by Fred Pessaro

Om at Bowery Ballroom, 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro)

The Temple of Dendur at the Met (via Ulla)

Hold on to your seats Om fans, the band have announced a return to NYC to play an absolute jaw-dropper of a show. The trio have announced that they will play  a version of the track "At Giza" from their excellent Conference of the Birds LP in the most perfect of locations: in front of the remains of the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitain Museum of Art on July 19!

The track, which is in reference to the great pyramids at Giza, will be modified for the setting and be accompanied by additional material when the band performs in front of the Egyptian ruins. Don't miss it, tickets are on sale.

The Temple of Dendur is also where Liars are performing on Saturday (sold out).

All  tour dates are listed, along with a stream of "At Giza" and the rest of Conference of the Birds, below.

Continue reading "OM playing "At Giza" in front of Egyptian ruins at the Met's Temple of Dendur (dates)"

Tamaryn is DJing at New York's Museum of Modern Art on Sunday evening (4/7) as part of a PopRally event called "Abstract Currents." Against projections of one-minute videos submitted by the public, Tamryn will provide a "hypnotic soundtrack to the collectively built abstract videoscape." It's in conjunction with MoMA's Abstraction, 1910-1925 and Abstract Generation: Now in Print exhibition and tickets are still available.

Later this month, Tamaryn will be in Texas' state capital for Austin Psych Fest (Apr. 26 - 28), which features a pretty amazing line-up that runs the gammut of "psychedelic," including Deerhunter, Spectrum, Black Mountain, OS Mutantes, The Moving Sidewalks, Clinic, Besnard Lakes, Elephant Stone, Roky Erickson, Sweden's GOAT and a bunch more. The fest just announced the day-by-day line-ups which are listed below.

Continue reading "Tamaryn DJing MoMA; Austin Psych Fest finalizes lineup"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Lilacs & Champagne, the hip-hop influenced project featuring members of Om/Grails/Holy Sons, have released another commercial for Danish & Blue, the band's new album due via Mexican Summer on April 23. The trippy, VHS-culled trailer (directed by Emil Amos) follows a prior trailer as well as a video for the single "Sour / Sweet," all available below.

Old school hip hop fans, don't be scared off by the band's pedigree; L&C can sit comfortably by some of the odder productions by MF Doom, Madlib and even early DJ Shadow and RJD2. Check out the single and trailers below.

Continue reading "Lilacs & Champagne ready new LP (videos and single stream)"

Primavera Sound have announced their 2013 lineup, set to go down on May 22-26 in Barcelona, Spain. The announcement came via an animated video and artists performing include Phoenix, The Postal Service, Blur, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, My Bloody Valentine, Tame Impala, Wu-Tang Clan, Dead Can Dance, Grizzly Bear, The Knife, and loads more. Current lineup is below along with the flyer and video...

Continue reading "Primavera Sound 2013 line-up announced"

Emil Amos w/ Om at Bowery, Nov 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Holy Sons have released two new tracks, in song and video form respectively, from their forthcoming My Only Warm Coals + 9 LP, due in March 2013 via Important Records. As usual, Emil Amos (also of Om/Grails) delivers a haunting patchwork of old VHS images in the video for "Station ID", which is viewable alongside the streamable track "More Flophouse Blues below.

So far no Holy Sons dates to speak of, but Om have released a set of West Coast dates for the new year all of which are listed below.

Continue reading "Holy Sons release new song and video from forthcoming compilation; Om touring West Coast in February (dates)"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Al Cisneros with Om at Bowery Ballroom, Nov 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Sleep is honored to perform at Maryland Deathfest 2013.

Al Cisneros (Om, Sleep), Matt Pike (High On Fire, Sleep) and Jason Roeder (Neurosis, Sleep) have been carefully balancing busy touring schedules to push forward with Sleep as a full, reunited band...

We look forward to MDF and beyond.

Praise thee who accept The Iommic in thine heart

- Sleep"

Current Sleep bandmates have been busy with their other projects as of late. Jason Roeder just celebrated the release of the new Neurosis LP in Oakland (pics). Matt Pike is currently on tour with High on Fire, and will play two NYC shows this weekend. And last but not least, Al Cisneros played with Om at Bowery Ballroom on 11/21 (pics) and will return to join Johnny Marr (who has a new solo album coming) and Kim Gordon at Terminal 5 on 12/1 for Dinosaur Jr's celebration of You're Living All Over Me. Tickets are still available.

