Also on the bill: Portastatic, Chris Stamey, Greg Humphreys and Electric Owls.

By Fred Mills

Yet more indie rockers are stepping up to make a case for early voting in this year's Presidential Election. On Oct. 28 (that's next Tuesday) in Asheville, NC, a stellar cast of artists will be performing at a get-out-and-vote free concert.

Asheville's own Reigning Sound, along with Tift Merritt, the Electric Owls (featuring the Comas' Andy Herod and Jason Caperton, Archers Of Loaf's Matt Gentling and the Gutter Twins' Cully Symington), Portastatic, Hobex frontman Greg Humphreys and Chris Stamey. (The latter three also perform a few days later at a similar event in Chapel Hill.) The show takes place at 8 pm that night at local venue the Grey Eagle - one of BLURTs' favorite watering holes, incidentally.

According to a report filed by The Independent, tickets will be given away starting Oct. 23, thru Oct. 25 and also on Oct. 27 until they are gone. The location for tickets will be Zeis Hall on the campus of UNC-Asheville.

Officially due in stores Oct. 28 but you can hear it now for the next 48 hours.

By Fred Mills

Starting today Ryan Adams is streaming, absolutely free and with no obligation whatsoever to you, the consumer, his new album with the Cardinals, Cardinology. The record is due next week, Oct. 28, but you can hear the whole thing streaming for the next 48 hours, so get those browsers fired up and head over to iLike.com.

To listen to Cardinology, go to: www.iLike.com/ryanadamsandthecardinals

Adams & the Cardinals will also personally introduce Cardinology to their fans via original video content that iLike will syndicate to iLike.com, Facebook and other social networks and online platforms beginning on the album's release date. A few hand-selected iLike user/Adams fans will also have a chance to gain entrance to a surprise event in New York City on October 28. More details will be announced in a special iLike bulletin on October 27, the night before Cardinology's release.

This is called "marketing synergy," no?

Rolling up for a supersized free concert in Richmond this Sunday.

By Fred Mills

Yet another change-minded rocker has signed up to perform a free concert in the hopes of keeping the wave of early-voting moving forward. This time it's a pretty huge artist, too: Dave Matthews, who along with his buddy Tim Reynolds, will appear this coming Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Alltel Pavilion in Richmond, VA.

In a statement issued by the Matthews camp he's urging Virginians "to vote for the change we need - affordable, accessible health care for every American, tax relief for middle class families struggling in this economy and a responsible end to the Iraq war."

The show will have tickets distributed to students and Virginia residents. Two free tix per person will be available on first-come/first-serve basis. Full details are below.

***

SUN, OCT. 26, 2008

"Last Chance for Change" with Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds

Where:           
ALLTEL Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Media access: 5:30 p.m.
Doors open: 6:00 p.m.
Show starts: 7:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.barackobama.com/dave.


 
TICKET LOCATIONS

***Tickets are available starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18. Campaign for Change offices are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.***

Richmond Campaign for Change Office
1710 E Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23220

Charlottesville Campaign for Change Office
104 Wertland St.
Charlottesville, VA

***For security reasons, do not bring bags and please limit personal items. No signs or banners permitted.***

The Chicago trio tours across America

By Mandy Rodgers

Pit Er Pat is busy performing and promoting High Time through the month of November. The group has already visited Chicago and Columbus and still has plans to hit Baltimore, New York, Montreal, Philadelphia and Los Angeles to name a few of the cities on the schedule.

High Time features a different sound for the trio with drums, sequencers and other percussion instruments. Members Fay Davis-Jeffers, Rob Duran and Butchy Fuego recorded the album at their own studio, "Top Cat."

According to Thrill Jockey Records, "If you're familiar with the off-kilter post-rock stylings of their previous efforts, you'll find those sounds are still here but now awash with dub and tribal influences as Rob and Butchy tighten their rhythms and bring layers upon layers of beats into focus."

Listen to "Evacuation Days" from High Time at:

http://www.thrilljockey.com/drop/freebies/PitErPat_EvacuationDays.mp3

Oct 17  Chicago, IL     Abbey Pub w/DMBQ

Oct 18  Ann Arbor, MI   East Quad Music Co-Op

Oct 19  Columbus, OH    Cafe Bourbon Street w/DMBQ

Oct 20  Meadville, PA   Grounds For Change

Oct 21  Washington, DC  Velvet Lounge w/DMBQ

Oct 22  Baltimore, MD   Floristree Space w/Future Islands

Oct 23  New York, NY    Barnard College w/DMBQ

Oct 25  New York, NY    The Annex (TJ CMJ Showcase)

