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Posts Tagged ‘Cambridge’

Schumpeter: Ahead of the curve

February 3rd, 2011 | No Comments

Daniel Bell, who died on January 25th, was one of the great sociologists of capitalism

ASKED what he specialised in, Daniel Bell replied: “generalisations”. Mr Bell lived a varied life. He grew up in New York City, so poor that he sometimes had to scavenge for food. Yet he ended his days in bourgeois comfort in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He spent 20 years as a journalist, mostly as Fortune’s labour editor, before decamping to academia. His boss, Henry Luce, desperate to keep his star writer, asked him why he was leaving. He gave four reasons: June, July, August and September.

His taste for generalisations grew with the eating. He produced three of the great works of post-war sociology: “The End of Ideology” (1960), “The Coming of Post-Industrial Society” (1973) and “The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism” (1978). On the Times Literary Supplement’s list of the 100 most influential books since the second world war, two were by Mr Bell. …

Telekinesis: Album & Tour

January 31st, 2011 | No Comments

STREAM 12 DESPERATE STRAIGHT LINES NOW AT NPR.ORG

Telekinesis will release
their sophomore album 12 Desperate Straight Lines on February 15, but you can now listen to the
whole album at NPR.org. A North
American tour is scheduled, starting February 18 in Bellingham, WA and ending March 27 in Vancouver, BC.

TELEKINESIS TOUR DATES

Feb 18 Bellingham, WA Jinx Arts Space

Feb 20 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge *

Feb 23 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Festival – Cafe Du Nord w/ Versus & The Love Language
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA The Echo *

Feb 25 San Diego, CA The Casbah *

Feb 26 Tempe, AZ The Sail Inn *

Feb 28 Norman, OK The Opolis *

Mar 01 Omaha, NE Slowdown Jr *

Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry *

Mar 04 Chicago, IL Schubas *

Mar 05 Detroit, MI Magic Stick *

Mar 06 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Mar 07 Montreal, QC Casa Del Popolo

Mar 08 Cambridge, MA TT the Bear’s Place *
Mar 09 New York, NY Mercury Lounge *

Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop *

Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s *

Mar 12 Washington, DC The Red Palace *

Mar 13 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 *

Mar 14 Atlanta, GA The Earl *

Mar 22 Denver, CO Hi Dive

Mar 23 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
Mar 24 Boise, ID Neurolux

Mar 26 Seattle, WA The Crocodile

Mar 27 Vancouver, BC Media Club w/ Wye Oak

* = w/ The Love Language

Telekinesis
Tour Dates
::
Telekinesis News
::
Telekinesis
Concert
Reviews

Jay Leno Harvard University Hasty Pudding Man Of The Year 2011

January 24th, 2011 | No Comments

Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University has named Jay Leno its 2011 Man of the Year. Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nationâ€™s oldest undergraduate drama troupe, has tapped The Tonight Show host for the annual honor because he has â€œentertained millions of people over his long and accomplished career in comedy….” even if he did steal [...]

Planetary rovers: Space hopping

January 20th, 2011 | No Comments

How to bounce across a planet’s surface

ROBOT vehicles which drive across a planet’s surface have proved a great success. Spirit and Opportunity, two solar-powered rovers that landed on Mars in 2004, were built for a mission intended to last 90 days. Spirit, though, kept going until it got stuck in sand in 2009—and Opportunity is still motoring, having now clocked up more than 26km (16 miles). They are not, however, perfect. Besides being slow (top speed 0.2kph) and at risk of sand traps, wheeled rovers like Spirit and Opportunity have other limitations. They cannot, for example, cross rocky terrain or ravines. But a new type of exploration vehicle, called Talaris, should be able to get round such problems. Or, rather, over them. For it is, literally, a space hopper.

