Joe Strummer's non-Clash material collected on 'Joe Strummer 001'

A new Joe Strummer compilation is set for release in September. Joe Strummer 001 collects material spanning his work outside The Clash -- solo work, 101ers, The Mescaleros, and more -- and features the final song Strummer recorded "London Is Burning," along with classics, demos, previously released material and more. The compilation will be available on double CD, heavyweight vinyl, and digital download, plus several limited editions containing photos and sketches taken from Strummer's personal archive. Check out all the options and pre-order here.

Joe Strummer 001 arrives September 29th. View the tracklisting for the standard edition below:

Tracklisting

01. Letsagetabitarockin' (2005 Remastered Version) - The 101ers
02. Keys To Your Heart (Version 2) [2005 Remastered Version] - The 101ers
03. Love Kills - Joe Strummer
04. Tennessee Rain - Joe Strummer
05. Trash City - Joe Strummer & The Latino Rockabilly War
06. 15th Brigade - Joe Strummer
07. Ride Your Donkey - Joe Strummer
08. Burning Lights - Joe Strummer
09. Afro-Cuban Be-Bop - The Astro-Physicians
10. Sandpaper Blues - Radar -
11. Generations - Electric Dog House
12. It’s A Rockin' World - Joe Strummer
13. Yalla Yalla - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
14. X-Ray Style - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
15. Johnny Appleseed - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
16. Minstrel Boy - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
17. Redemption Song - Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer
18. Over The Border - Jimmy Cliff & Joe Strummer
19. Coma Girl - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
20. Silver & Gold / Before I Grow Too Old - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

01. Letsagetabitarockin' (Strummer Demo) - Joe Strummer
02. Czechoslovak Song / Where Is England - Strummer, Simonon & Howard
03. Pouring Rain (1984) - Strummer, Simonon & Howard
04. Blues On The River - Joe Strummer
05. Crying On 23rd - The Soothsayers
06. 2 Bullets - Pearl Harbour
07. When Pigs Fly - Joe Strummer
08. Pouring Rain (1993) - Joe Strummer
09. Rose Of Erin - Joe Strummer
10. The Cool Impossible - Joe Strummer
11. London Is Burning - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
12. U.S. North - Joe Strummer & Mick Jones

Published June 29th, 2018

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Answers (questions) on Jeopardy last night: The Cure, Radiohead, Devo + more

Last night one of the categories on Jeopardy was Not In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Though they could have done a whole show on artists famously snubbed by the Rock Hall, the category was limited to five answers: The Cure, Radiohead, Devo, Motorhead, and Whitney Houston.

Contestant Scott was able to get most of the questions in the Not In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame category correct, however Andrew, who was initially optimistic about his answer probably wanted to figure out how to disappear completely after he opened his mouth. Sad trombone.

For the record: Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2012.

And LOL at  "famously gloomy Robert Smith"

Watch the action below via Brooklyn Vegan.



Published June 28th, 2018

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Public Image Ltd 'The Public Image Is Rotten' trailer

Public Image Ltd celebrate their 40th anniversary this year with a world tour, career-spanning boxset, and cinematic screenings of the documentary The Public Image Is Rotten.

The Public Image Is Rotten (Songs From The Heart) collects PiL's singles, b-sides, live material, unreleased mixes and more and will be available as a 5CD/2DVD box or 6LP box. Both formats will be released July 20th and are available to pre-order here.

The documentary, The Public Image Is Rotten, was directed by PiL superfan Tabbert Fiiller and premiered last year at a handful of film festivals worldwide including Tribeca. PiL have now announced that a North American theatrical tour will take place later this year - the tour kickoff is September 14th at The Metrograph in New York City and the full list of screenings are expected to be announced shortly. View the trailer for the riveting documentary below:



Published June 27th, 2018

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The Cure wrap up Meltdown with career-spanning, chronological set

Robert Smith's Meltdown Festival wrapped up in London tonight with Smith himself taking the stage for the final headline set. In the weeks leading up to tonight's show Smith said he wasn't sure what he'd play or who he'd be playing with, but hinted that it might include special guests. The show was promoted on the Meltdown site as:

"Curator Robert Smith closes the 25th Meltdown festival with an exclusive show at Royal Festival Hall, with support from The Twilight Sad.

He is joined onstage by four of his curious friends – and other, imaginary accompanists – to perform special interpretations based on a very particular selection of songs he has sung throughout the years."

As it turns out, Smith's "curious friends" and "imaginary accompanists" turned out to be The Cure's current touring lineup, with no guest appearances. None of that mattered though because the show, billed as Curaetion 25 - There To Here and Back Again certainly did not seem to disappoint fans.

The Cure showcased their incredible discography by playing songs from every Cure album over a span of two sets. Starting with their debut album, they played one song off each album in chronological order (There To Here), then for the second set, they went Back Again, playing a second song from each album in succession. The new/unreleased songs The Cure debuted on tour in 2016 ("It Can Never Be The Same" and "Step Into The Light") were included and closed/opened the sets.

For the most part The Cure played classics ("Sinking"! "A Strange Day"! "Disintegration"!) but avoided playing too many "hits" and/or songs they're likely saving for their Hyde Park show in July.  FYI: in case you were wondering, it seems Robert Smith proved to be a tease by NOT playing "The Same Deep Water As You." Maybe he's saving it for Hyde Park?

View video, pictures, and setlist via Chain Of Flowers and The Cure Mexico. Post will be updated with more video when available.

