The Breeders Announce First Tour in, Like, Forever
It won't provide the Deal sisters with a chance to use the newfound foreign language skills they flash on the forthcoming Mountain Battles, but the Breeders have scheduled a tour of the UK and Ireland. It starts April 7, the day 4AD releases the album there. (The album comes out in the U.S. on April 8.) It will be the band's first tour in almost six years, though all Kim's Pixies playing bodes well for her crew still ably rocking it out.
The tour comes sandwiched in between a trio of festival shows in North America.
We know at least one person who is super excited about this. [MORE...]
Common Does Benefit for Chicago Schools Program
Rapper/role model Common-- in conjunction with his own Common Ground Foundation-- and the Chicago chapter of The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) will come together January 12 at Chicago's House of Blues for a benefit concert and silent auction they're calling Dare to Dream.The nifty NFTE provides supplemental educational services for Chicago's public school students, with programs in 31 Chicago area schools. A portion of the proceeds from the night's events will go to both NFTE and Common Ground. Common's fellow Chicagoans Office will also perform.
Common has a couple more live dates to his credit before the month is up. He was recently nominated for a mess of Grammys for his work on Finding Forever, with nods for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for "The People", and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his Kanye collaboration "Southside". And he recently issued a collection of the best bits of his early catalog titled thisisme then. [MORE...]
British Sea Power Tour All Over
If you're still on the fence about this whole rock music business, British Sea Power are coming to help convince you to forge some new allegiances. The jaunty band plans to serve as ambassadors of all things rock on a lengthy international tour that kicks off in earnest in Belfast January 17.The lads will hit the UK and Europe proper before making their way to North America for a little over a month, with planned pit stops at SXSW and San Francisco's Noise Pop festival. If you haven't grown fond of rock music by the time it's all over, it's probably not gonna happen. But don't give up hope: the band plans to announce a second leg of North American dates, perhaps as a way to make sure they haven't missed anybody with their rock'n'roll missionary work.
But this alone may be all the primer you'll need: Do You Like Rock Music? drops January 14 in the UK from Rough Trade and February 12 in the States from Rough Trade/World's Fair. [MORE...]
Mountain Goats Add Dates, Darnielle's Book Revealed
""John Darnielle describes Master of Reality in the voice of a fifteen-year-old boy being held in an adolescent psychiatric center in southern California in 1985."
Front page photo by Kyle Gustafson
Mountain Goat is in season these next couple of months. Following the February 19 release of Heretic Pride via 4AD (check out the pretty cover right up there), John Darnielle and co. will saddle up for a recently extended North American tour, starting with a release date show in Anchorage, Alaska.
Shortly, the band will unleash the first video from Heretic Pride, for opener "Sax Rohmer #1". The video's director is Ace Norton, who directed Darnielle in Aesop Rock's "Coffee" video.
Then, on April 15, we will all come one step closer to world peace, with the publishing of Darnielle's take on the Black Sabbath album Master of Reality, as part of the 33 1/3 series of books about albums.
According to the book's description, "John Darnielle describes Master of Reality in the voice of a fifteen-year-old boy being held in an adolescent psychiatric center in southern California in 1985. The narrator explains Black Sabbath like an emissary from an alien race describing his culture to his captors: passionately, patiently, and lovingly. This album has a genuinely remarkable historical status: as a touchstone for the directionless, and as a common coin for young men and women who felt shut out of the broader cultural economy."
For a 10-page sample of the kick-ass-sounding book, email sabbathsampler@yahoo.com.
Or for more-- lots more-- writing by John Darnielle, read his excellent blog Last Plane to Jakarta.
Thanks to reader Bryan McKay for the book tip. [MORE...]
Radiohead to Take Over BBC Radio 1 Airwaves
If those recent webcasts further proved anything at all, Radiohead are nothing if not superbly entertaining folks. So it comes as little surprise that BBC Radio 1 host Zane Lowe has asked the band to guest host an episode of his show while he's away on holiday.The BBC station will turn Radiohead 1 on January 17 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. UK time, and if the band's stint goes anything like the ones before it (whose stand-in hosts include Dizzee Rascal, Klaxons, and others), we can look forward to a Radiohead-curated playlist, goofy photos and videos afterward, and even a minute-by-minute recap courtesy of a lucky fan. Just go easy on the Asian Dub Foundation, okay guys?
Thanks to reader Nick Middleton for the tip.
If you live in or near a major North American city, Radiohead may very well be visiting it this year. European residents already know where to find them. The band is also set to perform on "Later... With Jools Holland" on BBC Two television February 1. [MORE...]
Thermals Kick Out the Jams for Live Band Karaoke
Ahh, karaoke... eradicator of shame, seller of so much sake, the reason we can all mumble our way through "Radar Love" when called upon. It's a deliriously hedonistic pastime, but one generally reserved for a group of easily embarrassed and far from sober chums and some sort of magical music machine.
But on January 31 at Studio B in Brooklyn, the hyperkinetic kids in the Thermals will be your friends, your enablers, and, yes, your music makers. Following a regular Thermals set, Hutch, Kathy, and co. will morph into the backing band for a night of karaoke sponsored by New York magazine.
The full song list is being worked on at the moment, though we've been told that Bowie, Madonna, and the Ramones are in the mix. With this lot, we'd guess the faster the jam (and fewer the chords), the better your shot.
The evening should run much like the one Of Montreal did with New York mag last April, which apparently devolved into a two-way reading of "More Than a Feeling" between actor Paul Rudd and "State" associate David Wain. Can the Thermals inspire that level of soused silliness in the evening's as-yet-unannounced celebrity MC or the madding crowd?
Alas, as their MySpace so indelicately puts it, the Thermals are "NOT on tour" at the moment, so the set they do before the karaoke pops off is their only proper show to speak of for now.
Low Tour, Retribution Gospel Choir Prep Debut LP
Photo by Tim SoterThe beat of Drums and Guns marches on, and it will carry Duluth's beloved digital grindcore trio Low around the world in the coming months.
In addition to previously squawked about stints at the Sydney Festival and a pair of ATP/Don't Look Back-sponsored events (where they'll melt face to the tune of 2001 scorcher Things We Lost in the Fire), Alan, Mimi, and Matt will bring their distinctive musical offerings to all corners of Australia this January.
Then, after a two-month nap, it's off to Northern Europe and the UK for another round of mind obliteration.
Perhaps not coincidentally, said two-month nap occurs around the release of Retribution Gospel Choir, the debut LP from, you guessed it, Retribution Gospel Choir. Hard to believe the Alan Sparhawk-led side project is only now serving up a proper release (after a couple tour EPs), but we swear it's the truth and nothing but.
Retribution Gospel Choir arrives March 18 on Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon man Mark Kozelek's Caldo Verde imprint, and was in fact produced by Mr. Kozelek himself. Joining Sparhawk on the release are drummer/back-up vocalist Eric Pollard and bassist Matt Livingston (also of Low). Low's Mimi Parker lends back-up vocals to a tune called "Breaker", and if that and "Take Your Time" sound familiar, it's because these RGC originals were also performed by Low on Drums and Guns. Share and share alike, we always say. [MORE...]
For a band that was supposedly "forever," Islands sure spend a lot of time in hibernation. (Not to mention all those various side projects.) But at least temporarily, the band will break the silence since Return to the Sea with a tour. First, they'll head across the sea to Europe for a couple weeks' worth of shows. From late February through early March, they'll travel from the UK to the Netherlands and Belgium. Then in mid-March and late April, they'll return to the States.
Thanks to reader Jono Henderson for the tip. [MORE...]
