Beck's Information Limited Art Prints on the Way

As Beck aficionados and Pitchfork News freaks well know, Beck's latest opus, last year's The Information, came with snazzy do-it-yourself cover art.

More precisely, it came with a bunch of stickers and a blank grid, with the implication that you could design Beck's album cover any damn way you pleased, limited only by the illustrative imaginations of the 15+ artists at London-based Big Active who created the stickers. The hardest part, of course, was choosing which stickers to use and which to leave behind. Thankfully, for those who want it all, you'll soon get your chance.

Come May 1, LDN-based "online gallery" Product of God will begin selling limited edition prints of Big Active's Information artwork. We're talking a big ol' print that collects over 100 of the Information stickers, all conveniently arrayed on one visual plane.

Time truly is money with these prints, however, as they increase in price as more are snatched up-- and there are only 200 to begin with! Get your browsers revved up at 9 a.m. GMT (aka three in the morning in Chicago, four in New York) on May 1, as the prints go on sale with the initial price of £125 (aka $247.91, as of today). Did we mention all prints come signed by Beck himself?

With the release of this Beck print, Product of God springs to life. Check back there later this year for art from Big Active's Sanna Annukka (who did the lovely covers for Keane's Under the Iron Sea and its attendant singles), Kate Gibb (who's worked with Chemical Brothers and the Magic Numbers), and Dave Foldvari.

Oh, and those little Beck stickers won't stop there. From April 15-19, according to Beck's website, they star in an Information art exhibit at Tokyo's La Floret Museum.

Cat Power Powers Up Tour With July Dates

Unless you're big on schadenfreude, the new, freak-out-free Cat Power live thing can only be seen as an improvement; gone are the risks of dropping cold cash on fifteen minutes of bitter words and saltier tears, replaced instead by syrupy country-soul from the lovely Ms. Marshall and her band of Dirty Delta Blues-men. Fair trade, huh?

After her previously-reported late-spring dates kicking off later this month with a pair of Marshall solo stints and a festival, Cat Power and company will hit the road in early July for a run-up to the Pitchfork Music Festival. I'm excited. You're excited. We're all excited. [MORE...]

"Massively Disappointed" Sov Scraps Rest of UK Tour

Scientific types say it takes a good month for one's body to fully recuperate after losing just one night of sleep, so it's safe to assume that Lady Sovereign needs way more than a week to recover following a good 18 months of pretty much non-stop touring. And so it goes: having already canceled a pair of UK dates at her doctor's behest, Sov has gone ahead and scrapped the rest of her home country tour, citing exhaustion.

Said Sov's people in a statement on her website: "Sovereign's condition has not improved. She performed in Leeds yesterday but following the show her condition deteriorated, and with this continued illness [she] has been advised by her GP to rest & recover for a further week.

"Sorry to all the fans who had tickets for these shows...Sovereign is massively disappointed."

The four canceled dates: April 13 in London, April 14 in Bristol, April 16 in Norwich, and April 17 in Manchester. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

As mentioned, sly Sov did manage to squeak in that go-kart track date in Leeds last night, however, and she apparently tore it up-- if the "omg u were amazzin last nite!!!!1"s of her many MySpace "friends" are to be believed. At least, we hope they're talking about the Leeds gig.

For the moment, Lady Sovereign will still cross the Channel to play her EU dates next week, and she'll still try to stand tall during that humungous Gwen Stefani/Akon tour, even if doing so leaves her bedridden through early 2009.

Our advice to Sov: garlic! Works wonders for personal health, plus it'll ward off vampires-- and, more importantly, all those creepy guys who want to date you. [MORE...]

Prinzhorn Dance School Open for LCD Again
Are awesome

I suppose it's possible recent DFA signees Prinzhorn Dance School aren't as good as "You are the Space Invader" and "Eat, Sleep" make 'em out to be; I mean, if all I knew of Bell Biv DeVoe was "Poison" and "Do Me," I'd probably freak on them, too.

But not only are Prinzhorn's throbbing tracks slammin', Prinzhorn fan/label-head James Murphy's no dummy in the taste department (plus, the last record he twisted the dials on was pretty fly), which should allay any fears of letdown.

