London celebrates, rest of planet snoozes....

By Fred Mills

In a triumph for provincialism and inscrutability, Elbow's recent album The Seldom Seen Kid was awarded the Nationwide Mercury Prize last night in a ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. Journalists and fans were left scratching their heads when neither Radiohead's In Rainbows and Plant & Krauss' Raising Sand were announced as the winner; both those records are massive international hits, whereas the Elbow record has only gotten middling attention from the public at large - although, admittedly, those who have heard the record have generally been favorable towards it. (Read our review HERE.)

According to Britain's NME a visibly shocked Elbow took the stage to receive their award and vocalist Guy Garvey said, "Thank you very much. I'd like to thank all the players we've been with since day one, including Phil Chadwick, our manager.This is the best thing that's ever happened to us. We'd like to dedicate this award to Brian Glancy, one of the greatest men who ever lived. Thank you very much and have a top evening!"

(Brian Glancy is a friend of the band who passed away; the album title refers to him.)

And as with last year, the Mercury Prize is once again rendered irrelevant. You remember last year's winner, right? What? Think hard. It'll come to you. Here's a hint: it was the Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future. There. Don't you feel better? What? You say you never heard of the Klaxons? Us neither!

2008 Mercury Prize Nominees:

Adele - 19
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Burial - Untrue
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Estelle - Shine
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
Portico Quartet - Knee-Deep In The North Sea
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Rachel Unthank And The Winterset - The Bairns

Prompts run on vegetable oil in supermarkets across the globe...

By Fred Mills

Barely hours after pop singer Kylie Minogue shocked journalists and sparked the imaginations of onanists worldwide with her so-called desire to become a lesbian, Minogue's younger sister Danni - also a singer, also with extremely good genes, albeit not the sharpest scythe in the Minogue family toolshed - has created a similar stir.

In an, er, naked bid to grab some of the news cycle away from her more popular sis, Danni Minogue has announced - no, not that she would like to "go gay" because she's already had her own "gay moment" when she filmed a video of "Everlasting Night" for a Gay Pride event eight years ago, leading to rampant speculation (and YouTube infamy) that she was a lesbian - that she would like to pose nude for Playboy. This would, in fact, mark the second time to the Hef well for Minogue (actually, she seems receptive to dropping trou for any trained chimp who knows how to spread Vaseline on a lens properly, as evidenced BELOW or via a quick Internet search); the 36-year old previously bared all 13 years ago.

Speaking to British magazine New!, the sometimes-brunette/sometimes-blonde Minogue said, "I did Playboy when it was cool and I shocked myself and many others, but it was liberating at the time. I would I do it again. If the money was right, then sure. Who knows, it might happen this year, too."

Minogue elaborated, citing her then-recent marriage breakup with actor Julian McMahon as the catalyst. "I had just had a marriage break-up. Most women go to the hairdressers - I did Playboy. I chose the photographer, the location, what I did or didn't want to wear and everything else about the pictures. I found it a really liberating, empowering experience."

Christ. How do folks get these kinds of quotes from celebrities anyhow? As with the Kylie-Tallulah Bankhead-lesbian comments, was that, like, the entirety of the interview? Does Danni have a new record coming out or something?

Kinda like the Beach Boys, only French Kicks...

By Blurt Staff

Brooklyn's French Kicks will be releasing a 4 song digital EP of cover tunes, aptly titled Covers EP (Vagrant) on Sept. 23. It will feature songs made originally popular by the Ramones, Lindsey Buckingham, the Zombies and the Shirelles.

"We've always loved the Beach Boys' Party! record where the Beach Boys went into a studio room with some friends and played really loose and live, mainly cover songs, and then put it out," said Nick Stumpf, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, in a statement. "We don't have any friends, in this case, but the spirit is the same.  With the exception of "Trouble," which was recorded at the same time as the songs on the record and has overdubs, everything is completely live, and a few we figured out how to play on the spot just before we recorded them.