UPDATE: The full show is now available to view below

Robert Smith was magnificent tonight at @meltdownfest ... amazing set - two songs from each album, finishing with Boys Don’t Cry ... #TheCure pic.twitter.com/mYRHH6ec2F

— Kevin Cummins (@KCMANC) June 24, 2018

#RobertSmith & @jeremyWulc
24.06.2018 #CURAETION25 #TheCure @thecure#40ImaginaryYears pic.twitter.com/Vzfelhasm5

— The Cure México (@TheCureMexico) June 24, 2018

@meltdownfest @southbankcentre @RobertSmith #fender #jazzmaster #royalfestivalhall @CraigatCoF @thecure pic.twitter.com/G04fHYGpk8

— (ṭһєjoнnмalloy) (@john_malloy) June 24, 2018

@thecure set tonight at @meltdownfest festival was inspired by my favourite book - The Hobbit. Both were called "There and Back Again" and both of them were amazing... pic.twitter.com/1BoSK9cyhV

— thomas mason (@nuclearmaso) June 24, 2018

Genius dark back & forward set from @thecure @RobertSmith’s @meltdownfest @southbankcentre congratulations to all involved with the festival pic.twitter.com/rUADwNK9i8

— Ride - The Network (@RideTheNetwork) June 24, 2018

What a night. pic.twitter.com/EsaT4aUhJz

— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) June 24, 2018

Set 1 - There To Here

Three Imaginary Boys
At Night
Other Voices
A Strange Day
Bananafishbones
A Night Like This
Like Cockatoos
Pictures Of You
High
Jupiter Crash
39
Us Or Them
It's Over
It Can Never Be The Same

Set 2 - Back Again

Step Into The Light
The Hungry Ghost
alt.end
The Last Day Of Summer
Want
From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea
Disintegration
If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
Sinking
Shake Dog Shake
One Hundred Years
Primary
A Forest
Boys Don't Cry

Published June 24th, 2018

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Classic Alternative - Episode #61: In A Parallel Universe (And Other Lies)

Presenting Classic Alternative - Episode #61: In A Parallel Universe (And Other Lies)

Rock it old school with a brand new episode of Time Warp. This week's show includes music from Depeche Mode, MC5, The Stranglers, Echo & The Bunnymen, Sex Pistols, David Bowie, The Breeders, Pixies, Radiohead, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Nine Inch Nails, and more.

Stream below or here and check out the full archive of Time Warp episodes here or here.


Music news stories from the past week

My Bloody Valentine return live: Review from The Guardian
Pixies play secret show billed as Debaser
The House Of Love mark 30th anniversary with 5CD reissue
Nine Inch Nails release Bad Witch + Trent Reznor interview
The Psychedelic Furs reissue back catalog on vinyl
The Legendary Pink Dots vinyl reissues
Japan reissue Gentlemen Take Polaroids + Tin Drum
Nick Cave + The Bad Seeds release live EP Distant Sky
Elvis Costello announces North American tour; plays Detroit
Johnny Marr talks Electronic + devastation after breakup of The Smiths
Video: Gary Numan joins NIN onstage in Vegas
New Order announce North American mini-tour

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Pixies play secret show billed as Debaser

Pixies played a secret sold out show in Fort Lauderdale last night ahead of their North American tour kickoff. Even though the show was billed under the name Debaser, Pixies fans aren't idiots. Fans figured everything out ahead of time and snatched up tickets to the show at the 1300 capacity venue Revolution. Pixies ripped through over 40 songs during an intense and frenetic two hour set which is guaranteed to be a lot longer than the time they're allotted during their upcoming co-headline tour with Weezer. The co-headline tour officially kicks off tomorrow in Tampa and plays DTE on July 13th.

A positive review of last night's show is posted here, though it could do without the needlessly snarky age-bashing: "many in the audience had probably not been in a situation this cramped and sweaty since their last colonoscopy." Stay klassy, David Rolland.

View the setlist below.



Setlist

Bone Machine
Something Against You
Crackity Jones
U-Mass
Wave Of Mutilation
Monkey Gone To Heaven
Classic Masher
Tony's Theme
Caribou
Cactus
Oona
I've Been Tired
Tenement Song
All The Saints
La La Love You
Ed Is Dead
Nimrod's Son
The Holiday Song
Vamos
Silver Snail
Magdalena 318
No. 13 Baby
All I Think About Now
Um Chagga Lagga
Isla De Encanta
Broken Face
Head On
Tame
Hey
Mr. Grieves
Bel Esprit
Might As Well Be Gone
Head Carrier
Velouria
Snakes
Gouge Away
Gigantic
Debaser
Wave Of Mutilation (uk surf)
Here Comes Your Man
Where Is My Mind
Bone Machine

Pixies / Weezer co-headline tour

Jun 23 -- Tampa, FL @ Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
Jun 26 -- New Orleans, LA @ Bold Sphere Music/Champions Square
Jun 27 -- Dallas, TX @ Starplex Pavilion
Jun 29 -- Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Jun 30 -- Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater
Jul 06 -- Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
Jul 07 -- Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Jul 08 -- Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Jul 10 -- Burgettstown, PA @ Keybank Pavilion
Jul 11 -- Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
Jul 13 -- Clarkston, MI @ DTE
Jul 14 -- Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Jul 15 -- Syracuse, NY @ Lakeview Amphitheatre
Jul 17 -- Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
Jul 18 -- Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Jul 20 -- Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Jul 21 -- Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion
Jul 22 -- Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
Jul 24 -- Raleigh, NC @ Costal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Jul 25 -- Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
Jul 27 -- Atlanta, GA 2 Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Jul 28 -- Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater
Jul 29 -- Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
Jul 31 -- Greenwood Village, CO @ Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
Aug 01 -- West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre
Aug 04 -- Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
Aug 07 -- Maountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Aug 11 -- Chula Vista, CA @ Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Aug 12 -- Phoenix, AZ @ AK-Chin Pavilion

Published June 22nd, 2018

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The House Of Love mark 30th anniversary with 5CD set

The House Of Love's debut album will be reissued this September in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Yes, this record was reissued back in 2012 as a 3CD set, but now a new, more expansive, remastered edition will be released to mark the 30th anniversary.

The 30th anniversary edition was remastered from the original quarter-inch tapes and has been expanded to a 5CD set and limited edition double vinyl set. The CD box collects the original album, non-album tracks, demos, early mixes, BBC radio sessions and a disc worth of live tracks, most of which are previously unreleased and comes housed in a hardback book with new liner notes and photos. The double vinyl includes the original album remastered, plus the singles (the first 13 tracks found on disc 2 of the CD set). Both the CD set and double vinyl arrive on September 28th and can be pre-ordered through Cherry Red.

The House Of Love are playing a handful of dates in the U.K. this November in celebration of their 30th anniversary, however no U.S. dates have been announced.



