Litany: Music News Covering Skinny Puppy, Download, ohGr and Related Projects

I'm finally back in New Jersey after the Skinny Puppy tour and spending some time in Scotland. I won't even begin to attempt to summarize the experience here now in words. As I gather and assemble my bits of gray matter back into some semblance of an order I will be posting more photos of our explorations of Europe on the Litany.net Facebook. But I want to take a moment now to thank every one of you out there who said hello over the course of those many weeks. Every handshake, drink, or tour of a city that was offered made my work day (and Litany) feel worthwhile. I only regret that I was often too busy to properly greet everyone. The warmth and hospitality of the people I had the honor of meeting in Europe is something that I will never forget. I will be back sooner rather than later.

Before my Post Tour Blues officially kicks in, though, we have another tour to look forward to. The first leg of Subcon Beyond Fest 2010 is about ready to begin. To prepare, Phil Western is at Subconscious Studios with cEvin Key working on brand new Download material. A few nights ago he posted this revelatory tour of the studio:::



Watch it here on Youtube.

Here is the final listing of dates and press release for the tour, complete with links for purchasing tickets:::

SUBCON Beyond Fest 2010

East Coast / Mid West USA - September / October 2010

Featuring: Download, Plateau, Otto von Schirach, Banana Sloth,
Dead Voices on Air, Bangalore plus special guests

9/24 - Chicago - Double Door
http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/12427

9/25 - Detroit - Blondies
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Download-tickets/artist/719339

9/26 - Toronto - NEU+RAL
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/122533

9/29 - Montreal - Cafe Campus
http://www.admission.com/html/artist.htmI?l=FR&artist=DOWNLOAD+PLATEAU

10/1 - Washington DC - Club 24
http://www.deep6.com/shows.html

10/2 - Philadelphia - Polaris
http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/12285

10/3 - Brooklyn - Knitting Factory
http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/14903

From it's roots in Vancouver, BC to it's current home in Los Angeles, CA, Subconscious Communications has released a bewildering array of music from a related cast of characters, centred around cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy. The label launched Download (with Phil Western,
Mark Spybey and the late Dwayne Goettel) who released critically acclaimed albums and toured in 1996. Regular releases followed by Download, The Tear Garden and Plateau amongst others. In 2009 the label released Beyond the Vault, a 6 cd box set of recordings by associates new and old. In March of 2010, the Download trio of Key, Western and Spybey performed together on stage for the first time in 14 years in Texas. Beyond Fest is a series of shows in North America,
set for September/October 2010 and January/February 2011 bringing together Subconscious and related artists in a variety of collaborative guises. Key, Western and Spybey will be joined by Miami bass juggler Otto von Schirach and the reclusive but slightly intimidating Banana Sloth. Bangalore completes the bill with special guests in various cities, including in New York City, Daniel Myer of Haujobb performing as Architect. Alison Lane - VJ Dizy Pixl, from Denver, Co will be handling visuals for the tour.

Announcing a special deal for the first 50 ticket buyers of the Brooklyn, NY Subcon Beyond Fest show. Those early purchasers will receive a free copy of the Gnome and Spybey at Willie's Place CD, the latest work of Mark Spybey who is appearing on this tour as part of Download and Dead Voices on Air. This will be the only NYC stop on this tour and the first area Download show since 1996.

Order your tickets here now to get your free CD.

As a reminder here is my review of the album from a few months back:::

Today is Mark Spybey's birthday. To celebrate I get the honor of announcing his new collaborative release with Gnome (aka Tony D'Oporto). Gnome and Spybey's At Willie's Place will be released in July on Tourette Records in a limited edition of 400 copies. I've had the distinct privilege of hearing the album. It's a gorgeous journey from the heights of the clouds to the forest floor. It's an album of detailed synthetic warmth populated by remotely ethnic melodic figures which roam the tracks like living creatures. The album reminds of Ariel Kalma, the Residents at their most serene, Coil at their most reflective, Aphex at his most ambient, and Eno at his most melodious. It's mood music for those times when you just aren't quite sure what mood you're in, a beam of welcome morning light pouring through the window after a sleepless night of worry. At Willie's Place is the most vibrant record of electronic music I've heard in quite some time.

Hear some of it yourself at the Gnome and Spybey Myspace and find out more via the Gnome and Spybey Facebook.

I bring good news from Krakow! The NYC show on the Subcon Beyond Fest tour has been reinstated and moved to the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. New York will have its Subcon show after all, in the land where everyone looks like Beck.

Visit the venue's page or the Beyond Fest Facebook Page.

I've just returned to the relative luxury of a hotel room following a fantastic day off in Bratislava during which a few of us were brought to the majestic ruins of Davina Castle by some hospitable locals. The warmth of the people here in Europe should no longer surprise me by this point but I am still taken aback by the welcome and kindness with which I have been continually met.

While I have a few moments of uninterrupted internet access I can bring you a bit of news that should excite anyone planning on attending the final show of the tour in Lausanne, Switzerland. Ken 'Hiwatt' Marshall, Puppy's audio engineer and a major contributor to their recordings since the days of Rodent, is auctioning off his one-of-kind tour bike to be picked up by one lucky winner at the last show.

