By Hera, that's a great cover!

As much as I like the Kingdom Come Wonder Woman, I rarely read the mainstream character's monthly title. However, it looks like Wonder Woman #25 (due October 8) will make it home. I absolutely adore its cover by Aaron Lopresti:

Right on, girl. See also.

Pre-order the issue from Things From Another World or visit your local retailer.

Stephin Merritt live backstage in NYC

The flurry of great stuff today continues thanks to Other Music in NYC, who are sharing video of Stephin Merritt (of Magnetic Fields, Gothic Archies, etc.) backstage at Town Hall. Here Merritt performs both "The Nun's Litany" and "The Little Ukulele" along with chatting a bit.

The Magnetic Fields perform at the Woodruff Art Center in Atlanta on October 17.

New (old) Bob Dylan - "Dreamin' of You"

The Bob Dylan camp has announced the content of the forthcoming Tell Tale Signs: Bootleg Series Volume 8. It's a collection of rarities, demos, and outtakes from 1989-2006, including songs that were omitted from his albums during that time. To promote the release Dylan has released a free song titled "Dreamin' of You," an unreleased cut from the sessions that resulted in 1997's acclaimed Time Out of Mind.

Bob Dylan - Dreamin' of You [at zSHARE]

The first 5,000 copies ordered will be accompanied by a free poster. The album is due on October 7, and is now available for pre-order.

Tom Waits Atlanta show on NPR.org

Tom Waits brought his 'Glitter and Doom' Tour to Atlanta on July 5, and now we all have a second chance to hear the show. It's being hosted online at NPR.org. What NPR has to say about the show:

For his Atlanta stop, recorded at the city's historic Fox Theater on July 5, Waits delivered a stunning and epic two-and-a-half-hour performance, including songs he says he's never attempted outside of the studio before. Backing Waits is a five-piece group featuring Seth Ford-Young (upright bass), Patrick Warren (keyboards), Omar Torrez (guitars), Vincent Henry (woodwinds), and Casey Waits (drums and percussion). "They play with racecar precision and they are all true conjurers," Waits says. "They are all multi-instrumentalists and they polka like real men."

Hat tip to Joey Weiser.

Dissecting the 'Watchmen' trailer (link)

Do you know what's absolutely incredible? The trailer for next March's Watchmen film, conveniently showing before The Dark Knight, has sparked a huge amount of interest in the source material. So much that Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' masterwork from 1986 shot up to #2 on the Amazon sales chart (as I write this it's #3). Publisher DC Comics has gone so far as to print 200,000 new copies to meet demand. I'm among the number who love the book, so it's nice to see such amazing response to the trailer.

Over at Geekanerd there's an impressive breakdown of the trailer with comparisons to panels from the graphic novel. I know there's some skepticism about this adaptation among fans of the book, but I'm eager to see it.

If Watchmen is new to you, there's a good plot summary at Wikipedia.

I heart Emo Spider-Man

Via Hero Complex at San Diego Comic-Con.

The Avett Brothers on tour, Georgia Theatre 10/2-10/3

Rocktober begins in style this year in Athens, as The Avett Brothers play Georgia Theatre on October 2 and October 3. With the live show these gents put on, that's all kinds of awesome.

"Will You Return"

The Avett Brothers on tour:

7/27 Floyd, VA - FloydFest
7/29 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
7/31 Edgartown, MA - Outerland
8/01 Blue Hill, ME - Shangri-La Music Festival
8/02 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
8/03 Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival
8/17 Jackson Hole, WY - Jackson Hole Music Festival
8/19 Steamboat Springs, CO - Strings Music Pavilion
8/20 Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
8/22 Boise, ID - Big Easy Concert House
8/24 Portland, OR - Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
8/27 Seattle, WA - Woodland Park Zoo
8/28 Jacksonville, OR - Britt Festival
8/30 Camp Mather, CA - Strawberry Music Festival
9/05 Memphis, TN - Delta Fair & Music Festival
9/06 Carbondale, IL - Copper Dragon
9/07 Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club
9/10 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
9/11 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
9/12 Ozark, AR - Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival
9/14 Morrison, CO - Monolith Festival
9/19 Roanoke, VA - Jefferson Center - Shaftman Performance Hall
9/20 Charlottesville, VA - Charlottesville Pavilion (w/ DBT)
9/21 Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion (w/ DBT)
9/25 Tuscaloosa, AL - The Jupiter
9/26 Nashville, TN - War Memorial Auditorium
9/27 Louisville, KY - Coyote's Music & Dance Hall
10/02 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
10/03 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
10/31 Greensboro, NC - War Memorial Auditorium
11/01 Greenville, SC - Peace Center

They're selling both single show and two-day passes for Athens -- tix to the various shows are available through their website.

