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Cascadia Yulegrass Dates Anger, Nershi, Moseley, Butler

November 6th, 2009 | No Comments

Cascadia Yulegrass Tour: Inaugural Acoustic Holiday Bluegrass Celebration

Darol Anger to direct players including Sharon Gilchrist, Scott Law, Bill Nershi, Keith Moseley

Darol Anger

Looking for an alternative to traditional holiday entertainment this season? Acoustic holiday bluegrass visits the Pacific Northwest December 16-20 with the inaugural Cascadia Yulegrass celebration. Featuring world-renowned musicians and regional favorites including Darol Anger, Sharon Gilchrist, Bill Nershi and others, Cascadia Yulegrass is a contemporary, family-friendly, and affordable holiday alternative that doesn’t involve cracked nuts or ballerinas.

Fiddle master Darol Anger will direct and perform. Exceptional among modern fiddlers for his versatility and depth, Anger has driven the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous path-breaking ensembles such as the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, and his Republic of Strings. Today Darol can be heard on NPR’s “Car Talk” theme song along with Earl Scruggs, David Grisman and Tony Rice, and is a featured soloist on dozens of recordings and motion picture soundtracks. For Cascadia Yulegrass, Anger is joined by Rowan/Rice, mandolin-player Sharon Gilchrist, regional guitar hero Scott Law, flat-picking master and String Cheese Incident guitarist Bill Nershi, and SCI bassist Keith Moseley. Nershi is coming off a diverse and successful 2009, including a performance at folk music icon Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday party at Madison Square Garden. The event was recorded by PBS and is currently being broadcast nationally.

Cascadia Yulegrass also features special guest appearances by Hot Buttered Rum drummer/Everyone Orchestra founder Matt Butler and vocalist Jilian Nershi. Opening the event is feel-good artist Big Water.

Cascadia Yulegrass hits the following locations this season:

12/16/2009 – River City Saloon, Hood River, OR

12/17/2009 – Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA

12/18/2009 – Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA

12/19/2009 – Historic McDonald Theatre, Eugene, OR

12/20/2009 – Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR

Tickets priced from $10 – $22. A variety of VIP and seating packages are available.
Tickets for all markets are on sale now at CascadiaYulegrass.com and venue box offices.

Don’t Forget the Food Drive!

In a year when the need for emergency food boxes throughout the Oregon and Washington foodbank networks skyrocketed to historic highs, Cascadia and The Conscious Alliance is proud to announce food drives at each concert – with 100% of donations going to benefit local area food banks. Each patron who donates 10 non-perishable food items will receive a free limited edition Cascadia Yulegrass poster. The Conscious Alliance always encourages food donations to be low-sodium health food oriented products.

Cascadia Yulegrass from Jason Mastrine on Vimeo.

Marco Benevento News: Baby, DVD, Trio, Duo, Garage

October 29th, 2009 | No Comments

Marco Benevento Welcomes Baby, DVD, Trio, Duo and Garage A Trois

Marco Benevento

In addition to all the touring, recording, and writing, Marco Benevento has also welcomed his second daughter into the world earlier this month. Never one to slow for a moment, he’s also welcoming the DVD release of Marco Benevento & Friends (Live In NYC: The Sullivan Hall Residency) on November 10. Directed by Karina Mackenzie, the 2-plus hour DVD documents Marco’s 2008 residency at Sullivan Hall, including performances and interviews with Andrew Barr, Brad Barr, Billy Martin, Bobby Previte, Dave Fiuczynski, DJ Olive, G. Calvin Weston, Joe Russo, John Ellis, Jonas Hellborg, Kaki King, Marc Friedman, Reed Mathis, Skerik, Stanton Moore and Steven Bernstein. More than just a project about Marco, it captures a scene of artists and musicians who are clearly some of our generation’s giants.

Click here to pre-order from The Royal Potato Family. Get it before November 10 and you’ll receive a link to download five unreleased bonus clips.

In other new release news, the long awaited Garage A Trois album Power Patriot was released earlier this week. It’s available in record stores and online pretty much everywhere, including Amazon.

And finally, tour dates, a bunch of them. Marco Benevento Trio just began a four night West Coast jaunt that includes a special Halloween show in San Francisco, The Duo have dates as does Garage A Trois.

MARCO BENEVENTO TRIO

Jon Stewart Key To City Of Bellingham, Washington

October 15th, 2009 | No Comments

The mayor of Bellingham, Washington says Jon Stewart, the spitfire host of Comedy Central’s Daily Show, is getting a key to the city. Unfortunately, he wonâ€™t be traveling to the northwestern Washington city to accept it.

Mayor Dan Pike tells The Bellingham Herald that representatives of Jon’s talent agency told him that Stewart appreciated the offer [...]

Keller Williams NYE in NC

October 12th, 2009 | No Comments

Keller Williams New Year’s Eve Announced

Keller Williams and the Added Bonus, an even blend of Keller’s solo looping show and new flavors of grassy disco jazz funk featuring Claude Arthur, Jay Starling, Toby Fairchild as well as digital visuals by Scott Sunn, have announced a four-night NYE Run. The dates begin December 26 with a SPCA Benefit at the Fredericksburg Field House in Fredericksburg, VA and continue with shows on December 29 at The NorVa in Norfolk, Virginia, December 30 at The National in Richmond, Virginia and a New Year’s Eve gig on December 31 at Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Keller Williams is on tour now, dates below.

Keller Williams

10/13/09 Tue The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI

10/15/09 Thu City Opera House Traverse City, MI

10/16/09 Fri Barrymore Theatre Madison, WI

10/17/09 Sat Park West Chicago, IL

10/19/09 Mon Peoples Court Des Moines, IA

10/20/09 Tue Beaumont Club Kansas City, MO

10/21/09 Wed Fargo Theatre Fargo, ND

10/22/09 Thu Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN

10/23/09 Fri Englert Civic Theatre Iowa City, IA

10/24/09 Sat Murat Egyptian Room Indianapolis, IN

10/25/09 Sun Mr. Small’s Theatre Pittsburgh, PA

11/11/09 Wed Majestic Ventura Theater Ventura, CA

11/12/09 Thu House of Blues Anaheim, CA

11/13/09 Fri El Rey Theater Los Angeles, CA

11/14/09 Sat Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, CA

11/15/09 Sun Downtown Brewing Co San Luis Obispo, CA

11/17/09 Tue Moe’s Alley Santa Cruz, CA

11/18/09 Wed Moe’s Alley Santa Cruz, CA

11/19/09 Thu Mystic Theatre Petaluma, CA

11/20/09 Fri Eureka Theater Eureka, CA

11/21/09 Sat Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA

11/22/09 Sun Crystal Bay Club Casino Crystal Bay, NV

11/23/09 Mon Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico, CA

12/03/09 Thu The Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR

12/04/09 Fri Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA

12/05/09 Sat Shark Club Vancouver, BC

12/06/09 Sun Nightlight Bellingham, WA

12/26/09 Sat Fredericksburg Field House Fredericksburg, VA

12/29/09 Tue The NorVa Norfolk, VA

12/30/09 Wed The National Richmond, VA

12/31/09 Thu Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC

01/14/10 Thu Belly Up Aspen, CO

01/15/10 Fri Ski Jam Steamboat Springs, CO

01/16/10 Sat Ogden Theatre Denver, CO

Garage A Trois: New Album/Tour

October 5th, 2009 | No Comments

GARAGE A TROIS Featuring SKERIK, MIKE DILLON, MARCO BENEVENTO & STANTON MOORE

To Release POWER PATRIOT On OCTOBER 27 Through THE ROYAL POTATO FAMILY

Tour Dates Announced For November and December

Garage A Trois

Garage A Trois is a collaboration between four of the most visionary improvisers of the time: Skerik on saxophones, Mike Dillon on vibes, Marco Benevento on keyboards and Stanton Moore on drums. And while improvisation is at the heart of what this quartet has built its reputation on at their legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest sets and rare, but in demand, club tours, it’s the intricate sonic collages, tightly orchestrated arrangements and positively modern approach to instrumental songwriting that’s at the heart of their latest album, Power Patriot. Set for release October 27 by Brooklyn-based label The Royal Potato Family, Garage A Trois will play select tour dates to support the new recording in November and December.

