cues from the avant rock world around them, comfortably implementing the minimalist credo "less is more" throughout their body of work.
ONEIDA Celebrate Success of "Wedding" Performance, Plan More Live Dates
On June 13th and 14th, ONEIDA showcased a complete performance of their 2005 album "The Wedding" at The Kitchen in New York, accompanied by a string quartet, avant-garde pianist, and multimedia art direction. According to those who were there, the "unique hybrid of multimedia concert and non-didactic rock opera" was, in a word, awesome. Check out the reviews from Urb and Vanity Fair
Oneida also kicked off the 2nd day of the Terrastock Festival this weekend, this time opting to rouse the crowd with some heavy, heavy jams. After hypnotizing them with 15 minutes of the classic "Sheets Of Easter", the band launched into the live debut of "Preteen Weaponry", their 40-minute opus to be released on Jagjaguwar in early August. They will be taking it on the road around then as well. A word of advice: DO NOT miss it!
Oneida tour dates:
08/12/08 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/Dirty Faces 08/13/08 Pittsburgh, PA - 31st Street Pub w/ Dirty Faces 08/14/08 Cleveland, OH - Beachland w/ Dirty Faces 08/16/08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Dirty Faces 08/17/08 Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird w/ Dirty Faces 08/19/08 Memphis, TN - The Hi Tone w/ Dirty Faces 08/20/08 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn w/ Dirty Faces 08/21/08 Winston-Salem, NC - Werehouse w/ Dirty Faces 08/22/08 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ Dirty Faces 08/23/08 Washington, DC - Black Cat w/ Dirty Faces
Listen to a tasty sample portion of "Preteen Weaponry" here
06/17/08
RICHARD YOUNGS Re-Releases "Veil (For Greg)" Today!
RICHARD YOUNGS & Simon Wickham-Smith originally recorded "VEIL (For Greg)" over a decade ago. After sitting in a storage unit purgatory for most of that time, Jagjaguwar is proud to unearth this gem and re-distribute it to the world.
The album is available digitally and there is a very limited quantity of the CD that's available as well, so order soon!
Read more and listen to the track "Indiana Spike Dance" HERE
BON IVER Performs Another Take Away Show With Vincent Moon In Paris
BON IVER took time out of their hectic touring schedule to do an intimate Take Away show in Paris. Justin, Mike, and Sean performed a private show in an apartment, as well as the tried and true formula of taking the show away.
ONEIDA Rides Again With New Record, Upcoming Triptych In Tow
ONEIDA rides again, and they roll in threes. The venerable Brooklyn trio has returned this summer with news of a magnific undertaking, a triptych of albums loosely referred to as the "Thank Your Parents" project. The first volume, entitled "Preteen Weaponry", will drop August 5 on Jagjaguwar Records. You can consider it an introduction to their forthcoming triple album "Rated O", which is part two of the aforementioned series (to be released by Jagjaguwar in early 2009).
"Preteen Weaponry" has three parts and is meant to be listened to at once (in order). It is almost entirely instrumental. Each part was recorded at different times and in different states of mind, but all on the same day. "Preteen Weaponry," along with the second and third chapters of "Thank Your Parents," was recorded by the band with the aid of longtime collaborator Barry London at their new Brooklyn studio, The Ocropolis.
Clocking in at just a hair under 40 minutes, "Preteen Weaponry" is larger than life, ably navigating the undulating waters of repetition and dynamic flux, while simultaneously channeling trancelike and propulsive energy. There's no need to seek an altered state before dropping the needle, as the record itself is likely to induce it.
Oneida have also translated "Preteen Weaponry" into a perversely hypnotic live show. You have most of the summer to take deep breaths and ready yourselves.
Oneida tour dates:
06/21/08 Louisville, KY - Terrastock 08/12/08 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/Dirty Faces 08/13/08 Pittsburgh, PA - 31st Street Pub w/ Dirty Faces 08/14/08 Cleveland, OH - Beachland w/ Dirty Faces 08/16/08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Dirty Faces 08/17/08 Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird w/ Dirty Faces 08/19/08 Memphis, TN - The Hi Tone w/ Dirty Faces 08/20/08 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn w/ Dirty Faces 08/21/08 Winston-Salem, NC - Werehouse w/ Dirty Faces 08/22/08 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ Dirty Faces 08/23/08 Washington, DC - Black Cat w/ Dirty Faces
06/06/08
BON IVER Opens For Wilco, Plans Next European Tour, Performs Black Cab Session, Appears Live on Canal +, Pitchfork Interview
We are pleased to announce that BON IVER will be supporting Wilco on a few summer dates:
08/04/08 Indianapolis, IN - The Lawn at White River State Park 08/06/08 Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre 08/07/08 North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performing Arts 08/08/08 Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Just as their plane lands at Eau Claire International Airport, BON IVER has made plans to turn around and do it all again. In case you missed them the first time around, more UK and European dates have been announced, including stops at the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, and the Take Root Festival in Groningen.
UK/EU Fall tour dates: 11 Sept 08 London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire 12 Sept 08 Bristol, UK - Trinity Hall 13 Sept 08 Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival 15 Sept 08 Manchester, UK - Academy 2 16 Sept 08 Gateshead, UK - The Sage 17 Sept 08 Edinburgh, UK - Queens Hall 19 Sept 08 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso 20 Sept 08 Arhus, Denmark - Vox Hall 21 Sept 08 Oslo, Norway - John Dee 23 Sept 08 Stockholm, Sweden - Berns 24 Sept 08 Gothenburg, Sweden - Pusterviksbaren 25 Sept 08 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega-Small Hall 26 Sept 08 Hamburg, Germany - Theater @ Reeperbahn Festival 28 Sept 08 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof 29 Sept 08 Munich, Germany - Ampere 30 Sept 08 Koln, Germany - Gebaude 9 2 Oct 08 Paris, France - Maroquinerie 3 Oct 08 Brussels, Belgium - Orangerie 4 Oct 08 Groningen, Netherlands - Take Root Festival Osterpoort 5 Oct 08 Tourcoing, France - Grand Mix 7 Oct 08 Dublin, Ireland - Tripod
See Justin perform "Creature Fear" on Black Cab Sessions HERE. "That was one of the funnest things ever... very good acoustics in here."
While we're at it, if you happened to miss Justin's interview with Pitchfork, you can read it HERE.
En outre, pour ceux de vous avec l'accès à la télévision française, ne vous ennuyez pas de Bon Iver sur le Canal Plus la semaine prochaine.
That is, for those of you with access to French television, Bon Iver will be appearing on on Canal + the week of June 9.
06/05/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN Collaborate with UNKLE, Add Festival Dates
Members of BLACK MOUNTAIN will be appearing on the new UNKLE record, "End Titles...Stories for Film," out on 7/7 in the UK and Europe. Find more info on it here
Don't miss your chance to see Black Mountain on their European tour this summer!
Tour dates:
06/27/08 Tromoya, Norway - Hove Festival 06/29/08 Glastonbury, UK - Glastonbury Festival 07/02/08 Vienna, Austria - Arena 07/04/08 Cesky Brod, Czech Republic - Rock For People Festival 07/06/08 Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival 07/18/08 Dawson, Yukon - Dawson City Music Festival 07/19/08 Dawson, Yukon - Dawson City Music Festival 07/26/08 Vancouver, BC - Pemberton Festival 08/15/08 Brecon Beacons, UK - Green Man Festival 08/16/08 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival 08/17/08 Biddinghuizen, Netherland - Lowlands Festival 08/22/08 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival
05/31/08
OKKERVIL RIVER's The Stand Ins Coming Soon, New Tour Dates Announced
On September 9, Jagjaguwar Records will release OKKERVIL RIVER’s new full-length album titled The Stand Ins. The album is the sequel to 2007’s critically acclaimed The Stage Names, which Pitchfork praised as “…one of the year’s best,” and The New York Times proclaimed, “This band’s musical arsenal keeps getting fuller.”
