The Cure Announce Rescheduled Dates

In a Venn diagram attempting to show the overlap between fans of the Cure and NBA diehards, we imagine the two circles would be on opposite sides of the room. But both groups share one major thing: the venues where they worship their respective idols.

Thus, the Cure explain that their rescheduled tour dates are taking place a little later than expected as the result of cities trying not to schedule concerts during the NBA Playoffs: "A lot of the venues we needed wouldn't let us confirm dates in the March/April period, but we understand they all have to live in hope!" wrote the band on its website. Hey, maybe Cure fans and basketball fans have more in common than we thought.

And so, the new Cure tour kicks off May 9, 2008, in Washington, DC and runs through late June.

As for ticket logistics, all tickets to the canceled shows will be valid for the rescheduled dates, all but one of which are at the original venues. The lone exception is the Seattle date, which the band will make up for by playing an extra long set at next year's Sasquatch! Festival. Tickets to the old Seattle show will be good for general admission to the festival.

The good news is that the Cure were able to include even more cities on the new, later route, including shows in Phoenix, Austin, and Cleveland. Still, anyone who wants a refund on a 2007 ticket can obtain it at the point of purchase until November 1.

Of course, the Cure still have those few appearances left this year. Their next show is October 6 in Mountain View, California.

Thanks to Geoff Cox for the tip.

UPDATE: 65daysofstatic are opening all of the rescheduled shows. [MORE...]

Video: The Cure: Never Enough (Live) [from the Cure Festival 2005 DVD]

Photos: Interpol and Liars [Boston, MA; 09/12/07]
Plus bonus Liars videos!

Photos by Josh Bean

The dynamic duo of Brooklyn post-punks Interpol and NYC/Berlin/L.A. shapeshifters Liars have just set out on their joint fall tour, in support of their new albums. The sharply dressed rockers we love to admire donned their suits and ties last night at Boston University's Agganis Arena, after the Best New Music-earning Liars warmed up the stage with their frenetic tunes and comedy stylings. During the set, Angus Andrew donned a Paul Pierce Celtics jersey and boasted about the new words he's learned in Beantown-- "stabbing," perhaps.

As previously reported, Cat Power will play with both bands tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden. The rest of the dates and more photos below.

Sorry we didn't grab any shots of Angus' jersey in all its glory-- photographers were only allowed stage-front access for the first three songs of Liars' set, and he took his jacket off after that. But to make it up to you, we've got these two cool little video promos the band made for their new album, Liars:

M.I.A. Extends Fall Tour

Photo by Kirstie Shanley

What can you get for 10 dollar? About half a ticket to one of M.I.A.'s recently added fall shows.

The woman with the seizure-inducing website will support the success of Kala, this album that we sorta liked, with dates that now stretch across North America and into late November.

UK residents, don't forget about the "Jimmy" single, which is coming your way via XL on October 1.

M.I.A.'s next show is this Friday, September 14, in Austin, Texas as part of Austin City Limits. [MORE...]

Video: M.I.A.: Jimmy [from the Kala LP]

The National Cover Springsteen on New Single

Video: The National: Apartment Story [from the Boxer LP]

Hold Steady's Finn Goes Back to School, Fishes on TV

"Big heads and soft bodies make for lousy lovers," Craig Finn of the Hold Steady has been known to sing; not exactly the kind of sentiment you want seeping into academia, homebase of that unfortunate trifecta.

Nevertheless, Craig will brave the hallowed halls-- well, the hallowed dining hall, anyhow-- of his alma mater, Boston College, later this month as he participates in a "master class" with American Studies prof Carlo Rotella.

The event will feature Craig talking about "his life, career, and music" in conversation with Rotella in BC's Lyons Dining Hall on September 25 from 7:30-9:00 P.M. Auditors, take heed: the chat is open to the public.

Potential topics of debate: "Words: Will they, in fact, save your life?"
"All your favorite books: Well written, or simply reliant on context?"
"Discuss: Killer parties and their role in intellectual circles."
"The beer bong: Novelty or necessity?"

Oh, and on an as-yet-undetermined date in the future, Craig will be the featured guest on ex-Minnesota Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek's "Kent Hrbek Outdoors" sports program. Hence the picture of Craig with a big fella and a fish up there.

God, I wish this band was my uncles.

In other Hold Steady news, they've got that tour with Art Brut coming up, which guitarist Tad Kubler predicts "should be a fucking blast" (no objection here). Before that, Koob reminds us, the band has "a few weeks off in September which will be focused on writing. No promises, but we're hoping to have a new jam or two for the fall tour."

Sweet! As for Franz, he'll be at the FMC Policy Summit next week, leaving Galen and Bobby plenty of time to hang out, read comics and maybe catch a flick. [MORE...]

