Pitchfork: ESG Say Goodbye

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ESG Say Goodbye
Final show next Friday in Chicago

Next Friday, September 21, at Chicago's Abbey Pub, a strand of post-punk history will reach its conclusion, as the influential sister act ESG will play what they are calling their final show ever.

It's part of the unfortunately named-- but nonetheless laudable-- Estrojam festival, which will also host a "Music Biz 101" workshop at the same venue earlier in the evening, featuring ESG frontwoman Renee Scroggins doling out advice. (Other acts performing at the six-day festival include Marnie Stern, Yo Majesty, Kristin Hersh, Bettye LaVette, Bahamadia, Psalm One, and Margaret Cho.)

When asked why ESG are calling it quits now, frontwoman Renee Scroggins said, "It's been a long career. We were able to play a good 30 years in the business. I'm just really tired right now. We love our fans, and we appreciate 30 years of support." She added that she's turned her focus to producing other artists; her first act is a singer named Marquetta.

For those unfamiliar with ESG, here's a crash course: [MORE...]

Video: ESG: Moody [live in Paris]

Posted by Amy Phillips in breakup on Tue: 09-11-07: 07:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Photos: A Place to Bury Strangers [New York, NY; 09/09/07]

It wasn't the ideal setting to witness the arc welding feedback assault of Brooklyn trio A Place to Bury Strangers, but in the late-afternoon dusk, on an early-autumn Sunday evening, the amp-shattering Brooklyn-based dream-rockers brought the heat.

Playing to a typical cross-armed crowd at the Ludlow Street Festival on New York's Lower East Side, the band plowed through a quick set featuring tracks from their Pitchfork-adored self-titled debut LP. Despite getting off to a rocky start with "To Fix the Gash in Your Head", during which frontman Oliver Ackermann's percussive guitar effects failed to properly sync with drummer Jay Space, APTBS recovered gracefully, cranking up the volume in an attempt to live up to their self-imposed rep as the city's loudest band.

Apart from the band's blistering decibel levels and swoony dream-pop melodies, Ackermann himself is APTBS's most transfixing live element: Instantly shifting from sincere, close-eyed crooning to brutally thrashing and injuring his guitar, his passionate conviction notoriously converts skeptics.

Still, environment matters for a band like this, and the greasy pork scent wafting from street vendors, the DJ blasting hip-hop radio hits between sets, and the general lack of control that comes with any street fair setting-- let alone one showcasing eight bands in six hours-- left no doubt that the only way to experience A Place to Bury Strangers is in the shadowy confines of a controlled, closed space, where their flame-throwing maelstrom can incinerate with all the concentrated fury it achieves on record.

More photos, as well as APTBS' upcoming tour dates below.

[MORE...]

Posted by Ryan Schreiber in tour, photos on Mon: 09-10-07: 04:30 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

T.V. Eye: September 10-16, 2007

Live music on TV this week:

Tuesday, September 11:

FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Buzzcocks
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: 50 Cent
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Spoon

Wednesday, September 12:

FUEL: The Daily Habit: Office
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Modest Mouse
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: The Bravery
CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Spoon

Thursday, September 13:

PBS: Tavis Smiley: Chuck D, Professor Griff
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kanye West
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Teddybears

Friday, September 14:

ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Hot Hot Heat
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Chamillionaire

Posted by Amy Phillips in tveye on Mon: 09-10-07: 04:20 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Hold Steady, Superchunk, Wrens Guys Do FMC Summit
Plus: SoundExchange squares off with net radio broadcasters

Every year of this young century save the first, musicians, label heads, and other notable know-it-alls have joined together for a few days of fun and fellowship in the hopes of furthering the dialogue on the current (and future!) state of the music business. This year will prove no exception, as the Future of Music Coalition will host its 7th annual policy summit at George Washington University's Betts Theatre September 17-18 in our nation's capital.

The likes of Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady, Merge Records head (and, incidentally, Superchunk/Portastatic frontguy) Mac McCaughan, Charles Bissell of the Wrens, Bob Mould, Kill Rock Stars chief Portia Sabin, FMC's own Jenny Toomey, and Nick Krill and Jonathan Eaton of the Spinto Band will be on hand to help "address the critical issues at the intersection of music, law, technology, and policy."

Joining these music types will be tons of industry folk. Oh, and John Simson, the executive director of the net radio-tousling SoundExchange will be there, as will representatives from Pandora, Rumblefish, and others: without the Capitol Hill security that usually separates the two camps while they meet, shit could get very real. Wanna watch? Registration for the event closes September 14.

