Futures

While I thought Zero 7's penultimate set on the Future Shop stage at the Virgin Festival last week was a minor disappointment[due to technical difficulties, the long wait for their set, etc...] that might have also possibly been due to the fact that I haven't gotten around to really listening to their new album "The Garden"(though I've had a promo copy for a while now) and I'd also found their prior album "When It Falls" a bit of a disappointment. Highlights of their Virgin Festival set were definitely Sia's acoustic performance of 'Somersault' and the couple of songs that Jose Gonzalez sung on. Zero 7's sound combines conventional songwriting structures with downtempo, sometimes electronic instrumentation, but I'd be quite happy if they concentrate on a more acoustic, song-oriented direction, possibly a whole album's worth. Zero 7's Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns, plus vocalists Sia Furler and Jose Gonzalez, and guitarist Dedi Madden were in Minnesota Public Radio's studios on September 8, 2006 for a live acoustic session, where they performed 'Dreaming,' 'Today,' and 'Pageant of the Bizarre.' Lovely.

And no, the following aren't acoustic, but here's some more Zero 7 audio for your enjoyment:

MP3: Zero 7 - You're My Flame (Dabrye Remix)
MP3: Zero 7 - Futures (Rub n Tug Remix)

And here's some links I've been sitting on for a bit:

The Dears will be next in The Edge's Next Big Thing Concert Series and the 19+ show will take place Wednesday September 27 at The Mod Club. Win tickets to the show by entering here[you need to be signed up as an Inside Edge member]. Deadline is 11:59 September 24, 2006. [via Broken Telephone]

If the disppointment of the upcoming Beirut and Joanna Newsom shows(at the Horseshoe Tavern and The Mod Club respectively) landing on the same night(October 4) was too much to bear, I saw recently on Stille Post that Beirut(with openers being Toronto's Born Ruffians) will be performing the evening of October 3rd in Hamilton, ON at Pepper Jack Cafe. It's an early show that gets going 7:30 pm sharp.

Also via Stille Post, also visiting Hamilton will be hip hop's legendary KRS-ONE who'll be at Pepper Jack Cafe on October 2. I haven't come across any word of a Toronto date which is strange.

Stream the new Robert Pollard album "Normal Happiness".

Relive the disappointment of The Flaming Lips shortened set at the Virgin Festival in Toronto at Toronto Islands on September 9, 2006 and download the torrent[registration required] of the show. [via Largehearted Boy]

Filter has details on the upcoming deluxe 2-disc reissue of Pavement's 1995 album "Wowee Zowee".