Morrissey Reveals Greatest Hits Details, Bonus CD
Moz freaks given chance to shine in Greatest Hits ad
Greatest hits UK shelves via Polydor/Decca in CD and double vinyl formats on February 11, one week later than previously reported (U.S. details forthcoming). Along with classic jams, most from the man's post-millennial catalog (every one at least a top 20 UK hit, if you'd believe it), the collection also includes two all new cuts: "That's How People Grow Up" (which gets its own single, now on Feburary 4) and "All You Need Is Me". Don't we know it, Morrissey, don't we know it.
Cooler still, a limited run of Greatest Hits sets will come bundled with an eight-track, self-explanatory bonus disc titled Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
And speaking of people who need nothing more than Morrissey in their lives, the Moz MySpace (MozSpace!) has put out a call for the most dedicated/obsessed of fans to step forward. Let's let them explain:
How do you show your devotion to Morrissey?And speaking of January 19, that's, well, the third night of Morrissey's winter tour. Perhaps he'll bust out a few selections from his next studio album, now due in autumn 2008? [MORE...]
HAVE YOU ANY MORRISSEY TATTOOS? HAVE YOU EVER GRAFFITI'D MORRISSEY'S NAME ON A WALL? DO YOU OWN AMAZING MORRISSEY MEMORABILIA?
WE'RE LOOKING FOR IMAGES OF YOUR DEVOTION FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN THE NEW MORRISSEY GREATEST HITS ALBUM ADVERT.
PLEASE SEND HIGH-QUALITY JPG IMAGES TO: morrisseyadvert[at]googlemail.com
BE QUICK, WE MUST RECIEVE ALL ENTRIES BY 19 JANUARY 2008.
Annie Returns With New Single, Preps Album
Annie! Where the heck have you been, girl? Aw shucks, who even cares. What matters is you're back, and 2008 is quickly shaping up to be quite a year for you.The gal who once jacked Pitchfork's collective "Heartbeat" up to dangerously high BPMs (before gnashing us up and spitting us out like so much "Chewing Gum") will herald her return to the dancefloor fore with a new single produced by long-time associate Richard X. According to X's "international production empire" website, Black Melody, Annie will tackle Stacey Q's 1986 dance hit "Two of Hearts" on the A-side, while the B will boast an original tune called "Songs Remind Me of You".
No word yet on a release date for the single, but Island Records UK will be responsible for making sure it gets to our turntables and iPods in a timely fashion. Don't let us down, you guys.
And where there's a single, can an album be far behind? A recent story on Bergen, Norway newspaper Tidende's website suggests Annie may have her Anniemal follow-up out as soon as April. (Thanks to contributing photographer Eirik Lande for the heads up and translation.) And an Annie rep has confirmed that the album is indeed being wrapped up pretty much as you read this. We won't hold our breaths, but we may have to see a cardiologist about those BPMs.
Blonde Redhead Plan Brief East Coast Tour
Photo by Sebastian MlynarskiIt's not much, but it'll do: the swirling colors of Blonde Redhead will be on full display on a very brief East Coast tour starting January 16 in our nation's capital. These are the band's first live appearances in a few months, and the only real news we've got from Kazu Makino and those Pace brothers in a while, too. Perhaps they've been working up a proper comeback to the glorious numbers racket of 2007's 23? A boy can dream(pop), can't he?
In other Blonde Redhead news, the DNA song from which they lifted their name is available-- along with plenty other rare post-punk relics-- on the soundtrack to the film Downtown 81. [MORE...]
Dan Deacon Inaugurates Wham City Records With 7"
Gives away much of back catalog, records museum gig for single, next album
Photo by Jason Bergman
Time was, to make your way onto a Dan Deacon record, you'd either have to be some sort of Ecto Cooler-induced day-glo hallucinatory animalia or Dan Deacon himself. But a lucky few non-Deacon human-types who can make their way to the Big Apple on February 8 will find themselves pulled into the freaky, friendly fold of crystal cats and hateable bees, as Deacon immortalizes them in song. Really, truly weird song.
