Dave Sweetapple, bassist for the Vermont rock band Witch, apologizes for being a little late for our phone interview. Cyril, his Scottish Deerhound turned unofficial band mascot, had to step outside. A friendly but physically imposing canine, his presence in early Witch promotional photos had many fans wondering how the band found such a menacing creature for a stage prop. Basically retired from his mascot duties, Cyril sits in on the band’s practice sessions and is one of their top friends on MySpace. (more…)

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Sigur Ros are working on a new album at Sterling Sound in NYC. (more…)

Tonight in Santa Fe, it is frigid and damp. A storm passed through earlier and snowclouds are forming to the west. Outside the Lensic Theatre, located in the maze of downtown streets among khaki-colored adobe buildings, stand well-dressed and anxious concertgoers in line for tickets. The half-full lobby smells like leather and perfume. The band inside is a group of turbaned, robed Saharans called Tinariwen. (more…)

The queen of revitalized old school soul music has a busy tour schedule this summer. Sharon Jones and her cohorts, The Dap Kings , visit some early summer tours stateside at Bonnaroo in Tennessee, and the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. Then its off to Europe for a ring around France, Sweeden, Denmark, England, and Greece. Once they’re back in the states, the funk collective rounds off the US festival circuit with Lollapalooza in Chicago, Summerstage in New York, and Austin City Limits in Texas. (more…)

Hopefully, by the time you read this, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike will be over and television will be back to the business of making new, scripted programs. As I’m writing this, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) has already secured a deal with the producers, and the writers are headed back to the negotiating table. Really, I don’t see how much longer we can go with “American Gladiators” being one of the only “new” shows on television. (more…)

Chicago’s Dianogah have spent the last twelve years crafting unique compositions primarily from their two basses and drums, incorporating minimal guitar or keyboards when the situation called for it. On their first album in six years (still untitled at press time), bassists Jay Ryan and Jason Harvey and drummer Kip McCabe branch into new territory, using their bass-centric background in exciting new ways.

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Rob Mazurek is a man of accomplishments. He is regarded as a master cornetist and conductor working in avant-garde, free-jazz styles. He has fronted numerous projects in his adopted hometown of Chicago. His collaborations have been with contemporaries and peers, but now Mazurek is working with a legend. Free-jazz icon Bill Dixon contributes as conductor for the latest release of Mazurek’s cosmic jazz ensemble, Exploding Star Orchestra. (more…)

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LA rapper Busdriver (born Regan Farquhar) is taking a break from writing and recording his new record, the yet-untitled follow-up to last year’s RoadKillOvercoat, to tour with Dizzee Rascal and EL-P starting in Washington DC on May 8th.

Busdriver also recorded a new track “Ellen Disingenuous,” which will be for sale on iTunes May 27th and free on several blogs.

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