“COMMAND PERFORMANCE” -THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN

No. 0014

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2005

title: In Depth Do We Part

DID YOU KNOW?:  “[The Kills] were on the trail of a semi-mythic mixing desk that reputedly drove Sly Stone mad and bankrupted the electronics company. Its owner, Dan Flickinger, never worked again, and the designer had a breakdown, [the Kills’] Hince explains. ‘They delivered this desk to Sly’s house and he held them hostage for a week at gunpoint, demanding that they make it levitate.’ The Kills found the desk in Benton Harbour, Michigan, a settlement 90 miles from Chicago that became a ghost town after riots following the troubles in Detroit in the Sixties….” — from The Guardian online

Do you find that the less you and those around you are near a computer, the happier you are? Seriously.

Arik “Moonhawk” Roper designed a new Arthur t-shirt. Check it out at the arthurmag.com website and prepare to shed a dark crystal tear into your silver goblet of beer…

…Okay, now dry your third eye and read this way: Arthur No. 15 (March 2005) is out now. A  quick once-cover of its contents–>> a yap with acid-folk musician/thinker Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance. An interview with o.g. future shock novelist J.G. Ballard. Douglas Rushkoff’s debut column for Arthur on new collectivism. An in-depth convo with Jessica Yu (director of the Henry Darger doc). A piece on meditation as a subversive activity by Michael Brownstein, James Parker on what monsters Sleep has wrought and Byron Coley & Thurston Moore reviewing 2004. Perfect popper Brendan Benson taking tea. T-Model Ford on being arrested by a female cop. Two tons of new comics. Becky Stark and Ron Rege and 

and…

and… 

oh my… 

Is that a new format? …Why yes, it is. And also there’s more Arthurs–we’ve increased the printrun 25% to 50,000 copies, starting with this issue. Which also includes a CD featuring three new White Magic songs. If you can’t find a copy, you can order one direct from us…or, for this issue only…download the whole thing as a 10mb PDF for free at

http://www.arthurmag.com

but we wouldn’t recommend it — Arthur is designed to be read on paper not pixels.

Speaking of free and the intended medium of transmission: there is a special FREE SCREENING of filmmaker MAYA DEREN’s seminal 1948 16mm movement study “Meditation on Violence” will be held THIS SUNDAY FEB 20, 2005, 18.00 – 18.30pm, in LOS ANGELES as part of a program called “Films with music from China Haiti Jamaica North America” at Directors Guild of America / Theater 2, 7920 West Sunset Boulevard 90046. RSVP, information and directions. 

tel +323.965.5578, tellesfineart@earthlink.net

Meanwhile in Bastetland… We hear tell of a new compact disk compilation on its way for springtime… selected by sheet acid rocker Ethan Miller of Comets on Fire… Be prepared–be very prepared.

Over and out there,

Informed Sources at Arthur Editorial Offices

Los Angeles, California

“COMMAND PERFORMANCE” -THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN

No. 0013

MONDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2005

title: Money isn’t an issue.

Hello friends and future-friends,

From an AP piece… Did you know that last summer, Ricky Williams, 27, who led the NFL in 2002 with 1,853 yards rushing and broke nine team records, abruptly retired from the Miami Dolphins prior to the 2004 season?

Money wasn’t an issue. Williams, who is single but has three young children, was to make at least $3.6 million this season, with incentives possibly pushing that as high as $6 million.

After winning the Heisman Trophy at Texas in 1998, Williams joined the New Orleans Saints when coach Mike Ditka used all of his draft picks to acquire the standout running back. Ditka said after Williams’ announcement that he hasn’t spoken with Williams in about six months and was taken aback by the retirement news.

“I’d love to talk to him and try to talk him out of it,” Ditka said from Chicago. “It seems kind of foolish to me, but I don’t know what’s on his mind. You’re just destroying a great career. He’s a talent. To let that all go to waste doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Williams dropped out of sight after his retirement in July. He has resurfaced recently in Nevada County as a student of the ancient Indian medical system system known as Ayurveda.

“I realized a while back that I have an innate ability to be compassionate,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle after Thanksgiving 2004, “and I saw that the strength of compassion is something that healers have and healers use.”

Williams is now about a month into a 17-month course at the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley, about 45 miles northeast of Sacramento.

“Ayurveda deals with using your environment to put yourself in balance,” he said. “I’ve realized, both on a psychological and physical level, that the things we do in football don’t bring more harmony to your life. They just bring more disharmony.”

Although he wouldn’t rule out a return to football (“I’m not a fortune- teller”), he indicated the game was far from his mind.

The 5-foot-10 Williams weighs 210 pounds, about 25 fewer than his playing weight. He looks healthy and happy. As part of his Ayurveda studies, he said, “I try to give foods and herbs attributes and find out which ones balance me out.”

He wore sandals, black trousers and a light blue T-shirt silk-screened with the message: “My home is in my head.” His beard is somewhat scraggly. His distinctive dreadlocks have given way to a short haircut.

“I loved playing football, but the reasons I loved football were just to feed my ego,” Williams said. “And any time you feed your ego, it’s a one-way street. … There were so many things I had to deal with that erased the positives I got from playing the game that it wasn’t worth it. It’s like eating a Big Mac and drinking a Diet Coke.”

He’s renting a one-bedroom cottage in nearby Nevada City. A couple of months earlier, he was planning to buy a 165-acre farm in Australia. Those plans have been shelved.

“As human beings we have a tendency when we like something to tie it up and make sure it’s there for a long time. I’ve been working on being able to let things go. I don’t think I ever want to buy property again.”

He seems to have overcome his social anxiety disorder. “I don’t know what it was,” he said. “I definitely have come out of my shell a lot more. When you question who you are, you can’t be proud of who you are. Now that I’m trying to peel off those layers and really understand who I am, I don’t have anything to be shy about.”

He was evasive on the question of his drug use. A recent article in Esquire magazine by a writer who found him in Australia described him as sharing a joint that was “sturdy enough to prop open a door.” Shortly after retiring, he told the Miami Herald that one of the many reasons he quit was that he wanted to smoke marijuana without incurring the wrath of the NFL. The Herald said he faced a four-game suspension and a $876,000 fine by the league for a third violation of its substance abuse policy. He said at the time that he used a masking agent called Extra Clean for two years in Miami to conceal his marijuana use.

