Friday, July 21st, 2006

"Free At Last From My Vegetable Prison!"

The Sci-Fi Channel has posted the whole of their pilot for The Amazing Screw-On Head animated series online for your inspection. It’s based on the comic book by Mike Mignola, most notable for being a) one of the best and most distinctive comic artists of the last 20 years and b) creating Hellboy. Set in 19th century America, the comic – and show – chronicle the adventures of Screw-On Head, a secret agent of the United States government battling the strange and occult. And his head is a screw. Just so you know.

The show does a fine job of capturing both the look and spirit of the comic – It’s eccentric and dark and irreverent and really funny, thanks to the obvious glee displayed by Paul Giamatti and David Hyde Pierce, who contribute the voices of Screw and his nemesis Emperor Zombie, respectively. The series is slated to begin airing July 27 but I guess they want to build some buzz or whatever for it beforehand so watch it, savor it and fill out the survey at the end. I don’t get Sci-Fi so I’ll have to torrent the show, but it’s a good ‘un. Giamatti talked to ComingSoon.net about the show and also his new film The Lady In The Water, which is – not surprisingly – getting savaged critically. I will defend Shyamalan’s Unbreakable as one of the best super-hero movies ever, but don’t have much to say about his other films…

The Decemberists have made a demo from their sessions for The Tain available to download off their MySpace site. It’s interesting to hear it so stripped down and shorter than 20 minutes. Their new one The Crane Wife is due out October 3. Via Donewaiting.

MP3: The Decemberists – “The Tain” (demo part 1)

Considering the last bit of news I heard from camp Spiritualized almost exactly one year ago was that Jason Pierce had almost died, this news that Pierce is embarking on an acoustic UK tour and that a new record will be out in early 2007 is good news indeed. Any news that doesn’t involve the artist being in intensive care is good news.

The Cardigans show at the Opera House may still not be confirmed according to the band, but everyone else seems to think it’s on. I bought my ticket from Rotate yesterday and the House Of Blues ad in NOW says that Mohair is opening. Yeah, whoever assembled that bill has a sense of humour.

And if if if for whatever reason that show doesn’t happen, you can always go see New York shoegazeniks Asobi Seksu at the Horseshoe that night. Tickets are $8.50.

And some concert merry-go-rounds – Midlake are no longer opening for The Hold Steady at Lee’s on August July 31. They have been replaced on that bill by Constantines alter ego Horsey Craze but will still be in town at Lee’s on September 11 to open for French Kicks, who themselves will make up their cancelled August 4 show. Got all that? No? Good, because the only really important thing you should take away from all that is that The Mountain Goats are at Lee’s on September 19, tickets $15. Get Lonely! could well be the album of the year. I haven’t heard it yet, but I feel it in me bones.

The new Pernice Brothers album Live A Little will be out October 17 3.

Harp asks Band Of Horses’ Ben Bridwell what he really really wants.

Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers tells Boston’s Weekly Dig he’s not so much a fan of the whole “Southern Rock” angle.

np – The Hold Steady / Separation Sunday

By : Frank Yang at 9:20 am
Category: Uncategorized
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  1. Torr says:

    that’s cause midlake will now be playing huge u.s. shows opening for Keane.

  2. Frank says:

    well their Canadian show opening for the French Kicks will be non-huge. but good for them, even if it is Keane.

  3. Thierry says:

    Keane, for some strange reason, have had really good openers these past couple of years – I remember Brendan Benson opening for a bunch of shows in North America and the UK. That almost had me buying a ticket to go see Keane. KEANE!

    That Hold Steady bill still sounds very appealing though…

  4. MJ says:

    Frank I know your a Dinosaur Jr fan, so
    have you had a chance to checkout the
    new Mike Johnson cd Gone Out of Your Mind?
    It’s pretty damn good!

  5. Andy says:

    Thanks for the Spiritualized heads-up Frank – just grabbed me a pair of tickets – I really ought not rely on someone three and a half thousand miles away to keep me posted on what’s happening in my home town!

  6. Phil says:

    Frank –

    That Hold Steady show at Lee’s is July 31, not August. Unless there’s a second show I don’t know about.

  7. Frank says:

    nope, my typo. it was very late when I wrote that.

  8. Kip! says:

    Frank,
    I recently became music editor for Don’t Magazine (London based, previously Dont Tell It). I’ve been enjoying your blog for quite some time now and was hoping you’d like to contribute.

    If you’re interested, please contact me:
    kipgasparick@yahoo.com

  9. Ross says:

    I guess i am a week late; but if Midlake are playing with the french kicks in toronto, will they be playing the french kicks’ ottawa date as well? anyone know? thanks!