Paint the White House green... Irish green... green beer...

By Fred Mills

Only partially deterred by that that little technicality of U.S. law that requires all presidential candidates to be native-born Americans, a group of U2 fans who would otherwise be pumping cash into Bono's run for the White House have been funneling their funds and their energies in the direction of Barack Obama.

U2 Fans for Obama, which boasts 126 core members, has organized some 654 fundraisers during the campaign season thus far, resulting in nearly $18,000 for Obama. They also list as having attended 3,016 events, made 6,865 phone calls, knocked on 37 doors, and made10,268 blog posts. (Wait - only 37 doors?)

In a report about the campaign and various candidates' musical connections and preferences filed by Britain's Times Online, the group of fans have stated on their website and blog that "since Bono can't run for US president, Obama is the next best thing... [We] see in Obama a progressive Christian who embodies the ideas and sentiments . . . so compelling in U2's music."

On the group's blog, a general mission-statement post from early 2007 reads thusly:

I just wanted to say thank you for joining U2 fans for Obama 08.  And, while I'm thrilled that each of you has joined, I'm a bit disappointed that there aren't more of us.  Yes, I know the campaign has just begun, and I know this is what one might call a "niche group" (thank you, James), but I also know that we can't be the only ones who see the Obama/U2 connection!  So tell your friends and get them to join us. 

And if you've got any ideas about how to drum up more members, please let me know, or go ahead and try them.  I've posted an invitation on the forums at interference.com (the U2 fan club site), for example. Finally, if you can think of other ways we can make U2 fans for Obama 08 one of the most active, innovative, and impressive groups on mybarackobama.com, please share them.  Feel free to add to the blog or email me.In the meantime, take care and keep the hope alive.

Obama, of course, hasn't shied away thus far from co-opting U2 music during his campaign (and no one from the band's camp has complained yet, either): at the DNC last week he used both "City Of Blinding Lights" and "Beautiful Day" during his acceptance speech. Which, I might add, is a good bit cooler than using some cracker anthem that the country-ass likes of, I dunno, Brooks & Dunn might offer up....

Jourgensen puts an end to the “rumors,” goes flex-time with the Revolting Cocks.

By Randy Harward

Sometimes it’s hard to retire gracefully—just ask Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simmons. We expected more of a commitment from Al “Alien” Jourgensen, however, when the Revolting Cocks co-founder/frontguy was talkin’ about pullin' out of the band. Now he’s saying he’ll stay… at least for a few choice dates, says a press release sent out earlier this month.

In the release, Jourgensen said, “Much like Menudo does or the Blue Man Group, I was going to hand the band over to this younger generation of RevCo's, to Sin [Quirin/guitars], Josh [Bradford/vocals] and Clayton [Worbeck/keyboards], kind of franchise it out. I think that these three knuckleheads capture the true essence and spirit of being a Revolting Cock, if you will. But, this album turned out so damned good, I think I'm going to stick around for a while.”

He went on to heap praise upon the RevCo’s new album, Sex-O Olympic-O. “This is the best RevCo album I've ever done. As a matter of fact, I think this is the best album—including Ministry, Pailhead, Lard—anything I've ever done, period. Production-wise, song-wise, I'm really, really happy with this record. It's the first CD I've ever gotten back from the mastering studio that I didn't have anything to bitch about. No complaints. I listened to the whole thing and just went, “OK, that's a wrap. Let's go!’”

There’s only one problem left, says vocalist Josh Bradford. “The challenge will be coming up with a name for the RevCo tour, since Al already took all of the RevCo-appropriate tour names such as CliTour, Sphinctour, FornicaTour, and MasterBaTouR for Ministry. We'll probably have a contest on the RevCo MySpace site and ask the fans.”

No, no. Dude—BLURT has gotcha covered.

Tour You A New Asshole

Alien Adduction

Penile ImplanTour

VibraTour

Indecision in Ten Cities

The Return of ScroTour

MitigaTour

Black Black No Takebacks

ReTourDead

You Goddamned Son of a—What, You’re Not Leavin’? Cool.—Tour

FisTour

Taint A Comeback

What do we win?

Really, we don't stay up late thinking this dumb shit up - other folks do.

By Fred Mills

In the wake of the Bristol Palin (age 17) pregnancy story, Barack Obama was unequivocal with his comments to reporters over the Labor Day weekend, saying, "I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics, it has no relevance to governor Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories."

Fair enough. And really, who cares, except a bunch of dumb, uptight, cracker Republicans who spend all their waking hours parsing the exact millisecond of conception? What we at BLURT wanna know is: WHO ARE THE HOTTEST-LOOKING KIDS IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION?

We've already told you more than you need to know about John McCain's blonde, blog-o-riffic babe of a daughter Meghan McCain (see "Bloggin' For Daddy," July 24) - you've voted in our BLURT Poll about Meghan, right? - although decorum, and probably a few federal and state laws, suggests we steer clear of the Obama brood until they turn 18 (which won't be anytime soon). However, in a timely move, 236.com has a great feature running at the moment, "Inappropriate Hottie Rundown: The Veep Kids," in which the progeny of V.P. hopefuls Joe Biden and Sarah Palin are rated in terms of, uh, hotness.

Writes 236, "It's been a long eight years since the Gore girls left Washington, and after a quick perusal it looks like both VP hopefuls have at least a couple of rugrats that really know how to put the "vice" back into Vice President."

Needless to say neither Biden nor Palin fished in the wrong gene pools when it came time to select mating partners, and indeed, you can't lie with DNA. Of the Biden boys, Beau comes out on top with 3.9 out of 4, followed closely by bro Track (3.5) and with Hunter bringing up the rear (a still-not-too-shabby 3). Ashley Biden, age 27, warrants a 3.8, according to 236. Meanwhile, over in the life-begins-BEFORE-conception Palin camp, Bristol only merits a 3.2 - booo! Not fair! There are several other Palins - all well under age - that 236 rates, so if you're a pervert, feel free to read up on them.

This has been a public service - with guitars (and condoms).

Juneau poster by Brian Berrebbi - check him out HERE.

Officially approved 666 times by Lucifer himself.

By Blurt Staff

The legendary Misfits will join the equally legendary Motorhead for the "Volcom  2008" all ages tour which also features Airbourne, Valient Thorr, and Year Long Disaster. This is the first time that the Misfits and Motorhead will perform together in the United States. "We are excited to be hitting the road with Motorhead and cracking skulls together! American audiences have never witnessed destruction on this magnitude," said Misfits founder and frontman, Jerry Only, in a statement.


Fronted by Only (Bass/Vocals) with former Black Flag alum Dez Cadena on guitar and original Misfits drummer Robo still behind the kit, the Misfits continue to sell out shows and draw thousands of fans night after night around the globe. "When fans come to a Misfits show, they get a band who gets up there and gives them all they've got," says Only. "We give them the real thing - that's how we've always done it. At a show, everyone's just part of the band, there's no them and us - we're all us."

Motörhead's still crazed after all these years, too. A band that never sacrifices anything and has always remained true to what they are, Lemmy Kilmister, Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell recently served up Motörizer, Motörhead's 24th album, on SPV Records on August 26 and you can read the BLURT review HERE.

