new Ryan Adams album and tour

NEW CARDINALS CD AND CARDINALS UK TOUR DATES

Ok this is quite exciting. Not too long since we had Easy Tiger and a new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals cd is on the way scheduled for release October 27 2008.

Ryan and the Cardinals are currently on tour which began August 23rd at the Fillmore in San Francisco and includes a series of Canadian shows supporting Oasis. Cardinals are Ryan Adams (vocals, guitar, keys), Neal Casal (guitar, vocals), Chris Feinstein (bass), Jon Graboff (pedal steel) and Brad Pemberton (drums). They will be playing some UK dates. I hope to see them this time around.

November 8 - Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador Theatre
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 10 - Manchester Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 11 - Newcastle Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 13 - Leeds Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 14 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Picture House
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Password: SPACEWOLF
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 16 - Cambridge - Corn Exchange
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 17 - Birmingham Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 19 - Brighton Dome
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 20 - Brixton Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 22 - Southampton Guildhall
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

Horse Feathers tour with Jose Gonzales

Horse Feather's first album - Words Are Dead was one of About The Music's top 10 records of 2006. A review of their second album will be appearing here soon. Meanwhile they've lined up a tour with José González, another great artist.

Horse Feathers will be releasing their second album, House With No Home, on Kill Rock Stars on 6th October. They will be supporting José González on tour.

Born and raised in Lewiston, ID, Justin Ringle has a natural affinity with the West. The band’s debut album, Words Are Dead, which was released on the local Lucky Madison label in 2006, and was nominated for the Plug Awards ‘Americana Album of the Year’.

On this, their second album, Horse Feathers have distilled their sound into a brilliant statement of minimalist Americana.

Horse Feathers will be supporting José González in October:

14th October - London, KOKO

15th October - Liverpool, Academy

16th October - Exeter, Lemon Grove

17th October - Canterbury Kent International Arts Festival

Films

Lately I've seen quite a few films that I'd like to reccommend. Last night Heather and I went to see Batman. 

I've never been a huge fan of comic book movies (superman aside), they're always too predictable, too CGI stunt filled and plot light, but I'd read some good things about Batman and we fancied a trip to the cinema. It's the opening weekend so we booked tickets and arrived early to queue. I haven't been to a blockbuster opening weekend film for so long, I remember queuing for an hour to see Jurassic Park, and the sense of anticipation when sitting in a packed cinema is well worth the wait.

I haven't seen Batman Begins because it didn't appeal so I don't know how the two tie together but my verdict on The Dark Night is - great. Go see it. 

I was blown away - it's complex, believeable, full of great (non cheesy) dialouge and one particular breathtaking stunt which had the whole audience gasping. A lot has been written about the late Heath Ledger and it's all true. He steals the shoe and is mesmerising, just like Daniel Day Lewis in there will be blood. He comes accross as amoral, psychotic in a scary, but compulsivly fascinating way. See clip below for an example. 

It's dark, brooding and wonderful. I could watch it again right now, and there aren't many movies I would say that about.

Last week I saw KNOCKED UP. 

Not as good as Juno but very funny and enjoyable.

The week before that I saw another film which really stands out - CLOVERFIELD. The trailer is possibly one of the best ever made and the film was gripping from start to finish. Shot completely from a hand held camera it captures the sense of fear, terror and confusion of a group of friends in New York fleeing from a disaster/emergency and trying to find a separated friend. What really impressed me was the clever way the plot developed, through clever dialogue - very difficult to do when it all comes from one camera.

Its from the creator of LOST, which I'm also a big fan of and his creativity is evident throughout. I'm about to watch War Of The Worlds now which I don't expect to be impressed with but who knows.

Counting Crows tour

I didn't think much of their latest album - Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings, but Counting Crows have been one of my first musical loves and a favourite live band. So it's a pleasure to find they're touring the UK. Supporting will be Ben Folds and Melee.

December

2nd - Newcastle, Arena

4th - Nottingham, Arena

5th - London, Wembley Arena

7th - Manchester, Apollo

8th - Cardiff, Arena

10th - Bournemouth Arena

11th - Brighton, Centre

13th - Birmingham, NEC

14th - Sheffield, Arena

18th - Glasgow SECC

Tickets are available at a price of £35 for London and £33.50 for all regional shows. Ben Folds also performs at all dates bar Glasgow.

