Come and visit Montreal virtually!

Click on over and vist my hometown of Montreal virtually. Just make sure you use the virtual trash cans and don’t make a virtual mess. Merci. Have a great weekend everybody!
Later.

Indie News Beat for the week of April 26, 2005

INDIE NEWS BEAT
April 26, 2005 Edition
* Teen People Names Planet Verge The Future Of The Music Industry
* 10th Annual USA Songwriting Competition
* Karli Bonne Keeps Faith Alive In Angel Without Wings
* Lou Black Releases "City of No Winters"
* GoGirlsMusic.com Partners With VersusMedia
* 3 Kisses Lead Signer Receives Endorsement Deal From Daisy Rock Girl Guitars
* 2nd Annual Tampa Music Conference
* John Strohm To Cover Jackson Browne For Tribute
* Prince Releases New Songs, Classic Recordings & Live Performance Clips
* Wine Country Songwriter EXPO 2005

Teen People Names Planet Verge The Future Of The Music Industry

Teen People magazine has chosen Planet Verge magazine’s Editor in Chief, Joelle Caputa, as one of 25 future music industry moguls under the age of 25. The feature will run in Teen People’s special music issue, which hits newsstands June 3.

Planet Verge is a New Jersey-based music media company that publishes a quarterly publication in addition to handing publicity for several up-and-coming unsigned bands. The magazine introduces the hottest indie bands, and up-and-coming fashion designers and photographers to readers, while spotlighting national acts and people with successful careers in the entertainment industry. Correspondents report from all over the world, including New York, California, Scotland, and New Zealand.

On the PR side, Planet Verge represents Fixer, The Pennyroyals, Jeremiah Freed, and Indifference. Members of Fixer and The Pennyroyals joined Caputa at the Teen People photo shoot. Afterwards, she sat down with Teen People’s Associate Entertainment Editor, Doreen Arriaga, to discuss being a role model for women and starting her own company at 20 years-old.

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10th Annual USA Songwriting Competition

Entries for the 10th Annual USA Songwriting Competition are currently being accepted. Winning songs of the 2005 USA Songwriting Competition will receive airplay on a nationally syndicated radio program "Acoustic Café" as well as XM Satellite Radio. This is the first Songwriting Competition that gives airplay to the winning songs, giving deserving bands, songwriters the recognition and exposure they deserve.

Entrants stand to win a grand prize of over US$50,000 in cash, merchandise and exposure, making this the largest prize package for any annual songwriting competition. Many USA Songwriting Competition winners in the past have received recording and publishing contracts, as well as having their songs placed on film and television. Judges include record labels such as Warner and SONY Music.

Songs may be entered in 15 different categories including Pop, Rock/Alternative, R&B and Country. The competition is aimed at promoting excellence in the art of songwriting among writers, composers, bands, singer/songwriters and solo artists in an international forum. Entries are accepted from now through May 31, 2005.

The USA Songwriting Competition is sponsored by Sony, Rolling Stone magazine, New Music Weekly, Steinberg, Audio-Technica, Ibanez Guitars, D’Addario Strings, Sam Ash Music Stores, IK Multimedia, Terratec, East West Sounds, MixDownMedia.com, Indie Bible, Garritan Music Software, Acoustic Cafe, Livewire Contacts, Loggins Promotion, Singer magazine, Electronic Musician magazine, Superdups.com, Sonicbids.com and XM Radio.

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Singer Karli Bonne Keeps Faith Alive In Angel Without Wings

Christian singer/songwriter Karli Bonne dedicates her music and her passion to the forces that drive her to perform and to live, carfting melodies and lyrics around her spirituality and her love for God. Now Karli has released a new CD, Angel Without Wings, giving listeners her honest messages and her beautiful songwriting in an album dedicated to her faith and her passion for music. The record, written entirely by Bonne (with the exception of Psalm 93), is her second full-length recording and holds not only her beliefs, but excellent songwriting technique and her powerfully moving voice, as well.

The title track of Angel Without Wings opens with a mysterious Middle-Eastern groove, transforming into a techno feel accompanied by layers of Karli Bonne’s clear vocals and a driving style that hooks a listener from the downbeat. Contrasting the feel from the first track is the fifth, My Serenade of Love, a traditional Christian song with a light drumbeat and a uplifting feel that perfectly compliments the echoing sounds of Bonne’s melodious voice.