Track Listing:

"Trouble" (originally by Lindsey Buckingham)

"Questioningly" (originally by The Ramones)

"Carolina Goodbye" (originally by The Zombies)

"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" (originally by The Shirelles/written by Carole King)

Tour Dates:

Sep 16 - Montreal, QC @ Il Motore 

Sep 17 - Toronto, ON @ The Horseshoe

Sep 18 - Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room

Sep 19 - Chicago, IL @ Double Door

Sep 20 - St. Louis, MO @ PLAY:stl Festival (Blueberry Hill Duck Room)

Sep 22 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House

Sep 23 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theatre 

Sep 24 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

REM. guitarist’s beloved Rickenbacker guitar swiped after show.

By Randy Harward

The BBC reports that REM guitarist Peter Buck’s trusty Rickenbacker—which he’s used live and in the studio since the band’s 1982 debut EP Chronic Town—was stolen after a show in Helsinki, Finland. And get this: it was taken from the stage.

Now we all know those Fins be thuggin’ for real—nay, for riz-eal—but come on, man. Unlike wispy Michael Stipe, Buck is a feisty dude (‘shpeshully after fifteen refillsh of wine—jusht ashk British Airwaysh) and you’d think REM could afford better security.

“Needless to say, this instrument means a great deal to Peter and to REM,” the band said in a statement. “It is our sincere hope that whoever is responsible for the loss, or whoever has information which can help recover the guitar, will come forward to receive a generous reward, no questions asked.”

Hopefully it’s a better reward than what Iron Maiden offered last month when Adrian Smith’s guitar was taken after a concert in Athens. The metal legends offered a signed tour jacket and a letter of thanks from Smith. Where’s the cash, guys? Or at least an opportunity to watch the show from a VIP suite in one of Eddie’s eyes?

Oh man, that’d be awesome.

This one's for the ladies... the guys already got that nude photo of Danni Minogue...

By Fred Mills

Once upon a time Devendra Banhart was posing in drag for the camera for a Harp magazine cover story, so we at BLURT are happy to bring our erstwhile Harp file up to date with the latest Banhart news ‘n' nudes. Mark your calendars for Sept. 16 and Oct. 7 (that's digital vs. physical) releases of his new project.

He's billing it Megapuss - Banhart and Greg Rogove, of Priestbird, with assists from Banhart pal and Strokes drummer Fab Moretti - and the album is titled Surfing (Vapor Records). There are no real details disclosed yet other than the date and title, although you can go to the Megapuss MySpace page to check out a couple of songs, "Adam and Steve" and "Crop Circle Jerk ‘94". Both have a kind of lounge/worldbeat vibe with elements of lo-fi guitar twang and muted trumpet snaking around in the mix.

The band will do scattered touring as well, starting with a weeklong West Coast trek in a couple of weeks.

9-24 San Diego, CA - Casbah
9-25 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
9-26-27 Big Sur, CA - Festival in the Forest
9-28 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
9-30 Seattle, WA - Neumos
10-01 Portland, OR - Doug Fir

Get those SonicBids accounts fired up pronto, aspiring Moogsters...

By Blurt Staff

Back in June we brought you THIS STORY about the late, great synthesizer pioneer and inventor Robert Moog. Now comes word of Moogfest 2008, which will take place Monday, October 13th at the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York City.  A stellar lineup of top Moog users will gather for an evening of ground-shaking music to honor Bob Moog and commemorate his groundbreaking achievements.

"This is our fifth year presenting this tribute to Bob and we're excited about moving to The Hammerstein, which is more than twice as large as our previous venue," said Mike Adams, Moog Music President.  "Every year the artists who play at Moogfest tell us what a fun event it is, and as a result we have been privy to many fine performances.  This year's lineup and our annual ' Bob Tribute' award will make for another fantastic evening for music fans."

Moogfest 2008 will also feature Moog Music's transforming new instrument, The Moog Guitar.

