A LIL’ DEAD AS THANKS TO THE FANS
 Jackie Greene |
After his tenure with Phil Lesh & Friends, Jackie Greene is a man who knows his Grateful Dead music. He’s also a pretty sweet, giving cat who’s put together a free 3-song EP containing his versions of “Sugaree,” “New Speedway Boogie” and “Brokedown Palace” on what he’s titled The Grateful EP. You can download it here. Make sure to say thanks when you’re checking out Jackie somewhere out on the road this year.
The European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee is expected to adopt a resolution in support of the ratification of EU’s interim trade agreement with Serbia. This resolution, if adopted, would be sent to the EU Council of Ministers.
Madrid will not recognize the independence of Kosovo, Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has stated. Speaking before a European parliament commission about his country’s priorities during its upcoming EU presidency, Moratinos explained that Kosovo will still be allowed to attend meetings concerning the Balkans, but “in accordance with accepted international frameworks and mechanisms”.
European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that Serbia needs to take the process of applying for European Union candidacy step by step. “Serbia is moving step by step, faster and faster, but it is not possible to skip several steps which are needed for Serbia,†Kacin said after meeting with Serbia’s Interior Minister and First Deputy PM Ivica DaÄić late on Sunday in Belgrade.
European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that it is unrealistic for Serbia to apply for EU candidacy by the end of 2009. “Candidacy is an important issue, that is why we must be realistic. It cannot be a game of poker, put a game with clear rules with which trust is earned from all 27 member-states, the EU institutions, Serbian neighbors and other current and future candidates,†Kacin told daily Blic.
LISSIE: WHY YOU RUNNIN’ EP IN STORES NOW
On Tour With Ray LaMontagne, New Dates With A.A. Bondy Announced
 Lissie |
Lissie‘s EP Why You Runnin’ arrived in stores via Fat Possum Records last week. With her powerful, achingly evocative voice and mix of haunting and spirited, always soulful songs, the EP has been climbing the iTunes charts (a recent #1 rank for singer/songwriter albums) as early praise has begun to roll in. In advance of her headlining show at the Mercury Lounge in New York City this past Monday, Time Out New York offered: “…Lissie takes on Americana with a cool, breezy vibe and a strong voice… get to the Merc tonight to see what all the fuss is about.” Reviewing the show, Blender.com remarked, “her throat’s power seemed to almost knock the walls down… Lissie was dynamic with her entire body, putting tremendous energy out, and it showed. An excellent introduction to New York.”
Radio is also already responding to Why You Runnin’, with Lissie recently taping performances for WXPN’s World Cafe Live (Philadelphia, PA) – which will air January 19, 2010 – as well as WFUV (New York, NY; air date TBA). She is also confirmed for an in-studio performance at influential station KCMP’s The Current (Minneapolis, MN), in addition to an upcoming KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic performance on November 24.
Recently, AOL Music’s Spinner blog featured Lissie’s stirring new single, “Everywhere I Go,” as their Free MP3 of the Day. Spinner will also be streaming Why You Runnin’ in its entirety throughout the week here. Last month, My Old Kentucky Blog premiered the EP’s first single “Little Lovin’”, a track which moved TheFader.com to write, “…her spirit is all purple mountains majesty, pure and regal, a true Americana singer, conduit of the land…the richness of her voice never wavers.”
Additionally, Lissie – who is currently opening for Ray LaMontagne on select dates – has now announced two new tour dates in support of label mate A.A. Bondy later this month in Omaha, NE and Columbia, MO. She is also set to headline her own KCRW-presented show at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles, CA on November 24.
Lissie Tour Dates:
11/20/09 Fri Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, CA*
11/21/09 Sat Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, CA*
11/22/09 Sun Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, CA*
11/24/09 Tue Bootleg Theater Los Angeles, CA
11/27/09 Fri Slowdown Omaha, NE^
11/28/09 Sat Mojo’s Columbia, MO^
12/02/09 Wed Hoxton Bar London, GB
12/03/09 Thu The Lock Tavern London, GB
12/04/09 Fri The Wilmington Arms London, GB
02/21/10 Sun Cayamo Music Cruise Miami, FL
02/22/10 Mon Cayamo Music Cruise Miami, FL
02/23/10 Tue Cayamo Music Cruise Miami, FL
02/24/10 Wed Cayamo Music Cruise Miami, FL
02/25/10 Thu Cayamo Music Cruise Miami, FL
02/26/10 Fri Cayamo Music Cruise Miami, FL
05/07/10 Fri Tower Theater Upper Darby, PA
* With Ray LaMontagne
^ With A.A. Bondy
Lissie recorded the majority of the Why You Runnin’ EP with friend Bill Reynolds (Band Of Horses) in her Ojai, CA farmhouse and at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC. Originally from the river-bordering town of Rock Island, IL, the wistful “Oh Mississippi” was recorded with Ed Harcourt last fall while she was far from home in London.
