pacificlectic : concert reviews & eclectic music news

So, I got into Melt Banana (aka MxBx) when they put out a 5″ vinyl / 3″ CD split with Mike Patton’s Fantômas back in 2005 called “Animali in Calore Surriscaldati con Ipertermia Genitale / Cat in Red” on Italian label Unhip Records.  MxBx are the Japanese noise metal cousin of Fantômas; so the split single as a marketing tool worked… I was hooked on Melt Banana.

They’ve got a new 3″ CD / 7″ vinyl coming out called “initial t.” on Init Records.  Three songs were recorded in early 2008, and it allegedly picks up where their 2007 album Bambi’s Dilemma left off.  The CD is packaged in a 3″ cardboard jacket.  The vinyl’s first pressing is limited to 1,000 copies (200 on blue marble vinyl, 200 on mixed vinyl, 600 on black vinyl) and includes a download card for MP3’s of the record.  Artwork on both the CD and vinyl is in “stunning full-color” by Aaron Horkey.  It is expected to be available for pre-order from the Init website as of today, 10/1, and it ships in late October.  They’re currently list as “coming soon”… so, if you’re one of the ones who wants to get a blue marble vinyl, keep your clicker finger warmed up.

CD: GO HERE
Vinyl: GO HERE

They’ve swung through Eugene once since I’ve lived here, but I was unluckily out of town.  Well, they’re playing Portland in December; so I’m there.  Here are the rest of their US Tour dates for MxBx Lite (vocals guitar & drums):

• 10/29 Visalia, CA at Cellar Door
• 10/30 San Francisco, CA at Slims
• 11/01 San Diego, CA at Casbah
• 11/03 Tucson, AZ at Plush
• 11/04 Phoenix, AZ at Hollywood Alley
• 11/06 Denton, TX at Haileys
• 11/07 Austin, TX at FFF Fest
• 11/08 San Antonio, TX at Rock Bottom Bar
• 11/09 Houston, TX at Walters
• 11/10 New Orleans, LA at Republic
• 11/11 Pensacola, FL at Sluggo’s
• 11/12 Birmigham, AL at Bottle Tree Cafe
• 11/13 Athens, GA at 40 Watt Club
• 11/14 Gainesville, FL at Common Grounds
• 11/15 Tampa, FL at Crowbar
• 11/16 Orlando, FL at Back Booth
• 11/18 Columbia, SC at New Brookland Tavern
• 11/19 Chapel Hill, NC at Local 506
• 11/20 Washington, DC at Rock and Roll Hotel
• 11/21 Baltimore, MD at Ottobar
• 11/22 Philadelphia, PA at First Unitarian Church
• 11/23 New York, NY at Bowery Ballroom
• 11/24 Boston, MA at Middle East Downstairs
• 11/25 Hamden, CT at The Space
• 11/27 Buffalo, NY at Mohawk Place
• 11/28 Detroit, MI at The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom
• 11/29 Cleveland, OH at Grog Shop
• 11/30 Chicago, IL at Bottom Lounge
• 12/01 Minneapolis, MN at 7th Street Entry
• 12/02 Madison, WI at High Noon Saloon
• 12/03 Iowa City, IA at Picadur
• 12/04 Sioux Falls, SD at Nutty’s
• 12/05 Omaha, NE at Waiting Room
• 12/07 Denver, CO at Bluebird Theater
• 12/08 Salt Lake City, UT at Urban Lounge
• 12/10 Missoula, MT at Badlanders
• 12/11 Seattle, WA at Chop Suey
• 12/12 Portland, OR at Dante’s
• 12/15 Pomona, CA at Glasshouse
• 12/16 Los Angeles, CA at Troubadour

~Dan – np: SF Jazz Collective (Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano, Miguel Zenon, etc) – Live 2009