Webcuts Music

Being this is the only kind of Bloodletting that Webcuts would approve of, it’s certainly news worth reporting. Concrete Blonde’s classic third album Bloodletting is to celebrate its 20th anniversary (this trend is getting ridiculous – do band members sit around the master tapes with a cake and blow out candles?) with a re-release of the album with rare and unreleased tracks, and a US tour by the reformed band to commerate the moment.

Formed in Los Angeles in the early ’80s and signed to IRS Records in 1986, Concrete Blonde had their breakthrough moment in 1990 with their third album Bloodletting in which all three singles “Joey” “Caroline” and “Tomorrow, Wendy” enjoyed chart success (at least in Australia…). They followed this up with the less successful Walking in London in 1992 and equally so Mexican Moon in 1993, after which the band split. They reunited in 2001 with Group Therapy in 2002 and Mojave in 2004.

Due for release on July 13, the new Bloodletting features the album (remastered?) plus all attendant bonus tracks taken from the singles and one unreleased track in the extended version of “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)” in French. An opportunity was missed in not including a live album from that era and perhaps even a DVD of video clips and any other visual ephemera. I mean if you’re going to do the anniversary thing, do it in style!

Reforming for the first time in 5 years, vocalist/bassist Johnette Napolitano and guitarist James Mankey are to celebrate this milestone by performing the Bloodletting album in entirety. Having announced a dozen shows already in the US, we’ll graciously promote them out of the kindness of our hearts and perhaps in hope that Concrete Blonde holds an affectionate spot in their collective hearts for Europe, and in particular, London, so we can all get to see them again. It has been too long (and for some of us, never).

Bloodletting Reissue Tracklisting:

1. “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)”
2. “The Sky Is A Poisonous Garden”
3. “Caroline”
4. “Darkening Of The Light”
5. “I Don’t Need A Hero”
6. “Days And Days”
7. “The Beast”
8. “Lullabye”
9. “Joey”
10. “Tomorrow, Wendy”
11. “I Want You” [B-side of “Joey”]
12. “Little Wing” [B-side of “Caroline” CD single]
13. “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)” [French Extended Version]
14. “Roses Grow (Live) [B-side of “Caroline” CD single]
15. “The Sky Is A Poisonous Garden” (Live) [B-side of “Caroline” CD single]
16. “Tomorrow, Wendy” (Live) [B-side of “Caroline” CD single]

Bloodletting 20th anniversary tour dates:

June 8: Royal Boston, Boston, MA
June 10: Webster Hall, New York, NY
June 11: Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
June 12: The Vic, Chicago, IL
June 15: 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
June 16: Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
June 18: Granada Theatre, Dallas, TX
June 19: Emo’s, Austin, TX
June 21: Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada, CO
June 22: The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT
June 24: Showbox, Seattle, WA
June 26: Grand Ballroom-Regency, San Francisco, CA
June 28: Henry Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, CA