Kenyan Extra Golden Members Need Your Help
While Barack Obama's recent successes are well known, the plight of Extra Golden, the Thrill Jockey band he once helped secure travel visas, has stayed low-profile until the arrival of a recent MySpace bulletin and website post.The bulletin/post is a letter from American Extra Golden members Alex Minoff and Ian Eagleson asking for financial help for their Kenyan counterparts, Opiyo Bilongo, Onyango Wuod Omari, and Onyango Jagwasi.
Since these men are Nairobi residents, they need assistance because of the volatile political situation that has emerged in Kenya since the country's general election on December 27.
As Minoff and Eagleson write, "Violence has spread throughout the country, with hundreds already murdered. Businesses that haven't been destroyed are shut." The livelihoods of Bilongo, Omari, and Jagwasi and their "large extended families"-- which depend upon the musicians playing out nightly-- are now in jeopardy because of the "dusk-to-dawn curfews in place."
Thus, Minoff and Eagleson have set up a PayPal account to help their bandmates, giving the following instructions to those who wish to donate:
"We are asking for donations of $5. Of course we will accept any amount you can muster, but we believe that with enough contributions of $5 we can make a huge difference in our friends' lives.
"To make a donation, please go to www.paypal.com and choose 'send money'. When asked for the email address of the recipient, enter 'service(at)kanyokanyo.com'. Please feel free to forward this message. We thank you in advance for your compassion and we hope that your help will enable us to compose a song of thanks for our next album."
Silver Mt. Zion Lend Tune to "Lost" Ad
Hey, remember when a bunch of folks from the Godspeed You! Black Emperor/A Silver Mt. Zion axis locked themselves up in a dilapidated Montreal apartment for five days straight without sleep and made the first Set Fire to Flames record? Cut off from the world, left only to their own devices? Forced to thrive under trying conditions? Sounds just a wee bit like trials faced by the beloved characters of television's "Lost", trapped as they've been on a creepy tropical island for three seasons now.But that's hardly the only thing these parties have in common now. Not since A Silver Mt. Zion-- excuse me, Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band-- went ahead and approved the use of one of their treasured tunes in a commercial for the forthcoming fourth season of the hit ABC series (premieres January 31! OMG!).
The advert includes a bit of "Tho You Are Gone I Still Often Walk W/You" (Guess "Long March Rocket or Doomed Airliner" would have been too obvious?) off 2001's Born Into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward, along with the promise that the people of "Lost" will, in fact, be found this season... or will they? Fans who caught it flocked to message boards to huff and puff-- Silver Mt. Zion's Constellation Records has, after all, maintained an ardent anti-corporate ethos over the years.
But why the ire? A publicist has confirmed that the song was used with the band's permission, and the ad will likely be off the air soon enough. This is an age, after all, where Of Montreal shill steaks and Ian MacKaye has OK'd a Minor Threat hot sauce.
And hey, here's what folks ought to be getting all in a tizzy about: their favorite Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band has a new album out March 25, as previously reported. 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons descends via Constellation, and who knows, perhaps they'll funnel some of those "Lost" dollarz into a super-sweet extensive tour?
Blitzen Trapper Announce Giant North American Tour
Photo by Jade Harris
The much-ballyhooed boys of Blitzen Trapper won't make it too difficult to catch up with them on their upcoming North American tour. It begins in Seattle in February, lands in Portland in mid-April, and draws doodles across a map of the continent in between. They'll hit pretty much every major city (and quite a few non-major ones) north of Mexico, highlighted by a set at the Langerado Festival and a stop or several at South by Southwest. Along the way, they'll be joined at times by Beach House, Papercuts, Menomena, Grand Archives, as well as woodland friends and tourmates Fleet Foxes.
While they work on their Sub Pop debut, Blitzen Trapper will leave fans wanting more with a tour-only EP containing six brand new songs. [MORE...]
