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. The Day in Rock - antiMUSIC.com's look at Today's Top Rock News Stories From Across the Web

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Do the Stray Cat Strut Again

PR reports: The Stray Cats put rockabilly back onto the charts after a two-decade absence with their sly "Stray Cat Strut" and series of early '80s recordings. The Long Island-weaned combo of Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom were influenced by the likes of Gene Vincent, Gene Cochran and Elvis Presley, and had not just the sound but the look down pat. Slim Jim married Britt Eckland and Setzer performed with superstars like Robert Plant and Stevie Nicks. But then the strut halted as the Cats went their separate ways.

The band's two comeback albums � Rock Therapy and Blast Off, recorded for EMI in 1986 and 1989 respectively � will be reissued by Hep Cat Records, sibling of Collectors' Choice Music on April 22, 2008. (Hep Cat recently reissued James Hunter's acclaimed original pre-Rounder recordings.) Liner notes on the reissues were penned by standup bass slapper Lee Rocker, now a solo artist on Alligator Records. - more on this story

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Lily Allen Off The Isle

Gigwise reports: Lily Allen will not be playing at this years Isle Of Wight Festival, according to festival organiser John Giddings.

Giddings said that Allen's representatives had told him that she won't have delivered her second record by the time the event takes place in June.

"I think the poor girl has got a few problems. Unfortunately England, although it produces good girl singer/songwriters, they don't seem to be capable of running the course," Giddings told eFestivals. - more on this story

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US Says No Way To UFO Visa Request

antiMusic reports: UFO aren't going to let a little thing like a visa stop them from touring the US. However, they are coming over with a temp bass player. Maybe next time they should just sneak over the border like everyone else in the world? Here is what the band had to say:

"The U.S. embassy in London has turned down Pete's [Way, bass] application for a working visa � even though the respective authorities in the U.S. homeland had already approved it. The U.S. embassy did not say why they turned down the application.

"We will now start to make arrangements for a bass player to stand in for Pete on the USA tour dates, and will let you know shortly who this will be." - more on this story

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Canada Deny Psyopus

Lambgoat reports: Psyopus will miss their Canadian tour dates with Today Is The Day, F*ck The Facts, and Complete Failure.

Guitarist Chris Arp is once again unable to cross the Canadian border, due to some previous legal issues. The band comments:

"Sorry again Canada. We have let you down twice. And we apologize greatly. The good news is that once we Arpmandude recieves his FBI Certificate of Clearance, his Certificate of Rehabilitation is basically guaranteed - more on this story

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Warner Music Go with Euro iTunes Alternative

Gigwise reports: A new deal between the Warner Music Group and the digital-download website 7digital looks set to threaten the dominance of Apple's iTunes service.

The deal allows people in some European countries to download music by Warner artists such as Madonna free of copyright protection.

The DRM-free MP3s can then be played on nearly all portable music devices, including Apple's iPods. - more on this story

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Joseph Arthur Plots Five Releases This Year

PR reports: Joseph Arthur, NY-based song-crafter and visual artist extraordinaire will be releasing a series of four solo EPs, all leading up to the glorious month of August, when the series culminates with the release of a full-length record featuring his band, The Lonely Astronauts.

We're basically going to be sending you a new freebie from each new EP, every month, from now until the release of the full-length, All You Need is Nothing, on August 5. How much does that rule? We'll also be serving up a bunch of other goodies along the way, so stay tuned.

The deluge begins March 18 with the release of EP 1: Could We Survive (Lonely Astronaut) a 6-track collection of orchestral songscapes and gorgeous atmospheric pop written, performed and produced by Arthur. Could We Survive opens with "Rages of Babylon," the kind of timeless anthem only Joseph could write, which you can check out - here

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Lou Reed Berlin Tour

PR reports: Lou Reed returns to Europe this June to perform the entirety of his 1973 landmark album Berlin. The European dates will see Reed performing with a 30-piece ensemble including his band, a string and horn section and a children's choir.

The European tour starts June 23rd in Cork, followed by dates in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Belgium and Spain. Due to popular demand for this prestigious show, Berlin will make a special return visit to London, Brussels and Paris.

Reed will perform three dates in the UK, including the prestigious London Royal Albert Hall on June 30th. He will also perform 'Berlin' at the Edinburgh Playhouse on June 25th, followed by the Nottingham Opera House on June 26th. - more on this story

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Crash Romeo Soph

PR reports: New Jersey's Crash Romeo is back with their sophomore album, GAVE ME THE CLAP, which is due out March 25 on Trustkill Records. The album was produced by Chris Badami (The Starting Line, The Early November).

A video for the album's first radio track, "Popular," was recently shot in New Jersey with director Jason Marsden (actor from "Full House," "Boy Meets World") and will be hitting the TV and Internet airwaves within the coming weeks.

"We think the new songs rock," exclaims singer Travis Weber. "This next record will have something for everyone. We have songs that make you dance, songs that make you want to party, songs that will make you cry, and songs that will make you just want to break something in your room." - more on this story

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Switches Add Dates

PR reports: Hot off their recent US tour with The Bravery, Switches aren't slowing down for a second, in fact they are going full force into SXSW playing a host of cool parties including Filter, Spin and NME and another West Coast run of dates have just been announced.