Misfits-Motorhead Tour Dates:

Sep. 04 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
Sep. 06 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore Auditorium
Sep. 07 - N. Kansas City, MO - Harrah's Voodoo
Sep. 09 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
Sep. 10 - Madison, WI - Orpheum Theatre
Sep. 12 - Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN - Myth
Sep. 13 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Orbit Room
Sep. 14 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
Sep. 16 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
Sep. 18 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live!
Sep. 19 - Philadelphia, PA - The Electric Factory
Sep. 20 - New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
Sep. 21 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony Parking Lot

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

6:00 AM  - 9:00 AM PLD HD: Glastonbury 2008 (big launch of MTV's renamed HD channel... featuring KT Tunstall , The Ting Tings , The Feeling , Candi Staton , Editors , Lupe Fiasco, Crowded House , Duffy , James Blunt , Vampire Weekend , Raconteurs , Mark Ronson , Tawiah , Newton Faulkner , Crystal Castles , Goldfrapp , The Pigeon Detectives

9:00 AM Syndicated: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Gavin Rossdale , Hilary Duff , Usher

2:30 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Airborne Toxic Event

3:30 PM PLD HD: 46664 - A Concert for Nelson Mandela

4:00 PM Syndicated: The Oprah Winfrey Show: Diddy

5:00 PM VH1C: Brian Wilson: That Lucky Old Sun

6:30 PM FUSE: Loaded: Gym Class Heroes

7:00 PM PLD HD: Music In High Places:  Ryan Adams in Jamaica

8:00 PM PLD HD: Music In High Places: Goo Goo Dolls in Alaska

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Tricky

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Brian Wilson , Billy Bob Thornton

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Delta Spirit

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

[SSLYBY photo by Rogan]

Takes place Sept. 10-14 in Nashville.

By Blurt Staff

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE:

With Next BIG Nashville's 3rd Annual Music Festival and Conference just around the corner, the full line-up of daytime panels and conference activities has officially been announced. Sponsored by The Recording Academy and EMMA Email Marketing, the panels take place at the Musicians' Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame on September 11^th and 12^th. Following the NBN 08 Music Conference theme "21^st Century DIY," the featured topics are aimed at the issues facing the changing nature of the music business and increasing opportunities for independent artists and business owners.

Music business insiders, digital industry leaders and artists will participate in the discussions, featuring a Keynote Interview with Ben Folds by Esquire Magazine's Andy Langer, a Red Bull Academy Workshop Session with Egon (Stones Throw Records), a star-studded Management panel featuring Carl Stubner/Sanctuary(Mick Fleetwood, Tommy Lee), Ken Levitan/Vector (Emmylou Harris, Kings of Leon, Damien Rice), Steve Smith/Co-Founder, AWARE and Doc McGhee (KISS, Jypsi, Ted Nugent) and a world class co-writing panel featuring Dan Wilson (Semisonic, Dixie Chicks), Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket,  Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra, Howie Day), and Daniel Tashian (Donovan Frankenreiter, Sixpence None the Richer).

Other NBN 08 Music Conference Panelists include Steve Robertson/VP A&R Atlantic Records, Clint Smith/Co-Founder, Emma, Dave Jaworski/Founder & CEO, Passalong Networks, Lou Plaia/VP of Artist Development, ReverbNation, Chris Stacey/VP, Music Industry Mozes, Patrick Sullivan/Co-Founder RightsFlow, Carianne Brown/Sr. Creative Licensing Songs Publishing, Thaddeus Rudd/Co-Founder, Rebel Synch, Roger Moutenot/Producer (Yo La Tengo, Sleater-Kinney, Jessie Baylin), Jacquire King/Producer (Kings of Leon, Pictures and Sound), Sharal Churchill/Founder, Media Creature and many more. For the full list of panelists and panels visit www.nextbignashville.net/conference .

Spotlighting Nashville's diverse music scene, NBN 08 will showcase over 200 bands at over 15 venues this year including those based in Nashville, along with those that have ties to the area through business and musical endeavors (i.e. management or publisher based in Nashville, recorded at a local studio, co-wrote with local artist, etc) and regional performers. Next BIG Nashville co-founder Jason Moon Wilkins describes the event as "a way to connect musicians, the music industry and the media to the music fans of Nashville and its visitors. It's a story that can be told about the city and the scenes within the city."

Festival wristbands and festival/conference VIP Badges are now officially on sale through the website http://www.nextbignashville.net/tickets. Full schedules for artist showcases, conference panels and special events can be found at www.nextbignashville.net.

ABOUT THE SHOWCASES:

This year NBN will host several indie label showcases from Skybucket (Birmingham, AL), Grand Palace (Murfreesboro, TN), Chicken Ranch (Austin, TX), and Infinity Cat (Nashville), as well as showcases from music organizations such as Nettwerk Management, NSAI, Lake Fever Productions, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and Mr. Lemons Studio.

As one might expect from the songwriting capital of the world, the NBN '08 lineup includes a wide variety of singer-songwriters from all genres including rising stars Jeremy Lister (Warner Bros.), Erin McCarley (Universal Republic), Matthew Perryman Jones, Andy Davis, Courtney Jaye (Universal Republic), Madi Diaz, Katie Herzig, Tyler James and Megan McCormick, along with respected Nashville names such as Matthew Ryan, David Mead and Butterfly Boucher. "Ten Out of Tenn," the live touring showcase companion to the CD compilation featuring Boucher, Jones, Herzig, McCarley, James, Davis, Griffin House, KS Rhoads and Trent Dabbs, will close the conference on Saturday night at the Cannery Ballroom.

In addition to the array of Music City talent on display this year the NBN 08 lineup also offers performances by acclaimed regional artists such as Dead Confederate, The Bridges, Neva Geoffrey, The Dexateens, Sons of Roswell, The Howlies and Royal Bangs. Nashville's internationally respected indie scene, which counts among its members Lambchop, Silver Jews and David Vandervelde among others is well represented with performances by Cortney Tidwell, Ferraby Lionheart, JEFF The Brotherhood, Kyle Andrews, How I Became the Bomb, Magic Wands, Paper Route (Universal Motown), Superdrag, Paper Rival (Atlantic) and others.

And it wouldn't be Nashville if we didn't have a little twang in there! NBN '08 offers a spotlight for a variety of diverse country-influenced artists such as Caitlin Rose, Danger Bear, Chris Janson, Joey & Rory, Whispertown 2000 (the first signing to Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings' Acony label), Sarah Siskind, Glossary and more.

As a leading voice in Nashville's emerging artist community NBN has showcased numerous Nashville rising stars over the last two years, and has proven to be valuable instrument in the emerging artist arena. After NBN's first event, 17 of the 36 featured acts signed deals in the ensuing months following their showcases. The second year of the festival, the event expanded to showcase almost 150 artists whose credits now include everything from major label record deals to exclusive tie-ins with international brands. NBN Alumni include American Bang (Warner Bros.), Matt Wertz (Universal), Dave Barnes (Razor & Tie), De Novo Dahl (Roadrunner), Gabe Dixon Band (Fantasy), Justin Townes Earle (Bloodshot), Cage the Elephant (DSP), Landon Pigg (RCA) and more.

Over 50 more artists will be announced in the coming weeks. For the full initial artist list of over 150 confirmed participating acts, go to http://www.nextbignashville.net/artists.

He don' need no steenking permissions!

By Randy Harward

Ya gotta wonder what would possess the McCain campaign, just after getting spanked by a wuss like Jackson Browne, to tempt the unstable four-headed hydra called Van Halen.

