Modern Rock

Oct. 20, 2004

Blurring the lines...
Brit modern rockers Blur are prepping to release a documentary that brings together footage of the band as they toured Europe between 1991 and 1994, just after the release of their first two albums. Called Starshaped, the doc features live clips of the band during their first Reading/Leeds festival appearance, as well as additional footage of them at Glastonbury and various shows in England, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. Even some very early gig footage – including an entire show from the Kilburn National Ballroom – is included for those die-hard Blur fans. Starshaped will be released on the Virgin Records imprint, and is set to be in stores in November...

Incubus will drop a live DVD titled Alive at Red Rocks in November; taped in July at, of course, the Colorado outdoor venue that the disc is named for, the DVD will feature live versions of Incubus’ hits “Drive” and “Wish You Were Here,” among others, and will be accompanied by a bonus audio CD featuring the previously unreleased studio tracks “Follow” and “Pantomime,” as well as several B-sides. Also on the DVD will be additional footage of backstage and soundcheck shenanigans. And you XBox players will be able to hear “Follow” again when the new “Halo” game is released on November 9, as the Incubus song is included there, as well...

NBC TV’s 1960’s-themed show American Dreams is preparing to welcome a whole new slate of musical guest stars during its third season. Among the musicians that will be appearing on the show are Alanis Morissette, who will play a folk singer; American Idol’s Fantasia, who will portray Aretha Franklin; Idol’s Kelly Clarkson, who will make her second appearance on the show as Brenda Lee; and newbie JoJo, who will step into the role of an inexperienced Linda Rondstadt. Also expected to take on guest roles are Phantom Planet, who will appear as The Zombies, and rockers Hawk Nelson, who will take on the roles of The Who. American Dreams airs at 8 pm on Sunday nights...

And, back in the “real” world, Dirty Vegas are getting ready to hop on the tour bus in support of their upcoming sophomore album, One, which is due in stores on November 30. Their tour schedule will kick off on October 26 in Washington, DC, and will pass through New York (10/28), Chicago (11/1), Detroit (11/3 at the State Theatre), Columbus OH (11/6), and Minneapolis (11/9) before wrapping up on November 26 in Tucson, Arizona. Contrary to the band’s name, they won’t make a concert stop in Las Vegas, though –they’re hitting Reno, Nevada, instead...

MINI BUZZ:
Radiohead are about to drop a new DVD titled The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth Of All Time that will feature 24 short films related to their Hail to the Thief album - the DVD, which will only be available via the band’s official website (www.radiohead.com), is set for release on December 1, but can be pre-ordered now...
Matchbox Twenty guitarist Kyle Cook, along with non-M20 musicians Brett Borges (drums), John Kibler (bass), and Eamon Ryland (vocals) will release the debut EP from his side project, the New Left, on October 29...
U2 are in the planning stages for a 2005 tour that they hope will hit the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan...
Australia’s Falls Festival, which takes place on New Year’s weekend just outside Melbourne, is busily adding tons of modern rock acts to the concert bill, including De La Soul, The Living End, The Black Keys, The Panics, Xavier Rudd, and Billy Bragg...
Back in the Rumor Mill, music biz rumblings have it that Pink Floyd are discussing a reunion tour that’s tentatively being scheduled for next year...
Everclear, who have just released a best-of compilation CD, will hit the road to promote same, with stops scheduled for Philadelphia (11/3), Boston (11/10), Chicago (11/16), and Minneapolis (11/18)...

And just released this week for your listening pleasure are these new discs... ON CD: Camper Van Beethoven’s first album of originals since 1998, New Roman Times... The Dears’ No Cities Left... Flickerstick’s Tarantula... Sum 41’s Chuck... Jimmy Eat World’s Futures... and Mos Def’s The New Danger... ON DVD: Phish: It... VH1 Storytellers - Rod Stewart... and Los Lonely Boys - Texican Style (Live from Austin)... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Questions, comments, rants, raves about this column or your fave artists? Send ‘em to Kristi at expressmodernrock@hotmail.com!