Wilco Down Under

I thought I'd share a quick post before the mass exodus begins. Weather it's tofu turkey or the real thing the small staff at The Ash Gray Proclamation wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Just one quick news update before we punch the clock.
As Wilco continues to tour the country supporting Neil Young the band has reported that In December Jeff Tweedy, John Stiratt, and, Glen Kotche will travel to Auckland, NZ to record at Roundhead Studios with Neil Finn's Seven World's Collide Project with proceeds from the album going to Oxfam International. The album will also feature appearances by Radiohead's Phil Selway, and Ed O'Brien, as well as Johnny Marr and Liam Finn.

Wilco will play The DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday December 13th.

Micro-news
A long overdue visit to the news department has hatched a new edition of Micro-news. In this long overdue update we catch up with Los Campesinos, Belle & Sebastian, Animal Collective, and Margot & The Nuclear So & So's.

The Welsh seven piece Los Campesinos are about to release there 2nd full length of the year. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed will be released in the US on next Tuesday November 27th.We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed will be a limited release. The band has posted the details of this release as well as the bonus material on there official site, loscampesinos.com.

Here's the rundown:
- There will be no singles released from this RECORD.
- This RELEASE is going to be limited. There will be one, worldwide run of CDs, and then it will be out of print. Done with.
-The package comes in a 14cm by 19cm by 2.5cm two-piece card box. That makes it rectangular in shape.
- The CD will be accompanied by a self-made DVD documentary of our weekend at Oya festival and SummerSonic in August of this year.
- It also includes a 30+ page 'zine, including the record's lyrics and contributions by artists including Xiu Xiu, Grandaddy, Tender Forever, Menomena, Parenthetical Girls and Paul Heaton, based around the title 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed'.
- Also each box comes with an exclusive poster drawn for us by Jeffrey Brown.

WAB,WAD follows up the bands excellent debut Hold On Now, Youngser, released back in February. Both releases come via Wichita Recordings and Arts&Crafts. Los Campesinos will play The Paradise on February 13th. While we wait for the new disc to drop take a look and listen to one of my favorites tracks from Hold On Now, Youngster

Los Campesinos- Death To Los Campesinos



I'm glad to see a little activity out of the Belle & Sebastian camp. The just released BBC Sessions compiles tracks from the bands in studio sessions recorded at the BBC between 1996 to 2001. An obvious must have for the B&S obsessive. The expanded version of this release includes 4 tracks recorded in 2001 that never saw release on any subsequent album and the last to feature former vocalist Isobel Campbell. The BBC Sessions also includes the 2001 Christmas gig in Belfast. It's going on three years since the band has released new material. Lets hope the activities surrounding this release will spark the band to get back in the studio.

Belle & Sebastian have posted this interview to mark the release of The BBC Sessions. Stevie Jackson and Chris Geddes, with their recollections of the various trips to Manchester and London to perform at The BBC.


















On January 20th Animal Collective will kick of the year of the ox, otherwise known as 2009 with there next long player Merriweather Post Pavilion. The bands label Domino Records recently sent out an angry letter to music writers that recvieved advance copies of Merriweather Post Pavilion when they were informed that one those writers was responsible for leaking three tracks from the album to the internet. No more advances for you dude!

Merriweather Post Pavilion Track Listing
In The Flowers
My Girls
Also Frightened
Summertime Clothes
Daily Routine
Bluish
Guys Eyes
Taste
Lion In A Coma
No More Runnin
Brothersport

Animal Collective-Brothersport @ The Gargoyle St. Louis, MO 9/24/07



Indianapolis, In's Margot & The Nuclear So & So's released two albums last month and there both receiving equal playing time around here. The band had to delay the album's release due to some disagreements with Epic over what material would be included on there next album. Animal is the bands preferred version of the album and is available only on vinyl and digital format, Not Animal is Epic's version and is available on CD, Vinyl, and digital formats. Confused yet? You can learn more as well as hear both albums by visiting the bands site Margot & The Nuclear So & So's. The band asks that you listen to Animal before the major label approved Not Animal.

Margot & The Nuclear So & So's- As Tall As Cliffs (Not Animal version)

Tickets to Give
Due to a work commitment tonight, I will be unable to attend the Deerhunter show with Times New Viking and Vivian Girls at The Paradise. So I figured I would spread some good will. The first person to send an e-mail to ashgrayproclamation@yahoo.com will win a pair of tickets to tonights show. Please send all entries by 4PM.
Good Luck.