While most Christian albums create the kind of elevating emotion found in Angel Without Wings, Bonne’s record is remarkable in the number of styles that she uses to deliver her messages and and her music. Ranging from techno beats to classic religious forms and even a hard-edged, driving rock groove, Angel Without Wings doesn’t stick to one musical medium in offering to listeners. Simply Serene, an inspiring techno piece with a choir-like chorus and an energetic underlying pulse, showcases Bonne’s silky voice and powerful mwssages of faith.

Angel Without Wings is a dynamically entertaining CD, with an honest and positive aim. With so many styles, from the passionate techno drive of Prison of Fear to the Latin salsa style of I Want To Love Like You, Karli Bonne’s new album is a hit, and perfect for listeners from Christian fans to fans of music, in general. Angel Without Wings crosses genres, not remaining tied to the normal Christian format in style, and appealing to a massive range of audiences. The new record from Karli Bonne makes a great addition to any music lover’s collection.

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Lou Black Releases "City of No Winters"

"City of No Winters" CD release party saw yet another well attended social function hosted at Paul & Enid Holden’s home in Washington, DC’s NorthWest neighbourhood; except this time it was a celebration for Enid’s poem City of No Winters – about her beloved hometown of Durban which had now become a treasured song on an CD of the title song.

Each song of the 13 from his album has a special story, derived from personal experience, revealing and hiding at the same time a life that has its incredible variety of richness. The words are modulated and sound like far galaxies, like colored bubbles sent in the waters of the warm Gulf Stream. Lou Black belongs to those singers who can touch with smoothness many styles. The multitudes of the very pleasurable and enduring music arrangements show a deep collaboration with like-minded poets and musicians sharing their drift for "new pop".

The title song "City Of No Winters" more of a blues style talks about Durban and the mysterious locations of this city with such history is brought to our ears with huge nostalgia and hope at the same time, as if its author, the south African poet and painter Enid Holden, who hosted this wonderful launching of the CD in her DC house, was giving Durban the epitome for the whole South African struggle and renaissance. We hear in the words how much this city resonates in our hearts for all the fights for freedom and justice it has gone through. Durban, Durban, Durban, a whisper. With a great longing presence in his voice, Lou Black says that words still matter. And Lou’s warm voice gives thus a soothing glimpse of glee. –Brigitte Kehrer, independent journalist author of "Rwanda: Work of God, Work of Evil"

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GoGirlsMusic.com Partners With VersusMedia, Providing Even More Opportunities For Its Members

GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest and largest community of indie women musicians, is pleased to announce its partnership with VersusMedia, an L.A. based company that provides services for emerging musicians who wish to place their music in film and TV.

"This is not some fly-by-night company providing bogus leads. It’s the real deal!" says Madalyn Sklar, Founder of GoGirlsMusic.com. GoGirls members are encouraged to join VersusMedia in hopes of being discovered by filmmakers looking for great indie music for their projects. There is no cost to join VersusMedia, however for a dollar or less you can view an open project looking for music. "In this business, it’s about making connections and looking at the big picture," says Sklar. "Success does not happen overnight so when a company like VersusMedia can provide a stepping stone for your career why not take advantage of it?"

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3 Kisses Lead Signer Receives Endorsement Deal From Daisy Rock Girl Guitars

Just days before 3 Kisses was scheduled to play two showcase events at SXSW in Austin, TX, Tish Meeks, lead singer and guitar player, received an endorsement deal from Daisy Rock Girl Guitars. Created and designed by Tish Ciravolo to fit the female form, Tish Meeks was drawn to Daisy Rock Guitars because she herself is so petite and she loved the unique designs. "The small body makes it easier for me to maneuver on stage. My Heartbreaker Artist gives me freedom I don’t have with a full-sized guitar." Other Daisy Rock Artists include Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Lila McCann, Lisa Loeb, Robert Smith of The Cure, Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers and Donna R. of The Donnas.

