San Francisco Bay Area-based power quintet Howlin Rain’s come howlin’ back with their third album, The Russian Wilds. Having been formed by bandleader-singer-guitarist Ethan Miller in 2004, as a melodic offshoot of blazing new-psych innovators Comets On Fire, Howlin Rain soon caught the attention of uber-producer Rick Rubin, who signed them to his American Recordings label and involved himself deeply in their subsequent musical evolution thereafter.

“There was a point when we were really trying to blend Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland, Steely Dan’s Gaucho and Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness On The Edge of Town,” says Ethan Miller. “I love the Boss’ singing, where he’s just blowing out his voice even when it’s just a pop ballad moment. And we were inspired by some of the grooves and close mic stuff on Gaucho, and by how Electric Ladyland runs the gamut from super long jams to blues numbers to drifting psychedelic pieces. There’s a sense of audacity to these records – a band chasing down strong, invisible connections – and there’s moments like that on our record. We didn’t always do the smartest or safest things [laughs].”

I’ve heard The Russian Wilds, and the album is incredible. If any of the above makes any sense to you, then you’ll want to pick up this record when it drops on Valentine’s Day. Check out “Phantom In the Valley” to get a first taste…

In the meantime, you can enter to win two tickets to see Howlin Rain on Tuesday at Mercury Lounge! The fucking fantastic D. Charles Speer & the Helix open the show. Just comment below with your favorite classic rock record. Or simply by Tweeting this post (tag it with @BBiB). Cool? Well, get to it then! Winner will be notified by Monday morning.

Greetings all,

Just a heads up that SF psych rockers Howlin Rain will be joining the Black Crowes for two legs of their fall 2008 tour this September and October (scroll down for complete dates) and have confirmed an appearance at Bonnaroo for Friday, June 13 @ 1:30AM (technically SAT, June 14). Featuring Comets on Fire co-founder and lead singer Ethan Miller and Drunk Horse’s Joel Robinow, the band has been touring for their acclaimed Birdman/American release, Magnificent Fiend, and will be hitting the UK and Europe in May for a series of dates and festivals, including All Tomorrows Parties. Check out Howlin Rain live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikr8OovhsNs&feature=related or listen at www.myspace.com/howlinrain

RECENT UK PRESS FOR THE BAND:

“�an impeccably pitched, retro-rock joy.” - The Guardian 4 stars (out of 5)

“Freed from the side project straitjacket Miller has pushed Howlin Rain to the forefront of the West Coast cosmic rock pulpit, right alongside his former outfit.”

- Uncut 4 stars (out of 5)

Their sun-baked, lyrically feverish chooglin’ is more textured and melodic on these addictive new jams�”- Mojo 4 stars (out of 5)

Click on through for tour dates with and without the Crowes…

TOUR DATES

May 1 2008 Belfast, Ireland @ Aunt Annie’s

May 2 2008 Tower Records Dublin, Ireland – In-Store appearance

May 2 2008 Dublin, Ireland @ Whelan’s

May 3 2008 Cork, Ireland @ Pine Lodge

May 4 2008 Salford, Manchester UK @ Sounds from the other city at the Kings Arms

May 5 2008 Birmingham, UK @ Custard Factory

May 6 2008 London, UK @ Luminaire

May 7 2008 Cornwall, UK @ Miss Peabody’s

May 8 2008 Cardiff, Wales @ Clwb Ifor Bach

May 9 2008 Camber Sands, UK @ All Tomorrow’s Parties

May 11 2008 Bristol, UK @ The Croft

May 12 2008 London, UK @ Scala

May 24 2008 Santa Cruz, Highway 9, CA @ Brookdale Lodge

May 28 2008 Arcata, CA @ Jambalaya

Jun 6 2008 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn

Jun 8 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree

Jun 7 2008 Boone, NC @ Black Cat

Jun 9 Nashville, TN @ The End

Jun 10 Off Day

Jun 11 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

Jun 12 2008 Knoxville, TN @ The Pilot Light

Jun 13 2008 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo 1:30AM (technically SAT June 14)

Jun 23 2008 Ardenal, Norway @ Hove Festival

Jun 25 2008 Gronigen, Netherlands @ Vera Club

Jun 26 2008 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso

Jun 27 2008 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Merlyn

Jul 19 2008 Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library

Jul 23 2008 Visalia, CA @ Howies

*ALL SHOWS OPENING FOR THE BLACK CROWES

Sep 10 2008 Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theater*

Sep 12 2008 Santa Rosa, CA @ Wells Fargo Center*

Sep 13 2008 Las Vegas, NV @ the Joint*

Sep 14 2008 TBA

Sep 16 2008 Mesa, AZ @ Ikeda Theatre (Mesa ARts Center)*

Sep 17 2008 Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater*

Sep 19 2008 Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara County Bowl*

Oct 7 2008 Richmond, VA @ The National*

Oct 8 2008 Richmond, VA @ The National*

Oct 11 2008 Albany, NY @ the Palace theater *

Oct 12 2008 Northampton, MA @ Calvin Theater*

Oct 17 2008 Boston, MA @ Boston Opera House*

Oct 18 2008 Buffalo, NY @ The Town Ballroom*

Oct 28 2008 New York City, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom*

Listen to this creepy sounding audio recording from 1860 that was just unearthed, just to prove that Thomas Edison wasn’t that great after all.  (You’ll find the audio in the left side middle of the article).  Pretty damn cool and even more lo-fi than your boy, Ariel Pink.

Required Classic Rock listening, in book form.  We just got a copy sent to work and I’ve been diggin’ in, as of today!  Of course it’s not totally complete (or it would be endless), but it’s always fun to read about hundreds of classic albums, when you’re me.

Hidden Track‘s got a nice review of one of my favorite newer bands, who I’ll be seeing Wednesday night at Mercury Lounge.

Oh yeah, I interviewed Jon Anderson from Yes last week.  Here’s the first few seconds of the 20-minute conversation with my female-pharynxed friend.  And yes, I was pretty damn nervous…I’ve only been listening to Yes records pretty regularly for over 25 years!

Josh found a killer new music blog.

This looks like the perfect time for a Guns N’ Roses reunion!

R.E.M. 

Take the new Rolling Stone music quiz…and see if you notice a mistake.  And leave your score below…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QSI85G3MDM&rel=1]