R.E.M., MMJ, Robyn, Jens Lekman, Bun B Do SXSW
So do the Black Keys, Blitzen Trapper, Vampire Weekend, My Brightest Diamond, Lindstrom
It won't be long now 'til South by Southwest, the annual culture festival/spring break for gangly people in black jeans. In fact, it's just a couple months away, with the musical portion spreading roughly a billion bands over the five glorious sun-soaked, Shiner-swilling days of March 12-16.
We've already mentioned a few well-prepared folks who'll make their way to Austin for this year's festivities, including the Breeders, Man Man, and A Place to Bury Strangers, while White Williams, the Kills, Lightspeed Champion, Sons & Daughters and These New Puritans will hit up the Domino Records showcase. Not to mention talks given by Thurston Moore, Lou Reed, Daryl Hall, Steve Reich, Seymour Stein, and a bunch of other wisdom-imparting elder statespeople.
To that end, then, the newest crop of South by Southwest additions is highlighted by a group who could just as easily drop some worldly knowledge and run down the template for post-punk: R.E.M. will be there to preview tracks off their new one, Accelerate. Bun B will perform, though sans his longtime partner, the late, great Pimp C. My Morning Jacket will be pleased they're keeping those manes of theirs a little trimmer of late as they strut around in the heat. Vampire Weekend will show the folks of Austin just what all that buzz is about. Jens Lekman will appear to melt his Swedish hind in the hot Texas sun. And his countrywoman Robyn will be there, bringing her awesomeness to North American on a rare U.S. stop.
As is always the case with SXSW, there's plenty more where that came from, with Blitzen Trapper, My Brightest Diamond, the Black Keys, Frightened Rabbit, Bowerbirds, Foreign Born, the Raveonettes, Ralph "Soul" Jackson, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, Ra Ra Riot, the Von Bondies, Hanne Hukkelberg, the Heavy, Daniel Lanois, DeVotchKa, Sia, Uffie, MGMT and Tech N9ne all making themselves known throughout the long weekend. There'll also be a Smalltown Supersound showcase with
Kim Hiorthøy, Lindstrom, Tussle, Bjorn Torske, Arp and KXP.
Just when and where each band will appear remains to be seen on most counts. But gorging one's self on barbecue, stumbling into a dimly-lit club and running into Mike Mills is at least half the fun of SXSW, innit?
Spiritualized's Spaceman Scores Harmony Korine Film
Soundtrack due on Drag City
Mister Lonely tells the tale of a young drifter who gets his kicks impersonating Michael Jackson. This ersatz King of Pop stumbles into a community of like-minded mimics-- everyone from Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Madonna, and the Three Stooges to Abe Lincoln, the Pope, and the Queen of England. Sounds like a total trip, so who better to soundtrack it than a guy who's made a 25+ year career out of otherworldly audio excursions?
Enter J. Spaceman (aka Jason Pierce) of Spiritualized and Spacemen 3 fame, whose compositions from the cosmos make up a fair part of the score to the film, the latest from controversial director Harmony Korine (Kids, Gummo, Julien Donkey-Boy).
Mister Lonely made the festival rounds last year, while a soundtrack release is on the way via Drag City, according to the Spiritualized website. Sun City Girls feature on it as well, according to Drag City.
The film itself, boasting a cast that includes Samantha Morton, revered director Werner Herzog, and magic guy David Blaine, should see wider release this year.
And that new Spiritualized album we were supposed to see last year? J. Spaceman explains all in his latest website dispatch: "We've been sittin' on a finished (and mastered) record here for months now while Universal try to sort out their shit[.] so with luck it should be resolved early this year and you can have it."
J. also alludes to a couple final Acoustic Mainlines gigs in the coming months (nothing confirmed as of yet), and "after that we're going electric." (!) The shows just might take place in "Vancouver down to Palm Springs in a few months." Hmm... Palm Springs in a few months... Coachella anyone?
