Year: 2008

With all of us here at ALARM anxiously awaiting the ALARM sponsored Isis & Dub Trio show this Saturday at Subterranean, we thought it would be appropriate to update you on some of the latest Isis news. Isis is currently finishing up their highly anticipated fifth album, and has assured us and fans alike that they are “sweating away in a small windowless room.” In addition to working on the new album, Isis members have also been keeping themselves busy with multiple side projects.

Portland favorites Starfucker recently signed to Badman Recording Company and their self-titled debut is due for release this fall. A culmination of drums, drum machines, keyboards, guitars, turntablism, this trio (Josh Hodges, Ryan Bjornstad, and Shawn Glassford) combines indie-pop sensibilities with hip-hop beats to create a sound uniquely their own.

Liam Finn’s first headlining tour of North America, entitled the “I’ll Be Touring Tour,” will take place this fall. Finn’s debut album, I’ll Be Lightning, is already a fan and critical fave, and joining him on tour will be long time vocal collaborator Eliza-Jane Barnes. Until the tour embarks in September, fans are invited to view an exclusive improv live performance, recorded two weeks ago in London by Finn online at http://www.liamfinn.tv.

John Reis is synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll. As the singer/guitarist in Rocket From the Crypt, he helped usher a much-needed blast of style and flair to music in the grunge era. As part of the abrasive and rhythmically complex Drive Like Jehu, he helped put San Diego punk on the map. And as head of Swami Records, he’s curated a roster of incredible garage rock acts, such as Dan Sartain and Beehive and the Barracudas.

FNMTV , the new Friday night series on MTV hosted by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, will premiere Chromeo ‘s new video for the single, "Momma’s Boy." Following the success of their latest release, Fancy Footwork: Deluxe Edition , "Momma’s Boy" will be the third single released from the album. The video is set to premiere on Friday, July 25 at 8:00 PM ET/PST. As well, like all videos that premiere on the show (four per week), the boy’s will appear live on the show to talk about the band and the song.

Reno, Nevada-based Hellbound Glory will begin their first national tour in San Jose, California. The group will feature their latest release, Scumbag Country(out on Gearhead Records). On the first gig of their tour, the group will also open for ’80s root-rockers, The Blasters. The tour will wrap up on August 22 with a large, all ages outdoor concert at Elkhorn Station Restaurant. Tour dates are listed below:

Telepathique, comprised of DJ/producer/drummer Erico Theobaldo (aka DJ Periferico) and vocalist Mylene Pires, will embark on their first US tour this August. Last Time on Earth, their debut album first released throughout South America over two years ago, will finally drop here on August 5th. The long-awaited album is an eclectic mix of a variety of genres including carioca, house, electro, punk, and breakbeat. Tour dates are listed below:

Jesse “Boots Electric” Hughes and Joshua “Babyduck” Homme (aka Eagles of Death Metal) have announced the release date of their latest album, Heart On, for October 21st on Downtown Records. In addition to their latest album, the group will embark on a co-headlining tour with The Hives come September. Tour dates are listed below:

Only 1000 copies of a Xiu Xiu and High Placessplit 7″ will be released by Aagoo Records this fall. 700 of the records will be in black with the remaining 300 records in white. The record will feature “Kitten Revolution,” a Women as Lovers b-side as well as a new version of High Places’“Oceanus,” which originally appeared on a compilation album. As well, each 7″ also includes a Polaroid by photographer David Horvitz.

Since forming in 2000, Southhampton, UK trio Moss has become known for their penchant for writing music darker and less friendly than a medieval torture chamber. Inspired by the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Aleister Cowley, Moss released an impressive array of demos and split albums with groups like Nadja and Unearthly Trance before unleashing their first full-length, Cthonic Rites (Aurora Borealis) in 2005. Sub Templum (Rise Above), their second album, is a four-song, hour and fifteen minute venture that is so monstrously heavy, it could quite possibly make healthy plants turn brown, shrivel up and die upon exposure.

Boston punk veterans, Street Dogs, have recently announced the first leg of their upcoming fall tour. The tour, which kicks off Sept. 11 in Houston, comes shortly after the group headlined this summer’s Warped Tour and released their latest disc, State of Grace, on July 1st. With an energetic live show that invokes much audience participation, look for Mike McColan (founding Dropkick Murphys’ singer) and company in a city near you.