Monthly Archives: August 2021

In rotation: 8/19/21

By TVD HQ | Published: August 19, 2021

Helsinki, FI | A new record store has opened in Helsinki: A new record store has opened in Helsinki over the last weekend. A party marked the launch of OK Sound in Helsinki, which opened for the first time on August 14 with sets from Antti Salonen and a guest DJ. Local pub Pien Brewpub provided liquid refreshments for the occasion. The store was founded by Sense Blue and Olli Koponen, and can only fit 20 people in at once due to ongoing COVID restrictions in Finland. Vinyl sales have skyrocketed over the past year, increasing 108% since the year began, and In July, a new open-air club also opened in Helsinki, adding to the city’s rich and diverse entertainment and music scene. Located at Fleminginkatu 28, the store is open from Tuesday to Saturday, and both new and second-hand records are available for purchase, with a focus on electronic music.

Barrow, UK | TNT Records in Barrow announces festival: A record shop has announced it will host its first ever festival stage in Barrow. TNT Records will showcase music acts including The Native Cult , Hayden J Barlow, Jon Dawes, Chris Butler, and many more on its stage on the corner of Duke Street and Cavendish Street on Friday. The event starts at 10am and will run until 4pm. Shop bosses said online: “Who’s ready for some LIVE MUSIC??? “We are very excited to announce that TNT Records is hosting its first-ever festival stage in Barrow town centre this Friday!!! “We have an outstanding lineup: The Native Cult , Hayden J Barlow , JON DAWES , Chris Butler, Jack Hartley and SOFAKING (The Lock In) will be taking to our very own outdoor stage on the corner of Duke St and Cavendish St! Music starts at 10am and runs all day until 4pm!!!

Oakham, UK | Oakham record shop owner Dave Graham heads back on tour with Showaddywaddy: A musician is going back on the road with the legendary seventies band Showaddywaddy. Dave Graham first performed with the band between 2009 and 2011 before leaving to embark on other interests. As a former music teacher at Oakham School, Dave set up his music agency DG Music. With live events put on hold last year because of the pandemic, he changed his business focus again and set up a record shop in Oakham. Several of his old Showaddywaddy bandmates paid Dave a visit at The Piano Café, and now he’s joining them as saxophonist and guitarist for more than 100 gigs. The tour starts next month and runs until the band’s 50th anniversary in 2023. Dave said: “It’s been fantastic to perform in front of audiences once again.”

Port Townsend, WA | Port Townsend Record Show returns: Vendors bringing wares from all over the state. The man approached, his attire seeming to indicate a liking for heavy metal music. Chuck Moses, seller of vinyl LPs at the annual Port Townsend Record Show, was worried. He didn’t have much in that category. “Got any John Denver?” the tough guy asked. Oh yes, Moses replied. And Denver records are alive and well — along with thousands from other artists — at the resurrected record show this Saturday. Admission is free to the main event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while early birds hungry for disks can get in at 8 a.m. for $10; the venue will be at the American Legion Hall at the corner of Monroe and Water streets. DJs will play records, lots of records, and people will have all day to talk with one another about music, Moses promised. That might be the only topic left that just about anybody can converse on peacefully, he added.

UK | Vinyl reissues from Sinead O’Connor and Roisin Murphy announced for National Album Day 2021: Sinead’s Best Of will be pressed to vinyl for the very first time. New vinyl versions of albums by Irish artists Sinéad O’Connor and Roísín Murphy are part of National Album Day 2021 which will celebrate women in music. O’Connor’s So Far…The Best Of greatest hits, first released in 1997 on CD and cassette, will make its vinyl debut as part of the UK music industry event. The album is available to pre-order now and will be released on October 15, the day before National Album Day. Featuring hits from Sinéad’s first four albums, this first-time vinyl release also contains extra songs from the original US version of the album including Heroine which originally featured on the 1986 Captive movie soundtrack which preceded her debut album, and Just Like U Said It Would B from her 1987 debut album The Lion and The Cobra.

