FROM NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE

St. Bernadette, Cover Thy Neighbor (Exotic Recordings, saintbernadettemusic.com). This limited edition release is not just a collection in which St. Bernadette covers other local musicians — St. Bernadette covers obscure recordings by other local musicians. It's a cool concept, and a bold one at that. They put the sainthood stamp on each track so that despite the vastly different sources, the final product gels cohesively and has its own vibe, which is kind of like what a party in a haunted barn might sound like. "Play to Win" was written by The Zambonis, but you'd never guess it without focusing on the hockey-centric lyrics. "Outta Here" by Stamford's Shangk is de-punkified, and gets a hard-swingin' slide guitar and Dixieland trumpet solo treatment. The closest listening experience I can think of to compare it to is with Tori Amos' Strange Little Girls, which covered all songs recorded by men (again with an eerie vibe). Even if you don't know the songs being covered (I review local music and I didn't recognize most of them), it's a strong album that could be a gateway for discovering more quality music that's right under our noses. —Mike Sembos

Check this week's Fairfield Weekly/New Haven and Hartford Advocate for a full profile of the state's hard working indie labels, including none other than Exotic Records.
 
Peep the full article here - http://hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=15620
 
Or just read the important part below!
 
EXOTIC RECORDINGS
exoticrecordings.com
Run by Keith Saunders and Meredith DiMenna - who front Saint Bernadette, one of the label's most popular and successful bands - Exotic Recordings produces, releases and promotes hard-driving, fun, sexually charged rock for people who get bored by the same old things that flood the market today. Working closely with other artists and labels in Danbury, New Haven, Bridgeport, Asheville, N.C., Los Angeles, New York City and Minneapolis, they're also looking to expand globally with digital and physical music, maybe even vinyl. Also on Exotic Recordings are hockey rockers the Zambonis, the Tom Waitsian bluesman Brian Grosz, the Casio electronica duo Shoot Yer Wads, the melodious and hooky J DiMenna and their fast-rising star, the Asheville, N.C.-based singer/multi-instrumentalist Jar-e, who recently toured with Toubab Krewe.
Meredith DiMenna admits Exotic Recordings, like the whole industry, is in flux. "Running a business based on a product that's so easily stolen can be difficult," she says. "We can't ignore the fact that people who used to buy, now just steal."  — Sean Corbett

It's almost holiday time and we're cooking up all sorts of new goodies.
 
Stay tuned for information about Saint Bernadette's new concept album "Cover Thy Neighbor" featuring re-imaginings of classic compositions by our friends and comrades in rock, as well as our own re-imagining of the 10 Commandments (we're going for broke here, people).
 
In other news, Jar-e is currently in the studio working on tracks for his third album at the beautiful Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville with none other Danny Kadar behind the boards. 
 
Look out for our upcoming holiday fire sale and info on holiday shows.
 
xoxo
Exotic Fam

Though Jar-e and Saint B are heavy in pre-pro and pro-pro on new albums, they don't plan to laze away the last lazy days of summer, but instead are hitting their locals hard with a bevy of shows.
 
Southerners, don't miss our on Jon's upcoming shows, featuring killer re-workings of his whole catalogue, as well as sneak previews of the tracks for his soon-to-be recorded third album.
 
 
Aug 12 2009      9:00P
The Bus Pit, Kingsport, Tennessee

Aug 22 2009     6:00P
Baseball and Beer, Asheville, North Carolina

Sep 10 2009     8:00P
Trinumeral, Deerfields, North Carolina

Sep 17 2009     10:00P
Bobo,     Asheville, North Carolina

 
 
For the Yanks, Saint Bernadette is also offering the face-melting rock you've come to expect as well as sneak previews of their "Heart of Gold" inspired acoustic tunes from their upcoming album "COVER THY NEIGHBOR".
 
