Sound Ground #89

Rare is the album that comes out ahead of schedule, but the release date for the Fall 2005 Mad Science Fair debut is now: tomorrow. The release show remains September 22 with Cameron McGill and Darling Disarm, but the album will be available at Parasol on arrival, anticipated tomorrow. Comprised of ten power-pop songs recorded and mixed by Adam Schmitt, … for a better tomorrow will be on Mud, with an initial pressing of 2500. The release show is the first of a tour through Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Ohio. In the meantime, Mad Science Fair performs August 27 at Mike ‘n Molly’s with The Pomonas and Rob McColley. Show time is 10 p.m., and cover is $4. Mad Science Fair is guitarist-vocalist Mike Clayton, bassist Jim Mefford, and drummer Dave Domal.

One week after that release show, along comes another by The Living Blue. Third record Fire, Blood, Water is due for release October 8 on Minty Fresh but first becomes available September 29 at The Highdive with The M’s and The Chemicals. Show time is 8 p.m., and cover is $7. Next month, The Living Blue will shoot a video in Chicago with Bradley Scott of Melodic Pictures for lead single “Murderous Youth”; hear the song and see the record cover at myspace.com/thelivingblue. In addition, two tracks from second record Living in Blue (“Where It Begins” and “Open Casket Access”) appear in the Lions Gate comedy Waiting, in theaters October 7.

Earlier this month, The Beauty Shop played five shows in Musselburgh and Glasgow (Scotland) and London (England), including one with Echo & The Bunnymen and Fun Lovin’ Criminals. The trio has been licensed from Shoeshine Records of Glasgow to Snapper Music of London, which will release Yard Sale, a composite of Yr Money or Yr Life and Crisis Helpline. The first single, due August 29, is “Paper Hearts for Josie” (working title: “Taco”), with B-sides “Gouge Away” and “Lazy Summer”; the second single is “A Desperate Cry for Help” (working title: “Slide”). The Beauty Shop plays Sunday at Cowboy Monkey with Jenny Choi keyboard-and-drums duo Sanawon. Show time is 10 p.m., and cover is $4.

An update on Cameron McGill and his band: Street Ballads & Murderesques is done and due for release January 2006. Prominent on the album is keyboardist Tim Requarth, who left the band the first week of May to go back to school. Meanwhile, bassist Jason Brammer is also a painter and has exhibits this month in Chicago at Metropolis Coffee and Open Door Gallery.

Saturday, Solips returns to The Canopy Club from Austin-San Marcos (Texas) for one night only. Founded by brothers Luke and Wilson Hensleigh in 1999, Solips was a fixture of the Champaign scene for five years. New to the lineup are bassist Chris Borchers and drummer Jeff Bedair. Also on the bill are Solips affiliate The Respondent, Slow Dazzle, and wunderkind Megan Johns. Show time is 9 p.m., and cover is $5. As though that were not enough for one night, Mike ‘n Molly’s hosts a simultaneous spectacular with Angie Heaton, Joni Laurence, Baez!, and Theory of Everything. Show time is 10 p.m., and cover is $4. Saturday is a horrible night to sit at home.

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