For those not in the know, the powerhouse of positive energy and enthusiasm that is Ken Marshall spends his days off on tour exploring each city by bike, leaving poor pedestrian amateur photographers such as myself in the dust. This bike has explored the city streets of sixteen different nations on this tour and to top it all off, Ogre, cEvin and Justin will be signing it. It's a one-of-a-kind piece of Puppy tour memorabilia that you can own. The only catch is that you must pick it up in person in Switzerland.

To bid or read more details, visit the Ebay auction page.

I'm writing this update from a hotel lobby in Venice after a day off visiting one of the most magical places on the planet. Updates here have been rare because internet has been difficult to come by on this tour, but I have managed to squeeze a few photos here and there onto the Litany.net Facebook. Thanks to everyone who has said hello to me on tour. It means a lot! I can't wait to see more of you at the remaining shows.

Some bad news and some good news from the upcoming Subcon Beyond Fest front. Word has come in that the NYC date has unfortunately been canceled. However, a new date has been added for October 1st at Washington DC's Club 24. Visit the Subcon Beyond Fest 2010 Event Page on Facebook for total up-to-the-minute tour details.

A new date has been added to the current SP European tour. The band will return to Stockholm for a show on August 3rd at Debaser on Karl Johans Torg 1.

And a small personal hello to all of the people I met at the Stockholm show a few days ago, including the small army of "Finnegans" with whom I wandered the streets into the night. I hope to see many of you again on the 3rd.

Hello from Holland, where Skinny Puppy's festival performance is being readied. I've snuck away for a moment to post this directly from the band:::

Skinny Puppy announces the launch of our "In Solvent See" tour merchandise area at the skinnypuppy.com website. We have decided to make the remainder of the "In Solvent See" Tour merchandise available to all!

Once we have sold out of the quantities we have in stock we will not be creating anymore "In Solvent See" related merchandise. So this is all limited to what's in stock now only... Once its gone its gone!

Due to the fact that the "In Solvent See" tour of the US was such a great success we wanted to make sure that everyone who attended the shows and couldn't get something at the time, or everyone who just wanted something from that tour, could get it now!
Later this year we will be adding some interesting and exciting things to our Merchandise area, so keep an eye on things.
Just go to skinnypuppy.com and click Merchandise!

Happy Hunting!!
The SP Crew!

It's almost time. Should you live in Europe, the singular experience that is a Skinny Puppy show will once again be yours to witness. Nothing else can quite compare to the moment when those first strains shudder out of the PA amidst the cheers of your fellow fans while the glow of the videoscape dances across your retinas. Make it to one of these shows if you can. You owe it to yourself.

Go here to check the Litany Forum board for the tour for fan gatherings and other postings about each date.

On a personal note of insanity, I'll be going along on this tour again myself in what will be my first trip to Europe. I'm flying into Paris on the 14th to cram in a little sight-seeing before the first show the following day. If anyone has any advice for a newbie, please email me. Your recommendations are most welcome.

I'll be busy, but I will be posting photos on the Litany.net Facebook Page when I can. If you see me at the shows, please say hello. I'm looking forward to finally meeting the Litany fans from the other side of the ocean.

July 15 France Paris La Maroquinerie
July 17 Belgium Waregem Blackcave Festival
July 18 UK London The Forum
July 19 UK Manchester Moho
July 20 UK Glasgow Classic Grand
July 22 Luxembourg Rockhal
July 24 Germany Kohn Amphitheater Festival
July 26 Sweden Gothenburg Sticky Fingers
July 27 Sweden Stockholm Tyrol
July 28 Sweden Karlskoga PIP Festival
July 30 Holland Steenwijk Festival
July 31 Holland Haarlem Patronaat
Aug 2 Denmark Aarhus Train
Aug 5 Norway Olso Rockefeller
Aug 6 Sweden Malmo Club Kulturbolaget
Aug 8 Germany Hildesheim Mera Luna Festival
Aug 9 Italy Cervia Rock Planet
Aug 12 Czech Republic Prague Lucerna
Aug 13 Slovakia Kosice Club Kasarne Kulturpark
Aug 14 Slovakia Bratislava Majestic Music Club
Aug 17 Poland Krakow Rotunda
Aug 18 Poland Warszawa Progresja
Aug 19 Hungary Budapest Diesel Club
Aug 22 Switzerland Lausanne Les Docks

See you in Europe.

As if the lineup for the Subcon Beyondfest Tour wasn't already mind melting enough, Subcon artist Baseck has joined the tour. His live set combines turntablism with the Gameboy madness you know from his album. I'm looking forward to hearing him perform again.

Here are the dates thus far:::

9/24 - Chicago - Double Door
9/25 - Detroit - Blondies
9/26 - Toronto - NEU+RAL
9/29 - Montreal - Cafe Campus
10/2 - Philadelphia - Polaris
10/3 - New York City - Santos Party House

One more may soon be added for this leg, while further cities on the West Coast are planned for the near future.

Check the Facebook Event Page for more info.

ohGr has a brand new single called Tragek available for download from the wdihtf.com website. The download includes the full text typed on the now-familiar Oliver.

ohGr can now deliver music directly to the fans. This is a track to be excited about, both musically and lyrically. Get it now.