Performers scheduled to participate include Umphrey's McGee, Eric McFadden Trio, Bernie Worrell (P-Funk), Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits), Jamie Shields (The New Deal), Joe Russo (Benevento/Russo) and others.

Moogfest 2008 offers an opportunity for artists to play alongside the world's leading Moog players.  Entry submissions should be made by September 10; artists selected will be compensated an amount to be determined based on draw, experience, etc. For more information visit www.sonicbids.com/Moogfest .

For more information on Moogfest 2008, visit www.moogfest.com .

[Pictured: the late Robert Moog at his workbench; photo courtesy of Moog Foundation]

Collaborator with Bjork, Gabriel, Eno and many others will be missed.

By Fred Mills

Innovative French composer-musician Hector Zazou died yesterday (September 8) in a French hospital from unspecified causes. Apparently he'd been battling an illness for sometime, but there's no word just yet what it was; after falling more seriously ill earlier this year he had to cancel a number of dates that had been scheduled for the summer.

 Zazou, who'd collaborated with everyone from Bjork, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, John Cale, David Sylvian and Siouxsie Sioux, was 60. A spokesperson from his record label Crammed, says: "He will be hugely missed." A post at his MySpace page read thusly:

WE ARE VERY SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT HECTOR ZAZOU PASSED AWAY ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 8TH.
AN AMAZING MUSICIAN IS GONE, AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN IS GONE.

Born in Algeria in 1948 of French and Spanish parents, Zazou was known as a innovator in multiple realms - classical and avant-garde, worldbeat and electronica, and - as evidenced by that list of musicians, above - rock. Earlier this year he released Corps électriques while due later this year is In The House of Mirrors, a collaboration with Indian-Uzbekestani outfit Swara.

To hear some of Zazou's entrancing music, including previews of the Mirrors album, go to his MySpace page.

Firsthand account of Toronto incident where Noel Gallagher got assaulted.

By Kyle Gustafson

[Editor's note: Author Gustafson was at the Oasis show Sept. 7 in Toronto when guitarist Noel Gallagher was knocked over by an assailant. He reported back to BLURT on what he saw (and had the pictures to prove it). Since then the man who hit Gallagher, 47-year old Daniel Sullivan, has been charged with assault by Toronto police, and Oasis had to cancel their following show, originally scheduled for Sept. 9 in London, Ontario, while Gallagher recovers from his injuries.]

When I booked my trip to Canada to see Oasis play the Toronto Edition of the Virgin Mobile Festival, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I just wanted to hear my favorite band sprinkle in some new tunes while playing some of their classic stadium anthems to 20,000+ people and see how many times people actually said "Mad fer it" over the course of the day.

Sunday had actually been full of stress and intrigue for me.  Rumors were flying backstage as to what was going to happen during Oasis' set.  Among other things, Brad Pitt was supposedly going to come out and introduce the band to the crowd (he was in town for the Toronto International Film Festival) and Paul Weller was allegedly scheduled to make an appearance when the band played "Champagne Supernova" (The Modfather played lead guitar and sang backing vocals on the recorded version).  Sadly, neither ended up happening. All the photogs covering the festival were worried they weren't going to be allowed to shoot the band from the photo pit when the time came, and, as it turns out, most weren't. Including me.

A few of us decided to make our way into the crowd and hope to get a good spot from there to shoot the show, but after wading into the sea of fans, we quickly found out how pointless that was, so we headed back to the VIP/Media area-which was on an incline and therefore had a better view of the stage-to drown our sorrows at the backstage bar.

The band hit the stage shortly after their allotted 9:10 stage time and started in on the same set they've been playing on this tour.  They were in good but not great form, but for someone that hadn't seen them in over three years, they sounded heavenly. Liam was at his menacingly best, but the new drummer still has some kinks to work out. Liquor drinks were consumed, choruses were sung along to and every once in a while I would take out my zoom lens and take a photo or two, hoping to get something passable for my own personal collection, even though I was a few hundred feet away. I had flown all the way up to Canada to shoot the band and after being denied the opportunity by the band's management, I figured I would at least get something for my troubles.