"The people at Daisy Rock are fabulous. Karissa Read went above and beyond to get my Heartbreaker Artist to me in time to play it at SXSW. It was a perfect time to debut the guitar and I got tons of compliments on it," Meeks says. "Now, the boys want their own Daisy Rock Guitars." Meeks speaks of her husband, Tony Meeks, who also plays rhythm and lead guitar in 3 Kisses and bassist, Eric McCoy.

Meeks chose the Heartbreaker Artist because the heart-shaped body falls right in with the theme of 3 Kisses. Sweet, yet fiery, the heartfelt vocals and edgy, melancholy flavor of 3 Kisses’ earnest, tuneful and vibrant alternative pop vastly appeal to fans of the genre. Their tumultuous lyrics are delivered in a contradictory, bubbly, upbeat fashion. "3 Kisses music is about having fun and making a difference. Daisy Rock Guitars are serious instruments, but they are fun guitars ­ fun to play, fun to look at. They fit what 3 Kisses is all about."

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2nd Annual Tampa Music Conference

As one of the nation largest markets, the Tampa / St Pete area is a critical one to break for any artist. However, it is also one of the most difficult one to break. For a second time we will offer you an opportunity to network with all of the influential members of our music community including radio, DJ’s, artist, producers, retail, promoters and more. For the Bay area music community, this will provide you the opportunity to network with your peers, develop key relationships and promote your work.

When: Saturday June 4th 1-9 pm.
Where: Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin St. Tampa, Fl 33602
The After Party will be held at Club Sutra located on 7th Ave. in Ybor City.
Schedule: Network Hour, Showcases Workshops & panel Discussions.

Workshops:

€ Industry Basics, what you need to know to be in the game.
€ Radio in the new millennium, how do I get on?
€ Panel Discussion

Panelist:

€ Sonny Crack ­ Artist / Producer
€ Paradox ­ Artist
€ Bloodraw – Artist
€ Beata ­ MD WLLD Wild 98.7
€ Julia Beverly ­ Ozone Magazine
€ Taz ­ Dirty Down Records
€ Diane Almodovar ­ BMI
€ D/R Period ­ Producer
€ Baby Paul ­ Producer
€ Dawgman ­ Dawgman Ent.
€ KT ­ WJFP (W. Palm Beach)
€ More TBA

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John Strohm (Blake Babies, Lemonheads) To Cover Jackson Browne For Tribute

American Laundromat Records and Face Down Records are proud to announce Indie Rock Legend – John Strohm (Blake Babies, Antenna, and part-time Lemonhead) will cover Jackson Browne’s Somebody’s Baby for their upcoming tribute CD, High School Reunion (a tribute to those great 80’s films!). The tribute will also feature Kristin Hersh, The Caulfield Sisters, Lori McKenna, Vic Chesnutt, The Modifiers, The Bennies, Dipsomaniacs, and many more. Release date has been pushed back to October 15, 2005 to accommodate two surprise artists.

Somebody’s Baby appeared in the quintessential high school film Fast Times At Ridgemont High which was written by Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Singles, Say Anything), and directed by Amy Heckerling (Clueless). Strohm recorded the track the weekend of April 9th & 10th with Silos rhythm section; Drew Glackin and Konrad Meissner at Don Piper’s studio (Between The Trains) in Brooklyn, New York.

"Somebody’s Baby is such a great song and takes place in a key scene where Jenifer Jason Leigh’s character sneaks out of the safety of her childhood bedroom, and loses her virginity in the dugout of a local baseball field. I wanted someone who could bring out all the great elements of the song but also give it a slight edge. John nailed it. His trademark guitar is all over it, and the vocals are exceptional. I couldn’t be happier with the cover. I’m confident it’s one of the many tracks radio will embrace this October when we release the tribute." Joe Spadaro, ALR founder & president.

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Prince Releases More New Songs, Classic Recordings And Live Performance Clips

Prince’s NPG Music Club has released an exclusive 12-minute clip culled from Prince’s March 25th NAACP Image Awards performance. Titled the "Vanguard Jam," the electrifying video features Prince, Sheila E., Morris Day & Jerome Benton of The Time performing the songs "D.M.S.R.," "Housequake," and the debut of a new Prince song "Satisfied." In addition, the site has also made available the new single recorded at Prince’s Paisley Park recording studio, "GlassCutter," as well as the Kamasutra CD that features a beautiful 11 movement instrumental love poem recorded with the NPG Orchestra. Fans worldwide can now purchase these future Prince classics exclusively through Prince’s own download music service at www.NPGMusicClub.com.

