T.V. Smith (born Tim Smith, 5 April 1956, in Romford, Essex, England) is a British punk rock singer songwriter, who was part of the band The Adverts in the late 1970s. Since then, he has played with other bands, as well as pursuing solo work. - Wikipedia

Thursday, June 25, 2009 - US Tour problems
I'm sorry to have to report that due to problems with US immigration I'm unable to come over for the tour with Jay Reatard due to start today. Despite having my visa approved, delays at the US embassy in London mean it couldn't be ratified in time. I've had quite a lot of feedback from people looking forward to seeing me, so I'm bitterly disappointed to miss the gigs in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and my first ever Canadian gigs in Toronto and Montreal. I hope to come back soon and play for you. The good new is, the way things are looking I'll be seeing the embassy next week and hope to rejoin the tour in Brooklyn on the 2nd July. Keep your fingers crossed...!
Best wishes,
TV

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Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - US Tour back on
....five hours to go before I need to leave for the airport for my re-booked flight to the USA, and my passport and approved visa are couriered back to me from the US embassy. Talk about a cliffhanger! So, the good news is I'm able to join the Jay Reatard tour from the Brooklyn date on July 2nd onwards. Hope to see some of you there!

Those messages are from TV Smith, who though cutting it close, is still scheduled to appear Thursday night (7/2) at Music Hall of Williamasburg with Jay Reatard and Screaming Females (tickets). From there he'll stay on the road with Jay though Saturday, July 11th when they play Proud Larry's in Oxford, MS (home of Fat Possum Records).

TV was supposed to play some earlier dates on Jay's tour, but those obviously didn't happen. And TV was scheduled to play Mercury Lounge tonight (7/1, no longer happening) while Jay plays his free show in Stuyvesant Town (still happening, though maybe in the rain?). All TV Smith dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "TV Smith had visa trouble, isn't playing Merc, but will tour w/ Jay Reatard (who plays Stuy Town TONIGHT)"

"The situation with MARDUK not having performed during the first week of Blackenedfest is due to vocalist Mortuus not having received his visa yet. Note, it is not a "denied" visa. The band filed for a P-1 non-immigrant work visa, which is required for a band to play in the states. The visa was approved by the United States Government's Homeland Security Office. Furthermore, as required, the band members each individually went to their Visa appointments at the US Embassy in Stockholm for the standard interview, at which point the persons handling the band's applications informed the band that there was no further action needed and that they should expect their passports in the mail with the P-1 visa attached. Everyone in the band received theirs except Mortuus. The day before tour, while the rest of the band were at the airport awaiting to board their flights to the US, Mortuus returned to the embassy to inquire as to the location of his passport. At this point, he was informed that he was missing one document in order to finalize the visa. No one in the band, nor the label, was made aware of this missing form. After we were made aware of this missing document, we provided the document to the Embassy in Stockholm and we are currently awaiting each day for the Passport to be returned to Mortuus with the visa stamp. The Embassy is aware of the urgency of this matter and we expect the band to join the tour in progress any day now. We are hope to announce the arrival of the band soon." -MARDUK

Pictures of the bands that did play the Irving Plaza show (Mayhem, etc), and all tour dates HERE.

As Reuters blogged...

Yusuf Islam, the British folk singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, has largely shunned the pop-music grind since he converted to Islam in the 1977 and devoted his life to his family and his faith.

But he is starting to dip his [balls in it!] toe back in the waters, releasing his first mainstream album in almost 30 years in 2006 and playing his first concert in 28 years in 2007. He returns to stores next week with a new album, "Roadsinger," and will play a handful of intimate shows around the world to promote the release.

First up is a May 3 stop at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, followed by show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Each venue holds about 700 people.

Islam, now 60, last toured in 1976. After converting to Islam, he slowly withdrew from his pop-star life, and finally hung up his guitar after a London show in 1979.

That WAS true, but due to "paperwork" issues, Yusuf won't be able to make into the country in time (he lives in London). No word on whether this was just poor planning, or (a conspiracy theory...) related to the government giving him a hard time for his religious beliefs. The show will probably/hopefully be rescheduled though. Stay tuned.

A video documentary below...

Continue reading "Yusuf Islam (Cat Steven)'s invite-only May 3rd NYC show is cancelled or postponed due to visa/paperwork issues "

by Andrew Frisicano

Ida Maria @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

I wanted to re-release my album, the way I wanted it to be.

