Legendary Grand Ole Opry aims at return

Aug. 8, 2010

Legendary Grand Ole Opry Aims at Return
Nashville’s landmark Grand Ole Opry venue, which has hosted performances by everyone from Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, and The Byrds to Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood, is in the midst of $17 million worth of renovations to repair the damage the Opry sustained during May’s Tennessee flood. The Opry was partially submerged under two feet of water, which destroyed the stage, store, dressing rooms, and most of the wiring throughout the building. Now, it’s set to reopen on October 1, so keep your eyes out for a revitalized show schedule...
Snow Patrol have some unique ways in which they construct their Brit-rock songs; drummer Jonny Quinn mentioned in a recent interview that the band writes their tunes all over the place, from the beach to the tour bus, dressing rooms to the recording studio itself - and also in phone booths, since “no one is using them anymore” due to the mobile phone craze. With all that songcraft going on, it’s no wonder Snow Patrol are prepping to record their new album, for which they’ll enter the studio in October; the album is slated to drop sometime in the first quarter of next year...
Richard Ashcroft’s new album - which will be released under the name United Nations of Sound - was recorded in NYC, L.A., and London with Jay-Z producer No ID, and hits stores this week. The set will include songs “Are You Ready?” “This Thing Called Life,” “Beatitudes,” “Royal Highness,” and “Glory,” and will also include contributions from musicians Steve Wyreman (guitars), Paul Wright (bass), and Derrick Wright (drums)...
Sebadoh/Dinosaur Jr. member Lou Barlow, who has recently been touring with Tom Watson and Raul Morales as “the missingmen,” has released Sentridoh III, an EP that’s being pitched as an “almost live” representation of the trio’s live show. The disc includes new versions of tunes from Barlow’s solo albums, a cover of “I’m So Glad” by Skip James, and the original tune “Losercore.” Barlow/the band will continue touring the rest of this summer, with shows in Washington DC (8/18), Nashville (8/21), Minneapolis (8/25), Chicago (8/26), Toronto (8/28), and Philly (9/3)..

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
R.E.M. have just celebrated the 25th anniversary of their third album, Fables of the Reconstruction, with a double-disc reissue that drops a second disc of unreleased tunes and demos, titled The Athens Demos, along with the album itself. Rolling Stone helps commemorate the set’s release with a cool photo gallery following the band’s progress at www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/18092/105871...

MINI BUZZ:
David Gray’s eighth album, Foundling, is set for release on August 17; the album will include a bonus 9-song disc of previously-unreleased material, and Gray will promote the disc with a tour this August/September...
Indiana band The Contortionist recently wrapped work on their new album, Exoplanet, on which they collaborated with producer Ken Susi...
Britpopster Robbie Williams is set to release a new single, “Shame,” in October; the single will also feature vocals from former fellow Take That singer Gary Barlow...
U2, who had to cancel their big Glastonbury Festival appearance this summer to allow Bono to recover from emergency back surgery, are likely to be invited back to take that headliner spot next year...
Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch’s production company, Oscilloscope, is set to release William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, a documentary about the legendary Beat writer featuring Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth, and Patti Smith...
Status Quo will kick off a gigantic UK tour in November, with stops scheduled in Cambridge (11/12), Birmingham (12/4), and at London’s Wembley Arena (12/11)...
ON CD: Gasoline Silver’s Gasoline Silver... Landing on the Moon’s We Make History Now... and Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions on this column or your favorite musicians? Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com