2 of my heros, Sylvain Sylvain of The New York Dolls and Cheetah Chrome of The Dead Boys have announced the West Coast Tour Dates for their new project Batusis.

The dynamic duo–backed by former Blackhearts bassist Sean Koos and drummer Lez Warner from The Cult will be playing some select dates in Oct, including Thee Parkside in San Francisco!

Batusis U.S. Tour Itinerary (all dates may be subject to change)

Friday, 10/15 at Hensley’s Flying Elephant in Carlsbad, CA
Saturday, 10/16 at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach, CA
Sunday, 10/17 at Thee Parkside in San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, 10/19 at Lola’s Room at Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR
Wednesday, 10/20 at Funhouse in Seattle, WA
Friday, 10/22 at Tonic Lounge in Reno, NV
Saturday, 10/23 at Blue Lamp (w/ The Secretions) in Sacramento, CA
Sunday, 10/24 at Viper Room in Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, 10/26 at Brick By Brick in San Diego, CA
Wednesday, 10/27 at Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ

Interview: Storm Thorgerson

I interviewed Storm at the San Francisco Art Exchange where there is a showing of some of his original works called “Lovers of Covers – The Album Art of Storm Thorgerson”. The entire interview goes about 35 minutes. This is a clip from that interview where he talks about the beginnings of Hipgnosis, the company that did album art for all of the cool records in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and the present.

I’ll be posting several of these types of clips as well as the entire video interview as well so stay tuned.

Links:

Storm Thorgerson Website

San Francisco Art Exchange

Hipgnosis Album Covers

Rock and Roll Geek Website

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The ridiculously prolific Bay Area band Thee Oh Sees are back with another full-length long-player. Warm Slime is guaranteed to please fans of their whacked-out garage /  psych / punk jams.
Recorded by Sacramento sultan of sound Chris Woodhouse, Warm Slime carries on in the same tradition as the group’s previous In The Red release, Help, showcasing their  more electrified and rocking side, in comparison to other recent home-recorded releases. The centerpiece is undoubtedly the mind-bending title track, which clocks in at  nearly 14 minutes and takes up the entirety of the album’s first side. It’s a psychedelic epic of “Inna Gadda Da Vida” proportions! John Dwyer’s guitar playing is at its quadra- spazzed best here, and the vocal interplay with Brigid Dawson gives it an X-crossed-with-the-Troggs vibe. The results are stunning.
US Fall Tour
Thu 9/2/10    SF Eagle  San Francisco  CA w/Arab on Radar
Sat 9/4/10    Fuck Yeah Fest  Los Angeles  CA
Sun 9/5/10   DAM House Davis CA
Thu 9/9/10    Crocodile Cafe    Seattle  WA w/Tyvek and Love Tan
Fri 9/10/10    Music Fest NW    Portland  OR w/The Gories
Sat 9/11/10    Northern    Olympia  WA
Sun 9/12/10    BSMT    Missoula  MT
Tue 9/14/10    Turf Club    St. Paul  MN
Wed 9/15/10    Lincoln Hall    Chicago  IL w/Hot Machines and Paul Cary
Thu 9/16/10    Magic Stick    Detroit  MI
Fri 9/17/10    The Bug Jar    Rochester  NY
Sat 9/18/10    Firehouse 13    Providence  RI
Sun 9/19/10    Magic Room Gallery    Brighton   MA
Tue 9/21/10    Central Park Summer Stage    New York   NY w/Pavement
Tue 9/21/10    Santos Party House    New York   NY w/Sex Beet
Thu 9/23/10    Goner Fest   Memphis  TN
Fri 9/24/10    Jack Pot Saloon   Lawrence    KS
Sat 9/25/10    Bender’s   Denver CO
Wed 9/29/10    Bimbo’s 365 Club    San Francisco,    CA w/Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Fri 10/1/10    Fox Theater   San Francisco  CA w/Flaming Lips
Sat 10/2/10  Scion Garage Rock Festival Lawrence, KS w/The Gories, The Oblivions, Cola Freaks, Sex Beat & more
12/3-5/10      All Tomorrow’s Parties England
Fri 2/25/11    Bruise Cruise  Miami  FL w/Black Lips, Vivian Girls, Ty Segall &more

