If you are a regular reader of this blog, you’ll recall a post on April 30th about a Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour afterparty at Beauty Bar. The bash was being hosted by DJ Craze, Kanye’s tour DJ. Normally I’d link you to the post at this point, but at the request of Kanye West’s legal team and the management at Beauty Bar, the post has been removed.
Kanye West’s legal team contacted Beauty Bar and threatened them with legal action over the promotion of their After the Glow party. The full email I received from Beauty Bar is below, along with the original artwork I received promoting the event.
Ana, my name is B___ Im one of the owners at Beauty
Bar. We received a Cease and Desist letter from Kanye
Wests legal team regarding the Austin Soundcheck post
about the DJ Craze show last wed. 4/30. the url for
the blog post is still up and it needs to be taken
down otherwise we could be sued for falsely promoting
Kanyes name, which we never did. But they are saying
we are responsible for what your blog posted. I
REALLY appreciate you helping us out and help
promoting the event, but its causing some friction so
if you could please take it down and let me know I
would much appreciate it.
Thanks!
I’m no legal expert, but from my perspective this is absolutely heinous. Legal action was threatened a full week after the event had taken place. Aside from that, DJ Craze is Kanye’s tour DJ. There’s nothing false about promoting a show as such. Seems to be another case of Kanye West’s inflated ego.
Green Day alter-ego Foxboro Hot Tubs announced a short tour at the end of this month, which includes a stop at Emo’s. Tickets are $20 at the door, with no advance sales. There will be a two ticket per person maximum and no photography is allowed.
May 19 2008 Juanita’s Cantina - Little Rock, AR
May 20 2008 One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
May 21 2008 The Loft - Dallas, TX May 22 2008 Emo’s - Austin, TX
May 25 2008 The Brick House - Phoenix, AZ
May 26 2008 Soma (Sidestage) - San Diego, CA
May 27 2008 The Roxy - West Hollywood, CA
May 28 2008 Alex’s Bar - Long Beach, CA
Jonathan Meiburg has been splitting his time between Okkervil River and his side project Shearwater for a few years now. Fellow Okkervil member Will Sheff collaborated with Meiburg on Shearwater as the two bands rose to fame. But Shearwater began to take center stage after 2006’s Palo Santo gained national recognition as NPR’s Album of the Year.
2008 has found Shearwater putting its final touches on new album Rook. Now, Meiburg has decided to “completely disengage from Okkervil rather than stretch (himself) too thin” in order to focus on the promising new album. Rook is set to drop on June 3 via Matador Records.
I’ll be bringing you a Rook album preview later this week. Stay tuned.
This week’s list of recommended shows is metal heavy, ranging from the melodic metal styling of Amanda Lepre, to the face-melting thrash of Iron Age and the rock infused Dixie Witch and Superheavygoatass. We also have some great touring roadshows coming through this week in Wilco and ZZ Top.
My pick of the week goes to The Story Of, who are playing a 101X Homegrown Live showcase at Emo’s on Wednesday. The show is only $1 to get in. That’s a hell of a deal to see The Story Of, who are Austin’s next big thing, in my humble opinion.
The restaurant formerly known as South by South First will be changing it’s name, due to the previously reported lawsuit filed by SXSW Inc. With the ominous burden of a long, expensive legal battle, restaurant co-owner Gary Miller decided to change the name rather than fight SXSW Inc.
Their decision definitely makes business sense. South by South First was a purely local business, going up against the corporate conglomerate that is SXSW Inc. Of course that makes the estimated $5000 already spent on signage, menus, etc. that much more meaningful.
Indie blog darlings My Morning Jacket announced upcoming tour dates today. The trek includes a stop at Stubb’s in Austin. My Morning Jacket’s latest release Evil Urges drops on June 10th via ATO Records. Full tour itinerary is below, along with a video of My Morning Jacket performing The Way That He Sings at ACL 2006.
