CMJ » Brianne Galli

Q&A: Destry’s Michelle DaRosa

Brianne Galli — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:00:37 +0000

Destry – Don’t Break My Heart by CMJ Network

When Michelle DaRosa left Straylight Run in 2008, she started looking for bandmates to join her on her most recent endeavor, Destry, an indie-folk outfit that allows DaRosa to explore the softer side of her music. She found a counterpart in Tyler Odom—DaRosa’s 10-year acquaintance who formerly played with Northstar and Cassino—while members of Straylight Run took part in the recording process. Destry released its first album in 2009, titled It Goes On, and followed up earlier this month with Waiting On An Island.

For DaRosa, creating music seems to stem from whatever feels natural. She never restricts herself by using one method of songwriting, having found inspiration from the guitar and singing in the shower, and is comfortable collaborating and working on her own. Though she grew up on Long Island, DaRosa now calls Boston home where the music scene is smaller but more collaborative. DaRosa recently spoke to CMJ about recording Destry’s newest release and her long-distance work relationship with Odom.

You and Tyler have known each other for 10 years. What made you decide to come together on a musical project?
Well, we had toured together when I was in Straylight Run and he was in Cassino, and I remember always watching their band and just loving the music and kind of thinking that it would be fun to be in something a little more mellow. I’m kind of a quiet person, and I thought doing music like that might suit me better than what I was doing. It was at first over e-mail, and I just really liked what he did with my songs, and we got along great so it worked out.

And how has working with him been different than working with Straylight Run?
He actually does remind me of my brother a lot, personality-wise they’re both very laid-back people. But with Tyler it’s actually more of a collaborative process because in Straylight Run, my songs were my songs, John’s songs were John’s songs. And with this, especially with this [record] than the last one, there are songs that, you know, I would have a chorus to and he would have verses to and we kind of put them together, which I think is really fun to do.

And you said that was different than the last album you two released?
Yeah, the first record that we did, I wrote all the songs except for one that Tyler wrote. It was just all my songs, and then different people worked on the instrumentation. But with this record it’s pretty much even. Lyrically we both wrote a lot whereas the last record I wrote everything. I think he’s really talented, and it’s really cool working with him.

What about the content of your songs? Is it based on your own experiences, or is it more fictitious?
It’s pretty much usually based on whatever is happening in my life at the time.

So what was going on when you guys wrote Waiting On An Island?
I can’t speak for Tyler really, but for me, there was a couple years, maybe a three-year stretch of time where a lot of things in my life weren’t working out on every level from personal to career to whatever. I guess I was just going through a hard time for a while, so a lot of the songs might have like, a sad vibe to them, but I tried to put a positive spin on them [laughs]. I don’t know if it worked out.

What’s the music scene like in Boston right now?
I think there’s actually a pretty good music scene here. There’s a couple people I’m friends with in bands. There’s a guy Andrew [Sadoway], he’s in a band called Girlfriend, and when I play locally usually they play. Also my cousin is in the Dropkick Murphys, and he plays with me too. There’s shows every night, there’s tons of venues, and [between] most artists there’s not a competitive vibe. [Andrew] gave me all his local contacts for people to get in touch with me, which is nice because a lot of times people in bands are just out for themselves and competing. I feel like it’s a friendly, good vibe.

It kind of sounds like a small-town vibe within the scene of a big city.
Yeah definitely. Boston is so much quainter of a city than New York. New York is so mega compared to here. As far as the music scene I feel like it’s much smaller. To be in New York City I feel like it would be pretty hard to get people to start to know about you, and here it’s a smaller scene, but it’s nice.

Since Tyler lives in Texas, were you guys together when you recorded the album?
Yeah. Basically, we meet up from time to time. Before the album we knew we were ready to make another album. At one point I flew out to Alabama because he was working in Alabama and living in Texas, which is really weird, so I went out to Alabama, and then we drove to some house in the woods in Tennessee, and we worked on a good amount of demos there. At the time this girl Nicole was playing drums with us, so we went to her house in Nashville and worked on some stuff there, and then when we recorded, we recorded in Baltimore, and we were both there the whole time.

Do you find that there are any difficulties being based in different cities as far as collaborating before the album?
As far as collaborating, no, but it’s definitely not the most practical or ideal situation. It would be amazing to have band practice regularly and play local shows all the time. I wouldn’t recommend people doing that, but I really like being in a band with him, I really like working with him, but sometimes if I have a local show it doesn’t always make sense for him to fly all the way from Texas to play one show. I developed a different version of the band that’s local, but I feel like it’s not really the band when he’s not here.

