Showdog: Cloudy Day

Amsterdam based indie folk duo Showdog are back with a new single, Cloudy Day. Sander van Munster (No Ninja Am I) and Gijs Kerkhoven (Gish) keep it simple with acoustic guitar and a bass line a la The Cure, safe for a loud outburst of feedback. Inserting this racket gives the song a kick in the butt, but it might be bit too much for fans of soft spoken, intimate songs.

The track was recorded by Jan Schenk (Hospital Bombers), with Gijs Kerkhoven on the mixing desk and Martijn Groeneveld handling the mastering. A+ for clarity and separation and fingers crossed that this is not a one-off release. A follow-up for their 2009 self-titled LP is long overdue.

Cloudy Day is a self-released single. Buy it (pay-what-you-want) from their website.

» showdog.nl

The Bellfuries: Spain, Australia and USA dates

Rock 'n' roll quartet The Bellfuries have one-off shows in Spain and Australia sandwiched in between their regular USA road trips. They will focus on the material of their latest album Workingman's Bellfuries.

Live dates:

• 02/06 Malaga, Spain @ Rockin' Race
• 02/17 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
• 02/18 Santa Ana, CA @ The Constellation Room
• 02/19 Burbank, CA @ Joe's Great American Bar (w/ Deke Dickerson)
• 02/20 Oakland, CA @ Overland Bar & Grill
• 02/22 Portland, OR @ Duff's Garage (w/ The Dahlharts)
• 02/23 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
• 02/27 Denver, CO @ Goosetown Tavern
• 03/04 Nacogdoches, TX @ Liberty Bell Bar
• 03/11 Northbridge, Australia @ The Boston
• 04/23 Oxford, MS @ Double Decker Festival

» thebellfuries.com

HCTF review of Workingman's Bellfuries.

Words about music (395): Jerry Harrison

I think that technology has both introduced new sounds but also allowed an increasingly painterly approach to recording music as you can now paint over what you've done and more and more refine an existing performance.

Jerry Harrison

Paul Kantner: 1941-2016

Paul Kantber, co-founder and leader of the San Francisco legends Jefferson Airplane, has caught his last flight. He was 74 and had been coping with various health issues, before succumbing to organ failure and septic shock. He was an ace rhythm guitarist and political activist, who (co-)wrote classics such as We Can Be Together, Volunteers and Wooden Ships. His finest moment is The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil, a slice of avant-garde mixed with psychedelic rock.

» Paul Kantner on Wikipedia

Jumble Hole Clough: Live at the Nutclough Tavern 23rd January 2016

English avant-garde guitarist Colin Robinson once again headed to the Nutclough Tavern in his hometown Hebden Bridge for a set of improvised guitar excursions for his one-man project Jumble Hole Clough. Besides his usual array of effects to create on-the-spot loops and a basic rhythm track he brought along a vintage drum machine to give his meandering compositions a bit of borderline funky grounding. It's doubtful that the audience broke into a wild dance because of this, but it is a change of pace that works really well.

Sad Power Rangers is pushed forward by a swaggering backbeat that invokes finger snapping and foot tapping, while Robinson wails away on a barely contained distorted guitar, invoking the devil's dance music. Always on the lookout for he conjures up the image of merry band riding bicycles in the aptly titled Sir Funky McFunk and His Funk Orchestra, making their escape from Ambientville on Raleigh Choppers.

Adrian Belew: new song "You Never Know" for David Bowie

Guitarist Adrian Belew posted a touching song for David Bowie: "You Never Know ". He was an key player of of Bowie's late Seventies and early Nineties output and tours. Belew on Facebook

january 11, 2016. at 8:05 in the morning I woke to the stunning news: david bowie was dead.

I laid in bed for a few minutes thinking about so many david-related things. all the hilarious moments, being onstage together in front of thousands of people, the frightening ride in a Lear jet which had both of us scared out of our minds with our eyes closed....

my mind always returned to the same sentiment: I thought I would see him again. I couldn't believe we would never talk again! a selfish thought but the finality unhinged me.

that whole day was spent juggling unexpected interviews with Time, People, Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly, BBC Radio, and more. two of the local tv news channels came out to my studio for live segments. friends called, and my facebook swelled. I didn't have time to think about the world's giant loss nor my own personal one.

the next morning, tuesday, I sat in my bedroom chair and began writing something on acoustic guitar. I worked on it bit by bit over the next week, then I began recording it. I finished it today.

it's called "you never know".

it's straight to the point, sweet, and short. it's all I have to say.

my engineer cameron and I quickly constructed a video. you can find it on YouTube

» adrianbelew.net

Foxtails Brigade: new single "We Are Not Ourselves", self-titled album 04/08

San Francisco based chamber pop band Foxtails Brigade are offering their new single We Are Not Ourselves as a free download. They double-tracked lead singer Laura Weinbach to enhance the schizophrenic theme of the lyrics. Something is definitely very wrong in sunny California - the American Dream has turned into a nightmare. Nice touch to have a cello taking on an electric guitar.

Richard Lomax & The Tontine: I Cycle

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Lomax is working on his second album with his band The Tontine. The lead single I Cycle is a folkie declaration of doing things in your own way. The world's your oyster when you ride your bike - defiance wrapped in a joyous tune.

