White Williams Announces 2008 Tour
Photo by Sanchez and KitaharaWhile his well-documented fun with Girl Talk and Dan Deacon may be over (except for one more show this month with the former-- in Atlantic City, bay-bee), the good times will continue to roll for White Williams in 2008. The singer/songwriter/melodica player has announced the dates of a January/February tour in support of his recently released debut, Smoke. It's his first headlining trek.
Among Williams' touring partners are Dirty Projectors, HEALTH, and Ecstatic Sunshine. [MORE...]
My Bloody Valentine Add Reunion Gigs
Who could've guessed it? Just yesterday, My Bloody Valentine announced their first proper gigs in, oh, forever, and it turns out quite a few of you out there showed some interest. So much interest, in fact, that the band has added four dates to its brief comeback tour, bringing the current grand total of ATP-presented MBV reunion gigs to a lean, mean seven.All the new dates stick to the same venues as the previously announced set; guess the thought of packing up all those effects pedals night after night is a bit too daunting just yet. [MORE...]
Lupe Fiasco Reveals The Cool Tracklist
He can has cheezburger
Due December 18 via 1st & 15th/Atlantic, The Cool features production from Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump, UNKLE, Chris & Drop, and Soundtrakk, according to Billboard.
True to form, the report says Lupe has fashioned The Cool as a concept album of sorts, featuring recurring characters such as Michael Young History, the Game ("a male personification of a hustler's damaging influences," not the Compton rapper), and the Streets ("a female embodiment of an urban area's corrupt allure," not Mike Skinner). Billboard also says The Cool features two mentions from Lupe of his plan to quit music after releasing the album's follow-up, titled L.U.P.N.
And yet, out-wtf-ing every other detail related to The Cool in the article is this morsel: "Perhaps the oddest song is 'Gotta Eat', which is apparently written from the perspective of a cheeseburger and is rife with food/life metaphors." [MORE...]
Photo by Shervin Lainez
Just a few days before wrapping their run of rescheduled U.S. dates, the Smashing Pumpkins have already made plans to tour European early next year. After a lucrative holiday season for the band, Billy's bunch will leave his beloved America and head to Serbia in late January to set off nearly over a month of gigs. UPDATE: More gigs added! And yes, this means the Smashing Pumpkins reunion tour will have played Budapest before it hits the band's hometown of Chicago.
Meanwhile, uh, did you know there's a post-grunge now? [MORE...]
Daniel Johnston Drops Vinyl, Sends Found to U.S.
Early next year, Daniel Johnston's 2006 UK release Lost and Found will make its way to North America for the first time ever on CD thanks to Johnston's own Eternal Yip Eye Music. The label will also serve up reissues of 2003's Mark Linkous collaboration Fear Yourself and 2004's Johnston tribute album Discovered, Covered, though release dates for those are also TBD at the moment.But enough about next year, what about this one? Well, two of Daniel Johnston's most beloved albums were recently reissued in North America from Eternal Yip Eye. Both Hi, How Are You and Yip/Jump Music have been pressed into vinyl for the first time in a decade and a half, and both come with a digital download of the disc from Johnston's new digital download site YipEyeTunes.com. And it's a good thing, too, since people are always looking at me funny when I take my portable turntable on the train.
Following a busy summer of touring, Johnston appears to be taking some time away from the road at the moment. His art, however, is always mobile, and it'll make its way to Philly next month for a show at Space 1026.
Howlin Rain Sign to American Recordings, Prep LP
Photo by Eden BaktiComets on Fire lead singer/co-founder Ethan Miller's Howlin Rain will unleash a downpour of San Fran psych rock from coast to coast next year, when the act's new label American Recordings (under the Columbia umbrella) joins with its old label Birdman to release Magnificient Fiend on CD and LP.
The new disc from Rick Rubin's latest signees is due sometime in the coming spring. A vinyl reissue of the band's self-titled debut will reportedly also emerge around the same time, whenever that may be. These left coasters and their laissez-faire attitude, I tell ya.
Watch for the Rain to move eastward along the Gulf Stream over the next few weeks, as the band heads from Cali to Europe to close out 2007. [MORE...]
