KILL ROCK STARS @ SXSW (03/11/10)
We wanted to remind you about our SXSW day party and give you each of our bands' full SXSW schedules.

Kill Rock Stars SXSW day party
Thursday, March 18th
Cheer up Charlie's (formerly Mrs Beas)
1104 E 6th St
Noon-6pm

Free breakfast tacos @ Noon

12pm Talk Normal
1pm Grass Widow
2pm Viv Albertine
3pm Explode Into Colors
4pm Quasi
5pm Horse Feathers

Free and all ages!

******************************
Can't make it to our party? Here's their complete SXSW schedules...

Explode Into Colors:
Mar 18 - 3:00pm Cheer Up Charlie's - Kill Rock Stars Party
Mar 18 - 10:00pm @ Wave Rooftop - Official Showcase
Mar 19 - 2:30pm @ Domy Books - KXLU and Ol Factory Partay
Mar 20 - 2:30pm @ MtyMx Monterrey, Nuevo León

Grass Widow:
March 18 - 1pm @ Cheer Up Charlie's - Kill Rock Stars party
March 18 - 9pm @ Baby Blue Studio
March 19 - 5pm @ Trailer Space
March 19 - 11:45pm @ The Mohawk - Slumberland/Cake Shop cakeshop
March 20 - 8pm @ Spiderland

Horse Feathers:
March 17 - 4pm @ Paradise - AM to AM Party
March 18 - 5pm @ Cheer Up Charlie's - Kill Rock Stars party
March 18 - 10pm @ Encore Patio - Monterey International Showcase

Quasi:
March 18 - 1:30pm @ KEXP Session
March 18 - 4:00pm @ Cheer Up Charlie's - Kill Rock Stars Party
March 19 - 4:00pm @ Beauty Bar - Tape Op party
March 19 - 11:00pm @ Antone's - Billions SXSW showcase
March 20 - 2:15pm @ Home Slice

Viv Albertine:
March 18 - 2pm @ Cheer Up Charlie's - Kill Rock Stars Party
March 19 - 4:50pm @ Cafe Mundi - Girls Rock Camp
March 20 - 1am @ Red 7 - Ecstatic Peace Party
March 20 - 1pm @ Yard Dog Party
March 20 - 6pm @ Second Play Stage Hilton Austin

PRE-ORDERS FOR ELLIOTT SMITH REISSUES ARE UP (03/11/10)
Don't delay or you'll miss out on our pre-order special! The first 300 pre-orders will receive a free Elliott Smith poster.

ELLIOTT SMITH Roman Candle LP/180 gram LP/CD
Roman Candle is Elliott Smith’s first solo album and was originally released on Portland’s Cavity Search Records in 1994.
Roman Candle had quite an impact on Slim Moon, Kill Rock Stars' founder: "In 1994, I had been asked to be on this five-person solo-act tour called Pop Chord with Tammy Watson, Carrie Akre, Sean Croghan and Elliott Smith. The first night at the Crocodile in Seattle, I didn't pay too much attention and people talked all thru Elliott's set. Sean Croghan got up next and said "all of you people who just talked through Elliott's set are bummed because you just misssed something very very special." The next night of the tour, at The Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, I listened very closely to Elliott's set, and it was basically one of those life-changing moments. Instead of watching the rest of the performers, I went out to the tour van and popped Roman Candle into the player, and listened to it on endless repeat for the rest of the evening and beyond. It completely blew my mind. I have never heard music as heartwrenchingly, gut-checkingly honest, intimate, and wise - before or since."

Roman Candle has been remastered for the re-release by Larry Crane, editor of Tape Op Magazine and archivist for Elliott's family and Roger Seibel of SAE Mastering.

We will also be releasing Roman Candle on vinyl for the first time in the U.S.

Download/Listen to "Last Call" from Roman Candle.

ELLIOTT SMITH From a Basement on the Hill LP/180 gram LP/CD
Elliott Smith has been a patron saint of the indie scene since his days helming Portland heroes Heatmiser. As a solo artist, Smith led a revolution of home four-trackers, from Beck to Cat Power, out of the bedroom and into the studio, where Smith's fondness for Beatlesque melody led to some of the most beautifully orchestrated pop of the last decade. from a basement on the hill is Smith's final recording and finds Smith returning to an edgier, guitar-driven sound, alongside his trademark heart-rending balladry.