http://www.myspace.com/ohsees

As he likes to say, Paul Thorn is “the second most famous musician from Tupelo, Mississippi” (with the first, of course, being Elvis Presley). Thorn’s new ‘Pimps and Preachers’ album, out on Perpetual Obscurity Records June 22, includes many stories about characters in his hometown. He will headline the second night of Tupelo’s annual Elvis Festival June 5th.

Like Presley, Thorn grew up in a Pentecostal church, but Paul’s father was actually the preacher. Thorn’s uncle was a former pimp, and Paul’s relationship with the two of them gave rise to the title track on the new album. Thorn himself was a blue-collar worker before he became a full-time musician, and is a powerful performer who The San Francisco Chronicle calls “Springsteen from Mississippi.” Thorn is also a master storyteller who, on record and on stage, weaves the pimps, preachers and characters of his adventurous life into a compelling series of tales with the directness of Elvis in his ’68 comeback special.

mp3: Download Paul Thorn “Pimps and Preachers”

Paul Thorn Official Website

Myspace

PURCHASE The Greenlight EP

Many have noted the album’s special place in the Digital Underground catalog as well as its place in hip hop history.  According to Jake Records Founder Scott Thomas, after the group’s last release there were still a few songs hidden away in archives that Shock and the group really wanted out there, so The Greenlight EP was born to help round off the collection for fans and hit a final and tremendous book-note to the influential career that D.U. has had. Thomas adds, “What’s great about this collection of tracks is the diversity of sounds and themes, and the fact that it’s a real upbeat project,”. Shock G comments, “Two of my favorite D.U. tracks exist here, “Duck Season” and “Greenlight” which is the rappin’ debut of Peanut Hakeem shreddin up the song with Money-B.”

Production credits on the album include Shock G, David Banner, Dotrix 4000 and more. The Greenlight EP also features guest vocalists 2Pac, Numskull (of The Luniz), and J Stalin.

Gorilla Manor, which was given Pitchfork’s coveted Best New Music tag earlier this year, hit stores in February via Frenchkiss Records, and is already being hailed as one of 2010’s best records. Since then the band has been keeping busy with appearances at SXSW, Coachella and a huge (and hugely sold out) US tour with up-and-coming labelmates Suckers. Before appearing before one of those sell outs at Bowery Ballroom in New York City last Thursday (NYTimes Review!), the band stopped by Craig Ferguson to make their late night debut with “Airplanes.” A link to the clip is below, along with the band’s full touring itinerary, which includes stops at almost every big-ticket festival of the summer – Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, Isle of Wight, Glastonbury, Roskilde, Pitchfork Festival, and about a half dozen others.

mp3: Sun Hands

What the press is saying about Local Natives:

“Best New Music: True, we tend to bow at novelty and innovation, but Gorilla Manor proves to be a refreshing reminder of the pleasures of synthesis.” – Pitchfork

“It’s a rare band that can use its chemistry as its own instrument. But the young, frightfully accomplished Local Natives are a rare L.A. band indeed.” – Los Angeles Times

“The camaraderie practically oozes out of the music of Local Natives, making Gorilla Manor my surprise album of the year.” –Bob Boilen of NPR

“Local Natives create the kind of feeling – with a musicality so ambitious and daring, but immediately satisfying – that you can only attain if you’re head over heels with the very thought of maximizing all that’s in your heart” – Daytrotter

