Monday, November 20, 2000
Beck, Tenacious D, Vincent Gallo Join Benefit Concerts for That Dog's Petra Haden
Musicians don't get employer health coverage like most of us
According to her label, Win Records, and as reported by Pitchfork, violinist Petra Haden of That Dog was struck by a car while crossing the street in August. She sustained serious injuries from the accident, and it'll be several months before she'll able to get back to performing or recording. In a new development, because Haden had no medical insurance to cover the hospital fees, benefit concerts are being organized to help the singer/violinist with the costs while she's recuperating. So far, two concerts have been announced: one at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on November 26th (sold out) and another on November 29th at the Knitting Factory in New York. Win Records' website has ticket information, as well as a list of the benefit performers, which, at this point, include Beck, Tenacious D, Vincent Gallo, Victoria Williams, and several others.
Seattle Music Rag The Rocket Crashes
Seattle, we have a problem
Seattle music magazine The Rocket, the initial media force behind the early '90s American Northwest movement known as grunge, officially stopped the presses in late October. The biweekly magazine, distributed free throughout Seattle and Portland, could no longer draw enough advertising revenue to fund its music-only format. Local scenesters had been on The Rocket deathwatch since BAM Media (owners of the now-defunct BAM Magazine in California) sold it last year to an Illinois media company.
In its 21-year life span, The Rocket played a crucial role in supporting Northwestern musicians, but gained national prominence during the alternative explosion of the early '90s. Under the guidance of Grant Alden, now editor of the alt-country zine No Depression, The Rocket provided the fist major press to bands such as Green River, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, the Posies, and even Dave Grohl's little pre-Foo Fighters combo. According to sources within the magazine, there is still hope for a new source of funding that would allow the magazine to resume publishing. Until then, you'll always have Pitchfork.
Kill Rock Stars to Reissue Liliput Catalog
How small are Lilliputian Kleenexes, do you suppose?
Fans of the Raincoats and the Slits take note: according to the official Kill Rock Stars website, the label is set to release the entire catalog of those bands' somewhat legendary Swiss counterparts: riot-grrl group Liliput. Originally known as Kleenex before being forced to change their name in a lawsuit, the band's Rough Trade releases have been unavailable in the States for well over a decade. Compiling 46 tracks on two discs, Complete Recordings is basically an American reissue of an identical European release on Switzerland's Off Course label in 1993, and will see the light of day on February 20th, 2001. Track titles include: "Thumblerdoll," "U," "When the Cat's Away," "Like It or Lump It," "On Streets Without Names," and, perhaps most promisingly, "Ring-a-Ding-Dong."
My Life Story Signs to Le Grand Magistery
My life story best told in two words: bite me!
Le Grand Magistery, the label that smells of daises, will release Joined Up Talking by the generally reviled fey Britpop band My Life Story. Best known for their album The Golden Mile, which was described by Select as "the worst album ever made. But much, much worse," My Life Story slips comfortably into the label's roster, right between Momus and Toog.
For the new record, the mass of horns and strings that composed such hits as "12 Reasons Why I Love Her," a laundry list of tart Hallmark moments, have been pushed back in favor of electro-pop and guitars. This new direction is sure to slap you lightly across the face with a silk glove. NME also calls frontman Jake Shillingford "an artist resoundingly dropped by a major, a failure and not very good at all, but he is also probably very, very lonely." They advise, "Laugh at him." It is unlikely that Shillingford's theatrical glamour-pop will stick in America, but it's worth a try!