The song is based on the true story of suffragette Edith Rigby who pissed off the authorities by riding her bike in Preston in an age where women weren't supposed to do that. Lomax paints a picture of a bygone era, when standing up for equal rights was frowned upon at best. "Though people will talk//I Cycle//They may want me to walk but//I Cycle". The song features the sound of his own bike, setting up a dialogue with the bass and drums.

Iggy Pop: Post Pop Depression Tour dates

Iggy Pop got Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), drummer Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys) and multi-instrumentalist Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather & QOTSA) to play on his new album Post Pop Depression. They have just announced a tour, playing shows in the USA and Europe.

The core band that recorded the album will be expanded with two guitarists: Troy Van Leeuwen ( QOTSA) and Matt Sweeney.

Live dates:

• 03/28 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
• 03/29 Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium
• 03/31 San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
• 04/02 Denver, CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
• 04/04 Minneapolis, MN @ Northrop Auditorium
• 04/06 Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
• 04/07 Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
• 04/09 Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
• 04/11 Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
• 04/12 New York, NY @ United Palace Theatre
• 04/15 Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music
• 04/19 Miami Beach, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater
• 04/28 Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
• 05/04 Stockholm, Sweden @ Cirkus
• 05/05 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Falconer
• 05/07 Berlin, Germany @ Tempodrom
• 05/08 Hamburg, Germany @ Mehr! Theater
• 05/10 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Heineken Music Hall
• 05/13 London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall
• 05/15 Paris, France @ Le Grand Rex

Nice Motor: Seminary St. EP

Mixing rock with soul can be tricky, but Chicago quartet Nice Motor pull it off on their debut EP Seminary St., recorded by on s shoestring budget a make-shift home-studio. These guys have been around the Windy City's live scene for quite some time. Formed after Jonny Rumble folded and enlisting a member of Super Happy Fun Club they started trading ideas on acoustics before settling for an early Sixties vibe mixed with some Elbow licks.

Singing about the fairer sex and the trouble it gets them in, Nice Motor are off to take another stab at getting famous. Recommended if you like the Everly Brothers' melancholy and the Ardent Studios production values.

Phish: "Down With Disease" live @ Barcelo Maya in Riviera Maya, Mexico - 2016/01/17

Watch Phish perform Down With Disease @ Barcelo Maya in Riviera Maya, Mexico - 2016/01/17.

» phish.com

Iggy Pop: stream "Break Into Your Heart" from the new album "Post Pop Depression"

Iggy Pop has posted a stream of Break Into Your Heart on YouTube, another song from his new album Post Pop Depression (March 18 on Rekords Rekords/Loma Vista/Caroline International). He wrote the songs with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age).

» Iggy Pop on Facebook

John Canoe: "Start To Move" video

Italian surf garage trio John Canoe made a video for Start To Move, the new single from their Actorboy EP. They invited some friends and dressed for the occasion. The clip was directed by Dandaddy, with Edoardo Carlo Bolli as director of photography.

» John Canoe on Facebook

HCTF review of Actorboy.

Emporium: The Uninvited

Ewan McKenzie, the resident genius of Scottish indie psychedelic pop project Emporium, has a habit of polishing and tweaking his songs with utmost care. It's a cumbersome and lengthy process, but it pays off handsomely in the end. The new single The Uninvited blends The Smiths' Weltschmerz with layered keyboards and a hint of brass. McKenzie manages to sound shy and confident simultaneously.

The Uninvited is released on Whimsical Records. Buy it from iTunes. The track will be included on the new album The Electric Emporium, out on February 5th.

» Emporium on Facebook

HCTF review of Gloomy Shadows.

Brian Wilson: "Pet Sounds" 50th anniversary tour

Brian Wilson has announced a massive world tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys classic album Pet Sounds. Mainland Europe gets screwed, save for an appearance at the Primavera Festival in Barcelona on June 1st.

Ticket pre-sale starts January 27, official on-sale is January 29.

Live dates:

• 03/26 Auckland, New Zealand @ The Civic
• 03/27 Byron Bay, Australia @ Bluesfest
• 03/28 Byron Bay, Australia @ Bluesfest
• 03/29 Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Opera House
• 03/31 Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Opera House
• 04/03 St Kilda, Australia @ Palais Theatre
• 04/05 Hindmarsh, Australia @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
• 04/07 Perth Australia @ Riverside Theatre
• 04/12 Tokyo, Japan @ Tokyo International Forum
• 04/13 Tokyo, Japan @ Tokyo International Forum
• 04/15 Osaka, Japan @ Orin Theatre
• 04/30 Austin, TX @ Carson Creek Ranch
• 05/15 Bristol, England @ Colston Hall
• 05/17 Birmingham, England @ Symphony Hall
• 05/18 Cardiff, Wales @ St David's Hall
• 05/20 London, England @ Palladium
• 05/21 London, England @ Palladium
• 05/24 Manchester, England @ O2 Apollo
• 05/26 Edinburgh, Scotland Usher Hall
• 05/27 Glasgow, Scotland @ Royal Concert Hall
• 05/29 Gateshead, England @ Sage
• 05/31 Liverpool, England @ Philharmonic Hall
• 06/01 Nottingham, England @ Royal Concert Hall
• 06/01 Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Festival
• 06/14 Burlington, VT @ Flynn Main Stage
• 06/15 Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium
• 06/17 Boston, MA @ Symphony Hall *
• 06/18 Boston, MA @ Symphony Hall *
• 06/19 Lenox, MA @ Tanglewood Koussevitzky Music Shed
• 07/01 Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Casino
• 07/09 Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
• 07/15 Elizabeth, IN @ Horseshoe Casino
• 07/17 Council Bluffs, IA @ Horseshoe Casino
• 07/20 Kansas City, MO @ Muriel Kauffman Theatre
• 07/21 St Charles, MO @ Family Arena
• 07/22 Tunica, MS @ Horseshoe Casino
• 07/23 Bossier City, LA @ Horseshoe Casino #
• 09/13 St Petersburg, FL @ Mahaffey Theatre
• 09/14 Hollywood, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
• 09/17 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
• 09/19 Charlotte, NC @ Blumenthal PAC
• 09/20 Washington, DC @ The Music Center at Strathmore
• 09/21 Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre
• 09/23 Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theater
• 09/25 Easton, PA @ State Theatre
• 09/27 Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Presents at Oakdale
• 09/28 Buffalo, NY @ University of Buffalo Center for the Arts
• 09/30 Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
• 10/02 Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
• 10/04 Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
• 10/07 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
• 10/08 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
• 10/10 Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theatre at Humboldt State University
• 10/13 San Francisco, CA @ Masonic
• 10/14 Bijou, CA @ Harrah's Casino

