Music update

New albums, tours, and all that other madness

I was a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan when I was a kid. My older brother still breaks my balls about it. In fact, just two weeks ago I received a nice voice mail from him and his friend Kristen where he proceeded to sing the comedic parody song, “What if the guy from the Smashing Pumpkins lost his car keys.”

I think they were the first band that I really got into and it was pretty excessive now in hindsight. Yeah that’s right, I had the ZERO shirt. Wanna fight about it!?

It was from Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins that my passion for music sprouted into the fruitful tree it is today. And because of that, I’m thankful. I still have all their albums and give them a spin from time to time but I’m quite proud of my diversity.

According to a short message on their website, drummer Jimmy Chamberlain and frontman Billy Corgan are recording. This comes after the June 2005 full page ad Corgan took out in the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times announcing he wanted to “revive” his band because it was his life, or something like that. Apparently Zwan sucked. He put out a solo record that I heard was kinda crappy. I saw them perform a song on Conan or another late night show and I concurred with the craptasticness of it. Oh well.

Who knows what this recording time will yield and who will join the duo. I think D’Arcy and James are pretty much a no go since they all blew up at each other back in ’04. I wish James would come around because I think he’s an amazing guitarist and apparently so did the guys in A Perfect Circle; he toured with them and then recorded eMOTIVe and I’d imagine he’d be on board for further projects. Hey fellas, will you please get a n***a with anotha album.

(I’m in the mood for some Perfect Circle now.)

I wish I had some nice transition here, such as some news about A Perfect Circle but instead I’m just going to mention that a 2007 Timberlake/Aguliera tour is in the works.

Also next year…

You can expect a new Interpol album. The NYC foursome hasn’t started recording yet, but is rehearsing relentlessly, which is certainly their M.O.

Their contract was with Matador Records after their fantastic debut album “Turn on the Bright Lights” and equally great(?) sophomore follow up “Antics.” Capital Records, which apparently was courting them even before they signed with Matador, recently inked a deal with Interpol. Details are not known.

The Shins new album will be out early next year, apparently. Their still untitled album was originally aimed for release this summer, then got bumped back to October and now is loosely set to release, like I said, “early 2007.” I’m really excited for that one too. They managed to outdo themselves with “Chutes Too Narrow” the sophomore follow up to “Oh, Inverted World” which put them on the map with two songs featured in the cult classic film Garden State.

Another one of my favorite artists, Ben Folds, is releasing what is basically a compilation LP of songs from his three EPs that were only made available over the Internet: “Speed Graphic,” “Sunny 16,” and “Super D.” A few new tracks will appear on the album including a version of Dr. Dre’s “Bitches ain’t shit.” Oct. 24 is the set release for “Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the LP.”

One week after that, the Deftones will release their fifth studio album, “Saturday Night Wrist” which features System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian on one track. The Deftones say they nearly broke up during the recording of this record due to lack of communication. As did the aforementioned band Interpol.

On a more personal level, since my last blog when I said I didn’t have any concerts coming up… well, that’s no longer true.

I knew is was coming up, but I think I forgot: MMW HALLOWEEN NYC!

Medeski Martin Wood Halloween shows in New York have become somewhat of a tradition now for me and a few good friends; I think this will be our fourth consecutive year, if I’m not mistaken. Oh, and all of them have been UNIQUE in their own ways. (Which reminds me, I gotta order that ticket today.) Last year I wore the Slim Jim outfit for a while but it was just totally uncomfortable and impractical due to having access to my pockets. Plus, I looked like a fat ass. I’m about 40 lbs lighter this year; the search for a Halloween costume might soon begin.

Yeah, they have a new album out Sept. 26 called “Out Louder” with an amazing guitarist, John Scofield, in the lineup. So now they’re MSMW apparently. It doesn’t have the same “ring” as MMW but it’s all good, these guys are probably the most talented musicians I’ve ever seen live.

MSMW is playing the Electric Factory in Philly less than two weeks after the Halloween show in NY. I’m tempted…

On Friday I went to a free concert at noon sponsored by local public radio station XPN at the World Café Live in Philly. Pete Yorn performed a handful of songs. I was thankful I got to see him during the day because I was missing his two shows last weekend while in Ocean City, Maryland.

But! He’s playing nine shows before heading to Australia for a tour: three LA shows, three in Chicago, and three in Manhattan. He’s playing CBGB’s on Sept. 14 and I think I’m hitting that one up with some friends.

“Nightcrawler” is in stores Aug. 29. It’s Pete Yorn’s third album. You should buy it because he’s from New Jers and rocks!

Rounding out this long blog I’ll mention that Say Anything is one of my absolute favorite bands and that you should really pick up “… Is a Real Boy” today. I’m probably going to see them for the second time in October. They’re playing Irving Plaza on the 11th and I can’t wait to sing along and yell things like, “Slathered in the sauce, sarcastic. So go choke on your irony” and “I called her on the phone and she touched herself. I laughed myself to sleep.”