January 13, 2010
Happy New Year! A prosperous 2010 to all. Lots going on with the DMG. Grupo Fantasma is busy recording away and the material is sounding incredible. Look for this new release in May. I've also started consulting for an extremely talented singer-songwriter named Amy Cook. I'll be helping to maximize the release of her new album Let the Light In (due out on April 6th) which is the first album produced by Alejandro Escovedo. The songs, lyrics, production and special guests (Patty Griffin, Ben Kweller, Tosca String Quartet and more) are incredible and it's going to be a blast to work with everyone involved in this project - Bunkhouse Management, Giant Noise, Songlines and of course Amy!
November 3, 2009
Back from Copenhagen and the WOMEX conference. Incredible city although beyond expensive. Took a day trip into Malmo, Sweden as well. Grupo Fantasma's showcase was great and they are now hunkered down in the studio for a few months to record the next album. Here's a nice shot of one of the canals in Copenhagen, although I admit I didn't take this picture.
September 11, 2009
The new Brownout album is here! Aguilas and Cobras on Six Degrees Records will hit on Tuesday, September 15th. Texas CD Release parties include tonight (Fri, Sep 11) at Luna Live in San Antonio and tomorrow (Sat, Sep 12) at the Mohawk in Austin.
FREE mp3 download of "Olvidalo" from the new album HERE.
The guys will hit the road next week for a quick run through the southwest and California.
Wed, Sep 16 - Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
Thu, Sep 17 (early) - Century City, CA @ KCRW World Music on the Terrace
Thu, Sep 17 (late) - Santa Monica, CA @ Afrofunke (Zanzibar)
Fri, Sep 18 - San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room
Sat, Sep 19 - Fullerton, CA @ Continental Room
Sun, Sep 20 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe's Alley
More information on the album and tour dates at Brownout's myspace page.
June 3, 2009
The Stingers album release party dates for This Time Around are right around the corner! Friday, June 5th in San Antonio at the Blue Bubble Ballroom and Saturday, June 6th at Flamingo Cantina in Austin. Jonny and the gang are fresh off of a three week European tour and the shows should be off the hook! CD, mp3, and vinyl available at Mossburg Music.
March 12, 2009
Several of the DMG's clients will be performing official showcases during SXSW next week in Austin.
January 28, 2009
Headed out to Los Angeles for Grammy weekend. Grupo Fantasma will be playing a gig at the Knitting Factory Hollywood on Friday, February 6th.
December 4, 2008
Grupo Fantasma's Sonidos Gold has been nominated for a Grammy in the 'Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album' category! Today is a wonderful day.
The DMG welcomes its newest addition...my son! Solomon Pablo Lobel was born on October 31st. Good looking kid. Mom's side for sure. His favorite record so far is Eric Dolphy's Out to Lunch.
October 10, 2008
Having fun with Larry Harlow! He'll be at Antone's in Austin this Saturday night with Grupo Fantasma, and then a screening of the documentary "Through the Eyes of Larry Harlow: El Judio Maravilloso" will take place on Sunday (4pm) at the Alamo Downtown. So many great stories...
September 15, 2008
I have just returned from an amazing and intense experience...a ten day trip to Iraq (via Kuwait) with Grupo Fantasma. Absolutely incredible. You can read about our travels via the Iraq blog on the Fantasma website HERE.
August 19, 2008
Grupo Fantasma's 'El Sabio Soy Yo' from their new album Sonidos Gold is featured this week as "Song of the week / Cancion de la semana" on iTunes Latino. The promotion starts today and ends next Monday night. Click HERE to download the song for free!
The band is also featured as the cover story in this week's Pollstar Magazine.
Jonny Meyers is back it at this weekend in NYC! This Friday night, August 22nd, at The National Underground. His set begins at 9pm in the downstairs room. The whole night of a great lineup of music begins at 7pm and goes until 1am.
July 23, 2008
Sorry for the lack of updates! It's been a very busy summer so far. Just got back from Holland and the incredible North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. Also enjoyed a day off in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. Off to Europe again with Grupo Fantasma for a week (Belgium, England, & Ireland), so be sure to check out their show at Antone's in Austin this Saturday night, July 26th.
June 11, 2008
I'm off to the massive Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival today. Grupo Fantasma performs tomorrow night (Thurs, June 12th) and I'll be checking out the festivities on Friday as well. Looking forward to seeing Willie Nelson, Raconteurs, Les Claypool, and a few others. Should be a good one!
May 30, 2008
Grupo Fantasma's Austin CD Release Party for Sonidos Gold is tonight! Will take place at the Mohawk in downtown ATX, 912 Red River St. Doors are 9pm and DJ Chicken George will kick things off. The record hits the stores of North America on June 17th.
April 16, 2008
The new Grupo Fantasma record is done and will hit the streets of North America on June 17th, 2008. Twelve blazing new studio tracks featuring amazing guest artists - the legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker, Fania All-Stars pianist and arranger Larry Harlow, and trombonist Greg Boyer from Prince's band & Parliament Funkadelic. Absolutely incredible stuff and the freshest new sound in latin music!
