Mercury Rev
The Secret Migration
(V2)
release: May 17, 2005
rating: ****

Believe it or not, there were actually records released on September 11, 2001 (it was a Tuesday, afterall). Mercury Rev's last outing, All is Dream, just happen to meet that fate. Like many records released around that time, there was a double-edged sword involved. Some releases weren't given the attention they should have gotten, while others, released within the year before or after, were attributed with greater significance (it still doesn't make U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind an impressive piece of work). All is Dream sorta falls in between, in that it was greatly overlooked, yet is a powerful companion to the Fall of 2001. The Secret Migration, which follows the band's gorgeous chamber rock from Deserter's Songs and All is Dream, will likely not recieve the credit it deserves either. And this time, there's just no good reason as to why. Simply put, Migration is yet another beautiful, uplifting album from Mercury Rev. And though it may not exactly match the emotional highs and lows of Dream, it's still a touching affair. Everything here--and I do mean everything--is delicate, soaring and pretty, made possible by Jonathan Donahue's falsetto and the band's firm grasp on a variety of instruments (lots of piano, strings, et al). "Secret for a Song," "Across Yer Ocean" and "Black Forest" are just a few of the small masterpieces here that require at least a second listen to appreciate the songwriting. By the end of Migration, there does seem to be something missing. Perhaps it's missing that darker side of their music, which some other critics have pointed out. It could also be that the songs aren't quite as strong. Still, it's a big step above most other bands attempting rock on such a grand scale. -- Kenyon Hopkin

styles: Chamber Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
similar: The Flaming Lips, Deserter's Songs, All is Dream

i see the dustcloud disappear without a trace. (U2 setlist spoiler!) by Kenyon Hopkin


i got tickets the day before the show! holy wow! this is much better than star wars opening nite! this review is also at u2tours.com.

lots of great photos at INTERFERENCE


U2 at Continental Airlines Arena, the Meadowlands. May 18, 2005.
===============================================

short version!

favorite moments were: obviously, the minute or so between when the lights went out and the band first came on, the lyrics from "stories for boys" during "vertigo", "zoo station" to start the first encore and "bad" closing the show. none of those i expected. "streets" was awesome too. anytime a band member was walking on the ramp on our side, we were pretty close. i would say those were the moments where i definitely had tears in my eyes i was so ecstatic. oh, and the people who actually sang "40" with me after the show. oh and our seats were freaking sweet!


least favorite moments: people around me not more excited just before the show was going to start, some guy dancing in the aisle to the music on the PA well before the show, holding a beer bottle which i was scared would fling from his hand and hit someone in the head, "elevation" which i don't like at all, very few peopel knowing "the ocean" and sitting down during slow songs, bono talking about social/political stuff, not enough people singing "40" during "bad," and the people who didn't sing it with me after the show.


wierd moments: the local band on stage for "still haven't found" and that deal with the cell phones.


unmoment: no "with or without you"


set list: City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo (snippets from Stories for Boys, Pump It Up), Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky (snippet from When Johnny Comes Marching Home), Running to Stand Still, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name,One

first encore:Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways
second encore:All Because Of You, Yahweh, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Bad (chorus from 40).

ready to let go of the steering wheel. (u2 set spoiler!) . long version. by Kenyon Hopkin