Dinosaur Jr recently added a grip of European dates to their current slate of shows. Check out those dates alongside a stream of the new live album recorded in 1987 titled Chocomel Daze (out now on Merge).

Continue reading "Sleep is now a "full, reunited band"; Al Cisneros appearing at Dinosaur Jr show (now with Kim Gordon too) (dates)"

photos by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Om @ Bowery Ballroom - 11/21/12

Om were supposed to tour over the summer in support of their new album, Advaitic Songs, but had to reschedule the tour due to Emil Amos' arm injury. The new run of dates began earlier this month in Chicago and hit NYC on Wednesday (11/21) at Bowery Ballroom. Om is now officially a trio with Emil and Al Cisneros being joined by Robert Lowe (aka Lichens). Like he did on the rest of the tour, Daniel Higgs (of Lungfish) opened the show.

More pictures and videos from the show, below...

Continue reading "Om and Daniel Higgs played Bowery Ballroom (pics, videos)"

Scout Niblett in Montreal, October 2010 (more by Rachel Kowal)

Scout Niblett has released the new No More Nasty Scrubs 7" featuring a pair of reworked pop favorites. The A-side features a reworking of "Nasty" by Janet Jackson while the flip features TLC's "No Scrubs" with Emil Amos of Om/Holy Sons/Grails. Stream the latter below and look for a video of "Nasty" in the coming weeks.

In related news, back in August of 2010, Emil Amos said:

I've finally decided to prepare a re-release of My Only Warm Coals next, god knows when it will come out exactly...

And last but not least, look for Emil Amos on tour with Om starting Saturday in Chicago (11/17) and swinging through NYC at Bowery Ballroom on 11/21 (tickets).

All tour dates and that stream is below.

Continue reading "Scout Niblett covers TLC (listen) and Janet Jackson, Holy Sons releasing comp LP, Om on tour now"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Cover of the Grails side of the Pharoah Overlord split

Grails are preparing the release of Black Tar Prophecies Vol.5, one side of a split with the Finnish greats Pharaoh Overlord (members of Circle). That record will see the light of day via Grails' new label home of Kemado on October 30. Stream the lush and cinematic opus, "Chariots," below alongside their forthcoming schedule of dates down under.

The cover for Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 5 is a skewed reference to another album cover, one recorded during a "weird period" by a very important and hugely influential musician. Do you know the musician and art that it references? If so, head below for details on how to enter a contest to win a copy of the vinyl!

Reminder, Emil Amos from Grails will also be in the NYC area soon, touring with Om as part of their round of make-up dates (due to Emil's injury). Those dates include November 21st at Bowery Ballroom, tickets are still available.

That stream, the Pharoah Overlord art for their side of the split, a list of tour dates, and contest details are below.

Continue reading "Grails ready split 12" with Pharoah Overlord; Stream a song and win a copy"

Emil Amos at Knitting Factory, 2011 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

With his busted arm healed, Emil Amos will return to action in November with his Om bandmates Al Cisneros and Robert Lowe for a string of US dates. The previously-announced dates, originally set for this week and then cancelled due to Amos's injury, includes the now-rescheduled NYC show at Bowery Ballroom on 11/21 stil with Daniel Higgs opening. Tickets go on sale on Friday (8/24) at noon.

All tour dates are listed below, along with  a couple song streams.

Continue reading "Om reschedule shows, including NYC (updated dates)"

Emil Amos of Om, before and after the accident

Om reluctantly announce they will be postponing their upcoming tour dates following a skateboarding injury sustained by drummer Emil Amos. The trio, which is rounded out by bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros and multi-instrumentalist Robert AA Lowe, are working on rescheduling the full run starting in mid-November.

A list of postponed dates, which included Music Hall of Williamsburg on August 29, and song streams are below.

Continue reading "Om postpones tour due to injury"

The new Om (officially now) at Europa (more by Chloe Rice)

Om, now officially a three piece with the addition of Robert Lowe (Lichens) to the lineup, will take to the road in celebration of the Advaitic Songs, the band's new LP due on Drag City on July 24th. The band to hit Music Hall of Williamsburg on August 29th and tickets go on sale Monday (7/16) at noon. Daniel Higgs, who is currently in the midst of a residency at Zebulon, will open for the band at MHoW.

