Thursday, January 20, 2005
PUMP IT LIKE IT’S HOT: As expected, the
Arcade Fire shows at the Troubadour in L.A. went into weasel overdrive. The band performed three sold-out sets over the weekend, and as label reps court the band, rumors continue to swirl that the group, for the time being, anyway, isn’t interested in signing to a major. Word on the street is that the Montreal-based rockers still owe an album to indie
Merge Records, and that they have a
very favorable split with their label (think 50-50). The band’s LP,
Funeral, has sold over
60k already and is still selling roughly
7k per week. And with the great press and radio the band is getting, it would seem to say that
Merge is doing their job. So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, which is probably what the band is thinking. More than likely, we will revisit this derby a year from now just as we did with acts like
Brand New and
Interpol. Not to miss a percolating derby, publishers are also on the hunt for the band. Do pubcos stand a better chance at striking a deal? Stay tuned... Meanwhile, label reps were out for Nashville group
Be Your Own Pet at their Echo show in L.A. last week. Seems like the band’s
CMJ buzz is still in effect... A&R hitters are also checking out the
Jason Reynolds-repped
Every Move A Picture. For those following, they’re playing with big-buzz act
The Bravery at Café Du Nord in SF on Friday (1/21)... Looks like
Phish member
Trey Anastasio has another solo album in the works. Word on the street is that the
Bruce Flohr/Redlight-managed project will be looking for a label partner. That’s the skinny... The
Skip Bishop/
Bonnie Goldner-managed
Cecilia has been garnering weasel interest of late. See Buzz/gigs (below) for their upcoming show... Is the
Rock Kills Kid deal done? We hear it’s closing with an East Coast major... In the course of 48 hours, Boston-based act
Damone exits their deal with
RCA and signs with
Island Def Jam. The quartet drove to NY from Boston to showcase for
LA Reid and crew after their exit paperwork from RCA was finalized. IDJ A&R dudes
Rob Stevenson and
Jonathan Benedict get props for doing the deal...
THANKS HIS LUCKY STARS: East Coaster
Ron Burman not only missed the tsunami by a day while vacationing at a beach resort in India, but he was recently upped to Sr. VP of A&R at
Roadrunner Records. And after two multi-platinum records from
Nickelback and a new
Theory of A Deadman record coming out soon, homeboy has a a lot to look forward to. Cheers!...
BUZZIN’: The Classic Crime, Natalie, Daddy Yankee, The Everyothers, The Films and
Armor for Sleep... Hit me up:
[email protected]BUZZ GIGS:
CECILIA THE BAND
Tue., Jan. 25, 8 pm, at the Mercury Lounge, NYC
EARL GREYHOUND
Wed., Jan. 26, time TBD, at the Troubadour, L.A.
OPEN HAND
Tue., Feb. 15, time TBD, at the Key Club, L.A.