NEWS & RUMOURS
What's new in the wide wide world of Nutmeg:
Site News
Well folks, this is probably the last news item for NutmegUK. A new site is coming, bigger, better (I hope) and less parochial: Cultureclash music! Most of the content from this site will be transferred over to the new one, and there'll be plenty of reviews, an expanded band index and opportunities to contribute your own material to the site. So if I can throw together a design that isn't too crappy, it'll be going up shortly. Hope to see you there!
Simon
27th June 2001
Trulio, Skindred, Senser, Living Colour, HR, Powerball, Fishbone
Are those enough names to get your attention? First off, Trulio Disgracias (the funk supergroup comprising members of just about every funky band on the West Coast, but revolving around lynchpin Norwood from Fishbone) are planning a 10 date tour in the US. This time around they should be taking in some East Coast dates. Check the Ofishal Fishbone site for more info. Still with the 'Bone, several new tracks have been recorded and the band are pretty darn enthusiastic about them, thankyou very much. Reportedly they're moving in a heavier direction, though whether they'll get past Hollywood Records' censors and cultural arbiters is anyone's guess.
HR, frontman to Bad Brains and now it's new incarnation Soul Brains has a new album in the can, shortly to appear on Fishbone's Nuttsanctified Records. Also due on that label is an LP from Florida's Powerball, due late summer 2001. I haven't heard their music, but I understand they're a force to be reckoned with.
British rap-rockers Senser have their new website up and running. Senser.co.uk has all the latest news on the reforming of the band in its original line-up from the early nineties. Check them out, they're superb.
For all you Dub War fans jonesing for a dose of ragga-metal mayhem(TM), the good news is that three quarters of DW have returned as Skindred. They've just signed to RCA Records and started recording a full-length debut for the label. Their new website has a lot of info and some samples of what is to come.
Finally Living Colour, who reformed at Christmas for a one-off gig, are playing some dates in California. Check here for more info. No definite news on the Jack Johnson/Fishbone/Living Colour/Soul Brains tour just yet. I'll keep you posted.
14th March 2001
NUT*MEG NEWS 2001
Still no news on the postponed Fishbone UK tour (but you can nurse your disappointment by checking out Ozomatli and the Pilfers live in the mean time though!). There's also news that the 'Bone will be appearing in skate mag Truckstop and will also appear on a Truckstop special CD with all new, non-Disney-bowdlerised material. The CD will also feature music by long time friends Powerball.
Also, from our rumour department: you may be aware that hip-hop genius Mos Def has really taken the Black Rock issue to heart, forming the Black Rock supergroup Jack Johnson. Mos Def on vocals, Bernie "P-Funk" Worrell on keys, Doug Wimbush (Sugar Hill, Tack>>Head, Living Colour, Rolling Stones) on bass, Wil Calhoun (Living Colour) on drums and Dr Know of hardcore legends Bad Brains (now called Soul Brains) on guitars. Rumour has it that the plans are now for a Black Rock legends tour featuring Jack Johnson, a resurrected Living Colour, Fishbone and Soul Brains. Everyone is apparently on board for this, and once all the musicians' current tour commitments are out of the way, the planning for it will begin in earnest. Yes. I know. Cross your fingers. I'm starting saving for a trans-atlantic plane ticket right now...
20th February 2001
FISHBONE UK TOUR POSTPONED
Yes, I know. I wanted to go too. Alas on Wednesday of last week Norwood contacted the Nuttwork Neighbourhood to tell us that the UK tour has been postponed till March. No reasons were given, but he seemed to give the impression that it wasn't the band's decision. Get ready for the spring folks!
5th December 2000
GET YOUR HANDS ON ANGELO'S THANG!
