As if you need any more convincing that these 10 mind-blowing festivals are worth the trip to Europe, here’s another reason to add to your list: luxury “camping”. These accommodations located on the festival sites are all the rage right now: huts, cabins, pods, tipis and capsules, all with a variety of decadent amenities such as flat screen TVs, refrigerators, iPod docks and speakers. Check out the list below to be tempted further… (more…)
The Archives
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Bits & Pieces
Josh Homme Acts as Ambassador for Record Store Day
03.25.10For anyone who grew up ordering hard to find titles at their local indie record store, it’s hard to concede that there is a whole generation of kids who have no concept of yearning for the physical recording. Record Store Day is all about making sure we don’t forget that those stores are still out there, and doing the job of turning people on to awesome new music. The latest artist to throw their weight behind this musical thanksgiving of sorts is Josh Homme of Them Crooked Vultures/Queens of the Stone Age who has volunteered his services as an ambassador for this year’s Record Store Day. This April 17th, music fans are encouraged to visit their local indie record store to feast on the rarities and gems to be found there, including various in-store appearances and special one-off releases only available in participating stores on the day itself. On video, which is both frequently hilarious and rabble-rousing, Homme delivers, “Indie record stores are a hotbed of discovery — and bacteria — for music lovers both young and old, filled with aisles and aisles of hot and tasty gems, imports, picture discs … all to help you develop that sense of individuality as you come to that age where it’s time to discover your own theme music.” Continuing, “There’s only two ingredients necessary on Independant Record Store Day: that’s you and the independent record store. Put those ingredients together and give yourself and your loved ones the ‘eargasm’ you deserve.” As someone who slaved thanklessly for several years at well below minimum wage in a small record store, I salute you, sir!
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Bits & Pieces
The Dead Weather to Return With a New Record and a String of Spring Dates
02.03.10In a recent interview with Australian radio station triple j, Jack White announced that The Dead Weather are to release a new album and hit the road for a Spring tour culminating in a visit to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in May. It’s been only seven months since the debut album Horehound from the band, whose other members include Alison Mosshart (of The Kills and Discount), Dean Fertita (of Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (of The Raconteurs), but clearly there’s no rest for the wicked with White stating in the course of the interview that the new record is “bluesier and heavier than we ever thought we could be”, and that he’ll perform the lead vocal on the forthcoming Dead Weather single, called Blue Blood Blues. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
UNKLE Recruits Mark Lanegan for New Record
01.11.10UNKLE, the London based electronic group, is set to collaborate with legendary vocalist and grunge survivor Mark Lanegan. The group’s co-founder and Mo’ Wax label boss, James Lavelle, said the collaboration was “a dream come true” for him, after his original attempts to secure Lanegan’s services for UNKLE’s last album, due to “various reasons”, hadn’t worked out. Undeterred, Lavelle approached him again, this time to feature on the group’s new album, with Lanegan recording the vocals to a track that will feature on War Stories, an album to be released later this year. According to Lavelle, the album is also set to mark a return to more electronic ground for UNKLE, after 2007′s End Titles… Stories for Film garnered generally poor reviews. Washington native Lanegan’s post-Screaming Trees career has seen him do stints in Queens of The Stone Age as well as collaborate with former Belle and Sebastian cellist Isobel Campbell, and former The Afghan Whigs vocalist Greg Dulli with whom he has released one album as The Gutter Twins. UNKLE began in 1994 as the project of Mo’ Wax records’ James Lavelle and DFA’s Tim Goldsworthy, and, although originally touted by the North American music press as part of the British trip-hop movement, the group’s popularity waned after the success of 1998′s Psyence Fiction.