The lighting was alternating between deep blue to bright white when they started "Morning Glory" so I raised my camera and took aim through the viewfinder, trying to get a few shots when the light turned white.  And then that's when I saw him.  Some crazed punter emerging from the back of the stage, heading straight towards Noel.  He had both of his arms extended and gave Noel a mighty push from behind.  I couldn't really believe what was happening as it was unfolding, but luckily I remembered to hit the shutter button while it played out.  Noel landed in the monitors in front of him with a loud thud as the punter turned attacker turned to go after Liam.  Liam didn't seem to be aware of what was going on, but security jumped on the assailant before he could cause any further chaos.

Needless to say, the crowd, at least those around me, were in complete and utter shock.  Noel got up, holding his back, and walked off under his own power.  Liam was chasing after the guards, trying to get a lick or two in I guess, and the rest of the band quickly left the stage. After a short time, someone affiliated with the festival came onstage and said the band would return in five minutes.  This turned out to be true, as Noel and company walked back on stage to huge, thundering applause. 

Strangely, neither Noel nor Liam mentioned anything about the event that just transpired in front of their fans.   I assume Noel was just putting his head down to try and get through the gig, which he and the band did, cutting two songs - "Ain't Got Nothing" and "Champagne Supernova."

Noel actually sang lead on three of the remaining six songs in the set, including the new tune "Falling Down" (oh, the irony) and the most memorable version of "Don't Look Back In Anger" (a song I don't much care for) that I have ever heard.  But sadly, the gig's momentum had been lost and everyone's mind was on the attack.  How did the intruder gain access to the stage?  What if he had had a knife? Was Noel alright? Did security beat the shit out of that guy or what?  How many people (both festival and band security) would lose their jobs over this? What about the last two gigs of the tour?

Noel left the stage quickly at the end of "I Am The Walrus," one can only wonder what went down backstage as the crowd slowly made their ways to the ferries that would take them back to Toronto proper.  All I can say for sure is that he has my eternal respect for finishing the gig. 

[Kyle Gustafson is a freelance photographer living in Washington, D.C. See his work on the web at the contacts below.]

Writer - http://www.informationleafblower.com/blog/
Editor - http://www.dcist.com/
Photographer - http://www.photokyle.com
Tumblr - http://leafblower.tumblr.com/

Rapper busts CAPS, defends herself against accusations of terrorist sympathy.

By Blurt Staff

In response to recent criticism and accusations of terrorist sympathies, rapper M.I.A. has come out fighting. On her MySpace blog, she hits the CAPS lock and starts blasting, giving direct, no-nonsense answers to questions about why she left Sri Lanka and putting those who insist on perpetuating the rumors—and, ostensibly, even ask about them—on notice:  

“FUCK YOU TO ALL THESE EVIL PEOPLE TWISTING THE TRUTH. YOU DONT SPEAK FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN SPEAK FOR MY SELF.”

The criticism stems from M.I.A.’s father’s membership in the Black Tiger wing of the Sri Lankan separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). Her father, Arular Arulpragasam, told the Asian Tribune that his daughter does not support the group, saying, “She is not alone in this. She has an army of people behind her and she will deal with this matter in a manner she deems fit. This issue has been taken up and dealt with two years ago and the matter referred to are outdated.”

The Asian Tribune article goes on to say that, in a letter to her father, M.I.A. says, “It’s good to have the facts on file” and that she believes the accusations come from another Sri Lankan rapper, DeLon, who “wants to promote himself and sell t-shirts on the back of my song.” DeLon made his statements against M.I.A. in a recent diss track.

M.I.A. closes her post—which you can read below—by saying, “EVERYTHING IN ME WAS KILLED BUT MY ART IS NOT DEAD!”