The Stand Ins was recorded in Austin and produced by longtime collaborator Brian Beattie and Okkervil River. The album features 11 songs and includes the track “Lost Coastlines,” on which Sheff and recently departed Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater share a duet on the joys and hardships of trying to keep the band together. Of the process Will Sheff explains, “We had so many songs we were excited about that we briefly threw around the idea of just putting out a double record. Instead, we decided to take a group of songs that fit with each other and turn that into The Stage Names, setting the rest aside for a future release, a The Stage Names sequel." The Stand Ins is that sequel, part two of a staggered double album. Like artist William Schaff’s embroidered artwork, which depicts what’s happening underneath The Stage Names’ front-cover quicksand hand,The Stand Ins picks up exactly where Part One left off but also delves deeper into the story and theme of The Stage Names. It is a full-length, fleshed-out, deeply ambitious labor of love.
The album features a variety of instrumentation and musicians including Will Sheff (Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Casio SK-1, Rhythm Electric Guitar), Charles Bissell (Electric Guitar), Scott Brackett (Coronet, Hammond Organ, Synthesizers, Mellotron, Capo), Brian Cassidy (Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Pedal Steel), Jonathan Meiburg (Vocals, Piano, Wurlitzer, Banjo), Travis Nelsen (Drums, Maracas, Tambourine, Sleigh bells, Claves), Patrick Pestorius (Bass, Melodica), Justin Sherburn (Carillon, Mellotron, Piano, Hammond Organ), and Zachary Thomas (Mandolin).
In September the band will begin a national tour that will include stops in New York, Los Angeles and Austin where band will be performing at the Austin City Limits festival. Visit our tour dates page for a complete list of shows.
05/30/08
New ONEIDA 7" Now Available from These Are Not Records
ONEIDA have just released a brand-new 7", courtesy of the fine folks at These Are Not Records. This record, entitled "Heads Ain't Ready", features the band's take on two Grateful Dead songs, "Cream Puff War" and "Cold Rain and Snow". A hand-numbered edition of 600 has been pressed, on red- and light blue splattered vinyl. They won't be around for long.
SUNSET RUBDOWN Perform New Song In Black Cab Session
We think it's called "You Go On Ahead". And it's yet another magical tune by Sunset Rubdown, brought to the world courtesy of Black Cab Sessions. Enjoy!
Also, if you are curious how the Sunset Rubdown UK and European live performances are going, you can check out one rave review of their show in London HERE.
05/28/08
PARTS & LABOR's Dan Friel Releases Solo Album On Important Records
Parts & Labor's own Dan Friel has released his first solo full-length album entitled Ghost Town. Characterized by its anthemic melodies, complex electronic arrangements and huge distorted beats, Ghost Town is an indie record the noise kids will love and a noise record that'll inspire the indie kids to pick up some busted electronic gear and strive for immortality. Ghost Town is where everyone can meet in the middle and freak out about how insanely good this record is. Comparisons are tough but perhaps if In The Aeroplane Over The Sea was sculpted out of distorted noise you might be getting close. Friel has been using toy keyboards, guitar effects pedals, walkie talkies and r/c car remotes to make a series of instrumental electronics EPs since 2001. Ostensibly a western, Ghost Town alternates between dense, distorted, beat-driven epiphanies, and haunting solos from a variety of makeshift instruments. Ghost Town also features the eye-popping artwork from renowned print/illustration artist Shawn Reed (Racoo-oo-oon, Night People Records).
The first 100 records shipped will be on red vinyl. All copies shipped after that will be on black vinyl. There's been some heavy buzz around this record so color vinyl will not last long.
Andy Byers of MINUS STORY Has Cool Job; Hobnobs With Film Legend
Isabella Rossellini wrote, produced and directed several short films about relationships, about sex and about death... of insects. MINUS STORY member Andy Byers was responsible for all the production design including the creation of giant insect suits in which Ms. Rossellini performed.
The series of films will be broadcast on the Sundance Channel. You can watch an interview with Andy here.
There are also links to each of the short films. See how many different Jagjaguwar shirts you can spot.
05/20/08
BON IVER Performs Skinny Love On LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND, U.S. Summer Tour Dates Announced
Justin took a break from his UK tour to perform on Later With Jools Holland. Leaving Mike and Sean belly up in the local pub, Justin performed a near indescribable solo rendition of "Skinny Love". Check it out.
Also, if you tuned into House last night on NBC, or One Tree Hill on the CW, you may have recognized some music. That's Bon Iver, again, reaching out not so slowly, but very surely further into the world, spreading one good winter into an even better spring, and the best summer ever.
Summer tour dates: 06/21/08 Minneapolis, MN - Walker Art Center w/ The New Pornographers 07/20/08 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival 07/21/08 Detroit, MI - Crofoot Ballroom w/ Bowerbirds 07/22/08 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace w/ Bowerbirds 07/23/08 Montreal, QC - Cabaret Music Hall w/ Bowerbirds 07/25/08 Portland, ME - SPACE Gallery w/ Bowerbirds 07/26/08 Boston, MA - Museum Of Fine Arts w/ Bowerbirds 07/27/08 Dennis, MA - The Cave Cinema w/ Bowerbirds 07/29/08 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Bowerbirds 07/30/08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall Of Williamsburg w/ Bowerbirds 07/31/08 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church w/ Bowerbirds 08/01/08 Washington, DC - Black Cat w/ Bowerbirds 08/02/08 Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre w/ Bowerbirds 08/03/08 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center w/ Bowerbirds 08/10/08 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light w/ A.A. Bondy 08/11/08 Nashville, TN - Exit/In w/ A.A. Bondy 08/12/08 Bloomington, IN - Waldron Arts Center w/ A.A. Bondy 08/14/08 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre w/ A.A. Bondy 08/15/08 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue w/ A.A. Bondy 08/24/08 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival 08/25/08 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour w/ A.A. Bondy
05/16/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN Live On Pitchfork.tv
Check the bewitching performance of "Night Walks", live at Glasslands in Brooklyn:
05/15/08
BON IVER On Grey's Anatomy Thursday May 15, Performs On Later With Jools Holland
We are pleased to announce that the music of Bon Iver is going to accompany the gripping medical drama Grey's Anatomy on Thursday May 15 at 9 pm est. Will McDreamy disappear into the woods after a bad break up, set up shop at his father's surgery cabin only to re-emerge months later with a beard and a collection of surgical procedures that leave the medical blogosphere a buzz with admiration and wonder?!?! ... you'll have to tune in to find out. The "For Ellen, Forever Ago" episode featuring "The Wolves (Act 1 & 2)" is sure to please. Watch in online Here The episode is called Losing My Mind
Also, the band is in the UK/EU right now in support of the 4AD release of "For Emma, Forever Ago", including a short run with Iron and Wine. Check them out!
05/15/08 Brighton, UK - The Great Escape 05/16/08 London, UK - Forum w/ Iron & Wine 05/19/08 London, UK - Chess Club at Social 05/20/08 London, UK - Scala 05/22/08 Den Haag, NL - Paard 05/23/08 Ottersum, NL - Roepaen 05/24/08 Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso - Upstairs 05/27/08 Paris, France - La Trabendo 05/29/08 Gent, Belgium - Vooruit 05/31/08 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound
While we're in the UK, you can watch Justin performing Flume on the well renowned Later with Jools Holland. He appeared on the popular UK television program on May 13, this performance of Flume is exclusive for the show's website. Here
05/13/08
ONEIDA To Perform "The Wedding" With String Quartet In New York June 13 & 14
On Friday and Saturday, June 13-14, The Kitchen in New York City presents a live multimedia concert featuring a complete performance of ONEIDA's 2005 album, "The Wedding". Oneida will be backed by a string quintet under the direction of Brian Coughlin, who created the arrangements for the original recording, along with celebrated pianist Emily Manzo. In this evening, conceived for The Kitchen and directed by Nick Hallett, "The Wedding" is re-envisioned within the tradition of the song cycle as an abstract narrative. Multimedia art direction is provided by Mighty Robot A/V Squad, a longtime provider of Oneida's lightshow. The work will be presented as a unique hybrid of multimedia concert and non-didactic rock opera.
