Melt Banana at Bowery Ballroom (more by Lori Baily)

As previously discussed, Melt Banana will hit the road for a US tour in October, their first set of US dates since 2009. That tour now includes a NYC date. The band will play Santos Party House on October 29th with support from Tera Melos (who have a new video). Tickets are on sale. All dates are listed below.

Melt Banana's last releases also hit in 2009, with their Young Widows split on TRL and their Melt Banana lite release.

Tera Melos will also hit the road for a string of dates with Boris, though that leg doesn't hit NYC. Boris will play Irving Plaza with Asobi Seksu and Liturgy on 10/27. Tickets are still available.

All tour dates and some video is below.

Continue reading "Melt Banana tour dates (Santos Party House w/ Tera Melos)"

by BBG

I'm disappointed in Tera Melos. A person spends a good bit of their new video for "So Occult/Kelly", a song from their latest LP Patagonian Rats, smashing (perfectly good) beers with a baseball bat. At least they do so while wearing a Freddy Krueger-like creepy old man mask. Check out said carnage below.

The math-y band, who recently swooped in for a Daytrotter session, have a gang of tour dates in North America in October. Look for the Sac-town crew to appear on shows with Boris, Melt Banana, Master Musicians of Bukkake, and Coliseum No NYC date so far, but we'll be on the look out.

Boris's tour hits NYC at Irving Plaza on Oct 27th with Asobi Seksu & Liturgy. Tickets are still available.

And for the curious, you read right. Melt Banana will head out on a US tour this fall. No NYC date thus far, but the rest of their US schedule is available below.

Master Musicians of Bukkake are featured on the latest Important Records compilation which collects rare tracks in celebration of the label's 10th anniversary (!). Congrats to Important Records. Pick up said comp, which features appearances from Grails, Cave, Chord, Bardo Pond, and others.

All tour dates and the new Tera Melos video below.

Continue reading "Tera Melos - "So Occult/Kelly" (video premiere & upcoming dates w/ Boris & Melt Banana)"

photos by Lori Baily

Happy Holidays! I take on more than I can handle. That results in a lot of unposted content. In the name of catching up, while also taking it easy during this final week of the year, here's some of that lost material

A set of pictures from Melt Banana and Liturgy at Bowery Ballroom on November 23rd, continued below...

Continue reading "Melt Banana & Liturgy @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - pics "

Annual Austin music festival Fun Fun Fun Fest lived up to its name once again today (Saturday, November 7th). And that was just Day One. The fun continues on Sunday which ends with a headlining set by Danzig (and Of Montreal on another stage). More coverage and pictures to come, but before I run out to the Saturday night afterparties (going to try and see Voxtrot at Mohawk and Negative Approach at Red 7), I just wanted to post a few pictures. Check them out below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest - Day 1 in pics "

by Black Bubblegum

They say that the clothes make the man, but in the music world, the drummer makes the band. That's the only way to explain the string of successes that have followed Dave Witte since he first sat behind the kit as a member of the influential yet under-appreciated Human Remains. Since then, Witte has played with some of the greatest bands in the heavy underground, laying the back beat to names as powerful as Municipal Waste, Discordance Axis, Anodyne, Black Army Jacket, Melt Banana, and we can't forget about Burnt By The Sun.

Burnt By The Sun recently released their swansong, Heart of Darkness, via Relapse Records. In celebration of this last LP, the band will embark on final tour of Europe in October with only one US date scheduled: October 2nd at Cake Shop with Tombs, Black Anvil, Bloodhorse, and Torchbearer. Considering the band members' current undertakings, it isn't out the question to say that this could be their last show for a very very long time.

With that as a primer, I fired some questions at Dave Witte about Municipal Waste, the end of Burnt By The Sun, and the possiblity of him returning to the kit for Human Remains, Discordance Axis or Black Army Jacket. The conversation is below....

Continue reading "an interview w/ Dave Witte (of Burnt by the Sun, Municipal Waste, Human Remains, Black Army Jacket...)"

by Black Bubblegum

Melt Banana

Japanese noise-punk-grind oddity Melt Banana have a 7" EP/3" CD on the way via Init Records (pre-order that here) and a live CD due via their label A-Zap (preorder that here). If you have an odd aversion to USPS (what with anthrax and such) then mosey on down to Bowery Ballroom to pick up a copy in person on 11/23. Tickets are on sale. The tour is billed as "Melt Banana with Melt Banana Lite". Insound has some details as to the origin of "Lite":

Melt Banana Lite is not the usual Melt Banana: there are drums and vocals, but no guitars - instead samplers and synth. It is different, but at the same time, one definitely feels Melt Banana when one listens to it... Melt Banana Lite shows another face of Melt Banana, with more flexible, concentrated and free minds. They have stepped forward, attempting to discover new possibilities for their music.