Digging deep into his vast archive of music, the NPG Music Club recently released a live version of Prince’s hit "Strange Relationship," recorded in 1987 with his Sign O’ The Times band at the legendary First Avenue nightclub, made famous by the feature film Purple Rain. The NPG Music Club has also made available a live, three-track EP recorded in 1995 at Paisley Park, proving once again Prince is the ultimate performer in any decade.

Four classic NPG Records albums from the NPG catalogue have also been added to the download service, bringing the number of downloadable Prince tracks to well over 200 songs. All are exclusively available direct from the source in the NPG Music Club.

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Wine Country Songwriter EXPO 2005

The 2nd Annual Durango Songwriter’s Expo/Santa Barbara Wine Country will take place again this year at the beautiful Rancho Santa Ynez Marriott, June 2-4. Bringing the same vibe and quality experience that we’ve enjoyed in Colorado over the past 10 years, the Santa Barbara Expo was a tremendous success last year and will be even better this year. Featuring hit songwriters Lisa Loeb, Colin Hay (from Men At Work), Jeffrey Steele, Al Anderson, Hillary Lindsey ("This One’s For The Girls", "Blessed"), Marcus Hummon ("Cowboy Take Me Away", "Ready To Run"), local favorite Marv Green ("Amazed"), Walt Aldridge, Kim Williams, and Gary Baker, plus our usual tremendous array of music publishers, A execs, managers, producers, film and TV music execs, and radio promo people.

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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2005 – Republished with Permission

Supergroup critique

Check out this article discussing the “supergroup” concept and looking at 3 current supergroups and their impact. Unfortunately, often times these so called supergroups are quite less than the sum of their parts as Asia amply demonstrated.
Later.

Hasil Adkins R.I.P.

Rock-a-billy one-man band Hasil Adkins has died. Full details can be found on the WFMU blog. He was an original that’s for sure.
Later.

Pixies go On Sale and More Bands Announced for CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORE BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR CMJ ROCK HALL MUSIC FEST; PIXIES AND MUSHROOMHEAD TICKETS GO ON SALE

Brazilian Girls, Lucero, Heartless Bastards, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rogue Wave, Helio Sequence, the Clarks and more bands added to schedule

CLEVELAND (April 29, 2005) – The CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest is pleased to announce its newest lineup of performers for the three-day music festival scheduled for June 8-11, 2005 in Cleveland, as well as ticket on sale dates for the Pixies and Mushroomhead shows. Tickets for most of the other shows are already on sale. See individual venues or Ticketmaster for more information.

The following shows go on sale Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. through Ticketmaster:

· Pixies at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum – June 8, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets: $35
· Pixies at Scene Pavilion – June 8, 9:30 p.m. – Tickets: $35
· Mushroomhead, Mindless Self Indulgence and Dope at Scene Pavilion – June 11, 7 p.m. – Tickets: $25

The following acts have been added to the CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest schedule:

· Brazilian Girls – June 9 at the House of Blues
· Lucero, Heartless Bastards, Honorary Title and Cory Branan – June 9, 7:30PM at the Odeon. Tickets: $10, $12 day of show
· Agent Orange – June 11, 7PM at Pirate’s Cove. Tickets: $10
· The Clarks and Kate Voegle – June 11, 8PM at the Odeon. Tickets: $15, $16 day of show
· Rogue Wave, Helio Sequence and the Six Parts Seven – June 11, 9PM at the Beachland Ballroom. Tickets: $8
· Kenny Wayne Shepherd – June 11 at the House of Blues

The first annual festival is where thousands of music fans and artists will converge on Cleveland to celebrate today’s best new music. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and CMJ Network produced event will not only contribute to the economic vitality of the city, but also will promote Cleveland as a progressive, music-oriented city and give music fans across the Midwest unparalleled access to exciting new talent.

