SMASHING PUMPKINS
Ahh, nothing's better than an nice summer record release! That actually doesn't really make any sense, but here are a few new records and reissues coming out this summer. As always, if there is anything we've missed (surely), please comment below!
New Releases
Aesop Rock: Skelethon (Rhymespace) July 10th
Underground Rap pioneer, Aesop Rock, is set to release his newest album FIVE years since his last one. Guest spots include Kimya Dawson, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz and others. Pretty excited to hear what Aesop's been up to lately.
From one of electronic music's biggest acts to a two-night affair with one of the most enduring outfits in alternative rock, there's no shortage of live entertainment to be found throughout October. Here are some marquee names and rising superstars that will be hitting the Big Apple's best venues in the coming months:
10/4 through 10/9 - Deadmau5 @ Roseland Ballroom
Love deadmau5? Well, here's your chance to see him six times in a row! The world-renowned electronic artist will make history when he brings his Meowsington Hax experience to Roseland Ballroom for nearly a full week. Named after his cat Professor Meowingtons, the Meowsington Hax show is a combination of arresting visual production and deadmau5's signature blend of original music and remixed classics. Judging by this clip from Lollapolooza, NYC fans are in for one heck of a sense-jarring treat. Though six consecutive nights of those flashy lights can't be good for your eyes...
Unless you've been under a rock for the past five months, you've heard of the Indie group Temper Trap. Australian natives Dougy Mandagi, Jonathon Aherne, Lorenzo Sillitto, Sebastian Kirwan, and Toby Dondas have been taking the U.S. by storm.
"It's been absolutely amazing. We're just glad to be out here and doing something," the band said. Their debut single "Sweet Disposition" hit the Billboard charts top ten almost overnight, and album Conditions became an instant classic for hungry Indie Rock lovers, seeking something out of the norm. But be careful placing them in the dreaded Indie Genre Box. "We describe it as Alternative Rock. It's alternative to things that are going on out there. Indie is such a bastardized term these days. We're trying to do something a little different," they explained.
After six years off in which the world thought the band was dissolved, A Perfect Circle is back and is set for a West Coast tour in November.
In fact, the band will play three-night sets and each night will be one of its three albums played from start to finish. Mer de Noms, Thirteenth Step and eMOTIVe are the three albums to be played.
An interesting fact about the pseudo-reunion, even though the band never officially broke up, is that former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha will rejoin the band after originally joining the group around 2003.
Recently, Mike Rothman spent some time with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who touched on his tumultuous past with his former bandmates, including Iha.
Here’s a rundown of next week’s concerts.
August 3
American Idols Live
BankAtlantic Center
August 5
Justin Bieber
BankAtlantic Center
August 4
La Roux
The Culture Room
August 7
Smashing Pumpkins
Miami Marine Stadium
Alejandro Sanz
American Airlines Arena
It was a sorrowful and heart-breaking Christmas for the family and friends of Vic Chesnutt, who died in a hospital in Athens, Georgia on December 25th. The 45 year old folk singer-songwriter had spent two days in a coma after attempting suicide by overdosing on muscle relaxers. The founders of Constellation records, Chesnutt’s label, released this statement:
"In the few short years that we knew him personally, Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about. Our grief is inexpressible and Vic's absence unfathomable."
Adorned with a cover photo of Kurt Cobain, the newly released Grunge photo book chronicles the pivotal scene that dominated the music in the Pacific Northwest during the late eighties and early nineties. The photos, comprised from Sub Pop photographer Michael Lavine’s personal collection, provide an unabridged look at the bands that dominated the pivotal scene in American music as well as a look at the group of young fans disenfranchised by an over-commercialized music scene. Lavine contributed to the alternative Sub Pop aesthetic by providing the album art photos for Nirvana, Mudhoney, Dwarves, Screaming Trees, and others.
Oh sweet Billy Corgan, what is it about your misery that is so compelling? In recent news, the Smashing Pumpkins have lashed out against their fans and decided to stop touring all together. After their reunion album, Zeitgeist, and a recent 20th anniversary tour they have decided to call it quits as a band.
“There is no point,” says Corgan “people don't even listen to it all. They put it on their iPod; they drag over the two singles, and skip over the rest.” The band will instead be driving their sales with individually released singles and no live concerts. What a labor of love that will be.
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