Aug 20, 2009     
Atlas Rooftop, New York, NY
   
Aug 21, 2009    
Seaside Tavern, Stamford, CT
   
Aug 28, 2009    
Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, CT
   
Aug 29, 2009    
National Underground, New York, NY
   
Sep 3, 2009    
Baldwin Plaza, Bridgeport, CT
   
Sep 5, 2009    
Safe to Swim Weekend, Danbury, CT  
  
Oct 3, 2009    
Rack n Roll, Stamford, CT    

 
And don't miss the new blog from Saint Bernadette frontwoman, Meredith Saunders, at her hometown rag, the Connecticut Post.

And you thought there was nothing cool about Tuesday!

Saint Bernadette - Wrap It Up (Exotic Recordings, from the Word To The Lourdes EP)

Carina Round - Backseat (Self-Released, from Things You Should Know)

Joan of Arc - Explain Yourselves (Polyvinyl Records, from Flowers)

Alligators - Where Does It Hide (Applehouse Records, from Piggy and Cups)

Son Volt - Down to the Wire (Rounder Records, from American Central Dust)

Sharon Van Etten - For You (Language of Stone Records, from Because I Was In Love)

Check it out - http://www.blurt-online.com/news/view/2346

SAINT BERNADETTE'S 'ADVENT' FINALE IS FULL EP STREAMING AT MYSPACE
 
Saint Bernadette offered fans a chance to hear a different track from their latest EP 'Word To The Lourdes' (out now on Exotic Recordings) each day this past week on their MySpace page. Now they righteously proclaim that the surprise finale of "The Advent" is to make all 6 songs available for streaming. The EP, described by BUST as "throwback-drenched tunes that will rock you to the core," can now be heard in its entirety, blessing fans with understanding of their move beyond the Motown influences of 'In The Ballroom' and 'I Wanna Tell You Something' EP to their reinvention as the most rock and roll outfit they've established to date.
 
Stream 'Word To The Lourdes' at Myspace

Read about it at the BUST blog.
 

STREAM NEW TRACKS FROM “WORD TO THE LOURDES” EACH DAY ON MYSPACE ALL WEEK
 
Saint Bernadette’s "Word To The Lourdes" EP is out today!  We'll be posting a different track from the 6-song EP each day this week with a special surprise on the 7th day, April 21st, counting down what is officially the “Advent Of Saint Bernadette.”
 
Listen to the first song “Nobody Wants My Kind Words” today at their MySpace page and stay tuned for the surprise!
http://www.myspace.com/saintbernadette
 
Download “Already Gone” from ‘Word To The Lourdes’ here:
http://www.shorefire.com/media/Already_Gone_20090326_183546.mp3
 
Saint Bernadette will make a pilgrimage to New York City to mercifully celebrate the release of their 'Word To The Lourdes' EP (Exotic Recordings 4/14) at Le Poisson Rouge, Wednesday, April 22. As the real-life Saint Bernadette was the patron saint of poverty, the quintet will make good on their namesake's commitment to charitable works by passing around a collection plate at their New York City and Connecticut shows during their song "He's a Collector."
 
Donations will go to a variety of noble causes including relief efforts for the DiMenna's family's hometown of L'Aquila, Italy, recently devastated by earthquake; New York artist Tara Meadows' forthcoming photography book focused on the homeless; and other praiseworthy endeavors.
 
See below for tour dates and more.
 
‘Word To The Lourdes’ EP on Amazon:
 
‘Word To The Lourdes’ EP on iTunes:


Saint Bernadette Live:
Apr 22 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge (CD release party) w/ 357 Lover, Josh Bloom and Vibrarmony
Apr 24 - Danbury, CT - SubRosa Party At Cousin Larry’s
Apr 25 - Hamden, CT - The Space (Battle Of The Bands, Semi Finals)
Apr 26 - Meriden, CT - Hubbard Park (The Daffodil Festival)
Apr 30 - Brooklyn, NY – Southpaw w/ The Bells, Thin Veil and Stephanie’s Id
May 2-  Stamford, CT - Rack n Roll Café
May 5 – New Haven, CT - Café Nine w/ The Wiles
May 30 – Bridgeport, CT - Sweetport Festival w/ Mates of State, Caravan of Thieves, The Zambonis, Cosmic Jibaros and M.T. Bearington

Finally, jar-e is placed in front of millions of people.  We've been expecting this for years, and now that it's finally happened, we're really pretty calm about it.
 