Oct 27  Allston, MA     Great Scott

Oct 28  Montreal, QC    ZooBizarre

Oct 29  Rochester, NY   Bug Jar w/Science Vs. Witchcraft

Oct 30  Hudson, NY      Smog (Bard College) w/DMBQ

Oct 31  Philadelphia, PA        Danger Danger Gallery w/Chinese Stars

Oct 31  Philadelphia, PA        Starlight Ballroom w/Man Man

Nov 1   Buffalo, NY     Kitchen Distribution

Nov 5   Columbia, MO    Ragtag Cinema w/Heater

Nov 6   Memphis, TN     Odessa

Nov 7   Austin, TX      Emo's Inside

Nov 8   Lubbock, TX     The Foundation

Nov 9   Marfa, TX       Building 98

Nov 11  Los Angeles, CA The Smell w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 12  Isla Vista, CA  Biko Co-Op Garage w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 13  Claremont, CA   Shakedown Cafe w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 14  San Luis Obispo, CA     SLO Art Center w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 15  Santa Cruz, CA  The Crepe Place w/Hecuba

Nov 16  San Francisco, CA       Hemlock Tavern  w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 17  Oakland, CA     Lobot Gallery  w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 19  Portland, OR    Backspace  w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 20  Anacortes, WA   Department of Safety w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Nov 21  Seattle, WA     The Vera Project  w/Hecuba, Lucky Dragons

Cub shot in the head found in N.C. with Obama posters wrapped around it.

By Fred Mills

With memories of cries of "Terrorist!" and "Kill him!" at McCain-Palin rallies in recent weeks still lingering, the election trail took an ominous turn yesterday morning (Oct. 20) when the body of a dead bear covered with Obama signs was found at the entrance of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.

According to a report filed by the Asheville Citizen-Times daily newspaper, maintenance workers found a 75-pound bear cub on the campus that had apparently been shot in the head - a pair of Obama campaign posters had been stapled together and draped over the dead animal's head.

Chief of university police Tom Johnson told reporters, "Someone evidently was wanting to draw attention to the election. If we find out who they are, we'll make sure they'll get some attention themselves."

Added WCU associate vice chancellor, "We cannot speculate on the motives of the people involved nor who those people might be. Campus police are cooperating with authorities to investigate this matter."

Local TV station WLOS broadcast a report on the incident, displaying a picture of the campaign signs that additionally had some unspecified words written on duct tape attached to the sign. The content of those words was not released but speculation has already arisen that they were either of a political or racial component, or both.

"A sick individual who thinks extremely badly about Obama," freshman Daniel Ford told WLOS, with political science professor Chris Cooper observing, "I think it sends a pretty disturbing message, obviously it sounds like it may have some racial implications and at the very least its somebody sending the wrong message and taking this hot political season the wrong way."

At the Citizen-Times website, readers' comments regarding the report were posted, including one that read, in part, "In a perverse way, this is extremely logical. Animal haters tend to be more conservative and, thus, more likely to hate Obama and even use violence. This is all embodied in Ms. Palin." Predictably, a rebuttal was posted shortly thereafter that read, "Your comment makes no sense. You are making huge assumptions with no basis. You also take everything you don't like and arbitrarily assign them all to a person about whom you have no knowledge. You have no evidence that any candidate advocates violence toward anouther candidate."

Regardless, whether or not the bear killing was the product of some drunk hunters making a very, very bad joke, or someone intending specifically to send a none-too-veiled message to the Obama campaign, the end result is the same. People that do things like this, or people who laugh and look on approvingly, are the same people who barely a generation earlier would have thought nothing about hanging a noose or placing a burning cross in someone's front yard.

Come to think of it, some of them still do.

As a friend of mine put it succinctly when we were discussing the incident, "If you had begun to forget who we're fighting [in this election], this should remind us."

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)

10:30 AM & 8:30 PM: Comedy Central: The Colbert Report: Wynton Marsalis

11:00 AM MTV2: MTV Essential: Metallica

11:30 AM NICK: Yo Gabba Gabba!: I'm from Barcelona , Mark Mothersbaugh

1:30 PM FUSE: Loaded: Voodoo 2008 w/Panic at the Disco , N.E.R.D. , Lil Wayne , Nine Inch Nails , R.E.M. , Lupe Fiasco

2:00 PM FUSE: Steven's Untitled Rock Show: Rise Against

5:30 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: Civet

7:00 PM MTV2: Celebrity Deathmatch: Paris Hilton , Bam Margera , Bono, Coldplay, Bruce Willis

8:00 PM Great American Country: Opry Live: Tift Merritt , Josh Turner , Steve Wariner , Mel Tillis

9:00 PM & 12:00 AM: Ovation: Definitely Dusty (Dusty Springfield)

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Marc Broussard

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jesse McCartney

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

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Laura Marling

1:00 AM VH1C: David Gilmour - Live in Gdansk

Famed producer just can't get no respect.

By Fred Mills

Accused murderer Phil Spector was back in court yesterday (Oct. 20) as jury selection began at his second trial in Los Angeles. Overseen by Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler (who also presided at Spector's prior trial, which lasted nearly 5 months ended in a 10-2 jury deadlock and ultimately was declared a mistrial), the selection process whittled 80 potential jurors down to 18.