This new vinyl storage system is designed for your tabletop: “A sanctuary for the records in your current playing rotation.” Record Roots has launched a new tabletop record storage system, straightforwardly named The Vinyl Record Tabletop Storage System. Each container is handmade from Oxford weave fabric reinforced with solid inserts and wooden feet, and is capable of holding up to 45 12” records. “We built this product so you can really appreciate the album art on 12” records; one of the many benefits which this format offers,” explains product designer Felix Kenchington.

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TVD Live: Elizabeth Cook and Waylon Payne at Union Stage, 8/14

By Roger Catlin | Published: August 18, 2021

Elizabeth Cook could well be the best of the legion of DJs on Sirius XM. Her weekday “Apron Strings” show on the Outlaw Country channel reflects her personality, as she speaks frankly and sometimes brashly about her life, her musician friends, and everyday hard knocks in her engaging twang. She’d bring that same charm to solo appearances with just a guitar accompanying her stories and really well written songs.

Out on tour for the first time since the pandemic shutdowns, she has emerged as a completely different performer. Dressed in kind of a silvery space age Ziggy Stardust jumpsuit and surrounded by a three-piece rock band, she roared through her headlining set at the Union Stage in Washington Saturday—a transformation that surprised at least some in the seated audience.

Cook has dropped the names of rock bands in her sassy songs before going for a full bore sound 0n her 2020 album Aftermath, whose excessive production more aligned with crossover roar of “The Perfect Girls of Pop” of which she refers to on one of its singles. But in front of an electric band of long haired guitarists and a Mohawked drummer—and following a quiet and very well-received acoustic solo set from Waylon Payne—you’d hardly associate her with the honest and vulnerable persona she beams out on satellite radio.

At first playing a powder blue electric mandolin and then a guitar—whose plug fell out at least once; you couldn’t hear much of what she was adding on strings either way—Cook concentrated on her sharp lyrics, which were often muddied inside those hard-charging arrangements.

Cook has crafted some strong anthems, from “Thick Georgia Woman” to kick off the set; the popular “El Camino” mid-show, and the triumphant “Sometimes It Takes Balls to be a Woman” to end her encore. When it came time for a cover, she went not to any of the classic country she plays on the air, but the Velvet Underground. Nice to hear “Sunday Morning” anyway.

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TVD Radar: Little Willie John, The Complete R&B Hit Singles in stores 10/1

By TVD HQ | Published: August 18, 2021

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Diminutive in size but gigantic in stature, Little Willie John was a genuine architect of soul. Along with Clyde McPhatter, Ray Charles, and Sam Cooke, the visionary singer stood at the forefront of fusing gospel intensity to rhythm and blues tradition. And had he not died inside a Walla Walla prison at the age of 30, his name would likely be etched in the same soul Pantheon as his peers.

Despite his abbreviated career, Willie cut a string of seminal sides for Cincinnati-based King Records from 1955 to 1961 that rank among the finest R&B waxed by any singer for any label of the period. It didn’t matter whether the song was an after-hours blues ballad or an uptempo foot stomper: Willie’s agile, melismatic voice made the number soar. As Motown legend Lamont Dozier says in Bill Dahl’s notes to this collection, “Willie John was just an extraordinary talent. He knew how to touch you with a song, and he knew how to raise the hairs on the back of your neck.”

Now, from Real Gone Music comes the definitive vinyl anthology for this overlooked soul superstar: 17 tracks that include every R&B chart hit. That means such landmark tunes as “Fever,” “All Around the World,” “Need Your Love So Bad,” “Home at Last,” and “Leave My Kitten Alone,” all documented by liner note writer Bill Dahl on the accompanying insert. An essential addition to any soul library.