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Antlers – Burst Apart

Brianne Galli — Fri, 06 May 2011 15:36:46 +0000

If you’re expecting another deep and intricate narrative from the Antlers on its fourth full-length release, well, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Burst Apart is a self-proclaimed “collection of songs,” all assembled beautifully by the Antlers who also took on the production aspects of the album. Though it doesn’t use the previous narrative form, the album is cohesive in its sound while using subtle experimental elements.

Where 2009’s Hospice dwelled on a sad story, Burst Apart signals the moment where the narrator moves on. The old sadness isn’t forgotten, as some tracks still have that melancholy feel of “Everything still isn’t quite all right.” The group utilizes more electronic parts in its compositions this time around, but it certainly doesn’t detract from the soundscape as a whole. Every component of the music meshes to create a rich, complex texture. It results in ambiance punctuated by Pete Silberman’s passionate voice and acoustic guitar.

Silberman’s versatile voice shines on “Parentheses” where he creates a falsetto similar to Thom Yorke and shows how easily he can sing in both higher and lower registers. He puts all his energy into “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out,” where his drive is contagious. It never seems as though Silberman is putting on an act with his vocals because there’s an undeniably genuine quality there. Nothing on the album seems as though it’s been done for the sake of doing it. Every element has been placed carefully, from the horn tracks on “Rolled Papers” to the soulful vibe of “Putting The Dog To Sleep.” Burst Apart is smart and calculated without feeling as though you’re being duped by artificial feelings.

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Thao And Mirah – Thao And Mirah

Brianne Galli — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:50:25 +0000

It’s a combination that can’t really go wrong—two good friends decide to collaborate on a new album while tooling around San Francisco in the summer of 2010 for two weeks resulting in happiness with minor undertones and lots of knee slaps. This is what happened when Thao Nguyen of the Get Down Stay Down fame and Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn got together to create their debut album, Thao And Mirah. This is what happens when good friends make good music.

The duo’s debut is folk indie-rock with a DIY element. Thao and Mirah provide more than vocals to the album, as they contribute most of the instrumentation, from drums to slide guitar and knee slaps. It all kicks off with “Eleven,” a high-energy tune that sounds as though household items were used in unconventional ways to create the accompaniment. Though that’s interesting enough, it’s the vocal harmonies that really shine on this track. Each line could stand on its own, but together they create an unconventional harmony with an octave of separation.

Thao and Mirah’s vocals complement each other—Thao’s being lower and more rounded and Mirah’s more delicate and sweet. It’s a contrast you can find in the instrumentation too where synths and acoustics collide though not on every track. “Folks” is appropriately acoustic giving the track a sound that fits the title. On “Rubies And Rocks,” we’re treated to a horn section—that may or may not be the actual instruments—which takes you by surprise after an intro of simply drum and bass. This changing of the tide between electric and acoustic makes the album flow.

What’s evident on Thao And Mirah is the musicality of the duo and the friendship at hand. Even when a song is in a minor key there’s a playful slide guitar to show the two’s quirkiness. It’s hard not to imagine them giggling together between every take.

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Émilie Simon – The Big Machine

Brianne Galli — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:00:09 +0000

French songstress Émilie Simon is but one person, but she sure knows how to create a lot of sound. Ranging from computer-generated sonics to acoustic piano, The Big Machine is an appropriate name for Simon’s second U.S. release of playful electro-pop songs as it conjures the image of her using one big music machine on her own to create the album. Though danceable and pop-oriented, Simon’s latest release is more for those looking for a concept album rather than some club beats.

The album plays with elements both electronic and acoustic throughout, beginning with lead single “Rainbow.” There’s a definite ’80s feel to Simon’s swelling, muddy synths and computerized horns and strings, but her use of piano and more modern production techniques makes it completely fitting for today. “Rainbow” is also just the beginning of learning about Simon’s great vocal range that effortlessly sweeps from top to bottom, similar to that of Regina Spektor. Simon totally commits to the vocals on each track with a carefree approach that perfectly hits each note.

Though Simon’s vocals have a pretty quality to them, they definitely have an edge like those of Tori Amos, particularly in Simon’s higher range. She can be very sweet sounding and delicate, then turn on you and be loud and powerful without seeming forced. “Nothing To Do With You” and “Chinatown” showcase her passionate and versatile voice and allow it to stand out more against the accompaniment. These tracks also begin to show you Simon’s craftsmanship as an artist and composer as she continually surprises you with time changes, mood swings and varied influences.

