The Enemy U.K. Plot US Invasion

The Enemy U.K. formed in early 2006, and had written, recorded and released their first independent single, "40 Days & 40 Nights" on the legendary Stiff Records by November that same year. Each of the members was just 18 years old at the time. From the onset, the band made it clear that their impact as a live attraction would not go unnoticed. The promise was kept and word quickly spread from their Midlands home base throughout the UK. - more on this story

Jack's Mannequin Goes Soph

Sire reports: Jack's Mannequin, led by singer-keyboardist Andrew McMahon, will release its second album, entitled The Glass Passenger, on September 30th, 2008 on Sire/Warner Bros. Records.

Co-produced by McMahon and Jim Wirt (Incubus, Hoobastank), The Glass Passenger is the follow-up to the band's debut Everything in Transit, which was released in August 2005 and debuted at No. 37 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.

Like that album, The Glass Passenger was written and recorded over the course of nearly two years with McMahon going into the studio whenever inspiration struck. As a result, McMahon describes the album as "a bizarre balance between present and past. I was trying to use the music to sort through and reconcile with the adversity of my past." - more on this story

The Bassplayer Has Rotted

Metal Blade Records reports: The Rotted are to part ways with bassist Wilson. New priorities in his personal life have made it apparent that he'll no longer be able to commit 100% to the upcoming plans and fast-moving future of the band; therefore he's taken the decision to step down as bass guitarist.

Says Wilson, "It is with some sadness that I am announcing my departure from The Rotted. I've been with these guys through thick and thin for over 6 years, and had some of the best times of my life! When we reformed as The Rotted, the process was simple, that everyone would be firing on all cylinders in the same direction – I always said if my other commitments in life would hinder this, then I would step down for the greater good, and it is clear that this time has come.

"My last show with the guys will be at the Wacken festival – we play on the Wet stage on the Friday afternoon, so come down and raise a horn with me! I'm incredibly proud of what I have achieved with the guys, and the release of Get Dead Or Die Trying and the Wacken fest is finishing on a real high, what more could anyone ask for?" - more on this story

Rare Stones Photo Exhibit

PR reports: Rolling Stones photo exhibit has made its world debut at the San Francisco Art Exchange gallery in California. Beggars to Exiles: The Photography of Michael Cooper & Dominique Tarlé - An Exhibition of Rare Images of The Rolling Stones 1966-1971 features many previously unseen images of the legendary band mates.

All photos are exquisitely rare and possess a behind-the-scenes intimacy that takes them worlds beyond celebrity portraiture. This SFAE exhibit showcases for the first time ever the combined work from the two exceptional archives of Cooper and Tarlé – both members of the Rolling Stones' inner circle. The unprecedented show will feature approximately sixty limited edition images. - more on this story

Wild Sweet Orange Drop New Cd

Canvasback Music reports: Canvasback Music is proud to announce the debut full-length record from Birmingham, AL, natives Wild Sweet Orange. The album, entitled, We Have Cause To Be Uneasy, will hit stores tomorrow, July 29th.

In support of We Have Cause to Be Uneasy, Wild Sweet Orange will be playing several shows throughout the summer and fall, including a performance at this year's Lollapalooza on August 3rd.

The band has also just announced a string of tour dates with What Made Milwaukee Famous. The tour will kick off on August 27th in Orlando, FL, and will come to a close in Jacksonville, FL on September 12th. - more on this story

Hal Ketchum Records New Album Live In Two Days

conqueroo reports: Hal Ketchum recorded his new album, Father Time, without a net. He amassed more than a dozen new original songs plus a dream team of musicians and entered the studio to record the album live to two-track. There were no overdubs and only a few second takes. "When I went into this project, my mentality was that this is either going to work or not," Ketchum says. But at the end of the first day, with nine songs finished, he knew the experiment was a success.

The resultant album, which contains 13 Ketchum-penned songs plus a cover of Tom Waits' "Jersey Girl," will hit stores on September 9, 2008. It is the album that Ketchum's talents have promised since he burst onto the country music scene in 1991 claiming the #1 spot with his very first single, "Small Town Saturday Night."

The recording of Father Time as a live, direct-to-tape album originated from a conversation he had with some fellow musicians about how recording had lost some of its creative edge in this high-tech era in which players record apart from each other in separate rooms and booths. "By the end of that conversation, I said, 'OK, I'm going to cut live to two-track.' I went home that afternoon and got a yellow pad and put together a wish list of players. And almost everyone I called was available for the two days I had blocked out." - more on this story

Nada Surf, Dead & Britta, Richard Buckner, Simone White team up to help friend Frank Bango

PR reports: On August 26th at The Bowery Ballroom, friends of Frank Bango will celebrate their friendship and Bango's music with a benefit show to support Bango through this challenging time.

Bango, who has just completed nearly two years of cancer treatments, is incredibly grateful for the generosity of The Bowery and his friends, and is looking forward to this evening of great music. The Bowery Ballroom has been Frank's home as a bartender, bar manager, musician and fan for almost ten years.

The show, which will feature sets by Nada Surf (acoustic), Dean & Britta, Richard Buckner, Simone White, Sam Champion and more, will be an act of love and support that Frank will never forget. - more on this story

Antagonist Preview

Prosthetic Records reports: Southern California's Antagonist has posted "Bomb Shelter," a new track from the band's forthcoming record, 'Exist,' online at the band's official MySpace page. Slated for a Sept. 30 release through Prosthetic Records, 'Exist' is the band's fourth full-length among a swath collection of EPs and demos over the course of the band's 10 year history.

"After waiting impatiently, we've finally posted a new track off our album 'Exist,'" frontman Carlos Garcia says. "It's the opening track, entitled 'Bomb Shelter,' and it's a damn good representation of what we're sounding like these days. We really hope you dig the new tunes, and we can't wait to get out on the road and play them for you."

Antagonist is currently wrapping up a preemptive tour, dubbed the Where Dynasties Are Made Tour, with Sea of Treachery and labelmates, and fellow SoCal metal vets The Funeral Pyre. - Myspace page

Civil Twilight Wind Up with 360 Deal

Wind-Up reports: Four subsidiaries of Wind-up Entertainment and the South African rock band Civil Twilight have entered in to agreements. The band's future recordings will be released by Wind-up Records. Additionally, the sale of all Civil Twilight merchandise at on-line, retail, and touring points of sale will be handled by Wind-up Entertainment's Pronto Merch. The band's publishing will be administered by the company's Sakyamuni Music Publishing, LLC. Civil Twilight has also entered in to an agreement with Wind-up Artist Development Corporation, regarding touring and appearances.

The South African émigrés formed their band during childhood, relocating to Los Angeles in August, 2005. Once on the ground in the U.S., brothers Steve (singer/bass/piano) and Andrew McKellar (guitar), and Richard Wouters (drums) established a significant following on the west coast. Civil Twilight performances have become a hot ticket. The band's notoriety has grown organically sharing the stage with acts that have included The Fratellis, Taj Mahal, The Bravery, Amos Lee, Los Lobos and others over the recent past. The trio recently relocated to Nashville, and has begun touring extensively east of the Mississippi, building legend as they have in South Africa and Southern California. - more on this story

Astronautalis Eyeballed

Eyeball Records reports: Eyeball Records is pleased to announce our newest signing: part underground back-pack hip hop artist, part folk singer, and constant raconteur, Astronautalis.

The Jacksonville native is the first hip hop inspired artist to call EBR home and we, as long time fans, are proud to be releasing his next, and to date, most ambitious record.

On Pomegranate, Astronautalis, AKA Andy Bothwell, has weaved rich narratives alongside musical textures which call Tom Waits, Pharrell Williams, Beck, DJ Shadow, The Decemberists, and Hunter S. Thompson to a tea party on the evening of the Apocalypse. - more on this story

Chairlift Offering Terrible Grammar With Debut

Big Hassle reports: Brooklyn's unassuming 80's-influenced three-piece, Chairlift, is excited to announce the release of its forthcoming debut full-length, Does You Inspire You on Kanine Records on Oct. 28th.

The band is currently in the midst of a US tour with ever-endearing psych-weirdo, Ariel Pink in support of its new release-to-be. - more on this story

Lemmy Included in New Jasmin St. Claire Autobiography

antiMusic reports: Have you ever heard of an "unauthorized" autobiography? Maybe that's where someone tells lies about themselves? We have news about a "authorized" autobiography from Jasmin St. Claire. And it's a good thing she authorized herself to write it! Here is the press blurb about a special guest:

Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister has contributed an interview to Jasmin St. Claire's forthcoming autobiography, entitled 'What the Hell Was I Thinking?!!

Confessions of the World's Most Controversial Sex Symbol- An Authorized Autobiography', which also features interviews from Ron Jeremy, Kendra Jade Rosse, and a host of others to be announced, and is co-authored by Jake Brown (Heart, RCHP, Motley Crue.)

St. Claire can also be seen as host of the Metal's Dark Side DVD series. Her book is due next year, and updates can be found at - http://www.metalsdarkside.com

. Black Francis - Svn Fngrs

Svn Fngrs feels like a cohesive album, certainly not a set of leftovers. BlueFinger as a quick purge of pop art mania, kind of like rainbow vomit after too much bubble gum ice cream. Svn Fngrs is back to stronger songwriting, playing to the man's strengths. (3 stars) - Read the full Black Francis - Svn Fngrs review

. Zero Hour - Dark Deceiver

Why isn't Zero Hour a household name? I like to think Dark Deceiver is fantastic sex, minus the money, dating, and all that bullsh*t; cutting unnecessary crap, you capture just what you want without losing essential resources. - Read the full Zero Hour - Dark Deceiver review

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