New Audio

It looks like I'm on candy duty tonight.
While I have a few minutes I thought I'd share some tracks that have caught my ear lately. An Ash Gray top 5 if you will. There goes that door bell again. Enjoy the music.

From Snowflake Midnight
Mercury Rev- Dream of a Young Girl as a Flower


From the Always a Bridesmaid: A Single Series
The Decemberists-Valerie Plame


From Dual Hawks
Centro-Matic- Rat Patrol And DJ's


From Microcastle
Deerhunter- Agoraphobia


A new song by Wilco recorded last night Live on The Colbert Report
Wilco- Wilco The Song

51 Candles

Happy Halloween to our loyal readers and happy 51st birthday To Robert Ellsworth Pollard



I'll be hitting the streets tonight with the little ones and trying to avoid our yearly candy induced stomach aches. A night out with a Clone Trooper and Darth Vader, what could be better than that?

We've been waiting patiently to get this story up. We wanted to ensure that we had the facts straight. This news involves Bob as well as Guided By Voices. According to Variety as well as countless other sources, Steven Soderbergh is planning to direct a 3-D, action, rock-n-roll musical about Cleopatra. The project is in it's early stages but word around Hollywood is that Catherine Zeta-Jones will play Cleopatra and Hugh Jackman will play Marc Antony. The films music will be provided by Robert Pollard and his former band Guided By Voices. That's right kids GBV & Bob will be rocking the big screen. The script was written by former GBV bassist and author Jim Greer. You may recall that Robert Pollard provided the music for Steven Soderbergh's 2005 film Bubble, officially released as Music for Bubble under The Fading Captain Series.

Vic & The Elves



Two of our favorites artists here at the AGP have teamed up for one of the years most anticipated releases around these parts. Recorded at Vic Chesnutt's home studio with Elf Power, Dark Developments marks the first collaboration from two of Athens, GA's favorite citizens. With Elf Power's well crafted psych-pop and Chesnutt's bleak world view there strengths blends perfeclty together for a rewarding listen. The album will hit the brick and mortar shops on Tuesday 10/28 Via Orange Twin and a tour in support of Dark Developments will start on November 29th at Proud Larry's in Oxford, MS.

Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power- Stop The Horse 9-18-08 Barcelona

Five Years


I can remember the first time I heard the music of Elliot Smith like it was yesterday. I was in Stinkweeds in Tempe, AZ and Needle in The Hay was coming out of the speakers. My jaw was on the floor, I didn't know who or what it was but I knew I had to have it right then and there. Within a few minutes I was walking out of the store with Elliot Smith, his 1995 self titled release. I always think about that day when I think about Elliot's death, probable because his music meant a lot to me and I was crushed when I got the news. The Cobain suicide struck me as tragic but Elliot's passing put actual tears in my eyes. Five years have passed since that tragic day in Silverake, but Elliot's genius remains in the recordings that he left us. He's was one of those rare artists that can stump me when a friend asks for a starting point I have no idea where to point them. From Heatmiser to his posthumous released Basement on The Hill, all of his recorded work is essential and required listening.
Elliot you are missed.

Elliot Smith- Needle in The Hay

Wilderness
Baltimore, MD
USA



On November 4th Wilderness will release there third full length (K)no(w)here via Jagjaguwar. Inspired by there collaboration with visual artist Charles Long,which was exhibited at The Whitney Museum earlier this year. (K)no(w)here was originally conceived as one large musical piece and as a reslut the albums eight tracks flow into one another seamlessly. On(K)no(w)here Wilderness retain the sounds that occupied there previous two records with one notable change James Johnson is occasionally joined on vocals by Colin McCann aka The Lord Dog Bird. We dig these guys and we are eagerly awaiting the release of album #3, or to put it another way we're as giddy as couple of school girls.

Check out The Strands of Time from the forthcoming album (K)no(w)here.






















Wilderness - (K)no(w)here
Jagjaguwar 11/4

High Nero
Strand the Test of Time
(p)ablum
Silver Gene
Own Anything
Chinese Whisperers
Soft Cage
<....^....>

The unconvential band from Baltimore will be hitting the road in support of (k)no(w)here in mid-November. I'm holding out hope for a Boston show to be added soon.

