It looks like Green Day has gotten an early jump on what could be the album of the summer. They just don't want any credit for it.
In similar fashion to when they transformed themselves from pop-punk also-rans (it was Time of Your Life's fault, really) into vitriolic, rock opera composers getting heaps of praise, the band has uprooted their identity again.
The trio released their latest album Stop Drop and Roll online Tuesday. Only you won't see the Green Day stamp anywhere on it -- this time around they're working under the pseudonym Foxboro Hottubs.
Rolling Stone reported that Foxboro apparently put a few tracks online in December but are only now owning up to the fact that it is in fact Green Day.
I checked out several of the tracks on their MySpace page this week and apart from Billie Joe Armstrong's unmistakable voice, the band has veered off and stepped back embracing garage rock with a dash of surf. But all of it's built to be played loud with the windows down.
Apparently well-known artists masquerading as other bands in search of a little room to breathe is the hip thing to do these days. Tom Petty has picked up the bass guitar and resurrected his band Mudcrutch from his pre-Heartbreaker days. Norah Jones even let loose her rocking (albeit soft) side with El Madmo. The band has an album due out May 29.
One hopeful thing here is that it looks like bands have learned that there's nothing wrong with trying something new under the guise of another name -- just as long as they don't get wrapped up in compensating for something they lack. Remember Garth Brooks' midlife crisis with the Chris Gaines thing? Nobody wants to see that again.
Inbox
I've been telling everyone this week about an e-mail I received from a woman in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She dropped me a line after last week's column to let me know that there are many out there who love Engelbert Humperdinck and to ask why I would consider his presence at the fair a downgrade. No offense to Mr. Humperdinck, who is not playing this year. I was only hoping for an act that didn't have their heyday at least 20 years ago.
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Downtown Kennewick's favorite mini-venue has posted a new round of shows on its website. On Saturday night, they have In Shining Armor, Andrew Coates, Jordan Nelson and Dinner Pelonca. But a ways off in June, they'll have the ambient indie band Cock and Swan from Bothell and a huge get in Rocky Votolato. The Seattle singer-songwriter played Sasquatch two years ago, so it'll be great to see him again in a more intimate setting. Check www.funkytonkrecords.com for the dates.
Red Room update
After I hunted down the Red Room owners a while back, it was right around now that they said things were going to get back up and running. Well their website now says different. They posted this statement on their website: "The Red Room is currently on hiatus you could say. There has been quite a bit of remodeling and a lot of just reworking how we can best serve the Tri-Cities as a music and art venue. Please be patient during this process and keep your eyes open for new shows closer to fall. ..."
*Jeremy Dutton: 582-1525; jdutton@tricityherald.com
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