Revision of Excess 2007- the Organ review
Ron Athey @ My Space
Lee Adams @ My Space
 

www.the-minimalists.co.uk
www.myspace.com/the_minimalists
www.myspace.com/minimalismlondon
www.the-minimalists.co.uk/minimalism_live.html

31st MARCH - ORNETTE COLEMAN to programme Meltdown... This year's Meltdown festival is going to be curated by jazz legend Ornette Coleman. A refreshing choice to programme the annual London festival, I’m sure you’ll agree. His programme is yet to be announced, though it's thought Coleman himself will play two concerts at the Royal Festival Hall.  Although in recent years it has been pop and rock artists who have programmed the Southbank-based festival, some key classical names curated early editions of the event - George Benjamin in 1993, Louis Andriessen in 1994 and Magnus Lindberg in 1996. Confirming his involvement this year, Coleman told reporters: "I hope this festival will leave us with a lot of love for all mankind. We will use this time to gather together and create things that we love and believe in". This year's festival will take place from 13-21 Jun.

27th MARCH -  YES WAY is here.... Yes Way, as previously reported here, is a two day festival that is said by the organizers, to be celebrating the best and brightest of the UK's art and music underground. The event is a collaboration between London-based promoter and label, Upset The Rhythm and Auto-Italia - a massive, collaborative exhibition space and temporary studio, currently residing in a former car showroom in Peckham. Over the course of the weekend, 34 acts from all over the country will be performing, from noon until midnight each day, alongside the multimedia work of 14 artists. There'll also be a temporary DIY supermarket and no end of food and drink from independent, local producers. Tickets are priced at £5 for one day or £8 for both days. Auto-Italia is situated at 1 Glengall Road, on the corner of Old Kent Road, Peckham, SE15... All happens on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March...
         Bands on day one, with colourful descriptions from the Upset crew so don't be blaming us: A MIDDLE SEX - Wrongly evolved mesmerists / BEARDS - Pumped-up, costume-freaked stammer yelpers / CHAPS - Frenzied party clang and bang /  CLECKHUDDERSFAX - Borderline absurd glam apocalypse / FAMILY BATTLE SNAKE - Brain death alarms and sky surf / GAY AGAINST YOU - Ecstatic freedom sing song balladeers / GENTLE FRIENDLY - Smart and primed rainbow noise / GRAFITTI ISLAND - Spooky entranced hip swingers / HYGIENE - Late for skool punk anthems / MAZES - Scrap cloud fuzz three piece / PART WILD HORSES MANE ON BOTH SIDES - Free drums and avant flute mind leap / PLEASE - Hungry and nomadic psychedelic adventurers / THE SHITTY LIMITS - No heroes hardcore punx / SPIN SPIN THE DOGS - Post post post punk surrealist no wave / THE SCEPTRES - Fast-n-primal punk pop funs / THE STICKS - Speaker frying garage gloop / VAMPIRE BLUES - Void potential hymns and slow blossom noise...
        Bands on day two, still with colourful descriptions from the Upset crew so still don't be blaming us: a.P.A.t.T. - Technicolour fantasy stadium pop / BANJO OR FREAKOUT - Futuristic shadow pop dreamscapers / BIRDS OF DELAY - Ranging wonder noise duo / CHOPS - Damaged dance band with synth/sax playoffs / CLUNES - Nonsense mirror sample enthusiasts / COREY ORBISON - Tribal shake ups with ice cream punches / DRUM EYES - DJ Scotch Egg's drum thunder worship gang / HANDS ON HEADS - Premeditated sunshine punk / HUSBANDS - Double trouble drum-n-keys barrage / PENS - Beat jumping power pop interlockers / PLUG - Clatter punk post minimalists / PROTEEN SHEIKHS - Brighton's neo-grunge upstart crew /  TEAM BRICK - 'Anything goes' sonic throwdown / TEETH - Laptop scream, grunge thrust masters / TRASH KIT - Careering skip-rope no-wave Rachels / UNIVERSAL ORDERS - Unforgiving, prowling witchcore / WET DOG - Pointed skip and hop jabber tunes...
         Go explore the art and the bands and more on the Upset The Rhythm web pages... 
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ROSE ELINOR DOUGALL announces new single.... Former Pipette Rose Elinor Dougall has announced the release of her second solo single, 'Start/Stop/Synchro'. The single will be released on limited, coloured vinyl by Elefant Recordings on 8 Jun ahead of her debut solo album, 'Without Why'. You can hear the single right now on Rose's MySpace page: - www.myspace.com/roseelinordougallmusic

WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE UK dates...  The really very good alt.country blues singer with a punk edge William Elliott Whitmore is in the UK for a few weeks to promote his latest album, 'Animals In The Dark', which was released in February. He plays Glasgow tonight before heading down to London. Check him out at 26 Mar: Glasgow ABC2, 30 Mar: London St Giles, 13 Apr: London Windmill, 15 Apr: London Borderline – www.myspace.com/williamelliottwhitmore

25th MARCH - LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM heads for Stoke... The Love Music Hate Racism people have announced they will stage a one day festival in Stoke On Trent on 30 May. The gig will take place at Stoke City football club's Britannia Stadium. Confirming the event, Love Music Hate Racism spokesman Lee Billingham told reporters: "Love Music Hate Racism is proud to be working in partnership with Stoke City FC and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to bring our national event this year to the Britannia Stadium on May 30th. Love Music Hate Racism is about celebrating what we all have in common - and music has always been a powerful force for bringing people and undermining the division and misery that racism can bring to our communities".  He continued: "The festival at the Britannia will be the most exciting music event that Stoke has ever seen! Some of country's biggest bands and DJ's will join with top local performers in a fantastic day that will have something for everyone. The event will involve thousands of people in Stoke itself, from schools and colleges to community organisations and music venues, but will also show those from outside the city who join us on the day that the majority of people in Stoke prefer living, working and enjoying themselves together to racism and division".

24th MARCH - Free JANE'S ADDICTION, NIN & STREET SWEEPER tour EP... Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction are on a co-headline tour, with support from Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello's new band Street Sweeper, all three bands feature on a free download EP promoting the tour. Each band has provided two unreleased tracks. Oh, and the Jane's Addiction tracks are produced by Trent Reznor. Oh, and it's available in MP3, FLAC, lossless M4A, and 24bit studio quality WAV formats. To download it, just go to www.ninja2009.com and then come back and thank us...

23rd MARCH - GRYPHON announce gig! After touring in the UK, Europe and the US 32 years ago, English medieval prog legends Gryphon disbanded as each member went on to pursue his own distinct musical career. This summer, the original band returns "by popular demand, for one night only", to play a long-awaited acoustic concert of material from their first two albums, Gryphon and Midnight Mushrumps at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Saturday 6 June, cool as f if you ask us - www.gaudela.net/gryphon or www.myspace.com/gryphonreinstated

22nd MARCH -  BISHOP ALLEN have slightly adjusted their forthcoming UK trip. Main change is that Reading has been added on the 9th, The Windmill, Brixton has replaced the Brighton show on the 10th and the Bristol date for the 11th has been cancelled. Here comes the dates in full: May 06 Manchester @ Cafe Saki, May 07 London @ Bardens Boudoir, May 08 Cardiff @ Clwb, May 09 Reading @ Oakford, May 10 Brixton @ The Windmill, Find more via the band’s page at www.myspace.com/bishopallen, read the recent Organ album review here via Organ #292

20th MARCH - More GENTLE GIANT(ish) activity...  Kerry Minnear has joined Malcom Mortimore and Gary Green in a band that’s now called THREE FRIENDS. As previously reported, they recently played together as Rentle Giant, here’s a bit more: “In 2008 two former members of Gentle Giant (guitarist Gary Green and drummer Malcolm Mortimore) formed a new band - Rentle Giant - to play Gentle Giant music. Then were joined by Kerry Minnear ( Composer and Keyboard virtuoso of Gentle Giant). The other members of the band are noted jazz-fusion musicians Roger Carey (bass and vocals, from Liane Carroll’s band), Andy Williams (guitar, collaborator with Carey in the Engine Clutch And trio) and award winning Piano soloist on Keyboards) John Donaldson and also Mike Wilson of 10cc on Vocals”. Seems they’re playing at the Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham On Sea, Sussex on April 16th. More details here.  Meanwhile see a rather impressive recent Rentle Giant YouTube here
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JASON PEGG of Clearlake and Everything Is Easy.... Jason, he of Clearlake, has recorded a solo version of the Cardiacs song Everything Is Easy, find it and hear and love it over at www.myspace.com/jasonpeggnoise
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17th MARCH - CAPILLARY ACTION, those thrilling maximalists, are in the UK...  The New York Other Rock progheads kick off their UK leg of a DIY world tour at the Old Blue Last in London tomorrow, April 18th, they follow it with another London show at the Cross Kings on Thursday 19th and the nhead off all over the land.  They’re dealing in some seriously progressively bendy other rock adventure, one of the finest bands out there right now, serious brain food... "Thrilling maximalism that has me rubbing my hands with glee straight away. A whole album's worth of perversely complex, er, pop... that has chunks of different genres popping up unexpectedly like the good bits in a stew made of gourmet leftovers." – Organ Magazine Album of the Week back sometime last year, the review is here – check out all their dates over on their My Space page and don’t miss them while they’re in the UK... www.myspace.com/capillaryaction