For someone who composed the French soundtrack to the 2006 documentary March Of The Penguins, we shouldn’t be taken aback by Simon’s range of influence on The Big Machine. We hear big band in “Rocket To The Moon,” some Stevie Nicks-inspired foundations in “This Is Your World” and piano pop throughout. It feels like each track features Simon assuming a different role while concocting a new formula to run through her big music machine.

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RIP Poly Styrene Of The X-Ray Spex

Brianne Galli — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:32:27 +0000

Lead singer of 70s punk act X-Ray Spex, Poly Styrene, passed away in her sleep last night after a battle with breast cancer. She was 53. Styrene was diagnosed with the illness two months ago after finishing her solo album Generation Indigo, which comes out today.

Known for her signature braces and fluorescent clothing, Styrene helped to pioneer female-fronted punk groups and inspired the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeah, Le Tigre and Gossip. Styrene fronted the X-ray Spex throughout the late 70’s, with the group’s album Germ Free Adolescents considered ground breaking in the realm of punk music. Styrene formed the group with childhood friend Susan Whitby—better known as Lora Logic on the sax—in 1976, releasing the feminist-powered “Oh Bondage Up Yours!” Born Marianna Elliot Said in Brixton, Styrene broke stereotype barriers being bi-racial and female in a genre that was ruled by white men.

After leaving home at age 15 to attend rock festivals in England, an 18-year-old Styrene returned and set up her own boutique in Chelsea where she soon adopted many of her Poly Styrene characteristics. She quickly formed a band that became the X-Ray Spex whose fun-loving attitude brought a new dimension to England’s dreary punk scene. The group only released one more album after its debut when it reformed in the 90’s with Conscious Consumer but Styrene continued to make music with her newest release. It which maintains her revolutionary style and activist tendencies, including songs about cruelty-free products, racism, the less fortunate and looking past appearances before judging others.

Styrene was in the company of her mother and her daughter, Celeste Bell-Dos Santos, at the time of her passing. Styrene’s official Twitter feed made a formal announcement of her passing stating: “We can confirm that the beautiful Poly Styrene, who has been a true fighter, won her battle on Monday evening to go higher places.”

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Wanda Jackson To Party With Adele

Brianne Galli — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:30:31 +0000

Music’s first lady of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, will tour North America in support of her recent release The Party Ain’t Over (Third Man/Nonesuch) making some stops as an opener for British soul sister Adele. Cited as an influence on Adele, Jackson promises that partying will ensue.

Recorded in Jack White’s Third Man Studios in Nashville, Jackson’s recent release included a band of modern day roots rockers form White himself to Jack Lawrence of the Dead Weather and the Raconteurs, Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket and Patrick Keeler also of the Raconteurs among others. The 11 tracks of the album span a time period from 1900 to 2007 and genres from rockabilly to country and gospel, featuring “Shakin’ All Over,” a track originally by Johnny Kid And The Pirates.

Jackson’s tour begins at the end of April and runs through early August—including nine sold out dates with Adele, and select dates with Imelda May and Justin Townes Earle.

Tour Dates For Wanda Jackson:

04/29 – Tucson, AZ – Plush

04/30 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room

05/01 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach Festival

05/03 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley

05/04 – San Francsico, CA – Great American Music Hall

05/06 – Seattle, WA – Neumos

05/07 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater

05/12 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick

05/13 – Cleveland, OH – Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

05/14 – Cleveland, OH – Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

05/15 – Nelsonville, OH – Nelsonville Music Festival

05/18 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada

05/21 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s

05/22 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s Uptown

05/25 – Little Rock, AR – The Rev Room

05/26 – Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall

05/27 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre

05/31 – Vancouver, Canada – Orpheum*

05/06 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre*

06/08 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay*

06/09 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium*

06/10 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music Festival

06/12 – Austin, TX – Stubbs Waller Creek*

06/15 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues

06/17 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle*

06/18 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium*

06/19 – Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage

06/20 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium*

06/30 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest

07/02 – Montreal, QC – Montreal Jazz Festival

07/06 – Torrington, CT – Backstage Live-Nancy Marine Studio

07/07 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground

07/09 – Ottawa, ON – Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest

07/10 – Quebec, QC – Quebec City International Summer Festival

07/17 – Greenfield, MA – Green River Festival

07/26 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

07/27 – New York, NY – Central Park SummerStage

07/28 – Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero

07/30 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest Café

07/31 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival

08/05 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Folk Festival

08/06 – Apple Valley, MN – Music In The Zoo

* with Adele

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The Lonely Island Goes Soft Rock With Michael Bolton