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Graded on a Curve:
Joni Mitchell,
The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)

By Steve Matteo | Published: August 18, 2021

After reports that her death was imminent in 2015 after she had an aneurysm, Joni Mitchell has risen, phoenix-like, to resume a somewhat normal life and even make public appearances, although she has difficulties walking.

Through Rhino Records, Mitchell has now embarked on the most ambitious and thus far fruitful archival reissue series of her long and illustrious career. She has never been a fan of greatest hits or archival releases, as she feels they can lead to a halt in sales of individual albums.

The initial batch of archival releases included Live At Canterbury House 1967 as a three-album vinyl set, recorded in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Early Joni as a single vinyl album; and Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), which included radio, television, live recordings, tapes, demos, and more previously unreleased material as well as the Live at Canterbury House 1967 performances available as a 5-CD set. There has also been the “Joni Mitchell Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes)” Digital EP Flac release, which includes five previously unreleased recordings from the 1971 Blue sessions.

The latest release is Joni Mitchell The Reprise Albums (1968 – 1971) available as either a 4-CD set, or a limited edition of 10,000 copies, four-LP vinyl box set. The limited edition vinyl box set is beautifully packaged in a slip-case and features authentic gatefold replicas of her first four albums on 180 gram vinyl: Song To A Seagull (1968), Clouds (1969), Ladies Of The Canyon (1970) and Blue (1971).

Mitchell’s debut album is presented in a brand-new mix by Matt Lee, overseen by Mitchell, and all the albums have been remastered by Bernie Grundman. The cover art of the outer box is by Joni Mitchell and there is an essay included by Brandi Carlile. Carlile will actually be performing the entire Blue album at Carnegie Hall on November 7th. She has done this once before in Los Angeles at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2019.

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TVD Radar: Garbage, beautifulgarbage 20th anniversary 3LP and 2LP reissues in stores 10/1

By TVD HQ | Published: August 18, 2021

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Garbage have today announced details of their upcoming 20th anniversary reissue of the band’s third studio album, beautifulgarbage. The reissue will be released via UMe on October 1st, exactly twenty years after the album was first available. The band have also revealed a previously unheard version of the album’s lead single “Androgyny.” The track features lyrical content and a message that was ahead of its time upon its initial release in 2001 and was also reflective of Garbage’s new, pop-leaning sound.

Speaking about the beautifulgarbage reissue, Shirley Manson says, “We wanted to celebrate the release of our third album in the same manner as we have celebrated the 20th anniversaries of our previous two records, as we cherish this third child of ours just as much as its predecessors. Over time it has garnered more and more respect from our fans, with many of the songs remaining in rotation in our live sets to this day. We’ve always felt incredibly proud of this record and felt it was in many ways very much ahead of its time. Twenty years down the line, we are all exceedingly grateful to have such well-crafted songs in our discography and are very proud that against all the odds we are still standing and can give our beloved album the tribute it so very much deserves.”

Marking a departure from the sound that Garbage had established on their first two releases, beautifulgarbage was written and recorded over the course of a year. Shirley Manson chronicled the band’s efforts weekly online, becoming one of the first high-profile musicians to keep an internet blog in the process. The album expanded on the band’s acclaimed musical variety with more direct lyrics and sounds that mixed rock with electronic, new wave, hip hop and girl group influences.

This brand-new edition has been remastered from the original recordings and will be released across Deluxe 3LP, 2LP, Deluxe 3CD and Digital Deluxe formats. The deluxe vinyl edition includes beautifulgarbage on 2x heavyweight black LPs, as well as a third LP of B-sides and memorabilia. The two 2LP formats have been pressed on heavyweight black and special white vinyl respectively. The reissue product suite also includes a 3CD deluxe edition featuring the original album, B-sides, demos and remixes housed in a clamshell case. The digital deluxe edition includes exclusive bonus remixes.

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Graded on a Curve:
GA-20,
GA-20 Does Hound
Dog Taylor: Try It…
You Might Like It!