In other Oneida news, the band is putting the finishing touches on their latest recording, a forty-minute single work, which will be released on Jagjaguwar in August. Stay tuned for further details.
Oneida tour dates:
06/07/08 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa w/ Carla Bouzulich's Evangelista 06/13/08 New York, NY - The Kitchen 06/14/08 New York, NY - The Kitchen 06/21/08 Louisville, KY - Terrastock 08/13/08 Pittsburgh, PA - 31st Street Pub w/ Dirty Faces 08/14/08 Cleveland, OH - Beachland w/ Dirty Faces 08/16/08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Dirty Faces 08/17/08 Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird w/ Dirty Faces 08/19/08 Memphis, TN - The Hi Tone w/ Dirty Faces 08/20/08 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn w/ Dirty Faces 08/21/08 Winston-Salem, NC - Werehouse w/ Dirty Faces 08/22/08 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ Dirty Faces 08/23/08 Washington, DC - Black Cat w/ Dirty Faces
05/08/08
SUNSET RUBDOWN's First Tour Ever Of The UK And Europe Starts May 14, And Other News
To the delight of eager SUNSET RUBDOWN fans throughout the Europe, continental and otherwise, the magical Montreal rock band will finally tour many lands to the east of the Atlantic, including the Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain and Portugal. They will be touring in support of "Random Spirit Lover", their full-length opus which came out in October of 2007 and garnered rave reviews, including Pitchfork's prestigious "Best New Music" distinction. For a list of comprehensive tour dates, click HERE.
Many shows have already sold out, well in advance, including their London show at Luminaire. Some of the other highlights of the European tour include a performance at the Explosions in the Sky-curated All Tomorrow's Parties and an appearance at the Great Escape festival in Brighton. There is also some talk of Sunset Rubdown doing a Black Cab Session (http://www.blackcabsessions.com/) while in London featuring a new song, but all good things to those who wait, we suppose.
In other Sunset Rubdown-related news, Sunset Rubdown will be contributing to David Horvitz's 7-inch Picture Disc Series, released through Brooklyn's Aagoo Records. The tentative timefame for the Sunset Rubdown 7-inch is November. For more information on how to subscribe, please go here: http://dhpd.bigcartel.com/
David Horvitz also was the friend and mastermind behind the recent Sunset Rubdown polaroid series, where Sunset Rubdown fans all sent blank polaroid film and a self-addressed envelope to David, who then returned candid shots of the band back to the fans. Here are some of the photos that fans received (scanned and then posted):
Oh, BLACK MOUNTAIN, Where Do We Begin: UK/European Tour, Bastards of Light "News", and Conan Redux!
In a desert-state-of-mind, Black Mountain were in top form at Coachella. Was that an even funkier version of Druganaut? No Bright Lights? Or was the desert sun taking us on a trip of our own.
Regardless, the real news here is: a hop, skip and a jump after they ruled at Coachella, Black Mountain begin their UK and European tour tomorrow, including an appearance at the ATP vs. Pitchfork showdown in Camber Sands this upcoming weekend. Among the many other festivals they will be involved in on this leg of their world tour is an appearance on the Mojo Stage of The Great Escape Festival. We are told that Black Mountain fans in the UK and Europe are restlessly awaiting many of these shows, this being the maximal-psych outfit's first visit to the European continent since their new album "In The Future" was released in January. So get your tickets now. For a comprehensive list of tour dates, please click HERE.
Originally released as a tour-only 12-inch in the Fall of 2007, the Bastards of Light EP is currently out of print in any physical format. The two songs on the EP, "Bastards of Light" and "Thirteen Walls", were both recorded in early 2007, during the same sessions that produced "In The Future". In the UK and Europe, these two songs are being digitally released through Itunes slightly later (05/20/08), with the song "Stormy High" from the "In The Future" full-length being added to them to form what is altogether called the "Stormy High" single.
FINALLY, if you missed it the first time, do not fret. Black Mountain's live performance of "Stormy High" on the Conan O'Brien show will be aired again on May 26, on your local NBC affiliate in the United States and Canada. And, yes, famed ring announcer Michael Buffer will once again be introducing Black Mountain to the masses. (Because, you know, it's a re-run.)
04/29/08
Live OKKERVIL RIVER Performance Featured On Pitchfork.TV
OKKERVIL RIVER are featured on Pitchfork.TV today. They are shown performing 3 songs live on a New York rooftop, as part of the website's "Don't Look Down" series. The view is spectacular, and the set ends with some equally epic 5-part harmony on "Okkervil River Song".
You Can Be On The Next PARTS & LABOR Album!
Just like we can never sit still while listening to Parts & Labor,the band is eternally moving and shaking. Since the 2007 release of their last full-length, the critically acclaimed "Mapmaker", Parts & Labor have toured Europe twice, and across the U.S. three times. They have diligently worked on their own label, the ever growing Cardboard Records (recently featured in Impose Magazine, and recommended by Pitchfork). And they just released the "Escapers Two" EP, which perfectly captures the whirlwind that is Parts & Labor with 51 songs in under 30 minutes. So what's next? Parts & Labor is recording the proper full-length follow up to "Mapmaker" and are asking you, the listening public, to contribute to the album! From the band:
Want to be on the next Parts & Labor album?
We're in the studio working on our next album. Send us some audio samples to use on the recording.
We're looking for snippets of noises, field recordings, found sounds, drones, speaking, etc.
Send audio that responds to any or all of these questions:
1. What's your favorite or least favorite sound? 2. What are you afraid of? 3. What do your parents sound like? 4. Where are you going, or where have you been?
The deadline for submissions is May 23rd.
Please keep the samples under 10 seconds. wav or aiff formats are preferred (but mp3s are okay too).
Email your submissions to partsandlaborsounds@gmail.com. Include your name for crediting purposes if you want.
Thanks, Parts & Labor
PS: By sending us audio files you're agreeing to let us use them on our audio recordings in any way we see fit, forever and ever. Don't send lawyers at us.
04/08/08
MONROE MUSTANG Release New Digital-Only Album Today!
It's been nearly eight years since this Oklahoma-originated (Austin-based) band have released an album. A product of home recording sessions spanning more than a decade, MONROE MUSTANG's fifth release is entitled "Monroe Mustang, The Imaginary Band, Regretfully Declines". It comes out on Jagjaguwar as a digital-only release on April 8th.
Very early on in Jagjaguwar's history, before the label moved to Indiana, Michael Linnen handed Jagjaguwar a cassette of demos. It was while he was on tour with Kranky recording artists Stars of The Lid. The cassette tape included Monroe Mustang songs. Correspondence ensued, and Monroe Mustang agreed to allow Jagjaguwar to release "The Elephant Sound" in 1999, which was one of the first records released on Jagjaguwar after the label's relocation to Indiana. The nine song album found pockets of fans around the globe. It made a very distinctive impression in the Benelux. The band was invited to attend the Crossing Borders Festival there, where they recorded an EP for VPRO (Dutch Public Radio), that Jagjaguwar later released in 2000.
During "the Monroe Mustang hiatus" (which is how Jagjaguwar affectionately refers to the period of time between the year 2000 and the present day), the members of the band (Brian Barry, Taylor Holland, Christopher Linnen, Michael Linnen, and Jason Stout) kept busy with other musical projects, film scores, trying to leave the country, and raising precocious children like Sophia and Rowan Stout and Blaise Gibson Barry.
