COMMAND PERFORMANCE – JUNE 29, 2004

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0004

“Text beyond the presses.”

(((1))) OH GOODNESS ME, IT’S THE NEW ISSUE OF ARTHUR, WITH KIM GORDON ON THE COVER.

The new issue of Arthur is out this week across North America. Can you believe it? Why it seems just yesterday that the last issue of Arthur, the one with Devendra Banhart Joanna Newsom CocoRosie Godzilla, found its way into your waiting arms. But it wasn’t yesterday, it was almost two months ago, you big dummy. So here are 48 more Arthur pages to add to your collection. Kim Gordon of the still-wondrous rock band Sonic Youth is our cover star and the subject of a big interview by Oliver Hall. Then there’s new artwork by John Lurie, a visit to a convention of Aleister Crowley acolytes with a lovely new full-page art piece by John Coulthart, Daniel Pinchbeck talking some deep talk on the Kali Yuga, James Parker on raving and Daniel Chamberin on the plight of the secret Deadhead. And Kristine McKenna on an artist you’ve never heard of who built giant sculptures from refuse in the Joshua Tree desert. And comics too, and C & D on their own page, and reviews by Paul Cullum and Byron Coley & Thurston Moore, and a recipe from the Reigning Sound, and a letter from Robert Wyatt and and and and….

More info here:

http://www,arthurmag.com

(((2)))  CAN’T FIND ARTHUR? PERHAPS SIR/MADAM/OTHER WOULD CONSIDER A SUBSCRIPTION.

Don’t fear the Empty Rack. Step out of your fear and buy a subscription to ARTHUR.$30 US/$39 Canada/$60 world. And you, yes that means YOU, get a free li’l somethin’-somethin’ of your choice (Arthur t-shirt, Bastet CD) with your order, while supplies last. And they can’t last forever. So do what needs to be done. Accept your destiny. Go to

http://www.arthurmag.com/subscribe/

(((3))) YOUR PERSONAL BASTET UPDATE.

a. ‘The Golden Apples of the Sun” CD (Bast0001), a 20-track contempoweirdfolk compilation lovingly created by Devendra Banhart, is the hotness. We made 1,000 of em. There are still some for sale ($12/14/17) at:

http://www.arthurmag.com/store/bastet_cds.php

b. The SUNN O))) live CD (Bast0002) is SOLD OUT!!!! Thank you all. See Item 7 below.

c. The “Million Tongues Festival” CD (Bast 0003) is out August 1, 2004 and available now for pre-order ($12/14/17)  from

http://www.arthurmag.com/store/bastet_cds.php

We’re only making 500 of these babies, so don’t dawdle if you want one. The CD features new or rare tracks by 20 underground psychedelicish rock artists, assembled,  sequenced and art-designed by the legendary Plastic Crimewave. Features music by Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) with Kinski, Matt Valentine and Erika Elder Medicine Show, Plastic Crimewave Sound, P.G. Six, Espers, Michael Yonkers and the Mumbles, LSD March, Fur Saxa, Josephine Foster and the Supposed, Spires That in the Sunset Rise, Inner Throne, The Civilized Age, Simon Finn, Jutok Kaneko/Shimura Koji/ Takuya Nishimura, Nisennenmondai, Frankie Delmane, Nick Castro, Taurpis Tula, M.V. Carbon and Panicsville.

What is this Million Tongues festival, you ask? Why it’s…

(((4))) FIVE NIGHTS IN CHICAGO THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR BRAIN.

This August 4-8 at the Empty Bottle in Chicago:

*****”MILLION TONGUES FESTIVAL”****

$60 for 5-show Pass; or $15/show — general admission — Sorry! 21 & Over Only.

Info and tickets at http://emptybottle.musictoday.com/EmptyBottle/calendar.aspx

This gala fest will be packed to the gills with stimuli–the second stage, films, odd costumed performers, label reps, lights, freaks, and a real festival vibe.