The House Of Love - 30th Anniversary boxset

Disc 1

01. Christine
02. Hope
03. Road
04. Sulphur
05. Man To Child
06. Salome
07. Love In A Car
08. Happy
09. Fisherman's Tale
10. Touch Me
11. Shine On (demo)
12. Christine (demo)

Disc 2 - Singles, Demos & Rarities

01. Shine On
02. Love
03. Flow
04. Real Animal
05. Plastic
06. Nothing To Me
07. The Hill
08. Loneliness Is A Gun
09. The Hedonist
10. Welt
11. Destroy The Heart
12. Blind
13. Mr. Jo
14. Shine On (Guy Chadwick demo)
15. Real Animal (demo)
16. Touch Me (demo)
17. Happy (demo)
18. Road (early mix)
19. Salome (early mix)
20. Fisherman's Tale (early mix)
21. Shine On (fuck version)

Disc 3 - Demos & early mixes

01. Road (longer early mix)
02. Sulphur (early mix)
03. Happy (early mix)
04. Fisherman's Tale (early mix)
05. Touch Me (early mix)
06. Salome (early mix)
07. Shine On (band demo)
08. Real Animal (16 track demo)
09. Christine (16 track demo)
10. Hold On Me (16 track demo)
11. Hope (early mix)
12. Man To Child (early mix)
13. Love In A Car (early mix)
14. Modern World (welt, demo)
15. Little Girl (Mr jo, early mix)
16. Sulphur (early mix)
17. Happy (early mix)
18. Touch Me (early mix)
19. Shine On (early mix)
20. Real Animal (early mix)
21. Destroy The Heart (early version, no guitar)

Disc 4 - John Peel Session

01. Destroy The Heart
02. Nothing To Me
03. Plastic
04. Blind
05. The Hedonist
06. Don't Turn Blue
07. Safe
08. Love In A Car
09. In A Room
10. The Beatles and The Stones
11. Christine
12. Loneliness Is A Gun

Disc 5 - In Concert

Vredenburg, Utrecht, Holland

01. Christine
02. Man To Child
03. Road
04. Shine On

Groningen, Holland

05. Plastic
06. Sulphur
07. Touch Me
08. Nothing To Me
09. I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do

Top Rank, Brighton

10. Never
11. Se Dest
12. The Hedonist
13. Soft As Fire

La Cigale, Paris

14. Fisherman's Tale
15. Happy
16. Love In A Car
17. Destroy The Heart
18. I Wanna Be Your Dog

Published June 22nd, 2018

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NIN release 'Bad Witch' + Trent Reznor shares philosophy on trilogy + songwriting

Bad Witch, the third and final installment in the Nine Inch Nails trilogy was released today. Along with the EP, Trent Reznor gave fans insight into why he's chosen the trilogy format and his current mindstate on songwriting and creating uncomfortable music in a feature posted on NIN's website. There's lots to digest in the interview -- a few highlights are posted below:

Reznor explained the trilogy is about making sense of the world:

"I’ve found over time that if I think about songs in relation to other songs in a bigger context it’s more fun to write them. It gives each a little more meaning. In the early days it felt like a miracle if any song got finished. You’d just happen to cross the line of ten and you’d have an album. Now it’s become more about the idea of the larger story, of a larger container. I like that format as a storytelling device.

Why am I doing it? It’s what I do. And I feel I have something to say. It’s really because I need to do it. It helps me feel good about myself to do this thing, it brings me in touch with a sense of purpose. I would like to let people know, music can be the central thing. It can be this thing that you put your attention on, that you carve out time to actually participate in. It’s not something that happens in the background while you’re doing something else. It can be the whole thing. It can command your full attention.

The first record, Not the Actual Events, was more of an internal fantasy of what if I lit a match to my life and just embraced burning the whole fucking thing down. You know? All of this is an illusion and I really should be dead or lying in a ditch somewhere. Who I really am is an addict that self-destructs. That’s my true nature and this is an illusion and some borrowed time. It wasn’t a pleasant thing, but it felt like, that’s a story to tell. And if felt like something I needed to internally process.

Reznor also shared his thoughts on the unique ticketing method NIN utilized for the Cold and Black and Infinite tour:

"Over the years I’ve learned which battles to fight. If it were up to me, I would do a lot of things differently, but some things you just can’t win. But no one wants the experience of tickets are onsale at 10 o’clock, refresh refresh refresh, sold out! Here they are on Stubhub for five times the price! So we looked into seeing if we could just put them onsale at the box office. I know it’s inconvenient for people, but it seems to me that if you’re the twentieth person in line you’re probably going to get good seats because you’re right there. There’s a sense of people being there for something and you’re all there at the same time, inconvenienced because you’re celebrating art and music together."

Read the full interview here. Stream Bad Witch in full on Spotify.



Nine Inch Nails w/ The Jesus And Mary Chain - U.S. tour

Sep 13 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
Sep 14 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
Sep 18 -- Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
Sep 19 -- Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
Sep 24 -- Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre
Sep 26 -- Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
Sep 27 -- Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
Sep 29 -- Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheatre
Oct 09 -- Washington, DC @ The Anthem
Oct 13 -- New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
Oct 14 -- New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
Oct 16 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theater
Oct 17 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theater
Oct 19 -- Boston, MA @ Boch Centre
Oct 20 -- Boston, MA @ Boch Centre
Oct 22 -- Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
Oct 23 -- Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
Oct 25 -- Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
Oct 26 -- Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
Nov 23 -- New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
Nov 24 -- New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
Nov 25 -- New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
Nov 27 -- Irving, TX @ The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
Nov 28 -- Irving, TX @ The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
Dec 03 -- San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Dec 04 -- San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Dec 07 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 08 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 11 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 12 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 14 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 15 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium

Published June 22nd, 2018

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The Psychedelic Furs announce vinyl reissues

The Psychedelic Furs have announced vinyl reissues for all seven of their studio albums (The Psychedelic Furs, Talk Talk Talk, Forever Now, Mirror Moves, Midnight To Midnight, Book Of Days, World Outside). Each album is pressed on heavyweight 180 gm vinyl and feature original/replica packaging. The reissues arrive on July 27th and are available to pre-order here. The reissues are also available to pre-order from Amazon.

Earlier this month, the Psychedelic Furs released a series of limited edition, color vinyl 7" singles featuring beloved tracks from their first five albums. The singles were released individually and can also be obtained as a bundle. Check out the options here.

