Pitchfork: Decemberist Funk Gathers Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble

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Decemberist Funk Gathers Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble
Covers Radiohead, Massive Attack, the Pretenders, Fleetwood Mac

Until now, Chris Funk's claim to fame as a Decemberist was getting swept away in a whirlwind of truth (oh, and playing guitar and more on all those records people seem to like). So, in striking out on his own, Funk called in backup, recruiting the help of Thom Yorke, Chrissie Hynde, Liz Fraser, and Lindsey Buckingham. Well, sorta.

May 15, Funk's Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble will release Plastic Bag in the Tree via Portland's Hush Records (aka the Decemberists' original home). It's a collection of capital-F Funk originals and a mess of covers, with the ensemble tackling the likes of Radiohead, Massive Attack, the Pretenders, and Fleetwood Mac. Far from the bombast of his other band, Flash Hawk could be described as bleary acid-folk written, as Funk says on the band's MySpace page, "in a haze fueled by fellowship, libations and other unmentionables."

Flash Hawk will take it to the streets on a few West Coast dates in between Decemberists tours. Peep MySpace for a gushing stream of tracks, including a take on Massive Attack's Mezzanine standout/House theme song "Teardrop". [MORE...]

Stream: Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble: Various Tracks

Posted by Paul Thompson in album, tour, sideproject on Tue: 04-24-07: 12:15 PM CDT | Permalink

Long Blondes Plot North American Tour at Last

Just in time for the June 5 release of Someone to Drive You Home in North America via Beggars, the Long Blondes have finally announced a tour of our fair continent as well.

The new dates start June 6 in Brooklyn and end June 15 in Los Angeles, but they come sandwiched in between the band's previously reported European and Japanese dates, which are currently scheduled from May through August. In early August, the Blondes beat the heat by embarking on an Australian tour. Thanks to alert reader Philip Runco for the heads up.

In related news, the Long Blondes contributed an art-inspired track called "The Unbearable Lightness of Buildings" to an audio-visual exhibit at London's Tate Modern. Beginning May 1, you may hear the track here. [MORE...]

Stream: The Long Blondes: Various Tracks

Posted by Dave Maher in tour on Tue: 04-24-07: 11:30 AM CDT | Permalink

San Fran Film Fest Gets Jonathan Richman, Xiu Xiu
Plus: Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Tarentel, more

The San Francisco Film Society's annual festival-- which celebrates its 50th anniversary with this year's event, going down April 26-May 10-- will host several events tying live music to a number of classic films.

May 5 sees a program titled Notes to a Toon Underground, which finds members of Xiu Xiu, Jason Lytle (late of Grandaddy), and a whole mess of others soundtracking 'toons with tunes of their own composition. April 27, noted San Fran oddball Jonathan Richman will also lay some noise behind Victor Sjöström's bizarre 1921 classic The Phantom Carriage.

Meanwhile, on May 10, Tarentel and Halou will help conjure a psychedelic multimedia experience at Mighty. Also appearing at the fest is actor/director Joan Chen, who'll provide narration for Guy Maddin's latest dizzying feature, Brand Upon the Brain! on May 7. Chen's work behind the lens of 1998's Xiu Xiu: the Sent Down Girl directly influenced the name of one of your favorite bands. No, not Rascal Flatts! Think harder.

Throughout the festival's two-week span, there'll be Bay natives performing film fest events; a full schedule can be found by clicking right here.

In related news, Jason Lytle plays the Club Pow! event at Sacramento's Press Club on May 7.

Posted by Paul Thompson in film on Tue: 04-24-07: 11:00 AM CDT | Permalink

Patti Smith Talks New LP, Rock Hall, Inspiration
"I had this dream that I heard this voice going 'you have to do [the Doors’] 'Soul Kitchen'." And I woke up and I go out on the street and then this truck comes and it’s blaring ‘Soul Kitchen’. I was like, 'OK. I'll do the damn song."

In 1974, poet, activist, and rocker Patti Smith, then dizzy with youth and desire, performed a poem, "Piss Factory", about inspecting pipe in Jersey. "You know the fiery potion is just about to come," she wrote. "I'm gonna be a big star and I will never return."

Last month, after nine albums, 33 years, and two children, Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the Ronettes, Van Halen, Grandmaster Flash, and Smith super-fans R.E.M. After dedicating the honor to Fred "Sonic" Smith, her late husband, she launched into her 1978 song "Rock n Roll Nigger"-- apparently her mother's favorite song, and also an indirect challenge to prim media outlets covering the concert. (The New York Times called it only "a punk anthem about being 'outside of society,'" which, uh, totally narrows things down.)