The track listing for Power Patriot is:

1. Rescue Spreaders

2. Fragile

3. Dory’s Day Out

4. Electric Doorbell Machine

5. Power Patriot

6. Dugout

7. Fat Redneck Gangster

8. Purgatory

9. Germs

10. Computer Crimes

Upcoming Garage A Trois tour dates are:

KDTU Album Out Now New Tour Dates Announced

September 15th, 2009 | No Comments

New Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Album Available Now

Additional Tour Dates and Ticket Giveaway Announced

Karl Denson

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe is pleased to announce that the new album, Brother’s Keeper, is in stores now! Brother’s Keeper, the long-awaited follow up to The Bridge (2002), features an all star cast including Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Meshell Ndegeocello, Marc Ford (Black Crowes), and members of the Dap-Kings, Eric Clapton‘s band and The Greyboy Allstars. The album is available to purchase online through www.karldenson.com and iTunes. The full album is available today and you can check it out right now for free at the end of this article.

The band is currently on the road in support of the new record and we have announced a few new dates – KDTU will be returning to The Independent in San Francisco for two Thanksgiving weekend shows on November 27 and 28. Fan club ticketing starts tomorrow at www.karldenson.com and will go on sale to the public this Saturday through The Independent and all Ticketmaster outlets. Other new dates include 10/4 at the Domino Room in Bend, OR, 10/6 at The Red Fox Tavern in Eureka, CA, and 10/18 at the Pozo Saloon in Santa Margarita, CA.

KDTU is giving out a free pair of tickets to the entire tour! Click HERE to enter the JamBase contest.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

09.16- Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee WI
09.17 – The Cabooze, Minneapolis MN
09.18 – Majestic Theatre, Madison WI
09.19 – Rock Island Brewing Co., Rock Island IL
09.20 – People’s, Des Moines IA
09.30 – Nightlight Lounge, Bellingham WA
10.01 – Capitol Theatre, Olympia WA
10.02 – Showbox, Seattle WA
10.03 – Crystal Ballroom, Portland OR
10.04 – Domino Room, Bend OR
10.06 – The Red Fox Tavern, Eureka CA
10.07 – HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol CA
10.08 – Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz CA
10.09 – Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz CA
10.10 – The Mint, Los Angeles CA
10.17 – Smokin’ In The Park, Alpine CA
10.18 – Pozo Saloon, Santa Margarita CA
10.22 – Camp Zoe, Salem MO
10.23 – Bluebird Nightclub, Bloomington IN
10.24 – Double Door, Chicago IL
10.25 – Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights OH
10.27 – Westcott Theater, Syracuse NY
10.28 – Asylum, Portland ME
10.29 – Revolution Hall, Troy NY
10.31 – Bowery Ballroom, New York NY
11.05 – Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA
11.06 – Music Farm, Charleston SC
11.07 – Orange Peel, Asheville NC
11.13 – Bear Creek Music & Art Festival, Live Oak FL
11.14 – Bear Creek Music & Art Festival, Live Oak FL
11.27 – The Independent, San Francisco CA
11.28 – The Independent, San Francisco CA
12.31 – Ogden Theater, Denver CO (NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS!)
01.03-08 – Jam Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale FL

EOTO: Fall Tour & New Album

September 15th, 2009 | No Comments

EOTO: Fall Tour & New Album

EOTO

While the genre of live electronica is relatively new on the music circuit, few are breaking the boundaries of live producing and improvisation like EOTO. Fusing elements of live instrumentation, house music, dubstep and electro into their dance ready sound, the band will be taking the country by storm beginning in late September for their perennial fall tour, performing 33 consecutive nights in a row.

Consisting of Michael Travis and Jason Hann of The String Cheese Incident, the duo mixes the organic sounds of live drums, keyboards, vocals, bass, percussion, and guitar through a variety of programs and gadgets to create a style of music that is more likely found in a dance club, then a live music theater. What sets EOTO apart from other artists in this emerging genre is how the music is created. While some artists may spend hours pre-mixing samples and elements of music for their live show, EOTO uses nothing pre-recorded, giving them the ability to approach each song with on-the-spot spontaneity and 100% live improvisation.

Beginning in late September and performing every single night in October, EOTO will hit the road with their long-awaited studio EP, Fire the Lazers!! This eleven-track journey into dubstep, electro and house music showcases their talents and skill in a growing dimension of music. In true EOTO spirit the album was produced with nothing planned or rehearsed, capturing only the best of what makes up their original sound. The album will be available on the road and by digital download in October of 2009.