Wilderness US Tour
11/19 New York, NY @ Cake Shop
11/23 Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
11/24 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
11/25 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
11/26 Bloomington, IN @ Jake's
11/29 Asheville, NC @ Harvest Records
11/30 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
12/1 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree
12/3 Houston, TX @ The Mink
12/4 Austin, TX @ Emo's

wildernesssounds.com
jagjauwar.com

Boston Spaceships with Big Dipper
Tuesday September 30, 2008
The Paradise Boston, MA



All the good kids(and old men) came out for the return of Robert Pollard to Boston. After a two and a half year hiatus from touring Robert Pollard hit The Paradise stage fronting his new project Boston Spaceships for a nearly three hour set. First off this band might just be the finest Pollard has assembled to date. With Chris Slusarenko and John Moen as well Jason Narducy and power pop luminary Tommy Keene filling out the touring line-up Boston Spaceships ran through a tight and excellent set which focused on material from there debut Brown Submarine, Pollard's latest solo release Off To Business as well as few tracks off the Guided By Voices rarities box sets Suitcase & Suitcase 2 respectively. Tracks like Dorothy's a Planet and Headache Revolution take on new life when given the full band treatment. As per the norm Pollard had plenty to share in between songs including the reason for tapping our city for the name of his latest project. "I always wanted to be in a Boston band.... but I never wanted to be in the band Boston".



It's amazing to me that the bulk of the main set was culled from the material that Pollard has released in the last 12 months. Prior to the launching of this tour Pollard had mentioned that there would not be the usual onslaught of GBV hits, however there had been some rumors that he may pull out some surprises for the encores,but I didn't want to get my hopes up. That is until they ended the first encore with Game of Pricks. I have to admit my usual subdude concert demenor was out the window and my fist was in the air. After the band left the stage the lights went up and the house music came on so I assumed that I would be heading home exhilarated from a great Live show, but before I knew it they were back on stage and launching A Salty Salute and followed that a handful of classics. I won't bore you with more song titles but think Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes era GBV.
Robert Pollard has released two superb records in the last few months and this tour finds him in great vocal shape. Get out and see this band in your town, that is if you like to get your rock on.



I was bummed out when I missed the chance to see the Big Dipper reunion shows a few months back so I was especially excited when I found out that Robert Pollard had tapped them to open the Boston show. Due to some parking issues I ended missing the bands first two songs but what I did get to see was impressive. From Faith Healer to Ron Klause Wrecked his House Big Dipper proved be to worth the 20 years I've endured waiting for there return.

Thanks to Tim Bugbee for the use of the band shots.
Check out Tinnitus-Photography to see more of Tim's photos.

Tonight at The Dice

Tonight the inaugural tour of Robert Pollard's new project Boston Spaceships hits The Paradise with support from Boston's own and recently reformed Big Dipper. We are giddy with excitement to put it mildly. Doors are at 7:00.

Boston Spaceships - Andy Playboy from the excellent Brown Submarine album recorded on 9/26/08 at The Grog Shop in Cleavland, OH.

Archers of Loaf
White Trash Heroes



It doesn't happen often but every now and then I put the new releases aside and go back into the music collection and find something that's been collecting dust for a few years. This exercise can sometimes prove risky as some albums don't always age as well I expect them to. However in the case of White Trash Heroes the swan song from Archers of Loaf I find the opposite to be true. Can it be that this record is better than I remember it? Normally when I have the urge for some Archers I usually go with Icky Metal or my personal favorite Vee Vee but White Trash Heroes deserves some love too.
By the time this album was released the band had shed some of the chaos of there early records in favor of a more complex and refined sound. Released on Alias in 1998 this album found the N.C. darlings going out at the top of there game. It also gave a hint of what we could expect next from Eric Bachman and his post Archers of Loaf career.

For fans of Archers of Loaf, Barry Black, and Crooked Fingers.

Archers of Loaf resources
Alias Records
Archers of Loaf MySpace page

Sigur Ros and The Good Ole +1



I just got the news that I'll be attending tomorrow night's Sigur Ros show at The Bank of America Pavillion. A big thanks to my pal March for the plus 1 geneorosity.

I know a lot of people were unable to access the The Museum of Modern Art performance when it first aired back in August on Current TV, so I figured it would be the perfect time to share. Excuse the pre-show hyping.