Finally, Mr. Pierce has collaborated with free jazz guy Matthew Shipp on an upcoming release, titled, yes, Spaceshipp, on the UK's Treader imprint.
Justice Announce World Tour, Dates With Diplo
Justice mix allegedly rejected by Fabric
Nothing quite does French Touch duo Justice justice like the live setting. And come this March, Justice will be served to adoring audiences across North America, as the dance giants behind Pitchfork's 15th favorite album (†) and 8th favorite track (the ubiquitous "D.A.N.C.E.") of 2007 hold court on a month-long tour.
The jaunt-- billed as the spring MySpace Music Tour-- will pair Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé with quite a few like-minded practitioners of Music You Can't Help But Dance To, including the mighty Diplo, Ed Banger bros DJ Mehdi and Busy P, NYC's Chromeo, and fellow countryfolk Fancy. It all begins March 3 in Austin, and for another lovingly foot-noted guide to just who is playing when, peek on past the jump.
But wait! Long before they reach the shores of North America, Justice will show kids from Osaka to Hamburg just what they're made of. Those gigs kick off January 23.
Apparently not everyone is hip to Justice's dance-doing ways, however. Over the holidays the pair sat down for an interview with Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen, wherein they revealed that a mix they had put together for the famed Fabriclive series had been rejected by the Fabric folk themselves.
According to a translation from interviewer Bernt Erik Pedersen, de Rosnay told Dagsavisen, "We didn't want to do just another boring mix, so we put together a selection of tunes we absolutely love, mainly weird disco tracks and French novelty acts. But Fabric turned it down. They weren't ready for something like this. Maybe we'll put the mix out ourselves. People should really hear it, they'd be surprised."
Judge for yourself: An unconfirmed tracklist for the Justice Fabriclive mix has been making the interweb rounds, and we've reprinted it below for your convenience.
Fabric, meanwhile, have not yet responded to requests for comment. [MORE...]
Son Lux Signs to Anticon
Works with Beirut, My Brightest Diamond, Castanets
Ryan Lott is just shy of the three-decade mark in years, but in that time, he has lived in a handful of locations (Denver, Cleveland, Atlanta, California, Connecticut, NYC), trained in composition and piano, and organized several multimedia art shows. So, naturally, he joined the Anticon roster to release his full-length debut under the name Son Lux.
At War With Walls and Mazes is an Anticonesque beat-and-hook-filled mish-mash of genres, and the label will release it on February 26. Son Lux will follow the album's release with spring dates supporting Why?
In the meantime, Lott is keeping himself busy by starting work on the next Son Lux album and a slew of other projects. He's remixing Beirut and Castanets, collaborating with My Brightest Diamond, and working on a large-scale piece with the Gina Gibney Dance company for a third time. [MORE...]
Sub Pop Responds to Arrest of Shins' Crandall
Detail from photo by Brian TamborelloAs reported yesterday, Shins keyboardist/utility man Marty Crandall and his now former girlfriend, model Elyse Sewell, both found themselves in a Sacramento County jail this weekend facing domestic abuse charges following a scuffle in a hotel Friday night.
Sewell was released Saturday on bail; Crandall followed suit yesterday. A post on Sewell's blog explaining the incident and cited in our previous story, meanwhile, has since been removed. "I've decided to heed the advice of many commenters (lawyerly types) and friends," wrote Sewell yesterday, "[and] lock my last entry about the legal foibles between me and my ex-boyfriend."
Today the Shins' label Sub Pop came forward with a statement regarding the arrests. It reads as follows:
Marty Crandall and his ex-girlfriend Elyse Sewell were both arrested over the weekend following an argument at a Sacramento hotel which resulted in hotel staff calling the police.The Crandall case goes before a judge tomorrow, January 8.
They were both taken into police custody and released over the weekend.
There will be no further comment at this time and we would appreciate their privacy being respected.
