Pitchfork: Photos: Beirut in Central Park [New York, NY; 09/26/07]

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Photos: Beirut in Central Park [New York, NY; 09/26/07]

Photos by Kathryn Yu

With a full moon looming overhead, Beirut's Zach Condon and band took to the open-air stage at the Delacorte Theatre last night, nestled in New York City's verdant haven Central Park. The performance took place as part of the Joe's Pub in the Park festival, and said stage is no stranger to musical characters, as it also plays host to the famous "Shakespeare in the Park" series.

The Flying Club Cup launches October 9 Stateside via Ba Da Bing!, and a day before in the UK thanks to 4AD. Digital retailers have it now. Play a pining Juliet to Zach's Romeo at any of the remaining Beirut dates, yours-- along with more photos-- below.

[MORE...]

Posted by Pitchfork Staff in tour, photos on Thu: 09-27-07: 10:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Black Mountain Reveal Future Tracklist, Cover Art
Whoa...duuuuude

The future has arrived! Or, at least, the tracklist to Black Mountain's forthcoming sophomore LP In the Future. And the prog-alicious cover art too! Study up on that so you won't have to look twice while at the record shop January 21, when Jagjaguwar unleashes this beast upon the world in CD and double LP formats.

In addition to nine brand new misty Black Mountain hops mixed by John Congleton of the Paper Chase, In the Future also includes "Stay Free", which first appeared on that Spider-Man 3 soundtrack. And what's this? My stoner rock sense is telling me that Black Mountain are poised to strike in a town near you, starting tonight in Boise, Idaho! Just remember, guys: with great riffs comes great responsibility.

Don't forget to snatch a copy of that previously mentioned tour 12" as well, which provides you access to a secret preview of In the Future on November 13. [MORE...]

MP3: Black Mountain: Druganaut [from the Black Mountain LP]

Posted by Matthew Solarski in album, tour on Thu: 09-27-07: 09:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Apostle of Hustle Tour With Do Make Say Think

They say the heart of blustery Canadian rock'n'roll is still beatin', and you don't have to tell that to Andrew Whiteman and his Apostle of Hustle.

Following their recent take on Huey Lewis' me-generation signpost "I Want a New Drug", Whiteman and friends are gettin' all hopped up on asphalt and rest stops on a month of North American dates, kicking off October 17 on Prince Edward Island. A few gigs later they'll join up with Do Make Say Think for that run across the continent. [MORE...]

Video: Apostle of Hustle: National Anthem of Nowhere [from the National Anthem of Nowhere LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in tour on Thu: 09-27-07: 08:22 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Andrew Bird Adds Shows With Wilco, Bright Eyes

Photo by Joseph Mohan

Sure, this is the first Andrew Bird tour story we've run in a while, but my guess is, it won't be the last we run in the none-too-far-off future. The Chi-town crooner has squeezed quite a few more dates into his previously announced tour schedule (including a buncha gigs with Wilco and two spots opening for that Conor feller), but don't think for a second he's done. Even more shows are promised for January. [MORE...]

Video: Andrew Bird: Imitosis [from the Armchair Apocrypha LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in tour on Thu: 09-27-07: 08:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Black Francis Set for Fall Tour
Pixies' Lovering does magic!

Pixies frontman with the self-proclaimed broken face Black Francis will saddle up for a little West Coast tour this fall in support of his recently released Bluefinger LP. The tour begins October 1 in Portland and wraps up a couple weeks later.

On October 17, Black Francis has an extra show in San Diego as part of the Miller Genuine Draft/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame sponsored "The Craft" series, which hosts intimate gigs interspersed with conversation and storytelling.

In other Pixies-related news, drummer David Lovering will perform at Long Beach, California's Vault 350 club with his off-kilter magic/comedy trio the Unholy Three on October 3. In addition to Lovering, the Three includes Possum Dixon's Rob Zabrecky and comedian and author Fitzergald. [MORE...]

Stream: Black Francis: Various Tracks [from the Bluefinger LP]

Posted by Dave Maher in tour, misc on Thu: 09-27-07: 07:15 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

GZA Reschedules Liquid Swords Date Twice Over
The Wu, coming through, at a theater near you

Photo by Karra McDonald

The Wu are notorious for a lot of things-- bringing the motherfucking ruckus chief among them-- but reliability ain't one. So when GZA's September 15 Liquid Swords show (or, dare to dream, collaboration) with Jamie Lidell at Brooklyn's McCarren Park Pool fell under the axe due to "unforeseen circumstances," it was a stone bummer, sure, but didn't exactly fall into the realms of the shocking.