Pixies Tribute LP Out Digitally, CD Due Soon
Tracklist amended: Mascis out, Mogwai, British Sea Power, Elk City in
On November 27, a CD of Dig for Fire will land in stores worldwide, featuring a cover photo by Simon Larbalestier, the guy who contributed the art to Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, and several Pixies EPs. It is not his best work.
A few things have changed in Dig for Fire's lengthy gestation period: the rumored Mogwai contribution has become fact, the participation of J Mascis/Dinosaur Jr. is kaput, and, well, now you know who's playing what. They Might Be Giants, the Rosebuds and OK Go each appear as expected; Elk City, British Sea Power, ex-Blake Baby John P. Strohm, and Joy Zipper have since joined on. [MORE...]
P.T. Anderson/Elliott Smith Film to Surface in 2008?
Jon Brion, Fiona Apple, Bette Midler, Rastafarian basketball players involved??
According to "DVD Magazine of Rare and Unseen Short Films" Wholphin (linked via fan mecca and "definitive P.T. Anderson resource" Cigarettes and Red Vines), the beloved director of such films as Magnolia, Boogie Nights, and the forthcoming, Jonny Greenwood-scored There Will Be Blood once made a little film involving the late Elliott Smith.
In this film, wrote Wholphin, Smith plays "a Rastafarian basketball player." Um, yeah.
While Smith's publicist confirmed said short film exists, further details on it are scant at best. We don't know its title, for one, nor whether it indeed, as Cigarettes and Red Vines has suggested, spun off from a proposed variety show featuring Smith pal Jon Brion.
The P.T. fansite quotes an unidentified Anderson interview from 2003 in which the director mentions a "thing we did as a test a few years back with Fiona [Apple], sweet Elliott Smith, the great Brad Mehldau, and Jon [Brion] at [Los Angeles'] Cello Studios."
"Look for a bizarre and wonderful Bette Midler cameo," added Anderson.
That thing, however, is "very simple, straightforward, no flashy pants-- just music." So, probably not the same as the basketball thing. Does this mean there are two P.T. Anderson-directed Elliott Smith films? Ack, my head hurts.
Whatever Anderson's got, it's presently stashed away in some storage unit in L.A., and the director won't have a chance to get at it until he wraps up promotional duties surrounding There Will Be Blood. At that point, Wholphin-- which originally intended to showcase the short in its Fall 2006 issue-- may very well share it with the world via Issue 6, due in mid-2008. Or they may not.
This wouldn't be a mystery without suspense, now would it?
Modest Mouse/Built to Spill Covers LP in the Works
Love as Laughter also in on the action
Sometimes, being the kind of nerd who reads Billboard magazine cover to cover every week can be rewarding. In the November 3 issue, the "Inside Track" column reported that the Shins are being heavily courted by Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock's Glacial Pace label, an imprint of Epic Records. But that isn't even the most interesting part of the column. That would be this sentence, tucked away at the end:
"In related news, word is that an album featuring Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, and Love as Laughter covering each other's material is in the pipeline for release by Epic next year."
Ooh, now we're talking.
According to Modest Mouse's publicist, the project is "not set in stone, as nothing has been recorded yet," and Built to Spill's publicist didn't know anything about it. UPDATE: Built to Spill's publicist says, "apparently this is only a rumor stemming from something Issac mentioned and nothing firm." But hey, it's still enough to fire up the imagination, right? I bet BTS would kill "Whenever You Breathe Out, I Breathe In (Positive Negative)", and I'd love to hear Brock tear into "The Plan". But that's just me. So let's make this happen, OK guys?
Built to Spill are quiet for the moment, taking a break from the mammoth tour in support of their last album, You in Reverse. Modest Mouse and Love as Laughter are on the road now, along with buddies Man Man. And from the looks of these photos posted on the Modest Mouse photoblog (taken by Pat Graham), their recent Canadian trek sure was fun:
The Fiery Furnaces Add More North American Dates
Photo by Amy Giunta
From their Widow City to yours, the Fiery Furnaces are en route. Embroiled in their current whirlwind spin around the world, the band have added a handful of North American dates leading up to their appearance at the Thrill Jockey Anniversary bash in Chicago.