Slowly, slowly, things are starting up again:
Monday, January 7:
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: RZA, Ian Hunter
Tuesday, January 8:
FUEL TV: The Daily Habit: Buzzcocks
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: MGMT
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Rogue Wave
Wednesday, January 9:
FUEL TV: The Daily Habit: Panthers
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Lupe Fiasco
Friday, January 11:
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Spoon
Saturday, January 12:
FOX: Fearless TV: Paramore
PBS: Austin City Limits: Kings of Leon, Roky Erickson
Vampire Weekend Plot North American Tour
Album release pushed up to this month in UK/Europe
As you attempt to shake the cobwebs from your head following your own blood-curdling, stomach-churning respite from the working world, sink those Monday fangs into this: nifty new New Yorkers (and, full disclosure, our buddies) Vampire Weekend have plotted tour dates enough to wear down even the starchiest Dockers.
Following a lone date in London late next week, the band will feast on North America as January comes to a close. The dates stretch on practically into April, so if you haven't been bitten by the Vampire Weekend bug yet, your chance is nigh. I guess you could say there's a lot at... stake... on this tour! Okay, okay, enough.
They'll share bills-- and, it occurs to us, a similar fashion aesthetic-- with the Walkmen on a smattering of dates in early March.
Also, good news for Vampire fans the world over: the band has moved the UK/European XL Recordings release of their debut full length from March 3 to January 28, the day before the disc hits U.S. shelves. And good news for anyone with a few minutes to kill and a working clicker-finger: the band's very Wang Chung video for "A-Punk" just made its way to Forkcast a little earlier today. [MORE...]
Dan Deacon's Ultimate Reality Tour Kicks Off
Deacon announces new single: "Slience Like the Wind"
Surely you noticed the change when you woke yesterday morning. Your eyes were crusty and your worldview bleary, but you could still feel it: the reality you've known all your life had changed. Heightened, if you will. Or, perhaps, simply become more... ultimate?
Chalk that fresh feeling up to the efforts of two fellows, Dan Deacon and Jimmy Joe Roche, both of Baltimore's storied Wham City collective. The two are taking Ultimate Reality-- the DVD they jointly created and recently released via Carpark-- out for a spin, with the proceedings ultimately kicking off last night in Chapel Hill. Danny Boy and Jimmy Joe will dole out their version of reality throughout the rest of the month of January, joined on the drums by Videohippos' Kevin O'Meare and Ponytail's Jeremy Hyman.
And when he's not heightening reality with a few old friends, Dan's doing his damndest by his lonesome on a handful of non-Ultimate Reality gigs over the next few months, including a trip to Australia and a trip to Langerado.
Deacon also recently revealed to the blog Cone Toaster that his next single from Spiderman of the Rings will be live fave "Silence Like the Wind". (His publicist confirmed this as well.) DOH! "Silence Like the Wind" isn't on Spiderman of the Rings!
In other Dan Deacon news, I wouldn't expect a Deaconized cover of "The Wheels on the Bus" anytime soon. [MORE...]
Photo by Sanchez and Kitahara
Sure, Mirrored grabbed the #8 spot on Pitchfork's 2007 year-end albums list and "Atlas" came away as our #2 track of the year, but Battles aren't about to rest on their internet-provided laurels. Instead, they're hitting the road to conquer Australia. Starting January 18, the band will play a couple weeks' worth of shows on the continent (and New Zealand), most of which are Big Day Out festival dates.
Also, for the ultimate Battles obsessive in your life, Mirrored lyrics!! [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.)
