Deadstring Brothers

Last month, the Deadstring Brothers stopped by the Nashville offices of the magazine American Songwriter and recorded a session to promote their brand-new album, São Paulo. You can listen and download the MP3s here, as well as read an interview with the Deadstrings.

Detroit's Deadstring Brothers' get its long overdue US release on February 23rd and the raves are already starting to come in.

Check out this one from their hometown paper the Detroit Metro Times here

"There isn't a bad song on São Paulo. So, yeah, the Deadstring Brothers have never been more alive."

The ends and beginnings of years are slow times for releasing records.  The doldrums.  All the stores want are "It's a Hannah Montana Christmas" records and then the new year brings the retail hangover effect--they either hunker down to avoid the cold or they are too busy returning their lead-coated cyber-hamster "pets" to be bothered with new music.  So, it's been awhile since we've hit you with something new and fabulous, but that's fixing to change in the coming weeks.

• First up is the Deadstring Brothers Sao Paulo on February 22nd.  It's been available in Europe since the fall to coincide with a big tour they had, but all of you in North America can get your greasy Allmann-Stones rocks off in either CD or LP format.

• Then there's a new Graham Parker album, Imaginary Television, due out on March 16th.  It's the next in line for a career that has seen more than a few masterpieces and he is in a groove right now.  AND, for the first time in almost 20 years, GP's album will be released on vinyl LP as well.  There's only 1000 of 'em.
• March also sees us boldly embracing the notion of the digital release AND brings one of our most beloved bands, the Blacks, out of retirement.  Jacked by the response they got at our 15th Anniversary Show @ the Hideout Block Party last summer, the Blacks got together and recorded for the first time since, well, let's just say that Dick Cheney was just some obscure policy flak.  In Sickness and Health absolutely SMOKES!  It's a 6 song EP that will be available in digital form only. The first 500 or so people will also receive a special silk screen poster.
• Speaking of the 15th Anniversary, we done recorded and filmed it all and will have a special limited album in time for Record Store Day in April.

That's all we're gonna tell you for now.  As always, we've got some surprises up our sleeves, but, given our swirling vortices of superstition, we're not just yet ready to make them public.

The "Land of a 1,000 Isthmuses" edition:

We had our first two Midwestern Bloodshot Beer-B-Qs in Madison and Milwaukee this past weekend, and they were a rousing success! Thanks to the fine folks at the High Noon Saloon in Madison and The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis for hosting us.

Look at all the fun you missed!

• The folks at Yeah Right attended the High Noon show and had this to say: "It was a great late afternoon/early evening of music, and an incredible value -five CDs purchased, four live bands, and three microbrews for a total of $42.  That won't even buy you a hoodie at a Katy Perry show."

• Rock of Arts was on hand in Madison and got some video footage of Justin Townes Earle, Ha Ha Tonka and Deadstring Brothers.

• Wanna pretend it's the weekend again? Just load Justin Townes Earle's entire High Noon set onto your iPod -- download the entire set here.

• Randy from Yard Dog—who's traveling with us to the shows with his miniature gallery of art by Bloodshot artists Exene Cervenka, Jon Langford, Rico Bell and Ben Weaver—also captured these shots from the Minneapolis show.

Now, don't pout if you feel left out -- there's still plenty of time to attend a Bloodshot Beer-B-Q of your own! We've got Boston THIS WEEK (buy tix here), then Philly, Chicago (reserve tix here), New York and Austin! Read all about it!

• On Monday, we had one of those evenings when we remember why we live here.  The Shelebration, a tribute to Shel Silverstein was held at Millennium downtown.  The weather was perfect.  We brought a picnic and jug of vodka and juice.  The band was Bobby Bare Jr, Nora O'Connor, Patrick from My Morning Jacket, Chris Scruggs and others.  Guests included Sally Timms, Will Oldham, Bobby Bare Sr and Jon Langford.  Check out the video Jon's version of the Shel-penned A Boy Named Sue here.