As for the idea that he quit because he wanted to be free to smoke dope, he laughed.

“I think it’s funny,” he said.

We’re laughing here too, Ricky, as we imagine how many football fans’ minds you have blown with your courageous public re-setting of priorities. Wonderful!

Here’s some other things that make us feel good:

Arthur No. 15, starring Six Organs of Admittance, J.G. Ballard, Douglas Rushkoff, Jessica Yu (director of the Henry Darger documentary), a piece on meditation as a subversive activity, James Parker on the spawn of Godflesh and Sleep and more more more, is due out on February 15. It’s FREE as always. It’s also the first issue in Arthur’s exciting new format, with a 25%-increased printrun of 50,000 copies. Details about the issue are available now at

http://www.arthurmag.com

The RZA’s book is finally out.

Arik Moonhawk Roper has designed the new Arthur t-shirt, starring a two-fisted tough wizard for our times. We’ll have ’em available soon for as cheap as we can from the arthurmag.com website.

Listening to Alan Moore’s half-hour interview with Brian Eno on BBC4:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/genres/comedy/aod.shtml?radio4/chainreaction

What a hoot and a half it was to hear the confusing labyrinth that is “The Air Itself” by Sunburned Hand of the Man from their recent album (on Arthur’s Bastet label) on WFMU last week. Less form, more matter, sez he? We agree. The all-new, all-life album, “No Magic Man,” is now shipping from us for the low-as-we-can-do-it price of $12 US/$14 Can/$17 world, postpaid. Find out what all the fuzz is about at

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

A special FREE screening of filmmaker MAYA DEREN’s seminal 1948 16mm movement study “Meditation on Violence” will be held Sunday, February 20, 2005, 18.00 – 18.30pm, in Los Angeles as part of a program called “Films with music from China Haiti Jamaica North America.” Directors Guild of America / Theater 2, 7920 West Sunset Boulevar, Los Angeles, CA 90046. RSVP, information and directions. tel +323.965.5578, tellesfineart@earthlink.net

And so on, strolling on….

We’ll see you there,

Arthur Wellness Center Staff Director

Los Angeles, California

“COMMAND PERFORMANCE”

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0010

THURSDAY OCTOBER 28, 2004

(((1))) 

“With the glut of material on the newsstand, Arthur stands alone. It delves deep into the thought processes of the serious artists who move the culture forward. There is no other periodical I look more forward to arriving then the new Arthur.” — Rick Rubin, October 18, 2004.

(((2))) ARTHUR 13 OUT NOW.

The cover feature is a mega oral history of the 1967 exorcism/levitation of the Pentagon and the birth of Yippie!. This piece was painstakingly compiled from old and new interviews with Abbie & Anita Hoffman, Allen Ginsberg, Ed Sanders, Kenneth Anger, Paul Krassner, Bob Fass, Norman Mailer, Tuli Kupferberg, Anita Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and many many others. Also: stunning photographs by Roz (Cristiano) Payne and Robert Altman, Ed Sanders’ original magical rite program, a page from The Oracle (San Fransciso’s mid-’60s pyschedelic newspaper), event buttons and more — plus cover artwork by John Coulthart that may render you mindless. You have been forewarned. Plus: LITTLE WINGS, LE TIGRE, THE BLACK KEYS, GENESIS P-ORRIDGE, BYRON COLEY & THURSON MOORE, T-MODEL FORD, DANIEL PINCHBECK and all the other usual suspects. More info at:

http://www.arthurmag.com/news/

(((3)))  ARTHUR ON NYC’S WBAI 99.5 FM THURS NIGHT (OCT 28) /FRI MORNING (OCT 29)

ARTHUR No. 13’s cover story on the October 21, 1967 March on the Pentagon and the Birth of Yippie! will be the subject of conversation on NYC radio station 99.5 WBAI’s “Radio Unnameable”, hosted by Yippie Bob Fass. The show starts at midnight and runs til 3:30am. Arthur editor Jay Babcock will be calling in, as will other folks (including Paul Krassner) featured in the article. Listen in, call in!

(((4))) ARTHUR NIGHT AT AMOEBA-LOS ANGELES, NOV. 3.

To celebrate the publication of Arthur No. 13, Arthur editor Jay Babcock will be selecting music from 7-8:30pm on Wednesday, November 3 (the day after the election) at Amoeba Music in Los Angeles. Come and celebrate/commiserate, as appropriate.

(((5))))  BUY A ONE-YEAR-SUBSCRIPTION TO ARTHUR (SIX ISSUES) AND GET A FREE FAT POSSUM COMPILATION CD — “NOT THE SAME OLD BLUES CRAP 3” aka “I LOVE YOU BITCH” CD! 

Fat Possum CEO Matthew Johnson says, “We’re shoving this sampler out in the hopes that by the time it’s in your hands, we’ll all have a little more to celebrate.”  INCLUDES: “Hadn’t I Been Good To You” – Charles Caldwell * “Set You Free” – The Black Keys * “I Found Out” – Nathaniel Mayer * “You Better Run” – IGGY & THE STOOGES * “Crack Head Joe” – Little Freddie King * “Goin’ Down South” – R. L. BURNSIDE FEAT LYRICS BORN * “You Want It” – Thee Shams * “Cocaine Bill” – Kenny Brown * “Boob Scotch” – Bob Log III * “Vampires and Failures” – Grandpaboy * “Bad Man” – T-MODEL FORD * “Pushin’ My Luck” – Robert Belfour * “Frankie and Albert” – Joe Callicott * “Just Like a Bird Without a Feather” – R. L. Burnside * “Mama Says I’m Crazy” – Fred McDowell * “Good Morning Judge” – Furry Lewis * “Hoot Your Belly” – Jimmy Lee Williams * “Goodbye Slim Harpo” – Robert Pete Williams

ORDER NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE, WE ONLY HAVE 100 TO GIVE AWAY–YOU NEED THIS MORE THAN YOU MAY THINK YOU DO–GO TO:

http://www.arthurmag.com/news/

(((6)))  ARTHUR PRESENTS DAMON & NAOMI ON TOUR WITH KURIHARA!!!! 

Should be cool shows, as Damon & Naomi will be joined by Michio Kurihara, best known for his work as guitarist in Ghost….

