Of Nick Lowe, NPR once observed, “Few musicians get better with age, Nick Lowe is an exception.”

His latest album The Old Magic continues Lowe’s late-career evolution with arguably his best collection yet. Amidst urbanely insistent grooves (“Sensitive Man”), and spare-yet-imposing shuffles (“Checkout Time”), The Old Magic features three exceptional Lowe ballads – album opener “Stoplight Roses,” “House for Sale” and “I Read A Lot.” As is his custom, Lowe also peppers the album with three covers — by Elvis Costello, Tom T. Hall and Jeff West — that fit seamlessly with his originals. The Old Magic might be the album title equivalent of calling your shot, but for Nick Lowe it seems more a simple statement of fact.

Available at indie stores everywhere on September 13!

Mick Barr is a nomadic American musician, composer and performer currently based in the NYC/NJ area. Notable for his relentless speed and agility on guitar and avant-garde compositions. He has been an active musician for almost twenty years and has released over 40 recordings. He is most known for his work with the technical duos Orthrelm and Crom Tech, the progressive black metal band Krallice, as well as his 2 solo projects Octis and Ocrilim. He has released records with notable labels such as Tzadik, Ipecac, Profound Lore, Hydrahead and Kill Rock Stars. He has also been an active improviser, releasing records and playing alongside greats such as Zach Hill, Weasel Walter, John Zorn and Milford Graves among many others. He was named one of the 50 fastest guitarists of all time by Guitar World magazine in 2008. In 2009 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.

In 2010 he debuted a new set comprised of a through-composed 40 minute piece for solo guitar. The recording of this work, which is the first proper release under his own name, is being released on LP by Safety Meeting Records based in Mick’s homeland of New Haven, CT. The LPs are now available for pre-order. 500 copies of the album were pressed, the first 150 coming with letterpress paste-on jackets, the other 350 come with reverseboard printed jackets. All records include a letterpress poster insert illustrated by Mick and printed here in the Elm City by Jeff Mueller at Dexterity Press.

6 Cover Songs features cover songs from Urban Waste, Pixies, Crisis, Eddie and the Subtitles, Vile and Wire, and were recorded with Dan Rathbun as outtakes during the Rohnert Park recording session. The Covers EP pays homage to a few of the artists that have influenced Ceremony along the way and will continue to inspire them.

Three limited editions are available — Clear vinyl with screenprinted B side; Black vinyl with laser-etched B side; and Red vinyl with screenprinted B side, a HUGE 24×36 inch poster (featuring a photo by Burkhard Muller), and a 2 color 4″x4″ sticker.  Hit up Bridge 9 to grab one or all!

Looking for something new to move you?  Check out the new Buffalo Clover album – Low Down Time, available from Nashville’s Palaver Records.

Buffalo Clover is a rare plant that grows in the wake of stampeding buffalo. It is also the name of one of Nashville’s most eclectic bands. Fronted by songstress Margo Price, the group draws its inspiration from true roots music. Price and her husband/co-writer, Jeremy Ivey, formed the band after meeting in Nashville in 2008. Their styles range from underdog gypsy punk to Motown boxcar blues, Vaudevillian acid rock to train wreck folk. Their songs are unique yet familiar with a lyrical craft rarely present in popular music.

The musical line up of the group has changed over the years, but the core has remained the same. With the meeting of guitar/banjo player, Matt Gardner in 2009, the band added the talents of another great writer and performer. The three have played with a rotating cast of musicians. Bass player, Jason White has also been an important part of the group since 2008.

Check out this great review for our buds at Bark and Hiss Records’ Trouble Books & Mark McGuire – Self Titled LP!

This is a collaborate album recorded/assembled mostly in late 2010 – early 2011 with Mark McGuire.  Released on LP  in conjunction with WAGON in June (first pressing, transparent red vinyl) / July 2011 (second pressing, transparent orange vinyl).