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Travis/Remy Zero
October 23, 2001
Universal Amphitheater

There just may be no nicer bands on the planet than Travis and Remy Zero, who hosted a packed house at Universal Amphitheater with a warm embrace that Martha Stewart would've been jealous of. The two bands-who've been close friends since first meeting and touring together back in 1999-obviously enjoy each other's company so much that the good feeling just can't help but spill out over the stage and drench the audience. Not that the crowd minded one bit; carried away on a wave of optimism and catchy tunes, a grateful crowd was on its feet and cheering loudly for the majority of each band's set.

Review by Lisa Y. Garibay

Stu sent in a reminder that Spiritualized will be appearing on the Tonight Show on Monday, November 5th. I checked the Late Night TV Page and found out that the Beta Band is playing the Craig Kilborn show on Wednesday, November 7th. And don't forget that Ravi Shankar will be on Conan O'Brian on Thursday, November 15.

Due to recent increased national security concerns, the Trembling Blue Stars are unable to get to the United States in time for the first half of their upcoming US tour. Unfortunately, they will miss any shows scheduled before the Chicago date on November 10th. Having seen photos of the band and heard their records, we can completely understand the need for reining in their transnational movements - they are, without a doubt a menacing, shifty lot.

And one by one, the mighty are indeed falling this year, as an official announcement on the band's website is today confirming that JAMES are splitting with vocalist Tim Booth at the conclusion of their forthcoming holiday tour. In the same message, Booth lays out his plans to go solo as both a singer AND actor, and briefly mentions a screenplay that's in the works. It's as yet unclear what will become of the rest of the band, though Booth's posting hints that the band might soldier on without him.

As of today, FuturePopShop has put tickets online to an "unannounced" NYC gig at Fez on November 7.  Please go to the shop, under tickets, and find tickets for the show. They would like if the people who were slighted by the 'cancellation' (the show from last March that was "downgraded" because of Bobby's bout with laryngitis) could be the first to know. You'll have the weekend to purchase tickets.
News courtesy of Skippy

Basement Jaxx
October 2, 2001
Mayan

Basement Jaxx have only DJ'ed in the US. This was their big "live show" and there were claims of a 9-piece band coming along for the tour. I hate electronic acts with bands backing them up, it pretty much always crap (see BT). Some of the "mainstream" people might like the fact that there's a real drummer there, but I perfer to just have a few guys behind some decks playing music (Orbital, Chemical Brothers, and Underworld are perfect examples). It turns out that Basement Jaxx's band was array of singers and one guy on bongo's, which was totally sweet.

That's right - we're NOT kidding, though it IS just a one-off reunion. NME is reporting today that all 4 original members of RIDE are reforming to perform ONE track for a BBC Channel 4 television programme. The new series, "Pioneers," is a fifteen minute programme spotlighting seminal bands - Ride will be featured on an episode devoted to Sonic Youth, and will likely air sometime in December. Though no sort of permanent reunion is remotely in the offing, it's still bloody brilliant to hear they're doing at least one song together.

Lisa Y. Garibay has another fantastic interview on her site, Then It Must Be True. Go read it because, c'mon, he's the "Father of Goth"! And then come back here and tell us what you think.

NME is confirming today the rumour we've been hearing for months: ELASTICA are no more. Justine Frischmann, speaking to the British weekly, has confirmed that the band have split. A farewell single and Peel Session releases are in the works for later this year, and Justine mentions an as-yet-unnamed new project in the future.

Some may call them the most talked-about garage rock band in history. Others seem to call them "THE GREATEST AMERICAN BAND OF OUR GENERATION." (Thank you, UK press.) Whatever your take on 'em is, THE STROKES have the most hotly anticipated debut album of the fall... and now it's tracklisting is being changed in the wake of the tragedy at the World Trade Center. The gruff anthem "New York City Cops" has been pulled from all U.S. copies due to its anti-police sentiment.