Atlanta show reminder: Wolf Parade Monday night at Variety Playhouse

A reminder to the north Georgia crowd -- Canadian indie rock heroes Wolf Parade appear at the Variety Playhouse on Monday night. Tix are $20 at the door, and it's not sold out (yet).

Wolf Parade - You are a Runner and I am My Father's Son
Wolf Parade - Shine a Light
Wolf Parade - Call It a Ritual
Wolf Parade - Language City

Don't be like The Vision:

Original art from Avengers #57 by Roy Thomas and John Buscema

You're probably not an android who was apparently killed by your mutant wife, but whatever. Hope to see some of you at the show!

'My Name is Bruce' trailer, October 30 release

Bruce Campbell. As himself. Fighting monsters.

The creative team behind My Name is Bruce, in which the above formula takes place, showed some clips at San Diego Comic-Con to assure the world that it is real. Apparently the release of the flick has been delayed because the Dark Horse comics crew decided to throw some more money at the project for additional shooting and production. It is now due for limited release on October 30. "Are you guys ready for some violence?"

The trailer:

Dark Horse will release a My Name is Bruce one-shot on September 3, which is now available for pre-order.

On a related note, Geeks of Doom reports that work on Evil Dead 4 may get underway soon...

A little Batman for the wee ones

While we adults have been watching The Dark Knight and eating up Heath Ledger's Joker, the kids have been a little left out. Have no fear, though, as Cartoon Network will begin airing the Batman: The Brave and the Bold cartoon on November 14.

The first trailer was released this week, and I'm happy to see it includes both classic DC characters (e.g., Plastic Man, Black Canary, old school Green Arrow) and newer ones (e.g., personal favorite Jaime Reyes, the new Blue Beetle). This show promises to be more fun than other recent incarnations of Batman, and there won't be a psychopathic clown in sight.

Looks like a fun little program. There's an interview with the producer/character designer and voice director at Superhero Hype!.

Oh No! Oh My! announce August tour, play Athens 8/26

Terrific news via the website of the Fabulous 40 Watt, as indie popsters Oh No! Oh My! will play in Athens on August 26. I've been a big fan of these guys for a while but still haven't seen them live. It's time to change that. The excellent Royal Bangs from Knoxville will open the Athens show.

Oh No! Oh My! - The Party Punch [courtesy of Spinner]

Oh No! Oh My! have a new EP on the way, with an LP to follow. Look for the former at their upcoming dates:

8/13 The Abbey Pub, Chicago, IL
8/15 Beachland Tavern, Cleveland, OH
8/17 Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
8/19 DC9, Washington, DC
8/20 Local 506, Carrboro, NC
8/21 The End, Nashville, TN
8/22 Barley’s, Knoxville, TN
8/23 Hi Tone Cafe, Memphis, TN
8/26 40 Watt, Athens, GA
11/1 Factory Festival, Nivelles, Belgium

You can keep up with the band at their official blog.

Take that, Smilodon

I've spent the past few days catching up on missed work and preparing for the coming school year. Do you know what New Avengers artist Billy Tan got to do for this week? HE GOT TO DRAW CAPTAIN AMERICA PUNCHING A SABER-TOOTHED TIGER.

From New Avengers #43 by Brian Bendis and Billy Tan

In fact, Tan did that twice and drew MODOK. If it had (spoiler) actually been Cap (/spoiler), I might be questioning my career path. Not that I can, in fact, draw or anything.

