I was reading this interesting Wilco piece a few days ago, which talks about how Jeff Tweedy has parlayed cult success into what appears to be a viable business model. It made me think of the strategies used by Mark Kozelek these past few years: how he keeps a steady stream of music, predominantly live albums, coming through his Caldo Verde label to satisfy his obsessive fans (and I suspect Kozelek fans tend to be by nature obsessive; I know I am).
When unpleasant right-wing governments seize control by one means or another, a lot of wishful thinking often goes on among radical artists. Hard times, they speculate, will encourage a new counterculture; angry political art will flourish in the face of oppression. We heard a lot of this rhetoric from dissenters trying to put a positive gloss on the election of David Cameron in 2010. But as yet, a provocative cultural revolt against the Tories, if there is one, remains too underground to register on most radar.
From Uncut's September 2002 issue: In one of the most revealing interviews of his career, Bruce Springsteen talks exclusively to Adam Sweeting about his new album, The Rising, much of which was written in the aftermath of September 11, and which reunites him with the E Street Band for their first studio album since Born In The USA.
Age cannot wither him, nor custom stale his finite variety, though he does seem fractionally more concerned about his trousers falling down these days. The ungodly miracle of Iggy Pop, 66 years old, remains one of the most bizarre and compelling spectacles in rock’n’roll; more bizarre and compelling, perhaps, with every year that goes by.
Nile Rodgers reveals the huge influence The Beatles had on him in the new issue of Uncut (dated July 2013 and out now).
The Chic guitarist and songwriter, who recently teamed up with Daft Punk on their new Random Access Memories album, was particularly struck by the closing track of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, "A Day In The Life".
"This was the first song I learned to play on guitar," explains Rodgers. "My transformation happened years earlier when I first heard 'The End' by The Doors, but it wasn't as important as actually learning 'A Day In The Life'."
The Replacements have announced three shows - their first dates in 22 years.
The band have confirmed headlining slots at three Riot Fests in Toronto (August 24 - 25), Chicago (September 13 - 15), and Denver (September 21 - 22).
Last year, Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson reunited to record a four-song EP, Songs For Slim, to raise money for former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap, who had suffered a stroke.
Another week, another new issue to plug: after last week’s launch of our Nick Cave Ultimate Music Guide, I should flag up that this month’s Uncut goes on sale in the UK tomorrow, featuring Boards Of Canada, The Source Family, Mississippi Records, These New Puritans, Mark Kozelek, Thee Oh Sees and the “Origins Of American Primitive Guitar” alongside the marquee names.
