I love me some Cursive. Big Time. My first experience with them live was just last summer’s free outdoor performance for Belmont Art Music streetfest, and I was sold instantly. Caught them again recently at SXSW at the Radio Room. GOOD STUFF. Their latest effort, Mama, I’m Swollen has been a permanent fixture on my iPod since its release a few weeks back. Their latest vid for the ridiculously catchy single, “From the Hips” is below. Dig it. Not enough good news in one post for you Cursive fans? Well how about this–they’re playing Milwaukee on May 7th and then in Chicago on the 9th. See further dates below.

Cursive April Tour Dates:

APR. 24 ST. LOUIS, MO THE FIREBIRD
APR. 25 MEMPHIS, TN HI TONE
APR. 26 NASHVILLE, TN MERCY LOUNGE*
APR. 27 BIRMINGHAM, AL BOTTLETREE*
APR. 28 PENSACOLA, FL SLUGGOS*
APR. 29 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL*
APR. 30 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL*
MAY 1 ATLANTA, GA VARIETY PLAYHOUSE*
MAY 2 CARRBORO, NC CAT’S CRADLE*
MAY 3 WASHINGTON, DC BLACK CAT*
MAY 4 STATE COLLEGE, PA THE STATE THEATRE*
MAY 5 PITTSBURGH, PA DIESEL*
MAY 6 DETROIT, MI MAGIC STICK*
MAY 7 MILWAUKEE, WI TURNER HALL
MAY 8 MINNEAPOLIS, MN FIRST AVENUE
MAY 9 CHICAGO, IL BOTTOM LOUNGE

*with MAN MAN

Buy: Cursive – Mama, I’m Swollen
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Myspace: Cursive
MP3: Cursive – “From The Hips”

By Daniel Brielmaier

Dr. Lonnie Smith played 2 sold out shows Monday night at the Jazz Estate on Milwaukee’s East Side. Smith is a master of the Hammond B3 organ, and plays it to a mind-blowing effect. His shows are a dynamic event. At one moment he has his Hammond B3 whispering some secret to the rapt crowd, and the next he’s paved over that with a wall of sonic delight. He had me amazed throughout the night with his skills for bringing it back to earth. At one point ending a song with “I better stop here”.

Smith’s drummer was amazing. Smith introduced him as his ‘grandson’, but also introduced his guitarist the same way. Monday’s shows at the Jazz Estate had the distinction of being the most expensive show they have ever put on, and deservedly so.

If you’ve checked out Old Joy staring Will Oldham you know just how infectious the instrumental pull of Yo La Tengo’s “Leaving Home” is on film. The song, on many occasions, has cemented itself in my brain in one continuous loop. It’s my go-to zone out song when trying to write, read, focus – just about anything that needs a little musical nudge to complete the task at hand.

This track is one of many instrumental snippets that are culled from They Shoot, We Score, which collect Yo La Tengo’s contributions to motion pictures Game 6, Junebug, Old Joy, and Shortbus. I’d stop short of calling this collection essential, but would definitely recommend it to any fan of the band or the aforementioned films that their songs so perfectly fall into place in.

Buy: Yo La Tengo – “The Shoot, We Score” ($10, including shipping)
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Myspace: Yo La Tengo
MP3: Yo La Tengo – “Leaving Home” (Alternative Version)

Here are the Wisconsin and Chicago shows we recommend you take in this week. Check them out below and let us know which ones you’ll be attending or ones you think should really make our list. Also, don’t miss the very solid week of new releases, including our recommended purchases below.

Upcoming Wisconsin Shows:

3/31 – Cloud Cult/Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s – Turner Hall Ballroom
3/31 – The Tallest Man On Earth – High Noon Saloon, Madison
4/1 – Tallest Man On Earth – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
4/1 – Ladytron + The Faint – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
4/2 – The Gaslight Anthem/Heartless Bastards – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
4/3 – Los Campesinos! – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
4/3 – Scott H. Biram – Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Milwaukee
4/3 – Morrissey – Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee
4/3 – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin + Drew Danburry – Der Rathskeller
4/4 – Hieruspecs – Der Rathskeller
4/4 – WAVVES + Nuclear Woods + Vampire Hands – The Project Lodge
4/4 – Collections of Colonies of Bees – Mad Planet, Milwaukee
4/5 – The Rosebuds/Megafaun – Club Garibaldi, Milwaukee

Upcoming Chicago Shows:

3/30 – The Von Bondies – Schuba’s
3/31 – Bishop Allen – Subterranean
4/3 – Ladytron/The Faint/Telepathe – Metro
4/3 – Heiruspecs – Abbey Pub
4/3 – Friendly Fires/White Lies – Double Door
4/3 – Heartless Bastards – Bottom Lounge
4/3 – Wavves – Empty Bottle
4/3 – Say Hi/Telekinesis – Beat Kitchen
4/4 – Ladytron/The Faint/Telepathe – Metro
4/4 – Morrissey – Aragon Ballroom
4/4 – The Rosebuds/Megafaun – Beat Kitchen
4/4 – Steve Earle – Old Town School of Folk Music
4/4 – The Presets/The Golden Filter – Metro
4/5 – Steve Earle – Old Town School of Folk Music
4/5 – Pelican – Empty Bottle

Just Announced:

5/2 – Russian Circles – Cactus Club, Milwaukee
5/16 – William Elliott Whitmore – Stonefly, Milwaukee
5/29 – Meat Puppets/Dark Meat – The Annex, Madison
6/4 – Jenny Lewis/The Sadies – Barrymore, Madison
7/3 – The Roots – Summerfest, Milwaukee

New Releases:

Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels, Leonard Cohen – Live In London, Peter Bjorn & John – Living Thing, John Parish + PJ Harvey – A Woman A Man Walked By

+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

William Elliott Whitmore comes to Milwaukee in support of one of the year’s best records, Animals In The Dark. William will play the Stonefly Brewery in Riverwest on Saturday, May 16th.

Buy: William Elliott Whitmore – Animals In The Dark
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Myspace: William Elliott Whitmore
MP3: William Elliott Whitmore – “Old Devils”

+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

I’ve teamed up with my pal Ryan Schleicher at 91.7 WMSE for a weekly podcast. While you’ll most certainly be able to hear the same set via your FM dial, we certainly recognize the need/want for portability as well. Therefore, you’re able to download our first podcast below. In following weeks we’ll be bringing you our favorite tunes, both old and new, in hopes of tipping you to something that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Please hang with us as we dust off the cobwebs (and nerves) and feel free to drop a comment with your suggested songs, podcast name, etc. Thanks for listening.

Muzzle of Bees + 91.7 WMSE Podcast: Volume 1: The Avett Brothers – “If It’s The Beaches” / Great Lake Swimmers – “Pulling On A Line” / Megafaun – “Lazy Suicide” / Tallest Man On Earth – “I Won’t Be Found” / Strand of Oaks – “End In Flames” / Bon Iver – “Beach Baby” / Joe Pug – “Nation of Heat” / Jentri Colello – “Cannonballs” / J. Tillman – “First Born” / Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – “I Am Goodbye” / Henry Clay People – “Something In The Water” / Clock Hand Strangle – “Distaccati” / The Rosebuds – “Life Like” / The Phenomenal Handclap Band – “15 to 20″ / The Gaslight Anthem – “Miles Davis & The Cool”

Download: Muzzle of Bees + 91.7 WMSE Podcast: Volume 1