U2 at the meadowlands. may 18, 2005. =========================

before you read on, let me just say that U2 is one of my all time favorite bands, they were my ..1 for a few years, circa 1989-1992 or so. i have liked them pretty much since they first started, but really got into them seriously in between rattle and hum and zooTV tours. i saw them first in 1992 for zooTV at nassau coliseum on long island (most of which i hardly remember) and twice on popmart in 1997, also at the meadowlands, but giants stadium.anyway, i missed the last tour, i wasn't really interested because i didn't like the direction they were going. in fact, one nite they played madison square garden in oct 2001 i was in nyc seeing spiritualized (!). so by 2004 i was incredibly anxious to see them again, in a more stripped down, "intimate" setting. at the end of january, i basically let a ticket for the first show at MSG slip through my fingers, and i had been mad at myself ever since. (however i later got tickets for oct 10 and nov 21). still, i really didn't think i could handle waiting 6 months! so on tuesday (day before show) i get a call from my editor, saying there's two tickets for me, which i had asked about back in the first week of february, and never thought i had a chance. whoa. amazing. even better, the seats were in section 121, pretty damn close to the stage and catwalk.that all said, it really upsets me that people pay $60, $100, or even $170 (not to mention $10 for parking, etc) to drink beer, talk, play with their cell phone, not be totally focused on U2 the entire time, or even *walk out during a slow song you don't know to go pee or get a drink*! i mean, c'mon, this is one of the greatest rock bands ever playing one of the best shows you'll ever experience. you're ruining it for other people. but whatever, that's your loss. i know a lot of you serious fans on here agree with me, i read your posts.finally, the actual performance. yea yea, kings of leon were ok, whatever. the music on the PA was all like, on the fineline between hip and mainstream, i was surprised. 10 minutes before 9pm, i was getting really pumped. first the killers' "mr brightside", then coldplay "clocks." oh man. then just before 9, some other song which i didn't know, but i was just really feeling it and the music got louder so i stood right up and put my arms up before most, if not all the peopel in the rows right around me, because i knew u2 was about to go on. the lights went off and then of course everyone got excited. the edge appeared on stage playing guitar and then i guess it was a distraction or something because bono then just appeared out of nowhere at the end of the oval catwalk. at first i didn't think "city of blinding lights" was a good choice for an opener, but if they had to pick something to start with, i guess that's the best one. most of the crowd was actually into that song, that was a surprise. "vertigo" of course was next, i could see that coming. however, bono slipping in some lyrics from "stories for boys", which i'm sure not many people knew, was nice."elevation" i dont know why they played that, it seems like a weak pick and they played it enough on last tour. "gloria" definitely made up for that though. "the ocean" was like, wow, i can't believe they're playing this, but overall probably a bad idea because it's quiet and really obscure. "beautiful day" of course picked up the pace again and everyone was into that, no surprise. then three songs from the new album, kinda boring but i was just happy to be there. "sunday bloody sunday" and "bullet the blue sky" kept it going. "running to stand still" i was so into and most peopel in my area had sat down, i couldnt believe it. i was singing "hallelujah" like there was no tomorrow. again, they picked up the pace with "pride" and "streets", no shock there. "one" i don't feel much for, but at least they didn't do the boring "walk on" or "stuck in moment" thank goodness. the start of the first encore was probably the most exciting for me. before they came back on, there were images on the screen that were totally from the zooTV tour. so i got really psyched, yet had no idea what would be next (i never look up setlists before shows). they kick into "zoo station," and i was like yeaaaaaaa! i mean, it's not the best song in their catalog but i have watched the video for zooTV live in sydney like 1000 times and i so longed for that kind of experience. "the fly" was ok, don't like that song much, but again they did the zooTV thing with the "manipulative" words on the screen. "mysterious ways" rocked i guess, but i had my fill of that from last tour. second encore: two songs from new record, and then they brought this local band on stage to play "still haven't found." this was wierd, i didn't know what was happening. so they do the song, i'm not getting into detail about that, other people wrote about it. i didn't think it was the best idea though, honestly i'd rather see u2 do it for real, sorry guys (i actually met them after the show and told them to rock on though).finally, and something i was so much hoping for, was "bad". it was decent, but i needed bono to look more into it, like move around a lot more and seem passionate, walk around the ramp or something. plus it wasn't as long as it could have been. however, they did add the chorus to "40". i've been reading that they've ended previous shows on this tour with a full version of "40", it's too bad they didn't do that here. well maybe it's ok because the crowd just couldn't keep the sing-along going. i'm really glad they didn't do "vertigo" again, that's really dumb to play a song twice when they have so many others. myself and probably 5000 other peopel were waiting for "with or without you" towards the end, but strangely enough, they never played that. hmmm. so after the second encore, the lights stayed off for a few minutes, but then went on, and everyone got teased.i was still feeling the u2, but of course, hardly anyone else did. i'm talking outside leaving the arena. everyone just wanted to go home i guess, but i had to try and get a small group of people singing "40". i mean come on, how often am i gonna have that chance. why doesn't anyone do this? so i probably went up to like 15 different people/groups and just started singing "40". they probably thought i was nuts, half of them i'm sure didn't know the song, i really don't care. maybe you saw me or heard me. some peopel were just totally NOT into it, that's kinda sad (not as sad as t-shirts for $35 though). so i got a few different people to sing with me (you know, "how long to sing this song.") this one guy was actually really hip and he was into primal scream and stone roses, stuff like that, and we started singing songs by those bands, that was sweet, high five dude. so finally me and my friend (who was really awesome for putting up with me) left and drove back to long island. hallelujah!

