Mew Drop iTunes EP

It's been far too long since we last heard from those dainty Danes in Mew, so we were just bowled over with feelings of childlike glee when they turned up on iTunes today with a brand new EP for us. Well, we had to pay for it, but still.

The Live Session EP, exclusive to iTunes, collects, yes, live session recordings of a few Mew favorites. We get And the Glass Handed Kites standouts "Special" and "An Envoy to the Open Fields", along with Frengers jams "Snow Brigade" and "Eight Flew Over, One Was Destroyed". Rare cut "Saliva, Mica & Panda" rounds out the release. Straightforward these guys ain't.

Mew have retreated from the toil of touring to begin work on the Glass Handed Kites follow-up. They also recently reissued a bonus disc-bolstered version of an out-of-print early LP, Half the World Is Watching Me, in Europe via Evil Office. [MORE...]

Miles Davis Colleague Joe Zawinul Dies

Keyboardist, songwriter, and jazz fusion pioneer Joe Zawinul passed away today, September 11, in his native Vienna, according to a Reuters report. The report cites local news agency APA as saying that Zawinul succumbed to a rare form of skin cancer at age 75.

The Berklee College of Music alum originally rose to prominence in the late 1950s and 60s by playing with the likes of Dinah Washington and Cannonball Adderley (for whom he composed Pitchfork's #191 song of the 1960s, "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"). Later, he joined Miles Davis' band, penning the title track from Davis' seminal In a Silent Way and playing on Bitches Brew.

Zawinul started his most longstanding project, Weather Report, with saxophonist Wayne Shorter in 1970. Through various incarnations, the band came to include drummer Peter Erskine and bass legend Jaco Pastorius, among others.

Weather Report combined elements of more traditional jazz with rock, funk, and world music influences to help define jazz fusion and become one of its most popular acts. The band is best known for the song "Birdland" from 1977's Heavy Weather.

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

Photos by Alissa Anderson

Devendra and pals have been rolling down the West Coast, in support of the forthcoming Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. Mr. Banhart brought his freak folk supergroup, known as the Spiritual Bonerz (the "z" is silent, obvs), to Santa Cruz's Rio Theatre late last week. The Bonerz(s?)-- comprised of Smokey collaborators Noah Georgeson, Joanna-brother Pete Newsom, Priestbird's Greg Rogove, Vetiver's Andy Cabic, and Luckey Remington-- plucked out some tunes from the forthcoming LP, which features even more collaborations by everyone from Black Crowe Chris Robinson and Matteah Baim to actor Gael García Bernal. More photos (including a wide angle shot of all the Bonerz) and Banhart's remaining tour dates below.

Bummer Dev wasn't adorned in that press photo getup!








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The Mountain Goats Add Another Round of Dates

Following their previously announced string of dates with the neighborly North Carolinian sorts in Bowerbirds (who nest on Pitchfork contributor Grayson Currin's label), John Darnielle and his Mountain Goats will hit the road again in late October for a couple weeks down the midsection of the U.S.

The dates come as the band prepares their follow-up to last year's particularly wrenching (even for him!) Get Lonely. According to the Goats' website, we can expect that new disc in the coming spring. [MORE...]

Qui Kick Off Expanded Fall Tour

L.A. upstarts Qui have a thing for weird names. First, there's the band's own name. Then, there's David Yow, the weirdly surnamed former Jesus Lizard/Scratch Acid firestarter they've roped into the corral for the release of their sophomore album, Love's Miracle.

Next, there's Ipecac, the label releasing Love's Miracle this very day (yesterday in the UK).

Finally, there's Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, Wales, where Qui will end their massive tour this December. The tour, which was pumped up significantly since our last report, begins tonight, September 11, in the band's hometown. [MORE...]

The Robot Ate Me: "It's Over"

Under his The Robot Ate Me moniker, Portland-based songsmith Ryland Bouchard (and assorted collaborators) managed to release four full-length albums in some four years, including three for Kill Rock Stars sister label 5RC. Yet according to a recent MySpace bulletin from TRAM, Ryland has decided to retire the name and move on to greener musical pastures.

