Primus Pictures

Maynard James Keenan’s Puscifer: Tool Leader Speaks on Enigmatic Side Project

When you say the name of Maynard James Keenan’s new recording project, Puscifer, it is “Pus as in Puss’n'Boots,” says the Tool singer on a recent afternoon at Electric Lady Studios in New York. “Not as in a boil,” he adds with a dry chuckle. Keenan, working on the record on a rare day away from Tool’s current world tour, explains that Puscifer “is my attempt to make music to inspire people. Heavy rock is sinking, the industry is dying. This is definitely not thinking man’s music” — elliptically referring to Tool’s dense, serpentine metal — “but groove-oriented music that makes you feel good.” The music Keenan previews at Electric Lady is suitably provocative, with a good-time roll. “Queen B” features a bee’s nest of overlapping, processed vocals — including Keenan’s own deep country baritone — over noir-ish hip-hop drumming, like Keenan’s previous side outing, A Perfect Circle, in Tennessee-midnight-radio dub. “Dojo” is marching percussion and sinister electronics with what sounds like the death gulp of a Duane Eddy-treble guitar. “World Up My Ass” is Keenan’s version of the 1980 Circle Jerks song — total psychic collapse as straight-up backwoods fun. “Country Boner” is delightfully offensive and something of an antique — a cover of a song by the Illinois garage band Electric Sheep, which featured pre-Tool guitarist Adam Jones and his high school buddy, Tom Morello, later in Rage Against The Machine. Keenan describes Puscifer as “more of a collaboration” than a group. Contributors include Primus drummer Tim Alexander, guitarist-soundscaper Jonny Polonsky and, on vocals, Lisa Germano and actress Milla Jovovich. And Keenan says the music could end up as more than just an album, which he expects to issue in October. “I’d like to release it in different ways — maybe two songs at a time, every three

Published: 2007-07-19 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

New Rothbury Festival to Hit U.S. in July: Matthews, Mayer, Snoop, Modest Mouse

A new, environmentally conscious music festival is about to hit the ever-growing U.S. market July 4th weekend: AEG Live (the folks behind Coachella) and Madison House Presents are introducing the Rothbury Festival, to be held in Rothbury, Michigan on July 3rd through 6th at the idyllic Double JJ Ranch near Lake Michigan. Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh & Friends, Modest Mouse, 311 and Snoop Dogg are among the many confirmed acts, and organizers say the festival’s goal is to draw attention to climate change and clean energy alternatives. To wit, the weekend will feature a think tank featuring panel discussions on those climate concerns, an energy fair where attendees can get their hands on related technology and products, and the festivals’ campgrounds will strive for a zero-waste experience via composting, carbon-offsetting and more strategies (alternative lodging will also be available for festival-goers who don’t want to pitch a tent). For the initial lineup announcement — the fest promises more than seventy bands on eight stages — keep reading. The first batch of tickets go on sale February 27th at the fest’s official site. Dave Matthews Band Widespread Panic John Mayer 311 Phil Lesh and Friends Primus Thievery Corporation Snoop Dogg Modest Mouse Michael Franti and Spearhead Gov’t Mule Sound Tribe Sector Nine Colbie Caillat Slightly Stoopid The Black Keys Yonder Mountain String Band with Jon Fishman Gogol Bordello Citizen Cope Keller Williams and The WMD’S The Disco Biscuits Medeski Martin & Wood Ray LaMontagne Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival Drive-By Truckers Of Montreal The Dresden Dolls Gomez Brett Dennen Taj Mahal Mike Gordon Zappa Plays Zappa Crystal Method DJ Set JJ Grey & MOFRO The Greyboy Allstars The Secret Machines Beth Orton Jakob Dylan and the Green Mountain Rebels A 3 Bettye Lavette Lotus Yard Dogs Road Show State Radio The Beautiful Girls Sage Franc

Published: 2008-02-13 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News