Sadly, it looks nothing like the famous toy from the 1970s. Instead of a friendly orange blob, it resembles something that has escaped from a medieval torture chamber. It is the brainchild of a group led by Bobby Cohanim at the Draper Laboratory, an independent research centre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Students from the nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology are also working on the vehicle, which is due to attempt its first hop outside a laboratory this spring. …

Ron Sexsmith Announces Tour Dates & New Album

January 19th, 2011 | No Comments

ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ODER AT WWW.RONSEXSMITH.COM

Long Player Late Bloomer

Ron Sexsmith has
announced the initial dates for his world-wide concert tour in support of his forthcoming album, Long
Player Late Bloomer. Beginning with a few scattered U.S. dates in February, the tour kicks off in earnest
in March in North America before heading to Europe in late April.

Long Player Late Bloomer will be released on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. A very special limited edition of the
album is now available for pre-order at www.ronsexsmith.com. This must-have limited edition collectable of the
album includes the CD of Long Player Late Bloomer as well as a DVD comprised of the CMT Canada TV
specials “Late Bloomer Long Player” (includes tracks not seen on the broadcast) and “Dakota Sessions.” The package
also includes a Ron Sexsmith lithograph. The first 200 fans ordering the package will receive signed lithographs.
Fans also have the option of pre-ordering the CD alone or Vinyl with a bonus CD. With all pre-orders, fans will
instantly receive an MP3 of the track “Get In Line.”

Produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi and Michael Buble), Long Player Late Bloomer was
recorded in Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver during the winter of 2010. The album features a star-studded cast
of musicians backing up Ron in the studio, including guitarist Rusty Anderson (Paul McCartney), bassist
Paul Bushnell (Elton John, No Doubt), keyboardist Jamie Edwards (Aimee Mann) and drummer
Josh Freese (Devo, Nine Inch Nails).

Ron Sexsmith Tour dates:

01/21 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club

02/13 – Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage
02/16 – Nashville, TN – Music City Roots

02/19 – Memphis, TN – Folk Alliance

03/03 – Toronto, ON – Canadian Place

03/03 – Kingston, ON – Sydenham Uni. Church
03/04 – Collingwood, ON – Gayety Theatre
03/05 – London, ON – Aeolian Hall
03/08 – 09 – Halifax, NS – The Carleton
03/21 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
03/22 – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s Tavern

03/24 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe
03/25 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java Music Club
03/26 – Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel

03/27 – Cambridge, MA – T.T. The Bears
03/28 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
03/30 – Edmonton, AB – Haven Social Club
03/31 – Calgary, AB – Ironwood Stage and Grill

04/01 – Vancouver, BC – Rio Theatre
04/02 – Victoria, BC – St. Ann’s Auditorium
04/07 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord

04/08 – Los Angeles, CA – Largo @ The Coronet
04/15 – Ottawa, ON – First Baptist Church

04/16 – Peterborough, ON – Market Hall

04/19 – Waterloo, ON – Starlight
04/20 – Hamilton, ON – Hamilton Place

04/21 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace

04/25 – Stockholm, Sweden – Gota Kallore
04/27 – Berlin, Germany – Admiralspalast
04/28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – People’s Place

04/30 – London, United Kingdom – Barbican Hall
05/02 – Paris, France – La Maroquinerie
05/03 – Cologne, Germany – Kulturkirche

05/04 – Ghent, Belgium – Handelsbeurs

Ron Sexsmith
Tour Dates
::
Ron Sexsmith News
::
Ron Sexsmith
Concert
Reviews

Julianne Moore Harvard University Hasty Pudding Woman Of The Year 2011

January 19th, 2011 | No Comments

Four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore is finally getting her “Just Desserts.” The ginger-haired starlet will get Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year later this month. Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the oldest undergraduate drama troupe in the nation, selected Julianne for the honor. Each year, the legendary award is given to a pair of entertainers [...]

Barr Brothers: Tour Dates

January 19th, 2011 | No Comments

DATES INCLUDE JUNE 17 SOLO SHOW AT THE LOUVRE IN FRANCE

The Barr Brothers have
lined up North American dates, including two shows with Jocie Adams of The
Low Anthem. Brad Barr is also scheduled to perform a solo show at the Louvre in Paris on June 17,
as part of a series hosted by French songstress Emily Loizeau. Stay tuned for more dates as they become available.