15th MARCH - PLACEBO new album... The album is called Battle For The Sun, it sees the light on July 8th, the band are now Brian Molko – guitar/vocals - Stefan Olsdal – bass - Steve Forrest – drums. “We’ve made a record about choosing life, about choosing to live, about stepping out of the darkness and into the light,” explains Brian. “Not necessarily turning your back on the darkness because it’s there, it’s essential; it’s a part of who you are, but more about the choice of standing in the sunlight instead. “I’m very optimistic about the future, I’m in a positive frame of mind and a good head space. It’s very exciting. There’s a lot of life in the old dog just yet.”

SQUATS YER LOT... Bailiffs sneakily tried to get possession of the long lasting RampArts squatted social centre in east London on Thursday. Pretending to be security guards wanting to do a fire check – there had been a fire next door - upon gaining entry they then claimed to be forcibly evicting everyone and taking possession. When challenged they produced an eviction order from December 2007, which was no longer valid. The local bill appeared and the bailiffs started boarding up the windows while residents climbed back inside. After a two-hour stand off the cops retreated leaving the bailiffs and owner on their own facing the residents who now had their home back.  For more see http://therampart.wordpress.com

12th MARCH - The first fruits of UPSILON ACRUX’s recent recording sessions have emerged via Cuneiform Records website. Now this is very exciting news indeed, they are simply one of the very best bands out there, seriously challenging other rock, real full on prog! There’s a track called Landscape With Gun And Chandeller, from the forthcoming Radian Futura album just waiting for you at www.cuneiformrecords.com and check out this Upsilon Acrux YouTube, we can't wait for the album

YES WAY is a two day festival that is said by the organizers, to be celebrating the best and brightest of the UK's art and music underground. The event is a collaboration between London-based promoter and label, Upset The Rhythm and Auto-Italia - a massive, collaborative exhibition space and temporary studio, currently residing in a former car showroom in Peckham. Over the course of the weekend, 34 acts from all over the country will be performing, from noon until midnight each day, alongside the multimedia work of 14 artists. There'll also be a temporary DIY supermarket and no end of food and drink from independent, local producers. Tickets are priced at £5 for one day or £8 for both days. Auto-Italia is situated at 1 Glengall Road, on the corner of Old Kent Road, Peckham, SE15... All happens on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March...
         Bands include:  A MIDDLE SEX, BEARDS, CHAPS, FAMILY BATTLE SNAKE, GAY AGAINST YOU, GENTLE FRIENDLY, GRAFITTI ISLAND, HYGIENE, MAZES, PART WILD HORSES MANE ON BOTH SIDES, PLEASE, THE SHITTY LIMITS, SPIN SPIN THE DOGS, THE SCEPTRES, THE STICKS, VAMPIRE BLUES, a.P.A.t.T., BANJO OR FREAKOUT, BIRDS OF DELAY, CHOPS, CLUNES, COREY ORBISON, DRUM EYES, HANDS ON HEADS, HUSBANDS, PENS, PLUG, PROTEEN SHEIKHS, TEAM BRICK, TEETH, TRASH KIT, UNIVERSAL ORDERS, WET DOG.... Go explore the art and the bands and more on the Upset The Rhythm web pages... 