According to a MySpace post, Deacon will record his February 8 performance at New York's Whitney Museum of American Art for use on his next record. He will also tape the audience singing live favorite "Silence Like the Wind", which will show up as his next single. That 7" will serve as the very first release from Wham City Records, a new label from the Baltimore collective.
Deacon is in the process of relaunching his website right now, and when it's ready, he promises to post "the scores for pieces I'll be doing at the Whitney show." He's also going to offer all of his pre-Spiderman of the Rings releases as free downloads. They're all worth the trouble just for the titles alone. Look for Acorn Master, Silly Hat vs. Egale Hat, Meetle Mice, Goose on the Loose, Twacky Cats, and Porky Pig, among others, to grace your ears at no cost to you shortly, as well as "some unreleased stuff like the score to Ultimate Reality."
Speaking of Ultimate Reality-- the collaborative audiovisual mind-boink Deacon and his Wham City associate Jimmy Joe Roche crafted up and are currently parading around the country-- check in on the action at Jimmy Joe's YouTube blog of the proceedings with a single click right here. [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.)
Thu: 01-10-08: 03:32 PM CST
The Breeders Announce First Tour in, Like, Forever
Thu: 01-10-08: 02:30 PM CST
Mountain Goats Add Dates, Darnielle's Book Revealed
Thu: 01-10-08: 01:15 PM CST
Radiohead to Take Over BBC Radio 1 Airwaves
Thu: 01-10-08: 12:45 PM CST
Thermals Kick Out the Jams for Live Band Karaoke
Thu: 01-10-08: 12:15 PM CST
Low Tour, Retribution Gospel Choir Prep Debut LP
- Common Does Benefit for Chicago Schools Program
- British Sea Power Tour All Over
- Islands Return to the Road
- Morrissey Reveals Greatest Hits Details, Bonus CD
- Annie Returns With New Single, Preps Album
Browse
- Cat Power Checks in From India, Bangladesh
- Xiu Xiu Announce Spring Dates
- Serena-Maneesh Compile Early Tracks, Rarities
- Bodies of Water, Sons & Daughters Announce Joint Tour
- Autechre Offer Up Quaristice Tracklist, Tour
- Fogarino/Franklin's Setting Suns Forced to Nix Name
- Kim Gordon, Lavender Diamond's Stark Appear in Film
- Rare Disco, Electro Gems on Disco Not Disco Comp
- Polly Jean Harvey, John Parish Meet Again for New LP
- Arbouretum, Lungfish Dudes Ready Human Bell Album
- Broken Social Scene Head Out on World Tour
- Hukkelberg's Rykestrasse Leads to North America
- No Age Come up With a Few Good Nouns for Sub Pop
- Nada Surf Get Lucky With Ben Gibbard on New Album
- Radiohead (Sorta) Announce North American Tour!
- Spoon Head Down Under
- Black Kids Tour With Sons & Daughters, Kate Nash
- Jay Reatard Signs to Matador, Plans Singles Barrage
- Sufjan, MBD, Asthmatic Kitty Roster on New DVD
- Malkmus' Real Emotional Trash Album Cover Revealed
- Men [ft. Le Tigre's Samson, Fateman] Play Shows
- Marty Crandall Domestic Abuse Case Dismissed
- Jens Lekman Announces Spring Tour
- Von Bondies Return With Album, EP, Tour
- Baltimore's Wye Oak Sign to Merge, Issue Debut
- Hold Steady Work on LP4, Line up UK Tour
- Black Heart Procession Head Out on Short Tour
- The Black Keys Reveal Danger Mouse-Produced Album
- Kenyan Extra Golden Members Need Your Help
- Silver Mt. Zion Lend Tune to "Lost" Ad
- Blitzen Trapper Announce Giant North American Tour
- R.E.M., MMJ, Robyn, Jens Lekman, Bun B Do SXSW
- Spiritualized's Spaceman Scores Harmony Korine Film
- 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