Alicia Plomin

Free download of Brent Amaker & The Rodeo’s Pink EP

Seattle’s wiley Brent Amaker & The Rodeo, known for its invigorating live shows and Johnny Cash vibe, is releasing its new album, Please Stand By, on October 19 on Spark & Shine Records. It will be out digitally, on CD, and on vinyl with a limited-edition comic book.

To help promote the new record, the band has made its Pink EP available as a free download. It is a collection of popular tracks as well as previously divulged tunes from Please Stand By.

Brent Amaker & The Rodeo: “Man in Charge”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Brent_Amaker_Man_In_Charge.mp3|titles=Brent Amaker & The Rodeo: “Man In Charge”]

See Chris Force and Sonnenzimmer at Public Works 2 tomorrow!

The Andrew Rafacz Gallery will finish up its weekly Speaker Series as part of Public Works 2: Art Show and Lecture Series tomorrow, Friday September 3, 2010.

Public Works will host another two-piece panel of art-industry professionals, including ALARM’s editor-in-chief Chris Force as well as graphic artists and screen-print studio owners Sonnenzimmer, featured in ALARM 35 and the inaugural issue of Design Bureau. The talks are scheduled for 7-9 p.m., followed by an hour-long reception with free beer and DJ Clerical Error.

Helms Alee touring with Young Widows, to record with Matt Bayles

Ex-members of Harkonen and These Arms Are Snakes compose the rock trio Helms Alee. Since its 2008 Hydra Head album Night Terror, front man Ben Verellen has reunited Harkonen while launching his own Verellen Amplifiers.

Helms Alee will take its seamless male-female vocal blends and thrashing rock melodies to the stage with the impressive likes of Boris, Red Sparowes, and Young Widows for a fall tour.

The band will wrap up the tour with a live performance that it’s calling Verellen Amplifiers Night in its hometown of Seattle. Helms Alee will then be back in the studio preparing a currently untitled and new album for Hydra Head, expected in 2011 and produced by Matt Bayles.

Pigeon John works with General Elektriks for next Quannum release

Since his last album Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party in 2006, posi emcee Pigeon John formed the hip-hop group Rootbeer with Flynn Adam. Now he has rejoined the Quannum crew, for whom he’ll showcase his production skills with his fifth solo album, Dragonslayer, out October 12, 2010.

The album, created with the talents of General Elektriks‘ Hervé Salters, is said to be a bit more personal than past releases, and it features, for the first time, John’s recorded instrumentation instead of samples.  You can hear some of the new material in October as PJ tours with DJ Abilities (of Eyedea & Abilities) and Dark Time Sunshine.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey announces Stay Gold tour

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (or JFJO or The Fred) has gone from an octet when they began in 1994 to the quartet of Brian Haas on piano, Jeff Harshbarger on upright bass, Chris Combs on lap steel, and Josh Raymer on drums. Often blurring genres, JFJO’s sound is considered a mix of jazz, avant-garde and rock.

JFJO’s fascinating creations culminate in its 20th album, Stay Gold, released June 22 through Kinnara Records on CD and vinyl. To promote the new EP, JFJO has announced a two-month American tour starting in Louisiana and wrapping up in the band’s hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve. The band plans to play the music of Beyonce, Madonna, and Lady GaGa at the event.

Supervillain (MF) Doom hits Europe…or does he?

Mysterious hip-hop artist (MF) Doom (aka Daniel Dumile) is to tour the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, and the majority of Scandinavia starting in October of 2010.

The idiosyncratic MC is a favorite of many, as are his collaborations as Danger Doom (with Danger Mouse) and Madvillain (with Madlib).

Known for sending impersonators to wear his mask and lip-sync on tour, Doom is as much a character as a performer, so what happens on his newest tour is anyone’s guess. He’ll be touring in support of Expektoration, a live album planned for release on September 14, 2010 on Gold Dust Media.