Brianne Galli — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:38:47 +0000

The trio of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, otherwise known as the Lonely Island, settles the age-old question of, “How can we be lovers if we can’t be friends” by collaborating with Michael Bolton among many others on its sophomore album, Turtleneck And Chain (Universal). Bolton joins the likes of Snoop Dogg, Beck, Santigold, Justin Timberlake and Akon on the group’s May 10 release that has made three singles available thus far.

The 19-track collection is in the same vein as 2009’s Incredibad, whose songs were featured as “Digital Shorts” on Saturday Night Live, most notably “D*** In A Box” featuring Justin Timberlake, “Lazy Sunday,” where Samberg and Chris Parnell share the details of catching the Chronicles Of Narnia, and “Natalie’s Rap,” where we saw Natalie Portman in rare form letting out her gangster side. Its platinum status made it the No. 1-selling comedy album for two consecutive years and sparked pop culture staples such as the auto-tuned T-Pain-driven “I’m On A Boat.”

Turtleneck And Chain features lead single “I Just Has Sex,” a collaboration with Akon that’s sold more than 700,000 digital copies since December 2010, and “The Creep” with Nicki Minaj and—appropriately—John Waters. The third single, “Motherlover” featuring Justin Timberlake, was released this week.

Tracklist For Turtleneck And Chain:
01. We’re Back!
02. Mama
03. I Just Had Sex Feat. Akon
04. Jack Sparrow Feat. Michael Bolton
05. Attracted To Us Feat. Beck
06. Rocky
07. My Mic – Interlude
08. Turtleneck And Chain Feat. Snoop Dogg
09. Shy Ronnie 2: Ronnie And Clyde Feat. Rihanna
10. Trouble On Dookie Island
11. Falcor Vs. Atreyu – Classy Skit #1
12. Motherlover Feat. Justin Timberlake
13. The Creep Feat. Nicki Minaj And John Waters
14. Watch Me Do Me – Classy Skit #2
15. Threw It On The Ground
16. Japan
17. After Party Feat. Santigold
18. No Homo
19. No Homo Outro

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Black Rabbits Flips The ‘Hypno Switch’

Brianne Galli — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:48:54 +0000

Four-piece indie rock outfit the Black Rabbits has signed with Rock Ridge to release its debut full-length album, Hypno Switch, on June 21. This album follows up the group’s self-titled debut EP from 2010, which peaked on CMJ’s Radio 200 at No. 96 and found media placements in television shows throughout the year.

Headed by brothers Jetson and Skyler Black on vocals/guitar and drums, the Black Rabbits is rounded out by bassist Yuki Tong and organist Kim Drakeley who also provide backing vocals. The group worked with producers Billy Chapin and Stan Lynch (of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers) on its debut EP as well as its upcoming full-length, creating a loud garage-rock sound with a soft side influenced by ’60s rock staples as well as more recent groups like the White Stripes.

Check below to watch the video for “Hypno Switch,” which was featured on the Black Rabbits’ EP and is the title track of its June 2011 LP.

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SummerStage Releases 2011 Lineup

Brianne Galli — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:42:31 +0000

The City Parks Foundation has announced the SummerStage lineup for the 2011 season covering all five of the city’s boroughs. More than 300 artists are set to play the free festival this year with some being commissioned to premiere original programming.

Highlights of this season include Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, EPMD, Funkmaster Flex, Talib Kweli, We Are Scientists, Jagged Edge, Wanda Jackson, the Budos Band, the Naked And Famous, Cults, Friendly Fires and Reggie Watts. Roy Ayers has been commissioned to create the “Everybody Loves The Sunshine” set featuring the Jazz Mafia, and Vijay Iyer will be a musical guest in “Armitage Gone! Dance” set. Other works highlight dance and theater such as Sangre, a theatrical work based on Frederico Garcia Lorca’s play Blood Wedding, and a performance by Darrel Grand Moultrie’s Dance Grand Moultrie company.

The SummerStage arts festival is a free event in 18 of New York City’s parks spanning all genres and artistic interests. Celebrating its 25th anniversary last summer, the festival started in 1986 in Central Park and has since presented 850 nights of entertainment. This year’s festival begins on June 7 with shows in Central Park and Brooklyn’s Betsy Head Park and concludes on August 28.

