Blog: Raindog's Rants

Iron & Wine , still touring in support of last year's The Shepherd's Dog , has announced more US tour dates for the fall. Among them is a stop in Buffalo, NY and a Nov. 17 show in New York at Terminal 5 with Blitzen Trapper . Most dates are not on sale yet, but you can check ticketmaster.com for tickets. Tour Dates: August 6 - Oslo, Norway @ Øya Festival 7 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega [...]

So there's this band that Frymaster has been talking about for months, Fleet Foxes . It's been Fleet Foxes this, and Fleet Foxes that for months now and it's getting kind of annoying, so here's a post to help you decide whether to keep paying attention or not. The Foxes on Letterman last night: Here's a link to a three-song Lillywhite Session. And here's a link to listen to an NPR podcast of their [...]

Haruki Murakami has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I have put up a few posts about his books. There is word of a Japanese-language adaptation of this novel, Norweigan Wood , to be made by French-Vietnamese director, Tran Ahn Hung.

The entire Waits' 7/5/08 show in Atlanta is available to listen here . If you have iTunes, you can download the show by subscribing to the "All Songs Considered" podcast. NPR podcasts are usually worth checking out and even subscribing to if you have iTunes.

The Gutter Twins went on the stage in Chicago at 3:30 pm. In the sunshine. Beach balls were being lobbed here and there. The scene was not exactly the kind of world Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli exist in. And they still tore the place up. I was able to watch their set and, for me, the highlight was the band's stirring rendition of "Bonnie Brae" (originally a Twilight Singers song). Mark Lanegan took over lead vocal duties on the number and ruled the world for 4+ minutes. I wasn't [...]

There are so many notable releases on the way, I may break down and subscribe to an online service. I just can't afford to buy physical copies of everything I want. It's difficult for me. I'm still buying vinyl for goodness sake.... Nothing to hold, collect, physically categorize, throw in my "current rotation" stack, no thumbing through the art/lyrics/production notes,... Upcoming Releases August 19th, 2008 Death Vessel Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us CD Jaguar Love Take Me [...]

Iggy Pop and The Stooges' equipment was stolen on August 4, 2008. If anyone has information, contact Eric Fischer at: nycentral13@gmail.com cell phone: +1 646 932 1907 Details: IGGY AND THE STOOGES EQUIPMENT STOLEN ON AUGUST 4, 2008 OUTSIDE THE EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL 208 SAINT ANTOINE OUEST, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA all equipment was in a rented penske 15 foot yellow truck with U.S. (Michigan) license plate number AC46493. The theft happened between 6:30 and 7:30 am There's a [...]

Nogang should have been at the Bon Iver show in Philadelphia last week (7.31.08). Alas, life rolled out a befitting encumbrance which resulted in her missing the show and passing along an equally-appropriate second hand review. I'll let her explain: A couple of months ago -the weekend they went on sale- I bought tickets to see Bon Iver perform in Philadelphia. I was so excited. For Emma, Forever Ago is my favorite album of the year so far. It was an extra treat that the [...]

Despite missing the Bon Iver show show in Philly, Nogang's astute observational skills remain intact... Case-in-point: Tyler Ramsey . She never heard of Tyler Ramsey before I sent her a mix that included his song, "No One Goes Out". Apparently, she dug it because she went snooping and uncovered a startling revelation: Tyler Ramsey may be Richie "The Bomber" Tenenbaum. See for yourself... Tyler Ramsey Richie "The Bomber" Tenenbaum [...]

Ben Kweller has just confirmed tour dates throughout the fall with Whitley . Kweller will be previewing new material from his fourth album, Changing Horses , tentatively scheduled for a January 2009 release. Ben Kweller tour dates: 09/25 Dallas, TX-Pontiac Garage at House of Blues 09/26 Houston, TX - Walters On Washington 09/27 Oklahoma City, OK - University of Oklahoma 09/30 Tucson, AZ-Club Congress 10/01 Pomona, CA-The Glass House 10/02 West Hollywood, CA-Troubadour 10/04 San Francisco, CA-Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest at Golden Gate [...]

David Byrne's six-month tour has finally been confirmed. He's hitting the road with a new record in tow...a collacoration with Brian Eno. Everything That Happens Will Happen Today drops on Aug. 18. "Strange Overtones," a tune from "Everything That Happens," is available as a free MP3 from everythingthathappens.com . The uptempo, electronics-shaded track finds Byrne waxing poetic about the art of songwriting, with lines like "your song still needs a chorus / I know you'll figure it out / the rising of the verses / a change of key will let you out." [...]