I have designed the artwork, added three new songs, and changed the track listing.

Now it sounds, looks and feels like I want it to feel, and I am so excited again.

The story behind this cover is a story similar to a homebaked applecake.

You take what you have in your kitchen and experiment a little and hold tumbs that no one will notice you kinda forgot the recipe.

And then it turns out tasting good as hell and nobody can ever make it again.

My drummer Olle is a photographer (!) and has shot the genius cover photo in his apartment in Stockholm, with use of just the light that was there. Lamps in the livingroom, and pocket flashlight.

The cover art is designed by my friend Jon Edergren. -[Ida Maria's Myspace blog]

Fortress Round My Heart, Ida Maria's 2008 debut, is coming out in the US, digitally on March 24th and on CD, April 14th, on Universal's Mercury Records. The US release will sport a new cover and re-arranged track list, but won't include the bonus tracks described above (though new song "In the End" will replace previous closer "See Me Through").

Ida Maria is one of the many scheduled to be at SXSW this week. She was/is supposed to play KCRW's Showcase at Buffalo Billiards, a show at Maggie Mae's , and is on the bill of Perez Hilton's "One Night in Austin" party on Saturday.

"One Night in Austin" will feature Yelle, Solange, Lady Sovereign, Margaret Cho, Ladyhawke, Little Boots, Ida Maria and Thunderheist, plus "a very special Surprise Musical Performance." No word on who: "Not Tori Amos [but] one of our FAVORITEST acts of all time!!!!!!" [RSVP for the party].

UPDATE: Ida Maria never made it to her official SXSW showcases...

I don't think Ida Maria played either Maggie Mae's or Buffalo Billiards. I wanted to see her play while I am down here, but both nights, she was removed from the official sxsw.com website. She was replaced with Zee Avi on wednesday and with Val Emmich yesterday. I hope she actually plays the perez show. Looking forward to seeing her at MHOW regardless" [Ashok]

EW confirms that, "...Zee Avi, a tiny girl with a warm smile filled the lonesome last spot at the KCRW showcase on Wednesday night. It was huge opportunity for the newcomer -- her self-titled debut will be out May 19 -- filling in for Norwegian rocker chick/hype magnet Ida Maria, who was reportedly stuck in U.S. customs."

After the festival (if she makes it at all), Ida Maria is touring with Glasvegas through March, including a March 28th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (on sale ) and a March 30th one at Webster Hall (on sale). Ida Maria also has a scheduled appearance at Coachella Festival on April 18th.

Ladyhawke visits NYC after SXSW. Little Boots was here in February.

All Ida Maria tour dates and the "Oh My God" video below...

Continue reading "Ida Maria - now on a major label, playing Perez Hilton's SXSW party???, Coachella & other places"

"I have survived the interrogation of Atlanta's Immigration officials and Myrtle Beach shall have me tonite (Friday), and the world from then onwards ... if the world can take it. One of the many penalties of being human is that tours often take a military push to start, well, all of our answers will be in our songs tomorrow night. The bloodbath starts at 7.30. Life is testing you out. Be ready for anything." -Morrissey

Morrissey already had to cancel the first four dates of the tour - all Florida shows - due to trouble getting in the country "due to illness". The whole tour is listed HERE.

Glasvegas were set to kick off their North American tour in Boston tonight (9/29), but then this letter was sent to ticket holders...

We regret to inform you that the Glasvegas show scheduled for this evening has to be canceled. James Allan has run into visa issues in the UK and won't be able to get to America in time for the show. We're bummed too. Refunds will be available via the good folks at ticketweb. There's talk of an early January reschedule date so stay tuned.

At the moment Glasvegas is still scheduled to open for Echo & the Bunnymen at Radio City on Wednesday and then play a sold out show at Mercury Lounge three days later with Angela McCluskey and Wild Light (thx Chris).

It appears that Sam Sparro's September tour has been cancelled. According to Music Hall of Williamsburg where he was supposed to play on September 17th,

"This show has been canceled due to visa issues. Refunds available at point of purchase"

None of the other tour dates appear on Sam's MySpace anymore either. "Visa issues" is the same reason he gave last time he cancelled shows. Maybe he's not an American citizen... I have no idea. According to b news,

Sparro's own story is an intriguing, cross-continental tale. Born in Sydney, he lived here until the age of 10. In the 15 years since then, he's jumped between LA, Australia and London.