* with Boston Pops Orchestra
# with Blondie Chaplin

» brianwilson.com

Johnny Dowd: show in NYC

Noisy alt-country outsider Johnny Dowd returns to New York for a free show @ David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center on March 10 as part of the Independent Music Awards program. Also on the bill: indie art rock band Bent Knee.

His latest album That's Your Wife on the Back of My Horse is on HCTF's best of 2015 list.

» johnnydowd.com

HCTF review of That's Your Wife on the Back of My Horse.

City Reign: Into The Night

Manchester indie rock quartet City Reign will release their debut full-length Dasein in March. A couple of singles taken from the album are pointing to a more mainstream vibe. Into The Night comes close to being a power ballad. Just a few snippets of their good old garage rock managed to wiggle their way in, but this song might be helpful pay the bills.

City Reign:
Ryan Ashton: bass
Duncan Bolton: drums
Chris Bull: guitar and vocals
Michael Grice: lead guitar

Into The Night is released thru Car Boot Records. The full-length Dasein is available for pre-order.

» cityreign.net

HCTF review of Disappear.

Black Sugar Transmission: the covers

Glam rock shredder Andee Black has rounded up most of the covers he recorded over the years for his Black Sugar Transmission project and upped them to Soundcloud. David Bowie, Queen, Nirvana and many more.

» Black Sugar Transmission on Facebook

HCTF review of Violent Muses.

The Leonids: "Under The Leonids" live on Dutch tv

Watch orchestral pop band The Leonids perform Under The Leonids on Dutch TV show De Wereld Draait Door - 2016/01/22. Visuals created by Sonja van Hamel and Eddo Hartmann.

Their debut album Satellite Broadcast Kill is on HCTF's best of 2015 list.

» The Leonids on Facebook

HCTF review of Satellite Broadcast Kill.

Iggy Pop: new album "Post Pop Depression", stream "Gardenia"

Nobody says no when the elder statesman of punk gets in touch. Iggy Pop got Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), drummer Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys) and multi-instrumentalist Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather & QOTSA) to help him out on his forthcoming new album Post Pop Depression.

The groundwork was laid by Pop and Homme during writing sessions in the desert. It's an album that looks back (German Days points to his classic albums The Idiot and Lust For Life) and forward - Pop is always game for trying out new stuff and the same goes for Homme. Lead single Gardenia can be streamed on YouTube.

The Claypool Lennon Delirium: Cricket And The Genie

Primus main man and bass player extraordinaire Les Claypool and voracious collaborator/guitarist Sean Lennon have joined forces for an album. They are serving Cricket And The Genie as a taster. Eight minutes psychedelic freak melodic metal giving way to pastoral Pink Floydism and much, much more.

Naming themselves The Claypool Lennon Delirium they recorded an album that will be released later this year on ATO Records. Claypool about how this project came to be:

The Cosmic Puppet, Michael Linden West and Jumble Hole Clough: Live at the Nutclough Tavern 30th December 2015

photo: Tony Halsall

The Cosmic Puppet (Tony Halsall), Michael Linden West and Jumble Hole Clough (Colin Robinson) provided a night of avant-garde merriment at the Nutclough Tavern in Hebden Bridge on December 30th. The Jumble Hole Clough set already saw the light of day, but now there is change to sample the music by the other two acct on the bill. Hebden Bridge was caught up in a major flooding in the days leading up to the gig, but by piping in power from a neighbouring source the gig was still on.

The Cosmic Puppet set took a bow to the heyday of English Seventies prog with luscious vocal melodies riding on top of intricate keyboards, while both Michael Linden West and Jumble Hole Clough opted for an all-improv approach, playing guitar and an assorted array of effects. West comes close to the ambient Sci-fi niche with to lengthy meandering tracks, while Robinson goes for more accessible freaky stuff by stacking loops - he gets only one track on this album but the full set is available here.

Guthrie Govan: "String Bending Masterclass" video (part five)

Watch Guthrie Govan explaining the art of bending notes in part five of his String Bending Masterclass series for Guitarist.co.uk. He focuses on tapping, hammering and combining techniques.

