Dinosaur Jr and T-Mobile live?

Corporate shows are a weird monster.  Big rock shows have been sponsored by corporations for eons, i imagine that you cannot see a Rolling Stones show or a U2 show without massive Virgin screens, or AT&T billboards.  Still you don't expect to see one of Grunge's father figure bands presenting a show to celebrate the release of T-Mobiles new smart phone.  Weirder still their was no mention of the phone throughout the entire show, barely a billboard or a poster even, albeit a few projected words referencing the aforementioned phone.  

You can't blame Dinosaur Jr, they have never been a talkative band, and honestly i would cry if J Mascis was to begin a speech on the benefits of touch screen, wi-fi enabled phones and the apps available.  As amazingly awesome as it was to see Dinosaur Jr live for free, and they did play a great show, it was very strange to see moshing at a corporate show.  I half expected a power point presentation about coverage at the intermission.  

The fans and the band seemed as confused as each other with this weird event.  Still all that aside, J, Murph and Lou played a solid set of classics and new material with soaring solo's and low key vocals.  Still one of the best ear-blistering country grunge bands around, or just one of the best bands around.

  If Kurt Cobain had not of blown his face off i wonder if he would have accepted his place in music and presented a show sponsoring the new iPad or latest 3G smart phone, possibly this would have made him end it all again. 

Monday Morning Newsletter (7-13-09)

The terrifying and somewhat dangerous Middlesbrough, UK band Drunk in Hell have put up their demo for free download. These are soaked in fury and feedback. This is a band that will kick you in the balls and laugh. Download here.

Former Silver Jews frontman David Berman has written a book of cartoons called The Portable February. For some reason Drag City Records thought that was reason enough to print it up. The band only broke up in January… so one can only assume it didn’t’ take long to write or alternately that Berman already had a plan B.

Yeti has published The Art of Touring by former Electrelane guitarist Mia Clarke and Erase Errata’s Sara Jaffe. It features contributions from Devendra Banhart and members of Times New Viking, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Thurston Moore. It comes with a DVD loaded with backstage footage.

Word has it that Dave Grohl, and Josh Homme are recording a project. Rumors have been persistent since 3005, but recently Homme's wife Brody Dalle of Spinnerette blabbed that the rumors were true. She did comport herself like a good secret agent : "I'm not at liberty to talk about it.”

Pearl Jam has announced that they will be the headliner for the first night of the Virgin Festival in Calgary, Alberta, Canada this August. It will be their first show this year.

Lady Gaga recently admitted that she has gone bankrupt for the fourth time. Columnists lay the blame on her excessive wardrobe and touring stage show. José blames the ultimate freshmaker: cocaine. The devil’s dandruff is more expensive than any bustier.

The Fall Of Troy have finished their new as-yet-untitled album. This will be their third for Equal Vision records and is scheduled for a release this Fall. In an unrelated note the band has pulled out of their European tour with Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag and The Ghost Of A Thousand. José suspects passport trouble.

Dinosaur Jr. have recalled a European pressing of their new CD Farm. Ironically the album was mastered about 3 dB too loud causing unintended clipping and distortion. Buyers can either check the bar code – copies with the number 5414939004926 are affected. Pias Entertainment is offering a free swap program to replace the bad pressing.