By Joseph Neff | Published: August 18, 2021

Boston trio GA-20 have made a name for themselves as purveyors of prime blues-R&B-R&R rawness, with a studio debut and a live follow-up EP under their belts. Now here comes GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It…You Might Like It!, a tribute to one of the true kingpins of electrified slide guitar scorch and unbridled dive bar mayhem. For the uninitiated, this might read as smooth sailing executed through the reliable gesture of paying tribute, but please understand that doing right by the Hound Dog is much tougher than it might seem. That GA-20 pull it off is a kickass circumstance. The record is out August 20 on vinyl in a handful of variations, plus compact disc and digital through Colemine Records and Alligator Records.

The blues is often celebrated and sometimes denigrated for its stylistic directness and lack of frills, but in reality, it’s a far more complex and diverse form of musical expression than many acknowledge. On the wild and distorted end of spectrum sits the 1971 debut album by Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers, secure in its placement as one of the very greatest full-length electric blues records.

It is in fact my favorite blues LP that’s not a compilation of singles, and in the 50 years since its emergence as Alligator Records’ first release, I don’t think its level of quality has been surpassed. Now, some folks might be thinking that my identification of guitarist Taylor, second guitarist Brewer Phillips, and drummer Ted Harvey as the half-century reigning champs of booze joint blues sizzle doesn’t reflect well on the general health of the style, but I will add that a few LPs have gotten into the same ballpark since.

But let’s set those examples aside for another time, as the matter here is how GA-20, an act comprised of guitarist Matt Stubbs, guitarist-vocalist Pat Faherty, and drummer Tim Carman, have delivered a wholly worthy tip of the hat to such an iconic blues band. The reasons are numerous, with just for starters GA-20’s instrumental configuration of two guitars (no bass), drums and vocals mirroring, and very possibly deliberately adopting, the Houserockers’ same setup.

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In rotation: 8/18/21

By TVD HQ | Published: August 18, 2021

UK | Kylie Minogue and Mariah Carey vinyl reissues announced for National Album Day 2021 celebrating women in music: National Album Day’s 2021 ambassadors have been confirmed as Sharleen Spiteri, Laura Mvula, Ray BLK and Joy Crookes. National Album Day organisers have revealed a list of vinyl reissues that will be released to coincide with the 2021 event, which includes classic albums by Kylie Minogue and Mariah Carey. As previously announced, the fourth annual National Album Day taking place on Saturday October 16 will celebrate women in music, inviting conversation about classic albums by the world’s greatest female artists. Among the albums being re-released on vinyl include Kylie Minogue’s Number 1 album Fever for its 20th anniversary on white wax. This sought-after reissue was previously only available exclusively in Sainsbury’s in 2017, and on red vinyl in a Singaporean retailer in 2018. Mariah Carey’s Emotions will re-pressed to pink vinyl for the first time to mark its 30th birthday, while a silver LP of Dido’s No Angel will be available. Ms Dynamite’s Mercury Prize winning album A Little Deeper from 2002 will be reissued for the first time since its release, while Gabrielle’s 1999 Number 1 record Rise will also be given the vinyl treatment for the first time in two decades.

London, UK | A new record store will allow you to press music to vinyl instantly: The new store is the UK location of Jack White’s Third Man and is their first outlet outside of the US (Nashville & Detroit). Our beloved vinyl format has been growing in popularity over the past few years. Sales are a further 16% up this year already (108% YoY), after outselling CDs last term and continuing an impressive 5-year uptrend. Our fascination with wax shows no sign of slowing down, and now, London has its own pressing outlet where you can convert your recordings straight to vinyl. Third Man Records will let visitors record their music directly to wax. The Soho based store is the brainchild of the White Stripes frontman Jack White and will be the heartbeat of the company’s European operations. The premises consist of two levels. The lower level will act as a live music venue called ‘The Blue Basement’, creating a diverse space. The upper level will play host to retail and a recording studio – where you will be able to press your wax directly. The main aim of the store is to be “a physical space to help keep record sales and live performances alive after such a tough period for everyone”.