While you're patiently sitting at home, waiting for the tour to start, you might want to check out  "Gethsemane (Edit)" from Advaitic Songs which is streaming below, along with "State of Non-Return" and all upcoming tour dates in the popular list format.

Continue reading "Om are now a trio, going on tour, including MHOW (dates)"

Liars (via)

today in NYC
* Nova Social @ Joe's Pub
* Auktyon @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Alt.Timers Trio @ Barbes
* Avi Avital @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Sleeping Giant @ The Stone
* NYC Pride Family Night @ Pier 46
* Led Er Est @ Home Sweet Home
* The Mandingo Ambassadors @ Barbes
* Hilary Hahn, Hauschka @ City Winery
* Nadja, Noveller, Lazurite @ Glasslands
* Carbon Leaf, Zak Smith @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Morning Parade, Carousel @ Mercury Lounge
* Face To Face, Nat Rufus @ Gramercy Theatre
* Starsky + Cox: ZODIAC WITH A "Z" @ Joe's Pub
* Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples @ Beacon Theatre
* Brand Nubian, Game Rebellion @ Red Hook Park
* The Rapture, Tanlines, Dave P @ House of Vans
* Pretty & Nice, Whistle Tips, Aquadora @ 929 XPO
* James Maddock and Band @ Madison Square Park
* Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk with Me at @ BAM
* Mon Khmer, The Deer Tracks, Nouela, Crux @ Pianos
* The Hundred In The Hands, MMOTHS @ Mercury Lounge
* Liars, Oneohtrix Point Never, Bubbles @ Webster Hall
* My Best Fiend, Kid Savant, The Veda Rays @ Maxwell's
* The Tallest Man On Earth, Strand of Oaks @ Town Hall
* Gabrielle Herbst, Lesley Flanigan, Cross, Wish @ Zebulon
* The Dead Exs, Christopher Paul Stelling @ Cameo Gallery
* Philip Glass Ensemble, Face the Music @ Rockefeller Park
* Greg Laswell, Elizabeth and The Catapult @ Bowery Ballroom
* Magnetic Island, Via Audio, Butchers and Bakers @ Union Pool
* Mean Jeans, Liquor Store, Hollywood, Foster Care @ Cake Shop
* Big Terrific Comedy Show with Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman @ Cameo Gallery
* Missing Ships, Video Daughters, What Model Citizens, Ferns @ Big Snow Buffalo Lodge
* Wyatt Cenac, Al Madrigal, John Oliver, Kristen Schaal, Rory Albanese, Adam Lowitt, John Hodgman @ Central Park Summerstage
* Drew Mcdowall (of Coil, Psychic TV), Mark Dwinell (Forma), Matthew Recula (Telecult Powers), Jesse Derosa (Grasshopper), Nathan Cearley (Long Distance Poison) @ Death By Audio

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Today is the official first day of summer, maybe you noticed?

Tanlines, who play House of Vans with the Rapture tonight, talked to the Creators Project. Check out video of that below.

Divine Fits, the "supergroup" featuring members of Wolf Parade, Spoon and New Bomb Turks, dropped their first full song today which you can stream at their facebook page in exchange for "liking it." They've also got a teaser video with another snippet which you can check out below.

Lots of rock royalty celebrate their birthdays today! Lionel Richie is 63 years young while Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys is 70. (Also young!) Both Lionel Richie and Brian Wilson performed at the fourth day of Bonnaroo this year, the former as a surprise guest of Kenny Rogers and the latter as part of The Beach Boys.

Om have released a new track in the form of "State of Non-Return", the first single from their forthcoming LP Advaitic Songs due via Drag City on July 24th. Watch the video for that below as well.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday? (Summer Solstice)"

by BBG

The star-studded end to Down's set

With all of the drag queens, bikini-clad girls, and slow-rolling neon cars blasting hip hop, it would be perfectly understandable to mistake East 7th Ave in Ybor City for another Saturday night on the strip. Yet the clubs of East 7th had been invaded by the the black-shirted, devil-horn weilding crew: the fourth-annual Scion Rock Fest was in town.