TOUR DATES

01/18/11 Tue Rockwood Music Hall New York, NY
01/20/11 Thu Lizard Lounge Cambridge, MA
01/21/11 Fri Firehouse 13 Gallery Providence, RI

02/15/11 Tue Cabaret de Capitol Quebec, QC
03/15/11 Tue Segal Centre Montreal, QC

04/01/11 Fri Salle Albert-Dumouchel Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, QC
04/02/11 Sat Salle Hector-Charland L’assomption, QC
06/17/11 Fri The Louvre Paris, FRA

The Barr Brothers
Tour Dates
::
The Barr Brothers News
::
The Barr Brothers
Concert
Reviews

Black Joe Lewis: Spring Tour

January 11th, 2011 | No Comments

TOUR STARTS MARCH 22 IN ATLANTA, GA;
SCANDALOUS OUT MARCH
15

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears

Lost Highway recording artist Austin, TX ensemble has announced Scandalous, out March 15.

TOUR DATES

*Those Darlins’ supporting

href="http://www.jambase.com/Artists/Artist.aspx?artistID=48216">Black
will be hitting the road with their high-voltage brand of garage soul. The
dates for their spring tour in support of their upcoming sophomore album
/> Atlanta, GA

Washington DC

New York, NY

New York, NY

Cambridge, MA

Montreal, QC

Toronto, ON

Columbus, OH

Chicago, IL

Minneapolis, MN

Omaha, NE

Denver, CO

Salt Lake City, UT

Boise, ID

Seattle, WA

San Francisco, CA

Santa Cruz, CA

Mountain Music Fest Phoenix, AZ

Black Joe Lewis &
The Honeybears
Tour Dates
::
Black Joe Lewis
& The Honeybears News
::
Black Joe Lewis &
The Honeybears
Concert
Reviews

Deer Tick Winter Dates

January 6th, 2011 | No Comments

EUROPEAN RUN BEGINS JANUARY 27 IN MALLORCA, SPAIN

Deer Tick

Deer Tick have lined up a
few winter dates, beginning January 27 in Mallorca, ES and ending February 8 in Paris. Also, between January 14 and
January 23, Deer Tick’s frontman, John McCauley, along with guitarist / vocalist Ian O’Neil will
perform songs from 2010 album The Black Dirt Sessions in smaller rooms, as well as older Deer
Tick songs,
cover tunes and songs from McCauley’s other project, Middle Brother (formerly MG&V).

TOUR DATES

01/14/11 Fri Middle East Upstairs Cambridge, MA *
01/15/11 Sat Met Cafe Pawtucket, RI *
01/16/11 Sun Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, MA *

01/19/11 Wed City Winery New York, NY *

01/20/11 Thu Daniel Street Milford, CT *
01/21/11 Fri First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA *

01/22/11 Sat Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center * York, PA

01/23/11 Sun Rock & Roll Hotel Washington, DC *
01/27/11 Thu Theatre de Lloseta Mallorca, ES

01/29/11 Sat Wah Wah Club Valencia, ES
01/31/11 Mon The Sidecar Barcelona, ES
02/01/11 Tue Moby Dick Madrid, ES
02/02/11 Wed Campus De Vitoria Vitoria, ES

02/03/11 Thu Doka Donostia, ES

02/04/11 Fri Lata de Bombillas Zaragoza, ES
02/08/11 Tue La Fleche d’Or Paris, FRA

*= John McCauley & Ian O’Neil Only

Deer Tick
Tour Dates
::
Deer Tick News
::
Deer Tick
Concert
Reviews

The Moondoggies: Winter Tour & Free Mp3

January 6th, 2011 | No Comments

TOUR STARTS JANUARY 8 IN BELLINGHAM, WA

The Moondoggies

Seattle’s The Moondoggies
had a
busy and eventful 2010, the band released the You’ll Find No Answers Here EP in June and later its
sophomore
album, Tidelands, in October. In between, the band toured with their pals Blitzen Trapper and Dawes. This month the band heads out
on
their first proper headlining tour in support of Tidelands. Click here to download “What Took So Long” off
the
record, which was recently featured as NPR’s Song of The Day. The band has also put out an open call to its fans to record its shows and participate in tape trading.

