Pensatos: The Unheard Notes - Indie Music News

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Friday June 23, 2006

Bonnie "Prince" Billy Throws Free Concerts
Bonnie "Prince" Billy is looking to be the best cheap date option yet. The band plans to offer multiple free shows across the US in an effort to help pump up support for their upcoming release, The Letting Go, on September 19th. The string of shows are mostly in store promotions but take what you can get you whiney bastard! Remember to precursor your date with some of their music first, stud.

Free To Please:

08-10 Atomic Records - Milwaukee
08-11 Madcity Music Exchange - Madison, WI
08-12 Roadrunner - Minneapolis, MN
08-13 Record Collector - Iowa City, IO
08-14 Love Garden - Lawrence, KS
08-15 Vintage Vinyl - St. Louis, MI
08-17 Vertigo - Grand Rapids, MI
08-18 Stormy Records - Detroit, MI
08-19 Rotate This - Toronto CA
08-20 New World Record - Buffalo, NY
08-21 Brent Crayon - Cleveland, OH

Decemberists Leave Violinist in Cold

What a jip; you get hired to help add life on tour by playing a niche instrument like the violin and when the tours done, you're treated like a mistake the night before. That is to say, you kick them out. That's just what happened to Petra Haden of The Decemberists. She was added to the roster to help on tour but let go today according to the bands website. The split was apparently amicable but we haven't heard from Haden's camp yet. Regardless, her talent will be missed as she was full time for the band and the fans.

Thursday June 22, 2006

J Dilla's The Shining Release Revealed

If you die as an artist, you become immortal - or at least that's what the community thinks. Just as Common who recently told the press that J Dilla (who passed away in February) was to be remembered next to the talent of Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye). And while we might not agree it is worthy to all, this might be J Dilla's year. Before he passed, the artist had enough material reportedly for two more albums which are pending subsequent release. Well, wait no longer. The album entitled The Shining is finally scheduled to hit stores on August 22nd care of BBE Records and features a slew of today's hottest hip-hop talent. The second album, entitled Jay Love Japan should be out later in 2006 but no specific dates were given.

Album Info: The Shining

01 Geek Down (feat. Busta Rhymes)
02 E=MC² (feat. Common)
03 Love Jones
04 Love (feat. Pharoahe Monch)
05 Baby (feat. Madlib, Guilty Simpson)
06 So Far to Go (feat. Common, D'Angelo)
07 Jungle Love (feat. MED & Guilty Simpson)
08 Over the Breaks
09 Body Movin' (feat. J. Rocc and Karriem Riggins)
10 Dime Piece (feat. Dwele)
11 Love Movin' (feat. Black Thought)
12 Won't Do

›› Pensatos News: Dilla's The Shining in July

Wolf Eyes New Album Info

All hail because Wolf Eyes are back with a new album and a world wide tour that spans Austrailia, US, and ends in England. The new album, Human Animal, is due to his shelves everywhere care of Sub Pop on September 26th. With new member Mike Connelly part of the studio cut, we are relatively hyped for the the screeching sounds to return once again.

Album Info: Human Animal

01 The Driller
02 Four Strings of Satanic Heritage
03 Rationed Rot
04 Leper War
05 Human Animal
06 Rusted Mange
07 A Million Years of Graveyards
08 Noise Not Music
09 Lake of Roaches

›› Pensatos News: Wolf Eyes' Next

Jet Working on New Album

It's been some time since we've seen the likes of Jet. Get Born, release in 2003, was their last known hurrah. But now the band has confirmed that a as-yet-untitled is in the works with producer David Sardy whose previous works with Slayer and Marilyn Manson are well documented.

Jet Frontman Nick Cester and drummer Chris Cester's father passed away from cancer last year reportedly leaving a permanent impression on the two artists throughout the new album and the some-40 songs written. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Nick spoke of the mood:

"The ballads are a lot deeper. It's all resulted in a journey. It was a way to vent a lot of issues, feelings and anger. You don't bury dad and go out and write the fucking party classic."

The album is slated for a release in 2006. We'll keep you posted.