McCain drew Browne's ire for using "Running On Empty" in an ad attacking Barack Obama. Now he's used VH's "Right Now" as his entrance music at the Republican National Convention--again, without seeking permission, prompting the legendary rock band to play the cease-and-desist card. From TMZ.com:

Van Halen management tells us the band had no idea McCain was planning on using "Right Now" during his big entrance in Ohio telling us, "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given."

For the record, Dubya used the same song during a bunch of his campaign speeches back in 2004, but sources close to the band tell us, "They're not political, they're just rock and roll."

Yeah, but it's probably fine with Sammy Hagar, who actually sings the song--and gave money to George W. Bush's 2004 campaign and consistently donates to California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R). That's one more reason you should support the real Van Halen when they manage to get their act together and record some new stuff. Unless it sucks.

Er, did we just flip-flop?

Burn baby burn: Playing Washington Nov. 4.

By Blurt Staff

Years ago they were "banned in D.C." (and got a song out of the deal, but still... ). Nearly 3 decades later, rasta punks the Bad Brains will be playing D.C. on that most auspicious of Washington-esque evenings: Election Night.

That's right: Nov. 4 finds the original lineup rocking the 9:30 Club. Now don't you feel good about that? Pay to cum, kids.

November 4 - 9:30 Club, Washington D.C.

November 6 - Irving Plaza, NYC

Novermber 9 - Waterloo Park, Austin TX

All the concert news ‘n' reviews that's fit to print.

By Blurt Staff

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT - this time, we've got the Outside Lands fest in San Francisco and the Regeneration Tour 2008 in Cincinnati.

• *BLURT Associate Editor Andy Tennille made the proverbial prodigal return to his old stomping grounds of San Francisco the weekend of August 22-24 to catch the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park featuring, among others, Radiohead, Tom Petty, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and Wilco rocking the assembled masses. The event was not without its problems, notes Tennille. "Due to the park's landscape, festival organizers were forced to work with its existing layout, resulting in several narrow bottlenecks that made travel between stages extremely difficult and crowd management next to impossible. Sound gremlins continually plagued the event [and the] topography and location of some stages - such as the Twin Peaks stage - presented aural snake pits for festival sound engineers trying to achieve pristine sound. All that said, the focus of the weekend was the music, and promoters - Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly Presents and Starr Hill Presents - did not skimp on the talent." Check out Tennille's exclusive photos from the event, incidentally.

• *The next evening Steven Rosen was getting his inner I Want My VH1 Classic groove on at the Regeneration Tour 2008 at Cincy's National City Pavilion. Featuring Human League and ABC plus Brenda Carlisle, A Flock Of Seagulls and Naked Eyes, the show was a mixed bag, writes Rosen. "Several of the acts - Naked Eyes and a ragged A Flock of Seagulls, whose synthesizer player/vocalist Mike Score no longer has that fantastic tidal wave of a haircut - are better remembered than actually heard these days [but] ABC and Human League made a compelling case for the quality of their music. Somewhere in between was Belinda Carlisle, whose stage presence was energetic and voice strong, but whose songs mostly are bland and uninteresting."

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We've also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

[Sharon Jones photo by Andy Tennille]

By Ben Westhoff

Let's get one thing straight: I did not get Sarah Palin's daughter pregnant. Although I have been to Alaska and enjoy the occasional Mooseburger, I did not have sex with that woman. Girl.

I will admit, however, to being wild and on the prowl on the first day of the Republican National Convention, held in downtown St. Paul. The atmosphere was almost exactly like that of a post-apocalyptic movie, with giant fences separating the privileged controlling elite from the screaming masses, some so poor they apparently can't afford deodorant and even rummage through dumpsters for bits of tofu burgers. (Red eyed folks in tattered clothes stumbled around as well, although they were less "infected" than "sprayed with tear gas.")  

‘Twas a different scene entirely inside the Xcel Energy Center, where the Minnesota Wild normally play hockey, and which adjoins the hall where my high school graduation ceremony was held. The convention floor was as quiet as a mouse, or perhaps a rat, as President Bush and VP Cheney had opted out of their speeches to go battle Hurricane Gustav. (To quote The Church Lady: "How conveeeenient.").This left us only with Cindy McCain, who spoke about the relief effort, and Laura Bush, who spoke about her battle fighting an addiction to Capri Menthol Lights cigarettes (just kidding).

The, um, elephant in the room that the 17-year-old unmarried daughter of McCain's unvetted VP pick, Alaska governor babe Sarah Palin, was preggo. This was the third game-changer of the week, following the hurricane and the initial announcement that the VP slot was going to a creationist nut job who until recently was the mayor of Cicely, Alaska or some such. (Speaking of which, somebody really needs to get John Corbett off of those Applebee's commercials and back in the DJ booth where he belongs.) Word from nearby adjoining red states was that the baby bump could spark a poll numbers bounce, leaving the mainstream media liberal elite scratching their bald spots.

Outside, anarchists busted a few windows and declined my interview requests. (They think they're so cool.) The rest of the 10,000 protesters marched in well-behaved and confusing fashion. I for one never did understand what running your car on vegetable oil, universal health care and medical marijuana have to do with "Israel out of Palestine" and the war in Iraq, but whatever. Riot-geared up police lined the streets; most of them were apparently from out of town because no one could tell me how to get to Harriet Island, where the Service Employees International Union protest concert was being held across the Mississippi river.

I eventually made it over there, though, only to find that the performer I was most looking forward to seeing had canceled. (Someone speculated that Lupe Fiasco is a disenchanted Hillary supporter won over to McCain by the Palin pick, but that's probably not accurate). Though fairly subdued, the crowd seemed to enjoy political ramblings and occasional guitar strumming of folks like Tom "The Nightwatchman" Morello, Billy "why couldn't I have been born 80 years ago goddammit" Bragg, the delicate, beautiful Allison Moorer and her hideous beast of a husband, Steve Earle. (Apparently Mos Def and The Pharcyde came on later, but I was too busy leaving comments on the Stuff White People Like blog to pay attention.)  

Morello tells me beforehand that he's not there to support Barack so much as to support the union and fuck with Republicans. "I feel much more comfortable on the other side of the barbed wire fence lobbing musical Molotov cocktails in," he says. "The only candidate that I've publicly endorsed in my life is Cindy Sheehan when she was running against Nancy Pelosi."

He and Earle became buddies about five years ago on the "Tell Us the Truth Tour" (something about media consolidation, abolishing the death penalty and organic arugula, probably). They bonded over their mutual love of Lord Of The Rings, annoying Billy Bragg by watching the six hour extended version of The Two Towers over and over on the tour bus. Since then the pair have continued their activist ways, although their actions have not always been appreciated.

"I witnessed Al and Tipper Gore practically levitate to avoid having their picture taken with me," remembers Earle. "[Al] was speaking at a place called The Belcourt Theatre in Nashville, and a couple friends of mine tried to drag me into this photo op. You should have seen the look of terror on their faces. They were horrified. I'm sure the camera was tracked down immediately after I left."

Recalls Morello: "At the SEIU mayday rally in Chicago, Mayor Daley was on stage waiting to speak after I finished a rousing version of Woody Guthrie's ‘This Land Is Your Land,' complete with all the censored verses. It turns into a real class-war anthem, and at the end of it I asked everybody up on stage to jump up in down in solidarity with workers' rights. I think the mayor was kind of caught of guard, but he did jump up and down, to his credit."