Spector was accompanied by his wife Rachelle. The 69 year old music icon will be standing trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

The trial has finally gotten underway after a series of delaying moves by the defense, which was trying to block the trial on the grounds of double jeopardy (er, it was a mistrial, not an acquittal, gents).

Meanwhile, the defense team for Spector's hair was reportedly planning to file a motion to postpone the trial on the grounds of follicular misconduct.... (You knew that joke was coming, right?)

The Cons also releasing new 7"...

By Mandy Rodgers

Hailing from Vancouver, the Constantines - Dallas Wehrle (bass/vocals), Will Kidman (keyboards), Doug MacGregor (drums), Steve Lambke (vocals/guitar) and Bryan Webb (vocals/guitar) - have just added U.S. dates to their tour schedule. The tail end of November will give  the Constantines time to travel and perform around Ontario, then in December the group will see the northeast of America, including a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. According to the band's MySpace page, Tim Fite and the Obits will join the Constantines for the latter part of its tour. The pre-sale for tickets ended last week, but keep checking the band's site for the public on-sale.

Along with touring news, the Constantines announced the upcoming release of "Our Age," a new original song recorded in Winnepeg and a video directed by Kevin Drew. The B-side of the 7" will showcase the Constantines's cover of Neil Young's "Fuckin' Up." In April, they released another cover on 7" with Feist: the country classic "Islands in the Stream," originally recorded by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

 Tour dates:

11/8/08 - Mexico City, MX @ ManiFest
11/27/08 - Waterloo, ON @ Starlight Room
11/28/08 - London, ON @ Call The Office
11/29/08 - Peterborough, ON @ Montreal House
12/4/08 - Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab
12/5/08 - Boston, MA @ TT the Bear's
12/6/08 - Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre
12/7/08 - Williamsburg, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
12/9/08 - Baltimore, MD @ Bedrock
12/11/08 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Café ^
12/12/08 - Columbus, OH @ The Summit ^
12/13/08 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle ^
12/14/08 - Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room ^
12/19/08 - Hamilton, ON @ Wentworth Room

^ w/ Obits

Tompkins Square revisit a piece of America's racially divided past.

By Brian Creech

In what they are billing as "Mark Twain approved music," the archivally-friendly label Tompkins Square is releasing a series of recordings of the early 20th Century traveling plantation singer Polk Miller and his Old South Quartet.

Among audiophiles and historians, these Polk Miller recordings represent an odd and telling time in American history.  During a time when America was defined by racial segregation, Miller played black music reverently without resorting to a minstrel show. 

Polk Miller was born James A. Miller, near Burkeville, in Prince Edward County, Virginia on August 2, 1844. He picked up the banjo early on and grew up learning the music of the slave quarters on a large Virginia plantation. Miller, the son of a wealthy Virginia family, created The Old Virginia Plantation Negro the Old South Quartet, a group of four African-American men who would perform early African-American spirituals alongside popular folk tunes, without resorting to farce or black-face.

The show glorified the plantation music and spirituals, making MIller one of the first men to bring black music to a popular audience.  He died in 1913, but the Old South Quartet continued without him, at least until 1928. 

Mark Twain, upon hearing Miller and his Quartette exclaimed, "I think that Polk Miller, and his wonderful four, is about the only thing this country can furnish that is originally and utterly American."

Enough history, let us come back to the present.  Tompkins Square will release a CD of seven 1909 Edison cylinder records and seven 1928 QRS/Broadway disc recordings.  These are some of the earliest recordings that Thomas Edison made shortly after inventing the phonograph.  The booklet includes photos and memorabilia with notes by African-American music scholar Doug Seroff. The CD package is designed by Grammy-nominee Susan Archie.

Boggs break-up and present their contender for the worst band name of 2008. 

By Brian Creech

Out of the ashes of the recently departed Boggs comes The Hundred in the Hands, featuring Jason Friedman and Eleanore Everdell.  Friedman put the Boggs to rest after a late 2007 tour and studio collaboration with Everdell.  The fruits of their labor are available for free download, the companion singles "Dressed in Dresden" and "Undressed in Dresden."  Everdell feature prominently on the vocals as fractured guitars race around each other. 

Friedman said of the collaboration, "In the past, the collaborators I worked with would adjust what they did to fit my vision. Working with Eleanore it was clear that the time had come to shift into a more equal partnership."  Aside from the singles and two accompanying videos, the Hundred in the Hands are also producing THITH Zine. It bills itself as a collection of, "stories, conversations & reviews about music & more," but in reality plays more like a bit of garden-variety self-promotion.

Overall, the new music is a bit bratty, but consistently energetic.  Everdell's vocals sound pleasant overall, like sprinkles on top of some vaguely new-wave frozen yogurt from TCBY. 

As of this writing the singles aren't  available as promised, but the videos are and  can be seen HERE.