DEER TICK TO RELEASE NEW iTUNES EXCLUSIVE EP, More Fuel For the Fire, DECEMBER 1
 Deer Tick |
As the title would suggest, Deer Tick‘s More Fuel for the Fire EP tops off an explosive 2009 for the band, having already released Rolling Stone‘s “country-rock breakthrough of the year” nine months earlier.
Taken mostly from a month-long recording session in upstate New York, nicknamed “The Black Dirt Sessions,” More Fuel For the Fire features three new studio tracks as well as a live version of “Straight Into A Storm” (from Born on Flag Day) recorded in Charlotte, NC at the Visulite Theatre. The songs have become staples of Deer Tick’s live shows over the past year, and are already fan favorites – exactly who this EP is for.
More Fuel For The Fire EP Track Listing
1. La La La
2. Dance of Love
3. Axe Is Forever
4. Straight Into A Storm (Live from the Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC)
Deer Tick Tour Dates
11/18/09 Wed Knight Theater Charlotte, NC*
11/19/09 Thu The Plaza Theatre Orlando, FL*
11/20/09 Fri The Moon Tallahassee, FL*
11/21/09 Sat Republic New Orleans New Orleans, LA*
11/22/09 Sun Warehouse Live Houston, TX*
11/26/09 Thu The Paradiso Amsterdam, NL
11/27/09 Fri Le Guess Who Utrecht, NL
11/28/09 Sat Merleyn Nijmegen, NL
12/01/09 Tue Borderline London, GB
12/03/09 Thu Dulcimer Manchester, GB
12/04/09 Fri Sneaky Pete’s Edinburgh, GB
12/05/09 Sat The Captains Rest Glasgow, GB
12/06/09 Sun Whelans Dublin, IR
* Supporting Neko Case
For more on Deer Tick see our exclusive feature/interview here.
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE TO RELEASE NEW EP: FALL BE KIND IN STORES DECEMBER 15, 2009
 Animal Collective |
Animal Collective is set to release a new five track studio EP on November 23, 2009 (digitally) and December 15, 2009 (physically).
Recorded by Ben Allen at Sweet Tea in Oxford, MS in February 2008 and at Mission Sound in Brooklyn, NY August 2009, Fall Be Kind includes recent live favorites “Graze” and “What Would I Want? Sky” (featuring a sample of “Unbroken Chain,” the first ever licensed Grateful Dead sample). Fall be Kind will be available worldwide on CD, 12″ vinyl and via digital download.
The EP comes less than one year after the band’s critically acclaimed album Merriweather Post Pavilion which wowed fans and critics across the globe. Merriweather has already been named one of the most important albums of the year by Q magazine and Spin in the U.S., and of the entire decade by Uncut and Pitchfork. Expect to see Merriweather Post Pavillion named one of the year’s best by fans and critics as the year comes to a close.
For more on Animal Collective’s use of the Grateful Dead sample, including a version of the song, see our previous story here.
Track Listing
1. Graze
2. What Would I Want? Sky
3. Bleed
4. On a Highway
5. I Think I Can
COLD WAR KIDS ANNOUNCE 4 SONG EP
 Cold War Kids |
Cold War Kids announced a new 4 song EP called Behave Yourself, which will be released on January 19. Until then, you can watch the EP trailer video by Vern Moen on coldwarkids.com.
A note from Cold War Kids:
As promised we will be releasing a 4 song EP called Behave Yourself on January 19. We made a 1 minute video with our friend Vern to give you a preview of the songs and the video for “Audience” that will come soon. We had a great time filming it in San Pedro; in our rehearsal space, skating on the docks, driving on the bluffs, shaving in the tide pools and being nude in a friend of a friend’s bathroom. Thanks to O’Brien for letting us borrow the ’71 Triumph. We are in the studio now writing and recording so we are only going to do 4 shows in January. We are going to find a way to make them special by giving a free recording of each show that you can download with ticket purchase.
Hopefully. If we can figure out the technology.
Enjoy!
