The highly anticipated release from Midlake The Courage of Others doesn’t become official until Feb 2nd, but any little bit fans can get their hands on at this point is needed. With the upcoming release, there will be a deluxe edition available packaged with a double LP, 45 rpm version of the record, a 32 page book, a live CD, and a short film DVD directed by Jason Lee. The trailer for the film follows:

A list of tour dates one being the recently released NX35 festival gig taking place in the band’s hometown of Denton:

Midlake Tour Dates
March
1 Tucson, AZ – Plush
2 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
3 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
4 San Francisco, CA – The Great American Music Hall
5 Arcata, CA – The Van Duzer Theatre
6 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
7 Bellingham, WA – The Nightlight
10 Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
11 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
12 Lawrence, KS – Jackpot Saloon
13 Denton, TX – NX35

Eagerly awaiting more news about the pending 3rd installment of Austin’s Psych Fest? Satisfy your psych needs and take a trip down memory lane this Saturday Dec 19th with a special screening of Psych Fest 2 DVD produced and directed by Alta Real Pictures Oswald James, @ The Mohawk. The movie shows @ 8 p.m. and will be available for purchase on premise as well. Live music as well and it wouldn’t be a Psych Fest event without mind altering visuals. See poster for more deets…

Ever opportunity that presents itself to catch Black Rebel Motorcycle Club live, should be seized by any self-proclaimed fan of rock-n-roll, especially of the addictive blend of blues influenced, neo-psychedelic, garage rock. For those not fortunate enough to have caught the live show by this trio, whose current line-up consists of Peter Hayes (1998 – present), Robert Levon Been (1998 – present), Leah Shapiro (2008 – present), a live performance DVD is lying await on the horizon.

The DVD was recorded during the Baby 81 tour in the towns of Glasgow, Berlin, and Dublin. It is set for physical release on Nov 10th, or you can pre-order for digital download @ Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.com

MP3> Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ‘Whatever Happened To My Rock and Roll” Live

Here at Sonic Itch, we realize that live music doesn’t just happen in Austin. That is why I decided to make the most of my recent trip to Los Angeles and write about an amazing show I was able to see.

Anyone ever heard of Daniel Lanois?

Since the music industry is full of Danity Kane’s and Avril Lavignes where the producers write majority of the tracks, it’s nice to know that someone like Lanois can pack a theater for a show featuring himself. The legendary lap-steel guitar player/producer has worked with artists like Bob Dylan (1989’s Oh Mercy and 1997’s Time Out of Mind, which won a Grammy) and U2 (1982’s The Unforgettable Fire and 1987’s The Joshua Tree, which also won a Grammy). He’s also worked with Emmylou Harris, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and has written scores for films like Sling Blade and The Last of the Mohicans.
This show however, was for Lanois’ new movie, Here Is What Is, a music documentary about his recording-studio trips to Ireland, Morocco and Los Angeles working with artists like Billy Bob Thornton, Brian Eno, Sinead O’Connor and U2. I was able to see the LA premier at the prestigious Vista Theater, right on Sunset Blvd (along with Keifer Sutherland who sat right behind us, “Is that Jack Bauer?!”)

Before the movie, there was a live performance from Lanois and his band, which included drummer, Brian Blade (who was in the film) as well as others. Brian Blade’s father, Brady Blade Sr. even came up during the set and sang with the song, “This May Be The Last Time” which heard like an old, blues traditional tune (the Blades are from New Orleans). Lanois then played a few other tracks like the popular, “The Maker” and his eccentric guitar playing kept my eyes interested the whole time.

Then it became really dark except for the dim, red lights on stage and a strange, yet familiar voice began speaking to softly played music.

I turned to the person next to me and said, “That’s Billy Bob,” and knew I was right.

His voice, which was the same one from the character Karl from the movie, sounded just as country and husky as it did from the movie. Thornton, who quietly came out wearing and suit with a skinny, black tie, still played the part perfectly. The dramatic level was even more enhanced with the low hues and hushed audience. His monologue, which was the part from the movie that talked about murdering his mother, was the best way to end the live show. Thornton then stated his gratitude for Lanois (along with hilarious anecdotes) and properly introduced the movie.

The movie itself was another artistic treat to a very eventful evening. The chromatic images and melodic songs defined Lanois presence to an unknown, like me. The interviews are climatic amongst the surrealist nature of the movie and the amazing scene with Sinead O’Connor left me hopeful about music again. If a man who has been in the business for more than thirty years can still produce something this inspiring, then there is definitely hope for the rest of us cynics.

You can now purchase the film online here as well as hear tracks from the movie.

-Sonya Gonzales

photo : michael maly

There is no denying that Ghostland Observatory have become a hot topic over the last year, and you can see the interest in the band spread like wildfire across the country right now. Banking on the current interest in the band, New West Records has decided to release the bands performance (the television show, not the festival) on DVD as part of the “Live From Austin, Tx” series before the show airs on PBS. Look for the DVD to be available Nov. 13th while the television airing date has yet to be announced.

Here’s a peak at what’s in store for you on the DVD:

Mp3>>Stranger Lover

Ghostland Live Dates:

Nov 9th 2007

Warehouse LIVE! Houston, Tx

Nov 29th 2007

Mezzanine San Francisco, CA

Nov 30th 2007

The Music Box @ Fonda Los Angeles, CA

It’s been a busy successful year for the boys in Manchester Orchestra so far, and the year holds more in store for the band. Reading, Leeds, ACL, Letterman, opening for Kings of Leon, a new label, and now a documentary. What else could be in store for the guys? Playing Wembley Arena? Director Sam Erickson (My Morning Jacket Okonokos and Dave Mathews Live @ Radio City) offers fans a look into the day to day experiences of the band on the road and their personalities. Erickson filmed and directed the documentary over a week of touring.
Manchester Orchestra will be performing Oct 31 on Late Night With Conan O’brien.

Just push play for the trailer. Oh yeah…..and enjoy.

FreeVideoCoding.com “Wolves @ Night” clip from the movie:

Wolves At Night

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I’ve kinda really been looking forward to getting my hands on this DVD coming from Sigur Ros, and now it looks like I’ll be waiting a little longer to do so. Heima was scheduled for release 11.6, and now it looks like 11.20 will be the actual day of release. The band will be performing an acoustic set as well as answer questions about the film this weekend in NY previous to the midnight premiere. The show is sold out.

Mp3>>Olsen Olsen

For those of you who haven’t seen the trailer for the movie:

While we are on the subject of bands and DVD’s, we have another one to look forward to, and you gotta know that I love me some music DVD action. This news was the first thing that I encountered this morning on my computer and was a great introduction to the day. The band, hailing from Iceland, what one can only believe to be a quite amazingly beautiful place, has a DVD waiting in the wings to be released. Sigur Ros makes some pretty cool atmospheric music that seems a suitable backdrop for the mysteriously beautiful world that they inhabit. Heima is the title and you can expect a compilation CD which will include some new material. Don’t have a date, but sometime in November?

Mp3>>Staralfur

More video please…..