THE MOONDOGGIES TOUR DATES

01.08.11 – Bellingham, WA – Wild Buffalo ^
01.18.11 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent #

01.20.11 – Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture#

01.22.11 – Austin, TX – Lambert’s #

01.23.11 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada #
01.24.11 – Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone Cafe #

01.26.11 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl #

01.27.11 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 #
01.28.11 – Arlington, VA – IOTA Club & Cafe #

01.29.11 – Philadelphia, PA – M Room #

01.30.11 – Brooklyn, NY – The Rock Shop #

01.31.11 – Cambridge, MA – TT The Bear’s Place #

02.01.11 – New London, CT – The Oasis

02.02.11 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern

02.03.11 – Pontiac, MI – The Pike Room at The Crofoot #
02.04.11 – Chicago, IL – Hideout #
02.05.11 – Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar #

04.02.11 – Bainbridge Island, WA – Treehouse Cafe

^ – w/ Polecat
# – w/ Quiet Life

The Moondoggies
Tour Dates
::
The Moondoggies News
::
The Moondoggies
Concert
Reviews

JamBase Questionnaire: Roots of Creation

December 27th, 2010 | No Comments

Welcome back to JamBase’s baker’s dozen to the bright lights of the music world. Last time we heard from The Steepwater Band.

new live album

Southern New Hampshire isn’t the first spot folks start looking for high-octane modern reggae, which is too bad since Roots of Creation are one of the most exhilarating, rules breaking units blowing up right now. With of ample dousing of gnarly, rock-flavored guitars and a healthy blip logic that shows more than a passing familiarity with contemporary electronica, RoC join the shortlist of young bands – UK-based Soothsayers, New Zealand’s The Black Seeds and fellow U.S. acts John Brown’s Body and Groundation – moving reggae forward into the 21st century.

You can hear their highly engaging, forward pushing sound in action on RoC Live, Vol. 2 (released on October 26 on Harmonized Records). Culled from performances from 2009 and 2010, including songs recorded during sets at the Wormtown and Nateva Music Festivals, The Paradise Rock Club in Boston and more, Live Vol. 2, the band’s fourth album, features the engaging single “Policy, ” a bouncing cover of Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place” and a barnstorming finale take on Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” that reinvents the tune. Elsewhere, unpredictable, heavy duty instrumental “Mammoth” and originals “Dubby Conqueror” and “Searchin’” hint at good things to come from RoC. The album was mixed by engineer Pete Peloquin (Pixies, Dave Matthews, OAR) and co-mixed by the group’s live sound engineer Cooper Leafe, giving the set an immediacy and clarity that mixes the best traits of home listening and live sound.

Roots of Creation formed in 2000 while attending college together and began touring seriously in 2004. Today the band is comprised of original members Brett Wilson (lead vocals, guitar), Tal Pearson (keyboards) and Mike Chadinha (drums), and they are currently touring with bassist Brandon Downs and second guitarist Jay McGuinness. Based on the evidence of Live Vol. 2, this is a lethal live act with a promising drive and open minds. Can’t ask for more than that, particularly in a genre that often plays too heavily to tradition. In RoC’s hands, reggae is both relevant and exciting. (Dennis Cook)

Roots of Creation will play New Year’s Eve at Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA, followed by a January 1st show at Crotched Mountain in Bennington, NH.

Here’s what Brett Wilson and Tal Pearson had to say to our inquiries.

Brett Wilson of RoC

Instrument(s) of choice:

Brett: Vocals / Guitar – DeArmond Starfire & Ibanez Artcore Hollowbody through a Fender Amp with lots of pedals

Tal: Keys. Right now having lots of fun with my Roland SH-201. It’s good for Whomping.

Nicknames:

Brett: “Bdubs” & “Wilson”

Tal: “The mantis”

1. Great music rarely happens withoutÂ…
Brett: Inspiration, originality, chemistry, passion, pain, and my buddies Sauza and Mary Jane.

