Street Sweeper Social Club @ Jones Beach Theater (more by Zach Dilgard)

Street Sweeper Social Club, the opening band on the tour, shares perspective with both NIN/JA headliners: its worldview is cynical, and its brand of action resembles a party. A rap-rock super-group of sorts, it features Tom Morello, the guitarist formerly with Rage Against the Machine, and Boots Riley, a rapper in the Oakland, Calif., hip-hop group the Coup.

The band's brief set was apoplectic, full of fist-pumping slogans and seemingly cobbled out of spare parts from other projects. "This is not a performance, this is a meeting," Mr. Riley declared, trying out a different model of inclusiveness than either Mr. Farrell or Mr. Reznor would choose. "Thank you for attending." [NY Times]

The NIN/Jane's Addiction tour ended June 14th. Two days later (TODAY, Tuesday, June 16th), Street Sweeper Social Club will play a CD release show for its debut album at the Gramercy Theatre in NYC. Tonight's gig will feature opener Shinobi Ninja. Advanced tickets were still on sale last night, so we're guessing there will be some at the door too.

The show coincides with the release of their self-titled debut record on WM's Independent Label Group. Street Sweeper Social club will also be appearing Wednesday night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The band performed a cover of "Kick Out the Jams" with Trent Reznor at some of the NIN shows. A video of that, with other clips of SSSC, below...

Continue reading "Street Sweeper Social Club kicked out the jams w/ Trent Reznor, playing CD release show in NYC tonight"

Iggy Pop supports Michigan State University's decision to ban animal circuses from campus in 2009 and hopes the school will make the ban permanent.

"As students who are concerned about animal welfare have told you, performing animals are deprived of everything that is natural to them, including the ability to roam, forage and form families and friendships," Pop said in a letter to the MSU Board of Trustees. It was written on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA says the board of trustees decided not to allow the Royal Hanneford Circus (or any others with animal performers) on campus in 2009, for the first time in 16 years. But what about 2010?

"The circus industry is big, wealthy and powerful, and I'm sure that its leaders are encouraging you to reverse your decision," Pop said in his letter.

"I implore you to continue to keep the interests of your students and the welfare of animals at the forefront of your thoughts and stand firm on your policy." [Detroit Free Press]

Neko Case takes a similar stance on zoos.

Iggy, who has a new near-jazz record on the way, is confirmed to appear at the previously-mentioned Road Recovery Benefit happening at Nokia Theatre in NYC on May 1st...

An evening of high-energy rock and roll that's going to be "just loose enough musically that anything might happen," jokes Wayne Kramer... Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/ Audioslave / The Nightwatchman), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Wayne Kramer (MC5), Don Was, Billy Bragg, Iggy Pop, Boots Riley, Gilby Clarke, Carl Restivo, Eric Gardner, Bun E. Carlos, Handsome Dick Manitoba performing songs together and individually from their respective catalogs, as well as collaborating on MC5 songs and anything else that strikes their fancy

Also joining the show will be Joan As Police Woman, Ours, Miggs, and Road Recovery's Performance Workshop Program "House Band" Crazy James
Emcee: Matt Pinfield (Sirius Radio and RXP 101.9FM DJ)

Tickets are on sale.

Joan as Policewoman opened for Neko Case at the same venue on Tuesday.

Kick Out the Jams (video) below...

Continue reading "Iggy Pop playing Road Recovery show, speaks up on circuses"

Street Sweeper (Staciaann Photography)

"Nine Inch Nails and the original Jane's Addiction lineup will embark on a May/June co-headlining tour that will see these seminal artists sharing a stage for the first time since the historic debut of the Lollapalooza festival in 1991...

The NIN/JA tour will feature a streamlined NIN with Reznor on vocals, guitars, keys, Robin Finck on guitars and keys, Justin Meldal-Johnsen on bass and keys, and newest NIN member IIan Rubin on drums and keys. NIN's stripped down configuration for the upcoming dates was inspired by a pair of club shows toward the end of last year's wildly ambitious Lights In The Sky tour. Leaving the massive production in the trucks for those two nights freed up the band for spontaneous performances including several seldom-aired NIN classics and inspired NIN to take a similarly unencumbered and unpredictable approach to the May/June dates, which include previously announced NIN appearances at the Sasquatch and Bonnaroo festivals...

...Support for all NIN/JA dates will be Street Sweeper, a collaboration between Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine/The Nightwatchman and Boots Riley of The Coup.

Tickets go on sale beginning March 13th, visit NIN.com, JanesAddiction.com and LiveNation.com for additional ticket and tour information.