Recipes for the recession

With food prices soaring, TIME magazine has an article on how to gourmet cook without spending top dollar. Click the link for the lot but below is my favourite recipe.

Spaghetti With Pancetta and Chili Flakes
Recipe by David Myers, Sona, Los Angeles
Ingredients:
• 6 quarts of water
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 4 ounces pancetta
• Chili flakes (to taste)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 lemons (juiced)
• Salt and pepper

Directions:
1. Salt the water and bring to a boil.
2. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
3. While pasta is cooking, dice pancetta in 1/4-inch pieces.
4. In a large saut� pan, cook pancetta until crispy.
5. Pour out all excess fat and add cooked pasta to the same pan.
6. Add chili flakes to taste.
7. Evenly mix in the olive oil and lemon juice.
8. Season with salt and pepper.

CD Review - Golden Animals

GOLDEN ANIMALS - FREE YOUR MIND AND WIN A PONY
(HAPPY PARTS RECORDINGS)
Release: 4 AUGUST 2008



Golden Animals are Tommy Eisner (guitars) and Swedish born Linda Beercroft. They found inspiration from old fashioned rock'n'roll- The Doors, Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. Eisner, speaking about early blues records claims "in 200 years people will find new ways to create from those rules". Perhaps, but Golden Animals haven't managed. There is nothing here you haven't heard before. Eisner has a fine baritone (think Jim Morrision) and Linda provides sweet backing vocals but each blues flavoured track trudges around the 12 bars as uninspiring as the next, musically and lyrically.

For fans of: The White Stripes; Rolling Stones
Download: The Steady Roller, My My MY
Rating: 5/10

Openbottles

I like a good glass of wine. Particularly a big smooth red. Preferably a bordeaux or an Italian Valpolicella. If you like a glass and you like to talk about it, head over to Openbottles.com - it's like facebook for wine lovers.



You can discuss and review wines, read recommendations, download pdf's for wine tasting tours. It's pretty good.

What's rocking Obama's iPod?

Obama has revealed what's on his iPod. Will it be the Dixie Chicks like George W had on his? Of course not, Obama rocks out to Dylan (predictably), Springsteen and a wide range of others from Jay Z to Sheryl Crow. I wonder if he had a focus group telling him to get rid of some music before handing it over to Rolling Stone for his interview.

THE GUARDIAN reports that The list of bands reads like the acts at a summer music festival, with the Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow and Ludacris all in the mix.

Obama said that, growing up, he listened to Elton John and Earth, Wind & Fire but that Stevie Wonder was his ultimate musical hero during the 70s.

The Stones' track Gimme Shelter topped his favourite songs from the band.

His selection also contained 30 songs from Dylan. "One of my favourites [for] the political season is [Dylan's] Maggie's Farm. It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric."

In the song, Dylan sings about trying to be himself, "but everybody wants you to be just like them".

The jazz legends Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker were also included in the compilation.

Many of the musicians on Obama's iPod, such as Bruce Springsteen, are supporting his White House bid.

Earlier this month, Dylan said he believed Obama was redefining politics in the US and could bring change to a nation in upheaval.

"I've got to say, having both Dylan and Bruce Springsteen say kind words about you is pretty remarkable," Obama said. "Those guys are icons."

Obama said he had not met Springsteen but that the two had talked over the phone.

"Not only do I love Bruce's music, I just love him as a person," Obama said. "He is a guy who has never lost track of his roots, who knows who he is, who has never put on a front."

He added that, when speaking to the singer, he addressed him by his moniker the Boss. "You've got to," Obama said.

The candidate said he thought rap music was also helping to break down barriers within the music world. Indeed it was reported last month that Obama will make a cameo performance on the rap singer Q-Tip's next album.

However, he expressed concern over his daughters – Malia, nine, and Sasha, seven – listening to some rap songs.

"I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics," he said, "but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."

He said the hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and the rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris were "great talents and great businessmen".

"It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying they were getting bad images of themselves," he added.

Obama appears on the cover of the Rolling Stone issue. The magazine endorsed him for president in March.

