The last Gilded Palace of Sin show will take place on Thanksgiving Day 2009 (November 26th) with DANNY SCHMIDT & CARRIE ELKIN. All other bookings have been cancelled. If you're interested in bringing any of the bands concerned to Brighton (or nearby) drop us a line and we'll hook you up with the relevant agents. Serious approaches only please. (Aside: thanks to all of the agents concerned for their understanding in us cancelling the bookings).

No doubt I'll write something here shortly with a fuller signing off: certainly got a number of people to thank for some very special (not an exaggeration to say, life-changing) moments. Hope to see you on the 26th for a beer or two....

From Sunday 1st November, the most recent broadcast of our radio show features an interview with ROB LUTES, covering everything from ice hockey to religious cults to Boggle. Thankfully the songs he plays are less confusing (but equally enjoyable). Hit the banner below to tune in at Totally Radio....

Thank you, as always, for your support.

Scorcher Shane

LIGHTNING DUST plus EARLY DAY MINERS (CANCELLED)
Saturday 5th December, 8:00pm
The Lectern, Lewes Rd., Brighton

Tickets £8 advance (£10 on door) available from Rounder, Resident, Punker Bunker and online soon at http://wegottickets.com

http://www.lightningdust.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lightningdust

FRUIT BATS plus PUZZLE MUTESON (CANCELLED)
Friday 11th December, 7.30pm (finish 10.30pm)
The Lectern, Lewes Rd., Brighton

Tickets £8 advance (£10 on door) available from Rounder, Resident, Punker Bunker and online now at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/61116

Eric Johnson has been the mainstay of Fruit Bats since their trippy, folky debut (when he was also involved in CALIFONE), through their last two albums on Sub Pop, during which time the band has grown steadily in number. With new album The Ruminant Band, it's as if his work has come to fruition with a full five-piece who (dare I say it) rock. See the transition MIDLAKE made from Bamnan to Van Occupanther? That's the first reference point I have for this record - Johnson claims at one point they almost considered changing the name of the band. They needn't have - it's still as blissful and warm as ever, just imagine the four-year break as a growing period. It's still the Fruit Bats, only bigger in every sense.

After spending the past couple of years playing in THE SHINS and VETIVER, Johnson used the word "choogle" to describe what his band were about to do. He's caught the spirit of Creedence and surfed the wave all the way up the West Coast to Portland. And with The Ruminant Band at #1 on the US College chart as I write, there appear to be a good number of kids up for a choogle. So, Brighton, do you? Choogle.

http://www.fruitbatsmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thefruitbats
http://www.subpop.com/artists/fruit_bats

Shhh... break it them gently...
FARMER JASON
(is no longer playing Brighton in December)

Sorry to report that Farmer Jason won't be playing here in December after all.

If you were hoping to pick up a Christmas present or two at the show, you can still order CDs - and the excellent DVD - at his website. I'd compare the DVD to the best musical bits of Sesame Street - fun, educational, and refreshingly devoid of the fit-inducing flashing lights, bells and whistles that characterise so much of the childrens' entertainment available today. Get it here...

http://www.farmerjason.com/

DRAG THE RIVER plus CHRIS WOLLARD & THE SHIP THIEVES (CANCELLED)
Thursday 17th December, 7.30pm (finish 10.30pm)
The Lectern, Lewes Rd., Brighton

Drag The River might be called a cult band - never really achieved mainstream success, but hugely influential on the alt.country end of the punk/rock spectrum. Jon Snodgrass and Chad Price have been core members since 1996 when they recorded Hobo's Demos (eventually released in 2000). After a brief break in 2007, they got back together to the delight of fans - releasing the prophetically-titled Bad At Breaking Up.
Gritty, impassioned lyrics set against ragged, glorious country/punk arrangements, Drag The River are one of those bands who . For reference points, think LUCERO, REPLACEMENTS, maybe even a little RICHMOND FONTAINE (certainly in their early days) as well as many bands they've inspired including the likes of TWO COW GARAGE... and they're not averse to a THIN LIZZY cover once in a while :-)

For an introduction, look at http://ninebullets.net/archives/getting-to-know-drag-the-river - who've taken the trouble to put together a 'DTR 101' mixtape or two. This will give you a great introduction to the band - as well some of their respective solo releases.

Y ou can also stream most of their output (band and solo) at the immense SUBURBAN HOME RECORDS site: visit http://www.suburbanhomerecords.com/releases . Cicking on the relevant album cover will open an embedded streaming player. Enjoy!
http://www.dragtheriver.com
http://www.myspace.com/dragtheriver

And as if that wasn't enough, support on this bill comes from CHRIS WOLLARD & THE SHIP THIEVES... that's CHRIS WOLLARD of HOT WATER MUSIC, y'all. Get in! While we won't claim much of an alt.country influence in their material, the Ship Thieves album is excellent. A mix of (almost) solo material from Chris and surprisingly accessible band numbers - maybe not so surprising, HWM always had a way with a chorus. It's awesome to have them on the bill. Don't be late! Christmas is coming early!
http://www.myspace.com/shipthieves