Is there a better way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of 9/11 than seeing a true “American band” play an empty lot behind a Harley-Davidson dealership? If you don’t already have a ceremony of your own planned, hop on your chopper and head north to Woodstock, patriot! Get there by 6 PM and for a mere 30 bones you’ll get to see Homer Simpson’s favorite group, Grand Funk Railroad! Two of the three original members will be present—lead singer, guitarist, and contemporary Christian musician Mark Farner is AWOL—and they’ll probably use instruments to play songs, or something. Dudes with leather vests and greasy ponytails are already totally beyond stoked, and you know you want to join them. U-S-A! U-S-A!
Ga’an bassist and keyboardist Tyson Torstensen is a busy bro these days, mostly with his other band, Magical Beautiful. They dropped a new album, Here Come the Wild Waves, in June, and went on a mini tour; now they’re working on a full-length follow-up and planning an extensive winter road trip. But that’s not all, folks. Torstensen is also broadcasting on the Internet. No, he’s not oversharing on Facebook—he’s got a podcast! He’s been producing I Hear a New Radio since April; newer episodes feature selections from and discussions of recent releases from both his bands, but he also rolls out cuts by influences and faves. You can subscribe through iTunes.
Engineer and Icy Demons bandleader Griffin Rodriguez has called LA home since he closed South Loop studio and arts collective Shape Shoppe last summer. But he returned to town last weekend to hole up at Electrical Audio and record a forthcoming album for local drummer Mike Reed and his Sun Ra-worshipping ensemble, the Myth/Science Assembly, who wowed the Jazz Fest crowd on Sunday with a massive expenditure of intergalactic-jazz energy. Gossip Wolf hopes they still had enough fuel left in their tanks for the session—and for that trip back home to Saturn! —Jessica Hopper and J.R. Nelson
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