When mathy, groove-heavy hardcore outfit Coalesce remodeled a short disc’s worth of Led Zeppelin tunes in 1999, fans of Zep’s famous riffage banged their heads in a whole new way. Guitarist Jes Steineger acted as a down-tuned Jimmy Page, former drummer James Dewees flawlessly recreated Jon Bonham’s beats, and, most importantly, vocalist Sean Ingram created a brutal presence in place of Robert Plant’s pipes.
Music
Frank Black Records Live for iTunes
Frank Black, who seems to lately be embracing dichotomy, has recorded a five-song session with his touring band exclusively for iTunes. This comes on the eve of the full-length release, due out in September, by his doppelganger Black Francis.
LCD Soundsystem to Tour with Arcade Fire, Issue Digital EP
After a miniature European tour, Grammy-nominated dance punk project LCD Soundsystem will return to North America this fall to tour with multi-layered Canadian rockers Arcade Fire. Just days after the tour begins, LCD is slated to perform live on Jay Leno as well as release a digital EP September 18th on DFA Records, the label of producer/vocalist James Murphy (shown left).
The Austerity Program: Black Madonna
One of the nicest surprises in the ALARM mailbox this week was Black Madonna, a crushing full-length album by New York duo The Austerity Program that comes out today on Hydra Head Records.
The Melvins, Big Business Hit the Road with a Space Monkey
Since their 2006 release of (A) Senile Animal, The Melvins seem to be bent on proving they are anything but. The sludge rock quartet will be touring around the country for over a month along with supporting act Big Business and a screening of A Purge of Dissidents, a series of animated shorts from visual artist Dalek.
Weekly Burlesque: Interview with Margaret Cho
In the latest installment of Weekly Burlesque, accomplished burlesque performer/blogger Jo Weldon converses with comedian/actress Margaret Cho, not exactly known for her work as a dancer. But Cho, the stand-up comic turned dancer and variety show creator, continues to prove that she’s quite the renaissance woman.
Coliseum: No Salvation
No Salvation, the first release on Relapse Records by hardcore group Coliseum, finds this Louisville trio pushing the limits of their inner speedometers and combining the thunder of Motorhead with the passion of a young Ian MacKaye.
Destroy All Music to Showcase Vital Punk Imagery
Dawn Wirth, one of only a handful of photographers to document the first wave of LA punk, is set to exhibit her body of work from the era for the first time ever. Wirth, who spent her youth being pummeled at the front of crowds to get the now-historic up-close live shots of bands like The Weirdos and The Germs, is credited with capturing the essence of ’70s punk.
Benevento/Russo Duo to Hang with Zombies on Fall Tour
This fall, New York jam/groove outfit The Benevento/Russo Duo will continue to ride the wave of recognition their 2006 release, Play Pause Stop, has garnered by traveling the west coast. And in the middle of their tour, The Duo will also join The Yard Dogs Road Show at DeVotchKa‘s Halloween Zombie Formal in Denver, CO.
Minus the Bear: Planet of Ice
Following 2005’s Menos El Oso and a remix album released a year later, Seattle’s Minus the Bear return with their best release to date. With Planet of Ice, the indie-synth wizards push onward without keyboardist Matt Bayles and deliver a slightly progressive album of their signature sound.
For our summer issue, ALARM Arts Editor Buck Austin examined the role of artistic expression in the rehabilitation of inmates at San Quentin State Prison. His findings, to say the least, were compelling.