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Visit http://www.spinner.com and scroll down or click here for a direct hit.
 
 

CHICAS MALAS
Jar-e’s sophomore masterpiece “Chicas Malas”, recorded over a week in an Asheville area barn reconfigured to accommodate his all-star group of musicians and guest performers, drops TODAY!  Available at Amazon.com and virtually all digital retailers and, of course, at any of his upcoming tour dates.   Early reviews say: “intoxicatingly repeatable”, “a tasty jazz/funk/soul stew”, and on to “he may become this generation’s Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Beck. The world needs an artist like Jar-E right now.”

The world may need Jar-e, but you NEED to pick up your copy today.
PRE-ORDER YOUR CD COPY NOW

Jar continues his stretch with hometown brothers, Toubab Krewe, including a run through Florida for spring break.

Tour dates
Feb 28 – Asheville, NC – CD Release Party at The Rocket Club
Mar 2 – New York, NY – CD Release Party at Nublu
Mar 3 - Bridgeport, CT - Acoustic Cafe
Mar 19 - Jacksonville FL - Freebird w/ Toubab Krewe
Mar 20 -  Charleston, SC - Pourhouse w/ Toubab Krewe
Mar 21 - Tallahassee, FL - Engine Room w/ Toubab Krewe
Mar 24 - Orlando, FL - Plaza Theatre w/ Toubab Krewe 
Mar 25 - Gainesville, FL - Market St. Pub  
Mar 26 - Delray Beach, FL - City Limits w/ Toubab Krewe
Mar 27 - Tampa, FL - Skippers w/ Toubab Krewe  
Mar 28 -29 -Key West, FL -The Green Parrot w/ Toubab Krewe 

CHRIS DIFFORD PLAYS THE PRIESTESS AND THE FOOL
It ain’t American Idol, but it is the Cover Idol.  The Priestess and the Fool’s cover of “Tempted” took top honors in the Cover Idol’s Tribute to Squeeze competition.  Our friend and Coverville master, Brian Ibbott, forwarded our offering to none other than Chris Difford himself, who responded by asking for a copy to play in the house before his upcoming concerts!  We’ve listened to “45s and Under” a combined total of six million times.  To say we are excited about this would be, um, an understatement.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR "TEMPTED"

WORD TO THE LOURDES RISES LIKE JESUS AND DROPS LIKE YOUR TAXES
Saint B has just finished the finishing touches of a new EP, “Word to the Lourdes”, set to release April 14th – two days after Easter and just one before Uncle Sam takes your money and burns it in a massive secret bonfire somewhere in the Arctic.  Or maybe, just maybe, if we all pray hard enough, gets used in an unprecedented tidal wave of inspired ideas to create a new world order!  Either way, you’re going to need these six songs of unbridled rock pop the likes of which you haven’t heard since 1973.

Upcoming Shows:
March 6th – Stamford, CT – Rack n Roll Café with Kaiser Cartel
March 25th – Hamden, CT – The Space Battle of the Bands
April 26th – Meriden, CT – The Daffodil Festival
May 30th – Bridgeport, CT – Sweetport Festival with Mates of State

Stay tuned for upcoming shows and new album news from J. DiMenna, an animated video from Jar-e, and news from SXSW where newest short film from Exotic affiliate The Shot Productions, LUCA BRASI SLEEPS WITH THE FISHES will premiere!

Jon Reid and the boys of Jar-e continue their nationwide trek with Toubab Krewe, wrapping up this weekend with three killer shows in North Carolina.  Check the myspace to stay up to date - http://www.myspace.com/jare . Read his latest interview with Pen's Eye View to find out about Jar's secret jones for Phil Collins and Billy Joel and where he expects to be in ten years.  http://www.penseyeview.com/content/jar-e Get ready, Jar will kick off a series of events surrounding the February 24 release of "Chicas Malas" including a much anticipated CD release event at Nublu in NYC.  Don't miss it!