Denver, CO | Take a Spin Through the Stacks at the Rocky Mountain Record Show: Rocky Mountain Record Show co-founder Kobi Waldfogel is a serious vinyl record collector, but he’s always found something lacking at record shows. “A traditional record show is generally just a marketplace,” Waldfogel says. “It’s buyers and sellers. And that’s great; I personally love to attend those types of events. But every time I’ve been to one, it felt like there was a little bit of culture missing.” For example, Waldfogel says, record shows often have no music playing. That always struck him as odd. So the Rocky Mountain Record Show — which he has put together with partners Reuben Saul and Patrick Selvage — will have DJs spinning vinyl sets throughout the day. It does seem weird, after all, to have an event dedicated to music with no music. The event is happening at RedLine Contemporary Art Center in RiNo, which offers a much warmer environment than a cold convention center, where many such events take place.

Memphis, TN | Memphis Record Pressing drops needle on $7.5M expansion plans: Vinyl records have found their groove again, and a Shelby County company that makes them is looking to become a bigger player. Memphis Record Pressing is planning a $7.5 million expansion that could add hundreds of employees with an average salary of $36,000. The company says the expansion would make it the largest manufacturer of vinyl records in North America, and one of the largest in the world. The company, founded in 2014, told county officials its volume has quadrupled, from 1 million records in 2015 to 4 million in 2020. It currently employs 137 people at its facility in Bartlett, a suburb of Memphis. The expansion would add a logistics facility in Memphis. Memphis Record Pressing said it has considered moving production to Toronto or Prague, and could locate its new project in North Mississippi, but would prefer to build it in Memphis.

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TVD Live: Lollapalooza at Grant Park, 8/1

By Brigid Gallagher | Published: August 17, 2021

9:56 AM My phone dings with an announcement from Lollapalooza that Da Baby will no longer be headlining or performing at all because the fest “was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect and love.” Given his recent homophobic rant, I’m all for this move.

1:12 PM Another perfect day here in Chicago. We’ve really lucked out! The weather has been ideal all weekend.

2:07 PM I am at least a football field away from Perry’s but the bass is vibrating throughout my body. A sound healing.

2:59 PM Princess Nokia has brought nothing but great vibes. She’s crowd-surfed, offered motivation (“Be who you wanna be!”) and danced her ass off. “I got my start in the New York City gay club night scene and it’s amazing that I’m on the main stage here at Lollapalooza.” She deserves the opportunity.

3:29 PM Toosii just made two fans’ day. Seeing that they were screaming and crying at the sight of him, he decides to bring them on stage for the remainder of his set. They are ecstatic, but instead of being in the moment, hold their phones in front of their faces and hit record.

4:03 PM There have been at least a handful of TikTok stars performing here this weekend. Maybe I’m just old now but the music is, for the most part, pretty fucking bad.

4:06 PM Speaking of TikTok stars, JXDN brings out special guest (and girlfriend) Nessa Barrett for a “la di die” duet.

4:39 PM Brittany Howard is crushing Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life” but I’m honestly not surprised because she’s a real talent. The voice, the guitar, the moves—she’s got it all. And the musicians supporting her are pretty incredible themselves. I recognize Alabama Shakes’ bassist Zac Cockrell as one of them.

4:57 PM A group of guys are fighting because one of them dragged the group to Steve Aoki. They’re apparently still bitter about missing Miley.

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TVD Radar: David Byrne’s American Utopia directed by Spike Lee in theaters 9/15

By TVD HQ | Published: August 17, 2021

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Iconic Events Releasing, Participant, River Road Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment, and HBO Entertainment announced today the theatrical debut of the Emmy®-nominated feature David Byrne’s American Utopia, coming to movie theaters nationwide for a special, one-night-only theatrical event on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021. These unique theatrical events will also include an introduction by David Byrne, as well as a never-before-seen conversation with Byrne and director Spike Lee.

