News: October, 2009

A few months ago, we told you about a theater production being mounted based on Jon's album All the Fame of Lofty Deeds.

Well, we are now here to tell you that it is finally ready to go, the boards to be trod, and tickets to go on sale tomorrow!

The skinny:

All the Fame of Lofty Deeds at The Chopin Theatre

November 12, 2009 - December 20, 2009

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm.  Sundays at 7pm

"Written by rock journalist Mark Guarino and featuring the music and artwork of Bloodshot Records recording artist Jon Langford, this phantasmic journey into the mind of a fictional country music legend is what an episode of Howdy Doody might look like if it were directed by David Lynch. Sadly reflective and yet hilariously surreal, the show mixes rock biography, live music and stunning visual effects to tell a tripped out tale of the demise of America's last living cowboy. TICKETS ON SALE OCTOBER 29!"

Go to the theatre's website here for more details!

Look out CATS!  Stand aside Mamma Mia!  Here comes Langford......

We are pleased to announce that the final dates and artist line-up for the long-awaited Kevin Coyne tribute concerts in Belgium can now be confirmed.

All the dates are scheduled for this December at the following venues:

Fri. Dec. 11th - Muze en Meisse, Brussels
Sat. Dec. 12th - N9, Eeklo
Mon. Dec. 14th - Fagot, Ingelmunster
Thu. Dec. 17th - GC de Steenhoven, Herzele
Fri. Dec. 18th - Centrale, Ghent
Sat. Dec. 19th - Stadsschouwburg, Brugge

The performers who are coming together to pay tribute to Kevin share a long history with him, as musical collaborators, friends and family -- and all of them as fans.

Forming the nucleus of the band for the six dates will be: Jon Langford (guitar), Wreckless Eric (bass), Amy Rigby (guitar and keyboards), Werner Steinhauser (drums) and Robert Coyne (guitar).

Frans Joseph Goof will also be appearing at all the shows and Brendan Croker at all except the gig in Eeklo on the 12th.

Eugene Coyne will join the band for the final three shows in Herzele, Ghent and Brugge, with Patrick Riguelle also appearing at the final Brugge date and Erik Van Den Broeck playing at selected dates throughout the tour.

The setlist of songs will be drawn from every period of Kevin Coyne's long career, with each participant singing their own particular favourites prompted by their personal memories of Kevin.

We hope that you'll be able to join us to remember and celebrate the life, work and lasting influence of this great artist.

For further details on venues and reservation please go to the website

The "I am Chuck Bass" Edition

• Big news, Upper East Siders! In this week's episode of Gossip Girl, you can hear "One Night Stand" from The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir's new album, ... and the horse you rode in on! Listen about 3 minutes into the ep, when Nate brings over to Dan's Brooklyn loft a movie starring his new girlfriend Olivia and ... oh ... Anyway, SYGC lives in Gossip Girl infamy here.

• Ha Ha Tonka -- who is currently criss-crossing these United States with Ludo -- recently visited Daytrotter for an encore session. Listen to their Take 2 with the Rock Island-based rock site now.

• The Chicago History Museum is currently gathering ephemera for an upcoming exhibit on the famed, and long-gone, rock club Lounge Ax. This week, they wax nostalgic on discovering Old 97s there, and share video of the young band performing live at Lounge Ax (you can find the video on our DVD compilation).

• Speaking of the Old 97s, you can now PRE-ORDER our upcoming reissue of Wreck Your Life -- a double-LP featuring WRL as well as all the Bloodshot 7''s the first time on vinyl! This is a VERY limited-edition run -- Pre-order it now, before it's gone!

Well, here we are, back in Chicago after a whirlwind 36 hours in the Valley of the Sun.   The forecast for us?  Cloudy, drizzle and in the low 50's all week (why did we leave again?).  It seems like only yesterday we were all parading around the hotel pool in our Speedos ordering Bloody Marys from the cabana boy.  Oh wait, it was.

Anyway, we wanted to thank all of you who came out on a perfect evening and supported the cause.  Everyone at the Sail Inn was super nice to us, and all the regulars who were sipping beers from their personal-sized pitchers all day helped moved stuff around and pitch in.  The BBQ from Honey Bear's was top notch, and, forgive me fellow members of the Shrine of the Holy Smoked Pig, the beans were almost soooo good as to outshine the pulled pork.  Damn, they were tasty.

We're sorry Justin couldn't make it, but when he cancels a show, you can be sure there is a damn good reason behind it.  We'll make sure he gets out there soon.

Thanks to all folks of Tempe who were giddy at such an event being held in town.  So many of you were so appreciative of it, it makes all the logistics going into it worthwhile.  We also want to tip our proverbial hats to the folks we who came from such far flung places as Oklahoma City, Reno, Santa Barbara, Albuquerque, Durango, and many other locales.  It really and truly means a lot to us.

Thanks to all the great support from local record shops for spreading the word.  You folks there are lucky to have them around.  There are a lot of places that have chosen not to support local music stores and they are the poorer for losing them.  Buy local.

Finally, we want to say how great it was to see a some of our old buddies from local heroes the Grevious Angels, one of the first bands to be stupid (or canny?) enough to record for us.  They were there BEFORE the gold-plated Hummers and platinum walking sticks.

Thanks again for coming.  We still think you are all insane for living in a desert (keep your hands off our Great Lakes), but you showed you can come together and partake in a grand party.

Bloodshot

Here's a nice long review and interview with Rosie Flores about her new album Girl of the Century.  She talks about the album title and artwork, meeting Johnny Cash at an airport, looking more like Jimmy Buffett than the Man in Black

The thing with some artists is that they haven't been around long enough to have interesting stories.  Not so with Exene.  She's a living part of music history and when she gets rolling on some stories, they are a hoot to read.

Here's a couple good 'uns that have come our way recently.  Culturebelly talks with her about art and the creation thereof, and then a video interview (with performance footage and X music) on Shockhound.  Good stuff.  G'head, you might learn sumthin'.

Ozark boys Ha Ha Tonka have announced teaming up with Oklahoma boys Cross Canadian Ragweed for a month long tour in the US starting on November 28th in Indianapolis and hitting the Midwest and East Coast.

A double bill to be reckoned with, friends.  For a complete listing, go here

Coach House Sounds, a Chicago-based website, is having a lauch party on Tuesday, November 10th @ The Whistler, 8 pm FREE!

Features performances by Animal City, Zing! and Classical Revolution of Chicago.

Raffle prizes from Bloodshot, Drag City, Contraphonic Records, Busy Beaver Buttons, and CHIRP.  Proceeds from the raffle will go to the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir recovery fund.

SYGC recorded for Coach House earlier this year.  Check it out here.

Exene will perform at a memorial for Amy Farris at the Continental Club in Austin on October 21st.  For details go here.

Also appearing will be Dave Alvin, Jon Dee Graham, Kelly Willis and others.

Amy's contributions to Exene's new album were invaluable and she will be deeply missed in all the communities she touched.

Due to circumstances beyond our control or our comprehension, we will not be able to sell SPLIT LIP RAYFIELD CDs much longer.  Thus, get 'em while the getting is good!

$5 each, no limit while supplies last.

We have more of some than others, so if you've been itchin' to get hip to the Lip, now is the time.

Mind you, these are all the original releases, in their original packaging, from the original source materials.  Beware of some not-so-good bootlegs.

Act fast, now........go!