The European Parliamentary Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has supported a report on visa abolition for the Western Balkan states. The visa abolition report for the Western Balkans was submitted by MEP and EP rapporteur for visa liberalization in the region Tanja Falon.
The Disco Biscuits EP Release Party at Intimate Brooklyn Bowl
 The Disco Biscuits |
The Disco Biscuits have announced that their first EP is finally coming out. The EP is appropriately called On Time and will feature two unreleased songs from the upcoming full-length album (“On Time” and “Loose Change”). “On Time” is the first single off the record and “Loose Change” was produced by Simon Posford and Benji Vaughan. Also included on the physical copy of the EP will be the previously released “Konkrete,” a mixed live version of “Mirrors,” a live edited video of “Mirrors” from Red Rocks (which features all of the wild shenanigans from the show), an Eliot Lipp remix of “On Time” and an extended club remix of “On Time” by Twisted Dee. There is also an actual music video for the band’s “You and I” track shot in Japan when the band played at Fuji Rock.
The EP will be sold on the road starting next week and will be available online and digitally everywhere. Stay tuned for more information. To celebrate the release, the Biscuits will be throwing a party on Sunday, October 11 at the intimate Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, NY. The band will play two sets and you will also get a free copy of the EP. Tickets are $25 and go on sale at www.biscotix.com on Monday (10/05) at Noon Eastern. The public on sale will be on Tuesday at Noon Eastern at this link.
The band is also doing a Twitter contest tomorrow in Washington, DC where the grand prize winner will receive two tickets during the NYE run. Your choice of show, except New Year’s Eve. Go to www.discobiscuits.com/09twittercontest for more info.
The Disco Biscuits are on tour now; dates available here.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Announce
Higher Than The Stars EP Plus The Single Come Saturday
Not content to rest on the laurels of having one of the best and most talked-about albums of 2009, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are back with the Higher Than The Stars. The EP features four brand-new songs that do what the band does best – breathe fresh life into indie-pop with their exuberance, charm and of course quality tunes.
Higher Than The Stars races along on arpeggiated keyboards and quickly strummed guitars, a perfect pop
nugget that could be ripped from Robert Smith‘s songbook. Its unstoppable energy is pure Pains, though,
and the band hopes to see a lot of ear-to-ear grins when the band busts the EP out on tour.
 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart |
Higher Than The Stars EP
Street date: Sept. 22, 2009
Formats: 7″, 12″, CD and digital
1. Falling Over
2. Twins
3. Higher Than The Stars
4. 103
Come Saturday Single
Street date: Sept. 8, 2009
Formats: 7″ and digital
1. Come Saturday
2. Side Ponytail
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Tour Dates:
09/05/09 Sat Middle East Downstairs Cambridge, MA
09/06/09 Sun La Sala Rossa Montreal, QC
09/07/09 Mon Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON
09/08/09 Tue Logan Square Auditorium Chicago, IL
09/09/09 Wed Orpheum Theater – Stage Door Madison, WI
09/10/09 Thu Slowdown Omaha, NE
09/12/09 Sat Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
09/13/09 Sun Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
09/14/09 Mon Neurolux Boise, ID
09/17/09 Thu Doug Fir Portland, OR
09/19/09 Sat The Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
09/21/09 Mon Casbah San Diego, CA
09/22/09 Tue Club Congress Tucson, AZ
09/24/09 Thu Lola’s Sixth Fort Worth, TX
09/25/09 Fri The Mohawk Austin, TX
09/26/09 Sat One Eyed Jacks New Orleans, LA
09/27/09 Sun Club Downunder Tallahassee, FL
09/28/09 Mon The Earl Atlanta, GA
09/29/09 Tue Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC
09/30/09 Wed Black Cat Washington, DC
10/01/09 Thu Ottobar Baltimore, MD
10/03/09 Sat Webster Hall New York, NY
10/05/09 Mon First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA
David Bowie And Virgin/EMI Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Space Oddity
With Commemorative Digital EP and iPhone/iPod touch App
 David Bowie |
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of David Bowie‘s Space Oddity Virgin/EMI will release a commemorative digital EP and a new app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The digital EP, available now for download purchase from all major digital service providers, features four versions of “Space Oddity” plus its original eight multi-track stems, enabling fans to remix the song as they please using their own software or with iKlax software. iKlax’s “Remix David Bowie – Space Oddity” app, available now on the iTunes App Store, also allows fans to remix the track their way.