CD Review : Golden Animals - Free Your Mind And Win A Pony

What a great album title. They recorded this in the middle of the californian desert, completely alone and only visited once a day by the ranch owner.

GOLDEN ANIMALS - FREE YOUR MIND AND WIN A PONY
(HAPPY PARTS RECORDINGS)
4 AUGUST 2008



Golden Animals are Tommy Eisner (guitars) and Swedish born Linda Beercroft. They found inspiration from old fashioned rock'n'roll- The Doors, Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. Eisner, speaking about early blues records claims "in 200 years people will find new ways to create from those rules". Perhaps, but Golden Animals haven't managed. There is nothing here you haven't heard before. Eisner has a fine baritone (think Jim Morrision) and Linda provides sweet backing vocals but each blues flavoured track trudges around the 12 bars as uninspiring as the next, musically and lyrically.


For fans of: The White Stripes; Rolling Stones
Download: The Steady Roller, My My MY
Rating: 5/10

The ugliest dog in the world

The BBC news website reports that Gus has been crowned the ugliest dog in the world. Gus is a three-legged, one-eyed, cancer-afflicted dog and has won at the World's Ugliest Dog at a fair in California.

Owner Jeanenne Teed, from Florida, said she would spend the $1,600 prize on treatment for Gus's skin cancer.

Free Sigur Ros track

Sigur Ros have made available “Gobbledigook” for free download. It's from their forthcoming new album Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. Literally translated it means ""With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly," and even features a song in English (no way!).

DOWNLOAD GOBBLEDIGOOK HERE

And if that wasn't enough, you can listen to the whole album on their website here:

New Sigur Ros tour dates

Sigur Ros have just announced a load of new American tour dates, to add on to their world tour. Catch them:

Sigur Rós:

06-20 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany - Southside Festival
06-22 Scheeßel, Germany - Hurricane Festival
06-24 London, England - Westminster Methodist Central Hall
06-28 Reykjavík, Iceland - TBA *
07-05 Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter Festival
07-06 Arras, France - Main Square Festival
07-08 Vienna, Austria - Arena
07-09 Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
07-11 Florence, Italy - Giardino di Boboli
07-12 Rome, Italy - Cavea Auditorium
07-13 Milan, Italy - Arena Civica
07-14 Zurich, Switzerland - Volkhaus
07-17 Benicàssim, Spain - Benicàssim Festival
07-19 Southwold, England - Latitude Festival
08-01 Melbourne, Australia - Festival Hall
08-02 Sydney, Australia - Hordern Pavilion
08-03 Byron Bay, Australia - Splendour in the Grass
08-07 Oslo, Norway - Øya Festival
08-08 Gothenburg, Sweden - Way Out West
08-09 Copenhagen, Denmark - Beat Day Festival
08-11 Cologne, Germany - Palladium
08-12 Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
08-13 Berlin, Germany - Tempodrum
08-15 Saint-Malo, France - La Route du Rock Festival
08-17 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands - Lowlands Festival
08-18 Dresden, Germany - Alter Schlachthof
08-19 Prague, Czech Republic - Arena HC Sparta Praha
08-20 Warsaw, Poland - Palladium
08-22 Riga, Latvia - Arena
08-24 Helsinki, Finland - Kulttuuritalo
08-26 St. Petersburg, Russia - TYUZ Theatre
08-27 Moscow, Russia - B1
08-29 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic Festival
08-31 Argyll, Scotland - Hydro Connect Festival
09-17 New York, NY - United Palace Theatre
09-18 New York, NY - United Palace Theatre
09-19 Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavillion
09-20 Montreal, Quebec - Quai Jacques Cartier
09-22 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
09-23 Detroit, MI - Fillmore
09-24 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
09-25 Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum
09-27 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
09-28 Salt Lake City, UT - Great Saltair
09-30 Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
10-01 San Diego, CA - Copley Symphony Hall
10-02 Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theatre
10-03 Berkeley, CA - The Greek Theatre
10-05 Seattle, WA - Benaroya Hall
10-06 Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Theatre
10-07 Vancouver, British Columbia - The Chan Centre
10-22 Nagoya, Japan - Geijyutsu Hall
10-24 Osaka, Japan - Koseinenkin Hall
10-26 Tokyo, Japan - Forum

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