News From The Great Beyond

Let's start this post with news on Ted Leo & The Pharmacists. Prescriptions are being readied for a U.S. tour that begins in March and will cover the eastern half of the states with Texas and Arkansas also getting in on the action. For information on tickets, CLICK HERE.

Criteria (Saddle Creek Records) recently embarked on a month long tour that will afford them one day off between now and February 1st. The band will also embark on a major U.S. tour in March and April. The band will support its 2005 release, When We Break. CLICK HERE for more information on Criteria.

Speaking of Saddle Creek, two other bands have releases due later this year. Cursive are preparing to head into the studio in February. The band's website explains that, "we will be heading into the studio this month to demo the new record. Following the demos, we will begin 'officially' recording the new record in the middle of February with a projected completion date of May 1st." Expect a new disc by fall. CLICK HERE for Cursive's website.

The second band hails from the land of R.E.M. and the B-52's, Athens, GA. Now It's Overhead are currently in the studio recording a new batch of songs scheduled for release in the spring. CLICK HERE to learn more about NIO.

On January 24th, theatres across the country will be showing a sneak preview of Coachella, a new movie featuring two-hours of highlights from the previous six years of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. To find out where the movie will be showing CLICK HERE. The movie features performances by, among others, Bright Eyes, Iggy & The Stooges, Morrissey, Oasis, The Pixies, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Spearhead, and The White Stripes.

If world music is more your cup of tea, Six Degrees Records, the home of Los Mocosos, has two scintillating platters hitting stores in the next few weeks. The first is entitled The Now Sound of Brazil 2 and it features tracks from the legendary Bebel Gilberto, Zuco 103, Bossacucanova, Celso Fonseca, Cibelle and others. The release date is January 17. The second is from Shrift, a new collaboration between former Smoke City vocalist Nina Miranda and multi- texturalist/producer Dennis Wheatley. Their debut CD, Lost in a Moment, hits stores on February 7. Anglo-Brazilian Nina Miranda is a charter member of the celebrated group Smoke City and has recorded with such luminaries as Bebel Gilberto, Nitin Sawhney and Da Lata. Dennis Wheatley is best known for his work with the British electronic band Atlas.

Finally, Park The Van Records acts, The Teeth, are recording their first full-length album in four years. The album is being recorded in North East Philadelphia. Nick Krill from the Spinto Band is engineering and co-producing the album. He is also lending vocals and guitar work. CLICK HERE for more information. Also from Park The Van is the forthcoming disc from National Eye, Roomful of Lions. It hits stores on Valentine's Day.