Pete Doherty: The Author
Holy Hell - a non drug related Pete Doherty story. Mark it down and take the rest of the day off because its a rarity that heeds celebration. Doherty is reportedly releasing a book of short stories and writings. Don't expect Fitzgerald here folks, but our non-licenses medical opinion is that this would be good therapy and another outlet for the oft-drug induced rocker. Orion Books will publish the journal in March 2007. Apparently this will be a 'best of' as Doherty reportedly had submitted 20 plus journals. According to Orion, the journals will be "a complete antidote" to what was read in the tabloids over the past few years and offer a "fascinating and very entertaining picture" of his life.

Ryan Adams & Cardinals Release Summer Tour
Tomorrow launches a 12-city tour for Ryan Adams & The Cardinals that will puddle jump across the East Coast and Midwest ending in Chicago's Grant Park for Lollapalooza. Don't confuse him with Bryan Adams; as one unlucky attendee at last years Nashville show will tell you. He insisted on hearing 'Summer of '69' which irated Ryan on stage.

06-23 Beacon Theatre 'Benefit' - New York, NY
06-23 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
07-20 Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
07-21 Sonar - Baltimore, MD
07-22 NorVa - Norfolk, VA
07-23 Pavillion - Charlottesville, VA
07-25 Bijou House - Knoxville, TN
07-27 House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, SC
07-28 Music Hall - Charleston, SC
07-29 Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
08-01 Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
08-02 Pageant - St. Louis, MS
08-03 The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
08-04 Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL

Hidden Cameras New Album Info
The electric rock troupe better known as the Hidden Cameras have been hard touring and recording like madmen lately. The fruits of their labor will soon be enjoyed by all. The band has finished up their third studio album, AWOO and is looking to release it later this summer. The new effort care of the label Evil Evil for the US and Canada and Rough Trade for overseas is due out on August 15th and September 5th respectively. Take a look.

Album Info: AWOO

01 Death of a Tune
02 AWOO
03 She's Gone
04 Lollipop
05 Fee Fie
06 Learning the Lie
07 Follow These Eyes
08 Heji
09 Heaven Turns To
10 Wandering
11 For Fun
12 Hump From Bending
13 The WAning mOOn

The band is also finishing up their summer tour stint with the likes of Great Lake Swimmers, Broken Social Scene, and The Constantines. Find them if you can:

06-23 Joe's Pub - New York, NY
07-05 First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
07-06 Prospect Park - Brooklyn, NY *
07-21 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
07-22 Wicker Park Festival - Chicago, IL
07-28 Hillside Festival - Guelph, ON @
07-29 Hillside Festival - Guelph, ON @
07-30 Hillside Festival - Guelph, ON @
08-12 Wolfe Island - Kingston, ON +
09-02 Park Jean Drapeau 'Osheaga Festival' - Montreal, QC
09-03 Park Jean Drapeau 'Osheaga Festival' - Montreal, QC

* w/ guest Broken Social Scene
+ w/ guest The Constantines, Great Lake Swimmers
@ w/ guest The Stills, Feist, The Constantines

Wednesday June 21, 2006

Cat Power Adds More Shows

By now we are sure you know about the great Chan Marshall's ability to cancel shows on a dime. But those are behind us now. This is the new Cat Power we're talking about. An un-abashful singing, strumming machine that seems determined to tug at the hearts of all who attend. She recently added new dates to her tour. Let's hope these stay.

The Greatest Possibility:

06-21 Barbican - London, England
06-24 Soho - Santa Barbara, CA
06-28 Ford Ampitheatre - Los Angeles, CA
07-01 Comerica 'TasteFest' - Detroit, MI
07-02 Spectrum 'Montreal Jazz Festival' - Montreal, Quebec
07-05 Flying Anvil - Greensboro, NC
07-06 Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
07-09 Hartwood Ampitheatre - Pittsburgh, PA
09-15 Zilker Park 'Austin City Limits' - Austin, TX

Thunderbirds Are Now Delayed

French Kiss Records, those responsible for the next Thunderbirds Are Now! album have released a statement that the bands highly anticipated release Make History will be delayed until October. The original September release was postponed to give them a chance to remix the sub par masters. Their 2005 release, Justamustache was is available from French Kiss Records.

