kMNR... February 25th, 2005

In This Issue:

Thanks go out to kMNR reader Show for research assistance on some of this week's stories.

The Return of Nick Oliveri!

Everything is coming up aces.  When news of the split between Nick Oliveri and Josh Homme broke last year, many fans of Queens of the Stone Age (myself included) thought this could mean the end of the band.  Shite, QOTSA guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen himself thought the band was done with.

Instead, Homme moved forward with the band, successfully completing the newest album "Lullabies to Paralize" which hits stores on March 22nd and a tour which is already underway.

Now, Leeuwen is reporting that Oliveri is going to begin work on another Mondo Generator album and "we'll probably all end up playing on it.  It's that understood.  Him and Josh are brothers, you know."

Homme and Oliveri have been collaborating together for quite some time.  Their history dates back to the days of Kyuss, which culminated into QOTSA, and even through all the "Desert Sessions".  This latest news may not specifically mean that Oliveri will eventually return to QOTSA, but don't be surprised if that's what it ends up spelling.

http://www.nme.com/news/111477.htm

Sadly, with good news comes a little bit of the bad.  Homme fell ill earlier this week forcing QOTSA to postpone the remainder of the mini European tour.  He was originally (mis)diagnosed with the flu and continued to play, until Homme discovered the hard way (coughing up blood) that he had a serious lung infection.

"We've toured with everything from broken ankles to bruised livers, but simply weren't prepared for this relentless attack of teeming bacteria," read a statement from the band's web-site.  "Our fans know that we ain't pussies and this is an obvious downer for everyone involved."

Homme is back in the US recovering and promise all the unlucky Europeans with tickets to hold on.  Seems the band is intent on returning sometime in the future to make up for this unfortunate turn of events, going as far as promising something special.  "We ain't in the habit of cancelling, and we don't forget."

QOTSA hit Calgary on April 10th.

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/2304.cfm

Dave Grohl Is Everywhere

Seems like reporting on Mr. Grohl is becoming a weekly item.  Last week, I told you how excited he was to have John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin guest on the upcoming Foo Fighters release.  This week, you can add another 'Jones' to that cameo list; Norah Jones.

The supposed double album will also feature Mrs. Elvis Costello on a song that guitarist Chris Shiflett describes has "a really cool Elvis Costello vibe to it.  Her voice is beautiful and fits the song really nice.  Trust me, it's really good.  You'll see soon enough."

http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000809700

Wait...isn't this supposed to be about Dave Grohl?  Well, of course.

In April, Garbage will release their fourth album "Bleed Like Me" which features Grohl on the track "Bad Boyfriend".  It's not certain what Grohl's weapon of choice is on the track, but it's safe to assume that he's pounding the drum kit much like he's done for Nine Inch Nails on the forthcoming "With Teeth" release.

Also making a guest appearance on the new Garbage album is Beck's bass player Justin Meldal-Johnsen.

http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/feb05/20050217_garbage.html

Hot Hot Heat Accompany New Album With Western Tour

Mark your calendars for April 5th, as that's the day "Elevator" hits store shelves.

The follow-up to Hot Hot Heat's 2003 release "Make Up The Breakdown" will also be accompanied by a short Western tour, starting in Vancouver on April 9th.  Stops include the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival in Whistler on April 10th, a second show in Vancouver on April 11th, Edmonton on April 13th, Calgary on April 14th and ending in Winnipeg on April 16th.  There is even a show in Ottawa on April 21st (I know, I know...Ottawa isn't in the West).

The first single is "Good Night Good Night", despite original plans for it to be "You Owe Me An IOU".  The band are touring with The Futureheads from the UK and San Diego's Louis XIV.  The band will be playing live for the first time without guitarist Dante DeCaro who left the band shortly after the album was complete.  It will be their first live performances with new guitarist Luke Paquin.

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/2210.cfm

Blink 182 Don't Break Up...Just Taking An Indefinite Break

Last Friday (February 18th), fans of the hugely successful pop-punk band started going insane when the boys failed to show up for a tsunami benefit concert in Anaheim, CA.  Dave Navarro, who DID perform posted on his blog that the band failed to play because they broke up.  All hell broke from that point forward.

Well, Navarro apologized for making such an enormous, yet unconfirmed report.  Officially, the band had to pull out at the last moment due to "unexpected circumstances."

The band themselves have now verified that they aren't broken up.  They're just going to take a break.  You know, a hiatus.  One with an indefinite time-frame.

"For over a decade, Blink-182 has toured, recorded and promoted non-stop all while trying to balance relationships with family and friends," read a statement released Wednesday.  "To that end, the band has decided to go on an indefinite hiatus to spend some time enjoying the fruits of their labors with loved ones.  While there is no set plan for the band to begin working together again, no one knows what tomorrow may bring."

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/2307.cfm

'Head' Leaves Korn

It's apparently been almost two years coming, but guitarist and founding member Brian 'Head' Welch has parted ways with Korn.  He's cited moral differences as he leaves them for a life of Christianity and solo work.