Today, April 24, Columbia will release Smith's tenth album, Twelve, which consists entirely of covers of the likes of Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and Nirvana. It features contributions from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Television guitarist Tom Verlaine, Smith's daughter Jesse and son Jackson, and playwright Sam Shepard, among others. On the morning of her induction, Smith spoke with Pitchfork about Twelve, politics, inspiration, that fiery potion and those big stars. [MORE...]

MP3: Patti Smith: Gimme Shelter (Rolling Stones cover) [from the Twelve LP]

Posted by Mairead Case in interview on Tue: 04-24-07: 06:00 AM CDT | Permalink

White Stripes Reveal Special Single Releases

The White Stripes are all set to Icky Thump their way back into our hearts on June 19 (June 18 in Europe)-- and celebrate their tenth anniversary-- but the first (and second) tastes of the forthcoming album will be for those who love the analog as much as the Stripes themselves.

According to the Stripes' website, the first of two 7" singles the duo will release prior to Icky's arrival is a limited edition, gatefold "Rag and Bone" single on red vinyl with an etching on the B-side. For a limited time, the single will come free with copies of the June 6 edition of NME.

The second single is the album's title track, which will come out on CD and white vinyl with an etching of its own on June 11. Apparently if you combine the two 7" B-side etchings, a hologram of Jack White appears and reveals to you the meaning of life and the whereabouts of D.B. Cooper's fortune. Or something. "Icky Thump" is also the album's first radio single.

The White Stripes still have a couple weeks' worth of tour dates in the first half of June, and they have added a show in Milan on June 7 and an appearance at the Ottawa Bluesfest in July since our last report. [MORE...]

Video: The White Stripes: Fell in Love With a Girl [from the White Blood Cells LP]

Posted by Dave Maher in single, tour on Mon: 04-23-07: 05:15 PM CDT | Permalink

Albarn Announces Extinction for Gorillaz?
Feel Bad, Inc.

Go ape, if you must; seems that following musical pencil-sketch Gorillaz's very-tentative upcoming Untitled Gorillaz Project (reportedly with Brazil director Terry Gilliam), the cartoon crossover will draw their last frame. Monkey man Damon Albarn set off a firestorm last week when he told a BBC2 interviewer that the next Gorillaz record "will be a film score. There won't be another pop record."

So that's it, then? Careful. An evasive Albarn made the above remark during a Thursday, April 19 chat with BBC2 host/lost Marx brother Steve Wright. Pressed further, Albarn told Wright: "Alright, I'll call every record I make a...Gorillaz pop record. Does it matter what record I make? It's just music, isn't it?"

He beats around the bush even more regarding Blur's status: "I really don't know," said Albarn when asked if the iconic Brit-pop act was still together. "I mean I think it's possible that we might be, but I'm really not sure that we are...it's just really difficult to explain in the formats that you're given."

Albarn did say "I'd always like to make another record," but balked at Wright's suggestion that this would be a Blur record. He does sorta have this other thing going on, after all. If you'd like to offer your own interpretation of Albarn's remarks-- and you have RealPlayer and three hours to spare-- check out last Thursday's complete Steve Wright broadcast here.

Video: Gorillaz: Dare [from the Demon Days LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson and Matthew Solarski in breakup, gossip on Mon: 04-23-07: 05:00 PM CDT | Permalink

Yorke Drops Hints on New Radiohead Album
They say true love waits, but we're too impatient

'Tis true: Radiohead could put a phlegmmy napkin on eBay and we'd probably run a story about it. But when their official blog hints that perhaps their latest album is nearing completion, we figure even the less-obsessed amongst you wanna know quick-like; we are, after all, speaking on Radiohead (my generation's Arcade Fire). Following a lengthy post about a British proposal to limit carbon emissions, Thom filled the Dead Air Space with this:

"radiohead starts up again having finally caught up on some sleep next week
i have a cd of what we;'ve been up to...
and you haven't.
yet.
(sorry)

i must listen to it, after taking an ear break
that always makes me nervous
hope you're well"

I am, Thom. Thanks for asking. By the way, could you maybe be a little more cryptic next time? KTHX.

One can only assume that a CD of what they've been up to isn't just AM Gold or something, but, rather, demos from the follow-up to 2003's Hail to the Thief. And, although they're starting up again, if they've got songs enough for a CD/an irritatingly brief snippet, they must be getting close to completion. Right?

Video: Radiohead: Karma Police [from the OK Computer LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in album, gossip on Mon: 04-23-07: 04:00 PM CDT | Permalink

Justin, Eminem, Timbaland, Dre Spice Up 50's Curtis

Oh no. Just when we thought the beef between 50 Cent and Cam'ron was over, 50 Cent announces that his third album's title is Curtis. It's not quite Cuuuuuuurrtiis, but it's close enough to make us think Mr. Jackson was either inspired by Cam'ron's rant, is firing back at the Harlem-based MC by embracing his own first name, or somehow has an excellent, self-deprecating sense of humor that eluded the public eye until now.