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Neon Indian Announces New Album, Tour Dates

Brianne Galli — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:14:25 +0000

Electro-pop outfit Neon Indian has released a teaser to its upcoming sophomore full-length album to be released in fall 2011. The new track, “Heart: Attack,” is accompanied by a video, which takes place in Helsinki where Alan Palomo, the brains behind Neon Indian, wrote the upcoming record. Tour dates in North America have also been announced starting in mid-May and running through early July with stops at festivals.

Palomo’s one expands to four in live sets, adding Jason Faries, Leanne Macomber and Lars Larsen to fill out the Neon Indian sound. Starting his career as part of Ghosthustler and VEGA, Palomo released Neon Indian’s debut, Psychic Chasms, in 2009 to critical acclaim. The psychedelic, lo-fi ambiance was born from old scraps of VEGA tracks that didn’t seem right for that project, which Palomo then spun into his debut full-length.

In the winter of 2010, Palomo began working on the upcoming album before collaborating with the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne on the four-track EP The Flaming Lips With Neon Indian. A limited edition 12-inch release, the album sold out on its first pressing.

Palomo and friends are joined on the road by Oberhofer, Sleigh Bells, CSS, Princeton and Asobi Seksu on select dates. The title and label for Neon Indian’s new album has yet to be released.

Tour Dates For Neon Indian:

05/14 – Dallas, TX – HomeGrown Music And Arts Festival
05/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Brillobox
05/17 – Indianapolis, IN – Radio Radio
05/18 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom
05/19 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
05/20 – Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret
05/22 – Calgary, AB – The Republik
05/23 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
05/25 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
05/26 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
05/29 – Oakland, CA – The New Parish
05/30 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
05/31 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
06/02 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
06/03 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
06/04 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
06/05 – Houston, TX – Free Press Summer Fest
06/06 – Kansas City, MO – Midland Theatre
06/07 – Tulsa, OK – Cains Ballroom
06/08 – Saint Louis, MO – Firebird
06/09 – Columbus, OH – Outland Live
06/10 – Cincinnati, OH – Midpoint Music Fest Indie Summer Series
06/11 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Grog Shop
06/12 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
06/18 – Governors Island, NY – The Governors Ball
07/09 – Mariaville, NY – Camp Bisco 10
07/10 – Ottawa, ON – Lebron Flats

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Joseph Arthur Readies New Album

Brianne Galli — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:00:14 +0000

Singer-songwriter and lover of looping, Joseph Arthur has announced the release of Graduation Ceremony (Indica), Arthur’s first since 2006’s Nuclear Daydream. The album is an acoustic collection of minimalist songs with a haunting quality that’s characteristic of Arthur’s work.

Having collaborated with Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison on 2010’s Fistful Of Mercy, Arthur has returned to his solo roots touring throughout North America this year (including a stop at New York’s City Winery with Greg Laswell). Arthur’s career spans two decade, making his debut in 1997 with Big City Secrets, which found success overseas, but didn’t find a U.S. following until 2000’s Come To Where I’m From that included “In The Sun.”

Constantly writing new material, what started as one track in “Out On A Limb” became a ten-song collection for his upcoming release. The album is laced with Arthur’s intricate, ambiguous poetry and touches on his hometown of Akron, OH and other personal matters such as the end of a relationship.

Arthur’s work is not limited to music but painting as well, which is incorporated to his live show where he creates a piece on stage. His works will be on display this summer at Oshega in Montreal on July 29. Graduation Ceremony will be released on May 24.

Tracklist For Graduation Ceremony:

01. Out On A Limb

02. Horses

03. Almost Blue

04. Someone To Love

05. Watch Our Shadows Run

06. This Is Still My World

07. Over The Sun

08. Face In The Crowd

09. Midwest

10. Gypsy Faded

11. Call

12. Love Never Asks You To Lie

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NXNE Announces More Artists

Brianne Galli — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:00:05 +0000

Toronto’s NXNE has announced the second wave of bands for the 17th edition of its seven-day festival. The bill includes such legendary artists as Devo and Men Without Hats as well as the Descendents, Stars, the Dodos and Cults among others.

The music festival and conference draws nearly 300,000 attendees each year and will feature 650 bands at this year’s event. More than a music festival, NXNE is also comprised of films centered on music and a digital interactive music conference with 40 films and 50 panels available for viewing in 2011. Over the years it’s become a springboard for new and unsigned talent, pairing them with major label headliners and bringing together fans, artists and industry executives alike.

