- LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and one of the founding members of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday from complications stemming from an ATV accident in late June. He was 46. The band’s characteristic sound — and in particular its jazz and blues influences — can be traced to Moore’s versatile approach and skillful instrumentation. DMB has created a charitable fund in Moore’s honor.
- Mingle from The Saturday Knights: “album of the year” or “at best a curiosity”? The reviews, while mostly positive, have been varied. Seattle label Light in the Attic has made the debut full-length from the potentially confounding rap…er…rockers available for a free download. No strings attached! Grab it, listen to it, and make up your own mind!
- On Tuesday, the Moondoggies released Don’t Be A Stranger, their debut LP. After cutting their teeth at the pubs and bars of fair Seattle, the band has been enjoying a quite positive reception from the locals, among others. Hardly Art, an offshoot of Sub Pop, is releasing the album, which brings together blues, folk, country, and rock, all with an experimental energy.
- Wilco’s planning a spring 2009 release for its seventh studio album. Speaking with the Albany, N.Y., radio station WAMC, Jeff Tweedy explained that he expects the band to “allow ourselves a little bit more leeway in terms of sculpting the sound in the studio and doing overdubs and using the studio as another instrument.”
- Brian Wilson’s back, with That Lucky Old Sun, which will begin streaming tomorrow on over 50 newspaper and TV station websites, all in anticipation of the album’s September 2 release.
- Catch a recent performance by Josh Ritter streaming on NPR.
- Tour dates! Silver Summit will be at The Mix on September 3, Berkeley Heights will be at the Skylark Cafe on September 18, Magnetic Morningwill be at Chop Suey on October 30, Mad Decent will be at Nectar Lounge on Halloween, and Drive By Truckers and The Hold Steady (after recently, and quite publicly, criticizing Radiohead) will be at the Showbox on November 20 and 21.
