The Dead Weather

I finally had the day off work, and what do I get for weather? Drizzle and foggy skies. Not impressed. Oh well, at least this is the perfect weather for catching up on my Singing Lamb writing, which I have fallen incredibly behind on this past week. On a day like this, I’d recommend you curl up on the couch with a hot beverage and a good book or watch a good movie (not endless sports highlight shows like I’ve been watching all morning). And in case you don’t have anything to read, here is some news for you!

Is there anything that Jack White can’t do? Let’s see: frontman, singer, guitar hero, drummer, record label owner, Nashville Music Council consultant, amateur bullfighter and Elvis impersonator – now he can addwedding host to his resume. Recently his ex-wife Meg White got married to a guy named Jackson Smith, whose parents Patti and the late Fred Smith are pretty much singlehandedly responsible for the CBGB New York City punk scene in the 1970s, in Jack’s Nashville backyard. Oh, and Jack’s new band with Alison Mosshart, The Dead Weather? They just released a new single, the swampy, blues-rock barn-burner “Treat Me Like Your Mother”, which you can get for free in exchange for your email address here. Its been awhile since I’ve been this excited for a new album, but I’m already counting down the days till Horehound drops on July 14th, and I bought my ticket for their July 22nd show at the Kool Haus.

How ’bout that new Grizzly Bear album? Pitchfork likes it, so it must be good. News flash: it actually is – even people who usually decry “white indie boy rock” are nodding their heads along to this one. Alas, their show at the Phoenix next Friday is already sold-out (sheds tears).

Perennial Lamb favourite, and the pride of Guelph, Ontario, electro-poppers Green Go have just announced a string of high-profile shows including opening for New York’s Fischerspooner at the Phoenix next Tuesday, some shows with Halifax’s Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees, and opening for Edmonton’s Shout Out Out Out Out. Great to see these guys getting the attention they deserve. Check out their MySpace for more details, including an upcoming NXNE appearance with B.c.’s You Say Party! We Say Die!.

Apparently hipster-girl fashion magazines know a thing or two about putting together a pretty kickass music tour; who knew? NYLON magazine; the leading glossy publication for lovers of Lookbook, leggings (you know – those ones from American Apparel with the semi-pornographic ads?) and Lily Allen, are bringing their tour to the Mod Club on June 17 as part of NXNE. Patrick Wolf will be headlining, with the likes of Living Things, Plasticines, and Jaguar Love (ex-members of Blood Brothers and Pretty Girls Make Graves) opening. This show is all-ages, tickets are $20, and a limited number of NXNE wristband holders will be accepted. More details here.

Just in case you hadn’t listened to enough Yeah Yeah Yeahs remixes, here are three more: “Heads Will Roll” re-imagined by Philly new-wave weirdos Weird Tapes and Canadian-based DJ/producer duo FoulHouse, and LA DJ’s Them Jeans remix of the acoustic version of “Soft Shock”. I promise these ones don’t suck either.

The Proclaimers are coming to Toronto! Everyone’s favourite Scottish folk-rocker brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid, will be at the Mod Club on July 9th. The childhood nostalgia of listening to “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (if you don’t know it, we can no longer be friends) on my father’s tape cassette has me excited for this one. Tickets are on-sale now.

Finally, I have a story so unusual I couldn’t help but sharing with you. It appears that Fucked Up’s controversial frontman Damian Abraham, also know as Pink Eyes, will be joining as a consultant on the Fox news show Red Eye hosted by Canadian military-baiting hack (erm…I mean “host”) Greg Gutfield. Seriously? I mean its not the strangest thing we’ve seen a member of the Toronto hardcore band do, but it certainly ranks up there. Full story here.

Have a good weekend!

Cheers,
Max