Devo will play on Saturday June 18, shutting down Toronto’s Yonge St. alongside fellow ’80s icon Men Without Hats who recently played at SXSW. Other recently announced acts include Digable Planets, Twin Shadow, Art Brut, Deerhoof, Hot Water Music, Dum Dum Girls, Braids, Ty Segall, Royal Bangs, Julianna Barwick and the Pharcyde.

NXNE starts on June 16 and runs through June 19, and the full schedule of acts and films will be released in coming weeks In the meantime, watch the CMJ TV interview with Devo’s Jerry Casale below:

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Cut Copy Pastes More Tour Dates

Brianne Galli — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:00:18 +0000

Photo by Warwick Baker

If you missed Cut Copy’s sunset set at Coachella this weekend, you’ll still have a chance to catch the band in the U.S. this year. The Aussie four-piece has announced a string of North American dates for this summer starting in July and running through mid-August including three more festivals and spanning both coasts.

The group is currently finishing dates in the first leg of its North American tour before heading over seas to support its February 2011 release Zonoscope. The album’s single “Need You Now” has been remixed by fellow Australians Architecture in Helsinki as well as Carl Craig and Gavin Russom, one of which extends the track to 13 minutes.

Cut Copy’s new dates begin on June 4 at Puerto Rico’s Indie Rock Fest and feature stops and end on August 13 in Orange County, CA.

Tour Dates For Cut Copy:

06/04 – Aguadilla, Puerto Rico – Indie Rock Fest

06/05 – Houston, TX – Free Press Summer Fest

07/05 – Richmond, VA – The National

07/06 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live!

07/07 – Pattersonville, NY – Camp Bisco

07/09 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Hall

07/11 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Zoo

07/17 – Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park

08/11 – Brooklyn, NY – Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park Band Shell

08/12 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee

08/13 – Orange County, CA – Pacific Festival at Oak Canyon Park

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Tom Vek Puts On His ‘Leisure’ Suit

Brianne Galli — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:30:02 +0000

British import Tom Vek has announced the release of his second digital album Leisure Seizure (Downtown) for June 7 after a five-year hiatus from the music world. Recorded in his own PALLET Recording Studios, this album finds Vek exploring more production techniques on new equipment creating a more controlled sound than was heard on his debut.

Though still featuring Vek’s signature percussion, Leisure Seizure presents a cleaner and more crisp sound than his earlier sporadic recording We Have Sound. Vek continues to use his process of transforming a strange sound into a full track with the help of producers Tom Rixton and Liam Howe stepping in for finishing touches. This album is the result of a three-year setup and two-year period of creating music, which explains Vek’s departure from the scene for so long. Lead single “A Chore,” supplemented by a concept music video, also takes notice of Vek’s break.

The Londoner’s debut on the scene came on the dawn of the MySpace generation allowing him to quickly release his music. Following a stint on The O.C. Vek took his leave, though his new release promises to be well worth the wait.

Tracklist For Leisure Seizure:

01. Hold You Hand

02. Aroused

03. A Chore

04. We Do Nothing

05. World Of Doubt

06. Seizemic

07. A.P.O.L.O.G.Y.

08. Someone Loves You

09. Close Mic’ed

10. On A Plate

11. You Need To Work Your Heart Out

12. Too Bad

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Jeff “The Dude” Bridges Debuts Album On Blue Note

Brianne Galli — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:41:59 +0000

Following an Oscar-winning role as Bad Blake in 2009’s Crazy Heart, actor Jeff Bridges is signing with Blue Note to release his full-length debut. Bridges teams up with Crazy Heart songwriter T-Bone Burnett on the project, which will be released this summer.

Bridges has stated that the upcoming album is an extension of his past collaborations with Burnett, having met him 30 years ago on the set of Heaven’s Gate and working with him in other films such as The Big Lebowski on which Burnett selected songs for the film. The release will feature Bridges’ own compositions among works of others, and a number of guest vocalists including Rosanne Cash, Sam Phillips and Benji Hughes.

Burnett is no stranger to the music world collaborating with the likes of Alison Krauss, Robert Plant, Leon Russell and the Grammy-winning soundtrack to Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?. Though known primarily for his award-winning acting, Bridges is an avid music lover and guitar player whose skills finally came to light in Crazy Heart.

Bridges plays his first shows with an assembled band on September 1 and 2 at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, ON.

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