Joined on this tour by Sebadoh's Jason Loewenstein and longtime drummer Robert D'Amico, the Friedberger siblings have reportedly been cutting back on the massive medleys that generally characterize their gigs in favor of playing a song, then letting the audience applaud, and then playing another song. Could this deliriously odd band finally be going, like, normal? Nah, not a chance of that. [MORE...]
Photo by Matt Ziegler
All dressed up with somewhere to go, the restless lot in Interpol have extended their tour into 2008, with a series of shows planned in February Down Under and in March in Brazil. The dates follow what's been quite a 2007 for the band, with the release of Our Love to Admire and an accompanying incessant touring schedule.
Perhaps a February-March trek to the southern hemisphere is their way of getting back the summer they toured straight through up here?
In other Interpol news, they've got that well-stuffed "bonus DVD deluxe" version of their Love coming to the UK next week. And reader Viktor Horst just pointed out yet another spiritual brother shared by the album art for Our Love to Admire: Kosheen's Resist.
Regina Spektor Collapses Before Nashville Gig
Nashville, Atlanta shows rescheduled
"Last night in Nashville, TN, following her sound check at The Ryman Auditorium, Regina Spektor was taken to a local hospital after collapsing due to a severe inner ear infection which caused a sudden case of vertigo. Regina was released late last night and is resting comfortably. Regina is extremely disappointed that she had to cancel on her fans but will return to The Ryman on December 6th, where all tickets will be honored or refunded."
UPDATE: Spektor has postponed her Atlanta show tonight (November 15) until December 5. She plans to continue the rest of the tour as scheduled, beginning November 16 in Norfolk, Virginia.
In other Spektor news, she's got that new 7" and a track on the Dan in Real Life soundtrack, plus she'll pop up on TV January 12 as part of "Austin City Limits". [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.)
Fri: 12-21-07: 07:00 AM CST
The Pitchfork Guide to New Year's Eve
Tue: 12-18-07: 04:30 PM CST
Indie Bands Sue Camel, Rolling Stone Over Ad
Tue: 12-18-07: 07:00 AM CST
Photos: Wu-Tang Clan [Chicago, IL; 12/15/07]
Mon: 12-17-07: 09:00 AM CST
Photos: Thrill Jockey 15th Anniversary [Chicago, IL; 12/14-12/15/07]
Fri: 12-14-07: 05:45 PM CST
Kim Deal Talks New Breeders Album, Pixies, German
- Country Singer J.D. "Cast" King R.I.P.
- Minor Threat Turns Condiment, But Ian Doesn't Mind
- Pollard Records 7" With Decemberists, Quasi Members
- Los Campesinos! Reveal Album Tracklist, Release Date
- Swell Return With New Album, Rarities Collection
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- Kim Deal Talks New Breeders Album, Pixies, German
- Country Singer J.D. "Cast" King R.I.P.
- Minor Threat Turns Condiment, But Ian Doesn't Mind
- Pollard Records 7" With Decemberists, Quasi Members
- Los Campesinos! Reveal Album Tracklist, Release Date
- Swell Return With New Album, Rarities Collection
- Mission of Burma Have a Burmese Mission
- Oldham, Faun Fables Release Letting Go Demos
- Photos: GZA Performs Liquid Swords [New York, NY; 12/13/07]
- Thrill Jockey B-Day Bash: Become Yr Fave Album Cover!