Originally released on July 11, 1969 to coincide with the Apollo 11 moon landings, Space Oddity was featured by the BBC in its television coverage of the lunar event, the song later won an Ivor Novello award. The song’s enigmatic protagonist, Major Tom, has become a recurrent theme throughout Bowie’s work and career, and was revisited in the song “Ashes To Ashes.”
David Bowie Space Oddity (40th Anniversary EP) (digital)
1. Space Oddity (original U.K. mono single edit)
2. Space Oddity (U.S. mono single edit)
3.Space Oddity (U.S. stereo single edit)
4. Space Oddity (1979 re-record)
Modest Mouse To Release No One’s First, And You’re Next EP On August 4
 Modest Mouse |
Modest Mouse has announced they will release No One’s
First, And You’re Next on August 4. This new EP contains eight songs,
six of which were recently released as limited edition 7″ vinyl singles.
Also included on the EP is “King Rat” which was a limited promo-only 7″
single free with the purchase of We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
in 2007 and “I’ve Got It All (Most)” which was the b-side to the “Float
On” single in 2004 and is currently out of print. The vinyl version of
No One’s First, And You’re Next will be available on August 18.
No One’s First, And You’re Next track listing:
1. Satellite Skin
2. Guilty Cocker Spaniels
3. Autumn Beds
4. The Whale Song
5. Perpetual Motion Machine
6. History Sticks To Your Feet
7. King Rat
8. I’ve Got It All (Most)
Modest Mouse Tour Dates:
08/17/09 Mon Halifax Forum Halifax, NS
08/19/09 Wed Metropolis Montreal, QC
08/20/09 Thu The Ale House Kingston, ON
08/21/09 Fri The Sound Academy Toronto, ON
08/22/09 Sat The Sound Academy Toronto, ON
08/24/09 Mon Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus, OH
08/25/09 Tue Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL
08/28/09 Fri San Diego Street Scene San Diego, CA
08/29/09 Sat The Grove Of Anaheim Anaheim, CA
08/30/09 Sun Outside Lands Festival San Francisco, CA
09/01/09 Tue In The Venue Salt Lake City, UT
09/02/09 Wed The Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
09/03/09 Thu Alberta Bair Theatre Billings, MT
09/04/09 Fri The Wilma Theatre Missoula, MT
09/05/09 Sat Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, WA
09/07/09 Mon Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, WA
09/09/09 Wed Pipeline Cafe Honolulu, HI
12/11/09 Fri Butlins Holiday Centre Minehead, GB
Beats Antique New EP: Contraption Vol. 1
 Beats Antique |
Growing like wildfire under the canopy of live electonica and world roots music comes Beats Antique, a masterful merge of modern technology, live instrumentation and seductive performance. After only two and half years performing as a cohesive force, the group has just self released their third album, Contraption, Vol.1 which marks the first in a two-part EP series.
The EP can be downloaded here.
The seven-track dance floor ready EP is infused with orchestral textures and a worldly flare that has fans clamoring for more. Using only word-of-mouth marketing, Beats Antique’s new tracks have over 700 paid downloads and 20,000 plays on the EP in the first week of their self-release. There’s no doubt that the merge of old world instruments and live producing is on the rise and Beats Antique is helping leading the way.
For those who are unfamiliar with Beats Antique’s sound, the band combines the tones of the Middle East with the styles of hip-hop, brass band, downtempo, glitch and dub-step in a new collage of music that is mixed and broken down with clever breakbeats for an adept international flair. Beats Antique is producing an un-charted style of music by adding live horns, accordion, glockenspiel, viola, string quartets, kalimba, clarinet and various unusual instruments to their big beat arrangements.
Born of Oakland, CA, the musical trio consists of producers, David Satori, Sidecar Tommy and world-renowned belly dance performer/producer Zoe Jakes, who helped inspire the thematic Middle East tempo of the band.
Beats Antique Tour Dates:
07/31/09 Fri Faerie Worlds Eugene, Oregon
08/15/09 Sat Beloved Festival Tidewater, Oregon
08/31/09 Mon Burning Man Blackrock City, Nevada
09/12/09 Sat Monolith Festival Red Rocks, CO
09/19/09 Sat Symbiosis Gathering Yosemite National Park, CA
09/13/09 Sun Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
The new president of the European Parliament has stressed the importance of the Western Balkans’ integration into EU structures provided all conditions are met. “The situation in the Balkans is now promising. Today, there are no longer the tensions that we knew in the past. The countries of the region are now knocking at the EU’s door. We can admit new members, what’s more, in a entirely natural manner. But, the conditions need to be met first,†Jerzy Buzek told daily VeÄernje Novosti.