Bonus mp3: The Mountain Goats - Lion's Teeth [live 10-19-2004]

Rockin' with Wanda Jackson

As I tend to do once in a while, lately I've abandoned most new music in favor of vintage tunes. Leading the charge has been "the queen of rockabilly" herself, good ol' Wanda Jackson. Her Rockin' with Wanda is a terrific collection of 18 cuts from 1956-59, compiling some of the best music that genre has ever produced. With stuff like this playing, it's little wonder why kids a half-century ago danced by the jukebox. Hot dog!

Wanda Jackson - Cool Love
Wanda Jackson - Honey Bop

It's easy to see why Wanda has inspired generations of country, rock, and rockabilly artists. Her influence is even more impressive given her decision to abandon secular music in the early 1970s. If she's new to you, I can't recommend her enough.

Ruby Isle announce release date, tour schedule

Ruby Isle turned a lot of heads with their free EP last year, and now we know the release date of their debut album. Night Shot will come out September 18 on Athens-based Kindercore Records, and will surely feature more of the dance and electro-pop vibe at which Ruby Isle excels. For the unfamiliar, this is a new project from Dan Geller from I Am The World Trade Center along with Mark Mallman and Aaron Lemay.

Ruby Isle - Into the Black
Ruby Isle - Atom Bomb
Ruby Isle - Cherry Tulips [Headlights cover]

Ruby Isle on tour:

8/14 Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA
8/15 40 Watt Club for Popfest, Athens, GA
8/16 Pirate’s Cove, Myrtle Beach, SC
8/22 Rehab, NY, NY
8/23 Roof top party, NY, NY
8/24 Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY
8/27 Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI
8/28 Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
8/29 Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis, MN

This will be their first full tour, so show the gents some love.

Jenny Lewis dates released, Variety Playhouse 9/30

Pop and folk (but no longer indie) darling Jenny Lewis, also of Rilo Kiley, has a new solo album titled Acid Tongue due on September 9. To support that release she'll be touring both on her own and with Conor Oberst, including a September 30 show at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta.

From her prior record, Rabbit Fur Coat:

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

Jenny Lewis on tour:

9/16 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
9/17 Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
9/19 Epiphany Church, Chicago, IL
9/20 Anchor Inn, Omaha, NE (w/ Conor Oberst)
9/21 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN (w/ Conor Oberst)
9/22 Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, TN (w/ Conor Oberst)
9/23 George's Majestic, Fayetteville, AR (w/ Conor Oberst)
9/24 The Lyric Theatre, Oxford, MS (w/ Conor Oberst)
9/25 Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK (w/ Conor Oberst)
9/26 Austin City Limits Festival, Austin, TX
9/30 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
10/2 Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Washington, DC
10/3 Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
10/4 Apollo Theater, New York, NY

Acid Tongue will feature a number of guests, and you can get further info at Stereogum.

Sunset Rubdown announce fall tour, play The EARL 9/24

With Wolf Parade's show at Variety Playhouse just days away, Pitchfork reports that Spencer Krug will return to Atlanta on September 30 with Sunset Rubdown. They'll play at The EARL in East Atlanta, always a favorite spot of mine.

Sunset Rubdown - Stadiums and Shrines II

The full Sunset Rubdown tour:

09/15 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs
09/16 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
09/24 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
09/27 Austin, TX - Mohawk
09/29 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
10/01 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot
10/02 Iowa City, IA - The Picador
10/03 Madison, WI - The Annex
10/04 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle

I'd get tix to this early if you intend to go, as they've sold out earlier appearances in Atlanta.

Spider-Man and Iceman: Sports Enthusiasts

We've already explored Robin's pitching propensity, but now it's time to see the athletic prowess of another pair of costumed adventurers. Witness Spider-Man and Iceman as they go bowling (or curling?) with especially disagreeable pins:

Peter and Bobby put Sam Bullit's thugs on ice (yeah, I went there) in Amazing Spider-Man #92 by Stan Lee and Gil Kane, reprinted in The Death of the Stacys hardcover.

Wire announce fall tour, Atlanta date 10/12

I'm off in the Midwest playing the Sal Paradise role (not, alas, at Pitchfork Fest), but this news is too good to let slide.

Seminal punk/post-punk band Wire have announced tour dates including October 12 at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. I'm really only familiar with their work from when Jimmy Carter occupied the White House, but they're touring to support a new album called Object 47.

