The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has selected local orchestral pop sextet Canasta to play some good old fashioned indie rock in Mongolia as a part of its Arts Envoy program.
The week-long outing begins Friday, February 3, in the Mongolian capital city, Ulaanbaatar. In addition to providing live music, the members of Canasta will also lead music classes for local students and discuss their creative processes.
“I hope we can inspire people to think about their musical heritage and perhaps new ways of combining instruments to create a sound that is unique to their country and culture,” said Elizabeth Lindau, Canasta’s violinist and vocalist, in a press release.
Chicago power poppers Company of Thieves are hitting the road again, this time hitting up the East coast on a new ten-date trek scheduled for Late February through early March.
Fear not, Midwestern fans, the tour kicks off on Saturday, February 18 at Frost Fest in Lansing, Michigan, and will almost certainly end with a bang at The Metro on Friday, March 9.
Tickets for Company of Thieves’ hometown show go on sale this Saturday, January 21. The all ages show costs $14.
Company of Thieves have been heavily promoting their high-energy sophomore rocker Running for a Gamble with tours supporting bands such as Jack’s Mannequin and Cage the Elephant. If you still don’t have it, Running from a Gamble is currently on sale for $5 on Amazon along with its predecessor Ordinary Riches.
Feast your eyes on those East coast dates after the jump.
The EP features remixes of their track “Some Love” from Toledo chillwaver Brothertiger, San Fran electro-duo City Light and Luxembourg dupstepper Sun Glitters.
You may remember when the Confetti track got the which got the visual treatment back in September with summery video. You can download the Some Love EP for free, well at the cost of an e-mail address, at Mush Records’ Facebook page.
Do you ever get nostalgic for those music videos where a band chronicles hard-living and loving on the road? Well, snappy pop rockers Pet Lions don’t go all “Every Rose Has its Thorn” on us, but they do take us on a fun romp across various hotel rooms, desolate highway views with endless bales of hay and – oh yeah – some rock and roll, on its latest single “Trinidad.” It makes you want to pack a bag, cram yourself and some friends into a tiny vehicle and somehow take a trip back into summer. You can catch Pet Lions here in town at The Metro with The Hudson Branch and Tiger Bones on Friday, January 6. Tickets are $8, but entry is free before 9 p.m. with this printed flier.
Industrial rock legends Ministry will return next June for a short U.S. tour which will be preceded by the release of a new album titled Relapse. Chicago is one of four cities the group will hit in 2012, with two dates lined up at the Vic.
Singer Al Jourgensen broke the news to Metal Hammer magazine earlier this month that while working on the new Buck Satan record (due out 11/11/2011), he and Rigor Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia created five to seven songs that Scaccia felt would work better with Ministry.
via Metal Hammer:
“I didn’t really want to do anything with them but Mikey was like, “dude these songs are awesome.” They weren’t country, they were more like Ministry. So he’s coming by in September and Tommy Victor’s coming by in October with Tony Campos and we’re gonna finish up and put out another Ministry album by Christmas.”
Swinging pop-rockers Ornery Little Darlings will release its debut full-length album Get After it this June, followed by a vinyl release in August.
Fans don’t have to wait that long to listen to the new album. The now-three piece consisting of guitarists Jason Ewers and Emmi Chen as well as drummer Paul Puschautz, will hold a listening party for Get After It at Beauty Bar next Saturday, May 21, at 8 p.m.
If you’re dying to see these new tunes live and in person, Ornery Little Darlings will perform at the Empty Bottle on Friday, May 27, with The Juliets, Fatty Acids and Continental breakfast. Not only is the show free (with RSVP), but those in attendance will receive a free download card.
Apparently fed up with paying for gas and such, Chicago’s own Netherfriends (a.k.a. Shawn Rosenblatt) have once again decided to challenge themselves when it comes to touring, this time by ditching the costly van and hopping on a two-wheeler.
Netherfriends are embarking on a bicycle tour through a chunk of the East coast. Yes, that means Shawn will be strapping on his helmet (you had better, Shawn!), hopping on his bike and pedaling east.
Shawn is bringing a couple chums with him, including drummer Mark Quinlan from the band Hop Along and guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Andy Moholt from the band the Armchairs, along for the ride. Get it? Ride?
Obviously these kids can’t strap much equipment on themselves so here’s where your help is needed: If you live in one of the cities below or know anyone there that has equipment to share, email Shawn at Netherfriendsbooking@gmail.com. It’s fun to help.
The holidays are over, but psych-poppers 
