Melvins Are Meltdown Free

Metallic, experimental sludge pioneers the Melvins just launched a month-long tour of the western U.S. in Minneapolis. Dates run through Oct. 12 in Costa Mesa, Calif.

They will be touring to support their latest album, 'The Bride Screamed Murder,' which came out June 1. The set will likely feature material from that album, as well as the rest of their career, which began in 1983. The current Melvins lineup features founding vocalist and guitarist Buzz Osborne, drummer Dale Crover (who has been in the Melvins since 1984), drummer/vocalist Coady Willis and bassist/vocalist Jared Warren (both of whom joined in 2006).

"I'm playing with guys who are really good, and that helps a lot," Osborne told us. "They almost never have meltdowns or screw up on stage. A few things are gonna go wrong when you play 100 songs, but for the most part these are guys you can totally depend on. They're real solid."

That being the case, Osborne said that some of the Melvins tour dates will likely be far better than others, despite his intentions or the composition of the audience.

"Melvins have always been unpredictable that way," he said. "I cut our shows into three sections. A third of the shows are amazing. We can do no wrong and everything works perfect. A third of them are pretty good, and a third of them are lousy, and you can't decide that before hand. It's just something that happens. The cosmos -- I don't know why. It's just endless for whatever reason. You can't get through it, and it's not very good. But that's the beauty of playing live

Sewer Legends Buzzov-en Climb Out Of The Hole

 Buzzov-en have emerged from their resinated caves  to embark on a string of headlining tour dates. The fall tour will mark the first time the influential band has toured in 12 years. Founding member and driving force Kirk Fisher -- who has an acoustic Southern blues project called K. Lloyd and the Disciples, featuring Down's Jimmy Bower and Soilent Green's Brian Patton -- has bounced back from a crippling addiction and reassembled the band's classic '... At a Loss' lineup with bassist "Dixie" Dave Collins (also of Weedeater) and drummer Ramzi joining him on the road.

"Hell yes I'm excited, and a little nervous as well though," Fisher spoke about returning and the prospect of having a case of road rust. "I've been doing more mellow bluesy/country stuff on and off over the past years with Jimmy Bower and some other NOLA friends with my solo project K. Lloyd and the Disciples, but nothing like Buzzov-en. I'm actually looking forward to re-tapping the angst and now, at least more clearheaded it should be coming from the raw anger that I, as well as many, deal with daily just trudging through life. Our major rehearsals are just getting underway, so the rusty factor I'm sure will be there, but I'm confident it's going to be like riding a bike as they say!"

Fisher was inspired to exhume Buzzov-en now for a myriad of reasons, some of it fan pressure. "Well after talking to Jimmy when Eyehategod had gone out for their first time in many years, I was inspired because he said a lot of the fans were asking him about us, 'cause I guess they knew of the K. Lloyd stuff that had been in the works over the past [three or four] years," Fisher said. "Yeah, I think it's time finally, and this is not a reunion. This is a re-beginning for Buzzov-en. This lineup with Ramzi and Dixie was by far my favorite, and I think we could really make something of this band again. We're going to be playing a lot of material from '... At a Loss' and some earlier Buzz stuff, but also expect some new stuff to get pulled out as well."

Fisher wasn't about to throw out reveal any more when it comes to the set list, saying, "I'm not giving any hints on that note. Come to the show f---ers and you'll find out!" If you can't make the initial run of dates, the band does plan a larger scale tour for the near future.

As for why Buzzov-en's legacy has endured, Fisher offered an interesting theory. "I think the legacy has endured for a lot of reasons," he said. "Some negative. Because let's face it, we all like to see a great car crash don't we?? Also, I believe that we and a few others like EHG, Sleep and Neurosis pretty much paved the way for many bands playing this heavy downtuned riffage. There were some before, but we also toured our asses off and left a trail across the States through much of the '90s, which as I said wasn't always positive.

"I'm excited to see a new generation get to see us and not be affected by the gossip and reputation that may not put us in such a good light, which honestly a lot of that is a few nights blown way out of proportion." Fisher wasn't kidding when he called these shows "re-beginning."

"Yeah, there will definitely be a new Buzzov-en record," he revealed. "Figured we would wait until after doing these few outings doing some live shows then set down and work out where we want to go with it."

