The way the press keeps playing it up it would seem a veritable storm of glass is being shed from Austin's new W Hotel, but in reality the number of panels that have plummeted has been small, and engineers are already swarming over the now temporarily closed hotel removing glass panels and causing traffic tie ups downtown.

Also located in the W Hotel is Austin's latest live music venue, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, and though they have shut down todays events they plan on playing through the crisis.

According to ACL Live "No changes have been made to ACL Live's ongoing schedule. We have postponed tonight's Wine Down Wednesday event in order to give the engineers the freedom needed to carry out their duties."

So ACL Live concert ticket holders fear not, your show will go on.
(photo of Earth Wind & Fire at ACL LIve at the Moody Theater)

Japan's Shonen Knife have been the staple that has bound the Japanese Rock music scene together since their inception in Osaka in 1981. 2011 celebrates thirty years since the band began releasing albums of their mixture of pop, punk, food and fantasy and in celebration of this milestone Shonen Knife is paying tribute to one of their biggest musical inspira­tions … NYC’s legendary Ramones.

“Ramones were my all-time idols since I first heard their music from a radio and rushed to a record shop. This year is the 30th anniversary of Shonen Knife. For celebration, we decided to record a cover album of our favorite band the Ramones. The title is “Osaka Ramones” with our respect. I’m very happy to release an Osaka Ramones project and to recognize their contri­bution to the evolution of Shonen Knife“-Naoko, Shonen Knife

Osaka Ramones is not only the name of a tribute album, but also the name of the side project which has made its way in and out of Shonen Knife’s performing history for decades. This East meets West punk rock combination is now captured in an album recorded and mixed between Osaka, JP and New York over the last year and was co-produced by Robby Takac of the American rock band Goo Goo Dolls. Set for release July 19 on Takac’s label Good Charamel Records, the album will be supported by a North American tour, dates to be announced shortly.

TRACK LISTING

1. Blitzkrieg Bop
2. Rock and Roll High School
3. We Want The Airwaves
4. She’s The One
5. Rockaway Beach
6. Sheenah Is A Punk Rocker
7. Scattergun
8. Psychotherapy
9. The KKK Took My Baby Away
10. We’re A Happy Family
11. Chinese Rock
12. Beat on the Brat
13. Pinhead

Taylor, MI’s I Am Abomination has posted a brand new track "Abduction" on their official Facebook page. Part of their the upcoming new digital EP, Passion Of The Heist, to be released on July 19th, 2011, the EP includes guest appearances, including an appearance by ATTACK ATTACK’s Caleb Shomo on the track "Ascension".

""Abduction" is the first song I wrote for Passion Of The Heist," says guitarist Nick Sampson. "The result was beyond my expectation. It’s one of the more laid back songs on the EP technicality wise, but what it lacks in technicality, it makes up for in diversity and great structure."

The digital EP is being released by Good Fight Music, the same label that released I Am Abomination’s first critically acclaimed full-length album, To Our Forefathers.
Check out the new track at facebook.com/IAmAbominationMusic