We never followed up on the identity of New Ruins mystery producer, which Elzie Sexton hinted at a couple of months ago. Well, it turns out it’s Brian Deck, — never mind.
Brian Deck, who is most famous for producing big albums by Modest Mouse and Iron & Wine, will be recording the next New Ruins album. That’s a fantastic get for any local band, but especially for a band like New Ruins whose sound meshes so well with Deck’s body of work. (And anybody who was in this band can do no wrong in my eyes.) The album should be recorded over the coming months and expect a release some time next year.
New Ruins is also doing a split 7″ with the Tractor Kings. Tracking begins this week at Pieholden Studios in Rantoul.
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Local experimental punk band the Diamond Stretch just finished up mixing their new EP titled 2010. The album release show and Midwest tour kick-off is on November 19 at Dan Aykroyd’s House with Kansas City screamo duo Texas Instruments and Mahomet group Panel Van. The tour will run November 19–25 and the bands are playing in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
In related news, folk-punkers Bad Catman (who share two members with the Diamond Stretch) have announced plans for the Bearded Wisdom Tour this December, with dates in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. Before heading out, they’ll play a show on November 27th at the Iron Post with Eureka Sky, Oblivion Oasis, and numerous other acts.
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A couple of weeks ago, we pointed you to the live CMJ concert mp3s put up at the Big Ugly Yellow Couch website. Now, the good folks at BUYC have posted Santah’s official Yellow Couch session. Go to the website to grab a bunch of unique takes on their song and watch some great videos, including the version of “Teeth” posted below.
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Here’s some great footage of local legends Kilborn Alley playing live at the 2010 Blues Blast Awards.
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DJ Bozak has released a new mix to his soundcloud account.
DJ Mertz has put up the mix from his recent WEFT Session. Get to it.
DJ Belly has posted his brand new mix, Does This Offend You.
In additional WEFT Sessions news, next month’s schedule can only be described as stacked, with Take Care, the Fresh Kills, Grandkids and Santah performing.
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So Long Forgotten recently posted their first album Beneath Our Noble Heads for free. The record originally came out in early 2007, but this is the first time it’s been available digitally outside of iTunes. According to the band, “this album still has a very special place in our hearts. We even still play a few songs off it here and there.” You can get your copy here.
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To prep you for Jay Moses’ first headlining gig this Saturday at the Canopy, you can check out a preview of the mini series “Furthest From The Bottom” below. Apparently, this is a documentary based around Jay x TheGr8ThinkaZ upcoming tour.
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Elsinore is finishing up a successful tour of the West Coast and have added a few dates in Chicago, Madison, St. Louis and more. We hear they may have an exciting announcement about a local “blowout” very soon. Stay tuned.
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Something called JCliche has posted some live footage of You and Yourn from a Sheboygan, WI show last June. Here they play “Commercial Paper.”
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Another something called champaignunderground has posted some great footage from several recent shows. Below, singer-songwriter Megan Johns performs Air’s “Playground Love” at the Red Herring’s Halloween show, along with Dave Cohen, James Treichler and Santah’s Otto Stuparitz.
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Free CDs with the name Elephant Stereo have been showing up at Exile on Main Street sporadically over the past couple of months. It turns out this is a one-man electronic project that veers from easy pop to electro-jazz. The music is engaging without being overly serious. You can go to the Elephant Stereo website and download an album and an EP for no charge.
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We’ve heard the Dirty Feathers have had to put a few plans on hold while drummer James Treichler recovers from a broken finger. But said finger should be in good shape by the band’s next show on Dec. 10 11 with Santah and Gnome. Also, the band’s grower of a single “Pistol Hills” is making a late surge to the top of the most-requested song chart at WPGU, coming in at #2 this week.
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Mahomet post-rockers Rusalka will play their first shows in several months on November 26th at Canopy Club (with the Diamond Stretch) and November 27th at the Red Herring.
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Did you miss this recent announcement about the local live music project called Geppetto Sessions? Check it out here.
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New Band News:
Sunset Stallion have called it quits, but 4/5ths of the band are making new music under the moniker Great Life. They’ll play their first show on November 19th, opening for Gold Motel at Mike ‘N Molly’s.
Former Alleyway Sex bassist James Onderdonk has formed a new project called Leonard Hatred. They’re so new that they don’t even have a Facebook/Myspace page yet.
Recently formed screamo act Not Waving But Drowning have changed their name to Elux Lucis (turns out some defunct metalcore act out of St. Louis called dibs) and added Nate Landolt on bass.
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DeathTram has released the Brainwasher EP, recorded last month with Mark Rubel at Pogo studios. Download it for free over at Black Trash Can.
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Horrible Things have announced plans for a split 7″ with Bloomington, Indiana group Landbridge. Horrible Things will also perform at the Run-IMC benefit in a few weeks at Canopy Club along with Grandkids, the Fresh Kills, and DeathTram.
Are you in a local band that does stuff? Let us know what you’re up to by emailing musicATsmilepolitely.com. This is especially important if you are in a jazz, country or blues band, because you people are hard to track down.