Longtime ACL vet Delbert McClinton will release his first studio album in four years soon, and it will include a bonus disk featuring cuts from his ACL performances. Details here.
Alternative rock superstars and ACL alumni R.E.M. will release a double-live CD this fall. Details here.
Another one bites the dust: R&B/hip-hop music magazine Vibe has shut its doors. Though Vibe founder Quincy Jones wants to re-open them online.
Emusic has a list of 2009's most overlooked albums so far. One could argue it's too early for lists (though my esteemed colleague Emily would disagree), but it'll be easier to call attention to obscure gems now than at the end of the year, right?
Austin City Limits will tape a performance by The Band of Heathens on Thursday, July 9, starting at 8 p.m. We will be giving away a limited number of Space Available tickets. Enter here between now and noon, Monday, July 6. Recipients will receive 2 tickets each and be chosen through a random drawing. Please be in Austin or the surrounding community. These tickets do NOT guarantee admission. Space Available ticket recipients will receive an email notification with details about the taping. Enter your name and email here.Singers/songwriters Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist originally convened in 2006, sharing the Wednesday night bill at the local club Momo's. This eventually evolved into the trio taking the stage together, performing on each other's songs and sharing bassist Seth Whitney. Though originally going by the name the Good Time Supper Club, a misprint in the local paper billed the act as the Heathens, which became The Band of Heathens. No longer considered a side project by its members, the band added drummer John Chipman and released a pair of live albums, garnering the "Best New Band" award from the Austin Chronicle. The group also hit the road, building up fan bases in Atlanta, Nashville, Denver and others. Now, with a studio album produced by Texas legend Ray Wylie Hubbard in tow, the Band of Heathens hits the ACL stage for the first time.
The Pixies announced a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark LP Doolittle. (I remember buying that album off the rack back in 1989. God, I'm old.) Details here.
There's a nice story about recent ACL tapee St. Vincent (confirming my suspicions about her finding inspiration in Disney soundtracks) here.
Time has a Q&A with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy here.
Sid 'n' Susie, AKA Matthew Sweet and the Bangles' Susannah Hoffs, are readying the second volume of Under the Covers. Details here.
I just wanted to encourage everyone to watch the Crowded House repeat on Saturday night. (Check your local listings or with your local station for airdates.) It's one of my personal favorites and one of our very best shows. Neil Finn deserves every accolade ever laid upon him. It's a wonderful show. Catch it if you can.
***** Giveaway is now over. *****
Congratulations to the Space Available ticket winners: Aaron U; Adam B; Adam R; Adam W; Albert K; Allison S; Amanda B; Amanda K; Amanda W; Amar M; Amy B; Andrea M; Andrew R; Anna B; Ariel R; Ben C; Ben C; Benjamin P; Brandon M; Brian T; Bryan R; Bryan S; Bryson D; Carol C; Caroline C; Casey T; Charle H; Charles F; Charles H; Charrid S; Cheryl V; Chris J; Chris L; Chris P; Chris R; Christy M; Craig B; Cynthia N; Daniel B; Daniel F; Daniel K; David A; David M; David M; David T; David W; Debbie G; Denise D; Derek T; Dominic M; Dory W; Eduardo A; Elissa L; Ellie C; Enid H; Eric S; Erin O; Erin W; Ethan W; Everett B; Faizan S; Francesco M; Harlow Y; Heather L; Iliana G; Isaac A; James S; Jan C; Javier P; Jeffrey L; Jennifer G; Jennifer L; Jennifer W; Jeremy P; Jim M; John H; John H; John K; John L; Jonathan S; Jordan J; Joyce D; Julie B; Julie K; Juliette L; Karen M; Katie M; Kelli E; Lakey B; Laura B; Laurel S; Lauren B; Lauren M; Lauren S; Leah D; Lee D; Lori A; Louis F; Maci S; Manuel G; Mary P; Matt B; Matthew D; Melissa G; Michael C; Michael M; Michael S; Michael T; Michael V; Nancy L; Neil C; Nichole B; Oliver S; Parker R; Phil K; Raul S; Ricki S; Rob K; Rob S; Robert B; Robert D; Robert W; Robin F; Rocio V; Ron C; Russell K; Ryan B; Scott G; Scott R; Scott S; Silvia H; Steve D; Steven N; Suzanne R; Tash C; Ted C; Tim S; Tim T; Traci M; Tracie D; Tracy C; Ty Womble; Vijay D; Wayne B; Zach S; Zachary K
Winners will receive an email with details, but here are the basics .... The tickets will be available for pick up starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at KLRU-TV. Tickets will not be available before this time. Tickets are not to be sold.
Look for the "Space Available line" sign. KLRU will hand out tickets on a first come, first served basis. You will also receive a number at that time to reserve your spot in line. Each winner will receive two tickets. Winners will need a photo ID to claim their tickets. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the taping will begin at 8 p.m. Please remember, these tickets DO NOT guarantee admission to the taping. As soon as we reach our capacity limit, we cannot admit any other people to the studio.
***** Giveaway is now over. *****
Austin City Limits will tape a performance by music legend Allen Toussaint on Tuesday, June 30, starting at 8 p.m. We will be giving away a limited number of Space Available tickets. Enter between now and 1 p.m. Friday, June 26. Recipients will receive 2 tickets each and be chosen through a random drawing. Please be in Austin or the surrounding community. These tickets do NOT guarantee admission. Space Available ticket recipients will receive an email notification with details about the taping.
70 year-old composer, producer, pianist and singer Allen Toussaint can, without hesitation, be called a living legend; his work as composer, producer, arranger and performer, especially in the 60s and 70s, helped shape the sound of R&B, soul, and funk as we know it today, bringing an easy-going charm and humor to his repertoire, along with seductive, percolating rhythms indigenous to New Orleans, the city he has always called home. He's collaborated memorably with artists ranging from Lee Dorsey and Ernie K. Doe to the Pointer Sisters and Labelle, from the Meters and Dr. John to the Band and Paul McCartney.
In addition to the Monsters of Folk record with Conor Oberst and M. Ward, My Morning Jacket's Jim James is preparing a solo EP of George Harrison covers. Details here.
The new Flaming Lips record is called Embryonic and is preceded by a teaser di
gital EP. Details here.
You can find an update on the progress of the new ACL theater's construction here. October 2010, baby!