Murphy's called upon Prinzhorn to warm up for the North American leg of his LCD Soundsystem tour, kicking off the night after Coachella at San Francisco's Mezzanine. (They opened for them in the UK last month, too.) It's a friendly gesture on LCD's, for sure, but Murph-dog'd better look alive: Prinzhorn arguably do Mark E. Smith better than even "North American Scum" manages. [MORE...]

The National Join Arcade Fire for U.S. Dates

In what's being described (by me) as the record nerd double-bill of the second quarter, yarn spinning Brooklynites the National will bring seven loads of urban grittiness to the pomp and circumstance of the smoldering Arcade Fire, as the National have been announced as the opener for a string of previously-announced Arcade Fire dates.

With Neon Bible-thumpin' and Boxer vs. Alligator debate concurrently reaching fever pitch, these will be hot tickets, for sure. Or rather, were hot tickets, as most of the shows are sold out already. So expect to give a scalper something you'd only give your significant other on his/her birthday.

In other Arcade Fire news, their "Keep the Car Running" single drops May 5 in the U.S. In other National news, they're touring with Arcade Fire. OMFG 4 REALZZZ. [MORE...]

Photos: Kaiser Chiefs / The Walkmen [New York, NY; 04/12/07]

Photos by Kathryn Yu

The mob that greeted Kaiser Chiefs and the Walkmen last night at New York City's Roseland Ballroom was anything but angry. Indeed, according to Pitchfork photographer Kathryn Yu, that mob was comprised primarily of girls, several of whom were zealously waving the red-and-white flag of England. Kaisers frontman Ricky Wilson mirrored the enthusiasm of the gathered masses, treating show-goers to some impressive onstage theatrics, including a bunch of his trademark jumps.

The Kaiser Chiefs and the Walkmen continue touring in tandem through the end of the month, after which the former breaks off for a heap of EU and festival dates.

KAISER CHIEFS





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The Faint Tour, Make People Dance
They don't see nothin' wrong with a little bump'n'grind

Synth-doodling, three-shades-from-Jock Jams sex-poppers the Faint have a mess of tour dates sure to smear your Maybelline and work you up so anticipatory for their forthcoming (they swear!) follow up to 2004's Wet From Birth. Pack your age of consent flash cards; the Faint is for the kids.

In other Faint news, some wily Fainter or another helped Jet by Day's David Matysiak gather Coyote Bones, as we reported yesterday. [MORE...]

Klaxons, Rapture, Man Man Boost Indie Radio
So do Dinosaur Jr., Tapes 'n Tapes, Voxtrot, more!

Urban Outfitters-- home of the $35 ironic, threadbare t-shirt-- has partnered up with a bunch of broke-ass radio stations and Toyota Yaris (the first car made exclusively for hipsters). And what, you may inquire, has this alliance wrought? An Oprah-style auto giveaway? Comped Bayside Tigers tees?

Nah, even better: FreeYrRadio, an initiative designed with the three-pronged goal of supporting independent/college radio stations, boosting brand awareness, and giving free indie rock shows away to everybody!

FreeYrRadio will put on a series of afternoon performances in the bowels of Urban Outfitters stores around the country, all the while making it rain on local airwave-fillers. It'll work like this: First and foremost, bands will play; you'll need to run off an invite from the FreeYrRadio website, but a little dot matrix action makes for an awfully cheap date with the likes of Klaxons, the Rapture, Man Man, Dinosaur Jr. Voxtrot, Tapes 'n Tapes, Annuals, the Ponys, the Long Winters, and Rogue Wave.

Yaris is also donating a car to each station, which can be used for fund raising purposes. Each band will be asked for suggestions for modifying the car, and those modifications will be realized in a drawing posted on the FreeYrRadio website. Whoever ends up with the car gets $5000 to pimp their ride. So if Man Man suggests planting a tree in the trunk and painting it neon yellow, go for it!

Additionally, proceeds from a FreeYrRadio CD sold through the Urban Outfitters website will go to the stations.

Sounds pretty complicated, but I'll take a free show over pledge-drive-borne guilt and a crappy totebag any day.

The current schedule is below, with shows in Los Angeles, Boulder, Cleveland, and New Haven to follow. [MORE...]

Flaming Lips Bring U.F.O.s to the Zoo on DVD
Unidentified Flaming Objects

On July 10, the aliens descend, and the elephants rejoice. For on that day, Warner Bros. Records will rocket the Flaming Lips DVD U.F.O.s at the Zoo: The Legendary Concert in Oklahoma City into the stratosphere.