Nov 18, Southpaw (Brooklyn NY): Damon & Naomi with Kurihara, David Grubbs, nmperign 

Nov 19, Tonic (New York NY): Damon & Naomi with Kurihara, Jim O’Rourke, nmperign 

Nov 20, Flywheel (Easthampton MA): Damon & Naomi with Kurihara, the MV & EE Medicine Show, nmperign 

Nov 22, Middle East (Cambridge MA): Damon & Naomi with Kurihara, the MV & EE Medicine Show, nmperign 

These shows will also serve as a live announcement for the forthcoming Damon & Naomi album, “The Earth Is Blue”, which will be out February 14 on 20/20/20 Records (distributed by Revolver). The album features Michio Kurihara on electric guitar, and nmperign (Greg Kelley and Bhob Rainey) on trumpet and soprano sax. 

MORE MORE MORE info at 

http://www.DamonandNaomi.com

(((7))) BEN KATCHOR NEWS!

Ben Katchor, whose “Hotel & Farm” comic strip apepars in every Arthur sends the following three bits of Katchor news:

7a. Conversations in the Humanities with  Joshua Brown & Ben Katchor

Ben Katchor, author, graphic novels including The Jew of New York and Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer; Joshua Brown, Co-director, New Media Lab; Executive Director, Center for Media and Learning/American Social History Project, The Graduate Center, CUNY; author, Beyond the Lines: Pictorial Reporting, Everyday Life, and the Crisis of Gilded Age America.

Thursday, November 4, 2004,  7pm  $5; Free to CUNY

The Graduate Center

The City University of New York

365 Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets

To register, email continuinged@gc.cuny.edu

Or visit http://web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp for more information

7b. The Rosenbach Company: A Tragicomedy

The story of two brothers, their obsessions, and the dawn of an American cultural legacy. A new show for music-theater.

Words and drawings by Ben Katchor

Music by Mark Mulcahy

Singers: Katie Geissinger, Ryan Mercy and Mark Mulcahy

Musicians: Ashley Grella, Brian Marchese, Henning Ohlenbusch

and Dave Trenholm.

One night only!

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME AND VENUE!

Tuesday, November 9th at 7:30 pm.

The Harry De Jur Playhouse

in The Abrons Arts Center of The Henry Street Settlement,

466 Grand Street, Manhattan

$20.

For reservations email

tickets@katchor.com

7c. An Evening With Ben Katchor, Graphic Novelist?

Rutgers University

Scholarly Communications Center,

Alexander Library,

169 College Ave.

New Brunswick, NJ

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004 at 5pm

Sponsored by the School of Information and Library Studies, and co-sponsored by the Rutgers University Libraries. Reservations are not necessary, but anyone wishing to learn more about the event can contact Michael Joseph (mjoseph@rutgers.edu).

(((8)))  FREAKFLAG WAVING ONLINE.

Magpie, part of Arthur’s continuing mission to keep Earth weird, is updated daily. Like a scrapbook of interesting found stuff, made public. Dig it daily at

http://www.arthurmag.com/magpie/

Right back atcha,

Arthur Angry Dove Squad

Thursday, October 20, 2004

“COMMAND PERFORMANCE”

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0009

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13, 2004

(((1))) ARTHUR 13 OUT OCTOBER 26.

It’s done, it’s a doozy, it’s at the printer, it’ll be hitting streets and subscribers’ mailboxes on or around October 26. This one almost did us in. The cover feature is a mega oral history of the 1967 exorcism/levitation of the Pentagon and the birth of Yippie!. This piece was painstakingly compiled from old and new interviews with Abbie Hoffman, Allen Ginsberg, Ed Sanders, Kenneth Anger, Paul Krassner, Bob Fass, Norman Mailer, Tuli Kupferberg, Anita Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and many many others. Also: stunning photographs, Ed Sanders’ original magical rite program, a page from The Oracle (San Fransciso’s mid-’60s pyschedelic newspaper), event buttons and more — plus cover artwork by John Coulthart that may render you mindless. You have been forewarned. And you can fore-order a copy  of the mag at:

http://www.arthurmag.com/news/

(((2))) ARTHUR PRESENTS TWO SHOWS AROUND THIS CMJ THING HAPPENING IN NEW YORK CITY.

A.

Date: Saturday, October 16

Event:  ARTHUR/NARNACK PARTY

Location: Asterisk

Address:  258 Johnson St. Between Bushwick and White  (Montrose “L” train stop)

Price: $10-12 @ the door

Time: Doors at 7:30

**FREE BEER COURTESY OF PABST BLUE RIBBON (from 8-9PM)

Performing:

1:00 am  The Fall

12:00 am The Coachwhips

11:00 pm Intelligence

10:00 pm Langhorne Slim

9:40 pm Aa

8:30 pm The Bunnybrains

8:00 pm Fast Fourier

B. 

Sunday, October 17

Event:  a CMJ COME DOWN

ARTHUR MAGAZINE, in association with the KORK AGENCY

Location: Mercury Lounge

225 E. Houston St. New York, NY 10009

Price: $8 Advance/$10 Door (no badges)

Time: Doors at 7 PM

Performing:

11:30PM Growing

10:45PM PG Six

10: 00PM Double Leopards

9:15PM Dan Friel

8:30PM Tyondai Braxton

7:30PM  DJ’s TEETH & CAVEMAN SKULL (Stephen O’Malley of SUNNO))))

(((3)))  MAGPIE, THE ARTHUR SORT-OF BLOG.

Magpie, part of Arthur’s continuing mission to keep Earth weird, is updated daily by Arthur editor Jay Babcock. Like a scrapbook of interesting found stuff, made public. Dig it daily at

http://www.arthurmag.com/magpie/

(((4))) SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN PREPARE THEIR BASTET RELEASE.

“No Magic Man” will be released by Arthur’s BASTET imprint later this year. The band descibes it thusly:

“A collection of all new, all-weather nighttime sounds from one of the greatest tellin’ it like it is, Apocalypse Later! bands around right now! ‘No Magic Man’ is specificly designed for those with chronic cases of peek-a-boo, long eye, and post-election stress disorder. 12 reports from the never-ending ritual running just under an hour, this is the next page in the Book of Sunburned, and its yours!”

We will have ordering info on the website shortly. This CD will be issued in time for you to order it for all of your friends (and some of your especially needy enemies too) during this winter’s gift-giving seasons. 