Feb 19 2009 4:00P	WNCW Studio B	Spindale, North Carolina
Feb 22 2009 8:00P	98.1 The River’s Homegrown	Asheville, North Carolina
Feb 28 2009 9:00P	CD Release Party @ Rocket Club	Asheville, North Carolina
Mar 2 2009 9:00P	nublu New York CD release	New York, New York
Mar 3 2009 9:00P	Acoustic Cafe	Bridgeport, Connecticut
Mar 4 2009 9:00P	The Lantern	Blacksburg, Virginia

 

Head over to http://www.vimeo.com/3056957 to see the video for "Player Piano," the first single from the Dags' upcoming album.  Giant thanks to director Secotine Bodi and everyone else involved!

THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER IN 2009

Forget Britney. An army of personal trainers and personal chefs
got her back in music video shape. Instead, Saint Bernadette
presents you with a video pep talk guaranteed to keep you on
your resolutions this new year. Set to a live mash up of two of
the 80s best self-improvement anthems, watch members of Saint B
and a crew of their friends go from flabby to fabulous, from
two-left feet to double knee slides, ending up in a final
production number worthy of Bob Fosse.

http://blurt-online.com/video/view/172/


SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Exotic´s own Keith "Touch" Saunders provided original music composition and music supervision for the animated horror short "Dear Beautiful" which had already made a name for itself around the world with showings at Cannes, Toronto and LA and has now been selected by the mother of all independent film festivals, the Sundance Film Festival. We are beyond excited at this news. Check it out at the Sundance website:

http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/films/dear_beautiful


JAR-E KICKS OFF NATIONAL TOUR WITH TOUBAB KREWE

In anticipation of the February 24th release of his new album, CHICAS MALAS, Jar will hit the road with fellow Ashevillians, and recently NPR feature, Toubab Krewe for a string of dates, starting this Thursday in NYC at the legendary SOB´s.

1.08 New York, NY, SOB´s
1.09 Bridgeport, CT, Two Boots (with Cosmic Jibaros)
1.17 Athens, GA, GA Theater
1.20 Vienna, VA, Jammin Java
1.21 Charlottesville, VA, Gravity Lounge
1.23 VA Beach, VA, Jewish Mother
1.24 Richmond, VA, Capital Ale House
2.06 Carrboro, NC, Cat's Cradle
2.07 Charlotte, NC, Neighborhood Theater


2009 NEW RELEASES

Keep your eyes peeled for new albums in 2009 from Dogs of Winter,
Saint Bernadette and the long-awaited sophomore release from
J. DiMenna. Also look out for videos from space travelers,
the Shoot Yer Wads, currently burning up the blogosphere with
their free EP "Rise to the Occasion". Check it out now at
http://www.myspace.com/shootyerwads.

Visit us anytime for tour dates, videos and more at
http://www.exoticrecordings.com

Bless your new year!
Meredith and Keith

While the whole clan heads down this weekend to Asheville, NC (details here - http://www.myspace.com/saintbernadette), we bring you this month's news.

In the true spirit of Christmas, not to mention in light of our nation's frightening economic crisis, the Exotic family is hurling free music at music fans all over the world, with only one catch. It's all completely ridiculous and absurd. But that's what you love about us, right?

THE PRIESTESS AND THE FOOL CHRISTMAS ALBUM
The much anticipated holiday album from TPTF is now available and ready for free download. Early reviews are in and they are stellar. Keep your eyes peeled for a burlesque-themed video.

Download it all plus pdf booklet for free:
http://www.thepriestessandthefool.com
Or visit us on http://www.myspace.com/thepriestessandthefool

SHOOT YER WADS
Bored by Sasha Fierce? The Shoot Yer Wads have landed on planet earth to deliver exactly the dance tracks that you need for your holiday soirees. We could go on and on, but we'll let the news wires do the talking for us.

http://www.flashnews.com/news/wfn1081119J12105.html

Check out the tracks for yourselves here:
http://www.myspace.com/shootyerwads

And that is all, my friends. Prepare yourselves for Turkey.