Ybor City is located north of downtown Tampa, Florida and was the site of 2012's edition, boasting names like Sleep, Merzbow, Oxbow, Repulsion, Sick of it All, Suffocation and many others across four stages (The Orpheum, CZAR Bar, Crowbar, and The Ritz). Though I never made it over to the Orpheum, I saw my fair share of incredible performances across the remaining three stages, many of which will likely never happen again.

Thoughts on Scion Rock Fest 2012, pictures, and video from many of the sets are below.

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest 2012: Down, Sleep, Oxbow, Merzbow, All Pigs Must Die, Vermapyre and more"

by BBG

Sleep at Terminal 5 (more by BBG)

As many know, the history of Sleep's Dopesmoker is almost as fascinating as the seminal release itself. A few different versions have been released, but now it seems that Southern Lord will release the ORIGINAL version of Sleep's epic album, done the way the band intended for release in the mid 90s:

For the 2012 reissue, there are some very notable changes. The original studio tapes have been remastered presenting the album as the band had originally intended. The audio is clearer, louder, and at last brings a true representation of SLEEP's hour-plus Weedian chronicle. Exclusive to this Southern Lord edition is brand new artwork by long time SLEEP artist Arik Roper, to be unveiled in the coming weeks. Additionally, this reborn version of Dopesmoker boasts an unreleased live recording of one of the band's best all-time performances: "Holy Mountain" from San Francisco's I-Beam in 1994.

Reminder: we are teaming with Southern Lord for TWO shows in Austin this week, both a day party as part of the Deathmatch (with Matt Pike's current project High on Fire) and an official showcase.

Continue reading "Sleep to release another version of "Dopesmoker" based on the original studio recordings"

by BBG

Art for the Lilacs & Champagne LP

It's nearly impossible to nail down a Grails release as far as influence is concerned; odd 70s soundtracks, prog, kraut-rock, post-rock, goth and dashes of metal all rear their head in every release in equal measure. Every song is a journey, a similar tactic employed on the new Lilacs & Champagne LP. The band, which features half of Grails including Emil Amos of Om/Holy Sons and Alex Hall, uses those influences as a jumping off point but explores psychedelia through the lens of hip hop, filtering the music as it might be envisioned by MF Doom, Madlib, J.Dilla, or The Alchemist.

In celebration of their debut release (out TODAY via Mexican Summer), Lilacs & Champagne have kindly shared a recent DJ set entitled Suicide Solution Vol.1 exclusively here. The record also features "Sensations", which also makes its debut here, as well as "Everywhere, Everyone" which is available in video form. Stream all songs/videos below.

Continue reading "Lilacs & Champagne = 1/2 of Grails, new album out today on Mexican Summer --- listen (exclusive song stream & DJ set)"

by BBG

Sleep at Terminal 5 (more by BBG)

It was inevitable. Sleep will headline Roadburn 2012. Al Cisneros' other current project Om (with Robert Lowe) and the previously announced curators Voivod also ae on the bill of the European festival. More impressive additions are surely to follow.

Meanwhile, Maryland Deathfest's lineup has finally solidified with the final addition of Autopsy. The band will headline the first night of the jawdropping lineup, alongside other Thursday bands like Agalloch, Eyehategod, Rorschach, Dying Fetus, Desaster, Needful Needful Things, Die Pigeon Die, and Extermination Angel.

The show is one of two Baltimore festival appearances scheduled for Eyehategod, who will also play the A389 anniversary with Integrity, Gehenna and a cast of others.

Full MDF lineup and flyer is below.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest completes lineup, Roadburn adds Sleep"

words by BBG, photos by Chloe Rice

Om @ Europa

On the eternal quest towards enlightenment, Om played Europa on 10/11 as part of a four band bill that included Ben Chasny solo project Six Organs of Admittance, Lichens, and Naam. Though Om is traditionally a duo, the new (and in my estimation, interesting) direction on God is Good sees the band going outside of their traditional roles, and as such Robert Lowe of Lichens joined them on stage to embellish with percussion, guitar, keys, and tons of effects. NYCTaper was on the scene, and recorded the entire show for your enjoyment. Get that here.

If you happened to miss Europa, then you have a few chances to catch all of the bands in the coming weeks. First up, Om, Six Organs of Admittance, and Lichens plays NYC again (Bowery Ballroom) tonight (10/13). Tickets are still on sale.