Download/Listen to "Twilight" from From a Basement on the Hill

THE THERMALS HEADED TO CHINA NEXT WEEK, EAST COAST TOUR, HUTCH TALKS NEW RECORD (03/11/10)
While the rest of us are in Austin next week eating breakfast tacos and slathering on sunscreen the Thermals are will be traipsing along the Great Wall and eating Dan Dan Mian. Lucky them:

March 2010
17 - Beijing, China @ Mao Live
18 - Shanghai, China @ YYT Live
19 - Chengdu, China @ 7 Live
20 - Wuhan, China @ VOX Live

After their return they will be heading back out on the road again, this time to the East Coast:
April 2010
7 - Orlando, FL @ Social - w/ Past Lives
8 - Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder - w/ Past Lives
9 - Gainesville, FL @ University of Florida - Rion Ballroom - w/ Past Lives
10 - St Augustine, FL @ Cafe Eleven
12 - Wilmington, NC @ The Soapbox Laundrolounge - w/ Past Lives
13 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle - w/ Past Lives
14 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
15 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church - w/ Past Lives
16 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar - w/ Past Lives
17 - Hamden, CT @ The Space - w/ Past Lives
18 - Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East - w/ Past Lives
20 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
21 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl

Also, Hutch Harris just spoke with SPIN about the upcoming record, read all about it here.

PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT ON BAEBLE (03/10/10)
Baeble.com posted a beautiful set from the Portland Cello Project at Philly's First Unitarian Church. It was filmed this past November on their tour supporting Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

Watch it here.

PCP are about to embark on their Great NW Music Tour:
March 2010
12 - Independence, OR @ Green Villa Barn - Great NW Music Tour
17 - Centralia, WA @ Olympic Club - Great NW Music Tour
18 - Portland, OR @ Kennedy School - Great NW Music Tour
20 - McMinnville, OR @ Hotel Oregon - Great NW Music Tour
24 - Bend, OR @ O'Kane's at Old St Francis - Great NW Music Tour
25 - Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield Manor - Great NW Music Tour
26 - Gearhart, OR @ Sand Trap - Great NW Music Tour
27 - Forest Grove, OR @ Grand Lodge - Great NW Music Tour

QUASI AND EXPLODE INTO COLORS TOUR STARTS TONIGHT! (03/09/10)
The first leg of Quasi's US tour in support of their latest album, American Gong, starts tonight in Arcata! Explode Into Colors will be supporting down to Austin and back. Both bands will be playing a bunch down in Austin - see below for full details.

Speaking of EIC, AOL/Spinner has an interview with the band here as part of their SXSW 2010 series. AND we have a few of their limited edition, embossed Eyes Hands Mouth seven inches left. Make sure and order yours now before it's too late.

March 2010
9 - Arcata, CA @ The Depot @ Humboldt State
10 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
11 - Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
12 - Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
13 - Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
14 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
15 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush
17 - Denton, TX @ Hailey's
21 - Norman, OK @ The Opolis
22 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
23 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
25 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
26 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux
27 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir

Quasi's SXSW schedule:
March 18 - 1:30pm @ KEXP Session
March 18 - 4:00pm @ Cheer Up Charlie's - Kill Rock Stars Party
March 19 - 4:00pm @ Beauty Bar - Tape Op party
March 19 - 11:00pm @ Antone's - Billions SXSW showcase
March 20 - 2:15pm @ Home Slice

Explode Into Color's SXSW schedule:
Mar 18 - 3:00pm Cheer Up Charlie's - Kill Rock Stars Party
Mar 18 - 10:00pm @ Wave Rooftop - Official Showcase
Mar 19 - 2:30pm @ Domy Books - KXLU and Ol Factory Partay
Mar 20 - 2:30pm @ MtyMx Monterrey, Nuevo León

KILL ROCK STARS SXSW DAY PARTY INFO (03/05/10)
Finally, here's the details:

Kill Rock Stars SXSW day party
Thursday, March 18th
Cheer up Charlie's (formerly Mrs Beas)
1104 E 6th St
Noon-6pm

Free breakfast tacos @ Noon

12pm Talk Normal
1pm Grass Widow
2pm Viv Albertine
3pm Explode Into Colors
4pm Quasi
5pm Horse Feathers

Free and all ages!

THE FADER DEBUTS KLEENEX/LILIPUT LIVE TRACK (03/04/10)
As you probably already know, we are releasing a cd/dvd from Swiss post-punkers Kleenex/LiliPUT on March 23rd. Today, The Fader debuted the first mp3 , In A Mess, from the live cd.

You can pre-order your copy from us now. The first 200 pre-orders come with a FREE Kleenex/LiLiPUT button.

