Optical Atlas

I forgot to post this a few days back, but Dark Meat is about to embark on another insanity-fueled tour, culminating in a Halloween performance in New Orleans. Here are the dates, courtesy Pitchfork.

Dark Meat – Upcoming Tour Dates

09-17 Chattanooga, TN – JJ’s Bohemia #
09-18 Urbana, IL – Canopy Club (Pygmalion Festival) $
09-19 Peoria, IL – The Red Barn
09-20 St. Louis, MO – Billiken Club
09-21 Chicago, IL – Hideout Block Party #
09-22 Grinnell, IA – Gardner Lounge
09-23 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
09-24 Rock Island, IL – Daytrotter Session
09-24 Rock Island, IL – Huckleberry’s
09-25 Toronto, Ontario – The Drake
09-26 London, Ontario – Call the Office
09-27 Hamilton, Ontario – The Casbah
09-28 Guelph, Ontario – Vinyl
09-30 Ottawa, Ontario – Zaphod Beeblebrox
10-01 Montreal, Quebec – Club Lambi
10-02 Portland, ME – Space 238
10-03 New York, NY – Rocks Off Concert Cruise ^
10-04 New York, NY – Schmarket Schmotel
10-29 Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre #%
10-30 Birmingham, AL – The Bottletree #
10-31 New Orleans, LA – Saturn Bar #%

# with Monotonix
$ with Dan Deacon
^ with Vivian Girls
% with One Man Machine

In the run-up to the release of their hugely-anticipated Skeletal Lamping, of Montreal has been organizing listening parties: the latest (and most fun-sounding) is going to be at the Seattle Laser Dome–that’s right, the Seattle Laser Dome, which will be taking a break from Laser Pink Floyd, Laser Beatles, and Laser Nine Inch Nails for an evening of Laser Of Montreal. It’s all going down at the Pacific Science Center on Friday, September 12th at 9:15pm sharp. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased here. Thanks to BP, who posted this on the of Montreal blog.

In other news, a track from Skeletal Lamping, “Nonpareil of Favor,” is available for download at Pitchfork. It even caught Rolling Stone’s attention.

The Supercluster set from Popfest is now available for download at Flat Response; this is the band fronted by Pylon’s Vanessa Hay, backed, in this instance, by Randy Bewley of Pylon, Bill David and Bob Hay of Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, John Fernandes of Circulatory System, Hannah Jones of Sound Houses, and Kay Stanton of Casper & the Cookies.  They released a superb EP last year, Special 5, a track of which was put in the Optical Atlas jukebox yesterday, actually.  Thanks to Daniella for the photo.

Here’s another Music Tapes interview, this at Athens Exchange from August 9th.  There’s lots of good info here, plus “two long sustained bubbling noises.”  Thanks to earthlingmortal.

Incidentally, here is the John Fernandes interview at Synthesis.net which is referenced in the interview.  I’d never seen it.

Here are some exclusive photos sent along to OA by The Apples in Stereo from their recent performance at Red Rocks. Note the placement of the Apples‘ signature (and also note Robert’s tee-shirt)!

It’s been a very busy day for me, but I did make time to update the Optical Atlas jukebox.

Flat Response, which has been regularly posting live recordings from this year’s Athens Popfest, has posted the Music Tapes performance from the 40 Watt on 8/16/08.  You can download the files, as MP3 or FLAC, through their website.

While we wait for a full tour to be announced, The Music Tapes will be performing with Nesey Gallons and Thimble Circus at the Ciné in Athens (234 West Hancock Ave) on September 15.

(Above photo is from Daniella via You Ain’t No Picasso!)

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea has made Treble’s list of the best albums of the 90’s, and is ranked #1 for 1998, beating out albums by Elliott Smith, Beck, Air, Jeff Buckley, etc.  You can cut straight to the list right here.  Their full review of the album is here.  Thanks to cuneyt81 at the Townhall for catching this.

The Apples in Stereo are among the musical acts booked for next Monday’s “Cinemocracy Rocks!”, an event that will also screen the top 10 winners of an online contest of short films celebrating the meaning of Democracy. Held at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, CO, the festival kicks off at 6pm on Monday, August 25th. Other performers include Okkervil River, Murs, and Jill Sobule. Tickets are available here.

UPDATE: The Apples in Stereo performance at Red Rocks will be filmed, and each of the band members will be interviewed.  If you have questions you’d like the Apples to be asked in the interview, submit them by Saturday, August 23rd.  Email your questions to apples@tractor-beam.com.