• What do YOU think of when you add up Salt Lake City and a Metal record store?  That's right: WAYNE HANCOCK! Turns out the dudes dig themselves some Wayne at our new buddies The Heavy Metal Shop store in SLC.  Check out these videos from an in store performance he did with Joe Buck Yourself here.

• Some Great tour announcements this week for our overseas buddies:  Deadstring Brothers will be in the UK in September behind their new album SÅo Paulo and Justin Townes Earle announced some Austrailian/New Zealand dates ("down under" I believe it is called) also in September.  So, that's plenty of time to make your plane reservations...

• Rob's Recommendation of the Week: Gale Street Inn on Milwaukee.  Every year, several friends and I congregate SOMEWHERE for strong drink, meaty meats, conviviality and the All Star Game (for BASEBALL, you Visigoths).   The AL won in part due to the triple by Tigers' outfielder Curtis Granderson.  Oh yeah. The ribs are of the meltinyourmouth variety.  Not smoked.  Just tender and addicting.  It being Chicago, our appetizer for the table (actually the horseshoe part of the bar near the TVs) was a FRIED CHICKEN.  Yes, a whole fried chicken.  Pass the toothpicks.   Say hi to the owner George, he's got the classic Chicago-Belushi-ish vibe.  By the way, the leftover ribs are one of the only things that heat up well in a microwave.  And Go Tigers!

Bloodshot Records celebrates its 15th anniversary of bringing you top shelf music with a nationwide series of fan appreciation Beer-B-Qs through the summer! Sponsored by Rolling Rock.

Saturday July 4, 2009
Pittsburgh, PA
Smiling Moose
1306 E. Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 
FREE ADMISSION, 21+
Free food and inexpensive Rolling Rock
4pm doors / 5pm show
featuring:
Bottle Rockets
Bobby Bare Jr
Deadstring Brothers
Ha Ha Tonka
Dex Romweber Duo
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

More Beer-B-Qs coming to:
Madison
Minneapolis
Boston
Philadelphia
Chicago
Austin
Tempe
Brooklyn
Baltimore/DC
Trenton/Princeton
Seattle

Check back here for more details!

Semi-weekly, quick links to interesting Bloodshot things.

• The Deadstring Brothers are returning in 2009 -- and have JUST ANNOUNCED new US summer tour dates in support of their upcoming long player, São Paulo. The album's not out for a minute, but we can't wait for you to hear it cos it's hot. And, I mean, SMOKING HOT. Just check out that artwork, folks.

• Word's out! Justin Townes Earle's show in McCabe's in LA this weekend sold out! Check out an interview he did with the LA-based blog, When You Awake, here. And while we're talking JTE, here's your reminder that for just TWO MORE DAYS, we have Midnight at the Movies on super-sale for $10 LP/CD. Why, you ask? Well, as we reported last week, Midnight is nominated for THREE AMA awards -- Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Emerging Artist.

• If your looking for some new, free music, please check out The Free Music Archive, which is spearheaded by the great freeform radio station, WFMU. Besides the dipping yr toes into Free Music Archive's Bloodshot catalog, there's A TON of other great (legal) music to check out there.

• And finally, our gastronomically intrepid Radio guy, Swank, showed up to the office on this fake Monday morning with samples of his Bacon pizza. Nope, not pizza with a bacon topping -- a pizza where bacon has REPLACED THE CRUST. The sample had my arteries hardening with just a whiff, but it's tasty! Atkin's friendly, too!
  
  

Deadstring Brothers have completed their latest album Sao Paulo.  Man, it SMOKES.  Look for it in the late spring.  You'll be able to hear advance tracks on the download sampler card included in the Ben Kweller 7" and on the Bloodshot Radio station soon.

The Deadstring Brothers hit the streets to busk for the Village Voice's Possibly 4th Street series, and talked to the Voice's Rob Trucks about the band's many inspirations. To watch footage of the band playing on the streets of New York and the full interview, go here!

A great, in-depth interview with Kurt in the Lansing MI zine Modern Peapod in which he talks about his love of Dyland AND Thriller and the death of Detroit garage rock. Put on yer readin' spectacles and prepare to learn somethin' here.