The pair certainly seemed a bit more committed than, say, Atmosphere emcee Slug, who like the protesters downtown has a tendency to stray a bit off message. "I don't rock their name in interviews or anything like that," he says of the union, "but I'm not necessarily against what they stand for." That's quite an endorsement. He goes on: "Quite honestly, it didn't have to be this cause, it could have been fucking Haagen Dazs. If they were out there throwing a festival across the river from the RNC, and they had Tom Morello, I still would have done it."

After the show, I ghostwalked a bit more around the perimeter of the convention center, 28 Weeks Later-style, and then went back inside. Bill O'Reilly announced on one of the overhead screens that Obama's convention bounce had all but evaporated, and the race was now neck and neck. I think it's fair to say Sarah Palin's grandfetus is holding all the cards right now.   

Contemplating life and, uhh, some other stuff.

By Fred Mills

Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, will issue album number four, everything is borrowed, October 7 via Vice. Skinner is "contemplating the impermanent nature of life this time around," advises his label, going on to add that he's "made a record to console the lonely and bring a smile to the saddest visage."

Er, right.

Wielding live instruments, the British hip-hopper tackles on the album religion ("Alleged Legends"), evolution ("The Way of the Dodo"), biological destiny ("On the Edge of a Cliff"), and male friendship ("The Sherry End"). Yes, our little Mikey has grown up an got hisself and ed-u-CA-shun. No more bitches and blow - that's so, like, 2005.

In all seriousness, though, the Streets got cred: Skinner debuted with the Mercury Prize-nominated debut Original Pirate Material, and regardless of people's initial impressions of him (black or white? from London or the Midlands? serious or a joker?), he's lasted long enough to be considered in da game for life. So he can rap about whatever the hell he wants to.

Watch "The Escapist" video and receive a free download of the track:

http://vicerecords.com/thestreetseib/

Diddy to McCain: Alaska? I don't even know if there's any black people in Alaska.

By Randy Harward

"Attention John McCain, attention John McCain: My name is Diddy. Okay? You may know my by government name--Sean Combs--but, you know, my friends and my family, they call me Diddy, a.k.a. Ciroc Obama. We'll get to that on a whole 'nother blog. But right now, I had to check in witchoo to tell you that you are bugging the fuck out."

So says Sean "Diddy" Combs in a halting, borderline incoherent rant on his "Diddy Blog #16." As Diddy films himself spinning around in his yard, he proceeds to tell McCain his choice of running mate is absolutely insane and--if we understand correctly, it's because she's a white woman from Alaska. Here's more from the post, which you really have to watch in its entirety:

I don't even understand--what planet you're on right now... This is the job to be the leader of the free world. Okay? No disrespect. I love you; I want you to live to be 110.

Things happen. What if--God forbid--you got a runnin' mate, you become president-- Alaska? Alaska. Alaska? Ala--come on, man. I don't even know if there's any black people in Alaska.

John, like, come on. This isn't--Sarah Pi--?! Yo, if you really think that we gonna let you win this election with these... these like, crazy... decisions that yo'reu makin'? You're buggin'. Okay? I'm calling all youth, all colors, all youth...voters, November 4th, we gotta protect our future because John McCain is bugging the fuck out. Okay? Like, the lady's nice. She's cool... [Trails off watching helicopters overhead]

She's a heartbeat away. Just li--uh-eh, si--oh, shi-- And then she--the president! She gonna be on the phone, oh man, for South Korea, or like--what's she-- I mean-- What in the hell? Alaska?

You shoulda got Michelle Obama to be your runnin' mate. Now that would've been something strategic and fly. This one right here? Is not respectful to our lives, diverse lives... Anybo-- Yo... You would let her keep your kids? You would let her keep your kids, raise your-- You feel like... For real? Nah. You're bugging the fuck out. You my man. God bless you, you're a great war hero, but you are bugging the fuck out. Sarah Palin, that is completely irresponsible.

It loses a lot in the transcription. Go watch it. Then check out Diddy Blog #12," where he opines on gas prices and says (in the info section), "Attention all media and hate bloggers. This blog is just me making a joke about gas prices. Loosen up."

Well, stop giving us so much to work with, halfwit.

(Thanks to Jamie Gadette for the tip.)

Four-day event from the people who brought us "Record Store Day."

By Blurt Staff

After the landmark event/national holiday "Record Store Day" comes "Noise In The Basement," a four-day (Sep. 17-20, Baltimore) festival from the same organizers. Over 700 indie record stores from the US and Canada will be represented at the gathering, which will feature performances by The Pretenders (holding a special album launch for their green-minded Break Up the Concrete), The Hold Steady, Motörhead, Unearth (as part of the "Search For The Next Great Metal Band"), Tom Morello, Valient Thorr, Noah & the Whale, Year Long Disaster and Rachel Yamagata, among others. The documentaries Heavy Metal in Baghdad and The Gits will be screened "as part of various film and gaming events."

Closing out Ripple Effect festival at State Capitol Lawn.

By Fred Mills

5:45 pm EST: With the free Ripple Effect festival in progress right now in Minneapolis-St. Paul at the State Capitol Lawn as one of several concerts this week coinciding with the Republican National Convention, it's activist nirvana in the Twin Cities - and BLURT has just learned that none other than that most active of musical activists, Rage Against the Machine, is going to do an unannounced set at the Ripple Effect.

The band has kept the news hush-hush all day long, reportedly because the city police have been trying to get the festival shut down and Rage doesn't want to give the cops any additional incentive. But if all goes as planned, the group will go on between 6 and 6:30 pm local (Central zone) time. The concert was advertised as ending around 7 pm. So this is a natural fit - kids, you might not get home on time today like you planned.

Also on the bill: headliner Michael Franti, plus Dead Prez, Anti-Flag and Wookie Foot. Guest speakers include Medea Benjamin, Will Steger and Winona LaDuke. You can go to the Ripple Effect site HERE.

Rage, recall, is already scheduled to play a regular (if anything is "regular" in Minneapolis-St. Paul this week) concert Wednesday night at the Target Center. And Rage guitarist Tom Morello, in his other guise as the Nightwatchman, performed yesterday at the Service Employees International Union protest concert along with Billy Bragg, Steve Earle, Mos Def and the Pharcyde. (Read BLURT's coverage of the Monday events HERE.)

But in a statement issued last week, Morello broadly hinted that his band's involvement during RNC week might extend further than merely walking out onto the stage of an arena. Said Morello, "While there's a lot of clinking of champagne glasses and toasting one another and passing big checks back and forth inside the convention, there's a reality on the streets outside that will be represented by the Nightwatchman and Rage Against the Machine and Anti-Flag and all the other bands playing to protest in Minneapolis-St. Paul. We'll be outside the barbed-wire fences throwing musical Molotov cocktails toward the fences."

Let the tossing of Molotovs begin.

Band arrives to play Ripple Effect but isn't allowed to go onstage.

By Fred Mills

Thwarting Rage Against The Machine's plans to play a free, unannounced show late yesterday afternoon at the Ripple Effect festival in St. Paul, local police shut the concert down promptly at 7 p.m. - the original curfew time for the event. (Read our report of what led up to the show and Rage's proposed appearance HERE.)

Apparently the band got to the State Capitol lawn where Ripple Effect was taking place too close to that 7 p.m. curfew and additionally lacked a permit to play, so the police barred them from taking the stage.