Mojave 3's Bassist Sidelined With Ear Issues

Mojave 3's founding bassist Rachel Goswell is suffering from several ear issues including hearing loss, tinnitus, and issues with equilibrium. In response, the band is still moving forward with it's current tour in support of their recent Puzzles Like You release but without her aid. She wrote a response to the issues in their MySpace blog:

“I still feel gutted after 11 years in the band (and let's see, 20 years in bands with [Mojave 3 singer/guitarist] Neil [Halstead]), all that we've done and strived for over the years, the time seems right for it all to finally come together on the live front with some great gigs on offer, except I am not there to enjoy and be a part of. Miffed is an understatement.”

It's unsure how many shows she'll be out and she is looking into treatment allowing her to return on occasional dates. You can catch them at a venue near you.

›› Pensatos News: Mojave 3 Release Single; Tour Info

Tuesday June 20, 2006

Arctic Monkeys Lose Founding Bassist

One of the founding members of the British grown Artic Monkeys is stepping down permanently. Last month, bassist Andy Nicholson removed himself from the band's North American tour reporting fatigue. And while we questioned it then, it seems we are vindicated now as Nicholson has parted ways with the Arctic Monkeys for good. Nick O'Malley, who has been filling in for Nicholson on the tour will continue on with the band. A statement from the band went like this:

"We are sad to tell everyone that Andy is no longer with the band," they wrote. "Nick O'Malley, who stood in for Andy while he was absent from the recent tour of north America, shall carry on playing bass for the remaining shows this summer.

"We have been mates with Andy for a long time and have been through some amazing things together that no one can take away. We all wish Andy the very best."

While the band has not reported any distaste as of yet and sticks with the "fatigue" issue as the culprit, we will dig deeper and let you know more as it evolves.

›› News: Arctic Monkeys Lose Member

Black Puts Pixies Sound In The Dark
Despite a new solo album on the horizon, the on/off Pixie frontman has admitted to attempting a new Pixie album for some time in hopes of convincing other band members to jump aboard but simply failed to capture the sound the band once had. Despite reforming back in 2004 with Kim Deal and releasing a few songs, a true follow up album had never materialized.

Despite no new album anywerhe in the forseable future, the Pixies continue on their never ending farewell tour in Europe.

07-14 Trencin, Slovakia (Pohoda)
07-15 St. Polten, Austria (Nuke)
07-16 Zagreb, Croatia (Salata)
07-19 Toulon, France (Voix de Gaou)
07-20 Lisbon (Atlantico)
07-21 Benicassim, Spain (Bennicasim Festival)
07-23 Carhaix, France (Les Veilles Charrues)

›› Frank Black Tours Acoustic; New Album Info

Feist Readies Remix Album & New Material

Now this is how you do a re-mix. Feist is planning an 18 track remix of last years awsome Let It Die. The album will not only retool the songs from her previous album with the help of Postal Service, VV, Mocky and k-os but she will also add three previously unreleased songs; 'Snowlion', 'Simple Story', and 'Tout Document'.

Even more enlightening is the fact that she is back in the studio working on a follow up to 2004's Let It Die. You can see her on the road in a bunch of festivals as well.

Shaboom shaboom:

06-24 Toronto Centre Island - Toronto, ON
06-25 Central Park 'SummerStage' - New York, NY
08-05 Grant Park 'Lollapalooza' - Chicago, IL
09-03 Seattle Center 'Bummershoot' - Seattle, WA
09-15 Ziller Park 'Austin City Limits' - Austin, TX

Modest Mouse Cancels Tour
Modest Mouse has canceled their West Coast stint in favor of continuous work on their upcoming untitled album. As reported earlier, the band is hard at work on the follow up to 2004's Good News for People Who Like Bad News and have postponed their tour before as well. The four shows planned for California and Oregon do not have any make-up dates as of yet.

Petty Rumored to Sign With Rick Ruben; Tours With Many
We usually don't care for Tom Petty, nor his news. But somehow we always listen to him on a summer day and write about him regardless. The guy just has a way of simple songs with catchy notes. So, it made us frigg'in ecstatic to find out that he is rumored to have signed with Rick Rubin - the famed producer of Beastie Boys, Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Diamond, and most recently The Dixie Chicks to help on his next album - possibly his final bow.

In the meantime, you can catch Petty on tour with Pearl Jam this summer at select shows considered a 50/50 bill.