FREE ELLIOTT SMITH MP3S FROM ROMAN CANDLE & FROM A BASEMENT ON THE HILL (03/02/10)
Today we are making available two Elliott Smith songs: “Last Call” from Roman Candle and “Twilight” from From A Basement On The Hill. Both albums will be reissued on April 6, 2010.

Roman Candle is Elliott Smith’s first solo album and was originally released on Portland’s Cavity Search Records in 1994.

Roman Candle had quite an impact on Slim Moon, Kill Rock Stars' founder: "In 1994, I had been asked to be on this five-person solo-act tour called Pop Chord with Tammy Watson, Carrie Akre, Sean Croghan and Elliott Smith. The first night at the Crocodile in Seattle, I didn't pay too much attention and people talked all thru Elliott's set. Sean Croghan got up next and said "all of you people who just talked through Elliott's set are bummed because you just missed something very very special." The next night of the tour, at The Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, I listened very closely to Elliott's set, and it was basically one of those life-changing moments. Instead of watching the rest of the performers, I went out to the tour van and popped Roman Candle into the player, and listened to it on endless repeat for the rest of the evening and beyond. It completely blew my mind. I have never heard music as heartwrenchingly, gut-checkingly honest, intimate, and wise before or since."

Roman Candle has been remastered for the re-release by Roger Seibel and Larry Crane, editor of Tape Op Magazine and archivist for Elliott's family. Kill Rock Stars will also be releasing Roman Candle on vinyl for the first time in the U.S.

From a Basement on the Hill was released posthumously in 2004 on ANTI- records.

With the addition of these two records Kill Rock Stars is now the home for all of Elliott Smith’s independent releases: Roman Candle, Elliott Smith, Either/Or, From a Basement on the Hill, and New Moon.

HORSE FEATHERS US TOUR ANNOUNCED (03/01/10)
Horse Feathers just announced a U.S. tour in support of their upcoming record, Thistled Spring, which will be released April 20th.

April 2010
9 - Berkeley, CA @ UC Berkeley - Sproul Plaza - 12pm
11 - Eugene, OR @ Sam Bond's Garage
13 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
15 - Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
16 - Vancouver, BC, Canada @ The Media Club
17 - Spokane, WA @ The Empyrean
20 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Cedar Cultural Center
21 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
22 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas
23 - South Bend, IN @ Subkirke
24 - St Louis, MO @ Billiken Club
26 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
27 - Buffalo, NY @ The Ninth Ward @ Babeville
28 - Toronto, ON, Canada @ Drake Hotel
29 - Montreal, QC, Canada @ Divan Orange
30 - Boston, MA @ The Red Room @ Cafe 939
May 2010
1 - Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
3 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
4 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
5 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
6 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
7 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
10 - Louisville, KY @ Skull Alley
11 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
12 - Iowa City, IA @ The Mill
14 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
15 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
17 - Tucson, AZ @ Solar Culture
18 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
19 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fold In Bottleg Theater
20 - Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
21 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place
22 - Davis, CA @ Sophia's Thai Kitchen
23 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill

DEERHOOF'S APPLE O' AND GREEN COSMOS VINYL FOR RECORD STORE DAY! (03/01/10)
FROM GREG SAUNIER
I distinctly remember my first trip to an independent record shop. To my surprise, my arrival at the register (holding the Keith Richards solo album Talk Is Cheap) came with some un-asked-for commentary courtesy of the people working there: "I just saw him on Saturday Night Live, and boy did he look pale..." I felt simultaneously frowned-upon and ultra-impressed that someone could just walk in and buy anything in the place, and they'd have something to say about it.

Years later after Deerhoof was formed, independent record stores became central to our livelihood. Our first releases were 7" singles and an LP, and the only shops that carried them were independents. In some cases, it was finding our record in such a store that initiated relationships that would become important for us later. For example the owner of the label Menlo Park Recordings found Deerhoof this way, and went on to release a double 7" and two CDs (Halfbird and Green Cosmos). Also Thurston Moore discovered Deerhoof in this way and contacted us about opening for his band Sonic Youth, which we have now done several times.

We're going to celebrate Record Store Day this year with two LP reissues: APPLE O' and GREEN COSMOS.

In our era of Music Overload one never knows if one's songwriting efforts will be recognized in any way, let alone heard, let alone remembered...so it was with a genuine thrill that we discovered our 2003 album Apple O' lurking in some end-of-decade lists. Let it be enjoyed afresh! Record Store Day 2010 is approaching, and here comes Apple O' on vinyl for the first time in years. This time the vinyl is blue and the artwork expanded. 4 previously unreleased bonus tracks enhance the free download that is the automatic fringe benefit of a purchase of this LP, because you will get a download code. Most likely on a small piece of paper, careful don't lose it.