According to a report filed by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, an antsy crowd began chanting while the band and event organizers conferred, shouting "Free speech!" and "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!" (a key, early Rage lyric) and singing "The Star Spangled Banner." Ultimately, members of the group joined the crowd and with vocalist Zach De La Rocha wielding a bullhorn sang a cappella versions of "Bulls on Parade" and "Testify" before marching en masse with the 2000-strong crowd towards the Xcel Energy Center.

According to a Ripple Effects spokesperson, the police deliberately held up the event to prevent Rage from going on, saying, "A state patrolman held the band and wouldn't let them enter [backstage] until it was too late." However, a representative of the Minnesota State Patrol indicated it was because the band was not included on Ripple Effect's permit and that "the concert ended on time... it was quite a peaceful day of music otherwise."

Speaking of a peaceful day: subsequent media reports said that while the band members wound up leaving the march after reaching the Center, a number of marchers in the crowd, which had swelled to 4000, stormed the security fences outside the RNC and tried to break them down, resulting in the police using teargas on them.

Rage Against the Machine performs at the Target Center in Minneapolis tonight as part of a previously scheduled concert. No doubt there will be additional, unscheduled comments heard from the stage, however.

Fresh off Coldplay tour...

By Fred Mills

Santogold announced yesterday her first headlining US tour, dubbed "The Goldrush Tour." It's presented by MySpace Music, but don't hold that against her - tours are expensive to mount these days, yo.

This comes on the heels of arena dates with Coldplay (don't hold that against her either, it had to be great exposure). and as a headliner she'll have her full band and a DJ, playing most of her acclaimed self-titled debut (Downtown/Lizard King).

9/19:  New York, NY @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza

9/20:  Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

9/23:  Philadelphia, PA @ TLA

9/24:  Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre

9/25:  Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

9/27:  Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall

9/28:  Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

9/30:  Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall

10/01:  Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre

10/04:  Seattle, WA @ Showbox

10/05:  Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

10/07:  San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore

10/10:  San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

10/11:  Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

10/13:  Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

10/14:  Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern

Directed by the mighty Julien Temple, natch.

By Fred Mills

THERE'LL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND is directed by none other than Julien Temple and, as you might suspect from the headline, it's a Sex Pistols film. Temple previously was behind The Filth and the Fury, of course. This time around we get a document of the band's live performance at Brixton Academy last year. The performance celebrated 30 years since the release of Never Mind The Bollocks.

In addition to this are 98 mins of extras which features the band's "unique guide to London" and the places and venues that shaped punk, with some never-before-seen archive footage and interviews exclusive to THERE'LL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND.

John Lydon offered in a statement, "Buy one get one for the same price as one." Meanwhile, director Temple was a bit more forthcoming, saying, "This film is about the unique electricity between the Sex Pistols and their audience. The amazing cross section of the crowd at a Pistols gig is like no other, and the Brixton shows last year brought the band to a whole new generation as well as to those that have been there from the very beginning. THERE'LL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND documents a unique band in every sense."

Rhino/FremantleMedia Enterprises will release THEYRE'LL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND on DVD on October 14. That same day, Rhino will reissue Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols on 180-gram vinyl. All together now, kids: let's count how many times the album has been reissued.... Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

THERE'LL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND Tracklisting:

1.        Pretty Vacant

2.        Seventeen

3.        No Feelings

4.        New York

5.        Did You No Wrong

6.        Liar

7.        Beside The Seaside

8.        Holidays In The Sun

9.        Submission

10.      (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone

11.      No Fun

12.      Problems

13.      God Save The Queen

14.       EMI

15.       Bodies

16.       Anarchy In The UK

17.    Roadrunner

Special Features: The Knowledge - The Pistols Guide To London

“Boy, Did She Teach You Nothing” makes world premiere at BLURT…

By Blurt Staff

We’ve got a world premiere exclusive video here for ya: “Boy, Did She Teach You Nothing” is by London’s beloved Absentee, and it comes from their new album Victory Shorts, due — appropriately enough — on November 4 on Memphis Industries (of Go! Tam, Pipettes and Ruby Suns fame). Trust us, you ain’t heard some kickass power pop like this since the heyday of the Plimsouls or the Church.

What the hell’s up with all those balloons?!?

Anyhow, here’s the scoop about the band and the album direct from the label…

Victory Shorts is the sound of a band whose time has come. Tackling themes of premature marriage proposals, adultery, lost property, love, and broken crockery, Absentee provide the soundtrack for every lost soul who took a wrong turn whilst looking for the right one.  Born to the sounds of Barry Manilow and The Carpenters, raised on romantic comedies, and schooled in failed love and misfiring lust… Absentee emerge well-versed in the rigours of romance with their finest album to date, Victory Shorts.

Finding a seat somewhere between unreachable romanticism and hopeless realism, Victory Shorts offers lush mini romantic tragedies for those who thought Casablanca ended a little too abruptly.

Album opener "Shared" sets the scene with a couple pleased as punch that they found each other, until things take a darker turn with Absentee smashing their way through "Boy, Did She Teach You Nothing?" latest EP title-track "Bitchstealer" and "Love Has Had Its Way" in an attempt to get to the truth of the matter: Happy endings don't come easy.

"The Nurses Don't Notice a Thing" takes us on a walk with someone looking for hope in a maternity wing: "our eyes meeting as your waters break and I'm born again as him or her," meditating on the beauty of innocence as: "the simplest feelings of love explode into the room like cowboys in saloons… I want to clap but it seems inappropriate." In "We Smash Plates" the lovers' first argument and consequent makeup is summed up in a mess of broken crockery: "I ask you kindly to take a seat whilst I'm sweeping broken china from around your feet, like a miner bringing riches from the core... we both smile knowing there will always be more".

By album closer "That Old Ghost", we're left contemplating a lovers' grip: "the way that you hold me, it won't be my heart that breaks first" and the enduring qualities of love found the hard way: "you don't have to ask me if you want me to stay... I'm not a bird, I'm not a whore... you can just clap your hands and make me run away".

Marked by the influence of Johnny Cash, Pavement, and The Velvet Underground, produced/engineered/mixed by Nick Terry (Klaxons, Libertines, Bernard Butler), and shot through with the originality and humour we've come to expect from Absentee, Victory Shorts stands alone as the band's strongest, most honest record yet.

By Blurt Staff

The good folks at Above The Fold snagged top-quality video footage of Rage Against the Machine talking to the crowd a the Ripple Effect festival yesterday and then leading them in a capella versions (bolstered by bullhorn, natch) of Rage songs. You can read the details of the incident, in which police blocked the band from performing onstage, at our prior report.

Check out the video - good solid ten minutes' worth, in fact...

By Blurt Staff

Sophomore platter features some notable players...

Now that's some rockin' Foo: Guitarist Chris Shiflett, of Foo Fighters / Me First and the Gimme Gimmes fame, unveils his other band's new platter this week. Harmony and Dissidence is the sophomore release by Shiflett's Jackson United and it's described by the band's label, Acetate Records, as "a collection of guitar driven anthems reminiscent of punk's glory days a la The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers." Shiflett is joined by his brother Scott (Face To Face) and the Foos' Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins appear on the album.

Sounds good to us! The band hits the road next month so don't miss ‘em.

Oct 01 - Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory
Oct 02 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Oct 03 - Reno, NV @ Club Underground
Oct 04 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby
Oct 05 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre w/ Flogging Molly
Oct 17 - Arcata, CA @ Arcata Community Center/Humboldt State Univ.