Published June 22nd, 2018

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The Legendary Pink Dots reissue 'Any Day Now' + 'Shadow Weaver'

Two classic albums from experimental psychedelic legends  The Legendary Pink Dots will be reissued by Metropolis Records. The remastered edition of Shadow Weaver, originally released in 1992, and 1987's Any Day Now will be released this Friday, June 22nd on CD. Vinyl editions are also available - the limited edition Shadow Weaver double LP is released June 22nd; the limited edition Any Day Now vinyl arrives as a double LP on July 6th.

View pre-order info for Shadow Weaver here; Any Day Now here.



Published June 20th, 2018

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Japan 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids' + 'Tin Drum' vinyl reissues

Two classic albums from Japan are set to be reissued this summer: Gentlemen Take Polaroids, the band's critically acclaimed fourth album (originally released in 1980), and Tin Drum, Japan's fifth and final album from 1981. Both albums will released as limited edition double LP half-speed mastered editions. These editions play at 45 rpm and are considered superior high frequency/high quality masters. Standard 180 gm single LP editions (playing at the traditional 33 rpm) will also be released.

The reissues arrive August 24th. Head here to view the pre-order options.



Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids

01. Gentlemen Take Polaroids
02. Swing
03. Burning Bridges
04. My New Career
05. Methods Of Dance
06. Ain't That Peculiar
07. Nightporter
08. Taking Islands In Africa

Japan - Tin Drum

01. The Art Of Parties
02. Talking Drum
03. Ghosts
04. Canton
05. Still Life In Mobile Homes
06. Visions Of China
07. Sons Of Pioneers
08. Cantonese Boy

Published June 20th, 2018

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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds announce 'Distant Sky' live EP

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are releasing a live EP in the fall. The Distant Sky EP was captured at Copenhagen's Royal Arena in October of last year. The full Copenhagen concert screened live in theaters worldwide in April, and due to popular demand four songs from the show will be released on the EP. Distant Sky will be released on 12" vinyl and as a digital EP on September 28th with pre-orders opening July 9th.

Watch the trailer for the EP and view the tracklisting below:



Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Distant Sky EP

Jubilee Street
Distant Sky
From Her To Eternity
The Mercy Seat

Published June 20th, 2018

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Elvis Costello & The Imposters announce North American fall tour

Elvis Costello & The Imposters are hitting the road in North America this fall. The tour includes a Detroit stop at the Fillmore Detroit on November 13th. The general onsale for the Detroit show is this Friday, June 22nd and pre-sales kick off tomorrow.

Costello also announced today that he's signed a record deal with Concord Records. Details on a new album have not yet been announced.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters - North American tour

Nov 02 -- Bethlehem, PA @ The Sands Bethlehem Event Center
Nov 04 -- Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall
Nov 06 -- Asbury Park, NJ @ Paramount Theatre
Nov 07 -- Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Resort Casino
Nov 09 -- Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre
Nov 10 -- Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
Nov 11 -- Buffalo, NY @ Shea's Performing Arts Center
Nov 13 -- Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
Nov 15 -- Minneapolis, MN @ Northrop Auditorium
Nov 17 -- Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live
Nov 19 -- Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre
Nov 21 -- St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House
Nov 23 -- Thackerville, OK @ WinStar World Casino
Nov 25 -- Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
Nov 27 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
Nov 28 -- Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim
Nov 29 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
Dec 01 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
Dec 03 -- Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
Dec 04 -- Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Published June 18th, 2018

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Johnny Marr talks Electronic and the breakup of The Smiths

Johnny Marr was interviewed by the UK's Radio X in front of a live audience on June 14th in celebration of the release of Call The Comet. The full video interview was posted today by Radio X -- the ninety minute video covers Marr's new album, songwriting, and his successful music career. The highlight of the interview was Marr opening up about the devastating breakup of The Smiths and his commentary about working in Electronic with Bernard Sumner.

When Marr was asked whether he'll collaborate with Sumner again he poked fun at Sumner's notoriously long album-making process saying "no one would see me for three and a half, four years" then went on to discuss the importance of Electronic and how working with Sumner, Neil Tennant, and Chris Lowe made him a better songwriter. He went on to credit Sumner, Matt Johnson, Chrissie Hynde, and Kirsty MacColl for helping him not only get over the "devastating" breakup of The Smiths, but how they helped him develop as a person.

Read Marr's comments below:

"If I was to do another album with Bernard no one would see me for three and a half, four years. Electronic takes SO long. You know why? It's pretty obvious why that is, right? Well, if you think I've made, how many albums have I made in the last five years? About 11, right? So something in that equation is slowing me down and his name is Bernard Sumner."

"With Electronic, the first album was great. We analyzed the hell out of ourselves on the second album but there were a few songs on there that I really loved. I mean, one of my favorite ever ever songs as everybody knows is "Get The Message." It's so simple. "Get The Message," "Forbidden City," there's a whole bunch of songs that we really like. I actually think the best Electronic album to quote Alan Partridge is Electronic's greatest hits. It actually is the best album 'cause we were a singles band really.

But in all honesty the best thing about for me about Electronic was being Bernard Sumner's best mate for 9 years. 'Cause he's just that cool. He was a good guy to be the best mate of. It was a lot of good times and everything. And the first album the people that like it really love it. I've got a whole sort of thing about Electronic.

Without Electronic I wouldn't have got to be where I am now because the main thing is that I learned -- the Smiths had already done seventy-odd songs that have now become really revered, but without going into the real boring technical details I learned to be such much better songwriter from working with Bernard Sumner and Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. The stuff that I do now on my records that is a skill that I learned from those guys. Bernard's sort of excitement factor in he's just got a real interesting way of looking at the world. And Neil's pop smarts and Chris' sound smarts -- yeah, it's a whole thing that people don't realize but I know that some smart things that I do in songs sometimes like going around a bit three times when you think it's going around four, little weird arrangements things I learned a lot from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe actually, so. Yeah, I would never swap any of that for the world really.

I needed to be around a certain kind of person when the Smiths split because you can imagine I was 24 and I was really really fucking heartbroken. I wasn't going byeeeee, jolly up. It was really devastating for me cuz I was forced into it. That's the simple way of explaining something really complicated.

