Return of Glasser

Glasser at Center Stage, Rocktober 2011

Glasser is back (back from wherever it is that people go when I'm not thinking about them) with a new album due in October, a new song out now, and the breath-takingly beautiful new video below.  

In a handwritten announcement of intentions, she states, “I have been thinking about space. Not only outer space and physical boundaries but also inner mental space...I thought about architecture, a physical imposition in my life, and the fluid emotional boundaries of relationships, also sometimes imposed."

Rocktober, Expanded and Inflated

So, as you may have been noticing, the Rocktober schedule in that little box over to the right has been rapidly filling up, quickly approaching some major music event almost every freaking day of the month of October, not to mention three (three!) great shows on Halloween night (The Orb at Center Stage, Chelsea Light Moving at The Earl, and Phantogram at the godforsaken Masquerade).  I'm planning to go to The Orb show (already bought my tickets) and then high-tailing it over to The Earl to see Chelsea Light Moving (have tickets for that one, too).  My only regret is that I can't figure out how to squeeze Phantogram into the mix as well.  I might have to attempt quantum co-location or something (how can you be two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?).

But not only is this shaping up to be the best Rocktober ever, it may also be the longest, as there's no let-up in sight during the month of November.  It was just announced that Cults will be playing The Loft on November 1, and I've already got tickets for CocoRosie at Variety Playhouse on the 5th.

That same week will also see King Khan & the Shrines at Terminal West and ex-Hawkwind member Nik Turner's Space Ritual at The Earl, but the best November announcement yet has been Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) and Eleanor Friedberger at Variety Playhouse on the 8th.  Videos of the two above and below.      

As it stands now, Rocktober may not end until November 12 when The Head and the Heart and Thao and the Get Down Stay Down play the Buckhead Theater.

It's just as bad on the front end. I previously had Rocktober beginning on September 30 when Local Natives are finally bringing their tour down to the American South.  But Alt-J and Lord Huron are playing here the weekend before that, and then Atlanta's Mood Rings announce must-see September gigs at The High Museum (September 13) and an opening set on September 26 at 529 for post-punkers Weekend (not to be confused with the neo-R&B The Weeknd who will be at the Fox on September 20), before launching their national tour.  

Given that there are sets by such worthies as Black Prairie (the rest of The Decemberists, backing up Colin Meloy in the video at the top of this post), Okkervil River, Daughter, Little Tybee, Ra Ra Riot and Surfer Blood between Mood Rings' High set and Local Natives' September 30th gig at the godforsaken Masquerade, Rocktober may have to begin as early as September 13.

It's been a conspicuously slow summer for live music here in Atlanta.  Maybe it's all the rain's been keeping the bands away, I dunno.  But the cosmos will more than make up for the drought with a flood of performances between September 13 and November 12 for, dare I say it?, the longest and best Rocktober of all time.  

It's probably best just to quit your day job now.

His Clancyness

Genius all over the world stands hand in hand, and one shock of recognition runs the whole circle round.

- Herman Melville

Thanks and a tip of the hat to Fanfarlo for making me aware of this.

School of Seven Bells

Here's School of Seven Bells playing an acoustic set on the concrete campus of Georgia State University (Georgia's Great University) for indieATL.

Don't know if I have anything to say about this, other than how come I don't know about these Georgia State gigs?

More Pickwick

The good news:  Pickwick, the best band you've never heard of, have released another new video, this time for their song Hacienda Hotel, a favorite here at MDW.

The bad news: their tour plans, which include several dates with Neko Case, don't include anything in the American South.  

Foxygen

Foxygen at 529, February 23, 2013

Since appearing at Atlanta's 529 late last winter, Foxygen have had their fair share of trials and tribulations, including an apparent meltdown at SXSW, reported tensions among band members in social media, altercations with concert security, and lots of cancelled dates.  Now frontman Sam France has broken a leg falling off stage, requiring surgery, a metal rod, and physical therapy.

Any of this is enough to break up lesser bands, and I hope all this doesn't mean last winter marked Foxygen's last and only appearance in Atlanta.  Here's hoping they hold it together and keep on recording and touring.

Anticipation

Not that I'm counting or anything (okay, I actually am), but it's 16 more days until I see Seattle's Ivan & Alyosha at Bumbershoot.

18 more days until Glasgow's Chvrches at Portland's MFNW.