Directed by Oscar® and Emmy® award-winning director Spike Lee and produced by 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Todomundo, and RadicalMedia, the one-of-a-kind, dynamic special gives moviegoing audiences nationwide access to Byrne’s electrifying Broadway show that played to sold-out, record-breaking audiences during its original 2019-2020 Broadway run and returns to Broadway beginning September 17, 2021 at the St. James Theatre. Joined by 11 musical artists from around the world, Academy®, Grammy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning musician David Byrne (Talking Heads) performs songs from his 2018 album of the same name, songs from Talking Heads, and from his solo career.

The Emmy®-nominated HBO Special features band members Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan and Bobby Wooten III, all of whom will reunite with Byrne on Broadway this fall. The production was recently named recipient of a Special Tony Award. The original American Utopia album, as well as the Broadway cast recording, were released on Warner Music Group’s Nonesuch Records.

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UK Artist of the Week: second thoughts

By Zara Hoffman | Published: August 17, 2021

Hitchin-based newcomers second thoughts have already been making some serious waves across the internet and it’s not hard to see why when songs like “nicotine stains” are coming out of the woodwork. This quartet combines all the best element of indie, pop, and rock and we love it.

Channelling noughties faves The Maccabees and Bombay Bicycle Club, “nicotine stains” is an instantly infectious slice of indie-pop that will get your head banging and toes tapping in no time. The single was produced by none other than The 1975’s Ross MacDonald and was also mixed by Iain Berry who has previously worked with the likes of Wolf Alice, so second thoughts are definitely in good company here and onto a winning partnership we reckon.

Despite still being relatively unknown, second thoughts already have a huge following on social media platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram, and Spotify, so we the future is looking extremely bright for these young bucks already. Get following!

“nicotine stains” is in stores now.

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Graded on a Curve: British Jazz Explosion: Originals Re-Cut

By Joseph Neff | Published: August 17, 2021

British Jazz Explosion: Originals Re-Cut is a new series from the Decca label that’s focused on noteworthy but hard to come by (and therefore, wholly deserving of reissue) albums, all from the UK and in the titular style. Journeys in Modern Jazz: Britain (1965-1972), a compilation detailing the series’ objectives into 2022, along with the Don Rendell Quintet’s Space Walk, came out on July 16, followed by Ken Wheeler and the John Dankworth Orchestra’s Windmill Tilter (The Story Of Don Quixote) on August 13, and with The New Jazz Orchestra’s Le Dejeuner Sur l’Herbe set for release on September 10. Everything’s available on vinyl and digital, with the compilation also out on 2CD. All four are considered below.

Some of the higher profile names associated with British jazz include trad clarinet stylist Acker Bilk, bop saxophonists Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott (he of the famed club), and guitarist John McLaughlin. Although both were born in Jamaica, trumpeter Dizzy Reece and saxophonist Joe Harriott are both noted as residents of the UK (Reece later moved to the US, as did McLaughlin, later).

British Jazz Explosion provides a deeper dive into the scene the players named above helped to define. Journeys in Modern Jazz: Britain (1965-1972) establishes the timeframe and the series’ contributors, opening with “Don the Dreamer” from Windmill Tilter (The Story Of Don Quixote), the 1969 album that served as trumpeter-flugelhornist-composer Kenny Wheeler’s debut as leader.

More accurately, Wheeler’s co-billed with saxophonist and bandleader Johnny Dankworth, with whom he’d recorded often, beginning in 1959 on Bundle From Britain, which documented a live performance by Dankworth’s orchestra from that year’s Newport Jazz Festival (it does appear that Wheeler’s first recording dates from 1956 as part of Tommy Whittle’s Orchestra, the 10-inch album Spotlighting).

