The folks at Interscope finally got back to me with a Sept. 12 release date for “Return to Cookie Mountain.” But the impatient guy that I am, I plan to invest a few extra ducats in an import of the European version put out by 4AD, which is available now — you know, if you can find a store that has it in stock.
It’s no coincidence that I’ve been listening to “The Bit” a lot lately, especially while I work out; and that I’ve been poring over iTunes to fill in some gaps in my Melvins collection. Like a disturbance in the force, I could sense that the good folks over at Hell’s Kitchen were working on a show that would whet my Melvins appetiate.
OK, it’s actually total coincidence. And I should have probably figured there would be a Tacoma stop with their Portland appearance around the same time. But I can’t wait for the show, which is scheduled
…Check out Friday’s GO section for more details on Lamb of God’s forthcoming “Sacrament” album, due next month, and Friday’s appearance at Qwest Field Events Center with the Unholy Alliance Tour. Meanwhile, here are a few more clips from my chat with drummer Chris Adler:
First Adler talked about “Redneck,” the first single and video from the “Sacrament” album. Then he warned that fans shouldn’t expect the Pantera-style groove of that song to dominate the rest of the album.
And I’ve talked to several metal bands over the years that say
…Somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 people turned out for Ozzfest when summer’s biggest metal tour kicked off at White River Amphitheatre last month. So that tour obviously isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
But several metal fans I’ve talked to this summer were a lot more stoked about Unholy Alliance, Ozzfest’s most obvious competitor. And with Ozzy’s voice on the wane (he’s pulled back from headlining so many dates after several years of vocal problems) you have to wonder if UA could turn into what Metallica’s Summer Sanitarium trek failed to a few years back – Ozzfest’s biggest rival.
…It was a little later than planned, but that interview with Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher did, indeed, come through. You’ll be able to read more about the band’s forthcoming album, “Blood Mountain” and their Friday tour stop at Qwest Field Events Center with the Unholy Alliance tour in Friday’s GO section. Meanwhile, thought I’d post a few clips from our conversation.
* In this first sound bite, Kelliher goes into great detail about the creative process that went into Mastodon’s third album, from the surreal imagery in the lyrics to expanding the band’s sound.
…Many sites have reported July 3 and July 11 as release dates for TV on the Radio’s highly anticipated “Return to Cookie Mountain” albu. But good luck actually finding a copy. And I still can’t get answers from Interscope regarding the actual release date. Strange.
But at least I found clips of all the songs on the British Play Louder site.
At singer-guitarist Kyp Malone’s suggestion a while back, I also found a couple of bootleg tracks on the ‘Net (which have since disappeared.) I especially love the dreamy cut “Snakes & Martyrs,” which seems
…OK, I’ve procrastinated enough. Here is more from guitarist Kerry King on Slayer’s Unholy Alliance tour, which is set to stop by Seattle’s Qwest Field Event Center next Friday (July 14.)
* This sound bite was actually recorded in June, before Unholy Alliance kicked off. And King talks about picking the bands.
Also, check back in over the next few days and I’ll throw some stuff up on my blog from Lamb of God and Mastodon (assuming my interview with Bill Kelliher goes as planned this weekend.)
I called The Coup’s Boots Riley earlier this afternoon (a guy who runs neck-and-neck with The Roots’ ?uestlove, TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone and the Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler Zavala for the distinction of coolest ‘fro in music. But I digress.) And while we spent most of our time talking about his band’s upcoming Seattle stop, which is Aug. 6 at Chop Suey, he also revealed the existence of a side project called Street Sweepers, a collaboration with friend Tom Morello of Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine fame.
Here’s what else he had
…A promoter for Willamette Week’s Musicfest Northwest just sent me this year’s lineup announcement. The festival is set for Sept. 7 through 8 at various Portland venues; and after watching the documentary “Dig,” morbid curiosity alone makes me want to go see Brian Jonestown Massacre. That Anton guy is a total nutball! You never know if he’s gonna kick a heckler in the head or wind up grappling with his bassist. (Or, you know, play a normal show here and there, just to throw people off. And if you haven’t seen “Dig,” by the way, you really should.)
Live Nation was already a juggernaut. But today America’s biggest concert promoter, a spinoff of Clear Channel Communications Inc., claimed an even bigger chunk of the concert pie as it agreed to buy House of Blues – a company running neck and neck with AEG for the distinction of the country’s second biggest promoter – for $350 million.
Check out the story on Pollstar’s Web site.
According to Bloomberg News, the deal will add 18 House of Blues venues – including Grant County’s Gorge Amphitheatre – to Live Nation’s already formidable roster of 153.