Wire - Dot Dash [Live at CBGB Theater]
Wire - One of Us [from Object 47]

The band has a number of other free and legal downloads at their official site.

Wire on tour:

08/30 London, England - Hainaut Forest Country Park (Offset Festival)
09/08 London, England - The Scala
09/09 Leeds, England - Met University
09/10 Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms
09/11 Glasgow, Scotland - The Arches
09/12 Manchester, England - Academy 3
09/19 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
09/20 Ghent, Belgium - Minnemeers
09/21 Tilburg, Netherlands - ZXZW Festival
09/22 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
10/05 Montreal, Quebec - Le National
10/06 Ottawa, Ontario - Barrymore's
10/07 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
10/08 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
10/10 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
10/11 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10/12 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
10/14 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex
10/15 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
10/16 Vancouver, British Columbia - The Commodore Ballroom
10/17 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10/18 Chicago, IL - Metro

Hat tip to Pitchfork.

Magnetic Fields to tour, hit Atlanta on October 17

Be still my heart! The Magnetic Fields are coming to Atlanta!

One of my favorite bands I've never seen live, The Magnetic Fields, are touring this fall to support their Distortion album. Stephin Merritt and company will hit the Symphony Hall at Woodruff Arts Center on Friday, October 17. Oh, hell yes.

10/10 Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
10/11 Madison, WI - Capitol Theater
10/13 Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre
10/14 Austin, TX - Paramount Theater
10/15 Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
10/17 Atlanta, GA - Symphony Hall @ Woodruff Arts Ctr.
10/18 Raleigh, NC - Meymandi Concert Hall
10/23 Jersey City, NJ - Loews Jersey Theatre
10/24 Columbus, OH - Southern Theatre
10/25 Philadelphia, PA - Merriam Theater
10/26 Washington, DC - Lisner Auditorium @ GW Univ.

No word yet when tix go on sale. If you know, please speak up.

Let's revisit Merritt's classic appearance on Fox 5 Atlanta, shall we?



Yep, still hilarious.

Of Montreal's 'Skeletal Lamping' album art

Stereogum revealed the art from the forthcoming Of Montreal record today along with the tracklist and fall tour dates (including Atlanta on November 8, as mentioned here last week). I'm not sure what I think of the album cover:

This is by David Barnes, right? The carnivorous flora look like his usual style, but the clip art quality of the humans and background throws me off. Your thoughts?

Skeletal Lamping is due on October 7.

Update: Apparently the above has been altered for the album art, as seen at Pitchfork.

Introducing the new face of Auto-Tune...

Seriously. That song's more processed than 24 Kraft singles. You have to love the company that Coldplay keeps in the Top 10 singles chart.

I'll also note that the entertainment editor of Emory University's student paper, The Emory Wheel, has referred to her as "[i]ndie songstress Kate Perry with Capitol Records." Does not compute. Come on Emory kids -- let's not devalue my Ph.D. already, eh?

Boy Genius - "Failing Gravity"

Brooklyn's Boy Genius are among the dozens of bands playing Athens Popfest, and repeated listens of their album Anchorage have elevated them from mystery-to-me to must-see. They're a dandy indie pop act, with a sound somewhere between Titans of Filth and Pavement. It's a little sloppy and a lot of fun. My favorite track on Anchorage is probably "Failing Gravity," a melodic pop song with great hooks and horns. It just might make your Monday a little nicer.

Boy Genius - Failing Gravity

You can hear more at Myspace and buy the album from CD Baby.

Silent Kids play at WonderRoot Community Arts Center tomorrow, July 12

Atlanta-based psych-pop band Silent Kids have passed along word that instead of rocking a smoky club this Saturday, they'll be playing a fundraiser at the WonderRoot Community Art Center. The show is a benefit for MINT, a "networking conduit" for Atlanta's art communities. Sounds like good tunes for a good cause.

Silent Kids - Stars and Rust
Silent Kids - Neptunist's Revenge (Requiem for Alexander Von Humboldt)

The show starts at 8pm, with the Silent Kids playing last about 10:45pm. I'm sure they'll have copies of their new album Dinosaurs Turn Into Birds available, so I suggest that you check it out as well.

