Matthew Embree’s project with Lisa Papineau called  ME & LP will be joining friends and label mates Good Old War on all their headlining West Coast shows in support of their debut EP called Chez Raymond.  Make sure to get tickets in advance and always check with the venues for exact start times. 

GOOD OLD WAR / ME&LP 
16 Nov – San Diego, CA @ Anthology 
17 Nov – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Downtown Brew 
18 Nov – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 
19 Nov – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour 

(Source: artistdata.sonicbids.com)

Matthew Embree and Lisa Papineau, two musicians with quite the pedigree between them (Rx Bandits and Big Sir, plus contributions to Air and M83, respectively), have joined forces in the shape of ME & LP. An unexpected pairing with backgrounds that could have landed them anywhere on the map, the surprising result is all the more satisfying. “Bonnie Says (No Shitty Ride)” has a dance groove at its core, maracas and some well-placed plucking creating a nice foil to Embree’s seasoned crooning. Papineau’s part does much the same, offering an airy, playful flair with parallels to Thao & Mirah’s latest at times. And just as with that dream team, ME & LP showcase the mark of a worthy match-up, pushing each other successfully into new terrain. The LP, Chez Raymond, is out August 9 on Sargent House.

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PRE ORDER CHEZ RAYMOND

Matthew Embree, RX Bandits

The RX Bandits sound fuses elements of rock, reggae, ska, and jazz.  Their multi-dimensional approach should come as no surprise, though, once you understand the creative process of songwriter Matt Embree. He writes all the time, and not just songs: Embree is an avid poet. And like any good poet, he finds inspiration everywhere.  He doesn’t necessarily seek out inspiration, but he puts himself in situations where it comes easily: he’s gone on a 2,000 mile motorcycle ride, and he’s hitchhiked all throughout Central America. When you engage with your environment as much as Embree does - whether it’s the physical environment of the wilderness or the people in a small village in Costa Rica - inspiration is easy to come by. And the songs that are the product of that creative process are rich in their influences.

RX Bandits are now on their farewell summer tour, though according to band member Steve Choi, they aren’t breaking up.  Rather, they are just doing their last tour.  So have no fear, RX Bandits fans, they will not disappear. Read my interview with Matt Embree after the video.

   What other creative outlets do you have besides songwriting?

I do a lot of writing. I write poetry and short stories and just a lot of stream of consciousness stuff.  I’ve written a bunch of books of poetry that I mainly read to friends or women I’m in love with who will appreciate it.  But most of it is just for me.  I’ve been approached to have one of the books published, and a few of my poems have been published in compilations.  

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Chad Stokes & Friends Launch Charity Tour

Chad Stokes, Matt Embree w/ Lauren Coleman & Friends Tour Dates:
12/1/2010 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
12/3/2010 – Toronto, ON – The Rivoli
12/4/2010 – Buffalo, NY – Ninth Ward
12/5/2010 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
12/7/2010 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
12/8/2010 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
12/10/2010 – Boston, MA – House of Blues 

Two years after launching Calling All Crows, a service organization dedicated to mobilizing musicians and their fans to empower women around the world, Chad Stokes has raised nearly $175,000 raised in support in Sudanese women. Fans have boasted over 8,000 hours of service to the cause.

Chad Stokes & Friends are set to launch their show December 1st in Chicago, IL at Lincoln Hall. All proceeds will benefit Calling All Crows. Fans are encouraged to bring pocket collected pocket change and bring it to the shows in support of Bringing Change to Women, a campaign aimed at closing the gap on their 2010 goal of raising $100,000 for Oxfam America to provide job training to Sudanese women.

Pre-show service projects focused on women’s empowerment, organized by Calling All Crows, will be announced for each city on the Chad Stokes & Friends Tour in the coming weeks. Matt Embree of Rx Bandits, Love You Moon,  Lauren Coleman of Pebaluna, The White Buffalo, and Bonnie Paine of Elephant Revival are among the lineup for the show.

A benefit show at the House of Blues on December 10th will serve as the tour’s finale and the centerpiece of Calling All Crow’s 3rd Annual Benefit Weekend in Boston, MA. A special Meet and Greet will be available for a $75 donation.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

by Emily Cassel 

The disappearance of the protest song

If you caught Jimmy Fallon’s October 24th performance in Matthews Arena, chances are you heard his opening number Car Wash for Peace, a charming little ditty in which Fallon lightheartedly asks us to put down our guns, pick up a sponge, and head to a Wal-Mart parking lot. Sure, this song is witty and clever, but it makes you wonder: where are all the real war protest songs?

This year marked the 40th anniversary of the three-day long stonerfest known as Woodstock, and while that inspired an influx of tie dyed tee shirts and a mediocre Demetri Martin movie, it seemed to stimulate little in the music industry. The past decade, while filled with political turmoil, terrorist attacks, and war in the Middle East, has been frightfully void of protest music.

It’s weird in a way that we don’t hear more from artists who are upset by the current state of our world, especially since music is so accessible now. In the ‘60s protest music was limited almost exclusively to folk musicians, with artists like Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Pete Seeger at the forefront. Now we have access to protest music in array of genres: Propaghandi and NOFX represent the punk scene, Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down for the metal-heads, and Spearhead and KRS-One hold it down for hip-hop. But for some reason, the songs filling up the airwaves are more often about “bitches and hoes” than change and peace. 

California’s Rx Bandits are known for their anti-war stance and socially conscious lyrics. Lead vocalist/guitarist Matt Embree, writes all of the lyrics for the band and believes that the absence of popular protest music can be attributed to the mindset of people tuning into the radio.

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