It was an even harder task than usual to decide what excellent news to give you first. We thank you for your application but there were three times as many applications for good news this month as last month and we have made the decision that it´s officially a TIE between the as yet untitled album from the DOGS OF WINTER and the aptly titled "Chicas Malas" from JAR-E.

JAR-E, CHICAS MALAS
If you´re wondering about the Chicas Malas, they are a band of female fighters for freedom, traveling the world, stomping out violence with the sheer power of their hotness and sex appeal. Jar-e celebrates and ponders these chicas, questioning their motives and admiring their considerable skill.

DOGS OF WINTER
If you´re wondering why the Dogs of Winter haven´t named their album, well, see it´s because they´re really into, um, revisions, and changing it just as they´ve gotten it, and they want to just think it over because they´re just not taking it that seriously and I know this might seem sarcastic, but honestly, I think it´s because it´s beyond words. They are truly a pack. Don´t miss them at Freaktoberfest tomorrow night - http://www.coneyislandlager.com/freaktoberfest.

SAINT BERNADETTE VIDEO
The other thing you need to know is that everyone who needed to go on a diet within the Exotic clan, went on a diet and now looks amazing. This mandate was spread far and wide and filmed over a four month period. Watch a select group go from chub to chic in just the 2 and a half minutes it takes Saint Bernadette to do a live mash-up of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Things Can Only Get Better" which has already made 100,000 friends through the kindness of the DJs at Buffet Libre ----- http://www.buffetlibretdjs.com

THE PRIESTESS AND THE FOOL CHRISTMAS ALBUM
We´re mostly Libertarian in nature in the Exotic clan, but we love any ritual that involves drinking with Grandma and free food. Meredith and Brian have come together again to face off in vocal gravitas with their own interpretations of four Christmas non-classics:

RIDE ON RIDE ON, SANTA – STAN KENTON ORCHESTRY
AIN´T NO HOLE IN THE WASHTUB - EMMET OTTER´S JUGBAND CHRISTMAS
BABY IT´S COLD OUTSIDE - FRANK LOESSER
FAIRY TALE OF NEW YORK - THE POGUES

KEITH SAUNDERS PRODUCTION NEWS
Some people love to work. Some people just are work. Running Water Labs studio head, Keith "Touch" Saunders was the helmer for both Dogs and Jar-e, and finished out the summer producing our favorite Bridgeport area band, Caravan of Thieves.

CARAVAN OF THIEVES
Fronted by the charmingest married couple, Fuzz and Carrie Sangiovani, with Saint B bassist, Brian Anderson, and fiddle man Ben Dean (whose romantic life inspired the band's creation) and featuring the charmingest gypsy-tasting harmonies and string sounds, their album "Bouquet" is going to be my favorite for a long time.

http://www.myspace.com/fuzzandcarrie

SCREEN AND SOUND
And since we haven´t talked to you in a while, we thought we´d catch you up on what Keith was doing before he started working on these three masterpieces.

Glory at Sea
We were honored and blessed to be part of this incredible short film, directed by Benh Zeitlin (2008 Filmmaker Magazine, 25 NEW FACES OF INDEPENDENT FILM). Wholphin Award winner at this year´s SXSW and noted in the New York Times as an "exuberant fantasy . . . ´Glory at Sea"´derives a special poignancy from its site-specific particulars, but in its folkloric expansiveness, the film also transcends the realities of Katrina. "

http://www.court13.com
http://www.court13.com/glorytrailer.mov

Dear Beautiful
Bridgeport is bursting at the seams with talent and this film was no exception. Keith worked together with director, Roland Becerra and collaborator, Kelly Becerra, to create this 15 minute teaser for an upcoming feature for Maitland Primrose Distribution. The short version won the Moving Pictures Magazine Short Film Animation award.

http://www.movingpicturesfilmandtv.com/view.php?id=31

We invite you to contact us in the future if you would like to resubmit your interest in our news. We hope you will continue to keep us in mind in the future and we wish you the very best.

What does $50 get you in this downward spiral of an economy? A lot more than you think if you shake a tail feather down to Coney Island this Friday, October 3rd!