Some specific highlights:
* Chris and Michael Linnen contributed to "When the Detail Lost It's Freedom", the beautiful Kranky solo debut of Brian McBride, of Stars of the Lid.
* Michael Linnen was approached by David Gordon Green to score his first feature film "George Washington" with Green's childhood friend and fellow Mustang fan, Ola Podrida's David Wingo. Michael Linnen composed music for several of Green's feature films, including the critically acclaimed "George Washington" (2000), "All the Real Girls" (2003), and "Undertow" (2004). Michael Linnen also composed music with Wingo for "Manic" (2001).
* Jason Stout and Taylor Holland both contributed music to a couple of indie films that did not see wide release. Stout contributed a song to the indie horror flick "Sex Machine" (2005). Holland composed music for Bradley Beesley's 2006 documentary "The Creek Runs Red".
* Taylor Holland and Michael Linnen have been playing together in a still-to-be-named side-project that may yet see the light of day. Holland has also been playing in the French band called Bombazine Black.
With all that's happened, and is happening, Jagjaguwar is extremely proud to release the Monroe Mustang album "Monroe Mustang, The Imaginary Band, Regretfully Declines" today. It is available on iTunes, and at all major digital retailers.
La Blogotheque capture BON IVER in San Francisco
Nate Chan from Take Away Shows caught up with BON IVER at The Independent in San Francisco and filmed the show for a new segment entitled "Back On Stages."
"The Wolves (Act I & II)" has become a calling card of the BON IVER live show, with audiences across the States joining in for the finale, singing "what might have been lost" while Justin echoes back. This is particularly goose bump inducing footage.
04/06/08
LADYHAWK To Embark On U.S. Tour In Support Of Acclaimed "Shots"; Free MP3 Of "S.T.H.D"
LADYHAWK have just released an album called "Shots" that Carrie Brownstein of NPR (and of Sleater-Kinney fame) listens to every day (see March 6 entry here). MOJO magazine gives the same album 4 stars and says that Ladyhawk recalls "Dinosaur Jr.'s drive as adroitly as some of Neil Young's darker notions." And their live show is renowned. The Vancouver band is coming off a sold-out romp through Canada with Jagjaguwar label-mates and good brahs (and sah) BLACK MOUNTAIN. And the United States is next up, where they are touring with Saddle Creek recording artists NEVA DINOVA. (See tour-dates below.)
Also, Ladyhawk are looking to make some friends along the way.
If you're still on the fence, and you're not prejudiced against hairy men (see: the opening page of www.jagjaguwar.com), then you should check out (and share) the following MP3, of a song called "S.T.H.D": get song here
"S.T.H.D." encompasses all that is Ladyhawk (urban lament, fist pumping rock chorus, tasty guitar solo), wrapped up in a two minute nugget of energy, sweat, melody and rhythm.
Here is some additional critical praise for people who don't feel like thinking for themselves:
UNCUT Magazine -- "To say Ladyhawk offer a pretty straightforward rock trip makes them sound unadventurous, [and] also doesn't really do justice to the sheer head-nodding, play-loud-and-prosper enjoyment [Shots] offers."
EXCLAIM -- "Offering a darker, more mature version of their earlier work, "Shots" is the record Ladyhawk have always intended to make." -- Ladyhawk U.S. tour dates (also here ) (all with Neva Dinova, unless asterisked.)
04/22/08 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court 04/23/08 Denver, CO - Hi Dive 04/24/08 Omaha, Nebraska - The Waiting Room* 04/25/08 Lincoln, NE - Box Awesome 04/26/08 Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin Club 770 04/27/08 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry 04/30/08 St. Louis, MO - Bluebird* 05/01/08 Chicago, IL - Schubas 05/02/08 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern 05/03/08 Buffalo, NY - Orbits Soundlab 05/04/08 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground* 05/07/08 Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs 05/08/08 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse 05/09/08 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 05/10/08 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall 05/11/08 Washington, DC - DC 9 05/12/08 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone* 05/13/08 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 05/14/08 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn 05/15/08 Charleston, SC - Pour House 05/16/08 Savannah, GA - Jinx 05/17/08 Nashville, TN - The End 05/19/08 Birmingham, AL - The Nick 05/20/08 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon 05/22/08 Norman, OK - tba* 05/23/08 Austin, TX - Emo's inside 05/24/08 Denton, TX - Hailey's* 05/27/08 Phoenix, AZ - Modified 05/28/08 San Diego, CA - Casbah 05/29/08 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland 05/30/08 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill 05/31/08 Portland, OR - Town Lounge 06/01/08 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey* -- LINKS:
OKKERVIL RIVER Ukulele Session, live and acoustic in Belgium
OKKERVIL RIVER performed a few acoustic songs as part of the Belgian newspaper Le Soir's online Ukulele Session series in Brussels. This session took place in mid-December, during the band's last European tour.
Watch the abbreviated lineup (with guitar, ukulele, and accordion) perform "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" and "A King And A Queen" here
03/20/08
BON IVER on ABC News
As Bon Iver was just starting their string of shows with BLACK MOUNTAIN, ABC News caught up with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver at his in-store performance at Soundfix in Brooklyn. They spoke to Justin about the record, his fanny pack, music he can't live without, and the difficulty in getting used to such a sudden shower of praise. You can check out the two part interview here:
PART 2 of this interview features video footage from the recently completed video for "The Wolves (Act I and II)", directed by Matt Amato, for the Masses. You can watch the video in its entirety HERE.
Bon Iver is currently on tour. For a current listing of Bon Iver tour dates, go HERE.
03/12/08
WILDERNESS Transmission Received, Collaboration With Charles Long at Whitney Biennial 2008
Jagjaguwar's received this transmission from WILDERNESS:
the gorge collapses as circled bells remain, a sweetest name carried upon a golden tendril of smoke teeth shines as paranoia bathes in a dimly lit shadow mask of lip husks and asps. people mistakingly taking credit further obscuring the obscured as handfuls of writs writhe and twist spitting fulcrum programs into the thoughts {dearly beguiled history is grinding}. Random: rAndom; place!ment in the yonder. FIGURE IT OUT. novelty skins. sky born clad shelled.
After sending over to our team of gnostic cave-dwellers to translate, this is what Jagjaguwar gleaned: following a hiatus, WILDERNESS are again playing live shows (complete list of which is HERE), and the band just recently collaborated with artist Charles Long at the Whitney Biennial 2008. An amazing snippet of their performance at the Whitney can be seen here: http://whitney.org/www/2008biennial/www/?section=artists&page=artist_long
Also, a NEW WILDERNESS full-length is in the works, to be completed this spring/summer. As soon as we have more information on a potential release date, album title, track-listing, etc., we'll convey that. All good things to those who wait. In the meantime, you can revisit "Emergency" from their most recent opus "Vessel States" here: http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/emergency.mp3
03/07/08
JAGJAGUWAR at SXSW 2008
Citizens of Earth! Travellers to Texas! Eaters of Mexican food! Goers of shows! Passers out on 6th! Wakers up by the river! Stumblers to breakfast! Hairs of the dogs that bit you! Wakers up in someone's backyard! Stumblers to the river! Takers of a nap! Hailers of a cab out of town! Barfers at airport bathrooms! Sleepers on planes! Forgetters of entire weekends! Whisperers of disbelief back at work on Monday! Citizens of rock! Unite!!
