Belated happy anniversary wishes go out to DJ EZ Eddie D, host of Knowledge Dropped, Lessons Taught on KNON-FM (89.3), the only local hip-hop radio show that matters. (Actually, that should probably read the only local hip-hop radio show, period.) Since he began his show in 1987 -- it was called Down by Sound back then -- Eddie D has been more important to local hip-hop acts than microphones, offering the one place where they could always be heard. On June 25, he celebrated 13 years on the air at KNON with a concert at the Gypsy Tea Room featuring The Legendary Fritz, Gigsaw, and Judas Cradle, among others. Here's hoping Eddie D is around for 13 more. We should all be so lucky...
What's the next best thing to signing with a major label? OK, besides screwing yourself. For Ed Burleson, the answer may be signing to a record label owned and operated by major-label employees. Later this year, Burleson will release his first album -- and the first album ever -- for Tornado Records, the newly formed country label founded by Warner Bros. Records A&R rep David Katznelson and Reprise Records vice president of publicity Bill Bentley. Burleson was signed to Tornado by Doug Sahm, whom Katznelson (who also runs Birdman Records, home to Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante and Thee Headcoats) and Texas native Bentley have hired to scout talent for the label...
Not to be confused with the suddenly reborn Deep Ellum Records, New York-based indie Deep Elm Records will release the fourth installment of its Emo Diaries series, An Ocean of Doubt, this fall. Previous editions have included contributions from bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Sweep The Leg Johnny, and Austin's Pop Unknown, and the forthcoming disc will feature a track by Arlington's Red Animal War, which performs with Elliot and Six Going on Seven July 3 at Rubber Gloves. Deep Elm is also said to be interested in signing another local band, Post From Vermont, in the near future...
And speaking of rumored signings, word is that a local hip-hop group that is loosely connected with a successful R&B singer from Dallas is close to signing a major-label deal. One of the potential suitors is the label home to the aforementioned singer, and all we can safely say about the other is that it is definitely not based near the Pacific Ocean. The band will likely make a decision in the next three weeks or so. We'll try to be a little more vague next time...
Tripping Daisy, which is not signed and happy about it, will follow up last year's Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb with an as-yet-untitled full-length due out on its own Good Records in August. The group wrapped up recording several weeks ago, and Centro-matic's Matt Pence is currently in the process of mastering the album, which the Daisy produced and mixed itself. Several of the songs from the disc surfaced earlier this year on a CD the band circulated among fans and friends titled We Are Not Signed. The pending album also reportedly includes a redo of a track that originally appeared on 1993's Bill. Como se dice huh?
