“Music is the ultimate medicine for me and if I started being dishonest with it, then it really wouldn’t be medicine for me anymore,” says Cloud Cult’s Craig Minowa over the phone from his hometown in Minnesota. “It’s saved my life so many times. There’s been times when everything falls apart and there’s no safety nets left—everything else is gone and you’re in a freefall. Wherever it comes from and whatever it is, I don’t know, but I am in...

Rapper Sage Francis is hitting the road this summer in support of his forthcoming album, Human the Death Dance, out May 8th on Epitaph. As is befitting for a major label artist who just happens to hold a journalism degree, he’s bringing more than just a standard posse on the road with him (remember, this is a dude who’s worked with Bonnie “Prince” Billy). In addition to fellow rappers Alias and Buck 65, Sage will be joined on tour by...

Ever since we heard "Fit Black Man" on Ghosly International's Idol Tryouts Two compilation, Skeletons have been on our radar, blipping away casually. Now that they have a new record coming out May 8, called Lucas, a tour is just a necessary evil that comes with writing amazing music. You gotta eat, right? Regardless if this makes any sense to you or not, here's how Skeletons' ringleader Matt Mehlan describes the inspiration for LUCAS: “LUCAS is named after a small...

Here at Ground Control, we like The Phoenix Foundation. We like 'em so much, we reviewed them. We're pretty sure you'd like them too, if their album was available in the States yet. But it ain't – the release date for Horsepower has been pushed back to June 5th. Why, you may ask? Because it's all about capitalizing nowdays, m'boy! See, the band is contributing six songs and scoring three more for the film Eagle vs. Shark, an "off-beat romantic...

Besides being a part of this year's line up for Coachella, Sonic Youth plans to tour on Daydream Nation this summer.   July 13th- Chicago, IL- Pitchfork Music Festival (already on sale) July 19th- Berkley, CA- Berkley Community Theatre (on sale April 1st) July 20th- Los Angeles, CA- Greek Theatre (on sale March 31st) August 30th- London, UK- Roundhouse (3rd show just added!) August 31st- London, UK- Roundhouse (sold out!) September 1st- London, UK- Roundhouse (sold out!)   More dates...

So apparently, Modest Mouse decided to add some old guy to the band, and everyone made a big deal of it. Then they released a record on Tuesday, and everybody made a real big deal of it, rocketing We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank to #2 on Amazon and #1 on iTunes. So now they are headed out on tour. What with Isaac's new penchant for self-mutilation, you might want to catch them sooner rather than later. Modest...

Here's another reason to support your local indie shops: The Hold Steady, those guys who legally can't be mentioned without being called "the greatest bar band in the world," have decided to do everyone a freaking favor and release a limited-edition EP, cleverly titled Live at Fingerprints. How cleverly titled? Well not only is it actually a live recording, but it was actually recorded at Fingerprints!! And not only was it recorded at an indie record store...

Every girl I know loves The Presets. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but last week in Austin, they seemed to be on everyone's "bands I gotta see" list. For those of you who didn't make it out to SXSW, you are in luck. Not only are The Presets on an East Coast swing until April 1st, but you avoided the collective hangover that was Central Texas. Check the dates: Friday March 23 – Touch Supper Club, ClevelandSaturday...

The past year has been quite interesting for The Sword. Ever since the release of their debut Age of Winters last year, they’ve toured the world, had a heavily rotated video on MTV, got a song on Guitar Hero II, became the poster boys for a short-lived genre known as Hipster Metal, then shed that same brand a few months later when said debut was listed #4 on StonerRock.com’s top 26 of 2006 poll, just behind Mastodon and The Melvins....

In celebration of Cloud Cult's upcoming release, The Meaning of the Number 8, they have scheduled a fairly exhausting spring tour. Check them out in our Juke Box and stay tuned for a feature piece on the band next week. 3/3: Middlebury, VT – Middlebury College McCullough Social Space (all ages) 9pm3/15 – 3/18: Austin, TX – SXSW3/20 Minneapolis, MN – Electric Fetus (In-store performance and CD signing – free – all ages – 6:30pm)3/30: Minneapolis, MN – "Meaning of...