So you do a lot worse than have Matt Johnson as your mate in London and Bernard Sumner as your mate in Manchester. 'Cause they're really very significant fellows and Chrissie Hynde and Kirsty MacColl. I had so many good people...We all know when you have these amazing people in your life you think, wow, shit, if I hadn't had those people I wouldn't be who I am today...Kirsty, Chrissie, Matt and Bernard were very much about the development of me as a person and just being amazing mates that I learned a lot from. And it backed me up actually, and were behind me going "this is bullshit, what you're going through is bullshit. Let's make a track let's go on tour. The The vs the world, don't worry about it." So you know, that's what happened.









Published June 18th, 2018

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Video: Gary Numan joins NIN onstage in Las Vegas

Nine Inch Nails kicked off their summer 2018 dates with a string of shows at The Strip in Las Vegas last week. During the final Vegas show on June 16th NIN brought the legendary Gary Numan on stage and performed "Metal." During the same show NIN performed a cover of Joy Division's "Digital." Watch video of both below.





Nine Inch Nails return with Bad Witch this Friday, June 22nd. The EP is the third and final installment in NIN's EP trilogy which began in 2016 with Not The Actual Events, followed by 2017's Add Violence. Pre-order Bad Witch here.

NIN head to London next to play Robert Smith's Meltdown Festival on June 22nd. The U.S. tour in support of Bad Witch kicks off in September and includes support from The Jesus & Mary Chain.

Nine Inch Nails w/ The Jesus And Mary Chain - U.S. tour

Sep 13 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
Sep 14 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
Sep 18 -- Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
Sep 19 -- Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
Sep 24 -- Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre
Sep 26 -- Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
Sep 27 -- Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
Sep 29 -- Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheatre
Oct 09 -- Washington, DC @ The Anthem
Oct 13 -- New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
Oct 14 -- New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
Oct 16 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theater
Oct 17 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theater
Oct 19 -- Boston, MA @ Boch Centre
Oct 20 -- Boston, MA @ Boch Centre
Oct 22 -- Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
Oct 23 -- Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
Oct 25 -- Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
Oct 26 -- Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
Nov 23 -- New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
Nov 24 -- New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
Nov 25 -- New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
Nov 27 -- Irving, TX @ The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
Nov 28 -- Irving, TX @ The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
Dec 03 -- San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Dec 04 -- San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Dec 07 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 08 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 11 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 12 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 14 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Dec 15 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium

Published June 18th, 2018

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New Order announce North American tour

New Order announced dates for a North American tour. The dates surround previously announced festival engagements along with New Order's October Hawaii holiday.

Tickets for Toronto and DC go on sale this Friday, June 22nd; tickets for St. Paul, Kahului, and Honolulu go on sale next Friday, June 29th. Tickets for the previously announced Cleveland and Longbeach gigs are on sale now.

New Order - North American tour

Aug 23 -- St Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Aug 25 -- Cleveland, OH @ Incuya Music Festival
Aug 28 -- Washington, DC @ The Anthem
Aug 30 -- Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Sep 29 -- Longbeach, CA @ Music Tastes Good Festival
Oct 03 -- Kahului, HI @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center/Castle Theater
Oct 10 -- Honolulu, HI @ Blaisdell Arena



Published June 18th, 2018

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Classic Alternative - Episode #60: Sleazy Thievery & The Pox of Doom

Presenting Classic Alternative - Episode #60: Sleazy Thievery & The Pox of Doom

Rock it old school with a brand new episode of Time Warp. This week's show includes music from Depeche Mode, Lush, Screaming Trees, Killing Joke, The Cramps, Ministry, The Breeders, Roxy Music, XTC, Joy Division, The Smiths, and more.

Stream below or here and check out the full archive of Time Warp episodes here or here.


Music news stories from the past week

Peter Murphy postpones San Francisco residency amid continuing visa issues
Robert Smith takes over BBC with EPIC 2 hour Meltdown preview
R.I.P. Nick Knox, drummer of The Cramps
Depeche Mode announce 12" vinyl single box set series
OMD announce Pretending To See The Future 40th anniversary book
Chris Liebing announces new LP; premieres track ft Gary Numan
The The perform Maida Vale session + talk live return, setlist + more
Johnny Marr on Call The Comet and pop music no longer being "sexy"
The Ocean Blue working on new LP + live dates
Miki Berenyi of Lush recording new music with new band
Robert Smith talks goth culture + more
The The confirm UK show filmed for future release
Spiritualized announce new LP And Nothing Hurt

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Peter Murphy postpones San Francisco residency (again)

Peter Murphy's ill fated San Francisco residency at The Chapel has hit another snag. Murphy issued a statement today informing fans that he's once again been forced to postpone his residency due to U.S. visa issues that remain unresolved.

Murphy was planning to perform several of his solo albums in full during the 15 date career spanning residency last summer, but Murphy moved the shows to January 2018 after developing a nodule on his vocal cords requiring surgery and vocal rest. Then in January Murphy encountered problems with obtaining his U.S. visa and subsequently the residency was moved to this summer. Because his visa application still hasn't been processed, Murphy has now rescheduled the dates for March 2019.

Along with the residency news Murphy also revealed he's planning to announce dates for a Bauhaus 40th anniversary tour which will include ex-Bauhaus bandmate David J. Murphy says the announcement is coming "soon" so stay tuned.

Read Murphy's full statement and rescheduled dates below:

"Due to continuing inexplicable bureaucratic delays regarding his US visa application, Peter Murphy has no choice but to announce the postponement of the Chapel Residency to March 2019. These shows represent a very important milestone for Peter, sharing some of his most-loved work with his fans in an unprecedented run of full album performances, and his personal sadness at these San Francisco shows not coming to fruition at this time is great. Despite having several attorneys, management, and members of the US congress working diligently on this, there has been no word or movement on the visa application, and there is no answer as to why it is being held up. Peter did not want to wait any longer to make this decision, even though he has indications that the visa will be issued eventually, as he is very concerned about fans making non-refundable travel and hotel arrangements.

Peter wants everyone to know that the residency concept will live on, and he and the band are excited to bring these shows to The Chapel in March 2019, and to other cities and stages around the world at some point soon. For now, know that Peter is so very grateful for his amazing fans.

