Sister Acts

The numbers are in, and as expected, the Haim sisters (Este, Danielle, and Alana) received the #1 spot in the U.K., and an impressive #6 on the Billboard album charts in the U.S., for their debut album Days Are Gone (released September 30th via Polydor/Columbia).

What's interesting to note is that this band is from California, so why are they so popular in the U.K.? That's because the girls first signed to Polydor Records last year and they've been regionally marketing them to the BBC and NME, and it didn't hurt them when they opened up for Florence + the Machine tour last December.

Needless to say, HAIM will be doing a short American tour in support of their debut album:

Cardiff-based Joanna Gruesome will be in New York for CMJ (see our CMJ Preview). The full CMJ schedule for Joanna Gruesome is listed below.

The noisepop five-piece will likely play songs from their debut album Weird Sister, released last month on Fortuna POP! (Europe) and Slumberland Records (USA).

Hear "Supercrush" now:

Joanna Gruesome's CMJ Schedule (in New York City and Brooklyn):

The Deal sisters (Kim & Kelly) and their band, the Breeders, is taking their last, last, really last splash with the 20th Anniversary Tour. Be on the lookout for the deluxe limited 7xLP vinyl box set, as well as the 3xCD set, for the anniversary edition of Last Splash via 4AD Records.

It sounds like the vinyl box is out of my budget, but this is the only place that you'll find these re-issues of the four 10" EPs (Safari, Cannonball, Divine Hammer, and Head to Toe), the original album (not re-mastered), a live album Stockholm Syndrome album on 12", a 1993 BBC radio session, and original demos from November 1992. Also, you'll get a 24-page book of photos from the Last Splash session and personal tour photos and anecdotes written by the Breeders, Kim Gordon, J Mascis, etc.

LSXX tour:

An all-new episode of "Glee" will be airing tomorrow, October 10th.
What is cool about this week is that Columbia Records, Fox, and the artist will give 100% of their net proceeds from sales of this episode, "The Quarterback", from the U.S. and Canada to Project Limelight.

Project Limelight Society was co-founded by sisters Donalda Weaver and Maureen Webb, to help youths between the age 8 to 15 in the Strathcona (Vancouver) district. The aspiring students will learn skills, techniques and forms of expression, including clowning, creative writing, voice work, movement and improvisation. Eventually, they will take what they learn for performance on a community stage.
You can visit projectlimelightsociety.org for more information.

"The Quarterback" Track-List:

The seventh annual Canadian Blast CMJ Showcase is taking place October 16th at Arlene's Grocery. As I have previously discovered, this is actually not a grocery store, but an actual concert venue.

You can find other Canadian Blast (an initiative of the Canadian Independent Music Association or CIMA) showcases at similar festivals, including SXSW, MIDEM (France), The Great Escape (which we covered), and, of course, CMJ. The showcase will feature Canadian bands, including Courage My Love, a pop/punk rock trio consisting of twin sisters Mercedes (vocals/guitar) & Phoenix (drums/vocals).

Here is a detailed listing of set time: