Friday, January 30th:
Au w/ Midway & Joseph Gillenwater
Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN

Friday, February 6th:
Hello City: A showcase of local music at Big Ears 2009
Bright Shuttle, Double Muslims, Fecal Japan, Mountains of Moss, New Madrid, & Psychic Baos
Catalyst in the Old City (formerly Blue Cats)
show at midnight

Friday, February 27th:
Bright Shuttle w/ Ian Henderson & TBA
Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN

New Madrid “Operation Aquarius” Sokno Records This CD-R is a grab bag of tunes from the sessions that produced a split 7” on the Laboratory Standard Recordings label. Questionable origin aside, “Operation Aquarius” is a cohesive, LP-worthy collection of country-fried slow-burning psychedelic gems from this mysterious Knoxville quintet. It’s been a long time since a band flying the ‘country-rock’ flag (or really, I should say ‘country-psych’) has turned my head, but New Madrid’s combination of quality song writing (even the covers that they do seem to sound original under their direction) and instrumental prowess forces one to take notice.The male/female vocals from Bill Warden and Lou Vesser carry a slightly downtrodden, off-kilter tone – as if they’ve been to several dark places and are singing their way to a sort of redemption. The effect is almost spiritual, even when the lyrics are espousing their penchant for cocaine (to the band’s credit, this only occurs on a cover song). Furthermore, the expressive violin playing of Liz Tapp and Cain Blanchard (one of the owners of Laboratory Standard Recordings, who also plays bass) adds a hint of sorrow to the already world-weary proceedings.There is a lack of information available on the web regarding New Madrid, so I’m assuming that the band’s presence outside of Knoxville is almost negligible. This is a shame, as this crew of half-broken songsmiths deserves to be recognized, and “Operation Aquarius” is the proof. Someone reissue this on vinyl, please!! 9/10 — Bryon Hayes (14 January, 2009)

http://www.foxydigitalis.com/foxyd/reviews.php?which=3980

Buy Operation Aquarius Now from the distro page or our MySpace site.

LSR-006 is at the presses! Bright Shuttle formed sometime in the Eocene. The central figure in the group is guitarist Scott Murrin (Dark Logik, Newport, others), and the group has included a host of local Knoxville musicians as collaborators. Cold Nice Gold was recorded over many months in the group’s subterranean rehearsal space using a variety of technologies. Mixed by Murrin and percussionist/found sound/digitologist Tre Berney, LSR-006 is our first Long-Player release. What you’ll get is two lengthy sides of rocky soundscapes, basement mixes, and one fever dream. 300 pressed and numbered. Handmade covers made by local hands.

Track Listing
The Mountain City
Outer Dark
Flowers
Smatterings
Spooks
Meeho
Taking Up His Hammer
When It Gets Here
Caves
Out February 2009