“Poetic songs, which billow, churn and explode into light.” – NME

Tour Dates:
05-10 Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig #
05-11 Cleveland Heights, OH – Beachland Tavern #
05-12 Columbus, OH – The Basement #
05-14 Chicago, IL – Schubas – 7:00PM – ALL AGES # SOLD OUT
05-14 Chicago, IL – Schubas – 10:30PM – 18+ # SOLD OUT
05-15 Rock Island, IL – Rock Island Brewing Company #
05-17 Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar # SOLD OUT
05-18 Iowa City, IA – The Mill #
05-19 Columbia, MO – Mojo’s #
05-21 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge #
05-22 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court #
05-25 Spokane, WA – Empyrean Coffee House #
05-26 Boise, ID – Neurolux #
05-27 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios #
05-28 Vancouver, BC – Media Club #
05-30 Quincy, WA – Sasquatch
06-02 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop # SOLD OUT
06-03 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill # SOLD OUT
06-04 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour # SOLD OUT
06-05 Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg heater (w/Voxhaul Broadcast) #SOLD OUT
06-10 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06-13 Isle of Wight, UK – Isle of Wight Festival
06-15 Longon, UK – Shepherds Bush Empire
06-17 Groningen, NL – Vera
06-18 Tuttlingen, DE – Southside
06-19 Scheebel, DE – Hurricane
06-23 Amsterdam, NL – Melweg
06-24 Glastonbury, GB – Glastonbury Old Queen’s Head
06-25 Glastonbury, UK – Glastonbury Festival
06-27 Paris, FR – Solidays Festival
06-29 Ravenna, IT – Ravenna Hana Bi
06-30 Ancona, IT – Ancona Mole Vanvitelliana
07-02 Herouville Saint Clair, FR – Beauregard Festival
07-04 Roskilde, DK – Roskilde Festival
07-11 Pinchestown Racecourse, IE – Oxygen Festival
07-18 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Festival
08-05 Boston, MA – The Middle East
08-06 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
08-07 New York City, NY – The Beach @ Governor’s Island
08-11 Cannes, FR – Pantiero Festival
08-12 Haldern, DE – Haldern Festival
08-13 Gothenburg, SE – Way Out West Festival
08-14 Oslo, NO – Oya Festival
08-15 Leicester, GB – Summer Sundae Weekender
08-20 Hasselt-Kiewit, BE – Pukkelpop
08-27 Zurich, CH – Open Air Festival

# w/Suckers

Gorilla Manor Tracklist:
01 Wide Eyes
02 Airplanes
03 Sun Hands
04 World News
05 Shape Shifter
06 Camera Talk
07 Cards & Quarters
08 Warning Sign
09 Who Knows Who Cares
10 Cubism Dream
11 Stranger Things
12 Sticky Thread

BUY:
iTunes, Amazon, Amie St., Napster, Rhapsody

For More Information:
http://www.thelocalnatives.com/
http://www.myspace.com/localnatives
http://www.frenchkissrecords.com/
http://twitter.com/LocalNatives

I always learn a lot from these conferences and Brian Zisk, the guy who puts it on, is a stand up person who truly cares about what he’s doing.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The SF MusicTech Summit brings together visionaries in the music/technology space, along with the best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, journalists, musicians and organizations who work with them at the convergence of culture and commerce. We meet to discuss the evolving music/business/technology ecosystem in a proactive, conducive to dealmaking environment.

Featured Speakers:

Ben Folds Musician	Michael Tilson Thomas Conductor		Tim Westergren Pandora, Founder

Martina Butler interviews Brian and Jess from The Summer Set

The Summer Set’s new album “LOVE LIKE THIS” available now at thesummersetband.com

MYSPACE

MEET THE MEAT SLUTS: Taking the c*ck outta rock, putting p*ssy into punk, these meat muffins are four tunnels of fun from San Francisco. With members of the Womentors, Double D’s, Jaded Fucks, Lost Puppy and EX-members of Deranged Pussy, Loudmouths, McCools… THE MEAT SLUTS have cum together to ROCK BABY, ROOOOOCK and leave you hungry for more! It’s time to mess around! Time to get some action! Time to punk ‘n’ roll!

On Saturday Feb 6, 2010 , I interviewed Anvil at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. They’ve been touring pretty much non-stop since the documentary “The Story of Anvil” came out. I brought along Eddie Daroza, who ran the camera for me.
Thanks to super producer Shane Chisholm and Julie Ark for lining up the interview for me.