Tal: Inspiration. Vibes. A feeling in the room.

2. The first album I bought wasÂ…
Brett: Ten cassette tapes for a penny from Columbia House. Favorite one was the Grateful Dead.

Tal: Dookie by Green Day

3. The last song or album to really flip my wig wasÂ…
Brett: Rebelution’s “Feelin’ Alright”

Tal: Mumford and Sons’ Sigh No More

4. When I was a kid I wanted to grow up to beÂ…
Brett: A movie reviewer or comic book illustrator.

Tal: Still not really sure.

5. My favorite sort of gig isÂ…
Brett: When we turn a club into an arena and a late night festival slot into a house party.

Tal: When you can feel the venue shaking because everyone is dancing so much! And I love it when the crowd is responsive to different things, like the music changing or the lights getting intense.

6. One thing I wish people knew about me isÂ…
Brett: Gingers DO have soul!

Tal: I really do have good taste in music!

7. I love the sound ofÂ…
Brett: Wookies WHOMPing

Tal: HUGE bass in the speakers!

8. One day I hope to make an album as fantastic asÂ…
Brett: Beck’s Midnight Vultures

Tal: Band of Horses’ Everything All The Time

9. The best meal I ever had on tour was atÂ…
Brett: Green Mountain College, all the vegetarian food and breakfast cereal you could ever want. Plus they recycle, compost, and are super nice.

Tal: Probably a giant breakfast somewhere with everything – eggs, bacon, French toast, sausage, home fries, soda, andÂ…American Cheese! Don’t remember where exactly.

10. I always find the coolest audiences inÂ…
Brett: Smaller cities, festivals and colleges, especially in MI, NC, CO, NH, and the West Coast

Tal: Music festivals.

11. The worst habit I’ve picked up being on the road all the time isÂ…
Brett: Pizza and a Smartphone addiction.

Tal: Sleeping til 1 pm.

12. The Beatles or the Stones? Por que?
Brett: The Stones. Beatles = great songs, but the Stones were bad ass and have raw energy – the epitome of rock ‘n’ roll. Plus, Mike Jagger kicked it with Peter Tosh and Keith Richard’s new roots reggae albums are great!

Tal: I’ve always gone with The Beatles on this one. I think their music is much more interesting, and that they had a greater influence on the sounds of rock and roll to come.

13. The craziest thing I ever saw wasÂ…
Brett: Tie between playing a guerilla set at Rothbury on shakedown to a literal sea of people and my picture in High Times – January 2011 issue on page 108 of the 420th issue – playing at Nateva with a SSDP shirt on.

Tal: The catering areas of big music festivals are always sort of surreal to me because you’re eating lunch next to people you’ve listened to and watched for a long time! I remember at Rothbury in 2009, casually eating some delicious food next to the guys from Soulive and then Willie Nelson happened to wander by. Surreal.

Roots of Creation Tour Dates :: Roots of Creation News :: Roots of Creation Concert Reviews

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Go See Live Music!

Dec. 27, 1831: Beagle Sets Sail With a Very Special Passenger

December 27th, 2010 | No Comments

1831: HMS Beagle, a 10-gun, Cherokee-class brig sloop of the Royal Navy’s survey service, sets sail from Plymouth, England on its second voyage as a survey vessel.
On board, at the invitation of Beagle captain Robert FitzRoy, is a young biologist called Charles Darwin. Darwinâ€™s account of The Voyage of the Beagle, published in 1839, establishes [...]

Murder By Death: U.S. Tour

December 16th, 2010 | No Comments

GOOD MORNING, MAGPIE OUT NOW

Murder By Death

Murder By Death have
confirmed a two-month headlining tour of the US that begins February 1 in Lexington, Kentucky at Cosmic Charlie’s
and currently wraps in Bloomington, Illinois on March 19 at the Castle Theatre. The group is touring in support of
their fifth full-length album, Good Morning, Magpie, which was released on April 6, 2010
(Vagrant). See below for all upcoming tour dates below.