Jagjaguwar, Secretly Canadian and Dead Oceans are pleased to announce the line-up for our 2008 South By Southwest showcase. Good times will be had from 8pm to 2am on Thursday March 13th at The Mohawk (located at 912 Red River). Like last year we'll be running two stages, details as follows:
OUTSIDE STAGE Black Mountain- 1:00-2:00 Jens Lekman - 12:00-12:45 Bon Iver - 11:00-11:45 Evangelicals - 10:00-10:45 Bodies Of Water - 9:00-9:45 Phosphorescent - 8:00-8:45
INSIDE STAGE Parts & Labor - 12:30-1:15 Citay- 11:30-12:15 The Explorers Club - 10:30-11:15 Throw Me The Statue - 9:30-10:15 White Hinterland - 8:30-9:15
Here is a handy schedule that details where our bands will be during the rest of the fest:
Black Mountain: March 13 @ THE TEXAS GARAGE - Jelly NYC 5:00pm March 15 @ WATERLOO PARK - Black Mountain 6:55pm
Bon Iver: March 12 @ MAGGIE MAE'S - Emusic Event 1:00am March 13 @ THE PARISH - NPR performance 3:15pm March 14 @ EMO'S - Pitchfork 3:00pm
Okkervil River: March 12 @ AUSTIN MUSIC HALL - 11:00pm March 13 @ YARD DOG - Schubas Party 3:50pm-4:20pm March 15 @ FRENCH LEGATION MUSEUM - Harp Party 6:05pm-6:35pm March 15 @ STUBBS - Okkervill Official Showcase 9:00pm
Parts & Labor: March 12 @ HABANA CALLE 6 - Cardboard Records Showcase 1:00am March 13 @ EMO's - Brooklyn Vegan Showcase 12-6pm (P&L likely after 4pm)
See you in Austin!
03/06/08
BON IVER's First Music Video Unveiled
Bon Iver "The Wolves (Act I & II)" From the Jagjaguwar release "For Emma, Forever Ago" Directed by Matt Amato for The Masses Filmed on location in Fall Creek, Wisconsin January 2008
This is by any description, a project that almost never happened. Rushing to get to Wisconsin for fresh snows and still frozen air, Director Matt Amato arrived in Eau Claire, hometown of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, in late January. In the midst of warming up after a long journey and excitedly telling Justin about all the projects he had on the horizon, Matt received a phone call. One of his best friends had suddenly and tragically passed away. All logic and reason were thrown out. Nobody knew what to do. Matt didn't know whether to stay or go, or how he would even manage to get back to the airport in his state of shock. Justin just tried to stay calm. Between a flurry of phone calls and attempting to contact some of Matt's family to accompany him home, night fell. Almost by default, Matt remained in Eau Claire in the company of his newest acquaintance. Something about it was safe, and that was enough. The next morning, Matt read the lyrics to "The Wolves" and felt as if those were the exact words he needed to hear from his departed friend. That pretty much sealed it. Matt would stay and work, even as the thought of making a video became the last thing on their minds. They built a bonfire and just let it burn all day and into the night, and Matt filmed. The weight of the circumstances propelled the collaboration to a place these sort of projects don't often go. The cathartic spirit of Bon Iver's music had found its kindred spirit in imagery. Enjoy.
Watch the video here And here You can also watch it by subscribing to SecretlyJag on youtube.com
03/05/08
SPOKANE release eMusic retrospective, Rick Alverson pens essay
Emusic.com has launched a free, 11-song SPOKANE retrospective, "A Small Commotion." The tracks selected represent Spokane's 9 year, unwavering dedication to a music that explores that fragile, emotional stillness so often marginalized by an American cultural addiction to the overt and ostentatious. These songs present a cohesive sampling of the band's 5 records to date released by the seminal, anarchic Indiana label Jagjaguwar.
Since the release of SPOKANE's 'Little Hours' in August of 2007, Rick Alverson has kept pretty busy. He's toured, built a house, and, for a very short time, worked as an extra on HBO's upcoming "epic 7-part mini-series event", "John Adams." The latter inspired Alverson to write "A Half Dozen Dead Horses And I: Two Days As An Extra." Stripping away any notions of Hollywood glamor, the essay presents the experience with the same blunt humanity that is the trademark of Alverson's lyrics. Read the essay, and watch for his small-screen debut when the mini-series begins on March 16th.
LADYHAWK new album, Shots, out today, new video promos released
With the release of Ladyhawk's second full length, Shots, two video promos for the album have been released. The videos are comprised of unreleased footage from the soon to be released documentary Let Me Be Fictional.
Video promo one:
Video promo two:
02/22/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN performs "Stormy High" on Conan O'Brien
If you missed it (and as long as it remains on You Tube), below is the jaw-doppingly good Black Mountain performance on Conan O'Brien that occurred last night:
BLACK MOUNTAIN and BON IVER broadast on NPR, streaming of peformances up now
The Washington, D.C. show at The Rock and Roll Hotel on 02/19/2008 was the first show that Black Mountain and Bon Iver have ever been on the same bill together. (They continue on together for another month or so.) NPR was there to capture their amazing live performances, and you can experience (or re-experience) it at the link below:
LADYHAWK appear in documentary about Silkworm
Ladyhawk make an appearance in a documentary about Silkworm called Couldn't You Wait? The Story Of Silkworm. Check out the trailer:
02/06/08
BON IVER's First Music Video Unveiled
Bon Iver "The Wolves (Act I & II)" From the Jagjaguwar release "For Emma, Forever Ago" Directed by Matt Amato for The Masses Filmed on location in Fall Creek, Wisconsin January 2008
This is by any description, a project that almost never happened. Rushing to get to Wisconsin for fresh snows and still frozen air, Director Matt Amato arrived in Eau Claire, hometown of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, in late January. In the midst of warming up after a long journey and excitedly telling Justin about all the projects he had on the horizon, Matt received a phone call. One of his best friends had suddenly and tragically passed away. All logic and reason were thrown out. Nobody knew what to do. Matt didn't know whether to stay or go, or how he would even manage to get back to the airport in his state of shock. Justin just tried to stay calm. Between a flurry of phone calls and attempting to contact some of Matt's family to accompany him home, night fell. Almost by default, Matt remained in Eau Claire in the company of his newest acquaintance. Something about it was safe, and that was enough. The next morning, Matt read the lyrics to "The Wolves" and felt as if those were the exact words he needed to hear from his departed friend. That pretty much sealed it. Matt would stay and work, even as the thought of making a video became the last thing on their minds. They built a bonfire and just let it burn all day and into the night, and Matt filmed. The weight of the circumstances propelled the collaboration to a place these sort of projects don't often go. The cathartic spirit of Bon Iver's music had found its kindred spirit in imagery. Enjoy.
Watch the video here And here You can also watch it by subscribing to SecretlyJag on youtube.com
02/06/08
OKKERVIL RIVER announces spring U.S. tour with The New Pornographers
OKKERVIL RIVER is poised to cover much ground in 2008. They are currently finishing up the final shows of their European tour, then they head to Australia for a week's worth of dates. The band has just announced that they will be sharing the stage with The New Pornographers for a 3-week North American tour, beginning in early April. Go see them!
