Exene Cervenka

The legendary (and totally sweet, by the way) Exene Cervenka has confirmed a tour of the West Coast consisting entirely of FREE performances at record stores starting in April!

So, really, you have NO excuse not to come out and see an amazing performer, support your local store and mix and mingle with other folks of outstanding taste and quality.

Bummed that  your city and fave store isn't on this list?  Well, then, tell all your friends, family and total strangers you know on the coast to show up and make this a resounding success and she'll do more and possibly come your way!

Check out the dates HERE.

Given the overwhelming volume of crapola out there on the intertubes, it's nice when writers take some time to craft their pieces rather than just posting snarky, ill-informed diary entries and calling it "journalism."  In our efforts to encourage such behavior, we'll point them out when we can.

We got a couple nice ones in this week about Exene Cervenka, as she is on tour with the Dex Romweber Duo (and boy, as a long time fan of both, this tickles my music-geek sweetspots).  So, sit back and enjoy!

From Creative Loafing in Atlanta: "Unless you're a dictator and you're going to play all of the instruments yourself, it's best to let people come up with some surprising things that you wouldn't normally think of."   Read it all HERE.

From the Houston Press in, well, Houston, comes THIS interview where she talks about TX punk legends the Big Boys, the death of Amy Farris, and the origins of her album Somewhere Gone.

The thing with some artists is that they haven't been around long enough to have interesting stories.  Not so with Exene.  She's a living part of music history and when she gets rolling on some stories, they are a hoot to read.

Here's a couple good 'uns that have come our way recently.  Culturebelly talks with her about art and the creation thereof, and then a video interview (with performance footage and X music) on Shockhound.  Good stuff.  G'head, you might learn sumthin'.

Exene will perform at a memorial for Amy Farris at the Continental Club in Austin on October 21st.  For details go here.

Also appearing will be Dave Alvin, Jon Dee Graham, Kelly Willis and others.

Amy's contributions to Exene's new album were invaluable and she will be deeply missed in all the communities she touched.

The But The Weatherman Promised Me Snow edition:

• After swearing at me about how STUPID Twitter is, Scott H Biram went and joined it. You can follow him @ScottHBiram. In 140 characters or less, Biram's been regaling us with tales from his current US tour—check out the dates and see if he'll be headed your way.

• Perfect Sound Forever has an interview with Exene, where she talks about moving back to LA, where the punk scene is now, and how she almost changed her last name -- You can read it here.

• Rosie Flores' upcoming album, Girl of the Century, is now on pre-sale! Once you order a copy, check out one of her Texas shows with the Pine Valley Cosmonauts or at the Tempe Bloodshot BBQ.

• The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir is continuing to recover from its van accident last month, but good news is coming in: Mark is out of ICU; Gibson is replacing the guitar Mary lost in the wreck; and WOXY / LaLa.com will be featuring SYGC as their band of the week on Thursday!

• In more SYGC news, both Subterranean and The Hideout in Chicago have generously donated nights for benefit shows -- Halloween eve at Sub-T will feature BBU, Canasta, New Duncan Imperials, Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers, along w/ appearances from members of SYGC. Meanwhile, the Hideout announced a benefit on November 12 featuring The 1900s and Brighton, MA. You can read more about these shows here.

As we gird ourselves for the brisket and margaritas that await us in Austin for our Yard Dog anniversary tomorrow (hey, someone's gotta do it), here's a few tidbits to knosh on that may brighten your day.  Or not.  Who knows?

• Check out this story on a Detroit filmmaker using a 3D process and capturing some of the city's finest music, including our own Detroit Cobras!

• In anticipation of her new solo album (goes on pre-sale this Tuesday) Exene Cervenka gives a lengthy interview on art, music, poetry and what a good dancer Eddie Vedder is in the LA Record.

• In addition to be a crack bookkeeper and legal eagle, our own office guy Anthony is a fab photographer.  Check out his flickr page with all the action at the Hideout block party. Pay no attention to the photo of Bloodshot Rob lying in the street at the end.  He's tired.  Sssssh.  Don't wake him.

• Finally, speaking of Rob, read his latest essay at Knowthemusicbiz.com.  It's all about how disposable music has become.  Insightful philosophical musing or the rantings of a crank?  YOU be the judge!

Bloodshot Digest: The "Short and Sweet" Edition

• My Old Kentucky Blog gives Charlie Pickett some love calling Bar Band Americanus one of "4 You Mighta Missed" -- hey, better late than never! You can read MOKB's review here. The cool blog Lost Forest After Dark also discussed Charlie's ouevre recently, and some of the commenters share early Charlie/Eggs memories and stories ...

• Ha Ha Tonka recorded a live session with Palestra, and they just posted three videos from the session for yr lunch break entertainment: "Hold My Feet To The Fire," "Walking on the Devils Backbone" and "So Quiet, They're Loud".

• SCOTT RECOMMENDS: In light of the the forthcoming celebratory events and contingent art shows, we thought it’d be timely to spotlight the fact that some in the Bloodshot family are purveyors and creators of more than merely timeless music: some create fine art as well. We invite you to visit them on-line, to revel in their visual musings, and to appreciate the breadth of their creativity and vision. If you've already completed collecting these artists' discography, consider supporting them with purchasing art!

• Exene Cervenka: Exhibit information
• Walter Salas-Humara (Silos, I’m Not Jim): Walter's Dogs
• Ben Weaver: Books and art prints
• Jon Langford (Waco Brothers, Pine Valley Cosmonauts): Yard Dog Gallery
• Rico Bell (Mekons): Yard Dog Gallery

Earlier this spring, Exene finished her solo album Somewhere Gone, to be released on CD & LP, this October.

Recorded in Springfield MO with Lou Whitney of the Skeletons, it is a haunting, intimate album with the beating heart of a poet at the center.

As Exene told us, "it has the passion of X without all the loud."

June 2, 2009

After some months of not feeling 100% healthy, I recently had some medical tests run  and the prognosis is that I am suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. Apparently, it has been affecting me for quite some time.

Although this is obviously unfortunate news, I am choosing to see the positive in it.
I, and X as a band, have supported the Sweet Relief charity since the mid-1990's;
the irony of this is not lost on any of us. Sweet Relief was started as an aide to uninsured artists by musician Victoria Williams when she herself was diagnosed with MS in 1992.

While this diagnosis will most certainly mean some changes for me, personally, it will not affect my commitments to the current X U.S. tour, nor will it affect my solo album that is slated for release this fall on Bloodshot Records.

My focus will certainly be on maintaining my health--many people remain strong and continue to live their lives as productively as they had before an MS diagnosis and I plan to be one of those people.

To find out more about Sweet Relief please visit: www.sweetrelief.org

To find out more about X please visit: www.xtheband.com