EOTO Tour Dates

09/18/09 Fri Camp Zoe Salem, MO

09/19/09 Sat Camp Zoe Salem, MO

09/20/09 Sun Cirquinox Festival Selma, OR

09/26/09 Sat Earthdance (Black Oak Ranch) Laytonville, CA

09/29/09 Tue Moe’s Alley Santa Cruz, CA

09/30/09 Wed Mission Rock Cafe San Francisco, CA

10/01/09 Thu The Red Fox Tavern Eureka, CA

10/02/09 Fri McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR

10/03/09 Sat Berbati’s Pan Portland, OR

10/04/09 Sun Nightlight Bellingham, WA

10/05/09 Mon The Palace Missoula, MT

10/06/09 Tue The Filling Station Bozeman, MT

10/07/09 Wed Aquarium Fargo, ND

10/08/09 Thu Cabooze Minneapolis, MN

10/09/09 Fri High Noon Saloon Madison, WI

10/10/09 Sat Abbey Pub Chicago, IL

10/11/09 Sun Papa Pete’s Kalamazoo, MI

10/12/09 Mon Scarlet and Grey Cafe Columbus, OH

10/14/09 Wed Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY

10/15/09 Thu The Westcott Theater Syracuse, NY

10/16/09 Fri Club Metronome Burlington, VT

10/17/09 Sat Harpers Ferry Allston, MA

10/18/09 Sun Port City Music Hall Portland, ME

10/19/09 Mon The Hi Hat Providence, RI

10/21/09 Wed Red Square Albany, NY

10/22/09 Thu Sullivan Hall New York, NY

10/23/09 Fri World Cafe Live Philadelphia, PA

10/24/09 Sat The 8X10 Baltimore, MD

10/25/09 Sun Canal Club Richmond, VA

10/26/09 Mon Attitudes Blacksburg, VA

10/28/09 Wed Old Rock House St. Louis, MO

10/29/09 Thu Bourbon Theatre Lincoln, NE

10/30/09 Fri Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO

10/31/09 Sat Granada Theater Lawrence, KS

11/27/09 Fri Granada Theater Dallas, TX

12/01/09 Tue George’s Majestic Fayetteville, AR

12/05/09 Sat Canopy Club Urbana, IL

For more on EOTO see our recent, exclusive feature/interview here.

Built To Spill Tour/Album

August 12th, 2009 | No Comments

Built To Spill Tour & Album

Built to Spill will begin a nationwide tour on August 20 in Oregon before heading down the West Coast. The band is also gearing up for the release of their seventh album There Is No Enemy, scheduled to be released on October 6.

Built To Spill Tour Dates

Built To Spill

08/20/09 Thu Edgefield Troutdale, OR (w/ The Flaming Lips)