Please enjoy Green Cosmos, it is coming on Record Store Day April 17 2010. I expect many have never heard it before, due in part to a substandard marketing campaign when it was originally released in 2005. It is not on any end-of-decade lists. It is the first time on vinyl of any color, let alone milky green and with free downloads and 4 bonus tracks. Careful - don't lose the small scrap of paper that contains the download code, until the download is successful, then discard, or recycle where municipal regulation allows. I have heard the 12" 45rpm test pressing and trust me this the definition of hi-fi, you can hear every last squiggle and clink, it is a thing of beauty.

Apple O' was about the Greek god of music and order, Apollo. Green Cosmos was about the Cosmos, i.e. space travel, galaxies, the big bang, and all the things in the universe.Apple O' was about the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, the ability to harness the atom, and its effect on Japan-US relations 1945 to the present.

Jazzy - Enjoy.

- Greg

Upcoming Performances
mar 03 - Melbourne, AUS - The Corner
mar 04 - Melbourne, AUS - East Brunswick
mar 09 - Sydney, AUS - Spectrum (w/ Tenniscoates)
mar 10 - Wellington, NZ - San Francisco Bath House
mar 11 - Auckland, NZ - Kings Arms
mar 23 - Osaka, Japan - Akaso (w/ Ogre You Asshole)
mar 24 - Nygoya, Japan - Club Quattro (w/ Ogre You Asshole)
mar 26 - Tokyo, Japan - Liquid Room (w/ Ogre You Asshole)
mar 28 - Sendai, Japan - Shaft
mar 31 - Matsuyama, Japan - Hoshizora Jett (w/ Tori Kudo)
apr 01 - Fukuoka, Japan - Early Believers (w/ Folk Enough, Velocityut)
apr 02 - Okayama, Japan - Pepperland
apr 03 - Hamamatsu, Japan - Lucrezia
apr 14 - Moscow, Russia - IKRA
apr 15 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen
apr 20 - Warsaw, Poland - Powiekszenie
apr 21 - Krakow, Poland - Klub Re
apr 22 - Bratislava, Slovakia - A4
apr 23 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Kino Siska
apr 24 - Budapest, Hungary - Trafo
apr 26 - Zagreb, Croatia - SC
apr 29 - Krems, Austria - Donaufestival (w/ Xiu Xiu performing Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures)
jun 25 - Omaha, NB - Waiting Room (w/ Southeast Engine, Broken Spindles)
jun 26 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue (w/ WHY?, Southeast Engine)
jun 27 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium (w/ Southeast Engine)
jul 05 - Seattle, WA - The Vera Project (w/ The Donkeys, Southeast Engine)
jul 06 - Portland, OR - Berbatti's (w/ The Donkeys, Southeast Engine)
jul 08 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill (w/ The Donkeys, Southeast Engine)

 

older news

SEE XIU XIU ON TOUR AND DONATE TO A GREAT CAUSE! (02/25/10)
LOTS OF LOVE FOR XIU XIU'S DEAR GOD, I HATE MYSELF (02/25/10)
XIU XIU CHINESE & EUROPEAN TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED - PITCHFORK DEBUTS VIDEO FOR GRAY DEATH (02/23/10)
HAPPY RECORD RELEASE DAY XIU XIU AND QUASI! (02/23/10)
IT'S FAT TUESDAY - DOWNLOAD A NEW QUASI SONG! (02/16/10)
GRASS WIDOW ON KILL ROCK STARS! (02/10/10)
SHARE YOUR BIKINI KILL STORIES (02/09/10)
XIU XIU OUT ON ITUNES TODAY - FREE RING TONES ON CASHMUSIC! (02/09/10)
THE THERMALS NEW SINGLE - CANADA - OUT TODAY! (02/09/10)
XIU XIU ALBUM STREAMING ON AOL/SPINNER - QUASI AND XIU XIU PRE-ORDER DOWNLOADS OUT NOW! (02/08/10)

 

even older news archive

If you want to look at a big ol' list of all our older headlines, click here.

latest releases

Horse Feathers
Thistled Spring

Elliott Smith
From a Basement on the Hill

Kleenex/LiLiPUT
Live Recordings, TV-Clips, & Roadmovie

Quasi
American Gong

Xiu Xiu
Dear God, I Hate Myself

Delta 5
Mind Your Own Business