Goon Moon
I Got a Brand New Egg Layin' Machine
(Suicide Squeeze)
rating: *
released: June 7, 2005

New egg layin' machine? Oh man. But will Goon Moon actually use it? Hey, would you expect anything less from a band that's made up of members from such oddball acts as Marilyn Manson, Hella and Masters of Reality? No, of course not. Believe it or not, this actually sounds like all three of those bands combined--in a battle to determine which one is the most challenging. No one really wins here. Egg Layin' Machine is like scraps of ideas that were junked, then put together haphazardly for this short record (it's supposed to be a "mini-album," though there's ten tracks). For a while, it's closer to the noisy instrumentals of Hella, but then out of nowhere they add robotic vocals for "Rock Wierd," which is even too awful to be on the recent disappointment from Daft Punk. The last two "songs" attempt to be conventional with verses and choruses, practically transforming Goon Moon into a different (and better) band. At that point you might wonder why they just didn't go that route to begin with. If everyone can just go back to their respective groups now please. -- Kenyon Hopkin

style: Experimental
similar: Lightning Bolt, the Mae Shi, End., Vaz

VNV Nation
Matter + Form
(Metropolis)
released: April 12, 2005
rating: **

It's hard to not like VNV Nation after they released the phenomenal Empires five years ago. Even after the slightly disappointing follow-up, Futureperfect, the EBM duo is just so damned passionate about what they do that you could feel rather guilty turning your back on guys who have songs referring to the deep complexities of life, death, war, et al. And that's more or less the case with Matter + Form. Ronan Harris' vocals (the other guy, Mark Jackson, just plays electronic drums at shows, and it's freakin' sweet) are full of passion, sure, but there's just no melodies--or even music--to go with it. And instead of dance-floor anthem after dance-floor anthem, they again start retreating to some much slower tempos (dare I say, ballads?) and three or four instrumental trance tracks, none of which really get the gears going. Strangely, one of the better moments doesn't come until track nine, which has a comforting synth melody reminiscent of their epic "Further." Still, given the lack of immediately engaging songage here, it's not going to be easy to stand by VNV, as they end up sounding like a band trying to pay tribute to themselves. -- Kenyon Hopkin

style: EBM, Industrial Dance, Electronic
similar: Covenant, Assemblage 23, Icon of Coil

Astralwerks will release Kraftwerk's first official live recording, Minimum Maximum, on June 7. The group will play some very selective dates (perhaps following the lead of New Order, maybe these bands just don't have the energy anymore) where robots may or may not be present for the pioneering band's electro-pop.

5/30 Washington, DC 9.30 Club
5/31 Washington, DC 9.30 Club
6/01 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
6/03 Detroit, MI State Theatre
6/04 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
6/06 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

Merge records will release Teenage Fanclub's 8th album, Man-Made, on June 7th, 2005. The band's previous releases have been on such labels as Geffen, Columbia and Matador. If you were hip to 120 minutes back in the day, you probably remember the wonderful videos for the Bandwagonesque record. And if you're like me, you didn't think the band was still around.

RAVEONETTES U.S tour dates. Second full-length Pretty in Black out May 3, though it doesn't have any songs that sound much like the Jesus and Mary Chain's Psychocandy. Hear some of the new record and video for "Love in a Trashcan" at http://www.theraveonettes.com/ .

