Loose Ends: MSTRKRFT Drop New Single, Swollen Members Jump Around And Junos Sell Out

02/23/06 8:30pm

by ChartAttack.com Staff (CHARTattack)

MSTRKRFT, the Toronto-based remix team comprised of Death From Above 1979's Jesse Keeler and producer Al-P, have just made their new "Easy Love" single available on iTunes. The dance-rock duo's debut album, The Looks, will be released by Last Gang Records on May 16.

Vancouver hip-hop group Swollen Members whipped fans into such a frenzy at Levelz Nightclub in Steamboat Springs, Colorado on February 18 that they cracked the structural support beam of the floor from jumping up and down so much. The dancers split the floor of the venue and almost caved in the ceiling of the bar below it. Police and fire officials evacuated the building before anyone was injured, but the group had to cut their show short. They'll return to the city on April 7 to make up for it. Swollen Members sold out five shows in Colorado as part of a 10-week U.S. tour where they're previewing songs from their new Black Magic album that will be released in the summer.

The 3,000 tickets available to the public for the April 2 Juno Awards show at Halifax's Metro Centre sold out in 15 minutes on February 18, leaving hundreds of fans empty-handed and potentially at the mercy of scalpers. The entire lower bowl of the arena and two sections above — about 3,500 seats — are reserved for artists, record company representatives, sponsors, managers, agents and others in the music industry. More tickets could go on sale the week of the show if they become available.

KOCH Entertainment is donating a dollar from each copy of J Dilla's Donuts album sold in Canada to help his mother recover his medical and related expenses. The 32-year-old hip-hop producer, who worked with the likes of Common and A Tribe Called Quest, died of cardiac arrest on February 10 and had been suffering from lupus and pneumonia. The instrumental Donuts was released on February 14. You can also send a non-tax-deductible donation in honour of Dilla (real name James Yancey) by sending a cheque to his mother, Maureen Yancey, at 132 N. Sycamore Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Bank wires can be sent to: Wells Fargo Bank Of Los Angeles, CA Routing Number: 122000247 Account Number 6043250676 Phone: 1-800-869-3557.

The former manager of The Killers has filed a federal lawsuit against the Las Vegas band and their lawyer and is seeking $16 million U.S. for breach of contract. Braden Merrick claims that he was fired last May after the group became successful. His contract was supposed to run through 2007. The two parties had been working on a settlement before Merrick filed his suit. A representative for the quartet says that Merrick's claims have no merit. The Killers' Island Def Jam debut, Hot Fuss, has sold more than six million copies, according to the suit. The Grammy-nominated band are now working on their second album.

Toronto concert announcements:
March 3 Matt Mays & El Torpedo @ Phoenix
March 7 Papa Duke @ Mod Club
March 11 The Grates, The Barmitzvah Brothers, 5 Blank Pages and The Expatriates @ Horseshoe
March 11 Raised By Swans, Madrid and Fjord Rowboat @ Drake Hotel
March 13 Leather Uppers, Groovy Religion, Mean Red Spiders, By Divine Right and Wayne Omaha @ Drake Hotel
March 15 Eve Goldberg, Grit Laskin and Mose Scarlett @ Cecil Street Community Centre
March 17 Robin Black & The IRS, Argyle, Crawling Kingsnakes and Sproll @ Horseshoe
March 21 The Prodigy @ Kool Haus
March 23 From Fiction, Terrance Belazo and The Inflation Kills @ Horseshoe
March 24 Downchild Blues Band @ Horseshoe
March 27 Mystery Jets and Noisettes @ Lee's Palace
March 28 Blackalicious, Lifesavas and Fat Lip @ Opera House
April 1 Comeback Kid, Ignite, First Blood and This Is Hell @ FunHaus
April 6 The Mark Inside, Run Chico Run and Chet @ The Boat
April 8 New Amsterdams and Augustana @ El Mocambo
April 8 Josh Ritter @ Mod Club
April 12 Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson @ Massey Hall
April 18 Train and Brandi Carlile @ Phoenix
April 29 In Flight Safety @ Horseshoe
April 30 Saves The Day and Circa Survive @ Kool Haus
May 3 Exodus @ Lee's Palace
May 4 Pinback @ Lee's Palace
May 4 Taking Back Sunday @ Kool Haus
May 26 Carl Palmer Band @ Lee's Palace
June 24 The Tragically Hip, The Weakerthans and The Sadies @ Fort York
November 16-18 Gordon Lightfoot @ Massey Hall

Vancouver concert announcements:
March 12 Colin Linden @ Yale Hotel
March 18 Steve Dawson And The Gold Coast Ensemble and Old Man Luedecke @ Rime
April 7 Matt Costa and The 88 @ Richard's On Richards
April 9 Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, All American Rejects, From First To Last and The Hush Sound @ Pacific Coliseum
April 21 Blackalicious, Lifesavas, Fatlip and Pigeon John @ Commodore Ballroom
April 21 Matthew Good @ Vancouver East Cultural Centre
April 22 Hard-Fi and The Rakes @ Plaza Club
April 23 Saves The Day and Circa Survive @ Croatian Cultural Centre
April 23 Wilderness, Parts And Labor and Ladyhawk @ Media Club
April 24 Pinback @ Plaza Club
May 5 Coldcut, Blockhead and DJ Signify @ Commodore Ballroom
May 7 Sunset Rubdown and Frog Eyes @ Richard's On Richards