Peter soon will be announcing worldwide dates for the Bauhaus 40th Anniversary Ruby Tour featuring David J, with John Andrews and Marc Slutsky.

Please see The Chapel's announcement. They will directly handle ticket reissues for the new dates, refunds, or any further questions."

Peter Murphy - The Chapel Residency March 2019

Mar 05 -- Should The World Fail To Fall Apart
Mar 08 -- Love Hysteria 8pm / Love Hysteria 11pm
Mar 09 -- Deep
Mar 10 -- Deep
Mar 11 -- Deep
Mar 14 -- Deep / Love Hysteria encore
Mar 15 -- Cascade 8pm / Holy Smoke 11pm
Mar 18 -- Stripped
Mar 19 -- Dust 7pm / Ninth 10 pm
Mar 21 -- Mr. Moonlight
Mar 22 -- Mr. Moonlight
Mar 23 -- Mr. Moonlight

Published June 17th, 2018

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Robert Smith takes over BBC with epic two hour Meltdown preview

Robert Smith took over Iggy Pop's show on the BBC this evening in celebration of today's kickoff of the Meltdown Festival in London. Smith was on air for two hours playing selections from the bands headlining the festival, including Mogwai, Mono, Alcest, My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails, and more. Smith did a fantastic job as a DJ -- his passion for the music he played was evident, and though he mostly kept his comments short, he had a few fun stories:

Smith revealed he was "entranced" by Suzanne Vega's first album and asked her to play with The Cure back in the day. She declined.

After playing the Manic Street Preachers, he described them as being "snotty" when they first started out, but said they can back it up with memorable songs. So memorable he has to listen to nursery rhymes to get the songs out of his head.

Smith paid tribute to Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, who were scheduled to play Meltdown prior to the tragic suicide of Hutchison. Smith called the loss "heartbreaking for all real music lovers everywhere. The world lost a genuinely great artist, but his genius songs live on."

The show ended on a high note: Smith told the audience that he was out of time, but had one last song to play and quipped "I hope the final headliner plays this at Meltdown on June 24th" then played The Cure's "The Same Deep Water As You."

Stream the stellar two hour show over at BBC Radio 6 Music.



Published June 15th, 2018

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R.I.P. Nick Knox, drummer of The Cramps

Nick Knox, drummer for the legendary band The Cramps has died. Knox played drums for The Cramps from 1977 through 1991. Knox's death has been confirmed by John Morton, who played in the Cleveland band Electric Eels with Knox prior to joining The Cramps. No cause of death has been announced. Knox was 65 years old.

R.I.P.

Just reading here that Nick Knox has passed away. Here’s a pic of Nick that I took at the erstwhile Tropicana Motel during The Cramps first visit to LA. Lux Interior art directed my shoot with help from @PleasantGehman1 . RIP Nick pic.twitter.com/d3svy95PDb

— Theresa Kereakes 🐾 (@TheresaKereakes) June 15, 2018

Published June 15th, 2018

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Depeche Mode announce 12" vinyl single box set series

Depeche Mode announced plans to release a series of vinyl box sets featuring 12" vinyl editions of all their singles.

Each box set in the series will contain the singles from a Depeche Mode album on 12" vinyl, with audio remastered from the original tapes. The artwork for the outer box was influenced by the original album artwork, while the individual single sleeves will feature the original vinyl single artwork. An original single poster reproduction and download card are also included.

The series launches August 31st with the first two box sets: Speak & Spell and A Broken Frame. Take a look at the track listing for both box sets and pre-order here.

Speak & Spell

1. Flexi-disc (this is a flexidisc reproduction of a single originally issued by Flexipop magazine in September, 1981. The flexidisc featured one song from Depeche Mode and one from Fad Gadget)

"Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead" (Depeche Mode)
"King Of The Flies" (Fad Gadget)

2. Dreaming Of Me 12"

"Dreaming Of Me"
"Ice Machine"

3. New Life 12"

"New Life (remix)"
"Shout! (Rio mix)"

4. Just Can't Get Enough 12"

"Just Can't Get Enough (Schizo mix)"
"Any Second Now (altered)"

A Broken Frame

1. See You 12"

"See You (extended version)
"Now This Is Fun (extended version)

2. The Meaning Of Love 12"

"The Meaning Of Love (fairly odd mix)"
"Oberkorn (It's A Small Town) (development mix)"

3. Leave In Silence 12"

"Leave In Silence (longer)"
"Further Excerpts From: My Secret Garden"
"Leave In Silence (Quieter)"

Published June 15th, 2018

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OMD announce 40th anniversary book 'Pretending To See The Future' + limited edition "Messages" flexi-disc

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark announced the release of a career retrospective hardcover book Pretending To See The Future. The book celebrates the band's 40th anniversary with an oral history featuring commentary and anecdotes from the band, their inner circle, collaborators and fans, plus  hundreds of photos are included -- many previously unseen from OMD's personal archive. Pretending To See The Future will be published in November and is available to pre-order now through Pledge Music.

OMD are providing a special treat to fans who pre-order early - an exclusive flexi-disc featuring a rare and previously unreleased demo of "Messages." The demo was recorded in 1978 prior to the formation of OMD:

"Recorded in the garage studio of school friend Paul Collister who would become OMD's manager, and featuring the electronic drums built by Paul Humphreys. This is sound of two eighteen year old kids experimenting in early electronic music and still exploring the arrangement of a song that would become the band’s first hit single two years later."

The band cautions that the flexi-disc will be made to order for initial orders only and will not be available elsewhere, so don't delay if you're interested. Read more about Pretending To See The Future here and pre-order here.

OMD are still accepting submissions for fan content - fans are welcome to share their pictures, scans of ticket stubs, memories, etc with the band at omdbook@gmail.com

Published June 14th, 2018

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Chris Liebing announces 'Burn Slow' LP + premieres new track ft Gary Numan

Chris Liebing announced the release of his new album Burn Slow. The German techno producer's "minimalist electronic epic" will be released on September 7th and includes guest appearances from Gary Numan and Cold Cave. Burn Slow is Liebing's first release on Mute, home to many of his favorite artists:

"Without realising, a lot of the music I was into came from just one label, Mute. I vividly remember dancing around at my neighbour’s house in the early ‘80s to songs by Depeche Mode and Yazoo. Banging my head in dark basements to the likes of DAF, Laibach and Nitzer Ebb to name but a few."