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In rotation: 8/17/21

By TVD HQ | Published: August 17, 2021

Toledo, OH | Glass City Record Show returns to Toledo: The Glass City Record Show is back in Toledo after the pandemic shut it down last year. This is the 39th year of the show which started in 1982 at the Holiday Inn in Perrysburg, and after a few years moved to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Toledo, and has been here ever since. For $1 admission, the public is welcome to come and sift through thousands of music products. “Vinyl’s, .45’s, CD’s, DVD’s, cassette’s, stereo equipment, anything music related,” said Rebecca Locke-Gagnon, co-runner of the show. There are over two dozen dealers with nearly 50 tables of content. The dealers range from all over the area including Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania and even Colorado. Some of them have even been with the show since the very first one, like Jack Taylor. “I’m a dealer, yeah, I’m a collector first, and these become duplicates at some point, and then I share them with the rest of Toledo,” said Taylor.

York, UK | Oxfam to host pop-up music stall at Shambles Market: Fans of vinyl records and CDs are in for a treat when a music stall opens at York’s Shambles Market for one day only. Oxfam’s Goodramgate store will be setting up its first ever pop-up music stall at Shambles Market on Friday, September 10. On sale will be a wide range of cds and vinyl records. Sandy Morey, manager of Oxfam in Goodramgate, said: “There will be all kinds for sale – classical, popular, folk, jazz, blues, punk, metal and lots more. “There will also be a selection of sheet music and we even have a number of vintage ‘78rpm discs too!” She added: “The public have been very generous in making huge donations to us so we are eager to turn these records, cds and the sheet music into funds to help Oxfam’s work in developing countries.” She said she hoped people would support Oxfam’s first market music stall, adding: “Everything will be available at great prices, for great causes.”

UK | Vinyl records are bad for the environment – it’s time for that to change: In light of the recent IPCC climate report, it’s high time the music industry reconsiders its approach. Now, a label has figured out how to produce 100 percent recyclable records. In the UK alone, vinyl record sales have been growing exponentially for the last 12 consecutive years and in 2020 alone, 4.3 million vinyl sales were made. While that’s great news for old school music nerds and Billie Eilish – who, according to Pitchfork, had the second-biggest vinyl sales week since 1991 with her new album Happier Than Ever – it turns out the medium is actually pretty bad for the environment. On the surface, the vinyl boom might seem like a slower and more conscious way of consuming and acquiring music, but in fact, its production methods are outrageously outdated: the PVC used to make records can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, while pressing machines powered by steam boilers require fossil fuels to generate the heat and pressure to operate. When it comes to packaging and production, things don’t look better.

UK | London label announces world’s first 100% recyclable vinyl record: Collaborating with a new manufacturer in Holland they’ve worked together to develop a process that uses 60% less energy cost compared to traditional vinyl manufacturing processes. Needs, a London based not for profit record label, have teamed up with Green Vinyl Records in Holland to produce a 100% recyclable record. Vinyl has often been debated for it’s negative and detrimental impact on the environment due to high energy usage manufacturing procedures and waste. Green Vinyl’s new method of production uses 60% less energy cost compared to traditional vinyl manufacturing processes. “…Over the years vinyl has been a difficult subject for us. There was even a point where we seriously thought about becoming a digital only label. But after a period of intense research we came across Green Vinyl and found a solution to do what we love and in a way which is ethical, progressive and pushes the format forward. Hopefully through this release we can raise awareness about this revolutionary new technology and inspire others to think about the way they produce vinyl.”

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TVD Live: Lollapalooza at Grant Park, 7/31

By Brigid Gallagher | Published: August 16, 2021

1:59 PM The Monophonics immediately catch my ear as I enter the grounds. Very soulful— I mean, you can never go wrong with Motown.

3:10 PM So far Lolla fashion has remained pretty consistent over the last few years: NBA jerseys, jorts that cover nothing, bikini tops, spandex, and Hawaiian shirts. This year’s additions to the list include pigtails, George Michael-esque cross earrings, glitter (so much), and these free Solana sunglasses that continue to get passed out to the masses.