Tour dates:
02/07/08 Leuven, Belgium - Stuk 02/08/08 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie 02/09/08 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso 02/10/08 Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje 02/23/08 Adelaide, Australia - Laneway Festival 02/24/08 Melbourne, Australia - Laneway Festival 02/26/08 Melbourne, Australia - Corner 02/27/08 Sydney, Australia - Manning Bar 02/29/08 Perth, Australia - Perth International Arts Festival 03/01/08 Brisbane, Australia - Laneway Festival 03/02/08 Sydney, Australia - Laneway Festival 03/04/08 Auckland, New Zealand - Kings Arms 03/05/08 Wellington, New Zealand - San Francisco Bath House 04/05/08 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre 04/06/08 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone w/ Howlin' Rain 04/07/08 Bloomington, IN - Buskirk-Chumley Theatre w/ Howlin' Rain 04/09/08 Toronto, ON - Phoenix w/ New Pornographers 04/10/08 Detroit, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom w/ New Pornographers 04/11/08 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall w/ New Pornographers 04/12/08 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall in Homestead w/ New Pornographers 04/13/08 Ithaca, NY - State Theatre of Ithaca w/ New Pornographers 04/14/08 Washington D.C., - 9:30 Club w/ New Pornographers 04/15/08 Washington D.C., - 9:30 Club w/ New Pornographers 04/17/08 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre w/ New Pornographers 04/18/08 Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom w/ New Pornographers 04/19/08 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant w/ New Pornographers 04/20/08 Chicago, IL - Riviera w/ New Pornographers 04/21/08 Madison, WI - Orpheum Theatre w/ New Pornographers 04/22/08 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom w/ New Pornographers
Also, the 9-track collection of cover songs titled Golden Opportunities is still available for free download exclusively at www.okkervilriver.com
02/02/08
JORDAN GEIGER of MINUS STORY scores film, Al's Beef
Jordan Geiger of Minus Story fame, as well as his solo work, has leant his musical talents to the silver screen. Working with director Dennis Hauck, Jordan wrote and performed the score for the film, Al's Beef.
The film stars: Jordan Ladd (Death Proof, Hostel Part II, Inland Empire) Dean Stockwell (TV's Quantum Leap) David Yow (Scratch Acid, Jesus Lizard, Qui)
The film premiered January 31 at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles
01/29/08
Pre-order the new COMPANY album
An intercepted transmission from the decks of the Brah Records sloop (named "Gettin' Fancy"):
Though its a drag to stop our hilarious "maneuvers" in the Persian Gulf (apologies to that sensitive Navy dude who misunderstood our game of "Chicken of the Sea"), we have a fairly important announcement. As of today, January 29, 2008, Company's new CD Old Baby is available to pre-order on Jagjaguwar.com. The album's street date is February 19, and Company will hit the road on an 11-date tour of the northeast (2/12 - 3/1) to coincide with the release. In addition to doorstep delivery of the Old Baby CD, those who pre-order will receive a free download of Ice Age - a full length album of ripping Company jams, out-takes and demos. Ice Age will be available to anyone who orders the album directly from Jagjaguwar between now and the conclusion of their tour on March 1. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime-and-maybe-later-if-we-forget-about-this-threat-offer! Check brahrecords.com for more details and special offers (there will be no other special offers).
LADYHAWK documentary to be released
"Let me Be Fictional", a documentary about LADYHAWK is hitting the festival circuit and will be released later this year.
In "Let Me Be Fictional", Vancouver based indie-rock band, Ladyhawk, face their past, uniquely deal with society's view of what makes a functioning adult and consume vast quantities of sangria during the process of recording their second album Shots.
Ladyhawk are four guys ranging from 25 to 29 years that formed as a band in 2003. Although they formed in Vancouver, all four grew up in the same rural city in British Columbia. For their sophomore album, the band decide to return to their hometown of Kelowna and rent an old gutted farmhouse as the site of the recordings. The unique space is an escape from their everyday lives and adds to the atmospheric tone of their songs. Plus, because there is no running water, the band must use a bucket as a urinal.
During the 10 days in Kelowna, they reflect on their past which informs their future, they encounter people they grew up with, they enjoy themselves at a Pride Tiger concert, and they allows themselves the luxury of concentrating on their music.
While returning to Vancouver to complete the record, their touring van, full with instruments, flips over in the snowstorm. They all survive without injury, finish the record in a hurried 2 days, and begin a 6 week tour that ends in a picturesque seaside town.
Mona Mok Mona is a Vancouver-based filmmaker and graduate of Vancouver Film School's Sound Design Program. Besides completing audio post-production on 6 short films and 4 documentary trailers, she has also produced, written, directed and taken cinematography duties on 'Departures', her first short film. Her involvement in the Ladyhawk documentary include directing, producing, second camera, editing, and audio post-production supervision.
Rob Leickner As Co-Founder and recording engineer of one of the most significant indie rock recording studios in Vancouver (www.hivestudios.net), Rob got his start in the entertainment business through The Hive recording studio where he saw this bedroom studio grow into a 3,000 square foot complex. After achieving success in that medium Rob felt his creative output pulled to the world of film. He immersed himself in cinema and redirected the passion that drove his commitment to The Hive into another medium: independent filmmaking. Since 2002, Rob has written 3 feature scripts, produced and directed 4 short dramatic films, is in development on a documentary with veteran documentary producer and director David Vaisbord, and has embarked on his own independent documentary about Ladyhawk. Rob is glad to be working in a venue that allows him to let his true creative voice be heard.
"There is an intense sense of melancholy surrounding the music of Ladyhawk-despite the fact that they turn out jam after jam, and clearly love to party, their songs are what happens because of, and as a reflection of that." - FADER
03/19/08 Hamilton, ON - Casbah w/ Immaculate Machine 03/20/08 Montreal, QC - Le Divan Orange w/ Immaculate Machine 03/21/08 Ottawa, ON - Zaphod Beeblebrox w/ Immaculate Machine 03/22/08 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern w/ Immaculate Machine + Flash Lightnin + Arkells 03/27/08 Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret w/ Black Mountain 03/28/08 Regina, SK - The Distrikt w/ Black Mountain 03/29/08 Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's w/ Black Mountain 03/31/08 Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room w/ Black Mountain 04/01/08 Calgary, AB - The Warehouse w/ Black Mountain 04/02/08 Kelowna, BC - The Habitat w/ Black Mountain 04/05/08 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ Black Mountain
01/24/08
BON IVER's "For Emma, Forever Ago" now available for pre-order with free poster
The release of BON IVER's "For Emma, Forever Ago" is almost upon us, and we're very excited. In fact, we're so antsy that we're putting the CD and LP up for pre-order now. A fancy, offset-printed Bon Iver poster is free with every pre-order.
Bon Iver (pronounced: bohn eevair; French for "good winter" and spelled wrong on purpose) is a greeting, a celebration and a sentiment. It is a new statement of an artist moving on and establishing the groundwork for a lasting career. For Emma, Forever Ago is the debut of this lineage of songs. As a whole, the record is entirely cohesive throughout and remains centered around a particular aesthetic, prompted by the time and place for which it was recorded. Justin Vernon, the primary force behind Bon Iver, seems to have tested his boundaries to the maximum, and in doing so has managed to break free from any pre-cursing or finished forms.
It wasn't planned. The goal was to hibernate. Vernon moved to a remote cabin in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin at the onset of winter. He lived there alone for three months, filling his days with wood splitting and other chores around the land. This solitary time slowly began feeding a bold, uninhibited new musical focus. The days slowly evolved into nights filled with twelve-hour recording blocks, breaking only for trips on the tractor into the pines to saw and haul firewood, or for frozen sunrises high up a deer stand. All of his personal trouble, lack of perspective, heartache, longing, love, loss and guilt that had been stock piled over the course of the past six years, was suddenly purged into the form of song.
01/22/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN's "Wucan" live at ATP, featuring KID MILLIONS of ONEIDA Oneida's Kid Millions joined Black Mountain on stage as a second drummer for their performance of "Wucan" (from the new album "In The Future") at the Nightmare Before Christmas ATP in December. In case you missed it, check out this video of the performance: WUCAN live at ATP featuring Kid Millions
BON IVER live! on KCMP; North American Tour
Fait Attention! BON IVER! En public! Aux KCMP!
Yesterday, Justin performed stirring renditions of "Skinny Love' and "Flume" AND "For Emma" live in-studio at KCMP in Minneapolis. Hear him weave the epic tale of Wisconsin winter, and describe how last winter got so good.
