by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Quasi - Repulsion (MP3)

Portland trio Quasi has a new album, American Gong, coming out on Kill Rock Stars February 23rd. "Repulsion," off that, is a catchy, twisted piece of indie-rock gold. The band knows something about "indie-rock" having connections to Sleater-Kinney (drummer Janet Weiss was a member), Steven Malkmus and the Jicks (which feature Weiss and bassist Joanna Bolme) and Elliot Smith (Sam Coomes played in Heatmiser and Quasi, when they were a duo, backed Smith on several tours).

Their previous tour dates have been updated with many more stops that run from March to the beginning of May. They play Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, April 22nd. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wednesday, January 13th at noon. General sale starts Friday, January 15th at noon.

Elliott Smith was/is also a Kill Rock Stars artist and the label recently announced some news related to reissues and an unreleased track.

All Quasi tour dates and videos of the band (Quasi & Elliott Smith covering "Paint It Black"!) are below...

Continue reading "Quasi - updated 2010 tour dates (NYC & more added)"

DOWNLOAD: Elliott Smith - Cecilia/Amanda (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Elliott Smith - Between The Bars (MP3)

Kill Rock Stars is very excited to announce that on April 6th, 2010 we will be adding Elliott Smith's Roman Candle and From a Basement on the Hill records to our catalog... Roman Candle has been remastered for the re-release by Larry Crane, editor of Tape Op Magazine and archivist for Elliott's family... Kill Rock Stars will also be releasing Roman Candle on vinyl for the first time in the U.S. From a Basement on the Hill was released posthumously in 2004 on ANTI- records. With the addition of these two records Kill Rock Stars is now the home for all of Elliott Smith's independent releases: Roman Candle, Elliott Smith, Either/Or, From a Basement on the Hill, and New Moon.

To celebrate the addition of these amazing records KRS are giving away a free, previously unreleased song entitled "Cecilia/Amanda". It was recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio in 1997 by Larry Crane. An earlier version of this song was initially written and recorded by Elliott's high school band, Stranger Than Fiction, and was known as "Time is Ours Now". "Cecilia/Amanda" is a reworking of that song with almost completely different lyrics.

Download it above! Buy Elliott Smith albums which are now on sale at KRS.

Videos of Elliott performing at Irving Plaza and Town Hall, below...

Continue reading "Kill Rock Stars reissuing Elliott Smith albums, giving away an unreleased track (MP3)"

DOWNLOAD: Jeff Hanson - Hiding Behind the Moon (MP3)

Jeff Hanson 1978-2009

We are deeply shocked and saddened to report that Kill Rock Stars artist Jeff Hanson passed away on June 5, 2009 in his home, a victim of a terrible accident. Jeff has been a part of the KRS family since 2003 when he became the first artist signed to the label from an unsolicited demo.

Jeff Hanson was an amazing artist, a riotously funny person, and a good friend. Everyone at Kill Rock Stars feels that we were privileged to put out his records. We will miss him tremendously. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
-Kill Rock Stars

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Hanson "likely died from a fall or other accident at the concrete-floored apartment, which he had just moved into days earlier, said his sister, Sara Hanson". Sara Hanson also pointed out that "her brother never had any trouble with substance abuse".

This is so sad. The first time I ever saw Jeff play was at the Knitting Factory in NYC in May of 2003. I actually went to the show to see Jeff, but stayed to see his new label-mates The Decemberists. It was their first-ever NYC show. It was probably his first NYC show too. I've continued to follow both of them since. Jeff's most recent album, Madam Owl, was released on Kill Rock Stars in 2008.

Two things that usually come to mind when first listening to Jeff's music: his female-sounding voice, and the similarities to his label-mate Elliott Smith. Jeff was just 31 when he died. Elliott was 34. Past Jeff posts HERE. Videos below....

Continue reading "Jeff Hanson, RIP (1978-2009)"

Joseph Arthur & Mike Mills (REM) @ Living Room, NYC - April 1

Last night (April 1st) Mike Mills unexpectedly hopped on stage to sing "Pale Blue Eyes" with Joseph Arthur. Ryan Adams and Craig Finn were in the audience. -Carla

The Living Room's 10th Anniversary celebration ends tonight (April 4).

How was last night's Elliott Smith tribute?

The aforementioned Living Room 10th Anniversary celebration kicks off tonight (March 19th....at the Living Room). Here's what's happening:

8pm
Elvis Costello Tribute Night featuring Jim Boggia, Leah Siegel, Jim Campilongo, Milton, Julia Darling, Brian Seymour, Genie Morrow, Rachel Loshak, Adam Levy, Jon Dryden, Teddy Goldstein, Joy Askew, Jim Allen, Ben Carroll, Tom Freund, Julia Greenberg and Ken Webb

Running through April 4th, the anniversary schedule also features one more tribute night on April 3rd...

Elliot Smith Tribute Night featuring Anne Heaton, Michelle Casillas, Kevin Johnston, Cat Martino, Julia Greenberg, Amanda Thorpe, Pal Shazar, Jules Shear, Anne Heaton, Greta Gertler, Sasha Dobson, Julia Darling, The Selfsame, Leah Siegel, Jimi Zhivago, Mamie Minch, Jesse Harris, Daru Oda, Lianne Smith, Leif Arntzen

The full schedule at the Living Room's site, though it appears that some bigger names have purposely been left off of it in the name of crowd control. Which nights do you recommend?

Rare photograph of Elliott Smith by Autumn de Wilde

The Noise Pop 2008 Festival takes over San Francisco February 26 through March 2 with a celebration of the best independent music, art and film. This year's festival features live performances by Magnetic Fields, The Walkmen, Cursive, Fu Manchu, Mountain Goats, and the live debut of She & Him, the new musical collaboration between Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.....Noise Pop also includes an indie film festival, art gallery events including an Elliott Smith photo exhibit, a Yoko Ono "Wish Tree" exhibit, and a Noise Pop Expo with free music business panels and an indie design fair, daily happy hours, after parties and more.

The whole schedule below...

Continue reading "Noise Pop 2008 - Final Daily Schedule Of All Events "

"Leno has said he’s comfortable with his planned departure but, according to a report earlier this month in the Los Angeles Times, the comedian has grown reluctant to retire as host of the fabled, top-rated late-night program." [MSNBC]

Grizzly Bear is playing Conan on November 6th. Some related videos below.....

Continue reading ""Conan O’Brien will take over ‘The Tonight Show’ in 2009""

DOWNLOAD: Elliott Smith - Some Song (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Elliott Smith - Between The Bars (MP3)

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that I don't like the Lavendar Diamond album, that I'm totally psyched to see that the new Keren Ann is out this week (still haven't heard it), that tickets are still on sale for Keren Ann at Bowery Ballroom, that the Clientele album is streaming at Merge, that I very much want to check out that Boggs album, and that you shouldn't forget that Brakes = Brakes Brakes Brakes (in the U.S.), and that Brakes Brakes Brakes are playing two nights at Mercury Lounge with Pela. And now, Largehearted Boy....

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Bjork's Volta is the most hyped music release in a week filled with quality releases.

Fans of the late Elliott Smith will enjoy his latest posthumous album New Moon, and I can also strongly recommend Keren Ann's self-titled release, Electrelane's No Shouts, No Calls, the Clientele's God Save The Clientele, Maximo Park's Our Earthly Pleasures, and Great Lake Swimmers' Ongiara (plus about half of the below list).

What new releases can you recommend this week?

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week"