Band taps into global warming

May 23, 2007

Global warming? It’s none more black of an outlook, if you’re Spinal Tap. That’s right - the landmark ’80s hair-and-spandex metal band are back in black (and other assorted metal-friendly colors) as part of the continuing movement to raise global warming awareness. The band will reform to play the Live Earth concert in London on July 7, and the Tap, along with filmmaker Marty “Rob Reiner” DeBergi, will also appear in a new special short film set to premiere at NYC’s Tribeca Film Festival.  The film will outline Spinal Tap’s “long history of charity work,” which includes “the feeding of Caesar Salad to starving ferrets” and “helping people cursed with high insteps” (ahem.)  They’ll also (seriously, folks) release a brand new Spinal Tap single as part of their environmental efforts; listen for “Warmer Than Hell” on a radio-station-with-a-good-sense-of-humor near you...
 
The Decemberists are teaming up with a variety of big-name local orchestras for a five-city U.S. tour that will showcase the  new orchestra arrangements that Sean O’Loughlin created for the band’s songs. The unusual pairing (although it’s not that unusual, really, if you consider The Decemberists’ own eclectic instrument choices) will include songs from the band’s latest release, The Crane Wife, and will include stops in L.A. (7/7 with the L.A. Philharmonic), Philly (7/15 with the Mann Festival Orchestra) and Chicago (7/18 with the Grant Park Orchestra)...
 
Foo Fighters are still out there fightin’ foo (sorry, couldn’t resist) and, in addition, have been working hard with Pixies producer Gil Norton on what will be their latest album since 2005’s In Your Honour.” The new tracks are said to be “big and powerful,” and a move forward for the band’s trademark sound. No release date has been set yet for the disc, but fans can catch the Foo Fighters at the Live Earth shows on July 7, and chances are, you’ll get a preview of new Foo songs, too...
 
Australian cult indie rockers The Go-Betweens are set to be the subject of a tribute album dubbed Write Your Adventures Down that will pay homage to the critically-acclaimed Aussie songwriters/performers. Fellow Australian musicians Glenn Richards and Dan Kelly are just two of the artists contributing tracks to the disc, which is set for release on Sony secondary label The Red Label on June 11...
 
MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:  Looking for an excuse to go camping in Canada in July? Well, here’s a great one - the Ottawa Bluesfest, which kicks off on July 5 and runs to the 15.  The event will feature over 140 bands on five stages, including appearances from the White Stripes and Bob Dylan, and tix are already on sale.  Check it out at www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca...
 
MINI BUZZ:
Swedish indie-popsters Peter Bjorn and John have snagged dates at both Coachella and this summer’s upcoming Lollapalooza festival;  the festival dates will be part of the trio’s summer headlining tour...
The two-day Wolfe Island Musicfest is set for August 10 and 11 this year near Kingston, Ontario, and will feature sets from Wolf Parade, Spiral Beach, Weeping Tile, and Apostle of Hustle...
California quirk-rockers Cake are simultaneously prepping for the release of their B-Sides and Rarities album and their sixth new studio album, which is as yet untitled and due in the first quarter of 2008...
Ozzfest founder Ozzy Osbourne is set to present his first new studio album in six years;  look for Ozzy’s Black Rain in stores this week...
Former The Darkness lead singer Justin Hawkins is already moving forward and has debuted some new
solo songs online,
including “Whichever” and the Queen-influenced rocker “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore.” Hawkins says that these songs, among others, will be on his first solo album, which he’s dubbed Panther...
In this week’s Strange Hip Hop News, rapper-turned-actor Will Smith is said to be resuming his Fresh Prince alter-ego and will reunite with rap partner DJ Jazzy Jeff later this year for a new album and tour...
 
And here are some new releases you won’t have to wait for... this week ON CD:  Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky... Rufus Wainwright’s Release the Stars... former Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan’s Are You Listening... Joe Strummer’s The Future is Unwritten... Ozma’s Pasadena... and Balkan Beat Box’s New Med... ON DVD:  Elvis Lives: The 25th Anniversary Concert… Rock n’ Roll’s Greatest Teen Idols... The Knack’s On Stage at World Cafe Live... and Chick Corea’s Live in Barcelona... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
 
Questions, comments, rants, raves, sugges-
tions on this column or your fave musicians? 
Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com