08/22/09 Sat Velvet Jones Santa Barbara, CA

08/23/09 Sun Sunset Junction Street Fair Los Angeles, CA

08/24/09 Mon Casbah San Diego, CA

08/25/09 Tue Galaxy Concert Theatre Santa Ana, CA

08/26/09 Wed Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, CA

08/28/09 Fri Outside Lands Festival San Francisco, CA

09/18/09 Fri Hyde Park Street Fair Boise, ID

09/19/09 Sat Murray Theater Salt Lake City, UT

09/20/09 Sun Bluebird Theater Denver, CO

09/21/09 Mon Fox Theatre Boulder, CO

09/23/09 Wed Slowdown Omaha, NE

09/24/09 Thu First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

09/25/09 Fri Barrymore Theatre Madison, WI

09/26/09 Sat The Vic Theatre Chicago, IL

09/27/09 Sun Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI

09/28/09 Mon Bluebird Bloomington, IN

09/29/09 Tue The Pageant St. Louis, MO

10/01/09 Thu Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH

10/02/09 Fri Southgate House Newport, KY

10/03/09 Sat Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI

10/04/09 Sun Grog Shop Cleveland, OH

10/06/09 Tue Lee’s Palace Toronto, ON

10/07/09 Wed Lee’s Palace Toronto, ON

10/08/09 Thu The State Theater Ithaca, NY

10/09/09 Fri The Middle East Cambridge, MA

10/10/09 Sat The Middle East Cambridge, MA

10/11/09 Sun The Middle East Cambridge, MA

10/12/09 Mon Webster Hall New York, NY

10/13/09 Tue Webster Hall New York, NY

10/14/09 Wed Music Hall Of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY

10/15/09 Thu Music Hall Of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY

10/16/09 Fri The Trocadero Philadelphia, PA

10/17/09 Sat 9:30 Club Washington, DC

10/18/09 Sun Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC

10/20/09 Tue 40 Watt Club Athens, GA

10/21/09 Wed Minglewood Hall Memphis, TN

10/22/09 Thu Granada Theater Dallas, TX

10/23/09 Fri Warehouse Live Houston, TX

10/24/09 Sat Stubb’s BBQ Austin, TX

10/25/09 Sun Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK

10/27/09 Tue Sunshine Theater Albuquerque, NM

10/28/09 Wed Dry River Tucson, AZ

11/15/09 Sun WOW Hall Eugene, OR

11/17/09 Tue Nightlight Bellingham, WA

11/18/09 Wed Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC

11/19/09 Thu Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA

11/20/09 Fri Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA

11/21/09 Sat Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, WA

Lotus Pay What You Want Tour

August 3rd, 2009 | No Comments

LOTUS ANNOUNCE HUGE FALL TOUR, INCLUDING A “PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT” WESTERN STATE RUN

THE BAND RELEASES A PAIR OF EPs ON OCTOBER 6: FEATHER ON WOOD AND OIL ON GLASS

Lotus

Lotus is about to break ground in a way that no other rock band has done prior – they are plotting a tour this fall that truly allows their legion of fans to pay-what-they-want for tickets. The “Pay-What-You-Want-Tour” featuring Lotus is an eight-night run of shows in western U.S. states, sponsored by Ticketweb, that lets the fans decide how much their show ticket will cost. At the $15.00 Pay-What-You-Want level or higher, fans receive free digital downloads of the band’s two new EPs Feather on Wood and Oil on Glass, both to be released on October 6, 2009.

The Pay-What-You-Want dates are part of Lotus’ larger Fall Tour, running from early-October through the end of the year. Big stops include performances at Denver’s Fillmore, NYC’s Terminal 5, Baltimore’s Sonar, Chicago’s Vic Theatre, and others. Lotus brings out several must-see opening acts for many of these shows, including Break Science ft Adam Deitch, The Egg (from London, U.K.), Big in Japan, and Big Gigantic. Don’t miss a few special small shows: here’s the scoop – two shows at NYC’s Mercury Lounge are being bundled with the T-5 ticket, and the same offer is available for the Denver shows (to get into Quixote’s, you must buy the Fillmore ticket).

Downloads of both new EPs will be bundled with advance ticket purchases for select Fall Tour dates including the three New York City shows, two Denver shows, both Boston shows and a few other shows to be determined. The material on both Feather on Wood and Oil on Glass can be directly traced back to Lotus’ 2008 full-length release, Hammerstrike. A number of songs were recorded that didn’t find their way onto Hammerstrike (either they hadn’t been finished by deadlines or they weren’t coalescing with the sound of that project), but after finishing the album, Lotus decided to revisit these tracks, and the results are extraordinary. Feather on Wood is sunnier with a laid-back vibe, yet not afraid of big rock beauty, while Oil on Glass is darker in character, with more head-nodding tempos.

Listing of forthcoming Lotus tour dates (and who will be opening each show):

09.04 Bottom Line Nagoya, JP

09.05 Metamorphose Festival Tokyo, JP

09.06 Drunkard’s Stadium Kashiwa, JP

09.18 Mercury Lounge New York, NY

09.19 Mercury Lounge New York, NY

10.02 Aces Lounge Austin, TX

10.03 Aces Lounge Austin, TX

PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT Dates (10.06 – 10.14)

10.06 The Roxy Hollywood, CA w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.07 The Independent San Francisco, CA w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.08 McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.9 The Showbox Seattle, WA w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.10 Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.11 The Nightlight Bellingham, WA w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.13 Knitting Factory Boise, ID w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.14 Murray Theater Salt Lake City, UT w/ Break Science ft Adam Deitch