He is on tour with The Aristocrats, promoting their latest album Tres Caballeros.

» Guthrie Govan on Facebook

HCTF review of Tres Caballeros.

Words about music (394): Paul Westerberg

A rock 'n' roll band needs to be able to get under people's skin. You should be able to clear the room at the drop of a hat.

Paul Westerberg

John Canoe: Actorboy

Charlie don't surf, but Italians do. Rome based trio John Canoe channel the early Sixties sound on their debut EP Actorboy, five sweet and short tracks knee-deep in reverb. Singing about girls getting in trouble (Beer and Pills) and never-ending parties (Start To Move).

There is always a prominent role for the dark side patiently lurking in the shadows in their lyrics, but chances are that their fans won't notice, being far too busy dancing their asses off - which might help avoiding a Nervous Breakdown.

John Cale: interview on CBC Radio

Listen to an interview with John Cale on CBC Radio. He discusses Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground, the new M:FANS album, La Monte Young and politics.

Cale will be on tour this year, including a revisit to The Velvet Underground & Nico at the Philharmonie de Paris on April 3rd. His first ever South American tour starts in Peru on March 1st.

Live dates:

• 02/03 London, UK @ Roundhouse
• 03/01 Lima, Peru @ Gran Teatro Nacional
• 03/03 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Teatro Opera Allianz
• 03/04 Montevideo, Uruguay @ La Trastienda
• 03/06 Santiago, Chile @ Teatro NESCAFE de las Artes
• 04/03 Paris, France @ Philharmonie de Paris

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale tour dates

De Staat: "Peptalk" and "Get On Screen" on Dutch TV

Watch Dutch rock band De Staat perform Peptalk and Get On Screen on Dutch TV show De Wereld Draait Door - 2016/01/18.

They are on the road promoting their new album O.

The Leonids: "Satellite Broadcast Kill" video

Dutch orchestral pop ensemble The Leonids have made a video for Satellite Broadcast Kill, the title track from their debut album. They used vintage B&W 8mm footage from the archive of Jonathan Brown (dustystray.com). In retrospect the space age looks so naive and innocent.

Satellite Broadcast Kill is on HCTF's best of 2015 list.

» The Leonids on Facebook

HCTF review of Satellite Broadcast Kill.

Half Japanese: Perfect

Half Japanese is one those seminal acts will never make it big, but whose influence resonates in the output of countless other bands using their blueprint of rambling, out-of-tune garage rock. Founded in 1974 as a duo by brothers Jad and David Fair they set their sights on becoming the ultimate art punk band and over the years no one even came close to that claim. Their 1989 album The Band That Would Be King is a classic.

While brother David stepped down Jad persevered and the latest incarnation came to the fore in 2014 on the Overjoyed album. Rave reviews, poor sales. The new album Perfect will not sale like hot cakes either, but fans of 13th Floor Elevators, Johnny Dowd and Pere Ubu will love it. Demented surf mayhem (Here We Are), stuttering rockabilly (We Cannot Miss) and love songs from Hell (In Your Spell), it's all there in lo-fi, transistor radio sound quality.

Phish 2016 Mexico run SBD + torrents: Riviera Maya 2016/01/17

Phish
2016/01/17
Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Set 1:

1. Mexican Cousin
2. The Curtain With
3. Sample in a Jar
4. Yarmouth Road
5. The Landlady
6. Army of One
7. Kill Devil Falls >
8. Bathtub Gin
9. Funky Bitch >
10. The Moma Dance[1] >
11. Saw It Again

Hunck: Never Had a Dream EP

London psychedelic synth pop quintet Hunck released two rather good singles last year: I'll Wait and Never Had A Dream. Both ended up on the new EP, with self-hate break-up song Up In The Sky and the sultry So Far, So Deep.

This band paints with broad strokes, using a rich palette of sounds. They think big, but it keep it gentle with a quintessentially English superb sense for hooks and melodies. They fully deserve to see their name in large and friendly letters on the posters of this year's Summer festivals. Recommended if you like Tame Impala, Jacco Gardner and Elephant Stone.

Phish 2016 Mexico run SBD + torrents: Riviera Maya 2016/01/16

Phish
2016/01/16
Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Set 1:

1. Camel Walk
2. 555 >
3. Rift
4. Cities >
5. Light >
6. Simple >
7. Timber (Jerry) >
8. Wading in the Velvet Sea
9. Reba[1]
10. Chalk Dust Torture

Town of Saints: new album "No Place Like This" 04/01, announce "No Pub Like This" tour

Dutch-Finnish band folk band Town of Saints have been touring heavily, leaving them not much time to record some new stuff. Now they are back with No Place Like This, the follow-up for their 2013 album Something To Fight With. The record will be released on April 1st on Snowstar Records with Caroline as the international distribution partner/PR homchos. The title track serves as the lead single, out on January 29th. They posted a really short teaser on YouTube.

The will be previewing the new material during their No Pub Like This tour.

Live dates:

• 02/17 Stathe, Utrecht
• 02/18 Cul de Sac, Tilburg
• 02/19 V11, Rotterdam
• 02/20 Neushoorn Café, Leeuwarden
• 02/26 Luxor Live, Arnhem
• 02/27 Vliegend Paard, Zwolle

» townofsaints.com

HCTF review of Something To Fight With.