Murder By Death upcoming tour dates:

Dec 31 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada (all ages)

Jan 05 – Bloomington, IN @ Russian Recording (Live on WFHB)
Jan 06 – Fort Wayne, IN @ The Brass Rail (21+)

Jan 07 – Three Rivers, MI @ Riviera Theatre (all ages)
Jan 21 – Bloomington, IN @ The Buskirk-Chumley Theater (Live From Bloomington)

Feb 01 – Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlie’s #
Feb 02 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe #
Feb 03 – New Orleans, LA @ The Parish at House of Blues #
Feb 04 – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves #
Feb 05 – Austin, TX @ Red 7 #
Feb 07 – Albuquerque, NM @ Low Spirits #
Feb 08 – Tucson, AZ @ Plush #
Feb 09 – San Diego, CA The Casbah #
Feb 10 – Costa Mesa, CA @ The Detroit Bar #
Feb 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex #
Feb 12 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill #
Feb 13 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s #
Feb 15 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom #
Feb 16 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern #

Feb 17 – Boise, ID @ Visual Arts Collective #

Feb 18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Bar Deluxe #

Feb 19 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre #
Feb 20 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room #

Feb 24 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean ^
Feb 25 – DeKalb, IL @ The House Cafe ^

Feb 26 – Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar ^
Feb 28 – Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant St. ^
Mar 01 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^
Mar 02 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s ^
Mar 03 – West Chester, PA @ The Note ^

Mar 04 – Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar ^
Mar 05 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs ^
Mar 07 – Norfolk, VA @ Jewish Mother Backstage ^
Mar 08 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl ^

Mar 09 – Orlando, FL @ The Social ^
Mar 10 – Ybor City, FL @ The Orpheum ^

Mar 11 – Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds ^

Mar 13 – Charleston, SC @ The Oasis ^

Mar 14 – Asheville, NC @ Stella Blue %
Mar 16 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway %
Mar 17 – Madison, WI @ The Annex %
Mar 18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio %

Mar 19 – Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theatre %

# with The Builders & The Butchers
^ with Fake Problems
% support to be announced

Murder By Death
Tour Dates
::
Murder By Death News
::
Murder By Death
Concert
Reviews

Natalie Portman Vogue Magazine Jan. 2011

December 15th, 2010 | No Comments

Golden Globe nominee Natalie Portman opens up about her most provocative role yet in Black Swan in the Jan. 2011 issue of Vogue. â€œLesbian scenes, sex scenes, theyâ€™re all over the place!â€ she tells Vogue. â€œBut because itâ€™s me, people are shocked. I see the value of a good-girl personaâ€”itâ€™s so easy to subvert it!â€ [...]

Google Acquires Phonetic Arts for Speech Synthesis

December 5th, 2010 | No Comments

Google acquired speech synthesis startup Phonetic Arts. The search engine will likely use the software to improve voice output for mobile applications. – Google has acquired speech synthesis startup Phonetic Arts, whose software
samples human speech and tailors it for computers, for an undisclosed sum.
Google is being typically hush-hush about what it will do with the Cambridge,
U.K.-based startup’s assets and talent, which will move to Google’s L…

Rooney: 2011 Headlining Tour

December 1st, 2010 | No Comments

EUREKA OUT NOW

Rooney

Rooney, who remain road
warriors in support of their most recent release, Eureka, announce a February headlining tour
that sees them taking out Eisley and
The Chapin Sisters (through 2/14) as
support. The tour kicks off February 2 in Albuquerque, NM and wraps up in Salt Lake City on Feb 26. Starting today
at 9am PST, fans can buy tickets at www.rooneytix.com and
each purchase will be accompanied by a a free, exclusive, digital only, Christmas EP of three cover songs: “Merry
Christmas (War is Over),” “Last Christmas” and “Little Saint Nick.”