(((5)))) THE DEVENDRA BANHART-COMPILED “GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN” IS AVAILABLE AGAIN.

“8.6 (out of 10): [Its] sprawling landscape presents a persuasive case for the depth of a scene that seemingly sprung up (like mushrooms) overnight.” — Pitchfork, July 8, 2004

“Essential.” — Mojo, September 2004

“Sparkling.” — The Wire, July 2004

“The Golden Apples of the Sun,” Devendra Banhart’s 20-artist compilation of contemporary underground folk music released through Arthur’s Bastet label, is now available again in a second printing of 1,000 copies. You can purchase a copy for $12USA/$14 Can/$17 world postpaid now via PayPal at

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

(((6)))  ONE THOUSAND “MILLION TONGUES” FOR YOU

Now available — the limited edition, 1,000-copy 20-track “Million Tongues Festival” commemorative CD, curated and hand-lettered/drawn by coosmic superfreek PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE. 

75 minutes of previously unreleased garage bubblegum, Japanese mind-off rip-roarers. urban psych-out treks to the center of your aural sweet spot, darknight acid-folk for the comedown and psycho-spiritual sung rants for morning risings.  

The lineup: Michael Yonkers and the Mumbles (unreleased track!), P.G. Six, Espers, LSD March, Fur Saxa, Josephine Foster and the Supposed (live!), Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) with Kinski, Matt Valentine and Erika Elder Medicine Show, Plastic Crimewave Sound, 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.

Available now for $12USA/$14 Can/$17 world postpaid  from

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

(((7)))  ARTHUR: THE MAGAZINE OTHER MAGAZINES LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT.

a. From Print Magazine’s Sept/Oct 2004 issue:

MAGAZINE WATCH: Up the Zeitgeist! Arthur remembers the old Rolling Stone, even if Rolling Stone doesn’t. By Steve Dollar…

b. From LAWeekly’s “Best of LA” issue: 

When the first ish of Arthur crossed my radar two annums back, envy devolved into self-pity. Why do these scribes get to be dangerously edgy? Why doesn’t the text show any evidence of hack editors hacking freespeak? Why is there nary a sign of yuppie lifestyle? Why them, not me?

The answer is that a crew of writers and artists, tired of fewer outlets for cutting-edge cultural reporting sans the stink of corporate commerce, got off their asses and started their own bimonthly national freebie newspaper. Many are Angelenos, including chief editor Jay Babcock, art director W.T. Nelson and regulars Kristine McKenna, Paul Cullum, Trinie Dalton and Oliver Hall (some of whom you may recognize as Weekly contributors). Columnists include Thurston Moore and Byron Coley, who review outre books, zines and music; Daniel Pinchbeck, who theorizes on drugs and consciousness; and elderly bluesman T-Model Ford, who dispenses dating advice. Arthur has a baroque, multicolored, psychedelic look with comics in the margins and everywhere else. In short, it doesn’t belong to that increasingly bottom-lined and bantamweight category called “alternative,” it’s full-blown contrarian.

Refreshingly, the Arthurians refuse to engage in the hoariest of countercultural arguments: hippie vs. punk. In fact, like Vonnegut’s Billy Pilgrim, the paper exists in an anti-temporal warp where the past, present and future of mavericks coexist, creating a cohesive community in an increasingly fragmented society of subcultures. Features on Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer live happily next to ones on young acid-folk king Devendra Banhart and gonzo comics writer Grant Morrison (known as “the Philip K. Dick of the 21st century”), as well as secret histories of obscure art car races in Humboldt County, and the Cacophony Society. Babcock allows writers to riff in extended pieces, unencumbered by word counts, giving them the space to work in detail. It’s a more picturesque New Yorker, created by and for freaks, produced from inside the avant mondo as opposed to merely chronicling it.–Michael Simmons

Thanks, Michael.

Over to you,

Arthur Angry Dove Squad

Wednesday the 13th of October, 2004

“COMMAND PERFORMANCE”

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0008

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2004

(((1))) GET UP FOR THE DOWN STROKE.

Our advice? Go see George Clinton and Parliament-Funakdelic when they play within 200 miles of you on their current club tour across the USA — it’ll do you right in this so-not-right summer.

(((2))) HERE COMES GHOST.

GHOST are splitting Japan and heading to the States for the first time in two years to support the 2004 psychedelic masterwork *Hypnotic Underworld*. Joining forces with Ghost in many cities will be SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE, whose first studio album/Drag City debut is out January 2005. AND!!! As a special treat to West Coasters, added to the bill for further mind-destruction, will be Brooklyn’s WHITE MAGIC, whose recently released *Through the Sun Door* mini-lp is sitting atop the record pile of any self-respecting head.

This is where the action will be:

Tue Sept 21: New York, NY Knitting Factory

Wed Sept 22: Cambridge MA Middle East Club

Thu Sept 23: Philadelphia PA Khyber

(All shows from this point on are with Six Organs of Admittance)

Fri Sept 24: Pittsburgh PA Andy Warhol Museum

Sat Sept 25: Columbus OH Wexner Center for the Arts

Sun Sept 26: Chicago IL Empty Bottle (WIRE Festival, no Six Organs)

Mon Sept 27: Minneapolis MN Triple Rock

Wed Sept 29: Missoula MT The Otherside

Thu Sept 30: Seattle WA Chop Suey (plus White Magic)

Fri Oct 1: Portland OR Berbati’s Pan (plus White Magic)

Sat Oct 2: San Francisco CA Independent (plus White Magic)

Sun Oct 3: Los Angeles CA Spaceland (plus White Magic)

Tues Oct 5: West Hollywood, CA Club Screwball at the Parlour (White Magic only).

(((3))) NEW ISSUE OF ARTHUR OUT NOW ACROSS THE GALAXY.

Comics auteur Grant Morrison, arguably the 21st century’s Philip K. Dick/William S. Burroughs, is the cover subject of Arthur’s biggest issue yet — 64 pages — which is out now at the usual locations. This issue’s also got a lengthy excerpt from the new book that explains why Johnny Cash went to Folsom Prison; Trine Dalton profiles Jennifer Herrema in her post-Royal Trux world of rock and surfing; film columnist Paul Cullum finds Bush’s brain; answerman T-Model Ford talks breastfeeding and how come more women don’t play the blues; acid-folker Josephine Foster chats about her new project the Supposed; Flaming Lips’  Wayne Coyne preaches the secret virtues of decaf; Daniel Pinchbeck on why crop circles have something to teach us, James Parker on a surprisingly diverting documentary about two rival bands nobody really cares about.

