This is cross-posted from Tiny Mix Tapes. I tell ya, it’s damn near impossible to stay on top Burning Star Core news considering Yeh’s prolificism (is that a word?). I don’t even try. Anyway…

Minimalist psych overlord, violin ripper, darling of Wire Magazine, and owner of Tony Conrad’s entire catalog C Spencer Yeh (of Cincinnati’s Burning Star Core) is teaming up with Borbetomagus founder and Wolf Eyes buddy Don Dietrich and snare shredder Ben Hall, of Graveyards, for high-fives and to scald a few scalps with their new noise supergroup called New Monuments.

As far as the lineup, Dietrich provides the gnarly sax textures, while Hall brings the rhythm tip and Yeh, as always, comes correct with his mighty orchestral strings fed through myriad effects processors. New Monuments kick off their inaugural tour next week in Brooklyn for a brief but nonetheless, um, monumental tour. As with most noise tours, the majority of the venues are non-traditional (yet intimate) stops (book shops, community centers, et al.) and colleges. Unlike noise’s most popular acts right now, New Monuments dabbles more in improv and free jazz than straight power electronics, challenging your conception of music more than challenging your tympanic fortitude.

Noise tourism…

09.11.08 – Brooklyn, NY – The Glasslands Gallery (with Oa, Carlos
Giffoni-Okkyung Lee, Nancy Garcia-Biba Bell, DJ Steve Loewenthal)
09.12.08 – Bostom, MA – Nom D’Artiste (with Howie Stelzer, Heathen Shame, Jason Lescaleet/Bhob Rainey)
09.13.08 – Montague, MA – Montauge Book Mill (with Joe McPhee, Paul Flaherty, Chris Corsano Trio)
09.14.08 – Annandale-on-the-Hudson, NY – Bard College (with Herons)
09.15.08 – Philadelphia, PA – Circle of Hope [South Philly Branch] (with John Wiese, Kudler/Fraser Duo, Morally Gray)
09.16.08 – Cleveland, OH – TBA (with Emeralds)
09.17.08 – Oberlin, OH – Obelin College (with Chris Riggs)
09.18.08 – Detroit, MI – Bohemian National Home (with Spykes, Uneven Universe)

BSX, BTW, has a new jam hive out called Challenger. That is a GREAT title for this album, as the timbre and sweeping sound of “Beauty Hunter” is that of a space shuttle reentering the Earth’s atmosphere (a la the Smithsonian Tapes). Pass the Kool-Aid and get shattered.

MP3 :::
Burning Star Core – Beauty Hunter

Hmmm… can I make it to Milwaukee tonight, and in two hours? Well if you’ve planned better than I, you can catch Colin Bluntstone and company playing some pretty decent rooms (Irving Plaza in NYC) and some relatively questionable rooms (Trump Marina Casino in Atlantic City? C’mon guys, that’s some Boz Scaggs shit!). And if you’re one of the lucky ones who catch them in New York, make sure to set up shop early for The Blues Magoos, a band I had no idea was still around but was always a Nuggets highlight for me.

The Zombies played the music club I used to work at before I actually starting working there roughly four years ago (sadly I missed it), but word has it that it was one of the most exciting, best sounding performances ever to hit that stage – even 40 years after the band’s prime. Maybe I should be making this aforementioned drive.

So yeah, the Zombies are one of the greatest of all time, without a doubt. Odyssey and Oracle rules my, and your, being. And just look at that photo! Dapper gentlemen. So go see them! Czech the dates:

07-05 Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
07-06 Saint Paul, MN – Taste of Minnesota
07-09 Lansing, MI – Common Ground Festival
07-10 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Casino
07-11 New York, NY – Irving Plaza
07-12 Atlantic City, NJ – Trump Marina Casino
07-13 Westhampton Beach, NY – PAC
07-15 Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
07-17 Anaheim, CA – The Grove
07-18 Las Vegas, NV – The Cannery Casino
07-19 Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon Club
07-20 San Francisco, CA – Regency Center
07-23 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
07-24 Seattle, WA – El Corazón
07-25 Langley, British Columbia – Deerfoot Casino
07-27 Edmonton, Alberta – Century Casino
07-29 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Dakota Dunes Casino
07-30 Regina, Saskatchewan – Casino Regina
07-31 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Club Regent Casino

MP3 :::
The Zombies – Hung Up on a Dream
The Blues Magoos – (We Ain’t) Got Nothin’ Yet