>>> The Bossstepped another year closer to senility this week (happy 65th, Bruce!), but that hasn't stopped him from kicking ass in his live shows. Now there's a way for parents to slip a little Springsteen into the dreams of their infant children. Rockabye Baby LPs have tackled Maroon 5, Journey, Radiohead, and even Bowie. Their latest efforts are a tribute to Jersey's golden boy. The 13-track effort includes takes on "Dancing In The Dark" and "Hungry Heart" among others, but you can hear "Born In The U.S.A." below (take that Baby Einstein!). You can dance to more grown up versions of Bruce tunes this Saturday when WMNF throws a birthday bash at Skipper's Smokehouse. More than 20 bands are set to play and there will be a full performance of the 1983 folk classic Nebraska, with one singer-songwriter performing a song each, in order. Doors for the WMNF show open at 4 p.m. and tickets are $13-$16. More information is available here. Order baby Bruce jams here.
>>>More WMNF news as the station approaches its Fall fundraising marathon (read Curtis Ross'recent story on the struggles of WMNF, and a few spirited responses in the comments section). Longtime weekend program Saturday Asylumiscalling it quits (kind of) on their one-off, original marathon tee-shirt designs.
"They aren't the last shirts ever, just the last batch of the fund drive specific ones," Asylum host Scott Imrich told CL in a text message. "I'll be moving to a consistent design starting next year."
Well, he's going out with a bang. Saturday Asylum has onceagaincommissioned local artist Chris Preston to do the design, and he went full metal on it (see Preston's work on a recent Braid/Pohgoh split 7"here). "[Scott] said he wanted to 'go metal' since we haven't done that theme yet," Preston told CL, "I looked around and finally found an old Ozzy design that I would work as a lift — this is probably my favorite we've done so far."
A limited amount of the shirts are available for just $50 before Imrich takes to the airwaves, where the threads will be hawked at $75. And before you scoff at the price, just remember that your donation is helping keep a decades-old community radio station alive. More info is here and you can make your advance pledge to Saturday Asylum here.
>>>So, The Black Keys are going to give Tampa an early Christmas present when they bring brand new album Turn Blue to the Amalie Arena on December 16 (with St. Vincent opening!). The LP debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 after its summer release, and Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney took to Fallon on Monday night to play "Gotta Get Away" for television land. The boys also performed a cover of Edwyn Collins' 1995 jam "A Girl Like You" and released it as a web-only exclusive. You can watch both clips below. Doors for the December 16 show in downtown Tampa are at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $35-$75 and can be had here. The Amalie Arena is located at 401 Channelside Drive.
>>>In case you don't know. The Melvins and Butthole Surfers kind of combined forces over the summer when Sufer guitarist Paul Leary joined the lineup before recording Hold It In, the 23rd album from The Melvins. Yesterday, we all got another taste of the action with the release of "Sesame Street Meat" a three-and a half minute sludge fest that is actually the first song the band and Leary, 57, recorded together.
"One of my faves!," Melvins drummer Dale Crover said in a press release, "I can't wait to play it live!"
Have a listen to the track (via The Quietus) below and hear another previously released track —"Brass Cupcake"—here. The Melvins, complete with Leary, will be at the Orpheum (1915 E. 7th Ave, Ybor City) on November 6. Doors are at 7 p.m., and tickets are $17-$20. More information is available here.