Ray LaMontagne - Jolene Ray LaMontagne has announced a North American tour in support of his new album Gossip In The Grain (due out October 14th). The six week tour starts September 30 in Indianapolis. Whereas LaMontagne's two previous albums, Trouble and Till The Sun Turns Black, were largely solo affairs, with producer Ethan Johns (he produced for Ryan Adams as well) serving as multi-tasking instrumentalist, Gossip In The Grain sees him joined by members of his touring band, bassist Jennifer Condos and guitarist Eric Heywood (who has [...]

I'm going to write an article soon about my favorite records from the 1990s. As more years have passed since the decade closed, I've grown more aware that I've started to see the really great music from that period in two groups: works I recognize for artistic achievement and cultural contribution (i.e. Nirvana's Nevermind ) and the works I still compulsively reach for to listen to for pleasure and appreciation (i.e. Richard Buckner's Since ). Built To Spill's Perfect From Now On falls in the latter category. [...]

A 40-year-old documentary about Johnny Cash to air on the Public Broadcasting Service shows him in concert and in casual settings. But unlike the 2005 movie "Walk the Line," there's no mention of his well-documented substance abuse. But then again the movie completely omitted June Carter's drug use. The documentary Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music will air Tuesday...tune in to your local PBS station to catch it.

Lollapalooza is currently under way in Chicago. Many of the performances will be online today and since a lot of the north east is experiencing a rainy day, I thought I'd put this up. The Gutter Twins' performance will be webcast live on the AT&T blue room. Tune in today (Saturday, August 2nd) at 3:30 PM ET for their performance. Other performances throughout the weekend include Wilco , The Raconteurs , Love and Rockets , Flogging Molly , and many more. Visit http://www.attblueroom.com/mus ic to view the performances [...]

The Black Lips have announced new tour dates, including a free show at MacCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn, NY. Tour Dates: August 1 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza 1 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 3 Brooklyn, NY @ MacCarren Park Pool FREE SHOW 2PM October 2 Solana Beach, CA @ The Belly-Up Tavern 3 Costa Mesa, CA @ The Detroit Bar 4 Los Angeles, CA @ Detour Fest [...]

...that's what I thought upon reading the news AC/DC will hit the road at the end of the year for a massive 18-month jaunt. Hell, in 1985 it was never going to be like 1978 when the band was led by the great Bon Scott. However, if they hit Rochester, I'll go...I'm not really sure why. It seemed like I saw AC/DC every year in the 1980s and definitely almost died once getting pressed by the crowd up against the blockade. Angus was still crazy and menacing back then- his locks draped halfway down [...]

Cheech and Chong will reunite for their first tour in more than 25 years, beginning Sept. 12 at the Tower Theatre in Philadelphia. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong's upcoming "Light Up America..." tour will visit both coasts. Do the kids even know who Cheech & Chong are? I'm not sure... Tour Dates: Sept. 12: Philadelphia (Tower Theatre) Sept. 13: Washington, D.C. (Warner Theatre) Sept. 19: Indianapolis (Murat Center) Sept. 20: Detroit (Fillmore State) Sept. 26: Atlanta (Tabernacle) Sept. 27: Miami (Fillmore Jackie Gleason) [...]

Thanks to a "heads up" from Smudge, I am happy to report Ryan Adams and The Cardinals have announced a tour this fall. It will mark the first time Adams has played in Rochester, NY. Tickets for the Rochester show go on sale Friday (08.01.08). June 19, 2008 - Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride, CO Aug 23, 2008 - Fillmore - San Francisco, CA Aug 26, 2008 - WaMu Theater - Seattle, WA Aug 27, 2008 - General Motors Place - Vancouver Aug 29, 2008 - Rexall Place - Edmonton, AB [...]

David Byrne and Brian Eno's first album in 27 years, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today , will be available Aug. 18 exclusively through EverythingThatHappens.com . A compact disc edition will be available sometime after the August release date. This is the first record from the duo since My Life in the Bush of Ghosts . They're going to hit the road to support it with a repertoire to feature new songs plus selections from the Talking Heads' period of collaboration with Eno in the late 1970s and early '80s.