Get well wishes to a Beastie Boy

Get Well Wishes to
a Beastie Boy
Kristi Kates 8/3/09

An out-of-nowhere announcement was made by the Beastie Boys last week, during which they announced that Beastie Adam “MCA” Yauch has been diagnosed with cancer and will undergo surgery. Yauch spoke directly to fans via a video posted on the group’s website, saying that his docs have told him that the situation is treatable and he’s expected to make a full recovery. The rest of the Beastie Boys have rallied behind him, as the band has cancelled their upcoming tour dates - including the Beasties’ planned stops at All Points West, Austin City Limits, and this year’s Lollapalooza fest in Chicago - and have also postponed the release of their new album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, which was originally scheduled to hit stores on September 18. The Beasties’ label, EMI, is also supportive of the ailing musician, wishing him “all the best and a speedy recovery”...
Matisyahu’s third studio album is finally set to hit stores after a number of delays, having been recorded in various locations over the past year including NYC, L.A., Virginia, and Jamaica. Matisyahu’s latest retains the unusual artist’s dub/reggae/folk sound, on which he collaborates with the likes of producers Sly and Robbie and David Kahne. Tracks included on the new set include “So Hi So Lo,” “Smash Lies,” “Motivate,” and “Silence,” on which Matisyahu steps briefly away from his rap-vocal stylings and tries a little singing. He’s also currently on a summer tour schedule that will run through this month; the new album, Light, will hit stores on August 25...
A Love and Rockets tribute album is set for release on August 18, complete with cover art by Shepherd Fairey (the man responsible for those iconic red and blue Obama posters) and production from Phil Jaurigui (Audioslave.) The ‘80s band, who took their band name from a comic book series, were fronted by singer Daniel Ash - you might recollect their biggest hit, “So Alive” - and are now being lauded by a number of today’s bands, from Better Than Ezra, who will cover that very track, to Dubfire (“I Feel Speed”), The Flaming Lips (“Kundalini Express”), Monster Magnet (“Mirror People”), and War Tapes (“Love Me”)...

Los Campesinos! are bidding farewell to longtime band member Aleks Campesinos, and are planning to add a new member, although no names have been named as of yet; the band has just wrapped up work on their third album, and will be embarking on an 18-day tour throughout the U.S. in the month of August, with shows including stops in Cleveland (8/6), Indianapolis (8/7), Chicago (8/8 at Lollapalooza), Dallas (8/15), and Las Vegas (8/25)...

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
The band that got their big break on MuchMusic’s DisBand series - beating out 700 other bands to appear on the show - have just signed with Universal Music Canada; and they’re already working with producer Gavin Brown (Billy Talent, Three Days Grace) on their debut album, which is expected this fall. Check out a preview demo of their tune “Throw Ya Hands Up” at their official MySpace page, www.myspace.com/stereos, and see what you think of this new band...

MINI BUZZ:
The Pretenders’ North American tour will kick off on August 4 in Rama, Ontario, and will serve as promotion for the band’s latest album, Break Up the Concrete; other city stops will include Washington DC (8/14), Columbus OH (8/16), Chicago (8/18), Council Bluffs, Iowa (8/20), and Los Angeles (9/3)...
Stone Temple Pilots have reportedly written over a dozen songs for what will be their comeback album, and are working with producer Don Was on the new set, which will be their first new album since 2001...
The 2009 Bumbershoot Music Fest in Seattle (September 5th-7th) have added The Black Eyed Peas to the bill, where they’ll perform alongside the likes of Sheryl Crow, Modest Mouse, and Metric...
Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz is set to co-create a new comic book called Fall Out Toyworks, with the first issue slated to arrive on September 2nd...
Blue October’s “Crazy Making Summer” tour with Switchfoot kicks off this week; their first show will be in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and both bands will be taking Ours and Longwave along as opening acts...
Band mastermind Billy Corgan says that he expects the Smashing Pumpkins to have a new recording on the way soon, he thinks as soon as (appropriately) October...
And no waiting, ladies and gentlemen - these recordings are on the way right now... ON CD: Kings of Leon’s Boxed and The Interview Sessions... Our Lady Peace’s Burn Burn... Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet’s Under the Covers Vol. 2... Rick Danko’s (The Band) At Dylan’s Cafe... ON DVD: Hawkwind’s USA Tour 1989-1990... 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


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