4/26/05 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
4/27/05 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
4/28/05 Brooklyn, NY Southpaw
4/30/05 Indio, CA Coachella
5/3/05 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
5/5/05 Vancouver, BC Richard's
5/6/05 Portland, OR Dante's
5/7/05 Seattle, WA Neumos
5/10/05 Minneapolis, MN 1st Avenue
5/11/05 Chicago, IL Double Door
5/12/05 Milwaukee, WI Mad Planet
5/13/05 Indianapolis, IN Patio
5/14/05 Nashville, TN Exit/In
5/16/05 Dallas, TX Gypsy Tea Room
5/17/05 Austin, TX Parrish
5/19/05 New Orleans, LA Twiropa
5/20/05 Tallahassee, FL Beta Bar
5/21/05 Orlando, FL Social
5/22/05 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
5/24/05 Tampa, FL State Theater
5/25/05 Athens, GA 40 Watt
5/26/05 Atlanta, GA Smith's Olde Bar
5/27/05 Chapel Hill, NC Cats Cradle
5/28/05 Washington, DC Black Cat
5/29/05 Baltimore, MD Otto Bar
5/31/05 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's
6/1/05 Philadelphia, PA North Star
6/2/05 Boston, MA Paradise
6/3/05 Montreal, QUE Petite Campus
6/4/05 Toronto, ONT Lee's Palace
6/6/05 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
6/7/05 Cincinnati, OH Southgate House
6/8/05 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
6/9/05 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls
6/10/05 Buffalo, NY Show Place Theater
6/11/05 New York, NY Webster Hall

Project Skyward
Strange Synchronicities
(Nebula)
rating: ***1/2
released: ????

Tons of reverbed male-female vocals, swirling melodies, lots of atmospheric guitar and electronic effects. In other words, most of this sounds just like Slowdive. Which means it's totally worth the journey. -- Kenyon Hopkin

styles: Space Rock, Shoegaze, Ambient
similar: Slowdive, Sianspheric, M83

My Epiphany
Miribilia
(Eyeball/Bardic)
released: May 10
rating: ***

Dang, these guys are on the little Eyeball label? I guess that's impressive for Eyeball, but once you get through even the first solid emo anthem on Miribilia, you'd be sure that My Epiphany were already on a major label, or at least Victory or Drive-thru records. It's not that they sell out to the mainstream and sound all accessible, it's just that this is pretty damn polished and engaging. Oh, and don't be put off by the "emo" tag here. The guitars and vocals sound that way, but the lyrics stretch beyond the boundaries of personal conflicts. Well, most of the time. The synthesizer also helps them stand apart from the hundreds of other post-hardcore/emo bands, including the big ones they've played shows with (Thursday, The Used). Although it doesn't seem totally necessary to use the piano or synth, when they use it for the little interludes and intros it adds something that's just a little bit haunting. -- Kenyon Hopkin

style: Emo
similar: Taking Back Sunday, Straylight Run, Early November, the Movielife

DINOSAUR JR. U.S Tour Dates

Thur July 7 House of Blues Orlando, FL
Fri July 8 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
Sat July 9 The Norva Norfolk, VA
Sun July 10 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC
Mon July 11 9:30 Club Washington, DC
Wed July 13 Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
Thur July 14 Central Park SummerStage New York, NY
Fri July 15 Avalon Boston, MA
Tue July 19 House of Blues Cleveland, OH
Wed July 20 Clutch Cargo’s Pontiac, MI
Thur July 21 The Madison Theater Covington, KY
Fri July 22 The Eagles Club Milwaukee, WI
Sat July 23 The Quest Minneapolis, MN
Sun July 24 Lollapalooza Chicago, IL

FISCHERSPOONER U.S. tour dates.

4/29 Orlando, FL House of Blues
5/05 New York, NY Canal Room
5/06 Houston, TX Hush
5/12 New York, NY Canal Room
5/19 New York, NY Canal Room
5/26 New York, NY Canal Room
6/01 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre
6/02 San Diego, CA House of Blues
6/03 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
6/04 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

www.fischerspooner.com

PETER MURPHY 2005 U.S. TOUR DATES

May
12 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House Of Blues
13 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
15 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
16 - New York, NY - B.B. King's
17 - Cleveland, OH - The Odeon
18 - Chicago, IL - Metro
20 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
22 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
23 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
24 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
26 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
27 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
28 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues

VNV Nation Formation Tour 2005.

