Winners for The International Songwriting Competition [ISC] were recently announced, bestowing prestige upon the handful of aspiring songwriters from around the globe. “Weird Al” Yankovic, Frank Black, Tom Waits, Robert Smith, and Ray Davies were amongst the big name industry judges for the competition.
Weekly Burlesque: Bambi’s Blacklight Spectacular
New Yorkers often bring their most inventive A-Games to Coney Island’s Burlesque at the Beach, a series which has been taking place at Sideshows at the Seashore for nearly fifteen years. A theme show at Coney Island is a whole other kind of magical world.
Bambi the Mermaid, for many years the co-producer of the BOTB series, has created some outrageous theme shows there, and one of my favorites so far was the Blacklight Spectacular. She begins planning some of her theme shows years in advance, and they’re just not like anything else.
The Notwist Release Video for “Where in This World”
[youtube ksMkENKMlyk]
The Notwist, the German electronica outfit you might recognize from collaboration 13 & God with Themselves, are preparing to release their first proper album under the Notwist moniker in six years. Two years in the making, The Devil, You + Me will be out June 17. Until then, you can watch the video for the first single, “Where in This World,” or find the “Good Lies” mp3 available from the City Slang website.
The Mars Volta: In Control
Pumping out loud, fractured rock, The Mars Volta challenges their audience with every new release and live show. If you’re offered ear plugs, take them. And if you’re asked to describe them, don’t say “prog.”
Death Cab For Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart”
[youtube jrcKjN3KQYs]
Video for the long version of Death Cab For Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart,” the recently released single from Narrow Stairs, DCFC’s new full-length out in May 13th on Atlantic.
An Albatross Signs to Eyeball, Announces Fall Release
Pennsylvanian noisecore sextet An Albatross recently signed to Eyeball Records, a label known for “discovering” bands like Thursday, My Chemical Romance, and Murder by Death. In a web exclusive interview with Revolver, vocalist Edward B. Gieda III described their forthcoming full-length on Eyeball, entitled Blessphemy…of the Peace Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite, as being “significantly more listenable, [with] a heavy emphasis on the power of the performances.”
Swedish Electro Singer Lykke Li to Tour US
Swedish singer Lykke Li (Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson), who performed at this year’s SXSW Festival, and recently finished a European tour with El Perro Del Mar, will return to the US this May. Her debut album, a strangely tribal mix of electro and pop, Youth Novel, was released earlier this year.
Dance-Punks !!! (Chk Chk Chk) Announce 2008 Tour
!!! (Chk Chk Chk) will be be launching a US tour beginning with the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee. The band, based in Sacramento, Brooklyn, and Portland is supporting their 2007 release Myth Takes (Warp). They have two previous full lengths, 2004’s Louden Up Now (Touch And Go / Warp) and a 2001’s S/T release (Gold Standard Labs).
DeVotchKa on Gypsy Wave, Grammy Nomination
DeVotchKa talks about being cast as a gypsy band, overcoming tepid interest from record labels, and early personnel challenges.
Wolf Parade Pull It Together For Second Album
Canadian prog-rock outfit Wolf Parade came on to the scene in 2005 and caused a stir with the release of Apologies to the Queen Mary (Sub Pop). The tentatively titled follow up Kissing the Beehive (2008 Sub Pop) is set to be released June 17th. According to Dan Boeckner (vox/guitar), the early tracks were discarded for sounding too much like cuts from Apologies.
The Art Of Ill Will: The Story of American Political Cartoons
On May 9, 1974 the Pennsylvania Gazette published an editorial regarding the lack of unity in the colonies. The author, Benjamin Franklin, also provided a woodcut drawing of a snake cut into eight initialed parts (one for each colonial government) with the text “Join, or Die” underneath. The article’s politics were ignored, but the drawing lived on, with modifications, to become a rallying point for different political causes.
Escultura Social: A New Generation of Art from Mexico City
In the 1970s German artist Joseph Beuys, famous for his public performances and theories on art, politics, and society, developed the term Social Sculpture. The term, which became monumentally influential and continues to simmer in both the high and low art worlds alike, investigates “how we mold and shape the world in which we live” and led to the equally famous saying, “Everyone an Artist.” For a week in 1974, Beuys performed I Like America and America Likes Me by staying in a New York City gallery with a live coyote—it was his symbolic effort to repair the damage done to Native Americans.