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CD Reviews
Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
11.28.09The latest vogue of supergroups might be overdone, but Them Crooked Vultures spew heavy rock worth listening to with their self-titled debut. At the cakehole is Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), on the drums Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and the last of the vertices goes to Led Zeppelin’s bassist John Paul Jones; so yeah, this anticipated debut can’t be spinning crap. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
Full Streaming Album Online: Them Crooked Vultures
11.09.09Them Crooked Vultures, the collaboration between Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Josh Homme of Queen of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, are planning a tour in the UK. Starting in Plymouth on December 10th, and wrapping up with back-to-back shows in London on the 17th and 18th, the tour is a quick eight day six date affair. If you’re at one of the shows you’ll be hearing material from the group’s new self-titled debut album. If you’re sitting at home in front of the computer, you can stream the entire album online. Check out themcrookedvultures.com for the goods.
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CD Reviews
Julian Casablancas – Phrazes for the Young
11.08.09Walking the fine line between right and wrong, artificial and genuine, The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas renders a pithy and respectable solo debut with Phrazes for the Young. Produced by Jason Lader with additional efforts from Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), the album was recorded in L.A., Nebraska and Casablancas’ NYC. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
Them Crooked Vultures Finally Announce Debut Album
10.22.09Since their live unveiling in Chicago on August 9th, the public has patiently waited for Them Crooked Vultures to unleash their debut album upon the masses. Well wait no more! Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones have announced the release of their first self-titled full length due out November 17th! Are ya’ll tingly inside? You are aren’t ya?
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CD Reviews
Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
08.29.09
The third installment of Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys, Humbug, is yet another roguish album complete with undertones of munificent vulgarity served up as a testament that these rockers bleed ‘chav’ through and through. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
Karen O To Release Film Soundtrack
08.20.09Along with band mates as well as members of Queens Of The Stone Age, The Raconteurs and Deerhunter; Karen O, frontwoman of the New York power trio Yeah Yeah Yeahs, will be releasing the soundtrack to the upcoming Spike Jonze film Where The Wild Things Are. Being billed as Karen O And The Kids, the album is slated to drop on September 29th in the US with a lead single to surface on August 25th. The NYC leading lady said that her interest in the film lied solely with the involvement of ex-boyfriend/director Spike Jonze. “I got involved because of Spike. I guess there is a childlike innocence about my music or my persona that he always just kind of dialed into. So I guess he thought I should make music for Where the Wild Things Are, and I assembled a group of mostly rock musicians to make the music”, said O. The film is slated for UK release on December 11th and will hit US screens on October 16th. In other Yeah Yeah Yeahs news, you can catch the charged trio at the Reading and Leeds Festivals which run August 28th to the 30th.
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Bits & Pieces
Them Crooked Vultures: Grohl’s New Super Group Performs
08.10.09Dave Grohl’s latest super project titled Them Crooked Vultures, featuring Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones and of course the Foo Fighters frontman himself, rocked the Lollapalooza aftershow at Chicago’s Metro Club with a completely original 80 minute set. With Grohl back behind the drums, fans witnessed what was reported as a riff heavy set sporting Homme at the helm on guitar and vocals and Jones manning the bass and keys. Look for Them Crooked Vultures’ debut album slated to drop October 23rd 2009. I would imagine we have nothing but greatness to look forward to.
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CD Reviews
Julian Plenti – Julian Plenti is… Skyscraper
08.09.09
Taking a slight detour from his vocal and guitar duties with New York outfit Interpol, Paul Banks surfaces with a release under the alias Julian Plenti, dubbed Julian Plenti is… Skyscraper. (more…)
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Concert Reviews
The Dead Weather @ Ottawa Bluesfest – 07.19.09
07.25.09
As it turns out, there exists such a creature that can lure your mesmerized gaze away from the mighty Jack White. She appears on stage in the form of a smouldering black panther, bewitching the audience with her animal magnetism. Alison Mosshart’s simmering hot demeanour paired with raw vocals situated somewhere between a purr and a growl makes her the epitome of rock goddesses. And White knows her power, after all the man is not only a gifted artist, he’s a downright genius. He steps out of the limelight and leaves the stage wide open for her to shine. Combining their talent with Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age and Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes, results in live auditory ecstasy. The entire performance is one intense shiver inducing, jaw dropping experience. In their rendition of Will There Be Enough Water? Mosshart and White caress each other lyrically through a shared mic, reaching a resounding auricular climax as he rips through his guitar solo while her body writhes along with every note. Alison Mosshart is the ultimate frontwoman for super group The Dead Weather, a combination of ridiculously talented musicians so lethal it almost seems unfair for the rest of them… If you missed this show, you should be kicking yourself right now. (more…)
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CD Reviews
The Dead Weather – Horehound
07.18.09
Hang on to your hats kiddies, Jack White’s latest dirty finger foursome, The Dead Weather, deliver a dirt rock release of sexy scuzz dubbed Horehound… Can music taste like sour mash whiskey? Fuckin’ right it can. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones & Josh Homme Band Together!