How does five bands, live burlesque from Barrette, a performance from the world-famous Coney Island Sideshow and FREE BEER from Sixpoint, Dogfish Head, Smuttynose and Lagunitas (just to name a few) sound to you? Because it sounds pretty rooty-tooty fresh-n-fruity to us!

The event kicks off at 5pm and our very own Dogs of Winter will be debuting a slew of new material on the outdoor stage at 9pm, right outside the Coney Island Museum (the beneficiary of the fundraiser). All details can be found at coneyislandlager.com/freaktoberfest.

In the immortal words of Missy Elliot: "Get ya freak on..."

Dogs of Winter are currently mixing down their next album with Andrew Schneider (Pelican, Cave In, Unsane, Scissorfight) at Translator Audio in Brooklyn, NY. The currently-untitled album will be out in early 2009.

Videos from the recording sessions can be found on their site, dogsofwinter.com. Also, click here to see footage from the video shoot for their song, Player Piano.

And in other Dogs-related news, check out the podcast from DoW guitarist Brian Grosz and Exotic's very own Jar-E and their accompanying video interview.

Rumor also has it that Brian and Meredith DiMenna (Saint Bernadette) will be returning to the studio to begin work on another Priestess and The Fool album. This time around...? Christmas songs! Expect a release shortly after Thanksgiving.

Weren't you just trying to figure out what to buy your friend who has everything?

The Exotic Family never seems to rest - just take The Priestess and The Fool, for example. Brian Grosz and Meredith DiMenna have come together (along with a bevy of ER backing musicians) to record a series of duet cover-songs from over the years. They've dabbled in a little bit of everything, from the classic Ella and Louis gem "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?" all the way up to "Back and Forth" from modern day retro-rockers, Earl Greyhound.

The six-song EP, titled "A Minor Work," is slated for a January release and we might even just make it available for free for a limited time. After all, it worked for Radiohead...

Go check out their myspace account -
myspace.com/thepriestessandthefool

Drinking, mouthing off, barbecuing, playing music, and all while wearing a pretty yellow apron . . .

Our gristled Prince of Doom and Gloom, BRIAN GROSZ, dropped his solo debut LP today! It's dark. It's dirty. It's 11 delicious tracks of heartache, despair and cirrhosis. Get your very own copy at CD Baby or amazon.com!

And don't forget to come celebrate this latest arrival to our catalog with a live performance tomorrow night at Brooklyn's Luna Lounge.

CD RELEASE PARTY
WED - JUNE 27th - 7:30pm
Brian Grosz & The Bad Idea
Luna Lounge
361 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY

Yesterday the winners of the Moving Pictures Magazine Short Film Contest – Spring – 2007, Cannes Edition were announced. Roland Becerra (whom Exotic followers will know as the cover artist of J. DiMenna's "Awkward Buildings" LP and the director of his video for "Preacher") and his short film DEAR BEAUTIFUL were selected by the judges as the ANIMATION PRIZE WINNER. The winner in each category will be flown to the Cannes Film Festival later this month, and their work will be featured in the Moving Pictures section of the Short Film Corner at the Festival.

Exotic is so proud and excited to be a part of this project. Our in-house producer, Keith "Touch" Saunders, was responsible for the original music composition, sound recording, sound mixing and foley. J. DiMenna's song "To Meet You" features prominently in the opening sequence. And Tom DiMenna's voice appears throughout as the sound of the media weighing in on the film's strange events.

Voting is still open for the The audience Choice Award, so please visit the website, check out the short, and give your vote.

Click here to view Roland's Short film DEAR BEAUTIFUL

PLEASE NOTE- the page is getting lots of traffic so if the movie player doesn't appear -hit refresh/reload on your browser until it does.

To Vote for Roland's Film:

Email: shorts@mpgcorp.net

"I'm writing this email to vote for DEAR BEAUTIFUL as my pic for the Audience Choice Award"

A BIG thank you to all our friends & loved ones who have already voted!!

We soooo appreciate your support!!