Upcoming Holiday Shows:

12/11/10 Anaheim CA Chain Reaction

February Tour Dates:
w/Eisley & The Chapin Sisters

2/2/11 Albuquerque NM Launchpad
2/4/11 Tulsa OK Caine’s Second Stage
2/5/11 Kansas City MO The Beaumont Club
2/6/11 St Paul MN Station 4
2/7/11 Milwaukee WI Mad Planet
2/8/11 Grand Rapids MI The Intersection
2/9/11 Pontiac MI The Crofoot Ballroom

2/10/11 Chicago IL Lincoln Hall
2/11/11 Columbus OH The Basement
2/12/11 Cleveland Heights OH Grog Shop
2/13/11 Pittsburgh PA Alter Bar
2/14/11 Newport KY The Historic Southgate House

w/Eisley

2/16/11 Cambridge MA The Middle East
2/17/11 Philadelphia PA Theatre Of Living Arts

2/18/11 Washington DC Rock and Roll Hotel
2/19/11 Carrboro NC Cat’s Cradle
2/20/11 Asheville NC The Grey Eagle

2/21/11 Nashville TN Exit/In

2/22/11 Memphis TN The Hi-Tone
2/23/11 St Louis MO Firebird
2/25/11 Denver CO The Marquis Theatre
2/26/11 Salt Lake City UT Kilby Court

Rooney
Tour Dates
::
Rooney News
::
Rooney
Concert
Reviews

SMMT jamboree

November 24th, 2010 | No Comments

It was the SMMT’s annual dinner last night. It was held at the Hilton, Park Lane, and was the usual agreeable occasion – a few new people to meet, a few to catch up with, and the wheels of social interaction well lubricated with some quality alcohol.

There was nothing too unexpected on the business side. Outgoing SMMT president Joe Greenwell delivered a speech that highlighted the things that you would expect him to highlight: the industry in the UK hasn’t been performing too badly in the circumstances; there are some interesting technology initiatives; the SMMT has been effectively lobbying on behalf of the industry and so on. He was polished. And it will be interesting to see how GKN’s Nigel Stein shapes up in the president’s role; GKN is a very successful British engineering company and one that has built up a solid business over many decades (not just the Constant Velocity Joints – CVJs – it is well known in this industry for; it was pretty brave to take on Airbus wings business a few years ago).

The guest speaker from outside the industry was John Humphrys – a well known journalist and broadcaster with the BBC. I have a lot of respect for the guy, who is perhaps best known for his tenacious and dogged interviewing style, which has upset more than a few slightly precious and/or slippery politicians over the years. I thought we might get something good given the circles he mixes in, the people he has interviewed and we’d hopefully get an interesting perspective on the industry from someone like him. It should be thoughtful, provocative even…

I have to say it was slightly disappointing. I’m not sure how much after dinner speaking he does, but I got the feeling it might be quite a bit; there was a formulaic feel to the anecdotes and some of them weren’t really all that funny – oddly distasteful even – and fell a bit flat. And then he dredged up some of the UK auto industry’s unhappy history, which I don’t think we really wanted to hear about for the umpteen millionth time on an occasion such as this. I also don’t quite believe that today’s ten-year-olds are more interested in average CO2 than top speed, supercars, 0-60 and so on. Have ‘Top Trumps’ cards changed much lately? I doubt it. Lighten up John! And ‘know your audience’ – easy to say I know, but he was not quite coming across as the sure-footed cerebral operator many of us would have expected. Maybe I set my expectations too high.

Anyway, well done to SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt for wrapping up the proceedings very succinctly afterwards (no over-the-top presentation about how great the SMMT is) and giving everyone plenty of time to mingle. And I should say thanks again to my table hosts at xchanging – a business process services company that is into outsourcing. They are also big into sponsoring the annual ‘boat race’ we have here (a quaint and slightly eccentric sporting affair, two rowing teams from Cambridge and Oxford universities head-to-head in rowing gigs, racing down the Thames – it gets huge national media coverage considering what it is; long may this wonderful example of British daftness continue).

