Shout Out Louds Give You an Ill Bonus Disc

Like the older brother who pretends to be tough but secretly packs an extra sandwich in his lunch just in case you forget yours, Shout Out Louds are undermining the title of their new album, Our Ill Wills, with an extra sandwich of their own.

That comes in the form of a three-track bonus disc companion to the album-- which, by the way, is out on Merge today, September 11. The first two tracks are live acoustic renditions of Our Ill Wills' "Tonight I Have to Leave It" and "Impossible". The last track is Our Ill Wills: The Short Film, a seven-minute documentary shot by bassist Ted Malmos and starring the whole band.

There is, however, one catch: The bonus disc only comes with copies purchased at indie record stores and through Merge's website and mailorder. And really, supporting independent businesses isn't too bad a catch at all.

Shout Out Louds will shower their generosity on the world in the form of live shows, continuing tomorrow, September 12, in Gävle, Sweden. [MORE...]

Video: Shout Out Louds: Tonight I Have to Leave It [from the Our Ill Wills LP]

White Stripes Nix Austin Gigs, Send "Love" Stateside

Photo by Thom Johnston

The biggest decision you'll have to make all season-- Do I see the White Stripes or Arcade Fire at the Austin City Limits festival this Saturday?-- has just been made for you.

Citing "medical reasons," the Stripes have cancelled their September 15 appearance at the ACL fest (according to an Austin360.com report), along with another gig the following night at Stubb's Bar-B-Q in Austin (according to Stubb's' website). We like to call this medical ailment, for which there is no known cure, Playing Against the Arcade Fire Syndrome (although the Stripes can hold their own better than most).

No word yet on other show cancellations, although one assumes that these "medical reasons" aren't going to subside for this Thursday's Albuquerque gig only to return this weekend.

Thanks to Dan at Austin, TX Showlist for the heads-up.

On the bright side of things, Jack and Meg have added a date in Hawaii, further making good on their promise to play ever damned state in the U.S. and every damned province and territory in Canada.

They're also set to unleash their latest single, Icky Thump's "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)"-- the one with the "Frat Rock" version on the flip-- in the U.S. on September 18 via Warner Bros. (XL's UK edition came out this week). Stripes supporters can scoop up "You Don't Know" in CD and digital formats, and/or 7" if they can hold their horses until September 25. [MORE...]

Video: The White Stripes: You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told) [from the Icky Thump LP]

Bonde do Role Launch Fall Tour

MP3: Bonde do Role: Montagem do Cabra [from Minicomp2]

Mew Drop iTunes EP

Video: Mew: Special [from the And the Glass Handed Kites LP]

Miles Davis Colleague Joe Zawinul Dies

Video: Weather Report: Birdland (Live) [from the Heavy Weather LP]

Photos: Devendra Banhart [Santa Cruz, CA; 09/06/07]

The Mountain Goats Add Another Round of Dates

MP3: The Mountain Goats: Pinklon / Ethiopians / Red River Valley / Babylon Burning [Daytrotter Session]

Qui Kick Off Expanded Fall Tour

Stream: Qui: Today Gestation / Freeze [from the Love's Miracle LP]

The Robot Ate Me: "It's Over"

MP3: The Robot Ate Me: Djien [from the Good World LP]

ESG Say Goodbye
Final show next Friday in Chicago

Next Friday, September 21, at Chicago's Abbey Pub, a strand of post-punk history will reach its conclusion, as the influential sister act ESG will play what they are calling their final show ever.

It's part of the unfortunately named-- but nonetheless laudable-- Estrojam festival, which will also host a "Music Biz 101" workshop at the same venue earlier in the evening, featuring ESG frontwoman Renee Scroggins doling out advice. (Other acts performing at the six-day festival include Marnie Stern, Yo Majesty, Kristin Hersh, Bettye LaVette, Bahamadia, Psalm One, and Margaret Cho.)

When asked why ESG are calling it quits now, frontwoman Renee Scroggins said, "It's been a long career. We were able to play a good 30 years in the business. I'm just really tired right now. We love our fans, and we appreciate 30 years of support." She added that she's turned her focus to producing other artists; her first act is a singer named Marquetta.

For those unfamiliar with ESG, here's a crash course: [MORE...]

Video: ESG: Moody [live in Paris]

Photos: A Place to Bury Strangers [New York, NY; 09/09/07]

Playing to a typical cross-armed crowd at the Ludlow Street Festival on New York's Lower East Side, the band plowed through a quick set featuring tracks from their Pitchfork-adored self-titled debut LP. Despite getting off to a rocky start with "To Fix the Gash in Your Head", during which frontman Oliver Ackermann's percussive guitar effects failed to properly sync with drummer Jay Space, APTBS recovered gracefully, cranking up the volume in an attempt to live up to their self-imposed rep as the city's loudest band.

Apart from the band's blistering decibel levels and swoony dream-pop melodies, Ackermann himself is APTBS's most transfixing live element: Instantly shifting from sincere, close-eyed crooning to brutally thrashing and injuring his guitar, his passionate conviction notoriously converts skeptics.

Still, environment matters for a band like this, and the greasy pork scent wafting from street vendors, the DJ blasting hip-hop radio hits between sets, and the general lack of control that comes with any street fair setting-- let alone one showcasing eight bands in six hours-- left no doubt that the only way to experience A Place to Bury Strangers is in the shadowy confines of a controlled, closed space, where their flame-throwing maelstrom can incinerate with all the concentrated fury it achieves on record.

More photos, as well as APTBS' upcoming tour dates below.

[MORE...]

T.V. Eye: September 10-16, 2007

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.)