Bloodshot Digest 6-17-09

Bloodshot Digest: New release edition!

• Ha Ha Tonka released their newest longplayer, Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, on Tuesday! The boys had a whirlwind day on Monday in Chicago, as they appeared live on WGN, appeared on-air at Q101, and then played to a sold-out crowd at Schubas. Catch the band on tour all this summer!

• Rhett Miller guest edited Magnet Magazine last week, but had all his friends do his dirty work. Jon Langford submitted a list of some of his favorite things, including Walter Salas-Humara's adorable dog paintings. Hey, my birthday is coming up real soon -- who wants to get me one of Walter's dogs as a present? Pretty please?

• Finally, is with a stunned and heavy heart that we report on the passing of stalwart Chicago soundman Gary Rogers. An interesting cast of characters populates the local music scene, and I’m confident that other area musicians will agree with me when I say that Gary was one of the most original, sincere, and nicest of the bunch. He loved his work, and we always shared a story and a laugh (and usually a Guinness) whenever he manned the knobs for my band. At our most recent show, at the Bottom Lounge, I joked one on one with him from the stage, and I’m grateful we recorded that night’s performance, and hence that exchange, so that I can always remember him laughing. He was an authentically good person, he was good at his job, and he will be missed. The Bottom lounge will host a benefit for his family on Tuesday 6/30. - Scott Schaefer, Bloodshot Records