Beasties back on track

Oct. 18, 2006

Beasties back on track
The Beastie Boys are serving as headliners for the Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue benefit concert this week in New York City at the Maritime Hotel’s Hiro Ballroom. Hosted by Rational Animal and the ASPCA, the event’s purpose (besides to entertain, of course) is to raise funds for local animal rescue groups and to promote NYC’s mission of eliminating animal euthanasia by the year 2010. Also set to appear on the bill are The Star Spangles, Marshall Crenshaw, Nellie McKay, and a special appearance by Debbie Harry...
 
Former Matchbox Twenty rhythm guitarist Adam Gaynor has a new project, and it’s coming to you straight outta San Antonio, Texas - namely, the five-piece band Electric Crush, who first boldly approached Gaynor at a gig stating that they were “big fans” of his band.  Well, that gamble paid off, as Gaynor is now part of Electric Crush as their co-manager and producer. With a sound reminiscent of the Goo Goo Dolls or M20 themselves, the band spent last week filming a music video for their song “Taking Away,” which (the song, not the video) will be used in the upcoming unofficial 40th anniversary Star Trek movie Of Gods And Men. And, later this month, they’re relocating their whole crew to L.A. in order to focus on their songwriting and to prepare their next release with Gaynor at the wheel - find out more at www.electriccrush.com...
 
Also from L.A., The Foo Fighters are prepping to release a live CD and DVD that they recorded at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, complete with 15 songs and an expanded band lineup that made room for keyboardist Rami Jaffee (who has also worked with The Wallflowers) and violinist Petra Haden. The part acoustic, part electric set includes favorite Foo songs “Big Me,” “Walking After You,” “My Hero,” “Everlong,” “Times Like These,” and “Over and Out” - the CD will hit stores on November 7, with the DVD to follow later that same month...

Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn will help promote his new album *Nightcrawler* by launching his headlining tour on October 23 in Tucson, Arizona, and he’ll follow that opener with another 15 shows throughout mid-November, with more set to be added. Following Yorn’s own live shows, he’ll hop on board with the Dixie Chicks as their opening act, and will stick with the Chicks through the beginning of December. In case you’re wondering how this particular connection got made, Yorn met the Chicks at an after-Grammy party in NYC, he co-wrote a Dixie Chicks song (“Baby Hold On”) and one of Yorn’s own songs, “The Man,” features contributions from Dixie Chicks Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire...
MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:  Oasis have filmed a brand new video for their not-so-brand-new song “Acquiesce” - the clip was shot in London and Japan and features a whole host of Oasis wannabes - check it out now as it premieres on Yahoo Music
(http://music.yahoo.com)...
MINI BUZZ:
MTV’s been busy getting everything ready for their 2006 mtvU Woodie Awards,
which will be taped October 25 at the Roseland in NYC - the whole show, including performances from TV on the Radio,
Beck, and Imogen Heap, will air on MTV on November 4...
In other Beck news, look for him in fine Beck form on the October 28 episode of Saturday Night Live...
The Rolling Stones have announced two shows set to take place at NY’s Beacon Theater on October 29 and 31; the events will be part of the grand finale for former President Bill Clinton’s 60th birthday party, which is set to span that entire weekend;  if you want to see the Stones and wish Bill a happy birthday, packages start at “just” $60,000, probably, merely the cost of a hammer or a stapler in government-budget-speak...
UK modern rockers Starsailor will be returning to the tour scene, promoting their latest (and third) album, On the Outside with a series of opening sets on James Blunt’s upcoming North American tour, which starts
next week...
Taking Back Sunday have wrapped work on their “Liar” video, which bears a strong hand-drawn resemblance to the idea behind A-Ha’s award-winning “Take On Me” video...
Kylie Minogue launched her publishing career last weekend in London, where she greeted a crowd of British fans at the launch of her children’s book, which is the story of her tour, based in part on pictures drawn and sent in to her by young fans...
 
And being sent to a CD store near you for your purchasing pleasure are this week’s new releases...  ON CD:  Beck’s The Information...  Aussie band Jet’s Shine On... The Decemberist’s The Crane Wife... The Changes’ Today is Tonight... Sean Lennon’s Friendly Fire... and Mewithoutyou’s Brother, Sister... ON DVD:  Coldplay’s Love, Actually... Louis Armstrong - Jazz Icons: Live in ‘59... Bad Brains - Live at CBGB... and The Pixies - Club Date: Live 2004... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
 
Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions about this column or your fave musicians?  Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com