In the news today, millions of people were glued to their Facebook accounts as they sobbed their way through the Michael Jackson memorial. Those who did not watch have gone on record saying they found the obsessive teary updates annoying.
In other news, former Tucson garage band Harlem was signed to seminal indie label Matador (home to bands like Sonic Youth, Belle & Sebastian, Interpol, Pavement, etc). If you are a Tucson band wondering what it takes to get signed, wonder no more. It takes hard work, great songs, the catchy-cool-sloppy-Black-Lips-sound and… a move to Austin.
Also getting yourself heard in the blogosphere can’t hurt. Get Gorilla vs. Bear, Pitchfork and satellite radio on your side like Harlem did and you’re golden. Add an air of mystique – months and months ago, I heard a Sirius XMU DJ complain that she loved the band, but couldn’t find any information on them.
Just make sure you move away from Tucson. Yeah.
Harlem’s second album will come out on Matador in 2010. And guess what? If you missed them before they bolted, the band is playing a free patio show at Hotel Congress on July 11 at 8 p.m. with one-woman act the Tambourines! Yay!
For more info, visit www.myspace.com/harlemduh or www.hotelcongress.com.
Photo by Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star
In other news that makes you want to move away from Tucson, in the case of
The Developers vs. Rialto Theatre, at press time the city council meeting that was to determine the fate of the Rialto properties just adjourned. The burning question at hand is will the Rialto staff be booted from their offices, storage and green room space after being served a 10-day eviction notice by developers? In the end it’s still up in the air.
The latest is that it was moved to have the Rialto pay for an appraisal of the property in addition to 90 days rent. Discussions between the Rialto, developers and the city will continue and hopefully an agreement will be made in a few months.
Yesterday, Rialto booker Curtis McCrary explained, “Both Councilmembers Glassman and Trasoff are working toward some kind of compromise scenario wherein we wouldn’t be evicted, some time to work out a new deal would be purchased, and all concerned would go back to the table to work something out. We’d be happy to explore such an arrangement, and we’re hopeful that some solution will be found tomorrow.”
He continued, “Ultimately, we’d prefer a disposition that didn’t involve condemnation/eminent domain simply because coming to agreement is always better. We want there to be as much comity as is possible. But we can’t do what we’re there to do unless we are secure in the space that we need. We hope the council understands that.”
Read more here and here and keep your fingers crossed for a resolution that will keep the Rialto running smoothly well into Tucson’s future.
Photo by Sean Bradian, courtesy of Park the Van Records
If you haven’t had the pleasure of bearing witness to Tucson’s lovable scruffs Golden Boots (“Who’s scruffy lookin’?”) yet, it’s about damn time. The foursome draw from the likes of the impish psychedelic folk of Donovan to the forefathers of alt-country (Flying Burrito Brothers, we’re looking at you), but they describe themselves as “crumbly Western and alt-alt country.”
Later this month the Boots will launch a mini western tour in support of their excellent album, Winter of Our Discotheque, out on Park the Van Records earlier this year. Californians will have the chance to see them with North Carolina’s Floating Action and New Orleaners The Generationals. And Tucsonans can catch all three bands when our road warriors play their final tour date at Club Congress on Aug. 4.
Dates and venues are as follows:
07/30 Costa Mesa, CA: Detroit Bar w/ Floating Action, Generationals & Eagle Winged Palace
07/31 Hollywood, CA: Hotel Café w/ Floating Action & Generationals
08/01 Merced, CA: tba w/ Generationals
08/02 San Diego, CA: Bar Pink w/ Floating Action & Generationals
08/03 Phoenix, AZ: the Trunkspace w/ Floating Action & Generationals
08/04 Tucson, AZ: Club Congress w/ Floating Action & Generationals
Those of you looking for a fresh place to rock out might be interested in knowing that the bar at The Best Western (Royal Sun) at 1015 N. Stone (just a hop, skip and a jump from beautiful downtown Tucson) will be having occasional shows. Flagrante Delicto, Mr. Free & the Satellite Freakout and Rory O’Rear have already played to jubilant audiences and there will be more to come, though at this point not on a highly regular basis.
To get the inside scoop, friend them on MySpace here and keep an eye out for updates. The Best Western is also an excellent spot for karaoke – take it from Mullarkey, the Karaoke King. After all, he actually went on a US karaoke tour. No joke.
Anyone out there have any juicy tips on all things Tucson music related? If so, shoot them over to alake@aznightbuzz.com.