Plus reviews by Byron Coley & Thurston Moore and C & D, llustrations by Arik Moonhawk Roper and Plastic Crimewave, new comics by Ben Katchor, Gabrielle Bell, Tom Hurt and Kurt Wolfgang and a stunning double-bird cover by Cameron Stewart!!

(((4)))) SUPER-POPULAR DEVENDRA BANHART-COMPILED “GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN” AVAILABLE AGAIN STARTING SEPTEMBER 13.

“Essential.” — Mojo, September 2004

“Sparkling.” — The Wire, July 2004

“8.6 (out of 10): [Its] sprawling landscape presents a persuasive case for the depth of a scene that seemingly sprung up (like mushrooms) overnight.” — Pitchfork, July 8, 2004

“The Golden Apples of the Sun,” Devendra Banhart’s critically saluted 20-artist compilation of contemporary underground folk music released through Arthur’s Bastet label, is now available again in a second printing of 1,000 copies.The second printing will start shipping on September 13; you can reserve a copy for $12USA/$14 Can/$17 world postpaid now via PayPal at

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

(((5))) ARTHUR T-SHIRTS BY JORDAN CRANE PRETTY MUCH GONE.

We’ve still got some yellow-on-red Jordan Crane t-shirts in one size (that would be large, sir) but otherwise we’re plum sold out. New shirts are on the way…designed by ARIK MOONHAWK ROPER. Yes. More news on the website shortly…

(((6))) 1,000 COPIES OF MILLION TONGUES: GOING… GOING…. GONG.

Now available — the limited edition, 1,000-copy 20-track “Million Tongues Festival” commemorative CD, curated and hand-lettered/drawn by cosmic superfreek PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE. What you get is 75 minutes of previously unreleased garage bubblegum, Japanese rip roarers. psych-out jams to the center of Venus, darknight acid folk and psycho-spiritual sung rants and instrumentalia for only $12. The lineup? It’s Michael Yonkers and the Mumbles, P.G. Six, Espers, LSD March, Fur Saxa, Josephine Foster and the Supposed, Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) with Kinski, Matt Valentine and Erika Elder Medicine Show, Plastic Crimewave Sound, 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.

Available now for $12USA/$14 Can/$17 world postpaid  from

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

(((7))) TALKING BUSH RE-ELECTION BLUES…

Next issue of Arthur will be out October 26. The contents are being revealed on a need-to-know basis only; someone will contact you shortly. Do not be alarmed. Meanwhile, Arthur’s better half, Bastet, is putting the finishing touches on a new CD from Sunburned Hand of the Man, and making plans for other future goodies. Stay tuned to the Arthur website for news…

Over to you,

Arthur Peace Squad

September 10, 2004

COMMAND PERFORMANCE – FRIDAY AUGUST 13, 2004

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0007

“Text beyond the presses.”

(((1))) FROM THE “MAKE OF THIS WHAT YOU WILL” DEPT: ROLLING STONE NAMES ARTHUR “HOT MAGAZINE.”

From a writeup by Peter Relic in Rolling Stone (Aug 19, 2004, the “Hot” issue, Lindsay Lohan cover), page 76:

“HOT MAGAZINE

“Maybe the best things in life really are free. Take ARTHUR, a new magazine printed on high-quality color newsprint, chock-full of interviews with the likes of Iggy Pop and folk phenom Devendra Banhart, features on ‘When Good Pranksters Go Christian’ and ‘Young Would-Be Terrorists in Love,’ and inspired cartooning by America’s best young artists. Forty thousand copies of Arthur are distributed in coffee shops and record stores by a nationwide guerilla network. ‘Arthur breeds intellectual positivity,’ says Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Arthur’s reviews columnist. ‘Plus, it’s an affront to Bush’s dumbed-down myopia because it’s free and because it rocks without catering to any corporate payoff.'”

(((2))) NEW ISSUE OF ARTHUR STREETS AUGUST 31.

Grant Morrison, the 21st century’s Philip K. Dick, is the cover subject of Arthur’s biggest issue yet. Plus: why Johnny Cash went to Folsom Prison, Jennifer Herrema in her post-Royal Trux world of rock, Paul Cullum finds Bush’s brain, T-Model Ford reveals the secret of the sugar titty, acid-folker Josephine Foster and her new project the Supposed, Wayne Coyne on the virtues of decaf, Daniel Pinchbeck on why crop circles have something to teach us, illustrations by Arik Moonhawk Roper and Plastic Crimewave, James Parker on a new documentary about battling bands, reviews by Byron Coley & Thurston Moore and C & D, and lots of new comics.

With a stunning double-bird cover by Cameron Stewart!

64 pages! Still free! Hot damn!

(((3)))) DEVENDRA BANHART-COMPILED “GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN” AVAILABLE AGAIN, DONCHA KNOW.

“The Golden Apples of the Sun,” Devendra Banhart’s critically saluted 20-artist compilation of contemporary underground folk music released through Arthur’s Bastet label, is now available again in a second printing of 1,000 copies. (The first edition is currently fetching $99.77 on eBay?!? Jesus christ, who are these people???)

The second printing will start shipping on September 1; you can reserve a copy for $12USA/$14 Can/$17 world postpaid now via PayPal at

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

(((4))) 1,000 COPIES OF MILLION TONGUES: GOING… GOING…. GONG.

Now available — the limited edition, 1,000-copy 20-track “Million Tongues Festival” commemorative CD, curated and hand-lettered/drawn by cosmic superfreek PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE. What you get is 75 minutes of previously unreleased garage bubblegum, Japanese rip roarers. psych-out jams to the center of Venus, darknight acid folk and psycho-spiritual sung rants and instrumentalia for only $12. The lineup? It’s Michael Yonkers and the Mumbles, P.G. Six, Espers, LSD March, Fur Saxa, Josephine Foster and the Supposed, Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) with Kinski, Matt Valentine and Erika Elder Medicine Show, Plastic Crimewave Sound, 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.

Available now for $12USA/$14 Can/$17 world postpaid  from

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

(((5))) GOOD NEWS IN AUTUMN.