Oct 18 - Sacramento, CA @ Radisson Hotel/The Grove
Oct 19 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Oct 20 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Oct 24 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl at The Palms Concert Theatre

When you're hot, you're hot!

By Fred Mills

Good ol' boy Jerry Reed died Monday of complications from emphysema. The hitmaking country singer and good-humored actor (a native of Atlanta) was 71.

While a lot of people associated Reed with his redneck cinematic image - in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s  he famously starred in all three Smokey and the Bandit  films with Burt Reynolds - among music aficionados he was known as a gifted guitarist and tunesmith, initially scoring big in 1967 with the hit "Guitar Man" (later covered by Elvis) and going on to an impressive chart run with songs such as "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot You're Hot," and "Lord Mr. Ford." Years later he enjoyed a second hitmaking life with witty numbers "The Bird" and "She Got the Goldmine (I Got The Shaft)."

Reed also collaborated with his friend Chet Atkins, was a regular on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, briefly hosted his own variety show and continued to work in film and TV.

Fun fact: in 1972 he was turned into a ‘toon and he played himself in an episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, "The Phantom of the Country Music Hall." Now THAT's entertainment.

Rest in peace, sir.

The RNC and its protesters, day two.

By Ben Westhoff

So much rage in downtown St. Paul, and yet not nearly enough Rage. In town to perform at the Target Center on Wednesday, Rage Against The Machine was to play a free, unannounced show at the State Capitol on Tuesday evening - at least according to teenagers on Twitter, in any case.

The day after the convention's riotous opening ceremonies, folks who didn't have to go back to work (students, hippies and anarchist punks, joined by about 500 police officers) gathered on the capitol lawn for something called Ripple Effect. Most would call it a "free concert" featuring acts like Michael Franti, Dead Prez, Anti-Flag and the unfortunately named Wookie Foot, but organizers preferred "events" "embracing the core values of the environmental and social justice movements, with a collective understanding that the solutions to these problems will require us to break down issue and generational barriers." 

I'm not sure if any issue barriers were broken down that day, but the great unwashed chillaxed as hard as they could, playing with those green "floating" orb things, attempting (unsuccessfully) to double dutch and meditating in a giant rectangle. Phone numbers were exchanged, utopian alternate universes were contemplated, and the world's only "Nader/Gonzales ‘08" sticker was applied to a backpack.

It seemed that everybody was still exhausted from the previous day's protest marches, window smashing and urine stockpiling. You know leftists are tired when they can't even get pumped up by a Medea Benjamin speech. But when word of Rage's imminent arrival began to leak across the internet, the assembled (or at least those who could afford an iPhone) began to perk up. The crowd began to balloon around 6, when folks got off from their jobs at the skate shop and the juice bar and made their way downtown.

Anti-Flag had taken the stage in a flurry of black and pink, and were now working the crowd into a frenzy with brief bits of inspiration like, "The world sucks. So let's party!"  Folks moshed like it was 1999, and bassist/hype man Chris #2 dropped hint after hint that something big was about to happen. When they departed the stage they left all their instruments; the idea was that Rage would pick them up and play four songs.

Though you wouldn't think too many of St. Paul's finest would have copies of Evil Empire (or be Twitter savvy), the cops were wise to the plan, and -- since they didn't have the manpower to accommodate such a hugely-popular act - moved to halt the proceedings. Upon Rage's backstage arrival at 6:30, they were detained by a group of Minnesota State Troopers, of all people. As riot guard police and bike cops surrounded the premises, a trooper wearing one of those sweet flying saucer hats (she looked something like Marge Gunderson in Fargo) kindly informed Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello and the like that they didn't have the necessary permit to go on stage.

Rocha didn't get worked up about it - dude must meditate his ass off - and instead, while the chanting crowd screamed for blood (or at least for "Testify"), he plotted with his mates a way to keep the crowd from killing anyone while simultaneously creating a sense of, um, collective understanding about breaking down generational barriers.

The band exited past the police behind the stage and weaved out to the front of the crowd, where they implored their delighted minions to take a seat. Most everyone immediately sat; one suspects if Rocha had asked them to poop in their pants they would have done it. Next, bullhorn in hand, the group led those within ear shot in a short set of acapella sing-a-longs. Call it Rage karaoke -- sans machine, of course.

After twenty minutes or so of this, the band implored the assembled to rise, and they lead them in a march towards the Xcel center, where former lazy-presidential-candidate  Fred Thompson was preparing to address another group of dogmatic people. The bike cops pedaled nervously alongside the marchers (I'm going to suggest there were about 3000 people), and guards wearing pads and gas masks stood nervously along the route. No windows were smashed -- that I saw anyways -- but when they reached the perimeter of the buffer zone in front of the convention center, folks began shaking and rattling the fences. The police gave them a few warnings and then, according to reports from the front line, began firing off tear gas and those little bombs that make a lot of noise.

So, party over. Everybody hopped aboard their fixed-gear bikes or skateboards and headed back home, just in time to catch Big Brother 10.

In conclusion, it's fair to say that the day two protests felt less like a post-apocalyptic movie and more like a professional wrestling match. Though bloodlust was in the air, no one really got injured, and observers couldn't help feeling as if the whole thing was just a little bit scripted.

[Photo Credit: Neil Reiter]

Release the hounds! Meanwhile, Lars fiddles while his label steams…

By Fred Mills

When a record store in Paris yesterday reportedly, and “accidentally” sold copies of Metallica’s new album Death Magnetic (how do you do accidentally sell something?), it immediately found its way online. It’s not due in stores until Sept. 12, but both the music and the album artwork is on the web now.

Despite that, drummer Lars Ulrich told American radio station Live 105 that, unlike in years past, he’s not that chapped about illegal file sharing anymore. "Listen, we're ten days from release. I mean, from here, we're golden. f this thing leaks all over the world today or tomorrow, happy days. Happy days. Trust me. Ten days out and it hasn't quote-unquote fallen off the truck yet? Everybody's happy. It's 2008 and it's part of how it is these days, so it's fine. We're happy."

BLURT is damned happy you’re happy, Lars. Meanwhile, below is a message from Metallica’s label and marketing team at Warner Bros. that was circulated via music industry observer Bob Lefsetz. It suggests that not everyone in the band’s camp is as blithe as Ulrich about all this.

***

WE ARE NOT SERVICING METALLICA MUSIC !!!

We know it has leaked on some bit torrent sites. So what, that happens all the time and we are not changing our plan. Please tell radio NOT to play other songs, even if they stole the record. We are vigorously fighting to get it off the internet the best we can.

They are our partners and we have a ton for them that could be in jeopardy if they play other music (other than “My Apocalypse” or “Cyanide”). Am Ex spent a bunch of money in the majors, per our direction.

ATT spent a ton of money based on our direction.

Clear Channel has a "Sneak Peak". All with CONTENT.

We have a premiere EXCLUSIVE for radio hosted by Dave Grohl and Taylor.

We have a tour and pre sale that many many stations are part of.

We have the biggest marketing plan for a record ever happening RIGHT NOW and they need to be our partner. It’s that simple.

There are 2 other songs, “My Apocalypse” and “Cyanide,”  that are floating out there and on iTunes. We are considering servicing those tomorrow morning to promote the premiere and also to let radio know we care about their needs... but for now PLEASE explain this as need be. Thanks.