As previously reported, the DVD captures a September 15, 2006 show at the Zoo Amphitheater in the band's hometown. And yes, there is a homemade U.F.O. on stage. There is also probably fake blood, santa and/or animal costumes, and Wayne Coyne in a giant bubble.

According to a press release, "live tracks will be interspersed with backstage sneak peeks and various absurd events of the day preparing for the big homecoming spectacle." And not only do you get the whole movie, but you get "MP3s of the audio, digital artwork, [and] a ringtone application, which will allow fans to make and buy their own Lips ringtones." Ooh, I hope you can make a Yoshimi screaming ringtone!

The set also includes "a PDF of the art booklet, Buddy icons, photos, and various digital extras." Tabs of acid not included. Sorry. You have to buy your own.

Don't forget that the Lips contributed not one but two songs to the forthcoming Spider-Man 3 soundtrack: the awesomely titled "The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How to Be in Love" and a take on the Spider-Man theme song for the deluxe edition of the album.

They're also on tour and working on a musical. [MORE...]

Photos: Klaxons [Boston, MA; 04/11/07]

Once deemed an illegitimate band by U.S. government officials, Klaxons finally got their visas approved and crashed Stateside shores at last earlier this week. Perfect timing, too: the trio's debut LP Myths of the Near Future hit shelves over here just a couple weeks back via Rinse/DGC. According to photographer Josh Bean, who took the shots here, the band spent a good portion of its set at Boston/Allston's Great Scott last night asking everyone where the frat party was. Dudes, who needs that racket when you've got a rave brewing up right before your feet?

Klaxons' North American foray continues tomorrow night in Brooklyn.




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Sub Pop Signs Grand Archives and Sera Cahoone

Grand Archives photo by Renee McMahon
Sera Cahoone photo by Chris Zasche

They may only have had Carissa's Wierd in their clutches for a 7" before the cherished Pacific Northwest act parted ways, but Sub Pop's sure making a stake on the Carissa legacy. Already home to Band of Horses-- fronted by ex-Wierdo Ben Bridwell-- Sub Pop has rolled out the welcome mat for two more Carissa's alums: ex-CW drummer Sera Cahoone and ex-CW frontman Mat Brooke's new outfit Grand Archives, recently profiled over in Forkcast. Incestuously enough, both of these vets also appear on Band of Horses' Everything All the Time.

Cahoone played drums on Everything and self-released her self-titled debut-- on which she sings and plays guitar-- back in February 2006. She'll treat show-goers at Seattle's Neumos to some back porch country-folk tunes on June 10, appearing alongside Okkervil River at the Noise for the Needy benefit. No news yet on her first Sub Pop release, but we'll certainly keep y'all posted.

Carissa's co-lead vocalist and co-lead songwriter Mat Brooke, a founding member of Band of Horses (and the short-lived Nov. 16), played on Everything and Horses' first tour (with Iron and Wine) before going off to do his own thing last year. His own thing, as it turned out, was Grand Archives (originally known as just Archives). Featuring four harmonizing male vocalists, the band already has a sweet set of demos and will begin recording its debut for Sub Pop soon. Until then, catch a glimpse of Grand Archives through 200 yards of baseball caps as they open the first leg of the Modest Mouse tour. [MORE...]

Conor Oberst Costco Guitar Explained!

That was fast. Almost as soon as a Conor Oberst signed guitar showed up for sale on bulk retailer Costco's website, it disappeared. So what happened? Sorry, conspiracy theorists, it wasn't some evil corporate plot or some sort of sell-out move. It was merely an accident.

First Act, the guitar company, issued the following statement:

"The guitar listed on the Costco website is a single guitar that was signed by Conor Oberst after an acoustic performance in New York on September 16th, 2005. Due to an internal mistake at First Act the guitar was put up for sale on the Costco website.

"First Act takes full responsibility for this error and had it removed from the site yesterday (April 11, 2007). In no way was Costco misrepresenting the item; it's actually an authentically signed guitar. First Act regrets the error, as the guitar was not intended to be sold to the public."

So that's that. Apologies to those who tried to buy a jar of 500 signed Conor Oberst guitars.

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.)