Posted by Paul Thompson in legal, business on Mon: 09-10-07: 04:00 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

The Narrator Kick Off Tour

Hey, you punks, get outta my city! Chicago's the Narrator-- more punk in spirit than execution these days, perhaps, but a raucous live act regardless of genre distinctions-- will blow out their Windy City home tonight before making their way around the country through the rest of the month.

The tour comes in support of the Narrator's 2007 Flameshovel LP, All That to the Wall. Will you assume the role of protagonist and join them? This far out, only an omniscient Narrator could say for sure. [MORE...]

MP3: The Narrator: SurfJew [from the All That to the Wall LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in tour on Mon: 09-10-07: 03:30 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Photos: Musicfest NW [Portland, OR; 09/06-09/09/07]

Photos by Nilina Mason-Campbell (unless otherwise indicated)
Above: Girl Talk

The Pacific Northwest is spoiled. Just over a week ago it was Bumbershoot blowing up all over Seattle; this past weekend it was Musicfest NW's turn to corral a similarly excellent crop of acts into various Portland venues. And that's to say nothing of Sasquatch! or PDX Pop Now! (Not only are they spoiled, they also have to get all exclamatory about it.) Ah well, Chicago ain't got it so bad, so who's complaining?

This year's MFNW brought the likes of Wolf Parade, Ghostface Killah, Cat Power, Clipse, Girl Talk, Dan Deacon, Spoon, Deerhunter, Grizzly Bear, Okkervil River, Rilo Kiley, Bobby Bare Jr. with members of the Decemberists, and more to the City of Roses. Catch all your faves in the fab photo exposé to follow.

WOLF PARADE

CLIPSE

GHOSTFACE KILLAH

Ghostface photos by Justin Kent

CAT POWER

SPOON

[MORE...]

Posted by Pitchfork Staff in festival, photos on Mon: 09-10-07: 03:30 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Sound Team Call It Quits

After a brief run in the majors and a handful of releases, Austin's Sound Team have gone and thrown the big game. The game of making music together.

As bassist Bill Baird revealed on his blog late last week (linked via Gorilla vs. Bear), the combo is calling it quits for reasons "numerous and boring."

"I will spare details," he wrote. "They are the typical band problems: stress of the road, diverging tastes, personal tensions, and monetary difficulties. Nothing too dramatic. Just time to move on, that's all."

Baird goes on to list precisely where he and each of his soon-to-be ex-bandmates will be moving on to. All will continue making music in one manner or another, with Baird himself recording as Sunset (aka Silent Sunset) and operating the Big Orange recording studio in Austin.

Wrote Baird in closing, "Having founded the band with Matt [Oliver], I feel emotional about all this. I invested years into the group, dreamt crazy dreams, laughed, toured, made great friends. I regret nothing. The band, in my mind, achieved great success and made fantastic music. I set out with this band to restore a sense of joy and exuberance to musical performance. At our best, we achieved that goal."

Following a gig at their hometown's La Zona Rosa, Sound Team's valedictory performance will take place at the Austin City Limits festival on September 15. [MORE...]

Video: Sound Team: Bedroom Walls [from the Bedroom Walls 12-inch]

Posted by Matthew Solarski in breakup on Mon: 09-10-07: 03:21 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Neil Young Announces Fall Tour, Chrome Tracklist

Neil Young's new album, Chrome Dreams II, comes out on Reprise on October 16. Two days later, Young will begin his fall tour, which includes stops at his own Bridge School benefit and a two-night stand at Toronto's Massey Hall, a place he is well aquainted with.

In a Prince-like move, people who purchase tickets to the fall shows will also receive a copy of Chrome Dreams II. And in case you're balking on placing that Ticketmaster order until you know exactly what's on the album, Billboard.com has just revealed the tracklist. It's got one song, "Ordinary People", that stretches out over 18 minutes, and another, "No Hidden Path", that's over 11 minutes. As if that wasn't likely to be trippy enough, Billboard also reports that "the album will also be available with a bonus DVD featuring 'super-saturated' high-resolution audio and a moving video image." DUUUUUUDE. [MORE...]

Video: Neil Young: Old Man / Ohio [from the Live at Massey Hall LP]

Posted by Dave Maher and Amy Phillips in tour, album on Mon: 09-10-07: 03:00 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Roisin Murphy Shares LP Details, Single, Tour Dates

Róisín shine, people! It's time for a sleek, sophisticated, Euro-style dance party, and your master of ceremonies, ex-Moloko chanteuse Róisín Murphy, has insisted on your attendance. She's even put together a nice little new album-- and another single-- to help ease those feet onto the dancefloor. What's more, she'll bring the soirée right to your doorstep, provided that doorstep lies across the Atlantic from North America.