Rumours had been rampant that 'Head' was unhappy with the direction the band was taking and that he was leaving.  He was also unhappy with his portrayal in the video for "Word Up" in which his head was superimposed on a dog patrolling a strip club.  I suppose that rather un-Christian.

The band confirmed his departure on their web site and state that they "respect Brian's wishes, and hopes he finds the happiness he's searching for."  They are currently in the studio working on a new record due in September.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497313/20050222/korn.jhtml?headlines=true

In Stores Next Week

Next week has a few impressive names on the release list, most of all, the follow-up release to 2003's "De-Loused In The Comatorium".  That's right, March 1st brings us the new Mars Volta album "Frances The Mute".  Also hitting stores shelves is Jack Johnson's "In Between Dreams", "Some Cities" from The Doves, the CD/DVD release "Angel of Retribution" from Judas Priest and more.

In The Works

Jack White has been a busy boy since the release of "Elephant" in 2003, but you won't have to wait much longer for the new White Stripes album to arrive.  White has stated that he's "going home to record in a couple of days and it should be done pretty quick."

http://www.nme.com/news/111481.htm

We've talked about how long it's taken to get work underway on the new Oasis release, but it was confirmed this week that it is definitely and finally completed.  Noel Gallagher reported to NME.com at their ShockWaves NME Awards that the record is indeed finished.  He also described how the past year has been "difficult".  Why?  Gallagher stated how things have been "just frustrating that we thought we got to the finishing line, but when it came to it, it just wasn't worthy of putting out."  That's what took so long.

http://www.nme.com/news/111484.htm

Franz Ferdinand have experienced an extremely successful year which has culminated into awards at both the BRIT and NME Music awards recently.  What better way to keep the ball of mass success rolling than fast-tracking their next release.  They are currently in a secret Scottish location finishing tracks and want to have the new album out by August.

http://contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/ferdinand%20to%20rush%20out%20second%20album

This Week's Albums Reviewed

Just like every other week, Chart Magazine brings us some of this weeks release, as reviewed by their staff.  Check out what they have to say about new material from Kings of Leon, Tori Amos, Mogwai, Joel Plaskett and more:

http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2005/02/2201.cfm

Upcoming Shows

Calgary

ON SALE TODAY!  Tickets for Hot Hot Heat with guests The Futureheads and Louis XIV at MacEwan Ballroom on April 14th go on sale TODAY.

ON SALE TOMORROW!  Tickets for Green Day at the Pengrowth Saddledome on May 20th go on sale tomorrow, February 26th.

February 25, 2005 Steve Earle Eric Harvie Theatre
February 25, 2005 The Waking Eyes, Marble Index, Boy The Gateway SAIT
February 25, 2005 Star Collector, The Mood Broken City
February 25, 2005 The Ex-Boyfriends, Ditchrider, Goldenboy The Underground
February 26. 2005 The Turrettes Distillery
February 26, 2005 Blues Dance Party Too:  The Jack Semple Band, The Mike Clark Band, Bill Dowey & the Blues Devils Bowness Community Centre
February 28, 2005 2 Live Crew Cowboys
March 03, 2005 Headfirst Back Alley
March 03-04, 2005 Buddy Wasisname & The Other Fellers The Bert Church Theatre
March 04, 2005 Frostbite 2005 featuring Guttermouth, Planet Smashers, Ghosts of Modern Man, more. MacEwan Hall
March 04, 2005 Soul Decision, Billy Klippert Coyotes
March 04, 2005 Come On In My Kitchen:  Mark Sterling, Doug Andrew, Brent Parkin EPCOR Centre's Engineered Air Theatre
March 04, 2005 Chyshuga, Any Day Now, Samsin Black Swan
March 07, 2005 Duran Duran Pengrowth Saddledome
March 08, 2005 Great White, Sixx Gunn Loaded Cowboys
March 08, 2005 Grady, Todd Kerns, Driver Back Alley
March 09, 2005 Michael White and the White Whiskey
March 11, 2005 Sarah Slean, Jorane, Jeremy Fisher MacEwan Ballroom

Toronto

February 25, 2005 David Wilcox Hard Rock Cafe Yonge St.
February 25-26, 2005 KC & the Sunshine Band Casino Rama (Orillia, ON)
February 26, 2005 Kasabian Lee's Palace
February 27, 2005 The Futureheads Lee's Palace
February 28, 2005 Ian Brown Mod Club Theatre
March 01, 2005 Melissa Ferrick Lee's Palace
March 02, 2005 Kings of Leon The Opera House
March 02, 2005 Soulfly The Guvernment
March 03, 2005 Pepper The Reverb
March 04, 2005 Taste of Chaos featuring The Used, My Chemical Romance, Killswitch Engage, more. International Centre
March 04, 2005 Steve Earle and the Dukes Palais Royale
March 04, 2005 Jakalope Mod Club Theatre
March 04, 2005 The Frames The Opera House
March 04, 2005 The Temptations Casino Rama (Orillia, ON)

~~ kMNR v2005.055 ~~

If you would like to hear about or if you have any information on a particular band or artist, please email and I will do my best to cover them.