Ghost is touring America with White Magic. An issue of Arthur out in late October, just before our fabulous elections (vote Bush, vote Kerry –> You get war in Iraq either way!), and a new album from Sunburned Hand of the Man, released ONLY through Bastet!

So long, we really like you,

The Arthur Interns

August 13, 2004

COMMAND PERFORMANCE – JULY 21, 2004

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0006

“Text beyond the presses.”

(((1))) WE WANTED THE AIRWAVES, NOW WE GOT ‘EM.

Arthur editor Jay Babcock will be a guest yapper on “The House of Boris,” a literary talk show hosted by Tara Mathison on WSUM 91.7 FM out of Madison, Wisonsin today (Wednesday, July 21) at 5pm. He will abide by FCC regulations.

And Arthur contributor Daniel Chamberlin will guest on “The Music Never Stops,” a Grateful Dead-centric show hosted by Barry Smolin, this Sunday, July 25 from 8-10 p.m. on on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles. Live Webstream at http://www.kpfk.org/listenlive.html. Dan will be there for the whole show, chatting between segments about the music and his controversial “Uncle Skullfucker’s Band” article from Arthur No. 11. He’ll also be spinning a few records in a valiant attempt to expand the audience’s uni-mind beyond Moe.

Arthur columnist Daniel Pinchbeck’s recent THREE-HOUR appearance on that Art Bell radio show is archived online. Listen at your convenience at

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2004/07/10.html

(((2))) FIVE NIGHTS IN CHICAGO THAT WILL RADICALLY IMPROVE YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND YOUR FELLOW MAN AND WOMAN.

This August 4-8 at the Empty Bottle in Chicago, Arthur Magazine and Galactic Zoo Dossier Productions present::

*****”MILLION TONGUES FESTIVAL”****

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 and will feature, on two stages, over five nights, the following artists from around the world: 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.

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

More info and tickets available at

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

A “Million Tongues Festival” CD (Bast 0003) is out August 1, 2004. We’re only making 1,000 of these babies, so don’t dawdle if you want one. You know what happened to the other Bastet releases — they’re SOLD OUT!!!! Okay, so this CD features previously unreleased tracks by 20 underground psychedelicish rock artists,   assembled,  sequenced and art-designed by the legendary PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE. The lineup: 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.

The “Million Tongues” Cd is  available now for pre-order ($12/14/17)  from

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

(((3))) NEXT ISSUE OF ARTHUR OUT AUGUST 31, 2004.

It’s gonna be good. More info in the next bulletin.

So long, it’s great to know you’re there,

The Arthur Surprise Peace Attack Squad

July 21, 2004

COMMAND PERFORMANCE – JULY 9, 2004

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0005

“Text beyond the presses.”

(((1))) ARTHUR COLUMNIST AND ‘BREAKING OPEN THE HEAD’ AUTHOR DANIEL PINCHBECK ON NATIONAL RADIO THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, JULY 10.

“Here and Now” columnist Daniel Pinchbeck will be the guest on “Coast-to-Coast AM,” the nationally syndicated live talk-radio show, hosted this Saturday night, July 10, by Art Bell. Daniel will be discussing “the cultural history of psychedelic use and shamanism, and his personal explorations, ranging from transcendent to terrifying.”

Info here, including stations and broadcast times:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2004/07/10.html

(((2)))  A BASTET UPDATE JUST FOR YOU.

Bastet is Arthur’s CD imprint. Here’s the latest on our releases:

a. ‘The Golden Apples of the Sun” CD (Bast0001), a 20-track contempoweirdfolk compilation lovingly created by Devendra Banhart, is now SOLD OUT!!! We are hoping to do a second printing but it might take us a little while to line it up.

b. The SUNN O))) live CD (Bast0002) is still sold out. There will not be a second printing.

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 1,000 of these babies, so don’t dawdle if you want one. You know what happened to the others — they’re SOLD OUT!!!! Okay, so this CD features previously unreleased tracks by 20 underground psychedelicish rock artists,  assembled,  sequenced and art-designed by the legendary PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE. The lineup: 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 BE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR WELL-BEING.

This August 4-8 at the Empty Bottle in Chicago, Arthur Magazine and Galactic Zoo Dossier Productions present::

*****”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  and will feature, on two stages, over five nights, the following artists from around the world: 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.

Info and tickets at

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

(((5))) THE RUMORS ARE TRUE.

The new issue of Arthur is out now. 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

So long, it’s good to know ya,

The Arthur Surprise Peace Attack Squad

July 9, 2004

May 14, 2004

COMMAND PERFORMANCE – MAY 14, 2004

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0003

“Text beyond the presses.”

(((1))) T-MODEL FORD ON TOUR RIGHT DAMN NOW!

Senior bluesperson and Arthur advice-giver T-Model Ford is right now touring the urban markets of North America (plus Santa Fe, New Mexico) with his trusty drummer Spam as part of the Fat Possum Juke Joint Caravan of troublemakers and evildoers. Incredibly, some Arthur readers think that T-Model Ford is a figment of the magazine’s imagination. Come now. Go see (and hear) T-Model for yourself at

5/14 Salt Lake City, UT at Club Halo       

5/15 Victor, ID at Knotty Pine       

5/16 Missoula, MT at Other Side       

5/18 Calgary Alberta at Night Gallery Cabaret       

5/19 Edmonton Alberta at New City Likwid Lounge

5/21 Vancouver BC at Richard’s on Richard’s       

5/22 Seattle, WA at Hideaway/WA       

5/23 Portland, OR at Aladdin Theather       

5/25 San Francisco, CA at Slim’s       

5/26 Sacramento, CA  at Blue Lamp       

5/27  Pacific Beach,CA at Blind Melon’s       

5/29  Los Angeles, CA  at the Echo       

5/30  Tucson, AZ  at Club Congress       

5/31 Santa Fe, NM  at Paramount

More information on this tour at

http://www.fatpossum.com

(((2))) ARTHUR DISCUSSION FORUM NOW FULLY FUNCTIONAL.

Have you ever wanted to discuss an article you read in Arthur with someone you don’t know, perhaps even the person who wrote, edited, drew or photographed the very item you want to discuss? Well: the new Arthur Discussion Forum is now online and is fully functional and is just basically wide-open and barely moderated. Come on in and share.  Various Arthur staff and contributors stop in regularly, if you must know.

http://www.arthurmag.com

(((3))) BASTET!