UK: Next SMMT president is GKN’s Nigel Stein

MIT Smarter Electric Vehicles Systems For Smart Cities

November 9th, 2010 | No Comments

Smart electric vehicles are a big project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Electric vehicles could be delivered when drivers need the cars, rather than have cars sitting parking lots waiting for a driver. These new technology transportation systems incorporate new batteries, new electric motors, GPS, computers, and search technologies to deliver a new driving experience. In this video, Ryan Chin, Research Specialist at MIT Media Lab, describes the next technology stage for electric cars where smart transportation systems are used to provide a vehicle on demand.
– Video Content.

The Green: Free DL & Tour Dates

November 8th, 2010 | No Comments

SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM OUT NOW

The Green

Hawaii’s The Green are
giving away 4 free songs on their new site www.thegreen808.com.

Their self-titled debut album premiered at number three on Billboard’s Reggae Chart, and remained in the Top 10
for 25 straight weeks. The Green just kicked off a five-week U.S. Tour with Iration and The Movement. This is their third time
touring North America.

The Green Tour Dates

Nov 09 – Dallas, TX – The Loft
Nov 10 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Alternative Lounge

Nov 11 – Corpus Christi, TX – House Of Rock

Nov 12 – San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
Nov 13 – Tyler, TX – The Venue at Down Under
Nov 14 – New Orleans, LA – The Parish @ House Of Blues
Nov 16 – Birmingham, AL – The Nick
Nov 17 – Tallahassee, FL – Floyd’s Music Store

Nov 18 – Orlando, FL – The Social
Nov 19 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
Nov 20 – Jacksonville Beach, FL – Freebird Cafe
Nov 21 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Nov 22 – Charleston, SC – Pour House
Nov 23 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Nov 26 – Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
Nov 27 – New York, NY – Sullivan Hall
Nov 28 – Teaneck, NJ – Mexicali Live
Nov 30 – Pawtucket, RI – The Met
Dec 01 – Cambridge, MA – TT The Bear’s Place

Dec 02 – West Chester, PA – The Note
Dec 03 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar
Dec 04 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

Dec 05 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge

Dec 07 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre

Dec 08 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater

Dec 09 – Salt Lake City, UT – Club Sound

Dec 10 – Flagstaff, AZ – Orpheum

Dec 11 – West Hollywood, CA – Key Club
Dec 12 – Las Vegas, NV – Crown Theater & Nightclub

The Green
Tour Dates
::
The Green News
::
The Green
Concert
Reviews

Deerhoof Dates & Album Stream

November 1st, 2010 | No Comments

NEW ALBUM OUT JANUARY 25;
TWO NEW TRACKS AVAIALBLE NOW

Deerhoof

Deerhoof will release their
new album Deerhoof vs. Evil on January 25, 2011. In the meantime, the band will be streaming
the album one track per week. Click here to listen to
“Super Duper Rescue Heads” and “The Merry Barracks.”

Deerhoof will embark on a tour in support of the album. All dates are below.

Deerhoof vs. Evil Tracklist:

01 Qui Dorm, Nomes Somia
02 Behold a Marvel in the Darkness
03 The Merry Barracks
04 No One Asked to Dance
05 Let’s Dance the Jet
06 Super Duper Rescue Heads!
07 Must Fight Current
08 Secret Mobilization
09 Hey I Can
10 C’Moon

11 I Did Crimes for You
12 Almost Everyone, Almost Always

December 2010

05 : Minehead, UK – All Tomorrows Parties curated by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

January 2011

27 : Sacramento, CA @ Harlows
28 : San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
29 : Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex

February 2011

01 : Austin, TX @ Mohawk
02 : Dallas, TX @ Palladium Showroom

03 : Memphis, TN @ The Hi Tone
04 : Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
05 : Athens, GA @ 40 Watt
06 : Raliegh, NC @ King’s
07 : Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

08 : Brooklyn, NY @ Ridgewood Masonic Temple
10 : Cambridge, MA @ Middle East

11 : Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts

12 : Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar

14 : Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom

15 : Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge

16 : Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon

17 : Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club

18 : Iowa City, IA @ Blue Moose
19 : Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
21 : Denver, CO @ The Marquis
25 : Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
26 : Portland, OR @ Holocene