The remaining band from the Europa bill, Naam is playing a ton of shows in the coming weeks including the BrooklynVegan-BBG Day Party at Fontana's on 10/23! Full dates for Naam are below, which include Iron Age at The Charleston on 10/17, the Tee Pee/Chronic Youth Day Party on 10/22 at Cake Shop with Priestess, Nebula, Hull, and others, as well as their official showcase at Union Pool on 10/23 with Priestess, Weird Owl, Nebula, Quest For Fire, and many more.

Outside of Om, the duo are staying plenty busy. Al Cisneros will be at Le Poisson Rouge on 11/15 with Shrinebuilder (who recently added Rwake and Liturgy to the bill) while Emil Amos will be back for CMJ to play with Holy Sons.

More pics and video from the Om show, and Naam tour dates (that also include some December Priestess and Early Man dates), below....

Continue reading "Om, Naam, Lichens & Six Organs of Admittance @ Europa in Brooklyn - pics, video, live recording ++ (*Bowery tonight*)"

by Black Bubblegum

Rwake (more here)

How do you improve on Shrinebuilder in the flesh? Rwake and Liturgy have been added as support at the upcoming Shrinebuilder show at Le Poisson Rouge on 11/15. Tickets are still available!

Shrinebuilder has also announced their participation in a particularly STACKED Roadburn 2010, along with the new Tom Warrior project Triptykon, the reunion of Goatsnake (!), Thor's Hammer, and acid-folkers Comus who will play their First Utterance LP in it's entirety(!). Oh, and did I mention Candlemass will be performing Epicus Doomicus Metallicus and the festival will also feature appearances from Yob, Moss, Altar Of Plagues, Mouth of The Architect, and many more. Must. Go.

Rwake are currently working on their follow-up to Voices of Omens, and are also scheduled to play Chicago with Shrinebuilder. Rwake has also been added to the Hellfest 2010 lineup which also includes Immortal, Atheist, Black Cobra, Bloodbath, Suffocation, Weedeater, with another 80+ bands TBA.

Wino of Shrinebuilder plays with his solo band at Irving Plaza tonight (10/9, tix here) and tomorrow (10/10, tix here) supporting Clutch, and will be back next week with Saint Vitus at Europa (10/16, tix here)!

Both CT (of Rwake) and Scott Kelly (of Shrinebuilder & Neurosis) host weekly podcasts on Combat Radio, and both are highly recommended.

Al Cisneros of Shrinebuilder will showcase Om over two nights in NYC, Sunday 10/11 at Europa (tickets here) and tuesday 10/13 at Bowery Ballroom (tickets here).

Dale Crover of the Melvins (who plays drums in Shrinebuilder) recently played ATP and Nokia Theater with Down, and have a remix album out NOW entitled Chicken Switch. The LP features contributions from Merzbow, Lee Ronaldo, Matmos, and many others.

Full Shrinebuilder, Rwake and Liturgy dates, as well as a few live videos are below...

Continue reading "Rwake opening for Shrinebuilder ++ Roadburn & Hellfest 2010 lineups ++ Wino, Om, Saint Vitus & more upcoming shows"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Naam - "Skyling Slip" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Naam - "Kingdom" (MP3, from EP)
DOWNLOAD: Lullabye Arkestra - "We Fuck The Night" (MP3)

Naam ist griim.

The name "Naam" doesn't denote a typist with a particularly itchy left pinky, but a Brooklyn based psychedelic trio that is prepping their self-titled debut for release on 10/20.

Since the release of their Kingdom EP, Naam has gigged quite a bit around our fair city, logging dates with Nebula, Cable, Violent Bullshit, and many others. Don't let that diverse list confuse you though! Much like their Tee Pee Records compatriots or like-minded hallucinogen explorers in The Black Angels or Black Mountain, the band plays a grim electric blues that recalls a more spacey Black Sabbath. The band isn't afraid to explore different territory though, as Naam even briefly visits black metal blast beats for the album closer "Black Ice". Versions of "Skyling Slip" and "Kingdom" (above), can be found on that LP as well as the Kingdom EP, though only "Skyling Slip" above comes from the new joint (double-entendre).