"I've moved around a lot, so I do feel more of a citizen of the world than of any particular nationality," he says.

Maybe the world won't let him play.

He also cancelled his appearance at this weekend's V Festival in the UK. I wonder if that was visa issues too.

Continue reading "Boy George's 2008 tour is cancelled "

"I'm pretty devastated because I am so excited about this forthcoming tour and having my visa application denied seems unfair after I swept the streets of New York spotless. There are a number of public figures who are openly using drugs and they have no problem with immigration and I have seriously turned my life around and I feel great right now and this is just another reminder of how bad things were. I committed a crime and I happily paid the consequences and I should be allowed to move on and get on with what I do best and that is performing and making people people dance and cry!" [Boy George to Paper Magazine]

It's unclear whether this means they've already cancelled the upcoming tour that includes a free show for NYC sanitation workers.

Paper also posted a song Boy George wrote for Obama. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Boy George denied visa for tour, wrote Obama song"

People from CMJ are trying to still get Miracle Fortress into the United States from Canada, but it looks like it's going to take a miracle (PUN INTENDED) to get them here at this point, and they're DEFINITELY not making it for 8pm - their set time at Bowery Ballroom tonight (me = crying). Bon Iver is now going on at 7, and The Shaky Hands are playing at 8, and everything else runs exactly on time. IF Miracle Fortress do make it, we'll let them play after Voxtrot at 1am. I'm not sure that's very likely though. They were supposed to play SoundFix tomorrow too. :-(

Beth Ditto in Pop Magazine - Aug 2007 (more)

New album won't be finished in time, too tired, and VISA issues - those are the respective reasons The Gossip, Noisettes and New Model Army are giving for canceling their upcomining tours. More info below....

Continue reading "The Gossip, Noisettes & New Model Army cancel tours"

DOWNLOAD: 65daysofstatic - Drove Through Ghosts To Get Here (MP3)

It's still not clear if Scotland's 65daysofstatic are going to make it here in time to play Europa in Brooklyn tonight (July 20, 2007). Posted yesterday:

News just in – The powers that be have ordained that 65daysofstatic are allowed into America! This is clearly excellent news and we are sat right now in Monotreme Records HQ, London, England, changing guitar strings so that when we step off the runway at JFK, we can drive straight to the show and make our stage time tomorrow night in Brooklyn. If – IF – we get through customs fast and across New York, this may happen. If not, then we’ll have to mark another minus score in the eternal competitor sport that is 65 Vs. Fate. What this does mean is that all shows after NYC are definitely on, and we’ll be making our presence felt to make up for lost time.

We leave at dawn tomorrow. Wish us luck.

Dates below....

Continue reading "65daysofstatic in Brooklyn tonight?? + 2007 Tour Dates"

Yvette Livesey & Tony Wilson's In the City Festival runs from June 13-14, 2007 (this week) right here in NYC. The festival is basically two days of music industry panels followed by two nights of UK music that was to include two shows by The Happy Mondays at Nokia Theatre, BUT as many know by now - possibly because they had tickets, or possibly because they were keeping up with the comments from yesterday, The Happy Mondays have cancelled both shows.

The Rakes & Pigeon Detectives has been moved to Knitting Factory. Tickets are on sale. Press release below...

Continue reading "HAPPY MONDAYS cancel shows due to VISA issues, but IN THE CITY OF NY lives on"

Tickets are on sale for an August 7th Handsome Furs show at Mercury Lounge. More tour dates TBA. From MySpace:

Alexei here.
I want to extend my whole-hearted regrets to those who were planning on coming to our US shows this week. We are so wholly disappointed that we could not play for you. Dan and I have both been wildly excited for this tour. Really.
We are already working on scheduling shows south of the border for the near future. We cannot wait until it works out.
I am very sorry for all who lost out on this. I assure you we feel equal measures of disappointment and loss.
In this last six months, the fists of the US Border Protection Services and The Department of Homeland Security have come down pummelling; making it extremely difficult for touring bands to enter the country. Our record label and booking agent are working hard to get us different visas that will allow us to reschedule the East Coast tour and perform dates out to the Mid-West in July.
Again, we are really upset. We were really looking forward to performing these songs in front of a US audience.

Previously
* Handsome Furs cancel tour, though album is out (MP3)
* An interview with Wolf Parade / Handsome Furs @ Osheaga