While we patiently await the arrival of Australia's Kirin J. Callinan to the US during/around CMJ, the spacey, gothic post-punk guitarist has graciously dropped off a new mixtapes of jams to peruse. Spanning thirteen tracks, check out that mixtape for the first time below.

Since we posted about him last, Kirin has added a few NYC shows while here for CMJ. He'll play a live taping of "ESP TV" at Interstate Projects on Saturday (10/13) with Narcissister, Black Marble, Haribo, and Paul Haney.

Then during CMJ, he'll play the Terrible Records CMJ Party with LE1F, True and Regal Degal at Glasslands on 10/16 (tickets); and another Terrible Records party at Shea Stadium on 10/18 with Mirror Mirror, Regal Degal and New Look which is $8 and all-ages.

Then on Monday, October 22 he'll play Bowery Electric with Jack Ladder And The Dreamlanders, Kirin J Callinan, Plastic Flowers, The Dreebs, and Arc & Stones.

Mixtape stream and those dates in list form are below.

Continue reading "Kirin J Callinan releases mixtape of new material, adds NYC shows (dates, stream)"

Nothing album art

A389 Records is known for their annual whopper of a festival (sold-out!) populated by some of the vicious hardcore miscreants on the label, but maybe that mindset is changing. Between the recent Anne releases and some forthcoming efforts, A389 is showing a different side of the meaning of heavy.

Shoegazers Nothing are the latest addition to A389's roster, and are gearing up for a new release due later this fall. Preorders for Downward Years to Come hit on October 31 (spooky!) and you can hear the title track below for the first time.

The Philadelphians are touring the East Coast in the tail end of October in the weeks leading up to the release, roping in support from Night Sins as part of a US/Canadian campaign. The shoegazers hit St. Vitus on October 23 with NYC's Italian Horn.

All tour dates are listed below, along with the track stream.

Continue reading "Nothing preps A389 debut, on tour with Night Sins (dates)"

by BrooklynVegan Mike

"There isn't any artistic integrity in just getting the band back together
and playing the old songs."

Neil Halstead, as a co-founder of Slowdive, was one of the architects of shoegazer, a genre that has seen a revival as of late with the reformation of My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver. In 1995, most of Slowdive morphed into Mojave 3 and has since been making beautiful countrified dream-pop. Halstead also mellows things out more on his solo records. His sophomore release Oh! Mighty Engine dropped last week on Jack Johnson's label Brushfire Records. He is also currently on tour with Jack. (yeah, we know).

This Sunday he opens the third day of the All Points West festival in Jersey City - the same day Jack closes. You can also catch Neil one day earlier at the Surf Lodge in Montauk. We caught up with Neil after he opened the second day of the Osheaga Festival in Montreal on Monday. We discussed tour mate Jack Johnson, a Slowdive reunion, and the re-emergence of shoegazer.

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You've played a lot of festivals in your twenty year career. How does it feel to open a festival?

Neil: It's a dubious honor, isn't it? [laughs]. I would trade in the honor for a few more people. But the people were really nice. Very sweet. We enjoyed it.

You've been opening for Jack Johnson on his tour. How has that been?...

Continue reading "an interview w/ Neil Halstead (Slowdive, Mojave 3) +++++++++++++++++ 2008 Tour Dates (All Points West)"