What? No, I mean Angelo Moore's spoken word album The Yin Yang Thang, available now from Asianman Records. And for all the latest news from Angelo's wild poetic alter ego, go to DrMaddVibe.com
28th November 2000 Joi hooks up with Lucy Pearl Atlanta-based alternative soul diva
Joi Gilliam is now the lead vocalist of organic R&B crew Lucy Pearl,
replacing former En Vogue member Dawn Robinson. Joi has an amazing voice and
isn't afraid to defy R&B mainstream rules (her album The Amoeba Cleansing
Syndrome featured Fishbone as backing musicians, and swung from funk
to rock to Latin a capella vocalising). Reportedly Joi also has an album
in the pipeline on Universal records. She's had her fair share of rough treatment
by the narrow minded musical powers that be: I hope she gets her chance to strut
her funky stuff. 5th November 2000 Site News Sorry there hasn't been much in the way of updates recently. I'm planning a
bit of an update to the site. Hopefully there'll be some new stuff posted to the
band index quite soon...
22nd September 2000 Public Enemy
Rocks! Chuck D and Professor Griff of Public Enemy have a new project:
Confrontation Camp. Three rappers, guitar, bass, drums and turntables
coalesce into a rap-rock hybrid, though unlike most of the current crop of
rap-rock bands their message is one of liberation and emancipation. "Rage
Against the Machine meets The Roots" it says here. Chuck D's also on his soap
box about the music industry's treatment of black rock bands: "We still don't
like the way people treated groups like Living Colour, 24-7 SPYZ, Fishbone, or
any other black led band. It's almost easier to categorize a multi-ethnic group
as R&B, blues or rap, but not rock." You tell 'em. Objects In The Mirror
Are Closer Than They Appear will be released in the US on the 8th August
2000.
18th July 2000 Miscellaneous
News Corey Glover is now part of a new band called Vice. The band
have a live album out on mp3 on the EMusic website. 4th July 2000 Senser
reform!!! I was trawling the web for information about the British rap-rock band
Senser, when I found a page by the band's electronic wizard Haggis, which
informed me that the members of the classic, Stacked Up-era lineup intend
to reform and make more records!! This is fantastic news, because Stacked
Up is one of the finest albums of the 1990's. I wish them all the best and
hope to see them soon!
22nd May 2000 New Fishbone album - BUY
IT Black Rock Coalition appeals for bands The Black Rock Coalition is looking for new music by new artists and bands
to be included in several new releases for Black Rock Coalition Records. The
new compilations will be for sale via the web as well as through the BRC and
other distribution outlets. Bands and artists who believe they are truly on
the cutting edge of something new should send 3 completed recordings ready for
master (on DAT or CD) along with a picture, bio, return address and a contact
number and person to:
Black Rock Coalition Records All music sent will be listened to.
"The BRC is a Not-For-Profit organization and relies on yearly dues paid by
its members to afford the cost of operation, the monthly newsletter, and the
special panels, clinics and events we sponsor. Therefore, although it is not
required upon submission that you or your band be a member of the organization,
if you are selected you will be asked to register with the BRC for membership."
mailto:%20info@blackrockcoalition.org
For more information on previous BRC releases visit:
http://www.blackrockcoalition.org/
21st February 2000 UDS call it quits Dutch hip-hop rock pioneers Urban Dance Squad are no more. A news item
on their official site reads as
follows:
"STOP - urban dance squad - STOP - 13 years - STOP - 1600 concerts - STOP- 5
studio albums - STOP - 118 songs - STOP - bank stock 6 zeros - STOP -STOP -
STOP. PS: we wish to thank all of you fans out there for your warm support. You
really have been the biggest part of the magic we experienced."
If you're interested in the history (and indeed the future) of crossover
music, get yourself some Urban Dance Squad. They were making classy, streetwise
hip-hop rock crossover when Fred Durst was in diapers.
7th February 2000 February: Weapon of Choice &
Nuttstalk LA nutmeg funk collective Weapon of Choice will be playing at the
House of Blues, LA with Hepcat on Feb 7th. The lineup for the band will include
not only Lonnie "Mega*nutt" Marshall, but also Fish (of Fishbone fame) on
drums, Brewster (The Untouchables, Fishbone) on keys and old school
members Mark, Audra, Jellybean, T-Bone and Davie. 2nd February 2000 New Fishbone album almost
here!! Promo copies of the new Fishbone album have been arriving on people's
doormats recently. They don't include all the official release's tracks, but
here's a run down of the tracks and what people have been saying about them:
Shakey Ground - a p-funk style track (w/Donny Osmond, Bronx Style Bob,
Ivan Neville, Chad Smith, Flea, Billy Bass Nelson, John Frusciante, Jeff Skunk
Baxter, Walt Fowler, Bruce Fowler, Albert Wing, Lenny Castro, Jim Cox). The
track also appears on the soundtrack to the film "Playin' it to the Bone".