Upcoming Tour Dates
06/20: New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
08/16: Louisville, KY @ The Great Lawn at Louisville Waterfront Park
08/18: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
08/19: Council Bluffs, IA @ Stir Cove
08/21: Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater (w/ the Black Keys)
08/23: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom 08/24: Austin, TX @ Stubbs
08/27: Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre-Atlanta
08/29: Miami, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach@ the Jackie Gleason Theater
08/30: Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues- Orlando
08/31: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues- Myrtle Beach
09/02: Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Pavilion
09/03: Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall
09/05: Philadelphia, PA @ Festival Pier @ Penn’s Landing
09/06: Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
09/19: Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
09/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
09/23: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
09/24: Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
09/25: San Diego, CA @ SDSU Open Air Theater
09/27: Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield
09/28: Seattle WA @ McCaw Hall
10/02: Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
10/03: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
10/04: Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
10/09: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
10/10: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Continuing its history of vigorously protecting the SXSW brand, SXSW Inc. is suing local restauranteur Gary Miller over the name of his new venture, South by South First. Located at the intersection of South First St. and Stassney Lane, South by South First boasts a large stage in addition to a restaurant and bar.
Because they plan to feature live music, I can see why SXSW Inc. would be concerned about South by South First. On the other hand, there is little chance anyone will confuse a restaurant with the festival.
What do you think? Is SXSW being litigious or is this a valid case of infringement?
Austin City Limits Festival promoter C3 Presents has pushed the previously announced schedule grid release date back to June 3. Single day tickets will go on sale the same day.
Death is Not a Joyride is a very fitting name for a band who pairs dark, gothic melodies with satirical, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Recorded with John Congleton (Explosions in the Sky, Polyphonic Spree), The Human Zoo is a captivatingly dark album that is both intense and ethereal.
The Human Zoo is every bit as cerebral as you’d expect from a band that uses everything from traditional rock instruments to less familiar ones like the glockenspiel, mandolin, viola and sheet metal.
Songs like Masochism in the Trade and Sleeping with Skeleton Keys give you some idea of the complexities that lie just below the surface of Death is Not a Joyride. The band weaves powerful female vocals with equally potent instrumentation to create an experience of operatic proportions.
Death is Not a Joyride is embarking on their first US tour this summer, starting with a tour kickoff show at Beauty Bar on May 29th. Local favorites Transmography and Southern Drama round out the bill. Visit Beauty Bar’s website for more information.
Upcoming Tour Dates
5/29 - Beauty Bar - Austin, TX
6/6 - TBA - San Antonio, TX
6/7 - The Pastime Tavern - Dallas, TX
6/10 - The M Bar - Hollywood, CA
6/14 - Hotel Monte Vista - Flagstaff, AZ
6/16 - Gator’s Bar & Grille - Farmington, NM
6/19 - Lucy’s - San Marcos, TX
Mainstream hip hop has long been focused on the latest beef between rappers; often using violent and misogynistic lyrics. Indie hip hop has taken a progressive turn, often focusing on socially conscious issues or using comedic style to convey a message.
MC trio DAM and rapper Devin the Dude showcase each side of the progressive rap movement, taking very different paths in order to bring a fresh sound to modern hip hop.
DAM is a group of Palestinian Israeli MCs who rap primarily in Arabic with a little English and Hebrew thrown in for good measure. DAM raps about the on-going Palestinian Israeli conflict through intense lyrics and bass heavy beats.
They’ve toured Europe four times on the strength of their single Who’s The Terrorist (video after the jump) and even been featured in Time magazine. DAM is performing at Scoot Inn this Thursday. More details are available on Scoot Inn’s website.
Houston native Devin the Dude is often referred to as “Rap’s best kept secret.” Through his humorous and often comical lyrics, Devin’s career has stretched out over a decade, making him one of hip hop’s most successful rappers. Featured on the Up In Smoke Tour along side Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Xzibit and Ice Cube, Devin has also worked with Andre 3000 (Outkast), Jay-Z, UGK and The Roots.
You can see Devin the Dude at Ruta Maya this Saturday. Visit Ruta Maya’s website for more information.
Videos from DAM and Devin the Dude for your perusal after the jump.
Houston native 
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