Full Melt Banana tour dates, and a live video, below...

Continue reading "Melt Banana with Melt Banana Lite - 2009 Tour Dates"

August 25th, 2009 (Austin, TX) - Transmission Entertainment is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, taking place on November 7th and 8th at Waterloo Park in Austin. Fun Fun Fun Fest made its first appearance on a cold Friday evening in 2006, offering a unique approach to festival booking, filling stages with talent bubbling from the underground: what sounded great, and what was making an impact, regardless of what mainstream media said was cool. What started out as a show for a few touring acts and local favorites has become a movement -- a festival that fans and bands alike realize needs to be experienced year after year.

Now in its fourth year, Fun Fun Fun Fest has made a significant impact on the country's winter calendar, successfully combining the vast worlds of indie, punk, rap, electronica and comedy while showcasing some of the city's most unique local businesses.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 lineup (Jesus Lizard, Of Montreal, Gorilla Biscuits, LSF, 7 Seconds, D.R.I. & DANZIG!! & more)"

We already know the lineup for Austin's 4th annual Fun Fun Fun Fest on November 7th and 8th will include 7 Seconds, The Jesus Lizard, Red Sparrowes, and Atlas Sound and Broadcast.

FFF's own "Lineup Leaks" page expands upon that list with Why? (whose tour is coming to NYC), GZA, Melt Banana, King Khan & BBQ Show and comedian Todd Barry.

BV would like to further leak that our most-favorite weekend in Austin will also feature sets by Alaska in Winter, Les Savy Fav, comedians Jake Flores, Joe Staats & JT Habersaat, VEGA, Lucero, Metallagher, The Night Marchers (they played Mess With Texas last year at the same venue), and Shonen Knife (part of their large upcoming tour).

Speaking of the Hot Snakes, Obits are scheculed to play the South Street Seaport in NYC tonight (7/31).

The official FFFFest "leak" page includes stage assignments, which are below. We have 2008's FFF Fest in pictures (day one & day two), and you can check out recap videos from 2006 and 2007, also below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest - initial 2009 lineup (includes Les Savy Fav)"

01. Parenthetical Girls - If it's a time for Christmas (2:46)
02. Ween - Silent Night (1:40)
03. Andrew Dost (Anathallo) - Yeah, I Know, It's Christmastime (2:04)
04. The National Splits - Let's Wrap Each Other (2:15)
05. Louis Armstrong - Santa Claus Blues (2:51)
06. Scott Allen (Thunderbirds are Now) - Winters Wonderland (3:50)
07. The Knife - Christmas Reindeer (7:11)
08. Melt Banana - White Christmas (1:42)
09. Thick Pigeon - Jingle Bell Rock (1:30)
10. Steven Garvey - Dreidle, Dreidle, Dreidle (1:11)
11. nullsleep - silent night (2:25)
12. Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire - Santa Claus (3:26)
13. Holly Golightly - Christmas Tree's On Fire (2:54)
14. Deerhoof - xmas tree (2:30)
15. Palace Songs (Will Oldham) - Christmastime in the Mountains (1:30)
16. Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance [Alternate Take] (1:24)

---

I know it's too early for this, but inspiration hit, so I went with it. Download, support the artists, enjoy, and happy holidays (Thanksgiving or whatever).

Melt Banana

Melt-Banana is hugely responsible for the reputation that Japanese bands have for their live shows going way over the top. After seeing this group in concert, it becomes difficult to accept anything less than total hair-raising insanity from anybody else onstage. While these noise punks have been together and steadily releasing albums, cassettes, and seven-inches since 1992, their legend was built on nonstop touring. [Clevelend Scene]

Nov 09 - Josh Ritter @ Webster Hall
Nov 10 - Illinois & Menomena @ Webster Hall
Nov 11 - Melt Banana, Vaz & The Netherlands @ Europa
Nov 13 - Dillinger Escape Plan CD release party @ Europa

Continue reading "MELT BANANA tour dates & some more TICKET CONTESTS ................................ (Josh Ritter, Illinois, Menomena...)"