On a side note... I just learned that Best Friends Forever is playing at WonderRoots on August 13. That's awesome, but... it's during Athens Popfest! I may weep.

Gogol Bordello return to Atlanta on September 24

Fresh off another stint at Bonnaroo, the gypsy punks in Gogol Bordello return to Atlanta on September 24. According to the venue, they'll be at the Variety Playhouse. As I've said before, there aren't enough good things to say about these guys live. They're one big multinational juggernaut of chaos and energy.

Gogol Bordello - Start Wearing Purple [courtesy SXSW]
Gogol Bordello - Trouble Friends [live]

More tour dates in the U.S. and otherwise are on their Myspace page, though the full fall tour remains unannounced.

Of Montreal coming to Tabernacle, November 8

Wow. I guess the Variety Playhouse can no longer contain Of Montreal.

Indie superstars Of Montreal return to Atlanta on November 8, when they play The Tabernacle downtown. It's a big step up in size, but I bet they'll do just fine.

Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
Of Montreal - Disconnect the Dots
Of Montreal - So Begins Our Alabee

Tickets are $19 and go on sale today.

Atlanta! Comics! Events!

From Comic Book Comics #2 by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey

If you're in the market for funnybooks in the Atlanta area, there are a few events to scribble on the calendar. One is this weekend, while the other two are months away.

This weekend the Atlanta Comic Convention is on Sunday, July 13, at the Marriott in downtown Atlanta (11am-5pm). It's just a one-day show, but should be fun to browse and visit with some creators. Plus, admission is only $3 with the coupon from their website.

Later on, of course, is the famous Dragon*Con event in downtown Atlanta from August 29-September 1. The lineup of talent from film, television, literature, and comics for this one is coming together nicely. Tons of names pop out, including names from just about every major sci-fi, fantasy, and superhero show or film during the past four decades. I have to say that even with Adam West and others on the bill, I'd be most tongue-tied visiting with Firefly's Jewel Staite. Soooo completely adorable. The lineup of comics talent includes Peter David, Eric Powell, Mark Brooks, Cully Hamner, and others.



Wolverine's first appearance, from Incredible Hulk #180 (art by Herb Trimpe)


Also just announced is the upcoming Atlanta SuperCon from November 21-23. There will be a lot of announcements to come from this event, but so far they have booked the team behind Aqua Teen Hunger Force and classic Hulk artist Herb Trimpe among others. Really, I think it's worth the admission fee just to meet Frylock and Master Shake. Awesome.

Looks like north Georgia will have plenty of comics to go around for a while. In the meantime, I'm sure your local retailer would appreciate a visit. Happy reading!

Widowers - 'Widowers'

You may remember I was fascinated by a demo from Denver's Widowers more than a year ago, but now I'm happy to report that I'm equally enthused by the full album. The band's debut is a cohesive collection of 11 fine psych-pop tracks, sometimes dreamy and other times zooming forward like a runaway train. The layers of instruments sound great through headphones, and the album comes off a carefully crafted gem.

Widowers - Bone Collecting Ghost
Widowers - Pistol

Widowers have a few shows on the calendar, all in Denver:

7/11 Lion's Lair, Denver, CO
7/21 Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO (w/ Pinback)
7//26 Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO

Hit their Myspace page for more songs and info.

Hulk shop!

I've heard The Hulk referred to as incredible, savage, rampaging, and other adjectives, but I had no idea he was such a clotheshorse. I mean, really, this is more the sort of behavior I'd expect from sorority girls in downtown Athens than ol' Greenskin. He really likes that coat:

The Hulk goes "shopping" in Tales to Astonish #84 (October 1966), reprinted in The Incredible Hulk Omnibus, Vol. 1.

Bonus mp3: The Aquabats! - Fashion Zombies!

Noot d'Noot 'Goofer Dust' release party July 11 at The EARL, ATL

Atlanta's Noot d'Noot have been making locals dance their fannies off the past couple years, and soon you'll be able to play their funk, Afro-beat, and psychedelic dance tunes outside of sweaty clubs. Their debut album, Goofer Dust, will be released by International Hits on July 22. Locals, however, can buy it on July 11 at The EARL when the band celebrates their CD release. You'll also be able to pre-order the vinyl release of the album that night, though the 12" records won't yet be on hand.

