News: June, 2009

Your weekly or semi-weekly peek into the swirling vortex of weirdness that is life in the Bloodshot Lane.  So, stop tweeting about the King of Pop for a few minutes, relax (the boss ain't watching) and catch up.  All items guaranteed to be Sequined Glove Free.

• Wayne Hancock on Sirius/XM. The Train is performing and being interviewd on the fancy satellite radio.  Show will on Tues June 30th @ 9pm eastern and Thursday July 2nd at 11pm eastern time.  Outlaw Country on Sirius 63 and XM channel 12.

• Justin Townes Earle's new, arty and beautiful video of "Midnight at the Movies" is up on Vimeo and YouTube.  Have a gander.  It's keen, as the kids say (or said).

• What music do musicians listen to?  This age-old question was posited to Ha Ha Tonka's Luke Long at SXSW this year and our friends at Rhapsody.  Check out the answer here.  Personally, I do not think his answer could be more wrong.  It's a BAD album.  I'll take it up with him later.

• While the blogosphere has its up sides, one glaring downside is the crappy writing.  "Reviews" of records that are more half-cocked diary entries like "oh dude, i was up all night doing Jager bombs and watching The Wire on Hulu and was, like, no way was I up for listening to this band" that have precious little to do with the music.  Thus, we are pleased when lengthy, well-crafted critiques come across our desks, like this one from Cheeky Chicago regarding Ha Ha Tonka's new one.  Read it, but beware, you may gain some actual insight on the music.

• Rob's Recommendation of the Week:  Nhu Lan Bakery.   Everyone's got that place (or, pity if you don't) in their 'hood that is just so good, so cheap, so GO TO, that you kinda take it for granted and, POOF, one day you are reminded, scolded almost, to NOT take if for granted.  Today, I atone for this and sing its praises.  Proving that not all colonialism was bad (ok, settle down, it's a joke), this Vietnamese sammich shop on Lawrence Ave in Chicago combines the fish sauce of the east with the crusty baguettes of ol' France.  They are cheap, very tasty, very filling.  The owners are super nice, the coffee nerve-endingly strong.  The flat screen TV over the drink cooler (lemon grass soda, anyone?) alternates between CNN and Asian Lingerie shows.  Some swear by the pate and head cheese sammiches, but they're a little rich for me.  I go for the BBQ pork.  Lots of cilantro, daikon radish and hot peppers.  Check it out, but don't neglect your own GO TO spot in your hood in the process.  Never forget those.

Next week, we'll be coming at you from the first of our 15th Anniversary Beer-B-Q's in Pittsburgh.  Got any suggestions for excellent breakfast places?

Each week, we'll (well, Miss Jenny will) recap the latest episode of the Southern vampire serial, True Blood, and follow it up with some True Bloodshot -- a playlist of Bloodshot (and some non-Bloodshot) songs that we think would nicely complement this TV series with a bite. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

As we in Chicago continue to build our Ark and sweep the rising tide of frogs out the front door, we bid you WELCOME to the Friday digest.  Lots of fun things to look at and read about, so QUIT WORKING for a second.

• Ha Ha Tonka had a high-quality live shoot at the fabulous Off Broadway in St Louis on May 6th as part of the Born Small Town Tour kick-off party. Take a peep.

• Here's a fantastic piece on Scott H. Biram from the Austin Decider, it's got an interview and embedded links to videos and live performances.  Read about his whiskey benders and all the metal in his legs.

• Tired of rooting around the Interweb for all those CLASSIC Robbie Fulks songs? Our buddies (and fans) over at Glorious Noise put together a sampler to make life easier and boost your productivity. So, here's a BRAINLESS way to get a whole mess of Fulks tunes in one spot. Then you'll want more, and you'll want to legally support one of the best songwriters and performers to ever call Chicago home.

• Rob's Recommendation of the Week: The movie Up! Look, I hate popular culture more than any of you, so when something makes billions of dollars at the box office, i can usually safely assume it's pureed mush for the masses, but this is art. If you are not weepy and amazed at the depth of feeling and the economy of story telling in the first 10 minute segment, you have a heart of tar.  AND i haven't gut laughed that often at a movie in months. AND it's in 3D.  See it. Check your hipper-than-thou baggage at the door and soak in a great movie.

Ok, back to filling sandbags.

Bloodshot Digest: New release edition!

• Ha Ha Tonka released their newest longplayer, Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, on Tuesday! The boys had a whirlwind day on Monday in Chicago, as they appeared live on WGN, appeared on-air at Q101, and then played to a sold-out crowd at Schubas. Catch the band on tour all this summer!

• Rhett Miller guest edited Magnet Magazine last week, but had all his friends do his dirty work. Jon Langford submitted a list of some of his favorite things, including Walter Salas-Humara's adorable dog paintings. Hey, my birthday is coming up real soon -- who wants to get me one of Walter's dogs as a present? Pretty please?

• Finally, is with a stunned and heavy heart that we report on the passing of stalwart Chicago soundman Gary Rogers. An interesting cast of characters populates the local music scene, and I’m confident that other area musicians will agree with me when I say that Gary was one of the most original, sincere, and nicest of the bunch. He loved his work, and we always shared a story and a laugh (and usually a Guinness) whenever he manned the knobs for my band. At our most recent show, at the Bottom Lounge, I joked one on one with him from the stage, and I’m grateful we recorded that night’s performance, and hence that exchange, so that I can always remember him laughing. He was an authentically good person, he was good at his job, and he will be missed. The Bottom lounge will host a benefit for his family on Tuesday 6/30. - Scott Schaefer, Bloodshot Records

Each week, we'll (well, Miss Jenny will) recap the latest episode of the Southern vampire serial, True Blood, and follow it up with some True Bloodshot -- a playlist of Bloodshot (and non-Bloodshot) songs that we think would nicely complement this TV series with bite (And, the True Blood music supervisors may also agree -- we've had a few of of our artists already featured on the show!). Warning: Spoilers ahead!

