AfterNews: TenaciousDB, RANA, UM/STS9

• One of the weirder collaborations at last weekend’s Rothbury Festival was between Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass and General Motors. GM sent Gass to promote their brand new GMnext initiative and he wound up creating a few hilarious viral videos with some of our favorite jambands including Perpetual Groove. Here’s a clip of the Disco Biscuits helping KG recover from a nasty case of Manic Groove Loss Syndrome:

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• Earlier this week we told you about RANA’s first gig since 2006 which goes down tonight in Troy. Well, ask and you shall receive because the Jersey boys are slated to play NYC’s Mercury Lounge on August 16. Something tells us tickets won’t last long for this one. In other news, Peter Shapiro of Wetlands, Green Apple Festival and Jammys fame told Gowanus Lounge that the new 16-lane bowling alley / rockin’ venue he’s opening in Williamsburg should be ready for action before the end of the year.

• Umphrey’s McGee and Sound Tribe Sector 9 kicked off their tour last night in Madison, WI after a lengthy rain delay. I’m surprised that no one from either band sat-in with the other band, but I guess it’s still early in the run. On a separate note, be sure to check out HT Contributor / UM Crew Member Wade Wilby’s first post on Umphrey’s official blog — The Floor.