neil luckett to release acoustic demos on wampus

London-based songwriter Neil Luckett, singer and guitarist for modern-rock trio tvfordogs, will release an album of acoustic demos on the Wampus Multimedia label. Radio for Cats will collect stripped-down versions of some of Luckett's best songs, as well as previously unreleased material.

"These recordings capture the songs as they began," says Luckett, "with me playing an acoustic guitar and singing the basic melodies. I wanted to document versions of songs I was playing solo when the other guys couldn't make gigs. These versions differ little in structure from the originals, but sometimes the keys are different and the album is predominantly in open G. The acoustic versions of 'Capsule Wardrobe' and 'Sweet Nothings' stand up to their rock counterparts."

Luckett counts 1960s folk guitarists Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Davy Graham, and Nick Drake among his influences for Radio for Cats.

Wampus plans a late-October release.

Late to Neil? Check in with tvfordogs.

http://wampus.com/artists/tvfordogs

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In other Wampus news, Cafebar 401 has been signed by live promoter Peter Rieger Konzertagentur, exclusive representation in Germany for The Rolling Stones, Pink, Joe Jackson, and others.... Live dates for the Dutch foursome begin this month.... Casey Abrams is stepping up east-coast tour appearances in preparation for his full-band debut next year.... Neil Luckett is writing and recording material for the third tvfordogs record.... Alice Despard will record in September with Boston-based artist Myke Weiskopf.... The Crowd Scene, who reissued Turn Left at Greenland on Wampus/Foldback in May, are at work on a new album.... Johnny J Blair is touring as keyboardist for former Monkee Davy Jones and working on new original material.... Arms of Kismet is recording percussion for Play for Affection with drummer Evan Pollack.... Amateur God is preparing their third album, Xenofeelia, for fall release on Black Rain Records.... Kowtow Popof is putting the finishing touches on End of Greatness, his first full-length since Eat My Dust....

And stay tuned... for the announcement this fall of a new Wampus Multimedia tribute project slated to follow Hurry Home Early: the Songs of Warren Zevon, After Hours: a Tribute to the Music of Lou Reed, and If I Were a Richman: a Tribute to the Music of Jonathan Richman.

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Your Alternate Universe: Food for the iPod

http://localmusicstore.com

Various Artists / Hurry Home Early: the Songs of Warren Zevon

Emerging artists interpret the literate, modern songcraft of the poet of Gower Avenue. "This collection deserves space in the collection of any Zevon fan." --Ron Davies, Splendid ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Various Artists / After Hours: a Tribute to the Music of Lou Reed

The story of an artist unencumbered by popular expectations, yet... popular. "A must-have for any fan of Reed, or for anyone who just likes quality, original music, smartly produced, played very, very well." --Fleabomb.com ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Various Artists / If I Were a Richman: a Tribute to the Music of Jonathan Richman

A wildly entertaining ride through the repertoire of one of rock's most original and eclectic songwriters. ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

The Crowd Scene / Turn Left at Greenland

Shimmering trans-Atlantic pop refracted through a lens of the Kinks, the Left Banke, Television, and Elliott Smith. "Absolutely worthwhile, and a good sign for the future of British pop." --Matthew Greenwald, All-Music Guide ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Alice Despard / Samsara

The until-now rare first solo disc from the founder of Washington, D.C.'s Hyaa! "Beautiful." --The Doubtful Palace ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Alice Despard / Push Me Pull You

The comeback album -- honored in the Village Voice "Pazz & Jop" poll, now to be honored by your stereo. "Lush, ethereal country-rock may seem a curious concept, but this local singer-songwriter manages to combine heaven and earth in 11 songs that are both mysterious and urgent." -- Mark Jenkins, The Washington Post ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Johnny J Blair / Fire

Immaculately crafted pop 'n' roll with a streak of gospel-inflected, blue-eyed soul. "For anyone with a little imagination, intelligence, and a sense of humor, not to mention a taste for the exotic." --Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM Magazine ///// CD Baby / Amazon.

The Simple Things / President Foushee

Virginia roots-pop outfit returns with a best-of as solid as a pop rock. "It's the upbeat tunes that catch you.... Nicely done." --Raw 42 ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

tvfordogs / Roller

Melodic, crunchy, and already under your skin. "Carries on the tradition of British power trios with a modern creativity and flair." --Laura Turner Lynch, Kweevak.com ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Alice Despard / Vessel

Patti Smith meets Neil Young -- with a little Mission of Burma to boot. "Like a stripped-down Velvet Underground." --J.R. Oliver, EarCandy ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Johnny J Blair / Treadmarks

Imagine Raymond Chandler and Sam Cooke as street musicians busking with David Bowie's beat-up 12-string guitar. "A solo record full of originality, guts, and feel." --Francesco Emmanuel, The Muse's Muse ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Arms of Kismet / Cutting Room Rug

Brooding and poppy, funny and foreboding, it's toe-tapping, tragicomic rock 'n' roll. "Witty, idiosyncratic indie-rock that is to a band like Maroon 5 what a film like Sideways is to one like Miss Congeniality 2." --Jason Warburg, The Daily Vault ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Casey Abrams / Like a Mirror

Reflecting folk, jazz, and the American songbook, it takes Paul Simon and Don McLean back to their roots. "Intelligently eclectic." --Kevan Breitinger, Indie-Music.com ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Cafebar 401

Brimming with darkly sweet pop hooks, it calls to mind Coldplay, Radiohead, and Queens of the Stone Age. "A great debut album from a band soon to be well known." --Brenna Krause, Left Off the Dial ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Arms of Kismet / Eponymous

Literate and insidiously catchy, it's postmodern pop for the savvy, ironic streetcrawler. "A classic, one of the first great discs of 2004." --Roy Opochinski, Groovevolt.com ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

tvfordogs / Heavy Denver

Definitive modern rock from London-based trio. "Shifts gears and blends songs in a way that not only puts the individual songs in best relief, but takes the listener on a journey." --Mark Kirby, MusicDish ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Kowtow Popof / Kowtow Drops the Pop Off

Powerfully nuanced postmodern rave-ups that set the car radio ablaze. "Preternaturally surrealist post-pop." --Eve Zibart, The Washington Post ///// CD Baby / iTunes.

Amateur God / Near Life Experience

Dark semi-vocal-ambient music in the tradition of Mylene Farmer, Art of Noise, and Voivod. "Fascinating." --Modern Dance UK ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Mitch Renault & Arms of Kismet / Ted's 12: Original Soundtrack

Snappy songs and snippets from the film. ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Various Artists / Glass Flesh 2: a Tribute to Robyn Hitchcock

Twenty-one great ways to skin Robyn Hitchcock's cat. ///// Backstage Commerce.

Wampeters / Murder Your Darlings

It's the end of the line... until the line starts again. "A great narrative album." --Heidi Drockelman, IndieMusic.com ///// CD Baby / Amazon / iTunes.

Mark Doyon / Bonneville Stories

Crisp fiction from Arms of Kismet's Mark Doyon that's as dark as optimism gets. "A brilliant collection of beautifully written stories that made me cringe, grimace, and laugh, while sometimes moving me to great pity.... There just aren't any flaws here, and I can't possibly do this book justice in a review. No one could, really...." --Laurie Edwards, CultureDose.net ///// Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1929763093/qid=1034199246/sr=8-7/ref=sr_8_7/102-8551637-2399362?v=glance&n=507846

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Coming in 2006-07

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