Timbaland, Dr. Dre, and Eminem all contribute production to the album, which also features an Eminem guest spot alongside vocal contributions from Justin Timberlake, Akon, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, and the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger.

Shady/Aftermath/Interscope will release Curtis on June 26, and its first single is "Straight to the Bank".

Stream: 50 Cent: Straight to the Bank [from the forthcoming Curtis LP]

Posted by Dave Maher in album, single on Mon: 04-23-07: 03:30 PM CDT | Permalink

Exclusive: Datarock Reveal North American Tour

Photo by Knut Åaserud

Dilated disco duo Datarock rang the travel agent, got the neighbor kid to mow the lawn, and canceled the paper; for the next few months, the punchy pair are embarking on a global trek in support of their just-reconfigured Datarock Datarock LP, available for the purposes of chest-clutching in North America June 12 courtesy of Nettwerk.

The trek includes a string of newly-minted North American dates, kicking off June 1 in Philly.

In other Datarock news, they'll release a brand new EP in their native Norway April 23. It features five tracks tipping their hoods to the Madchester sounds of which D-Rock are clearly so fond. No word on a U.S. release, but patience may be in order; after all, it took Datarock Datarock two years to get here. And besides, we Yanks always sorta appreciated that new-rave stuff better a few years after the fact. [MORE...]

MP3: Datarock: Sex Me Up [from the Datarock Datarock LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in exclusive, tour, EP on Mon: 04-23-07: 03:30 PM CDT | Permalink

Decemberists, Hold Steady, Interpol Pen Indie Recipes
Plus: Death Cab, Franz, Devendra, Belle & Sebastian, Walkmen, My Morning Jacket

Though we indie rock writers subsist on a combination of Chipotle and take-out thai, turns out the indie rockers we cover are deft with the self-styled num-nums. At least, that's the contention of Kara Zuaro's I Like Food, Food Tastes Good, a collection of recipes and various munchie-miscellany from the likes of Interpol, the Hold Steady, the Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, and over 100 others.

Peep the ingredient list from Devendra Banhart's contribution:

"RIGHT ON!!!!!!
here is my favorite recipe for:
AFRICANAS RICAS!
you shall require!
many bananas!
a box of graham crackers!!!
two eggs!!!
SOUR CREAM!!
HONEY!"

Right on, indeed.

Other I Like Food contributors include Belle & Sebastian, Grizzly Bear, Franz Ferdinand, Ted Leo, the Mountain Goats, My Morning Jacket, the Walkmen, Camera Obscura, Battles, Okkervil River, Drive-By Truckers, Shonen Knife, Smoosh, They Might Be Giants, and the Violent Femmes.

The book sees release tomorrow, April 24, with a string of events to go with it. There'll be a happy hour at Manhattan's Hi Fi (at which the Hold Steady's Galen Polivka is bartender) Wednesday (April 25), a release party at Union Pool May 5, and a May 17 in-store performance event at the Brooklyn Barnes & Noble.

Posted by Paul Thompson in book on Mon: 04-23-07: 03:00 PM CDT | Permalink

Dizzee Rascal Unveils Maths Tracklist, Cover

After much speculation, Dizzee Rascal's third album finally has a tracklist, a U.S. release date, and, um, some fuchsia cover art. Maths & English will arrive in classrooms (read: record stores) June 5 via Dirtee Stank/XL, and its previously reported June 4 UK release is still intact.

Eagle-eyed readers might notice that the Lily Allen-featuring tune, "Might As Well Quit", is absent from the tracklist. But don't worry Lily fans, the song just has a new name. It's now called "Wanna Be". That's right, a mere space and capital letter away from the Spice Girls' breakout hit. Maybe we should be worried?

Dizzee has added a few tour dates since our last update as well, and most of them are in the UK. His next goes down May 25 in Plymouth, England. [MORE...]

Video: Dizzee Rascal: Sirens [from the forthcoming Maths & English LP]

Posted by Dave Maher in album, tour on Mon: 04-23-07: 02:00 PM CDT | Permalink

Photos: Jarvis [New York, NY; 04/22/07]

Photos by Kathryn Yu

Caddish former Pulp fictioneer Jarvis Cocker swaggered into New York City's Webster Hall last night for his first gig on a brief North American tour, treating us Westerners to jams off his solo debut, Jarvis. That record finally hit Stateside shops earlier this month via Rough Trade. Catch Jarvis as he serenades a select few more cities on this continent, then crosses the Atlantic for a limited summer festival run.

[MORE...]

Posted by Pitchfork Staff in tour, photos on Mon: 04-23-07: 01:00 PM CDT | Permalink

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Fri: 04-27-07: 10:00 AM CDT
Modest Mouse, Interpol, TVotR Play Accelerator Fest