Here’s a worthwhile read while you’re avoiding work this morning. It’s a thread started by Steve Albini on a gambling site’s message board - he’s known for being a pretty hardcore poker player - covering all aspects of his music ‘career’, including working with Nirvana, Pixies, The Jesus Lizard, and so on.

I have traveled in the music scene as a musician and recording engineer for better than 25 years. I have worked on a couple thousand records, some of them with famous rockstars, though most of them you’re probably never heard of. I know a lot about making records, recording technology, touring, being in a rock band and the like. I own Electrical Audio, a 2-studio recording complex in Chicago, Illinois, where I make records every day.

It’s classic Albini - there’s some extremely insightful posts buried in there covering everything from what it’s like engineering records for various bands to commentary on downloading and how the distribution of music is changing, and of course the usual caustic responses to stupid questions such as ‘vinyl or digital’:

Neither. I go straight for the vagina. You find them on women.

There’s even a few posts on poker playing.

Speaking of The Jesus Lizard, I’m half-deaf (and tired as fuck) this morning after seeing David Yow’s new band ‘Qui’ last night. I shot a few photos, I’ll upload tonight if I manage to stay awake long enough.

* Update - here’s a couple of my favourite pics from that show:

I’ll keep this short - ATP was fucking ace. Butlin’s was a real surprise (in a good way) and the lineup was unreal. I’m up for going to the next one but I’ll be amazed if the bands playing are half as decent…

Highlights were definitely seeing Shellac play twice (three days if you count me seeing them on Thursday in London), Trans Am’s set which was extraodinary thanks to Phil Manley’s skills in the absence of any working keyboards, and the drinking binge that kicked Friday night off and then destroyed most of Saturday for some.

We also experienced by far and away the worst kebabs ever, got poisoned by Burger King (what do you expect at 2am in the morning), and Boothy made friends with some ducks. Speaking of the Booth, he also managed to fulfill his lifelong ambition of making out with a rock star.

Can’t wait for the next one.

The new Santa Rosa equipped Apple laptops can’t come quick enough for me really (click for big):

I’m hoping that it’s a one-off, but as that’s the first time I’ve seen that happen in the 18 months I’ve owned the laptop it’s probably a sign of impending doom. Time to take advantage of my Applecare warranty….

Pelican (and These Arms Are Snakes) last night were pretty good, although I missed the first half of TAAS’ set - thanks to walking miles in the wrong direction - but as I’ve seen them before I wasn’t too bothered. Pelican sounded awesome live, they played a good set which I enjoyed whilst throwing pints of Grolsch down my neck.

What wasn’t much fun was finding out that Bank was in fact shut just as we cruised through it on the tube. In my inebriated state I missed the next stop and so had to trek halfway across London via two other stations whilst busting for a piss. Fletch will probably say that’s my own fault though for living out in t’sticks…

10:08 <fletch> Acton!!!
10:08 <fletch> get that!
10:09 <fletch> Zone 78
10:09 <fletch> takes a week to get there by mule

Just in case you’re not on the mailing list, with some stuff trimmed:

Antelope Album and Tour
Antelope’s long waited full-length, “Reflector”, is now available from our website and will be available in stores on March 26. Antelope have also embarked on a massive tour, 40 shows on 42 days, in the USA. Check the tour page for dates and details.

Medications
Medications just wrapped up dates in The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany and Spain. They are currently writing new material and are looking to record a new album this spring and will be playing shows in Brazil in April.

The Evens in Brazil, Argentina & Chile
The Evens just wrapped up tour dates in Australia and New Zealand and are now headed to Brazil, with shows in Argentina and Chile as well. Tour dates and details are posted on our tour page.

Ian MacKaye on Soft Focus w/ Ian Svenonius
Ian MacKaye is featured on “Soft Focus with Ian Svenonius”, an interview show appearing on the new Vice Magazine webTV station, VBS. Over the years Ian has done hundreds of interviews and has more recently been booking speaking engagements, usually in the form of informal Q&As, but here — thanks to Ian Spiv’s hilarious personality and the long friendship the two of them enjoy, is a unique and sometimes hilarious conversation of politics, policies and nonsense.

Joe Lally European Tour Updates
Joe Lally has updated his March tour itinerary for Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and France. His destination following Europe will be Japan in June.

Lungfish interview/documentary and Daniel Higgs Tourdates
Publicradio.net has produced a fascinating radio documentary on Lungfish which includes music and a very rare interview with Daniel Higgs. Lungfish is not currently active though Daniel has been busy with solo projects including a recent album on Holy Mountain Records.

Daniel Higgs is currently playing solo tour dates in the UK which can be found on our tour page.

Dismemberment Plan Shows to Benefit Cal Robbins
The Washington Citypaper is sponsoring two shows featuring a re-nited Dismemberment Plan on Friday and Saturday April 27-28 at the Black Cat in Washington, DC to benefit Cal Robbins (there is no indication at this time that The Dismemberment Plan will play any dates beyond these two shows). Cal is the young son of J. Robbins and Janet Morgan of Channels. He was born with a genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This is a serious disease that has no cure. For more information on Cal’s condition or to donate to his treatment fund you can go to: www.desotorecords.com/cal or www.jrobbins.net

Lovitt Records is releasing a full length from Glos entitled “Harmonium” at the end of March. Glos features Keeley Davis (former frontman of Engine Down and bass/synth player for Denali) and Cornbread Compton (former drummer of Engine Down, Biology, and currently Heavens) and Maura Davis (former frontwoman of Denali). For more info go to www.lovittrecords.com.

Lovitt recently released The Ben Davis & the Jetts / Des Ark split LP/ CD entitled “Battle Of The Beards”. Ben Davis & the Jetts and Des Ark might be wildly different but it is rare to find a collaboration that works this well; the album features 5 tracks from each band as well as two collaborations.

Des Ark plans on recording a new full-length for Lovitt Records in April with Jonathan Fuller in Richmond, Virginia.

Haram has been writing new material and is planning on recording a new full length in the near future. Jeff Kane recently left the band and was replaced by long-time friend Kevin Longendyke (City of Caterpillar). The band is also a five-piece now, with the addition of Ben Tankersley. Haram will be playing out live with the new line-up in April.

Fin Fang Foom and Ben Davis & the Jetts will be touring Europe together in June, look for tourdates at www.lovittrecords.com.

Bats & Mice who are back to their original line up of Ben Davis, David NeSmith and Jonathan Fuller, have begun recording their next full-length for Lovitt Records.

New Stuff from Magic Bullet
Magic Bullet has released a DVD about Skateboarding in Fredricksburg, VA called “City By The Battlefield”, and has released a new split CD featuring Massacre of the Umbilical Cord and Control, and has released the vinyl version of the This Will Destroy You release.