North American Dates: 01/18/08 Chicago, IL - Schubas w/ Wax Fang + Illinois + Cloud Cult 01/19/08 Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet w/ Conrad Plymouth + Collections of Colonies of Bees 02/10/08 Eau Claire, WI - The Nucleus 02/15/08 Bloomington, IN - Bear's Place w/ The Hollows 02/18/08 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 02/19/08 Washington, DC - The Rock and Roll Hotel w/ Black Mountain 02/20/08 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/ Black Mountain 02/22/08 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Black Mountain 02/23/08 Brooklyn, NY - Glasslands 02/24/08 Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs w/ Black Mountain 02/25/08 Portland, ME - The Space Gallery w/ Black Mountain 02/26/08 Muncton, NB - The Manhattan w/ Black Mountain 02/27/08 Halifax, NS - The Marquee Club w/ Black Mountain 02/29/08 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa w/ Black Mountain 03/05/08 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace w/ Black Mountain 03/06/08 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop w/ Black Mountain 03/07/08 Louisville, KY - Headliners w/ Black Mountain 03/09/08 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light w/ Black Mountain 03/10/08 Nashville, TN - Exit/In w/ Black Mountain 03/11/08 Little Rock, AR - Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack w/ Black Mountain 03/19/08 San Diego, CA - Che Cafe w/ Phosphorescent 03/20/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo w/ Phosphorescent 03/21/08 Santa Barbara, CA - Muddy Waters w/ Phosphorescent 03/22/08 Visalia, CA - Cellar Door w/ Phosphorescent 03/23/08 San Francisco, CA - The Independent w/ Phosphorescent 03/24/08 Portland, OR - Holocene w/ Phosphorescent 03/25/08 Vancouver, BC - Media Club 03/26/08 Seattle, WA - Nectar
01/16/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN To Play Late Night With CONAN O'BRIEN; Embark On Nationwide Tour
Vancouver's Black Mountain make their national television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Thursday, February 21. The band will take a break from their tour to share a track from their new album in living rooms across the nation.
Black Mountain's eponymous debut, "a modern heavy psych masterpiece," according to Mojo magazine, came out almost three years ago. In the subsequent years the band has grown in scope and scale, refining their sound while blowing it out to massive heights. So it's no surprise that the advance word on the new album "In the Future" from the UK and US press has been glowing. The new album lands on January 22nd, and here's what folks are saying:
WORD magazine -- "…heady, heavy and brilliantly executed: stoner rock for the masses."
Mojo (lead review by Jon Savage, 4 stars) -- "…an ambitious state-of-the world address that delivers on an emotional and visceral level."
NYLON -- "Black Mountain make thundering anachronistic prog-rock. And there's nothing wrong with that."
Elle -- Black Mountain "fashion twisting riffs into a heart of guitar darkness that's all their own."
WIRE Magazine: In The Future "eclipses their previous output and hits a consistent note of righteous force."
The band will be rolling out their news songs during the Black Mountain tour, which kicks off January 31. This time around, tour-mates include HOWLIN' RAIN, BON IVER, LADYHAWK, BLOOD ON THE WALL and DEAD MEADOW. Full dates below.
And in the meantime, when you pre-order Black Mountain's CD, limited edition 2xCD, or the 2xLP version of "In the Future", you will receive MP3s of the full album before the release date (and before the physical records arrive). This can be done at participating brick-and-mortar record stores, or via mailorder at Insound or direct from Jagjaguwar (at http://www.scdistribution.com). The limited edition 2xCD version includes three additional songs, two of which were on the tour-only Bastards of Light 12".
Finally, for a limited time, anyone and everyone can listen to a full album stream of the full album on the band's myspace page, at http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain .
North American Tour Dates:
01/31/08 Seattle, WA - Neumo's w/ Yeasayer, MGMT, Howlin' Rain 02/02/08 Portland, OR - The Doug Fir w/ Howlin' Rain 02/04/08 San Francisco, CA - The Independent w/ Howlin' Rain 02/05/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour w/ Howlin' Rain 02/07/08 San Diego, CA - Casbah w/ Howlin' Rain 02/08/08 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress w/ Blood on the Wall 02/10/08 Austin, TX - Emo's w/ Blood on the Wall + Dead Meadow 02/11/08 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre w/ Blood on the Wall + Dead Meadow 02/13/08 Birmingham, AL - Bottle Tree w/ Blood on the Wall 02/15/08 Atlanta, GA - The EARL w/ Blood on the Wall 02/16/08 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle w/ Blood on the Wall 02/17/08 Chapel Hill, NC - The Local 506 w/ Blood on the Wall 02/19/08 Washington, DC - The Rock and Roll Hotel w/ Bon Iver 02/20/08 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/ Bon Iver 02/22/08 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Bon Iver 02/24/08 Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs w/ Bon Iver 02/25/08 Portland, ME - The Space Gallery w/ Bon Iver 02/26/08 Muncton, NB - The Manhattan w/ Bon Iver 02/27/08 Halifax, NS - The Marquee Club w/ Bon Iver 02/29/08 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa w/ Bon Iver 03/05/08 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace w/ Bon Iver 03/06/08 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop w/ Bon Iver 03/07/08 Louisville, KY - Headliners w/ Bon Iver 03/09/08 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light w/ Bon Iver 03/10/08 Nashville, TN - Exit/In w/ Bon Iver 03/20/08 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar 03/22/08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle 03/23/08 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon 03/24/08 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry 03/25/08 Fargo, ND - Aquarium 03/27/08 Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret w/ Ladyhawk 03/28/08 Regina, SK - The Distrikt w/ Ladyhawk 03/29/08 Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's w/ Ladyhawk 03/31/08 Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room w/ Ladyhawk 04/01/08 Calgary, AB - The Warehouse w/ Ladyhawk 04/05/08 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ Ladyhawk
01/10/08
LADYHAWK Announce New Album, Offer Sneak Peak
For those of you who enjoy your rock'n'roll soaked in alcohol, we have good news. Come March 4th, 2008 (UK release April 7th), LADYHAWK will release a new full length titled "Shots".
With a full length and 12" under their belt, Ladyhawk took up residence in an abandoned farm house behind the shopping mall in the band's childhood hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia, armed only with recording gear, sangria and a piss pot. Two weeks later "Shots" was born. It is an album filled with the cold creaking and ghostly echoes of the old house in the dead of winter. Like a party for the last house standing in a sea of strip malls and condos, surely near the end of its time. "Shots" is the sound of Ladyhawk getting loose, turning up loud, downing a few more and howling at the moon. It evokes the devilish sounds of Goats Head Soup guitars, the honey-slides and howling of Neil Young in his darkest hours, and the phantoms that haunted Roky Erickson at the Holiday Inn.
Experts at bottling the misty mountain ghostly blues offered on their self titled debut, it should be clear, this is not classic rock; this is not southern rock. "Shots" is a step forward toward someplace your compass doesn't point.
A sneak peak of the album is being offered by our friends at Fader Magazine. You can hear the track "I Don't Always Know What You're Saying" here
LADYHAWK tour-dates:
03/18/08 London, ON - Salt Lounge 03/19/08 Hamilton, ON - Casbah 03/20/08 Montreal, PQ - Le Divan Orange 03/21/08 Ottowa, ON - Zaphod Beeblebrox 03/22/08 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern 03/27/08 Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret w/ Black Mountain 03/28/08 Regina, SK - The Distrikt w/ Black Mountain 03/29/08 Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's w/ Black Mountain 03/31/08 Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room w/ Black Mountain 04/01/08 Calgary, AB - The Warehouse w/ Black Mountain 04/02/08 Kelowa, BC - The Habitat 04/05/08 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ Black Mountain
American tour dates, as well as other cool goodies to be announced soon. Stay tuned.