In between all the hard work though the lads also enjoy their play time (evidenced on their very funny video webisodes) and they are planning a big party for when they get back to Los Angeles to celebrate the US release of their debut album Lay Down the Law on March 18 with a very special show that night at The Roxy on Sunset Strip. - more on this story

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The Devil Went Down To Athfest

PR reports: ATHFEST 2008 will be held June 18-22, 2008, in historic downtown Athens, GA, a town long renowned for its thriving music scene. For the past eleven years, this annual music and arts festival has showcased the best in local, regional, and nationally recognized Athens-based talent.

Over 150 bands and artists will perform over the course of the weekend, with most performances free of charge to the public. The festival also includes a juried artisan market, the Flagpole Music Awards show, KidsFest, and much more. From 2005-2007, ATHFEST was included in the "TOP 20 Events for June" by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Each year, Athens-based Ghostmeat Records releases a compilation of local music, primarily of bands that will perform at festival. - more on this story

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Talking Opeth

PR reports: The latest episode of the Talking Metal podcast includes an interview hosts Mark Strigl and John Ostronomy conducted with Opeth members Mikael �kerfeldt and Fredrik �kesson.

Interview topics include Arch Enemy, Peter Lindgren, the new Watershed album, Travis Smith, Alice In Chains, Marie Fredriksson from Roxette, Porcupine Tree, and Nathalie Lorichs.

Additional podcast topics include Biomechanical, Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater, and Michael Bolton. New photos as well as the episode can be downloaded at this - location

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New Silver Jews in June

Filter reports: Silver Jews have announced many details surrounding their latest album, except for when it would finally be released. Now, that mystery is solved.

Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea will drop courtesy of Drag City on June 17th.

Dave Berman and company have also tweaked the album's track list since their last announcement, so check out the final version - here

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Liberty N' Justice Comp

PR reports: On April 1st, Versailles Records is excited to announce the release of Christian Rockers' Liberty N' Justice's Greatest Hits LP. Having released some of the millennium's most exciting rock, attracting many of the broader genre's biggest stars along the way, '4-All: The Best of LNJ' offers fans a collection of hits featuring guest-appearances from a roster of Rock 'N' Roll legends.

These guests include Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Sebastian Bach, Dale and Troy Thompson (of the legendary Christian Rock band BRIDE), Michael Sweet (Stryper), Leif Garrett, Mark Slaughter (Slaughter), Tony Harnell (x-TNT), Stephen Pearcey (RATT), John Corabi (RATT, ex-Motley Crue, Union, Brides of Destruction, The Scream), Jack Russell (Great White), Jani Lane (x-Warrant), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Kelly Keeling (Transiberrian Orchestra/Blue Murder/TSO), Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper Band, Skid Row, Ratt, L.A. Guns, Slash's Snakepit, Vince Neil Band), Jamie Rowe (Guardian), Doug Pinnick (Kings X), Derrick LeFevre (Lillian Axe), Richard Kendrick (Near Life Experience, Straitjacket Smile), and others!!

The collection additionally features liner notes by Hairball John of the Hairball John Radio Show- www.hairballjohnradioshow.com, as well as personal commentary from many of the participating guest-superstar artists on their various collaborations with Justin Murr/Liberty N' Justice over the past decade. More information about this release can be found at - www.versaillesrecords.com

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Ludo Road Plans

PR reports: Ludo hits the SXSW Conference on March 13th. The second half of March, Ludo will open shows for Presidents of the United States of America.

After four years of insane hard work, coast-to-coast survival touring, and endless trips back home to St. Louis, Island Records group Ludo claws their way to the top of the heap with "Love Me Dead," the first single and video from their major label album debut, YOU'RE AWFUL, I LOVE YOU, in stores now

03/5 Lincoln, NB Knickerbocker's
03/8 Tulsa, OK Crush Lounge
03/ 9 Lewisville, TX Fat Daddy's Sound Shack
03/10 Hot Springs, AR The Attic
03/13 Austin, TX Cedar Door (SXSW Conf.) - more on this story

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Deadwalk Into the Sun

PR reports: Montreal based Metal/Hardcore hybrid Deadwalk has officially signed with Year of the Sun Records for the release of their upcoming debut full-length. The band is currently writing and pre-producing tracks for their upcoming album which is being recorded late February/Early March 2008 at B-Side Studios with producer Frank Losier (Blessed By A Broken Heart). The group's new record will also be released in conjunction with Tribunal Records in The United States.

"We as a band, could not be happier to be signing this deal with Year of the Sun Records," states Deadwalk bassist Gates Pompizzi. "We might be a little different than some of the bands on the label, but diversity is what makes this label a family. We have been working hard, and we know that Year of the Sun has been working hard to make a name for themselves, And put themselves on the map, so it feels right for us to sign with them. We know they will do good things for us and we look forward to joining this family and putting the north back on the map." - more on this story

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.... Vader - Lead Us!!! EP

Polish death metal standard-bearers Vader grind on much like the diabolical war-machines they often sing of, there's just no stopping this ferocious foursome. The band have attacked with a EP/DVD of new material and crisply rendered music videos. - Read the full Vader - Lead Us!!! EP review

.... Mishka Shubaly - How to Make a Bad Situation Worse

I'm drunk. I'm drunk. I'm drunk. If you can understand those two words, the rest of How to Make a Bad Situation Worse is simply variations on those two words and all the perks that come with such a lifestyle. (3 stars) - Read the full Mishka Shubaly - How to Make a Bad Situation Worse review

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