Phish 2016 Mexico run SBD + torrents: Riviera Maya 2016/01/15

Phish
2016/01/15
Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Set 1:

1. A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing
2. My Soul
3. Martian Monster
4. Ya Mar
5. Halley's Comet >
6. Fuego
7. The Wedge
8. Theme From the Bottom >
9. Free >
10. David Bowie

ZAPPATiKA + Ike Willis + Jeff Hollie + Craig Twister Steward: Frankfurt, Halle and Dresden added to European Spring tour

ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. They have added three shows in Germany (Frankfurt, Halle and Dresden).

Live dates:

• 03/17 Osnabruck, Germany @ Big Buttinsky
• 03/18 Paris, France @ Le Zèbre de Belleville
• 03/19 Stamford, England @ The Theatre Lounge
• 03/20 Birmingham, England @ The Roadhouse
• 03/21 Oxford, England @ Fat Lil's
• 03/22 Swansea, Wales @ The Scene Club
• 03/23 Southampton, England@ The Talking Heads (w/ Acton Zappa)
• 03/24 Liverpool, England @ The Zanzibar Club (w/ Charlies Gorilla)
• 03/25 Halifax, England @ Arden Road Social Club
• 03/26 London, England @ The Jazz Café (w/ The Dyr Sister)
• 03/28 Duisburg, Germany @ Grammatikof
• 03/29 Frankfurt, Germany @ Das Bett
• 03/30 Halle, Germany @ Objekt5
• 03/31 Dresden, Germany @ Tante JU
• 04/01 Leiden, The Netherlands @ QBUS Muziekhuis

Sivert Høyem: "Sleepwalking Man" video

Norwegian singer Sivert Høyem has made a video for Sleepwalking Man, the lead single from his new album Lioness. The clip was directed, shot & edited by Magne Strand Lyngvær & Kenneth Karlstad, who captured the dark mood of the song in grainy shots and lots of close ups. Depression and longing wrapped in orchestrated pop.

Phish: Live Webcast of 3-Night Run in Riviera Maya, Mexico

All three Phish shows of the 3-night run (01/15-17) in Riviera Maya, Mexico will be offered as pay-per-view webcasts. Also available in HD.

» livephish.com

The Steepwater Band: new album "Shake Your Faith", European tour dates

photo: Jon Usual

Chicaco blues rock quartet The Steepwater Band will release a new album on April 1st: Shake Your Faith. It's been five years since their last studio album, CLAVA, and this will be the first record featuring guitarist Eric Saylors, who joined the band in early 2012.

Diamond Day Records is very excited to announce the release of The Steepwater Band’s 6th full-length studio album SHAKE YOUR FAITH. The LP features 11 brand new TSB tracks, and is slated for release on Friday, April 1st via Double 180 Gram Vinyl, Compact Disc and Digital Download.

They are on the road in the USA, performing the Rolling Stones classic live album “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!” in its entirety. The will fly to Europe in April for a lengthy tour, playing shows in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Band & The Beat: Winter tour dates

Band & The Beat, the dream pop synth side-project by Tracy Shedd and James Tritten, take their vintage gear on the road for a set of Eighties inspired left field pop songs.

Live dates:

• 01/17 Neptune's Parlour, Raleigh NC (w/ T0W3RS, Slang, Hotline)
• 01/27 Schoolkid's Records, Raleigh NC (w/ moyamoya)
• 01/28 Slim's Downtown, Raleigh NC (w/ FKB$, moyamoya)
• 01/29 Nightlight, Chapel Hill NC (w/ Midnight Plus One, moyamoya)
• 01/30 Taphouse, Norfolk VA (w/ Quincy Mumford & the Reason Why)
• 01/31 Galaxy Hut, Arlington VA (w/ DKvDK)
• 02/01 The Golden Pony, Harrisonburg VA (w/ Cool Ghost, Humanzee)
• 02/02 Motorco, Durham NC (w/ Adrien Reju, Elijah Wolf)
• 02/19 Cave, Chapel Hill NC (w/ An Occassion For Balloons, TLVS)
• 02/20 Speakertree Records, Lynchburg VA (w/ TLVS)
• 02/21 Strange Matter, Richmond VA (w/ Anousheh, Dazeases)
• 03/02 Tin Roof, Charleston SC (w/ infinitikiss, Sweatlands)
• 03/03 The Erasery, Savannah GA
• 03/04 1904, Jacksonville FL (w/ moyamoya, Tambor)
• 03/05 529, Atlanta GA (w/ Chelsea Shag, Big Brutus)
• 03/06 New Brookland, Columbia SC (w/ infinitikiss, Grace Joyner)

» bandandthebeat.tumblr.com

HCTF review of 21.

Great Lakes: Wild Again (HCTF exclusive)

Brooklyn based folk band Great Lakes have a new LP, Wild Vision. HCTF is premiering Wild Again, one of the tracks form the new album. Main man Ben Crum provided a little background:

“Wild Again” is a song about longing for a life more connected to the natural world, but settling for some form of metaphorical wildness within. It’s about living in New York City and feeling a pull towards open spaces and a simpler, slower paced existence. Over the years I’ve had many friends who had this same feeling, like a magnetic pull to move upstate, back down south, to California (or wherever) or to find a simpler, more basic kind of life, and to get away from the often hectic experience of life in big, crazy city. When we play this song live people tend to assume it’s a song about wanting to be young, wild and free of responsibilities. While I wouldn’t discount anyone’s take, that wasn’t what I intended when I wrote it.