- The Decemberists to Return to the Road in January
- Rocket From the Crypt Resurrected on Live CD/DVD
- Lupe Fiasco Plots Sizable U.S. Tour, Cool Happenings
- Radiohead Reveal Cool In Rainbows CD Packaging
- Kindercore Serves Up Xmas Charity Comp/Comic Book
- Black Lips Release Very Limited Edition Single
- Portastatic, Annuals, Rosebuds Rock Trekky Recs Xmas
- Beach House Team With Papercuts for 2008 Tour
- Labels Seek Apology From Rolling Stone for Camel Ad
- Electrelane Organize Anti-Trafficking Benefit
- Donations Sought for Ailing Country Singer Cast King
- Madonna, Leonard Cohen Inducted Into Rock Hall
- Harry Potter Bands Rock Against Media Consolidation
- My Bloody Valentine Headline Benicassim Festival
- Sambassadeur Let Migration Free in the States
- Kevin Barnes, Jeff Mangum in Wacky Elephant 6 Movie
- Liars, No Age Announce Joint Tour
- Justice Release "Phantom" Single
- Stephen Malkmus Talks Trash
- Ike Turner R.I.P.
- Calexico Tour-Only Jams Now Digital Via Touch & Go
- Bradford Cox Publicly Apologizes to Samara Lubelski
- Yorke Preps 12"s With Field, Four Tet, Burial Remixes
- Diplo Remixes Spoon's "Don't You Evah" for Charity
- Robyn Invites Us to "Be Mine" on Latest Single, Dates
- Morrissey Reveals New Single Details
- Liars, No Age Members Team for Sissy Spacek Show
- Black Lips Add Tour Dates (Yep) Again
- Explosions to "Drop off the Face of the Earth" After Tour
- Yeasayer Announce Big 2008 Tour
- Final Fantasy Song Jacked for Ad Leads to
AngerLawsuitTotally Sweet Music Festival - Okkervil River Drop Free Covers Mixtape, Add Gigs
- The Mars Volta Whip Up More Dates
- Radiohead Pad Out Tour With New Dates
- Jens Lekman Plots 2008 Dates
- Photos: ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas [Minehead, England; 12/07-12/09/07]
- Marina Leaves Bonde do Role
- Ghostface, Raekwon, Kweli Guest on New Hi-Tek Disc
- Built to Spill Keep on Trucking Into 2008
- The Cure Lend Guitar to West Memphis Three Auction
- RZA Sets out on Solo Tour, Wu-Tang Clan Add Dates
- Un-T.V. Eye: December 10-16, 2007
- Various Production Leave XL, Plan Releases
- Clark Sneaks Out New EP, Preps Album, Tours
- Wilco to Play "The Complete Wilco" in Chicago
- Silver Mt. Zion Overcome Triskaidekaphobia on 13 Blues
- David Pajo's Dead Child Plan Attack on Quarterstick
- Cat Power Plans Charity Mission Abroad
- Bonde do Role Cancel Remaining Tour Dates
- Photos: Primavera Club Festival [Barcelona, Spain; 12/03-12/08/07]
- Mirah, the Blow Team Up for West Coast Tour
- Black Mountain Announce West Coast Dates
- Albert Hammond Jr. Talks New LP, Songcraft, Strokes
- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Add Winter Dates
- Too $hort(!) Contributes to In Rainbows Remix Record
- Robyn, I'm From Barcelona, Shining Play EuroSonic
- Karlheinz Stockhausen R.I.P.
- Kanye, Wilco, Flaming Lips Items in Darfur Auction
- Dead Meadow Herald New LP With Show, Pre-Release
- Waits, Weller, B-more Club on "The Wire" Soundtracks
- The Mountain Goats Reveal 2008 Dates
- Photos: Dewey Cox and the Hard Walkers [Chicago, IL; 12/06/07]
- Sufjan to Play Tibet House Benefit
- Bjork "Declares" New Single Details
- Underworld Reschedule Tour
- Murdoch, Albarn, Harvey Write Charity Postcards
- Dan Deacon to Greyhound Buses: Fuck You!