Sigur Ros @ MOMA

Brown Submarine Day
An AGP Recommendation
If you've spent anytime visiting this site since it was created you already know of our appreciation of the music of Robert Pollard. If this is your first visit welcome and consider yourself warned. Today is the day Robert Pollard fans have been waiting for all summer. Brown Submarine the debut release from Pollard's new band Boston Spaceships hit stores today and I for one can say that it's living up to all my expectations. Pollard, Moen, and Slusarenko have turned in a superb and fun batch of pop, punk, and prog that is sure to be on many year end list, including ours. I'll resist the temptation to launch into a full on review at this point and just leave at this. We love Brown Submarine.

Brown Submarine is out now on Guided By Voices, Inc
Now go get it!

Boston Spaceships play The Paradise on 9/30

Here's the winner of the Boston Spaceships Fan Video Contest. Congratulations to The Man Sherm.

Winton's Atomic Bird

Returning To The Fold
I took some time off last week to hang out with the family and to get the little speaker boys ready to return to school. I for one am ready for this summer to come to a close and a crisp new fall to begin. With every fall there seems to be an abundance of quality shows that hit our town. With the likes of Silver Jews, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, and Death Cab For Cutie all playing shows over the next several weeks this autumn is shaping up to be a fantastic one on the music front. Here's a couple more shows to fill your calendars with.

The Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour
October 12th @ churchofboston
Music Tapes/Neutral Milk Hotel's Julian Kostner has described the upcoming "Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour" as something like "a big orchestra, variety show, silly happy thing." The October tour will celebrate the music of Olivia Tremor Control,Circulatory System, Music Tapes, and Elf Power.

E6 members confirmed to be in attendance, but not limited to:
Will Cullen Hart - Olivia Tremor Control and Circulatory System
Scott Spillane - The Gerbils
Laura Carter- Elf Power
Eric Harris- Olivia Tremor Control/ Circulatory System

There has been no mention nor denial of the involvement of reclusive Jeff Mangum at the time of this report. Although he does appear in the soon to be released Major Organ and The Adding Machine short film as a lobster. So let's just say it's not impossible.

The Decemberists
November 6th @ TheOrpheum
After wrapping up his solo tour in support of Colin Meloy Sings last spring Colin Meloy rejoined his band mates and hatched a can't miss plan for a fall tour. In conjunction with the just announced Bridesmaid Revisited Tour, The Decemberist have announced Always The Bridesmaid Single Series vinyl releases. The Always the Bridesmaid 12" Single Series can be pre-ordered Via decemberistsshop. One can either order the three installments in one shot and receive in a tidy package in December, or order them one by one and receive them as they are released (Vol. I on Oct. 14th, Vol. II on Nov. 4th and Vol. III on Dec. 2nd).

The Decemberist will play the Orpheum on November 6th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at 10AM. I have made it a point to catch this band when the opportunity arises and this my friends is another opportunity I don't plan on passing up.

The Bridesmaid Revisited Tour
11-05 New York, NY - Terminal 5
11-06 Boston, MA - The Orpheum
11-07 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
11-08 Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
11-09 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University, Barton Hall
11-11 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
11-24 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
11-25 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
11-29 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
11-30 Seattle, WA - The Moore Theatre

All dates our supported by Portland's Loch Lamond

The Decemberists - Red Right Ankle
2/27/2007 Paradisio Amsterdam

Newly Released = The Walkmen- You & Me

This new Walkmen album is damn good. Not that 100 Miles Off isn't a decent record in it's own right. It just seems like there's something special happening here. You & Me is a more focused and confident collection of songs with all the drama and sense of adventure intact. I hate to go over the top on you, but this album might just prove to be The Walkmen's finest hour. Sure It could be the newness talking but I don't think that's it, I really don't. I'll keep spinning You & Me and try not issue anymore claims of greatness, while the rest of you head to the record store or digital shop and pick this one up.
The Walkmen will play downstairs at The Middle East on September 18th.

The Walkmen- In The New Year

Mission of Burma will be doing a special in-store performance on Friday September 12th @ 7PM at the Newbury Comics location on Newbury Street in Boston. I just had to get that little a piece of information to you as soon as I opened my e-mail this morning.

Micro-News
I figured this segment of Micro-News was a little over due, plus I have found myself with the time to type and didn't want to pass up the opportunity. This post contains news from Times New Viking, Death Cab For Cutie, and Okkervil River.

You can add Death Cab For Cutie to the onslaught of great shows that will be hitting the Boston area this fall. DCFC have announced a show at Agganis Arena on October 3rd. There will be a special fan club pre-sale on 8/20 with the general on sale set for 8/23. You can read up on all the details at deathcabforcutie.com.