Wild Vision will be released on vinyl (limited edition of 327 copies) via Loose Trucks Records. Release date: January 22nd.

Live date:

• 01/22 Brooklyn NY @ The Rock Shop (album release show)

» Great Lakes on Facebook

HCTF review of Wild Vision.

Mike Gordon: free live album "6/28/15 Philadelphia", tour dates

Mike Gordon has just dropped a free live album recorded during laat year's Summer tour. The June 28 show at Union Transfer in Philadelphia focused on the tracks form his latest studio album Overstep. Free download from livephish.com.

Set One

1. Different World
2. Cruel World
3. Meat
4. Normal Phoebe
5. Babylon Baby
6. Angatta
7. Another Door

Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters: tour dates

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters swing through the American South this Spring, performing a wealth of nuggets of Mr. Plant's extensive solo discography and a handful of drastically rearranged Led Zeppelin tracks.

Live dates:

• 03/04 Okeechobee, FL @ Okeechobee Music + Arts Festival
• 03/06 St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre
• 03/07 Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre
• 03/09 Jackson, MS @ Thalia Mara Hall
• 03/10 Baton Rouge, LA @ River Center Theatre
• 03/11 Shreveport, LA @ Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
• 03/13 Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
• 03/15 Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
• 03/17 San Antonio, TX @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
• 03/18 Midland, TX @ Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
• 03/20 Austin, TX @ ACL Live at Moody Theater

» robertplant.com

Prints Jackson: Paris Pines

UK pop artist Prints Jackson's new single Paris Pines, episode 23 of his "one new song each month till the day I die" project, is a tribute to the City of Light. Terrorists brought death and destruction, but the spirit of the city is unbroken. A bold and defiant guitar solo bring the track to a close.

Paris Pines is a self-released single. Buy it (pay-what-you-want) from his website.

» printsjackson.com

HCTF review of Christmas Mourning.

moyamoya: Winter tour dates

Florida post-rock noise experimentalists moyamoya take their all instrumental assault on the road this Winter. They are sharing the bill with a host of other acts, all sharing a love for out-of-the-box music. Bring an open mind.

moyamoya:
Richard Dudley: guitar
Scott Madgett: drums
Brennan Hamill: keys, bass

Live dates:

• 01/22 Brunswick GA @ HBGB (w/ Gov Club)
• 01/23 Charleston SC @ Tin Roof (w/ Colorworld, The Give & The Take)
• 01/24 Greenville NC @ Radio Room (w/ People of Mars)
• 01/25 Charlotte NC @ The Station (w/ Cuzco, For the Byrds)
• 01/26 Wilmington NC @ Calico Room (w/ Future Trip, whothefolklohr)
• 01/27 Raleigh NC @ Schoolkid's (w/ Band & The Beat)
• 01/28 Raleigh NC @ Slim's (w/ FKB$ @ Band & The Beat)
• 01/29 Chapel Hill NC @ Nightlight (w/ Midnight Plus One, Band & The Beat)
• 01/30 Savannah GA @ The Erasery (w/ Fez the Immigrant, Beverly Tender)

» moyamoya on Facebook

HCTF review of moyamoya.

False Heads: Steal And Cheat

London garage punk rock trio False Heads got some hard-earned recognition by being signed by Gary Powell's (The Libertines) label 25 Hour Convenience Store. Their previous singles and EPs made the niche playlists of Auntie Beeb and were mentioned quite favourably in the UK music magazines. All they need now is a song that can get 'em out of the bars and on to the stages of the club circuit.

They are at the forefront of the quiet-loud resurgence and their latest single Steal And Cheat is a boisterous anthem that comes howling from the speakers. Think the Pixies energy mixed with London bravado and fuck-it-all reckless abandon. This is the kind of stuff you want to hear after your team has lost an important match.

David Bowie: 1947-2016

Musical inventor David Bowie has died. Cancer took another muoical genius. From the BBC:

Singer David Bowie has died at the age of 69 following a battle with cancer.

His son director Duncan Jones confirmed the news and a statement was released on his official social media accounts.

"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer," it said.

"While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."

His last album ★ (Blackstar) was released on Friday and received rave reviews from all over the globe.

» davidbowie.com

HCTF review of Lazarus.

Kapok: "Cacti tour" dates

Dutch jazz trio Kapok will be on the road again in The Netherlands and Belgium, promoting their latest album Glass to Sand.

Live dates:

• 01/26 Voorburg @ Theater Ludens
• 01/30 Leiden @ Peel Slowly and See - Stadsschouwburg
• 02/04 Nijmegen @ Brebl
• 02/07 Abcoude @ Jazzhuis Abcoude
• 02/12 Tilburg @ Paradox
• 02/13 Mechelen, Belgium @ Brand Jazzfestival
• 02/20 Zwolle @ Singel
• 04/17 Sluis @ Belfort
• 04/20 Horst @ Cambrinus

Glass to Sand is on HCTF's best of 2015 list.

» kapokmusic.com

HCTF review of Glass to Sand.