The first track from the record "Novembergrey" was issued back in April, and today saw the premiere of  another track "Polished Chrome (The Friend Pt 1)" featuring spoken word vocals from synth legend Gary Numan. Stream both tracks below and find out more about the release here.





Published June 13th, 2018

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The The discuss live return, 'Comeback Special' setlist + perform at Maida Vale

The The performed an exclusive live session at the Maida Vale studios in London for BBC Radio 6 Music. The The performed four songs -- "Global Eyes," "Flesh and Bones," "Soul Catcher," and "Infected" -- plus Matt Johnson talked about returning to the stage after a long absence, his father's recent death, how he went about creating the Comeback Special setlist, The The's new biography, and more. The interview portion hosted by Steve Lamacq is streaming here. The session including the full performance and interview is streaming here (begins at 2:11:00). Interview highlights from the session are posted below:

On the recent passing of his father Edward Charles Johnson:

"We were very very close. Me and my brother Gerard would speak to my father every day, literally every day and we'd see him as much as we could. So I arrived in Sweden in Stockholm to perform a concert, he had just celebrated his 86th birthday and his health wasn't great, but his death was still unexpected. And I got the phone call while I was waiting to collect baggage. Luckily I had my band and some of my crew members around and they stood around me and really helped me through it.

And we managed to support each other through it and then I had to get on stage within a few hours, which was very very difficult. Because you've just got to be professional put everything out of your mind and just get on with it, couldn't cancel the concert. It's been very very tough because it stirred up a lot of memories and he was going to be sitting in the box at the Royal Albert Hall watching me play for the first time in 16 years or 18 years. And that was hard you know. I was on stage looking up at the box where he was going to be watching me."

On playing London's Royal Albert Hall:

"I actually said on stage, it's the musician's equivalent to a tennis player playing Wimbledon really. And this was my 4th time playing there and probably my favorite despite these sad circumstances because the intensity and to see people dancing in every part of the wonderful venue, it made it very very special...Tim Pope came down to direct a film of it, so there will be a release of that at some point."

On creating The The's Comeback Special set list:

"The original idea was divided into three sections so there's political start, emotional in the middle, and metaphysical at the end like a three act play, and then there's obviously the encore. It gave the set more of a feeling of a three act play.

I wanted it to be career spanning setlist but I also had to bear in mind the lineup that I have, that I've chose for this choosing a member from each of my three world tours. And with this lineup I didn't want any sequences synthesizers samplers, click tracks, it's just 5 musicians playing. And that meant that there were certain songs that weren't suitable -- things like "Giant" and some of my most well known and favorite songs didn't suit this lineup.

The other consideration was that there were certain songs that were undroppable, like "Uncertain Smile" for instance. There were some songs that were just lyrically very pertinent like the political songs. And there's other songs that don't really resonate that I really felt important to do that still have great meaning. Like "This Is The Day," funnily enough although it's my best known song, I wrote it when I was 20 or 21 had more meaning for me now than it did then in some ways. "Heartland" is still very pertinent, I mean who would have thought? We've got a female prime minister and a reality tv show star in the White House and nothing's changed has it, really? So we were really pleased with the way it worked."

On returning to the stage after a long absence:

"The funny thing is, I'm more comfortable now that I've been away for 18 years 16 years, whatever at this stage, I'm more comfortable with being on stage than I was then. Because I'm lucky I'm one of the people who doesn't get stage fright so I don't have nerves when I walk on stage. I feel very very comfortable. And I'm more chatty now than I was because I'm obviously since I was last touring I'm a middle aged dad, I've been through so many messy life events and I'm very very relaxed and I like talking to the audience. And it was surprisingly easy."

The The's Comeback Special plays North America in September. Meanwhile the band's first authorized biography Long Shadows, High Hopes: The Life and Times of Matt Johnson & The The was released on June 9th. Read more about the biography here and obtain a digital copy here. Hardcover editions are not available in the U.S. yet, however you can obtain an import copy here.

The The - North American tour

Sep 14 -- Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Sep 16 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
Sep 17 -- New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Sep 19 -- Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre For The Performing Arts
Sep 21 -- Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
Sep 22 -- Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Sep 24 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Ford Theatre
Sep 25 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
Sep 27 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic

Published June 13th, 2018

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Johnny Marr talks 'Call The Comet' and pop music no longer being "sexy"

Johnny Marr is in full swing promoting his new album Call The Comet which arrives this Friday. Today he appeared on BBC Radio 6 Music to discuss the new album and play a few songs.

Marr talked about recording Call The Comet in Manchester:

"I've got this new studio just on the outskirts, this big old factory, top floor of a factory. That was fun because those places are few and far between nowadays...The Smiths started out in the top floor of a factory, clothes factory, and that's where we find ourselves now. It's nice that 30 years later we've still got those kind of environments to work in really, a very rare and some of the tracks from the album have definitely been formed by that kind of industrial sort of space I think"

He also describes Call The Comet as a rock record and says he thinks modern pop music isn't very sexy:

Back in the Smiths days I never had a problem describing myself as a pop musician...The Smiths and what I was doing, my generation late 70s early 80s, wanted to get away from rock...I guess wanting to redefine what rock was or...shake off the old paradigms of what rock had become.

But I think on this record I'm not feeling like a pop musician 'cause I think pop is something else now, and there are things that certain kinds of rock or guitar music that a band can do that certainly current pop just doesn't busy itself doing.

"Like what kind of thing?" host Lauren Laverne asked. Marr's reply:

Sexy, I think. I have to say I love pop music and love when it pushes the envelope, but I find a lot of the modern stuff isn't sexy. And I think rock music has a sort of implication in it of, it can get it little out there; you can hang some pretty decent poetry on it and some pretty decent imagery and just sort of lose yourself in it a little bit whereas I think the almost defining things of pop is that it's supposed to grab you every few seconds which is great when it does it, and when it's really great it is that phrase "life affirming" and who doesn't like that? It's fantastic.

