Smoking Section by Austin Scaggs

May 2009 Archives

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New Mars Volta Singles!

May 19, 2009 12:18 PM

We're looking forward to the Mars Volta's fifth studio album, Octahedron, due on June 22nd. And we can't wait to see them perform down at Bonnaroo.

Above, you'll find a radio rip of the first US single from Octahedron, "Since We've Been Wrong." The song is much mellower than previous Volta releases, and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has said that the album will feature some acoustic numbers. 

Judging by the UK single "Cotopaxi," (below) that description doesn't apply to every song on the disc.


New Tracks, Video

Chris Martin Lookalike on Jeopardy!

May 18, 2009 12:35 PM

Photo: SONY

Last week was the conclusion to the Jeopardy! College Championship.

Patrick Tucker (above), a senior at Notre Dame and a political science major, took home the $100K top prize and the utmost respect from the S.S.

During one of his interview segments, Tucker revealed that everyone on campus thinks he's the spitting image of Chris Martin!

Do you see the resemblance?

We do!


Random!

Rockers On 30 Rock

May 15, 2009 12:46 PM

 

Check out this clip from last night's 30 Rock finale. 

Cameos by Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, two Beasties, Sheryl Crow, Rachel Yamagata, Michael McDonald, and many more...



Random!, Video

Of Montreal Enter the S.S. For Some Unicorn Fisting

May 13, 2009 10:43 AM

Of Montreal - "Teenage Unicorn Fisting" 

[Video: Pete Maiden/Eric Helton; Editing by Eric Helton]


Frontman Kevin Barnes, bassist Davey Pierce and guitarist Bryan Poole from Of Montreal were kind enough to swing by the S.S. to play us their hot new jam, "Teenage Unicorn Fisting." 

We predict that "Unicorn Fisting" will soon become a global sensation, and usher Of Montreal into a realm of popularity that they never before could have imagined. 

The band just wrapped up a US tour, and we'll check 'em out at Lollapalooza.


BONUS! We have some Of Montreal stuff to give away, including a vinyl copy of their album, Skeletal Lamping, an American Apparel T-shirt and a band poster. All you have to do is send us an email explaining why you love them by Friday, May 22. The best reply gets the gear. 


Dylan's Never-Ending Tour of Childhood Homes

May 12, 2009 1:35 PM

Last November, Bob Dylan drove from Minnesota to River Heights, Winnepeg, Canada, to visit the childhood home of Neil Young.

"I just felt compelled," Dylan recently told RS. "I wanted to see his bedroom. Where he looked out of the windows. Where he dreamed. Where he walked out of the door every day. Wanted to see what's around his neighborhood in Winnipeg. And I did just that."

Now Dylan has visited John Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool!!! According to the BBC, Dylan recently joined a public tour of Lennon's old pad in Woolton, Liverpool, when Dylan's tour ran through town. 

"He took one of our general minibus tours," says a spokewoman for the National Trust, who owns the historic site, where Lennon grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George. "He could have booked a private tour but he was happy to go on the bus with everyone else."

Apparently, the thirteen other tourists on the bus didn't even recognize him!


Kid Rock's Bad Ass Summer

May 12, 2009 11:22 AM

Photo: Strauss/WireImage

Yesterday we rang up our drinking buddy Kid Rock at the adult amusement park he calls home, near Detroit. We called to congratulate Rock for selling out all 35,000 seats of Comerica Park -- home of the Detroit Tigers -- in less than thirty minutes! Tickets went so fast for the July 17th hometown show that they added another night. “We try to do a lot of stuff to make it so everybody can come out,” he says. “The most important thing is keeping tickets right. Not to get greedy.” Those gigs are part of a huge Summer tour of the U.S.    

Rock answered the phone at his home studio, where he's been crankin' away on the follow-up to his 2007 blockbuster, Rock & Roll Jesus. “I have 12 songs,” he tells us. “Everyone who’s heard it thinks it’s my best stuff ever.”  

Rock had intended to be on the road right now, but postponed the run because he was feeling artistic. “Everyone thought I was crazy for turning down that money, but I saw I was in a good spot creatively.” 

Rock & Roll Jesus guitarist Marlon Young is back, and Detroit-native Herschel Boone -- a veteran of Mary J. Blige's band, who Rock describes as a “tremendous singer" -- is helping out with melodies and vocals. Rock says that he's also been getting advice from producer Rick Rubin, and if all the stars align, the album may come out as soon as November.

And Rock hopes to have his signature beer available by Labor Day. Rock exclusively reveals to the S.S. that his beer will be named, fittingly, Bad Ass Beer. “It’s good. It just tastes like good American light beer, and there's no aftertaste.” 

Rock adds, "There are so many funny ads you can do with a thing called Bad Ass Beer."

Click the jump to read about the marketing campaign and our full chat with Kid Rock!

(more...)


Classical Killers

May 11, 2009 2:51 PM

Photo: Winter/Getty

Tune into the Late Show with Letterman tonight to see the Killers perform their new single, "A Dustland Fairytale."

The kicker is that the band will be backed by a full orchestra!


Random!

The Dead Weather Hit the Road

May 11, 2009 1:18 PM

The Dead Weather, the supergroup featuring Jack White on drums, have announced their first US tour, scheduled for July and August.

The shows begin with a one-off in Louisville on June 11th,  then pick up again on July 13th at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club, before running across North America for the following two months. Two festival stops -- The Ottawa Blues Festival in Ottawa and the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco -- are also planned.

Jack White's new studio/label Third Man will release the Dead Weather's debut album, Horehound, on July 14th. In the meantime, you can get two tracks, "Hang You From the Heavens," and "Are Friends Electric?" on iTunes.

A presale for the Dead Weather tour will start on Wednesday, May 13th at noon on the band's website. As an added bonus, fans opting for presale tickets will have the chance to pre-order Horehound at a discounted price. Dates for the tour after the jump. 

(more...)


Tour Dates

Lily Allen Asks "Why"

May 11, 2009 12:38 PM

Check out this new tune from Lily Allen, "Why." It's a b-side featured on the single release "Not Fair."

We really like it!


New Tracks

"Wilco (the album)" Coming Soon!

May 11, 2009 11:50 AM

Check out the album art above for the cover of Wilco's upcoming release, Wilco (the album). On our trip down to Mexico we had our advance copy of the new disc on repeat, and it's a beautiful thing.

According to Wilco's website, the album will be available everywhere on "June 30th, at the latest."

Here's the official track listing:

"Wilco (the song)"
"Deeper Down"
"One Wing"
"Bull Black Nova"
"You And I"
"You Never Know"
"Country Disappeared"
"Solitaire"
"I'll Fight"
"Sonny Feeling"
"Everlasting Everything"

What do ya think?


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