Noot d'Noot - Fire King [from Goofer Dust]

Fellow Atlanta dance party darlings Judi Chicago will open the show. Stay hydrated.

Albert Hammond Jr.'s '¿Cómo Te Llama?' in stores today

I'm admittedly not much of a Strokes fan. Their guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr., however, has proven himself to be a damn fine musician. Hammond's new album, ¿Cómo Te Llama?, hits stores today and I think it's more interesting than anything his other band ever released. Hammond experiments with pop and rock structures, and sounds more like recent Wilco flavor than any alternative rock band. You have to applaud the guy for trying something new, and for doing it well.

The video for the album's fourth track, "GfC," is available now, and it's a pretty good representation of the full record:

Shades of Tweedy, no? ¿Cómo Te Llama? is available now.

13th Floor Elevators - "Baby Blue" (Bob Dylan cover)

In the record stores and coffee shops where I hang out, there is a growing buzz about the upcoming Roky Erickson show at Athens Popfest. As a result, old fans are revisiting Erikson's catalog and new converts are plucking his albums from record store bins. I am decidedly in the latter camp, and only recently picked up the 1967 release Easter Everywhere by Erickson's seminal psychedelic band 13th Floor Elevators. It's an engrossing and interesting album, but it threw me off a bit when I realized one track was a cover of Bob Dylan's 1965 classic "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." This was cool forty years ago, and it's cool now.

13th Floor Elevators - Baby Blue [Bob Dylan]

Roky Erickson and The Explosives play Athens Popfest on Thursday, August 14.

Free Elf Power show at Caledonia Lounge tonight, July 7

Fun news for the Athens crowd -- if you're looking to go out on this Monday night, good ol' Elf Power is playing a free show at Caledonia Lounge. It's listed as an early show with doors at 7pm, so don't show up too late.

Elf Power - Spiral Stairs

They leave tomorrow for a full tour. The dates are on their Myspace.

Creative Loafing 'Best of' balloting and 'Raging Election!' show

As happens each year about this time, the gang at Creative Loafing are now soliciting votes for the 2008 Best of Atlanta awards. C&T has had a pretty good run with the 'Best Georgia-Based Music Blog' category the past couple years, and I'd love your support again. Vote here (especially in the 'After Dark' category). Balloting ends July 11.

To celebrate the occasion, Creative Loafing is sponsoring a show at the Star Bar in Little Five Points this Wednesday (July 9). The lineup will feature three indie bands from Atlanta, with Y-O-U, Cassavetes, and Winston Audio all sharing the stage.

Y-O-U - Moviekiss [Lite Brite Remix]
Cassavetes - An Ancient Mistake

Cassavetes plays second, and frontman Robbie Horlick is promising new songs. If you can make it, I'd love to hear what they're up to. Don't forget to vote this week!

Brooke Waggoner at The Masquerade, ATL, on July 11

I've probably raved about Nashville songstress Brooke Waggoner enough times not to repeat myself, so I'll spare you the breathless praise of her piano-based pop gems. Local C&T readers should take note that she will appear this Friday, July 11, at The Masquerade in Atlanta. Her Fresh Pair of Eyes EP came out of nowhere to blow me away, and I hope a lot of you got it as a free download via her website. If not, it's still available.

Brooke Waggoner - Hush If You Must

Paper Route will close the Atlanta show. Tickets are available now.

Brooke has a new full-length album titled Heal for the Honey due on August 13. That night she plays in Nashville. She is also on tour throughout July, including the following dates:

7/08 WorkPlay Theatre - Birmingham, AL
7/09 The Handlebar - Greenville, SC
7/10 Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC
7/11 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
7/15 The Social - Orlando, FL
7/16 Orpheum - Tampa, FL
7/17 Jack Rabbits - Jacksonville, FL
7/19 Spanish Moon - Baton Rouge, LA
7/20 The Mink - Houston, TX
7/21 Rock Bottom Bar - San Antonio, TX
7/22 Hailey’s - Denton, TX
7/23 Emo’s Alternative Lounging - Austin, TX
7/24 Convergence - Oklahoma City, OK
8/13 The Belcourt Theater - Nashville, TN (CD release)

To hear more from Brooke Waggoner, hit her Myspace page.