About Anvil:

Bio
If you were to look up the word “perseverance” in the almighty handbook
of heavy metal, there may very well be a photo of Canadian metalists,
Anvil. Since their 1981 debut, Hard N’ Heavy, the group – which was
co-founded by singer/guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb
Reiner – has been listed by many as one of the creators of the
thrash/speed metal genre (especially on such Chris Tsangarides-produced
classics as 1982’s Metal on Metal and 1983’s Forged in Fire). But due
to subsequent bad record deals, bad management, and just plain bad
luck, Anvil appeared to take a back seat to a new wave of metal bands –
most of which listed the group as a prime influence. However, Anvil has
never stopped rocking, and with the arrival of the
critically-acclaimed/surprise hit film, “Anvil! The Story of Anvil”
(directed by Sacha Gervasi), the group is back where they belong – at
the forefront of heavy metal.

“It’s quite amazing, really,” admits Lips. “It’s the prime example
of what it means to be a rock n’ roller, go out there, and try to make
it. And believe me, most of the scene is guys like me. It’s very seldom
and rare that anybody makes it – to what people mean by ‘making it’.”
Reiner seconds the sentiment – “The movie has gone beyond my
expectations. It’s been mind-blowing – to see what’s come from the
movie and how much it actually has helped the band.” When asked what
their favorite scene was, both agree on the unveiling of a certain
painting of Reiner’s (that resides down a stairway in his home – you’ll
have to see the movie for more info!). As far as a scene from the film
that is hard to watch, Reiner says, “There’s nothing hard looking back
at it,” while Lips feels differently: “My least favorite part is when
they show me naked!”

And although there are certainly some zany Spinal Tap-like parallels
between Anvil and David St. Hubbins and company, Anvil has always been
taken seriously by metalheads, including some very well known ones, who
praise the band in the film. “Anvil was one of those bands that just
put on this really amazing live performance,” said Velvet
Revolver/ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, while Motorhead
singer/bassist Lemmy added, “They were a great band – I always liked
Anvil,” and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich gushed, “These guys were
going to turn the music world upside down.”

Having issued a total of seventeen releases between 1981 and 2004,
the group, that also includes bassist Glenn Five, reconnected with
Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest) for their thirteenth studio
album, eighteenth release overall, This is Thirteen. The
turbulent-yet-triumphant sessions were well-documented in the “Anvil!”
film. “It differs in one vast sense – the production,” explains Reiner.
“‘This is Thirteen’ was produced by Chris Tsangarides, who produced
‘Metal on Metal’ and ‘Forged in Fire’ – probably the most famous,
classic Anvil albums. With Chris, we created that classic Anvil magic
sound – that previous records were lacking. The last four or five
albums, material-wise, were all similar. We had been trying to find the
direction back to the classic Anvil style and sound – it’s just the
production hadn’t been up to scratch. Chris was a big missing part on
our past albums.”

As evidenced by such vintage Anvil-sounding ragers as “Feed the
Greed,” “American Refugee,” and the title track, This is Thirteen is
certainly the strongest Anvil release in a long time. Originally put
out by the band themselves and sold through their website, the album is
now seeing proper national distribution via CD (with “Thumb Hang” added
as a bonus track) as well as a double gate-fold vinyl version
(including two additional bonus tracks) through VH1 Classic Records.
Additionally, due to the film’s success, Anvil received an invite from
AC/DC to open mammoth football stadium shows for the legendary Aussie
rockers on their “Black Ice” tour, while a book about the group’s
career (which shares the same name as the movie) appeared as well. Add
to it a DVD release of the movie in Fall 2009, and a new studio album
that is already written and just needs to be recorded (titled
Juggernaut of Justice), and it certainly appears as though Anvil is
making the most out of their “second life.” And as Lips adds, the
group’s rapid-fire workpace will not slow down, despite all the
newfound success. “Working. More recording. More gigs. More – more than
ever!”