07.02.09Spontaneous erections tend to slow down as a boy becomes an older man; however the announcement that Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones & Josh Homme have joined forces to record a new album is sure to pitch tents in the pants of many rock enthusiasts. Grohl had mentioned the day dream team up in a 2005 interview saying, “The next project that I’m trying to initiate involves me on drums, Josh Homme on guitar, and John Paul Jones playing bass. That’s the next album. That wouldn’t suck.” But we’re only now learning of the project legitimately coming to fruition, with Homme’s punktastic wife Brody Dalle spilling the beans saying, “I’m not at liberty to talk about it, but I think the project is pretty fucking amazing. Just beats and sounds like you’ve never heard before.” I haven’t even heard the music and I agree with Brody. Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin & Queens of the Stone Age flavors coming together? Fucking amazing it shall be.
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FROM THE CORNER comes...
Cage the Elephant
04.08.09by Canyon
Cage the Elephant seems to be the new “it” “Brit” band, despite the fact that this rock outfit, with blues and punk undertones, is from Kentucky. The freewheeling gang has been stomping their way across US and UK stages, offering devotees an earful of their raw sound. Their single, Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked, has a certain southern trash vibe à la Kid Rock, while Free Love and James Brown pack a heftier punch. The raucous 5-piece has recently put some miles on their tour bus opening for Queens of the Stone Age, and for a band with such a short stint in the scene they have appearances at the Reading and Leeds festivals, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo under their belt. Look for a busy tour schedule including shows at Coachella and The Bamboozle coming up for the guys.
Genre: Rock
Latest Album: Cage the Elephant
For Fans Of: The Fratellis, The Kooks, The Raconteurs
Listen To: Cage the Elephant -
Bits & Pieces
The Remarkable Jack White Starts Another band
03.12.09The new Third Man Records building in downtown Nashville owned by label founder Jack White, was the setting last night for a debut performance by his latest outfit, The Dead Weather. Joining Mr. White is the fiery Alison Mosshart of The Kills who will be gracing the mic on this venture, The Raconteurs’ Jack Lawrence on bass, Dean Fertita of the Queens of the Stone Age grinding the axe and of course Jack White who will be leaving the guitar to Fertita as he watches the action from behind the drums. (more…)
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FROM THE CORNER comes...
Spinnerette
02.18.09by Canyon
After a three year musical hiatus, bad girl Brody Dalle is back with her new project Spinnerette. To form this kickass lineup she’s paired up with ex-bandmate of The Distillers Tony Bevilacqua, Eleven and QOTSA’s Alain Johannes and Jack Irons of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eleven.
The band’s forthcoming release was recorded in the small studio owned by Dalle and her husband, QOTSA’s frontman Josh Homme, giving the music a raw unprocessed quality that highlights Dalle’s dirty vocals. The latest single Sex Bomb (Adam Freeland Remix), is an addictive dancy rock tune, sure to be a crowd pleaser. If you’re expecting the same-old punk rock of The Distillers era, think again, “Spinnerette get a clean slate. She gets to start over and be the new kid in town, only she ain’t no kid. She’s quirky and sexy and she fucks around.” states Dalle.Genre: Alternative Rock
Latest Album: Ghetto Love EP
For Fans Of: Eagles Of Death Metal, The Pretenders, My Bloody Valentine
Listen To: Spinnerette