"This project has reached its logical end," Bouchard explained in the September 7 missive. "I need to explore new ideas and begin collaborations that will continue my interest in music."

He also hints at a pair of upcoming releases "unrelated to The Robot Ate Me" and due next year, so it would seem the exploration of new ideas has already begun.

Bouchard's complete farewell address follows after the jump. Thanks to reader Jared Watson for the tip. [MORE...]

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...]

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

It wasn't the ideal setting to witness the arc welding feedback assault of Brooklyn trio A Place to Bury Strangers, but in the late-afternoon dusk, on an early-autumn Sunday evening, the amp-shattering Brooklyn-based dream-rockers brought the heat.

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.

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

Live music on TV this week:

Tuesday, September 11:

FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Buzzcocks
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: 50 Cent
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Spoon

Wednesday, September 12:

FUEL: The Daily Habit: Office
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Modest Mouse
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: The Bravery
CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Spoon

Thursday, September 13:

PBS: Tavis Smiley: Chuck D, Professor Griff
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kanye West
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Teddybears

Friday, September 14:

ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Hot Hot Heat
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Chamillionaire

Hold Steady, Superchunk, Wrens Guys Do FMC Summit
Plus: SoundExchange squares off with net radio broadcasters

Every year of this young century save the first, musicians, label heads, and other notable know-it-alls have joined together for a few days of fun and fellowship in the hopes of furthering the dialogue on the current (and future!) state of the music business. This year will prove no exception, as the Future of Music Coalition will host its 7th annual policy summit at George Washington University's Betts Theatre September 17-18 in our nation's capital.

The likes of Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady, Merge Records head (and, incidentally, Superchunk/Portastatic frontguy) Mac McCaughan, Charles Bissell of the Wrens, Bob Mould, Kill Rock Stars chief Portia Sabin, FMC's own Jenny Toomey, and Nick Krill and Jonathan Eaton of the Spinto Band will be on hand to help "address the critical issues at the intersection of music, law, technology, and policy."

Joining these music types will be tons of industry folk. Oh, and John Simson, the executive director of the net radio-tousling SoundExchange will be there, as will representatives from Pandora, Rumblefish, and others: without the Capitol Hill security that usually separates the two camps while they meet, shit could get very real. Wanna watch? Registration for the event closes September 14.

The Narrator Kick Off Tour

Hey, you punks, get outta my city! Chicago's the Narrator-- more punk in spirit than execution these days, perhaps, but a raucous live act regardless of genre distinctions-- will blow out their Windy City home tonight before making their way around the country through the rest of the month.

The tour comes in support of the Narrator's 2007 Flameshovel LP, All That to the Wall. Will you assume the role of protagonist and join them? This far out, only an omniscient Narrator could say for sure. [MORE...]

Photos: Musicfest NW [Portland, OR; 09/06-09/09/07]

Photos by Nilina Mason-Campbell (unless otherwise indicated)
Above: Girl Talk

The Pacific Northwest is spoiled. Just over a week ago it was Bumbershoot blowing up all over Seattle; this past weekend it was Musicfest NW's turn to corral a similarly excellent crop of acts into various Portland venues. And that's to say nothing of Sasquatch! or PDX Pop Now! (Not only are they spoiled, they also have to get all exclamatory about it.) Ah well, Chicago ain't got it so bad, so who's complaining?

This year's MFNW brought the likes of Wolf Parade, Ghostface Killah, Cat Power, Clipse, Girl Talk, Dan Deacon, Spoon, Deerhunter, Grizzly Bear, Okkervil River, Rilo Kiley, Bobby Bare Jr. with members of the Decemberists, and more to the City of Roses. Catch all your faves in the fab photo exposé to follow.

WOLF PARADE






CLIPSE





GHOSTFACE KILLAH





Ghostface photos by Justin Kent

CAT POWER






SPOON





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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.)