06-20 Madison Square Garden - New York, NY @
06-21 Tweeter Center - Mansfield, MA +
06-23 Verizon Wireless Music Center - Noblesville, IN @
06-26 Xcel Energy Center - Saint Paul, MN =
06-27 Xcel Engery Center - Saint Paul, MN =
06-29 Marcus Amphitheater 'Summerfest' - Milwaukee, WI =
07-02 Pepsi Center - Denver, CO =
07-03 Pepsi Center - Denver, CO =
07-29 The Amphitheater - Ridgefield, WA @
07-30 White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA @
08-04 Smirnoff Music Centre - Dallas, TX +
08-05 Woodlands Pavillion - Woodlands, TX @
08-08 DTE Energy Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI @
08-12 Meadows Music - Hartford, CT @
08-13 Saratoga Performing Arts - Saratoga Springs, NY $
08-15 Darien Lake Performing Arts - Darien Center, NY $
08-16 Post Gazette Pavilion - Pittsburgh, PA @
08-18 Tweeter Center - Camden, NJ @
08-19 Randalls Island 'Amster Jam' - New York, NY @

+ w/guest Trey Anastasio
= w/guest Pearl Jam
@ w/The Heartbreakers
$ w/ Allman Brothers Band

Pete Doherty Tests Positive For Cocaine

Has it gotten old yet folks? Because it's feeling like a bad rerun of Trainspotting: The Series to us. Just a month after his rehab/detox stint, Pete Doherty has reportedly been fined for traces of cocaine in his blood after a performance at the Hulsfred music festival in Sweden.

Police tests came up with traces of cocaine and benzodiazepine; a tranquilizer that Doherty apparently has a prescription for. Police stated he was not in possession of any illegal drugs. The fine surmounted to $1,900 but no other charges are expected to be filed.

›› Pensatos News: Doherty Misses Court Because of Rehab
›› Pensatos News: Pete Doherty In Rehab
›› Pensatos News: Pete Doherty Detained on Flight
›› Pensatos News: Babyshambles’ Doherty Arrested, Again
›› Pensatos News: Doherty Continues His Shenanigans
›› Pensatos News: Babyshambles lands in US
›› Pensatos News: Doherty’s Arrest Revealed; Photos
›› Pensatos Reviews: Babyshambles – Down in Albion

Monday June 19, 2006

Air Talks New Album; Solo Projects

It's been almost three long years since Air released their last album Talkie Walkie [2004] and multiple spins of 'Surfing On Rockets' but it appears that we are about to receive an abundance of (ahem) air in return. JB Dunckel and Nicolas Godin have reportedly just finished groundwork on their to-be-announced follow up which is tentatively due out in 2007. If you're like us, that's a long time to remember a release date. Luckily, the group is also working on several solo projects. JB Dunckel is scheduled to release a self titled solo album on September 19th. In a recent interview with Billboard, the artist had this to say about the solo works:

"Most of the tracks contain some piano, and the chords are on the black keys most of the time, because I like the sound of that."

Riveting, we know. But we are interested to see how he works without his partner in crime's aid. The solo album will include 10 tracks including 'TV Destroy' and 'My Own Sun'.

Dunckel and Godin have also written the music for French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg's upcoming album 5:55 also set for a September release. The duo also contriubted a mix of material for Sofia Coppola's new film "Marie Antoinette," opening on October 22nd.

Thom Yorke Solo Album Conceived Out Of Boredom

Radiohead frontman, Thom Yorke has been busy as of late with his band's tour, a new album on the cusp of release and now solo details. But not all was well in Radiohead world a short while back. According to Yorke, the new solo album entitled Eraser was conceived when he grew bored of the band in 2004, just after their Hail To the Theif world tour. While speaking with the Observer Music Monthly, Yorke expanded on what sparked the solo effort:

"[Radiohead were] getting boring and it just got a bit weird...It felt like everyone was under obligation to do it rather than because we wanted to do it. And one of the things I had wanted to do for ages was get stuck into a bunch of things that I had been mucking around with that didn't fit into the Radiohead zone."

As previously mentioned, the solo album is due out on July 10th via XL Records and will contain 9 tracks produced by Nigel Godrich whose previous works with Radiohead, Beck and Travis speak for themselves. The decision to go with independent label XL instead of Radiohead's standard EMI label was a strong decision on Yorke's part but in no way definitive on the band's future releases:

"It didn't feel right to do it with EMI," he said. "It was done with the doors shut. As Nigel [Godrich] said, without anybody watching. And it was done in a different context so it felt like it should be put out in a different context."