So cross whatever fingers you have handy into a W and take this tidbit with a grain of salt: GZA's making up for the canceled Liquid Swords date with two performances of the LP at NYC's Knitting Factory on December 13 and 14. (Thanks to BrooklynVegan for the tip.)

Of course, in the spirit of finger-crossing, the Wu will have blessed us with those 8 Diagrams at that point, and as the rest of them don't appear to have too much going on in the weeks and months following its November 13 release date (though Method Man is touring Canada and South America, and Ghost is busy too), could this be a shot at seeing the album with virtually all of its cameos? Can they do Uncontrolled Substance next?

In other Wu news, the Genius-- along with RZA and Q-Bert-- dig chess, while the rest of the clan dig George Harrison.

Video: GZA: Liquid Swords [from the Liquid Swords LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in tour on Thu: 09-27-07: 07:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Phil Spector's Murder Trial Declared Mistrial

Photo by Gabriel Bouys / AP

After about five months of testimony, the trial of legendary "Wall of Sound" producer Phil Spector ended in a mistrial today, September 26, according to an AP report.

Spector is charged with second-degree murder for the gun death of actress Lana Clarkson four-and-a-half years ago, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler declared the case a mistrial after each juror told him they were unable to reach a verdict.

Fidler made the decision on the 12th day of deliberations, and the foreman of the nine-man, three-woman jury revealed that there was a 10-2 deadlock without specifying which way they were leaning.

So far, there has been no talk of a retrial.

Also related to the trial-- though apparently not factoring into the decision to declare a mistrial-- is authorities' investigation into a possible threat to Fidler made via a post to a "Team Spector" MySpace page.

The post said, "I love Phil Spector" and "The Evil Judge should DIE!!!!." It was signed "xoxo Chelle"-- a reference to Spector's wife Rachelle-- and later taken down, according to Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini.

Christopher Plourd, one of Spector's defense attorneys, denied Rachelle Spector's involvement in the incident.

A few weeks ago, Fidler and Rachelle Spector clashed over her communication with the media about the case outside of court, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Posted by Dave Maher in legal on Wed: 09-26-07: 05:08 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

MF Doom: Not Dead, Not Lip-Synching, Not an Imposter

If you've been paying attention to underground hip-hop gossip (yes, such a thing exists) lately, you've probably heard a few things about the things you haven't been hearing from MF Doom. Following talk that the masked marvel was lip synching his way through shows (and, perhaps, sending someone else out on stage to don the headgear in his place), the recent chatter concerns Doom's health. Having ducked out of a few recent gigs at the last minute, some postulated that Doom had suffered a heart attack. Others claimed he was dead. Or in the hospital at least.

So what up, Doom?

"What up? I'm dead."

In an effort to put the rumors to bed, Doom's label Stones Throw posted this. It confronts the lip synching rumors "(Listen to the videos on Youtube)", the imposter rumors ("he did lose some pounds") and the hospital rumors ("he's in his studio...or if not there, you can find him in the pub with the grub stain)."

It also gives a recording update: "DOOM was in Los Angeles recently and recorded a few verses at The Bomb Shelter studio, where Madvillain, Quasimoto, YNQ, and Madlib classics have been made. Among the new joints recorded was one with him and Guilty Simpson over J Dilla's 'Mash' and another over Dilla's 'Lightworks'. 'Mash's Revenge' will be released on the album B-Ball Zombie War on October 2."

No word on any of the other dozens of releases-- like another Madvillain record, or the one with Ghostface-- the once fantastically prolific Doom reportedly has in the works. But maybe he'll be working on them once his laundry's done. I hear club soda works wonders on grub.

Stream: MF Doom and Guilty Simpson: Mash's Revenge [from the Peanut Butter Wolf's 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in gossip on Wed: 09-26-07: 04:35 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

King Khan, Mark Sultan Tour Under Many Pseudonyms
HEY AWRIGHT COME ON YEAHHHHH!

King Khan and Mark Sultan: two dudes with too much rock to give and a couple more monikers than even the most fact-conscious reporter can fathom. Let's do what we can to get it all straight, shall we?

Canadian-by-way-of-Germany, King Khan-- garage rock powderkeg personified-- is taking two of his many bands out on tour. King Khan and His Shrines (aka King Khan & the Shrines) just wrapped up a lengthy European tour, while the King Khan & BBQ Show-- which finds Khan alongside his former Spaceshits bandmate Mark "BBQ" Sultan-- will step to the U.S. for a month and a half of dates starting in late October, following Sultan's own time in Europe.

