Cass McCombs Plans Tours With Gonzalez, Ariel Pink

Gas, grass, or Cass: nobody rides for free. Young Cass McCombs is Dropping the Writ and picking up the roadmap for a two-fer of tours kicking off in early November.

The first pairs McCombs with Ariel Pink on a co-headlining thing, with members of each gentleman's regular backing band forming a kind of side-person megaband that'll accompany both performers. If you miss that one-two punch, McCombs' follow-up oughta soften the blow: he'll open for gentle giant José González on a fortnight's worth of gigs. [MORE...]

Jesus and Mary Chain Cancel Vegas Date

Photo by Eirik Lande

The all-too-brief Jesus and Mary Chain fall US tour just got all-too-briefer, as the band's axed the first gig of the run, the October 30 show at Las Vegas' House of Blues. No reason was given for the cancellation, nor have any plans been made to reschedule. But we're told all dates will go on as planned, and we'll just have to take that on faith.

As previously reported, the Reid Brothers and co. are working on the first all-new first JAMC album since Munki. Please, let it be at least as good as Munki.

Thanks to reader Ken Viste for the tip. [MORE...]

Cat Power, YLT, MMJ, Roots Fete Dylan in Concert
Along with Calexico, J Mascis, Lee Ranaldo, Mark Lanegan

People sure do love Bob Dylan. They also love Todd Haynes. As a bit of a live-action companion piece to Haynes' Dylan meta-biopic I'm Not There and its accompanying star-studded soundtrack, New York's Beacon Theatre will host "I'm Not There: In Concert" on November 7.

The list of performers-- much like that of the soundtrack, or those in the film-- is staggering: Cat Power, Calexico, My Morning Jacket, the Roots, J Mascis, Lee Ranaldo & the Million Dollar Bashers, Mark Lanegan, Yo La Tengo with Buckwheat Zydeco (!), Al Kooper (who notably played organ on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone"), John Doe, and Gomez's Ian Ball and Olly Peacock are among those set to perform. Attendees are urged to expect "guests and more" at the event, so now's as good a time as any to start speculatin' as to who that might be. Sufjan? Karen O?

The I'm Not There soundtrack drops on Columbia October 30, and the film hits U.S. theaters November 21. Dylan is on tour with fellow legend Elvis Costello right now, as you know.

Thanks to reader Donovan Roediger for the tip. [MORE...]

His Name Is Alive Cut Marion Brown Tribute Disc

Even though Xmmer's only been setting record store shelves ablaze for a month now, Michigan trend-buckers His Name Is Alive already have another red hot release in queue.

Sweet Earth Flower: A Tribute to Marion Brown arrives November 6, courtesy of Philadelphia's High Two imprint. The disc sprung from a one-off 2004 HNIA concert that paid homage to the accomplished but unsung avant-garde jazz saxophonist, who has worked with John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, Archie Shepp, and Brian Eno, among others.

The LP bundles a couple live cuts, as well as studio versions of the tribute tracks; it also features guest appearances from members of Nomo and Antibalas.

Brown himself has given Sweet Earth Flower his blessing: "It's beautiful. Thank you. You really understand me." [MORE...]

Simian Mobile Disco Issue New "Hustler" Single, Tour

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

Though the song's been kicking around for over a year now-- we posted the video way back in September of 2006-- Simian Mobile Disco's fantastic, five-finger-discount promoting single "Hustler" will be released as a single again on November 26, when a CD and two remix-laden 12"s hit stores thanks to Wichita UK. (It's also available on the Attack Decay Sustain Release LP.)

While the band mines their past for tunes, they're currently shooting off into the future on a globe-spanning tour that finds them linking up with the like-minded types in Underworld, Klaxons, and the Chemical Brothers. Are their beats big enough to hang? Yeah, methinks they are. [MORE...]

Ghostface Upset About Wu-Tang Release Date
"It's a battle right now."

Looks like it's not all blunts and da mysteries of chessboxing in the world of Wu. There's been a little bit of infighting going down in the Clan following Ghostface's recent announcement of a new solo disc, set to drop the very same day as 8 Diagrams, the Wu's long-delayed return to wax.

