Kimchee Records

The September issue of the UK’s Uncut magazine contains a free CD that features a 40th anniversary musical tribute to Bob Dylan’s classic 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited. Willard Grant Conspiracy contributes a version of “Ballad of a Thin Man.” Other artists included on the comp include Drive-By Truckers, Marc Carroll, Paul Westerberg, Richmond Fontaine, American Music Club, Dave Alvin, The Handsome Family and Songdog. The issue should be out on US newsstands this month (August).

In more WGC news, the band in its 3-piece configuration played at the 14th annual Guilford Festival (or Guilfest) in the UK in mid-July, along with many “big-name” acts such at The Pogues, Paul Weller (formerly of The Jam), and the Zombies. This is from an Uncut review of the fest:

It wasn’t until later, when Willard Grant Conspiracy ambled onto the Uncut stage, that the day was truly redeemed. There was a brief moment of déjà vu when main man Robert Fisher made the same apology about playing “depressing” music that Lyndon Morgans had the previous day, only this time, there were heckles demanding “happy songs”. These were playfully rebuffed, Fisher cheerfully introducing the first song with the happy sentiment: “Well, this one’s about suicide”. The group sounded more vigorous live than I expected, their sound pivoted on the heavy reverb of Josh Hillman’s viola and Jason Victor’s atmospheric guitar work. The pair created sonic sound-scapes around Fisher’s often tragic, timeless folk songs. Tearing through numbers like “Sticky”, which sound comparatively tame on record, the band also set aside time for their more lo-fi leanings. With the reverb off the viola and the bass guitar swapped for a double bass, the band gave sensitive performances of “The Ghost Of The Girl In The Well”, and ended with the chilling “Ballad of John Parker”. They were, perhaps, the pinnacle of the weekend, and were at very least, the best thing Sunday had to offer.

Sing! by Tiger Saw!

Their third full-length on Kimchee and the one that’s gonna turn heads. Featuring 10 new songs that will have you singing along with total abandon.

Drummer Dave Norton of Victory at Sea was unfortunately the victim of an electrical fire that started in an upstairs room in his home around 3 am after the conclusion of a heavily-attended July 4th barbecue party. The people living and staying there scrambled to get everyone outside as the house quickly caught fire. Everyone was thankfully saved, although one person suffered a 2nd degree burn.

The Watertown Fire Department responded quickly, but much damage had already been done. Dave lost all his material possessions except for his drums. Scott Buoncristiano (ex-Strictly Business, Pizza, Powerquest) lost all of his guitars. Dave, Scott, Jay (The Swiss Army) and Matt (Strictly Business and Powerquest) were all rendered homeless.

On August 13, thirteen bands which all feature at least one employee of The Middle East (many of whom were at the barbecue that day) will unite for a benefit for the victims of the Elm Street fire at The Middle East Downstairs. Here is the line-up:

Victory at Sea 12:15-12:45
Helms 11:40-12:00
Certainly, Sir 11:05-11:25
Prime Movers 10:30-10:50
Mad Man Films 10:00-10:20
Dirty Holiday 9:30-9:50
Dorkbot 9:10-9:20
Tramps Like Us 8:40-9:00
Modelo ’78 8:10-8:30
Tiny Amps 7:40-8:00
Big Bear 7:10-7:30
Fragile 6:30-6:50
Wild Zero 6:10-6:30

Meanwhile, Victory at Sea is recording their fifth full-length album this month with Andrew Schneider engineering for eventual release on Gern Blandsten.

27 have completed their latest album, Holding On For Brighter Days, due out September 5th in the UK on Undergroove Records. They are presently shopping it to some “bigger” indie labels for its domestic release. Scheduled even earlier on August 22nd on the same label is a split EP that 27 shares with Twin Zero, featuring 2 brand new songs from each band and remixes of all four tracks that combine to form a new one.

Blake Hazard has joined with new husband John Dragonetti (public congrats, btw, on their nuptials in June!), best known for his work in Jack Drag , to form The Submarines, whose new album was recently completed. No word yet on its future label or release date.