'The Animation Show 4' this week at Midtown Art Cinema, Atlanta

A quick note to the Atlanta crowd: the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema has a special engagement this week, as The Animation Show 4 starts there on July 4. The film is a collection of animated shorts and should be lots of fun. It's unrated, but looks to be in the PG-13 range. You might take the tots to the wonderful Wall-E, but go to this yourself.

The website of The Animation Show has the full schedule of cities where the film will play.

Happy birthday, America

You're a little silly sometimes, but we love you anyway. Enjoy the holiday!

Martin Sexton - America the Beautiful [12-7-2002]
Perpetual Groove - America, F*ck Yeah! [10-31-2007]
Jump, Little Children - Young America [2-21-2004]
Bloodkin - The Blue Skies Above America [6-17-2005]
Bernie Worrell and the WOO Warriors - America [2-8-2001]
The Mountain Goats - See America Right [9-21-2007]
David Gray - Last Boat to America [1-30-2003]
Kristin Hersh - Somewhere in America [5-2-2002]

Maybe I'll see you at Turner Field...

Tilly and the Wall on tour, play Variety Playhouse 7/24

I never expected to say this, but Tilly and the Wall have released one of my favorite records of the year. Their O on Team Love is crafted from generous helpings of pop, rock, and twee, and the whole things comes together beautifully. There are moments of Joan Jett rock alongside synth-pop a la Mates of State, with lots of high energy and '70s radio shimmer. A damn fine album.

Tilly and the Wall - Pot Kettle Black
Tilly and the Wall - Cacaphony

The band started their tour to support the record last night in Salt Lake City, and will be in Atlanta on July 24. Tilly and the Wall on tour:

7/02 Club Sound - Salt Lake City, UT
7/04 Richards on Richards - Vancouver, BC
7/05 Neumo’s - Seattle, WA
7/06 Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
7/08 Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
7/10 Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA
7/11 Epi Center - San Diego, CA
7/12 Modified Arts - Phoenix, AZ
7/13 Club Congress - Tucson, AZ
7/16 Granada Theatre - Dallas, TX
7/17 Emo’s - Austin, TX
7/18 Engine Room - Houston, TX
7/19 One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
7/22 The Social - Orlando, FL
7/23 Jack Rabbits - Jacksonville, FL
7/24 Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA
7/25 Cats Cradle - Carrboro, NC
7/26 Black Cat - Washington, DC
7/27 First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
7/29 Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
7/30 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
7/31 Paradise - Boston, MA
8/01 The Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY
8/02 Mod Club - Toronto, ONT
8/03 Hartwood Acres - Pittsburgh, PA
8/05 The Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
8/06 Abbey - Chicago, IL
8/07 Sokol Auditorium - Omaha, NE

Tickets to the Variety Playhouse show are now available. The Ruby Suns will open.

The Coathangers live at the Digital Arts Entertainment Lab, GSU

The great folks at Georgia State University's Digital Arts Entertainment Lab continue their video output with a live performance from The Coathangers. Watch as the Ladies of Leisure sing their ode to one Tonya Harding (who was never cool with Nancy) and confuse countless pedestrians:

The self-titled current album from The Coathangers is available from Rob's House Records.

Checking in with Casper & the Cookies

Despite all their recent activity, it's been a while since C&T checked in with Athens popsters Casper & the Cookies. Thankfully, their Jim Hicks has been kind enough to send along an update.

Photo by Courtnie Wolfgang

Casper and crew have been busy recording their next record with an assist from Elephant 6 staple Bill Doss (Olivia Tremor Control, Sunshine Fix, Apples in Stereo), who has been assisting in the production. Recording has made their tour schedule rather sparse for now, but they will be among the powerhouse acts (along with Thee American Revolution, Andy from Denver, Circulatory System, Elf Power, The Music Tapes, and more) to take the stage on Saturday, August 16, at Athens Popfest. Holy crap is that gonna be good.

Casper & the Cookies - Sid from Central Park

Jim tells me that the band has also been releasing a video diary of their trip to Japan in February (titled "Watashi-Wa Vegetarian") via YouTube. Check their channel for all the shenanigans. They've posted four so far, with more to come.