Video: The Hold Steady: Stuck Between Stations [from the Boys and Girls in America LP]

Too Pure Launches 7" Club With Electrelane's Susman

Stream: Vera November: Various Tracks

Bert Jansch Guests on New Babyshambles Disc

Video: Babyshambles: Delivery [from the forthcoming Shotter's Nation LP]

Animal Collective to Make National TV Debut October 5

Animal Collective are kind of a big deal in this little world of ours, but it's easy to forget that, to the general populace, the music they make is a little, uh, weird. Still, 1:30 in the morning is as fine a time as any for weirdness/bong hits, both of which seem to suit Animal Collective rather well.

So, when you're flipping to and fro betwixt "Tuna Wranglers" and "Talk Sex with Sue Johanson" on Friday night, October 5, you may come across Animal Collective, making their national television debut on the "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" television program.

Clearly the home of both a spastic, yelping host and a masturbating bear is a fitting choice for the Animal Collective's broadcast entree, but one wonders just who'll be sitting on the couch, glancing cock-eyed across the stage, while the Collective racket is going down. There's just something about this sentence-- "Comedian Dane Cook, star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and musical guest Animal Collective!"-- that seems a little askew (other guests purely hypothetical). Then again, so does "Mary-Kate Olsen, Wayne Brady, Lyle Lovett, and Quackers the S*?#" Eating Duck," and that's on tonight. However it goes, we're gonna Forkcast the shit out of it. Quackers, keep your distance.

Beyond their time at Rockefeller Center, Animal Collective have that tour thing happening, and that new record we liked a lot. [MORE...]

Video: Animal Collective: Peacebone [from the Strawberry Jam LP]

Pornos, Spoon, Animal Collective on Sonic Boom Comp
Plus: Built to Spill, Band of Horses, Feist, Talib Kweli, National, Dungen, Black Lips, Rilo Kiley

What's more, Sonic Boom has already started selling a limited-edition commemorative t-shirt designed by Yo La Tengo's James McNew. McNew's design is pictured above.

On September 23, the store will sponsor a team of runners for the Fremont Oktoberfest Brew-HA-HA 5K Run/Walk. After the race, there will be a private party at the War Room hosted by entertainer Matt Olsen and featuring DJs El Toro and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, the Jicks) on the wheels of steel. The party will also feature the debut of a short play featuring the Coconut Coolouts.

Sonic Boom founders and co-owners Jason Hughes and Nabil Ayers will continue the celebration on September 30 by taking over KNDD's "The Young & the Restless" show to play two hours of their favorite music to come out of the Pacific Northwest over the last 10 years.

Throughout the month, Sonic Boom's Capitol Hill and Ballard locations will host in-stores by A.C. Newman, the Lucksmiths, Vampire Weekend, Oakley Hall, and others. [MORE...]

Dan Deacon's Skull Returns in Time for Girl Talk Tour!
New Dan Deacon/Girl Talk/White Williams dates added

Stream: Dan Deacon: Totally Boner Eat Shit [from the Crystal Cat 7-inch]
MP3: Trey Told 'Em (Gregg Gillis of Girl Talk and Frank Musarra): In-DEED Mix

The White Stripes Cancel Remaining Tour Dates

Anxious UK residents who have followed the recent White Stripes tour cancellation saga with bated breath, your fears have come true. According to an update on the duo's website, "the White Stripes have canceled all remaining tour dates through the end of the year. This includes all dates in the UK this fall."

As previously reported, the reason for the cancellations is that Meg White is suffering from acute anxiety that has left her unable to travel.

All canceled dates are listed after the jump. [MORE...]

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

Mastodon's Brent Hinds in Hospital After VMAs Injury

Photo by Lyndsay Siegel 

Mastodon guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds [above right, with Motörhead's Lemmy, center, and bandmate Brann Dailor, left] is receiving treatment in a Las Vegas hospital after suffering what the band's management called "a severe head injury," according to a report from Blabbermouth.net and confirmed by Mastodon's publicist. Hinds sustained the injury following Mastodon's performance of "Colony of Birchmen" (with Josh Homme) on the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 9.

While it might be easy to crack wise about MTV or the VMAs in conjecture about what actually happened (unsubstantiated rumor via Blabbermouth is that the injury is the result of "a brutal assault"), the truth is that Mastodon is one of the most thrilling live bands I've had the pleasure of seeing, and they also happen to be very professional and incredibly nice people. So here's hoping for a speedy recovery for Brent.

They may not be too keen on the city after this incident, but Mastodon's lone remaining tour date this year is in Las Vegas at the Vegoose Festival on October 27.

Video: Mastodon [ft. Josh Homme]: Colony of Birchmen (Live at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards) [from the Blood Mountain LP]

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.)