MOG

Already 2008 is looking good because a couple of my absolute favorite artists have come up with new material. Here’s my review of the Dirtbombs latest, up today at Dusted. The Dirtbombs We Have You Surrounded (In the Red) A couple of years ago, when I talked to Mick Collins, he said that the Dirtbombs were probably more than halfway through their arc as a band and that after one more album, their bubblegum record, they would most likely call it quits. Collins observed that he would ordinarily have had three or four bands during the lifespan of the Dirtbombs. No one was more surprised than he that it had lasted so long. No kidding. The band has, at this point, been through 17 line-ups, always with the same basic structure, two basses -- one regular, one fuzz -- a guitar (Collins himself), two drummers and whoever happens to drift into the studio for backing vocals and hand-claps. (Collins' "innocent bystander" rule requires that anyone physically present at a Dirtbombs session contribute something to the record.) The distinctive double-shot rhythm section has been consistent through the Dirtbombs various incarnations -- as a soul band, as a pop band, as a cover band turning its voracious attention to everyone from Yoko Ono to Elliott Smith and even, recently, as the house band at a Cannes film festival party. While not exactly predictable, the Dirtbombs always sound like the Dirtbombs - thunderous, fuzzy, loose, funny, smarter than average and maybe a little dangerous. So it's good news that perhaps we can put off the death of the Dirtbombs for a little while longer. Now with We Have You Surrounded, we have in hand the fourth proper Dirtbombs album (not counting the massive 2-disc singles compilation, If You Don't Already Have a Look). It is definitely not a bubblegum record. More here: http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4097 You should go see the Dirtbombs if you ever get a chance, especially if you ever get to see them play with Kelley Stoltz opening (which you will, in selected US and Canadian cities this spring). Dates, you say? Indeed: 02.16.08 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick 02.21.08 - Chicago, IL - Double Door 02.22.08 - Iowa City, IA - Picador 02.23.08 - Beloit, WI - Pearson Hall (Beloit College) 02.29.08 - Melbourne, VIC, AU - The Tote 03.01.08 - Perth, WA, AU - Amplifier 03.02.08 - Adelaide, SA, AU - Rocket Bar 03.04.08 - Geelong, VIC, AU - Barwon Club 03.05.08 - Brisbane, QLD, AU - Phoenix 03.06.08 - Hobart, TAS, AU - The Brisbane 03.07.08 - Melbourne, VIC, AU - East Brunswick Club 03.08.08 - Sydney, NSW, AU - Oxford 03.09.08 - Melbourne, VIC, AU - Golden Plains Festival 03.21.08 - Bloomington, IN - Jake’s Nightclub* 03.22.08 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge* 03.24.08 - Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe* 03.25.08 - Little Rock, AR - Revolution Music Room* 03.26.08 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues (Cambridge Room)* 03.27.08 - Austin, TX - Emo’s Alternative Lounging* 03.28.08 - Houston, TX - Rudyard’s British Pub* 03.29.08 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks* 03.31.08 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel* 04.01.08 - Birmingham, AL - Bottle Tree* 04.02.08 - Atlanta, GA - The EARL* 04.03.08 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506* 04.04.08 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar* 04.05.08 - Washington, DC - The Rock and Roll Hotel* 04.06.08 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell’s* 04.08.08 - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine* 04.10.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s* 04.11.08 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom* 04.12.08 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East* 04.13.08 - Montreal, QUE - Cabaret Music Hall* 04.15.08 - Ottawa, ONT - Babylon* 04.16.08 - Toronto, ONT - Legendary Horseshoe Tavern* 04.18.08 - Toledo, OH - Frankie’s* 04.19.08 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig*

• Kelley Stoltz