The first two Bastet CDs are now in house and have been shipping during the last week. FOUR exciting new Bastet CDs are in the works–more news soon!

If you don’t know what we’re talking about, let’s revisit some text from the last email bulletin, shall we?:

Sometimes people ask us, What are you listening to right now? And then we answer with a long list of artists they don’t recognize. That makes us feel like snobs, which is a terrible thing to feel like, cuz we want to share. The music we like, we think everyone would like, *if they only got a chance to hear it.* In the pages of Arthur we rap about music all the time in ways that we hope will turn on the curious listener and cause them to get up and seek out the stuff. With Bastet, Arthur’s new imprint, we’re trying to shorten that process by making directly available to you some of the music we are digging that we think you might dig too.

The first Bastet CD is “The Golden Apples of the Sun,” a veritable “who’s who of underground folk” compilation curated by Devendra Banhart, who really knows his way around that place. He selected the tracks, drew the cover, solicited testimonials from all the artists about all the other artists and then HANDLETTERED the sleeve, decorating everything with his wonderful pen-and-ink art. You may buy this for the artwork, you may buy this cuz we’re only making 1,000 and it’ll be worth something on Ebay someday soon, you may buy this cuz you love us…but you will keep it near you because of the fantastic music on the CD. Which is as follows:

1. Vetiver (with Hope Sandoval) – “Angel’s Share” (from the “Vetiver” LP)

2. Joanna Newsom – “Bridges and Balloons” (from “The Milk-Eyed Mender” LP)

3. Six Organs of Admittance – “Hazy SF” (previously unreleased)

4. Viking Moses – “Crosses” (from “Crosses”)

5. Josephine Foster (of Born Heller) – “Little Life” (prev. unreleased home recording)

6. ESPers – “Byss & Abyss” (from “ESPers” LP)

7. Vashti Bunyan & Devendra Banhart – “Rejoicing in the Hands” (from the forthcoming “Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress” LP)

8. Jana Hunter – “Farm, CA” (prev. unreleased)

9. Currituck Co. – “The Tropics of Cancer” (from “Ghost Man on First”)

10. White Magic – “Don’t Need” (from forthcoming EP)

11. Iron and Wine – “Fever Dream” (from “Our Endless Numbered Days” LP)

12. Diane Cluck – ” Heat From Every Corner” (from “Macy’s Day Bird”)

13. Matt Valentine – “Mountains of Yaffa” (prev. unreleased)

14. Entrance – “You Must Turn” (prev. unreleased home recording)

15. Jack Rose – “White Mule” (from “Red Horse, White Mule” originally released thru Eclipse, now on CD on VHF)

16. Little Wings – “Look at What the Light Did Now” (from “Light Green Leaves”)

17. Scout Niblett – “Wet Road” (from “Sweet Heart Fever”)

18. Troll – “Mexicana” (from “Pathless Lord”)

19. CocoRosie – “Good Friday” (from “La Maison de Mon Reve”)

20. Antony – “The Lake” (from “Live at Saint Olaye’s With Current 93”)

You cannot buy it at a store or from that guy down the street. You have to buy it directly from us. It’s $12 postpaid US, $14 Canada, $17 world, or, get this, FREE if you buy a new subscription. Go here to order one, or just to see the pretty artwork:

http://www.arthurmag.com/bastet.html

The second Bastet CD is, as they say, completely different. “The Libations of Samhain: SUNN 0))) live at London’s Subcamden Underground, Hallo’ween 2003” is a single live power-drone ambient metal track by the mighty SUNN 0))) measuring just under 49 minutes. It’s loud and wonderful and all-enveloping and gives your speakers and your inner organs a fine meditative workout. Plus, you get a bonus interview with the SUNN O))) principals by Edwin Pouncey and Sharon Gal, originally broadcast on London’s Resonance FM 104. Would you believe this CD features cover artwork by the legendrary Savage Pencil, and letterpress printing by Thumbprint Press? Oh yes. Edition of 500, and they’re going VERY fast.

Satisfied customers are lining up to testify at:

http://forums.southernlord.com/viewtopic.php?t=2416

Again, if you want it, you gotta buy it directly from us. It’s $12 postpaid US, $14 Canada, $17 world, or, get this, FREE if you buy a new subscription. Go here to order one, or just to see the brilliant SP artwork:

http://www.arthurmag.com/bastet.html

(((4))) NEW ISSUE OF ARTHUR OUT NOW.

It’s Arthur with rising weirdbeard folkstar Devendra Banhart on the cover, as photographed by Melanie Pullen. It’s Arthur featuring interviews with the saddest filmmaker in the world,  Guy Maddin, and Godzilla, the aging “King of Monsters.” It’s Arthur with a two-page spread of Marc Bell’s neuron-damaging comics. It’s… It’s… It’s.. Well see it for yourself. If yoiu can’t find one, order a copy direct from us for 5 bucks cheap. Just go to

http://www.arthurmag.com

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

ARTHUR comes out, and then it’s gone. You snooze, you lose. But no one should be

punished for being unlucky, which is why ARTHUR offers SUBSCRIPTIONS. Now, you

need never fear the empty stack again. Do you live in the USA? We are sorry.

But, you can get six issues of Arthur for $30, plus (while supplies last) a free

BASTET CD or ARTHUR t-shirt of your choosing. Do you live in Canada? Right on.

That’ll cost you $39. Do you live somewhere else on the big blue cloudy marble?

Wow, that’s awesome. That’ll be $60. Order via PayPal at

http://www.arthurmag.com/backissues.html

((6))) PLEASE HELP US.

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 you. We then compile that information to allow us to solicit advertising in Arthur. Ads make Arthur go go go and do that little happy leprechaun dance in the corner that we all like to see occasionally. We thank you kindly for helping us help you help us help them help the world.

So long, it’s good to know ya,

The Arthur Gang

May 14, 2004

April 15, 2004

COMMAND PERFORMANCE

THE ARTHUR MAILING LIST BULLETIN No. 0002

“Text beyond the presses.”

(((1))) NEW ISSUE OF ARTHUR OUT APRIL 27.