Suffering - a soulful reggae track (w/John Robinson, John McKnight,
Lenny Castro, Walt Fowler, Bruce Fowler, Albert Wing)
Where'd You Get Those Pants? - ska-pop incorporating some of "I'm a
Weed Plant" (w/John Robinson, Tony Maiden, Lenny Castro, Walt Fowler, Bruce
Fowler, Albert Wing)
Everybody is a Star - reworking of the Sly Stone track (w/Gwen
Stefani, George Clinton, Rick James, Perry Farrell, Abe Laberial Jr, Patrick
Warren, Walt Fowler, Bruce Fowler, Albert Wing, Lil Hadyn, Lenny Castro)
One Planet People - ska/worldbeat (w/ Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Bronx
Style Bob, HR, Charles Neville, Abe Laborial Jr, Lenny Castro, Walt Fowler,
Bruce Fowler, Albert Wing)
Just Allow - ska (w/Dion Murdock)
Aids & Armageddon - funk/reggae (w/John Robinson, Dion Murdock,
David Baerwald, Lenny Castro, Walt Fowler)
It All Kept Startin' - ska (w/Perry Farrell, Abe Laborial Jr, Lenny
Castro)
Dear God - dark & moody (w/Abe Laborial Jr, Lenny Castro, Billy
Bass Nelson)
Karma Tsunami - punk/ska (w/Lenny Castro)
No sign of Les Claypool or any of the other artists rumoured to be appearing.
I hope I get to hear it myself fairly soon!
18th January 2000 David Ryan Harris
returns David Ryan Harris, former frontman with black rockers Follow For
Now has officially left Columbia records due to (surprise surprise) lack of
commitment from the label. His brilliant first solo album, it seems, received
support from only a handful of people at Sony, and Harris has left to form a new
band, a trio by the name of Brand New Immortals. Consisting of DRH on
guitar, vocals and programming, Ken Cresswell on drums/percussion and Jon Colt
of the Black Crowes on bass, the band is a "basic recipe [of] equal parts
Bjork, Stevie Wonder, Hendrix, Radiohead, and the Beatles with salt to taste."
Recording now, there'll probably be an EP released by them at the end of
February.
14th January 2000 Dub War reform The members of ragga-metal lunatics Dub War have reformed as
Skindred, although this time with a new bassist. Live reports are
promising, and they may well be touring with Slipknot, One Minute Silence
or Limp Bizkit. Jeff and Ginge's side project, Tribal Clash, will
soon see the light of day via the Welsh punk label Words of Warning. 11th January 2000 New Millennium, New Head
Fake Jungle Funk, the project consisting of former Living Colour
members Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbush, is no more. They've parted company with
vocalist/percussionist Vinx, and have teamed up with former bandmate Corey
Glover to form Head Fake. Reportedly an "eclectic mix of psycho-funk",
the project's first release will be a live recording of their New Year's Eve
gig. Whether this will affect Corey's plans to release his own work, I don't yet
know. 4th January 2000 (Happy New Year!) Time to get Freaky Freak Juice, the band formerly known as Civil Rite release
their debut album Juicemaker on December 4th. Musicians Tori Ruffin, Jai
Dillon and Satnam Ramgotra have between them worked with Me'Shell Ndegeocello,
Dionne Farris, The Time, Michael Jackson, Dave Wakeling, Alanis Morisette,
Michael Landau, The Raging Honkies, Steve Vai, Boxing Gandhis, Mike Keneally and
Kevin Gilbert. If their previous incarnation as Civil Rite is anything to
go by, Freak Juice will be at the vanguard of black rock music in the
21st century.
