Blitzen Trapper Saddle Up for More Live Dates
On Blitzen!
With Wild Mountain Nation coming to vinyl on November 6 and a truckload of Taco Bell to keep them going until then, Blitzen Trapper will play a heap of shows in non-U.S. nations this fall.
First, though, they'll treat San Francisco to two gigs later this week. Then those UK and European dates begin in earnest in November. Buddies Two Gallants will be headlining the shows, just like on the current U.S. tour. [MORE...]
Stars of the Lid Plan Fall Tour
Sell specially made astronomy-themed Tupperware at shows
Ah, we spoke too soon. According to SOTL's MySpace, "There is a tour of North America being planned for April 2008." That's better! For now, though, the duo sets things off in Brighton, England on November 20. [MORE...]
Les Savy Fav, Phosphorescent, Bazan Play Troika Fest
Along with Bodies of Water, Jennifer O'Connor, Des Ark, Carol Bui, Rosebuds' Ivan Howard
The event is a three-part affair, kicking off at Durham, North Carolina's Duke Coffeehouse October 27 with Jennifer O'Connor, the Rosebuds' Ivan Howard, Darren Jesse (ex-Ben Folds Five), and others. Most of the action is split up over the weekend of November 1-3, with the likes of David Bazan, Phosphorescent, Bodies of Water, Megafaun, All Smiles, David Karsten Daniels, Carol Bui, Bellafea, and several dozen others spread among various Durham venues. They'll bring it all back November 16, when Les Savy Fav, Des Ark, and more play the very same Duke Coffeehouse. Consult the full schedule at the festival's website.
Will Oldham Covers R. Kelly, Bjork, Danzig on New LP
Sure, you knew he'd been hanging out with the guy. But did you ever think you'd hear Will Oldham's take on R. Kelly's triumphant "The World's Greatest"?
I suppose it's a little hard to say just what Oldham's gonna do next, but-- for now, at least-- we've got a notion: Bonnie "Prince" Billy's Ask Forgiveness, eight covers ably tackled in all their nimble glory by Oldham, Espers' Meg Baird and Greg Weeks, and cellist Maggie Wienk, due in the UK November 19 thanks to Domino Records (no word quite yet on a U.S. release). It will be released November 20 in the U.S. via Drag City.
From Björk to Danzig to Robert Sylvester Kelly, Ask Forgiveness runs just about every gamut imaginable-- and that's just three tunes. Committed to tape in an "off the hoof" fashion in Philly, the disc will
arrive on both CD and (for the club DJs out there, of course) vinyl. We've done our sleuth work, but are still looking into just who provided those other tunes' original versions: after all, there are a lot of songs named "My Life", and it would be silly for us to just assume it was the Mary J. Blige track, right? Much as we might wish it to be so? (Gosh, that'd be good.)
Although Drag City would confirm that the tracklist for the UK and U.S. versions would be the same, they declined to let us know exactly who did the originals of each song. "The mystery is sort of the fun part," said a publicist.
UPDATE: Drag City has revealed the rest of the covers. They include Mickey Newbury, Phil Ochs, Frank Sinatra, and the Mekons, as well as a Will Oldham original.
Oldham currently has no tour plans, though he recently popped up in Chicago to sing a few tunes with the Mekons, and in New York City for the Wordless Music Series. Keeping up with Bonnie "Prince" Billy: the weepiest, most bearded Where's Waldo? book ever. [MORE...]
Einsturzende Neubauten Uber Alles on New LP
Experimental Berliners Einstürzende Neubauten will release Alles Wieder Offen-- their 20 gazillionth album in a career that has spanned gazillions of years-- via their own Potomak labelThe title of the record, the official public follow-up to 2004's Perpetuum Mobile, translates to "all open again," which refers to the fact that the band has taken almost all matters related to the album into its own hands.
The reason the phrase "official public" modifies the "follow-up" above is that Neubauten released over 10 albums since Perpetuum Mobile came out. These albums were self-released to subscribers to the band's website (creepily called Supporters), and the material on them ranged from piano compositions by Neubauten members to something a press release calls "the musical possibilities of ritualized wine consumption."
Many of these albums were conceived through alternative compositional techniques, and both these techniques and some of the material from these albums ended up on Alles Wieder Offen in one form or another.
The subscriptions of the aforementioned Supporters financed the recording of Alles Wieder Offen, and for their contributions, the Supporters also got to watch the process via webcam and participate in live online discussions with the band about that process. Neubauten will further reward the Supporters' support with a special edition of the album (accompanying DVD optional).
We wouldn't expect a band so invested in undermining traditional music industry practices to release a single, but that is nonetheless what they did with the worldwide digital release of "Weil Weil Weil", out now. The single includes a radio mix (dudes, seriously? You're not just pulling our legs here??), remixes of the song by each band member, and a karaoke version. Now if only someone could make karaoke versions of Throbbing Gristle tracks.
Fortunately, Neubauten don't have any tour dates for us to type out now... What's that? They're planning a European tour for the spring. Gah! [MORE...]