Meanwhile in NYC, Jonny Meyers will hit the stage at the Knitting Factory Old Office with his brand new band. Check it out on Wednesday, April 30th at 9pm.
March 12, 2008
The DMG will be romping around SXSW this week right here in Austin. Catch Grupo Fantasma on Thursday, March 13th at Auditorium Shores (6pm) with Spoon & Del the Funky Homosapien. This is a free show and no badges or wristbands required. Later that night they'll be at Momo's as part of NPR & KUT's "All Music is World Music Showcase" at 11pm. Members of GF (Brownout, Ocote Soul Sounds, and more) will be playing all over town this week. Check it out!
March 3, 2008
Last night I went to see Built to Spill and the Meat Puppets at Stubb's in Austin. Let me explain a bit...I had actually seen the Meat Puppets at South Street Seaport in NYC in 10th grade, and I didn't really keep up with the band after that. I have to say I am a completely "re-converted" fan and have dug out all their albums from the storage room vaults! My wife had seen them open for Sonic Youth (another one of my favorite bands of all time) a while back, and after her rave reviews we immediately bought tickets for their show at the Parish a few months ago. Absolutely incredible once agan, so when tix went on sale for BTS & MP, we jumped on the opportunity. Great performances all around, perfect breezy & cool weather, and outright guitar driven insanity from Mr. Curt Kirkwood...and Doug Martsch isn't a slouch either!
Check out this excellent and inspiring Austin Chronicle article (July 20, 2007) on the Meat Puppets HERE.
January 16, 2008
Grupo Fantasma will be on tour on the west coast in February! The dates are:
Wed, Feb 13th - Cabazon, CA @ Morongo Casino
Thu, Feb 14th - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
Fri, Feb 15th - Sacramento, CA @ Harlow's
Sat, Feb 16th - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
Sun, Feb 17th - Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe's Alley
Mon, Feb 18th - Ashland, OR @ Mobius
Wed, Feb 20th - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Thu, Feb 21st - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Fri, Feb 22nd - Cumberland, BC @ The Waverly
Sat, Feb 23rd - Tofino, BC @ Legion
Sun, Feb 24th - Bellingham, WA @ Nightlight Lounge
Meanwhile check out this beautiful poster courtesy of Cassandra Ramirez for the band's Feb 2nd date at Antone's right here in Austin, TX!
December 21, 2007
We wish you a safe holiday season and a prosperous new year...lots of good stuff brewing for 2008, including a new Grupo Fantasma studio album and the official DMG launch of a very talented songwriter - Queens, NY's own Mr. Jonny Meyers. See you next year!
November 14, 2007
Grupo Fantasma's performance on Season 33 of Austin City Limits will air this week!! Be sure to check local listings for exact date and time in your area. The band is overjoyed to be a part of this amazing program, America's longest running televised concert series.
October 26, 2007
Cool Halloween show happening right here in Austin this weekend. The "Airesol All-Stars" featuring members of Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, DJ Bigface, and many more pay tribute to James Brown & the Fania All-Stars. Cafe Mundi - 1704 E 5th St.
October 11, 2007
Grupo Fantasma's airdate for their performance on Season 33 of Austin City Limits has been confirmed for November 17th, 2007. Be sure to check local listing for exact date and time.
September 20, 2007
The DMG has embarked on a great new relationship...full time management duties for the mighty latin music powerhouse, Grupo Fantasma. We are very excited to work in this capacity for such an incredible band!
September 17, 2007
Lots of great music at last weekend's ACL Festival. I was honored to perform with both Spoon and Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada.
September 5, 2007
Some good shows this weekend in Austin featuring members of Grupo Fantasma, Antibalas, Hairy Apes BMX, Echo Base Soundsystem and more. Lots of Latin funk, Afro-beat, and psychedelic sounds. Ocote Soul Sounds / Adrian Quesada at Lambert's this Thursday, September 6th @ 10pm (401 W 2nd St) and Brownout! CD Release Party w/ DJ's Manny & Bigface at the Mohawk on Saturday, September 8th @ 9:30pm (912 Red River).
August 24, 2007
Saw a great film last night called "When the Road Bends...Tales of a Gypsy Caravan" that documents the North American tour of various Romani/Gypsy bands a few years back. Great live and backstage footage, plus a look at the performers' lives in Romania, Macedonia, India, and Spain.
August 15, 2007
The uber-talented and multi-instrumentalist Chris Black (also the designer of this site!) heads out on a solo tour today. Dates are posted on his website.
Old & new school cumbia at its finest...DJ Toy Selectah of Control Machete fame is in Austin for a rare appearance this Thursday, August 16th @ Lamberts (401 W 2nd St).
Austin, TX - August 14, 2007
Welcome to the Diaspora Music Group, LLC website
We are very excited to be up and running! Our company is devoted to the career advancement of artists and music businesses. Feel free to browse the website for more information on some of our current clients and projects.
Checked out Ween this past Friday night at Stubbs BBQ here in Austin. What a show! They played close to three hours straight. Hadn’t seen them since the historic trio of performances recorded live in Austin a few years ago.
