Paul Westerberg has reactivated his Grandpaboy alter ego for a new studio album. “Dead Man Shake” will be released Oct. 7 via Fat Possum. The former Replacements frontman’s 2002 Vagrant debut, “Stereo,” was bundled with a Grandpaboy album titled “Mono.” A source describes “Dead Man Shake” as “good, sloppy heartfelt fun” and dabbling in blues, country and rock. An as-yet-unnamed track will be available for sampling shortly from Fat Possum’s Come Feel Me Tremble,” the soundtrack to a future DVD release. A new Westerberg solo album, “Folker,” is expected next spring.
— Jonathan Cohen and Wes Orshoski, N.Y.
Raphael Saadiq’s Pookie Entertainment label will on Oct. 14 release a live album “Raphael Saadiq: All Hits at the House of Blues.” Recorded July 3 at House of Blues in Los Angeles, the set features Saadiq reuniting with his former Tony! Toni! Tone! colleagues on such hits as “Anniversary,” “(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow” and “It Never Rains in Southern California.” Joi and D’Angelo also make appearances.To help promote the album, Saadiq is staging a California mini-tour. The Oakland native has scheduled stops in San Francisco (Aug. 20-21) and Sacramento (Aug. 22), which will again feature Tony! Toni! Tone! and Joi. Additional dates will be announced shortly.
— Gail Mitchell, L.A.
Country singer/songwriter Allison Moorer has signed with Durham, N.C.-based Sugar Hill Records, As previously reported, the artist recently parted ways with Universal South, for which she released two albums. She has also recorded for MCA Nashville.Moorer’s Sugar Hill debut is expected in 2004. The artist told Billboard.com last month she is writing new material with her husband, Butch Primm, and says there is the possibility of an acoustic tour taking shape this fall but nothing is confirmed.
— Todd Martens, L.A.