In addition to his work in J Church, Hahn (a native Hawaiian) played with Hawaii-based punks Cringer for most of the 1980s, and even moonlighted on guitar with Beck in 1994. Hahn, in addition to his strictly musical pursuits, owned and ran Honey Bear Records, was a frequent contributor to the venerated Maximum Rock'n'Roll magazine, published the Some Hope and Some Despair zine, and was working on a book on anarchist punk history at the time of his death. He was 40.
Patrick Wolf, Rufus Wainwright Perform Plague Songs
Many moons ago, a mess of fine art-rockers from across the spectrum-- Scott Walker, Stephin Merritt, Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt, et al-- gathered to write and record songs inspired by the biblical plagues (always a fun time). Those tunes were performed live in various permutations around the small seaside town of Margate, England, and released on a CD last year.Seems the sickness has held on for another round: a few survivors of the last plague and some fresh blood will take to London's Barbican Hall to sic their plague songs both old and new on audiences. Patrick Wolf, Rufus Wainwright, the Handsome Family, Imogen Heap, King Creosote's Kenny Anderson, Sandy Dillon, and veteran English folkie June Tabor are among those getting down with the sickness.
Patrick Wolf will in fact be debuting "Plague of Apathy (Count of Casualty)", a tune from his forthcoming LP. The performance takes place October 28.
Villalobos, Shackleton, Appleblim on Skull Disco Comp
Skull Disco: is it a label? Well, yeah. A collective? Indeed, inasmuch as the dubstep imprint's co-heads and fellow music makers Shackleton and Appleblim roll pretty tight. And you'll soon have the label/collective's legacy at your fingertips, as tomorrow (October 23), Rough Trade will issue a 19-track compilation of Skull Disco's greatest tracks (including one Villalobos remix).All of these cuts are lifted from Skull Disco's original 12"s, which makes the tracks technically new to the world of lasers and ASCII and stuff. The set, dubbed Soundboy Punishments, drops on two CDs and as a digital download. [MORE...]
Monday, October 22:
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: John Fogerty (rerun)
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Bright Eyes (rerun)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Ferraby Lionheart (rerun)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Andrew Bird (rerun)
Tuesday, October 23:
NBC: The Today Show: Feist
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Editors (rerun)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Zap Mama (rerun)
Wednesday, October 24:
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: 50 Cent (rerun)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Flight of the Conchords (rerun)
ABC: The View: Feist
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Jamie T (rerun)
Thursday, October 25:
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Interpol
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: the Mooney Suzuki (rerun)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Peter Bjorn and John (rerun)
Saturday, October 27:
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Spoon (rerun)
FOX: Fearless TV: Theo and the Skyscrapers
Trail of Dead Leave Interscope, Reveal Tour Dates
Fans so divided on whether to go or just stay in their basements watching cartoons
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (and Our Bread) recently revealed the dates of their Adult Swim-sponsored tour of colleges with "Metalocalypse" band Dethklok. And they've also revealed a healthy portion of small club shows to accompany the tour, and those shows have already begun.
TOD's next show is in Nashville tomorrow, October 23, and the Adult Swim tour begins in Albuquerque on October 29.
Exciting in a different sort of way: Trail of Dead have parted ways Interscope Records-- or "prison," as the press release on the matter colorfully refers to it-- and they plan to re-enter the studio early next year to get to work on their sixth LP and So Divided follow-up. Producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, So Divided) will be at the helm.
What's more, the band is planning a "Not So Greatest Hits" collection (aka (s)HITS), and frontman Conrad Keeley has taken his artistic muse for a spin: he will be selling ballpoint pen sketches from his Blue Series and other works during another, to-be-announced spring TOD tour. [MORE...]
Fuck Buttons See "Bright Tomorrow" on Single
Bristol Brits Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power may have ruined the generally accepted cuteness of buttons for all of us with their nom de musique, Fuck Buttons, but they're doing their best to make up for it.Today (October 22), the duo issued the "Bright Tomorrow" single in the UK via ATP Recordings. The single is a seven-inch picture disc with "Little Bloody Shoulder" on the B-side, and the duo will follow it up next year with a full-length titled Street Horrrsing.
The Buttons currently have dates scheduled with Pitchfork favorites like Liars, Deerhoof, Black Lips, Deerhunter, and Stars of the Lid. Granted, those first four are all part of one show, but that just makes it cooler.
Finally, Fuck Buttons are also among the artists who will play the recently announced and updated, partially Pitchfork-curated ATP vs. Pitchfork next May. Get psyched! [MORE...]
That date will kick off an all-too-brief run of live gigs the Jigga man has lined up in early November. He'll rock a grand total of five shows, sticking entirely to material from American Gangster. Just be glad he didn't pull that trick for the last one.
All aflutter for November 6? Tide yourself over with the recently reported tribute to Reasonable Doubt over at Damon Dash's social networking site. Yeah, it sounds a little weird when we read it, too. [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.)
Wed: 12-26-07: 05:00 PM CST
Radiohead Celebrate New Year With Webcast
Wed: 12-26-07: 04:00 PM CST
Jay-Z Leaves Def Jam Presidency
Wed: 12-26-07: 02:46 PM CST
R.I.P. Oscar Peterson, 1925-2007
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
- Photos: Wu-Tang Clan [Chicago, IL; 12/15/07]
- Photos: Thrill Jockey 15th Anniversary [Chicago, IL; 12/14-12/15/07]
- 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
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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