'Rebel' Rod's Revelations - The Springtime for Kinky Tour of 2011

Kinky Friedman to revisit scenes of his crimes

heading East by Midwest

AUSTIN, Texas — This spring, starting April 27th in Kansas City, Missouri, Kinky Friedman, author, musician, politician, and self-proclaimed Governor of the Heart of Texas, will be performing dates throughout the Midwest and East Coast as part of his Springtime for Kinky Tour of 2011. Often returning to places he has not visited in two decades, the Kinkster will appear solo (primarily) and promote his most recent books, What Would Kinky Do? and Heroes of a Texas Childhood. There will be a book signing at each venue.

Buoyed by his Go West Young Kinky Tour last spring and his monster appearance on the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in October, Kinky will take his show to many of his favorite American cities. Playing the songs for which he is best known, such as “They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Sold American,” reading passages from his books, and carrying on his hilarious running commentary on the state of the union, Kinky, the prodigal son of Texas, will, indeed, return to the scenes of his crimes of years gone by.

Though years have passed since the last full-on Texas Jewboys show, Kinky continues to be associated with that infamous band of his early career, partly because of his long friendship with Bob Dylan (Kinky did, of course, travel with the Rolling Thunder Revue), but mostly because of the band’s total outrageousness and those legendary songs. On the projects list for 2011 is a Willie Nelson CD of Kinky's songs, which will be no less than the third tribute album to Kinky and his work. Willie, who has a new Sony record deal, and who has been swapping stories and playing chess with Kinky for decades, will confirm these tunes as American standards.

Meanwhile, Kinky continues to “spit out books like sunflower seeds,” with a brand new deal to co-write one with old pal Billy Bob Thornton. And he is now being immortalized onstage with a play called Becoming Kinky . . . The World According to Kinky Friedman, written by Ted Swindley, who created the long-running hit Always . . . Patsy Cline, and starring up-and-comer Jesse Dayton.

Kinky may be finished with politics, but politics may not be finished with Kinky.  He continues to be a popular guest on cable news channels, appearing with hosts as diverse as John Seigenthaler and Bill O’Reilly, and his regular contributions to Texas Monthly never fail to take proper shots at the insanity of Texas politics.  He also contributes to such national media as The New York Times and Playboy, more often than not skewing deserving politicians wherever they may be.

And that’s not all in 2011: an Australian tour is on the agenda for June. Kinky will be joined by long-time Brian Wilson collaborator Van Dyke Parks, as the two old friends visit Kinky's second favorite continent. But in the meantime . . .

Springtime for Kinky Tour 2011

Wed., April 27  KANSAS CITY, MO Knuckleheads
Thurs., April 28  LITTLE ROCK, AR  Juanita's
Fri., April 29  ST. LOUIS, MO  Off Broadway
Sat., April 30  OKLAHOMA CITY, OK The Blue Door
Sun., May 1  NEWPORT, KY (CINCINNATI, OH) Southgate House
Mon., May 2  NASHVILLE, TN  3rd and Lindsley
Tues., May 3  CLEVELAND, OH  Wilbert's
Thurs., May 5  MILWAUKEE, WI  Shank Hall
Sat., May 7  BERWYN (CHICAGO), IL  Fitzgerald's
Sun., May 8  PHILADELPHIA, PA  World Cafe Live
Mon., May 9  NEW YORK, NY Highline Theater
Tues., May 10  ROCHESTER, NY  Water Street
Fri., May 13  ALEXANDRIA, VA (WASHINGTON, DC) Birchmere
Sat., May 14  WOODSTOCK, NY Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble

'Rebel' Rod's Revelations - Marshall Crenshaw celebrates his 30th year in music with weekend of special shows at New Yorks City Winery April 29-May 1st.

