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Local - Phoenix
In further evidence that the eyes and ears of the industry are indeed upon Arizona, in addition to the recent signings of Az bands The Refreshments (Mercury), One (Mercury), Mr. Marainga (MCA) and Jimmy Eat World (Capitol), Phoenix based hard rockers Crushed were signed and have begun production on an album for the California based indie 911 Records. Release date to be announced.
Recent New Mexico transplant and ABKS Alumni, Wardog, have also signed a deal with Metal Blade Records. Wardog is currently shooting a video and preparing for the cd release later this month, as well as catering to European press. Congrats. (See Showcase in this issue).
Additionally, Tucson based Joe Rush has signed a distribution deal with Eureka Music, another California based company for his album "Play & Play & Play." "Bring It On," a song from the same album has been used for an undisclosed soap opera on ABC daytime.
According to a press release from Bushman Management, The Mason Jar will be hosting Arizona Local Jam '96, an event featuring local talent and to benefit the AZ. division of The American Cancer Society. In addition to local talent Idly Rove, Grey Daze, Digger, Freudian Slip, Fred Green, Dead City Love, Firesky and other special guests, the event will be hosted by KUPD's Eddie Webb and Pistol Pete, and will feature the auction of rock & roll memorabilia (according to the release, such as Alice Cooper's boots or Rob Halford's shirt) The Jam will take place on Saturday, June 29.
Ex-Music Voice Scribe, Jill Wiendorf is sitting pretty at Elektra Entertainment executing her duties as a new College Music Promotions Rep. Congrats.
In other Music Voice staff-related news, longtime staffer Robin Cote has secured a position with KZON (101.5 FM). Robin will begin her duties as an overnight, weekend jock (Sat. & Sun. 12 AM to 10 AM). Congratulations from all of us at MV.
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Tucson
Pulse's Mike Olson reported that his worldbeat band hasn't been playing out lately because they've been jamming in the studio. He said mixing will begin in the second week of July and to look for a release by fall.
Funky Bonz have been keeping busy, touring Northern Arizona, Colorado, and playing locally. They are currently recording in Illusion Studios for their upcoming CD, said band member Brent Kort.
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Rock
Last month the Buzzcocks toured the U.K. celebrating the release of "All Set" on I.R.S. Records, their final studio album since 1993. Next will follow a major U.S. jaunt.
With his second album, "Find a Door," set for release on June 25, Pete Droge is gearing up to get the show on the road with his band, The Sinners. "The first record was with a band that I threw together kind of at the last minute," Droge explained, "and I think a lot of people wrongly assumed I'm a solo guy with session cats backing me up. The Sinners are a real band. A tight together band."
Dada is currently on tour in support of "El Subliminoso," their newest Warner Brothers release.
God Lives Underwater completed a tour with Life of Agony and began their own headlining gig. The group was cut from the Spacehog tour because too many GLU fans were filling the clubs instead of Spacehoggers.
Psychotica's very eye-opening Patrick Briggs, says of the Lollapalooza tour, "This is the summer where I can make my mark and I assure you, I'm going to."
Gren extended their spring tour as a result of increasing radio airplay for the single "She Shines" off of "Camp Grenada."
When Wesley Willis was at his friend's home studio and asked to sing, the resulting tape, "Five Explicit Songs," caused a commotion in the underground scene, nabbing fans such as Jello Biafra, Pearl Jam and Henry Rollins. Releasing 15 solo albums on his own, word of his work led to being on MTV's 120 minutes. SQUIRT TV and The Week in Rock. Watch for his American Recordings debut, "Feel the Power," later this summer.
Ho-hum, a punk rock band hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, has its debut out on Universal Records, "One Out of Ten." They kicked off their tour in their hometown, the first leg of which was covered in April and May.
Slayer and Sir Mix-A-Lot were spotted hanging out together at the American Recordings offices in Burbank. Both labelmates have releases, Slayer's "Undisputed Attitude," which made its appearance last month and Mix-A-Lot's "Return of the Bumpasauras," due out August 6.
"Friends," the Reprise record featuring music on the popular television show, has been certified platinum. The LP features tracks by The Rembrandts, Toad the Wet Sprocket, k.d. lang, Lou Reed, R.E.M., Joni Mitchell, Hootie and the Blowfish and Paul Westerberg, among others. President Howie Klein said that "work will begin on a new Friends project for release later this year.
Upcoming American Recordings artists with product forthcoming include Long Fin Killie's "Valentino," Fireside's "Do Not Tailgate," Jack's "Pioneer Soundtracks."
Los Lobos performed a live satellite/multimedia show on May 16th at the Wells Fargo Theater at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles. The hour-long, commercial-free concert was simultaneously broadcast to 100 radio stations and featured material from their new Warner Brothers album, "Colossal Head."
Joan Jett's latest hit is the theme song, "Love Is All Around," from The Mary Tyler Moore Show of yesteryear. Jett contributed the song as a promotion for ESPN's women's college basketball. "Obviously being such a big sports fan and an advocate of women doing what they want. I wanted to help," Jett remarked. "Plus, I thought it was an opportunity to have a lot of fun." She recently appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman to perform the number.
On other Joan Jett news, she was honored at the Ninth Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame Awards, sponsored by the Philadelphia Music Alliance. Jett was one of eight to receive an award, with others including Boyz II Men, Peter Nero and Philly Joe Jones. All will have a plaque placed on the Walk of Fame along with the Avenue of the Arts.
With Super 8's self-titled release out, they've hit the road with Fishbone until early June. From there, the group will join the H.O.R.D.E. Festival in July for concerts in the South, Southwest and West Coast.
"Rude Awakening" is the follow-up to Prong's 1993 LP, "Cleansing." It was co-produced by Terry Date (White Zombie, Pantera), and Prong singer/guitarist Tommy Victor. White Zombie's Rob Zombie directed the video for the album's title track. Victor described it "a post-apocalyptic sleaze theme, pretty dark and intense. It's not like a White Zombie video. This is definitely going to be a Prong video."
Girls Against Boys has been getting a lot of ink lately -- Rolling Stone, Melody Maker, Billboard, Village Voice, Spin Magazine -- to name a few. "House GVSB" is the group's fourth full-length work and is on Touch and Go Records.
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Folk
Continuing with their successful Child Celebration Series, Warner Brothers Records has released "A Child's Celebration of Folk Music," a title designed to entertain children, parents and grandparents alike. Michele Shocked recorded "See the Sun" specifically for this LP. Other tracks include Pete Seeger's "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain," Maria Muldaur's "Would You Like To Swing on a Star," and Jerry Garcia's "There Ain't No Bugs On Me."
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Other
Elektra Entertainment, along with Red Hot Organization, has issued a rap CD, "America Is Dying Slowly (A.I.D.S.)." It emphasizes information on proper condom and needle usage and statistics on AIDS and the African American population. Artists appearing on the album are Wu-Tang Clan, Pete Rock, De La Soul and Domino. This is the 8th production by Red Hot Organization, which has raised over 6 million dollars for AIDS associations worldwide.
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