But sometimes I think, I was just feeling that I wanted to be, or was in a sort of place that was a little bit more, not reflective - 'cause I'm never that mellow - but, just in a different space, you know. I was alright without not hanging or sort of looking to write singles or anything like that.

Watch Marr perform "Day In Day Out" from the session below and stream the archive here.



Published June 13th, 2018

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The Ocean Blue working on new LP; announce live shows

The Ocean Blue are currently finishing up work on their seventh studio album, the follow up to 2013's Ultramarine. A release date has not yet been announced, but they have scheduled a few U.S. shows for the fall. Tickets for the Chicago and DC shows are on sale now, the other two shows are TBA. Check out the dates below and catch up with The Ocean Blue here.



The Ocean Blue - tour

Sep 28 -- Washington, DC @ Union Stage
Oct 12 -- Minneapolis, MN @ TBA
Oct 14 -- Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Oct 28 -- Los Angeles, CA @ TBA

Published June 12th, 2018

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BBC 6 Music host sessions with Johnny Marr + The The

On Wednesday, June 13th BBC 6 Music hosts live sessions with two music legends.

Johnny Marr will be performing and talking about his new album Call The Comet on Lauren Laverne's show. Her program airs from 5am to 8am ET (unknown exactly what time Marr's session will begin).

Then at 11am, BBC 6 Music hosts an exclusive Maida Vale session with The The. The performance and interview with Matt Johnson airs on Steve Lamacq's show, which begins at 11am ET.

In case you can't listen live, archives of both programs should be available to stream on demand after the shows air.

Published June 12th, 2018

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Miki Berenyi of Lush recording new music with new band

Miki Berenyi of Lush is working on new musical project. Last week she mentioned on Twitter that she was at a rehearsal room which led to the inevitable question of why she was there. Berenyi eventually revealed a bit more info to the brave and inquisitive fans/heroes DrMacsBug and FMFAlex: she's working on some new songs for a new band and will be laying down vocals tomorrow. Read how it all played out on Twitter below via Reddit:

Bumped into Terry Edwards (Gallon Drunk, PJ Harvey, now playing with Richard Strange) at Panic rehearsal rooms - I’ve known him for… oooh, over 30 years, back when he was in The Higsons. He even did a Lush cover once! pic.twitter.com/UMHWGtbLkr

— Miki Berenyi (@berenyi_miki) June 5, 2018

Working on some new songs... off to studio to record today!

— Miki Berenyi (@berenyi_miki) June 5, 2018

Part of a new band!

— Miki Berenyi (@berenyi_miki) June 11, 2018

Brilliant. I'm doing vocals on Wednesday so I'll telepathically will the vibes your way

— Miki Berenyi (@berenyi_miki) June 11, 2018

Published June 11th, 2018

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Robert Smith talks "goth" culture + more in new interview

A new interview with Robert Smith has been published in the London magazine Time Out. Among the topics: curating Meltdown, playing solo shows, and The Cure's upcoming 40th anniversary Curaethon gig at Hyde Park. The full interview is available to read here. Some highlights from the interview are posted below.

Smith was asked for his thoughts on being described as a "goth" or a "goth band" - something that Smith insists he never took seriously:

"We got stuck with it at a certain time when goths first started. I was playing guitar with Siouxsie And The Banshees, so I had to play the part. Goth was like pantomime to me. I never really took the whole culture thing seriously.

It’s just a theatrical thing. It’s part of the ritual of going on stage. Also there is the prosaic reason: I have ill-defined features and naturally pale skin. I mean, not at the moment, because I unfortunately fell asleep in the sun yesterday – very un-goth.

As a subculture, I think it’s full of wonderful people. But I have never liked what’s classified as goth music."

He also discussed playing music at this stage in life:

"If I had ever been intent on being the number one band in the world and was still relentlessly banging my head against that particular wall, I would hopefully be dead – and if not, I would just be a moron. The process was what I enjoyed: to be an artist, if I want to be poncy about it. Everything The Cure’s ever done is purely selfish. I’ve only got one life, and I should really be doing stuff that brings me satisfaction. Anyway, one day my hair will all fall out and I won’t look gothic any more. So just wait for that."

Read the full entertaining interview with Robert Smith here.

This Friday June 15th in celebration of the Meltdown Festival kickoff, Robert Smith will be discussing the curation process on BBC Music 6. The show streams live starting at 2pm ET here.

Published June 11th, 2018

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The The show filmed for future release + view professionally shot photos

The The kicked off their first tour in years last month in the UK. The band requested concertgoers to keep their phones in their pockets and view the show like the old days. For the most part, fans have honored The The's request - perhaps sneaking a quick pic or two, but at least they've refrained from filming the full show or being disruptive and discourteous to the band and other concertgoers.

Royal Albert Hall, which hosted the first of three sold out shows in London, have now uploaded several professionally shot band-sanctioned photos from the June 5th show. View the full incredible set of pictures here.

FYI: As previously reported director Tim Pope was on hand to film the Royal Albert Hall show, though details regarding a future release have not yet been disclosed. Confirmation of the filming was posted on Royal Albert Hall's website ("the whole night was being filmed anyway"), plus Pope himself posted evidence on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/yknpjaI36e

— Tim Pope 🎥 (@timpopedirector) June 5, 2018

Nice! pic.twitter.com/m2FK4vC3Oi

— Tim Pope 🎥 (@timpopedirector) June 5, 2018

@thethe The countdown is on... Matt and me at our recce of the RAH a while back. pic.twitter.com/Cu74YPZUpP

— Tim Pope 🎥 (@timpopedirector) June 1, 2018

The The return to the road next month and kick off the North American leg of dates in September. Meanwhile the band's first authorized biography Long Shadows, High Hopes: The Life and Times of Matt Johnson & The The was released on June 9th. Read more about the biography here and obtain a digital copy here. Hardcover editions are not available in the U.S. yet, however you can obtain an import copy here.

The The - North American tour

Sep 14 -- Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Sep 16 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
Sep 17 -- New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Sep 19 -- Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre For The Performing Arts
Sep 21 -- Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
Sep 22 -- Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Sep 24 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Ford Theatre
Sep 25 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
Sep 27 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic

Published June 11th, 2018

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