Lemmy's Memorial Service YouTube stream

photo: Michael Agel

The Memorial Service in Los Angeles for Lemmy, the loudest bass player to walk the face of the Earth, will be streamed live on YouTube today. Starts at 3PM (PST):

We want you ALL to be a part of this memorial service.

So wherever you are, PLEASE get together and watch with fellow Motörheadbangers and friends. GO to your favorite bar, or your favorite club, make sure they have access to an internet connection and toast along with us. Or simply invite your pals around and celebrate Lemm’s life at home.

Whatever your venue, and however you can, let’s be sure to gather globally on Saturday 9th and celebrate the life of our dear friend and irreplaceable icon.

NOTE: For anyone wishing to send flowers, please contact Karen Brando at
Flowers by Michael
(310) 276-1003
kbrando@flowersbymichael.com

If you’d like to make a charitable donation under Lemmy’s name, please go to:

Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund

O, and play some Motörhead at the right volume.

» Lemmy on Facebook

Sabatta: "I Wanna (Eat You Up)" video

Watch the new Sabatta video for I Wanna (Eat You Up, a funky rock dedication to women in general and an intimate act in particular. Note the Steve Winwoord-inspired keyboards part. It's an track from their new album Middle Of The Night. The album is now also available on cassette thru Solid 7 Records.

» sabatta.net

HCTF review of Middle Of The Night.

Geddy Lee on the state of Rush

Geddy Lee talked to Paste. He sheds some light on the state of Rush. After they wrapped up the R40 tour rumours started flying that the band is finished, because drummer Neil Peart has said that won't he hitting the road again.

Its intention was not a farewell tour; its intention was a look back and a celebration of 40 years of music. We happen to find ourselves in a very differing state of mind in terms of doing major tours. Neil is not up for the kind of work that it takes for him to be ready to put out a three-hour show the way we have for the last 20-odd years. So his interest in this kind of touring has dwindled. And that’s sort of where we’re at. It doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t do another record together, and it doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t play another concert together — it just means that for the moment we cannot agree on doing a big tour.

Great Lakes: Wild Vision

BEST OF 2016
14
HCTF

Brooklyn based folk band Great Lakes have been through countless line-up changes, with singer and guitar player Ben Crum as a constant. Nearly six yeas have gone by since the release of their last full-length Ways of Escape. They did release two singles, but things were awfully quiet.

Crum has overcome the composing drought and has come up with nice stack of fresh tunes for the new album Wild Vision and for once the bulk of the musicians of the last album is still there. Crum hails from Athens, GA and that explains why the nods to Americana and college rock the plentiful - those two genres that have been in force down there since the early Eighties.

David Bowie: "Lazarus" video

Watch the new David Bowie video for Lazarus, the second single from his new album album ★ (Blackstar), out on January 8. Once again Bowie plays a blind prophet. He is locked up in a hospital this time. The clip was directed by Johan Renck:

One could only dream about collaborating with a mind like that; let alone twice. Intuitive, playful, mysterious and profound... I have no desire to do any more videos knowing the process never ever gets as formidable and fulfilling as this was. I’ve basically touched the sun.

» davidbowie.com

HCTF review of Lazarus.

Phish: "Tweezer" live @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2016/01/02

Watch Phish perform Tweezer @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2016/01/02.

Phish is heading South to Mexico for three nights at Barceló Maya Beach (01/15-17). All shows are sold out.

» phish.com

Orgel Vreten: "En de ander" tour

Three Hammmonds supplying the loud and funky soundtrack for a quest looking for a substitute for religion. Orgel Vreten< teamed up with theatre makers Het Zuidelijk Toneel.

A one of a kind show. Final dates for En de ander ("and the other"):

• 01/22 Leidse Schouwburg, Leiden
• 01/23 Stadsschouwburg de Harmonie, Leeuwarden
• 01/29 S.C.C. Theater de Kattendans, Bergeijk
• 02/03 Junushoff, Wageningen
• 02/04 Theater Speelhuis, Helmond
• 02/06 Stadsgehoorzaal, Kampen
• 02/12 Muziekcentrum, Enschede
• 02/13 De Meervaart, Amsterdam

» orgelvreten.com

ZAPPATiKA + Ike Willis + Jeff Hollie + Craig Twister Steward: more dates for their European Spring tour

ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. They have added shows in the UK (03/21), Germany (03/28) and The Netherlands (04/01)

Live dates:

• 03/17 Osnabruck, Germany @ Big Buttinsky
• 03/18 Paris, France @ Le Zèbre de Belleville
• 03/19 Stamford, England @ The Theatre Lounge
• 03/20 Birmingham, England @ The Roadhouse
• 03/21 Oxford, England @ Fat Lil's
• 03/22 Swansea, Wales @ The Scene Club
• 03/23 Southampton, England @ The Talking Heads (w/ Acton Zappa)
• 03/24 Liverpool, England @ The Zanzibar Club (w/ Charlies Gorilla)
• 03/25 Halifax, England @ Arden Road Social Club
• 03/26 London, England @ The Jazz Café (w/ The Dyr Sister)
• 03/28 Duisburg, Germany @ Grammatikof
• 04/01 Leiden, The Netherlands @ QBUS Muziekhuis

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook

HCTF review of The Pony Suite.