May 06 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
May 07 Tampa, FL The Masquerade
May 09 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
May 11 Atlanta, GA Earthlink Live
May 12 Nashville, TN Exit/In
May 13 New Orleans, LA House of Blues (18+)
May 14 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
May 15 Dallas, TX Gypsy Ballroom (17+)
May 17 Phoenix, AZ Marquee Theatre
May 18 Anaheim, CA House of Blues **
May 19 Los Angeles, CA Avalon **
May 20 San Diego, CA 4th & B ** (21+)
May 21, 22 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore **
May 24 Portland, OR Aladin Theatre
May 25 Vancouver, BC CAN Commodore Ballroom (19+)
May 26 Seattle, WA Showbox
May 28 Edmonton, AB CAN Starlite Room (18+)
May 29 Calgary, AB CAN The Whiskey (18+)
May 31 Salt Lake City, UT Lo-Fi Café
Jun 01 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre
Jun 02 Kansas City, MO Madrid
Jun 03 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe (18+)
Jun 04 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
Jun 06 Chicago, IL House of Blues (18+)
Jun 07 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Jun 08 Detroit, MI Majestic Theater
Jun 09 Toronto, ON CAN The Phoenix
Jun 10 Montréal QC CAN Spectrum
Jun 12 Boston, MA Axis (18+)
Jun 14 Covington, KY Madison Theatre
Jun 15 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
Jun 16 Washington, DC Nation (18+)
Jun 17, 18 New York, NY Irving Plaza **
Jun 21 Buffalo, NY Club Infinity
Jun 22 Albany, NY Saratoga Winters
Jun 23 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre

All shows are "All Ages" unless otherwise indicated.
** A different set list will be played at these shows

Doris Henson
Give Me All Your Money
(DeSoto)
released: March 22
rating: **1/2

Oh, these bands with the tricky names. Perhaps a little too tricky, as this quintet from Kansas is only going to confuse people. I bet they got the name from some obscure actress from the '40s or it's some girl that hangs out in bars in Kansas. Name-critiquing aside, Doris Henson (which has a couple members that prove there's life after a ska band) can be pretty old school indie rock. Well, sometimes at least. The opening track starts the record with a field recording of some girl talking about...bees (guys, get to the music, you're wasting time). After the first song, which doesn't do too much, they really get the album going with "The Most," which has the semi-memorable lyric refrain "do the most with what you have, do the most from what you want." "A Dark Time for the Light Side of the Earth" is where the indie rock really kicks in, as they do their best impression of Built to Spill. From there, however, they change the pace. "Let You Down" starts with a wacky vocal intro and then burns rubber with harder rocking guitar. They pretty much slow it down from there, but don't let their guard down on energy. And hey, they must be doing something right cause they're playing some shows with Trail of Dead! -- Kenyon Hopkin

styles: Indie Rock

THE ORIGINAL DINOSAUR JR. REUNITE AFTER 15 YEARS. WILL PERFORM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON TELEVISION ON CBS' LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON, Friday, April 15. obviously this coincides with the merge records re-issues of the band's first three records.

NEW ORDER concert dates in U.S. yea, too bad i only just found out about the new york date. looks like a teaser promo tour. let's just hope they don't wind up getting involved in some 5-band tour package in the summer or fall with green day, garbage, nine inch nails and queens of the stone age. what? oh no thats not happening, i just randomly picked those bands.

Apr 29, 2005 Henry J. Kaiser Arena - Oakland, California (US)
May 01, 2005 Empire Polo Field - Indio, California (US)
May 03, 2005 Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL (US)
May 05, 2005 Hammerstein Ballroom - New York, NY (US)

first single/video from Waiting for the Sirens' Call:
http://www.neworder.cc/

Mando Diao
Hurricane Bar
(Mute)
released: March 8
rating: ***1/2

Right now, Mando Diao (maybe one day I'll know how to pronounce this) is probably the biggest and best rock 'n' roll band from Sweden that you haven't heard of yet. Probably. But just you wait, cause I'm sure you'll hear one of their songs in a commercial for Old Navy or iPod or something. Produced by Richard Rainey (who worked on U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind, thanks a lot! that record is awful!), Hurricane Bar surprisingly outdoes the band's debut Bring 'Em In, in terms of energy and songwriting. It's pure rock 'n' roll, with nods to garage and mod-punk. Somehow, Mando Diao pulls off youthful showmanship like "God Knows" and "This Dream is Over" with ease, and you forget that these guys are totally arrogant. -- Kenyon Hopkin

styles: Garage Rock, Rock & Roll
similar: The Jam, The Hives, Mooney Suzuki, The Libertines