- HEALTH Sketch Out 2008 Dates
- Malkmus/Jicks Reveal Emotional Trash Tracklist
- Camel, Rolling Stone Under Fire for Indie Rock Ad
- DeVotchKa Sign to Anti-, Ready New Album
- Wilco Announce Spring U.S. Tour
- Mike Patton Lends Voice to Creatures in I Am Legend
- Nick Cave Announces Single, Soundtrack Releases
- Photos: David Shrigley's Worried Noodles in Concert [New York, NY; 12/05/07]
- Bauhaus Mark Final Breakup With Final Album
- Destroyer, Amy Millan, Tokyo Police Club on CBC Comp
- Photos: Yo La Tengo Hanukkah Show [Hoboken, NJ; 12/04/07]
- Atlas Sound Announces North American Tour
- Hot Chip Reveal Intimate U.S. Shows
- Nas, Rihanna, Method Man Rarities on Def Jam Comp
- Jason Isbell (ex-Drive-By Truckers) Does Big Tour
- Photos: Kevin Drew with Metric's Jimmy Shaw and Chikita Violenta [Mexico City, Mexico; 12/03/07]
- Antony Announces New Album Title, Bjork Video
- Silver Jews Reveal Lookout Tracklist, 2008 Live Plans
- Earth Return With New Album, Live Dates
- M.A.N.D.Y. Craft Fabric 38 With Boratto, Booka Shade
- Photos: Deerhoof with Ken Kagami [Miami, FL; 12/04/07]
- Radiohead Freeloading to End December 10
- Art Brut Line Up 2008 Dates
- Nick Lowe Reissues, Expands Jesus of Cool
- The Futureheads Reunite With the Road
- The Moldy Peaches Reunite for Juno Premiere
- The Breeders Return With Mountain Battles
- Destroyer Brings Trouble in Dreams on New Album
- Blue Note Collects Classic Hip-Hop Sample Material
- Mike Ladd Sends Nostalgialator Stateside via Def Jux
- R.I.P. UGK's Pimp C
- Hersh, Donelly on All-Female Neil Young Tribute CD
- New Autechre Album Due in March
- Merge Bundles Big Dipper Albums Into Remastered Set
- Morrissey Brings the Pain to NME Via Blog
- Jeff Tweedy, Cool Kids Rock for Obama
- Regina Spektor Further Postpones Shows
- Radiohead Further Flesh Out European Tour Itinerary
- Aesop Rock Plots 2008 European Tour
- Yo La Tengo Freewheel Into 2008 on Tour
- Photos: The Clean / Times New Viking [New York, NY; 12/01/07]
- Super Furry Animals Tour, Do Gigs With Fiery Furnaces
- Witch, RTX, Turbonegro Kickstart Volcom Singles Club
- Daniel Lanois Unveils Sixth Solo Album, Film
- Rare Book Room Comp (Ft. Avey Tare, Deerhunter, Silver Jews) Release Details Announced
- Un-T.V. Eye: December 3-9, 2007
- Devin the Dude + France + Architecture in Helsinki = !?
- Joanna Newsom Lines Up More Orchestral Dates
- T.I., Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire on Crunk Hits Vol 4
- Maximo Park Celebrate Hometown With Beer, Bus Tour
- Constantines Issue Limited Edition 7"
- Radiohead Firm Up Tour a Wee Bit
- Born Ruffians to Issue Colorful Debut LP in Spring
- Califone, Sparhawk, Kozelek Help Do Presidential Songs
- Pumpkins, JAMC, QOTSA, Air, CSS Rock Aussie V Fest
- Lupe Fiasco Talks The Cool, Cheeseburgers, Retirement
- Mahjongg to Finally Issue New Record on K
- Blood on the Wall Ready Third Album
- Sufjan's Literary Event Back On for December 17
- Klaxons Go Crazy for France on Latest Single
- Foals Sign to Sub Pop in U.S.
- The Mars Volta Reveal Dates, Puzzling Download
- The Mary Onettes Issue Debut in the States
- The Teenagers Lust for Scarlett Johansson on Single
- Jackson Reissues Thriller With Kanye, will.i.am, Akon
- Band of Horses Sandwich Tour With More Dates
- New Portishead Album Due in April
- Radiohead's "Jigsaw" Single Details Fall Into Place
- Dean & Britta, Keren Ann Link Up for Spring Tour
- Stars Extend Tour Even More
- Shia LaBeouf Working on Cage Biopic
- Child Ballads (ex-Jonathan Fire*Eater) Send EP to U.S.