In 1981, Crenshaw released single “Something’s Gonna Happen” on Shake Records followed by mythic debut album. He’ll be joined in its celebration by Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Graham Maby

and brother Robert Crenshaw

No more CDs — music subscription and vinyl series announced

NEW YORK, N.Y. — “His intelligence, integrity, and passion for the great song always show up in his music,” wrote Robert Christgau in his Consumer Guide of Marshall Crenshaw. Over a span of 30 years, Crenshaw has released 13 albums, all of which have received the highest marks from critics and have earned him a fiercely local fan base. And now as Crenshaw prepares to transition from releasing physical albums to making his new music available in a subscription series to be announced soon, he will celebrate his first 30 years of recording in a special three-nighter at City Winery, 155 Varick St. in New York on Friday and Saturday, April 29-30, which are already sold out, with Sunday, May 1 just added. For information go to < http://www.citywinery.com/events/143238>.

Crenshaw will perform his debut single and his self-titled debut album in sequence, adding as many other hits and favorites as time permits. He will be joined by Yo La Tengo guitarist Ira Kaplan, longtime associate Graham Maby on bass, drummer Josh Dion, and on the 29th by original drummer (and brother) Robert Crenshaw.

According to Crenshaw, “The emphasis in the advertising, etc. has been on my first album but this year actually marks the 30-year anniversary of the release of ‘Something’s Gonna Happen’ on Shake Records, my first record, and a really, really darn good one, produced by the late Alan Betrock and myself.  Therefore, this year marks my 30th year as a recording artist . . . amazing. It’s crazy!! Holy @!*&&^%!!!

“In 1978, by chance, not by design, I landed in New York City (with my wife) and the next few years were something like a whirlwind. We still do and always will look back on those days with great fondness; these anniversary shows will give me and everyone else in the room on those nights a chance to celebrate those times.”

“As it stands now we’re planning on mostly focusing on early repertoire, sprinkling in some middle period stuff, even some brand new stuff,” Crenshaw says. “I’m normally not that big on nostalgia and don’t plan to make a habit of it, but sometimes it can be a sweet feeling, harmless fun, etc.”  

R olling Stone, in its review of Crenshaw’s first long-player, called the album “1982's most gorgeous singer-songwriter debut,” adding, “every song here sounds like a classic.” Said Creem: “Marshall’s songs are perfect unto themselves — melodies, jaunty rhythms, super fine love lyrics and an exactly executed production that gives the songs a final and finished veneer when put on vinyl.”

Indeed, it was 1981 when Detroit-area native Crenshaw released his first single, “Something’s Gonna Happen” b/w “She Can’t Dance,” on New York Rocker founder Alan Betrock’s Shake Records label. The collectors’ site Discog calls it “As truly romantic, energetic and catchy as any early Beatles, British Invasion or Buddy Holly top hit record.” From it came the Warner Brothers contract that produced such classics as “(You’re My) Favorite Waste of Time,” “Someday Someway,” “Whenever You’re On My Mind” and “Cynical Girl.” The great songs continued with the Life’s Too Short album on MCA (“Fantastic Planet of Love”), three albums for Razor & Tie and the 2009 release Jaggedland (“Someone Told Me,” “Passing Through,” “Never Coming Down”). The Onion’s A.V. Club section cited Jaggedland’s “sophisticated, warm, and carefully crafted melodies,” while SonicBoomers called it, “as good as anything he’s ever done,” adding, “There is a freshness of spirit to all these songs, like the artist is just starting out instead of being 30 years into a career.”

As The New York Times noted, “Mr. Crenshaw’s songs seem to roll off the guitar in a casual blend of pre-1970s styles — folk-rock, surf-rock, country and above all the Beatles — that put melody first. With his winsome tenor, he delves into the ways love goes right and goes wrong, from distant yearning to the aftermath of infidelity, hiding turmoil within the chiming tunes.”

And the Denver Post, reviewing a show from Crenshaw’s most recent tour, stated, “Crenshaw’s best songs, replete with irresistible hooks and perfect for his voice, are what drew critics and listeners from the beginning. Yet, in live performances, as well as on record, Crenshaw’s noted guitar talents shine through.”

