ALBUM TRAILER – WE HAVE NOT DOORS YOU NEED NOT KEYS by Judson Claiborne from Judson Claiborne on Vimeo.
Popmatters Serves Up “Wongharey” From Tal National’s Upcoming FatCat Records Debut Kaani
“Tal National are massive stars back in their homeland of Niger, where they have repeatedly topped the country’s charts and appear regularly on national television, which is often used as music player by Niger citizens.” Read the whole story HERE and grab a listen below.
West African Band Tal National Sign To FatCat Records, New Release Kaani Slated For 9/10/13, U.S. Tour
Straight from Niamey, Niger, Tal National have moved from hometown hero status in their native landlocked, desert-dominated West African country to the global stage, thanks to a recent signing to FatCat Records (Kaani is due out September 10, 2013) and their debut tour outside Niger, starting at the Chicago World Music Festival in September 2013.
Tal National is revered regionally for their unique mix of Saharan and West African sounds, for their intense musicianship and upbeat vibe. Tal National’s songs teem with energy, encompassing a looping, trance-inducing quality akin to desert blues but with the joy and vitality of highlife or mbalax.
The band is driven by the charismatic, forward-thinking band leader Hamadal “Almeida” Moumine, who also teaches at the local SOS Children’s Village twice a week, serves as a judge in local courts, and had a successful soccer career before becoming Niger’s best-loved guitarist. Turning a dust-covered, half-abandoned studio into their rough-and-ready home base with help from Chicago-based producer Jamie Carter, Tal National laid down tracks all day, only to dash off to five-hour shows later in the evening. Carter sent the tracks along to FatCat, and the open-eared label got it.
“Sonically, we do a vast variety of things,” explains Adam Pierce of FatCat. “We never really decide based on the genre or sound. We decide based on the qualities within the music, if artists are bringing something new to the table and don’t sound like a million other bands. That’s why we have electronic and rock bands next to contemporary classical pioneers like Max Richter and folk icons like Vashti Bunyan. Tal National fit right in.”
Tal National’s first-ever foray outside of Niger will begin at Chicago’s World Music Festival in September 2013. More festival appearances and shows to be announced soon.
Name / Stage Name / Instrument
Touring members:
Hamadal Moumine / Almeida / guitar, band leader
Ide Yacoubou / Yac Tal / bass
Abdou Souleymane / Souleymane / vocals
Abdoulaye Oumarou / Omar / drums
Mahamadou Karimou / Keljue / talking drum
Mateomo Damolga Salamatou – traditional dancer
Additional members:
Issa Harouna / Longueur / bass
Ibrahim Issia / Babaye / guitar
Hamidou Djibu / Biri / drums
Moctar Oumarou / Tafa / guitar
Siradji Lawaly / Luthord / vocals
Seydou Ide / Seydou / vocals
Abdou Salissou / Maty / drums
Massaoudou Alfari / Massaoudou / vocals
Clement Kocou / Clement / bass
Like the band on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalNational
Check out FatCat Records: http://www.fatcat-usa.com
Pinback On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Pinback ripped it up on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night! See San Diego’s finest play “Proceed To Memory” and “His Phase” from the band’s latest album Information Retrieved below.
Pinback On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 3/19/13
Pinback makes a stop at Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on March 19th, 2013 to perform “Proceed To Memory”, the latest single from the band’s new album Information Retrieved (Temporary Residence Ltd.). Joining the Pinback trio (Rob Crow, Zach Smith and Chris Prescott) onstage will be Kirk from The Roots, Rick Froberg (Obits, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu) and Matt Schulz (Holy F***!, Enon). WOAH!
Punk Legends Die Kreuzen Confirm U.S. Shows For May
Legendary, ground-breaking punk act Die Kreuzen will play two shows in the U.S. this Spring – Saturday, May 25th at Chicago’s Double Door and Sunday, May 26th at Turner Hall in the band’s native Milwaukee.
Die Kreuzen reunited for the first time in May 2012 and delivered a blistering set of career-spanning classics to a sold-out crowd at the Lest We Forget Benefit in Milwaukee, WI. This April, original band members Daniel Kubinski (vocals), Keith Brammer (bass) and Erik Tunison (drums), will again welcome Couch Flambeau guitarist Jay Tiller to sit in for Brian Egeness to perform two shows at the annual Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland and two shows the following month on U.S. soil.
Throughout the 80s and into the 90s, Die Kreuzen challenged audiences by pushing the boundaries of what a hardcore band could do, experimenting with sounds far removed from the constraints of the genre. The band broke up in 1992, leaving behind four full lengths, a slew of singles and compilation appearances and an incredible amount of influence.
Experience the real deal for yourself this Spring:
DIE KREUZEN @ ROADBURN, TILBURG HOLLAND
April 20, 2013 – Tilburg, Holland – 013 Venue (Main Stage)
April 21, 2013 – Tilburg, Holland – 013 Venue (Green Room)
DIE KREUZEN’S ONLY USA SHOWS
May 25, 2013 – Chicago, IL – Double Door
May 26, 2013 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
“His Phase” By Pinback On Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly gives a peek of the upcoming Pinback album Information Retrieved (Temporary Residence, 10/16/12) with the premiere of album track “His Phase“. Listen to the song here.
Departures Track Debuts On Pitchfork
Pitchfork debuted the track “Pillars” from the upcoming Departures album Still And Moving Lines (out October 9th) today.
“Album highlight “Pillars” has the band juxtaposing ambience with urgency, jangling guitars with jagged power chords.”
Click HERE to hear the song and see the full posting.
New Pinback Album and Tour
Pinback has confirmed east coast tour dates in support of their upcoming album Information Retrieved, due October 16.
Available for pre-order now here, Information Retrieved is the first album in five years from the critically acclaimed duo of vocalist/guitarist Rob Crow and bassist/vocalist Zach Smith. The record marks their full-length label debut for Temporary Residence Ltd. following a pair of highly sought-after limited edition Record Store Day singles last year. Rolling Stone recently premiered the album cut “Proceed To Memory” along with cover art and a complete track list at http://bit.ly/OvlRft.
Information Retrieved is the follow-up to the group’s 2007 release Autumn of the Seraphs, hailed by Pitchfork as “uniformly gorgeous and tasteful” while Billboard noted that the album “offers some of Pinback’s best tunes yet” and Alternative Press agreed that “Autumn represents Pinback’s strongest album” of their now twelve-year career.
Best known for “conveying a (much-needed) immediacy through Rob Crow’s voice” (Village Voice) along with Zach Smith’s unique bass guitar acrobatics, Pinback has cultivated an extremely large and loyal grassroots fan base since their formation in San Diego in 1998. Crow and Smith have continued to perform with a multitude of other projects in between Pinback releases, including the return of Smith’s long-standing critically acclaimed group Three Mile Pilot and Crow’s third solo album, He Thinks He’s People.
Track Listing:
1. Proceed To Memory
2. Glide
3. Drawstring
4. Sherman
5. His Phase
6. Diminished
7. True North
8. A Request
9. Denslow, You Idiot!
10. Sediment
Tour Dates:
09/12 – Hermosa Beach, CA @ Saint Rocke
09/13 – Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theatre
09/14 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Brew
09/15 – San Diego, CA @ Sunset Temple
09/16 – Oceanside, CA @ FM 94.9 Independence Jam
11/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
11/10 – Boston, MA @ Royale Nightclub
11/11 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
11/12 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/14 – Durham, NC @ Motorco
11/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
11/16 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
11/17 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
11/18 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
11/20 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
11/21 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace