New Multitudes is: Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Will Johnson (Centro-matic), Anders Parker (Varnaline) & Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket)

New Multitudes is an intimate interpretation of American icon and musical legend Woody Guthrie’s previously unrecorded lyrics from a dream team of Americana torchbearers: Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Will Johnson (Centro-matic), Anders Parker (Varnaline), and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket). What makes this album such a rarity in today’s music world is the allowance of the songs’ infectious simplicity to stand alone in all their glory. In doing so, Farrar, Johnson, Parker, and Yames have paid the greatest compliment to Woody Guthrie and the collaborative spirit he so greatly embodied. This is an album which seamlessly converges the sepia-toned essence of the time honored past with the risks needed to forge the future.

Album Release Date: 2/28/2012
Click to Pre-Order: VINYL
Click to Pre-Order: Deluxe CD
Click to Pre-Order: CD

photo by Patti Perret

¿Which Side Are You On?
COMPLETE TRACK LIST
1: Life Boat
2: Unworry
3: ¿Which Side Are You On?
4: Splinter
5: Promiscuity
6: Albacore
7: J
8: If Yr Not
9: Hearse
10: Mariachi
11: Amendment
12: Zoo

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Ani DiFranco has announced the upcoming release of her eagerly awaited new album. ¿Which Side Are You On? arrives via the Grammy-winning artist’s own Righteous Babe Records on January 17, 2012. ¿Which Side Are You On? marks DiFranco’s first studio album in more than three years. The collection features 11 new songs alongside a radically reworked rendition of the classic title song, famously popularized by the one and only Pete Seeger nearly five decades ago, but no less relevant today. Backing DiFranco is a remarkably diverse line-up of stellar musicians, including members of her own crack touring band as well as such guest players as Ivan and Cyril Neville (of New Orleans; first family of funk and R&B, The Neville Brothers), avant-saxophonist Skerik (Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Bonnie Raitt, The Meters), acclaimed singer/songwriter(and Righteous Babe recording artist) Anaïs Mitchell, guitarist Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, Amos Lee), and a host of New Orleans-based horn players known for their work in such outfits as Galactic, Bonerama, and The Rebirth Brass Band.

What does a metal band with killer songs like “Dwarf King Of The Sovereign” and “Death Killers” have in common with a new pornographer?

Metal.

Todd Fancey lives in Vancouver, British Columbia and was raised as a student of 70s AM Radio Gold best known as the guitarist for The New Pornographers. As big fans of both The New Pornographers and Todd’s own band Fancey, we sent along Hot Fog’s new release Wyvern and Children First to Todd. Todd gave Hot Fog a few listens using the bandcamp widget at hotfog.net while off and on the road with The New Pornographers during their recent summer/ fall tour and sent us this review. Thanks a ton, Todd! Enjoy your time off.

When I visited Hot Fog’s website and clicked on their bio,  the first line immediately caught my eye…”Hot Fog is a ‘79 – ‘83 style hard rock/metal band from San Francisco”.  For people who missed out on that era of heavy metal: pay attention to Hot Fog.  They’ve  successfully distilled the evil, fun, energy, and melodic prowess of that very special time in heavy metal.
There were a lot of fantastic heavy metal bands with killer albums during the ’79-83 period.  Most of which fell under the umbrella of NWOBHM, new wave of British heavy metal.  Only a small handful of these bands ever achieved commercial success…To name a few of the best: Angel Witch, Venom, Tygers of Pan Tang, Def Leppard, Riot, Wicthfinder General, Witchfynde, Iron Maiden, Saxon and of course, Judas Priest.
I often say that heavy metal died around 1983.  I seriously can’t think of another band, aside from Hot Fog, who has resurrected this amazing art form for the headbanders and music lovers of today.  The need for agression and fantasy in young riff-hungry males will NEVER die, enter Hot Fog 2010….
I love the rawness of Hot Fog’s new ep Wyvern and Children first, it is exactly what’s needed in our sickening over-processed music world.  Hot Fog has a natural sound.  That’s what made the ’79-’83  metal period so timeless and exciting, there WERE mistakes and occasional sloppiness but it was endearing, you rooted for those bands!  Hot Fog against the world!   Hot Fog also aren’t afraid to use some druggy echo and trippiness in their juggernauts.  That’s what a lot of metal bands have been missing in recent years, mostly concentrating on aggression without the color and fantasy.

Hot Fog’s new album Wyvern and Children First is available for sale on

• limited edition Red Vinyl
• HotFog.net
• iTunes
• Amazon

Or stream it

• rdio
• mog

Not Shocking’s Corey Denis will be speaking at three different conferences this month! First is the GRAMMY U Music Industry Summit on May 15th at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. Next up is Musicplus: Skill Building for Musicians on May 16th at the James Irvine Foundation Conference Center in Oakland. Musicplus is sold out, but you can tune into the live webcast from noon – 6:00 PM where you can watch the main room sessions, participate in a live chat, and even ask questions! Finally, Corey will be speaking at the SF MusicTech Summit on May 16th at the Hotel Kabuki with Not Shocking client Michael Tilson Thomas.

The Ferocious Few has been on the road playing up and down the West Coast. Help welcome them home to San Francisco on Friday, May 21st at Milk Bar, 1840 Haight Street! Doors are at 8:00 PM & there is a $7 cover. Merchandise will be available for purchase via cash or card thanks to Square!

Inu‘s animated video ‘Stephen Colbert’ premiered on Indie Rock Reviews! Be sure to watch the full video posted below and don’t forget to pick up a copy of their debut album on June 29th.

Inu – Stephen Colbert from Indie Rock Reviews on Vimeo.

It’s official! Not Shocking is now a Ning Certified Partner! We’ve been listed as consultants specializing in creative digital strategies for music, comedy, literature and entertainment online and offline thanks to our involvement with the following Ning networks: SXSW Insider’s Guide, High Sierra Music Festival, and Reapandsow.

Join Corey in NYC at The New Music Seminar from July 19th-21st where she’ll be a part of the mentoring program. For more information check out the video highlights of the relaunch in 2009:

Flash forward about 8 years later, I’m still not cool, but at least my phone rings and I pick it up: It’s Count. Will I come over for wine, and hang out with his new client Tom? We’re in the studio, maybe we’ll play some of it for you.

Luce
“Corner of the World” (mp3)
from “Corner of the World”
(Luce)

within 5 minutes of my arrival, it all made sense.

Oh Emm Gee, you’re Tom LUCE! I’m Corey from W.A.R
….and within seconds our relationship re established itself. Too good to be pre written. No deity could think it up. It’s poetry.

And as we re-connected,  I learned of the blockades that LUCE endured before going into the studio with Count.

Tom’s house burnt down, but it didn’t throw him or the band off course – he went on tour the following week anyway. And then the band’s gear was stolen on the road. WHAT? yeah. everything was stolen.

You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star. -Nietzsche

Tom wrote a blogpost about the band’s experiences which lead them to their new release Corner Of The World. After all this time the reward of finding an artist i respect cannot help but remain an artist, forever evolving and creating as he is meant to be, making music as is meant to be – well, it surpasses the pleasure any financial success. Kudos, Tom Luce.

On the lighter and A W E S O M E side, the band has been shooting video on the road and they are f*ing fantastic, short, amusing. In addition the CD Release party for Corner Of The World is July 11, 2009 at Great American Hall in San Francisco (get tickets)