According to MTV.com, Ghost is upset that the Wu pushed back 8 Diagrams' release to December 4, the same date as his just-announced Big Dough Rehab LP. "I had December 4 for the longest," Ghost says, "but the Wu album, brothers were kinda late on doing whatever they were doing and pushed it back..." (Hasn't he seen Rock the Bells? Late's about the best one can hope for from the Wu.)

"...I'm not [mad at] all the members. It's not based on the members, but the hierarchy at Wu-Tang Clan is on some bullsh--. They trying to f--- around and make me push my album back and doing all this. But n---as ain't f---ing around or give us money when we did them Wu-Tang tours. The first one, they paid us after a while, but this last one, n---as is holding onto a lot of money. And [they're] upset based on that. It's a battle right now."

Well, speaking as a dude who'll buy the hell out of both those albums no matter which day they come out, all the Wu is doing is saving me a trip. Can't the rising tide lift all boats?

Nonetheless, it gets deeper than that for Ghost, as he explained to MTV: "The Big Dough Rehab is my album. 8 Diagrams is their album. But it ain't got nothing to do with the regular members. 'Cause I love Raekwon, Masta Killa, U-God, Genius, all them. But it's on right now." Ghost went on to mention that Big Dough would already have dropped had he not joined the Wu on this summer's Rock the Bells tour, and that Loud Records' Steve Rifkind made an effort to stop Big Dough Rehab from hitting stores. (Rifkind did not respond to MTV's questions.)

As for 8 Diagrams, Ghost continues to emphasize his minimal participation in the disc. "I got on some of them [tracks]," he said. "A few of them.... n---as better pay my f----ing money. Matter of fact, they can keep the money-- just get me out of their life right now. They can keep that money, it's all good now. I don't even wanna talk about it no more." Shit!

Ghost's love for the way of the Wu may be waning, but he does throw his W up on Big Dough, which sports guest sports from (at least) Raekwon and Method Man. MTV reports that Ghost is looking to leak the Sean C.-produced, Kid Capri-featuring first single "Celebrate" soon.

December 4 will also see yet another Ghostface product hit shelves as well: The World According to Pretty Toney, a book based on those MTV2 hilarious/helpful nuggets of wisdom from the Ironman himself.

The Wu's recently announced, fast approaching tour (with its long string of dates and cities sans venues) was apparently wishful thinking, as it's not happening. Ghost-- looking, comparatively, like a real mover and shaker these days-- has a few more dates on the Adult Swim trek before heading out with fellow microphone fiends Rakim and Brother Ali. [MORE...]

Castanets Rock Asthmatic Kitty Gallery Opening

Unusual animals, by definition, are tough to pin down. Same goes for the Asthmatic Kitty series of the same name. It began as a platform for releasing limited edition vinyl, then took on a party-hosting capacity, and now, it's evolved to encompass, yes, The Art World (gasp! shudder!).

On Halloween (October 31), Asthmatic Kitty unveils the Unusual Animals Project Space in Indianapolis, Indiana's Harrison Center for the Arts. Described via press release as a "specialized gallery" intended to "promote installation art from aspiring and established artists alike, local and national," the space gets a proper ringing in on the last day of this month, with performances from AK's own Castanets and Cryptacize, as well as Deer Tick and Bronze Float.

Art from UA Project Space co-curator Cindy Hinant will be featured. Hinant's "Cascades" series explores the artist's "personal mythology with nature" and "combines images from popular culture and childish shapes to describe the relationship [Hinant] has with the natural world." Doesn't that sound nifty?

AK's Michael Kaufmann, aka Future Rapper, will serve as the Space's other curator.

Photos: Final Fantasy [Minneapolis, MN; 10/13/07]

Photos by Stacy Schwartz

Final Fantasy, aka Arcade Fire/Beirut/Fucked Up/everybodyandtheirmom collaborator Owen Pallett, has been on tour for about a month already, and we caught up with the talented violinist and producer this weekend at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis.

Pallett tried out some tunes from his upcoming album Heartland, a song cycle that takes place in a fantasy land called Spectrum. Accompanying him were a series of overhead projections, inlcuding one marquee bearing the all-too-meta "8 Schools of Magic," a reference to the game from which Pallett derives his stage name.