Naam has a few dates laid out in the coming months including supporting Om/Six Organs of Admittance at Europa on 10/11 (tix), the official Tee Pee CMJ showcase at Union Pool on Oct 23rd with Nebula, Quest For Fire, Weird Owl and more, as well as another curious bill on 9/10 at the Charleston that features a "special guest" headliner. The band can't officially be announced, but I do have a riddle... see if you can figure it out!

What bong-totin' riff-smokin' cross-eyed Southern Lord sons o' bitches happen to have a night off on September 10th?

Having trouble guessing? Well God Luck & Good Speed.

Continue reading "Naam releasing LP (MP3), playing w/ Om, the Tee Pee CMJ showcase & The Charleston w/ a secret guest headliner"

by Black Bubblegum

The first US date for the mighty Shrinebuilder has surfaced, and it's not on the west coast (where Scott Kelly, Dale Crover, and Al Cisneros are from) nor the east coast (where Wino resides). It's Nov 14th at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. Does this mean a possible tour to come? Signs point to yes, but no concrete plans yet.

Meanwhile, Om (Al Cisneros's current project with Emil Amos of Grails/Holy Sons) have released the cover to their new LP, God Is Good, and are prepping to hit the road in late September, logging a pair of shows in NYC with Six Organs of Admittance and Lichens. Tickets are still available for their 10/11 show at Europa (here) and their 10/13 at Bowery (here)

Holy Sons are also prepping a new release, less than six months after the release of Drifter's Symphony! Look for the new LP, Criminal's Return, to surface via Important Records in middle October, and look for Holy Sons to hit the road in the fall (details forthcoming). Since Holy Sons is a solo project for Emil Amos, but he'll recruit members of Dolorean and Grails as members of the Holy Sons live band.

Wino of Shrinebuilder will also be in NYC as part of Saint Vitus, having scheduled Oct 16th for his return to the stage with them. Tickets are still available. Bassoon has been added as support on that show.

Shrinebuilder, God Is Good, and Criminal's Return album art is below.

Continue reading "Shrinebuilder announce Chicago show... (and stuff) "

by Black Bubblegum

Om live at ATP 2008 (more by Zach Dilgard)

It's been over a year, but they haven't been forgotten. Om, who will declare that God Is Good on Sept 8th, have announced a string of US tour dates including TWO in NYC... Europa on Oct 11th and Bowery on Oct 13th. Tickets for Europa are on sale. Bowery details are still TBA.

Om is bringing some pretty strong support with them as well, all of which were recently featured on Al Cisneros's compilation for Arthur Magazine, Transmissions from Sinai (available here). Look for Lichens on all dates, with Grouper on a pair of dates and Six Organs of Admittance (Ben Chasny) bringing up the rear of the tour which includes both NYC dates.

Although Grouper is NOT scheduled to play at any of the Om dates in NYC, look for Liz Harris at ATP NY on Sept 11th, as well as on few US dates in September. Om played ATP NY in 2008.

Meanwhile, Ben Chasny's previous collaborators, Sunburned Hand Of The Man, have scheduled a show with Oneida (who are also playing ATP NY in 2009) at Broadway backyard, one of a four tour dates scheduled for the pair.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Om, Lichens & Six Organs of Admittance - 2009 Tour Dates"

Willamette Week's Musicfest NW announces this year's festival line-up which will be held at various venues around the Portland, OR metropolitan area on September 16, 17, 18 & 19. On the heels of the most successful MFNW to date, MFNW 2009 launches with nothing but the hope of a bigger and better festival. MFNW's ultimate aim is to provide Portland with a unique and special musical experience that features all types of acts including nationally renowned artists while still honoring and supporting the special musical scene of the Northwest.

The lineup so far, including the newly-reunited Sunny Day Real Estate, is below...

Continue reading "Musicfest NW in Portland, OR (Sept 16-19) - lineup"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Sir Richard Bishop - Kaddak el Mayass (MP3)

Om in Brooklyn 9/23/08

On September 8th, Drag City will proclaim that God is Good. The duo of Al Cisneros (who recently played his final show in Sleep) and Emil Amos (also of Grails/Holy Sons) will release their new four track LP of that name, their first LP together and the first Om LP since 2007's Pilgrimage. More details on the Steve Albini-produced album to come.