All Aboard: A Tribute To Johnny Cash to benefit the Syrentha Savio Endownment.

By Blurt Staff

Anchorless Records today announced All Aboard: A Tribute To Johnny Cash benefiting the Syrentha Savio Endowment (SSE), a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to underprivileged victims of breast cancer. The comp features performances by the Dresden Dolls (with The Hold Steady’s Franz Nicolay), The Loved Ones, Gaslight Anthem and MxPx as well as debut solo performances from Lucero’s Ben Nichols, Russ Rankin of Good Riddance and Smoke or Fire’s Joe McMahon.

From the press release: “It is our hope that through this record we are able to introduce a new generation of music fans to the songs and importance of Johnny Cash via their favorite artists. The liner notes include quotes from each artist, expressing their feelings on the impact Johnny Cash has had on them both musically and personally.”

The vinyl version of All Aboard will feature an alternate version of "Delia's Gone" by Ben Nichols of Lucero. Expect a full album stream to be featured on www.Punknews.org starting October 21.

Track Listing:

1. Man In Black: The Bouncing Souls

2. Country Boy: Fallen From The Sky

3. Wreck Of The Old ’97: Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music)

4. Let The Train Whistle Blow: Joe McMahon (Smoke or Fire)

5. Delia’s Gone: Ben Nichols (Lucero)

6. God’s Gonna Cut You Down: The Gaslight Anthem

7. Cocaine Blues: The Loved Ones

8. Give My Love To Rose: OnGuard (feat. Jason Shevchuk of Kid Dynamite and None More Black)

9. I Still Miss Someone: Casey James Prestwood (Hot Rod Circuit)

10. Hey Porter: MxPx

11. Cry,Cry,Cry: The Flatliners

12. Ballad of a Teenage Queen: The Dresden Dolls feat. Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady

13. Folsom Prison Blues: Chon Travis (Love = Death)

14. There You Go: The Sainte Catherines

15. I Walk The Line: Russ Rankin (Good Riddance, Only Crime)

16. Bonus Track/Vinyl Only: Delia’s Gone (Alternate Version) Ben Nichols (Lucero)

About The Syrentha Savio Endowment (SSE)

The Syrentha Savio Endowment (SSE), an Internal Revenue recognized non-profit organization, provides financial assistance to underprivileged women who cannot afford the expense of fighting breast cancer. Since their inception in 2002, SSE has raised funds through a handful of programs including The Shirts for a Cure Project, The SSE Benefit Concert Series, annual charity dinners, awareness walks and online auctions. SSE has awarded gifts to organizations that help women in struggling neighborhoods find the means to fight this killer. For more information on SSE see www.syrentha.org.

(Photo: Lucero, by Sam Holden)

Band to perform final album for MySpace program “Front to Back”

By Randy Harward

Ben Folds Five will reunite for a one-night-only performance on the inaugural episode of MySpace’s “Front to Back,” celebrating “iconic albums that have helped shape the MySpace Generation.” Folds, bass player Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee, who haven’t performed together in a decade, will perform their final album, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner at the UNC Memorial Hall in their former hometown of Chapel Hill, NC on September 18.

“When MySpace approached me about doing this gig,” say Folds in the press release, “I misunderstood and thought they wanted us to play Purple Rain front to back, so of course I said yes. But we're happy to do The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner instead. Of our three albums, this one brings back the most vivid memories. It was actually written to be one song of many movements, which is why there are motifs that appear throughout the album. That should make Reinhold a natural to be played front to back.”

Anybody else out there kinda wishing they would perform Purple Rain? You know, just to hear Folds and Sledge do the Wendy and Lisa dialogue from “Computer Blue?”

Folds: Wendy?

Sledge: Yes, Lisa?

Folds: Is the water warm enough?

Sledge: Yes, Lisa.

Folds: Shall we begin?

Sledge: Yes, Lisa.

Proceeds from the show will benefit Operation Smile. For more details, visit MySpace’s “Front to Back” page.

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM NBC: Today: New Kids on the Block , Ne-Yo

9:00 AM Syndicated: Live with Regis and Kelly: LeAnn Rimes

10:00 AM Biography: Beatles' Women

11:00 AM ABC: The View: Terrence Howard

12:00 PM VH1C: Brian Wilson: That Lucky Old Sun

3:00 PM PLD HD: Genesis - When in Rome

4:00 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: In Concert: Neil Young

6:00 PM Ovation: Live from the Artists Den: Crowded House

9:00 PM HBOS: Almost Famous (2000)

10:00 PM Biography:: The Barry White Story

10:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: Brian Wilson, Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Duffy

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Game

12:00 AM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Sonic Youth , Jose Gonzalez , Laura Marling

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Amy Macdonald

1:00 AM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!): Scarlett Johansson / Death Cab for Cutie

1:00 AM Ovation: Lou Reed: Live at Montreux

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Ben Harper

See if you can guess how many original songs the Boss has composed specifically for cinema.

By Fred Mills

It's long been a given that popular artists' songs find their way into movies (cinema buffs cannot live on symphonic scores alone). And it's often thrilling when one of your favorite artists actually composes material specifically for a film.

In the case of Bruce Springsteen, it might actually surprise you how frequently he's granted permission for his music to be used in films - check this tally at IMDB.com if you're curious - since he's also been known to dig in his heels pretty deep when it comes to anyone co-opting the "message," as it were, of his art; hence his steadfast refusal to allow his songs to be used in commercials, and then only sparingly letting songs be borrowed by politicians and various causes.

Nor has Springsteen been exactly a tunesmith for hire when it comes to Hollywood. You can count on one hand the films he's composed or earmarked previously unreleased material specifically for use in scenes, over credits, etc. John Sayles' gorgeously moody film Limbo (1999) featured the Springsteen song "Lift Me Up" to breathtaking effect, while, likewise, Sean Penn's harrowing 1995 Jack Nicholson vehicle The Crossing Guard included "Missing," and the Boss' friend Jonathan Demme commissioned the songwriter to do "Streets of Philadelphia" for his '93 Oscar-winning Philadelphia. Quality tunes, all, and perhaps it's partly due to Springsteen's selectivity in choosing those types of projects that the material is so strong and so memorable.

Now comes word - courtesy The Playlist - that filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, who recently finished up The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood, has convinced Springsteen to do a closing-credits tune titled, simply enough, "The Wrestler." The soundtrack itself apparently will be studded with a lot of has-been hair metal by the likes of Great White, Cinderella, Def Leppard and Motley Crue, but the Springsteen number was written specifically for the film.

According the The Playlist, quoting Aronofsky's blog, "Bruce Springsteen wrote a beautiful original song for the closing [of] the film. Called ‘The Wrestler' it is a wonderful acoustic piece. Makes me choke up every time I hear it. He really captured the spirit of the film and Mickey's character in the piece."

The film premieres this week at the Venice Film Festival and will also be screened at the Toronto and New York festivals. Reportedly, it features at the moment a rough or working version of the song and that Springsteen has pledged to get his final version to Aronofsky in time for its premiere.

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid...

By Fred Mills

Well, the Republicans wound up their robot last night and aimed her in the direction of the RNC podium, and she performed perfectly - too perfectly, in fact. In the time it took to deliver her I-got-good-Christian-maverick-cred/now-let's-go-get-that-scary-black-man speech, Sarah Palin went from MILF to maniac (and I'm not talking the pole-dancing "Maniac" sort, either). She was that scary, and if the Obama campaign underestimates her, we can, in the words of one of my esteemed colleagues, expect the Democrats to fumble the ball in the end zone once again.