Both Khan bands and Sultan have put out fine releases in the last year or so: the Shrines' What Is?!, the Khan/BBQ Show's equally vicious What's for Dinner, and Mark Sultan's rising Sultanic Verses. See all of these people, or some of these people, or perhaps none of these people at the loco-ales following the jump. [MORE...]

Video: The King Khan & BBQ Show: Waddlin' Around [from the King Khan & BBQ Show LP]

Stream: King Khan & the Shrines: Welfare Bread [from the What Is?! LP]

MP3: Mark Sultan: Something Wrong [from the Sultanic Verses LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in tour on Wed: 09-26-07: 04:10 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Bonde do Role Cancel Shows

Bonde do Role have kept up a perpetual-motion-machine pace so far this year, but even one of the most energetic live acts around can't defy the laws of science forever. Thus, the trio's cancellation of several upcoming U.S. dates due to exhaustion and illness is understandable, albeit still a bummer.

Bonde still have five shows to play before their recuperation begins, starting with a show in Seattle tonight, September 26. Also, they still have a ton of European shows after the little break, so let's hope they hit the chicken soup hard during those three newly empty weeks.

To make up for the canceled dates, all of which are listed after the jump along with the other dates, the band hopes to get another U.S. tour up and running next year. [MORE...]

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

MP3: DJ Gorky of Bonde do Role: In-DEED Mix

Posted by Dave Maher in tour, cancellation on Wed: 09-26-07: 04:05 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Booka Shade Do DJ-Kicks Mix, Tour

In this life, there are just some questions we'll never get satisfactory answers to. For example: is the first 's' in Les Savy Fav silent or what? Is Dan Deacon allergic to big boy clothes? And what exactly is the deal with that Devendra guy? But the answer to the mystery of just what's in Booka Shade's record bags will be released October 22 from !K7, when the Berlin-based blip-blop duo unleashes its entry in the DJ-Kicks mix series.

So what secrets lie buried in Booka Shade's crates? Eh, not much beyond what you'd expect, really, which doesn't mean their Kicks aren't worth digging into. Remember how mellow, knotty, and funny last year's excellent Movements was? Well, Booka's DJ-Kicks pulls the same punches with other peoples' sounds (and a few of their own, too). I mean, the thing's got Yazoo's "Situation", a buncha microhouse, and excerpts from the Escape From New York soundtrack-- and that's all in the first half.

So now you've got the record and the DJ mix; where to next with Booka Shade? Well, you could pore over all their dozens of remixes and singles. Or you could see 'em live! Booka Shade are touring Europe and South America a bit this fall, with a U.S. tour reportedly in the works for that magical time we Americans like to call "TBA". 'Tis the season! [MORE...]

MP3: Booka Shade: Darko (Le Grand Noir Club Mix) [from the Darko Remixes II LP]

Posted by Paul Thompson in compilation, tour on Wed: 09-26-07: 03:35 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Photos: Midlake / Maria Taylor with Conor Oberst [Los Angeles, CA; 09/25/07]

Photos by Akmal Naim

The stars turned out once again in L.A. (you don't say!) for Midlake's show last night at the Henry Fonda Theater. But this time those stars included Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, an on-the-rise group of cover-happy, pint-sized rockers, and at least one Superstar -- that being Har Mar.

Oberst, in town preparing for Bright Eyes' upcoming orchestral spectacle with the LA Philharmonic, joined Maria Taylor and Sean "Har Mar Superstar/Sean Na Na" Tillmann onstage as Taylor and band opened for the headlining Denton outfit. Oberst, as you may know, guests on "The Ballad of Sean Foley" off Taylor's sophomore solo LP, this year's Lynn Teeter Flower. Tillmann, eh, probably had nothing better to do last night.

Opening act Wild Youth turned some heads as well, having impressed Midlake with their cover of "Roscoe"-- despite having a mean age of 12. The quartet also tried their hand at tunes by Band of Horses, David Bowie, and Nada Surf. The wee-est of the bunch had to skip out before Midlake took the stage, however; apparently it was past his bedtime.

Midlake capped off the evening with a bunch of songs off last year's The Trials of Van Occupanther, and a few oldies as well. Dates and more photos ahead.

MARIA TAYLOR [ft. CONOR OBERST and HAR MAR SUPERSTAR]

MIDLAKE

WILD YOUTH

[MORE...]

Posted by Pitchfork Staff in tour, photos on Wed: 09-26-07: 03:30 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

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Tue: 10-16-07: 02:00 PM CDT
Ghostface Upset About Wu-Tang Release Date