• Here's an entertaining read by the ever-entertaining Jon Langford;  he tells the folks at Pitchfork about the most influential albums during different times of his life.

• WORLD PREMIERE VIDEO! As of midnight last night, Amazon.com is airing EXCLUSIVELY (through June 19th) the new video for Justin Townes Earle's title track Midnight at the Movies.  Check it out, it's rather fancy pants.

• With the imminent release of Ha Ha Tonka's new album, the band wanted to share a video of the "Making Of..." Get the inside skinny!  See all the drugs and dancing girls that went into its production!  Is that a donkey in the studio?  We can't be sure!  Oh, the depravity!  (We kid, they are very nice and polite.)

• Dex Romweber Duo+Jack White+vinyl= Yeah, baby!    Perhaps you remember a few weeks back we told about Dex Superfan Jack White recording a single with the DRD.  Well, the fruits of that labor have arrived, and it didn't take no stinkin' nine months either.  The 7" single is our busy little hive, awaiting your fevered order!

• The first of our 15th anniversary Beer-B-Qs, featuring FREE ADMISSION, FREE food, beer specials galore and lots and lots of music has been confirmed in PITTSBURGH on July 4th.  Lots more to come!!

• Rob's Recommendation of the Week: Rob has no recommendation this week.  The unparalleled lousy weather in Chicago, persistent overcast, 20 degrees below normal temperatures, insidious chilly lake breeze---all this as we are purportedly heralding the arrival of summer, has put him in a fouler than usual mood.  Thus, no recommendation.  He is sitting in his basement with a wool blanket over his head cursing the buckled jet stream and will not come outside again until he can  do so without needing some sort of rain gear or heavy jacket.  So, nyaah.

Try before you buy! For one week only, Ha Ha Tonka's new album is streaming at Rhapsody. Then, buy the album on June 16, when you'll be able to find it at yr favorite record store or online retailer!

Have a listen!

Bloodshot Digest: The "Where's mah summer?" Edition

• The New Times weekly newspaper of Broward-Palm Beach, FL named Charlie Pickett its BEST Male Rock Vocalist of 2009 in this year's Best Of poll! Congrats, Charlie!

• Sweet Home New Orleans, an organization dedicated to supporting the NOLA's unique and cultural music community, has teamed up with LeMieux Galleries to raise money for the cause. You can support the organization when you buy this BEAUTIFUL print of Danny Barker by Jon Langford.

• Neko Case will be performing on the revamped Tonight Show with Conan O'Brian on Thursday night. Joining Neko will be Bloodshot babes Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor. Set yr TIVO!

• Justin Townes Earle will take part in the BIG SUPRISE TOUR this summer with The Felice Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show and Dave Rawlings Machine (featuring Gillian Welch). Check out the tour dates here.

• Finally, here's a picture of Mary from Scotland Yard Gospel Choir with Justin after his performance at Chicago's Metronome Fest. Sez Mary, "My only requirement is some sort of caption about us battling it out for the title of skinniest Bloodshot artist." Ok, Mary. If you see these two on tour, bring them some mac-n-cheese (or vegan mac for Mary), eh?
  
  

Mark your calendars, boys and girls, for THE tour that will heat up your summer: Justin Townes Earle is joining Old Crow Medicine Show, Dave Rawlings Machine (f/ the beautiful, gorgeous, amazing Gillian Welch), and The Felice Brothers for a handful of very special performances. Now that's an economic stimulus plan!

Here's the gist:

“Born out of a deep running comradery built on countless tours and ties between a host of excellent musicians comes THE BIG SURPRISE TOUR, a traveling show of epic collaboration and good times. Shows will be composed of two 90-minute sets broken up by an intermission. In a free form ramshackle flow the bands and artists will share the stage, taking part in each other’s songs, resurrecting old standards, and playing newly written collaborative material as they go. Each evening is sure to be a unique experience as they all put their many combined years of musicianship and knowledge of song-craft and American music into play for these sessions ... Borrowing from the title of a Felice Brothers track, THE BIG SURPRISE TOUR will live up to its namesake.”

The tour dates:

AUGUST 2009
04 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Casino Ballroom
05 – Boston, MA @ House Of Blues
06 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
09 – Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Pavilion
10 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre
12 – Louisville, KY @ Waterfront Park
13 – Nashville, TN @ Riverfront Park
14 – Knoxville, TN @ World’s Fair Park

June? Already?  How did that happen?

• The Bottle Rockets are ready to roll!  The album will be released on August 11th. Check out some songs, the cover and read all about it here.

• The love for the upcoming Ha Ha Tonka album is already rolling in.  Check out this review in Spin.com and pre-order the album now.

• Heading to Bonnaroo?  Yeah, fine.  Have fun.  We're stuck here, but don't forget to catch Justin Townes Earle's performance on Friday, June 12th.  Tell him we said "hi!" and we are all busy working to keep him in fancy cowboy boots.
• Rob's Recommendation of the Week: Having slept about 5 hours in the past two nights (a sinister combination of a killer sinus headache and loud, Polish roofers next door), I am recommending SLEEP! It's a wonderful thing and you don't really miss it until you ain't gettin' any.  Heed my word.