New Album alert: Neil Halstead

I'm a bit slow hearing about this one, but I'm so excited I can barely stand it. He's also touring the States for the first time in forever this summer (supporting Jack Johnson) but unfortunately they appear to be all stadium shows. And the closest one to NYC is in Jersey. Ah well. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that he'll come through the City later in the year once his new album is out.

Man. What with Neil's new album coming out and Bob's show in Prospect Park, this August is shaping up to be pretty awesometown.

Then Again, the Same Old Story: Updates

So, this is where I've been hiding out the past five days. I know that it doesn't quite explain my extended absence from Morland but...well...so it goes.

In my absence, I also made it up to I-Town for Record Store Day a couple (three?) weeks ago. Because there's really only one independent record store that I hold near and dear to my heart. (Even though they update their website even less frequently than I do...ahem.)

Overall, I have enjoyed my recent ventures from the City. I find New York to be a bit overwhelming at times and it's been good to see trees and mountains and space. I'm already planning my next escape and I'm thinking it might have to be Texas.

I have only seen one show in the past month, which is partly why I've been so quiet, and it was a repeater to boot. I didn't have much to add about Josh Ritter's performance from what I already said last fall so devoting a whole post to the show seemed uncalled for at the time. Suffice it to say, he's still one of my favorites and still puts on one hell of a show. I mean, any man that can get a room full of Williamsburg hipsters to partner up with strangers and waltz around the room mid-set is alright by me. (The picture of the set list for this show was posted by urockrock on Flickr; see more pics here.)

In other news: I quit my job and will soon be joining the ranks of under-paid creative types that hang around the City. I'm hoping the change of pace will allow me more time to check out music around town and that, in turn, will translate into more updates on Morland. Famous last words.

And, finally, clear your schedule the evening of June 7th: in true wannabe-rockstar-fashion I have organized a great line-up of bands to play at a venue in Chinatown to celebrate my 30th. Details forthcoming.

I Almost Don't Belive It

Well, it looks as if it's really happening this time: I just found out that Portishead is emerging from the depths with their (repeatedly) promised third album. While I won't say it about every band with the power to instantaneously take me back to my dorm-room years, I will say I'm excited to see what Portishead has up their sleeve. Afterall, I still listen to Dummy every now and again. But, 11 years is a long time: just look at poor Axl.