Buzzov*en tour dates:
9/25 -- Charlotte, NC -- Tremont Music Hall
9/29 -- Chicago, IL -- Reggie's Rock Club (Buy Tix)
9/30 -- New York, NY -- Rocks Off Concert Cruise Aboard the Temptress
10/1 -- Baltimore, MD -- Ottobar
10/2 -- Austin, TX -- Emo's (Buy Tix)

Hurley Cuomo

Traditionally, WEEZER albums are at their best when they have no title and are only identified by the color of the background present on the cover. The "Blue Album", the "Green Album," the "Red Album." Fact is, while those might be their best, Weezer have never made a bad album. Just stubborn sometimes.

Weezer in white? While their last album, RADITUDE was a bit of a disappointment, it wasn't really a bad record - it just wasn't up to Weezer standards. I have a theory that the album was actually intentionally crafted to irritate fans, critics, and more importantly - the label executives of the band's longtime home at Geffen/DGC. Their last album for the label, RADITUDE was possibly looked at as a "deal-breaker" for the band. There's a common practice in the business for bands to turn in a rushed album, an "experimental" album, or an album where they just simply don't put forth 100% effort, because it doesn't really matter since it's the end of the road at said label.

For a very long time there was a standard practice of ridiculous "seven album deals," even though the odds were stacked against a band ever actually making seven albums. Sixteen years after the release of the "blue album," RADITUDE marked lucky number seven for the Los Angeles-based band. Coincidence?

Now comes time for HURLEY, the eighth studio album from Weezer, and their first for indie powerhouse Epitaph Records.

HURLEY is a ten-track affair, clocking in at just over 33-minutes. To say that they album is a "return to form" would be an understatement. Bursting at the seams with the classic sounds one would expect from an earlier Weezer record, HURLEY brings back the feel-good, downstroked rock that listeners have been waiting for, along with a few welcome surprises.

As evident in the first single, "Memories," the wise-cracking, name-dropping Weezer is back, and if they were seeking a return to their glory days as the lyrics seem to indicate, they've accomplished their mission. "Ruling Me" is another up-tempo pop number with a riff on the verses that takes you right back to the sound of the band's first album. "Trainwrecks" has a little bit more of a "modern rock" sound, but that's not a bad thing, as it leads into "Unspoken" - one of the most surprising tracks on the album, and my personal favorite. With a PINKERTON-era acoustic intro that features a whimsical pan-flute in the background that becomes replaced by a full string section, listeners will be suprised to hear the sudden turn into Weezer at their electrified loudest, and possibly heaviest in the song's third act.

Despite some interesting tempo changes, "Where's My Sex" ("sex" = "socks") manages to squeeze in a nod to Bounce dryer sheets, while providing the low point of the album. "Run Away" has my money for the album's second single, while "Hang On" is pure pop gold. The orchestration that backs the band adds to a polished vibe that recalls 60's pop a la Brian Wilson or the Phil Spector "wall of sound." Then there's "Smart Girls," which just plain rocks.

"Brave New World" should have been the album closer, with it's epic feel and introspection into the next chapter of Weezer's nearly two-decade-long career. Instead, the acoustic "Time Flies" wraps things up, providing it's own version of closure. Hard to believe that the 20th Anniversary of Weezer's debut is less than four years away. Weezer's HURLEY is one of 2010's best albums. How did they manage to pull off writing, recording, and releasing the album a mere 10 months after their last? My theory is that this album was written before RADITUDE. Either way, if you hate them you will continue to do so, if not you will get horny. Rivers is hard again.

Sleep Expand Weed Tour

Sleep have expanded their upcoming “Marijuanaut’s Return” reunion tour plans with a number of shows. The updated schedule now runs as follows:

September 03rd Monticello, NY – All Tomorrow’s Parties
September 04th Los Angeles, CA – FYE Fest
September 05th Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
September 06th New York, NY – Brooklyn Masonic Temple (feat. Doomriders, Unearthly Trance)
September 07th Philadelphia, PA – Starlight Ballroom (feat. A Storm Of Light)
September 08th New York, NY – Brooklyn Masonic Temple (feat. A Storm Of Light, Lichens)
September 09th Chicago, IL – Logan Square Auditorium (feat. Lichens)
September 10th Austin, TX – Mohawk (feat. Sub Oslo)
September 11th Portland, OR – Roseland Theater (feat. Scott Kelly, YOB)
September 12th San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom (Feat. Thrones)
September 13th San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom

The shows will find the band performing their seminal album “Holy Mountain” in its entirety along with selections from “Dopesmoker” and more.

Barry Williams On Pot