Opening the show was Canadian folkster Basia Bulat, who continues on the road with Pallet through the end of the week. Next week, Final Fantasy launches a co-headlining trek with Cadence Weapon (aka former Pitchfork writer Rollie Pemberton). And he's got a new single, featuring Beirut's Zach Condon, out on Tomlab on November 20.

More photos and tour dates below.




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Bright Eyes, Wolf Parade, BOH Do Charity Ornaments
Plus: Of Montreal, Built to Spill, Menomena, the Thermals, Xiu Xiu, Deerhunter, Califone

With Halloween just around the corner, what better time than now to start thinking about Christmas?

The good folks at Oregon's Glass Casters Union have been thinking about Christmas too, and really any other holiday that might inspire one to festoon flora in colorful trinkets. They've also been thinking about the indie rock (we can relate), and they've devised a rather ingenious intersection for the two: indie rock holiday ornaments! For charity!!

GCU have already secured designs from Band of Horses, Of Montreal, Menomena, Califone, YACHT, and Thrones, which they've carved and stamped onto cute lil' limited edition glass ornaments. Indeed, the first five designs are up for auction over at eBay right now. Each comes in a run of 100-200, with a second pressing of each in a different color expected to follow. YACHT, Menomena, and Thrones are also selling their ornaments on tour.

Plenty more designs are in queue, from the likes of Bright Eyes, Built to Spill, Wolf Parade, Deerhunter, Xiu Xiu, the Thermals, Sunn O))), Tiny Masters of Today, and Decemberists artiste extraordinaire Carson Ellis. Because nothing says holiday cheer like Sunn O))) and Xiu Xiu.

All profits, as the GCU MySpace describes, "go back to our local community in the form of assistance for homeless and low-income people through emergency services, housing, jobs, training, and other charitable endeavors." 'Tis the season to be indie.

Photos: The Roots [San Diego, CA; 10/12/07]

Photos by Natalie Kardos

The Roots are wrapping up a busy year that's seen them Rock the Bells, gig with the Dave Matthews Band, and tour with Big Daddy Kane and MC Lyte on VH1's Hip Hop Honors Tour-- all in support of last year's Game Theory. The Philly crew touched down at the RIMAC Arena at the University of California at San Diego on Friday night.

Still no word on whether ?uestlove and his companions are working on another album any time soon, but with their schedule finally clear of dates (save one music "summit" in Monterey, California this week), maybe they can make some headway.

More photos and that one lone date below.






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Annuals Sign to Sony, Drop Digital EP

Photo by Brian Vetter

Make way for six little indie rockers that could: Raleigh, North Carolina's promising Annuals have entered the majors, signing a joint deal with their current farm team home Ace Fu and big leaguer Canvasback, a label under the Sony/Columbia umbrella.

If the name Canvasback sounds familiar, it's also the home of Annuals' previously reported tourmates Manchester Orchestra (who are in fact an Atlanta Emo Rock Band). The pair's travels in tandem kick off September 26 in Manchester Orchestra's ATL hometown.

Annuals plan to share their sophomore full-length-- the follow-up to last year's Be He Me-- via Ace Fu/Canvasback in fall 2008. To tide us over, they'll soon unleash the digital only Frelen Mas EP, which collects Be He Me B-sides, including Annuals' take on "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". This set is tentatively due in early November.

Finally, Annuals and Manchester Orchestra have tackled each other's songs for a special split 7" to be sold exclusively on the upcoming tour. Annuals do MO's "Where Have You Been", while Manchester Orchestra try their hand at Annuals' indie hit "Brother". Hear both right now over in Forkcast. [MORE...]

Kid Sister Shoots Video With Kanye West

Kid Sister found a Chicago MC as stylish and internet-friendly as she is to join her on her new single and video "Pro Nails": none other than Kanye West. Six degrees of A-Trak, anyone?

Director Ruben Fleischer (M.I.A., Dizzee Rascal, Wiley) shot the video to promote the single, which is out today on Fool's Gold. The single comes in 12" vinyl and digital formats and features two extra tracks: a remix with a Kanye verse and the DJ Gant-Man-produced "Switch Board".

As for the video, you know Kanye blogged that ish posthaste. His and Kid Sister's photographic evidence of the shoot is below.

Kid Sis' debut album will come out next year, and until then, she's busying herself with the previously reported Fool's Gold tour. The tour's next stop is in NYC for CMJ tomorrow, October 17.

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