10.15 Belly Up Aspen, CO

10.16 Quixote’s Denver, CO

10.17 The Fillmore Denver, CO

10.20 Granada Theatre Lawrence, KS

10.21 The Old Rock House St. Louis, MO w/ The Egg

10.22 Slowdown Omaha, NE w/ The Egg

10.23 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN w/ The Egg

10.24 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI w/ The Egg

10.26 Copper Dragon Carbondale, IL w/ The Egg

10.27 Bluebird Nightclub Bloomington, IN w/ The Egg

10.28 Bogart’s Cincinnati, OH w/ The Egg

10.29 House of Blues Cleveland, OH w/ The Egg

10.30 The Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY w/ The Egg

10.31 Sonar Baltimore, MD w/ Big In Japan & The Egg

11.04 Higher Ground Burlington, VT w/ The Egg

11.05 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA w/ The Egg

11.06 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA w/ The Egg

11.07 Revolution Hall Troy, NY

11.10 Is Venue Charlottesville, VA w/ Big Gigantic

11.11 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC w/ Big Gigantic

11.12 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA w/ Big Gigantic

11.13 Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival Live Oak, FL

11.14 Orange Peel Asheville, NC w/ Big Gigantic

11.27 Vic Theatre Chicago, IL

11.28 Terminal 5 New York, NY

Clearwire Announces Next Market Targets

August 3rd, 2009 | No Comments

The wireless broadband provider plans service rollout by Sept. 1 in Boise, Idaho; Bellingham, Wash.; and eight markets throughout Texas. The rollouts are part of aggressive plans to bring wireless 4G service to 80 markets covering up to 120 million people by the end of 2010.
– Wireless broadband
provider Clearwire said Aug. 3 it plans to roll out service in 10 new
markets by Sept. 1, continuing its march to bring 4G wireless service to 80 markets covering up
to 120 million people by the end of 2010.

The new markets are Boise, Idaho; Bellingham, Wash.; and eight mark…

Brother Ali Tour, MP3 &:Album w/ Chuck D & Ant

August 1st, 2009 | No Comments

Brother Ali Announces New Album And North American Tour

Brother Ali

Brother Ali‘s last album, the critically acclaimed, The Undisputed Truth, was an album of bold statements and social awareness without being preachy. Ali’s new album, Us, Street Date September 22, has turned his gaze inward and starts to examine the human condition from the outside in. A profound, personal glimpse into a vulnerability seldom seen or heard in music, Us touches on the strengths and flaws of the human condition, exploring drug abuse, divorce, homophobia and many more topics that most people are scared to touch in their own lives, much less on an album for the world to see.

As with previous endeavors, the beats here are courtesy of Ant (of Atmosphere), whose production work seems to be getting more soulful and lush by the minute. The guest appearances only accentuate Brother Ali’s strengths, with Chuck D, Freeway, Joell Ortiz and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition making strong appearances.

In support of the new album, Ali is embarking on a North American tour of epic proportions, enlisting the help of labelmates and collaborators Evidence (of Dilated Peoples), BK One and Toki Wright.

Peep the video for the fist single “Us,” it’s pretty dope. And you can download “Us” for free here:

Tour Dates:

09/07/09 Mon Neumos Seattle, WA

09/22/09 Tue Pizza Luce Duluth, MN

09/23/09 Wed What’s Up? Lounge Mankato, MN

09/24/09 Thu The Industry Iowa City , IA

09/25/09 Fri Nutty’s North Sioux Falls, SD

09/27/09 Sun Granada Theater Lawrence, KS

09/29/09 Tue Ogden Theatre Denver, CO

09/30/09 Wed Fox Theatre Boulder, CO

10/01/09 Thu Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO

10/02/09 Fri In The Venue Salt Lake City, UT

10/03/09 Sat The Venue Boise, ID

10/04/09 Sun The Badlander Missoula, MT

10/06/09 Tue The Boulevard Spokane, WA

10/07/09 Wed Neumos Seattle, WA

10/08/09 Thu Element Victoria, BC

10/09/09 Fri Venue Vancouver, BC

10/10/09 Sat Nightlight Bellingham, WA

10/11/09 Sun Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR

10/12/09 Mon WOW Hall Eugene, OR

10/14/09 Wed Humboldt State University Arcata, CA

10/15/09 Thu New Oasis Sparks, NV

10/16/09 Fri The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA

10/17/09 Sat Slim’s San Francisco, CA

10/18/09 Sun Avalon Nightclub Sacramento, CA

10/20/09 Tue El Rey Theater Los Angeles, CA

10/21/09 Wed Canes Bar and Grill San Diego, CA

10/22/09 Thu Club Red Tempe, AZ

10/23/09 Fri Club Congress Tucson, AZ

10/24/09 Sat Sunshine Theater Albuquerque, NM

10/26/09 Mon The Foundation Lubbock, TX

10/27/09 Tue Granada Theater Dallas, TX

10/28/09 Wed Emo’s Alternative Lounge Austin, TX

10/29/09 Thu Warehouse Live Houston, TX

11/01/09 Sun The Social Orlando, FL

11/04/09 Wed Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC

11/05/09 Thu Ottobar Baltimore, MD

11/06/09 Fri First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA

11/07/09 Sat The Fillmore at Irving Plaza New York, NY

11/08/09 Sun Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA

11/09/09 Mon Higher Ground Burlington, VT

11/10/09 Tue The Asylum Portland, ME

11/11/09 Wed Pearl Street Nightclub Northampton, MA

11/13/09 Fri Grog Shop Cleveland, OH

11/14/09 Sat Skully’s Columbus, OH

11/15/09 Sun Uncle Pleasants Louisville, KY

11/17/09 Tue The Blind Pig Ann Arbor, MI

11/18/09 Wed Metro Chicago, IL

11/19/09 Thu Barrymore Theatre Madison, WI

11/20/09 Fri First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

Return Of Os Mutantes

July 29th, 2009 | No Comments

Os Mutantes Announce North American Tour

In Support Of Haih or Amortecedor Their First Album In 35 Years

Os Mutantes

Os Mutantes have announced a tour of North America in support of their new album Haih or Amortecedor. Seeing the legendary “TropicÃ¡lia” band live is something Kurt Cobain could have only wished for when he pleaded (unsuccessfully) for them to reunite and tour with Nirvana. Now Brazil’s beloved Mutantes, long regarded as one of the most influential and innovative bands in pop music, have returned with both an ambitious new album and a series of highly anticipated performances. Revered by musical luminaries, the reunited Mutantes offer something far more intriguing than mere psychedelic nostalgia. While the ingenious genre blending TropicÃ¡lia spirit remains intact on Haih or Amortecedor, it’s clear the Mutantes are not looking to the past, but ahead into further uncharted musical terrain.

Band leader Sergio Dias says he is eager to translate the epic Mutante sound on stage. “I love playing this music live,” Dias says. “It is the best thing possible. When we were playing at the Pitchfork festival it was like looking at yourself when you were a kid trying to mumble the words to “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” in English and not understanding the words. There weren’t many Brazilians there but the kids were singing our songs in Portuguese. Playing with this band live is amazing. I can not describe anything better other than maybe going into space. It keeps me young.”

Os Mutantes Tour Dates:

08/28/09 Fri Echoplex Los Angeles, CA

08/29/09 Sat Outside Lands Festival San Francisco, CA

Os Mutantes 09/01/09 Tue Mateel Community Center Redway, CA

Os Mutantes 09/02/09 Wed Aladdin Theater Portland, OR

Os Mutantes 09/03/09 Thu Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC

09/04/09 Fri Nightlight Bellingham, WA

09/05/09 Sat Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, WA

09/19/09 Sat Symbiosis Gathering Groveland, CA

09/24/09 Thu Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver, CO

09/25/09 Fri The Waiting Room Omaha, NE

09/26/09 Sat Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

09/30/09 Wed Beachland Ballroom/Tavern Cleveland, OH

10/04/09 Sun Somerville Theatre Somerville, MA

10/08/09 Thu Webster Hall New York, NY

10/09/09 Fri Mr. Small’s Theatre Pittsburgh, PA

10/10/09 Sat Capitol Theater Columbus, OH

10/13/09 Tue Skipper’s Smokehouse Tampa, FL

10/14/09 Wed Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, FL

10/16/09 Fri Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA

10/17/09 Sat Tipitina’s Uptown New Orleans, LA

10/18/09 Sun La Zona Rosa Austin, TX