The fest is curated by PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE aka Steve Krakow, featured in Mojo, The Wire, Arthur, Stop Smiling, etc., creator of the Galactic Zoo Dossier (lysergic rock mag published by Drag City, now in a book collection), record label owner (Galactic Zoo Disk), acid-punk rocker (Plastic Crimewave Sound), Japan psychedelic underground collaborator, illustrator, etc. The common theme of the fest is really just the best in current and past underground sounds, from folky minstrels to the noisegods of Japan, all with that experimental/and or ‘psychedelic” edge. Many bands appear in Chicago for the first time, in many cases their first visits to the USA. 

Would you look at this lineup!!!!:

Six Organs of Admittance, Espers, Josephine Foster and the Supposed, LSD March, Mick Farren (Deviants), Michael Yonkers, Simon Finn, Charalambides,  Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) w/Kinski, Matt Valentine (Tower Recordings), PG Six, Fur Saxa,  Paul Flaherty/Chris Corsano/Matt Heyner, Born Heller, Taurpis Tula, Spires That in the Sunset Rise, The Cherry Blossoms, Nissenenmondai, Jutok Kaneko, By Lightning to the Womb, The Civilized Age, Panicsville, Born Heller, Goldblood, Inner Throne, Monostripe, Tom Carter, Frankie Delmane, Nick Castro, Farms, MV Carbon, Lichens, Davenport and the Plastic Crimeawave Sound.

The esteemed Empty Bottle club has hosted everything from the largest “indie” bands to the most respected free-jazz mavens (with its celebrated jazz series). The club is split into two main rooms, the entrance room, where the second stage will reside; and the main room where the crowd is splt into two major areas to the left and in front of the stage.

Info and tickets at

http://emptybottle.musictoday.com/EmptyBottle/calendar.aspx

(((5))) A HUMBLE PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE.

If you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes to do our 15-question Arthur Reader Survey.  It’s right here:

http://www.keysurvey.com/survey/24574/144b/

Reader Surveys let us know more about our favorite mysterious person: YOU. We then compile that information, which allows us to solicit more quality advertising in Arthur. Ad sales make Arthur do that little happy leprechaun dance in the corner. He thanks you kindly for helping him help you help us help Them help the world.

(((6))) OBLIGATORY JOYFUL ARTHUR DISCUSSION FORUM REMINDER.

The new and frankly fascinating Arthur Discussion Forum is now online and is fully functional. Come on in and share.  Various Arthur staff and contributors stop in regularly, if you must know.

http://www.arthurmag.com/forum/phpBB2/

(((7))) AND SOME GIG DATES.

Experience SUNN O))) live as they celebrate the release of their new album “White2” with these gigs:

(** = insane lineup)

1st July SOUNDLAB Buffalo 110 Pearl Street, Buffalo NY www.bigorbitgallery.com/

2nd July DETROIT ARTS SPACE Detroit 101 East Baltimore w/ 25 Suaves & Lair of the Minotaur www.detroitartspace.10eastern.com

** 3rd July EMPTY BOTTLE Chicago 1035 N Western Avenue w/ WOLF EYES & Kevin Drumm www.emptybottle.com

4th July TRIPLE ROCK Minneapolis 629 Cedar Ave S w/ Lair of the Minotaur www.triplerocksocialclub.com

** 27th July OTTOBAR Baltimore 2549 North Howard Street w/ COMETS ON FIRE (see Arthur No. 7) and THE HIDDEN HAND (See Arthur No. 9)  www.theottobar.com/

28th July NORTHSIX Brooklyn 66 North 6th Street w/ TBC www.northsix.com

** 29th July KNITTING FACTORY New York 74 Leonard Street w/ COMETS ON FIRE and THE HIDDEN HAND www.knittingfactory.com

So long, it’s good to know ya,

The Arthur Surprise Peace Attack Squad