Snow Patrol Reschedule Tour

As promised, Snow Patrol has rescheduled the dates they missed in June due to lead Gary Lightbody's chronic laryngitis.

09-06 Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
09-08 Roseland - New York, NY
09-09 Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
09-10 930 Club - Washington DC
09-12 Metropolis - Montreal, CAN
09-13 Kool Haus - Toronto, CAN
09-14 Clutch Cargoes - Detroit, MI
09-16 Riviera - Chicago, IL
09-17 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MI
09-21 PNE Forum - Vancouver, CAN
09-23 Roseland - Portland, OR
09-24 Warfield - San Francisco, CA
09-26 Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA
09-27 Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA
09-28 House of Blues - San Diego, CA

›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Snowballs US Tour
›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Cancels More Shows
›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Cancels Shows in US
›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Album Art; Tracks
›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Kicks Off US Tour

John Mayer Goes Back to Solo; Tours

Okay, lets get it out first before you write us off. We like John Mayer once he burned the acoustic guitar and went blues electric. Bubble-gum Mayer was annoying but we adore big head post pop 'Trio' boy better. So we have restored faith in his new solo album, Continuum due out September. His first single, 'Waiting On The World To Change' is available for your listening pleasure by clicking here.

He's also on the road this summer to tryout some of the new material before it's completely in the can.

Who Do You Think He Was:

08-24 Post-Gazette Pavilion - Pittsburgh, PA +
08-25 SPAC - Saratoga, NY +
08-26 Meadow Music Theater - Hartford, CT +
08-27 PNC Bank Arts Theater - Holmdel, NJ +
08-29 Tweeter Center - Boston, MA +
08-30 Jones Beach Amphitheatre - Wantagh, LI +
09-02 Tweeter Center - Philadelphia, PA +
09-03 Nissan Pavilion - Washington DC +
09-05 Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH +
09-06 DTE Energy Theatre - Detroit, MI
09-08 Verizon Wireless Music Center - Indianapolis, IN +
09-09 Tweeter Center - Chicago, IL +
09-10 UMB Bank Pavilion - St. Louis, MI +
09-15 Austin City Limits Festival - Austin, TX
09-17 Telluride Town Park - Telluride, CO
09-18 Red Rocks - Denver, CO +
09-22 GM Place - Vancouver, CAN +
09-23 White River Amphitheatre - Seattle, WA +
09-24 Clark County Amphitheatre - Portland, OR +
09-26 Bayside Amphitheatre - San Diego, CA +
09-27 Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre - Irvine, CA +
09-29 Chronicle Pavilion - Concord +
10-01 Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View +
10-06 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, TX +
10-09 Starwood Amphitheatre - Nashville, TN +
10-11 Sound Advice Amphitheatre - Miami, FL +
10-12 Ford Amphitheatre - Tampa, FL +
10-13 Chastain Park - Atlanta, GA
10-14 Chastain Park - Atlanta, GA

+ w/ guest Sheryl Crow

Go! Team Goes Live; EP Info

The Go! Team has not only announced new material for it's upcoming EP entitled Doing it Right, but they also dropped a release target date of September 6th.

You can also catch the peppy-mix master team on the road this summer in Europe and the US:

Go-go-gadget spunk:

07-08 Oxegen Festival - Ireland
07-09 T in the Park - Scotland
07-22 Ashton Court - Bristol
07-28 HedgePath Festival - Twin Lakes, WI
07-29 Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
07-30 Granada - Lawrence, KS
07-31 Sokol Underground - Omaha, NE
08-02 Music Mill - Indianapolis, IN
08-03 Blossom Music Center - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
08-04 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
08-05 Grant Park / Lollapalooza - Chicago ,IL
08-06 Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI
08-08 ONT Kool Haus - Toronto, CAN
08-19 V - Chlemsford
08-20 V - Stafford

In even more Go! Team news, the band has plans to start on their second full album shortly after the EP's release in September. We'll let you know what we find out.

›› Pensatos News: Go! Team Readies EP
›› Pensatos News: Go! Team Get Talent for New Album