A s well as celebrating the first 30 years, the City Winery shows will mark the end of the album era for Crenshaw, who will shortly elaborate on plans to offer a subscription series to a quarterly series of vinyl and digital EPs, which will be available from his web site and other locations.

Further reflecting on his 30-year-old debut 45 RPM recording, Crenshaw notes, “I know that on that night I’ll be thinking of Alan Betrock. We already had some momentum on a couple of fronts: Robert Gordon’s version of ‘Someday Someway’ was causing a big sensation on NY radio, our club gigs were creating a lot of excitement, the press was getting on board, etc., but when Alan stepped into the picture it really put the pedal to the metal. We made a great record, my first, and really, I’d wanted to make a record with my name on it since I was a little kid. Alan put us in touch with another mover and shaker, the great Andy Schwartz, who had taken over New York Rocker magazine from Alan. There were others but that magazine was one of my bibles at the time; in fact I’d met Alan by responding to an ad that he’d run in the magazine announcing the launching of Shake Records.

“These guys had clout and credibility, not just with me but with everybody who was cool and involved with rock music in the city. Pretty soon ‘Something’s Gonna Happen’ was on the radio right alongside of Robert Gordon’s ‘Someday Someway’ and we were officially a big deal on the New York rock scene, something I was hugely proud of, and hopefully not too arrogant behind.”

And looking toward the three dates at City Winery, Crenshaw says, “I’m excited to say that joining us on guitar all weekend, all night long, will be the great Ira Kaplan, somebody who really knows how to spice up the proceedings.

'Rebel' Rod's Revelations - Centro-matic to release "Candidate Waltz" on June 21, 2011 -

 "Centro-matic grind out weathered but tightly wound indie rock." - Pitchfork

Denton, TX – Centro-matic will release Candidate Waltz on June 21, 2011. Candidate Waltz is Centro-matic’s tenth release and was recorded and produced by Scott Solter (Spoon, Mountain Goats) and Matt Pence at the Echo Lab in Argyle, Texas. The band will be self-releasing the record with marketing and distribution provided by Thirty Tigers/RED.

Will Johnson (songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist) and his compatriots—Scott Danbom (keyboards, violin, harmonies) Matt Pence (drummer, producer), Mark Hedman (bass, guitar)—have been making music together for fifteen years.

Johnson started writing these songs back in August 2009 but took a break to play drums with Monsters of Folk. They’d return to the record in 2010. The distance did them some good; the songs told the boys to back off, give them some breathing room. They’ve made what Johnson calls the band’s “meat-and-potatoes pop record.” Johnson goes on to say “it’s a peeled back” album with “new approaches and ideas.” Fifteen years later, Candidate Waltz manages to sounds like some young band’s debut—its exuberance is infectious; its vigor, visceral.

Centro-matic will kick off the first leg of their tour on June 22^nd in Nashville and end in Austin on July 9^th. Sarah Jaffe will open this leg of the tour.

Track listing:

1) Against The Line

2) All The Talkers

3) Iso-Residue

4) Estimate x 3

5) Only In My Double Mind

6) Solid States

7) Shadow, Follow Me

8) Mercedes Blast

9) If They Talk You Down

Tour dates:

Wednesday 06/22 The Basement Nashville, TN

Thursday 06/23 - The Earl Atlanta, GA

Saturday 06/25 - Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC

Tuesday 06/28 – North Star Bar Philadelphia, PA

Wednesday 06/29 – Great Scott Cambridge, MA

Thursday 06/30 – The Mercury Lounge New York, NY

Friday 07/01 - Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY

Saturday 07/02 - Cleveland Beachland Tavern Cleveland, OH

Sunday 07/03 – Schubas Chicago, IL

Tuesday 07/05  - Off Broadway St. Louis, MO

Thursday 07/07 – Dan’s Silverleaf Denton, TX

Friday 07/08 – Fitzgerald’s Houston, TX

Saturday 07/09 - Ghost Room Austin, TX

All dates with Sarah Jaffe www.sarahjaffe.com.

http://www.centro-matic.com