Alberteen: new (remix) album "A French Connection"

London rhythm & noir band Alberteen will revisit a couple of tracks from their back catalog on the new album A French Connection. Parisian DJ Comma Period has worked his magic on two tracks: Hidden and A French Connection.

The band themselves have shared a new recording of A French Connection, originally released on their Miss World album - top pick on HCTF's best of 2015 list.

Gov't Mule: European Spring tour

Blues rockers Gov't Mule have announced a European Spring tour, playing shows in The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, the UK and Germany.

Live dates;

• 05/07 Ospel, Netherlands @ Moulin Blues
• 05/08 Hengelo, Netherlands @ Metropool
• 05/09 Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Den Atelier
• 05/10 Cleon, France @ La Traverse
• 05/12 London, UK @ Shepherd's Bush Empire
• 05/13 Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy
• 05/14 Holmfirth, UK @ Picturedrome
• 05/17 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany @ Batschkapp
• 05/18 Ulm, Germany @ Ulmer Zelt festival
• 05/19 Berlin, Germany @ Huxley's
• 05/20 Hamburg, Germany @ Fabrik

Triggerfinger: The One ft. Method Man

Belgian power trio Triggerfinger have released The One, a collaboration Wu Tang Clan's Method Man. Based on their 2008 track (and live favorite) First Taste it works remarkably well. The video was directed & edited by Remo Perotti. Animation by Levi Calcagnile, Els Arnols, Eveline Lambrechts & Remo Perotti. Play loud.

» triggerfinger.net

Sivert Høyem: Lioness

Norwegian singer Sivert Høyem is a household name in his home country. The former lead singer of rock band Madrugada went solo after the band folded in 2009, following the death of the band's guitar player Robert Burås. His latest album Lioness alternates between all out orchestral rock (Sleepwalking Man, Oh!, Spider! and the title track) and trying to be Nick Cave (My Thieving Heart, The Boss Nova Nova) or Ivan Kral (V.O.I.D.).

Høyem is blessed with an impressive set of pipes, allowing him to lean to the grandiose without running out of breath. Lioness is an album of an artist trying to cope with his ghosts from the past. The woman who was the inspiration for the title track has shown him the light at the end of the tunnel,, but he isn't sure that it will last.

Phish: "Light" live @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2016/01/01

Watch Phish perform Light @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2016/01/01.

Phish: "No Men In No Man's Land" live @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2015/12/31

Watch Phish perform No Men In No Man's Land @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2015/12/31. Features the hourglass midnight gag.

Phish: "Twist" live @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2015/12/31

Watch Phish perform Twist @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2015/12/31.

Words about music (393): Patrick Carney

Through the history of rock n' roll, you see lots of bands making the mistake of putting on the tights when they get to arenas. Don't do that.

Patrick Carney

Phish 2015 NYE run SBD + torrents: New York 2016/01/02

Official MSG 2015/2016 NYE run poster by David Welker

Phish
2016/01/02
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Set 1:

1. Your Pet Cat
2. AC/DC Bag >
3. NICU
4. It's Ice >
5. Horn >
6. Divided Sky
7. Axilla >
8. Maze
9. Train Song >
10. Julius

Ian Fisher: Dutch tour dates

Alt-country artist Ian Fisher has added five shows in Holland to his European tour. He is promoting his new album Nero. He wil be supported by Roald van Oosten, whose new album Oh Dark Hundred will be released on on March 4.

Live dates:

• 04/13 Amsterdam @ Paradiso #
• 04/14 Utrecht @ TivoliVredenburg
• 04/15 Den Bosch @ W2 #
• 04/16 Groningen @ Vera #
• 04/17 Zwolle @ Hedon #

# w/ Roald van Oosten

» ianfisheronline.com

HCTF review of Nero.

Phish: "Weekapaug Groove > What's the Use? > Weekapaug Groove" live @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2015/12/30

Watch Phish perform Weekapaug Groove > What's the Use? > Weekapaug Groove @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY - 2015/12/30.

Jumble Hole Clough: Live at the Nutclough Tavern 30th December 2015

English avant-garde experimentalist Colin Robinson delivered a set of improvised guitar excursions at the Nutclough Tavern in his hometown Hebden Bridge on December 30th. His one-man project Jumble Hole Clough is built upon rhythm loops on which his applies washes of guitar and the odd ad-libbed vocal, sounding like Catweazle with a cold.

Robinson takes some time to find his bearings on the opener Choral TV Ungent, until he finds a languishing Adrian Belew-alike power chord that comes bouncing back from the walls of the pub. This the kind of smartness that will stop people in their tracks (or at least keep them from finishing their pints). Putting his effect pedals to good use, he is off for a food-themed scavenger hunt, capturing his travels in the West Yorkshire countryside with challenging time signatures and twinkling guitar leads.

Ending his set with the distortion heavy avant-metal workout Nun Cult Hangover Robinson wrapped up a slice of catchy, high quality weirdness that will need require several replays for in-depth appreciation. And yes, it gets better all the time.

Phish 2015 NYE run SBD + torrents: New York 2016/01/01

Official MSG 2015/2016 NYE run poster by David Welker

Phish
2016/01/01
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Set 1:

1. Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan
2. Heavy Things
3. How Many People Are You
4. Stash
5. Undermind >
6. Rift
7. Wingsuit
8. Ocelot
9. Lawn Boy
10. Run Like an Antelope