WHAT’S NOT IN A NAME: On the eve of the scheduled September release of their debut disc for Sire/Watermelon, Austin band the Damnations announced they would change their name because of potential legal conflicts with other existing bands named Damnation, Damnation A.D., Damn Nation and other similar variations. The group rechristened itself as the Molly Brigade but later recanted. The album, Half Mad Moon, is now scheduled for January release….
The Bottle Rockets played at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on Sept. 3. Nothing unusual about that — except that the band, for reasons unknown (to us, anyhow), was booked for the show under the name “Uncle Tupelo’s Roadie”.
UPS & DOWNS: Vic Chesnutt is no longer on Capitol Records. Chesnutt reportedly has retained the rights to his recently recorded album The Salesman And Bernadette, which had previously been scheduled for a September release on Capitol….
Dropping like flies from the MCA roster in recent weeks have been George Jones, Joe Ely and Todd Snider….
Dale Watson’s The Truckin’ Sessions, originally released independently on cassette earlier this year, has been issued on CD by Koch….
The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers — former Jayhawks co-leader Mark Olson, singer Mabel Allbright (a.k.a. Victoria Williams) and fiddler Mike “Razz” Russell, have recorded a follow-up to their self-titled debut disc of last fall. Titled Pacific Coast Rambler, the album will again only be available directly from the band via mail order and the internet (their website is www.thegrid.net/creekdipper/).
SPINOFFS: BoDeans co-leader Sammy Llanas has started a side-project band called Absinthe with Sugarfoot guitarist Jim Eannelli and Violent Femmes drummer Guy Hoffman (the original drummer for the BoDeans). The trio plans to release an album titled A Good Day To Die this fall. The BoDeans, meanwhile, are working on a new album….
Geraldine Fibbers singer Carla Bozulich and guitarist Nels Cline have started up a side project called Scarnella, with a debut disc due out this fall on Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley’s Smells Like Records….
Whiskeytown leader Ryan Adams played a show with an unnamed side-project band at the Mercury Lounge in New York City on Aug. 8. The lineup included Whiskeytown multi-instrumentalist Mike Daly on electric guitar, Keith Christopher on bass, and former Whiskeytown drummer Steven Terry.
IT’S SHOWTIME: Kelly Kessler, formerly of Chicago duo Texas Rubies, has organized a new series dubbed “Honky-Tonk Living Room” to be held the first and third Thursday of every month at Chicago venue the Hideout. Upcoming performers include Deanna Varagona, Andrew Bird, John Langford, Edith Frost and Johnny Dowd. For more information, e-mail kykr@hotmail.com…
Greg Garing, whose “Alphabet City Opry” show in New York City was reviewed in ND #16, recently started up a new Tuesday night show dubbed “Full Circle” at the Bowery Ballroom. Guests on the show’s opening night July 21 included Steve Earle….
Across the bridge in Brooklyn, the first annual Park Slope Old-Time Bluegrass Jamboree is scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at the Ethical Culture Meeting House. A Friday concert will be followed by workshops, a square dance, a song swap and other events on Saturday, concluding with a morning service and platform on Sunday. For more information, call 718-768-2972….
Pittsburgh is gearing up for its inaugural “Steel City Hoedown” on Nov. 6-7, to be held at a new venue called The Crane. The lineup had not been announced at press time, but organizers are aiming to bring together a significant gathering of roots-based acts from across the region and beyond. For more information, e-mail mullen@sportsrock.com.
