It's about that time again--Macrock #10 is just around the corner (April 7-8) to be exact, and the line-up isn't looking too shabby so far. Held at James Madison University in Virginia, the festival is two days of label expos, speakers, hanging out, and plenty of live indie music. Among the acts already announced are Jonah Matranga, The Walkmen, Aloha, Call Me Lightning, Medications, and The Firebird Band. More can be seen on the official website.
He Is Legend will hit the studio with producer Steve Evetts (Saves The Day, Dillinger Escape Plan) to record their follow-up to I Am Hollywood beginning late March through May. A studio journal to chronicle the sessions should pop up online soon. In other news, the band recently posted their cover of "Wounded" by Third Eye Blind over at Purevolume.
In addition to upcoming US and Japanese touring, The Life And Times have confirmed they will hit the studio March 5-7 to record a new EP for Japanese label Stiff Slack Records with J. Robbins. Better yet, the EP will also now see a US release sometime in July.
A Band Of Bees have been busy writing and recording Octopus, the follow-up to last year's Free The Bees. The band has posted a demo track of "Love In The Harbour" from the album up on their MySpace page for public consumption.
It's been a little too long since we last heard from TV on the Radio, but now the news presents itself in the form of a jump to Interscope Records for the upcoming sophomore record. At this point, it's called Return to Cookie Mountain, and you can view the tentative tracklisting here...
You can find two new demos from Ted Leo & The Pharmacists up over in the Downloads. The songs were recorded at a recent practice session for his March US tour.
Since you already got the scoop on the upcoming Brian Jones film Stoned, it's probably good if you get the tracklisting for the accompanying album, too.
Metal Hearts released its debut Socialize last week on Suicide Squeeze, and are about to hit the road in support of the disc. Guests along the way include Headlights, Audible, and Ester Drang.
Enon is hoping to find a new guitarist, but you've gotta be pretty skilled and/or instrumentally versatile to fill the slot. Besides that, the band is working on a new record hopefully to be released this year, and finally, they'll be doing a few dates in late March and part of April.
Editors will be releasing its debut LP on Fader on March 21. It's called The Back Room, and the band will meet up for a few weeks on the road with Stellastarr*, as they continue to promote last year's Harmonies for the Haunted. Check out the dates.
I can't say I was very impressed with last year's double-disc reissues of The Cure's back catalog, as I'm only a casual fan, but Rhino Records is set to put the albums out again, only this time remastered and with extensive liner notes. Plus, they'll be single discs, so you don't go nearly as broke stocking up on the four--Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith, and Pornography.
Pere Ubu is hoping to release its 15th studio album in September, while Smog Veil labelmates Unknown Instructors aims for the same goal. But even better, the label is attempting alternative power sources for its offices--solar panels, wind turbines, etc. More on that here.
The one-man act Owen (Mike Kinsella from American Football, Owls, Joan of Arc, and so on) has a lengthy tour in the works as he works on another record of dazzling acoustic folk/pop for the Polyvinyl label.
Arab Strap have just confirmed a US tour that kicks off March 23 in Los Angeles, with label-mates A Whisper In The Noise as support. Arab Strap's latest album, The Last Romance was released today on Transdreamer.
The Cribs will be supporting Death Cab For Cutie and Franz Ferdinand on their upcoming North American tour. Most dates see The Cribs supporting both Death Cab and Franz Ferdinand, although some shows are with Death Cab only.
Grand National’s Kicking The National Habit has been pushed back from its original February 21st release to a March 14th release. The North American package will feature seven bonus tracks not available on the original UK release, including remixes by Sasha and The Glimmers. Also added is a bonus video for “Drink To Moving On,” directed by Ramon & Pedro.
Swedish rockers The Sounds have confirmed a 40-date North American tour beginning March 22nd at The Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. The tour will coincide with the band's new album Dying to Say THis To You coming out March 21st on Scratchie/New Line. Morningwood and Action Action will be the support for the entire tour.
New Eagles of Death Metal track, "I Want You So Hard," to stream in the Downloads. Check it out.
London's legendary Honest Jons record shop and Blur frontman Damon Albarn have started a new label called Honest Jons that has just released a record from Le Volume Courbe, entitled I Killed My Best Friend, and you can hear the entire thing here. You'll recognize names like Kevin Shields and Colm O'Ciosoig from My Bloody Valentine, Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval and David Roback, and Martin Duffy of Primal Scream on this one.
Classic British rock band The Charlatans UK are set to release Simpatico on May 2nd on Sanctuary Records. This record is their first American release since 2001 and the band’s first for Sanctuary. To help announce their return, they have confirmed a showcase at this year’s SXSW Festival. Appearing at the XFM Manchester showcase at Exodus on Saturday March 18th, the band will then return for a proper tour in May after the record is released.
