Laura Cortese’s Acoustic Project will be released August 17. Cortese, a violinist, singer-songwriter, has worked in support of artists ranging from Band of Horses to Patterson Hood (as part of Pete Seeger’s 90th Birthday bash at Madison Square Garden).

This year has found Cortese working on releasing a trilogy of EPs, the first of which was Two Amos, One Microphone. The second of which is Acoustic Project. This EP also features the talents of Natalie Haas, Brittany Haas (Crooked Still), and Hanneke Cassel. Each of the EPS will focus on a different style. The first had Celtic elements. The new one has Cajun elements.

The release of the EP is in conjunction with the Columbus Park Waterfront Series in Boston AND, Cortese’s birthday. Bostonians, get out there to wish her a happy one…

What to learn more ? Head to the Laura Cortese Website.

 

Holy Ghost! are out on tour RIGHT NOW (with Chromeo). And if THAT were not enough they have a new video, I Know, I Hear, off of their EP, Static On The Wire. And if THAT were not enough…ok…really..for my purposes that is IT. But the video is below and the band/DJ sets are well worth checking out on the road.

They recently supported LCD Soundsystem on a national tour and played shows and festivals in Europe. August 4th will find them at Central Park SummerStage.

For more information get to their website, www.holyghostnyc.com.

In addition to being Russian royalty, The New Czars, have worked with a variety of music’s biggest names over their careers. Now they are working for themselves. Their debut recording, Doomsday Revolution comes out September 14 on Samson Records. We expect, given the title, a collection of acoustic folk songs about flowers.

There are some neat appearances on the record, including one by Adrian Belew.

The band should play live and are already thinking about another record. Also keep an eye out on the internets for some viral video offerings.

For more information head to greghampton.com.

With a charming moniker like Shit Robot how can you go wrong? Irish-born DJ Marcus Lambkin has been a DJ in NY for ages but has never put out a “proper” album of material. Perhaps because labels were confused by the name and feared for the sanitary condition of their office.

But the brave folks at DFA Records felt no such apprehension and will release From The Cradle To The Rave on September 21. A track is placed right about all this writing crap for your aural perusal (the track is a remix of the song I Found Love).

This is what happens when teenage Irish punk’s move to America and grow up. More of them should perhaps move here. It would cut down on Boomtown Rats imitators I imagine….Are there any other Irish punk progenitors? There must be. I drank a lot back then so I could easily have missed them.

Lambkin has been involved in many musical projects and was a co-founder of Plant Music. He is also a cabinet maker which is a much better pick up line than saying “I am a DJ”….

New Collisions, hailing from Boston, have been in existence for about a year. Not as humans, as a band. They are not infants. But I digress. 

The band have played with a slew of other bands, old and new and recorded their debut record, The Optimist, at Fort Apache Studios. Noted producers Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie produced.  The Optimist was recorded in ten days. I am not sure if that is a good or a bad thing but you can decide for yourself by heading to POPMATTERS to hear a track. Regardless, recording a record in 10 days is very punk rock (not saying that is the GENRE of the band mind you).

New Collisions will play songs from the new record as part of the Boston Waterfront Series at Christopher Columbus Park (8/10).

In addition to an appearance at CMJ Cincinnati’s Pomegranates will be releasing their third fill length, One of Us in October on Afternoon Records. The album was produced in conjunction with TJ Lipple of Aloha who has also worked with MGMT.

The September 15 tour is with Colour Revolt. Spin said, after this year’s SXSW that they were the band with the “best shot at the big time.”  Lets hope that sort of pronouncement doesn’t KILL them. They are actually a band well worth giving a listen.

The band’s summer tour ends July 30 with a performance at A.R.M. Fest in Kent , Ohio.  The Fest benefits the Anonymous Relief Mission, a non-profit that assists folks in “transitional situations.” Good to hear the band is playing the fest..

Also check out the Pomegranates Website, which they do not appear to update religiously!

Terrible Things are going on tour. This is not an abstract, broad , statement or commentary about ALL the bands on tour now or in the near future. Rather it is a specific statement about a specific band, Terrible Things.

Terrible Things are Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday), Josh Eppard (Coheed & Cambria) and Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit). Their first , self-titles, full length CD comes out August 31 on Universal Motown. SO, they are are a sort of SUPER GROUP. Like Asia! (ok...not like Asia).

The band plays the Vans Warped Tour beginning at the end of July. In October they  play a series of dates with Mae and Windsor Drive through November.

The third release from The Sword, Warp Riders, is due to be released August 24 on Kemando. A few days ago (I am slow, I apologize). You can hear the album’s first single at the cost of your email address.

Click HERE for free download.

A three-part “video sag” is also set to be released soon. The first track will be Tres Brujas.

Just have to know more? Log on to  www.swordofdoom.com

So one big, bloated Chicago fest is over and another even more bloated one pops up in a week and some change. But the real fest for punk rock fans doesn’t happen until the fall. Put away your fedoras and thrift store-bought filling station shirts and get ready for Riot Fest.

Riot Fest have just announced three new bands that will be playing at the festival: Anti-Flag, Propaghandi and the Circle Jerks’ Keith Morris’ new band OFF!

You can get three day passes or single show tickets beginning July 24 for the fest that runs from October 6-10 at venues all over Chicago.

These three acts join the following; Bad Religion, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Circle Jerks, Articles of Faith, Snapcase, Less Than Jake, The Lawrence Arms, Bouncing Souls, High On Fire, Corrosion of Conformity, Riverboat Gamblers, Red Oktoberfest with Propaghandi, “Busted at Oz” Reunion, Cro-Mags, FUN., Negative Approach, Smoking Popes, Bhopal Stiffs, The Meatmen, Agnostic Front, Off With Their Heads, Brendan Kelly, The Toasters, Roy Ellis a.k.a. Mr. Symarip, Righteous Fool and MORE.

For further information head to the Riot Fest Website.