It’s at the printer now, and soon, if you are a subscriber or are one of the lucky 40,000, it will be in your hands too. It’s Arthur No. 10. It’s the May issue of Arthur. It’s Arthur with rising weirdbeard folkstar Devendra Banhart on the cover, as photographed by Melanie Pullen. It’s Arthur featuring interviews with the saddest filmmaker in the world,  Guy Maddin, and Godzilla, the aging “King of Monsters.” It’s Arthur with a two-page spread of Marc Bell’s neuron-damaging comics. It’s… It’s… It’s.. Well see it for yourself. The cover is up on the website now, and we are now taking pre-orders. Just go to

http://www.arthurmag.com

(((2))) ARTHUR DISCUSSION FORUM NOW FULLY FUNCTIONAL.

Have you ever wanted to discuss an article you read in Arthur with someone you don’t know? Well, your prayers have been answered: the new Arthur Discussion Forum is now online and is fully functional and is just basically wide-open and barely moderated. Come on in and share. We need feedback, we need recipes, we need hot tips, we need constructive criticism, we need a nice pat on the back, and some of us even need a pinch on the ass. Be nice, play fair, and if you can’t say anything nice, sit by me. You can get to the Arthur discussion forum via the link at

http://www.arthurmag.com

or you can go directly to it at:

http://www1.martnet.com/%7Elaris/arthur/_htdocs/forum/phpBB2/

(((3))) PLEASE HELP US.

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 you. We then compile that information to allow us to solicit advertising in Arthur. Ads make Arthur go. Therefore, by filling out the survey, you have contributed in a small but significant way in making Arthur work. We thank you kindly.

****AND NOW TO THE REALLY GOOD STUFF…

(((4))) WE’RE MAKIN’ REALLY GOOD CDS AND SELLING THEM AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

Sometimes people ask us, What are you listening to right now? And then we answer with a long list of artists they don’t recognize. That makes us feel like snobs, which is a terrible thing to feel like, cuz we want to share. The music we like, we think everyone would like, *if they only got a chance to hear it.* In the pages of Arthur we rap about music all the time in ways that we hope will turn on the curious listener and cause them to get up and seek out the stuff. With Bastet, Arthur’s new imprint, we’re trying to shorten that process by making directly available to you some of the music we are digging that we think you might dig too.

The first Bastet CD is “The Golden Apples of the Sun,” a veritable “who’s who of underground folk” compilation curated by Devendra Banhart, who really knows his way around that place. He selected the tracks, drew the cover, solicited testimonials from all the artists about all the other artists and then HANDLETTERED the sleeve, decorating everything with his wonderful pen-and-ink art. You may buy this for the artwork, you may buy this cuz we’re only making 1,000 and it’ll be worth something on Ebay someday soon, you may buy this cuz you love us…but you will keep it near you because of the fantastic music on the CD. Which is as follows:

1. Vetiver (with Hope Sandoval) – “Angel’s Share” (from the “Vetiver” LP)

2. Joanna Newsom – “Bridges and Balloons” (from “The Milk-Eyed Mender” LP)

3. Six Organs of Admittance – “Hazy SF” (previously unreleased)

4. Viking Moses – “Crosses” (from “Crosses”)

5. Josephine Foster – “Little Life” (prev. unreleased home recording)

6. ESPers – “Byss & Abyss” (from “ESPers” LP)

7. Vashti Bunyan & Devendra Banhart – “Rejoicing in the Hands” (from the forthcoming “Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress” LP)

8. Jana Hunter – “Farm, CA” (prev. unreleased)

9. Currituck Co. – “The Tropics of Cancer” (from “Ghost Man on First”)

10. White Magic – “Don’t Need” (from forthcoming EP)

11. Iron and Wine – “Fever Dream” (from “Our Endless Numbered Days” LP)

12. Diane Cluck – ” Heat From Every Corner” (from “Macy’s Day Bird”)

13. Matt Valentine – “Mountains of Yaffa” (prev. unreleased)

14. Entrance – “You Must Turn” (prev. unreleased home recording)

15. Jack Rose – “White Mule” (from “Red Horse, White Mule” originally released thru Eclipse, forthcoming on VHF)

16. Little Wings – “Look at What the Light Did Now” (from “Light Green Leaves”)

17. Scout Niblett – “Wet Road” (from “Sweet Heart Fever”)

18. Troll – “Mexicana” (from “Pathless Lord”)

19. CocoRosie – “Good Friday” (from “La Maison de Mon Reve”)

20. Antony – “The Lake” (from “Live at Saint Olaye’s With Current 93”)

This CD is now being manufactured and will be shipping before May 1. You cannot buy it at a store or from that guy down the street. You have to buy it directly from us. It’s $12 postpaid US, $14 Canada, $17 world, or, get this, FREE if you buy a new subscription. Go here to order one, or just to see the pretty artwork:

http://www.arthurmag.com/bastet.html

The second Bastet CD is, as they say, completely different. “The Libations of Samhain: SUNN 0))) live at London’s Subcamden Underground, Hallo’ween 2003” is a single live power-drone ambient metal track by the mighty SUNN 0))) measuring just under 49 minutes. It’s loud and wonderful and all-enveloping and gives your speakers and your inner organs a fine meditative workout. Plus, you get a bonus interview with the SUNN O))) principals by Edwin Pouncey and Sharon Gal, originally broadcast on London’s Resonance FM 104. Would you believe this CD features cover artwork by the legendrary Savage Pencil, and letterpress printing by Thumbprint Press? Oh yes. Edition of 500, and they’re going VERY fast.

This CD is now being manufactured and will be shipping before May 1. Again, if you want it, you gotta buy it directly from us. It’s $12 postpaid US, $14 Canada, $17 world, or, get this, FREE if you buy a new subscription. Go here to order one, or just to see the brilliant SP artwork:

http://www.arthurmag.com/bastet.html

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

ARTHUR comes out, and then it’s gone. You snooze, you lose. But no one should be punished for being unlucky, which is why ARTHUR offers SUBSCRIPTIONS. Now, you need never fear the empty stack again. Do you live in the USA? We are sorry. But, you can get six issues of Arthur for $30, plus (while supplies last) a free BASTET CD or ARTHUR t-shirt of your choosing. Do you live in Canada? Right on. That’ll cost you $39. Do you live somewhere else on the big blue cloudy marble?

Wow, that’s awesome. That’ll be $60. Order via PayPal at

http://www.arthurmag.com/backissues.html

And that’s it fer now.

Til next time–

So long, it’s good to know ya,

The Arthur Gang

April 15, 2004