As previously mentioned, Róisín's second and latest LP will follow-up 2005's exquisite Ruby Blue and feature a variety of producers. The LP now has a title (Overpowered-- also the name of its previously mentioned first single), a release date (October 15 in the UK/Europe via EMI), and a tracklist (see below).

Producers powering up Overpowered include Richard X, Groove Armada's Andy Cato, Jimmy Douglass, Seiji (Bugz in the Attic), Ill Factor, and Parrot & Dean.

Before Overpowered arrives, however, Murphy will hit us with her second single from the disc. "Let Me Know" lands October 8 in a bunch of different formats (with a 12" version due October 15) and features that awesome cover art you see up there (Halloween, here we come). Paul Oakenfold, Joey Negro, and Mr. Cato provide mixes.

Róisín will close out the year with dates across Europe, from Krakow to Dublin. That is, if she can figure out where she put her arms. [MORE...]

Stream: Roisin Murphy: Let Me Know (Andy Cato Mix) [from the forthcoming Let Me Know single]

Video: Roisin Murphy: Overpowered [from the forthcoming Overpowered LP]

Posted by Matthew Solarski in album, single, tour on Mon: 09-10-07: 02:15 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Interpol and Liars Kick Off Joint Tour

Interpol's sleek shade of post-punk will meet Liars' more unhinged variety tonight, September 10, as the two kick off their previously reported tour together in Albany, New York.

Both bands will hock their new albums on the tour, which accounts for all of Liars' currently scheduled dates, except for a set at ATP's Release the Bats show on November 2 in London.

Interpol, however, have a quite a few more dates this fall, including a run of European shows with Blonde Redhead.

As previously reported, Cat Power will open the Madison Square Garden date of the Interpol/Liars tour on September 14. [MORE...]

Stream: Liars: Various Tracks [from the Liars LP]

Stream: Interpol: The Heinrich Maneuver (Phones Remix)

Posted by Dave Maher in tour on Mon: 09-10-07: 02:00 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

New Iron and Wine LP Gets Bonus Disc

Good boy! Like a faithful companion to the dipping temperatures of the early fall, Iron and Wine's The Shepherd's Dog fetches you the auditory equivalent of cozy slippers and an oaky pipe. But, should you choose to beckon the Dog to your side, you may be greeted with a genial slobber-- and a bonus disc besides!

Indeed, while supplies last at Sub Pop's online shop and select independent stores, The Shepherd's Dog-- out September 25 in the States and the day before in the U.K. from Transgressive-- will come waggin' with a two-track bonus CD. Those tracks? The previously unreleased "Serpent Charmer" and "Arms of a Thief". Orders through the Sub Pop store also come with a sticker and pin buried in the Dog's fur.

Those looking to track down a handsome, shaggy stray can do so on Sam's forthcoming world tour, kicking off September 23 in Chicago. [MORE...]

Stream: Iron and Wine: Boy With a Coin (single edit) [from the Shepherd's Dog LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in album on Mon: 09-10-07: 01:20 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Photos: Hideout Block Party [Chicago, IL; 09/07/07-09/08/07]

Photos by Joseph Mohan

It was a beautiful weekend in Chicago, and to celebrate the autumny weather, a whole bunch of folks turned out for the Hideout's annual Block Party. No Albini-on-Albini headliners this year, but it was still quite a romper, featuring British popsters Art Brut, the ever-so-fitting Bloc Party (who joked that they'd named themselves after the event), dance master Dan Deacon (just a few hours before his green skull went missing) and the Windy City's favorite son, Andrew Bird. The Frames, O'Death, the 1900s, Cass McCombs, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, and the Changes all also got their party on.

There was also a glee club (Blue Ribbon Glee Club), a marching band (Mucca Pazza), square dancers (Golden Horse Ranch Square Dance Band), and something called a Guitarkestra (helmed by Steven Krakow, aka Plastic Crimewave). Photos of all that weird shit, and even more, below.

ART BRUT

BLOC PARTY

DAN DEACON

ANDREW BIRD

[MORE...]

Posted by Pitchfork Staff in festival, photos on Mon: 09-10-07: 12:20 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

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Wed: 10-10-07: 12:30 PM CDT
Nirvana's Unplugged Gets DVD Release