In addition to the new Om album, Al Cisneros has also helmed a new compilation for Arthur Magazine. Entitled Transmissions from Sinai and featuring art from the legendary Arik Roper, the disc contains contributions from some of the usual Cisneros suspects (Current 93, Scott Kelly, Holy Sons, Grails, Wino) as well as previously unreleased tracks from J. Mascis, Six Organs of Admittance, Lichens, and Sir Richard Bishop. The full tracklisting is below. For more information and to order that disc, head to Arthur.

A few contributors to Transmissions From Sinai will be in NYC in the VERY near future! Lichens has a show at Cake Shop on June 15th with New Zealand's Bachelorette and Pikelet.

     Sir Richard Bishop

Arthur CD contributor, Sun City Girl, and Om's Drag City label-mate, Sir Richard Bishop double teams NYC in the coming days, with a show on June 13th at The Studio @ Webster Hall with Zaimph, and then two nights later with Bill Callahan (and a BV photo show) at MHOW. Sir Richard Bishop's new album THE FREAK OF ARABY was released by Drag City in May. All of his tour dates are below.

Om's previously mentioned live document, Live Conference, will be released (vinyl only!) via Important Records in the coming weeks.

Current 93 recently dropped Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain, as well as Monohallucinatory Mountain, the mono version of said record. Pick that up at David Michael Tibet's site. Spanning eight tracks over it's 53+ minutes, the LP features contributions from James Blackshaw, William Breeze (ex-Coil), Ossian Breeze (Coil), Rickie Lee Jones, Matt Sweeney, Andrew WK, Sasha Grey, and many many others.

Holy Sons (aka Emil Amos of Om / Grails) recently dropped Drifter's Symphony

Grouper recently toured with Animal Collective, and has a few additional tour dates in the Northwest laid out through the summer.

All tour dates and stuff below...

Continue reading "Al Cisneros made a CD for Arthur, Drag City releasing Om, released Sir Richard Bishop in May - 2009 tour dates"

by Black Bubblegum

Om, recording their new LP w/ Steve Albini @ Electrical Audio

In our interview with Emil Amos back at at ATP NY in 2008, he said, "I have four Holy Sons records... A new full-length called Drifter's Sympathy for Important Records, The Squanderer which is the next full length after the Important record, a cover record in the style of Kicking Against The Pricks, and My Only Warm Coals, a 35 song retrospective... I did a show with Damo Suzuki, Yellow Swans, White Rainbow, and Valet, but haven't ever had the time to mix it..."

When not busy playing with Om and Grails, Emil Amos spends a good bit of time cranking away at his solo project, Holy Sons, whose new album Drifter's Sympathy was released Tuesday (4/28) on Important records. Check out a few MP3 snippets, and watch the the video for the title track below.

Also due on Important, Om's new live album! "Live Conference was recorded on 24 track remote audio in Brooklyn. On this night Om performed their seminal album Conference of the Birds live in its entirety. Newly invoked energy resonates in the sound of the band. The dynamics between Emil Amos and Al Cisneros have rendered these songs, and Om's sound into a higher evolution."

I missed Om's last Brooklyn show (9/23/08), but I will vouch for the "higher evolution" of their sound at their performance at ATP three days before. It was one of my highlights for the weekend. Look for Om's Live Conference soon. A picture of the packaging is below.

Om also recently completed recording of their new studio album for Drag City. They're working with Steve Albini, as you saw in the picture above. Look for the album to drop on 9/8.

In the tail end of last year, Emil's band mate in Grails, Zak Riles, released his self-titled LP on Important. A few songs from the LP have evolved into Grails tracks, so it's an interesting trip to hear variations on that theme (pun intended). Check out MP3 snippets from that record too.

Om and Grails both played Roadburn over the weekend. Emil, Scott Kelly (solo, with Neurosis & Tribes of Neurot), Steve Von Till (solo, with Neurosis & Tribes of Neurot), and Wino (solo & with Saint Vitus) were the only people to perform more than once during the festival.

Grails and Al Cisneros's old band Sleep will play ATP The Fans Strike Back with Harvey Milk, the reformed Jesus Lizard, and many many others next week.

If you missed it, we recently interviewed Scott Kelly, Al Cisneros's band member from Shrinebuilder.

Grails' new DVD, Acid Rain, is out NOW. Full tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Holy Sons & Om releasing albums, live & studio + new video"