While I'm at it, don't forget that Casper Fandango himself blogs at Noises for the Leg. Pop galore! I'll pass along updates on that new album when I get them. Can't wait for Popfest...

'Rewind' '80s covers comp at BuffetLibreDJs.net

BuffetLibreDJs.net is a Spanish website dedicated to promoting pop and electronic music, and today this week they've released a nice incentive to visit. Their Rewind compilation features contemporary artists covering songs of the '80s with a roster including Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Ruby Isle, Hello Tokyo, The Cloud Room, and others. Perhaps the best part? It's free. The tracklist, courtesy of the site:

01 - SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN - Another Satellite (XTC)
02 - SAINT BERNADETTE - Owner Things (Yes vs Howard Jones)
03 - NORTHERN PORTRAIT - Some People (Cliff Richard)
04 - DRAGONETTE - Sharp Dressed Man (ZZ Top)
05 - MADONNA - Into The Groove (SIDECHAINS Remix)
06 - ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE - Jealousy (Pet Shop Boys)
07 - RUBY ISLE - The Final Cut (Pink Floyd)
08 - CLOETTA PARIS - Cry Just A Little Bit (Shakin Stevens)
09 - MOULINEX - Come On Closer (Pineapples)
10 - HELLO TOKYO - Girls (Beastie Boys)
11 - JULIAN NATION - Linda Linda (Blue Hearts)
12 - THE PAPER SCISSORS - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (Hall & Oates)
13 - RAC FEAT. KARL KLING - Take On Me (A-Ha)
14 - FRIDAY BRIDGE - Eyes Without A Face (Billy Idol)
15 - LUCKNOW PACT - Flash In The Night (Secret Service)
16 - PYT - Summer Of '69 (Bryan Adams)
17 - POMOMOFO - White Horse (Laid Back)
18 - THE CLOUD ROOM - Blue Monday (New Order)

You can download each song or the full compilation at BuffetLibreDJs.net.

Adron CD release party and in-store in Atlanta, July 30

I've praised Brooklyn-based Adron (formerly of Atlanta) more than once in this space, and I'm happy to report that her excellent album will finally be released late this month. Her Tropacalia-laced indie folk is refreshing and unique, and the girl has chops to spare. As I've said before, if this record gets a wide enough audience she could really take off.

She will celebrate her debut album's release on New Street Records with a pair of live appearances in Atlanta. On July 30 she is scheduled to play both an in-store at Criminal Records and a full show that night at The EARL. The excellent Athens band Telenovela opens the latter. That ought to be a special Wednesday night.

Adron - Airplanes
Telenovela - Breakfast with Birds

She also has an upcoming show at Brooklyn's Ottoman Lounge on July 7. To hear more from Adron, visit her Myspace page.

King Khan & The Shrines in Athens, Atlanta on Thurs., Fri.

If you're looking for a big night of rockin' fun this Independence Day weekend, I might have just the thing. On Thursday night (7/3) King Khan & The Shrines play the 40 Watt in Athens, and then they repeat the drill on Friday (7/4) at Lenny's Bar in Atlanta. Wear a helmet.

King Khan - Torture

Their remaining nationwide tour dates are on their Myspace.

This, that, and Thor

From Catwoman #24 by Ed Brubaker and Guy Davis

I'll try to get back to real music coverage shortly, but I've been busy lately. A few notes:

Music: The Young Sinclairs and Sound Houses were great at Caledonia Lounge last week, and I've had the current album from North Carolina roots artist Cary Fridley playing constantly. I imagine she'll be the next artist I feature when I can write for fun again.

Film: Wanted = overrated. Sorry, Mark Millar. Bring on Hellboy and The Dark Knight.

Comics: Matt Fraction owned last week with three great books (Immortal Iron Fist #16, Young Avengers #6, Thor: Reign of Blood). The Star Wars-themed mini-comic Harvest Is When I Need You the Most is also a winner even at $7. Tomorrow's highlight for me is probably Jonah Hex #33 with the terrific Darwyn Cooke on art. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

For now, I'll sign off with a video discovered via the comments on Chris's Invincible Super-Blog. Presenting "Thor: God of Metal":

\m/