Wolf Parade/Ex-Hot Hot Heat Dude Readies Folk LP

In the late 1950s, a band comprised of three random British dudes named John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison entered a talent contest under the moniker Johnny and the Moondogs. They would later become the Beatles, arguably the greatest band in the history of everything.

Some 45 years later, a random Canadian dude named Dante DeCaro leaves some band called Hot Hot Heat to return home and jam with his old friend Lindy Gerrard (and, later, Mark Devoe). He soon joins Wolf Parade, arguably the greatest band among a certain demographic of fashionable young persons for at least two weeks in the fall of 2005. DeCaro also forms a ramshackle indie folk act with the aforementioned old friends, and calls that band: Johnny and the Moon.

Coincidence? Possibly. DeCaro's Johnny and the Moon claim their name came from a local folk tale. But we'd rather believe something cosmic is at work, and that they too, by name alone, are destined for greatness. I guess we can all find out on October 24, when British Columbian imprint Kill Devils Hills Records releases the eleven-track, self-titled debut by Johnny and the Moon. [MORE...]

Slumberland Records Wakes Up!

So it wasn't exactly gone, but beloved Berkeley/Oakland-based indie pop imprint Slumberland Records is officially back in action, having recently revamped its website and issued two new 7"s-- the label's first releases in three years.

King of Slumberland Michael Schulman (or Mike Slumberland, if we go by the indie pop system of nomenclature) told Pitchfork that while he has been keeping the label's mailorder operational all the while, the release front has been dormant because of "'real' job/life responsibilities that just take too much time...to really give enough attention to Slumberland" and "the rise of downloading and the near-collapse of sales of records/CDs."

"While I wouldn't exactly blame downloading/freeloading for the decline in sales Slumberland (and other small labels I know) has experienced," Mike went on to explain, "it's pretty clear that there are generations of music fans coming up that don't necessarily collect small bits of plastic of the music they like. For good or ill, labels like Slumberland have to deal with the economics of selling hundreds rather than thousands of any given release." [MORE...]

Two Gallants Speak Out About Houston Incident
"It's a sobering feeling to have the law be completely lawless, and feel like there's absolutely nothing I could do."

When Pitchfork reached Two Gallants on the phone yesterday to talk about the fiasco at their Houston, Texas show on Friday night, singer/guitarist Adam Stephens and drummer Tyson Vogel sounded tired, angry, and slightly bewildered. And they have every right to be.

"It's been a confusing few days," Stephens said. "I guess I'm getting over feeling absolutely powerless in a so-called free and democratic society. It's a sobering feeling to have the law be completely lawless, and feel like there's absolutely nothing I could do. I think everyone there that night felt the same."

Quick catch-up: On Friday night, the Saddle Creek band headlined a show at the Houston club Walter's on Washington. Trainwreck Riders and Langhorne Slim opened. After receiving a noise complaint, the Houston Police Department sent officer G.M. Rodriguez to the club. Rodriguez took the stage as Two Gallants played, and demanded that the band stop performing. When they refused, a melee ensued. Rodriguez shot several people with a Taser gun, and there were numerous arrests. Vogel and Trainwreck Riders vocalist/guitarist Andrew Kerwin and bassist Sean Kohler were arrested and spent the night in jail. Stephens was Tasered, but escaped.

On Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reported that HPD Sgt. Nate McDuell claimed that Rodriguez had been attacked and had acted out of self-defense. Stephens and Vogel said that was far from the truth, and explained their side of the story. [MORE...]

Jeff Tweedy Decks Rowdy Fan at Wilco Show
I am trying to break your face

We've seen Jeff Tweedy enter rehab, throw up in theaters, and dress homeless chic at Lollapalooza, but nothing could have prepared us for this one.

According to several reader reports, entries made on the Via Chicago and Flaming Lips fan message boards, and an interview with Pat Hagin, managing partner of the concert promotion company and nightclub the Pageant, last night's Wilco show at Springfield, MO's Shrine Mosque got a little out of hand.

According to an anonymous Pitchfork reader, Tweedy punched a rowdy fan in the face about 30 minutes into Wilco's set yesterday evening. "So some dude jumps on the stage," the reader claims. "After he gets on stage (who really does this at a Wilco show?), he runs up to Tweedy to give him a fat smooch on his cheek.

"Tweedy freaks out like the retard from [There's] Something About Mary who doesn't like having his ears touched and grabs the dude by his throat. While clinching to his throat, Jeff hauls off and decks him with a punch/open hand slap/shove to the face and [the] dude skirmishes away. Tweedy later apologizes (sort of) and hurries to the point of the set where they bow out before the encore."

Another show attendee e-mailed us, adding, "Tweedy had to comment. 'I mean, come on guys, we aren't used to that! You guys have to stay down there." [MORE...]

Luna's Dean & Britta Cover Donovan, More on EP

Indie rock's sexiest couple? They're certainly in the running. With Luna officially out to pasture, Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips now have plenty of time to focus on the important things, like being sexy, recording covers, and readying the follow-up to 2003's lovely L'Avventura. Today, October 17, Rounder/Zoë Records releases a brand new Dean & Britta EP, collecting four covers and a track from the forthcoming full length, due January 30.