Tue: 01-08-08: 10:55 AM CST
Silver Mt. Zion Lend Tune to "Lost" Ad
Tue: 01-08-08: 10:11 AM CST
Blitzen Trapper Announce Giant North American Tour
Tue: 01-08-08: 09:00 AM CST
R.E.M., MMJ, Robyn, Jens Lekman, Bun B Do SXSW
Tue: 01-08-08: 07:00 AM CST
Spiritualized's Spaceman Scores Harmony Korine Film
Mon: 01-07-08: 04:47 PM CST
Justice Announce World Tour, Dates With Diplo
- Kenyan Extra Golden Members Need Your Help
- Son Lux Signs to Anticon
- Sub Pop Responds to Arrest of Shins' Crandall
- T.V. Eye: January 7-13, 2008
- Vampire Weekend Plot North American Tour
Browse
- Justice Announce World Tour, Dates With Diplo
- Son Lux Signs to Anticon
- Sub Pop Responds to Arrest of Shins' Crandall
- T.V. Eye: January 7-13, 2008
- Vampire Weekend Plot North American Tour
- Dan Deacon's Ultimate Reality Tour Kicks Off
- Battles Storm Australia
- The Cool Kids Line Up Winter Dates
- Drive-By Truckers Brighten 2008 With Album, Tour
- Bill Callahan Tours the South
- Echo & the Bunnymen, Orchestra Play Ocean Rain Live
- Six Organs of Admittance Set to Hit the Road
- Band of Horses, McCombs Play Halfway to Forecastle
- Caribou Announces Huge World Tour
- Basia Bulat Brings Darling to U.S., Plans Shows
- A Place to Bury Strangers Announce Spring Tour
- Daft Punk, Hot Chip, Pipettes, T.I. Design Playboy Shirts
- Dizzee Rascal Expands Winter Tour
- Silver Jews' David Berman Talks Lookout, Outlook
- Facing Lockup, Rapper Prodigy Turns Video Blogger
- Belle & Sebastian's Jackson, Oakley Hall Do Guitar Fest
- Flipper Recording New Album With Krist Novoselic
- Radiohead Manager Explains Amplive Remix Snafu
- Califone, Fugazi Members Soundtrack Brent Green Films
- MMJ, Wrens, Mekons Folks Aid New Orleans Musicians
- The Go! Team Tour Away Winter Languor
- Walkmen, White Williams, Bon Iver Play Chicago Fest
- The Streets' Skinner Retires the Beats Label
- Raveonettes Plot Tours of North America, Italy
- Robyn Announces U.S. Tour Dates!
- Jose Gonzalez Goes Green for North American Tour
- Under Byen Enlist Symphonic Help on New EP
- Black Mountain Add Dates With Bon Iver
- Nick Cave's Lazarus Gets Tracklist, U.S. Release Date
- The Long Blondes Set Up Couples, UK Tour
- Antony Designs Dress for Charity
- Amplive Nixes Radiohead Remixes at Warner's Demand
- The Fiery Furnaces Add Dates, Surprise Surprise
- Casiotone Drops a Few Singles, Plays a Few Gigs
- Fennesz Releases Two New Singles
- No Age, Mae Shi, Cline Play Smell Anniversary Shows
- Man Man Adopt Rabbit Habits, Tour U.S.
- Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan DJs on WFMU
- Beyonce PWNS Kanye in Connect Four
- Hot Chip Reveal Made Tracklist, Single, New Dates
- M83 Reveals Full Album Details
- Grand Archives Reveal Sub Pop Debut Details, Dates
- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Tour for Trash
- Boredoms to Invade America This Spring
- Xiu Xiu Bolster Lovers With DVD, iTunes Exclusives
- Beck's Odelay Given Deluxe Reissue Treatment
- Smashing Pumpkins Issue New EP Today
- Cat Power Plots Jukebox Tour
- R.E.M. Gear Up to Accelerate on New LP
- Oberst Woos Iowans for Obama
- Evan Farrell (Magnolia Electric Co./Rogue Wave) R.I.P.
- Panda Bear Designs Sweatshirts
- Neko Case Schedules Winter Shows
- Bjork Discusses "Independence", Videos, Grammys
- While We Were Out
- Radiohead Celebrate New Year With Webcast
- Jay-Z Leaves Def Jam Presidency
- R.I.P. Oscar Peterson, 1925-2007
- 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