photos by Fresh Bread

"Quite simply, the Tallest Man on Earth has an impossible voice. Looking a bit like Production Simple's Joe Argabrite, Kristian Matsson's "Tallest Man" status must surely come from his voice because no mere human should be able to sound like this (that, and it clearly does not come from his height). Although I was late to the game on TMOE, his debut Shallow Grave was amongst the best albums of 2008. Having fallen in love with the Dylanesque croons of Shallow Grave, I was beyond pleasantly surprised to find that live, it gives way to a penetrating growl of emotion that made the audience feel that Matsson was reliving each moment and truly experiencing every word as it was spoke." [Backbeat Sandbar]

That review, and the pictures in this post, come from The Tallest Man On Earth's Bowery Ballroom show the other night (Red Cortez opened). The Tallest Man will be back, next time at MHOW during the Northside Festival. More pictures, the setlist, and a video from Bowery, below...

Continue reading "Tallest Man on Earth @ Bowery Ballroom - pics, setlist, video"

DOWNLOAD: Red Cortez - World At Rest (MP3)

The Tallest Man On Earth is playing a show at Union Hall on April 14th (tickets are on sale). That's one day before the previously announced show at Bowery Ballroom (tix still on sale).

Both NYC shows are with California's Libertines-U2-like band, Red Cortez (formerly The Weather Underground), who, as recently pointed out, are now on tour with Morrissey (sort of).

The music that [Red Cortez] makes is an odd mash of a multitude of things - including beat poetry, ragtag clothing, the fertile hope of equality, The Black Crowes, The Walkmen, peace marches and that audacity of human content that the new president-elect has been talking about and which has been a calling card since the 60s. [Daytrotter]

After Morrissey-touring, and before they hit the road with The Tallest Man, Red Cortez will play around six shows in Austin for SXSW. Those include the My Old Kentucky Blog official showcase at Radio Room, and Mess With Texas.

The Tallest Man on Earth will be at SXSW too, and one of the seven shows he's playing is Roky Erickson's seventh annual Psychedelic Ice Cream Social with Okkervil River who will be playing with Roky. The flyer, full lineup, some videos, and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Tallest Man on Earth touring w/ Red Cortez, playing Union Hall, Roky Erickson's Ice Cream Social, other places"

I guess some of this is technically old news, but I never realized it until this week. Morrissey, currently not actually on tour (he got to the US on March 6th after cancelling four shows, played one night, and then cancelled two more), was supposed to be touring with Massachusetts' neo-soul wonder-kid Eli Paperboy Reed. This was confirmed by Eli himself in a lemmingtrail posting. On December 5th Eli described the opportunity as "Totally nuts". Three posts later he wrote, "Yeah its insane. No animal products on our rider anymore!" (I like that part). BUT... Flash forward 8 dissapointing days later. Eli posted:

Eli - 12/13/08 - 2:30 am

This isn't happening....Morrisey came to our show in London and said that we weren't right for his tour. Apparently on his last tour he kicked off the opening band after the first show so at least that didn't happen. I'm pretty bummed

That does suck. That also explains why Eli is available to play the Bell House (3/12, TONIGHT), SXSW, and a whole bunch of other shows this month including March 28th at Maxwell's.

That also explains why Bill Pearis' partly-published list of UK bands playing NYC this month included a band (that I am now just first posting about) called the Courteeners, who in addition to playing Mercury Lounge on March 17th, are in North America because they're touring with Morrissey (as opposed to being here because they're playing SXSW like most of their countrymen). And yes, Morrissey is a fan:

"Every song was very strong and full of hooks and dynamics. So many groups in England, they're hyped and they're all over the press, but they don't actually have any songs, they don't really have anything to offer ... But it's different with The Courteeners."
- Morrissey.

As much as I feel bad for Eli, at least the Moz is keeping it real. Eli is probably over it anyway. He's got better things to think about, like, eleven shows at SXSW, and...his major label record contract...

After releasing his debut album through Somerville's Q Division last year, Brookline native Eli "Paperboy" Reed this week signed a major-label deal with Virgin Records.

Reed spread the news earlier today via the Lemmingtrail music and arts message board.

"After what seemed like forever of contract negotiations on Tuesday I finally signed with EMI/Virgin Records," Reed wrote. "I am really psyched to start working on another record and to make the best damn record I've ever made. 2009 is going to be a good year, I think."

Reed wrote that his Virgin deal does not include his seven-piece backing band, the True Loves, due to their unstable lineup. But he added he will continue to work with them under some sort of "sharing agreement." Terms of the contract were not revealed. [Boston Herald]

All Eli Paperboy Reed dates HERE. All Courtneeners dates (including the three NYC shows with Morrissey that are hopefully still happening) (but not including any Morrissey dates before NYC - Red Cortez are the band opening, or not opening, the beginning of Morrissey's tour) and a video, below...

Continue reading "Morrissey cancelled more shows, The Courteeners (not)opening instead of Eli Paperboy Reed (now on Virgin) "