The Music Fest is three days and nights of music, networking, featured speakers, a daytime Festival Village and a presentation of the top modern rock poster artists. CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest badge holders can enjoy more than 100 live performances in Cleveland’s hottest live music venues including the Beachland Ballroom, Odeon, Agora, House of Blues, Grog Shop, Peabody’s and the Festival Village on the West Bank of Cleveland’s "Flats."

The CMJ brand is synonymous with not only providing a showcase for the best up-and-coming artists but also working with record labels to recruit the hottest new bands. The Music Fest will feature as many as 100 artists performing for tens of thousands of music fans in Cleveland. 2005 marks the first time that a new CMJ Festival will join its New York City counterpart among the world’s great music events; Cleveland, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, multiple club and concert venues and a rich musical culture, is the perfect place to host such an event.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2005, CMJ has produced one of the world’s legendary music festivals, CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, since 1981. The Marathon was the first to showcase once up-and-coming bands such as REM, U2, Eminem, the Beastie Boys, Green Day, the Foo Fighters, the Strokes, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, Jill Scott, Franz Ferdinand, Jet and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

For more details on CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest please visit www.cmj.com/rockfest.

Iranian Heavy Metal

I saw this on AntiMusic’s Day in Rock and thought it was interesting. According to Throwing Horns in Iran, Iranian metal band Koht Mian is making quite the stir in the Islamic republic as their instrumental album “Eksir” is being snapped up by Iranian kids who are obviously desperate for rock and roll. It’s interesting to note that CD’s that feature music without lyrics often do not require authorization to be pubished by the Iranian governent so obviously Koht Mian are taking advantage of this loophole. I wonder if they are able to actually tour? Once again rock and roll is making a statement in an area of the world you wouldn’t expect possible.
Later.

Jeremy – “find the way to be happy” (Jam Records)

I first came across the work of Jeremy Morris when I heard “What God Wants” from the excelent compilation “This is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio- Volume 1” and I was hooked on his great power pop, well… hooks plus I’m a sucker for electric sitar. Listening to the album that it was taken from called “find the way to be happy” (and trust me there is a lot to listen to since the CD contains 22 tracks) was a real treat as not only does Jeremy and his band manage to peel off some incredibly tight power pop riffs mixed in with great vocals and impeccable production but he manages to do so while reflecting some of power pop’s big hitters (Badfinger and Big Star come immediately to mind) without sounding clichéd. On top of that Jeremy can let rip on some amazing guitar breaks that sound just right for each song. If I was to start a band he would be tops on my list as lead guitarist because he has “the touch.” Great stuff.
Later.

Blender on Coachella

Blender has a good story on the Coachella Festival that is worth reading. Probably the best festival in the US right now, at least for eclectic rock and roll. Later.

Vietnamese Rock and Roll

I am always fascinated with the rock and roll that is made in “non-traditional” markets and Vietnam certainly fits the bill so I found it interesting to read two articles from the Vietnamese News Agency on the Rock Viet Festival II that was held last October 2004 in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The articles in question are Get wet: Ha Noi’s water park concert will rock and Rock’n’roll is here to stay I definitely have to get more info on the bands featured (Da Vang , Atomega, Thuy Trieu Do, Anh Sang , Buratinox and Lovely Stupid Men) and especially the Vietnamese rock magazine Rock Vision Magazine. Of course I will also have to find someone who speaks and reads Vietnamese but this is too cool to pass up. If anybody reading knows Vietnamese and especially if they know the Vietnamese rock scene please get in touch with me! Thanks.
Later.

Attention all podcasters! This is your big chance.

Do you podcast? If so you will be very interested in Infinity Broadcasting’s newest experiment: an all podcast radio station that accepts and broadcasts submissions by the general public. They like to call it "Open Source Radio" (a true skewing of the term "open source" IMHO) but their plans for KYOU Radio are certainly interesting. Take a washed up AM radio station in San Francisco and turn the programming over to podcasters who will decide on the station’s content (within ever restrictive FCC guidlines of course). And you can even include music in your podcast as the station will pay the licensing fees for you. I think it is pretty clear that this experiment will not last that long (prove me wrong podcasters!) but still, jump on the bandwagon while it’s at the station and take advantage of this opportunity while it still exists. Who knows what could be become of this? You could be the next Les Nessman!
Later.

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