Lou Barlow says Goodnight Unknown


On October 6, Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh) will release Goodnight Unknown, his first album in four years, and the follow-up to the acclaimed Emoh. In celebration of Merge Records 15th anniversary, the label is giving away the first single, "Gravitate."

Barlow will be touring this fall, backed by Mike Watts' crack band The Missingmen. The group will be opening for Dinosaur Jr.

Check out the tour dates below, and take a listen to "Gravitate."

09.30.2009 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
10.02.2009 Cambridge, MA Middle East
10.04.2009 Clifton Park , NY Northern Lights
10.07.2009 New Haven, CT Toad's Place
10.08.2009 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
10.09.2009 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
10.10.2009 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
10.11.2009 Pontiac, MI The Crofoot
10.13.2009 Madison, WI The Majestic Theatre
10.14.2009 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
10.15.2009 Chicago , IL Vic Theatre
10.16.2009 Louisville , KY Headliner's Music Hall
10.17.2009 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
10.26.2009 Kansas City, MO The Beaumont Club
10.27.2009 Omaha, NE Slowdown
10.29.2009 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
10.30.2009 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
11.03.2009 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
11.04.2009 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
11.05.2009 West Hollywood, CA House of Blues
11.07.2009 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

Learn:
Lou Barlow Online
Merge Records Online

Listen:
Track 1 - Gravitate

Buy:
Merge Records Online

Dead Confederate: Full Steam Ahead

Photo by Pamela Littky

Athens, Georgia's Dead Confederate has been in the eye of a hurricane since its inception three years ago. The band emerged from the ashes of an earlier incarnation,The Redbelly Band, and quickly set to work, releasing Wrecking Ball, touring with a number of rock and roll luminaries, and playing frequently, including a performance on Late Night with Conan O'Brian. And the quintet - Hardy Morris (vocals, guitar), Brantley Senn (bass, vocals), John Watkins (keys, vocals), Jason Scarboro (drums), Walker Howle (guitar) - shows no signs of slowing.

The band is currently compiling a live release while plotting a fall tour that includes 10 co-headlining shows with The Meat Puppets and a handful of dates with A Place to Bury Strangers.

Check out the up coming tour dates, as well as an acoustic version of "It Was A Rose" recorded during the Wrecking Ball sessions.

Sept 7 - Bumbershoot -Seattle, WA
Sept 16 - Marquee Theater - Tempe, AZ ^
Sept 17 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA ^
Sept 18 - El Rey Theater - Los Angeles, CA ^
Sept 19 - Slim's - San Francisco, CA ^
Sept 20 - Hopmonk Tavern - Sebastopol, CA^
Sept 22 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR^
Sept 23 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA ^
Sept 24 - Grizzly Rose - Boise, ID ^
Sept 25 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT ^
Sept 26 - Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO ^
Oct 26 - Double Door - Chicago, IL *
Oct 27 - The Mod Club Toronto - Ontario *
Oct 28 - Il Motore - Montreal, Quebec *
Oct 29 - Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, MA *
Oct 30 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY *

^ co-headline with Meat Puppets
* with A Place to Bury Strangers

Learn:
Dead Confederate Online

Listen:
Track 1 - It Was A Rose (Acoustic)

Buy:
Dead Confederate Store

Monsters of Folk: "Say Please"


The highly anticipated release from supergroup Monsters of Folk (M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Jim James and Mike Mogis) isn't due until September 22, but the band is teasing fans with a download of "Say Please."

Learn:
Monsters of Folk Online

Listen:
Track 1 - Say Please

Lucero Meets "The Devil"

Photo by Wes Frazer

The last half of this year is promising big things for Memphis, Tennessee's Lucero. On October 6, the quartet will release its Universal Records debut, 1372 Overton Park, an album recorded at Ardent Studios in the band's hometown and produced by Ted Hutt who recorded The Gaslight Anthem's critically acclaimed debut, The '59 Sound. This is the follow up to 2006's high-octane fifth album, Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers.

The hell-raising foursome broke onto the scene with its second release, 2002's Tennessee, an album of sad, slow songs that traipsed the oft-blurred line between punk and country. Since its release, Lucero has struggled to break from its cult status into the mainstream, and the battle continues; however, the time in the trenches has helped amass a following of die-hard fans while the band has redefined itself with a more ragged rock-and-roll edge. 1372 Overton Park promises much of the same if the raucous, arena-ready single "The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo" is any indication.

Stream "The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo"

Lucero will be playing a few shows this summer and early fall:

August 15 - Subterranean, Chicago, IL
August 16 - Green Fest, Eckhart Park, Chicago, IL
September 11 - The Crossroads, Kansas City, MO
September 17 - Canopy Club, Urbana, IL
September 18 - DIY Street Fair, Ferndale, MI
September 19 - Rumba Cafe, Columbus Ohio

Learn:
Lucero Online

Listen:
Lucero live at The Pour House, Charleston, SC, March 11, 2009. Recorded by Brooks Wilson.
Track 1 - I Can Get Us Out of Here Tonight
Track 2 - Wasted
Track 3 - 16
Track 4 - Sweet Little Thing

Buy:
Lucero Store

The Horse's Ha: Expression and style


The Horse’s Ha is a unique blend of old and new, classic and innovative. Formed by the pairing of Jim Elkington - formerly of The Zinc’s - and Janet Beveridge Bean of Freakwater and Eleventh Dream Day, the initial goal was to play cover songs at expensive wine bars. Yet the songwriter in Elkington led the creation of a number of stylish originals, penned for Beveridge. With the addition of Fred Lonberg-holm, Nick Macri, and Charles Rumback, a band was born.

Of the Cathmawr Yards, the debut release for The Horse’s Ha, is acoustic and organic, playing out with defined ease and spacial clarity. Elkington’s lyricism is a perfect, poetic companion to Bean’s delicate delivery. The two duet, offering spirited, expressive readings of the 10 originals. To support the release, The Horse’s Ha will take to the road this month, playing the first of several mini-tours.

July 27 - Thunderbird Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA
July 28 - IOTA Club and Cafe - Arlington, VA
July 30 - Bruar Falls - Williamsburg/Brooklyn, NY
July 31 - The Bell House - Brooklyn, NY
August 1 - The Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
August 2 - Beachland Tavern - Cincinnati, Ohio

Learn:
The Horse's Ha on Myspace

Listen:
Track 1 - Slow Moon's Rose - Unreleased
Track 2 - Asleep in a Waterfall
Track 3 - The Piss Choir

Buy:
The Horse's Ha on Amazon