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By Andy Argyrakis
	*Weekend Report: Concrete Blonde singer goes solo* Friday, April 27, 2007 Former front woman for Concrete Blonde Johnette Napolitano is turning towards the solo route on Scarred (Hybrid Recordings), which hits stores next month. The collection is filled with mostly original material, along with choice covers of The Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties" and Coldplay's "The Scientist." A tour in support of the CD kicks off tonight at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco, hitting several other American cities throughout the next two weeks. And for those trying to rack their brains over the name of Concrete Blonde's biggest single, it was "Joey" (and it's very likely to be on the set list). Even though The Flesh is a melodic rock/punk-tipped band, there's no denying members' seemingly endless R&B influences. The new Firetower (Gern Blandsten Records) is simultaneously a sultry and raucous endeavor, switching off between male and female lead vocals. This Saturday marks the album's official record release party at The Annex/Tiswas in New York, which kicks off a full tour that winds west through the end of May. It turns out June will be an even brighter month for the band thanks to a highly coveted opening act slot on Ted Leo & the Pharmacists' European tour. Looking ahead to the coming week, New Orleans residents (and interested travelers) are gearing up for the sixth annual Ponderosa Stomp, which hits the House of Blues Wednesday, May 2. The event is a bridge builder between the first and second weekends of the Jazz & Heritage Festival, though the line-up is highly regarded in its own right. The bill includes psychedelic legend Roky Erickson, rockabilly player Dale Hawkins, R&B singer Little Jimmy Scott and New Orleans songwriter Dave Bartholomew (amongst many others). For a closer look at the festivities, log onto www.ponderosastomp.com.
	*Sinead's switch, Harlem Shakes team with Tapes* Thursday, April 26, 2007 Anyone who tries to bet what Sinead O'Connor will come up with next is destined to loose each and every time. The veteran singer/songwriter has constantly shifted gears and kept fans guessing, though she's reminded consistent in both her artistry and unmistakable vocal prowess. Throughout her twenty-year career, she's covered Prince, interpreted torch songs and standards, returned to her Irish roots, explored reggae territory and crossed genres countless times with original compositions. Her June 26th release is a double disc affair called Theology (Koch), which as the title implies, finds the enigmatic performer tapping her spiritual side. Even more interesting than the message is the musical content, featuring one disc of unplugged "Dublin Sessions" and another with a full band subtitled "London Sessions." Considering the musical ingenuity and instant indie acclaim of Tapes ŚN Tapes, it's no wonder that the band would bring along an equally exciting opening act on its spring tour. Though Harlem Shakes is straight out of the starting blocks, the Brooklyn-based band sounds razor sharp throughout a series of old school organ pounding, psychedelic flourishes and mighty melodies. The group unveils its self-released EP Burning Birthdays, which is a lean half hour offering of its energetic excellence. Think National Geographic is only for nature buffs? It turns out editors have interest beyond the great outdoors in the current issue, including an article tracing the history of African American music. The coverage inevitably traces soul, rock n' roll, jazz and blues, though it also touches on ragtime, gospel and electronic music. Of course, no study on the subject would be complete without covering hip-hop, which includes mentions of its underground origins to the more modern likes of Gnarls Barkley, OutKast, Kanye West and 50 Cent. (Don't let the "Saving the Sea's Bounty" cover story fool you!)
