News – Page 158 – 7th Level Music

Midnight Oil announce 2017 reunion tour.

Aussie legends Midnight Oil announced on May 4th that they are reuniting for a tour in 2017. In case you don’t know “the Oils” (as they are sometimes called) are one of Australia’s greatest bands and easily one of the most politically charged / Stick-it-to-the-Man bands of the last 30 years. Lead singer Peter Garrett even went into politics after the band split up to further their causes for Aboriginal Australians, economic equality, and environmental action.

They haven’t announced tour dates or locations yet, but this will be a must-see show. My wife and I have seen them twice, and both shows were excellent. We got to meet some of them after a show, and they were all good lads.

They’re offering a free download of a live version of “Forgotten Years” (one of the hits off the classic Blue Sky Mining album) through their website to celebrate the announcement, so grab it while you can.

Keep your mind open.

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Radiohead erase Internet presence, return with new single and video.

In case you missed it, music titans Radiohead erased their Facebook, Twitter, website, and pretty much everything else they had on the Internet two days ago. They were gone. Fans were puzzled, but not entirely surprised as Radiohead have been Internet renegades for years. They were the first to release an album (In Rainbows) online and told fans they could pay whatever they wanted for it, even nothing at all if they liked.

Their website and Twitter content was often cryptic, and they’d go for long stretches without posting anything.

They came back yesterday with a new single and video – “Burn the Witch.” It’s a dissonant, almost frantic song with Thom Yorke’s usual mysterious lyrics. The video is also a tribute to the unsettling film The Wicker Man. Don’t bother with the Nicolas Cage version. Just don’t. Enjoy the original, this new song, and the upcoming album (whenever that is) instead.

Keep your mind open.

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Mamby on the Beach announces initial lineup for 2016.

Chicago’s Mamby on the Beach music festival is July 02-03rd this year on Oakwood Beach. It’s a lovely festival of electronic dance music, electro, and even a bit of psychedelia. I won’t be surprised if there are more additions before the festival gets here, but I’d love to see Tycho, Santigold, and Derrick Carter for starters.

Keep your mind open.

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Azealia Banks drops hot new track – “The Big Big Beat”

People tend to fall into two categories when it comes to Azealia Banks – lovers or haters. I’m firmly in the first category, because she’s a musical titan with great rhyme, a lovely singing voice, and beats that “will make you gag” (as she puts it) because they’re so sick. I don’t care about her Twitter tirades (none of which have offended or affected me or anyone I know). In fact, more power to her for speaking her mind in the sausage fest that is the music industry.

So, I was one of the many excited when she started dropping a few cuts from her upcoming album Business and Pleasure on us this week. The only one you can still find with good quality is “The Big Big Beat,” which has Banks rhyming about her double-D’s to being the baddest girl on the block. The beats are killer and it’s a hot warm-up for the new album. Her last, Broke with Expensive Taste, was among my favorite records of 2014. This new record can’t get here quick enough for me.

Keep your mind open.

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Prince can now see the sun day or night.

Prince has left us. To say he was an innovator is a massive understatement. He’s influenced more people than we can ever know. Everyone has been writing about his massive hits, his virtuoso guitar work, his multiple talents in and out of the studio, his basketball skills, and everything to do with Purple Rain.

I choose to remember how damn fun he was. Yes, he wrote and performed songs about heartbreak and loss, but I’ll always remember him for his funk influences and how he encouraged all of us to get our groove on, and by that I mean to get laid. Prince encouraged us to embrace our inner nature and to overcome haters by being bigger, bolder, and ballsier than them.

I plan to write a larger piece on Prince’s cementing of his legendary status at the 2007 Super Bowl, but for now let us remember him with the joy he brought us and encouraged us to have with him.

Keep your mind open.

North Coast Music Festival first line-up announced for 2016.

Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival has announced its first performers for 2016. The festival specializes in EDM, but it branching out this year into psychedelic and electro music. Bassnectar always brings a big crowd, but don’t miss The Claypool Lennon Delirium or Sleigh Bells either. I’m keen on seeing the full line-up in a couple months.

Keep your mind open.

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Outside Lands 2016 festival line-up announced.

San Francisco’s Outside Lands music festival has released its line-up, and it’s a good one. Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Air, and many more great acts will be there.

Located in Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands offers art, music, comedy, locally crafted beer, and “gastromagic.” It looks to be a wild time, so don’t miss it if you’re out west.

Keep your mind open.

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Wrecka Stow Day 2016 event list now available.

Don’t forget that Record Store Day is April 16th. Don’t forget to visit your local wrecka stow and show them your support. There are always prime releases on Record Store Day from hundreds of artists, and many places have live performances to boot.

The list of wrecka stows hosting live events on the 16th is now available at the RSD website and will surely be updated as the date grows closer. Don’t miss the chance to see some good gigs and score great stuff for your collection.

There’s plenty of stuff I’d like to snag: the Bee Gees / Faith No More 7″ single. a double Buzzcocks album, two classic Johnny Cash records, a Dark Shadows TV film score re-release, a Flaming Lips CD I haven’t heard before, a Buddy Guy / Junior Wells re-release, a live James Brown double album re-release, new stuff from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, a Daft Punk remix of a Junior Kimbrough song, a psychedelic samba record, a live double Ravi Shankar LP, a cover of “John the Revelator” by The Sword on 7″ vinyl, a new Rhino Records psychedelic rock compilation, another psychedelic compilation (from the UK), a compilation of Cambodian 1960’s rock, a live Muddy Waters record, an Italian horror film soundtrack by Goblin, two Japanese garage / psychedelic rock compilations, and a Stooges re-release.

Keep your mind open.

Levitation Austin releases set times and Thursday night line-up.

Levitation Austin has released its schedule of Thursday night pre-festival shows in downtown Austin and its daily festival schedule as well. I’m happy to see Night Beats playing again, and I’ve already found a couple bands added to the full festival I’d like to see.

The Friday schedule is insane. I’m going to miss a few bands I’d like to see and have to make some tough decisions. The set times are better for my “must-see” lists on Saturday and Sunday, however.

See you there. Keep your mind open.

Les Claypool + Sean Lennon = The Claypool Lennon Delirium

Les Claypool of Primus and Sean Lennon of The Ghost of a Sabre Tooth Tiger have teamed up to create a new psychedelic-prog rock project called The Claypool Lennon Delirium.

TGOASTT opened for Primus on their last tour, and Claypool and Lennon would often jam on tour before, during, and after shows. Claypool had hoped to put together another Oysterhead album after Primus’ last tour, but “the stars wouldn’t align” (according to the CLD’s website) and Lennon told him he didn’t have any immediate plans.

The initial tracks of the CLD’s album, Monolith of Phobos, are a trippy mix of Primus, TGOASTT, Beatles, Zappa, Beefheart, Pet Sounds Beach Boys, and acid jazz. This should be an excellent record (due out in June), and their summer tour should be a must-see.

Keep your mind open.

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