...not really a proper update but a short note to say that the mailorder will be closed from March 31 until April 15 so any orders received during this time will ship on the 15th. Please pardon this inconvenience! We will honor the March Madness back catalog sale prices through the end of April in a small attempt to keep you as our friends.

In other quick news, the Fairways will be playing a round of shows in Japan next week...please see the groovy flier at right for complete details. The Windmills and Simpático will be playing a few shows in May along the East Coast: Thursday the 9th in New York, Friday the 10th in Philadelphia, and Saturday and Sunday the 11th and 12th in Washington. We'll post complete details on these shows, plus information on new releases and June shows with Sportique and Tender Trap, in the next web update the week of April 15th.

xx-Jimmy

Oh, is it March then? It's difficult to tell here in Washington because it's 80 degrees one day and 40 the next. Early March is typically a time when I ignore everything and focus exclusively on the NCAA college basketball tournament...except this year my North Carolina Tarheels have just ended a record streak of 20-win seasons with, believe it or not, a 20-loss season. Accordingly, they are assured absolutely no postseason play. So I'll be rooting for the Kentucky Wildcats and local heroes the Maryland Terrapins (plus whichever team is playing Duke) in the Big Dance later this month, and sponsoring my own sort of March Madness (details below) to keep me occupied.

March is a big new release month here, with albums from Simpático, Would-Be-Goods and the Lucksmiths all on tap. First up is the debut LP from Australia's Simpático entitled "The Difference Between Alone & Lonely" (matcd016). Simpático is one of several projects currently occupying the time of former Sweet William vocalist and guitarist Jason Sweeney. The smarties among you already know this, of course, having bought last year's "Postal Museum" EP and troubled me ever since asking when the album's out. And now it is! Well, technically it's out on the 11th but you can buy one right now via our sharp new Order page. Twelve new tracks...no overlap with the EP...in lovely digipak with photos of the Australian countryside and somebody's dog. Complete details are now up on the Catalog page.

Just after that on the 25th is the long-awaited third album "Brief Lives" (matcd017) from London's Would-Be-Goods! Jessica Griffin and co. return with a value-packed 16-track release containing no overlap with the "Emmanuelle Béart" EP released last September on Matinée or the "Sugar Mummy" 7" released in January on Fortuna POP! Release details are up now on the Catalog page, and you can preorder the disc as we speak via the Order page to assure having it in your hands as quickly as possible.

Also out March 25th is a new 14-song CD from Australian hitmakers The Lucksmiths! Entitled "Where Were We?" (matcd019), the album compiles non-album tracks from various singles and compilation appearances onto one handy five-inch silver disc sure to be on the shopping list of popkids everywhere. The album features six songs unreleased in the US, including a superb new one called "A Downside to the Upstairs" with indie legend Pam Berry on backing vocals, oh yeah! Half of the songs previously appeared on vinyl only, so those of you who are turntable-less are in for an extra bonus. Release details are posted on the Catalog page, and you can preorder the album on the Order page, so what are you waiting for?

If you haven't already, you may wish to check out the recent releases from Pipas and Sportique as well. The debut 7" from Pipas is called "A Short Film About Sleeping" (matinée 035) and is flying off shelves around the globe. The band played its first ever live show last month in London to an enthusiastic crowd who were also treated to a brilliant surprise set from The Visitors! Yes, those Visitors... the ones who released a gem of a song called "Goldmining" on Sha La La flexi way back when and then resurfaced to compile the excellent "Miss" CD (matcd003) in 2000. We look forward to future live sets from both bands later in the year. In the meantime, hold your breath for the debut Pipas album later this year.

The bright ones among you also probably caught the Sportique outing at the Betsey Trotwood last month to celebrate their new release "Modern Museums" (matcd015). Also flying off the shelves (and into the CMJ charts), the new album perfectly captures the energy of Sportique's criminally infrequent live sets. Reviewed in the latest issue of Careless Talk Costs Lives, Everett True called the album "immaculate in a bittersweet, madcap, loud, petulant sort of way," adding "I want to marry it and have its children." We agree. Get it on CD and limited edition blue 10" vinyl...you know you want it! Londoners can catch Sportique live on the 27th this month with the Butterflies of Love as part of a Fortuna POP! night.

In forthcoming release news, we have the somewhat mythical debut 7" from The Snowdrops still on the way...the record features a cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" along with an original called "Don't Buy Anything" and we hope to have a release date set by the time of the next update. The band features an extra high quotient of popstardom in the form of Keith Girdler (Beaumont, Blueboy, etc.), Pam Berry (the Pines, Glo Worm, Shapiros, etc.) and Dick Preece (Lovejoy, Spinning Wheels, etc.) You'll love it.

The debut 7" from The Liberty Ship is now also on course for release...the artwork arriving yesterday in fact so we can get the sleeves printed. The single includes an original called "I Guess You Didn't See Her" and a cover of "She Don't Care About Time" from 60's favorites the Byrds. The band wowed the crowds in London last October when they played a Matinée show at the Notting Hill Arts Centre. Look for release info. next month.

Also in the works, the new "Do You Dream In Colour?" EP from Airport Girl...a stunning full length from Lovejoy called "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"...the return of The Fairways with a great new single...the legendary "R is for Razorcuts" compilation from Razorcuts...a new EP from The Windmills called "Walking Around the World" with (hopefully) a bonus video track...plus Matinée debuts from Kosmonaut, The Pines and The Guild League.

In response to everyone who wrote to ask why no Matinée bands ever play in the US, we have now confirmed US visits from The Windmills and Simpático in early May and will be booking shows along the East Coast between the 7th and 13th. Sportique plans a US tour this summer with new pop combo Tender Trap (Amelia, Rob and DJ from Marine Research, etc...) and they will hopefully be playing dates in various places across the country. Meanwhile, The Fairways, the only US band on the current Matinée roster, are heading to Japan for dates in April. Check back soon for complete details.

In press news, we categorically endorse the new British magazine Careless Talk Costs Lives, partly in support of its aim to put the NME out of business within a year but also because the writing is refreshing and the photos are superb. In addition to the Sportique review mentioned above, the magazine features excellent reviews of recent releases from The Windmills, The Siddeleys and Would-Be-Goods in its first two issues.

Among the Matinée all-stars, Pinoy Central continues to dazzle... this month featuring a great interview with Lovejoy. Don't miss the latest from IndiePages, Pennyblack, Tangents, In Love With These Times, Splendid or Tasty either because all are capable of greatness on a daily basis.

Finally, in accordance with the close of the college basketball season, we are having our own March Madness in the Matinée shop, where prices on all back catalog items are reduced for one month only. We'll be closed the first two weeks of April so please get your orders in early. If you want to stay hip with the kids, the top sellers for February were:

10. The Windmills - Sunlight CD
9. Lovejoy - Plays Biff Bang Pow! 7"
8. Pipas - Chunnel Autumnal 10"
7. Slipslide - Sleeptalk 7"
6. Harper Lee - Go Back To Bed CD
5. Would-Be-Goods - Sugar Mummy 7"
4. Would-Be-Goods - Emmanuelle Béart cdep
3. Sportique - Modern Museums CD
2. Harper Lee - Train Not Stopping cdep
1. Pipas - A Short Film About Sleeping 7"

Next update promises something really different...just you wait!

Cheers-

Jimmy xx