Sunday, May 11, 2008

Joseph Arthur Creates An Album Thru Blogging Fresh popcorn everybody.  Bag is hot! - Editor Joseph Arthur Creates An Album Thru Blogging. One thing that singer/songwriter/artist Joseph Arthur has never been short on is creativity. The prolific artist probably has more songs sitting around in his head waiting to get out than we could ever comprehend. In an effort to help speed along the process of sharing new music and various pieces of artwork, Arthur has created Bag Is Hot. At its basic form, it is a blog that he is constantly updating with recordings and imagery that is specifically created for this "living album." It will most likely morph into other forms, but we do have to give him credit for finding an efficient way to give fans a constant stream of treats. Arthur describes Bag Is Hot like "fresh popcorn for all the kids to grab. Digital hands eating the digital popcorn. This project is fun and doesn't have to be precious, but it's hard not to take it seriously and really work on it. It's not, 'Bag is getting a little lukewarm - Bag is hot! It's gonna be slang soon!" His own label, Lonely Astronaut, may be releasing the first installment of Bag Is Hot sometime before the end of the year. Check out this work in progress over at josepharthur.tumblr.com Arthur is also hitting the road this summer, heading overseas in June and then returning for a round of dates in North America. Here are the shows on our shores: 07.04.08 - Montreal, QC (Club Soda) 07.09.08 - Boston, MA (Paradise) 07.10.08 - Philadelphia, PA (World Cafe Live) 07.11.08 - New York, NY (Bowery Ballroom - full band) 07.12.08 - Hoboken, NJ (Maxwell's) 07.15.08 - Los Angeles, CA (Troubadour) 07.18.08 - San Francisco, CA (Great American Music Hall) 07.21.08 - Portland, OR (Doug Fir) 07.22.08 - Seattle, WA (Triple Door) 07.24.08 - Vancouver, BC (The Media Club) 07.26.08 - Guelph, ON (Hillside Festival) Joseph Arthur MySpace [The Tripwire] 4:43:48 PM

Long Term Environmental Goals. Japan aims to cut emissions by 60-80 pct by 2050: reports. Japan aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by between 60 and 80 percent by 2050, news reports said on Sunday, as part of measures setting out the country's long term environmental goals. [PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news] 4:38:57 PM

On the Subject of Bookshelves Books at Home.. A blog about bookshelves. Fab! Via things. [The Cartoonist] 3:51:53 PM

Diamond Gallery - Neil Diamond @ The Bitter End | NYC. You have to tip your cap at the legendary pop singer/songwriter Neil Diamond. Whether you care to admit it in public or not, chances are you never change the radio station whenever "Sweet Caroline" or "I Am... I Said" comes on. Diamond released his 27th, yes 27th, studio album, Home Before Dark, this week. To celebrate the occasion, he teamed up with MySpace for a secret performance at NYC's West Village famed music venue, The Bitter End. Now, to put this in perspective, only the first 200 fans who lined up the morning of the show got it. Yup, The Bitter End is a tiny place, especially for an artist like Diamond. He did greet fans who were stranded in line to get in, and the club even placed speakers outside so that those who couldn't get in still got to enjoy his performance. His set included both material from Home Before Dark as well as a variety of fan favorites. He gave acoustic renditions of "Solitary Man, "Don't Go There," "Home Before Dark," "Pretty Amazing Grace," "Kentucky Woman," "Cherry, Cherry" and of course, "Sweet Caroline." For diehard fans who were unable to attend the show, footage will be available on MySpace at some point early next week. He is also set to embark on a world tour, which will indeed route him back through the US. Check out the photos from his performance at The Bitter End, and we'll post the tour dates under those. Neil Diamond North American Tour Dates 07.19.08 - St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center) 07.20.08 - St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center) 07.22.08 - Sioux City, IA (Tyson Events Center) 07.24.08 - Omaha, NE (Qwest Center Omaha) 07.26.08 - Chicago, IL (United Center) 07.27.08 - Chicago, IL (United Center) 07.29.08 - Indianapolis, IN (Conseco Fieldhouse) 07.31.08 - Auburn Hills, MI (The Palace Of Auburn Hills) 08.03.08 - Cleveland, OH (Quicken Loans Arena) 08.05.08 - Washington, DC (Verizon Center) 08.07.08 - Hartford, CT (XL Center) 08.09.08 - Philadelphia, PA (Wachovia Center) 08.12.08 - New York, NY (Madison Square Garden) 08.14.08 - New York, NY (Madison Square Garden) 08.15.08 - New York, NY (Madison Square Garden) 08.18.08 - Pittsburgh, PA (Mellon Arena) 08.20.08 - Albany, NY (Times Union Center) 08.23.08 - Boston, MA (Fenway Park) 08.25.08 - Columbis, OH (Value City Arena) 08.27.08 - Green Bay, WI (Resch Center) 08.29.08 - St. Louis, MO (Scottrade Center) 09.14.08 - Winnipeg, MB (MTS Centre) 09.16.08 - Edmonton, AB (Rexall Place) 09.18.08 - Calgary, AB (Pengrowth Saddledome) 09.20.08 - Vancouver, BC (General Motors Place) 09.22.08 - Portland, OR (Rose Garden) 09.24.08 - Seattle, WA (KeyArena) 09.26.08 - Sacramento, CA (Arco Arena) 09.28.08 - San Jose, CA (HP Pavilion) 10.01.08 - Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Bowl) 10.02.08 - Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Bowl) 10.07.08 - San Diego, CA (San Diego Sports Arena) 10.10.08 - Glendale, AZ (Jobing.com Arena) 10.12.08 - San Antonio, TX (AT&T Center) 10.14.08 - Houston, TX (Toyota Center) 10.16.08 - Dallas, TX (America Airlines Center) 10.19.08 - Oklahoma City, OK (Ford Center) 10.21.08 - Tulsa, OK (BOK Center) 10.24.08 - Tampa, FL (St. Pete Times Forum) 10.26.08 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (BankAtlantic Center) 10.28.08 - Orlando, FL (Amway Arena Orlando) 10.30.08 - Jacksonville, FL (Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena) Neil Diamond MySpace [The Tripwire] 3:47:55 PM

Happy Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day from Mediaburn.net 9:15:22 AM

From the Good People of Fisker Automotive Fisker Auto flashes look at sporty electric sedan. Supposed 'spy photos' show a prototype of a Fisker Karma, a plug-in hybrid luxury sedan due at the end of this year. [CNET News.com] 9:01:18 AM