Just in case you missed Trent Reznor’s just-mastered-yesterday single “Discipline,” which suddenly popped up on radio today. There have also been hints over at NIN.com that another surprise album may be on the way; this just weeks after the instrumental album “Ghosts I-IV” showed up online with little fanfare. Weird. Cool!

But if you really want to be freaked out, check out this old news clip of Trent in his old band, Exotic Birds. Who knew that guy would turn out so angry in the years to come. And viva

Read more »

Sir Mix-A-Lot hasn’t cleared out his voicemail in something like seven years. No kidding. So it’s sometimes hit or miss catching up with the guy for a story. But I’ve persevered, my faithful Bring the Noise readers, and he actually picked up his cell this afternoon. And while we mostly talked about the Outtasite show he’ll appear at on Friday at Jazzbones, he did also share this story about “My Hooptie,” a track that’s basically about kickin’ it in the South Sound.

"That car (in the video) looked exactly

Read more »

Sir Mix-A-Lot will make an appearance with protégé Outtasite Friday night at Jazzbones. So it’s time to see what y’all know about Auburn’s most famous resident. And like Chris Rock said during his recent two-night stand at the Paramount, "’Baby Got Back’s’ for amateurs."

1. Sir Mix-A-Lot’s debut album is called …

A. Return of the Bumpasaurus

B. Seminar

C. Mack Daddy

D. Swass

2. Which of his songs is essentially about a night out in Pierce County, with reference to Hilltop and Ft. Lewis nightclub, NCO?

Read more »

I open my e-mail this morning, and what do I see? Why, the Chateau’s full summer lineup. Sadly, Stevie Wonder isn’t coming back.

Crosby, Stills and Nash (7 p.m. June 6, sold out)

Dr. John and the Neville Brothers (7 p.m. June 13, $39.50 to $69.50)

Earth Wind & Fire (7 p.m. June 28, $52.50 to $99.50)

Mark Knopfler (7 p.m. July 2, sold out)

B.B. King (7 p.m. July 3, $49.50 to $89.50)

Hippiefest featuring Jack Bruce of Cream, Eric Burdon and the Animals, the Turtles, Badfinger and Janis

Read more »

I finally dropped in on Juno, the new club that opened at 733 Market Street, formerly the location of the South Sound Garage. Bump Kitchen was onstage delivering their funktastic sound — and definite plus. Though it was kind of a downer that the cavernouse, 9,000-square-foot club was nearly empty.

The ambiance wasn’t dynamically different from the Garage days (last year.) The stage looked different somehow (maybe a bit bigger?) though there’s still a column partly impeding the view. (Not sure why the Garage folks constructed the stage in that corner in the first

Read more »

"So y’all are probably used to this kind of weather," said rising country star Ashton Shepherd, performing outside at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center on a chilly Friday evening. She hails from the much warmer climes of Alabama and spoke with a southern fried drawl. And some of the few hundred fans assembled to see her first Washington performance let her known that this frigid spell wasn’t representative of a typical April here. "So I just brought it with me, I guess," Shepherd joked. So

Read more »

Up-and-coming, 21-year-old country star Ashton Shepherd will be the main attraction during KMPS-FM’s showcase Friday evening at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center. And Tuesday I caught up with her for a phoner, the day after she made her first appearance on the CMT Music Awards. Here are a few clips:

Clip 1: Behind the scenes at the CMT Awards

Clip 2: What were you doing at 8 years old? Ashton Shepherd was practicing writing hits

Clip 3: “Takin’ Off This Pain” and how it relates to all those angry chicks you hear

Read more »

Here’s some cool stuff to keep you busy for a few days:

Ashton Shepherd (7:30 p.m. Friday, Puyallup Fair & Events Center): Check out one of country’s rising stars. And the best part is that it’s free, free, free! And check back in between now and Friday morning and I should have some interview clips posted.

Bump Kitchen (8 p.m. Friday, Club Juno): Catch one of the South Sound’s most fun blues and funk bands — at Tacoma’s newest live music venue, no less.

Read more »

Atlanta bluesman Sean Costello died Tuesday on the eve of his 29th birthday. He had, of course, just recently played Jazzbones in February, and you can listen to an interview I did with him before that show here. He seemed like a nice guy. Condolences to friends and family. Check out how one of his hometown’s TV stations reported his death by clicking here.

I’ve done my share of Kanye West bashing. Sure, the guy makes nice beats, but he’s a mediocre rapper on a good day. And he’s a downright jerk at those awards shows. But I’ll be the first to give the guy credit for one thing. He’s got plenty of vision. And as one of the biggest names in pop at the moment, he’s got plenty of cash to pull that vision off. (I guess that’s two things. Whatever.) So leave it up to the audacious Mr. West to deliver his new Glow in the Dark tour – which kicked off

Read more »