01/02/08
BLACK MOUNTAIN's "In The Future" CD/2xCD/2xLP Now Available For Pre-order
BLACK MOUNTAIN's "In The Future" is now available for pre-order. When you pre-order the record, whether it is the limited-edition 2xCD version, the regular 1xCD version or the 2xLP version, you will receive a digital download code that will allow you to get FREE FULL ALBUM MP3s as early as January 8, up to two weeks before the release date. (And if it isn't obvious, the 2xCD version is the same price as the 1xCD version, and comes with three additional songs, so you might as well order that while supplies last.) The link will be up until the release date, January 22.
ODAWAS offer free new song for the holidays!
The Odawas have had a busy year since the release of their masterful second album "Raven and The White Night" in March. Brad Cash has moved away from the active Odawas ranks, moving to North Carolina. Michael Tapscott and Isaac Edwards moved from their home in Indianapolis to Chicago, continuing their northern migration that started in the land of the Jagjaguwars, Bloomington, Indiana. And now they bring you a Christmas offering.
There are plenty of Christmas tunes out there that celebrate the holiday spirit, with sleigh bells, pristine white snow, and lots of jolly characters. However, for all of you feeling the Christmas blues, the Odawas bring you "I Tell Lies (Odawas Remix)". Originally crafted for frontman Michael Tapscott's side project More Animals Of The Arctic (which Tapscott lovingly refers to as "the Parliament to the Odawas' Funkadelic"), "I Tell Lies" has been lovingly recrafted with a new mix by Isaac Edwards and a new vocal track from Mr. Tapscott. Enjoy!
OKKERVIL RIVER releases free collection of cover songs, video for "A Girl In Port", announce new live dates
Today, OKKERVIL RIVER released a 9-track collection of cover songs called "Golden Oppportunities", which will be available for free download exclusively at okkervilriver.com. The album will feature songs from The Fugs, John Cale, and Randy Newman and will contain thematic ties to their critically acclaimed album "The Stage Names".
The songs from Golden Opportunities were recorded at various radio stations, concerts and empty hotel stairwells while the band was on tour in Europe and America. Okkervil River has also confirmed new dates in Europe and Australia beginning February 2.
The band also released a video for “A Girl in Port,” which was shot by Mike Torres on their 2006 European tour. Describing the making of the video Sheff explains, “We had a day off in the area surrounding the walled city of San Elpidio a Mare, Italy. We took the van down to the beach; Scotty and Brian skipped rocks; Patrick and Travis played this weird little pseudo-poker shell and rock game; and I pulled out my guitar to play this song inspired by the whole seaside scene. It was one of my favorite afternoons in recent memory.”
OKKERVIL RIVER's "The Stage Names" given Album Of The Year honors by HARP Magazine
HARP Magazine has named Okkervil River's "The Stage Names" as their album of the year for 2007. For a more in-depth look at their coverage, you can check out their feature in the November 2007 issue, or view it online here
Congrats, guys!
12/06/07
New MANISHEVITZ record out on Catbird Records
MANISHEVITZ are back! After a long hiatus, (since Jag released "City Life" back in 2003) the band has a brand-new record. "East To East" was released on Tuesday, by the good folks at Catbird Records. The first 100 copies come with a 4-song bonus CD in a had-decorated sleeve. It can be yours here
SUNSET RUBDOWN's new Daytrotter session is now posted
While on their fall tour, SUNSET RUBDOWN paid a visit to our good pals at Daytrotter Studios. The band recorded three songs for their latest session, one from their current full-length ("The Mending of the Gown"), one from an older EP ("Three Colors"), and one brand-new track ("Idiot Heart").
Several JAGJAGUWAR albums nominated for "Best of the Year" at NPR
Quite a few of Jagjaguwar's 2007 releases have been nominated for "Best Album of 2007" by the good folks at NPR.
And the nominees are.....
- Okkervil River - The Stage Names - Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover - The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
Jagjaguwar reveals BON IVER release date and artwork
Jagjaguwar finally reveals all!
Bon Iver's "For Emma, Forever Ago" is being heralded as a masterpiece of a debut and an early contender for King of the Hill in 2008. And it hasn't even been released. Well, mark your calendars, Jagjaguwar has an official release date for the album: February 19th, 2008. We've also got an album cover we can share. The icy artwork reflects the cold winter months Bon Iver spent recording the album in rural Wisconsin.
"The album is a ruminative collection of songs full of natural imagery and acoustic strums - the sound of a man left alone with his memories and a guitar...Rarely does folk - indie or otherwise - give so much over to ambience..." - RECOMMENDED by Pitchfork
Bon Iver has also climbed down from his deer stand for the rest of the month to go support Elvis Perkins for an east coast tour of the United States & Canada. And it starts tonight! We had to take a break from marching in our Bon Iver fandom parade to drop our "too good to be true" attitude and chop up press bits and archive nuts for the long winter ahead. That is, we're doing all we can to just hang on to the thrill ride that is Bon Iver. Muzzle of Bees had the following to say: "Seeing him live is simply a treasure that doesn't come across too often. Vocally, his reach is otherworldly and I can't even begin to count the times were I caught myself shaking my head in awe and appreciation."
11/29/07 Montreal, Quebec - Cabaret Music Hall 11/30/07 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground 12/01/07 Providence, RI - AS 220 12/02/07 Boston, MA - Paradise 12/03/07 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse 12/05/07 Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java 12/06/07 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's 12/07/07 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
Stream "For Emma, Forever Ago" in its entirety here
11/27/07
MINUS STORY unveil new video, make tour only release available
MINUS STORY has released a new video for the song "Stitch Me Up" from their album My Ion Truss. You can check out the video on the Jagjaguwar media page (link is on top of page) or watch it on YouTube here
After recording My Ion Truss, the band still had a lot of material and gumption to record, thus a full length's worth of material was recorded. It became Make The Dead Come and it's the band's favorite recording to date. This album was only available from Minus Story at their live shows. They had some leftover and we are happy to make Make The Dead Come available to stores December 4. Ask your favorite retailer about it.
11/26/07
MP3 of BLACK MOUNTAIN's "Tyrants" Now Available, First 2008 U.S. Dates Announced
Finally, a taste from Black Mountain's upcoming album, "In The Future", is available. You can now download the 8-minute epic song called "Tyrants" HERE . And, yes, please share "Tyrants" with everyone you know.
We're also excited to announce that Black Mountain will start their North American tour in support of "In The Future" with Howlin' Rain, which features Ethan Miller from wonderful psych rock outfit Comets on Fire. Five tour dates on the west coast have been announced so far.
02/02/08 Portland, OR - The Doug Fir w/ Howlin' Rain 02/04/08 San Francisco, CA - The Independent w/ Howlin' Rain 02/05/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour w/ Howlin' Rain 02/07/08 San Diego, CA - Casbah w/ Howlin' Rain 02/10/08 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile w/ Howlin' Rain
JAGJAGUWAR grabs 4 PLUG award nominations
JAGJAUWAR has been fortunate enough to receive no less than 4 PLUG award nominations this year. Here is the list of the lucky nominees:
Okkervil River - Artist of the Year Okkervil River - Indie Rock Album of the Year Sunset Rubdown - Indie Rock Album Of The Year Jagjaguwar - Label of the Year
From right now through February 8, 2008, you can head on over to the PLUG website and cast your vote.
The winners will be announced at the awards show on March 6 in New York. We're keeping our fingers crossed!
11/13/07
BLACK MOUNTAIN return to the UK and Europe, perform at ATP
It's been nearly three years since Canadian quintet Black Mountain's eponymous debut - "a modern heavy psych masterpiece", according to Mojo magazine. Fans included The Flaming Lips, J Mascis and Mudhoney, the latter inviting British Columbia's finest to join them at All Tomorrow's Parties in April 2006; Black Mountain will return to the festival in December 2007 at the invitation of Nightmare Before Christmas curators Portishead.
Immediately preceding their 2007 ATP appearance, Black Mountain will be performing throughout Europe and the UK (see tour dates below). They will be performing many songs from their upcoming seco
