RecaPitulation: Historics, Big Black, No Age, Mika Miko, Motörhead

What do the Icarus Line and Maroon 5 have in common? Well, both acts qualify as “bands,” they feature men and are based in L.A. You’d figure that’d be about it, right? Well, we’re not quite sure how to tell you this, but current and former members of both bands - along with peeps from VietNam, Favourite Sons and Fast Fourier - have actually formed a new group, called Historics. No, this isn’t a Buddyhead prank - at least, we don’t think it is. Because they’ve already released an album, the just-out Strategies for Apprehension (Metropolitan Indian). It sounds a little something like this:

“Skin Orders”

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Kool Keith’s also on the record. Yeah, this is one of the strangest things we’ve heard. Which is to say, heard about - the music itself sounds awfully safe. What’s next, Godspeed You! Black Emperor affiliates forming a polka band with someone from the Dave Matthews Band? …

Brooklyn label Factory 25, which was founded by ex-Plexifilm employee Matt Grady, has a film festival’s worth of cool DVDs in the hopper. The Damon & Naomi disc ”1001 Nights” (September 29) isn’t exaggerating: It’s filled with concert performances and other videos that were documented in almost a decade’s time, from 2001 to this year. Devotees will be tickled by one clip in particular, an ultra-rare performance of “Blue Thunder,” a song they made with their former crew, Galaxie 500. Ghost, Richard Youngs and the Clientele also show up on the 172-minute-long anthology. A month later, Touch and Go fans will be having a kanipshin when the label puts out “You Weren’t There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977-1984,” a documentary flaunting Big Black, Naked Raygun, Articles of Faith and a million other bands that are even more obscure. There’s also an accompanying LP bearing many of the same artists; that and the DVD drop October 27. From the very old to the very young, “High School Record,” due that same day, sports spots by members of No Age, Lavender Diamond and Mika Miko, although they’re not performing in it. Instead, the youngins are putting on their acting hats for a Sundance-selected movie about frustrated 17-year-olds. There’s a scene where a couple of the actors try to get it on in a science classroom, which might bust a gut or two. And also on 10/27, singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas does some soul-searching on “All the Way From Michigan Not Mars,” which finds her performing when she’s not introspecting. Longtime pallie Damien Jurado and newer friend Sufjan Stevens crop up too, while the vinyl of the same name has unreleased recording sessions between Thomas and Stevens, and others. That’s one busy Factory. …

What do you get when you cross Pyramids with Nadja? Uh, “Pyramids With Nadja.” The avant-guard experimental extremists and ambient drone-meisters have fallen in love with each other, and they’re giving birth to a new baby, due October 27 on Hydra Head. For the band’s (or, more accurately, bands’) self-titled, four-track release, even more musicians were invited to the party: James Plotkin, as well as members of Behold … the Arctopus, Mineral and Cocteau Twins (?). We’re especially curious to hear what the album’s final song, “An Angel Was Heard to Cry Over the City of Rome,” is all about. …

Speaking of marriages made in heaven, Hells Angels are all smiles after hearing word that Motörhead and Reverend Horton Heat are revving up for a joint tour. Ear drums will be shattered and cases of whiskey consumed starting August 28 in Minneapolis and petering out October 10 in Vegas. For three of the last shows, the dudes’ll be joined by some dudettes: Chelsea Girls, an intriguing-sounding covers band consisting of members of Hole, the Donnas and Nashville Pussy. The country-fried Laughin’ and Cryin’ With the Reverend Horton Heat (Yep Roc) lands in between, on September 1. …

Party like it’s 1989: Ween and Meat Puppets are colluding for two concerts, a September 4 show in Flagstaff, Arizona, and one two days later in Morrison, Colorado. And that’s that. …

When we reported yesterday on Saviours‘ plans to open for Dinosaur Jr. and Saint Vitus, we hadn’t yet learned that they also plan to spend some time on the road with Kylesa. The red-eyed bands will be milling about - along with Bison b.c., Lionize and Red Fang - from September 30 in Hollywood through October 14 in Cleveland. …

And, finally, a coupla quick album previews for the headbangers. As we knew we would be, we’re thoroughly impressed with Baroness‘ Blue Record (October 13, Relapse). At times explorative, it’s still way tighter than their inaugural Red Album, which meandered a little. It’s so taut, in fact, that it could graduate the Atlantans from sludge to pure rock status. …

On the flipside, we’re bummed in a big way about 3 Inches of Blood’s Here Waits Thy Doom (September 8, Century Media). Two years ago, the Canucks put out a thoroughly righteous death-metal record, Fire Up the Blades, but for their new effort, they decided to look backward instead of forward. With a renewed emphasis on their early Viking-power-metal material, the record - which sounds like it was recorded in someone’s garage - would’ve made more sense had it come out in 2003, between the band’s rough-sounding first two records. Beyond the decline in production, it also seems 3 Inches have lost some of their bombast thanks to the departure of second vocalist Jamie Hooper, the screamer. Justin Hagberg’s guitar skills are undeniable, his screaming skills ain’t. This sucks, we were ready to hear some killer new songs from them when they open for In Flames later this year. But the Night Marauders have left us high and dry.