Meanwhile, while the McSame campaign gets ready to ratchet up its New Improved Variation On The Southern Strategy - e.g., to bring soccer moms and disaffected Hillary voters under the same tent that's housing the closet racists and the Christian crazies - let us take a quick breather, come out of the trenches, and enjoy some of the wit, wit and more wit that the Palin ascendancy has prompted from pundits and funnymen alike.

In Tuesday's NYMag.com a feature titled "Sarah Palin Jokes: Is McCain's V.P. Making Politics Funny Again?" pointed out that a veritable deluge of Palin-themed humor has hit the media circus. A couple of our favorites that NYMag.com highlighted:

• "She's not bad-looking. She looks like one of those women in the Van Halen videos who takes off her glasses, shakes out her hair, and then all of a sudden, she's in high heels and a bikini. All of a sudden, I am FOR drilling in Alaska." -Jimmy Kimmel

• "John McCain's V.P. pick is the governor of Alaska, a unknown hockey mom named Sarah Palin that no one ever heard of. The only other job she had in politics was the mayor of a small town known as Wasilla, Alaska, and now she has the opportunity to be on a ticket opposite of Barack Obama, the first black man she's ever seen." -Bill Maher

• "She does know about international relations because she is right up there in Alaska, right next-door to Russia." - Fox News' Steve Doocy "When you think about it, Alaska is also near the North Pole, so she must also be friends with Santa." -Jon Stewart

Check ‘em out at the above link....

"Get a grip on reality!" says the rocker, on how high the stakes are this year.

By Fred Mills

For nearly 2000 words, Anti-Flag frontman Justin Sane - having appeared just yesterday at the Ripple Effect protest concert in St. Paul - weighs in on his latest BLURT blog about the 2008 election. "I'm voting against Godzilla-sized evil," announces Sane, going to outline in lucid detail both his reservations with and decision to vote for Obama, what a disaster the 2000 and 2004 elections turned out to be (he notes that he was "totally wrong" about presuming that Gore and Bush were essentially the same candidates and that he now regrets voting for Nader), the imminent threat that McCain (aka "McSame") poses to our country should he win the Presidency, and a laundry list of exactly what's at stake this year.

"Don't fuck up!" he concludes, urging everyone reading his blog to put some serious thought and research into the election and to get out and vote.

You can read Justin Sane's "Their System Doesn't Work For You" blog HERE. Feel free to leave your comments, too - it's a pretty lively interaction he has going with his readers.

Paleface and Mo be rockin' the roost...

By Blurt Staff

Last December, when Paleface and Mo charmed the bejeezus outta BLURT during an opening set for the Avett Brothers, we knew we would be fans for life. Now comes word that Paleface has inked a deal with North Carolina label Ramseur, longtime home of the Avetts, which plans to release his new album The Show Is On the Road early next year.

You can read our comments at the above link and also check out the goods directly at the official website: www.palefaceonline.com . Meanwhile, below is a capsule history of Paleface handily provided by the label. Enjoy!

***

1989 Paleface meets Daniel Johnston. Daniel teaches him how to write songs and Paleface begins to make home tapes, which in the following years will evolve into sought after underground bootlegs.

1990 Roommates and burgeoning songwriters, Paleface and Beck hang out in the Lower East Side, NYC. Danny Fields (Stooges,The Ramones, MC5, The Doors, etc.) discovers him at Lach's Antihoot and signs on as his manager.

1991 Polydor signs Paleface to a major label deal; he writes and records his first album Burn and Rob.

1992 Paleface is excited for his first album tour, but is mismatched with tourmates The Judybats and then The Crash Test Dummies. Not long after, he tours with Billy Bragg and gains his own following laying the foundation for his grass roots fan base. He appears in Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine.

1993 Paleface begins work on his second record, but A & R badgering keeps him awake at night and by the end of ‘93 he gets dropped because the record company doesn't understand the new songs.

1994 He records Generic America produced by Kramer for the indie label Shimmy Disc. With the touch of one finger, Kramer erases the masters. Consequently, the record doesn't come out.

1995 The New York Post does a feature article on Paleface in Lisa Robinson's column. Toward the end of ‘95 he signs to Sire Records. Hanging out behind the bar at Coney Island High, Paleface finds out he's been signed to Sire from Jesse Malin, (D-Generation), who had read it in the paper earlier that day.

1996 Sire releases PF's album, Get Off, about the same time as Beck's Odelay. Sire doesn't want to compete with the marketing and one month later Paleface is dropped.

1997 A bit disillusioned with the music industry, he begins a spring tour with The Breeders and Lutefisk. Rightfully pissed off, they all indulge in too much substance consumption.

While touring near Vegas Paleface gets shakes, Lutefisk breaks up soon after, and The Breeders album gets shelved.

1998 Paleface alters his lifestyle and starts the process of restoring his health and well-being. Paleface also begins a very prolific writing period; he produces and records some of his best songs as lo-fi underground bootlegs.

2000 Paleface meets and becomes friends with a new breed of artists which includes The Moldy Peaches, Langhorne Slim, and Regina Spektor at Lach's Antihoot in NYC and releases his famous underground classic The Multibean Bootleg.

2001 Jason Carmer (The Donnas, Run DMC,) and Arion Salazar (Third Eye Blind) invites Paleface out to San Francisco to make a new record, but the sessions are postponed after the events of September 11th. PF releases another one of his home recordings, The Couch Tape, and sells out his bootlegs at shows.

2002 Paleface forms a new band called "Paleface" with Monkeybone and they gig around New York. Monkeybone is a vehicle for Paleface to showcase the new songs that he's writing faster than the band can learn them. During this period, Paleface plays gigs with The Moldy Peaches and other New York emerging rock bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and is introduced to their audiences.

2003 Along with his re-emerging solo career, PF experiments with the Americana sound and forms a new side project called "Just About To Burn." They release their first record, Produced by Paul Kostabi ("Ena") and the band tours London. The crowds love the new songs and the new sound.

2004 Free Your Mellow is recorded and released as a new Paleface solo record.

2005 Paleface is invited by The Avett Brothers to their mountain recording hideaway to join in the making of Four Thieves Gone. 31 songs are recorded including 5 PF songs from which "Dancin Daze" is chosen for the final release. Later that year The Multi-bean Vol 2 is compiled and released.

2006 "I Just Wanna Play Guitar" is recorded with old friends Momotaro, Julian Summerhill, and Ena. It is released in Germany on the trash/punk rock label Wanker Records. Refurbished Just About To Burn begins recording anew. The band has grown to a four-piece.

2007 Paleface (and Mo)  hit the road and tour all over the US.  They are both featured on The Avett Brothers record Emotionalism (Ramseur), which sells close to 50,000 copies in its first year.

2008 Paleface releases "A Different Story" and continues to tour nationally.

[Photo Credit: Cheater Slick]

Not to mention has no less than two albums en route this year too.

By Blurt Staff

As previously announced in this space, Charlie Louvin will release two new albums on New York City's Tompkins Square label.

Steps to Heaven, due September 16^th, 2008, features ten traditional gospel classics including two Louvin Brothers songs. The release will be followed by Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, out December 9, 2008. Both