The Words You Used to Say EP features the title track-- an original Wareham/Phillips composition set to appear on the new record-- and a quartet of covers: Donovan's "Colours", Bobby Darin's "Distractions, Pt. 1", folkie Michael Holland's "Since I Lay My Burden Down", and yes, Adam Green's "We're Not Supposed to Be Lovers".

Wareham has been getting around, co-producing an album by Holland's alter-ego Jule Brown, and playing on a recent record by Australia's the Sand Pebbles. The Best of Luna compilation dropped earlier this year. [MORE...]

Decemberists Launch Bi-Continental Tour

This evening, the bride is unveiled at last. Tonight in their hometown of Portland, the Decemberists begin their "Rout of the Patagons" tour in support of their latest album, The Crane Wife.

Colin Meloy and his shipmates' colossal North American trek features opening acts Lavender Diamond and Alasdair Roberts. After a lengthy winter break, the Decemberists will get a slew of shows going in Europe.

As previously reported, The Crane Wife will land in the UK on January 29, courtesy of Rough Trade. [MORE...]

Photos: Lily Allen [Chicago, IL; 10/16/06]

So Lily Allen more or less met expectations at Chicago's Double Door last night-- and expectations were admittedly low. Towing along a bassist, a keyboardist/laptop attendant, and a bored-looking horn section, she sleepwalked through set opener "LDN"-- nervously clutching a cigarette and gazing offstage, eyes glazed over, as though imagining all the places she'd rather be-- then launched into a rather tepid rendition of 50 Cent-jacking, non-album Granny dis track, "Nan, You're a Window Shopper".

Allen gained confidence as the set went on, but that set was barely 40 minutes long, so the confidence didn't get very far. Fair enough for a gal with only a couple mixes and one album, which doesn't hit the States until next year. And yet, one hopes for more onstage charisma from Allen, whose excellent Alright, Still shines with wit, a keen sense of humor, and yes, even heart.

Lily has a way to go before she can work a sizable crowd, but she does have the songs, and most in attendance here-- an Internet-savvy bunch, no doubt-- seemed to be enjoying themselves, whether intent on doing so no matter what, or too drunk to notice anything was lacking.

DJ Mark Ronson opened with a very impressive set of mash-ups, pureeing everything from Britney Spears, Lupe Fiasco, and Dizzee Rascal to Thom Yorke, the Smiths, and Regina Spektor. More than anyone else on stage last night, he actually seemed enthused to be performing.

Allen embarks on a tour of UK Academies and Universities this weekend, then opens two gigs for Scissor Sisters. Dates and more photos ahead. [MORE...]

Amy Millan Schedules Tour

Amy Millan has added a second leg to the North American tour in support of her solo debut album, Honey From the Tombs. The starry-eyed chanteuse will embark on a string of dates in November and early December, kicking off in Boston. She'll hit the East Coast, the West Coast, and absolutely nowhere in between. [MORE...]

Frida Hyvonen Preps Secretly Canadian Debut

Frida! Like a carillon knell through the storm, the name comes ringing down from the mountaintops to redeem the kingdom of music! Or something. Frida Hyvönen is a swell gal-- she's toured with Jens Lekman, José González, and the Concretes, and last spring released a fine album of spry, immediate piano-pop tunes on the Concretes' Licking Fingers imprint. Have we mentioned she's from pop hotspot Sweden?

Frida will finally get the U.S. indie kid audience she deserves come October 24, when Secretly Canadian re-releases the overtly Swedish gal's ten-track debut, Until Death Comes, here in the States. Frida co-produced the affair with the Bear Quartet's Jari Haapalainen and recorded it at Stockholm's Atlantis studio. This very record spawned the P4k hits "You Never Got Me Right" (four-star track review) and "I Drive My Friend" (Infinite Mixtape), and soon you will be able to cradle it in your very own quivering hands.

Until Death Comes also birthed a couple fine videos, including the stop-motion-happy "I Drive My Friend" and the Kate Bush-worthy "The Modern". Catch them both by clicking the links below.

Hyvönen plays a couple European shows in December, and is presently recording new arrangements of a number of tunes she wrote last year for a dance piece entitled "Pudel", by choreographer Dorte Olesens. [MORE...]

Stream Jeff Tweedy DVD Partially Now, Wholly Later
Plus Wilco on NPR

Jeff Tweedy's upcoming solo DVD, Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest, might be due out next Tuesday, October 24 on Nonesuch, but we won't have to wait that long for a taste of it.

Wilco recently uploaded "great sing-a-long" "The Thanks I Get" to their website in support of the aforementioned DVD. The track has been floating around the live/bootleg scene for a while now, and it's good to see it finally receive some official play.

Tweedy's smiley performance of the song paired with some serious audience participation really embodies the spirit of his solo show. My only recommendation is that fans scope it out on Wilco's official web page and not merely YouTube, as the latter version is a bit dark and fuzzy.

The full DVD will be available for streaming on WilcoWorld.net in the U.S. between 9pm on October 23 and 12am on October 24, so mark those calendars.

But that's not the only place to stream recent live Wilco tunes. As with Jenny Lewis, Sleater-Kinney, the White Stripes, and oh so many others, Tweedy and co. will rock NPR's online concert series for the second time (the first was February 2005). On October 19, the band's gig at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club will be broadcast live starting around 9pm. It will be archived for a year after its airdate.

Finally, both Wilco and Tweedy (solo) have a handful of dates lined up this fall, including two newly announced stints at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. [MORE...]

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)