3:22 PM Everyone is in great spirits at Perry’s for CID. Even security is particularly jovial—dancing, taking photos for fans, and squirting the crowd with water guns to keep them cool.

3:34 PM Salt Lake City’s Backseat Lovers are rocking the T-Mobile Stage.

3:54 PM Two songs into his set and Cautious Clay has shown he’s multitalented. Aside from lead vocals, he plays the flute and saxophone.

4:11 PM Passing by the Toyota Music Den, I catch a couple Sophie Cates songs during an intimate set.

4:20 PM Mt. Joy has just blasted through a few excellent covers: The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” and Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood.”

4:43 PM Trippie Redd has not finished a full song but the crowd is pumped regardless. He tries to light a blunt but “it’s too windy. We in the Windy City!”

4:56 PM The MLB trade deadline rocked northside Chicagoans pretty hard, as the Cubs traded away fan favorites Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Báez. Consequently, the Cubs jerseys are everywhere today and some have taken liberties with them (“Fuck the Ricketts”).

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TVD Live: Lollapalooza at Grant Park, 7/30

By Brigid Gallagher | Published: August 16, 2021

3:32 PM: A herd of teens (probably around 30 of them) leap the Lollapalooza perimeter barricades just south of Balboa. It wouldn’t be Lolla without some fence jumpers. “Go kids! I believe in you!” screams one passerby.

4:18 PM: Blueser Jacob Banks is midway through a soulful set at the LakeShore Stage.

4:41 PM: The married duo of Elephant Heart remind me of a kinder, gentler version of Die Antwoord. Or maybe they’re like a world music Sylvan Esso? Regardless, the crowd is grooving.

5:15 PM: It’s his city; it’s his stage: Polo G is dominating. So much so that a commemorative Lolla aluminum water bottle pelts me in the shoulder while I’m in the photo pit. This is not the first time I’ve seen the special aluminum bottles launched into the air from the crowd. (By Saturday, Lolla’s valiant efforts to eliminate plastic by getting people to reuse their water bottles are finished. Too many have served as weapons, I overhear one bar volunteer say to another. “People were flinging them. It was dangerous.”)

5:26 PM: I’m really enjoying Elohim’s set. It’s a big self-love dance party. “I think we all need to be a little nicer to ourselves,” she declares to loud cheers.

5:40 PM: Number of young women I’ve seen cry-yelling at their boyfriend because they took off without them count: 4.

6:17 PM: I mix up my stages and end up at Arizona Zervas instead of White Reaper. Whoops. It’s cool, though, as it’s always fun to check out a new artist and the crowd is definitely vibin’.

6:39 PM: Boy Pablo is charming AF. Chilean–Norwegian singer songwriter Nicolas Muñoz is the only member of his band who was granted a work Visa into the US, so he’s flying solo. Overcoming his nerves, he dances around the stage singing his heart out. I’m rooting for him and so is everyone else.

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TVD Radar: Oasis, Knebworth 1996 3LP in stores 11/19

By TVD HQ | Published: August 16, 2021

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Twenty-five years ago this week, Oasis played two era-defining concerts at Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire. The shows were both the pinnacle of the band’s success and a landmark gathering for a generation of young people.

Released alongside the celebratory feature-length documentary film, in cinemas from September 23rd, Oasis Knebworth 1996 is the definitive live recording of the iconic gigs, featuring a setlist packed with stone-cold classics taken from across both nights of the concert.

Formats include 2CD, triple LP on heavyweight vinyl, and DVD / Blu-ray of the feature-length documentary and full concerts from both nights, edited by Dick Carruthers with audio mixed by Will Shapland in Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

Special edition formats include 2CD/DVD plus a limited edition Super Deluxe Box Set including all the formats, as well as an exclusive double cassette with replicas of the original show memorabilia, available exclusively from Oasis’ online store.

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