11th MARCH - DEVO have announced the release of their first studio album since 1990, scheduled to come out next Autumn The as-yet untitled record will be the band’s first since 'Smooth Noodle Maps', and follows the 2007 single 'Watch Us Work It', theirfirst new song in 18 years. The five-piece are also due to appear at SXSW over in Texas this year, including a one-night-only concert at the Austin Music Hall on March 20. On May 6 they will perform their 1978 debut album Q: Are We Not Men, We Are Devo!' in its entirety at London's Kentish Town Forum. The live dates are as follows: Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom (March 18), Austin, TX Austin Music Hall (20), London, UK Kentish Town Forum (May 6) Somerset, UK Butlins Holiday Centre (8)

ROLO TOMASSI announce tour and free live EP... I'm not sure announcing a Rolo Tomassi tour as new is strictly true, given that they seem to be doing nothing but touring at the moment, but what the hell. They have a brand new tour, which will snake its way around the country under the banner 'The Northern Alliance' in April and May. Support on the tour comes from Grammatics and Pulled Apart By Horses, except in Ireland and Leeds. There are no dates announced for the capital as yet, but the band say they will be announcing "a very special event in London" soon. As a little extra bonus, the band are giving away a free live EP to anyone who pre-orders tickets through their MySpace page - www.myspace.com/rolotomassi. The tracklist for the EP is: Oh, Hello Ghost, I Love Turbulance, Beatrotter, Cirque Du Funk, Fofteen Here are those tour dates: 14 Apr: Leicester, The Musician, 15 Apr: Sheffield, The Plug, 16 Apr: Wrexham, Central Station, 17 Apr: Nottingham, Bodega Social, 18 Apr: Manchester, Satan's Hollow, 19 Apr: Leeds, The Faversham, 20 Apr: Middlesborough, Uncle Albert's, 21 Apr: Liverpool, Barfly, 22 Apr: Glasgow, Stereo, 23 Apr: Belfast, Auntie Annie's, 24 Apr: Limerick, Dolans, 25 Apr: Dublin, Academy 2, 26 Apr: Cork, Cyprus Avenue, 28 Apr: Bristol, Croft, 29 Apr: Cardiff, Barfly, 30 Apr: Exeter, Cavern, 1 May: Bournemouth, Gander, 3 May: Southampton, Joiners, 4 May: Oxford, Academy 3
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NORTH SEA RADIO ORCHESTRA will play a rather unique gig at Brixton Library, Brixton Oval, SW2. A free entry performance at 7.30pm on Friday May 29th with NSRO performing their Pastoral English folk and lots of 'borrowing' from the mellow side of Cardiacs in there amongst the books as part of the Lambeth Readers and Writers festival. Entry is free but space is limited and booking is probably a good idea. e.mail dell at lambeth.gov.uk or call 020 7926 1105. North Sea Radio Orchestra’s last album was reviewed rather possitively via Organ #282. 

BLACK LIPS announce UK and Irish tour... The Atlanta rockers will kick off the jaunt in Nottingham on May 15, and wrap it up with a London show on May 26. The band are set to release their new album, 200 Million Thousand, on March 16. Black Lips will play: Nottingham Trent University (May 15), Sheffield Skate Central (16), Cardiff The Globe17), Leeds TJS (20), Dublin Crawdaddy (22), Glasgow Oran Mor (23), Manchester Academy 3 (24), London Electric Ballroom (26)

ALL AMERICAN REJECTS London date... With recent sold out Manchester and London shows under their belt, the US rock quartet announce a London Roundhouse show for June in support of new album 'When The World Comes Down'. LONDON Roundhouse - Tue 9 June
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DEVO will play their 1978 album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo? in full at their London Kentish Town Forum show on May 6. The show will precede the band's scheduled appearance at All Tomorrow's Parties: The Fans Strike Back event at Minehead on May 8, where they will play a set featuring their most popular songs.

7th MARCH - ANTI-FLAG have cancelled all previously-scheduled European tour dates after frontman Justin Sane broke his collar bone during a gig at the Norwich UEA on Wednesday night (March 4). During the show, which also had Rise Against and Flobots on the bill, Sane took a stage dive and landed awkwardly, sustaining the injury. In a message on the Pittsburgh rockers' official website, Anti-flag.com the band explained that the incident was the last straw in terms of deciding to cancel their European dates.  “Tonight in Norwich Justin broke his collar bone," the message read. "There was a scuffle in the crowd, he dove head first in, landed awkwardly and that was that. "We hate to cancel the remaining shows with Rise Against and our own headlining shows in Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Russia. But after [guitarist] Chris Head having to fly home from Glasgow due to a death in the family, Pat's [Thetic, drums] three broken ribs that he started the tour with and now this it's obvious the UK is trying to kill us. "Fuck it, we'll reschedule it all, you may have won the battle, but we WILL WIN the war. Cordially yours.