If you're interested in picking up a copy of the album, send US$10.00 plus
US$5.00 shipping and handling, to:
Rite House Entertainment 25th November 1999 Trulio Disgracias returns to the
stage The Nutmeg funk collective Trulio Disgracias will appear on stage for
the first time in two years when they play a gig on 30th November at the Roxy in
W. Hollywood, California. Although the lineup constantly shifts around nutmeg
lynchpin Norwood Fisher, it is expected to include all members of
Fishbone and Weapon of Choice; drummer D.H. of the Dead
Kennedys; current and former members of Parliament and P-Funk
Allstars; Prince from Black Eyed Peas and the legendary HR from
Soul Brains (formerly Bad Brains). It will also include the
Skeletones' horn section, singers Vicky Calhoun, Durga McBroom and Terrez
Lee, and percussionist Ravi. Looks like it might be a show that rivals the
golden days of P-Funk for sheer weight of on-stage numbers!
16th November 1999 Fishbone update The new Fishbone album will now no longer be called Fishbone &
Friends. The boys have opted for the slightly less snappy title of
Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience presents the Psychotic Friends
Nuttwerx. Release date has been put back to March 21st 2000. U-Nutted We
Stand, the compilation, is on hold, while the Trulio Disgracias and
Dirty Walt albums are still looking for a viable distributor.
2nd November 1999 Nutmeg needs you! There are a number of bands that I'm interested in tracking down. Their
websites remain untended (or offline) and no information seems to be
forthcoming. If you have any info on them, please get in touch with me. The artists
are:
Audioweb 12th September 1999 Corey leaves Laface? Corey Glover appears to have parted company with Laface records just
as the new album was about to be released. The news is just rumours at the
moment, but it looks as though the usual lack of label committment seems to be
the cause. Hopefully Corey will be able to take the album elsewhere. There is
also a likelihood that the album will be released online a la Public Enemy
before it's released on conventional music formats.
12th September 1999
1999 brings a plethora of Fishbone related
goodies Fishbone's long-awaited new album is due out in late 1999. Reportedly
entitled Fishbone and Friends it will include a large number of guest
appearances (Gwen Stefani has been confirmed, as has Les
Claypool), and will be released on Hollywood Records. Also due for
release in late 1999 is a two-volume compilation album called U-Nutted We
Stand, via the band's own Nuttsactor 5 Records. Bassist extraordinaire
Norwood's funk supergroup Trulio Disgracias will release their debut
album Nuttin's Gonna Get You if You Don't Look Out on Transmission Records, while
Dirty Walt and the Columbus Sanitations are set to release their debut
To Put it Bluntly on Nuttsactor 5 Records sometime in '99. Vocalist, saxophonist and renaissance man Angelo Moore will also publish his
second volume of poetry later this year. 25th June 1999 L.A.'s finest recording
together? Los Angeles-based salsa-hip-hop stars Ozomatli have reportedly been
working with Trulio Disgracias. Whether these sessions will appear on any
forthcoming release by either band is as yet unknown. May 1999 Disclaimer: Although much of the information presented here comes straight
from the artists' mouths, don't take it as cast iron truth. It's the nature of
the music business that new projects can fold at the drop of a hat due to lack
of funding or schedule difficulties. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I don't want
to see you disappointed! If you have any news you think might be of interest to the Nutmeg world at
large, give me a shout.
Rumour (and it is just rumour right now)
has it that the hold-up with the new P-Funk albums is due to the fact
that representatives for the Disney-owned Mammoth label were unhappy that the new releases featured a
very organic, seventies feel rather than a synthetic, modern R&B feel, and
brought in a producer without George Clinton's knowledge to make changes. Which
versions will ever see release is currently unknown. Never trust the Mouse, they
say. Maybe they're right.
P.O. Box 1054 Cooper Station
New York, NY 10276
If you've already got music on the web please email your information to:
The nutmeg touring
festival, Nuttstalk, is on its way this month too. Bands will
include Fishbone, Trulio Disgracias, Vicky Calhoun, Blowfly, members of
Weapon of Choice and possibly also Weapon of Choice themselves,
among others. Sounds great. Any chance of a Nuttstalk Europe? ;-)
Suite 206
6440 Bellingham Ave.
North
Hollywood, CA.
91606
Dust Junkys