Death Cab For Cutie Fall Tour Dates
08.15.08 - Seoul, South Korea - ETP Fest
08.17.08 - Melbourne, Australia - The Palace
08.18.08 - Newtown, Australia - The Enmore
08.20.08 - Fremantle, Australia - Metropolis
08.22.08 - Fortitude Valley, Australia - The Tivoli
09.01.08 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot
10.03.08 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
10.04.08 - Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
10.05.08 - Atlantic City, NJ - Showboat Casino Hotel
10.06.08 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
10.08.08 - Columbus, OH - LC Outdoor Amphitheater
10.12.08 - Champaign, IL - Assembly - University of Illinois
10.13.08 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
10.26.08 - New Orleans, LA - Voodoo Music Experience

On September 9th Okkervil River will be releasing The Stans Ins via Jagjaguwar. If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that I'm a big fan and I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel to The Stage Names. Thanks to Jagjaguwar we can hear the first track Lost Coastlines. Okkervil River will play Pearl Street in Northhampton, MA on October 8th. I'm still holding out a little hope for something a little closer to Boston. Keep those fingers crossed.




AGP favorites Times New Viking will release some new music this fall. Stay Awake a 5 song EP will drop in stores on October 21st via matador.



TMV will spend there late fall evenings on stage with Deerhunter, Pylon, and Sonic Youth. They play the Paradise with the aforementioned Deerhunter on November 10th.

Stay Awake EP (Release Date 10/21/08)
01 Call & Respond
02 Pagan Eyes
03 Hate Hate Hate
04 No Sympathy
05 Sick & Tyred

The 36th Running of The Falmouth Road Race


I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who supported me in last weekend's Falmouth Road Race. With your help I was able to raise money for Gosnold On Cape Cod. With 10,000 runners on hand as well all there friends and family this was a memorable day. Thanks again for your support and donations.

Pre-Show Hyping



Here at The AGP , we're down right giddy at the thought of next weeks Radiohead and Wilco shows respectively. So we have a busy week ahead as not one but two of music most important artists bring there Live shows to our commonwealth.

Jeff Tweedy and co. have been busy this summer playing festivals and singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame at Wriggly Field. However next Tuesday Wilco return to the Boston area for a show at Tanglewood. To be fair The Berkshires aren't exactly close to Boston, but us Wilco fans will take what we get and everyone loves a summer road trip.

Here's Wilco from last weekends Lollapolooza (08)
Pot Kettle Black


From the moment Radiohead unveiled In Rainbows and there pay what you want pricing US fans have been clamoring for the chance to catch this band Live on US soil. Next Wednesday evening we will finally get our chance to witness Radiohead Live at The Comcast Center in Mansfield. This band never disappoints, I mean never, ever, no way. So if your lucky enough to be holding the much coveted ticket of the summer, enjoy.

Radiohead-Scotch Mist (in it's entirety, all 52 beautiful minutes)

The Boston Spaceships Video Contest
Boston Spaceships A.K.A. John Moen, Chris Slusarenko, and Robert Pollard have announced a video contest for Winston's Atomic Bird the lead track off of the forthcoming Brown Submarine album. All you film maker types need to jump on this and quick. The winner will receive an autographed copy of Brown Submarine signed by the entire band.

Here's the details on the contest as posted on the bands site earlier today. We're looking for talented (and crazed) souls to create some fantastic visions to this tune. Anything is possible... straight out freak fests, sad British-styled dramas, whatever you think will do the song justice. And did you check out the grand prize above? Not too shabby. So get crackin' on these fine pieces of work and make us all proud. Post your finished videos on YouTube and then contact us at our MySpace page(www.myspace.com/bostonspaceships) to notify us that your video is ready for viewing. Please don't send us any video files -- just links to your posted YouTube videos. We will then post a link to it from our lovely site for maximum viewing. Only folks who contact us about their work being online will be eligible for the grand prize. After the end date, the band will pick the top 3 and then we will have you, the jury, pick the final winner! Videos will be accepted until noon PST on Friday Sept 5th. We will post the final 3 videos on Monday Sept. 8th and then you will have until noon PST on Monday Sept. 15th to vote for your favorite video.

Download Winston's Atomic Bird right here.
Brown Submarine will be released on September 9th via Guided By Voices, Inc and Boston Spaceships are booked to play The Paradise on September 30th.