- Morrissey to Sue NME Over Immigration Remarks
- Boris Smile for New Album
- U.S. Gets Hey Willpower [ft. Imperial Teen, Tussle] LP
- St. Vincent Extends Tour
- Merge Auctions Arcade Fire, Spoon Posters for Charity
- Weird Weeds, Future Rapper Play Chris Schlarb Events
- Black Lips, Deerhunter, Mastodon to Appear in ATL Doc
- MMJ Sell Live "Oregon Trail" Picture Disc for Charity
- Growing Sign to the Social Registry for 7", Mini-Album
- Beyonce's Sister Solange Samples Boards of Canada
- Radiohead Announce More Tour Dates, Sorta
- Vetiver Plan Remix 12", Covers Album, New LP
- Belle & Sebastian Fete Glasgow in Calendar
- Pinback Play a Bevy of Radio Station Christmas Shows
- Be Your Own Pet Get Awkward on New LP
- The Locust's Van Robbed
- Forrest, Lucky Dragons Do Deathbomb Arc Tape Club
- Hot Chip, Optimo, Studio, Maps Remix Love Is All
- Tonight's Sufjan Stevens Literary Event Postponed
- Driver Who Killed Silkworm Drummer Sentenced
- Gutter Twins Announce Release Date, Shows
- Photos: Electrelane [Glasgow, Scotland; 11/27/07]
- Editors, Hot Hot Heat Link Up for Winter Tour
- Morrissey Signs to Polydor/Decca in UK
- Photos: Los Campesinos! / The Most Serene Republic [Los Angeles, CA; 11/27/07]
- Sufjan, Bjork, Arcade Fire in Rock for Kids Auction
- Evangelicals' New Album Descends on Dead Oceans
- The Big Sleep Record Forever, Tour With Thermals
- Black Lips Announce Huge 2008 Tour
- Jens Lekman, A Place to Bury Strangers Join P4K ATP
- New My Bloody Valentine Album: Not Digital-Only
- Fogarino/Franklin's Setting Suns EP Finally Emerges
- Crystal Castles Reveal Debut LP Details
- The Rumble Strips Postpone U.S. Dates
- Interpol Live, Remix EPs Available Right Now
- Radiohead Announce First 2008 Dates
- Kanye West Makes Nice With Evel Knievel
- Bright Eyes' Oberst Forms Band With M. Ward?
- Ryan Adams and the Cardinals Line Up West Coast Tour
- Lavender Diamond Join Traveling John Waters Xmas
- Arcade Fire Add More 2008 Dates
- Coil Issue Naples as Vinyl Box Set With Bonus LP
- Weezer LP6 Site Declared Hoax, Alone Pushed Back
- Simian Mobile Disco Hustle Into 2008 With More Shows
- R.E.M.'s Mills Plays New Orleans Charity Event in D.C.
- Herbert Seeks Phoned-In Vocals for New Big Band LP
- Un-T.V. Eye: November 26-December 3, 2007
- Richard Hawley Steps Out on Stage and Screen
- The Clean Plan Some Shows
- James Murphy, Nelly Furtado on Fucked Up Holiday 7"
- Wu-Tang Clan Reveal 8 Diagrams Tracklist, Add Dates
- Morrissey Plans 2008 Gigs
- Photos: Dinosaur Jr. [Boston, MA; 11/24/07]
- My Bloody Valentine Plan Digital Self-Release for LP
- DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist Join for "Hard Sell" Tour
- Ellen Page Talks Juno Soundtrack, Kimya Dawson
- New Pornographers Host XM Show, Issue iTunes Single
- Prefuse 73, Books, Petra Haden Rework Cornelius on EP
- Baroness Roll Over East Coast on Tour
- Horse Feathers Sign to Kill Rock Stars
- Lookout, the Next Silver Jews LP Has a Title
- DMC, De La Soul, Raekwon Play Jam Master Jay Benefit
- Circulatory System, Daedelus, Liz Janes Play Athens Fest
- Bruce Springsteen and Band Add Even More 2008 Dates
- Justice, Peaches, 2 Live Crew, A-Trak Do NYE in L.A.