	*Bolder Bravery, 1997 more than merely a year* Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Anticipation keeps mounting for The Bravery's second CD The Sun and the Moon (Island), which is rounding the corner in late May. After five weeks of pre-promotion, the single "Time Won't Let Me Go" was the "#1 Most Added" track at Modern Rock radio and is also racking up quite a downloading craze. The tune showcases an even bolder and much more confident version of The Bravery, which could come in handy in hopes of beating the traditional sophomore slump. The band's debut is a somewhat challenging act to follow (spending 24 weeks on the Billboard charts), but momentum from a recent SxSW Festival appearance and the late night talk show circuit in America should help keep the band on pace. Not to be confused with the Smashing Pumpkins' song "1979," Victory Records introduces the band 1997. The group's debut disc A Better View Of The Rising Moon has garnered early comparisons to Straylight Run, mostly because both alternative rock acts split the lead duties between male and female voices. Even though the troupe may be brand new, members are no strangers to the indie scene after having spent previous time in October Fall, Constance and Funeral Etiquette. It's always been one of rock music's most respected publications (aside from a handful of notorious ethical incidents) and Rolling Stone continues to keep up with the times. The publication moves from strictly print and online editions to an exhaustive visual archive called "Rolling Stone Cover-to-Cover: The First 40 Years." As the title implies, the set will feature each and every page throughout its illustrious history, which recently tipped the 1,000 issue mark. But readers who want to score the set best put aside $119.99, which is what the thorough collection will set them back.
	*Street Date: Arctic attack, Simply is back* Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Over the past two years, The Arctic Monkeys have taken an almost insane ride from complete obscurity to becoming one of the most hyped about bands of this century so far. After scoring a record deal, the band's Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino) scored worldwide distribution and the subsequent tour sold out in seconds. Though it remains to be seen if today's Favourite Worst Nightmare will score the same level of acclaim, all indications point to a full out press and performance blitz, not to mention a return of these Brits foot stomping yet danceable alternative-tipped garage rock. Expect even more aggression and attitude, which even if it doesn't connect with the masses, is likely to connect on stage with the faithful. Despite having only a handful of hits in America ("Stars," "If You Don't Know Me By Now"), Simply Red remains an international phenomenon. And no, most of the band's material doesn't sound like the sleepy lounge pop of those aforementioned blend, but rather a smoldering funk, thumping dance beats and the occasional blue eyed soul ballad. The brainchild of vocalist Mick Hucknall has already earned radio attention for the first single "So Not Over You," though appreciators have waited intently for the full-length Stay ( SimplyRed.com), which marks the group's first proper release in five years. Thought the second coming of progressive rock has settled down a bit, Porcupine Tree is hoping to resurrect that trend with today's Fear of a Blank Planet (Atlantic). Similar to the band's previous efforts, expect a series of dreamy sequences with complex jam sessions akin to Pink Floyd and King Crimson, but with touches of even heavier influences (such as Queensryche). In typical prog fashion, none of the songs are short enough for the airwaves, though one tune taps out at a whopping seventeen minutes!
	*A truly Happy Monday, Woodstock with a twist* Monday, April 23, 2007 In one form or another, the Happy Mondays have inspired everyone from U2 to Blur (and its various offshoots) to Oasis and Manic Street Preachers. After retreating from the limelight and being only the source of critical comparisons and nostalgic radio play, the world famous Brit rockers are officially back in action. Sure there have been reunions before, plus a handful of solo projects, but this year the band promises its first full album in a decade and a half. In fact the album is already in the can, featuring mixing by Howie B. (Bjork, U2) and a tour will follow, including Coachella in America, plus intimate UK dates in May. Though the last Woodstock celebration left a bitter taste in the mouths of hippies hoping for a weekend of peace and love, one of the co-creators is trying to revive the concept under a slightly different name. Artie Kornfeld was around for the 1969 extravaganza and hopes to rekindle the peace keeping premise with Goodstock, which hits Summersville, West Virginia from July 19-21. Though the event is still in the initial planning stages, an early forerunner at the headlining position is Jefferson Starship (not to be confused with the latter incarnation who sang the worst song of all time "We Built This City"). The band name The Matches may not be that familiar outside the California area, but the aggressive punk-tinged alternative rockers are finding fame beyond local territory thanks to a deal with Epitaph. The group's sophomore CD Decomposer just hit stores and is being supported by a four week run, before spending much of this summer on the Warped tour. According to Mark Hoppus (one of the project's producers and +44 member) The Matches are "some of the most creative and boundary-pushing musicians I have ever worked with." The behind the boards crew also includes Rancid's Tim Armstrong, Goldfinger's John Feldman, 311's Nick Hexum and Epitaph founder Brett Gurewitz.