It is, after all, about the music. And the clothing line.

***********

MY DAUGHTER THE TERRORIST

I CAME ACROSS THIS MOVIE TODAY ,


http://www.snitt.no/mdtt/prints/movie.htm


http://www.oslodocs.com/product_pages/my_daughter_product.html

I HAVE JUST ORERED IT SO I HAVENT SEEN IT YET , BUT WITH SO MANY ONE SIDED VIEWS IN THIS WORLD IT IS ONLY FAIR WE STAY EDUCATED AND EXPOSE OURSELVES TO ALL OPINIONS. I WANT TO SEE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE
1. NO ONE HAS EVER ACCESSED THE AREAS THIS FILM WAS MADE IN, AND I ACTUALLY DONT KNOW HOW THESE PEOPLE LIVE.

2. ANY EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE ACCESSED THIS AREA , WHO INVESTIGATED THE TRUTH, HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD BY THE GOVERNMENT, IN A BID TO KEEP THE PROPAGANDA MACHINE ONE SIDED .

3. I FOUND THIS STORY
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/12934...

READING THE COMMENTS MADE ME WANT TO SPEAK OUT. BUT I WAS DENIED ACESS TO MAKE COMMENTS, ONLY THE WELL CONNECTED INSIDERS ARE ALLOWED TO COMMENT AND THIS IS THE CASE WITH SO MANY OF THESE BLOGS TALKING SHIT ABOUT ME. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TELL THE TRUTH, AND SET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. SO HERE IS THE COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE!

THE TRUTH TO WHY I LEFT TO SRILANKA WAS ...
A. I COULD , I WAS BORN IN LONDON.

B. EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE MY MOTHER TOOK US TO WOULD GET BURNED DOWN BY THE ARMY. IN THE END EVEN THE TAMILS WOULDN'T LET US STAY THERE AND AFTER MY SCHOOL WAS SET ON FIRE BY THE ARMY, I HAD NOTHING TO DO THERE, AND WAS REALLY FUCKING BOARD.

C. FUCK YOU TO ALL THESE EVIL PEOPLE TWISTING THE TRUTH. YOU DONT SPEAK FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN SPEAK FOR MY SELF.

D.WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A TAMIL OR A LTTE SUPPORTER TO KNOW THAT BURNING DOWN A SCHOOL WITH 800 KIDS IN THE NAME OF FIGHTING TERRORISM IS NOT COOL. I AM NOT A LTTE SUPPORTER. I WAS JUST AN 8 YEAR OLD THAT DIDNT GET KILLED ON THAT DAY, THATS ALL. I'M A MUSICIAN WHO DOESNT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IN THE MUSIC PRESS.


THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING THIS

EVERYTHING IN ME WAS KILLED BUT MY ART IS NOT DEAD!

i love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx m.i.a

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 CBS: The Early Show: Natalie Cole , Keith Urban

10:00 AM RAVE HD: Other Voices: Ryan Adams , Cathy Davey , The Crimea , Foy Vance

10:00 AM Sundance: Joe Strummer Let's Rock Again!

3:00 PM Encore Drama: Too Tough to Die: A Tribute to Johnny Ramone

3:30 PM Showtime Showcase: End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones

5:30 PM Showtime: All We Are Saying w/Chrissie Hynde , Peter Gabriel , Radiohead , David Crosby , Sheryl Crow , Elton John

7:00 PM VH1C: The U.S. vs. John Lennon

 9:00 PM CBS: Fashion Rocks w/Beyoncé , Justin Timberlake , Black Eyed Peas , Chris Brown , Kid Rock , Fergie

9:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Damien Rice , Autolux , eels , Architecture In Helsinki

11:30 PM IFC: Z Rock: John Popper

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: Amos Lee

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Leona Lewis

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Tokio Hotel

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Grizzly Bear

1:35 AM Starz Cinema: A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake

2:25 AM HBO: The Chris Rock Show: Method Man