Exotic Recordings' favorite world traveler and keeper of the good news, jar-e celebrates the release today of his new album "War Songs and the Muse". This 11-song offering is a six course meal of an album, complete with pre-party, dance floor, palette cleansing transitions and after party cool-down.

Pick one up at a store near you!

That's right, 'Ode to Fredo' continues to win over the hearts and minds of film lovers all over the nation as well as more accolades from decision-makers and insiders. This weekend, 'Ode to Fredo' won best film in the Comedy category at the Ivy League Film Festival, a very chi-chi get together of Ivy Leaguers and wannabes (we don't judge here at O'Daniel as our family contains members of both categories) that you can read more about here.

Esteemed judges and panel members included Sarah Flack (editor - Marie Antoinette), Doug Liman (director - Swingers), Larry Andries (producer - Six Feet Under) and a host of other people we've always wanted to know.

Our good pal and 'Ode to Fredo' co-director, Zeke Hawkins, was there to soak up the accolades and reports say that he has grown two inches as a result of the experience. His roomates have cut open the doorway to make sure he can get in the apartment when he returns.

Meredith, lead singer of Saint Bernadette, made a little known appearance on the new album from NY DJ Black Panther that was called out in a recent review on popmatters.com.

According to the trendsetting website "Meredith DiMenna nails her vocals on the title track".

Meredith is one of an incredible list of guest appearances including M.F. Grimm, Maya Azucena, and M-1 of Dead Prez.

Read for yourself here.

Our favorite soul-searching globetrotter will celebrate the upcoming release of his masterpiece "War Songs and the Muse", tonight in his musical hometown of Asheville, NC.

The Mountain XPress says you should go because "No one can say this bilingual artist hasn´t done his homework; jar-e channeled his experiences living in Mexico, Greece, England and Cuba to make this jumpy, modish disc." Read the good news here.

Tonight's festivities feature guest performances from other Asheville notables including Pierce Edens & Seth Kauffman, so get on out!

TONIGHT
April 5th
8 pm
The Grey Eagle
185 Clingman Avenue
Asheville, NC
$6

Check out tracks from jar's new album and leave him a nice note here at Myspace.

"War Songs and the Muse" comes out April 17th!

Eddie Pepitone made the rounds this month with appearances from coast to coast on the who's who of comedy TV.

He reprised his role of the "upset audience member" a crowd favorite on Conan before heading off to take part in Tell Your Friends! a weekly show that Time Out NY says is a "Don't Miss". Eddie participated with Todd Hanson, head writer for The Onion, Leo Allen, Brian Riley and more.

He appeared for a week as "Eddie the Red Carpet" for the pre-Oscar lead up on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE. Check it out - here!

Somehwere after that he also appeared as himself on the runaway comedy hit "The Sarah Silverman Program".

I'm telling you, we can't keep track of this guy.

"Ode to Fredo", the video sensation by Exotic artist, Tom DiMenna, and produced by the Hawkins Brothers production team, continues to charm the blogosphere and the viral video nation with front page features on iFilm.com and MSN Videos.

Peep it here at iFilm.

And if you long for Fredo during those long days at the office, visit ITunes now to buy your own copy of this mafia classic.

Peep the article!

According to Sports Illustrated, the Touch-produced, Tom DiMenna classic "Ode to Fredo" and its brilliant video produced and directed by the Hawkins Brothers is something to celebrate this week.

Visit Youtube and see for yourself.

Did you know Touch was in Key West all summer long? Well, neither did he. For several seasons now, Touch's beats have had audiences' heads nodding through drunken pillow fights and breakup scenes on MTV's Real World. If you've suspected that sound was familiar, then you've definitely been watching too much reality TV...but you were right.

Touch's music has also been featured on over 14 episodes of Real World (Austin and Hawaii), and Inferno.

It's these small contributions from the world of pop culture that keep our small company alive. Thanks MTV!

For those of you who may have tuned in Dec. 5th, we offer our heartfelt apologies. Eddie's appearance on Kimmel has been rescheduled for January 5th. Don't miss it!